His Majesty is plotting a rebellion? Quickly, summon the Imperial Advisor!

The hall of the Prince's Mansion was decorated in an extremely extravagant manner. Every potted plant and every table and chair had a considerable price tag, which showed that as one of the three highest officials in the imperial court, they had extracted an astonishing amount of money on a daily basis.

Xu Bing slowly sat down, placing his left hand on the armrest, but his gaze swept across the three people. "The three gentlemen's illness is their own fault."

When the three men looked at each other, Xu Bing told them that this was no ordinary illness; it was a poison planted on them by Zhao Qingyun's master, Ziyun Xian.

This disease is not fatal, but it can cause lifelong suffering and is extremely torturous. If it is not treated in time, the symptoms will worsen and the suffering will be even greater.

After hearing this, the three officials exchanged glances, still feeling lingering fear. Their secret worries had finally been confirmed by Xu Bing's words.

"Zhou the Turtle! It's all your fault! If it weren't for your terrible idea, I wouldn't be in this situation!"

"Wang the Rat, you're shameless! Now you're blaming me? You were the first to agree!"

"Hmph, Zhou the Turtle, Brother Wang is right, you bear an inescapable responsibility for this matter."

"Li Wangba, I haven't even said anything to you yet! You opportunist, I never forced you to do this in the first place!"

The more the three officials thought about it, the angrier they became, and their pent-up resentment exploded in an instant. They even uttered the nicknames they had given each other behind each other's backs.

When it comes to one's life and fortune, no one can remain calm and composed, especially since the three high-ranking officials have been tyrannical and domineering for many years, when have they ever experienced such a miserable and humiliating situation?

Xu Bing watched quietly, waiting for the three to finish venting their anger before bringing up the next topic, "This illness, I, Xu Bing, can cure."

The fire was extinguished in an instant, and his expression changed completely, replaced by flattering words. He was utterly devoid of the imposing manner he once commanded in the court.

Xu Bingdao thought that Jiu Mi was truly amazing. Despite his serious illness, the three men were full of energy and started arguing with each other like old boys.

But that doesn't stop him from making exorbitant demands.

He was extremely busy and too lazy to engage in empty pleasantries with the three high officials. He held up one finger and said, "One hundred thousand taels."

The three officials breathed a sigh of relief; with their financial resources, they could afford 100,000 taels of silver.

But it was still a significant expense. Despite the luxurious decor of the house, most of the items were gifts from others.

“Gold,” Xu Bing added with a smile.

"What!!"

The three officials were stunned and stood up.

At the Dahe exchange rate, ten taels of silver could be exchanged for one tael of gold.

One hundred thousand taels of gold is equivalent to one million taels of silver. One illness requires one million taels of silver to treat.

Xu Bing, confident and composed, casually stroked the jade thumb ring and said, "What, is the life of the Third Duke not worth 100,000 taels of gold?"

"this…"

"But...this...also..."

The three officials were speechless. Even a thousand taels of gold would be worth it, but... for them, who only took in money and never gave it out, taking out such a huge sum of money was really difficult.

Xu Bing added, "Oh, I forgot to mention, this is the price for the first sale."

“There are three of you. You will make three moves, doubling the amount each time. That is to say, the first time will be 100,000, the second time 200,000, and the third time 400,000.”

Xu Bing toyed with the jade cup in his hand, a smile playing on his lips, his gaze sweeping over the three men—Wang Gong, Li Gong, and Zhou Gong—one by one. "So, who wants to go first?"

A cold wind blew through the main hall of the Prince's Mansion.

All three felt a chill run down their spines. They exchanged glances, and their initial thoughts of bargaining vanished instantly.

Queuing is the priority; why bother haggling?

The three officials argued amongst themselves, each vying for the lead, their battle raging fiercely and relentlessly.

Xu Bing gestured to the servants of the Prince's mansion to serve tea. While sipping the tea, he watched the three-ailed old man pluck his beard, pull his hair, and gouge his eyes, finding it rather amusing.

"This is an insult to scholarship! An insult to scholarship! I am ashamed to be associated with either of you!"

Every now and then a few insults would slip out.

Finally, the prince lost his temper and, with a wave of his hand, summoned his disciples, who then lifted up the "outnumbered and powerless" Duke Zhou and Duke Li.

He himself came seeking treatment for Xu's illness.

Xu was not in a hurry to get treatment, and only started acupuncture when he saw money. He only agreed to receive treatment after the Prince's Mansion had sent all 100,000 taels of gold to the Imperial Preceptor's residence.

Within half a quarter of an hour, the princes had gathered the gold and carried it to the Grand Preceptor's residence.

Xu Bingliang took out his silver needles and began the treatment. The treatment process took only the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. When the prince got out of bed, all the sores on his body had disappeared, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his shoulders.

Having just recovered from a serious illness, he looked radiant.

"Hahaha, Old Li, Old Zhou, you two get back to what you were doing and hurry up." The prince chased Li Gong and Zhou Gong out of the mansion.

He had a great appetite and ordered his servants to prepare delicacies, eagerly anticipating a feast.

He was extorted for 100,000 taels of gold.

But they were smug and didn't feel like they had lost out at all.

After experiencing Zhao Qingyun's beheading and falling ill, his dissatisfaction with Lord Li and Lord Zhou became quite evident.

I no longer wish to associate with the two of them.

That seemingly unbreakable triangle has ironically developed cracks and is on the verge of falling apart.

Looking at Duke Zhou and Duke Li, they each harbored their own grievances. Upon returning to their residences, they cursed the prince for being unethical and unworthy of being sons, while simultaneously ordering their servants to quickly gather enough gold to send to Xu Bing.

In the end, Duke Zhou came in second, only paying 200,000 taels of gold. Duke Li was a step behind; when the 200,000 taels were delivered to the Grand Preceptor's residence, he was told that he was a step behind Duke Zhou and needed to pay another 200,000 taels of gold.

Li Gong's pupils were about to burst. He smashed pots and pans, and the expensive jade artifacts, exquisite potted orchids, and beautiful concubines were all smashed and disposed of by him.

He hated the Duke of Zhou, the culprit, the most, and the princes, who seized the opportunity and gained a great advantage.

As for Xu Bing's role in this matter, he inadvertently overlooked it.

Compared to the two men, Xu Bing was actually grateful to him for saving his life in the end.

A day has passed.

The matter has been resolved.

"Young Master Xu, your methods are quite sophisticated," Yu'e commented after witnessing the entire event.

"It's just a way to shift the blame, nothing serious." Xu Bingming told Cong Jiading to move all the gold he had acquired that day to the backyard.

A total of 600,000 taels of gold.

Converted to silver, that's six million taels of silver.

These funds, once in Xu Bing's hands, were far more useful than those that were hoarded in the hands of the Three Dukes who only took in money and never gave it up!

Xu Bing's magnificent empire is gradually rising.