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

Three days later, opposite the Yunyang County Prefectural School, stands Qingyun Pavilion.

When the auspicious hour arrived, firecrackers were set off, and the red silk was unveiled, revealing the three large, gold-plated characters "Qingyun Pavilion" in a flamboyant style.

Unlike the small study room in Puxian County, Qingyun Pavilion in Yunyang County exudes an air of "expensiveness" from its facade to its interior.

The first floor is an open-plan bookstore, with rare and unique books recently imported from various places displayed on rosewood bookshelves. The second floor consists of private rooms, each named after a poem, creating a serene and elegant atmosphere.

The opening day was a grand occasion.

Those who could enter this place were all prominent figures in Yunyang County, or wealthy young men from well-to-do families. They did not find the one hundred taels of silver deposit threshold expensive; on the contrary, they regarded it as a symbol of status.

"Xue'er, you're amazing!" Kang Mingyan stood on the second-floor corridor, looking at the bustling crowd below, his face flushed with excitement. "This hundred-tael threshold didn't scare people away at all; instead, it made them scramble for the place! Even my father said that he'd been in business his whole life and had never seen anything this profitable!"

Jiang Zhenxue leaned against the railing, her expression calm: "What they're buying isn't books, it's face. The young masters of the prefectural city aren't most afraid of spending money, they're afraid of being outdone by others."

As they were talking, Shen Yu strode over. He had changed into a well-tailored blue robe, his features were relaxed, and he walked with a calm and capable air, showing no trace of the beggar he once was on the street.

"Sister Jiang, congratulations on your opening." He walked up to Jiang Zhenxue, took out a small brocade box from his pocket, and presented it with both hands. "This is... something I carved myself. It's just a small token of my appreciation."

Jiang Zhenxue was taken aback, then took it and opened it.

Inside the brocade box lay a quiet blue stone seal. The stone was warm and smooth, and although the carving was somewhat rudimentary, it possessed a unique rustic charm. At the bottom of the seal were four delicate characters: "Jiang Xue Man Ting" (江雪满庭).

Her heart felt as if it had been gently bumped by something, warm and tender.

"This is the best gift I've ever received." She carefully put away the brocade box, looked up at Shen Yu, and smiled. "I love it."

Shen Yu's ears turned red instantly. He pursed his lips, his eyes shining with an astonishing light.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out downstairs, and then the noisy voices seemed to be cut off by an invisible knife, and the noise fell silent instantly.

A man dressed in black, with a straight face, stood expressionless in the center of the main hall of Qingyun Pavilion. He was tall and imposing, with a deep and imposing aura. A long sword of indeterminate design hung at his waist, and his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, making him completely out of place in the elegant atmosphere of the room.

He was alone, yet he seemed to carry the menacing aura of a thousand troops.

"Which one of you is Manager Jiang of Qingyun Pavilion?" His voice was not loud, but it was as cold and hard as iron, and it carried clearly to the second floor.

Jiang Zhenxue felt a chill run down her spine, exchanged a glance with Shen Yu, and then gracefully walked down the stairs.

"That's me."

The man in black's gaze fell on her, scrutinized her for a moment, and then bowed slightly, his movements as precise as if he had measured her with a ruler.

"My master heard that Manager Jiang's new store was opening, so he specially ordered me to send a congratulatory gift to express his heartfelt wishes."

He didn't say who his master was, but simply turned to the side and waved towards the door.

Immediately, two subordinates, also dressed in black, carried in an object covered with a huge red silk ribbon. The object was enormous, almost blocking half of the doorway.

All the guests craned their necks, curiously guessing the origin of this mysterious master and the true nature of this generous gift.

Under the breathless gaze of everyone, the leading man in black reached out and suddenly ripped the red silk off!

In an instant, the room was filled with golden light!

It was a birdcage.

A birdcage, nearly half a person tall, woven from pure gold thread, was extremely luxurious. The cage was inlaid with thumb-sized pearls, and delicate red jade tassels hung from the top. Even the small lock on the cage door was carved from a single piece of mutton-fat white jade.

This is no longer a congratulatory gift, but a work of art that could drive anyone crazy, a priceless treasure!

"My God! This is pure gold!"

"This extravagance... could it be some prince or nobleman from the capital?"

The guests gasped in shock, their gazes toward Jiang Zhenxue instantly becoming complex, filled with suspicion and jealousy.

However, the moment Jiang Zhenxue saw the birdcage, all the color drained from her face.

Her smile froze on her lips, and her whole body felt as if it had fallen into an ice cave.

Others only saw the luxury of the birdcage, but she alone understood the suffocating, undisguised possessiveness and warning behind it.

The style of this birdcage, the style of the jewel inlay, and even the way the red jade tassels on the top of the cage are tied are exactly the same as the one that Xiao Qingyan made for her back in the Ningguo Marquis's mansion!

The cage was empty; there were no birds.

But she knew that the bird was herself.

Xiao Qingyan, he found her.

He didn't even bother to hide it, and in this arrogant and domineering way, he once again presented this exquisite cage to her.

He was telling her: No matter where you fly or how high you fly, you are just a canary in my cage.

A bone-chilling coldness shot from the soles of my feet straight to the top of my head.

Thank you for your trouble.

Jiang Zhenxue forced herself to calm down. She could hear her voice trembling slightly, but she still managed to force a proper smile. "May I ask your esteemed name? I hope I can pay you a visit in the future to express my gratitude."

The man in black smiled faintly, his eyes filled with a cold, all-knowing gaze.

"My master said that Manager Jiang is a smart man and will naturally understand."

"We will meet again someday."

After saying this, he bowed again, then turned and left with his men, silently blending into the crowd on the street as if they had never been there.

The atmosphere in the lobby, however, was completely agitated by the glittering golden birdcage and those meaningful words.

Shen Yu quickly walked to Jiang Zhenxue's side and supported her cold arm.

"Sister Jiang, you...you don't look well." He lowered his voice, his eyes full of worry. "Do you know the person who gave this gift?"

Jiang Zhenxue did not answer.

Her gaze was fixed on the magnificent cage, the golden threads reflecting a cold and dazzling light in the candlelight, like a net that completely trapped her.

She schemed and plotted, thinking she had finally escaped the man's control and could finally stand on her own two feet in this vast world.

But with just such a flimsy gift, he wiped out all her efforts.

This is not a congratulatory gift; it is a declaration of war.

It was a magnificent collar made of gold and jewels that was put back around her neck.

After a long while, she finally found her voice, which was as soft as a sigh, yet carried a chilling aura.

"Xiao Yu".

"Our troubles... have only just begun."