Chapter 124: 123 Almost Made Me Embarrassed in Front of A-Yin! (Seeking Monthly Votes!)

"Your target isn't those out-of-town Grain Merchants?"

After a moment of thought, Liu Qingmei asked, puzzled.

She felt as if she understood something, yet she couldn't quite grasp the crux of it.

Ning Mu smiled, his expression calm as he said, "At first, I did intend to trick the out-of-town Grain Merchants, but He Daqian courted his own death, so I changed the strategy on the fly."

Liu Qingmei blinked; she knew the plan Ning Mu and Pi Taiyu had discussed initially was to draw the out-of-town Grain Merchants in.

But she didn't quite understand the current situation.

The Official Market and the Jin Family were the keys to controlling grain prices; logically, once prices started to drop, they shouldn't be able to rebound.

And if they did rebound, there could only be one reason.

That would be that the Official Market and the Jin Family had insufficient reserves.

The reaction this would bring would undoubtedly be a raging storm! The out-of-town Grain Merchants would surely unite with the local Grain Merchants, and grain prices would no longer be under any control, completely skyrocketing all the way.

Since this result was inevitable, why did the Official Market and the Jin Family suddenly lower prices, only to then act as if they couldn't control the situation, appearing as though they were beyond their depth?

There must be some trickery in this.

And since Xiao Mu also said he wanted to make the Tan Family go bankrupt and bring about the downfall of He Daqian, how could this scheme... achieve that step? Liu Qingmei waited quietly for Ning Mu's follow-up.

"Prefect Pi has brought the local Grain Merchants under control and is buying up grain from them at the standard market price—of course, excluding He Daqian."

"He is the only sacrifice in this disaster."

"What do you mean?" Liu Qingmei pressed.

"This first step of lowering prices was meant for those out-of-town Grain Merchants to see."

"Having held out for so long, most of them dare not delay any further; after all, no one knows if the Imperial Court has sent disaster relief grain down."

"If the Imperial Court has measures or other relief, the grain in their hands will only be fit to feed the fish in Xizi Lake. There are too many variables, and most of them cannot afford to gamble!"

"At this time, I will send Zhang Lao, Jiang Fuling, Tong Shankuang, and the Shopkeepers under Jin Xiangyu to buy some grain for our own use, but we will spread the word that we are buying up grain from the foreign merchants on a massive scale."

Ning Mu smiled faintly.

At this moment.

A flying horse was seen approaching rapidly from the distance.

Liu Qingmei's eyes flickered; she seemed to have figured it out, yet it felt as if she hadn't fully understood.

Just then.

But just as her resentful gaze landed on Ning Mu.

Ning Mu began to explain again.

He didn't give her any chance to plead for mercy with her eyes!

"The current rebound in grain prices and the rumors we spread are all a show for He Daqian to see."

"Additionally, I arranged a good play for him: Prefect Pi's concubine has always been an inside agent planted by He Daqian in the Prefectural Office. I told Prefect Pi about this, and he was actually aware of it himself."

"Thus, Prefect Pi used the concubine as a line to pass information to He Daqian that the Official Market and the Jin Family were running out of steam, which became the firewood that completely trapped him in this pot!"

"If my guess is correct, the person coming to report should be talking about this."

Ning Mu gestured with his chin toward the flying horse galloping toward them.

As soon as he finished speaking.

Liu Qingmei and Ye Yin had not yet recovered their senses.

At this time.

The flying horse stopped, and a young man wearing the disciple robes of Cangjian Villa jumped off, trotted over, and stood still in front of Ning Mu.

"Madam, Eldest Miss, Young Master." Huang Yutang cupped his hands and greeted them one by one according to their status.

"Mm, tell me the situation." Ning Mu waved his hand, signaling Huang Yutang to speak directly.

This person was Liu Qingmei's trusted aide at Cangjian Villa!

The son of the Steward of the Liutang County Liu Family, Huang Yutang.

Huang Yutang nodded and said, "Our people have seen that He Daqian arranged for over a dozen Shopkeepers; some went to the docks, others to the inns, and without exception, they were all places where the out-of-town Grain Merchants are staying."

"It's done."

Ning Mu clapped his hands and smiled.

Liu Qingmei also could not suppress the excitement and agitation in her heart; her beautiful eyes swirled with a mix of faint resentment and joy, and a deep red flush flowed across her face.

But at this moment, everyone's focus was not on her.

If one were to pay a little attention.

One could see that her legs were trembling imperceptibly, and the fists hidden in her sleeves were clenched very tightly.

Her curvaceous body was even more tense.

Clearly.

She was trying her best to endure something! Ye Yin was still a bit confused.

She didn't seem to understand what exactly had happened.

However, before she could ask, the Cangjian Disciple continued: "There is one more thing, Young Master."

"Oh? What is it?"

The Cangjian Disciple said: "I saw He Daqian leave the Tan Mansion and go to Qian Wu at the Underground Pawnshop. He stayed for about half an incense stick's time before coming out. Looking at his expression, he was very happy; he must have borrowed a sum of money from Qian Wu."

"Additionally, Tan Ruyi also left the Tan Mansion, took servants carrying two large chests to the Pawnshop, and when she came out, the chests were gone. Then she also went to the Yantian Bank."

Hearing this, Ning Mu paused.

Then he shook his head gently and smiled faintly: "It seems they are a bit desperate. I only intended to make him go bankrupt, but I didn't expect them to seek their own deaths. I can't be blamed for wiping them out completely."

Ning Mu narrowed his eyes and asked: "How is the situation over at the Prefect's side?"

The Cangjian Disciple hurriedly reported: "Five or six families have already agreed to give up the grain in their hands at the market price, which is enough to last for half a month!"

"Only five or six families?" Ning Mu frowned slightly.

"Go back and keep watching; report to me whenever there is news."

"Understood!"

The Hidden Sword Disciple nodded, offered apologies to Liu Qingmei and Ye Yin respectively, then vaulted onto his horse and returned to continue his work.

"Is it not enough? Do you want to think of other ways?"

Seeing a faint trace of worry between Ning Mu's brows, Liu Qingmei could not hold back, and immediately asked with a slightly flushed face.

"Also, He Daqian knows you are aware of his relationship with Yu Ji, and that you hold his secrets; why would he still fall for it?" A look of confusion appeared between Liu Qingmei's brows.

Ning Mu smiled and shook his head, saying: "Actually, I am also gambling. Even if he understands that this might be a trap set for him, with huge profits placed before him, and coupled with the fact that no news has spread that Yu Ji has been controlled by Prefect Pi, people always harbor a sense of luck. Compared to the profits, this bit of risk is almost outside the scope of his consideration!"

"What's more, he also knows that the assassins he sent have all been controlled by me, and that I have already torn off the mask with him. Furthermore, I have you, a Grandmaster, behind me, and he even has an irreconcilable enemy in Prefect Pi. At this time, he can only make himself stronger to reach higher power or Martial Dao experts, so that both I and Prefect Pi would not dare to strike at him. To make us wary of him, he must jump out of Yonghang, and there are only two paths before him."

"Either flee with his family, or, as he is doing now, develop the Tan Family further and reach higher power."

"And his business is one of zero-cost, high-profit; the Tan Family's business is ultimately the Tan Family's. He is merely a Matrimonial Son-in-law; dragging the Tan Family into the water is, for him, far more cost-effective than running away!"

Ning Mu smoothed his brow, speaking his analysis.

As for the grain in the hands of the local Grain Merchants, it was not that it wasn't enough; the key was not to let them turn against him! Just at this moment.

A wisp of fragrant breeze drifted over.

Liuli was seen drifting over, landing steadily before the three of them.

"Little Friend Ning, is the grain not enough? This nun has raised five hundred thousand catties of grain for you; can it resolve your urgent need?"

Liuli appeared with an arrogant expression, and the look in her eyes as she watched Ning Mu carried a hint of triumphant light.

Ning Mu was startled and asked in surprise: "Where did the Shitai get so much grain?"

Liuli pursed her lips and said calmly: "Little friend might not know, but monks and nuns are not very good at business, yet they are very good at farming. Every temple possesses a considerable amount of land, and coupled with the donations and alms from some patrons, each temple has accumulated quite a bit of grain."

The implication was that this five hundred thousand catties of grain had all been borrowed from the temples.

Ning Mu was even more shocked, staring at Liuli with a look of horror, and asked: "Even if there is a lot of grain in the temples, would they be willing to lend you five hundred thousand catties just because you asked?"

Liuli blinked and said with an indifferent expression: "Not lend, it's a gift!"

"My master, Bolu, they still give this bit of face."

"Little friend only needs to say if it's enough; if not, shall I go find them and get another few hundred thousand catties?"

These words seemed casual, but if they were to reach the ears of those local monks in Yonghang, especially Zen Master Hui'an of the number one temple, Jikong Temple, they would likely go mad!

The closed-door disciple of the dignified Poluo Chanshi, a beautiful nun who looked transcendent and like a banished immortal, was actually so savage in her behavior.

She had forcibly used martial force to overturn the Daxiong Baodian of two Jikong Temples, under the fine-sounding excuse of reshaping the golden bodies of the Buddha halls.

That goes without saying.

She had actually beaten Zen Master Hui'an until his nose was bruised and his face was swollen, and only after he brought out three hundred thousand catties of grain to settle the matter did she let him go.

Afterwards, Liuli repeated the same trick, traveling back and forth to other temples multiple times.

Five hundred thousand catties of grain were thus gathered by her.

As a loyal believer of the Bodhi Buddha and a closed-door disciple of Poluo Chanshi, if these various misdeeds were to spread, where would the face of the Buddha be, where would the face of Poluo Chanshi be, and where would the face of the entire Buddhist path be placed!

"Enough, enough, enough. If it's really not enough, I'll find you again." Ning Mu hurriedly waved his hands.

Although he did not know exactly what method Liuli used to get so much grain.

But it surely wasn't a good method.

After all, in this day and age, apart from cultivation resources, grain is the most precious thing.

Even if Liuli Shitai is a disciple of Poluo Chanshi, when all is said and done, she is only from Bolu Ciyun Temple, far away in Baisha City. With the mountains high and the road long, how could she demand that the temples in Yonghang City give grain just because she asked, and fifty thousand catties at that!

In this, there must inevitably be some human sentiment and worldly wisdom involved.

"Alright then, this nun will go urge them. See you tomorrow!"

Liuli glanced thoughtfully at Liu Qingmei to the side, a hint of oddity appearing in her deep eyes, and then she stood up and flew away directly.

And after Liuli had completely departed.

Liu Qingmei was biting her pearly teeth, enduring with difficulty.

Suddenly.

Ye Yin clapped her palms sharply, and shouted with an expression of inexplicable surprise: "I understand!"

"..."

Liu Qingmei and Ning Mu looked at her simultaneously, their eyes filled with speechlessness. This ability to be slow on the uptake was truly too strong.

"I know now. Brother's move, to put it simply, is to first drop the price significantly to disrupt the market, then buy grain at a high price from outside grain merchants, spreading rumors. At the same time, Prefect Pi and Brother watch over each other from afar, confining the local grain merchants. At this time, when the government and the Jin Firm release news that they are unable to cope, He Daqian will surely move upon hearing the wind, and sweep up all the grain in the hands of the outside grain merchants!"

"Next, relying on the grain in the hands of the local grain merchants, as well as the government grain, and the grain just sent by Divine Nun Ciyun, it will be enough to stabilize the market price, or even make it lower than before!"

"At this time, He Daqian's high-priced purchase of grain from the outside grain merchants will have completely lost its way out!"

"If he follows by lowering the price, he will lose everything down to the last penny. If he stubbornly holds on, that grain can only be used to feed the fish. He also borrowed usury; the name of Qian Wu is not to be trifled with. In this way, the outcome awaiting the Tan Family, I fear, is only one path..."

Speaking to this point, Ye Yin could not help but frown, looking at Ning Mu, and said: "Brother, am I right? If it is like this, then the Tan Family... will be completely gone from now on!"

The destruction of a family, all within Ning Mu's single thought; this could not help but make Ye Yin feel terrified in her heart! She could not help but recall before, when she had incited her Senior Brother to go and cause trouble for her brother.

If he were to be petty like her, she feared she would have helped him count the money even after being sold!

This interlocking chain of schemes—if she hadn't heard the conclusion, with her brain, she wouldn't have understood it at all! Ning Mu smiled and nodded.

At this time.

Liu Qingmei, who could no longer hold on, took a deep breath, and then looked at Ye Yin, trying her best to keep her tone normal, but still clutching her lower abdomen, she said with difficulty: "A Yin, you, umph~ you go look at that porridge-dispensing station over there, see if the grain is still enough, *huff*—is still enough!"

"Oh."

Ye Yin pouted her little mouth and nodded, still immersed in the brilliance and terror of her cheap brother's scheme, and did not notice that her mother's complexion was already extremely abnormal! Subconsciously agreeing, she walked toward the porridge-dispensing station.

And after Ye Yin had left for a moment.

Finally.

Liu Qingmei could no longer hold herself up; her knees went soft, and she collapsed directly into Ning Mu's embrace.

"Mm~ Has she, has she gone far?"

Liu Qingmei's eyes were dazed; the blinding sunlight made it nearly impossible for her to open her eyes, which were brimming with a watery sheen.

A moving, rosy flush had already spread across her fair, delicate skin.

Feeling the warmth and softness in his arms and smelling her orchid-like breath, Ning Mu could not help but feel his heart throb uncontrollably.

Supporting her warm, shapely buttocks with one hand and her slender, boneless waist with the other, Ning Mu chuckled softly: "She's gone, don't worry!"

"Oh~ woo~"

It was almost the very moment Ning Mu's words fell.

Liu Qingmei closed her eyes with a look of blissful relief, and two lines of clear tears slid from the corners of her eyes.

Even with her eyes closed, one could still see a thick, leisurely spring breeze lingering upon her flushed, pretty face.

As if a long-held, stifled breath were being slowly exhaled from her cinnabar-red lips.

It seemed as though a watery, misty aura was brimming and swirling.

After a long while.

Finally.

She recovered slightly.

She opened her eyes.

"Ah!"

Seeing Ning Mu staring at her with a strange smile, Liu Qingmei was startled, her heart pounding wildly; she immediately straightened her body and jumped out of his arms.

After letting out a shy exclamation, Liu Qingmei's face turned as red as blood, her beautiful peach-blossom eyes flickering with shyness and timidity as she glanced away in a panic.

"What are you looking at!"

"Hmph, you brat, you've gone too far; you almost made me lose face in front of A Yin..."

Liu Qingmei looked at him with reproach, feeling incredibly annoyed.

Her bright, charming face was adorably flushed with shyness.

A dignified Martial Arts Grandmaster and the Manor Mistress of Cangjian Villa was, at this moment, displaying such a maiden-like demeanor.

If the people of Cangjian Villa were to see this, or if Ye Bufan were to see it, they would surely be astonished.

Could it be that some evil spirit was at work, possessing her!

And just as Liu Qingmei was feeling shy and annoyed.

Suddenly.

In the distance, three fast horses were seen galloping over.

Before long.

They were brought over by Ye Yin.

"Mother, these are messengers sent by the Clan Elders."

Hearing this, Liu Qingmei immediately composed herself, shot Ning Mu a glance to warn him to mind the occasion, and then beckoned to the three messengers.

"Mistress, these three letters were sent by the Clan Elders and the Young Master, respectively, for us to deliver."

One of the messengers gathered the three letters together and handed them to Liu Qingmei.

"Mm, go and rest."

Liu Qingmei waved her hand, signaling for Ye Yin to take them away to rest and have a bowl of porridge to replenish their strength.

Afterwards.

She opened the letters.

After reading the first letter, her expression clearly turned ugly.

She hurriedly tore open the second one.

Followed by the third.

After reading all three letters, her face was as gloomy as water!

"Xiao Mu, I'm afraid I have to go back!"

After reading the letters, Liu Qingmei gazed toward the direction of Jinshui Town, her eyes flowing with cold killing intent and desolation.

Ning Mu was startled upon hearing this.

What was written in these three letters? Why did Liu Qingmei's expression change so drastically after reading them? Almost subconsciously, he hurriedly asked: "What is it, has Ye Bufan... has the Villa Master woken up?"

Liu Qingmei shook her head and handed the letters directly to him.

Ning Mu took them and scanned through them one by one; after finishing, his heart was also shocked.

The first letter stated that Li Qingxiao of the Fengmo Sword Sect had come knocking again, this time accompanied by the Grandmaster Liang Zhengang of the Lieyang Sect; the two joined forces to defeat Ye Qingxian and reclaim the Fengmo Sword Manual.

Ye Qingxian was critically injured and unconscious, urging Liu Qingmei to return quickly with Ye Yin.

The second letter.

Zheng Xiongjiang, a Duyi of the Imperial Court's Zhenwu Division, had arrived with Small School officers to seal the Dragon Rhyme Spirit Field belonging to Cangjian Villa, confiscated all Spirit Items in the Spirit Field, and ordered the Ye Family to make up for all Spirit Item supplies exceeding their quota over the years within three months, or else they would be wiped out by thunderous means.

It urged Liu Qingmei to return quickly to discuss follow-up matters and to notify the Liu Family to ask her father, Liu Yutu, to come out of retirement to assist and mediate.

The third letter was not sent by the Clan Elders.

It was from Ye Yutan.

The letter said that the Clan Elders asking Liu Qingmei to return was not to discuss the threats from the Zhenwu Division and the Fengmo Sword Sect, but because Li Qingxiao's disciple, Li Yuzhao, had taken a fancy to Ye Yin and was forcing a marriage; intimidated by the threats from the Lieyang Sect and the Fengmo Sword Sect, the Clan Elders were forced to agree and were deceiving them into returning just to hold the wedding.

The Clan Elders were forced to believe that if this marriage could be concluded, they would become in-laws with the Lieyang Sect and the Fengmo Sword Sect, which could resolve the threats posed by these two families.

After all, behind the Lieyang Sect, there was still a True Person, Liang Zhenwu!

After reading these three letters, Ning Mu frowned deeply.

Make Ye Yin and Li Yuzhao marry.

With new grudges and old hatreds added together, let alone Liu Qingmei, even Ye Yin herself could not possibly agree!

As for the rest, Ning Mu is indifferent.

The Dragon Rhyme Spirit Field belongs to the Ye Family; it doesn't have much to do with him.

"Going back won't help either. Since the Clan Elders have already decided, I'm afraid this isn't something you can resolve just by going back!"

Ning Mu said with concern.

Liu Qingmei frowned slightly and sighed: "I must think of some way; I cannot do nothing. I cannot watch A Yin be sold off just like that!"

While speaking.

Liu Qingmei looked at Ye Yin, who was walking toward them, hid the helplessness and worry on her face, and put on a smile.

"Mother, is there any news from home?" Ye Yin asked curiously.

"Nothing." Liu Qingmei smiled slightly, reached out to gently stroke Ye Yin's face, and smiled: "Mother has something to attend to and must go back for a trip. At the earliest three days, at the latest five days. Stay in Yonghang for these few days. If anything happens, look for your elder brother or Second Aunt, understand?"

"Oh." Ye Yin nodded in agreement.

Clearly, there was a hint of unhappiness in her eyes.

Mother doesn't tell her anything anymore, but tells her elder brother instead, hmph.

The three returned to the city.

One cannot return to Jinshui Town empty-handed; Liu Qingmei still has to prepare. To persuade the Clan Elders, she must have some decent benefits to put before them.

【Notification: Congratulations to the Host for completing Task Three. Reward: 800 Cultivation Points, 80 Heroic Couple Points, and a slight increase in Ye Yin's favorability toward Ning Mu!】

【Notification: Because the Host's task completion was perfect, a lucky reward is triggered: Mysterious Silk Palm-Hole Underpants*1, Open-Front Cloud-Pattern Translucent Silk Stockings*1!】

【Notification: Congratulations to the Host. Number One Sub-System owner Liu Qingmei has completed Task Three. Feedback to Host: Task reward of 200 Cultivation Points, 5% Loyalty Value for Liu Qingmei, and an extra feedback reward: Ye Yin's favorability doubled!】

"..."

On the way back, the three of them did not speak.

Seeing that both her mother and elder brother were suddenly acting so silent, Ye Yin couldn't help but look at them curiously.

Liu Qingmei returned directly to the Ye Family Residence.

Ning Mu went to the Yingyue Terrace at Yichun Courtyard, waiting there for news from Huang Yutang, Jiang Fuling, and the others.

He took a bath in the hot spring pool.

Ning Mu sat in the pavilion, rubbing his chin, and sent another task to Liu Qingmei.

【Confirm issuing the following task to Number One Sub-System?】

"Issue!"

(End of chapter)