Lu Xian had once also passed the imperial examination and achieved jinshi status. When You Fangying was still suffering mistreatment and bullying at the Earl’s residence, he was already the somewhat famous proprietor of Youhuang Hall in the capital. The surplus money under his control secretly operated various businesses. Firstly, he was deeply learned and had served in the Hanlin Academy. Secondly, he was experienced, seasoned, and cunning. Now two years had passed. Although You Fangying had become Shuzhong’s foremost great merchant alongside Ren Weizhi, and even operated many other industries with Jiang Xuening, if she were individually compared with Lu Xian in intelligence and skill, it couldn’t be said she had no fighting chance at all, but ultimately she lacked a bit of the confidence that comes from being evenly matched.

After all…

In these two years, in this business world of great losses and great gains, they had strangely never crossed paths with Lu Xian, not even having the slightest friction.

You Fangying gazed at Jiang Xuening and couldn’t help saying with some worry: “This banquet on the Qinhuai River is actually organized by the government office and concerns next year’s salt permits. Although we’ve had no conflicts with Lu Xian in the past, avoiding many losses, we therefore know nothing about his background. Miss, if he…”

Jiang Xuening came back to her senses at these words.

When her gaze fell on this familiar face, she suddenly remembered You Fangying from her previous life. Compared to this life’s restrained and gentle You Fangying, the previous life’s You Fangying always gave people a faintly unconventional feeling. Although her eyes and brows carried melancholy, it couldn’t conceal that touch of faint contempt and mockery toward the mortal world.

Yet even such a You Fangying, when she encountered Lu Xian, inevitably suffered crushing defeat, losing utterly.

Because she simply didn’t know who her true opponent was.

But this life was different.

Jiang Xuening was dazed for a moment, then smiled: “We’re secretly aiding Yan Lin. No matter what, Lu Zhaoyin won’t cause us trouble. On the contrary, it’s extremely likely he’ll open doors of convenience for us. Fighting with us would be tantamount to internal attrition. Even if he harbors resentment, the person behind him may not approve.”

You Fangying noticed her distraction.

This wasn’t the first time she had seen such a look on Jiang Xuening’s face—as if looking through her to see another person. Sometimes it made her feel somewhat lost as well: Through her, who was Second Miss looking at?

She said: “But he asked me about Miss’s recent circumstances. I claimed not to know and left with an excuse. If he continues to pester…”

Jiang Xuening said: “Lu Xian’s ancestral home is Jinling, and his business prospers throughout north and south. If he’s determined to know my recent circumstances and wants to inquire about my whereabouts, by now he presumably already knows. He doesn’t even need you to tell him—he only needs to send someone to follow you. Asking instead would alert me, so I reckon it’s mostly about some other matter.”

You Fangying furrowed her brows in thought.

Jiang Xuening was instead no longer flustered and said: “Soldiers come, we’ll block them; water comes, we’ll cover it with earth. Lu Xian isn’t anything to fear. Given the current situation, Xie… Xie Wei also couldn’t possibly leave the capital. Even if things get worse, from the capital to Jinling, even with horses at full gallop takes ten days to half a month. By then the salt permit matter will likely have already been discussed and settled, and you and I will have left this place.”

You Fangying considered this and finally slowly nodded her head.

But in the end, she couldn’t help feeling troubled: “But if Boss Lu insists on pestering…”

Jiang Xuening smiled: “Isn’t that simple?”

You Fangying didn’t understand.

The smile at the corners of Jiang Xuening’s mouth gained several parts mischief: “Men and women shouldn’t have physical contact. You’re still Ren Weizhi’s wife after all. If Lu Xian is thick-skinned, just have Ren Weizhi deal with him. Won’t that work?”

As soon as these three words “Ren Weizhi” came out, You Fangying’s face immediately turned crimson.

She rarely showed such shyness, lowering her head and saying softly: “Miss is teasing me.”

Jiang Xuening knew that when she and Ren Weizhi had gotten married back then, it was still a false marriage. It was You Fangying who had first proposed the conditions—to falsely marry her and take her away from the capital as a condition for investing in the Ren family salt business, after which they went to Shuzhong.

Ren Weizhi was a scholar who constantly researched techniques for mining well salt, but didn’t have much talent for doing business.

You Fangying had a difficult upbringing. Although she hadn’t read many books, she had seen human nature in all its warmth and coldness and could handle social engagements and trivial matters for him.

Over these two years, they had truly worked together in perfect harmony.

On the surface, the two treated each other with mutual respect.

The contract stipulated that after one year in Shuzhong, the two could separate amicably, with Ren Weizhi writing a letter of release.

But when the year was truly up and You Fangying went looking for him, she couldn’t find Ren Weizhi anywhere.

She asked the steward, who said he had gone to the study.

When she went to the study, a young servant told her he had gone to the salt fields.

When she went to the salt fields, there was still no sign of him. Only upon inquiry did she learn he had actually packed up and left Sichuan.

Everyone up and down thought this husband and wife had quarreled.

You Fangying was also completely baffled.

Jiang Xuening, as an observer, saw clearly and merely lightly gave You Fangying a suggestion—to write a letter saying she wanted to discuss postponing the separation with him. After all, the Ren family salt business came first, and the two were grasshoppers tied to the same rope. But ultimately it affected Ren Weizhi’s prospects of marrying, so Ren Weizhi still needed to return for a trip.

Sure enough, Ren Weizhi returned.

When he arrived home, he was covered in dust from travel. Having suffered quite a bit alone outside, his face was puffed up with anger, though who knows with whom he was holding a grudge.

You Fangying had some innate talent for business, but in matters of emotion she seemed utterly clueless. She still didn’t understand what Ren Weizhi was upset about and truly discussed matters seriously with him—talking about interests, talking about the salt fields, saying something about how they would eventually separate, but many matters needed to be handed over, requiring him as the household head to slowly take over.

Ren Weizhi’s face turned iron-blue listening to this.

Finally, one day he poured himself a jin of wine, knocked on the door, called You Fangying out, and laid bare his feelings, saying since the two had married, and this period of time together hadn’t been uncomfortable, why not make the best of a mistake and err to the very end, considering it a good marriage bestowed by Heaven.

Over the past year, You Fangying hadn’t thought about this matter at all.

Her mind was completely occupied with doing business.

When Ren Weizhi said this, naturally it left her at a loss on the spot.

These two were quite interesting.

Jiang Xuening later asked her how she handled it.

You Fangying stammered: “I don’t know if I like him or not. I never thought about it in that way before, but this past year I’ve come to know that although he’s not particularly skilled at business, he’s a good person. So, so we haven’t separated for now. I’m, I’m trying it out with him to see.”

This past year, the two had obviously grown much closer.

Ren Weizhi truly seemed to treat her with genuine care.

This was why Jiang Xuening could make such a joke now—no matter what kind of character Lu Xian was, upon encountering the wife-protecting Ren Weizhi, he definitely wouldn’t get any advantage.

The two were talking when someone came to report that Boss Ren, seeing it was getting late, had personally come to Xiebai Residence to pick her up.

You Fangying naturally blushed bright red again.

Jiang Xuening knew she was thin-skinned and didn’t say much more, only simply asking about some business matters, then instructing her to select several capable managers from her subordinates, along with one particularly shrewd and capable manager, to go watch over Wei Liang’s side. Then she urged her to hurry out, lest Ren Weizhi wait too long.

In recent days, wealthy merchants and great traders had converged on Jinling. On the Qinhuai River, music and song resounded nightly. Though autumn had already arrived, it was even livelier than summer.

Some familiar faces making the rounds would encounter each other at every social engagement.

After You Fangying spoke with Jiang Xuening that one time, for the next three days she didn’t deliberately avoid social engagements but attended banquets together with Ren Weizhi. She didn’t encounter Lu Xian again and thought to herself that this person had just asked that one question. Perhaps he wasn’t wading into this murky water and had already left Jinling.

Who would have expected that today she would run into him squarely at a banquet.

At that time, she was concentrating on listening to several medicinal herb merchants from Shaanxi and Gansu at the adjacent seats discussing matters at the border.

“After Her Highness the Grand Princess went for a marriage alliance, Great Qian and the Tatars truly opened up mutual trade. The Tatars do have quite a few good medicinal herbs. But you also know, that place is bitterly cold—there’s not much big business to be done. Who would have thought this year I’d have such great fortune! Just when I was worrying about being unable to sell quite a few herbs, I encountered a young man—looked quite handsome, don’t know which great merchant’s son he was—he opened his mouth and bought everything in bulk. Although the profit margin was thin, the volume was huge! That’s how I was able to return early and still prepare some herbs for next year. That person said medicine is always needed and told me to deliver more next year if I have any.”

“Your medicinal herbs must have been worth twenty thousand silver—to buy all that, how generous!”

“Who says it isn’t?”

“Alas, one mustn’t mention the border!”

“Old brother, why the gloomy face?”

“Hai, I’ve been holding this in for a long time. We herb dealers all know a few physicians. These past two years, with trade opened and medical skills transmitted to the Tatars, a few people have also gone to the Tatar court. My manager has a young assistant whose brother works in the palace. The other day he came back and told me that Her Highness, after being married to the Tatars for two years, seems to be with child.”

“What!”

The surroundings immediately erupted in shock. You Fangying couldn’t help herself and turned her head to look.

Everyone was puzzled: “Isn’t being with child a good thing?”

That person scoffed: “What do you know? That Tatar King Yanda is in his prime. Although he married the princess, where would he put a weak woman in his eyes? She has no status whatsoever in the palace. The Tatar King moreover has three wives and four concubines, and especially dotes on a Tatar woman called Najir or something. Where is this a princess marriage alliance? Clearly it’s humiliation!”

The others looked at each other and couldn’t help sighing.

You Fangying’s heart raced with alarm. She wanted to ask whether this person’s information was reliable, but at the banquet, before all these people, it was impossible to speak up.

She ate that meal absent-mindedly.

Ren Weizhi sat beside her serving her food, quietly asking if something had happened. From the corner of her eye, she glimpsed the merchant who had just revealed the news going out, so she explained in a low voice for a couple of sentences and also rose to go out.

Her mind was preoccupied with those rumors from the border. When she left her seat, she actually didn’t notice that someone in the corner, seeing her go out, also put down his wine cup and followed.

Having just stepped onto the corridor and followed that person for a few steps, she heard laughter from behind.

Someone said leisurely from behind: “The banquet is only halfway through, yet Boss You hurriedly leaves. Who would have thought you’d be so concerned about news from the border? Could it be you’re also going to get involved in the medicinal herb business?”

This voice sounded truly familiar.

You Fangying’s heart tightened. She turned around and saw Lu Xian.

Wearing scholarly robes, although engaged in mercenary business, he never shortchanged himself in bearing and always carried a scholarly ink fragrance. It was just a pity that the feeling in his features was a bit too shrewd and calculating, exactly opposite to Ren Weizhi.

She stopped walking and became vigilant: “Boss Lu has also come.”

Lu Xian hadn’t left Jinling these past few days. He was only calculating the capital’s reaction after receiving the letter, and had also taken care of some matters. Today, hearing that Ren Weizhi and You Fangying were coming, he followed as well.

He approached and said: “A few days ago, I wanted to chat with Boss You for a bit, but unexpectedly you wouldn’t give me any face and weren’t willing to say even half a sentence more, which made me feel somewhat hurt. Today we’ve met with difficulty—I wonder if you could spare some time?”

You Fangying took a step back: “Today is a banquet, in someone else’s residence. It’s truly not appropriate to discuss business. I also have matters to attend to. Boss Lu, please try another day.”

Lu Xian didn’t take it seriously: “It’s not to discuss business.”

You Fangying said: “If it’s not business, then it’s private matters. Please forgive me, Boss Lu. I am a married woman. Apart from business, having private dealings with people is truly improper. Please be mindful of propriety, Boss Lu.”

Not discussing business, and not discussing private matters either?

Although Lu Xian appeared smooth on the surface, he was actually proud of his talents. Even back when taking the examinations and encountering Xie Wei, he had competed stubbornly with him. It was only later that he conceded and agreed to work for him. But if it were someone else, for him to look favorably upon them was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

He rarely took anyone seriously.

Hearing You Fangying use Ren Weizhi as an excuse, it immediately made a playful mocking smile hang at the corners of his lips: “What kind of relationship Boss You and Young Master Ren have, how much of your marriage performance is real and how much is fake—Boss You knows this in her own heart. Why speak in riddles before someone who understands?”

You Fangying never expected that her relationship with Lu Xian would be exposed by this person in one sentence.

Her body tensed up, and she retreated another step.

But behind her was already the corner of a wall—there was nowhere left to retreat.

She said: “Boss Lu’s words are incomprehensible. Young Master Ren and I are husband and wife legally married through proper matchmaking.”

Lu Xian was impatient with beating around the bush with her and only said: “I want to see your employer.”

In that instant, You Fangying’s pupils contracted.

Lu Xian had originally been straightforward and truly had matters to discuss with Jiang Xuening. But who would have thought that as soon as he finished speaking, when he looked up, he felt that the young lady before him had suddenly changed into a different person. The gaze looking back at him also held an extra measure of vigilance and hostility, like a young beast protecting its master.

A sense of foreboding suddenly swept through his heart.

Before he could even react, You Fangying actually turned her head and shouted loudly toward the direction of the flower hall at the other end of the corridor: “Impropriety!”

Im-impropriety?!

Lu Xian was practically frightened into a shudder. This composed person who usually smiled calmly at collapsing mountains and coldly watched the seas dry up was thrown into panic by these suddenly appearing words.

Consider that although Lu Xian was a beast, he was still a refined beast!

He had never done anything like taking liberties with young ladies!

If she started shouting about this, wouldn’t that be disastrous?

Therefore, he completely instinctively immediately stepped forward to restrain You Fangying, reaching out to cover her mouth, both shocked and angry: “When did I ever take liberties with you?!”

You Fangying instead became the calmest one.

She stared directly at Lu Xian. The meaning was self-evident.

Only then did Lu Xian discover that his hand had already pressed against her lips. Soft, smooth lip rouge smeared on his palm, shocking him so much that he wanted to pull his hand back immediately. But seeing You Fangying like this, he worried that if he let go, she would continue slandering him, shouting and screaming to draw others over.

Veins nearly bulged on his forehead.

Lu Xian took a deep breath and said: “I’ll let go, but please don’t make false accusations, Miss You.”

You Fangying blinked.

Lu Xian released her.

You Fangying didn’t move an inch, staring at him and saying: “I work for Miss. Miss has kept far away in Shu region precisely because she doesn’t want to create disturbances. Even if Boss Lu has business, speak properly in the future. Disturbing me doesn’t matter, but if you want to pester Miss, I’ll shout like just now whenever I see you.”

Lu Xian was speechless with anger.

However, You Fangying calmly reminded him: “People are coming. Boss Lu should hurry and leave.”

Lu Xian turned his head to look. Sure enough, shadows were moving on the flower hall side. Truly both anxious and annoyed, even though he originally had a bellyful of words he wanted to say or even curse about, he couldn’t find time to speak them. In haste, he only tossed out one sentence—”You’re ruthless”—and quickly fled first.

After walking some distance, he heard a commotion in the corridor.

You Fangying said softly and gently to people that it was a tall, large villain hiding in the flower bushes who had frightened her. He had already run off toward the east.

Lu Xian was practically so angry his head was smoking.

As the Master said well, only women and petty men are difficult to manage!

Back when they happened to meet at the Shuxiang Inn, she was still a little maid suffering humiliation at the Qingyuan Earl’s residence. Now she had transformed—money she had, power she had, and cunning she had too. She appeared reticent and gentle, but turned out to be black inside when cut open!

To even say something like “impropriety”!

This was from staying too long beside Jiang Xuening. If this wasn’t “one who stays near vermillion gets stained red; one who stays near ink gets stained black,” what was it?!