A tingling sensation spread across his face, as if brushed by straw grass.
The damned straw grass was blocking his view, making it impossible to see the movements of the Western soldiers on the other side.
Zhou Liu-lang reached out and pushed the grass aside, staring intently ahead.
Suddenly, the Western soldiers on the other side also turned their gaze over, as if they had noticed something unusual.
Zhou Liu-lang immediately crouched down and pressed himself to the ground, his heart pounding fiercely. Even after more than three years, going into battle always made him tense.
Not that he was afraid, of course.
All was quiet around them, with no sign of movement from men or horses. The straw grass brushed against his face once more. Well, perhaps the grass wasn’t so bad after all – at least it provided some cover and concealment.
Zhou Liu-lang let out a soft sigh of relief. Just then, the straw in front of him seemed to be blown aside, but it immediately swayed back – this time, as if on purpose, right into his nostril.
He hurriedly reached up to brush it away, but try as he might, he couldn’t get it loose. And worst of all – he felt a sneeze coming on.
How could he sneeze now?
Absolutely not!
Zhou Liu-lang pressed his hand tightly over his mouth and nose, trying to stifle the urge. But that stubborn blade of grass seemed to have taken root inside his nostril.
Oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no…
“Ah-choo!”
A loud snee erupted as Zhou Liu-lang leaped up, ready to mount his horse and make a quick escape.
But his body felt as heavy as lead. Instead of springing up, he stumbled and fell to his knees with a thud.
A roar of laughter rang in his ears.
Zhou Liu-lang looked up in confusion and saw Qin Shi’san doubled over with laughter.
Qin Shi’san?
That’s right – he wasn’t in the northwest anymore. He had already returned.
It was just a dream.
Zhou Liu-lang let out a sigh of relief as he snapped back to reality, but then he frowned.
“Qin Shi’san, what are you doing in my room so early in the morning?” he grumbled, glancing down at his own bare chest and the fact that he was only wearing a pair of underpants.
These pants…
“Take a closer look,” Qin Shi’san said with a laugh, waving a writing brush in his hand. “Whose house is this, anyway?”
Only then did Zhou Liu-lang lift his head and look around – and his surprise deepened.
“How did I end up in your house?” he asked.
Qin Shi’san chuckled as he sat down, picking up a cup of tea from nearby and taking a sip.
“How should I know? Last night, you showed up dead drunk in the middle of the night, kicked my door open, insisted on admiring the moon with me, and then demanded to perform a sword dance for me,” he said, pursing his lips and rubbing his forehead. “To be honest, your dancing was downright awful.”
Zhou Liu-lang’s face darkened.
Last night…
All he remembered was storming out of Desheng Pavilion in a rage, not wanting to go home but having nowhere else to go. He ended up drinking at a stall in the night market, and after that – nothing.
At the thought, he also raised a hand to rub his forehead.
It ached…
His head throbbed, his throat felt raw, and his body was sore all over.
He looked down at his arms and shoulders and noticed several bruises.
“Hey, did you take the chance to hit me while I was drunk?” he snapped, glaring.
Qin Shi’san let out a disdainful scoff.
“Could I even take you in a fight? You’re invincible – you can break stones with your chest and snap trees with your arms. How would I dare lay a hand on you?”
Just a few words were enough to paint a vivid picture of how he must have behaved in his drunken state the day before. Zhou Liu-lang snorted, then casually grabbed a robe from the nearby clothing rack and put it on.
“All these flashy clothes of yours – I really can’t get used to them… Has mine been washed and dried yet?” he said.
“Don’t change the subject. Out with it – what’s really going on?” Qin Shi’san asked.
“What do you mean? Haven’t you ever seen a man drink before?” Zhou Liu-lang retorted dismissively.
“I’ve honestly never seen a man drink quite like you,” Qin Shi’san replied, then chuckled again. “But even drunk, you keep your lips sealed tight – couldn’t get a single clue out of you. Seems like this matter is important, something you absolutely don’t want anyone to know.”
Spending fifty thousand to compete for a courtesan – a newly appointed scholar and a young lady from a respectable family… It’s not about whether it’s important, but how utterly humiliating it is!
Zhou Liu-lang let out a scoff, ignoring the remark, and walked over to pour himself a cup of tea.
“Hey, drink up and get out quickly. I’ve got things to do today,” Qin Shi’san said.
“What things? Going out drinking and having fun with your classmates?” Zhou Liu-lang retorted, glaring.
“Are you pretending, or have you really forgotten?” Qin Shi’san replied with a laugh, brushing his sleeves lightly. “I have plans today.”
Are you free tomorrow? The cherry blossoms at Wuli Temple outside the city are in full bloom. How about we go enjoy the flowers?
Zhou Liu-lang remembered and immediately frowned again.
“You’re not going!” he said, grabbing Qin Shi’san by the arm.
“What exactly happened to her?” Qin Shi’san shot back, grabbing Zhou Liu-lang’s arm in return, his brow furrowed with concern.
“What are you even talking about?” Zhou Liu-lang retorted, shaking off his grip. “You and her are both adults now – what’s the idea of a single man and an unmarried lady going off to admire flowers together?”
Qin Shi’san shook his head and chuckled.
“Zhou Fu, oh Zhou Fu, do you really have to play these mind games with me? It’s honestly painful to watch,” he said.
Just then, a maid hurried into the room.
“Young Master, Lady Cheng is here,” she announced.
Both men in the room were startled – though one reacted with delight, the other with shock.
“Why is she here?” they said in unison.
“She really kept her word,” Qin Shi’san said with a laugh, shaking off Zhou Liu-lang’s arm. “You can leave if you want, or stay here if you prefer. I’m heading out.”
Zhou Liu-lang watched with a dark expression as Qin Shi’san hurried away. He thought about calling him back but ultimately held his tongue.
She actually came specifically to keep the appointment!
She’s really… really…!
Zhou Liu-lang gritted his teeth for a moment, then grabbed the cup of tea and downed it in one gulp.
“…It’s getting late. If we leave too late, the carriage won’t even be able to get in.”
Qin Shi’san stepped into the main hall and spoke directly, while also bowing in salute to Madam Qin.
“Mother, I’ve invited Lady Cheng to join me.”
Madam Qin smiled.
“What’s the hurry? I haven’t finished speaking yet,” she said.
“No need to say more, Mother. Your jokes are quite amusing. Why not let me share them with Lady Cheng?” Qin Shi’san replied with a laugh, bowing again.
Seeing this, Cheng Jiao-niang also bowed and rose to take her leave.
Watching the two of them leave one after the other, Madam Qin withdrew her gaze with a smile.
“Madam, I think Lady Cheng truly holds our Thirteenth Young Master in high regard,” a maid nearby remarked with a chuckle.
“Of course she does,” Madam Qin replied warmly. “Shi’san has been so good to her -kindness begets kindness, after all. Hearts are made of flesh; with genuine sincerity, even a stone can be warmed, and perhaps even rules can be softened.”
The maid nodded in agreement.
“Though I’ve lived many years without much learning, I’ve always known that people are living beings, while rules are rigid,” she said with a smile.
Madam Qin laughed more heartily but then shook her head.
“It’s just that Shi’san is too proud,” she said. “Since the young lady mentioned her rules, he refuses to challenge them. And from what I see, Lady Cheng is equally proud. It may take some time for things to soften between them.”
Lost in thought for a moment, she suddenly exclaimed, “Ah!”
“What is it, Madam?” the maid asked promptly.
“That Shi’san! Earlier, was he saying that the jokes I told were funny, or that I am a joke?” Madam Qin said. “He managed to trick me again with his clever words.”
Meanwhile, Zhou Liu-lang stood up gloomily.
“Young Master Zhou, would you like something to eat? The kitchen has everything ready,” the maids asked.
“No, I’m leaving,” he muttered. Just as he lifted his foot to go, a young servant hurried in from outside.
“Young Master!” the servant called out cheerfully.
It was his own servant. Zhou Liu-lang paused and watched as the servant rushed in, holding a bundle in his hands.
“Young Master, I’ve brought you a change of clothes,” the servant said.
He unwrapped the bundle, revealing a complete set of garments, from inner to outer wear.
Zhou Liu-lang snorted.
“Rare for you to be this thoughtful,” he remarked, stretching out his arms to let the maids help him change.
The servant grinned.
“Yesterday, you insisted on sending me away and wouldn’t let me stay with you. I knew then that you were completely drunk,” he said.
Zhou Liu-lang kept a stern face, waiting for the servant to continue boasting and trying to win favor. But the servant paused at that point.
“…So Lady Cheng told me to bring you these clothes,” he said, lowering his head.
Lady Cheng…
Zhou Liu-lang froze.
“What?” he asked.
The servant looked embarrassed.
“Actually… it wasn’t my idea,” he admitted. “Lady Cheng was looking for you yesterday. When she found out you were at Young Master Qin’s place, she felt relieved. But after hearing that you were drunk, she had me gather your clothes early this morning and bring them over together.”
If it were any other time, he would have gladly taken credit for such a thoughtful gesture to please his master. But knowing that the one who truly cared and deserved the credit was Lady Cheng, he didn’t dare claim it as his own.
“You’re saying she came specifically to bring me clothes?” Zhou Liu-lang took a step forward and grabbed the servant, demanding.
He moved so abruptly that the maids who were tying his sash nearly stumbled, and they couldn’t help but chide him with a few exasperated cries of “Young Master!”
“Go on, get out,” Zhou Liu-lang waved them away, still gripping the servant. “Well? Is that true?”
The servant hurriedly nodded.
“Specifically?” Zhou Liu-lang pressed again.
“Yes…” the servant nodded.
“Tell me exactly what she said, word for word, without leaving anything out,” Zhou Liu-lang urged, glaring.
“Where should I start?” the servant asked, bewildered.
Lady Cheng was looking for you yesterday…
She had been looking for him since yesterday…
Zhou Liu-lang couldn’t help but grin, though he quickly suppressed it.
“Start from yesterday,” he said, sitting down with his robe still half-open.
From yesterday…
“And be detailed,” Zhou Liu-lang added.
The servant acknowledged the order, while the maids nearby chuckled.
“Young Master, shall we go prepare a meal? You can eat while listening slowly, how does that sound?” they suggested.
Zhou Liu-lang waved a hand.
“Fine,” he said.
…
A gust of wind swept by, stirring the cherry blossoms into a flurry that scattered like snow, drawing even more laughter and delight from the people beneath the trees.
Beneath the canopy, a lively crowd had gathered – men and women, some seated, some standing – all gazing upward to admire the blossoms. Children stretched out their hands, leaping and playing under the shower of petals.
“The mountain need not be high. While Wuli Temple may be ordinary in other aspects, the grove of cherry trees planted by its founders alone ensures its incense and legacy for generations,” Qin Shi’san remarked with a smile, turning his gaze from the scenery to the girl seated across from him.
Petals had settled on her cloak and hood, softening her appearance even further.
“An unintended act, yet it bore fruit,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
“Such is the way of many things in this world,” Qin Shi’san nodded, lifting the teacup before him.
The maids had taken care to cover it with a gauze dome earlier, so not a single petal had drifted inside.
“…Have you all heard?”
A conversation drifted over from the roadside.
“Last night at Desheng Pavilion, there was a bidding war over the top courtesan.”
“What’s so unusual about that? It happens every day.”
If no one competed for her, she wouldn’t be called the top courtesan in the first place.
Qin Shi’san smiled faintly and gestured politely.
“Please try this – it’s my mother’s specialty snack,” he said.
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded and reached out to take one.
“But honestly, it’s not all that delicious,” Qin Shi’san added in a lower voice with a chuckle. “Not that I’m being disrespectful, it’s just…”
“…But this time, it’s different – it was a woman competing for the top courtesan…”
“A woman competing to be the top courtesan?”
“No, a woman competing to have the top courtesan for herself…”
As these words spread, the crowd by the roadside and under the trees burst into an uproar.
Qin Shi’san couldn’t help but pause mid-sentence and glance over with a smile.
“Did you hear that?” he asked, turning back to her. “Do you believe something like that could happen?”
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded.
“I believe it,” she said.
Qin Shi’san laughed heartily.
“Did you see it with your own eyes? How can you be so sure?” he said, taking another sip of tea.
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded again.
“I didn’t just see it – I was the one competing for the top courtesan,” she said.
“I was the one competing for the top courtesan!”
Qin Shi’san choked on his tea, spraying it out in a sudden burst.
The maids gasped in alarm, quickly fetching handkerchiefs to dab at the faint tea stains on Cheng Jiao-niang’s robe and cloak.
Cheng Jiao-niang remained composed, her expression calm as she looked at Qin Shi’san.
He stared at her for a moment.
“Congratulations on winning the beauty!” he said, raising his hands in a playful salute with a grin.
Cheng Jiao-niang returned the gesture.
“Thank you,” she replied.
…
“Zhou Fu!”
Qin Shi’san’s voice came from outside, and as he called out, he strode quickly into the room. His eyes immediately fell on Zhou Liu-lang, who was lounging in the hall watching two maids play cat’s cradle.
“You’re still here?” he said. “I made a wasted trip to your place for nothing.”
Zhou Liu-lang sat up and looked at him.
“I have something to tell you.”
They spoke at the same time, then both paused in surprise.
“No need for you to say it – I already know,” Qin Shi’san said, stepping inside and sweeping his robes aside as he sat down, waving a hand dismissively.
The two maids promptly stood and withdrew.
Zhou Liu-lang grinned, then quickly suppressed it.
“Don’t take it too hard. At least she still went out with you as planned,” he said.
Qin Shi’san frowned.
“What are you talking about?” he asked, then added with a hint of displeasure, “How could you keep something this big from me!”
“What’s so big about it?” Zhou Liu-lang replied with a laugh.
“Someone was ready to kill over it – and you don’t call that a big deal?” Qin Shi’san said. “If it’s not a big deal, then why did you drink yourself into such a state last night?”
Zhou Liu-lang was taken aback.
“You’re talking about…” He paused, then let out an “oh.” “So you know… Has it already spread all over the capital?”
“Obviously,” Qin Shi’san said impatiently. “Something this extraordinary – involving the top courtesan, the Gao family, and the divine doctor – combining beauty, power, and mystique in a once-in-a-millennium spectacle no one could have imagined – of course it would spread like wildfire.”
Zhou Liu-lang let out another “oh,” his expression darkening again as he thought of the troubles they now had to face.
“Was it solely the doing of Lady Zhu herself?” Qin Shi’san asked.
“I don’t know,” Zhou Liu-lang replied, a hint of anger in his voice. “But whoever was behind it, she didn’t seem to care – as long as her frivolous brother was happy, nothing else mattered.”
Qin Shi’san looked at him.
“So you got dead drunk over this, threw a fit, abandoned her, and ended up at my place?” he asked.
Zhou Liu-lang snorted.
“I didn’t–” he began, but Qin Shisan cut him off.
“Looking at it this way, you really aren’t any better than her frivolous brother,” Qin Shi’san said, his expression darkening.
Zhou Liu-lang glared at him, ready to spring to his feet.
“Her situation is already distressing enough – she has no choice but to swallow her pride and endure it. And what are you doing? Taking your anger out on her? Is that how an elder brother should act? Cheng Si-lang might be a bit foolish, but at least he knows how to care for his sister,” Qin Shi’san said.
“How is she distressed? She seemed perfectly happy to me…” Zhou Liu-lang retorted through gritted teeth.
Qin Shi’san let out a scornful laugh.
“Does she have to get as drunk as you did to prove she’s upset?” he said.
Zhou Liu-lang’s face tightened.
“Given how things have turned out, what else can she do?” Qin Shi’san continued. “What most people would expect, and what most would do, is to apologize – admit her mistake, offer compensation to Young Master Gao. The fifty thousand would definitely not go to the courtesan but would instead be respectfully presented to Young Master Gao, pleading with him to calm his anger. But, Zhou Fu, would you do that?”
Zhou Liu-lang’s hands, resting on his knees, clenched into fists.
Absolutely not…
“If even you wouldn’t do it, how could she?”
Qin Shi’san spoke, then sighed as he looked at him.
“She won’t even stoop to arguing with servants or subordinates – not even those of Young Master Gao. That isn’t just disdain – it’s pride. How could someone like her admit fault or lower her head, especially when she hasn’t done anything wrong?”
“This situation is clearly a trap. In a mess like this, would the kind but foolish Cheng Si-lang not feel tormented? He’d surely blame himself to the point of wishing he were dead. If she were to apologize, it might seem like a way to placate Young Master Gao, but it would only deepen Cheng Si-lang’s shame for having dragged her into this. How could someone like her push him to such despair?”
“So how can you claim she doesn’t care or that she’s happy about it? Being manipulated, struck by unexpected disaster, inexplicably making an enemy of the Gao family – and in such an ignoble way – do you think she isn’t furious and frustrated inside?”
“How could she not feel anger, sorrow, anxiety, or grief? She’s human, and all humans have emotions and desires. It’s just that she never speaks of them. Restraint like that is far more painful than indulgence.”
“But what can be done now? Will anger and frustration help? No. The only way is to find a path forward amid this predicament – and what she’s doing now is the best possible approach.”
“Set aside all the conspiracies, the schemes, the hatred – everything. Focus on one key point and cling to it tightly: the contest for the top courtesan.”
“It began as a contest for the courtesan, so let it end as one. In any contest, there are wins and losses, outcomes that satisfy and those that don’t. Let everything be attributed to this single event.”
“Competing for a courtesan is a frivolous matter, a game for the young. Since it’s absurd, it should be laughed off. If it escalates into a life-and-death feud, that would be the true absurdity.”
“Who knows if the Gao family will truly dismiss it as a laughable folly? But at least in the eyes of the world, that’s how it should be seen.”
“A young woman standing up for her brother, unafraid of power – while scholars and commoners may laugh, they’ll also have to acknowledge her courage.”
“If she were to lower her head, admit defeat, and apologize, she’d become someone who cowers before authority – and then she’d truly have no chance left.”
“So what are you so angry about? Why are you making a scene?”
Zhou Liu-lang abruptly stood up.
“I’m not angry because of that!” he snapped. “It’s not that I blame her for not bowing to the Gao family! I’m just – I’m just furious at those fools, the ones who constantly bring trouble to her doorstep.”
“And what else?” Qin Shi’san pressed.
“I’m angry that she’s still so kind to those people!” Zhou Liu-lang shouted, glaring. “Are you satisfied now? Yes, that’s exactly why I’m angry!”
He was furious – no, it was more than that. He was jealous.
“Precisely because she treats those people well, we see her goodness,” Qin Shi’san replied with a faint smile. “Would it be better if she were cold and ruthless to Cheng Si-lang just because he caused trouble? Should she have turned around and punished him harshly for that to be considered right?”
Zhou Liu-lang felt a surge of frustration, mixed with a sense of helpless defeat.
Yes, that infuriating girl – clearly so detestable, yet why did she always manage to come across as a good person?
Seeing Zhou Liu-lang’s mix of anger, embarrassment, and poorly concealed guilt, Qin Shi’san smiled and gestured for him to sit back down.
“Don’t worry too much. After all, this is an absurd situation, and she’s just a young lady. People can easily excuse a young lady for having a bit of a temper,” he said. “As for the Gao family, I’ll think of a way to mediate. If we clarify that they were both tricked by the courtesan, then in a way, both sides are victims. That should help smooth things over and resolve the matter peacefully.”
Zhou Liu-lang remained silent, his expression sullen, then turned and walked away.
“Stay for dinner before you go,” Qin Shi’san said with a laugh. “No need to rush back to apologize to her.”
“You’re the one who should apologize,” Zhou Liu-lang muttered, not slowing his steps.
“Young Master, Young Master!”
A servant came hurrying in.
“Lady Cheng is here.”
Both men were startled once again.
“Why is she here?” they said in unison.
“The city gates will close by evening – you won’t have the luxury of admiring flowers under the lanterns,” Zhou Liu-lang snorted.
Before Qin Shi’san could respond, the servant spoke up first.
“Young Master, Lady Cheng is here to pick you up,” he said cheerfully.
Pick… me up?
Zhou Liu-lang froze.
“Pick me up for what?” he asked, bewildered.
Qin Shi’san laughed, walked over, and patted him on the shoulder.
“Because she sees your sincerity,” he said. “Liu-lang, haven’t you always wondered what sincerity means? Well, right now, your heart is the answer.”
Zhou Liu-lang was momentarily lost in thought.
When was the last time he had heard those words…
Back when Xu Maoxiu and the others were still around, that girl had openly ordered them to shoot a few troublemakers in broad daylight.
“Still, these men are truly reliable. The fact that they dared to act solely on her command makes them worthy of trust.”
“Liu-lang, haven’t you always wondered what sincerity means? This is sincerity.”
Believing in her, worrying about her, without a trace of ulterior motive.
Zhou Liu-lang let out a scoff, raised his head, and started to walk away. But after a few steps, he paused and glanced back at Qin Shi’san.
“Hey, I haven’t finished telling you what I meant to say earlier,” he said.
Qin Shi’san looked at him, recalling the scene from when he had first entered the room.
“What I wanted to tell you is,” Zhou Liu-lang said with a grin, “when she came earlier, it was actually for me.”
As he spoke, he brushed his sleeves with a hint of smug satisfaction.
“She wasn’t here to keep your appointment – she came to bring me a change of clothes.”
Qin Shi’san was taken aback, watching as Zhou Liu-lang turned and swaggered away. Then he shook his head and laughed.
“So that’s how it is,” he said.
As evening approached, the streets grew busier with hurried pedestrians, fast carriages, and swift horses. Cheng Jiao-niang’s carriage moved slowly, and Zhou Liu-lang followed on horseback, matching its pace.
“Thank you for bringing me a horse,” he said after a moment of hesitation.
The spring breeze had softened, and the carriage curtains were drawn aside. Cheng Jiao-niang turned to look at him from inside.
“No need to thank me. It’s because of me that you lost your horse in the first place,” she replied.
“That’s not true,” Zhou Liu-lang said immediately.
Cheng Jiao-niang looked at him.
“It was my own doing,” he continued. “I was just angry at myself for being useless, for not being able to help you at all.”
“No one could have helped in this matter,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
Yes, what else could be done?
What wretched luck.
Zhou Liu-lang tightened his grip on the reins.
Amid the silence, they entered the household. Cheng Jiao-niang bowed, preparing to take her leave.
“Hey,” Zhou Liu-lang called out to stop her.
Cheng Jiao-niang paused and turned.
“Don’t worry too much, and don’t be upset. If you want to protect that fool, then protect him,” Zhou Liu-lang said, his face tense. “I… I’ll protect you.”
He said it – he actually said it!
Zhou Liu-lang screamed inwardly. Such an embarrassing thing to say out loud!
Leave, now!
His mind shouted at him to go, but his body remained rigid, unable to move.
Cheng Jiao-niang looked at him and smiled.
“Would you like some pastries?” she asked.
“Pastries again? Is there nothing else besides pastries?” Zhou Liu-lang muttered.
“What would you like?” Cheng Jiao-niang asked.
What would he like?
“A painting,” Zhou Liu-lang blurted out, then nodded. “A painting, like the one Qin Shi’san has.”
“Alright,” Cheng Jiao-niang agreed with a nod, then turned to leave.
Zhou Liu-lang grinned, then quickly suppressed it. After a moment’s hesitation, he followed her.
“…I want flowers too, the kind that bloom at night…”
“…It has to be even better than Qin Shi’san’s…”
…
“Madam, Madam…”
The sound of hurried footsteps shattered the early morning tranquility of the Cheng residence.
Second Madam Cheng, who had just finished her toilette, turned with a displeased expression to look at the woman rushing in.
“We’re in the capital now – don’t make such a racket and disgrace our family’s dignity,” she said.
The woman quickly slowed her steps and murmured an acknowledgment.
“What is it?” Second Madam Cheng asked casually, selecting a hairpin from a box filled with them and securing it in her hair.
“I went to Miss Ban Qin earlier to request funds, but she said there’s no money left,” the woman reported.
“What?” Second Madam Cheng exclaimed immediately. “How can there be no money? Is she trying to fool us? On what grounds is she withholding the money? What does she think she’s doing?”
Her rapid-fire questions left the maid’s ears ringing.
“What’s all this shouting about?”
Second Master Cheng, who had just returned from his morning stroll after breakfast, stepped inside with a frown of displeasure.
“This is utterly unbecoming.”
“Master, I was right all along – the Zhou family took her away just for the money,” Second Madam Cheng said, rising to her feet urgently. “Look, now she’s already starting to withhold our funds!”
Second Master Cheng let out a scornful laugh.
“Ridiculous. That’s my money – who would dare take it?” he said, then called for the steward. “I’ve already chosen the people. They’ll go to the shops today, replace all the current managers, and have the account books delivered directly to me.”
Second Madam Cheng was overjoyed. Finally, the moment had arrived – those shops were now rightfully and undeniably theirs.
“Master, Madam! Master, Madam!”
Another wave of shouting came from outside the door.
“You really ought to enforce some discipline in this household – what kind of behavior is this!” Second Master Cheng snapped, his brows furrowed in anger.
“Yes, Master,” Second Madam Cheng replied with a smile, bowing slightly. “It’s just that managing this household hasn’t been smooth for me before. But from now on, things will be better. I will ensure that everyone, from top to bottom, understands their place and follows proper order.”
As she spoke, she watched a servant stumble hastily into the room.
“What’s all this shouting about?” she began to scold, but the servant cut her off before she could finish.
“Madam, it’s terrible! There’s a crowd of people at the gate – they’ve come to collect debts!” the servant exclaimed, his face pale with panic as he pointed outside.
“Collect debts? What debts?” Second Madam Cheng asked, bewildered.
Had they come to the wrong house?
“They didn’t get the wrong place. They said it’s for the shop accounts – something about payments being due,” the servant explained.
“If it’s due, they should go to Ban Qin! Whoever handles the money should deal with it!” Second Madam Cheng snapped impatiently.
“Ban Qin said there’s no money left, so these people have come to you instead, Madam,” the servant replied.
Second Madam Cheng let out a scornful laugh.
“Why come to me?” she said. “It’s not like I–”
“Madam, they said they’re looking for the owner. Madam, you’re the owner now,” the servant reminded her.
Second Madam Cheng was taken aback, then grew even angrier.
“Now they remember I’m the owner?” she shouted.
“Master, Master!”
Before she could finish, another person rushed in.
“What is it now?” Second Master Cheng felt his head spinning. There had been no peace since early morning.
“Master, everyone outside is saying that our young lady spent fifty thousand to secure the top courtesan!” the servant reported, his face pale.
Fifty thousand! Securing the top courtesan! The young lady!
Second Master Cheng and Second Madam Cheng were instantly stunned.
What kind of joke is this!
“So, this is why Ban Qin said there’s no money left?” a quick-witted maid remarked, suddenly understanding.
