De Sheng Chang and Jiuling Hall celebrated the imperial grace with great enthusiasm for three full days.
Like all other merchants, De Sheng Chang expressed their joy by hosting lavish banquets, scattering money to beggars, and performing grand operas at Guan Temple.
At Jiuling Hall, Fang Jinxiu decided to distribute medicine as the summer heat was at its peak, so she specially tasked Miss Jun with preparing a medicinal soup to relieve heat and ward off misfortune.
Miss Jun's medicine was difficult to obtain, causing quite a stir in the entire capital, and many people from other regions hurriedly came upon hearing the news.
This made Miss Jun's deeds in the northern lands spread even further.
"Back then in the northern lands, Miss Jun was distributing porridge like this."
"I didn't know Miss Jun did so much in the northern lands?"
"Indeed, it's truly unexpected."
"How is it unexpected? Miss Jun is like a Bodhisattva; seeing the people of the northern lands in distress, how could she ignore it?"
"Ah, you're mistaken; we must not call her Miss Jun now, she should be called Shanyang County Magistrate."
"County Magistrate doesn't sound nice; calling her princess or princess (junzhu) would be better."
"Miss Jun will surely earn another title; it's not difficult."
The streets were lively with chatter and laughter, while Jiuling Hall remained quiet, even somewhat somber.
"Left that day." Fang Chengyu said, "Yesterday he stayed at an inn and used some money."
He was naturally referring to Yuan Bao.
Ever since they learned Yuan Bao stayed in the imperial palace, De Sheng Chang had increased their vigilance, so when Fang Chengyu and Miss Jun were honored, they discovered Yuan Bao had left the capital the very night.
"Having been given benefits, it's naturally for taking something." Miss Jun said, "The imperial decree has already been taken, so what's left is..."
She looked at Fang Chengyu.
Fang Chengyu nodded.
"It's grandmother's secret." He said, then smiled, "That's why I said before I came, the most dangerous person in our family isn't me, it's grandmother."
"How's the manpower at home?" Miss Jun asked.
Fang Chengyu saw the worry between her brows and quickly smiled and nodded.
"This time we are in the dark, they are in the light, it won't be like before." He said, his eyes bright with excitement, "Just waiting for them to make their move."
"I should go back with you." Miss Jun said.
Fang Chengyu hurriedly shook his head.
"The capital can't do without people." He said, "Since we know the root is in the capital."
He said, pointing toward the imperial palace.
"Jiuling, you absolutely cannot leave."
Miss Jun looked at the direction of the imperial palace, feeling a mix of emotions. What on earth has Prince Qi done?
"I've prepared things for your protection." She looked at Fang Chengyu, "Wishing you a safe journey."
Fang Chengyu smiled and nodded, stood up, and then stopped to embrace Miss Jun.
"I truly don't wish to leave Jiuling." He said with a voice of grievance and reluctance.
Miss Jun laughed.
"How can it be leaving? I'm always here." She said, patting Fang Chengyu's back.
The child is now taller than her, time really flies.
It's indeed different; always being here yet unable to embrace like this.
Fang Chengyu said nothing, just held on tightly.
A heavy cough sounded from outside the door.
"The carriage is ready." Zhu Zan said, glaring at Fang Chengyu.
Miss Jun laughed and patted Fang Chengyu's back once more.
Fang Chengyu still did not let go.
"Don't want to go, don't want to go." He said.
Acting like a child, really shameless, Zhu Zan cursed inwardly.
"Then don't go." Miss Jun said with a smile.
Only then did Fang Chengyu reluctantly let go.
"Then I really won't go." He said.
Zhu Zan rolled his eyes.
"Then I'll go cancel the warhorse." He said.
Of course, no one actually stayed behind, nor did anyone cancel the warhorse, and by dawn Fang Chengyu's convoy already disappeared down the road.
Miss Jun stood by the high window, unmoving for a long time.
"Don't worry too much." Zhu Zan's voice came from behind, "Since things are like this, they must be taken care of."
Miss Jun sighed softly.
"I'm not worried." She said, turning around, "Just feel it's not easy."
"Living isn't easy in the first place." Zhu Zan said, "It's the same for everyone."
Miss Jun tilted her head slightly and thought for a moment.
"That's true; those who intend harm repeatedly fail, it's not easy for them either." She said.
What nonsense! Zhu Zan restrained himself again and again.
"Look at you, so unserious." He finally couldn't help but say.
Miss Jun laughed heartily, clasped her hands behind her back, and walked away swaying leisurely.
Zhu Zan smiled with his mouth agape but soon held it back, also swaying leisurely as he followed.
..........
..........
As night fell, the lights in Old Lady Fang's courtyard illuminated, and the maids and maidservants stood solemnly in the yard.
Concubine Yuan stepped inside, cautiously looking outside.
"What are you doing?" Lady Fang said inside.
Concubine Yuan, somewhat startled, quickly turned around.
"Nothing." She said.
Lady Fang gave her a glare.
"If it's guarded this way here too, then sooner or later we'd die at our own hands, saving others the trouble of doing it." She said.
Concubine Yuan replied sheepishly.
The message from the capital had just arrived, warning Old Lady Fang of possible danger, suggesting that the tragedy of grandfather and father being harmed might reoccur, so the Fang Family had been vigilant these days.
In fact, ever since they began dealing with Head Shopkeeper Song, the Fang Family had always been vigilant.
Up to now, if anyone could still infiltrate Old Lady Fang's courtyard, it would be truly laughable.
"I'm just a bit nervous." She said.
"Nervous about what." Old Lady Fang came out from inside, shook her head, and said, "They overthink."
Lady Fang, with a solemn expression, stepped forward to support her.
"Mother, there's no choice but to think more about it." She whispered, "The emperor has withdrawn the imperial decree from our family."
"Chengyu is right, having an imperial decree in our hands is indeed too conspicuous, whether it brings fortune or disaster." Old Lady Fang said, somewhat absent-mindedly.
"Also, they mentioned something about a eunuch." Lady Fang pondered aloud.
After all, what Yuan Bao did was unknown to Miss Jun and Fang Chengyu, only aware of his appearance during the incident with Head Shopkeeper Song, disguised, suggesting his motives.
Old Lady Fang smiled.
"There's no need to worry about this either." She said.
Ever since receiving Chengyu's letter, they had been very anxious, yet Old Lady Fang seemed less concerned, thoughtful yet seemingly distracted.
Perhaps this was related to a secret known only to her.
Lady Fang sighed inwardly.
Let's hope Miss Jun and Chengyu are just overly cautious this time.
The night was both long and short, another day passed, as Lady Fang watched Fang Yunxiao and her sisters settling accounts, while calculating Fang Chengyu's progress.
"Madam, Manager Gao is here." Concubine Yuan said nervously, "He said a guest wants to see Old Lady Fang."
A guest at this time?
Is it a friend from afar or someone harboring ill-intentions?
Old Lady Fang hadn't met guests for a long time, especially now.
"Old Lady Fang said she wants to meet." Concubine Yuan said, anxious and uneasy, "She's already prepared to head to the money business."
Actually going out.
What kind of important guest is this?
"I'll go take a look." Lady Fang hurriedly said.
Watching Lady Fang and Concubine Yuan anxiously leave, Fang Yunxiao also nervously looked at Fang Yuxiu.
"Is there something happening in the family?" She asked.
Fang Yuxiu kept flipping through the account book.
"In the family, hasn't there always been something going on?" She said without raising her head.
Fang Yunxiao chuckled and shook her head.
Alright, that's indeed the case, she lowered her head and continued checking the account book.
...
...
"Mother, is it better to have people come to the family for a visit?" Lady Fang said from the carriage, still persuading, "The money business is crowded, not safe."
Old Lady Fang smiled.
"It's precisely because it's crowded that it's safe." She said, "He comes to see me at the money business, not anywhere else, which is right."
He.
Lady Fang frowned.
"Mother, who is this 'he'?" She asked.
Old Lady Fang hmm-ed.
"He's a businessman." She said, clutching a small Jade Pi Xiu on her lap.
This was just handed over by Manager Gao from the businessman.
She had one of these jade sculptures too, received it from her husband along with the imperial decree back then.
...
While Old Lady Fang headed towards the money business, Fang Chengyu was still on the road.
Declining the hospitality of the feudal authorities along the way, he was determined to deliver the emperor's calligraphy to the ancestral altar soon, a reasonable motive that the authorities couldn't hinder.
Fang Chengyu traveled day and night, while news from Yangcheng kept flowing.
Yuan Bao remained hidden, not having appeared in Yangcheng.
Fang Family was peaceful and quiet, no assassinations or sneak attacks, not even a minor theft.
But is no news really good news?
Fang Chengyu set aside the various messages in his hand.
Could it be a misunderstanding?
Wasn't it supposed to be about killing Old Lady Fang to make the secret remain a secret?
Then what else?
Fang Chengyu furrowed his brows.
Is it perhaps the secret itself?
...
"Old Lady Fang, this way." Manager Gao respectfully guided, pointing to a guest room at De Sheng Chang.
This was a very ordinary room at De Sheng Chang, where all businessmen were entertained upon arrival.
Although this businessman was personally received by Old Lady Fang, nothing else was particularly special in terms of treatment.
"Mother, let me accompany you inside." Lady Fang said again.
Old Lady Fang raised her hand to stop, Lady Fang dared not disobey, and could only watch as Old Lady Fang walked in alone.
The door was pulled open and then closed again, the person sitting inside heard and raised his head.
This was a chubby, amiable-looking middle-aged man, like all businessmen, dressed in silk garments, smiling before speaking.
"Old Lady Fang." He stood up and saluted, "I've long admired you."
Old Lady Fang looked at him with a somewhat complex expression.
"Having done business for so long, it's our first meeting." She returned the salute, then hesitated before raising her head, "How should I address you?"
Having done business for so long, yet not knowing how to address each other, this was indeed a bit of an odd conversation.
The middle-aged man smiled kindly.
"That doesn't matter. I'm just a worker, it's enough that you know who our boss is." He said.
Old Lady Fang nodded in response, holding the Jade Pi Xiu in her hands, and handed it back.
"What instructions do you have?" She asked, "Why come personally?"
The middle-aged man reached out to receive it.
"Here's the thing, the boss doesn't plan to continue this business." He said straightforwardly.
"So that's it." Old Lady Fang showed no surprise, nodding.
"But rest assured, you may continue your business as usual." The middle-aged man said with a smile, "We're just reclaiming the remaining principal."
Old Lady Fang responded in agreement.
"When do you need it?" She raised her head to ask.
The middle-aged man smiled slightly.
"As soon as possible." He said.
.....
(Today's three thousand words, one update, all subsequent plot revisions discarded, so the writing will be slower henceforth, apologies, apologies.)