Chapter 36: Together

The Zhou Family Silk Shop.

A sharp-looking waiter dashed into the shop like the wind, and spoke to Zhou Jianyu, who was walking out, like a string of firecrackers: "Boss, I found the place you told me to look for. It's a bit out of the way, and foot traffic is a little light, but it should be fine for opening a shop. I've already settled the terms with the current owner—once we pay the silver, we just need to go to the yamen and sign the deed."

Smack!

Zhou Jianyu slapped him across the face, then snorted coldly: "Next time you shout in the shop, I'll dock your wages. Come on, follow me to the back."

The waiter nodded hastily, then added: "Yes, yes, boss. But I've already finished saying everything."

Zhou Jianyu's brows shot up in anger. He grabbed the man by his collar and started dragging him toward the back, grumbling: "Next time, speak slower. Do you even know whether the other party heard what you said?"

The waiter, named Han Yi, was Zhou Jianyu's distant nephew. He had been with Zhou Jianyu for years, so he wasn't really afraid of having his wages docked. Grinning shamelessly, he said: "Boss, don't worry. Everything's settled."

Zhou Jianyu hauled Han Yi along, about to toss him into the back courtyard, saying: "Enough, enough. Get inside and stop interfering with my business."

Han Yi, however, was unwilling. He struggled and said: "Boss, you have so many businesses. Why not make me a manager of one? Don't worry, my wages can stay the same. I just want to—"

Smack!

"You just want to be a manager, is that it?" Zhou Jianyu slapped Han Yi on the head and said: "Wait a while. Once my rice business expands, I'll save a spot for you."

Han Yi was overjoyed. He grabbed Zhou Jianyu and said: "Ah, thank you, boss! Can my wages go up a little then?"

Zhou Jianyu said irritably: "Get back inside."

"Yes, boss!" Han Yi jumped with excitement, lifted the curtain, and ran toward the back courtyard.

After driving Han Yi off, Zhou Jianyu walked to the small room behind the counter. Though he was a shopkeeper, he was no longer the kind of shopkeeper who stood behind the counter.

He sat in his chair, flipping through the account books, and a smile crept onto his face. With that noble patron's help, not only had he been spared all sorts of tribute payments, he had also gained the protection of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Silver was now rolling in. Aside from running errands, he had paid nothing at all.

Making money was the most important thing to Zhou Jianyu. As he calculated, he muttered to himself with renewed ambition: "If only my second brother could pass the provincial exam and become a jinshi, then I would truly be content..."

The Zhou family could be considered a family of pure and noble standing, but the larger a family grows, the more numerous and mixed its members become. The Zhou family's Old Ancestor was still alive at over eighty, so the family had not been divided. Zhou Jianzong and Zhou Jianyu were still, in fact, one family.

It was just that one was a pure and noble Censor in the Censorate, while the other was a lowly merchant.

He dreamed of the day a scholar could emerge from his family!

"Boss, someone outside is looking for you." Just as Zhou Jianyu was lost in his pleasant reverie, a servant boy suddenly walked in and called out.

Zhou Jianyu closed his account book and walked out. Looking up at the three men who had entered, his expression shifted slightly.

He didn't recognize one of them, but the other two—how could he not recognize Wei Liangqing and Ni Wenhuan!

His heart trembled slightly, but a smile stayed on his face. He raised his hand and said: "Gentlemen, please, come inside."

The three were none other than Zhou Yingqiu, Ni Wenhuan, and Wei Liangqing!

Both Zhou Yingqiu and Ni Wenhuan knew that Zhou Jianyu was the man out front, so they both raised their hands and said: "Manager Zhou, you're too kind."

Wei Liangqing had thought he was coming to meet some important figure, but was surprised to find a mere merchant. A look of disgust crept onto his face. A hundred of this sort of goods wouldn't even register in his eyes. Still, circumstances were stronger than pride, so he reluctantly raised his hand and followed the others inside.

Zhou Jianyu led the guests to a side room, then called for Han Yi and instructed him seriously: "Keep a close watch outside the door. Don't let anyone near, and you're not allowed to listen to a single word either!"

Though Han Yi was a rascal, he knew what mattered. He raised his head as if making a vow: "Boss, rest assured. The things you entrust to me have never gone wrong!"

Zhou Jianyu was indeed confident on that point. He gave a slight nod and went inside, closing the door.

He looked at the three men, his expression somewhat grim. Given his status, he couldn't take any action against these three, but for them to come looking for him so openly clearly went against his 'master's' wish to remain hidden.

"Manager Zhou, I apologize for the intrusion."

It was Zhou Yingqiu who spoke. His ability to read people was a hundred times stronger than Ni Wenhuan's, who was a Censor. He stood up with a grave expression and said: "But we had no choice. This Lord Wei is the nephew of Eunuch Wei. The Three Offices are likely preparing to make their move already. We were afraid of implicating the noble patron, so we had no choice but to come unannounced."

Zhou Jianyu knew nothing at all about Zhu Xu's affairs. He was merely an errand-runner. In his heart, he was already planning to pass the message along later, so he was even more eager to send these three away. Putting on a show of deliberation, he said: "I will pass a message to the noble patron shortly. If there's any news, I'll notify you gentlemen. The moment I hear anything, I'll inform you at once." Zhou Jianyu had been trained quite well by Zhu Xu, but his status was low, and facing these men, he ultimately lacked confidence.

Zhou Yingqiu and Ni Wenhuan exchanged a covert glance, then said: "There is one more matter. We wish to discuss it with the noble patron in person."

'In person?'

Zhou Jianyu looked at the three men, especially Ni Wenhuan, who wasn't very good at hiding his expression. His heart stirred suddenly, and realization dawned. Then he sneered inwardly. These two seemed to be planning a rebellion. He'd have to let his 'master' teach them a lesson.

"Fine," Zhou Jianyu said. He lacked the ability to intimidate Zhou Yingqiu and Ni Wenhuan, so he pondered for a moment and said: "Alright. I'll send word to the palace right away. Tonight I'll notify you of the location."

Even Zhou Yingqiu's eyes flashed with a hint of excitement, but he restrained himself and said: "Good. Thank you, Manager Zhou. We'll await your news."

All three had condescended to come to this place. Facing a mere merchant, they naturally had no desire to linger. Once their business was concluded, they hurriedly left, lest they arouse suspicion.

Zhou Jianyu pondered for a while inside the door, then walked to the study, wrote out a note, called for Han Yi, and instructed: "Same as before. Be careful."

Han Yi took the note and tucked it into his bosom, saying: "Boss, you can rest easy."

Inside Jinghuan Palace, Wu Rou carried a box of pastries and said to Zhu Xu: "Your Highness, our lady sent me to deliver these to you."

Zhu Xu's eyes lit up, and he said joyfully: "Did Sister Huan'er make them?"

Wu Rou smiled demurely and said: "Yes."

As she spoke, she discreetly slipped a note into Zhu Xu's hand. Zhu Xu, his expression unchanged, tucked it into his bosom.

Wu Rou's expression relaxed, and her smile grew more genuine. She bowed slightly and asked: "Does Your Highness have any message for our lady or Sister Huan'er?"

"Come and go often," Zhu Xu said. He already had one hand inside the box grabbing pastries. His heart stirred at the question, and he quickly turned his head and called out: "Sister Qingqing, bring some of our pastries over so my sister-in-law can have a taste too."

Wu Rou looked at the large box wrapped in oil paper, blinked, and said: "Your Highness, if the lady asks, how should I answer?"

Zhu Xu chuckled and said: "Don't say anything. I won't either."

Wu Rou was taken aback for a moment, her expression rather endearing. Then she broke into a smile and said: "Very well. I'll take this to our lady right away."

"Sister Qingqing, see Miss Rou out."

After Yao Qingqing saw Wu Rou off, Zhu Xu carried the box into the study, closed the door, and sat in a chair. With one hand holding a pastry and the other pulling the note Wu Rou had given him from his bosom.