coobybook Chapter 517 Let’s Make It Clear
Chapter 517 Let’s Make It Clear
The huge palace, welcoming its hostess, seemed to have awakened from a deep sleep and began to shine and become full of vitality.
In the next few days, Ruan Zhaoxia stayed in the house very well. Apart from reading and embroidering, she did not ask Shen Suian for any other requests.
It seemed as if she had already compromised with the future and was waiting for the Ruan family to come and take her back.
Shen Sui'an rested for only two days before throwing himself into the various affairs of the palace.
All the stewards in the palace had to come and listen to orders, and kowtow and pay their respects to the mistress.
The local noble families and wives of officials in Suzhou all sent visiting cards to pay their respects to Shen Sui'an, but Shen Sui'an asked the chief secretary to put them aside for the time being.
She hasn't made time to meet these women yet.
Moreover, the Empress Dowager has been traveling continuously, and it is impossible for her to recover her energy by just resting for a day or two.
In fact, Shen Sui'an was still worried about Fu Jinyi in the palace.
But she asked Shi Qing, and found out that there was no news from the royal capital yet, except for the two imperial edicts that sentenced Lu Hong and his family to death.
The calmer the situation was, the more worried Shen Sui'an became.
Even if Fu Jinyi didn't guess that the backers of the Lu and Hong families were in the royal capital, why didn't the queen mother react at all?
Does the Queen Mother know about what happened in Salt Lake City?
Shen Sui'an knew that these were not her business, as they were the three of them, mother and son.
"Princess, Young Master Zhao is back." Ban Jian came in with small steps to report.
"So soon?" Shen Sui'an was startled, "Go and invite him in."
Shen Sui'an thought that Zhao Jiuling would come back with Fu Jinyuan.
It's only been five or six days.
Zhao Jiuling stood upright in the hall, with a faint smile on his handsome and elegant face, "Sister, I'm back."
"Is everything resolved?" Shen Suian asked in surprise.
Such a huge account of illegal salt cannot be looked through in a day or two.
"I only pointed out their rules for cooking the books. The officials from the Ministry of Revenue knew the ins and outs of it quickly." Zhao Jiuling said softly.
"This is originally a matter for the government. It's good that you are willing to help them." Shen Sui'an said, "Did the prince say when he would be back?"
Zhao Jiuling said, "The prince will need another two days."
"I arrived in Suzhou first with the Ruan family." Zhao Jiuling lowered his eyes.
Shen Sui'an was stunned, "Ruan family?"
"It's a member of the Ruan family, who is here to take Miss Ruan back to the capital." Zhao Jiuling smiled.
"Sister, have you been to Eagle's Beak Bay? The river excavation project has been almost completed."
Shen Sui'an originally wanted to talk to Zhao Jiuling about Ruan Zhaoxia again, but he felt he had no idea where to start, as he had already made it very clear last time.
"Not yet." Shen Sui'an smiled.
"Then I will accompany my sister to Eagle Bay tomorrow. I have also chosen the location of the shipyard." Zhao Jiuling said.
Shen Sui'an nodded, "Okay."
"Then..." Zhao Jiuling started to speak, but was interrupted by a voice outside.
"Sister-in-law, I heard that Zhao Jiuling is back!" Ruan Zhaoxia ran in excitedly with a smile as bright as the rising sun on her face.
When she saw Zhao Jiuling, her eyes sparkled.
"Zhao Jiuling, why didn't you tell me that you came back? Are you healed?" Ruan Zhaoxia said in a clear voice and came to Zhao Jiuling all of a sudden.
"Miss Ruan, my injuries have healed." Zhao Jiuling stepped back and put some distance between them.
Ruan Zhaoxia was stunned, "You..."
"Sister Xia, someone from the Ruan family is here and is asking to see you in the outer courtyard." Shen Suian said softly.
"Oh." Ruan Zhaoxia wilted all of a sudden like a flower that had lost its vitality.
"Whoever is here, I'll go see him."
Shen Sui'an called her, "I'll go with you."
She turned to look at Zhao Jiuling, "Wait for me here."
The people who came from the Ruan family were two uncles from the clan. Although they were from a side branch, they were sent to Suzhou by Prime Minister Ruan, so they must be highly valued in the clan.
After they saluted Shen Sui'an, they briefly explained their purpose.
They came to take Ruan Zhaoxia back home, and they were accompanied by the old woman and maid that Ruan Zhaoxia had deliberately left at her maternal grandparents' home.
"There's no need to rush. Sister Xia was injured while saving people in Salt Lake City. She needs some more time to recuperate." Shen Suian softened his heart when he saw Ruan Zhaoxia's slightly red eyes.
I couldn't help but speak up for her and asked her to stay in Suzhou for a few more days.
"This..." The two uncles of the Ruan family looked at each other.
"Then listen to the princess and wait until Sister Xia's injury is healed before setting off again."
Ruan Zhaoxia looked at Shen Suian with gratitude.
Shen Sui'an didn't want to help her and Zhao Jiuling, but wanted Zhao Jiuling to make things clear to Ruan Zhaoxia.
"If you are determined to break through the secular vision at all costs, you should express your feelings to Sister Xia. If not, you should tell her clearly and don't let her have any illusions." Shen Suian returned to the backyard and told Zhao Jiuling about the possible future between Ruan Zhaoxia and him.
"Not everyone only looks at one's family background, you..."
Zhao Jiuling whispered, "She is still young, I don't want her to regret it in the future. When she returns home, she will understand."
Shen Sui'an sighed secretly in his heart, "If that's the case, then explain it to her clearly."
"it is good."
In the evening, Shen Sui'an took Chao Ge'er to have dinner with the Empress Dowager. The old lady suddenly mentioned that she wanted to see Zhao Jiuling.
"I just found out today that you have a younger brother. Now that you are here, bring him to me to see."
Shen Sui'an said with a smile, "He is a rough man who has been wandering on the sea for many years. Grandma, please don't despise him for not knowing the rules."
She asked someone to invite Zhao Jiuling over.
The Empress Dowager pointed at Zhao Jiuling's handsome face and raised her eyebrows at Shen Sui'an, "Have you ever seen a rough man like this?"
Zhao Jiuling was a little shy and at a loss.
"He's a good boy. Is he married?" asked the Empress Dowager. She never looked at a person's background, but only at his or her liking for him or her.
"Replying to the Empress Dowager, I am not married yet." Zhao Jiuling replied respectfully, "I dare not talk about marriage before the great cause is completed."
The Queen Mother was interested, "What great cause do you have?"
"Digging a canal and opening up river transportation in Suzhou." Zhao Jiuling said seriously.
"Good, good, good, Sui Sui has a good brother." The Empress Dowager was delighted. "When you succeed in your great cause, I will arrange a marriage for you and then ask the Emperor to grant you a title. How about that?"
Zhao Jiuling knelt down quickly and said, "I dare not."
Chao Ge'er, who was sitting on a blanket playing on a wooden horse, suddenly came over with his short legs, staggering, and hugged Zhao Jiuling's calves, "Yes, yes!"
"..." Zhao Jiuling was afraid that his brother would fall, so he quickly picked him up.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "Chao Ge'er likes this uncle."
Shen Sui'an was very grateful to the Empress Dowager in his heart. It was a good thing for Zhao Jiuling that she spoke so highly of him.
Shen Suian did not ask anyone what Zhao Jiuling said to Ruan Zhaoxia later. All he knew was that Ruan Zhaoxia cried bitterly after she went back and refused to see anyone the next day. It was not until the third day that she came to talk to Shen Suian.
It was as if I was back to the first time I met the eldest daughter of the Ruan family, who behaved in a proper manner, dignified and elegant.