The Prodigal Son

It wasn't until she had walked quite a distance that Xuan Cailing finally caught her breath.

Qin Yu led the two to the pavilion in the backyard and sat them down, asking with a smile, "Were you startled?"

The two nodded, still shaken, and managed a forced smile.

Qin Yu smiled and then asked Jiang Ci, "By the way, what's your friend's name?"

Shi Yi hadn't even introduced this person yet when he started killing him, so Shi Yi still doesn't know his name.

"Xuan Cailing".

Jiang Ci took a deep breath to calm herself down. "The Xuan family is a famous tea merchant in Taozhou. Many of their tea cups and tea sets are supplied by our Jiang family. They also have tea shops in the capital."

"Oh, I see! Tea merchants and salt merchants should be a good match!"

Qin Yu nodded slightly, then smiled at the two of them, "You've seen what happened today. Do you still want to be salt merchants?"

"think!"

The two women nodded without hesitation.

Qin Yu was slightly surprised and joked, "Aren't you afraid of being beheaded in the future?"

She thought that after witnessing her kill on the spot, the two men would give up their idea of ​​becoming salt merchants!

Surprisingly, they were still so determined to become salt merchants.

Xuan Cailing slightly raised her eyes, "To be honest, Lord Qin, I was indeed frightened just now, but..."

"etc!"

Qin Yu stopped Xuan Cailing, "You're married?"

"what?"

Xuan Cailing didn't expect Qin Yu to ask such a question.

Whether or not one is married seems to have no necessary connection with whether or not one can become a salt merchant, right?

Surely this Lord Qin wouldn't have taken a liking to me?

After pausing for a moment, he cast an inquiring glance at Jiang Ci.

Jiang Ci understood what she meant, but instead of answering immediately, she teased Qin Yu, "Lord Qin, you didn't fall for Sister Xuan at first sight, did you?"

Hearing Jiang Ci's words, Xuan Cailing's face flushed slightly, and she quietly tugged at her.

What are you saying!

Although she herself had the same doubt just now, she realized on second thought that it was impossible.

Given Qin Yu's status and position, what woman couldn't he have besides the one in the Golden Palace?

How could he possibly be interested in me?

Do you want the truth or a lie?

Qin Yu curled his lips and returned Jiang Ci's words from two days ago verbatim.

Jiang Ci chuckled, then said with a smile, "Let's hear the lie first!"

Qin Yu smiled: "The lie is that the imperial court would definitely investigate the background of every salt merchant! If she were married, the court would certainly investigate both her husband's family and her own family!"

Jiang Ci smiled and tilted her head, asking, "And the truth?"

"The truth is, I've not only fallen for her, but I've fallen for you too!"

Qin Yu grinned mischievously. "I was planning to play the gentleman in front of you, to impress you with my noble character and win you both over! But she's already married, so what's the point of my pretense?"

Hearing Qin Yu's words, Xuan Cailing couldn't help but be somewhat taken aback.

He just killed someone in front of everyone in the front hall; he's exactly like a ruthless general.

In the blink of an eye, he has taken on the face of a spoiled brat.

His change of heart was so sudden!

There wasn't even a transition!

"Lord Qin, you are passing off lies as the truth and the truth as lies."

Jiang Ci gave Qin Yu a resentful look.

Xuan Cailing snapped out of her daze and smiled gracefully, "If Lord Qin really has taken a liking to Miss Jiang, there's no need to pretend to be so virtuous. She's already smitten with you! Lord Qin, you have no idea how much Miss Jiang has been telling me about you these past few days!"

"Sister Xuan, what are you saying!"

Jiang Ci tugged at her shyly and quickly changed the subject: "It's not convenient for me to talk about Sister Xuan's matter. Let her tell you herself!"

inconvenient?

Qin Yu looked at the two women with surprise.

What's so inconvenient about getting married?

"What's so inconvenient about saying this?"

Xuan Cailing smiled generously and said frankly, "I got married six years ago. On our wedding night, my husband got so drunk that he died. His family said that I was an unlucky person and divorced me with a letter of divorce..."

Later, her reputation as an unlucky person spread.

Those in her family who respected her were wary of her reputation as an unlucky person.

She doesn't care about her reputation, but her family looks down on her.

After a year or two of struggling, she gave up on the idea of ​​remarrying and devoted herself to helping her family manage their business.

Nowadays, she manages many of the Xuan family's businesses.

Her father was originally supposed to come along, but he caught a cold and was unable to make it.

"So that's how it is!"

Qin Yu smiled knowingly, "Let's get back to the main topic. Continue, tell me why you still want to be a salt merchant?"

No wonder Jiang Ci didn't tell me about those things!

So she has this kind of reputation.

"good!"

Xuan Cailing returned to the main topic, smiling slightly, "Although I was indeed frightened, I greatly admire and respect Lord Qin's way of handling things!"

"Neither I nor the Jiang family sister ever intended to profit through illegal means!"

"Lord Qin's iron-fisted methods intimidate those with ill intentions, which is actually more advantageous to me and Sister Jiang..."

She had also heard a little about the profiteering methods of those salt merchants.

As long as all salt merchants follow the rules, as newcomers, they can avoid a lot of trouble and it will help them gain a foothold.

If the imperial court could strictly control those salt officials, it would save them from being harassed by them again.

"right!"

Jiang Ci chimed in, "If all salt merchants strictly adhered to the imperial laws, we would certainly not be any worse than any other salt merchant except for the Shi family!"

They certainly can't compare to the historians.

The two are not even in the same size.

Qin Yu pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "Alright! Since you're so confident, I'll give you a chance! However, I must make this clear beforehand: the lessons of the past are still on display in the front hall. If you ever reach that point in the future, I won't show any mercy!"

Hearing Qin Yu's words, both of them were secretly delighted, but Xuan Cailing still asked in surprise, "Lord Qin, won't you ask about our plans or find out about our strength?"

"There's nothing to ask."

Qin Yu smiled, "The court will verify your background and strength! If you don't have the ability but insist on filling the vacancies of Taozhou salt merchants, you will be the ones who suffer the consequences when the court punishes you."

Jiang Ci smiled sweetly, "Don't worry, Lord Qin. We won't take on a job we're not qualified for! Since we've dared to fill the gap, we're sure we can do a good job!"

Taozhou is the stronghold of the Xuan family!

Filling the vacancy left by the salt merchants of Taozhou would be even more advantageous for them!

"Then it's settled! I have some things to attend to, so I won't chat with you any longer!"

Qin Yu didn't waste any more time. "You can talk to Lord Shi and Lord Lü some more. I'll host a banquet for you at the governor's mansion at noon!"

"It's lunchtime?"

Jiang Ci feigned disappointment, smiling as she said, "You said a couple of days ago that you were going to treat us to a casual meal. I thought you were going to host a private dinner for us!"

"We'll have a luncheon together, and then a separate dinner for you all in the evening!"

Qin Yu's face broke into a wicked grin again; he looked like he had ill intentions no matter how you looked at it...