Jiang Shuwan immediately looked away, refusing to look at him.
She hated men with affectionate eyes more than anything else in her life; they looked at dogs with such deep affection.
They love to deceive people.
They are also the most deceitful.
"Miss, the brazier is here."
Xiao Tao carried the brazier into the house, while the other maids and servants were serving dishes. Tonight, in addition to the braised duck that Pei Yanzhi had ordered, there was also a pheasant and mushroom soup, all of which she had brought back from Lotus Village in the autumn.
Pheasants use up a lot of matches, and the weather was cold, so the girls wanted to make a hot pot and were searching everywhere for the small clay stove they had put away last year.
Recently, Jiang Shuwan's storeroom has been accumulating more and more items, and she probably won't be able to find them anytime soon. Jiang Shuwan wasn't particularly hungry, so she sat by the fire to warm herself.
The girl lowered her head, revealing her slender neck. Her skin glowed white like cream, and he was momentarily blinded when he looked over.
He immediately looked away.
"Cough cough."
He clenched his right fist, coughed lightly twice at the corner of his mouth, and strolled into the house. As soon as the two braziers were lit, the temperature in the room rose by several degrees.
"What were you talking about just now? I think I heard something about glass or distribution?"
“It’s the distribution rights for Liuli,” Jiang Shuwan said without looking up.
"Distribution rights? Good name. Does it mean distributing glass to others for buying and selling?"
"Yes, thanks to you, ever since you took charge of the commercial tax, every merchant in the capital has been squeezing me out. As a mere woman, I can't confront them head-on, so I can only concede some of my profits to them."
"So that's how it is. I've dragged you into this. Here's what we'll do: write down how much you lost, and I'll make it up to you later."
"You have money?" Jiang Shuwan finally looked up.
The girl glanced at him, and he paused for a moment before smiling. "I'm sorry you had to laugh at me. I really don't have any right now. How about I write you an IOU?"
After saying that, they both laughed.
Both of them laughed easily, their voices filled with joy, but only Jiang Shuwan knew that she wasn't as relaxed as she seemed.
According to his memories from his previous life, Eunuch Su was someone who skillfully navigated between the Fourth Prince and Pei Yanzhi.
She has now established a connection with Eunuch Su, and through him, she is able to convey matters concerning commercial taxes to the old emperor.
If Eunuch Su is currently in contact with Pei Yanzhi, then Pei Yanzhi must know that she was involved in the commercial tax investigation. If he investigates further, Song Yi will not be able to escape either.
But his reply to her, taking all the blame for offending people by paying taxes, meant that he hadn't yet made contact with Eunuch Su.
He was still unaware that she was behind the commercial tax.
Thinking of this, Jiang Shuwan frowned slightly.
She understood the logic of leaving a trace, and since she had done it, she knew that this matter could not be kept secret for long.
So she built perfume workshops and tried to please the old emperor, all to have more leverage. At least when the fact that she was the instigator of the commercial tax was exposed, she would have enough power to fight against others.
She wasn't afraid that Pei Yanzhi would find out.
only.
She was afraid that Pei Yanzhi would plot against her.
She was already exhausted from the position of president, and the social interactions within the social circles of wealthy women were also mentally and physically taxing.
With so many affairs to attend to, if she had to keep an eye on Pei Yanzhi, the future powerful minister of the Great Jing Dynasty, then life would be difficult.
Moreover, she believed that she had been loyal and dutiful in marrying into the Marquis's household, handling both domestic and external affairs very well.
Pei Yanzhi was twice harassed by the Wen family, and it was she who came to his rescue.
Of course, Pei Yanzhi had also saved her, and he had also helped with Sun Wanting's matter.
Overall, she owes him more.
He didn't want to confront him unless absolutely necessary.
Looking up, just as Jiang Shuwan was pondering, Pei Yanzhi had already walked to the table. He first glanced at the osmanthus-scented vase on the table.
The vase was filled with osmanthus flowers that Jiang Shuwan had cut that morning. The flowers were of varying lengths and were not arranged or pruned in a particularly elaborate way, yet they still had a unique charm.
Next came the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone on the desk, followed by her draft, which was the first draft of the distribution rights contract that Jiang Shuwan had just mentioned.
"Your Highness, you mustn't look at this."
Qingxing hurriedly tried to stop him, but he still managed to pick up a card.
"Did you write this yourself?"
Noticing the teasing in his eyes, Jiang Shuwan blushed. "What's wrong? Do you have a problem with that?"
"I wouldn't dare. Young Madam's writing is bold and unrestrained, her penmanship sharp and incisive. I admire her greatly."
That's going too far. You shouldn't hit someone in the face. You can't make fun of people like that.
"None of your business!"
Jiang Shuwan rushed over and grabbed the manuscript.
Her face turned bright red.
She writes with pencils and pens in modern times; she is not skilled with calligraphy.
So her handwriting was all like a dog's scribbles. To avoid embarrassing herself, Qingxing never showed her calligraphy to outsiders.
Pei Yanzhi's arrival today is quite timely.
He even gave me a piece of his mind.
Seriously, I never knew he could be so sarcastic.
"Green apricots, quickly put them away."
They hurriedly tried to hand the manuscript to Qingxing, but someone intercepted it halfway. Jiang Shuwan stared at the first draft of the contract that he was holding in his hand.
"what you do?"
"Your hands get cold when you write in winter, let me help you. I see that your first draft is written clearly line by line, I can just straighten it out."
As he spoke, he took the manuscript and sat down in the chair where Jiang Shuwan usually sat.
He took down a new sheet of paper, placed it on the paperweight, and stretched out his right hand. The boy's well-defined hand picked up a blue-haired wolf-hair brush, dipped it lightly in the ink, and then moved it to the paper. In an instant, he wrote a line of cursive script, the strokes vigorous and powerful, strong and unrestrained.
As expected of a genius excelling in both calligraphy and painting, even Jiang Shuwan, who is not proficient in calligraphy and painting, thought his calligraphy was excellent.
"Go and warm yourself by the fire."
Seeing that Jiang Shuwan was still standing beside him, he turned his head and said something to her as he wrote.
Okay~
Jiang Shuwan retreated back to the fire pit.
The charcoal fire glowed red on her face and warmed her cold hands.
She was naturally afraid of the cold, especially this season, even though it wasn't snowing, it was colder than if it were.
"Miss, it's snowing."
Qingxing suddenly screamed from outside.
At this hour, Kyoto experienced its first heavy snowfall of the year.
"Qingxing, add another pot of charcoal."
Pei Yanzhi didn't seem to notice Jiang Shuwan watching him from behind. The young man was engrossed in copying the contract, and he even took a moment to call out to Qingxing, who was running excitedly in the yard.
"The Crown Prince is indeed very thoughtful."
Qingxing grinned, and the little girl quickly suppressed her excitement and instructed the other girl to bring another basin of charcoal.
"Miss, look how considerate the young master is!"
She was still winking and making faces at Jiang Shuwan when Jiang Shuwan poked her away with one finger.
But my gaze still couldn't help but drift towards the person at the desk.
The old, moon-white robe, with pure white inner and outer garments, layered upon each other to create a beautiful sense of depth.
I've seen him wear this outfit before, but it fits him exceptionally well tonight. The long robe and wide sleeves accentuate his broad shoulders and narrow waist, making his inverted triangle physique even more handsome.
Was the young official this handsome before?
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