The Great Song Dynasty: You were put in charge of teaching, and you produced a whole bunch of prime

Bianjing City, the Imperial Palace.

In a side hall of the Funing Palace, Zhao Lingjun sat in front of his dressing table, deep in thought.

Although her "planting the seed" plan in the harem was a great success, the Empress Dowager and the concubines were all fooled.

But right now, there is a very real problem facing her.

money.

Jiang Lin said that someone needs to "bid" for the auction tomorrow.

To manipulate prices, you need to have some real money in hand; otherwise, it's like trying to get something for nothing, and it's easy to get caught.

"I invested all four hundred strings of cash of my secret stash into the brick kiln..."

Zhao Lingjun sighed, resting his chin on his hand. "I should have saved some money. Should I ask Mother for it now? No way, she'll definitely ask me what I'm going to do with it. Should I ask my brother? He's dirt poor himself."

Her gaze swept aimlessly around the palace, finally settling on a certain direction at the other end of the Imperial Garden.

That place is—the Imperial Study.

Zhao Lingjun's eyes darted around, and a sly smile appeared on his lips.

"My father is usually very stingy, but I heard he has a secret stash of money..."

Fifteen minutes later.

A small, thin figure dressed in the attire of a low-ranking palace maid appeared furtively outside the Imperial Study.

It was the time for the morning court session. Emperor Renzong was listening to the ministers arguing in the Chuigong Hall. Apart from a few eunuchs sweeping the imperial study, there weren't many people around.

Zhao Lingjun knew this place like the back of her hand. When she was a child, she often sneaked into this area to steal snacks from the Imperial Study.

She skillfully evaded the patrolling guards and, like a nimble cat, climbed in through the side window.

It landed silently.

The Imperial Study was quiet, with only the scent of ambergris lingering in the air.

Zhao Lingjun didn't dare to delay and went straight to the innermost shelf. She remembered clearly that once when she was a child, she was playing hide-and-seek here and saw her father hide a mahogany box behind a thick book called "Zizhi Tongjian".

She tiptoed and reached behind the bookshelf for a while.

"Click".

With a soft click, the hidden compartment popped open.

Zhao Lingjun was overjoyed and reached out to take out the heavy mahogany box.

The moment she opened the box, her eyes were dazzled.

The gleaming gold ingots were neatly stacked inside. Below them was a thick stack of flying coins, all issued by Tongbao Money Shop, the largest money shop in Bianjing, redeemable on demand, with the smallest denomination being one hundred strings of cash.

"hiss--"

Zhao Lingjun gasped in shock: "Father is actually this rich?! He always complains to me about being poor, saying the national treasury is empty and we need to be frugal, even deducting from my monthly allowance!"

She angrily grabbed the stack of coins and counted them.

"One thousand...two thousand...six thousand...a full six thousand strings of cash!"

Zhao Lingjun's hands were trembling. This was a huge sum of money!

She hesitated for three seconds.

Take it all? No way, Father will be furious if he finds out, and he'll turn the palace upside down, which would be a real problem.

Half? Hmm, three thousand strings of cash should be enough.

Zhao Lingjun quickly counted out three thousand strings of cash and stuffed them into her pocket. Then, she thought for a moment, picked up a pen from her desk, tore off a piece of paper, and wrote a line of words in a crooked hand:

"Borrow three thousand strings of cash, with 10% interest, to be repaid in one month. —Daughter"

After writing, she placed the note under the remaining gold ingots, closed the box, and put it back in the hidden compartment.

"Father, I'm just trying to make money for you."

Zhao Lingjun patted his bulging chest, satisfied, and prepared to retreat.

However, if you walk by the river often enough, you're bound to get your shoes wet.

Just as Zhao Lingjun climbed out the window, ready to make a quick getaway, he bumped into a young eunuch carrying a tea tray.

"Ouch!"

The young eunuch stumbled from the impact, nearly dropping the tea tray he was carrying. He steadied himself, looked closely, and seeing it was an unfamiliar palace maid, immediately raised his eyebrows and shouted:

"How dare you! Which palace are you from? What are you doing here so suspiciously? Don't you know this is the Imperial Study, a place of utmost importance?!"

Zhao Lingjun's heart skipped a beat.

Oh no, we've been caught red-handed!

She instinctively wanted to cover her face, but then she thought that she was dressed as a palace maid, and if she ran away, it would only make her more suspicious.

So she took a deep breath, slowly raised her head, revealing her beautiful and refined face, and at the same time adopted her usual aloof and superior demeanor.

"Do you think I'm who I am?"

The young eunuch paused for a moment, then used the sunlight to get a clear look at the face.

The next second, his knees buckled, and he knelt on the ground with a thud, the tea tray in his hand shattering into pieces with a crash.

"Your Highness...Princess?! This servant deserves to die! This servant was blind! This servant..."

"Shh-"

Zhao Lingjun raised a finger, making a shushing gesture.

The little eunuch quickly shut his mouth, trembling all over, not daring to lift his head.

"I just came to see if Father Emperor had finished court and wanted to give him a surprise," Zhao Lingjun said with a straight face, making up a lie. "Since Father Emperor isn't here, I'll be leaving now."

She walked up to the young eunuch, bent down, and threatened in a low voice:

"Remember, you didn't see anything today. But if I hear even a whisper of it..."

She made a throat-slitting motion.

The young eunuch was terrified and kowtowed frantically, crying, "I understand! I didn't see anything! I'm blind today!"

"You're smart to know what's good for you."

Zhao Lingjun clapped his hands and swaggered away.

After leaving the palace, Zhao Lingjun found a secluded spot to change back into men's clothing. With three thousand strings of cash in his pocket, he hummed a tune all the way back to Jingshi Academy.

It was already completely dark by then.

Qian Duoduo was squatting by the door, as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. The auction was tomorrow, and if no one bid, the whole thing would be a disaster.

"Young Master Zhao! My goodness! You've finally returned!"

Upon seeing Zhao Lingjun, Qian Duoduo almost burst into tears: "Where have you been all day? The master has asked me so many times!"

Without wasting any words, Zhao Lingjun pulled out a thick stack of flying coins from his pocket and slapped it in front of Qian Duoduo.

"Snapped!"

"Count them, is that enough?"

Qian Duoduo was stunned for a moment, picked up the flying money and looked at it, her eyes almost popped out of their sockets.

"This...this is..."

His hands trembled as he counted, "Three...three thousand strings of cash?! Did you rob a bank?!"

Zhao Lingjun waved his hand calmly: "It's pocket money from home. Take it and use it. Tomorrow, follow my instructions."

After saying that, she yawned and went back to her room to sleep.

Qian Duoduo was left holding the stack of flying money, standing bewildered in the cold wind.

Pocket money?

Who gives out 3,000 strings of cash as pocket money?!

Meanwhile, in the Imperial Study of the Palace.

Emperor Renzong had just returned from court, his head throbbing from the clamor of his ministers. He habitually dismissed his attendants, walked to the bookshelf, opened a hidden compartment, and sought some solace in checking his personal stash of money.

However, the moment he opened the mahogany box...

Emperor Renzong was stunned.

The box, which was originally full, is now more than half empty.

The thick stack of flying money had disappeared, leaving only a light, flimsy piece of paper.

Emperor Renzong picked up the note with trembling hands, and saw that familiar, crooked handwriting written on it:

"Borrow three thousand strings of cash, with 10% interest, to be repaid in one month. —Daughter"

"..."

A deathly silence fell over the Imperial Study.

"Jia Ning—!!!"

A roar pierced through the roof of the imperial study, startling the birds outside into flight.

"You brat! You dare steal my secret stash of money! You just wait!!!"

Zhang Maoze, the chief eunuch standing nearby, trembled with fear, wishing he could shrink into a crack in the ground and pretend he was invisible.

Emperor Renzong was so angry that he paced around his study three times, his chest heaving violently.

But he did not order a pursuit.

Because he knew that if that girl dared to leave a note, she must have already disappeared. And...

Emperor Renzong picked up the note and glanced at it again.

"Ten percent interest?"

His brows gradually relaxed, and a hint of doubt and curiosity flashed in his eyes.

This girl usually spends money recklessly and has never known the meaning of making money. This time she actually wants to pay back the money, and even wants interest?

"That's interesting..."

Emperor Renzong stroked his chin, a playful smile playing on his lips:

"I want to see what tricks you can pull with my three thousand strings of cash. If you dare to lose my money..."

He snorted coldly:

"I'll break your legs!"