Volume 1, Chapter 22: The True Heiress Is a Powerhouse

An Qianqian headed straight for Si Chengnian’s residence.

The mansion had been completely renovated, bearing no resemblance to its former dilapidated state.

"Chuntang, you and the others stay in the outer courtyard. Do not enter unless necessary."

"Yes, Miss."

Chuntang led the accompanying maids and servants away.

As An Qianqian pushed open the freshly painted wooden door, Si Chengnian was sitting under the veranda reading a book. Sunlight filtered through the newly planted wisteria trellis, casting dappled shadows on his plain robes and highlighting the prominent knuckles of his hands.

"Miss An, to what do I owe the honor of this visit?"

He closed his book, his eyes carrying a hint of mockery as he looked up.

An Qianqian ignored his sarcasm and walked straight to him, looming over him as she stared down. "What is it that you truly desire?"

Si Chengnian’s fingertips paused, the smile on his face fading slightly. "Didn't I say? Surviving is difficult enough; how could I have any wishes?"

"Then your wish is simply to survive. Is that it, or is it not?"

Si Chengnian’s gaze rested on An Qianqian’s face, and he suddenly lost his train of thought.

Sunlight pierced through the gaps in the wisteria leaves, casting fine, shimmering spots of light on her brow, as if she had been dusted with gold. Her lashes were long; when she lowered her gaze, they hid the emotions in her eyes, but now, as she looked up, her eyes were startlingly bright. There was a stubborn, demanding quality to her expression that made her seem far more vibrant than her usual cold self.

Si Chengnian’s fingertips unconsciously stroked the edge of the scroll, his breathing softening.

"Hey, I asked you a question."

Seeing that he hadn't answered for a long time, An Qianqian furrowed her brows slightly and waved a hand in front of his face.

A cool breeze from her fingertips brushed his lashes, and Si Chengnian snapped back to reality, his earlobes turning slightly hot. He hurriedly averted his gaze to the newly laid bluestone slabs on the veranda, his voice sounding unnatural. "...No."

"Then what is it?"

An Qianqian was relentless, taking another half-step forward. The distance between them closed, close enough for him to catch the faint scent from her hair.

Si Chengnian’s Adam's apple bobbed, and he suddenly felt a parched dryness in his throat. He gripped the scroll until his knuckles turned white, yet he no longer avoided her gaze. Sunlight fell just right upon her lips, giving them a warm, soft hue. He found himself thinking, quite irrationally, that the way she frowned looked much better than her usual cold-faced demeanor.

"Si Chengnian?"

"...It’s nothing."

He finally found his voice, but intentionally softened his tone, infused with a sense of indulgence he hadn't even realized himself. "If you truly want to know, later... I will tell you slowly. For now, I have no wishes."

An Qianqian felt a flicker of irritation.

It lasted for a second.

Then she left.

Si Chengnian instinctively wanted to reach out and stop her; his fingers had already lifted, but they froze in mid-air.

Why stop her?

To say, "Sit a while longer"?

To say, "Actually, I do have a wish"?

But the words died on his lips, feeling too scorching, too dangerous to be spoken aloud. He could only watch helplessly as she walked to the courtyard gate. The wooden door creaked open and then clicked shut.

Si Chengnian stood in place, his hand still held in that reaching gesture, only drawing it back once her figure had completely disappeared around the corner.

His palm felt empty, the breeze she had stirred up having dissipated. The tea under the veranda was still steaming; it was cold-brew tea he had specifically ordered to be freshly prepared when he heard she was coming. Now, it seemed, it was all for nothing.

He looked down at the pot of tea and let out a low laugh, the sound tinged with a bitterness he couldn't quite identify.

***

Elsewhere.

The more An Qianqian thought about it, the angrier she became, cursing the system eight hundred times in her mind.

Chuntang, holding a bamboo-framed fan, stepped forward to fan her the moment she saw An Qianqian.

"Miss, is there anywhere else you would like to go?"

"Let’s stroll through the West Market first."

Chuntang didn't think much of it; her mistress hadn't been in the capital long, and she was still curious about everything.

An Qianqian walked through the West Market with a casual air, her gaze sweeping over the stalls on either side. Occasionally, her fingers would pause before a sugar-painting stall, looking for all the world like a young noblewoman curious about the novelties of the street. Chuntang followed closely, fanning more diligently to push away the encroaching crowds.

"Miss, it’s crowded up ahead. Shall we take a detour?"

An Qianqian didn't look up, pointing instead at a sign not far away. "Let's go look over there."

It was a courtyard for human trafficking. Behind the wooden fence huddled a group of sallow, gaunt people, while the overseer stood to the side, shouting and brandishing a whip.

Chuntang frowned, wanting to advise against it, but she saw that An Qianqian had already stepped inside.

"Just taking a look."

Her tone was flat as she scanned the crowd.

Most people behind the fence kept their heads bowed, but a young girl in the corner suddenly looked up. There was no cowardice in her eyes, only a startling brightness. Seeing An Qianqian look over, she straightened her back and spoke in a clear, crisp voice: "Buy me, Miss! I know how to farm. Grain, melons, vegetables—whatever I plant, it grows! Back home, I could fill a barn even with just a small plot of land!"

A few sneers erupted from the crowd, and the overseer kicked the fence impatiently. "What are you shouting about!"

The girl didn't shrink away, still looking at An Qianqian. "I can also spin thread and cook. I can do any rough work. I don't ask for a high price, only a full belly!"

An Qianqian stared at her for two seconds, then said to the overseer, "I'll take her."

Chuntang was stunned. Seeing that the girl was indeed thin and pitiful, and having heard her claim to be good at farming, she assumed her mistress was merely acting on a whim of soft-heartedness. She stepped forward to pay and led the girl out.

"Miss, this girl looks rather sharp." Chuntang brushed the dust off the girl.

An Qianqian didn't reply, only saying to the girl, "From now on, your name is Lingyi."

Lingyi knelt down immediately. "Thank you, Miss!"

An Qianqian wandered a bit longer before finally heading to the Office of Market Trade. This was the government-run exchange for horse markets and the place to purchase the largest stables.

"Miss, are you looking to buy a horse farm?" Chuntang asked, uncertain.

"Yes."

The official at the office saw An Qianqian’s luxurious attire, with Chuntang behind her fanning her and a servant carrying ice. Assuming she was just another noblewoman looking for a novelty, he flipped through the ledger casually.

"What would you like to buy, Miss?"

"Two million taels. What kind of horse farm can that buy?" An Qianqian slapped the banknotes onto the desk, fifty notes spread out neatly.

The official’s gaze stuck to the banknotes for a moment, his fingers freezing, and the ledger fell onto the desk with a thud.

Good heavens! It really was two million taels!

The official immediately snatched up the money and pulled out a map.

"Please look, Miss. Two million taels is enough to take the largest military horse farm in Longyou! Although it's an abandoned one, it covers over a thousand acres and includes twenty stables. However, the horses inside are sickly, and there is very little grass..."

Before the official could finish, An Qianqian replied, "I want that one. Let's sign the contract immediately."

With that, she tossed another hundred-tael note to the official.

"Consider it a tip."

The official was overjoyed and, without another word, scrambled to get the seal ink. His hands were shaking as he stamped the three official seals. Finally, he obsequiously wiped the dust off the desk for her and bowed her out the door. "Don't worry, Miss! I will send people to clear the site immediately. I guarantee that when you arrive tomorrow, even the horse manure will be swept clean!"

As soon as An Qianqian left, the other officials began to gossip.

"Which fool bought the Youxing Horse Farm?"

"An... the contract says the name is An."

"The surname An? Could it be from the Duke of Rong’s mansion?"

"With that kind of money to throw around, it’s likely."

"And you dared to sell her that broken farm where even the grass won't grow? The ground is harder than a stone roller, nothing but rocks and dirt clods. Everything planted there dies, and it’s even bad for the horses' hooves!"

"What are you afraid of? Once the deal is done, does she dare to make a scene? The law doesn't say you can return land just because it’s 'broken'."

"But the well on that farm is dry; you have to carry water from three miles away. The beams of the stables are rotten; it leaks like a water curtain cave when it rains. I went to look a few days ago, and half the wall had collapsed. Even the rats found it too damp and ran off."

"Who can we blame? It’s just that the farm next door belongs to the Prince of Chen’s mansion. If the Youxing farm were to succeed, the people at the Prince of Chen’s mansion wouldn't be happy."

An Qianqian was unaware of the conversation among the officials.

After leaving the office, she sent Lingyi directly to the horse farm.

"Since you said you can grow anything, I assume you can handle raising horses as well."

Lingyi knelt down, terrified and sincere. "Don't worry, Miss. Give this servant seven days, and I will have the farm in perfect order."