Killer Queen: Tyrant, prepare to die!

Chapter 64 Liu Chengming Discovers She's a Fake Widow? Ye Huang Quickly Bribes His Confidant

After Liu Chengming left, the door to the private room on the third floor of Jinxiufang remained closed for a full hour.

Qian Sihai and Mo Shisan were urgently summoned, Jinshu stood guard outside the door, and even the waiter who was supposed to bring tea and snacks was turned away.

The shop remained open as usual, but all the staff sensed that something terrible had happened.

The atmosphere inside was heavy.

Mo Shisan spread a secret report on the table and spoke very quickly: "Liu Chengming arrived in Hangzhou three days ago and checked into the 'Wanghulou' by West Lake."

The entourage consisted of eight people: four servants on the surface and four guards in secret, all of whom were elite members of the Dark Fragrance Army.

He met three people in the past two days—

He pointed to the names on the paper:

"First, Zhao Wenkang, the prefect of Hangzhou. Yesterday at dusk, Zhao Wenkang went to Wanghu Tower incognito and stayed for half an hour."

"Secondly, Li Heihu, the leader of the Hangzhou branch of the Canal Gang. This morning, they had a secret meeting on a pleasure boat on West Lake. The details are unknown, but Li Heihu left looking grim."

"Third..." Mo Shisan paused, "...the manager of Yuelai Tea House, Feng Qi."

That was Anxiang's contact person in Hangzhou.

Upon arriving in Hangzhou, Liu Chengming immediately met with Feng Qi, and today, after visiting Jinxiufang, he also went to the tea shop.

Ye Huang listened quietly, her fingers lightly tapping the table.

"Does he suspect me?"

"It's not a doubt."

Mo Shisan's face was grim.

"It's confirmed. Feng Qi has a spy who's specifically monitoring newly emerging businesses in Hangzhou."

On the first day of Jinxiufang's opening, the spy mingled among the customers and went back to report two things:

First, the shopkeeper's surname is Qian; second, the owner's surname is Ye, and she is a widow with a child.

Qian Sihai gritted his teeth: "It's my fault for being careless!"

"It's not your fault." Ye Huang shook her head. "When you open a business, you have to show your face in public."

Since Liu Chengming came all the way to Jiangnan, he would investigate any new shop in Hangzhou that showed even a slight improvement in business.

She looked at Mo Shisan: "How much does he know now?"

"Know at least three things."

Mo Shisan took a deep breath.

"First, your surname is Ye, your given name is Huang, you come from the north, you have a young child with you, and you call yourself a widow."

Secondly, Manager Qian is a descendant of the Qian family, who were once the textile manufacturers in Jiangnan. Thirdly…”

He paused, then lowered his voice even further: "Some of Feng Qi's men recognized that Miss Jinshu... looks like the personal maidservant of Miss Shen three years ago."

The room fell silent.

Jinshu's face turned deathly pale: "I...I..."

"It's not your fault."

Ye Huang repeated herself, but her tone turned cold.

"Back when you were at the Shen family's house, you often came and went with me, and many people have seen you."

Since Liu Chengming has investigated me, he will naturally investigate the people around me.

She stood up and walked to the window.

As dusk deepened outside the window, the lanterns of Qinghefang were lit, and the lanterns in front of Jinxiufang swayed gently in the evening breeze, reflecting the subtle pattern of the character "凰" (phoenix).

"He wanted to confirm two things."

Ye Huang's back was to everyone, but her voice was clear.

First, is Ye Huang Shen Qingci?

Second, is there something he wants behind Jinxiufang—for example, clues to the salt tax ledgers?

Qian Sihai said anxiously, "Then what do we do now? If he really believes you are... that person from the Shen family, wouldn't that mean...?"

"So we can't let him make that decision." Ye Huang turned around, a cold glint in her eyes. "Mo Shisan."

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Spread the word." Ye Huang said, enunciating each word clearly.

"It is said that Ye Huang is the widow of a wealthy merchant who returned from overseas. Her ancestral home is in southern Fujian. Her husband's family was in the spice business. He died in a shipwreck three years ago, leaving behind a son."

Because her husband's family had a long-standing relationship with the Qian family of Jiangnan, she came to Hangzhou to seek refuge and partnered with Qian Sihai to open the Jinxiufang business.

Mo Shisan quickly jotted it down: "Anything else?"

"Add one more."

Ye Huang's lips curled up slightly.

"I have blueprints for a new type of loom that I brought from overseas. It is five times more efficient than an ordinary loom."

The reason why Jinxiufang's fabrics are so good is entirely due to this.

Qian Sihai's eyes lit up: "Brilliant! Liu Chengming is extremely greedy. If he knew you possessed such technology, he would definitely covet the blueprints first, rather than investigating your identity!"

"Exactly." Ye Huang sat down. "Also, have the people from Tingfeng Tower 'help' Liu Chengming investigate me."

"Help?" Mo Shisan was taken aback.

"Yes." Ye Huang looked at him. "He wants to investigate, right? Let's let him investigate."

But what we find out is what we want him to know—a widow from overseas, possessing secret skills, wants to establish herself in Jiangnan.

As for Shen Qingci? He's already buried in the imperial mausoleum. What does it have to do with him?

Mo Shisan suddenly understood: "Understood! I'll make the arrangements right away!"

"Wait," Ye Huang called out to him.

"The four guards with the hidden fragrance around Liu Chengming are keeping a close eye on him."

And Zhao Wenkang, Li Heihu, Feng Qi—don't let any of them escape.

"yes!"

Mo Shisan hurriedly withdrew.

Qian Sihai then spoke: "Master, are you really going to the West Lake appointment in three days?"

"Go." Ye Huang picked up the willow-leaf name card.

"Not only should we go, but we should go in style."

I want Liu Chengming to see for himself—even if he suspects something, he can't do anything about it.

She paused, then looked at Jinshu: "You should show your face less these next few days. Leave the affairs of the neighborhood to the newly promoted female manager."

Jinshu nodded, her eyes red-rimmed, "This servant understands."

"It's not that I blame you," Ye Huang's tone softened, "it's that I'm protecting you. Liu Chengming recognizes you, and the less you appear, the harder it is for him to confirm your identity."

"I know," Jinshu wiped her eyes. "Don't worry, Miss, I'll hide it well."

Just then, there was a soft knock on the door.

It's Shen Fu.

After he came in, he said in a low voice, "Miss, Master Lu has sent word that the new batch of looms has been debugged."

Ten new looms, each capable of weaving up to fifteen zhang (approximately 16.7 meters) of fine cotton cloth per day, which is eight times the capacity of looms on the market.

Eight times!

Qian Sihai gasped.

Ye Huang remained calm: "Where's the fabric?"

"Following the formula you provided, I tried weaving a piece of 'Radiant Brocade'."

Shen Fu took out a small piece of fabric sample from his pocket. It was only the size of a palm, but when unfolded, it illuminated the entire room.

The material appeared to be moon white at first glance, but as the angle changed, it revealed a faint rosy glow.

It is smooth to the touch, and upon closer inspection, the weave is fine, even, and without any flaws.

"This is..." Qian Sihai took it, his fingertips trembling, "Mixed with pearl powder and silk?"

"Hmm." Ye Huang nodded, "Pearl powder is mixed into silk thread and then woven using a special technique."

It appears plain in daylight, but shimmers and sparkles under the lamplight. This piece is priced at…one thousand taels.

One thousand taels!

Qian Sihai gasped, "Boss,...is someone really going to buy this?"

"Someone will buy it."

Ye Huang took the sample and gently stroked it.

"Hangzhou doesn't lack rich people, what it lacks is... something that others don't have."

She looked at Shen Fu: "Tell Master Lu that this recipe is a strict secret."

All artisans involved in the weaving will have their wages doubled, but they may not leave the workshop for three years.

If anyone leaks this—

She didn't finish speaking, but the coldness in her eyes made Shen Fu nod emphatically: "Understood!"

After Shen Fu left, Ye Huang looked at Qian Sihai and said, "You'll come with me to the West Lake meeting in three days."

Qian Sihai was taken aback: "Me?"

"Yes." Ye Huang pushed the willow-leaf name card in front of him.

"You are the official manager of Jinxiufang. If Liu Chengming wants to do business, he naturally has to get past you first."

Qian Sihai understood.

The employer is trying to bring him into the spotlight while keeping himself in the background.

In this way, Liu Chengming's attention will be diverted, and even if he suspects something, he will find it difficult to grasp the essence of the matter.

"Your subordinate... will certainly not fail in your mission!"

Ye Huang nodded, gave a few more instructions on the affairs of the neighborhood, and then dismissed Qian Sihai.

Only she and Jinshu remained in the room.

Jinshu then dared to ask, "Miss, you just asked Mr. Mo to 'help' Liu Chengming investigate you, but what if he really found out something...?"

"He can't find it."

Ye Huang walked to the window and looked towards West Lake.

"Because I want him to find out that everything is fake."

"Really?"

"Really..." Ye Huang said softly, "Hidden in a place that even Mo Shisan doesn't know about."

For example, she comes from another world.

For example, she is not Shen Qingci, yet she is indeed Shen Qingci.

For example, what she wants is not just revenge, but also a complete reshuffling of the world.

Liu Chengming will never be able to find out these things.

Outside the window, the lights of Hangzhou gradually come on, winding like a galaxy.

Ye Huang stood quietly, while Bao'er in her arms had woken up at some point and was looking at her with her big, dark eyes.

She bent down and kissed the child's forehead.

"Baby, do you think Mommy can win?"

Bao'er reached out her little hand and gently patted her face, making muffled but firm sounds:

"win……"

Ye Huang smiled.

Yes, we will win.

From the moment she decided to stop being Shen Qingci and become Ye Huang—

That means it's destined that the loser will be someone else.