In the simple and grand main hall sat two people. One wore a dark cloak, his hair tied high and adorned with a golden crown, with a few snowflakes still clinging to it.
From afar, he looked like a youth with prematurely white hair.
The other was a young man in a stone-blue long gown, with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and an imposing demeanor. He was the same person who had followed Qi Yunwei yesterday, and Su Xiaoqi had found him familiar.
Su Xiaoqi's eyebrows slightly raised before quickly returning to normal. She looked at Qi Yunwei and asked in a thick Sichuan accent, "Young Master Qi, why have you come?"
Qi Yunwei put down his teacup, stood up, and cupped his hands towards both of them. "My apologies for the unannounced visit. Brother Du and I have intruded without prior notice. It is truly our fault. We beg for your forgiveness."
Though he said so, Su Xiaoqi scrutinized Qi Yunwei's handsome and extraordinary face, finding no trace of apology for disturbing others.
She knew his words were merely a pretense, lacking any sincerity.
Qi Yunwei was indeed here for that reason. He had traveled from the capital to find someone, and according to his sources, this person was very likely connected to the couple before him.
Moreover, after his last encounter with the young couple, he had discovered their unusual nature.
Considering the turmoil Shen Yun would stir up in the future, how could he not seek to establish a connection with them?
Furthermore, he had a legitimate excuse for coming today.
He pointed to the young man beside him. "Allow me to introduce you to my esteemed friends. This is Mr. Du, named Chunzhi, the young master of Prefect Du of Yizhou's residence."
Du Chunzhi bowed respectfully at the opportune moment. "Cousin Su, Cousin, Cousin-in-law." He had received letters from his parents, informing him that his aunt and uncle had adopted a goddaughter.
It was precisely the woman before him, with her bright, expressive eyes, striking looks, and refined demeanor.
"You are Du Chunzhi. I've heard about you from Yiyi."
Su Xiaoqi was not very familiar with Du Chunzhi. However, she was very familiar with Du Yiyi.
Having often mentioned her elder brother, Du Yizhi, in letters, she was naturally very familiar with her second brother, Du Chunzhi.
She simply had never met him before.
So, he was the son of an old acquaintance. No wonder he had looked so familiar when she saw him at the city gate yesterday.
Su Xiaoqi solved her own puzzle.
She immediately became warm towards Du Chunzhi.
She ordered Guo'er to serve hot Tremella and lotus seed soup as refreshments, which also softened her perception of Qi Yunwei's unannounced and impolite arrival.
Shen Yun nodded faintly.
If Du Chunzhi had come alone, he wouldn't have thought much of it.
But his arrival with Qi Yunwei clearly gave him a sense of something unusual.
"It's snowing so heavily, the official roads must be covered in snow. You've made a difficult journey to visit us. Thank you," Shen Yun said calmly.
On the surface, his words sounded caring.
However, to Qi Yunwei, who harbored different intentions, they carried a different meaning.
Shen Yun was clearly implying that he had rushed over in such heavy snow, and if he claimed to have no ulterior motives, Qi Yunwei wouldn't believe it.
"This is also Chunzhi's token of regard.
He was overjoyed to hear that his family had gained a cousin. In the capital, he and Yizhi prepared many gifts.
Here, that carriage is all from Chunzhi."
Qi Yunwei said so, but in reality, two carriages were parked in the courtyard.
The other carriage was also full of gifts, which he had prepared without question.
"You are too kind. Our families are not related by blood, so such generosity is unnecessary," Shen Yun refused directly.
If he had previously believed their encounter in Mianzhou City to be a coincidence, then that would have been an insult to his own intelligence.
It seemed that his encounters and subsequent interactions with Qi Yunwei were all part of a meticulously crafted lie.
He did not yet understand the purpose.
However, he clearly stated that he was not a fish in Qi Yunwei's net, to be played with at his whim.
Qi Yunwei sensed Shen Yun's strong wariness.
He glanced at Su Xiaoqi and said, "Brother Shen, let's be frank. I have come here because I was entrusted by someone."
Shen Yun frowned, but seeing that he intended to speak the truth, his expression softened slightly.
He waved his hand, dismissing Guo'er, and said calmly, "Speak freely."
However, Qi Yunwei kept looking at Su Xiaoqi.
Understanding his intent, she got up and excused herself, "Husband, I'll go check at the entrance to see if Young Master He has arrived."
"No need. You are my wife, and we are one. Anything I can hear, you can also hear. Whether they choose to speak or not is their business."
"You... Alas, Brother Shen, saying that makes me seem petty.
Fine, fine. I am looking for someone. This is a token. Have you seen it, Brother Shen?"
Qi Yunwei spread his palm and flashed it towards Shen Yun.
Su Xiaoqi was curious and wanted to see, but his action suggested he didn't particularly want her to.
So, she wasn't in a hurry. After all, Shen Yun had said that, and he would surely tell her later.
"No," Shen Yun denied without hesitation.
Su Xiaoqi looked at him with some surprise.
This way of acting was very unlike the shrewd and calculating Shen Yun.
His denial was too quick, as if he were eager to distance himself.
"Never mind then. The person is in Mianzhou City anyway. I will stay and search for them slowly.
If you remember anything someday, Brother Shen, please let me know. I am staying at the Gu family's residence."
While saying the earlier part, Qi Yunwei's voice was soft and ethereal.
But with the last two words, he deliberately stressed and emphasized them.
It was as if he was afraid Shen Yun would hear him, speaking with such solemnity. Indeed, when Shen Yun heard "Gu family," the composure and detached indifference on his face faltered for a moment.
Qi Yunwei might not have noticed.
But Su Xiaoqi, who knew him well, saw it instantly.
In fact, it wasn't just Shen Yun; even she was curious how people like Mr. Gu and her godmother would receive someone like Qi Yunwei, who seemed so cunning at first glance.
Their temperaments didn't match.
No, Mr. Gu might also make mistakes in judgment.
Or perhaps Qi Yunwei, like Shen Yun, was a skilled actor.
To the extent that Mr. Gu failed to perceive his true nature.
The snowflakes in the sky grew heavier, falling in large clumps, like torn pieces of cotton.
Shen Yun saw his guests out. Soon, He Qiulei arrived.
Since everything had been discussed, there was nothing more to talk about this time.
Both parties directly signed the documents.
Then, He Qiulei gave Su Xiaoqi an explanation regarding the matter.
"The person who incited my family to acquire buckwheat tea was from Zhao family village. It was Zhao Liu Shi."
He Qiulei relayed the information he had obtained from Liu Yishou.
"No way. It's not that I'm looking down on her, but she doesn't seem capable of doing something like this."
He Qiulei spread his hands, indicating that he couldn't confirm this.
Since he hadn't witnessed it firsthand, he couldn't draw a conclusion.
Su Xiaoqi glanced at Shen Yun and whispered, "If you said it was her younger daughter, Zhao Xiaohua, who did this, I would believe it. But Liu Cuixiang, forget it."
Shen Yun nodded.
However, they did not discuss it in front of He Qiulei, but instead proceeded to finalize the terms of their cooperation, and Su Xiaoqi would hand over the method for making buckwheat tea to him.