May 8, 2026
Chapter 88 — They Were Lovers? Then I Got to See Him for Sure!
“Reporting to Sixth Master, Ling-gongzi is indeed of peasant origin. However, he passed the tongsheng examination at thirteen. Among farming households, that already counts as exceptionally outstanding.”
Unsure why he had suddenly taken an interest in Ling Jingxuan, Shopkeeper Zhang lifted his eyes to glance at him with care, then lowered his head again, choosing his words as favorably as possible. Zeng Shaoqing smiled faintly, lowering his gaze as he murmured, almost to himself:
“Ice isn’t exactly a rare commodity—but for small households, storing it is hardly within their means. Much less a farmer. The fact that he thought to use ice in food… perhaps he really is a talent worth noting.”
With a single remark, he laid bare what no one else had noticed. Though Zeng Shaoqing appeared casual, there was an unmistakable sharpness threaded through his words. Shopkeeper Zhang felt sweat bead instantly at his temples, growing ever more uncertain of what this master intended.
“What was the name you mentioned just now?”
Resting his head on one hand, elbow propped against his knee, Zeng Shaoqing watched Zhang’s unease with a smile playing at his lips. His fox-like eyes brimmed with amusement and interest. Clearly, it wasn’t just their difference in status—before him, the usually capable Shopkeeper Zhang seemed no more than a naive child. Their methods weren’t even on the same level.
“Ling Jingxuan.”
Beyond answering respectfully, Shopkeeper Zhang found himself at a loss for what else to say. He truly couldn’t grasp this master’s temperament.
“Doesn’t sound like a farmer’s name. You should know where he lives—send someone to fetch him. I want to meet him personally.”
Zeng Shaoqing’s lips curved slightly, the interest in his eyes deepening. Recently, with Yan Shengrui—that bastard—having gone missing and tensions mounting at the border, the old master of the household had been forced to petition the Emperor and depart for the frontier to take command. The entire marquis residence was in turmoil. Zeng Shaoqing had only managed to slip away under the pretense of seeking a protective talisman for his father. Along the way, he had been quietly inquiring about Yan Shengrui’s whereabouts, but all he’d learned was that the man seemed to have disappeared within his own fief—nothing more.
Having nearly grown moldy from idling in the prefectural city, he heard that in Datong Town there was a farmer who had come up with the idea of using ice in food, boosting the profits of nearby restaurants severalfold in just a month. That was what brought him here—part curiosity, part an excuse to clear his mind.
“Th-this…”
Shopkeeper Zhang hesitated. Zeng Shaoqing’s gaze flicked toward him, his voice dropping.
“What? Is it inconvenient?”
The authority he had kept so carefully concealed burst forth in an instant. To describe him now as merely charming or seductive would be entirely mistaken. With nothing more than a subtle shift in presence, he seemed like a different person altogether—his beautiful features sharpening, hardening. Startled, Shopkeeper Zhang hurriedly bowed.
“No, Sixth Master misunderstands—it’s not inconvenient. To be honest, aside from fruit jams, he’s also raised a kind of plump medicinal fish using herbs. The yield is limited, and currently only enough for the Datong branch. Every morning, I send someone to collect the fish from his home. Today, the assistant reported that he has matters to attend to and will be coming here personally shortly. If Sixth Master is not in a hurry, would you be willing to wait?”
Having said his piece, Shopkeeper Zhang held his breath, watching him nervously. This master’s temper was far too unpredictable—he could turn hostile without warning. It truly set one on edge.
“Oh? To raise fish within Cangzhou’s borders… it seems he does possess some skill.”
With a faint curl of his lips, the sharpness around him vanished as quickly as it had appeared. Zeng Shaoqing lowered his head, casually smoothing the gold-trimmed edge of his sleeve.
“Did he say when he would arrive?”
Across the realm, there were few who would dare keep him waiting. He intended to see for himself what sort of person this Ling Jingxuan was.
Though he seemed to have forgotten—Ling Jingxuan had never asked him to wait in the first place.
“His child studies in the town. He’ll likely come together with the child—perhaps he’s already arrived. Sixth Master, may I step out to take a look?”
Glancing at the sky outside, Shopkeeper Zhang remained tense. Zeng Shaoqing waved a hand dismissively, and he immediately bowed and withdrew. Only after closing the private room door did Shopkeeper Zhang let out a long breath, dramatically wiping the sweat from his brow.
Dealing with him was more exhausting than dealing with government officials—just who was it that claimed he was easygoing?
“Why does Master insist on seeing a mere farmer? He shouldn’t have anything to do with Ninth Master, right?”
After Zhang the shopkeeper left, the woman in green standing to Zeng Shaoqing’s left stepped forward to serve tea and asked curiously. She believed she had hidden it well, but her eyes were brimming with undisguised infatuation. The other woman in green on the opposite side frowned almost imperceptibly at her words, her gaze flicking over lightly—yet she said nothing, standing straight as a statue.
“Cuizhu… you’ve been with me for nearly a year now, haven’t you?”
Taking the teacup, Zeng Shaoqing sipped it with quiet elegance, his reply completely unrelated. The woman called Cuizhu froze for a moment, then hurriedly dropped to her knees in panic.
“This servant deserves death!”
“Oh?”
With nothing more than a casual lift of his brow, Cuizhu began trembling where she knelt.
“This servant should not have spoken out of turn or inquired into Master’s affairs. This servant deserves death.”
Outsiders might not know—Zeng Shaoqing often appeared easygoing, and his strikingly beautiful features led many to mistake him for a useless noble relying solely on ancestral privilege. Only those who had truly dealt with him understood that his temperament was the exact opposite. He detested others prying into his private matters—even the old marquis and the Grand Princess Mingshang were no exception. Cuizhu’s question had clearly crossed a forbidden line.
“Go and receive your punishment.”
Zeng Shaoqing lazily lifted his eyelids, not sparing her a glance. After handing the teacup to the other maid, he reclined once more. Cuizhu wiped her tears as she kowtowed repeatedly in thanks before withdrawing. Soon, the private room fell silent again.
Zeng Shaoqing lay back with his hands folded behind his head, his gaze unfocused as he stared at the intricately carved and painted ceiling beams. His thoughts were filled entirely with Yan Shengrui.
Meanwhile, outside the private room, Shopkeeper Zhang heard that Ling Jingxuan had already arrived. Without a second thought, he hurried toward a private room on the second floor. The sudden arrival of the master had thrown everything into chaos, yet he couldn’t show even the slightest hint of complaint—truly, there was bitterness he couldn’t voice.
“Ah, Brother Zhang.”
Seeing him push the door open, Ling Jingxuan—who had been standing by the window, idly looking down at the street below—turned with a smile and walked over. With his keen observation, he had naturally noticed something was off about him. Still, he had no intention of probing further. Their relationship wasn’t at that level—and even if it were, if the other party chose not to speak, he wouldn’t ask.
“Brother Ling, my apologies for keeping you waiting.”
Sitting across from him, Shopkeeper Zhang still seemed somewhat unnatural, the impact of the master’s presence weighing heavily on him.
Noticing his distracted state, Ling Jingxuan didn’t rush him. He reached out to pour each of them a cup of hot water, lifting his own to sip idly. Yet his thoughts had already drifted elsewhere—to Yan Shengrui, who had suddenly come down with a chill. He wondered if the man was feeling any better, whether he had taken his medicine and was resting properly.
He couldn’t make sense of it. Clearly, Yan Shengrui’s physique was far stronger than his own—both of them had been playing in the water last night, so why was he the one who fell ill? Could it be that his man, though seemingly robust, was actually… all show and no substance?
At the thought, Ling Jingxuan couldn’t help but laugh. If that man ever found out what he was thinking, wouldn’t he just drag him off somewhere and deal with him on the spot? If it were him, he definitely would.
“Ah—! I almost forgot something important. Brother Ling, do you have any other matters to attend to later?”
After an unknown amount of time, Shopkeeper Zhang suddenly exclaimed, snapping back to himself. He looked at him nervously. Ling Jingxuan raised a brow and set down his cup.
“If you have something to say, Brother Zhang, just speak plainly. As long as it’s within Jingxuan’s ability, I’ll certainly do my best.”
He truly wasn’t used to this kind of tentative probing.
“Then I won’t stand on ceremony. It’s like this—our restaurant’s owner, Sixth Master, arrived unexpectedly today. He’s heard about you and wishes to meet you in person. Brother Ling… what do you think?”
The true owner behind Xinyuan Restaurant wanted to see him?
It was just a single chilled dish—surely it wouldn’t warrant such attention. Compared to Shopkeeper Zhang’s straightforward thinking, Ling Jingxuan’s thoughts ran deeper. For Xinyuan Restaurant to have branches across the entire Da Qing, its backer was undoubtedly either immensely wealthy or of high nobility—perhaps even one of the towering figures within the imperial capital itself.
He didn’t believe that a mere dish could earn such personal interest.
But if not that—then he and this man had no connection whatsoever. Why, then, would he want to meet him?
“Brother Zhang, give me the truth—what exactly is this Sixth Master’s background?”
After a brief moment of thought, Ling Jingxuan suddenly asked. Just now, a possibility had flashed through his mind—Yan Shengrui. If the man had come because of him, then that would be an entirely different matter.
“It’s not much of a secret. Sixth Master is the late-born son of Marquis Zeng and Grand Princess Mingshang. Since he’s ranked sixth, everyone calls him Sixth Master.”
Thinking it was nothing important, Shopkeeper Zhang answered readily. Ling Jingxuan’s gaze darkened slightly.
“Marquis Zeng? You mean the Weiyuan Marquis—the one who spent his life achieving outstanding military merit, and in his later years personally trained Prince Sheng into the new generation’s God of War?”
Whatever the man’s identity, Ling Jingxuan needed to confirm one thing first—that he posed no harm to Yan Shengrui.
“That’s the one. It’s said Prince Sheng and Sixth Master grew up together, very close. Some even say… they’re lovers.”
By the time he reached the last part, a trace of gossiping intrigue crept into Shopkeeper Zhang’s expression. He didn’t notice that Ling Jingxuan’s smile had suddenly turned dazzling.
“Lovers, huh? Then I really ought to meet him.”
Though his smile was radiant as blooming flowers, there was something inexplicably chilling about it. Only belatedly sensing something off, Shopkeeper Zhang shuddered.
Had he said something wrong?
“In that case, Brother Ling, please come with me.”
For some reason, today’s Ling Jingxuan also felt… strange. But with Sixth Master still waiting, there was no time to dwell on it.
“Much obliged, Brother Zhang.”
Rising to his feet, Ling Jingxuan hesitated for a moment before bending down to pick up the wine jar at his feet. Since a bigger, wealthier mark had appeared, wouldn’t it be a waste not to make a profit off him?
“This jar looks a bit unusual—what’s inside?”
Only now noticing it, Shopkeeper Zhang asked as they walked. Ling Jingxuan didn’t think much of it and replied casually,
“A wine I brewed myself—grape wine. I originally planned to—”
“What?! Grape wine?!”
Before he could finish, Shopkeeper Zhang interrupted with a shout, his square face filled with naked shock and excitement. Ling Jingxuan’s expression darkened.
It’s just wine—what’s the big deal? If he wanted some, he could’ve just given him a few jars for free.
“Th-this… this really is grape wine?”
Pointing at the jar with trembling fingers, Shopkeeper Zhang was so agitated his tongue seemed tied in knots.
“Mm.”
Ling Jingxuan gave a vague nod, his calm demeanor forming a stark contrast to the other man’s excitement. Then, as if offhandedly, he raised a brow.
“Is grape wine that valuable?”
“Of course it is! You can’t even buy it with money most of the time!”
Seeing his utter lack of awareness, Shopkeeper Zhang launched into an explanation.
“Grape wine is a specialty of the Eastern Regions. A few years back, when the borders were peaceful, merchants would occasionally bring some across. Only nobles and great families could afford it. But in recent years, with constant war, grape wine has practically vanished from Da Qing. I’ve even heard that not even the Emperor can get his hands on it now. And yet—you—you can actually brew it? Brother Ling, this time you’re really going to strike it rich!”
That rare?
Hearing the explanation, Ling Jingxuan’s mind immediately began to turn.
Things are valuable precisely because they’re scarce. Something even the Emperor couldn’t obtain—yet he could produce it himself. With the hundreds of jars sitting at home, was he really worried they wouldn’t sell?
And if he marketed it properly, it might even make the Ling Family Winery famous. When that time came, would he still have to worry about money not rolling straight into his pockets?
At the thought, Ling Jingxuan nearly burst out laughing.
He could already see mountains of gold and silver waving enthusiastically at him.
“Brother Ling, you must supply this grape wine to our restaurant.”
Seeing that he hadn’t responded for a long while, Shopkeeper Zhang hurriedly played the “brotherhood” card. If he could secure exclusive rights to the grape wine, how could he possibly fail to prosper in the future? At the thought, his grin nearly split his face. With this deal alone, he might even be transferred to the capital and finally see the world.
“Hehe…”
Ling Jingxuan let out a soft chuckle.
“That will depend on whether your Sixth Master can afford the price.”
Since grape wine was so rare, he was naturally going to sell it at a premium. Looking across the entire realm, who could be more suitable than Xinyuan Restaurant to play the role of the… big spender?
—Ahem. Not a sucker. A patron. A distinguished patron.
“Ah… I see. I understand now. This way, please.”
Now that he had recovered from his earlier shock, Shopkeeper Zhang’s usual sharpness returned as well. The moment he grasped Ling Jingxuan’s meaning, he turned and led him upstairs without hesitation.
Ling Jingxuan’s concerns were not without reason. Rather than negotiating with him and having the matter reported upward layer by layer, speaking directly with Sixth Master would undoubtedly be faster—and fetch a far better price, wouldn’t it?
If you enjoy reading Poisonous Peasant ‘Concubine’, consider buying me a coffee! A little coffee goes a long way!
Translator: LazyHermitGal
Author: LazyHermitGal
A Lazy Hermit Gal wondering in the void and falling into the translation abyss.
