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  **Chapter 184: She is Willing to Owe It**

"In your heart, how many masters can I serve?" Wu Jue asked bitterly, full of resentment.

Chang Suining sighed, "At that time, I didn’t even know what that formation was for, how could I do nothing and just wait for someone else to save me?"

To her, having someone to help was luck, but saving oneself in the face of danger was the norm.

Doing nothing would be equivalent to waiting for death, and that was something she could neither do nor learn to do.

Wu Jue's heart ached. "Now I understand. You must have a thousand and one schemes, and probably 799 of them are aimed at me!"

Chang Suining smiled and said, "Not really. I probably only used one."

Seeing that Wu Jue was still upset about her earlier doubts, she became serious. "Think about it. For more than a decade, what has happened to you all, I couldn’t know or even guess. Naturally, I couldn’t trust easily... But now, as we sit here and talk, even though it’s only been a few words and I’ve seen you shed some tears, hasn’t my suspicion already been dispelled? Can’t you say that this is trust?"

Wu Jue’s expression softened upon hearing this.

Then Chang Suining added, "And right now, with my appearance being neither human nor ghost, if I’m to be blunt, I resemble a demonic creature, and the world won’t accept me. To preserve this life, I must keep this secret tightly sealed and be more cautious than before. Don’t you agree?"

Wu Jue’s previously exaggerated dissatisfaction now completely dissipated.

He couldn’t help but think of the example from the Western Regions, where someone had been resurrected by the same formation a century ago, only to be burned to death as a demon.

The Princess’s caution was justified.

After experiencing such a strange event, remaining calm and accepting everything without seeking help from others, and relying solely on herself to figure everything out—perhaps only His Highness could have done this.

For him, these ten-plus years had passed one day at a time, everything was clear and real, including his longing and hopes for His Highness... But for her, it was as if she had opened her eyes after more than ten years, with a new identity. Everything was unfamiliar and absurd. How could she not feel confused, frightened, and on guard?

His Highness had it so hard, and he hadn’t given her any understanding or comfort. Instead, he was acting childish and making her coax him... Oh, was he even human?

Feeling like he needed to slap himself for being so petty, Wu Jue said in a hushed voice, "Your Highness, you’ve had a hard time on this journey..."

The road home wasn’t easy.

And the road before getting home... had certainly been hard for His Highness too.

Seeing him like this, Chang Suining realized that playing the victim was effective, so she relaxed a little—playing the victim among her own people was always effective. 

Wu Jue, however, had truly been affected by her sadness, and couldn’t help but ask, "How did you fare in Northern Di these years...?"

"It was okay," Chang Suining replied casually. "Northern Di has vast lands, horses run fast, and lambs roast deliciously."

Wu Jue fell silent for a moment, then held back his tears and smiled, "I’m also good at roasting lamb and making lamb soup... Now that His Highness is home, you won’t have to go to Northern Di to enjoy the delicious roasted lamb."

Chang Suining couldn’t help but laugh at him, reminding him, "But you’re a monk now."

Wu Jue was unconcerned. "I can always return to layman life."

He was just pretending to be a monk. The Dayun Temple wasn’t a proper temple anyway; he had stayed here to handle the formation, but now that His Highness had returned, he no longer needed to stay as a monk.

As he spoke, he wished he could roast three, four, or five lambs right now to satisfy His Highness’s craving!

Chang Suining quickly reassured him, signaling for him to calm down. She wasn’t so desperate for lamb, and there was no need to roast it so soon. She told him to let the lambs live a little longer.

Wu Jue sighed.

He couldn’t be hasty. Even though he wanted to roast the lamb, he still had to stay at the Dayun Temple to continue the act to prevent Holy Emperor from becoming suspicious.

Chang Suining then asked him more about the Heavenly Maiden Tower, wanting to understand everything that had happened inside.

She suddenly remembered, "Since this is a resurrection formation, now that the formation has been destroyed, I shouldn’t face any harm, right?"

"What are you thinking? If that were the case, would I have allowed Grand General Cui to destroy the formation? Don’t worry, Your Highness. Your soul is stable now. The destruction of the formation won’t affect you."

Chang Suining felt reassured. "Very good. Then let it be destroyed. The sooner, the better."

That way, she wouldn’t have to worry about Holy Emperor trying to use the formation to test her in the future.

"But I’ll still have to try and fix the broken parts of the secret passage," Wu Jue continued. "At least it should look intact on the surface. Otherwise, if Holy Emperor remembers and orders someone to check if the formation is intact, it will expose us."

Chang Suining nodded. "Better safe than sorry. Please be careful, and thank you for your efforts."

After asking about the formation, she became curious about something else. "I saw a jade box beneath the Heavenly Maiden statue. It seemed very important. Do you know what treasure is inside?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Jue fell silent.

Chang Suining looked at him. "Is it something you can’t speak about?"

"It’s..." Wu Jue hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "It’s your bones."

Chang Suining: "...I thought it was some kind of treasure."

So it was just this.

Wu Jue was dissatisfied. "What do you mean by that? Naturally, that’s the most precious thing in the entire Heavenly Maiden Tower!"

Chang Suining couldn’t help but hide her disdain, thinking about the small box. "It’s impressive that you were able to find and bring it back. In this way, I suppose I have returned to my roots."

"It was Old Chang who brought it back..." At the mention of this old matter, Wu Jue’s tone still carried suppressed bitterness and heart-wrenching pain. "Those beasts from Northern Di... Because of this, Old Chang disobeyed the Emperor's orders and insisted on personally cutting off the head of that beastly Khan."

That brute had desecrated her body in retaliation after the Princess's self-inflicted wound...

In the end, Old Chang could only recover a small fragment of her remains.

Wu Jue didn’t want to say more, and Chang Suining could easily imagine the rest.

In fact, she had already mentally prepared herself for the possibility of having no remains left when she decided to kill the Northern Di general.

Seeing Wu Jue lowering his head in silence, she spoke up, "Before the two armies met, the enemy lost their leader. It’s a common practice to do so in order to stabilize the morale of the army. Everyone is born naked, and we grow from just a small piece of flesh and bone. Our bodies are merely vessels—during life, we use them fully; after death, they return to dust. How we return doesn’t matter much; it’s all the same. There’s no need to overthink it."

Wu Jue still didn’t speak.

The girl continued her comfort, "And look, I’m back now. See, I’m still whole, with arms and legs intact."

Wu Jue couldn’t help but raise his tear-filled eyes to check her arms and legs.

She took out a soft handkerchief, handed it to him to wipe his tears, and smiled, saying, "Wu Jue, thank you for bringing me home."

She was serious, adding, "I owe you a life."

Wu Jue took the handkerchief, embroidered with a crane, and gently pressed it to his eyes, choking up as he sighed, "Owe? I’m like a narrow stream, and Your Highness is the sea. If the sea ceases to exist, where would the stream return to?"

He continued, "A narrow stream can only return to the sea to survive. The sea never rejects the stream; they complement each other. There’s no question of owing or not owing."

"Too philosophical. I don’t quite understand," Chang Suining smiled and replied. "I’d rather owe you. I’m happy to owe you."

She didn’t want to be in debt to anyone else, as that kind of debt felt like a thorny net, suffocating her with every turn. 

But the debt to Wu Jue was different—it was a comforting bond that allowed her to feel rooted in this world once again.

Bonds and attachments are different, and in this life, she was fortunate to be bound only by kindness and sincerity.

Chang Suining leaned forward, gently hugging the man who had called himself a fake monk but seemed more like a savior to her than any deity.

She smiled again, saying, "I’ll just owe you, then."

Wu Jue wiped his tears and smiled in return. "Since Your Highness truly wants to owe me, I’ll gladly accept."

"Yes, take it," Chang Suining released him.

Wu Jue smiled with restrained pride. "Your Highness, there’s something I’d like to ask."

Chang Suining, aware of her debt to him, generously replied, "Ask away."

"I remember you buried several jars of Feng Zhi wine. You had promised to drink with us... Where exactly did you bury it?"

Chang Suining blinked. "Oh... I think I drank it."

Wu Jue stood up in shock. "When did you sneakily drink it?"

"Before I went to Northern Di," Chang Suining said, slightly embarrassed. "At that time, I thought there’d be no chance to drink together, so I simply dug it up and drank it myself."

She had gotten very drunk and slept under the apricot blossom tree where she had buried the wine.

Wu Jue’s face was full of pain, and he nearly stomped his foot. "I’ve been craving it for so many years!"

Chang Suining asked, "Why didn’t you go find Ah Zeng to brew some more?"

Only A Zeng could make Feng Zhi wine.

"He would have agreed!" Wu Jue sighed. "Since you left, he refused to brew it again. I nearly knelt down and begged him."

Chang Suining teased, "Just like Old Chang begged you to make lamb soup for him?"

"Exactly..." Wu Jue’s eyes suddenly lit up. "But now that you’re back, he’ll have to brew it, even if he doesn’t want to! You’ll have to make up for me with a few jars!"

Chang Suining’s smile faded slightly as she asked, "After I left, did you notice anything unusual about Ah Zeng? Has he had any contact with anyone worth mentioning?"

Wu Jue froze for a moment.

After thinking carefully, he slowly shook his head. "Since Your Highness left, his temperament has become increasingly distant. He also works in the palace and rarely leaves. Our contact with him has been minimal, so we don’t know much about him. I haven’t noticed anything unusual."

Among the four of them, plus the secretive Meng Lie, Ah Zeng had been the least involved over the years.

But...

"Why do you ask this suddenly? Could it be..." Wu Jue looked at the girl still sitting on the ground, his expression growing serious.

"I was poisoned before I killed the Northern Di general."

Wu Jue was stunned. "Do you know who did it?"

"It was Yu Xie," Chang Suining said. "She was instructed by someone. She claimed that the events from back then were a result of being deceived, and the one who deceived her was Ah Zeng. She had received a letter bearing Ah Zeng’s private seal..."

She then explained the details of Yu Xie’s testimony to Wu Jue.

Wu Jue frowned deeply. "How could he…"

Chang Suining didn't express much surprise or anger. She simply said, "The truth is still unknown, but he is now in charge of the Imperial Palace Affairs Division and working closely with Ming Hou. It’s not going to be easy to investigate. Over these past few days, I’ve thought of many ways, but none of them seem feasible. This matter requires careful planning, and until we get to the bottom of it, we must both be extra vigilant and cautious."

Since she had now shared the information with Wu Jue, it became a matter they would tackle together, just as soldiers would never conceal things from each other in battle.

Wu Jue nodded with a complicated expression. "Your Highness, don’t worry. I will keep an eye on him."

Though their interactions with Ah Zeng had been limited in recent years, their old friendship had not diminished. He never imagined Ah Zeng would betray the Princess.

Now, Wu Jue also understood why the Princess had been so cautious of him, an old acquaintance, from the start.

He sighed deeply in his heart.

Chang Suining stood up and dusted herself off.

"Father, let’s go. Brother should be finished eating by now."

The title of "Father" made Wu Jue’s legs tremble slightly. "Your Highness, this... this is inappropriate..."

"If I were your biological parent, calling you 'Father' would be an honor for you. Besides, whether it's appropriate or not, the act must continue, right?" Chang Suining called again, "Father, you’ll have to get used to it."

Wu Jue could only nod, smiling with forced restraint. "Yes, I’ll get used to it. For now, I’ll shamelessly accept this small favor."

The two of them exited through the secret passage.

Chang Sui'an had finished all the food on the table, not leaving a single grain of rice or vegetable.

When he saw them come out, Chang Sui'an approached with surprise. "Master Wu Jue, what happened to your eyes?"

It looked like he had been crying. How could one discuss Buddhist teachings while crying?

It couldn’t have been his sister who hit him—though she enjoyed hitting people, she would never act disrespectfully toward her elders without reason.

Wu Jue sighed and rubbed his swollen eyes. "Some dust got into my eyes just now."

Chang Sui'an quietly looked him over. Given how swollen his eyes were, ordinary dust couldn’t have caused this. It had to be something larger, maybe even a brick! Both eyes seemed equally affected, as though the brick had been generously shared with both.

Adults always cared about their face. Since Master Wu Jue didn’t want to admit he had been crying, Chang Sui'an decided to pretend to believe him.

He kindly suggested, "You should rest for a while and not walk around too much."

After all, even he, who was easy to deceive, could tell something was off. It would be much harder to fool others.

Wu Jue nodded, looking like his eyes were hurting badly. He found a chair to sit down and continued rubbing his eyes.

The Chang siblings were preparing to leave.

"By the way," just before they left, Chang Suining suddenly recalled something she had seen earlier and asked, "Father, do you know which young lady went missing on the back mountain yesterday?"

Ordinary people might not know, but since monks from the temple were involved in the search, Wu Jue, as the temple’s abbot, should have known something.

Since her reputation had spread in the capital, there were many noble ladies who treated her kindly, whether out of genuine friendship or concern. She felt it was worth asking.

Wu Jue lowered his voice and replied, "It was a young lady from the Changsun family."

Chang Suining was stunned for a moment before asking, "From the Changsun family… which young lady?"

--- 

(End of Chapter)

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 266: You're Stuck on the Rock

Because Suisui and the other brothers were cheering them on, Feng Xuanrui and Feng Xuanbin climbed especially quickly and steadily.

Qingshan and the others formed a circle around them, worried that the young masters might fall. They were so nervous that they bit their lips and didn't dare look away, but the two kids were having a great time.

The two older brothers got lost in Suisui's continuous cheers of encouragement.

Then...

An accident happened.

Feng Xuanbin's clothes got caught on a fake mountain, and he was stuck there, unable to move.

The problem was, Feng Xuanrui was about to descend backward and accidentally stepped on his brother’s head.

Feng Xuanbin yelled out in surprise, and Qingshan and the others rushed over in panic.

Feng Xuanrui quickly retracted his foot without stepping down fully, but because there was no place to put his foot, he lost his balance and fell backward.

Qingshan and the others almost had a heart attack.

Fortunately, everyone worked together and safely caught Feng Xuanrui.

Feng Xuanbin also wanted to come down, but...

He was stuck!

His clothes were snagged on the fake mountain, and his body went limp, causing him to lose balance and dangle upside down from the rock.

He hadn’t been scared when climbing earlier, but now he was shouting in panic: "Ahhh, help! Help me, someone save me, I’m going to die!"

Everyone had just saved Feng Xuanrui when they heard the Seventh Young Master's voice and hurried over in fear.

The two young servants by Feng Xuanbin climbed up, tore his caught clothes, and then slowly helped him down.

Once both young masters were safely on the ground, everyone finally relaxed.

Climbing the fake mountain was unsafe and ruined their clothes, but they were doing it for fun.

After getting down, Feng Xuanbin forgot about his fear. He went up to Suisui, puffed out his little belly, raised his head, and smiled: "Hehe, isn't Seventh Brother awesome?"

Before Suisui could respond, Feng Xuanrui teased from the side: "Heh, you got stuck on the mountain."

Feng Xuanbin glared angrily, retorting, "I didn’t! I just made a mistake! I won’t do it next time!"

Feng Xuanrui laughed mischievously: "You got stuck on the mountain~"

His teasing tone made Feng Xuanbin so angry he jumped up, about to grab Sixth Brother’s head.

Feng Xuanrui wasn’t going to let him, crouching low and quickly swiping back at him.

Feng Xuanbin saw it was about to turn into a fight, and since he knew he couldn’t win, he turned and ran.

Although he was chubby, he was quite agile.

He spun around and ran off without giving anyone a chance to react.

By the time the servants realized, Feng Xuanbin had already gotten quite far, with Feng Xuanrui chasing after him.

The others quickly reacted, calling out to them and running after.

When Suisui saw her brothers running, she rushed forward too.

Liu Hemeng, worried about Suisui falling, hurried after her.

Shen Huatang didn’t like running or jumping; her family was used to being quiet.

But seeing Suisui run, even though Liu Hemeng was following her, Shen Huatang hesitated for a moment, then clenched her teeth and lifted her skirt, chasing after her.

Feng Xuancang and the others were also worried about their younger siblings, so they quickly caught up.

The children, either running or walking quickly, formed a line.

When Prince Qi finished his business and hurried to find Suisui, he saw this scene and couldn’t help but laugh: "What game are they playing? It looks pretty lively!"

Prince Qi’s gaze followed Feng Xuanbin, who was running in the front, all the way to Feng Xuancang at the back, and finally settled on Suisui in the middle. He smiled fondly and said, “My little one runs so gracefully, but she’s too thin. Her little bones are so fragile, and I feel like if she runs a few more steps, she might fall apart. She really needs to eat more. Didn’t Physician Liu prescribe any nourishing herbal soups?”

Before Sui Si could respond, Prince Qi shook his head. “Forget it, the child is still young. Less medicine is better. Let the chef come up with some nourishing dishes for her.”

Sui Si softly acknowledged.

Though Prince Qi wanted to pick Suisui up, he couldn’t bear to see her run too far. However, he understood that physical exercise was important. Suisui’s body was still too weak and needed more food and exercise to strengthen it. So, although he was reluctant, he steeled himself to let the children have their fun.

After all, if he kept carrying her away all the time, not allowing her to play with the others, their bond might weaken, and then what would happen if his little one had no friends?

Prince Qi felt the weight of being an overprotective father...

But he loved it all the same.

In fact, he even wished there was more to manage!

His loving gaze never left the children as they played.

Seeing that Suisui’s pants had torn a little, Prince Qi couldn’t help but ask Sui Si, “What happened to Little Seven’s clothes?”

He was particularly fond of Suisui but still paid attention to the young masters of the household. When he noticed the torn clothing, he couldn’t help but ask.

Sui Si wasn’t sure, so he called over a servant who was cleaning the grass and learned that Suisui had gotten her clothes caught on the fake mountain while climbing, which caused the tear. She hadn’t gone back to change yet.

Prince Qi shook his head helplessly when he heard this. “She’s quite mischievous.”

After sighing, he smiled again and said, “I wonder when my little one will become more mischievous. Kids should be a little naughty—it’s good for their health.”

After running for a while, Suisui and the others were tired, so they lay by the fish pond to watch the fish.

They weren’t fishing or eating; they were just feeding the fish.

One plate of fish food after another was thrown in, and the servants feared that the fish wouldn’t last until tomorrow morning; they’d all be dead by then.

But no one dared to speak up.

The young masters were just having fun, and if a few fish had to be sacrificed for the amusement, it wasn’t a big deal.

The fish in the pond were probably part of the several batches replaced this month alone.

Prince Qi frowned as he watched this. “This won’t do.”

Sui Si, listening to this, quickly thought to himself what the Prince meant by "this won’t do." Before he could reflect further, Prince Qi continued, “Before, my little one was almost drowned by those two evil women from the Che family because there was no protective barrier by the pond. Tomorrow…”

Prince Qi was about to say, "Tomorrow I’ll go to the Ministry of Works to ask if there’s anyone skilled in this area to come and help build something to protect the children."

Otherwise, with so many children in the residence, what if one fell into the water and wasn’t noticed in time? What would they do?

Right now, Prince Qi had few children, and every one of them was precious, so they had to be well-protected!

However, remembering that tomorrow the Jinxiufang seamstress would come to have Suisui try on summer clothes, Prince Qi hesitated to leave the residence.

The day after tomorrow, he also had to go to the Marquis Fuguo’s residence.

He really couldn’t spare the time. 

If he didn’t go, he feared that just sending someone from the lower ranks would mean the Ministry of Works would do a half-hearted job.

Prince Qi initially thought that if worse came to worst, he could go in a few days. But soon, he thought of someone and turned to Sui Si, asking, “Has Prince Qing returned?” 

Next Chapter▶▶

  Chapter 460: Disrupting Cooperation (3)

Exiting the small room, Mo Yan saw Li Zhong counting several pieces of silver from a drawer and handing them to a stranger. After the person left, she approached and asked, "Who was that? Does the shop owe him money?"

Li Zhong locked the drawer and chuckled, "He's from the mill. The grain in the shop is processed by the same mill. Every 5th of the month, we settle the silver for the previous month's processing. Today being the 5th, the mill's owner sent someone to settle accounts."

Mo Yan nodded at this information without saying much. Such expenditures were noted in the accounts, though not substantial—just three or four taels of silver per month. Compared to the shop's monthly profits, she didn't pay much attention to this small sum.

However, Li Zhong felt it was a missed opportunity and couldn't help but say, "The amount of grain processed in the shop each month is quite substantial. Over time, it adds up to a significant expense. If we had our own mill and a couple more hands to help, it wouldn't just be convenient but could also save us a lot of silver over the year!"

Mo Yan considered the idea but found it inconvenient. While she could easily store the grain in her space and transfer it to the warehouse, processing it at the mill and then transporting it back and forth between the shop and the warehouse would be time-consuming and labor-intensive. Moreover, the mill serviced more than just their business; it couldn't be idle waiting for their occasional needs.

Seeing her silence, Li Zhong continued, "The fields in the mountain hollow are going to be planted with rice this year. The harvested grain will surely be supplied to the shop. Why not build a mill in the village? Processed grain can be stored at home, and when the shop needs it, it can be brought over directly. This way, we won't need to rent the warehouse anymore. The money saved would be enough to pay wages. Besides, there's no mill in the village, so villagers have to travel far to the city or another village for milling. This could also earn us some extra money."

Mo Yan found the idea intriguing. Building a mill wasn't difficult or expensive, and it was practical. Without much hesitation, she agreed, planning to establish the mill before starting the winery.

Since it was still early, estimating that Wu shi and her daughter hadn't returned from the southern market stall yet, she drove the carriage over to fetch them, intending to bring them back to Liuyang Village together.

Arriving at the street where they were selling, Mo Yan noticed a large crowd gathered around Wu shi and her daughter's stall. Unable to see clearly from a distance, occasional sharp cries made Mo Yan's expression change. She urged to hurry up.

“Today, with everyone here, I need your help to judge this matter!” Hong shi, crying with snot and tears, pointed at the silent Wu shi in front of the gathered crowd. “Wu shi is my eldest daughter-in-law. Our family is so poor we can't barely keep food on the table. I was glad when she found a way to make money, thinking at least the family could finally have some porridge. But instead, she keeps all the money she earns to herself. I haven't seen a single coin. Even so, I don't blame her because it's her hard-earned money. But she shouldn't neglect her own child. Despite earning so much, she doesn't even feed her own kid, who cries out of hunger every day, calling for her mother. It breaks my heart to see and hear it. Oh, the suffering, it's unbearable!”

Niu shi, supporting Hong shi, pretended to wipe away tears and scolded, “Sister-in-law, you might ignore the rest of the family, but how can you neglect your own flesh and blood? My poor nephews and nieces, having a mother like you is worse than having none!”

Their act convinced most of the initially skeptical onlookers, who started criticizing Wu shi: “To think I bought food from you every day. If I had known you were this unfilial and unkind, I wouldn't have. I won't buy from you again.”

“Exactly. She doesn't care for her parents-in-law or children. Is she using the money for some secret lover? We should all avoid her stall from now on. It's disgusting!”

“Oh, how the morals of society have declined!”

The accusations grew harsher. Wu shi, pale-faced, looked at the two women pretending to be pitiful and cried bitterly, “Mother, second sister-in-law, how can you slander me like this for money? I've said before, the stall belongs to Yan girl. She asked us to help because she's busy, and we only earn a little from it. Why don't you believe me? It's not enough to make trouble at home; now you want to ruin my reputation. Are you forcing me to die?”

“Mother! Mother! Please don’t do this. It’s all lies from grandma and second aunt. Don’t think like that!” Mo Dani clung to Wu shi, crying in fear, obviously traumatized by a previous incident where Hong shi nearly forced Wu shi to jump into the river.

Hong shi, remembering this, raised her voice to cover her guilt, “Wu shi, stop lying. The girl taught you the craft because you're close. That's why you have the stall. It has nothing to do with her! I’ve said, the family doesn’t need your money. Just take care of your own child. But you’re too heartless, neglecting even your own child. I had no choice but to reveal the truth and ask everyone to judge. If you have any conscience, either use your money to support your child or let your sister-in-law help you. We're family; there’s no need to divide. When money is earned, you can share a bit with her.”

  Chapter 265: The Joy of Children

The young masters sat obediently in class, while Suisui happily listened.

On the other side, Prince Qi was smiling as he listened to the butler tell him about the latest gossip from Marquis Jinyang's residence.

Knowing that Marquis Jinyang was going through a rough time, Prince Qi felt a sense of relief.

However, realizing that it was actually Marquis Jinyang's wife who was suffering the most—Marquis Jinyang himself had only been scratched on the face and was too embarrassed to go out, but had not really been hurt—Prince Qi couldn’t help but clench his teeth and mutter, “This won’t do. We have to help Marquis Jinyang.”

Uncle Li: ...

"Do you want to listen to yourself, Your Highness?"

Alright, I know you’re speaking ironically.

But I can’t let this be seen. Uncle Li quickly understood and smiled, saying, “Indeed, as we are in the same capital, we should help each other.”

Seeing Uncle Li’s smile, Prince Qi understood that he had caught on to his meaning.

Prince Qi then chuckled, “I heard that Lord Anyang is rather idle these days. Why not send some of his people to help Marquis Jinyang?”

Uncle Li: ...

“Understood, Your Highness. I will take care of it immediately.”

Uncle Li responded with a smile.

At this point, Qi Wangfei, who had been quietly listening, didn’t interject much. She thought to herself that since the Prince dared to act, he probably didn’t need her help with the aftermath.

She had just met with the staff in the kitchen and the estate’s servants to discuss what should be prepared for tonight’s family dinner. After confirming the menu, she went to inspect the freshly delivered fruit from the country estate.

A large batch of cherries had ripened, and they were quite sweet.

The estate had planted quite a lot, and there were also some at the other manor.

The bad ones had already been picked out in advance and given to the servants, while the good ones were sent to the palace.

There were two large baskets of cherries, their bright red color making them look incredibly tempting.

Fresh cherries could go bad quickly if not eaten, so they needed to be consumed soon or preserved for later.

Qi Wangfei discussed with Aunt Qiu what desserts should be made, and whether to dry or candy the remaining fruit.

She didn’t want to waste anything.

The estate also grew sweet melons that looked unripe, but were actually quite sweet. There were also early ripening peaches, small but very sweet. The peaches were soft and juicy when ripe, bursting with juice with just one bite. If you didn’t like soft peaches, they were also sweet and juicy when still firm.

However, there weren’t many ripe peaches—just about twenty or so. The children in the residence would probably finish them off quickly, so Qi Wangfei didn’t plan on sharing them with anyone else.

But she did send some cherries and melons to the side concubines and maidservants in the rear courtyard.

With May approaching and the weather getting hotter, Qi Wangfei thought about how Suisui’s summer clothes were probably ready by now.

Just as she was thinking this, the steward came in with a report: someone from the Jinxiufang workshop had come to deliver the news that the little princess’s summer clothes were ready and that they would be delivered to the residence tomorrow for a fitting.

Qi Wangfei thought to herself that tomorrow was free, but the day after, she’d have to attend Cheng’er’s birthday celebration.

She quickly agreed, and Prince Qi, who had been listening, couldn’t help but feel excited: “The little one’s new clothes are going to be so pretty! By the way, didn’t Imperial Brother and Mother also gift us some fabric? It looks really bright and lively. Let’s pick some for the little one, and for the others, too—some bright colors for the younger ones. After all, they’re children.”

Even though there were rules in the palace limiting the number of clothes that could be made each season, if the master approved more, it could be done.

And since they weren’t lacking in money, Prince Qi had no problem with it.

Naturally, Qi Wangfei agreed without hesitation. Those vibrant fabrics seemed perfect for Suisui. After all, children should wear bright, sparkling clothes!

In the afternoon, when the two young masters who had been studying outside the residence returned, Master Shen decided to give the young masters a break and let them have some free time.

It was the end of the month, so taking a day off to relax wouldn’t hurt.

When Suisui heard that there would be no class in the afternoon, she felt a little disappointed. But when she learned that Shen Huatang and Liu Hemeng could stay at the residence and play with her, she jumped up with joy: “Let’s go play on the rocking horse!”

The newly improved rocking horse was so much fun! It could move when you pulled it, and wasn’t very tiring.

Shen Huatang and Liu Hemeng were also curious and followed her over.

Feng Xuanrui and the others weren’t stingy—they were very friendly to their little sister’s friends. After all, it wasn’t a gentlemanly thing to be petty with girls.

Soon, they joined the group pulling the rocking horse.

Because Feng Xuanrui was the smallest, he was at the back of the line.

Feng Xuancang, taking on the role of the eldest brother, stood at the front, making sure to protect his younger siblings.

After lunch and a short nap, the children were full of energy.

At first, they happily played with the rocking horse.

Shen Huatang rarely got the chance to play with such things. Her parents were rather strict and didn’t encourage too much playfulness.

But Liu Hemeng had no such worries. Her father enjoyed researching toys, so she had plenty at home.

The running rocking horse was a first for her.

After a few rounds, and having fun, Liu Hemeng thought to herself, “When I go home tonight, I’ll ask my dad to make me one! I want my very own rocking horse!”

But, as with most children's interests, it was short-lived. Soon, the rocking horse was abandoned, and the kids boldly climbed the artificial mountain.

Suisui’s dress was beautiful, and she didn’t want to ruin it.

So, she didn’t climb, but stood to the side cheering for her brothers.

But what was the point of climbing a mountain? It had to be a competition!

Without hesitation, Feng Xuanrui dragged Feng Xuanbin to join him.

Feng Xuanbin, though young, wasn’t one to back down.

When his older brother spoke, he immediately puffed out his chest and gave a confident pat: “Who’s afraid? I can do it!”

He then turned to Suisui: “Big brother is the best! You believe in me, don’t you, little sister?”

Suisui raised her hand, about to cheer, but Feng Xuanrui beat her to it: “Big brother is the best! You cheer for me, little sister!”

Suisui felt like she was being pulled in all directions—her older brother needed her, and now her seventh brother did too!

But it didn’t matter. First, she cheered for her older brother, then for her seventh brother!

At first, Suisui was a little nervous, worried her brothers might fall. But as she watched Feng Xuanrui and Feng Xuanbin climb so nimbly, she couldn’t help but feel more at ease.

They were so skilled, there was no way they would fall!

Once she realized this, she jumped up, excited: “Big brother, go! Seventh brother, go!”

Her cheers were the perfect motivator.

What had started as a simple climb soon turned into a full-blown competition between the two brothers. They exchanged a glance, each seeing the challenge in the other’s eyes, and then pushed themselves higher. 

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 1276: Master Miao Agrees

However, Shu Yu shook her head with a smile, "I'm sorry, but I can't do that."

Master Miao frowned, "So, it seems that our negotiation has fallen through."

"Not necessarily," Shu Yu denied, "I'm not part of the Daoist community, and I can't make decisions like moving the bright lamp. If I could, it would disrupt the order at Dongqing Temple. Besides, our conditions aren't equal. We want the estate and hill from the Black Market, but we've tried and failed to obtain it. We can find another place. However, moving the bright lamp is something you've been longing for years. Overall, we'd be at a disadvantage."

Master Miao clicked his tongue, acknowledging that this young girl wasn't like an ordinary newly grown-up woman.

She played her cards well and wasn't willing to take a loss.

Having run a place like Qin Lou Chu Guan, his imposing presence alone would make most girls and boys feel afraid. Yet, this girl smiled and acted as if she had seen the world, just like someone who had been exiled before.

Master Miao asked, "So, what can you do then?"

"I can introduce my master to Master Miao," Shu Yu replied.

Master Miao, "..." So, he had to go negotiate with her master himself?

"Of course," Shu Yu added, "If Master Miao helps us, I will also put in a good word with my master. As you heard, my master cares about me a lot, so my words hold some weight."

Master Miao felt like she was offering him a big promise.

However, he couldn't help but be tempted by the offer. After all, meeting Dongqing Temple master was something almost impossible.

"And," Shu Yu spoke again, "We won't accept the estate as a gift. Master Miao can buy it at a low price, and we will pay the original price of thirty thousand taels to buy it from you. This way, Master Miao won't lose out either."

Master Miao contemplated; he was a businessman, and he didn't want to make a loss.

After a long while, he looked at Shu Yu, "When will Dongqing Temple master return?"

Shu Yu shook her head, "I don't know." Before Master Miao could express his dissatisfaction, she hurriedly added, "But Master Miao has been waiting for so many years. I don't think waiting for another year or so would make a big difference. If you have someone keep an eye on Dongqing Temple, once the master returns, you can come to me, and I'll go see my master immediately. How about that?"

Honestly, this statement was quite vague. Shu Yu didn't know when Dongqing Temple master would return, nor could she guarantee moving the bright lamp. It was all just empty talk, and Mr. Miao couldn't simply believe it.

He furrowed his brow, considering the proposal, "I can agree to your request, but I can't wait indefinitely. Let's sign a contract. I'll give you two years. If Dongqing Temple master hasn't returned within that time, or if she returns but Lu Xiangjun can't fulfill her promise, you'll have to compensate me with seventy thousand taels."

Seventy thousand taels, in addition to the thirty thousand taels for buying the estate, amounted to a total of one hundred thousand taels.

Master Miao had a rather devious mind.

However, Meng Yunzheng readily accepted, "Agreed."

A hundred thousand taels; he could probably manage to gather the extra amount.

"Good! Mister Meng is straightforward. It's settled then."

Master Miao was in a great mood, and Shu Yu immediately asked Qiu Dao Gu for pen and paper. They signed the contract right there on the spot.

Meng Yunzheng put away his copy of the contract, stood up, and said, "It's getting late. Let's return to the city. I imagine the people from the Black Market are already getting impatient outside Master Miao residence."

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 1275: Chips

Qiu Dao Gu nodded, "Yes, she is indeed Lu Xiangjun."

Master Miao got the confirmation he wanted and felt somewhat relieved.

However, he still found it strange and asked, "I never thought that Dongqing Temple master would take Lu Xiangjun as her disciple. Is there any particular reason behind this?"

"There's no specific reason. I suppose Lu Xiangjun and the master have a good connection," Qiu Dao Gu replied.

Master Miao chuckled, "I see. By the way, real person, I noticed that the master hasn't been seen at Dongqing Temple for a long time. Do you know where she went in the southwest and when she'll be back?"

Qiu Dao Gu glanced at Shu Yu and maintained her calm and tranquil demeanor, "The master went to the southwest some time ago. As for her current whereabouts, I, too, am unaware."

Upon hearing the term "southwest,"Master Miao's pupils contracted, showing astonishment on his face.

Southwest? Wasn't that the place Lu Xiangjun was exiled to? Master Miao couldn't believe that the master of Dongqing Temple traveled all the way to the southwest merely by coincidence.

It appeared that Dongqing Temple master was genuinely concerned about Lu Xiangjun.

Could it be that the master of Dongqing Temple had helped Lu Xiangjun return from the southwest?

With Qiu Dao Gu having confirmed the two things Shu Yu asked her to verify – that she was the master's disciple and that the master cared about her – there was no need for further delay.

Qiu Dao Gu took her leave, leaving the room quietly and calmly.

Master Miao lowered his head slightly, deep in thought, his right hand slowly clenched.

After a while, he looked up, smiling at the two, "Lu Xiangjun is indeed extraordinary. Well, let's not beat around the bush. You both came to me today and went through all this trouble for what purpose?"

Shu Yu and Meng Yunzheng exchanged glances, and the latter went straight to the point, "We want the estate and hill owned by the Black Market."

Master Miao was taken aback, tapping his fingers gently on the table.

That place was also something he considered very good, secluded, and the original estate was large and safe. He had been bargaining for the price for a while, knowing that the Black Market wouldn't easily part with it, but he felt confident.

Now that Meng Yunzheng suddenly showed interest, what could that mean?

"Since Young Master Meng wants it, I can sell it to you. You came to me because you know I haven't acquired the Black Market yet. Are you afraid the price is too high and want me to back out of the deal?" Master Miao asked.

Meng Yunzheng shook his head, "I know the Black Market offered thirty thousand, and I am willing to buy it at that price. However, I have offended the Black Market, and they won't sell it to me. So, we hope that Master Miao can buy it and then sell it to us."

Master Miao suddenly understood the reason for all the effort they went through. He realized that there were some complications in between.

He leaned back slowly, maintaining a calm demeanor, "If you want my help, you need to offer something in return. Lu Xiangjun brought me here to meet Qiu Zhen Ren, and it seems that's the chip you're using. Frankly, I'm satisfied with this chip. I can agree to your request, but at the same time, you must agree to my condition."

"Are you asking to move your sister's bright lamp to the position under the ancestral altar?" Shu Yu asked.

Master Miao glanced at her, "It seems that Lu Xiangjun has done her homework." He didn't mind; his purpose in coming to Dongqing Temple wasn't a secret.

"That's right. As long as Lu Xiangjun can do it, I will buy the Black Market estate and gift it to you."

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 459: Reaching a Cooperation and Stirring Up Trouble (2)

Mo Yan was momentarily mesmerized, realizing for the first time that the phrase "handsome enough to feast one's eyes upon" could indeed be aptly applied to a man without any sense of dissonance.

Yan Junyu, unaware of Mo Yan's thoughts, teased when he noticed her staring fixedly at him, "What's this? Has my unparalleled charm captivated you? If you regret not agreeing to be my attendant earlier, since I'm in a good mood now, I can give you another chance."

Mo Yan's eye twitched slightly, coughed dryly, and withdrew her gaze without changing her expression. She replied calmly, "Many thanks for Young Master Yan's favor, but I don't like to be bound. I'm clumsy and better suited to farming in the small village."

"Hmph, an ungrateful girl!" Yan Junyu chuckled disdainfully, appearing indifferent outwardly but secretly starting to regret. He genuinely intended to have this mysterious girl by his side as an attendant.

Mo Yan couldn't be bothered with his banter and redirected the conversation to business, saying, "Young Master Yan, you've tasted the grape wine. You should understand its value. If you're willing to cooperate, besides the cost of building the winery, I will handle everything else, sparing you any further trouble."

Yan Junyu had already set his mind on sealing this deal after tasting the wine, and his desire grew stronger. Yet, in business matters, although he admired Mo Yan and treated her as a friend, when it came to profit sharing, sentiment couldn't be mixed in. He reverted to his businessman persona and began negotiating with Mo Yan.

"In consideration of your sincerity, I agree to this deal. However, once the winery turns a profit, I'll take 80%, and you'll receive 20%."

Mo Yan had mentally prepared herself to be taken advantage of, but she never expected Yan Junyu to be so ruthless, immediately proposing an 80-20 split. Even if he funded the construction of the winery, she held the secret of wine-making. Moreover, she would handle all the other details. She couldn't afford such a huge loss!

Thinking this through, Mo Yan decisively refused, "Young Master Yan, an 80-20 split is too harsh. No one would agree to such terms."

Unsurprised by Mo Yan's rejection, Yan Junyu adopted a serious tone, "Little girl, without my silver, could you build such a money-consuming winery? Even if you manage to build it someday, without me in front to handle things, could you confidently sell wine and make a profit? Little girl, 20% for you is already quite advantageous!"

As he finished speaking, Yan Junyu pretended to offer a compromise, watching Mo Yan grit her teeth, wishing to smack that smug face of his.

Mo Yan remained uncompromising. Even with Yan Junyu's ruthless ultimatum, she didn't back down. She had already decided that if profit sharing exceeded her bottom line, even if it meant abandoning the winery and wine business altogether, she wouldn't agree. It was too frustrating to work so hard, only to have most of the money go into someone else's pocket.

After a lengthy verbal exchange, Mo Yan staunchly held onto her 40-60 bottom line, refusing to budge a single bit. Seeing her determination, Yan Junyu, unwilling to let go of this potentially lucrative cooperation, reluctantly agreed in the end.

Leaving Huixian Residence, Mo Yan cast a resentful glance at a certain window on the third floor, then angrily drove away in her carriage. To facilitate this cooperation without being exploited too much, she had racked her brains and exerted all her efforts, feeling as exhausted as if she had run three kilometers in a sports competition in her previous life.

Meanwhile, that glance didn't escape the notice of a certain person on the third floor, who sipped a cup of grape wine, hiding a smile that threatened to spill from the corners of their mouth.

Mo Yan visited the rice shop, reviewed the accounts of the past half month, and saw that business had improved considerably, with daily earnings stabilizing around fifteen taels. Only then did she finally feel reassured.

 Chapter 291: The Heart’s Intent