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

Cheng Qianqiu smiled with relief and said, "Young Master, rest assured, we have already figured out Ning Baixuan's background, found his accommodation, and naturally sent out the invitations."

"Mm." Zhu Xianze nodded.

"It's strange," Cheng Qianqiu said, "Ning Baixuan, who was a staff member of Grand Tutor Gu, helped the Grand Tutor break through Black Tiger Mountain, and now lives on Datong Street."

"Oh?" Zhu Xianze and Zhang Qingping were both stunned for a moment.

"It's right next to the Prince Xin's Mansion."

Zhu Xianze looked ahead and said with difficulty, "Doesn't that mean it's very close to us right now?"

"That's right," Cheng Qianqiu said. "The young master summoned him to the Prince Gui's residence on Taiping Street. In my opinion, it would be better to take advantage of the opportunity and visit him in person, which would show more respect and courtesy."

"Visit him in person..." Zhu Xianze frowned and thought for a moment.

Just as he was about to challenge Princess Tang on this issue of buying and selling tickets, Mr. Cheng proposed a radical solution: to directly approach Ning Nan and Ning Baixuan to demand a share from Baiyufang.

Since Ning Nan is Gu Taifu's man, he is also Xin Wang's man. Xin Wang urgently needs Gui Wang's support. If he just needs to find Ning Baixuan, Xin Wang will probably immediately send over a portion of the profits.

Previously, when Sujin Pavilion was in the hands of Prince Qi, tens of thousands of taels of silver were sent over every year, but after it was transferred to Prince Xin, this share of the profits stopped.

If we can secure a share of the White Robe Shop, we can make up for the money owed to Su Jin Pavilion.

She was able to avoid getting entangled in this promissory note transaction before Princess Tang, and instead obtained a greater profit than Princess Tang.

But after a moment, he sighed and said with a complicated look in his eyes, "It's inconvenient today. Princess Tang has invited me and the seventh young master of the Zhenguo Marquis's mansion to a banquet at Xianju Guesthouse tonight, but I'm afraid we won't have enough time."

Zhang Qingping also shook his head and said, "Although Ning Nan and Ning Baixuan have indeed created this Baiyufang, which makes them quite talented, it is ultimately just a matter of business."

"Moreover, this person has a reputation as a talented scholar from both the north and south, and is also known as a ruthless and vicious bandit in the three counties of Yunhu."

"His true character remains to be seen. There's no need for you, Young Master, to condescend to such a position."

Zhu Xianze remained silent.

Cheng Qianqiu didn't say anything more.

After apologizing, Zhang Qingping went to deal with the promissory note matter, intending to take advantage of the current low prices and buy more promissory notes in one go to lower the cost.

He bought more as the price fell, and as soon as it rose to 300 coins, he gradually sold all his holdings and stopped buying. Instead, he went to collect his share of the Baiyufang business. With just 30% of the shares, he could reap the full benefits—how delightful! The old man walked with the speed of the wind.

Xiankeju is located on Fengwei Street, not far from Datong Street, and is quite famous in Nanjing.

Upon arriving at the restaurant, an official from the Prince of Tang came forward to greet them, saying that the princess had prepared a private room, but the princess was currently preoccupied with some trivial matters and asked the prince to forgive her and ask her to wait a little while.

Zhu Xianze said with a smile, "Mr. Liu, you are too kind. You should ask Jia Mu for forgiveness. It's only 3 PM now. It was Xiao Wang who arrived earlier."

Liu Zhengyang, the steward of the Prince of Tang's residence, hurriedly waved his hand and laughed, "No, no, I wouldn't dare," and made a gesture, saying, "Young Master, please."

When he arrived at the private room of Xiankeju, he was surprised to find that someone had arrived even earlier than him.

Liu Zhengyang introduced him, saying that this was the only two legitimate sons of the Marquis of Zhenguo, the seventh young master of the Shangguan family, Shangguan Xiu.

Zhu Xianze hurriedly bowed to the seventh young master, not to Shangguan Xiu himself, but to the first and second generation Zhenguo Marquis. Shangguan Xiu also quickly stood up and returned the bow, saying, "Greetings, Young Master."

Shangguan Xiu felt somewhat helpless. His father and elder brother, Shangguan Yun, had both gone to the second city in the north, so he had become the most prominent figure in the Shangguan family, and he was required to attend all gatherings and events.

Fortunately, the young master of the Gui Prince's Mansion was of a peaceful nature, his advisor Cheng Qianqiu was very shrewd and resourceful, and Liu Zhengyang from the Tang Prince's Mansion was there to support him, so the conversation didn't get awkward.

From Guangxi and Yunnan, all the way to Fujian and Guangdong, I learned a lot about the differences between the local customs and the capital city.

The conversation then turned to the Mid-Autumn Festival, with people saying that Nanjing's jujube paste mooncakes are quite good, and Yunnan's ham mooncakes also have a unique flavor.

Cheng Qianqiu spoke eloquently about how this Yunnan ham mooncake originated during the Ming Dynasty. He recounted how, during the reign of Prince Gui, while traveling in Kunming, he lost his appetite. The imperial chef, in a moment of inspiration, incorporated Xuanwei ham into the mooncake, which revived Prince Gui's appetite. Everyone was immediately impressed by his extensive knowledge.

On the table were some candies, preserved fruits, and snacks. Liu Zhengyang patted the mud seal off a jar of twenty-year-old aged Fenjiu, and the aroma of the wine immediately filled the air. The wine was served in an ancient rattan cup, which added to the fragrance of the wine.

During the conversation, the group inevitably talked about the recently popular Baiyufang. Zhu Xianze's eyes lit up when he learned that Shangguan Xiu was a commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and was in charge of Baiyufang. After drinking a few more cups of wine, he got excited and said that he had bought a lot of cotton futures contracts.

Shangguan Xiu's face stiffened.

"Your Highness, did you really buy that cotton coupon?" he asked, stunned.

"What?" Zhu Xianze asked with a rosy smile, "Brother Shangguan, are you worried that I'll make all the money from your Baiyufang?"

"You've made all the money from Baiyufang?" Shangguan Xiu asked, his eyes wide and his tone strange.

"Hehe, the sages said that governing a large country is like cooking a small fish, and that the great way is simple. I only learned this principle through cotton futures."

Zhu Xianze chuckled and said, "To be honest, Mr. Zhang in my household has already noticed the huge flaws in your Baiyufang promissory notes... um."

At this moment, Cheng Qianqiu quietly tugged at his sleeve, and Zhu Xianzhe sobered up a bit. He smiled and said, "Never mind, never mind, I won't say anymore."

Shangguan Xiu looked at the Prince Gui's son, who had slightly raised his chin and looked somewhat smug. He didn't know what the other party meant by "lack".

But ever since I saw what that brat Li Xing wrote on the table this morning.

He had already made up his mind that neither he nor his descendants would be allowed to buy promissory notes!

"Your Highness," Shangguan Xiu said with a complicated expression, "I advise you to sell him as soon as possible."

Zhu Xianze frowned: "Hmm?"

The sun went down, and Baiyufang closed up shop.

Just then, Zhang Qingping, the advisor, arrived triumphantly to keep the appointment.

Zhu Xianze waved his hand, stopping Shangguan Xiu from speaking, and asked the newcomer with a smile, "Mr. Zhang, how is it?"

"Congratulations, Your Highness!" Zhang Qingping laughed. "I spent ten thousand taels of silver to buy them at 240 coins. As expected, within half an hour, the price rose to 272 coins! And before closing time, it had even reached 280 coins!"

Zhang Qingping's eyes were filled with excitement, but he sneered inwardly: Dou Yuan, Dou Yuan, what a hypocrite! He even said he would wait for the price to drop to 220 coins before buying. What short-sightedness!

Zhu Xianze's face flushed, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed with delight, "Ha! Mr. Zhang, what is our cost price now?"

"Only two hundred and ninety-two coins! Once this Baiyufang opens tomorrow, it will probably reach three hundred coins in no time!" Zhang Qingping said with a wave of his hand.

"Good!" Zhu Xianze clapped his hands and laughed. "This time, we must not be greedy. As long as the price is higher than 292 coins, we will start selling immediately! As long as we don't lose money, it's fine."

Zhang Qingping and Cheng Qianqiu's eyes immediately lit up, and they both cupped their hands and said, "Young Master is indeed a man of great talent and strategy. With such a huge profit at hand, you remain unmoved and act with perfect composure. We are deeply impressed."

Zhu Xianze smiled and said, "It's all thanks to the two gentlemen."

Shangguan Xiu took a deep breath, looking at the three of them with a complicated expression. After a long silence, she still couldn't speak. Finally, she could only ask Liu Zhengyang, the head steward of the Tang Prince's Mansion, "May I ask, Steward Liu, what about the Princess...?"

Liu Zhengyang looked embarrassed and hurriedly said, "Seventh Young Master, please wait a moment, the Princess will be here shortly..."

……

……

Datong Street.

Ning Mansion.

Ning Nan frowned slightly as he looked at the bright and generous uninvited guest before him.