Chapter 153
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Originally, Chu Lishu also investigated why Marquis An Nan treated Lin Qingyang with such disdain and discovered some subtle aspects.
He initially thought it was due to the mixed bloodline of Lin Qingyang’s other half, causing Marquis An Nan’s reservations. However, now that they no longer had an heir to choose from, unless they allowed the children from the second and third courtyards to inherit, Marquis An Nan shouldn’t be so averse to witnessing Lin Qingyang’s impressive performance. Therefore, there must be another reason.
Until this matter was thoroughly investigated, Chu Lishu naturally didn’t want Lin Qingyang to be bothered. Since Liu Jingchen had arrived, the affairs of the Liu family should be entrusted to him.
Not long after, Lin Qingyang came over and saw Chu Lishu having breakfast. There was a moment of awkwardness, considering the dream he had had, which felt a bit disrespectful towards the male lead. However, out of habit, he sat down next to Chu Lishu at the large round table.
At this point, Liu Jingchen began discussing family matters. He decided to purchase a house nearby as the new residence for the Liu family.
Firstly, it was closer to the other courtyard, making it convenient for them to come and go. Aunt Liu had a good relationship with County Princess Yawen, so she would likely stay here frequently. It also served as a validation of the reason given to the emperor about returning to accompany the family. Secondly, although they were allowed to return to the capital, they were still descendants of a disgraced official. Living in the central district might attract trouble. Apart from those associated with the other courtyard, people from Aunt Liu’s previous connections would likely avoid them. Staying here meant fewer people and, naturally, fewer troubles.
Lin Qingyang naturally welcomed the decision, especially since he and Chu Lishu often spent time in the palace, with Cousin Liu taking care of things at home, they could rest assured.
After eating for a while, Lin Qingyang realized that Lin Qinglan had not shown up. Normally, if they were at home, Lin Qinglan would always join them for breakfast.
Curious, Lin Qingyang asked Shuncai, who explained that Lin Qinglan was having breakfast with the two elders at County Princess Yawen’s residence.
Lin Qingyang didn’t think much of it, but when he turned her head, he noticed a slight pause in Liu Jingchen’s eating posture. It dawned on Lin Qingyang that, seemingly since yesterday, Liu Jingchen and Lin Qinglan had hardly spoken to each other alone.
Initially, when naming the business association, Lin Qingyang approached it with a sense of testing the waters. However, upon meeting in person, he didn’t want to complicate things for his older sister. They were all adults, and some matters needed to be handled by them personally.
Suddenly, Chu Lishu, who was seated beside them, spoke up, Eldest Cousin’s culinary skills are indeed excellent. She must have been busy since early morning to prepare so much today.”
Having been in the middle of his breakfast for a while, Liu Jingchen had originally planned to stop eating. However, upon hearing Chu Lishu’s comment, his chopsticks changed direction immediately, and he started sampling a style he hadn’t tried before.
Lin Qingyang blinked and couldn’t help but exchange a smile with Chu Lishu.
During the first few days at home, Lin Qingyang helped Liu Jingchen with the arrangements for the move. After all, relocating from Jiangnan involved quite a few tasks. Chu Lishu, as usual, kept his whereabouts a mystery during the day. Liu Jingchen had initially intended to inquire about it, but seeing his cousin’s nonchalant and accustomed demeanor, he decided not to say anything.
In just a few days, before Lin Qingyang had returned to the palace, the Emperor unexpectedly summoned Liu Jingchen again.
The news caused quite a bit of anxiety in the residence, fearing there might be some new issue, and the Emperor was finding a pretext to dismiss them. It made Lin Qingyang nervous.
After waiting for a long time in the residence, Liu Jingchen finally returned from the palace, holding an imperial edict, with a somewhat dazed expression on his face.
Concerned, the others approached and inquired. Liu Jingchen glanced meaningfully at Lin Qingyang before happily announcing to everyone, “The Emperor has once again bestowed his favor.”
A few days ago, after Liu Jingchen received the reward and left following the lifting of the ban, the Emperor immediately dispatched people to widely publicize the donations made by the Chen Lan Merchant Agency. The intention was to use the exemplary power to incite other merchant agency, making them aware that contributing money had its benefits. The goal was to show how much wrongdoing the Liu family had committed, yet the Emperor had granted them amnesty. This was meant to encourage other merchants to actively donate.
The news of the Chen Lan Merchant Agency quickly spread throughout the business community and gained praise from the common people. Scholars also spread the word, and even Mr. Cao specifically wrote a poem praising the merchants for their generous contributions in the face of national difficulties. Such recognition was particularly valuable for merchants, who held a ‘lower’ social status. The Emperor was grateful to Mr. Cao, feeling that he was helping him.
However, after a few days, the Emperor was bewildered. There weren’t as many donations as expected, and the amounts contributed were still meager. Perplexed, the Emperor couldn’t understand what was happening. He quickly ordered an undercover investigation to find out what the merchants were thinking.
It was only at this point that the Emperor realized the situation. He had previously spread information to test the viability of rewarding merchants with decrees. This information had already circulated widely in the business community, and everyone knew that donating money could bring various benefits. The result was that the Chen Lan Merchant Agency donated a significant amount, but all they got in return was the lifting of their ban. This left other merchants uncertain. They were not descendants of disgraced officials but ordinary businesspeople. Who knew what rewards they would receive after making a donation?
Especially with the external hype around the achievements of the Chen Lan Merchant Agency, even Mr. Cao wrote a poem. If the accomplishment was truly so remarkable, then the ‘reward’ seemed a bit stingy. Perhaps it was just using some intangible reputation to appease them, so even if they donated, they wouldn’t gain any real benefits for merchants.
Merchants are driven by profit, and all the public relations tactics only make them feel that the deal is worth even more rewards. What’s the use of just talking? After this flood, who knows how many businesses have been affected? The good reputation can’t compare to tangible benefits.
So, the merchants remained in a wait-and-see attitude. No one wanted to take the first step and risk losing out.
Upon learning how the merchants perceived the situation, the Emperor was truly infuriated. He had intended to save money, but it turned out to be a case of cutting off the nose to spite the face. He realized he didn’t understand the mindset of these merchants well enough. With no other choice, he had to summon Liu Jingchen back and reward him according to the amount he had donated, deserving the highest level of recognition.
As a result, the title of Imperial Merchant, collaboration on royal projects, various green channels for overseas trade, and tax exemptions were all explicitly mentioned in the imperial edict.
In summary, as long as Liu Jingchen stayed sensible and worked diligently, he would only profit and never lose. His business would thrive indefinitely.
Since the previous subtle approach didn’t work, the Emperor decided to be straightforward and tell all merchants that donating more would yield more benefits. Even if the donations were small, they would still be the best investment for the future. Greedy merchants would eagerly become willing ‘leeks’ waiting for the Emperor to harvest. When the time came, the Emperor could reduce the rewards and still make a significant profit. This time, the Emperor’s plan went smoothly, and he received a continuous stream of donations.
However, the one who benefited the most was Liu Jingchen.
The Emperor couldn’t suspect Liu Jingchen’s involvement because he had made the donation before the reward decree was formulated. Even if one were to plan and calculate, the Emperor couldn’t believe that Liu Jingchen had predicted so many steps ahead and possessed such foresight. The Emperor considered it all as a coincidence, thinking that the Liu family was just fortunate.
On Liu Jingchen’s side, he took Lin Qingyang aside and sincerely said, “Chu Lishu is truly extraordinary.”
Lin Qingyang, feeling proud, responded, “Of course!”
Knowing when floods are likely to occur becomes more apparent to those who focus on flood control. They would study patterns over the years and become alert in the first year. Chu Lishu is such a person. He had already anticipated severe flooding this year. When he formed a connection with Liu Jingchen, he warned him in advance, advising him to prepare all the necessary relief materials early. He also informed Liu Jingchen about the opportunity to exchange donations for benefits.
The imperial treasury would be short of funds due to disaster relief, and merchants wouldn’t readily donate. The Emperor needed to stimulate the merchant agencies, and Chu Lishu was the one who could figure out how to operate and maximize the benefits, understanding when to take action promptly.
From then on, there would be no merchant agency in the Great Zhou Dynasty that could rival the Chen Lan Merchant Agency. The Liu family was truly enjoying a new level of prosperity. Even if they couldn’t hold official positions in the court, other families wouldn’t dare to oppress them in the future. Instead, they would actively seek business partnerships with them.
Chu Lishu had once stated that he wanted Liu Jingchen to secure more than half of the wealth in the Great Zhou Dynasty within two years. With less than a year and a half remaining, Liu Jingchen, who initially found it incredibly challenging and somewhat unrealistic, now felt… not so difficult.
That night, everyone’s spirits were even higher than the night of their return.
Especially Liu Jingchen, who ended up getting drunk, as if he had finally let go of a huge burden in his heart.
Midway through his drinking, Chu Lishu rushed over. The moment he entered, Lin Qingyang joyfully pounced on him, giving Chu Lishu a big hug fueled by the effects of alcohol.
“You’re amazing, Chu Lishu!” Lin Qingyang, in high spirits, was gently embraced by Chu Lishu, who asked with a smile, “What’s making you so happy?”
“Of course, we’re going to be wealthy.” Although Lin Qingyang was already quite affluent himself, thinking about the future of the Chen Lan Merchant Agency, as long as the male lead didn’t turn dark, his level of prosperity would be completely different. He would be the kind of person a group of people would want to call “daddy.”
He hastily pulled Chu Lishu to sit down and drink, Chu Lishu joined in the excitement. However, in the instant they sat down, Lin Qingyang caught a whiff of a bloody smell.
Lin Qingyang’s expression changed in an instant. But seeing Chu Lishu’s calm face, ready to accept the drink from Liu Jingchen, Lin Qingyang reached out, grabbed Chu Lishu’s wrist, and pulled him towards the exit.
“We’re tired; let’s go back and rest.”
Others, witnessing this scene, initially wore puzzled expressions, but then their faces became increasingly strange.
Chu Lishu had just returned! He didn’t even give him a chance to sit down and have a drink. Lin Qingyang must have had too much to drink, that’s why he was so urgent… it was a bit excessive.
Chu Lishu was pulled by Lin Qingyang all the way to the door, but his steps couldn’t quite keep up.
“Not drinking anymore?” Chu Lishu asked, puzzled.
When Lin Qingyang saw that there was no one around, he quickly stopped and turned to look at Chu Lishu. “Are you injured?”
Chu Lishu hesitated and sniffed, “I’m sorry to disturb your enjoyment.”
“What nonsense are you talking about? You…” Lin Qingyang initially wanted to ask what happened but wasn’t sure if he should bring it up.
“I’m doing some tasks for Prime Minister Li and got a little injured, nothing serious,” Chu Lishu spoke directly.
“Where are you injured? Is it severe? Should I call the old man… Forget it, he’s probably drunk again. You go back and lie down; I’ll find a physician for you,” Lin Qingyang said.
“It’s an internal injury with a minor external wound. It’s not convenient to let people around know, and it’s something I can handle myself. Don’t worry about it.” Chu Lishu looked at Lin Qingyang’s serious expression and couldn’t help but smile. “I’ve heard about today’s events. You go back and have a drink with Cousin Liu. I’ll go back to rest. How about that?”
Lu Yi and Lu Shi accompanied him and still resulted in injuries, indicating that he had encountered significant trouble. Considering the recent plot developments, could it be… the part with the bandits?
It seemed like the male lead’s plan was about to unfold again.
“I’ve had enough to drink just now. Come on, I’ll escort you back and see if there’s anything I can help with,” Lin Qingyang said.
As he spoke, Lin Qingyang was about to follow Chu Lishu back to the courtyard, but Chu Lishu walked with a bit of slowness.
Lin Qingyang didn’t know the extent of Chu Lishu’s injuries, so he crouched down beside Chu Lishu. “Can you piggyback?”
Chu Lishu’s eyes gleamed, and he smiled before leaning over.
Lin Qingyang quickly and securely carried him on his back. Suddenly, he heard Chu Lishu’s breathing near his ear, softly saying, “Cousin, you’re really nice.” It almost made Lin Qingyang’s legs go weak.
“Of….. Of course, I’m nice,” Lin Qingyang immediately said, trying to sound confident.
“Well, then, please help me change the medicine later. It was only briefly treated back at the Prime Minister’s residence,” Chu Lishu requested.
“What kind of injury is it?”
“A knife wound on the chest.”
Lin Qingyang’s breath caught. “And I can still carry you?!”
“I’m avoiding it, no problem. Besides, the wound is shallow.”
Lin Qingyang immediately changed direction. “Let’s go to my place. It’s cooler there on such a hot day. Let the wound air out; it’ll heal faster.”
“Well, there’s no need for that.”
At Chu Lishu’s place, he could only stay for one night before leaving. It seemed he still needed to communicate with Lu Yi and Lu Shi regularly, probably finding it inconvenient to stay at Lin Qingyang’s place.
“I won’t stay with you to avoid accidentally touching your wound while I sleep. Until your injury heals, let’s take turns staying at each other’s places.”
Chu Lishu fell silent.
“What about the internal injury?” Lin Qingyang asked again. He knew Chu Lishu’s aversion; even the top physician in the family’s medical pavilion wouldn’t be allowed to examine him. At most, they could treat some external injuries.
“It will heal on its own.”
Lin Qingyang was about to say that it was also good that way when he heard Chu Lishu’s soft voice, “But it’s best to have someone look after, to prevent sudden emergencies during sleep, such as shortness of breath, coughing blood, and other situations. But if there’s someone else beside me, I can’t sleep. So, Cousin… let’s stay together. The bed is so big; we won’t touch each other.”
Listening to this somewhat weak voice, Lin Qingyang suddenly felt a tingling sensation all over. What couldn’t be agreed upon in such a situation? He instinctively agreed.
The courtyard was not large, and in no time, Lin Qingyang had carried Chu Lishu back to his own place, dismissing all the servants.
Everyone, witnessing this scene, had become accustomed to it. They prepared some toiletries for the masters and quickly retreated from a distance.
When Lin Qingyang placed Chu Lishu on the bed, he noticed that Chu Lishu had become completely still.
In this situation, it was unclear whether he was asleep or unconscious. However, judging by his even breathing and the serene expression on his face, it seemed like he was just asleep.
Lin Qingyang could only make other preparations first before attempting to wake Chu Lishu. However, Chu Lishu seemed to be in a deep and peaceful sleep, showing no signs of waking up.
This left Lin Qingyang in a dilemma. After hesitating for a while, he eventually extended his trembling hand and unbuttoned Chu Lishu’s shirt.
This time, there were no unintended ripples because Lin Qingyang was already captivated by the wound on Chu Lishu’s chest.
The bandage was soaked with blood, and as Lin Qingyang unraveled it, he noticed the golden medicine sprinkled on top. It was a bitter realization for Lin Qingyang that this might be a result of the forceful hug he had initiated, causing the wound to bleed again.
Didn’t Chu Lishu notice and avoid it, or was Lin Qingyang too quick in his actions?
Beneath the bandage was indeed a long knife wound. Compared to previous injuries, it wasn’t severe. Given Chu Lishu’s constitution, he would likely recover in a few days without leaving any scars. That was the miraculous aspect of this body—it seemed that no injury could leave a trace, or else with the male lead’s level of injuries, he would be covered in scars.
Since Chu Lishu was asleep, Lin Qingyang tried to be as gentle and careful as possible while changing his bandages, making sure not to cause him any pain. Then, he let him lie with the wound exposed.
Seeing some dust on his face, Lin Qingyang got up to bring warm water and wiped his face clean. As she wiped, he couldn’t help but sigh. His facial features were truly extraordinary, like polishing a pearl covered in dust, revealing the beauty within.
He also wiped his upper body since it was still hot in the summer. Lin Qingyang had removed Chu Lishu’s outer pants, but he dared not touch anything inside. It felt a bit psychologically uncomfortable, but when giving Chu Lishu slippers, he thought soaking his feet might make him feel more comfortable. So, he prepared hot water to soak his feet.
This was a task typically handled by servants, but Lin Qingyang had no psychological barriers. He just wanted to make Chu Lishu more comfortable and ensure his privacy, especially given his current condition. So, Lin Qingyang personally took care of everything.
After drying Chu Lishu’s feet, he gently adjusted his posture to help him lie comfortably.
Feeling a strange sense of accomplishment, Lin Qingyang happily went to take a shower. When he returned, instead of climbing into bed, he was genuinely afraid of accidentally touching Chu Lishu’s wound. Thus, he arranged a chair nearby and slept on it. This way, if Chu Lishu experienced any symptoms due to his internal injuries during the night, he would be alert and able to notice.
In the quiet of the night, after Lin Qingyang had fallen into a deep sleep, Chu Lishu slowly opened his eyes. Turning his gaze towards the peacefully sleeping figure on the chair beside the bed, a pair of black eyes shimmered with affection. To anyone witnessing, the depth of emotion in his eyes was evident.
In reality, he was just teasing Lin Qingyang in secret, wanting to experience the sensation of being tenderly cared for by a loved one. As long as he stayed awake, Lin Qingyang would inevitably feel embarrassed. He wouldn’t take the initiative to undress him, let alone wash his face and body. However, Chu Lishu didn’t expect Lin Qingyang to be so meticulous in his care, making him hesitate several times to interrupt, yet unable to part with this uniquely special treatment reserved only for him.
Chu Lishu approached Lin Qingyang and directly lowered his head to give him a kiss. He lingered on Lin Qingyang’s lips until he heard some soft noises from Lin Qingyang. Unable to resist, Chu Lishu lifted his lips, wanting to carry him back to bed. However, a voice suddenly came from above, “Master, you are injured, and I should take care of you…”
“You are also injured. You should rest.” Chu Lishu calmly replied, disregarding his own wounds. He bent down to lift Lin Qingyang back onto the bed and then lay down beside him.
Knowing that the master did not want to be disturbed, Lü Yi discreetly left. Nevertheless, he was quite impressed just now. Lin Qingyang, a young master of a Marquis’s residence, would actually take care of the master disregarding his own status. Indeed, the love for the master had penetrated deep into his bones.
Lin Qingyang, in a daze, seemed to hear someone speaking.
Suddenly, a sound echoed in his mind.
【Main Mission 2, Mission 6: Help the male lead raise the Eldest Prince’s reputation.】
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Raise the eldest prince reputation?
I wonder why?