Princess Momohime was tied up at midnight, and finally couldn't resist taking out a hidden blade to cut the ropes.
The rope left many bruises on her body, making her wince in pain.
Just as she was hesitating whether to stay or leave, the door opened.
Miss Shen, who was awake late at night, stood at the door in a purple dress, her hair disheveled, her expression indifferent, but there was no trace of sleepiness in her eyes, as if she had been waiting for her for a long time.
It's a bit like that look in her eyes that scared her out of her wits that night.
It has to be said that this Miss Shen is a bit strange.
Peach Princess gave in and sat down helplessly, rubbing her sore wrists listlessly.
"Young Miss, what brings you here to see me in the middle of the night?"
Shen Ning didn't go inside; she simply put down a food box and left.
Peach walked over and opened it. Inside were steaming hot dishes, and next to them was a bottle of medicine.
Peach Princess: "......" Is this a case of the young lady giving a sweet treat after a beating?
However, he was still willing to coax her, so it seems that the young lady didn't resent her that much.
The next morning, Yu Zhu harbored deep resentment towards Tao Ji, who was eating at the table.
Why did you release this person so easily, Miss? Not only did you release her, but you also let her dine with you.
So annoying!!
Tao Ji deliberately served Shen Ning some food, saying, "Miss, please try this."
Then she pointed to the steamed dumplings in the distance and said, "Miss, could you please pick up one of those dumplings for me? I can't reach it."
Shen Ning didn't even raise an eyebrow, ignoring him.
Peach Princess: Tsk, the young lady is getting more and more aloof.
Yu Zhu was smug. As expected, Miss still disliked her. Humph!
After having breakfast, Chen Ning went out, taking Tao Ji with her.
Shen Ning led the people to a teahouse next to Jinbaolou, ordered tea and snacks, and looked at the ruins of Jinbaolou, where a large pit had been dug.
"Did you see that?"
Momohime: "What do you see?"
Shen Ning pointed to the pit: "There's only one pit here. What kind of business can be done in a pit?"
Momohime: "How should I know?"
Then she saw Shen Ning reach out to her: "What?"
"Pay up." Shen Ning counted on her fingers: "Materials, labor, decoration, inventory, etc. For a place this big, it must cost at least several thousand taels of gold. When are you going to pay?"
Peach Princess glared: "You still expect that person to give you money?"
Several thousand taels of gold? Is this how you make money in business? It's more like you're losing money.
Shen Ning: "Otherwise what? Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice, and you can't do business without money."
Tao Ji was speechless. She thought that if Shen Ning wasn't frightened, she should at least be terrified, but judging from her current state, she was adapting quite well.
“Go ask him for it yourself; I can’t ask him.”
Shen Ning took out a paper packet, opened it, poured the powder inside into Tao Ji's cup, picked up the teapot next to her, added some tea, and mixed the powder more evenly.
Peach Princess's eyes widened: No, is it okay to drug someone so openly these days?
What are you doing now?
Shen Ning smiled gently: "Arsenic, which do you think is harder, asking King Zhao for money or drinking this cup?"
Momohime: ...Why make things difficult for her?
Shen Ning pushed the teacup towards her.
Tao Ji left, and Shen Ning went out through the back door of the teahouse and entered through the back door of Cangyuxuan, going straight up to the third floor.
Li Shaobai is skilled in jade carving. Usually, unless there is an urgent matter, Li Shaobai will stay at Cangyuxuan to carve jade.
Upon seeing her, Li Shaobai was quite surprised: "What brings you here?"
Shen Ning sat down and handed him the land deed: "Take a look at this first."
Li Shaobai asked in confusion, then his expression changed after reading it: "Where did you get this?"
Shen Ning: "Yesterday, King Zhao met with me and asked me to manage these three shops for him. He also kidnapped my younger brother."
Li Shaobai frowned for a long time, somewhat disbelieving: "How could it be Prince Zhao?"
Clearly, King Zhao was still hiding very well at this time and had not been noticed by the outside forces. Even Li Shaobai's previous actions were probably just due to factional disputes, and he did not expect that they would involve King Zhao.
Li Shaobai steadied himself: "How can you be sure it's Prince Zhao?"
Shen Ning: "I met King Zhao once before, and he admitted it himself."
Li Shaobai: "This is a bit strange. If Prince Zhao is really involved in these matters, why would he show himself so easily?"
This was also what Shen Ning found strange, but Shen Ning was certain that the person was King Zhao.
Then Shen Ning thought of the Thousand-Faced Fox's skill of impersonating anyone and couldn't help but wonder if King Zhao was actually the Thousand-Faced Fox in disguise.
But Tao Ji consistently acknowledged that it was King Zhao.
Did I go through all that trouble to deceive her?
Li Shaobai remained skeptical, but he also believed Shen Ning's words to some extent: "The corruption case is too deep, and the Dali Temple has not been able to completely close the case yet. If it is really related to Prince Zhao... he will come to you. I'm afraid that my investigation in the past has alarmed him and made him suspect you."
Shen Ning: "What do I have that would make him suspicious? Could it be that he did something shameful and is feeling guilty?"
Li Shaobai fell silent instantly.
Shen Ning laughed: "I'm a little confused. In Young Master Li's eyes, am I a smart person or a fool?"
“When you’re angry, you think I have the power to cause chaos, but when you’re not angry, you feel that there are some truths that a woman like me shouldn’t know. Young Master Li, you look down on me.”
Li Shaobai's expression changed slightly, and he gave Shen Ning a deep look: "That's not the case."
“Miss Shen is intelligent and perceptive, and her courage and boldness are no less than those of men. It is precisely because I admire you that I cannot bear to see you cause trouble.”
After saying that, he reached for the land deed: "Leave this matter to me, and I will also find a way to help rescue your brother."
Shen Ning quickly snatched it away: "I appreciate Young Master Li's kindness, but I will handle my own affairs myself."
Li Shaobai's expression was solemn: "Shen Ning, if that really is King Zhao, you can't afford to offend him."
No matter how low-key King Zhao was, he was still the emperor's son.
Shen Ning retorted, "Who in this capital city can I afford to offend? Let alone Prince Zhao, I wouldn't dare call Young Master Li and Young Master Ye equals. Even a scoundrel like Wei Congwen looks down on me."
“As a woman, as long as I am unmarried and have no husband’s family, I have no status in your eyes. I am just an ant that can be crushed at will.”
Shen Ning clutched the box: "I came to see you today only to tell Young Master Li about this matter. As for what Young Master Li is plotting, I can't help you, and what I'm doing has nothing to do with you."
Li Shaobai was unusually anxious: "Jinbaolou is a cancer now. Whoever offends it will die. Even if Ye Feiyan and I join forces, we won't be able to save you."
Shen Ning was quite moved; at least Li Shaobai's first thought was to save her.
But she wasn't alive to hide under someone else's wing and obediently wait to be rescued.
Storms are terrifying, but after a storm comes renewal and new life.
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