Chapter 110: The Garment Trade

Chapter 110: The Garment Trade

110

Peace was an illusion in the capital's shops.

In recent days, conflicts had been incessant.

The flourishing business of Princess Qingci's shop had ignited envy in Landlord Wang, who also operated a garment store.

Day by day, overtly and covertly, Landlord Wang targeted their shop, employing unsavory tactics.

Fortunately, Yu Zhiyun deftly dismantled these obstacles,

which only fueled Landlord Wang's frustration further.

Initially, Princess Qingci harbored concerns, but she soon dismissed them entirely.

To them, Landlord Wang's mind pitted against Yu Zhiyun's was akin to a mismatched duel, devoid of any real contest.

Landlord Wang resembled a buffoon, eliciting laughter rather than fear.

One day, however, while Yuting was assisting in the shop, she was unexpectedly spotted by Landlord Wang.

He followed Yuting into the courtyard behind the shop, where he stumbled upon Yu Zhiyun, standing amidst swaying silk fabrics, her hair dancing in the breeze.

It was a breathtaking moment.

Landlord Wang, with his lecherous nature, became fixated on Yu Zhiyun, her image haunting even his dreams for several consecutive nights.

His resentment towards the shop and his lust for Yu Zhiyun, coupled with his newfound connections within influential families, stirred sinister intentions within him.

That night.

Yu Zhiyun was organizing clothes in the shop, assisted by Yuting and Yulan.

Others were cleaning elsewhere in the shop.

Yuting seemed unusually anxious, constantly scanning her surroundings, yet she managed to contain her unease.

Not until the cleaning staff departed, leaving the three women alone in the shop, did Yuting's breathing become uneven.

"Scared?" Yu Zhiyun asked after tidying up the garments on the rack.

"Not at all," Yuting replied firmly. She wasn't afraid; it was her first time experiencing such tension.

Yu Zhiyun had never favored Landlord Wang, finding his underhanded methods tiresome. She decided to resolve the issue once and for all, ensuring he would behave for a while.

Thus, she requested Yuting from the Duke's residence, orchestrating a scenario where Yuting would be incidentally discovered by Landlord Wang.

For days, Yu Zhiyun visited the shop regularly just before closing time, organizing clothes and reviewing accounts—a pattern intentionally made visible to others.

Snow blanketed the streets that day, turning them unusually quiet.

The entire street was lined with shops, all closed for the night, especially due to the snowfall. This street was unusually devoid of people.

This allowed the footsteps of the approaching group to be swiftly concealed by the snow.

Landlord Wang arrived with a crowd, locking the courtyard gate behind them upon entry.

Yu Zhiyun observed Landlord Wang's actions without panic, instead retreating into the shop.

Closing doors habitually was indeed a commendable practice, one she appreciated.

"Second Manager, shouldn't we discuss your harboring of my servant?" Landlord Wang, accompanied by numerous men, entered the shop with an air of arrogance.

Short and stout, his face glistened with oil, reflecting a faint bluish-green hue under the snow's illumination.

He deliberately referred to Yu Zhiyun as the Second Manager, feigning ignorance of her true identity, which would later provide plausible deniability.

However, he was met with Yu Zhiyun emerging, wielding a short knife. "Let's go outside. I don't want bloodstains on my clothes."

"You..." Landlord Wang found her display almost comical, his companions joining in his laughter, as if witnessing a farce.

Did this young girl truly believe that having a weapon would intimidate them?

Their amusement was short-lived.

Shi Huaiqi, who had been particularly attentive to matters concerning Yu Zhiyun, learned of her peril that day and hurried to the garment shop.

Upon bursting through the door, he encountered a scene of carnage—blood pooling on the ground and bodies sprawled haphazardly.

*

Seeing him enter, Yu Zhiyun was somewhat surprised, but she didn't immediately engage with Shi Huaiqi. Instead, she whispered, "Who is this gentleman?"

Shi Huaiqi realized that despite his persistent courting efforts over half a year, Yu Zhiyun remained unaware of his existence, not even sparing him a glance. Otherwise, she wouldn't be oblivious to his identity now.

He suppressed his astonishment and introduced himself, "I am Shi Huaiqi, Shi Xinran's brother."

"Oh..." Yu Zhiyun inwardly sighed in relief, grateful she hadn't acted rashly.

Upon seeing him, she conceived a plan and politely said, "Thank you, Master Shi, for coming to our rescue. Don't worry, they're merely unconscious; no lives will be lost."

Shi Huaiqi understood that although these men weren't in mortal danger, they were severely injured.

As a martial artist himself, he could discern that this group had no chance to retaliate, subjected to a one-sided beating.

Yu Zhiyun had deliberately donned dark, sturdy attire, ensuring none of the blood reached the threshold.

He gestured for his men to close the door and continued, "I'm late and haven't been much help."

"It's been a help." Yu Zhiyun retrieved a dagger and handed it to Shi Huaiqi. "Do me a favor. Have your men incapacitate him. It's inconvenient for me to do so myself."

"Kill him?" Shi Huaiqi asked in surprise as he took the dagger.

"No, not kill him. Disable him in that area. Killing him would be too easy for him."

Shi Huaiqi was taken aback, involuntarily drawing a sharp breath, inhaling a lungful of cold air.

As Yu Zhiyun turned to reenter the shop, Shi Huaiqi's men proceeded as instructed, muffling Landlord Wang's cries.

When Shi Huaiqi followed her inside, Yu Zhiyun sat calmly in a large armchair, wiping the blood off her blade, her expression unreadable.

She glanced at him briefly, murmuring, "Please, Master Shi, don't tell my family about today's events. Lady Qingci will assist with the aftermath."

"A... alright." Shi Huaiqi, seemingly frail, managed to intimidate him into silence.

"Thank you."

"It's nothing..." Shi Huaiqi added after a moment's thought, "I'm your brother's good friend, and you're my sister's good friend. We can consider ourselves friends too."

Yu Zhiyun chuckled softly, neither confirming nor denying Shi Huaiqi's claim. Instead, she asked, "Why did Master Shi come here today?"

Shi Huaiqi was momentarily stumped, managing only, "I heard you were in danger and came specifically..."

"It wasn't necessary," Yu Zhiyun interrupted.

Shi Huaiqi had courted Yu Zhiyun for so long, but this was the first time they engaged in such a conversation. He felt overwhelmed, struggling to think clearly.

Yu Zhiyun, however, looked at him with calm eyes. "We aren't really friends. You and my brother are political allies, and Xinran and I are schoolmates. But there's a significant difference between us."

Regardless of how dense Shi Huaiqi might have been, he now understood Yu Zhiyun's message.

She was saying that they were worlds apart, and he needn't persist.

She saw through his intentions and rejected him cleanly, gracefully, and without hesitation.

Previously, she hadn't rejected him... because she hadn't paid attention to Shi Huaiqi at all.

Shi Huaiqi swallowed reflexively. "If I insist, your brother has established military merits..."

"I don't want my brother to suffer. I simply wish for his safety."

Shi Huaiqi was at a loss for words.

"I don't aspire for much either, so there's no need to force anything."

Her meaning was clear. She didn't covet a high marriage; she sought only peace.

Therefore, Shi Huaiqi's futile efforts were unnecessary.

"I'm sorry," Shi Huaiqi whispered, acknowledging his one-sided infatuation.

"Why apologize? I should be thanking you today."

"In that case, I'll see this good deed through and help clean up the mess in the courtyard."

"Thank you. And please report it to the authorities on my behalf."

"Yes."

Shi Huaiqi skipped his visit to the Confucian Academy the following day, spending the entire day crying at home.

His first love, nurtured in secret for so long, had been rejected without hesitation.

He had once believed his family background and handsome appearance made him a standout among his peers, but she regarded him with utter indifference.

*

It was excruciating...

He refused to emerge from beneath his blankets.

Fortunately, he hadn't broken down in front of Yu Zhiyun, preserving some dignity.

By evening, he mustered the strength to inquire about external affairs, still harboring concerns.

Indeed, Landlord Wang's situation had escalated significantly.

Yet, nobody believed Landlord Wang's claims, dismissing them as nonsensical ravings, akin to a delusion.

Those whom Landlord Wang had sought to curry favor with seemed reluctant to offend the princess or provoke Yu Zhiyun, given her ties to the Duke's residence.

Three days later, the matter was finally settled.

Landlord Wang had led a group to intimidate his rival's shop, intending harm. Fortunately, Shi Huaiqi happened upon the scene and saved the shop's occupants. Shi Huaiqi mistook the assailants for bandits, resulting in severe injuries to Landlord Wang and his men.

Princess Qingci reported the incident to the authorities, leading to the arrest of Landlord Wang and his accomplices.

News quickly spread that Landlord Wang had gone mad, insisting that a woman had inflicted the injuries and sought her life.

However, Shi Huaiqi testified, confirming that only a few skilled shop assistants were present in the shop that day, with no woman involved.

Caught red-handed within the shop, Landlord Wang and his men were unable to refute the accusations.

After several days of maneuvering, the scion of that prominent family could only manage to extricate Landlord Wang from trouble, ensuring he wasn't slapped with a severe sentence, but couldn't hold anyone accountable on behalf of Princess Qingci and her party.

Perhaps feeling that Landlord Wang was too much trouble, after rescuing him, the young noble left him to his own devices.

No matter how much silver Landlord Wang offered, it fell on deaf ears.

Less than half a month after returning home to recuperate, Landlord Wang found himself accused by a group once again.

Previously, Landlord Wang had bullied men and women alike, employing underhanded tactics in his business dealings. Now that he no longer had protection, those wronged by him swarmed to file complaints.

This time, Landlord Wang was arrested again and thrown into prison, with his eldest son also incarcerated for his involvement.

With no one to bail him out, he never saw the light of day again.

The Wang family's fortune scattered like dust, their employees at the clothing shop fearing unpaid wages, looted clothes and fabrics before dispersing.

People whispered that the Wang family's clothing business had likely collapsed for good.

*

Following this, Yu Zhiyun wrote to Yu Jianli.

Everything at home was well; Ah Ling had grown taller and become more sensible. The Duke's household wanted to educate Ah Ling alongside their children, preparing him for entrance into the Imperial Academy.

Father's project had concluded, and he was dispatched to assist in repairing problematic constructions, remaining busy but fulfilled.

I've toned down my participation in the monthly scripture recitations, avoiding many complications.

The paper cutouts you sent last time are still adorning our main hall's windows.

I've had someone send you a lantern crafted by Ah Ling and me; you can hang it outside your room.

Having written the letter and carefully packed the lantern, Yu Jianli would easily assemble it upon receipt.

Tidying up, she reached for the blueprints Yu Jianli had returned, resuming her work on a garment following the design.

*

Upon hearing the report, the Seventh Prince sighed deeply.

Ming Zhiyan, seated beside him, listened with a mix of belief and skepticism. In his memory, Yu Zhiyun was a frail girl; how had she transformed so drastically upon reaching adulthood?

"When I first met you, I thought you were vicious, cruel, and heartless," the Seventh Prince remarked, casting a glance at Ming Zhiyan. "Never did I expect you to lose to a girl."

"She isn't vicious," Ming Zhiyan defended instinctively, standing up for Yu Zhiyun.

"But she is indeed decisive, using herself as bait to lure others into a trap. Tsk tsk, she has a ruthless streak. It's fortunate she's unambitious; otherwise, with such a mind applied elsewhere, she might have achieved great things."

Ming Zhiyan nodded in agreement: "So don't provoke the Yus."

This family, seemingly gentle, could be more ruthless than anyone when pushed.

Chin propped up, the Seventh Prince mused, "Actually, Shi Huaiqi isn't bad. He's simple, and his family background is impeccable."

"What's the use if he's perfect? Should we let my sister marry him out of gratitude, only to be suppressed ever after? Jianli wouldn't agree either."

"True..."

Unbothered, the Seventh Prince didn't dwell on it. Had he known about Yu Jinghe's past consideration of marrying Yu Zhiyun off to Ming Zhiyan, he might not have remained so calm.