Su Xiaoqi did not understand for a moment, but He Qiulei, as the person involved, immediately understood. He stood up and cupped his hands towards Shen Yun, a look of admiration on his face.
He had thought that his own affairs were a secret, but he didn't realize that someone who was practically a stranger to his elder brother already knew about it from afar.
Then, his trip to the capital would be obvious to everyone.
His elder brother had sent word long ago, telling him to go quietly and not to make a fuss, otherwise, it would be bad if his rivals found out.
He Qiulei's mood suddenly became a little heavier, and he wanted to ask something but couldn't.
It wasn't until Shen Yun served tea to see him off that he thought about it and decided to rely on his businessman's thick skin and said:
"Since Brother Shen knows about this, do you have any good ideas to help me out of this predicament?"
After asking, He Qiulei felt his body and mind instantly relax.
It turned out that seeking help from Shen Yun was not an impossible task.
Shen Yun originally did not want to get involved in extra trouble, but before refusing, he glanced at Su Xiaoqi and thought of the buckwheat tea business between their two families. He couldn't help but meddle this time:
"I heard that Minister of Revenue, Lord Fan, likes beautiful calligraphy and paintings. Your target is too obvious, sending a steward is enough."
After all, whoever holds office must pave their own way.
He Qiulei's eyes widened as he looked at Shen Yun. After a good while, he finally realized that Shen Yun had indeed given him advice.
However, he was very curious as to how Shen Yun knew that the minister liked calligraphy and paintings.
He Qiulei was shy, but Su Xiaoqi had no reservations.
Shen Yun did not hide it from her: "Know yourself and your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles."
He naturally had channels to know these things.
Otherwise, how could he be an official in the capital?
Su Xiaoqi looked at him with admiration.
It was indeed no accident that Shen Yun became a powerful minister of his generation.
It was precisely because of his superior intelligence, his strategic planning, his ability to think three steps ahead and six steps into the future, that he made no mistakes.
Otherwise, someone else might still be worrying about whether they would encounter danger on their journey north.
Who would have the mood to inquire about court affairs?
He Qiulei couldn't help but be convinced by him now.
He had truly experienced Shen Yun's prowess.
What Shen Yun mentioned was something that even he, with so many people dispatched in the capital, hadn't investigated clearly.
With the matter settled, Su Xiaoqi thought He Qiulei would leave.
But he started to become hesitant again.
Su Xiaoqi glared at him and said, "Young Master He Er, is there something else?"
He Qiulei said, "I, I heard that Brother Shen's calligraphy and paintings are peerless. I wonder, I wonder if I could shamelessly ask for two pieces of calligraphy and paintings..."
Su Xiaoqi turned her head to look at He Qiulei. His skin was thicker than she had imagined.
Others might not know, but she knew that Shen Yun's calligraphy and paintings would later be priceless in the Great Liang Dynasty.
She had only managed to get three pieces after painstakingly trying to please and trick him.
And he, with one request, wanted two.
She was annoyed but then smiled: "Your He family has been in business for years, don't you have any good calligraphy and paintings?"
He Qiulei chuckled foolishly: "Well, there are calligraphy and paintings, but I don't know if they are good ones.
But I know Brother Shen's are definitely the best, so that's why I'm... shamelessly..."
Shen Yun looked at Su Xiaoqi, implying that she should make the decision.
After all, painting a few pieces of calligraphy and paintings was not a big problem for him.
He had already prepared several pieces for this trip to the capital, just in case.
Seeing Shen Yun's demeanor, Su Xiaoqi's mind immediately became active.
She thought for a moment, then pretended to look troubled at He Qiulei.
"Young Master He Er should also know that my husband is about to go to the capital. The imperial examinations are in March. How can he be delayed by writing calligraphy and painting?"
He Qiulei thought she was going to refuse, so he quickly said, "Well... well, I can pay a high price, and I will never let Brother Shen do it for free."
This sentence directly hit Su Xiaoqi's soul.
She smiled and asked casually, "Oh, how much?"
He Qiulei heard that she was unwilling before, but now she had progressed to discussing prices, and he happily said, "A very, very high price."
"Alas, Young Master He Er, what are you saying? Look at our Shen family. We have farmlands and estates, shops and houses. When did we become people who lack money..."
Su Xiaoqi said half of what she meant, and He Qiulei was clever enough to understand the implication in her words.
"I don't know, I don't know, what does Madam Shen need... uh, lack?"
He Qiulei asked as he calculated, thinking that Su Xiaoqi was like the concubines in his family, wanting nothing more than gold and silver jewelry.
His family had plenty of such things.
Who knew that Su Xiaoqi, who had been silent, would shock him with her first words?
"Speaking of which, my husband and I are traveling north to the capital.
Everyone says the capital is big and it's hard to live there. We are not like you, Young Master He Er, unfamiliar with the place. If we stay for a long time, inns will definitely be inconvenient, and renting a house..."
Su Xiaoqi put on a lengthy and feigned act of sighing.
He Qiulei, however, understood.
So, she didn't want money but a house.
It is known that houses in the capital, especially in good locations, are rare opportunities.
However, his He family happened to have a few properties there.
After all, his elder brother served as an official there.
He also had to go there frequently when running his family's business.
"Alright, two pieces of calligraphy and paintings, and a three-courtyard house."
A three-courtyard house in the capital would cost at least over five thousand taels at the lowest price.
Su Xiaoqi silently calculated and still felt that Shen Yun was at a disadvantage.
But Shen Yun already felt it was enough.
He hoped that when he took Su Xiaoqi to the capital, she would not suffer any grievances.
He had originally intended to buy a house and had already asked someone to inquire, but there was no specific news yet.
Everyone was straightforward, and they quickly finalized the deal.
To show his sincerity, He Qiulei directly took out the land deed for a three-courtyard house from his embrace and handed it to Shen Yun.
Shen Yun's deep eyes narrowed, and Su Xiaoqi's expression also changed instantly.
The couple exchanged a glance and remained calm.
"Brother Shen is right, it's inconvenient for me to go there overtly. However, the house was bought in my name. You can hold onto the deed for now, and I will handle the transfer and registration later."
He Qiulei then requested to accompany them.
"Go together?" Su Xiaoqi repeated the sentence.
He Qiulei immediately said that he could pose as Shen Yun's attendant.
After all, who wouldn't have an attendant to help carry books and prepare ink and brush for their imperial examination?
Su Xiaoqi looked at Shen Yun. This was a big matter, and she couldn't make the decision.
Shen Yun was silent for a moment. Just as the two in the hall thought he would refuse, he nodded.
He had agreed.
However, he didn't need an attendant to handle it; they would just follow along discreetly, and they had also agreed not to be too particular about things along the way.
He Qiulei happily expressed his gratitude, saying he knew how to behave.
After all, he traveled frequently and didn't have any bad habits. He also said that since they were leaving tomorrow, he would go back and pack his things immediately.
He was afraid that if he was a moment late, they would go back on their word.
Watching He Qiulei leave enthusiastically, Su Xiaoqi felt a strange feeling in her heart. She somehow felt that asking for the house earlier was a mistake.
She looked at Shen Yun with trepidation and said softly, "Husband, I..."
"It's alright. Others have opened their pockets and are eager to let us in. We don't have any other options."
Su Xiaoqi's heart chilled. Indeed, things were as she had thought.
Shen Yun comforted her, "My dear, don't feel bad. He planned against you, and you didn't plan against him. Fortunately, he only seeks benefits and not our personal safety. Since we agreed, we agreed."