The heavy stone pressing on Li Zhiyue’s heart finally settled back into her belly.

She instructed Xiao Ling’er to take the four new leading actresses away, while she herself went to the private room to meet the silk merchants.

In just this short time, six fabric merchants had already arrived — all familiar old acquaintances — now sitting in the private room, staring at each other wide-eyed.

Right now, they all had only one thought: regret!

They regretted having sold all their silk to the Marquis of Xiangyang’s estate, regretted selling it all off at such a low price!

“You’re the calm one, Old Qian,” one young shopkeeper chuckled. “You were the last one to sell silk to the Marquis of Xiangyang, and I heard you got as high as 700 copper coins per bolt of low-grade raw silk — made quite a profit. What are you doing here?”

Shopkeeper Qian snorted, “From the moment the silk ship ran into trouble till now, it’s only been four hours. Do you realize the price of low-grade raw silk now? It’s already one tael of silver! I’ve lived all these years and never seen such high prices for low-grade raw silk!”

Everyone in the room felt their breath catch.

They had never seen such high prices either.

In just four hours — barely half a day — the price had doubled. Wait a few more days, and it would double again, then triple, quadruple! Prices would keep rising, at least until next spring!

If they could buy from Miss Li now at one tael of silver, they could immediately resell it for two taels, or even more. It was a sure-win, no-loss deal!

As they were talking, they heard the sound of a woman’s footsteps. Everyone hurriedly fell silent.

Mo Yu lifted the beaded curtain, and Li Zhiyue stepped inside with a smile. “What brings all you shopkeepers to the opera house together? Here to watch a show or drink tea?”

The shopkeepers quickly stood up and cupped their hands in greeting. “Greetings, Miss Li.”

Shopkeeper Qian spoke first, “I’m sure Miss Li has heard the news about the silk ship incident. Right now, most of the capital’s silk is in your hands. I’m willing to buy at a high price — one tael for low-grade silk, three taels for mid-grade, five taels for high-grade!”

Li Zhiyue’s brows lifted slightly.

She hadn’t expected prices to rise so fast in just half a day.

In the original story, silk prices didn’t rise this quickly, probably because no one had monopolized the market by buying it all up. Prices would usually climb slowly over three to five days.

But now, she held not just all the silk in the capital, but also a portion from Jizhou and Yuzhou — of course the fabric merchants were panicking.

She put on a troubled look. “You all should know, I bought so much silk to prepare my dowry. The silk’s ready, the embroiderers are lined up — if I sell it to you, what will happen to my dowry?”

Marriage was the most important event in a woman’s life. Taking away a woman’s dowry? That was truly indecent.

Shopkeeper Qian asked carefully, “May I ask, Miss Li, when is your wedding date set for?”

Li Zhiyue took a sip of tea. “Not set yet.”

Everyone: “……”

Normally, you could start preparing parts of the dowry early, but silk and fabrics were usually purchased after the engagement was set.

If the marriage wasn’t even arranged yet, why was she in such a hurry to buy silk and prepare embroidery?

Shopkeeper Qian chuckled, “From courtship to setting a date, to engagement, and finally to the wedding, that’s at least a year’s time. By next summer, the new silk will have arrived. At that time, all the embroiderers from my Qian’s Cloth Shop will be at Miss Li’s service — plenty of time to finish the work. Please, Miss Li, let us buy some.”

The other shopkeepers quickly chimed in.

“Miss Li, my Gao’s Cloth Shop also wants to purchase a batch. We’re willing to lend you our embroiderers as well.”

“Miss Li, Zhou’s Cloth Shop…”

Li Zhiyue sighed, “It’s not that I’m stingy, but for big families like ours, a woman’s dowry represents face and reputation. The Marquis of Xiangyang’s household has always cared about appearances — how can we leave room for gossip? Please, all of you, go back.”

Shopkeeper Qian clenched his teeth. “Miss Li, the price is negotiable. What if we add another half string of coins?”

Li Zhiyue smiled faintly.

The original price of low-grade raw silk was 500 copper coins. When she was buying it up in bulk, Shopkeeper Qian had deliberately raised the price, selling it to her at 700 coins.

Now he was offering only one tael and five coins — just doubling the price. After all her effort, was it worth it to only make double?

With a calm expression, she said, “It’s not a matter of price. Mo Yu, see the guests out.”

Shopkeeper Qian understood — indeed, it wasn’t about the price.

The Marquis of Xiangyang’s household wasn’t short on money. Why would they sell off the dowry just for a bit of silver?

But his teacher had once told him: in this world, there’s no problem that money can’t solve.

“Three taels! For low-grade silk, I’m willing to pay three taels. Mid-grade, five taels. High-grade, eight taels.” Shopkeeper Qian spoke with great determination. “That’s the highest I can offer.”

That was already three times the current market price — he truly couldn’t go any higher.

Li Zhiyue seemed to hesitate. “I can see Shopkeeper Qian’s sincerity. If I keep refusing, I’d seem unreasonable. However, all this silk was prepared by my mother. Selling it for just a bit of silver would belittle a mother’s love for her daughter. Low-grade silk: five taels per bolt. Anyone here who agrees can get immediate delivery.”

“Five taels!!”

Shopkeeper Qian’s voice trembled.

At that price, you could buy the finest Yunyansoft fabric from before.

He realized: this Miss Li had no intention of selling the silk at all!

Fine — if there’s no silk on the market, no one can profit, and that’s that!

Shopkeeper Qian cupped his hands. “Qian’s Cloth Shop can’t afford that price. Sorry to trouble you, Miss Li.”

As the leader among the shopkeepers, once he gave up, the others quickly followed suit.

Li Zhiyue wasn’t worried in the slightest, smiling as she saw them off.

It was only the first day — she had plenty of time to wait.

After arranging things at the opera house, she returned home, where her little maid told her that several madams had come to visit Bai Ruzhu and were now chatting in the flower hall.

Li Zhiyue’s eyelid twitched.

She had a feeling she knew why those madams had come.

She hurried toward the flower hall, and just as she reached the door, she heard Bai Ruzhu speaking: “…When little Yue was young, you all held her in your arms. We’re all family here, no need to stand on ceremony… Her marriage isn’t set yet, so the dowry isn’t urgent…”

“Mother!”

Li Zhiyue quickly stepped inside.

At the critical moment, she stopped Bai Ruzhu from saying any more.

“Oh my, Yue is back,” the madams teased with a laugh. “She’s grown more and more lovely. I wonder which family’s young master will have the fortune to marry our Yue.”

Li Zhiyue pretended to smile shyly and deliberately changed the subject. “Today I ran into something funny — a cloth shopkeeper actually came to buy my dowry silk! He said, since I bought so much and haven’t set a wedding date yet, why not sell it to them at a high price? For the common silks we’re wearing now, that merchant was offering eight taels!”

The faces of the madams in the room all changed.

The silks they were wearing weren’t cheap — usually two or three taels per bolt.

And now the price had gone up to eight taels?

That was truly alarming!