The refusal was straightforward, yet not harsh.
It left no opening for anger, no opportunity for conflict.
Xiao Jingyuan’s fingers paused, his inner fury surging once more, yet he maintained a calm facade. “Is Shen Gongzi truly unwilling to reconsider?”
“No need.”
Those two short words left him with nothing to say.
Xiao Jingyuan gave her a deep look, suppressing the hostility within him, and slowly rose to his feet.
“If that is the case, I shall not insist.”
He paused, and before leaving, he casually tossed out a veiled warning: “But the winds and waves in Jiangnan are fierce. If Shen Gongzi insists on sailing alone, be careful not to capsize one day.”
Shen Miao met his gaze, her voice light and indifferent. “No need for Your Lordship’s concern. My boat is steady enough.”
Xiao Jingyuan said no more, turning to push the door open and leave.
The moment the door closed, the calm on his face shattered completely, a dark, menacing glint nearly overflowing from his eyes.
It was more terrifying precisely because he was no fool.
This person was truly scheming step by step, pushing him toward ruin.
…
Zhao Chengyu straightened up, sat down by the table, and grinned with a roguish ease. “Not bad, Ah Shen.”
“A few words were enough to leave that marquis speechless. He lost three hundred thousand taels and still had to leave politely.”
Shen Miao’s fingers traced the rim of her cup, her tone also relaxing. “He wasn’t being polite—he just didn’t dare to tear up all pretense.”
Zhao Chengyu raised an eyebrow, leaning slightly forward with a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Then he definitely won’t let this go. He lost in the cotton market, so he’ll surely set his sights on the grain market next.”
Shen Miao lifted her gaze, a faint smile curling at the corner of her lips. “Then let him watch.”
“If he wants to play, we’ll keep him company to the end.”
Zhao Chengyu slapped the corner of the table, laughing heartily. “Alright, you say how to play, and I’ll set the stage.”
Shen Miao glanced at him, unusually gentle. “With you here, things are much simpler.”
Zhao Chengyu grinned broadly. “Of course. Wait for me—I’ll go keep an eye on his movements first, and later bring you a box of osmanthus cakes as a reward.”
“Good.”
Zhao Chengyu waved his hand and sauntered downstairs, casual yet efficient.
The private room fell silent once more, leaving only Shen Miao alone, the chill in her eyes deepening.
…
Xiao Jingyuan emerged from Nianqing Ge, his dark robes wrapped in a heavy, cold hostility, though none of it showed on his face.
He did not return to the post station but instead headed to a merchant house near the Jiangnan caoyun docks, secretly summoning several local merchants affiliated with the Marquis’s Mansion.
Ah Er followed closely behind, lowering his voice to probe, “Your Lordship, that Shen Gongzi is unyielding. The three hundred thousand tael loss in the cotton market… are we just going to let it go?”
Xiao Jingyuan walked along the corridor, his fingers slowly rubbing the jade pendant at his waist, his voice cold and soft. “Let it go? Three hundred thousand taels—how could we simply let it go?”
“But he currently holds the people’s favor. Moving against him openly would only bring trouble.”
Ah Er immediately understood. “Your Lordship means… to act in secret?”
“Mm.” Xiao Jingyuan’s eyes were dark and menacing, but he kept his tone subdued. “Grain prices in Jiangnan have been stable recently, and many grain merchants are stockpiling autumn grain. Go arrange—”
“Spread the word that there’s a severe drought in the north, and grain prices will inevitably skyrocket next month, luring Jiangnan grain merchants to follow suit and hoard grain.”
Ah Er was taken aback. “Your Lordship intends… to repeat the cotton market scheme?”
“Use it in reverse.” Xiao Jingyuan sneered. “Isn’t he skilled at manipulating the market? This time, I’ll make the first move.”
“Have our people secretly buy grain at low prices. Once market prices are driven up, we’ll dump our stock all at once and crash the grain market.”
“When the time comes, the merchants who followed the trend and hoarded grain will lose everything, the grain market in Jiangnan will be thrown into chaos, and the common people will be filled with resentment—”
He paused, a flicker of ruthlessness flashing in his eyes. “Everyone will resent that ‘Shen Gongzi’ who can sway the market.”
After all, Shen Gongzi had established his footing in Jiangnan precisely by aiding the people and controlling the grain supply.
“Once he loses the people’s support, this marquis will step in to clean up the mess, and the grain trade in Jiangnan will be entirely in my hands.”
Ah Er’s eyes lit up, and he quickly bowed. “Your Lordship is brilliant! I will carry this out immediately!”
Xiao Jingyuan gazed at the distant river surface, a confident smile curling at the corner of his lips.
Shen Gongzi, in this game, it’s my turn now.
…
Three days later.
The grain market in Jiangnan indeed began to stir.
“A major drought in the north! Grain prices are about to soar!”
“Hurry and stock up! It’ll be too late if we wait!”
The news spread through the streets and alleys overnight. Grain merchants could no longer sit still, scrambling to hoard grain and lock down warehouses. Grain prices surged three times in a single day.
The agents Xiao Jingyuan had planted in Jiangnan also quietly bought grain at low prices as planned.
Everything was progressing according to his expectations.
Sitting in the study of the courier station, Xiao Jingyuan reviewed the constant stream of reports, finally feeling somewhat relieved.
“Good,” he said calmly. “Wait three more days. When grain prices peak, we’ll dump our stock all at once.”
“Yes.”
This time, he was confident of victory.
What he didn’t know was that from the moment he secretly contacted the merchants, the Water Transport Guild had already delivered the news to Shen Miao.
…
In the backyard of Nianqing Ge.
Shen Miao held the secret report, a faint smile playing beneath her silver mask.
Zhao Chengyu leaned against the stone table, exuding a roguish and carefree air. He glanced at the note and sneered. “Xiao Jingyuan has finally learned to be clever. He wants to stir chaos in the grain market, then pin the blame on you, cutting you off at the root.”
Shen Miao set down the note, her tone light and casual. “At least he’s not completely foolish, knowing how to play dirty.”
“Unfortunately…”
She lifted her gaze, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes. “He’s playing with tricks I’ve long since mastered.”
Zhao Chengyu raised an eyebrow, leaning closer with a mischievous grin. “Oh? So how do we ruin his plans?”
Shen Miao tapped the stone table lightly with her fingertip, speaking slowly. “Isn’t he trying to drive up grain prices?”
“Isn’t he waiting for the peak to dump his stock?”
“Then let’s give him what he wants.”
Zhao Chengyu was momentarily taken aback. “Give him what he wants?”
“Yes,” Shen Miao’s voice was calm, yet every word carried a hidden scheme. “Have the Water Transport Guild cooperate with him, push grain prices even higher, to a point where he can’t resist and will inevitably dump his stock on a large scale.”
“Then—” her eyes turned cold, “at the exact moment he dumps his grain, have all seventy-two merchant guilds in Jiangnan stop buying.”
Zhao Chengyu understood instantly.
Grain prices would be pushed to artificially high levels. Xiao Jingyuan would think he could make a huge profit and dump his stock frantically.
But if all the merchant guilds in the city suddenly stopped buying, the market would instantly be unable to absorb so much grain.
Grain prices would plummet, crashing through the floor.
The more he hoarded, the harder he would dump, and the greater his losses.
And… it was the merchant guilds stopping purchases, not Shen Gongzi himself.
Xiao Jingyuan wouldn’t even have any evidence to grasp.
“Ruthless. I like it,” Zhao Chengyu chuckled lowly, his tone full of roguish charm. “I’ll go arrange it right away, ensuring not a single leak.”
Shen Miao gazed out the window, her voice faint. “Go.”
“Tell him, this lesson, I’ll teach him—”
“In the game of Jiangnan, whoever moves first, dies first.”
Zhao Chengyu made a “rest assured” gesture, turned and left. After two steps, he looked back with a handsome yet mischievous smile: “When it’s all done, I’ll take you to try the new crab roe pastry at Drunken Immortal Pavilion.”
Shen Miao gave a slight nod, the corner of her lips curling almost imperceptibly: “Alright.”