Ziyu stopped looking at the tearful Yun Niang and turned his gaze back to the rain-dampened emerald bamboo leaves outside the window. He spoke to her in a low voice, “When my father, the king, faced that crisis, it was your father and a group of loyal officers who protected me and my brother as we left the Eastern Palace. Unfortunately, my brother was too weak and couldn’t survive the poison in that cup. I was lucky to have your protection and barely managed to survive. I am grateful for all of this…”
He paused for a moment, then continued, “However, although Mian Tang wasn’t originally from the Eastern Palace, she has made significant contributions to Yangshan. Those businesses and cash flows you say she embezzled – which one wasn’t carefully arranged and managed by her? Even if she wanted to take them, it would be her due.”
What Yun Niang couldn’t bear most was that no matter what mistakes Liu Mian Tang made, in the young master’s eyes, they all became countless virtues.
She bit her lip and said, “If Sister Liu felt wrong, it would be fine if she took the cash flow from the shops. But the accounts are also missing your private assets, young master. Those were funds that your father… carefully hidden for emergencies!”
Ziyu smiled bitterly and said wistfully, “That old fortune was placed in a very secure location. Mian Tang informed me of it before she left. You needn’t worry about this matter anymore.”
Hearing this, Yun Niang was stunned. The young master had never mentioned Liu Mian Tang transferring the private assets before. She couldn’t help but feel alarmed and hesitantly asked, “I took over the accounts before Sister Liu left. Why didn’t she tell me about this? Could it be that she didn’t trust me?”
As she said this, Yun Niang’s eyes welled up with tears again as if hurt by Liu Mian Tang’s suspicion.
However, Ziyu hadn’t noticed her aggrieved appearance. He continued standing by the window without turning around.
Yun Niang wanted to say more, but Ziyu interrupted her: “Let’s end this matter here. I’ll find a way to deal with the deficit in the accounts. Don’t cause any more trouble for Mian Tang in the future… I’m tired. You may leave now.”
Yun Niang bit her lip. With the loss of six elite guards today, she was in the wrong no matter what she said. It would be better to wait for Ziyu’s anger to subside before making further plans…
So she curtsied, gently reminding Ziyu to rest well, and then turned to leave.
After Yun Niang’s figure disappeared from the window, Secretary Qin finally spoke, “Young master, did Miss Liu make such careful arrangements because she discovered irregularities in the accounts?”
Ziyu nodded slowly and said, “Someone has been siphoning money from the stronghold’s cash flow, and not just one person. So Mian Tang simply removed the entire cash flow, hid the old assets, and created a separate set of books. This way, those greedy individuals would have no trail to follow and would naturally reveal their true colors…”
As he said this, his heart ached slightly, and his eyes couldn’t hide the pain, “But back then, I blamed her for being jealous and unwilling to delegate power, always groundlessly envious of Yun Niang… Mr. Qin, did I make a mistake back then?”
Secretary Qin shook his head helplessly and comforted him, “Miss Liu’s ambitions didn’t lie here. It would have been useless for you to force her to stay, young master. Moreover, you are destined to return to the capital in the future and reclaim the throne. Miss Liu has a strong personality, which is suitable for a military officer, but as an empress, she lacks the necessary breadth of mind. It can only be said that she’s not meant to walk the same path as you!”
However, Secretary Qin left one thing unsaid: judging by Miss Liu’s abilities alone, she was unparalleled. Although Yun Niang had the strong support of the former Eastern Palace faction, compared to Miss Liu, she fell far short! If Miss Liu had reliable support from her paternal clan, she could not only be an empress but even become an empress regnant!
But Secretary Qin was not part of the former Eastern Palace faction. Currently, Yun Niang’s influence in Yangshan was at its peak, and her father, Sun Liansheng, held military power. Secretary Qin didn’t want to incur the hostility of the Eastern Palace faction, so he naturally wouldn’t voice his true thoughts.
Ziyu remained silent. He understood that Secretary Qin’s words represented the sentiments of the former Eastern Palace faction. Liu Mian Tang’s abilities were too strong, and being a woman, it was naturally difficult for her to win everyone’s approval. In the past, he had maintained the balance by intervening personally.
But when he considered marrying Mian Tang, numerous obstacles arose. Moreover, at that time, the Huaiyang Wang’s troops were closely watching Yangshan, causing significant losses to their forces. More and more people on the mountain advocated for surrendering and taking a conciliatory approach.
He let her go, not because he had truly given up, but in hopes of uniting the scattered hearts and overcoming the temporary crisis.
However, he hadn’t expected her heart to be so resolute that she would marry someone else as soon as she left the mountain.
This time, the hidden piece she had planted took effect again. When news of the account deficit spread, the amount of money reported from various places was even more than what Liu Mian Tang had hidden and transferred. Many people thought Mian Tang had absconded with the money and took the opportunity to report inflated deficits, attempting to frame the already departed Mian Tang.
Looking at the figures Secretary Qin had compiled, Ziyu let out a cold laugh – what a bunch of shameless opportunists! They couldn’t wait to frame Mian Tang.
Looking again at the thick book of true accounts that Mian Tang had stayed up late writing for him before she left, Ziyu’s heart ached once more.
Her handwriting was still so ugly. Such a brilliant woman, yet she lacked patience for holding a pen… Turning to the last page of the accounts, there was a line written with great effort to make it neat – “Those who achieve great things must have a well-thought-out plan. There’s no need to rush for momentary satisfaction. Once you have a clear understanding, proceed slowly and steadily…”
According to Mian Tang’s suggestion, even after the embezzlers were exposed, they shouldn’t act hastily. Yangshan was at a critical juncture, and if they moved too quickly to purge the Crown Prince’s faction, it could easily lead to unrest.
If she hadn’t left, she would certainly have had a way to deal with these people by now. And seeing him angry because of these people, she would surely nestle on his shoulder like a kitten, gently comforting him.
Thinking of this, Ziyu felt another pang in his heart. Everyone around him said she wasn’t suitable for him. But who knew the other side of Mian Tang – her fiery competence? Her heart was the softest, which is why she couldn’t bear to see him in a dilemma and gave up everything in Yangshan.
Having loved a woman like Liu Mian Tang, how could his broken heart accommodate anyone else?
Even if everything went as planned and he successfully reclaimed the position that should have been his, what meaning would it have if she wasn’t standing by his side?
But now, with great affairs unfinished and power struggles sprouting like weeds after rain, he could only forge ahead alone through dangerous times. When the great task was accomplished, he would personally kneel before Mian Tang and bring her back to his side.
As night fell and bamboo shadows flickered outside the window, Liu Yu, Liu Ziyu, the fourth-generation direct descendant of the founding emperor of Da Yan, touched the pouch close to his chest, spending another long night as usual…
Meanwhile, in the residence on North Street, life continued as usual with smoke rising from the kitchen chimney daily.
With money in hand, Mian Tang hired many more painters for ceramic painting and coloring. These people were all personally vetted by Mr. Chen.
Although these people’s painting skills were not as good as Mr. Chen’s, with their help, tasks like drawing branches and flowers could be delegated to them. Mr. Chen only needed to create samples and design unique patterns, leaving most of his remaining time to slowly enjoy Mother Li’s delicious food with a small pot of wine.
Mian Tang checked the progress of the orders daily, feeling confident that they could complete the work before the deadline. This allowed her some free time for socializing.
Since arriving in Lingquan Town, most of Mrs. Cui’s social activities on North Street had been on the neighborhood benches, and she wasn’t very familiar with the noble ladies of Lingquan Town.
But with the introduction from the He family’s third young lady, things were quite different. Liu Mian Tang finally had the opportunity to attend tea parties with the ladies and young misses of Lingquan Town.
Mian Tang knew that these social engagements were necessary for business, as knowing more people meant more opportunities. So she took these activities seriously. However, her jewelry box was rather sparse, and she needed to add some pieces to maintain her appearance. But after visiting several shops, the beautiful ones were too expensive, and the affordable ones weren’t to her liking. It seemed better to wear the old pieces from her jewelry box!
Unexpectedly, on this morning, her husband quietly handed her a box wrapped in plain silk. When she opened it, inside was a complete set of beryl-inlaid headdresses. The designs were unlike anything available in the shops, and both the bird-head hairpin and the flower-vine-like necklace perfectly matched Mian Tang’s radiant temperament.
However, you get what you pay for, and such intricately inlaid headdresses wouldn’t be cheap!
Mian Tang looked at them with wide eyes, not daring to wear them, and carefully asked her husband how much they had cost.
Cui Xingzhou said calmly, “I had them made through an acquaintance. The materials and craftsmanship are more thoughtful than those in regular shops, so they didn’t cost much. If you like them, I can order more for you in the future.”
Counting back, this was the second time her husband had personally bought something for her since the perfume. As the son of a wealthy family, her husband had refined taste, so although he didn’t give her many things, each one was exquisite.
Mian Tang then felt at ease to put them on, but the clasp of the necklace was a bit complicated, and she couldn’t fasten it properly. Cui Xingzhou walked to the dressing table and reached out to fasten it for her.
Mian Tang’s skin was fair, and her slender neck appeared even more translucent white against the emerald-green beryl. Mian Tang looked very satisfied, feeling endless joy in her heart, and couldn’t help but look up and smile sweetly at her husband behind her.
Cui Jiu unconsciously reached out to gently caress her cheek, feeling its smoothness like mutton-fat jade…
Just then, they heard Mother Li’s heavy cough. She was standing at the door holding freshly ironed clothes.
To be honest, Mother Li had watched the previous scene with her heart pounding, doubting if her old eyes were deceiving her.
The Wang had never been one for romance, and even if he was acting to reassure Miss Liu, personally helping her with the necklace and caressing her face… was going too far!
She could see now that Miss Liu was deeply in love with the Wang, genuinely fond of him. With Wang being so kind to her, wouldn’t she be giving her heart in vain, unable to extricate herself?
At this rate, even if she met a suitable young man in the future if she constantly compared him to Huaiyang Wang, wouldn’t she feel disappointed, have unrealistic expectations, and thus miss out on a good match, ruining her life?
What a sin! Mother Li entered with a dark face, not realizing that this unspoken complaint had become her recent mantra.
When Mian Tang went to the courtyard to eat, Mother Li deliberately slowed her pace to help the Wang change, then carefully and quietly said, “If the Wang is so good to that young lady, I’m afraid she’ll cling to you, and not let go… What should we do?”
Cui Xingzhou calmly adjusted his sleeves, ignoring Mother Li’s words, and directly instructed, “Mian Tang has a cold constitution. Zhao Quan said if it’s not treated, she might develop a chronic illness. I’ve already ordered some nourishing medicinal ingredients to be sent. Follow the prescription and prepare them for her to eat… Also, she’s busy now, and it’s hard for you to manage everything alone. Tomorrow, a matchmaker will send two maids. They’re not from the Wang’s mansion. Just teach them the rules carefully.”
Mother Li didn’t dare to be presumptuous. Whatever was done, the Wang had his plans, and it wasn’t for the servants to question. This was all she could do for Miss Liu.
However, after Liu Mian Tang and Cui Jiu left together, Mother Li was somewhat dumbfounded when she saw the nourishing ingredients sent by Wang’s mansion steward.
These medicinal herbs were indeed precious and nourishing. However, items like the ginger and deer antler paste, as well as the secret recipe of Curculigo and chicken blood pills, while effective at dispelling cold, were mostly used by noble families to prepare their wives and concubines for pregnancy. What was the prince’s intention in giving Miss Liu these medicines? Could he be worried that she might remarry in the future and be unable to bear children?
After leaving home, Miantang bid a sweet farewell to her husband at the entrance of the alley. She was heading to a tea party for the ladies, while her husband was visiting an old acquaintance from the capital who was passing through town. They went their separate ways.
When Miss Liu arrived at the He family’s mansion, most of the ladies and young misses of Lingquan Town had already gathered. Lingquan Town wasn’t large, and there were limited festivals throughout the year. These wealthy ladies could only showcase their new clothes and accessories at such tea parties. Therefore, each gathering was a dazzling display of beauty and jewelry.
However, the local ladies’ carefully prepared finery was once again outshone by the out-of-town Mrs. Cui. When Liu Miantang appeared in a moon-white narrow-sleeved ru-skirt ensemble, everyone’s eyes were fixed on her. The current fashion favored narrow-sleeved tops paired with skirts. This style of slim-fitting clothes best accentuated one’s figure, revealing any excess flesh around the waist or imperfect body shape. Not everyone could pull it off.
Yet, these challenging clothes looked perfect on Mrs. Cui, highlighting her voluptuous yet graceful figure. If one were to call her thin, her curves were ample in all the right places. If one were to call her plump, her waist was so slender it could barely be grasped. It truly aroused envy in others!
Not only was she naturally beautiful, but she also knew how to dress well. Her headdress alone was exquisitely styled and expensive, making others green with envy.
The ladies present had previously inquired about Mrs. Cui. They heard that her husband’s business had failed, and they had settled in a house on North Street. North Street wasn’t a place where wealthy families lived; it was mostly inhabited by small business owners or where officials kept their mistresses. Therefore, these wealthy ladies harbored some contempt for Liu Miantang.
They also knew how Liu Miantang had secured a position with the He family. She had merely cleverly bought the road for transporting clay and extorted her competitors. In short, she was seen as a newly rich upstart, and the ladies couldn’t help but look down on her.
However, upon seeing Liu Miantang in person, they discovered that this out-of-town woman exuded an air of nobility. Her appearance and attire were far from ordinary, and she possessed an almost unapproachable aura. The ladies’ initial plan to give her the cold shoulder quickly crumbled in the face of Liu Miantang’s natural presence.
He Zhen, as the hostess, was exceptionally friendly, warmly guiding Liu Miantang to her seat. The Third Miss had thoughtfully arranged activities like flower arranging and playing flower cards to pass the time.
However, Liu Miantang seemed unfamiliar with these pastimes favored by the ladies and merely watched with a smile from the side. When women gather, they’re not as driven by ulterior motives as men, so they engage in casual chatter.
To Liu Miantang, compared to the benches in front of North Street, the only difference was the lack of fragrant roasted melon seeds. The gossip shared by these ladies, however, was far more interesting than the neighborhood talk on North Street.
For instance, they discussed how the nephew of the local garrison commander had been missing, and his wife’s family had taken the matter to the officials, demanding a divorce to spare her from living as a widow.
When this topic came up, He Zhen tried to draw Liu Miantang into the conversation, intending to see if she knew anything. Miantang, however, remained composed, feigning complete ignorance. She wasn’t foolish enough to reveal that the wayward nephew had climbed over her courtyard wall. After all, her husband had said he spent a considerable sum to silence the court officials and prevent the case from leaking out, which would have tarnished her reputation.
Seeing that she couldn’t extract any information, He Zhen didn’t press further and simply smiled, changing the subject.
When it was time for desserts, the conversation somehow turned to the upcoming grand wedding of Prince Huaiyang. After all, these porcelain factory ladies loved noble weddings. Such events required exquisite porcelain decorations and complete sets of new tableware. The custom-made bowls and plates for the wedding were a highly profitable business.
Liu Miantang perked up at this topic, her eyes sparkling as she listened to the ladies discussing the future Princess Huaiyang, Miss Lian. Meanwhile, Mama Li maintained her usual stern expression. Several times, when the excited ladies looked up, they saw the old woman glaring at them with her large, copper bell-like eyes, which was rather frightening.
The Third Miss’s face turned pale upon hearing this topic, looking quite unwell. Liu Miantang, who had been quietly eating desserts and observing, naturally noticed that some ladies were deliberately watching He Zhen’s reaction while discussing this, though she didn’t know the underlying story.
As the tea party was ending, Liu Miantang, having drunk too much tea, went to the restroom with Mama Li. When she came out, she happened to overhear two departing ladies talking quietly behind a rockery: “Did you see how pale the Third Miss He looked earlier? She’s taken it to heart. She’s not getting any younger, yet she’s holding out hope of becoming a concubine in the prince’s mansion. It’s just a daydream! Why doesn’t Master He do something about this?”
The other lady, who seemed familiar with the He family, replied softly, “How could he not try? But he can’t control her! They say Prince Huaiyang is so handsome that girls fall for him at first sight. Now, the Third Miss won’t consider anyone else…”
The two ladies, unaware of Liu Miantang’s presence, giggled quietly before leaving. Liu Miantang hadn’t expected to overhear such a secret about He Zhen while using the restroom. It seemed that even the noblest tea parties were similar to the benches on North Street – they all relied on others’ misfortunes to highlight their happiness.
Liu Miantang sighed, then turned to see He Zhen standing behind her with a tense expression. The gossip had reached the subject’s ears as well. The situation became awkward. Liu Miantang would normally have pretended not to hear and smiled politely before leaving. However, she couldn’t ignore He Zhen’s vulnerable state. She decided to address the issue directly: “Third Miss, how can you let people gossip like this? Come, let’s go after those two ladies and make them apologize to you.”
The Third Miss He smiled bitterly, “What they said is true. What right do I have to confront them?”
To be honest, Miantang had admired this capable Third Miss. She hadn’t expected such an intelligent girl to be so foolish in matters of marriage, willing to be a concubine to Prince Huaiyang rather than a principal wife to someone else.
For a moment, even the eloquent Liu Miantang was at a loss for words. She could only say awkwardly, “Third Miss, you seem… a bit confused about this.”
But He Zhen appeared quite composed. After taking a deep breath, she regained her composure and said, “You don’t understand. When you fall in love with such a man, all other men seem like mud in a ditch. Who said anything about wanting to be a concubine? I’d rather remain unmarried than settle for less…” She then straightened her face and said coolly, “It’s getting late. Mrs. Cui, please return home.” With that, she quickly left with her maid without looking back.
Having been dismissed by the hostess, Liu Miantang naturally had to leave this awkward situation quickly. When she returned home, she said to Mama Li, “To think there are such foolish women in this world. She doesn’t lack money, and she’s quite pretty. How could she be so stupid as to want to be someone’s concubine? That Prince Huaiyang must not be a decent man. He’s probably tricking girls with sweet talk!”
Mama Li couldn’t quite respond to this. Coincidentally, Prince Huaiyang had just returned from visiting a retired official. As he lifted the curtain, he overheard Miantang criticizing him.
Mama Li helplessly watched Liu Miantang happily go to greet her husband. She sighed softly and quickly retreated. At her age, having served for so long and saved a considerable fortune, she hadn’t yet had the chance to enjoy retirement in her hometown. It was best to avoid such potentially volatile situations.
As for Cui Xingzhou, upon entering and hearing Miantang’s harsh criticism of himself, he initially thought she had suddenly regained her memory and wanted to settle scores with him. To his surprise, she bounded towards him like an excited rabbit, busying herself with helping him change and wash his face, showing no signs of having remembered anything.
Upon further inquiry, Cui Xingzhou realized that he had an unknown romantic entanglement in Lingquan Town. However, he had no recollection of this He Third Miss, let alone deliberately leading her on to the point where she refused to marry and was eager to become his concubine.