Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 160 Standing Higher
After the meal, Tan Huaike, despite not having drunk much, felt dizzy, as if a huge gold brick had been smashed down on her head by the god Monroe, leaving her completely disoriented.

The matter was of great importance, so she did not immediately agree to Yu Sufeng's request, but promised to think about it carefully.

Yu Sufeng expressed her understanding, saying that Lord Shentu had recently been involved in drafting the opening of trade routes in the western border under the Grand Herald. If she wanted to learn more about the relevant decrees of the court, she could ask her uncle for more information.

Tan Huai Ke had the same idea. After seeing him off, she pondered the matter again and again, but still couldn't make up her mind. So in the evening, she went to Yan Zhi Si's kitchen and had more than a dozen dishes prepared. She also took some freshly baked naan bread and went to the government office to deliver the meal to Shen Tu Zhuo.

Lately, Shen Tu Zhuo has been staying at the government office very late, sometimes even all night. Tan Huai Ke had a vague feeling that he was deliberately avoiding her, but she didn't know if she was just imagining things or if he was simply focused on his exams and had eliminated all distractions. Since he was appointed as the Grand Master of Ceremonies, she didn't feel that the two of them had become noticeably distant. After all, his official duties were genuinely demanding, leaving him looking haggard with dark circles under his eyes, and he didn't even have a chance to catch up on sleep, let alone spend time with his family.

Seeing that he was working too hard, Tan Huaike, taking advantage of her status as the eldest sister-in-law, brought him meals a few times.

She was the renowned owner of Yanzhisi Restaurant, and the meals she brought were always incredibly lavish, enough to satisfy not only Shentu Zhuo's hunger but also his colleagues. Even the gatekeepers received some tea and snacks, not to mention the exquisite meals presented to Lord Tao. Therefore, she was never stopped when she went to the government office.

Tan Huaike and Pei'er carried four full food boxes over, and the officials who saw them consciously made way for them.

After treating everyone to a hot dinner, while Shen Tu Zhuo was taking a short break, Tan Huai Ke brought up Yu Su Feng's plans and asked if he should accept the invitation to join the Guangli Chamber of Commerce.

Shen Tu Zhuo tapped the bamboo slips on the table with his finger and fell into deep thought.

That was precisely the suggestion regarding the Chamber of Commerce's involvement in the development of the western border, which had just been drafted the day before yesterday and had not yet been presented to His Majesty for review. Yet Yu Sufeng had already approached Tan Huaike ahead of time, and had even laid out this move three months ago when she was guiding her to solve the problem of the incense shop. One can imagine how farsighted this person was in business.

At this moment, Shen Tu Zhuo couldn't help but sigh inwardly. No wonder he was as rich as a feudal lord; such vision was beyond the reach of ordinary merchants.

However, given that Tan Huaike's personal interests were at stake, he felt it was best to be more cautious.

Shen Tu Zhuo said, "Yu Sufeng is not a charlatan. On the contrary, his reputation has always been praised. So I think we can trust him in this matter, and there is great potential for us to do it."

"But you can't let the Chamber of Commerce manipulate you after you join. The opening of the Western Border trade route is still a mystery. No one in the court can predict its consequences. Even the Grand Minister and the Crown Prince don't dare to directly intervene. So we must be careful not to do the work for others. Don't let others steal the credit after we've finished helping the court and the Chamber of Commerce."

“I’ve thought about what you said, but how can we prevent this?” Tan Huaike was worried about this.

“This is not up to you to decide, nor is it up to Yu Sufeng. All the merchants in the Guangli Chamber of Commerce need to reach a consensus, and it also needs to be reported to the imperial court,” Shen Tu Zhuo said. “In short, you need to ask Yu Sufeng to give you real power and entrust you with all matters related to trade with the border and the western region. Only by standing higher can you see further.”

"As a foreign merchant who joined the guild later in life, even if Yu Sufeng is willing to relinquish power, I'm afraid the others in the guild will be dissatisfied."

"Don't worry, I've already thought of that for you. Let's do it this way..."
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Shen Tu Zhuo meticulously planned for Tan Huai Ke, doing everything he could to pave a way out for her. They talked until the moon was high in the sky, and their room was the only one in the government office with the light still on.

Now that the plan was in place, Tan Huaike felt much more at ease and jokingly said, "After all, you've entered officialdom. You're even more adept at scheming now than before. You can no longer see that纨绔 (playboy) look of yourself."

A single candlelight reflected in her eyes, shimmering brightly and stirring Shen Tu Zhuo's heart.

In the stillness of the night, with his widowed brother and sister-in-law alone in the room, the thoughts he had been trying so hard to suppress began to sprout like spring grass.

Tan Huaike knelt before the table, tidying up the empty bowls, dishes, and food boxes. His sleeves brushed against the table, releasing a waft of alluring fragrance. Whatever the incense, at that moment it all seemed to him like the delightful scent of the incense in the bedroom.

Shen Tu Zhuo's Adam's apple bobbed, and he asked, as if possessed, "So, does your sister-in-law like me now, or me from before?"

Just as Tan Huaike was about to get up to say goodbye, he stumbled and almost fell when he heard this. The lid of the food box he had just packed slipped off, and the bowls and dishes inside were about to tip over.

Shen Tu Zhuo reacted quickly and caught her.

Clang. The lid still slipped off and fell to the ground, spinning before stopping.

Tan Huaike was momentarily stunned as she fell into Shen Tu Zhuo's arms. She felt those strong arms holding her tighter and tighter, until they even made her arms ache.

And there was the sound of her own heartbeat so close to her ear, thump-thump, as fast as her own.

She closed her eyes, looked up at Shen Tu Zhuo, and answered him: "In the past, you disregarded etiquette and acted recklessly, which was not without its charm. Now that you hold an official position, your every word and action is being watched. Do you still dare to do that?"

Shen Tu Zhuo lowered his eyes: "I..." Meeting her gaze, he wanted to say that he dared, what official position, what gossip from others, he had never cared, but he couldn't say it.

What he feared was never those things, but rather his inability to face his brother's newfound life.

"You wouldn't dare," Tan Huaike mocked. "Although I never expected a good outcome between us, I never imagined you couldn't even openly express your feelings. It's alright, Lord Shentu, may you rise to higher positions, and as your widowed sister-in-law, I will stand by your side. Let's treat each other as business partners, and as for our past relationship, I'll just consider it a mistake..."

Before she could finish speaking, Shen Tu Zhuo could no longer suppress his long-dormant desire and kissed her lips fiercely.

The lanterns on the outer corridor swayed gently, casting blurry silhouettes of two people.

Tan Huai Ke did not refuse. The women of Mohe were bold and decisive in love and hate, much more straightforward than the people of Da Xuan who were bound by worldly conventions and etiquette. She had long known her own feelings and never cared that she was a widow. Whoever she liked and wanted to be good to, as long as God Monroe didn't send down a bolt of lightning to kill that person, no one could stop her.

In her view, even if she indulged in pleasure and slept with her nominal brother-in-law, and Shentu Zhuo refused to give her the title of his legal wife out of consideration for his reputation, it didn't matter at all. At worst, she could just kick him to the curb and go her separate ways.

Anyway, she doesn't live off the favor of others. She has to participate in the selection of imperial merchants and is busy opening up trade routes in the western border. She doesn't have much time to argue about etiquette, shame, or romantic love.

The night watchman passing by startled the two lovers from their daze.

This was, after all, a government office, and they each had heavy responsibilities on their shoulders. This lingering kiss was the greatest tenderness they could offer.

Shen Tu Zhuo said, "Whether you believe it or not, I don't care about what you said. I didn't care before, and I still don't care now. It's just that I still have a knot in my heart, and I can't be honest with you. That's not fair to you..."

Tan Huaike sealed his lips with his finger.

Her cheeks flushed as she straightened his slightly disheveled clothes, shook her head, and sighed, "While having an affair may be pleasurable, it's also incredibly nerve-wracking and unbearable."

Shentu Zhuo: "..."

Tan Huaike picked up the lid, picked up the food box, and left.

Outside, Pei'er had also tidied up the bowls and dishes used by her colleagues and was waiting for her at the door. When she saw her come out, she muttered, "Madam, this government office is quite frightening late at night. Just now, a gust of wind blew the lanterns, and when I looked over, I thought I saw a fleeting figure..."

Tan Huaike looked around: "Where is anyone? You must have mistaken him for that fat cat that the official keeps."

Pei'er was quickly steered away from the topic: "Wow, Madam, you don't know, that cat ate six pieces of mutton today..."

Inside the room, the night watchman with a half-scarred face stood with his arms crossed in front of Shen Tu Zhuo.

He rebuked her, saying, "You shouldn't have insulted her like that."
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Next chapter: If you dare not give her your affections, you have no right to interfere with me.