Nighttime.
Yulu returned with good news: "Someone at the Ghost Market is willing to offer a hundred thousand taels of silver, but on the condition that the young mistress goes to negotiate in person."
Chu Ruoyan stroked her wrist in silence.
Given tonight's events, it was clear Yan Zheng already suspected her...
Though she didn’t know where she had slipped up, she desperately needed that hundred thousand taels—to help the Yan family and, in turn, to help herself through this crisis.
"Do we know who the buyer is?"
Yulu shook her head. "No, only that they’re called the Bai Xiao Pavilion..."
Bai Xiao Pavilion?
Her eyes narrowed.
This was the largest intelligence network in the empire, dealing with everyone from high-ranking nobles to common folk—there was no information they couldn’t uncover. Moreover, their mysterious backers were so powerful that even the imperial court turned a blind eye to their activities.
"Prepare the carriage. We leave tomorrow!"
The Ghost Market was located in Changping Lane, southeast of the capital, and never opened during daylight hours.
Chu Ruoyan arrived by carriage at a place called "Heavenly Unity Tavern." A servant sat at the entrance, not even bothering to look up as he recited, "Business negotiations on the second floor, intelligence purchases on the third, buying people or lives on the fourth. Anything else—turn back."
Yulu shivered at the mention of "buying people or lives." "Young Mistress, perhaps we should just forget this?"
The place was clearly a den of villains, yet Chu Ruoyan still pulled her upstairs.
In the private chamber, a potbellied manager was already waiting. Upon seeing them, he beamed. "Ah, the Third Young Madam of the Yan family. Please, have a seat."
Chu Ruoyan was slightly startled. She had removed all identifying accessories and even wore a veil, yet he recognized her at a glance.
But this only confirmed Bai Xiao Pavilion’s reputation was well-earned.
"Manager, let’s be brief. My maid mentioned you’re willing to pay a hundred thousand taels for my dowry properties?"
The potbellied manager smiled. "Indeed."
"Isn’t that price too low? Any one of my shops earns at least ten thousand taels a year, not to mention the fertile farmland and two estates. You’d be making a hefty profit."
"Young Madam is correct, but these assets are... troublesome. Taking them over means dealing with a slew of complications—possibly even lawsuits or bloodshed. Surely you don’t expect us to shoulder such risks for free?"
Hearing this, Chu Ruoyan felt reassured.
They weren’t reckless fools blinded by greed. Clearly, they understood these properties involved Lady Jiang the Younger—and by extension, the entire Jiang family—yet they dared to proceed. This piqued her curiosity.
"A hundred thousand it is, then. But how can I be sure your establishment can truly resolve the aftermath? After all, we’re talking about the in-laws of the Duke of Chu’s Mansion."
The manager smiled faintly. Just then, the window abruptly swung open.
A man hung upside down from a tree outside.
Chu Ruoyan looked closer—it was Lu Wei, heir to the Earl of Yongding!
"This young master Lu owes our gambling house a substantial debt and ruined the virtue of one of our dealers. Our master ordered him hung for three days and nights. If he survives, we’ll send him back to the Yongding Estate to collect payment."
Chu Ruoyan was stunned.
She had vaguely known of Bai Xiao Pavilion’s influence, but to disregard even the Earl of Yongding’s family...
Could their backer truly be someone from the imperial palace?
Once the deal was settled and the contract signed, the manager handed over a hundred thousand taels in silver notes from the Great Prosperity Bank.
Chu Ruoyan instructed Yulu to secure the money and rose to leave, but the manager added, "Oh, Young Madam, our master said if this transaction goes smoothly, he’ll offer you another piece of information free of charge. One of the instigators behind the recent pressure on the Yan family is none other than the gentleman hanging from that tree."
She had suspected as much.
The Yan army enjoyed immense public support—even if trouble arose, it wouldn’t have escalated so quickly without provocation.
Still, she hadn’t expected Lu Wei to be involved.
It seemed he still held a grudge over her seizing that millennium-old wild ginseng he’d intended for his... vitality.
"My thanks for the information. But from your tone, there are other instigators?"
The manager smiled apologetically. "Forgive me, Young Madam. Our master said that would require additional payment."
Chu Ruoyan understood. She curtsied gracefully. "Please inform your master that if he ever wishes to name his price, I’d appreciate being notified."
After the mistress and maid departed, a man emerged from a hidden door in the adjacent room.
Clad in crimson robes with silver-white hair, his lips curved in a smile, and his peach-blossom eyes seemed capable of enchanting the world.
The potbellied manager bowed respectfully. "Was my handling satisfactory, Pavilion Master?"
"Passable. That stick-in-the-mud Chu Huaishan is dull as dirt, yet his daughter is rather intriguing." His magnetic voice dripped with indolence, as if even these few words exhausted him. Waving a hand, he added, "Let her investigate. If she uncovers the truth, we might as well fan the flames."
Outside Bai Xiao Pavilion, Yulu clutched her chest. "Young Mistress, that was terrifying! Did you see Lu Wei? His lips were white—do you think he’ll die?"
Chu Ruoyan shot her a sharp look. "Remember this: you saw nothing today. Even if you did, forget it."
The Earl of Yongding had only one son. If anything happened to him and they were implicated for withholding information, the retaliation would be merciless.
Yulu stuck out her tongue. "This servant knows better than to speak a word. But Young Mistress, won’t Lady Jiang the Younger make trouble for you during tomorrow’s homecoming visit?"
"That depends on how efficiently Bai Xiao Pavilion’s people work."
And efficient they were.
No sooner had they left than agents descended upon the twelve shops, two hundred acres of farmland, and two estates, sealing each with official notices.
When Jiang Tao was thrown out, he was covered in dust, sputtering with rage. "Do you fools know whose property this is? This belongs to the Jiang family—to the Duchess of Chu’s household!"
No one paid him heed except to toss his underpants over his head.
That very night, he rushed to Lady Jiang the Younger to complain.
After hearing the report, she gnashed her teeth. "That little viper must be behind this! To think she had such tricks up her sleeve!"
"Madam, you must uphold justice for us! This is over a hundred thousand taels in annual revenue!" Jiang Tao wailed, snot and tears streaming.
Lady Jiang the Younger snapped, "Silence! The deeds were all handed over to her as dowry. All we hold are your contracts of servitude—what use are those?"
Jiang Tao cowered, but Nanny Zhang interjected, "Madam, this is no small matter. Her actions are a direct challenge to your authority. If she succeeds, she’ll walk all over you!"
Lady Jiang the Younger’s eyes darkened. "To trample me, she’d need the capability! Tomorrow is the third-day bridal return. Let’s see how she explains herself to the family!"
Early the next morning, Chu Ruoyan directed servants to load gifts—for her father, younger sister, and even Lady Jiang the Younger’s faction. With ample funds now at her disposal, three entire carts were filled.
Just as she prepared to board, a cool, familiar voice spoke: "Take this one."
She turned in surprise to see Yan Zheng in a water-blue robe embroidered with auspicious clouds, his hair formally pinned with a flowing-cloud crown. He sat inside a vermilion-lacquered carriage befitting a marquis’ rank, watching her calmly.
Chu Ruoyan froze.
Was he... accompanying her back?
