Not simple, private salt.

Proofreader/Editor: Nene Yashiro

---

The next day, the Lu family came to visit. Mr. Lu looked earnest and reserved, while Mrs. Lu was more approachable and kind. She brought gifts wrapped in large and small packages, calling Madam Xiao “Old Sister” warmly.

Madam Shi had someone clean Tang Laopai’s memorial tablet and prepared the fruits and offerings. Tang Jiwei, along with Lu Yuan, solemnly bowed three times in front of Tang Laopai’s tablet.

While Lu’s parents spoke with Madam Xiao, they nodded continuously, their joy and satisfaction evident.

Tang Jiwei stood up, looked at Lu Yuan, and sincerely said, “From now on, you are part of the Tang family. We will share both glory and shame. Mother and I will treat you as our own, and you should also treat the others in the household well.”

Lu Yuan bowed deeply and said sincerely, “Big Brother, please accept my respect!”

Tang Jiwei laughed and pulled Lu Yuan up, patting his shoulder. “You’re acting like a martial artist. When did you start picking up these habits?”

Lu Yuan immediately became embarrassed and said, “I don’t know how to explain it. I just happened to go with my little sister to listen to some teachings and picked it up from there!”

“No need for these formalities. Go out and bow to Mother. She’ll be so happy!”

Lu Yuan nodded and followed Tang Jiwei out.

Qiao’er helped Madam Xiao sit in the highest seat as Lu Yuan respectfully performed a grand bow. Madam Xiao gave him a large red envelope, with a lucky number for good fortune.

“You are now considered part of the Tang family. Yesterday, we prepared an empty room for you, right next to your brother’s study. It’s close by, which will help foster a better relationship. If you have any questions about your studies, feel free to ask him. Don’t be too shy!” Madam Xiao said with a smile.

Mr. Lu, seeing that Lu Yuan was blushing and silent, grew anxious and went up to him, pressing his neck and making him bow again. Lu Yuan was usually clever and quick-witted, but in this matter, he felt somewhat awkward and hesitant, appearing a bit stiff.

“Hey, this won’t do. We’re family now, no need for all this bowing. Little Yuan is shy, so we can’t force him like this!” Madam Xiao quickly intervened, while Mrs. Lu also stood up to pull Mr. Lu back.

Mr. Lu, a sensible man, humbly said, “It’s truly a stroke of luck for our child to be welcomed into such a noble family. If it weren’t for the steward of your house visiting us yesterday, we would have thought our son was speaking nonsense. We’re poor and have little to offer, so his mother made some pastries and seasoned beef. Old sister, please accept these!”

Madam Xiao laughed until her waist hurt. This family was so honest yet made her laugh unintentionally. She didn’t want to offend them, not knowing how to handle the situation.

“You’re too humble. We all come from humble beginnings. No one is above the other. I’ve always liked Little Yuan for his honesty and charm. Since Jiwei likes him and wants to help him, I’m simply doing a favor as his mother. Moving forward, it’s up to Little Yuan to work hard and make progress in his studies, which is the right path. That way, today’s kindness won’t be in vain!” Madam Xiao said warmly.

Mrs. Lu nodded, holding Little Yuan’s sister’s hand. “Yes, yes, Old sister speaks the truth. Little Yuan should be doing just that!”

As the polite exchange continued, Tang Jiwei’s attention wandered. He preferred discovering something unusual. His eyes happened to land on Little Yuan’s younger sister, who was standing by the side, looking neat and proper. Even with his vast experience in people, he couldn’t help but admire her natural beauty—like a pure lotus flower rising from the water. At such a young age, she was already striking. He suspected that, like Tang Mi, she would face many troubles in the future.

Just then, Mrs. Lu suddenly knelt before Madam Xiao, startling her. Qiao’er quickly helped her up.

Madam Xiao was surprised and said, “I just said that this sort of great gesture wasn’t needed. How did you suddenly—?”

Mrs. Lu awkwardly explained, pulling Little Yuan’s younger sister over. “My daughter is growing up and, fortunately, has been blessed with good looks. But in our village, a beautiful appearance is a troublesome thing. At only twelve, there have already been suitors coming to propose and pressure for marriage. We are weak and may be easily deceived by others. I beg you, Old Sister, to take my daughter into your house as a servant. With you and Lord Tang’s protection, her purity will be safeguarded!”

Madam Xiao, having no daughters of her own, understood the worries of a mother. However, seeing that both Lu Yuan and his sister were now involved with the Tang family, she felt somewhat uncomfortable. Lu Yuan had entered the family willingly, but his sister had been pushed into this situation. Madam Xiao, kind-hearted but also practical, found herself unable to refuse, though her heart was conflicted.

The atmosphere became tense, and Tang Jiwei, sensing the discomfort, spoke up to ease the situation. He turned to Mrs. Lu and said, “I have a friend who can ensure your daughter’s safety. If you trust me, you can leave her with me.”

Mrs. Lu hesitated. “Who is this friend?”

Tang Jiwei, of course, didn’t reveal too much. He simply said, “Rest assured, he is a reliable and virtuous gentleman, someone who would never take advantage of your daughter’s beauty.”

Mrs. Lu reluctantly agreed. Knowing that entrusting her daughter to Tang Jiwei, a respected scholar, was far better than leaving her with some unscrupulous men, she accepted.

“That’s a relief. Thank you, Lord Tang. Little Sister, quickly go and bow to Lord Tang!” Mrs. Lu urged, motioning for her daughter to bow to Tang Jiwei.

Tang Jiwei, unlike Madam Xiao, who was of simple background, could accept such gestures with grace. He felt no discomfort and even thought of it as solving a big problem for the Lu family. After all, they were a family of noble character.

He secretly thought to himself, ‘Who told them to give my ‘adoptive mother’ a hard time?’

After the Lu family left to gather their things, Zhang Ling hurriedly entered the room. Tang Jiwei had grown accustomed to his urgent visits and casual departure. Madam Xiao, tired from the day’s events, excused herself and went back to rest.

Tang Jiwei and Zhang Ling went into the study. Zhang Ling, looking around mysteriously, closed the door tightly and even pressed his ear to it, listening for any unusual sounds.

“What are you doing? The sky hasn’t fallen yet!” Tang Jiwei laughed, pouring him a cup of tea.

Zhang Ling, after confirming there was no noise, finally relaxed, took a few sips of tea, and then said, “I went to great lengths to gather information for you, and now you mock me with such sarcasm? You’re just like that ‘master’ from the prison!”

“Master? From the prison? You mean Jiang Tianyi?” Tang Jiwei was a bit surprised. “Jiang Tianyi is over ten years older than us, but surely not old enough to be called a ‘master’!”

Zhang Ling didn’t care about age. He had recently spent time interrogating Jiang Tianyi in prison and, rather than feeling like the tiger had fallen and been bullied by a dog, he felt more like the fool who had been played by others. He was determined to keep bringing up the age difference and make Jiang Tianyi pay for it.

“Did you gather information? What news do you have?” Tang Jiwei asked.

Zhang Ling finally remembered the important matter and immediately said with concern, “Your brother has gotten himself into big trouble! You need to find a way to save him!”

“Gotten into big trouble? He only owes someone five hundred taels of silver. Is that really a major crime?” Tang Jiwei was puzzled and sat up straight. “Tell me more. I’m confused.”

Zhang Ling took another sip of tea and explained, “Do you really believe he was smuggling silk? Then why did the ship sink, but the silk couldn’t be recovered? Even if the river was fast, it wouldn’t have all been lost. Your brother doesn’t seem like someone who would deceive you. It’s more likely that your second uncle and second aunt have kept something from you.”

“Clarify yourself, not silk?” Tang Jiwei sensed a dangerous aura and asked. “A sunken ship that can’t be salvaged, and there’s a punishment involved?” Tang Jiwei thought for a moment. Something that could make Zhang Ling come in such a panic had to be something big.

“Contraband salt? Is he smuggling salt?” Tang Jiwei frowned and exclaimed.

Zhang Ling raised a finger to his lips. “Shh, lower your voice! This place isn’t completely safe, the Emperor’s spies are everywhere, you better be careful!”

Tang Jiwei rubbed his forehead. He had made the situation too simple. If it were just a matter of debt, his second uncle wouldn’t have come to him in secret. It was probably the night before when they meant to tell him the truth, but after thinking it over, they probably feared he would be too timid and might expose Tang De. So, the next day, they kept it hidden. Tang Jiwei didn’t need to guess; this must have been his second aunt’s foolish idea.

Tang Jiwei furrowed his brows and clenched his fist. “In these past few days, the court has been in turmoil. The Emperor just dealt with a group of corrupt officials, and he’s likely about to crack down on the contraband salt business. Tang De has unfortunately found himself in the middle of it!”

“Exactly! I’ve been to the prison these days. While Jiang was there, he had plenty of information. If he hadn’t told me about your brother, I wouldn’t have had time to warn you.” Zhang Ling sighed. “It’s not easy to pass the imperial exams, and the court is full of scheming. You’re already in deep trouble, and if anyone finds out about your brother’s involvement in smuggling salt, you’re going to be dragged into it too. It’s better to protect yourself first!”

Tang Jiwei knew exactly what Zhang Ling meant. Li Huili and the Marquis of Anyuan were obsessively targeting him, and the other officials in court were looking for any excuse to tarnish his reputation. If they caught wind of this, Tang Jiwei could be impeached.

Tang Jiwei was puzzled. “How does the Duke of Jiang know to send you here? What did he say?”

Zhang Ling spoke honestly. “He said that he sees you as a person with ambition and didn’t want to see you eliminated so soon, so he’s lending you a hand!”

Tang Jiwei’s heart sank. This was Jiang Tianyi’s way of warning him to make a choice, and only someone as simple as Zhang Ling would misunderstand it as sympathy for his talent.

After a moment of contemplation, Tang Jiwei said, “The best course of action now is to distance Tang De from this matter. He’s still young, and it would be such a waste if he lost his life over smuggling salt.”

“What do you plan to do? The news is still tight, but the Emperor probably knows by now. After all, it wasn’t just one ship that sank. The Emperor is definitely going to take action soon. What will you do?” Zhang Ling asked, worried.

Tang Jiwei was puzzled. “Not just one ship? So this was a planned operation? Tang De isn’t the culprit; he might have been tempted to invest in a small portion of the goods. The Emperor’s target will be the mastermind behind it!”

Zhang Ling nodded. “You’re right. Jiang also thinks the same, so Tang De is still safe. He’ll escape the death penalty.”

Tang Jiwei immediately stood up. “I’m going to the prison. Give me your clothes. Someone might already be watching, so I’ll be quick. Don’t leave!”

Zhang Ling, both nervous and excited, nodded. In such a life-and-death situation, he felt as though his heart was about to burst, just like in the stories he’d read.

Tang Jiwei didn’t have time to care about his expression. He quickly changed into Zhang Ling’s clothes, adjusted everything, put on a cloak with a hood, and headed out.

The coachman outside was surprised to see the master come out so quickly but didn’t suspect anything. He got in the carriage and left.

“To the northern prison!” Tang Jiwei lowered his voice.

The coachman, hearing him through the cold wind, couldn’t make out every word, but when he heard “prison,” he understood. The master had been going to the prison frequently, so he was used to it and immediately turned the carriage around at the next intersection.

Tang Jiwei knew he had to make a choice. Jiang Tianyi was signaling him, and he had hoped to delay the matter, but with Tang De involved, it was clear Jiang Tianyi had a vast network of informants. Tang Jiwei was starting to see things more clearly.

He felt a plan forming in his mind. To get Tang De out of this mess, he would have to make a tough decision. Jiang Tianyi, likely bored in prison, must have made his arrangements in the southwest. He probably couldn’t wait for his death sentence, planning to fake his death and escape. Then, with his influence, he could rise again and plant his power in the imperial city. No one would call him a bandit then.

Arriving at the prison, Tang Jiwei showed Zhang Ling’s token to gain entry. The dark, gloomy prison was just as it had been the first time he visited. The low moans of despair echoed in the silence. In such a foreboding place, Jiang Tianyi had endured for so long, proving his remarkable patience.

Tang Jiwei was more certain now that Jiang Tianyi had already prepared for his departure. If everything was going according to plan, why else would he be so eager to leave?

Today, things were about to change, and Tang Jiwei looked forward to it, but he knew it wasn’t happening just yet.

---

The author’s note: Just woke up and wrote a chapter. For those asking for double updates, I’m trying my best, but I can only manage one update per day. Please be patient, I’m trying to make the chapters longer. Keep supporting me, and maybe I’ll be able to do double updates soon!

PS: If you add this to your collection, I might still have the energy for a double update! (Definitely not a threat.)

Enjoy the reading while you can—before the real drama starts!