Chapter 91: The Last Dish

The moonlight pierced through the black curtain, casting down a bright, clear radiance.

By the time Zhang Yunxiu returned to his private residence, the sky had turned completely black. After a simple wash to remove the dust of his travels, Zhang Yunxiu was led by Zhang Fu, who was smiling broadly, into his own bedroom.

Pushing the door open and entering, the room was filled with swirling fragrant mist, and the candlelight flickered red.

On the red sandalwood Eight Immortals table in the center, all sorts of delicacies were lined up, enough to make one's appetite stir. Zhang Yunxiu sat down with a thud and was just about to pick up his chopsticks when Zhang Fu hurriedly called for a stop: "Young Master, don't be in such a rush; there is still one last dish that hasn't been served."

"Then what are we waiting for? Bring it out quickly!" Zhang Yunxiu knit his brows and urged, "Can't you see I've been hungry for half a day? I'm so hungry my chest is almost sticking to my stomach."

"Yes." Zhang Fu chuckled and trotted off.

Before long, a sound of light footsteps echoed outside the door. Zhang Yunxiu looked up and saw Zheng Xi'er standing at the entrance, looking shy.

She was wearing a Six-fold Pleated Skirt made of Western fabric, thin as cicada wings and white as snow; the pleats at her waist were of various colors, like little flowers spreading along her delicate waist.

With bright eyes and white teeth, and a graceful temperament, she had grown into a beauty like a lotus flower just emerging from the water.

"Where is the dish?" Zhang Yunxiu swallowed hard.

Zheng Xi'er raised her elegant brows, let out a giggle, and said in a soft, coquettish tone: "Xi'er is the last dish."

As she spoke, she first performed a curtsy, then moved with lotus steps to sit down beside Zhang Yunxiu.

The two looked at each other, and Zheng Xi'er's phoenix eyes were already full of fiery passion.

"Hoo." Taking two deep breaths of hot air, Zhang Yunxiu smiled at Zheng Xi'er and pointed to the dishes on the table, saying, "Let's eat first. If we don't eat now, the food will get cold. Whatever matters there are, we can talk about them after the meal."

"Mm." Zheng Xi'er replied softly.

After a hearty meal, Zhang Yunxiu looked at the affectionate and charming Zheng Xi'er, and a wave of heat surged into his lower abdomen.

Zheng Xi'er gave a knowing smile, stood up, and pulled Zhang Yunxiu to sit on the Mandarin Duck embroidered bed.

"Young Master, it's getting late. Let Xi'er serve you so you can rest." Zheng Xi'er sniffled with her jade nose, letting out seductive words.

Zhang Yunxiu smiled and lunged over.

After a bout of passion, Zhang Yunxiu lay with his hands clasped behind his head, staring straight at the top of the bed.

Zheng Xi'er, meanwhile, had flushed cheeks and was drenched in fragrant sweat, her dark hair cascading down like a waterfall, sticking to her fair, smooth neck and back.

Glancing at Zhang Yunxiu, she nudged her body into her lover's embrace, her jade hands constantly circling his chest.

"Young Master."

"What is it?" Zhang Yunxiu asked, looking down.

"Nothing... it's just that Xi'er feels that being able to meet you is Xi'er's good fortune." Zheng Xi'er whispered with a blushing face.

Zhang Yunxiu didn't know how to answer, so he just hooked his hand around her damp shoulder and said, "I heard from Zhang Fu that you've been managing these shops quite well these days? Tell me, what reward do you want?"

"Xi'er doesn't want a reward." Zheng Xi'er shook her head.

"You must name one."

Zhang Yunxiu said with a straight face. Zheng Xi'er was startled, tilted her head to think for a moment, and then said, "If Young Master insists on rewarding Xi'er, then please send someone to bring Xi'er's father and younger brother to Beijing."

"Just this?"

"Mm."

"Alright, I promise. It's just two more mouths to feed; I still have enough money for that." Zhang Yunxiu nodded, closed his eyes slightly, and made a move to fall asleep.

Zheng Xi'er cursed him as a "blockhead" under her breath, pouted, and hummed: "Young Master, it's still early. It's not easy for you to come back; let Xi'er serve you one more time."

Again?

Zhang Yunxiu was taken aback.

If it were any other day, he naturally wouldn't be afraid, but with the recent exhaustion from travel, he really felt a bit powerless.

"Another day... another day. Tomorrow I still have to go and report to the Emperor. If I delay the Emperor's business, I won't be able to bear the consequences."

Hearing this, Zheng Xi'er's voice actually began to choke up. She stared straight at Zhang Yunxiu with red-rimmed eyes and said, "Young Master, is Xi'er very ugly?"

"No." Zhang Yunxiu shook his head.

"Then do you despise Xi'er for having a lowly status?"

"Why would you say that?"

Zheng Xi'er wiped away her tears and explained earnestly:

"'Woman' plus 'again' makes 'slave', 'woman' plus 'lowly' makes 'maid', 'woman' plus 'official' makes 'concubine'. Tell me, what good status can we women have?"

Zhang Yunxiu laughed in spite of himself; he could hear that this woman was beating around the bush to ask him for a formal status.

After pondering for a while, Zhang Yunxiu looked down at Zheng Xi'er and smiled as he explained: "The Empress Dowager is also a woman. When the Emperor sees her, doesn't he also have to pay his respects?"

"That is only because of the mother's status being elevated by the son." Zheng Xi'er retorted immediately.

Looking at the stubborn expression on Zheng Xi'er's delicate oval face, Zhang Yunxiu's heart softened, and he said, "Wait a few days. In a few days, I will take you home to meet my father, and then I will formally take you into my household."

"Thank you, Young Master." Zheng Xi'er raised her brows, and her jade hands began to get restless again. Zhang Yunxiu hurriedly called for a stop: "Stop, stop... I'm truly exhausted today. Whatever it is, we'll talk about it in a few days."

"Oh." Zheng Xi'er stuck out her tongue, made a face at Zhang Yunxiu, and then curled up in his arms and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, the two got up early, washed up together, and went to the dining hall for breakfast. Because the Emperor's summons had not arrived, after breakfast, Zhang Yunxiu sat in the dining hall and inquired about the profits of the shops.

Zheng Xi'er had someone bring the account books and pointed to them as she introduced them one by one: "Our family previously acquired over twenty shops, including three fabric shops, two silver shops, one pawnshop, one Rouge Shop, one rice shop..."

"Among these, the most profitable are the fabric shops. After three months of comparison, the monthly profit from the three fabric shops should be over one thousand taels."

"Is the stock in our fabric shops complete?" Zhang Yunxiu asked, leaning to the side.

"It is." Zheng Xi'er nodded and added, "This is all thanks to Manager Hao of Seven-Colored Clouds, who sent people to distribute a portion of the popular fabrics from his own shop to ours. Because of this, the business of our shops immediately soared."

Him again? A fat man with an air of a nouveau riche appeared in Zhang Yunxiu's mind. With such repeated favors, Zhang Yunxiu didn't quite know how to respond.

Zheng Xi'er smiled and said, "Young Master, if you are worried about owing others favors, Xi'er can have someone return the fabrics from 'Seven-Colored Clouds'."

"Xi'er grew up in Suzhou; the fabrics from there are enough for our family to make money."

"Return? Return what?" Zhang Yunxiu waved his hand with a smile, put on a stern face, and acted like a rogue, "We didn't ask him to give them to us; he insisted on giving them himself. My conscience is clear, so we'll just keep them."

"As you command."

"By the way, are the managers below still working out well for you?"

Zhang Yunxiu leaned back, pretending to ask nonchalantly.

Zheng Xi'er knew Zhang Fu must have informed Zhang Yunxiu, so she did not hide it and said truthfully, "After all, Xi'er is a woman, and it is normal for these big men to look down on Xi'er in their hearts, but Xi'er is not afraid of them."

"Are you trying to say that with me backing you, you are afraid of no one?" Zhang Yunxiu laughed and asked in return.

"Yes." Zheng Xi'er cupped her hands and replied with poise, "Xi'er knows that everything Xi'er has was given by the Young Master. As long as I stay by the Young Master's side, these people will not dare to do anything to Xi'er."

"Good." Zhang Yunxiu clapped his hands, cast an approving look at her, and said solemnly, "From now on, for any business expenditure under two hundred taels, you do not need to report to me and may execute it independently."

"If you encounter an emergency, you may also go find my fourth brother."

"Many thanks for the Young Master's trust."

Zheng Xi'er's knees went weak and she knelt down, but Zhang Yunxiu stood up and held her steady, then added, "A woman's fate can sometimes be held in her own hands; it just depends on whether you are willing."

"Xi'er understands."

Zheng Xi'er knew that "to please others with beauty is to see favor fade when beauty wanes"; this man before her claiming to delegate power was more of a test.

A test of whether she could handle a greater challenge.

The two spoke for nearly an hour, and the sun had risen high.

At this moment, Zhang Fu walked in from outside with a smile, and Zhang Yunxiu went to meet him, asking, "Has the Emperor's decree arrived?"

"No." Zhang Fu shook his head and said with a grin, "Boss Hao of Seven-Colored Clouds has arrived, and he brought quite a few gifts, saying he wants to thank you, Young Master, and make friends with you."

Thank my ass; he definitely has something he wants to ask of us.

Zhang Yunxiu glared at Zhang Fu and did not answer.

Zhang Fu was unsure of what to do, standing there blankly, unable to advance or retreat.

It is said that after Zhang Yunxiu returned from Joseon, he rested in Tianjin for a long time and sent the wealth obtained from the Salt Permits back to the Lianghuai Salt Transport Commissioner.

Hao Ren was different; as soon as he arrived in Tianjin, he headed straight for the capital.

The first thing he did was to seek out Zhang Yunxiu's head steward, Zhang Fu. Hao Ren was generous with his money, taking Xu Jue and You Qi along, and the four of them went sightseeing and enjoyed themselves in the capital.

Zhang Fu, a man from the countryside, where had he ever seen the prosperity of the capital? In just half a month, Zhang Fu fell into it and became thick-as-thieves brothers with that Hao Ren.

Having received favors from his brother today, if he didn't get the matter done, where would he put his face?

Thinking this through, Zhang Fu glanced at his master's expression and gritted his teeth, saying, "Young Master, in my opinion, it would be better for you to meet him. After all, he has put in so much effort for our household; if he doesn't get any benefit at all, it will be a laughingstock if it gets out."

"Did you take his money too?" Zhang Yunxiu asked.

"Ah?! No... no." Zhang Fu was startled and began to stammer.

"In the end, did you or did you not?"

"I did."

"How much?" Zhang Yunxiu pressed.

"One thousand taels."

Zhang Fu answered timidly, then shrank his head, not daring to speak further.

"One thousand taels, that is quite generous indeed." Zhang Yunxiu suddenly smiled, then turned his head to look at Zheng Xi'er and asked, "Did you get any benefits from Hao Ren?"

"I received a pair of jade earrings." Zheng Xi'er blushed and pointed to the carp earrings on her earlobes.

*Sigh. *

Zhang Yunxiu sighed helplessly, then asked Zhang Fu, "Tell me, what does this guy want?"

"Two cargo ships for transporting autumn grain," Zhang Fu answered, emboldened.

"We agree; tell him not to let it happen again."

(End of chapter)