What concept was three million taels of silver? That was the amount needed to feed and supply an army of one million five hundred thousand people for a year.

But how many people did the Pingnan Army have in total? Although the Pingnan Army claimed to have one hundred thousand troops, even counting to the fullest and including all the servants who delivered food and cooked, there were still fewer than one hundred thousand people now.

One hundred thousand people, in less than a year, had used fifteen times the amount of silver—where had it all gone?

Pang Xiao slightly narrowed his phoenix eyes as he sized up Manager Liu from Sitong Company standing before him.

This person was of medium height and build, past his fortieth year, with proper features and an air of scholarly refinement throughout his entire being. He had the temperament of a modest gentleman with refined manners—he didn’t look like a manager at all, but rather like a schoolteacher.

This man possessed eyes that were overly bright and intelligent, with an air of wisdom between his brows that couldn’t be concealed. Pang Xiao considered his ability to judge people to be quite good, and he quickly determined in his heart that this person was definitely not a simple manager.

So why had the owner of Sitong Company sent such a person to his place to collect debt?

And why would Sitong Company easily lend silver to the ruffian-born Lu Zhang, especially such a large amount as three million taels of silver?

Why had Lu Zhang fallen ill so conveniently—was it really just to shirk responsibility?

If there were no trickery involved, Pang Xiao absolutely wouldn’t believe it.

When things are abnormal, there must be demons at work. The relationship between Sitong Company and Lu Zhang needed deep consideration, and Sitong Company’s purpose also needed careful investigation.

Countless thoughts turned through his mind, yet on the surface it was merely a matter of breathing.

Manager Liu heard that sentence from Pang Xiao clearly and said with a smile, “Lord Lu was wholehearted in serving the court. Our head manager was moved by Lord Lu’s sincere devotion, which is why he agreed to the loan. Two times in total, adding up to three million taels of silver. I imagine the lives of the soldiers in the army would also be improved as a result, and they would have more fighting spirit when encountering foreign enemies. Although our head manager is a merchant, he also cares about the country and is most concerned about the people’s safety.”

Speaking to this point, Manager Liu’s tone shifted, his words filled with helplessness and bitterness: “However, while borrowing the silver was easy back then, repaying it is difficult now. When our head manager went to collect the first loan, Lord Lu said the military situation was truly too tense and he couldn’t come up with the money for the time being—he could only wait for silver to be allocated from above. And he borrowed a second sum from our head manager once again.

“Our head manager is warm-hearted, thinking that with such a large army as the Pingnan Army stationed here and such a huge amount of silver involved, the court would never default on money owed to us ordinary merchants without repaying.

“But who knew that later, when the head manager sent quite a few people to urge payment several times, the Pingnan Army still had no reaction whatsoever, and even showed signs of evasion. Up to now, this commoner truly has no other recourse, which is why I’ve had the audacity to seek out Your Highness.

“Your Highness holds high position and great authority, being not only the new commander-in-chief of the Pingnan Army, but also holding an unusual place in the hearts of both the army and His Majesty. I imagine if it’s Your Highness, you must have a way to obtain the silver to repay the debt.”

Both Qin Yining and Pang Xiao listened quietly. Manager Liu was someone who wouldn’t leave the slightest loophole in his words, and his greatest characteristic was that no matter how urgent the matter, his voice would never rise even half a tone when speaking—he maintained a tone of good-natured discussion.

Qin Yining felt that this person’s background might truly be extraordinary, definitely not as he claimed—merely an ordinary head manager.

So there must be some secret between Sitong Company and Lu Zhang. This time they had clearly dug a trap for Pang Xiao to jump into, and Pang Xiao had now fallen into their scheme and was trapped in the pit.

This matter of repaying the debt couldn’t be easily agreed to.

But the problem was, Pang Xiao was now the commander-in-chief of the Pingnan Army. All matters large and small of the Pingnan Army had to be managed by Pang Xiao. If Pang Xiao didn’t take responsibility for repaying this sum of silver, Sitong Company would certainly spread word everywhere that Pang Xiao borrowed money without repaying it. Where would Pang Xiao’s dignity be then?

However, there was indeed a problem with this silver. Either Lu Zhang had embezzled it, or Lu Zhang had colluded with Sitong Company—Sitong Company hadn’t actually lent Lu Zhang so much silver, and Lu Zhang’s IOUs and documents were completed privately.

In this way, wouldn’t it be letting people say whatever they wanted with just their mouths?

Pang Xiao was thinking the same as Qin Yining, but in such circumstances, Qin Yining couldn’t easily interject.

She looked at Pang Xiao with worry, afraid that Pang Xiao would easily agree to such unreasonable demands because of his sense of responsibility. There was no reason that just because the other party had dug a trap for them, they should suffer losses in silence due to moral and other various reasons.

Pang Xiao could already feel Qin Yining’s gaze, but this occasion wasn’t suitable for much conversation with Qin Yining either.

His slender index finger lightly tapped the table surface as Pang Xiao smiled faintly, “Was I the one who wrote the IOU?”

Upon hearing this, Manager Liu already understood in his heart.

He hurriedly said, “Your Highness certainly wasn’t the one who wrote the IOU, but Your Highness is the one in charge here. Lord Lu is your subordinate. Whatever your subordinates do, you must take responsibility for.”

Upon hearing this, Pang Xiao’s smile deepened even more as he leaned forward, “What you say does have some logic.”

Manager Liu felt Pang Xiao’s tone was very strange. Although he was somewhat pleased that Pang Xiao acknowledged his words and might agree to repay the money, he still instinctively sensed some danger and unconsciously stepped back half a pace.

“It seems Your Highness has decided to shoulder the responsibility.”

Pang Xiao smiled, “You say I’m the commander-in-chief of the Pingnan Army, the person responsible for the Pingnan Army, so whatever my subordinates do should be my responsibility. But under all Heaven there is no land that is not the king’s, and to the shores of the earth there are no subjects who are not the king’s servants. Whether it’s you, me, or Lord Lu, we’re all His Majesty’s subjects, all working for His Majesty. Why don’t you go find His Majesty to repay the money?”

Manager Liu’s face suddenly flushed bright red.

Qin Yining lowered her head, barely managing to control the smile at the corner of her lips, forcing herself not to laugh out loud and disturb Pang Xiao’s business.

Manager Liu became anxious, speaking rapidly like scattered pearls: “Your Highness, you can’t say that! Lord Lu borrowing silver from our Sitong Company was absolutely true. Now that Lord Lu no longer manages affairs, the silver that Sitong Company lent out can only be repaid by you, the Grand Marshal of Pingnan. If you insist on dragging His Majesty into this, wouldn’t that seem like shirking responsibility?”

“So you can see that this prince is shirking responsibility.” Pang Xiao stood up, clasping his hands behind his back as he paced to stand before Manager Liu.

Manager Liu was of medium height, but Pang Xiao was tall and robust. For Pang Xiao to see Manager Liu’s expression clearly, he even had to step back two paces and bend his waist slightly.

Manager Liu said anxiously, “You can’t do this! We originally took out such a large sum of silver to lend to you to solve your urgent crisis for the sake of the dynasty and the people’s stability. But now that you’ve resolved your crisis, you want to default on the debt—how is this the conduct of a gentleman? If this spreads and the common people learn of it, how can you, the Grand Marshal of Pingnan, maintain your footing?”

“Ridiculous.” Pang Xiao sneered, “Repaying debts is natural law—that’s not wrong. But that’s also a matter of whoever owes the silver repaying it. Did I, Pang someone, write your IOU?”

“No, no…” Manager Liu couldn’t help but step back two more paces, and even his speech became somewhat stuttered due to fear from the intimidating aura emanating from Pang Xiao.

“No matter where you go with this matter, it should be whoever wrote the IOU that you ask for repayment. But following your earlier logic, wouldn’t you also have to go to the capital for an imperial audience?

“Then you could say, ‘Your subjects owe silver and won’t repay it. As the ruler of a nation, all the people are your subjects, so naturally this silver should be handled by you.’ Do you think if you said that, you’d still have your life?”

Manager Liu’s brow furrowed tightly, “Your Highness, please watch your words.”

Pang Xiao dared to mention His Majesty with every other sentence, but Manager Liu didn’t have Pang Xiao’s courage and confidence.

Pang Xiao said, “Lu Zhang wrote the IOU. If you want to collect debt, just go ask Lu Zhang for it. Your reasoning simply doesn’t work.”

Manager Liu was stumped speechless. His eyes rolled, and he actually covered his face with his sleeve and began to sob.

“What can be done! Our Sitong Company was willing to lend out the silver for the sake of the court. But now the court has let us down! These three million taels of silver are no small amount at all. If we can’t collect it, won’t we suffer a great loss?

“Is this how business is conducted in the court, with such endless passing of responsibility? You, the newly appointed Grand Marshal of Pingnan, won’t even handle what your subordinates have done—what are we people supposed to do!”

Manager Liu’s voice was mournful and piteous, truly quite pitiable. Despite his refined appearance, even in such a state, he showed no trace of anything annoying.

Pang Xiao exchanged a glance with Qin Yining.

Qin Yining lowered her eyes in thought for a moment, already having an idea in mind.

“Stop crying.” A gentle female voice interrupted Manager Liu’s words.

Manager Liu looked toward the voice and saw the Prince Zhongshun’s consort who had been sitting to the side without speaking.

It was said that this lady was quite favored and respected by Prince Zhongshun. Today when Prince Zhongshun received guests, he had come with his consort, which was enough to show that this woman was different from ordinary inner-court women and could speak up in front of the prince.

Manager Liu’s heart stirred, and he turned to bow to Qin Yining.

“Your Highness the Princess, please don’t blame me. This commoner truly has no other recourse. This large sum of silver has gone uncollected for so long. When we sought Lord Lu, Lord Lu passed it to Your Highness. Now when we appeal to Your Highness, Your Highness passes it to His Majesty. This, this is simply making things difficult for people.”

Qin Yining’s face showed sympathetic expression as she said with righteous indignation, “I understand your difficulties. Don’t worry—we’ll investigate this matter. If it’s truly as you say, we’ll certainly give you an explanation.”

Manager Liu was stunned upon hearing this, “Are, are you telling the truth?” He couldn’t help but study Pang Xiao’s expression.

Pang Xiao was clearly somewhat displeased. But in front of him, he didn’t immediately contradict his consort, obviously cherishing his wife greatly.

Manager Liu sighed that even heroes had trouble with beautiful women, and repeatedly bowed to Qin Yining: “Thank you, Your Highness the Princess, thank you, Your Highness the Princess. As long as you’ve given us this promise, we can finally feel at ease!”

Qin Yining smiled and comforted Manager Liu with a few more words, then offered tea to see him off.

After Manager Liu left with light steps, Qin Yining rose and walked to Pang Xiao’s side, “Were you about to throw him out directly just now?”