Chapter Twenty-Two

  Mr. Qing's courtyard was behind the Huai Tree Alley of Tianxiang Pavilion, a two-entrance courtyard where Mr. Qing and his male servant who came to Beijing together lived in the first entrance, and the second entrance was occupied by the wet nurses from Nara Mansion and several maids.

  Yin Zan went to the Tianxiang Pavilion through the back door first, and all he could hear was the noise in front of him. The place was specially set aside for receiving noble female guests, and there were not a few people there. The shopkeeper saw Yin Zan and hurriedly came forward: "Master has arrived!"

  He nodded and scanned around: "Everyone's fine!"

  "Everything is fine! Everything is fine! It's just that business is getting better and better, and the shop seems too small!"

  Just as he was speaking, Wu Ge also rushed in from outside and saw that it was Yongzheng. He smiled and came forward: "It's just right to come over and take a look at the Tianxiang Pavilion to see if there's anything going on. I didn't expect to run into Fourth Master!"

  Wu Ge had put in a lot of effort for the Tian Xiang Pavilion and helped out a great deal, so Emperor Yongzheng's gaze softened: "Since you're here to help, I'll go take a look at Mr. Qing, let's go together."

  Mr. Qing is a strategist, and Yin Zhen is willing to take him along. The five-grid smile in his eyes is particularly bright: "I won't go, just take a look and leave!"

  "Go ahead, I have something to tell you."

  The courtyard is simple, with many bamboo plants, which immediately adds a touch of elegance and refinement. Mr. Qing is airing books and sees Yongzheng coming in, hurries to welcome him: "You've arrived!"

  In the study, Mr. Qing's pen and ink were on top of his head, a painting of fishing by the river, according to Mr. Qing himself, it was a painting of himself. Everyone sat down, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then got down to business.

  "In the first month of the year, the Emperor is going to personally lead a campaign against Galdan. In your opinion, will some of the princes also follow him?"

  Mr. Qing's eyes had a hint of smile: "You actually guessed it, you should have been prepared."

  Mr. Qing also thinks so.

  Mr. Qing glanced at Wu Ge, who was deep in thought with his head down, and saw Wu Ge look up and say: "Then I'll go back and tell Ama to prepare a few skilled guards for you in advance, and they will follow you when you set out."

  Five strokes is a transparent character.

  Mr. Qing smiled: "If Mr. Fei Yang Gu can show up, it would be the best. The emperor taking the princes to battle is an opportunity for the princes, but safety must be guaranteed first before talking about other things."

  Yongzheng did not decline: "I'll still have to trouble Father-in-law, and when I get the chance, I'll personally go to thank him."

  Wu Ge smiled and waved his hand: "You don't have to, no need to bother with this empty courtesy." The princes couldn't privately socialize with the ministers, even if it was their own father-in-law. Without anything important, they shouldn't always be visiting each other's homes.

  "After saying a few words, he turned to the shop: 'Business is not bad, and the name is getting more and more famous. It's better to open a branch.' Yi Zhen said, looking at Wu Ge again: 'I'm afraid there's not enough silver money in hand. How about this? We'll partner up to open it together.'"

  What if there's not enough money? Wu Ge waved his hand repeatedly: "No need to bother!"

  He didn't let him say more: "After all, I'll count you in as one of the masters. Tomorrow we'll come out and take a look at the shop front together, and set some rules."

  Mr. Qing thought to himself, looking at the situation, Fourth Master indeed attaches great importance to Fourth Madam's natal family, and Fifth Brother has helped a lot, so Fourth Master insists on pulling Fifth Brother together to make money, it can be seen that he is also a person who knows how to repay kindness, thinking this way, the smile on his face became even more pleasant, after all, there is still hope.

  In two days, it will be the full moon banquet of Bao Ge'er. I heard that it will be held in Empress De's Yonghe Palace and will be a grand affair. At that time, there will be even more noble ladies attending. The lady from the Fuca clan told Yaotou to flip through her clothes and decide what to wear on the day of the full moon banquet as soon as possible. She had already ordered someone to make a new set of hair accessories. After all, she is the grandmother of the imperial grandson, and no matter what, she cannot lose face.

  When Yatou came in to say that Wang's wife had asked to see her, she was trying on clothes and felt that the crimson purple color was a bit too heavy, while the autumn fragrance color was a bit too old-fashioned. She irritably put down the clothes and sat down on the couch, seeing Wang Shi walk in wearing a sky blue dark patterned dress, and couldn't help but take a closer look, thinking that Wang Shi's eyes seemed to have a few more wrinkles, her face slightly happy, and opened her mouth indifferently: "What is it?"

  Wang hesitated and looked around, Jueluo frowned and ordered the maid to go down, impatiently saying: "Speak now."

  Wang's wife kowtowed and knelt on the ground: "Even if I, a slave, have committed countless mistakes, it is still my own fault. Please, madam, give Ruyi a bit more face."

  It's actually saying such words, Jiāo Luó shì didn't even raise an eyebrow: "This is ridiculous, how could I not give her face? Being the second daughter of Nara House is already a big enough face, why come to me?"

  Wang seemed to have mustered up his courage, his voice trembling slightly: "Put Ruyi under your name, as long as..."

  She hadn't finished speaking, when Lady A'ruo slapped Lady Wang: "You shameless thing! How dare you say such a thing?! You were originally my dowry maid, how did I treat you?! You ingrate, taking advantage of the chaos to climb into Master's bed and instigate him to be disheartened with me, making me suffer so much. Now you still have the face to say this? What kind of person are you? Fit to be my daughter!

  Jueluo hated her so much, Wang understood today. A kind of crazy light flashed in her eyes, and she rummaged through her pocket to take out a large red handkerchief.

  The handkerchief was old, but its appearance made Jiāo Luó feel familiar for no reason. Her eyelid twitched and she looked at Wáng. She heard Wáng say: "You must recognize this handkerchief! How Liu sister died, you know better than anyone!"

  Jueluo looked as if she had seen a ghost, pointing at Wang with her hand but unable to utter a single word, her face turned blue from stifling herself. Of course she remembered this sweat cloth, it was the very thing that killed Liu!

  The Wang family's daughter suddenly seemed different, she raised her head and her voice became clearer: "You say she has an affair with her own cousin, the handkerchief is the best evidence, this thing was found on her cousin's body, and he insisted that it was a gift from Liu sister. Thinking about it, it's really laughable. What kind of person is her cousin? Not even one tenth of a percent as good as Master. Why would Liu sister ruin herself for such a man! Madam, you have a ruthless heart!"

  Jueluo gradually calmed down, her eyes piercing like a knife towards Wang: "You think that with just a few words, Master will believe you? You're underestimating me."

  "Does the madam think that I only know this much? Before Liu's sister died, her brother had already regretted it, saying he regretted being greedy for your small amount of silver and doing such a heartless thing. He didn't run away afterwards, did he? The madam doesn't know where he went, but I do. With just one letter, he can come back to confront you in person, and let the master see how vicious you are behind his back!"

  "Aunt Liu told me all these things back then just so I could have a way out, not end up like her. Poor thing, when she died, she didn't even have a decent coffin!"

  Wang had never spoken so loudly in front of Jueluo before in his life.

  "Who is she to be so good? When I was pregnant, she almost killed me and my child. We barely survived, all thanks to her. She hates me, but do I not hate her too?" She turned to Wang Shi, "You want to use these things to blackmail me into putting Ruyi in the family records?" Her eyes were full of mockery.

  Jueluo lightly sipped a mouthful of tea: "But there's one thing you're wrong about, didn't I already see through Liu Shizi?" She looked at Wang Shi, who suddenly had a stunned expression, and smiled: "The old master is clearer than anyone else, he has long seen through Liu Shi's true face, but doesn't want to stir up trouble at home. He must believe what you said, because he originally knew."

  The Wang family's momentum collapsed with the words of Jueluo, she sat paralyzed on the ground, her face full of incredulity: "Master loved Liu sister so much, how could..."

  "You've forgotten, sir is a bold and decisive general, he sees more clearly than anyone else."

  The Wang family thought they had a fatal handle on the Jueluo family, but didn't know it was actually their own death warrant. If the old master found out, this would be an unmentionable scandal. The household is now so harmonious and prosperous, the old master wouldn't allow such hidden dangers to exist because he sees things clearly and is a decisive and ruthless general.

  Wang's expression became empty, was it necessary for her to die like this, and die so worthless?

  Jueluo's face looked calm, but her heart was not at peace. Although things seemed to be as she said, if old matters were brought up again, who knew what state of mind Fei Yanggu would be in? If Wangshi had died in exchange for letting Ruyi become the legitimate daughter, she would have been willing to die, and Fei Yanggu would probably have agreed, with a hint of apology towards his two deceased concubines. Even if it was just a little bit, it would still become a thorn between her and Fei Yanggu.

  She gazed at Wang Shi in front of her, wishing she could cut him into a thousand pieces, but for the sake of her children, there were some things she had to endure. She looked at Wang Shi with indifference: "I'm willing to consider what you want, but do you know what you should do?"

  Wang's ashen face regained a hint of radiance, and without thinking much, Jiaoruo suddenly said: "The day 'Ruyi' is registered under your name will be the day I die. I swear to heaven that if this matter isn't settled before my death, then Ruyi will marry a scoundrel!"

  Ru Yi is the Wang family's lifeblood, and being able to say this also shows her determination.

  "Go down first, I'll talk to you when things are almost done."

  Watching Wang's somewhat stumbling back, Jueluo fell into deep thought, what should she do with him?

  Wu Ge was excited as he walked with Fei Yanggu to the main house of the Ruo family, saying: "Fourth brother took me to see that Mr. Qing and insisted on partnering up to open a shop together... it's really hard for me to decline..."

  The cheerful voice of Wu Ge made Jueluo's eyes brighten up a bit, she perked up and went out to greet him: "Look at this kid being so happy!"

  Feyang Gutuo glanced at Zha Luo: "Not feeling well?"

  Zhuang Lu knew he couldn't hide it anymore and only said: "It's a bit, I'll call a doctor over to take a look in a moment."

  Fei Yang Gu nodded and sat on the kang before speaking of Wu Ge: "This is also why you are reliable in handling matters, although not allowing you to enter officialdom, but following Fourth Brother to do some things is comparable to entering officialdom. You should train well, as for the matter of those two guards I mentioned, I have a plan in mind and will carefully select them, rest assured that when the time comes, there won't be a shortage of people!"

  Seeing Wu Ge let out a sigh of relief, he laughed and scolded: "You little brat! I can still ruin your plans!"

  Jueluo listened absent-mindedly to her son and husband's laughter, for the sake of this family, even if she had to swallow a fly, what did it matter...