Ye Zhinan secretly pushed open Ye Yingfeng's door at night. With an obsequious smile, she approached him.
"Big brother, I have something to ask you for help."
Her tone was polite, just like a fox with its tail between its legs.
A glint of wariness flashed across Ye Yingfeng's eyes. He quickly distanced himself from her and tapped her on the nose with his finger.
"You've dug your pit too obviously. I almost believed you."
Ye Zhinan stuck out her tongue, then took out the hidden writing brushes and ink with a mischievous smile and pushed them in front of him.
"If we really have to negotiate with the bandits, do you have any good strategies?"
Since her true intention had been seen through, she decided not to hide it anymore and came straight to the point.
Ye Yingfeng thought his younger sister was getting more and more shrewd. If a few more years passed, he might even be outmatched by her schemes.
"Did you come to ask on your own, or did Inspector Qin send you here to fish for information?"
Ye Yingfeng scrutinized her with his probing eyes. She straightened her back, trying to boost her confidence.
"Of course I came to ask on my own."
"Then I'll answer when he comes to ask. You don't have the decision - making power in this matter. The more you know, the more mistakes you'll make. Brother is just trying to protect you."
Saying so, he pushed the paper and brush back, folded his arms, turned his head to the side, and stopped looking at her.
Ye Zhinan was rebuffed. Knowing her brother's temper, she naturally didn't dare to go against him.
She slunk away with her things. Ye Yingfeng watched her departing back and showed a meaningful smile.
It seemed that he was about to cross swords with Qin Yihuai soon.
Ye Zhinan tossed and turned in bed, unable to fall asleep. All she could think about were the greenhouse and the bandit issue.
She was drowsy and didn't even know when she fell asleep. When she woke up again, it was already broad daylight outside.
Han Xiangmei was still angry. She just gave Ye Zhinan a cold glance, then continued with her work as if she hadn't seen her.
"The young man from the Zhao family sent something for you. He said to see if you're satisfied this time. If not, just tell him."
Ye Zhinan immediately perked up. She took three steps in two and rushed to the table, carefully unfolding the cloth.
It couldn't be described as thin as a cicada's wing, but it still satisfied her.
She could clearly see Han Xiangmei's figure through the cloth, and when it was placed in the sunlight, the sunlight was blinding.
Such a greenhouse would be enough.
She wasted no time in applying tung oil on it. Carrying the pre - prepared framework, she was about to rush out.
After taking just two steps, she turned back and covered the crops in front of her courtyard with the greenhouse.
"It's too dangerous outside. Home is the safest place."
She clapped her hands, stood up contentedly, and looked at her masterpiece.
She was supposed to work in the fields today, so she couldn't stay at home for too long. After recording the daytime data, she went to the fields to work.
Somehow, she always felt that the people around her were deliberately avoiding her, as if she were a plague.
"Business may not succeed, but kindness should remain. Why are you so strange after just one day?"
Ye Zhinan approached Sister Zhang, trying to find out what had happened.
Sister Zhang took a few steps back, as if trying to draw a clear line.
"Don't come near me. Miss Wei said that you people were sent by the government to get us killed."
Sister Zhang's voice was not loud, but everyone around could hear it clearly.
Everyone's eyes were suddenly focused on Ye Zhinan, like a just trial, making her feel extremely uncomfortable all over.
"Why do you believe everything you hear? If I were really from the government, I would have gone up the mountain long ago to make them compensate for my crops. Why would I bother to toil in the fields with you?"
Ye Zhinan had never done anything immoral in her heart.
She had been busy preparing the greenhouse technology for everyone to live a better life.
Even the plan to suppress the bandits was to eliminate future troubles.
She was kind - hearted by nature. How could she be willing to use everyone's lives as a bet and let them fight against the bandits recklessly just to show off?
"You look so aggrieved. People who don't know might think you're a high - ranking maid in the palace. You've fallen to this state, but still think you're the former noble young lady?"
Sarcastic remarks came one after another. Ye Zhinan's eyes turned red, and her whole body trembled uncontrollably.
She knew the coldness of human nature, but this was the first time she felt it could be so cold.
"I heard that Inspector Qin is already discussing the bandit - suppression plan with your brother. How can you still say that your Ye family is not a spy?"
Ye Zhinan didn't know that Ye Yingfeng was discussing the matter with Qin Yihuai.
But it was reasonable. She just didn't expect it to happen so soon.
Actually, she was happy about it in her heart. No matter how capable Qin Yihuai was, he was just a scholar confined to a small area.
But Ye Yingfeng had traveled far and wide and experienced real battles. He must have more experience in suppressing the bandits.
With both brains and strength, their combination would surely produce unexpected results.
She just didn't expect the news to spread so fast.
Wei Shiqi emerged from the crowd. She was dressed gorgeously and gracefully, in sharp contrast to the rough cloth clothes of the others.
"Don't make unfounded accusations. If the dirty things you've done are exposed, you'll be more embarrassed than me."
Ye Zhinan leaned close to her ear and whispered a warning.
She thought Wei Shiqi would be afraid, but instead, it made her more unscrupulous.
"I'm just more cautious than you. I do things flawlessly. Even if you know it clearly in your heart, you can't catch me on any charge."
There was a smile in her eyes, but deep down, there was a cold killing intent.
Ye Zhinan smelled the strong sandalwood scent on her and suddenly had a flash of inspiration. She seemed to remember something.
The sandalwood she used was the precious old - mountain sandalwood, hard to come by even for a fortune. She definitely couldn't afford it.
Strangely enough, she had smelled this scent before, not anywhere else, but in the yamen.
"If I were you, I wouldn't dress so ostentatiously. Even if you want to show off your wealth, you should get rid of the smell on you."
Ye Zhinan no longer avoided people. Instead, she stood upright and said it in front of everyone.
She thought she could wake them up with a single word, but unexpectedly, they were still deeply immersed in it.
"You're just jealous because she's capable. The Wei family relies on the power of her maternal family. With the help of a noble person, their life is naturally better."
"That's right. At first, we said your Ye family was a noble and upright family and had high - ranking officials in the capital. Now it seems that's just so - so."
Ye Zhinan couldn't help but laugh. These people were really fickle and brainless.
She remembered the people who had spoken up. They were the ones who had said that Wei Shiqi was not doing a proper job at first.
But now they had suddenly switched sides and started to curry favor with Wei Shiqi.
How ridiculous!