Even the crown prince is getting a marriage of convenience? Why are you in such a hurry to stop bein

Xiao Chunzi was clever but also timid. Xiao Lie put a little pressure on him and hinted that he had other clues. He squeezed all the information out of him and compared what he said with what others said. Xiao Lie had a general idea of ​​what was going on.

He lifted his eyelids, gave a faint "hmm," and said.

"You're honest enough. Get up."

Xiao Chunzi was filled with gratitude, her eyes gleaming with joy.

"What does Your Excellency mean?"

"I grant your permission."

A relaxed smile immediately appeared on Xiaochunzi's lips.

However, Xiao Lie knew that these pawns and spies were just appetizers; the real obstacle was the people behind them.

Within two days, Sixteen had roughly figured out the relationship behind it all.

"Your Highness, this Jinxiufang is a property of the Wang family, and the matriarch of the Wang family happens to have a distant relationship with Consort Shu. Perhaps she made contact through this kinship, and there's also that..."

Sixteen recounted the dozens of businesses listed above. After finishing, his mouth was dry, and he was about to find a bowl of water when he saw a young man sitting on a pearwood chair, his eyes closed in deep thought, a faint glint of light in his eyes.

He said leisurely, "This small procurement office is really full of hidden talents. People from the palace, the imperial court, and the common people are all involved."

"By the way, what happened to that procurement officer you mentioned last time?"

Sixteen's voice grew urgent and increasingly cautious. "He worked in this procurement office for three years, and was eventually found to have accepted bribes and embezzled funds. He was dragged out and executed by slow slicing. Of course, that was only the surface reason. It's said that he accepted money and chose the Wang family's goods instead of the Li family's, which is why..."

The Wang family is backed by Consort Shu, while the Li family is backed by Consort Xian. These two high-ranking concubines attack each other and are vying for the throne. The opportunist caught in the middle, who is enjoying the spoils, is destined to die without a trace. He could take a few steps and be blown to ashes by the wind.

After the death of the chief envoy, no one was found to replace him for a long time, which is why Xiao Lie, the deputy, ended up in charge of the entire procurement department.

The jade-inlaid folding fan landed in his palm with a muffled thud. The cool, hard jade left a chilling sensation on his palm, bringing a touch of clarity to the young man's complicated mind.

Based on all the information available, the two most powerful factions in the Procurement Office are naturally Consort Xian and Consort Shu. Consort Shu is on good terms with him, so as long as he takes care of them and lets them get what they deserve, Consort Shu will not have to make things difficult for them.

The most dangerous thing is Consort Xian. Her subordinates are slow to respond, and he only managed to dig out a few spies by piecing things together. As for the rest of them, if they are not found, they might stab him in the back at a crucial moment.

We need to choose a reliable person for this purchase.

Upon hearing Xiao Lie's purpose, Prince Jing's eyes lit up. He immediately ordered music and dancing to be played, wanting to properly entertain this god of wealth who had given him a money bag and gold.

Xiao Lie simply waved his hand, refusing.

"Your Highness, this matter should not be publicized. Who knows if there are eavesdroppers?"

King Jing was startled and immediately reacted, dismissing all the servants except for two reliable old servants who stood guard at the gate and courtyard entrance.

He personally carried the teapot, poured tea for Xiao Lie, and smiled.

"How does the Crown Prince intend to conduct this business?"

"As you know, Prince Jing, this birthday celebration for the Empress Dowager is a grand affair, and the fruits and fabrics required will certainly be plentiful. I can give all the business to the shops under your name, but you must guarantee that the goods delivered are of the highest quality. After the matter is settled, I want 50% of the net profit."

King Jing hesitated for a moment, but quickly agreed.

"Of course, of course. Since Your Highness is so generous, I naturally cannot disappoint you. Fifty percent, fifty percent."

While a 50% net profit margin is substantial, the demand within the palace is also significant. With unified procurement within the palace, the transaction volume is likely to be several times higher than during the Lunar New Year.

This deal is profitable, even very profitable.

He smiled and gently touched his teacup to Xiao Lie's hand. "Then please, Your Highness, be lenient. The more lenient Your Highness is, the more we can split the profits."

The idea was to get Xiao Lie to turn a blind eye and set the unit price higher, so that the profit would be greater.

"Of course, it's just a matter of quality..."

"I understand. I will have my trusted subordinates handle this deal personally and conduct a thorough inspection to ensure that it does not cause any trouble for the Crown Prince."

Xiao Lie smiled with satisfaction and gave it a slight touch.

In the quiet, dark room, a crisp sound like jade striking each other immediately rang out. The two exchanged a glance, their hearts in perfect harmony.

A clandestine transaction was quietly completed under the cover of darkness.

……

The shop deal that Xiao Lie had finalized quickly caused a huge uproar in the procurement department.

Some people were beaming with joy, thinking that once this matter was accomplished, they would surely be ecstatic, while others frowned, their eyes gloomy, hesitant to speak.

"Alright, that's settled then. Xiaochunzi, take two people to Jinxiufang and have them send over some trendy samples."

"Okay!"

After Xiaochunzi and her entourage left triumphantly, the main hall fell silent for a moment.

Xiao Lie looked at the people who were inexplicably silent, smiled, and his eyes were deep. Sure enough, as soon as he stepped out of the house, an old eunuch came up to greet him.

"Please wait, Vice Envoy."

Xiao Lie turned around and saw that the person who had come to call him was the old eunuch Fuqing, who had been very attentive to him and served him diligently since he left the procurement office.

The old eunuch flattered, "I have some important matters that are not convenient for outsiders to hear. I would be grateful if the Vice Envoy could come and find a quiet place to discuss them."

Xiao Lie nodded and followed Fu Qing to a secluded corner. Fu Qing hesitated for a moment before speaking tentatively.

"Your Excellency, is it not appropriate to place all the fabric transactions on Jinxiufang alone? The palace's needs this time are enormous. If Jinxiufang cannot supply enough, there could be a major disaster. It would be better to select several other suppliers to share the burden. Besides, having three suppliers makes it easier to negotiate prices."

"It's alright. I've already sent someone to inquire about this matter, and Jinxiufang has assured me that they've already sent people to make preparations, and there will be absolutely no surprises at this birthday banquet."

Upon hearing this, a hint of anxiety flashed in the old eunuch's eyes, and his tone became heavier, so he spoke frankly.

"Your Excellency, you are new here and may not be aware that this procurement office is connected to various businesses and is being watched by countless eyes. If you only allow Jinxiufang to eat and drink to their heart's content while the others can't even get a sip of soup, this may cause dissatisfaction."

"Sir, why not be lenient and make an exception? After this is done, you will not only have a smooth career, but you will also gain goodwill and benefits. Why not do it?"

Xiao Lie's eyes narrowed, but he still pretended to be angry.

"You audacious Fuqing, what do you mean by this? Are you trying to threaten me, the young master?"

Fuqing instinctively shuddered, wanting to kneel down immediately, but remembering the purpose of his trip, he quickly straightened his back and threatened through gritted teeth.