The Marquis doesn't support his beloved wife's ambitions, so I'll take the imperial e

"What is Your Excellency doing...?" Fu'an asked boldly.

"Prepare the boat." Xiao Qingyan walked to the window, looking at the impenetrable night outside. "Once the memorial regarding the salt tax in Jiangnan is approved, I will personally go to Lizhou."

Even if the female shopkeeper wasn't Jiang Zhenxue, he still wanted to see what kind of extraordinary woman she was. If she was, then she was doomed.

……

Puxian County, the backyard of the study room where students who passed the imperial examinations achieved their names.

Jiang Zhenxue finished checking the last account and closed the ledger.

Shen Yu placed a contract with his fingerprint on it on the table: "Sister Jiang, the shop in Yunyang County has been secured. It's located diagonally opposite the Prefectural School. It used to be a teahouse, but the owner was in a hurry for money, so we took it over at a 20% discount."

"Well done." Jiang Zhenxue poured a glass of warm water and pushed it towards her. "What's been happening with the Lin family these past few days?"

"It's very quiet." Shen Yu picked up his water glass and took a big gulp. "I asked around and found out that Prefect Lin was summoned for questioning by the Prefect, and Lin Ruyu is under house arrest. That nursery rhyme has spread too far. They're in a bind right now and can't care about us at all."

Jiang Zhenxue tapped her fingers rhythmically on the table.

This was exactly the effect she wanted. The Lin family father and son weren't some heinous traitors, but they were deeply entrenched local bullies. The nursery rhyme wasn't enough to convict them, but it made them walk on thin ice in the officialdom.

As long as they are too busy to take care of themselves, those who pass the imperial examination will have enough time to grow wildly.

"Yunyang County is not like Pu County." Jiang Zhenxue picked up paper and pen and began to draw a sketch. "That's where the prefectural city is located, with many high-ranking officials and nobles, and few poor scholars. We can't completely copy the Pu County model."

Shen Yu leaned closer to take a look.

"The first floor will be converted into an open-plan bookstore, selling newly published poetry collections and policy essays from various regions, along with some stationery," Jiang Zhenxue said while drawing. "The second floor will be converted into enclosed private rooms, not called study rooms, but 'Qingyun Pavilion.' They will charge by the hour, providing top-quality tea and snacks, exclusively for wealthy young men to gather and have pleasant conversations."

"What about those scientific expedition notes we compiled before?" Shen Yu asked.

"That's the real prize." Jiang Zhenxue paused, "The notes aren't for sale, they're just a gift. Anyone who spends over a hundred taels at Qingyun Pavilion will receive a free copy of the 'Prefectural Examination Internal Reference.' People have a natural curiosity; the harder something is to buy, the more precious they think it is."

Kang Mingyan happened to be lifting the curtain and entering from the front. Upon hearing this, he gasped, "One hundred taels? Xue'er, you're asking for way too much!"

"That's called screening your customer base." Jiang Zhenxue didn't even look up. "The sons of the powerful and wealthy in the prefectural city have no shortage of money, but they lack something that can make them look good in front of their elders. If you sell it for ten taels, they'll think it's cheap stuff; if you sell it for a hundred taels, they'll think it's a unique secret."

Kang Mingyan swallowed hard, completely convinced. He had originally thought Jiang Zhenxue was just a little clever, but now it seemed she had a deep understanding of human nature.

"However," Jiang Zhenxue paused her writing and looked at Kang Mingyan, "Yunyang County is a dangerous place. If we outsiders open a shop there, the local bookstores and teahouses will definitely be envious. Mingyan, your father has been doing business in the prefectural city for many years. I'd like to borrow the Kang family's business routes."

"No problem!" Kang Mingyan patted his chest confidently. "Whatever you need, I'll take care of it."

"We don't need the Kang family to protect us," Jiang Zhenxue said. "I just need your father to spread the word that the paper and tea used by Qingyun Pavilion are supplied by the Kang family. I'll give the Kang family 10% of the profits."

Kang Mingyan was stunned.

Shen Yu understood: "Sister Jiang wants to drag the Kang family into this, just to put on a show for outsiders?"

"Yes. We'll use the Kang family's influence as a shield." Jiang Zhenxue pushed the sketch to Shen Yu. "With the Kang family's connections, those local bullies who want to resort to underhanded tactics will have to think twice before they act. By the time they realize what's happening, we'll already have a firm foothold in Yunyang County."

She planned everything meticulously, step by step.

Looking at her calm profile, Shen Yu felt an indescribable sense of awe.

Just how much does this woman have in her head? She seems to always be able to find a way out of desperate situations and see danger in favorable circumstances.

"Alright, stop standing there." Jiang Zhenxue stood up and stretched. "Xiao Yu, tomorrow you take a few people to Yunyang County to oversee the renovations. Make sure it's finished within half a month. Ming Yan, go back and talk to your father."

The two accepted the order and left.

Jiang Zhenxue was the only one left in the room. She walked to the large camphor wood chest containing the money and unlocked it.

Inside, stacks of banknotes and loose silver were neatly arranged.

She took out a fifty-tael silver note and flicked it between her fingers.

She was still some distance from her target of ten thousand taels. But once the Qingyun Pavilion in Yunyang County opened, that number would soon double.

Once she has enough money, she can buy the best location in the capital and befriend the most powerful and influential people.

……

half a month later.

Outside Lizhou City, dust swirled along the official road.

A troop of elite black-armored cavalry escorted a large, dark-colored carriage, moving forward at a leisurely pace. Dark gold bronze bells hung from the four corners of the carriage, yet they made no sound.

Inside the carriage, Xiao Qingyan leaned against the soft pillows, clutching the red safety buckle in his hand. The rough red rope left a faint red mark on his fingertip.

The tall city walls of Lizhou can be vaguely seen ahead.

Night Hawk rode his horse to the carriage window and whispered, "My lord, we are now in Lizhou. I have confirmed that the female shopkeeper went to Yunyang County today and opened a new shop there called Qingyun Pavilion."

Xiao Qingyan remained silent.

He drew back the curtains, his gaze sweeping across the wilderness to the distant city walls.

He squeezed the safety buckle so hard with his fingertips that it almost crushed.

"Go to Yunyang County."

Nighthawk obeyed the order, cracked his whip, and the column turned around.

Yunyang County, diagonally opposite the Prefectural School.

The once dilapidated teahouse has been completely transformed. The partitions in the private rooms on the second floor have just been completed, and they exude the fresh scent of wood.

Shen Yu stood behind the long table, his hands moving rapidly across the abacus, while his other hand held a vermilion pen and made marks on the account book.

"The final payment for the timber has been settled. The lacquerer's wages will be calculated daily and paid upon completion tomorrow. Also, the embroidery on these screens is substandard; they should be returned for rework. Our Qingyun Pavilion is intended to entertain distinguished guests from the prefectural city; displaying such crude items would only damage our reputation."

He spoke very quickly and clearly. Several managers agreed in unison, took the list, and left.

Jiang Zhenxue leaned against the second-floor railing, looking at him with considerable satisfaction.

This child learns things very quickly.

From a beggar in Puxian who didn't even dare to speak loudly, to a capable manager now, he has undergone a complete transformation.

He stood up straight, and his expression became more composed.

Shen Yu closed the ledger, looked up, and met Jiang Zhenxue's gaze.

His ears turned red as he strode closer and handed over the account book: "Sister Jiang, the preliminary expenses have been calculated, and it's two hundred taels cheaper than the budget. I found a newly opened timber shop in the south of the city. They urgently needed cash flow, so I negotiated a 30% discount and bought all their sandalwood."

"Well done." Jiang Zhenxue took the ledger and opened it, looking at the neat and tidy handwriting. "That's how business is. You can get the lowest price by helping someone in need, but you have to spend the most to add to someone's success. Your insight is sharper than many old shopkeepers."