"I was wrong," Fengyu said perfunctorily.
"Calling you blind, but you wouldn't accept it. Have you seen Jiang Yang's ugly face clearly now?"
Fengyu threw a few vegetable leaves into the pot only to fish them back out again, mocking, "You really know how to make conversation."
"If you'd listened to me earlier, would you be in this ridiculous mess? Getting rejected after your coming-of-age ceremony? You'll be the laughingstock among noblewomen across the Capital City for three years." Lin Xiao habitually wanted to jab at her but forced himself to hold back.
Fengyu tossed more vegetables into the pot and asked Lin Xiao, "Do you have a grudge against Jiang Yang?"
"Yes!"
"What did he do to offend you?"
"That's none of your concern!"
Fengyu suddenly understood. No wonder he disliked her and was always antagonistic, constantly scheming against her. Fengyu spoke gently, "I've broken off my engagement with Jiang Yang too. Does this mean Young Master Lin won't trouble me anymore in the future?"
"When have I ever troubled you?" Lin Xiao shoved a few slices of beef onto her plate roughly. "It's you… who are ungrateful."
Fengyu saw his coarse demeanor but noticed a hint of hesitation, making her smile faintly. Her smile seemed to dazzle him; Lin Xiao's Adam's apple bobbed as he rudely scooped a bowl of vegetables and buried his head, eating rapidly only to burn his mouth terribly. Flustered, he grabbed for his wine to soothe the pain while Fengyu rarely saw him so disheveled.
"Why do you have such precise knowledge about Yiling Village's farmland, yields, and pricing?" Lin Xiao, informed of the situation, began to reassess her and couldn't help but ask.
She was supposedly always foolish and lazy, yet she had handled Yiling Village's accounts seamlessly, balancing authority with leniency—a far cry from the uneducated image of Fengyu.
"My mother's family runs businesses. I've been exposed to it since childhood," Fengyu deflected, unwilling to elaborate, though Lin Xiao appeared deep in thought.
Feng Changqing and his wife had long been stationed at the battlefield. Su Yuejiao was actually in logistical roles, responsible for Ningzhou's military farms and supplies. Both of them were too busy to care for their daughters. Feng Shu and Fengyu grew up under their grandmother's watch. Feng Shu began learning to manage family assets at the age of five. Fengyu, who had been wandering outside for two years, lived with Feng Shu upon her return at twelve, eating and sleeping side by side, absorbing much by osmosis. Feng Shu frequently left the Capital City in recent years, leaving Fengyu to take charge of most of the family's Capital-based operations—including taverns, textile shops, and mines—from the age of twelve.
Three years ago, the Feng Family returned to the Capital City. The stewards of the Feng family's Capital businesses had long grown accustomed to a facade of compliance while acting otherwise. With Feng Shu occupied with managing the Jiangnan Su Family's assets, she had no time. She intended for Fengyu to gain experience, so she handed over all the Capital properties to Fengyu three years ago. Over these years, Fengyu had restructured the Capital operations decisively, balancing authority and compassion with impeccable organization.
Being in business made her naturally well-versed in pricing. She knew every detail of the Su Family's supply chains—their prices, profits, origins, and costs—like the back of her hand.
After supper, Nanny Liu led Lin Xiao to rest in the east wing, while Fengyu's courtyard was in the west wing. Nanny Liu had already arranged the rooms. After freshening up, Fengyu wrapped herself in a thin blanket, sitting on her bed reviewing records, while Chunlu sat outside on the couch reconciling accounts with her. Qiuxiang was heating a pot of seafood congee. Fengyu had eaten sparingly at supper, so Nanny Liu prepared the seafood congee she loved to keep warm for her.
"Miss, the new Land Officer has compiled the statistics on the grain to be submitted. The smallest household can provide seven stone, while the largest can offer up to twenty stone. It matches the accounts closely," Chunlu said after verifying all the ledgers.
Qiuxiang and Chunlu were both born into the family. They had accompanied Fengyu since childhood. Qiuxiang, with her lively temperament, wasn't good with numbers, so Fengyu had made her her personal maid, managing her daily life. Chunlu, being smart and steady since she was young and adept with the abacus, was nurtured into Fengyu's deputy, proving herself skilled in financial management.
"Why would they keep so much grain?" Qiuxiang asked, puzzled.
"The border is unstable. They've experienced famine before. Families naturally stock up a year's worth of grain to prepare against potential disasters, avoiding starvation and displacement," Fengyu explained.
"Gaoping County is near the Capital City and a prosperous region. No one would starve even in famine years, right?"
"You can't predict nature's calamities."
"Miss, should we take the grain or take money? Some tenant farmers wish to pay their dues in cash instead."
"Take the grain," Fengyu said firmly, "store it in the granary."
"Understood!"
This year's grain shortage was gradually resolving. The court had punished several merchants hoarding grain, releasing stockpiles. Grain prices were steadily falling. The Ministry of Revenue issued regulations limiting daily grain purchases per household to a three-day supply, preventing large-scale hoarding even for those with money.
"How much more can the Land Officer's family contribute?"
"Miss, their family can submit at most twenty stone," Chunlu responded. "As for the earnings from their illegal grain trade this year, they refuse to surrender it. Miss, this amounts to quite a sum—about two thousand silver."
"It's not up to them."
"Understood!"
Fengyu meticulously went through the accounts for all of Yiling Village. The horse farm had been leased, and its accounts looked fine. She decided to inspect it again after spring arrives. Since the situation at Yiling Village had escalated so much, those at the horse farm wouldn't dare falsify records.
Late at night, a drizzle began, and Fengyu slept restlessly. Qiuxiang and Chunlu took turns keeping watch. Shortly after midnight, Fengyu felt a pang of hunger. Chunlu ordered the maids to heat up congee while brewing hot tea inside. "Miss, are you hungry? The congee is nearly ready."
Fengyu held the tea and sat comfortably, while Chunlu brought over a shawl to wrap around her. The room was stuffy, so Fengyu asked Chunlu to prop open the window. Chunlu feared the cold air might chill her, leaving the window half-open for ventilation. The breeze, mingled with rain, wafted in, dampening the atmosphere.
Among the autumn rain, a strange noise suddenly broke out, sharp and metallic, like the clash of swords. Chunlu heard Zhang Da shouting urgently, "Chunlu, protect the Miss!"
Screams erupted from the maids under the corridor, who fled towards the room in panic. Through the partially open window, Fengyu glimpsed five or six dark figures silently descending into the courtyard. They wielded longswords as they charged forward. Zhang Da led the guards to resist. The dozen men clashed in the rain, their swords sparking briefly before the light was extinguished by the falling droplets.
The maids cried in panic, their voices chaotic. Qiuxiang, awakened by the commotion, saw three masked figures surround Zhang Da. His singlehanded effort met overwhelming force as he began to falter. These attackers were ruthless, clearly not mere thugs.
Chunlu grabbed Fengyu decisively. "Miss, we must leave now."
"Weapons have no eyes. Protect yourselves," Fengyu commanded. Under Chunlu and Qiuxiang's cover, she stepped out into the rain-soaked courtyard. Though fearful, the maids formed a protective barrier, shielding her as they crossed the corridor, heading out.
Two masked assailants sliced through the guards' defense and lunged at Fengyu with longswords aimed at her throat. Amidst the maids' frantic screams, Chunlu drew a soft sword coiled at her waist, deflecting their attacks. She turned back and shouted at Qiuxiang, "Escort the Miss to the carriage, quickly!"
Qiuxiang's face turned pale as she shielded Fengyu, pushing forward. Fengyu turned her head just in time to see Chunlu's arm pierced by a longsword, blood staining half her sleeve—a vivid streak of crimson flashing in Fengyu's vision. Clenching her teeth, Fengyu made her way out of the courtyard without looking back.