Chapter 19 Keeping a Private Stash

Li Xia, noticing that only Pan Xia was by her side, whispered a reminder, "Marquis Zhongyuan's Heir is here."

Zuo Xiangning, upon hearing that Lingxiao had arrived as promised, stood up happily, "I'll go right now."

She had just been worried that the Young Master might change his mind after returning.

Dressed in a light purple gown with a white coat embroidered with pink peach blossoms, she moved lightly on her feet, flitting into the room like a butterfly and bringing with her a whiff of faint jasmine scent.

"The Princely Heir insists on seeing you." Zuo Zimo thought his sister was unaware of Lingxiao's presence and stood up quickly, pulling at Zuo Xiangning's arm and giving her a meaningful look, silently mouthing the words "Mingyue Mountain."

Of course, Zuo Xiangning knew why Lingxiao had come, and with a slightly restrained smile and composed demeanor, she sat opposite Lingxiao and asked with a smile, "What business does the Young Master have with me?"

Lingxiao looked at the bright smile on the young woman's face across from him and said earnestly, "I'm here to discuss the exchange of the mountains that both our families possess."

"Exchange?" Zuo Xiangning's face changed color immediately, what happened to the agreed five thousand taels a year, and now it was an exchange?

The first thought that crossed her mind was that the man before her really had changed his mind again...

Lingxiao watched the young woman opposite him, her tender little face changing from excited delight slowly to surprise and anger, her eyes growing larger and larger, and just as she was about to turn hostile, he smiled and said, "This issue has caused trouble for you because of me, so I'll take responsibility to find a spring for you and also give you an additional one thousand taels of silver..."

"One thousand taels?"

Zuo Xiangning stood up, about to speak, but was stopped by Zuo Zimo at her side, who was frantically giving her meaningful looks, almost popping his eyeballs out.

Zuo Zimo turned to Lingxiao with a smile and said, "One thousand taels of silver, that's quite a lot, how can we accept this generous offer?"

Zuo Xiangning pouted and shoved Zuo Zimo in front of her forcefully, "Third Brother, he clearly..."

"That's about it." Zuo Zimo turned back and squeezed out between his teeth, "Finding a spring is going to cost quite a bit of silver too."

"He yesterday..." Zuo Xiangning almost blurted out in frustration, nearly revealing Lingxiao's visit the night before.

She pushed Zuo Zimo towards the door and said, "My throat's uncomfortable, would you mind getting me a pot of tea, Third Brother?"

"The pot is already full." Zuo Zimo stood stubbornly in place like a stone, whispering an encouragement, "There are plenty of mountains with nice scenery, with one thousand taels we could buy three more..."

"Third Brother—" Zuo Xiangning stamped her foot in frustration.

Lingxiao, having enjoyed the commotion for a while, saw Zuo Xiangning's face turn bright red with annoyance and finally spoke up, "Third Young Master, I prefer hot tea, please help me get a pot of hot tea."

Zuo Zimo, seeing that Marquis Zhongyuan's Heir had spoken, had to pick up the teapot and walk out, not forgetting to give Zuo Xiangning a meaningful look before leaving.

Zuo Xiangning nodded in appeasement to her Third Brother. Once he was satisfied and stepped out the door, she immediately ran up to Lingxiao and demanded angrily, "You promised me five thousand taels a year just last night, and now you've changed your mind?"

"I thought you wanted to keep the annual five thousand taels for yourself, seems I misunderstood?" Lingxiao said innocently.

Zuo Xiangning gave him a look and said, "Of course, it's for me to keep."

"I said one thousand taels in front of your Third Brother to avoid suspicion, planning to give you four thousand taels behind his back..." Lingxiao leaned in closer and whispered, "Does this not meet with your approval?"

Of course, that was more than satisfactory, but previously she hadn't discussed it with him, how could she know his thoughts?

"Then give it to me now." Zuo Xiangning stretched out her hand towards him.

Lingxiao shook his head helplessly, pulling out a silver note from his chest and placing it on her plump little hand, "You don't trust me this much, we'll have trouble cooperating in the future."

"How can I trust you if I don't understand you?" Zuo Xiangning muttered as she unfolded the silver note and instantly frowned, "Why is it only one thousand taels?"

"Isn't it one thousand taels?"

"I want the four thousand taels." Zuo Xiangning glanced towards the door, handed back the silver note of one thousand taels to him, and whispered, "Give me the one thousand taels in front of my Third Brother."

"I didn't bring the silver note for the four thousand taels." Lingxiao took back the one thousand taels silver note and said, "I'll send it to you later."

Zuo Xiangning looked at him doubtfully, "You're not trying to get out of paying it, are you?"

"With your petty mind, do you still expect to receive silver every year?" Lingxiao looked at the woman with a troubled expression, her face wrinkled like a little steamed bun, and couldn't help but laugh, "Rest easy, as long as I'm alive, you won't lack for silver."

Zuo Xiangning's expression couldn't help but become slightly stiff.

She suddenly remembered something. On the day she had fled from the Gu Residence in her previous life, she recalled that Madame Gu, Lady Min, had mentioned: Gu Zhiqing wouldn't be back anytime soon, for he had been invited to Marquis Zhongyuan's Mansion to plan to request the title of Princely Heir for Marquis Zhongyuan's six-year-old legitimate son!

So where was this Princely Heir Lingxiao now?

Clearly, he had fought outnumbered at The Borderlands, repelled the enemy, and transported her elder brother and uncle's bodies back to the capital, having established great merit.

Yet it was Noble Consort Liu's father who had been awarded by His Majesty the Emperor.

And for the second legitimate son of Marquis Zhongyuan to become the Princely Heir, there was only one possibility — the original Princely Heir Lingxiao had died young...

Zuo Zimo entered from outside and saw the two, one standing and one sitting opposite each other, very close, but with Lingxiao's face all smiles while Zuo Xiangning wore a solemn expression. He thought they might have had a dispute and hurriedly went forward to stand between them.

"The water's here, I'll pour each of you a cup."

Zuo Xiangning returned to her original seat.

Lingxiao's heart was filled with suspicion, unable to fathom the meaning behind the expression on her face.

"Here are one thousand taels of silver note." Lingxiao handed the silver note to Zuo Zimo and then took out the transfer agreement for both of them to sign and stamp.

This time, Zuo Xiangning did not raise any objections, and the three of them signed the agreement smoothly.

Lingxiao was also very generous in saying, "In the future, if there's anything you need help with from Mr. Ling, just come to me. I will not shirk."

After Lingxiao left, Zuo Zimo praised him thoroughly for a while.

"Look at how genteel and open-handed the Young Master is, you can't find a single flaw. With such a person, who wouldn't want to make his acquaintance?"

Zuo Xiangning was both exasperated and amused as she said, "Do you also want to make his acquaintance? Then you can cough up one thousand taels of silver for him yourself and say that you'll give him the mountain for nothing, as your first meeting gift to him. I think he would find you generous too, worth befriending."

"Too vulgar!" Zuo Zimo gently rapped his sister's head, "The friendship of gentlemen is as plain as water. How can you measure it with vulgar objects like gold and silver?"

"Ah! So my third brother regards silver as a vulgar object?" Zuo Xiangning covered her head and ran to one side, laughing, "I was thinking of giving my dear third brother two hundred taels of silver to spend, but now it seems I'd better not commit such a vulgar act that would insult my brother's refined tastes."

"Zuo Xiangning, I suspect you're itching for a beating if you go three days without one. Are you plotting to tear the roof off this time?"

Madame Jiang, upon hearing that Marquis Zhongyuan's Heir had visited early in the morning, grew worried and came over with Nanny Cai to check. As they approached the courtyard, they heard the brother and sister laughing and frolicking. Smiling, she said to Nanny Cai, "Look at how old they are, still acting like children. How will they ever manage in the future?"

"That's because they are under your wing, with you supporting them." Nanny Cai also smiled.

"You're right! I'm supporting them!" Madame Jiang said with a laugh as she stepped through the courtyard gate, calling out loud, "Who's shouting names so boldly, not even using 'sister' anymore?"

"Mother." The siblings ran to Madame Jiang's side, flanking her left and right, "What brings you here?"

"Grown up and yet still acting like children," Madame Jiang smiled, "Has Marquis Zhongyuan's Heir left?"

"He has." Zuo Xiangning, with a smile, recounted the reason for Marquis Zhongyuan's Heir's visit and handed Madame Jiang the one thousand taels of silver note, "The four hundred taels of principal was mother's investment; the six hundred taels earned should also be considered mother's."

Madame Jiang took it and handed it to Nanny Cai, "Keep this well, after all these years, we finally see some returns."

"Alright!" Nanny Cai said with a smile, "The Third Master and Fourth Miss are truly filial, thinking of their mother first when receiving silver."

Madame Jiang spoke with a laugh, "Give each of the siblings one hundred taels as a reward for their hard work. The rest will be for our Fourth Miss's dowry. I'll add twenty taels of silver and order four extra dishes for the staff in all three courtyards."

Everyone cheered quietly, their excitement akin to a festival.

Zuo Xiangning returned to Xianglan Residence and met with Zhang Rui, who was waiting at the gatehouse.

"I've sold that mountain to Marquis Zhongyuan's Heir. From today onward, you are not allowed to go to that mountain, nor are you allowed to mention anything about it to anyone," Zuo Xiangning commanded sternly.

Zhang Rui respectfully acknowledged with an "Understood."

"Besides, I have another matter I need you to attend to."