Chapter 329 The Shrewd Merchant 

Ji Xuan and Qi Min arrived at the Gu Residence in the afternoon.

When Su Wan saw the couple in the flower hall, she exclaimed in delight, “Father! Mother! What brings you back?”

By her reckoning, it hadn’t been long since they left Xiliang, and now the two of them had followed straight to Great Zhou! She found it unbelievable. “The Empress Dowager actually allowed you to leave?”

Qi Min couldn’t help but laugh. “If I want to leave, she can’t stop me.”

Su Wan instantly understood. Back then, Qi Min had only compromised in front of the Empress Dowager to ensure that she and Gu Huaizhi could safely leave Xiliang. Otherwise, had they clashed openly, who knew what kind of tricks the Empress Dowager might have pulled.

“Mother, I missed you so much,” Su Wan said, hugging Qi Min and acting spoiled.

“Mother missed you too.” Qi Min looked at Su Wan nestled in her arms, clearly close and dependent, her eyes brimming with warmth and joy. “We’ll be staying in the capital for half a year. Do you want to come live with us?”

Su Wan was tempted, but when she thought of her current situation, she pulled a bitter face. “I better not.”

She rubbed her head against Qi Min’s shoulder and said pitifully, “I’m married now. I can’t stay at my parents’ place all day… and there’s still an injured person in the residence.”

Qi Min knew the situation with the Gu family. The second son they raised had royal blood and had already been acknowledged by his birth family. The Gu family likely couldn’t bear to let him go.

If Su Wan were to move to the Regent’s Residence, Gu Huaizhi would certainly go with her. That would leave only Mother Gu and Gu Baozhu in the household.

“How about staying two days a month at the Regent’s Residence?” Qi Min, planning to stay in the capital for half a year, wanted to use this time to deepen her relationship with Su Wan. “Or you could keep a room here at the Gu Residence, and I’ll come stay for a couple of days when I’m free?”

“Of course, of course!” Su Wan’s eyes sparkled like stars, gleaming with excitement. “The courtyard next to mine is empty. I’ll have it tidied up for you and Father to live in!”

Ji Xuan, who had originally wanted to voice his opinion and reject Qi Min’s suggestion, fell completely silent after hearing Su Wan’s words. Quietly, he became an invisible presence, not interrupting the mother and daughter’s conversation.

The two of them leaned their heads together, chatting endlessly about everything that had happened recently. They also talked about taking Su Wan to visit Yunzhong City once things settled in the capital.

That was the place where the couple had fallen in love, and Su Wan was quite interested in seeing it.

“You’ve only just recovered and came all this way—take time to rest properly before making any plans.”

Su Wan held Qi Min’s hand and checked her pulse. “Your recovery is going well. You can begin light exercise to build up your strength.”

She gently pinched Qi Min’s arm. Compared to how gaunt she had once been, she had now gained some flesh. Her complexion was much improved, and she looked more radiant than ever.

Qi Min naturally listened to everything Su Wan said, but there was something weighing on her mind. She glanced at Ji Xuan and hesitated before asking, “Wanwan, are you planning to reveal your identity?”

Su Wan was taken aback. “If my identity is revealed, it won’t affect me much, but it might not reflect well on the two of you.”

Being pregnant before marriage, having secretly tasted forbidden love—such things were not favorable for Qi Min’s reputation.

“Let’s leave it as it is for now. As long as we’re living well, there’s no need for others to know everything,” Su Wan said casually. “I don’t feel wronged.”

Qi Min couldn’t make up her mind and looked toward Ji Xuan.

Ji Xuan said coolly, “Let it take its course.”

The few of them reached a consensus: they wouldn’t deliberately hide Su Wan’s identity, but neither would they go out of their way to reveal it.

Even so, Qi Min still felt a deep sense of guilt. It was her momentary decision that had left Su Wan unable to openly acknowledge her father, forced to remain, at least in name, someone else’s daughter.

She wanted to make it up to her, to do something for her daughter—but Su Wan was too capable, never needing anything from them.

It left her feeling somewhat defeated.

Noticing her mother’s tangled thoughts, Su Wan’s eyes flickered and she grinned sheepishly. “Father, Mother, there’s actually something I want to ask you two to help with.”

“What is it?” Qi Min and Ji Xuan both perked up. This was the first time their daughter had asked them for help!

“Mother, I want to work with the court to establish Baishantang, a charity clinic to help those too poor to afford treatment.”

Su Wan was thinking to herself: the character “Su Wan” had once been a tragic figure, but not only had she rewritten her own fate, she had also improved the lives of those around her. Everyone had ended up with a better outcome. Perhaps it was Heaven’s kindness. “I want to do more good deeds, to accumulate blessings for the people I love. The money I’ve earned is more than I could spend in this lifetime—taken from the people, it should be used for the people.”

They had already built a reputation. By the time her true identity inevitably came to light, she hoped their acts of goodwill would earn them a bit more understanding and acceptance.

Even if there would still be discordant voices, she would be able to face them calmly.

Ji Xuan said, “Tell us—what’s the plan?”

Su Wan replied enthusiastically, “We’ll start by selecting two places for pilot locations. The doctors at Baishantang will be chosen through exams, just like imperial doctors. Each month, they’ll be paid stipends issued by the court.”

“We’ll post notices at the doors stating that impoverished patients are exempt from consultation fees. But when they come for treatment, they’ll need to bring a certificate issued by the village head.”

“The doctor can treat them first, then verify their situation afterward. If it turns out they faked their certificate and their family is actually well-off, not only will they have to pay the consultation fee, but they’ll also be sentenced to half a month of hard labor.”

“This would serve as an effective deterrent and prevent people from exploiting the system. That way, resources won’t be wasted, and those truly in need won’t be left without treatment.”

Ji Xuan furrowed his brows. “That will require oversight from local officials.”

“Exactly. That’s why I want to work in partnership with the court. As for the medical supplies, I’ll provide all of them myself.”

Of course, Su Wan intended to secure a little benefit for herself. “Father, can you negotiate it so that the palace and the military also source their medicine from me?”

Ji Xuan tapped her on the forehead with his finger. “Shrewd merchant.”

She was pulling wool from the court to help fund Baishantang, and in the process, earning herself a good reputation.

“If I’m a shrewd merchant,” Su Wan said, clutching her forehead with mock indignation, “even if I didn’t set up Baishantang, and simply supplied medicine to the palace and the military, would you refuse to take it? Besides, my prices are fair—definitely cheaper than those offered by the imperial merchants.”

Ji Xuan couldn’t help but laugh. “Draft a proposal and give it to me.”

That was as good as a yes!

“I’ll deliver it to you tomorrow.” Having successfully set this in motion, Su Wan was in a very good mood. “Are you staying for dinner?”

“Your royal father has a prior engagement. Once Gu Qingsong recovers, we’ll have your whole family over for a meal.”

Qi Min, however, began to worry again. She felt Su Wan’s plan was a little too risky. “You’re taking on the responsibility of supplying both the palace and the military—do you really have that much stock on hand? Are you sourcing it from elsewhere? If that’s the case, you need to be very strict about quality. If anything goes wrong, you’ll be the one held responsible.”

“If I source from elsewhere and it changes hands a few times, it’ll end up being a losing business. I plan to buy mountain land and hire people to grow medicinal herbs on a large scale.”

Su Wan had long since made such plans—it was only that so many things had come up that she hadn’t had a chance to put them into action.

Qi Min was finally reassured.

—

The next day, Su Wan sent the proposal to the Regent’s Residence via Mo Yuan. After that, she devoted herself entirely to caring for Gu Qingsong. In the span of ten days to half a month, his condition gradually began to improve.

At that time, the new emperor officially ascended the throne, issued a general amnesty across the realm, and announced an imperial examination held by special decree.

Su Wan’s discussion with the Regent had also received a response: both the new emperor and the court officials gave their full support.

She was preparing to purchase mountain land and begin cultivating medicinal herbs, which required an on-site inspection.

Today, she had arranged to meet someone and head out, when Mo Yuan approached with a slightly odd expression and said, “Young Lady… Ji Wufeng has requested to see you.”