Chapter 0077: Entering the Business World, Sheng Yiren the Minister’s Daughter
Su Qinghe entered carrying an exquisite red sandalwood food box. Her gaze fell upon Sheng Yiren’s attire, and recalling her earlier words, she couldn’t help but ask, “Dressing like this—are you planning to confess this matter to Brother Shen?”
“No.” Sheng Yiren shook her head in denial.
Unlike Su Qinghe, who had always treated Shen Yuan with unwavering trust, years of separation had left Sheng Yiren’s faith in him diminished compared to before. She no longer dared to reveal everything to him outright. Moreover, as a woman venturing into business, she was already prone to exclusion and criticism, let alone being an official’s daughter who couldn’t easily disclose her identity to others.
The reason she trusted Su Qinghe was that Su Qinghe was willing to take risks to support her. More importantly, the two had genuinely grown up together since childhood, sharing a deep bond and profound understanding of each other. To put it informally, Sheng Yiren even knew what color of undergarments Su Qinghe was wearing today.
Su Qinghe gently placed the red sandalwood food box on the tea table and slowly lifted the lid. As she did so, she asked, “If it’s not Brother Shen, then whom have you arranged to meet? And why did you specifically call me here?”
“Do you remember when I mentioned wanting to open up the North-South trade route?” Sheng Yiren adjusted her robe, sat down again, and spoke in a measured tone. “Half a year ago, an official in the court wrote to me, saying he had a close friendship with Governor Liang of Yi Province. He received a letter from Governor Liang expressing interest in purchasing grain from the northern regions to alleviate Yi Province’s shortages. Knowing I had connections with various merchant guilds, he asked if I wanted to establish the North-South trade route for substantial profits.”
“His idea aligned perfectly with mine. He promised to spread news of Yi Province’s grain shortage, but whether I could persuade the merchant guilds to go to Yi Province and open the trade route would depend entirely on my own efforts.”
Su Qinghe nodded. “You did mention this matter, but since you never brought it up again, I didn’t probe further.”
“Indeed, because the matter progressed quite smoothly. Not only did it come to fruition, but I also convinced Governor Liang to reduce taxes for northern merchants. Now, many merchants have established themselves in Yi Province, laying the foundation for the smooth operation of the North-South trade route.” Sheng Yiren smiled.
“Then the person you’re meeting today is…” Su Qinghe already had an idea.
Sheng Yiren nodded. “Yes, it’s that official.”
“I see.” Su Qinghe gently rubbed her teacup. “Then why did you call me here?”
Sheng Yiren looked at her apologetically. “Qinghe, I know your status makes it inconvenient for you to meet court officials, but the other party specifically requested your presence…”
Specifically requested her presence?
Su Qinghe was taken aback. In the eyes of merchants, she—a favored illegitimate daughter of the Su Family without an official position—was much easier to approach than the truly talented legitimate sons of the Su Family, making her more suitable for collaboration. It was precisely because of her status serving as a facade that Sheng Yiren’s business ventures hadn’t faced too many obstacles initially.
But in the eyes of court officials, she was merely a pawn on the marriage chessboard, her value negligible. Why would someone suddenly insist on her presence?
Or was this another prank by some spoiled noble youth?
“Do you know who this official is?” Su Qinghe felt uneasy. Given the circumstances, it was clear the other party was targeting her.
“I don’t know either. But don’t worry, the other party said they just want to meet you. If you see them and don’t wish to stay, you can leave at any time.” After saying this, Sheng Yiren secretly glanced at Su Qinghe.
Su Qinghe lowered his gaze, feeling inexplicably uneasy. An urge to leave quickly rose in his heart, but meeting Sheng Yiren’s pleading eyes, he could only sigh softly, “Alright.”
Sheng Yiren immediately beamed with joy, “Don’t worry, remember I’m a businesswoman—my intuition is always accurate. This official must be a truly good person!”
As soon as she finished speaking, the private room’s door was knocked.
“The good person is here!” Sheng Yiren quickly stood up, cleared her throat, straightened her robes once more, then strode toward the door with masculine steps.
Taking a deep breath, her gaze suddenly sharpened, filling with enthusiastic, ingratiating smiles as she opened the door.
The next second, her smile froze on her face.
She stared blankly at the person before her, almost thinking her eyes were deceiving her, before slamming the door shut with a “bang!”
Hearing the commotion, Su Qinghe turned his head and asked with concern, “What happened?”
Sheng Yiren’s mouth fell open, her face filled with despair: I! AM! BLIND!
Su Qinghe: ?
The private room door was gently knocked again. Sheng Yiren shuddered, steeled herself to open the wooden door, then immediately knelt to the ground, proclaiming tragically, “This commoner pays respects to the Second Prince! May Your Highness live a thousand years!”
“Crash—”
The teacup in Su Qinghe’s hand instantly fell to the ground, shattering into three pieces.
He looked up in terror, meeting a pair of exceptionally beautiful phoenix eyes and a peerlessly handsome face with lips curved in a wantonly mischievous smile.
It’s over!
Su Qinghe’s mind went blank.
Why is it the Second Prince?
He had just feigned illness this morning to decline the invitation from Cheng Huan Palace, yet now he appeared in a teahouse meeting with Sheng Yiren—wasn’t this blatantly the crime of deceiving the monarch?
Su Qinghe abruptly stood from his chair, kneeling toward the doorway, his voice trembling, “This commoner… pays respects to the Second Prince! May Your Highness live a thousand, thousand years!”
His slender form prostrated on the ground trembled like a newborn hairless creature. Su Qinghe tightly closed his eyes, heart filled with helpless panic, wondering if he would ever see tomorrow’s morning sun again.
Sheng Yiren, her head bowed, also tightly shut her eyes, inwardly shocked: Why is the Second Prince here!
This teahouse wasn’t packed nor booked exclusively, and this private room was just an ordinary mid-grade one—the Second Prince couldn’t have come specifically for these reasons.
Then why?
Having eliminated all possible answers, the most impossible answer became the true one.
The Second Prince was the official who had been corresponding with her!
No wonder he could spread messages everywhere, make Governor Liang obey his every word, even issue a government seal reducing ten years of commercial taxes—such great authority belonged only to the Second Prince who had accompanied Shen Yuan to Yi Province!
Recalling the accounts brought back by northern merchants, Sheng Yiren found it hard to believe that the person who resolved the chaos of thirty thousand refugees and even proposed the astonishing notion of “when one place is in trouble, aid comes from all sides” was the rumored mediocre and tyrannical Second Prince!
Moreover, he had already been corresponding with her before departing for Yi Province to plan the north-to-south grain transfer. Such foresight and intellect… Sheng Yiren’s body trembled slightly, feeling she had unknowingly stumbled upon some tremendous secret.
The Second Prince… was he hiding his brilliance?
Why?
“Rise, all of you.”
Outside the door, Xie Chengze raised his hand to signal the two men to rise, then stepped into the private room and unceremoniously took the main seat at the tea table.
His calm gaze fell upon Su Qinghe, who remained kneeling on the floor. With a slight lift of his brow, he remarked in a teasing tone, “Young Master Su, you’re quite difficult to invite, aren’t you?”