Chapter 119

Chapter 119: What Does It Matter?

“Saved them from before,” Sheng Zhi Wan replied calmly.

Yet as she spoke, her ears turned faintly warm.

“Saved them from before? Could this maidservant’s memory really be that poor? How come I don’t remember at all…” Ting Lan murmured to herself, knitting her brows.

An Zhi reached out, quietly pinching her arm, and scolded gently, “Enough, just mind your own tasks. Why so many questions?”

Ting Lan pursed her lips, falling silent beneath An Zhi’s stern gaze.

Yet Sheng Zhi Wan, holding the Tianzhu fruits in her hand, found her thoughts wandering back to Shang Hang Yu, who had brought them to her.

Counting the days, it should be nearing harvest time on his side as well.

[I wonder if everything is going smoothly?]

…

In the Lian Residence, Qi Fei Yan could hardly believe how smoothly everything had gone!

Indeed, silver ingots were the most useful of things.

Ever since Zhang Huai Ren and Hu Shan left the Capital City, Qi Fei Yan had no choice but to use her own silver to pay others to gather information. Altogether, she had scattered over two thousand five hundred taels in the black market.

Finally, yesterday, with the help of a middleman, she successfully joined an organization.

This organization, called the “Tong Merchants Guild,” claimed to be a group of small merchants trading goods between several provinces. Yet, beneath the surface, their connections stretched deep and wide, involving officials and merchants alike, all engaged secretly in salt smuggling.

Qi Fei Yan did not dare reveal her identity openly, only sending a trusted shopkeeper from one of her properties to pose as a wealthy merchant. As it was her first venture, she remained cautious, investing only two thousand taels initially.

Yet soon enough, those two thousand taels quickly bore fruit.

As Qi Fei Yan happily held the returned two thousand six hundred taels, smiling broadly, another scene was unfolding.

In Yellow Earth Alley, behind the Huang Family Medicine Shop, Du Yi Zhi was distributing rewards among his newly won-over “brothers.”

The burly Huang Yuan Gui was nearly weeping in gratitude. “Brother Du! No—Brother Du! From now on, you’re my own brother Du! If Brother Du has any orders in the future, I, Huang Yuan Gui, will obey without hesitation. If I hesitate, let me be struck down by lightning!”

He kicked the fellows behind him. “You lot, hurry and kowtow to Brother Du and apologize!”

The assistants showed expressions of shame.

Sitting upon a wooden bench, Du Yi Zhi spoke magnanimously, “We’re all brothers now. Fights happen, but bonds form through conflict. It was my mistake before. If everyone were like me, picking through leftover herbs instead of buying, your shop would have shut down long ago. Besides, Elder Brother Huang, though you had people teach me a lesson, you never truly destroyed those leftover herbs. I remember that favor.”

“As long as you’re not angry,” Huang Yuan Gui said, awkwardly scratching his head. In truth, he’d just found disposing of the herbs too bothersome, never imagining Du Yi Zhi would misunderstand his laziness as kindness.

But that was good too. Now Du Yi Zhi had gained the backing of a powerful patron yet hadn’t forgotten to help him along.

Fifty taels! In just these few days, he’d made more than his father’s medicine shop could earn in months!

Du Yi Zhi rose to leave, adding, “If something similar arises again, I’ll certainly seek Elder Brother Huang’s help.”

“Certainly! Certainly!” Huang Yuan Gui personally escorted him out.

Returning home, Du Yi Zhi took out a bracelet and a hairpin, along with over two thousand taels in silver notes, untouched after he’d purchased clothing and accessories with the three thousand taels Sheng Zhi Wan had initially provided.

Additionally, he drew forth two hundred more taels—payment from Qi Fei Yan for buying information.

From start to finish, he hadn’t spent a single copper, instead earning over two hundred taels.

“Zhang Huai Ren” and “Hu Shan” were roles he’d arranged for others, specifically to tempt Qi Fei Yan’s greed. Even if she hadn’t taken the bait, he had a backup plan. Du Yi Zhi had already visited the gambling dens frequented by Lian Wen Hui, waiting to ensnare him instead if Qi Fei Yan proved difficult.

But Qi Fei Yan’s nature was exactly as the Princess had described—foolish yet arrogant.

To trust two strangers she’d met only once showed how blindly she relied on her identity as the esteemed eldest young lady of the Duke’s house. Yet she failed to realize that if she, noble as she was, could become greedy for a mere few hundred taels, then those below her station could easily deceive her for even less.

Once greed was sparked, the rest was simple.

Du Yi Zhi had Huang Yuan Gui and another fellow named Lu Liang deliver a larger amount of silver ingots to Qi Fei Yan three days later.

Seeing real silver ingots, Qi Fei Yan naturally believed the authenticity of the deal, unaware these ingots weren’t profits from salt trading but rather funds given by Sheng Zhi Wan.

Next was even easier. With “Zhang Huai Ren” and “Hu Shan” departing the Capital for supposed business ventures, Qi Fei Yan, now consumed by greed, would surely not wait idly.

She wanted desperately to involve herself in the salt trade. Du Yi Zhi, mingling with lower society, could easily uncover such news for a mere dozen or so taels.

Thus, he simply waited for Qi Fei Yan’s servants to come offering silver.

With this back-and-forth, Qi Fei Yan connected directly to genuine salt smugglers, while Du Yi Zhi retrieved the thousand-plus taels he’d initially used as bait. Not only did the original sum return untouched, but he’d profited handsomely off Qi Fei Yan as well.

Du Yi Zhi sorted the silver and visited Merciful Creek Hall.

Having fetched medicine a few times before, Shopkeeper Lin recognized him immediately, knowing he belonged to the Princess.

Seeing Du Yi Zhi, Shopkeeper Lin quickly handed over the prepared medicine. “How has Madam Du’s health been lately?”

“Thank you, Shopkeeper Lin. My mother has greatly improved.”

Du Yi Zhi smiled enigmatically, causing Shopkeeper Lin to momentarily stare, dazed.

“Shopkeeper Lin, please inform the Princess that the task she entrusted to me has been completed.” Du Yi Zhi brought out the silver. “This is what the Princess initially provided…”

Shopkeeper Lin’s eyes twitched upon seeing the silver.

[What exactly did the Princess have Du Yi Zhi doing?]

He quickly waved his hand. “If the Princess gave it to you, why give it to me? Keep it for now, or return it to her yourself next time you see her.”

He didn’t want involvement in the Princess’s affairs—his heart couldn’t bear it.

“My thanks, Shopkeeper Lin.”

If the Princess needed to reach him, she’d find a way. If she didn’t, it meant it was best not to make contact just yet.

Deciding thus, Du Yi Zhi took the medicine and departed.

…

Today, a stifling tension pervaded the Imperial Court.

Since ascending the throne, Emperor Chong Sheng had relentlessly waged war in all directions.

Wars required silver, leading to high taxes across Sheng Kingdom.

Beyond commoners’ grain taxes, merchant tariffs, along with salt and iron revenues, comprised the bulk of the treasury.

Yet this year’s official salt revenue, tallied today, was a full twenty percent less than previous years!

Enraged, Emperor Chong Sheng swiftly punished the salt inspectors and ordered an extensive investigation into illegal salt traders nationwide.

Among anxious officials, Duke Qi stood silently, head lowered.

[What does this struggle at court have to do with me?]

He was merely an idle duke enjoying hereditary privileges, his son destined to become a military officer. No matter how he viewed it, this salt issue couldn’t possibly involve his household.

Besides, another matter weighed heavier on his heart.

His mistress, Madam Tao, was pregnant!

To have another child at over forty filled him with both joy and worry. Joy that he could still sire offspring, worry over their future.

Could he let his child, like Madam Tao, remain forever outside the household?

If it was a daughter, that would be manageable.

But if it was a son…

Duke Qi resolved silently—he’d find a suitable family among the second or third branches to adopt the child, and secretly support him from afar.