Chapter 514: Borrowing Money (Part One)
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Jiang Shanshan was allowed to come out for the first time. She was placed on a chair, her long skirt hanging down to the ground from the edge of the chair. From a distance, she seemed no different from an ordinary woman, but she was very clear that there was nothing underneath her skirt; she had already lost the chance to be a normal person.
The morning sunlight was as soft as silk, and the early spring breeze still carried a chill. The air was cold and piercing, but compared to the dark and filthy underground dungeon where she had been kept, it was like the difference between heaven and h*ll.
Jiang Shanshan closed her eyes and took deep breaths, wishing she could replace all the dirty air she had breathed in over these days with clean air, inside and out.
“You said you wanted to sunbathe, so I let you come out to sunbathe. Now you need to give me a way to make money,” Yuwen You opened his mouth. “Although you gave me the drawings, it’s not enough. Everything costs money. You have to come up with a good way for me to make money.”
Everything costs money. He didn’t have money, so he had to ask her for it? Jiang Shanshan sneered inwardly, feeling infinite contempt for Yuwen You. However, when she opened her eyes, they were filled with gentleness and respect. Her voice sounded particularly gentle, “Although I want to help Your Highness, I don’t know many ways to make money. One is glass, another is soap, and there’s also the drip dew pot. I really don’t know much else.”
Yuwen You smiled faintly and lightly clapped his hands. Uncle Gai emerged from the corner, his eyes eagerly scanning Jiang Shanshan, who had been tidied up neatly. His Adam’s apple bobbed uncontrollably, clearly unable to contain his excitement.
All the beautiful moments of the spring morning disappeared in an instant. Jiang Shanshan struggled to hold back her nausea, twisting her face. “Your Highness, what you’re doing isn’t fair.”
Yuwen You calmly replied, “Yes, but what choice do I have? You refused my toast, so I can only make you drink the forfeit. I’ve never understood the concept of cherishing beauty and jade. You know this, so why do you always provoke me?”
Jiang Shanshan said in agony, “But I really didn’t know. You have to give me time to think.”
Yuwen You said, “I can’t wait. Yesterday, Yuwen Chu shot and killed Hu Tong, the newly favored deputy steward of the Chongzheng Hall, in front of the Emperor. You should know what this means.”
This meant that Yuwen Chu had already begun to show his strength, and he was fearless. Jiang Shanshan understood and said, “Since he has fired the first shot, he will fire the second one. When the time is right, he may even kill the young emperor. Then you will be in trouble, completely like a fish on the chopping block.”
“So you must come up with a solution immediately. Otherwise, I’ll be in a bad mood and capable of anything.” Yuwen You said.
Jiang Shanshan suggested, “I can train a team for you, exclusively at your disposal. They can excel in assassination, poisoning, kidnapping, and espionage. With this, you can eliminate anyone who displeases you. As for money, every business requires investment and waiting. I know you’re probably not patient enough, so I have a suggestion, but I don’t know if you have the courage and ability.”
Yuwen You dismissed Uncle Gai and said, “Go ahead, I’m listening.”
“Robbery, kidnapping, or even tomb robbing. This is the fastest way to get money.” Jiang Shanshan said casually. “If Your Highness doesn’t even have people like this, then I can only give you one suggestion: borrow money. Find everyone you know who can lend you money.”
Finding everyone who can lend you money? Yuwen You frowned and thought seriously about the problem. Currently, the young emperor liked him and was willing to let him do some things. Getting a small amount of money was easy, but getting more was impossible. However, with the identity of the Vice Commander of the Longlin Guards he had just obtained, it was convenient to train a secret team. He could let the young emperor support this team and then turn them all into his strength. As for other money, he could probably borrow it from Zhongshan Wang.
Yuwen You thought about it and was ready to act. He signaled for Uncle Gai to push Jiang Shanshan into the room and instructed the Momo standing by, “Watch her and take care of her. If she doesn’t listen, just hit her. If she wants to shout, stuff her mouth and hit her hard.”
Jiang Shanshan was unhappy. “I’ve given you so many ideas, and this is how you treat me?”
“Isn’t my treatment good enough for you?” Yuwen You smiled gently. “You’ve come from a dark and gloomy dungeon to this exclusive house where you can enjoy the sunshine, bathe, look at the blue sky and white clouds, and appreciate the pear blossoms. Plus, there’s an old and caring Momo specifically taking care of you. What else do you want? Do you think this place isn’t good enough, and you want to go back to the dungeon?”
Jiang Shanshan immediately closed her mouth. She knew when to yield. She didn’t want to provoke this pervert for the time being and would wait for an opportunity.
After leaving the courtyard, Yuwen You locked the door with the key as if nothing had happened. He casually strolled around the garden before going back to change his clothes, preparing to go to the palace.
The Wusun Princess was sitting in a daze by the window. When she saw him coming, she quickly greeted him with a smile. “Your Highness, how was your morning exercise?”
“It was fine.” Yuwen You gestured to her. “Quickly prepare the meal and get my clothes ready. I’m going to the palace for an audience.”
The Wusun Princess’s joy suddenly vanished, and she obediently followed his orders, preparing everything as he instructed, then watched him leave.
She looked helplessly at the Linan Wang Mansion. The mansion wasn’t big, but there were many places she couldn’t go, such as the study and several secluded courtyards in the backyard. Yuwen You had clearly warned her not to go there, nor did he allow anyone around her to go there. He made it clear that if the servants didn’t listen, they would die. As for what would happen if she didn’t listen, he didn’t say, but she understood his meaning. She didn’t dare to try.
Yuwen You was too gloomy, and she had an intuition that he had hidden many things from her. She knew his days were not easy and wanted to help him, but she didn’t know where to start.
It was the Lunar New Year, and while other families were celebrating and socializing with each other, she felt like she had been forgotten. No one invited her, and no one wanted to interact with her. The Wusun Princess was momentarily stunned, then whispered to her maid, “Prepare the carriage. I’m going out.”
As the maid, Liuli, was about to leave, she was stopped by the Momo sent by Yuwen You. Xu Momo murmured softly, “His Highness said that Wangfei is not allowed to wander around casually. It’s chaotic in the capital these days… for someone unfamiliar with the place, and with few shops open on the street, where do you want to go?”
Liuli couldn’t argue with Xu Momo and anxiously babbled in a series of Wusun language, but Xu Momo disdainfully said, “Who knows what kind of bird language that is, I don’t understand.”
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