Cuiming and Hongye looked at each other, neither of them able to answer the question.

After a moment of silence, Qin Yuan came to her senses and laughed, "Why are you saying all this?"

Cuiming also said, "Miss has so many things to worry about every day, so don't put your mind on this anymore. Overthinking is bad for your health."

Qin Yuan nodded.

"Yes, I'll urge Sixteen on this matter. I've worried about him so much, what has he done?"

The red leaves smiled.

Qin Yuan gave Hongye a meaningful look and asked, "You won't secretly tell Sixteen what I said, will you?"

Hongye's face suddenly flushed, and she pouted, muttering, "Why did you say that to me, Miss?"

Cuiming said, "Miss shouldn't worry that Hongye will whisper it to her. She should worry that she originally wanted to get information out of Sixteen, but ended up getting it out of Sixteen herself."

Qin Yuan couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Hongye stamped her foot and said, "You little rascal, Cuiming, you actually joined in teasing me with Miss."

She was about to tear Cuiming's mouth apart when she said that. Cuiming couldn't defend herself and hurriedly hid behind Qin Yuan.

Hongye stomped her foot and said, "Come out here, or I'll tear you apart!"

Qin Yuan cleared her throat, but before she could offer any advice, a maidservant came in to report: "Madam, Shen Chang Le requests an audience."

Hongye rolled her eyes at Cuiming and whispered, "I'll settle the score with you later."

Cui Ming just smiled.

Qin Yuan sat up straight and said solemnly, "Let him in."

Hongye and Cuiming also stopped smiling and stood solemnly beside Qin Yuan.

After Shen Changle entered, he first greeted her and then said, "Madam, I shouldn't have come today, but I met the Second Miss and the Young Master at the Imperial Academy."

"oh?"

Qin Yuan raised her eyebrows in surprise.

Shen Changle wasn't the type to cause trouble for no reason; there must be a reason for her saying that.

Seeing that his lips were parched, Hongye quickly poured a cup of tea and handed it to Shen Changle.

Shen Changle accepted it respectfully, smiling warmly and kindly: "Thank you, Miss Hongye."

Although he was being given important responsibilities, he remained very polite to those around Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan then said, "Have some tea first, and then we can talk slowly."

Shen Changle looked at Qin Yuan gratefully, took a few sips as elegantly as possible to moisten his throat, and said, "Today, I took some people to post new poems on the poetry wall of the Imperial Academy. I happened to meet the young master protecting the second young lady on her way back to her husband's home, so I chatted with the young master for a while. I didn't expect the second young lady to meet Xu Tang from the Xu family."

"Xu Tang?"

Qin Yuan frowned.

Shen Changle assumed Qin Yuan didn't know this person, so she hurriedly explained, "Xu Tang is a member of the Xu family. He knows some martial arts. His father passed away early, and his health was already very poor before he died. So he agreed to give the title to Lord Xu."

Qin Yuan nodded.

Shen Changle continued, "Xu Tang and his sister both live at my uncle's house. He didn't study much and followed the Xu family's sons to make a living. He also worked as a manager at a gambling den under the name of Prince Jin, lending money at exorbitant interest rates. Later, he sent his sister to Prince Jin's mansion as a concubine. He was also good at playing football, so he was recommended to Prince Qi's mansion as a hanger-on. Because I often travel around the market and am interested in doing business during festivals, I get along well with many people. I just happened to discover that Xu Tang also has many dealings with people from the Yelü clan, and they are quite close."

Qin Yuan was already aware of his abilities, but she was still somewhat surprised.

"But did you find anything wrong with Xu Tang?"

Shen Changle said, "Both the sixteenth and eighteenth brothers asked me if I knew anything about the Xu family, so I paid more attention to Xu Tang."

Qin Yuan praised, "You've put your heart into this."

Shen Changle smiled and said, "I am the mistress's attendant, so naturally I should think more about my mistress in order to live up to her high regard."

Qin Yuan nodded.

Shen Changle continued, "Xu Tang was out drinking and carousing. He once said that the Xu family and the Marquis's mansion were at odds, and he planned to cause a scene at the Marquis's mansion during the Sixth Madam's funeral to embarrass the Marquis's mansion. Later, he criticized Lord Xu for trying to gamble everywhere. Now that he sees that the Emperor values ​​the Marquis's mansion, he hesitates to act and doesn't keep his promise, leaving his brother and sister out of the picture. After all, he's just an uncle, and he can't be like a biological father. From now on, he only cares about his own future."

Qin Yuan said, "It seems there's something going on within the Xu family..."

Shen Changle nodded.

Qin Yuan said, "No wonder the Xu family hasn't caused any trouble these days. I was worried for nothing."

Shen Changle said, "I think that although Xu Tang said so, we still need to be wary."

Master Gu is adamant about suing the Xu family, but Lord Xu is wavering. There are still some days before the funeral, so it's hard to say what will happen in the end.

Qin Yuan replied, "Yes."

Shen Changle took a few more sips of tea and said, "Xu Tang somehow struck up a conversation with the Second Miss and the Young Master, saying he wanted to take them to watch Cuju (ancient Chinese football). The Young Master is, after all, a man, and what's strange is that he also managed to persuade the Second Miss. The Second Miss and the Young Master probably don't know that the Xu family and the Marquis's mansion are currently at odds. I wonder what Xu Tang's intentions are in contacting the Qin family now."

Qin Yuan frowned.

Since Shen Changle said so, it was clear that Xu Tang was deliberately trying to befriend him. The fact that this person had set his sights on the Qin family at this time made it difficult to discern his true intentions.

Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Pay close attention to this person, and let me know if you hear any news."

Shen Changle replied, "Yes."

Qin Yuan then asked, "Is there anything else? How's business lately?"

Shen Changle smiled and said, "I came here because the young master came up with an idea, which I think is very good."

Qin Yuan stared at him with great interest and said, "Tell me about it."

Shen Changle said, "Young Master said, should we build a new poetry wall and write poems about the Seventh Miss and her women's army fighting bravely yesterday, the Marquis leading his troops to repel Yelü the hostage, and the Emperor's personal arrival? Young Master also wrote a limerick yesterday. I think this is a good idea. We can also have someone write a storybook and add woodblock prints. With the Marquis's reputation, it will definitely sell well. I just don't know what Master thinks?"

Qin Yuan couldn't help but laugh and said, "This kid is always trying to outsmart you with this. Only you take his words seriously. If Dad finds out, I don't know how he'll scold him."

In his previous life, Shen Changle was a gatekeeper in the government office. After Qin Heng failed the imperial examinations repeatedly, he switched to general affairs and they got along very well. It is fate that they can be together again in this life.

Shen Changle smiled and said, "Although the young master is not as good at studying as the older brother, he is just as clever."

Qin Yuan said, "Since you also think it's a good idea, why not do it this way? Just be careful about priorities and avoid causing others to criticize the Marquis's Mansion behind its back, such as saying that its achievements overshadow the master."

The implication is that the royal family is of paramount importance, highlighting the emperor's favor.

Shen Chang Le was startled and immediately replied, "I'll remember that."

Then Shen Changle talked about the business situation of each shop. Although there had been some improvement, the shopkeepers saw that the small shops on the side of the West Market were thriving and began to have other ideas.

Qin Yuan said, "The Emperor intends to hold a birthday celebration for the Empress Dowager. If they have any plans, they should act quickly. If they seize such an opportunity once, they can make a fortune. Even if they do nothing for the rest of the year, I won't say anything."

Shen Changle laughed and said, "Master is wise, even knowing these business tricks. Besides, the price of pepper on the market is falling more and more sharply, and it has already reached thirty-two taels of silver per catty."