Han Jiayan picked up his teacup and took a slow sip as he spoke.
"We can do it, but this business might be too big for me to handle alone..."
In just a moment, Zhao Si's eyes lit up.
The Song people were fond of gambling, and this was not a new phenomenon.
Often, even street vendors liked to play a little game with their customers when selling goods.
Many men would take out their copper coins to buy groceries, only to find themselves inexplicably gambling with the shopkeeper.
In the end, they wouldn't get their vegetables, and their copper coins would end up with the seller, leading to scoldings at home.
Yet, even so, it was difficult to curb the Song people's gambling habits.
Even he, a Prince, couldn't help but want to place a bet after seeing such competitions, let alone the common folk.
After all, there were millions of soldiers and civilians in Bianliang city, and even a few copper coins per person would amount to a staggering sum in the end.
"You certainly can't handle it alone. Didn't I say before? I have something here. Why don't you take a look first, and then we can talk!"
As Han Jiayan spoke, he pulled out a thick stack of documents from his sleeve and handed it over directly.
When it came to money, even Prince Zhao Si had to temporarily bow to copper coins. After retracting his gaze, he immediately focused his attention on the documents in front of him.
"Brilliant! If they gamble like this, wouldn't it be a surefire profit?"
After reading all the contents of the documents, Zhao Si's eyes shone.
"If it's not a sure-fire profit, is it even considered business? What do you think, can this business be done?"
Han Jiayan said with a smile.
"It can be done, but the initial capital required seems quite substantial..."
"Isn't it all written here? Three to five hundred thousand guan should be enough!"
Han Jiayan said with a smile.
"You say it so easily. That's three to five hundred thousand guan, not thirty to fifty guan!"
Zhao Si's eyes were practically rolling to the heavens. This was simply speaking from a position of privilege.
"Don't worry about the money. Someone will provide the funds. What you need to do is organize our poor relatives. If anyone dares to cause trouble at our venue, they'll need to rely on them to hold the line!"
"Whose family has such great courage?"
Hearing Han Jiayan's words, Zhao Si immediately became spirited.
"Aren't they here?"
As Han Jiayan spoke, he pointed to the right.
Following the direction of his finger, Zhao Si couldn't help but twitch his mouth.
"Brother-in-law, I feel like I've just been dragged out here to be a shield."
Seeing Zhe Yourong, Zhao Si couldn't help but smile wryly.
"Your Highness jokes. Who in this world would dare to use you as a shield? Didn't we agree to do business together?"
Zhe Yourong spoke with a smile, placing the food box in her hand on the table in front of them.
"Since we are doing business, let's discuss the terms. You know, there are quite a few poor relatives in the Zhao family!"
Zhao Si couldn't help but laugh as he said this.
"I dare not conceal anything from Your Highness. According to my husband's calculations, all the initial expenses will add up to about 500,000 guan. I will bear this sum myself. My Zhe family will only take a 20% net profit from this business. Ten percent of that will be given to Grand Commandant Liang, and the remaining 30% will be transferred to the Emperor by Grand Commandant Liang. As for the remaining 40%, it will be distributed by Your Highness. How about it?"
After listening to Zhe Yourong's words, Zhao Si's mouth couldn't help but twitch.
"I'm starting to understand why Zhe Kè Cún entrusted such a large business to a young lady like you!"
Even Zhao Si was a little impressed by her after listening to Zhe Yourong's words.
Clearly, she could have taken all the profits for herself, yet she was giving away eighty percent of them.
Although on the surface, Zhe Yourong's business seemed to be earning much less, with these people involved, who in the entire imperial court would dare to find trouble with them?
After all, gambling was the fastest way to make money in the world.
Even though Zhao Ji was the Emperor, this Emperor was now so poor that he was practically seeing stars.
If Liang Shicheng were to bring up this matter now, the Emperor would likely reluctantly agree.
After all, it was fine for him to have money, but if he had to personally handle this matter, the Emperor would indeed find it a bit too shameful.
Moreover, so many poor relatives from the Zhao family were involved. As long as Zhao Si and the others created momentum, even the Emperor would have to obediently accept the fixed profit-sharing ratio.
At most, when something happened, the Emperor would get a little extra, and that would be all!
After all, it was almost the first lunar month.
If the Emperor didn't find a way to raise some money, he probably wouldn't even have the funds for the rewards for the eunuchs and palace maids in the palace this year...
"Your Highness is too kind!"
Hearing Zhao Si's words, Zhe Yourong immediately understood that he had agreed.
"You go ahead and make all the preparations. As for the poor relatives of the Zhao family, I'll go find them now!"
With 40% of the shares in his hands, and considering the population of a million soldiers and civilians in the capital, Zhao Si was already envisioning his future life of extravagant spending.
He didn't even need 40%; if he could hold a mere half-share, it would be enough for him to live a life of debauchery for a lifetime.
"Brother-in-law, how about you and I each take half of this 40%?"
"It shall be as you say. But let's be clear, you'll have to take the lead in the specific matters. As for me, I can only help from the sidelines!"
Han Jiayan said with a smile as he picked up a piece of osmanthus cake.
"That's natural, brother-in-law. Just you wait and see!"
After saying that, Zhao Si could no longer sit still. He picked up the stack of documents from the table, tucked it into his sleeve, and turned to leave.
"So, it's settled?"
Watching Zhao Si's retreating figure, Zhe Yourong asked incredulously.
"Isn't it? Just wait and see. I think it won't be long before the money earned from these mere 20% shares will be more than your entire Zhe family's shops!"
"Uncle Patriarch is joking. Brother Mo instructed that ten percent of these 20% shares belong to you."
"Hahaha, you two little monkeys. I'm so old, what do I need so much copper money for?"