Expelled from the Duke's mansion, the fake heiress is richer than a country.

Chapter 132 Hidden Dangers

"Alright. Ye Liu, I'm entrusting this shop entirely to your management."

Yu Wanran announced her final decision.

“Once the workshops in Decheng are established, we can supply them continuously. Chengya Inkstone Shop, we will only sell this one type of product and make it our brand! As for retail and wholesale, you can decide the discount.”

"Yes, Master!"

Zhong Yeliu bowed with shining eyes.

Yu Wanran handed her several prepared silver notes: "These five hundred taels are for Chengya Inkstone Shop's reserve fund. Keep them separate from the household accounts."

She turned to look at Qiu Cui and smiled.

"Qiu Cui, during this time you should study hard with Ye Liu. When you are able to stand on your own, the affairs of this household will be handed over to you!"

Zhong Yeliu, she is the one who will lead the way in expanding outwards.

Qiu Cui had thought she was no match for Steward Zhong and had been abandoned by her master, but things took an unexpected turn! She immediately went from dejected to delighted and hurriedly agreed.

"Oh? Master... Don't worry, this servant will definitely work hard and live up to your expectations!"

She realized what she had said and curtsied. Her gesture made Yu Wanran and Zhong Yeliu laugh.

Seeing that it was getting late, Yu Wanran told the two of them to go and rest. Zhong Yeliu stayed behind, and seeing this, Yu Wanran knew that she had something to say, and looked at her with a questioning gaze.

"Master, Yanbai has asked for three days off. He wouldn't say what it was about, so I had no choice but to agree."

Zhong Yeliu knew that Yan Qing and Yan Bai held special positions in the household. Therefore, she didn't discipline them like she would other servants. She wondered if her master would resent her for doing so.

Yu Wanran's expression turned cold: "Is he not home right now?"

No wonder I haven't seen them yet; they must have already left.

Zhong Yeliu shook his head: "I had Xiao Si follow him when he went out, but before he even left the city, Xiao Si was shaken off."

She looked remorseful.

Yu Wanran stood up and patted her hand, comforting her, "Alright, it's not your fault. Go and rest first, there's a lot to do tomorrow. Check if Yanqing is up before you go to sleep, and if he is, have him come to my place."

Zhong Yeliu agreed, bowed, and took his leave.

Yu Wanran put the inkstone away, pondering to herself: It seems I need to resolve Yan Bai's matter as soon as possible. Otherwise, keeping him around will always be a hidden danger!

A short while later, Yanqing arrived. He had slept for most of the day and looked radiant.

"Master, you wanted to see me?"

Yu Wanran nodded and asked him directly, "Yanqing, how much do you know about Yanbai?"

Yanqing was taken aback by the question. After regaining her composure, she couldn't help but hesitate a little.

“Brother Yanbai… He’s skilled in martial arts and a good person. He took great care of me when we were at the Duke’s mansion…”

Yu Wanran...

Even the dim-witted Yan Qing noticed something amiss in his master's speechless expression. He couldn't help but feel anxious: "Master, what happened? What's wrong with Brother Yanbai?"

Speaking of which, he hasn't seen Yan Bai since he came back, which is really a bit abnormal!

Their master is Yu Wanran. If their master hasn't given the order, where will Brother Yanbai go?

Yu Wanran waved her hand.

"Don't worry, Yanbai took three days off and disappeared without a trace. He hasn't come back yet, and I don't know where he went either."

Yan Qing had just breathed a sigh of relief when Yu Wanran's next words left him speechless.

"Yanbai is a spy sent by the Duke to infiltrate my inner circle, responsible for reporting my every move to the Duke's mansion! Yanqing, what do you think?"

"master!"

Yu Wanran's words were like a blow to Yan Qing's head.

His ability to think was instantly torn to shreds by an invisible hand. He knelt down with a thud, stunned for a long time, before finally gritting his teeth and squeezing out a panicked sentence.

"I have absolutely not betrayed you, please believe me!"

"I know."

Yu Wanran answered calmly, noticing that Yan Qing seemed increasingly lost and confused. She walked over somewhat helplessly, took his arm, and helped him to his feet.

"Yanbai once assured me that I could use you with confidence?"

"Did Brother Yanbai recommend me to you?"

Yan Qing's mind went completely blank. His eyes widened, filled with swirling, mosquito-coil-like circles: "Master, didn't you just say he was an undercover agent? You believe a traitor?"

Thinking of Yan Bai's betrayal of his master, he couldn't help but grit his teeth, emphasizing the word "traitor."

“I don’t just believe him…”

Yu Wanran sighed and looked at him.

"I still believe you! You've followed me since childhood, closer than the Duke and Duchess, and even closer to the eldest son, like my real family... Even if you really betrayed me, you must have had your reasons!"

Yanqing's eyes welled up with tears.

“Yan Bai never tried to hide his undercover identity from the beginning. So, I believe him if he recommends you.”

Yu Wanran frowned.

"The Duke's mansion probably thought you were simple-minded and suitable to cover for Yanbai, so they gave both of you to me."

Yan Qing's changing expressions were quite fascinating. What was the difference between this and pointing a finger at him and calling him "stupid"?

However, it was precisely because he was "stupid" that his master trusted him; and the Duke's mansion did not try to control him in the same way it controlled Yan Bai, thus sparing him from the painful choice that Yan Bai had faced...

After struggling with the decision for a while, Yanqing quickly and easily came to a conclusion.

So what if he's clumsy? Anyway, his master doesn't mind him and will trust him even more. Why not?

Yu Wanran waited until he calmed down before asking the question: "Yanqing, you are the person closest to Yanbai. Whether you can help him now depends on you!"

As a spy planted among his own people, Yu Wanran was determined to eliminate him.

Yan Bai's fate will either be sealed by her orchestrating an accident that causes him to "disappear," or he will be sent back to the Duke's mansion. As for the secret guards who fail in their missions, they have no use in Xiao Wang's eyes, and the consequences are self-evident.

Of course, Yan Bai could also choose to betray her and curry favor with the Duke's mansion. But judging from the fact that Yan Bai did not try to conceal his identity, he was actually unwilling to betray her.

Therefore, Yu Wanran still wanted to help Yan Bai. She wanted to understand Xiao Wang's methods of controlling Yan Bai and resolve Yan Bai's predicament.

Having figured out this principle, Yanqing immediately began to actively think of solutions.

"Master, I don't yet know why Brother Yanbai is under the control of the Duke's Mansion. However, I believe he must have his reasons! Please give me time to find out."

Yu Wanran nodded. All she wanted to say was to get Yanqing to handle this matter.

She took out a one-hundred-tael silver note and handed it to Yanqing.

"This sum of money is enough for you to gather information and information. There are less than half a month before I go to the capital with the Duke's family. You'd better sever Yanbai's ties with the Duke's family before then."

Yan Bai, citing his "difficult circumstances," stands against her. It remains to be seen whether Yan Qing, her childhood friend, can pull her back from the brink. If not, she will have no choice but to painfully sever ties.