The Third Young Master of the Marquis of Jing'an's residence, Zheng Hao, was a tall and slender young man.
Exceptionally handsome, he carried himself with effortless grace. Dressed in a deep green silk robe, he looked every bit the noble heir.
His eyes resembled those of the Third Madam—sharp, calculating, with a hint of cunning beneath their calm surface.
The moment he saw Zheng Qian, his expression exaggerated into mock surprise, as if spotting a clown. He called out to her loudly, drawing bursts of laughter from those nearby.
Naturally, standing beside him was Zheng Yutan.
The two had been close since childhood. The original Zheng Qian had stubbornly tried to insert herself into their circle, only to humiliate herself and become the butt of Zheng Hao's jokes.
Even the maids felt embarrassed on her behalf.
The Third Madam lowered her voice in warning, "Don't cause trouble."
"Rest assured, Mother. I know my limits," Zheng Hao replied with a smile.
Zheng Qian stepped forward—
But instead of approaching him, she walked straight past and went to the Old Madam.
"Grandmother."
Zheng Hao froze for a moment.
Oh? After just a few days apart, this clingy little cousin—who used to follow him like a dog—had suddenly grown a backbone? Ignoring him on purpose, waiting for him to take the initiative?
Interesting.
Very interesting.
He smiled faintly, mischief flickering in his eyes, making Zheng Yutan giggle beside him.
"Sit," the Old Madam said coldly to Zheng Qian.
Zheng Qian found a seat without another word.
Not everyone had arrived yet, so the room buzzed with casual chatter.
Seeing that Zheng Qian neither greeted him nor sat near him, Zheng Hao didn't mind. Instead, he strolled over to her with a smile.
"Big Sister, I hear you've been quite the sensation lately."
Zheng Qian smiled lightly. "You flatter me, Third Brother."
"That abacus that's taken the city by storm—even my mother bought one. Wasn't that your idea? Truly impressive."
His gaze hooked toward her like a fishing line, waiting for her to bite.
Zheng Qian's smile widened slightly.
"It's just simple arithmetic. Third Brother finds even that impressive? I thought you were well-traveled and knowledgeable."
The room fell silent.
The smile in Zheng Hao's eyes faded, tightening into something colder.
"What, Big Sister thinks I lack knowledge?" he asked, his tone carrying a faint pressure.
This girl—who used to fawn over him shamelessly—how dare she speak so sharply now?
Was it money that had given her courage?
"How could I?" Zheng Qian replied lazily, her voice drawn out—half teasing, half mocking.
A laugh burst out from Zheng Run nearby.
No one else dared to laugh.
In the Marquis residence, the Third Madam held authority, and her precious son, the Third Young Master, was practically the crown prince of the household.
The reason Zheng Qian had been disliked before was precisely because of how she tried too hard to curry favor—it was unpleasant to watch.
Now, everyone stared at her in shock.
The timid eldest miss… had suddenly changed?
Zheng Hao's expression darkened.
At that moment, the Fifth Young Master, Zheng Run, stood up.
"Third Brother, Big Sister was clearly praising you, and you couldn't even tell. Are you perhaps not very bright?"
The entire room stiffened.
Among all the young masters and misses, only the Fifth Young Master dared speak to Zheng Hao like this.
Though he was born of a concubine, he was the Marquis's only healthy son—and thus the most likely heir.
Even the Old Madam treated him and Zheng Hao equally.
Young and fearless, Zheng Run was known to pick fights even with the prime minister's son outside—let alone someone within the household.
"If your mind isn't working well, you should let Big Sister treat you," Zheng Run continued. "Last time I had a knife wound on my foot, even the doctors at Jinkui Hall said it couldn't be treated. Big Sister healed it. She's amazing."
The siblings' back-and-forth left the room in awkward silence.
No one dared interfere.
Zheng Hao's expression gradually smoothed out, though a chill remained beneath his forced smile.
"So Big Sister is that capable. It seems I've been ignorant."
His eyes shifted slightly.
"If that's the case… why not treat your own brother's leg?"
Zheng Run stiffened.
This was clearly a trap.
The others watched in silence—some worried, some amused, some indifferent. Even the Old Madam simply observed coldly.
"My elder brother's leg was amputated! How can that be treated?" Zheng Run snapped, his voice rising.
That only made him seem weaker.
Zheng Hao remained unhurried.
"Didn't you say your sister can bring people back from the dead? I thought she could cure anything. If she can't… then perhaps she's not that impressive after all, hm?"
He turned to Zheng Qian again with a smile.
Zheng Yutan chimed in softly, "Third Brother, you shouldn't dismiss Big Sister's achievements. She did earn twenty thousand taels from Zhaiyu Pavilion with her own ability."
Zheng Hao's smile deepened.
"True. Big Sister is quite capable. I never realized the Marquis residence's name could sell for such a high price. If I had known, I'd have taken something there myself and earned twenty thousand taels too."
"You're talking nonsense!" Zheng Run grew angrier, yet couldn't out-argue him. "Big Sister sold the abacus!"
Zheng Hao waved it off lightly.
"If you say so, then so be it. But if Big Sister were just an ordinary girl from a common family, I doubt she'd earn even two taels of silver."
All eyes turned toward Zheng Qian.
Zheng Run could feel their doubt, and anger surged within him. He stood up, ready to fight.
Zheng Qian grabbed his arm, stopping him.
The Old Madam, seeing her grandsons about to come to blows over Zheng Qian, immediately snapped,
"Enough! Sit down!"
Zheng Hao complied with a smile—he had already gained the upper hand.
Then he continued,
"Big Sister, the money you earned should be handed over to the household. How can you keep it for yourself?"
Someone nearby chimed in, "Indeed, it was because of the Marquis residence."
The crowd, swayed by his words, began to believe that Zheng Qian's success relied on the family's name.
They even started to think the Marquis title must be worth quite a lot.
Zheng Qian laughed softly.
"So everything I sell must be handed over to the household?"
She paused, then added casually—
"Yesterday, I made another deal. I earned thirty thousand taels from selling mosquito coils."
A sharp intake of breath sounded somewhere in the room.
Even the usually composed Third Madam's gaze tightened slightly.
Mosquito coils?
Thirty thousand taels—was that real?
Zheng Yutan felt her breathing grow uneven, greed flashing in her eyes. She wished she could snatch Zheng Qian's banknotes right then and there.
Even the Old Madam could not hide her shock.
Every single person in the room turned to Zheng Qian.
Zheng Qian knew then—
The net she had cast had already caught its prey.
Now, she only needed to reel it in slowly.
Perhaps, with this single catch, she might even reclaim all the betrothal gifts from the Wen family.
A fleeting smile flashed through her eyes.
"Bring it here. Let me see," the Old Madam said, unable to hide her urgency.
Zheng Qian did not move.
At that moment—
The Marquis of Jing'an entered.
Zheng Qian rose and bowed.