After Xiao Jinghong left, the Xiao Mansion grew much quieter.

The maids and household servants in the mansion kept their mouths shut about the Hundred Herbs Hall incident, as if someone had specifically instructed them to do so.

However, Chen Yi knew that while the mansion seemed calm on the surface, strange undercurrents were stirring beneath.

For one, the Personal Guards were still rushing about outside.

With Liu Si’er injured, the duty of patrolling the various medicine halls fell entirely to Wang Lixing, and several extra Personal Guards were assigned to him.

Several other Personal Guards went to the Imprisonment Department to help investigate the people who had appeared outside Hundred Herbs Hall that night.

This included Elder Demon Jia of the Illusory Sound Sect, the quartet who had fled, and the man in black who had injured Liu Si’er.

With these arrangements, and counting the Personal Guards who had left with Xiao Jinghong, the number of Armored Warriors within the Xiao Mansion was noticeably lower.

It was only natural that the Xiao Family estate was quieter.

Another point of interest was the Xiao Family Punishment Hall.

After two nights of interrogation, one of the Wandering Martial Artists they had previously captured finally broke and implicated Linglan Pavilion as their backer.

In less than half a day, Linglan Pavilion, which had been open for less than a month, was shut down by the Imprisonment Department, its doors sealed shut.

According to Liu Quan, the accountant from Jishi Medicine Hall, a host of government officials had descended on Linglan Pavilion in the East Market, arresting Qian Kuan and his men and hauling them all off to the Government Office.

He also said that by that very afternoon, Qian Kuan had cracked, confessing that he and several other Linglan Pavilion shopkeepers had conspired against the Xiao Family Medicine Halls.

Furthermore, they had been the ones who directed the practitioners of the Illusory Sound Sect’s Evil Demonic Dao.

First, they’d plundered the Xiao Family’s medicinal ingredients, then they’d moved to slaughter everyone at Hundred Herbs Hall to seize the recipes for those few tea infusions.

Upon extracting this confession, Prefect Liu ordered his men to find the Xiao Family’s stolen medicinal ingredients and return them.

Then, he sentenced Qian Kuan and the others to immediate execution.

Before the night was over, more than a dozen heads had rolled outside the public execution grounds of the East and West Markets.

As Liu Quan finished his story with a smile, Chen Yi smiled along with him.

He knew full well that the man from the Jing State Liu Family behind Linglan Pavilion was still safe and sound.

Qian Kuan and his men were merely scapegoats the Liu Family had thrown to the wolves.

’It happened just as Chen Yunfan predicted. Once the Liu Family was exposed, they sacrificed their pawns to save their king, pushing Linglan Pavilion forward to take the blame.’

’I wonder what fate has befallen the Jing State Liu Family’s Sixth Young Master, Liu Jing.’

’Presumably, the Shu State Liu and the Jing State Liu have had to give the Old Master an explanation for this matter.’

With these thoughts, Chen Yi stopped paying attention to Linglan Pavilion and the Liu Family.

In any case, the Xiao Family Medicine Halls were safe.

Not only had they recovered the stolen ingredients, but with Hundred Herbs Hall’s support, they shouldn’t be short on silver coins for a while.

This was evident from Xiao Wan’er’s mood over the past two days.

Her mood could be summed up in a single phrase: blooming with smiles. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

Chen Yi saw this and was naturally in a good mood as well. At least he wouldn’t have to watch Xiao Wan’er take her own jewelry to the pawnshop for silver.

Three days passed like this, and his life seemed to return to its previous leisurely pace.

Playing chess, practicing calligraphy, drinking tea, and fishing.

But only Chen Yi knew that he was spending far more time on his Cultivation than before.

Although with Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang staying in the mansion he couldn’t go to the bamboo forest to practice his Punch, spear, and Step Techniques, he could focus solely on cultivating his Four Symbols Skill.

His Cultivation progress was gratifying, and a breakthrough was not far off.

Pei Guanli could also attest to this.

However, the Tiger Girl’s attention was no longer on Cultivation.

Ever since she found out that Chen Yi was the one who had injured Liu Si’er, she had been constantly vexed that she had missed out on so much fun.

In her free time after cultivating each day, she would relentlessly pester Chen Yi, asking if anything even more fun was going to happen.

To this, Chen Yi’s reply was, "Of course there is."

’He hadn’t forgotten that there was still a more important and troublesome matter to deal with.’

Pei Guanli immediately grew excited, her big eyes filled with anticipation. "What is it? What is it?"

Chen Yi thought for a moment. "I can’t tell you just yet, but... starting tomorrow, you need to go wander around Shu State City."

Pei Guanli’s expression turned to one of confusion. "Brother-in-law, I don’t need to wander around the city."

"No, you do."

’Not only did she need to go for a stroll, but Ge the Third had to go too.’

’Chen Yi hadn’t yet figured out how to deal with Xiao Dongchen, so for now, he could only find something to keep this Hidden Guard Silver Banner Officer, Ge the Third, busy.’

’Keep him occupied from morning till night, to delay his plotting against the Dingyuan Army’s grain storehouses.’

Though her mind was filled with questions, Pei Guanli agreed after he promised it was all in preparation for something even more fun.

"Brother-in-law, you can’t let me down, okay?"

"Or else... or else I won’t play with you anymore."

Chen Yi let out a helpless chuckle, nodded, and didn’t explain further.

’He was well aware of the principle that secrecy is the key to success.’

’Especially with a gung-ho girl like Pei Guanli, it was better for her to know as little as possible.’

「The next morning.」

Just as he had instructed, Pei Guanli feigned a "plea" to go wander around Shu State City.

Chen Yi naturally agreed.

However, he didn’t go himself, only sending Xiaodie along with her.

Unexpectedly, when Xiao Wan’er next door heard about it, she had Shen Huatang take Xie Tingyun along as well.

She said that since Xie Tingyun had been at the mansion for some time, she ought to see the splendor of the Prefecture City.

To that end, she even had Shen Huatang take some extra silver coins.

Looking at the four young women before him, Chen Yi couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat on Ge the Third’s behalf.

’If it were just Xiaodie and Pei Guanli, he would probably be able to find some free time to attend to his own business.’

’But with Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang present, he probably wouldn’t be able to make a single unusual move.’

After everyone had left, Chen Yi sat for a while in Jiaxing Garden, making small talk with Xiao Wan’er about the medicine halls.

"Liu Quan came over the day before yesterday. Everything at Jishi Medicine Hall is fine, and the daily income in silver coins has increased quite a bit."

Xiao Wan’er knew he had been staying in the mansion these past few days and said with a smile, "I’m just glad you still know to ask about the medicine halls."

Chen Yi said without batting an eye, "With Liu Quan there, plus the renowned doctors from Hundred Herbs Hall holding down the fort, it makes no difference whether I go to the medicine hall or not."

"If everyone thought like you, I’m afraid our Xiao Family Medicine Halls wouldn’t be far from closing down."

This was said in jest and not to be taken seriously.

But then Xiao Wan’er recalled a rumor she had heard, and her brilliant eyes turned to him.

"I hear a rumor is spreading through Shu State City that a certain Shopkeeper said he needs ten days of rest every month."

"Brother-in-law, tell me, is that right?"

Chen Yi was quite thick-skinned. He laughed without hesitation and said, "It just goes to show that under Eldest Sister’s leadership, everyone at our Xiao Family Medicine Halls is united in heart and purpose."

"The fact that the medicine halls’ business is booming right now is clear proof."

Flattery will get you everywhere.

Xiao Wan’er, upon hearing this, found it quite pleasing.

However, the etiquette and rules she had studied since childhood were not enough to make her accept Chen Yi’s twisted logic.

Of course, she had no intention of blaming Chen Yi, so she let the matter drop after a few more jokes.

Still, thinking of the medicine halls’ earlier struggles, Xiao Wan’er couldn’t help but sigh.

"It’s all thanks to Wang Ji and Hundred Herbs Hall for their support. Otherwise, the mansion wouldn’t have even been able to scrape together next month’s allowance money."

"The clouds have parted to reveal the bright moon. Eldest Sister, you just need to look forward."

"That’s easy to say... Did you know that when Wang Ji came asking for help before, he also brought a sum of silver coins?"

Chen Yi feigned ignorance, shaking his head. "I don’t recall you mentioning it."

Xiao Wan’er understood perfectly well. She lowered her head slightly and asked for his opinion:

"Since Hundred Herbs Hall helped us so much, do you think we should give Wang Ji some silver coins as compensation, or something else?"

Seeing her serious expression, Chen Yi mused, "It’s fine as long as Eldest Sister decides. It doesn’t really matter whether we compensate him or not."

’Eldest Sister is too kind-hearted. What proper merchant would ever consider whether others live or die?’

Xiao Wan’er thought for a moment. "Let’s give him some silver coins. The mansion has a considerable daily income now, and my conscience would bother me if we took too much."

Just as Chen Yi was about to agree, Xiao Wan’er continued, "I heard Hundred Herbs Hall also has a mysterious primary owner."

"Wang Ji mentioned it briefly before. He said that owner has very strict rules. I wonder if the mansion giving silver coins to Wang Ji might arouse his displeasure."

Chen Yi said vaguely, "Probably... not."

Hearing him say this, Xiao Wan’er couldn’t help but chide him. "What I mean is, I want you to go to Hundred Herbs Hall and arrange a meeting with that owner on my behalf."

"Is that really necessary...?"

"How is it not necessary? Hundred Herbs Hall did us such a huge favor. We should give him a gift to express our gratitude."

"Well..."

"Shopkeeper Chen, will you please listen to me?"

Facing Xiao Wan’er’s delicate and stunningly beautiful face, Chen Yi found he could no longer voice his refusal.

"Alright, I’ll go find Wang Ji."

’A meeting it is, then.’

’But I’ll have to find a way to hide my identity.’