The next day, when Xie Sui’an and Nanyi came looking for Qiao Yinzhi, they were told that Qiao-shi had hurriedly returned to her maiden family’s home the night before.

How could it be such a coincidence!

Neither Nanyi nor Xie Xiaoliu believed it. Upon further inquiry, they learned that before Qiao-shi left, Xie Queshan had come to see her.

Hearing this, Nanyi’s heart instantly turned cold.

She understood—he must have seen the Hundred People Buddhist Sutra on her table when he delivered clothes to her room last night, confirming that Qiao Yinzhi was the spy. Before she and Xie Sui’an could contact Qiao Yinzhi, he had already let her go.

Nanyi was extremely angry.

Each of his actions was never without purpose. Poor her, she had spent an entire night happy about such a casual favor from him.

She was about to explode with rage.

Nanyi could no longer listen to what Xie Sui’an was saying. She went back to her room in a sulk, took off the new clothes, and threw them into the deepest part of her wardrobe.

Apart from such weak and useless protest, she couldn’t storm up to Xie Queshan and rage at him.

Speaking of which, these matters ultimately had nothing to do with her anyway. She just needed to stay put obediently, let Xie Queshan manipulate her like a puppet, and when the time came, he would let her leave.

In this matter, she was still willing to believe him.

Better to celebrate the New Year properly first. After all, the house had one less spy, so they didn’t need to be on edge anymore. This hard work hadn’t been in vain.

Not only Xie Sui’an and Nanyi, but everyone in Wangxue Hollow felt this New Year was exceptionally refreshing.

As soon as Madam Gantang returned, she drove away the annoying Qi people from the house. Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and felt much more at ease.

On New Year’s Eve, everyone had only hastily eaten a reunion dinner. Madam Gantang suggested that on the fifth day, the Xie family should properly host a New Year banquet for everyone to celebrate together.

Though time seemed ample, there was truly much to prepare for a banquet. The market had specialized “Four Departments and Eight Bureaus” that arranged banquets for government officials and noble families—they only needed payment and would arrange everything properly. However, these were wartime, many things couldn’t be bought, and even the cleverest wife couldn’t cook without rice.

Moreover, Madam Gantang was never one for extravagance. This banquet preparation’s core philosophy was still saving money, incidentally cutting most of the complex expenses from when Lu Jinxiu managed the rear courtyard, increasing income and reducing expenditure.

Nanyi followed Madam Gantang as her assistant. She had thought she only needed to be a nodding mascot, but unexpectedly Madam Gantang truly treated her as a matron in training, patiently teaching her various trivial affairs.

Madam Gantang was a kind but capable woman. Her difference from Lu Jinxiu was that Lu Jinxiu’s principle in doing things was “profit,” while hers was “goodness.”

Nanyi genuinely liked Madam Gantang.

Coordinating matters within the manor was enough to keep Madam Gantang busy, so the major task of shopping outside was entrusted to Nanyi.

Looking at that shopping list, Nanyi felt puzzled.

The quantities of rice, flour, oil, and white sugar—these daily necessities—were obviously far more than needed for one banquet. Madam Gantang said this was for future consideration, that hoarding more things during chaotic times was never wrong. But New Year prices were higher than usual—why not wait until after the Lantern Festival to stock up?

Despite her inner doubts, Nanyi didn’t dare neglect this task. She led the maids around the city searching shops to buy things, comparing prices at multiple stores to avoid being cheated.

In the marketplace, Nanyi first heard of a merchant house called “Guilai Hall.”

Though called a merchant house, they had no storefronts, seeming more like a mobile black market network that controlled the flow of goods and money in the market.

It was said that as long as one was willing to pay Guilai Hall, there was nothing they couldn’t buy, including intelligence and lives.

Nanyi didn’t want to get involved with the black market, but helplessly, some things could only be bought through them.

Like salt, like white sugar. Though seemingly ordinary items, they were important wartime supplies. Buying large quantities required reporting to the authorities.

Nanyi guessed that whatever Madam Gantang wanted these things for, she certainly wanted speed. Using the Xie family banquet as an excuse for purchasing was to avoid drawing attention. So Nanyi gritted her teeth and, led by the shopkeeper’s introduction, entered the main room behind the salt shop.

In the dim little room, sleep-inducing incense burned. Inside sat an accountant, with two burly men wearing waist knives standing beside him.

Nanyi pressed her handprint on the contract—money with one hand, goods with the other. Without excessive words or room for bargaining, the deal was done in less than half an incense stick’s time.

It seemed like black market business, but also not as frightening as expected.

Going in and out like this, Nanyi’s back was already covered in thin cold sweat. She hurriedly returned to Wangxue Hollow with the purchased goods.

And her every move had already been reported in detail to that luxurious elegant chamber in Huachao Pavilion.

Any new figures appearing around Xie Liu became objects of Zhang Yuehui’s suspicion. The Xie family’s young madam, and that Madam Gantang.

He listened absent-mindedly to his subordinate Luo Ci’s report, his gaze scanning back and forth over the paper slip he handed up.

It recorded what Nanyi had bought in scattered amounts from various shops in the city today. Each shop was a small quantity, but combined, it was enough for the Xie family to hold ten banquets.

Luo Ci added: “Boss, our people had a brief encounter with her. After close contact, they confirmed she has no martial arts skills.”

Zhang Yuehui threw the paper slip into the charcoal brazier, watching the flames lick the paper until it burned to ash.

He pondered: “This little widow of the Xie family—is she being used as a pawn by Madam Gantang, or is she hiding her true depths… I can’t quite see through her either.”

Stroking his chin in thought for a while, Zhang Yuehui heard noisy footsteps approaching outside. He stood up and shook out his robes.

“Keep watching.”

“Yes, boss.”

Just as he finished responding, the person silently slipped out through the window. The next second, the door was pushed open.

Zhang Yuehui smoothly cupped his hands in greeting, his face composed.

“Lord Wanyan, ah, and this must be—”

Wanyan Jun led Xie Queshan inside, laughing: “Naturally, this is our Great Qi’s ace strategist, Young Master Queshan.” Turning to introduce to Xie Queshan: “This is the boss of Guilai Hall, Zhang Yuehui.”

The two men locked eyes, both catching a whiff of dangerous aura from the other.

One was casual, the other unperturbed—both unfathomably deep beneath the surface.

“Young Master Zhang, I’ve long heard your great name. What an honor to meet you.”

On the surface, they were harmonious, regretting not meeting sooner.

Wanyan Jun observed their reactions without expression. This young Qi official was not old, currently riding high in the royal court, with close relationships to the chancellor and crown prince. As long as he achieved great merit in Li Du Mansion this time, he could return to receive promotion and advancement.

So he was putting forth his utmost effort, determined to accomplish something significant in Li Du Mansion. He personally oversaw the dragon bone ship construction, while capturing Prince Ling’an was mainly Xie Queshan and Gusha’s responsibility.

Gusha was brutal by nature, obviously not very enthusiastic about shipbuilding. If not for orders from above restraining him, he would wish he could slaughter all of Li Du Mansion.

A reckless fool, unfit for conspiracy. Wanyan Jun needed to pull Xie Queshan into his camp, so naturally he had to generously share his resources, which was why he introduced him to Zhang Yuehui. To accomplish his goals, he couldn’t do without these two men.

The three were about to sit down when they noticed there were four seats at the table.

“Does Young Master Zhang have another guest?” Wanyan Jun asked.

Just then, knocking sounded again. The waiter opened the door and ushered Gusha inside.

Gusha strode in with a beaming face, but seeing Wanyan Jun and Xie Queshan also in the room, his expression immediately froze.

Damn it, he thought Zhang Yuehui had only invited him alone!