The elder Crown Prince was finally dying. Their opportunity had arrived.
This was no small matter. With the position of Crown Prince vacant, a new round of fierce competition was inevitable. White Jade City was about to be plunged into chaos.
And the Crown Prince’s inheritance—especially the vast Harem of the Eastern Palace, filled with peerless beauties—was an even more tantalizing fortune. It was the prize both parties had their eyes on.
"Regarding the beauties in the Eastern Palace, has Steward Tu reviewed the files?" Qian Tong couldn’t resist asking, his small eyes glinting with greed.
Tu Gang’s voice was steady, yet it was laced with a cruel indifference. "I have, of course, reviewed the files you sent. There are dozens of concubines, all peerless beauties gathered from across the lands, each skilled in the four arts. After all these years with the elder Crown Prince, they’ve surely amassed considerable private savings and valuables. Most of them can be handled. There are also hundreds of Palace Maids, all carefully selected and exceptionally beautiful—a good number of them are true stunners. Once the elder Crown Prince dies, tradition dictates that childless concubines are either buried with him or sent to a temple to live out their days. The Palace Maids are either sent back to their hometowns or married off to common soldiers. There is indeed a great deal of opportunity here."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the increasingly feverish faces of Lady Yu and her two companions. "Rather than let such lovely beauties be trampled into the dust or be wasted on common soldiers, it is indeed better that we join forces to bring them out. It would be a win-win for everyone."
"Steward Tu, how would we get them out? Do you have a plan?" Zhao Wu asked in his booming, gruff voice.
A cold smirk touched Tu Gang’s lips. "There are plenty of ways. After all, this is a trivial matter for us. The Northern King has connections in the Palace. He can ensure that when the elder Crown Prince breathes his last and chaos erupts, we can secretly transport the women out. Of course, we’ll have to leave behind any who have powerful backgrounds. With their beauty and talents—and a little hype about them being former concubines and Palace Maids of the Crown Prince—they’re guaranteed to become Yixiang Building’s new cash cows. Raking in a fortune daily will be no problem. As for the profits, we get first pick. Their personal effects will also be a windfall. What do you say?"
Lady Yu’s breath hitched. This plan was practically tailor-made for Yixiang Building; it was one of the scenarios they had already envisioned.
She had already thoroughly investigated the women of the Eastern Palace. They were all beauties, one in a million, and their training in Palace etiquette gave them an air that ordinary brothel girls simply couldn’t match. The two weren’t even in the same league.
Especially in the past year, the elder Crown Prince, seeking his pleasure, had scraped together countless beauties from various clans for the Eastern Palace. Including the existing ones, their numbers now exceeded a thousand.
With such a vast number, once they got their hands on them, a little training would turn them into Top Level courtesans. They could attract countless dignitaries, nobles, and wealthy merchants to spend fortunes, allowing Yixiang Building to make an absolute killing.
Furthermore, there was the vast private wealth and treasure they likely had hidden away, which would also be worth a pretty penny.
Lady Yu suppressed her excitement, her charming eyes gazing at Tu Gang. "Since Steward Tu has agreed to the plan, Yixiang Building will naturally serve you with our utmost dedication. It’s just... getting them out is quite risky. The Palace is heavily guarded. If something were to go wrong..."
"Of course there are risks, but the rewards are immense. Isn’t the whole reason you came to Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion to minimize that risk?" Tu Gang cut her off bluntly. "On that front, we have plenty of confidence. The Northern King dares to rebuke Emperor Xia himself, so what is a trivial matter like this? The routes inside the Palace, the timing of the extraction, the loopholes in security... we can arrange it all. You just need to prepare a place to receive them and the staff to train them. And, of course, the most important thing: your sincerity when it comes to splitting the profits."
He deliberately stressed the word "sincerity," his meaning unmistakable. ’The plan was Yixiang Building’s idea. You came to us for help. Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion is taking on the risk, so naturally, you are the ones who need to pay up.’
Qian Tong immediately interjected, "Rest assured, Steward Tu, we will certainly handle our side of things. It’s just..."
He rubbed his hands together, a merchant’s cunning in his eyes. "The initial bribes, the extraction, and the subsequent training and housing... all of it will cost a great deal. Do you think it might be possible to get an advance on future profits? Or perhaps, Yixiang Building could take first pick of the women’s personal valuables?"
Tu Gang’s eyes went cold. "Shopkeeper Qian, you really know how to scheme. You proposed the plan, but you want us to bear the cost of the arrangements? That’s naturally your responsibility. As for the split and the selection... it’s not too late to discuss that once the ’goods’ are in hand."
"With all due respect, Steward Tu, even brothers must keep clear accounts," Qian Tong said with an apologetic smile, though he refused to back down. "Please forgive me, but let’s settle the terms now to avoid future disagreements. Here’s my proposal: for the women’s valuables, we’ll estimate a total value. The Prince’s Mansion can take their share’s worth first, and we’ll take the rest. As for the profits from the women themselves, how about a seventy-thirty split? The Prince’s Mansion gets seven parts, we get three. After all, the Prince’s Mansion is doing the hard part of getting them out. We’re just providing the venue and the staff."
"Qian Tong!" Lady Yu feigned a rebuke, then turned to Tu Gang with a smile. "Don’t mind him, Steward Tu. He’s just a merchant, always counting his pennies. However, the profit split does need careful discussion. The Prince’s Mansion is powerful, yes, but Yixiang Building is a small establishment. We’re taking on significant risk as well. If this gets out, we’ll be the ones to bear the brunt of it."
Tu Gang’s expression darkened. ’I can’t believe Yixiang Building has the nerve to haggle with me.’
’It seems that without the Third Prince’s leash, they’ve gotten wild and forgotten their place.’
A chill crept into Tu Gang’s voice. "Lady Yu, let me be clear. You can’t do this deal without us. This is a gift we are bestowing upon Yixiang Building, not a favor we are begging you for. Without the Prince’s Mansion, you couldn’t even get near the Palace gates, and you’re dreaming of a seventy-thirty split? Hmph. Eighty-twenty. The Prince’s Mansion takes eight parts, you take two. As for their valuables, the Prince’s Mansion takes first pick of seventy percent. That’s the bottom line. Not a fraction less."
"Steward Tu, that’s too harsh!" Qian Tong cried out, his face a mask of indignation. "We’re providing the place and the people, and we’re taking the biggest risk! The future training, management, dealing with potential trouble—all of that costs money and effort! At twenty percent, we won’t even break even!"
The smile on Lady Yu’s face grew stiff. She picked up her wine cup and took a slow sip, her mind racing.
’Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion is too powerful. We can’t afford to offend them, and we don’t dare to.’
’But these terms... they’re completely unreasonable. Yixiang Building came up with the plan and will be doing most of the work. Business has been slow lately. If we can’t make a huge profit from this, I’m not sure the brothel can even survive.’
For a moment, the atmosphere in the private room grew frigid. The false cordiality from moments ago evaporated, leaving only a naked struggle for profit and a tense, unspoken standoff.

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