Chapter Thirty-Six: Ascending the Pinnacle of Commerce

Qu Wanqing took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions within her.

Leakage? Hah, she would like to see who had the audacity to play tricks right under her nose. Panic would not solve the problem; it would only embolden the enemy. Her cold gaze swept over everyone present, as if she could pierce through to the secrets hidden in their hearts. The air grew heavy with tension, and every person’s breath became shallow and cautious, fearing that a single misstep might provoke this seemingly elegant yet ruthless proprietress.

Instead of flying into a rage or launching into hysterical questioning, she calmly returned to her study and shut the door firmly. She took a list from her drawer—a record of everyone who had come into contact with the glass bead project, from the craftsmen to the stewards, even the servants responsible for cleaning. Her slender fingers traced each name, her eyes sharp as a hawk’s, as if she intended to lay bare their very souls.

Meanwhile, the business of the firm did not stall because of the leak. New fabric patterns, overseas orders, partnerships with various trading houses—each required her personal review and decision. Qu Wanqing felt like a high-speed machine, every nerve stretched to its limit. Exhaustion washed over her like a tide, yet she dared not slacken for a moment. She knew she had to find the mole as quickly as possible, or all her previous efforts would go to waste.

"Mistress, you haven't closed your eyes for three days and three nights. Please, get some rest," Jiang Yu said, carrying a bowl of ginseng soup, his tone filled with deep concern.

Qu Wanqing waved her hand and rubbed her aching temples. "Now is not the time for rest. Once the secret of the glass beads is fully exposed, we will face catastrophic losses."

Jiang Yu placed the soup on the table, walked behind her, and gently massaged her shoulders. "I know you are anxious, but you must take care of your health. If you keep going like this, you will collapse."

"I am fine," Qu Wanqing replied, closing her eyes to savor a moment of peace. Yet, in her mind, the figure of the mole continued to hover. Who could it be? She had suspected almost everyone on the list, but could find no concrete evidence.

Just then, a frantic knocking sounded at the door. "Mistress, it’s terrible!" a shop assistant cried out, his voice trembling.

Qu Wanqing’s eyes snapped open, a sense of foreboding rising in her chest. "What happened?"

"Shopkeeper Sun… Shopkeeper Sun, he…" The assistant stammered, unable to finish his sentence.

"What about Shopkeeper Sun?!" Qu Wanqing’s heart sank, her voice turning sharp.

"He... he is dead!"

"What?!" Qu Wanqing’s expression changed instantly. She pushed Jiang Yu aside and hurried to the door. "Take me to see him!"

Jiang Yu followed close behind, a complex glimmer flashing in his eyes.

"Wait," Qu Wanqing suddenly stopped, a cold curve appearing at the corners of her lips. "Do not speak of this yet. Seal the news."

Qu Wanqing did not succumb to the thunderous rage everyone expected, nor did she initiate a bloody "struggle session." Instead, she remained unnervingly calm, even wearing an inscrutable smile—it was as if she had been dealt the Seer card in a game of Werewolf. She observed in secret, quietly setting "small temptations" for the prime suspects on her list. For instance, she deliberately leaked incorrect glass bead formulas or revealed false business plans.

This maneuver left even Jiang Yu bewildered: "Mistress, what game are you playing?" Qu Wanqing only offered a mysterious smile: "Fishing for culprits, understand?"

Sure enough, someone took the bait. A minor accountant, usually as inconspicuous as dust in a corner, was caught secretly transcribing the fake formula and sneaking out of the firm. Qu Wanqing did not arrest him immediately, preferring to "let out a long line to catch a big fish." She wanted to see who else was behind this.

As expected, the clerk’s superior was none other than the late Shopkeeper Sun. Although he was already gone, the clues he left behind proved he had long been bought by competitors, with the goal of stealing the secret of the glass beads to bankrupt Qu Wanqing’s business. It was a masterclass in espionage and betrayal.

On the day the truth came to light, Qu Wanqing laid out all the evidence before the entire merchant guild. The clerk collapsed on the spot, begging for mercy. As for Shopkeeper Sun, though he was not present, his reputation was thoroughly destroyed; he was permanently expelled from the guild—a textbook example of "social death."

This counter-attack was nothing short of legendary. The way people looked at Qu Wanqing changed from doubt and fear to admiration and conviction. Standing in the center of the guild hall, receiving their praise, she looked like a queen at her coronation. She raised her glass elegantly: "The drinks are on me today! Let us not stop until we are drunk!" The crowd cheered, the atmosphere reaching a fever pitch.

However, amidst the boisterous crowd, Qu Wanqing’s gaze drifted unconsciously...

"Where is Jiang Yu?"

Qu Wanqing looked around; the victory banquet was filled with clinking glasses and endless laughter. Yet, she felt as if everything were separated by a thin veil, hazy and unreal. She wanted to share this joy, to see those eyes that always held approval and tenderness, and to hear that slightly teasing yet sincere, "Mistress, you are truly amazing."

"Where is Jiang Yu?" she asked someone nearby again, a trace of undetectable anxiety in her tone.

A subordinate replied quickly, "Master Jiang said he had some follow-up matters to handle and would be back soon." Qu Wanqing nodded, struggling to suppress the sense of loss in her heart.

She raised her glass to the crowd: "Today’s success would not have been possible without everyone’s joint efforts. A toast to you all!" Crisp clinks of glasses rang out, and the aroma of fine wine filled the air. Yet, Qu Wanqing felt the wine lacked flavor.

This series of business maneuvers was truly textbook-grade. Not only had she successfully resolved the crisis, but she had also leveraged it to double her business territory. From a small workshop on the verge of bankruptcy to the most sought-after brand on the commercial street, she had achieved it all in just a few months.

"Proprietress Wanqing, you are truly young and promising!" "A heroine among men, we admire you!" Compliments were endless. Qu Wanqing wore a graceful smile, but her heart remained unmoved. None of these praises could compare to a single word from Jiang Yu.

Just then, a young boy dressed as a page hurried over and handed her a gold-embossed letter: "Proprietress Qu, the academy master asks for your perusal." Qu Wanqing took the letter and opened it; the elegant handwriting greeted her, yet it carried an indescribable, strange aura.

The contents were brief and clear, inviting her to the academy to participate in a "special matter." At the bottom, the academy’s seal was stamped, and next to it was a line of small print: "This matter concerns Master Jiang."

Qu Wanqing’s heart sank, a sense of foreboding washing over her. The academy, Jiang Yu... why were these two seemingly unrelated entities connected? And what was this "special matter"?

She looked up at the noisy crowd, suddenly finding the celebration somewhat grating.

"Prepare the carriage," Qu Wanqing’s voice rang out clearly over the background noise, though it carried a trace of an imperceptible tremor.