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

After the imperial court posted the notice.

Baiyufang then closed its doors. Although the customers inside were cursing and swearing, they quickly ran out when they saw nearly a hundred Imperial Guards walking over expressionlessly.

The Imperial Guards stood watch around Baiyufang.

No one is allowed to enter or leave.

After nightfall, Ning Nan prepared a few dishes in the kitchen in the backyard of Baiyufang to reward Old Man Liu, Li Xing, Fang Hongcai, and Tian Gui for their hard work recently.

But after the food was cooked, he received a message from Qin Yuanyao saying that Cui Cui's wife had left work early that day, cooked him a meal, and would bring it over later. So he didn't eat dinner and gave the food to others.

Old man Liu Xin was filled with anxiety and couldn't eat. But Tian Gui and Fang Hongcai, on the other hand, displayed remarkable composure under pressure, maintaining a good appetite and even eating two extra bowls of rice. Li Xing, that slippery fellow, only ate meat, his mouth greasy. If Ning Nan hadn't tapped him with his chopsticks, he probably wouldn't have touched a single vegetable.

It was the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) in the evening.

Cui Cui's wife arrived, and not only her, but also the little girl named Lizhi who was with her brother-in-law came.

Ning Nan quickly stood up and greeted him.

"Are you hungry? Eat first." Cui Cui's wife opened the lunchbox and took out four steaming hot, exquisite side dishes one by one.

"Hmm, well done."

Although Chef Ning could tell at a glance that his wife had bought it at a restaurant, he still praised it to her to save face.

Old Mrs. Cui nodded and served herself a bowl of rice. Little Lizhi, on the other hand, seemed to think there was something on his face, glancing at him with a puzzled expression every now and then. Ning Nan, somewhat helplessly, asked, "What's wrong?"

Lychee shook her head, wrinkled her nose, and said, "Baiyufang is going to be shut down, one of the Ten Great Evils...aren't you scared?"

Ning Nan gave an "oh" and then smiled. It turned out that his wife was worried about him because he was going to negotiate with the court officials that night, so she came to bring him food. Perhaps she was also anxious herself, so she brought her sister-in-law along.

Ning Nan said it was nothing, and that they should go ahead and he would handle it.

Coincidentally.

The three of them had just finished eating when the people sent by the imperial court arrived.

Ning Nan told Cuicui and Lizhi to go first.

"Will something happen to you?" Cui Cui's wife asked calmly.

"Won't."

"Then why should I leave?"

Ning Nan looked helpless and said, "We're discussing important matters."

Cui Cui's mother remained unmoved. Li Zhi sat next to her, hooked her arm around the woman's, and said with a grin, "If Miss doesn't leave, then I won't leave either."

The two lingered in the flower hall.

Fortunately, the two court officials who came to discuss the Baiyufang matter with him were both reasonable people.

When he awkwardly said that his wife was unwell and asked the two gentlemen to accompany him to the study, the two gentlemen waved their hands dismissively and said, "Young Master Ning, you are too kind. You haven't done anything wrong. We've only come here to discuss a few things; it's nothing serious."

The Crown Prince's Assistant, Liu Zhi, said with a smile, "Young Master Ning is a man of great talent, but the court made quite a show of force this afternoon, even sealing off Baiyufang. It was truly inappropriate. It is understandable that your wife is worried, and it is only right that she stays by your side."

Donggong Zanshan Xu Longdao chuckled, "Not bad, not bad. Young Master Ning was clearly working for the benefit of the cotton farmers in Jiangnan, but the court is making it seem as if he has committed some grave error. In fact, the court should be apologizing to him... If we were to discuss this privately, your wife might think that Young Master Ning has really done something wrong, so let's talk face to face." Xu Longdao gestured with his hand, trying to comfort her.

Ning Nan's eyes widened in surprise.

This was somewhat unexpected for him.

In his mind, the fact that the imperial court hadn't threatened him with death was already a sign of respect for Grand Tutor Gu; he was prepared to beg his uncle for help and invoke the prestige of the Jingbei Marquis's mansion. But he hadn't expected these two to be so polite!

Ning Nan immediately smiled and said, "You two are too kind."

The servant brought over some tea.

Xu Long's smile was awkward. Although he had been an official for many years, he came from a farming family and his interpersonal skills were far less natural than Liu Zhi's. At this point, he simply let it be.

Anyway, Baiyufang can't be shut down tonight. As for Ning Baixuan, let alone his death, it's good enough if Liu Zhi doesn't die. Xu Longdao thought with a hint of schadenfreude.

But Ning Baixuan, on the other side, took out a stack of papers.

He explained the operation of Baiyufang to them in great detail, and then presented the ten major harms of Grand Tutor Gu one by one, and gave them solutions to each problem.

Their slightly fawning gazes gradually turned serious.

"Huge profits, huge profits... truly huge profits." Liu Zhi held a piece of paper in his hand, his eyes shining, and kept praising it.

Xu Longdao looked at the schematic diagram drawn by the other party, titled "Cotton Futures Exchange," and nodded, saying, "It benefits both cotton merchants and cloth merchants... I can't believe there's such an ingenious design in this world!"

Ning Nan took a sip of tea and smiled: "This method cannot be implemented unless a wise ruler is alive."

Immediately, Ning Nan stood up and led two court officials, along with Granny Cui Cui and the little girl Lychee, to the front hall.

He led a few people to simulate opening an account, then pointed to the twelve counters and explained what they were, and even simulated the transaction process. Finally, he pointed to the blackboard recording transaction details and said, "Why do we need to record them like this... to stimulate trading."

"Throughout history, extracting money from the rich has often required weapons," Ning Nan laughed. "But in reality, there's something else that can also extract money from the rich..." He tapped the blackboard and said, "That's money itself."

"As long as they feel that money can generate more money, they will naturally take out their money... Baiyufang has nearly a thousand transactions today, which is a commission of one thousand taels of silver."

Xu Longdao and Liu Yun's pupils contracted incessantly.

Only then did I understand why Grand Tutor Gu insisted they come to Baiyufang in person to discuss things, instead of summoning Ning Baixuan to the Eastern Palace. Without coming in person, one cannot truly grasp the depth of the meaning.

The jade disc gradually climbed to the zenith.

As night deepened, Xu Longdao and Liu Zhi finally left Baiyufang and boarded a carriage to depart.

The next day, at the break of dawn, Baiyufang was still not open.

Those holding promissory notes waited anxiously outside. Although those who had sold their promissory notes the day before also came, most of them were there to watch the spectacle with a gloating attitude.

It was exactly 7:00 AM.

The imperial court sent people to tear down the notice that was posted there.

Most of the Embroidered Uniform Guards withdrew, leaving only one banner of men behind.

The Nancheng Daily was published an hour late today.

The original five newsboys were no longer enough. Ning Nan sent Li Xing to select people from various orphanages. He chose thirty orphans with clean eyes and hands to serve as newsboys, providing them with food, lodging, and education.

But today, the newspapers carried by the newsboys are sold out before they even leave Datong Street.

And indeed, there were some news reports in the newspapers about the Baiyufang incident yesterday.

The superiors said that yesterday, the Crown Prince's Assistant and the Imperial Secretary, acting on the orders of His Majesty and Prince Xin, summoned the owner of Baiyufang in the evening to inquire about the ten major scourges of Baiyufang.

It is now 5:00 AM today.

The Crown Prince drafted a preliminary edict and submitted it to the Emperor, outlining the measures taken against Baiyufang. This edict is currently in the Imperial Palace, awaiting His Majesty's final approval.

The news reports that the Crown Prince has named shops like Baiyufang "Futures Trading Shops" and has drafted some preliminary regulations.

First, no one other than Baiyufang is permitted to open such a futures trading shop, lest it disrupt the world. Anyone who violates this rule will have their entire family wiped out, without pardon.

Second, Baiyufang will be jointly managed by the imperial court and the eunuchs, with a director and deputy director appointed. Proceeds will be divided into four parts: the Ministry of Revenue will take 40%, the Imperial Treasury 40%, the six major cloth merchants of Jiangnan, led by Sujin Pavilion, 10%, and the final 10% will belong to the customers holding annual promissory notes for Baiyufang. At the end of the year, these customers will share 10% of the profits.

Thirdly, in return, the imperial court will take over the money owed by the owner of Baiyufang to the cotton merchants. Fairness will be ensured, and new contracts will be signed. Baiyufang will issue new promissory notes at an opportune time to sell the remaining four million units of cotton, and the proceeds will be used to pay this debt. Any shortfall will be shared by the Ministry of Revenue and the Imperial Treasury, and there will be no pressure on cotton merchants to lower prices.

Fourth, neither individuals nor the imperial court will purchase cotton, nor will they sell cotton to cloth merchants; the practice of "owing money to both ends" will cease. Cotton merchants will list their annual yield on the Baiyu Market to obtain funds… but they will need to pay a 5% intermediary fee and a deposit… From now on, the Baiyu Market will only serve as a trading platform. No further purchase contracts will be signed.

five,……

……

When the golden rays of dawn shine brightly in the sky.

Ning Nan rubbed her eyes, yawned, and got out of bed.

As before, he was all alone. His wife had gotten up earlier than him and had gone to the Embroidered Uniform Guard office early.

After eating the breakfast prepared by Chef Xu and preparing the eight-legged essay he had written the day before, he planned to go to Willow Leaf Lane to study.

But to my surprise, as soon as I opened the door, I saw a resentful figure standing outside, his eyes looking like he wanted to devour me.