Chapter 33 Chapter 33 [VIP]

Chapter 33

On the third day after Song Yunzhi was poisoned, the secret guards brought a doctor.

The doctor said that the poison of the Gu worm could only be cured by the person who raised it, so he didn't dare to prescribe the medicine rashly. "If the prince can get the antidote next time, please give it to me. I will carefully examine it and be safe."

Song Yunzhi watched her pull out a shell from her chest, take out the pill from it, and take it without any expression.

The antidote for this month had already been given, so he could rest assured. Qian Tong put the shell back in its place, looked up at Master Song, and glanced at him. "Let's go, let's go to the government office."

Song Yunzhi didn't say anything.

That's all right, Qian Tong turned around and ordered, "Ah Jin, prepare the car."

She spoke in a brisk voice, turned around and walked down the stairs. Song Yunzhi stood behind her, watching her graceful back as she left, and realized that she seemed to have been in a good mood since the moment she took over the Cui family's tea business.

In just one month, the salt permit was obtained, and all the Cui family's assets were transferred to the name of her Qian family. It was a great business harvest. Qian Tong was in a good mood. In the carriage, she couldn't wait to share with him the future plans of the Qian family teahouse.

"The one in the east of the city is mostly for ordinary people. They sell affordable loose tea and take the path of small profits but quick turnover."

"The teahouse in the west of the city is right next to the Hongyuetian gambling house. It's home to many wealthy merchants' children. Big clients from outside Yangzhou like to stay in the west of the city. It's a place of luxury and extravagance. They use the most expensive tea leaves and wax tea, and have a few private rooms where they sell Xiaolongtuan (small dragon ball cake)..."

Song Yunzhi glanced sideways.

She asked, "Does Kyoto have Jiancha? That's the Xiaolongtuan we drank. Do you know how much we spent on that one sip yesterday?"

She stretched out her finger, waved it before his eyes, and whispered, "One penny is 400,000 coins, a dragon ball is more beautiful than snow, and imperial tea..."

Song Yunzhi knew it all.

Before the establishment of the Xin Dynasty, emperors throughout the country coveted comfort, lived extravagantly, and advocated for instant gratification. The Yong'an Marquisate, a century-old family, even received rewards. A mere small box would attract the entire household to admire and taste it. However, today, in the eyes of a wealthy businessman, it is nothing more than a thirst-quenching drink and a signboard for making money.

Song Yunzhi stared at her waving fingers, his face expressionless and his tone calm, "Then I have to thank Seventh Lady for her reward."

"You're welcome." Qian Tong said, "It's all your credit. It's what you deserve."

Song Yunzhi thought Bai was a cold and lonely person, but from the moment he met the witch, he found that his emotions would easily fluctuate as long as he talked to her.

He suppressed his emotions, tilted his head and closed his eyes, deciding not to pay any more attention to her.

"Are you sleepy? I told you, you don't have to get up so early in the morning. Sleep a little longer. My Qian family doesn't have so many rules, and you don't need to pay your respects to the ancestors..."

Song Yunzhi's eyelids twitched twice.

Fortunately, she finally shut up.

When the carriage arrived at the prefectural government, it was the time for the court session. There were many people watching. Qian Tong grabbed Song Yun's sleeve and squeezed him to the front.

A case is being investigated in the hall.

Both of them knew the young man kneeling in the lobby.

The demon girl suddenly became agitated. She grabbed his wrist and asked him, "Why is it Young Master Lan? The government officials didn't send him back to Kyoto."

When Song Yunzhi received Wang Zhao's message last night, he had already been shocked. Why was she pretending to be stupid? But being stared at by the witch, Song Yunzhi had to cooperate and frowned, "I don't know."

She said "Oh" and listened carefully to the noise inside. Wang Zhao was in the middle of a trial. He pointed at a man kneeling in the hall with a wrist so red and swollen that he couldn't lift it. He asked Young Master Lan, "Is it him?"

Young Master Lan shook his head.

"What about him?"

Young Master Lan just kept shaking his head.

Neither. Ever since Young Master Lan knocked on the drum to appeal for justice at the prefectural government yesterday, the Lu family has sent over a dozen people, promising that as long as Young Master Lan finds the real culprit, they will give him justice.

But none of them.

Young Master Lan insisted, "I want to see the Patriarch of the Lu family."

The Lu family was just trying to curry favor with the imperial court when they were suddenly confronted by Young Master Lan. The Lu family's head was practically crying out to heaven for injustice and had to rush over early in the morning. He practically kowtowed to Young Master Lan and said, "Young Master Lan, who is it?"

"I don't know him."

Patriarch Lu cried, "You, you don't know me, it's no use asking me to come."

Lan Yizi said, "I was kidnapped and taken to your Lu family's gambling house. If I don't look for you, who else should I look for?" His eyes were filled with resentment. "My Lan family is guilty, and the court has convicted us. Your Lu family is just like the Cui family, you are just opportunists. You have been rampant for a long time, treating Yangzhou as your own territory. Isn't it because you have money and think that no one can get out of your hands? When my father was in power, you came to me with money to bribe me..."

"Mr. Lan, don't slander me." The head of the Lu family was sweating profusely. He didn't believe that Lan Yizi didn't know the second son of the Pu family. Isn't he just taking advantage of the weak?

But he couldn't say it, because once he did, he would be completely enemies with the Park family.

The Lu family's patriarch could only kowtow and said, "Sir, I really don't know.

It seems that the trial will not yield any results in a day or two. The people who are watching the power have fallen from the clouds and are biting each other. What are they doing out of curiosity?

"What's so strange about this? The Lu family, now that the Lan family has fallen, take this opportunity to seek revenge..."

"I think the Patriarch of the Lu family is a humble person, not like

Qian Tong was filled with disdain when the voice reached his ears. He leaned over and said to the young man beside him, "Don't be fooled by his appearance. He's good at saving face. He says one thing in front of people and another behind their backs. Who can tell if he's a real person or a ghost?"

She never minced words when she spoke ill of others. "I've dealt with him for many years and never once had a quarrel. Can you believe it? Everyone says he's easy to get along with, but in reality, this kind of person is the most cunning. We must be careful when dealing with him in the future."

The night before, Song Yunzhi heard Lu Daozhong say that Qi Niangzi was not an ordinary person, and today she heard her say that Lu Daozhong was not a good person.

This is what merchants are doing, biting each other.

She suddenly said, "I'll tell you a secret."

Song Yunzhi looked at her sideways.

She looked up and winked at him proudly, "I know who that person is."

After saying that, she looked at him with a look that said, "Do you want to know? If you want to know, come and beg me."

Song Yunzhi took a breath, "Who?"

She leaned sideways and stood on tiptoe, but realized she still couldn't reach him, so she put her hand on his shoulder and patted him, "You're too high, lower yourself a little."

Song Yunzhi wasn't sure if Bai Yi lowered her head, but her hands clasped his shoulders and her voice successfully reached his ear. She said, "The second young master of the Park family."

She was still hanging on his shoulder, her chin resting lightly on it. The burning sensation beside her ear was still there, burning his flesh. His heartbeat suddenly jumped, and he felt numb and itchy.

His increasingly chaotic aura made it hard to tell whether he was shocked by what she said or aroused by the young lady's insolence.

He turned his head and looked at the young lady who was slowly backing away from his shoulder.

She was looking up, her eyes sparkling with amorous feelings.

His eyes said: Just watch it, I knew you would be shocked.

She continued to fan the flames, "The head of the Lu family also knows about this, but he didn't dare tell the government officials for fear of offending the court. After all, compared to the court, the power of the Pu family is what really scares us merchants. If the Pu family can cut off the Lu family's sea transportation with just one word, and if they intercept us on land, what business will the Lu family still have in silk and spices..."

She chatted for a while, but the young man beside her didn't say a word.

Some people in the crowd recognized her and came forward to greet her warmly.

She turned around and started chatting with a few women. She was wearing a piece of brocade worth a thousand gold coins, standing among a group of people wearing coarse cloth, talking and laughing, and there was no sign of incongruity at all.

His palms felt a little cold. Song Yunzhi lowered his head and saw the back of his hand tense. The side of his neck, where her breath had brushed against it, felt a burning sensation that lingered...

——

After half an hour of trial without any conclusion, Wang Zhao announced that the trial would be held on another day.

Patriarch Lu was sincere and assured repeatedly, "I will call everyone in the gambling house and ask Young Master Lan to identify them. If Young Master Lan recognizes them, no matter who they are, the Lu family will not protect them and will definitely hand them over to you, Master Lan, and give you justice."

Wang Zhao did not detain him, but gave him three days. If he still could not find the mastermind, he would arrest him and question him.

As soon as the head of the Lu family came out, he saw Qian Tong in front of the crowd.

She stood beside the son-in-law she had robbed, muttering something. The son-in-law lowered his head, leaning one shoulder, listening to her. When he noticed someone coming out, he suddenly turned around and looked at him.

Lu Daozhong once again felt admiration for the Qian family's seventh lady.

When it comes to looking at things and people, this Seventh Lady has a keen eye.

At the beginning, the Cui and Qian families fought fiercely for the marriage of the prefectural governor. The Cui family thought Bai Ji had won, but now, some of the Cui family members were killed or imprisoned, and Young Master Lan was also imprisoned. In order to escape conviction, Bai Ji could not afford to offend Pu Er, so he blackmailed him like a mad dog.

That shameless look was immediately noticeable compared to the pine-like temperament of the son-in-law in front of him.

He also discovered that after not seeing him for a few days, this seventh uncle seemed to have become more and more noble and dignified.

Lu Daozhong was a well-known smiling Buddha. He would smile at anyone he met and never cared about the other person's background. Even though he was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan at this time, he still curled the corners of his mouth and nodded to greet the seventh uncle.

Song Yunzhi returned with his forehead.

Qian Tong also saw the head of the Lu family coming out, and his face instantly changed to a caring one. He asked with concern, "What's going on?"

The head of the Lu family shook his head, not wanting to talk to her any more. "Seventh Lady, you are laughing at me."

"It's too formal for Patriarch Lu to say that."

The following scene once again broadened Song Yunzhi's horizons. The girl who had just called him a double-faced villain was now soothing him, "Don't I know what Patriarch Lu is like? I trust Patriarch Lu. This matter has nothing to do with you. Don't worry. The innocent will be cleared. Lord Wang is an official appointed by the court. He is impartial and selfless. He will definitely clear your name."

The head of the Lu family started cursing in his heart. Did she really think he was a fool and didn't know that it was her who brought that young master Lan back from the dock?

The Lu family didn't provoke her.

All the salt permits and tea leaves were taken away by her, so he should be the one to hate her.

Lu Daozhong wasn't one to publicly quarrel, but he didn't want to hear her say more. "Thank you, Miss Qi, for your concern... Did you come to the prefecture today just to see some fun?"

Qian Tong shook his head. "It just happened that I ran into this. I came here to look into the teahouse."

Lu Daozhong was stunned.

Qian Tong didn't treat him as an outsider, and whispered to him about his good news, "To be honest with Master Lu, I bought two ships of tea from Young Master Duan. Now that I've invested all the money, I'm going to lose money if I don't have a place to sell it. The Cui family's teahouse has been closed down, so someone has to take over. I came to Lord Wang to buy the building..."

Lu Daozhong was not as generous as she thought and would not be happy for her.

She bought two ships of tea from the village? Duan Yuanjin actually sold it to her?

Lu Daozhong felt a sudden, piercing pain in his heart. The other party's wave after wave of gains was so intensely jealous that his temples ached. He was always adept at disguising himself, but his expression stiffened upon hearing this.

He hadn't recovered yet when the young lady opposite him, who was more than a generation younger than him, started to look embarrassed and said awkwardly, "My niece is thinking of visiting Uncle Lu at the Lu family in a couple of days. My Qian family just got the salt permit, and now we have to expand the salt wells. We've also taken on the tea business, so we don't have that much capital on hand. If Uncle Lu is well-off, please lend me some money first, and I'll help you..."

She was really brave enough to speak up.

Lu Daozhong's face turned pale and blue, and he even wanted to kill her.

"Seventh Lady, you're joking. The Qian family is a century-old salt merchant with a deep pocket. How could they be short of money? Don't make fun of an old man like me." Lu Daozhong couldn't stay any longer. "I have something else to do. Excuse me."

He turned around, walking very quickly.

The Seventh Lady behind him was still defending Bai Ji, "It's true."

The smile on Lu Daozhong's face disappeared any more. His fat body squeezed through the crowd, his face as black as charcoal ash. People who knew him hardly recognized him.

Song Yunzhi's gaze was always on the girl beside him.

From whom did she get a round fan woven with flowers? She covered her face with it, turned around, and revealed a pair of eyes that looked like they had succeeded in their cunning scheme. She looked at him slyly, "Do you know how I feel right now?"

Song Yunzhi saw through it and asked, "Is this a villain succeeding?"

Qian Tong raised the round fan in his hand, tapped him on the shoulder, and corrected him: "You are wrong, this is called angering him to death."

——

The case was over. The head of the Lu family left, and Young Master Lan was also taken away. There was nothing exciting to watch, and the crowd gradually dispersed.

It was her turn to get down to business. Qian Tong put away her smile, straightened her appearance, took the Qian family's son-in-law with her, and went to the inner hall. She handed over her name card and said, "I am the seventh lady of the Qian family. Lord Wang has seen me. Please ask the official to inform you that I have come to the teahouse today. I will offer you conditions that you will surely be satisfied with."

After the Cui family's property was seized, the restaurants and teahouses were the biggest profit earners.

To own a teahouse is nothing more than spending money.

But based on Song Yunzhi's understanding of her, she would not pay a penny more today.

Wang Zhaoyi's eyelids twitched when he heard the name Qian Qi Niangzi. Even though her relationship with the prince was forced, they were currently an engaged couple in name.

He can neither be negligent nor indulgent.

Before the identity of the prince was exposed, he could only deal with it perfunctorily, "Just say that I have too many things to do today and we'll talk about it tomorrow." He would first ask the prince about the teahouse matter and then make a decision.

The salt permit has been given to the Qian family, but the benefits to the Lu family have not yet been granted, so there is no rush for the teahouse.

The official who brought the news whispered in his ear, "The prince is here too."

Wang Zhao had to leave.

Soon the three of them sat down in the meeting hall. Wang Zhao looked at the flower-covered fan in the prince's hand and took great pains to look away. "I wonder what conditions Madam Qian mentioned?"

Qian Tong slapped him, "Five hundred." She asked, "Have you not yet settled the people rescued by the Cui family's pawnshop? I will hire them regardless of whether they are missing an arm or a leg, and I will help you absorb the remaining refugees."