Meanwhile, the Wang family, the Left Censor-in-Chief, has been so worried lately that Wang Bingyao and his wife are practically turning their hair white.

Ever since Wang An opened a shop in Kyoto and got involved in the business of perfumes and fragrances, he has been working from dawn till dusk every day.

Before, when we brought him back, at least he would pretend to be diligent for a few days in the study.

Even if you tied him up now, you still couldn't get him into the study.

The spiders in his study probably all formed families and had several more offspring.

When pushed too far, that brat Wang An would pocket his earnings and stay at inns and brothels, not returning home for days on end.

The Imperial Censor's wife cried to Wang Bingyao several times, and Wang Bingyao, unable to resist her nagging, finally stepped into the Ninth Prince's mansion again.

Shang Xiye listened to Wang Bingyao's roundabout talk for quite a while before finally realizing what he meant:

Yesterday, the Ninth Prince's Consort swindled ten million taels of silver from the Gao Qiu Kingdom with a single move. You, Ninth Prince, have been fighting abroad for years, and the spoils of war you have obtained must be considerable. You probably don't need to seek any other source of income.

Please, you and the Ninth Prince's Consort, be merciful and don't harm my Wang An by sending him off to do some business.

Wang An's business venture was supported by his wife. If he agreed to Wang Bingyao's proposal and ruined his wife's plans, wouldn't that cause trouble at home?

Shang Xiye kept his eyes closed and his nose focused on his heart, pretending not to understand.

He picked up where Wang Bingyao left off, and the topic immediately rose to the level of whether the Great Zhao was stable: "Lord Wang need not worry too much. Yesterday's matter was actually Gao Qiu's fault. Even if they suffered a loss, they would not dare to argue with me. Besides, Gao Qiu is weak and cannot cause any trouble."

Wang Bingyao: "!!!"

Ninth Prince, are you pretending to be stupid? Is this what I meant?

Do you think I don't know that those small countries around me are afraid of you?

Even my son, with your support, can now stand tall and proud in front of me!

Wang Bingyao was filled with resentment, but he couldn't directly question Shang Xiye.

After all, although being a merchant is a lowly profession, it is not a crime, nor was it something that the Ninth Prince and Ninth Princess forced Wang An to do. As a dignified Left Censor, he cannot make trouble without reason.

When Wang Bingyao returned home empty-handed, it was another chaotic scene, disturbing the peace of Shang Yuexi and her husband.

Left with no other choice, Shang Yuexi had to personally visit Ji Fengyao the next day.

After learning of Shang Yuexi's purpose, Ji Fengyao neither agreed nor objected.

She took her three maids and went with Shang Yuexi to Wang An's shop.

The shop is located on Kyoto's busiest and most prosperous main street. The surrounding shops are all selling ready-made clothes or fabrics, and the nearby restaurants and inns are among the best in Kyoto. The people who frequent the shop are all wealthy and influential people in Kyoto.

This environment lessened Shang Yuexi's resistance.

At least Wang An hadn't stooped to the lowest level of engaging in the business of prostitutes.

After the two entered the store, the shop assistant saw that Ji Fengyao and Shang Yuexi were dressed in noble and elegant manners, and hurriedly came out to greet them: "I wonder what you two distinguished guests need?"

"Where is Wang An?" Ji Fengyao asked directly.

The waiter was taken aback. Their shop was a very high-class establishment; not just anyone could meet the boss.

"What are you looking at? These are the Ninth Prince's Consort and the Eldest Princess," Lin Shuang stepped forward to remind them.

Upon hearing this, the waiter was startled. He bent his knees repeatedly, unsure whether to bow first or go inside to call the boss. After several such attempts, he finally took off running, shouting, "Boss, boss, the big boss is here!"

Ji Fengyao: "..."

Shang Yaoxi: "..."

Birds of a feather flock together; this fellow is quite like Wang An.