Chapter 19

Chapter 19: Good Things Shouldn’t Be Kept to Yourself

Shang Xiu Yuan’s handsome face tightened hard.

Shang Xing Yu’s eyes only shone brighter. She really was still the same as before-her mouth was poisonous and awful, yet every word stabbed exactly where it hurt most.

“Forget the apology,” Shang Xing Yu cut in. “Elder Brother can just pay off what I owe to all the inns and teahouses.”

Shang Xiu Yuan finally breathed out.

If money could solve it, it was better than losing face.

Sheng Zhi Wan met Shang Xing Yu’s gaze. Those beautiful, slightly upturned peach blossom eyes blinked quickly.

For some reason, Sheng Zhi Wan suddenly had the feeling that Shang Xing Yu was digging a pit for Shang Xiu Yuan.

“Then we’ll do as Young Master Shang Er asks,” Sheng Zhi Wan said.

After leaving the Gathering Sages Teahouse, Sheng Zhi Wan did not return to the residence. Sheng Zhi Wan still had more important things to do.

Sheng Zhi Wan told the coachman to drive to Wan Bao Pavilion.

“Princess, didn’t you just come here yesterday to check the accounts?” Ting Lan asked, confused.

Sheng Zhi Wan only smiled and said nothing.

After Sheng Zhi Wan got out of the carriage, the shopkeeper came to greet her and led her to the back.

This time, Sheng Zhi Wan had Ting Lan follow her inside as well.

“Yesterday, I told you to find the person I wanted,” Sheng Zhi Wan said. “Did you find them?”

“Replying to Princess, I found them,” Shopkeeper Lin said.

Shopkeeper Lin was in his early thirties, a little chubby. His eyes were small but sharp, and he always spoke and acted carefully.

All of Sheng Zhi Wan’s private shops ultimately reported up through Shopkeeper Lin, and then Shopkeeper Lin reported to Sheng Zhi Wan.

Yet today, that normally clever and capable Shopkeeper Lin felt nervous, especially when he thought of what he had seen yesterday.

Shopkeeper Lin took a deep breath, chose his words, and said, “Following Princess’s order, this lowly one went to Lang Men Alley and did indeed see the Duke’s personal servant boy, Sun Feng, guarding outside…”

Shopkeeper Lin continued, “This lowly one kept watch until almost you hour before someone finally came out. That person was wrapped up tightly, and halfway through he even went to an inn to change his carriage and clothes, but that person was definitely the Duke.”

Sheng Zhi Wan’s lips lifted into a faint smile.

So the matter of Madam Tao in Sheng Zhi Wan’s previous life had not been baseless. If so, Madam Tao’s death was probably not simple at all.

“After that, I was afraid I recognized wrong,” Shopkeeper Lin said. “So I personally disguised myself as a street vendor carrying a pole, and I asked the neighbors.”

Shopkeeper Lin continued, “From what the local residents said, the woman’s surname was Tao, and she had lived in Lang Men Alley for seven or eight years.”

Shopkeeper Lin said, “They said Lady Tao was beautiful and gentle. She rarely came out, but she got along well with the people around her. To outsiders, she claimed her husband’s surname was Sun, and he did silk business…”

Shopkeeper Lin added, “The neighbors also said the couple was deeply in love. To prevent anyone from bullying Lady Tao while he was away doing business, the husband hired seven or eight household guards and spread them around, inside and out, to keep watch.”

Shopkeeper Lin truly did work more smoothly than the other shopkeepers. Sheng Zhi Wan had only told him to investigate someone, yet he had dug up the other party’s background so thoroughly.

Shopkeeper Lin had even found that, in recent years, Lady Tao had been praying, seeking medicine, and searching everywhere for secret methods to help a woman conceive.

After Shopkeeper Lin finished, Shopkeeper Lin stood quietly to the side and did not say another word.

It was true that the Duke Qi residence had declined since the Former Duke passed away, but there was one thing that the capital city’s nobles still talked about again and again-its family conduct.

The Former Duke had met his wife in humble days and married only her for his entire life. Before he died, he even left an instruction: a husband who respected his wife would have a virtuous household, and a virtuous wife would bring honor to her husband. The men of the Duke Qi residence must value and cherish their wives.

After Duke Qi married Madam Cui, Duke Qi did have two concubines, but Madam Cui had raised them herself while pregnant. After Madam Cui gave birth, Duke Qi rarely went to those two courtyards.

Because of that, many women in the capital city treated Duke Qi as a model husband.

But now, that “model husband” was keeping a mistress outside.

If this news spread, the Duke Qi residence’s reputation would take a heavy hit.

Princess cared most about Qi Shi Zi. Now that Qi Shi Zi was finally starting to shine, could it be that Princess wanted to deal with Lady Tao…?

Shopkeeper Lin’s scalp went numb.

Just as Shopkeeper Lin hesitated over what he should do if Princess truly gave such an order, Sheng Zhi Wan spoke.

“Spread a message lately,” Sheng Zhi Wan said. “Say that Ci Xi Hall has a saintly expert who grants sons. Make sure the message reaches Madam Tao’s ears.”

Sheng Zhi Wan continued, “When Madam Tao goes there, send the news to the Duke residence.”

Ci Xi Hall was another of Sheng Zhi Wan’s private properties.

Madam Cui had said a woman’s duty was to bear children for a man, didn’t she? Madam Cui had said it was for everyone’s good that Meng Yang’s child was raised under Madam Cui’s name, didn’t she? Madam Cui had said it was a great blessing to become a Mother without suffering through childbirth, didn’t she?

Since that was the case, how could Sheng Zhi Wan, as the daughter-in-law, keep such a “good thing” all to herself?

[Sheng Zhi Wan just wondered whether, when the time came, Madam Cui would cry with joy, or cry with joy.]

Sheng Zhi Wan’s lips curved.

“How did the other matter go?” Sheng Zhi Wan asked.

“Replying to Princess, it was written overnight exactly as you ordered,” Shopkeeper Lin said. “It’s just… Please look first.”

Shopkeeper Lin hesitated, then offered a rolled booklet with both hands.

Sheng Zhi Wan took it and skimmed through quickly.

“Not bad!” Sheng Zhi Wan said.

Sheng Zhi Wan ordered, “Send this storybook to Cang Nan and the area near Jin City. Find a few storytellers in inns and have them spread the story.”

“But Princess,” Shopkeeper Lin finally could not hold back. Shopkeeper Lin gritted his teeth and said, “The people in this story look too much like Qi Shi Zi, and there’s even that peasant girl. Aren’t you… giving her fame?”