RPAGF Chapter 607 The Money Scammed
Chapter 607 The Money Scammed
"But we are classmates, students who have studied hard together at the Sage Academy. Shouldn't our hearts be united as one?"
She surveyed the room, her voice incredibly infectious: "I'd like to launch a 'gift crowdfunding' campaign. Everyone can contribute voluntarily, no matter how much. The three of us will be responsible for purchasing an earth-shattering gift to present to His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"The names of all the contributors will be written in a list and presented along with the congratulatory gifts, to be opened by His Highness the Crown Prince!"
Qian Zhenyun listened in stunned silence. He quietly tugged at Lin Jiayou's sleeve, sweating profusely with anxiety.
"Isn't this just fundraising? Why should anyone believe us?"
Before Lin Jiayou could answer, someone in the hall had already raised the same question: "Miss Gu, why should we hand over the money to you?"
Gu Qingchen was waiting for these words.
She smiled confidently, pointed to Lin Jiayou beside her with one hand, and patted her chest with the other.
"He is the son of a princess, and I am the legitimate daughter of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion! The two of us joining forces is what makes us trustworthy!"
Lin Jiayou instantly understood her plan.
This girl is using their identities, and even the prestige of the Prince Yong's Mansion and the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion, to vouch for her wildly imaginative idea.
She's painting a rosy picture, a rosy picture that everyone wants a bite of.
Before Gu Qingchen could finish speaking, she took two steps forward, lowering her voice slightly, but still making sure everyone could hear her clearly.
"This gift is more than just a gift. It is an opportunity for all the students of our academy to show their loyalty to His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"This is an opportunity for His Highness, and even His Majesty, to see the unity of our academy's students!"
She was an excellent orator, and she managed to portray an ordinary fundraising campaign for gifts as a shortcut that could "reach the ears of the emperor."
The crowd immediately stirred, and many students from wealthy families who had no way to befriend the royal family had their eyes burning with desire.
Seeing that the time was right, Gu Qingchen threw out the final, and most deadly, bait.
“I know what everyone thinks. Therefore, I will still try to ‘approach’ His Highness the Crown Prince…”
She emphasized the word "strive".
"Let's see if we can get a few spots for our classmates who contributed the most to this crowdfunding campaign to attend the ceremony!"
"And His Highness the Crown Prince will also return the favor!"
With a loud "boom," the schoolroom erupted into chaos.
Entering the palace to observe the ceremony! And the Crown Prince's return gift!
For these sons of officials and merchants, this was not just an honor, but also a stepping stone to a higher social class!
“Miss Gu! I’ll offer ten taels!” A chubby merchant’s son was the first to stand up, excitedly taking off his money pouch.
“I’ll offer fifteen taels!” another young man dressed in brocade retorted.
"I didn't bring enough today, I'll write an IOU! I'll go home and get thirty taels!"
Looking at this almost insane scene before him, Lin Jiayou felt both amused and impressed.
Gu Qingchen isn't just making empty promises; she's drawing a ladder to heaven that no one can refuse.
"Everyone, please calm down." Lin Jiayou's clear voice quieted everyone down a bit. "This matter needs a plan."
"Gun Gun, go get paper and pen. We will write down the name of each classmate and the amount of money they contributed, making sure there is no mistake."
"Oh, okay, okay!" Qian Zhenyun snapped out of his daze and hurriedly began to prepare.
In no time, Gu Qingchen and Lin Jiayou's desks were surrounded by a crowd.
Silver and IOUs were handed over like snowflakes, and Qian Zhenyun hurriedly registered them, his face flushed with excitement.
Gu Qingchen stood in the center of the crowd, looking at the bustling scene before him, a bright and sly smile on his lips.
The Crown Prince's congratulatory gift has been prepared.
She now has the capital to start a business.
A small mountain of silver has already piled up on Gu Qingchen's desk.
Qian Zhenyun looked at the piles of silver and the densely written IOUs, his palms sweating with nervousness.
He quietly tugged at Gu Qingchen's sleeve, his voice trembling slightly: "Sister, this, this is too much. What if... what if we mess this up?"
"What do you mean by 'messing it up'?" Gu Qingchen looked at the "victory" before him, raised his chin triumphantly, and waved his hand with an air of magnanimity, "Gun Gun, don't worry, I'll take care of this!"
Lin Jiayou checked the name and amount on the last IOU carefully before looking up, his expression calmer than the other two.
"The money is a small matter." He looked at Gu Qingchen, his gaze carrying a hint of scrutiny.
"The real issue is the quota you promised others for attending the ceremony at the palace. Do you really have a way to do that?"
Given Gu Qingchen's mother Chu Ruohan's attitude towards the palace, let alone getting a spot for someone else, even Gu Qingchen himself was confined to his quarters.
Gu Qingchen's smile froze for a moment, then he regained his confident demeanor.
She cleared her throat, her eyes darting around for a moment: "There's always a way. Things will work themselves out!"
That sounds like he's guilty.
The three of them hid in a secluded pavilion on the back hill of the academy, counting their "income" for the day.
"A total of 236 taels of silver, plus eight IOUs, totaling 350 taels."
Lin Jiayou wrote down the last amount, put down his pen, and looked at Gu Qingchen.
"Now, it's time to tell you your plan. With so much silver, how do you intend to use it?"
“Of course we’ll split into two groups!” Gu Qingchen’s eyes gleamed with shrewdness. “One hundred taels is enough for us to buy congratulatory gifts.”
"The remaining silver is our capital for doing business!"
Qian Zhenyun asked in a low voice, "Then, what about the quota for entering the palace to watch the ceremony?"
This was what he was most worried about. If they broke their promise, the three of them would become the public enemy of the entire academy.
"Well," Gu Qingchen looked at Lin Jiayou with a fawning smile, "it's all up to you now."
Lin Jiayou raised an eyebrow: "Me?"
“That’s right,” Gu Qingchen said matter-of-factly. “Didn’t you save the Crown Prince? Go to him and tell him that this is the heartfelt sentiment of all the students of our academy. If he’s happy, he might just agree.”
"Besides, my mother won't let me go, but you two can go, right? You can go and beg him in person. His Highness the Crown Prince is so easy to talk to, he'll definitely agree!"
She thought of things in an extremely simple way.
Lin Jiayou was utterly helpless. Was he saving the Crown Prince? Wasn't he trying to help her?
Is it possible to make such a direct comparison?
"What do you take the Crown Prince's Palace for? It's not a place where you can just plead for mercy and expect it to work. I can only try my best, but I can't guarantee anything."
"Just do your best!" Gu Qingchen immediately decided. "As long as you've done your best, even if it doesn't work out in the end, we'll have an explanation."
"At worst, we'll just return the extra money we collected!"
She was making her own plans.
If she can stall until after the Crown Prince's birthday, her jewelry business might already be up and running.
Even if she wants a refund, she'll be able to come up with the money.
Looking at her sly expression, Lin Jiayou knew that this girl didn't take the "refund" seriously at all.
"Then where should we put this silver?" Qian Zhenyun held the heavy money bag, feeling like he was holding a hot potato.
"Just leave it there!" Gu Qingchen and Lin Jiayou said in unison.
Qian Zhenyun's face instantly fell.
Gu Qingchen patted his shoulder and said earnestly, "Gungun, think about it. If my mother finds out that the money is with me, it will definitely be confiscated."
"It's not safe to leave it with Lin Jiayou, as there are too many people and eyes in the Yongwang Mansion."
“You’re the most suitable one!” Gu Qingchen analyzed. “Dr. Qian and Aunt Song are such nice people, they definitely won’t rummage through your things.”
"This important task is entrusted to you!"
Qian Zhenyun was on the verge of tears. Looking at the trusting eyes of his two partners, he could only nod heavily with a bitter face.
In Gu Qingchen's heart, a blazing fire was burning fiercely.
She could almost see countless novel and unique pieces of jewelry being created from her own hands, and she could see gleaming silver flowing into her pockets.
As for the thorny issue of "attendance slots," she temporarily put it out of her mind.
Right now, the most important thing is to find a skilled and reliable craftsman.