Short Story

Cui Ziting slowly set down his teacup, casting his gaze out the window toward the shimmering lake in the night.

"Marquis Gu, what you said is absolutely right. My Cui clan, along with a few other families, may appear to have vast estates and some foundation within the imperial court."

"But when it comes to the accumulation of real silver and gold, we still fall quite short compared to those few families in Luodu."

He turned his head to look at Gu Chengyin, a glint flashing in his eyes. "Marquis Gu, I am merely tossing a brick to attract jade."

"Those families in Luodu are the true gods of wealth. Just a little slipping through their fingers would be enough to fill the national treasury to the brim, with plenty to spare."

Gu Chengyin listened quietly, understanding dawning in his heart.

So the true target of these old aristocratic families like the Cui clan was Luodu. No wonder Shangguan Yuan wanted to fight them to the bitter end.

A meaningful smile curled the corners of Cui Ziting's mouth. "As fellow aristocratic families, the noble and pure lineages of Shendu have all generously opened their purses to share the nation's burdens."

"How could those merchant families in Luodu, who only grew rich relying on imperial policies, not donate? How would they dare not to?"

"When the time comes, however much we donate, they will have to match it. And they will only donate more, never less."

However much we donate, they will have to match it?

Gu Chengyin blinked, repeating the phrase in his mind.

Why did it sound so familiar? He couldn't help but reply with a hint of amusement:

"And then, your money is returned in full, while their money is split thirty-seventy?"

As soon as these words came out, Cui Ziting was initially stunned, but then his eyes suddenly lit up as if he had discovered a rare treasure. The astonishment on his face was entirely genuine.

He slapped his thigh fiercely, his voice rising a few pitches, full of admiration:

"Marquis Gu! You are truly... truly brilliant! You understand everything with just a single hint! I, Ziting, am in complete awe, bowing down in utmost admiration!"

Cui Ziting shook his head repeatedly, as if completely won over by Gu Chengyin's comprehension. "I never expected that Marquis Gu, aside from being skilled in civil and martial arts, could also see through the intricacies of the business world so thoroughly."

His sigh of admiration finished, the excitement on his face faded. Cui Ziting put on a sincere expression again and waved his hand, saying:

"However, Marquis Gu, at the end of the day, this matter is ultimately to fill the national treasury and ease His Highness's burdens."

"How could we let you take only thirty percent? That would be too unjust, and it would make our aristocratic families seem like we don't know how to conduct ourselves."

Gu Chengyin: "......"

Before he could speak, Cui Ziting had already stretched out a hand, all five fingers spread wide, waving it in front of Gu Chengyin with a knowing smile:

"It has to be at least a fifty-fifty split! Marquis Gu, you have worked hard and achieved much, mediating from the middle. You rightfully deserve half!"

Fifty-fifty.

Gu Chengyin did not respond, not even looking at the hand Cui Ziting had extended.

Instead, he turned his head slightly, casting his gaze back toward the stage at the center of the lake outside the window.

The dancing girl was currently performing a highly difficult spinning move. Her skirts flew around her, making her look like a fairy treading on the waves, drawing another round of cheers from the pavilion.

He seemed truly captivated by the dance, watching with intense focus.

Cui Ziting did not rush him. He simply withdrew his hand, picked up his teacup again, and sipped it leisurely. His gaze also turned toward the lake as he waited patiently.

After a long while, Gu Chengyin slowly withdrew his gaze, turned to Cui Ziting, and brought up that technical question once more:

"Brother Cui, I still have the same question. Let alone fifty percent, even if it were all of it, would it really be enough?"

Hearing this, not only was Cui Ziting not displeased, but he also smiled. Leaning back slightly, he spoke in a reminiscent tone:

"Speaking of this, it reminds me of a small incident that happened a while ago."

"At the time, I was in my room preparing to bathe. The servants were pouring hot water into the bathtub. But strangely enough, bucket after bucket of water was poured in..."

"...yet the water level in the tub just wouldn't rise. It always fell a bit short. I was puzzled at the time, thinking the servants were slacking off."

His tone was relaxed, as if he were telling an inconsequential little story. "Later, I ordered someone to inspect it carefully."

"Only then did we discover that, at some unknown point, a small hole had broken through the bottom of the tub, and water was gurgling out."

"As soon as water was poured in from the top, it immediately leaked out from the bottom. Naturally, it could never be filled."

Gu Chengyin's eyes narrowed slightly as he quietly listened to this little story.

Cui Ziting continued, "Afterward, I had someone fetch a carpenter to carefully patch the leaking hole, sealing it tightly to ensure there was no more leakage."

"Then, I ordered the servants to pour water into it again. What do you think happened, Marquis Gu?"

"It only took a few buckets before the tub was full, even to the point of overflowing."

At this point, Cui Ziting stopped talking and looked at Gu Chengyin with a meaningful gaze.

Gu Chengyin quietly appreciated the dancing posture. The meaning Cui Ziting wanted to convey was already quite clear.

The bathtub was the national treasury.

What the Cui clan and the aristocratic families could do was not just pour water; they could also patch the leaking hole.

As long as the tub no longer leaked, pouring water into it at this time would naturally fill the national treasury, and His Highness's difficult problem would be easily solved.

As for whether this hole would reappear in the future, that was another matter entirely.

The lake breeze blew gently, and the shadows of the dancers whirled.

Gu Chengyin had already made a decision in his heart.

He was already planning to strike at that Grand Secretary Xiao, and then kill the chicken to warn the monkeys.

Now, before the chicken was even killed, the monkeys had jumped out on their own initiative to offer donations. Such a good thing certainly could not be missed.

Furthermore, it would allow the other party to let their guard down, making the preparatory work at the Crown Prince's Palace more secretive and secure.

Of course, he couldn't believe it entirely. After all, no one knew whether this was a sincere cooperation or a probe hidden beneath a smokescreen.

After all, the person chatting with him right now was merely Cui Ziting, someone who couldn't even sit at the main table.

Thinking of this, a pondering expression appeared on Gu Chengyin's face, as if he were going through a difficult weighing of options.

A moment later, he looked at Cui Ziting, his gaze turning firm, and gave a solemn nod.

Cui Ziting had been observing Gu Chengyin's reactions all along. Seeing him first deep in thought and then nodding.

The heavy stone in his heart finally fell to the ground. An expression of unparalleled joy instantly burst forth on his face:

"Marquis Gu! You've agreed?!" He was so excited he almost stood up. "If my father knew, he would be endlessly gratified!"

Gu Chengyin instantly furrowed his brows, his face full of confusion, and his tone sank slightly. "What is Brother Cui talking about? What did I agree to?"

"Has Brother Cui had too much to drink tonight and started speaking nonsense?"

Struck by this counter-question, Cui Ziting suddenly realized he had misspoken.

His reaction was extremely fast. He immediately raised his hand and lightly slapped his own mouth, piling an apologetic smile onto his face as he hastily corrected himself:

"Ouch! Look at this mouth of mine! It deserves a beating, it deserves a beating!"

"It is my fault, I misspoke! How foolish, truly foolish! It's all because a few of my younger cousins insisted on toasting me at the banquet earlier. I couldn't decline, so I drank a few extra cups."

"Now the alcohol is hitting me, and my mind isn't clear. I've made a fool of myself before Marquis Gu. Please forgive me, please absolutely forgive me!"