Qi Yunwei's arrival was unexpected for Su Xiaoqi, but fortunately, Su Xiaoqi had initially assumed Brother Bao and Princess Huian would stay for dinner, so she had asked them to prepare more.
Thus, when Qi Yunwei suddenly showed up, there was still enough.
They finished dinner without speaking.
Su Xiaoqi served them milk tea.
Among the three, only Meng Qiulei expressed his liking and asked for another cup.
Shen Yun and Qi Yunwei both frowned as they took their first sip.
It could be seen that they did not like it.
Su Xiaoqi understood in her heart. When it came to sweets,
Women liked them more, while men liked them less.
So, she subtly switched the tea back to roasted buckwheat.
Hearing their conversation, Su Xiaoqi learned that Qi Yunwei had been very busy these days, busy socializing with the scholars who had come to the capital.
"I also heard about what you said earlier regarding the postponement of the Spring Examination."
Su Xiaoqi was curious. As far as she knew, the Spring Examination in the Daliang Dynasty usually began on the ninth day of the second lunar month.
There were three sessions, each lasting three days.
However, last year, the imperial court had issued a notice early on, postponing this year's Spring Examination by a month.
It was already the middle to late second lunar month.
According to the old rules, one session would be held on the ninth day of the second lunar month, another on the twelfth, and the third on the fifteenth. By now, it should have been over.
Su Xiaoqi knew about this, but she hadn't taken it to heart.
After all, important examinations like the middle school entrance exam, the college entrance exam, and postgraduate entrance exams in modern times, as well as various skill tests, were often rescheduled for various reasons.
She actually knew about the postponement of the Metropolitan Examination.
She had assumed everyone knew.
But hearing them talk about it now, she realized that their knowledge was superficial and they didn't know the real reason.
The officially announced reason for the postponement of the Metropolitan Examination was a sudden whim of the Emperor, who questioned why the Spring Examination had to be set in the second month and insisted on trying to set it in the third month to see how it would turn out.
And so, a matter of great importance concerning the nation was decided by a jest.
Everyone was indeed fooled by the Emperor's reason.
Having seen the subsequent plot, Su Xiaoqi knew that the real reason was not so.
The postponement of the Metropolitan Examination was calculated by the abbot of Huguo Temple.
It was said that an accident would occur in the examination hall, which could be avoided by postponing the date, and that an exceptionally capable official would appear in the examination hall.
But he would only be able to arrive in the third month.
In short, the reason was somewhat mysterious.
Yet, the Emperor believed it.
As everyone talked animatedly, Su Xiaoqi did not interject, but listened quietly, occasionally glancing at Qi Yunwei.
She wondered how long he would keep his identity hidden.
As Su Xiaoqi was thinking about this, she soon heard Qi Yunwei say, "Brother Shen, I have something to ask..."
Before Qi Yunwei could finish speaking, Shen Yun raised his hand to stop him, appearing to understand.
Su Xiaoqi knew that Shen Yun had already known his identity.
Su Xiaoqi had discussed this with Shen Yun before, and she was not surprised. She was only surprised looking at Qi Yunwei, not expecting him to reveal his identity at this time.
And he was doing it in front of He Qiulei.
"Brother Shen, you, you already knew?" Qi Yunwei asked with slight dejection.
He thought he had concealed it well and didn't know how they had figured it out. It was awkward to ask, after all, he had concealed his identity first.
The topic was brought up only to be subtly suppressed by Shen Yun.
He looked at Qi Yunwei and smiled faintly, "What do you mean, Brother Qi? I am just an ordinary scholar, my knowledge is limited, and I do not understand what Brother Qi is saying."
He was not afraid of associating with Qi Yunwei in the eyes of outsiders.
But he would not do anything for him.
After all, he was not a Daliang native.
There was a natural national barrier between the two.
Perhaps they could have tea together now.
But what about in the future?
Who could predict what would happen later?
As far as he knew, there would inevitably be a war between Daliang and Beichu, sooner or later.
And now that Qi Yunwei chose to reveal his identity, Shen Yun did not think he wanted to have a deeper conversation with him.
He would only be vigilant, wondering if he wanted to use him for something, to gain his trust.
But it was easier said than done.
Let alone the fact that he already knew his identity and was wary of him from the start.
Even if he didn't know, he wouldn't confide in him.
He was naturally suspicious; if not for that person, he would never trust easily.
Shen Yun's attitude made Qi Yunwei realize that what he had sought today would not succeed, so he did not linger and rose to take his leave.
He Qiulei stayed for a while longer.
Hearing their verbal sparring for half the day, he couldn't get a word in.
However, he wasn't particularly concerned about those matters, as they didn't concern him anyway.
His elder brother had just been promoted, and normally, he wouldn't be able to move locations again in a short period, nor could anything be plotted in the court.
What he wanted to do now was to cooperate with Su Xiaoqi in business.
He had a hunch that by following Su Xiaoqi, he would definitely make a lot of money.
Although their He family was already very wealthy in the Bashu region and their business was quite large.
But who would complain about having too much money!
Moreover, for their He family to establish themselves in the capital, his elder brother, who was a fourth-rank official, was far from enough.
Therefore, Su Xiaoqi was definitely a very good support, and at the same time, she was the best helper for him to break free from family constraints.
But how to persuade her?
He Qiulei had tried to probe her several times before, but without exception, Su Xiaoqi had politely declined.
He had originally wanted to go through Shen Yun's connections.
But seeing how unceremoniously he had rejected Young Master Qi just now, he was dissuaded.
Qi Yunwei, such a capable person, couldn't get any favor in front of him.
How could he? But he was unwilling.
His cooperation with Su Xiaoqi in business was not just for his own profit, but to share equally with her.
Their He family's business emphasized mutual benefit.
Feeling a bit troubled, he finally spoke, "Sister-in-law, after strolling around for so many days, have you thought about any business to do?"
Su Xiaoqi thought for a moment and said nothing.
But it had to be said that He Qiulei's question had hit the nail on the head.
When she first came to the capital, she had refused He Qiulei because she hadn't planned to stay in the capital for a long time and didn't want to expand her business there and find it difficult to manage.
But now it was different.
Shen Yun's affection for her made her no longer fear Shen Yun as before and gave her the courage to defy fate together with him.
So she no longer held the same views as before.
Instead, she wanted to put down roots here.
She had been worried about the shop for the past few days.
It wasn't that she hadn't considered finding He Qiulei, who had wanted to cooperate with her before.
But Shen Yun had advised her not to rush, saying that as long as she remained steady, He Qiulei would definitely come to her.
As expected, Su Xiaoqi glanced at Shen Yun quietly and found him looking at her as well.
Su Xiaoqi blinked her eyes and gave him a playful smile.
The smile was sweet and charming, and Shen Yun's heart melted instantly, feeling warm like being wrapped in a hot water bottle.
Su Xiaoqi did not refuse outright, and He Qiulei knew he had hope.
"How about we cooperate to open a grain shop?"
"How about opening a grain shop, and a pharmacy," Su Xiaoqi didn't want to tease He Qiulei any further.
He Qiulei was delighted and couldn't help but press on:
"Then a pastry shop?"
Su Xiaoqi shook her head and looked at He Qiulei with a hint of surprise.
He actually knew the relationship between Chen Jinji and her.