Upon hearing that Chu Linlang had actually gone to work as a household manager at the Deputy Chief Justice’s residence, Madam He first sighed and shook her head, then her eyes lit up with sudden realization.

Her sigh was for the fact that a proper official’s wife had somehow become a servant in someone else’s household. But her eyes lit up because this meant she now had a connection inside the Deputy Chief Justice’s residence.

A household manager in a capital official’s residence — if such a position were to be ranked among official posts, Madam He would certainly give it a seventh-rank standing!

If the household’s master held a critically important official position, the household manager wouldn’t need to do much else — simply managing social visits and the flow of favors, occasionally leaking a bit of news here and there, would be enough to earn a full and prosperous living. Now that was a genuinely lucrative post!

Thinking along these lines, Madam He couldn’t help but feel a newfound admiration for Chu Linlang — what a talent! Truly capable of bending and stretching as circumstances demanded! Rather than remaining the wife of a sixth-rank official, she had turned around and taken charge of the purse strings of a household belonging to a fifth-rank key official.

My, my — worthy of the Chu name indeed. That head of hers certainly didn’t grow for nothing!

The Deputy Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review — that was a genuinely vital and sensitive position. With Chu Linlang there, Madam He felt she now had a reliable connection inside the Deputy Chief Justice’s household.

Back when Chu Linlang had sold the tavern to Madam He’s relative at a low price, Madam He had felt she owed her a favor.

So, taking advantage of the natural opportunity, Madam He repaid her generously — she told Chu Linlang about the recent negotiations between the Jing Kingdom and the imperial court regarding the opening of border markets.

Reportedly, expensive silks and iron goods could be sold at five times the price once transported to that region. If one could seize the advantage early and secure merchant passes for the first outbound trading batch, wealth would come rolling in.

Madam He had relatives at the border with merchant caravans who had already seized the opportunity and secured merchant passes. She was planning to invest and asked Chu Linlang whether she would be interested in partnering. As Chu Linlang was in the capital and could listen for any whispers about this matter in court, she could receive a share of dry stock without needing to put up any silver.

Chu Linlang did not agree on the spot. When it came to putting money into someone else’s venture, even if introduced by an acquaintance, it was easy to end up with nothing if she didn’t investigate thoroughly first.

Moreover, this involved affairs of state — how could she casually gather such intelligence and leak it to others?

Chu Linlang had always been self-aware about such matters. In the past, when she was the Zhou family’s wife, she had devoted herself wholeheartedly to encouraging and supporting her husband’s advancement. Now that she held a nominal post at the Deputy Chief Justice’s household, without Situ Sheng needing to instruct her, she would keep her mouth firmly shut and refrain from prying into matters she had no business knowing.

Although Chu Linlang didn’t have any major business ventures at hand, she had a sum of money earning interest at a money house, income from the dividends of her family’s shop back home, and a share of the profits from Xia He’s elder brother’s salt merchant passes — all totaled together, it was still enough to get by.

While this border trade opportunity wasn’t bad, the moment she thought of the unrest surrounding the assassination attempt on the Jing Kingdom envoy in the capital, she felt the matter wasn’t stable enough.

This was not the time to make bold moves to earn silver. After thinking it over, she ultimately declined with a smile and advised Madam He to proceed with caution as well.

The essential principle of doing business was stability and peace. Yet she always had a feeling that the northern regions — especially the Jing Kingdom — were too full of unpredictable variables.

Madam He was currently brimming with confidence about the northern trade caravan and, upon hearing Chu Linlang’s concerns, simply felt she was being overly cautious. At worst, she could go ahead and test the waters first, and once money was made, bring Chu Linlang along.

In the end, the two friends of different generations exchanged addresses. Madam He told Linlang to come visit her residence when she had free time.

After chatting for a while, Chu Linlang took her leave.

Having heard everything Madam He said, although she had no interest in partnering, she suddenly recalled that Xia He had mentioned her elder brother Xia Qingyun had recently sent word through an intermediary that he was planning to take a ship north to sell salt — apparently he too had caught wind of news that there was good profit to be made up north.

She remembered the last time she had seen Xia He’s elder brother was five years ago. Xia Qingyun had been not yet twenty at the time, yet already quite capable and competent.

Over these years, he had built his business up from scratch using the salt merchant passes Chu Linlang had given him, and word had it he had recently expanded and added another ship.

Although they rarely met in person, Xia Qingyun had never dared to delay the annual dividends — he always had someone deliver them to the lady proprietor on time.

Thinking about how Xia He had mentioned her brother had sent word saying he would arrive in the capital within the next couple of days before heading further north —

Chu Linlang very much wanted to have a proper conversation with the elder Xia brother. If circumstances permitted, she wanted to build up her own fleet and get back into the salt trade, her old line of business. After all, salt trading was what she knew best, and this was more reliable than partnering with others. Even if the salt merchant passes were eventually revoked, the ships could still be sold — she wouldn’t lose too much either way.

Of course, she also needed to have a word with the Xia brother and strongly advise him not to head north. Xia He had only this one elder brother, and earning money ought to be done in a steadier, safer manner.

Thinking through all of this as she walked, by the time Chu Linlang returned home, she discovered that Situ Sheng had actually come back during the daytime today.

Chu Linlang couldn’t help feeling slightly stunned. By her reckoning, Situ Sheng and Zhou Sui’an had a good personal friendship, and as colleagues in the same court, Situ Sheng should have gone to drink a cup of celebratory wine at the Zhou family’s wedding.

In that case, even if he came home for dinner, it should have been after sunset.

Yet he had returned this early — which meant he hadn’t even gone to watch the ceremony at all.

When Situ Sheng came home, it seemed he had taken a stroll through the streets along the way and had bought a great many snacks — honey dates, candied fruits, malt sugar sweets, and the like, all arranged on little plates.

Yet every single one of these was something Linlang loved to eat. When she occasionally had a craving, she would have Xia He go buy some. However, Situ Sheng himself didn’t care for these things — she recalled that on ordinary days, whenever she offered them to him, he wouldn’t eat them at all.

Indeed, Situ Sheng didn’t eat any of it himself. He simply said that after buying them he had tasted a few, only to find they didn’t suit his palate. Seeing that Chu Linlang had returned, he told her to take them back to her room to share with Dongxue and the others.

Situ Sheng had also bought several books along the way — illustrated sequential picture books that were currently fashionable in the neighborhood. Each page of these books featured beautifully drawn illustrations accompanied by just a few simple lines of text, making them most delightful for young children learning to read.

However, this type of elaborately carved and typeset book was not cheap. They were meant for the leisure of young ladies and children in wealthy households, and hardly seemed like the hobby of a learned Deputy Chief Justice well-versed in serious literature.

Situ Sheng handed the picture books to Chu Linlang and told her they were lovely to look at and she could read them when she was bored.

Dongxue and Xia He had not expected Situ Sheng to return so suddenly. The two maids huddled to one side whispering to each other, saying they had just run into a wedding procession blocking the streets, which had forced them to walk the whole way home instead of riding in the carriage, leaving both their legs aching — and now they immediately had to cook for the master, which was truly exhausting.

He glanced over at Chu Linlang, considered for a moment, and then said: “It’s not yet dinnertime — I only stopped by on my way past and I’m not hungry. Besides, I need to return to the office shortly to handle some matters. There’s a newly opened tavern on the back street; colleagues say the food there is quite good. If any of you are hungry, you can go eat there and pack some food to bring back — when I return this evening, there’s no need for you to cook.”

It was Guanqi who, taking advantage of the moment when the master had stepped away to wash his hands, muttered his grievances nearby: “It’s just the Zhou family getting married — does it really warrant this much coaxing? I don’t even see Niangzi looking the least bit heartbroken. The office is so busy, yet he insisted on making this trip back…”

It was only at this point that Chu Linlang suddenly understood — no wonder she’d felt Situ Sheng was behaving a little strangely today. He was actually treating her like a child who needed to be soothed — first the picture books, then the little sweet bites, and now he even wanted to spend silver sending them out to eat somewhere else…

Could it be… that he thought today, with the Zhou family holding their wedding procession, she — the cast-off wife — would be quietly withering away inside with a broken heart? So he had deliberately bought sweets and picture books to distract her?

Chu Linlang suddenly recalled a memory from childhood — a certain someone hiding a piece of candy inside the belly of a clay doll. She couldn’t help but burst out with a soft laugh.

Situ Sheng had returned by then and was explaining one of the picture books in his hands with characteristic seriousness.

He had barely started when he saw Niangzi clap a hand over her mouth, laughing. He frowned slightly. The page he had just turned to was the story of Meng Jiangnu weeping at the Great Wall — utterly tragic from start to finish. What on earth was there to laugh at?

Could it be… that women all rejoiced whenever a husband died?

Without waiting for him to explain further, Chu Linlang took the picture books from his hands and said with a sweet smile: “These books — your lordship needn’t say another word, I already think they look wonderful. I’ll make sure to read through every single one of them carefully… As for eating out — the food outside is expensive and the portions are small, so let’s skip that. I went to the official farmland this morning and bought loads of fresh eggs and meat. I’ll cook for you tonight when you get back!”

With that, she called the two maids to carry the things she’d bought from the official farmland into the kitchen.

It was past noon now — truly not a proper mealtime.

Seeing that her brow and eyes looked light and easy, with no trace of distress or sorrow, Situ Sheng said nothing more.

Chu Linlang poured tea for Situ Sheng, then picked up one of the candied fruits he had bought and ate it, then deliberately asked: “How is the government office so leisurely today — your lordship has already returned in the daytime… Aren’t there any banquets or social engagements to attend?”

By all rights, he and Zhou Sui’an had a strong personal friendship — the kind of bond between those who share and give generously to one another. Surely Zhou Sui’an hadn’t forgotten Situ Sheng’s favor of letting him have the good residence, and only remembered the grudge of demanding the divorce letter? Had Zhou Sui’an not sent Situ Sheng an invitation?

Situ Sheng gave her a calm, indifferent glance and said: “I’m not skilled at socializing and don’t share particularly close ties with my fellow officials. When households hold celebrations, I generally don’t receive invitations.”

Everything he said was true. The reputation of “ruthless enforcer” that had been tarnished and spread by the literary officials was both foul and unyielding — Situ Sheng genuinely wasn’t well-liked among the capital’s official circles. On top of that, after falling out with the Sixth Prince, Situ Sheng had also acquired the additional reputation of being a snobbish opportunist.

Aside from the Fourth Prince, who made overtures with ulterior motives, and that somewhat dim-witted General Li Chengyi — Chu Linlang truly couldn’t recall seeing Situ Sheng maintain any personal friendships with anyone.

But this meant that with fewer social engagements, there were fewer monetary gifts to give as well — no wonder he’d managed to accumulate such a substantial sum of silver over the years!

Just then, Situ Sheng asked: “You ask all this — are you in such a hurry to be rid of me? What’s this about? Am I not allowed to return to my own residence during the day?”

Situ Sheng’s nature was cold and distant, combined with the fearsome reputation of the Court of Judicial Review’s iron-fisted enforcer — when he pulled his face into a stern expression, he carried an indescribable air of pressure.

Just moments earlier, Xia He and Dongxue, having walked until their legs ached, had carelessly let a few complaints slip in front of the master.

Now, hearing the master ask this, they assumed he was about to take Niangzi as a target for his displeasure over the matter, and instantly fell as silent as cicadas in winter, staring with worried faces at Niangzi sitting on the bench.

But Linlang simply wasn’t afraid of the master’s cold expression. This sort of sour look — she had been seeing it from him since she was young, and had seen more than enough of it.

She attentively picked up a piece of candied fruit for Situ Sheng, placed it into his teacup, refilled his hot water, and said with a smile: “It’s always best when the master can come back during the day! Otherwise there are only three of us at home — how could we justify cooking this much food? Up until now I could only make dinner for you. If you could come home for lunch from now on, we’d all benefit from better meals too!”

Even knowing full well that Niangzi was flattering him insincerely, Situ Sheng still allowed a faint smile to settle on his lips, picked up his cup of sweet and sour candied fruit tea — which he usually had no interest in — and drank a large sip.

He thought to himself that if he weren’t too busy, walking home for lunch in the afternoons might actually be rather pleasant.

Though his office was a bit far from Gathering Essence Lane, and with no carriage at the house, it wasn’t convenient to keep using the office carriage all the time.

The household also needed to add a few more servants — otherwise these three precious people at home would always be stuck doing rough chores and then grumbling behind his back that he was miserly.

He should find the time to go choose a horse and order a carriage. With a carriage at home, Niangzi could visit the official farmland without having to hire one each time.

—

Situ Sheng listened as the Fourth Prince dropped subtle, barely concealed disparaging remarks about his sixth brother, maintaining an unruffled expression as he added water to steep the tea, offering no comment.

This was practically calling the Sixth Prince a pile of dung — anyone who stood near it would get the stench on them.

The Fourth Prince let out a dry, hollow laugh in response, saying it had simply come up in conversation, and as a younger brother, how could he go investigating the accounts of his Crown Prince elder brother? However, as the Deputy Chief Justice, the eyes and ears of their imperial father, one ought to have a general grasp of the ins and outs of affairs both great and small in the capital.

—

But in Xia Qingyun’s eyes, that brilliantly smiling young woman with eyes that always shimmered with a dazzling light — she had been the untouchable immortal of his youthful dreams, too sacred to even harbor improper thoughts about.

And yet that man surnamed Zhou had been blind to the treasure right before him, treating his Chu elder sister this way!

—

While thinking all of this through, Chu Linlang worked with nimble hands and feet, frying the crispy pork pieces in advance for use that evening.

—

All at once, the wedding procession fell into chaos in Wooden Fish Stone Lane.

She had recently begun showing, and her morning sickness had grown increasingly severe — stomach acid surging up her throat at random moments. She was desperately hoping to enter the house soon so she could rest a bit before bowing at the wedding altar.

—

The Fourth Prince was sparing no effort in continuing to stoke the flames, ensuring that the bond between this teacher and student would be completely and irreparably severed.

The Fourth Prince not only recounted the embarrassment within the Sixth Prince’s palace household, but also said that he was muddleheaded in his conduct — having allied himself with an obscure Xie family through marriage was one thing, but then screaming abusive insults at his own mentor for the sake of the Xie family’s in-laws was simply an utter disgrace.

—

Furious beyond measure, Xia Qingyun flung down the gift box in his hands and, leading a few brothers from the salt gang, pushed through the crowd and blocked the path of Zhou Sui’an’s horse, demanding loudly where Chu elder sister was now.

The groom’s face turned a sickly green, and he could only call out shamefacedly for someone to drag Xia Qingyun away first.

—

Then someone chimed in with mockery: “Could there be any doubt? From what I’ve heard, the Zhou family didn’t even go through with a mutual separation — they went all the way and issued a repudiation letter to his devoted wife who had stood by him through hardship. If that first wife hadn’t been unable to swallow the injustice and gone to beat the drum at the Court of Judicial Review to seek redress, getting the help of the upstanding official there — she would’ve been framed by that pair of adulterers and had her reputation permanently stained with dishonor. Seems the former wife’s grievance still hasn’t been settled, and today she’s hired people to come make a scene!”

—

Regardless of what contraband goods the Crown Prince was transporting on that ship, it was not the Court of Judicial Review’s business to concern itself with.

—

Chu Linlang had only caught a few scattered words at the time, but even that was enough to hear the seeds of provocation embedded in the Fourth Prince’s words.

—

Chu Linlang had deliberately stood a bit further back from the door at the time — and unfortunately, carried by the wind, heard everything with perfect clarity.

—

And so the Sixth Prince had gone to his Fourth elder brother and asked him to act as an intermediary to facilitate a reconciliation.

—

After the last exchange of correspondence, however, he had only passed messages to his sister through acquaintances travelling to the capital and had not written to her directly — nor had he learned of the events surrounding the Chu elder sister’s broken marriage with the Zhou family.

—

Meanwhile, Dongxue was slicing meat and muttering: “Master Situ’s appearance is so fine-looking, yet whenever he pulls that stern face, it always makes people too afraid to respond. No wonder the former Sixth Princess Consort used to say that the Sixth Prince didn’t even dare breathe too loudly in front of him!”

—

After all, the Fourth Prince had apparently been keeping close company with Situ Sheng lately. So the Sixth Prince had gone knocking at his door, hoping to see whether he could put in a good word to get the former mentor to forgive him for the drunken slip of words that had caused their falling out.

—

Xia Qingyun hadn’t understood what was happening at the time. After asking the neighbors who were watching the spectacle, he finally learned that Zhou Sui’an had actually gone through a separation from his first wife and then turned around to marry the daughter of a high-ranking official.

—

Was this Fourth Prince truly using her master as a fool?

—

Seeing that Situ Sheng had suddenly fallen silent, Chu Linlang was sensible enough not to say anything more. She could only silently pray that the master would be kept busier with official affairs — she would thoughtfully prepare a good duck fat broth so he could eat comfortably at the government office.

—

The Fourth Prince had wanted to bring this matter to His Majesty’s attention, but it wasn’t convenient for him to go himself, so he had come to Master Situ’s home to stir things up with gossip instead.

—

Chu Linlang thought back to the last time the Fourth Prince had come calling — she had just been serving him tea when she heard the Fourth Prince say: “The Sixth Prince said that every family has some rotten apples among the relatives — if he had known that the Xie family’s in-law was of such a character, he would never have broached the subject with you, Deputy Chief Justice, in the first place. Ah, this Sixth brother of mine — he’s just too soft in the ears, too muddleheaded. Not long ago, my sixth brother also got scolded by our imperial father for mishandling disaster relief due to insufficient rain in the northwest, and was made to kneel in punishment in the study. Our imperial father berated him thoroughly for not understanding how to manage resources wisely, saying his mind had lately been stuffed with lard — always putting forward idiotic proposals…”

—

The Fourth Prince talked at length, yet seeing that Master Situ wouldn’t take the bait and engage, could only continue prompting: “Tell me — my Crown Prince elder brother isn’t exactly known for a magnanimous temperament, yet when a ship of his was detained, he was willing to pay money to let the matter pass quietly… What exactly was on that ship? Was it truly just local specialty goods sent as tribute?”

—

In a few days’ time, she would still need to arrange buying ships and putting her own business in order — she’d constantly be going out and about for that. How would she have the leisure to attend to the master at all times?

Otherwise, if he kept coming home, she and the two maids wouldn’t have any time to slack off during the day.

—

All at once, a buzz of noise broke out among the onlookers at the ceremony, with people whispering among themselves.

—

As it turned out, Xia He’s elder brother Xia Qingyun’s salt ships had arrived at the capital’s docks that very day. After attending to his business matters, he had entered the city to look for his sister.

—

Who knows what the Fourth Prince had actually promised his sixth brother. In any case, the Fourth Prince was recounting the whole thing to Situ Sheng as if it were a laughable joke — and by all appearances, wasn’t acting with any sincere intention of truly helping his sixth brother obtain the former mentor’s forgiveness.

—

Unfortunately, the brothers of the salt gang were each built broadly with powerful frames, and the Zhou family’s servants found themselves unable to pull them apart — instead being flung in all directions by those salt gang brothers, staggering this way and that.

—

Hearing the Fourth Prince’s question, Situ Sheng finally spoke, offering only a warm and unhurried smile: “The Court of Judicial Review doesn’t oversee river transport and shipping affairs. If the Fourth Prince is curious, it might be worth having the relevant authorities conduct an investigation.”

—

At first, things had been fine — just the customary seasonal pleasantries. But lately, the Sixth Prince seemed to be sending gifts to Situ Sheng according to the rhythm of the twenty-four solar terms.

—

With nothing pressing on her hands, she settled in to practice her calligraphy. Lately, Situ Sheng had been very fond of teaching her to write — using his method for memorizing characters had proven genuinely effective, and she no longer mixed up or lost strokes.

—

Chu Linlang had assumed it was Situ Sheng returning earlier than expected. But Xia He peeked through a gap in the door, only to discover it was an old acquaintance from their days in Lianzhou — a young attendant from Madam He’s side.

The attendant appeared to have run all the way there in great haste, breathing hard. After exchanging a few quick, hushed words with Xia He, Xia He’s expression changed completely. She turned immediately to Chu Linlang and said: “Elder Sister, what should we do — it seems my brother has been taken away by the authorities!”

—

A voice pitched slightly louder than the others squawked in the crowd: “Looks like the rumor that Second Miss Xie had a dalliance before marriage is actually true. She’s vomiting this severely — yet she hid herself away inside the bridal sedan. Shameless!”

—

Originally in fine, imperious form, Second Miss Xie unfortunately had only managed to hurl a few insults before another wave of nausea struck — and right there in front of everyone, clutching her chest, she vomited a mouthful of stomach acid in plain view of the crowd.

—

And what sort of in-law was he, to speak of? Not long ago, one of the Crown Prince’s attendants had transported a ship of local goods into the capital. A relative of the Sixth Prince’s household, a man surnamed An, had actually used the banners of General Xie and the Sixth Prince to detain the ship and extort a processing fee.

—

That bright, strikingly beautiful young woman who by all rights should have been living in pampered comfort in the clouds — and yet these years, what hardship she had actually endured!

—

As time passed, the Sixth Prince seemed to grow increasingly attached to his former mentor, yet couldn’t bring himself to lose face as a prince and make the first move.

—

Unable to endure the humiliation any longer, Xie Youran stamped her foot in fury, threw off her head covering without a second thought, and stormed into the Zhou family’s main gates on her own, hiding away from sight.

—

And the way Xia Qingyun bellowed “Chu Elder Sister!” was loud enough that it instantly set the surrounding onlookers buzzing with whispers.

—

So on this visit to the capital, he had bought gifts and bolts of cloth, intending to go call on Chu elder sister first.

—

It turned out that after all those roundabout words, the Fourth Prince’s real intentions had nothing to do with his sixth brother — he was using the sixth brother as cover to strike at the Crown Prince!

—

Though none of the items were anything precious — just seasonal tonics — they were nonetheless enough for one to sense the changing journey of the Sixth Prince’s thoughts and feelings.

—

What resulted instead was that just as the procession was about to enter the gates, a mob of salt merchant ruffians showed up to cause mayhem.

—

Those words landed in the ears of all present, draining the color from Xie Youran’s face and leaving Zhou Sui’an utterly aghast.

—

But that would mean this residence was far too small to accommodate so many people…

—

He seemed to be deliberately steering things toward the ship, nudging Situ Sheng to come forward and investigate.

—

As for the falling out between the Sixth Prince and his former mentor in recent times — the severing of their teacher-student bond and their no longer meeting privately —

—

Just as Chu Linlang was tracing over her character templates, a sudden rapid knocking sounded at the door.

—

The Fourth Prince was as shrewd as a monkey himself — he understood perfectly well that the Sixth Prince’s recent period of favor and rising influence had all been the work of this brilliant strategist mentor.

—

Zhou Sui’an recognized Xia He’s elder brother as well — he simply hadn’t expected that on the day of his greatest celebration, he would attract such a brute barging in to wreck the occasion.

Now with the Sixth Prince stripped of his mentor’s assistance and reverting to his true form, he was once again a hopeless cause beyond saving.

—

But as for that relative of the Sixth Prince managing the river channels — that was almost certainly the An Feng fellow, the nephew of Aunt An who had been used to intimidate her elder sister’s family!

—

Had the Crown Prince not, out of consideration for it involving his own sixth brother, turned a blind eye and endured these distant relatives with barely any connection to him, this incident alone would have been enough to give the Sixth Prince serious grief.

—

Madam He had said that household managers in official residences were equivalent to seventh-rank officials, with ears to everything — and she was speaking the truth. There were some things Chu Linlang didn’t even want to know, yet they would pour themselves into her ears regardless.

—

Like his sister, he had known Chu Linlang since they were children. Perhaps in the eyes of those high officials and noble lords, a salt merchant’s daughter of lower birth was someone to be casually trodden upon.

—

Yet the Sixth Prince was a proper and courteous young man — on every New Year and festival, he had never failed to observe the social courtesies.

—

Once Situ Sheng had drunk his fill of tea and told Linlang that he would be home late that evening and not to make anything complicated — that he fancied crispy pork noodles — he finally took his leave with Guanqi and headed back to the government office.

With them gone, the three women left in the house could relax again.

—

Xie Youran had originally been sitting inside the bridal sedan, waiting to perform the wedding ceremony and bow at the altar, already worn out with impatience.

—

Only to find out now that the private affair she had thought was so well-concealed had actually been spread throughout the entire city.

—

Xie Youran could truly endure no more. She burst out of the bridal sedan in one swift motion, threw off her head covering, and furiously berated those ruffians — demanding to know whether they were hired by that wicked woman Chu Linlang.