“Although I don’t know where you heard this information, I’ve already sent people to investigate thoroughly. There really is someone named Ren Weizhi, and his family does indeed have a somewhat aged salt field in Ziliujing. However, it’s basically no longer producing salt now, and they can’t even find a few long-term workers.” Seeing Shuxiang Inn already in sight, You Yue began instructing You Fangyin: “My status is different from yours. This Shuxiang Inn, who knows what kind of filthy and vile place it is. When we arrive, I’ll stop the carriage outside and wait for you at the teahouse across the street. You go into that inn, ask about the situation clearly, then come report to me afterward. If others ask about your identity, just say you’re only here to inquire about information and there’s a major patron behind you. Don’t try to pretend to be some big shot in front of outsiders!”

She was completely using You Fangyin as a servant.

And using her was even more convenient than using a servant.

Since this little tramp somehow had money of unknown origins, perhaps she had earned it herself. Whether true or false, sending her served three purposes: first, to conceal her own involvement and avoid appearing personally; second, to test this girl’s depths and see if she was hiding any tricks; third, if anything went wrong with this matter, it would be convenient to frame You Fangyin directly.

If she used her own maids and servants, it wouldn’t have such good effects.

You Yue was very satisfied with her own scheming.

You Fangyin listened to all this without speaking, appearing completely submissive.

As soon as the carriage arrived across from Shuxiang Inn, it stopped.

You Fangyin got out of the carriage.

You Yue only said: “Remember not to tell people you’re from Qingyuan Earl Residence. Ask about everything carefully, especially the salt field’s situation and the silver he needs—memorize it all.”

You Fangyin nodded and walked toward Shuxiang Inn.

From the name Shuxiang Inn, one could tell it was opened by merchants from the Shu region.

The western part of the capital had never been where nobility built their residences. Instead, there were many entertainment quarters and markets. Most people walking the streets were wanderers of all kinds from north and south, and there were even beggars sitting by the roadside.

Fortunately, You Fangyin had “seen the world” by now.

After all, last time she had dealt with raw silk trade, entering and leaving the Jiangzhe Guild Hall, walking through dozens of merchant associations large and small. Although she felt somewhat apprehensive now, a small Shuxiang Inn wasn’t enough to make her flustered.

It was also at this moment that she clearly realized—

She was already different from before.

Standing at the inn’s entrance, she forcefully clenched her fingers, took a deep breath, and walked in.

This inn had two floors and occupied considerable space, but the interior decoration was extremely ordinary, looking even somewhat old and dilapidated. The few tables in the main hall still bore knife marks—who knew what had happened before.

It was already past noon, with few customers below.

Only a few small merchants and travelers were resting here, ordering pots of wine and several dishes, sitting in corners to eat.

The innkeeper also stood listlessly behind the counter.

When You Fangyin walked in, he glanced at her and yawned, as if he hadn’t seen her at all. Only when his eyelids drooped down, about to touch his lower eyelids, did he suddenly jolt awake, realizing there was a customer.

But after opening his eyes and looking You Fangyin up and down, he was somewhat puzzled.

In these tense times in the capital, it was rare to see a young woman out alone.

He smiled and asked curiously: “Miss, are you here for a meal or to stay at the inn?”

You Fangyin glanced at the stairs beside her and said: “Looking for someone.”

The smile on the innkeeper’s face diminished, and his expression became strange. He actually said: “Don’t tell me—looking for someone too? Miss, don’t tell me you’re also here looking for that fellow surnamed Ren upstairs?”

You Fangyin was somewhat pleasantly surprised: “Is Master Ren in?”

The innkeeper had already opened his account book and taken out his abacus, about to receive customers. Now he rolled his eyes and directly closed the account book. Without even lifting his head, he pointed to the left staircase and said: “Upstairs, turn left, the innermost room. Though half an hour ago someone came looking for him and hasn’t left yet.”

If he’d known so many people would come looking, he should have charged per person.

Each person who came to find him, charge a few coins—it would help make up for the room rent this pauper owed!

However, You Fangyin didn’t know Ren Weizhi’s current situation. Hearing the innkeeper point the way, she was very grateful and bowed slightly to him: “Thank you, innkeeper. Then I’ll wait downstairs for a while.”

Who knew if it was a business discussion? It wouldn’t be good to disturb others.

She hadn’t brought money and couldn’t order anything, so after saying this, she stood waiting to the side.

As it happened, she hadn’t been standing long when someone came down from upstairs.

Footsteps on the aged wooden stairs creaked.

You Fangyin raised her head and saw a young man in a long robe descending from upstairs. His features were ordinary, his frame thin, yet he had a carefree bearing. With hands behind his back, his fingers toyed with a Hetian yellow jade fan pendant.

Coming downstairs, he stopped in front of the counter, drew out a banknote from his sleeve, and placed it directly before the innkeeper, saying: “The room rent for Master Ren upstairs—the extra is for future payments. If it’s a long time, keep it on account. Come to Youpang Hall in the east of the city to settle up on the first and fifteenth of each month.”

The innkeeper was startled: “Oh my, how generous!”

He snatched up that banknote to look at it. Seeing the bright characters “Tonghe Bank One Hundred Taels,” he immediately beamed with joy: “Looks like congratulations are in order for this honored guest, and congratulations to Master Ren too—you’ve reached a good business deal!”

This person was none other than Lu Xian, the current idling proprietor of Youpang Hall. Having seen plenty of the innkeeper’s mercenary manner, he waved his hand dismissively: “It’s just helping out in passing. We haven’t discussed any business yet.”

The innkeeper immediately said: “I understand, I understand.”

Lu Xian mentally cursed “you understand nothing,” sneered, and was too lazy to engage further. He turned to leave.

At this moment, the innkeeper’s mood had improved considerably. He said to You Fangyin standing to the side: “Miss, Master Ren’s guest has now left. You can go up and see him.”

Only then did You Fangyin realize the scholarly young man was Ren Weizhi’s guest.

She couldn’t help but look once more.

Seeing a young woman in this gathering place of all walks of life, Lu Xian also felt it somewhat strange, but at first didn’t think much of it and walked past.

But hearing the innkeeper’s words, his footsteps suddenly halted.

This young woman had also come looking for Ren Weizhi?

Lu Xian couldn’t resist turning around to look back. By chance, his gaze met You Fangyin’s.

Truly “simple hairpin and cloth skirt”—this plain outfit was somewhat shabby. Her features were well-formed, fairly delicate, but she looked somewhat sickly and thin. This made her eyes appear exceptionally large and bright—at first glance, rather striking.

He was momentarily stunned.

That young woman also seemed not to have expected him to turn back. Startled, her whole person like a frightened rabbit, she quickly withdrew her gaze, bowed slightly to him with a hint of apology, then went upstairs.

Lu Xian’s brows furrowed: Could she be Ren Weizhi’s relative? But he hadn’t heard of him having any sisters, much less a wife.

Suspicion arose in his heart.

He turned and walked out from this crude inn. Who would have thought that just as he raised his eyes, he’d see that carriage stopped across the street. Looking again at the emblem on it, his eyelid twitched sharply as thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning: The You residence had a carriage; in the teahouse across the street there should be someone from the You residence; the young woman he’d just encountered was thin and haggard, wearing maid’s clothes or worse than a maid, yet observing her bearing she didn’t seem like a maid. Could she be…

“That concubine-born daughter from Qingyuan Earl Residence?” Lu Xian looked back toward Shuxiang Inn once more as if he’d seen a ghost, deep contemplation flashing in his eyes. Finally, he laughed: “Interesting! Truly interesting…”

He lightly clapped his hands, his mind already decided.

Originally planning to go directly back to Youpang Hall, he now changed his mind. He boarded the sedan chair waiting by the roadside and said: “To the Xie residence.”

You Fangyin went upstairs.

Turn left, innermost room.

She stopped outside the door, reached out her hand, and gently knocked: “Excuse me, is Master Ren in?”

Ren Weizhi was twenty-four this year. Having repeatedly failed the imperial examinations, before age twenty he hadn’t even passed the child student exam. He gave up on this aspiration, and after his father died, took over the family salt field. However, the family salt field had been passed down three generations and experienced over a hundred years of mining—it was nearly depleted. Being full of scholarly air and poor at management, in just two years his family circumstances had greatly declined, growing worse day by day.

By now, the original long-term workers had all left.

Unable to borrow money anywhere, he had no choice but to sell quite a bit of ancestral property to scrape together travel expenses to the capital. He’d been enduring in the capital for nearly a month. Many people, hearing about his invention of the tube well, came to the inn to inquire. But most of these people didn’t truly want to lend him money or invest shares—they just wanted to trick him into showing them his diagrams.

After coming and going without success, they naturally gradually dispersed.

Fewer and fewer people came looking for him at this inn. Some even said he was a fraud who’d squandered his ancestral property and couldn’t manage the salt field well, so he came to the capital under the banner of some invention to swindle people.

In those people’s words—

For hundreds of years, so many people couldn’t figure out how to drill wells deeper. You’re a bookworm who’s barely visited the salt field a few times, never personally extracted brine, yet claim you have a method. Obviously it’s armchair strategizing, just talk!

Having just seen off Lu Xian, Ren Weizhi felt somewhat disheartened.

Having encountered so many people and having spent time in the examination halls, he could tell that this Lu Xian was definitely no minor figure. However, the other party wasn’t at all eager like the others. Though he also inquired about the Ziliujing salt field situation and asked about the tube well, even willing to give him silver as temporary aid, he absolutely refused to mention investing money for shares, only saying he’d come find him again in a few days.

Ren Weizhi didn’t know how much longer he could hold on.

He wore a dark blue brocade robe, the cuffs already somewhat wrinkled. On his fair face was a pair of handsome phoenix eyes, lips neither thin nor thick—the face of someone who hadn’t suffered much hardship since childhood. Between his brows lingered some innate self-assurance he couldn’t let go.

At present, he was pacing worriedly in the room.

Hearing the knock accompanied by that inquiring voice, he first froze, then quickly went forward to answer the door, only saying: “I’m in.”

With a creak, the door opened.

Ren Weizhi saw the person standing outside—actually a plainly dressed young woman.

He looked behind her and indeed saw no one else. He couldn’t help but be somewhat confused: “Are you looking for me, Miss?”

You Fangyin hadn’t expected him to open the door so quickly. Her hand that had been knocking was still raised in mid-air. Feeling somewhat awkward, she lowered it and said: “If you are Master Ren, then I’m looking for you.”

Ren Weizhi didn’t recognize her and only said: “What matter brings you here, Miss?”

You Fangyin recalled what Xu Wenyi had taught her when doing that raw silk business—when one should be concise, never beat around the bush. So very briefly she said: “Ziliujing, salt field, tube well, invest money for shares.”

Ren Weizhi’s mouth immediately fell slightly open, feeling it was incredible: This young woman didn’t look like someone with money at all!

But what kind of people didn’t exist in the capital?

He had nothing—surely no one would use a honey trap to trick him out of his diagrams?

Thinking this, he suddenly laughed self-deprecatingly, stepped back, and let You Fangyin in, saying: “So you’ve also come for the salt matter. Please come in. May I ask how to address you, Miss?”

Though You Fangyin had previously discussed business with Xu Wenyi, he was older with children—she only treated him as an elder.

This Ren Weizhi was her age.

After entering his shabby inn room, she inevitably felt somewhat constrained, only saying: “My surname is You.”

Ren Weizhi nodded: “Then I’ll address you as ‘Miss You.’ Please sit.”

In the guest room was only a bare square table with a plate of cold corn pancakes and several tea cups, plus a pot of tea water.

Three chairs were placed beside it.

He invited You Fangyin to sit across from him, then picked up the teapot to pour her a cup of tea, smiling sheepishly: “A few days ago when serving such plain weak tea to guests, I still felt some embarrassment. But being at the end of my resources, even if I wanted to keep up appearances, I can’t anymore. Circumstances force it—please don’t look down on it, Miss You.”

You Fangyin felt somewhat overwhelmed by this favor. With both hands, she received the tea cup, only thinking how in the Earl residence she couldn’t even get a mouthful of rough tea. For a moment, she felt desolate and only said quietly: “I don’t look down on it.”

Ren Weizhi looked at her.

She held the tea cup and took a sip. When her gaze lowered and saw that plate of cold corn pancakes, she raised her eyes to look at Ren Weizhi, slowly saying: “May I eat this?”

Ren Weizhi froze, looked at that plate of pancakes, his face nearly burning up. His speech became stuttering: “This, this is from lunch. You can eat it, only it’s already gone cold…”

You Fangyin curved her lips in a smile: “It doesn’t matter.”

She was just somewhat hungry.

Having received the host’s permission, You Fangyin temporarily set down her tea cup, took a corn pancake from the plate, and ate it in small bites.

The cold food slid into her abdomen, warmed by her body’s heat.

She clearly didn’t feel particularly wronged, yet after only a few bites, tears unknowingly rolled down in streams, nearly choking her.

Ren Weizhi had only thought an unusual patron had arrived. How could he expect that before she’d even finished half a pancake, she’d start crying? For a moment he was flustered, wanting to find a silk handkerchief to hand over, but couldn’t find one after searching for a long time.

He could only say awkwardly: “You, don’t cry. Others will think I did something to you!”

You Fangyin lowered her head, staring at the bite mark she’d made in that corn pancake, yet murmured something completely unrelated: “Living is already so hard—what does face matter…”

Ren Weizhi suddenly froze.

Jiang Xuening waited in the carriage for quite a while.

Looking left, You Yue didn’t come out of the teahouse. Looking right, You Fangyin didn’t come out of the inn.

She felt very bored.

What to do when bored?

You Yue acted tyrannically in her own residence, constantly bullying and abusing You Fangyin. If she didn’t go down and make some trouble for You Yue, it really couldn’t be justified!

Thinking thus, Jiang Xuening decisively said: “Get out of the carriage.”

Tang’er and Lian’er helped her down, and she went directly to the teahouse beside them.

This teahouse was square-shaped. Below was a stage specifically for opera performances or storytelling, but at this time there was neither opera nor storytelling, appearing rather desolate.

You Yue was on the second floor.

As soon as Jiang Xuening entered, she glanced upstairs and could see You Yue’s position. She pointed at that spot to the waiter who came forward, bringing out all the arrogance she’d suppressed for many days: “I want that position upstairs.”

The waiter saw her imposing manner and this outfit, knowing she was someone with money. His smiling face immediately appeared, wanting to usher her inside. Who would have thought this delicate young miss would say something shocking?

His smile froze.

His eyelid twitching, he looked upstairs and swallowed: “But, but that position is already occupied…”

Jiang Xuening raised her eyelid and looked at him sideways: “Tell her to get lost.”

Waiter: “…”

He could see—this young lady had a grudge against the one upstairs and was here to make trouble!

The waiter broke out in cold sweat on his forehead, momentarily not knowing how to handle this.

This teahouse wasn’t very large.

From upstairs to downstairs was only about two zhang—words spoken below could be heard clearly above.

You Yue was muttering upstairs about why You Fangyin still hadn’t come out, when she heard someone speaking below, even saying something about “tell her to get lost.” You must know there weren’t many customers upstairs at this moment, and this voice sounded extremely familiar.

Her brows furrowed as she looked downstairs.

This glance nearly made her grind her teeth in hatred. She suddenly rose from her seat: “Well now, enemies on a narrow road! I don’t come to trouble you, yet you, Jiang Xuening, come to trouble me! You even dare tell me to get lost?!”

Jiang Xuening raised her head as if only now seeing her, covering her lips in surprise: “I thought some tactless person upstairs had taken the position I fancied. I didn’t expect it was Second Miss You!”

You Yue was furious: “You—”

Harsh words were about to come out, but her eyes rolled and she forcibly held back. She stepped aside and gracefully descended the stairs from upstairs, affecting a whiny voice: “Ah, I originally wanted to argue with you, but thinking about it, you’re now worse than a plucked phoenix—I actually feel sorry for you.”

In her past life, Jiang Xuening had heard such mockery countless times. It really couldn’t stir her anger. She only smiled, watching You Yue approach.

Her expression didn’t change, but You Yue’s did.

Seeing these words had no effect, old and new grievances welled up in her heart, growing increasingly venomous: “Look at you, from a small household, a wild person raised in the countryside, not understanding any rules yet wanting to climb branches to become a phoenix. I dare not speak in the palace, but outside I should advise you—for a young lady not to know propriety, to flirt with men and ruin a daughter’s reputation is one thing, but you’re blind and can’t pick someone with a long life. Who knows who relied on Yongyi Marquis Residence’s power to bully others in the past? Now that whole family is about to be beheaded. First it was Young Marquis Yan Lin—who knows what will happen to that Teacher Xie next!”

The color in Jiang Xuening’s eyes finally deepened somewhat.

She slowly curved her lips, her gaze wandering around this teahouse in a circuit.

Finally, as if talking to herself, she murmured: “Strange, how is there not even a fish tank in this teahouse…”

Fish tank!

Hearing these two words, You Yue’s hair nearly stood on end immediately. Instantly she recalled the scene when this lunatic had pressed her head down forcefully toward the fish tank with a cold, vicious face!

A sense of crisis immediately crept over her!

She saw Jiang Xuening’s gaze turn back, gently falling on her, even reaching out a hand to place on her shoulder. She immediately screamed in fright and swatted at her hand!

When Jiang Xuening was young, mixing in the countryside and mountains, she was a little devil everyone feared. Not to mention that after rebirth, she’d accumulated a whole body of suppressed anger that couldn’t be released. She simply didn’t fear a small fry like You Yue.

She was pondering how to make You Yue’s impression of her more “profound.”

But before she could act, she heard Tang’er quietly say behind her: “Miss Fangyin is here!”

Jiang Xuening’s eyelid jumped. She immediately recalled the lies she’d told You Fangyin before—she was supposed to be the one bullied by You Yue until she didn’t even dare speak!

She couldn’t let the act slip!

She adapted extremely quickly. Before You Yue could even react, her legs bent and with a startled cry, she fell weakly to the ground. One hand lightly pressed against her heart, the other half-covered her face as she sobbed: “Miss You, how, how can you do this…”

“…”

You Yue felt this scene was somewhat familiar. The back of her head began reflexively going numb.

She first looked around, confirming that neither the Grand Princess nor Yan Lin was present. Only then did she relax. Turning to see Jiang Xuening still acting, anger burst forth. Extremely furious, she cursed: “You lunatic! Putting on an act all day for whom? Did I push you? Did I push you? Even if I really pushed you, what can you do to me? Think anyone can see now?”

As soon as You Yue finished speaking, in the corner of her eye, she finally saw You Fangyin standing outside the teahouse entrance.

This person who had always been docile and easy to bully in her eyes was staring at her with both eyes. Her eye sockets were even red as she asked, word by word: “Did you push Second Miss?”

Only then did You Yue remember that Jiang Xuening was You Fangyin’s lifesaver.

But she didn’t feel she needed to fear You Fangyin—she was merely a concubine-born daughter of a minor wife.

She immediately sneered coldly, about to mock her.

How could she expect that the next moment, she’d see You Fangyin, without another word, grab a bench from the teahouse main hall and walk toward her!

“Ah, what are you doing!”

“You’ve gone mad!”

“Someone, help, help!!”

You Fangyin had just come from the inn across the street. Initially seeing Jiang Xuening, she felt extremely delighted. But immediately afterward, she saw her second sister actually push Second Miss down. In that moment, she only felt her heart go ice cold.

Yet in a flash, this ice cold transformed into boundless flames of fury!

She didn’t know if she’d truly gone mad, but in this moment, she no longer wanted to yield, no longer wanted to retreat and compromise. She only wanted to be stronger, even stronger, so she could also protect those she wanted to protect.

With that long bench gripped in her hand, she couldn’t see the other panicked people in this teahouse. In her eyes was only You Yue, and she approached step by step.

Where had You Yue ever seen someone so reckless?

Though she spoke viciously, she was just a sheltered young lady. Moreover, she’d never seen You Fangyin look so fierce and vicious, as if possessed by an evil spirit. Frightened, she retreated again and again, tears coming out: “You, you get away, someone, help!”

She shrieked at the top of her lungs.

But even the maids were frightened, all screaming and retreating.

In her panic, You Yue fell sitting on the ground. Casting her gaze around for help, she happened to glimpse Jiang Xuening who had fallen sitting on the ground earlier—

Where was that delicate, pitiful appearance from before?

She was completely in a leisurely posture, calmly tidying her fallen hair strands, even looking at her with several parts pity and sighing.

She even gently waved, instructing the maid beside her: “Persuade her a bit—don’t let it become a murder.”

You Yue was driven mad!

The same trick had been used on her twice, and after being fooled once, she’d still fallen for it a second time!

Ahhhhhhhhh!

This detestable seductive cheap hussy!!!