It was a full half hour before Ji Yun returned. “Princess Consort, it’s fortunate that you were cautious. Those people indeed left one person outside to keep watch. Tang Xiu didn’t dare act rashly, only ordered someone to watch him in return. However, the weather was too bad, and perhaps that person grew impatient with the rain, as he left just now.”

Qin Yining said, “Then let’s return first.”

Standing up, Qin Yining accepted the wide-sleeved cloak that Bingtang handed her and put it on, smiling as she turned back to Manager Yin and said, “Please rest assured, I will come earlier tomorrow, and I will have my own way of dealing with the situation.”

“Yes.” Manager Yin respectfully bowed and escorted Qin Yining out through the side door.

Qin Yining returned to the courtyard of the inn. When Xie Yue and his group returned, she immediately had someone fetch them.

Xie Yue knew that Qin Yining must have something important, so he hurried over. “Princess Consort, was there something amiss at Sitong Trading Company today?”

“Master Xie need not worry, please sit.”

Seeing that Qin Yining’s expression was normal with no signs of distress, Xie Yue finally relaxed his anxious heart. He sat sideways in the seat to the right, cupped his hands, and asked, “Does the Princess Consort have any instructions?”

Qin Yining then told Xie Yue about encountering Manager Da Hu and his group at Sitong Trading Company today.

Xie Yue also said, “Today while searching for a suitable residence in the city, I also heard some people discussing this matter. They said that recently there has been a group of people in the city going door to door to wealthy households demanding silver. This old man didn’t connect it to this matter at the time. I suppose the Princess Consort already has a plan?”

“Yes, this is what I’m thinking…” Qin Yining moved closer to Xie Yue and quietly explained her plan, then asked, “What does Master Xie think of my method? Is it feasible?”

Xie Yue was most skilled at making decisions. In the past, when cooperating with Xu Weizhi, whenever Xu Weizhi came up with several feasible methods, Xie Yue would listen and choose one from among them, and it was guaranteed to be the best choice for them. Today, after hearing Qin Yining’s strategy, he immediately clapped his hands and said, “Excellent! The Princess Consort’s chain stratagem is very good.”

Qin Yining smiled and said, “Since you say so, Master, I can rest assured. In that case, I’ll have to trouble you tomorrow.”

“No trouble at all, this matter is easily handled.” Xie Yue looked Qin Yining up and down, then smiled and said, “The owner of Sitong Trading Company is a woman, and moreover a woman of good appearance. Anyone who cares to inquire can learn this. To speak frankly, if someone else were to impersonate Boss Qiu today, it would probably take much more effort, but the Princess Consort need not worry about this.”

Having settled on the strategy, early the next morning after breakfast, Qin Yining went to find Xie Yue.

Xie Yue had Qin Yining change into men’s clothing. He darkened her complexion somewhat and drew her eyebrows slightly thicker. Using a special adhesive, he subtly adjusted the corners of her eyes. Qin Yining felt no discomfort, but looking in the mirror, she saw that the shape of her eyes had already changed, and the corners were tilted upward. After adding several small moles to her face, even Qin Yining felt she looked like she had a completely different face.

“Master Xie’s skillful hands are truly admirable.”

Qin Yining sat on the embroidered stool while Bingtang helped her gather her hair high into a man’s topknot, securing it with a hairpin. Then she put on the waist sash that Bingtang brought and hung the maple leaf-shaped azure jade pendant from it.

Xie Yue looked at Qin Yining and smiled, “They say the eyes are the most important feature among the five facial features. With the Princess Consort’s eyes changed and eyebrows drawn differently, your entire temperament seems to have transformed.”

Qin Yining laughed, “Isn’t this all due to Master Xie’s deep research in this area?”

It was fortunate she had brought Xie Yue along; otherwise, encountering such a situation, she wouldn’t know how to handle it properly.

Qin Yining still brought the same people from yesterday to accompany her to Sitong Trading Company, entering through the same side door.

After drinking tea for a while at Sitong Trading Company and waiting quietly for a moment, Manager Yin came rushing in urgently.

“Princess Consort, they’ve come!”

Upon hearing this, Qin Yining responded with an “Mm” and stood up, instructing, “From now on, you must call me Boss, and don’t make any mistakes. Also, none of the shop assistants are allowed to let anything slip.”

“Yes! Understood!” Manager Yin readily agreed and smiled, “Boss, rest assured, I won’t let anything slip.”

Qin Yining also instructed Bingtang and Ji Yun to hide in the back, leaving only Zi Yuan and Han Xiao behind her. Ji Yun and Bingtang often accompanied her, and they had been present when Si Qin kidnapped them in that underground cave. There was no guarantee that Manager Da Hu wouldn’t recognize them. It was safer to bring two unfamiliar faces.

Qin Yining then had Manager Yin invite the people in.

Soon, a series of mixed footsteps could be heard outside. Manager Yin courteously led a group of people into the main hall.

Qin Yining did not stand up. She looked sideways at the five people entering. She immediately recognized the two leaders as indeed the people who had followed Madam Liao and been thrown into the desert by Si Qin. It was said that they were able to walk out of the desert alive because they had used Madam Liao as provisions…

Thinking of this, Qin Yining felt a wave of discomfort. Suppressing her nausea, she smiled and said, “So it’s the honored guests who have arrived. Please, quickly take your seats.”

Manager Da Hu was somewhat surprised by the beauty of the person before him. He had heard that the owner of Sitong Trading Company was a woman, but he didn’t know she was this attractive.

However, Manager Da Hu had never been concerned with matters of feminine beauty, so he put it aside after a glance.

“Since the Boss is willing to invite us brothers to speak privately in the back, I suppose you already know we’re going to do a big business deal?”

Qin Yining smiled and said, “I only know the general idea. Why don’t you gentlemen explain in detail what kind of big business you want to do, how much silver investment is needed, and how long before you see returns?”

Manager Da Hu was rendered speechless by Qin Yining’s questions. Before coming here, they had visited so many households, and those wealthy families had looked at them with eyes full of both fear and anger, not bothering to analyze their words carefully, simply treating them as excuses for extortion.

This was the first person to ask such detailed questions, clearly wanting to do business with them.

Manager Da Hu then coughed.

Liu Ban immediately understood and yanked open half of his shirt, exposing his robust arm. He flexed the muscles in his chest and arms, let out a loud “Hey-ha!” and began practicing boxing on the spot.

Qin Yining didn’t know what style of boxing he was practicing, but it looked quite skillful. Moreover, he suddenly rushed into the courtyard, encircled a water vat with both hands, tensed his arms with force, and lifted the entire water vat.

Qin Yining watched as if viewing a monkey show, continuously calling out praise, “Good skills, good arm strength!”

Only then did Manager Da Hu smile and say, “As the Boss has seen, we brothers all possess martial arts skills, and the one just now is actually the weakest among us. If we join forces, there’s nothing in Huichuan County that can stump us.

“This business venture of ours, to be frank, is a no-cost deal. Have you heard that after the Tatars’ defeat, they agreed to pay annual tribute? The Tatars are currently transporting a large group of palace concubines to the capital. We brothers have long found those Tatars displeasing to the eye. The brothers plan to recruit soldiers and buy horses to teach those Tatars a proper lesson while seizing all the tribute goods!”

Qin Yining truly hadn’t heard of this matter, but at this moment she only showed emotions of surprise and panic when faced with such unexpected news.

“This…” Qin Yining lowered her voice, “Such words cannot be spoken carelessly. Are you really going to rob the Tatar tribute convoy?”

“Haha!” Liu Ban had entered the room by this time and put his clothes back on. Seeing Qin Yining so panicked, like a frightened rabbit, he couldn’t help but laugh mockingly.

Manager Da Hu and the others who had come with them were also laughing.

After all, she was just a woman who couldn’t withstand intimidation.

Manager Da Hu laughed, his hoarse voice containing both temptation and threat, “We naturally wouldn’t tell just anyone about this matter. However, I believe that someone who can make Sitong Trading Company’s business so successful is certainly no ordinary weak woman. The most important thing in business is keeping one’s word. You should also be someone who keeps their word. Since you said you wanted to cooperate with us, we told you.”

Manager Da Hu’s words made his meaning very clear: they had already told the people at Sitong Trading Company what they planned to do. If Sitong Trading Company refused to cooperate, they would never let it go peacefully. Moreover, if there were any leaks in the future, Sitong Trading Company couldn’t escape involvement.

Qin Yining couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. Look at that—what kind of people had the Azure Sky Alliance cultivated? They engaged in robbery and pillaging, and for the sake of treasure, they went about robbing and intimidating everywhere, capable of any shameless act. Her position as alliance leader was truly frustrating. If these were people she had trained, she could immediately order their punishment.

But Qin Yining showed no flaws on her face, displaying some worry but more excitement.

“You’re really going to cause trouble for the Tatars?”

Hearing this, Manager Da Hu immediately felt there was hope.

Did this woman seem to have a grudge against the Tatars?

“Of course!” Manager Da Hu declared righteously, “Don’t let our rough appearance fool you—each of us is a man of true mettle. These chaotic times haven’t given us the chance to farm and work the land. Those Tatars don’t even treat the people of Great Zhou on the borders as human beings, constantly coming to raid for supplies, burning, killing, and pillaging without restraint. Although the Tatars have been defeated and submitted now, I just can’t stand the sight of them and have long wanted to give them a beating!”

“Excellent!” Qin Yining clapped in approval.

Seeing Qin Yining’s reaction, the other “heroes” who had come along all adopted an appearance of being fired up with patriotic fervor.

“Those Tatars are absolute scoundrels. If you’re going to deal with the Tatars, never mind fifty taels—I could come up with five hundred taels. Besides, you’re robbing Tatar tribute goods, so this business is guaranteed profit, isn’t it?” Qin Yining’s eyes showed an appropriately greedy glint.

Manager Da Hu and Liu Ban exchanged glances, thinking that this foolish woman was indeed insatiably greedy.

But it was precisely because of her greed that they could obtain more silver from her to hire the people from Black Wind Stronghold.

With this thought, Liu Ban and Manager Da Hu said in unison, “Right, it’s definitely a profitable business with no losses.”

Qin Yining smiled and said, “Good then. How much silver do you need to recruit soldiers and buy horses, and how much are you still short?”

Seeing Qin Yining speak this way, Manager Da Hu’s anxious heart relaxed, and he smiled, “We’re still short three thousand taels of silver.”