Chapter 133: Ending and Beginning [Thanks for the support! Bowing again!]

After passing the water gate, all kinds of ships entered the waterway from Chuzhou to Yang Zhou.

The setting sun shone on the lake, making it look like gold.

The waterway connected several lakes, and the scenery was no longer the bald yellow that filled the eyes before.

Yuan Bingkai, the Zhongqin Earl, was looking at the scenery on the boat.

He looked at the "Zhongqin Earl Yuan" flag above his head and sighed, thinking about how to explain this matter to Sheng Hong when he really arrived in Yang Zhou.

Suddenly, his gaze froze, and he saw a maid walking with her head down in front.

Yuan Bingkai frowned, squinted, and then his eyes shook violently, even somewhat unable to believe it, so he shouted: "That maid, stop."

At his shout, the maid walked faster, turned, and walked into the cabin.

"Someone!" The Earl's Mansion steward and servants immediately looked over.

"Tell Da Niangzi to gather all the maids in the cabin."

Yuan Bingkai sat in the cabin, with Yuan Wenchun, the elder and younger Zhang ladies, and the mansion stewards standing on both sides. The maids and servants brought from Bianjing all stood in the middle of the cabin.

Yuan Bingkai glanced at one of the maids and waved his hand: "You all go out."

The maids walked out of the cabin.

The mansion steward closed the door outside.

Inside the cabin

"Clap!" The table on the boat was slapped loudly, scaring Yuan Wenchun and the elder and younger Zhang ladies.

Yuan Bingkai was so angry that his beard and hair stood up, and he scolded: "What did you two mother and son eat? Letting Shao'er's concubine dress up as a maid and bring her along??!"

Yuan Wenchun said: "Father, Mother was also trying to save money. Bringing her along means our family doesn't have to spend money to hire a troupe to sing. In Chuzhou, Mother listened to the opera, and that troupe charged us half the price!"

Seeing his eldest son so muddled, Yuan Bingkai only felt his head throbbing, and then everything went black...

"Someone! Quick! Someone!" Yuan Wenchun shouted.

Later, the Yuan family's boat took down the "Zhongqin Earl Yuan" flag, and Yuan Wenchun strictly ordered the servants and stewards on the boat not to tell anyone that this boat was the Yuan family's, and then continued to sail toward Yang Zhou.

The big commotion in Bianjing had been spreading more and more since the first day of the month.

Wang Yan's Da Niangzi was a collateral branch of the Feng family, the Duke of Cheng. Several generations ago, the Duke of Cheng's family had a big commotion: the Duchess of Cheng sent the Da Niangzis of the second and third branches of the Feng family to the Cautionary Department.

For this, she offended two noble families in the capital and was often talked about, but this Duchess only said one thing: "If you don't throw away a rotten peach, the whole basket will rot!"

Sure enough, a few years later, those two noble families were arrested by the emperor at the time, their titles stripped, and their certificates destroyed.

The Feng family, however, blossomed in both civil and military affairs and had many marriage ties in the capital, so the news was very well-informed.

At that time, Master Wang, who was in his prime and had not yet been enshrined in the Imperial Temple, sought this legitimate daughter of the collateral branch of the Duke of Cheng for his son. After all, family style is something that can be inherited.

He was also hoping to have a daughter-in-law like that Duchess of the past, especially knowing that the in-laws had begged the Child-Giving Guanyin step by step for their daughter, making him even more satisfied with this marriage.

The Feng family was also satisfied with this marriage.

However, after the daughter-in-law's Child-Giving Guanyin was forcibly taken away, this satisfaction had to be discounted.

Jiangning Prefecture was the seat of the Great Zhou's Jiangnan East Circuit, and it naturally had official gazettes delivered directly.

It was only natural for the official gazettes to help officials carry letters.

Naturally, some time ago, the Feng family members, including the Prefect of Jiangning, knew about the commotion in Bianjing, and they knew it more clearly. But the Wang family didn't ask, so they weren't easy to poke at this scandal.

The person Wang Yan's Da Niangzi, Madam Feng, sent to inquire was this Prefect of Jiangning.

Therefore, what Madam Feng knew was the latest version of the Yuan family commotion around the Lantern Festival.

After knowing the ins and outs of the matter, Madam Feng hurriedly returned to her mother-in-law and came to Yang Zhou.

Madam Feng felt some disgust toward Wang Ruoyu, the eldest sister-in-law, but felt quite good about Wang Ruofu, the younger sister-in-law, especially since the Sheng family's etiquette was in place, and Sheng Hong showed even more respect when he saw Wang Yan. Most importantly, Madam Feng had seen Changbai, the eldest legitimate son of the Sheng family.

On Changbai's small face, she actually saw a trace of her father-in-law's charm.

Hearing Wang Ruofu say that this little nephew studied diligently and worked hard, she looked at the Sheng family with high regard.

After asking her mother-in-law for instructions, Madam Feng went directly to the Sheng family in Yang Zhou to speak about this matter in person.

The thirtieth day of the first lunar month.

Yang Zhou Assistant Prefect Mansion,

At the main gate, a carriage with the Wang family's sign drove directly into the second gate. Wang Shi, with worried eyebrows, was helped by Liu Mama to welcome her sister-in-law from her maiden family.

Seeing Madam Feng get out of the carriage, Wang Shi hurriedly went up: "Sister-in-law, you've come."

Because it concerned Hualan, Madam Feng was invited to Shou'an Hall. Along the way, Wang Shi nervously held Madam Feng's arm, her eyes full of worry about the final verdict on the Yuan family.

Entering the main hall of Shou'an Hall, Madam Feng saw Old Madam Sheng and hurriedly asked: "Greetings, Old Madam."

The Old Madam smiled and said with slight gratitude: "Troubling you, you actually came in person."

"Old Madam, what are you saying? We are all relatives; there is no trouble or not."

Everyone sat down, and tea was served.

It wasn't easy to let this relative speak directly, so they had to drink some tea to moisten their throats.

Hearing that Madam Feng had come in person for this matter, Sheng Hong also hurriedly came over from the office, wearing a scarf. The scratches on his neck had just scabbed over and were not easy to show.

Madam Feng drank a few sips of the tea soup, which was just the right temperature—not hot, not cold, quenching thirst and producing saliva—and looked admiringly at Fang Mama, who was busy.

"Old Madam, the tea soup in your courtyard is truly delicious and appropriate."

At this time, a maid outside reported: "The Master is here."

Sheng Hong entered the main hall of Shou'an Hall and hurriedly bowed: "Greetings, sister-in-law, troubling you."

Madam Feng smiled and said: "Brother-in-law is still so polite."

Wang Shi was feeling somewhat uncomfortable and kept looking at Old Madam Sheng, hoping the Old Madam would start the conversation.

Unfortunately, the Old Madam was in control and not in a hurry, slowly chatting with Madam Feng about everything under the sun.

Finally, Madam Feng said: "Two days ago, I received a letter from my sister-in-law in the main branch, sent by a steward on a fast horse, and the Yuan family's affairs became clearer."

Wang Shi pinched her handkerchief and looked at Madam Feng: "Sister-in-law, please speak."

Madam Feng wiped her mouth with a handkerchief and said:

"Around the Lantern Festival, this commotion of the Yuan family was known to everyone in Bianjing, and some stewards and servants told some gossip they heard to their masters as anecdotes."

"Sister-in-law, what gossip?"

Madam Feng said: "It is said that some idlers said that servants of a wealthy family gave money to several brothers, telling them to see this actress and lead her astray, not letting her catch up."

Wang Shi's eyes lit up: "Could the Yuan family have been framed? I said so... no wonder my sister didn't send a letter..."