Remarried to a top-tier playboy, her reborn ex-husband is filled with regret.

Zhou Heng responded calmly:

"May I ask which company you sold that batch of goods to a few days ago?"

"Hey, it's just a matter of turnover for our peers."

The man was vague, only urging that a contract for long-term supply be signed, his words revealing his certainty about the "large quantity of old rice".

After seeing the man off, Zhou Heng came to report.

"The person left, saying they'd come back in three days to discuss the deal."

Xiao Fang stood up, his red robe sweeping across the corner of the chair.

"I'll keep a close eye on this person myself."

Yun Shuyao nodded.

"Be careful not to alert them."

Xiao Fang didn't say much, and strode out of the back room, his figure quickly disappearing at the alley entrance.

Yun Shuyao looked at the teacup on the table, the rising steam blurring her features.

He just sold a large batch of old rice, and half a month later he can get another large batch... What's hidden behind this is probably the whereabouts of Su Wenbin's three thousand shi of old grain.

Zhou Heng watched from the side, and seeing his young mistress gazing out the window in a daze, he said softly:

"Miss, would you like to raise the price a bit more to attract more people?"

"No need."

Yun Shuyao withdrew her gaze, her eyes clear.

"The fish has taken the bait."

Madam Qin returned to her desolate main room and closed the door behind her.

The harsh words spoken in the flower hall still echoed in my ears.

Thirty years of belittling and insults, like a millstone, crushed her heart to pieces.

She walked to the dressing table and looked at the woman in the mirror, whose temples were gray and whose eyes were withered.

Suddenly, she remembered that when she first married into the family, she was also full of hope for the future. She blushed and handed over the generous dowry prepared by the Qin family, hoping to win a little sincerity in return.

All he got in return was the disdain of being "from a merchant family," the insults of being "money-grubbing," and the embarrassment of not being able to hold his head up in front of his concubines.

She was a duchess, married in a proper ceremony, yet she lived a life less dignified than a favored concubine.

Her daughter Yun Shuyao's words echoed in her mind again.

"Mother, tolerance won't earn you respect."

Yes, she endured for thirty years, and what did she get in return?

It's an increasingly serious heart ailment, the doctor's words, "Medicine is ineffective; the knot in your heart must be untied."

It is the despair of having one's lifespan approaching and not knowing when one will pass away.

Qin took a deep breath, and a resolute look gradually appeared in the eyes of the person in the mirror.

She walked to the window and called out to the outside.

"Aunt Liu".

Liu Ma, who had served her closely for thirty years, hurried in and, seeing her unusual expression, asked with concern.

"Madam, are you alright?"

Qin shook her head, her voice calm and undisturbed.

"Go and fetch my dowry list, as well as all the deeds and land deeds for the shops, estates, houses, and farmland, and the keys to the private treasury. Organize them as quickly as possible."

Aunt Liu was taken aback.

"Madam, what's wrong...?"

"Send it to Shu Yao."

Qin interrupted her, her tone leaving no room for argument.

"Yes, it's for Shu Yao. Send her everything, without missing a single item."

Liu Ma opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but seeing the flame in the lady's eyes, which had been dormant for thirty years, now burning brightly, she ultimately swallowed her words.

"Yes, this old servant will go right away."

"besides."

Qin suddenly added, her gaze sweeping across the courtyard belonging to the Duke's mansion outside the window, her tone as cold as ice.

"From this day forward, the accounting department is not allowed to withdraw a single tael of silver from my private treasury or dowry."

Aunt Liu looked up abruptly, her eyes filled with shock.

The lady's private property is the lifeblood that upholds the Duke's mansion's prestige; if this were to get out...

Qin Shi stopped looking at her and instead gazed at the dusty painting on the wall, saying softly:

"Thirty years has passed, I've had enough."

I don't want to live such a miserable life...until I die.

She wanted to try, but what could she do if she couldn't bear it anymore?

This side.

Xiao Fang followed the man in the blue robe through three alleys and finally stopped outside an inconspicuous granary on the outskirts of the city.

The granary was surrounded by a waist-high earthen wall, and a large brass lock hung at the entrance, making it look like it had been abandoned for a long time.

He went around to the back wall of the granary, leaped onto the roof with his toes, and lifted two tiles to look down.

The granary was piled high with sacks of grain, and a damp, musty smell wafted out; it was indeed the lowest grade of old rice.

Xiao Fang counted them; it was about three thousand dan, no more, no less, exactly matching the number in Su Wenbin's ledger.

A cold glint flashed in Xiao Fang's eyes. He landed silently on the ground and disappeared into the night.

旧宅

The window of Yun Shuyao's bedroom creaked softly.

Chun Tao was making the bed for her young mistress when she saw Xiao Fang climb in. Startled, she dropped the bedding on the floor.

She bit her lip, picked up the bedding, and turned to go to the outer room to make tea.

When he returned, he was carrying a rough porcelain bowl, which he slammed onto the table with a loud thud, splashing tea far away.

"Please enjoy, Your Highness."

She kept her head down, her voice muffled, as if she were muttering something.

Xiao Fang raised an eyebrow at her.

The little maid was trembling like a leaf when she saw him a few days ago, but now she's grown bold?

He deliberately lowered his voice and gave a low "hmm," carrying a hint of authority.

Chun Tao's body trembled violently, all the toughness she had shown earlier vanished instantly, her eyes reddened instantly, and she almost dropped the tray in her hands.

"You scared her again."

Yun Shuyao looked up from the ledger, her tone tinged with helplessness.

Xiao Fang smiled and looked away.

"I helped her build up her courage so that on the day she graduated, she wouldn't be shy anywhere."

Chun Tao blushed at his words, stomped her foot and ran out, not forgetting to give a soft "humph" as she closed the door.

The bedroom fell silent, and Yun Shuyao put down her pen.

"You found it?"

"Um."

Xiao Fang walked to the table and tapped the map with his fingertip.

"The three thousand dan of old rice in the suburban granary is the goods of that man in the blue robe."

Yun Shuyao frowned slightly.

"Do you know when they make their trades? You can't keep an eye on them every day."

"Watching them won't help; they've wiped it too clean."

Xiao Fang shook his head.

"The accounts are flawless, and there's no concrete evidence of the granary situation. We can't convict Su Wenbin based solely on this pile of stale rice in the hands of grain merchants."

Yun Shuyao remained silent for a moment.

"How can we catch them red-handed?"

Xiao Fang looked at her, a hint of a smile in his eyes.

"I have an idea."

He turned and asked.

"Do you have pen and ink?"

Yun Shuyao got up and gave him her seat. She then went to the desk, laid out Xuan paper for him, and began to grind ink.

Xiao Fang picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and wrote with flowing strokes. His handwriting was exactly the same as Su Wenbin's!

He wrote: Three days later, at Hai hour (9-11 PM), the aged rice was transported to the west warehouse and inspected and stored.

"You can imitate handwriting?"

Yun Shuyao was somewhat surprised.

Xiao Fang put down his pen, his tone slightly teasing.

"Sigh... I'm also worried. I have no way to use all my skills."

Yun Shuyao was speechless for a moment, but after getting to know Xiao Fang better, she found him to be quite an interesting person.

Xiao Fang dropped his joking expression and pointed to the letter.

"Use this to transport grain."

"Besides convincing the grain merchants, we also need to bring Su Wenbin out."

Yun Shuyao added:

"Could you imitate the grain merchant's notes and write another letter to Su Wenbin?"

"This is not difficult."

Xiao Fang nodded.

"I'll find an opportunity to see the grain merchant's signature tomorrow."

That's what I was thinking about just now, which is why I wrote this three days later.

The two looked at each other and suddenly laughed.

After all this trouble, we've finally found the rope to pull the net in.

"You should rest."

Xiao Fang put away the Xuan paper and walked towards the window.

"I'll take you to see this show for yourself in three days."

Yun Shuyao nodded, watching him climb out of the window and disappear into the night.

Chun Tao's soft mutterings could be heard from outside.

"Finally gone... at least they let Miss rest..."

This was followed by Xiao Fang's low laughter and Chun Tao's startled gasp.

Yun Shuyao couldn't help but smile, her fingertips brushing across the map on the table, landing on the two characters "Xicang".

Three days later, it's time to close the net.

Zhenguo Duke's Mansion

The news that Qin had sealed off her private treasury was like a stone thrown into boiling oil, sparking a great deal of discussion throughout the mansion.

At first, nothing seemed amiss, except that Aunt Feng's gold headdress hadn't been made, and Old Liu, the accountant, was stammering as he dealt with the expenses of each household.

But just one day later, the atmosphere in the mansion gradually changed.

First, there was less meat in the kitchen. The chicken, duck, and fish that we used to eat every day have now been replaced by vegetarian dishes.

Even in the courtyard of the most favored concubine, Aunt Feng, there was no longer any bird's nest available.

"What's this thing called?"

Aunt Feng threw the white fungus soup on the ground and pointed at the broken porcelain shards, cursing:

"Are you trying to fob me off like a beggar? Go ask Old Liu if he doesn't want to work here anymore."

The maidservant reported back with a mournful face.

"Madam, the accountant said... said that there is no cash left in the mansion, and the kitchen is purchasing according to the new rules, so the profit share of each household has been reduced by 90%."

Aunt Feng was so angry that she trembled.

"Reduce by 90%?"

My younger brother is still waiting for the two thousand taels of silver I asked for to pay off his gambling debts!

If he gets his leg broken by the casino people, I will absolutely not let that good-for-nothing Qin get away with it!