? Huge shoutout to my amazing supporters! ? Heartfelt thanks to Nguyen, Ashley, Sudarmi, and Jennifer for your incredible support! ? Happy Reading! ?

Chapter 153: Reaping The Harvest

It’s not difficult to buy someone’s words, but the same sentence carries a completely different weight when spoken by a destitute beggar compared to a learned scholar.

Of course, Jiang Xuening understood this simple truth.

It wasn’t cheap to buy the latter’s mouthpiece. Moreover, just buying the mouthpiece wasn’t enough; one needed both soft and hard tactics. After all, scholars were soft-boned, and without some “hard” measures as a precaution, who could guarantee they wouldn’t change their tune overnight?

After calculating, the expenses were not small.

After getting the money from Xie Wei, she immediately gave Xiao Dingfei twenty thousand taels to spend first. Xiao Dingfei, having seen the world in the capital, was still shocked to see Jiang Xuening, a young lady, spending twenty thousand taels so generously, with an attitude of “spend it all and come back for more.” Naturally, he felt that the thigh he was holding onto was deep and unfathomable, and he worked diligently.

Jiang Xuening herself started to deal with the silver shares.

With the smooth progress of the Ren family’s salt field in Sichuan, news kept coming back to the capital, and the price of the salt field’s silver shares kept rising. 

Three days ago, a fast horse arrived at the Shuxiang Inn, saying that the first batch of snowflake-like well salt had come out, and brought a small bag for the shareholders in the capital to see. Jiang Xuening was in the palace at that time and naturally missed it. 

Before she entered the palace to study, the silver shares were twelve hundred wen per share. By the time she took a break and left the palace, the price had soared to fifteen hundred wen per share, and there was no market for it.

Compared to the initial price of five hundred wen per share, the current price of the Ren family’s salt field shares had quadrupled!

Due to the incident during the confiscation of the Yongyi Marquis’s estate, most of Jiang Xuening’s twenty thousand silver shares had been taken away by Lu Xian, leaving only two thousand shares in her hands.

Seeing the high price at the moment, it was the right time to sell.

To “reap the harvest,” as You Fangyin said in her previous life, was actually not very ethical. Moreover, she was reborn and knew more information than others, giving her an unfair advantage in the market. So when making the decision, Jiang Xuening was not without hesitation and guilt. But thinking of Shen Zhiyi’s kindness to her on her birthday in the palace, how could she let a little hesitation ruin the big plan?

So she gritted her teeth and sold the two thousand shares directly.

*

When the news of someone selling silver shares came, You Yue was trying on a new dress made by the embroiderers of Xianyun Workshop in her boudoir.

It was high-quality Shu brocade, in a light green color.

The hem was embroidered with a few beautiful oleanders. She was slender, and when she turned slightly, her waist seemed almost ungraspable, making her very satisfied.

The maid beside her flattered her to the skies: “Our young lady is truly a fairy descended to earth. This dress looks perfect on you, making your complexion even better. That eldest daughter of the Jiang family, how can she compare to our young lady in beauty and talent? I heard that Prince Linzi is a refined person. How could Jiang Xuehui, who is dull and boring, catch his eye? On the day of the selection, you just wear this dress, and everyone will be stunned. The position of princess is yours!”

These days, You Yue was indeed in high spirits.

Originally, the Earl family was very resentful of her for spending fifteen thousand taels of silver to bail her out of prison. After all, it was real gold and silver, and anyone would feel the pinch. But after this incident, she got angry and spent all her savings to buy four thousand shares of the Ren family’s salt field.

Later, Ren Weizhi wanted to marry You Fangyin, that little slut, and gave her a two thousand tael red envelope to prevent her from interfering.

Naturally, she had more money in hand.

At first, the Earl and Lady were furious when they learned she had spent all the money on salt field shares and wanted to sell them immediately.

Fortunately, she stopped them by threatening to die.

Now that the price of the Ren family’s salt field shares was rising, the Earl and Lady were all smiles when they saw her, more concerned about the stock price than she was. Her status in the family naturally rose with the tide.

Initially, the Earl family didn’t take Ren Weizhi, who wanted to marry You Fangyin, seriously. He was just a poor boy from a remote area in Sichuan, and they only agreed to the marriage for the dowry.

After all, she was a concubine’s daughter, and three thousand taels was not a loss.

But as the situation of the Ren family’s salt field improved, the Earl and Lady began to have other thoughts.

The Earl said, “After all, she is a daughter married from our Earl family. There’s no reason for her to cut ties with the family after going to Sichuan. That Ren boy was able to make the salt field successful largely because of the Earl family’s reputation. A merchant marrying an official’s daughter is a big advantage for him! The Ren family’s salt field is so big, and it concerns the price of Yue’er’s silver shares. We can’t let them do as they please. We should send a capable steward to teach them and keep an eye on the salt field. He only issued forty thousand silver shares in the capital, accounting for forty percent of the dividends, and there are still sixty percent left. He should give some more to honor his in-laws!”

So after the New Year, the Earl family had already sent people to Sichuan.

For a place like the Ren family’s salt field, once it started producing salt, the snowflake-like well salt was like snowflake-like silver. Who wouldn’t be tempted?

You Yue didn’t expect that a slut like You Fangyin could have such good luck.

But she wasn’t jealous either.

As long as it belonged to You Fangyin, she could snatch it if she wanted. If someone else had their wedding dress made, she could wear it later, which was also a convenient thing. So You Yue had been very relaxed these days, just tinkering with makeup and clothes at home, preparing to shine on the day of the selection for the Princess of Linzi.

When she heard the maid coming in from outside saying that someone at the Shuxiang Inn in Sichuan was starting to sell silver shares, she was stunned for a moment, then laughed: “The situation at the Ren family’s salt field is very good now. 

It’s obvious that this Zhuotong Well is continuously bringing in money. Even if others want to imitate it, it will take a long time. If someone is selling silver shares so early, they must either be short of money or short-sighted!”

The maids were a bit puzzled: “What about you, Miss?”

You Yue’s eyes turned, and she suddenly smiled, her eyes shining. 

She took the key and opened her box of silver, unable to contain her excitement: “Others may be short-sighted, but this is a great opportunity for me! I’m just worried about not having a place to buy silver shares. There’s a price but no market everywhere! I must seize this opportunity to buy these silver shares!”

Then she took the silver notes and her seal and went to the Shuxiang Inn.

However, the market for the Ren family’s salt field silver shares had been extremely hot these days.

The two thousand silver shares released were divided into four batches. By the time You Yue arrived, the first two batches had already been snapped up. She managed to grab the last two batches, totaling one thousand shares, at a high price of sixteen hundred wen.

Adding the four thousand shares she already had, she now had five thousand shares.

The other thousand shares were actually bought by Lu Xian’s people.

Because the amount of these silver shares was small and it was unclear where they came from, he didn’t pay much attention.

After the silver shares were accounted for, he went to the Xie residence to have tea with Xie Wei.

At that time, Xie Wei was listening to Jian Shu’s report on Jiang Xuening’s situation.

After listening, his brows furrowed.

Jian Shu, considering that Master Lu had known his master for many years and both served the same master, and knowing how much he valued money, hesitated for a moment and asked, “Miss Jiang has moved the silver shares, as if she has some plans. Should we inform Master Lu?”

At this moment, Lu Xian, dressed in a scholar’s long robe, was already walking over from the other end of the corridor, strolling leisurely as if he were at home, with a face full of spring.

Xie Wei lifted his eyelids and saw him.

After a moment, he retracted his gaze, lightly raised his long eyebrows, and said, “Inform about what?”

Jian Shu was stunned.

Xie Wei’s expression was indifferent and unchanged: “In business matters, Lu Xian knows what he’s doing. Do you need to interfere?”

Jian Shu: “…”

It seemed reasonable, but why did it feel a bit off?

Two thousand silver shares, one thousand sold at fifteen hundred wen each, and the remaining one thousand sold at sixteen hundred wen each.

Jiang Xuening suddenly had three thousand one hundred taels of silver in her hands.

Previously, she had given Xiao Dingfei twenty thousand taels, plus her own two thousand taels of private savings, and now with the three thousand taels from selling the silver shares, she had a total of thirty-three thousand taels of silver left.

After she sold her silver shares, the price of silver shares at the Shuxiang Inn increased by several dozen wen.

Lian’er and Tang’er said she sold at a loss.

Jiang Xuening was indifferent to this and didn’t care at all. She repeatedly emphasized to them that if there was any news from You Fangyin or new information from the Shuxiang Inn, they needed to find a way to get the message to her immediately.

The next period was naturally spent accompanying her studies in the palace.

However, February 16th was the day for Prince Shen Linzi’s selection of a consort, and the palace was inevitably restless; the date for Princess Leyang Zhiyi’s marriage to the Tatars was also set for March 21st, and many people in the palace congratulated Mingfeng Palace.

The pregnant Consort Wen also had a grand birthday celebration at the end of January.

The entire palace was filled with joy.

Gradually, however, people began to notice that there seemed to be many rumors and gossip in the city.

For example, the Tatar envoys were acting arrogantly in the capital, treating it like their own racetrack;

For example, if the Yongyi Marquis’s estate were still around, there would be no need to send a princess for a marriage alliance;

For example, it was the Empress Dowager’s family, the Xiao family, who proposed sending Princess Leyang Shen Zhiyi for the marriage alliance, while keeping their own beautiful daughter at home to be selected as Prince Linzi’s consort, living a life of luxury, while sending the unfortunate princess, who had a scar on her face from a rebel attack in her childhood, for the marriage alliance;

For example, Princess Leyang had experienced misfortune in her childhood and was considered unlucky, and sending her for the marriage alliance might bring disaster to the Daqian;

…

At first, these were just idle gossip during tea time.

Even the civil and military officials didn’t take it seriously.

After all, public criticism of national affairs was common, and people just talked casually without it becoming a big issue. Such speculations and rumors would naturally dissipate after a while.

But this time, things seemed different from any previous occasion.

As February progressed, these rumors and criticisms not only didn’t die down but seemed to intensify.

On the day of the Dragon Heads Raising Festival on February 2nd, a scholar named Weng Ang, who had come to the capital for the imperial examination, drunkenly said, “The Xiao family is ambitious; they should send their own daughter for the marriage alliance with the Tatars.”

There were many scholars present at the time.

Weng Ang was a well-learned scholar, and his words spread like wildfire.

Initially, opinions were divided equally between support and opposition.

But somehow, this remark reached the ears of Xiao Ye, the second son of the Xiao family, who had just recovered from his injuries at home. Xiao Ye, having endured the Xiao family’s frustrations, was already in a bad mood and was further angered by these criticisms when he went out. After finding out the source of these remarks, he directly used money to have someone secretly teach Weng Ang a lesson, to stop him from speaking nonsense.

This lesson, however, caused a big incident.

Weng Ang, being carefree and without much money, had recently made some friends who gave him a lot of silver, making him even more reckless and indulgent, spending his days in a drunken stupor.

That day, he had just come out of a brothel when he was ambushed and bagged by a group of people.

Punches and kicks, verbal abuse.

The scholar’s frail body couldn’t withstand the beating and he was seriously injured, spitting blood. Fortunately, the Jinyiwei were patrolling the dark alley that night. Commander Zhou Yinzhi, being highly skilled in martial arts, stopped the thugs and captured the gang, taking them to the yamen for interrogation.

The Jinyiwei’s punishments were formidable.

In less than half an hour, these cowards were crying for their parents and confessed that Xiao Ye was behind it.

The Duke’s mansion naturally spent a lot of effort to bribe the interrogators to prevent the news from spreading.

But there’s no wall in the world that doesn’t leak.

Moreover, the victim this time was Weng Ang, a scholar who had come to the capital for the imperial examination and had a reputation. It was like stirring up a hornet’s nest, and the scholars in the capital were furious, speaking out righteously, almost pointing fingers at everyone in the Duke’s mansion!

Initially, some people thought the marriage alliance had nothing to do with the Xiao family, but Xiao Ye, the second son of the Xiao family, wanted to secretly kill Weng Ang just for a drunken remark. How could the world tolerate such bullying?

Even if they were in the right, they became wrong!

The warm wind from the south had just turned the tips of the branches green, and overnight, the streets and alleys of the capital were filled with news of “the Xiao family trying to silence Weng Ang.” The truth no longer mattered. What mattered was that the Xiao family’s actions had angered the public, and all the criticism was directed at this once noble family!

For a moment, the civil and military officials were stunned, never expecting such a development.

With such a commotion outside, the palace couldn’t remain calm.

Some news inevitably made its way inside.

Jiang Xuening watched the drama unfold with a calm demeanor.

Others were indifferent.

Only Xiao Shu, having received the news from outside for days, felt increasingly oppressed and occasionally lost her temper over small matters, clearly affected by the rumors in the capital.

Others might think these events were coincidences.

But to Xiao Shu, everything that had happened seemed meticulously planned. Otherwise, how could one event after another be so coincidental? How could the usually timid scholars dare to cause such a big stir before the spring exams?

It was as if an invisible hand was manipulating everything.

She felt that every incident was aimed at her!

On the seventh day of February, when she left the palace, Xiao Shu didn’t even greet Chen Shuyi and directly took a carriage back to the Duke’s mansion, preparing to handle the matter personally.

Jiang Xuening, however, was leisurely.

She and the others were behind, watching the Xiao family’s carriage raise a cloud of dust as it left, with a slight smile on her lips.

In eight days, it would be the selection for Prince Linzi’s consort, and with the weather warming up, most of the young ladies from official families in Yangzhi Zhai had changed into new clothes.

You Yue was dressed even more flamboyantly.

After Jiang Xuening didn’t participate in the selection for Prince Linzi’s consort, she became even more low-key in the palace, not drawing attention to herself. Moreover, that heir, Dingfei, no longer showed her any favor, which made You Yue think even less of Jiang Xuening.

When they walked out of Shunzhen Gate, You Yue deliberately stepped ahead of Jiang Xuening and bumped into her.

Jiang Xuening raised her eyebrows and looked at her.

You Yue lightly covered her mouth, looking a bit embarrassed, and smiled: “I’m really sorry. Miss Jiang’er has been so downcast lately and hasn’t said much, making me feel like she wasn’t even there. I accidentally walked past and thought there was no one in front, so I bumped into you.”

Jiang Xuening looked at her, but instead of getting angry, she said thoughtfully, “Miss You seems to have changed recently.”

You Yue was taken aback: “What?”

Jiang Xuening curled her lips into a meaningful smile: “You’ve gained some weight.”

In the Great Qian, being slender was considered beautiful.

Upon hearing this, You Yue’s face changed instantly. She subconsciously touched her cheek, thinking that she had prepared a lot for the selection of Prince Linzi’s consort, her skin had improved, and she had been careful not to eat greasy food, so she couldn’t have gained weight.

She sneered: “Nonsense!”

Then she flicked her sleeves and left Jiang Xuening behind, heading towards the carriage from the Qingyuan Earl Mansion that had come to pick her up.

But as she got closer, her heart sank.

The maid who usually served her at the mansion was standing by the carriage, looking panicked and frightened. When she saw You Yue, she called out “Miss” and tears started rolling down her cheeks.

A strong sense of unease surged in You Yue’s heart: “What’s wrong?”

The maid was terrified and stammered: “In Sichuan, the salt field, the salt field caught fire, burned down a section, and the price of the silver shares…”

You Yue’s mind went blank with a loud “buzz.”

Her face instantly twisted with rage, and she grabbed the maid’s arm, shouting: “What nonsense are you talking about? How could something happen out of the blue?!”

Her voice was loud enough to be heard at the palace gate.

Everyone’s curious eyes turned towards them.

Jiang Xuening stood aside, her gaze drifting from You Yue to the distant horizon: under the clear blue sky, there were already a few birds in flight. The ice on the rivers and lakes outside the city should have melted by now. In another month, the mountains would be in full bloom, a good time for an outing. By then, she could trick Shen Zhiyi into going with her, which would be nice.

Previous

Next