“Think about it,” Jiang Wanru said. “In the past, when you managed the household, didn’t you also skim off silver by withholding grain?”
“And didn’t you eventually sell that grain off cheaply to others?”
“Now, there are people willing to pay a massive price for grain. Does it really matter who we sell it to?”
“But that is Xixia—they are our enemy,” Concubine Liu countered. “If we are caught selling supplies to people of Eastern Ling, at most it’s a domestic scandal. But selling to Xixia? That is a charge of treason and collusion with the enemy. It is not the same thing at all.”
“What are you afraid of, Mother?” Jiang Wanru pressed. “Currently, Jiang Wanning is the one managing the household. Even if something goes wrong, she will be the one held responsible.”
Seeing the hesitation still lingering on Concubine Liu’s face, Jiang Wanru turned to Nanny Zhang. “Nanny, please, help me persuade my mother.”
Nanny Zhang spoke up, “I also believe the Second Miss is right. Besides, doesn’t ‘that person’ want the Marquis’s Manor to suffer? Doesn’t he want Madame Zhou and Jiang Wanning to live in misery? Perhaps this act could even be considered a great service to him.”
Seeing the opening, Wang Fu continued, “This matter is extremely discreet. From what I know, many merchants have already begun smuggling grain in secret. Furthermore, merchants chase profit; naturally, we sell to whoever offers the highest price.”
“Fine,” Concubine Liu finally relented. “But where will the grain come from?”
“Since the Eldest Miss is currently managing the house, I don’t suggest committing the act under her nose. Although she didn’t find anything last time, it’s better to be safe than sorry. My suggestion is that we use our own silver to purchase grain from the common folk first, then flip it for a high price. Those small shops and commoners have no connections; they have no idea people are buying grain at such inflated rates. Moreover, the Xixia agents are disguised as merchants. They don’t dare to be too flashy, so they have no choice but to collaborate with established shops like ours.”
Hearing that she had to put up her own silver, Concubine Liu hesitated once more.
“Concubine, one must be willing to let go of the bait to catch the fish,” Wang Fu urged.
“If not for our sake, Mother, think of mine,” Wanru added. “Right now, it’s best if we accumulate as much silver as possible. If anything happens to the Marquis’s Manor, we’ll be able to make a clean escape.”
Unable to withstand the combined persuasion, Concubine Liu gave in. “Very well. We will start with ten thousand taels worth of grain to test the waters.”
Over the years, she had only managed to save up less than thirty thousand taels. Putting forward ten thousand was a significant gamble for her. “When will we see a return on this ten thousand?”
Wang Fu replied, “I can take the existing stock from Liangfu House out first and replenish it slowly later. I expect to return with thirty thousand taels in less than three days.”
Jiang Wanru’s eyes sparkled. Earning the equivalent of her mother’s ten years of savings in just three days—how could she not be excited?
“If this is handled well, you will be heavily rewarded.”
“Thank you, Second Miss,” Wang Fu said, bowing low.
“Nanny Zhang, you will accompany Manager Wang to oversee this,” Concubine Liu ordered.
“Yes,” Nanny Zhang complied.
After leaving Bihe Courtyard, Wang Fu went to a teahouse to meet Jiang Wanning.
“You’ve done well,” Jiang Wanning said. “These people are the ones who will ‘trade’ with you in two days. I have already prepared the remaining twenty thousand taels of silver. When the time comes, you only need to lead Nanny Zhang through the performance.”
To catch a fish, one must be willing to lose the bait. She had long anticipated that Concubine Liu would act this way. However, she hadn’t expected that for something this important, Liu would rather involve Nanny Zhang than…
“Yes, Eldest Miss.”
“Today in Bihe Courtyard, aside from you, did any other man appear?”
“Reporting to the Eldest Miss, no.”
Jiang Wanning waved her hand, signaling him to dismiss. She sat alone, staring into her teacup and reflecting.
According to what Jiang Wanru had said in her previous life, she and her biological father had been “loving” right under their very noses every day. That suggested he must be in Bihe Courtyard. But aside from a few maids, the only others there were two young servants who did heavy labor; they were only in their teens. They couldn’t possibly be Jiang Wanru’s father.
In the entire manor, only Steward Wang was of the right age to be her father. But Steward Wang had been with her father since childhood, was married, and even had a son who was already wed. Still, it couldn’t be ruled out. Aside from him, there was no one else in the Marquis’s Manor who fit the profile.
“Hai Tang, have someone watch Steward Wang. Report his every move to me.”
“Yes!”
After handling those affairs, Jiang Wanning paid a visit to the Grand Preceptor’s Manor.
“The Little Miss is here!”
“The Old Master is in the study.”
“Grandpa Zhao,” Jiang Wanning greeted with a smile. “Has Grandfather’s health been good these past two days?”
“Good, good,” Steward Zhao whispered. “The Old Master is waiting for you in the study. It’s regarding your marriage.”
“Grandfather knows?”
Steward Zhao nodded with his eyes closed.
Jiang Wanning reached the study door, took a deep breath, put on a smile, and pushed the door open. “Grandfather, Ningning has come to see you!”
The Old Grand Preceptor lowered his hand from the bookshelf and turned to look at her. “You’ve come? Sit.”
Jiang Wanning pulled up a stool and sat beside him. “Grandfather…”
“Hmph,” the Old Grand Preceptor grunted. “So you still remember I’m your grandfather? Switching a marriage is such a major event, yet you all kept it from me. If I hadn’t heard the servants gossiping today—saying you went to the Prince’s Manor in the middle of the night to seek a doctor for a concubine-born sister, calling you magnanimous for having your marriage stolen and yet still acting so… I wouldn’t have known to this day!”
Jiang Wanning took his arm. “Ningning was wrong. I was afraid your health wasn’t great and that the news would worry you.”
“I think you were afraid I wouldn’t agree!”
Jiang Wanning lowered her head, not denying it. The Zhou clan was known for their integrity and were leaders of the “Pure Stream” faction. Even the children of daughters who had married out were not permitted to stray from the path of righteousness. Furthermore, the poison in Pei Yanchuan’s body had yet to be cured…
“That Pei boy… well, he’s finally gotten his wish.”
“Grandfather… you?”
“What about me?” The Grand Preceptor feigned anger and glared at her. “Strictly speaking, you and that Pei boy already had a marriage engagement.”
“An engagement?!” Jiang Wanning was shocked. What engagement could there be that even her own parents didn’t know about?
The Grand Preceptor waved his hand. “Forget it, it’s better if you don’t know certain things. He is a capable man; I am at ease. That matter was merely a jest between elders—you needn’t take it seriously.”
“Grandfather, did you know his family? But he isn’t from the capital; he only came later with the Crown Prince…”
Seeing how much his granddaughter cared, Old Grand Preceptor Zhou put down his book and sat in a nearby armchair. Jiang Wanning brought the teacup from the desk over to him.
He took the tea and sighed softly. “In the entire capital, aside from the current Emperor, only I know the truth of this matter.”
“Rest assured, Grandfather. Ningning’s lips are sealed.”
Jiang Wanning understood the weight of his words. The Grand Preceptor nodded and placed the teacup on the side table. “Do you remember who used to live in the residence right next to this Zhou Manor?”
The Zhou Manor was a residence bestowed upon her grandfather by the late Emperor. Its neighbors were the Prince Qi Manor on one side, and on the other…
“Grandfather!”