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Since Jun Mo's daytime visit, he had become a frequent guest at the Minister's Residence.
Sometimes, the two would hone their chess skills; other times, while Su Li practiced calligraphy and painting, he would sit holding a book, sipping tea and watching.
The maids were in the annex room, occasionally venturing out to refill their tea.
Looking at the man standing ramrod straight under the eaves, Zhishu felt a pang of pity.
"Oh, it's so cold," she sighed. "Why don't you come inside?"
Moyang glanced at the little head poking out from the annex room door, then turned his gaze away.
"I'm not cold."
Zhishu mumbled, "Peculiar man."
Siqin stood up and said, "Keep an eye on Miss (Su Li). Yesterday, Xu Jin asked me to mend a few clothes for him. I'll be right back."
Mohua glanced outside and said, "I also need to go help Xu Mubai find a shopfront. Zhishu, please tell Miss for me later."
Zhishu was momentarily stunned; she was suddenly the only one left in the room.
Zhishu picked up the kettle, carried it to refill water for Su Li and Jun Mo. Returning to the annex room, she was startled to see someone already inside.
"Didn't you say you weren't cold?"
Moyang's expression was a little unnatural as he said, "Not cold, but I got tired of standing."
Zhishu went over and poured him a cup of tea.
She sat back by the charcoal fire and tossed two sweet potatoes into the embers.
Soon, the sweet aroma of roasted sweet potatoes began to waft out.
Zhishu reached out to grab one.
"Ah! So hot!"
Moyang gave her a disdainful look, then stood up, walked over, and squatted down.
He simply picked up the sweet potatoes with his bare hands and moved them out of the coals, his expression utterly unchanged.
Zhishu thanked him, then asked curiously, "Aren't you afraid of the heat?"
Without waiting for Moyang's reply, she added, "You really are peculiar, not afraid of cold, not afraid of heat."
Then she stretched out her small hand, carefully picked up a sweet potato, and slowly peeled it.
"Here, have one. I don't have many, only two."
Moyang said coldly, "No need."
"Roasted sweet potatoes are so sweet and delicious, and you don't want any? If you don't, I'll eat it all."
With that, she began to eat in small bites.
Soft and sweet, Zhishu squinted her eyes in pure satisfaction.
Moyang saw her cheeks, round and flushed, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons when she smiled, as innocent as a child. A faint curve touched the corner of his lips.
Noticing him watching her, Zhishu paused.
"Why are you looking at me? I offered it to you, but you didn't want it."
As she spoke, she handed the other sweet potato to him.
This time, Moyang didn't refuse and took it.
He lowered his head, looking at the roasted sweet potato in his hand. It did seem to smell quite good.
He slowly began to peel the sweet potato skin. Meanwhile, Zhishu had already finished hers.
After peeling it, noticing her gaze, Moyang silently offered her the sweet potato in his hand.
Zhishu quickly waved her hand. "No, I don't want it, you eat it."
Moyang said, "I'm not hungry."
As he spoke, he took her hand and placed the sweet potato into it.
Feeling a little embarrassed, Zhishu broke the sweet potato in half.
"Let's each have half."
Moyang took his half and took a bite.
It was indeed very sweet.
After finishing the sweet potato, he saw her toss a few chestnuts into the charcoal brazier.
Seeing Moyang look over, Zhishu said, her face flushing, "My... my Miss said I'm still growing, so I need to eat more to grow taller. I also want to grow as tall as Siqin."
Moyang was amused.Ā The Princess Consort truly doted on these maids,Ā he thought. He had never seen maids from any other household as relaxed and at ease as these.
While the annex room was filled with the aroma of food, Su Li's room was permeated with the faint, elegant scent of plum blossoms.
Su Li placed the freshly cut red plum blossoms into a vase, then walked behind her desk, picked up a brush, and began to paint.
Jun Mo drank his tea, quietly watching her. A warm, cozy atmosphere filled the room.
After a while, Su Li put down her brush and gazed at her painting.
Jun Mo stood up and walked over.
On the table was an imposing painting of red plum blossoms blanketed in snow, arranged with a natural grace of sparse and dense areas. The dry brushwork and rich ink created dynamically varying strokes, with branches intertwined, both curving and straight, exuding vigorous strength. It was as if the plum blossom fragrance in the room emanated from the painting itself.
Under the plum tree were two figures seen from behind, one in red and one in white.
This was precisely the scene of the two of them enjoying the plum blossoms in the courtyard a few days prior.
"You painted wonderfully!"
Su Li smiled faintly. "Ziyan, would you be willing to inscribe a poem?"
"It would be my honor."
Jun Mo picked up the brush, pondered for a moment, then began to write on the painting.
Amidst the ice and snow, this body stands,
Unmixed with peach and plum's fragrant dust.
Suddenly one night, its pure scent blooms,
Scattering spring across ten thousand li of heaven and earth.
After writing, he put down the brush.
Su Li nodded. The poem perfectly captured the plum blossom's unyielding pride.
"It's a perfect match for this painting. I didn't expect His Highness's calligraphy to be so exquisite."
Su Li rolled up the painting and placed it into the scroll tube by the desk.
The two sat down by the table to drink tea.
Jun Mo took out a stack of papers and handed them to Su Li.
Su Li glanced at him curiously, then took the papers and opened them, her eyes instantly widening.
"I heard your people have been looking for shopfronts recently. See if this is enough."
Su Li gasped in astonishment.Ā More than enough? This stack of papers must contain the deeds to at least twenty shopfronts, right?
And every single one was in an excellent location. She had initially wanted to negotiate for several of these very shops, but Xu Mubai had told her that the powerful and influential owner behind them had previously stated they wouldn't rent them out.
She never expected that the owner behind them was actuallyĀ him!
Seeing Su Li remain silent, Jun Mo asked, "Is it not enough? Then I'll have Moyang fetch more. You can pick out which ones you can use."
Su Li quickly said, "Enough, more than enough! How could I possibly open so many shops!"
Jun Mo said, "That's good then."
Su Li chuckled, "I never expected Ziyan to be so incredibly wealthy."
Jun Mo smiled gently. "I haven't thoroughly sorted through them myself; my steward manages all these. However, I believe supporting the two of us won't be a problem."
A hint of laughter spilled from Su Li's eyes as she said, "Is Ziyan showing off?"
"How could I dare?" he chuckled. "Who doesn't know that the Eastern Street of the Capital is entirely Su family property? Besides, what's mine is also Lier's."
Su Li said, "I can't possibly use so many of these shopfronts. Take some back; consider these as you renting them to me."
Jun Mo paused, then spoke again, his voice serious.
"I already said, what's mine is Lier's; there's no need to distinguish so clearly," he insisted. "I originally intended to bring you all the land and property deeds, but my steward said it wasn't practical to make the original tenants move out immediately..."
Su Li quickly interrupted, "Please, don't do that. I can't open so many shops; if you leave them with me, they'll just be sitting idle anyway. If I need more shops in the future, it won't be too late to take them back then. Since you said there's no need to distinguish so clearly, then I won't be polite either. I'll consider you a silent partner and give you a share of the profits at the end of each year."
Jun Mo nodded, not refusing, thinking that in the end, it would all be hers anyway.
Su Li looked at the man across from her, his eyes gentle, and asked, "I heard a few gambling houses and taverns on the streets were sealed off these past few days. Was that your doing?"
Jun Mo, sipping his tea, replied, "Mm. To avoid arousing Jun Hui's suspicion, it wasn't just his gambling houses and taverns that were sealed, but others' as well."
Su Li nodded and said, "But his most significant dealings are still with private mines and illegal salt."
Jun Mo nodded and said, "Indeed. These two matters are of great importance and will require Imperial Father to act. The Mo Guard is already searching for evidence. He still uses his old methods, not directly handling things himself, but there are always traces to be found."
This was something Su Li had already anticipated. Jun Hui was such a meticulous person; he would always hide behind the scenes.
He would not make an appearance until the very last moment.
Su Li looked out the window and only then realized that the snow had stopped.
"The Jieshi Examination is about to begin, isn't it?"
The Jieshi Examination is held at the Ministry of Rites Yamen. After a Xiucai passes the Jieshi Examination and becomes a Juren, they can then participate in the Huishi Examination at the Imperial Examination Hall in the spring of the following year.
Because the Huishi Examination is held in spring, it is also known as the Chunwei.
Jun Mo didn't know why she suddenly brought this up, but he still replied, "It starts in three days."
"In three days? That's soon."
"Zhao Huaian, in this lifetime, you'll just remain a Xiucai!"