Chapter 469: What a Coincidence

Chapter 469: Chapter 469: What a Coincidence

Shen Hao didn’t know who had just called out, "Wait!" to him, but he was sure it must be someone from the Qin Family, and seeing that person come out together with Lin Xin’Er made it easy to guess. This person must have been talking with Lin Xin’Er earlier, and the maid who was supposed to be with Hong Chou and Brocade and Silk likely went to inform Lin Xin’Er of his arrival, which is why she was nowhere to be seen when Hong Chou and Brocade and Silk were bullied.

As for what Lin Xin’Er and the other party discussed, Shen Hao never asked; those who were escorted back to the post would spill everything, clean and clear.

Even this middle-aged man before him—Shen Hao gave him a deep, long look without saying anything, but the man read a lot out of that look.

Not calling your name, giving you a chance to inform your family. Say one word, and you’ll be taken along, arrested at once.

The man understood the meaning behind the look, so he grit his teeth and kept silent. He knew that speaking out would be useless and would drag himself down as well. The most important thing now was to alert his family.

Lin Xin’Er at the side several times wanted to speak up, but the words got stuck in her throat. At this moment, the aura coming off Shen Hao was intimidating, cold and forbidding, warning strangers to keep away.

"Ms. Xin’Er, goodbye! I’ll come see you next time!"

"Goodbye, Sister!"

Only Xia Nu and the two half-grown Fox Women were utterly oblivious to Shen Hao’s eerie and intimidating demeanor, instead, they felt a safety around him that no one else had.

Seeing Xia Nu and the two little ones smiling and waving goodbye, Lin Xin’Er could only force a smile and wave back. She understood she’d been removed from Shen Hao’s "friendly" list—because she was standing with the Qin Family people.

Once Shen Hao left, the middle-aged man from the Qin Family hurriedly asked, "Miss Lin, who is that man?"

"Master Qin, that’s Shen Hao, Hundred Households of the Black Banner Battalion of the Xuanqing Guard, Fengri City."

Lin Xin’Er sighed inwardly, torn about how to explain. She had previously taken a big order from a cloth shop in the Imperial City, and the owner even came in person to discuss cooperation. They wanted to open a similar shop in the Imperial City, and Lin Xin’Er only had to supply ready-made garments—while they provided cloth, storefront, workers—profits split forty-sixty, Lin Xin’Er forty, they sixty.

But when the other party arrived, she found out it was the Imperial City Qin Family, and there had been some bad blood between her and the Qin Family. Back when Wen Renhai had abducted Xia Nu and herself, it was only thanks to Shen Hao that they avoided disaster, and Wen Renhai’s mother was rumored to be the eldest daughter of the Qin Family.

And just as Lin Xin’Er was about to refuse cooperation, the maid outside came in to say Shen Hao had arrived at the store. She wanted to go at once, but this Qin Family visitor wouldn’t let her leave, saying there was more to discuss, which delayed her for some time—then the "incident" happened.

"Probably my cousin and cousin-sister. They’re sensible, probably just told the servants to rough up two slaves. Pay some money, that’s all. Does he dare disrespect our Qin Family?"

But this Master Qin quickly learned what hitting a "steel plate" meant.

Qin Family impressive? The other party just directly took people away, didn’t even bother to say any threats upon leaving, even purposely let him inform the family. It was a blatant snub, showing contempt for the Qin Family.

But upon hearing the name "Shen Hao," the rage and violence in his heart instantly cooled by more than half.

"Shen Hao?! That Evil Star?"

Lin Xin’Er didn’t answer, but it was as good as admitting. In truth, she was already sick of the Qin Family showing up at her door, and she didn’t know how she’d explain things to Xia Nu afterward.

The jumpy Qin Family man beside Lin Xin’Er was Qin Hanliang, the eldest son of the main branch, known to outsiders as Master Qin. He managed much of the Qin Family’s business, and had considerable status in the clan.

This trip was partly to bring younger kin out for fun, partly to check out the ready-made garment shop he’d heard of, to see if cooperation might work. But he hadn’t expected trouble to erupt.

This was Shen Hao! The Qin Family’s name meant nothing to the other party for protecting their younger kin, and their eldest aunt’s old grudge against him was no small matter. To this day, the eldest aunt was kept inside the Imperial City by Grandpa, forbidden to leave—the worry being, without protection she’d be snatched up. Grandpa himself was so cautious, so how could any junior be reckless?

Moreover, Qin Hanliang had heard that Shen Hao was now the number one vicious dog in the Xuanqing Guard. His bite meant death—not to mention the Wen Family’s affair; recently, even Vice Minister Xu Hong from the Ministry of War was grabbed and thrown in jail by him. Shen Hao personally led the raid and confiscation.

Looking across the whole Jingjiu Dynasty, only Fengri City’s Black Banner Battalion had power to operate across regions, and Pang Ban’s trust and delegation to Shen Hao had always made others shake their heads in awe.

"What now? If Shen ties this incident to his grudge with Auntie’s husband’s family, then there’s big trouble!" Qin Hanliang couldn’t bother with Lin Xin’Er’s business talk, nearly running out of the shop at a jog—to find a quiet place and use Thousand-Mile Sound to send news of Shen Hao taking his cousins back.

But all this coming and going would take some time; who knew if the cousins would have to suffer in the Xuanqing Guard? Thinking of this made Qin Hanliang hurry even faster.

...

Coming out from Yuhua Street, Shen Hao took Xia Nu and the two little ones to the East Market. Compared to the refinement of Yuhua Street, East Market felt much more grounded—everything to eat, drink, wear, use, and play could be found here, along with more chaotic, bustling crowds. Here, the prosperity of Fengri City was most palpable.

The stuff they’d bought earlier was sent home first, since it was on the way. Now, in East Market, everyone relaxed and played, shopped freely—even Xia Nu rarely joined in, eating oil cakes and papaya milk pudding.

When it was mid-5 p.m., Shen Hao had someone take the three Fox Women home, and he headed to Hong’en Hall, as the time he’d set with Liu Hengyi was approaching.

"Tonight, change into the new clothes we bought, and wait for me to return," Shen Hao whispered an order into Xia Nu’s ear at parting.

"Mm!" Xia Nu didn’t hesitate, replying in a whisper, too.

Shen Hao hadn’t been to Hong’en Hall for some time; things had changed. The warm shed at the entrance had been dismantled, replaced with a new big banner bearing "Hong’en Hall," those three characters especially striking, seemingly penned by a master calligrapher.

As soon as he arrived at the entrance, the madam greeted him enthusiastically and led him inside.

Just as he entered, Liu Hengyi quickly came striding over, clasping his hands with a smile. "Lord Shen, sorry I couldn’t welcome you from further away!"

"Old Liu, you’re too polite."

"Sorry, sorry! I was waiting by the door just now, but felt pressed to leave for a moment and missed your arrival. Hope you don’t mind, please don’t," Liu Hengyi apologized with a smile, leading Shen Hao upstairs. He wasn’t exaggerating; he really had been standing at the entrance waiting earlier.