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

Jiang Zhenxue took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the overwhelming fear, and put on an impeccable smile again.

She surveyed the room, her voice soft yet clear to everyone: "Please excuse my imperfections. This is a gift from an old friend, and it is rather unusual. However, this gift is too valuable, and displaying it in the main hall might disturb your refined enjoyment of tea and conversation."

She turned to Shen Yu, her tone regaining its usual composure: "Xiao Yu, have a few men carry this 'generous gift' to the storeroom in the backyard. Take good care of it and make sure it's not damaged."

"Yes." Shen Yu gave her a deep look, asked no further questions, and immediately turned to do it.

Kang Mingyan leaned closer, his lips almost blistered with anxiety: "Xue'er, who is this? This...this isn't a gift, this is clearly..."

"Mingyan," Jiang Zhenxue interrupted him, giving him a reassuring look, "Congratulations on the grand opening, don't let this little thing throw you off balance. Go and take good care of the guests for me."

Her composure strangely calmed the restless hearts of those present.

Seeing that the person in question was so calm and collected, no one dared to discuss it further. However, when the birdcage was carried away, everyone's eyes couldn't help but follow it, each with their own agenda.

The background of this Manager Jiang is probably more unfathomable than anyone imagines.

……

Yingxianlou, Room No. 1 (天字号).

Night Hawk reported everything that happened at Qingyun Pavilion to Xiao Qingyan in detail.

"...She accepted it on the spot, saying that she was deeply grateful for the friendship she had with her old friend. Then she ordered someone to carry the birdcage into the backyard storeroom. Throughout the whole process... she smiled and did not lose her composure."

"Is that so?" Xiao Qingyan was standing by the window, toying with the safety buckle in his hand. Upon hearing this, a cold smile appeared on his lips.

No sign of losing control?

He knew that woman's nature better than anyone else. The more afraid she was inside, the more harmless her smile became.

She must have been terrified.

The thought that she might be hiding in a deserted corner right now, trembling with anger but helpless, strangely calmed the frustration in Xiao Qingyan's heart caused by the betrayal, and even gave rise to a twisted sense of pleasure.

"My lord, should I send someone to... to invite her over?" Night Hawk asked tentatively.

Xiao Qingyan turned around, his deep eyes gleaming with the light a hunter has when he sees his prey.

"No need," he said calmly. "It's pointless to just bring them back directly."

He originally thought she was nothing more than a fragile canary that couldn't survive without him.

Unexpectedly, this canary secretly grew sharp claws, learned to build nests, and even attempted to establish its own forest.

That's interesting, really interesting.

Compared to the plaything who only depended on him and tried to please him, Jiang Zhenxue, who was scheming, plotting, and rebellious, made him want to... personally break her wings and make her understand who her only master was.

"I'd like to see just how much she's capable of." Xiao Qingyan put the safety buckle back into his sleeve, his voice carrying a chilling interest. "Keep an eye on her. Report to me every person she meets and every business deal she makes. Don't let her find out."

He wanted to watch her skillfully navigate Yunyang County like a play, and see how she gradually expanded her Qingyun Pavilion.

Then, at the height of her triumph, when she thought she could finally control her destiny, he personally crushed everything she had.

……

In the stillness of the night, all the guests at Qingyun Pavilion had already left.

Jiang Zhenxue dismissed all the staff, leaving only Shen Yu and Kang Mingyan.

She walked alone to the backyard storeroom, where the golden birdcage was covered by a huge red cloth, but even so, it could not hide its overwhelming luxury and arrogance.

She reached out, her fingertips trembling, and lifted the red cloth.

The glittering golden cage reflected a cold light under the moonlight.

"Sister Jiang." Shen Yu appeared behind her without her noticing.

Kang Mingyan followed, looking at the birdcage with a worried expression: "Xue'er, this thing is too eerie. Who exactly sent the gift? If you're in trouble, you must tell me. My father has some connections in the prefectural city and can help."

Jiang Zhenxue slowly turned around, her face drained of all color, leaving only a pale complexion.

"It's no use," she said softly, her voice carrying a weariness and hoarseness she herself was unaware of. "You can't help me."

Seeing the worried looks in their eyes, she knew she couldn't hide the truth any longer, so she told them half-truthfully: "This person... is a powerful figure I offended when I was in the capital. I thought that by taking his money and fleeing to this place thousands of miles away, I could get rid of him."

"But to my surprise, he still came looking for me."

Kang Mingyan gasped, "Powerful figures in the capital? That...that means..."

"He wields immense power and acts tyrannically." Jiang Zhenxue's gaze returned to the birdcage, a flame of fear and hatred igniting in her eyes. "In his eyes, I am nothing more than a pet he keeps. This birdcage is a warning to me."

Shen Yu's heart clenched. He stepped forward and stood between Jiang Zhenxue and the birdcage, as if this would shield her from that oppressive feeling.

His voice wasn't loud, but it was unusually firm: "Sister Jiang, no matter who he is, I will protect you."

Kang Mingyan also realized what was happening and patted his chest in righteous indignation: "That's right! Under the Emperor's nose, how can he be allowed to be so arrogant! Xue'er, don't worry, there's always a place for reason in this world! No matter how powerful he is, he can't cover up everything!"

Looking into the sincere eyes of the two boys, Jiang Zhenxue felt a surge of warmth in her heart, dispelling some of the chill.

She knew she was no longer alone.

"No." She shook her head, regaining her composure. "We can't panic. He sent this to see me lose my composure and walk right into his trap."

"If I get scared and back down, that will play right into his hands."

She turned away, no longer looking at the glaring birdcage, and walked back to the front hall step by step.

"He thinks he can scare me back by sending me a cage? He underestimates me." A resolute sneer curled at the corner of Jiang Zhenxue's mouth. "I finally escaped with great difficulty, and there is absolutely no way I will go back to be manipulated by him."

In the original story, the original owner was madly in love with him, tried to escape several times, and was caught by him each time. In the end, she willingly stayed by his side, staging a heart-wrenching love story.

But she wasn't the original owner of this body who was obsessed with love!

She went through all this trouble to get to where she is today, not to go back to that man and continue being his kept woman.

"The more he wants to see me fall, the straighter I will stand." Jiang Zhenxue's eyes rekindled with fighting spirit. "Qingyun Pavilion will open. Money will be made. If he wants to play, I'll play along to the end."

"Xue'er, you..." Kang Mingyan was taken aback by her ruthlessness.

"Mingyan, neither you nor your family should get involved in this matter." Jiang Zhenxue looked at him seriously. "The other side's power is beyond your ability to contend with. I don't want to implicate you."

"That won't do!"

"Listen to me," Jiang Zhenxue said firmly. "You just need to manage the public business for me as usual. He's just observing from the shadows right now; he won't make a move immediately."

She then looked at Shen Yu: "Xiao Yu, from today onwards, you need to be more careful. Our every move may be under someone else's surveillance."

Shen Yu nodded heavily, his eyes calm and collected: "I understand."