"How could giving you money, Fifth Sister, possibly be a bad thing?"
Yun Chuhuan chuckled mischievously, waggling his brows like a scheming fox.
"Fifth Sister, it's money! Are you truly not tempted?"
Yun Shu said nothing.
Truth be told, she was no longer short on silver. Still, when someone came knocking with coin in hand, she certainly would not turn them away. Money never offended anyone.
What intrigued her more was how Yun Chuhuan, who just days ago had been clutching even a single tael of silver like his life depended on it, suddenly had the gall to offer her money.
"It's actually my maternal grandfather."
Yun Chuhuan, who had been smug just a moment before, wilted a little under Yun Shu's half-smiling gaze. He rubbed his nose guiltily and mumbled,
"My grandfather heard I would be attending the auction. He told me to make sure I win one of the 'Divine Carriages' no matter what. His reasoning was that, since I'm a prince and on good terms with you, Fifth Sister, the others wouldn't dare bid against me if I stepped forward."
As he spoke, Yun Chuhuan sneaked a glance at Yun Shu. Seeing her eyes narrow ever so slightly, he immediately slapped his thigh and raised his voice.
"But I thought to myself, how could I possibly take advantage of my relationship with you, Fifth Sister, just to snatch a deal?"
Yun Shu arched a brow. "So?"
"So," Yun Chuhuan continued, grinning slyly, "I thought during the auction, maybe we could keep my identity under wraps. When it comes time to bid, I'll intentionally raise the price. Once the bidding ends, my grandfather won't be able to refuse payment, now will he?"
He paused dramatically, then leaned in with a conspiratorial look, brows waggling again.
"And the extra money above the actual price…"
He looked utterly self-righteous.
"Fifth Sister, this way my grandfather will realize that you're no ordinary young lady. You are the Crown Princess! Anyone who dares scheme against you must pay a price!"
Yun Shu was silent for a moment.
"Truly, with someone like you by his side, Marquis Liu is a man of great fortune."
She slowly raised a hand, holding up two fingers.
"Eighty-twenty split."
Yun Chuhuan blinked. "So I get…"
"You, of course, get the twenty."
Yun Shu's voice was calm but firm. "Was this not the price your grandfather is paying for trying to take advantage of the Crown Princess?"
"But…"
Yun Chuhuan choked on his words. He had not expected her to turn his own argument against him so cleanly.
"But without my cooperation, you wouldn't get anything either, Fifth Sister! Shouldn't it at least be fifty-fifty?"
"Suit yourself." Yun Shu remained utterly unfazed. "I don't actually need the money."
Yun Chuhuan practically exploded.
She might not need it, but he was desperate! After barely paying off his massive debts recently, the little savings he had scraped together had all been spent preparing Imperial Father's birthday tribute.
He had assumed the imperial rewards afterward would allow him to recoup his costs. And in a sense, they did… just not in the way he had hoped.
Imperial Father, with what he called benevolence and foresight, had arranged for a highly esteemed teacher to replace Master Ye. Not only had this tutor been incredibly difficult to invite, but Imperial Father even claimed this new arrangement was a privilege not even Yun Shu herself enjoyed.
But Yun Chuhuan knew the truth.
Imperial Father merely believed it wasteful for Master Ye to remain tethered to just one student, when he could be working in the Ministry of Works alongside talents like Zheng Qiaozhang and Jiang Yuanbao.
The new tutor was likely better suited for long-term instruction anyway. A fair adjustment, perhaps. But did Yun Chuhuan care about fairness?
No. What he cared about was that, after that so-called reward, the rest of the small gifts given afterward were hardly worth mentioning.
What he needed now was not a scholar.
He needed silver.
Urgently.
Clutching Yun Shu's sleeve with pitiful eyes, he pleaded, "Fifth Sister, see, I call you Fifth Sister, don't I? Shouldn't we split it fifty-fifty?"
Yun Shu gave him a long, expressionless look.
Did he even hear what nonsense was coming out of his own mouth?
She rolled her eyes. "Eighty-twenty."
"Sixty-forty?"
Yun Chuhuan took a step back in negotiation.
Yun Shu remained unmoved. "Seventy-thirty."
"Deal!"
Yun Chuhuan agreed in a flash, afraid Yun Shu would change her mind if he hesitated for even a second.
Beaming triumphantly, he tossed his head like a rooster who had just won a fight.
"It's settled then! Seventy-thirty. I get thirty, you get seventy!"
"Mm."
Yun Shu's lips curled in a faint smile.
As expected, what Mr. Zhou once said held true in any world.
People always sought compromise, always tried to meet in the middle.
Say a room is too dark, and they will balk at the idea of opening a skylight.
But if you suggest tearing off the entire roof, then suddenly a skylight sounds perfectly reasonable.
—
Having reached an agreement with Yun Chuhuan, Yun Shu made her way early to the Tian Waitian Restaurant to arrange matters before the auction began.
The moment she arrived, she issued new instructions.
Thus, by the time the leaders of the various Merchants' Associations and wealthy businessmen arrived — those who happened to be in the capital during this time — they were each handed a mask and a large cloak, borrowed in haste from Xianting.
"Why all this secrecy?" one merchant grumbled. "It's just an auction, not some shady back alley deal. Why the disguises?"
Many of today's attendees were accustomed to showing off their wealth and status. They had come precisely to flaunt their financial might. If they succeeded in securing one of the Divine Carriages, it would speak for itself.
Even if they failed to win the bid, perhaps a display of their resources might catch the eye of a noble patron. That alone could open doors to major business opportunities in the future.
They had already envisioned the outcomes before arriving.
But now they were being asked to hide their identities?
A few began to complain.
"Can we not simply decline to wear them?"
"Apologies," the servant in charge replied smoothly, clearly well-rehearsed. "These are the Crown Princess's orders. All guests must wear them.
She said this measure is to ensure that no person of lofty status can use their identity to intimidate others into silence. Until the auction ends, no one is to reveal who they are."
"…So that's the reason. Her Highness is indeed meticulous in her thinking. It was foolish of me to judge too soon."
The complaining merchant instantly quieted down.
It had not occurred to him earlier, but this was the capital — where even a falling roof tile might strike a nobleman or high official.
With only two Divine Carriages up for bidding, if someone truly powerful took an interest and announced their title, what common merchant would dare bid against them?
This mask and cloak… yes, they were absolutely necessary.
He could always find a way to reveal himself once the bidding ended.
Better to win first.
===
The quote in this chapter is a paraphrased version of a well-known idea attributed to Zhou Enlai (周恩来), the first Premier of the People's Republic of China. While there's no confirmed record of him saying this exact wording, the core concept reflects a classic negotiation tactic or political strategy often discussed in political science and behavioral psychology. It also echoes Overton Window theory and elements of anchoring bias in negotiation.
"Say a room is too dark, and they will balk at the idea of opening a skylight. But if you suggest tearing off the entire roof, then suddenly a skylight sounds perfectly reasonable."
This metaphor illustrates how public opinion or individual resistance can be manipulated by presenting an extreme option first. Once people reject that extreme, a more moderate suggestion (which may have initially seemed unacceptable) now feels reasonable by comparison.
This is closely related to:
Anchoring bias: In negotiation, the first number or suggestion (the "anchor") sets the tone for what follows.
Overton Window: A political theory that describes how the range of ideas the public is willing to consider can be shifted deliberately.
Foot-in-the-door technique: A strategy where one starts with a larger or more dramatic request so the actual desired outcome feels less extreme.
You'll sometimes see Western versions like:
"Ask for the moon, settle for the stars."
"Start high so your real demand seems like a concession."