Chapter 37

Not mentioning how Cheng Qingyao was lost in soul and spirit, Cheng Ruyi was actually very happy. She had secretly calculated in her heart: about twenty people came to buy the “divine medicine” this time, each buying at least one pill and at most five. In one morning, five or six hundred thousand taels of silver had been entered into the accounts.

It was truly too exciting, too blissful.

Seeing that the number of buyers had decreased while the onlookers grew, Cheng Ruyi wrinkled her little nose. Losing her interest in sales, she took out the banners she had pestered Rong Mo to write on silk the previous night and had two guards hang them in the middle of the hall.

Anyone coming in could see them at a glance:

“Divine Medicine: Even the Emperor says it’s good!”

This row of characters was hung out so brazenly. The onlookers looked at the Marquis of Changle and his daughter—who showed no reaction—and their mouths twitched as they lowered their heads to whisper.

This was the first time they had seen someone so incredibly audacious.

Cheng Qingyao, who had just recovered from a massive shock, almost had her eyes pop out upon seeing the flamboyant characters on the banner.

Enough was enough.

If this cousin wanted to seek death, it was best not to involve their Jian’an Marquis Mansion. If it weren’t for a moment of curiosity to see why a newly opened shop had such a big tone to call itself the “Divine Medicine Hall,” who would have known she’d see her Second Uncle’s family seeking their own destruction?

Cheng Qingyao felt she was incredibly unlucky. Had she known, she wouldn’t have come in.

However, it was still in time. While everyone’s attention was on Cheng Ruyi and her father, Cheng Qingyao took her maid and quietly departed.

Only Cheng Ruyi glanced at her with total indifference.

“Dad, should we disperse these people who are just watching but not buying, blocking the entrance?” Cheng Ruyi walked over to her old man and saw him happily counting banknotes.

The Marquis of Changle was immersed in the dream of having earned so much silver and waved his hand dismissively: “No need, just treat it as them helping us with publicity.”

Hearing this, Cheng Ruyi felt her father’s words were correct and stopped caring. Anyway, the shop was empty; aside from the potted landscapes, there was nothing to steal. The divine medicine was all with them.

Thus, the father and daughter huddled by the counter, eyes glowing as they looked at stack after stack of thousand-tael banknotes. Thousand-tael notes were the largest denomination in the Great Zhou Dynasty; such large notes were easy to carry and convenient to exchange at the money banks.

“Daughter, I reckon this stock of divine medicine will be gone in just a day or two.” Besides his happiness, the Marquis of Changle was a bit reluctant; the feeling of collecting silver with both hands was too wonderful.

“Isn’t that great? For the remaining time, we should eat what we want, drink what we want, and play what we want. Just live a beautiful life.” Cheng Ruyi expressed that she liked this kind of life the most.

As the father and daughter chatted casually, waves of curious onlookers came and went. During this time, several more masked men came to buy the divine medicine.

At noon, the father and daughter prepared to close the shop and return home for lunch.

The onlookers were dumbfounded: “…”

Did they have to be this eccentric? Didn’t this Divine Medicine Hall just open this morning?

The pair happily stuffed a large stack of banknotes into their robes and headed home. Outside, rumors about the Divine Medicine Hall spread like wildfire, diffusing at a breakneck speed.

Through the word of mouth of these people, everyone knew the Marquis of Changle had opened a “Divine Medicine Hall” specializing in “Golden Spear Standing Tall” pills.

Supposedly, even the Emperor had used them…

This was the first “god-like” person who dared to use the Emperor as a promotional banner. Everyone paid special attention, waiting to see what his end would be.

The most treacherous part was that using the Emperor as a banner was one thing, but the item being sold was a so-called “divine medicine” similar to an aphrodisiac.

Was this courting death?

The words Cheng Ruyi used to pitch the medicine on the spot also spread. Everyone went crazy with laughter. The Divine Medicine Hall and Cheng Ruyi became instant viral sensations. Profligate sons praised the eldest Miss Cheng for her talent and prepared to form groups to try a pill. Pedantic scholars and hypocrites cursed Cheng Ruyi for being rebellious at such a young age and failing to follow womanly virtues.

More wealthy masters and young lords, upon hearing what the Divine Medicine Hall sold, felt their hearts stir and decided to watch the situation before deciding whether to buy one.

The rumors soon reached the Emperor’s ears in the palace. The Emperor’s face twitched. Thinking of that bottle of divine medicine, he was amused to the point of anger. So, the Marquis of Changle was waiting for me here.

The Marquis of Changle’s advantages were indeed not easy to take.

Thinking of his own title being tied to a “divine medicine,” the Emperor’s expression was extremely colorful. He felt enough regret to vomit blood; had he known, he wouldn’t have taken the Marquis of Changle’s favor.

However, since he’s using me as a banner, shouldn’t I collect some benefits?

Thinking of the changes in his own body, the Emperor began to calculate in his heart. Before he could take action, the Marquis of Changle came trotting into the palace.

The Emperor gave a belly-black smile: “…”

The head eunuch who had served the Emperor the longest saw that while the Emperor was annoyed, he didn’t have the slightest intention of punishing the Marquis of Changle. He sighed inwardly; the relationship between the Emperor and the Marquis of Changle was indeed good.

Thinking of those censors who relentlessly impeached the Marquis of Changle, the head eunuch lit a candle for them in his heart.

Technically, the Marquis of Changle hadn’t done anything heinous, corrupt, or oppressive to the people. It was just some bizarre nonsense that they felt the need to bother the Emperor with every day.

They really lacked discernment.

Coming out of the palace, the Marquis of Changle clutched his chest in pain, tears streaming down his face. The Emperor was too cunning, too cunning! He didn’t want silver; he only wanted a “commission” of thirty divine pills a month.

Three hundred thousand taels of silver a month just flew away like that.

He wanted to go home and beg his dear wife for comfort.

In the palace, the Emperor was especially happy. Extorting the Marquis of Changle was truly a delightful thing.

As the planted fruit trees became more and more vibrant, the Marquis of Changle Mansion became increasingly cool, without a trace of summer heat.

Now that they had the divine medicine as a source of wealth, the Marquis of Changle family wanted to leave the house even less.

The servants and guards felt the same.

After lunch, Cheng Ruyi stayed comfortably in the cool courtyard eating snacks. Her younger brother, Xiao Yu’er, was lying listlessly on the table, looking utterly drained of life.

“It’s just buying some divine medicine, it’s not like it’s something shameful. Why be so secretive? Isn’t it hot wearing a mask?” Cheng Ruyi took a bite of a radish cake and, thinking of the masked people from the morning, couldn’t help but vent to Rong Mo.

A child who grew up in the broken order of the apocalypse did everything directly. Fig leaves and such were completely unnecessary; in her eyes, these were all common things.

Fortunately, Cheng Ruyi was not someone who cared about reputation, and she had a fiancé who similarly didn’t care.

Rong Mo’s mouth twitched: “…Perhaps they just prefer a bit of mystery.”

Not everyone was as open and disregarded worldly views as his uncle-in-law’s family. These wealthy families liked to keep a layer of “shame-covering cloth,” especially court officials.

Cheng Ruyi thought so too; anywhere you go, there will always be people who like to act mysterious. She stopped mentioning it and instead turned her concern toward her brother.

“Xiao Yu’er, what’s with you these past few days? Every time I see you, you’re like a salted fish, all wilted.”

Cheng Yu glanced at the calm Cousin Rong Mo and grumbled his reply: “It’s nothing, I’m just learning martial arts from Cousin.” He didn’t dare tell his sister that these past few days, he had been thrown by his heartless cousin into the Prince of Pingnan’s military camp in the suburbs for training.

Cheng Ruyi glanced at her brother’s small frame and nodded in agreement: “Your little body is too fragile. You really should learn some martial arts, otherwise, what will you do if you encounter a robbery?”

“…” Cheng Yu felt so stifled. Sister was rubbing salt into his wounds again, boo-hoo. The chance of him encountering a robbery was very small, okay? Sister worried too much.

A hint of a smile flashed in Rong Mo’s eyes. This little cousin/future brother-in-law was promising material, just too lazy. Constantly following his father, he was the spitting image of a little profligate. How could he not be properly reformed?

It just didn’t seem to be working much yet.

“Cousin, around 3 PM this afternoon, I’m going with Dad to the money bank to exchange the banknotes. Dad said there will be a great natural disaster in the next two years, so banknotes are too unsafe. We need to exchange them all for gold and silver, otherwise, if the money bank goes bust, the notes in our hands will be a pile of scrap paper.”

Cheng Ruyi was very excited speaking about this. A banknote was just a piece of paper that could tear if you weren’t careful; it wasn’t as real as gold and silver. Dad’s reasoning was sound.

“I want to go too.” Hearing about going to the bank to exchange silver, Cheng Yu immediately perked up, his eyes shining.

“Everyone goes, everyone goes!” Cheng Ruyi nodded happily.

Cheng Yu’s eyes crinkled with a smile, sweeping away his previous listlessness.

Rong Mo looked at them with a smile. In a few days, the large quantity of dried seafood he had subordinates buy in the southern seas would arrive in the capital. Once his little fiancée knew, she would definitely be very happy.

Despite the Marquis of Changle Mansion stockpiling plenty of grain and dried goods, dried seafood was extremely rare—a scarce commodity in the capital with an expensive price tag. His aunt and uncle were reluctant to spend silver on it. He had heard his little fiancée mention it a few times and took it to heart, preparing a big surprise for her.

At this time, Moxiang came over with a tray holding three bowls of chilled ice treats. With the recent influx of silver and the blood-drained game Cheng Ruyi hunted stacked in the cellar, Rong Susu had raised the mansion’s catering standards. She didn’t skimp on buying some ice blocks.

Seeing the ice bowls garnished with fruits, Cheng Yu’s mouth watered, and he immediately pulled a bowl in front of himself to start eating.

Cheng Ruyi also loved the ice bowls; they were cold and refreshing, and the taste was good. If only she could eat one every day—too bad her mother wouldn’t agree, as it consumed too much ice. The ice in the cellar was for preserving the game and couldn’t be wasted.

“Miss, Madam said you need to start preparing to embroider your wedding dress in a few days.” Moxiang dropped a bombshell while Cheng Ruyi was enjoying her food.

Embroider a wedding dress?

Cheng Ruyi was struck with horror. Even the ice bowl in her mouth no longer tasted delicious. Embroidery was too difficult; it didn’t suit her. No matter how strong her spiritual power was, embroidery relied on being “dexterous and delicate.” She was desperate.

“Didn’t Mom say we could have a seamstress help?” Cheng Ruyi’s face fell as she muttered: “Getting married is so troublesome. Luckily, I only plan to get married once in this lifetime.”

Rong Mo’s eyes narrowed dangerously: “…”

Did his little fiancée forget her fiancé was right here? What did she mean “only plan to get married once”… did she actually want to do it several times?

Moxiang peeked at the Young Master’s darkening expression and looked at her unconsciously babbling Mistress, feeling utterly speechless.

“Sister, it’s best for a girl to marry only once. If you do it too many times, no one will want you. Cousin, don’t you agree?” Cheng Yu, the “pig teammate,” heard his sister’s muttering and chimed in solemnly. Then he gave a fawning smile to his cousin and swiped the ice bowl from in front of him.

Cheng Ruyi turned back just in time to see her cousin’s dark, heavy gaze. She shrunk her neck; she seemed to have said something wrong, but Xiao Yu’er was really a leaving a hole for her sister.

Moxiang, accustomed to this scene, calmly answered her mistress’s previous question. “Miss, a seamstress can help you embroider the dress, but you must personally do the final finishing touches.”

Cheng Ruyi, not daring to look at her cousin, thought seriously for a moment and then looked at Moxiang expectantly: “…Can I just do the very last thread?” That counts as a finishing touch, right?

Moxiang’s face twitched. She answered uncertainly: “…I suppose that’s fine?” She didn’t have the heart to pour cold water on her mistress.

Hearing this, Cheng Ruyi immediately cheered up. “I’ll mention it to Mom later.”

Rong Mo sighed silently in his heart. Being stuck with such a fiancée was truly a sweet little trouble. But he… relished it.

Around Shen Shi (3-5 PM), the Marquis of Changle took his daughter, son, future son-in-law, and a large group of guards to the money bank in a grand fashion, attracting the gaze of many passersby.

The manager of the money bank was a smiling fat man resembling the Maitreya Buddha. He didn’t expect the Marquis of Changle to want to exchange six hundred thousand taels of silver at once; his eyes nearly popped out. Since a high monk prophesied the great natural disasters for the next two years, many wealthy families had been bringing notes to exchange for silver. The bank’s cash reserves were decreasing day by day, and the manager’s heart ached looking at it.

“Marquis, the bank’s cash has been a bit tight lately. Do you think you could exchange a bit less?” the manager asked with a full smile.

The Marquis of Changle naturally disagreed. This manager wanted to fool him? No way.

“No, exchange six hundred thousand taels of silver. Of course, most of it can be converted into gold.”

Seeing the Marquis of Changle unmoved and determined to get cash, the manager had no choice but to send people down to count the silver.

While waiting, Cheng Ruyi impatiently pulled Rong Mo along, her eyes glowing as she peered around the magnificent hall of the money bank, looking like she wished she could carry the golden pillars back home. Xiao Yu’er followed behind with a similar expression; they truly were siblings.

At this time, there were very few people in the bank. Their embarrassing behavior went unnoticed by anyone except Rong Mo.

Rong Mo smiled silently and leaned down to whisper in his little fiancée’s ear: “Cousin, those pillars aren’t real gold. They just have a layer of gold paint on the outside, just like the three rockeries in our mansion.”

“So they’re all fakes!” Cheng Ruyi was instantly doused in cold water, and her restless thoughts were extinguished. Cheng Yu was the same, his little face full of disappointment. Rong Mo laughed in spite of himself.

Half an hour later, the counting was finished. Cheng Ruyi immediately volunteered to help, easily carrying chest after chest of gold and silver to the carriages.

The overjoyed Marquis of Changle looked at the rows of neatly arranged, locked chests on several carriages, his eyes brimming with tears of excitement. In half a lifetime, this was the first time he had seen so much gold and silver.

Not only was the Marquis excited, but Cheng Ruyi and her brother also stared wide-eyed at the large chests, their hearts blooming with joy—especially Cheng Ruyi, who laughed until her eyes were crescents; half of these chests belonged to her!

As the sun set, the pale yellow light spilled down, plating the large chests with a golden glow.

The capital never lacked for spectators. How could the Marquis of Changle’s large movements be hidden? Especially from those watching them intently. When they saw the guards and the eldest Miss Cheng moving chests from the bank to the carriages, the crowd boiled over.

Flickering gazes and greedy eyes stared at the chests the guards were lifting. Everyone knew the Marquis’s divine medicine was a hit, but no one expected him to make this much silver in just one day—it was faster than a robbery. People’s eyes turned red with envy and jealousy.

The Marquis of Changle at the front of the carriage had already expected this. Exchanging so much silver at once was bound to attract attention; luckily, he had brought a large number of guards. As they left the bank, a large crowd of people reluctant to leave followed behind.

The Marquis of Changle Mansion was quite far from the bank, about an hour’s journey. Although robbery and murder were rare “at the foot of the Emperor,” it wasn’t impossible.

Sure enough, a group of seemingly well-trained masked men in black emerged from nowhere and surrounded the Marquis’s carriage. These men carried a heavy scent of blood and were radiating killing intent; they seemed to be a group of professional assassins.

The crowd following behind to watch the excitement was terrified, and everyone took to their heels.

“Finish it quickly, don’t waste time,” the leader of the black-clad men commanded coldly. With that, he drew a sharp sword and charged, his target aimed straight for the heart of Rong Mo, who sat on a horse in white robes.

The group of assassins swarmed forward upon the command.

Every move was a killing move, showing no mercy. Blades clashed and shadows intertwined, producing ear-piercing sounds. Just at the start of the engagement, more than half of the guards already had several wounds. The air was filled with a faint scent of blood.

Cheng Yu was pale with fear, his legs no longer working. The Marquis of Changle hadn’t expected someone to actually commit murder and robbery in broad daylight and was caught off guard. The guards, facing a formidable enemy, closely protected their masters.

Cheng Ruyi watched her cousin and the lead assassin in a fierce struggle and couldn’t hold back. She quickly pulled a large saber from the carriage and shouted to her father.

“Dad, I’m going to kill them back!”

Before the Marquis could stop his daughter, she had already joined the fray with her saber.

With powerful spiritual energy locking onto the assassins and controlling the field, Cheng Ruyi’s killing was like playing with a cheat code. Wherever her blade fell, a head flew. In just a few breaths, she had already decapitated three men.

Unstoppable!

The Marquis of Changle was slack-jawed and couldn’t help but gulp. His daughter was so fierce!

Seeing his sister slaughtering in all directions, Cheng Yu’s fear vanished completely. His face flushed with excitement as he kept shouting: “Kill, kill, kill!”

When the Capital Magistrate arrived with a large group of soldiers, the ground was already covered with the corpses and heads of the men in black.

A beautiful girl in red holding a large saber and a handsome man in white holding a sword stood among the corpses, chatting. The saber in the girl’s hand was still dripping blood, a sight both terrifying and bizarre.

The Marquis of Changle and a young noble boy were nearby shouting excitedly:

“Daughter is so great!”

“Sister is so amazing!”

The Capital Magistrate and the soldiers were all petrified.

What happened to the “rescue”? This looked more like a one-sided massacre!

Who would have thought that Eldest Miss Cheng and Young Master Rong Mo were so brutal? Robbing them was simply seeking death.

Likely, only the Capital Magistrate—who didn’t know the origin of the assassins and hadn’t seen the cold killing intent in Rong Mo’s eyes—would think so.

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