Chapter 205 - 203: Is She Really Going to Be His Concubine?

Words : 1504 Updated : Sep 23rd, 2025

The next day. The Imperial City officially posted a notice, announcing this year’s selected imperial merchants. Under the category of tea merchants, the name Qian Duobao was glaringly listed. When the Gao Family received the news, the entire household erupted early in the morning. Gao Yun and Zou Dacheng chased after Yin Shanshan to demand accountability, hoping Yin Yang would return the three thousand silver notes, but when Yin Shanshan invited Yin Yang over, he flatly refused, saying money once gifted could not be reclaimed. This led to chaos as arguments filled the estate. Shen Yinning had no time to concern herself with their petty disputes and discreetly left through a side door to board a carriage bound for Su King Mansion. "Sister Shen!" Lu Jiazhe welcomed her into the rear garden. "The person you wanted me to find—I worked through the night yesterday and found him for you. He’s the most skilled master in playing with fire pots in the area. Sister Shen, are you interested in watching fire pot performances?" Shen Yinning shook her head. She solemnly bowed to the master. "Sir, I implore you to teach me fire pots." Lu Jiazhe stared at her in shock, eyes wide. The so-called fire pots are skillfully similar to the art of striking iron flowers. The performer lifts a heavy wooden pole, with square iron baskets about a foot long attached at both ends. The baskets are filled with glowing hot charcoal, and through shaking and swinging the pole, the charcoal scatters into sparks of fire, creating a majestic scene resembling a tree heavy with brilliant blossoms. This craft is often learned by street performers. Why would a delicate girl like Sister Shen want to learn such a thing? The master chuckled. "Dear Madam, you appear to be a lady of fine clothing and luxury. Are you aware that this skill is incredibly challenging to learn? The iron baskets weigh thirty pounds, and not only must you lift them, but you must also master fluid, graceful movements. This demand has discouraged countless female apprentices. Furthermore, during fire pot performances, the sparks and ash fly everywhere. Even with specialized masks and flame-resistant cloaks, burns from practice are inevitable. It’s not a matter of reluctance on my part—it’s simply beyond your endurance." "I can endure hardships," Shen Yinning replied calmly. "You worry about my lack of strength, yet I can effortlessly draw the war bows commonly used by soldiers at the borderlands and hunt animals weighing several hundred pounds. You worry I’ll be burned, but my warehouse is stocked with Fire-washing Cloth worth a fortune per bolt. Even rolling through a sea of fire would leave me immune to burns. Sir, here is one hundred taels of gold. Will you teach me or not?" Haitang stepped forward just in time, holding a tray of gleaming golden ingots. The master held his breath. Thus, from the sixth day of the first month to the thirteenth, Shen Yinning visited Su King Mansion daily to practice fire pots, often training for four to five hours at a time. Though she wore a cloak made from Fire-washing Cloth, she could not entirely avoid burns during practice, and her delicate palms became blistered. Fortunately, her previous archery training in Gan State gave her greater strength compared to ordinary women from well-to-do households. Her effort bore results, and within days, she had mastered fire pots with notable skill. Lu Jiazhe’s heart ached for her as he personally tended to the blisters on her hands. "Sister Shen, what are you trying to achieve? These beautiful hands should be nurturing flowers and playing the zither with refined elegance—not toying with fire pots..." Shen Yinning earnestly asked, "I’ve asked you to secretly arrange a meeting with the proprietor of Gold and Jade Hall. Have you done so?" "Done perfectly!" Lu Jiazhe pat his chest and guaranteed, "I’ve scheduled him to meet you tonight at the second watch during Hai hour on the northern city’s floating pavilion. Sister Shen, rest assured, I haven’t leaked a shred of information about you or me. He doesn’t even know whether we are male or female!" Shen Yinning nodded slightly. "Thank you." That night, Lu Jiazhe accompanied Shen Yinning to the floating pavilion as planned. From behind a screen, Shen Yinning pushed forward a nephrite jade seal. Gold and Jade Hall’s proprietor, Mister Hao, stared in bewilderment. "What is this?" "I have deposited ten thousand taels of gold at Da Sheng Money Shop. This jade seal is the token to retrieve those funds," Shen Yinning spoke softly. "On the fifteenth day of the first month, I intend to reserve Gold and Jade Hall completely for one day. Not only do I want the establishment closed to all guests, but I also want all chefs, waitstaff, and maids to vacate the premises." Mister Hao glanced at the nephrite jade seal. He recognized it as the token for Da Sheng Money Shop. Although all the rooms had been booked by high-ranking officials and nobles for that day, who could possibly refuse ten thousand taels of gold? For such a sum, not only could Gold and Jade Hall be reserved—it could practically be purchased outright! His face betrayed a hint of greed, but he still asked cautiously, "Madam, what do you intend to do at Gold and Jade Hall with such generosity?" Lu Jiazhe snapped coldly, "Ask not what you shouldn’t! Simply answer: do you agree or not?" Driven by greed, Mister Hao had no reason to refuse. He immediately smiled. "I agree, of course! Madam, rest assured—on the fifteenth day, not even a single live chicken or fish will grace the establishment." After Mister Hao left, Lu Jiazhe grew increasingly curious. "Sister Shen, between learning fire pots and reserving a restaurant, what exactly are you planning? I know you’ve had a falling-out with the Crown Prince brother recently. Are you planning to reserve Gold and Jade Hall just to perform fire pots for him and reconcile?" "Reconcile?" Shen Yinning poured herself a glass of wine, her lips curling, a hint of derision evident. "He wishes." She had no intention of reconciling with Lu Ying. She wanted them all dead. On the fourteenth day of the first month. Shen Yinning imitated Xue Ling’s handwriting to pen an invitation to Luo Wanxiang, asking her to spend the Lantern Festival at Gold and Jade Hall tomorrow. Having assisted Lu Ying with document reviews before, she remembered Xue Ling’s handwriting flawlessly and mimicked it effortlessly. After the courier delivered the letter, she then imitated Xue Mianmian’s handwriting to write an invitation to Xue Ling, again arranging to meet at Gold and Jade Hall the next day. Afterward, she mimicked Shen Yunxi’s handwriting to draft invitations for Lu Shiyan and Luo Wanzhao, inviting them for the same occasion at Gold and Jade Hall. She then recalled Shen Xinglei’s handwriting and wrote in his tone to send letters to Shen Yan, Mrs. Qin, Shen Xinghan, and Shen Yunxi. The letter claimed he was alive but was unable to show himself due to certain circumstances, suggesting they meet him tomorrow at Gold and Jade Hall. She knew Shen Xinghan’s suspicions were sharp, so she deliberately included Shen Xinglei’s personal jade pendant in the envelope before sending it to Duke Mansion. As for the Gao Family... She forged Lu Ying’s Crown Prince Seal to pen an invitation for Gao Zheng, asking him to bring his entire family to Gold and Jade Hall by the third segment of Xu hour tomorrow night, claiming they would discuss specifics about Gao Zheng assuming the role of Minister of the Ministry of Justice. After finishing all this, she began drafting a letter to Lu Ying. Lifting her brush, even as ink beads dripped onto the paper, she hesitated to write. Whose handwriting should she imitate to summon Lu Ying? Her gaze landed on the dressing table. There rested a set of turquoise hair ornaments—a gift from Lu Ying before the New Year. He had asked her for a New Year’s return gift, but she had yet to give him anything. Shen Yinning considered for a moment, then revised her approach. Using her original handwriting and tone, she wrote Lu Ying a letter. Once finished, she instructed Haitang to deliver it to the Eastern Palace. Lu Ying preferred solitude. Though the first month was still in celebration, and the Lantern Festival approached, the Eastern Palace remained solemn and austere. Apart from lanterns adorning the eaves and trees, there were no other flamboyant decorations. When Haitang delivered the letter, Lu Ying had just received Gui Quan’s report that someone had withdrawn his gold stored in Da Sheng Money Shop. Lu Ying was reviewing memorials. The seal for his money shop had always been in Shen Yinning’s possession, leaving no doubt she had withdrawn the funds. Was she planning to take this bride price of ten thousand taels of gold and run off with Lu Shiyan to Jiangnan? Was she truly prepared to be his concubine?

Chapter 205 - 203: Is She Really Going to Be His Concubine?

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