Marrying a treacherous official

Yunji put the stack of silver notes into a small drawer on her desk.

The He family must have heard some rumors to secretly bribe Cui Zeming by slipping silver notes into the New Year's gift box.

In his previous life, Cui Zemin was impeached by the censor, one of the serious crimes being embezzlement and bribery, and using his power to seek personal gain for officials.

After all, it should come.

She said with a hint of unease, "Summon Huo Xi over for questioning."

Hua Chao accepted the order and went to the outer courtyard. A short while later, Huo Xi hurried into the tent to await further instructions.

Yunji ostensibly discussed official business, but secretly inquired about hidden information from the sidelines.

"With the New Year approaching, Qinghui Academy has received many visiting cards from officials. I wonder if, after the court session, the master has taken these cards to other officials' residences for banquets?"

"The old man hasn't visited any other officials' residences recently."

Huo Xi answered carefully, afraid of revealing even the slightest flaw.

Yunji glanced down at the white glazed flower-shaped cup in her hand, and asked casually, "But I heard from Granny Kong that Master has been coming home drunk for several nights in a row?"

When Huo Xi saw that the First Madam was asking such a question, he knew that she must have thoroughly investigated the matter of the General's drunkenness. The reason he was testing the waters was to see if the General was honest.

If he were to conceal anything further, not only would he fail to help the general, but he would also implicate himself and be punished by the First Madam. After careful consideration, he confessed truthfully:

"The old man was invited by Shanxi merchants, Anhui merchants, and Chaozhou merchants to drink at Helelou Restaurant."

Yunji's expression turned somber as he sat silently on the plain armchair adorned with auspicious cloud patterns.

She has always despised the profit-seeking and risk-avoiding nature of businessmen.

For example, after her father died, her maternal grandfather saw the Gu family's fortunes decline and the first thing he did was to sever ties with her and her mother.

Even if they begged the mansion, their maternal grandfather would only treat them as a heavy burden, discarding them like worn-out shoes in the desolate courtyard to fend for themselves.

Cui Zemin had close ties with the owners of the three major merchant groups. One was greedy for money, and the other coveted power. The two were a perfect match, and neither was afraid of being devoured by the other.

Seeing that his wife's expression had turned particularly cold, Huo Xi hurriedly spoke up for the general.

"If you've ever been to Hele Tower, you'll know that there's no music or dance on the seventh floor. The platform overlooks the bustling Imperial Street, making it the perfect place for the master and the merchants to discuss business."

"Is that so?"

Yun Ji calculated that Cui Zemin had lowered himself to the status of banqueting with the merchant guild and returning home drunk every night. With such lavish wealth accumulation, the money he had obtained must be considerable.

She didn't press further, only saying lightly, "When I have some free time in the future, I'll also like to sit up at Helelou."

Granny Kong has been suffering from headaches for days because of Cui Zeming's nightly drunkenness.

She sent two clever and dutiful maids to the outer study to take turns guarding the inner room, serving the master as he washed and changed, in order to prevent Chi Ying from taking advantage of the master's unconsciousness to climb into his bed.

With such meticulous planning, nothing went wrong.

That night, Granny Kong instructed the cook to make a bowl of slurry to help the master sober up and relieve his hangover.

The steaming hot liquid had just come out of the pot, and the celadon bowl was still hot to the touch. The wooden door creaked open, and someone pushed it open and came in, saying:

"Has the hangover soup that Granny prepared for the master been made?"

"Why has the First Madam come here?"

As Granny Kong watched Yunji walk into the low, old house, she repeatedly expressed her concern:

"The midnight chill is biting. Madam has just recovered from a serious illness. Instead of resting properly in bed, why did you go out and catch a cold? If Madam wants any sweet soup, just send Chunxuan over to fetch it, or at the very least, the cook can deliver it. How could we trouble Madam to come all the way here herself?"

"I want to bring the old man some hangover soup."

Yunji tried to avoid Kong Mama's gaze, but Kong Mama still caught the shy look in her affectionate eyes.

"Forgive this old servant for being confused, but since the master is drunk and unconscious, it should be the madam who sends him some hangover soup."

No longer caring whether the celadon bowl was still too hot to handle, Granny Kong quickly picked up the bowl of slurry and placed it into the lacquer tray, instructing the serving maid:

"Make sure the fermented rice water cools down before serving it to the old man. If he gets burned, he will be held responsible and no one can protect you."

"Granny, I've got it."

The young maidservant kept in mind Granny Kong's teachings and dared not make the slightest mistake.

Yunji looked at the little maid with her tender face, nodding her head solemnly as she was being scolded by Granny Kong, looking as if she were facing a formidable enemy. Her double-bun hairstyle swayed shakily, and Yunji couldn't help but laugh out loud.

"After you go inside, bring me the hangover soup. The old man won't blame you."

"Yes, ma'am."

The little maid immediately breathed a huge sigh of relief, her eyebrows curved into a smile, and she beamed with sweet joy.

Granny Kong respectfully saw Yunji out of the old house. Watching her graceful figure disappear into the distance, she turned and instructed the cook to bring incense and candles and light them.

A statue of the Kitchen God is enshrined in the niche in the back kitchen.

Regardless of whether they were major or minor deities, at this critical juncture, Granny Kong held the sandalwood incense high and bowed to every god she saw.

"May the gods and Buddhas protect you. Madam must stay in the outer study tonight. Even if the master is drunk and acts recklessly, I only pray that Madam can conceive a child and continue the Cui family line."

With a face blackened by charcoal fire, the Kitchen God didn't look like a deity who would earn people's respect and do their bidding.

Yunji pushed open the door and entered the outer study. She saw Cui Zeming wearing a blue silk robe with a Buddha head and gold embroidery. He was sitting slumped on an ebony chair, his slightly closed eyes concealing the murderous aura of the daytime and adding a touch of gentle charm.

She wrung out a damp handkerchief and gently called to him:

"Husband, wake up, it's time to wipe your face."

Cui Zemin suddenly opened his eyes. Perhaps his sweet dream had been disturbed, he stared at her intently, his gaze fierce and ruthless.

Yunji covered his face with a warm handkerchief, suppressing his domineering gaze.

He raised his hand to lift the hot towel off his face, but she held his wrist firmly.

"Wait a minute, take the hot towel off your husband when it cools down."

"Madam has come to offer her favors in the dead of night; I am sorry I am not worthy of such hospitality."

"Husband, how much wine and women have you been drinking at the pleasure house? Why are you talking nonsense?"

Yunji gently rubbed his eyebrows and eyes through the warm towel.

"The He family sent New Year's gifts, and hidden in the bottom compartment of the gift box were five thousand taels of silver notes. I've always been timid, and I'm worried that this money will ruin my husband's future. I can't sleep at night, so I came to ask my husband if we can accept these silver notes?"

Cui Zemin's head felt a little relaxed from the soft, boneless pressure of her fingers, so he simply let her continue to serve him.

"It's just five thousand taels; take it if you want."

Yun Ji removed the hot towel from his face, startling him so much that his expression turned cold, and his gaze towards her became gloomy.

"If I insist on refusing this money, could my husband cancel the job that He Qingchang requested?"