The head of the Zhen family was the Jiangning Textile Commissioner—this was also a lucrative position.

Moreover, although the Zhen family came from Plain White Banner bondservant origins, their old lady was His Majesty’s wet nurse. Kangxi had lost his mother at an early age and had very deep feelings for this wet nurse.

Furthermore, the head of the Zhen family had served as His Majesty’s study companion and had also served as an Imperial Guard—he was one of His Majesty’s trusted confidants.

He was a local power in Jinling, and now was even more ascendant than the legendary four great families of Jia, Shi, Wang, and Xue.

Their family’s wealth was also famous.

To say their family had no involvement in the salt business—was that possible?

However, these families generally wouldn’t personally enter the field themselves. Either their retainers did it, or their servants, or perhaps they used the names of female family members from the rear courtyard to do business.

Officials themselves weren’t allowed to conduct business.

So when they truly needed to cut off their arm to save their body, as long as they withdrew in time, they could sever the connection to themselves. They would just inevitably suffer losses.

For these families, as long as they pulled back in time and didn’t oppose the court, Kangxi had no intention of investigating to the very end, especially regarding his wet nurse’s family.

Lin Ruhai believed their family should have been among the first wave to receive the news. The possibility they had taken action… was very high. Although there was no direct evidence indicating the Zhen family had acted, the Bai family that depended on the Zhen family had indeed acted.

However, when His Majesty’s imperial edict arrived and he specifically sent an imperial commissioner, the Bai family withdrew and even made special efforts to cover their tracks. Unfortunately, heaven’s net is wide-meshed but lets nothing through.

Now the Bai family hadn’t been raided yet. Without thinking, one knew that now with this calling card arriving, it was nothing more than wanting to smooth things over, hoping he would spare the Bai family.

Perhaps they even thought he didn’t know—they only knew that Master Zhen’s rear courtyard had a concubine from the Bai family.

Previously they should have also wanted to plead, but since he was assassinated and injured and wouldn’t see outside guests, ignoring all calling cards, they couldn’t find an opportunity. Comparatively, the inner quarters were a breakthrough point.

The steward was the first person to screen the calling cards sent to the gatehouse.

Previously, the Zhen family’s calling cards had wanted to visit the master, and the master had refused them all. But now it had changed to inviting Concubine Mei. He didn’t dare make the decision himself and took it to the master.

The words on this calling card were pleasant, saying things like how they were old relatives with the Jia family with deep affection, and how the old lady in their family had been very fond of Jia Min back in the day. Since she married out so many years ago, they’d had no chance to meet. Now that Lin Ruhai was serving in an official position here, they wanted to ask Concubine Mei carefully about Daiyu’s situation to comfort the elderly.

Additionally, they’d heard he was injured, so they wanted to understand whether he currently needed anything. Their family lived not far from here—whatever medicinal materials were needed, just ask.

Lin Ruhai didn’t want Concubine Mei to go and offend the Zhen family, because he wouldn’t let the Bai family off. In that case, not meeting was the best choice.

After all, His Majesty’s favor and honor toward the Zhen family was very deep. So far, during several southern tours, he had stayed at their home.

The wet nurse’s nursing affection, plus the study companion’s companionship—these were not things ordinary people could compare to.

In the future, there would be plenty of time.

So Concubine Mei fell ill.

Because of the arduous journey and the fear along the way, after arriving in Yangzhou and feeling at ease, she collapsed from illness. So she could only regretfully decline all calling cards. As for there being another concubine in the residence—yes, there was, but the calling card had specifically named Concubine Mei, so it had nothing to do with the other concubine.

Yun Shuyao knew about this matter, but Concubine Mei didn’t. After Yun Shuyao learned of it, she asked quite a bit about news regarding the Zhen family.

For instance, Kangxi was an emperor who very much liked to travel around. He already had multiple experiences with southern tours. This wasn’t purely for leisure and recreation but had other political significance.

For example, further easing tensions between Manchu and Han peoples, winning over the clan families of Jiangnan, pacifying the people’s hearts, and investigating the people’s conditions.

Moreover, it was quite coincidental—the head of the Zhen family had a son called Zhen Baoyu who contrasted with the Jia family’s Jia Baoyu. One was “true,” one was “false”—speaking of it was quite interesting.

Moreover, speaking of the Zhen family, one had to mention the Zhen family’s old matriarch.

Her life experience was quite legendary when told. She was a bondservant who entered the palace to become a prince’s wet nurse—that is, the current emperor’s wet nurse. Later her own son became a study companion. She also had a daughter who married Prince Ping Narsu. One must know that Prince Ping was an Iron Cap Prince.

One could say she was a model of class advancement.

No wonder Lin Ruhai didn’t want to oppose them now—their family was currently at the height of imperial favor.

The Zhen family received the reply and was angry, yet also helpless.

The person was ill and didn’t want to attend the appointment—could they directly say the other party wasn’t sick and must come out?

If it were an ordinary household doing this, it wouldn’t matter much. But Lin Ruhai wasn’t some unknown minor figure either. Moreover, right now Yangzhou city had His Majesty’s imperial commissioner, and their family served as Jiangning Textile Commissioner while also being the current emperor’s eyes and ears in Jiangnan. This time they had already been somewhat derelict in duty. If they went too far, truly angering His Majesty, they would be the ones suffering losses.

Inevitably though, they added another entry to Lin Ruhai’s account.

The Bai family was ultimately raided.

By this time it was already the final stages. Raiding these families greatly enriched the national treasury, and quite a bit of those things would flow back into the market.

Lin Ruhai also took this opportunity to purchase good farmland and good shops nearby. Those good locations had long had owners. Unless they let them go, others wanting to buy had no opportunity, unless they used authoritarian force.

Yun Shuyao also took this opportunity to purchase three estates—one for her and one each for her two children.

At this time, Concubine Mei’s illness also “recovered.” Only then did she learn that someone had sent her a calling card back then. However, Lin Ruhai added another sentence—at that time, outside was still somewhat chaotic, so it was inadvisable to go out.

This made Concubine Mei recall the various dangers that occurred on the road. She shivered and had not a single objection.

Staying here was better than going out to worry and fear. Moreover, the Lin residence in Yangzhou was different from the previous courtyard. Strolling and walking around, it wasn’t so boring. However, now she should be able to go out, right? Now the Zhen family had sent another calling card.

She wanted to go out, and at this time, naturally she could.

Lin Ruhai asked Yun Shuyao, “Do you want to go?”

Yun Shuyao wanted to go. She also wanted to meet the Zhen family people.

So Yun Shuyao and Concubine Mei went to the Zhen family together.

The Zhen family’s headquarters was in Jinling. The one in Yangzhou was just a secondary residence.

Never mind anything else—just looking at the exterior and layout, it appeared more wealthy than the Lin residence.

This was still just a residence they didn’t often come to. It had a similar appeal to the decorations of the Jia family at Rongguo Mansion, which is to say, it also very much matched Concubine Mei’s aesthetic.

So when she entered, her eyes surveyed the surroundings with great interest. This glance was seen by the gatehouse people as unsophisticated. Although the other party concealed it, Yun Shuyao still saw the contempt and arrogance in their eyes.

Yun Shuyao: “…”

The one who sent them the calling card wasn’t the Zhen family’s head wife but their family’s concubine. The invited guests, apart from concubines from the Lin family, also included concubines from several other households.

The head wife was still in Jinling, while the two concubines the head of the Zhen family had brought over—one surnamed Bai, one surnamed Lu.

According to positioning, Concubine Lu’s status was somewhat higher.

If one didn’t know their identities in advance, judging from their clothing and bearing, others would believe them if told they were head wives.

Concubine Lu was better—she received them with a smile on her face. Even though this smile was only superficial, at least it was acceptable on the surface.

Lin Ruhai’s attitude had been clear from the start, causing losses to the Zhen family’s interests. Of course she couldn’t be warm. If not for the calling card having said too much previously, and indeed being able to ask them to talk about news of the Lin family’s legitimate young miss to go back and please the old matriarch, they wouldn’t have sent another calling card to the Lin family’s concubines.

The other Concubine Bai was simply filled with hatred. Her natal family members were still in prison now, not knowing what punishment they would ultimately be sentenced to. How could she not hate?

Now seeing two people from the Lin family, naturally she had no pleasant expression. “So Master Lin has another concubine? Why hadn’t we heard of this before? Could it be that something happened previously so she didn’t dare see people?”

Yun Shuyao smiled: “Perhaps Concubine Bai is preoccupied with other matters. After all, they’re one’s own blood relatives. Not knowing about other matters and making wild speculations is understandable.”

What could Concubine Bai be preoccupied with? Naturally the matter of the Bai family being raided.

The other party’s hateful attitude was so obvious—Yun Shuyao had no need to give her face. No matter how one looked at it, the Lin family was not in the wrong.

Concubine Bai’s face turned iron-blue. She hadn’t expected the other party would so directly stab at her heart.

Concubine Mei didn’t know much information, but she still knew about the Bai family being raided.

Why were they raided?

Assassinating court officials, opposing the court—being raided was only natural, wasn’t it?

Perhaps the dangers she encountered on her journey south even included the Bai family’s involvement. If she’d been the slightest bit careless, her life might have been gone. Thinking of this, how could Concubine Mei have a pleasant expression?

This woman surnamed Bai still had the face to come out and see people? Although previously her family had been wealthy, much wealthier than her own natal family, now her natal family had become criminals. Their property was gone too. Being able to keep their lives would be good enough. Even if they kept their lives, their future livelihood would be problematic. For her to come out and see people was one thing, but she actually dared give them unpleasant looks?!

The more Concubine Mei thought about it, the angrier she became, chiming in with Yun Shuyao’s words: “Exactly. Some people aren’t afraid of being arrested themselves. But perhaps they’d even find going in good—a family together, reunited harmoniously, would also be a fine thing. Unlike us, who don’t do guilty deeds and don’t fear ghosts knocking at the door. Concubine Bai, don’t you agree?”

“Sister Bai, your complexion is so poor. I told you that if you’re unwell, you don’t need to come out to receive guests. Quickly go back and rest.” Concubine Lu didn’t give Concubine Bai a chance to respond. She quickly had people send Concubine Bai back. She herself hadn’t approved of her coming out, but she had insisted. Now if she continued to stay, she truly feared Concubine Bai would make a scene regardless of the occasion.

Seeing her leave unwillingly with reddened eyes, Concubine Mei raised her chin. Clearly, she had won and was very pleased.

Concubine Lu quickly changed the subject: “Both of you, come look. This is what our family has carefully cultivated for a long time…”

The surrounding spectators only then spoke up, chiming in one after another: “Truly extraordinary. We’re blessed to see this today…”

Having watched enough drama, they couldn’t really let the scene become too tense. Both the Zhen and Lin families were ones they couldn’t afford to offend.

Yun Shuyao looked over and discovered two orchid plants she had cultivated in the Zhen family’s garden.

Were these given to the Zhen family by someone else? Or did they purchase them themselves?

Whichever it was, the places where she sold these things were all at a considerable distance from Yangzhou. Bringing them over thousands of miles consumed considerable manpower and resources. With one careless mistake they would wither. They were already delicate varieties—perhaps there were others in that batch, but they all died, leaving only these two plants.

The Zhen family was truly wealthy.

Admiring the flowers, Concubine Lu slowly walked to Yun Shuyao’s side. At this moment, the smile on her face became much more sincere: “I’m truly sorry. That was discourteous just now.”

Yun Shuyao smiled: “Concubine Lu is too polite. We didn’t suffer any loss. It’s fine.”

Never having imagined she would respond this way, Concubine Lu tasted what it felt like to be choked.

How am I supposed to respond to this?!