The 25th of August, afternoon. When Ning Yi returned home, the entire Su mansion still felt busy, though he couldn't quite understand why. The weather was lovely, a warm and gentle autumn afternoon with some leaves turning golden, swaying slightly in the breeze before they fell. As he walked through the courtyard towards his small residence, he saw two servants hurrying past, likely because some manager was scolding someone, the sound faintly carrying from the side.

The area near the main house was relatively quiet, mainly because fewer people lived there. As he was about to arrive, he encountered two distant cousins from the side branches, accompanied by their servants. They had probably just visited Su Tan'er. They greeted Ning Yi, exchanged a few pleasantries, and subtly hinted that he was back early, as the fate of the Imperial Merchant status would be decided tonight. Many managers were currently out and about, and at least at this time, he should be out there overseeing things.

After the brief exchange, they bid farewell and left. Ning Yi returned to his quiet little courtyard. Su Tan'er, dressed in a green dress, sat in the pavilion in the center of the courtyard, looking up at the leaves of a sycamore tree beside her. Shadows flickered on the second floor, likely Juan'er or Xing'er tidying things up. Seeing Ning Yi, Su Tan'er turned her head and smiled, "Husband is back."

"So leisurely," Ning Yi said, sitting down in the pavilion.

"Husband is the one who's leisurely, lazing in bed this morning."

"There's nothing for me to do anyway," Ning Yi replied, smiling. "I went late this morning and missed the morning meeting. Then, I spent the whole morning watching them busy themselves preparing all sorts of things. I was wondering, how many things do they really need to prepare... Cough, Manager Liao came over to chat with me, saying that he usually gets very nervous during times like these and couldn't sleep last night. He had a little wine, but almost couldn't wake up this morning... About half an hour later, Manager Luo also passed by and told me he was actually very nervous too..."

Ning Yi stated casually. Su Tan'er had already burst into laughter, and when she heard about Manager Luo, she couldn't stop smiling and leaned on the railing beside her for support. Ning Yi shook his head. "They're all good people, knowing I couldn't get out of bed because of nervousness, they still took the time to comfort me despite being so busy. At noon, Manager Xi told me how nervous you were during your business trip to Jiangzhou..."

"Husband was clearly doing it on purpose this morning."

"No, I really didn't wake up. You see, this is the first time I've been late in a month of work. Honestly, I feel bad seeing everyone busy while I have nothing to do. Today is probably their busiest day."

"Husband is not being honest," Su Tan'er said with a subtle smile. Ning Yi shook his head. "See, there's a deep misunderstanding between us. I was busy outside all morning... Cough, spent the whole morning wandering around, while you were sitting in the courtyard enjoying the scenery so leisurely. It's obvious who's hardworking and who's lazy. Yet you say I'm not being honest..."

He had indeed spent the morning lazing around, but he naturally said it without blushing. They both knew each other well enough on these matters. Su Tan'er smiled, then lowered her head. "I'm actually nervous..."

"Are you?"

"After all, it's been several years of hard work, and then there was that incident. I really felt like I had lost my anchor these past few days. Now... Now it's much better, but I'm still bound to be nervous, just like Husband said, tonight is the night. Just now, I was thinking about the past few years, and I had imagined that there would be a day like this to decide the outcome, whether we succeeded or failed. I thought about how I would feel at the time, but I never thought it would turn out like this..." She blushed slightly. "Is Husband nervous?"

"Uh, I'm definitely a little nervous..." Ning Yi thought for a moment and nodded. "Appropriate nervousness helps to concentrate."

Su Tan'er looked at him. "Husband is calmer than anyone else..." There seemed to be a hint of jealousy in her words towards Ning Yi's composure.

"Heh..."

"What does Husband want to do after today?"

"After things are settled tonight, I'll naturally go back to teaching. Now that you're better, don't expect me to help anymore. I'm clearly not cut out for business, it's obvious to everyone," Ning Yi said with a smile. "Besides, I initially married into the family to live off your money, not to worry too much, and to live a rich man's life, with clothes provided and food readily available. This is a great life, and I'll argue with anyone who doesn't let me."

"Reversed words."

"Truth."

"Hmph, so... Husband wants to continue living off Tan'er's money? Is that really what you plan to do?"

"Heh, if there's no problem, I won't change it... Actually, I think this is a very good arrangement. You see, I can teach and write poetry. With the reputation of being the number one talent in Jiangning, I can go out and ask to be taken care of, and there are quite a few rich women who would be willing. It would be impressive to take me out. What do you think? Once this opportunity passes, there won't be another chance..."

Ning Yi joked, trying to promote himself as a product. This kind of joke might be common a thousand years later, but it was a bit too advanced for the time. Su Tan'er couldn't help but laugh, covering her mouth with her hand, but she also lowered her head, her face flushed. "Husband is shameless..."

"Your words wound my heart, making this business deal difficult to negotiate..." Ning Yi said, shaking his head and sighing.

"Uh, okay then," Su Tan'er said, forcing a serious expression. "Anyway, I am... I am..."

"A rich woman."

"Yes, I am a rich woman. So, Tan'er will let Husband live off my money... This deal is settled."

She put on the air of making a business decision, but Ning Yi shook his head with a smile. "It's not that simple. You wounded my heart just now, so the deal has to be repriced. There are so many rich women, why should I choose you?"

"Uh, but I... I am... I am the one who married Husband. I am..." Su Tan'er, maintaining a stern face, prepared to boast about herself, but after thinking for a while, she finally gave in with a blush and laughed, lowering her head. "Husband..."

"Forget it, this is getting too ridiculous," Ning Yi said, waving his hand with a smile. "After today, let's just go back to the way things were. I really don't plan on doing anything, it's too much trouble."

"But I feel sorry for Husband..."

"Hmm?"

"I never intended to treat Husband as a live-in son-in-law. I never thought about these things in the first place. It's just that... It's just that I'm headstrong and have things I want to do, and it turned out this way. Since we got married... Um, in short, I never wanted Husband to feel... feel... I don't even know what I'm saying anymore..."

She struggled to organize her words, then finally revealed a somewhat embarrassed and helpless expression. Ning Yi nodded. "I know."

Su Tan'er glanced at him, and only after confirming that he wasn't just being perfunctory did she breathe a sigh of relief. "I also know that this isn't good, not like a proper lady, not like those... heh, rich women, but Tan'er can only be like this..."

"That's what makes you a competent rich woman..." Ning Yi muttered. Su Tan'er didn't hear him clearly, as in this era, rich women and strong women were naturally two different concepts, and the latter hadn't even truly formed. She thought for a moment.

"Actually, I was thinking about something else here just now, something I wanted to tell Husband..."

"What is it?"

"When I married Husband, I secretly ran away. It wasn't to give Husband a hard time or anything, but because I didn't know what to do. Tan'er... is also a woman, after all..." She lowered her head slightly. "Tan'er knows that was wrong, but Tan'er won't apologize to the Husband of that time. If there were another chance, even though I know it's wrong, I might still handle it that way..."

She raised her head and looked at Ning Yi. Ning Yi nodded. "Because you didn't know each other then?"

"Yes, Tan'er didn't know Husband then, and Husband didn't know Tan'er either... But Tan'er wants to tell Husband now that Tan'er will never do such a thing again."

She spoke with considerable courage, but after she finished speaking, she still lowered her head. Ning Yi smiled after a long time. "Isn't that still an apology..." Although the words were soft, Su Tan'er heard them and was still a bit flushed, appearing embarrassed and angry, but finally didn't refute anything.

The two sat in the pavilion for a while. Xing'er carried some things down from upstairs, and when she saw them, she didn't disturb them, but went about her own business. Near dusk, Chan'er and Juan'er also returned. As Ning Yi got up, he asked, "If you're nervous, do you want to come to the banquet tonight?"

Su Tan'er shook her head with a smile. "No, thank you. Husband just wants to live off my money, so it's rare to have something to do. Husband has been in charge for more than a month now, and today is the most critical day, so let Husband take charge. I'll just be nervous here and wait for Husband's good news."

"Tsk, no problem. Watch me go wild today and high-profilely take back the Imperial Merchant status! Then, I'll retire with honor."

Ning Yi stretched his arms in the sunset. Beside him, Su Tan'er glared at him with a slight scold. The curtain for the Imperial Merchant contest was about to rise. The small courtyard was peaceful, blending into the warm sunset.

*******************

As night fell, a small convoy drove out of the Su mansion. Ning Yi, Su Zhongkan, Su Yunfang, along with several members from the main house, second house, and third parties, as well as the main managers, were all in the convoy, representing the Su family, a total of less than twenty people. Xiao Chan followed Ning Yi in a carriage, slightly nervous. Not far after the carriage drove out, an unmarked carriage merged behind Ning Yi's carriage, carrying some guards from the Kang Prince's mansion. The Zhou siblings, disguised as servants, jogged alongside the carriage, then entered the carriage with Ning Yi, preparing to see the final result of the Imperial Merchant event that Ning Yi was presiding over.

Soon, the Green Ripple Pavilion, a restaurant located by the Qinhuai River, came into view. Carriages arrived one after another, belonging to cloth merchants from the Xue family, the Wu family, the Chen family, the Lu family... as well as some officials from the manufacturing bureau, creating a grand scene. These kinds of events often happened in Jiangning, and passersby would glance at them and then ignore them. However, the people exchanging pleasantries and greetings were already tense.

What would happen tonight was definitely a major event for the Jiangning textile industry. The focus, of course, was the Su family, the Xue family, and the Wu family's contest for the Imperial Merchant status. From the assassination attempt that had occurred a month earlier, those in the know had already sensed the undercurrents of this event and were waiting to see the outcome of this business war tonight.

Ning Yi lifted the curtain of the carriage, took a breath, and stepped down with a smile.

Under the night sky, the lights were like a dragon, stretching along the street.