The mountain road downhill was rugged, and the young lady seemed to be in a bad mood. She walked with small, unsteady steps, almost stumbling several times, but remained silent. Lin Wanrong noticed her ignoring him and thought, "This girl is being haughty again, quite stubborn indeed."
As they descended from the mountain, they found that the soldiers had already left, leaving the area eerily silent.
Lin Wanrong, being unfamiliar with the surroundings, could only distinguish directions. Seeing the young lady observing him like a clueless goose in the middle of the road, he chuckled inwardly, thinking, "Let's hear what you have to say, my young miss."
The young lady snorted and with a triumphant smile, said, "We are in Dangtu County."
Dangtu County was within the borders of Anhui Province, hundreds of miles away from Jinling. Those bandits had gone to great lengths. The young lady had visited Dangtu County a few times during her business trips, so she knew the route.
After resting in the town, having breakfast, changing clothes, and taking a bath, they hired a carriage to head directly to Jinling. Lin Wanrong was fortunate to have some silver with him, allowing them to hire the carriage. If not for that, Miss Xiao Yuruo, being the rich young lady she was, didn't carry money but had plenty of rouge and powder. Women, Lin Wanrong sighed in his heart.
The carriage clattered along the road, and the young lady remained silent. Lin Wanrong, exhausted from a sleepless night with Xiao Qingxuan, was about to doze off when the young lady suddenly asked, "Lin San, where is Miss Xiao from?"
Lin Wanrong replied, "Probably from the capital." Xiao Qingxuan had not disclosed her background, and Lin Wanrong respected her enough not to inquire.
Xiao Yuruo hummed, giving him a disdainful look, and said, "She's incredibly beautiful. A celestial being like her, I wonder how she ended up with you. Surely, you used some despicable means to deceive her."
Lin Wanrong felt a bit ashamed, knowing that without the aphrodisiac's help, his relationship with Xiao Qingxuan would indeed be uncertain. However, he found the young lady underestimating him and retorted, "We are genuinely attracted to each other. It's not as vulgar as you think."
Xiao Yuruo snorted without saying anything. Lin Wanrong took out his package, held the firearm in his hand, and admired it.
In this era, a firearm was a rare item, especially a double-barreled one with high craftsmanship. Lin Wanrong heard that it was a gift brought from the West by Old York specifically for Xiao Qingxuan. It was said to be the only one in the entire Great Hua. Lin Wanrong might be the only person in the Great Hua who owned a firearm.
Thinking of Xiao Qingxuan, warmth filled Lin Wanrong's heart. He had a unique connection with this girl, a feeling of understanding. The aphrodisiac and the firearm were perfect treasures for him, and he felt grateful for Tao Dongcheng's schemes. If not for him, Lin Wanrong and Xiao Qingxuan might never have had this opportunity.
Despite having obtained 40-50% of Xiao Qingxuan's skills and having received the firearm from her, Lin Wanrong had no intention of living off her. Eating a free meal? No way. Someone like Xiao Qingxuan, relying on her father's charm, could anyone else conquer her completely, both mentally and physically? Lin Wanrong relied on his strength, scoffing at the accusation of being a freeloader.
"Lin San, why did Tao Dongcheng bring soldiers to rescue us?" Xiao Yuruo pondered suddenly.
"Rescue us? Haha, that sounds nice. Do you really think he came to rescue us? With his father being a manufacturer in Suzhou, can he command the troops of Jiangsu just for the sake of us?" Lin Wanrong asked.
Xiao Yuruo nodded, "There's something suspicious about it. When Tao Dongcheng attacked the mountain last night, I didn't see many bandits from the White Lotus Cult. If they escaped, why did they leave me behind?"
Lin Wanrong sighed, appreciating Xiao Yuruo's calm and analytical mind, "Miss, think about why those White Lotus bandits treated you so politely. Is it just because they hoped the madam would bring gold to ransom you?"
This was also the puzzle in Xiao Yuruo's mind. Lin Wanrong continued, "You were unconscious yesterday, and when you woke up, there were no bandits around. Then, Tao Young Master conveniently arrived."
Involving serious matters, Xiao Yuruo demonstrated her keen mind, "Are you suggesting that Tao Dongcheng is in cahoots with the White Lotus Cult? His father may have status and wealth. Why would he associate with them?"
Lin Wanrong had a rough idea but didn't want to reveal it. He shook his head, "I don't know the specific reasons."
Xiao Yuruo fell silent. Lin Wanrong changed the topic, "Miss, does our Xiao family have business branches in the capital? How is the business there?"
Xiao Yuruo replied seriously, "Of course, Jinling is under the Emperor's feet, with numerous high-ranking officials and noble people. How could I ignore it? Besides Jiangsu, Jinling is our Xiao family's most significant business. After resolving matters here this year, I plan to expand there next spring."
Lin Wanrong was delighted. He wanted to go to Jinling, not just for Xiao Qingxuan. Now hearing that the young lady planned to expand the business there next spring, he naturally agreed wholeheartedly. Occupying Jinling and Jinling simultaneously? The servants of the Xiao family had an interesting sense of humor, and Lin Wanrong was starting to enjoy this feeling. Playing the role of a tiger, who wouldn't enjoy it?
"Why are you so happy?" Xiao Yuruo suddenly asked coldly, "Is it because Miss Xiao is in Jinling, and you want to see her?"
Lin Wanrong chuckled, "Two birds with one stone."
Xiao Yuruo glared at him, lips pursed, and said, "She left, you know."
Lin Wanrong raised an eyebrow, "Did she? Well, that's great. Now I won't have to worry about what trouble she might cause. Although she had deep feelings for me, her tendency to kill is concerning. Maybe it's for the best."
Lin Wanrong knew exactly why Xiao Qingxuan left. Seeing the saddened expression on Xiao Yuruo's face, he thought she might be genuinely infatuated with Xiao Qingxuan. But then, the young master continued, "She left, and now I have to find some excuse to visit my Dongmei again."
Lin Wanrong couldn't help but scold him silently. This guy deserved his contempt.
With Xiao Yuruo safely back, the Xiao residence was bustling with activity. Lin Wanrong, however, noticed the absence of a certain figure in the crowd – Xue Yingshuang. He anxiously grabbed the young master, "Young Master, where is Miss Xue?"
The young master sighed, "Cousin,
Miss Xue said she has some business to attend to and left early this morning."
"Business? What kind of business does she have in Jinling?" Lin Wanrong asked in surprise.
The young master raised his eyebrows, "Who knows? Probably some family matters. Cousin, why are you so concerned about Miss Xue? Are you interested in her?"
Lin Wanrong sneered, "Young Master, Miss Xue and I have a deep relationship. Her business is my business."
The young master's eyes widened, "Deep relationship? What kind of relationship is that?"
Lin Wanrong replied solemnly, "She owes me money."
The young master laughed uproariously, "Haha, you're quite straightforward! If Miss Xue owed me money, I'd consider her my sworn sister."
Lin Wanrong felt annoyed. This guy only knew how to laugh, never understanding the urgency of the matter. Lin Wanrong decided to visit the Xue residence personally to find out what happened.
Upon arriving, Lin Wanrong was disappointed to hear that Xue Yingshuang had left for the capital.
"The capital again?" Lin Wanrong was puzzled.
The servant explained, "Miss Xue received a letter from her family, saying there's an urgent matter requiring her presence in the capital."
Lin Wanrong was not convinced. There was something strange about Xue Yingshuang's departure, but without more information, he couldn't figure it out. He decided to go to the capital as well. If the capital was the center of power, perhaps he could find more opportunities there.
Xue Yingshuang's departure saddened Lin Wanrong, but he quickly shifted his focus to the upcoming expansion in Jinling. The business of the Xiao family was about to take a new turn, and Lin Wanrong was excited about the challenges and opportunities that lay ahead.
As for the mysterious connection between Tao Dongcheng and the White Lotus Cult, it remained a puzzle for now. Lin Wanrong was determined to keep a close eye on Tao Dongcheng and uncover the truth behind their alliance.
And so, Lin Wanrong prepared to embark on a new journey, leaving behind the mountains and rivers of Jiangsu, heading towards the bustling city of Jinling, where his destiny awaited.