Born to Be Either Rich or Noble - Chapter 60

Qian Tong offered no explanation for the disappearance of her would-be husband. She simply told Madam Qian, “If he ran off, then let him. We’ll find someone better next time.”

Madam Qian couldn’t help feeling a pang of regret when she thought of her son-in-law’s face. She had finally grown used to the sight of him—had even hosted the engagement banquet—and yet, he’d turned out to have so little backbone. But since he was gone, there was nothing to be done.

On the third night, when Madam Qian brought the Daoist priest again to finish the ritual, Qian Tong was nowhere to be found. When she asked the maids, one replied, “Young Lady Qian just went out, Madam. She said she’ll be back in a few days.”

Madam Qian had never known much about her daughter’s comings and goings, nor did she have the right to interfere—but this was the last round of the exorcism, and she couldn’t help muttering, “We agreed on three days, didn’t we? What could possibly be so urgent…”

With or without her, the ritual continued.
Madam Qian ordered the Daoist to sprinkle the talisman water all over Qian Tong’s room, extra thick this time.

——

Qian Tong, meanwhile, was overseeing the loading of cargo.

Behind her, the wagons were piled high with crates of little dragon tea cakes—the very tea that the heir apparent, Song Yunzhi, had taken from the tea estate in Fuzhou under the Qian family’s name when he rescued her. That same batch had since been delivered to the Qian family’s warehouse.

Now that she was safe and her family’s name cleared, the Crown Prince’s heir had come to claim his shipment.

Leaning against the warehouse door, Qian Tong watched the laborers haul out box after box. Without turning her head, she asked, “Yunzhi, are you sure the Park family won’t come after me for this?”

Song Yunzhi had noticed how unusually quiet she’d been all evening. After a long pause, she asked that single question. Knowing what worried her, he rose to stand beside her and said gently, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

He had already stationed his shadow guards around the Qian estate—if the Parks made a single move, his men had orders to kill without hesitation.

Yes, she told herself. With the backing of the court and the protection of the heir to the throne, she was safe. She nodded, replying softly, “I believe you.”
She believed he could protect her.

But only Qian Tong, seventh daughter of the Qian family, could allow herself to believe that. As the future head of the family, she knew the first lesson of survival: never place your hopes in someone else’s hands.

When the wagons were finally loaded, Fuyin and A-Jin followed her orders, preparing food and wine to thank the officials for their help.

Qian Tong accepted a wine flask from A-Jin and turned to Song Yunzhi. “I brewed this last year myself, with green plums,” she said. “It’s not as sweet as what you’d find in the market, but the bitterness suits the effort it took to make. Have two cups with me, my lord. After that, we have a hard battle ahead of us.”

Song Yunzhi was not fond of wine.

Most children of noble houses learned to drink young, to prepare for the social world—but not him. His mother, the Grand Princess, despised those who drank. Not for the smell of it, but for the ugliness that came after.

So at nearly twenty-two, he’d barely touched the stuff—save for the few times he’d toasted the Emperor or honored his elders at family feasts.

He did not reach for the cup.

Qian Tong didn’t press him. She drank a cup herself, then asked, “What will you do next, my lord? You’ve condemned the Park family’s second son—Park Chengjun. They won’t let you go for that. Even if they can’t move openly against the court, they’ll send assassins in secret. Aren’t you afraid?”

He watched her pour another cup for him and replied evenly, “What is there to fear?”

She propped her head with one hand, lifting her cup with the other, leaning toward him. “You know,” she said softly, “when you talk like that, you sound impossibly lofty.”

He blinked, surprised. He hadn’t realized.

Qian Tong smiled. “I know you’re not that kind of man. But some people are just born with an air about them—something divine that makes others want to look up, feel ashamed of themselves.”

It was the aura of one raised among the ruling class—something no commoner could ever learn.

Song Yunzhi gazed at her, puzzled.

Qian Tong raised her cup in salute. “I believe you’ll finish what you’ve started. So I drink to you, my lord—may you rid the world of treachery, and may the Great Yu realm see peace and prosperity. May the old wear silk and eat meat, and may the common folk live free from hunger and cold.”

Her words carried a sincerity that was hard to refuse. Song Yunzhi lifted his cup and drank.

Qian Tong watched the empty vessel in his hand and murmured, “Yunzhi, I want to see the capital someday—to see the place where you grew up. It’s bold of me, but I want to know what your parents look like… how they gave birth to someone as handsome as you.”

She looked up at him then, eyes dazed with intoxication.

He saw the glaze of wine in her gaze.

He shouldn’t have replied—but the words escaped him anyway. “You’ll have the chance.”

No, she thought bitterly. You won’t.

By this time tomorrow, he would know everything.
And then—he’d wish he could kill her.

Outside, the officials preparing to escort the shipment dared not drink much. After a brief toast, they departed with the loaded wagons.

All the tea had left the warehouse.

It was time for Qian Tong and the heir to leave as well.

They boarded the government carriage. After the time it took for half a stick of incense to burn, Song Yunzhi began to feel it—a familiar wave of dizziness. Realization struck. He forced his eyes open, gripping the window frame, turning toward the calm-faced girl beside him. His chest twisted between pity and despair as he rasped, “Qian… Tong!”

The first time they met—back at the Haitang House—she had also tricked him, and he had seen her anger then.

But tonight, there was pain in his eyes.

And something inside Qian Tong ached at the sight. Her chest tightened. “I’m sorry, my lord,” she said quietly. “It’s not that I don’t trust you. But I have my own path to take. I don’t need anyone’s protection. Before you came to Haizhou, I made a deal with the Park family. They promised me marriage to their eldest son—but the condition was…”

She hesitated, her throat tightening as she met his blood-shot eyes. “…that I must kill you first.”

The drug was devouring his consciousness. He fought it, his pupils trembling as he stared at her.

See? she thought. This is what happens when you try to change a liar.
It never ends well.

She couldn’t bear to meet his gaze anymore. Looking down, she whispered, “The little dragon tea—Park family wants it too. My people will take it to Mingzhu Port tonight. Once it’s on the ship and past the strait, you’ll never find proof that the Parks smuggled Jian tea out of Fuzhou.”

When she looked up again, she caught the flash of hatred that burst in his eyes before they closed.

Their alliance ended there.

She had lied to countless people in her life, but only toward this man did she feel the sting of guilt. When Fuyin lifted the curtain and called to her, Qian Tong raised her head and realized her face was wet.

“My lady…” Fuyin murmured in shock.

Qian Tong stepped down from the carriage, letting that single tear sink into her skin. Her voice was calm. “Send for Shen Che. Tell him to bring a physician and save him.”

Outside, the officers were already slumped over, unconscious.

The Qian servants dragged the men aside, stripped off their uniforms, and put them on themselves. Then they climbed into the wagons and turned down a side road, rushing toward the port.

Qian Tong pulled up the hood of her cloak, took the reins from A-Jin, and mounted her horse.

——

By the time Shen Che arrived, the road was littered with half-naked government men sprawled every which way.

He quickly found Song Yunzhi unconscious inside a carriage. There wasn’t a single Qian servant in sight.

Who else could have done this but that demon girl from the Qian family? Shen Che didn’t even need to guess. The woman had barely been back a few days, and already she’d stirred up another mess.

But first—save the man. He brought Song Yunzhi back to the prefect’s residence and summoned a physician. The doctor confirmed it wasn’t deadly—just a strong sedative.

Everyone else had been drugged as well. Only when Song Yunzhi woke would they know what had happened.

An incense stick later, his eyes opened. His mind was still clouded, his limbs heavy, but he pushed himself up and staggered toward the door, nearly collapsing.

Shen Che caught his arm. “What happened?”

The redness in Song Yunzhi’s eyes deepened; his voice was cold. “Mingzhu Port. Stop her.”

There was no need to ask who.

Shen Che cursed under his breath. “That witch!” He called for Wang Zhao to ready the troops. Let’s see how far she runs this time.

Wang Zhao took the men and left first. Shen Che sat with Song Yunzhi for a while, trying to calm him. “Don’t worry, my friend. Even if she flies to the ends of the earth, I’ll drag her back myself.”

Song Yunzhi didn’t reply. He sat in silence, waiting for the fog in his head to clear. As the drug wore off, his face grew paler and paler.

Shen Che could tell something in him had broken. Even awake, he looked shattered—his expression bleak and hollow.

Since he wouldn’t speak, Shen Che didn’t press. But inwardly, he vowed: tonight, that witch would pay.

They had wronged her in the Lu family massacre, yes—but this time, she had openly robbed the government under a noble’s nose. Smuggling tea overseas—what punishment could absolve that?

Not even Song Yunzhi could save her now.

And perhaps it was better this way. He’d finally see her for what she was. A noble and a merchant, a man of principle and a woman of cunning greed—how could they ever belong together?

Song Yunzhi slowly steadied himself, the raw pain in his face replaced by an icy calm. His eyes had turned dark as blades.

He stood. Just as he reached the door, a guard hurried in to report, “My lord, Lady Park—Third Madam of the Park family—has arrived. She requests an audience.”

Shen Che froze.

Since the court’s men had come to Yangzhou, not a single member of the Park family had dared show their face. For her to come now of all times—she was the first to step into the lion’s den.

Of course—her son, the second young master, had been arrested.

Shen Che glanced at Song Yunzhi, waiting for instructions.

The heir’s expression was unreadable. “Let her in.”

——

Half an hour later, Lady Park entered.

She bowed deeply from afar, face full of contrition. “The Park family did not know of your arrival, my lord. It was our failing not to pay our respects sooner. We did not recognize your noble countenance.”

Song Yunzhi said nothing.

Shen Che snorted inwardly—as if you didn’t know. Even your son knew who he was.

Aloud, he asked, “What brings you here at such an hour, Madam?”

Her timing was far too convenient. It was hard not to suspect collusion with that Qian witch—to distract the authorities while smuggling the tea out to sea.

But her next words caught even Shen Che off guard.

“I had no intention of disturbing my lord so late,” she began, “but a message just reached me, and after much thought, I realized it concerned your very life. So I came at once.”

She looked up at Song Yunzhi. Seeing him safe, she exhaled in relief. “Thank Heaven—you are unharmed.”

He lifted his eyes, cold and distant.

Lady Park sensed his impatience and hurried to the point. “The message I received tonight said that Young Lady Qian intends to kill you.”

Shen Che stared at him, stunned.

No wonder his friend had been so shaken earlier.

But the woman already knew his identity, knew his feelings—being promised as the heir’s wife would have given her family wealth for generations. And she still wasn’t satisfied?

How ruthless could her heart be?

Lady Park pressed on, her tone righteous. “That woman is too audacious. First the Cui family, then the Lu family—she always appears innocent, but can she truly wash her hands of every crime? And now, to dare plot against you, my lord—such a heart deserves death.”

She saw the expressions on the young men’s faces change and added quickly, “I thought she might not know your identity, but when I returned to Haizhou, my household told me my eldest nephew had already given her a portrait of you long ago. She’s known who you were from the start, yet she dared to dream of seizing you for herself—abducting you to make you the Qian family’s son-in-law!”

“Oh, and surely you’ve heard,” she continued, voice honeyed with malice. “Two years ago, she and my eldest nephew were involved. My sister-in-law saw through her wicked nature and refused to consent. Just a few days ago, that girl came to Haizhou to beg my sister-in-law for their marriage to be approved.”

She kept talking, and Shen Che could barely stand to listen. He didn’t dare look at Song Yunzhi’s face.

“As for the tea she shipped tonight,” Lady Park went on, “it has nothing to do with us. Our Jian-tea estates in Fuzhou have full ledgers and records—my lord may examine them himself. I don’t know what lies she’s told you to make you destroy our warehouses, but I couldn’t let this misunderstanding fester between you and the Park family. So I’ve come tonight, breaking the unspoken rules between merchant houses, to speak plainly. I only hope, my lord, that your wise eyes can see the truth—who truly serves the court, and who seeks only their own gain.”