Volume One, Chapter Seventeen: The Sister-in-Law’s Intentions

“What!”

Ying’s eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at Xiao Ruoqing.

“Impossible.”

Ying immediately said, “How could there be such a person with such divine foresight in this world? Your Majesty, although your reforms have affected the interests of some, you have not acted recklessly; everything is under control! This assassination attempt might still be the work of Prince Liang’s people!”

Xiao Ruoqing looked at Ying, whose face was full of shock, and fell into silence.

Ying had grown up with her and had learned much the same, deeply understanding the art of governance.

Yet she could not fathom these things and instead suspected Prince Liang.

But Xiao Ruoqing had never mentioned Prince Liang to Fan Xiu. Within less than a breath after hearing about those reforms, Fan Xiu had already concluded she would not live beyond two years.

“Your Majesty, why say all this? Have you met such a divine person? If we can win him over, it would surely benefit our Great Yin!” Ying exclaimed in surprise.

Xiao Ruoqing gave a bitter smile.

A divine person?

Indeed, a divine person, but a mad one!

However, she did not want to tell Ying about this just yet—not out of distrust, but because it was too incredible; she needed to be sure.

“No.”

Xiao Ruoqing shook her head. “I am merely speaking from a feeling. Have you dealt with that scar-faced man?”

“Dealt with him,” Ying replied. “Now, the only person who has seen that gold coin is the madam of Drunken Immortal House, but she’s been warned. Should we take care of her too?”

Xiao Ruoqing shook her head gently. “No need. The more people die, the easier it is to expose everything. Zhiyuan County is also the Cheng family’s territory. We must not stir up trouble.”

“As you command.”

Ying cupped her hands. “What shall we do next?”

Xiao Ruoqing frowned for a moment before replying, “The Cheng family would never expect me to be staying in the fallen Fan family, so I should be safe here for the time being. I have some matters to observe.”

Though scar-faced Zhang was dead now, the debt at Sihai Bank was still unsettled.

The two foreign debts combined amounted to three hundred and fifty taels of silver.

Meanwhile, a soldier’s salary was only two taels, so it would take fifteen years to earn that much.

She was eager to know how Fan Xiu could have gifted three hundred and fifty taels within ten days.

More importantly,

She was even more curious how Fan Xiu had seen that this female emperor would not live beyond two years.

“What about the Blood Feather Guards?”

Ying asked.

Xiao Ruoqing said, “For the next few days, you will stay by my side as my sister. Xiao Wan will lead the rest of the Blood Feather Guards to monitor the surroundings. Without my orders, no one is to leave! Once my injuries stabilize, you will take my token and lead the remaining Blood Feather Guards to break out from Xuzhou and return to the capital.”

“As you command! And Your Majesty?”

“You are too conspicuous with me. When you return to the capital, take my token and find General Xue to stabilize the court situation. I will stay at the Fan residence for now.”

Ying knelt heavily. “I obey!”

The next day.

West side room.

“Your humble servant, Liu Yue, pays respects to uncle and aunt.”

Ying stood before a bewildered Fan Shoucheng and Madam Zhou, her posture upright and hands clasped.

At this moment, Ying had changed from her original black attire into simple civilian clothes, shedding her previous sharp aura for the delicate beauty typical of a Jiangnan woman.

Of course,

If she didn’t speak or announce herself...

Fan Shoucheng looked at Fan Xiu and blinked, his eyes full of questioning.

Fan Xiu hurriedly explained, “Father, she is Liu Qing’s younger sister, Liu Yue. They found each other only last night. Well... she’s trained in martial arts, so she’s different from ordinary women. Look at her feet—they’re especially large!”

Ying glared furiously at Fan Xiu, her eyes as if laced with poison.

That bastard!

Why does he keep staring at her feet?

Just then,

Fan Xiu’s eldest brother, Fan Yuan, nodded knowingly: “Her feet are indeed quite big, about the same as yours.”

No sooner had he spoken than he caught Ying’s murderous glare.

Xiao Ruoqing facepalmed silently.

The Fan brothers were truly brothers—both fixated on feet.

She feared Ying would lose her temper and slash these two fools with her sword.

“Ahem!”

Madam Zhou coughed heavily twice, glaring at Fan Xiu and Fan Yuan: “What nonsense are you two brats saying? Apologize to the lady at once!”

For women, the smaller the feet, the more beautiful, and the easier it was to marry well.

Yet these two foolish sons kept commenting on her large feet!

“Sorry.”

Fan Yuan apologized honestly.

But Fan Xiu’s face was painted with a flattering grin: “Well... little sister Liu Yue, I apologize. I didn’t mean it! Our Fan family is poor, look around—bare walls and no rice even for cooking. Can you help your big brother out a little?”

Ying’s expression turned cold, and she glanced around.

Fan Xiu hurriedly stepped forward: “Little sister, what are you looking for? I’ll help you find it!”

“I’m looking for my sword!”

Ying said fiercely.

She had reached her limit!

Even though Xiao Ruoqing had told her Fan Xiu had a strange personality, she never imagined it could be this weird.

Yet this early morning, Ying was already on the verge of wanting to cleave him in two!

Money!

This man was a scholar but talked only about money!

Today, she was going to split him apart!

“Uh...”

Fan Xiu immediately backed away: “No need to look, sister! I don’t want it. Isn’t that enough?”

Xiao Ruoqing shook her head and smiled helplessly.

It seemed only a violent woman like Ying could handle him.

At that moment,

“Fan Xiu!”

A voice called from outside.

Then the sound of footsteps entering—the very same Li Shi who had returned to her maternal home yesterday.

“Sister-in-law, you’re back!” Fan Xiu greeted her.

Li Shi threw a bag toward him, her face expressionless as she said coldly, “Brat, weren’t you going into business? Here’s ten taels of silver!”

“Ah?”

Fan Xiu’s eyes widened. “Silver? Where did you get this from?”

Fan Shoucheng and the others all looked toward Li Shi.

Li Chuntao, a mere woman, had gone out for a night and returned with ten taels of silver.

“What are you staring at?” Li Shi glared at Fan Xiu. “I borrowed this money from my maternal family! It’s my brother’s wedding money. I brought it all here!”

“Uh...”

Fan Xiu was dumbfounded.

But immediately, a warm feeling surged within him.

He knew Li Shi’s relationship with her maternal family had never been good.

Her family’s living conditions were better than theirs. Her father was a low-ranking constable in the magistrate’s office—not high status but still respectable.

Long ago, Li Shi’s parents had strongly opposed her marriage to Fan Yuan.

The Fan family was too poor.

And there was a bookish nerd.

But Li Shi was determined and refused to marry anyone but Fan Yuan. Eventually, her parents relented.

For all these years, the Fan family had remained impoverished. To support Fan Xiu’s studies, they had sunk into great debt.

So every time Li Shi returned home, she was mocked. She hadn’t returned for a long time.

Yesterday,

After the debt collectors came, Li Shi went back to her maternal home.

Fan Xiu had thought she would complain and scold the Fan family.

But unexpectedly,

Though she scolded him and forbade him from doing business, to allow him to pursue it, she shamelessly returned home to borrow money—using her brother’s future wedding funds to support him.

“Sister-in-law, thank you!”

Fan Xiu abandoned his previous jocular demeanor, bowing deeply with utmost sincerity.

Xiao Ruoqing’s face showed surprise.

Fan Xiu had always been playful, even when swearing before ancestors—half serious, half joking. She had never seen him so solemn before.