Do you know: I am Qi Heng

The main hall in the backyard.

Princess Pingning was looking through the account books, preparing for spring planting after the New Year.

The matriarch of the household has many responsibilities, such as managing the income and expenditure of the family's estates and shops, social interactions, and normal social relationships.

The Qi family owns several estates and tens of thousands of acres of farmland. Although each estate has its own manager, she still has to put in a lot of effort during the spring planting and autumn harvest.

Upon seeing Qi Heng enter, Princess Pingning placed the account book down.

"Mother!" Qi Heng bowed respectfully.

Princess Pingning waved her hand and asked, "Then, Second Master Gu has left?"

"They've already left," Qi Heng replied.

"He probably mentioned the possibility of you studying at the Sheng family's school. What are your thoughts on that?"

"I will listen to my mother."

Upon hearing this, Princess Pingning pondered for a moment, then dismissed the servants from the room, saying, "These are turbulent times, and it is indeed inappropriate for you to continue studying at the Imperial Academy."

Zhuang Xuejiu had some reputation, but he wasn't a great Confucian scholar, and the Sheng family didn't hold high official positions, so it's unlikely that any family would send their children to study there.

You will be able to study in peace only if you go to the Sheng family to study. Tomorrow I will send someone to the Sheng family to deliver a visiting card, and the day after tomorrow morning you will come with me to the Sheng family.

When making a visit, you need to send your visiting card in advance and wait for the host's permission before you can visit.

This is similar to how people in later generations would call ahead to ask if it was convenient for them to visit someone's home.

It is very impolite not to pay a visit.

"yes!"

Qi Heng responded, saying, "My second uncle invited me to dinner at Fanlou tonight to introduce me to the eldest son of the Sheng family."

When Princess Pingning heard Gu Tingye invite Qi Heng to Fanlou, her instinct was to refuse.

Unless there is a huge difference in social status, no parent would want their son to associate with such a spoiled brat.

Princess Pingning held back when she heard the second half of the sentence.

Although she would take Qi Heng to visit the Sheng family, it wouldn't be a bad thing for Qi Heng to get to know the eldest son of the Sheng family before going to study there.

Princess Pingning was silent for a moment, then said, "Go as soon as possible, don't linger too long. Besides, you are young and should not drink alcohol!"

"Your son will remember your instructions, Mother!" Qi Heng bowed and said.

Princess Pingning said calmly, "If there's nothing else, go back and study. You've been neglecting your studies lately. You'll be starting school soon, so stop reading those storybooks."

"Yes! I take my leave!"

Qi Heng stepped out of the main hall, a slight smile on his face.

He's been reading storybooks these days when he has nothing to do; it's actually a test for Princess Pingning.

He knew that what happened in his own courtyard couldn't be kept from Princess Pingning, and he just wanted to see how long it would take for Princess Pingning to speak up.

Ever since he started reading storybooks, he could sense that Princess Pingning was somewhat hesitant to speak, both when he woke up and after dinner.

It must have been really tough for her to endure it for so many days.

…………

"Young master, we've arrived."

The coachman stopped the carriage outside Fanlou, got off, and took down a sedan chair from the carriage and arranged it.

Instead of getting off the carriage first, she held the curtain open for Qi Heng.

A servant came forward, not to exchange a few words, but to lead them into the Fanlou restaurant.

They arrived at a room on the third floor of the west building and knocked on the door.

Stone opened the door and asked in a low voice, "What is it?"

"Young Master Gu's guests have arrived."

Xiao Si smiled and stepped aside to introduce, "This is Young Master Qi!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Tou quickly bowed and said, "Please, young master!"

Qi Heng nodded and went inside.

"Are you Second Uncle's personal attendant? What's your name?"

Looking at his muscular build and honest face, Qi Heng could roughly guess that he must be Shi Tou.

According to what Gu Tingye had said before, his personal attendant died in Yangzhou.

Furthermore, considering that Gu Tingye was keeping a mistress outside the palace without Xiao Qinshi's knowledge, this further reveals the truth.

This allows us to roughly determine that the stone was likely acquired by Gu Tingye in Yangzhou.

It's highly likely that this happened after Gu Tingye was assassinated and jumped ship.

Gu Tingye truly has the protagonist's script. Although he is not the eldest son of the legitimate wife, his elder brother is frail and sickly and has no children.

His maternal grandfather not only left him a vast fortune, but also brought in a loyal follower on a trip to Yangzhou. This follower was not only extremely loyal, but also had a rather unusual background.

Qi Heng remembered that Shi Tou's elder brother and sister-in-law were minor leaders of the Grand Canal Gang.

Later, with Gu Tingye's help, he also took control of the Grand Canal Gang.

The canal gangs were not as exaggerated as some folk tales portrayed, and they were not able to dominate the canal.

The Grand Canal was the lifeblood of the imperial court, and Bianjing needed to transport large quantities of grain through it every month.

How could we allow private individuals to control it?

The canal guild was actually a loose organization composed of private boat owners who made a living on the canals.

Large merchants would own their own ships to transport goods, while smaller merchants had no such need and instead hired employees.

However, small and medium-sized boats have limited boatmen and are outnumbered.

When transporting goods to other places and trying to find work there, you're bound to be bullied by the locals.

Thus, the canal gangs came into being, and those small and medium-sized boats could unite with each other and stick together for mutual support.

Although it was just a disorganized group, it was later integrated with Gu Tingye's support, which brought Gu Tingye a lot of profits.

He also recruited many outlaws for Gu Tingye.

Gu Tingye's bodyguards were all recruited through the Canal Gang.

However, Gu Tingye's status was still inferior to hers, so there was nothing to be jealous of.

"Young Master, my name is Shi Qiang, but you always call me Shi Tou," Shi Tou replied.

Qi Heng nodded and remained silent.

The pavilions were actually private rooms. Those who frequented Fanlou were either rich or noble, and the private rooms were divided into inner and outer sections.

The outer room was for attendants to rest, while the inner room was where guests were entertained.

Gu Tingye and Sheng Changbai were chatting when they saw Qi Heng enter and they smiled and stood up.

"Yuan Ruo!"

"Second Uncle!"

Gu Tingye stepped forward, took Qi Heng's arm, and introduced him to Sheng Changbai: "Zecheng, this is Qi Yuanruo, the son of the Duke of Qi!"

"Qi Heng greets Brother Zecheng!" Qi Heng smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Young Master, you're too kind!" Sheng Changbai quickly returned the greeting.

Qi Heng smiled and said, "Brother Zecheng, since you are my second uncle's friend, you are also my friend. There's no need for such formality; just call me by my courtesy name!"

Seeing that Qi Heng was approachable and lacked the arrogance typical of scions of noble families, Sheng Changbai didn't insist and instead addressed him as "Yuan Ruo!"

"Sit down and talk!"

Gu Tingye gestured for the two to sit down and asked, "Yuanruo, has Princess Pingning agreed?"

"My mother has agreed and is preparing to send someone to deliver a visiting card tomorrow, and then take me to pay her a visit!" Qi Heng said.

"That's excellent."

Gu Tingye smiled and said, "From now on, you will be classmates. Zecheng has just arrived in Bianjing, so please take care of him if he needs anything."

He had troubled Sheng Changbai a lot in Yangzhou, and thought that since Sheng Changbai was unfamiliar with the place and people in Bianjing, he could repay the favor.

However, he still chose to escape, so when he learned that Qi Heng did not go to the Imperial Academy, he thought of having Qi Heng study at the Sheng family's school.

This way, they could help Qi Heng and also ask Qi Heng to look after Sheng Changbai.

"Zhonghuai, there's no need to trouble Yuanruo. Bianjing isn't a den of dragons or tigers," Sheng Changbai said, shaking his head.

"Although Bianjing is not a den of dragons and tigers, there are too many spoiled brats. I know those people very well."

Gu Tingye said, "It's best if nothing happens. If anything does happen, you can ask Yuan Ruo for help. Those spoiled brats wouldn't dare offend him."