good season

Yang Shengqiu listened intently to every word Xiuxiu said. His expression was focused, and his gaze was calm. Xiuxiu's tense yet excited state finally subsided. The Second Miss was right after all; if you don't know how to answer, just make things up. See, Yang Shengqiu really didn't doubt her.

The second young lady is always right.

Xiuxiu wanted to continue talking about Old Master Zhen's good deeds, such as giving a beggar a white steamed bun and not giving change when buying soy sauce, but she remembered the Second Miss's advice: the more you talk, the more mistakes you make. When facing someone as learned and intelligent as Yang Shengqiu, you should talk less and listen to him.

Thinking of this, Xiuxiu swallowed the words that were on the tip of her tongue. But she didn't know how to get Yang Shengqiu to speak. She didn't know any poetry or songs. She thought of Aunt Ji. Aunt Ji was also a very eloquent person. Right, what would Aunt Ji say if she encountered this situation?
"Lord Yang, how many children do you have?"

Yang Shengqiu was taken aback; the tone of his words had changed far too quickly.

He shook his head: "I am not married yet."

But in his heart he was wondering, why would she ask that?
I understand. The young girl admires him but doesn't dare to confess, so she's testing the waters first.

He breathed a slight sigh of relief. Su Xiuxiu was very naive. Perhaps he had misunderstood. She had simply changed her approach to continue admiring him.

Xiuxiu: Finally, we've found a topic to talk about.

The undisguised joy on Xiuxiu's face caught Yang Shengqiu's eye. Yang Shengqiu knew he had guessed correctly, and a smile appeared on his lips. As long as this silly girl was in love with him, he was not afraid of not being able to get anything out of her.

Before he could speak, Xiuxiu interrupted, "Do you have a girl you love? Tell me, and I'll help you mediate."

Yang Shengqiu. What does she mean by that?
Before he could speak, Xiuxiu continued, "Let me tell you, no matter how many books a person reads, how high an official position he holds, or how great his achievements are, if he doesn't get married and have children, it's all for nothing. When he gets old, he won't even have anyone to hold his jar and carry his banner. His life has been wasted."

Yang Shengqiu. Was he actually being pressured to get married by a girl who admired him?
Xiuxiu racked her brains and relayed all the things Aunt Ji usually told her to Yang Shengqiu.

She regretted it as soon as she finished speaking; she had said too much and should have left the opportunity to speak to Yang Shengqiu.

"By the way, Lord Yang, has there been any result regarding the case from last time?"

Yang Shengqiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Sure enough, communicating with these ignorant and foolish women was just that difficult.

When Xiuxiu asked about the kidnappers, he said, "It has been found out that these people are repeat offenders. Don't worry, they will definitely receive the punishment they deserve."

Xiuxiu pointed to herself and said, "What about me? I'm the victim. Shouldn't they compensate me?"

Yang Shengqiu was taken aback: "Compensation? Compensation for what?"

Xiuxiu: "Second Miss said that there would be compensation for such things. Those kidnappers should pay me money. Why didn't the yamen notify me to collect the money? Lord Yang, last time you came to question me on behalf of the yamen people. Did they give you the money they were going to pay me? What a coincidence. We just happened to run into each other today. Just give me the money. It will save you the trouble of delivering it to me."

Yang Shengqiu.
Greedy? And it was the second young lady who taught her that?

"Yes, there is such a sum of money, but I left in a hurry today and didn't bring it with me. I'll send it to you another day."

Xiuxiu was somewhat disappointed: "Since you have this money, you should have given it to me sooner. Never mind, I'll go to the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow to collect it from you. Please remember to bring it with you."

Yang Shengqiu frowned slightly. Did he still have to go to the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow to ask him for money?
He took a deep breath, without saying yes or no, but asked, "Your second young lady knows a lot. She even knows that there is compensation for this kind of thing. Is she educated and knowledgeable about the law?"

Xiuxiu nodded vigorously: "I have read it. When we were on the mountain, Mr. Wu often taught the Second Miss, but the Second Miss was too busy and didn't have time to listen to Mr. Wu's lectures."

She wasn't lying. There really was a Mr. Wu in Baihe Mountain. He was sent by the Liang Prince's Mansion to teach the second young lady. Although Xiuxiu only stayed in Baihe Mountain for a few days, she had met Mr. Wu. Mr. Wu was comfortable in Baihe Mountain, so he brought his wife and children over and settled down in Baihe Village, living the pastoral life he longed for.

"Up in the mountains? Isn't Old Master Zhen a businessman? Why would he live up in the mountains?" Yang Shengqiu grasped the key point.

Xiuxiu was taken aback. Sure enough, the more she said, the more mistakes she made; she had said the wrong thing.

She tried to explain: "Old Master Zhen was in the business of the mountains. Oh, I don't really know. Anyway, he always lived in the mountains and moved to several different mountains. Later, business became difficult in those mountains, so he came to the capital."

Hilltop?

Is business difficult?
You've arrived in the capital?

Yang Shengqiu thought of a business with a long history, a business with no capital!
Bandits who ruled the mountains!
Xiuxiu became more and more flustered as she spoke. Oh right, what else did the second young lady say? She couldn't remember.

"When I visited last time, Old Master Zhen and Miss Zhen were not home. Miss Xiuxiu said they had gone out to do business. Is Old Master Zhen still in business even now?" Yang Shengqiu asked.

Xiuxiu didn't know what to say anymore. Sure enough, one lie requires countless lies to cover it up.

She had no choice but to say, "No, Old Master Zhen has stopped doing business. He went out to visit a friend."

Yang Shengqiu said calmly, "No wonder Old Master Zhen came to the capital. It turns out he came to seek refuge with a friend. Anyone who can become friends with such a philanthropist as Old Master Zhen must be of extraordinary status."

The words "of extraordinary status" struck Xiuxiu like a bolt of lightning, and she suddenly remembered what Zhao Shiqing had taught her.

"Oh, Lord Yang, how did you know? Old Master Zhen's old friend was indeed of noble status. It's just that he has passed away, leaving only his wife and children in the capital. However, I heard that his grandson also passed away last year. Alas, that old lady was truly pitiful, a white-haired woman sending off a black-haired one."

Finally, she said what she needed to say, and a huge weight was lifted off her shoulders. She couldn't hold back any longer; if she said any more, she would give herself away.

She picked up a preserved plum and put it in her mouth. The sweet and sour taste filled her mouth, and her heart also felt sour, only sour, not sweet.

The second young lady is right. Yang Shengqiu really wants to use her to find out about the second young lady and the old master. Even if she talks nonsense, Yang Shengqiu will still steer the conversation towards the second young lady and the old master Zhen.

She even thought that Scholar Yang was a good person.

Xiuxiu felt she would never trust men again. Master Murong was right; men were all heartless bastards.

Master Murong saw through everything, which is why she didn't get married. She wanted to learn from Master Murong and decide not to get married either. Anyway, she would never love again, so she might as well not get married.

Xiuxiu's love came like a cloud and went like a gust of wind.

Yang Shengqiu observed the girl's expression, noticing her fluctuating emotions of sadness and joy. When she stood up, her face held a resolute expression of unrequited love: "Lord Yang, I've been out for too long. I should go home. Tomorrow I'll go to the Ministry of Revenue to get some silver. Please take it with you. By the way, how much silver?"

Yang Shengqiu: "Ten taels."

Xiuxiu cheered again. Ten taels! That's enough to buy a lot of paint.

The girl couldn't hide her joy: "Lord Yang, I'll come to see you tomorrow. Don't be late!"

Looking at the girl's barely suppressed smile, Yang Shengqiu thought to himself, "It's just seeing me once, and she's so happy? What a foolish and infatuated woman."

"It's not easy to hire a sedan chair here, let me take you back," Yang Shengqiu said politely.

Unexpectedly, Xiuxiu readily agreed: "Alright, then I'll trouble Lord Yang to wait a little longer and have the sedan bearers come back to fetch you."

Having already said it, what else could Yang Shengqiu do but pretend to be generous and say, "It's alright."

He then said to Xiao Mo, "Go and have the sedan chair bearers take Miss Su home first."

Xiuxiu walked very fast and disappeared in the blink of an eye at the entrance of the teahouse. Yang Shengqiu shook his head helplessly, "Superficial!"

Who is the person of extraordinary status that Xiuxiu mentioned?
This person held a high position of power. This person is already dead.

This man's wife and children are still alive.

This person's grandson died last year.

People die every day in the capital, but last year not many sons of the powerful and wealthy died, and those who did were mostly young.
Suddenly, Yang Shengqiu thought of someone.

Zhu Yu!

If we were to name the most powerful and wealthy scions who died last year, and who was the youngest, it would undoubtedly be Zhu Yu!

If the deceased grandson was Zhu Yu, then Old Master Zhen's friend was Old Hou, who had passed away many years ago!

Although the old Marquis Baoqing is no longer alive, his wife and children are still alive.

When Yang Shengqiu first arrived in the capital, he heard Lord Lang mention the Baoqing Marquis's residence.

Madam Wei of the Baoqing Marquis's Mansion was the cousin of Consort Li. The sisters were very close and looked after each other. Consort Li treated Zhu Yu as her own daughter, and in terms of closeness, she even surpassed her own grandson.

As a result, the current emperor is also exceptionally tolerant of the Baoqing Marquis's family. Zhu Yu's father, the Baoqing Marquis, was an old playboy, but Zhu Yu surpassed his father in this regard, becoming even more outrageous, cruel, and fearless.

If Zhu Yuxian hadn't lost his manhood last year, been rejected by the Marquis of Baoqing, and later died of illness, he probably would have escaped punishment even if he had been convicted of multiple crimes.

Despite having such a disgraceful grandson as Zhu Yu, it did not affect the protection that Consort Li had for the Marquis of Baoqing's mansion. As soon as he returned to the capital, he heard that Old Madam Wei was now living in the palace.

Looking across the capital, which noblewoman could possibly live in the palace?
The Marquis of Baoqing's residence is an option.

I never expected that Old Master Zhen would have such a powerful backer.

Yang Shengqiu remembered something else.

If you were to ask which noble family was the richest, it would undoubtedly be the Marquis of Baoqing's mansion.

When Zhu Yu lost an entire street, Marquis Baoqing, upon learning of this, did not punish Zhu Yu but instead bought the gambling den.

The Marquis of Baoqing's family was wealthy, but this old Master Zhen used to be a bandit who ran a business without any capital.

By the way, there was a notorious pirate in the East China Sea also surnamed Zhen. However, it is said that he retired from the pirate business twenty years ago. Moreover, the current young master Zhen, who is very popular in the noble circles, is his son.

Could this old man surnamed Zhen be the same person as the pirate king surnamed Zhen?
Yang Shengqiu shook his head. No, it won't happen.

Others may not know, but he does.

Young Master Zhen's current backer is the Third Prince!
Furthermore, one of the things that Zhen Wuduo had was that he had many sons. He only had sons and no daughters, whether they were adopted daughters, goddaughters, or illegitimate daughters.

Without a daughter, where would the granddaughter come from?

He had secretly observed that old man, Mr. Zhen, who was just an ordinary, fat old man.

Those who spend years at sea are all dark-skinned and weathered.

But the old master Zhen was fair-skinned and plump.

Most importantly, Old Master Zhen always had a smile on his face, appearing humble and subservient.

How could such a person be a powerful maritime overlord?

He was more like someone who worked for the old Marquis Baoqing, with a pair of hands that were good at making money.

This is what is meant by collusion between officials and bandits.

No wonder the Marquis of Baoqing's family is so rich. I had long suspected that their money came from illegitimate sources, but I never expected that they would also be supporting bandits.

Old Master Zhen is old and can no longer rob, so he came to the capital to retire. But are his disciples and grand-disciples still doing shady business?
No wonder he had never heard of his aunt's family having a maternal family that was bandits when he was a child, so of course he never mentioned it.

After the Shi family died, Old Master Zhen took the little girl away. The little girl's Liang accent is likely because Old Master Zhen once ruled as a mountain king in Liang.

The reason why Xiao Nannan was so discreet was probably because her maternal family were actually servants of the Marquis of Baoqing's household, and she could not reveal her identity without the permission of the Marquis of Baoqing's household.

Yang Shengqiu thought of the Yan family's children and the Zhao brothers.

Yan Xia deserves much credit for Zhu Yu's death.

Madam Wei injured Yan Xia, and the Yan family went to the Marquis of Baoqing's mansion to demolish the house.

If you were to ask who Marquis Baoqing and Madam Wei hated the most, the first would be the Yan family!

Yang Shengqiu felt he had discovered an incredible secret.

Marquis Baoqing used the Zhen family grandfather and grandson to get close to the underage children of the Yan family, intending to take revenge!
Although Marquis Baoqing had remarried, he had no sons, and his only son had died. On the other hand, the Yan family was thriving, with more than a dozen male members. Marquis Baoqing probably even had the urge to wipe out the entire Yan family.

With this in mind, all the mysteries surrounding the Zhen family grandfather and grandson were answered.

Yang Shengqiu was both excited and disappointed.

He was excited to learn that the Marquis of Baoqing's mansion was planning to destroy the Duke of Wei's mansion.

To his disappointment, he learned about this, but he didn't gain anything from it.

Unless he goes to the Duke of Wei's mansion to inform on them and tell them to stay away from the Zhen family, but would the Duke of Wei's mansion believe him? That family is unscrupulous and might even drag him to Baoqing Prefecture for a confrontation.

Indeed, Yang Shengqiu believed that this was something the Duke of Wei's mansion was capable of doing.

He couldn't afford to offend either the Marquis of Baoqing's mansion or the Duke of Wei's mansion.

Why weren't the Zhen family ancestors and grandsons spies for the Liang Prince's mansion?
Why were they servants of the Marquis of Baoqing's household?

Yang Shengqiu sighed. Thinking that even the only way out was blocked, he suddenly felt suffocated in the teahouse. The sedan chair had not yet returned, so he decided to go outside to wait.

Before he even reached the door, the waiter caught up with him: "Sir, you haven't settled your bill yet. Please accept my five qian of silver."

Yang Shengqiu was taken aback. Wasn't Su Xiuxiu treating?
But Su Xiuxiu left.
Just a pot of tea and a few snacks cost five coins? Why not just rob someone?
Yang Shengqiu reluctantly took out five qian of silver from his purse, handed it to the waiter, and strode out of the teahouse.

Oh, right, Su Xiuxiu needs to go to the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow to ask him for money, and he'll have to pay for it. (End of Chapter)