Chapter 138: This Prince Will Be Your Support

Meng Qinghe nodded: "Mother, I understand. Rest assured, I will definitely not let Liu Yiniang and the other three get away with it."

Meng Xiuqi fought with his elder brother, and Liu Yiniang's daughter Meng Qingrong wanted to contend with me.

"Mother, lately Meng Qingrong has been constantly currying favor with the Crown Prince, and I have no idea what methods she uses to attract the Crown Prince like this." In the previous life, Chi Nan Yi had won the Crown Prince's favor with her skill at the zither and her proud beauty; this life, without Chi Nan Yi, how has Meng Qingrong suddenly appeared?

"Alas." Jiang Clan looked back at the ledger; at present, the thing that gave her the most headache was the deficit of the Minister's Residence.

A few days ago she went back to her natal home and obtained a few thousand taels of silver, but the vast Minister's Residence could not be sustained for long with only a few thousand taels; without Delicious Hall supporting them, they now feared they'd have to sell a few shops just to get by.

Seeing the worry on Jiang Clan's face, Meng Qinghe realized her chance had arrived: "Mother, I have received some information that might help the Minister's Residence get through this crisis."

"Oh? What information?"

Meng Qinghe laid out her plan.

Jiang Clan, having been immersed in commerce for many years, quickly grasped the huge profit within it.

But where did this daughter hear such news?

"Qinghe, is this information accurate?"

"Naturally it's accurate." Meng Qinghe said resolutely: "It was the Crown Prince who told me."

Jiang Clan heard this and her eyes filled with joy.

"Really? It was truly the Crown Prince who said it?"

"Exactly." In Meng Qinghe's view, this matter was something she had experienced herself; this life would not change—snow disaster was inevitable, grain prices would still rise—so as long as she could seize this chance, she would surely make a huge profit.

"How much silver is needed?"

"Fifty thousand taels."

"That much?"

Jiang Clan couldn't help but be startled: "Fifty thousand taels is no small sum!"

"Mother, why not go out and borrow a bit more? This fifty thousand taels could become two hundred thousand taels or even more."

Jiang Clan nodded: "That may be so, but if we lose…"

"Mother, trust Qinghe, we won't lose. Didn't the locust disaster I earlier told Father about come true?"

"Alright." Hearing this, Jiang Clan nodded: "I only have thirty thousand taels here; for the remaining twenty thousand taels I'll think of a way."

"Good, but it must be done quickly. When I returned today, I heard the grain shops have already started raising prices."

After Meng Qinghe left Jiang Clan's courtyard, Jiang Clan had someone hire a carriage to go out, and that night Jiang Clan retrieved twenty thousand taels of silver.

Upon hearing this, Meng Qinghe felt delighted and resolved to go buy grain first thing tomorrow morning.

Soon after Chi Nan Yi returned to the inn, an unexpected visitor appeared in her room.

"Prince Li."

Chi Nan Yi glanced at the slightly trembling window and laughed: "People probably wouldn't think that Prince Li would even climb through a window."

"It's not that they can't imagine it, they just think a useless person couldn't accomplish this." His mask reflected a faint cold gleam in the candlelight, Mo Junyan's gaze fell on her face, a trace of tenderness buried in his eyes: "Long time no see."

"Prince, do you have urgent business coming here late at night?"

"This Prince thought we were old friends, Prince, if there's nothing, can you not come to visit?"

"I am merely a village woman, how could I dare cling to the Prince?"

"A village woman doesn't have your ability and courage." Mo Junyan gave a faint smile: "Why did you bring Yun Shan back? Is it because you now have other trustworthy people around you?"

Chi Nan Yi looked at him, smiled, and said: "Prince, where did you hear that? It's not that I distrust Yun Shan; Yun Shan has been by your side for many years, many have seen him, but having him by my side is inconvenient."

"Because of that?"

"Yes."

"If you need, this Prince can…"

"Thank you for your kindness, Prince. I go out alone and don't need so many attendants." Chi Nan Yi poured him a cup of tea: "The tea here is simple; I hope the Prince won't mind."

She knew he was deliberately changing the subject, also trying to use the tea to shut his mouth.

Mo Junyan did not reject her kindness, lifted the cup and took a shallow sip; the two faced each other in silence, and the room fell into an eerie quiet.

"Prince, besides coming today, is there any other matter?"

"What plans do you have now that you've come to Jingcheng?"

"I, a humble woman, intend to open a shop here."

"So you have taken over the shop opposite Delicious Hall."

Chi Nan Yi's brows twitched slightly.

"Prince, are you investigating me?"

"No, it's just that the shop next door is property of Prince Li's estate, and the people there saw you."

Chi Nan Yi recalled that the neighboring shop seemed to be a jade shop.

"You should know who owns Delicious Hall."

Chi Nan Yi nodded; she knew she couldn't hide anything from Mo Junyan, the cunning fox.

"The Meng family does not know I returned to Jingcheng; please keep it secret, Prince."

"Since you wish to challenge the Meng family, this Prince is willing to lend you a hand." Mo Junyan stopped probing and said plainly: "I know you dislike the Meng family; this Prince is willing to help you."

Chi Nan Yi heard him say that and felt her heart pound like drums.

She always felt Mo Junyan seemed able to see through all her disguises, even guessing exactly what she intended to do next.

Is this person a mind reader?

"Prince, why do you think I want to challenge the Meng family?"

"Ha, this Prince not only knows that, but also knows you intend to crush the Meng family's only profitable livelihood and thereby dismantle them. Am I right?"

Chi Nan Yi could no longer muster a smile; sitting opposite Mo Junyan, she said in a deep voice: "Prince, what else do you know?"

"This Prince's knowledge isn't just speculation."

"Meng Xiang is a court-appointed official, serving as Left Minister, the head of all officials; I am targeting the Meng Family in this way, so why doesn't the Prince get angry?"

"Why should This Prince be angry? What a coincidence—you dislike the Meng Family, and This Prince also detests the Meng Family to the extreme." Mo Junyan faintly smiled: "If you want to bring down the Meng Family, just go ahead; This Prince is willing to be your backing."

This Prince... become his own backing?

Chi Nan Yi was slightly unsettled.

After all, her original thought was to rely on Mo Junyan, that big tree.

Now this big tree has leaned toward her of its own accord; will Chi Nan Yi accept or not?

"What about the price?"

"What?"

"If a common girl wishes to rely on the Prince, what price must she pay?"

"Heh, Miss Chi thinks This Prince would covet something from you?" The eyes beneath the mask swept over Chi Nan Yi's body, smiling: "This Prince is not so far as to have any improper thoughts toward a child who hasn't even reached the capping ceremony; you once helped This Prince, and now This Prince merely offers a modest repayment, that's all."

Mo Junyan, seeing her conflicted expression, was not in a hurry, stood up and walked to the window: "When you've made up your mind, I'll have someone inform the residence."