Chapter 19.2

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Not daring to bring up the matter of a residence or servants again, Zhao Xun became even more cautious. “Then… may I send someone to escort the marquis back?” he asked hesitantly. After all, it was he who had personally brought Xie Zheng from the alley in the western part of the city to this meeting.

Xie Zheng’s brow furrowed slightly as he recalled Fan Changyu leading a gang of street thugs down the street earlier. His expression shifted subtly, and he declined flatly. “No need.”

His sharp phoenix eyes, both striking and intimidating, swept over Zhao Xun, whose opulent attire only emphasized his vulnerability. “Focus on the task I’ve given you. Pretend you don’t know I’m here. If word gets out…”

Xie Zheng didn’t finish the sentence, but the unspoken warning hung heavy in the air, suffocating in its finality.

Zhao Xun quickly replied, “I wouldn’t dare. Zhao merely came to Lin’an Town today seeking a poor but talented scholar, though I failed to find him due to his elusive nature. As for purchasing grain, it was merely because I noticed the high profits among grain merchants and wished to partake in the market myself.”

Xie Zheng’s eyes lifted slightly at the explanation.

A sharp man indeed, quick to catch on, he thought.

“Leave,” Xie Zheng said curtly.

Zhao Xun bowed deeply before retreating. Once the door closed behind him, Xie Zheng leaned back in his seat, letting the steam from the bubbling kettle on the clay stove envelop him. His striking features blurred in the mist, but his half-lidded eyes, usually steeped in languid indifference, now bore a heavy, foreboding aura of bloodshed and resolve.

Zhao Xun’s appearance is almost too convenient, he mused.

Still, one thing was certain: Zhao Xun was not aligned with the Wei family. If he were, the officials would have come directly to arrest him rather than sending someone to feign loyalty.

The 200,000 shi of grain was a deliberate test. If Zhao Xun could truly deliver on this task, it would prove his usefulness. With that grain secured, Xie Zheng’s next moves would become significantly easier to execute.

If Zhao Xun had ulterior motives, then after delivering the 200,000 shi of grain, an even larger trap awaited him and whoever was backing him.

Outside the private room, voices drifted in:
“Come on, let’s go watch the commotion! I heard Wang’s Braised Goods, jealous of Fan’s booming business, smashed up their shop, and now the Fan family is causing a scene at Wang’s!”

Another voice sighed, “Wang’s is a century-old establishment. Would they really stoop to something so disgraceful?”

“When it comes to stealing business, what won’t they do?”

Xie Zheng broke off his train of thought, opened his eyes, and stood. His movements were smooth, his legs no longer hindered. Yet as he exited the private room, he made a deliberate show of leaning on his crutch.

Outside Wang’s Braised Goods, a dense crowd had already gathered, eager to watch the drama unfold.

Inside the shop, the clerks stared nervously at Fan Changyu and the fierce-looking group led by Master Jin standing behind her, arms crossed. Their knees wobbled as they stammered, “W-what… b-brings you all here today?”

Fan Changyu noticed that the clerk’s face had gone pale with fright and frowned slightly. She hadn’t even hit anyone—she was here to reason things out and demand an explanation. So why were the shop employees trembling like this? Could it be a guilty conscience?

She said, “Call out your boss. I’m here to demand an explanation.”

The clerk stammered, “Th-the boss… isn’t in the shop right now.”

Fan Changyu’s expression hardened. “So, he’s brave enough to order people to smash up my shop, but now he’s hiding like a coward?”

Behind her, Master Jin and his crew let out a collective, heavy harrumph through their noses. The sound made the clerk’s face drain of all color, his fear now etched across his features.

Fan Changyu glanced back at Master Jin and his lackeys, her eye twitching slightly. I brought these guys to confront Wang’s Braised Goods, not to make it look like I’m here to trash the place myself.

The clerk, trembling like a leaf, quickly said, “W-we’ve already sent someone to notify the boss. Whatever you have to say, p-please wait until he arrives.”

The trembling clerk shuffled over to fetch a grand armchair for Fan Changyu and even brought out a fire brazier to keep her warm.

Fan Changyu glanced around at the clerks and the crowd of onlookers. Their expressions seemed… odd. Why does this feel like I’m the bully here, barging in to cause trouble?

Still, with the chair and brazier right there—and given how cold it was—there was no reason to refuse. She sat down and warmed herself by the fire, waiting.

It wasn’t long before the owner of Wang’s Braised Goods arrived, dragging his plump body in a hurry, sweat pouring down his face. He was a businessman through and through, known for his philosophy of making money through harmony. As soon as he saw Fan Changyu, he greeted her with a broad, apologetic smile.

“Miss Fan,” he began, “I’ve already heard about what happened at your shop from my clerks. The Wang family’s reputation has been passed down from my ancestors, and I, Wang, would never stoop to using such underhanded tactics to oppress an orphaned young lady…”

As he spoke, his gaze flicked to Master Jin and his group standing behind her. Though his tone remained courteous, there was a faint trace of condescension in his demeanor as he added, “Miss Fan, could it be that you’ve misunderstood something? Relying solely on the words of these individuals to pin the blame on my shop—couldn’t this be a misunderstanding?”

Fan Changyu remained seated in the grand armchair, unmoving and composed. She merely cast a sidelong glance at Master Jin. “Speak.”

Master Jin stepped forward without hesitation. “Your shop, Wang’s Braised Goods, has a clerk named Chunsheng. Yesterday, he brought five taels of silver to the tavern on the east side of town and hired the brothers there to stir up trouble at Fan’s. The tavern staff can all vouch for it.”

The moment the Wang shopkeeper heard the name Chunsheng, his face darkened slightly. His previously condescending tone softened considerably as he addressed Fan Changyu. “Chunsheng serves as an attendant to my eldest son. Miss Fan, please allow me a moment. I’ll summon my son and get to the bottom of this.”