Chapter 22: Do Not See Him, Tell Him to Get Lost

"It's all caused by the poisonous fumes. Every year, one or two of the mountain patrol laborers end up poisoned to death."

Lu Lan had been raised in a gilded cage; he had never even set foot in a hellish place like Mount Dadong. He looked down at the property appraisal: Mount Dadong, lowest-tier asset, valued at ten thousand taels of silver, price negotiable.

Ten thousand square hectares of forest were worth only ten thousand taels? Lu Lan felt something was amiss. He recalled that in his previous life, Mount Dadong was sold two years later. At that time, his household had been so destitute they could barely afford a meal, so they had sold it for a pittance of eight thousand taels to a merchant named Pang Shiyuan.

It was said that the black stones found there could be processed into fuel to replace wood. The common people bought them eagerly, and sales were excellent. Moreover, Pang Shiyuan had opened up trade routes to the frigid northern regions, where the demand was staggering. Relying solely on this business, Pang Shiyuan rose from an obscure, small-time merchant to become the wealthiest man in the dynasty. Later, he became utterly infatuated and bewitched by Gu Xingwan, a favored concubine of the Crown Prince. Gu Xingwan, knowing full well that money could make even ghosts grind grain, realized the Prince alone was not enough; from then on, Pang Shiyuan became her personal purse.

"Pang Shiyuan, black stones."

Lu Lan suddenly grew interested in these black stones. He would make time to visit Mount Dadong tomorrow.

...

At the hour of the Ox, by the back gate of the Gu residence.

A handsome young nobleman with a scholarly and refined demeanor stood under the corner of the wall, mimicking the call of a cuckoo three times.

In the south wing, Tingzheng tiptoed silently to the bedside of Gu Xingwan to report. "Miss, Master Mei is waiting for you at the back gate."

Tingzheng’s tone was filled with an indescribable joy. Just think, the Master and Mistress had only just gone to the Shangshu residence to break off the engagement; such a stinging slap in the face would have made any other family cut all ties with the Gu family forever. Yet, the fact that Master Mei was willing to come meant he still held the Miss in his heart. How deeply affectionate a man must be to possess such magnanimity. Looking at it from every angle, Tingzheng felt Master Mei was ten thousand times better than that good-for-nothing playboy. Lu Lan? Only a ghost would be willing to marry him.

Gu Xingwan, wearing a soft silk undergarment, lazily turned over. "I won't see him. Tell him to get lost!"

Tingzheng was stunned. "..."

*I suppose that's true,* she thought. *Since the Miss has now lost her virtue to that animal Lu Lan, she must feel guilty toward Master Mei and dare not face him.*

"Miss, Master Mei has been waiting at the back gate for two hours. Please, just go see him!" Master Mei was truly the most miserable, lovesick man in the world, having been dumped by the Miss without rhyme or reason. Tears welled up in the corners of Tingzheng's eyes.

Gu Xingwan looked at this simple-minded, foolish maid and felt utterly helpless. Fine, if she wanted to see the true face of Mei Xianghan, then so be it. "I'm afraid of you, you little ancestor. Help me dress; I will go see him."

"Hee hee, I knew the Miss couldn't bear to see Master Mei heartbroken."

*Heartbroken?* Gu Xingwan thought. *He is eating from his own bowl while eyeing the food in someone else's pot—he’s having the time of his life!*

Gu Xingwan changed into a plain gown and looked toward the jewelry box. "Go fetch that dragon-pearl gold hairpin."

"Oh!" Tingzheng walked over in confusion to retrieve the hairpin.

Gu Xingwan then summoned Nanny Tang. This was a new nanny provided by Lady Song. Nanny Tang was younger than the late Nanny Qin, but they were all the same—spies planted by Lady Song to keep an eye on her. If there were any chance to finish her off, they would never hesitate.

"Nanny Tang, do something for me."

"At your service, Miss." Having just witnessed Nanny Qin's death, Nanny Tang was acting extremely disciplined.

Gu Xingwan pulled a piece of paper from her desk, picked up a brush, wrote a letter, and handed it to Nanny Tang. "Deliver this letter with all haste to the residence of the Zhaowu Captain and give it to Master Zhang Yan."

Tonight, something major was going to happen.

Nanny Tang was bewildered. Zhang Yan? Wasn't that Miss Jian's fiancé?