Genshin Impact: I, the Winter Prince, reign supreme.

"Welcome to visit us again."

Hu Tao politely saw the ten merchants off.

Her eyes gleamed, and a smile played on her lips.

The first day of the new business was a great success, and we expect more and more customers to come and experience it in the future.

However, she also understood that all of this was thanks to Prince Zhidong, who generously taught her the method.

So he dressed up carefully and went to the Winter Mission's camp to pay his respects to the prince.

Chapter 217 Booming Business

Winter's residence, the prince's study.

After hearing Hu Tao's gratitude, Su Yu smiled calmly and said, "Hall Master Hu Tao is too kind. I have my own reasons for helping you. You don't need to regard me as a saint. Everything I have done is for the sake of Zhidong Kingdom."

Walnut sent over 100 million Mora, claiming it was part of today's revenue, and insisted that Su Yu accept it. However, Su Yu's intentions went far beyond this paltry sum.

"Then, if I may be so bold as to ask, Your Highness has selflessly taught the immortals the cultivation techniques of the True Immortals. I heard from Shen He that the top-grade pills refined by His Highness can prolong life and are priceless. His Highness has also completed the 'Five Transmissions of Thunder and Lightning' forging method that Inazuma had lost for a long time. Now His Highness is teaching me the ultimate technique of summoning the dead, which will be the core business of the Hall of Rebirth in the future. What exactly is Your Highness plotting?"

"Did Ningguang send you to ask this, or did you want to ask it yourself?"

"Is there any difference? Please enlighten me, Your Highness."

“If Ningguang sent you to ask this question, she should have told you that I have a business bet with the ‘Liyue Septim.’ If I win this business bet, all the assets under the name of the Liyue Septim will belong to me. If I lose, Prince Winter must serve as the regent of Liyue and reform Liyue as wholeheartedly as he reformed Winter.”

Hu Tao was stunned for two or three seconds before she realized that what had happened was a high-stakes gamble between the "Liyue Seven Stars" and Prince Winter. On the surface, the stakes were the Seven Stars' entire fortune, but in reality, the Seven Stars' businesses almost monopolized every aspect of Liyue. If the Seven Stars lost, the Prince would control Liyue's economic lifeline.

However, if the Seven Stars win, the Prince will assume the prestigious position of Regent.

There had been rumors that the Rock King had added a new position of Regent, almost equal to his status, and many people were speculating about who would be chosen as the Regent.

Hearing Su Yu's answer now, the answer to this question became clear.

This bet seems very risky for Liyue, but if they win, the rewards will be enormous.

Simply because the person before them was Prince Zhidong, who had successfully reformed the legendary Zhidong Kingdom, no one would question his unparalleled talent.

"Thank you for your frankness, Your Highness. But you'd better be careful. In business, 'Seven Stars' has never lost. As for me, the seventy-seventh head of the Hall of Rebirth, I would never betray Liyue's interests to help you. So if Your Highness wants me to help you gather intelligence or do anything that goes against Liyue's interests, I can't do it."

"If a mere trick of seeing the dead can bribe Walnut Hall, then Rebirth Hall might as well close down."

"Your Highness is flattering me again. I'm just an ordinary person. As long as the benefits are enough, I'd sell the Hall of Rebirth. Hehe."

Hu Tao spoke casually, but if she were really asked to sell Wangshengtang, she would absolutely not agree to any price.

She understood this perfectly: the Hall of Rebirth made her who she was, not the other way around.

"Your Highness, what if I wanted to ask it myself?"

Su Yu replied, "The Hall of Rebirth, the blacksmith shop, the immortals of Liyue, the 'Liyue Seven Stars,' or rather the entire Liyue Kingdom, are part of Winter's grand plan to overthrow the laws of nature. I hope that when the final battle comes, Liyue can become Winter's staunch ally."

"Oh, so Zhi Dong's plan to overthrow the laws of nature is real... I used to think it was just rumors."

At this point, Hu Tao's mood inexplicably sombered, and she said dejectedly, "My family's ancestral precepts say that one must not disrespect the principles of Heaven, much less defy them, because the principles of Heaven are invincible. Your Highness, I know I can't dissuade you, but I still want to say that perhaps overthrowing the principles of Heaven is not the only way; there may be other, better ways."

"Master Hu Tao, do you not have confidence in me?"

"That's not what I meant, sigh."

Su Yu smiled gently and said, "It's alright. Actually, I'm not absolutely certain either. Master Hu Tao, the reason I taught you this spell is not only to make the Hall of Rebirth consume a large amount of the 100 billion strategic reserves of Mora that the Seven Stars of Liyue have put into the market, but also to keep a backup plan."

"A backup plan?"

Su Yu joked, "If I die on the battlefield, and future generations remember me, they can come to the Hall of Rebirth to see me."

Hu Tao's nose tingled with sadness, and she said, "Your Highness is not allowed to say such discouraging things!"

Although she hadn't spent much time with this Prince Zhidong, she sincerely admired such a hero. Putting aside the countless legendary deeds of the Prince, the fact that the Rock King Emperor, who was eager to find talented people, went so far as to create a new position as regent to retain the Prince was enough to demonstrate his extraordinary nature.

She also deeply admires Yasha Xiao, who guards the peace of Liyue's nights, and both are willing to follow the Prince. The birth of such a figure on the continent of Teyvat is truly a blessing for the human race.

However, the power of mortals is ultimately limited. Even though it was confirmed last night at Wuwang Slope that the prince's strength surpassed that of immortals, he had not yet ascended to godhood. To defy the laws of nature was no different from a moth flying into a flame.

This is destined to be a road of no return.

Thinking that today's meeting might be the last, the usually lively Hu Tao said respectfully, "Your Highness, I've heard that you enjoy drinking tea. Please allow me to offer you a cup of tea."

Su Yu nodded in agreement.

After Hu Tao finished serving the tea, her eyes were already red.

……

In the following days, the business at the Rebirth Hall became increasingly booming.

Everyone has special feelings for the deceased. Even though the cost is high, many people still come to experience it, just to see the deceased's voice and smile again.

"Master, our business at the Rebirth Hall has never been this good. Everyone's wages and commissions have increased at least fivefold."

"Yes, Master. After working in this store for so many years, this is the first time I've felt needed. It feels very fulfilling and reassuring."

"Many people usually look down on us for being unlucky, but today they are full of respect for us."

“This is all thanks to His Highness the Prince. Master Hu Tao, would you please invite His Highness to visit us again? We would like to express our sincere gratitude to him. By the way, I would also like to get a personal autograph from the Prince for my child; the little guy is a big fan of His Highness.”

Hearing the shop assistants say this, Hu Tao was not happy at all.

The prince, who was about to die, was walking on the most difficult road in the world, and she really dared not take up any more of his precious time.

But at this moment, she seemed to understand His Highness's choice somewhat.

A figure as brilliant as a prince would never be content with mediocrity; only in the face of the most sublime and far-reaching ideals can he display his unparalleled brilliance.

"Master Hu Tao, a fight has broken out outside!"

Suddenly, a waiter called out from outside the door.

Hu Tao raised an eyebrow and asked, "Who dares to cause trouble on this hall master's territory?"

“One customer, who was in a hurry to see his lover one last time at Wuwangpo, cut in line and got into a conflict with the others.”

Hu Tao was having a headache. Disputes and conflicts between customers are often the most difficult to handle because you can't offend either side.

"Master, something terrible has happened!"

Another colleague reported.

"What's the panic? Even if the sky falls, I, the hall master, will hold it up!"

"The warehouse is overflowing!"

"How could that be?" Hu Tao didn't believe it.

The storeroom of the Hall of Rebirth, though not large, is spacious and has never been full.

She and her colleagues went over to check the situation and found the warehouse piled high with letters.

Upon opening the letters, I discovered they were all reservation letters from various places, many of which were even from overseas.

Hu Tao beamed with joy; the business of the Rebirth Hall had never been so booming. If all went according to plan, she, the 77th generation head of the hall, would lead the Rebirth Hall to set a new record in the business world.

"Everyone, cheer up and work hard! We'll give you all a raise at the end of the month!"

"Excellent! Hall Master is awesome!"

A raise? Great!

The atmosphere at the ancestral hall instantly became lively, with employees clapping and cheering enthusiastically.

……

Three days later.

In a teahouse in Liyue, a group of people are gathered together, discussing the Hall of Rebirth.

“A friend of mine tried out the new service launched by Wangshengtang, and according to him, it was a great experience.”

"Could it be some kind of illusion?"

“My friend said that it definitely wasn’t an illusion. He stood on the edge of Wuwang Slope and saw the figures of his parents, who were no longer alive. The two old people smiled gently at him, and their eyes didn’t lie.”

"I still don't believe that you can see the spirits of the dead at Wuwangpo."

A young man sitting next to me chuckled and said, "It's true. I experienced it last night. I was on Wuwang Slope and didn't sense any illusionary magic arrays or abnormal elemental energy. Everything we saw was real."

"You're just spouting nonsense! Then let me ask you, if it's true, why don't the people at the ancestral hall allow us to get close to the spirits of our deceased relatives?"

The person who voiced these doubts suddenly noticed a pendant on the young man's waist, took a deep breath, and said, "Alright, you have the Eye of God, then I believe what you say."

Anyone with the Eye of God possesses strength far exceeding that of ordinary people, so their words are naturally highly credible.

The young man with the Eye of God explained, "I don't understand the principles behind Wuwang Slope either, but everything we see is real."

"That sounds amazing, I'll try it tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? If we don't go today, it'll be too late tomorrow. Didn't you see the notice posted outside the Amitabha Rebirth Hall? For the next few days, the Amitabha Rebirth Hall will only be accepting overseas clients!"

"Thanks, brother, I'll go right now!"

After saying that, he left the teahouse in a hurry.

The waiter called out from behind, "Sir, you haven't paid yet!"

"Sorry, I forgot."

The man hurriedly turned around, paid the money, and headed straight for the Hall of Rebirth.

……

In the blink of an eye, half a month has passed.

Northern Kingdom Bank, Liyue Branch.

Pantalone, the "rich man," was sitting at his desk, fiddling with his abacus, when he heard a hearty laugh outside the door. He quickly straightened his clothes and respectfully went out to greet him.

"Your Highness!"

Upon entering the office, Su Yu immediately asked, "How is the situation?"

"It went even more smoothly than expected! With me here, Your Highness, please go back and rest, and await victory in the business battle."

The 100 billion Mora strategic reserves that the Liyue Seven Stars released into the market were largely consumed by the blacksmith shops and the Hall of Rebirth in less than a month.

The blacksmith shop spent over 30 billion Mora to forge weapons, while the funeral parlor's service of seeing the souls of loved ones consumed an even greater 40 billion Mora. These two shops alone consumed 70% of the Mora.