Chapter Twelve: The Crude Provocation

"Yinzi" money is what one might call usury.

Lenders provide loans at high interest rates, with the principal and interest calculated together at the end of the term, requiring the borrower to pay back in installments. Simply put, if one borrows ten strings of coins for a one-month term at a monthly interest rate of two percent, the total principal and interest for that month amount to ten strings and two hundred coins. Divided by thirty days, the daily repayment of principal and interest comes to three hundred and forty coins. When the original loan is issued, the principal and interest are deducted upfront, and the daily repayments are collected thereafter until the term expires.

When Chen Xijun heard Shen Yi suggesting she borrow "Yinzi" money, she felt as though Shen Yi were a demon. If her father were to find out that she had resorted to usury, he would surely beat her to death.

Chen Xijun hurriedly refused, saying, "No, there is no need!" With that, she left in a rush. Shen Yi watched Chen Xijun fleeing and couldn't help but laugh.

Liu'er, however, asked with confusion, "Miss, isn't Miss Xijun your best friend? Why did you treat her like that today?"

Shen Yi glanced outside the fabric shop and murmured softly, "She is my best friend—or so I once believed."

This left Liu'er even more bewildered. Only Shen Yi knew the truth: if not for the backing of Xiao Huaijin, how could the original owner have ever socialized with the daughters of these high-ranking officials, let alone call them sisters? In short, without Xiao Huaijin, they would never have looked at her with anything but disdain. Now, they only tolerated her because her status as the sworn sister of the Prince of War allowed them to gain some advantage. To put it bluntly, while the original owner was shrewd, she felt deeply inferior in the presence of these people, and thus never stopped to consider their true motives for befriending her.

Shen Yi called over the shopkeeper and asked curiously, "Shopkeeper, have any new goods arrived at the store?"

The shopkeeper replied respectfully, "Miss Shen, the shop has received two bolts of Flowing Cloud Brocade sent from Yunzhou. It is extremely precious. Would you like to take a look?"

Flowing Cloud Brocade! This was a silk unique to Yunzhou, not only smooth and delicate but also incredibly expensive to produce. It was typically priceless and rarely found on the market. Only a shop like the Tianyi Fabric Store could manage to procure it. In fact, Shen Yi had owned Flowing Cloud Brocade before—it was a gift from Xiao Huaijin. However, she hadn't been able to bear using it for herself and had used it all to make clothes for him, using the scraps to make a few handkerchiefs.

Seeing that there was Flowing Cloud Brocade available, Shen Yi said, "Since you have it, bring it out for me to see."

The shopkeeper smiled and retrieved the two bolts, placing them on the counter.

Shen Yi frowned slightly as she looked at the two bolts. It wasn't that they were fake, but they weren't as fine as the ones Xiao Huaijin had given her. She understood why, though; the brocade Xiao Huaijin had provided was tribute sent by Yunzhou to the young Emperor, who had then bestowed it upon him. Naturally, items meant for the royal family were far superior to those found in civilian shops. Nevertheless, Shen Yi intended to buy them, as they were a rare find.

Just as she was about to speak, a voice came from the doorway: "I will buy this Flowing Cloud Brocade!"

Shen Yi turned to look at the speaker. It was Zhao Jiayi, the daughter of the Duke of Anguo. The Duke of Anguo was considered Xiao Huaijin’s teacher and was the previous generation’s "God of War" for the Great Yu Dynasty. Had there not been a precedent in Great Yu against granting royal titles to those outside the imperial family, the Duke would have been the first such king. Although he held no royal title, the previous Emperor had conferred the title of "Lady" upon his daughter, Zhao Jiayi—a hereditary title, meaning that any daughter she had would inherit it after her passing.

Chen Xijun followed behind Zhao Jiayi. Shen Yi was surprised; had Chen Xijun latched onto Zhao Jiayi? It made sense, though—the Duke of Anguo held a first-rank title, while Chen Xijun’s father was only a third-rank official. Even so, Chen Xijun was a noble lady of the capital; her habit of always acting as a follower must have been inherited from her mother.

Zhao Jiayi stepped forward, placed her purse on the counter, and said to the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, I want both of these bolts of Flowing Cloud Brocade!"

The shopkeeper naturally recognized Zhao Jiayi. He hesitated, caught between the Prince of War’s estate and the Duke of Anguo’s estate; he could afford to offend neither. Of course, if he had a choice, he would least like to offend the Prince of War. The Prince was a heartless demon who had slaughtered fifty thousand soldiers of the Great Ye several years prior without even blinking. The shopkeeper looked at Shen Yi and hesitated, "Miss Shen, what do you think?"

Shen Yi’s silver had already been given to Zhang Xilai to settle his accounts. If she bought these two bolts, she would have absolutely nothing left. However, there might still be a way to make money. Shen Yi said, "Shopkeeper, come with me for a moment."

The shopkeeper, fearing that Shen Yi was about to threaten him, walked over with a worried expression. The two stood in a corner and began to whisper. Chen Xijun stood on her tiptoes, eyes fixed on them, trying to eavesdrop. But Shen Yi’s voice was too low for her to hear.

Still, Chen Xijun whispered to Zhao Jiayi, "My Lady, that Shen Yi is full of tricks. I fear she is using the Prince of War’s name to threaten the shopkeeper. She has done things like this many times before."

Zhao Jiayi retorted with disdain, "My Duke of Anguo's estate is not so easily intimidated. And what is she, anyway? In the Prince of War’s estate, she is likely walking on thin ice."

Shen Yi was unaware that Chen Xijun was badmouthing her—though it was hardly badmouthing, as the original owner had indeed done such things. Once Shen Yi explained her plan to the shopkeeper, he hesitated. For the first time, Shen Yi did exactly what the original owner would have done: she threatened the shopkeeper. Seeing no other way, the shopkeeper agreed.

The two returned to the counter, and Shen Yi said, "Manager Qin and I have discussed this. Since this is a sale, the highest bidder should win. Flowing Cloud Brocade is unlike ordinary fabric; even the royal family uses it. One bolt is worth twelve taels of silver. For two bolts, I offer thirty taels."

Zhao Jiayi scoffed, "Thirty taels? You really dare to say that! Shopkeeper, I offer fifty taels for the two bolts."

Shen Yi remained expressionless and held up one finger. "One hundred taels."

Zhao Jiayi gritted her teeth. "One hundred and ten taels."

Shen Yi: "Two hundred taels."

Zhao Jiayi stared at Shen Yi in disbelief, demanding, "Shen Yi, are you insane? These two bolts are worth barely twenty taels, and you are offering ten times that price!"

A trace of mockery appeared on Shen Yi’s face. "If Lady Jiayi cannot afford it, then don't make a fool of yourself here. After all, if word gets out, it won't be your reputation as a Lady that suffers, but the face of the Duke of Anguo’s estate."

Although this was a crude provocation, it was highly effective against a proud woman like Zhao Jiayi.

"Three hundred taels! I offer three hundred taels!"

Indeed, for the sake of her pride, Zhao Jiayi added an extra hundred taels to Shen Yi’s two hundred. It just goes to show that when it comes to pride, a woman is capable of being quite ruthless.