Chapter 39 -

Chapter 39: Chapter

Inside the grand dining hall of the Bai estate, the morning air was warm, filled with the rich scent of steamed buns, fresh porridge, and hot tea.

Old Madame Bai sat at the head of the long table, surrounded by the family. Old Master Bai Tianming and his brothers, Second Uncle Bai Chengbang and Third Uncle Bai Chenghao, sat on one side. Across from them sat Madame Chen, Madame Liu, Madame Jiang, and their daughters. An Yulan sat quietly beside her mother-in-law. The only empty seats belonged to Zhengyu and Yimei.

The atmosphere was pleasant until the heavy wooden doors were suddenly pushed open.

Old Madame Bai’s head maid hurried into the room, her face pale. Right behind her, the personal maids of Madame Chen and Madame Liu ran in, looking just as panicked.

The head maid bowed deeply before Old Madame Bai, her voice trembling. "Old Madame! Terrible news from the East Market!"

Old Madame Bai set her teacup down with a sharp click. "What is it? Speak properly."

"The East Market Tea House... it burned down last night!" the maid gasped. "The entire building was completely destroyed by fire!"

"What?!" Old Madame Bai gasped, her hand going straight to her chest. "How could this happen? Who dared to burn down our daughter-in-law’s tea house?!"

Old Master Bai Tianming slammed his hand onto the table, making the porcelain bowls rattle. "In broad daylight? In the middle of the capital?! This is an insult to the entire Bai family!"

Second Uncle Bai Chengbang shook his head and frowned. "A fire in the middle of a heavy snowstorm? That doesn’t make any sense. Someone had to have started it on purpose."

Third Uncle Bai Chenghao chimed in quickly, "Or maybe she was careless! A young girl running a business, she probably left a stove unattended!"

"Nonsense!" Madame Bai snapped, her face flushed with anger as she glared straight at Third Uncle Bai Chenghao. "Yimei is careful with everything she does! Do not throw mud on her name!"

Sitting across the table, Madame Chen turned to look at Madame Liu, a knowing smile playing on her lips. Madame Jiang did the same, giving Madame Liu a subtle, satisfied nod. Both were convinced that Madame Liu had followed through on her threat from the night before.

Madame Liu, however, sat frozen, her teacup hovering mid-air. She looked back at Madame Chen and Madame Jiang with utter confusion.

Did Chen do this without telling me? Or was it Jiang? Madame Liu thought, her mind racing. None of them realized that all three of them were completely innocent.

Beside Madame Chen, An Yulan lowered her head to hide a small, happy smile.

Madame Liu quickly collected herself and put on a fake sad expression. "Ah, what a tragedy! But Old Madame, opening a business is risky.

Perhaps it was just bad luck, or maybe a rival tea shop got jealous of her sudden success."

"Yes, mother," Madame Chen added smoothly, sipping her tea. "The market is a dangerous place for a young woman. Competition is fierce. If she doesn’t have the stomach for business, she shouldn’t have opened a shop in the first place."

An Yulan chimed in softly, "Mother is right. Maybe sister Yimei simply wasn’t meant to run a shop—"

"Shut your mouth!" Madame Bai shouted, standing up so fast her chair scraped loudly against the floor.

She glared straight at Madame Chen and An Yulan. "Your daughter-in-law’s silk shop loses money every month, yet you dare mock Yimei while her shop is in ashes?! Have you no shame?!"

"Sister Bai, watch your tongue!" Madame Chen sneered, her eyes narrowing. "We are only speaking the truth!"

"Enough!" Old Master Bai Tianming roared, his voice echoing through the hall. He glared at the women until the table fell completely silent. "A shop belonging to the Bai family was destroyed. We will not sit here and squabble like common peddlers!"

Old Madame Bai breathed heavily, her hand still resting on her chest as she looked at the chaos around the table, deeply disturbed by the sudden news.

Meanwhile, in the quiet Northern Courtyard, the morning was completely still.

Zhengyu sat in his wheelchair near the window, casually flipping through a book. His expression was calm, unbothered by the cold wind rustling the bamboo outside.

The door creaked open, and Lin Feng stepped inside, bowing low.

"Young Master," Lin Feng reported in a low voice.

"The family has just received news in the main hall. Everyone now knows that the Young Madame’s tea house was burned down last night."

Zhengyu didn’t even lift his eyes from his book. He turned a page slowly, his face an unreadable mask.

He gave a single, quiet nod. "Leave."

Lin Feng hesitated for a second before bowing again. "Yes, Young Master."

"Keep an eye on Yimei," Zhengyu added, his voice flat and calm. "Let me know the moment she returns."

"Understood." Lin Feng turned and stepped out, closing the heavy wooden doors behind him.

Left alone in the quiet chamber, Zhengyu leaned back against his chair. He looked toward the snow falling outside the window, his lips curving into a slow, dark, and unreadable smile.

...

Meanwhile, a carriage pulled to a stop in front of Wenlong Tea House. Yimei stepped down, followed by Qinqin and Lin Fang. The three women paused for a moment to smooth their dresses before walking toward the entrance.

Inside, the tea house was loud and full of life.

The first floor was packed. Men occupied almost every table merchants talking business, scholars chatting over cups of tea, and wealthy young masters enjoying themselves. As one of the most popular tea houses in the capital, the crowd was no surprise.

The head clerk spotted Yimei right away. His face lit up with a wide smile, and he hurried over.

"Young Madame, welcome! How can I help you today?"

Yimei did not smile back. She was not here to chat.

"Is your Young Master here? I need to see him."

The clerk’s smile faded, replaced by a polite, serious look.

"Young Master Xiao is not here yet, but he should arrive soon." He pointed toward the stairs. "You may wait for him upstairs. Your two escorts can stay here on the first floor, and I will have someone bring them tea."

"Fine," Yimei said. She turned and walked upstairs without another word.

Qinqin watched her until she disappeared around the corner, then turned to Lin Fang.

"Come on. Let’s sit over there."

Lin Fang nodded, and they sat down at the same table they had used on their last visit.

Upstairs, Yimei went into the private room and sat by the window. She did not order tea. She just sat quietly and waited.

After a while, the sound of horses came from the street outside. A carriage stopped in front of the building.

Xiao Jun stepped out. He wore an elegant purple robe, and his hair was held neatly in a jade crown. A lazy smile rested on his handsome face, but his sharp eyes took in everything around him.

Right behind him was his personal guard, Ah Hei. Ah Hei wore dark clothes with a sword resting at his waist.

When they walked inside, the head clerk rushed over.

"Young Master!"

Xiao Jun handed his cloak to a servant and glanced around the full room. "How is business today?"

"Very good, Young Master. Nearly every table is taken."

"Good," Xiao Jun said, stepping toward the stairs.

"Young Master, Young Madame Bai is here," the clerk added quickly.

Xiao Jun stopped. "Yimei?"

"Yes. She came a while ago and is waiting for you upstairs."

Xiao Jun felt a spark of curiosity. "Did she come alone?"

"She brought two escorts, her maid Qinqin and another young woman. They are waiting downstairs."

Xiao Jun nodded.

Ah Hei looked at him. "Young Master, should I wait down here?"

"No," Xiao Jun said with a faint smile. "Come up with me."

They walked up the wooden stairs together. Xiao Jun moved with an easy stride, but he wondered what brought Yimei here without sending word first.

At the private room, Xiao Jun pushed open the door.

Yimei sat calmly by the window. She turned her head when the door opened and looked straight at him.

"Young Madame Bai," Xiao Jun said lightly. "You came to see me."

Ah Hei stepped inside and stood quietly near the door.

Yimei looked at Ah Hei, then back at Xiao Jun, and pointed to the chair across from her.

"Sit. We need to talk."

Xiao Jun raised an eyebrow. Her serious face told him this was no casual social call.

He walked over, sat down, and leaned back comfortably. "Alright. Tell me, what happened?"