The richest woman committed a crime with her child - Chapter 36

“So that’s how it is.”

Xu Mei took the lesson to heart, reclining comfortably with satisfaction. “I learned a lot today, but there were too many men. If we do get to partner with them in the future, I’ll make sure to change that rule barring women from bidding.”

Shen Youting sat beside her, offering a faint smile but saying nothing.

Resting her hands behind her head, Xu Mei turned to look at him. “Speaking of which, I should thank Chen Jingjing today. If she hadn’t argued with you, it might’ve been Wei Rushi accompanying me instead of you.”

Shen Youting scoffed. “If I recall correctly, you seemed quite disappointed that Wei Rushi couldn’t come.”

Xu Mei touched her nose, masking her embarrassment, then changed the subject. “Wei Rushi chased after Chen Jingjing when she stormed off. Don’t you have any thoughts about that?”

“What thoughts do you expect me to have?”

“The storybooks say men are possessive of the women they like—that they get jealous.” She sat up abruptly, studying him. “Don’t you feel that way about Chen Jingjing?”

Shen Youting met her gaze, his eyes dark and unreadable. “What do you think?”

Propping her chin on her hand, Xu Mei mused, “I think you’re not jealous, but you treat her exceptionally well. I really don’t get you… Ow—!”

The carriage jolted, and she lost her balance, nearly toppling sideways. Shen Youting caught her by the shoulder, pulling her upright beside him. “Sit properly.”
“Fine.” She shifted uncomfortably, grumbling, “This isn’t as spacious.” The side seat was narrower than the main bench.

“Quit complaining.” He draped an arm around her shoulders, tucking her against his chest.

Xu Mei immediately fell silent, her usual chatter ceasing abruptly.

Accustomed to her constant talking, Shen Youting found the sudden quiet unusual. He glanced down—only to find her eyes closed.

Soon, her breathing steadied into the even rhythm of sleep.

…

As Shen Youting had predicted, the imperial merchants who had colluded with the Jiangning Weaving Bureau soon discovered a shortage of the five key materials in the market. After inquiries, they sought him out.

Shen Youting brought Xu Mei to negotiate, and they eventually signed a partnership agreement.

As a bonus, Xu Mei secured the task of designing winter garment patterns for the imperial consorts—though the final selection would be determined through a competition with the veteran tailors employed by the merchants. Still, at just seventeen, she considered it a victory. “Just getting to participate is a win,” she declared, thoroughly pleased.

For days, she immersed herself in drafting designs. After over ten days of intense work, she finally submitted her finished sketches to the guild for final judgment.

On her return, she spotted a servant at the gate speaking with an unfamiliar courier, the servant’s expression uneasy.
Once the courier left, Xu Mei beckoned the servant over. “What did that man want?”

“Replying to the young miss, he was the attendant of Luo Yangming, the eldest son of General Luo. He came to deliver an invitation for the eldest miss to a banquet. This is the letter.” The servant handed her an envelope addressed to “Eldest Miss Jingjing of the Xu Family.”

“The eldest miss has been in a foul mood these past days, forbidding any disturbances. I didn’t dare deliver this to her.”

The Xu household servants lived by an unspoken rule: When the eldest miss was angry, keep a ten-foot distance—or face punishment. But when the young miss was upset, attentive care was rewarded.

Knowing he’d gain nothing but trouble by delivering the letter now, the servant had hesitated.

Xu Mei tapped her chin thoughtfully. “Give it to me.”

The servant brightened instantly, eagerly passing her the letter. “Thank you, young miss!”

She waved him off. “Go on with your work.”

The servant practically skipped away, relief lightening his steps.

Fanning herself with the envelope, Xu Mei’s eyes sparkled with mischief. Soon, she was heading toward Chen Jingjing’s quarters.

The maid there, Xiao Hong, was indeed tense, her voice hushed as she greeted Xu Mei. “Young miss, you’ve come.”

“What’s got Chen Jingjing so worked up?” Xu Mei asked lazily, still fanning herself.

Xiao Hong shook her head timidly. “A few days ago, the eldest miss returned from outside with a book and has been in a terrible mood since. She refuses to see anyone.”

“Has Shen Youting visited?”

“Young Master Shen has been busy managing salt shipments across the provinces. He hasn’t come by.”

Peering into the room, Xu Mei ordered, “Bring me that book she brought back.”

The maid hesitated, biting her lip, but after a moment, she slipped inside and returned with a blue-bound volume. “Young miss, I took this while the eldest miss was asleep. Could you… just look through it here?”

Xu Mei had no intention of taking it—she just wanted to see what had provoked Chen Jingjing’s rage. She nodded in agreement.

The cover read “The Shepherd God’s Chronicles.”

Flipping to the title page, she found the author’s pen name: Mengmengsheng.
Xu Mei recognized it immediately—Wu Mengying’s pseudonym for her romance novels, including The Mischievous Little Sister Outwits the Domineering Prince, which Shen Youting had once dunked in water.

She could guess why Chen Jingjing was furious.

If memory served right, the book Qiu Chigong had bought that day was titled The Celestial Chronicles.
“Bring me The Celestial Chronicles,” she instructed.

Xiao Hong complied.

Xu Mei opened the latter book’s title page—and burst out laughing. The author’s name was none other than Chen Jingjing herself.

Mengying had once said writers often used pen names to avoid embarrassment—if their work was poorly received, readers wouldn’t know their real identity. She herself had adopted one to keep her early, racy novels a secret.

But Chen Jingjing hadn’t bothered with a pseudonym…

Xu Mei tapped her chin, amused. Of course. Using her real name makes it easier for everyone to know who she is! Her “literary fame” gave her more prestige than merely being the Xu family’s illegitimate daughter ever could.

After skimming ten pages of each book, Xu Mei snorted. “Well, this is interesting.”

Xiao Hong, baffled, scratched her head. “Young miss, perhaps you’d like to read in the study? The sunlight here is harsh on the eyes.”

What she really feared was Chen Jingjing storming out and unleashing her fury on Xu Mei—who, in turn, would escalate the conflict tenfold, setting the entire Xu estate ablaze with their feud.

Xu Mei arched a brow, her grin widening. “Since Shen Youting’s too busy, I’ll go cheer up Chen Jingjing myself.”

“Huh?!” Xiao Hong panicked but didn’t dare stop her, trailing anxiously as Xu Mei strode to the chamber door.
“Chen Jingjing!” Xu Mei called, standing at the threshold, fanning herself with both books. Her beautiful face was alight with triumph, her voice ringing with glee. “I’ve been too busy to check on you these past days, but the moment I’m free, I hear the whole household’s tiptoeing around you—apparently, you’re furious?”

(End of Chapter)