Chapter 3: Where Did This Woman Suddenly Appear From?

The woman’s face was cold, and her words were even colder.

Xu Mu returned a stern look.

"You are his adopted daughter, and I am the son of a concubine. We are no different, so why must you order me around? I at least share his blood, while you are merely a stray he picked up."

The young woman was named Xu Shuangyi, the adopted daughter of that man. She was a woman of stunning talent and brilliance, deeply trusted by him.

That man had business interests in Liangzhou. Because the region was remote and far from the Emperor’s reach, the business there had grown too vast and was coveted by many, making it extremely difficult to control. It had long since become an impossible, tangled mess of accounts.

Did he have a sudden change of heart, hoping to use the Liangzhou business as compensation for his mother and him? Or was there some other ulterior motive?

To Xu Mu, these things did not matter.

"I can take over the Liangzhou business, but we must establish who is in charge. I return your own words to you: when it comes to business matters, I have the final say."

Xu Shuangyi looked at Xu Mu, her cold, beautiful eyes showing a hint of surprise.

The Xu Mu of the past had been timid and submissive, a man who had never uttered a single firm word in his life.

Could it be that after three years, this infamous coward of the Xu household had actually grown a spine?

Xu Shuangyi did not express opposition. Even though she looked down on Xu Mu, one thing he said was true. No matter how capable she was or how much that man favored her, she was still an adopted daughter, while Xu Mu, however useless, was still a legitimate son of the household.

Birthright had long since decided everything.

"Also, I have one condition," Xu Mu said coldly.

"Oh?" Xu Shuangyi raised an eyebrow.

"My mother just passed away. I need you to step forward and hold a grand, honorable funeral for her. My mother lived a life of sorrow, and I do not want her to leave this world in desolation. Agree to my terms, and I will take over the Liangzhou industry. Otherwise, on your own, you are no match for those old foxes in Liangzhou."

Xu Shuangyi’s eyes remained as still as a deep pool, but inwardly, she was increasingly astonished.

She noticed for the first time that while Xu Mu’s eyes were full of grief, there was also a trace of indomitable resolve hidden within.

Xu Yi’s mother had been a concubine of his foster father; by rank, she was supposed to call her "Little Mother." Acting as a filial daughter to see her through her final rites was reasonable and appropriate. This condition was not excessive.

However, Xu Shuangyi did not want to agree easily. In the Xu household, apart from her foster father, no one else had the right to give her orders.

"If you can reclaim the operational control of Jinhua Pavilion, I will agree to your condition," Xu Shuangyi said coldly.

"A mere Jinhua Pavilion? I haven't even given it a second thought. However, since we need start-up capital to build our foundation in Liangzhou, let's begin by reclaiming it," Xu Mu replied.

A mere Jinhua Pavilion? He hadn't given it a second thought?

Xu Shuangyi looked at Xu Mu with contempt; his entire outfit wasn't even worth a hundred copper coins.

*I hope your ability matches your arrogance,* she thought.

***

Jinhua Pavilion was the largest antique firm in the Great Xia Dynasty, with over fifty branches across the land, and the Liangzhou branch was the largest of them all.

Because it was so far from the center of power, Jinhua Pavilion had long been infiltrated by the powerful clans of Liangzhou, and the profits turned in each year grew smaller and smaller. That was why that man had sent Xu Shuangyi to clean up the mess.

"I am returning to the manor to settle in. See you at Jinhua Pavilion after dinner."

With those words, Xu Shuangyi turned and left. The Xu clan owned an ancestral home in the city that had been sealed for decades.

The arrival of Xu Shuangyi, a talented woman renowned in the capital, caused a stir of undercurrents in Liangzhou City.

By dusk, Xu Mu and Xu Shuangyi met in front of Jinhua Pavilion. As soon as they entered the shop, Xu Mu heard a familiar voice.

"Brother Shucheng, please don't be angry anymore. Isn't this Firefly Folding Fan your favorite? Let me buy it for you as an apology, alright?"

"The Firefly Folding Fan costs fifteen taels of silver. It's too expensive; I cannot accept it."

"As long as it makes Brother Shucheng happy, never mind fifteen taels—even if it were a hundred and fifty, I would buy it for you! Shopkeeper..."

Su Hanwei turned back with a smile, only to see Xu Mu standing behind her. Beside him stood a tall, young woman.

This woman was actually even more beautiful than she was!

Su Hanwei blushed, realizing Xu Mu must have heard everything. But then, remembering they had already divorced, her expression turned cold.

"Haven't we already divorced? Why are you still shamelessly following me?"

Xu Mu must have regretted it and was trying to beg for her forgiveness, which was why he had been tailing her. That was right—Xu Mu was a sycophant; that was his style.

But at this moment, Xu Mu’s face was dark with fury.

This wretched woman had taken the money meant for his mother’s life-saving medicine to pay for Liang Shucheng’s cold, yet she still had over a dozen taels of silver to buy a useless fan to please him.

"You’re quite wealthy, aren't you?"

"Isn't that all because you hit Brother Shucheng and made him unhappy? Otherwise, would I need to coax him? I’m spending my own money, not yours! What does it have to do with you? If you're trying to beg for my forgiveness now, I'm sorry, I'm not in the mood to deal with you!"

Xu Mu sneered.

*Su Hanwei, times have changed!*

"The Firefly Folding Fan now costs one hundred and fifty taels."

Su Hanwei acted as if she had heard a joke, laughing until she was doubled over, tears streaming down her face.

***

"Xu Mu, have you lost your mind? You don't actually think Jinhua Pavilion belongs to your family, do you?"

Su Hanwei erupted into laughter again, drawing the attention of everyone in the shop.

"Indeed, Jinhua Pavilion is my family's," a cold, clear female voice rang out.

At this moment, Su Hanwei turned her gaze toward Xu Shuangyi.

"Xu Mu, where did this woman pop out from?!"

The woman beside Xu Mu was not only dressed in luxury, but she was also infinitely more beautiful than she was. A loser like Xu Mu could never deserve such a woman; he must have found her in some brothel.

"You think you can upset me by finding some cheap woman from a brothel? My heart is not as narrow as yours, Su Hanwei!"

Thinking of this, Su Hanwei felt even better. Only small-minded people played such clumsy tricks, and they were full of flaws.

*Slap!*

Before she could finish her sentence, a crisp, loud sound echoed across Su Hanwei’s face, leaving a scarlet palm print.

"You bitch, how dare you hi—"

Su Hanwei was furious, but before she could finish, Xu Shuangyi slapped her again.

"Watch your tongue, or this young lady will tear your mouth apart," Xu Shuangyi said, expressionless.

"Do you know who I am? I am the eldest granddaughter of the Liangzhou Prefect!"

*Slap!*

This blow sent Su Hanwei crashing to the floor.

"The Prefect? What kind of insignificant official is that? Even if the granddaughter of the Liangzhou Governor were here, she would still need to watch her tongue."

Xu Shuangyi stared at Su Hanwei with cold eyes, as if to say: *Say one more word and I will slap you again.*

Su Hanwei was instantly intimidated by Xu Shuangyi’s cold, murderous aura. She dared not spout any more filth, turning instead to look at Xu Mu.

"Xu Mu, you hired someone to hit me, didn't you?"

"Get out, or I cannot guarantee that this young lady won't tear your mouth apart," Xu Mu mocked with a half-smile.

"We’ll see about this!"

Su Hanwei scrambled up, clutching her face, and dragged Liang Shucheng away.