“That’s wonderful! Food, lodging, and entertainment—your Lu family’s hospitality is quite good. If there were a few beautiful maids to serve us, that would be even better.”

Seeing “Young Master Wan’s” satisfied expression and the greedy gleam in his eyes, obviously looking forward to days of eating and drinking at the Lu family mansion, Lu Zheng felt even greater contempt.

Now that the business was settled and they had become partners, the Lu family truly didn’t care about the silver spent entertaining business partners. But looking at “Young Master Wan’s” expression made Lu Zheng feel disgusted.

“Lu Xi, escort Young Master Wan’s party to the guest quarters.” Lu Zheng flicked his sleeve and turned away—out of sight, out of mind.

Pang Xiao took Qin Yining’s hand and, bringing along Huzi, Bingtang, and Ji Yun, happily followed behind Lu Xi toward the guest quarters.

Though the Lu family mansion was just a branch residence, it was still a century-old mansion that had been renovated several times. The guest quarter buildings looked obviously newer, apparently constructed for the convenience of entertaining guests.

While Qin Yining and Pang Xiao showed appreciation for the scenery, they secretly memorized the layout and directions along the way.

Lu Xi also continuously observed the two, seeing their expressions of amazement and confirming Lu Zheng’s earlier speculation.

It seemed the Wan family of Guangtong Company was indeed a nouveau riche family without much foundation, and this Young Master Wan was probably a wastrel with little education. He had initially thought this person had deliberately reminded him on the boat and helped the young master solve a problem. Now he understood—he had overestimated this person.

The guest quarters were in the northeast corner of the Lu mansion, connected to the outer courtyard with a side gate opening onto the back street for convenient access. The entire courtyard had three main rooms with two side rooms on each side. The reverse-facing building had been converted into a small kitchen—another thoughtful touch from the Lu family, allowing long-term guests to order from the main kitchen or cook for themselves.

After surveying the courtyard, Qin Yining leaned against Pang Xiao with a tired appearance.

Pang Xiao then said: “Is my beauty tired?”

“Mm. These days in prison with poor food and sleep—how could I not be tired?”

Lu Xi smiled and bowed beside them: “Earlier there were some misunderstandings. The young master has already prepared wine and dishes for you both, which will be sent shortly.”

He turned to introduce the two sturdy servant women and two pretty maids in their teens behind him.

“These are specially arranged by the young master for Young Master Wan and Lady Ning—Mama Hua and Mama Zhang.”

Two women wearing dark green vests stepped forward to bow: “Greetings to Young Master Wan and Lady Ning.”

Lu Xi continued: “These are Su Lan and Su Fang.”

“Greetings to young master and lady.” Two maids wearing light green narrow-sleeved jackets over dark green vests bowed together.

Pang Xiao’s eyes rolled around the two young maids in a circle, then he shook his head in dissatisfaction: “Don’t you have anyone more attractive in your mansion? Like Fuxue?”

Lu Xi’s fist instantly clenched, veins jumping twice on his forehead as he smiled without warmth: “Beauty like Lady Ning’s is quite rare.”

Pang Xiao waved his hand generously: “Forget it, forget it. You may go—we don’t need you serving here.”

As if anyone would want to stay and serve you! Lu Xi kept complaining internally, but given that the other party was a business partner, he could only forcibly restrain himself, respectfully agreeing and bowing before withdrawing.

Pang Xiao embraced Qin Yining’s waist and entered the house, having Bingtang follow the two maids to fetch food and drink, Ji Yun accompany the two nannies to prepare the bedroom, keeping only Huzi by his side.

When no one was around, Pang Xiao and Huzi carefully inspected the surroundings again. Only after confirming no one was monitoring or eavesdropping did they relax.

Pang Xiao could finally sit upright normally, smiling: “Ah, deliberately hunching my neck is more tiring than fighting a war.”

Qin Yining giggled: “Isn’t speaking in that coquettish voice tiring for me?”

“Actually, I quite like you this way.”

Qin Yining couldn’t help but glare at him: “I’m afraid of forming a habit and losing my dignity when we return, which would set a bad example for the children.”

“That makes sense too.” Pang Xiao nodded, stroking his chin.

Watching the couple’s conversation happily circle back to their children, Huzi couldn’t help but chuckle.

Pang Xiao glared at Huzi, who immediately wisely fell silent and retreated to a corner.

Qin Yining’s face felt somewhat hot. She coughed to clear her throat and asked seriously: “Do you plan to tell the Lu family about your candidate for them to arrange?”

“That’s exactly my intention.” Thinking of Lu Zheng’s earlier appearance, Pang Xiao smiled and shook his head: “Though he could be considered a gentleman, his experience is ultimately shallow.”

“It’s because you acted too realistically.”

Pang Xiao laughed heartily, saying proudly: “Seeing him look at me with contempt, I couldn’t help but want to laugh. But this deal is really good—no initial investment required, and we get two benefits for the price of one.”

Qin Yining counted on her fingers to help him calculate: “You don’t need to invest capital now, and the Lu family will arrange for someone to go to Guangtong Company in the future. Your person can become imperial inspector, giving us another layer of control over the old capital affairs. As long as our contact with the Qiu family doesn’t get exposed, everything will be fine.”

“Exactly. After the matter succeeds, we’ll withdraw gracefully. We can have the Lu family help arrange our person for free while making the Qiu family hemorrhage money. Afterward, when they settle accounts with each other, they’ll probably become enemies.”

Huzi clicked his tongue: “They’re really going to be thoroughly deceived.”

“If we don’t strike first, we’ll be the ones in trouble later.” Pang Xiao propped his chin with one hand, smiling: “In the coming days, I’ll have to trouble my lady to continue accompanying this young master on scenic tours.”

Qin Yining smiled charmingly: “It would be my honor.”

To play the role completely, in the following days at the Lu family, Pang Xiao fully displayed the petty behavior of a wastrel young master. While showing off wealth, he also tried to take advantage of the Lu family, taking Qin Yining to visit all the famous scenic spots and historic sites around Danzhou City.

Qin Yining went out with Pang Xiao every day for entertainment, returning to the Lu family for good wine and fine food. Their days were blissful—perhaps the most peaceful and sweet time they’d had since their wedding.

Lu Zheng had initially paid attention to and investigated Young Master Wan, but seeing his behavior, Lu Zheng eventually couldn’t even be bothered to glance at him. Occasionally hearing Lu Xi mention that the “Young Master Wan” staying in the guest quarters spent every day taking his beauty sightseeing, then looking at his own busy schedule and recalling Young Master Wan’s contemptible face, he couldn’t help feeling irritated.

“Young master, please drink some hot tea and rest a while.” Lu Xi placed a delicate white porcelain tea bowl beside Lu Zheng.

Lu Zheng nodded and sipped the tea: “Besides eating, drinking, and merrymaking, what else has that Wan fellow been doing?”

“I haven’t seen him do anything else. These days he seems busy trying to please that Lady Ning, buying lots of gold and silver jewelry, rouge and powder, silks and satins. They couldn’t fit everything in the guest quarters, so he had people send things back to the boat.”

“Mm. How is Lady Ning getting along with him? Is she growing tired of him?”

Lu Xi wasn’t surprised—Lu Zheng had developed feelings for Lady Ning, something he’d noticed long ago.

“Lady Ning is the same as always. Young master, you’re very concerned about Lady Ning?”

Lu Zheng snorted and spoke directly: “That wastrel is sullying a beauty for nothing. The beauty is just blind.”

Lu Xi agreed: “That Wan fellow just had better luck, meeting the beauty first. If young master likes her, using some methods would naturally get her. Looking at Young Master Wan’s appearance, he’s just an empty shell. Young master is handsome and dashing—certainly no worse than Young Master Wan—plus with the Lu family’s foundation here…”

Lu Zheng felt somewhat melancholy: “But when I asked last time, Lady Ning directly refused.”

Lu Xi shook his head in amusement.

Given Lu Zheng’s status, all his women eagerly attached themselves to him without Lu Zheng needing to speak. Among the major and minor maids in the mansion, which one with any beauty didn’t want to become Lu Zheng’s concubine?

“Young master, you’ve just had too smooth sailing in romance.” Perhaps the young master had never truly been infatuated with any woman.

Lu Zheng was stunned for a moment, as if lost in memories, before saying after a long while: “Yes. Come to think of it, there really hasn’t been any woman I’ve yearned for but couldn’t obtain.”

Master and servant fell into brief silence.

A moment later, Lu Zheng came to his senses: “Go open the treasury. I remember someone recently gave me a set of gold-inlaid jade and jadeite jewelry. Including the earrings and accessories inside, there are one hundred and eight pieces in total. Send the whole set with the box to Lady Ning.”

Lu Xi said in surprise: “But didn’t young mistress see that set the other day?”

Lu Zheng said: “She has plenty of jadeite—she won’t mind this one set. Go, and carefully observe whether Lady Ning is pleased or not.”

“Yes.” Lu Xi thought for a moment and suggested: “Young master, when sending jewelry this time, why not avoid that Young Master Wan? Perhaps she refused young master so sternly because Young Master Wan was present and she couldn’t agree?”

“That makes sense.” Lu Zheng considered: “Forget it, don’t go fetch it yourself—I’ll have young mistress go. It’s easier for women to talk among themselves.”

Lu Xi hesitantly advised: “Wouldn’t it be inappropriate for young mistress to know?”

“What’s inappropriate?” Lu Zheng raised his eyebrows in confusion: “She’ll enter the family sooner or later and will know then anyway. Besides, since she’s the legitimate wife, shouldn’t she handle such matters?”

Lu Xi thought about it and found it reasonable, so he said no more.

Thus, when Qin Yining was discussing with Pang Xiao where to go sightseeing that day, someone came to the guest quarters with a message.

Soon, Bingtang walked to the veranda: “Lady Ning, the eldest young mistress requests an audience.”

Qin Yining raised her eyebrows in surprise: “The eldest young mistress is here to see me?”

Bingtang said at the door: “Yes.”

Qin Yining exchanged glances with Pang Xiao, then stood up: “I’ll go see what she wants. Maybe I can get some information.”

Pang Xiao pondered for a moment but shook his head: “No, you shouldn’t go. This eldest young mistress never appeared before and suddenly comes now—Lu Zheng must have sent her. Lu Zheng never thought much of me from the beginning, so there’s no social interaction between noble ladies. Her coming to find you must have a purpose. After all, the Lu family dominates here—it’s better not to take risks.”

“You make sense. Then I won’t go.”

Pang Xiao simply wrapped his arm around Qin Yining’s shoulder and headed out: “Come, let’s go out first and discuss where to have fun today.”

Bingtang, Ji Yun, and Huzi immediately followed.

The group walked to the courtyard gate and saw a beautiful woman in a bright red jacket with full sleeves and a dark green pleated skirt standing with her hands clasped not far away. The woman was in her prime, dignified and lovely, with scholarly elegance in her features, also looking over curiously.