Chapter 219: Paving the Way
Wan Jing heard Li Xiaonan say she was going to Linhai Town, so she instructed the cart driver and said cheerfully, “Then we’ll have to stay at an inn today!”
She really liked staying at inns.
“Did you come specifically to play with me?” Li Xiaonan touched the teapot in the warm nest.
“I have two tasks to complete, how could I have time to play with you! I’ve come to deliver a letter to you.” Wan Jing took out a letter from her sleeve pocket and handed it to Li Xiaonan.
“Tell me, does our Young Lord know that she’s been writing to you non-stop?” Wan Jing pointed at the letter.
“What if he doesn’t know, and what if he does?” Li Xiaonan tore open the letter.
“That’s true, you don’t work in our manor.” Wan Jing was immediately relieved.
After Li Xiaonan finished reading the letter, she tapped it with her finger and read it again.
“What’s wrong? Did something happen?” Wan Jing leaned in and asked.
“Miss Shi has arrived in the Capital City.”
“Didn’t she arrive in the Capital City in the last letter?” Wan Jing asked curiously.
Li Xiaonan gave a noncommittal hum and waved the letter in her hand.
In this letter, Miss Shi first expressed her surprise at the Jiangnan Weaving Workshop’s sudden work stoppage and closure. She then mentioned that on the day she wrote the letter, she heard that a memorial had been submitted to the Imperial Academy impeaching the Young Lord for damaging the Jiangnan Weaving Workshop.
She went on to say that her brother had told her that at recent literary gatherings, everyone was discussing the Young Lord’s actions in Jiangnan. Rumor had it that the Young Lord planned to consolidate all the weaving workshops in Jiangnan under the Weaving Bureau to raise military expenses for a proper war.
“What’s wrong?” Wan Jing waved her hand in front of Li Xiaonan’s eyes.
“This Miss Shi, she has seven or eight layers of meaning in every sentence she speaks, and her letters are the same.” Li Xiaonan sighed.
“I told you long ago that she’s very cunning, but you’re not exactly simple either, you two are quite similar.” Wan Jing patted Li Xiaonan.
Li Xiaonan glanced at her sideways, folded the letter, put it back in the envelope, and patted it. “This letter needs to be shown to your Young Lord, as soon as possible. Shall we go to your family’s villa first?”
“Hmm? Okay.” Wan Jing first bowed and instructed the cart driver, then ducked back in. She pointed at the letter, and before she could speak, Li Xiaonan sighed, “Don’t ask, I don’t know. I just feel like this letter is full of hidden meanings.
“I’ve never been to your Capital City, and I don’t know anyone there. I didn’t quite understand the hidden meanings in her words. I think your Young Lord will definitely understand.”
Wan Jing made an “oh” sound, looking as if she suddenly understood. “Then it must be something about the court. You wouldn’t understand court matters. You say~”
Wan Jing drew out her words, leaned closer to Li Xiaonan, and whispered in her ear, “Could it be that Miss Shi is using a strategy of playing hard to get? On the surface, she’s writing to you, but in reality, she’s using you as a stepping stone. You’re already passing her letter to our Young Lord. Once our Young Lord gets involved, will she push you aside and write directly to our Young Lord?
“If that’s the case, then she’ll reconnect with our Young Lord, and then, little by little~ You know what I mean, right?”
“I don’t think so. Is your Young Lord that great? Worth Miss Shi going to such great lengths? Taking such a roundabout route? Being so persistent?” Li Xiaonan asked with a frown.
“Why wouldn’t he be worth it! Have you ever seen anyone better-looking than our Young Lord?” Wan Jing almost spat out her saliva.
“No matter how good-looking he is, would you dare to look at him more?” Li Xiaonan poked Wan Jing’s chest with her finger.
“That’s true.” Wan Jing’s shoulders slumped in disappointment.
The cart entered the Second Gate of the villa. Li Xiaonan resealed the letter and applied a wax seal. Wan Jing, meanwhile, rushed inside and came out with a full small food box of freshly baked pastries. The cart left the villa and headed for Linhai Town.
By the time they reached Linhai Town, it was completely dark. Linhai Town was brightly lit, and the streets were bustling. The cart driver cracked his whip, shouting for people to make way, as they headed for the wharf.
Huang Xianzhou and Mr. Yao were sitting in front of the small houses by the camp gate, chatting. Upon hearing the shouts from outside the camp gate, they quickly stood up and let Li Xiaonan and Wan Jing in.
“Miss… are you just passing by?” Huang Xianzhou glanced at Wan Jing, his tongue twisting.
“I came specifically to talk to Teacher.” Li Xiaonan said with a smile.
“Oh? Then?” Huang Xianzhou slightly turned his body, avoiding Wan Jing’s gaze, and carefully pointed at Wan Jing with his finger, winking at Li Xiaonan.
“It wasn’t at the Young Lord’s command, it’s my own business. My family’s Eldest Sister is using it, so I borrowed her cart.” Li Xiaonan replied with a smile.
Huang Xianzhou breathed a sigh of relief. When he glanced at Wan Jing, he met her gaze and quickly put on an awkward, fake smile.
“There’s something I’ve been thinking about, and I feel that Teacher is someone I can discuss it with.” Li Xiaonan got straight to the point.
“Please speak, Miss.”
“You must have heard about the Jiangnan Weaving Workshop’s work stoppage and closure, haven’t you, Teacher?”
Seeing Huang Xianzhou nod, Li Xiaonan continued, “Not only did the weaving workshops in Jiangnan stop working, but they also transferred a lot of weavers. I bought a few hundred people. Alas, buying these few hundred people cost a lot of silver, and it was very strenuous. If they transfer more weavers, I won’t be able to afford them.”
Huang Xianzhou frowned.
“Besides the weavers, there are also autumn silkworm cocoons. I heard that the autumn silkworms have already started spinning. The collection of autumn silkworm cocoons is imminent. Since these weaving workshops have stopped working and transferred weavers, they probably won’t want to collect autumn silkworm cocoons anymore. What about these autumn silkworm cocoons?”
Li Xiaonan sighed.
Huang Xianzhou and Mr. Yao exchanged a glance, then looked at Li Xiaonan, waiting for her to continue.
“There’s a Senior Guild Member named Yu Chengfu at the Pingjiang Silk Trade Association. Have you heard of him, Teacher? I want to find him to discuss this, to have him inquire which weaving workshops are willing to collect autumn silkworm cocoons. What do you think, Teacher?” Li Xiaonan changed the subject and got straight to the point.
“Yu Chengfu has asked many people to find me, not for anything else, but to inquire about President Shi’s case.” Huang Xianzhou frowned. “This person is too cunning and very good at using tactics. Do you really want to find him?”
“But he still couldn’t get any information from you, right?” Li Xiaonan said with a smile.
“That’s true.” Huang Xianzhou smiled, stroking his beard with a hint of pride.
“To collect autumn silkworm cocoons, you definitely can’t do it without some cunning and tactics, don’t you think?” Li Xiaonan continued to smile.
“That’s also true.” Huang Xianzhou was stunned for a moment and admitted it, then sighed, “You see, it’s like this with people. Without cunning, they can’t get things done. But if they have too much cunning, they lose their sincerity.”
“There’s a Mr. Zhou, who serves as an adviser to the Young Lord. He inquired about this Yu Chengfu for me and said that his character is good and he can be used.” Li Xiaonan said, looking at Huang Xianzhou with a smile.
“Indeed! That’s good, that’s good!” Huang Xianzhou looked at Mr. Yao, who was also looking at him.
Listening to this little girl’s words, it seemed that this Yu Chengfu was someone chosen by the Young Lord. Well, that’s good. There’s nothing wrong with Yu Chengfu that would lead to this little girl being blamed or implicated.
“Since he can be used, you came here specifically to inquire about Shi Wanquan’s case?” Huang Xianzhou looked at Li Xiaonan.
Li Xiaonan nodded.
“Shi Wanquan is timid and has few schemes. Although he is the President of the Pingjiang Silk Trade Association and holds the title of Senior Guild Member at the Jiangnan Silk General Store, all the messy affairs at the Jiangnan Silk General Store were kept from him, which inadvertently benefited him.”
Huang Xianzhou lowered his voice.
Li Xiaonan breathed a sigh of relief.
“Shi Wanquan will definitely have to pay a lot of silver, but his life will be safe.” Huang Xianzhou continued.
“That’s good.” Li Xiaonan breathed another sigh of relief, hesitated for a moment, and then said with a smile, “Then can Yu Chengfu be allowed to see Shi Wanquan? You and Mr. Yao can watch, just a glance, a few words is enough.”
“There’s no major issue, but we need to get the Young Lord’s permission first.
“The Young Lord ordered that no one is allowed to visit the people held in this barracks. I can’t make this decision, it has to be approved by that Young General Yang. Young General Yang is very strict with military law.”
“Then I’ll trouble you to write a letter.” Li Xiaonan stood up, curtsied to Huang Xianzhou, and left the barracks with Wan Jing.
