Inside the study, Fushun and the other three were all present.
Chunxing opened the ledger and handed it to Song Jinzhao.
"Eldest Miss, this is all the profit from the vegetable shop over the past half month, totaling seventeen thousand two hundred taels of silver."
An exquisite wooden box with its lid open sat on the table, filled with a thick stack of banknotes, all in denominations of one hundred taels.
After Song Jinzhao finished reviewing the ledger, Fushun stepped forward, bowed, and said, "The vegetables in greenhouses one to three will have their final harvest in three days. Greenhouses four to six, which were planted ten days later, are growing more slowly due to the temperature and will need about another half month."
Song Jinzhao looked up at the four of them. "Has Prefect Meng visited the farm?"
Fushun nodded. "On the third day of our opening, Prefect Meng came to ask about it on his own initiative. We followed your instructions and took him on a tour of the farm. The next day, he asked me to go to the government office to clearly explain the construction methods of the vegetable greenhouses and the precautions for planting. Someone was even recording it on the side."
Qingshuang stepped forward and said, "After I delivered the Eldest Young Master's letter to the Ye residence, Mr. Ye told you not to worry, but he didn't mention anything else."
Song Jinzhao's fingers tapped idly on the table as she ran through everything in her mind.
Anyang Academy starts the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow, I must go to the Ye residence with Qiming.
"You three step out first. Qingshuang, stay."
Chunxing, Fushun, and Lanxi respectfully turned and exited the study, closing the door behind them.
"How is the situation with the Yan family?"
Qingshuang looked up and asked, "I haven't made a move yet, but the Yan family's goods were burned before they could enter the city. Was that your doing, Miss?"
Song Jinzhao nodded. "I happened to run into them on the road."
Qingshuang pursed her lips. The servants responsible for escorting the Yan family's goods claimed it was heavenly fire. How did the Eldest Miss manage to do that?
"As soon as Yan Fengnian returned, he immediately went to the Meng residence, presumably to save Yan Baoyi. The Prefect did not seem to agree, and the next day Yan Baoyi was escorted to his place of exile."
"When news of the burned goods reached the city, Yan Fengnian was so overwhelmed by anger that he fell ill. Doctor Gu from the Gu Clinic visited him for several consecutive days to treat him, and he has now recovered. I heard that after the Lantern Festival, he will be heading to Jiangnan to purchase more goods."
Song Jinzhao crossed her legs, a faint smile appearing on her face. "He is quite pragmatic. It seems Yan Baoyi has been completely abandoned."
After traveling for days, on their second day back home, everyone except the young Song Anhao slept until the sun was high in the sky.
Chunxing, who stayed home to cook, quickly served breakfast. The rich meal made Song Jinzhao and the other two sigh with emotion that having servants was indeed comfortable.
After breakfast, Song Gaoli packed his bags and returned to the academy.
Song Jinzhao and Song Qiming brought gifts and headed to the Ye residence to visit Ye Liangyu.
After stepping out of the carriage, Song Jinzhao noticed two tall and sturdy young men standing at the entrance of the Ye residence. She slowed her pace and examined them carefully.
These two were completely different from the servants in Ye Liangyu's household; they looked like they had come out of a military camp.
Upon being welcomed into the main hall, the man sitting below Ye Liangyu caught Song Jinzhao's attention.
Qin Yunqian smiled and stood up to greet her. "Miss Song, long time no see."
Song Jinzhao gave a slight nod. "Young Master Qin." It seemed the men in the courtyard had been brought by Qin Yunqian.
After taking their seats, Ye Liangyu began to test Song Qiming to see if his studies had fallen behind during his time back in the village.
Feeling bored, Qin Yunqian signaled to Song Jinzhao with his eyes. "Want to step outside for a chat?"
Song Jinzhao glanced at the master and disciple who were deep in conversation, then stood up and followed Qin Yunqian out of the main hall.
By the pond in the courtyard, Qin Yunqian looked at Song Jinzhao and spoke meaningfully, "Miss Song has highly skilled martial arts, but I never expected your medical skills to be this excellent as well. Even the imperial doctors in the palace were helpless regarding Lord Ye's legs, yet you managed to cure him in the end."
Song Jinzhao raised an eyebrow. He seemed to have a hidden meaning in his words.
Qin Yunqian's gaze remained fixed on Song Jinzhao's face without shifting away.
"Currently, the two princes at court stand as equals, and the civil and military officials are divided into two factions supporting the Prince of Qi and the Prince of Ying. Ye Liangyu refuses to pledge allegiance to either prince."
"He holds a high position and has an upright and unyielding character. As the Deputy Censor-in-Chief, he carries the responsibility of advising the emperor on his faults and correcting the officials' mistakes. He has offended many people, which is why someone wanted him dead."
"News of Ye Liangyu's fully healed legs has already reached the capital. It won't be long before the Emperor restores him to his original post. You cured his legs, and your younger brother is his only student. Having offended both princes before even entering the capital, his future situation as a court official is truly worrisome."
Song Jinzhao looked down at the school of fish fighting for food in the pond. Though she had her own thoughts, she did not voice them, only saying, "My brother is currently just a Xiucai. Whether he can pass the exams to become a Juren is yet to be seen. Why should I worry about groundless fears?"
Qin Yunqian replied, "This August is the triennial provincial examination. Although your brother began his schooling late, he has made rapid progress and is already among the top students at Anyang Academy. Passing the provincial exam will be no problem for him."
"If he can score high in the metropolitan examination the following February, Ye Liangyu will definitely keep him in the capital as an official. When the city gates catch fire, the fish in the moat suffer. Miss Song, you must absolutely ensure that you and your family do not become those fish."
Inside the main hall, after finishing the academic examination, Ye Liangyu asked, "How did you come up with the idea to request an imperial decree to make your sister a Township Princess?"
Song Qiming's tone was steady and slow, as if every word had been carefully considered.
"Previously, because of the matter regarding the construction of the waterwheel and the capture of the northern thieves, the Emperor had already issued a decree to reward my sister. Now that our family is engaged in business, we lack no silver. Rather than having the Emperor bestow gold, silver, and jade ornaments again, it is better to ask for the title of Township Princess."
"My sister is smart and talented, with superb martial arts and excellent medical skills. It is a pity that women cannot participate in either the civil or military examinations. It is better to exchange her merits for a noble title available to women, at least to make her status more distinguished."
Ye Liangyu tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "What did your sister say?"
Song Qiming replied, "My sister said that asking for money is not as good as asking for power. Although a Township Princess holds no real power, the rank is a primary seventh grade. Because of that status, others will not be able to bully us at will. Besides, it is not as if history lacks records of women exceptionally being granted titles of marquis or appointed as prime ministers. We just have to take it step by step."
Ye Liangyu's gaze hardened, and he could not help but secretly marvel at Song Jinzhao's great ambition.
To be made a marquis or a prime minister—she really dared to dream!
Seeing that he did not speak, Song Qiming said softly, "If requesting the title of Township Princess is difficult, Teacher doesn't need to put himself in too tough a spot."
Ye Liangyu waved his hand. "Before the new year, I already wrote a letter and had someone deliver it to the capital. Once Meng Hechuan's memorial requesting a reward arrives, someone in the court will naturally propose it. The Emperor will not be stingy over a mere Township Princess title. However, as for what you mentioned about being made a marquis or prime minister, I'm afraid that will be as difficult as ascending to the heavens."
Song Qiming smiled without saying a word, immediately changed the subject, and began chatting casually about his time practicing martial arts and hunting at home.
