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. "Iām growing more and more curious about this Ancient Wen Heng. Bring him into the palace tomorrow for me to see."
Bai Jinglie replied, "Letās 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 letās wait a while. It wonāt 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 didnāt 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, weāll 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.
ļ¼
ćIn the rear courtyard of the Marquis Wuāan Mansionć
Kuang Yunqiao saw her niece, Kuang Tianman, sniffling and crying again. "You can stop crying. That boy isnāt even willing to return to the mansion now. Even if I wanted to find an opportunity for you, I canāt."
"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 havenāt even seen him since. How are we supposed to cultivate feelings for each other?"
Kuang Yunqiao was getting a headache. āI shouldnāt have said Iād bring my niece over to cultivate her feelings for him first and then find a chance to set them up.ā
That boy has grown up and his wings have hardened. He doesnāt pay any mind to me or the Marquis, and now that heās latched onto that person in the palace, he sometimes doesnāt even care about our familyās dignity.
Although she was irritated, she still had to console her niece. "You know heās busy right now. In a moment, Iāll have the butler send someone to bring him back."
At this thought, Kuang Yunqiaoās heart burned with ambition. āIf my niece is successful, wonāt the future Marquis Wuāan Mansion be her domain? And that glass workshop with its incredible daily income... We could quickly restore the former glory of the Marquis Mansion.ā
"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, thereās no need to be this desperate.
You have to take it step by step. You didnāt listen to me before, and thatās why you scared the Princely Heir away from home. This time, when I invite him back, youād better be a little more reserved for me."
Kuang Tianman nodded emphatically. As long as she could secure the position of the Heirās 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 heās about to leave for his new post soon, he should come back for a nice, complete family meal."
The butler hesitated. "Madam, didnāt 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 Iāll go change into the new clothes Aunt had made for me the day before yesterday, and Iāll 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 Madamās sensitivities and always referred to Bai Jinglie as the āEldest Young Masterā.
Kuang Yunqiao scoffed, "Heh, is it important whether heās interested or not?"
"..."
ļ¼
Ancient Wen Heng hadnāt expected to receive his first visitor just two days after arriving.
"What? Itās only been a little over two years. You donāt recognize me anymore?" Shan Keāan sucked in his slightly protruding belly, feeling that Ancient Wen Heng was focusing on the wrong thing.
"Brother Shan, it looks like lifeās been treating you well these past two years. Youāve put on some weight around your waist." Ancient Wen Heng glanced at him again and secretly patted his own stomach. āLooks like Iāll have to exercise more in the future. If I end up like this, Qianqian will probably be disgusted with me.ā
Shan Keāan said, "I canāt help it. My mother keeps me cooped up in the study reading every day. If my cousin hadnāt sent someone to tell me youād arrived, I wouldnāt even be able to leave my familyās estate."
"Are you also preparing to take the exams?" Ancient Wen Heng had actually always been curious about whether Shan Keāan 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, Iām 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, itās impossible for us to be so different. Sheās 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 Keāan immediately began to complain nonstop.
Ancient Wen Heng said, "Thatās good, though. Your mother is only doing it for your own good."
Shan Keāan retorted, "Give me a break! Sheās just doing it for her own pride, constantly saying Iām not as good as this person or that person. She never stops to think that those people arenāt her sons."
Ancient Wen Heng: "..." āYour mother really should reflect on herself. Sheās completely spoiled you.ā
Perhaps sensing his previous words were a bit inappropriate, Shan Keāan glanced around and changed the subject. "This estate of yours isnāt 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 weāve only just gotten settled today." Seeing how enthusiastic he was, Ancient Wen Heng couldnāt be outdone. "Itās been so long since weāve met. You must stay for a good drink at my place today."
Shan Keāanās eyes lit up, but when he glanced at the Attendant Student by his side, he said in a dejected voice, "Letās do it next time. Now that I know youāve moved to Shangjing, weāll have plenty of opportunities in the future.
Besides, youāre about to participate in the imperial examinations soon, so I canāt delay you."
With that, Shan Keāan had his accompanying servant place the things he had brought on the table. "These are all collected from my old man. See if thereās anything you need."
Ancient Wen Heng looked through them with some doubt, then immediately stared at him in shock.