Chapter One Hundred and Five: The Beginning

"Uncle Mingyu, to put it simply, a person of great influence in Yanjing has set their sights on the Ye family's assets and Cousin Ye’s official career. They orchestrated a trap, but the performance was a failure."

Ye Mingyu looked stunned. He didn't fully grasp what Jiang Li was saying, but he wasn't entirely lost either. The Ye family was immensely wealthy in Northern Yan, and such vast fortunes inevitably invited envy. Beyond jealous competitors, there were others with malicious intent. It was not unthinkable for someone to use devious means to exploit the Ye family’s riches. However, Jiang Li’s words hinted at something deeper: the person behind the Dafeng Pharmacy, and even behind Magistrate Tong Zhiyang and his brother-in-law, likely wielded immense power.

People with such overwhelming power were never to be trifled with.

Everyone knew the adage that commoners should not fight with officials. While Ye Mingyu was brave and fearless, the Ye family was not an impenetrable fortress. Being targeted by such a person—one could escape once, but what about the second or third time? One could not rely on good fortune forever.

He muttered, "There is no such thing as guarding against a thief for a thousand days..."

"Uncle Mingyu, you need not belittle yourself. The Ye family has marital ties to the Jiang family. As long as I am alive, I will not allow the bond between our houses to break. My father and second uncle hold significant positions in the imperial court. That 'influential person' may be powerful, but the Jiang family is not a house of low status, and the Ye family is not so easily bullied. Furthermore, Cousin Ye is already a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. With such a high starting point, his future will only grow smoother. Once he reaches a certain rank, the Ye family will have a natural shield."

Jiang Li paused, then continued, "The reason they chose to strike now is simply because Cousin Ye’s wings have yet to fully harden. Once the beast grows its claws and fangs, it will be much harder to deal with. Since they failed this time, it will become increasingly difficult for them to find another opportunity in the future."

Hearing this, Ye Mingyu felt a measure of comfort. Reflecting on her words, he couldn't help but feel ashamed. "By doing this, I’ve dragged your father and the Jiang family into this mess. It’s nothing but trouble."

"What’s there to say between family?" Jiang Li smiled. "Who knows? Perhaps one day, the Jiang family might face a catastrophe, and we would need the Ye family’s help."

Ye Mingyu was amused and laughed. "Ah Li, you really know how to tease. The Jiang family would never fall to a point where they need our help. Don't say such impossible things just to comfort me."

Jiang Li remained noncommittal. In her view, the future was unpredictable. Currently, the growing alliance between Prince Cheng and the Right Chancellor was disadvantageous to the Jiang family. Emperor Hongxiao’s position was precarious, and whether the world would eventually fall into Prince Cheng’s hands remained unknown. Although she was striving to prevent such a situation, she could not control what might happen to the Jiang family beforehand. Fortunes shift like the wind; the Jiang family had enjoyed many years of prosperity, but who could say what the future held?

Collecting her thoughts, Jiang Li smiled. "Regardless, the matter of the ancient scented silk is temporarily resolved. Tong Zhiyang’s mistress and son are an issue. Since this magistrate is so keen on 'keeping his word,' let us follow the agreement and return his beauty and son to him."

"Just return them like that?" Ye Mingyu was indignant. After learning the truth from Tong Zhiyang’s letter, he was furious. Tong Zhiyang had originally intended to smear the Ye family’s reputation along with the others. Although the Ye family had cleared their name, the ancient scented silk business would be difficult to restore, yet Tong Zhiyang would face no consequences. It was unfair.

"One must keep their word," Jiang Li said with a gentle, kind smile. "Tong Zhiyang treasures his son so much because Tong Yu is his only heir. Letting his only bloodline wander outside is not a good thing. We are simply doing a good deed. We will help Tong Yu by ensuring the He family learns of his existence. This way, Tong Yu won't have to be an illegitimate child but can become the rightful young master of the magistrate's household. As Tong Zhiyang rises through the ranks, he will at least have a successor, won't he?"

She spoke with a cheerful expression, her tone so sincere that no one would doubt her good intentions.

As Ye Mingyu listened, his expression turned peculiar. By the time she finished, he couldn't help but burst into loud laughter. "A gentleman knows what to do and what not to do, but today I’ve learned that a young woman is not to be trifled with either!"

Whenever Jiang Li devised a plan, she was always remarkably open, turning a conspiracy into an overt maneuver—something only she could do. The method was far from honorable. After all, having just spoken of "keeping one's word," she immediately turned around to burden Tong Zhiyang with a massive headache. Yet, as a member of the Ye family, Ye Mingyu found it incredibly satisfying, sweeping away the gloom of the past few days.

"Tong Zhiyang fears his wife like a tiger. Hearing that the child was at the He estate, he didn't even dare send anyone to follow, which shows how much he fears his wife. Now that Madam He will discover the existence of this mother and son, Tong Zhiyang’s good days are over. Not to mention anything else, whether he can keep his position as magistrate depends on whether Madam He shows mercy. But everyone in Xiangyang City knows the Magistrate’s wife is the most strict, shrewish, and formidable woman. Hahaha, Ah Li, this move of yours is brilliant!"

"Uncle, you are too kind," Jiang Li said humbly. From the beginning, she had no intention of letting Tong Zhiyang go. A man like him was a blight. Who knew when he might trip up the Ye family again? Let him and Madam He be locked in conflict, becoming the laughingstock of Xiangyang. If that joke reached Yanjing and the ears of that person, causing them some distress, all the better.

One cannot commit all sorts of evil and face no punishment at all.

Ye Mingyu was a man of action. He stood up immediately and said, "There is no time to lose. I have long wanted to see that grandson Tong Zhiyang lose face. Ah Li, wait at the manor. This time, watch how I avenge our Ye family!"

He spun around and disappeared from the doorway.

After he left, Tong'er asked worriedly, "Miss, will the Third Master be alright? What if Madam He and Tong Zhiyang join forces to deal with us?"

"Don't worry, they won't," Jiang Li smiled. "Both are flesh and blood to their respective sides. Madam He will never tolerate Tong Yu, and Tong Zhiyang will be forced to protect him. Tong Yu alone will keep the couple in constant chaos. With just a little provocation, their complete estrangement is only a matter of time."

Hearing this, Tong'er finally felt at ease.

However, Jiang Li’s brow remained furrowed. The Ye family’s troubles were temporarily settled, but her own mission was not. Her true purpose for returning to Xiangyang was not here, but in Tongxiang... her father, Xue Huaiyuan.

...

Ye Mingyu moved quickly, faster than Jiang Li had anticipated. By that afternoon, a farce had erupted in Xiangyang City.

In front of the Tong manor, Tong Zhiyang and his wife, Madam He, had a massive row, during which Tong Zhiyang actually slapped her. Everyone in Xiangyang knew Tong Zhiyang was terrified of his wife; he usually acted like a mouse before a cat, not daring to say a word in disagreement, let alone strike her. Yet, in broad daylight and under the eyes of the public, he had somehow found the courage to slap his wife.

The bewildered crowd watched with delight as they noticed Tong Zhiyang shielding a young, beautiful woman and a small boy who bore a striking resemblance to him. The situation became immediately clear: the Magistrate, who never frequented brothels, had been keeping a mistress and had a son. Now that the secret was out, it was no wonder his wife was ready to tear him apart.

However, Tong Zhiyang seemed determined to stand by his mistress, even going so far as to strike his wife for her. This was no small matter. The He family was not to be trifled with, and everyone knew that Tong Zhiyang owed his current position entirely to his wife’s family.

"You murderous dog!" Madam He, her hair disheveled from the slap, ignored her status as a magistrate's wife and pointed a finger at his nose. "You dare hit me for this bitch? Tong Zhiyang, your courage is growing!"

Tong Zhiyang regretted the slap the moment it landed. He owed everything to Madam He; striking her would certainly bring ruin. But seeing her move to harm Tong Yu, he couldn't hold back. Tong Yu was his only son, and that poisonous woman dared to touch his flesh and blood.

With that thought, he hardened his heart and roared, "You poisonous woman, I’ve had enough of you! We’ve been married for years without an heir. Since a man cannot leave his family line broken, even the 'Seven Grounds for Divorce' allows me to cast you aside for being childless. Suqin has given me a son, yet you not only refuse to tolerate her but want to kill my child. How can there be such a wicked woman in this world!"

"Divorce me?" Madam He laughed coldly. "Fine! Since you have the guts to divorce me, go back and write the papers now. I won't say another word. But remember this: the house, the servants, and your position as magistrate all belong to me. Without me, you are nothing! You want to continue your family line? Fine! Let’s see how you do that without a penny to your name!" With a wave of her hand, she ordered the servants to follow her inside, then slammed the door shut.

It was clear that Tong Zhiyang was no longer welcome.

As a magistrate, though he had been suppressed by his wife for years, he had always maintained a facade in front of the commoners. Being thrown out in public was a humiliation he couldn't bear. He ordered the crowd to disperse, though his face remained flushed with shame.

Watching the onlookers' amused expressions, Tong Zhiyang felt both anger and fear. He was angry that Madam He had discovered Suqin and her son, and hated her lack of loyalty. But following that was a creeping sense of dread.

Madam He truly could strip him of everything he owned. If he were no longer a magistrate and had no money, what would he do? He was truly trapped, caught in a dilemma.

...

Ye Mingyu recounted the scene at the Tong manor to everyone.

Describing Tong Zhiyang’s disgraceful behavior, Ye Mingyu was full of schadenfreude. He vividly painted a picture of Madam He’s shrewishness and Tong Zhiyang’s cowardice.

Madam Guan remarked in surprise, "Who would have thought that while Magistrate Tong seemed to obey his wife, he was secretly keeping a mistress? It was pure hypocrisy, and the boy is already so old."

"Tsk, tsk, indeed unexpected," Ye Mingxuan shook his head. "Logically, for Tong Zhiyang to have hidden this so well, it should have been airtight. How did Madam He manage to catch him at this exact moment?"

"If you walk by the river often, you’re bound to get your shoes wet," Ye Rufeng said with disdain. "He brought this on himself. Paper cannot wrap up fire; the truth was bound to come out."

Ye Mingyu and Jiang Li exchanged a glance. They were the only ones in the Ye family who knew about the mistress and her son. They hadn't told the others for fear of opposition. Although the Ye family was wealthy, they were cautious and followed the rules. Ye Mingyu was different—he was bold and willing to take risks. Jiang Li had only consulted him, knowing he would be on board.

"Tong Zhiyang’s official path will be difficult now," Ye Mingxuan said. "Even if only to teach him a lesson, Madam He won't let him have it easy. She might even strip him of his authority."

"That might actually be a good thing for us," Ye Jia'er said. "However... even so, the ancient scented silk business has plummeted."

Tang Fan had explained the cause and effect, but the public only cared about the results. Whether or not it was a frame-up, the problem had occurred with the Ye family’s silk. If wearing it might lead to death, people simply wouldn't wear it.

The weaving mill had resumed operations, but no one dared to buy the latest batch of ancient scented silk. Ye Minghui had no choice but to pause all production, and so far, no one had found a solution.

"Why don't we just stop this business?" Ye Mingyu said nonchalantly. "Our family assets are enough to last generations. Why struggle for silver? We could just be like those wealthy playboys, spending our days traveling and enjoying the scenery."

This sounded nothing like a Ye family member. Sure enough, Ye Minghui gave his brother a stern look. "You’d best not say that in front of Mother. After all these years, it seems you’ve only grown older, not wiser!"

Madam Guan sighed, "Third Brother, it’s not a question of whether we want to do business or not. The Ye family’s business was built by Father and Mother with their own hands. You know how much heart Mother poured into that silk. How can we let the family business crumble in our hands? How could we face Father in the afterlife?"

"That’s right, Third Uncle," Ye Jia'er added. "Eldest Brother is still serving in the imperial court, and I’ve heard that officialdom requires constant spending. Yanjing is not like Xiangyang. We can't let Eldest Brother struggle in the capital."

"Exactly," Ye Mingxuan agreed. "Even Jia'er is more sensible than you." He looked at Jiang Li. "Besides, if not for Ah Li stepping in and using the Jiang family’s name, we wouldn't have escaped unscathed. Someone just helped us, and you want to quit? How would the Jiang family feel?"

Jiang Li understood Ye Mingxuan’s point. Even without mentioning herself, although Jiang Yuanbai was an official, the world of politics and business were two sides of the same coin—both valued profit. Jiang Yuanbai helped the Ye family because they had value; if the Ye family stopped their business, they would have no utility. Helping them would be a bad investment.

The words were harsh, but not entirely wrong.

"Alright, alright, I’m the ignorant one," Ye Mingyu conceded, raising his hands in surrender. "I can’t win against you all. But it’s not up to me. It looks like the ancient scented silk business is doomed, and that’s the foundation of our mill, right?"

The family fell silent.

Jiang Li asked, "Does the Ye family’s mill produce nothing else besides the ancient scented silk?"

"It’s not that we don't," Madam Guan explained. "We produce many other fabrics. But those can be woven by anyone else, and even those that are unique aren't particularly attractive. When Mother and Father started, they would introduce new styles regularly, but only the ancient scented silk stood the test of time."

"The silk is of superior quality and has a natural fragrance. Wealthy families love it, and even commoners with a little extra silver are willing to buy a bolt or two for holiday clothes. That’s why it never lacked buyers."

Jiang Li thought for a moment. "So, the Ye family rose to prominence because the silk was popular, not because it’s irreplaceable. If we create a fabric even more attractive than the ancient scented silk, wouldn't our reputation be restored?"

The room went quiet. Ye Jia'er said, "Cousin, it sounds simple, but for years, countless merchants in Northern Yan have produced fabrics of all patterns. If we can make something, others can too. 'Irreplaceable' is not an easy word to live up to."

That was true. The "irreplaceable" nature of the silk came from its natural fragrance, a secret formula passed down through the family. Such formulas were rare; sometimes one didn't appear for centuries, but a single one could save a family.

"Doesn't Uncle Mingyu travel extensively?" Jiang Li asked, turning to him. "You must have seen many rare, raw materials."

To find a "secret formula," one needed fresh "raw materials." The Ye family in Xiangyang rarely saw such things, but Ye Mingyu was different. He traveled the deserts and steppes and often encountered rare items others never saw. Among those, there might be something that could lead to a new fabric.

Everyone looked at Ye Mingyu. He rubbed his nose, looking sheepish. "I’ve seen many rare things, but none related to the fabric business. When traveling, who thinks about business..."

Ye Minghui and Ye Mingxuan looked at him with frustration. It was well known that this brother was unreliable.

But Jiang Li was not discouraged.

"It doesn't have to be something related to weaving," she said. "For example, the box of peacock feathers you gave me—couldn't those be used on fabric?"

"Peacock feathers?" Ye Mingyu was stunned.

"What peacock feathers?" Ye Mingxuan asked.

"When Third Uncle returned, he brought a few boxes of beautiful shells that looked like peacock feathers. They were pretty, but not worth much," Ye Rufeng said dismissively, then looked at Jiang Li with curiosity. "How can peacock feathers be used on fabric?"

Ye Mingyu looked at her too. Although he had found those shells, he was clueless about how to use them. He had bought them simply because he had the money and thought they looked rare.

"It was just a sudden thought," Jiang Li smiled. "I know nothing about fabric, so if I’m wrong, please don't laugh. Peacock feathers have a subtle phosphorescence. I once read a strange tale about fairies on an immortal island whose garments shimmered like water—not woven with gold or silver thread, but with a pearlescent glow. It was vibrant yet elegant. I thought, since the ancient scented silk could hold a natural fragrance, perhaps the peacock feathers could give fabric a similar shimmering, watery light. Of course, it doesn't have to be the feathers themselves, but if we can use raw materials to evoke that same luster, it would be a success."

"And according to the tales, such a fabric would be highly prized by the noble ladies in Yanjing. Even if we can't make the ancient scented silk, the Ye family brand remains. If we create a new fabric that is even more desirable, we can build a new business."

Jiang Li spoke calmly, as if fully confident. Only she knew she wasn't certain it would work. But all things in the world were interconnected; those who excelled in one area often did well in others. Business and study were not diametrically opposed.

Her idea was clearly unexpected. After a long silence, Ye Minghui stood up and told Ye Mingyu, "Go get your peacock feathers and let me see them. Tomorrow, we go to the mill."

Ye Mingyu was dazed, but Ye Mingxuan grew excited. "I think this is a good idea. It might just work. We’ll see if the mill can produce it. If it can... if it can..." He paused, his excitement barely contained, "...our Ye family might be on the verge of a new era of prosperity."

Ye Jia'er and Ye Rufeng were also filled with anticipation. Their gaze toward Jiang Li was now filled with a different kind of respect.

She seemed to know everything and could always carve a new path out of a dead end. She was full of hope, providing a sense of security.

Jiang Li felt the Ye family's gratitude and smiled slightly.

She had done what she could. But there was one more thing—one that effort alone could not solve.

...

Ye Mingyu led the others to see the feathers, but Jiang Li stayed behind.

She spent some time with the Old Madam, chatting and keeping her company. The Old Madam had been in better spirits lately and had heard about Jiang Li’s idea for the new fabric, praising her ingenuity. The two spent a warm, intimate time together.

When the Old Madam grew tired and lay down to rest, Jiang Li left the courtyard. Instead of returning to her own, she headed toward the gate.

Tong'er asked, "Miss, are you planning to go out?"

Jiang Li nodded. "Let’s go for a walk. The weather is nice today."

Tong'er and Bai Xue hesitated but eventually nodded. Unlike the Jiang household, where the gatekeepers would interrogate her and Ji Shuran’s spies would watch her every move, the Ye family in Xiangyang allowed her absolute freedom. No one spied on her, which made her own plans easier to execute.

The three of them walked through the center of Xiangyang. Because her identity as the "Second Miss Jiang" was known, she wore a veil. Tong'er and Bai Xue felt curious and bought some trinkets, but Jiang Li had no interest.

These were things she had seen many times before; they held no sense of novelty.

Without realizing how long they had been walking, Tong'er felt the route was becoming familiar, though she couldn't place it. But Jiang Li was always precise in her navigation, never going the wrong way, especially in Xiangyang, where she moved with the familiarity of someone who had been there many times. Tong'er and Bai Xue didn't think twice.

Until Jiang Li stopped in front of a large mansion.

Tong'er looked at the familiar building, her voice trembling. "Miss, this is... is..."

"Xihu Lou (The Flower-Cherishing Pavilion)," Jiang Li reminded her gently.

"Xihu Lou!" Tong'er gasped, immediately covering her mouth in fear of being seen. She whispered, "Miss, why are we here again?"

After their last visit, Tong'er had been terrified for days that someone would discover a young lady of a prominent family visiting a brothel. She never expected the nightmare to repeat itself so soon.

Was it possible her mistress had actually taken a liking to some girl inside? But her mistress wasn't interested in that! She had heard there were male courtesans too, but in a brothel?

As Tong'er let her imagination run wild, she heard Jiang Li say, "You two don't need to come up. Wait for me here; I’ll be back soon."

Before they could protest, Jiang Li walked straight ahead. They remembered this was the "back door" of Xihu Lou.

Jiang Li walked with steady, determined steps.

Time had passed, and she had temporarily solved the Ye family’s crisis, but her true mission in returning to Xiangyang had only just begun.

I wonder how Qiong Zhi is doing with the news about Tongxiang?

－－－－－－Ex-postscript－－－－－－
Today is 521 (May 21st, a day for expressing love in China), my little darlings, I love you all!