Luo Jingxin sat in the head seat and said, "The Wang family's business has not been as good as before in the past two years, but having been in commerce for generations, their reputation and status among merchants are not low."
"I only need you to do one thing for me, which is not to participate in disaster relief. No matter who tries to persuade you, or what high price they offer, you must not agree, because what I can give you is something others cannot."
Old Master Wang did not quite understand her meaning and looked up to ask, "What does the County Princess mean? You want me not to cooperate with the donation drive?"
"Yes, not only do you not cooperate, but you must also persuade other merchants not to donate. You don't need to know the reason, but Old Master Wang is a smart person, and you will be able to guess the cause without me saying much. As long as this matter is settled, the Imperial Merchant next year will surely be the Wang family's."
Old Master Wang looked at her with surprise and said, "Really?"
Luo Jingxin let out a disdainful laugh, "It's just an Imperial Merchant, it's just a matter of a word whose it is. Old Master Wang should consider how to persuade other merchants to resist the disaster relief."
"Yes, yes, yes, I will do my best to share the County Princess's worries."
Old Master Wang returned to his residence and pondered for a while. What was this County Princess's intention? What benefit would it bring her to disrupt the merchants' disaster relief efforts, that she could exchange it for the Imperial Merchant status?
Before he could figure out the reason, a servant reported, "The secondary consort of Prince Mu's manor requests an audience."
He hurried forward to greet her, and before he could take a few steps, a young girl came in with a smile.
"Greetings, Secondary Consort of Prince Mu's manor." He bowed.
Lin Yanxi blinked and said awkwardly, "I'm not married yet, so Master Wang can just call me Yanxi."
Old Master Wang looked her over. Lin Yanxi, the second daughter of the Grand Tutor's manor.
Among the noble ladies of the capital, Luo Jingxin was at the forefront, possessing both talent and beauty. Looking at the bright and moving face of the young girl before him, her skin was fine and fair, her features delicate and charming, especially when she smiled, her eyes curved into crescent moons, making her exceptionally likable.
In comparison, Luo Jingxin's beauty dimmed a little. It was said that the Prince also favored this secondary consort, and even though she had not yet married, she was brought into the manor to be cared for early.
He scoffed inwardly and immediately understood Luo Jingxin's intentions.
After Lin Yanxi sat down, she stated her purpose, "Master Wang, the number of refugees in the capital is increasing, and the disaster relief funds are far from enough. You hold a very high position among merchants, could you help persuade them?"
Old Master Wang took a sip of tea and placed the teacup on the table, saying, "Second Miss, since you don't want to be called Secondary Consort, then I will call you Second Miss."
"Second Miss, it's not that I'm unwilling to help, but I am unable to assist. The Wang family has been declining in recent years, and what's more, my unruly son is always causing trouble and offending many people. Currently, the only families I can speak with are the Zhao and Qiao families, but their businesses are barely hanging on. I am truly willing but powerless."
He sighed and shook his head.
Lin Yanxi was about to say something else, but Old Master Wang interrupted, "Miss Lin the Second, you are all people of the court. We are, in the end, just running small businesses and really cannot help. Regarding the matter of disaster relief, I beg your pardon for my inability."
She had prepared a whole speech to persuade them along the way, even practicing it repeatedly in the carriage, but to her surprise, she was rejected as soon as she started.
Old Master Wang said, "If there is nothing else, this old man has other matters to attend to."
"See her out."
After Lin Yanxi left the Wang residence, she went to several other families according to the list, but was also refused. Some even directly shut the door on her.
She realized that something was not quite right here.
These merchants seemed to have anticipated her arrival, and even their pretexts for refusal were highly consistent, as if everything had been arranged in advance.
It was already very late, and the moon cast her shadow long, making her appear somewhat lonely on the empty path.
Until a carriage stopped in front of her.
"Second Miss." Xiao Liu reined in the carriage to take her back to the manor.
The first important task Lin Yanxi had upon returning to the manor was to find Jiang Mingsheng. His residence was in a dilapidated courtyard within Prince Mu's manor, even more modest than the main residence.
An old man with a white beard squinted his eyes, enjoying the cool in a reclining chair. He had his legs crossed, and the fan in his hand wavered slower and slower.
"Master!"
The young girl suddenly appeared and jumped in front of him, startling him. Upon seeing who it was, his eyes held a momentary complexity.
Jiang Mingsheng reluctantly sat up from the chair, yawned, and tentatively asked, "Good disciple, why are you here so late?"
He had actually guessed why Lin Yanxi had come.
He had also been looking for the reason for the complete dissipation of her talisman power, but there had been no result yet.
Lin Yanxi sat down on the chair next to him, extended her hand, and the soul ring hanging around her neck. "I... I seem to be unable to use talisman arts anymore. I can't feel any talisman power in my body."
Jiang Mingsheng's face showed no surprise.
He asked, "Has the wound on your chest healed?"
Lin Yanxi touched her chest. When she pressed it hard, there was still a slight pain.
"Hiss, it hurts a little when I press hard."
"Exactly, that means it hasn't healed yet. I told you long ago, think about talisman arts after your wound has healed." He reached out and pinched her cheek, saying, "Would your master harm you?"
"Ouch, that hurts!" Lin Yanxi pouted and rubbed her cheek. Seeing that her master was angry, she quickly appeased him, "Of course, Master is the kindest to me."
Jiang Mingsheng stroked his beard and smiled. It seemed he would have to make a trip to the Jiang clan in the next few days.
---
The next morning, Lin Yanxi did not rush out. Instead, she locked herself in her room and studied the ancient book that recorded talisman arts again.
She worried that the disappearance of her talisman arts had another reason, not just the knife wound on her chest.
"Miss." Lizi called softly from outside the door.
Lin Yanxi put away the ancient book and opened the door. Lizi said, "A young girl just came and said her Highness wants to see you."
"Which Highness?" Lin Yanxi asked, confused.
"That person did not reveal their identity, but only left a location, at the Water Pavilion on South Street. He said only you, Miss, could go alone."
In the capital, who would call themselves a Highness and bring a young girl with them? Luo Qizhe?
What was he looking for her for at this time?
Lizi worried, "Miss, you'd better not go. Could it be dangerous?"
Lin Yanxi guessed that the person was Luo Qizhe, and waved her hand, "Then I'd like to see what his intentions are."
As she spoke, she walked towards the door. Lizi followed closely behind her, "Then Miss, I'll go with you."
Lin Yanxi said, "Since the other party said he wanted me to go alone, he must have something to discuss with me. The Water Pavilion on South Street is a place with a lot of people coming and going, so don't worry."
South Street was not as prosperous as Chang'an Street. The moat flowed around the entire capital along South Street, extending all the way to the imperial palace. However, due to the drought in recent days, the riverbed had become dry and exposed.
The river water had dried up, and many common people stood on the riverbed, holding lotus leaves in one hand and digging desperately downwards with the other, trying to collect a small scoop of water to alleviate their urgent need.
A man stood in the Water Pavilion. Even from his back, one could tell his noble demeanor, making him stand out among the crowd of commoners. Beside him followed a young girl carrying a long saber.
"Prince of Dongyang." Lin Yanxi walked into the Water Pavilion and bowed.
Luo Qizhe turned around to look at her and asked, "You guessed it was me?"
Lin Yanxi tilted her head and studied him, "Is it that difficult to guess?"
Luo Qizhe smiled, "You are so clever, it surely wouldn't be difficult. There's no need to call me Prince, just call me by my name."
She smiled broadly, her eyes curving, and said, "Brother Qizhe."
"Then, may I ask, Brother Qizhe, why have you asked me here today?"
Luo Qizhe turned back and said, "Ying Hong."
Ying Hong was not old, and looked even younger than Lin Yanxi. Her tone was stern, "Yes."
After speaking, she hugged her long saber protectively and stood outside the Water Pavilion. As she stood there, the surrounding commoners skirted the pavilion, not daring to approach.
Luo Qizhe said, "Actually, it's nothing major. I just thought that perhaps you might need the assistance of the Dongyang merchants, and as the eldest prince of Dongyang, it is most appropriate for me to come forward."
Lin Yanxi's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. This Luo Qizhe was truly interesting. His status in the imperial palace was very low, and as a hostage, he was not even allowed to leave the imperial palace freely.
Yet, he was well-informed and knew what was happening outside, actively approaching her and willing to lend a hand to help Nan Min out of her predicament.
Luo Qizhe saw her complicated expression and smiled, "What? You don't believe me?"
Lin Yanxi asked, "My mother once told me that when pie falls from the sky onto your head, don't just be happy, first ask why this pie fell specifically on you."
"Haha, what a mischievous and clever girl." Luo Qizhe put away his fan, "Perhaps it's to thank you for helping me out of a difficult situation that day."
"Would you be willing to stroll around South Street with me?" he asked.
Although it was a question, before Lin Yanxi could answer, he walked ahead, Ying Hong followed behind, and Lin Yanxi was sandwiched between them. She could only follow.
"Have you ever been to South Street before?" he asked.
Lin Yanxi thought carefully and realized that in both her lives, she had never been to South Street. "No."
On both sides of South Street were mostly itinerant vendors, and the management was relatively lax. Chang'an Street had shops on both sides, and soldiers patrolled the streets, so no one dared to cause trouble. In comparison, South Street was particularly chaotic.
There were children running around begging everywhere on the street.
"Sister, please spare some copper coins." Two or three children suddenly ran out and surrounded Lin Yanxi.
Lin Yanxi took out a few copper coins from her waist and placed them in their hands. After receiving the money, the children scampered away.
"The sachets at this stall smell very nice." Lin Yanxi picked up a sachet from a stall, sniffed it under her nose, and then put it down.
Luo Qizhe said, "This is the Mu Bai flower from Dongyang. If you like it, I'll give it to you."
Lin Yanxi walked to the next stall and said, "No, thank you."
After walking a short distance, the two entered the largest shop on South Street, Dongyang Pavilion, which was ranked sixth among the itinerant merchants on the list.
Dongyang Pavilion sold everything from small necessities to large items like East Yang-style dining tables, daybeds, and gemstone jewelry.
The shopkeeper of Dongyang Pavilion saw that the visitor was Luo Qizhe and bowed, "Your Highness."
"Your Highness, please come upstairs. I will inform the pavilion master immediately."
Luo Qizhe led Lin Yanxi upstairs to a private room with a view of the street.
He asked, "What would you like to eat?"
Lin Yanxi sat there looking quite well-behaved, "Anything is fine."
He speculated on the young girl's tastes and said, "Just bring a few dishes, light flavors, on the sweeter side."
"Yes." The shopkeeper personally attended to them.
Lin Yanxi's gaze swept out the window. From this vantage point, she could see people directly licking the slightly moist river sand on the riverbed to quench their thirst.
Her mood inexplicably became heavy, her lips tightened slightly, and her brow furrowed.
Luo Qizhe followed her gaze outwards and understood why her smile had vanished.
She withdrew her gaze and said, "So, what are the conditions?"