Chapter 58: The Innocent and Harmless Young Master

Chapter 58: The Innocent and Harmless Young Master

Having made the decision, there was no need to delay.

In a short time, with high efficiency, Zhu Yan left two days later after intensive preparations. He didn't deliberately say goodbye; he left behind for Wen Ruan only a cold bed and an empty room in the morning.

After waking up, Wen Ruan held onto the quilt, unwilling to get out of bed.

In just a few days, he had gotten used to sharing a bed with another person. His original plan to sleep in separate rooms to maintain privacy and gradually get to know each other had never been realized due to repeated accidents.

He understood what Zhu Yan meant; there was no need for a farewell because this was merely a trivial parting. Zhu Yan was extremely confident that nothing would go wrong, and they would soon reunite, so there was no need to engrave memories or dwell on it.

Between them, everything was always in progress, and the most beautiful scenery was the one they looked forward to together.

Just like...that ambiguous promise on Mid-Autumn night.

Lazily getting up, without anyone to help him tie his hair, Wen Ruan called Nanxing. This task had always been done by Nanxing before.

"Little Marquis Fang sent over several boxes of gifts early this morning, saying it was a parting gift. He asked the young master to remember to leave dozens of jars of good wine for him, saying he wants to drink to his heart's content during the New Year's feast."

Zhu Yan took Fang Rui away, and Wen Ruan wasn't surprised at all. After all, Old Master Fang was stationed at the border. When causing trouble over there, one had to consult with the old master to some extent. Moreover, it was precisely the time for Fang Rui to gain experience, but—

"Dozens of jars of wine? Isn't he afraid of drinking himself to death?"

What he was currently trying with the Liang family was high-proof grain alcohol, not the watered-down wine available in the market. Let alone dozens of jars, even one jar might be too much for Little Marquis Fang.

Nanxing nimbly helped the young master tie his hair and secured it with a jade hairpin. "Young Master Huo has arrived, bringing carriages from the merchant house. Are we…really leaving today?"

"Otherwise?"

Wen Ruan got up and walked out confidently.

He had originally planned to leave today as well. If Zhu Yan hadn't left first, the one spending the night alone tonight would have been Prince Jian.

"Hey, young master—you look handsome!"

Huo Ershao and Wen Ruan were never formal with each other, regardless of whether the other party was a lonely country boy, the young master of the Duke's mansion, or today's Princess Jian, they were sworn brothers. He could act spoiled, clingy, and throw tantrums; Huo Ershao dared to do anything!

"You're not looking bad yourself, dressed like a pickled eggplant." Wen Ruan lifted his robe and got into the carriage.

Huo Ershao was shocked. "Is it really ugly! I was thinking of promoting this color scheme for autumn and winter!"

Wen Ruan: "I advise you not to. Or let someone else handle it."

With skin as dark as this, wearing such purple was indeed a bit of an eyesore.

Huo Ershao felt wronged. "I've already said I want you to do it, but you refuse to help!"

The young master's fair, cold complexion suited purple best, both light and dark shades. Recently, he had just produced a batch of gauze that was slightly darker but very pure and tranquil. No one else could wear it well, but the young master definitely could. Wearing it would surely give off a sense of detached beauty, as if mourning the loss of a lover, cold and restrained, yet irresistibly captivating.

Wen Ruan ignored him, watching as the vehicles drove out of the street and headed towards the city gate.

He wasn't necessarily interested in getting involved in major matters like salt and iron, things controlled by the state. He had never thought about making money from them. It was just that the amount of salt available on the market was too little. In this era, salt production methods were relatively backward, resulting in low output and poor quality. Yet, the vast sea was right there, and the people should not suffer like this.

Without food, people would starve to death, and without enough salt intake, their bodies would also suffer.

There wasn't enough salt circulating in the market, causing salt prices to rise continuously. Smuggling became rampant, and the court had long been paying attention to this issue but lacked effective solutions. Now, the opportunity Zhu Yan had obtained for him, he naturally had to make an effort.

If he could successfully produce enough…he could mix a small portion with the current salt and sell it to the upcoming envoy group. Wouldn't that kill two birds with one stone?

No one was unwilling to make money, and this was true for the merchants of Da Li and Da Li itself. The court had spent a considerable amount in disaster relief in recent years. If there could be a substantial surplus, next year's budget allocations would be better.

Wen Ruan guessed that those in power must have thought similarly, otherwise, why hadn't anyone interfered with his actions, allowing everything to proceed smoothly?

Not only did they not interfere, but they also came to send him off.

The Second Prince waited at a pavilion ten miles outside the city, accompanied by Wen Ru.

"This journey is long, and your travels will be arduous," the Second Prince brought wine and poured a cup for Wen Ruan as a farewell. "Should you have any needs, feel free to inform me. Although I don't have the title of a prince like the Sixth Prince, I do know a thing or two about maritime affairs and can help alleviate any urgent needs of Ah Ruan."

His maternal grandfather's family mainly dealt with maritime business, including ships, sea routes, exotic treasures, and curiosities from foreign lands, contributing significantly to Da Li's tax revenue. Of course, this was only what was known publicly. Secretly…since they were involved in maritime affairs, they naturally knew a thing or two about pirates on the seas, but this couldn't be mentioned.

Wen Ruan could guess that the seas weren't calm, but if the Second Prince expected him to reveal everything and rely solely on him, then the Second Prince was dreaming: "Thank you, Your Highness."

The Second Prince smiled, but his eyes hinted at Wen Ru.

Wen Ru pursed her lips, pretending not to see.

The Second Prince turned his smile to her. "Your brother has come without greeting you, being so lazy. He's likely to mock you."

Wen Ru had no choice but to step down, lower her eyes, and bow to Wen Ruan. "The road ahead is long and winding. I wish to give some advice, but I don't know what to say. Fortunately, there's the Second Prince to assist. Brother, should you have any needs, please contact us."

"Second Brother, don't make things difficult for Ah Ruan!"

A voice rang out from afar; it was the Third Prince. Indeed, these two were inseparable, never letting the other have it easy.

"Don't worry, Ah Ruan. Although the seas are Second Brother's territory, I'm not without connections either," the Third Prince encouraged him. "Don't be afraid of being hindered. Just boldly handle your affairs. Whoever dares to harm this matter is harming the court. I'm waiting for your good news!"

Wen Ruan: "…"

He hadn't even started working yet, and the two sides were already clashing. It was evident that the seas were not an easy place to venture into.

"Alright, then I'll thank both of you for your kindness."

His eyebrows curved gently, and he smiled obediently. Suddenly, the Second Prince and the Third Prince felt something was amiss, sensing an inexplicable danger… But this feeling vanished quickly. Wen Ruan appeared humble and bright, completely lacking any malicious intent.

It seemed to be a false alarm.

Wen Ruan had never thought that what he was about to do would be easy. The word 'salt' alone, considering its crucial position, suggested the existence of a web of interests. He was going there merely to improve technology and increase salt production, but others might not think the same way. Spoiling someone else's cake would certainly invite retaliation.

Thus, along the way, he and Young Master Huo had repeatedly discussed their strategies, whether overt or covert, dividing their forces into two paths, each serving as the other's trump card and support. They planned how to handle any situation that might arise, how to deal with unexpected events, and where they would part ways...

Young Master Huo: "I'm fine with it; after all, I'm a merchant and can't be too low-profile. But if so, others might really have some sinister plots directed entirely at you. You better not buckle under the pressure."

"Are you sure?" Wen Ruan mercilessly poked at his friend's sore spot. "Who was it that suffered endlessly from the eldest master's tactics?"

The Huo family's choice of future head wasn't arbitrary, nor was the training. Young Master Huo had to endure various forms of 'affection' from the elders down to his uncles and brothers, especially the eldest master. Unable to bear the burden himself, he felt guilty towards the family and was more dedicated than ever to grooming his younger brother, ensuring he would surpass everyone else in brilliance...

Young Master Huo wailed, "You still bring it up! You didn't help me at all back then, just stood there laughing! The eldest squeezed me so hard, and you didn't feel an ounce of sympathy!"

Wen Ruan: "Was it harsh? I don't think it was enough."

"A good one you are, Little Master—hey, what's that?" Young Master Huo suddenly pointed to the distance.

A girl dressed in mourning knelt by the roadside, a trembling white flower in her hair, a corpse covered by a broken mat... Selling herself to bury her father?

It was right on their way to the town, in the direction they were heading.

Long before this, Wen Ruan and Young Master Huo's carriages had separated, and they had spread rumors accordingly. Originally, Young Master Huo shouldn't have been in this carriage, but he couldn't bear to leave, disguising himself to accompany until now. Now, looking at the situation...

"It's your show now; I'm out of here!"

Taking advantage of the crowd, Young Master Huo quietly disembarked, slipping away like a fish into the sea of people, disappearing in an instant.

Wen Ruan followed the carriage, continuing forward until it could no longer move. Nanxing opened the curtain and said the road ahead was blocked.

Only then did he get off the carriage, joining the crowd to see the girl selling herself to bury her father.

At first glance, he spotted something amiss.

People around were speaking loudly, all lamenting the girl's misfortune. Her mother died early, leaving her to depend on her father. Unfortunately, the salt field work was heavy, and the foreman was difficult to deal with. Her father couldn't withstand the strain, beaten to death, leaving only her, a young girl, to wonder how she would survive...

But this girl, with slender fingers and delicate skin, didn't look like someone who did manual labor. Her face, like a pear blossom in tears, evoked pity, her timid eyes revealing the shyness unique to a maiden. The angle at which she looked at people, the posture of her shoulders and waist when kneeling, didn't seem like those of an ordinary girl from a commoner's household, untrained in etiquette.

"Sigh, she is truly pitiful, but who dares buy her? This girl is beautiful; she'll likely be ruined by those powerful figures."

"Indeed? Who among us would dare save her? Except for travelers passing through, who have no ties here, the powerful wouldn't want to stir up trouble and would rather turn a blind eye..."

"But in a place like ours, where do we find so many travelers..."

Travelers, wasn't there one right here?

Wen Ruan lowered his gaze. Could you be any more obvious?

Apart from two individuals whose guiding words were overly apparent, most of the onlookers were unaware of the situation but echoed similar sentiments. This revealed the atmosphere of power in the area, indeed controlled by someone.

The girl kneeling on the ground couldn't possibly be from the salt fields; this was a setup aimed at him, executed so superficially... Perhaps because the information he had released along the way didn't mention the Concubine Wang, but rather a young man trusted by the Prince Jian, skilled but young, easily deceived.

Wen Ruan noticed a path opening before him, the locals making way as if recognizing him as an unfamiliar outsider, seemingly intent on facilitating the encounter.

He hadn't planned to immediately enter the fray, but looking at the girl kneeling on the ground, that small white flower in her hair... For some reason, it reminded him of the 'Holy Maiden' in the Empress Sect.

There was no logic, no evidence, just a gut feeling.

The Empress Sect was merely a small branch in Sizhou, and in the capital, it hadn't yet spread its vast network. They hadn't known where to root it out, never expecting to find it here.

Since that was the case... why not deal with everything at once?

Wen Ruan directly frowned and stepped forward, paid the silver, and bought the girl.

Because he made decisions quickly, without speaking, and without a trace of lust in his eyes, he appeared to be a naive young master, unable to bear seeing others suffer, taking immediate action.

After the girl properly buried her 'father' and came over to kneel in gratitude, introducing herself as Hansmoke and offering to serve as a maid, Wen Ruan genuinely accepted her, assigning her maid duties, commanding her to serve tea and water, and effortlessly extracting her story.

Such as her name, where she was from, why she was here, what skills she possessed... She told him everything.

Hansmoke: ...

Could it be such an innocent and harmless young master?

She didn't understand anything about salt production techniques, but she understood the rest. Since the young master believed her and let his guard down, she could...

"The local salt fields are monopolized by the Luan family, making it difficult for outsiders to enter. Even with official documents, one can easily be excluded. Coincidentally, my father once leased a piece of salt field, which hasn't expired yet. If the young master trusts me, I'm willing to lead you there."

She mentioned a location, surprisingly adjacent to the salt field Zhu Yan had given Wen Ruan.

Wen Ruan's lips curved slightly. "Alright."

He dared to casually speak of his techniques because this method was something others couldn't learn or comprehend. But since you claimed you'd be my maid, you must put in your best effort, handling all necessary tasks well. Otherwise, wouldn't it raise suspicion?

As for women, he was portraying an inexperienced young master, with no thoughts in that regard, fully immersed in his techniques. That was what he should be doing.

If this girl had ill intentions, what was Nanxing for? And there were those few guards hidden in the shadows, whom he hadn't seen in days.

Regardless of what the girl and the people behind her aimed to achieve with him, wouldn't they need patience, cultivating trust, and perhaps offering some proof of loyalty?

This was an open and clear strategy.

See, this was effortless; he could immediately start working in the salt field, unhindered.

Nanxing, having her tea-serving duties taken away, was pushed aside, especially following the young master to the salt field late at night with Hansmoke... She was somewhat worried, feeling challenged for the first time in her career. She needed to be on high alert, guarding against any potential threats, while also privately meeting with the hidden guards, ensuring they didn't blabber about anything.

Of course, the guards wouldn't blabber. Not only would they risk their lives to protect the concubine, but they also wouldn't dare hide any information, reporting everything they should.

The border was far away, and it took several days for Zhu Yan to receive news, only from the guards.

His heartless concubine hadn't written him a single letter, yet she dallied with flowers and got entangled with a woman!

"It's fine... It's fine."

Prince Jian, in a huff, devoured three large bowls of rice before locking himself away in his study to pen a letter.

If the princess consort wouldn't write to him, he would write to her!

The northern border was buffeted by piercing winds; even before September had ended, the air was already frigid. But it didn't matter. The gust that swept past him would eventually travel far and wide, and at some point, envelop his beloved princess consort in its embrace.

From this night onward, a large character for 'endure' hung on the wall of his study, a testament to his resolve.