Chapter 0121 The Highly Skilled First Leader: I Like What My Sister-in-Law Said
“It’s actually true.”
Seeing Xie Chengze acknowledge the person, Da Dangjia couldn’t help but frown, rubbing the tiger-headed axe at his waist with irritation. “What’s a young lady from Jingcheng doing here? And coming to our Qianjin Zhai no less! Now we’re in a fix – we can’t let you go, but we can’t keep you here either!”
To avoid trouble with the authorities, they had always pretended to be merchants when robbing at Black Tiger Mountain. All these years, they had remained undisturbed, with no one knowing there was a Qianjin Zhai on Qiantai Mountain.
But now they had captured the daughter of a high official, directly confronting the imperial court!
If they let her go, the court would likely send troops to wipe out Qianjin Zhai. If they didn’t let her go, when the imperial troops came looking, they would still destroy Qianjin Zhai.
“Exactly, what’s a young girl from Jingcheng doing running around this wilderness?” Xie Chengze followed up with his own question.
Sheng Yiren glanced subtly at Xie Chengze, understanding he was asking why she had come to Qiantai Mountain. “I heard there are valuable things on Qiantai Mountain, so I wanted to see if it was true.”
The Second Prince had instructed her to investigate mountains that could spontaneously combust. A few days ago, a merchant from Liaozhou sent word that Qiantai Mountain had burned twice before. She thought she’d scout the area first to see what could be on these self-igniting mountains that would make the Second Prince specifically order their search.
Perhaps it was a business opportunity?
She had heard Qiantai Mountain had no bandits, which gave her the courage to come up the mountain. But who would have thought Qiantai Mountain did have bandits!
If Shen Yuan hadn’t coincidentally been here too, she might have become Da Dangjia’s wife!
Da Dangjia still didn’t believe Sheng Yiren’s words. “What valuable things could Qiantai Mountain possibly have? You must have been fooled! At most, this mountain has some worthless medicinal herbs that aren’t worth much money.”
“That’s not necessarily true!” Sheng Yiren immediately retorted. “You just can’t recognize true value when you see it!”
“Ridiculous! I’ve been here for years! I’d know if there was an extra ant on this mountain!” Da Dangjia, being stubborn by nature, immediately placed his hands on his bear-like waist and demanded in a voice as loud as a tiger’s roar, “Then tell me, what valuable things does Qiantai Mountain have?”
“Well… I haven’t found them yet because you captured me and brought me to your stronghold!” Sheng Yiren choked back, then retorted, “Why are you shouting so loud! I’m not deaf! Besides, business isn’t like robbery – you have to seek it out yourself, not wait for others to deliver it to your door!”
“Hey, you!” Da Dangjia felt insulted by her implication and wanted to hit her.
“Don’t be angry, Da Dangjia.” Xie Chengze spoke up at this moment, smiling. “What this young lady says makes sense. My family is also in business – didn’t I have to travel north and south with my former husband to seek out profitable ventures?”
“Exactly! See, even the Second Leader’s wife agrees!” Relying on the presence of both Xie Chengze and Shen Yuan, Sheng Yiren immediately became bolder. “If you don’t understand, don’t pretend you do! Who knows more about business – you or me?”
Hearing the title “Second Leader’s wife,” Er Dangjia felt quite pleased and couldn’t help adding, “Yes, elder brother, if merchants didn’t travel north and south, where would we find people to rob!”
“Whatever!” Da Dangjia snorted. “I still don’t believe there’s anything valuable on Qiantai Mountain!”
“You are mistaken.” Xie Chengze shook his head. Seeing everyone’s eyes turn toward him, he cleared his throat lightly, curved his lips into a smile, and said, “Isn’t there Qianjin Zhai on Qiantai Mountain? In my opinion, Qianjin Zhai is the finest thing on the mountain.”
“Hey! I like hearing that from my sister-in-law!” Da Dangjia immediately beamed with delight and chirped at Sheng Yiren, “You there, city woman, learn a thing or two from her! And you call yourself a businesswoman—you don’t even know how to say something pleasant!”
Sheng Yiren: ???
Was it that she didn’t know how? It was that she didn’t want to!
“Er Dangjia, I am hungry,” Xie Chengze said, having confirmed that Shen Yuan was here and finally feeling at ease. He rose, straightened the red fur coat draped over his shoulders, and lazily inquired, “Is there a clean, spacious room here? My accommodations cannot be makeshift.”
“Ah, well, I’ll have someone tidy up a room for you,” Er Dangjia scratched his head. “Would you like to sit here and wait?”
It was the first time Er Dangjia had encountered such a beautiful lady, and he had no idea how to attend to her properly, so he made sure to ask for “her” opinion on everything.
Seeing this, Sheng Yiren quickly interjected, “Why doesn’t Madam come to my place? It’s so cold staying in this hall. My room has a newly built heated kang—it’s very warm!”
Although she had been abducted, Sheng Yiren had to admit that her treatment in the mountain stronghold was quite good. Whether it was because the bandits here were particularly indulgent toward women, or because Shen Yuan had mediated on her behalf, or perhaps both, she couldn’t say for sure.
Er Dangjia looked at Xie Chengze, who gave a haughty, slight nod of approval and said, “Very well. I want meat for dinner tonight, Er Dangjia. Have it brought over once it’s ready.”
With that, he smilingly linked arms with Sheng Yiren and swayed “gracefully” out of the hall.
Da Dangjia clicked his tongue. “Why does it feel like she’s returned to her own home? Not the least bit reserved!”
Er Dangjia chuckled. “Doesn’t that just mean she has a connection with our stronghold?”
Da Dangjia twitched his lips. “Look at you, so easily impressed.”
“Er Dangjia, Sister-in-law is very particular about everything, so her tastes are likely refined as well. If you’re going to prepare food for her, it’s best to ask someone familiar with her preferences,” Shen Yuan, standing nearby, reminded with a smile. “Otherwise, she might accuse you of cutting corners again.”
“Oh, right!” Er Dangjia slapped his palm in realization, relieved. “Though I’m not fond of you, lad, you’re absolutely correct about that!”
With that, he hurriedly left the hall, evidently to find Hu Lai.
“Da Dangjia, now that I’ve met Sister-in-law, I won’t disturb you further,” Shen Yuan said, cupping his hands respectfully toward Da Dangjia. “As for the matter we discussed yesterday, please take your time to consider it. There’s no rush on my end.”
“Hmm… I’ll need to think it over some more,” Da Dangjia nodded, his expression turning somewhat serious.
“Then I shall return to my room,” Shen Yuan said, bending down to drape the white fur coat back over his shoulders, enveloping himself in the lingering warmth left by the other person.
A faint smile unconsciously touched his lips as he stepped out of the stronghold’s hall and headed toward his own room.
He needed to conserve his energy for a nighttime visit to the “boudoir.”
…
“Your Highness!” As soon as they entered the room, Sheng Yiren moved to bow in respect.
Xie Chengze stopped her. “Right now, I am not the Second Prince, but Shen Yuanyuan, wife of a merchant. There’s no need for such formalities.”
Shen Yuanyuan?
Sheng Yiren was somewhat puzzled as to why Xie Chengze would use this name, just as she was confused about why Shen Yuan would call himself Xie Daqiang. But more than that, she was curious, “Your Highness, why are you here?!”
“Ahem, ahem.” Xie Chengze patted her shoulder and gave her a meaningful glance. “What do you think?”
“You came to rescue me after all!” Sheng Yiren’s eyes instantly reddened, and she said with deep emotion, “Second Prince! How could I possibly deserve you taking such a risk personally for me!”
“…” Well, you said it—I didn’t say anything. Xie Chengze rubbed the tip of his nose, neither admitting nor denying it, looking every bit the scoundrel. “Have you discovered anything since coming to Qiantai Mountain?”
“Nothing.” Sheng Yiren shook her head regretfully. “I’ve been terribly unlucky. Not long after I ascended the mountain, I ran into bandits who were on their way down to rob people, and I was captured and brought back here. Then I found out that Lord Shen is here too.”
“Was Shen Yuan captured by them?” Xie Chengze inquired discreetly.
“Well… sort of? He refused to tell me what he’s really doing, saying the less I know, the safer I am.” Sheng Yiren whispered, “But that Da Dangjia is incredibly skilled in martial arts. Shen Yuan said that even if he were to confront him, it would likely end in mutual destruction.”
Xie Chengze was astonished. “That formidable?”
But why had he never heard of such a person in the records?
Someone that powerful shouldn’t have starved to death on a snowy mountain, should they?