After the advisor returned, Qi Zhenheng immediately took Shen Qing to Lechun Pavilion.
Returning to this place after six years, Shen Qing thought of Cheng Zhiwen.
When she first transmigrated here, she came to catch Cheng Zhiwen in order to sell the Gao family's inventory.
Time flies, and six years have passed in the blink of an eye.
Over the course of six years, they went from enemies to friends, then from friends to lovers, until they eventually drifted apart.
Shen Qing could no longer recall why they had gradually drifted apart.
On the Mid-Autumn Festival that year, they still admired the moon together, and he called it "reunion"...
"Qing'er, this is the room. Let's go in," Qi Zhenheng said.
Shen Qing snapped out of her reverie and looked at the closed door of the private room in front of her: "Oh, okay."
Qi Zhenheng knocked on the door.
A young man came to open the door, nodded to him, and said, "Lord Qi, you've arrived."
Qi Zhenheng nodded, tightened his grip on Shen Qing's hand, and offered her silent support.
"I've brought the head of the Gao family with me. Go and report to the magistrate!"
The man stepped aside and said, "Please come in."
Shen Qing followed Qi Zhenheng inside.
A deep, mocking laugh came from behind the screen.
Upon hearing this sound that often appeared in his midnight dreams, Shen Qing was startled and stopped in his tracks.
Qi Zhenheng also stopped: "What's wrong?"
Shen Qing looked at him with a pale face, then shook her head after a moment: "It's nothing."
Qi Zhenheng held her hand even tighter.
The two walked around the screen and went inside.
Several exquisite Beijing dishes were laid out on a large round table covered with a silk tablecloth. A middle-aged man dressed in a fine silk long gown sat beside him, presumably an imperial envoy.
He sat with a young man in a black suit with short hair.
The young man spoke to the imperial envoy with his face turned to the side, but Shen Qing recognized him at a glance as Cheng Zhiwen.
Her heart pounded, and her legs felt like lead; she couldn't move an inch.
Qi Zhenheng greeted the imperial envoy, saying, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, sir. I deserve to die."
The two people who were having a lively conversation looked over when they heard the noise.
Cheng Zhiwen's gaze lingered on the hands that Shen Qing and Qi Zhenheng were holding, and the smile on her face vanished.
Shen Qing hurriedly tried to break free from Qi Zhenheng's grasp, but Qi Zhenheng wouldn't let go and held on even tighter.
The imperial envoy noticed that they were holding hands tightly, his eyes darting around as he smiled and said, "Nephew, you've arrived? Come, come, come, we've been waiting for you!"
Qi Zhenheng led Shen Qing to her seat.
Shen Qing sat down next to the imperial envoy and greeted him, "Greetings, Your Excellency. I am Shen Qing, the head of the Gao family."
His gaze fell into Cheng Zhiwen's deep eyes.
His expression was indifferent, revealing no emotion whatsoever. He simply stared at Shen Qing with that focused, burning gaze, as if Shen Qing were his prey.
Shen Qing felt a little uncomfortable, forcing himself to ignore his gaze, and calmly looked at the imperial envoy: "You have been in Jiangzhou for many days. I have been unwell and have not had a chance to properly entertain you. Please forgive me, sir!"
The imperial envoy smiled and glanced at Qi Zhenheng, then looked back at her: "It's alright, it's alright. My nephew Zhenheng has spoken with me, saying that you, Boss Shen, have been carrying the heavy burden of the Gao family all by yourself, and have become ill from years of overwork."
"Thank you for your understanding, sir."
The imperial envoy sighed, "I've learned quite a bit about the Gao family's situation, but..."
He shook his head and didn't say anything more. He poured a glass of wine and placed it in front of Shen Qing: "Come on, Mr. Shen, have a drink."
Shen Qing lowered his head, looking like a sinner.
But because of this, she saw Cheng Zhiwen secretly slip a thick envelope into the imperial envoy's hand under the table.
The imperial envoy immediately stuffed the envelope into his sleeve pocket.
It went unnoticed by anyone.
"However, the amount of silver the Gao family receives from the Imperial Textile Bureau each year is well-documented. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager are fully aware of the Gao family's financial strength, so it's unrealistic for me to petition the court to reduce or exempt the Gao family's donations!"
Shen Qing withdrew his gaze and raised his head: "Yes, sir, I admit that the Gao family has indeed made money over the years, but unfortunately, I have been expanding my business in recent years, and the cash has been tied up for various reasons, so I really can't come up with that much cash right now."
The imperial envoy smiled, said nothing, picked up his wine cup, and took a sip of the white wine.
Cheng Zhiwen, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up: "Sir, please help the Gao family this time. The Cheng family will remember your great help! Please, sir!"
Shen Qing looked at Cheng Zhiwen in astonishment.
This was the first time she had ever seen him so humble and humble, especially when he was begging a Qing Dynasty official whom he despised the most.
The imperial envoy, taking advantage of the situation, smiled and looked at Shen Qing: "While cash is the best form of donation, we don't have any on hand, so we can't let these merchants steal or rob us, can we?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Qing knew there was hope, and his eyes lit up with renewed hope: "So, what you mean is—donating can also mean donating goods?"
The imperial envoy said nothing, looked at her, then at Qi Zhenheng: "I just saw my nephew Zhenheng and Boss Shen come in hand in hand. Could it be you two?"
Qi Zhenheng immediately grasped Shen Qing's hand, which was resting on his lap, and said with a smile, "Yes, Mr. Shen and I have known each other for many years, and we are deeply in love and preparing to get married."
The imperial envoy laughed heartily and moved the glass of wine in front of Shen Qing to Qi Zhenheng: "Then, Mr. Shen, you should drink this glass of wine, my dear nephew Zhenheng!"
Without saying a word, Qi Zhenheng tilted his head back and downed the glass in one gulp.
Shen Qing looked at Cheng Zhiwen and saw that he was also looking at her.
But those eyes were so cold they had no warmth at all.
The imperial envoy returned to his seat and said frankly, "Since Mr. Shen is one of us, I won't beat around the bush with you... If the donation is in the name of war, then Mr. Shen might as well donate supplies."
War supplies?
In a flash, Shen Qing had an idea: "Sir, you see, the Gao family makes fabrics and clothing. Could they donate some clothes for the soldiers? Also, I have created a kind of pancake that only requires a few bites to fill the stomach. Soldiers at the front could each be given a few pancakes to carry with them. When they get hungry, they can just take a bite and immediately regain their strength."
Upon hearing this, the imperial envoy raised his eyebrows, a glint of shrewdness in his eyes.
"Oh?" He looked at Shen Qing. "What's the name of this kind of cake you're talking about?"
Shen Qing smiled and said, "These biscuits are the kind of dry rations I brought with me when I went to England by ship a few years ago. I've never sold them to the public. However, I think these biscuits would be very convenient during wartime. After all, it's not realistic to cook a hot meal during times of war and chaos."
As she said this, she caught a glimpse of Cheng Zhiwen staring at her out of the corner of her eye.
Cheng Zhiwen had eaten the compressed biscuits she made, and he was probably reminded of the time on the ship.
“Yes, sir,” Cheng Zhiwen said calmly, “I have had the pleasure of eating the kind of cake that Boss Shen mentioned a few times, and it is indeed very suitable for use during wartime.”
The imperial envoy nodded solemnly: "Alright. The Gao family should hurry up and bring the donated samples and amount to my residence in Jiangzhou. Once I have verified that there are no problems, I will immediately write a letter to the court on behalf of the Gao family!"
Shen Qing stood up in surprise and bowed slightly to him: "Thank you, sir!"
The imperial envoy glanced at Qi Zhenheng, then at Cheng Zhiwen, and finally fixed his gaze on Shen Qing, saying with a smile, "Boss Shen is not only skilled in business, but also exceptional in making friends."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com