Chapter 27: Reliance

Zhao Xianzhi’s pupils dilated slightly as he appraised the two estates, which appeared even larger than the Marquis’s mansion. He turned to Meng Zhenyue with a somewhat unnatural stiffness. He knew she was intentionally making things difficult, but he truly had not expected her to be so brazen in her extortion.

These properties would cost tens of thousands of taels, and having already spent several thousand just moments ago, he was certainly not about to let her continue treating him like a fool. Suppressing his irritation, Zhao Xianzhi managed a smile that did not reach his eyes. "The paperwork for purchasing estates is quite tedious. I happen to have a few title deeds in my possession; you can choose from those once we return to the manor, little sister."

Seeing Meng Zhenyue frown slightly, Zhao Xianzhi felt a surge of secret delight. Today’s outing was intended to project the image of a harmonious sibling relationship to the public, and he was certain she would not dare to contradict him. By making this concession, he had preserved his own dignity.

Just as he was contemplating which deeds to offer her, Meng Zhenyue spoke with a look of feigned hesitation. "With so many outsiders watching, it would go against the purpose of our outing today if I were to refuse."

For some reason, hearing her agree so readily made Zhao Xianzhi feel that something was amiss—very amiss. The next moment, the rest of her words confirmed his suspicions.

"Yunxia, go with my eldest brother's servant to find the estate agent. And remember to remind me to visit my eldest brother’s courtyard once we return to the manor."

After instructing Yunxia, who was waiting outside the carriage window, Meng Zhenyue offered a polite smile to the visibly tense Zhao Xianzhi. Yunxia answered crisply and headed toward Beilie.

"Young Master, this..." Beilie looked at the smiling Yunxia approaching him, then glanced hesitantly at his master.

Zhao Xianzhi took a deep breath and nodded. At any rate, he could not afford to lose face.

The atmosphere inside the carriage remained awkward for some time before Zhao Xianzhi broke the silence with a mocking tone. "Anything my little sister desires, I can provide. Surely you understand that the Marquis’s mansion will only ever be handed down to me. So, what exactly is your goal with all these actions?"

"Only when you are doing well, eldest brother, can I have someone to rely on, right?"

For the first time, Zhao Xianzhi looked at her with genuine, searching curiosity. Why was she so determined to make things difficult for him?

*Rely on him?!*

Meng Zhenyue felt as if she had heard the world’s greatest joke and stared sharply at Zhao Xianzhi. Her eyes were void of anger or joy, filled only with profound irony. She stared at the impeccably dressed man for a long moment before laughing in bewilderment.

"What have I done that is disadvantageous to you, brother?" She added, "I am simply someone who cannot stand it when people try to play tricks in front of me."

With that, she turned to look out the window again, fearing that if she continued the conversation, she might not be able to stop herself from dragging him down with her. In such a scenario, if one were to end up half-dead, she would likely be the one who didn't make it—hardly a worthwhile trade.

Just then, two servant girls walked past the carriage, their conversation drifting into Meng Zhenyue's ears through the noise of the crowd.

"Why is that secondary male lead like that? He looks like a refined young master, but he acts more fragile than a woman!"

Meng Zhenyue was startled. This was her own novel. She scanned her surroundings and realized they were nearly at the Yuanlai Bookstore. In front of the shop, the street was packed with people. Some were clutching yellow-covered booklets, walking away with expressions of confusion or delight, while others were crowding the counter, purse in hand, asking, "Shopkeeper, has the next volume by 'Reddest Buttocks' been released yet?"

Seeing this, Meng Zhenyue’s unpleasant mood lifted. She mused on how many more days she should let the shopkeeper suffer before she could collect even more silver.

Suddenly, her train of thought was interrupted by Zhao Xianzhi. He had been seething in silence, but upon seeing Meng Zhenyue’s eyes light up as she stared at the shop, his heart sank. Realizing it was the Yuanlai Bookstore, he curled his lip and sneered, "Little sister, know when to stop. That is an industry under the Crown Prince’s name; it cannot be bought with any amount of silver."

Meng Zhenyue’s expression turned cold, and she ignored him. Of course she knew it was the Crown Prince’s bookstore—it was precisely because it was his that she didn't fear her work being suppressed.

Presumably fearing she would take a fancy to something else expensive, Zhao Xianzhi soon used the excuse of their brother leaving the martial arts academy to urge the coachman toward the teahouse. Meng Zhenyue knew when to quit; thinking of her brother’s past life, she lost the desire to extort him further.

A few days ago, her brother had enrolled in the White Tiger Martial Arts Academy under arrangements made by Zhao Xianzhi’s men. He had been planning to rent an estate near the academy to make his future movements more convenient. He would be able to receive news from Xiao Zhou more easily, and by now, he likely already had some information.

After the carriage rattled along for a while, they reached a three-story teahouse. Meng Zhenyue and Zhao Xianzhi stepped out one after the other and headed toward their reserved room on the third floor. Sure enough, her brother had not yet arrived.

The teahouse was built with a central open space, and from any private room, one could lift the curtains to look down at the large stage in the center. The surrounding tables were mostly occupied by servants accompanying their masters or commoners.

While Zhao Xianzhi played the part of a refined young master brewing tea, Meng Zhenyue’s attention was fixed on the stage below. It wasn't just that the storyteller was animatedly performing the content of her novel; it was that she saw, among those seated below, the servant of Xiao Jide—the younger brother of her major benefactor!

In her past life, Zhao Xianzhi had orchestrated a plot involving missing silver belonging to Xiao Jide, which was then "found" on her brother, causing the bully Xiao Jide to turn on him. Although Zhao Xianzhi eventually stepped in to resolve it, Xiao Jide held a grudge against her brother. During the martial arts examinations, Xiao Jide discovered that Zhao Xianzhi and her brother had swapped their positions; he could have saved his hidden weapons meant for Zhao Xianzhi, but remembering the teahouse incident, he had attacked indiscriminately.

In the original timeline, her brother’s worst outcome should have been minor poisoning, but because of that incident, he suffered internal injuries and could never practice martial arts again! Every change of season would bring him agonizing pain.

As Meng Zhenyue contemplated this, she saw her brother and his servant, Rusong, push open the door. She was just about to stand up when she saw Rusong bump into someone. He lost his footing and fell squarely onto the servant of Xiao Jide!

Meng Zhenyue calmly retracted her gaze and headed for the door. "My brother is here. I’ll go down to welcome him."

Zhao Xianzhi’s composed expression faltered for a moment, but Meng Zhenyue had already left. If he did anything now, it would only invite suspicion. He had no choice but to signal Beilie to keep a close watch on them.

Down on the second floor, Meng Zhenyue ran into Meng Huaichuan. She bowed in greeting.

"Little sister, there is no need for such formalities." Meng Huaichuan caught the signal in her eyes, reached out to help her up, and took the opportunity to point at the not-very-bulky pocket on his servant’s robe. He added quickly and reassuringly, "It’s fine, I’ll take the chance to get rid of it."

Meng Zhenyue scoffed inwardly. *As I thought.*

Outwardly, however, she frowned slightly and asked, "Brother, have you found a suitable estate?" She lowered her voice, "Don't rent one, I have silver here."

She gave a subtle signal to Manzhi, who was by her side. Manzhi understood, took a quick glance around, then unhooked her money pouch and, shielding it with her sleeve, shoved it into Rusong's hand.

Watching all of this from upstairs, Zhao Xianzhi tightened his fists as he saw the bulging money pouch. *So that's how it is! If she were truly sincere, why wouldn't she offer up the two large estates she just bought?*