Chapter 118

Chapter 118: Insatiable Greed

“Hmph! Your words sound nice enough, but you won’t clearly explain anything, yet you expect me to put up my silver. Isn’t this pushing me straight into the fire pit?” Qi Fei Yan scoffed disdainfully.

Hu Shan sighed gently. “Forget it. Lord Duke has always treated us kindly. I’ll cover the other thousand taels of silver for you, Miss Qi. If we profit in three days, you can repay me. If we lose, I’ll consider it repayment for Lord Duke’s kindness.”

[That means I don’t have to spend a single coin, and yet I could still gain profits.]

Qi Fei Yan felt tempted, though she wasn’t entirely foolish. “You’re so generous—perhaps you have another motive?”

Zhang Huai Ren and Hu Shan quickly waved their hands. “Miss Qi, you’re overthinking. We’re just merchants seeking peace and profit. Given your noble status, we merely hope to build a good relationship with Duke Residence. We wouldn’t dare have ulterior motives.”

[That’s true!]

Since she wasn’t using her own silver, losing wouldn’t harm her at all. And if she gained…

“Very well! Let’s proceed as you suggest. But both of you know my identity—if you dare trick me or disappear in three days, beware of the consequences!”

“Rest assured, Miss Qi. We’ll do our best. If we succeed, we hope you’ll continue to support us,” Zhang Huai Ren flattered.

Qi Fei Yan nodded slightly. “Naturally. If you can truly help me earn silver, Duke Residence won’t neglect you.”

Three days passed in a flash.

As time went on, Qi Fei Yan grew restless. She regretted her impulsiveness, afraid those two might vanish and her thousand taels would be lost. Anxiety kept her awake at night.

When the appointed day finally arrived, she hurried eagerly to Gathering Worthies Teahouse, but after sitting impatiently for half an hour, Zhang Huai Ren and Hu Shan were still nowhere in sight.

Just as her hope dwindled and she was certain she’d been deceived, two familiar figures appeared downstairs.

Qi Fei Yan almost jumped up in excitement but swiftly composed herself. She was the Duke’s legitimate daughter—two merchants currying favor with her was normal.

Taking a deep breath, she calmed herself.

Seeing Qi Fei Yan, Zhang Huai Ren bowed respectfully, a smile on his face. “Congratulations, Miss Qi! You truly brought us good fortune!”

He placed several banknotes on the table.

Qi Fei Yan’s eyes lit with joy. “This is…?”

“Miss Qi, this is your rightful share. After deducting the initial thousand taels we advanced, plus your original thousand, here’s a total of fourteen hundred taels.”

In just two days, two thousand taels had yielded four hundred taels of silver!

Unable to hold back, Qi Fei Yan abruptly stood. “What kind of business could yield such enormous profit?”

Yet no matter how she pressured or tempted, Zhang Huai Ren and Hu Shan refused to reveal their secret, evading her questions skillfully.

Even after Qi Fei Yan invoked Duke Residence’s name, they stayed silent.

Unwilling to give up, Qi Fei Yan instructed her carriage to secretly follow them to their rented house.

After two days of surveillance, she finally discovered their trade:

It was salt!

“Young Miss, salt smuggling is strictly forbidden by Imperial Law! If discovered, it’s punishable by execution…” Chun Chan trembled with fear. “Please, don’t associate with them anymore!”

Qi Fei Yan felt fear, too. Yet somehow, recalling the effortless fourteen hundred taels ignited an unstoppable urge within her.

“Shut up!” Qi Fei Yan gritted her teeth. “Riches are found in danger! Besides, it’s not us doing the trading—what’s there to fear? Just pretend we don’t know.”

Qi Fei Yan decided she would have Hu Shan and Zhang Huai Ren continue as intermediaries. But suddenly, both men vanished, leaving their rented house empty.

When she sent Chun Chan to inquire, she discovered they’d gone to Xing Prefecture for more business.

[Wasn’t the enormous profit from salt enough? They even wanted more?]

“Forget it!” Qi Fei Yan huffed. [Without them, can’t I still earn silver?]

The fourteen hundred taels had ignited her greed like a flame. She sent someone to discreetly investigate connections with illegal salt traders.

But what awaited her was a carefully laid trap, just waiting for her silver to fall into its grasp.

…

Meanwhile, Sheng Zhi Wan finally met Xi Di, the little maidservant said to be strong enough to wield people like sticks.

From appearances alone, it was hard to believe she possessed such incredible strength. At fifteen or sixteen, perhaps from always living in the monastery, her skin was dark and slightly coarse. Yet her features were lovely, and when she smiled, twin dimples appeared, full of innocent charm.

No wonder her parents had wanted her back at first glance.

Sheng Zhi Wan asked about her martial skills. Xi Di replied proudly that among thirty Senior Brothers at the monastery, none could defeat her.

“But I—I mean, this maidservant eats quite a lot,” Xi Di confessed shyly, looking nervously at the princess who resembled a fairy. [Would the princess mind my large appetite?]

“What? Afraid you’ll eat me into poverty?” Sheng Zhi Wan found herself pleased, and from the approving expressions of An Zhi and Ting Lan, they didn’t seem to dislike her either.

“Let’s try you out.”

Having decided to keep her, Sheng Zhi Wan knew Xi Di’s original name wouldn’t do. Her maidservants all had water-related names. After some thought, she said, “From now on, you’ll be Liu Shang—Flowing Water. How’s that?”

“Liu Shang? Great! Much better than Xi Di,” the girl replied cheerfully, though a little sheepishly added, “Princess, this maidservant heard from Uncle Lin that maidservants receive monthly pay. Can I get a year’s pay in advance?”

“What’s this? Are you in urgent need of silver?” Sheng Zhi Wan raised her brow in surprise.

“Not exactly. It’s my masters and senior brothers back in the mountains. They’re hungry all year round and wear ragged clothes. I’d like to send them some silver,” Liu Shang replied earnestly.

Sheng Zhi Wan nodded thoughtfully. “How much silver do you think you need?”

“Would twenty taels be alright?” Liu Shang had asked around beforehand. Maidservants usually got two taels per month, so twenty didn’t seem unreasonable.

“Fine.” Sheng Zhi Wan turned to Shopkeeper Lin. “Send twenty taels to the monastery.”

“Thank you, Princess!” Liu Shang immediately clasped her hands, saluting as warriors did.

Ting Lan couldn’t help but giggle at the girl’s earnestness. Sheng Zhi Wan instructed her to help Liu Shang get settled.

Shopkeeper Lin added, “Also, Princess, the medicinal herbs you requested are prepared.”

Sheng Zhi Wan carefully inspected the herbs before dismissing Shopkeeper Lin and began to prepare the Ascending Yang Powder.

When she took out the Heavenly Pearl Fruits, An Zhi and Ting Lan froze in shock.

“Princess,” Ting Lan stammered in confusion, “didn’t the Heir already take the last Heavenly Pearl Fruit for Concubine Meng? Why are there still three more?”