Chapter 82 (1/2)
Chapter 82: Buying and Selling (Part 1)
“A little Young Lady that looked quite good and bear the Shen surname, most likely is a member of the Shen family.” Ji Yu Shu scratched his head, “It is just that she is very fierce and turned a blind eye at my magnificence.”
The voice just landed and a strange silence fell into the tea room. After a moment, Gao Yang then smiled as he looked at Xie Jing Xing, “I roughly know who she is. That Young Lady of the Shen family is somewhat powerful.” Even though the smile was warm, the tone revealed a sharp comment.
“In fact, I also find it strange.” Ji Yu Shu shuddered before scratching his head, “When she came over I observed carefully and it seemed that it was not her first time doing business with Bai Xiao Sheng. I asked Hong Ling and she had not seen her before. Our line of business has always being secretive and other than a few families in Ding capital that know, there are no others. How… Did she know?”
“This Young Lady is not simple at all.” Gao Yang thought before speaking, “I initially thought that the Shen family of Ding capital were all brainless meat, and sooner or later will be swallowed by others. Now it seems that the water is deeper than one had expected.” He glanced at Xie Jing Xing and found the latter deep in thought so he asked, “What do you think about this?”
Xie Jing Xing raised his head and looked towards Ji Yu Shu, “Did you agree to her conditions?”
“Such a big matter like this have to be discussed with you all.” Ji Yu Shu bit into another pastry, “But I reckon that the Shen family business is big and the military power in their hands is not weak at all. If what that Shen family Young Lady said is true, in the future when Third Xie Older Brother plan things, it would be much easier. She after all does not fathom that our Feng Xian Pawnshop is actually Third Older Brother’s secret business.”
When a sandpiper and a clam are locked in a fight, this was only to the advantage of the fisherman. That Shen little young lady most likely did not know that her promised commitment would only be to the advantage of Xie Jing Xing. But this could not be blamed on her as the powerful relationship between them was not even known to Hong Ling, even though she had managed the business for so many years.
“Even so…” Gao Yang pondered, “This stakes is just too big. On the news she wants to create, the Imperial family would easily catch the attention if one is not careful. We are very discreet with our actions and if there were to be any mistakes, there will be no losses. As for one Shen family more or less, there is no influence of them in the initial plan so this is not that tempting.”
“What you said also make sense.” Ji Yu Shu nodded his head and looked towards Xie Jing Xing, “But at the end, it is still Third Older Brother that makes the decision.”
“You should agree to her condition.”
When Xie Jing Xing said those words, Gao Yang frowned, “Why the hasty decision?”
“Since the Shen family has become a variable, it does not mean that there is no role for them in the future. To use them to deal with some people, it is worth a battle. As for her wanting to create news, it is targeted at Prince Yu residence.” Xie Jing Xing raised his brows, “Just nice, we do not need to take action and there will be things that we can do without.”
When he said so, the others then remembered. Ji Yu Shu smacked his palms, “Oh yes, I almost forgot. She want to create news about Prince Yu residence plotting a rebellion. This was to target the residence of Prince Yu. What grudge does the Prince Yu residence have with the Shen family?”
Ji Yu Shu just returned back to Ding capital and usually did not pay attention to the affairs of the court’s daughters, so there were things that he was unclear and was unable to make heads or tails at all.
It became evident in Gao Yang’s mind, he knew about the resentment between Shen Miao and Prince Yu and could not help but be surprised. If it was an ordinary female that came upon such a thing, one would be afraid of Prince Yu residence’s power. But not only was Shen Miao not afraid, she was waiting for an opportunity to attack. She was extremely clever to know that the Imperial family was backing the Prince Yu residence, and first worked on driving a wedge between them. If the Imperial family had doubts about Prince Yu, naturally the lifesaving charm behind the Prince Yu residence was of no use.
But even so, what could she still do?
“Accept this business.” Xie Jing Xing said, “Inform the Chen family of JiangNan as soon as possible.”
“Do not worry. I have already let Hong Ling send a letter to Yu province. But the Chen family’s case has been dragged on for three years, I do not know if that Shen family little young lady’s news is really true. After all in the beginning the Chen family had thought up of hundreds and thousands of methods but there were no news at all, so how could this be known by a little young lady? If her news is fake, most probably the Chen family would not let her live well.” Ji Yu Shu’s mouth was stuffed with snacks and could not speak clearly.
“Since she come here selling the news, it is real.” Xie Jing Xing frowned, “It is just that there are some parts that make no sense.”
“Are you a rice bucket?” Gao Yang looked at Ji Yu Shu’s look of wolfing down the food and could not help but shook his head, “Could it be that you, a manager of the Feng Xian Pawnshop, have never eat before?”
Ji Yu Shu put a finger out and waved it, “How would there be other places’ snacks be as good as the ones made by Third Older Brother’s chef? The last time I brought the snacks made by Third Older Brother’s chef to Young Lady Shao Yao and she actually smiled at me. It can be seen that,” he lifted one snack to Gao Yang’s face, “There are some differences to it.”
Gao Yang was too lazy to scold him when he saw Ji Yu Shu suddenly had a concentrated look and like he had thought about something, before taking out a piece of banknote from his pocket, “Speaking of which, that Shen family Young Lady gave me a thousand taels at the end to buy an information.”
“What information?” Xie Jing Xing and Gao Yang looked at him the same time.
“To look for someone. A young lady by the name of Liu Ying and said that… Most probably she is a young lady from a brothel and is located in the Ding capital. And it was essential for me to find her.” He asked curiously, “Why does she want to find a brothel lady? Could it be that she, like me, loves beauties?”
Gao Yang and Xie Jing Xing looked at one another. The former was puzzled and the latter just shook his head lightly.
*****
When Hong Ling ushered her out, Mo Qing and the rest gave a sigh of relief after seeing her safe and sound. Shen Miao had stayed inside for far too long and if she stayed for a moment more, the few of them would have rushed in to get her out. Before leaving, Shen Qiu had warn repeatedly that Shen Miao had provoked trouble so one must be careful during the journey. If they lost Shen Miao, Shen Qiu would kill the few of them.
Hong Ling politely smiled at Shen Miao, “May Shen Young Lady come here again in ten days’ time.”
“Thanking Supervisor Hong.” Shen Miao replied softly.
It was the little shop assistant by the door that could not help but glance at Shen Miao a few more times, most likely because it was the first time seeing Hong Ling treating someone that respectfully.
After Shen Miao and entourage went up the carriage and left, the little shop assistant could not help but asked Hong Ling, “Supervisor, what kind of backing does that young lady have?”
“Go and do your things well.” Hong Ling patted his head. After some thoughts, she said more, “The next time when you see this Shen Young Lady, sweeten your mouth. She is not a simple character.”
The little shop assistant quickly complied. Hong Ling watched the horse carriage getting further away as her heart sighed in relief. Highly-talented individuals truly came forth in large numbers in the Ding capital that now even a little young lady was able to scheme major events quietly. As compared to her family master, she was not inferior in any respect.
Chapter 82: Buying and Selling (Part 2)
In the horse carriage, Shen Miao was still lost in thought and one did not know what she was thinking about, and Jing Zhe and Gu Yu dare not disturb her train of thought and thus kept quiet. Actually they also did not know what kind of business Shen Miao came over to do. It was obviously a pawnshop but they did not know what was actually pawned. Since Shen Miao did not talk about it, the two maids would also not shoot their mouths’ off.
But after passing by a place, Gu Yu said with a smile, “It is Guang Fu Zhai in front. Since it had been a long time since one came out, why not let this servant buy some snacks from there?”
Guang Fu Zhai’s snacks had always been sought-after and at the moment it was not the time when it was the most crowded so there was no harm in buying some. Even though Shen Miao herself did not really like to eat them, Luo Xue Yan and Shen Qiu do. Shen Miao nodded her head, “Go then.”
Gu Yu jumped off the carriage and headed to Guang Fu Zhai herself.
Mo Qing and the few of them surrounded the horse carriage and because they were all tall and hefty, they were somewhat eye-catching so those people who passed them would give them a second glance. Shen Miao opened up the curtains for ventilation but her vision was attracted by another person.
That person most likely also came out from Guang Fu Zhai and was carrying a bag of snacks. When the person’s eyes just nicely met Shen Miao’s, one could not help but be slightly stunned.
It was Pei Lang.
Shen Miao had not been to Guang Wen Tang for a long time, since she did not want a reputation of a talented female nor getting scholarly honour. In these days, she was busy with her things and forgot that there would be such an encounter. She looked at Pei Lang and suddenly smiled as she nodded her head in the horse carriage.
Pei Lang was stunned for a moment. In fact, Shen Miao was his student. Ming Qi looked upon the respect one had for teachers, not counting Xie Jing Xing, all the students would treat him respectfully. But Shen Miao’s nod gave Pei Lang a wrong impression as it seemed that he was looking up to Shen Miao and she was even higher than he was.
Before he had time to respond, Shen Miao had already put the curtains down. Mo Qing and the few of them who noticed his line of sight, were looking at him vigilantly.
Pei Lang stood rooted in place. This kind of rude action would made him, who was arrogant to the bones, angry. But he did not know for what reason, other than feeling of not knowing whether to laugh or cry, there was no other feelings that came out of it. Most likely it was because of Shen Miao’s strong performance lately that made him felt that if Shen Miao was like the rest of those students and acted obediently, he would not be used to it.
Pei Lang shook his head and could only walk away.
Feeling that the gaze from outside the horse carriage looked away, Shen Miao’s eyes hang down as she looked down to her cuffs. Towards Pei Lang, she had complicated feelings as she hated his nonchalance on the matter of Fu Xiu Yi’s treatment of Wan Yun and Fu Ming but also knew that Pei Lang was only doing what he thought was loyalty to the monarch. The resentments in the previous life was over and even though there was still uses for Pei Lang in this lifetime, she should not be tangled up in the matter. It was just that there was some uncomfortableness in her heart.
As she was thinking, Gu Yu had returned after buying the snacks.
Upon returning to the Shen residence, the skies were not considered dark and since Shen Qiu also lived in the Western courtyard, Shen Miao planned to send the snacks to Shen Qiu. Just as she walked to the main hall, she coincidentally meet Ren Wan Yun supporting Shen Qing as they walked out. Ren Wan Yun looked at Shen Miao as if there were knives in her eyes and Shen Qing looked extremely maliciously at her, that even Gu Yu and Jing Zhe could not help but shudder as they went up to protect Shen Miao.
“Fifth daughter did not go to Old Furen for greetings these days.” Ren Wan Yun brought the matter up, “Could it be that one intended to be an unfilial grandchild?”
Shen Miao swept a glance at her. Ren Wan Yun was now like a mad dog, biting whoever it sees. On one hand she feared Shen Xin and Luo Xue Yan and on the other hand she has not resigned to Shen Qing’s misfortune, thus she could only do some superficial little actions.
But Shen Miao was not scared after all. She was not afraid of that reputation at all and smiled gently at Shen Qing, “Second Shen now still have the energy to manage my matters and not afraid that Eldest Sister would feel hurt. The Empress’s bestowment is quick and one have to enter the Prince residence next month. Second Shen have to also teach Eldest Sister some matters after all the family is not an ordinary one but a Prince of First Rank.”
Finishing, she walked away with Jing Zhe and Gu Yu without even turning back.
Ren Wan Yun was so angry that her body started shaking. These days the more she was angry, the more she felt her mind was in chaos, that she did not have time to deal with those YiNiangs that Shen Gui doted even more lately. Shen Dong Ling, borne by Wan YiLiang, who had the image of delicate, without backing and always behind a closed door, started to cook for Shen Gui from time to time. With Shen Qing as an example, she was even more obedient. And that Wan YiNiang coaxed Shen Gui very well, and it was Ren Wan Yun and Shen Qing whose days were unlike before.