Transmigrated as the Villainess, She Made the General Blush - Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Xiao Wangshu led her people on a full circuit of the market. Her bamboo brush had covered the blueprints with dense markings, yet the drawings did not appear cluttered. On the contrary, they remained clean and organized, without a single smudge of ink.

Having finished organizing the blueprints, Xiao Wangshu was preparing to pack up and leave.

At that moment, the Market Director, having received word of her presence, rushed to the market.

When he appeared before Xiao Wangshu, he was still gasping for air, evidently having walked-or perhaps even jogged-briskly from nearby.

“This humble official greets Fourth Miss Xiao,” Market Director Tan said, hurriedly bowing with his hands clasped.

A Market Director was technically an official post, but in reality, it was a lowly ninth-rank position, responsible only for managing the daily affairs of a marketplace.

Given his rank, he didn’t even have the right to visit the gates of the Prime Minister’s Mansion to pay his respects to the legitimate daughter of the house.

Xiao Wangshu’s gaze swept over him. After noting his official attire, she asked, “Market Director Tan?”

The man froze, clearly surprised. He had never imagined that the legitimate daughter of the Chancellor’s Mansion would even know he existed.

After a moment of stunned silence, Market Director Tan quickly replied, “Indeed. This humble official is the Market Director of this Yan Street Market.”

Xiao Wangshu nodded in return and smiled. “I thought it would be a few more days before I had dealings with Market Director Tan. You’ve come early today, so we might as well consider this an early introduction.”

In truth, Market Director Tan didn’t actually need to bow to her. Although she was the Prime Minister’s daughter, she held no official rank herself, unlike Fang Qin’er, who was a First-Rank Mandated Lady.

However, if he insisted on bowing, she was more than entitled to accept it.

Upon hearing Xiao Wangshu’s words, Market Director Tan was utterly bewildered. He looked at her, completely lost.

“This official is dull-witted and does not understand the meaning of Fourth Miss’s words.”

How could someone like him have any standing to have ‘dealings’ with the legitimate daughter of the Chancellor’s Mansion?

Xiao Wangshu smiled and replied, “It’s nothing. You will understand in a few days, Market Director Tan.”

***

Market Director Tan was left feeling extremely uneasy by Xiao Wangshu’s cryptic remarks. After seeing her out of the market, he spent three days at home in a state of constant trepidation.

Three days later.

Using the pretext that the Yu State Envoy was coming to the Capital to pay tribute and that they needed to showcase the national prestige of Great Wei, Xiao Pingnan suggested to Xiao Hong that they should reorganize the chaotic markets on the streets of the Capital. This would ensure the Capital possessed the dignity befitting the world’s premier city.

To Xiao Hong, this was a minor matter, but it was indeed logical.

After some thought, Xiao Hong left the palace after the morning court session with Gu Cheng, the Director of the Department of State Affairs, and brought the matter up in passing.

Gu Cheng also found the idea reasonable, and the order was sent directly to the Ministry of Revenue.

Upon receiving the order, the Minister of Revenue dispatched an Official of the Gold Department-who oversaw market transactions across the realm-and ordered him to reorganize the markets.

Finally, as the orders were passed down through the layers of bureaucracy, the task ultimately landed on Market Director Tan’s shoulders.

***

“Market Director Tan, what a coincidence. We meet again, don’t we?”

Looking at the smiling Xiao Wangshu inside the carriage, Market Director Tan hurriedly chimed in, “Yes, yes, quite a coincidence indeed to meet Fourth Miss again.”

From Xiao Wangshu’s tone, however, he didn’t detect even a hint of coincidence.

Market Director Tan grumbled inwardly, but his expression became increasingly respectful and cautious. He asked, “The superiors have ordered this humble official to renovate and reorganize this market. This official truly does not know where to begin. I wonder if Fourth Miss would be willing to offer some guidance?”

Without an order from above, how would a lowly ninth-rank official like him dare to make such massive changes to the market?

That day, even if Fourth Miss Xiao had told him what she wanted, he wouldn’t have been able to do it. Refusing her outright would have been a terrible loss of face for her.

But this Fourth Miss Xiao had said nothing to him at the time. She had simply waited for the orders from the high-ranking officials to trickle down to him, and then waited for him to consciously come and seek her out.

For someone so young, she certainly possessed remarkable patience.

“Market Director Tan is in charge of Yan Street Market and is intimately familiar with it. How could you not know where to start?”

Xiao Wangshu maintained a languid posture as she slowly stepped down from the carriage with Shuxia’s assistance.

Market Director Tan stood by the carriage, bowing as he waited for her.

“The orders from the lords above were too urgent, and this official truly didn’t know how to handle it for a moment. Seeing as Fourth Miss has spent some time walking through Yan Street Market, I presumed you might have some insights, which is why I emboldened myself to ask.”
If his revisions didn’t satisfy Fourth Miss Xiao, he would likely have to redo them all over again.

Otherwise, how could an order have come down from the top?

It was highly probable that this lady had requested it herself.

After hearing his words, Xiao Wangshu’s lips curled up slightly into a smile. “Since Market Director Tan is willing to spend time listening to my ramblings, then I shall chat with you for a bit.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Luo Xing and Yang Ping immediately brought out two stacks of scrolls from the back of the carriage.

Clearly, she had come prepared.

Market Director Tan glanced at them, his mouth twitching slightly. He turned back to Xiao Wangshu and cupped his hands. “Then this lowly official thanks the Fourth Miss.”

***

At the Chancellor’s Mansion, on the Riding Field.

Xiao Fuguang’s horsemanship was already quite polished. With a fluid motion, he pulled the reins to halt his horse, flipped down from its back, and walked toward the nearby hexagonal pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, Chen Chu and Lu Xuyang were drinking tea.

Xiao Zhenxi sat beside them. When he looked up at Xiao Fuguang, an irrepressible look of envy surfaced on his face.

A moment later, a gust of cold wind swept through.

Xiao Zhenxi’s expression changed instantly. He immediately raised his sleeve to cover his mouth and began to cough violently.

Chen Chu and Lu Xuyang both looked over at him.

“Seventh Brother, your health is poor. You should go back and rest. Father has already permitted you to skip practice during the twelfth and first lunar months; why push yourself?”

Xiao Fuguang walked over, waving to Xiao Zhenxi’s personal servant as he spoke.

The servant hurried forward, pulled a porcelain bottle from his robe, uncorked it, and handed it to Xiao Zhenxi.

Then, Xiao Fuguang had his own servant bring over a cup of warm tea.

Xiao Zhenxi took his medicine with the tea and rubbed his chest to catch his breath. His coughing temporarily subsided as he said to Xiao Fuguang, “Thank you, Eighth Brother.”

“Don’t mention it, Seventh Brother.” Xiao Fuguang helped him up and asked, “The twelfth month is freezing. Why don’t you go back and rest now? Don’t make Concubine Yu worry.”

Xiao Zhenxi felt a sense of frustration, but he eventually let out a slow sigh.

“Fine, I’ll head back now.”

With that, he turned to Chen Chu and Lu Xuyang and cupped his hands. “Generals, I am unwell, so I will not be coming for a while.”

Xiao Hong had already given instructions beforehand, so Chen Chu and Lu Xuyang knew he couldn’t train. Naturally, they did not press him.

“It just so happens that I need to visit the Prime Minister as well. I’ll escort the Seventh Young Master back on my way,” Lu Xuyang said, rising to his feet.

Xiao Zhenxi bowed again. “Thank you, General Lu.”

“After you, Young Master.” Lu Xuyang gestured with his hand.

Xiao Zhenxi nodded slightly, bid farewell to Chen Chu and Xiao Fuguang, and turned to leave.

Lu Xuyang followed behind him with two soldiers, personally escorting him back to his courtyard.

Xiao Fuguang stood in the pavilion, watching Xiao Zhenxi’s retreating figure. A myriad of thoughts flooded his mind, ultimately manifesting as a single sigh.

At that moment, Chen Chu spoke up. “Today’s training is over. Does the Young Master have anything to attend to?”

Xiao Fuguang snapped out of his thoughts, considered it carefully, and shook his head.

“I haven’t had much to do lately.”

“The end of the year is approaching. The Second Young Master’s wedding date is near, and the Third Young Master has already returned to the capital with his troops. Madam has a mountain of trivial matters to handle; I thought the Young Master would be going to help.”

Hearing Chen Chu’s words, Xiao Fuguang thought for a moment before answering, “I don’t know much about organizing banquets and back-courtyard affairs. I’d better not go and cause trouble for Mother, lest I make things worse by trying to help.”

Chen Chu remarked casually, “True. The Fourth Miss should know more about these things.”

“Sister?”

Xiao Fuguang knitted his brows and muttered, “Sister has been even busier than Mother lately. I don’t know what she’s so busy with. She hasn’t even come to watch me practice riding and archery. Even her morning greetings to Mother are done in a rush.”

Chen Chu nodded and murmured softly, “That busy?”

“Isn’t she? Aside from the morning greetings, I think the last time Sister went to Mother’s place was four or five days ago to help Second Brother with some wedding banquet matters,” Xiao Fuguang continued.

After hearing this, a spark of realization flashed through Chen Chu’s mind. He stood up and said, “I just remembered I have something to attend to. Since training is over, I shall take my leave.”