Chapter 607: Swindled Money
"But we are classmates, students who studied hard together at Sage Academy. Shouldn't our hearts be united?"
She looked around the room, her voice incredibly moving, "I'd like to launch a 'gift crowdfunding campaign'. Everyone can contribute voluntarily, no matter how much. The three of us will be responsible for purchasing an earth-shattering gift for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
"The names of all investors will be written down on a list, presented along with the gift, and opened personally by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
Qian Zhenyun was stunned when he heard this. He quietly pulled Lin Jiayou's sleeve and was sweating with anxiety.
"Isn't this just fundraising? Why should others trust us?"
Before Lin Jiayou could answer, someone in the hall had already asked the same question loudly: "Miss Gu, why should we give you the money?"
This is exactly what Gu Qingchen was waiting for.
She smiled confidently, pointed at Lin Jiayou beside her with one hand, and patted her chest with the other hand.
"Because he is the son of a princess, and I am the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo! We are working together, and this is credibility!"
Lin Jiayou immediately understood her plan.
This girl was using their identities, and even the reputations of Prince Yong's Mansion and the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion, to guarantee her wild idea.
She is painting a big picture, a big picture that everyone wants to take a bite of.
Before Gu Qingchen finished speaking, she took two steps forward and lowered her voice a few degrees, but it was loud enough for everyone to hear clearly.
"This gift is more than just a gift. It's an opportunity for all of us in the academy to express our loyalty to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!"
"This is an opportunity for His Highness, and even His Majesty, to see the unity of our students!"
She is an excellent speaker and she portrayed an ordinary fundraising activity to buy gifts as a shortcut that could "reach the ears of the emperor".
There was an immediate commotion among the students. Many students who came from wealthy families but had no way to make friends with the royal family had burning flames in their eyes.
Seeing that the time was right, Gu Qingchen threw out the last and most deadly bait.
"I know what everyone wants. So, I will continue to 'fight' with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince..."
She deliberately emphasized the word "strive for".
"See if you can get a few spots to attend the palace ceremony for the classmates who contributed the most to our crowdfunding campaign!"
"And His Royal Highness the Crown Prince will also give us a return gift!"
With a loud "boom", the school was in chaos.
Enter the palace to watch the ceremony! Plus the prince's return gift!
For these children of officials and businessmen, this is not only an honor, but also a stepping stone to a higher class!
"Miss Gu! I'll give you ten taels!" A chubby son of a merchant was the first to stand up and excitedly took off his purse.
"I'll offer fifteen taels!" Another young man in brocade was unwilling to be outdone.
"I didn't bring enough today. I'll write you an IOU! I'll go get thirty taels when I get home!"
Lin Jiayou looked at the almost crazy scene in front of him, feeling both amused and impressed.
This girl Gu Qingchen is not only drawing a pie in the sky, she is also drawing a ladder to heaven that no one can refuse.
"Everyone, please be patient." Lin Jiayou's clear voice calmed everyone down. "We need to have a plan for this matter."
"GunGun, go get some paper and pen. Let's write down every student's name and contribution amount, and make sure it's accurate to the last detail."
"Oh, okay, okay!" Qian Zhenyun woke up as if from a dream, and hurriedly used his hands and feet to prepare.
For a moment, the desks of Gu Qingchen and Lin Jiayou were surrounded by a crowd of people.
Silver and IOUs were handed over like snowflakes. Qian Zhenyun was busy registering them, his face flushed with excitement.
Gu Qingchen stood in the center of the crowd, looking at the bustling scene in front of him, with a bright and cunning smile on his lips.
The gift for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is here.
She also had the capital to do business.
A small mountain of silver had already piled up on Gu Qingchen's desk.
Qian Zhenyun looked at the huge piles of silver and the densely written IOUs, and his palms were sweating with nervousness.
He quietly tugged at Gu Qingchen's sleeve, his voice trembling: "Sister, this, this is too much. What if... what if we mess up?"
"What do you mean by messed up?" Gu Qingchen looked at the "results" in front of him, raised his chin proudly, and waved his hand proudly, "GongGong, don't worry, I'll take care of this!"
Lin Jiayou checked the name and amount on the last IOU before looking up, his expression calmer than either of them.
"Money is a small matter." He looked at Gu Qingchen with a scrutinizing look in his eyes.
"The quota you promised to others to attend the palace ceremony is the real deal. Do you really have a solution?"
Given Gu Qingchen's mother Chu Ruohan's attitude towards the palace, not to mention asking for a quota for others, even Gu Qingchen himself was banned from entering the palace.
The smile on Gu Qingchen's face froze for a moment, then returned to his confident look.
She cleared her throat, her eyes drifting for a moment: "There's always a way. Everything will work out when the time comes!"
It sounds like he's guilty.
The three of them hid in a secluded pavilion on the back mountain of the academy, counting today's "income".
"The total is 236 taels of silver, and there are eight IOUs, totaling 350 taels."
Lin Jiayou wrote down the last amount, put down his pen, and looked at Gu Qingchen.
"Now, it's time to tell me your plan. How do you want to use all this silver?"
"Of course we'll split up into two groups!" Gu Qingchen's eyes flashed with shrewdness. "One hundred taels is enough for us to buy gifts."
"The remaining silver is the capital for our business!"
Qian Zhenyun asked quietly, "Then, what about the quota for entering the palace to watch the ceremony?"
This is what he is most worried about. If they break their promise, the three of them will become public enemies of the entire academy.
"Well," Gu Qingchen looked at Lin Jiayou with a flattering smile, "it depends on you."
Lin Jiayou raised his eyebrows: "Me?"
"That's right," Gu Qingchen said confidently, "Didn't you save the prince? Go find him and tell him that this is a token of our academy's sincere gratitude. If he's happy, maybe he'll relent."
"Besides, if my mother doesn't let me go, can't you two go? Then you can ask in person. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is so easy to talk to, he will definitely agree!"
She thought of things very simply.
Lin Jiayou was helpless. Did he save the prince? Wasn't that to help her?
Can you still identify yourself like this?
"What do you think the Eastern Palace is? You can't just ask for mercy. I can only try my best, but I can't guarantee anything."
"Just try your best!" Gu Qingchen immediately decided, "As long as you try your best, even if it doesn't work out in the end, we'll have something to say."
"At worst, I'll just return the extra money!"
The little abacus in her mind was clattering.
If she could hold off until after the prince's birthday, her jewelry business might have already taken off.
Even if she needs a refund, she will be able to get it back.
Looking at her cunning look, Lin Jiayou knew that this girl didn't take the "refund" seriously at all.
"Then where should I put this silver?" Qian Zhenyun held the heavy purse, feeling like he was holding a hot potato.
"Just put it where you are!" Gu Qingchen and Lin Jiayou said in unison.
Qian Zhenyun's face fell instantly.
Gu Qingchen patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "GunGun, think about it. If you leave the money with me, if my mother finds out, it will definitely be confiscated."
"It's not safe to leave it with Lin Jiayou, as there are too many people in Prince Yong's Mansion."
"You're the only one who's suitable!" Gu Qingchen analyzed. "Doctor Qian and Aunt Song are such nice people, they definitely won't go through your things."
"This important task is left to you!"
Qian Zhenyun wanted to cry but had no tears. Looking at the trusting eyes of his two companions, he could only make a bitter face and nodded heavily.
In Gu Qingchen's heart, a fiery flame was burning fiercely.
She seemed to have seen countless novel and unique pieces of jewelry being born from her hands, and also saw the white silver flowing into her pocket continuously.
As for the tricky "viewing quota", she put it behind her for the time being.
Right now, the most important thing is to find a craftsman who is highly skilled and reliable.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
