Chapter 154 - Fully Loaded and Returned
“Feeling better?” Lu Zheng inquired, a hint of concern in his voice.
“Huh?” Zuo Shaoqing was puzzled.
Lu Zheng grinned and remarked, “I never expected Qing Qing to be so eager to marry me. She's already shedding tears of joy.”
Unconsciously, Zuo Shaoqing touched the corners of his eyes and indeed, there were remnants of moisture. His face flushed as he realized they were still out in public. Everywhere they passed, onlookers seemed unsure of how to react.
However, it became evident that Third Master Zuo's rebirth had not only strengthened his resolve but also thickened his skin. After an awkward moment, he returned to his usual self.
“By the way, who chose the wedding date? Is May 5th too soon?”
“Are we rushing it? I almost wish we could marry tonight!” He playfully suggested, then headed straight for the bridal chamber!
Zuo Shaoqing didn't catch the ambiguity in his words, but he composed himself and acted oblivious. “The emperor has entrusted the Ministry of Rites with the wedding arrangements. Given the intricate bureaucratic procedures, I'm afraid there might not be enough time.”
“Don't worry, I won't allow any delays.” Anyone daring to postpone his good fortune should prepare to face the consequences!
Zuo Shaoqing experienced a novel sensation while discussing wedding plans as a husband-to-be. In ancient times, marriages were typically arranged by parents, so he couldn't fathom how a woman felt about getting married. Nevertheless, he felt as if he were floating on cloud nine, as light as a feather.
Upon arriving at Wu Steel Manor, Liu Tie dismounted first. Zuo Shaoqing quickly followed suit and joined him in heading to the Warm Fragrance Pavilion to meet the elderly mistress.
After exchanging pleasantries, Lu Zheng updated the Countess about the wedding ceremony details, including the chosen date and the involvement of the Ministry of Rites.
Zuo Shaoqing knew he should depart now, but he couldn't pinpoint what was bothering him. He had been an observer all night, and he had even overlooked the madame's presence.
“Since the wedding date is set, Shao Qing is no longer suitable to reside in the mansion.”
“Why?” Lu Zheng was the first to object, and Zuo Shaoqing also gazed at the elderly lady with uncertainty. Could it be that she was displeased with him living here?
“Two fools!” She knew that the two of them were inexperienced and clueless, so she clarified, “Even though you two men are different from women when it comes to marriage, you still need to follow proper etiquette. Don't you know that it's improper to meet each other before marriage?”
Zuo Shaoqing scratched his head. Honestly, he wasn't aware of this. He just felt that he and Lu Zheng had disrupted the natural balance, so why should they adhere to those rules?
Lu Zheng evidently shared his sentiment, “You're talking about women, and Shao Qing is a man. It's different!”
The elderly lady tapped Lu Zheng's head with her fan and retorted, “So, are you suggesting that there's no need to escort the bride on the wedding day? That you can just go straight to paying respects?”
Lu Zheng felt uneasy but replied calmly, “Of course, I will escort Shao Qing back tomorrow.”
Since Zuo Shaoqing got injured, he had been residing in Wu Steel Manor. Firstly, he wanted to recover, and secondly, he didn't particularly want to return to his cold and distant home.
Hearing that he had to return, Zuo Shaoqing was extremely reluctant, but a thought crossed his mind that there might be a better alternative.
The following day, the marriage edict and the list of the Hall Competition winners were posted together. The entire capital was shocked by the news that Master Lu intended to marry a man.
“What did you say? Is it really written on the leaderboard that a man is being married to Duke Zhen?” A middle-aged man who had just squeezed out from the crowd grabbed the young man beside him.
The young man shook his head, sighing. How could this be? “Oh…”
“I couldn't believe it when someone told me that Duke Zhen requested the emperor to arrange a marriage for him in the Hall Competition. Who marries a man? What's the meaning behind all this?”
It was a puzzle that left everyone baffled. If someone liked men, well, they liked men. But why did they have to get married?
What did marrying a man mean? It meant that Duke Zhen wouldn't have a legitimate heir even if he had children in the future. It meant that the inheritance of Duke Zhen's title might be uncertain.
“What else could it mean? Love, of course! Duke Zhen is a man of integrity; he wouldn't use a woman as a mere shield!”
Furthermore, the man he intended to marry was the top scholar. Rumor had it that this scholar excelled not only in literature but also in looks and morals. He was considered exceptionally talented and handsome.
“That's true. How could someone whom Duke Zhen has set his sights on be ordinary?”
After Zuo Shaoqing left Wu Steel Manor, Ke Youliang returned from his second voyage at sea. This time, he didn't just bring two ships; he arrived with ten ships laden with cargo from Crane City Port, which were dispatched to the capital in multiple batches.
Zuo Shaoqing was flipping through the inventory book, page after page. A smile crept across his face, and his eyes nearly squinted with delight.
Ke Youliang had become even leaner, his mischievous eyes gleaming. He was clad in a foreign calico suit and sported a somewhat unconventional mustache.
“Boss, all of these are secondary. If you turn directly to the last page, you'll be pleasantly surprised,” Ke Youliang declared, puffing out his chest.
Zuo Shaoqing felt a tinge of curiosity and turned to the final page. After perusing the lengthy sequence of numbers, he asked with astonishment, “Gold… seven thousand silver taels?”
Ke Youliang smiled and casually rubbed his nose, saying, “On my way back, I encountered a storm and was compelled to take refuge on an unclaimed island. It's uninhabited except for a few hundred indigenous people.”
“Is that island rich in gold?” Zuo Shaoqing had heard stories of coastal merchants rapidly accumulating wealth from overseas gold mines before, but it was common knowledge that the imperial government would eventually impose restrictions on the import and export activities of coastal merchants.
“Indeed, because we exchanged food for gold, the locals were very enthusiastic and even showed us the places where gold was found. Following that, we willingly traded cloth and grain for a substantial quantity of gold.”
Ke Youlian couldn't help but feel like he might have taken advantage of the natives. Seven thousand taels of gold could have made the island residents live in opulence, yet he had traded it for the items he bought from two ships.
“Very well!” Zuo Shaoqing didn't sense any disadvantage. Gold held little value to the isolated island's residents, and trading it for sustenance and clothing was a much better use of the resource than leaving it behind.
“Can you locate the island?”
“Certainly.” Both the master and the servant exchanged knowing smiles, understanding that each harbored plans for that gold mine.
“Are the individuals you brought along trustworthy? If word were to leak out, it could jeopardize not only our chance at obtaining gold but also the island's inhabitants.”
“Boss, rest assured. I brought a few reliable aides with me for the gold trade. The others are only aware that I exchanged goods for a large quantity of fruits and seeds on the island. They have no knowledge of the gold.”
“Good, I'll take a few days of rest. This time, I'll arrange for some people to accompany you again. We'll conduct the transaction discreetly once more.” Zuo Shaoqing intended to capitalize on this opportunity with Wu Steel Manor before the Imperial Court reacted.
With Duke Zhen Manor's protection, nobody from the Division would dare to inspect the cargo ashore.
When Zuo Yunyang arrived, Zuo Shaoqing had already torn out the final page of the account book. Yet, when Zuo Yunyang laid eyes on those boxes of gems, furs, and medicinal herbs, even after years of trading, he couldn't help but be moved.
He remarked, “Being a coastal merchant is indeed profitable. As long as we avoid sea hazards, the round-trip earnings far surpass an entire year's income.”
“Of course, but the risks are considerably higher. Moreover, this is only the beginning; few merchants venture out to sea. As maritime trade grows, these goods won't remain as rare.”
Zuo Yunyang nodded in agreement. Scarce commodities fetched higher prices. Now that he had come across exotic goods, he commented, “Shao Qing, we won't sell these items yet. The wedding is approaching, and it's a perfect opportunity to acquire some dowry items.”
He had been fretting about what to include in his daughter's dowry when these goods arrived. This time, it seemed the common folk of the capital would witness something remarkable.
Zuo Shaoqing cleared his throat, his ears slightly red, but he calmly discussed with Zuo Yunyang which items to select.
It took them three days to make their choices, and another two days for Supervisor Ke to move his goods from the warehouse and pack them into boxes. When the final dowry list was compiled, Zuo Shaoqing couldn't help but smile.
Zuo Yunyang looked at the extensive list and couldn't help but shake his head. Only Zuo Shaoqing, who was generous, would offer his entire family as dowry. Most families, no matter how wealthy, would not be willing to give away their entire family to their son-in-law.
“Hurry, send it to Duke Zhen Manor. They sent the blueprint for the new house three days ago. Second Uncle had it transcribed so we can send it together.”
Originally, the bridal furniture was supposed to be part of the bride's dowry. However, with Zuo Shaoqing's dowry amounting to only 124 taels of silver, it was impossible to afford the furniture, so they decided to move into the bridal chamber first.
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