Volume 3, Chapter 162 – The Disheveled Young Woman

“Qin Xiyan…”

If before, Lu Zhuxin hadn’t figured out how to approach Chi Xiyan, then after watching this spectacular performance, Lu Zhuxin now had a general idea.

“Qin Xiyan… Qin Qingfen…”

“You’ve treated this position as Chi family’s eldest young lady as your treasure.”

“But occupying something that belongs to someone else for so long, you will be held accountable.”

Lu Zhuxin twirled the hairpin in her hand, and it disappeared into her palm.

Meanwhile, Huang Huying beside her had shock written all over his old face.

“Your Majesty means… this Chi family’s eldest young lady… is fake?”

Lu Zhuxin glanced at him. “You’ve been in Beihe Commandery for so long, have you really never heard even a whisper of rumor?”

“Lingbao Commerce Association is Golden Bell Commerce Association’s greatest rival, yet you don’t understand your opponent at all?”

Sweat appeared on Huang Huying’s forehead. “Most of my dealings with Chi Jingwen have been business confrontations. Regarding his family matters, I truly know very little.”

“Moreover, the Chi family keeps internal information tightly sealed. In recent years, there have never been any rumors about the Chi family’s internal affairs in Beihe Commandery.”

“…” Lu Zhuxin was somewhat speechless. “How did your father dare entrust such an important enterprise as Golden Bell Commerce Association into your hands?”

Huang Huying lowered his head in embarrassment.

“Regarding your opponent, you need to understand them thoroughly enough.” Lu Zhuxin said, “Family background, behavioral style, aren’t these all basic common sense?”

“The function of Golden Bell Commerce Association and Five Immortals House has never been solely to accumulate wealth.”

“You can’t look at these things using only a merchant’s mindset.”

“The chieftain of the Yellow Fox Tribe…”

“That old fox, he didn’t just want to slack off, so he dumped Golden Bell Commerce Association on you, did he?”

“He just threw the whole mess at you and went back to the fox clan to retire?”

Huang Huying’s head lowered even further.

Lu Zhuxin pressed her temples and continued, “The more the Chi family seals information, the calmer things appear on the surface, the more it indicates many interesting things are hidden within.”

Lu Zhuxin rubbed her forehead.

“Forget it, this isn’t entirely your fault. At least these past few years, you’ve managed Golden Bell Commerce Association and Five Immortals House reasonably well.”

Meaning he hadn’t squandered the enterprise.

The Yellow Fox Tribe chieftain’s son did have some ability. He just fell far short of his father.

Hearing this, shame filled Huang Huying’s face.

He realized that these past few years, he truly had been living too comfortably.

Relying on the foundation Old Huang Chieftain had built, no human realm powerhouse had ever suspected Five Immortals House or Golden Bell Commerce Association’s origins, and no one had ever troubled Huang Huying. This had greatly reduced both his vigilance and his sensitivity to intelligence.

Five Immortals House and Golden Bell Commerce Association were enterprises the fox clan had spent hundreds of years establishing. And he had been blinded by the security these foundations brought.

Lu Zhuxin kept staring out the window.

In the plaza below, Chi Xiyan’s charitable clinic had reached its conclusion.

Chi Xiyan stood up, waving while slowly departing amid the surrounding crowd, seeing her off with reverence.

Soon, the people gathered in the plaza also completely dispersed.

Lu Zhuxin stroked her chin, her eyes fixed on the now empty small plaza outside.

“Huang Huying, when is Chi Xiyan’s next charitable clinic?”

The yellow fox wiped the sweat from his forehead. “Her charitable clinic time for this month should already be finished.”

“Should be?” Lu Zhuxin glanced at the yellow fox.

The yellow fox felt sweat pouring from him like rain.

“If you’re sweating so much, wrap your head in a towel.” Lu Zhuxin said.

The yellow fox immediately lowered his head and said, “Your Majesty, I’ll send someone to investigate immediately!”

“Regarding information on Chi Xiyan and her nurse Qin Qingfen, once I’ve finished investigating, I’ll immediately deliver it to Your Majesty.”

By this point, if Huang Huying still didn’t understand Lu Zhuxin’s meaning, he’d have been a fox for nothing.

The Fox Monarch clearly had tremendous interest in that Chi family eldest young lady.

Though Huang Huying didn’t understand the reason, since he’d already guessed what Her Majesty wanted, he only needed to investigate diligently.

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Continuing to remain before Your Majesty being an eyesore would be unwise. Better to prove himself through actual action.

This way, the impression left with Your Majesty would be somewhat better.

“No need to be so nervous.” Lu Zhuxin said, “The fox clan’s intelligence network extends deep into human territory. I can understand that the focus of gathering information isn’t on a small merchant family.”

Theoretically, Lu Zhuxin, who knew the character settings well, didn’t need to rely on the fox clan’s intelligence network.

When it came to the Chi family, what she knew was more than what the foxes knew.

Of course, having stayed in this small world for so long, she’d also discovered something. Understanding this world based on the settings she’d written was somewhat one-sided.

Therefore, besides the information she already knew, she also needed to compare it with the intelligence the foxes possessed to complete and perfect her information.

“Tell the foxes investigating the Chi family to be careful.” Lu Zhuxin said, “As the local power in Beihe Commandery, the Chi family has managed Lingbao Commerce Association to such a scale, they definitely won’t be simple.”

“Be cautious and keep a low profile, don’t stir up trouble.”

“Golden Bell Commerce Association’s purpose for existing isn’t to deal with only the Chi family.”

The yellow fox nodded repeatedly. “Your Majesty, I’ll have the foxes be careful.”

“Wait.” Lu Zhuxin suddenly called him back.

“Arrange an identity for me.”

“I need a relatively complete life history.”

“This shouldn’t be difficult for you, should it?”

Huang Huying nodded.

Golden Bell Commerce Association and Five Immortals House had operated in the human realm for so many years. Accomplishing this truly wasn’t difficult.

Every fox who came to human territory needed Golden Bell Commerce Association and Five Immortals House to arrange a completely new legitimate identity, so they could safely move about in the human realm.

After Huang Huying left, Lu Zhuxin looked toward the two beauties beside her.

A voluptuous, scantily-clad elf girl, and a cute yet flat dragon girl.

The young women the foxes sent before Lu Zhuxin were naturally trustworthy and of clean background.

Lu Zhuxin beckoned to them.

“Come here, sit beside me.”

A blush appeared on the two foreign girls’ pretty faces. They obediently swayed over to Lu Zhuxin’s side.

They didn’t know Lu Zhuxin’s identity, but they both recognized Huang Huying.

Anyone who could make the boss behind Five Immortals House treat them this way must be a noble personage with an incredibly terrifying background.

Being selected to serve such a noble was their honor.

Moreover, this distinguished guest was such a beautiful young woman she made people jealous.

Just looking at her made their faces flush and hearts race.

The elf girl knelt beside Lu Zhuxin’s left side, while the little dragon girl knelt beside Lu Zhuxin’s right.

There was only one chair, so naturally they couldn’t squeeze onto the same chair with Lu Zhuxin.

The two foreign girls now resembled two little pets, obediently nestling against Lu Zhuxin’s legs.

The elf girl even subtly pressed her ample assets against Lu Zhuxin’s leg, gently rubbing.

Lu Zhuxin, leaning against the backrest, only needed to lower her head slightly to have a complete view of that deep valley.

Lu Zhuxin could see through this little scheme at a glance.

However, she didn’t mind.

In terms of assets, Qu Qingtang was still superior.

Hiss… why was she thinking about that woman again?

Lu Zhuxin lightly pressed her neck. The Pure Yang marking still felt cool.

She tilted her head slightly, looking at the fiery, sexy elf sister beside her. She was only slightly smaller than Qu Qingtang.

The big sister elf also looked up at Lu Zhuxin, eyes like green gemstones rippling with emotion.

Lu Zhuxin raised her hand, following the elf’s fair, beautiful cheek up to her ear.

Those long ears were very soft and smooth.

Touching them felt as soft as Lu Zhuxin’s own fox ears.

The elf sister tilted her head slightly, gently pressing her cheek against Lu Zhuxin’s wrist.

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Lu Zhuxin’s fingers paused. She could feel surges of icy coolness frantically emerging from the Pure Yang marking on her neck.

It was as if that thing was constantly protesting Lu Zhuxin’s current improper actions.

“Hah…” Lu Zhuxin took a light breath.

She didn’t like this feeling.

She liked controlling her own desires, but didn’t like having her desires controlled by something else.

She turned her head, looking toward the dragon girl on the other side.

The dragon girl’s figure was more slender than the elf sister’s. Her skin tone was also deeper, a healthy bronze, and her body very taut.

When Lu Zhuxin lowered her head, she didn’t see cleavage but beautiful abs on the girl’s midriff.

The foxes in the human realm truly understood such matters well. The young women they selected each had distinct characteristics. These two foreign beauties represented two completely different styles.

Lu Zhuxin reached out and stroked the dragon girl’s thick tail.

The black scales were fine, smooth, and carried a cool touch.

This sensation reminded Lu Zhuxin of pythons.

From the marking on her neck, that icy sensation grew even more intense.

“Tch…” Lu Zhuxin clicked her tongue and withdrew her hand.

This was a marking left by a Venerable Saint. Truly formidable.

But of course, only something like this could completely suppress an Eighth Realm fox demon’s heat period passion,

Nearly turning Lu Zhuxin into a monk.

Lu Zhuxin stood up. She waved her hand.

“Forget it… you may all leave.”

The elf big sister and dragon girl both showed bewildered expressions simultaneously.

Wasn’t the atmosphere just now quite good? Why did this distinguished guest suddenly stop?

However, since the distinguished guest had already spoken, they naturally didn’t dare disobey.

After rising and bowing respectfully, they withdrew as instructed.

Lu Zhuxin lightly pressed her neck, watching the two beautiful foreign girls depart.

“Ming Zhaoxi… in the original world, she endured the heat period through sheer mental fortitude, didn’t she?”

This feeling of not controlling her own desires made Lu Zhuxin feel extremely strange.

However, to suppress the heat period’s passion, Lu Zhuxin temporarily had no other solution.

At least now, it was much better than when the heat period erupted, when demonic power scattered and passion surged.

To solve this problem, she must rely on a Heaven-Mandated Female Lead skilled in alchemy.

And this was Lu Zhuxin’s purpose in coming here.

Getting Chi Xiyan to wholeheartedly refine pills for Lu Zhuxin wouldn’t be easy.

This was also Lu Zhuxin’s additional objective beyond severing Song Shixuan’s fortune.

At the same time, it was also the main reason Lu Zhuxin decided to make a move on Chi Xiyan this time.

Qu Qingtang’s Pure Yang marking could only last one year.

Yet an Eighth Realm fox demon’s heat period would continue for several years.

Speaking of which, since “Qu Qingtang” perished, Lu Zhuxin hadn’t heard Ming Zhaoxi’s voice again.

Ming Zhaoxi had limitations on transmitting messages to the outside world.

Lu Zhuxin just didn’t know how great that limitation was.

From the looks of it, this limitation was perhaps even greater than Lu Zhuxin had previously guessed.

Otherwise, with Ming Zhaoxi’s fiery temperament, after suffering such a huge loss, she couldn’t possibly remain silent.

“Hope the fox is fine, amen.”

…

“Your Majesty, the identity you requested has been arranged.”

Huang Huying worked more efficiently than Lu Zhuxin expected.

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After only one day, he delivered what Lu Zhuxin needed.

“Household registration and travel permits, past experiences, all have been arranged.”

“Even if someone wants to investigate your past, what they can find will only be what we’ve prepared in advance.”

“From childhood memories to family upheaval, to now depending on each other with your widowed mother, all past experiences have reasonable traces prepared.”

“You’ve done very well.” Lu Zhuxin stroked the jade hairpin in her hand, thinking about the upcoming arrangements and plans.

Lu Zhuxin didn’t know illusion techniques. She only knew a little dream-weaving technique.

Illusion techniques were like advanced mathematics to her—not understanding meant not knowing.

Even if she knew illusion techniques, she didn’t much like using them directly to deceive people.

In this small world’s setting, fox demon illusion techniques were superficial, unable to change the essential nature of things. If she encounters an astute opponent, flaws would easily be detected.

Besides illusion techniques, Lu Zhuxin currently faced another problem.

Previously, when pulling Qu Qingtang into a dream, she’d used fortune value to upgrade her dream-weaving technique skill level.

To ensure she could trap a Venerable Saint, she’d consumed massive fortune value, upgrading the dream-weaving technique to its limit.

Therefore, her fortune value might have been depleted a bit too much.

After that, that mysterious system had also inexplicably fallen silent, no longer responding to Lu Zhuxin.

This wasn’t good news for Lu Zhuxin.

Fortune value perhaps couldn’t be squandered so recklessly.

Of course, facing an opponent with cultivation as powerful as Qu Qingtang’s, Lu Zhuxin herself had no choice.

However, this time pursuing Chi Xiyan, Lu Zhuxin didn’t plan to borrow the system’s power.

Disguise didn’t necessarily require illusion techniques.

In the human realm, there was a little thing called makeup.

After several yellow fox maidservants’ meticulous preparation, Lu Zhuxin looked at herself in the mirror with surprise.

Though makeup techniques couldn’t freely alter one’s appearance like illusion techniques, it truly exceeded Lu Zhuxin’s expectations.

The young woman in the mirror no longer appeared absolutely stunning as before.

Pale complexion, messy hair, her face appearing thin and sickly.

She wore rough cloth clothing patched in places, plain and disheveled.

Just from facial appearance, Lu Zhuxin could only see five or six parts of her previous shadow.

“Your Majesty, is this satisfactory?” Old Huang Fox asked, wringing his hands beside her.

“Yes, it’s enough.” Lu Zhuxin took out the jade hairpin and had the fox maidservant beside her insert it into her hair.

A young woman in tattered clothes with a somewhat expensive white jade hairpin in her hair.

There was a strange sense of incongruity.

It was exactly like a peasant girl who’d spent all her savings just to imitate wealthy families’ daughters, wearing expensive jewelry completely unsuited to her bearing.

Such a combination inexplicably gave people a sense of imitating one’s betters, yet the young woman’s outstanding beauty compensated for this.

Lu Zhuxin was very satisfied with this appearance.

“Tell me Chi Xiyan’s current whereabouts.”

…

In Beihe Commandery, no one didn’t recognize Lingbao Commerce Association.

Whether seeking to purchase treasures or pawning and auctioning items, Lingbao Commerce Association was Beihe Commandery people’s best choice.

Today, Chi Xiyan still wore clothing that looked very plain as usual, just without the semi-transparent white veil.

She wore a cute and pretty maiden’s hairstyle, with simple light makeup on her face.

Accompanied by wet nurse Qin Qingfen, Chi Xiyan entered the pawnshop under Lingbao Commerce Association before her.

“It’s the eldest young lady!” The pawnshop attendant immediately recognized this Chi family eldest young lady. “Eldest young lady, are you here for routine account inspection today as well?”

“Yes, today is the same as usual.” Chi Xiyan said gently.

Going to shops under the Chi family to inspect and manage accounts was homework she’d had to complete monthly since becoming sensible.

As the Chi family’s eldest young lady, she would inevitably manage Lingbao Commerce Association in the future. She had to familiarize herself with the Chi family and Lingbao Commerce Association’s various enterprises.

Inspecting and reviewing accounts was one of the Chi family eldest young lady’s required courses.

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To Chi Xiyan, this was as important as alchemy.

The pawnshop attendant looked at the beautiful young woman before him, warmth surging in his eyes.

Though this young woman was the Chi family’s eldest young lady with noble status, even when facing the commerce association’s attendants, she spoke this gently and softly, gentle as water.

Never acting imperiously and arrogantly like others based on her status.

This was the Chi family’s Fairy Xiyan!

Beautiful with a kind heart!

The attendant sighed inwardly.

“The manager is currently receiving other customers. Eldest young lady, please wait a moment.”

“Mm.” Chi Xiyan nodded lightly.

At this moment, other customers were also in the pawnshop. When they saw Chi Xiyan, surprise appeared on their faces.

They hadn’t expected to encounter the Chi family’s eldest young lady here by chance.

This Chi family eldest young lady was indeed as the legends said—gentle and generous, beautiful and moving.

Several customers somewhat familiar with Chi Xiyan came over to greet her.

Chi Xiyan responded to each with a smile.

Her behavior was elegant, her words gentle, making people feel as refreshed as spring breeze.

Though a great family’s eldest young lady, no one had ever seen her put on a great family eldest young lady’s airs.

While smoothly socializing, Chi Xiyan heard a discordant sound.

“Young lady, it’s not that I won’t accommodate you, but we truly cannot offer a higher price for these items of yours.”

“Nor am I deceiving you. Our Lingbao Commerce Association’s pawnshop is the most fair shop in all of Beihe Commandery city.”

“You can go look at other shops. I can assure you, no establishment can offer a higher price than us.”

This was the shop manager’s voice.

As the Chi family’s eldest young lady, Chi Xiyan naturally recognized the managers of various shops in the commandery city.

What had happened?

By rights, as a manager under Lingbao Commerce Association, there shouldn’t be conflicts with customers.

Feeling surprised, Chi Xiyan looked toward the sound.

She saw that arguing with the shop manager was a young woman in tattered clothing.

This young woman appeared about sixteen or seventeen years old, not tall, her body also appearing somewhat thin and weak.

The dress she wore was washed until faded, and patched. Her jet-black hair was extremely messy, as if it hadn’t been tended to in a long time. Her small appearance seemed extremely disheveled.

Yet her skin was extremely fair, and her small face could be considered delicate.

Unfortunately, the dark circles under her eyes and her chapped skin destroyed the innocent beauty appropriate to this age.

If properly dressed and carefully nurtured, she should be an extremely pretty and cute girl.

Chi Xiyan made this evaluation inwardly.

At this moment, this young woman in tattered clothing was pleading bitterly before the pawnshop manager.

“Can you truly not accommodate me a bit more?”

“I… I truly need this money.”

“My mother… she’s very ill…”

“I need this money to save her life…”

The disheveled young woman’s words carried a slight sob.

Chi Xiyan saw that on the table before the young woman sat several simple pieces of jewelry.

Jade bangles, silver hairpins.

As the Chi family’s eldest young lady, Chi Xiyan was very familiar with these things.

A simple glance allowed her to roughly discern these jewelry pieces’ value.

Very poor quality, like styles commonly worn by rural village women.

All these items together couldn’t even buy a corner of Chi Xiyan’s clothing.