Beneath her seemingly random words, Yi Qing had actually conducted extensive investigations. While she couldn't claim to have covered every aspect, most of the details could withstand scrutiny.
Xiao Tian watched her smug expression, looking like a sly little fox, and felt an urge to pull her into his arms.
However, he managed to hold back. He was afraid that if he didn't, he might do something outrageous right in the carriage.
He turned his face away and said, "The Lady Sima values money more than her life. She may not be willing to part with it."
"Precisely because she's greedy for money, we have an opportunity. And don't forget, there's still a large amount of silver in the General's Mansion waiting for them to 'take'," Yi Qing sneered.
After Xiao Jingyuan's failed visit, the Yian Earl's Mansion had remained quiet.
Yi Qing didn't believe they would give up. Instead, Lady Sima must be brewing something evil.
But who was afraid of whom?
Let's see who could outwit whom!
Xiao Jinghong staggered towards Lady Sima after getting drunk.
When Lady Sima saw him in this state, her face darkened, and she almost couldn't hold back her scolding.
However, considering the tense relationship between mother and son recently, she forced herself to forget about the ten thousand taels of silver that had come like a windfall but was quickly squandered. She managed to say, "Who did you drink with this time? You're so drunk. I think it's time to find you a wife to keep you in check, so you won't run around all day."
Thinking of this, Lady Sima silently cursed the concubines and maids in Xiao Jinghong's courtyard again. They were all good-for-nothings. With so many of them, they still couldn't win Xiao Jinghong's heart.
She secretly decided that now that they were back in the capital, she wouldn't have to settle for the best among the mediocre in the remote countryside. She would arrange satisfactory marriages for her children.
Xiao Jinghong waved his hand and said, "They're all hens that can't lay eggs. Don't mention them to bother me."
These words hit Lady Sima hard.
She had wanted to be a grandmother for so long but had never achieved her wish, which had become a pain in her heart.
At first, she blamed her daughter - in - law and the concubines and maids for their incompetence. Now, she began to suspect that there was something wrong with Xiao Jinghong.
But this thought was always quickly suppressed.
Now that they were back in the capital, it seemed that she should find an imperial physician to examine Xiao Jinghong.
She was confident that she could deceive her son, but she was conflicted. She didn't know whether she hoped the imperial physician would say there was nothing wrong, so she could continue to pray to the gods, or if she hoped there would be a problem so that he could take medicine and be properly treated, and she could soon hold her grandson.
Just as Lady Sima was daydreaming, Xiao Jinghong's words interrupted her.
He said, "Mother, how much silver do you have in total? If we sell all our shops and land, how much silver can we raise?"
At the mention of "silver", Lady Sima instinctively became vigilant. She stared at Xiao Jinghong and asked, "Why do you ask? Have you incurred gambling debts again? I've already made it clear that I won't recognize or pay for any debts you owe."
"Mother! What are you talking about!" Xiao Jinghong frowned. "I've found a good way to make money and came back to tell you, but I didn't expect you to have so many questions."
"A good way to make money?" Lady Sima looked at him suspiciously. "Didn't you go to the gambling house again?"
"Now I go to the gambling house not to gamble but to find that Qing San."
Lady Sima's eyes lit up. "You found him?"
Her biggest flaw was her greed for money. She loved to hoard silver, and her children were somewhat dissatisfied with her behavior.
Lady Sima knew that she was afraid of being poor.
She had endured a life of family decline, living under someone else's roof, and having to please others. She just wanted to hoard more silver and spread it out so that no matter what happened in the future, she wouldn't live in embarrassment.
"Of course I found him," Xiao Jinghong said proudly. "My efforts paid off. I met Qing San today and treated him to a drink. That's why I came back and got scolded by you."
Seeing the pride in his eyes, Lady Sima knew that there was hope for this matter. She immediately beamed with joy, reached out, and pulled on Xiao Jinghong's sleeve. "Don't play hard - to - get in front of your mother. Quickly tell me."
Xiao Jinghong told her about the merchant ships going on overseas trade one by one.
"People used to say that money doesn't come easily. But look, Mother. Qing San's wealth came like a gust of wind. With a blow of the sea breeze, hundreds of thousands of taels of silver flowed in. Why didn't we think of such a way to make money when we were living a hard life before?"
Lady Sima was older and more experienced than Xiao Jinghong.
After a brief moment of excitement, she also raised her doubts. "Is it really that easy to make money? Why haven't I heard of others doing this business?"
Xiao Jinghong stamped his foot. "Look at you. You used to complain that I was idle and didn't work. Now that I've finally found a way to make money, you're full of doubts. Since you think so, I'll just go and decline Qing San. Do you think I, a young master of the Earl's Mansion, like to associate with money - grubbing merchants?"
After saying that, he pretended to leave.
Lady Sima grabbed him and said coquettishly, "You child. I've only said a few words, and you have so much to say. This business requires a large amount of silver, so we need to think it over carefully. Do you think I'm not tempted? Don't be impatient. Let's sit down and analyze it slowly."
"What's there to analyze? I've asked clearly. There are no flaws," Xiao Jinghong said. "Don't be over - confident. I haven't even told him that we want to get involved. Who knows if he'll be willing to take us? There are so many powerful people in the capital. If they know about this profit, do you think we'll have a chance? Even the emperor might ask him to replenish his private treasury. It's just that he's new here and doesn't know anyone yet..."
The implication was that thanks to him, they could take this opportunity.
Lady Sima said, "I still don't feel at ease. We can't be hasty. Rome wasn't built in a day. Listen to your mother. Let's first put out some silver and see if we can get the eight - tenths interest he promised. The interest rate in the capital in previous years was only one and a half tenths. If his eight - tenths is real, we'll consider further."
Xiao Jinghong was very unhappy, but Lady Sima held the silver tightly. In the end, mother and son compromised and decided to put out some silver to earn interest first.
Lady Sima proposed one thousand taels, while Xiao Jinghong managed to get it up to ten thousand taels.
Three days later, Yi Qing proudly flicked the silver note and said to Xiao Jinghan, "Look, the ten thousand taels of silver is back, right?"
"Aren't you going to pay them interest? They won't take the bait again if they don't see the interest."
"Of course I will. Why wouldn't I?" Yi Qing counted on her fingers. "I plan to pay them one thousand taels of interest a month. We'll surely see results within three months."