“Xianggu, there’s no need to be nervous. Those two old women will likely wake up soon, so let’s get to the point quickly,” Jiang Si said.
“How did you know…” Liu Xianggu’s gaze towards Jiang Si was now beyond description.
When every step a person takes is foreseen by another, even if that person is just a frail young girl, she becomes as terrifying as a monstrous beast in one’s eyes.
At this moment, that was how Liu Xianggu saw Jiang Si.
“Come, let’s talk business,” the young girl said with a smile.
“I don’t do business!” Liu Xianggu just wanted to flee far away, without anyone stopping her!
Jiang Si chuckled: “Has Xianggu considered that the commotion caused by your ritual brings you at least two benefits?”
“What benefits?”
Jiang Si held up her fingers.
Seeing this gesture, Liu Xianggu’s heart instinctively trembled.
She wouldn’t show the number “six” again, would she?
Besides digging up ancestral graves and spreading gossip, couldn’t she threaten with something else?
This time, Jiang Si held up two fingers and said calmly: “First, Xianggu has become the focus of attention in the capital, which greatly ensures your safety.”
At this point, Jiang Si glanced at Liu Xianggu and asked with a smile: “Surely Xianggu doesn’t think my Second Aunt is made of clay and would let you leave the capital smoothly?”
Liu Xianggu’s mouth twitched.
That’s why she was planning to sneak away.
“Let me inform Xianggu, my Second Aunt’s elder brother holds a position in the Five Cities Military Command. Although his position isn’t prominent, it’s not difficult for him to deliberately stop someone.”
Liu Xianggu’s lips trembled.
She had truly boarded a pirate ship with no way off!
“Now the situation is different. The whole capital is watching, so my Second Aunt certainly won’t dare to openly deal with Xianggu. At most, she might spread some rumors to damage Xianggu’s reputation.”
“If my reputation is ruined, then everything is over,” Liu Xianggu said woodenly.
If the Old Madam of Earl Dongping’s eyes didn’t recover, and the Second Madam branded her a fraud, she might even end up in jail, which wouldn’t be much better than a beating.
“Why would Xianggu’s reputation be ruined? My grandmother’s eyes will certainly recover,” Jiang Si said.
Liu Xianggu took a deep breath, her tone unable to hide her nervousness and urgency: “Does the young lady truly believe the Old Madam’s eyes can recover?”
“I never speak empty words. This is the second benefit of this matter spreading. The more people doubt Xianggu’s abilities now, the more they will revere you when my grandmother’s eyes recover. At that time, Xianggu will gain both fame and fortune.”
“If it truly turns out that way, I must thank the young lady.”
“We won’t discuss that now. What we need to talk about is business.”
“What business?”
“Aren’t the gambling houses taking bets on this matter? Let’s join in the fun.”
Liu Xianggu’s face stiffened slightly, unsure of Jiang Si’s intention.
“I heard that the odds at various gambling houses are around five to one. If we bet that Xianggu can cure my grandmother’s eyes, one tael of silver can become five taels. Isn’t that a highly profitable business?”
“The calculation is correct, but what if we lose?” Liu Xianggu, swayed by Jiang Si, had already started thinking like an ordinary person.
“We won’t lose,” Jiang Si said firmly.
Liu Xianggu opened her mouth to object, but facing this monster who could casually threaten to dig up her ancestral graves, she had long lost the courage. After hesitating, she asked, “Why ‘we’?”
Jiang Si spread her hands, saying matter-of-factly: “I don’t have money.”
Liu Xianggu’s mouth twitched, and she gritted her teeth as she handed over the silver note hidden in her bosom: “This is what the young lady gave me earlier. Since you have no money, please take it back to use. As for betting… I’d rather not participate.”
If the Old Madam of Earl Dongping’s eyes didn’t recover, at least she would have some savings to fall back on after her reputation was ruined.
“In that case, I won’t force Xianggu. Could Xianggu lend me another two hundred taels of silver?”
“What?” Liu Xianggu was stunned for quite a while.
The young girl’s gaze, deep as a pond, finally made her give in. She fished out a cloth package from her trouser pocket, unwrapped it layer by layer, and took out two silver notes to hand over.
Jiang Si took them without hesitation and smiled slightly.
She knew that people like Liu Xianggu lacked a sense of security and always carried a sum of money wherever they went.
“Don’t worry, Xianggu. When I win the bet, I’ll return your principal.”
Liu Xianggu closed her eyes briefly, still reluctant to say it wasn’t necessary to return the money. She nodded haphazardly and said dryly, “I’ll go back now. Those two old women are about to wake up.”
“Safe journey, Xianggu.”
Shortly after, Aman came in and whispered in Jiang Si’s ear: “Liu Xianggu has returned.”
Jiang Si nodded slightly: “I know.”
The unique scent of incense associated with Liu Xianggu hadn’t gone far, indicating she had obediently returned to the next room.
“Young Miss, Liu Xianggu has done such an unconscionable thing. Do you intend to let her gain both fame and fortune?” Aman asked.
Jiang Si smiled and stood up to look out the window: “What does it matter if she gains fame and fortune? The wicked will be punished by heaven. Just wait and see.”
Aman scratched her head.
She didn’t believe that heaven was so attentive as to watch every evil person, but she believed in her young miss.
“Let’s go to the Tianxiang Tea House.”
The private room at the Tianxiang Tea House had been booked in advance, and the person Jiang Si was to meet had already been waiting for a while.
Jiang Si entered with Aman, and the person immediately stood up.
Jiang Si removed her veil hat and casually placed it on the table.
The person quickly lowered his head: “What orders does the young miss have for me?”
He couldn’t forget the first time he saw this heavenly young miss. Because he forgot to avert his eyes for a moment, he was beaten by that stinking girl dressed as a boy beside her until he nearly passed out.
This young man was Afei, the street ruffian who had been stabbed with a hairpin by Aman.
“You did well with the previous matter,” Jiang Si said calmly.
If her second uncle’s family wanted to keep the rotten meat in the pot, she certainly wouldn’t let them have their way. Afei’s efforts had contributed greatly to the rapid spread of this gossip.
The people of the capital were quite wealthy, making it the most suitable soil for spreading gossip. A small spark could start a prairie fire.
“I don’t deserve the young miss’s praise,” Afei quickly glanced at Jiang Si before lowering his eyes again.
Compared to unparalleled beauty, his life was certainly more important.
He had just wanted to tease a beautiful young man on a whim, how did he end up involved with this master and servant pair?
“There’s another matter I need you to handle,” Jiang Si nodded slightly to Aman.
Aman hesitated for a moment before handing over a plain sachet: “Here.”
Afei reached out to take it, but Aman wouldn’t let go.
Afei looked at Jiang Si and increased his force.
What was going on? Hadn’t the young miss indicated to give him the sachet? Had he misunderstood?
“Aman—” Jiang Si reminded helplessly.
Only then did Aman let go, warning: “If you lose it, I’ll kill you!”
The young miss was too trusting, how could she give so much money to this ruffian?
“Open it and take a look,” Jiang Si said.
Afei lowered his head and opened the sachet. Seeing the silver notes inside, his face immediately changed: “Young miss, this—”
“Take these and place a bet that the Old Madam of Earl Dongping’s eyes will recover.”
Afei’s lips turned white: “This, this—”
This young miss was trusting, giving him so much money. Wasn’t she afraid he’d run away?