Chapter 65: Idle Matters and Differences [Thanks for everyone's support

(A Ming-dynasty filigree gem-embedded flower-basket hairpin found online; indeed exquisite.)

Seeing Xu Xu Zaijing and the other two approaching, this old woman met Zhu Zhu Qinghu's gaze and her body trembled.

Her expression was full of panic.

"Hmm?"

A question arose in Xu Xu Zaijing's mind, followed by a sudden realization.

'The Yu family? From what several people at the banquet said, Department Magistrate Yu brought three children with him to take up his post.'

Xu Xu Zaijing thought of something: the hairpin, the Nine-Turn Filigree Gold Hairpin.

Xu Xu Zaijing was just about to shout to stop this old woman when he forcibly held himself back.

He tugged Zhu Zhu Qinghu, pretended not to see the old woman, and continued back to the front hall.

However, he whispered a few words to Brother Qingyun, and after hearing them, Brother Qingyun left the two of them and walked outside.

"This old woman looks panicked and guilty; there must be something going on," Zhu Zhu Qinghu said.

"Cousin, even if there is something, it is a family matter of Department Magistrate Yu's household; the mastermind might well be the mistress of the inner quarters, so arresting only her is useless," Xu Xu Zaijing said as he returned to the banquet table.

Zhu Zhu Qinghu's eyes turned, understanding this was a strategy of casting a long line to catch a big fish.

In the afternoon, Xu Xu Zaijing and his brothers returned to the relay station.

Brother Qingyun stood at the relay station entrance and nodded upon seeing Xu Xu Zaijing.

Afterwards, he led Brother Qingyun to the room where Sun Shi was staying.

Xu Xu Zaijing's eldest aunt merely lifted her head to glance at him when he entered; Xu Xu Zaijing then told his mother about what he had witnessed at the Department Magistrate's residence.

Brother Qingyun was called into the room by Xu Xu Zaijing and placed the exceedingly exquisite gold hairpin from his bosom onto the table.

He described his actions: he had intercepted that old woman halfway; at first, she remained stubborn, but after Brother Qingyun intimidated her and revealed he was sent by Grand Tutor Yu, flashing the sharp blade hidden in his bosom, the old woman trembled in fear and confessed everything, spilling the beans like pouring beans from a bamboo tube.

It turned out that Grand Tutor Yu had arranged for Department Magistrate Yu of Xiangzhou to marry the daughter of the Fan family as his principal wife.

That year, Young Master Yu was dispatched to serve as an official in Xinzhou Prefecture; without Grand Tutor Yu's strict supervision, Young Master Yu became very unrestrained.

The following year, Lady Fan suffered damage to her foundational health while giving birth and could no longer bear children.

After learning this from a physician, Young Master Yu secretly began an affair with a concubine-born daughter of the Gu family in Xinzhou.

Her family claimed she had entered a Daoist temple to become a nun, but in reality, Young Master Yu kept her housed in the temple, where she secretly bore children, the first being a boy.

For the sake of continuing the family line, Grand Tutor Yu and his wife turned a blind eye, while simultaneously treating Yu Yu Yanran even better.

Moreover, this Gu family concubine-born daughter refused to be a concubine; upon Lady Fan's death, she blatantly brought her pair of son and daughter to join Young Master Yu as he took up his post here in Xiangzhou.

However, the Gu family was never wealthy, and this Gu young lady relied solely on her beauty and her son to become the future principal wife.

Although the Gu family tried their best to provide a substantial dowry, there truly was not much.

Thus, this pair of wolf-like husband and wife set their sights on Lady Fan's dowry, using the pretext of caring for Yu Yu Yanran to bring along these several cartloads of goods.

Young Master Yu tacitly approved of this matter, as some of these assets were intended for his own son.

If he did not pawn the Fan family's dowry, where would he get the silver to live so lavishly?

Sun Shi looked at her youngest son and said displeasedly:

"You really know how to find trouble for your mother. Brother Qingyun, did you give that old woman the silver for the pawn?"

"Replying to the Principal Lady, yes; I went with that old woman to the pawnshop to have it appraised."

Sun Shi looked at the exceedingly exquisite and heavy gold hairpin in her hand, and upon closer inspection, the characters 'Yu Yanran' were engraved upon it.

"Brother Qingyun, you may leave first."

Brother Qingyun bowed and left the room.

Sun Shi looked at Xu Xu Zaijing and said:

"Han Wulang, do you realize that what you did today might bring trouble to Zhu Family Fortress? If this Young Master Yu cannot take revenge on the Hou Fu, do you truly believe he will not retaliate against Zhu Family Fortress?"

Xu Xu Zaijing lowered his head and said:

"Mother, I simply could not stand such a rotten affair of bullying an orphaned girl.

If this Young Master Yu dares to wrong the Zhu family,

then I will surely make sure His Majesty the Emperor and the Empress know about his actions of pawning his deceased wife's dowry to support his subsequent wife.

"Furthermore, regarding the seat of Department Magistrate he currently occupies, I do not believe no one covets it.

While his legitimate wife lay ill on her sickbed, he indulged with another woman and had children; clearly of the status of children by an outer mistress and concubine, they are now unexpectedly about to become legitimate son and daughter.

With such a major stain on his reputation, if the remonstrance officials learn of it, I fear he will find it difficult to continue serving in office."

Sun Shi said:

"But what if they decide to fight to the death and kill you to silence you?"

Xu Xu Zaijing said:

"Then it depends on whose fists are harder! However, I reckon this Young Master Yu does not have that courage; if this were in Xuzhou, the Yu family's ancestral home, I might be somewhat cautious, but here in Xiangzhou, where his term lasts no more than three years..."

Sun Shi looked at her youngest son, nodded, and said:

"Since you can think this clearly, your mother will say no more. Upon returning to the capital, I will have someone present the hairpin before Grand Tutor Yu."

Xu Xu Zaijing left his mother's room and saw Brother Qingyun at the doorway.

"Stay alert tonight; tell my cousin that the three of us need to be on guard tonight."

"Yes, Young Master. The Young Master Cousin went out again after returning with you."

Xu Xu Zaijing was startled and asked, "Did he say what he was going to do?"

"Young Master Cousin said he was going to tie up some loose ends."

Xu Xu Zaijing asked no further, thinking to himself that sometimes one should not meddle in others' affairs, because you never know what consequences it might bring.

Just like now; if he had not known that Grand Tutor Yu and his wife genuinely loved Yu Yu Yanran from the bottom of their hearts, he would not have waded into these muddy waters, where one careless step could easily draw fire upon oneself.

But, once there is a stepmother, there becomes a stepfather,

You two grown adults, bullying a little girl who has lost her mother!

Xu Xu Zaijing truly could not bear to watch it; he could not hold himself back.

Chou hour (around three in the morning)

Zhu Zhu Qinghu returned to the relay station and was quite surprised to see Xu Xu Zaijing still awake.

Zhu Zhu Qinghu said, "Rest assured, everything is fine; I heard from the Yu family's servants that that My Lord Yu's woman flew into a tremendous rage and beat several servants."

Zhu Zhu Qinghu continued, "A dog that bites does not bark wildly. Jing-ge'er, you have improved."

Xu Xu Zaijing said, "I will go wake Brother Qingyun to keep watch while we return to sleep."

The remainder of the journey passed without any mishap, and the Xu family, who had been wandering about for more than half a month, finally returned to Bianjing.

While passing the Yellow River ferry crossing, Xu Shi gazed at the scenery, and no one knew what she thought of, a line of clear tears flowed down before she fainted on the boat, causing quite a panic among everyone.

Only after returning to the capital and summoning a Physician did they learn it was due to excessive grief, with sorrow knotted in her heart.

Crying it out was actually good.

Sun Shi returned home, saw that everything at Hou Fu was normal, and after asking her daughter-in-law about the situation over the past half-month, her heart finally settled.

A few days passed.

The Eldest Lady of Yongchang Marquis Manor and the Fifth Young Lady of Lady Ningyuan Marquis Manor came to the Xu residence; having learned a few days prior that Sun Shi had endured a arduous journey, they had not come to disturb her before now.

Her daughter-in-law Xie Shi and Xu Xu Pingmei were called over to keep them company and chat, speaking of the lively celebration a few days ago when Marquis Marquis Zhongjing's manor had added a grandson to the family.

Accompanying them were Liang Liu Lang and Gu Gu Tingyu.

Liang Liu Lang rarely visited the Xu residence, but he was fairly familiar with Gu Gu Tingyu; after writing a few characters in the study together with Xu Xu Zaijing and the other two, he grew impatient and wanted to play pitch-pot.

Gu Gu Tingyu paid little attention to Liang Han, instead looking at Xu Xu Zaijing with some curiosity as he said:

"Jing-ge'er, why do I feel that you are somewhat different today?"

Xu Xu Zaijing looked at him and said, "In what way am I different? My clothes? Or something else?"

"No, it is just a feeling I cannot put into words."

If Gu Gu Tingyu were here, he would certainly say that there was less recklessness in Xu Xu Zaijing's eyes and more steadiness.

Since Liang Han was a guest, Xu Xu Zaijing put down his brush and joined them in playing pitch-pot.

It was still Gu Gu Tingyu who possessed the talent, winning against Xu Xu Zaijing by a slim margin.

Liang Han, on the other hand, was completely crushed by Gu Gu Tingyu.

Seeing Liang Han looking rather unhappy, Xu Xu Zaijing said, "Liu Lang, come, shall we go fishing?"

"Let's go, let's go, let's go."

An hour later, Gu Gu Tingyu looked down at the single small fish in his bucket, while in Liang Han's bucket, three fish each a foot long were blowing bubbles.

As for Xu Xu Zaijing, he had not even lifted his fishing rod once.

Just as the three were enjoying themselves heartily, they suddenly heard Brother Qingyun's voice.

"Young Master, the reward from the Zhu family has arrived."

We will hold off on creating an author group for now; I fear that if the group becomes flooded with chatter, even updating will become difficult.

I tried out this illustration feature; everyone can share their thoughts, and I will decide whether to keep it based on whether the feedback is good or bad.

I am preparing to sleep now and may not be able to reply to everyone until noon.

Bye.

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(End of Chapter)