Chapter 153: Showdown

The sunlight was warm. Xi Junyu walked through the courtyard corridor under the eaves, paused briefly, and then entered an adjacent room, nodding to the two people inside.

“Shopkeeper Chen, what’s the reaction from Rongji like?”

The man he addressed as Shopkeeper Chen was Chen Youhe. Hearing Xi Junyu’s question, he shook his head. “Rongli is still insisting on raising prices. They plan to increase it to four taels and two qian.”

“That’s robbery,” Xi Junyu frowned. However, as similar bad news had become commonplace recently, he didn’t show much emotion. He merely sat down at the table, his face gloomy. “Lüji can be negotiated down to four taels.”

“I’ve already told them, but Rongli said that since the patriarch is no longer in charge, once Second Miss steps down, the Su family will struggle to recover from such a major upheaval, and they’ll face losses. That’s why they’re demanding this price.”

“Second Miss won’t step down!” Xi Junyu paused. “Su Yu isn’t that shortsighted. Even if it’s a desperate struggle, he’ll help support the First Household. With Second Miss’s abilities, she’ll rise again, sooner or later!”

His words were resolute, but silence filled the room. They knew their own affairs best; the current situation was indeed very bad. The Second and Third Households were desperately trying to dismantle the First Household. Even Su Yu seemed somewhat powerless now; the old man couldn’t suppress so many dissenting voices. Over the past month, the First Household’s influence near Jiangning had suffered, mainly due to some suppliers or distributors demanding higher prices or increased profits. Most of these issues were still being dragged out, with the Su family refusing to budge, asking for delays here and there. However, the implicit impact had likely already reduced the First Household’s total profits by two tenths, and the future development issues were the most frightening.

“Damn it… one wrong step leads to a cascade of errors.”

Xi Junyu cursed under his breath, then shook his head with a gloomy expression and began to deal with some documents on the table, such as inbound and outbound manifests. The two shopkeepers beside him also looked grim. Chen Youhe shook his head. “If it weren’t for the negligence during the Imperial Merchant period…” The people in the room didn’t continue, but everyone knew what that implied. Recently, a theory began circulating within the Su family, primarily after an internal audit of the bright yellow cloth workshop during the Imperial Merchant period.

For example, many matters could be handled by the individual shopkeepers, but numerous others required an overall controller to manage the entire situation. The small workshop responsible for researching new fabrics was originally managed personally by Su Tan’er, and there were no issues. However, after Su Tan’er fell ill, negligence appeared on certain levels. Now, from the perspective of the Su family’s experienced shopkeepers, if Ning Yi hadn’t been overly enthusiastic and drastic in his operations regarding the bright yellow cloth during that period, many small detail issues that should never have occurred would have been avoided.

If Su Tan’er had personally managed affairs during that time, when they chose an aggressive direction for their promotional strategy, they would certainly have made minor adjustments to the workshop’s secrecy measures to accommodate it. But after Ning Yi took charge, he simply didn’t understand these small details. The workshop’s policies remained unchanged, and Shopkeepers Zhou and Bai had to strive for secrecy while also cooperating with the high-profile promotions from above. This inevitably left many traces, allowing the Wu family to exploit loopholes at the most fundamental strategic level.

This matter made everyone feel particularly aggrieved whenever they thought about it. They had prepared everything perfectly, but in the end, they lost because of that inexperienced young man. Experience—all the problems stemmed from a lack of experience. At that time, had any other shopkeeper taken control of the overall situation, such problems probably wouldn’t have arisen.

And that scholar even wrote something about “old friends still drawing swords” with such righteous indignation. How embarrassing...

Previously, most people somewhat disregarded Ning Yi, believing that if they won, it had nothing to do with him, and if they lost, it couldn’t be helped. However, this sentiment only became clear in the past half-month. Consequently, discussions targeting Ning Yi within the Su family grew more intense recently. Shopkeeper Xi, who was originally quite benevolent and reasoned that it was understandable, ultimately felt frustrated at this moment. In the eyes of Shopkeeper Chen and others, Xi Junyu’s slight loss of composure at that moment stemmed from this.

The room was quiet for a while, filled only with the rustling sounds of business being handled. In the silence, Xi Junyu glanced around, his earlier annoyed gaze now calm.

Preparations were likely almost complete. The clan meeting would begin within half a month, and when Tan’er was dismissed from her position, it would be the best time to let such opinions reach their peak. If the Second and Third Households were to make these accusations, it might provoke her animosity, but if those close to her were constantly saying these things, she would inevitably redirect her anger, despite her stubbornness. Such is human nature.

After the Imperial Merchant debacle, the Su family erupted in chaos, with various accusations and sentiments. No one knew that all the comments about Ning Yi were instigated and guided by him from behind the scenes. There was no need to hire people to spread rumors; merely a few thought-provoking remarks in certain conversations were enough to make people think and deduce. On the other hand, he amplified the feeling among everyone that they had “done nothing wrong yet still lost,” increasing their sense of grievance and frustration. From beginning to end, he observed from the sidelines as a rational bystander, even helping Ning Yi by saying some things—though, of course, these words ultimately only had a counterproductive effect.

Everything was meticulously planned; he was skilled at this. The ideal scenario would have been for Ning Yi to finally lose his composure and make some blunders at home. Unfortunately, the scholar was incredibly tolerant; facing various provocations, he knew that defending himself was useless, so he said nothing, even feigning a leisurely attitude. But it didn’t matter; he had already started subtly implying to the family members that this fellow felt no guilt whatsoever.

As he casually mused over these thoughts, the face of Wu Qilong suddenly flashed into his mind. He frowned.

“Shopkeeper Chen, how has the Wu family been doing lately? I heard they’ve had some problems.”

“I’m not entirely sure. I heard a steward fell ill from overwork, Qin Ye, I believe; we dealt with him once a couple of years ago.” Chen Youhe looked up. “Some people are saying the Wu family is going to face all sorts of issues, probably rumors spread by the Xue family. The imperial fabric delivery is due soon, and the Wu family will be busy with the annual cloth for a while. The Xue family probably wants to take advantage.”

“Oh.”

The Su family members certainly disliked the Wu family now, but as vanquished opponents who had just been tricked, they certainly didn’t want to hear gossip about the Wu family all day. Chen Youhe spoke casually, and Xi Junyu simply nodded. Then, he thought to himself, what could possibly happen to the Wu family? He dismissed it. The issues facing the Wu family now were no longer on the same level as the Su family’s; they would drift further and further apart. Let them do whatever they wanted. For now, he just needed to finish his own business.

In short, everything was going smoothly.

He glanced at the afternoon sunlight in the courtyard outside the window. The atmosphere was peaceful, yet there was a subtle sense of dead silence. The Su family clan meeting was less than half a month away; everything would soon be settled. Those belonging to the First Household were currently somewhat dispirited, doing what they could, but uncertain of their fate. Perhaps only he clearly knew his place and what he was doing. Only he had a clear destination.

So he smiled, as relaxed as the sunlight itself.

The quiet room in the afternoon, with its doors and windows closed, seemed a little dim. The air was thick with the smell of medicine. In front of the heavily covered sickbed, a graceful woman held a bowl of porridge, blew on the spoon, and then brought it to the patient’s mouth.

“…I heard that Granduncle Seven has also decided to have me step down at the clan meeting. Second Uncle finally convinced him… Third Uncle is busy poaching people; he’s been saying recently it’s a pity Shopkeeper Liao was sent away. Rongji wants to raise prices, and Lüji too. It’s such a hassle; they’ll have to keep running back and forth later…”

Spoon by spoon, she fed the patient porridge, slowly recounting family matters. The woman by the bed looked somewhat tired, though a faint smile touched her lips. Amidst her weariness, there was a hint of sarcasm. She reached up to smooth her temple, tilting her head to look at her father in the bed. A bitterness lingered in her heart; she had come to visit, intending not to speak of troubling affairs, yet recalling their past conversations, it seemed these were the only topics they shared, aside from mere courtesies.

Two and a half months had passed since Su Boyong’s assassination. During this time, Su Boyong had been confirmed paralyzed, losing sensation in both legs, and the movement of his left hand was also somewhat affected. He was still physically weak, requiring daily dressing changes, and unable to leave his bed. His spirits also seemed to have been affected, often leading to a bad mood. Su Tan’er visited every day, but their father-daughter conversations mostly revolved around these matters. When her mother or aunt was present, they would only exchange a few polite greetings. Su Tan’er was silent for a moment.

“Today on the street, I saw many selling tangerines. Father, you used to like eating them, didn’t you?… Uh, there’s no wind today, Father. Should we open the window a bit?… My husband said it’s better to open it, something about air circulation… and the sunshine coming in will lift your spirits…”

These were the only heartfelt words she could find. When she mentioned Ning Yi, her smile became a bit brighter. Su Boyong nodded, then shook his head. “No, let’s not open it. It’s cold… I feel cold. Also, Tan’er, what has Liheng been doing lately?”

Su Tan’er smiled faintly. “Doesn’t my husband come to see you every day too? Lately, he’s just been teaching those children, going out for walks and playing.” Su Tan’er’s smile had actually faded, and she spoke faintly of Ning Yi’s recent activities. She understood why her father asked these questions; earlier, while in bed, her father had sighed several times, “I can’t see through him.” This was also a subtle reminder to her.

These things were hard to articulate. Su Tan’er herself was curious about how capable her husband truly was and what he could achieve, but her father’s perspective differed from her own. After a few more exchanges, she called out the door for her father’s maid, Xiuhe, to come in, handed her the porridge bowl, and then began to get up and take her leave.

For the past month and a half, she had had a lot to do every day. Stabilizing the current situation was not easy, and she had put in great effort. However, she was no longer as lost as she had been before the Imperial Merchant issue. When tackling tasks, her mind was actually calm and her spirits good, though her body was busy. After she exited the room, Juan’er, who was following her, came forward. It was evident that her mistress’s mood wasn’t particularly good.

There were still places to go and things to attend to that afternoon. The mistress and servant left the courtyard, only to hear hurried voices coming from the adjacent yard.

“It’s already come to this, what are you still thinking about…?”

“It’s not that simple, older sister…”

“I’ve already heard. But this First Household doesn’t belong to her alone. Is she going to drag everyone down with her? It’s already come to this. The First Household is Boyong’s; you need to help Boyong protect it…”

“I know…”

“If only that Ning Yi hadn’t interfered, knowing nothing…”

These muffled voices drifted over. When two figures suddenly appeared at the doorway there, they also froze. Su Tan’er bowed gracefully. “Second Aunt, Uncle Gu…”

“Oh, Tan’er, come here… come see the master…”

“Second Miss.”

The speakers were the Second Concubine of the household and her younger brother, who was also one of the shopkeepers in the First Household. After an awkward exchange of greetings, both parties went their separate ways. Once they reached a deserted spot, Juan’er pursed her lips. “Miss, Second Mistress and Shopkeeper Gu are discussing surrender…”

“I know,” Su Tan’er smiled faintly. “And it’s not just them…”

With all these recent troubles in the First Household, there were significant internal divisions. Some believed that the First Household would certainly not secure the family headship and that it would be better to stop contending and preserve their own interests. Even if Su Zhongkan or Su Yunfang took over the family later, they wouldn’t be expelled. The more they could retain, the easier their future lives would be. Both concubines, and even her own mother, seemed to hold this view. Of course, if Su Tan’er truly wanted an open discussion, they would most likely claim “absolutely nothing of the sort” or “we women don’t meddle in business affairs.”

In another sense, they were indeed acting for the good of the First Household, for Su Boyong, and for themselves, though they were somewhat shortsighted and disheartening. At that moment, they were considering these matters with the cunning minds they typically reserved for internal household squabbles.

“Juan’er, it’s a good thing you weren’t born into a prominent family…”

“Huh?” Juan’er blinked.

“There’s no human warmth in this family.”

Su Tan’er smiled faintly. Juan’er pursed her lips, finding it inappropriate for a maid to comment. The two stopped on the small bridge near the garden pond. Su Tan’er looked at her reflection in the water, tidied her hair, and murmured, “Actually, I don’t have much human warmth either…”

“No, Miss and Master-in-law are both very kind.”

“I can’t feel close to Father either. It’s just my husband who’s had to endure so much. Hmm, he’s been out during the day recently, hasn’t he?”

“Yes, some people in the family speak very harshly. Master-in-law doesn’t bother arguing with them, but he definitely doesn’t like hearing it… Last time, Chan’er even cried from anger.”

Su Tan’er frowned, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes. After a long moment, she took a deep breath and smiled at Juan’er. “You’ve noted everyone down, right?”

“Uh,” Juan’er paused slightly, then lowered her head. “How did Miss know?”

“Because I’m your elder sister.”

Su Tan’er stated it matter-of-factly. Juan’er looked a bit embarrassed, lowering her head with a troubled smile. “Chan’er and I both wrote them down. Last time… last time, we were secretly jotting down names at home, and Master-in-law saw us.”

“Oh? What did your husband say?”

“He said we were petty.”

“Heh.” Su Tan’er chuckled, then composed herself. “Write them down properly and show me. Don’t tell your husband.”

“Mm.” Juan’er nodded, and having received this “get out of jail free card,” she then straightened her face and began to complain. “Miss, actually, in the past few days, they’ve been saying increasingly outrageous things. Some even told Master-in-law to leave the Su family himself… How much longer until we resolve these matters?… Master-in-law is truly the most wronged. Sometimes, Juan’er just can’t bear to listen anymore…”

“My husband…”

Su Tan’er paused, recalling the events of the past two and a half months, especially after the Imperial Merchant annual meeting. Her own busyness was secondary; it was Ning Yi’s serene indifference amidst everyone’s insults and accusations that stood out. It wasn’t just Juan’er, Chan’er, and Xing’er who couldn’t bear to watch; every time, she herself wanted to stand up and curse at people. On several occasions, Ning Yi had even patted her shoulder and told her to go back. Only she could clearly perceive the steadfast strength hidden behind his casual demeanor in every incident. And each time something like this happened, it made her feel that she had somewhat let her husband down. At the beginning of their marriage, she had believed these were burdens she had to bear, and she had strived hard to do so. Yet, in the end, it was always that figure who stepped forward and casually deflected them.

“It won’t drag on much longer. The news has already started to spread. If the Wu family reacts normally, then… almost…” She gazed at the surrounding scenery. “We can pretty much start the confrontation in the next few days…”

After saying this, she felt a slight sense of relief. “What a long two and a half months,” she murmured with a sigh. “After it’s over, after it’s over…” Something came to mind, and a blush suddenly flashed across her face. She lowered her head to look at her reflection in the shimmering water, then instinctively raised her hand to gather her hair, turning her face to look at herself in the water. Indeed, she had to wait until it was all over. She looked so haggard now; she wouldn’t be worthy of him like this…

Her reflection in the water smiled. The woman released her hair and stepped forward.

“Let’s go. It’s time to show our hand.”

In the afternoon sunlight, the woman’s confident and carefree stride was illuminated, with the little maid happily following behind. This day was the fourteenth of the tenth lunar month in the eighth year of Jinghan. Although the decision to make a move had been made, a few more days of waiting would naturally be required after some procedures. However, in reality, certain events had already unfolded that very afternoon. These events seemed quite natural at the time, but in hindsight, they might appear somewhat abrupt.

That afternoon, in a tea house, Ning Yi, perhaps on a whim, casually set things in motion for a seemingly minor matter. Of course, what he considered minor might have been unimaginably significant to others. Just the day before, Ning Yi had encountered Wu Qilong on the street. It seemed like a chance meeting, and both exchanged casual greetings. Over the past month and a half, this wasn’t their first encounter, but it was indeed the first time they had acknowledged each other. Wu Qilong was then speaking with a fabric merchant. Upon seeing Ning Yi, he cupped his hands from afar. “Brother Ning, how have you been?” Ning Yi returned the gesture. “I’m fine.” They then went their separate ways, and Ning Yi didn’t bother to dwell on it at the time.

Then today, after finishing his lessons, he went to the East Market and bought an old book. It was probably a book brought in by foreign merchants from the Arab regions in the West, containing many diagrams, likely related to alchemy. Ning Yi bought it on a whim, intending to find someone to translate it later. After buying the book, he went to a tea house for some tea and asked the waiter for paper and brush. He looked at the diagrams, guessing the book’s contents—a method of recalling past knowledge. As he was absorbed in writing and drawing, a figure approached his table.

“Brother Ning, what a coincidence. What’s this?”

Ning Yi looked up. Indeed, it was Wu Qilong. He nodded and greeted him. Wu Qilong then sat down on the other side of the tea table, and Ning Yi casually introduced the book.

“It’s likely from the Arabian region. This is Persian, a bit further north; I can’t read it. But from the diagrams, it seems to involve chemical reactions of several metals. Do you understand chemistry? Uh, it’s similar to alchemy…”

“Brother Ning, you truly have wide-ranging interests. Er… chemical reactions of metals?”

“Things like metal purification and transformation.”

“Oh?” Wu Qilong’s expression turned serious. “Wouldn’t that be incredibly useful?”

“Not particularly. Most of what’s written here, our local blacksmiths and similar craftsmen probably already know. It’s just ‘borrowing stones from other mountains to polish one’s own jade’—their way of thinking is different, offering a different perspective.” Ning Yi said this, then looked up at Wu Qilong. “Brother Wu, are you waiting for someone?”

“Heh, no, nothing special. Just strolling around and happened to see Brother Ning here. Got a bit curious.”

Ning Yi nodded, his gaze unwavering. Wu Qilong smiled. They looked at each other for a moment. After a short pause, Ning Yi narrowed his eyes, nodded again, and waved to the waiter. “Add a cup.”

He lowered his head again and began to sketch one of the book’s diagrams onto the paper, deep in thought. When the cup arrived, he didn’t look at Wu Qilong, merely extended a hand. “Brother Wu, please help yourself.”

“Thanks.” Wu Qilong smiled as he poured himself tea. Ning Yi was still engrossed in the diagrams, sighing softly, as if he had heard another of Wu Qilong’s recent responses. He then murmured to himself, seemingly realizing something, “Oh, the fabric started fading…”

Wu Qilong’s smile instantly froze. His hand trembled for a moment, but he ultimately steadied the teapot and gently set it back down. Tilting his head, his gaze fixed on Ning Yi, serious and somewhat fierce, his face twitching slightly. Something surged up from deep within him—the sensation of a nightmare finally becoming reality—and also a hint of shock. In his anticipation, this conversation shouldn’t have gone like this, nor should Ning Yi have stated these things so casually.

Yet, before his eyes, everything was laid bare. Ning Yi was still bent over, writing and drawing, seemingly finding it as mundane as the snacks and tea before him on this early winter’s summer day. He had simply uttered the phrase in a casual conversational tone: Oh, the fabric started fading, no wonder you’re sitting here.

A perfectly ordinary remark.

“As expected… it was your doing…”

It took great effort for Wu Qilong to suppress his voice, preventing it from becoming a grind or a tremor.

In the early winter sunlight, Ning Yi set down his brush, raised his head, and met his gaze.