Chapter 333 Yao Qingling is too naive

Qingling glanced at Madam Gao, gritting her teeth to control her anger.

That's so frustrating.

If something goes wrong, she has to bear all the losses herself.

These officials, enjoying the comfort of their wives' warm beds, are not allowed to complain or blame themselves for offending anyone.

Qingling bit her teeth so hard they bled, and her mouth tasted of blood.

Her eyes were red-rimmed, and the way she was desperately trying to hold back her tears softened Magistrate Gao's heart a little.

He advised, "Madam Yao, don't be so competitive. Why are you, a woman, so eager to win? Don't be angry. I've already sent people to put out the fire. Just consider it a loss to avoid further trouble and let it pass."

After offering Qingling a few words of "comfort," Magistrate Gao waved his hand and told the steward to see the guest out.

Qingling left the Gao residence filled with resentment.

Lin Shiyuan couldn't accompany her inside earlier, but after she got into the carriage, he said, "I just saw the prefect's confidant go out."

Qingling nodded dejectedly: "Yes, send someone to put out the fire."

Her lips moved, and she gave a cold laugh: "He told me to mind my own business and swallow my anger."

Lin Shiyuan remained silent.

Yao Qingling looked at him: "You also think I should spend money to avoid trouble?"

Lin Shiyuan said, "I won't make decisions about your affairs. But Qingling, I hope you are safe."

"Those people are giving you a warning now, setting fire to the warehouse. If you go any further, they'll burn down the Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion!"

Qingling's eyes widened suddenly, and she clenched her fists.

The Marquis of Zhongyong's mansion is nothing more than an ant in the eyes of the powerful and wealthy. If they want her dead, they only need to lift their foot and stomp on her.

She swallowed hard, considering giving up on the advice, but after a while, she clenched her fists even tighter: "Am I just going to give up like this?"

Her experiences from childhood taught her that if she ever yielded and gave in, she would have to endure it every time and be bullied until she had nowhere left to retreat.

No, she cannot back down.

Since it's a contest, there's a give-and-take. If she wins once and her opponent wants to retaliate, she can fight back until the outcome is completely decided.

She befriended the Empress and the Prefect Gao, not just allowing them to extract benefits while she played the role of a servant, being trampled on by others.

Yes, we mustn't be afraid!

"...And then there are Sheng Dahe and his men. They were bandits by origin, and they only agreed to return to the right path because they wanted a better life. Most of their wealth is in the docks and warehouses. Even if I agreed to let it go, how could they possibly accept it?"

Once those people started to panic, things completely spiraled out of control.

Lin Shiyuan understood Qingling's temperament and knew that she was becoming more courageous in the face of setbacks.

He sighed, "Qingling, I will always support you. But do you know who started this fire?"

"Even Prefect Gao dared not reveal a single detail, how are you going to investigate?"

Qingling looked at him and bit her lip.

Lin Shiyuan is investigating the iron ore matter. If he is distracted, Prince Xin will be even less able to restrain him.

"Go do your thing, I'll handle things on my own."

Lin Shiyuan opened his mouth, but Qingling didn't give him a chance to speak. She covered his mouth and continued, "I won't do anything reckless. Since I've pledged allegiance to the Empress, I need her to back me up."

Lin Shiyuan looked at her for a while.

Yao Qingling never relied on anyone's support; she was decisive, courageous, and had her own means of self-preservation. Although she encountered danger several times, she always managed to turn the situation around.

In this world, relying on yourself is better than relying on anyone else. It's best if your closest loved ones don't betray you, but what if you're separated by distance? What if you're separated by life and death?

Lin Shiyuan would not demand that Yao Qingling be dependent on him and become a stay-at-home wife.

In fact, he hoped she would become stronger, stronger and stronger.

Only in this way can she lead those who trust her through this chaotic world until the day of peace and prosperity arrives.

Instead of crying and waiting for others to save her or for the enemy to take pity on her whenever she encounters difficulties; and certainly not selling her body and soul to survive.

"Okay." He nodded.

Qingling squeezed his hand, and she knew that he understood her.

She gave a bleak smile and looked at the approaching dock.

At this moment, soldiers and officers went to maintain order, and a large number of onlookers were driven away. Even those who remained could only watch from a distance and were not allowed to approach.

Firefighters also went in and poured buckets of water into the fire.

It was inconvenient for Lin Shiyuan to appear at the same time as Yao Qingling. Qingling glanced at him and said softly, "I'm going in."

The man nodded and mingled in the crowd, watching from a distance.

He had his close associates protect her.

...

The wind was strong, fueling the flames, so the water poured in had no effect whatsoever.

The fire burned for three days and three nights, and Qingling watched it from the dock for three days and three nights.

Just when she was about to despair, a heavy rain came and finally extinguished the fire.

Qingling stared at the dark, ruined walls, unable to even cry.

Exhausted, everyone lay on the ground, soaked by the rain, like corpses, seemingly incapable of feeling joy or sorrow.

Yao Qingling moved her fingers, numbly walked over, and dragged them up.

"Don't lie down, go find some shelter from the rain."

Humans are, after all, mortal beings. After being roasted by fire and then drenched in rain, they will either die or fall ill.

He Yin brewed some herbal medicine for everyone to drink.

Qingling changed her clothes, took an umbrella, and entered the warehouse that was about to collapse.

"Miss, don't go there, it could collapse at any moment." Xiao Pingfeng pulled her back and glanced at the charred pillar.

This fire burned even more fiercely than the last one.

Qingling said, "Come with me, let's go check out the underground warehouse."

Xiao Pingfeng's eyes suddenly lit up, then quickly darkened as he glanced around warily, lowering his voice: "Miss..."

Qingling glanced at him, put on a sorrowful yet unwilling expression, and resolutely stepped into the ruins.

...

Prince Xin stood atop the tower, gazing at the "scenery" in the distance.

Amidst the misty rain, he lazily fanned himself and slowly said, "The scenery has been quite nice these past few days."

Bu Fang said, "Madam Yao suffered heavy losses this time."

He paused, then changed his answer: "It should be three times."

One time, Yao Qingling was in jail and her shop was shut down, causing her to miss the peak sales season during the Spring Festival, resulting in a backlog of goods. After her release, she had no choice but to sell them off at a low price.

The second time, all of Yao Qingling's shops had to close down because of her paintings. Goods piled up again, but the impact was slightly less than the first time. Yao Qingling was clever enough to secretly contact shops in surrounding towns and have some of her goods taken over.

Yao Qingling thought she had escaped unscathed, but she never expected that her warehouse would be engulfed in flames.

After a series of setbacks, Yao Qingling had to give back all the money she had earned.

"...After these three times, she should have lost everything. I think she'll soon be begging the Prince for help."

Prince Xin sneered, "Do you think Yao Qingling will admit defeat?"

Bu Fang frowned slightly, but still insisted on his own opinion. He said, "She is, after all, just a woman. No matter how strong she is, how strong can she be?"

"She has no one else by her side, only a few servants as her right and left hands. She also grew up in the capital. Even if she is naive, after these few incidents, she should understand that without anyone behind her, Yao Qingling is nothing."

The Marquis of Loyalty and Valor's Mansion is nothing but an empty shell.

She risked offending powerful families and nobles by siding with the Empress, but how could the Empress offend those powerful families because of her?

Yao Qingling is too naive.