Chapter 14: The Entire Family Taken Down at Once

Ma Zhuo raised his palm and made a gesture. “The market price is eighty thousand taels of silver.”

The price Ma Zhuo quoted included the commission taken by the pawnshop, which was standardly three percent, paid by the seller.

As soon as the offer landed, Qi Cong’s entire demeanor collapsed.

This price was nearly identical to the amount Qi Cong had sold the estate for in the second transaction.

Lu Lan asked, “Ma shopkeeper, is this this year’s price?”

Ma Zhuo bowed in response, “Your Highness, for a prime estate like the Upper Pillar Duke’s Mansion, the price has remained relatively stable over the past decade, generally holding around eighty thousand taels.”

A chilling smile played on Lu Lan’s lips as he grabbed the ledger and slammed it in front of Qi Cong.

“Uncle, two years ago this very Upper Pillar Duke’s Mansion sold for only sixty thousand taels. That’s a twenty-thousand-tael difference from the pawnshop’s quote…” Lu Lan leaned in, his voice heavy with pressure.

“You handled this estate personally.”

“Your Highness, I was wrong. Please, spare me this once.”

Faced with the black-and-white ledger and the seasoned industry standards, Qi Cong had no grounds to argue, but he showed little fear.

He dropped to the floor, lowering himself submissively, a sycophantic smile plastered across his face.

Lu Lan was a worthless fool he had watched grow up—indeed, he had, whether intentionally or not, led him astray.

Every time he visited the Duke of Yu’s residence to see his sister and nephew, he secretly slipped Lu Lan some risqué paintings of courtesans, warning him to keep them hidden.

A child, unfamiliar with such things, was naturally entranced.

Qi Cong would even share scandalous tales from the pleasure quarters, and Lu Lan gradually became addicted, neglecting his studies.

He knew Lu Lan well: spoiled and indulged by Yan Shiyue since childhood, quick to anger and reckless when things went wrong.

Yet as long as he flattered Lu Lan’s ego, he was safe.

Lu Lan took his seat, eyeing Qi Cong’s obsequious expression.

“Uncle, your nephew keeps two beautiful mistresses outside. I’m running out of silver. You see…”

Qi Cong exhaled in relief. So it was just desperation for money.

“I was careless and got conned by the buyer. I’m willing to cover twenty thousand taels myself to make up the difference.”

Qi Cong’s scheme was crude: find a fake buyer to purchase the mansion for sixty thousand taels, then resell it for eighty thousand taels, pocketing twenty thousand taels in the process.

Lu Yanbei and Yan Shiyue had initially resisted selling the ancestral estate, but as Lu Lan’s extravagance grew, the family funds tightened.

Qi Xuefu realized that if things continued, her son Lu Zhongwang would be left with nothing, all squandered by Lu Lan.

She whispered in Lu Yanbei’s ear, urging him to liquidate assets, conveniently since her own brother was a pawnbroker.

Since Lu Yanbei often mingled with officials and nobles, requiring substantial funds, he agreed.

Yan Shiyue had thought the Qi siblings merely sought their commission, but they were instead draining the family dry.

Qi Cong reasoned that refunding twenty thousand taels was already generous—it would keep this prodigal son occupied for a while.

But he didn’t know that Lu Lan was starving for cash.

“Just twenty thousand taels? Uncle, do you take me for a beggar? That won’t last half a month.”

Qi Cong grinned slyly, flashing his golden teeth.

“Your Highness, we’re family. For my sister’s sake… no, for Aunt Qi’s sake, don’t push me to the brink. I had to rack my brains to scrape together twenty thousand taels. Any more, and it’ll be the death of me.”

“You mean Aunt Qi is involved in this too?”

Lu Lan’s sudden question threw Qi Cong into a panic.

“No, absolutely not. I didn’t say that. Your Highness, please don’t speak out of turn.”

Qi Cong knew well that as long as his sister remained unharmed, he could rest easy.

But Lu Lan struck at the root: if Qi Xuefu was his trump card, then the whole family was at risk.

“Uncle, you’re my elder. When things reach me, you can’t pull the wool over my eyes. If my mother finds out you treated her like a fool and pocketed twenty thousand taels in kickbacks from the estate, you can imagine the consequences.”

A cold chill ran down Qi Cong’s spine, his face paling.

“My mother will uproot everything,” Lu Lan said, lightly resting his arm on Qi Cong’s shoulder.