"Your Highness, I can't do it, I really can't!" Huaishang of tears.
His mother was definitely not his biological mother; she actually wanted him to marry Mianmian.
He won't agree!
The Prince of Jin couldn't help but laugh at his foolish behavior.
"When will you stop being able to? You need to get treatment for your illness promptly. Here's what we'll do: if you're having trouble talking about it, I'll talk to the Princess and she'll keep it a secret. You're her only child, and she's counting on you to carry on the family line."
Huaishang said with a bitter face, "Your Highness, please don't joke around. I'm fine with that!"
Honestly, when you were making love with the princess on the pleasure boat, I was blushing with embarrassment. If I weren't so stingy with a hundred taels of silver, I would have gone to find one too!
After thinking it over, I realized it wouldn't work; money was more important, so I had to protect my purse.
Thinking about the hundred taels he had spent, it felt like being doused with ice water, and he no longer longed for women.
He's always been bad at spending money.
"Your Highness, she's such a spendthrift."
After working so hard, like swallows carrying mud to build their nests, how can we so easily squander the little wealth we've accumulated?
After learning Mianmian's true identity, he was amazed by her Mianmian spending.
He can't afford to raise them; he's poor.
The Prince of Jin patted him on the shoulder. "You've got some potential. Have you saved up ten thousand taels of silver all these years?"
Huaishang weakly extended three fingers.
With 30,000 taels of silver, what are you still worried about?
When Prince of Jin married Tang Zhuyun, it was considered extremely extravagant, yet it only cost 50,000 taels of silver.
For high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital, five thousand taels of silver is usually enough to celebrate a wedding.
The 30,000 taels from the Huaishang are more than enough.
Since you're getting married, you can't just Zidu.
Huaishang was about to cry, "Your Highness, do you know how much Mianmian's monthly salary is at the Wen Family?"
The Prince of Jin thought about his monthly salary of 1,200 taels of silver and, with a determined effort, said, "Two hundred taels?"
Huaishang: "Say more."
"One thousand taels?" The Prince of Jin was already shocked.
Are merchant families really that wealthy?
"Please stand on tiptoe and add some more."
Prince of Jin: "... Two thousand taels?"
"No, four thousand one hundred and sixty-six taels."
Prince of Jin: Why are there both whole and odd amounts?
Wait, why are there so many!
"Fifty thousand taels a year!" Huaishang stretched out his palm, his voice trembling.
He painstakingly saved up money for so many years, but it wasn't enough to Mianmian him a single year.
A daughter-in-law like that is a nightmare!
The Prince of Jin remained silent.
He is re-examining the significance of the Wen Family.
Although the Wen Family only had two sons and one daughter, Mianmian was also very much loved, she still couldn't surpass her two older brothers.
The elders in the family probably receive a higher monthly allowance.
Does the Wen Family's master's monthly salary amount to hundreds of thousands of taels of silver a year?
The entire annual income of the national treasury, including all the odds and ends, was the result of his father's many years of recuperation and development, amounting to only tens of millions of taels.
The Wen Family's wealth is astonishing.
The Prince of Jin was deeply, deeply shocked.
He knew that merchants from Jiangnan were wealthy, but he never imagined they were this rich!
Based on this calculation, wouldn't the Wen Family be worth tens of millions?
Huaishang was still muttering to himself, "Your Highness, I'm really not stingy..."
Prince of Jin: You really are something else.
"... But it pains me to lose all the money I've painstakingly saved over the years."
The Prince of Jin teased him deliberately, "Then think about her dowry."
Huaishang puffed out his chest. "You still have to support your own wife."
He has a sense of shame!
"Are you eating coarse grains and wild vegetables?"
Huaishang: "Your Highness, others may not understand me, but you can't say that. There must be at least one dish and one soup!"
The Prince of Jin chuckled and asked, "Seriously, what's the Wen Family's attitude now?"
Huaishang also became serious, "Because my mother Wen Family are related, Wen Li told me that they can give the prince this much money a year."
He held up one finger.
Because of the previous Mianmian stream of monthly tributes, the Prince of Jin boldly guessed this time. "One million taels?"
"Yes, five years, one million taels per year," Huaishang said. "Wen Li pleaded poverty, originally intending to give two hundred thousand taels. But after learning about Mianmian's monthly allowance, he mustered his courage and asked for one million taels, refusing to budge..."
To everyone's surprise, Wen Li actually agreed.
"Mianmian told me," Huaishang continued, " that the Wen Family's business is mainly overseas. They don't show off, but the profits are truly astonishing."
It was astonishing; even the Prince of Jin was deeply shocked.
Huaishang has rendered meritorious service in this matter.
Without his close relationship with Mianmian, the Prince of Jin would have thought that 200,000 taels was already the Wen Family's utmost sincerity.
The Prince of Jin seemed to be deep in thought.
With the Wen Family's strong support, we will have more financial freedom in the future.
Conversely, if the Wen Family uses this money to help others, it will cause trouble for the Prince of Jin.
The Prince of Jin looked towards the Huaishang.
Huaishang: "Your Highness, please don't look at me like that. I feel my purse burning."
You're going to lose money!
"Aren't you tempted?" the Prince of Jin asked.
Huaishang: "I have principles; I won't eat soft rice!"
Prince of Jin: "Actually, you could try it."
Huaishang: "..."
The Prince of Jin laughed heartily.
After laughing, he asked, "Where's Wen Li?"
"He didn't want to show himself, but he had his subordinate bring the silver notes. He also told me to stay away from Mianmian."
Huaishang happily agreed to this condition.
The Prince of Jin retorted, "The Wen Family is trying to play both sides."
"We may not be able to find another ship now," Huaishang said.
After all, apart from the Prince of Jin, there's no one else who's capable or powerful.
"But I definitely have this plan," Huaishang added. "I'm thinking, the money's not hot to handle, so who cares! I'll just take it first!"
"Hmm." Prince of Jin nodded. "The Wen Family certainly dotes on their daughter, and they're not acting rashly."
"Exactly," Huaishang said with a bitter expression, "Mianmian is always pestering me. I'm in a dilemma now..."
Furthermore, against my will, I feel like I'm betraying myself.
If he were to back down, fearing that the prince's money tree might run away, he would be a sinner.
Sigh, why is it so hard for him?
The Prince of Jin said, "Is it hardest to resist the kindness of a beautiful woman? I think that little girl is alright; she doesn't seem to have a complicated mind."
Huaishang: She can spend money! She can spend money! She can spend money!
"You don't need to worry. Since the Wen Family has no intention of a marriage alliance, they'll probably take her away soon."
"She's not leaving!"
Mianmian is like a stubborn plaster.
It was also his fault; Mianmian overheard his conversation with his mother.
In addition, Mianmian also learned some things from Wen Li, that Huaishang had always been loyal to the Prince of Jin.
With her only reservation about Huaishang gone, she declared that she would catch up with him.
It's said that it's easy for a woman to pursue a man, though that veil might seem impenetrable now, but Mianmian is not discouraged at all.
"I told her that we'll consider it once I've saved up 100,000 taels of silver."
Prince of Jin: "Be careful, she might make up for it."
Huaishang's eyes widened in shock.
After a long pause, he waved his hand. "No, no, she can't save any money!"
He wasn't afraid, not at all, really.
"Your Highness, if you insist on a marriage alliance, please find someone else," Huaishang said, trembling.
Prince of Jin: "I cannot make such a promise lightly for one million taels of silver annually."
He was in a great mood after receiving the money.
Huaishang: "..."