"One hundred thousand taels?"
Meng Qingqian knew very well what 100,000 taels meant; it was the annual tax revenue of a small county, and could also support a thousand elite soldiers for several years.
"Too many?" He Yunxiao asked with a smile.
“Too many,” Meng Qingqian said.
“Okay, then less. Just name your price,” He Yunxiao said casually.
Meng Qingqian pondered for a moment, a faint smile appearing on her lips, "Ten thousand taels."
He Yunxiao slammed his hand on the table and said, "Alright, deal, ten thousand taels it is."
He pushed the wooden box forward, saying, "You take the silver notes, and I'll give you the handkerchief next."
Meng Qing smiled faintly, not mentioning the silver notes, but murmured, "Let me think, what kind of business can I do with ten thousand taels?"
He Yunxiao: ?
Good heavens, I was so naive! The antidote girl is still scheming! I underestimated her!
"I can't do any big business, I just help the shops on the street sell more things," He Yunxiao said, half-jokingly.
"What street?"
"North-facing Street".
"What kind of business?"
"Consumption vouchers".
Meng Qingqian frowned. As someone in a position of power, she naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to ask, "What are consumption vouchers?" For someone in power like her, maintaining an air of "omniscience" and "mystery" was essential to gaining the respect of the people.
"Hmm." Meng Qingqian agreed first, and then asked, "Why not ask your father? The dignified Marquis of Wuqing shouldn't be unable to come up with even ten thousand taels, right?"
Since he didn't intend to win over the girl who had the antidote, He Yunxiao had no reservations about protecting his favorability rating. He said directly, "I plan to make money from money and go to Chunfeng Tower to redeem the girl. My father will never agree, so I can't ask him for money."
Li Qingmeng's favorability rating has decreased from 35 to 30.
Meng Qingqian had initially thought that He Yunxiao, who had made such solemn vows to Nan Zhu, was no good, but she hadn't expected him to be so utterly worthless. A legitimate son of a marquis, resorting to business to earn money to redeem a girl—he had truly lost all sense of shame befitting a marquis.
She said dismissively, "Hmph, redeeming Miss doesn't require borrowing ten thousand taels. A few dozen taels will suffice."
"She's the most beautiful courtesan," He Yunxiao kindly explained.
"So what if she's the most beautiful courtesan? She won't cost a thousand taels."
He Yunxiao sighed, "It's my sister Jiang, Jiang Wuyou."
Meng Qingqian fell silent for a moment.
Even she remembered the name Jiang Wuyou. At her mother's birthday banquet, this girl's dance was breathtaking, not only making the Great Qi Dynasty look good in front of the envoys from various countries, but also making her mother quite happy for a while. For a period of time, she talked about watching the dance every day.
How much silver would it cost to redeem her?
He Yunxiao confessed, "My sister said it would cost at least ten thousand taels."
"That might not be enough."
"That's why I'm asking you for money to start a business."
Looking at He Yunxiao's unreliable attitude, Meng Qingqian asked doubtfully, "She's willing to be with you?"
He Yunxiao replied without hesitation, "Of course."
"I won't lend it." Meng Qingqian said firmly.
He Yunxiao coughed and touched the wooden box containing the handkerchiefs again. "Have you thought it through?"
Meng Qingqian was confident in her strong will. Whether it was the physical and mental exhaustion from worrying about the court and politics every day, the constant danger of being assassinated, or the physical pain or the endless pressure and torment on her mind, she was confident that she could get through it all.
But the strength that allowed her to endure hardship was built on her pride, which was something called "Princess of the Great Qi", "Elder Sister of the Emperor" and "Your Highness Xiaoyue".
But He Yunxiao's handkerchief was an object capable of destroying that pride. Like the death gate of martial arts, or the switch of a mecha monster.
Meng Qingqian didn't want to recall that version of herself, that mischievous girl, so different from what she was supposed to be.
Whenever He Yunxiao took out his handkerchief, it was like taking out a "Qinggang Sword" that could provide no protection, ruthlessly bypassing her layers of defense and directly poking into the deepest, most vulnerable part of her heart.
When He Yunxiao touched the wooden box, a blush of vulnerability appeared on Meng Qingqian's face.
"I've thought it through, I won't lend it," she said firmly.
"You won't lend it, huh? Fine, I'll take the handkerchief to my good brother Li Jin tomorrow. Oh dear, I haven't seen my good brother Li Jin for several days." He Yunxiao said, pretending to be nonchalant.
Upon hearing the name "Li Jin," Meng Qingqian completely lost her composure.
She usually presented herself as a cool and composed elder to Li Jin. If Li Jin knew she had another side—a simpleton who drooled and needed someone to wipe his mouth for him—she would have no face left to live on. She might as well find a well and commit suicide right now.
"No..." Meng Qingqian lowered her eyes, her tone even pleading.
He Yunxiao sighed. He didn't mean to make things difficult for the girl who wanted the antidote. Lending money is something that should be done amicably. Besides, he had the Marquis's mansion backing him; he couldn't possibly be a deadbeat. It was just that this girl, whether intentionally or not, was incredibly stubborn, refusing to lend him even ten thousand taels of silver.
“Miss Li,” He Yunxiao finally softened a little after seeing that the girl who had been tricked by him had “done the antidote.” “If you don’t have ten thousand taels, I certainly won’t borrow it from you. But if you really have the money, please lend it to me. At worst, I’ll add 20% as interest on the money you borrowed from me a month later.”
"Forty percent," Meng Qingqian said indifferently.
grass
Just a moment ago she looked like a pitiful victim, but in less than two breaths she turned on you. You're something else, you stinky antidote!
"At most 30%." He Yunxiao gritted his teeth.
"Thirty percent, and give me the handkerchief again." Meng Qingqian negotiated with He Yunxiao with a blank expression.
"Then give me back my martial arts novels," He Yunxiao continued, adding fuel to the fire.
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