Five Years After My Death, the Mad Emperor Still Summons My Spirit

Chapter 225: Chapter 225: Fetching the Gold

"Go ahead, Boss Ming," Hu Yuwan said, looking at Ming Lingyi.

The shopkeeper of Treasure Pearl Pavilion glanced worriedly at Ming Lingyi. He was a businessman, so naturally, he was happy to earn so much extra silver for nothing. However, Ming Lingyi had helped him earlier by protecting the shop’s shattered treasures, and he couldn’t bear to see Hu Yuwan putting her in such a difficult position.

But as the one at the center of it all, Ming Lingyi didn’t feel particularly cornered.

She untied a brocade bag from her waist and handed it to Ma Dali and his men, who were now completely absorbed in the spectacle. She cupped her hands in a polite salute. "Brother Ma, today I entered a bidding war with Mrs. Hu and Miss Qin. In the end, I won this set of Dongzhu jewelry you see here for twenty-five taels of gold."

Ming Lingyi hadn’t even finished speaking when both Ma Dali and Jiang Yuchuan frowned.

Ma Dali, in particular, couldn’t control his reaction. He gasped, his already intimidating, tiger-like eyes widening even further. "What?! Twenty-five taels of gold!"

Ma Dali even wondered if he had misheard. ’What on earth could possibly be worth twenty-five taels of gold?!’

"Boss Ming, what did you buy? A solid gold cake to take home?" Ma Dali asked incredulously.

Although Jiang Yuchuan said nothing, his expression was also one of strong disapproval.

He hadn’t paid much mind to Hu Yuwan’s words before, but now he realized her earlier remarks had been entirely intentional.

’If Ming Lingyi can’t produce that much gold now, won’t she become a complete laughingstock?’

"Miss Ming said she wanted to buy that Dongzhu set for me..." Cai Jie quickly whispered to Jiang Yuchuan, bringing him up to speed.

She wanted Jiang Yuchuan to understand that Ming Lingyi was doing all this entirely for her sake. ’If she really can’t come up with that much gold, could we perhaps...’

Jiang Yuchuan immediately understood the unspoken meaning in Cai Jie’s words. He had been thinking the exact same thing.

It was clear that Hu Yuwan and Qin Lingzhi were targeting him and Cai Jie; Ming Lingyi had simply been caught in the crossfire.

’If I really let Ming Lingyi shoulder this debt of twenty-five taels of gold, my conscience wouldn’t be clear.’

Ming Lingyi, however, appeared more relaxed than anyone else present. After listening to Ma Dali, she nodded and continued speaking in an unhurried tone. "However, twenty-five taels of gold is indeed a significant sum. Mrs. Hu and I were bidding openly and fairly, with countless eyes upon us. Therefore, for this withdrawal of twenty-five taels of gold, I’d like to trouble Brother Ma and the other officers from Jingzhao Mansion to please help me retrieve it from Guotai Silver Bank."

Ming Lingyi had never been one to overestimate human nature.

Winning the bid was one thing, but transporting that much gold through the bustling city streets to Treasure Pearl Pavilion would require some assistance.

’And right now, don’t I have the perfect ’assistance’ right here?’

Official personnel from the Jingzhao Mansion were the best backup she could ask for.

Ma Dali was dumbfounded.

He had served at the Jingzhao Mansion for many years, but this was the first time he had ever received a request like Ming Lingyi’s.

’That was twenty-five taels of gold!’

’Boss Ming must think very highly of me to entrust me with such a task without a moment’s hesitation!’

In that moment, a torrent of powerful emotions washed over Ma Dali, and a heroic sense of purpose filled him.

"Alright!" Ma Dali agreed at once. This was a matter of trust, and he could not let Ming Lingyi down. "I’m honored that Boss Ming thinks so highly of me, Ma Dali, and my brothers here. We will not fail this mission!"

This was exactly the result Ming Lingyi had hoped for. She gave them all a deep bow. "Then I’ll be counting on you."

Guotai Silver Bank was one of the most prestigious financial institutions in the Dayan Dynasty. Rumor had it that its headquarters was right here in Shangjing City and that it had powerful backing.

That was what the public knew. What Ming Lingyi knew, however, was that Guotai Silver Bank was, in fact, Li Yun’s enterprise.

After the Li family came to power in Shangjing City, Li Yun hadn’t acquired a large number of properties within the city. But in the aftermath of the war, with all industries waiting to be revived, a dynasty just emerging from turmoil needed one thing above all: a stable currency.

Guotai Silver Bank had been Li Yun’s tool for controlling the economy of the entire Dayan Dynasty.

The item Ming Lingyi had placed in the brocade bag for Ma Dali was nothing less than Li Yun’s personal, authentic seal.

This wasn’t the seal imprinted on the official gazette. This was a seal symbolizing both wealth and authority—one that could open Li Yun’s private treasury, withdraw his personal funds, and command his attendants.

Once that seal was presented at Guotai Silver Bank, the shopkeeper would know exactly what to do.

What was a mere twenty-five taels of gold in comparison?

After Ma Dali had left, Jiang Yuchuan could no longer hold back. He strode over to Ming Lingyi and asked in a low voice, "Can you really produce that much gold?"

Ming Lingyi nodded. "Don’t worry, it’s not a problem."

His words did little to reassure Jiang Yuchuan. "I heard from Miss Cai that you intend to buy this as a gift for her. It’s far too valuable. Later, I’ll have someone return the gold to you."

Jiang Yuchuan knew that Cai Jie didn’t have much money. Even though Ming Lingyi was giving the gift to Cai Jie, he would be her husband in the future. The debt of favor should be his to repay, and the same went for the money.

Ming Lingyi replied, "This is a gift for Miss Cai’s dowry. How could I let Lord Jiang pay for it? If you did, could it still be considered a gift from me to Miss Cai?"

Jiang Yuchuan was stumped by her question, stammering for a moment, at a loss for how to reply.

"Besides, it’s not as if I’m the only one paying for it," Ming Lingyi added with a smile.

The seal had been in her possession for a long time, but until today, Ming Lingyi had never considered using it.

She owned her own shop now, and business was booming. She could support herself with her own two hands, and even provide for all the people who worked in her shop. She certainly didn’t need to spend anyone else’s silver.

But when Li Yun gave her the seal, Ming Lingyi certainly wasn’t going to refuse it.

Whether she used it or not was her own business, but since Li Yun was determined to give it to her, what was the practical benefit of refusing, other than making a show of being above such things?

’And now, hadn’t it finally come in handy?’

Since Li Yun himself had boasted that he would give a grand gift for Jiang Yuchuan and Cai Jie’s wedding, it wasn’t out of line to have him contribute a small dowry gift in advance.

Ma Dali and his men were quick on their feet. Spurred on by the twenty-five taels of gold they were carrying, the group soon returned to Treasure Pearl Pavilion.

The crowd of gawkers inside Treasure Pearl Pavilion, including Hu Yuwan and Qin Lingzhi, all craned their necks in unison, eager to see whether Ma Dali and his men had actually managed to withdraw twenty-five taels of gold from Guotai Silver Bank.

THUD—

With one swift motion, Ma Dali took the item he was carrying and slammed it down on the counter.