Qin Yining sat upright in the place of honor, with Rui Lan and Qiu Lu standing on either side of her.

She remained silent without immediately responding, carefully observing Shopkeeper Zhong.

Zhong Yucheng was nearly sixty years old, of medium build and slightly portly. He wore a sapphire blue brocade robe decorated with auspicious patterns, draped with a deep brown cotton cloak. On his head was a winter cap with a blue sapphire the size of a fingernail embedded in the center of the warm fur trim. Judging by his attire alone, he would appear quite respectable when walking about.

However, his face now showed misery, with wrinkles full of worry. His graying goatee trembled, and when he bowed to Qin Yining, his waist bent extremely low, as if he could barely bear some heavy burden.

Qin Yining’s mind was rapidly calculating.

A head shopkeeper like Shopkeeper Zhong was more respectable than any she had seen when selling herbs in the past—previously, she would have been the one bowing and scraping to such people. Now this man was kneeling straight before her, and she momentarily couldn’t find a way to respond.

However, she was Zhaoyun Department’s new owner. While she could rely on the head shopkeeper for operational matters, she still needed to speak up on decision-making issues. How she would command respect in the future depended entirely on today.

Thinking this, Qin Yining straightened her back even more and strengthened her presence.

Silence had always been the most meaningful response.

Seeing that the new owner, though a young lady, could remain so composed, Shopkeeper Zhong thought of the formidable iron lady that was the Duchess of Dingguo and dared not be negligent, lowering his head even further.

This scene made Rui Lan and Qiu Lu begin to admire their own miss—such demeanor and presence was something other young ladies didn’t possess.

This silent standoff lasted a full cup of tea’s time before Qin Yining slowly spoke.

Because she needed to think, her speech was slow, but each word carried more weight: “Shopkeeper Zhong has specially come today—is there some urgent matter? Please rise and speak. Rui Lan, arrange seating. Qiu Lu, serve good tea.”

Rui Lan and Qiu Lu followed the instructions.

Shopkeeper Zhong stood up, bowed, and stepped back, only perching on the edge of the folding stool Rui Lan brought over. He accepted the white porcelain tea bowl decorated with red plum blossoms that Qiu Lu offered with both hands, placing it on the low table beside him.

Qin Yining toyed with the lid of her tea bowl, saying, “There are no outsiders here. Shopkeeper Zhong, feel free to speak directly. But next time if there are matters, just come speak to me directly—you cannot kneel like this again as you did today. In this deep winter weather, what if you injured your health? I’ll need to rely on the shopkeeper for my future business.”

Shopkeeper Zhong was clever and understood the implications immediately, realizing that Qin Yining was reproaching him for potentially damaging a young lady’s reputation. He quickly stood and bowed, saying with lowered head, “The master speaks correctly. This humble person was rash this time and will never act thus again. It’s just that today’s matter was urgent, which led to such presumptuous behavior.”

As he spoke, he quickly glanced up at Qin Yining, seeing the young lady seated in the place of honor wearing a scarlet red cloak. Under the lamplight, her beauty was indescribably rich and vivid, with a pair of long eyebrows extending to her temples that outlined a heroic bearing, making her eyes appear brilliantly deep and profound. She could truly be called an unfathomable figure.

Shopkeeper Zhong’s heart shook at the sight. He quickly said, “Master, Zhaoyun Department has encountered some trouble that this humble person cannot handle, so I’ve come to seek the master’s guidance.”

Qin Yining’s heart skipped a beat. Though she had anticipated that even obtaining Zhaoyun Department wouldn’t simply mean enjoying profits for free, when trouble came crashing down, it still caught her off guard.

Though panicked internally, Qin Yining remained calm externally, merely lifting her chin slightly to signal Shopkeeper Zhong to continue.

Shopkeeper Zhong said, “Some days ago, we rented a young lady from the Music Academy—fourteen years old, like a flower bud. Who would have known that after just one day at the wine house, Prince Ning barged in and took her away without a word.

“It’s not that I lack bodyguards and martial artists under my command, and Zhaoyun Department isn’t one to be bullied for nothing, but Prince Ning’s power is great—this humble person truly didn’t dare offend him.

“Now this young lady has been at Prince Ning’s residence for three days. Having lost someone we rented, there’s truly no way to explain this to the Music Academy’s steward, so I’ve come to beg the young miss to make a decision.”

For a moment, the room fell silent—so quiet a pin drop could be heard.

Rui Lan and Qiu Lu, listening from the side, broke out in cold sweat in an instant!

Who was Prince Ning? Was there anyone in the Great Yan Dynasty who didn’t know?

Prince Ning, Yuchi Jinming, revered martial prowess and was skilled at leading troops in battle. As the Emperor’s younger brother, he enjoyed great imperial favor. When the Emperor’s offspring were few, he had even adopted Prince Ning’s heir as a prince, though the Emperor later had his own son and returned that heir to Prince Ning. Still, Prince Ning’s residence held an extraordinary position.

But however good Prince Ning might be otherwise, he was ultimately a debaucherous and tyrannical person. When he took a fancy to some family’s daughter or young wife, directly seizing them was not unheard of.

How could such a matter be handled by Qin Yining, a boudoir maiden?

Just as Rui Lan and Qiu Lu felt both indignant and worried for their master, they heard a clear laugh.

Qin Yining laughed and said, “Shopkeeper Zhong is quite an interesting person. This method of seeking help is something I’m seeing for the first time. Since you don’t intend to tell the truth, please see yourself out.” As she spoke, she actually picked up her tea.

Serving tea to dismiss a guest?!

The maids were stunned for a moment before Rui Lan first reacted and moved to escort Shopkeeper Zhong out.

Shopkeeper Zhong stared in shock at the young lady in the place of honor. Seeing Qin Yining remain unperturbed by change, dignified in bearing, with a gentle smile—as if wind and rain couldn’t shake her—he immediately put away his previous contempt, no longer daring to underestimate her just because she was a young girl. He fell to his knees with a thud.

“Master, please calm your anger!”

Qin Yining said, “Shopkeeper Zhong, since you’ve come to seek my help, don’t try to deceive me. In your usual dealings when renting people from the Music Academy, I don’t believe you’ve never had situations where someone was lost and couldn’t be accounted for. How did you handle it then? Now, since you can’t handle it well, the matter is naturally unusual. You should explain everything truthfully. I’ll listen, and perhaps I can help you think of a solution.”

Shopkeeper Zhong prostrated himself on the ground and kowtowed, “The master sees through everything. The young lady taken by Prince Ning is surnamed Tang, with the personal name Meng. She’s the only daughter of former Imperial Medical Academy Judge Tang. Judge Tang was sentenced to complete family execution for poisoning the Empress. The Tang family women refused to suffer humiliation and all committed suicide. This Miss Tang escaped disaster because she had become a nun half a year earlier. Later, when the incident was discovered, she was captured and sent to the Music Academy, then rented back out.”

Qin Yining understood the rest without Shopkeeper Zhong saying more.

Having grown up among common people, she knew more folk rumors than the nobles of the capital.

The Emperor was muddled and incompetent. Nearly seventy years old, he exclusively favored the twenty-something Empress Cao.

This Lady Cao came from a prestigious family—her father was Grand Preceptor Cao Bingzhong.

Grand Preceptor Cao’s daughter was the Empress and his student was the Crown Prince. In the current court, his influence was unparalleled, making his behavior even more arrogant.

As for Empress Cao, she was said to possess beauty that could topple kingdoms, bewitching and beguiling the ruler. Not only did she receive endless favor, she often interfered improperly in court affairs, no different from historical figures like Daji, Baosi, Feiyan, or Hede.

Common people didn’t call Lady Cao the Empress but rather the “Demon Empress.” Everyone said the Emperor’s confusion was due to the Demon Empress’s instigation.

Qin Yining had heard something about the Tang family affair on her journey back to the capital.

It was said that a certain imperial physician, friendly with pure faction civil officials, hoped to clear the court and eliminate the Demon Empress to restore an enlightened emperor to the Great Yan Dynasty. He used his official position to poison the Demon Empress, but unexpectedly, her fate was tough—she was only half-poisoned while the physician’s entire family paid with their lives.

Now hearing Shopkeeper Zhong’s words, Qin Yining understood Miss Tang Meng’s background.

Shopkeeper Zhong had come today like his pants were on fire, so humbly submissive—Qin Yining had been puzzled at first, but now she understood.

Tang Meng’s father was the “hero” who poisoned the Demon Empress. Tang Meng was the “hero’s” orphan, brought back by Zhaoyun Department but not properly protected—she was actually seized by that debauched thief Prince Ning, and had been taken for three days already.

What could happen in three days, everyone could guess.

Presumably, those pure faction old-fashioned scholars had been tormenting Shopkeeper Zhong plenty these past three days.

Those pure faction ministers couldn’t handle Grand Preceptor Cao, were powerless against Prince Ning, but dealing with a small shopkeeper was more than sufficient.

Shopkeeper Zhong also had family—sons and nephews to support. If this matter wasn’t handled well, Shopkeeper Zhong’s entire family would probably have no place to stand in the capital afterward. If things went badly, they might even lose their lives.

“No wonder Shopkeeper Zhong is in such urgent panic.” Qin Yining frowned, “I understand the matter you’ve described. You may go back.”

She actually didn’t take a position!

Shopkeeper Zhong said anxiously, “Master, I beg the master to show mercy and point out a clear path for this humble person. My family will certainly be grateful and loyal to the master for life!”

“Shopkeeper Zhong.” Qin Yining’s voice was calm, “What do you think I could possibly do?”

This sentence was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head.

Yes, the original owner was someone like Sun Yu, a great talent, yet even he wouldn’t touch this hot potato.

The current owner was merely a boudoir maiden—what could she do?

He was truly desperate, seeking any remedy!

Shopkeeper Zhong hung his head dejectedly. He could already foresee his family’s future—perhaps in just a few days, he might even lose his life.

Qin Yining picked up her tea again.

This time Shopkeeper Zhong properly paid his respects and was escorted out by Rui Lan.

Qin Yining slowly set down her tea bowl. Her previously calm demeanor had vanished, her brows tightly furrowed and red lips pressed together. Her heart felt like it was weighed down by a great stone. First she paced in the room, then feeling stifled indoors, she walked out to the courtyard.

Under the dim sky, the small courtyard’s bamboo grove rustled, tree shadows loomed, and between heaven and earth, it seemed only this small space remained.

A surge of anger rose in her heart, stirred by emotions called righteous indignation!

“Beast!”

Unable to contain her anger, Qin Yining cursed aloud and fiercely kicked a stone stool, actually toppling the stone block with a dull “thud.”

Rui Lan and Qiu Lu jumped in fright. Nanny Zhu hid inside not daring to come out, but Nanny Zhan stood under the side room’s corridor, quietly watching Qin Yining.

Rui Lan supported Qin Yining: “Miss, don’t be angry—please take care of your health.”

Qiu Lu, being an honest and straightforward person, said worriedly and anxiously, “Miss, what do you plan to do about Miss Tang’s situation? The Tang family were all good people—such an end is too pitiful.”