Xiangzhou Chapter: Transmigration of the Soul to Another World, Chapter 35: Trouble Caused by a Plaque?

"Chen Bailei, Xiang Ling'er, Zheng Qianjuan—is it really necessary for you three to be this ruthless?"

The group in front of her had struggled mightily to haul the thief out of the pit. A kind-hearted shop assistant had summoned a physician in advance, who worked with practiced efficiency to dress the wounds and stop the bleeding. Shortly after, Uncle Zhang took the thief to the local authorities.

Watching everyone depart, Ye Qiaoqiao couldn't help but think to herself: surely, for the time being, no one would come to cause trouble at her Pavilion of Divine Calculation, right?

Yet, a second thought left her feeling puzzled. Ever since she hung up the plaque for the "Pavilion of Divine Calculation," why hadn't she seen any profit, nor had many customers come knocking? Was the day she unveiled the plaque an unlucky one?

Ye Qiaoqiao pondered it from every angle, unable to find an answer. Subconsciously, she extended her slender fingers and began to calculate. As if a dark cloud had been swept away to reveal the sun, the truth dawned on her in an instant.

She curled her lip, silently grumbling to herself: No wonder that since putting up the "Pavilion of Divine Calculation" plaque, not only had her fortune failed to improve, but one wave of trouble after another had crashed upon her. It turned out that the five characters for "Pavilion of Divine Calculation," according to the Five Elements, belonged to the Metal element. Meanwhile, Ye Qiaoqiao’s own name belonged to the Wood element. In the cycle of generation and restriction, Metal overcomes Wood. In other words, the name of her own shop was actively working against her.

It was a terrible omen. No wonder this period had been so fraught with frustrating setbacks and persistent troublemakers.

Ye Qiaoqiao shook her head helplessly, sighing internally at her own lapse in judgment. How had she failed to consider this when choosing the name? It was truly a careless oversight. It seemed that once she moved to the capital, she absolutely could not use the words "Divine Calculation."

She felt a wave of anxiety, fearing what other misfortunes this name might bring. However, she reminded herself that she was leaving for the capital soon anyway; whether she changed it now or not hardly mattered. After all, a residence only influences one’s fortune if one lives there for more than three months, and the plaque had only been up for a few days. She had hoped a bold, fitting name would make her business boom, but who could have foreseen that it would invite so much trouble?

Hanxiang noticed her mistress’s face shifting through expressions of concern and relief, wondering what she was thinking. Perhaps the mistress was exhausted after dealing with the thief? Fearing she must be hungry, Hanxiang turned toward the kitchen. She brought out the prepared meal, set it steadily on the table, and walked over to Ye Qiaoqiao.

"Mistress, please have something to eat," she said softly.

"Right." Ye Qiaoqiao nodded. Looking at the shrimp and beef on the table, both fragrant and appetizing, she picked up her bowl and chopsticks. Abandoning all pretense of elegance, she began to eat voraciously. She had been so preoccupied with various matters over the past few days that she hadn't eaten properly, and now, feeling truly famished, every bite tasted divine.

Watching her eat, Hanxiang recalled her earlier expression and asked, "Mistress, do you find the matter with that thief too suspicious?"

"Indeed," Ye Qiaoqiao replied, swallowing a mouthful of food and nodding slightly. But then she shook her head, her brow furrowing even deeper. "I just can't fathom why Xiang Ling'er would go to such lengths to hire someone to steal from me for no reason!"

"Perhaps she’s short on money!" Hanxiang muttered, curling her lip. In her view, Xiang Ling'er had sent someone to steal because she was greedy for her mistress's wealth.

Ye Qiaoqiao took another bite, speaking vaguely, "That shouldn't be it. She is the daughter of the official overseeing the imperial examinations! How could she be lacking in funds?"

Hanxiang paused, her brow furrowing as she fell into deep thought. A moment later, as if struck by a sudden realization, she voiced her suspicion: "Could she be a fake heiress?"

"Uh, this..." Ye Qiaoqiao was stunned. Her bowl and chopsticks hovered in mid-air; how had she not considered that possibility?

Still, she reflected, whether Xiang Ling'er was a true heiress or a fake didn't really concern her. But she had crossed the line by repeatedly coming to stir up trouble. That, she could not tolerate.

With that thought, Ye Qiaoqiao set down her bowl and chopsticks, reached into her bodice, and rummaged around until she pulled out the jade pendant Shen Jianzhou had given her. Unwrapping the cloth, she whispered to the jade, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, are you there?"

Her expression was a mixture of anticipation and lingering unease. In this era without mobile phones, she found this method of communication both novel and magical.

Before long, a low, authoritative voice resonated from the jade: "Speak."

The voice was so clear, it felt as if he were standing right beside her. Hearing that tone, Ye Qiaoqiao couldn't help but pout, grumbling in her heart: *So arrogant. Does he really think he’s the sun shining over everything? Always speaking in such a condescending manner.*

Despite her inner complaints, she replied in a sweet, gentle voice, "Regarding the time you saved me, have you managed to find out who was behind it?"

Coming to her pavilion repeatedly to steal treasures and smash the sign—was it truly all the fault of the plaque? She felt deeply unsettled not knowing who was pulling the strings.

Meanwhile, at the official’s residence, Shen Jianzhou was holding a cup of tea. Upon hearing her question, he raised an eyebrow, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes. He had assumed Ye Qiaoqiao was just a foolish, sharp-tongued little girl. He hadn't expected that only half a day after returning, she would already be concerned about the mastermind behind the disturbance.

After a moment of thought, Shen Jianzhou replied unhurriedly, "See me tomorrow."

His tone was so certain it was as if everything were already arranged. Ye Qiaoqiao’s heart leaped with joy. This jade pendant was truly convenient; she could contact Shen Jianzhou whenever she needed. And since he spoke with such confidence, surely there was a result. Finally, she could sleep soundly tonight without tossing and turning over these vexing matters.

"Thank you, Your Highness. I will come tomorrow," she said.

For a long time, the jade remained silent. Satisfied, Ye Qiaoqiao wrapped it back in the cloth and tucked it safely away. She then happily picked up her bowl and chopsticks to finish her meal.

Beside her, Hanxiang covered her mouth to hide a giggle, thinking how quickly her mistress’s mood had shifted. Was the change in her expression truly because of the Crown Prince’s words?

Once full, Ye Qiaoqiao set down her utensils with contentment and stretched lazily. "A full stomach and a good meal—truly the secret to long life!"