Chapter 786: Party A Representative

He Chunhua interjected, "Is Mount Rong Sect sending you back to renegotiate the loan terms?"

It would be quite improper if this young man were to return representing his sect to negotiate with his own nation.

"No negotiations, no negotiations!" He Lingchuan waved his hand. "Sect Master Xue said that the terms offered by Great Kite are quite good, and Mount Rong doesn't intend to increase the price. However, the existing terms must be fulfilled. That is to say, Sect Master Xue sent me back to inspect the terms offered by the Kite court and to supervise the allocation of funds. Only if everything proceeds according to the agreed terms, with integrity and no deception, will the money be disbursed."

He Chunhua and He Yue exchanged glances, both looking surprised.

Those few short sentences revealed increasingly profound and unbelievable implications.

Madam Ying voiced their thoughts, "You scoundrel, do you wield such great power now?"

He Lingchuan said triumphantly, "In short, if I don't give my approval, this loan won't go through!"

He was the client's representative, after all. The one controlling the purse strings calls the shots!

Madam Ying playfully scolded, "Such a boastful tone! Be careful someone doesn't kidnap you and steal your token to withdraw the money."

"To withdraw the money, there are still several procedures to follow. What good is a token if I'm not there myself?" He Lingchuan laughed heartily. "Besides, these seven million taels won't all be given at once. I can approve at most a little over three million taels now. Only after the people I brought complete the collateral accounts and I take them back for Sect Master Xue's review will the remaining three million-plus taels be deposited into the Kite court's treasury."

In other words, the money would be disbursed in at least two installments. If he didn't agree, the Kite court wouldn't receive the full seven million taels.

While He Lingchuan spoke as if carried away by his triumph, his peripheral vision constantly monitored He Chunhua's reaction.

He spoke with intent, but was his father listening with a purpose too?

He saw his father listening with exceptional seriousness, but there was nothing unusual about his expression.

"Chuan'er, how do you plan to handle this?" He Chunhua asked him. "Will you conduct an impartial inspection, or will you prioritize Kite's interests?"

He Lingchuan countered, "What's your opinion, Father?"

"You received this task because Sect Master Xue trusts you deeply. If you don't conduct a thorough inspection, it will be detrimental to your future."

He Lingchuan said gravely, "Your son understands."

Since they were speaking privately as a family, He Chunhua naturally had to consider his eldest son's interests.

"Furthermore, if you hastily approve the funds, it might appear as if you are wholeheartedly supporting Great Kite. However, if Mount Rong later discovers discrepancies during their audit, bilateral relations will certainly be affected. Kite Nation would lose an ally and gain a resentful neighbor, which would be a net loss." He Chunhua said softly, "My son, bilateral interactions are best conducted with integrity and mutual benefit."

There was no fault in his words, and He Lingchuan nodded, "That's also how I've been planning."

He Chunhua gazed at him deeply. In the past, his eldest son would simply respond, "Your son understands, I'll go and do it," instead of implying a shared perspective.

He Lingchuan then added, "But the royal court officials will soon know that the Mount Rong special envoy is your son. What if the Emperor pressures you?"

Madam Ying complained, "You should have considered this before accepting the special envoy mission."

The Kite Emperor was already quite displeased with He Chunhua's delay in the southern campaign. If He Chunhua's son further obstructed these emergency funds, would he erupt in fury?

He Chunhua, however, waved his hand. "Had Chuan'er not interceded, Mount Rong Sect would have had no intention of lending money at all. In this matter, he is meritorious, not at fault, and His Majesty absolutely cannot blame him. Madam, you must understand that Mount Rong Sect is not benevolent; our nation must pay a corresponding price to obtain this money. This price—"

He paused. "If Chuan'er hadn't verified everything properly for them, their loss wouldn't be just a few million taels, but closer to thirty million taels!"

Madam Ying was startled and instinctively pressed her hand to her chest. "How could it be thirty million taels?!"

He Lingchuan smiled without speaking.

In fact, in the eyes of a superior like Sect Master Xue, given that Fang Canran's evaluation of He Lingchuan was to "win him over at all costs," then thirty million taels was a small price to pay for his favor.

Between thirty million taels and He Lingchuan, Sect Master Xue unhesitatingly chose the latter.

In other words, in the view of Mount Rong Sect and Mount Ling, He Lingchuan's value far exceeded thirty million taels.

He Yue explained, "Our nation has borrowed money from Mount Rong Sect multiple times before, amounting to nearly twenty million taels in previous loans. The collateral required by Mount Rong Sect must be worth at least twenty-seven million taels."

"Precisely!" He Lingchuan nodded. "I brought two people from Mount Rong Sect, both skilled in actuarial science. However, we're still short-staffed, and I'm sure Father knows some talented individuals in this area."

He Chunhua immediately nodded, "I'll find people for you. Leave it to me."

He Lingchuan sighed in relief, "Father is still the most reliable!"

"When we moved to Shihuan, your courtyard was kept, at the easternmost end, and we just furnished it yesterday. You must be tired from your long journey, so go settle in first." Madam Ying smiled, "Oh, didn't you also bring back some fellow disciples? We have plenty of guest rooms, so please invite them to stay here too."

"Mother is always the most thoughtful." He Lingchuan stood up and stretched. "I'm full and satisfied; I'll go now!"

He Yue also stood up. "I need to go to the Grand Minister of Agriculture."

The two brothers greeted their parents and walked out together.

He Lingchuan could feel his father's gaze fixed on him until he turned the corner.

Once out of their parents' sight, both He Lingchuan and He Yue dropped their smiles.

Only after leaving the small garden outside the dining hall did He Yue say to his elder brother, "Brother, you're finally back! I still feel like I'm dreaming!"

His brother's miraculous return felt too sudden to be real, even after dinner.

He Lingchuan patted his shoulder. "You've worked hard these past six months or so, comforting Father and Mother and staying by their side."

He Yue also sighed deeply, "When we received the grim news about you, Mother cried for days, but Father always firmly believed you weren't dead!"

He Lingchuan's eyes flickered slightly. "Father believed that?"

"Yes, he never gave a reason, and no one could persuade him otherwise. He stuck to his conviction for over six months, and we had no idea where he got such confidence," He Yue said, shaking his head with a self-deprecating smile. "Now it seems Father was right all along."

He Lingchuan softly exhaled, "Yes, it seems there's a destiny at play!"

He Yue naturally didn't grasp the deeper meaning in his words; he simply felt the bright sky and a wonderfully light heart.

He Lingchuan then inquired about the current situation in Kite Nation.

Even if the elders of Mount Rong Sect had heard rumors, they wouldn't understand the situation as clearly as He Yue did.

He Yue briefly explained, then whispered, "I think Father doesn't want to go south to suppress the rebellion right now."

After half a year apart, his elder brother seemed like a different person. Although his speech and demeanor appeared unchanged from before, that was merely on the surface; the carefree confidence emanating from his very being could no longer be concealed.

No, in fact, some of it had already emerged last year, but it wasn't as pronounced as it was now.

Was it his personal experience of war, or the constant upheaval of the past year, that had led to his rapid growth?