From then on, in public, they were Shen Gongzi and Young Master Zhao.
In private, there were only Ah Shen and Ah Yu. He cherished this intimacy, cherished it deeply.
Zhao Chengyu stood by her side, not too close, yet never retreating half a step.
Gazing at her profile, a silent promise settled softly in his heart.
Ah Shen, just charge ahead boldly.
Whether the road ahead is filled with mountains of blades and seas of fire, or boundless glory, I will be there.
In this world, many know her as “Shen Gongzi,”
but only he knows she is truly a woman.
This secret and closeness, belonging solely to him, had long taken root and stirred his heart without him even realizing it.
…
Only half a month after the great flood in Jiangnan receded, grain prices had already stabilized, and the people’s hearts were fully won over.
The three words “Shen Gongzi” had long shed their shallow, street-talk reputation, becoming a presence in Jiangnan’s business world that no one dared to address directly by name.
No one knew where this silver-masked gentleman came from or who his master was.
They only knew that, with his own strength, he accurately stockpiled grain before the disaster, opened granaries to distribute food during the crisis, refrained from profiteering or oppressing the locals, and in one swift move, firmly controlled nearly half of Jiangnan’s grain supply.
Even the century-old Water Transport Guild, entrenched along the waterways, was willing to form an alliance with him, a testament to his methods and influence.
The news traveled north along the canal waterways and, within a few days, quietly reached the capital.
…
Inside the Jing’an Marquisate, sandalwood incense curled upward.
Xiao Jingyuan, dressed in dark casual attire, stood before the desk holding a scroll, his long fingers lightly tapping the secret report from Jiangnan on the table.
His ink-dark eyes remained calm, yet deep within them lay a sharp, knife-like scrutiny.
“Jiangnan’s Shen Gongzi…”
He repeated softly, his voice cool yet carrying the oppressive authority of one long accustomed to power.
The one reporting with a bow was the manager Xiao Jingyuan had placed in a Jiangnan shop.
At this moment, a thin layer of sweat covered his forehead, his tone filled with regret: “Reporting to the Marquis, in previous years during Jiangnan’s flood season, we always managed to profit from the unstable grain prices.”
“But this year, just as the flood season began, this Shen Gongzi appeared out of nowhere. He stockpiled grain in advance and distributed it at fair prices during the flood season. Our grain couldn’t be sold at all, and much of it spoiled from dampness. Not only did we fail to profit, but we even lost a considerable amount of silver!”
In previous years, Jiangnan’s flood season had always been the Jing’an Marquisate’s “gold-rush season.” This year, however, someone had cut them off at the pass, causing losses. The manager dared not delay and rushed back to the capital overnight to report.
Little did he know that before his arrival, Xiao Jingyuan had already obtained more detailed intelligence through covert channels.
Xiao Jingyuan looked up, his thin lips parting slightly, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable edge: “Do we know this person’s origins?”
Beside him, his personal guard Ah Er bowed and replied in a low voice: “Reporting to the Marquis, this person appeared in Jiangnan approximately half a month ago, wearing a silver-patterned mask. No one has seen his true face.”
“He acts decisively and with keen insight—first avoiding the Water Transport Guild’s ship disaster, then accurately predicting Jiangnan’s great flood. His control over the grain supply is seamless, and even the people of Jiangnan are deeply grateful to him.”
“More importantly…” Ah Er paused, lowering his voice further: “The Water Transport Guild Young Master, Zhao Chengyu, treats him as an honored guest and is willing to form an alliance with him.”
Xiao Jingyuan’s eyes suddenly darkened, his knuckles tightening slightly.
What kind of place was the Water Transport Guild?
It was a century-old water dragon entrenched in Jiangnan, one even the imperial court had to treat with respect. Yet now, it was bowing to a young man who appeared out of thin air—this in itself was highly abnormal.
What set off even greater alarm bells in his mind was—
Every step the other party took precisely struck at the heart of opportunity.
Torrential rain, ship disaster, great flood, grain prices…
Every prediction was spot on, not a trace of error—this was no ordinary merchant’s handiwork. Clearly, this was a ruthless character who held destiny in his grasp, capable of stirring up storms in Jiangnan.
“Investigate.”
Xiao Jingyuan’s thin lips parted, uttering only a single word, yet it carried the weight of a thousand pounds, infused with bone-chilling coldness.
“Dig out every last detail of his origins, his mentors, his family, his past—leave no stone unturned.”
“Yes.”
Ah Er and the shopkeeper both bowed and retreated, leaving only the lingering scent of sandalwood in the study, along with Xiao Jingyuan’s unresolved tension.
He turned and gazed toward the direction of the West Annex Courtyard—once Shen Miao’s residence, now long empty and covered in dust.
Shen Miao’s body had never been found in the city moat, so he refused to believe she was truly dead.
His fingertips tightened slightly, a flicker of dark malice and unease passing through his eyes.
If she were still alive, no matter where she was in the farthest corners of the world, he would drag her out and tear her to pieces.
But as his gaze returned to the secret report from Jiangnan on the table, the name “Shen Gongzi” once again pierced his vision, stirring an inexplicable and peculiar irritation in his heart.
Shen Miao… Jiangnan…
A similar intuition pricked his mind like a needle.
He dared not dwell on it, merely withdrawing his thoughts indifferently and returning to his official duties. Yet, as his eyes fell upon the pages, he could no longer absorb a single word.
A Shen Gongzi had emerged in Jiangnan, cutting off his financial channels, seizing the grain supply he valued, and winning the hearts of the people—even the Water Transport Guild had become his ally.
This person must not be allowed to remain.
If he could not be used for his own purposes, then he must be eliminated as soon as possible, lest he become the greatest obstacle on his path to the summit.
…
Jiangnan.
After the grain station incident, Shen Miao found a small bamboo courtyard in the suburbs, surrounded by verdant bamboo, elegant and untouched by worldly dust.
Zhao Chengyu came by today, bringing her the items she needed: “Ah Shen, these are the deeds to all your shops in Jiangnan, along with your identity documents.”
Shen Miao received them with both hands, flipped through them briefly, then looked up at the handsome man before her and said, “Ah Yu, thank you.”
“Without you these past few days, I couldn’t have accomplished any of this.”
Zhao Chengyu shook his head dismissively. “We help each other. Besides, if it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have gained full control of the Water Transport Guild so quickly.”
Thanks to his recent actions, he had earned the recognition of the guild’s elders, and his status as the young master now carried far more weight than before.
Shen Miao smiled. “Regardless, thank you.”
She placed the deeds on the stone table beside her, finally selecting a shop in a prime location. Turning her gaze, she asked, “Ah Yu, what do you think about opening a tailor shop here?”
Zhao Chengyu was slightly surprised. “A tailor shop? Jumping from grain to clothing so suddenly—it’s a bit unexpected!”
“Yes.” A flicker of amusement passed through Shen Miao’s eyes. “Jiangnan is prosperous, filled with noblewomen. Fine garments and jewelry are the easiest way to make a name. I want this shop to become famous throughout Jiangnan.”
And naturally, word would spread to the capital.
This was the second overt line she had laid down.
One covert, one overt; one trade, one luxury.
The covert line was Shen Gongzi, who held the lifeline of Jiangnan. The overt line was a tailor shop renowned for its elegance and beauty.
Two identities standing side by side, taking root in Jiangnan from this day forward.
Though they hadn’t known each other long, Zhao Chengyu understood that every step she took had a necessary purpose. Without further questions, he said, “If that’s what you say, then leave the shop, the staff, and the renovations to me.”
Hearing this, Shen Miao smiled and gave him a light punch on the chest. “I knew you were the most reliable.”
Only after finishing did she realize the gesture held a hint of intimacy.
For a moment, both of them felt a little awkward.