While Lan Linxue was enjoying herself, Lan Xiuyuan didn't sleep a wink all night.
Even if he wanted to sleep, those bastards like Jiang Ming would never let him, because a million taels of silver really couldn't be earned in a single day!
They would cry and scream, even threaten to slit their own throats, doing anything to get Fifth Master to cover the debt.
Lan Linxue, the crown prince of the Killing Heaven Blade, is unreliable in everything else, but when it comes to confiscating property and exterminating clans, he's worth ten of them.
There was once a fourth-rank official in the Northwest who, just because he scared Lan Linxue's horse, not only had his house turned upside down, but his entire family was also exiled.
Therefore, when Lan Linxue asked them to raise one million taels of silver in one day, they made up their minds that it would be better to cry themselves to death at Lan Xiuyuan's door than to have their home confiscated and be exiled by Lan Linxue. At least that way they could protect their wives, children, and elderly parents.
Lan Xiuyuan stared at the group of people below, weeping bitterly, his face grim.
Didn't these people consider that he was also a patient with injuries? Didn't they consider that if he took out the money now, Lan Linxue would press her advantage and look for the remaining one or two million in deficit?
Lan Xiuyuan coldly swept his gaze across the faces of these people one by one. They were not only a bunch of pigs, but also pigs who only knew how to drink his blood.
Seeing that Lan Xiuyuan was exhausted and about to lose his temper, Feng Zhouyuan, despite his injuries, still sat down beside him.
Unable to bear the selfishness of these people any longer, Feng Zhouyuan tapped the table with his hand: "Gentlemen! Can you please stop making so much noise? Fifth Master has been working hard all day! Can't you give him a break?"
At this point, everyone fell silent, and only then did they realize that Lan Xiuyuan's expression had become very bad!
Feng Zhouyuan glanced at the people around him with a hint of extreme annoyance and said slowly, "There are always priorities in things. It's just one million taels of silver. Is it really necessary for your Yangzhou officials to be so frightened? Don't even mention that those salt merchants and brocade weavers used to fawn over you. Even the money they took from the treasury shouldn't have caused you to act so improperly!"
After catching his breath, Feng Zhouyuan continued, "You're asking me to help you get the money? That's even more difficult. You all know that Fifth Prince is in Jiangnan on official business. How do you think a prince on official business would carry millions of taels of silver? How do you expect him to help you gentlemen?"
The people below remained silent, but Lan Xiuyuan spoke coldly, "I know how they want me to help them!"
After saying that, Lan Xiuyuan glanced around menacingly and said, word by word, "Isn't it all about the birthday gift for the Prime Minister? As long as I agree to give this money to Lan Linxue first, then even if you feel sorry for the Prime Minister later, it will be my fault and have nothing to do with you, right?"
No one spoke, but their expressions clearly conveyed their intention—that was the meaning.
"Then let me make my meaning clear and concise, so that you gentlemen may not have any further misunderstandings!"
As he spoke, Lan Xiuyuan slowly sat up, and the maid next to him quickly went over to help him up and put a soft cushion under him.
Moreover, as Lan Xiuyuan sat up, the others naturally straightened their posture and became more respectful.
Lan Xiuyuan looked calmly at the crowd below and slowly said, "The Prime Minister's birthday gifts must not be less than a penny!"
Immediately, people below burst into loud, wailing cries.
Lan Xiuyuan frowned, glanced at Hu Feifan beside him, and then closed his eyes with a hint of weariness.
Hu Feifan, with a cold face and without saying a word, went up and used the hilt of his knife to knock down each of the adults who were crying the most to the ground.
“If anyone is still crying, this is what happens! If you have no manners in front of Fifth Master, you're not leaving this room!”
Hu Feifan's words were calm and even, but the crying below miraculously disappeared in an instant.
Lan Xiuyuan really didn't want to look at these people anymore. He slowly stood up with the person next to him and sat down on the chair below. The people below bowed their heads again as required.
"You have to bear the consequences of your own actions. The Prime Minister is already so old, and you still want to make trouble for his birthday gifts? You can do such a thing, but I can't stand by and watch! So, you'll have to figure out this one million taels yourselves. Yangzhou has no shortage of real gold and silver. I think with your intelligence, you'll definitely come up with a solution!"
After saying that, Lan Xiuyuan sighed again and slowly said:
"When it rains, a mother remarries; everyone's life is their own responsibility!"
After saying that, he patted the seat, and immediately someone lifted the soft seat and carried Lan Xiuyuan away.
Jiang Ming watched Lan Xiuyuan leave, then looked up and opened his mouth as if to say something, but in the end, he choked on his words and couldn't utter a single sentence.
Turning his head, he saw Feng Zhouyuan and wanted to say a few words to him, but Feng Zhouyuan gave him no chance and followed Lan Xiuyuan out.
Jiang Ming was utterly disappointed, and a feeling of hatred for Lan Xiuyuan arose in his heart.
These Lan brothers are truly a case of the older brother holding the rope and the younger brother kicking the stool. Neither of them is a good person.
Hu Feifan glanced at the people around him with a cold face, and said in a gloomy, low voice, "Gentlemen, aren't you going back to prepare the money? There's not much time left before the Crown Prince's deadline!"
Quiet whispers immediately arose around them, and then the people eventually walked away dejectedly in groups.
After leaving Lan Xiuyuan's residence, Jiang Ming turned his head with a gloomy expression and glanced at the two large lanterns swaying at the door, a vicious look in his eyes.
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