Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 146 If I Had Known This Day
Tan Huaike asked in surprise, "Yes, there is such a plan. How did Your Highness know?"

After the Princess Consort of Qin "died of illness," she was still somewhat guilty and afraid that she would leave some kind of handle, causing the marriage alliance to be disrupted again after it had just calmed down. So after leaving in the chaos that night, she never dared to have any further involvement with the Prince of Qin's mansion or Zhou Wenzong, and just assumed that she, the "Princess Consort," had truly disappeared from the world.

Since then, Zhou Wenzong has been entangled in many matters. He was already busy enough with taking over the twelve prefectures, and the fire at his beloved concubine's funeral made him choke on smoke. He also had to deal with the Crown Prince, the Empress, His Majesty, the Mohe delegation, and the officials in the court one by one. Some of them were well-intentioned condolences, while others were insidious inquiries. He was truly exhausted and only recently recovered.

Therefore, the two had not seen each other for a long time, and Tan Huaike did not expect that he still remembered him.

Zhou Wenzong said, "As the saying goes, a day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness. All the troubles you have are caused by this marriage alliance. How can I be ungrateful and really abandon you? Recently, those people in the court have not been watching so closely, and I have also heard that your Yanzhi snack stall is doing very well. Naturally, I must find an opportunity to help you out. Otherwise, wouldn't it be a waste of my power as the King of Qin?"

Tan Huaike couldn't help but chuckle: "Isn't it a huge waste of the King of Qin's power to put it on my dilapidated little stall?"

Seeing that she was no longer reserved, Zhou Wenzong smiled and said, "Whether you're a great talent or not, as long as you're useful, that's fine. Although the food stall business is good, it's not a long-term solution. There's a vacant shop that just became available in the West Market right now. The location is decent. If you like it, I can help you take it over."

"Your Highness is too kind; there's really no need for such trouble. Good shops in the West Market are very expensive, and I'm afraid..."

"What? My late wife loved to eat sesame cakes. Can't I even have this sesame food shop located closer to the palace?" Guessing that she would refuse, Zhou Wenzong had already prepared his excuse. "Besides, you paid for most of the money to set up the shop yourself. I can only put in a few words of help and give you a small subsidy. Once your business is up and running, you'll have to pay back the subsidy."

“Alright, then I’ll accept your offer.” Tan Huai Ke stopped refusing and said, “Once the shop is open, I’ll give the prince 30% of the profits.”

"Thirty percent? My dear consort, have you carefully calculated all of this?"

"To be honest, I've been eyeing that shop in the West Market for a long time, but I haven't been able to find a way to negotiate..." Speaking frankly, Tan Huai Ke said, "Your Highness is truly offering timely help."

The two chatted happily and ate some food and wine. Zhou Wenzong's gaze fell on the cuffs that Tan Huaike had mended, and he said, half teasing and half melancholy, "Look at you, you refuse to be a princess who lives a life of luxury, and insist on suffering like this... Seeing you working from dawn till dusk every day, Zhongqi probably wishes he could rush into the Guanglu Xun to take the exam and be appointed to an official position, so as to relieve your worries as soon as possible."

Tan Huai Ke said, “He has his own heavy responsibilities to shoulder, and I don’t want to delay him over these trivial matters… Your Highness need not worry too much. He is living a comfortable and peaceful life now and does not feel bitter. I think Your Highness is the one who has been wronged. Putting aside the struggles in the court, what should have been a happy occasion for a couple to be together for life has turned into a widower guarding the memorial tablet in vain.”

Zhou Wenzong smiled and drank a cup of wine: "From this point of view, you and I have arrived at the same destination by different paths."

Tan Huaike was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing.

One was a widow and the other a widower; both were widows tending to the spirit tablets of the deceased, yet they had arrived at the same end through different paths.
-
After Tan Huaike left, Zhou Wenzong ordered his men to replace the leftovers with a new pot of tea and two teacups.

He brewed the tea himself, as if speaking to the void: "Why don't you step forward yourself for such a small matter?"

Shen Tu Zhuo suddenly appeared out of nowhere, turned around the carved screen, and sat down in front of him: "In terms of wealth, I am penniless now. In terms of power, my only hope is to be recommended for official positions. How could I possibly help her?"

"So you came to find me?" Zhou Wenzong made him tea.

"Hmph, even if I didn't come looking for you, you'd still hesitate to see her. I really don't know what you're struggling with," Shen Tu Zhuo said. "That prime shop in the West Market has been vacant for half a month. Only a fool would believe that no merchant has made an offer. I went there and subtly inquired, and the original owner told me not to waste my time. The shop had already been taken over by a high-ranking official, who made it clear that he wanted to leave it vacant, waiting for the buyer who best suited his taste to come and negotiate. Oh dear, who is this high-ranking official? It's really hard to guess." "..." Zhou Wen Cong said awkwardly, "Stop being sarcastic and watch your mouth."

“If I hadn’t come to you, how long would you have held onto the shop? Waiting for her to save up enough capital to come and negotiate? Your Highness, you’ve always been cautious and timid.”

“I’m afraid of causing her trouble. On the way to Andu, there have been assassinations and poisonings. Hasn’t she suffered enough? Now I’m the target of everyone’s criticism in the court, so naturally I have to be careful not to harm her.” Zhou Wenzong rolled his eyes at him. “You’re always talking about me. What about you? Aren’t you always known for being unconventional and daring? Why are you chickening out this time?”

"I……"

Zhou Wenzong said sarcastically, "Are you willing to be a good person?"

Shen Tu Zhuo gulped down a mouthful of tea as if it were wine: "You don't understand, I have my reasons."

"What hardship?" Zhou Wenzong sneered and questioned, "I never heard you complain about anything back in Zhangye. Why is it that now that you're in Andu and about to rise to the top, you suddenly have some hardship to complain about? Are you perhaps looking down on your widowed sister-in-law as a burden?"

"How could that be!" Shentu Zhuo retorted angrily, "Am I that kind of person?!"

"Who knows?" In retaliation for his friend's earlier mockery, Zhou Wenzong also became sarcastic. "You once swore that you disregarded etiquette and morality, but in the end, you're just as timid and hesitant as I am! If I had known this would happen, I should have kept her as my princess!"

“No, she won’t.” Shen Tu Zhuo calmed down. “You know her ambitions and aspirations, and you won’t confine her like this. Song Shu, the reason I have more qualifications and advantages than you is precisely because you are such a gentleman.”

"..." Zhou Wenzong was also speechless, and could only take a sip of tea. "She has a troubled past, and I thought you would give her a stable and worry-free home."

Do you think I don't want to give it?

If it weren't for his brother's miraculous return from the dead, if it weren't for Tan Huaike's trust in the masked man due to their past connection, and if his brother hadn't shown him genuine affection and taken care of him in every way, he wouldn't have struggled so much.

He never imagined that he would one day become such a coward.

Seeing that he was lost in thought, Zhou Wenzong sighed: "I don't know what troubles you, but marriage is ultimately about the feelings of two people. You must not make things difficult for yourself, and you must not make decisions for her on your own, lest I regret it even more."

The two sighed silently, leaving only the aroma of tea in the room.

With the shop location found and the name "Yanzhi Hushi" spreading, Tan Huaike made ample preparations, and soon, the branch of Yanzhi Si in Andu was set up.

When it opened, Tan Huaike never expected it to cause such a big commotion.

Next chapter: This time, she'll be a wolf vying for fresh meat.