Chapter 99: The Banquet
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“Fifteen million taels!”
Princess Pingyang nearly jumped to her feet in shock.
Xiao Ming nodded silently.
Her expression stiffened for a moment before Princess Pingyang forced a smile and said, “I didn’t realize that the Prince of Qi is now so wealthy.”
“Compared to you, Auntie, I’m still far behind. I’ve heard that your assets in Chang’an are quite substantial,” Xiao Ming flattered her. “So, what do you think about this matter…?”
“Forget it. Since you’ve already made agreements with so many merchants, I can’t force you to break your word. But could you prepare some glassware for me to bring back to the Emperor and the consorts?”
Initially, she had wanted to secure the glass-making technique for herself. However, after hearing Xiao Ming’s explanation, she was unwilling to risk offending so many people.
After all, Xiao Ming had already taken their silver. If this matter were to fall entirely on her shoulders, she would have a hard time dealing with those people in Chang’an. While Xiao Ming was far away from the Emperor’s reach, she would have to face these people daily.
Princess Pingyang’s greed caught Xiao Ming off guard. He knew that this situation had likely arisen because she had secretly influenced Emperor Xiao Wenxuan to agree to her demands.
In the letter from Consort Zhen, it was clear that Emperor Xiao Wenxuan was pleased with Xiao Ming and had even praised him, with no mention of demanding the glass-making technique.
However, for Xiao Ming, Princess Pingyang’s greed was something he could exploit. It’s not a person’s flaws that are worrisome, but their lack of vulnerabilities.