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

Xiao Qingyan didn't even lift his eyelids, only letting out a cold snort from his throat, signaling him to continue.

"The Third Prince's foundation is still weak, and the enemy has laid too tight a trap this time. If... if we really can't protect him, we must prepare as soon as possible." Night Hawk's voice was extremely low. "Once the First Prince gains power, the first thing he will do is settle scores with the Marquis's Mansion. We can't put all our chips on the Third Prince alone. At that time, even if we can't protect the Third Prince, we must at least cripple the First Prince so that he won't dare to easily attack the Marquis's Mansion, otherwise the consequences will be unimaginable."

These words have already crossed the line.

After Nighthawk finished speaking, he lowered his head deeply, awaiting the expected thunderous wrath.

However, Xiao Qingyan simply stopped tapping her fingers on the table.

"Can't be saved?" He slowly raised his eyes, his unfathomable phoenix eyes filled not with anger, but with a bottomless, icy pool. "In my hands, there are no people who can't be saved, only people who deserve to die."

He stood up, walked to the window, and stood with his hands behind his back.

He knew what Night Hawk was saying all too well. But the word "retreat" was never in Xiao Qingyan's dictionary.

Even if someone he personally mentors is a hopeless case, he will still put them on the dragon throne.

This has nothing to do with loyalty or righteousness, it's all about control.

His life cannot afford to get out of control.

But things just kept spiraling out of control, one after another.

He thought irritably, and another face that made him lose control involuntarily surfaced in his mind. That face was sometimes stubborn, sometimes cunning, and sometimes as docile as a cat, but deep down, it was a wild horse that could never be tamed.

"Where is she?" he suddenly asked, his voice slightly hoarse, a huskiness he himself didn't realize. "Where is she?"

Night Hawk paused for a moment before realizing who the Marquis was asking about, and quickly replied, "Your Majesty, Miss Jiang's carriage has entered the capital region and is expected to enter the city by tomorrow afternoon at the latest."

"She certainly knows how to pick her timing." Xiao Qingyan sneered, her tone laced with undisguised mockery. "She dares to wade into this mess in the capital? Does she think this is some backwater like Yunyang County, where she can stir up trouble with her meager cleverness?"

Nighthawk lowered his head, not daring to reply.

"What is she here for?" Xiao Qingyan asked again. He could almost imagine that as soon as that woman entered the capital, she would try every means to find out about him, and then rush to him crying and begging for his protection.

Thinking of this, his agitation strangely dissipated a little.

However, Nighthawk's next words were like a bucket of ice water, utterly shattering his ridiculous fantasy.

"I've already sent men to keep a close eye on things. However... it seems that Miss Jiang's trip isn't to find you." Night Hawk's voice trailed off. "She sent people to purchase large quantities of precious timber and silk along the way, and also hired several of the most famous carpenters and embroiderers in Jinling Prefecture at great expense to travel north with her. It seems she intends to... do business in the capital."

A deathly silence fell over the study.

Xiao Qingyan slowly turned around, his handsome face showing no expression.

But Night Hawk felt an even more terrifying, almost tangible, malevolent aura emanating from him.

"Let her be. Suppress her if necessary, and curb her arrogance." Xiao Qingyan added, "Have someone keep a close eye on her and prevent her from contacting anyone she shouldn't. Especially," a sinister glint flashed in his eyes, "those people from the prince's residence."

"Understood, sir." Night Hawk bowed and withdrew, the study door closing silently, isolating the two worlds.

Xiao Qingyan sat alone in the dim light, his fingers tracing the shards of the teacup he had just crushed. The sharp edges cut his fingertips, drawing out beads of bright red blood, but he seemed oblivious to it.

Jiang Zhenxue.

He silently repeated the name in his heart, as if chewing on a piece of honey laced with poison.

It's so good to have you here.

……

In contrast to the somber and oppressive atmosphere of the Ningguo Marquis's residence, the capital city was bustling and vibrant at this moment.

An unassuming blue-canopied carriage, after passing through the heavy city gate, merged into the endless stream of people and vehicles.

Jiang Zhenxue lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, looking at the rows of shops outside the window and listening to the noisy hawking sounds around her. In her clear eyes, there was no timidity of a newcomer, only the excitement and scrutiny of a hunter seeing his prey.

"What an extravagantly wealthy place," she murmured to herself.

In Yunyang County, she made money off the students and pretentious gentry; the market was only so big.

In this capital city, powerful and wealthy people abound, and rich merchants are everywhere. As long as you find the right connections, gold is everywhere.

"Miss, where are we going?" the coachman asked respectfully.

"To the most bustling teahouse in the entire capital." Jiang Zhenxue lowered the carriage curtain, her voice calm and decisive.

The carriage stopped in front of "Wenxiangju", the largest teahouse in the capital.

Jiang Zhenxue didn't rush to find an inn to stay in. Instead, she asked for a private seat facing the street, ordered a pot of the most ordinary Maojian tea, and a few plates of snacks.

"Waiter," she called to the waiter who was refilling her water, handing him a small piece of silver, "I have something to ask you."

The waiter, having received his tip, immediately beamed with joy: "Please ask, young lady, I will answer to the best of my knowledge."

"I'm new to the capital and looking for a shop to start a small business," Jiang Zhenxue asked casually. "I wonder which street in the city has the most sought-after shops lately? Are there any good locations for sale?"

"Oh, young lady, you've come to the right person!" The waiter slung a rag over his shoulder and lowered his voice, "If we're talking about a good location, then it has to be Zhuque Street right across from us! That's a place where every inch of land is worth its weight in gold; for ordinary people, even having money isn't enough to open a shop there!"

He pointed to a two-story building under renovation diagonally across the street: "See that? That one. It used to be a silk shop. The owner was going back to his hometown to retire last month, so they just put up the sale. I heard they're going to finalize the deal with a client at the brokerage tomorrow. The location is absolutely perfect!"

Jiang Zhenxue looked in the direction he pointed, and her eyes lit up.

The shop faces the widest intersection of Zhuque Street, a perfect crossroads for people coming and going.

"Thank you, young man." Jiang Zhenxue handed over another piece of silver, subtly memorizing the location.

She sat in the teahouse for the entire afternoon, listening to the lively conversations of merchants from all over the country. She learned about the recent prices and trends in the capital, as well as the anecdotes of various powerful figures, and quickly built a network of relationships in her mind that belonged to the city.

She didn't get up until dusk, and found an inconspicuous inn to stay in.

The next morning, Jiang Zhenxue, accompanied by two guards, headed straight for the city's famous brokerage firm.

"Manager Zhang, I heard that the silk shop on Zhuque Street is up for sale? I'd like to buy it." Jiang Zhenxue got straight to the point and stated her purpose directly.