Chapter 21 : It’s Not Easy Being Such a Fool

They entered the silk shop.

Xue Qingyin was not in a hurry: “Let’s brew a pot of tea first.”

“Huh?” Everyone was taken aback.

Jin Xiang, though his brows were furrowed, still scolded, “The young miss has given an order. Why are you still standing there?”

Hot tea was quickly brought to them.

The worker, with a pained expression, couldn’t help but mutter, “The teacup was almost smashed.”

Madam Xue asked what had happened.

The people from the silk shop were much more honest than those from the village on the outskirts of the city. They didn’t dare to conceal anything, explaining everything clearly.

He Songning’s way of doing things was inseparable from his character.

He was deep and ruthless. Anyone who stood in his way would be dealt with mercilessly.

Such a master naturally breeds such subordinates.

He Songning learned early on the method of thin profit and high turnover. He first used his maternal family’s, the Xu family’s, old roots in Huainan to buy land for growing hemp, then tightly controlled the farmers who raised silkworms. In this way, he held the raw materials for clothing in his hands.

He also took advantage of Prince Wei’s influence, using the inland canal for water transport, allowing for smooth transportation and reducing costs.

Eventually, he pressured other villages with low prices, either forcing them to become affiliated with Xue family’s silk shop or driving them to ruin.

He Songning had known Prince Wei for only a short time.

Because of this, the silk shop only flourished for two months.

But in these two short months, Xue family’s silk shop earned seven thousand taels of silver.

This was nearly the total income of all the properties of other families in a year!

Naturally, He Songning’s methods caused dissatisfaction among others.

They wouldn’t dare to challenge Prince Wei, but wouldn’t they dare to challenge your Xue family?

“Last month, our silk shop caught fire for no reason. Luckily, the staff were alert and put it out in time. Later, the young master found out it was done by Yufu Manor…”

“Yufu Manor…” Madam Xue paused for a moment and said, “If I’m not mistaken, there was a large fire in the capital half a month ago. All thirty people in Yufu Manor were burned to death.”

“Yes…”

Madam Xue was a bit shocked.

The truth was right in front of them. Clearly, the fire at Yufu Manor was caused by her son!

But how dare he?

This was under the Emperor’s rule!

Xue Qingyin almost dropped her teacup in shock.

He Songning was ruthless!

She couldn’t help but feel a chill run down her spine.

If He Songning wanted to kill her… wouldn’t that be as easy as killing an ant?

The manager awkwardly smiled and added, “Madam, don’t misunderstand. This has nothing to do with us. The thief was caught later.”

Xue Qingyin thought to herself, I don’t believe you for a second!

The manager continued, “There are rumors in the capital now that we’re not to be messed with. This warning works on smaller families, but once it reaches the ears of those noble families, doesn’t that become a challenge?”

“Zhao Guogong’s house doesn’t have a silk shop, but they do have three ready-made clothing stores. Yufu Manor was the one supplying them with fabric…”

Madam Xue’s face darkened, and she slammed the table: “Zhao Guogong… is not someone we can offend.”

Xue Qingyin was puzzled.

Madam Xue seemed to sense her confusion and carefully explained, “Though there are many dukes and lords in the court, when it comes to actual power, Zhao Guogong holds the most. He is the Emperor’s adoptive brother. When the Emperor was young, Zhao Guogong carried him through the toxic forests of Lingnan.”

“Zhao Guogong’s wife died early, and his only son was born mentally disabled. He was worried about his son’s future, so he acquired many estates for him. The combined wealth of our Xue and Xu families can’t even compare to a single finger of Zhao Guogong’s house.”

Jin Xiang added, “Zhao Guogong’s power is immense, and his servants are naturally ruthless.”

Madam Xue sighed, “At least no one was hurt. From now on, you must never compete like this in business.”

Jin Xiang bowed in response but didn’t take it seriously.

He still preferred the methods of the eldest young master.

Madam Xue had no idea that, whether it was her family’s property or the Xue family’s, once it fell into He Songning’s hands, almost all of it would eventually be controlled by him.

In a few years, they might not even recognize who their true master was.

“Madam, should we just let this go?” the manager couldn’t help but ask.

Madam Xue was not someone with a gentle temper, but she knew when to recognize the situation.

“What else can we do? Are we going to try to out-muscle Zhao Guogong’s house?”

“But… if we ignore this, people outside will think we’re paper tigers! More people will come to step on us in the future!” the manager anxiously said.

He thought to himself, especially since the eldest young lady’s reputation outside wasn’t too good…

Maybe some noblewoman or young master would want to use them to make the eldest young lady look bad!

Jin Xiang hesitated and spoke, “Perhaps it’s better to report this to the young master…”

Madam Xue was firm, “Why disturb him while he’s studying?”

Jin Xiang thought about it and agreed.

Business was important, but the imperial exams were even more so!

“Please tidy up the shop first,” Xue Qingyin spoke.

“Yes.”

“We need to come up with a plan,” Xue Qingyin whispered.

But she had no idea what to do yet.

She sighed—I really haven’t read enough books! she thought.

The manager answered, but he didn’t expect the eldest young lady to come up with any ideas.

Madam Xue thought the same.

After all, if this kind of mess made her head ache, how could Xue Qingyin handle it?

Madam Xue pressed her forehead and said heavily, “We’ve only visited two families today, and already there’s trouble. I think it’s time to properly clean up the management here!”

The managers immediately fell silent.

Madam Xue didn’t want to stay any longer, so she took Xue Qingyin back to the house.

As soon as they entered, a servant came to report.

“A letter from Princess Jinque’s house,” the servant respectfully handed it over.

Xue Qingyin was surprised to receive it.

It was an invitation to play polo.

She measured her body for a moment.

The likely outcome was falling off the horse and breaking her neck.

…Forget it, she’d just go to make up the numbers.

Xue Qingyin had been wanting to meet Princess Jinque anyway.

Madam Xue was very pleased to hear this.

Finally, Qingyin could make some friends, and powerful ones at that!

The next day, before she left, Madam Xue repeatedly reminded her: “Don’t think that just because the princess gets along with you, you can bother her about the silk shop. Nobles like her dislike people seeking personal gain. If you’re going to take over the family business, you need to learn more about these social nuances.”

As she spoke, Madam Xue couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

She wished her daughter could just be a lazy little darling.

Unfortunately… being a woman in this world was tough. If you weren’t strong, life would be incredibly difficult—after all, parents wouldn’t be around forever.

Xue Qingyin quickly got ready and went to Princess Jinque’s residence.

The palace was magnificent, with layered terraces and a constant stream of carriages and horses.

Various noble young ladies were helped down from their carriages, surrounded by fragrant air.

Xue Qingyin’s maid sighed, “I thought I was the only one invited.”

Xue Qingyin wasn’t surprised.

After all, she and Princess Jinque weren’t really acquainted!

It was all arranged by King Xuan.

How could she expect Princess Jinque to treat her specially?

“Ah, Miss Xue has arrived,” someone called from afar.

Without He Songning there, people didn’t hide their dislike for Xue Qingyin anymore.

“I heard Miss Xue became the Fourth Princess’s reading companion in the palace. Congratulations.”

“Aren’t there still the Xie family’s girl?”

“Yes, I heard she was rewarded with something valuable from the Western Regions when she left the palace. What did Miss Xue get as a reward?

Xue Qingyin uttered three words slowly: “Fourth Princess.”

Everyone stopped talking and turned around.

The fourth princess was standing on the threshold, looking down at them.

The fourth princess pulled the corner of her mouth and smiled at Xue Qingyin.

Xue Qingyin walked up to her and grabbed her arm affectionately.

Oh, it’s not easy to have a fool in this book.

It is better to follow the Fourth Princess.

The Fourth Princess looked at her in shock.

What is the courage of this person?

How dare she grab my hand like this?

Isn’t she afraid that I will deal with her today?

The Fourth Princess whispered in Xue Qingyin’s ear, “I advise you to be careful today… That noble is going to attack you.”

Xue Qingyin smiled like a flower: “Thank you, Fourth Princess, for reminding me. I am really touched that the Fourth Princess treats me so warmly.”

The Fourth Princess: “…”

Was I reminding you?

I was obviously threatening you!

At this time, a voice interrupted: “Where is Miss Xue? Her Highness, please ask Miss Xue to come to the back hall to talk first.”

This princess, of course, refers to Princess Goldfinch.

Everyone was stunned.