Chapter 98 "You're going out again!"...

Chapter 98 "You're going out again!"...

"You're going out again!" After finishing his medicine, Qin Ji quickly chewed and swallowed the candied fruit he had stuffed into his mouth. Then, looking at Xiao Yan Hui dressed for going out, the resentment in his eyes almost solidified: "Xiao. Yan. Hui, you leave your seriously injured husband alone at home while you go out and have fun every day. Do you think that's appropriate?"

“If there’s anything inappropriate, it’s perfect for letting my seriously injured husband know that he should think more carefully before doing anything that could endanger himself.” Xiao Yan said, smiling as she twirled in front of Qin Ji to show him her clothes.

"Do I look more dignified today than usual?" She was going to the official market today, and had specially worn the deep maroon dress she'd recently had made at the Xiao family's silk shop. The style was formal, but it made her skin look fair and gave her an air of authority; she quite liked it.

"If you could buy them, they would go from being slaves in the Vice Minister's mansion to being the manager of the Princess Consort. They would be grateful to you, so why would you bother to dress so dignifiedly? Besides, it's something that could be done by sending a steward, but you insist on doing it yourself!" Qin Ji glanced at the people, somewhat displeased with her showing interest in those she had never even met.

They were just a bunch of convicts, not worth Yan Hui's special selection. She could have simply sent a message to the brokers to bring them over. Why did Yan Hui go to the trouble of changing into imposing clothes just for them? What right did they have?

Sensing the sourness in his words, Xiao Yan couldn't help but smile, her eyes crinkling into a smile. She leaned down to meet Qin Ji's gaze closely: "Hey, Qin Ji, you're even jealous of this kind of thing now! And I wasn't jealous of their imposing appearance at all."

She had simply changed her style today, looking for an excuse to get him to compliment her, but this usually sharp-witted man was unusually dense right now. Although she was inwardly complaining, she also felt a strange sense of pleasure.

"Yes, I'm jealous. Then you stay here with me and let Qian Liang go and buy the person directly. Can't you just pick one you like later?" Qin Ji reached out and gently pinched the back of her neck.

Feeling the warmth on the back of her neck, Xiao Yan Hui couldn't help but feel her ears burning when faced with Qin Ji's sudden and highly controlled actions, even though they had done more intimate things before.

She was the one who started teasing people, but now she's the one who can't resist looking away.

"No, I've been cooped up at home for days arranging banquets. Today I'm going out for a stroll... Besides, I've specially changed my clothes and done my makeup and hair. It would be a waste not to go out." She tilted her head slightly, her cheek almost brushing against his nose. As soon as she was free from his grasp, Xiao Yan took a few steps back and waved to Qin Ji: "I'm going out. I'll bring you some new flavored candied fruit when I come back."

Qin Ji watched her fly away like a butterfly, and could only grit his teeth and endure the still sore buttocks as he leaned against the low table on the bed to read the secret report.

He's been staying in bed these past few days, even more bored than her, and she hasn't even offered to keep him company. Qin Ji flipped through the secret report in a huff, but there was nothing she could do about the person who had gone out to play.

......

"Master, most of the people we bought at the brokerage today were servants of Zhou Yanbo, the former Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Although Zhou Yanbo was convicted, he was still able to become the head of the Ministry of Revenue, so he was quite capable in business. The servants he kept were also quite capable in business."

"I heard that Lord Zhou's troubles were related to the grain issue?" Xiao Yan asked in return.

"Yes, because it was found that he colluded with local officials, falsely reported losses, and embezzled huge sums of grain during the transport of grain last year, His Majesty was furious and ordered the confiscation of his property. Zhou Yanbo himself was exiled three thousand miles away, and his family members, children, and servants were all confiscated and sold by the government. Today, those servants are being sold."

Xiao Yan walked slowly out, while her father-in-law, who was with her, introduced the Zhou family's situation along the way.

This person is Qian Liang, who came to serve her along with Si Jiao.

Although both were eunuchs from the palace, Qian Liang and Si Jiao were completely different types. He was about thirty-five or thirty-six years old, fair-skinned and plump, with a round face and always smiling eyes. He looked extremely kind and approachable.

Sometimes he even looks like a well-off, middle-aged man next door; he's a very approachable person who makes people feel at ease. According to his own introduction, he used to work in the inner palace, so he has some connections and is somewhat well-informed.

Today, Xiao Yan took Qian Liang with her, along with Mao'er and another woman, Wang Mama, who had recently joined her side. Zhu Yue stayed home, while news arrived that someone resembling Su Jin Yue had left early in the morning.

Xiao Yan was actually looking forward to the return of the four corners today, hoping they would bring her some good news. However, the most important thing right now was to buy players.

The official residence was even more bustling than usual today. Although the Zhou family had fallen from power, he was originally from an official family and had served as an official for many years. Many of his servants were from families that had been servants for generations, and some of them were literate, skilled in administrative affairs, and even had considerable connections in certain trades. Such servants were still in high demand, so there were quite a few people who came to choose their servants today.

When Xiao Yan arrived with her people, several people who looked like managers had already gathered inside the brokerage, but there was no mistress among them.

She didn't make a big fuss about her trip today. She rode in a blue-curtained carriage, and the only people accompanying her were Mao'er, Qian Liang, Granny Wang, a coachman, and two guards.

However, this "low-key" was in the context of her status as a princess consort. As soon as they got out of the car, they were still too conspicuous compared to the people around them.

The brokerage manager was a shrewd man among shrewd men. Just one glance at the group of people in front of him made his heart pound wildly.

"People from the palace! They're just slaves being sold off, how could they be from the palace?" Looking a second time, he realized he'd met that plump, white eunuch before. He vaguely remembered that the eunuch had originally been in charge of purchasing firewood and charcoal in the inner palace, but had been dismissed for committing a crime. However, a few days ago, when he was sending some servants from the Zhou family into the inner palace, he heard that the eunuch had somehow gotten lucky and been taken away by a nobleman.

So... is he with that important person now? Judging from his demeanor, he certainly seems like a nobleman from some family, but today they're only selling Zhou family servants, why would such a person come in person? Could it be that they've misremembered and thought they're selling the former young masters and ladies of the Zhou family today?

The manager's mind was racing with all sorts of thoughts, but that didn't stop him from hurrying over to greet Xiao Yan and the others.

However, he was blocked by Qian Liangxian before he could get close.

Before Qian Liang could finish his sentence, he interrupted him, saying "Liang..."

"Just call me Steward Liang."

"Yes, yes, yes," the steward bowed, cautiously asking from the side, "What brings you here today, sir...?"

"My master wants to select a few capable managers, and I would like to trouble the steward to see if there are any suitable ones." Qian Liang smiled amiably in response to the steward's respectful tone.

The manager hurriedly and eagerly introduced, "Yes, yes, yes, I'll take you to the backyard. All the servants from the Zhou family's business are there. The managers of the Zhou family's most profitable shops, as well as the estate managers, are all there. Please feel free to choose."

As for the stewards who were originally waiting to select people, they all made excuses to avoid the situation. It has to be said that in a place like the capital, the stewards' ability to read people and read their expressions has reached its peak and become second nature.

Qian Liangwan, the manager of the dental clinic, hurriedly returned to Xiao Yanhui's side: "Master, do you want to choose in person, or do you want to pick directly from the booklet and then I will go and fetch the people over?" After saying that, he added: "These people have been in prison for quite some time... so their appearance may not be very good."

Xiao Yan hesitated for a moment, then said, "I'll go and see for myself."

If the person chosen today proves useful, they will likely help manage the more important businesses she owns in the future. Xiao Yan felt it would be better to see them in person.

Just as they were about to head to the backyard, another person who clearly shouldn't have been there entered through the door.

Even though she was wearing a veil, it was still easy to tell from her figure, clothing, and the maidservants accompanying her that she must be a young lady from some noble family.

Xiao Yan Hui saw that the slender girl, dressed in a pale yellow brocade dress, glanced at her group a few times as she entered the room and then walked straight over.

Upon approaching, he returned Xiao Yan's curtsy before speaking, "Sister, are you going to the backyard to select someone? I've come today for a maid from the Zhou family. We're old acquaintances. Would it be convenient for you to let me take my old friend with me?"

His demeanor was polite yet neither servile nor arrogant, and he spoke softly while also providing a reason.

Xiao Yan Hui was not the type to make things difficult for others, so she naturally nodded in agreement: "Miss, there's no need for such formalities. Please go first."

However, she remained outwardly calm, but inwardly she was somewhat surprised, because although the woman in front of her was wearing a veil, Xiao Yan recognized her voice.

This person was none other than Zhao Rou, the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Xuanwu's mansion. Unexpectedly, the person who had been spied on by her just a few days ago, and who had also been eavesdropped on by her and her sisters, would be encountered at the brokerage today.

However, her words and actions at this moment were completely unlike her sharp-tongued self from that day.

Xiao Yan was unaware that Zhao Rou was also secretly observing her at that moment.

Indeed, although Zhao Rou did not see Xiao Yan Hui in person at the restaurant that day, she still knew that the person in front of her was Princess Consort Cheng.

She could have sent her maid to buy people here today, but because Xiao Yan Hui appeared, she came in herself, just to see the legendary Princess Consort of Cheng County.

She looked at Xiao Yan Hui, a complex expression flashing in her eyes—curiosity, scrutiny, and a hint of comparison that was barely perceptible. But what welled up inside her was a bittersweet envy that she herself didn't want to delve into.

Now, which nobleman in the capital doesn't know that Prince Cheng defied His Majesty and endured twenty strokes of the cane for her sake?

The men might laugh at Xiao Yan's merchant background, or they might despise Prince Cheng for ruining his future. But after hearing about this, Zhao Rou couldn't help but wonder what it felt like to be protected so unconditionally by someone.

For women from noble families like them, marriage was always a bargaining chip for family interests. Who they would marry was never up to them, and how many concubines or mistresses their future husbands would have was none of their business.

From a young age, they were taught to be virtuous, generous, tolerant, and law-abiding. If their marriages were to be respectful and harmonious, it would be enough to earn them praise from everyone.

But then a different person appeared and showed her something different. He was single-minded, responsible, and dependable, and she was one of his potential queens.

How could I not feel regret!