Chapter 142: Opening Act

On August 25th, in the afternoon, when Ning Yi returned home, the entire Su family mansion still felt bustling, though he wasn't sure why it was so busy. The weather was pleasant, a warm breeze gently swaying the golden leaves that still clung to the trees on that autumn afternoon. As he walked along the paths between the courtyards towards his small courtyard, he saw two servants hurrying past. Faint sounds of scolding could be heard from the side, likely from a steward.

The area around the First House was relatively quieter, primarily because fewer people resided there. As he was about to arrive, he encountered two cousins from a side branch of the family, accompanied by their attendants. They had likely just visited Su Tan'er. They greeted Ning Yi and exchanged a few pleasantries, their tone subtly hinting at reproach for his early return. The success or failure of the imperial merchant bid would be revealed that night, and many shopkeepers were still busy outside. At least at this hour, they felt he should be out there overseeing things.

After the brief exchange, they said their goodbyes and left. Ning Yi continued back to his small, quiet courtyard. Su Tan'er sat in the central pavilion of the courtyard, dressed in a green long dress, gazing up at the leaves of a nearby plane tree. Figures moved on the second floor of a nearby building, likely Juan'er or Xing'er tidying things. Seeing Ning Yi, Su Tan'er turned and smiled, revealing her teeth. "My husband is back," she said.

"How leisurely," Ning Yi commented. He walked into the pavilion and sat down.

"You're the leisurely one, husband. You wouldn't get out of bed this morning."

"There's really nothing for me to do anyway," Ning Yi said with a smile. "I went late this morning and missed the early meeting. Then I spent the whole morning watching them bustle about, preparing all sorts of things. I kept thinking, how can there be so much to prepare... Heh, Manager Liao sometimes came over to chat. He said, 'When facing something like this, I usually get very nervous too. I couldn't sleep last night, had some wine, and almost couldn't wake up this morning...' About half an hour later, Manager Luo also passed by and told me he was actually very nervous too..."

Ning Yi stated this calmly, while Su Tan'er had already burst into laughter. When she heard about Manager Luo, her laughter became uncontrollable, and she leaned on the railing beside her. Ning Yi shook his head. "They're all good people, knowing I couldn't get out of bed due to nerves. They were so busy but still came to comfort me. At noon, Manager Xi even told me how tense it was when you did business in Jiangzhou last time..."

"You clearly did that on purpose this morning, husband."

"No, I really didn't get up. Look, this is my first time being late in a month of working. Honestly, every time I see everyone busy to the point of chaos while I have nothing to do, I feel a little guilty. Today is probably their busiest day."

"You're not being honest, husband," Su Tan'er said, smiling subtly. Ning Yi shook his head. "Look, there's a deep misunderstanding between us. I was busy outside... *cough*, busy all morning, while you're sitting leisurely in the courtyard, admiring the scenery. It's obvious who's diligent and who's lazy, yet you say I'm not honest..."

He had actually spent the morning outside daydreaming and wandering around, but at this moment, he said this without a hint of shame. On such matters, they both knew each other well. Su Tan'er smiled, then lowered her head. "Actually, I'm feeling nervous..."

"Are you?"

"After all, it's several years of hard work, and then that unexpected turn of events happened. A few days ago, I truly felt completely lost. Now... now I'm much better, but there's still bound to be nervousness, just as you said, husband—it's tonight. Just now, I was sitting here reflecting on the past few years. I had anticipated a day like this, where everything would be decided, whether it succeeded or failed, and I'd imagined how I'd feel then. But I never imagined it would turn out this way..." She blushed slightly. "Are you nervous, husband?"

"Uh, of course I'd feel some nervousness..." Ning Yi thought for a moment, then nodded. "A healthy amount of tension helps with focus."

Su Tan'er looked at him. "You truly are calmer than anyone, husband..." In her words, there seemed to be a hint of envy for his composure.

"Heh..."

"What do you plan to do after today, husband?"

"Once everything is settled tonight, I'll naturally go back to teaching. Anyway, you've recovered from your illness, so don't even think about asking me for help again. I'm clearly not cut out for business, everyone can see that," Ning Yi said with a smile. "Besides, I married into this family precisely to live off a wealthy woman. I don't have to worry much, and I can enjoy a rich person's life—served hand and foot. How great is that? If anyone tries to stop me, they'll have me to deal with."

"You're speaking ironically."

"No, I'm serious."

"Hmph, so... you intend to continue living off Tan'er? Is that really your plan?"

"Heh, if there are no problems, I won't change a thing... Actually, I think this arrangement is quite good. Look, I can teach, and I can write poetry. Considering my reputation as Jinling's top scholar, if I go out and call for a 'sugar mommy,' there'd be plenty of wealthy women willing to take me in. I'd even bring them face. How about it? This is a limited-time offer, once it's gone, it's gone..."

Ning Yi joked for a while, as if trying to market himself as a product. While such a joke might be common a thousand years later, it was certainly a bit ahead of its time now. Su Tan'er couldn't stop laughing, covering her mouth with her hand. She also lowered her head, her face completely red. "You're shameless, husband..."

"Those words hurt my feelings. This deal just got much harder to close..." Ning Yi said, shaking his head and sighing.

"Uh, well, fine," Su Tan'er said, trying to compose herself. "Anyway, I am... I am..."

"A rich woman."

"Mm, I am a rich woman, so Tan'er's 'soft rice' is for my husband to enjoy... This deal is sealed."

She adopted the air of someone clinching a business deal, but Ning Yi just smiled and shook his head. "It's not that simple. You hurt my feelings just now, so we need to renegotiate the price. With so many rich women out there, why should I choose you?"

"Uh, but I... I am... I'm already married to you, husband. I am..." Su Tan'er tried to maintain a straight face, preparing to boast about herself. After a moment's thought, she finally deflated with embarrassment, lowering her head and laughing. "Oh, husband..."

"Never mind, this is getting ridiculous," Ning Yi said, waving his hand with a smile. "After today, let's just go back to normal. I truly don't plan to do anything; I find it troublesome."

"But I feel I've wronged you, husband..."

"Hmm?"

"I never intended to treat you as a mere live-in son-in-law. I never thought of it that way. It's just... I have a strong personality, and there are things I want to achieve, but it just ended up like this. Since we married... Well, in short, I never wanted you to feel... to feel... I don't even know what I'm saying anymore..."

She struggled to articulate her thoughts, finally showing a look of embarrassment mixed with helplessness. Ning Yi nodded. "I know."

Su Tan'er glanced at him, and only after confirming he wasn't being perfunctory did she breathe a sigh of relief. "I know this isn't good, not like a proper young lady of a prominent family, not like those... *heh*, rich women. But Tan'er can only be this way..."

"Now *that's* a competent rich woman," Ning Yi muttered under his breath, though Su Tan'er didn't quite catch it. In those times, the concepts of a 'rich woman' and a 'strong woman' were naturally very different, with the latter not even having fully formed as a concept yet. She thought for a while.

"Actually, I was just thinking here, and I remembered something I wanted to tell you, husband..."

"What is it?"

"When I married you, husband, I secretly ran away. It wasn't to give you a hard time or anything like that; it was because I didn't know what to do. Tan'er... is a woman, after all..." She lowered her head slightly. "Tan'er knows that was wrong, but Tan'er wouldn't apologize to the husband I knew back then. If it happened again, even though I know it's wrong, I might still handle it the same way..."

She looked up at Ning Yi. Ning Yi nodded. "Because you didn't know me then?"

"Yes, Tan'er didn't know you then, and you didn't know Tan'er either... But Tan'er wants to tell you now, Tan'er will definitely not do such a thing again."

She spoke with considerable courage, but after finishing, she lowered her head again. It was a long time before Ning Yi chuckled. "Isn't that an apology after all...?" His voice was quiet, but Su Tan'er heard it. She blushed even more, looking as if she wanted to retort in embarrassment but ultimately said nothing.

The two sat in the pavilion for a while. Xing'er came down from upstairs carrying some items. Seeing them, she didn't disturb them and went about her own business. As evening approached, Chan'er and Juan'er also returned. As Ning Yi stood up, he asked, "If you're feeling nervous, would you like to come to the banquet tonight?"

Su Tan'er smiled and shook her head. "No, I think not. You want to live off me, husband, and it's rare for you to do anything. You've been in charge for the past month or so, and today is the most crucial day. So, you should preside, husband. I'll just wait here nervously for your good news."

"Tsk, no problem. Watch me unleash my might today, publicly reclaim the imperial merchant title, and then retire gracefully."

Ning Yi stretched his arms wide, yawning in the sunset. Beside him, Su Tan'er playfully glared at him. As the curtain was about to rise on the imperial merchant decision, the small courtyard remained peaceful, bathed in the warm hues of the setting sun.

As night fell, a small procession of carriages departed from the Su family mansion. Ning Yi, Su Zhongkan, Su Yunfang, along with several members from the First, Second, and Third Houses, and key stewards were all part of this procession, representing the Su family. In total, there were fewer than twenty people. Xiao Chan accompanied Ning Yi in one of the carriages, feeling a little nervous. Not long after the carriages set off, an unmarked carriage joined the rear of Ning Yi's carriage. It carried several guards from the Prince Kang's Residence. Meanwhile, the Zhou siblings, disguised as a pageboy and a maid, jogged alongside the carriage and then entered Ning Yi's vehicle, intending to witness the final outcome of the imperial merchant affair he was overseeing.

Soon, the Green Ripple Pavilion, a restaurant situated by the Qinhuai River, came into view. Carriages arrived one after another, carrying textile merchants from families like the Xues, Wus, Chens, and Lvs, as well as officials from the Bureau of Manufactures. The scene was grand. Such events were common in Jinling; pedestrians would glance and then pay no further attention. However, those exchanging greetings and pleasantries had already tightened their heartstrings.

What was to happen that night was undoubtedly a major event for Jinling's textile industry. The focus of the event was, naturally, the competition for the imperial merchant title among the Su, Xue, and Wu families. Ever since the assassination attempt a month prior, those in the know had already sensed the underlying tension, awaiting the outcome of this business rivalry tonight.

Ning Yi lifted the carriage curtain, took a breath, and stepped out with a smile.

Under the night sky, lights stretched like dragons, illuminating the long street ahead and behind.