Chapter 670: Chapter 669: Just How Poor Is This?
Prince Lu’s son and Prince Xin’s son exchanged a glance, not expecting that a small money pouch could contain silver notes valued in the tens of thousands. No wonder Zhan Jinlei had jumped into the water to retrieve them.
But those were silver notes, they were paper. Once they got wet, they would dissolve, the writing would blur; would retrieving them even be of any use?
This sum of silver, the Zhan Family was bound to lose it.
Prince Lu’s son rolled his eyes and said, "Really? A small money pouch contains so much silver? This amount is quite excessive."
Huangfu Jingchen said indifferently, "Is it really excessive? I believe you can still verify it at Ji Feng Tower. If anyone is in doubt, they can send someone to check over there, as they likely have a ledger entry."
Prince Lu’s son chuckled, "That’s not what I meant, Jingchen, you’re overthinking it!"
Huangfu Jingchen shot him a glance, his gaze calm, then looked at Zhan Jinlei and said, "Mr. Zhan, do you also think that I am blackmailing intentionally?"
Zhan Jinlei’s face was pale as paper, and he said feebly, "No... no!" He definitely intended to send someone to Ji Feng Tower to verify the records, but for now, he dared not say anything. Thinking of that golden Purple Gold Medal, he began to tremble all over.
Prince Xin’s son glanced at Zhan Jinlei, who was slumped on the ground, and said, "So, Mr. Zhan, do you intend to compensate or not?"
Zhan Jinlei, his face ashen, said with trembling lips, "I... I will compensate!"
"Of course, you must compensate; after all, it isn’t a small amount. Jingchen’s silver wasn’t gathered from the wind. It was given by the Fifth Imperial Uncle for his expenses in the Capital City. Since you’re willing to compensate, we’ll consider the matter settled," Prince Xin’s son concluded, looking at Zhan Jinlei’s attendants, who had followed them but dared not come closer. "Why are you still standing there dazed? Hurry up and help your Young Master change his clothes!"
Two attendants then stepped forward to help Zhan Jinlei off the ground. Seeing their master unable to steady himself, his legs trembling, they had to support him by holding his arms over their shoulders.
Zhan Jinlei knew that just compensating for the money pouch and not being held accountable for the Purple Gold Medal was already a great favor. As for the Purple Gold Medal, he suspected Huangfu Jingchen didn’t want anyone to know it was lost either.
This several tens of thousands of taels of silver couldn’t even be raised from his second house alone, and it might stir up the entire family. But he had no other choice now.
He whispered, "Prince Jing, I’ll go back right away to gather the silver!"
Huangfu Jingchen said blandly, "It’s alright if you can’t gather it all at once, but within three days, you must return twenty thousand taels. I’m short on cash currently. The remainder can be settled within six months."
Prince Xin’s son laughed, "Aren’t you going to thank Prince Cheng’s Heir for his leniency?"
Zhan Jinlei’s eyes brightened, and he hurriedly expressed his gratitude.
Huangfu Jingchen waved his hand, "No need to thank me. If it’s repaid within three days, there’s no interest. Beyond three days, I won’t take advantage of you; I’ll charge the same interest as the money houses."
Zhan Jinlei: "..."
Prince Lu’s son and the others chuckled, thinking that Prince Cheng’s Heir seemed lenient but was actually quite calculating.
The interest rates of the money houses? Those are not cheap.
With interest being calculated, wouldn’t Zhan Jinlei rush to gather and repay the silver?
Prince Lu’s son laughed from the side, "The Fifth Imperial Uncle really dotes on Jingchen, fearing he would run out of silver, sending it all the way from Yunzhou for his spending!"
Huangfu Jingchen wore a helpless expression, "I have neither roots nor foundation in the Capital City, nor am I versed in business or have estates, shops, or land. I live off my savings. The original amount sent by Father was forty-five thousand taels, but after the escort service of Ji Feng Tower took their cut, only a little over forty-one thousand remained. It’s my annual allowance. Talking about it makes me envious of brothers Han and Yan, having properties and businesses in the Capital City from the Fourth and Sixth Imperial Uncles, providing a steady flow of silver, living comfortably, not being strapped like me!"
Upon hearing this, the others understood.
Prince Lu and Prince Xin had already established their posts long ago, unlike Prince Cheng, who only visited the Capital City three times in twenty years, having no influence or connections. Over the years, they had developed industries in the Capital City that were now flourishing, while Huangfu Yuxuan had always been in the Capital City, amassing considerable wealth.
In contrast, Prince Cheng lacked both connections and wealth in the Capital City, leaving this Heir with no source of silver.
No wonder, after more than a year in the Capital City, he still relied on the allowance sent by Prince Cheng from Yunzhou.
Though they scorned him inwardly, they outwardly wore bright smiles, speaking more flattering words.
Jiang Ning, standing aside with clasped hands and a bowed head, tried hard to suppress a grin at the corner of his mouth.
The Heir’s acting skills were improving; even he was starting to believe it.
However, since arriving in the Capital, the Heir indeed kept a low profile. In over a year, the revenue from his developed industries and business in the Capital City was only a few tens of thousands per month. Too little! Compared to his business in Yunzhou, it was less than half.
The difference was, back in Yunzhou, his methods appeared somewhat naive, his actions more crude, sometimes requiring the Princess to discreetly send someone to tidy up after him.
But after arriving in the Capital City, he acted meticulously, leaving no room for error, matured and sophisticated, leading these few to view him as a pauper barely maintaining appearances despite the significant monthly income.
After gaining experience in the Jianghu, the Heir became strategically astute... or rather, far-sighted.
Huangfu Jingchen said earnestly, "So, if it weren’t for being short on cash, I’d wish Mr. Zhan could delay the repayment, letting me earn some interest. That in itself would be a financial avenue, wouldn’t it?"
Everyone: "..."
How impoverished must he be to even covet the tiny interest?
Zhan Jinlei found it hard to even breathe, his lips trembling, reluctantly replying, "I will gather the silver as soon as possible!"
Supported by others, Zhan Jinlei was led away, while Huangfu Jingchen coldly watched his departing figure.
Though he appeared pitiable, Huangfu Jingchen knew there was nothing pitiable about him.
His greatest pleasure was buying young girls under a death contract from brokers, twelve or thirteen years old, for his indulgence. Since they were under such contracts, life or death went unnoticed. Even the ones he got someone to investigate numbered thirteen.
Those died quietly, and once a group perished, he would buy another. With the Duke of England Mansion covering for him, Zhan Jinlei’s reputation in the Capital City remained untarnished.
Huangfu Jingchen had originally planned to teach such a scoundrel a lesson. His malice towards Xia Wenjin prompted Huangfu Jingchen to act today.
Isn’t he using silver to harm orphaned girls? Then let’s make him bleed first.
But such matters were minor and random for him. What he really longed for was a conversation with Wenjin later. They had both been busy of late, and it was inconvenient for him to visit Xia Mansion, so meeting her here was a pleasant surprise.
On the other side, Xia Wenjin had barely exchanged words with the ladies seated near her before being summoned by the maidservant beside the Seventeenth Princess.
Unperturbed, Xia Wenjin went to pay her respects to the Seventeenth Princess amidst envious gazes!
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