Chapter 224: What a Coincidence
Linhai Town.
Li Shikuan alighted from the cart at the entrance of Zhaoyue Tower. A servant rushed forward and led Li Shikuan into the innermost private room on the second floor.
Inside the private room, He Chengzhe stood up and cupped his hands in greeting to Li Shikuan, “I should have visited Li Family Market, but I was afraid of attracting too much attention on the road, so I troubled you, Elder Brother Li.”
“You are too kind,” Li Shikuan hastily bowed and cupped his hands.
He had accepted Old Shopkeeper He’s invitation to Zhaoyue Tower for tea and had rushed over. At this moment, Old Shopkeeper He’s invitation no longer filled him with overwhelming excitement, but the old shopkeeper’s politeness still made him feel somewhat uneasy and as if he were walking on air.
A year ago, being able to exchange a few words with the steward of Old Shopkeeper He’s family was already the result of his utmost effort to climb the social ladder.
When circumstances change, the world can transform in an instant.
After seating Li Shikuan, He Chengzhe poured a cup of tea, pushed it in front of Li Shikuan, and said with a smile, “Yesterday, Brother Ming went to Pingjiang City and met your eldest son. He said he was busy collecting autumn silkworm cocoons?”
“Yes.”
Li Shikuan felt a slight relief. He had been wondering all the way why Old Shopkeeper He had invited him over, and he had thought of the autumn silkworm cocoons.
“It was A Nan’s idea. She said the weaving workshops in Jiangnan have stopped production. If no one collects the autumn silkworm cocoons, it would be a good business opportunity,” Li Shikuan said with a smile.
“Is there enough money?” He Chengzhe asked directly.
Li Shikuan was taken aback.
He Chengzhe smiled, “The He family is under the Prince’s Estate. The matter of the autumn silkworm cocoons is a business, and it is also related to our Young Lord’s task. Our two families are not outsiders.”
“Is this the Young Lord’s intention?” Li Shikuan blurted out.
“No, this is a matter for both our families,” He Chengzhe said with a smile.
Li Shikuan hesitated for a moment, then smiled, “We are indeed worried about the money.”
“Elder Brother Li is a straightforward person. I will pick an accountant and have him find your eldest son. Whatever money is needed, just tell him. Our two families are not wealthy, but together we can collect the autumn silkworm cocoons, and we have enough money for that,” He Chengzhe said, raising his tea cup to Li Shikuan.
“With Old Shopkeeper’s word, my heart is at ease,” Li Shikuan quickly raised his cup and smiled.
After chatting for a few more moments, Li Shikuan took his leave. As the cart left Linhai Town, Li Shikuan instructed Li Wenhua, who was driving, to go to Pingjiang City first.
………………………………
As dusk approached, Li Xiaonan arrived at the villa in Li Shikuan’s cart.
Wan Jing came out to greet her. Gu Yan had not yet returned. Wan Jing chose a small warm pavilion not far from the second gate, personally selected some pastries from the kitchen, and the two sat in the small warm pavilion, eating pastries and chatting while waiting for Gu Yan to return.
Gu Yan, within the second gate, had not yet dismounted when he received a report from the doorman. He gave an instruction not to disturb them, dismounted, took a detour, approached the small warm pavilion, and listened intently.
“…Mochi is so sticky, what’s so good about it!” It was Wan Jing’s voice.
“Your dried fruit is dry and hard, what’s so good about that!” Li Xiaonan quickly retorted.
“Alright, alright, if you like to eat it, then eat it.”
“When will your Young Lord be back?” Li Xiaonan asked.
“How would I know! Didn’t I tell you long ago that we servants are not allowed to inquire about when or where the masters are returning! That’s called prying! I’ve told you several times!”
“Alright, consider it unasked.” Li Xiaonan sighed.
“But~” Wan Jing’s drawn-out tone held a hint of mystery, “Yesterday, I went to the kitchen to get a small jar and happened to see a servant from our Young Lord’s courtyard running very fast, saying he was starving and had just returned or something. It was a quarter past Xu time then.
“It’s not yet Xu time now, so wait with peace of mind. You’ll eat with me later. I have four portioned dishes. I just told the kitchen to steam a boiled fish. I won’t eat it, it’s all for you.”
Li Xiaonan sighed.
“Our Young Lord is so busy, managing countless affairs. Returning at Xu time is considered early!” Wan Jing snorted.
“When you talk about your Young Lord being busy, it’s always managing countless affairs. Can’t you use a different word?”
“Eating one meal and getting up ten times? Managing ten thousand affairs in a day? Spitting out food and grasping hair?”
“Forget it, ‘managing countless affairs’ is fine.”
“Let’s not talk about our Young Lord, it’s boring. I heard that Miss Shi is now experiencing sorrow greater than death!”
“Oh? What happened? Where did you hear that?”
“Our Princess Consort sends people to the villa almost every day to bring our Young Lord this and that, asking if it’s good. The Prince also sends people over every few days. There are also people from other families coming from the Capital City to the villa; there are several groups a day. Where do you think I heard it from!”
Wan Jing’s voice carried a hint of disdain.
“Hurry up and tell me, what happened? How can you tell that she is experiencing sorrow greater than death?”
“They say Miss Shi has started eating vegetarian on the first and fifteenth of the month.”
“Just that? If I had fish and meat for every meal, I’d also eat vegetarian on the first and fifteenth to cleanse my stomach. How nice!” Li Xiaonan chuckled.
Gu Yan suppressed a smile and continued to listen.
“Miss Shi is not like you! They also say that after Miss Shi returned to the Capital City, she hasn’t smiled much, and she only wears colors like grey and crab-shell green, which are extremely plain. They say Miss Shi copies sutras every day, and that Miss Shi even wrote a line saying ‘once I have seen the vast ocean, other waters are hardly worth looking at.’
“What do you mean by that? Is she blaming our Young Lord for everything?”
“Shouldn’t she blame your Young Lord? Didn’t your Young Lord ruin things for her?”
“That’s true.”
“It seems she really doesn’t want to get married anymore. Is your Princess Consort unhappy about her like this?” Li Xiaonan chuckled.
“How can our Princess Consort be so unreasonable? Even you know that our Young Lord harmed her. They say our Princess Consort feels extremely guilty and wanted to adopt her as a goddaughter, but she refused, saying her heart was already beyond worldly matters, tsk!”
“That’s exactly what we want! Your Princess Consort is guilty, your Prince must also be extremely guilty, and even if your Young Lord isn’t that guilty, he’s definitely feeling guilty and in the wrong. Miss Shi’s parents and family must also feel sorry for her and dote on her, and her relatives and friends must all pity her, cherish her, and dote on her. How wonderful!”
“That’s true! She’s so cunning.” Wan Jing clicked her tongue.
“How can you call this cunning? Your Young Lord wronged her, and you’re not even allowed to show it? If it were me, I’d do the same.”
“That’s true. Anyway, our Young Lord holds a high position and has great power, he can bear it.”
Gu Yan narrowed his eyes as he listened.
Shi Gun, about ten steps away, looked at the warm pavilion with trepidation, then at his Young Lord, and prayed silently: That foolish girl Wan Jing, please don’t mention me, please don’t mention me! May the Earth God bless me!
Gu Yan took two steps back, turned, and walked about ten steps, crossing a patch of hibiscus flowers, towards the warm pavilion.
Shi Gun quickly followed, shouting loudly, “The Young Lord is back.”
