Order Them to Marry on the Spot

"Alright, I'll let you know as soon as I have any news," Xiao Lingyan said.

Zhao Ruxi urged, "Didn't you say that after you joined the Ministry of Works, you would introduce me to the apprentices of those craftsmen? I urgently need jade craftsmen, carpenters, and blacksmiths."

"I just got in, and I haven't settled in yet. I'll give you the address in a few days after I've found out more. I'll also send someone to inquire about skilled craftsmen outside. Just wait patiently for my news."

Zhao Ruxi also knew that Xiao Lingyan's identity was special and that his every move was being watched. She couldn't be too hasty in anything she did, lest she reveal her whereabouts.

She said, "It's alright. If it's inconvenient, we can wait. I'm not in a rush. If it really doesn't work, I can ask around myself."

Compared to her own business, Xiao Lingyan's safety was naturally more important. She could ask a few intermediaries to help her inquire.

Xiao Lingyan flashed a bright smile, "Are you worried about me?"

"I'm afraid you'll drag me down with you." Zhao Ruxi rolled her eyes at him, annoyed.

"Alright, alright, you're just afraid of dragging me into this." Xiao Lingyan seemed exceptionally good-natured. "From now on, I won't argue with you, and I'll listen to you in everything."

Zhao Ruxi gave him a smug look. "That's more like it. If you anger me, I'll just pack up and leave, taking my whole family to Jiangnan. You'll be crying your eyes out then."

"So I still have to thank Fifth Miss Zhao for her compassion in saving this poor little thing." Xiao Lingyan put on a pitiful look.

"Get out." Zhao Ruxi kicked him.

I don't know what this guy ate, but he grew to have long legs and feet at only sixteen. And yet he sits so lazily with no manners; his legs are practically stretched out in front of her.

"Oh, right, there's something else I've been wanting to tell you," Zhao Ruxi said seriously.

"Go on," Xiao Lingyan said, sitting up straight and becoming serious.

"Fu Yunlang and Zhao Ruyu are the official couple in this book. They absolutely have to be together, otherwise who knows what kind of chaos they'll cause. You know, everything in this book serves their purpose. Sometimes, to get them together, the author will go to any lengths, even create cataclysmic events or the end of the world—it's all for the sake of the plot. So you should try to get them together as soon as possible. Let them torment each other, and don't drag us down with them."

She looked at Xiao Lingyan, her eyes full of seriousness. "Don't take this lightly. Remember, get them together as soon as possible. Also, make sure Fu Yunlang achieves something in his career and reaches the pinnacle of his life. Haven't you heard the saying, 'When man thinks, God laughs'? If we don't follow the plot but go against it, I'm worried that no matter how much we struggle, we won't be able to withstand the author's twist of fate."

Xiao Lingyan clicked his tongue and gave her a disdainful look. "Your logic! As long as we keep living, we're going against the plot. Do you still want to be a good girl?"

Zhao Ruxi gave him a disdainful look. "Details don't matter, the process doesn't matter, what matters is the result. Anyway, all they want is the result. Zhao Ruyu's peak in life is marrying Fu Yunlang; Fu Yunlang's peak in life is becoming someone important. Even if we can't kill Fu Dayong and Fu Yunkai just to make him rise to power, we can at least ensure he has a happy love life and a successful career, right? That way, the book won't fall apart. Otherwise, none of us can live a good life."

Xiao Lingyan nodded. "That makes sense." He stroked his chin. "Alright, I'll order them to get married right there."

Zhao Ruxi was amused by his fan-circle remark. "That's a good idea."

Seeing Zhao Ruxi's bright smile, Xiao Lingyan's mood also brightened considerably.

"I also need to do some business to make some money and mislead people. Why don't I just have Fu Yunlang do things for me? Isn't he going to do business? Let him be my agent. His brother is my brother's study companion and good friend. If he becomes my business agent, it will prevent Fu Dayong from being half-hearted and not on our side. Maybe in their past lives, they died so tragically because they were half-hearted and were used by others," he said.

Hearing this, Zhao Ruxi thought for a moment, her beautiful eyes shining brightly. "How about making him my opponent? Anyway, in his eyes, I already had a grudge against him when I opened the silver shop, so it wouldn't be bad to have him challenge me again. It's too dangerous for me to make money from Feicui all by myself. Using him to attract the hatred of the powerful families is a way to make good use of him."

Xiao Lingyan stroked his chin and nodded, saying, "Alright, let's do it this way."

The two discussed some more details, then Zhao Ruxi stood up to leave. "Just write letters if anything comes up, let's meet less."

"Isn't this 'crossing the river and burning the bridge'? I came to meet you to solve all your problems." Xiao Lingyan was very dissatisfied with her ruthlessness.

"My problem? If it weren't for you, would I have a problem?" Zhao Ruxi glanced at him sideways.

"Okay, okay, you're right." Xiao Lingyan realized his mistake and immediately surrendered, "It was my fault."

Zhao Ruxi glanced at him suspiciously, feeling that this Xiao Lingyan was quite different from the Xiao Ke she knew. It was a bit unusual that this guy didn't argue with her.

Xiao Lingyan coughed lightly. "Be careful on your way back. If you need to contact me, just send a message here. I've been renting this house for years."

As he spoke, he took out a key and handed it to Zhao Ruxi: "This is the key to the house."

As he spoke, he walked outside and pointed to a flowerpot under the eaves, saying, "See this blue-and-white porcelain flowerpot? The pattern on it is a lotus scroll, unlike any other flowerpot. The placement of this flowerpot may vary each time. You sent a letter, and it was placed under this lotus scroll pot."

Zhao Ruxi looked around and saw that there was a flowerpot every few steps along the corridor. The patterns on those flowerpots were either plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, chrysanthemums, or flowers symbolizing wealth and prosperity, or patterns from a certain story. Only this one had a lotus with intertwined branches.

The flowerpot is just the right size; even a girl could easily move it.

She nodded and said, "Okay, I've got it."

After leaving the house, Zhao Ruxi didn't return to the painting academy. Instead, she asked Qingfeng to buy some food before meeting up with Gao Weiqiang outside the city and going to the manor.

Gao Weiqiang was temporarily lent to her by Zhao Yuanxun, and she didn't want him to know about Xiao Lingyan's existence. So, on the way here, she deliberately sent him away, asking him to buy a few pounds of pork to supplement the meals for the people on the estate, and they agreed to meet at the city gate to go to the estate together.

She visited the estate for a while before returning to the painting academy.

Before entering the art academy, she handed Gao Weiqiang several addresses and a purse. "These are the addresses of five middlemen. Go find them and ask if they know any extremely skilled jade carvers, carpenters, and blacksmiths. If they do, give us their addresses; I need them to make some things. There's silver in the purse; give them some of the middlemen's fees as you see fit."