Chapter 150: Bright Sword

The weather was gradually turning colder, but Ning Yi’s daily life remained largely unchanged.

Each morning, he would run to the Qinhuai River to meet Nie Yunzhu. Occasionally, they would discuss the day’s plans. In the afternoons, he would either go to the main Zhuji store or come here to drink tea and listen to music. Lately, there was always a "third wheel" whenever he spent time with Nie Yunzhu. More accurately, Yuan Jin'er, who seemed to have nothing better to do, would always sit beside him while he listened to Yunzhu play and sing. Their relationship had already been established, hinting at a potentially "less pure" direction. However, this situation forced Ning Yi and Yunzhu to maintain a strictly platonic friendship, which Ning Yi found quite regrettable.

Of course, on the bright side, having two top courtesans sitting by one’s side was not an everyday luxury. Yunzhu’s singing and playing were exquisite, and if Yuan Jin’er were to dance, that would also be quite enjoyable. However, Yuan Jin’er never gave him such an easy opportunity. She would sit cross-legged next to Ning Yi, propping her chin in her hand, listening intently, seemingly amused by herself, like a young monk. If Yunzhu left to get tea or snacks, Jin’er wouldn’t follow; she’d just stay by Ning Yi’s side, looking utterly serious, which Ning Yi found quite annoying.

Because of this, after several sarcastic exchanges, the two had a few frank conversations, mostly when Nie Yunzhu was not around and they were just glaring at each other.

“Why don’t you go dance for a bit, little lady?” Ning Yi’s relationship with her was already off, so he didn’t bother with polite words.

“No dancing. I’m just sitting here to listen to Sister Yunzhu sing... You should be content. Do you have any idea how much it used to cost to have me accompany someone at the Golden Wind Pavilion?”

Ning Yi rolled his eyes, refusing to engage on that topic. Recently, Su Tan’er had given him a key, making him a "kept man" with free access to money, which ironically made him reluctant to take it. Thus, he was currently quite "poor" and avoided financial discussions. “Tsk, you can’t be doing this. You’re ruining a potential romance...”

“Ruining a romance? Aren’t you and Sister Yunzhu just honorable friends? Well, keep it that way! But I won’t allow you to push your luck and do anything ‘naughty.’ You’re no good person; you have a wife at home. Can you really abandon Su Tan’er to be with Sister Yunzhu?”

“Honestly, that’s difficult,” Ning Yi mused, then murmured to himself while looking at the river, “There are many problems, and men are not good creatures; they always want what’s in the pot even when they have something in their bowl...”

Yuan Jin’er had been about to say the same thing, but seeing Ning Yi’s shamelessness, her eyes widened in a huff. Yet, being well-seasoned, she quickly regained her composure and retorted with a smirk, “Keep looking, keep looking! You can look all you want, but you won’t get to eat.”

Ning Yi looked at her with a hint of weariness. “I wasn’t particularly hungry to begin with, but with you reminding me all day, I’ve suddenly become very hungry. What do I do now...?”

“Then let’s see who’s better!” Yuan Jin’er winked at Ning Yi, looking exceptionally cute. Ning Yi chuckled, “A thief can be a thief for a thousand days, but no one can guard against a thief for a thousand days.”

“Hmph.” Yuan Jin’er ignored him, turning her face away. Afterward, she continued to sit with Ning Yi, listening to the music. She was utterly shameless, and Yunzhu, finding it amusing, didn’t bother to chase her away. Instead, once Ning Yi left, Jin’er would pester Yunzhu with complaints. However, in their current situation, Yunzhu wouldn’t get angry over such matters. Even when Jin’er brought up Ning Yi’s greedy "eyes on the pot" behavior, Yunzhu merely smiled without a word, even asking with interest if he had truly said that, as if wondering, “Does he really want to ‘eat’?” This left Jin’er a little deflated.

In truth, Ning Yi didn’t dwell much on such matters. As a man, of course, he had desires; it was impossible not to. Nie Yunzhu was beautiful and gentle, and her resilient side also greatly attracted him. They had reached a point where Yunzhu was entirely receptive. If Jin’er hadn’t suddenly appeared that day, things would have naturally progressed. But on the other hand, his mind wasn’t entirely consumed by these things. As for Yunzhu, she mostly enjoyed the feeling of being with Ning Yi. Frankly, in this era, while romantic and celebrated love stories or tales of fidelity did exist, the way men and women interacted could never involve true equality or respect. Even men who cherished women did so within the confines of their time.

What truly struck some people about Ning Yi was perhaps his extremely “peculiar” and “unconventional” way of doing things. After saving Nie Yunzhu and being slapped, he could walk away indifferently, and later, he could casually chat and joke with her. He could sleep through an entire afternoon listening to Nie Yunzhu’s zither, not bothering to display his cleverness or talent. It was like how he could sit with Su Tan’er on the balcony all night when bored, or casually make jokes about being a kept man. Though casual, Ning Yi never appeared scoundrel-like or without principles. He always possessed his own distinct temperament and grace; he was simply uninhibited. The genuine elements of peace and equal affection, or what they might consider love, embedded within his casual demeanor, were likely something women of this era could never fully grasp. Of course, whether one liked it or not was a matter of individual perspective. For instance, a young girl named Zhou Pei constantly felt that Ning Yi, as a teacher, had no image and lacked authority.

Ning Yi and Yuan Jin’er’s constant sarcastic sparring and subtle conflicts often left Yunzhu a bit flustered. When they were all together, she seemed to revert to her days as a courtesan, picking up her zither to play and sing for amusement. Jin’er, acting purely as a spectator and offering no help, was quite shameless. While Yunzhu found a certain self-amusement in the situation, Ning Yi, equally “shameless” as Jin’er, would occasionally retrieve his integrity for a quick polish. When Jin’er was briefly out of sight, he would inquire about her, but Yunzhu would simply smile and say, “I’m happy in my heart.” She often shared Jin’er’s “confessions” with Ning Yi, though naturally, not the overly sensitive ones like “eating from the bowl while eyeing the pot.”

His visits to the small building in the afternoons remained infrequent. After school in the mornings, he would either teach the Zhou family’s young siblings more at the academy’s laboratory, researching physics and chemistry, or wander around with Xiao Chan, eating snacks. Sometimes he’d visit Elder Qin to chat and play chess, or drop by the Zhuji store. The city gates had reopened, and the flood’s aftermath was in its recovery phase. Once the alcohol ban was lifted, Zhuji would begin selling its strong liquor.

Occasionally, he would run into people he knew from the marketplace—from the Wu family, the Xue family, or other friends and foes of the Su family, as well as some of the Su family’s shopkeepers. In this way, Jiangning City didn’t seem so large, but there was little for them to say to each other. Towards Ning Yi, these people either mocked him or disdained him. Ning Yi largely understood this and couldn’t be bothered with them.

However, at the Su family residence, messy situations often arose. For instance, not long ago, a young shopkeeper, somewhat related to the Su family, accused him of being entirely responsible for the imperial merchant debacle, claiming it was due to his failure to properly manage the fabric formula. If it weren’t for his lack of experience and insufficient attention to that detail, the imperial merchant affair would have been a sure success. Such incidents were common, and he had long been mentally prepared. Internal conflicts within the Su family’s First Branch, as well as the influence of the Second and Third Branches, were now surfacing. As long as they could spare no effort in striking at anyone connected to Su Tan’er, it could be considered a victory. Although Ning Yi had married into the Su family and had currently stepped back from business matters, he was still Su Tan’er’s husband. Any means to make him leave the Su family would clearly be the most potent blow to Su Tan’er. Whether they could truly achieve this was another matter, but various pressures were inevitable. Ning Yi’s current response was naturally seen as a passive, retreating stance due to his perceived fault. But the resentment inside him would not lessen and would eventually erupt, creating an even bigger flaw. People were waiting for this day, for Ning Yi to stumble, which would make things even harder for the already beleaguered Su Tan’er. However, over the past few days, the situation seemed to have become slightly strange.

“Recently, Fifth Uncle and Seventh Uncle in the clan have agreed. In half a month, another clan meeting will be held to formally discuss the family’s current issues. At that time, they will also bring up Tan’er’s involvement in family business as a woman. The matter of the First Branch should be decided this year.”

In the afternoon, in Su Zhongkan’s courtyard, several shopkeepers and cousins close to the Second Branch, including Su Chonghua, were sitting in a room with Su Zhongkan, drinking tea and casually chatting about recent family affairs. For the past two and a half months, the Su family had been in turmoil, and the businesses of the Second and Third Branches had been significantly affected. However, as members of the Second Branch, they showed little despondency. As Su Zhongkan spoke, a cousin interjected.

“I just fear that Third Uncle still won’t change his mind. In our Su family’s situation, even if all the other uncles and elders side with us, one word from him might still drag things on.”

Su Yu was the third eldest among the older generation, and the “Third Uncle” mentioned here referred to him. Su Zhongkan shook his head.

“Father probably won’t say anything more. If he were going to, he would have intervened already, given the family’s situation over the past month. The First, Second, and Third Branches will eventually see a resolution; he understands that. He seeks stability and wishes for family harmony. He’s probably genuinely angry about Elder Brother’s situation, but Elder Brother is already in this state, and Tan’er has made such mistakes. He’ll likely feel it’s not good for the First Branch to remain at the forefront of this storm. Stepping back would also ensure Niece Tan’er can live a good life later.”

“It should be so,” a cousin nodded. “Most in the family now have this understanding. These past few days, I’ve contacted several shopkeepers from the First Branch to ask about their future intentions, and most have expressed willingness to join us if they split from the First Branch. It’s just a pity that the key figures haven’t declared their stance. Shopkeeper Xi, with his youthful impetuosity, says he will live and die with the First Branch. Ha, many in the family know about his feelings for the Second Miss. And Liao Kaitai also refuses to declare his stance...”

“If Shopkeeper Liao were to say a single word, I believe many people would shift their allegiance,” one shopkeeper remarked. “However, he is truly loyal to the Eldest Master. Even after what happened, he still hasn’t complained about the First Branch... Oh, he just mentioned a few nights after the fabric guild’s annual meeting that Ning Liheng’s scholarly stubbornness was too self-willed, otherwise there might have been a slim chance... We haven’t been able to find him lately, so we can’t approach it from that angle...”

“Heh, Ning Liheng...” Someone chuckled.

Su Chonghua also leaned back in his chair, smiling. “This man has talent, but unfortunately, he knows absolutely nothing about business...”

“As for Shopkeeper Liao, I heard Niece Tan’er sent him to the capital?”

Su Zhongkan nodded. “It’s hard to say what specifically for, but the family was notified he went to the capital. That day, I even laughed, thinking, ‘Has Niece Tan’er lost her mind? Does she think she can’t make progress in Jiangning and wants to go to the capital to file a complaint?’ But I suspect she has other ideas. Filing a complaint without solid evidence, and with no good connections in Tokyo, she should know it’s impossible.”

“She seems to be targeting the Wu family recently, trying to disrupt the market by dumping goods at low prices. Maybe she really has lost her mind and wants to make a desperate gamble?”

“Dumping goods at low prices would be pushing our entire Su family into a fiery pit. Any fool knows what the outcome would be; the entire fabric industry would unite against us,” Su Zhongkan chuckled. “Even if she wanted to, the family wouldn’t allow it. If that order were issued, a clan meeting would likely be called that very night, saving us the trouble.”

“However... there have been some strange rumors outside these past couple of days,” Shopkeeper Ren mused, then spoke up.

“Oh? What rumors?”

“The Wu family’s situation seems a bit odd. The past two days, their actions have differed from their previous aggressive approach of adjusting supply and demand, reallocating tribute silk, and discussing development with other merchants. There are rumors that they’ve run into some problems with the ‘Radiant Gold Brocade.’ In short, over the last two days, Wu Chenghou and his people seem somewhat distracted during business talks. Some even say that officials from the Weaving Bureau are spreading rumors that the Wu family is discussing with Dong Decheng to delay the delivery of the first batch of Radiant Gold Brocade. However, this is not yet confirmed.”

“What’s going on?” Su Zhongkan frowned.

“It’s probably just some minor issues; these things happen often. Yesterday, I heard that Manager Qin Zhongnan, who was in charge of their imperial merchant fabric, suddenly fell ill. Because of this and that, people always spread exaggerated rumors,” a shopkeeper said, shaking his head.

The shopkeeper who spoke earlier also shook his head and chuckled. “Probably. I think the Xue family is spreading the news. This afternoon, I even heard someone say that the Wu family fell into our Su family’s trap regarding the imperial merchant affair, and that the Second Miss secretly plotted against them, which is why they’re having problems now, or something to that effect.”

“Fell into a trap?” Su Zhongkan paused, then threw his head back and laughed. “This must be the Xue family spreading baseless rumors. If anyone fell into a trap, it would either be Elder Brother’s or Second Miss’s. But Elder Brother wasn’t even conscious in those days. As for Second Miss, if she were feigning illness, she might truly be scheming, but last time she genuinely collapsed from overwork, and Doctor Sun also said she was under too much stress, coupled with Elder Brother’s sudden fall... There’s no doubt about that. If it really was a trap, I heard Liheng handled everything at the time. Could they have fallen into Liheng’s scheme?”

When he mentioned this, everyone offered helpless, wry smiles. Honestly, it felt a bit improper for family to mock their own, but they were all quite familiar with Ning Yi. Outsiders might call him mysterious or incomprehensible, but being in the same large household, everyone knew exactly what he did daily. All day long, he taught a bunch of children, told outlandish stories, supposedly conducted some unorthodox small experiments, played Go, and just walked around eating things. Before Su Tan’er collapsed, he had almost no involvement in business matters, and after the annual meeting that day, he hadn’t set foot in the fabric guild again. If such a person, idle all day, had truly accomplished something significant within that month, remaining unbothered by all the scorn and insults until now, then he would hardly seem human. Furthermore, if he had truly done something, various changes could have occurred in the subsequent month and a half; it would have been impossible for him to completely ignore them.

Everyone drank their tea and laughed for a while. A moment later, a cousin frowned, “But... what if it really is?”

Su Zhongkan paused slightly, and the atmosphere in the room immediately cooled, as they exchanged glances. The cousin pondered for a moment.

“Now that I think about it, it’s truly strange. Ning Liheng had completely ignored business matters before. After Second Miss fell ill, he genuinely tried to set things right. But after August 25th, when Second Miss took over, he suddenly withdrew completely. It’s possible he was affected by the blow that day. But... his withdrawal was far too thorough. Afterward, he completely stopped inquiring about business. People criticized him, cursed him, but he remained calm and unconcerned, living his life as usual, as if these matters didn’t bother him at all. One couldn’t see any impact... If he were truly so angry, shouldn’t he have felt some guilt or concern afterward? Could his self-control truly be that remarkable?”

As he said this, a strange feeling arose in everyone’s hearts. Indeed, over the past month and a half, the family had been engaged in overt and covert struggles, with tides rising and falling, everyone inside and out vying for various things, expending their utmost efforts. Many had also focused their attention on this scholar, making him a part of the struggle, constantly trying to vex and displease him to force him out of the Su family, or at least to disrupt Su Tan’er. But this couple: one stubbornly doing seemingly foolish, incomprehensible things at the center of the vortex, and the other... now appeared to be living as usual, as if these matters didn’t bother him at all. Everyone had always thought he was enduring, but to endure to this extent was indeed a bit excessive.

However, this was ultimately just a casual guess. A moment later, everyone shook their heads and chuckled.

“How could that scholar be so capable...?”

Su Chonghua, who probably knew Ning Yi best, found this the most amusing. “You’re overthinking it. The Wu family just has some minor issues, and you’re actually taking hearsay seriously. If Liheng were truly that capable, he wouldn’t be the Ning Liheng we know, but rather Zhuge Wolong—taking on a mission in a crisis, doing what needed to be done, then withdrawing, leaving nothing to trouble his mind... Do any of you know such a person? However, he does have some literary talent and cultivation, and his temperament is different from others. In the past, he was doubted by everyone for his poetic talent but couldn’t be bothered to defend himself. Now, enduring some insults and discussions shouldn’t be a problem for him...”

“Haha, Chonghua is right. You are indeed overthinking it...”

Amidst their laughter and chatter, everyone quickly dismissed these thoughts. However, perhaps because of their afternoon conversation, when Su Zhongkan encountered Ning Yi returning home that evening, he couldn’t help but cast a few more glances at him. The young man in a blue robe held an old book, God knows where he’d bought it, and walked along, gazing at the sunset in the western sky, lost in thought. Noticing Su Zhongkan’s gaze, he turned and smiled at him. “Second Uncle.”

They greeted each other and passed by. Su Zhongkan shook his head slightly. Indeed, he was too young. One could see a youthful composure in him, but not much cunning. And such composure in a young person was most likely feigned. For over a month, he had endured so many scornful looks and curses, which he was probably bottling up, but he had no choice but to put on this act... As he thought this, he then focused on how to persuade Ninth Uncle, the youngest of his uncles, that evening, no longer considering matters related to Ning Liheng. Petty squabbles were always the younger generation’s business; he didn’t need to get involved.

The same evening, in a private room at a restaurant by the Qinhuai River, Wu Qilong met with Xi Junyu. Their encounter that day was ostensibly a “chance meeting,” as both had other engagements. Xi Junyu, for instance, had been frequently interacting with many Su family members and First Branch shopkeepers, trying to guide and set things in motion, which was now showing results. He had an appointment to dine with some Su family youths nearby that very evening, so his time was limited.

“Brother Xi, how have things been lately?”

“All’s well. But what about your Wu family? Have you had trouble these past two days?”

Wu Qilong gazed at him for a moment, then took a sip of tea. “Nothing serious. I just wanted to ask you about the matter we discussed previously. For the past month and a half, you’ve been trying to make the Su family blame Ning Yi for the imperial merchant affair. I’ve also had people help you spread rumors outside. The biggest issue with the imperial merchant business right now is that Ning Yi didn’t properly guard the dye formula. But it seems the effect has been limited. What do you think now?”

“Who says the effect is limited?” Xi Junyu chuckled. “Until the final step, who knows what will happen? Given the Su family’s current situation, both Su Tan’er and Ning Yi must be harboring resentment. Su Tan’er is currently overwhelmed, trying to seize a final opportunity, with no time to process these emotions. Ning Liheng... he’s just been enduring it, but he won’t be able to forever... Once the First Branch is lost under Su Tan’er’s watch, she’ll remember everything that happened, and she’ll recall everyone saying it was Ning Liheng’s fault...”

“What if it doesn’t turn out that way?”

Xi Junyu shook his head. “That’s not something I need to consider right now.”

“Heh, that’s just like you...” Wu Qilong laughed, then leaned back in his chair. “Still, my offer stands: the Wu family’s doors are always open for you. When the time comes, please consider it.”

Xi Junyu looked at him in slight silence, first nodding, then, after a moment’s thought, said, “You seem off. Has something really gone wrong on your end?”

“Yes, there are problems. The workshop had a few accidents, and Uncle Qin suddenly fell ill. Things are happening too fast, and the pressure is intense. We’re now considering negotiating an extension with the Weaving Bureau. It’s not a major issue, but it’s certainly not good news, and we can’t let too many people know. So, I’ve been thinking, if only we had more capable people in the family...”

“Mind your own business,” Xi Junyu said, then turned and left.

Wu Qilong watched him leave, then drank a cup of tea, sitting quietly in the room. As evening passed into night and the lamplight grew clear, a figure knocked on the door and entered. Any member of the Su family would recognize the man: the middle-aged man who entered was also a manager from the Su family, named Qi Guangzu. After closing the door, he greeted Wu Qilong and sat down in a nearby seat, frowning.

“Uncle Qi, how is it?”

Qi Guangzu looked at Wu Qilong. “Young Master, is the Wu family truly having problems?”

Wu Qilong smiled, lowering his head to sip his tea. “Uncle Qi, if my Wu family were truly in trouble, it wouldn’t benefit you, would it?”

“I spoke with Shopkeeper Zhou yesterday,” Qi Guangzu said, frowning. “Shopkeeper Zhou and Shopkeeper Bai are the most discreet and cautious among the First Branch shopkeepers of the Su family, which is why the Second Miss entrusted them with developing the dye formula. After the imperial merchant affair, the Su family conducted an internal investigation, and both of them have been sidelined. But after receiving your message, Young Master, I had a drink with Shopkeeper Zhou the night before last, and what he said truly startled me... Young Master, what exactly happened?”

Wu Qilong’s expression became serious. “Shouldn’t I be asking you what happened? Uncle Qi, what exactly did Shopkeeper Zhou say?”

“He... he basically didn’t say much,” Qi Guangzu began, as Wu Qilong remained silent. Qi took a deep breath. “But throughout his drunkenness, I couldn’t detect any worry in him. It wasn’t until yesterday that I realized he seemed... not only unconcerned about the Su family’s investigation but even about the entire current situation of the Su family. This should clearly be his and Shopkeeper Bai’s responsibility, Young Master. There’s only one sentence I remember most clearly.”

Qi Guangzu paused. “He was drunk at the time, and he said... that in the entire Su family, the person he admired most, besides the Elder Grandfather, was...”

“Heh, your Second Miss, I presume...” Wu Qilong could almost guess what was coming next. He lifted his teacup and let out a cold chuckle. Qi Guangzu looked at him with some difficulty. “No... it was... Son-in-law Ning.”

Wu Qilong froze. He moved the teacup away from his lips, and after a moment, his gaze shifted around, seemingly unsure where to put the cup. He took a deep breath, then opened his mouth and let out a long exhale, his eyes returning to Qi Guangzu.

“You said... what?”