Chen Li stepped inside. The hall’s furnishings might have been considered elegant, but at the moment, two maids were frantically wiping down the tables and chairs with soft cloths. A respectably dressed old woman stood by with a fawning smile, murmuring her assent.
The one speaking was a young woman with her back to the door.
She wore a primrose-colored cloud-brocade dress, woven with gold thread in a pattern of a hundred butterflies flitting through flowers. Her figure was slender, and her hair was styled in an exquisite updo, secured by a pure gold hairpin with kingfisher feather accents that swayed with her every move. From her back alone, it was clear she was no daughter of an ordinary family.
When the old woman saw the Zhou Family’s steward lead Chen Li in, she quickly shot him a meaningful look.
Hearing the commotion, the young woman slowly turned around.
Her skin was fairer than snow, with almond-shaped eyes and peach-blossom cheeks. Her features were exquisitely beautiful and radiant.
However, her willow-like eyebrows were slightly raised, and the corners of her lips were habitually turned down in a perpetual look of impatience.
She toyed with an exquisitely embroidered silk handkerchief in her hand, twisting it unconsciously.
Her gaze fell upon Chen Li, sweeping him up and down. She noted his slightly worn blue long-robe and his somewhat plump figure—the very picture of a nouveau riche countryman.
A trace of contempt unconsciously flickered in her eyes, but she seemed to recall something and forced it down. Still, her tone was hardly warm, colored by a hint of condescension as she said, "So you’re Master Chen from Lingxi? Sit."
She casually pointed to a chair that a maid had just wiped down, then sat down first in an armchair with a soft cushion.
Then she furrowed her pretty brows and said to the maid beside her, "This place reeks of dyes and looms. It’s disgusting. Ah Zhi, where is my scented sachet?"
The maid, Ah Zhi, quickly took a delicate sachet from her embroidered pouch and handed it to her.
Zhou Qingyi took it and held it to her nose, sniffing lightly. Only then did the look of disgust on her face soften slightly.
At that moment, a maid served freshly brewed hot tea.
Zhou Qingyi picked up the white porcelain teacup, but set it down immediately after it barely touched her lips. Her tone grew even more displeased. "What is this tea? It must be old; it has a musty smell! The water is wrong, too. They must have used well water, not spring water. Take it away, take it away!"
The old woman and the maids were once again thrown into a flurry of activity.
Only then did Zhou Qingyi seem to finally have a moment to spare, her gaze returning to Chen Li, who had been standing silently to the side with a perfectly calm and composed expression.
"Elder Chen, you honor us with your presence. I apologize for my poor welcome."
She gave a slight curtsy. Her voice was clear, but her tone was far from warm, tinged instead with a complex mix of emotions.
Chen Li cupped his hands in return. "Miss Zhou, you are too kind. I wonder why you have summoned me?"
Zhou Qingyi’s gaze lingered on Chen Li’s impassive face for a moment, an unreadable feeling in her heart. Composing herself, she said directly, "I’ve asked you here today on behalf of someone else. The Jiang Family’s eldest young master, Jiang Chaohong, came to me a few days ago. He hopes to arrange a meeting with you through me, saying he has important matters to discuss."
Chen Li’s expression remained unchanged. He said flatly, "I have no dealings with the Jiang Family."
Hearing this, Zhou Qingyi’s lips curled into a smirk, her expression that of someone enjoying a good show. "He said that as long as you heard this, you would definitely agree to meet."
She paused, her almond eyes fixed on Chen Li, and slowly uttered three words: "Kao... Mountain... Sect."
...
Chen Li’s seated figure didn’t waver in the slightest, but beneath his lowered eyelids, his gaze suddenly became as sharp as a blade. The fingers holding his teacup tightened imperceptibly.
The air in the inner hall seemed to freeze for an instant.
The Zhou Family’s steward, the old woman, and the maids only felt an invisible chill suddenly spread through the room, sending a shiver down their spines.
"What happened?"
The people in the room looked around, but finding everything normal, they were all baffled.
Chen Li set down the teacup he hadn’t touched, raised his eyes, and looked at Zhou Qingyi with a calm gaze. His voice was low, betraying no emotion. "Time and place."
Startled by the momentary change in his eyes, Zhou Qingyi felt a sudden, inexplicable fear. Her casual air vanished, and she sat up a little straighter. "He said if you agree, you can meet today. You just need to go to the Lishui Inn in the south of the city and wait."
"Fine." Chen Li stood up without any further pleasantries. "Thank you for the arrangements, Miss Zhou. I’ll take my leave."
With that, before Zhou Qingyi could say another word, he turned and strode away.
The Zhou Family steward hurried to see him out.
Watching Chen Li’s clean, decisive departure, Zhou Qingyi was taken aback for a moment. Then she pursed her lips and muttered to her maid, "What on earth does Auntie see in his family? Still, this Chen fellow isn’t like your typical nouveau riche countryman. The look in his eyes when he heard the words ’Kao Mountain Sect’ was terrifying..."
After leaving the Zhou Family Textile Workshop, Chen Li made arrangements with the steward and long-term laborers from his household who had come with him to deliver silkworm cocoons.
Only then did he go to the Lishui Inn, where he took a quiet, ordinary room and settled in, closing his eyes to meditate and rest his mind.
「As evening fell and the lanterns were lit.」
A soft knock came at the door of his inn room.
Chen Li opened the door.
Standing outside was a young master in magnificent brocade robes, his face as handsome as carved jade. It was none other than Jiang Chaohong.
He wore a perfectly measured, apologetic smile as he cupped his hands. "Junior Jiang Chaohong. My apologies for this presumptuous intrusion, Elder Chen."
Chen Li stepped aside to let him in, saying flatly, "Young Master Jiang, there is no need for such formalities. Please, sit."
After Jiang Chaohong sat down, he exchanged a few pleasantries before his expression turned serious. "Elder Chen, the primary reason for my visit today is to apologize on behalf of my good-for-nothing little brother, Chaoshan. He was young and ignorant, and he offended your august might. His death was a fate he brought upon himself. I hope you will not hold his actions against my Jiang Family."
Chen Li looked at him calmly. "Young Master Jiang, you speak too gravely. I had never met your brother, so how could he have offended me? His death has nothing to do with me."
Hearing this, Jiang Chaohong’s smile didn’t falter, but a shrewd glint flashed in his eyes. He lowered his voice. "I’m sure Elder Chen still has some impression of a certain Jiang Li, does he not?"
Chen Li’s pupils contracted imperceptibly. He did not reply.
Jiang Chaohong continued on his own, "To be frank, Elder Chen, that Jiang Li was actually a spy I placed by Chaoshan’s side. Therefore, I know a little something about the... unpleasantness between Chaoshan and your esteemed household."
His tone shifted, becoming profound as he skillfully played his card. "Of course, I have never mentioned a single word of these trivial matters to my father, and in the future... I will never mention them."
Chen Li was silent for a moment before asking directly, "Young Master Jiang, you’ve beaten around the bush quite a bit. What is it you truly want?"
Jiang Chaohong leaned forward slightly, his voice dropping even lower. "I would like to ask a favor of you, Elder Chen. Or perhaps, I’d like to propose a business deal."
"Oh? What kind of deal?"
"I ask you, Elder Chen, to help me seize the position of Patriarch of the Jiang Family!"
Jiang Chaohong’s words were shocking.
Chen Li shook his head decisively. "You must be joking, Young Master Jiang. The internal affairs of the Noble Families... I am but a humble farmer from the countryside. What ability do I have to interfere? This is absolutely impossible."
"You misunderstand, Elder Chen."
Jiang Chaohong quickly explained, "I’m not asking you to interfere directly in my Jiang Family’s affairs. I only need you... at the appropriate time, to help me eliminate someone."