Chapter 469

"If you hadn't met me tonight, were you planning to kill him first?"

Xu Zaijing continued.

Liao Sanlang nodded: "Yes, after asking clearly about the layout of the Kang family's courtyard, kill this person surnamed Qi first, and then go to the Kang family at night, leaving no one alive."

"Master Kang is having a hard life!"

After Xu Zaijing finished sighing, he turned his head to look at Liao Sanlang's eyes: "Why is Sanlang looking at me like this?"

Liao Sanlang: "What hard life does this person surnamed Kang have, coming from an official family?... Why does Fifth Young Master have this sigh?"

Xu Zaijing didn't answer the question, but said: "Right, who else is in your family? Before, I only knew that the Kang family and your family had talked, but I didn't know who you were."

Liao Sanlang thought for a moment, understanding that it was just a matter of a few words for Xu Zaijing to inquire about this, so he said: "Two elder sisters, both are personal Madams for the Madams in high-ranking noble households."

Xu Zaijing was speechless for a moment and said: "No wonder you would ask the question just now! One kind of rice feeds a hundred kinds of people, and I'm not saying that all personal Madams are like this."

"The reason I said Master Kang has a hard life just now is because Master Kang is seeking a comeback these days, and I heard he is just one step away, and this matter of yours comes out..."

Liao Sanlang turned his head to look at the side room: "I don't care whether that person surnamed Kang has a hard life or not, I just want to kill this nest of thieves with my own hands to avenge my sister!"

Xu Zaijing patted Liao Sanlang on the shoulder and said: "If you want to kill your enemy with your own hands, I'm afraid you have to see if the Kang family's sticks will beat people to death."

After speaking,

Xu Zaijing, hearing the sound of horseshoes, led the horse and walked toward the outside of the courtyard.

Opening the courtyard door,

Qingyun, who dismounted outside the door, bowed: "Young Master, the matter has been handled."

Xu Zaijing nodded and said: "Let's go, let's go home."

End of the Hai period (after 9:00 PM)

Quyuan Street was quiet,

Xu Zaijing and Qingyun turned in from the main street,

and in the darkness, they could see the strips of candlelight reflected from the courtyards on both sides of the street, as well as the two large lanterns hanging at the entrance of the Marquis's mansion in the distance.

On the way to the entrance of the mansion,

when passing the entrance of a courtyard, Xu Zaijing, with outstanding hearing, vaguely heard a young lady saying, 'Sister-in-law, it's not early! It's not too late to embroider tomorrow!'

Another voice said: 'What's not too late, it will take two months to send it to your eldest brother! If we don't rush the work, it will delay your eldest brother from wearing it!'

'Alas~ my elder brother has accumulated blessings for several generations to find a wife like sister-in-law.'

'Go, go, go, all go to sleep!'

Watching Xu Zaijing turn his head to look at the courtyard,

Qingyun said from the side: "Young Master, this is a family that moved in recently. I heard from the Madam in the inner courtyard that it seems to be entrusted by Madam Wu, surnamed Zou from Yuzhou."

"Oh?"

Xu Zaijing went out early and returned late every day to go to school, so he didn't notice this family that moved in recently.

"Does this family have any connections in the capital?"

"They say they have some kinship with the imperial clan of Yuzhou!"

Xu Zaijing nodded, understanding in his heart: This is the Zou family from the original story.

At the same time, Xu Zaijing was still somewhat curious in his heart: What exactly does this legendary Madam Zou, who is very virtuous and follows her husband's lead, look like?

Thinking about these things, Xu Zaijing walked to the entrance of the Marquis's mansion.

The gatekeeper steward walked up and bowed: "Fifth Young Master, the Madam said that when you return to the mansion, go to the Madam's courtyard."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Back courtyard,

Madam's courtyard,

Xu Zaijing nodded to Cui Chan, who was standing at the entrance, walked into the main hall, and looked at Sun Shi, Xie Shi, and Hualan, who stood up holding handkerchiefs, and bowed: "Mother, Sister-in-law!"

"Jing'er, how did the matter go? No lives were lost, right!"

Sun Shi asked anxiously.

Xie Shi and Hualan also looked at Xu Zaijing anxiously.

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded: "Mother, Sister-in-law, don't worry, no lives were lost!"

"Really?"

"Really!"

Xu Zaijing affirmed.

Sun Shi nodded and said: "That's good! This... the man who just came off the battlefield, the evil spirit is really a bit heavy."

Hualan also breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Where is Third Brother?"

Sun Shi said: "He went to the Liao family to find you, didn't you meet?"

Xu Zaijing shook his head and said: "Mother, this son went to another place to handle this matter, and didn't meet my brother! Let the servants in the mansion call my brother back from the Liao family!"

Sun Shi nodded, and after giving the instructions, she sat down with the two daughters-in-law.

Hualan sat somewhat awkwardly, looked at Sun Shi and then at Xu Zaijing, and said: "Mother, Jing-ge'er, it's all me..."

Sun Shi waved her hand: "Hua'er, it has nothing to do with you! Fortunately, no lives were lost, so the matter is easier to talk about!"

As she spoke, Sun Shi looked at Xu Zaijing and said: "Speaking of which, this is a soldier who has made contributions to the country, and he is still under the Zhang family's command. You didn't let him suffer any grievances, did you?"

Xu Zaijing shook his head and said: "He naturally suffered a little grievance, but this son resolved it before returning."

Xie Shi, who was sitting on the side, saw Xu Zaijing looking at Hualan from time to time, thought for a moment, stood up, bowed, and said: "Mother, then I will return to the courtyard to see the children. If there is anything you need help with, tell me."

Sun Shi nodded with relief.

Watching the eldest daughter-in-law walk out of the hall,

Sun Shi said: "What else does Jing'er have that cannot be said in front of your eldest sister-in-law?"

Hualan frowned, holding her handkerchief, and looked at Xu Zaijing with eyes full of worry.

Xu Zaijing looked at his mother and sister-in-law under the candlelight, pondered for a moment, and said:

"Mother, Sister-in-law, although I knew before that the Kang family used our family's name when the incident happened, I didn't know the specific situation! So I took that Steward Qi of the Kang family to another place to ask."

"As a result... upon asking, this Steward Qi said that Sister-in-law's aunt is practicing usury..."

Hearing this, Sun Shi frowned.

"Thump!"

Hualan stood up all of a sudden, her eyes full of surprise looking at Xu Zaijing, who was hesitating to speak.

Then Hualan lowered her head and thought for a while, then looked up at the two people in the hall and said: "No wonder! No wonder Mother always says there are ways to make money, so it's this!"

"I'm going back now! My mother... how could she do this kind of business!"

As she spoke, Hualan stepped forward, preparing to walk outside.

"Wait!"

Sun Shi shouted.

"Mother?" Hualan looked at Sun Shi with shame, feeling ashamed.

"Sit down first!"

Hualan blinked somewhat embarrassedly and sat back in the chair.

Sun Shi frowned, pointed at Xu Zaijing with her chin, and said to Hualan: "Hua'er, this usury matter is now something that officials don't investigate unless the people report it! If it were just this, he wouldn't be like this!"

"Jing'er, continue!"

Xu Zaijing looked at Hualan, who was full of concern, and said: "Mother, Sister-in-law, the real reason why that maid was beaten to death before was not because she seduced the Kang family brother..."

Sun Shi and Hualan frowned, looking at Xu Zaijing with surprise.

Xu Zaijing: "According to Steward Qi's confession, the real reason is that this maid somehow found out about the Qi family's embezzlement of interest! The Qi family then used a scheme to beat her to death."

"The interest from usury?"

Sun Shi asked.

Xu Zaijing nodded.

"Pfft... I always thought Wei Wei Yima was shrewd!"

Hualan frowned, and said in a low voice, unable to believe it, as the Second Madam of the Marquis Yongyi's mansion, Hualan had naturally heard of many cases of evil servants bullying their masters.

Sun Shi nodded at Xu Zaijing, full of the meaning of 'Jing'er, you did the right thing', 'this matter' referring to not letting Xie Shi listen on the side.

Usury itself is not good, and the interest was eaten by the servants under her, which is a real scandal!

It would be awkward for Xie Shi to hear this.

The hall was quiet,

Hualan stood up with a serious expression and said: "Mother, then I will go to the Sheng family now!"

Sun Shi nodded: "It's too late, take two more healthy women and personal guards from the mansion."

"Yes, Mother!"

"Clang! Clang!"

"The first quarter of the Hai period (nearly 10:00 PM)! The day is warm and the night is cold, don't forget to add clothes!"

"Clang! Clang!"

The time-reporting sound spread on the street,

making Bianjing at night even quieter.

Every certain distance, one could see patrol posts with candles lit on the side of the road.

Hearing the sound of the carriage,

soldiers in the patrol post wearing new clothes walked out,

glanced at the carriage on the street, wrapped their clothes, and returned to the room.

"Whose carriage is it?"

"I don't know, but I see it's escorted by knights, and there is a 'Xu' character on the lantern hanging."

"Oh! Then it's mostly the Marquis's mansion's carriage! Kid, you came to the right place for our patrol post. Let me tell you, we often see those two Marquis's mansion young masters!"

"Bianjing is full of nobles, are the young masters of the Marquis's mansion so rare?"

"You'll see tomorrow morning, kid!"

On the street,

in the carriage without candles lit,

the cold night wind blew the carriage curtains, making them shake constantly,

and Cuichan, sitting on the side, said with worry: "Da Niangzi! What happened tonight? Fifth Young Master returned to the mansion so late, and we have to return to the Sheng family at this hour."

Hualan frowned and shook her head: "Don't ask yet, let me think."

"Yes, Da Niangzi."

After walking for a while,

Hualan sighed heavily and shook her head, saying: "Cuichan, you say if Father knew Mother was practicing usury, what would happen?"

Cuichan frowned and looked at Hualan: "Da Niangzi, usury...? Master values the Sheng family's future and reputation the most, this is what you told me! If Master knew Madam was practicing usury..."

Hualan said in a deep voice: "Perhaps he won't divorce her and marry another, but the management power Mother has held since coming to Bianjing will mostly be taken away."

Cuichan nodded.

At this time, the master and servant had already become accustomed to the darkness in the carriage and could see each other's movements.

"Then, Da Niangzi, why don't you just go find Madam and go to the Kang family together, and hide it from Master for the time being! After the Kang family handles the aftermath and clears the relationship with the Sheng family, it won't be too late to tell Master!"

Cuichan whispered beside Hualan.

At this time,

the light from the lanterns hanging in front of the colorful building doing some business by the roadside shone in,

vaguely illuminating Hualan's face, which was full of thoughtful expression.

After pondering for dozens of breaths, Hualan shook her head:

"Father can naturally let Mother and me go to the Kang family!"

"But we returned to the Sheng family so late, Grandmother will definitely know! You also said just now that this matter concerns the Sheng family's reputation and future, Grandmother won't wait for us to return and explain clearly, and will mostly ask Master and Jing-ge'er."

"Father, he will mostly know about this! If he knows Mother and I hid it from him tonight, he will definitely punish Mother severely!"

Cuichan, who was at her wit's end on the side, frowned and said: "Then... then what to do? Da Niangzi! Grandmother doesn't care about worldly affairs now. If Madam's management power is taken away, it will mostly fall into the hands of Lin Wei Xiaoniang!"

Hualan nodded: "I know!"

In the bumpy carriage,

Hualan thought for a long time,

suddenly, Hualan's eyes lit up and she said: "It's not that there is no one who can take over this management."

Cuichan frowned, her brain turning rapidly, and then she said in a sudden realization: "Da Niangzi, you mean the one in Jin'an Study? That might work! I heard from Pingmei that Wei Wei Xiaoniang's younger sister and brother-in-law are highly valued in the Bai family's salt manor!"

Hualan nodded: "Speaking of which, I also need to write a letter to Grandmother, after all, the one being dealt with is the old servant she and Grandfather sent to Wei Wei Yima's side."

"Da Niangzi is right!"

"Right, when we arrive at the Sheng family, don't forget to give rewards to the healthy women and personal guards who escorted us!"

"This servant understands."

Sheng family in Jiying Lane,

back courtyard,

on the small path outside the Shou'an Hall courtyard,

Cuiwei walked in front carrying a lantern,

and Cui Mama, behind the lantern, looked at Hualan, who was holding her arm, and said: "Grandmother didn't drink the soothing medicine after knowing that the Marquis's mansion had sent someone around the You period, saying she was afraid of not waking up if something happened. Sixth Da Niangzi was also sent to Jin'an Study."

Hualan nodded with worry: "Then Grandmother must not have slept well!"

Cui Mama shook her head: "It can be seen that Grandmother has been awake."

As they spoke,

the group entered the Shou'an Hall courtyard,

and Hualan sighed looking at the windows where candles were lit.

Entering the room,

"Grandmother~"

Hualan called out softly looking at Grandmother, who was standing in front of the Luo Han bed in her pajamas,

and then Hualan walked quickly to Grandmother's side and held her arm.

Grandmother looked at Hualan's expression, especially around her eye sockets, and patted Hualan's hand: "Didn't cry, that's good!"

Hualan, who was originally fine, felt her nose sour and her eyes hot for some reason upon hearing this.

Grandmother sat on the Luo Han bed, and Fang Mama placed an embroidered stool beside Hualan.

Taking the cloth strip handed over by Cui Mama, Grandmother wiped Hualan's tears: "You've become the Second Madam of the Marquis's mansion, and you're already a mother, why are you still crying?"

Cui Mama walked to the side and led the few maids of Shou'an Hall out.

There was no one else in the hall, and Grandmother said: "Speak, what happened!"

Hualan looked at Grandmother with teary eyes: "Grandmother, you don't know! My aunt, she..."

Listening to Hualan's words, Grandmother shook her head with a dark face.

"... This Steward Qi's family, that's how they harmed that maid to death."

After Hualan finished speaking, she looked at Grandmother.

Grandmother sighed: "These servants in the family must be checked frequently. This principle, according to reason, your Grandmother should have taught her! How could there be such a loophole!"

"Grandmother, granddaughter thinks we still need to write a letter to the maternal grandfather's family in Yingchang Prefecture."

After Hualan finished speaking, Grandmother nodded: "Hua'er is right, your uncle transferred to Yingchang Prefecture, which is only two hundred miles away from Bianjing, and will know tomorrow."

"If we hurry, we can wait for your Grandmother's disposal letter the day after tomorrow."

Hualan nodded repeatedly: "Grandmother, then... granddaughter will go tell Father and Mother now?"

Grandmother sat on the Luo Han bed and said: "Hua'er, if you tell your father about this, do you know what the result will be? Do you have any plans in your heart?"

Hualan looked at Grandmother under the bright yellow candlelight and nodded: "Grandmother, Father will mostly take away Mother's management power and give it to Lin Wei Xiaoniang... so granddaughter is thinking, whether Wei Wei Xiaoniang can take on this management matter."

Grandmother had a slight smile in her eyes: "Then how are you prepared to persuade your father?"

On the way from Weirui Pavilion to Shou'an Hall,

Wang Ruofu walked in a hurry with Liu Mama, saying as she walked: "Hua'er returned to her maiden home so late, she must have suffered a great grievance at the Xu family!"

"Snap~"

Wang Ruofu stopped and looked at Liu Mama: "You say it wouldn't be Zaihang wanting to take a concubine and Hua'er disagreeing, right?"

Liu Mama supported Wang Ruofu: "Madam, Eldest Son-in-law is such a good person, he wouldn't be like this! Don't guess so anxiously, Eldest Da Niangzi went directly to Grandmother, I see it wouldn't be because of such a matter!"

Wang Ruofu continued to walk forward: "Stinky girl! Having a biological mother and not looking for her, but looking for her grandmother, really!"

Before entering Shou'an Hall,

Caihuan and other little maids were left outside the courtyard,

seeing this scene, Wang Ruofu was even more worried about Hualan,

walked quickly into the hall,

and after bowing to Grandmother, Wang Ruofu looked at Hualan: "Hua'er, what's wrong? Is your mother-in-law..."

Looking at Grandmother, Wang Ruofu changed her words: "Did you suffer a grievance?"

Hualan stood up and glared at Wang Ruofu with some resentment, making Wang Ruofu feel somewhat inexplicable.

"Mother, did you hide it from Father and practice usury with Wei Wei Yima!?"

"Ah?"

Wang Ruofu stood up with panic in her eyes, looked at Grandmother, and said tremblingly: "That's not true! Who, who, who is chewing their tongue? I..."

Hualan frowned: "Mother, Xu family's Jing-ge'er caught Kang family's Qi Da, and Qi Da confessed everything!"

Wang Ruofu looked at Grandmother, who had a straight face, swallowed her saliva: "No, your aunt, I... Xu Zaijing, this rabbit... this kid, how can he even manage this matter!"

"Mother!"

Hualan stomped her feet in a hurry and sat back in the chair gloomily.

"Master is here!"

A little maid at the courtyard entrance whispered.

Wang Ruofu's eyes turned into panic, and she sat on the floor beside the chair with weak legs, staring at the entrance of the hall, as if a beast was about to walk in from outside.

Sheng Hong walked into Shou'an Hall,

first looked at Hualan with concern, and seeing Hualan's gloomy appearance, Sheng Hong felt some heartache in his eyes.

Subsequently, after looking at Wang Ruofu, who was somewhat strange and different from the past, he bowed: "Mother."

Grandmother nodded, signaling Sheng Hong to sit down.

After Sheng Hong bowed and sat down, he looked at Hualan: "Hua'er, what's wrong? Your grandmother and I are here, if you have anything to say, just say it!"

"Mother, you say it yourself!"

Hualan looked at Wang Ruofu helplessly.

Wang Ruofu: "Ah? I..."

"..."

Wang Ruofu finished speaking with a crying tone.

"Smack!"

Sheng Hong slapped the table and stood up,

scaring Wang Ruofu into a shiver,

Sheng Hong breathed violently, pointed at Wang Ruofu and said: "You, you are good! Amazing! You even dare to practice usury, where are we?!! Ah!?"

Liu Mama on the side frowned painfully and looked at Wang Ruofu.

Wang Ruofu fell to the floor beside the chair with weak legs, her reason not straight and her breath not strong, and she couldn't slap the table, just said tremblingly: "Ma... Master, I was also doing it for the good of this family!"

Sheng Hong was so angry he couldn't speak, closed his eyes to calm his emotions, and bowed to Grandmother: "Mother, this child is not strict in managing the family..."

Watching Grandmother wave her hand, Sheng Hong sighed.

Hualan looked at Wang Ruofu with heartache, walked over and helped her up with Liu Mama, looked down at her mother, and said helplessly to Sheng Hong: "Father, there's more!"

Wang Ruofu was stunned and waved her hands repeatedly to deny: "No more! Really no more!"

"Achoo!"

Xu Zaijing, who was preparing to sleep, sneezed and rubbed his nose.

Listening to the three maids outside not speaking anymore,

Xu Zaijing closed his eyes and whispered: "This is truly a disaster that collapses the sky~"

(End of chapter)