Lu Da chuckled and said, "Miss An, we are all honest people. To be honest, we do have some silkworm silk, but..."
An Xin couldn't help but sneer and said, "Boss Lu is right. We are all honest people, so there's no need for pretense. Just tell me how much silkworm silk you have on hand, and I'll buy it."
Lu Da hesitated for a moment and said, "Miss An, silkworm silk is extremely precious. A single thread can cost several taels of gold at its most expensive..."
An Xin said impatiently, "Tell me the amount!"
Lu Da was taken aback, then whispered, "I have about a pound of it..."
An Xin narrowed her eyes. These merchants were indeed very wealthy. However, the silkworm silk alone weighed a pound. If a single silkworm silk was worth ten taels of gold, how much would a pound of silkworm silk be worth?
An Xin pondered for a moment. It was absolutely impossible for her to take out any amount of gold. Not to mention that she didn't have that much, even if she did, she wouldn't easily take it out to buy some silkworm silk.
At a time of crisis for the capital, these merchants are still thinking about doing business. If we don't make them bleed a little, we're afraid they'll overeat!
Chen Guang chuckled and said, "I have more, about five jin."
An Xin's fingers tightened. Five pounds!
Everyone else gasped in amazement and looked at Chen Guang with envy, while Chen Guang looked smug.
The others had less, mostly just a few ounces. An Xin calculated that they had a total of about seven jin (3.5 catties) of material, which was enough to make about seven or eight garments.
An Xin glanced at Yan Zhen, only to see him drinking tea with his head down, his long eyelashes drooping like feathers, his posture elegant and graceful. On the pure gold cup, the datura flower bloomed brightly on his fingertips. An Xin gritted her teeth, thinking how indifferent he was!
An Xin reached out and grabbed his cup, saying, "Just give me a number, Your Excellency, how much do you need?"
Yan Zhen smiled and raised her eyelashes, saying, "Hmm, when do I need..." She stopped before An Xin could finish the last four words, "I want it."
Yan Zhen suddenly smiled and approached her, her breath sweet as orchids, and asked, "Xin'er, do you want it?"
Anxin has a headache!
Is this guy driven by lust?! How can he twist everything I say?!
An Xin lifted her foot and stomped!
"...Boss Lu, I've heard that you have a great love for landscape paintings, and that you always have a painting of Autumn Evening in the Mountains hanging above your bed, which you take down to admire from time to time, is that right?" Yan Zhen said with a lazy smile, his expression unchanged.
Lu Da's expression suddenly changed, and he stammered, "Sir, how did you know..."
Yan Zhen chuckled, playing with the cup in his hand. "I have no particular hobbies, but I love taking what others cherish. This Autumn Evening in the Mountains painting will be mine." With that, he casually took out a scroll, flicked it with his finger, and the landscape painting suddenly unfolded, becoming fixed to the wall. Everyone's expression changed drastically.
An Xin frowned, slightly puzzled by Yan Zhen's intentions.
Lu Da's face turned pale instantly, and he knelt down with a thud, trembling as he pleaded, "My lord, spare my life! My lord, spare my life!"
An Xin's heart stirred slightly.
Yan Zhen smiled lazily, "As I said, Boss Lu has made tremendous contributions to my Dayi, how could I take your life so easily... However, recently, due to the sea transport issue, the national treasury has suffered a severe deficit, and I am very worried about this..."
Having said all that, An Xin finally understood Yan Zhen's true intentions, and could only mutter "cunning, truly cunning!"
Lu Da hurriedly kowtowed and said, "I am willing to contribute ten thousand taels of silver to the national treasury. Please, Your Excellency, have mercy!"
Yan Zhen chuckled, his voice pleasantly melodious, but he said slowly, "What good are ten thousand taels? Three hundred thousand taels, not a single coin less, understand?"
Lu Da's face turned pale with heartache, but he dared not resist!
Yan Zhen glanced indifferently at Chen Guang, whose face had already turned deathly pale, and smiled, "The ancients had a story of 'keeping a beauty in a golden house,' and I never thought it would come true here, Mr. Chen."
Chen Guang was covered in sweat, his large hands constantly wiping his forehead.
Yan Zhen chuckled and said, "His Majesty advocates frugality and filial piety. Even as the Son of Heaven, he has never lived in a golden house. Mr. Chen, you have quite the audacity!"
Chen Guang's entire body of fat trembled, and he hurriedly knelt down, trembling, and said, "This humble servant is willing to contribute 100,000 taels of silver to the national treasury, please grant me your mercy, Your Excellency."
Yan Zhen said casually, "Five hundred thousand taels." His tone left no room for discussion.
Chen Guang's fat face trembled slightly.
The others knelt down and begged for mercy, but Yan Zhen slowly extorted money from them one by one, finally saying, "Don't forget to send the silkworm silk," before chasing them out.
An Xin gasped. These stingy merchants had really suffered a huge loss today! When it comes to cunning, who can rival the Right Chancellor?!
Yan Zhen turned her face, leaned down and kissed her lips, saying, "Now let's talk."
An Xin asked warily, "What are you talking about?"
Yan Zhen's fingertips traced her cheek as she said, "Naturally, we're talking about 'wanting, and how to want'..."
An Xin immediately became furious, grabbed his face, and gritted her teeth, saying, "Can't you be a little more reserved?!"
Yan Zhen rubbed her cheek against her palm and said, "You can't be too reserved!"
An Xin stared at his face angrily and said, "Yan Zhen! Be serious!"
Yan Zhen immediately smiled, pulled her into his arms, and said, "Okay, go ahead."
An Xin had a headache and couldn't break free, so she simply leaned against him and sorted out her chaotic thoughts, asking, "Why are Chen Guang and Lu Da so afraid?"
Yan Zhen kissed her forehead and said, "Behind Lu Da's landscape painting is a dark wall, where many good things are hidden, such as the seals of the previous dynasty."
An Xin suddenly looked up at him.
Keeping the seals of the previous dynasty would be a capital offense, punishable by being accused of "opposing the Qing and restoring the Ming"! No wonder he was so frightened that he couldn't speak coherently!
Yan Zhen looked at her distinct features and slightly surprised expression, and his heart fluttered. He leaned down and kissed her. If An Xin hadn't been on guard and covered his mouth with one hand, he would have succeeded again.