Cui Ming and Hong Ye looked at each other, neither able to answer the question.

After a moment of silence, Qin Yuan came to her senses and smiled, "Why am I talking about these things?"

Cui Ming also said, "Miss, you have so many things to worry about all day, don’t put too much thought into this. Too much thinking is harmful to your health."

Qin Yuan nodded.

"Yes, I will urge Sixteen about this, I’ve already worried enough for him, what is he doing?"

Hong Ye laughed.

Qin Yuan looked at Hong Ye with a deeper meaning and asked, "You’re not going to secretly tell Sixteen what I said, are you?"

Hong Ye’s face unexpectedly flushed as she pouted and muttered, "Miss, how can you say that about me?"

Cui Ming said, "Miss should not worry about Hong Ye saying it secretly, she should worry that Hong Ye originally wanted to get information from Sixteen, but was accidentally caught by Sixteen."

Qin Yuan couldn’t hold back her laughter.

Hong Ye stamped her foot and said, "You good-for-nothing, Cui Ming, actually teasing me with Miss."

Saying this, she went to tear Cui Ming’s mouth, and Cui Ming, unable to resist, hurriedly hid behind Qin Yuan.

Hong Ye stamped her foot and said, "You come out, see if I don’t tear you, you’d be surprised."

Qin Yuan cleared her throat and had not yet persuaded, when she heard a little maid report from outside: "Madam, Shen Changle seeks an audience."

Hong Ye glared at Cui Ming and whispered, "We’ll settle this later."

Cui Ming just smiled.

Qin Yuan sat upright, with a stern expression, and said, "Let him in."

Hong Ye and Cui Ming also put away their smiles and stood solemnly by Qin Yuan’s side.

After Shen Changle came in, he first paid his respects, then said, "Madam, I shouldn’t have come today, but I met Second Miss and Young Master at the Imperial College."

"Oh?"

Qin Yuan raised her eyebrows in surprise.

Shen Changle wasn’t the type to make trouble for no reason, so there must be a reason for saying this.

Seeing his lips dry, Hong Ye promptly got a cup of tea and handed it to Shen Changle.

Shen Changle respectfully took it and smiled warmly and amiably, "Thank you, Miss Hong Ye."

Despite being highly regarded, he remained courteous to the people around Qin Yuan.

Qin Yuan said, "First drink some tea, then slowly tell me."

Shen Changle gratefully glanced at Qin Yuan, drank a few sips elegantly to moisten his throat, and said, "Today, I took people to the Imperial College to post new poems on the poetry wall, and happened to see the young master protecting the second miss on the way home. We chatted for a while and unexpectedly met the Xu family’s Xu Tang."

"Xu Tang?"

Qin Yuan frowned.

Shen Changle thought Qin Yuan didn’t know this person and hurriedly explained, "Xu Tang is a member of the Xu family, knows some martial arts. His father died early, and was not in good health before passing, agreeing to leave the title to Mr. Xu."

Qin Yuan nodded.

Shen Changle continued, "Xu Tang and his sister live with their uncle. He wasn’t very educated and followed the Xu family men outside to find jobs. He once watched over a gambling den under King Jin and lent money at high interest. Later, when he sent his sister to become a concubine in the King Jin Mansion, he was recommended to the Prince Qi Mansion to serve as a companion. As I often walk around the marketplace and keep an eye on important festive dates business transactions, I mixed well with many people. I happened to discover that Xu Tang had many interactions with people over at the Yelv Family, and their relationship is quite close."

Qin Yuan, knowing his abilities, was still a bit surprised.

"Did you find anything wrong about Xu Tang?"

Shen Changle said, "Sixteen and Shi Ba have both asked me about the Xu family, so I paid more attention to Xu Tang."

Qin Yuan praised, "Your heart is in the right place."

Shen Changle smiled, "I’m Madam’s private aid, naturally, I should think more for the master to repay the trust."

Qin Yuan nodded.

Shen Changle continued, "Xu Tang once said while drinking out that the Xu family and Marquis Mansion were not getting along, intending to cause a scene at the Marquis Mansion during Sixth Madam’s funeral to embarrass the mansion. However, they later scolded Mr. Xu for betting everywhere, and now seeing the Emperor favors Marquis Mansion, hesitated and dared not act, and didn’t fulfill what they promised. Instead, pushed themselves aside. After all, he’s just an uncle and can’t compare to a real father. From then on, he only focused on his own prospects."

Qin Yuan said, "It seems the internal matters of the Xu family..."

Shen Changle nodded.

Qin Yuan said, "No wonder the Xu family hasn’t come to cause trouble during these days. I worried for nothing."

Shen Changle said, "I feel that although Xu Tang said so, there’s still a need to be wary."

Sixth Master Gu insists on suing the Xu family, Mr. Xu is indecisive, and there are still some days until the funeral, it’s difficult to say how it will eventually unfold.

Qin Yuan said, "Yes."

Shen Changle drank several more sips of tea and said, "Xu Tang somehow started talking with Second Miss and Young Master, said he wanted to take them to watch football. The Young Master, being a boy, strangely also persuaded the Second Miss. Second Miss and Young Master probably don’t know that the Xu family and the Marquis Mansion are confronting each other, and Xu Tang is currently contacting the Qin Family, what does it mean?"

Qin Yuan furrowed her brow.

Since Shen Changle said this, obviously Xu Tang was intentionally befriending them. At this time, his interest in the Qin Family indeed holds uncertain intentions.

Qin Yuan thought for a moment and said, "Keep an eye on him, report any news to me."

Shen Changle said, "Yes."

Qin Yuan also asked, "Is there anything else? How’s business these days?"

Shen Changle laughed, "I’m here also because Young Master came up with an idea, and I think it’s quite good."

Qin Yuan looked at him with interest and said, "Tell me."

Shen Changle said, "Young Master said, why not re-establish a poetry wall, and create poems about yesterday’s Seventh Miss and female army’s battle, Marquis leading troops to repel Yelv Zhi, and Emperor’s personal presence. Young Master was present yesterday and made a humorous poem. I think it’s a good idea, and we can have someone write storybooks illustrated with woodblock prints featuring Marquis’s prestige. I’m sure they will sell well, but what’s madam’s opinion?"

Qin Yuan couldn’t help but laugh, "This kid puts his mind to such things, and only you take his words seriously. If father knew, who knows how he’d scold him."

In a past life, Shen Changle served as the gatekeeper at the government office, and after Qin Heng repeatedly failed in exams, turning to household affairs suited him well. Now they are brought together again, truly a matter of destiny.

Shen Changle laughed, "Although the Young Master doesn’t study as well as the Major Young Master, he’s no less clever."

Qin Yuan said, "Since you also favor it, then do it as such, just be careful about the weight of priorities, don’t let people secretly criticize Marquis Mansion, like overshadowing the master."

It implies focusing on the imperial favor, highlighting the grace.

Shen Changle was startled, immediately responded, "I’ll remember."

After that, Shen Changle discussed some business conditions of each store, though there was some improvement, several shopkeepers saw small shops bustling at the West Market and had other ideas.

Qin Yuan said, "The Emperor intends to celebrate the Empress Dowager’s birthday. If they are planning anything, they should do it quickly. Seizing such an opportunity once, they can earn a lot, and even if they do nothing for the rest of the year, I won’t say anything."

Shen Changle laughed, "The master is wise, even saves on business principles. Additionally, the market price for pepper keeps falling, already at thirty-two taels of silver per jin."