Chapter 1 — The Regent asked the price of my sincerity

Trieu Thai Phi heard the commotion and was helped by the maid and quickly ran over. As soon as she saw her nephew lying all over the ground, Trieu Thai Phi screamed and almost fainted again.

"My Heavenly Treasure! My Heavenly Treasure!"

Trieu Uyen Nhu also stumbled out, jumped on Trieu Thien Bao and cried.

“Auntie, save brother, save him!”

Trieu Thai Phi suddenly turned her head and stared at me, her eyes as sharp as a poisoned knife.

"Miss Shen! What are you still standing there watching the commotion! Quickly take the money and chase them away!"

I stood on the steps, arms crossed over my chest, like I was watching a play.

"This statement from the Royal Highness really doesn't make any sense at all. Trieu Thien Bao's gambling debt, how can you force the Vuong Palace to pay it back?"

"He is Uyen Nhu's biological brother! He is the bloodline of my Trieu family!"

Trieu Thai Phi screamed hysterically.

"As the Regent Princess, do you want to stand by and watch the reputation of the Royal Palace be destroyed?"

“The reputation of the Royal Palace was earned by the Royal Family risking their lives on the battlefield, not by paying off debts on behalf of a gambler.”

I responded coldly. The scar-faced man lost patience and spat loudly.

"Stop talking nonsense! In the end, it's up to you to pay or not! If you don't pay, I'll cut off his hand!"

As he spoke, he raised the demon-headed knife and pointed it straight at Trieu Thien Bao's right hand. Trieu Uyen Nhu screamed and closed her eyes tightly. Trieu Thai Phi made a "thud" sound and knelt down on the ground, but instead used her hand to threaten her.

"Miss Shen! Today, if you don't use your dowry to settle this matter, I will stab my head to death on the pillar in front of the big gate, so that everyone in the world can clearly see the face of your evil wife!"

The surrounding servants murmured, their eyes looking at me filled with fear and blame. I looked at Trieu Thai Phi's tearful face, but there was no wave in my heart. The ethics of kidnapping? It's so embarrassing, Tham Kim Trieu has no morals.

"Okay."

I suddenly burst out laughing.

“Fifty thousand taels, I will pay.”

Trieu Thai Phi and Trieu Uyen Nhu raised their heads at the same time, their eyes flashing with crazy joy. I slowly took out a thick stack of bills from my sleeve and patted them in my hand.

"However, siblings still have to be clear about their books. My money is not blown by the wind."

I turned my head to look at Butler Ly.

“Old Ly, bring the contract up here.”

Butler Ly immediately lifted a piece of paperwork and walked in front of Trieu Uyen Nhu.

“What is this?”

Trieu Uyen Nhu looked at that document warily.

"The loan contract among the people, comes back from nine to thirteen."

I looked down at her from above, her voice was so cold that there was not even a trace of temperature.

"Fifty thousand taels of principal, after deducting interest, the actual amount received is forty-five thousand taels. Within three months, the principal and interest must be repaid in full, ten thousand taels."

Trieu Thai Phi widened her eyes and opened her mouth to curse loudly.

"You're arrogant! You're really stealing money!"

"Are you calling it expensive? Then you guys figure it out yourself."

I pretended to collect the check.

"Wait!"

Trieu Uyen Nhu quickly cried out, biting her lower lip, her eyes full of humiliation.

"I... I signed. But I don't have anything to pledge."

"Who says you don't have one?"

I pointed to the appendix attached to the contract.

“The Trieu family's ancestral building On the outskirts of the capital, there is also..."

I looked at Trieu Uyen Nhu from top to bottom, the corners of my lips curved up into a malicious smile.

"There's also your cousin's future dowry, along with yourself."

"If after three months you still can't pay, the Trieu family's ancestral house belongs to me, and your younger sister... then come to Xuan Phong Lau in my name, play the lute and sell songs to pay off the debt."

“You are shameless!”

Trieu Uyen Nhu was so angry that her whole body trembled and she raised her hand to slap me. I grabbed her wrist and immediately slapped her. The crisp sound of slapping echoed throughout the yard.

“If you want to beg others, you must have the attitude of beseeching others.”

I pushed her hand away.

“Sign, or not sign? If you don't sign, then watch your brother get his hand cut off."

The scar-faced guy very cooperatively pressed the blade close to Trieu Thien Bao's wrist, scaring him so much that he cried like a pig whose blood had been cut open.

“Uyen Nhu! Sign it! Sign quickly! Do you want to see your brother die?

Trieu Uyen Nhu trembled as she received the brush, big tears of humiliation falling drop by drop onto the contract. She bit off the tip of her finger, leaving a bright red handprint on the contract. I happily put away the contract, then threw the stack of checks to the scarred guy.

“Take the money and get out.”

The scar-faced guy counted the check, satisfied and led the person away.