Something Fishy

The man declined politely and followed the pattern of the previous person. Then it was Zhong Duo.

Just as Zhong Duo was speaking, another person entered.

Finally, Zhao Ruxi appointed Zhong Duo as class monitor, and three students who didn't deserve names as academic, life, and labor committee members.

No sooner had the three left than another invitation was handed in.

"Tell them that the class officers have been chosen and ask them to go back. As long as they follow the rules and study hard, I will still give them an excellent rating. There's no need to be discouraged," Zhao Ruxi said to Zhaoming.

Seeing Zhaoming agree and leave, Ma Sheng was very puzzled. "Girl, being a 'class monitor' is supposed to be thankless and exhausting, right? Why are they all vying to be one?"

"Of course there are benefits! There are plenty." Zhao Ruxi then explained the advantages of being a class monitor to him.

"It seems I'm still far behind them," Ma Sheng remarked.

Knowing that the girl valued his loyalty, he was no longer afraid to expose his shortcomings and asked questions when he didn't understand, becoming more open than before.

"But why would the young lady want to appoint something like... a labor committee member?" Ma Sheng found the name extremely awkward. "Don't they all have servants with them? These cleaning tasks can be done by the servants."

"Then why should my servants do it, and yours not? If yours won't do it, then mine won't do it either, and nobody will do it. Won't the public areas become filthy in the end? I won't have to teach every day and worry about these things. I'm appointing these people as class leaders; it's just a matter of talking. For the next two months, they'll all be quiet and manage themselves. How much trouble will that save me and the Court of Judicial Review's constables?"

"Not only that, but students from other provinces will be arriving every ten days. Each province will have its own campus, and there will be conflicts and friction between them. Do you expect me or my senior brothers to handle these matters and mediate for them? It's up to the class leaders to handle and negotiate. If any class has a problem, I only contact the class leader."

"The young lady's idea is truly thoughtful," Zhou Chun and Ma Sheng both exclaimed in admiration.

The training course followed the same schedule as the Beining Women's Academy. In the afternoon, Zhao Ruxi announced the appointment of the class officers and then guided them in painting for half an hour. Afterward, she took Zhou Chun, Ma Sheng, and Zhaoming back to the capital to purchase jewelry from the jewelry supplier introduced by Shopkeeper Wang.

"Shopkeeper Shen, please bring me some of each piece of jewelry you have here and tell me the price. My business is just starting out, so I'm not buying much this time. I'll increase my purchases once the shop is more established. From now on, I, Steward Zhou, will be handling the purchasing for you. I hope you'll take good care of me then."

Shopkeeper Shen was a portly middle-aged man. Hearing Zhao Ruxi's words, he smiled and said, "The Princess of Zhennan sent someone to speak to me long ago. From now on, the prices of the goods Miss Zhao purchases will be the same as those from Gathered Treasures Studio. The quality will also be absolutely guaranteed. Miss Zhao's jewelry designs are novel and unique, and extremely popular among the noble ladies of the capital. Now that you've opened your own jewelry shop, your business will surely flourish and your wealth will flow in."

"Thank you for your kind words, Shopkeeper Shen." Zhao Ruxi was very grateful to the Princess of Zhennan.

Zhao Ruxi didn't bring a large quantity of goods this time, but Shopkeeper Shen still patiently took out every piece of jewelry and jade, quoted the price to Zhao Ruxi one by one, and finally carefully gave her a price list.

After leaving Master Shen's house, Zhao Ruxi handed the price list to Zhou Chun: "From now on, you'll be in charge of all the purchasing."

Zhou Chun said in surprise, "You can keep this list. I'll just ask him about it whenever I come back."

He knew that Master Shen gave Zhao Ruxi this price list to prevent them, the purchasing agents, from tampering with it. With the list, they couldn't hide anything about the prices, because there wasn't much room for negotiation; the price Shopkeeper Shen gave them was already very reasonable.

"No need. You can keep it. It'll give you a reference if the price changes in the future." Zhao Ruxi waved her hand.

Seeing Zhou Chun's moved expression, Qingfeng couldn't help but secretly criticize his own girl.

She didn't realize it at first, but now that she's busy all day long, the girl still manages to roughly memorize the contents of the book every day. She knows all too well how terrifying this memory is.

The girl could probably memorize the price list after looking at it twice, and then just copy it down from memory when she got home. But now she's acting all nonchalant to win people over; she's really cunning.

When Zhao Ruxi returned to the Earl of Suiping's Residence from Shopkeeper Shen, the gray-clad man who had been sent out to investigate information by Xiao Lingyan was reporting to him.

"Liu Zongyao left the capital in the afternoon. He visited the Jia Residence at noon, bringing gifts. Jia Songlin wasn't home; Jia Junze received him instead. I overheard their conversation and learned that Liu Zongyao was a member of a collateral branch of the Liu Family family, the Anzhou Province, and that the fourth matriarch of the Liu Family's main branch was Jia Songlin's cousin."

"However, when they met, Jia Junze was very cold towards Liu Zongyao, acting as if he didn't care. It wasn't until he heard Liu Zongyao say that he had come to learn painting but was kicked out by Fifth Miss Zhao that Jia Junze became agitated and started cursing at Fifth Miss Zhao. However, he was stopped by his servant after only two sentences and was directly served tea and shown the guest out."

Xiao Lingyan stroked his chin and thought for a moment, "You mean, Liu Zongyao doesn't seem to be working for Jia Junze, otherwise Jia Junze wouldn't be so cold to him?"

The man in gray nodded. "That's my feeling. I think Liu Zongyao is intentionally leading us towards the Jia Family."

Xiao Lingyan nodded.

If the Jia Family orchestrated this, Liu Zongyao should have avoided visiting Jia Family to prevent suspicion. However, he seemed eager for everyone to know about the relationship between the two families, and insisted on visiting the Jia Family at this crucial moment, which seemed quite deliberate.

Moreover, the Jia Family suffered a great loss in the matter of Zhao Ruxi, and they knew that everyone in the capital was watching them. Kang Shilin was very protective of his disciple, and the Prince of Zhennan's Residence also stepped in to protect Zhao Ruxi. They should not dare to provoke Zhao Ruxi again at this time.

Especially since this training course was ordered by the Emperor, the Court of Judicial Review attached great importance to it. If they caused trouble in such an occasion and angered Zhang Changshen, and then submitted a Jia Family to the Emperor, the Jia Family would definitely be in deep trouble.

Jia Family only Jia Songlin, but even Jia Junze wouldn't be that stupid. The reason Jia Junze suffered at Zhao Ruxi's hands was because he underestimated Zhao Ruxi, thinking she was just an ordinary, weak woman he could trample on at will, and that she would just swallow her grievances even if she was wronged.

Therefore, the whole thing seems suspicious.

"Find someone to spread the word to Jia Songlin that Liu Zongyao disrespected Fifth Miss Zhao in Beining, was kicked out of the training class, and then went to visit the Jia Family. We'll see how the father and son behave then," Xiao Lingyan instructed.