"First, during these years you've been confined, living day after day in that cramped space, you've become timid as a mouse. I need time to teach you, to make you capable of handling these matters. Second…"
Lan Jin looked up toward the farthest point she could see at that moment: "Half a year ago, I still needed a bit more time to make the final preparations for returning to the capital."
Yu Zhi Yue only half-understood, but she grasped one thing: the young lady had other matters to attend to in the capital.
"If I can be of use to the young lady… I will definitely help you with all the silver I have."
Lan Jin laughed at this, flicking her forehead: "I just taught you that you shouldn't reveal your hand too early—it will only bring you trouble."
"I only dare say this because it's you, young lady." Yu Zhi Yue quietly moved closer, holding onto the young lady's hand without letting go. Only this way did she feel at ease.
"Don't worry, what I lack least is silver."
Seeing that a table with wine and dishes had already been set before the coffin, Lan Jin led Zhi Yue over. She lit three incense sticks, pressed them to her forehead, closed her eyes for a moment, bowed three times, and then inserted them into the incense burner.
"I should go now."
Yu Zhi Yue's heart tightened, and she immediately grabbed the young lady's hand again: "Young lady, I'm afraid."
"You did very well today, and you'll do even better in the future." Lan Jin looked at the coffin, thinking that perhaps she was watching them at that moment, and couldn't help but say a few more words: "Although Chengenhou Manor is an empty shell, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. Making life difficult for a lone girl like you wouldn't be hard for them. I suggest you sell all the properties in the capital and move to the Qi Family's ancestral lands. That is the Qi Family's territory; no one can bully you there, and you'll have more choices when it comes to marriage discussions in the future."
Yu Zhi Yue remained silent for a moment: "Can my uncle still return?"
"Of course he can." Lan Jin spoke with certainty, resolutely: "The Qi Family was innocent to begin with."
"Then I want to keep my mother's properties." Yu Zhi Yue gently stroked the coffin: "The Qi Family's foundation in the capital has already been destroyed. When my uncle returns in the future, with me here, at least he won't come back to the capital without a place to stay or any income to support himself."
"Your mother left quite a few properties. Can you manage them all?"
"That's why I want to discuss another commission with 'Feng Deng'." Yu Zhi Yue looked at Lan Jin: "If the young lady is willing to help me manage the properties my mother left behind, I am willing to give you twenty percent of the annual net profits."
Lan Jin raised an eyebrow. 'Feng Deng' didn't yet have a property management service, but with such profits, perhaps it wasn't impossible to expand into that area?
"If I agree, what will you do?"
Yu Zhi Yue bit her lip: "I know leaving the capital is the wisest decision, but I want to stay in the capital and learn by your side, young lady. What I've learned from you these past six months, Zhi Yue will benefit from for a lifetime."
"I don't take disciples."
Yu Zhi Yue was deeply disappointed, but then she heard the young lady add: "However, I am still in need of a maid."
"I'm willing!" The sudden turn of events filled Yu Zhi Yue with joy. She took a step back, knelt down, and performed a deep bow: "I, your servant, greet the young lady."
Lan Jin found this both amusing and exasperating. She had originally been entrusted with teaching the girl, but this display made her feel somewhat guilty.
"Alright, no need to call yourself a servant. There are no such formalities around me." Lan Jin helped her up and said to Zhao Tang, who had been watching the scene with interest: "You stay here and lend a hand. I'll leave half of the people I brought. If any troublemakers dare to come, punish them severely."
"Yes." Zhao Tang wrapped an arm around Yu Zhi Yue's shoulders and said, "Don't worry, from now on we're all family. I'll look out for you."
Having just lost all her relatives, Yu Zhi Yue felt an immediate sense of reliability from someone willing to show her such closeness. This feeling was truly wonderful.
Lan Jin glanced at the coffin once more, bowed slightly, and turned to leave.
In this life, you struggled against constraints. In the next, may you find joy and smooth sailing.
Inside the carriage, Lan Jin closed her eyes to rest, yet she couldn’t help but recall those striking eyes and brows.
People often said that beauty of bone structure surpassed beauty of appearance alone. This must be what they meant—even without considering the rest of the features, just those eyes and brows were unforgettable.
Unfortunately, according to the information she had gathered, although this person appeared loyal only to the Emperor on the surface, he also had contact with the Fourth Prince.
If he truly became an ally of the Fourth Prince, he would become the greatest obstacle on her path. Compared to the ruthless and unprincipled Fourth Prince, this enemy would be far more difficult to deal with.
The carriage came to a stop, and the curtain was immediately drawn aside. A smiling face leaned in, extending a hand. "Miss, we’re home."
Lan Jin placed her hand in it, her expression unconsciously relaxing. "It’s been half a year, Aunt Chang. You look even more beautiful now."
"Though I know I’ve grown a bit haggard from all the recent troubles, what you say must be true." Aunt Chang helped her down from the carriage, her smile never fading from her face.
Lan Jin looked up, her eyes landing on the prominent characters "Feng Deng" on the plaque.
The entire entrance was imposing and dignified, a style she favored.
Aunt Chang approached with a lantern in hand. "Please light the lantern, Miss."
Lan Jin took the fire striker and lit the lantern. As she had done eight times before, she held the lantern, climbed the ladder, and hung it beside the plaque.
This was the ninth "Feng Deng."
At the age of nine, she had lost her family and left the capital. Nine years later, she returned to the capital and opened the ninth "Feng Deng." It seemed as though fate had bound her to the number nine.
"The capital’s 'Feng Deng' is now open."
Aunt Chang beamed as she helped her down the ladder. "With you here, 'Feng Deng' is sure to thrive."
Lan Jin often suspected that Aunt Chang was an abacus spirit in human form, given her exceptional skill in calculations. No matter how problematic the account books were, she could review them from start to finish effortlessly. The opening of "Feng Deng" brought her the greatest joy.
Wherever "Feng Deng" opened, Aunt Chang would thoroughly familiarize herself with the local situation. Once the details were clear, many things became easier.
If not for her lack of interest in public service, Lan Jin felt she should have recommended Aunt Chang to the imperial court. What a natural-born abacus spirit she was!
But for now, this abacus spirit was hers, and that made the accounts much easier to manage.
Not far away, Lin Xihe sat in his carriage, lifting the window curtain to observe the scene. His expression grew thoughtful as he tapped the carriage twice.
Immediately, someone lifted the curtain and entered. "Sir."
"Zuo Li, I have some recollection of 'Feng Deng.'"
"Yes." Zuo Li, valued by Lord Lin for his exceptional memory—one of his greatest strengths—promptly recounted everything related to "Feng Deng."
"Two years ago, we were investigating a case where the suspect refused to confess. While reviewing the case files, you discovered that a woman had once accused him of abandoning his wife and daughter after gaining wealth. The indictment was exceptionally well-written, and in the end, the man was ordered to change the divorce letter to a separation agreement and compensate his wife and daughter with two shops and five hundred taels of silver. Through those two shops, we uncovered crucial evidence and resolved the case."
Lin Xihe remembered that the petition was indeed written exceptionally well, brimming with emotion and highly relatable. Even the evidence mentioned was clearly articulated, swaying hearts upon hearing it. At the time, he had thought the petition was penned by a master, but the woman clearly had no significant background. So he investigated further and thus learned of Feng Deng's existence.