The Great Ming Demon Pill: Your Majesty, please address me as the Crown Prince!

Chen An was puzzled.

Chen Rui, on the other hand, was somewhat curious.

How old can this cousin be? What big business could he possibly have?

However, given Zhu Yong's current status, he still gave Zhu Yi the respect she deserved, even though she was younger than him.

"Brother, what kind of business?"

Zhu Yi chuckled.

"His Highness the Third Prince has a business that requires investment."

"As long as we invest money now, we'll get a 5% return every three days."

"Invest for five days and you'll get a 10% return."

"Invest for half a month and you can get a 40% return."

"Brother Rui, this is a big money-making business. I don't tell just anyone this, not even my own cousin."

Chen Rui's eyes widened.

"Is there really such a good thing?"

"Could it be a scam?"

As soon as the words were spoken, Zhu Yi glared at him.

"Cousin, what are you saying?"

"Would His Highness the Third Prince lie?"

Chen Rui looked embarrassed.

Zhu Yi said solemnly.

"His Highness the Third Prince said that investment involves risks, and one should be cautious when entering the industry."

"But how can you make money without taking risks?"

"You can get a 40% rebate in just half a month!"

"This is like a windfall!"

"Cousin, this is such a great opportunity, you might miss it!"

"Moreover, His Highness the Third Prince said that we can try casting for three days first."

"Absolutely no coercion, everything is voluntary."

Chen Rui's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

If that's the case, then it's definitely worth a try.

The red envelopes he receives each year, plus the money he saves, can amount to several hundred strings of cash.

If you can double your money in half a month, that's like making money while lying down.

It should be noted that even for a large family with a duke's title, the annual income from land and shops is only a few tens of thousands of strings of cash.

Take a gamble, and a few hundred coins can turn into a thousand!

Besides, with his cousin around, there shouldn't be any problems.

................

British Duchy.

Zhang Mao looked at the group of friends in front of him and spoke eloquently.

"...His Highness the Third Prince said that investment involves risks."

"However, the bigger the waves, the more expensive the fish!"

"Wanting to make money without taking risks? That's a scam!"

"Everyone, the opportunity to make big money is right in front of you."

"I've told you before, if you're reluctant to invest money now, don't be envious when others make money later."

"Don't say I, Zhang Mao, am disloyal when the time comes, or I won't stand for it."

The group of teenagers in front of him had their eyes shining.

"Mao-ge'er is right!"

"Isn't this making money while lying down?"

"Maoge'er is too Silverwing."

"Just based on what Mao-ge said, I'll bet five hundred strings of cash!"

"..."

These spoiled brats from wealthy and powerful families are usually strictly disciplined by their parents.

Although the family was wealthy, they didn't have much money at their disposal.

After all, they are still young.

However, mischievous children have always liked to defy their parents' discipline.

Right now there's an opportunity to make a fortune, to eat whatever they want, and to play whatever they want—it's like Wu Zetian losing her husband, Li Zhi (her rationality)!

....................

The Marquis of Anyuan's residence.

"You can get a 50% rebate in just three days?"

"What kind of business is this?"

Liu Wen stared at his nephew in shock.

Liu Zhong shook his head and said.

"His Highness said it was something like a sugar business."

"We need money to invest now."

"His Highness also said that once this business has raised enough funds, it will no longer seek further investment. Those who want to invest should hurry!"

"Fourth Uncle, I know you still have some savings on the side!"

"This is a fantastic opportunity to make money!"

Liu Wen looked conflicted.

"This is my secret stash of money that I painstakingly hid behind your aunt's back."

Liu Zhong immediately replied.

"Fourth Uncle, how can a man remain subservient to a woman for long?"

"If you seize this opportunity to make a fortune, you'll definitely impress your fourth aunt."

Liu Wen's expression shifted between light and dark.

Every family has some spoiled brats who are neither good enough nor bad enough.

He belongs to this category.

His family is powerful and influential, but that has nothing to do with him.

He idles away his days, but he never has enough money.

The money-making opportunity his nephew was offering him was making him incredibly eager to get started.

You can get a 40% rebate in just half a month; that's faster than robbing someone.

If he really makes a profit, it will be a huge sum of money.

Excitement immediately rose in Liu Wen's eyes.

He gritted his teeth and said.

"Alright, nephew."

"I voted!"

........................

Three days later.

Qianyuan Palace.

"Here, this is the first batch of rebates. Take them all and deliver them to the right people," Zhu Zhanjun instructed the eunuchs beside him while looking at the ledger.

Not far from him were boxes of Yongle Tongbao coins and Daming Baochao coins.

The Ming Dynasty's paper money was truly ruined by Emperor Taizu.

The actual face value will be significantly reduced.

However, these privileged sons of noble families received a lot of money.

In front of him, Zhu Zhanxi, Zhang Mao, Li Heng, Liu Zhong, Zheng Yu and others stood together with smiles.

Zhu Zhanjun glanced at them.

"Yours won't be left out either."

"Here, this is what we promised you."

He moved the packages next to him aside.

Zhu Zhanxi, Zhang Mao, Li Heng, Liu Zhong, Zheng Yu and others' eyes lit up immediately.

The Third Prince promised them a reward if they secured investment.

Although it's not much, the more people you recruit, the more substantial the sum becomes.

The children laughed and chatted as they divided the money.

Zhang Mao couldn't help but say.

"Third Prince, how about we place a bet too?"

Upon hearing this, the others also stared intently at Zhu Zhanjun.

Zhu Zhanjun glanced at them.

"Can."

"But it's pointless to invest just a little."

"Going all in on poker is a sign of wisdom!"

"I suggest you go all in!"

The crowd immediately cheered.

"All in!"

"All in!"

"All in!"

......................

The Eastern Palace.

Zhu Zhanji put down the "Zizhi Tongjian" in his hand and let out a long sigh of relief.

Sunlight streamed in through the carved lattice window, casting bright patches of light on the blue brick floor.

He rubbed his slightly sore neck, feeling that reading for days on end was rather tedious.

"Jin Banban," he called out.

The personal eunuch Jin Ying, who was standing to the side, quickly bowed and stepped forward: "What are your orders, Your Highness?"

"Any interesting things happening in or outside the palace lately? Staring at these old papers all day is really boring." Zhu Zhanji picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Jin Ying hesitated for a moment, then smiled slightly: "Your Highness, if we're talking about interesting things... I overheard some of the servants gossiping about something quite interesting."

"Oh? Tell me about it." Zhu Zhanji put down his teacup, showing interest.

"It's the Third Prince of the Han Prince's Mansion, Prince Zhanjun." Jin Ying carefully chose her words, lowering her voice slightly. "It's said that this young prince has recently started doing business in the Grand Hall..."

"Doing business?" Zhu Zhanji raised an eyebrow, finding it somewhat unbelievable.

What kind of business can a six or seven-year-old imperial grandson do in school?

"That's right." Jin Ying nodded and continued, "I heard it from the eunuchs and palace maids who often go out. They told me all sorts of things."

"It is said that the Third Prince set up some kind of 'class committee' in the hall, and became the 'class leader' himself, and also appointed a lot of 'committee members' and 'subject representatives'. That's not all, he even collected 'class fees' from the noble sons in the hall, and collected a lot of money in total."

Zhu Zhanji found it somewhat amusing.

It was nothing more than children playing around, using money to buy some snacks.

He was already thirteen years old and had absolutely no interest in the things that seven- or eight-year-old children did.

Zhu Zhanji said with little interest.

"That's all?"

Jin Ying shook her head, her expression somewhat strange: "If that's all there is to it, it's not surprising."

"Then the Third Prince turned around and told the outside world... that he was making some kind of 'investment'."

"Investment?" Zhu Zhanji was taken aback.

The word sounded a bit unfamiliar.

"Yes, it's an investment," Jin Ying explained. "I heard that the Third Prince came up with some kind of 'project' that requires capital. He made those who paid money 'investors' and promised to give them 'returns' based on the time and amount invested."

"Some say a three-day investment yields a 50% return; a five-day investment yields a 10% return; and if you invest for a full half-month, you can get as much as 40% back!"

Zhu Zhanji's previously nonchalant expression gradually faded, and he sat up straight, somewhat surprised.

Although he was young, as the crown prince, he had been exposed to politics and economics since childhood and was quite sensitive to the amount of money.

"Half a percent? One percent? Forty percent? Forty percent rebate after half a month?"

His brows furrowed slightly.

"Where in the world is there such a good thing? Even the most profitable salt trade doesn't yield such high profits. What kind of business could a child possibly be doing to generate such great wealth?"

Jin Ying whispered, "That's what I thought too. But the strange thing is, I heard that His Highness the Third Prince really kept his promise and returned the interest to the first batch of investors."

"Now this matter is not only being spread among the young masters of the main hall, but even their relatives, servants, and even some palace servants and relatives who have heard the news are tempted to get involved."

"These past few days, some rumors have been circulating outside the palace."

Zhu Zhanji's eyes gradually widened.

They actually paid out of pocket!

He couldn't help but say.

"Did he specify what kind of 'project' he was going to do with the money?"

Kim Young recalled the bits and pieces of information she had heard.

"There are differing opinions."

"Some say it's about the sugar business, some say it's about discovering some novel product, and some say it's even more mysterious... The Third Prince himself doesn't seem to have said it explicitly, only emphasizing that 'the bigger the storm, the more expensive the fish,' and that investing is voluntary and the risk is borne by the investor."

"That being said, more and more people are investing money."

"I heard that many noble young men from the Duke of Ying's mansion, the Marquis of Wu'an, the Marquis of Anyuan, the Marquis of Fengcheng, and other families have joined in. In particular, Master Liu from the Marquis of Anyuan's mansion invested two thousand strings of cash and earned one hundred strings in just three days!"

"It's said that Master Liu was overjoyed and invested another eight thousand strings of cash, for half a month straight! That half month would bring in a return of three thousand two hundred strings of cash! Master Liu is just waiting to collect his money!"

Jin Ying clicked her tongue in amazement, completely unaware that Zhu Zhanji's gaze was gradually becoming more intense.

Zhu Zhanji's throat moved.

He is thirteen years old now, no longer an innocent child.

Even innocent children have a desire for a luxurious life!

Besides, he is the eldest grandson of the emperor!

Unfortunately, his father, in order to appear simple and honest in front of his imperial grandfather, kept his pockets completely empty!

Wear old clothes, eat coarse food, refuse precious treasures, and reduce your entourage!

Even the Eastern Palace is extremely simple in its use and furnishings, a pure showroom.

His father was incredibly strict with him, forbidding him from wearing fancy clothes, asking for rare items, or indulging in extravagant banquets.

Zhu Zhanji's clothing, food, housing, and transportation were all conducted according to the "minimum standard," even stricter than that of ordinary princes, because Zhu Gaochi was afraid that his "luxury" would give Zhu Di a handle to use against him, jeopardizing his position as crown prince.

It would be a lie to say that I don't envy the luxurious lifestyles of other nobles.

However, as the eldest son of the crown prince, he was well aware of his own limitations.

My father often said, "Saving money is loving the people!"

But surely you can spend the money you earn yourself?

This is what Zhu Zhanji was thinking.