Xie Wenyuan sat alone in his study for two full days.
When he finally appeared in Xie Qingyan’s courtyard, his eyes were bloodshot from exhaustion. At that moment, Xie Qingyan was seated by the window, reading a volume of Records of Geography.
“Qingyan…” Xie Wenyuan’s voice was dry.
Xie Qingyan set the book aside, her gaze calm and unruffled. “Father, have you decided?”
Xie Wenyuan faltered. He had prepared a long speech about the hardships of being a father and the honor of the family, yet her simple question blocked him entirely. It was as if she had already expected everything.
“Master Zhou is pressing urgently,” he said awkwardly. “He insists that you must go in person. Your father… has no choice.”
“Father wishes for your daughter to take charge of the business?” Xie Qingyan asked, feigning surprise, her brows knitting slightly.
“Qingyan, do not worry!” Xie Wenyuan hurried to reassure her. “Your father has already set three conditions with that Thirteen. You need only wear a veiled hat, and you will be guarded by household servants. You must not meet Master Zhou in person, you will deal only with Thirteen.”
These words sounded more like he was trying to reassure himself than his daughter, clinging to what little dignity he had left.
Xie Qingyan lowered her eyes, her long lashes casting shadows beneath them. A trace of hesitation appeared on her face as she fell silent for a long while.
Just as Xie Wenyuan was about to speak again, she finally sighed softly.
“Very well. I dare not disobey Father’s command. However, if this matter harms my reputation in the future…”
“It won’t, it won’t!” Xie Wenyuan was overjoyed. “If this succeeds, you will be the greatest contributor to the Xie family. In the future, whatever you wish to do, your father will fully support you!”
Xie Qingyan sneered inwardly.
She did not believe a word of his so-called “full support.” He only placed her on a pedestal now because he needed her. Still, it did not matter. This was her first step out of this cage, and it had always been part of her plan.
She intended to use the Curio Pavilion to establish her own foundation. Without being present in person, how could she ensure its smooth operation, or use this opportunity to uncover the true identity of that “Master Zhou”?
“I understand. Father may rest assured.” She rose and gave a proper curtsy, her posture respectful yet distant.
Two days later, at the eastern market of Leping County, before a newly acquired storefront.
A modest sedan chair in pale blue came to a stop at the entrance.
Chun Cao helped Xie Qingyan step out.
She wore a plain white dress with a light outer robe, her figure slender and graceful. Most striking was the wide-brimmed veiled hat on her head, its layers of white gauze falling to her waist, concealing her face. Only when the breeze stirred did a faint glimpse of her delicate jawline appear.
Four sturdy guards from the Xie household stood around her, hands resting on their swords, their expressions stern.
Before the shop stood a man in black, already waiting.
He stood straight as a pine, arms relaxed at his sides, his features cold and his eyes sharp as an eagle’s.
Through the veil, Xie Qingyan’s gaze fell upon him.
This must be the steward Xie Wenyuan had mentioned, Thirteen.
“Miss Xie.” Thirteen inclined his head slightly, his voice flat and emotionless. “My master has prepared the designs. The craftsmen are already in place.”
“Thank you, Sir Thirteen.”
Her voice came from behind the gauze, clear as jade beads falling upon a plate, calm and without the slightest ripple.
Their gazes met, each silently assessing the other.
Xie Qingyan noted his steady stance, firm footing, the calluses on his palm and knuckles, his long and controlled breathing. His eyes lacked the shrewdness of a merchant’s steward and instead carried the iron discipline of a soldier.
He was no ordinary attendant of a wealthy merchant, but more like a personal guard of nobility.
Her suspicions about Master Zhou deepened.
Meanwhile, in Thirteen’s eyes, this Miss Xie was equally unusual.
His master was no ordinary man, and even before the broken engagement incident, he had often spoken of this young lady. Thirteen had been curious what kind of beauty could occupy his master’s thoughts so persistently.
Now that he saw her, though her face remained hidden, her bearing spoke volumes.
From the moment she stepped out of the sedan chair, her steps were steady. Despite the veil, she showed no sign of restraint. Facing an unfamiliar man, she displayed neither fear nor shyness, only composed professionalism.
Most striking of all were those eyes behind the gauze, which seemed capable of seeing through people, causing Thirteen to feel an inexplicable pressure.
This woman was nothing like the impulsive, irrational young lady of rumor.
Once the preparations began, Xie Qingyan seemed to become an entirely different person.
Beneath her calm exterior was swift and decisive efficiency.
“Master Wang,” she said, pointing to a half-finished wall the craftsmen had just built. Her voice was not loud, yet every word was clear. “This wall is not load-bearing. Tear it down immediately. The essence of the Curio Pavilion lies in its uniqueness. The interior layout must unfold like a series of scenes, drawing visitors deeper at every step. Replace this with twelve purple bamboo screens as partitions.”
“And this counter,” she continued, walking to a row of newly crafted shelves and tapping them lightly with her slender fingers, “the wood is acceptable, but the design is outdated. Rare objects deserve elegant displays. Customers should sit and observe, not stand and look up. Rebuild it according to my design. Three chi high, two chi wide, with glass embedded in the surface and hidden compartments beneath.”
The craftsmen exchanged glances. For a young lady barely fifteen or sixteen to command them with such authority was astonishing.
She then turned to Thirteen and handed him a list.
“Sir Thirteen, the procurement of materials must also be adjusted.”
Thirteen took it and saw a list of rare items: “glow shells from the Eastern Sea,” “multicolored brocade from Shu,” “grape wine from the Western Regions,” “dried snow lotus from the Tianshan Mountains.”
“Miss Xie,” he frowned, “these materials are costly and do not seem related to a typical shop.”
Through the veil, Xie Qingyan seemed to look directly at him. “Sir Thirteen, the ‘blind box’ method sells the unknown, but the foundation of the Curio Pavilion lies in rarity. If what we sell are common goods, how can we entice wealthy patrons to spend lavishly? Procure them as listed. I have already calculated the finances.”
Her logic was precise, her instructions clear. From interior design to material procurement, from scheduling to workforce allocation, every detail was handled flawlessly.
Thirteen observed silently, his heart already in turmoil.
How could this be a girl of fifteen or sixteen?
Her understanding of commerce, her grasp of human nature, her familiarity with materials, all surpassed even seasoned veterans who had spent decades in trade.
At last, Thirteen understood why his master regarded her so highly.
At the same time, in a private room on the second floor of Wangjiang Tower across the street,
Zhao Chengze sat by the window in a pale robe.
His gaze passed over the bustling street and locked firmly onto the slender, veiled figure across from him.
He could not hear her words, but he saw her decisive gestures, saw his subordinates obey her commands, and saw even Thirteen show her a hint of respect.
A faint smile curved Zhao Chengze’s lips, one he did not even realize.
“What was she like… as a child?” he murmured softly.