In the thirteenth year of the Tianbao era: I became Yang Guozhong's eldest son.

Yang Xuan leaned back in his chair, a hint of coldness slowly creeping into his eyes.

The whole day seemed to be spent dealing with gift-giving and sounding out various people.

It was worth it to be able to find this step.

The real big fish in Yanjing County, though it hasn't shown its face yet.

But the cloth covering his face had already been touched first.

He glanced at the few papers on the table and said calmly:

"Don't touch Liu Shenxing yet."

"He Liu's 'killing the chicken to scare the monkey' move will keep them in chaos tonight."

"Once they all think I'm still eyeing this small sum of money at the city gate, I'll go and see how many people this Liu Ji manager in the south of the city has been credited for, and how many wells he's laundered accounts for."

Cui Shen nodded, his eyes gradually brightening.

"clear."

"I'll start by sorting out Liu Ji's dealings through Zhao Suanpan's box of old papers, the gift list from Nanhe Porter's, and the wrapping paper Hu Rong sent."

"The old contract of Han Jitong".

"Pei Zhao is keeping an eye on people."

"If this guy is really just a front man, he won't be able to sit still after tonight."

It was already completely dark outside.

In the front yard porch, the sealed gifts were laid out one by one, like a row of unopened duds.

Yang Xuan gazed at the deepening night outside the courtyard, his expression calm.

He had a premonition that the real breakthrough lay with Liu Shenxing.

......

The night gradually faded.

Under the eaves of the front courtyard of the yamen, the gift boxes, brocade boxes, and silks sealed with slips of paper from yesterday are still there, untouched.

Inside the main hall, Yang Xuan and Cui Shen were checking a stack of new orders that had been compiled the day before.

The news that He Liu had been arrested in public and that the city gate's miscellaneous fee entrance had been sealed off spread throughout the streets and alleys of Yanjing County overnight.

It's like throwing a scalding hot stone into a stagnant pool; the surface may only bubble a few times, but the undercurrents are already surging beneath.

"My lord, we discovered Liu Shenxing's trail yesterday. Today, the Tian family and Hu Rong's side are likely to make new moves."

Cui Shen pressed a copy of the confession under the paperweight, his voice tinged with wariness.

Yang Xuan picked up the teacup beside him, blew away the foam, and said in a calm tone: "They were rejected when they offered gifts yesterday, so they naturally have to try a different approach today. They don't dare to use force now, and they've run into a wall with their soft approach, so they'll probably have to find another way to approach them."

Just then, a series of light footsteps came from outside.

Cai Fan lifted the curtain and entered, holding several visiting cards that had been scented and sprinkled with gold powder, her expression somewhat strange.

"My lord, Princess." Cai Fan walked to the table and presented the visiting card.

"Several groups of people came to the back gate of the county government office just now. They said they were from the Tian family, the Hu Rong family, and several wealthy families in the south of the city. They delivered invitations and wanted to pay their respects to the princess."

Upon hearing this, Yang Xuan put down his teacup, glanced at the several fancy visiting cards, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Look." He turned to look at Yanhe, who was sitting to the side looking through the account books.

"What did I say? The stones in the front yard are too hard for them to gnaw on, so they're trying to find a soft path through the water in the inner courtyard."

Yanhe raised his head, his gaze falling on the visiting cards.

She didn't answer immediately, but instead examined the gold-flecked paper and the faint, cloying fragrance emanating from it, her eyes gradually turning cold.

"Greetings?" Yanhe's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an innate air of superiority.

"I am a princess bestowed by the imperial court, while they are wives of wealthy and powerful merchants. According to the rules of the Tang Dynasty, what right do they have to send me a greeting card?"

Cui Shen, who was listening nearby, felt a jolt in his heart.

This is the royal family.

Even if they were demoted to this remote Jiannan Road and lived in a dilapidated, drafty government office, the sense of discipline and status they held in their bones was something that the local powerful families could never attain.

Cai Fan replied in a low voice, "They said that since the princess has just arrived in Yanjing County and has had a long journey, it is their duty as local women to show her hospitality. They also brought a lot of local specialties and precious fabrics, saying they wanted to present them to the princess."

"Honoring as a host?" Yanhe sneered.

She stood up, walked to the table, picked up a visiting card, and threw it on the ground without even looking at its contents.

"They're treating Yanjing County like their own backyard." Yanhe turned to look at Yang Xuan. "They think that you, the county magistrate, are a tough nut to crack, and that I, the princess who was demoted to a remote and impoverished place with you, must be a hussy woman who has been wronged and can be easily fooled by a few bolts of silk and a few beads."

Yang Xuan looked at her, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

"So what are your plans?"

"Since they want to find out the inner workings of the household, then I'll let them find out."

Yanhe's gaze turned completely somber.

"However, if you want to see me, you can't follow their rules. You have to follow mine."

She turned to Caifan and instructed, "Go and fetch Uncle Wen."

Not long after, Uncle Wen arrived in a hurry.

"Uncle Wen," Yanhe said solemnly, looking at the old servant who had served him for many years, "the women from the Tian and Hu families have sent their invitations, and I have approved them. They are to come to the inner hall of the yamen this afternoon to pay their respects."

Upon hearing this, Wen Bo frowned slightly: "Princess, it would be an insult to your status to let these women of merchants into the inner hall."

"Disgrace?" Yanhe said coldly. "I want them to know what status is."

"Go and arrange the inner hall." Yanhe gave instructions one by one. "Don't display any local specialties. Hang up all the incense burners, brocade cushions, and beaded curtains that were brought from Chang'an as imperial gifts. Use the 'agarwood' that the palace bestowed upon you for incense. The seats are not to be arranged randomly. Follow the rules for the Chang'an imperial family to meet with their wives. The main seat will have a beaded curtain, and only two stools will be placed below it. Everyone else, stand."

Wen Bo's eyes lit up, and he immediately understood Yan He's meaning.

This is not for entertaining guests.

This is to use the rules of the imperial clan to suppress these arrogant local tycoons.

"This old servant understands. And what about the tea?"

"Tea?" Yanhe's lips curled into a cold sneer. "They're here to pay their respects, not to enjoy tea. Without my permission, not a single drop of water is to be served."

"Yes!" Wen Bo's spirits lifted, and he turned around to make arrangements.

Looking at Yanhe's series of arrangements, Yang Xuan's smile deepened.

"Your move is even more ruthless than when I held He Liu down in the front yard in public," Yang Xuan said softly. "He Liu is just a brat, but today you are facing the 'face' of the powerful families of Yanjing County."

Yanhe sat back in his chair and straightened his cuffs.

"The front yard is in disarray, but the rules in the back yard must not be broken. If they dare to come, I'll show them who the ruler of Yanjing County is."

……

The afternoon sun was a bit too bright.

Outside the back gate of the county government office, three or four ornately decorated carriages were parked.

Madam Tian and Madam Hu stepped out of the carriage, both dressed in the finest Shu brocade, with gold hairpins in their hair and exquisite jade bracelets on their wrists.

Behind him followed seven or eight maids and servants carrying gift boxes.

Madam Tian glanced at the dilapidated side gate of the county government office, covered her mouth and nose with a handkerchief, and whispered to Madam Hu, "It's a wonder that the young lady of the house can live in this wretched place. I heard she stayed up half the night in the courtroom last night. I guess she was scared out of her wits by this poor, remote place."

Mrs. Hu smiled and touched the bracelet on her wrist.

"They're from Chang'an, after all; they've never seen anything like this before. Let's bring some good things today, say some nice things, and coax them a bit. As long as the inner quarters loosen their grip, no matter how stubborn that magistrate in the front courtyard is, a few words from his wife will soften him a bit."

The two exchanged a knowing smile, their understanding unspoken.

In their view, how much backbone could a demoted county magistrate and a princess who suffered alongside him have?

As long as gold, silver, silk, and satin are presented to them, and they are given enough face, the rules of Yanjing County will eventually return to their hands.