Martial Arts Crossover: It All Started with Hijacking Li Canghai

Not long after, Jiang Wuyang called out from outside.

Then Aunt Xue led Xue Baochai in from outside, and the two of them knelt on the ground as soon as they entered the main hall.

They still performed the most elaborate kneeling salute.

Aunt Xue looked to be in her early forties, and she was wearing a purple brocade dress.

Xue Baochai stood beside her mother, dressed in a light blue dress, exuding a dignified and gentle temperament.

Qin Han, sitting in the main seat, didn't quite understand the strategies of these two.

"You two have traveled all the way to Hangzhou, surely not just to kowtow to me?"

Aunt Xue trembled slightly and glanced back at her daughter with a hint of unease. Xue Baochai met her gaze and nodded gently to her mother.

Aunt Xue then spoke up.

"Your Highness! Please save the Xue family!"

Qin Han's expression didn't change much.

"The Xue family are the imperial merchants of Jinling, backed by the Jia and Rong families, and also supported by the Wang family. Why would they need my help?"

Upon hearing this, Aunt Xue's eyes welled up with tears.

"It's all because of that Jia Sidao!"

"He forced my Xue family to hand over a million yuan worth of imperial salt permits and our family fortune, and even threatened my eldest son Xue Pan with his life!"

"My son, Xue Pan, is currently being held at the Rong Mansion. They say he's a guest, but he's really a hostage!"

Aunt Xue got a little excited when she started talking.

"The Xue family has nowhere to go in Lin'an. We beg Your Highness for mercy!"

Before Qin Han could figure out what was going on, his gaze turned to Xue Baochai, who was kneeling to the side. This girl had maintained an unusually quiet demeanor since she entered the room.

"Don't you want to say anything?"

Xue Baochai then looked at Qin Han, who was sitting in the main seat.

"Your Highness, may I ask a question?"

"Are you aware that Jia Sidao asked me to approach the Prince as his goddaughter?"

Qin Han raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"Now I know."

Xue Baochai was clearly a little nervous.

"Does Your Highness know why I told the truth?"

The Qin and Han dynasties are neither confirmed nor denied.

"continue."

Xue Baochai took a breath.

"Because I, Xue Baochai, do not want to be anyone's pawn."

"Jia Sidao wants to use my looks to curry favor with the prince, but why should my Xue family be his stepping stone?"

"If my daughter and I tell the truth now, we can still gain the prince's approval. But if we hide it, we'll end up pleasing neither side."

Xue Baochai paused for a moment.

"Besides..."

Qin Han asked casually.

"Besides what?"

Xue Baochai's cheeks flushed slightly.

"Besides, the Prince's influence extends throughout Sichuan and half of Jiangnan. I don't believe Jia Sidao won't be afraid of me whispering in the Prince's ear in the future!"

Qin Han couldn't help but smile.

This woman has a very interesting way of speaking.

Aunt Xue tugged at her daughter's sleeve.

"Baochai..."

Xue Baochai turned around and patted her mother's hand on the back.

Surprisingly, the daughter was the one in control between the mother and daughter.

"Mother, since we're going to pledge allegiance to the Prince, we should be honest."

"Trying to cover it up is actually a bad idea."

Qin Han walked up to Xue Baochai and looked down at this woman who spoke and acted with great composure.

"Tell me the truth, and I am pleased."

"But you should know that a few words of truth are not enough for me to protect your Xue family."

Xue Baochai took out a thick account book from her sleeve and held it above her head.

"My Xue family owns more than 300 cloth shops, pawnshops, and granaries in various provinces. These are all detailed accounts."

"The Xue family is willing to offer 90% of its assets as... a dowry, with both hands!"

Her voice trembled noticeably when she mentioned the word "dowry".

"I only beg Your Highness to protect my mother and brother!"

Qin Han took the account book and flipped through it casually. The numbers recorded on it were densely packed, and the cash reserves alone amounted to nearly 800,000 taels.

This doesn't even include the shops and inventory scattered across various locations. The Xue family truly deserves the title of imperial merchants for generations, and their wealth is indeed substantial.

Aunt Xue stopped crying at this moment.

She watched her daughter's retreating figure, feeling a mix of emotions she couldn't quite describe.

She had originally planned to go along with Jia Sidao's wishes, but her daughter had thoroughly analyzed the pros and cons for her on the way here.

The King of Qin was a powerful vassal king whom even the emperor had to be wary of.

Jia Sidao had only been in the court for a few more years; now that the Chai family had replaced the Xue family as the new imperial merchants, the Xue family had long since run out of options.

Xue Baochai took off a jade pendant hanging around her neck, which was carved with a delicate pattern of nine orifices.

She held it in both hands and presented it to Qin Han.

"Your Highness, this is the Nine-Aperture Jade Pendant from the Xue family's inner treasury."

"It is not only a token of my love, Xue Baochai, but also the key to the Xue family's private treasury."

Qin Han took the jade pendant, his fingertips slightly touching her palm as he picked it up.

Xue Baochai's fingers trembled slightly, and a blush rose on her cheeks.

Qin Han simply helped her up from the ground.

"You have a lot of personality, unlike other women. Since you've gone this far in your sincerity..."

"Then I'll give you a straight answer."

Xue Baochai's breathing became somewhat rapid.

Qin Han looked into her eyes.

"I will send someone to bring your elder brother Xue Pan out; Jia Sidao won't make things difficult for him."

Aunt Xue was a little scared.

"Your Highness...is everything you're saying true?"

Qin Han turned his head and glanced at her.

Why would I, a mere woman, deceive you?

Upon hearing this, Aunt Xue burst into tears again, and bent down, intending to kneel down and kowtow once more.

Xue Baochai quickly reached out and supported her mother's arm.

"Mother, please don't do this. It's not good to lose your composure in front of the Prince."

Qin Han watched Xue Baochai's every move with genuine admiration. This woman was indeed very intelligent, not only speaking with tact but also knowing when to advance and retreat.

This is much better than those who cry endlessly whenever something happens.

Qin Han called out towards the door.

"Jiang Wuyang".

Jiang Wuyang immediately strode in from outside.

"Your subordinate is here!"

Qin Han instructed, "Isn't Wei Bat King quite idle in Chengdu? Have him go to the Rongguo Mansion for me and bring that Xue Pan out of the Jia Mansion."

"Understood!"

Jiang Wuyang made the arrangements immediately after replying.

Aunt Xue was no stranger to the Ming Cult's reputation, especially Wei Yixiao, one of the Four Great Protectors, the Green-Winged Bat King.

Having this person intervene was already a great favor. At most, Jia Sidao would just grumble and curse, essentially doing all the work for the mother and daughter. He would never dare to actually kill Xue Pan.

Xue Baochai's eyes welled up with tears.

"Your Highness's great kindness will be forever remembered by Baochai."

Qin Han chuckled casually.

"Didn't you say this was for your dowry? Then your brother is family, so there's no question of favors or obligations between us."

Upon hearing this, Xue Baochai's cheeks flushed even redder, and her girlish modesty made her avoid Qin Han's gaze.

Shi Qingxuan had already reached the door at some point. "Oh, is Your Highness about to add another concubine?"