CHAPTER 139: CHAPTER 139: DO YOU LIKE MY OLDER SISTER?

"...Hedong is not without grain; it is held by aristocratic families and grain merchants. I merely wish for the families to open their purses, yet someone dares to attempt assassination... Since that is the case, let General Tang knock on the doors of the Hedong families!" Li Shu said.

Tang Ziqian smiled faintly and said, "Prince Jin, please be patient. It’s not yet time for armed conflict."

The aristocrats are entrenched in Hedong, with prominent families such as Pei, Liu, and Xue holding significant positions within the court.

Li Shu himself brought the imperial guard, yet tasks Tang Ziqian with offending these great families. Tang Ziqian will not be fooled.

"Not time for armed conflict?" Li Shu sneered, "Wasn’t the injury on my body a result of armed conflict?"

Tang Ziqian gently replied, "You were wounded by petty thieves, and we are all worried. However, I have brought someone to knock on the doors of the Hedong families."

"Who?"

"The son of Duke Wei, Pei Jiu," Tang Ziqian said with a calm expression, "By now, Pei Jiu should have arrived at the Pei family estate in Wenxi. You can await good news from Pei Jiu, Your Highness!"

Li Shu looked deeply at him, nodded, "General Tang is indeed resourceful. Your Majesty did not misplace trust in sending you."

Tang Ziqian thanked him with a smile.

"However—" Li Shu changed the topic, "There are still merchants in Jin who hoard grain causing prices to rise. If even these merchants cannot be dealt with, what face do I and General Tang have to return to the Capital City and report back?"

Tang Ziqian chuckled, "This matter doesn’t require force either."

Li Shu sneered, "Did General Tang also bring someone to knock on the doors of these Jin merchants? Is Hedong entirely under General Tang’s control?"

Tang Ziqian smiled faintly but stepped aside, revealing the youth wearing a green jade mask behind him.

Li Shu’s gaze narrowed immediately.

"Once, merchants of Jinzhong were led by the Qin Family; later, the Qin Family recommended talents to enter officialdom and moved to the Capital City, scattering all their properties to local elders, becoming the foundation of today’s wealthy merchants in Jinzhong—" The youth’s voice was slightly hoarse, his tone and gaze cold, complementing his snow-white skin and red lips with a cold and eerie beauty, making Li Shu feel indescribably uncomfortable.

Li Shu frowned and stared coldly at him for a moment, then asked, "Who are you?"

The youth’s lips slowly curled up, "My surname is Qin—"

...

"Surname Qin?!"

Tang Xiaobai was startled and hurriedly pulled Wei Sui to ask, "And then?"

Wei Sui, seeing he had attracted her attention, smugly kept her guessing, "Guess?"

Tang Xiaobai immediately packed up her things to leave.

The matter had already spread to the Capital City; how could only Wei Sui know about it? She could just ask at home.

Wei Sui quickly pulled her back, "Don’t go! Don’t go! I haven’t finished speaking yet!"

Seeing her return, he dared not keep her guessing anymore and quickly continued, "There is a mysterious wealthy merchant with the surname Qin, who not only donated tens of millions of bushels of grain but also mobilized all Jin merchants to donate grain. Prince Jin has already submitted a memorial to bestow honors on that mysterious merchant with the surname Qin!"

There was a burst of astonishment around.

But some knowledgeable individuals questioned, "Tens of millions of bushels of grain? That’s more than the entire Capital City’s grain reserves, right?"

Wei Sui’s face stiffened, then he waved his hand dismissively, "Anyway, it’s a lot of grain. I just heard casually; how would I remember if it was tens of millions or millions?"

That seemed about right.

Having heard the news, her classmates dispersed.

Tang Xiaobai sat in her seat, somewhat lost in thought.

Could that mysterious wealthy merchant with the surname Qin be Qin Xiao?

"Hey!" Wei Sui leaned over and called to her.

Tang Xiaobai snapped back to reality, raised an eyebrow, and looked at him.

"Pei Jiu wrote to me saying he won’t return until the end of the year, and he wants you to study Xunzi well, as he’ll check when he returns!" Wei Sui said with a sly grin.

Tang Xiaobai scoffed and got up to leave.

On the way home, Tang Xiaobai was somewhat absent-minded, continually thinking about that mysterious wealthy merchant with the surname Qin.

Upon arriving home, after getting out of the car, Tang Xiaobai intended to ask Mr. Zhou, but before she walked too far, someone called her, "Second Miss!"

The voice was bright, and it was Li Xingyuan.

Tang Xiaobai’s back stiffened slightly, almost wanting to flee.

After complaining to her mother the other day, Tang Jiaojiao was called in for questioning, and after confirming the details, Mr. Zhou had a good chat with Li Xingyuan.

Thus, the next day, Miss Tang no longer had to learn martial arts.

Not only didn’t have to learn martial arts, but Li Xingyuan couldn’t even see Miss Tang.

Several times, Tang Xiaobai saw Li Xingyuan "passing by" the path Tang Jiaojiao often walked, respectfully turned back by the servants, seemingly restricted.

However, while the path Miss Tang usually took was restricted, the path for the Second Miss was not, so Tang Xiaobai occasionally ran into him.

But feeling she ruined the male lead’s plans, each time she saw him from afar, she tactfully avoided him; it had been several days since she last encountered him, but now found him blocking her at the entrance.

Nevertheless, this was the Duke Yan Mansion, and facing him directly, Tang Xiaobai wasn’t afraid and even took the initiative, "Master Yuan, I actually have something to ask you!"

Li Xingyuan only found this young lady amusing, as she had been avoiding him lately; he didn’t mind her complaint.

Seeing her take the initiative, he smiled and asked, "What instruction does the Second Miss have?"

Tang Xiaobai asked seriously, "Master Yuan has seen much of the world; do you know of a wealthy merchant in Hedong with the surname Qin?"

Li Xingyuan was slightly surprised but still nodded, "I know!"

He looked at her, smiling as he asked, "Why has the Second Miss suddenly asked about this?"

"Oh... just a mysterious wealthy merchant with the surname Qin..." Tang Xiaobai casually recounted the rumor she heard at the academy.

Li Xingyuan chuckled and said, "The Qin Family originally came from Taiyuan, engaging in commerce for generations, amassing great wealth. One year, Hedong suffered a severe drought, and the Qin Family exhausted their fortune to aid the region, thereby receiving praise from the court and entering officialdom. Perhaps due to the virtue of their ancestors, they excelled in official positions, reaching all the way to—" He suddenly stopped, thoughtfully observing Tang Xiaobai.

"All the way to the Crown Prince’s Tutor?" Tang Xiaobai completed his sentence.

Li Xingyuan smiled and nodded.

Tang Xiaobai stared blankly.

It really was that Qin...

The little guardian followed her brother to Hedong, perhaps to have the Qin Family walk the same path as before?

That path seems feasible, but... why so gentle?

"Second Miss?"

"Hmm?" Tang Xiaobai returned to her senses.

Li Xingyuan recalled her recent evasive behavior and couldn’t help but tease her, "Does the Second Miss have any objections to Yuan?"

"No, no!" Tang Xiaobai shook her head without hesitation.

How dare she have any objections to the male lead?

"Did the Second Miss tell Madam that Yuan was teaching the First Miss martial arts?"

Tang Xiaobai blinked innocently, "Why not tell my mother? Is teaching my sister martial arts something unspeakable?"

Li Xingyuan laughed, "Since the Second Miss is so confident, why has she been avoiding Yuan in the past few days?"

Tang Xiaobai thought for a moment, waved away the others, and solemnly asked Li Xingyuan, "Do you like my sister?"