Chapter 248: Brother Jing! I'm sorry! [Thank you all for your support]

Sheng Hong frowned and asked in an urgent voice:

"How did you teach Ming'er? At such a young age, she!"

Sheng Hong felt the rest of his words were too harsh; after stopping himself, he exhaled sharply through his nose.

"She, a concubine-born daughter, thrust herself among the legitimate daughters of noble and high officials! What sort of families are those? Ah! Families of dukes and marquises who assisted in founding the empire!"

"If others see this, how will they view the Sheng family? How will they view me, Sheng Hong?"

Wei Wei Shuyi lowered her head, performed a squatting bow, and said:

"The master's scolding is justified. Please drink some iced beverage first to cool your temper."

Sheng Hong frowned and sighed, saying:

"In Bianjing, the young ladies of noble families are already saying that our family's Minglan, at such a young age, is currying favor with the powerful!"

"Others also say Minglan disregards sisterly affection! When the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Lady Ningyuan called her, she didn't even call them 'older sisters' before going over herself!"

"What great harm does this do to the reputation of our Sheng family's daughters! How will they find husbands in the future?"

Wei Wei Shuyi lowered her head, pursed her lips slightly, and spoke with grave tone:

"Regarding the matters the master has considered, I will go immediately to the Old Lady's residence to fetch the Sixth Miss and reprimand her."

"Then I will go before the First Lady to beg for forgiveness."

Hearing Wei Wei Shuyi's words, Sheng Hong's anger diminished considerably; after pondering, Sheng Hong said:

"I will go with you."

As he spoke, Sheng Hong held a cool tea cup, sniffed it lightly, and his eyes brightened.

After placing the empty tea cup on the table, Sheng Hong led Wei Wei Shuyi toward Shou'an Hall.

Entering the courtyard of Shou'an Hall, before even reaching the door, they heard Wang Ruo Fu's cheerful voice coming from inside.

"Once those young men from those families spoke up, providing a reason, everyone dispersed. But I heard the words of those First Ladies, and they were somewhat sarcastic."

"By the way, Mother, today I saw Hua'er; she was accompanying her mother-in-law, and her bearing was so distinguished that among the First Ladies, she was certainly one of the best."

"The master has arrived."

Following the announcement by the maid,

Sheng Hong entered the room with a smile on his face.

The Old Lady, seated on the Arhat bed, fanned herself and glanced at Sheng Hong and Wei Wei Shuyi behind him.

She pointed to a chair with her fan, indicating for Sheng Hong to sit, and then said:

"Face is given mutually. When the young men from the Duke of Han's family and others fought at the Duke's residence, it would be spread as poor hospitality, thus diminishing the Qi family's face."

"The Qi family were the hosts, and the Princess of Princess Pingning could not say much, but Bai Wu Daniang and the others were guests, so naturally they had to speak a few words in support."

After the Old Lady finished speaking, Wang Ruo Fu nodded in agreement, with an expression that said, 'I thought the same.'

Meanwhile, Wei Wei Shuyi had already bowed to the Old Lady and Wang Shi, then stood behind Wang Shi.

"Hong'er, didn't you just come to pay your respects? Is there something else?"

Sheng Hong glanced at Wei Wei Shuyi behind Wang Shi, smiled, and said, "Mother, nothing is wrong; I just wanted to"

Looking into the Old Lady's eyes, Sheng Hong faltered: "I just wanted the cool tea made by Hearing Fang Mama."

After finishing, Sheng Hong smiled at Hearing Fang Mama, then turned back and looked at Wei Wei Shuyi with deep meaning.

Wei Wei Shuyi lowered her head, stepped out from behind Wang Shi, performed a squatting bow, and said:

"Old Lady, First Lady! Forgive me! Just now, the Sixth Miss came to my courtyard and spoke about today's events at the Duke's residence. After listening and reflecting, I felt"

As she spoke, Wei Wei Shuyi glanced at Sheng Hong and continued:

"I feel that the Sixth Miss, being a concubine-born daughter, playing with the legitimate daughters of dukes and marquises, is not friendly toward her older sisters and shows no regard for the trouble it might cause if seen by others, harming the Sheng family's reputation."

"She has needlessly disappointed the deep affection of the Old Lady and the First Lady! It would be better if she went out less in the future."

Minglan, who was in the Old Lady's bedroom, had been full of smiles upon hearing Wei Wei Shuyi's voice,

but after hearing Wei Wei Shuyi's words, Minglan lowered her head in disappointment, and her steps toward the door stopped.

She stood at the doorway, somewhat at a loss.

While Wei Wei Shuyi was speaking, Wang Shi glanced at Liu Mama and asked in a low voice:

"Didn't the master go to that wench's room today?"

Liu Mama nodded and said, "Yes."

Looking at Sheng Hong's attire, Liu Mama continued:

"Judging by what was said, it is similar to what First Lady Kang Wang Shi said; at that time, the Fourth Miss was by your side."

Wang Shi narrowed her eyes and said in a low voice, "Are you saying it was the Fourth Girl? Hmph!"

Looking at Wang Ruo Fu speaking, Liu Mama, Wei Wei Shuyi standing in the hall, and Sheng Hong drinking cool tea on the side,

the Old Lady, without even turning her eyes, looked at Wang Shi and said, "First Lady?"

Wang Ruo Fu immediately bowed deeply to the Old Lady,

then glanced sideways at Sheng Hong, sneered disdainfully, and said sternly:

"Tsk! Wei Shi, from whose brainless, wretched mouth did you hear such rotten cow-dung words?"

Wei Wei Shuyi immediately bowed and said:

"First Lady, I—"

"Wei Shi, listen well! Only that kind of seductive wench who is entirely focused on currying favor with the powerful would have such short-sighted vision, forcing her own rotten thoughts onto the family's young ladies!"

"The Sixth Girl was raised before Mother; her older sister is also the Second First Lady of Hou Fu, not those rootless concubine-born daughters!"

"Moreover, those they played with were relatives; they are just young girls, so how could there be any harm to reputation?"

Wei Wei Shuyi immediately bowed and said, "The First Lady is right; it was my lack of foresight."

"Next time you hear some lowly wretch telling you such words, tell me; I will slap her mouth."

After Wang Wang Ruofu finished speaking, she straightened her back with relief and turned toward the Old Lady:

"Mother."

The Old Lady nodded and said:

"Da Da Niangzi's words may be rough, but her reasoning is sound! Lady Wei, you worry too much. Although the Sheng family is no illustrious house here in Bianjing, we must not belittle ourselves or think such nonsense."

"Yes! This concubine thanks the Old Lady and thanks Da Da Niangzi for pointing out the way."

Sheng Hong, standing aside, looked at Wang Wang Ruofu and said with a forced smile: "What Mother says is true!"

"I am weary as well; you may all go."

With that, the Old Lady rose, waved her hand to the crowd in the hall, and entered her bedchamber.

Seeing Minglan's somewhat self-blaming expression, the Old Lady smiled and said:

"Ming'er, do you know why your Wei Xiaoniang said these things?"

Minglan shook her head.

"Think it over more; tell Grandmother tomorrow morning."

"Mm."

Outside Shou'an Hall,

Wang Shi, accompanied by Nurse Liu, Caihuan, and other maids, walked along the road back to Weirui Pavilion.

Glancing around to ensure no one was nearby, she turned her head and said to Nurse Liu:

"Did you see the master's expression? The last time he scolded someone with such satisfaction was back at his uncle's house."

"This beating around the bush to curse someone... truly..."

Nurse Liu also smiled and said: "It just made Lady Wei that mulberry tree."

Wang Wang Ruofu said:

"Mm, she certainly knows how to build a ladder. Take the fabrics given by the Qi family and deliver them to that courtyard."

"Just say they are for Zhen'er."

As mistress and servant chatted, they entered the rooms of Weirui Pavilion.

Under the candlelight,

Hearing Rulan, her lips glistening with oil, was completely absorbed in reading a book.

Wang Wang Ruofu rolled her eyes at her own daughter before turning into her own bedchamber.

Behind her, Nurse Liu walked over, smiling as she righted the book Hearing Rulan was holding upside down.

Jin'an Studio,

Wei Wei Shuyi looked at her sleeping son's long eyelashes and sighed.

Sister Sister Xiaodie walked over and said:

"Wei Xiaoniang,?"

Wei Wei Shuyi shook her head and quietly told Sister Sister Xiaodie what had happened.

"Minglan was inside the Old Lady's inner room; she most likely heard it all too."

"Wei Xiaoniang, tomorrow I will find time to speak with Xiao Xiao Xiaotao. The Sixth Miss is so clever; she will surely figure it out."

Seeing Wei Wei Shuyi nod slightly, Sister Sister Xiaodie continued:

"Then, since the Old Lady and Da Da Niangzi spoke as they did, the Master must surely understand that the Sixth Miss was wrongly accused! What Linqi Pavilion said is incorrect!"

Wei Wei Shuyi gently shook her head:

"How could those in Linqi Pavilion be wrong?"

Linqi Pavilion

Lin Lin Qinshuang, who was talking with Zhou Zhou Xueniang, saw Sheng Hong return.

"Hong-lang, why did you leave without listening to Shuang'er's advice? The Sixth Miss is young; how could she understand such matters?"

After serving Sheng Hong and helping him take his seat at the dining table, Lin Lin Qinshuang continued:

"Moreover, Sister Wei devotes all her attention to caring for Zhen'er; where would she find the energy to concern herself with the Sixth Miss?"

Sheng Hong nodded with a stern face while Lin Lin Qinshuang stood aside, arranging the dishes:

"Just now, I spoke to Mo'er. Although she loves poetry and calligraphy, having developed an upright character just like her father, she cannot bear to see anything that disgraces the Sheng family's reputation!"

"But she is, after all, the elder sister; she should not have impulsively spoken to you, Hong-lang. She ought to set a good example for her younger sisters."

Looking at Lin Lin Qinshuang, Sheng Hong pondered for a moment before saying: "Mo'er is a good child; I misunderstood."

Seeing Lin Lin Qinshuang's confusion, Sheng Hong said:

"Mo'er's elder sister married into Hou Fu. Given the current state of the Xu family and our Sheng family, there is no harm in her sisters playing with the legitimate daughters of noble houses."

Lin Lin Qinshuang was stunned upon hearing Sheng Hong's words.

She then said:

"Indeed, Hong-lang. This concubine heard from Feng'er that in the academy, several sons from ducal and marquis families praised Mo'er's calligraphy endlessly."

"This concubine thinks she inherited it from her father."

Hearing this, Sheng Hong laughed with pride.

Quyuan Street,

Marquis Marquis Yongyi's Hou Fu,

Hearing Zhao Zhao Meifeng politely declined the invitation to dine in the rear courtyard.

Instead, she went with Xu Xu Zaijing to a wooden hut by the horse track.

They carried a table out from Xu Xu Zaijing's master's room, placed it in an open area, and sat on wooden stumps.

After lighting a mosquito-repelling incense burner, snacks from the stalls near the main gate of Hou Fu were quickly delivered inside.

Eating the fried fish,

Xu Xu Zaijing said, "Big Brother Zhao, how did these people end up being sent to my home?"

Zhao Zhao Meifeng picked up a chopstick-full of stir-fried chicken and rabbit, put it in his mouth, nodded with bright eyes, and said:

"Now that those few are under your father's command, their families and dependents are naturally a matter for your Hou Fu."

Xu Xu Zaijing frowned and said, "Surely no one will come to assassinate them?"

After clinking bowls with Xu Xu Zaijing, Zhao Zhao Meifeng shook his head and said:

"No. In Bai Gao, they are all dead men."

Having said this, Zhao Zhao Meifeng gnawed the chicken leg in his hand clean, then tossed the bone toward the two large dogs at the doorway.

The chicken bone flew over, but those two large dogs merely glanced at it and did not move.

"But my family has no one who speaks the Bai Gao language."

Zhao Zhao Meifeng smiled and said, "It's fine; someone should be arriving in a few days."

"By the way, the Prince of Yan has been stripped of title and reduced to a commoner, locked away in confinement; the Prince of Yan's heir is dead, and all his retainers and advisors have been executed by the Imperial City Bureau."

Hearing this, Xu Xu Zaijing shook his head and said, "That can't be right? I exercised great restraint in my actions, Big Brother Zhao, as you know."

Zhao Zhao Meifeng looked around, then waved at Brother Qingyun,

and after seeing Xu Xu Zaijing nod, Brother Qingyun walked off to a distance.

Zhao Zhao Meifeng spoke in a low voice: "These words leave my mouth and enter your ears; let no third person know."

"Inside the Prince of Yan's Wang Fu in Bianjing, the evidence is conclusive: with Your Majesty having few offspring, it was the Prince of Yan who did it."

Xu Xu Zaijing looked at Zhao Zhao Meifeng in shock and horror; after digesting this for a moment, he nodded and said:

"So, the Prince of Yan is not dead, but the Prince of Yan's only son is dead?"

"Mm! He was beaten to death before the Prince of Yan's eyes a few days ago; imperial physicians and old ginseng kept him clinging to life while he was beaten alive for a day and a night."

Saying this, Zhao Zhao Meifeng lifted his wine bowl and gulped down a mouthful, while Xu Xu Zaijing beside him hastily refilled it for him,

"The Marquis Marquis Yongyi's household... should also soon have no survivors left."

Hearing this, Xu Xu Zaijing hurriedly asked:

"Did their Bao family also get implicated in this matter?"

Zhao Zhao Meifeng said, "Not exactly! It is only said that previously the Prince of Yan sent a woman of the imperial clan to the Bao family."

Xu Xu Zaijing said in confusion, "I've never heard of this! When did the Bao family marry a woman of the imperial clan? Where is she?"

Zhao Zhao Meifeng said nothing.

Seeing Zhao Zhao Meifeng's silent demeanor, Xu Xu Zaijing did not continue asking; it seemed she was already gone.

"In a few days, I will return to Yang Zhou Prefecture."

"After solving such a major case, no promotion?"

Looking at Xu Xu Zaijing's expression and recalling those few days when he had nearly died on horseback,

Zhao Zhao Meifeng said irritably, "If there were no promotion, I truly wouldn't have encountered this assignment. Brother Qingyun! Have the stall pack up a few portions; I'll take them back."

Brother Qingyun, in the distance, hurriedly walked out the gate.

"What about Prince Yelu Sun? Is he still in the capital?"

Hearing Xu Xu Zaijing's question, Zhao Zhao Meifeng shook his head and said:

"Everything that needed to be asked has been clarified; after exchanging him for three stockades in the north, we sent him back."

Having said this, Zhao Zhao Meifeng added another sentence: "Right in front of the military prefecture where Marquis Hu Yan is stationed."

Xu Xu Zaijing nodded and said, "Then that counts as expanding the territory."

Watching the female servants from the inner courtyard, who were carrying bedding and daily utensils past the horse track to the guest quarters,

Xu Xu Zaijing raised his wine bowl and said, "Let those who understand the Bai Gao language come quickly."

Wu Da Da Niangzi dismounted from her carriage at the main gate,

this residence having been purchased for Wu Da Da Niangzi by the Pan family in Bianjing,

and now everyone from the Jinghai Hou Fu was living here.

Seeing the young Bianjing Yamen Runner emerging from the gate, along with her son Seeing Hu Yanjiong accompanying the runner,

Wu Da Da Niangzi smiled, nodded to her son, and walked to the doorway to see the runner off.

"Brother Jiong, what is happening?"

As mother and son spoke, they walked into the courtyard.

"Mother, the Yamen Runner came to deliver a message, saying that the female members of the Bao family who had not yet left the capital have passed away."

Hearing this, Wu Da Da Niangzi was startled and hurriedly said, "You haven't told your grandmother, have you?"

Seeing Hu Yanjiong shook his head.

Wu Da Da Niangzi said, "That is good then!"

Walking into the inner courtyard, Wu Da Da Niangzi arrived at a certain yard,

where a hunched old man was lying on a bamboo chair; upon seeing Wu Da Da Niangzi, the former Marquis of Jinghai sat up.

"Greetings, Father/Grandfather!"

"Mm, did everything go smoothly?"

"Smoothly; no one gave my daughter-in-law any trouble."

"That is good, that is good. You have come here to...?"

Seeing Wu Da Da Niangzi's gesture, Marquis Huyan Feng stood up and, supported by Seeing Hu Yanjiong, came to the courtyard gate.

"The female members of the Bao family who had not yet left the capital have passed away. The yamen just delivered the news."

Marquis Huyan Feng was startled, then seemed to understand something, and nodded, saying:

"Take some silver to hire people to collect the corpses; just don't let your mother-in-law know."

"She is so frightened now that she dare not even leave her room; it is better she does not learn this news."

Hearing these words, Wu Da Da Niangzi and Seeing Hu Yanjiong cast a glance toward the house within the courtyard.

Previously, when the entire main branch of the Hu Yan family was seized from their home, amidst Lady Xiao Bao's terrified screams for help,

the former Lady of the Jinghai Marquis had been frightened into fainting,

and upon waking, she could no longer face strangers, becoming a madwoman who would scream with full vigor whenever she saw one.

"Yes, Father."

Marquis Huyan Feng nodded and waved his hand, saying, "Then you may return; from now on, the Hu Yan family will rely on you husband and wife."

Speaking thus, without waiting for a reply, he turned and departed.

Wu Da Da Niangzi squatted in a bow; after Seeing Hu Yanjiong helped the elder back into the bamboo chair and stepped out, mother and son left this courtyard.

"When did you arrive home?"

"At noon."

"Come, let us go see the good things you brought back."

Nan Jiang Tang Lane

Rong Residence,

Rong Rong Feiyan returned to Huixue Courtyard in low spirits.

In the main lady's courtyard,

Rong Rong Xian frowned and asked:

"Mother, you say the Chai family has intentions toward the Xu family's young master?"

The Rong family's eldest lady nodded and said:

"It is nothing; one good daughter is sought by a hundred families, and the Xu family has not agreed yet! Rong Xian-er, you must try harder!"

Rong Rong Xian thought of that figure beside Lady Chai, his expression filled with intense struggle,

until finally he painfully whispered:

"We both only met Miss Chai for the first time!"

"It seems I even left a rather good impression on Lady Chai!"

"Alas!"

"Jing-er! Your elder brother is about to fail you!"

Chai Residence

Lady Chai had already left Chai Chai Zhengzheng's room,

and Chai Chai Zhengzheng, sitting before the table, glanced at the armored puppet in the corner,

unsure what thoughts had arisen,

Chai Chai Zhengzheng smiled faintly,

then sighed.

(End of Chapter)