Prime Minister.

Chapter 30-030 [The Uninvited Guest]

Three days later, at the Xue residence.

"Mother, don't worry. I just do some paperwork in the investigation department. There are experienced colleagues who do both investigation and interrogation. The teacher just wants me to learn something from him."

Looking at the worry on Cui's face, Xue Huai comforted her in a very calm tone.

After arriving in this world, Xue Huai was able to handle most people with ease, but he found it difficult to remain calm in front of Cui Shi. After all, mother and son were connected by blood, and even though he was not the original owner, Cui Shi's care for him was genuine.

Lady Cui was not only worried about Xue Huai's safety in officialdom, but also concerned about every aspect of his life, including his food, clothing, housing, and transportation.

Xue Huai understood her feelings, because Xue Mingzhang had passed away, and Xue Huai was the only family member she had left in the world, so she would naturally devote all her love to him.

Fortunately, the original owner of this body was always aloof and self-possessed, so Xue Huai no longer needed to deliberately entertain his relatives in front of Cui Shi.

Madam Cui asked Mo Yun to check the bundle again carefully. It contained Xue Huai's change of clothes and daily necessities for the next period of time while he was staying at the investigation office. Then she turned to Xue Huai and asked, "Huai'er, how long will you be staying at the yamen this time?"

"Hard to say."

Xue Huai looked relaxed and smiled, "I estimate it will take more than half a month. Mother, please don't worry, the teacher won't mistreat us."

"This child..."

Madam Cui gave him a reproachful look, and instructed Mo Yun and another maid to take the bundle out and hand it to Li Shun. Then she gestured for Xue Huai to stop and said softly, "Huai'er, I haven't asked you yet what you said to Princess Yun'an at Qinglu Villa that day."

Xue Huai said frankly, "The guards of the princess's residence saved my life, and I brought gifts to thank them that day."

Cui hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

Upon seeing this, Xue Huai asked, "Mother, what's wrong?"

"nothing."

Madam Cui forced a smile, then changed the subject, saying, "Huai'er, you've turned eighteen this year, the age to get married. The Xue family has only had one son for two generations. If you can get married soon to continue the family line, I can finally sleep soundly at night."

"Cough cough."

As expected, there are always people who urge others to get married in every world. Xue Huai laughed it off and said, "Mother, let's postpone the marriage. I'm working for the imperial envoy now, so I need to focus on my duties."

He didn't want to be a lone wolf, but he hadn't yet secured his position in the officialdom, and he was unwilling to casually arrange a marriage with a young lady from a prominent family whom he had never even met. Therefore, matters of love and marriage had to be put on hold.

Of course, Madam Cui had no idea what her son was thinking. Gazing at Xue Huai's handsome face, she couldn't help but ask suspiciously, "Huai'er, have you not forgotten that girl from the Shen family?"

Shen family girl?

Xue Huai recalled that Xue Minglun had once said that when Xue Mingzhang was the prefect of Yangzhou, he supported the Shen family, a local merchant family with a good reputation, and that the Shen family had played a significant role in Xue Mingzhang's later subjugation of the Yangzhou salt merchants.

He did have an impression of the Shen family in his memory, as well as a rather vague figure.

Judging from the timeline, Xue Mingzhang spent four years in Yangzhou, during which Xue Huai grew from five to nine years old. Nine years have passed since then, which explains why he doesn't remember it very clearly.

Seeing that he remained silent, Cui couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Did Mother see right through you?"

"I was only five years old when I went to Yangzhou and only nine when I left. How could I have thought about matters between men and women at such a young age?"

Xue Huai looked slightly helpless. He looked at the smile on Cui Shi's face and asked curiously, "Mother, the Xue family and the Shen family shouldn't have had a marriage between their children, right?"

"of course not."

Madam Cui smiled and said, "Back then, Madam Shen did have this idea, but your father didn't want the two families to become related by marriage. After all, one side was an official and the other a merchant. Your father had also helped the Shen family when he was in Yangzhou, so it wouldn't sound good if they became in-laws. However, the Shen girl was a beauty from a young age, and she was always by your side back then, calling you 'Brother Huai' all the time..."

Xue Huai smiled as well; the figure in his memory did indeed seem a bit like a tagalong.

He felt that Cui must not have brought it up casually, so he asked, "Why did Mother suddenly mention the Shen family today?"

Recalling her past in Yangzhou, Cui couldn't help but sigh, "The Shen family has become increasingly prosperous in recent years. Now they are coming to the capital to take over several storefronts, which will become branches of the Shen family business. Yesterday, their head manager came to visit, saying that he was just making a preliminary trip. His young lady is already on her way to the capital and will arrive in a few days. She will come to pay her a special visit then."

"His young lady?"

Xue Huai hesitated slightly. Although this era was not as strict with etiquette as the same period in his previous life, it was indeed a very rare thing for an unmarried woman to travel thousands of miles away from her parents.

Madam Cui explained, "From what the head manager said, the Shen family girl has been helping her father manage the business these past few years. Now, everyone in Jiangnan knows that Miss Shen is extremely skilled in business and has grown into a beautiful young woman. It's said that suitors are practically wearing down the Shen family's doorstep, yet she still has no intention of getting married. Huai'er, why do I feel that the Shen family girl—"

“Mother, it’s getting late, I should go back to the investigation office.”

Xue Huai bowed, then left with a smile.

Looking at his slightly hurried steps, Cui couldn't help but smile and shake her head, while making plans in her mind.

If the Shen family girl is indeed as outstanding as rumored, and she has feelings for Huai'er, then this marriage isn't bad at all. It's better than letting Huai'er become a seemingly glamorous but actually aggrieved prince consort. She's heard some rumors these past few days that Princess Yun'an seems to have a different opinion of Xue Huai. However, that princess is arrogant and domineering, and her son is an unyielding scholar. Wouldn't he be repressed for the rest of his life if he went to the princess's residence?

"Anyway, it's still far from certain, let me take a look at Huai'er first."

Madam Cui silently prayed to herself, feeling a sense of anticipation for the arrival of the Shen family girl.

Xue Huai naturally didn't think he was running away in defeat; he simply didn't want to waste too much energy on this issue. Right now, the Ministry of Works' case was making no progress, and even though he had gone home in a big way that morning, he hadn't seen any fish take the bait. He wondered if Shen Wang's strategy of luring the snake out of its hole would actually work.

As he boarded the carriage, he found the bundles that Cui had instructed the maids to pack inside, which brought a sense of comfort to Xue Huai's heart.

At Li Shun's command, the coachman cracked his whip, and the carriage slowly began to move.

About half an incense stick later, the carriage suddenly stopped. Xue Huai was pulled out of his thoughts and then heard Li Shun say from outside, "Young master, someone is blocking the road."

Xue Huai stepped out of the carriage and immediately saw a middle-aged man dressed in fine silk standing not far ahead with a friendly smile. The man bowed to him and asked, "Is this Xue, the compiler of the Hanlin Academy?"

"Who are you?"

"I am Xu Rong, currently the owner of Taihu Tower in Beijing."

Although he was just a merchant, his attitude in front of Xue Huai was neither humble nor arrogant.

This is not surprising, after all, the capital is full of hidden talents, and behind every merchant there may be a big shot.

Xue Huai remained seated in his carriage, and said sternly, "Why are you blocking my carriage?"

Xu Rong stepped forward a few paces, looked up and said, "Editor Xue, you flatter me. Who do you think I am to dare to stop your carriage? I hope you will forgive my abrupt behavior today. I was actually asked by someone to invite you to sit for a while."

Xue Huai walked down expressionlessly, looking at the fake smile on the middle-aged merchant's face, and said indifferently, "If it's a sincere invitation, why do I need to go through you? Is the person behind you someone you can't stand?"

"Editor Xue, be careful what you say!"

Xu Rong looked panicked and glanced around. Luckily, he had chosen a relatively secluded alley where no one was passing by.

He breathed a sigh of relief and then said, "Editor Xue, to tell you the truth, my cousin wants to see you today."

Xue Huai said impatiently, "If you continue to beat around the bush, you should leave immediately."

"My cousin's name is Xu Hui, and he is currently the chief secretary of the Prince of Dai's mansion."

Xu Rong feigned profundity, but Xue Huai didn't even flinch.

At this moment, he remembered his cousin's advice. Although the Hanlin Academy compiler in front of him was young, he was already a well-known troublemaker in the court. He dared to speak frankly about those ministers and vice ministers, so he probably wouldn't be intimidated by the title of a fifth-rank official in charge of a prince's mansion.

“Editor Xue, my cousin meant no harm. He just wants to discuss some things with you. I hope you can spare a moment.”

Fearing that Xue Huai might storm off in anger, Xu Rong quickly changed his posture and became extremely respectful.

Xue Huai looked him up and down, then snorted coldly and said, "I'd like to see what you're up to."

Xu Rong felt secretly fortunate and quickly said, "My cousin is waiting for me at Taihu Tower on the next street. Editor Xue, please."

Xue Huai remained silent, turned around, and returned to the carriage.

Xu Rong led the way with his servant.

Taihu Tower appears unremarkable from the outside, but its interior is quite exquisite.

Xue Huai had Li Shun and the coachman wait in the lobby, then followed Xu Rong straight up to the third floor, arriving at the door of a private room called "Poetry Preface".

The door was already open, and a middle-aged man with a dignified appearance and composed demeanor came out to greet them. His gaze fell on Xue Huai's face, and he cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "Editor Xue, it's an honor to meet you."

This person was Xu Hui, the chief secretary of the Prince of Dai's mansion.

"What advice does Chief Clerk Xu have for me?"

Xue Huai stood tall and straight, seemingly having no intention of entering.

Xu Hui glanced at Xu Rong, who immediately retreated respectfully.

"Editor Xue, please come inside for a detailed discussion."

Seeing that Xue Huai remained unmoved, Xu Hui thought to himself that he was indeed the strange and unapproachable scholar. So he took a step forward and whispered, "Editor Xue, I know that you were asked by Vice Minister Shen to assist in the investigation of the Ministry of Works' corruption case. I happen to have some clues here. Would you do me the honor of discussing this in detail?"

Xue Huai's eyes narrowed slightly.

(End of this chapter)