Xiangyang, Prince Wei’s Mansion, study room.

In the sweltering heat of June, the afternoon sun was scorching, and the cicadas were chirping incessantly among the dense leaves.

The courtyard houses, with their blue bricks and black tiles, were lush like bamboo. Inside the study, Chen Mo was playfully teasing Ning Wan. Ning Wan, who had grown into herself long ago and had been shaped by Chen Mo’s teaching over the years, was already attuned to Chen Mo’s form.

At this moment, Chen Mo was much more spirited than he was last night when he spent time in warmth with Xiao Ya. The beauty knew how to stir Chen Mo’s emotions and cooperated proactively.

The familiar sensation spread throughout her body, making Ning Wan’s head feel dizzy. Her rosy and delicate face was like a ripe peach, exuding a fragrance that made Chen Mo unable to resist taking a bite.

Ning Wan felt her cheeks itch and turned her head to avoid, seeking Chen Mo’s lips to kiss him actively. Due to Chen Mo’s bending too low, Ning Wan’s knee directly touched her shoulder, and her nose let out a soft murmur involuntarily.

Chen Mo slightly straightened up to better unbutton the collar of her cheongsam.

It was unclear whether it was the long separation that caused Ning Wan’s accumulated longing for Chen Mo to be too much, or due to her unique physique. As soon as the collar was unbuttoned, Ning Wan’s delicate body shivered slightly. Her longing for Chen Mo poured out like a surging river, and her hands clutching Chen Mo’s robe also helplessly fell down.

Chen Mo glanced at the beauty with a blushing face, paused slightly, and then smiled playfully, "When did you switch to cultivating the Water Technique?"

Upon hearing this, Ning Wan, already aware of her own loss of composure, had her plump, smooth cheeks turn fiery red, like the sunset at dusk. Seeing the young man’s piercing gaze, she quickly raised her hands to cover her face, her voice carrying a slight sob and sultry charm, "Husband... don’t look, it’s so embarrassing."

"Don’t worry, at most I’ll only tell Xue’Er." Chen Mo gently grasped Ning Wan’s soft hand, interlocking their fingers, and teased.

Though she knew Chen Mo was joking, her past special relationship with Liang Xue made her slightly anxious upon hearing this and she said tremblingly, "Don’t tell Xue’Er."

Chen Mo let out a light chuckle and said softly, "Then I won’t tell Xue’Er, I’ll tell An Niang instead. She has a similar situation to yours, so you two will have something in common to chat about."

Ning Wan: "???"

Isn’t that even more socially mortifying than telling Liang Xue.

Ning Wan glared at the youth who had a smile in his eyes, a hint of bashful annoyance appearing in her gaze, "If you say anything, then I... won’t wear Yimei Clothing Shop’s clothes for you to see anymore."

Chen Mo chuckled, his handsome face showing a playful expression, and intentionally said, "Then I’ll find Xue’Er and have her wear for me to see."

Ning Wan was taken aback at his words, then burst into a fit of anger and said furiously, "Then I’ll go find Xue’Er right now and have her not wear it for you to see. Let’s see who you’ll look at then."

Ning Wan’s voice revealed a bit of girlish sincerity, her face showed angry embarrassment, yet inside she felt a bit of playful joy from the banter.

"In this household, those willing to dress for me can’t be counted on both hands." Chen Mo laughed.

Ning Wan: "..."

Perhaps genuinely annoyed, she said, "Then find someone else to wear it, I’m not wearing it anymore."

Saying so, she tried to lower her legs from... as if planning to quit.

However, the youth quickly lifted them, laughing, "Oh, you, satisfied yourself and now want to leave, yet your husband hasn’t been fulfilled."

"Go find other sisters then."

"Alright, no more fussing, I won’t tell anyone about this," Chen Mo said, getting back to business without teasing Ning Wan anymore.

Ning Wan let out a light snort, yet felt immensely sweet and happy in her heart. A couple’s life, having playful banter and arguments is the true essence of married life.

The two were so close that even when the inkstone on the desk fell to the ground with a crisp sound, neither of them paid it any mind.

...

After a long while.

Chen Mo sat on the chair, slightly gasping for air.

Ning Wan lay on the desk, her beautiful legs hanging weakly off the edge, her collar open, revealing her fair and captivating skin. Her rosy cheeks glistened with sweat, her hair messily tangled with many strands sticking to her face, her eyes filled with watery charm. Her high heels were nowhere to be seen.

Chen Mo glanced at the scattered calligraphy pieces, particularly at the broken brush holder and inkstone, and chuckled lightly, "These are relics from the previous dynasty, worth a lot of silver, yet they were smashed just like that."

"It’s your own doing," Ning Wan said bashfully, her face redder than rouge, then said, "Relax, Ms. Mi knew your antics and had already switched out those literary treasures in your study with fakes. What broke are replicas."

Chen Mo: "..."

He grasped the small foot in front of him, as soft as bamboo shoots, and played with it closely. Ning Wan’s body trembled, instinctively shrinking her foot. Chen Mo said indulgently, "Wan’er, what do you think makes money fast?"

In the morning, Wei Linchun along with the local County Magistrate sought him to report on the district’s affairs, mainly the lack of funds, hoping for the Court to allocate money.

The funds Chen Mo provided last time merely filled the gap; Linzhou’s account still had no money.

Especially, Wei Linchun told him that just at the onset of summer this year, along the coast of Linzhou, the two counties next to the major town Xunwang Town faced flooding since the Huai River swelled, destroying dikes, flooding both counties, and demolishing many houses. Wei Linchun had mobilized all the silver available to provide disaster relief and rebuild the dikes.

Now, Linzhou was once again out of money.

"Robbery." Ning Wan blurted out subconsciously.

"Slap!" Chen Mo lightly slapped Ning Wan’s thigh and said, "I’m asking seriously. Robbery? I’m not a bandit."

"Gambling halls." Ning Wan thought for a moment and said, "Opening gambling halls can make a huge profit, nothing makes money faster than this."

Chen Mo: "..."

The Great Song Dynasty, although it doesn’t ban gambling halls, neither encourages nor supports their establishment. So gambling halls remained a grey industry, and as a dignified King Wei, opening one would be quite disgraceful.

"What besides gambling halls?" Chen Mo asked again.

Seeing that Chen Mo wasn’t just asking casually, Ning Wan’s expression turned serious, and after thinking for a while, she said, "Banks."

"Banks..."

Ning Wan’s words suddenly opened up Chen Mo’s mind. Indeed, why hadn’t he thought of this?

Banks, which Chen Mo referred to as money houses in his previous life, are highly profitable industries operating by accepting deposits and issuing loans to earn the interest spread.

Moreover, in the Great Song Dynasty, money houses also issue their own silver notes, which can be exchanged in different places, facilitating transactions for the people and increasing the money house’s income.

But how to attract the people to deposit their money into a money house?

The key lies in trust and safety. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

Especially those with an official nature give people a greater sense of reliability.

And currently, these are exactly what Chen Mo can ensure.