Chapter 27 Old Friend 3 She and Xie Wuhen were never the same kind of people

When Su He returned to the main hall, Liu was giving cloth to the ladies present.

Seeing Su He appear, she hurried over to greet her: "Where has Madam Shaoqing gone? It's so hard for me to find you."

Su He replied casually: "Maybe I drank some alcohol and felt a little dizzy, so I went out for some fresh air."

"Are you feeling better now?"

"Thank you for your concern, Mrs. Du. I'm much better now."

Liu heaved a sigh of relief and brought a tray with brocade on it. "The old lady said that each of the female relatives should be given a piece of cloth. I saw that you were not here, so I left one for you."

Then he lowered his voice and said, "I specially left this Shu brocade for you. This fabric is in short supply right now. Even if you have money, you may not be able to buy it."

Su He pretended to be surprised, "Thank you very much, Madam Du."

Liu struck while the iron was hot: "Madam Shaoqing, please don't be so formal. Remember to come as a guest with Master Shaoqing next time, so that my master can have a chat with Master Shaoqing."

Su He replied: "Don't worry, Madam Du, there are plenty of opportunities."

Liu said "thank you" and was finally satisfied.

The ladies gathered together, chatting, laughing, eating and drinking, and did not leave until three quarters past noon.

The Du family was wealthy and powerful, so they immediately invited the most famous opera troupe in the capital to set up a stage for a performance.

Su He's seat was naturally in the front row of the stage.

As the sound of drums and music began, actors gradually came onto the stage and began to sing.

The guests below the stage were applauding and cheering, and the whole hall was bustling with activity.

Su He also applauded and cheered with everyone, but his eyes were looking around, trying to take the opportunity to observe Du Yuting carefully.

But after looking around, he didn't see any trace of Du Yuting.

She remembered that he had clearly entered the theater.

When he raised his eyes, Su He suddenly saw Du Yuting's figure through the gap in the curtain on the left side of the stage.

He seemed to be losing his temper, and he knocked over the teacup, spilling the tea all over the floor.

Then a servant knelt on the ground and kowtowed continuously.

The distance was too far, and coupled with the interference of the singing, she couldn't hear what they were saying at all.

Du Yuting pointed at the tea on the ground, and then the servant lowered his head and licked the wet ground mouthful by mouthful.

The opera on stage has reached its climax, and cheers can be heard from the audience again.

The opera is called "The Great General" and tells the story of a man who was born a horse slave and joined the army on behalf of his master, and finally made great achievements and became a great general.

The slave horse in the play has now broken free from the shackles of his identity and is fighting hard on the battlefield.

But in reality, the slaves knelt on the ground, licking the dirty tea on the ground.

No one noticed what was happening behind the curtain.

Those who cheer for horse slaves do not really care about the life and death of slaves in reality.

Everything is so absurd and ridiculous, and there is no cure for it.

The cheers continued like a rolling flood, one wave covering the other.

Du Yuting behind the curtain seemed to be startled. He reached out angrily and pulled the gap in the curtain closed.

Su He's vision was suddenly blocked.

She then called Chunlan over and whispered, "Go and find out the name of the servant who made tea for Du Yuting."

Chunlan responded with "yes" and turned to leave.

After just two cups of tea, Chunlan returned with a report: "I've heard that the servant who made tea for Master Du is named Liu Dabao. He just made a mistake and is being dragged away to be beaten with a stick."

Su He replied in a low voice: "I know."

She remembered the name Liu Dabao.

When I returned from the Du family, it was already dusk.

Chunhua Courtyard was quiet, and it was obvious that Xie Wuhen had not returned yet.

Su He had just finished her makeup and tea when she saw Zhang Xiuhua hurried into the room. "Miss, Ah Si is here."

She replied: "Pass it quickly."

Ah Si was as clever as a monkey. He walked into the house in two steps at a time and said, "Madam, I found the account book." Then he took out a yellowed booklet from his chest pocket.

The booklet seemed to have been turned countless times, and the pages were curled.

Su He looked carefully at the title page. What was recorded inside was not the account of Du Yuting selling cloth, but the account of him and others selling ironware in partnership. From the names of people to the time and the amount of money earned, every item was clear and concise, which could be said to be ironclad evidence.

No wonder Du Yuting wanted to beat the accountant to death. How could he let such a big handle fall into the hands of others?

Su He turned the pages one by one.

When she turned to the end, she actually saw Zhao Che's name. Zhao Che was the crown prince of the current dynasty.

And below the name "Zhao Che", another name appeared, Xie Jin.

Xie Jin, Xie Wuhen's uncle, is also a city gate officer.

If ironware is to enter the city, it will inevitably require the cooperation of the guards at the city gates.

Su He recalled the approachable middle-aged man who praised Xie Wuhen highly during the tea ceremony. Unexpectedly, he also had such an unknown face.

After reading the account, she thought for a moment and asked Ah Si, "Have you seen this account book?"

Ah Si replied, "I have seen it, but I don't recognize some of the words."

"Just pretend you haven't seen it." She said and closed the account book.

Ah Si was puzzled: "Madam, what you mean is... we can't use this account book to bring down Du Yuting?"

Su He sighed, "There is no victim."

"I can be the victim and sue Du Yuting on behalf of my father."

"Your father is a servant of the Du family. If you file a complaint on his behalf, it's like a slave suing his master. It's not a heinous crime, but a slave suing his master will only lead to death. Besides," she pointed at Zhou Ping's name in the account book, "this man is now extremely powerful. Even if it's not a slave suing his master, with his power, he will definitely make sure you go to file the complaint alive but not return alive."

Ah Si felt a chill in his heart, and was at a loss for a moment. "Young Master... Is there nothing you can do, Young Master?"

Su He's face darkened, and he spoke solemnly, "Ah Si, remember this: anything I have said to you or ordered you to do must never be known to the Shaoqing."

Ah Si paused, not understanding what was going on, but he didn't dare ask why, so he just lowered his head and said "yes".

At the end, he still couldn't help but ask, "So... are you just going to let Du Yuting go?"

"Of course we can't let him go. We have to find another way."

"Madam, have you thought of a solution? What can I do?"

Su He thought for a moment: "Ah Si, do you recognize the servant named Liu Dabao who was with Du Yuting?"

Ah Si rolled his eyes and said, "When I went to the Du family to seek justice that day, I heard a man who looked like a manager calling out 'Liu Dabao' loudly."

She then ordered, "You are small and inconspicuous, so please help me check out Liu Dabao's situation, such as where he lives and how many people are in his family."

A light flashed in Ah Si's eyes: "I'll go and find out right away." After saying that, he turned around and left the house like a loach.

The room fell silent again.

Zhang Xiuhua stepped forward, pointed at the curled account book, and asked, "Miss, would you like to give this to your son-in-law?"

Su He shook his head, "Let's keep it for now. There's no need to alert the enemy for now."

After all, Xie Jin's name was in there, and after all, she and Xie Wuhen had never been the same kind of people.

It quickly got dark.

Su He had some snacks and then went to the bathroom to wash up.

After washing up, Zhang Xiuhua went back into the room and reported, "Miss, my son-in-law is back, but he didn't come to Chunhua Courtyard. Instead, he went straight to the study."

Su He put on his coat and replied, "He is so arrogant, I guess he won't bow his head on his own initiative."

"If the uncle won't bow his head, then the young lady will bow her head. Otherwise... go to the study to visit the uncle?"

Su He said calmly, "There's no rush."

Right now, she is trying to seek revenge on Du Yuting. If she reconciles with Xie Wuhen and the two of them are always together, it will be disadvantageous to her. It is better for them to live separately and live in peace.

She then ordered, "I will make a pot of tea myself, and have your aunt take it over for me."

In this way, she seemed to be lowering her head, but not completely.

With Xie Wuhen's pride, he would certainly look down on this action, and he would certainly be able to maintain a distance between him and her that was neither too far nor too close.

Zhang Xiuhua looked hesitant: "Is tea appropriate? Or... ginseng soup?"

Su He said firmly: "Just send tea."

The tea, neither clear nor bland, is the essence of her relationship with him.

Zhang Xiuhua sighed helplessly and said, "That's fine."

At this time, it was the study room of Xie Mansion.

Wu Sheng also bowed and reported: "Boss, there's news from Fuzhou."

"What's the news?"

Wu Sheng looked disappointed. "Actually, we haven't gotten any information. The eunuch Shunzi hasn't returned to his hometown since he entered the palace, and no one over there has seen him."

Xie Wuhen sighed heavily: "Shun Zi never returned to Fuzhou, and the lady is an orphan, so there is no way to investigate. In this way, the clues will be cut off again..."

Wu Sheng didn't dare to respond for fear of being scolded.

After a moment, he spoke: "Boss, there is one more thing."

"explain."

"Zhuang Chengkang is dead, and the underground foundry in Xishan has been filled in."

He frowned: "Erasing the traces and silencing the witnesses, it seems the prince is afraid."

"Could it be... that the Emperor is investigating the Crown Prince?"

Xie Wuhen shook his head: "Maybe it's the Second Prince Zhao Bo."

Wu Sheng was shocked: "If this is the case, won't the political situation change drastically?" Just as he finished speaking, Xiao Liuzi, the errand boy, came in from outside the door and reported: "Boss, the young lady sent someone to bring you a pot of tea."

Xie Wuhen looked suspicious: "Tea?"

Xiao Liuzi replied, "I heard from Aunt Zhang that it was brewed by the young lady herself."

He knew that she was good at making tea with plum dew, but he didn't know that she was also good at brewing tea.

"Let her in," he said.

When Zhang Xiuhua walked into the study with tea, she felt her brother-in-law's gaze was cold and sharp, like a murderous arrow, as if he wanted to pierce her through.

She felt a chill on her back and forced herself to smile awkwardly, "Young lady knows that my son-in-law is very busy with official duties, so she specially sent a servant to bring some tea to moisten his throat."

Xie Wuhen had a blank expression on his face: "Could it be that she thinks my study is short of tea?"

Wu Sheng felt something was wrong when he heard this, so he hurried forward to explain to Zhang Xiuhua: "Boss means that the young lady doesn't have to work so hard."

Zhang Xiuhua borrowed the donkey to go downhill: "This servant knows that the uncle cares about the young lady, and the young lady also has deep feelings for the uncle."

As she spoke, she placed the tea on the table and poured a cup. "Although the young lady has not specifically learned the tea ceremony, she is quite talented in brewing tea. How about...you try it?"

Although Xie Wuhen looked disdainful, he still took the teacup and took two sips.

Thanks to the emperor in the palace, he had drunk a lot of good tea before, so when he drank the tea brewed by Su He today, he didn't feel that it was much different - the taste was quite standard, as if it was reserved, but also as if it was not enough.

He ordered: "Tea is finished, you can leave now. Remember to let my wife rest early."

Zhang Xiuhua wanted to ask, "When will my son-in-law return to Chunhuayuan?", but she swallowed the words back when they came to her lips. She was timid and didn't dare to offend this young official.

He had no choice but to lower his head and say "yes", then leave the room.

Wu Sheng was quite bold: "The young lady has already expressed her good will to the boss. Is the boss...still planning to sleep in the study?"

He glanced at him: "Starting to talk too much again?"

Wu Sheng choked and fell silent.

Xie Wuhen returned to the desk and remained silent for a long time, staring blankly at the steaming teapot.

Then he muttered to himself, "That Empress Duofu is also good at making tea, and her tea art is highly praised by the Emperor. But she is also an orphan. If she is an orphan, where did she learn the art of brewing tea?"

Wu Sheng was puzzled: "What do you mean, Boss?"

Xie Wuhen fluttered his eyelashes and continued to speak, "Empress Duofu has been missing for seventeen years. She had been in the palace for only three years before her disappearance. Her unique tea art is not something she could have mastered overnight. Therefore, she must have learned from a master while she was outside the palace. If we start with the tea art masters of Liang State twenty years ago and investigate them one by one, we may be able to find clues about Empress Duofu."

Wu Sheng smiled broadly: "Boss is wise."

At the end, he did not forget to add: "It is also thanks to the young lady's pot of tea."

Otherwise, how could I suddenly think of this breakthrough?

Xie Wuhen's eyes softened a little, and then he picked up the teacup and drank the tea.

That night, he still stayed in the study.

He stayed in the study for several nights in a row.

Su He was naturally overjoyed and was at ease in Chunhua Courtyard planning how to get close to Du Yuting.

Five days later, Ah Si came back...