From Hoarding to Time-Travel: My Supplies Saved Him

Chapter 344: Chapter 345: Seeing Someone Off

Ancient Wen Heng hadn’t expected that before he even made a move, some people would show up right in front of him looking for trouble.

"Mr. Gu," Xiao Wanyu said, leaning against the carriage with a frail and delicate air. "I didn’t expect to run into you here. Could you give me a ride?"

Ancient Wen Heng glanced at the teahouse behind him, just as He Nan was walking out. Under his gaze, He Nan braced himself and walked over.

"Mr. Gu?"

Hearing this coquettish voice, Ancient Wen Heng immediately berated Hong Da, "Look how filthy this carriage is. Take it back and give it a good cleaning."

Hong Da glanced at the woman beside them. ’She’s clearly wearing the hairstyle of a married woman, yet she’s putting on such an act. I wonder which unlucky family brought a woman like that through their doors.’

He had followed Ancient Wen Heng for so many years that he knew, while the words were a reprimand for him, they had a hidden target. It was just that some people didn’t seem to get the hint at all.

"Mr. He, my carriage is dirty, so I’ll have to trouble you for a ride." Without waiting for He Nan to refuse, he immediately ordered Hong Da, "Take the carriage back for a cleaning now!"

"Yes, sir." Hong Da immediately leaped onto the driver’s shaft. With a display of his superb driving skills, he vanished from sight in an instant.

Without a glance at the dumbfounded Xiao Wanyu, Ancient Wen Heng boarded the He Mansion’s carriage. "Take me to the Gu Mansion first."

He Nan sputtered, "...This is my personal carriage. You certainly make yourself at home."

Ancient Wen Heng looked directly at the driver. "It seems your master doesn’t want to leave yet. Just take me home first!"

At that, He Nan didn’t dare just stand by and watch the show anymore. He scrambled onto the carriage with his hands and feet, not even needing the driver to give him a hand.

Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, Xiao Wanyu’s face went deathly pale. ’Me? Dirty? Where am I dirty? You, Gu! One day, I’ll make you eat those words.’

Completely unaware that someone was making threats behind his back, Ancient Wen Heng watched the street scene outside, trying to ignore the annoying chatter beside him.

"That was a beauty who delivered herself right to your doorstep. You didn’t have to be so heartless."

"Besides, the lady wasn’t bad-looking, and she was being so forward, you..."

Ancient Wen Heng glanced back at him. "I can make an exception and play matchmaker for you two. It would save you from all these sour words."

He Nan pointed a finger back at himself. "Me? Sour words?"

"Aren’t you?"

"I just think it’s a shame, for your sake. Besides, she’s interested in you. What does it have to do with me?"

Ancient Wenheng replied, "If you want it to have something to do with you, I can make that happen."

Hearing the seriousness in Ancient Wen Heng’s tone, He Nan immediately backed down. "I was just joking! How could someone like her possibly be a match for our noble and brilliant Ancient Scholar?"

’If Ancient Wen Heng actually went through with it...’ The mere thought of how his ’she-tiger’ at home might react made He Nan shrink into a corner, trying to make himself as small as possible.

Only when he saw him get out of the carriage and enter the mansion did He Nan finally breathe a quiet sigh of relief. ’Thankfully, the guy didn’t press the issue. Otherwise, I would have had a lot of explaining to do when I got home.’

It wasn’t until a few days later, when he got home and was confronted by his ’she-tiger’ wielding a feather duster and demanding answers, that he realized that while Ancient Wen Heng may not have pressed the issue, Mrs. Gu certainly hadn’t let him off the hook.

&

「Chengen Marquis Mansion」

Zhou Shixiong had just come from the training grounds when someone from the palace arrived.

He quickly tidied himself up and changed into his general’s robes. Carrying the precious medicinal herbs that Ancient Wen Heng had sent as a return gift a couple of days prior, he followed the eunuch who had delivered the message into the palace.

When Empress Zhou saw her elder brother arrive, she quickly ordered her attendants to bring over the painted scrolls.

Zhou Shixiong had figured as much. ’Last time, it was the noble young ladies of the Capital. I wonder where she’s rounded up these daughters of prestigious families this time.’

"Your Majesty, please don’t trouble yourself just yet. I’ve brought some medicinal herbs. You can have them put into the storehouse."

"Oh, Brother, really," the Empress said with a laugh. "How could the palace possibly be lacking in medicinal herbs? If that were the case, the Holy Emperor would probably lose both his appetite and his sleep."

"Still so unguarded with your words," Zhou Shixiong reminded her. "In the depths of this palace, some things can be said, and some things require more consideration. Although Your Majesty is the mistress of this palace, you must still remember that walls have ears."

Empress Zhou stuck out her tongue in a rare show of playfulness. "You’re right to lecture me, Brother. But rest assured, these are all my own people. If they dared to go out and spout nonsense, it would cost them more than just their lives to make it right."

Even though she came from a family of military generals, she had still been raised with several nannies to guide her meticulously.

’To serve her personally in this palace, she wouldn’t dare use anyone unless she had some kind of leverage over them.’

Zhou Shixiong shot another warning glance at the nearby eunuchs and palace maids. "If anyone dares to betray their master, just have someone inform your big brother. Don’t dirty your own hands over it."

Empress Zhou smiled, pursing her lips. "With those words from you, Brother, I trust they wouldn’t dare to be disloyal."

"So, Brother, what are these herbs you’ve brought?"

Zhou Shixiong personally opened the box that had been placed on the table, and waves of medicinal fragrance immediately wafted through the palace hall.

"This? This is ginseng?" Empress Zhou couldn’t help but take a step forward. "Brother, where did you find this?"

Zhou Shixiong replied, "It’s from Brother Gu. You know I sent him some gifts to thank him? He must have thought they were too valuable, so he sent this in return. There’s also a Polygonum multiflorum here. I had my physician inspect them—they’re both over a hundred years old."

"They’re of little use to me, so I’d rather you have them."

"How can I accept this? If it were a mere trinket, I would accept it without another thought, but these are priceless, life-saving medicines. Brother, you must take them back." ’Although the palace had such things, it wasn’t always certain that she, the Empress, could actually obtain them when needed.’

"It would be ridiculous to take back a gift I’ve already brought. Since there’s nothing else, I’ll be on my way."

Seeing Zhou Shixiong turn to bolt, Empress Zhou immediately guessed his intention.

"Brother, these are the well-bred young ladies I’ve selected from the families of high-ranking officials in various provinces. At least take a look and give me a firm answer."

’If this dragged on, her brother could be sent back to the border at any moment. Empress Zhou didn’t want the next generation of the Zhou Family to be delayed.’

Zhou Shixiong looked at the stack of painted scrolls and casually pulled one out. "This one, then. But you must clearly explain our family’s situation to them."

Empress Zhou quickly took it. "Brother, you’re being far too careless about this! At least take a proper look."

"Besides, when I requested these portraits, do you think I didn’t explain the situation to them?"

"You’re selling yourself short, Brother. You are the Marquis Wu’an. The moment she marries into the family, she’ll hold the title of a First-Grade Imperial Decree. My eunuchs and palace maids have been receiving plenty of gifts lately."

’Especially in the harem. Even the concubines who never saw eye-to-eye with me have been doing everything they can to get on my good side these days.’

’After all, nearly every prominent family has an unmarried daughter. A husband’s family that grants her a noble rank the moment she marries in, and lets her be the mistress of the household—where else would one find a match like that? Everyone wants to vie for such an opportunity for their family’s daughters.’