Chapter 541: Chapter 541: Making a Small Fortune

“Decide now, whether you want it public or private. My time is precious, I can’t afford to waste it here,” Yang Ye abruptly dropped his smile and urged.

In the past, Cen Hong was a grand marshal in charge of the country’s troops. Despite his dissatisfaction towards Cen, he showed verbal respect.

However, things were different now. A small county magistrate, especially one who had committed a mistake, deserved any scolding he received.

Cen Hong ground his teeth, his face reddening from frustration before finally asking, “What are the terms for a private settlement?”

“You previously demanded ten thousand taels of silver from Miss Qiao as a private settlement. Now, you just need to compensate her the same amount,” Yang Ye nonchalantly responded, swinging the fan in his hand.

Cen Hong took a deep breath, gritting through his teeth the word, “Fine.”

The reason he had asked Xiaomai for ten thousand taels was because he was trying to seize Qiao Xiaomai’s assets— to cause her financial ruin.

Once she had run out of money, she might have considered laying her hands on the hidden treasure.

Indeed, he and Yang Wang hadn’t given up on that treasure.

The suspiciously wobbly brick in the basement ceiling must have implicated Xiaomai.

The disappearance of the treasure, Xiaomai had definitely taken part in.

Should Xiaomai run out of money, she might have resorted to using the treasure.

But who could have imagined that Yang Ye would use the “Daqi Law” to smash his plan to smithereens?

His original plan was to bankrupt Qiao Xiaomai.

Now, he himself had to shell out ten thousand taels of silver.

Ten thousand taels!

Even though he was once a grand marshal, it still pained him to part with such a large sum of money.

If he didn’t hand over the ten thousand taels, the implications of a public punishment would be far more severe.

He was already reduced to a county magistrate, the lowest military rank in Daqi. If he were to be demoted further, would he be assigned to teach soldiers martial arts?

How could this be!

Just a few months ago, he was the grand marshal in control of the country’s troops!

“What’s the matter? Can’t even afford ten thousand taels?” Yang Ye raised an eyebrow. “Then just let it be handled officially.”

As he spoke, he tucked away the fan, stood up with his hands behind his back.

“Magistrate Dai, you…” before the sentence was finished, Cen Hong interrupted him. “Your Highness! Wait!”

Yang Ye stopped in his tracks, his gaze drifting sidelong at Cen Hong. His handsome visage was tinged with impatience.

“I’ll pay.” Cen Hong’s face turned an uncertain shade of red, squeezing these words out between clenched teeth.

“Then bring it quickly.” Yang Ye extended his hand in suggestion.

“I’ll fetch it when I return home.”

“Well then, I’ll wait here for you,” Yang Ye resettled on his seat, “And remember, you have the time it takes to burn an incense stick. I will not wait a moment longer.”

With Cen Hong’s skills, it would be easy.

Cen Hong heaved a heavy sigh and headed home for the silver note using his skills.

Since moving to Huai’an County, he had brought along his dependents and purchased a property nearby in the County Town. It was not far.

A quarter of an hour later, Yang Ye left the County Government Office with a gleeful Qiao Xiaomai.

Once they had boarded the returning carriage, he held a hundred silver notes in hand. Counting out fifty of them, he handed them to Qiao Xiaomai. “Here, let’s both profit from this little fortune.”

Qiao Xiaomai shook her head, “Your Highness can keep it. I don’t want it.”

“Eh, we can all profit from this little fortune, thanks to you. You played an important role, take it,” Yang Ye insisted, placing the fifty silver notes on Xiaomai’s lap.