In her previous life, You Fangying hadn’t used such methods.

It was just that she had mentioned it, and Jiang Xuening remembered.

The matter of Ren Weizhi and the Zigong salt yard happened to have peaks and valleys. Ordinary people could predict the beginning but not the middle, predict the middle but not the end—it was a典型 example, one in ten thousand, perfectly suited for using this method to rake in money.

Only this was also Jiang Xuening’s first time doing such a thing. With no precedent to reference, she was therefore extraordinarily careful at every moment.

Fearing that with one careless move, she would miss the timing.

However, compared to others, she ultimately held the advantage of foreknowledge, so she wasn’t as anxious and excited as others, always having to sit in the Shuxiang Inn’s main hall waiting before feeling at ease.

Zhou Yinzhi knew that Jiang Xuening had connections with You Fangying of Earl Qingyuan’s manor, but he didn’t know specifically what the two of them were planning to do. However, recently there had been some rumors in the marketplace that had reached his ears. He knew You Fangying was to marry Ren Weizhi, and he naturally had also heard about the silver shares in the Sichuan salt yard.

Originally, he hadn’t connected this to Jiang Xuening.

However, hearing her words at this moment, a flash of inspiration struck Zhou Yinzhi’s mind. He suddenly had a vague guess that a large portion of the remaining fifteen thousand taels in silver shares for that salt yard was probably in Jiang Xuening’s hands. This led him to recall the ten thousand taels of silver previously extorted from the Earl’s manor’s legitimate young lady for Jiang Xuening, and his heart couldn’t help but shake with shock.

The ancient, simple qin body had been played for years amid burning incense. Even though there was no incense burning around them now, it still faintly released traces of subtle Buddhist fragrance.

After that earlier pluck, the trembling of the qin strings had yet to cease.

Jiang Xuening gazed at these strings and only asked, “Has there been any news at court recently?”

Zhou Yinzhi replied, “The case of Marquis Yongyi’s manor is still under trial…”

He had heard that the Three Judicial Offices argued endlessly every day.

One side believed that although the marquis’s manor had correspondence with treacherous rebels, it was mostly because they wanted to inquire about the whereabouts of the Dingfei heir from twenty years ago. This was truly due to family affection, and they couldn’t be charged with treason. Confiscating the family property and reducing them to commoner status would suffice.

The other side insisted that inquiring about the heir’s whereabouts was merely a pretext.

Everyone knew that the Dingfei heir of the Xiao and Yan clans had died twenty years ago. If they wanted to find him, they should go to the ‘Righteous Children’s Tomb.’ Marquis Yongyi Yan Muming knew the other party was a rebel yet still wanted to contact them—clearly harboring rebellious intent. Even if not punished with clan extermination, the chief culprits like Yan Muming and his wife and children should still have their heads displayed publicly to satisfy the realm.

After hearing this, Jiang Xuening fell silent. After a very long time, she suddenly said, “Mentor Xie now controls the Hanlin Academy. His power at court grows daily, and his ears and eyes should be well-informed. Do you have suitable people under you who could let them ‘hear’ some news?”

Zhou Yinzhi was immediately stunned.

However, Jiang Xuening slowly added, “After those Celestial Doctrine people obtain money from me, they certainly won’t remain in the capital but will want to secretly leave this place of trouble. You’re an Embroidered Uniform Guard, and your authority doesn’t extend that far—you can’t accomplish this. Better to hand it over to someone else.”

This money was originally prepared by her for Marquis Yongyi’s manor, but she didn’t want it falling into the hands of petty scoundrels.

However, with her strength alone, she feared she couldn’t prevent this.

Moreover, she also feared the other party would take her money without giving the letter—that she wouldn’t catch the rabbit and would instead be pecked in the eye by an eagle. What mattered most was that the letter couldn’t have any mishaps, so beyond herself, it would be best to have another layer of insurance.

Zhou Yinzhi truly couldn’t quite fathom her intentions.

This Mentor Xie was absolutely not a simple character. To make people feel information was being transmitted naturally and without anyone knowing, without appearing deliberate—this was not a simple matter.

However, he immediately thought of the relationship between Jiang Xuening and Xie Wei.

It should count as teacher and student, right?

But if she wanted Xie Wei to know, why not state it directly?

Perhaps the relationship between these two people was rather unusual—truly not something he could fathom. Better to pretend he knew nothing, thought nothing extra, and only focus wholeheartedly on how to accomplish this matter.

After seeing Jiang Xuening, Zhou Yinzhi left with those ten thousand taels in banknotes.

When leaving the manor, he happened to see a very ordinary carriage stop at the gate.

Looking up, it was actually You Fangying descending from the carriage.

The two met face to face.

You Fangying was startled upon seeing him, but immediately revealed a smile and performed a courtesy toward him. However, since they were at the Jiang manor gates, it wasn’t appropriate to speak, so she simply brushed past and walked inside.

You Fangying was about to marry soon.

These past few days, Jiang Xuening had been contemplating finding an opportunity to call her out to meet once more and give some instructions. She hadn’t expected her to come seeking her out first, and couldn’t help feeling somewhat pleasantly surprised.

Looking at this young lady carefully, she was rather different from previous days.

Probably because she knew the person was about to marry, the Earl’s manor had to put on some face-saving efforts. Tailoring two presentable outfits for this concubine-born daughter didn’t cost much money, and they still hoped Ren Weizhi’s side could earn more money, so naturally they wouldn’t treat You Fangying too poorly.

Wearing a new water-red outfit, her complexion was also much rosier—she was rarely so bright and lovely.

Jiang Xuening took her hand and looked her over in a circle. Her heart became happy as she said, “Originally I thought this Ren Weizhi was nothing special, but seeing you’ve changed your appearance and no longer suffer in the manor, I feel this person can barely be considered worthy of our Fangying.”

You Fangying’s face reddened at her words, and she said hesitantly, “It’s—it’s a fake marriage.”

Only then did Jiang Xuening remember. She said “oh” and couldn’t help sighing again. “Marriage is such a major event. For many women, it only happens once in a lifetime. Doing it this way is truly unavoidable—you’ve been greatly wronged.”

However, You Fangying didn’t feel wronged at all. Marriage was indeed a once-in-a-lifetime major event for many, but for her, life in Earl Qingyuan’s manor had truly been like living in deep water and scorching fire. If she could use this opportunity to escape, it was a fortunate event she hadn’t dared imagine before.

These past days she hadn’t dared sleep too deeply.

Fearing that after falling asleep, she would wake to discover all this was merely a beautiful dream.

She didn’t know how to express her feelings, and only earnestly and forcefully shook her head, saying, “No, I’m not wronged at all. Rather, Young Master Ren agreeing to this matter for Fangying has somewhat troubled him…”

Troubled?

Taking a sum of money to marry a good young lady—though it was a fake marriage, it was still something you couldn’t find with a lantern under heaven. How dare that Ren Weizhi feel troubled?

Jiang Xuening lightly snorted in her heart.

Only she didn’t expose it in front of You Fangying and merely said, “You’ve come at just the right time. In a while, people will come from Sichuan to receive you for the marriage. If it were later, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have the chance to give this to you.”

As she spoke, she turned around and actually opened a case again.

Inside was still a stack of banknotes.

Jiang Xuening picked them up and placed them in You Fangying’s hands, saying, “On the day you leave, I’m afraid I can’t show my face. After all, your elder sister You Yue hates me to the bone—if we met, who knows if she’d want to strangle me. But you can imagine that with the Earl’s manor’s character, plus your harsh elder sister, they certainly won’t prepare much dowry for you. Originally I prepared more for you, but these past days there were unexpected events and places requiring money increased, so I’ve only kept these three thousand taels in banknotes to give you. Take them and keep them on your person. Don’t let anyone else know, not even Ren Weizhi. Wealth shouldn’t be flaunted. Even if you trust him, it might still invite some other disaster. In the future when you reach Sichuan, if you encounter some emergency and I’m in the capital with my reach too short to care for you, having more money in your hands will be good for emergencies.”

Three thousand taels to add to her dowry!

You Fangying was greatly startled. She felt these banknotes burned her hands and didn’t dare accept them at all. She hastily pushed them back, extremely alarmed. “I—Miss has already been so good to me. How can I take Miss’s money?”

Jiang Xuening had guessed she wouldn’t take them.

But she was determined to press this money on You Fangying. Her attitude was very firm as she looked at her seriously and said, “This isn’t only for you, but also to guard against any mishap with the salt yard. Considering an extra layer is never wrong. If the salt yard operates successfully and Ren Weizhi gives you dividends, when you have money in hand, naturally you needn’t touch what I’ve given you. When there’s an opportunity in the future, you can return it to me. Just consider it as lending it to you, all right?”

Only then did You Fangying begin to hesitate.

After Jiang Xuening coaxed and cajoled her further, she finally accepted this sum of money. But both her eyes reddened, brimming with tears, her tongue clumsy, wanting to speak but not knowing how.

Jiang Xuening had no choice but to take a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

Both helpless and amused, she changed the subject, saying, “Have you been well staying in the manor recently? Your elder sister hasn’t made things difficult for you?”

You Fangying replied, “No, she hasn’t. Second Elder Sister was angry for a few days when she heard the silver shares at Shuxiang Inn had dropped, but later when the silver shares rose again, she was happy all day. She even treated me much better, taking me out to buy new clothes and purchase jewelry. She’s been very good to me.”

So You Yue seemed quite pleased with herself.

Jiang Xuening thought to herself: let her be pleased for another two months—she’ll have her time to cry later. However, she wouldn’t say this in front of You Fangying, so she only smiled slightly and said, “Then that couldn’t be better.”

Jiang Xuening was waiting for a suitable opportunity. After considering her plan, she also gave You Fangying a few instructions.

Zhou Yinzhi’s matter was also quickly settled.

For the next ten consecutive days, there was no more news from Sichuan, but everyone was vaguely anticipating something. The closer it got to the day that concubine-born daughter of Earl Qingyuan’s manor would leave the household, the more merchants frequented the Shuxiang Inn.

You could figure it out with your toes—

The Ren family from Sichuan would send people to receive that concubine-born daughter for her distant marriage to Sichuan. At the same time, they would certainly bring the latest news about the salt yard. Once the tube well truly could extract deeper well salt from already “废掉” salt wells, the price of the Ren family salt yard’s silver shares would soar to the sky!

Everyone eagerly awaited, day after day passing.

Soon it was the twenty-third of the twelfth month, the day before You Fangying left the household.

The people coming from Sichuan to escort the bride finally arrived!

That morning in the main hall of Shuxiang Inn, it was packed full of people. Even those who hadn’t bought silver shares in the Ren family salt yard, even those who knew they probably couldn’t buy them, still insisted on coming to join the excitement and witness this unprecedented spectacle in the business world.

Everyone kept glancing toward the doorway.

Each person who entered was scrutinized, but they sat until noon’s beginning, and the people and news they awaited still hadn’t come.

Seeing it was almost noon, some people dispersed.

Those living nearby went home to eat.

Some grew impatient waiting, but even more people ordered food right there in the inn, still stubbornly waiting.

At the second quarter of noon’s beginning, a burly man in short, fitted traveling clothes came galloping from afar. He tossed the reins to a young attendant at the door and strode inside with large steps, wiping away sweat despite the cold weather. Speaking in Mandarin with unclear tones and an obvious Sichuan accent, he loudly called out, “Where’s the innkeeper?”

Hearing this, everyone’s spirits immediately lifted.

The innkeeper was just telling the servers to hurry and urge the kitchen when he heard this voice and turned his head. Seeing the man, his eyes immediately brightened. “Are you someone sent by Young Master Ren?”

That burly man laughed heartily, revealing a row of white teeth, clearly extremely pleased, and said, “Precisely. I’m a newly hired servant of Young Master Ren, specially bringing people to the capital to escort the future young mistress to Sichuan. The tube well Young Master Ren built successfully drew salt brine from salt wells that had been废掉 and could no longer be mined seven days ago, and boiled new well salt. When I left, the entire Zigong salt yard came to look. Young Master Ren had me specially come to the inn to notify everyone, and also asked the innkeeper to write this news on the board and hang it so those who bought our salt yard’s silver shares can rest assured!”

His voice wasn’t small, and everyone in the main hall heard.

Thus with a “boom,” everyone exploded, and the main hall suddenly became a noisy uproar—no one could hear clearly what anyone was saying.

That man was quite carefree. Because he still had business to attend to and needed to make a trip to Earl Qingyuan’s manor to receive someone, he didn’t stay long. After reporting the news, he left.

Everyone was invigorated by this news.

A small portion of people suspected whether Ren Weizhi was fabricating things. After all, this kind of matter sounded truly like legend, somewhat fantastical and hard to believe.

However, in the afternoon, other news arrived one after another.

Regarding salt yard matters, the most well-informed were naturally the major salt merchants, who quickly confirmed this matter was indeed true.

In Sichuan, well salt mining—salt brine was deeply hidden underground. Original well salt mining merely involved drilling a well downward. Reaching three or four zhang deep was already remarkable. Going deeper, there was no method. Often when a well reached three or four zhang and couldn’t produce salt brine, it would be abandoned.

However, the tube well could actually reach underground ten zhang or even dozens of zhang!

Once the drilled bamboo tube went down, saline spring would gush upward from the well bottom. This wasn’t any “saline spring”—it was gleaming silver!

The salt merchants in the Jiangnan area were still fine. After all, they all relied on the sea for their livelihood, drawing seawater to make salt. Changes in mining experience and technology didn’t greatly affect them for now—they merely had more competitors. However, the major salt merchants in the Sichuan area couldn’t sit still upon learning this news. No matter where they were, after learning this news they all rode fast horses at full gallop, rushing to the Zigong Ren family salt yard to witness it.

With this tube well’s emergence, the entire Sichuan salt industry’s landscape was about to change!

The more news people heard, the fewer doubts there were, and enthusiasm for the Ren family salt yard’s silver shares grew higher. The price of silver shares naturally began climbing steadily!

Over six hundred wen—no one was willing to offer anymore.

In the main hall, people called out prices of seven hundred, eight hundred, nine hundred, but no one responded.

Until the next day when suddenly one thousand silver shares appeared on the market. However, as soon as it was said they were for sale, they were snatched up at the high price of one thousand wen per share—which was one tael of silver!

The opportunity Jiang Xuening had been waiting for had finally arrived.

The price of Ren family salt yard’s silver shares would of course continue to rise for a period, but the matter of that letter from Marquis Yongyi’s manor was imminent. Those Celestial Doctrine people’s patience was probably nearly exhausted. Even knowing she could earn more later, she didn’t dare wait any longer.

Those one thousand silver shares on the market were released by her to test the situation.

However, she didn’t show her face for this transaction, and the buyer also didn’t show their face, so they didn’t know each other’s identities.

When Jiang Xuening had extorted ten thousand taels of silver from Earl Qingyuan’s manor, she had given it all to You Fangying to invest in Ren family salt yard silver shares. It could be said she was now the person holding the most salt yard silver shares—a total of twenty thousand shares.

A few days ago, those several hundred shares in Manager Liu’s hands had also been collected by her when prices were low.

Only for her, this counted as loose change.

After releasing one thousand shares, she still had nineteen thousand in hand. At current silver share prices, they were also worth nineteen thousand taels of silver. Previously, she had nearly forty thousand taels cobbled together from various sources, but she’d taken a portion to give You Fangying as betrothal money, and she herself had to keep a portion for emergencies, so she was still short approximately fifteen thousand taels.

But this was absolutely not a small sum.

People who could afford this money wouldn’t be many.

If she directly released fifteen thousand shares to the market, even if there were no problems, it would likely arouse others’ suspicions about whether there was something fishy going on. Why would they want to sell off shares just as the Ren family salt yard silver share price was starting to soar?

The price might even drop.

So Jiang Xuening only had people release news in batches, one thousand shares at a time, while also waiting for fish to bite.

It could be said that anyone doing business in the capital was paying attention to this matter. As soon as news was released, countless people showed interest, expressing their willingness to make offers.

The news reached Lu Xian in the blink of an eye.

Others couldn’t detect anything amiss, but Lu Xian sensed something odd. A shrewd gleam immediately flashed in his eyes. “Something’s wrong—this situation is wrong. The Ren family salt yard’s prospects are bullish. Being able to sell one thousand shares and then following up with another thousand shares—behind this is probably someone holding a large amount of silver shares! Selling shares at this time means either they don’t have confidence in the Ren family salt yard’s future situation, or… this person urgently needs money right now!”

Inside Youhuang Hall, it was quiet and empty.

Xie Wei sat cross-legged opposite him, watching him rattle that abacus in front of him incessantly, and couldn’t help saying, “If someone else needs money, so what?”

Lu Xian’s eyes rolled as he chuckled slyly. “Naturally, it’s a great time to take advantage of their misfortune!”

He already had some ideas turning in his mind. Halfway through working the abacus, he set it down and actually stood up directly, saying, “No good—such a wonderful opportunity, I absolutely cannot miss it!”

Xie Wei frowned. “I still wanted to discuss Celestial Doctrine matters with you…”

Lu Xian waved his hand without looking back. “Since you have news of those people and they’re about to leave the city soon, capturing this group will be easy as pie. No need to discuss with me. This old man is rushing to make money. Whatever important matter you have can wait—I’m going out first to find someone!”

Outside, snow was falling.

It had been snowing for several days now.

Before leaving, Lu Xian thought it over. To be safe, he simply tucked the banknotes along with his seal in his clothes. Taking an umbrella from a young servant, he headed straight to White Fruit Temple in the capital.

These past days he’d had people watching Earl Qingyuan’s manor.

Lu Xian knew You Fangying’s whereabouts like the back of his hand.

Tomorrow she would depart from the capital for Sichuan. Before marriage, the young lady naturally had to go to a temple to offer incense and pray for a smooth marriage. Though You Fangying’s marriage was fake, the proper formalities were no less complete, showing no flaws on the surface.

This time, a small maid from the manor accompanied her.

Lu Xian didn’t put such a minor character in his eyes. He casually sent someone to keep the little maid occupied outside while he himself knocked on the door without the slightest courtesy, saying, “Is Miss You Fangying inside? This humble one is Lu Zhaoyin. I have a business matter and would like to discuss it with Miss.”

You Fangying had come to the temple today to worship and had also requested a divination slip, which she was now carefully examining. When she heard the knocking, she nearly trembled. Then hearing the person outside announce his name, a face floated up in her mind.

Second Miss’s prediction was indeed accurate—this person had actually sought her out.

She couldn’t help but admire greatly in her heart, though she was also somewhat nervous. Forcing herself to remain calm, she said, “Please enter.”

Lu Xian pushed the door open and entered.

A simple meditation room, extremely plain, with only a simple character for “emptiness” hanging on the wall.

Only when he raised his eyes to see You Fangying, he couldn’t help being startled. In the past when he’d met this young lady at Shuxiang Inn, she wore the coarse clothes of a maid, even appearing somewhat sallow and thin. Though she looked refined, she also appeared quite shabby. Now, however, she had filled out somewhat, with some color in her cheeks. He didn’t know if it was because she was about to marry, but though her features weren’t particularly striking, they gave one a gentle, water-like feeling. There was a radiance emanating from within, and when her gaze fell on him, it actually made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Only at this moment did Lu Xian realize—

That’s right, the young lady was marrying tomorrow, yet he still dared come today to discuss business. His audacity truly wasn’t small.

You Fangying asked, “I don’t seem to have made an appointment with you. I wonder what business Manager Lu has sought me out to discuss?”

Only then did Lu Xian come back to his senses. After smiling, he dispelled that moment of strangeness in his heart and said, “Others may not know, but Miss You and I should both know. Let me speak frankly—the person releasing news at Shuxiang Inn today about selling silver shares should be you, Miss, or rather, the person behind you, correct?”

You Fangying didn’t speak.

Lu Xian said with confidence, “Though Lu doesn’t know where exactly Miss needs to use so much money, you must be eager to sell the silver shares quickly, yes? However, though many merchants in the capital are paying attention to this matter, those who can produce such a large sum in a short time—I’m afraid you can’t find many. This Lu has been in business for many years—my reputation is impeccable. Rather than you selling one thousand shares at a time, which is troublesome to handle and requires caution to avoid discovery, why not sell everything you have to me? I’ll take it all. Would Miss consider it?”

You Fangying recalled Jiang Xuening’s instructions and asked, “Can you also offer one thousand wen per share?”

The corners of Lu Xian’s lips immediately curved into a half-smile. “When silver shares are scarce in the market, prices are high—having this price isn’t surprising. But if Miss releases all the silver shares in your hands at once, this price won’t be so high.”

Taking advantage of someone’s misfortune—this was precisely the essence.

Lu Xian deeply understood its essence.

Hearing these words, You Fangying felt stifled inside. Fortunately, Jiang Xuening had told her all this beforehand, so hearing it now from Lu Xian’s mouth, she didn’t feel much anger.

She only thought: Second Miss truly predicts matters like a god.

Even this person taking the bait and then seizing the opportunity to lower prices—she predicted it all.

She frowned and said, “Then how much will Manager Lu offer?”

Lu Xian asked in return, “How much does Miss have?”

You Fangying said, “Fifteen thousand shares.”

Lu Xian secretly drew in a sharp breath and couldn’t help raising his eyebrows. “Thirteen thousand taels.”

Upon hearing this, You Fangying’s small face turned cold as she said, “Manager Lu isn’t sincere about buying at all.”

However, Lu Xian smiled. “Very sincere.”

You Fangying wanted to see him out.

Lu Xian stubbornly refused to leave. His fingers lightly tapped the table edge, his posture quite carefree. “You, or your employer behind you, originally need fifteen thousand taels.”

Anger flashed in You Fangying’s eyes.

Seeing her like this, Lu Xian became even more certain he’d guessed correctly.

That feeling of controlling everything made him feel extremely pleased, as if he’d grasped the vital point of the young lady before him. He became even more relaxed and added, “Miss needn’t look at me with such eyes. In business, we discuss business. Those in commerce all have times when funds are tight. This Lu has always been kindhearted—when I can help people, I’m willing to help. Since you need fifteen thousand taels, why not sell me seventeen thousand silver shares? Let’s settle this deal with one stroke and save Miss from worrying everywhere over those few small coins, yes?”

Perhaps these words struck a chord with You Fangying. He saw that the other party’s expression seemed to waver, as if seriously considering his words.

Lu Xian then very calculatingly continued his efforts, continuing to persuade her.

One speech after another could be called earnest entreaties. He especially emphasized the consequences if she released all these silver shares to the market at once—people might suspect something was wrong with the salt yard behind the scenes. Perhaps they couldn’t even be sold.

But You Fangying still didn’t relent.

At this point, Lu Xian brought out his trump card. He straightened his face and said, “Having said so much, Miss You still has no intention of selling these silver shares. It seems this business deal cannot be concluded. Then Lu will take his leave first!”

Having said this, he stood up and clasped his hands toward You Fangying.

You Fangying didn’t stop him.

Lu Xian walked out of the meditation room, simultaneously counting silently in his heart. Sure enough, he’d only counted to three when a flustered voice came from behind: “Manager Lu, please wait!”

A triumphant smile overflowed from Lu Xian’s lips.

He knew the matter was settled.

This method of negotiating and haggling over prices, though old, was ultimately tried and true!

Only at this moment, his back was to You Fangying, so he fundamentally didn’t see that on this honest young lady’s face, a similarly relieved slight smile also flashed by.

One urgently needed money, one urgently needed shares.

Both sides hit it off immediately. Lu Xian had brought banknotes and his seal, determined to succeed—this went without saying. But what made him feel somewhat surprised was that You Fangying actually also carried her seal with her and almost immediately signed a contract with him.

One hand stamped seals, one hand exchanged money.

Lu Xian took the contract and left. You Fangying took the banknotes and left.

When leaving White Fruit Temple, Lu Xian was extremely invigorated, thinking to himself that the majority of the Ren family salt yard’s silver shares were now in his hands. In the future, he only needed to wait for gleaming silver to flow in.

But after walking three li out, the smile on his face suddenly froze.

The contract was tucked in his clothes, but a scene suddenly flashed through his mind of that You manor’s concubine-born daughter also producing a seal from her person. His head practically went “buzz”—if she wasn’t also determined to succeed, if she hadn’t prepared early, who would carry a seal when going out to offer incense!

He had come to take advantage of her misfortune.

But could the other party not know someone would come to take advantage?

Thinking this, he felt half his heart turn cold, immediately knowing he’d been too hasty. “Definitely needs money urgently! The other party is definitely crazy desperate for money! If I’d been more patient, I definitely could have pressed the price down even more! Damn…”

He’d actually jumped into a trap prepared by someone else!

Lu Xian’s face nearly turned green. The journey back originally only required half an hour, but he walked a bit then stopped a bit, stubbornly taking until dark. When he returned to Youhuang Hall, his expression was practically like attending a funeral—quite frightening.

Xie Wei still hadn’t left at this time.

Hearing the door push open, he looked up to see Lu Xian walk in with a body full of cold air. His eyebrows couldn’t help rising slightly. “What happened to you?”

Lu Xian’s face was iron-blue. He didn’t speak, only placing that contract on the table.

Xie Wei glanced at it and said, “Didn’t you conclude the negotiation?”

Lu Xian said, “I offered too high a price.”

For a merchant, being able to get something at a lower price but offering a higher one was absolutely a tremendous humiliation!

Looking back now, Lu Xian knew he’d gotten carried away at that time.

Hearing the meaning in his words, Xie Wei immediately understood why his expression was so poor. Someone like Lu Zhaoyin—if he could gain ten parts advantage, he wouldn’t be willing to step back and only take nine parts. He had to fill up all ten parts before feeling he hadn’t lost out. Likely, though he’d obtained the silver shares, he hadn’t been able to press the price low enough, and therefore felt resentful.

Heaven knew that right now, Lu Xian’s mind was full of You Fangying’s face. After this experience, he couldn’t help recalling that silk thread business where someone had beaten him to it earlier. The more he pondered, the worse he felt, thinking darkly that this grudge ran deep.

It took him quite a while to forcefully suppress this resentment.

Only then did he notice that at this late hour, Xie Wei actually still hadn’t left. He said, “Why are you still here?”

However, Xie Wei looked toward the window outside and said quietly, “Tonight something will happen. I’m waiting for news.”

Night fell completely.

Those fifteen thousand taels in banknotes passed from You Fangying’s hands to Jiang Xuening’s hands, then to Zhou Yinzhi’s hands, finally reaching the hands of two black-clothed masked people.

Zhou Yinzhi only brought Wei Xi.

The other party also had only two people.

They did keep their promise—one hand exchanged money, one hand exchanged the letter.

Likely both sides were extremely cautious, and because this matter was extremely special, they dared not let more people know. One side checked the letter had no problems, the other side verified the banknotes had no issues. Without even saying many words, each party turned and left.

Those two black-clothed people departed into the night.

Walking halfway, looking left and right and seeing no one, they entered an alley. When they emerged, they had already changed into ordinary clothes, revealing their faces—both ordinary-looking.

Gongyi Cheng had already lost contact.

The banknotes were already in hand.

These few people thought to themselves that Marquis Yongyi’s manor could be considered a family of loyal martyrs. They had once thought of conspiring with the Celestial Doctrine for great undertakings. By selling the letter, they’d also done a good deed. But remaining in the capital, fearing complications from delay, they wanted to use some connections the Celestial Doctrine had left in the capital to leave the capital that very night after obtaining the money and fly far away.

However, just as they carried enormous sums of banknotes, approaching the city gate and making secret signals to the person who usually made contact with them, what greeted them was actually arrows shot down from the city gate!

Whoosh!

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

In the darkness, the arrows traced sharp, fierce light. They easily pierced into these people’s heads. The banknotes in their clothes hadn’t even warmed up yet. They fundamentally hadn’t figured out what had happened before they collapsed to the ground, staring with wide eyes, lifeless.

On the city gate tower, Daoqin, who had long been lying in ambush here, neatly put away his bow. Standing in the dark corner of the gate tower not easily noticed by others, he instructed those beside him, “Go down and search carefully. See if there’s anything the master wants.”

Immediately several shadows descended from above.

After a thorough search up and down, they didn’t find any letter, but instead pulled out a thick stack of banknotes. Handing them to Daoqin, they said hesitantly, “Master Daoqin, we’ve searched everywhere—they don’t have anything on them.”

The moment Daoqin received that thick stack of banknotes, his brow furrowed.

Those now dead beneath the city tower were all people who had secretly taken orders from Gongyi Cheng. They shouldn’t have had so many banknotes.

Where did these people’s money come from?

He thought briefly, and suddenly an extremely bad premonition arose in his heart. His expression changed immediately. Without even speaking, he went straight down from the city gate tower, mounted his horse, and galloped directly toward Youhuang Hall.

Inside the room, a lamp was lit, but suddenly the lamp flower sparked.

Lu Xian, his face dark, worked the abacus, the sound particularly loud.

Xie Wei held a white jade chess piece in his hand, staring at the chess board before him, but hadn’t moved for quite some time. Only when a young servant outside announced that Master Daoqin had returned did he suddenly raise his eyes. In those quiet eyes, several traces of flickering killing intent were actually buried!

Daoqin walked in.

Xie Wei asked, “How was it?”

Knowing the matter was urgent, Daoqin didn’t dare say much else. He simply presented that thick stack of banknotes searched from those people earlier and said, “We didn’t find the letter Gongyi Cheng had them deliver. We only found these fifty thousand taels in banknotes on them!”

“Only banknotes, no letter?”

A sudden chill seized Xie Wei’s heart, and he actually felt a trembling sensation climb from his spine throughout his entire body.

He understood human nature too well.

Almost instantly, he guessed what had happened: after losing contact with Gongyi Cheng, this group with the letter in hand must have grown greedy and used this letter to exchange for this large sum of money!

The chess piece pressed in his palm suddenly dug into his palm.

Malevolent energy flashed across Xie Wei’s features. The black and white chess pieces on the board wavered in his eyes, making him irritated and agitated. He actually raised his hand and pushed, overturning the chess board. The pieces scattered all over the floor.

Clatter, clatter, clatter.

Yet this made the inside and outside of the room even more silent.

Lu Xian’s mood also wasn’t good, but at this moment he didn’t even dare breathe loudly.

Only when his gaze inadvertently passed over that stack of banknotes, he suddenly couldn’t restrain an “eh” sound—why did the top two banknotes on the surface look so… familiar?

His heart skipped a beat.

A shocking thought suddenly flashed through his mind, causing him to reach out and grab the entire stack of banknotes in his hands, examining them one by one carefully.

The more he looked, the brighter his eyes became.

Lu Xian’s heart beat extremely fast. He even felt an indescribable excitement wash over him. He directly extracted fifteen thousand taels in banknotes and placed them before Xie Wei, his voice trembling as he said, “Do you recognize these?”

Xie Wei frowned. “What?”

Lu Xian took a deep breath. “These are clearly the banknotes I took out this afternoon to buy those salt yard silver shares! Tongheng Bank, fifteen consecutive notes. Not only the serial numbers, even the creases left when I tucked them in my clothes before leaving are exactly the same!”

What this meant was truly all too clear!

Lu Xian feared Xie Wei wouldn’t believe him, so he laid out that stack of banknotes before Xie Wei one by one, pointing out all those conclusive details. “I thought it was strange how someone would suddenly want to sell off silver shares with such good rising momentum. I didn’t expect it was to be used for this. If the person who produced these banknotes is the buyer of that letter, this person must have countless intricate connections with that concubine-born daughter of Earl Qingyuan’s manor!”

Moreover…

What kind of person would spend such a large price to buy such a letter that could be called evidence of the marquis manor’s crimes?

Either a great enemy who wished nothing more than to destroy the marquis manor.

Or…

Xie Wei suddenly fell silent for a few moments. His slender fingers lightly rested on the edge of a thousand-tael banknote spread flat on the table. As his thoughts flowed, he folded up one corner, and actually saw that on the edge of the banknote were a few scattered, narrow ink marks.

His brow furrowed, his gaze settling on it unmoving.

Lu Xian also noticed where he was looking and couldn’t help being startled. “I don’t remember these ink marks being there before…”

Xie Wei glanced at him.

Next, as if thinking of something, he turned all fifteen banknotes over one by one to their reverse sides.

Lu Xian was immediately dumbstruck.

Because on the right edge of every single banknote, there were actually narrow ink marks that stopped abruptly!

After brief consideration, Xie Wei adjusted the sequence, aligning all fifteen banknotes according to the ink marks on their right edges, stacking them one atop another but each offset by a narrow strip. All the ink marks fit together like puzzle pieces.

Someone had actually written characters across the seam of the banknotes!

The characters weren’t particularly neat, even somewhat sloppy and crooked. Reading them, they actually had a somewhat aggrieved, pitiful flavor, writing: “Master, it’s me. I know I was wrong.”

At the end, there was even a drawing of a little turtle.

In this instant, Xie Wei couldn’t restrain himself and laughed aloud. The malevolent energy in his eyes suddenly melted away completely like ice and snow.