"A dignified man resorting to the gossip of long-tongued women to pry into others' affairs. You'll be disappointed, for while the Liu family may not rival the wealthiest in the capital, we still have more than enough silver. A starving camel is still larger than a horse.
Even if our family faces some difficulties, they are not something you can compare yourself to. I believe you understood what I said earlier. It seems you prefer to refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit." Liu Dongjia suppressed his anger, feeling he would be driven to death by this man if he continued to speak.
"Shopkeeper Liu, please don't be angry. As the saying goes, a prime minister's mind can hold a boat. Although you are not an official in the court, you are a prime minister in our business world. Please be magnanimous and don't take offense at this unseasoned brat. My words were rather thoughtless," Wu Caiwei added fuel to the fire, as if afraid the other party's anger wouldn't ignite.
Liu Dongjia was neither able to get angry nor not get angry. The pent-up frustration simply wouldn't dissipate. He flicked his sleeves and left in a huff, casting a fierce glare at Wu Caiwei as he departed. Wu Caiwei raised an eyebrow and shrugged indifferently.
Liu Dongjia became even more furious. In a moment of carelessness, he tripped on the threshold as he exited and stumbled forward several steps before regaining his balance. Turning his head, he indeed saw someone covering their mouth and trying to stifle a laugh. Angrily, he turned back and kicked the threshold several times. Seeing everyone intimidated by him, he left with satisfaction.
Lu Zi looked at his master with concern. He might not know others, but he knew Shopkeeper Liu very well, for Hua Hua's husband was him. Before Hua Hua's marriage, he had used all his connections to investigate Shopkeeper Liu and learned that he had relatives in official positions in the court, while his master was from out of town and was no match for him.
Seeing the man's unfriendly demeanor, he thought of Hua Hua, who was still at home. He wondered how she was doing. If she could create commercial value for Shopkeeper Liu, her status in the Liu family would surely be incomparable to other women.
But recently, due to their master's new product launch, the Liu family's business had plummeted. He guessed she had fallen out of favor in the mansion. After all, they were from beggar origins, a stain that could not be compared to young ladies who had been pampered since childhood and were proficient in all the arts.
He used to treat her like a younger sister. Before this incident, he thought she cherished this connection as much as he did, but he never expected her to disregard his words entirely. After entering the Liu family, they had no contact whatsoever.
From initial disbelief to gradual acceptance, he realized that all feasts must end. Whatever the outcome, it was her own choice.
One day, Wu Caiwei was walking on the bustling street as usual when she suddenly saw Sun Guotang walking with a young gentleman who was elegantly dressed.
They entered a teahouse, chatting and laughing. Sun Guotang seemed to sense something and glanced at Wu Caiwei, his brow furrowing slightly. He found her somewhat familiar but couldn't recall where he had seen her before.
Wu Caiwei watched their retreating figures with a wistful look. If she remembered correctly, that should be the Second Prince. Setting aside everything else, Sun Guotang was a capable person. Whomever he chose as his master, he would be given important responsibilities. Moreover, he had foresight. Whether it was the master he initially served or the Second Prince he was now associating with, both were destined to ascend the throne.
An idea struck her. Perhaps she could manipulate this situation. Thus, Wu Caiwei began to inquire about news within the imperial palace.
One day, the Third Prince was sitting in a teahouse waiting for his appointment when a young man suddenly sat opposite him. Seeing the man's confident demeanor, he couldn't help but feel curious. "Do you know who I am?"
Wu Caiwei smiled and nodded, pointing upwards and then gesturing a three. The Third Prince's expression turned serious. He hadn't brought anyone with him today. If this person intended him harm, he would be completely defenseless.
"I'm certain I've never met you. You've come before me alone today; you must have something important to discuss," the Third Prince said, sipping his tea while looking at her meaningfully.
"Naturally, one doesn't visit without reason. The Emperor is advanced in years, and all princes must desire the throne. As I have a request, I wish to offer my assistance to the Third Prince. I only wonder if the Third Prince dares to use me," Wu Caiwei knew that speaking with someone like him required a direct approach.
The Third Prince raised an eyebrow in surprise, scrutinizing her from head to toe. "And who might you be? And what is your request?" Su Dan Novel Network.
"I am merely an obscure small merchant, operating two modest shops in the west district. Business is decent enough to support my family, but we have a common enemy: the Duke Sun's mansion," Wu Caiwei said calmly, showing no shame for her lack of prominence.
The Third Prince, seeing her confidence, was inclined to test her. Some people are hidden dragons and crouching tigers, living in seclusion. The current situation was very unfavorable to him, and he was afraid of missing any useful talent.
"Do you know how rebellious your words are? If I were to spread them now, I could have you arrested by the authorities immediately."
"You won't. Although I am not well-known, my abilities are considerable. I wouldn't have dared to recommend myself without my own confidence."
Wu Caiwei paid no mind to his words, knowing he was merely trying to gauge her depth. She was confident she wouldn't disappoint him and therefore didn't take his words to heart. She believed he would surely employ her once he understood her capabilities. Indeed, upon hearing her response, the Third Prince immediately asked about her exceptional skills.
"I dare not boast about everything, but in terms of martial arts, few in the world are my match. If the Third Prince does not believe me, he can bring his most skilled subordinates to my shops for a spar," Wu Caiwei said, crushing the teacup in her hand in front of him.
Looking at the teacup turned to dust, the Third Prince couldn't help but show respect. Although his subordinates had many capable individuals, having a martial arts expert to guard him would provide an extra layer of security for his life, which was crucial to him. No one would be so audacious as to try to deceive him; he must have some skill.
However, martial arts cannot be mastered overnight. Throughout history, the more skilled one is, the older they tend to be. Yet, this person was young. It was possible she possessed exceptional martial arts skills, a rare prodigy in martial arts, but perhaps not ranked highly in the martial world. Nevertheless, since she dared to make such a bold claim, she had to undergo his test.