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

The black carriage finally stopped in front of Yingxianlou, the largest inn in Yunyang County. The coachman jumped down, laid out a footstool by the carriage door, and moved silently and skillfully.

"My lord, we've arrived," Night Hawk announced in a low voice from outside the carriage.

The carriage curtain was lifted by a hand with distinct knuckles, and Xiao Qingyan stepped out of the carriage. He had changed into a moon-white casual robe, with cloud patterns embroidered in gold thread faintly visible at the hem, which softened the menacing aura of the official robe, but did not diminish the innate sense of oppression.

He glanced up at the inn's sign, his expression indifferent, as if he were just an ordinary rich young master passing by.

"Has it been found out? When did that Qingyun Pavilion open?" Xiao Qingyan's voice was unreadable.

"Reporting to the Marquis, it will be in three days," Night Hawk replied. "I have already sent men to keep an eye on her, but... we have not yet found out what the female manager looks like. She rarely shows herself in public. The one who usually appears in public is a young manager named Shen Yu."

"No rush." ​​Xiao Qingyan stepped into the inn. The innkeeper, seeing his extraordinary demeanor, hurriedly bowed and scraped as he came to greet him. "I have plenty of time."

He requested the best room, the "Top Class." Fu'an directed the servants to carry the luggage upstairs, while Xiao Qingyan stood in the lobby, his gaze sweeping over the merchants coming and going.

By using the pretext of inspecting the salt tax in Jiangnan, he was able to escape the troubles in the capital. The old foxes in the Ministry of Revenue were preoccupied with the dirt he had released and couldn't pay attention to him for the time being.

He came here for two reasons. First, he genuinely wanted to see the market in Lizhou Prefecture. Second, he was there for the woman who had vanished without a trace.

A female shopkeeper who can manipulate the son of a magistrate at will?

Xiao Qingyan's mind conjured up Jiang Zhenxue's face, which always carried a hint of timidity and ingratiation. She could compose nursery rhymes? She could devise poisonous schemes? Don't be ridiculous, just looking at an account book would make her dizzy for half a day.

He was almost certain that it couldn't possibly be her.

But deep down, a voice lurked within. What if? What if she'd been faking it all along?

The thought filled him with a furious sense of being deceived, yet mixed with a twisted excitement. He suddenly longed to see for himself who this so-called "female manager" really was.

"My lord, the room is ready," Fu'an said, trotting over.

"Hmm." Xiao Qingyan pulled himself out of his thoughts, turned and walked upstairs. "There's no need to send anyone to investigate for the next three days. On the opening day, I will personally go and meet her."

He wanted to see what kind of woman dared to stir up trouble right under his nose.

……

As night falls, the lights are on.

The private room on the second floor of Qingyun Pavilion was brightly lit by candlelight. The renovation work was nearing completion, with only some soft furnishings remaining to be arranged. The air still held the fresh scent of new wood and tung oil.

Jiang Zhenxue did not return to the inn, but instead checked the list of materials needed for the opening one last time by candlelight.

Shen Yu carried in a steaming bowl of lotus seed soup and gently placed it beside her.

"Sister Jiang, you've been busy all day, take a break. If you keep looking at these things, your eyes will be ruined." His voice was gentle, filled with concern that brooked no refusal.

Jiang Zhenxue looked up at him, smiled, put down her pen, and rubbed her slightly sore temples. "It's alright, almost done. By the way, how did your review go today?"

Shen Yu sat down on the chair next to him, his expression becoming focused and serious, no longer showing any restraint or caution.

"I've already organized my notes on the 'Policy Discussions' section according to what you suggested, but I still feel that some parts of the discussion on 'taking agriculture as the foundation while also considering industry and commerce' could be explored in more depth."

"Oh? Tell me about it." Jiang Zhenxue became interested.

Shen Yu then explained his insights one by one. He was no longer passively accepting and memorizing as before, but had begun to think and judge for himself. His logic was clear, he cited classical texts, and his words exuded composure and confidence.

Jiang Zhenxue listened quietly, her eyes overflowing with appreciation and satisfaction.

This is the Shen Yu she wanted to see: a scholar with integrity and thought, not just an accountant who only knows how to keep books.

"Well said." After he finished speaking, Jiang Zhenxue sincerely praised, "Xiao Yu, you learn things really quickly. Your talent goes far beyond this."

Shen Yu was a little embarrassed by her praise, and his ears turned slightly red: "It's all thanks to Sister Jiang's excellent teaching."

"I've only opened a door for you; you still have to walk your own path." Jiang Zhenxue picked up the bowl of lotus seed soup, stirring it gently with a spoon, her tone becoming earnest. "Your battlefield is the imperial examination. I'll be waiting for the day you pass with flying colors. But you must also remember, passing the imperial examination is not for bringing glory to your ancestors, nor for high office and wealth."

She looked up at him earnestly: "It's so that we can stand in a higher place and do more practical things for those people who are still struggling in the mire. Just like we can provide a shelter for the students of Puxian County today, you should also support the people under your jurisdiction in the future."

Shen Yu's heart skipped a beat. Looking into Jiang Zhenxue's eyes, which shone brightly in the candlelight, he seemed to see a vast world he had never imagined.

He had always thought that Sister Jiang did all this to make money and to protect herself. Only now did he vaguely realize what a passionate and compassionate heart lay hidden beneath her layers of scheming and shrewdness.

"Sister Jiang, I will remember this." He stood up, bowed deeply to Jiang Zhenxue, and said solemnly, "If one day Shen Yu is able to hold a high position in the government, I will never forget what I said today. I will never let you down."

Jiang Zhenxue looked at his straight back, her heart filled with emotion. This was probably the most precious thing she had gained since coming into this world.

"Alright, sit down quickly, stop with all this formality." She waved her hand with a smile, "The lotus seed soup is getting cold."

Seeing Shen Yu sit down again and quietly drink his soup, Jiang Zhenxue felt a huge weight lifted from her heart. This child has truly grown up.

As night deepened, Jiang Zhenxue returned to her room to rest.

Shen Yu extinguished all the candles in the building and carefully checked the doors and windows again. He didn't go back to his room immediately, but went alone to the third-floor terrace.

A cool evening breeze made people's clothes flutter.

He carefully took out a small square box wrapped in plain brocade from his bosom.

He opened the box, and inside lay a seal. The seal wasn't made of any precious jade; it was simply a piece of warm-textured bluestone he had picked up from the riverbank, which he had painstakingly carved himself over several nights with a carving knife.

At the bottom of the seal are four delicate characters: "Jiang Xue Man Ting".

He knew that Sister Jiang lacked nothing. What she casually gave to her servants was a hundred times more valuable than this broken stone.

But he carved it out with his own hands, stroke by stroke. What he carved was the snow of Puxian, the encounter in the courtyard, his gratitude that he could not repay, and the quietly growing admiration and respect that even he himself dared not delve into.

He wanted to give this to her on the opening day.

Would she find it too simple?

Shen Yu held the cold stone seal, his palms sweating. Perhaps she would just treat it as an ordinary little trinket, casually accept it, and then forget about it as soon as she turned around.

But this is also a token of his goodwill.

Looking at the lights of thousands of homes in the distance, he thought to himself that as long as he could stay by her side and watch her expand her business empire step by step, and watch her realize her dreams, even if she never knew the sentiment behind this gift, it would be enough.