058 The Sacrificial Pawn

The saying goes that under the same roof, you can’t help but bump into each other. But in my case, it ought to be: in the same country, truly, you can’t escape crossing paths time and again.

What a tangled web of fate… what a tangled web.

After fleeing the General’s Manor, I encountered Li Yexuan, ran into Qiao Ruoqing and Yun Rong, caught sight of Yun Heng returning triumphant on the streets, and now, seeing Wan Chun from the General’s Manor stepping into Jinyu Workshop, I was no longer surprised. I was utterly composed, well-prepared for whatever misfortune might befall me.

Clearly, Wan Chun was not here to buy jewelry; she asked for me by name. The clerk led her to a seat and served tea. It was at my suggestion that Jinyu Workshop set aside a place specifically for receiving guests. It wasn’t spacious, but it was peaceful—suitable for quiet discussions. The last time Qiao Ruoqing and Yun Rong visited, I hadn’t let them in there; after all, I was the owner, and unless I signaled, the staff wouldn’t take guests into that room. I had to admire Uncle Jin’s knack for hiring clever employees.

As I entered, Wan Chun’s eyes lit up for a moment, but soon she regained her composure.

“I wonder what business brings you here today, miss?” I sat down beside her and poured myself some tea, exuding a calm that betrayed not the slightest hint of nerves.

Though we had lived together for quite some time, I had to pretend not to know her now. It was far easier this way; if I acknowledged our connection, I wouldn’t know how to face her. After all, she had deceived me, but she had also cared for me.

I am someone who bears grudges but seldom seeks revenge. I remember how people treat me, but I don’t retaliate—unless opportunity presents itself. For someone like Wan Chun, I couldn’t find it in myself to hate her.

When I was little, I raised a rabbit and fed it grass every day. But my younger brother, in league with the palace servants, had the rabbit cooked for a meal. I shut the doors of my princess’s quarters for a month and ignored my brother for days. No matter how many kinds of rabbit figurines my father and brother placed before me, I refused to look at a single one, for they only reminded me of how the rabbit had been plucked and stewed. After that, I never kept rabbits again.

“I wonder, sir, you are…” Wan Chun began sizing me up and down.

“I am just a humble steward here,” I replied—my official title for outsiders.

“My apologies, it’s just that you resemble an old acquaintance of mine.”

“No matter. May I ask what brings you here?”

“It’s like this: I am Wan Chun, a maid from General Yun Heng’s household. The general sent me to inquire whether it was your shop that sold two sets of hair ornaments to the young lady and a concubine of the manor a few days ago?”

So, this was about those eight hundred taels of silver. It seemed the matter had finally come to light.

“Please wait a moment, miss.” I stepped out briefly and returned with the account book, handing it to her.

“I believe you are referring to this transaction for eight hundred taels. We at Jinyu Workshop keep meticulous records; you may examine it as you please.”

Wan Chun studied the ledger for quite a while before saying, “So it seems this is indeed the case. When the general returned, he discovered a discrepancy in the accounts. There were also rumors that a maid had run off with some silver, so he sent me to investigate. I hope you won’t take offense, sir.”

“Not at all. How could our humble shop refuse to cooperate?”

“In that case, I shall take my leave.”

“Safe travels, miss.”

Once she was gone, I closed the account book with a snap. These two had managed to shift all the blame onto me—truly resourceful. But why had Wan Chun confided in me? Matters of the general’s household were not for outsiders to know. Was she doing this on purpose? Or had she seen through my disguise as Mu Fan? Was my act really so unconvincing? Or were their eyes simply too sharp for their own good?