Chapter 42 How much dowry does Little Sweet Wine want?
Lu Wensheng's gaze darted back and forth between the two documents, caught in a dilemma.
Choosing a Hanlin Academician would be satisfying, while choosing a Vice Minister of Rites would allow her to wear a bright red official robe and earn a higher salary, and bright red was her favorite color.
When Shen Hegui saw Lu Wensheng, he looked left and right, hesitating, but his heart couldn't help but soften.
If it were someone from outside, they would definitely choose the Vice Minister of Rites without hesitation. The position is high and the power is great. But Lu Wensheng is different. He doesn't care about high position or power. He can hesitate for so long.
Shen Hegui lowered his eyes and chuckled softly, his expression incredibly gentle: "Is it hard to choose?"
Lu Wensheng's gaze was fixed on the document, and he said bluntly, "Yes, a little." It would be great if we could have a Vice Minister of Rites who could also serve as a Hanlin Academician.
Outside the palace, the sun was setting and dusk was creeping in. Although the inner palace was not dark, the clever eunuchs had already begun to light the candles quietly.
After they left, Shen Hegui slowly began to explain the pros and cons to Lu Wensheng in detail.
Shen Hegui: "I had Lin Shoubai investigate the temple, and it confirmed that what you said earlier was true. However, the matter involves a wide range of people and the amount involved is too large. You are weak and alone, so I will not credit you for this achievement."
He paused for a moment, and seeing that Lu Wensheng showed no dissatisfaction, he continued, "In the court, your merits in repelling internal strife and defending against enemies are not enough to win over the people. Selecting you as a Hanlin Academy scholar is barely acceptable, and selecting you as a Vice Minister of Rites will definitely be criticized, but the latter saves time, and you can directly enter the cabinet when the time is right."
Lu Wensheng pulled his gaze away from the two appointment letters and looked up at Shen Hegui: "If someone criticizes me, will Your Highness stand on my side?"
Shen Hegui is right. She is outnumbered and outmatched, so she shouldn't choose a fifth-rank Hanlin Academy scholar just to vent her anger. She should choose a higher-ranking official. There's an old saying: "A higher rank can crush a person."
"Hmm." Shen Hegui responded softly, averting his gaze. "But it can't be too obvious. I'll help you up, but you'll have to make sure you're seated properly. I won't openly help you."
It's good in secret, but it becomes a form of flattery to kill in public. Lu Wensheng handed the appointment letter of the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites and concurrently Academician of the Imperial Academy to Shen Hegui, and said happily, "Then I will choose the higher-ranking official. A higher-ranking official can be used to suppress people. Even if I am always weak and powerless in the future, I don't have to be afraid!"
Just as Lu Wensheng was feeling delighted, Xiao Yuan seized the opportunity to chime in: [Host, don't forget the mission. What a wonderful atmosphere!]
Upon receiving Xiao Yuan's urging, Lu Wensheng's lips instantly drooped. She said to Xiao Yuan, "After four years of hard work, this is the first time I've been promoted and given a raise. Now all I do is flatter you. My mind is only on my career."
Xiao Yuan was speechless and even more helpless: [...]
Shouldn't it have been honest and told the host that the side quests had no time limit?
Hearing hurried footsteps outside, Shen Hegui stood up, straightened his clothes, and said gently, "My seal is on the table. You can stamp it yourself and then have Feng Yi send it to the Ministry of Personnel."
Watching Shen Hegui's departing figure, Lu Wensheng gradually sensed that something was amiss.
How could she possibly touch the Crown Prince's seal? It's only been a few days, and she hasn't even had a chance to curry favor with Shen Hegui, yet he's already so close to her!
She offered two plans, then rescued Shen Hegui from the assassination attempt, and incidentally slept with him for two nights like a good brother, and even shared some non-human stories with him.
That's all.
Lu Wensheng sat there, his thoughts wandering for a while, unable to figure it out. In the end, he could only temporarily attribute the cause to money.
She shook the blue official robe she was wearing and went out of the inner hall to find Shen Hegui's seal.
When a large number of people needed to be summoned, the Wenhua Hall served as Shen Hegui's office, so everything was arranged meticulously. Lu Wensheng glanced around and quickly found the seal she needed.
After she laid out the paper, she heard Feng Gou's unhurried reply.
"Five thousand taels of gold and five hundred thousand taels of silver were found beneath the pond at the Zhou residence. In addition, ledgers detailing Lord Zhou's selling of official positions were discovered under the chicken coop in the back kitchen. The secret room in the bedroom contained countless jewels, jade, antiques, and precious textiles..."
Thinking of how well Shen Hegui had treated her, even promoting her several ranks ahead of schedule, Lu Wensheng hurriedly stamped the seal, strode out, and asked loudly, "Have you checked the farmland, real estate, shops, and pawnshops under my name?"
Feng Gou froze, looked up at Lu Wensheng, and replied with annoyance, "No." Lord Luo was a soldier, not as meticulous as Lord Lin. If Lord Lu didn't bring it up, no one would really mention it for a while.
Shen Hegui's eyes darkened instantly. Without hesitation, he took out a golden token from his sleeve and tossed it to Feng Gou. "Take some Imperial Guards and investigate. Don't let a word get out!"
Feng Gou: "Yes!" Alright! He immediately summoned Lord Lu, but he still didn't get any rest that night.
After handing the appointment letter to Feng Yi, Lu Wensheng glanced at the sky and was about to resign and go home when Shen Hegui spoke first to persuade him to stay.
"Have dinner with me before you go back."
“Okay,” Lu Wensheng replied cheerfully.
Shen Hegui's use of the word "accompany" is quite clever! It seems she will be a close advisor to the Crown Prince from now on. In a few months, when Shen Hegui ascends the throne, she will be a close advisor to the Emperor!
The clouds parted and the moon shone brightly; the path took a turn for the better—it was all just like that!
The more Lu Wensheng savored the word, the more pleased he felt, and he even unconsciously hummed a couple of lines while eating.
Seeing that Shen Hegui seemed to particularly enjoy the pan-fried yellow croaker and mutton and abalone soup on the table, she said, "Your Highness seems to especially like seafood. If there is a chance in the future, I will make you grilled oysters and grilled scallops!"
Shen Hegui paused in his eating. He remembered that Lu Wensheng's household registration was in Huizhou, and he came to Yanjing at the age of fourteen.
He asked calmly, "Have you ever been to the beach?"
Lu Wensheng felt a pang of guilt. She was using her brother's identity, but her brother had never been to the beach! Moreover, even if one were lucky enough to find seafood inland, the price would be very expensive, something a lowly cultivator like her couldn't afford.
Of course, there are many dried ones, but drying doesn't mean they're culinary disasters! Most normal people probably wouldn't find them delicious.
Lu Wensheng poured himself a glass of wine to cover up his embarrassment, and laughed it off: "I've never been there, but I've heard people say that the grilled oysters and scallops are delicious, so I looked for a way to try it later."
The terrible ancient setting, with its inconvenient transportation, meant that even eating grilled oysters and scallops with vermicelli required a lie!
Seeing Shen Hegui stop eating and lower his eyes in thought, Lu Wensheng thought he didn't believe him and was so frightened that he drank several cups of wine.
Shen Hegui's gaze fell on the mutton and abalone soup in front of him. Lu Wensheng's family used to be in business and could afford to eat it, but after coming to Yanjing, the mountains and seas were high and the seas were far away, and the salary was meager. He was afraid that he could no longer afford to eat it.
Thinking of this, Shen Hegui felt a pang of heartache. He pushed the soup towards Lu Wensheng and said gently, "There are no oysters or scallops for now, so have some abalone to make do."
Lu Wensheng paused in her pouring of wine, a slight look of surprise on her face. She had already prepared a reason, but Shen Hegui's long silence turned out to be because he was worried that she couldn't eat grilled oysters right away?!
Lu Wensheng replaced his fake smile with a genuine one, and without any pretense of refusal, said, "Alright! I see Your Highness likes it too, let's each have half!"
Thinking about the joys and sorrows they would share in the future, Shen Hegui gladly accepted.
The atmosphere between the two remained pleasant until Shen Hegui personally picked up the nearly empty wine jug.
He asked in surprise, "You drank it all by yourself?"
Lu Wensheng nodded emphatically twice, a faint blush rising on his cheeks, and praised with a smile, "Your Highness's sweet wine is quite delicious."
Shen Hegui was at a loss for words when he heard this.
The wine jug contains wine that was tribute from the Western Regions, mixed with high-proof liquor and sugar; it is not the sweet wine that Lu Wensheng mentioned at all.
Although he can control his body temperature to a normal level, he still feels extremely cold. In order not to affect his daily life, he always drinks a pot of strong liquor with his dinner from late autumn to early spring.
Considering that Lu Wensheng was dining with him, the amount of wine in front of him was twice as much as usual, and he drank almost all of it by himself!
Thinking of this, Shen Hegui's breathing became a little erratic. Taking advantage of Lu Wensheng's apparent sobriety, he hurriedly asked, "How much can you drink?"
Lu Wensheng waved his arm with a rather bold gesture and raised his voice: "I can drink a thousand cups of sweet wine and not get drunk! Your Highness, rest assured!"
Fearing that Shen Hegui wouldn't believe her, Lu Wensheng moved her stool away and stood up, wanting to take a few steps to prove herself. However, she fell forward as soon as she took one step.
Oh no, her beautiful face!
The expected pain did not come; instead, she fell into a fragrant embrace.
"Why is my brain suddenly acting up and burrowing into the ground on its own?" Lu Wensheng sniffed, just about to compliment Shen Hegui on how fragrant he smelled, when she suddenly remembered that Shen Hegui had told her to forget the fragrance she smelled on him.
Suppressing his words, Lu Wensheng took a small step forward, put his arm around Shen Hegui's shoulder for support, looked up, and stubbornly argued, "It must be because I ate too much and my brain is lacking blood!"
The alcohol made Lu Wensheng's eyes redden at the corners, as if veiled in mist. Her originally pink lips were now burning red, like ripe red plums on spring branches, dazzling and alluring.
Shen Hegui awkwardly shifted his gaze away from her lips, swallowed hard, and said in a hoarse voice, "You're drunk!"
Lu Wensheng is drunk... how can he be so alluring?!
As if possessed, he turned back and took a closer look.
If Lu Wensheng were a woman, he might not have been able to resist at this moment!
"I will help you to the inner palace to sober up."
Lu Wensheng has managed to survive to this day in an environment where he had no one to rely on. I dare not say anything else, but his resilience and endurance are excellent.
"I'm not drunk!" She raised her hands, straightened Shen Hegui's face, and continued to argue, "Your Highness, look at me more closely. No drunk person speaks as clearly as I do!"
The scalding heat seeped from his face into his otherwise icy flesh, causing Shen Hegui to shiver slightly and feel a heat rising in his back. An unnamed restlessness surged up, only to be instantly suppressed, like a fleeting moment.
He squeezed his slender fingers into Lu Wensheng's burning palm, slowly pulled her hot hands apart, and smiled: "Repeat what you just said, and then tell me you're not drunk."
"Hmm?" With his hands restrained, Lu Wensheng felt uncomfortable, so he leaned forward, intending to lean against Shen Hegui.
Why is Shen Hegui's voice so intermittent? What did he just say? I can't remember.
Lu Wensheng shook her head and saw the 'sweet wine' on the table again. Without any hesitation, she pushed Shen Hegui away, quickly stuffed the spout into her mouth and gulped it down. The sweet wine went straight into her stomach, completely deceiving her reason.
Setting down the wine jug, Lu Wensheng rubbed his eyes vigorously.
Whose candles are these? Why are three of them placed together? They must have a lot of money! The candlesticks are so golden, are they made of gold?
Lu Wensheng lowered his head.
This carpet is so soft, like walking on cotton. Oh right, all the candles are lit; it must be dark now. She needs to go home; her mother is waiting for her!
Lu Wensheng pouted and tugged at his blue official robe.
What is that thing she's wearing?! The color is awful! Who the hell put it on her?! She wants to go home and change into a pretty dress!
After regaining his footing, Shen Hegui looked up and saw that Lu Wensheng was walking straight toward the candlestick. Startled, he quickly stepped forward and grabbed him, saying, "You're really drunk!"
Upon hearing the clear, deep male voice, Lu Wensheng's eyes lit up, and he instantly withdrew his half-raised foot.
There's a handsome guy with a deep voice!!!
She turned around abruptly, and with Shen Hegui supporting her, she carefully examined him from head to toe. Then she reached out and gently poked his cheek with her finger, and said with a silly smile, "Your voice is good, you're good-looking, you feel good, and you have good skin."
She suddenly tiptoed closer to Shen Hegui, her hot breath falling on his neck: "Are you married yet? How much dowry do you want? Name your price, and I'll come to marry you tomorrow!"
"Ha!" Shen Hegui laughed out loud.
Is Lu Wensheng speaking the truth while drunk?
This is the first time I've ever heard anyone use the word 'marry' to describe him; it's both absurd and novel!
Well, there's no point in arguing with a drunkard. It's also his fault for not telling Lu Wensheng beforehand that the wine in the flask wasn't sweet wine, but strong liquor with added sugar.
Shen Hegui leaned back slightly to avoid Lu Wensheng's hot breath, then stretched out his arms to support Lu Wensheng's shoulders, back, and knees. With a strong pull, he lifted her up steadily and held her in his arms.
"If you're so capable, say those words to me again tomorrow morning!"
-----------------------
The author's note: Abalone is the same as oyster.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
