Chapter 327: A Few Words and He’s in the Game
Seeing that Ye Lu didn’t have the slightest air of arrogance, Yu Luo was relieved.
“In that case, let me point you toward a profitable path. Would Your Highness be interested?”
“Interested! Absolutely interested! I am all ears!”
At this point, he was desperate for money. Borrowing funds just to get by was already a looming reality—how could he not be interested in a money-making opportunity?
As soon as Yu Luo finished speaking, Ye Lu nodded so fervently that he looked like a woodpecker pecking at a tree.
Seeing him this eager, Yu Luo didn’t hold back and got straight to the point.
“What?! A bank?! Yu Luo, are you helping me make money or lose money? Without substantial wealth, who could possibly afford to open a bank?!”
Yu Luo’s idea was to open a bank, but not in the traditional ancient way where depositors even had to pay a storage fee. Instead, she planned to run it like a modern bank, generating profit through lending.
She could have started this on her own, but she specifically chose to bring in Ye Lu because of his status as a Dong Feng royal prince.
Ideally, if conditions allowed, she would have wanted to rope in all four nations’ royal families. That way, even if trouble arose, the four royal houses wouldn’t stand by and let Luo City be destroyed. Instead, they would become its protectors.
Plus, if she had royal backing, the four nations’ governments would turn a blind eye to Luo City’s existence, avoiding direct suppression.
Unfortunately, for now, she had only managed to secure Ye Lu.
But since this was a mutually beneficial partnership, and since she had overheard Ye Lu’s financial troubles back in Yueyang City, she decided to dangle this enticing olive branch in front of him.
“Your Highness, no need to be so surprised. I like to be upfront. I chose to work with you because you are a Dong prince. If Your Highness can also bring in members of the Bei Kingdom, Lan Yue Dynasty, and Xi Mo Empire, then this bank won’t just operate in Luo City—we can expand it across all four nations. So tell me, Your Highness—do you still think I only approached you because I need you to invest some silver?”
Ye Lu wasn’t a fool. With everything laid out so clearly, how could he not understand her intentions?
His initial shock faded, and he leaned back into his chair. When he looked at Yu Luo again, his eyes carried nothing but admiration.
“Fine. I’m in. I don’t have connections in the Lanyue Dynasty, but in the Bei Kingdom, there’s a prince I grew up with. I’ll send a message and have him come here personally.”
Ah Zan, standing to the side, couldn’t stay calm anymore.
This woman had just a few conversations with his master and completely pulled him into the game.
And now, they were even dragging in a Bei Kingdom prince?!
“Your Highness, we are already short on funds. That batch of goods—”
Ah Zan almost blurted out the fact that they had to sell off their own assets just to pay for the goods.
But before he could finish, Yu Luo raised a hand and cut him off.
She wasn’t about to embarrass Ye Lu like that.
She understood him too well—a man like him, who cared about appearances, would rather die than have others know he was short on silver.
“Ah Zan, you don’t need to worry about your master’s finances. I already said money isn’t the issue. What I value is his identity. The bank needs to open as soon as possible—by the time the martial arts tournament begins, there will be a huge crowd coming in.
We can use the bank to set up gambling tables or offer loans—both are profitable businesses. And right now, Luo City has taken in many refugees. While I don’t intend to profit from them, we can offer them interest-free loans to help them get back on their feet.
If we do that, they will forever be grateful to the bank. So this matter can’t wait. For now, I will invest the initial capital into the bank, and Your Highness can simply sign an IOU for his share. Once you settle your finances, you can repay me later.”
Ah Zan: …
She literally just gifted them an entire financial empire without asking for a single tael from them.
What else could he say?
Ye Lu laughed.
“Yu Luo, you really have courage. We’ve only met a handful of times, yet you trust me enough to give me a share of your business. I will never forget this kindness. From now on, if you ever need me, just say the word. I would gladly risk my life for you.”
Ah Zan: …
His master was already willing to die for her, even if she didn’t give him money.
At this point, he didn’t even bother to expose how ridiculous this was.
Just like that, over the course of one meal, Yu Luo and Ye Lu went from casual acquaintances to business partners.
After leaving the restaurant, Yu Luo personally escorted Ye Lu to choose a location for the bank.
Once the site was finalized, she took him back to the City Lord’s Mansion, where they drafted and signed the bank partnership agreement and investment breakdown.
By the time the martial arts tournament began, the bank would be ready for its grand opening.
After finalizing everything, Ye Lu rented five more storefronts.
Before he could even mention paying later, Yu Luo preemptively told him to just write an IOU and settle the amount when his goods were sold.
When everything was wrapped up, Yu Luo immediately rushed off to meet with the mystery buyer who wanted to purchase 20 shops.
Watching her walk away, Ye Lu clutched the stack of agreements in his hands and felt his lips twitching.
“Ah Zan, do you think… Yu Luo knows that I’m broke? I was just about to ask for a few extra days to pay rent, but before I could even open my mouth, she found an excuse to delay the payment herself. It’s like… she already knows I have no money!”
Ye Lu was torn between relief and humiliation.
On one hand, he didn’t have to say it aloud.
On the other, it was absolutely mortifying that Yu Luo already knew.
Ah Zan: …
At this point, he didn’t even want to comment on his master’s self-inflicted humiliation.
Meanwhile, at Fenglai Restaurant, a man sat in a private dining room.
When Yu Luo arrived, his personal guard, Xuanqi, greeted her with a respectful bow and led her inside.
Seeing the man again, Yu Luo couldn’t help but feel the pressure of his imposing presence.
But she quickly composed herself, sat directly beside him, and placed the commercial property map in front of him.
