Chapter 8: Fundraising

However, before Luo Bingluan could say anything,

"Miss, Miss!" the old butler came running from afar.

"Grandpa Qian, slow down. What happened?"

"Huff~ puff~, this is an invitation sent by the Southern Branch of the National Commerce Commission. It asks the Master to attend a banquet," the old butler said breathlessly as he handed over the invitation.

Luo Bingluan took the invitation and opened it. Seeing that nothing specific was mentioned on it, she couldn't help but wonder: what exactly is this about?

Beside her, Bai Hu Niu saw Luo Bingluan frowning in thought and began to pace back and forth anxiously.

"It seems my parents are intentionally avoiding you all. It shouldn't be anything serious," Luo Bingluan said after a moment of thought. "Contact the members of the Hidden Department in the Commerce Commission and find out what this matter is actually about."

"Yes, Miss," Bai Hu Niu responded and turned to leave.

"Grandpa Qian, I will attend the Commerce Commission banquet in my father's stead. You go and rest," Luo Bingluan said to the old butler.

About half an hour later,

"Miss, according to the intelligence sent from the Hidden Department, tonight's banquet mainly invites the most powerful merchants in the South. However, the organizers don't seem to be just the Southern Commercial Bureau; it seems there are people from the Imperial Capital as well," Bai Hu Niu reported.

"Eh?" Luo Bingluan felt something was fishy. "Instruct the Hidden Department not to act rashly. I will wait and see how things develop once I arrive there tonight."

Seeing that the time was nearly upon them,

Luo Bingluan took Zhu Que Mei and Bai Hu Niu in a carriage to the Southern Commercial Bureau.

The bureau entrance was brilliantly lit today. Even the usually lazy soldiers were standing straight and looking spirited, a rare sight.

"Miss Luo of the Luo Family Chamber of Commerce has arrived!"

Following the announcement from the announcer at the door, Luo Bingluan, Zhu Que, and Bai Hu entered. However, as they passed through the foyer, Luo Bingluan cast a meaningful glance toward one side.

"It seems some big shots are coming tonight!" Luo Bingluan thought to herself.

Upon entering the courtyard, she saw about seven or eight tables set up, all filled except for the seat of honor. They basically covered all the major families from the local area and surrounding counties; Master Zhao was also present.

Seeing Luo Bingluan, Master Zhao was slightly surprised, but he still stood up to greet her. "Why is your father, Brother Luo, not here?"

"Greetings, Uncle Zhao. My father has caught a slight cold and is unable to attend," Luo Bingluan said, performing a graceful curtsy.

"Oh, I see. Come, sit, my dear niece," Master Zhao said with a smile.

Seeing Master Zhao stand, the merchants at the other tables also rose one after another to bow and salute. Luo Bingluan quickly performed a curtsy before taking her seat below Master Zhao.

Before long,

The announcer at the door shouted once more: "The Fourth Prince has arrived! The Thirteenth Prince has arrived! Lord Xu of the Southern Commercial Bureau has arrived!"

"The Fourth Prince, Tianqing Zhi? The future Emperor?" Luo Bingluan was somewhat familiar with the history of the Tianqing Empire; hearing the Fourth Prince's name, she couldn't help but feel a mix of nervousness and curiosity.

Following the sound,

A young man in his early twenties appeared first. This Fourth Prince was quite handsome, but his eyes gave off a cold impression, and his mature, composed demeanor made him seem unapproachable.

Luo Bingluan couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "As expected of the Cold-Faced King! But he is quite handsome."

Following closely behind was the Thirteenth Prince, Tianqing Zheng. With sword-like eyebrows, phoenix eyes, and thin lips, he was also extraordinarily handsome.

"The Cold-Faced King's top aide, the Thirteenth Lord, is also a handsome man! But he looks much more likable than the Cold-Faced King..." As Luo Bingluan was thinking this, she suddenly felt Zhu Que Mei give her a light nudge from behind, snapping her back to reality.

"Miss, the Fourth Prince is calling for you," Zhu Que whispered.

Luo Bingluan froze for a moment before quickly regaining her composure. She performed a curtsy and said, "Luan'er offers greetings to the Fourth Prince and the Thirteenth Prince. Blessings to the Fourth Prince, blessings to the Thirteenth Prince."

All she heard in response was a voice as cold as ice: "That is unnecessary. Rise."

Luo Bingluan felt a surge of irritation, thinking to herself: *Just because you're a prince, you think you're so great? Just because you're the future emperor, you think you're so great? I haven't even provoked you. Honestly.*

Despite her inner dissatisfaction, she still expressed her thanks and sat down. *Hmph, arrogant brat! This lady won't stoop to your level.*

Standing beside the Fourth Prince, Tianqing Zhi, Lord Xu looked at the various wealthy merchants present and said with a smile, "Since taking office, I have received much support from all of you. I have invited everyone here today to reiterate what I mentioned this morning. I ask everyone to consider it carefully."

Wait? This morning? What happened this morning?

Luo Bingluan couldn't help but look toward Master Zhao, intending to ask him quietly.

"Boss Zhao, perhaps it is time for you to state your position as well," Lord Xu said.

"The Thirteenth Prince has already investigated, and the accounts of us merchants are in order; our taxes have been paid in full. Logically, since the floods this year were severe, it is our responsibility to donate some silver. However, asking us to donate two hundred thousand taels all at once... we truly cannot afford it," Master Zhao said.

"Yes! That's right!"

"We really can't produce that much!"

"Exactly, where would we get that much money to donate!"

...

For a moment, the other merchants echoed his sentiments.

Luo Bingluan sat there listening calmly for a while before she realized: so these two princes came here under the guise of auditing taxes, but they are actually here to raise disaster relief funds!

While Luo Bingluan was still processing this, she heard the Thirteenth Prince speak: "Miss Luo, are you aware of the tax account inspections conducted at various households today? Relieving disaster victims is the duty of our Tianqing Empire. The Luo family should also contribute more effort, shouldn't they?"

Hearing this, Luo Bingluan felt a spark of anger. Had the Luo family not done enough disaster relief for the people over the years? He spoke as if the Luo family had never contributed!

"To answer the Thirteenth Lord, Luan'er was unaware of the audit. Furthermore, my Luo family has always been proactive in paying taxes and has never engaged in tax evasion," Luo Bingluan thought to herself. *Go ahead and audit if you want; if you want to cause trouble here, you'd better check who you're dealing with. The Luo family stealing taxes? Don't make me laugh.*

After a moment's thought, Luo Bingluan addressed the Fourth Prince: "As for the matter of raising funds, Luan'er can make decisions for the Luo family. However, we Luo family are legitimate businessmen who abide by the laws of the Tianqing Empire."

"While we may be wealthier than ordinary people, our money is earned through hard work, bit by bit. It didn't fall from the sky or get fished out of the water. Two hundred thousand taels is equivalent to the entire annual profit of the Yangcheng Chamber of Commerce. We cannot simply be expected to hand over all our money just because we earned a bit. If that were the case, who would dare to do business or dare to make money in the future?"

As soon as Luo Bingluan finished speaking, the merchants present once again began to echo her words.

Meanwhile, Luo Bingluan acted as if nothing were wrong. She picked up her teacup and took a small, gentle sip. *Hmph! You thought you could scheme against me?*