The Wife of a Loyal Servant - Chapter 46

She had always been a woman of action. Having made this decision, she immediately began assessing the resources she could utilize in the capital. After careful consideration, she realized that all the support she could access came from the Crown Prince’s residence.

“I heard the Crown Princess’s maid say the other day that the Crown Princess’s elder sister-in-law also uses the Jade Complexion Cream and recommended it to her. Aren’t these two excellent sources of support?” Hearing that Ling Yu planned to open a Liufang Hall in the capital, Yang Suwen naturally became very interested.

“That may be true, but the Crown Princess’s status is far too high. The difference in rank is too great. How can we even speak of cooperation? Cooperation that isn’t based on equality isn’t real cooperation. It’s just one party working for the other.” Ling Yu shook her head. She had considered the Crown Princess, but the thought of her status made her abandon the idea.

This was the Crown Princess, the future mother of a nation, not just a lady from an ordinary, wealthy family. Even if Liufang Hall’s business prospered, she was still merely a commoner. What right did she have to discuss cooperation with the most noble woman in the world?

“Although we can’t negotiate cooperation with the Crown Princess directly, we should leverage her influence. If even the Crown Princess approves, how could we worry about poor sales?” Ling Yu smiled slightly and added.

“You’re right! The Crown Princess can be our living advertisement!” Yang Suwen’s eyes lit up as she instantly understood her meaning.

“While that’s the intention, we can’t put it that way. You can’t just take advantage of royalty,” Ling Yu shook her head. Such matters must be handled with tacit understanding; otherwise, it becomes an obstacle, not a help.

“I’ll write a letter to Brother Dachun and ask his opinion. If he can spare the time to come to the capital, that would be even better.” Ling Yu got up to fetch her writing materials.

Yang Suwen’s smile froze. “N-no need to tell him, right? The two of us should be able to handle it ourselves. Why go through the extra trouble? Besides, they can’t do without him over there.”

Ling Yu stopped grinding ink, giving her a suspicious look, noticing her guilty expression. “Tell me honestly, why did you come to the capital? Don’t give me that boring excuse again. Do you think I’m a three-year-old? Even if you were lying to Xiao Shitou, he wouldn’t believe it.”

Yang Suwen stammered, “I… I didn’t lie to you at all. I just felt bored at home, so I thought I’d come out for a walk. And I’ve never been to the capital before, so I wanted to see the world—that’s why I came.”

Ling Yu stared at her for a moment, then resumed grinding the ink. “Fine, say whatever you want. I’ll write back and ask Brother Dachun. I’m sure he knows.”

“No, no, no, please don’t tell him I’m here…” Yang Suwen panicked, lunging to grab the ink and brush. As they playfully wrestled, a hearty male laugh rang from outside, followed by Cheng Shaotang entering cheerfully. “Xiao Yu, look who’s here!”

Ling Yu turned and exclaimed in surprise, “Brother Dachun?!”

“What are you doing here?!” Before she could finish, Yang Suwen, as if seeing a ghost, abruptly turned around and ran!

“Yang Suwen, stop right there!!” Ling Dachun gave chase without a word.

Watching them run and chase as if no one else existed, Ling Yu and Cheng Shaotang exchanged a glance, both confused.

“Come out here!!”

“No, I won’t! I just won’t!!”

“If you have the guts, come out and explain yourself clearly!!”

“I don’t have the guts, I just don’t!”

***

The conversation between the two drifted over from afar. Ling Yu suddenly felt like laughing. She glanced at Cheng Shaotang, who was also trying to suppress a smile, and asked, “Where did you meet him?”

“Brother Dachun found the Crown Prince’s residence. I happened to be on duty there today and had nothing else to do, so I brought him back,” Cheng Shaotang replied.

Meanwhile, Ling Dachun pounded on the door, but Yang Suwen inside remained adamant about not opening it, making him so angry he almost wanted to grab an axe and chop the door down.

Suppressing a laugh, Ling Yu stepped forward and said, “Alright, you’ve traveled so far, take a rest first. Can’t we talk about this another day? She’s here anyway. What are you afraid of, that she’ll run away?”

Ling Dachun sneered, “That coward is capable of anything. She’s run off silently before, and it wouldn’t be the first time.”

Ling Yu cleared her throat. “Don’t worry, this time I guarantee she won’t get away!”

“Sister Yu, how can you do this?!” Yang Suwen, inside, shouted in protest.

“How can I do this? Then come out and explain yourself!” Ling Yu said innocently.

The person inside muttered something, but she didn’t catch it clearly.

Cheng Shaotang had listened for a long while and, suppressing a laugh, stepped forward to assure him, “Brother Dachun, don’t worry. With me here, she won’t be able to run even if she tries. And if she does, I’ll definitely bring her back for you!”

Ling Dachun trusted his words and believed that with Cheng Shaotang’s current strength, he could indeed keep an eye on her. That’s why he cast a resentful glance at the tightly closed door, as if that alone could force the person inside to come out.

Ling Yu personally prepared a sumptuous dinner to welcome him. After they had eaten their fill, she explained her plan to open another branch of Liufang Hall in the capital.

After listening, Ling Dachun found it feasible. “Actually, merchants from the capital had approached me earlier wanting to cooperate, but you weren’t there at the time. I thought we could discuss it when you returned. I didn’t expect you’d already be in the capital.”

“However, the capital is crowded with dignitaries and merchants. It won’t be easy to get a share of the pie. Even if the product quality is top-notch, without someone to rely on, it would be very easy for others to take advantage of us.”

Over the past few years, Ling Dachun had traveled extensively and seen many families whose thriving businesses suddenly got entangled in lawsuits. After such a lawsuit, their businesses might collapse or even close entirely, which was minor compared to the greatest fear: losing their lives.

Ling Yu had anticipated his reaction, so she told him that the Crown Princess and her sister-in-law were also using the Jade Complexion Cream. Ling Dachun’s eyes lit up immediately. “Excellent! With such noble assistance, we won’t have to worry about business failing, nor fear any reckless people daring to mess with us!”

“We don’t know the rules and taboos of noblewomen, so there’s no need to negotiate cooperation. We can simply present them with our best products from time to time. If we gain their favor, it acts as an invisible protective layer and also helps build a good reputation indirectly.”

“As the saying goes, ‘If the superiors like something, those below will surely follow suit.’ If such distinguished people think it’s good, how could others think it’s bad? Naturally, they will follow and buy it!” Ling Dachun slapped his thigh, getting more and more excited.

“That’s exactly what I think!” Ling Yu said with a smile.

Cheng Shaotang downed his wine in one gulp, watching the brother and sister speak animatedly, already planning where to open a location, how much to invest initially, and which varieties of creams to develop.

He raised an eyebrow, thinking that these two were indeed siblings, both acting with the same decisive and efficient manner, never slackening.

“Speaking of which, I’m really grateful you reminded me when we signed the contract with the Ye family last time, specifying the sales area for the Jade Complexion Cream. Otherwise, if the Ye family were to open a branch in the capital now, I really wouldn’t know what to do.”

“The Ye family is doing very well in Changluo City. Why would they want to come to the capital?” Ling Yu said.

“That’s not necessarily true. Once Prince Qi returns to the capital, Changluo City will change, and the Ye family’s business might be affected. I’ve noticed Young Master Ye has been quite troubled by this recently. Fortunately, Lord Guo will remain in Qinghe County; otherwise, I really wouldn’t feel comfortable letting him come to the capital like this.” Ling Dachun shook his head.

“Wait, what did you just say? Is Prince Qi returning to the capital? Lord Guo is staying in Qinghe County?” Ling Yu was startled and grabbed his sleeve, asking repeatedly.

“Yes, the imperial edict has already been issued. Everyone in Changluo City knows. Prince Qi will soon leave his fiefdom to return to the capital, and I’m afraid he won’t be going back. Lord Guo’s retention letter has also been issued. Last time, he was lamenting that he was missing such a good helper as Shaotang!” Ling Dachun was surprised by her strong reaction but answered truthfully.

“Is everything he said true?” Ling Yu looked up at Cheng Shaotang, who was pouring himself a drink.

“It’s true. Prince Qi’s residence in the capital has been prepared, and he should be on his way back now. As for Lord Guo, he has indeed remained in Qinghe County.” Cheng Shao-tang was also somewhat puzzled by her reaction, but he didn’t ask further. His wife often behaved strangely; if she didn’t want to talk about it, he wouldn’t bother.

This…this isn’t right!

Ling Yu felt a headache coming on.

The Prince Qi’s return to the capital was understandable. In her previous life, he had eventually left his fiefdom and returned to the capital, remaining there ever since. But what about Lord Guo? She clearly remembered that he was supposed to be transferred to be the prefect of Jinzhou. Why, in this life, was he still serving in Qinghe County?

Could it be because the Crown Prince is alive in this life? With the Crown Prince alive, her family’s fate has changed, and even Lord Guo’s future has changed along with it.

She couldn’t understand it at all. In her previous life, the Crown Prince had died, and Lord Guo could be transferred to the position of prefect based on his achievements. In this life, the Crown Prince didn’t die, and Lord Guo’s achievements hadn’t changed. So why couldn’t he be promoted? What connection could there be between the two?

She felt she couldn’t dwell on her past life anymore. She should completely discard everything that happened there and not let it affect her judgment in this life. In fact, she should have realized this after the Crown Prince successfully survived his previous life-or-death ordeal.

With the Crown Prince alive, everything would be completely different.

Understanding this, she gradually calmed down, but still felt puzzled, so she asked, “The fiefdom has already been granted, and so many years have passed. How can he return to the capital?”

“This… I don’t know,” Ling Dachun shook his head. As a commoner, how could he know the court’s intentions?

Ling Yu then looked at Cheng Shaotang. Cheng Shaotang put down his chopsticks, thought for a moment, and briefly said, “Since His Highness the Crown Prince returned to the capital, his power has greatly increased, and some of the other princes in the capital are unable to resist him.”

As for Lord Guo, he was likely implicated by her. He had only recently learned that Lord Guo’s younger sister was actually a concubine of Prince Lu, and that he, Lord Guo’s former subordinate, had saved the Crown Prince and was now the Crown Prince’s subordinate. It was no wonder that Prince Lu would hold a grudge against Lord Guo.

Ling Yu suddenly understood.

So, was Prince Qi’s return to the capital the result of the power struggle between the Crown Prince and the other princes? Prince Lu and the others probably thought that bringing back another prince would mean another one to share the burden of the Crown Prince’s relentless attacks, giving them a bit of relief.

However, these power struggles among the royal family members should be irrelevant to them.

With this thought in mind, she immediately felt at ease. As the old saying goes, even if the sky falls, there are tall people to hold it up. She really didn’t need to worry unnecessarily.

After dinner, while Cheng Shaotang and Ling Dachun were talking in the main hall, Ling Yu knocked on Yang Suwen’s door with the food she had specially saved.

“Sister Yu is the best to me!” Yang Suwen, already weak from hunger and dizzy, mumbled as she stuffed food into her mouth.

“Did you offend Brother Dachun somehow? Why are you like a mouse before a cat whenever you see him?” Ling Yu poured her a bowl of tea, frowning as she asked.

Yang Suwen paused with her chopsticks, pretending not to hear her. “Sister Yu, your cooking skills are getting better and better, so much better than Sister Ping’s. When you’re not around, I think about your cooking every day.”

“Just keep playing dumb. I’ll find out eventually,” Ling Yu scoffed.

Yang Suwen swallowed the last bite of food and drank a few sips of tea, then sighed, “Actually, I know the saying, ‘You can run from the monk but not from the temple.’ If you’ve done something wrong, no matter how you try to avoid it, there will always come a time when you have to face it.”

“What exactly did you do wrong?” Ling Yu’s curiosity was piqued. Although this girl often got into trouble, in the past she never fled in fear; she would always face the consequences.

Yang Suwen’s face flushed, and she looked away awkwardly. After a long moment, she murmured timidly, “I…I…I was improper with Brother Ling…”

“What? What did you just say?” Ling Yu didn’t catch her words at first.

“I said, I was improper with Brother Ling!” Yang Suwen repeated nervously.

“You were…improper with Brother Dachun?!!” Ling Yu’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Shh, keep your voice down!” Yang Suwen urgently covered her mouth and glanced around, afraid someone might overhear.

Ling Yu pulled down her hand, lowered her voice, and asked again, “You said you were improper with Brother Dachun? I didn’t hear that wrong, did I? You really didn’t mean the other way around?”

Yang Suwen’s face flushed even more, and she said hesitantly, “You didn’t hear wrong. I was the one who flirted with him. But I…I really didn’t mean it!”

Ling Yu’s lips trembled as she asked again, unwilling to give up, “It really was you who flirted with him? Not him who flirted with you?”

No matter how she thought about it, it didn’t make sense! Shouldn’t it have been the other way around?

“I already said it was me who flirted with him, it was me, it was me!” Yang Suwen repeated loudly, annoyed.

As soon as she finished speaking, she noticed Ling Yu’s expression had turned strange. A chill ran down her spine. She stiffened her neck and slowly turned her head, only to meet Ling Dachun’s murderous gaze and Cheng Shaotang’s barely suppressed amusement.

“Xiao Yu, our son, is crying for his mother! Let’s go back and see him,” Cheng Shaotang cleared his throat and said to Ling Yu, pretending to be casual.

Ling Yu immediately caught on: “Yes, yes, yes, our son is looking for us! Let’s go back, let’s go back!”

With that, the couple quickly left one after the other, dodging Ling Dachun’s angry roar behind them: “Where do you think you’re going?!”

“Brother Dachun is really rude. This won’t do. Suwen is just a young girl. She needs to be coaxed,” Ling Yu sighed.

“That’s true, but Suwen is the one in the wrong, and Brother Dachun is just chasing her to settle matters,” Cheng Shaotang added.

Ling Yu scoffed, “Come on, he’s only fooling that silly girl Suwen. Maybe that whole ‘flirting’ thing was something he staged, thinking he could cut through the mess quickly and win her over first. But that silly girl is a coward. She ran away in fear, ruining his plans.”

Cheng Shaotang coughed lightly, “Xiao Yu, he’s your brother…” So, at least watch your tongue!

Ling Yu smiled mischievously and added, “Luckily, he’s my brother. If it were anyone else, I would have chased him out with a kitchen knife!”

Cheng Shaotang: “…I heard Nanny Chen taught you etiquette for a while?”

Ling Yu lightly flicked her sleeve and performed a proper curtsy: “Husband, I’ll take my leave now!”

Cheng Shaotang chuckled and shook his head helplessly as he watched her graceful figure disappear.

The next morning, Yang Suwen, as usual, stayed inside, refusing to come out. Ling Dachun, however, came out openly to have breakfast with the family of three, in a surprisingly good mood, a smile he couldn’t quite hide on his face.

Ling Yu fed her son, glancing at him occasionally, while Ling Dachun pretended not to notice. “After breakfast, I’ll go walk around the streets to see where we can open the shop. Once the location is chosen, we can slowly prepare everything else.”

“That sounds good. I’m not on duty today, so why don’t I accompany you for a walk?” Cheng Shaotang suggested.

“That would be perfect,” Ling Dachun laughed, pleased to have company.

Only after the two men left did Yang Suwen come out, casually starting her breakfast. Ling Yu wanted to ask her what had happened, but then decided against it.

***

On the day Prince Qi returned to the capital quietly, Ling Yu watched his carriage pass through the city gate, lips tightly pressed together, finally experiencing a truly surreal sensation.

In her past life, her husband had also been part of Prince Qi’s entourage. But in this life, he had become the deputy commander of the Crown Prince’s residence, with no connection to Prince Qi.

She let out a soft sigh. Ling Dachun happened to walk over and asked with a smile, “What’s with that sigh? Land in the capital is extremely expensive, but we’re not so poor that we can’t even rent a shop. I was thinking that once business in the capital stabilizes, I’d bring our parents here to stay for a while and leave Liufang Hall in Qinghe County to Sister-in-law Zhu.”

“That’s fine, but I’m afraid Father won’t agree. You know how stubborn he is. If he refuses, there’s really nothing we can do. In my opinion… Ouch!” As Ling Yu was speaking, a man rushing past bumped hard into her shoulder.

“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry…” The man hadn’t expected to bump into her and quickly bowed in apology.

Since he had apologized, Ling Yu didn’t want to pursue it: “It’s… alright.”

Her face drained of color. Her pupils contracted sharply as horrifying images flashed through her mind. She fixed her gaze on the man’s departing figure, her body trembling uncontrollably.

“Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu?” Ling Dachun noticed her unusual behavior and, thinking she had been hurt, called out worriedly.

“Ah? I… I’m fine, I’m fine… Let’s… let’s go back!” Ling Yu murmured, pale-faced and with her mind completely blank.

“Are you really alright? You look terrible. Are you feeling unwell, or have you been too busy and tired lately?” Ling Dachun asked anxiously.

“I’m really fine. You should go home quickly. Who knows what kind of chaos Suwen and Xiao Shitou will cause at home!” Ling Yu composed herself, forcing a smile.

Seeing her reluctance to elaborate, Ling Dachun didn’t press further. The siblings walked a short distance before Ling Yu couldn’t help but turn back. She saw the man standing in front of a stall, talking to the owner.

“Brother Dachun, could you do me a favor? Follow the man who bumped into me earlier and find out where he lives?” She gritted her teeth, tugging at Ling Dachun’s sleeve and whispering.

Ling Dachun looked at her suspiciously. Seeing her still somewhat pale, he thought for a moment and agreed, “Okay, you go home first. I’ll tell you once I find out.”

“Okay, be careful, don’t let him find out,” Ling Yu instructed.

Ling Dachun nodded, quickened his pace, and followed the man at a respectful distance. The two of them, one in front of the other, quickly disappeared into the crowd.

Ling Yu, absentmindedly washing the vegetables, completely missed Yang Suwen’s hesitant expression.

Finally, Yang Suwen couldn’t help but remind her, “Sister Yu, you’ve washed these vegetables so many times already! They’re going to rot if you keep washing them!”

Ling Yu noticed, smiled apologetically, and was about to say something when she saw Ling Dachun returning. She hurriedly gave Yang Suwen a few instructions and rushed to greet him.

“How did it go?”

Ling Dachun looked around before answering softly, “I followed him all the way. I saw him enter the back gate of Prince Qi’s residence. After inquiring further, I learned he was a servant in charge of purchasing for the household—his name seems to be Kunzi*”

(*TL’s note: 子(Zǐ)—informal nickname, often used for servants, juniors, or people of lower status.)

“A person from Prince Qi’s residence? How could this be? How could he be from Prince Qi’s residence?” Ling Yu’s eyes widened with disbelief, her lips trembling.

How could he be from Prince Qi’s residence…

“Why wouldn’t he be from Prince Qi’s residence? Xiao Yu, what are you thinking?” Ling Dachun asked, puzzled.

What’s so surprising about him being a servant from Prince Qi’s residence? The capital is full of powerful families; running into a few servants from high-ranking households isn’t unusual, is it?

Ling Yu, unsure how to explain herself, hastily made up an excuse to send him away and returned to her room, her mind in chaos.

That night, she tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and only drifted off around midnight.

In the darkness, a strange man lunged at her, pinning her down and tearing at her clothes, his foul mouth shoving into her face.

She struggled desperately. In her panic, her right hand touched something hard. She grabbed it and slammed it against the man’s head.

Thump after thump, the man groaned and collapsed to the ground.

A deafening clap of thunder followed, and lightning tore across the night, instantly illuminating the dark room and clearly revealing the blood-soaked face on the floor.

Ling Yu awoke with a start.

It was him—it really was him: Kunzi, the servant from Prince Qi’s mansion who had bumped into her during the day.