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

Mr. Zhang said that the more the price drops, the more you should buy, and the lower your cost price will be.

As a result, the price of the promissory note kept falling, even down to 100 cash, while their cost was still over 200 cash. There was no way to salvage the situation, and they lost 70,000 to 80,000 taels of silver in one fell swoop.

Last night, Mr. Zhang first had a drink with Cheng Qianqiu, and then he paid out of his own pocket to invite about twenty people, including some idle stewards, guards, and even servants from the Prince's Mansion, to a tavern by the Qinhuai River for drinks.

At the banquet, Mr. Zhang cried and said that he was sorry to the young master and the Gui Prince's Mansion. Everyone then advised him that Mr. Zhang should still keep his body for future use.

As the banquet was about to end, Mr. Zhang shouted and jumped into the river in full view of everyone.

Fortunately, there were many fishermen in that area, and many of the guards were also good swimmers, so they rescued him.

But after being rescued, Mr. Zhang still tried to commit suicide and jumped back in. This time he was also rescued, but the old man had swallowed a lot of water and was unconscious when he was pulled out.

Zhu Xianze didn't know how to put it. Regardless of whether Zhang Qingping jumped into the river or not, he naturally wouldn't blame him, but estrangement was inevitable.

Especially after seeing how Princess Tang sold most of her treasures for over 300 coins and then decisively sold the rest for over 200 coins, Zhang Qingping was already considered a good-for-nothing in his mind.

But this idiot threw water into the river.

Then things became different again.

I originally planned to send this person home as soon as I returned to Kunming. But since he jumped into the water, if I send him home, I'll inevitably be labeled as intolerant, which would be troublesome.

He sought advice from Cheng Qianqiu, who said, "The only solution now is to ask the young master to spend a fortune to buy bones." Zhu Xianze was helpless and could only keep this good-for-nothing by his side. As for the Gui Prince's Mansion losing so much cash, he had no choice but to bear the consequences.

Fortunately, he was the eldest son of the legitimate wife. Apart from him, the Prince of Gui had no other legitimate sons, and his other half-brothers were extremely mediocre and could not compare to him. Therefore, there was no need to worry about any unexpected changes.

When the carriage arrived at Prince Xin's residence.

Unexpectedly, Princess Tang's carriage also arrived.

Zhu Xianze was somewhat embarrassed.

When the price of the promissory notes dropped to one hundred coins, he became furious and ordered his men to sell them all.

Although the promissory note later dropped to sixty-two coins, everyone was relieved.

But when he saw the next day's newspaper, which said that those who held promissory notes could share a portion of Baiyufang's profits every year, he felt quite regretful.

I was thinking that if I didn't sell, the price might recover a bit, and even if it didn't, holding onto it would still be something to hold onto. But once I sold it, the loss became substantial.

The only thing that comforted him throughout this whole affair was that the Qi Prince's Mansion had also suffered considerable losses.

Although Dou Yuan said he wanted to buy it for 220 coins, since the promissory note has fallen to 62 coins, Dou Yuan is not much better off than Zhang Qingping.

If Prince Qi and Dou Yuan dared to laugh at the Prince Gui's residence, it would be a case of the pot calling the kettle black. He wasn't afraid.

But Princess Tang was completely different. He was genuinely afraid that Princess Tang would laugh at him.

This cousin... um... is too clever, too shrewd. Cheng Qianqiu calculated that Princess Tang is truly a female Zhuge Liang; she probably earned at least 50,000 taels of silver this time, possibly even 60,000!

Zhu Xianze was extremely envious. When he lifted the curtain and saw that his carriage and Princess Tang's carriage had arrived at Prince Xin's mansion at almost the same time, he couldn't help but gasp.

He hesitated for a moment. He had originally planned to pretend that he was asleep in the carriage, have Cheng Qianqiu wake him up from below, and then wake up after Princess Tang went inside.

But it was too late.

The other person was already waving at him from inside the carriage.

"Brother, wishing you a peaceful Mid-Autumn Festival." After getting off the carriage, the other person greeted him with a smile.

Zhu Xianze immediately smiled and bowed, saying, "May Your Highness enjoy a peaceful Mid-Autumn Festival."

The main gate of the Prince Xin's Mansion was opened.

The chief secretary of the Prince's residence came out to greet them.

The Princes of Tang and Gui then presented a gift list, offering some rare and precious treasures to Prince Xin.

To Zhu Xianze's surprise.

Although the two traveled together, and Princess Jiamu was quite talkative along the way, she surprisingly didn't mention Baiyufang or boast about how much silver she had earned. This touched Zhu Xianze deeply. If he were in her shoes, he certainly wouldn't have been able to resist.

We arrived at the main hall of Prince Xin's Mansion.

Zhu Xianze then met the Prince Xin, who was elegant, noble and strikingly handsome.

His expression showed a slight panic, but he quickly calmed down, knelt down and bowed, saying, "Your subject, Zhu Xianze of the Prince Gui's Mansion, pays respects to Your Highness, Prince Xin."

Since the other party was the Crown Prince, he paid his respects with the courtesy due to a subject. The young master of the Gui Prince's Mansion let out a slight sigh, feeling a mix of emotions.

He had only met her once when he was a child, when she was a quiet, bright-eyed little girl. He never imagined that their second meeting would be a separation of ruler and subject.

However, at this moment, something very strange happened... Zhu Xianze frowned.

In his memory, Princess Tang was always intelligent, quick-witted, calm and composed. So why was it that when he saw Prince Xin's face, he was the one who calmed down first, while Princess Tang froze on the spot?

"Princess, Princess," he called out, looking down and glancing sideways.

The eunuchs standing on either side exchanged bewildered glances. One of the eunuchs who was closer whispered, "Princess."

After being stunned for about ten breaths, Princess Tang seemed to react and knelt down to kowtow, saying, "Zhu Jiamu of the Tang Prince's Mansion wishes Your Highness a peaceful Mid-Autumn Festival."

Zhu Xianze finally let out a long breath, feeling as if he had escaped a disaster. Although the Gui Prince's Mansion had some reservations about the Prince Xin's succession, they had no choice but to acknowledge the Prince Xin's status out of respect for the Emperor. Since they had come to the Prince Xin's Mansion, presented a congratulatory letter, and given gifts, this was their way of expressing their stance.

He had just thought that the Prince of Tang was about to say something treasonous and directly oppose Prince Xin's ascension to the throne!

If that's really the case... Zhu Xianze couldn't help but have some strange thoughts... If that's really the case, then there's really something to watch... But it's also a big headache... Who knows, His Majesty might wave his hand and use the Tang Prince's Mansion's treasonous act to ruthlessly reduce the power of the princes, then that would be troublesome.

Just as Zhu Xianze was lost in thought, a clear voice reached his ears.

"My two sisters have come from afar, you must be tired. Please rise quickly." King Xin's voice was as gentle as cotton and water.

Zhu Xianze said "Thank you, Your Highness" and then stood up.

immediately.

His Highness Prince Xin considerately inquired about the health of Prince Gui and whether the Crown Prince was settling in comfortably in the capital, among other questions. Zhu Xianze and Zhu Jiamu answered each question in turn. These were etiquettes they had learned from childhood, so there were no slip-ups.

After a while, the old eunuch beside Prince Xin announced that Prince Xin had bestowed upon Prince Gui's residence a thousand taels of gold, a thousand ingots of silver, a thousand bolts of silk, two rhinoceros horn belts, two gold-embroidered tortoiseshell belts, a jade Guanyin statue, and so on. Prince Xin's return gifts were naturally much more substantial than those presented by Prince Gui's residence.

Prince Xin was quite considerate; that jade Guanyin statue was probably a gift for his grandmother. Zhu Xianze quickly kowtowed to express his gratitude.

The gifts presented to the Tang Prince's residence were also of considerable value, taking the old eunuch a long time to read aloud. The Tang Prince's daughter also kowtowed in gratitude.

With everything settled, and since they would be attending a banquet the next day, he and Princess Tang could leave today without staying for dinner.

But after he and Princess Tang bid farewell.

His Highness Prince Xin smiled and said, "Your Highness, Princess Jiamu and I are like sisters, but we haven't seen each other for many years. I'm afraid I'll have to keep her a little longer today. So I won't see you off."

Zhu Xianze quickly smiled and said, "No, no, Your Highness, please go and catch up with the Princess first. I'll take my leave now."

But when Zhu Xianze turned his head, he couldn't help but frown, because he found that although the princess was smiling, it seemed... her smile was uglier than her crying.