Joy of Life: Me, the Second Prince? Summon Yuan Tiangang!

Li Chengze stopped, tilted the oil-paper umbrella in his hand slightly backward, and turned to look.

Fan Sizhe rushed to Li Chengze, his hands on his knees, bent over and panting heavily, his throat making a bellows-like whistling sound, his fair face turning a purplish-red.

"Your...Your Highness..." Fan Sizhe was panting so hard he could barely speak, but he still stubbornly reached out a hand and grabbed Li Chengze's sleeve tightly, as if afraid that this golden goose would run away. "That...that bonus matter...we need to...we need to clarify this..."

Seeing his disheveled yet persistent appearance, Li Chengze couldn't help but chuckle. He casually held the umbrella over his head, shielding him from some of the wind and rain, and teased, "What? Is Young Master Fan afraid I'll renege on my debt?"

"No...it's not about defaulting on the debt..." Fan Sizhe finally caught his breath, straightened up, wiped the rain from his face, and his small eyes gleamed with a shrewdness and cunning of a businessman. "Your Highness just mentioned a 10% commission, but there's a trick to this commission. Is it calculated based on the total revenue, or on the net profit after deducting costs? The difference is enormous!"

As he spoke, he skillfully manipulated the abacus in his pocket, producing a series of crisp clicks: "If we calculate based on cash flow, then of course everyone is happy. But if we calculate based on net profit, we have to deduct labor costs, losses, rent, government taxes... After all these deductions, how many coins are left of the 10% profit?"

Li Chengze raised an eyebrow slightly, tapping his folding fan lightly against his palm, and looked at him with a half-smile: "Young Master Fan is indeed shrewd. Since we're doing business together, we naturally need to keep clear accounts. What I'm talking about is pure profit."

"Net profit..."

Fan Sizhe's originally high spirits instantly deflated like a punctured balloon.

He hung his head, his fingers unconsciously fiddling with the abacus beads, muttering to himself, "I knew it wouldn't be this good... A 10% profit depends on the harvest and the manager's skill. All the risk is on my shoulders..."

Li Chengze chuckled inwardly as he watched the man's heartbroken expression, as if he had lost millions of taels of silver.

This kid is indeed a born miser; he can still think about bargaining even at a time like this.

"What? Young Master Fan doesn't think much of you?" Li Chengze pretended to put away his oil-paper umbrella, his tone indifferent. "If you feel you're at a disadvantage, then forget it. Although my manor is lacking a shrewd accountant, it's not like I can't do without you. In this capital, there are countless people who want to curry favor with me."

"No, no, no! Please don't!"

Upon hearing this, Fan Sizhe instantly panicked, grabbing Li Chengze's arm and plastering his face with a fawning smile. His change of expression was astonishingly swift. "Your Highness, look at you! Why are you getting so worked up? This is just... this is just a professional habit, a habit of calculating! Pure profit is pure profit! Even a mosquito's leg is meat, let alone Your Highness's business, which must be lucrative!"

He was calculating in his mind very quickly. Although it was pure profit, who was the Second Prince?

That's His Majesty's son! How could his business be small-scale?

It's good to have a powerful backer. With this connection, who would dare to trip him up in business?

Besides, although this 10% net profit is not as much as the turnover, as long as the accounts are done well and the costs are reduced, it is still an astronomical figure!

Thinking of this, the disappointment in Fan Sizhe's eyes vanished, replaced by a burning fighting spirit.

"That's right." Li Chengze nodded in satisfaction, his gaze deep. "As long as you do well, I will never treat you unfairly. Besides silver, I can give you something else."

Fan Sizhe asked curiously, "What is it?"

"An opportunity." Li Chengze looked at the outline of the palace in the rain and mist in the distance and said softly, "An opportunity for your father and your whole family to take you seriously and acknowledge that you are an indispensable talent for the Fan family."

Fan Sizhe's body trembled slightly upon hearing this. He usually seemed carefree and only knew how to be greedy, but deep down, didn't he also long for the approval of his strict father?

"Your Highness, rest assured!" Fan Sizhe straightened his back, a rare seriousness on his face, and patted his chest forcefully. "As long as you hand over the account books to me, I guarantee I will manage your businesses perfectly, making money generate more money, and ensuring Your Highness suffers not a single penny in loss!"

……

The next day, at the Second Prince's residence.

When Fan Sizhe stepped into the study carrying his precious abacus, he was still stunned by the scene before him.

On the large desk, piles of account books dangled precariously, and several boxes of old accounts, recently moved in, lay scattered on the floor. Several old accountants were furrowing their brows as they fiddled with abacuses, looking as if they had lost their parents.

"This...so much?" Fan Sizhe swallowed hard, his eyes shining with an alarming intensity.

Li Chengze was sitting by the window sipping tea when he saw him arrive. He casually pointed to the pile of account books and said, "These are all properties under my name, including restaurants, silk shops, farmland in the suburbs, and several shops dealing in antiques and calligraphy. For years, I've entrusted them to the stewards in the manor, but as you know, those servants are dishonest and their accounts are a complete mess. From today onwards, all of these are under your management."

Li Chengze deliberately stripped away all the dark industries involved in the "Luo Wang" strongholds, intelligence networks, and the flow of funds of the "Bad People," leaving only these clean and legitimate businesses that were out in the open.

"Alright! Your Highness, just you wait and see!"

Fan Sizhe didn't stand on ceremony, rolled up his sleeves, and plopped down in the main seat.

He first picked up an account book and casually flipped through a few pages, his brows instantly furrowing into a deep frown.

"Who kept these accounts? It's utter nonsense!"

Fan Sizhe slammed his hand on the table, startling the old accountants.

"On the fifth day of the third month, ten catties of top-quality Biluochun tea were purchased, costing fifty taels of silver? Is this drinking gold? The best Biluochun tea on the market is only three taels of silver per catty. Where did the extra twenty taels go?"

"And this! The silk shop reported thirty bolts of Yun brocade lost in just one month? That's Yun brocade! Not rags! Did rats gnaw on them? Did those rats have gold teeth?"

Once Fan Sizhe gets into the zone, his carefree, spoiled brat nature and business acumen combine perfectly, instantly transforming him into a tyrant in the study.

As he cursed, he spun the abacus with incredible speed, his fingers flashing and the sound of the beads clashing like rapid war drums, making one's heart pound.

"Hey you! Stop standing there! Go and fetch the manager of the silk shop! And the purchasing manager, tell him to come see me right now with the purchasing list!"

"This is not right! Let's recalculate! If you're short by even a penny, I'll hold you responsible!"

Watching Fan Sizhe, who was displaying great power and commanding with ease in the study, lecturing a group of seasoned veterans like grandsons, Li Chengze's smile deepened.

"He's truly a talented individual."

He put down his teacup, got up and left the study, leaving this battlefield entirely to Fan Sizhe.

……

In the days that followed, a rumor began to circulate in Kyoto's business circles: a "living Yama" had arrived at the Second Prince's residence.

This newly arrived head steward is young, but he has a pair of sharp eyes that can see through any false accounts or exaggerations.

He acted swiftly and decisively. In just half a month, he investigated and punished three corrupt shopkeepers, dismissed more than a dozen dishonest employees, and revitalized several previously loss-making shops through a series of unheard-of methods such as "discount promotions," "bundled sales," and "member points," more than tripling their revenue.

The Fan residence.

In the stillness of the night, Fan Jian's study was still lit.

"Master." The butler tiptoed in and poured Fan Jian a cup of hot tea. "Young Master is back."

"Hmm." Fan Jian put down the book in his hand, rubbed his temples, and said, "Has he still been going to the Second Prince's residence every day these past few days?"

"Yes," the butler said in a low voice. "Young Master leaves before dawn every day and doesn't return until late at night. According to the servants who follow him, Young Master is highly regarded in the Second Prince's residence, and now he has the authority to manage all of the Second Prince's properties. Moreover..."

The butler paused, a hint of admiration on his face. "Young Master is indeed capable. I heard that the Second Prince's restaurants are doing incredibly well these days, and with a few tips from you, the profits of our Fan family's shops have also increased considerably."

Fan Jian remained silent for a moment upon hearing this.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the dark night outside, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"This child, Sizhe, is completely clueless when it comes to studying and martial arts, but he has an almost monstrous talent for the ways of commerce." Fan Jian sighed. "I originally didn't want him to get involved in these things, much less to get him involved in the royal family's struggles. But now it seems that gold will always shine, and you can't suppress it."

"Master, should we...stop the young master?" the butler asked tentatively. "After all, he's the second prince, and the political situation is delicate right now..."

"No need."

Fan Jian waved his hand, a hint of helplessness in his eyes, "The moment the Second Prince approached Sizhe and he nodded, he lost his chance to extricate himself."

……

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, in the capital of Northern Qi.

The weather here is much colder than in Nanqingjing. The wind howls, carrying fine snowflakes that sting your face.

An ordinary-looking carriage slowly drove into this magnificent northern capital.

A corner of the carriage curtain was lifted, revealing a handsome but somewhat weary face. It was Fan Xian, who had been sent on a mission to Northern Qi by imperial decree.

"Is this the capital?"

Fan Xian wrapped his fox fur coat tighter around himself and looked out the car window at the city, which was full of exotic charm.

Unlike the refined and bustling capital of Southern Qing, the architecture of Upper Capital is more rugged and grand, with wide streets and mostly tall, imposing figures among the pedestrians. Even in the dead of winter, the streets remain lively, filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their wares, exuding a unique boldness and ruggedness characteristic of the North.

"Sir, please lower the curtain. The wind is quite strong; be careful not to catch a cold."

Wang Qinian huddled in the corner of the carriage, his hands tucked into his sleeves, shivering from the cold, snot almost dripping from his nose. "This Northern Qi is so cold, it's practically uninhabitable. Our Great Qing is so much better, it's like spring all year round..."

"Enough nonsense." Fan Xian lowered the carriage curtain, rubbing his frozen hands. "How's the information I asked you to gather going?"

As soon as business was mentioned, Wang Qinian immediately dropped his sleazy and cowardly demeanor, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, and he lowered his voice, saying, "Sir, our men have already been deployed. But the waters of this capital city are deeper than we imagined."

"Shen Zhong, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, is a cunning old fox. He has kept Yan Bingyun extremely well hidden; our people have no way of getting close to him. Moreover, things don't seem to be very peaceful in the capital these past few days."

"Oh?" Fan Xian raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"The heavy search party is looking for Lin Gong, but so far they haven't found any trace of him."

"Lin Gong?"

Fan Xian narrowed his eyes and tapped his knee lightly with his fingers.

Heavy-handed people are investigating Lin Gong...

"This is interesting." Fan Xian's lips curled into a playful smile. "It seems that the waters of Northern Qi run quite deep."

"My lord, what do you intend to do?" Wang Qinian asked.

Fan Xian took a deep breath, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Let's find a place to stay first, and then... let's visit some brothels."

"Huh?" Wang Qinian's mouth dropped open, his face blank. "M-Sir, we're here to rescue people. Isn't it a bit inappropriate to go to a brothel right after we arrive?"

"What do you know?" Fan Xian rolled his eyes at him. "Brothels are the most well-informed places, and also a gathering place for all sorts of people. If you want to break into the capital, that's the best entry point. Besides..."

He paused, a sly smile appearing on his face. "I've heard that the Holy Maiden of Northern Qi, Haitang Duoduo, is also in this capital city. I'd like to meet this legendary Heavenly Vein Master."

The carriage stopped in front of an inn called "Yuelai Inn".

Fan Xian jumped off the carriage and looked at the bustling street in front of him, but his mind was racing with calculations.

Yan Bingyun must be saved, not only to give Teacher Fei Jie an explanation, but also to find out the traitor lurking in the Qing Kingdom's court.

But he also knew very well that this was Shenzhong's territory, and a direct assault was impossible; he had to outsmart the enemy.

"Gundam," Fan Xian called out.

"Here!" A burly Tiger Guard commander carrying a long sword immediately stepped forward, his voice booming.

"Have the brothers spread out and not gather together to avoid attracting attention. Remember, we are a delegation representing the face of Daqing, but don't be too docile. If anyone causes trouble, as long as you don't kill them, you can do whatever you want with them."

"Yes!" Gao Da clasped his hands in acceptance, a hint of excited fighting spirit flashing in his eyes.

After arranging everything, Fan Xian, along with Wang Qinian, changed into inconspicuous casual clothes and quietly blended into the crowds of the capital city.

As night falls, the lights are on.

The most bustling red-light district in the capital was now ablaze with lights and filled with the sounds of birdsong.

Fan Xian, fanning himself with a folding fan, swaggered into a brothel called "Red Dust Residence".

This was no ordinary brothel or entertainment venue, but one of the most elegant places in the capital, frequented only by learned scholars and officials.

As soon as you enter, a warm fragrance wafts towards you.