Chapter 253 Seeing a Ghost
After being flogged fifty times, the young master of Fengrong Cloth Shop was covered in blood and his fate was unknown.
But after the beating, Zhou Rui did not stop him; instead, he let the man go.
When we ate dinner that evening, there was still blood and flesh stained on the downstairs corridor. Whether it was intentional or not, no one cleaned it up.
The room was no longer lively; it was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Two days passed in fear and anxiety until Zhou Rui finally announced the results of the initial screening of the fabric samples.
Shen Yuanzhu and Xie Qi stood together, while Yuan Xu sat at the head of the table with a white-faced man with a long beard.
"The following businesses have produced high-quality samples of fabric, which have been jointly verified by the Imperial Household Department and the Textile and Dyeing Department, and are eligible to proceed to the next round of selection."
"The shop names are as follows... Jiangnan Wen Family Cloth Shop, Tongjiang Prefecture Huanhua Shop, Jinan Prefecture Hengchang Dyeing Shop..."
Zhou Rui recited a string of words, and Shen Yuanzhu and Xie Qi listened quietly until they heard Zhou Rui call out "Suzhou Prefecture".
“Shen Family Cloth Shop in Suzhou Prefecture… Jingjin Shop in the Capital… Hexing Weaving Bureau…”
Those whose names were called by Zhou Rui couldn't help but shrink back. Those whose names weren't called breathed a heavy sigh of relief.
Xie Qi couldn't help but look up at Yuan Xu, only to see Yuan Xu glancing at him with a faint smile.
"Those who were not selected can leave today. The rest of the business owners, please follow me."
After Zhou Rui finished speaking, Shen Yuanzhu and Xie Qi looked at Shen Yanhuai together.
Shen Yanhuai waved to the two men, indicating that he was alright and that they should leave quickly.
“Yuanzhu…”
Shen Yuanzhu lowered her eyes and watched Shen Yanhuai's figure leave with Zhou Rui before saying softly, "Let's go first."
There's no point in staying here.
"I'm going to say goodbye to my father-in-law."
Since they have been eliminated, it means that the higher-ups don't think much of them. Moreover, everyone knows that he is Yuan Xu's man. If he leaves quietly, it would seem deliberate.
Xie Qi left, and Shen Yuanzhu went back to her room alone to pack her things.
As soon as the package was opened, Ye Yunyi pulled Shen Yuanqiong inside.
Shen Yuanzhu frowned: "Why are you here?"
Ye Yunyi said, "Yuanzhu, let me ask you, the Shen family's dyeing manual has always been in your hands, and it was never stolen by the Xie family, right?"
Why are you asking this?
Ye Yunyi raised her head: "I don't care about it now, but I need you to do something for me."
"..."
Shen Yuanzhu ignored her and continued packing her bags with Ling'er.
Ye Yunyi stepped forward and pulled her: "I'm talking to you, didn't you hear me? Help me take Yuanqiong back to Suzhou Prefecture."
Hearing her words, Shen Yuanzhu finally looked up.
Ye Yunyi said, "Your brother told me everything. This so-called royal merchant is a business that takes lives."
"That son of a bitch, what kind of king is he? He bullies me, a powerless commoner! I spit on him... I curse him to have sores on his head and pus flowing from his feet for the rest of his life, and to never have a son..."
"Sister-in-law."
Shen Yuanqiong tugged at Ye Yunyi, interrupting her cursing.
Ye Yunyi suppressed her anger and pushed Shen Yuanqiong in front of Shen Yuanzhu: "Take Yuanqiong away, take her back. Xingqiao is still at the academy, and the Shen family cannot be left without anyone."
Shen Yuanzhu glanced at the taciturn Shen Yuanqiong, and then at Ye Yunyi, whose eyes were slightly red.
She frowned slightly: "Aren't you going back?"
Ye Yunyi raised an eyebrow: "Yan Huai is still in the capital, where should I go?"
Shen Yuanzhu lowered her head and said while tidying up, "Shen Yanhuai will be fine. The family members and servants of the guild can come and go freely. You two can go to the capital to find a place to stay and wait for Shen Yanhuai."
She was not willing to travel with Shen Yuanqiong.
After saying that, Shen Yuanzhu tied the package tightly and carried it downstairs.
Ye Yunyi and Shen Yuanqiong were so anxious they were stamping their feet, but Shen Yuanzhu ignored them and walked towards the gate.
Before she even reached the door, Mrs. Luo rushed over.
Seeing that Wei Hu was still following behind her, Shen Yuanzhu sighed deeply.
Upon seeing Shen Yuanzhu, Luo's eyes reddened, and she rushed forward to pull him into her arms.
"Miss, it's so good that you're out. I was so worried about you."
Shen Yuanzhu also hugged Luo Shi, her nose stinging with tears.
She had no idea what it was like to be a royal merchant. She only knew that the most capable merchants were those who worked for the imperial family and became royal merchants.
She used to think that if she became a royal merchant, money would flow into her own money box.
But that's on the premise that you have to be alive first.
“Yun Zheng and Luo Qing have gone back, just in case. Wei Hu and I are worried, so we're staying in the capital to wait for you, Miss. Miss, you don't know, a couple of days ago a young lady was dragged out by an official, which nearly scared this old servant to death…”
Luo spoke softly, wiping away the tears on her face.
Wei Hu helped load the things onto the carriage and craned his neck to look around the courtyard.
Shen Yuanzhu said, "Xie Qi has said goodbye to the Duke and will be here in a little while."
Wei Hu nodded and sat obediently in the carriage, waiting.
Yuan Xu and Xie Qi were standing by the pool, with no one around.
Xie Qi said, "Thank you, sir. When will you return to Suzhou? I'd like to invite you for a drink."
Yuan Xu scoffed, "You should treat me to a drink."
He originally wanted to raise a useful dog, but he never expected that he would have to take care of its upkeep at this critical moment.
Xie Qi chuckled, and Yuan Xu said, "I hope so. I hope I can return to Suzhou Prefecture in this lifetime."
After he finished speaking, he turned around, brushed the fish food scraps off his clothes, and said, "Things have changed..."
"His Highness..."
Xie Qi whispered something, and Yuan Xu said, "That's common. If we can turn things around, we'll meet in Suzhou. If not..."
Yuan Xu's expression was indifferent, as if he didn't care too much about life and death.
"Let's go..."
"Father-in-law, I have another question for you, about that Lady Ruan..."
Yuan Xu glanced at him and clicked his tongue: "I remember you weren't such a fussy person. Is this for your wife?"
Xie Qi smiled faintly: "Madam has a kind heart."
"Tell her not to worry about it. She can't control or manage this kind of thing. As for the person, she's alive, but the family property..."
Yuan Xu snorted coldly. Xie Qi pursed his lips and said nothing more, but before leaving, he gave Yuan Xu a deep bow.
Seeing his retreating figure, Yuan Xu said, "Xie Qi, are you aware that Linwen Ran and Guan Qunying can no longer appear in the world?"
Xie Qi paused, then said, "I understand, thank you for your guidance, Eunuch."
"Then get lost."
Xie Qi stood up, looked at Yuan Xu, and suddenly asked, "Would you like to kick him again, Father-in-law?"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Xu suddenly laughed and cursed, "Get lost."
If given the chance, he hopes to take that kick back to Suzhou Prefecture...
After Xie Qi got into the carriage, he relayed Yuan Xu's words to Shen Yuanzhu.
After a long silence, Shen Yuanzhu said, "Thank you, Qi."
"Um?"
"I will never come to the capital again."
In this life, she no longer aspires to be a royal merchant; the money she earns in Suzhou Prefecture is enough for her to live on.
Upon hearing this, Xie Qi nodded gently: "I won't come again."
After praying for Ruan Fulan's safety in her heart, Shen Yuanzhu informed Wei Hu to return home.
On this day, many carriages departed from the capital. Shen Yuanzhu watched quietly for a long time without saying a word.
"ah!"
The atmosphere inside the car was heavy when Ling'er suddenly cried out.
"Miss, Miss..."
"What's wrong? Why are you making such a fuss?"
Madam Luo scoffed in displeasure. Ling'er, her face deathly pale, stammered, "That carriage ahead...the people in that carriage..."
"Miss, I've seen a ghost! I think I saw Cui... Cui... Cui Yulin."
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