58: Chapter 0058 Others' Poison

While Xiao Qingxuan was washing up, Lin Xiao wrote a note and handed it to Leng Bingyan.

"Miss Leng, go to Baiyu Pavilion first, find Boss Su to order some dishes, and give this note to her."

Leng Bingyan glanced at it, appearing a bit confused, but she didn't ask questions and turned to leave.

A short while later, Xiao Qingxuan changed into an elegant moon-white gown and boarded the carriage with Lin Xiao.

After arriving in the city, Xiao Qingxuan kept a low profile to avoid trouble, wrapping herself up tightly.

This was her first time appearing in public at a place as crowded and observant as Baiyu Pavilion.

"Husband, will it really be alright?"

On the carriage, Xiao Qingxuan remembered the painful experience of being driven away as an evil spirit because of her heterochromia when she was in distress, and she felt very worried.

"Wife, prepare yourself mentally... In a moment, I will..."

Lin Xiao gave a brief explanation of his plan.

After hearing it, Xiao Qingxuan was momentarily stunned, then she thought about it carefully and nodded.

"I will follow your lead, husband."

When the two arrived at Baiyu Pavilion, Su Wansha had already received word and came downstairs to greet them.

This was her first time seeing Xiao Qingxuan from such a close distance. Looking at the stunningly beautiful woman with an elegant aura before her, Su Wansha felt a wave of frustration.

Of course, she didn't let it show.

"Commander Lin, visiting twice in one day to support my business; my humble establishment is truly flattered."

"Haha, having won a battle today, I naturally want my family to share in the joy, so I brought my wife for a few drinks."

Lin Xiao laughed loudly on purpose, drawing the attention of all the guests in the building.

Sure enough, everyone soon noticed Xiao Qingxuan's heterochromia, and many began to frown.

Ordinarily, many would have stood up to drive her out or hurl insults.

But since Lin Xiao was now the de facto top official of Baishui Prefecture, everyone could only hold it in, not daring to say a word.

Su Wansha bowed to Xiao Qingxuan. "I have long heard that Commander Lin's wife is both talented and beautiful. Even the great task of land reclamation for the benefit of the people was handled by you personally. I truly admire you!"

"Boss Su, you overpraise me. Reclaiming the wasteland was my husband's decision; I merely shared his burdens. I cannot compare to Boss Su, who supports such a large business on her own," Xiao Qingxuan replied with a graceful bow.

The two women's eyes met. They both understood the situation perfectly, but neither could voice it openly.

"Wife, there's no need for such modesty! If not for you, today's battle would not have gone so smoothly!"

Lin Xiao's words left the diners in the building somewhat surprised.

"Commander Lin, what do you mean? Did your wife accompany you to the battlefield as well?" Su Wansha asked with a look of curiosity.

"Not exactly, but my wife was born with an extraordinary destiny and great fortune."

"Since marrying her, not only has my martial arts progressed by leaps and bounds, but I have also been able to defeat many with few on the battlefield, turning the tide of destiny!"

Lin Xiao laughed. "I am but a scholar who became a soldier halfway through life. If not for heaven's protection, how could I have killed Bate amidst ten thousand troops, killed General Fan Zhong today, and still escaped unscathed?"

Upon hearing this, the people inside Baiyu Pavilion looked at each other and began to whisper.

"Husband, please do not say such things. I have heterochromia and have been viewed as a harbinger of disaster since childhood; I wouldn't dare claim to have great fortune," Xiao Qingxuan said, waving her hands repeatedly.

"Haha, so what if you're a harbinger of disaster? That depends on for whom!"

Lin Xiao threw an arm around her delicate shoulders. "With my wife by my side, whoever opposes me must die! A disaster for my enemies is surely a lucky star for me, is it not?"

"I see! Then I must also befriend your wife so that I might share in some of that good fortune as well!"

Su Wansha stepped forward with a smile and warmly took Xiao Qingxuan's hand.

"I hope you can bless my Baiyu Pavilion with prosperous business, Madam!"

Xiao Qingxuan gave a faint smile and nodded.

"Madam, this way upstairs, please!"

Once the group went upstairs, the guests below erupted into a frenzy of discussion!

"You don't say! That actually makes sense!"

"It hasn't been long since Lin Xiao went from a mere scholar to the god of slaughter on the border. So he changed his fate by getting married?"

"There are indeed legends about heterochromia. The ancients called it an 'ominous omen'—so that's what it meant!!"

"One man's poison is another man's honey. Has General Lin turned a misfortune into a blessing?"

"I don't believe it! How can there be such a wicked thing? Heterochromia is an evil spirit..."

"Shh! Do you want to die?! Think about general of the household General Fan Zhong, who was just decapitated today! Even an army of thirty thousand couldn't save his head!!"

"Say no more... At least since Commander Lin arrived, the taxes in our Baishui Prefecture have been reduced quite a bit, and the people have food to eat. These are all good things!"

"True, it's better to believe it than not..."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, in the private room upstairs.

Su Wansha looked proud. "Well, Commander Lin, was my performance alright?"

Lin Xiao raised his wine cup in a toast.

"Even if Boss Su went to perform in an opera, you'd be the lead actress!"

"You're the one performing!" Su Wansha teased back.

Leng Bingyan frowned and asked, "Can this really change everyone's view on heterochromia?"

Lin Xiao shook his head. "The prejudice of the Great Gan people against heterochromia has existed for too long. It's impossible to change it overnight."

"However... the common people's reaction to heterochromia is mostly fear born of ignorance."

"While this fear can cause harm, it can also, in turn, be transformed into a weapon."

Xiao Qingxuan's eyes showed a hint of admiration. "I truly never thought of it that way, husband..."

"Indeed, many things just need to be looked at from a different angle; good and bad are not so absolute."

Lin Xiao smiled. In a world that still believed heterochromia was a sign of disaster, many philosophical thoughts were still in their infancy.

"Boss Su, you are well-informed. My wife was harassed by a group of children today. Can you find out who the mastermind behind it is?"

Lin Xiao had no intention of letting the person causing trouble behind the scenes get away.

"Do you really take me for an information broker?"

Su Wansha rolled her eyes at him. "It happened outside the city, so I'll need to have my people look into it. However... I can probably guess who it is."

"Oh? Who?"

"The largest landlord in Baishui Prefecture, Qiu Kangyuan, Wealthy Merchant Qiu," Su Wansha said in a low voice.

"Wealthy Merchant Qiu?"

Xiao Qingxuan frowned. "The one who owns over eight hundred mu of land outside the eastern city gate?"

"That's right. But the eight hundred mu is only what's openly leased to tenants. With the illegally occupied land, it actually totals over a thousand mu."

"Wealthy Merchant Qiu also runs ceramics shops, tea shops, cloth shops, pawnshops... he has many businesses."

"Lin Xiao asked curiously, "Why do you suspect him? Just because he's the wealthiest?"

Su Wansha shook her head. "His eldest daughter, Qiu Yuehong, is the wife of Official Lu Yang and the biological mother of Lu Shaoyuan."

"That Madam Qiu lost her husband and son, and then her wealth after their home was seized. How could she not hate you?"

Lin Xiao and Xiao Qingxuan realized it. So he was Official Lu Yang's father-in-law; no wonder he could become the largest landlord in Baishui Prefecture!

Although Qiu Kangyuan was the primary suspect, Lin Xiao still asked Su Wansha to find evidence.

It wasn't that he was soft-hearted; rather, if he was going to take action, he wanted to wipe them all out in one go!

"What if there was more than one mastermind?"

Su Wansha said it was no problem; she had her own ways and guaranteed she would find out within two days.

After finishing their business, Su Wansha began to introduce the various dishes her establishment took pride in.

To her disappointment, although Xiao Qingxuan tasted a bit of everything, her expression remained calm.

"Does Madam find these dishes not to her taste?"

Su Wansha felt a bit unhappy. These were all signature dishes she had carefully arranged, and she was quite confident in her culinary research.