Tang Dynasty: Taking the Empress Dowager to a brothel, Father Emperor, what a coincidence!

The Silk Road from Luoyang to Chang'an?

That was the money bag that the Cui family of Qinghe had painstakingly built up over decades in Henan Province.

It is the core lifeline supporting the Cui family's enormous expenses.

The profits generated by this road each year are far more than several hundred thousand strings of cash.

To use this trade route as collateral for 850,000 strings of cash? And to sign a transfer agreement?

This is like throwing a meat bun to a dog; how could the Zheng family possibly spit out what they've already swallowed?

Cui Minyuan then realized what was going on.

This woman is hardly some righteous and awe-inspiring living bodhisattva.

She's clearly a ruthless, man-eating demon.

She saw that the Cui family was now in dire straits and wanted to take advantage of their misfortune.

"No, absolutely not."

Choi Min-won screamed.

"The trade routes in Luoyang are the foundation of my Cui family. Miss Zheng, your appetite is far too great."

This isn't helping; it's taking the life of the Cui family.

Zheng Qiuying sat back down in her chair and straightened the hem of her fox fur coat.

"Since Lord Cui is reluctant to part with it, then let it be."

Zheng Qiuying beckoned to the maid.

"Xiao Huan, let's go. It seems Lord Cui would rather keep the trade route and enjoy himself in prison."

After saying that, she stood up and was about to leave.

This made Wang Qinian and Lu Anke, who were standing nearby, very anxious.

If Zheng Qiuying leaves, who will fill the hole of 850,000 guan?

In the end, won't it all fall on people like them?

"Miss Zheng, please wait!"

Wang Qinian grabbed Xiao Huan, who was about to leave, and turned to glare angrily at Cui Minyuan.

"Old Cui, are you out of your mind? What time is it now? Is money more important than your life?"

"that is!"

Lu An pressed on as well.

"Miss Zheng is willing to offer 850,000 strings of cash to save you, and she wants one of your trade routes as collateral, so what? Do you have any room for negotiation?"

"you......"

Choi Min-won pointed at the two of them, his lungs practically bursting with rage.

This is what a distinguished family is! This is what it means to be closely connected!

In order to avoid them paying out of their own pockets, he turned around and wanted to sell himself to Zheng Qiuying.

"Lord Cui, the bigger picture is more important."

Wang Qinian said with a cold face.

"If you don't sign this agreement today, the Wang family won't pay a single penny of the remaining half."

Even if you send people from the Dali Temple to your door, it will be your Cui family who will bear the brunt of the consequences.

Cui Minyuan looked at Wang Qinian, then at Zheng Qiuying.

He had no choice at all.

If this matter isn't settled today, the Cui family of Qinghe will disappear from Chang'an.

"Bring me paper and a pen..."

Choi Min-won reluctantly agreed.

Xiao Huan hurriedly took out the contract and inkpad she had prepared beforehand and placed them on the table.

Looking at the densely packed clauses, Choi Min-won felt his vision blurring.

He signed his name with trembling hands and pressed his bright red fingerprint heavily onto the paper.

Zheng Qiuying took the contract stained with blood and sweat, carefully blew the ink off it, and folded it up with satisfaction, putting it into her bosom.

"Lord Cui is a straightforward man. The 850,000 strings of cash will be delivered to the Ministry of Revenue's gate first thing tomorrow morning. The rest depends on the concerted efforts of all of you uncles."

Zheng Qiuying left after saying those words, gracefully departing with her maid.

Walking through the streets and alleys of Pingkangfang, Zheng Qiuying was in a great mood.

This time, the Crown Prince's intervention actually did the Zheng family such a huge favor.

Now she's looking forward to the dinner party at Zuixianlou more and more.

The Eastern Palace.

The main hall is now in a noisy state.

"Old Cheng, don't pull my belt. This green silk paired with my red robe, that's a striking combination of red and green, exuding wealth and power."

Fang Yi'ai shouted in disgust.

"Get lost! What's the difference between you and a giant greenbottle fly?"

His Highness said it had to be eye-catching, flashy. Look at what I'm wearing.

Cheng Chumo spun around triumphantly.

Cheng Chumo was dressed in an extremely eye-catching purple and gold floral robe, with a string of gold chains as thick as a finger hanging around his neck, and a folding fan painted with erotic pictures in his hand. He looked like a nouveau riche who had just arrived in the city.

Li Chengqian sat on the soft couch above, watching a group of second-generation rich kids below try on these extremely exaggerated battle robes, and couldn't help but slap his thigh and burst into laughter.

"Good! This purple and gold floral robe is nice, Chumo, you'll wear this that day."

Li Chengqian pointed at Cheng Chumo and smiled meaningfully.

"Don't you like to follow the rules? This time, I'll bring the most shameless entourage in all of Chang'an to the banquet."

Changsun Chong stood in the corner, watching Li Chengqian, and couldn't help but shudder.

He had a feeling that the arrogant woman was going to suffer a setback this time.

......

The three-day period has ended.

Zuixianlou Restaurant in the West Market.

This place originally belonged to the Cui family of Qinghe, but Zheng Qiuying took advantage of the Cui family's recent troubles and bought it for a large sum of money.

The private room on the second floor was decorated with great care.

The floor was covered with a thick pure wool blanket brought from Persia.

Several valuable Wei and Jin dynasty calligraphy and paintings hang on the wall.

In the center of the room stood a large mahogany table, on one side of which was a set of exquisite Ru kiln tea set, and on the other side was an antique seven-stringed zither.

Wisps of blue smoke were rising from a small bronze incense burner in the corner; it was the finest ambergris, a tribute from the Western Regions, worth a fortune for just one ounce.

Zheng Qiuying sat upright in the main seat, her hands folded on her knees.

Today, she deliberately changed into an extremely elegant white flowing dress. Without any makeup, she appeared even more aloof and noble.

She intends to use her stunning beauty and profound knowledge to control Li Chengqian.

As long as they fall at her feet, the Zheng family will be in charge of the Tang Dynasty from now on.

Suddenly, a deafening commotion erupted from the street.

"Clang! Clang!"

A sound of gongs and drums rang out outside.

Zheng Qiuying frowned and said:

"The Crown Prince's procession was quite grand. It's just a pity that it was too ostentatious and frivolous."

Xiao Huan, the maidservant, curiously ran to the window and peeked out to look at the street corner.

Upon seeing this, Xiao Huan even stammered:

"Miss...that's not the Crown Prince's entourage..."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Qiuying stood up and walked to the window to look down.

The Crown Prince of the Tang Dynasty, who always regarded rules as his lifeblood, did not ride in the four-horse carriage that symbolized his status as Crown Prince today.

Li Chengqian rode a tall, pure black horse, swaggering at the head of the procession.

That's not even the most eye-catching thing.

The most dangerous group was the people following behind Li Chengqian's horse.

There were over a hundred people in a large group.

Cheng Chumo, Fang Yi'ai, Yuchi Baolin, Changsun Chong... all the prominent noble sons of Chang'an City were gathered together.

These people weren't wearing official court robes or proper everyday clothes at all.

They dress as extravagantly as they want.

Cheng Chumo was wearing a purple and gold floral robe, and a thick gold chain around his neck.

Fang Yi'ai wore a bright red cloak and had a piece of bright green silk tied around his waist.

Several noble sons even had large peonies, which they had picked from who-knows-where, stuck in their hair.

Red, green, purple, yellow—this group of people walked down the street, their colors so bright that passersby had to cover their eyes.

The roadside vendors were so frightened that they all closed their doors and windows.

This scene is so confusing; it's clearly like dozens of bandits entering the city to loot the market.

Before Zheng Qiuying could react, a commotion came from downstairs.