Chapter Two: Seeking My Ex-Husband for Business

Two years later, in Suyab City.

A slender woman dressed in black stood at the entrance of the branch lodge of the Carefree Manor, holding a crimson oil-paper umbrella. Her long hair was simply tied into a fallen-horse bun, adorned with a white jade hairpin. The pendant hanging from the hairpin was a string of interlocked knots, beneath which dangled red tassels.

Her eyes were phoenix-shaped, as clear and radiant as a millennium-old cold pool atop a snowy mountain. Beneath her exquisitely sculpted nose, her lips resembled the budding petals of a new lotus, delicate and alluring, further accentuating her skin, which appeared as smooth as congealed cream.

At her waist hung not the typical ornament of a woman, but a die inlaid with red beans, also finished with tassels.

She stood in contemplation for a long while, then lifted her skirt and stepped into the branch lodge.

The attendant noticed her and bowed, saying, "Miss, something has happened here today. We are temporarily closed. If you could wait, please return tomorrow."

"What happened? Is it so serious you must be on high alert?" Her voice was languid, tinged with a subtle, almost imperceptible smile.

The attendant regarded her warily, "Miss, it would be best not to ask. Please!"

Eager to usher her out, the woman instead found a seat, set her umbrella aside, propped her chin with her hand, and said, "Carefree Manor claims to know everything under heaven—from astrology to geography, from court to rivers and lakes, from palace to market. If something happens, it never escapes your ears. But this time, have you exaggerated?"

"Miss, if you’re here to cause trouble, you’ve come to the wrong place!" The attendant waved his hand, bringing several burly men to encircle her.

She frowned repeatedly, impatience flickering in her eyes, yet her tone remained languid, as if nothing in the world concerned her.

"I’m not here to cause trouble. I merely caught a petty thief who claims to possess valuable information. I thought I’d try my luck—how much would Carefree Manor pay for such a thing?"

"You’ve met Wang Shun?" The attendant’s eyes changed instantly upon hearing her words.

The woman cast a sidelong glance at him with her slender phoenix eyes and said coolly, "I only speak with silver."

He looked her up and down, and she allowed his gaze without a trace of discomfort. He instructed the burly men, "Keep an eye on her. I’ll fetch the manager."

Soon, a chubby middle-aged man emerged, wiping beads of cold sweat from his brow. The moment he saw her, he clung to the doorframe, trembling and exclaiming in a quavering voice, "Heavens, a ghost!"

"Have you ever seen a ghost so lovely?" She tapped the table with her slender jade fingers, her voice betraying impatience.

Realizing it was broad daylight and ghosts had no place here, the man steadied himself.

"May I ask your name, Miss?" He bowed respectfully.

She toyed with the red-bean die at her waist, letting a bitter smile creep across her lips and brows. She answered dimly, "My name is Linglong."

"Madam… Madam…" The manager’s legs truly gave way; he knelt before Linglong, trembling all over.

Linglong waved her hand. "You’re too courteous. If your master learns you’re calling me family, it’ll be troublesome. Just call me Linglong; I have no wish to die a second time."

So, she truly was the Lady.

The manager’s cold sweat poured like rain.

"How much silver do you think Wang Shun is worth? I’ll sell him to you." Linglong’s eyes and brows curved with a smile; the manager’s drenched appearance made him look rather pitiful.

He wiped his brow. "Lady… Linglong, please allow me to report this to my superiors..."

"Never mind. I’ll sell him directly to Lord Xiang, or perhaps another prince?" With that, Linglong stood to leave.

The manager blocked her path miserably. "Linglong, name your price."

"One hundred thousand taels of silver—no bargaining!" Linglong declared, turning to depart.

"One hundred thousand taels is no small sum. Please allow me some time to gather it?"

"Half a day. If you’re late, I won’t wait." With that, Linglong truly left the branch lodge.

"Hurry, send out a top-priority report—inform the master the Lady has appeared in Suyab City!" No sooner had the manager spoken than a dignified man dressed in black appeared at the entrance. His cold gaze swept over everyone, and silence fell.

"I heard trouble has arisen at the Suyab branch?" His voice was cool and distant.

"Master, is it true—the Lady is still alive?"