Zheng Shoushan’s letter was quickly delivered to Changn by Ren Rude.
In the letter, he stated that he had sent n to eliminate the bandits and had found the stolen coal balls.
Regrettably, however, the coal balls were all fake, and the graphite was nothing but stones drenched in ink...
Zheng Shoushan wrote in the letter that the bandits could not have possibly had the chance to produce fakes while on the run.
Therefore, he believed the source of the fakes was Huaxi Village.
To seek justice for his brother-in-law, he hoped Feng Yun would fulfill the order on ti and compensate for the batch of coal balls. Otherwise, he would make the breach of trust by Changn public...
In those days, the most valued thing was "trust."
He trusted that Feng Yun and her newly founded Changn would care about this...
Once the news spread, it caused an uproar in Huaxi Village.
The scene of Hou Zhun escorting the coal balls out of the village was still vivid in their minds.
The Village Chief’s wife was all smiles and amiable, greeting everyone she saw, supervising the shipnt from the workshop herself with several flamboyantly dressed beauties in tow.
In other words, the coal balls had been transported right under the villagers’ noses.
Many people claid they had seen with their own eyes the cargo, filled with shiny black coal balls and graphite waste.
How could they possibly be fakes?
Clearly, the Village Chief’s wife had been swindled, her family fortune tricked away with the goods she sent.
The villagers felt saddened by this and, starting from the next morning, people made their way to Changn in succession, inquiring about the situation and cursing Zheng Shoushan and Li Zongxun along the way, leaving behind so tokens of their own goodwill.
Aside from a minority with jealous glares, the majority of the people in Huaxi Village were genuinely grateful to Feng Yun.
The entire world was scrambling for the coal balls, but the villagers could easily get them without even leaving their ho.
Even when the supply was tight, the villagers’ needs were guaranteed. Not only that, but they also received the lowest prices, just enough for their families’ usage...
So bolder individuals even sold so spare stock on the sly, earning a handso inco.
All these good days were thanks to Feng Twelve.
Yet, such a good person was being frad...
No one could comprehend why.
Curses about "heaven being blind" filled Huaxi Village, and even the Grand Princess was extrely enraged...
"This old wretch Li, he’s really regressing the older he gets."
When Li Zongxun had previously initiated the "competitive appointnt" system to sell offices in Yecheng, the Grand Princess had already scorned it. Hearing about this incident, she felt even more contempt, rejoicing at her earlier decision.
Choosing Xijing over Yecheng was the right decision.
A person so disgraceful had no future.
The Yecheng Imperial Court under the auspices of Li Zongxun and the Young Emperor wouldn’t last long.
The Grand Princess was thoroughly convinced of the legitimacy of the Western Capital Dynasty and therefore knew she needed to cultivate a good relationship with Pei Jue and his wife.
She had gifts prepared and then went in person to Puyang Yi’s residence, where she was under house arrest, to grant her permission to leave.
"Take these things and visit the Princess at the manor. She has been wronged in this affair, and if anyone speaks nonsense, I can testify for her. Those coal balls, they simply couldn’t have been faked..."
Puyang Yi’s eyes lit up, and she slid off the couch, affectionately linking arms with her mother.
"Mother no longer blas her?"
The Grand Princess’s brow furrowed. "Why would I bla her?"
Hmph! Puyang Yi’s face lit up with a mischievous look, "Don’t think I don’t know that you’ve been holding a grudge about Lady Yun monopolizing the Little Jieqiu Mines and running her own workshop..."
The Grand Princess’s expression darkened, and she kept silent.
Picking up on the cues, Puyang Yi continued, "Besides, this ti, she did business with Chuzhou in secret, disregarding the Imperial Court’s prohibition. You truly aren’t bothered by it..."
The Grand Princess gave her a sideways glance, her expression growing slightly stern.
"I am not so petty-minded."
Of course, she wouldn’t admit it.
Then she even ca up with excuses for Feng Yun.
"In my opinion, this Feng Twelve is not soone blinded by greed, and she is very prudent in her actions. The Huaxi coal balls are in high demand and short supply; if she was just after money, she wouldn’t have needed to sell to Chuzhou and invite idle gossip. So, I suspect that this move must have been at the Prince of Yonghuai’s behest..."
Puyang Yi hadn’t thought that far ahead. Hearing the Grand Princess speak so convincingly, she beca slightly intrigued.
"At his behest, for what purpose?"
The Grand Princess looked at her steadily, and suddenly lifted a finger, poking it at her forehead.
"You fool. Think about it, what kind of person is Feng Twelve? Her actions must be aid at connecting with Zheng Shoushan..."
Puyang Yi, who had lived a comfortable life since birth, rarely concerned herself with political matters and appeared sowhat confused by the comnt, "With the Prince of Yonghuai, she’ll have everything she needs. Why bother with an old man like Zheng Shoushan?"
The Grand Princess looked at her innocent and naive daughter.
Sighed deeply in her heart.
"You must make friends with Feng Twelve in this life."
Puyang Yi was even more perplexed.
"Just yesterday, mother forbade from seeing Lady Yun, saying she was giving bad advice... why the sudden change of heart?"
The Grand Princess couldn’t help but smile and grimace.
What change of heart?
"People are not strictly black or white, and matters are not absolutely right or wrong. With your level of understanding, if you do not learn from her, once I’m gone, your good days will be over."
Puyang Yi: ...
"Why speak so bluntly now? In the past, you didn’t say it like this; you even said your daughter’s nature is very clear and likable..."
Grand Princess: ...
The mother and daughter looked at each other for a mont.
She said, "Go then, stay over there for the al."
Puyang Yi was very puzzled, "Why?"
Grand Princess said, "I’m afraid I’ll get so angry seeing you that I won’t be able to eat."
With a snort of laughter, Puyang Yi cheerfully agreed, "Daughter obeys the command."
She certainly wasn’t really foolish; it’s just that her mind lacked the components of cunning and manipulation, nor would she consciously try to fathom complex human nature.
Having prepared everything, her curiosity hurried her back again.
"Mother hasn’t told yet, why does Lady Yun have to associate with Zheng Shoushan?"
Grand Princess looked into her daughter’s clear, distinct eyes. After a long hesitation, she finally said, "To dissolve and divide Li Zongxun’s power without bloodshed."
Puyang Yi had a mont of realization and bowed deeply to the Grand Princess.
"Thank you for your guidance, Mother. I understand now. From now on, I will make sure to cling tightly to Lady Yun’s coattails and not let go!"
Watching her go off in a huff, the Grand Princess chuckled and shook her head.
-
Everyone felt indignant on behalf of Feng Yun.
Yet Feng Yun remained extrely calm.
She replied to the ssage from Chuzhou the mont she received it.
"The goods were lost en route, and that’s our responsibility. However, to fulfill this transaction and not let Mr. Ren down, with his extensive efforts, my workshop has exhausted all resources. We didn’t even keep extra coal balls for the winter; all our stock was sent to Chuzhou. I ask Mr. Zheng to grant us more ti. The workshop is working overti to catch up with the production, and we’ll make sure not to let Mr. Zheng’s brother-in-law suffer any injustice."
At the end of the letter, she signed it very formally.
"Changn Feng Yun, respectfully."
Ren Rude, incredulous, sought out Feng Yun to verify the truth before attempting to dissuade her repeatedly, declaring that she should not bear such a covert loss.
Feng Yun, however, said, "As a businessperson, integrity is fundantal. Unless we find evidence that Zheng Shoushan has intercepted the goods, if the coal balls are lost on our side, it’s our responsibility to bear the loss."
Ren Rude was stunned montarily.
This spirit,
he held the Feng Family girl in very high esteem.
"A lady with the courage of a man."
After receiving a moral lesson from Feng Yun, Ren Rude wrote back to Chuzhou, lambasting Zheng Shoushan’s brother-in-law for his ingratitude and shalessness. He also stated that with his deep connections in Nanqi and nurous friends, he would inform his network and cease any dealings with Chuzhou.
Having vented his anger, Ren Rude did not forget to report to Xiao Cheng the happenings in Huaxi as usual.
"Seeing how Feng Twelve is subjected to this grievance, it is hard for to witness."
Jin Ge, watching him seal the letter with a troubled face and righteous indignation, pursed his lips and said nothing.
At night, he secretly visited Feng Yun and imdiately asked:
"Is it worth it for you to do this, my lady?"
Many bits of news from Yecheng had reached Feng Yun through Ren Rude, conveyed by Jin Ge.
He was now Feng Yun’s informant.
So, there were many things she could hide from others, but not from Jin Ge.
Feng Yun glanced at him and didn’t answer directly. Instead, she asked:
"Will you tell Ren Rude, tell Xiao Cheng?"
A woman’s heart, a deep ocean of secrets.
Jin Ge couldn’t see through her actions at all. His lips moved slightly as he looked down.
"If I wanted to say anything, I wouldn’t have waited until today. I have already betrayed the Emperor, I won’t betray you again."
Feng Yun smiled, "I know you’re soone who understands choices and righteousness. Don’t worry, I won’t treat you and Yun’e unfairly."
Jin Ge’s heart, full of contradictions, was smoothed over by her casual words.
He fell silent briefly, "My lady truly intends to replenish the shipnt of coal balls for Zheng Shoushan?"
"Of course," Feng Yun raised her eyebrows, "Do good to the end. I’ll make sure he’s satisfied."
Satisfied enough to owe her a favor.
Satisfied enough to feel sick at the sight of the hypocrite Li Zongxun.
Satisfied enough to make everyone envious...
Satisfied enough that the entire Yecheng Imperial Court was baffled, and criticized her.
Satisfied enough that Zheng Shoushan had no choice but to turn against the Western Capital Dynasty...
Jin Ge was speechless.
Understanding seven or eight parts of it, he was all the more horrified.
This chain of ticulous sches, not a drop of water out of place, could it really be the work of an ordinary family’s daughter?
Jin Ge even wondered if Pei Jue was advising her from behind the scenes.
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