Boss Han now understood he had been used as a pawn, and regret was useless.
He could only endure drinking the horse urine mixed with ashes and then retched into a corner.
Chi Lingyou watched coldly, and speaking loudly to him, and to those who had come to cause trouble, he said,
"In Jinling City, who is in charge? I hope Boss Han will open his eyes and see clearly. Next time, it won't be a bowl of horse urine that will resolve it."
After saying this, he calmly turned back. The servants all entered the door, leaving only Boss Han, who was beating the ground in a frenzy.
Looking at the Chi family's plaque, his eyes were filled with venom.
After Chi Lingyou returned to his room, he thanked the steward.
"Did elder brother send you to help me out?"
"Young master sees clearly."
"Please thank my elder brother for me. When my sister is a bit better, I will go see him."
The steward, not wishing to speak of the Chi family's private affairs, nodded and then handed Chi Lingyou a letter.
Chi Lingyou was puzzled and heard the steward continue,
"The family head said that Miss staying at home will only make her more sad. If young master has nothing else to do, perhaps he could take her to the capital. Leaving this sad place might be for the best."
"So, this is?"
"This is a list of the Chi family's businesses in Dongdu City. The family head said that as members of the Chi family, both men and women should bear responsibility. Although the Chi family's foundation is in Jinling, the capital is also not to be ignored. Currently, the business there is not extensive, but it is enough for practice."
What the steward called "not extensive" still amounted to over a hundred properties: restaurants, silk shops, banks, jewelry stores, clothing shops, and more.
Chi Lingyou held the list, feeling excited.
Although it couldn't compare to the Chi family's main business, the potential of a completely new place depended on him alone.
This point undoubtedly gave him the greatest confidence and freedom.
"Assure elder brother that I will not disappoint him."
The steward smiled and nodded. Madam Lan and Fifth Master were unreliable, but this young master was quite capable.
He hoped he wouldn't let the family head's cultivation down and could achieve something there.
After the steward left, Chi Lingyou returned to his room. He was almost there when he turned towards Chi Lingying's courtyard.
Her courtyard was still the same as before she married, with no changes.
But the maids and servants inside were all extremely cautious, afraid of making any noise that might upset her further.
As Chi Lingyou walked into the courtyard, he saw his sister sitting quietly in a lounge chair under the grapevines, basking in the sun and dozing.
From a distance, she looked like a butterfly with broken wings, lacking vitality.
Chi Lingyou felt a pang of guilt. Although he knew the Zhu family's downfall was inevitable, he had been involved in it, and thus felt he had wronged Chi Lingying.
He walked gently to her side. He hadn't intended to wake her, but Chi Lingying slept lightly and slowly opened her eyes.
Looking at Chi Lingyou, she smiled faintly, "Why have you come?"
Although there was a smile on her face, her eyes were lifeless, even filled with sorrow.
Chi Lingyou's heart ached. "Sister, why aren't you sleeping inside? The sun at this hour isn't like the morning; it will give you a headache."
"It's cold inside. It's more comfortable here."
In mid-June, how could the houses in Jinling City still be cold?
Perhaps it was her cold heart, and only under the sun could she feel a little warmth.
"Sister..."
They had said all they could and tried to persuade her these days, but some wounds needed time to heal.
Thinking of the letter in his arms, Chi Lingyou immediately asked,
"Do you want to leave Jinling City?"
Chi Lingying looked at him with confusion, "Leave? Where to?"
"To Dongdu City."
"To do what?"
"The Chi family's businesses in Dongdu City need someone to look after them. Elder brother asked me to go, and he said you are also a child of the Chi family and should contribute to the family. So, if you are willing, you can come with me. We, brother and sister, will make the Chi family bigger and stronger in Dongdu City."
In a few words, he laid everything out. Chi Lingying lowered her head and fell silent.
"Don't rush. It will take a few days to pack. You can take your time..."
"I'll go."
Chi Lingying now wished to leave Jinling City, this place of sorrow, as quickly as possible. Here, she was always reminded of the days when she and Zhu Xiaoxian lived in harmony, and of his tragic death, which kept her awake at night, her heart aching.
No amount of calming medicine helped, and in her dreams, a beloved child also left her, covered in blood.
Thinking of these things, she was in unbearable pain.
If possible, she wished she could leave right now.
"Sister, you must think carefully. Once we go, it might be some time before we return. If we don't achieve anything... I don't plan to return to Jinling City."
He was a proud person and didn't want to be looked down upon.
"Don't worry, I know your character. If nothing significant happens this time, I don't want to come back either."
Her eyes were filled with sorrow. Escape was the best way she could think of to heal.
Seeing this, Chi Lingyou nodded. "In that case, let's pack our things. Shall we leave in three days?"
"Okay."
The moment she agreed, a glimmer of light finally appeared in Chi Lingying's eyes.
Seeing this, Chi Lingyou felt even more that this decision was the right one. He then made arrangements for things here and went to inform his father, Fifth Master Chi, and grandmother, Madam Lan, about this matter.
"I disagree! He's trying to drive you far away. Even if the business in Dongdu City does well, it's not even a tenth of the water transport business. Picking up sesame seeds and losing watermelons – I won't do this kind of business! I won't!"
Looking at his father's contorted face, Chi Lingyou felt uncomfortable.
He was strong on the outside but weak on the inside, making him seem contemptible.
"When they came to cause trouble just now, if Father had been this formidable, I doubt they would have dared to bully the Fifth Branch."
"You! You unfilial son! What does the Zhu family's affair have to do with us? We should have just closed the doors and let them make a fuss. If no one paid attention for two or three days, they would have dispersed. You had to go out and get involved."
He was remarkably self-righteous. He didn't act himself but then looked down on others who did.
"I have already decided to go to the capital. I am here today to inform Father and Grandmother. Also, Sister will accompany me. She has too many sad memories here, and leaving might be for the best."
Upon hearing about Chi Lingying, Fifth Master Chi, who had been cursing, lost his temper.
His good daughter had married into the Zhu family by listening to them. If he had known the Zhu family would face such a calamity, he would never have let his daughter suffer this.
For a moment, he suddenly had no reason to stop his son and daughter from leaving.
He slumped into his armchair.