Chapter 279: Chapter 280: A Visitor Calls
Bai Jinglie could only lay it all out. "Brother Wen Heng is practically our God of Wealth. I can already imagine how busy the people under us are going to be again."
Hua Shunming took the mirror from his hand and examined it closely. "I’m growing more and more curious about this Ancient Wen Heng. Bring him into the palace tomorrow for me to see."
Bai Jinglie replied, "Let’s wait a bit longer. The imperial examinations are coming up, so we should give him some quiet time to prepare."
Hua Shunming was also aware of how many people were watching his every move. "Then let’s wait a while. It won’t be long."
However, with this rare object in his hand, Hua Shunming felt all his previous frustrations simply melt away.
He could already imagine it. Once these mirrors were sold, he would probably be the emperor with the wealthiest private treasury in all of history.
As for why he didn’t add these items to the National Treasury? He, Hua Shunming, was no fool. If the National Treasury was empty, then no matter how those people schemed or fabricated expenses, their efforts would be in vain.
He preferred to keep this wealth in his own hands. When a time of true need arose, the entire empire was his anyway. Would he really just stand by and do nothing?
Just then, Le San came over carrying some portraits. Hua Shunming pointed at the portraits and said to Bai Jinglie, "Take these and have a good look. The Empress has made some notes on them. If you find one suitable, we’ll finalize the choice in the next couple of days, and I will decree your marriage."
Bai Jinglie knew there was no way he could refuse this time. He could only accept the decree and express his gratitude, leaving the palace with a pile of portraits.
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「In the rear courtyard of the Marquis Wu’an Mansion」
Kuang Yunqiao saw her niece, Kuang Tianman, sniffling and crying again. "You can stop crying. That boy isn’t even willing to return to the mansion now. Even if I wanted to find an opportunity for you, I can’t."
"Aunt, but you promised me I would marry Cousin Jing Lie! But other than bumping into him in the rear garden that one day, I haven’t even seen him since. How are we supposed to cultivate feelings for each other?"
Kuang Yunqiao was getting a headache. ’I shouldn’t have said I’d bring my niece over to cultivate her feelings for him first and then find a chance to set them up.’
That boy has grown up and his wings have hardened. He doesn’t pay any mind to me or the Marquis, and now that he’s latched onto that person in the palace, he sometimes doesn’t even care about our family’s dignity.
Although she was irritated, she still had to console her niece. "You know he’s busy right now. In a moment, I’ll have the butler send someone to bring him back."
At this thought, Kuang Yunqiao’s heart burned with ambition. ’If my niece is successful, won’t the future Marquis Wu’an Mansion be her domain? And that glass workshop with its incredible daily income... We could quickly restore the former glory of the Marquis Mansion.’
"Aunt?" Seeing Kuang Yunqiao lost in thought, Kuang Tianman grew impatient. "Well, hurry up and send for the butler!"
"You shameless, impatient girl. Although I told you to be more proactive, there’s no need to be this desperate.
You have to take it step by step. You didn’t listen to me before, and that’s why you scared the Princely Heir away from home. This time, when I invite him back, you’d better be a little more reserved for me."
Kuang Tianman nodded emphatically. As long as she could secure the position of the Heir’s wife and marry the man she adored, she would agree to whatever her aunt said.
Kuang Yunqiao did indeed summon the butler at once. "Send someone to find the Young Master. Tell him that since he’s about to leave for his new post soon, he should come back for a nice, complete family meal."
The butler hesitated. "Madam, didn’t the Marquis say before that unless the Young Master comes back on his own, we are not to go looking for him?"
"The Marquis was just saying that in anger. How can the future heir of our Marquis Mansion not come back?" As Kuang Yunqiao spoke, she shot a meaningful glance at Kuang Tianman, and the butler immediately understood.
"This old servant will send someone right away."
Kuang Yunqiao said, "You should also hurry back and clean yourself up. Look at you, your face is a mess."
Kuang Tianman touched her face in embarrassment. "Then I’ll go change into the new clothes Aunt had made for me the day before yesterday, and I’ll freshen up properly."
Kuang Yunqiao waved her away. After the girl had left, she looked up to the sky and sighed heavily.
"Madam, from the looks of it, the Eldest Young Master has no interest in the Young Miss at all. Why not send the Young Miss back home first?" The nanny who had been standing silently in the back spoke up. She knew the Madam’s sensitivities and always referred to Bai Jinglie as the ’Eldest Young Master’.
Kuang Yunqiao scoffed, "Heh, is it important whether he’s interested or not?"
"..."
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Ancient Wen Heng hadn’t expected to receive his first visitor just two days after arriving.
"What? It’s only been a little over two years. You don’t recognize me anymore?" Shan Ke’an sucked in his slightly protruding belly, feeling that Ancient Wen Heng was focusing on the wrong thing.
"Brother Shan, it looks like life’s been treating you well these past two years. You’ve put on some weight around your waist." Ancient Wen Heng glanced at him again and secretly patted his own stomach. ’Looks like I’ll have to exercise more in the future. If I end up like this, Qianqian will probably be disgusted with me.’
Shan Ke’an said, "I can’t help it. My mother keeps me cooped up in the study reading every day. If my cousin hadn’t sent someone to tell me you’d arrived, I wouldn’t even be able to leave my family’s estate."
"Are you also preparing to take the exams?" Ancient Wen Heng had actually always been curious about whether Shan Ke’an was a child student or a Scholar. He just never found a suitable opportunity to ask, and later, he got busy and forgot about it.
"What exams? I was lucky to pass the child student exam before. This time, I’m not even confident about passing the exam to become a Scholar.
But my mother refuses to believe it. She says since my cousin and I were born to two sisters, it’s impossible for us to be so different. She’s forcing me, dead or alive, to take the exam to become a scholar." Having finally met an old friend, any awkwardness from the time apart vanished, and Shan Ke’an immediately began to complain nonstop.
Ancient Wen Heng said, "That’s good, though. Your mother is only doing it for your own good."
Shan Ke’an retorted, "Give me a break! She’s just doing it for her own pride, constantly saying I’m not as good as this person or that person. She never stops to think that those people aren’t her sons."
Ancient Wen Heng: "..." ’Your mother really should reflect on herself. She’s completely spoiled you.’
Perhaps sensing his previous words were a bit inappropriate, Shan Ke’an glanced around and changed the subject. "This estate of yours isn’t bad. But you came all the way to Shangjing without sending word. I should have come out to give you a welcome feast a couple of days ago."
"How could I trouble you? Besides, I came to the capital with my whole family in tow, and we’ve only just gotten settled today." Seeing how enthusiastic he was, Ancient Wen Heng couldn’t be outdone. "It’s been so long since we’ve met. You must stay for a good drink at my place today."
Shan Ke’an’s eyes lit up, but when he glanced at the Attendant Student by his side, he said in a dejected voice, "Let’s do it next time. Now that I know you’ve moved to Shangjing, we’ll have plenty of opportunities in the future.
Besides, you’re about to participate in the imperial examinations soon, so I can’t delay you."
With that, Shan Ke’an had his accompanying servant place the things he had brought on the table. "These are all collected from my old man. See if there’s anything you need."
Ancient Wen Heng looked through them with some doubt, then immediately stared at him in shock.
