With Qiao Lao San's name brought up, everything became clear.
Su Yourong was here to cry poverty and collect a debt!
Su Yourong knew Qiao Lao San was one of his people!
Even if he denied it or feigned ignorance, it would probably be useless.
If she wasn't certain that Qiao Lao San was his man, she definitely wouldn't have come knocking on his door directly!
This was trouble!
"Miss Su, that's a bit unreasonable!"
Ye Qing smiled calmly, "Finding someone should be the Capital Prefecture's business! Why are you asking this Prince to help you find someone?"
"Didn't I hear that the Prefect of the Capital Prefecture is Prince Jing's man?" Su Yourong smiled, "I'm a person of humble status, and if I go to the Capital Prefecture, they might not even pay attention to me! If Prince Jing would just give the Prefect of the Capital Prefecture a word, wouldn't it be much simpler!"
In truth, she didn't know whose man the Prefect of the Capital Prefecture was at all.
But that wasn't important!
What mattered was making this shameless Prince understand her meaning.
She had made her point so clear, Ye Qing should understand her intention.
"Someone must be talking nonsense!"
Ye Qing smiled, "The Prefect of the Capital Prefecture is not this Prince's man, I'm afraid I can't help you with this!"
Ye Qing naturally understood Su Yourong's meaning.
But he also hoped Su Yourong understood his meaning.
"Is that so?"
Su Yourong frowned, "If even His Highness can't help, then I'm afraid I'll have to enter the palace and ask the Crown Prince or His Majesty for help!"
Ye Qing's eyes narrowed, and he said with a forced smile, "Such a small matter, yet you want to trouble Father Emperor and Eldest Brother, Miss Su, isn't that a bit much?"
This jinx!
She was clearly threatening him!
"I don't want to trouble the Crown Prince and His Majesty either! But this really isn't a small matter!"
Su Yourong sighed helplessly, "Your Highness doesn't know, that Qiao Lao San owes me a full five hundred thousand taels of silver!"
Five hundred thousand taels of silver?
Ye Qing's expression suddenly changed.
Adding their capital, it was only four hundred thousand taels!
What, she was trying to extort another hundred thousand taels of silver from him!
Good, good, good!
The Su Family truly had guts!
Did she think that just because Shen Jing was currently in favor, he couldn't do anything to them?
"Miss Su, money is an external thing! Father Emperor and Eldest Brother are busy with important state affairs all day; if you take such a matter to them, aren't you just asking for trouble?"
Ye Qing still had a smile on his face, but his voice gradually grew cold.
"Prince Jing's words are reasonable, money is indeed an external thing!"
Su Yourong smiled meaningfully, saying with a double entendre, "But face is often more important than money!"
How bold!
He had made his point so clear, yet she still dared to threaten him?
Did she mean that if he didn't give her five hundred thousand taels of silver, she would make him lose face?
However, although Ye Qing was angry, he also secretly felt a bit nervous.
If Father Emperor found out about him opening a gambling house, it wouldn't be as simple as just losing face!
This jinx!
For money, she even dared to offend him, a Prince?
Ye Qing lowered his gaze and pondered for a moment, then smiled, "I have to say, your Su Family is truly rich! Anyone can owe you so much silver; this Prince is a bit short on funds lately, so how about Miss Su lends this Prince three hundred thousand taels of silver for an emergency?"
This was Ye Qing's final compromise.
Lending three hundred thousand taels meant writing off three hundred thousand taels.
Giving them two hundred thousand taels, and this matter would be over!
Don't make everyone lose face!
"Your Highness is joking."
Su Yourong pursed her thin lips, "We're so poor we can barely make ends meet, how could we have three hundred thousand taels of silver to lend to Your Highness!"
"You say you're poor, but this Prince doesn't believe it!"
Ye Qing shook his head and smiled, "If you cry poverty in front of Father Emperor, Father Emperor wouldn't believe it either, would he?"
Evidence!
Qiao Lao San had already disappeared!
What made her think that if she exposed him in front of Father Emperor, Father Emperor would believe her words?
Did she have evidence?
"If His Majesty doesn't believe it, he can send people to investigate!"
Su Yourong smiled, "Anyway, our Su Family has nothing to hide, we're not afraid of an investigation!"
Bitch!
Ye Qing cursed inwardly.
Ye Qing suppressed the anger in his heart and asked with a forced smile, "Are you really not going to lend this Prince three hundred thousand taels of silver for an emergency? At the very least, two hundred thousand would be fine!"
Su Yourong smiled helplessly, "Logically speaking, since His Highness has asked, if we had the ability, we would definitely lend it! But we don't have that ability, do we?"
"Alright, if that's the case, then let's not talk about it."
Ye Qing said with a forced smile, "Later, please extend my regards to Marquis Shen!"
"It should be me extending Shen Jing's regards to Your Highness!" Su Yourong's smile also gradually faded.
Listening to Su Yourong's words, Ye Qing still had a smile on his face, but his gaze gradually turned icy.
Declaration of war!
Su Yourong was declaring war on him!
Did she think that with just Shen Jing, she had the qualifications to contend with him?
"Good!"
Ye Qing took a deep breath, "Let's not trouble Father Emperor and Eldest Brother with this matter. Later, this Prince will ask the Prefect of the Capital Prefecture if he can find that Qiao Lao San!"
Ye Qing ultimately didn't dare to gamble with Su Yourong.
What if she really exposed the matter to Father Emperor, and Father Emperor ordered an investigation? Who could guarantee that Father Emperor wouldn't uncover his connection to the Hengyun Gambling House?
After all, even Su Yourong knew about this, so if Father Emperor wanted to investigate thoroughly, the possibility of him keeping it a secret was very small.
"Then many thanks, Your Highness!"
Su Yourong stood up and bowed to Ye Qing.
"Miss Su, you're too kind!"
Ye Qing clenched his fists, "This Prince still has to go for a meal, so I won't see Miss Su out!"
"I wouldn't dare trouble Your Highness!"
Su Yourong chuckled and turned to walk out.
Looking at Su Yourong's retreating figure, the smile on Ye Qing's face instantly vanished, replaced by an endless coldness.
Good!
The Su Family was choosing money over their lives, completely taking a stand against him!
Truly Su Zai's offspring, just as serious as Su Zai!
Since that's the case, then don't blame him for being impolite!
Walking out of Prince Jing's Residence, Su Yourong couldn't help but look back at the gilded plaque.
She wondered if her actions today were right or wrong.
However, once the arrow is shot, there's no turning back!
Since she had already come this far, she could only see it through to the end!
Anyone could sit on that throne, but not Ye Qing!
Otherwise, they would have no way out!
"Hmph..."
Su Yourong exhaled a cloudy breath and quickly got into the carriage.
Upon returning to the Su Family, Su Yourong told Shen Jing and Madam Su about what had happened at Prince Jing's Residence.
"You only asked for an extra hundred thousand taels?"
Shen Jing said, clearly dissatisfied.
If he had gone, he would have asked for at least eight hundred thousand taels!
"Even if I wanted more, he'd have to be able to produce it!"
Su Yourong gave him a sidelong glance, "Now, we're completely at odds with Prince Jing!"
"At odds then!"
Shen Jing didn't mind, "He already wanted to win over Yao Jian; sooner or later, he would become our enemy anyway!"
Madam Su nodded in agreement, then cautioned Shen Jing, "You'll have to be even more careful in court from now on!"
"Don't worry!"
Shen Jing grinned, "I might not be able to put whoever I want on the throne! But whoever I don't want on the throne, he definitely won't be able to sit on it! Even if he manages to, I'll pull him down!"
Looking at Shen Jing's confident demeanor, the Su Family mother and daughter couldn't help but be slightly lost in thought.
They truly didn't know where Shen Jing got such confidence.
Madam Su lowered her gaze and pondered for a moment, then said, "I need to go to the manor for a few days; the affairs of the residence will be left to you two!"
