Transmigrated as Jane’s Ghostly Godmother - Chapter 46

Chapter 46: Brewing Clouds — Lin Zhao Infiltrates, Jane Battles with Words…

Everyone at Vine Manor had been exceptionally busy lately.

Summer was the season of the Eastern fleet; long-haul vessels crowded Funchal port, bringing mountains of orders. John Eyre was occupied with managing the logistics of the daily trade.

Jane, with Lin Zhao’s assistance and her adoptive father’s tacit approval, had registered the “Anit Trading Company” through the Mason firm. Acting as the representative of this company, she maneuvered through the various collaborations Julian had recently established.

The silent battlefield soon found its focal point: the Victoria, a British ship that had just docked at Funchal, bringing with it a highly coveted business opportunity.

As night fell and the summer heat dissipated, the island’s markets became vibrant, welcoming every transient guest. Laborers and small traders crowded the pubs, while distinguished guests rode carriages toward the welcoming banquet held for the EIC (East India Company) fleet.

The two masters of the Eyre house were, naturally, on the guest list.

“Mr. Lintner has other urgent matters tonight and cannot accompany us. Remember, you are a lady visiting from the Mason family. Stay close to Mr. Terry; do not be left alone.”

As public interest in the mysterious young heir of the Eyre family grew, they had to act with increasing caution.

Jane nodded calmly. “I will, Father. You needn’t worry about me.” Her adoptive father gave a restrained nod and was the first to step out of the carriage.

In the interval waiting for Mr. Terry, Jane pulled the carriage curtains tighter toward the empty shadow within the cabin. “Take care as well, Lin,” she whispered, her volume just low enough so the driver wouldn’t hear her “talking to herself.”

In the shadows, Lin Zhao nodded silently in response. Before Jane stepped out, Lin reached out and smoothed a stray lock of hair that the wind had tousled at Jane’s temple.

The private villa hosting the banquet was the island’s premier residence for welcoming dignitaries—the same place where the Harrisons had stayed years prior. Because of this, Lin Zhao knew the layout like the back of her hand.

To facilitate her infiltration, she wore her own clothes rather than the “Lintner” disguise. She caught up with John Eyre’s pace, following not too far behind him.

Every winemaker of repute on the island was present. Within two days, news of the Victoria had spread everywhere; no merchant would remain indifferent to such a massive opportunity. They swarmed around the protagonist of the evening, Mr. Phillips, with waves of flattery.

“Your voyage must have been most smooth, Mr. Phillips!” “Madeira is graced by your presence!”

Phillips looked arrogant, responding only with vague grunts as his gaze swept indifferently over the crowd.

A cold figure pushed through the surrounding people. Julian Harrison, his face devoid of extra expression, raised his glass toward Phillips, his voice flat: “Mr. Phillips, it has been a long time.”

These words made it clear the two had prior dealings. The surrounding noise instantly dampened.

“Mhm.” Phillips finally focused his gaze. He narrowed his eyes, sized up the young man, and snorted. “The Harrison boy. I remember you. Your father’s letter was very… persuasive.”

John Eyre, who had been observing with a smile, finally reacted. He held his glass and walked forward at a leisurely pace. Without looking at Julian, he directed his gentle gaze toward Phillips.

“Mr. Phillips, you must be weary from your journey. Young men are often eager to prove themselves; please do not take offense.”

Julian’s fingers tightened around his glass for a split second.

John Eyre continued as if he hadn’t noticed. “Business is important, of course, but allowing a distinguished guest to taste a glass of authentic Madeira and feel the warmth of this island—I believe that is our primary duty as hosts.”

The arrogance in Phillips’ eyes faded slightly, and a playful smirk appeared. He glanced pointedly at the silent Julian, then turned to John Eyre and raised his glass. “Mr. Eyre speaks truly. Then, I shall look forward to your wine.”

John Eyre smiled and lightly clinked glasses with him.

Lin Zhao took all of this in. She watched John Eyre’s unchanging smile, Julian’s stiff face, and the other merchants who tactfully stepped back, minding their own business. They exchanged knowing looks, yielding the center stage to the two giants, content to be spectators in this clash. Everyone knew the EIC’s massive order would ultimately land in the pockets of either the Eyres or the Harrisons.

Confirmed that Phillips wouldn’t be leaving the banquet anytime soon, Lin Zhao decided she had seen enough of the play. She expertly avoided the laughing crowd and headed straight for her target: the second-floor study.

Frederick Phillips, the arrogant and calculating Procurement Chief, kept all important documents with him. Currently, those files had moved from the ship to the study, locked away tightly. While the banquet below was ablaze with light, the entire second floor was locked down, with patrols moving back and forth and two guards stationed outside the study door.

“Apologies, but these defenses keep out men, not ghosts,” Lin Zhao thought expressionlessly as she passed the guards and phased through the wall.

The study was silent and dim, with moonlight providing just enough light to see. Lin Zhao walked toward the heavy mahogany desk. After a bit of searching, she focused on the locked drawers. The lock was British-made and sophisticated, but in her hands, it was nonexistent.

She reached in and pulled out the documents.

Being an information broker with this constitution is truly too convenient, she thought. If I could learn to teleport, maybe I’d open an agency in London?

She shook her head, tossing away irrelevant thoughts. The documents were complex, filled with jargon that made her eyes glaze over. She leaned against the window, squinting to find familiar words in the sprawling text.

Fortunately, the number of locked files wasn’t overwhelming. Before the banquet ended, she found what she was looking for.

1. The Procurement Authorization: This detailed the wine vintages, exact quantities, and the maximum unit price approved by EIC headquarters. This number was Phillips’ absolute psychological floor.

2. Private Correspondence: These letters revealed Phillips’ anxiety over the sudden collapse of his traditional supplier and the immense pressure from London to complete the purchase on time. More importantly, they mentioned his preliminary contact with Julian Harrison. Julian’s quote was very high, but Phillips felt he had no better option.

“No better option?” A smirk curled Lin Zhao’s lips in the darkness. We’ll create an option for you, Mr. Manager.

She pulled out a pen and paper, transcribed every key figure and term, meticulously restored the files to their original state, and slipped back through the wall as silently as she had arrived.

Below, in the banquet hall, Jane stood alone by the buffet table. She had declined Mr. Terry’s invitation to join the toasts, silently observing the room.

In a business-centric banquet, female guests were few, and she soon attracted many stares. Local winemakers mostly knew who she was and kept a polite distance, but foreign traders or captains were less restrained.

“Good evening, Miss. I wonder which gentleman you are accompanying?” A young man walked up to Jane, glass in hand. Though his words were polite, his appraising eyes made it clear he wasn’t there just for a greeting.

Jane was familiar with this look. At such banquets, a pretty woman would be praised for her looks, a poised one for her family background, and after a few empty pleasantries, the topic would inevitably land on marriage. Family, wealth, beauty—women were treated as resources to be appraised and measured.

She remembered her father’s words: “If you are to learn to stand on your own two feet, or even trade as I do, you must be prepared. There is far too much prejudice against women on this path.”

It was Lin Zhao who had first spread rumors about her gender that were so mixed it made “complete disguise” meaningless, allowing her to only wear disguises when absolutely necessary.

Lin Zhao had once told her: “Even if you were a perfect ‘man,’ those who wish you ill would find ways to ‘slander’ you as a woman. Trust me, once you achieve success, they will wish you were a man and might even start assuming you are one.”

Back in the present, Jane raised her glass to the man but didn’t answer his question. “Good evening, sir. Forgive my intrusion, but you do not look like a local winemaker. I wonder which gentleman you are accompanying?”

The subtext was razor-sharp: Only someone unqualified to be invited independently would be so bold as to accost a lady.

The man froze, understanding the double attack on his character and status. His face turned livid.

“Ah, Miss, there you are.” Mr. Terry rushed over, seeing the situation. He turned to the man with a professional smile, subtly blocking any potential scene. “Mr. Hansen, Captain Thompson was looking for you over there.”

Terry’s words confirmed Jane’s judgment. Hansen’s face turned bright red. Jane took a sip of her juice and gave the man a fleeting, polite, yet distant smile. She whispered to Terry, “I’m going to find my father,” and walked away with composure.

Not far away, the crowd around Phillips had dispersed. Jane noticed Julian Harrison standing alone, glass in hand, looking cold and out of place.

This was their second encounter today. This morning, Jane had beaten him to an order at a local winery. Julian had only sized her up from a distance before leaving, but by the afternoon, Lin Zhao had caught a spy following her.

“He’s onto you. Should I do something?” Lin had asked. Jane had declined, simply having Lin drop the man in an alley. She knew that the unknown was a threat, and that Julian’s vigilance and contempt were intertwined.

Now was the perfect chance to test him.

“Good evening, Mr. Harrison.” Jane walked up and raised her glass slightly.