Chapter 370 – The Sweet Princess Was Here – Earning Others’ Money, Leaving Others With None to Earn (15)
The maid hurriedly ran into the front hall, gasping for breath.
“Master— Master, something’s wrong! Madam… she f-fell…!”
“What?” Li Xiuming, who had been chatting happily with Wu Chenyi, shot to his feet. His face was filled with anxiety as he demanded, “Explain clearly—what happened to Madam?”
“Madam… she was pushed— pushed down by one of the seamstresses.”
Before the maid could say another word, Li Xiuming had already rushed out of the front hall toward the side rooms in the rear courtyard.
Entering the side courtyard without the host’s permission was extremely rude, but the maid had said a seamstress pushed Zhu Lanxiao down. And the seamstresses who came today were Su Wen and Fang Xianglian.
Since Wu Chenyi was the one who brought them here, it was his responsibility to return them safely.
He followed close behind Li Xiuming and reached the rear courtyard.
As soon as they stepped inside, they heard Zhu Lanxiao’s sharp voice screeching, “Someone! Drag this lowborn woman out and beat her to death!”
“Madam, we were brought here by our young master, not your household’s servants. You have no authority to punish us.” Su Wen argued firmly. She had seen everything clearly—Zhu Lanxiao had deliberately caused trouble; Fang Xianglian was merely dragged into it.
“What are you that you dare speak to me like that? I am the Prefect’s wife! And you, a mere commoner, dare talk back to me?” Zhu Lanxiao’s shrill voice continued, “And as for your so-called young master—what is he but a tailor? Someone come! Drag her out as well and beat them together!”
Facing her romantic rival and her rival’s helpers, Zhu Lanxiao had no intention of being “merciful.” She tore off her gentle, virtuous façade, revealing the cruelty beneath. Even if Wu Chenyi had some background, she believed he wouldn’t dare confront her over two lowly servant girls.
“Lanxiao.” Li Xiuming approached. Her hair was disheveled, her carefully painted makeup smudged. Fortunately, her clothing was still tidy enough that it wasn’t indecent for Wu Chenyi to see.
Even so, Wu Chenyi instinctively flicked open his folding fan to block his peripheral vision from landing on her.
“Xiuming, you’re here… They had ill intentions— they pushed me on purpose…”
In the past, whenever Zhu Lanxiao wanted something, Li Xiuming would support her—he would even dirty his hands for her sake.
But this time, he hesitated.
Not only because one of the accused girls was his wife from the countryside, but also because the person who brought them here was Bai Chenyi—a crucial figure helping him open channels in the capital.
Wearing plain clothes to avoid drawing attention, Wu Chenyi concealed his true identity while traveling incognito. To outsiders, he introduced himself with the surname Bai, and no one connected him with the royal surname unique to the Wu Dynasty.
“Madam, whether the truth is that my maids and seamstresses were at fault, or whether there is more to this matter… I fear it is still unclear.” Wu Chenyi turned his gaze away.
Zhu Lanxiao’s heart trembled at his words, but for the sake of face, she forced herself to remain imposing.
“I ended up in such a miserable state because those girls shoved me while changing my clothes. Just two lowly servants—are they really worth Young Master Bai going to such lengths to defend them? Being allowed to serve you is already the greatest blessing in their lives.”
Fang Xianglian’s face turned deathly pale at her insinuation. She had never had any improper relationship with her benefactor, yet Zhu Lanxiao’s words were clearly implying she and him were having a secret affair.
Instinctively, she looked to Li Xiuming. His expression had also shifted because of Zhu Lanxiao’s accusation.
Their eyes met—his gaze filled with suspicion and scrutiny—and Fang Xianglian felt her heart turn cold.
“Madam, please do not speak nonsense. There is nothing improper between Young Master Bai and me. Yet from your mouth, it becomes something filthy. A woman’s reputation is of utmost importance. If such words spread… how can I continue living with any dignity? Since that is the case, I can only choose death to prove my innocence.”
With that, Fang Xianglian threw herself toward the pillar beside her.
“Xianglian—!” Li Xiuming cried out.
Fortunately, Su Wen was skilled in martial arts and stood close enough. Just before Fang Xianglian’s head struck the pillar, Su Wen grabbed and pulled her back.
“Xianglian, how could you be so foolish?”
After all, they were husband and wife. Back when Li Xiuming was still a poor young scholar, he had gone through countless hardships to marry the daughter of a xiucai. Naturally, he had once cherished her deeply.
“Xiuming, I never betrayed you. I never…”
Fang Xianglian sobbed in his arms. Off to the side, Zhu Lanxiao’s face turned green with fury.
“Li. Xiu. Ming.” Zhu Lanxiao called his name through gritted teeth, each word bitten off one by one.
Seeing her expression, Li Xiuming came back to his senses and pushed Fang Xianglian away in panic.
Wu Chenyi had enjoyed watching the spectacle. With a smile, he closed his folding fan.
“It seems the seamstress I hired and Prefect Li are old acquaintances.”
The refined young gentleman gave a half-smile—returning Zhu Lanxiao’s own accusation.
Look, the seamstress did have an improper relationship… only the person involved was Prefect Li.
Women screamed and cried, men remained silent, and the small side room descended into utter chaos.
Wu Chenyi stepped outside for fresh air. He looked up at the pinecone-shaped clouds in the sky and consciously shut out the noise from behind him.
He missed Tang Tang.
Noon had arrived. Wu Chenyi wondered what Tang Tang was doing at home—was he hugging a pinecone while munching on it, or had he fallen back asleep for another nap?
Thinking of the boy’s adorably drowsy face, Wu Chenyi couldn’t help the smile that curved his lips.
Tang Tang loved sleeping while holding onto him. If he wasn’t there, the boy would hug the jade pillow instead. The jade pillow stayed warm in winter and cool in summer…
He wondered whether Tang Tang had covered himself properly with a blanket.
The chaotic scene earlier lasted a long time before finally quieting down. Su Wen, exhausted, supported Fang Xianglian as they walked out—only to see her master in the garden pavilion… swooning?!
That absent-minded, sweet expression—she didn’t even need to ask. She knew perfectly well he was thinking about the Crown Princess Consort again.
Zhu Lanxiao had wanted to punish Fang Xianglian, but Li Xiuming stopped her. Fang Xianglian was deeply moved by this and, despite Su Wen’s attempts to persuade her otherwise, decided to stay at the Prefect’s residence as Li Xiuming wished.
After Wu Chenyi and Li Xiuming finalized their business arrangements, Wu Chenyi prepared to take his leave. Fang Xianglian once again thanked him for his help.
Wu Chenyi simply smiled without saying much and left with Su Wen—whose face was full of“why does my master always do this” exasperation.
Meanwhile, Bai Tang—who had been dozing off while listening to Qiu’er and Xiao A explain business strategies—heard Xiao Duzi’s greeting. Half-asleep, he opened his eyes, and the familiar blue robe he had longed for day and night had already appeared before him.
“A-Yi~” the boy called softly.
“How did you fall asleep right here in the pavilion?” Wu Chenyi dotingly kissed Bai Tang, sat down on the stone bench beside him, and pulled him into his arms. Only then did the emptiness in his heart finally feel whole again.
“I was thinking about business~” Bai Tang pointed at the notes on the table—his entire afternoon’s work, a business strategy he had drafted based on Qiu’er and Xiao A’s lesson.
Seeing the boy’s expression—clearly saying “I’m amazing, right? Hurry and praise me!”—Wu Chenyi found him impossibly adorable.
“Tang Tang is amazing.” Wu Chenyi praised him generously. He picked up the sheet of rice paper and read through the plans line by line.
The more he read, the more excited he became. Hugging Bai Tang close, he kissed him several times.
“Tang Tang is a little genius.”
The little squirrel lowered his head shyly.
“I just hope it can help A-Yi~”
Hunger marketing was a common strategy in modern times, but in the Wu Dynasty, it was still rare. After all, everyone wanted to make money—keeping customers waiting was a gamble. If a more cost-effective substitute appeared during the wait, the stock prepared for hunger marketing would end up rotting in one’s hands. That was why most merchants in the Wu Dynasty didn’t dare use such a method.
But Bai Tang wasn’t worried. The clothes were his own designs, and he could confidently say that no one could imitate him perfectly. Even if someone managed to copy one style, he could always create something new. Imitations would never surpass the original. With this round of “hunger marketing,” he was certain to win.
Wu Chenyi, who wasn’t short of money, refined Bai Tang’s plan and launched it into the market.
During his free time, Bai Tang drew many design drafts. Each one was different. He released them in stages, and by the time the third set of dresses came out, the entire Ning City market had exploded in excitement.
The women of Ning City considered it an honor to wear a set of clothing from Baisong Pavilion. Unfortunately, the pavilion’s designs were all custom-made. Their mass-produced pieces came out in batches of only three sets per month—first come, highest bid wins. On each release day, before dawn even broke, long lines would already be stretching out in front of Baisong Pavilion. A glance at the crowd revealed men and women alike, most of them servants from wealthy families, lining up to grab a number and secure clothes for their masters.
Inside the study, Bai Tang focused intently on his drawings, while Qiu’er counted money in the little white room until his hands were sore.
These were gold coins—far richer in energy than copper coins or silver.
“Gold! Gold! Energy! Energy…” Qiu’er rolled around in the pile of gold, blissfully overwhelmed. An endless stream of energy—he was rich now~
Xiao A flipped through books on design, searching for elements and inspiration for Bai Tang. Watching Qiu’er roll around beside them, Xiao A could only smile helplessly yet fondly. Qiu’er really was so easily satisfied.
Wu Chenyi handled external affairs; Bai Tang took care of everything internal. The two worked together seamlessly, becoming a dazzling duo in Ning City and earning fortunes.
When Bai Tang heard this month’s profits, he sighed in amazement, “Making money is really easy~”
If the business owners in the city heard Tang Tang say that, they would probably burst into tears. Easy to earn money? All their business had been stolen by him!
Making money was only one part of the plan. The most important part was the business collaboration between Wu Chenyi and Li Xiuming.
One had wealth, the other had power. Together, they purchased large quantities of grain and transported it elsewhere to resell.
During the process, they encountered several imperial inspections, but Wu Chenyi skillfully handled each one, helping Li Xiuming earn a great deal of money.
Seeing this, Li Xiuming gradually lowered his guard. The people he had sent to investigate also reported back: Bai (Wu) Chenyi was a merchant from the capital. Due to interference from the imperial court, his secret businesses had been nearly wiped out during a transaction. Severely weakened in the capital, Bai Chenyi came to Ning City to rebuild his assets before returning.
This report satisfied Li Xiuming. A man driven purely by profit and greed was the easiest to control. And after several successful collaborations, he also witnessed Wu Chenyi’s capability. A partnership between the two of them would definitely bring in enormous profit.
On a bright, pleasant day, Li Xiuming introduced Wu Chenyi to many officials—most of whom had taken part in dividing up the grain meant for disaster relief.
Wu Chenyi swept his gaze across the room, matching each person with the information he already knew. Those he couldn’t place, he quietly made note of—their names and their positions.
Author’s Note :
Qiu’er: We’re rich!
Bai Tang: As long as Qiu’er is happy.
Qiu’er: I love Tang Tang the most!
Xiao A: (looks aggrieved) What about me?
Wu Chenyi (lifting Tang Tang and carrying him back to their room): You’re not allowed to look at other men.
Qiu’er & Xiao A: !!!