Ning Chen looked at Tantai Qingyue. Your Xiliang robbed the Great Xuan's Xiguan City of its grain, and you still want me to pay you back double? Like hell I will.

"Little Tanzi, if we work together, we both win... If Xiliang doesn't send troops, then the way things are in the Great Xuan right now, who knows what year I'll ever be able to pay back the grain I owe you?"

Tantai Qingyue said, "You said you would pay it back before the New Year."

Ning Chen shrugged. "I'd love to pay it back right now, but I just don't have it... You've seen what shape the Great Xuan's in. I'm dirt-poor down to my bare balls. How about I pay off my debt with my body instead?"

Tantai Qingyue scoffed and didn't dignify that with a reply!

Ning Chen grinned wickedly. "I'm actually in pretty good shape, and I'm good at the work... Try me if you don't believe it. If you're not satisfied, you can return me anytime."

The corner of Tantai Qingyue's mouth twitched hard. "The beads are practically bouncing off your abacus and into my face.

A joint attack on Bianzhou is not my decision to make. The Xiliang royal house must decide."

Ning Chen nodded slightly. "Fine. Then I'm up and waiting for your coming."

Tantai Qingyue said, "Is that all? If so, I am leaving."

"There's more... The night is long, a lonely pillow and no sleep in it. You can't sleep alone either, can you? Why don't we..."

Tantai Qingyue shot him a vicious glare, turned and walked out.

Ning Chen looked innocent. "I was going to say, if you can't sleep, why don't we have a couple of drinks? What are you glaring at me for?"

Tantai Qingyue didn't even turn her head. "If you really need a woman, go to the courtesans' quarter. I can give you the silver."

Ning Chen said sourly, "Thanks a lot. Thank your whole family for me. You're so generous... But with you around, I hardly need to waste silver."

Tantai Qingyue ignored him, opened…