Chapter 405 - 287: Bitter Winter, Northern Snow Seals the Land—Prosperous Qin Capital? How Pathetic, How Laughable!

"Alright, understood."

Zhong Yang bowed to Chu Ming: "Lord Chu, I have ordered a plaque to be made and it is now hung on the door."

"Thank you, Lord Zhong."

"..."

Above the vermilion gate outside the mansion, the words ’Chu Mansion’ are hung high against the wind and snow.

"Chu Mansion?"

Those outside the mansion glanced around.

"Could it be the Xirong County’s first scholar, the Attendant Reader Chu Ming, as my brother said?"

"..."

Inside the mansion.

The people from the Regent’s Mansion had left, leaving only a white-clad young man, cold and alone in the once Cui Mansion.

Chu Ming walked out of the pavilion and strolled leisurely through the mansion, allowing the snow to fall on him.

His eyes remained calm, as he paused to observe various details across the courtyards.

This mansion seemed to be a reward, but in fact, it was a place of intrigue.

He wasn’t observing his first residence in the Qin Capital for his own amusement but was using the Sword Gourd Spirit to explore everything outside the mansion.

Under the heavy snowfall, the former Cui Mansion, now the Chu Mansion, had already become a nest for many.

At the southeastern position, three individuals huddled in a corner, murmuring complaints.

Listening closely, one could tell they were sent by Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat Luu Shizhong.

At the southwestern position, similarly three individuals disguised as street vendors, from their covert conversations, it was evident they were from the Tang Family.

It was uncertain whether they were sent by Tang Xuan, who was already imprisoned in the Regent’s Mansion, or by the Tang Family itself.

There were professionals stationed at other positions, but these were more disciplined, silent, leaving Chu Ming unsure who had deployed them.

In the ten days since arriving at the Qin Capital, many wanted this ’weak scholar’ dead...

Chu Ming stood in the center of the grand courtyard, looked up, calmly gazing at the vast, snowy sky.

Before long, his entire body was enveloped in snow, except for his face, clean as a snowflake.

With a slight raise of his hand, the snowflakes fell off, revealing a hint of disappointment on his face.

Zhong Yang and the people from the Regent’s Mansion had left about half an hour ago, and he had waited in the mansion for another half hour, yet those staking out had made no move.

Apparently, none of them were foolish.

In that case, he would not waste more time here.

The vermilion gate opened, and a white figure stepped out, the road had accumulated a layer of snow.

"Is that... Lord Chu?" someone watched from afar.

"A young man, with a gentle appearance, he must be Lord Chu!"

"..."

Chu Ming certainly heard these voices, paused briefly, then stepped out the gate, heading towards the Imperial City.

The transformation from Cui Mansion to Chu Mansion required him to enter the Imperial City to thank the Seventh Prince and report on the progress of deciphering the Sea Scripture.

Also, he planned to visit Wenlan Pavilion to finish reading the remaining books.

...

Imperial City, Western Palace, Jingran Hall.

"You say you’ve already deciphered the content on the seventh page of the Sea Scripture?" The Seventh Prince sat in the hall surprised, looking at the white-clad youth below.

"Your Highness, today I just finished deciphering the seventh page." Chu Ming presented the deciphered content.

"Good! Good!" The Seventh Prince examined it, "I didn’t misjudge you, your talent in Ancient Shell Script is indeed extraordinary."

After reviewing the content, the Seventh Prince was full of joy: "The Qin Capital hasn’t seen such heavy snow in decades. Someone, bring my Snow Qilin Cloak."

Before long, a palace maid respectfully brought a white cloak to the Seventh Prince.

"Not for me, but for Attendant Reader Chu."

The Seventh Prince smiled and said, "Chu Ming, this winter might be exceptionally cold. This cloak is made from the fur of the Snow Qilin, which only appears in heavy snow; it’s very warm. It was sent by the silk workshop days ago, and I haven’t had a chance to wear it yet."

The palace maid carried the white cloak to Chu Ming, bent low, showing respect.

Snow Qilin?

Chu Ming felt a stir in his heart.

The Snow Qilin is a unique exotic beast, mature ones reach the Fourth Tier, not found within the Great Qin Dynasty, only in the Ice Soul Kingdom in the far north of the Cangxuan Western Continent.

To the north of the Great Qin Dynasty lies the Xue Di Kingdom, and the Ice Soul Kingdom is separated by three or four other countries from there, showing the rarity of this cloak.

"Thank you, Your Highness." Chu Ming bowed.

"Su Xin, help Attendant Reader Chu wear it."

Su Xin was the name of the palace maid.

The Snow Qilin is indeed worthy of being a Fourth Tier Exotic Beast; when worn on Chu Ming, it instantly showcases a noble elegance untouched by the mud, making the little palace maid Su Xin secretly fluster.

"Your Chu Mansion doesn’t have any servants yet, right?" The Seventh Prince waved his hand again, "Su Xin, you will handle this matter, and from now on, you will stay at Chu Mansion to take care of Attendant Reader Chu’s daily life."

"Yes." The palace maid named Su Xin was overjoyed.

The Seventh Prince’s words implied that she was no longer a palace maid, but Chu Ming’s near maid.

What’s known as a near maid refers to a close and intimate maid, without an official title, yet far higher in status than ordinary maidservants, having great authority, able to command virtually all servants and maidservants.

This identity was much better than being a bullied palace maid in the Imperial City.

Chu Ming remained expressionless and said nothing more, as the new mansion was a bit cold and needed managing.

Since it was a gift from the Seventh Prince, he couldn’t outright refuse.

"Thank you, Your Highness, I have one matter..."

Chu Ming thanked and was about to discuss the situation of the slum districts.

The Seventh Prince looked at Chu Ming, interrupting him: "By the way, there’s one more thing about Cui Ye."

"Cui Ye will be executed in three days, but he left behind quite a few businesses, such as the Mei’an Mountain Stone Factory, Jiping Cloth Shop, etc. These are all excellent enterprises and shouldn’t be affected by a corrupt official."

"I thought about it and decided to take over the stone factory and cloth shop. You can supervise and manage them for me."

There were many businesses entangled with Cui Ye, with Mei’an Mountain Stone Factory being the best among them. Jiping Cloth Shop was slightly inferior, but it had strong annual silver taels earning potential as well.