Before Zhao Xiuyuan could finish speaking, he refused to let her leave, quickly stepping forward to grab her arm and forcefully pull her toward himself. “Who was the person who rescued you that night?”

Ying Ying struggled to break free, but Zhao Xiuyuan’s grip was too strong and tight for her to escape. Regardless of being at the entrance of the government office on a main street, Ying Ying spat directly in his face. Zhao Xiuyuan instinctively turned his face away and raised his sleeve to wipe it: “Ying Ying, you shameless—”

A sudden intense pain in his groin cut off his words. He released his grip and bent over, his handsome face flushing red: “You dare, you dare…”

Ying Ying held her head high: “Touch me again with your filthy hands, and I’ll do even worse!”

She pulled the stunned Xiang’er toward their mule cart, walking with a straight back, feeling deeply satisfied. Shameless woman? She wished she could be even more aggressive.

Xiang’er wasn’t the only one watching in astonishment. Madam Niu’s nails dug into the window frame, veins popping on her smooth forehead in anger: “How dare she!”

Yuyuan softly said: “Young Madam, shall we go teach Second Miss Ji a lesson? How dare she treat the young master like that…”

“You think I’m angry at Second Miss Ji?” Madam Niu left the window, refusing to watch anymore. She thought of Yang Jingyuan. The first time she saw him, he was accompanying San Shisi. Seventh Miss loved martial arts and took them both horse riding and archery at the manor’s grounds. He rode that white horse, wearing a red-sleeved brocade robe with a red jade ornament across his forehead. Like the summer sun, he was too dazzling to look at directly. Madam Niu swept her sleeve, violently pushing the chess pieces off the table. The clattering sound resembled the shattering of her heart when she heard the Yang family’s rejection of the marriage. Why should she have to marry someone like Zhao Xiuyuan?!

“Young Madam!” Yuyuan supported her sympathetically.

Remembering how Zhao Xiuyuan had been kicked into a shrimp-like posture by Ying Ying, thinking of how she had to tolerate him extinguishing the lights at night and taking her from behind for the sake of having children, Madam Niu’s hatred and anger toward Yang Jingyuan intensified. She pushed Yuyuan away and said viciously: “Yang Third Master, when you return from Chang’an, you’ll see Ji Second Miss has become my servant! Go invite the Governor, ask him to personally visit the Prefect’s mansion!”

Having received her orders and knowing her mistress’s temper, Yuyuan didn’t try to persuade her anymore and left.

While Madam Niu was having her outburst, someone else was watching the scene at the government office entrance from next door. The cold wind blew in through the window, but Shen paid no attention. He leaned against the window frame, laughing so hard his chest heaved: “Second Miss Ji, next time, this prince won’t give you the chance to use your legs!” He drained his cup, his gaze never leaving Ying Ying’s figure.

Ning lowered her eyelids, concealing her shock. How could the master laugh so heartily at a commoner woman’s crude behavior? She took out the materials list written by Ji Yaoting from her sleeve and handed it over: “Master, the Ji family has no money left. These are the materials needed for me to learn their dyeing techniques.”

Shen didn’t shift his gaze: “You’re an expert in dyeing, that’s why I sent you to learn at the Ji family. What have you discovered?”

“In response to Master. Using cinnabar as the main ingredient for the Shu red silk is one thing. But the Huanhua silk is named after the four seasons’ flowers, so why would it need twenty pieces of parrot blue? The Ji family is treating us as easy marks.”

She secretly glanced up as she spoke. The master hated being deceived most of all. Surely he would be angry?

“Have Manager Mu prepare everything according to the list.”

Shen’s smile deepened. This must be Second Miss Ji’s idea. Even knowing how their family had been schemed against, she still dared to scheme back. This girl was like the strong liquor in his cup – sharp at first taste but full of flavor. Watching Ying Ying enter the mule cart, he finally left the window: “I must return now. Imperial Advisor Jin will contact you.”

Ning held back her questions and quickly took his great cloak from the rack to drape over him. She kept her eyes lowered as she tied the strings, the faint scent of agarwood floating around her nose. Her mind wavered, and her hands trembled, taking a long time to tie the knot.

A pair of hands grasped hers, and Ning couldn’t help but look up. The master seemed not to notice her state, quickly tied the knot, and strode toward the door: “Learn the Ji family’s secret methods as soon as possible.”

“Yes!” She bowed deeply. When she raised her head again, she was alone in the room. Ning collapsed to the ground, pressing her rapidly beating heart.

The snow was gradually getting heavier, and the siblings tacitly agreed to conceal the matter of the letter. Ji Yaoting hurriedly said a few words before riding back to Sandaozhen with the bailiffs.

A charcoal stove burned in the mule cart, making the air stuffy. Madam Ji, who had been alert earlier, was now drowsily falling asleep again. She vaguely heard her son and daughter talking and struggled to open her eyes: “Ying Ying.”

Nanny Ji heard and lifted a corner of the cart’s curtain to call: “Miss, the Madam is asking for you.”

Ying Ying watched her brother walk away, sighed, and climbed into the cart. Before Madam Ji could ask, she smiled and said: “Mother, at court, the Baron’s mansion was pressing that servant’s words, but there was no evidence. The Prefect ordered an adjournment, to resume this afternoon.”

Madam Ji relaxed: “Since the court is adjourned, where’s your brother?”

Ying Ying smoothly lied: “Imperial Advisor Jin invited brother for drinks and conversation. Mother, since we’re in Yizhou Prefecture, why don’t we find a larger medical hall and have another physician examine you? The air in the cart isn’t good either. Wouldn’t it be nice to find a warm place to eat? What do you think?”

Madam Ji didn’t want to visit another medical hall, but hearing the latter suggestion, she agreed: “Find a place selling mutton soup, having a hot bowl would help ward off the cold.” Her voice was very faint, and having used up her energy to speak, she fell asleep again.

Being ill, she couldn’t eat mutton. She was thinking of Ji Fu, who had been waiting outside in the cold. Nanny Ji’s heart warmed, and tears welled up: “Madam, my husband is strong, any hot bowl of noodles will do.”

Ying Ying smiled: “Let Uncle Ji Fu drive the cart. I see some shop signs not far ahead. Nanny, stay with mother, I’ll go get some fresh air. It’s just a short walk, we’ll be there soon.” She wiped the sweat from her forehead, making Nanny Ji swallow her protests.

She and Xiang’er sat by the cart shaft, holding up an umbrella against the wind and snow. Ji Fu, worried about them getting cold, quickly whipped the mule twice, driving to the street corner ahead.

A blue shop sign hung at the entrance, with a soup pot stationed at the door. The milky-white soup bubbled and rolled, the mutton’s gamey smell carried by the wind. Next door hung the sign of the Fulai Inn. Ji Fu hesitated and said: “Miss, the Madam is ill and might not be comfortable with the smell. Why don’t we go to the inn instead? We can get a private room, warm it up well, and the Madam can rest after getting out of the cart.”

Ying Ying agreed. The group entered the inn.

Hearing there was a sick person, the servant directly brought in four charcoal basins, and soon the room was warm. Nanny Ji was strong. She wrapped Madam Ji in bedding and carried her on her back into the room. Ying Ying personally brought hot water to wash Madam Ji’s face. Madam Ji felt much more comfortable, and her spirits improved.

The servant bought mutton soup and flatbread from next door and brought congee.

While Nanny Ji attended to Madam Ji’s meal, Ying Ying took Xiang’er downstairs, calling Ji Fu to eat first.

Another carriage stopped in front of the inn, and the thick cotton curtain was lifted. The cold wind blew into the hall as Ying Ying looked up. Two elderly maids and a young maid surrounded an elderly lady wearing a stone-blue gold-threaded jacket and black sable fur collar.

The inn was very small, and most people sitting in the hall wore blue or gray cotton jackets. The sudden appearance of this group, with their gold and silver hairpins and ornaments, and even their servants wearing silk, was like a peony suddenly blooming in the desert. It was bewildering.

Ying Ying only glanced once before continuing to drink her mutton soup. A peach-red silk skirt appeared in her vision.

“Excuse me, are you Second Miss Ji from the Huanhua Dyeing House in Sandaozhen?”