Born to Be Either Rich or Noble - Chapter 10

At last, Song Yunzhi deigned to look her in the eye.

The little lady seemed almost eager to walk to her death—something about it lightened his mood. A faint smile flickered in those dark eyes that had been cold for the past two days. “Thank you for your trouble, Lady Qian.”

Looking more closely, Qian Tong realized his irises were actually a lighter shade. Maybe it was her imagination, but the way he smiled—there was something detached, almost mocking about it.

Just then, one of the Cui family’s maids returned. “Seventh Lady, this way, please.”

Qian Tong didn’t have time to wonder whether the young man truly meant his thanks. She followed the maid toward the banquet area—until she noticed they were headed to the waterside pavilion where Madam Cui and the magistrate’s wife were seated.

She had once shared pleasant days with Madam Cui.

Back when the Cui family’s eldest son had sought to marry her eldest sister, Madam Cui had gone out of her way to please the Qian family, often inviting young Qian Tong over to play. Every time they met, she’d pull a candy from her sleeve to tease her.

At the time, Qian Tong truly believed Madam Cui had treated her sincerely—and her elder sister as well.

But later, everything changed.

Her sister had been married into the Cui family for five years without bearing a child. Meanwhile, the Qian family’s business grew, and frictions over trade gradually piled up. Two years ago, when both families set their sights on marrying into the magistrate’s household, all those suppressed tensions erupted.

During a visit to the magistrate’s residence, Madam Cui and Madam Qian had quarreled bitterly before a crowd of guests.

Their relationship shattered.

The Cui family resented that the Qian family’s eldest daughter still occupied the position of their eldest daughter-in-law, yet didn’t dare divorce her outright for fear of gossip. The Qian family, for their part, only kept up appearances for the sake of their daughter.

What had once been a union of mutual benefit had turned into shackles.

Qian Tong didn’t see much to lament. There are no eternal allies—only eternal interests.

She stepped forward with a polite smile. “Aunt Cui.”

Madam Cui replied with studied courtesy. “I wasn’t expecting you today, Seventh Lady, so I didn’t prepare a seat for you. I’ve had someone add one beside Sister Fu—you two grew up together, didn’t you? Childhood bonds are hard to break, after all.”

Naturally, it was easy for her to say so—her family was the one celebrating a betrothal today.

“Thank you, Aunt,” Qian Tong replied, turning to greet the other young woman. “Sister Fu.”

Cui Liu, or Sixth Miss Cui, wasn’t looking at her at all, but rather at the young man beside her.

From afar, he’d already seemed refined and commanding—but up close, his looks were even more striking, so much so that they made the young Master Lan beside him appear utterly ordinary.

She stared a bit too long and was caught by Qian Tong, quickly lowering her gaze. “Sister Tong… I thought you’d never come see me again…”

Qian Tong only smiled faintly. She knew perfectly well what sort of person Cui Liu was—the more attention one gave her, the more insufferable she became. So she ignored her.

Still, since she’d brought a man with her to this banquet, she couldn’t very well leave everyone guessing at his identity. Cui’s curiosity beat her to it. “And this gentleman is…?”

Qian Tong allowed a trace of maidenly shyness to show and gestured for Fuyin to answer.

Fuyin stepped forward with a quick smile. “Replying to Madam Cui—this is my lady’s husband. She had originally planned to call on you with proper gifts another day, but as we happened to pass by your residence today, my lady wished to visit her elder sister for a moment. I hope you won’t take offense at the suddenness.”

Whether it was offensive or not, no one cared anymore—her words had caused quite a stir.

Husband?

Every eye turned toward the pair. Two days ago, the Qian family had still been fighting the Cuis over Young Master Lan’s betrothal. And now, within forty-eight hours, she’d somehow acquired a husband?

Young Master Lan looked as if lightning had struck him. That parting line she’d given him—“It’s all in the past now”—had haunted him all night. Seeing her again today, he’d even wished he could split himself in two—one half for her, one for the other—so no one would be wronged.

But now… she had a husband? Overnight?

Both Madam Cui and the magistrate’s wife froze, the polite smiles on their faces stiffening. They knew perfectly well the Cui family’s son was getting engaged to the magistrate’s daughter today. For Qian Tong to bring her “husband” here—what game was she playing?

Madam Cui’s tone cooled. “May I ask where Seventh Lady’s husband is from?”

Qian Tong paused deliberately. “From Jinling.”

A little scare never hurt anyone—perhaps someone’s heart might skip a beat.

Sure enough, Madam Cui’s expression changed immediately. Her breath hitched. The four great merchant families had always sought powerful backers, and Jinling—capital of influence—was where true connections lay.

The Pu family had found themselves a princess. The other three families didn’t even have a path into Jinling.

The magistrate’s wife frowned slightly. She didn’t believe it—Qian Minjiang, the Qian family head, was far too mediocre to be mixing with Jinling’s elite. Raising a brow, she asked, “And what business is this gentleman in?”

Qian Tong instinctively answered, “He—”

But to her surprise, the usually reticent Song Yunzhi spoke first, curtly cutting her off. “I run an escort agency.”

The magistrate’s wife blinked, then continued, “And your parents?”

“Deceased.”

So—a penniless orphan. The magistrate’s wife smirked faintly and asked nothing more.

Song Yunzhi, meanwhile, was gauging reactions. He’d wondered if the magistrate’s wife might have recognized him—after all, Blue Mingquan had once served in Jinling. But judging by her calm face, she hadn’t.

Good. An imperial censor, formerly of the Censorate, would never openly ally himself with a merchant when the court had dispatched envoys to root out corruption in Yangzhou. Blue Mingquan was many things, but not a fool.

As he pondered the magistrate’s real motives, he felt a gentle tap on his arm. Turning, his gaze fell on Qian Tong’s long lashes as she leaned closer and murmured softly, “Don’t take it to heart.”

A demon’s sympathy, he thought. Like a hawk staring at the prey in its talons, wondering whether to devour it whole or take its time.

He didn’t need her pity.

To the magistrate’s wife, though, their whispered exchange looked shameless—typical behavior for a merchant’s daughter. Her lip curled. “I heard your father came by the magistrate’s residence yesterday, Seventh Lady. Unfortunately, my husband and I were too busy to receive him. Do you know what business brought him?”

What else could it be?—begging favors, of course.

Before Qian Tong could even sit down, every gaze was fixed on her again, waiting to enjoy her embarrassment.

But she was unruffled.

She owed no one anything—what was there to be ashamed of? “I truly don’t know, Madam. Perhaps Father acquired some new calligraphy or paintings and wished to share them with His Excellency for appreciation?”

Everyone knew what “share” meant—a bribe. The magistrate’s wife choked on her own words and said nothing.

At that very moment, a servant whispered into Madam Cui’s ear.

“What?” Madam Cui stared at Qian Tong in shock. “You’re still young, childish even—but your father! How could he allow such recklessness?”

Qian Tong watched her with amusement.

That expression—trying to feign grief and dignity while barely concealing glee—was almost comical. Once malice took root, even a person’s face changed.

Madam Cui went on. “You’re your father’s only daughter. Your marriage should be to a family of equal standing. You can’t just throw yourself away in a fit of temper—kidnapping some dockside ruffian to be your husband! How could you degrade yourself so?”

Kidnapped from the docks?

The magistrate’s wife blinked. Had she misheard? But seeing that Qian Tong didn’t deny it, she could only stare. The Qian family’s Seventh Miss—reduced to this?

Whispers rippled through the guests.

Cui Liu began to cry softly. “Sister Tong, if you ruin yourself like this, what will become of me?”

Song Yunzhi, who had been silently observing, had been comparing the Cui estate to the Qian family’s extravagance—it surpassed it in every way. But now, watching the girl being mocked by everyone around her, he found himself studying her expression.

Her head was bowed, her shoulders smaller than usual.

He had seen her cruelty firsthand, had expected her to lash out, to bare her fangs and retaliate as she had the previous night.

That would have suited him—let the four great families tear each other apart.

But when she lifted her head, her eyes glistened faintly with moisture. Her voice was soft as she said, “Thank you for your concern, Aunt Cui. But I would never dare act so lawlessly. With Magistrate Lan presiding over Yangzhou, who would dare kidnap an honest man off the docks? There are still laws in this land.”

Song Yunzhi stared at her in disbelief. The woman’s cunning was beyond measure.

Unconcerned with his thoughts, Qian Tong went on, eyes rimmed red. “The gentleman may not be of high birth, but our Qian family are mere merchants—how much better could we claim to be?”

Then she turned to Cui Liu, her gaze tinged with admiration. “If only I had Sister Fu’s grace and beauty, perhaps I too could dream of marrying into nobility. But alas, I’ve always been coarse and unrefined. Better to settle down with someone decent and live a steady life. When you become an official’s wife someday, Sister, don’t forget this humble elder sister of yours.”

Silence fell.

Even Cui Liu was momentarily dazed—there was no resentment, only pity in those words.

Madam Cui sucked in a sharp breath. “But… the Qian family are wealthy merchants in Yangzhou…”

Qian Tong slowly shook her head, looking every inch the broken heiress forced to bow to circumstance. “Aunt Cui doesn’t know. Things have changed. The salt wells have failed for years, and just last month our convoy was ambushed—ten wagons gone. To tell the truth, Grandmother hasn’t had bird’s nest for half a year, and the servants haven’t been paid for months. Father may look respectable, but it’s all for show.”

Her words landed like stones in still water. Everyone had heard rumors about the Qian salt wells and the bandit attack. Could it all be true?

Had the once-mighty Qian family fallen so far?

As the guests murmured and snickered, Song Yunzhi alone stayed silent, watching her performance unfold with eerie calm.

For years, the Cui family had hated the Qians to their bones. Madam Cui hadn’t been this delighted in ages—until Qian Tong suddenly pulled a ledger from her sleeve and handed it over. “Since Aunt Cui is in such good spirits today, I’ve brought the account book. Might you have someone settle the debts from the past few years? It would help our family stay afloat a little longer.”

A hush fell over the room.

In the eyes of Yangzhou’s merchants, the Cui and Qian families had always been equals—some even thought the Qians richer. But today, amid the lavish décor of the Cui–magistrate betrothal banquet, with flattery raining down on the hosts, stood the tearful Qian daughter begging for payment.

Madam Cui’s vanity surged. If she’s stooped so low as to ask for money, how can I refuse?

“Fetch the accountant,” she ordered her maid briskly. “Settle the debts. It must be hard for them.”

“Thank you, Aunt Cui,” Qian Tong said, bowing deeply.

As she waited, she caught the magistrate’s wife staring in surprise. Qian Tong seized the chance to smile and say, “The imperial envoys from Jinling should be arriving soon, shouldn’t they? When they do, I hope Madam will put in a word for the Qian family.”

The magistrate’s wife’s expression darkened. She recalled how the Qians had promised her fifty thousand taels—and how she’d wisely avoided their trap. Hearing this presumptuous talk, her patience snapped. “The envoys from Jinling are not people you can simply meet. If the Qian family has nothing to hide, what need have they to fear investigation?”

“You’re right, Madam.” Qian Tong lowered her gaze, idly flipping through her ledger. After a moment, she added, “Still, it seems the magistrate’s residence has three years’ worth of unsettled accounts. Perhaps they could be cleared today?”

The magistrate’s wife froze. Was she mad? Asking me—for money?

When had the magistrate’s household ever paid for the goods it consumed?

But with so many witnesses present, she couldn’t admit they’d been living off the merchants’ generosity. Her face went pale. “Since the Qians are so desperate, fine. Settle every last account. And may we never have dealings again.”

Qian Tong only smiled faintly.

Whether or not the magistrate’s family helped, they would never truly stand with the Qians. Everyone wanted to take their last bite out of her family’s dying carcass—why shouldn’t she reclaim what was hers first?

Debt repaid was only justice—no sentiment needed.

Ledger in hand, she made her rounds, collecting payment from each of the four great families present.

A betrothal banquet turned into Qian Tong’s debt collection fair. By the time Madam Cui realized what was happening, chaos had already spread beyond her control.

—

Qian Tong’s hands were soon full, so she handed the record-keeping over to Song Yunzhi while she counted the silver notes. “Lesson one for a Qian family son-in-law,” she said lightly, “is how to balance the books.”

At last, Song Yunzhi laid eyes on the ledger he’d longed to see. The amounts staggered him—and the neat piles of silver filling the chests beside her made it clear just how vast the sums were.

So this was why she was willing to sacrifice her pride.

Ever since His Majesty’s ascension, the treasury had been nearly emptied by relief efforts and reconstruction. The empire’s coffers were bare—yet here, a single merchant’s debt ledger…

Qian Tong noticed his trembling hands. “Don’t shake. It’s all ours now—they can’t run from it.” Her tone was calm, reassuring. “I get it, people resent the rich. But you’ll get used to it. Tell me, what do you like? I’ll buy it for you later. By the way, do you have any family left? Now that you’re doing well, we really should help them out too.”