Chapter 185 - What To Do if You’re the Villain and the Heroine Likes You

“100,000 taels?” Meng Qingqian knew exactly what 100,000 taels meant. It was the annual tax revenue of a small county, or could sustain a thousand elite soldiers for several years. “Too much?” He Yunxiao chuckled and asked. “Too much,” Meng Qingqian answered. “Alright, then how about less? You name the price,” He Yunxiao casually said. Meng Qingqian pondered for a moment before a faint smile appeared on her lips. “10,000 taels.” He Yunxiao slammed the table and declared, “Deal, 10,000 taels it is.” He pushed the wooden box forward. “You take the banknotes, and I'll give you the handkerchief.” Meng Qingqian smirked, not mentioning anything about taking the banknotes. Instead, she murmured, “Let me think about what kind of business I can do with 10,000 taels.” He Yunxiao:? Wow, I'm really naive. The antidote lady is still calculating everything! I really underestimated her! “You can't do a big business, just help the street shops sell more items,” He Yunxiao said, half seriously. “Which street?” “Northward Street.” “What kind of business?” “Consumption vouchers.” Meng Qingqian furrowed her brows. As a person in power, she naturally wouldn't ask foolishly, ‘What are consumption vouchers?’ As someone in her position, maintaining an aura of 'omniscience' and 'mystery' was necessary to gain the trust of the people. “Hmm,” Meng Qingqian agreed first before asking, “Why not ask your father? The prestigious Marquis Wuqing should surely be able to come up with 10,000 taels, right?” Since he wasn’t planning to woo the antidote lady, He Yunxiao had no qualms about protecting her feelings. He directly replied, “I plan to make money with money to redeem the lady at the Chunfeng Pavilion. My father won't agree, so I can't ask him for money." [Li Qingmeng's favorability has decreased from 35 to 30] Meng Qingqian initially thought that He Yunxiao, who seemed so sincere about his affection for Nan Zhu, was a good match, but she didn’t expect him to be like this. As the legitimate son of a marquis, to seek money to earn a lady’s freedom, was akin to trampling on the face of the Marquis. She sneered, “Humph, redeeming the lady doesn't need 10,000 taels. A few dozen will do.” “She's a courtesan," He Yunxiao kindly explained. “So what if she's a courtesan? It wouldn't require a thousand taels.” He Yunxiao sighed, “It's for my sister, Sister Jiang Wuyou.” Meng Qingqian fell silent. The name Jiang Wuyou left a deep impression on her. At her mother's birthday banquet, this woman's dance astonished everyone. Not only did it elevate Da Qi's status in the eyes of foreign ambassadors, but it also pleased her mother greatly. There was a period when they frequently spoke about her dance. “How much money is needed to redeem her?” Meng Qingqian asked. He Yunxiao was frank, “My sister said, at least 10,000 taels.” “That might not be enough.” “So I'm asking you for money to do business,” He Yunxiao replied. Seeing He Yunxiao's unreliable appearance, Meng Qingqian felt puzzled. “Is she willing to go with you?” He Yunxiao didn't hesitate. “Naturally.” “I refuse to lend it,” Meng Qingqian insisted firmly. He Yunxiao cleared his throat and, with his hand, touched the wooden box containing the handkerchief. “Think it over.” Meng Qingqian prided herself on her strong will. She was confident that she could withstand daily concerns about political affairs and the constant threat of assassins’ attacks. She felt empowered to endure bodily pain and unrelenting mental stress. However, this resilience was founded on her pride, the pride of being the ‘Princess of Da Qi’, the ‘Elder Sister of the Emperor’, and the ‘Princess Xiayue’. Nonetheless, He Yunxiao's handkerchief could potentially shatter this pride. It was like the ‘fatal pressure point’ of martial arts or the switch of a mechanical monster. Meng Qingqian didn't want to recall her former self, the playful girl who was, in every way, a contrast to the person she should be. Each time He Yunxiao produced the handkerchief, it felt like he was wielding a ‘Green Steel Sword’, a barrier-breaking object that illogically bypassed all her defenses and directly confronted the most vulnerable and softest part of her heart. When He Yunxiao touched the wooden box, a hint of pink appeared on Meng Qingqian's face, breaching her defensive composure. “I've made up my mind. I won't lend it,” she declared firmly. “No, really? Alright, tomorrow I’ll bring the handkerchief to my good brother Li Jin to play. Oh, I haven't seen Li Jin in a few days,” He Yunxiao casually remarked, feigning nonchalance. As soon as Meng Qingqian heard the name ‘Li Jin,’ she couldn't hold back any longer. She usually projected a dignified, composed, and mature facade when interacting with Li Jin. If Li Jin were to see another side of her—a foolish, drooling figure who needed someone to help her wipe her mouth—it would be utterly humiliating. It would be better to seek death now than to continue living with absolutely no dignity. “No…” Meng Qingqian lowered her eyes, her tone even carrying a hint of pleading. He Yunxiao sighed. He didn't deliberately intend to embarrass the antidote lady. Borrowing money was just business. Moreover, since the marquis's household was backing him, he couldn't play deadbeat. But this lady was oddly stubborn, refusing to lend even 10,000 taels. “Miss Li,” seeing the antidote lady being toyed with, He Yunxiao softened his approach. “If you really don't have 10,000 taels, I swear I wouldn't ask you for it. But if you do have the money, please consider lending it to me. At most, a month later, I will return 20% more as interest for your trouble.” “40%,” Meng Qingqian responded apathetically. Damn. She had just put on a pitiful, bullied appearance and barely two breaths later, she completely changed her demeanor. What a piece of work, this antidote! “Alright, 30% tops,” He Yunxiao gritted his teeth. “30%, and also give me the handkerchief,” Meng Qingqian negotiated with He Yunxiao, her expression unreadable. “Then give back the Wuxia novel I lent you,” He Yunxiao upped the stakes. Meng Qingqian narrowed her eyes. “Is it really yours?” He Yunxiao smirked wickedly. “Did you really read it?” “I don't have it in my palace. It's somewhere else,” Meng Qingqian thought about the stories in the novel. Her face turned red, and she felt flustered. She almost spilled the beans. “If you don't return my novel, I won't give you the handkerchief.” “You give me the handkerchief first, and I will give you the banknotes. You can get the novel and tomorrow’s handkerchief,” He Yunxiao offered. “We'll exchange them simultaneously tomorrow,” Meng Qingqian stated resolutely without any doubt. Observing the antidote lady's poker face and unwavering determination at the negotiation table, He Yunxiao couldn't help but admire her. She was clearly at a disadvantage in the negotiation as he held the upper hand, yet she managed to maintain her stance. Wasn't she afraid? In the end, He Yunxiao compromised, “Alright, show me where the novel is, and we'll go together. Then you give me the banknotes and the novel, and I’ll give you the handkerchief.” At present, He Yunxiao's novel was in the Longhe Palace in the imperial palace. If he took her there, it would be akin to admitting that Li Qingmeng was indeed Meng Qingqian. Li Qingmeng had done so many shameless things, including picking fruits, the handkerchief, and even speaking about ‘Father’, it was all Li Qingmeng! While Meng Qingqian was the epitome of the Da Qi princess—mature, poised, and beautiful, with unrivaled political savvy. There couldn’t be any relation between these two individuals! Finally, Meng Qingqian compromised with He Yunxiao, “Today I will give you the banknotes, and tomorrow afternoon, you come here. We'll exchange—my novel for your handkerchief.” He Yunxiao had been thinking about the consumption voucher matter. Afternoon was the busiest time on the commercial street, and he feared it might be difficult to leave. He planned to tidy up the shop in the morning, order a batch of consumption vouchers, and then come here for the handkerchief due to the location of the printing press in the western city. “Tomorrow morning, we'll exchange at the Lu Jiao Academy,” He Yunxiao proposed. “That's fine,” Meng Qingqian agreed. Chapter 186: Bargaining Tl. Soothsayer.io