Chapter 16: Who Is He?

The candlelight flickered in the study as Song Huan met Pei Yan’s dark, unwavering gaze with a smile. But his unblinking stare made her increasingly uneasy… her face was about to freeze in place.

They held each other’s gaze for a long moment, Pei Yan remaining as still as a mountain.

Song Huan finally broke. Her bright eyes blinked, and she took small, hesitant steps toward him, asking shyly, “My lord… will you be staying here tonight?”

At her words, Pei Yan immediately stepped past her and said, “Come see me at Mingsong Hall at the hour of chen* tomorrow.”

(Note: 辰時 (chénshí) — roughly 7–9 AM.)

As his words fell, the study door swung open, and a blast of cold wind rushed into the room.

Song Huan turned her head, crossing her arms as she watched Pei Yan’s retreating figure without hesitation. She forced an awkward but polite smile.

Why is he leaving so quickly? Does he think I’m a man-eating tigress?

***

Pei Yan exited Huichun Courtyard. Steward Pei, who had been waiting just outside, hurried to greet him.

“My lord, did Madam… say anything?”

Pei Yan’s lips curved slightly in a faint smile. “She said she doesn’t know Qin Chengyu.”

The steward visibly relaxed at his master’s words.

He had watched his master grow up over the years, his temperament becoming increasingly unpredictable. But one thing had never changed—anything that belonged to his lord, whether person or possession, if it bore a hint of disloyalty or betrayal, it would never be allowed to remain.

Even if his lord had married the Song family’s eldest daughter with ulterior motives, he would never tolerate her having entanglements with another man.

From the steward’s recent observations, the young lady from the Song family had quite an interesting personality.

If she could genuinely care for his master, this marriage of convenience might yet blossom into a true and harmonious union…

“Then tomorrow, should I prepare some fine gifts and pay Qin Chengyu a visit first?”

“There’s no need,” Pei Yan said, his smile fading. “This Marquis will personally pay a visit tonight.”

Even if Song Huan was telling the truth and didn’t know Qin Chengyu, what about Qin Chengyu himself?

***

The night deepened.

In the Yanshan region just outside the capital, a knock echoed at a small Qin family courtyard.

“Qin Huai, who is it?” Qin Chengyu called while reading, upon hearing the knock.

Qin Huai had just finished a round of chess with his master and was finally allowed to return to his room to rest. He had just taken off his outer robe when the visitor arrived.

They certainly have their ears to the ground, Qin Huai thought.

Their master had only just returned to the capital today, and someone was already knocking at their door in the dead of night.

He picked up the sword by his bedside. “Master, I’ll go have a look.”

“Hmm,” Qin Chengyu replied casually. “If it’s someone unimportant, find an excuse to send them away.”

“Yes, master. I understand.”

Qin Huai threw his robe back on and strode into the courtyard to open the gate.

A young man stood outside, a longsword in hand. Qin Huai’s eyes narrowed warily. “Who are you looking for, young brother?”

Pei Chen cupped his hands in a respectful bow. “May I ask if this is Lord Qin’s residence?”

Qin Huai frowned impatiently. “No, you’ve come to the wrong place.”

Just as he moved to shut the door, Pei Chen struck fast—his sword blocked the gate. “Our Marquis wishes to see Lord Qin.”

“What ‘your Marquis’?” Qin Huai’s face darkened. “Young man, you’re being rather presumptuous—”

“Qin Huai, let them in,” came a calm voice from the corridor.

Qin Chengyu had quietly exited his room and now stood beneath the eaves. “Marquis Pei’s presence gracing my humble home is an honor. Go prepare a good pot of tea.”

Marquis Pei?

Was this the same man they had visited earlier today?

Qin Huai’s expression changed. That man was rumored to be cold-blooded and ruthless.

He turned to Pei Chen. “My apologies for my earlier rudeness. Please forgive me, brother.”

Pei Chen nodded and walked toward the nearby carriage. “My lord, this is the place.”

There were several Qin-owned courtyards tucked away in Yanshan’s rear hills. Pei Chen had knocked on quite a few before finding the right one. Luckily, the courtyards were close together, and they hadn’t wasted too much time.

Pei Yan stepped down from the carriage and instructed Pei Chen, “Survey the layout of this place.”

“Yes, my lord”

***

Inside the Qin family courtyard, there was a small pavilion furnished with a stone table and stools. Qin Chengyu shivered as he sat, but kept his expression steady.

“This return to the capital was rushed,” he said, “and I only brought Qin Huai with me. The courtyard hasn’t been properly cleaned. I hope Marquis Pei doesn’t mind the humble setting.”

Pei Yan responded with a polite smile. “It is I who have disturbed Lord Qin with a late-night visit. I hope you won’t take offense.”

“Marquis Pei, you flatter me. Your personal visit is an honor for the Qin Family. How could I possibly take offense?” Qin Chengyu studied Pei Yan, observing his refined bearing. He didn’t seem as ruthless as the rumors suggested.

He instructed Qin Huai to pour tea for them both, his composure slightly restored. “Since Marquis Pei has sought me out at this late hour, you must be aware that I visited the Marquis’s Residence earlier today to request an audience with the Marchioness.”

Pei Yan’s expression remained unchanged as he chuckled softly. “Indeed, that is precisely why I’ve come. Upon returning home tonight, Xiao Huan immediately sought me out, asking, ‘Who exactly is the master  of Shangbao Manor?’”

Who exactly is he?

Probably just a money tree.

Qin Chengyu had a precise understanding of his family’s position. With the Qin Family’s wealth, anyone who received their support—even a hopeless wretch—could be transformed into a shining pearl.

Otherwise, why would the esteemed Marquis Pei seek him out in the dead of night?

He knew full well the benefits at play here.

Yet, in this world, where could one escape the pursuit of profit? If Marquis Pei treated Huan’er well, what difference did it make which faction the Qin Family supported?

Now that the power struggle in the capital was heating up, the Qin family might dodge it for a while—but not forever. Sooner or later, they’d have to pick a side.

The only question was: how vast were the ambitions of this Marquis Pei, who had been taken to the battlefield at the tender age of nine?

Qin Chengyu lowered his gaze and took a sip of tea, seemingly lost in thought.
“The last time I saw Huan’er, she was still a baby swaddled in cloth. Hard to believe it’s been fifteen years… The world remains the same, but the people always change.”

Since the founding of the dynasty, the Qin Family’s century-old enterprise had remained deeply rooted in the Capital.

But fifteen years ago, for reasons unknown, the young master of the Qin family suddenly decided to relocate the entire household to Jiangnan. Since then, the Qin family’s whereabouts had become increasingly obscure. By ten years ago, they had nearly vanished entirely.

Three years ago, Pei Yan had dispatched Pei Shen to investigate Qin Chengyu’s whereabouts, but the search yielded nothing.

Qin Chengyu was clearly more than just a merchant.

Now that Qin Chengyu had appeared before Pei Yan, he would not allow this man to slip away again.

A dark glint flickered in Pei Yan’s eyes, but his smile remained unchanged. “Lord Qin, does this mean you have a long-standing connection with Huan’er’s elders?”

Author’s Note:

Today’s Pei Yan is a true gentleman.