Keep your voice down. Are you trying to look glamorous dressed as a forced lover?

"Yes." Huai Xu immediately agreed. She thought, His Highness really dotes on Consort Song. Consort Song was just like that, and His Highness is still willing to favor him.

Xingzhi glanced at Song Qinian and quickly replied, "Yes."

Song Qinian paused in his soup-drinking sip, his heart pounding uncontrollably.

At first he thought she was just staying overnight, but like with General Ji, they wouldn't actually consummate their marriage. At the other hand, he thought that perhaps his previous inappropriate words had upset her, so she deliberately asked him to consummate their marriage.

Especially after she said that when he entered the palace, he was seen as her man by outsiders.

Song Qinian had no appetite for dinner.

After dinner, Xingzhi rushed to prepare, while Song Qinian and Li Qingyan went to handle the remaining folding paper.

The good news is that perhaps he had saved up enough energy beforehand, because Li Qingyan wasn't sleepy this time, even though he didn't hug or hold hands with her.

The bad news was that the last memorial was actually a disaster relief memorial.

"The river dike in Cam River County breached a month ago, leaving tens of thousands of people homeless. The county magistrate has repeatedly submitted memorials requesting the court to provide disaster relief. It should have been dealt with sooner, but it still hasn't been done."

When Song Qinian saw the memorial, his face darkened. He finally understood why the Secretariat had sent the memorial so readily.

"This is a deliberate test of Your Highness, intended to discourage you from taking the challenge."

Li Qingyan frowned deeply: "The Ministry of Revenue is so severely short of funds, yet they are still making excuses."

It's not that the Ministry of Revenue can't come up with the money, but they can always find more and better reasons to use it elsewhere. According to the Ministry of Revenue's overall planning, the disaster relief funds should amount to 200,000 taels, but the Ministry of Revenue can only provide 50,000 taels.

The difference was a full 150,000 taels.

Since the founding of the Lebanese Empire, there has been a well-established process for disaster relief and rescue. There is no shortage of disaster relief personnel. As long as the money is in place, it can be put into operation quickly. There are plenty of people watching to see if anyone will embezzle funds. If they do, it will be credited to them.

Overall, everything is ready except for the money.

"So, I'm supposed to find a way to raise the money."

Now that the folded document has been handed to her, if it's not resolved, it's her responsibility. It's obvious they want her to pay. The wise prince is really good at scheming.

"Yes, the disaster victims can't wait, their situation must be handled properly."

Song Qinian did not deny it, but looked at Li Qingyan, hesitating to speak: "Your Highness..."

Li Qingyan tidied up her folded clothes and stood up: "I'm going to find Wen Sheng."

If she doesn't do well this time, it will be difficult for her to make a name for herself again.

But she couldn't conjure up 150,000 taels of silver, so she had no choice but to shamelessly ask Wen Sheng for help.

Song Qinian hesitated before standing up: "Yes."

Li Qingyan left the study and went straight away.

Xingzhi looked at the silent Song Qinian: "Young Master? You and His Highness... had a fight?"

Didn't His Highness say before that he would stay at Ninghui Palace?

"Your Highness has something to attend to."

Song Qinian thought he should breathe a sigh of relief, after all, he had escaped a disaster and wouldn't have to make things difficult for her when consummating their marriage.

But perhaps because it was the first day he actually dealt with folding paper, he encountered a problem he couldn't solve, and he felt inexplicably melancholy.

Li Qingyan didn't expect to have to ask Wen Sheng for money so soon. Thinking back to the last time they parted, she had asked Wen Sheng if she was a virgin and even verified it, and she felt a little embarrassed.

So she also brought something to ease tensions—wine.

These are newly presented tributes. Having learned that Wen Sheng seems to enjoy drinking, she catered to his tastes by specially selecting glass cups to match, creating a beautiful and romantic ambiance.

"Wen Sheng".

Pillow Star Pavilion was still the same world of cattle and horses. All these people were Wen Sheng's dowry. Wen Sheng had the lowest rank, but the largest number of people in his dowry. However, because of his special status, the palace turned a blind eye to it.

Upon seeing Li Qingyan, the oxen and horses that were doing the accounting and bookkeeping hurriedly paid their respects before returning to their busy work.

"Your Highness."

Wen Sheng was as dazzling and beautiful as ever, and as composed as ever.

Seeing her reminded him of their last conversation, so his expression became somewhat unnatural.

"Please rise. I came here today to thank you for the warm jade."

She went back and specifically looked at the supposedly extremely expensive warm jade, and found it to be truly special. Moreover, it was an ancient version of warm jade that conformed to ergonomics, with a perfect curve when held.

"Your Highness, you're too kind."

Wen Sheng saw Huai Xu holding the wine, his expression unchanged, but a cold glint flashed in his lowered eyes.

It's alcohol, what is she trying to verify this time?

Having seen and experienced things, he naturally knew that women nowadays value a man's cleanliness because men are so easily aroused. Therefore, some people would use many strange methods to verify a man's cleanliness.

For example, getting someone drunk and deliberately tormenting them, or administering some torturous drugs, just to get the truth out of them or to see their reaction, using some special methods to confirm it.

Those unspoken methods, at best, torment people, and more often, they are humiliating.

No one likes being tested like this, but he couldn't refuse.

He was in the Eastern Palace; she had plenty of ways to achieve her goal.

He didn't want to be forced to drink the penalty cup, so he had no choice but to drink the toast.

So, Wen Sheng calmly invited Li Qingyan into the house.

"Please sit down, don't be shy."

Seeing Wen Sheng reminded Li Qingyan of their last conversation, and he felt a little awkward.

I thought to myself how lucky she was to have the foresight to get to know me quickly over drinks, and once our relationship improved, she could ask me for money.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

Wen Sheng sat down.

"This is a tribute wine. I heard you like wine, so I wanted to taste it with you."

After transmigrating, she dared not relax for a moment, and she also needed to drink a little to get slightly tipsy.

After Huai Xu poured the wine, Li Qingyan thought about having a heart-to-heart talk with Wen Sheng, telling her to go back and rest and that she didn't need to be on duty tonight, and raised his glass in a gesture of respect.

Wen Sheng guessed her purpose, but he still drank it.

"This is too narrow." Li Qingyan looked around. "The palace next door is unused. Let's have it opened up and merged into Zhenxing Pavilion."

Wen Sheng is essentially an angel investor; improving their living conditions would be beneficial for long-term cooperation.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"You're welcome." Li Qingyan raised her glass again.

Wen Sheng could only pour himself another cup. Before the effects of the liquid took hold, he took a deep breath and asked, "Your Highness, you can speak directly if you have something to say."

Li Qingyan touched his nose and told him about the disaster relief.

Wen Sheng breathed a sigh of relief when she heard it was about money: "How much more do you need?"

"It's not a small amount; we're still short 130,000 taels." Li Qingyan coughed. "I can only raise 20,000 taels."

Wen Sheng was surprised; she hadn't expected Li Qingyan to actually be able to scrape together 20,000 yuan.

"There's no need for Your Highness's help; I can easily raise 150,000 taels."

"No need, 20,000 taels is also my token of appreciation." Li Qingyan breathed a sigh of relief at getting the money so easily.

"I will have the money ready within two days."

"Thank you. I won't let you work for nothing. I'll definitely find a way to repay you."

A flicker of doubt crossed Wen Sheng's eyes, but she said frankly, "Thank you, Your Highness. It's alright if I don't have any; this is also a way to accumulate good deeds."

It's better to use it for disaster relief than for Li Qingyan to squander it.

"I can't just take it for free." Li Qingyan said firmly, leaning slightly closer. "I must repay you."

Wen Sheng didn't move, but tightened her grip:

"How does Your Highness intend to repay me? Will you take advantage of me while I'm drunk?"