Prime Minister

Chapter 47 047 [Reunion]

"Qingluan, how long are you going to stay in the capital this time?"

Cui's tone was gentle, and the slight awkwardness he felt at their first meeting had long since disappeared.

Shen Qingluan obediently replied, "I expect to return to Jiangnan at the beginning of the year."

Slightly puzzled, Cui asked, "With the year drawing to a close, why are you coming to the capital at this time of year?"

Shen Qingluan said, "To be honest, Aunt, my father sent people to the capital to open a branch, and things were going very smoothly at first, but then some setbacks occurred. The center of our family business is in the south, and my father really couldn't leave. My younger brothers are still young, so I volunteered to go to the capital. Once the branch here is running smoothly, I will set off to return to my hometown."

Mrs. Cui looked at her with concern and asked, "Is there some serious trouble?"

"Not really."

Shen Qingluan shook her head slightly and explained, "The managers my father sent to the capital are all experienced and reliable. However, we still need to recruit a lot of people locally and smooth things over with the officials. Some mistakes happened in the process, and the managers couldn't make the decisions, so I had to come here in person. Please don't worry, Aunt, it's not a big problem. I will handle it as soon as possible."

Only then was Madam Cui relieved, and said, "Your father did his best for the Xue family back then. Now that your family is in trouble, you must not be so polite with your aunt. Although your late husband is no longer alive, the Xue family still has some influence among old friends in the capital. Your brother Xue Huai has also entered the court as an official. If there is anything he can do to help, just ask."

"Thank you, aunt."

Shen Qingluan lowered her head and said to Xue Huai, "Then I will trouble you, Xue Shidu."

Xue Huai calmly said, "Miss Shen, you don't need to be so polite."

The two remained as polite and courteous as before, and Cui Shi didn't want to force them to become familiar with each other, so she changed the subject and continued to chat with Shen Qingluan about the scenery of Jiangnan.

About an incense stick later, Shen Qingluan noticed that Cui seemed a little tired, so she took the initiative to say, "Aunt, Qingluan knows that the Xue family has a pure and upright tradition and dares not use gold and silver to disrespect them. Therefore, this time I have brought some specialties from Jiangnan to express my gratitude. Please do not refuse."

Mo Yun had mentioned earlier that the gifts sent by the Shen family this time filled a whole cart, and Shen Qingluan said that they were brought from Jiangnan, which showed their sincerity.

Madam Cui said with emotion, "You are so thoughtful. Over the years, your family has never forgotten our Xue family and has never stopped showing us courtesy. I am truly ashamed to accept such treatment."

"Auntie, please don't say that."

Shen Qingluan said softly, "My father often said that if it weren't for Uncle Xue's help back then, the Shen family would have been destroyed long ago. How could I ever forget such a great kindness? Today, this little bit of gratitude is hardly enough to repay even a fraction of the kindness shown to us back then."

Mrs. Cui was quite moved and insisted that she stay for a meal.

Shen Qingluan said tactfully, "I dare not disturb you on my first visit. I will come to visit you another day."

Madam Cui grew increasingly fond of her poise and asked, "Where will you be staying this time in the capital?"

Shen Qingluan replied, "Before I came to the capital, my family had already purchased a house in Yongyefang in the western part of the city, and I live there now."

"It's not close at all..."

After a moment's thought, Cui turned and said, "Huai'er, your sister Shen is new to this place and doesn't know anyone. Why don't you take her back?"

Xue Huai stood up and replied, "Yes, Mother."

Shen Qingluan smiled and thanked her.

Before long, outside the ceremonial gate, Shen Qingluan, supported by her maid, boarded the painted carriage. Xue Huai also took the reins from his attendant Li Shun, mounted his horse, and escorted the carriage away from the Xue residence.

As they were leaving Dayong Ward, the curtain on the carriage was lifted, revealing Shen Qingluan's dignified and elegant face: "Reader Xue, I have a few important matters to ask you. May I enter the carriage to discuss them?"

Xue Huai was slightly taken aback. Looking into the other person's clear eyes, and recalling Cui's previous instructions, he nodded and said, "Okay."

The carriage was spacious, with plenty of room for Shen Qingluan and her personal maid, plus Xue Huai, a man.

"Miss Shen, what trouble has your business encountered in the capital?"

Xue Huai got straight to the point. In his mind, the fact that Shen Qingluan was forced to travel thousands of miles to the capital meant that the Shen family business must have encountered great obstacles and was struggling in the capital. There was even a possibility that they would perish before they could achieve their goal. Otherwise, Shen Qingluan would not have had to set off in such a hurry at the end of the year.

He wasn't someone who couldn't see his own abilities or liked to meddle in other people's business, but given the friendship between the Xue and Shen families, he couldn't just stand by and do nothing.

The carriage suddenly fell silent.

Xue Huai noticed that the maid was sitting in the corner, her head down as if she were about to fall asleep.

Looking to the other side, one sees Shen Qingluan pouting slightly, her face full of grievance. If she could squeeze out a few tears, she could immediately put on a scene of a lovelorn woman meeting a heartless man.

Before Xue Huai could even frown, Shen Qingluan said pitifully, "Brother Huai, you really don't remember me?"

A question mark slowly appeared on Xue Huai's forehead. Shen Qingluan said to herself, "Back in Yangzhou, Brother Huai was the best to me. He would immediately give me anything delicious or fun. At that time, the Shen family was in a difficult situation. My parents were worried about the shops all day long and didn't have much time to take care of me. It was Brother Huai who tried his best to comfort me and took me to play in and around the city. If anyone bullied me, Brother Huai was always the first to stand up for me."

Her voice choked with sobs as she gazed at Xue Huai and said, "Brother Huai, don't you remember any of these things?"

Xue Huai couldn't reconcile the person in front of him with the gentle and refined young lady from a prominent family he had just met.

This is more than just a change in appearance; they're practically two different people.

He remained calm and said, "Miss Shen, that was something from my childhood..."

“You would never have called me Miss Shen before.”

Shen Qingluan abruptly interrupted him, and then said matter-of-factly, "You've always called me Luan'er."

Xue Huai subconsciously retorted, "Don't you also call me Xue Shidu?"

Shen Qingluan said softly, "That was in front of my aunt. How could I, as a junior, be so presumptuous?"

Xue Huai now understood that the Shen Qingluan before him was her true nature, and what he had previously followed was merely the etiquette and upbringing he had to adhere to.

Of course there is nothing wrong with that.

Just as Xue Huai had to maintain different demeanors in front of the emperor, Xue Minglun, and Shen Wang, people cannot always do as they please in this world.

Even someone as noble as Jiang Li couldn't do that.

Seeing his silence, Shen Qingluan cautiously asked, "Brother Huai, are you angry?"

"No."

Xue Huai shook his head, slightly hesitant, and said, "I just didn't expect that you would remember something from twelve or thirteen years ago, and remember it so clearly."

Shen Qingluan breathed a sigh of relief and smiled faintly, "Because those years were not pleasant for me, but because of your care and help, I didn't feel too embarrassed. After you left Yangzhou, I have been asking around about you all these years to find out how you are doing."

Xue Huai was somewhat interested in this, and he also wanted to know what he had done in the past few years in the eyes of an outsider, so he said with great interest, "Tell me about it."

Shen Qingluan adjusted her posture, moving a little closer to Xue Huai, and said as if recounting a familiar story: "After Uncle Xue passed away, I was very worried about Aunt and you, but my father said that you had always been very strong since you were a child and would definitely not be discouraged by this. Later, just as my father said, you were not only not defeated by grief, but you also passed the provincial examination and the metropolitan examination smoothly, and finally became the youngest new third-ranked scholar in the history of the Great Yan. You have no idea how happy I was when I heard this good news."

“I thought that your future, if not smooth sailing, would at least not be full of hardships. But the news coming from the capital is making me more and more worried. You are finding it difficult to move forward in the officialdom, and the outside world’s evaluation of you is becoming more and more unpleasant. But I have never believed those slanders. I know that Brother Huai wants to speak up for the people, but the situation in the court is complicated. This is not a problem that you can solve by yourself.”

“I’m worried that you won’t be able to handle this pressure, but my family only has some connections in Jiangnan, which are no match for the powerful and influential people in the capital. So my parents and I discussed opening a Shen family business in the capital. That way, even if it can’t provide you with much help, it can at least help you expand your network so you won’t have to face those difficulties alone.”

A bright color appeared in her sparkling eyes.

Xue Huai was deeply moved and slowly asked, "So your trip to the capital this time is for the sake of our Xue family?"

"To be precise, it's for Brother Huai."

Shen Qingluan responded frankly, adding, "Of course, I didn't lie to you, Auntie. The branch in the capital did encounter some trouble, but that's not the most important reason I came to the capital. A few months ago, I received news from the capital that your situation... was getting worse and worse. I was afraid something might happen to you, so I set off for the capital ahead of schedule. Originally, I was planning to come after the New Year."

The girl's emotions were passionate and unwavering, and she made no attempt to conceal them.

Since coming into this world, no matter what emotions Xue Huai displayed, there was always a line in his heart: on one side was himself, and on the other side were everyone else.

No one can cross that line to gain his absolute trust. At present, only the Cui family is closest to that line, followed by his mentor Shen Wang.

Now, Shen Qingluan is like a sharp sword, and as soon as she appears, she rapidly approaches that line at an unimaginable speed.

Xue Huai composed himself and said, "Miss Shen—"

He was met with a slightly saddened expression from Shen Qingluan.

Xue Huai then changed his words and said, "Qingluan, thank you for your kindness."

Shen Qingluan's expression brightened. She knew that after nine years of separation, and given Xue Huai's aloof and self-possessed nature, it was impossible for them to become intimate in a short time. This progress was already an unexpected joy. She immediately said in a clear voice, "Brother Huai, you helped me so much back then, and now I just want to do my best to repay you."

"I'm happy as long as I can help you."

……

……

(Many thanks to "Yi Ding" for the generous donation!)
(End of this chapter)