Quick Wear: The first person to love the host

Chapter 440 The Substitute Bride Becomes a Reality (41)

Qin Wujiu looked like he'd seen a ghost, his eyes wide as copper bells, his face saying, "Has this person gone mad?"

Su Ziyu burst into laughter, and couldn't help but tug at Qi Jinyu's sleeve and tease, "Your Highness, look! My cousin's husband is shy!"

Qin Wujiu gritted his teeth, and the veins on his forehead throbbed faintly.

Shy my foot!

If he had known earlier that Shen Qianlan was a big mouth who would spill out things like "I'll come back and tell my grandfather" and "I'll beg him for permission," he would have wished he could turn back time to the Shili Pavilion that morning, pin him down in the snow and give him a good beating, so that he would understand what he should and shouldn't say.

Su Ziyu finished laughing to herself, but seeing Qin Wujiu's face as black as charcoal, like a pufferfish about to explode with anger, she immediately knew when to stop and reached out to pat him on the shoulder: "Brother-in-law, don't be shy, we're all family from now on..."

Before his hand could even touch the other's shoulder, Qin Wujiu dodged to the side as if he'd been electrocuted, blurting out, "Men shouldn't touch each other! Who said we're family!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he realized that he had also insulted Qi Jinyu. He was immediately annoyed and looked at his prince with resentment, his eyes clearly saying: Your Highness, aren't you going to do anything about this?

Qi Jinyu held the teacup and slowly took a sip.

Meeting Qin Wujiu's gaze, he raised an eyebrow indifferently, as if in response: "Ziyu is just so capricious, there's nothing I can do about it, so please step aside."

After all, she's his wife, so naturally he has to stand on his side.

Moreover, ever since his wife mentioned giving him a "title," he had been subtly inquiring about the preferences of the old man, Mr. Shen, whom he had never met.

I heard that he started from scratch when he was young, and went from a peddler to a wealthy man in Jiangnan. He must be a capable person with skill, shrewdness, and a temper.

The Shen family didn't have many grandchildren to begin with, and he and the strategist each had two...

Qi Jinyu sighed inwardly. He was genuinely afraid that when he went to propose marriage, he would anger Old Master Shen to the point of injury, or even be beaten out with sticks.

It seems I need to talk to Qin Wujiu beforehand during the break in the meeting and discuss ways to please Old Master Shen, so that we don't both end up being turned away.

The charcoal fire burning brightly in the study dispelled the chill of winter in the northern frontier.

Su Zi wanted to leave after provoking them, giving the two of them space to discuss serious matters.

It wasn't that Qi Jinyu wouldn't let him listen, but Su Ziyu knew that political maneuvering wasn't his forte, and listening wouldn't necessarily be of any help. He'd rather focus on what he was good at, start a new business as soon as possible, and make more money.

Maintaining an army is like raising a money-devouring beast; the expenses are terrifying. Even a wealthy family like the Shen family couldn't withstand such a situation of only spending and no income.

---

Back in the main courtyard, Liu Ye had already prepared hot tea.

Su Ziyu took the teacup and drank several large gulps. The warm tea went down his throat, and his body warmed up instantly. He put down the teacup and said, "Bring me the account book. I'll take a look at it first."

Liu Ye knew her master was a restless person, so she immediately took a thick account book from the bookshelf. Su Ziyu took it, sat down at the table by the window, and began to read it in the bright sunlight.

The wool workshop has been operating for less than three months. From the initial investment in building the factory to recently supplying soldiers with sweaters at cost price, it is still operating at a loss and has not yet made a profit.

Su Ziyu didn't pay much attention at first—it was to be expected. But as he looked at each page carefully, his brows gradually furrowed.

My fingers tapped lightly on the table, making a regular tapping sound.

“Willow Leaf,” he suddenly spoke, “the wool we bought from Hexi last month, the price has increased by 20% compared to the previous month?”

Liu Ye was taken aback, then quickly replied, "Yes, the manager said that the snow in Hexi this year was heavy, and many sheep froze to death, making wool scarce..."

"Then why hasn't the price of mutton transported from Hexi increased during the same period?" Su Zi wanted to turn to another page. "Also, the workshop's charcoal expenses this month are more than three times higher than last month. Although it's cold in the border region, the number of charcoal braziers in the workshop hasn't increased. Why is that?"

Liu Ye couldn't answer, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead: "This... perhaps the accountant made a mistake?"

Su Ziyu closed the ledger, her eyes turning cold.

A mistake? One instance might be an oversight, but multiple suspicious points coming together cannot be a coincidence.

He stood up: "Prepare the carriage, let's go to the workshop."

In the past, the young master was frail and spent most of the winters bedridden. Who would have thought that in this harsh frontier, he would grow stronger day by day and has not fallen ill since?

As Liu Ye thought about it, she quickly draped a thick cloak over Su Ziyu's shoulders.

The master and servant, accompanied by a guard, rode in a carriage straight to the wool workshop on the outskirts of the city.

The workshop was filled with the constant hum of looms as the female workers busied themselves. Upon seeing Su Ziyu's sudden arrival, the foreman's expression changed slightly, and he hurriedly greeted him, "Young Master Su, what brings you here? It's cold outside..."

Su Ziyu waved her hand to interrupt: "Bring me last month's inventory records."

The steward's eyes flickered: "The record... it's in the accounting office, I'll go get it right away."

“No need,” Su Ziyu said, walking straight to the accounting office. “I’ll look at it myself.”

Inside the accounting room, a middle-aged man with a goatee was engrossed in keeping accounts. When he saw Su Zi trying to barge in, his hand trembled, and ink dripped onto the paper.

Su Zi glanced at him, walked straight to the bookshelf, and pulled out the most recent inventory book.

After flipping through the pages for a moment, he let out a cold laugh.

"The warehouse records for Hexi wool state that it's top-grade fine wool, but what's actually stored in the warehouse is coarse wool. Where did the price difference go?"

He turned, his gaze sharp as a knife. "The charcoal expenses were inflated, and inferior materials were used. And—"

He pulled out a purchase order: "This batch of dye is twice the market price. Manager Wang, Accountant Li, do you want me to check it myself, or do you want to tell me now?"

The two men fell to their knees with a thud, their faces deathly pale.

Just then, a strange noise came from outside the door. Su Ziyu's eyes sharpened, and Liu Ye had already flashed out, returning a moment later to escort in a man dressed as a waiter.

The man struggled, and a short blade slid out from his sleeve, the hilt engraved with strange patterns—the totem of the Xiongnu tribe.

Su Ziyu's pupils suddenly contracted.

-

At the same time, trouble also broke out in the military camp.

The Xiongnu delegation was housed on the west side of the camp. Accustomed to life on the grasslands, these people were extremely uncomfortable with the harsh conditions of the frontier, and their complaints grew daily.

This morning, several Xiongnu envoys got into a quarrel with the logistics soldiers because of a shortage of hot water.

This was originally a minor matter, but it quickly escalated due to the instigation of certain individuals.

"They're deliberately trying to smear us!"

"Do you really think we've come to beg for peace? If it weren't for this harsh winter, you would have been trampled to pieces by our iron cavalry long ago!"

The words grew increasingly heated, eventually escalating into shoving and pushing. By the time Qin Wujiu arrived, the two sides were already at each other's throats, with dozens of people locked in a chaotic melee.

"Stop!" Qin Wujiu shouted.

The scene quieted down slightly, but one of the Xiongnu envoys, a burly man with a full beard, persisted: "Is this how you Han people treat your guests? We want to see the Crown Prince! If the Crown Prince is too ill to take charge, then let someone who is capable take charge come!"

Qin Wujiu coldly swept his gaze across the crowd and suddenly noticed a follower in the envoy group who was bowing his head. Although the man was dressed in Xiongnu clothing, his posture and hand gestures were very much like those of someone from the military.

A thought flashed through his mind, but he remained outwardly calm: "His Highness the Crown Prince is still ill and unable to receive guests. I will investigate today's matter thoroughly and give everyone an explanation."

After calming the delegation down, Qin Wujiu immediately ordered a secret investigation into the suspicious attendant.

Less than two hours later, the guards reported that the man had served as a captain in the northern border garrison three years ago, but was dismissed for violating discipline and his whereabouts were unknown.

Unexpectedly, he defected to the Xiongnu and is now acting as a spy in the envoy group.

"It seems someone doesn't want these peace talks to go too smoothly." Qin Wujiu held the seized secret letter in his hand, his eyes cold.