Chapter 1197: Fitting

Editor: Henyee Translations

Zhao Shu’s realization struck him like a bolt of lightning. A grin spread across his face as he said, “You’re absolutely right, Uncle Qing. Let’s go ahead with the plan.”

Aunt Qing, though unaware of the exact details, watched them with amusement as she busied herself with the household chores.

Little did she know that her husband and Young Master had a hidden agenda—to seek revenge on the Old Master and his associate. Despite the abundance of nobles and high-ranking officials in the capital, they chose to ally with a seemingly low-ranking officer, Officer Shao. Aunt Qing couldn’t fathom what they saw in him, given his lack of background or power.

Confused and skeptical, she found it hard to grasp the situation. Nevertheless, she trusted her husband and Young Master implicitly, believing they wouldn’t make any mistakes.

Their excitement over this collaboration was infectious, and Aunt Qing couldn’t help but share in their happiness.

Unbeknownst to her, Uncle Qing and Zhao Shu had dispatched individuals to investigate Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan in Yuzhang and Heshan County, respectively. Their faith in the capabilities and character of these two individuals was unwavering, leading them to choose them as allies over anyone else.

While Aunt Qing remained in the dark about the specifics, she had no doubt that her husband and Young Master were making a well-informed decision that would ultimately serve their purpose. And that alone was enough for her to be content and supportive of their actions.

In the bustling capital, influential figures abounded, but their disdain for businessmen was evident as they viewed them as mere sources of wealth.

Should anyone seek their assistance, exorbitant payments, at least tenfold, if not more, would be expected.

Working alongside these influential figures spelled doom sooner or later.

Yet, Officer Shao and Madame Shao stood apart from the rest.

Officer Shao’s connections with the East Palace elevated his status significantly, making him far superior to his peers.

Recognizing this advantage, Shao Yunduan approached the Crown Prince, urging him to investigate the Young Master of the Zhao Family in Yangzhou—an exceedingly wealthy clan.

Though the Crown Prince seemed disinterested in the matter, he willingly obliged Shao Yunduan, happy to be of help and appreciative of Shao Yunduan’s trust in seeking his aid.

That was what a real family was like!

As they delved into their investigation, a delivery of presents from Zhao Shu arrived.

Uncle Qing and Aunt Qing took it upon themselves to personally bring the gifts to the Zhao Family. Although the items might not have been particularly valuable to the Zhao Family, they were immensely grateful for the gesture.

The presents included an assortment of provisions: lambs, two pairs of live chickens, two pairs of live ducks, a pair of well-processed geese, a pair of hams, and a delightful selection of snacks, candies, and candied fruits. However, the most remarkable and rare offering was a small basket filled with fresh vegetables like garlic sprouts, celery, coriander, small vegetables, lettuce, and more. In addition to cabbages and radishes, they also received green onions, winter melons, old pumpkins, lotus roots, yams, taros, and other fresh vegetables from distant regions.

To the recipients, such fresh produce was an incredible luxury. The Zhao Family couldn’t afford these delicacies, and even if they wanted to purchase them, they were likely unavailable in the local markets. Only the wealthiest families could afford greenhouses to cultivate such fresh vegetables, leaving everyone else unable to indulge in such treats.

Qiao Xuan’s eyes lit up with delight at the sight of the fresh green vegetables. She couldn’t contain her happiness as she knew how valuable and precious these items were. Even though she had access to fresh vegetables in her own space, it was unfortunate that she couldn’t take them out to enjoy, leaving her cravings unsatisfied.

Qiao Xuan had the remarkable ability to retrieve items from her own space, seamlessly blending them with the presents from Zhao Shu. Fortunately, Shao Yunduan seemed indifferent to this fact, and her maids, Lixia and Liqiu, remained oblivious to her unique talent.

However, had Zhao Shu’s presents consisted of treasure or jewelry, Qiao Xuan would have politely declined them.