Volume One, Chapter 13: He Clearly Took Advantage of the Chaos to Plunder

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“Your Highness the Prince, I apologize for not preparing a proper welcome for your esteemed visit.” Su Hao cupped his hands in greeting.

“Greetings, Prince, from Ziwen.” Su Ziwen bowed deeply.

“Lord Pingyang, Young Master Su, no need for formalities. I came unannounced; please forgive any rudeness.” Prince Xiao Muchen smiled warmly, his demeanor humble and courteous.

“Your presence brightens this humble abode. Please, have a seat,” Su Hao said respectfully as he led them into the flower hall.

The Prince took the seat of honor while servants brought fragrant tea, fruits, and snacks.

Su Hao personally poured the tea. After the Prince drank half a cup, they exchanged polite small talk.

“Lord Pingyang, I heard Yun Jinhua is demanding the Su family repay their debt within three days? Over a hundred thousand taels—that’s a heavy sum. For honest officials like you, living off salary and ancestral property, where could you possibly raise so much money in such a short time?” Prince Xiao Muchen shook his head with a sigh.

“Your Highness, repaying debts is only right. Even if it means selling off family assets, the Pingyang estate would never default on a single coin. It’s just that the deadline is a bit too tight,” Su Hao said with a bitter smile.

He didn’t mind the Prince knowing about the Pingyang estate’s financial strain; after all, they prided themselves on their integrity, which had even earned the Crown Prince’s approval.

“I had hoped she was virtuous and gentle, expecting that after marriage, she would live harmoniously with her husband and honor his parents, settling into a peaceful life. Instead, she has brought discord to my entire family, disgracing us and breaking the rules of propriety and tradition,” Su Ziwen said with a look of shame.

His words were all accusations against Yun Jinhua, as if she alone were the unforgivable villain.

“That’s precisely why I came. You know I have some means at hand,” Prince Xiao Muchen said with a faint smile.

Su Hao felt a weight lift from his heart. The Prince was truly a kind soul.

When the Su family faced disaster, others avoided them completely, not even offering comfort.

The Prince, however, had taken the initiative to offer financial help.

It was clear Yun Jinhua was not favored by many.

Only the Emperor’s authority kept officials from speaking out frankly.

“Your Highness, the gap is large, and it’s hard to repay all at once. I’m grateful for your kindness, but I’m embarrassed to accept this,” Lord Pingyang said, rubbing his hands nervously and lowering his head.

“No matter! Just name the amount, and I can provide it,” Xiao Muchen said with the confidence of someone with deep pockets.

“Would 120,000 taels be acceptable?” Lord Pingyang’s face flushed purple.

Though a family of a hundred years’ standing, they couldn’t even produce a hundred thousand taels on short notice.

In the past three years, the Pingyang estate’s lifestyle was neither extravagant nor thrifty, as everyone could see.

“Very well. I happen to carry a promissory note for exactly 120,000 taels. Please count it yourself,” Xiao Muchen pushed a stack of large silver notes forward.

“Your Highness’s generosity is beyond reproach. I thank you deeply,” Lord Pingyang said, but a sense of unease stirred in his heart.

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Had the Prince just probed his family’s financial situation so thoroughly?

Still, extending help at this moment made him a great benefactor to the Pingyang estate.

“Lord Pingyang, here is the loan agreement. Please sign and seal it,” Xiao Muchen slid a document over.

“Of course, of course,” Su Hao took the loan agreement.

He scanned it quickly, but his smile froze.

“Your Highness, this—”

His hands trembled, unable to decide whether to sign or put it down.

Su Ziwen stood beside his father, eyes flickering. Upon reading the contents, his clenched fists bulged with veins.

“Why don’t you just go rob him?” he blurted angrily.

“Ziwen, that’s enough!” Su Hao hurriedly stopped him.

They faced Prince Xiao Muchen, the eldest son of the late Emperor, whose Empress Dowager—the “Empress Dowager Renshou”—was still alive and held a higher rank even than the current Emperor’s mother, the “Empress Dowager Zhuangjing.”

The Prince was second only to the Emperor himself in prestige.

To offend him would mean the Su family’s future would be fraught with difficulties.

The Prince, however, showed no anger, smiling calmly.

“Rob? Isn’t that illegal? This is voluntary, and you get the money—what could be better?” he said with a noble air.

For a prince of his status to personally lend money and earn interest was only natural.

“We are unwilling,” Su Ziwen said furiously.

The Su family was not fish on a chopping block to be carved up at will.

“Oh, I suppose I was acting alone in this. No matter, business not done, but honor remains. Farewell,” Xiao Muchen said as he gathered the notes and smiled as he walked out.

His smile never faded, showing no sign of anger.

Just as he stepped over the threshold, he turned back with a smile: “Young Master Su, I guarantee you won’t borrow a single coin in Anyang City. The Marquis of Wuan isn’t to be trifled with, and my imperial brother protects her. Soon, I fear the Pingyang estate will become the Marquis of Wuan’s property!”

He walked away cheerfully, indifferent to the father and son left behind.

Lord Pingyang’s face turned ashen. With this, their family would be lost. How could the Su family face anyone afterward?

“Your Highness, please wait!” he hurried after him.

“Lord Pingyang, what is it?” Xiao Muchen raised an eyebrow, feigning ignorance.

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He never held grudges against those who brought him money.

“Your Highness, I will sign the loan agreement,” Lord Pingyang said through gritted teeth.

“That’s sensible of you. Young Master Su, young people should temper their anger and think before acting,” the Prince lectured in a tone older than his years.

In truth, he was younger than Su Ziwen.

Resigned, Lord Pingyang signed and sealed the document, then handed it over.

Xiao Muchen pocketed it and held out his hand: “Give it here!”

“Your Highness, what do you want?” Su Hao was puzzled.

Xiao Muchen grinned broadly: “Lord Pingyang, using the bride’s dowry to repay debts is shameful. Aren’t you embarrassed to face Yun Jinhua again? Well, no need for a third party—I'll personally deliver the silver notes. Consider this a favor between old friends; I’ll waive the service fee.”

Lord Pingyang was speechless.

You really are quite the character!

Watching the Prince’s departing figure, Su Ziwen's eyes darkened with gloom.

“Father, he’s not here to do us a favor. He’s taking advantage of our misfortune.”

A thirty percent interest rate.

He was worse than the black-hearted merchants—utterly despicable!

“Strange. Prince Xiao has a reputation for kindness. Why trouble our Pingyang estate so?” Su Hao asked, baffled.

The Su family had never offended the Prince.

“It’s just everyone pushing a man when he’s down. Perhaps he wants to curry favor with Yun Jinhua,” Su Ziwen said, then paused, realizing the truth.

Indeed!

The feud between the Su and Yun families was purely personal.

The Prince had nothing to do with it but came running to deliver money.

This was not charity; it was clearly a safeguard against the Su family defaulting.

Why were members of the royal family so protective of Yun Jinhua, one after another?