He Xun quickened his steps to the carriage door, opened it, and took Su Nansheng's hand to pull her into the carriage.
Su Nansheng's hand was delicate, smooth, yet bone-chillingly cold.
"I didn't know it would rain so heavily when I sent you the message. Actually, it didn't matter if you didn't come to pick me up."
He Xun rubbed the back of Su Nansheng's hand and quickly sized her up. He was relieved to see that she wasn't drenched by the rain.
Su Nansheng, however, didn't seem to care.
"Since I promised you, I will surely keep my word. It's just that I had to go back to get the rain cape, which made me late."
"Rain cape?"
He Xun pulled Su Nansheng to sit beside him, not understanding why she had to get a rain cape.
Su Nansheng ignored his question and asked,
"Feiyu didn't come with you?"
She didn't see Feiyu outside just now. Could it be that he wasn't with He Xun?
"He's on another carriage."
He Xun said this without batting an eyelid.
"I thought you would ride a horse. I gave you a rain cape before and you haven't worn it yet. I was thinking of asking you to put it on, but it seems it won't be needed."
The rain cape she bought before cost her a fortune. It was said that rain couldn't soak it and wind couldn't penetrate it. This would have been a good time to test it, but who would have thought that He Xun was taking a carriage.
He Xun couldn't help laughing and said,
"You thought I would ride a horse back. With such heavy rain, the Emperor was also afraid that all of us court officials wouldn't be able to attend the court, so he specially granted us a favor.
Actually, even if the Emperor didn't grant this favor, with his rank, he naturally didn't need to get wet in the rain outside.
Su Nansheng uncomfortably averted her eyes.
"I thought you would want to show off a bit."
It was also raining on the day when the refugees rioted, and He Xun still wore his armor.
He Xun tugged at Su Nansheng's hand and made her look at him.
"Do you want to see me ride a horse? I'll ride for you next time. But not today. Wearing a rain cape won't make me look majestic at all."
Su Nansheng averted her eyes again and whispered, "I don't want to see you ride a horse."
He Xun curled his lips but didn't say anything. He just rubbed the back of Su Nansheng's hand again and again.
On the other carriage, Bitao and Feiyu were looking at each other.
"Why did you come to my mistress's carriage?"
It gave her a big scare just now. She was sitting in the carriage peacefully when suddenly someone jumped in.
"My master told me to come here. Even if this is Concubine Su's carriage, you can't just start hitting people as soon as you see someone. What if you hurt my master?"
Feiyu still said this without batting an eyelid.
It was really close. He almost got punched by Bitao. How could such a nice girl start hitting people as soon as she saw someone?
Bitao couldn't help feeling a bit guilty and defended herself.
"You moved so fast. I didn't even see clearly before you got in. How would I know if you were some lecher. Besides, I can't even hurt you, let alone the young master."
Feiyu's lips twitched. Was that what he was talking about?
But forget it. When in the carriage, one has to bow one's head.
...
Outside, the weather was still gloomy, but He Jin was in a good mood.
The people he had bribed recommended him to the Ministry of Works. In a few days, he would be able to resume his post. He could finally hold his head up high.
"Since you've bribed someone anyway, why don't you try to get into the Ministry of Personnel or the Ministry of Revenue? If not, the Ministry of Rites would also be okay. Why did you choose the Ministry of Works?"
Concubine Li wasn't very satisfied. Among the six ministries, the Ministry of Works had the lowest status, the least promising future, and the most tiring work. It was really not a good place.
He Jin was in high spirits. Being said so by Concubine Li, he immediately said dissatisfiedly,
"I also want to be the Minister of the Ministry of Rites, but unfortunately my family can't do anything to help."
Hearing his impolite words, Concubine Li's face immediately turned cold.
But then she thought that she really didn't contribute much this time. She immediately felt guilty and said,
"I'm just afraid that you'll go to a place like the Ministry of Works where you'll work hard but get no rewards and bury your talent."
"Auntie doesn't understand. Although the Ministry of Works has a low status, it has its own advantages."
A calculating smile appeared on He Jin's face.
Although the work in the Ministry of Works was tiring, the good thing was that the court always allocated money. They would repair this place today and mend that place tomorrow. With so much money passing through their hands, there would always be some oil and water left in their palms.
When the oil and water was thick enough, why worry about not being able to take a step forward?
After simply telling Concubine Li, He Jin returned to Bitao Courtyard.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw a little maid kneeling on the bluestone bricks. Most of her clothes were wet, and she was shivering like a sieve.
He Jin glanced at her and then entered the bedroom. He saw Su Hele was painting at the desk.
Hearing the sound, she looked up. Seeing He Jin, Su Hele was a bit surprised, but she quickly regained her calm.
"Husband is back so early today. Has the matter been settled?"
He Jin sat down and replied with a faint "um". Then he looked outside.
Su Hele understood what he meant. She lifted her chin and said,
"That maid outside is too lazy. Knowing it was raining but not closing the window in time, she got the painting I worked so hard on wet. I'm just giving her a small punishment."
Saying this, she picked up the scroll on the desk.
"Husband hasn't painted with me for a long time. Since you're back early today, why don't we have a competition?"
On the scroll was a blooming autumn chrysanthemum with dancing butterflies around it. The lines were smooth, fresh, and elegant.
He Jin had to admit that even though Su Hele was willful and stupid, her paintings were of a high standard.
Looking at Su Hele's calm face and her eager eyes, He Jin suddenly remembered the scene when they first met.
At that time, Su Hele always looked calm and elegant, just like the autumn chrysanthemum on the scroll.
"Okay, then I'll have a competition with you."
He Jin was in a good mood. In order to help him resume his post, Su Hele had taken out a lot of money and was really sincere to him. Why should he always care about the past?
...
After returning from the winter hunt, He Xun got two days off.
He wanted to take Su Nansheng out for a play, but unfortunately the weather was bad and Su Nansheng was too lazy to move. So he had to accompany her in the study to look at the account books.
"Are you saying that He Jin got his official position through bribery?"
Although she knew that He Jin wouldn't take the right path to resume his post, she didn't expect him to bribe. This made Su Nansheng a bit surprised.
"He gave a large sum of money. The work in the Ministry of Works is complicated. The former deputy director, Cao Yang, is too old and can't handle it. He has long wanted to retire. Just in time, he took the opportunity to resign due to illness and return to his hometown. He Jin just filled the vacancy."
He Xun fiddled with the purse on his waist, looking sarcastic.
Bribery. He Jin was really becoming more and more "capable".
Su Nansheng thought for a while and somewhat understood why Concubine Li would suddenly be nice to Su Hele.
There must be a lot of money from Su Hele in that large sum of money.
Using her own savings to help her husband buy an official position, she was really generous. She really deserved to be an elegant person who regarded money as dirt.
Thinking of this, Su Nansheng put down the account book in her hand.
"If the matter is exposed one day, will it implicate the Marquis Mansion and you?"
He Xun's expression was solemn.
"No. I've already sent someone to keep an eye on Cao Yang. Once the matter is exposed, he will be the witness."
He Jin did all these things alone. He was sure that he wouldn't be implicated.
It's really a pity that he couldn't make the just act of punishing his relative.