Yan Shi’an felt a sense of disbelief, as if he had stumbled upon a windfall from the heavens. When he returned and shared the news with Robert and Yan Ze, they were overjoyed—finally, their young master had filled in his weakest spot!

Robert reminded him, “You should inform Madam.”

“No rush, I’ll tell her next time we meet,” Yan Shi’an replied.

He knew his mother well. If she knew that Miss Shi had such a powerful group behind her, she wouldn’t sit idly by. But she didn’t truly understand Miss Shi. With her temperament, if you explained your difficulties directly, she might actually help. But if you tried to manipulate things behind her back—even if you died in front of her, she’d simply take a bigger step to walk over your corpse. And if someone hurt someone she cared about, she’d not hesitate to hurt the enemy even at her own expense.

Though they hadn’t known each other for long, Yan Shi’an trusted his instincts—this was the kind of person Miss Shi was. So, some things were better left unknown to his mother, or at least postponed. The more important Miss Shi became, the more cautious his mother would be in dealing with her—that would be best.

Robert didn’t know what was going through his mind. He just felt that his young master was hiding more and more from Madam. If she ever found out, who knows what would happen? Over the years, when had the young master ever had the upper hand against her?

---

After that day, Yan Shi’an trusted Shi Buyu even more, which showed in the way new items began appearing on the shelves in the study.

Shi Buyu didn’t call him out for it, but she did laugh heartily in front of him.

As the autumn exams approached, the capital city fell into a frenzy. Elegant gatherings happened everywhere, wine houses were filled with raucous songs—truly a scene of grand prosperity.

But outside the capital, a new tax had been introduced: the “road-step tax.”

This so-called road-step tax meant that anyone who stepped on the road had to pay a toll.

In other areas, forced conscription had already begun.

Shi Buyu hung another sheet of xuan paper on the wall. By now, there were already seven hanging in the room.

Wan Xia brought in a bowl of white fungus and lotus seed soup. Seeing the smile on her young mistress’s face, she smiled too. “You’re in a good mood today?”

“Ji An has fortune on his side.”

“With you helping him, that’s the greatest fortune of all,” Wan Xia said.

Shi Buyu tried to hold back but couldn’t help grinning. “If you say things like that, you’ll make me conceited.”

“Am I wrong? You yourself are the greatest fortune,” Wan Xia replied, touching the warm bowl and gently stirring the soup with a spoon.

She had White Beard, eleven senior brothers, and so many familiar faces. When said like that, it wasn’t wrong. Shi Buyu was easily convinced, nodding in agreement that yes, she was indeed the greatest fortune.

Sitting down and stirring the soup herself, she said, “The capital and the world outside feel like two different realms. One side is all debauchery and luxury; the other struggles just to survive. Judging by the course of history, the Dayou Dynasty probably won’t last much longer.”

“Would it make a difference if someone else took over?”

“I don’t know how to divine or read the stars, but all of Dayou’s behaviors indicate a dynasty in decline. Whether Ji An can stop this downward spiral… I don’t know.” She slowly scooped up a spoonful of the soup and raised her eyes to look at the papers hanging on the wall.

What a pity. Even after being exiled for so many years, Ji An was still too far removed from the common people.

As White Beard once said: if you don’t even know how the people survive, how can you talk about anything else? All twelve of their siblings had grown up among the people. Before moving into the Yan household, she had never lived such a comfortable life. White Beard had once traveled the world in a pair of straw sandals, and in doing so, developed a great skill—her woven sandals were both light and durable.

But Ji An… had been protected too well.

He needed to be pushed out of that protective circle.

Wan Xia looked at her mistress, who smiled with eyes like crescent moons. No need to guess—whoever was being plotted against was definitely the topic of their conversation: Young Master Yan.

She glanced toward the door.

A voice in blue robes called from afar, “Miss, the young master is here.”

Shi Buyu looked up and asked, “I don’t think I’ve ever let him into this study before?”

“Indeed, not since you moved in,” Wan Xia confirmed.

“Let him in, then.”

Yan Shi’an was flattered to be invited in. He paused at the threshold before stepping in. When he looked up, his gaze was immediately drawn to the hanging xuan papers. Some had writing, others paintings—it was unclear what they recorded.

“Sit.”

Following the voice, he looked at Shi Buyu, who was seated behind the desk, leaning against the hidden screen. He walked over and sat across from her. Glancing up again at the papers, he asked, “These are…?”

“Just some casual notes,” Shi Buyu replied. “You came for something?”

Remembering his purpose, Yan Shi’an took out the news he’d just received: “After the drinking water tax, they’ve now come up with a road-step tax, and on top of that, forced conscription. Public resentment is already high. This works in my favor.”

Shi Buyu didn’t feel exactly disappointed—Yan Shi’an’s life had always revolved around one single goal. His mind was filled with schemes and strategies, overt and covert, all wrapped in a gentle and elegant exterior. Even the soft kindness in his heart was just another tool to achieve his ends.

That position was too high, and the people were too low. They were never part of his considerations. So all he saw in the road-step tax was how it created public unrest that could be used to his advantage—but not how much more difficult life had become for the common folk.

That’s why she said—she wasn’t sure if Ji An could reverse the decline.

Yan Shi’an was puzzled by her silence. “Did I say something wrong, Miss Shi?”

“No,” she said, closing the book in front of her. “This matter needs time to develop. There’s no rush.”

Yan Shi’an had originally come to ask if he could use this opportunity to take action, but seeing the slight furrow in her brow, he decided to press down that idea and changed the topic. “The young eunuch has arrived in the capital.”

“Is he safe?”

“Scholars from all over are gathering in the capital. There’s a constant flow of people in and out—this is the easiest time to sneak in.”

Shi Buyu smiled. “Seems the storm around the Shi family’s prison break has finally passed. Only Chancellor Zhang is still doggedly searching.”

Seeing her smile, Yan Shi’an inexplicably felt relieved. “Shall we meet him now?”

“Sure.” Shi Buyu stood up. “Take him to the main hall.”

As Yan Shi’an followed behind her, he glanced again at the nearest xuan paper. The words “road-step tax” caught his eye.

If Miss Shi went to the trouble of marking it down, perhaps there was a deeper meaning he hadn’t thought of? Was that why she had gone silent earlier?

While waiting for the young eunuch, Yan Shi’an kept thinking—what could it be?

The young eunuch was dressed in women’s clothing. His face had been cleaned, but it was clear his body was still recovering. Supported by the attendant in blue robes, he walked slowly, his delicate little face now thin as a palm.

Before he could bow, Shi Buyu said, “Sit down and don’t strain yourself. This isn’t the palace—we don’t stand on such ceremony here. Ah Gu, get him a cushion.”

Wan Xia brought a thick one and placed it on the chair. The young eunuch gripped the armrest and slowly sat down, breaking into a sweat from the effort alone.

As he bowed from his seat, he said, “You two saved my life. Yisheng will never forget it.”

“Your name is Yisheng?”

“Yes, He Yisheng.”

Shi Buyu nodded gently. “Have you studied before?”

“I started at five, read for eight years. I am fourteen now.”