Chapter 16: Forced Sale

Wang Jinyuan stared at the flag and felt like crying but had no tears.

He was the one who raised the silver to purchase the Fang family’s ancestral property. He was the one who helped Fang Jifan buy large amounts of Ebony. He ran around tirelessly, thinking he had made a huge profit from this spendthrift. Who would have thought… what he earned wasn’t even a fraction of what the other party gained.

Wang Jinyuan narrowed his eyes, his chubby face looking fierce. His eyes darted around as he calculated frantically in his mind. It wasn’t just because of the shipwrecks—all the Ebony had ended up in Fang Jifan’s hands. This guy monopolized almost all the Ebony on the market. Ten times the price… although frightening, he knew that those who used Ebony were from wealthy and noble families. They might use less, but they absolutely needed it. However…

He still felt some hesitation, but due to nervousness, veins bulged on his forehead. After what seemed like a long deliberation, he said, “Seventy taels, at most seventy taels. Not a tael more. But on the condition that all the Ebony must be sold to me. I’m a bit short on silver now, but I can raise it. I need a month. In short, not a single piece can remain…”

Such an astronomical amount of silver naturally required fundraising. Wang Jinyuan was even prepared to borrow money from various sources or join forces with other big Merchants to acquire all this Ebony. But why buy it all at once? Because he needed to ensure that all the Ebony on the market was in his hands, so he could drive the price to the highest level. Hoarding for speculation—after all, Ebony was a luxury item and didn’t involve daily necessities like firewood, rice, oil, and salt, so he wasn’t worried about government intervention.

Seventy taels…

Emperor Hongzhi, who stood nearby, was utterly stunned upon hearing this.

Liu Qian was so shocked that his jaw seemed about to drop.

Was this… a forced sale or not?

But Fang Jifan was determined. He sneered inwardly, thinking, “Wang Jinyuan, you just want to monopolize the market and seize this opportunity to make a huge profit, don’t you?”

Although the price had already multiplied, Fang Jifan wasn’t satisfied. Without hesitation, he shook his head and said, “I said one hundred taels means one hundred taels. Not a single copper less. Uncle Wang, don’t think I’m stupid.”

Wang Jinyuan gritted his teeth. Although he still believed Fang Jifan was a damned spendthrift, who knew this kid would have such a change of fortune? Seeing Fang Jifan’s innocent expression, he wished he could slap himself. Originally, he was the one who happily helped Fang Jifan purchase the Ebony. He was also the one who provided him with a large amount of silver to buy his family’s ancestral property. No matter how he looked at it, it seemed like he had paved the way for this spendthrift.

Seeing Fang Jifan unmoved, Wang Jinyuan felt like crying. This was a huge deal. If he could acquire it, even at ten times the price, as long as he managed it properly and drove up the price, he could still make a huge profit.

At this moment, his eyes actually reddened, and he cried. He beat his chest and stamped his feet, regretting that he hadn’t also bought some Ebony. Overwhelmed by shock and anger, he stepped forward to grab Fang Jifan’s sleeve, but missed. His body tilted, and he knelt down, quickly embracing Fang Jifan’s thigh with both hands. “Young Lord Fang, Young Lord Fang… let’s talk properly. Eighty, at most eighty. It can’t go higher. Young Lord Fang, we’re old friends. We must be reasonable. Just eighty taels. Please show some mercy, Young Lord Fang… show some mercy…”

Fang Jifan became angry.

“How shameless can you be? The Emperor is right here! You’re making it seem like I’m the one forcing a sale!”

So Fang Jifan shouted at him with slight annoyance, “Don’t touch me! If you touch me again, I won’t be polite. Do you think I’m easy to bully? I… I…”

Fang Jifan almost said, “I’ll beat you to death, you shameless bastard!” But after a second thought, he said, “I’ll report you to the authorities! I’ll report you!”

“Ninety taels…” Wang Jinyuan gritted his teeth and finally quoted a number he thought would tempt Fang Jifan.

This was a huge business opportunity. If he missed it, it would be gone. He had to reach an agreement with Fang Jifan immediately, before other big Merchants realized what was happening. He wiped his tears on Fang Jifan’s pants while pitifully saying, “It can’t be more, Young Lord Fang. We’re friends, aren’t we? I’ll pay the deposit now. I will raise the silver on time, not a single copper less!”

Fang Jifan gritted his teeth and said firmly, “One hundred taels!”

Wang Jinyuan remained kneeling on the ground, tears streaming down his face. Having been in business all his life, he thought he was clever and believed he had made a huge profit from Fang Jifan. Unexpectedly, the other party made ten times the profit margin. And he himself… had missed such a huge opportunity.

His body trembled as he said, “Fine, one hundred taels it is. All the Ebony, not a single piece can remain! I’ll pay the deposit now. I’ll go get a guarantor…”

Fang Jifan actually knew that with such hoarding and speculation, if he wanted, he could even drive the price of Ebony to one hundred twenty or one hundred thirty taels without any problem. But he knew it would be too time-consuming and effort-intensive. Instead, it was better to sell all the Ebony to Wang Jinyuan at one hundred taels in one go. After all, people like Wang Jinyuan were experts in capital manipulation and hoarding for speculation.

“Don’t rush…” Fang Jifan smiled at him. “This Young Lord has friends here too…”

Fang Jifan was in high spirits. He looked up, remembering the Emperor, but found that His Majesty had already quietly left with his attendants, disappearing without a trace.

Just now… where did he and the Emperor leave off?

Oh, he remembered. The Emperor accused him of bullying the market. Oh no, it seemed he hadn’t had the chance to explain yet.

Fang Jifan looked into the distance, watching the figures grow smaller. He couldn’t help but want to catch up and explain properly. But as soon as he tried to take a step, he found Wang Jinyuan still tightly hugging his leg. “Young Lord Fang, Lord Fang, Master Fang, let’s get a guarantor now. I’ll use my Property Deed as collateral for the deposit. Let’s agree on it…”

Fang Jifan was a bit confused. Why did it feel like he was the one being forced into a sale?

Meanwhile, Emperor Hongzhi, on the other side, hurried back to the palace with his entourage.

What he saw and heard today was truly hard for him to digest.

Back in the Warm Pavilion where he spent his days, the Underfloor Heating System kept the room as warm as spring. But Emperor Hongzhi still felt his hands and feet were somewhat cold. Years of overwork had left his body weak, and this trip out of the palace had made him feel even more lethargic.

Liu Qian carefully placed a cushion for him. Since returning to the palace, Liu Qian had been too frightened to make a sound. Just then, Emperor Hongzhi suddenly looked up, his sharp eyes fixed on him.

Liu Qian’s heart leaped, and he felt as if needles were pricking his back. He didn’t dare meet that piercing gaze and immediately prostrated himself on the ground. “Your Servant… deserves death ten thousand times.”

Emperor Hongzhi glanced at him, then raised his head to survey all the objects in the Warm Pavilion. He said lightly, “I have read history extensively. Among the lessons learned from past dynasties, the phrase ‘partial listening and one-sided belief’ is especially significant. Why? Partial listening leads to unclear judgment, and one-sided belief leads to darkness. Today, I almost repeated this mistake. This was my negligence. Liu Qian, there must not be a next time.”

“Yes, yes, Your Servant… Your Servant deserves death ten thousand times.” Liu Qian kowtowed repeatedly like pounding garlic. He knew that the more casual His Majesty seemed, the more likely he was truly angry. Liu Qian was already terrified out of his wits, kowtowing heavily until his forehead was bruised and bleeding.