After the matter was resolved and Lord Tian returned to the capital, he had to figure out how to explain the situation to the Emperor and smooth over any lingering hostility.
Thus, Lord Tian endured the financial strain and paid the substantial ransom. Fortunately, he was wealthy. When the Fourth Prince seized the capital, many of the ministers who had supported the Crown Prince and other rivals had their assets confiscated. Those who had surrendered voluntarily also contributed considerable wealth.
As a member of the Emperor's family, Lord Tian had accumulated a significant fortune.
He ultimately paid Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan two million taels of silver, with one million coming from his own pocket, to secure Tian Shanshan's release.
Shao Yunduan did not bother with any formalities. He simply released them from prison and handed them over to Lord Tian.
The inn where the exchange took place quickly became unpleasantly crowded and filled with a foul odor.
