Chapter 439
Jin Family, Study.
The middle-aged man standing at the study door was respectful. "Sixth Young Master, please come in."
"Thank you, Uncle Tie." Jin Xu dared not put on any airs of a young master. In the entire Jin family, even the three sons of Master Jin Jiu treated Uncle Tie with respect. He was Master Jiu's confidant, and his influence within the Jin family even surpassed that of the young masters.
Master Jin Jiu's study was decorated in the elegant style of a scholar. The calligraphy and paintings on the walls were by Master Jin Jiu himself. A long desk by the window held brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones, and a zither stand was placed before a curio shelf. At this moment, Master Jin Jiu was brewing tea.
"Ninth Uncle," Jin Xu bowed respectfully, filled with awe for Master Jin Jiu, just like the other juniors of the Jin family.
Without pausing his tea-brewing, Master Jin Jiu tilted the teapot slightly, pouring the fragrant water precisely into two teacups on the tea tray. "Sit."
After a while, amidst the swirling steam, Master Jin Jiu picked up a teacup and looked at Jin Xu, who was seated opposite him. "Pre-Qing Longjing from Jiangnan."
The Jin family was a wealthy merchant family, and there was no shortage of money. Even in Minhe Prefecture, described by Yao Zhenyi as a barren land, a hundred taels of tribute tea were commonplace for the Jin family.
Jin Xu picked up the teacup and swirled it gently, inhaling the faint tea aroma before taking a sip. "Lingering on Longjing, clouds rise in clear paintings. Duke Cheng loves guests' visits, drawing water from secluded springs... Brewing golden buds, not after the valley rain... To drink the Pre-Qing Longjing brewed by Ninth Uncle himself, Third Brother would surely be jealous."
Master Jin Jiu cast a meaningful glance at the flattering Jin Xu and said with a kind smile, "Is this about your wife's matter?"
"Please forgive my foolishness, Ninth Uncle." Jin Xu quickly put down the teacup, his leisurely demeanor from sipping tea gone, and replied with a proper attitude, "Yan Yue did not know Zhan Feiyu's identity, otherwise she would never have been so impulsive and reckless."
Although the Sixth Madam, Wang Yan Yue, had a domineering and arrogant personality, she was after all from an official family and knew whom she could and could not offend. Otherwise, when she was mocked by her cousins at her maiden home, the Sixth Madam would have already caused a huge scene.
Seeing that Master Jin Jiu did not speak, Jin Xu suppressed his inner anxiety. "Ninth Uncle, I plan to prepare gifts and go to Muxiang Residence to apologize."
Master Jin Jiu nodded and suddenly asked, "What do you think about Zhan Feiyu privately selling the roster?"
"What?" Startled, Jin Xu's head shot up. Meeting Master Jin Jiu's all-knowing eyes, his heart skipped a beat. Was Ninth Uncle testing him or examining him?
Regardless of the turmoil in his heart, Jin Xu steadied his mind. "Zhan Feiyu is not a greedy person, but she is different from those rigid scholars. She acts as she pleases, even to the point of being arrogant and unconventional. Furthermore, news from the capital indicates that Minister Bai is already selecting people to replace the officials in Longyou Prefecture, big and small."
The actions of Zhan Feiyu, as well as the various forces secretly following her, did not escape the Jin family's surveillance. It was normal for Jin Xu to know these pieces of information.
Master Jin Jiu leisurely sipped his tea, gesturing for Jin Xu to continue.
"Ninth Uncle, in my humble opinion, those who bought the roster are also gambling. Although the officials on the roster are bound to be removed, these officials have complex relationships within the prefectural yamen. There are always in-laws, old friends, and trusted subordinates."
Jin Xu had been managing the Jin family's businesses for several years and had close dealings with officials in the prefectural yamen, so he was well aware of the intricacies involved.
It was like if Prefect Yuan were to be removed,
...officials had close dealings, so he was well aware of the intricacies involved.
It was like if Prefect Yuan were to be removed,
...
But regardless of the turmoil in his heart, Jin Xu steadied his mind. "Zhan Feiyu is not a greedy person, but she is different from those rigid scholars. She acts as she pleases, even to the point of being arrogant and unconventional. Furthermore, news from the capital indicates that Minister Bai is already selecting people to replace the officials in Longyou Prefecture, big and small."
The actions of Zhan Feiyu, as well as the various forces secretly following her, did not escape the Jin family's surveillance. It was normal for Jin Xu to know these pieces of information.
Master Jin Jiu leisurely sipped his tea, gesturing for Jin Xu to continue.
"Ninth Uncle, in my humble opinion, those who bought the roster are also gambling. Although the officials on the roster are bound to be removed, these officials have complex relationships within the prefectural yamen. There are always in-laws, old friends, and trusted subordinates."
Jin Xu had been managing the Jin family's businesses for several years and had close dealings with officials in the prefectural yamen, so he was well aware of the intricacies involved.
After a while, amidst the swirling steam, Master Jin Jiu picked up a teacup and looked at Jin Xu, who was seated opposite him. "Pre-Qing Longjing from Jiangnan."
The Jin family was a wealthy merchant family, and there was no shortage of money. Even in Minhe Prefecture, described by Yao Zhenyi as a barren land, a hundred taels of tribute tea were commonplace for the Jin family.
Jin Xu picked up the teacup and swirled it gently, inhaling the faint tea aroma before taking a sip. "Lingering on Longjing, clouds rise in clear paintings. Duke Cheng loves guests' visits, drawing water from secluded springs... Brewing golden buds, not after the valley rain... To drink the Pre-Qing Longjing brewed by Ninth Uncle himself, Third Brother would surely be jealous."
Master Jin Jiu cast a meaningful glance at the flattering Jin Xu and said with a kind smile, "Is this about your wife's matter?"
"Please forgive my foolishness, Ninth Uncle." Jin Xu quickly put down the teacup, his leisurely demeanor from sipping tea gone, and replied with a proper attitude, "Yan Yue did not know Zhan Feiyu's identity, otherwise she would never have been so impulsive and reckless."
Although the Sixth Madam, Wang Yan Yue, had a domineering and arrogant personality, she was after all from an official family and knew whom she could and could not offend. Otherwise, when she was mocked by her cousins at her maiden home, the Sixth Madam would have already caused a huge scene.
Seeing that Master Jin Jiu did not speak, Jin Xu suppressed his inner anxiety. "Ninth Uncle, I plan to prepare gifts and go to Muxiang Residence to apologize."
Master Jin Jiu nodded and suddenly asked, "What do you think about Zhan Feiyu privately selling the roster?"
"What?" Startled, Jin Xu's head shot up. Meeting Master Jin Jiu's all-knowing eyes, his heart skipped a beat. Was Ninth Uncle testing him or examining him?
Regardless of the turmoil in his heart, Jin Xu steadied his mind. "Zhan Feiyu is not a greedy person, but she is different from those rigid scholars. She acts as she pleases, even to the point of being arrogant and unconventional. Furthermore, news from the capital indicates that Minister Bai is already selecting people to replace the officials in Longyou Prefecture, big and small."
The actions of Zhan Feiyu, as well as the various forces secretly following her, did not escape the Jin family's surveillance. It was normal for Jin Xu to know these pieces of information.
Master Jin Jiu leisurely sipped his tea, gesturing for Jin Xu to continue.
"Ninth Uncle, in my humble opinion, those who bought the roster are also gambling. Although the officials on the roster are bound to be removed, these officials have complex relationships within the prefectural yamen. There are always in-laws, old friends, and trusted subordinates."
Jin Xu had been managing the Jin family's businesses for several years and had close dealings with officials in the prefectural yamen, so he was well aware of the intricacies involved.
Stealing Fragrance