It was past youshi (5-7 PM) when Shen Xuan returned to the residence. As expected, Nanny You saw him return so late and seemed to hesitate, about to speak.
However, since the banquet was hosted by the Ye family, and Suyue was present, she didn't say anything further.
Later that evening, after Jinzhi had helped Shen Xuan settle down for the night, Nanny You called Jin Gui over and questioned him, "You went with Shen Ger to the Ye family banquet today. Did Lady Ye say anything?"
Jin Gui thought for a moment and then said, "Lady Ye didn't say much. But The Shizi came over in the afternoon and seemed to have an unpleasant argument with Lady Ye later."
Nanny You was startled upon hearing this and immediately pressed for more information. "Why did The Shizi argue with Lady Ye? Did something happen? Did he say anything to Shen Ger?"
Jin Gui then vaguely replied, "He didn't say much to Shen Ger. He just sat at the table for a while, gave Shen Ger a plate of lamb, and then left."
After speaking, he paused again and added, "However, The Shizi didn't seem very happy that Lady Ye invited Shen Ger to the hunting grounds as a guest this time. Perhaps that's why he argued with Lady Ye?"
Nanny You heard this and didn't doubt him. A look of derision appeared on her face. She instructed Jin Gui to keep a closer watch and to inform her immediately if anything happened before she finally left.
After Nanny You left, Jin Gui let out a long sigh of relief and then secretly slipped back into Shen Xuan's room.
The whole conversation had been prepared by Shen Xuan, who had coached him earlier in the room.
Jin Gui recounted his conversation with Nanny You exactly as it happened. Shen Xuan nodded and said, "Jin Gui, you did well."
He then took out a jade pendant that Lady Bai had given him and rewarded it to Jin Gui.
"Shen Ger, why did you tell Mama You about The Shizi's arrival?" Jin Gui asked, holding the jade pendant, still somewhat puzzled.
"It makes no difference whether I tell her or not," Shen Xuan said. "If you didn't even report this, wouldn't Nanny You quickly grow suspicious of you?"
The Shizi's visit to the hunting grounds was witnessed by many eyes. Even if Jin Gui hadn't said anything, the news would have spread quickly.
It was better to proactively tell Nanny You and earn her trust; then the subsequent prepared answers would be much more believable.
Hearing Shen Xuan's words, Jin Gui felt that Shen Xuan had considered his predicament and feared he would be scolded by Nanny You, making him even more grateful to Shen Xuan.
After Jin Gui left, filled with gratitude, Shen Xuan lay alone in bed, thinking about what Xue Fenglin had done to him that afternoon... and his face grew warm.
Now that he had made up his mind, he and Xue Fenglin were now "ants on the same rope" (in the same predicament), and Lady Bai had become their common enemy.
In Qingtaels Pavilion that afternoon, Xue Fenglin had revealed everything to Shen Xuan, telling him much about the matters between the Xue family and Lady Bai, and also outlining his future plans.
Lady Bai hated Xue Fenglin to the bone. Although she was willing to see Xue Fenglin marry the background-less Shen Xuan, if she knew Shen Xuan's true standing in Xue Fenglin's heart, she might secretly move against Shen Xuan.
Therefore, before they officially married, Shen Xuan still had to cooperate with Xue Fenglin in pretending before Lady Bai, to prevent her from noticing any irregularities.
This was why Shen Xuan had coached Jin Gui on what to tell Nanny You.
Only after Xue Fenglin's confession did Shen Xuan realize that Xue Fenglin could contend with Lady Bai in the capital largely due to the Ye family's assistance.
The Ye family had shown Xue Fenglin profound kindness, yet Xue Fenglin had caused a conflict with Lady Ye for his sake...
Shen Xuan was touched, knowing that Xue Fenglin was extremely protective of him. He didn't feel as much resentment towards Lady Ye either.
After all, she was genuinely looking out for Xue Fenglin. Although she didn't particularly like Shen Xuan, she was still polite, unlike wicked people like Lady Bai.
Although Xue Fenglin told Shen Xuan not to worry and just wait for him, since Shen Xuan wanted to be with Xue Fenglin, he naturally couldn't bear to see the other party fall out with Lady Ye.
The political scene in the capital was perilous. Because of the Duke's residence, Shen Xuan had previously been utterly unwilling to get involved.
But now that things had come to this, even if Xue Fenglin didn't say anything, Shen Xuan didn't want to see him suffer alone. It would be better for him to take the initiative and seize control himself.
One must know that when prominent families in the capital chose spouses for their children, they looked at three things: first, status and family prestige; second, appearance and character; and third, family assets and dowry.
If it was an upright and respected family, a smaller dowry was acceptable, and vice versa.
When a high-ranking person married someone from an upright and respected family with little dowry, people would certainly praise them as a "pure stream" in the court.
However, there were also many examples of high-ranking noble sons marrying daughters of wealthy merchants with substantial dowries.
These aristocratic families needed to maintain their dignified noble lives, and their expenses were enormous.
For instance, the Ye family's Double Ninth Festival banquet yesterday alone cost nearly a thousand taels for the meal.
If a family only had status but was financially hollow, unable to even host such a banquet, they would be looked down upon.
The Duke Shen's residence had fallen, and Shen Xuan, being a ger with no parents or siblings, naturally couldn't improve his status through family.
However, he had a great advantage: he knew how to make money. If his businesses grew to a certain scale, he could become a significant help to Xue Fenglin.
Shen Xuan's desire for material wealth was initially modest. He always thought being moderately wealthy was enough.
Yet, at this very moment, he suddenly felt that making money was extremely important. He wanted to prepare a splendid dowry for himself, to bring honor to Xue Fenglin, and to be grandly welcomed into the family.
Currently, his business at Xiyuan Xianwei was on track. Shen Xuan had been idle recently, so he began contemplating opening a beauty shop.
He had originally planned to start this business, but thought to do it a year later, after accumulating more money to buy a shop first.
Now, however, he couldn't wait any longer. He just wanted to get this business up and running sooner. So, after careful consideration, he suddenly came up with an idea. A smile then appeared on his face, he only wanted to thank the Ye family's banquet, as it had greatly helped him.
***
The next day, Shen Xuan took Jinzhi and Jin Gui out to purchase some raw materials for making soap.
However, after Browse the market, he found that the prices of many crops had risen sharply recently, especially grains like rice, millet, sorghum, and wheat.
Recalling that the broker who sell people had mentioned a severe locust plague 200 li (approx. 100 km) northwest when he last bought servants, Shen Xuan became thoughtful.
He inquired with the grain merchants and learned that the locust plague had not ended. It was even spreading outwards, already affecting several nearby prefectures and counties.
He said nothing at the time, simply purchasing various oils as usual: camellia oil, castor oil, sesame oil, and other vegetable oils, all sent to the Xiyuan Xianwei.
Upon returning to the Shen residence, he summoned Suyue and said, "Go out immediately and buy two hundred shi (a unit of dry measure) of grain. Don't worry about the price."
Suyue was truly surprised to hear Shen Xuan wanted to buy so much grain at once. He quickly said, "Shen Ger, there aren't many people in our household. We only use about one shi of rice a month. Buying two hundred shi of grain at once, it'll get worms after half a year if we don't finish it, wouldn't that be a waste?"
"Besides, grain prices have risen. Normally, one shi of grain costs only one taels of silver, but recently it's been three taels of silver—the price has tripled. Why would you rush to buy large quantities of grain when the price is high?"
Shen Xuan, however, did not change his mind. Instead, he told Suyue to just follow his arrangements.
Suyue tried to persist, but Shen Xuan directly said, "Since you already know I've opened a shop outside, I might as well tell you now. That shop can earn six hundred taels in a month. This money is nothing to me. I don't even feel the pinch, so what are you worried about?"
Suyue was startled, realizing that Shen Xuan's shop was actually making so much money.
He was greatly shocked. Although he still didn't understand why Shen Xuan suddenly wanted to buy so much grain, he still followed his instructions.
Spending six hundred taels at once, even if Shen Xuan was paying, still felt a bit painful for Suyue to watch.
The grain was so much that it took three days for all of it to be delivered. On the third day, after all the grain was settled, the grain delivery man said to Suyue, "You bought this grain just in time. Right after you finished buying, the shopkeeper said the price was going to go up by another taels of silver."
"Why did the price suddenly rise so much?" Suyue was greatly alarmed and quickly asked the man.
The man replied, "It's probably because of the locust plague in the northwest. Grain production has decreased in various prefectures and counties."
"Is the locust plague really that severe?" Suyue asked nervously, goosebumps appearing on his arms.
"It hasn't affected the capital region yet, and besides, your household has stored so much grain, are you still afraid you won't have enough to eat?" the delivery man said.
Only then did Suyue realize that Shen Xuan's hoarding of grain was likely related to this locust plague. He deeply felt that this Shen Ger was a very perceptive person, having discovered the signs himself and made preparations in advance.
Thinking of this, he then worried about his family far away at the Ye family residence. He secretly took a moment to return there, sending a verbal message to his family, telling them to quickly stock up on provisions as well.
***
Hearing that Suyue had returned, Lady Ye naturally summoned him for questioning. Suyue then reported everything about Shen Xuan's grain hoarding to Lady Ye, also mentioning the shop's profits that Shen Xuan had spoken of.
Lady Ye pondered deeply after learning of this. Afterward, she instructed the steward to inquire outside and also purchased a large quantity of grain. She also notified her married eldest son, Ye Mi, telling him to also make preparations quickly.
When Master Ye returned home and learned of this, he greatly praised Shen Xuan's astuteness.
"I only learned today that the locust plague has affected rice prices. I was just about to tell my family this news, but unexpectedly, you were a step ahead."
"Although this Shen Ger is of humble origins, he is after all a blood relative of Duke Shen. He does have some insight into major matters," Master Ye said.
"Since Fenglin has set his mind on him, then as his maternal uncle and aunt, we shouldn't interfere too much. You should no longer excessively dwell on his status."
Lady Ye listened and did not speak for a moment, but her eyes seemed to hold a hint of peace.
A moment later, she spoke softly, "I am merely Fenglin's maternal aunt. Although my sister entrusted him to me before she died, I am still ultimately an outsider."
"Fenglin's marriage, in the end, is decided by the Xue family. Furthermore, that Shen Ger's engagement was arranged by my sister long ago. What more can I, an outsider, say?"
Ye Chen heard this and immediately knew that his mother was relenting and no longer intended to interfere in the matter. Delighted, he immediately wrote a letter and had someone deliver it to Xue Fenglin.
Wuxin handed Ye Chen's letter to Xue Fenglin. He watched as his Young Master read the letter, a slight smile gracing his lips.
Xue Fenglin was not a man who smiled often, but since Shen Ger came to the capital, he had smiled quite a lot.
Just by seeing this smile, Wuxin guessed that the letter was probably related to Shen Ger, wondering what exactly was written inside...
"Wuxin," Xue Fenglin said to him after putting down the letter, "Grind some ink for me. I need to write a letter to the south."
"Yes, Young Master," Wuxin immediately perked up and handed Xue Fenglin the writing brush and ink.
Xue Fenglin wrote intensely, completing a long letter in just the time it takes an incense stick to burn. He then sealed it with wax and handed it to Wuxin, instructing him to have someone deliver it to the south early the next morning.
Wuxin took the letter and, after a moment of thought, asked, "Young Master, the Ye family says there might be a locust plague in a few days. Should we inform Master and the others when we return, and let the family prepare?"
Xue Fenglin, however, shook his head and said, "No need. Madam is in charge of the household now. She has her own arrangements."
Wuxin: "..."
He glanced at Xue Fenglin again, seeing that he seemed to have no intention of informing Lady Bai and Old Marquis Xue. He then held back the words he was about to speak...
'Never mind.' Looking at The Shizi, he probably deliberately doesn't want to remind the Xue family. Since The Shizi already knows about the locust plague, he should be prepared. I shouldn't worry unnecessarily...
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