After the siblings finished their dinner, Yuanshi noticed the attendant from earlier approaching their table. Walking beside her was a middle-aged man with a round face and neatly trimmed beard.
The attendant stopped beside their table and bowed politely.
"My lady, this is Manager Ding."
Yuanshi immediately stood and returned the bow.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Manager Ding," she said, gesturing toward an empty chair. "Please, have a seat."
The man smiled warmly as he lowered himself into the chair.
"You are too kind and courteous," he said. "Thank you."
Once everyone was seated, Yuanshi folded her hands politely.
"I'm terribly sorry to trouble you with my problems this evening."
Manager Ding waved his hand dismissively.
"It's no trouble at all. Helping guests is simply part of my job."
Yuanshi nodded gratefully. She then gently handed Ergu to Yuexi and gave her a subtle look.
Yuexi understood immediately. Rising from the table, she carried the boy away toward the quieter side of the dining hall.
Only after they were gone did Yuanshi let out a quiet sigh.
"You see," she began slowly, "I only arrived in Yanjing City this morning."
Manager Ding nodded attentively.
"I am married, but my husband is a merchant," she continued. "Recently he traveled to the Situ Kingdom for business."
She paused briefly before continuing.
"As his wife, I usually accompany him on his journeys. However, my son is still very young, and such a long trip would be too difficult for his body to endure."
She gestured lightly toward the direction Yuexi and Ergu had gone.
"So we decided to remain here in Yanjing City while we wait for him to return."
Manager Ding stroked his beard thoughtfully.
"That makes sense," he said.
Yuanshi lowered her voice slightly.
"Part of the reason we chose Yanjing City is because we hope to settle here permanently in the future. Naturally, that means making certain preparations ahead of time."
She hesitated briefly before continuing.
"My husband asked that I consult with the Wei family on his behalf… but unfortunately, I know very little about them."
Manager Ding raised his eyebrows slightly.
"But why would a lady like you be burdened with such matters?" he asked. "What about your husband's family?"
Yuanshi gave a small, helpless smile.
"My husband is one of three children," she explained. "Unfortunately, he is the only son. His two sisters have both married into distant families."
She sighed softly.
"The relationship between our branch of the family and the main branch has never been particularly good. My father-in-law passed away many years ago… so in the absence of anyone else, this responsibility fell to me."
She paused before adding with a faintly bitter smile,
"Of course, we considered hiring someone to handle these matters for us. But we've already had two different men abscond with our money."
Manager Ding shook his head with a sigh.
"It truly is a shame," he muttered. "People simply cannot be trusted these days."
Yuanshi nodded in agreement.
"Indeed."
The manager leaned back slightly in his chair.
"As for the Wei family," he said slowly, "Lord Wei is the Marquis of Yanjing. The title was granted to him by the emperor nearly twenty years ago."
Yuanshi nodded politely, though a faint unease had already begun forming in her chest.
"The Wei family has only grown stronger over the years," Manager Ding continued.
He lowered his voice slightly and glanced around before speaking again.
"In fact, according to some rumors, they now suppress even the Gu family."
Yuanshi tilted her head curiously.
"But shouldn't the Marquis and the City Lord work together?"
Manager Ding chuckled quietly.
"The Gu family's title as City Lord is almost empty at this point."
He leaned closer, lowering his voice even further.
"The younger generation of the Wei family has produced several highly talented cultivators. Combined with their thriving business ventures, their influence has expanded rapidly."
He shook his head.
"Nowadays, no one in Yanjing City dares to offend them. On the contrary, everyone is eager to curry favor with them."
His eyes slowly swept over Yuanshi's appearance before he spoke again.
"Miss, if I may offer some advice… you should consider working with another family instead."
He sighed.
"The Wei family is not easy to approach. Not only are they powerful, but they are also backed by the emperor himself."
Yuanshi felt her heart sink.
What sort of mission was this?
That masked man had clearly sent them to their deaths.
Still, she maintained her composure and bowed politely.
"Thank you for your advice, Manager Ding. I will certainly take it into consideration."
The manager nodded and began to stand.
Just as he was about to leave, an idea suddenly flashed through Yuanshi's mind.
"Manager Ding," she called.
He turned back.
"Yes?"
Yuanshi smiled politely.
"Since I'm new to the city, I was also hoping you might recommend a good place to buy clothing. The ones I purchased in the market earlier were… somewhat lacking in quality for my tastes."
Manager Ding chuckled.
"In that case, you should visit the Tianshan Pavilion."
"All the wealthy young madams in Yanjing City buy their clothing there."
Yuanshi inclined her head.
"Thank you."
Manager Ding gave a final nod before leaving the dining hall.
Yuanshi remained seated for a moment, her fingers lightly tapping against the table.
Tianshan Pavilion.
The name echoed quietly in her mind.