Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

Chapter 309 Towards the Golden Palace (13)

News of Xue Qing's death quickly reached the Cao family residence.

The steward, acting on Xue Lin's behalf, provided funeral expenses, allowing the mortuary to bury Xue Qing.

Two days later, Yan Zhen arrived with Xue Lin, the steward, the accountant, the maids and servants, as well as Wang Xiaocui and her son, who had been assigned to manage the Cao family's embroidery shop and insisted on joining in the fun.

With the addition of more than ten highly skilled bodyguards they had hired, the group of over seventy people embarked on their journey to the capital.

The Spring Festival has just passed, and the air is still chilly.

In just over a month, it will be the imperial examination in spring. On the way, you can see many scholars traveling to the capital with their families to take the exam.

Yan Zhen rode a tall, chestnut-colored horse in the middle of the procession.

Having lived in this world for three years, she still couldn't overcome the original owner's motion sickness problem; she would feel nauseous as soon as she sat in a semi-enclosed car.

Whenever she goes out, she uses a horse for transportation, and over the years she has become increasingly skilled at riding.

In contrast, Xue Lin was not good at riding and spent the whole journey reading in the carriage, looking more like a pampered young lady from a wealthy family.

Yinzhou is more than 500 li away from the capital. On the second day of his journey, Yan Zhen encountered an "acquaintance" on the road.

At that time, she, Wang Xiaocui and her son, Gao Jia, Xue Lin and others were resting at a roadside tea stall when a male voice suddenly came from the side.

"Brother Cao...?"

Yan Zhen subconsciously turned around and met a somewhat familiar face.

She sized up the man, and he sized her up too.

After a moment, Yan Zhen recognized him first, stood up and said generously, "Brother Jiang!"

That person was Jiang Ming, who had given Yan Zhen a ride from Ningzhou to Yinzhou three years ago.

After three years apart, Jiang Ming seemed incredulous, his gaze lingering on Yan Zhen: "You...you really are Cao He?"

"It's me, Brother Jiang, long time no see."

Jiang Ming's face showed little joy, and his gaze towards her was distant: "What's this...?"

Yan Zhen glanced down at himself.

When traveling, she would tie up her long hair for ease of riding, and her clothing consisted mainly of riding boots and narrow-sleeved outfits.

If this outfit were worn by Yan Zhen three years ago, when she had cracked hands, rough and dark skin, and a muscular physique from farm work, and was dressed as a man, no one would doubt her gender.

Over the past three years, Yan Zhen has been eating and drinking well, her hands have lost their rough skin, her skin is no longer dark and dull, and she has consciously trained her body to have more toned and smooth muscles.

Coupled with the aura of the richest man in Yinzhou, she now possesses both the tall and strong physique of a man and the dignified elegance of a woman. The fusion of these two completely different qualities gives her a kind of androgynous and unrestrained charm.

Yan Zhen noticed Jiang Ming's confusion and laughed heartily: "Brother Jiang, please forgive me. Three years ago, I was traveling alone. Being a woman made things difficult, so I had to dress as a man. I did not mean to deceive you, Brother Jiang. I hope you will understand."

Jiang Ming: "..."

Upon hearing Yan Zhen reveal her true identity as a woman, Jiang Ming immediately became somewhat uncomfortable, avoiding her gaze: "Oh, I thought I had mistaken you for someone else."

Yan Zhen changed the subject, inviting Jiang Ming to sit at the same table, and had someone bring him a bowl of tea: "Brother Jiang, where are you going?"

Behind Jiang Ming followed a long caravan, with dozens of horse-drawn carriages piled high with goods, a much larger scale than three years ago.

Jiang Ming quickly composed himself and started chatting with Yan Zhen: "Send this batch of goods to the capital."

"Brother Jiang, your business has expanded to the capital?"

“That’s right.” Jiang Ming smiled. “Ningzhou brocade sells well in the capital, even the imperial family likes it. That’s the business I’m in—what about you?”

"I'm sending my younger brother to the capital for the imperial examination," Yan Zhen said, introducing Xue Lin to Jiang Ming, "This is my foolish younger brother, Xue Lin."

Jiang Ming runs a large business in Beijing, dealing with wealthy and influential people. Making this friend might come in handy someday.

Jiang Ming, who had not read many books, held scholars in the highest esteem. Upon hearing that Xue Lin was a candidate for the imperial examination in the capital, he immediately cupped his hands in respect and said, "Young Brother Xue is remarkable. At such a young age, you have already become a candidate for the imperial examination. You will surely win first place in this year's spring examination and be listed on the golden list."

Compared to Jiang Ming's enthusiasm, Xue Lin, who is usually mild-mannered, was uncharacteristically cold and replied perfunctorily, "Brother Jiang is too kind."

Jiang Ming said, "Hey, your older sister and I are old acquaintances. We called each other brothers three years ago. I'm several years older than you, so I'll take the liberty of calling me Brother Jiang. From now on, we'll be like family, how about it?"

It's obvious to everyone that Jiang Ming intends to befriend Xue Lin and is extending an olive branch.

Xue Lin's expression turned slightly cold. He avoided the topic and stood up, saying to Yan Zhen, "Sister, I'm not feeling well. I'll go back to the car to rest first."

After he said that, he turned and left.

Xue Lin's action was tantamount to showing disrespect, and there was a moment of awkward silence at the tea table.

Yan Zhen immediately smoothed things over, saying, "Brother Jiang, don't take it to heart. My brother isn't usually like this. He's probably just tired from the long journey and throwing a tantrum. That's why you've been dragged into this."

Jiang Mingshun readily agreed: "It's alright, it's alright. At the age of twenty-something, you're already a successful candidate in the imperial examinations. That's incredibly impressive. It's normal to have a bit of a temper."

When it was time to set off, Jiang Ming invited Yan Zhen to join them, since they were traveling the same way.

So, Jiang Ming, who was riding a horse, appeared next to Yan Zhen.

They reminisced along the way, talking about what had happened since they parted ways three years ago.

Two years ago, Jiang Ming went to look for Yan Zhen at her old home address in Ningzhou County.

But when they arrived in the county town, they were told that the address did not exist.

Jiang Ming was depressed about this for a long time.

After listening, Yan Zhen chuckled without batting an eye, leaned close to his ear and whispered, "It's probably the wrong address, Brother Jiang. You know I can't read."

Jiang Ming immediately forgave her: "It's alright, it's not your fault. It's fate that we can meet again today."

"Yes, it's fate."

In just a few words, Jiang Ming's previous discomfort and awkwardness about his good brother turning into a woman vanished without a trace. His cheerful and carefree manner made him feel as if he had returned to three years ago when he and Yan Zhen hit it off immediately.

As the conversation deepened, Jiang Ming was shocked to learn that Yan Zhen was actually Cao He, the newly emerging richest man in Yinzhou.

"I've long heard that Yinzhou has produced a shrewd businessman who became the richest man in the area in just three years. When I first heard the name Cao He, I thought to myself that this person shared the same name as my brother. I never expected it to be you!"

Jiang Ming patted Yan Zhen's shoulder with a loud thud: "Brother Cao, you really are a hidden talent."

When they first met, Yan Zhen was dressed in coarse linen clothes, looking like a farmer who had worked hard in the fields and was tanned dark by the sun.

Jiang Ming once thought she was dirt poor, but he was surprised that an illiterate peasant could have such profound knowledge.

In recent years, whenever Jiang Ming thinks of her, he always wonders if she is doing well.

Unexpectedly, after three years apart, she became the richest woman in Yinzhou, and her family even produced a scholar who passed the imperial examination.

……

Yan Zhen and Jiang Ming chatted all the way.

Neither of them noticed that behind them, in the carriage, Xue Lin lifted a corner of the curtain and watched their backs as they sometimes laughed heartily and sometimes whispered to each other, his eyes growing increasingly dark.