The richest woman committed a crime with her child - Chapter 17

Xu Mei patted Wu Mengying’s shoulder, comforting her, “But his methods are usually used against men, you’re a woman, so there’s no need to worry.”

She was unaware that from the moment Shen Youting had known of Wu Mengying’s existence, he had never given her a proper glance, let alone noticed, as Xu Mei had, that Wu Mengying was different from men.

Wu Mengying was indifferent; her performance today had served its purpose.

She took Xu Mei’s hand and urged, “Let’s go horseback riding again, I will definitely learn today.”

It was Xu Mei’s first time being a teacher, so she was naturally attentive. She turned to instruct the servant to bring the horses, and after the servant had taken a few steps, she added, “Bring out Swiftwind.”

Swiftwind was the very steed Shen Youting had ridden the day before, a prized horse he had bought at great expense from the Mongols.

………………

At noon, the largest restaurant in Yingtian Prefecture, “Flavor Tower,” was bustling with activity.

Shen Youting, dressed in black summer clothes, sat in a private room on the second floor overlooking the main street with the portly manager Wang from Beiping and the chief accountant of the Xu family, Zhao Fanglin. The table was laden with local specialties of Yingtian Prefecture.

Manager Wang raised his glass: “Young Master Shen, following your method, I actually managed to get in touch with the Prince of Yan’s residence. You truly have vision. This toast is to you. Mr. Zhao, join us.”

Shen Youting clinked glasses with him, his voice indifferent: “Manager Wang, you flatter me.”

“Young Master Shen, don’t be modest. You are the most business-savvy person I’ve ever met. With you in the Xu family, it’s only a matter of time before it becomes the wealthiest merchant family in the Great Ming.”

Shen Youting lowered his eyes, his expression inscrutable, his knuckles white as he gripped the wine cup, veins standing out.

Zhao Fanglin nudged Manager Wang’s elbow and gave Shen Youting a meaningful look.

Manager Wang, being shrewd, quickly poured wine for Shen Youting and said with a smile, “Young Master Shen is a man of great deeds, capable of achieving great things even outside the Xu family. I will have to rely on your support in the future. I’ll drink to that first.”

With that, he tilted his head back and drained his cup.

Zhao Fanglin patted Manager Wang’s shoulder, smoothing things over, “Manager Wang, you’re often in Beiping and not familiar with the situation in Yingtian Prefecture. Master Xu favors the second young lady, and in the future, she is bound to take the lion’s share of the Xu family’s business. Whoever marries the second young lady will have the duty to work for the Xu family.”

Manager Wang was about to say “the second young lady has taken a liking to Young Master Shen,” but considering the implications of Zhao Fanglin’s words, which didn’t seem to align with the rumors, he cupped his hands and said, “I would like to hear more details.”

Zhao Fanglin glanced at Shen Youting, who had stood up and walked to the balcony of the private room, leaning on the railing to look down, seemingly not paying attention to their conversation, so he lowered his voice and said, “This morning I saw a man whose appearance and stature were far inferior to Young Master Shen…”

He hesitated to use the word “kiss,” instead miming the action of kissing the back of a hand, “With a smacking sound, the two hugged each other quite intimately, not avoiding suspicion at all. It seems to me that the second young lady’s good news is near, and we will soon have a new son-in-law.”

“Ah?” Manager Wang was astonished, and in the next moment, his astonishment turned to worry, also lowering his voice like Zhao Fanglin, “So Young Master Shen has been cast aside?”

Zhao Fanglin was about to give an affirmative answer when the sound of clattering hooves and noisy voices came from the road below. Before they could make out what the commotion was about, they heard Shen Youting on the balcony, using his right thumb to press his index finger to his lips and let out a sharp whistle.

It was like a secret signal summoning someone.

On the road, the neighing of the steed “Swiftwind” startled the pedestrians.

(End of Chapter)