Chapter 187: Aftermath

The New Year had just passed, but it was not yet the Lantern Festival. The streets along the Qinhuai River were still filled with a festive atmosphere. Firecrackers occasionally popped — some from shops opening or welcoming new tenants, others scattered here and there by children running wild in the streets, laughing and playing. Vehicles and pedestrians moved along the thoroughfares.

Even the festive atmosphere couldn't dispel the biting cold. In this commercial district, snow had been swept aside, forming small, unmelting hills. Yet, inside a private room at the Listening to Waves Pavilion, a restaurant by the roadside, it was warm. A well-placed, roaring fireplace not only heated the room but also ensured a slight circulation of air. The room was luxurious, with incense smoke wafting through beaded curtains. An ethereal and beautiful qin melody provided accompaniment, played by a woman of graceful figure and bright beauty, who at this moment served merely as a backdrop, speaking little.

Tea was poured into cups, leaves unfurling in the water, steam gently rising.

"I left Jiangning for the New Year and only returned yesterday. Has anything major happened recently?"

"Like Brother Tang, I also went out of the city to pay respects to my ancestors and visit elders. There's really no news to speak of."

The scene seemed peaceful. The two men speaking were Puyang Yi and Tang Xu, both outstanding young figures in Jiangning's business world. Tang Xu was gentle and refined, not only skilled in business but also accomplished in literature and scholarship. The two were both rivals and friends, occasionally meeting for tea and conversation. Today was a chance encounter after the New Year, and since the courtesan queen Qilan was present, she played the qin as accompaniment.

"...I heard there was a snow disaster up north on this trip. Lin Shouzou, who was transporting a batch of goods, encountered an avalanche and lost everything. What a pity."

"Lin Shouzou is a very resourceful man. He'll always manage to get by by piecing things together from various sources. Heh, it's just that his luck hasn't been good these past two years..."

"He is indeed a formidable person. War is coming, and I heard he invested heavily in the northern regions early on. Once the fighting begins, he's just waiting to get rich. He's probably counting the days now. It's a case of seeking fortune in danger..."

"Those fabric sellers have also been discussing things recently. Two days ago, I had drinks with some people from the Weaving Bureau; they were all sighing."

"Oh? What they did last year wasn't enough? What's going on now? Has the Xue family made a move too?"

"It's still about the Su and Wu families."

Puyang Yi took a sip of tea, slightly surprised. "Didn't that matter end when the Su family split up in late October last year? The Wu family was badly outmaneuvered by Ning Yi. Their businesses are probably almost fully transferred by now. Could it be that they're unwilling to concede and are planning to stir up more trouble?"

"The aftermath is not over."

"Still aftermath?"

"I only just guessed today, but people in the fabric industry have a keener sense and probably realized it too... The Wu family actively took on all the tribute cloth quotas for the Jiangning area. Officials at all levels have been visiting them quite frequently."

"Taking on tribute cloth? Is he crazy?"

"They were forced to, I suppose. I heard that recently the Wu family has been spending money like water. Their power and influence have been collapsing like a landslide. After losing one-third due to the Su family's scheme, and then taking on the tribute cloth, greasing palms both high and low, they've almost lost another half. People only noticed the 'greasing palms' part after the New Year; they were operating too excessively. Now, they've probably breathed a sigh of relief. After this, it's estimated that the Wu family's remaining resources are less than one-third of what they once were, and for several years, they'll likely be busy only as imperial merchants. I ran into Wu Qilong once; he's become much more subdued."

Puyang Yi's mouth hung open. "Why would this happen?"

"Guess. I only just figured it out too."

The other man brought his teacup to his lips, then blinked and set the cup down. "That fabric... it can't be fixed?" This wasn't a question but a deduction after deep thought.

Tang Xu nodded from across the table. "That's what I guessed too. Many people have probably realized it already."

"This matter is truly full of twists and turns; it's still not over even now..." Puyang Yi murmured, his expression complex.

"Everyone was fooled, even after things were laid bare, everyone was still being fooled," Tang Xu chuckled. "From the assassination attempt on the Su family members, it's been one deception after another. In late August, when the imperial merchant designation was decided, everyone thought the Su family was fooled and were amazed by the Wu family. In late October, at the Su family's clan meeting, everyone realized it was the Wu family who had been fooled. Who knew that even after the revelation in October, everyone was still kept in the dark... Looking at the Su and Wu families' attitudes at the time, almost everyone thought the Su family had reached an agreement with the Wu family, using the genuine brilliant golden brocade to threaten them. But now, it seems..." He sipped his tea, his expression complicated. "It was an empty-handed trick. That truly is admirable..."

Puyang Yi was silent for a moment. "So, the Su family didn't exchange real brilliant golden brocade for one-third of the Wu family's assets. They exchanged a mere secret for one-third, and the Wu family even had to squander another one-third themselves. It was revealed in October, yet no one suspected this. This really is... calculating ten steps ahead..."

"Thinking about it now, yes," Tang Xu nodded. "The Wu family had deep foundations. If they had only lost one-third, they could probably still maintain their position as one of the three major weaving families. After this incident, the Su and Wu families have become arch-enemies. If I were Ning Yi, I probably wouldn't allow such a situation to continue. Only by completely crippling the Wu family, making them incapable of competition, could one truly rest easy. However, at the time, this ambition seemed too vast, so no one considered it. Everyone just thought the Su family had already gained a huge advantage, and stopping while ahead was logical... The Xue family and others missed their best opportunity. This Ning Yi seems gentle, but in reality... he's terrifying."

The two spoke in a casual tone. Their own family businesses were much larger than the Su family's, and they weren't in competing industries, yet discussing this matter still left them astonished and amazed by the intricate manipulation behind it. The outcome revealed at the clan meeting in late October had already been shocking enough—a scheme within a scheme, one link after another. When people thought that was the end, they never imagined the matter would continue to this point, crippling the Wu family until only one-third of their assets remained. And the mastermind behind all this was merely a scholar.

"It's good that he's not an enemy."

"Heh, such an extraordinary strategy might not be repeatable at any time; there might be coincidences involved too. Brother Puyang might not necessarily fear him, either. Besides, I heard Brother Puyang has a good personal relationship with Ning Liheng. What kind of person is he exactly? Did you not notice before?"

"We've met a few times, but I wouldn't necessarily call it a personal friendship. His nature is unassuming; he has little interest in gatherings and revelry. In the past, I only thought he was highly accomplished in poetry and literature. I never imagined that he could stir up such astonishing ripples when he stepped forward for his family. The Wu family was just utterly crippled like that... After October, I also went to visit him, but I heard that ever since the imperial merchant matter was decided, he simply returned to his life of teaching at Yushan Academy. Occasionally, I meet him strolling in the street, and he seems to pay no further attention to the Su family's affairs. He lives a much more unfettered life than you or I."

"Such a strange person exists," Tang Xu smiled, raising his teacup, then added, "I'm thinking, if anyone wants to scheme against the Su family again from now on, they'll probably have to carefully weigh the influence of Ning Liheng standing behind the Su family..."

Considering the Su family's current situation, if one were their enemy, having a Ning Liheng, known as "calculating ten steps ahead," always standing guard behind them would indeed make one's scalp tingle. With just one move, he wiped out one-third of the Wu family. Others would truly have to think carefully before acting.

Behind the beaded curtain, Qilan, who had been playing the qin, gradually understood the conversation between the two men and listened intently.

Stories of talented scholars and beautiful women were always popular in entertainment venues. Now a courtesan queen, Qilan occasionally heard Ning Yi mentioned, with herself included in the conversation, and she couldn't help but feel a strange sensation. Ning Yi was truly one of Jiangning's most unusual scholars. While considered the top scholar, he rarely frequented entertainment venues, a rarity for such a talent. Yet, she personally felt Ning Yi truly deserved his reputation, even surpassing Cao Guan, which was a very strange feeling indeed.

He avoided entertainment venues not because he avoided people, but because he just didn't frequent them. However, if he were interested, she thought they ought to get along. Qilan occasionally pondered this, believing herself to be different, and hadn't he given her several thousand taels in tips during the last courtesan queen competition?

Of course, now that she had status, she was quite busy, hosting guests for the Puyang family to repay their patronage, among various other engagements. She also met other impressive scholars, but she only indulged in such thoughts in her free time. Thoughts of Ning Yi were infrequent, but whenever they did arise, she never felt any dislike. Sometimes she heard rumors about Ning Yi's association with Yuan Jin'er, a former courtesan queen who had retired from the life, but she didn't know their veracity. Rumors were never lacking in the entertainment world.

Today's gathering didn't require her to speak much, so she was content to simply strum her qin and idly muse. Puyang Yi and Tang Xu chatted for a while longer before rising to bid farewell. Puyang Yi mentioned he would visit the Su family in a few days and, while there, invite Ning Yi to a poetry gathering for the Lantern Festival... Qilan wondered if he would come.

Puyang Yi also had other engagements, so after seeing Tang Xu off, he parted ways with Qilan at the entrance of Listening to Waves Pavilion. Qilan, accompanied by her maid, had a coachman to drive her directly home. As she was traveling in her carriage that day, Qilan actually saw Ning Yi and Yuan Jin'er.

After the New Year, although there were many pedestrians on the streets, genuinely leisurely strollers were few. Most people were visiting relatives for New Year's greetings, each with their own purpose. The carriage proceeded along the Qinhuai River, and at one intersection, she lifted the curtain and saw Ning Yi's figure, accompanied by another person, entering a restaurant by the river. The person with Ning Yi looked somewhat like Yuan Jin'er, yet there was something strange, different from her usual demeanor, so Qilan had her carriage stop.

It was mainly because Puyang Yi and Tang Xu had just been talking about Ning Yi. At this moment, Qilan got out of the carriage to take a look. The riverside restaurant was still undergoing renovation; work had probably stopped for the New Year, but its layout was quite peculiar, with subtle stylistic changes. While not numerous upon closer inspection, these changes indeed made the two-story building, likely intended as a restaurant, stand out. It seemed a great deal of thought had gone into it. Due to the cold weather, Ning Yi was dressed quite heavily, and wearing a hat made him look a bit rustic. The woman beside him was also heavily dressed in a brown outfit and hat with white fur, which, though it couldn't completely hide her allure, made her look somewhat like a small panda from a distance.

Qilan distinguished her: it was indeed Yuan Jin'er, the legendary retired courtesan queen, walking with Ning Yi.

As a courtesan queen, Qilan was dressed today in an elegant and beautiful dress, which was also quite warm, having been carefully chosen. Yuan Jin'er, also a former courtesan queen, would certainly not have worn such a casual outfit that seemed to obscure her beauty in the past. Ning Yi and Yuan Jin'er walked into the restaurant, holding several pieces of paper, pointing at the furnishings in the main hall. Qilan frowned, told her maid to wait there, and hurried over.

The building was halfway through its renovation, and some windows were not properly closed. Ning Yi held a pen and discussed with Yuan Jin'er, occasionally leaning over a table to write and draw. Yuan Jin'er pushed things around in the cluttered hall. Their voices carried out:

"...It's not meant to be a major overhaul, but it must highlight the importance of tidiness... Mmm, actually, I've been quite busy lately. Two apprentices; the younger one constantly wants to do dangerous experiments. The older one... the older one is also a little girl; she's been sulking all day recently. She's only thirteen, turning fourteen this year, and I heard her family is picking a husband for her, so she's quite annoyed..."

"Fourteen is quite old already! She can get married, or at least get engaged!"

"Profound age questions, I can't explain them clearly to you... Mmm, I've decided to add a few more stools... How old are you? Why haven't you gotten married yet?"

"My fate is bitter; I can only depend on Sister Yunzhu... Don't even think about it! Oh, right, I've been thinking, can we call this place 'Zhuji – Jin'er's Store'? If you agree, I'll order the signboard."

"...Change the second store to Jin'er's Store."

"Mmm."

"Alright, no problem, whatever you want."

"Why does your expression look so strange?"

The two talked in fragments inside. Some of their words she didn't understand, but... the feeling was surprisingly warm.

They seemed like a family, like a married couple, or perhaps siblings.