After saving the Empress, I became the top scholar in the imperial examination.

Inside the Sujin Pavilion, Liu Xin bent his knees and knelt down with a thud.

He kowtowed repeatedly, his head hitting the floor, tears streaming down his face, saying that his master was wise and insightful, for Jiangnan had suffered a disaster this year!

Tears streamed down the old man's face. His voice was hoarse and mournful as he recounted his grievances in detail, pouring out all the problems the cloth shop had encountered.

Ning Nan processed the information the old man had given him, and his eyes gradually narrowed.

After a moment, his eyes darkened, and he raised his hand, gesturing to the astonished Tian Gui and Fang Hongcai, ordering them to straighten the nearly fifty-year-old man's white hair. He then fell silent.

Tian Gui helped the old man up with both hands, glared at him, and said angrily, "Steward Liu, you're an old hand in business, how could you make such a foolish mistake?!"

Liu Xin, unable to express his bitterness, wiped away his tears and said, "Master Dou said that the cotton in Songjiang Prefecture is grown by some high-ranking officials in the court. Our Sujin Pavilion is one of the top three cloth merchants in Jiangnan, and also an imperial merchant. We purchase a large quantity every year. If we don't buy from Songjiang Prefecture, we're afraid we won't be able to remain an imperial merchant... Moreover, the price that Songjiang Prefecture offers us is indeed lower than that of other places..."

Fang Hongcai interrupted him menacingly, "What's the use of lower prices? According to you, if cotton production in Jiangnan decreases by 30% this year, the price of cotton should rise by at least 60%!"

"And the production reduction in Songjiang Prefecture is even more than 50%! Even though our purchase contract with Songjiang Prefecture is at the previous fair price, we still need to purchase in large quantities from other places to complete the imperial merchant mission."

"In that case, we'll have to spend at least 50% more money than last year! All the money we earned in the past few years will probably be lost this year."

Old Liu's eyes showed fear as he stammered, "Our purchasing contract with Songjiang Prefecture... contract..."

Tian Gui frowned and asked, "What happened to the contract?"

Liu Xin cried out, "The purchase contract we signed with Songjiang Prefecture didn't stipulate a fixed price at the time!"

Tian Gui and his companion's eyelids twitched!

"Our contract stipulates that we will purchase the cotton from there at 90% of the market price at harvest time..."

"market price?"

Tian Gui cried out in surprise.

The market price has increased by 60%, and even though the other party gave them a 10% discount, Sujin Pavilion will still have to spend 50% more silver than usual.

Moreover, market prices are constantly changing; the more you buy, the higher they rise!

Conversely, the contracts for selling Sujinge cotton cloth to imperial merchants and major silk shops were based on fixed prices agreed upon at the time.

Raw material prices have risen sharply, but the fabric they sell is still at the old price. As a result, Sujin Pavilion is likely to lose a lot of money!

Worst of all, even if they lose money, they might not be able to fulfill their supply obligations for winter cotton cloth to the Imperial Merchants.

From a business perspective, with such a good opportunity, all the major merchant groups supplying cotton would be eager to make a quick buck.

After all, for Sujinge, the lack of cotton cloth supply in winter would delay the border defense in the north and along the river, which would be a heinous crime that would lead to the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire clan!

At this critical juncture, naturally, everyone would be eager to dig out all their own pockets and go buy cotton.

It would be foolish not to earn this kind of blood-stained money.

Merchants with cotton in their possession will hoard it and speculate on its value. The price of cotton won't just rise by 50% or 60%, it will double, until no one can afford it anymore!

"call……"

Ning Nan slowly exhaled, his eyes darkening... Ha... This is getting dangerous.

"Master, this old man...this old man also asked Master Dou before,"

Old Liu glanced at Ning Nan at the head of the table and stammered,

"What if there's a disaster in Jiangnan or something goes wrong in Songjiang Prefecture?" Master Dou said he had a contingency plan and that I didn't need to worry about it. After Master Dou said that, I didn't dare to ask any further questions.

Tian Gui and Fang Hongcai exchanged a glance, their eyes both showing a hint of worry.

The son-in-law is unaware of the situation. He probably still thinks Dou Yuan is family. He might even be thinking of going to Dou Yuan to see what the chief advisor of the Prince's mansion's plan is.

But if the son-in-law really goes to find Dou Yuan, His Highness will lose face in front of Prince Qi... The two exchanged glances, their expressions gradually becoming anxious.

His Majesty the Emperor has issued a strict order that His Highness's identity must not be revealed to his son-in-law for the time being. His son-in-law's name has also not been submitted to the Imperial Clan Court.

Since His Highness Prince Xin has not yet ascended the throne, if the wedding is announced to the world, some people with ulterior motives may seize upon the groom to make trouble. It would be more sensible to wait until His Highness ascends the throne and the situation is settled before making the announcement.

"That Dou Yuan!" Tian Gui and his companion thought to themselves with resentment. "No wonder the Qi Prince's mansion agreed so readily, and the handover of the cloth shop's account books went smoothly today. It turns out this cloth shop has fallen into such a huge pit!"

Ning Nan closed the ledger, stood up, smiled, and said, "It's alright." He turned to Liu Xin and asked, "Steward Liu, are the cotton farmers and merchants from Songjiang Prefecture currently in Nanjing?"

"Yes, yes," Old Man Liu nodded hurriedly. "Most of them are here. They've sent people to stay at the flower shop and negotiate with us cloth merchants every day. They're preparing to raise prices together."

The flower shop was a brokerage firm that facilitated cotton transactions... Ning Nan nodded and smiled, "Could you send them an invitation for me? Tomorrow... if possible, tonight would be best. I'll treat them to dinner tonight... um... if it has to be tomorrow, it will have to be tonight, as I have to go to school during the day... In short, I'll treat them to dinner at the Fulai Restaurant on Datong Street, to their famous dishes."

Going to school? Having a meal?

Liu Xin's eyes widened, somewhat confused.

Seeing that the young owner took the burden instead of insisting that he, Liu Xin, with his small frame, should take on the responsibility, the old man was immediately relieved and hurriedly said, "Don't worry, boss, I will definitely invite them to Fu Lai Tavern tonight."

Ning Nan nodded and smiled, "Remember to bring the purchase contract that Su Jin Ge signed with them before."

Old Man Liu quickly responded.

Tian Gui and his companion both frowned.

The son-in-law called these merchants and cotton farmers together, was it to plead for them to change the previous contracts based on market prices to fixed-price contracts?

But at this point, we are at their mercy; it seems impossible for them not to cut us in the process.

Su Jin Pavilion's silver is definitely not enough, I'm afraid... Tian Gui and the other sighed inwardly... I'm afraid this time, the Prince's Mansion and Changqing Trading Company will have to pay again... I wonder if Chen Ruhai has enough spare money.

……

……

"Chen Ruhai doesn't have a shred of spare money left!"

The emperor's personal maid, whose appearance was less than ideal, rolled her eyes, poured freshly brewed medicine into a sweet-white porcelain bowl, and sneered at the emperor who was leaning against the couch.

"Whether it's Changqing Trading Company or the Prince Xin's Mansion, their funds are almost gone! Hey, Your Majesty—"

The maid with a slightly flat nose smiled and said,

"This is all thanks to your brother-in-law, who spent money like water when fighting bandits, having a great time..."

"Now look what's happened! Miss finally managed to get some benefits for him from Prince Qi, but his luck has been absolutely terrible; he's fallen right into Dou Yuan's trap! Changqing Trading Company can't save him now... You'd better just wait for the imperial treasury to bleed!"

Having ascended the throne at the age of nine, assumed personal rule at fourteen, and reigned for twelve years, the emperor, who had subdued powerful ministers, renowned generals, nobles, and regional princes, said with a helpless expression:

"Isn't my brother-in-law your brother-in-law too?"

The young maidservant laughed and said, "I'm just your maidservant, not even a concubine... How dare I acknowledge His Highness Prince Xin's husband as my brother-in-law!"

"You wouldn't accept the position of Imperial Noble Consort."

The maidservant brought the steaming hot medicine to the emperor, scooped a spoonful, and fed it to the pale-faced emperor.

"Either be the Empress or a maid; who is the Imperial Concubine disgracing?"