Xue Susu frowned slightly.
"Zhang Juzheng refused to come?" She sighed, feeling somewhat regretful.
"He's overworked to the point of premature aging. It's understandable that he declined. But the capital's elite will be gathered here. How many can compare to Zhang Juzheng? Without him, this charity auction… lacks a certain refinement."
Xue Susu spoke to herself, then remembered the merchant, Fan Zhe.
"A mere merchant, daring to refuse my invitation?" Xue Susu smiled. "Lu Zhu, did you offend him?"
Lu Zhu's lie was exposed, but she quickly defended herself. "No, Mistress! It was that Fan Zhe who was rude. He said his Fan Clan Trading Company never conducts business with brothels and disdains associating with you."
"Oh?"
Xue Susu wasn't angry. She shook her head.
"The Great Chu's Fan Clan are shrewd businessmen. Even without business dealings, it's still beneficial to make friends. Why would that young Master Fan refuse my invitation for such a reason? You silly girl, daring to lie to me?"
Xue Susu gently tapped Lu Zhu's forehead with her finger, a light 'dong' sounding.
Lu Zhu immediately conceded.
"Mistress, I was wrong. If you're upset, I'm willing to go to the Fan residence again and ensure Young Master Fan accepts the invitation."
Xue Susu shook her head with a smile. "There's no need. Who is Fan Zhe? Just the Fan Clan Trading Company's representative in the Great Ming. With my current status and reputation in Qinhuai, he's not worthy of me sending an invitation twice. Unless… it's the true owner of the Fan Clan Trading Company."
Lu Zhu's eyes lit up. "Mistress, are you referring to the current Marquis Liyang, Fan Zhengming?"
"You're truly foolish." Xue Susu tapped Lu Zhu's forehead again, then said, "The true master of the Great Chu's Fan Clan has always been just one person…"
"The traitor, Fan Li!" Lu Zhu finally gave the correct answer.
…
"Achoo!"
Fan Li sneezed and Lu Fubao, holding baby Diao Chan, quickly turned away.
"If you're sick, go see Yu Shenzi. Don't infect our daughter."
Fan Li was exasperated.
Although they were playing the roles of a family of three, Lu Fubao's use of the word "daughter" sounded incredibly natural.
He glanced at Diao Chan. Her cheeks were rosy, and she slept soundly. But there were traces of dried milk around her mouth.
"Is she breastfed?" Fan Li asked.
"Of course."
Lu Fubao looked at him strangely, wondering why he would ask such a childish question. If the baby wasn't breastfed, was she supposed to be eating rice and vegetables?
Fan Li was a typical hands-off father. He had the title but never bothered with the details of Diao Chan's care. He had been in the Ming capital for over a month and hadn't even noticed what the baby ate.
"You're breastfeeding her?"
Fan Li asked his second question, and Lu Fubao's face instantly flushed crimson.
"Are you trying to kill me?! I… How could I possibly breastfeed her? Your uncle hired wet nurses, you idiot!"
Fan Li was completely clueless about household matters, but Old Fan, nearly a hundred years old and a skilled manager, had naturally arranged everything perfectly.
Thus, Fan Li finally learned that there were three wet nurses in the household, taking turns breastfeeding Diao Chan.
As they were speaking, Yu Shenzi requested an audience. He and Jing Wudi had accompanied Fan Li on this trip to the Great Ming. One possessed extraordinary combat prowess, the other, mysterious techniques.
"Nephew, it's time for your medicine," Yu Shenzi said, placing a small wooden box on the table.
Disguise Pills.
One pill a day, for three consecutive days, would maintain the disguise for a month. It was a perfect disguise, unlike secret techniques or illusions. It was impossible to detect.
For example, Fan Li, although still handsome, no longer had his usual scholarly elegance. He now possessed a worldly, almost martial, handsomeness.
Lu Fubao's appearance had also changed significantly. She had originally resembled a young lady from a scholarly family. Now, she appeared intellectual and gentle, fitting the image of a virtuous wife and mother.
As for Yu Shenzi and Jing Wudi, they were reclusive individuals. They only had to slightly adjust their attire and didn't need to disguise themselves.
Fan Li had just swallowed the Disguise Pill when Jing Wudi, dressed as a guard, entered the room.
"Nephew."
He also addressed Fan Li in this manner.
"This humble one has explored the streets surrounding the Heavenly Prison. There are over a hundred Nascent Soul Realm cultivators guarding the perimeter. It's unclear whether there are experts stationed inside, but this humble one suspects there must be."
Fan Li was disappointed. He had spent a month arranging various errands for Jing Wudi, allowing him to appear near the Heavenly Prison without arousing suspicion.
Unfortunately, breaking into the Heavenly Prison was impossible.
Even if Jing Wudi could kill all hundred Nascent Soul Realm cultivators, how long would it take? And how many reinforcements would arrive during that time? Moreover, there were experts inside the prison.
"Breaking into the prison is impossible. Intercepting a prisoner transport is also impossible. Therefore, I can only find a way to clear Hu Zongxian's name."
Coming from anyone else, this statement would have been ludicrous. Hu Zongxian's crime wasn't the defeat at Yunzhou City. It was that he had to take the blame for Crown Prince Wanli.
How could such a crime be cleared?
But Fan Li had said it. Yu Shenzi, Jing Wudi, and the others present believed he could do it.
"How do you plan to do that?" Lu Fubao asked curiously.
Fan Li pondered for a long time. "There are no more than three people in the Great Ming who can clear Hu Zongxian's name."
"Who are they?" Lu Fubao asked hastily.
Fan Li held up three fingers. "Emperor Jiajing, Grand Secretary Yan Song, and Junior Grand Secretary Xu Jie."
He lowered one finger. "Hu Zongxian is a member of the Yan faction. Xu Jie would rather die than clear his name. Therefore, my only options are Emperor Jiajing and Yan Song."
Emperor Jiajing hadn't pardoned Hu Zongxian, but he also hadn't executed him. He was playing a game of balance.
He was balancing the struggle between the Yan faction and the Xu faction.
With Fan Li's current identity, he couldn't possibly meet Emperor Jiajing. Therefore, the best option was Yan Song.
"Yan Song's son, Yan Shifan, is the Minister of Works. With my status as a Chu merchant, it would be reasonable for me to have dealings with Yan Shifan, who is responsible for water management, civil engineering, construction, transportation, and government-run industries. But if I deliberately visit him, it will arouse suspicion. Ideally, I could create an opportunity to 'accidentally' encounter Yan Shifan."
Hearing this, Jing Wudi immediately stepped forward.
"Nephew, this humble one heard on the streets that Yan Shifan has been invited by Grand Master Xue and will attend the charity auction at the Smoke and Waves Pleasure Barge tomorrow night. If you attend the auction, you're bound to meet Yan Shifan."
Jing Wudi finished speaking, unable to hide the smug look on his face. He was Fan Li's muscle, but he was able to offer such a clever suggestion. This alone made him far more useful than that old man, Yu Shenzi.
Jing Wudi glanced at Yu Shenzi triumphantly, then noticed that Fan Li hadn't reacted.
"Uh… Is my suggestion not good?" Jing Wudi asked nervously.
"Good, very good, excellent." Fan Li's face contorted in pain. "It's just… I just refused Xue Susu's invitation, and her maid took the invitation back…"