047

The dozen or so large red wooden boxes were prepared by Xie Sui'an after he returned to the capital. They contained not only fashionable fabrics and hairpins in the capital, but also many nourishing ginseng medicines, jade ornaments, and utensils for brewing tea and roasting meat, such as small red clay stoves.

Seeing this, Qin Sang couldn't help but smile: "This young master is still thinking of having me make roasted chicken for him."

Lingding pulled out a jade bracelet from the jewelry box: "This one is of really good quality."

Qin Sang casually took the box, put it on her wrist, and then saw that it was full of medicinal herbs. She couldn't help but laugh: "Does he think I'm going to open a clinic in the mansion? Why did he send so many medicinal herbs?"

Lingding just smiled.

Qin Sang picked out a bag of candied plums, tasted one, and said, "Not bad, these are all good things. Keep them, and thank him again tomorrow."

Lingding laughed and said, "Perhaps they were all arranged by servants. Don't be blinded by such small favors, young lady."

Qin Sang ate a plum and said, "Of course."

The two, master and servant, came out of the storeroom, intending to go back to their room to dry their hair and pack their luggage, when a maid came to report: "Steward Zhao from the Prime Minister's side has come to invite you. If you haven't rested yet, please go to Minghui Hall."

Qin Sang had just finished bathing and was still wearing her bedtime clothes. Upon hearing this, she had no choice but to go back to her room to tidy herself up before following the steward surnamed Zhao to see the Prime Minister.

Minghui Hall was Xie Zhongxu's small study where he handled private matters at home. The security was relatively private and simple, mainly consisting of secret guards. Qin Sang followed along, and although she didn't see any guards, she could feel the chilling atmosphere around her.

It felt as if I was being watched by countless eyes, and I felt a sense of panic, like I was surrounded by wolves.

The lights along the way seemed even dimmer than elsewhere, but when they arrived at Minghui Hall, the hall was brightly lit.

Qin Sang saw an old man in a linen blue shirt with gray hair sitting upright and writing. He didn't even raise his head after hearing the noise: "You've come?"

His voice is full of energy, which shows that he is in good health and can still serve as governor for another twenty years!

Qin Sang thought for a moment, then knelt down and performed a deep bow: "This humble woman, Qin Sang, greets the Prime Minister. May the Prime Minister enjoy boundless blessings."

She didn't say anything extra to express her gratitude for saving her life, fearing the occasion was inappropriate and might arouse suspicion.

Xie Zhongxu stopped writing and looked up. He saw Qin Sang's thin body kneeling in the center. His face was gentle. He said, "Get up quickly. There's no need for such a grand ceremony."

Qin Sang slowly got up from the ground and looked straight at Xie Zhongxu.

Her gaze held neither hatred nor gratitude; it was calm and utterly devoid of emotion.

If I had to describe an emotion, it would be curiosity.

She was curious about the old man who had controlled her life and death and who had said he would take her back to Kyoto from the beginning. She wondered what his plans were next.

He was the one who provided Qin Baoyun with intelligence every month. He was planting a tree; what were his expectations for this tree?

Xie Zhongxu gave a warm smile and pointed to the chair next to him: "Sit down." He then instructed the servant, "Bring some boiled water. It's late, so don't drink tea."

The attendant responded and left.

Qin Sang politely thanked him, then Xie Zhongxu asked, "How well has Qin's grandmother been lately?"

Qin Sang was surprised that his first question was about her grandmother. She assumed that the two had a good relationship, so she quickly and respectfully answered.

Xie Zhongxu then asked, "How about you? Was the journey tiring? Are you feeling alright?"

Qin Sang replied, "Very good. Commander Shen took good care of us along the way and didn't rush us. My daughter rested very well."

"That's good," Xie Zhongxu said in a calm and even tone. "I heard that when you passed through Rongcheng, you visited the famous Lutong Academy. So, you also like to go to academies to study, just like the men?"

Qin Sang was surprised that this pillar of the nation, who was so busy with state affairs, would even inquire about such a small matter on her journey. She quickly smiled and said, "No, but I did encounter a small matter. Out of curiosity, I went to that academy."

Xie Zhongxu smiled and asked, "Oh? What's it about that interests you?"

Qin Sang raised her eyes again: "I have heard that Lu Tong Academy has produced many outstanding talents, but I have also heard that many young students from the academy have gone missing. I am curious, what kind of academy is it that has such mixed reputation?"

She paused for a moment and then continued, "When I went there, I happened to run into the headmaster of the academy. He allowed me to go in and visit. Inside, I saw a stone tablet that listed the names of many officials of the time. I felt a sense of destiny and memorized a few of them. I was thinking that when I came to the capital, I might be fortunate enough to meet them in the future and mention them to their wives. That would be a kind of fate."

Xie Zhongxu listened without changing his expression and nodded: "You are thoughtful."

Then he smiled and said, "It seems you are very determined to avenge your grandfather. But you are, after all, just a young woman. Do you know that it is far more difficult for a woman to do these things in this world than for a man?"

"That's not necessarily true. There are some things that women can do more quickly than men."

"..."

Xie Zhongxu sighed softly: "I originally thought that if you didn't remember anything, you could let go of the past and live a peaceful and quiet life in a secluded corner. But you are stubborn, which is very similar to your stubborn grandfather."

"Very well, since you've decided to come back, and you've already come back, there's no need to rush. The affairs of the court are ever-changing, like a raging storm with a sharp blade. Once you're caught up in it, a slight misstep can lead to your destruction, and it's even more difficult for a woman from the inner quarters like you. For now, stay in the manor and learn the etiquette of a young lady. I've already instructed the mistress of the inner quarters to treat you kindly like my own daughter, to teach you how to socialize, and to take you to see the power struggles and intrigues of the noble families in the capital. If you remain steadfast in your decision after two months, I will have the eldest son of the family adopt you as their goddaughter, give you the surname Xie, and arrange a marriage for you with a powerful family. What do you say?"

If not this way, then what else can we do?

Qin Sang nodded naturally: "I will follow your orders, Prime Minister."

Xie Zhongxu lowered his head and said, "Fine, go ahead."

After leaving Minghui Hall, the Prime Minister sent a steward to escort her out of the courtyard and then stopped. Qin Sang had not brought any maids with her, and after taking a few steps, she froze in place: "Which way did I come from?"

She never expected that the first pitfall she encountered after arriving at the Prime Minister's residence would be one dug by the Prime Minister himself.

By the time she realized she didn't know the way and wanted to turn back and beg the steward for help, he had already disappeared.

She looked around, sighed inwardly, and walked to the left.

The corridors all looked similar, and the garden paths were indistinguishable at night. Qin Sang could only walk along, trying her best to distinguish them. However, as she walked and turned, she had no idea which courtyard she had entered.

Suddenly, I saw a fenced courtyard ahead with a cluster of extremely beautiful vines falling down in front of the gate, covered with small purple flowers, which was also very touching in the moonlight.

She was curious and wondered whose ingenious idea it was to create such a storefront.

I couldn't help but move closer, wanting to take a closer look at the little flower.

However, after taking only a few steps closer, they heard the sound of a teacup shattering inside, followed by a woman's voice, filled with suppressed anger and resentment: "You shameless slut, dressed so ostentatiously, are you trying to impress me? For me? I don't even give him a second glance, let alone a lowly maid like you? You're not even worthy to carry his shoes, yet you dare to dream of climbing into his bed!!"

The maid sobbed, "I didn't, young mistress, I didn't mean that... Waaah..."

"Slap!" A sharp slap rang out. "You still say you didn't have it! Where did this material come from!"

The maid whispered, "I received my monthly pay... I went to Granny Li's house on Xianqiao Street to have it made. All the maids and servants in the capital like this fabric. It's not... not flashy at all..."

"Smack!" Another crisp sound. "Did I give you too many gifts that you can't spend? Dressed so flamboyantly, didn't you say you have a blind old mother at home waiting for you to take care of her? Is this how you squander my kindness? If it weren't for your pitiful state, I would have sold you off long ago. Why do you have to flaunt your effeminate manner in front of me and your master all day long?!"

The maid cried, "Young mistress, I didn't... I really didn't!"

Qin Sang carefully observed her surroundings, and only after confirming that no one was around did she peek through the fence, trying to see which two-faced mistress was behind it all. All the women she had seen today were gentle and refined; who was it that was so unreasonable as to beat and scold the servants like this…

Sure enough, it was Song Jinhe, the frail and sorrowful young mistress of the first wife.

Qin Sang didn't know much about Song Jinhe's family background, which is why she had Lingding inquire about it beforehand. Unexpectedly, before the night was even over, she stumbled upon someone else's good deed.

A disheveled maid was kneeling amidst a pile of broken porcelain shards, covering her face and weeping. Song Jinhe, her face contorted with rage, stomped on the maid's chest, knocking her to the ground. The maid tried to brace herself with her hands, but instead touched the shards on the ground.

Although the maid didn't cry, Qin Sang was certain that the poor little girl's palm must have been cut.

Tsk tsk tsk... She thought to herself, I must stay away from this family from now on.

"Cuixiang, go find Granny Song and take this wretched maid away!" Song Jinhe said fiercely, showing no mercy as she was about to sell the person.

It's important to understand that maids were mostly of low social status, and to encounter a good master was considered a blessing. Maids who served in the Prime Minister's residence were always a cut above ordinary maids outside. Their monthly stipends, rewards, food, lodging, and experiences were many times better than those of ordinary maids. If their master was kind, they would be betrothed and released from their lowly status, and their husbands would often come from well-off ordinary families, thus escaping their misery and changing their fate.

So Su Qingyan was willing to have a noble title and follow Qin Sang to the capital. She was gambling that Qin Sang would give her a perfect future.

But if you make a mistake and are sold off, who knows what will happen to you? You will fall into the dust overnight, and all your previous efforts will be in vain.

Upon hearing this, the maid trembled all over. Despite her bloodied hands, she scrambled to her feet and knelt before Song Jinhe, begging for mercy: "Madam, please don't! Madam, I'll take off these clothes right now. Please don't sell me! Please don't send me away! You can keep me to burn firewood and clean the chamber pot, just please keep me! I'll never appear before Master again! Please, don't sell me!"

Song Jinhe tore open her blood-stained clothes, her eyes blazing with anger, and shouted at the maid standing to the side, who looked both distressed and conflicted, "Hurry up and go!"

The maid was probably the "Cuixiang" that Song Jinhe had mentioned. Cuixiang glanced at the maid on the ground with red eyes, hesitated to speak to her master, and finally gritted her teeth and ran out of the courtyard.

Seeing that she was about to be caught eavesdropping, Qin Sang quickly emerged from the bushes and walked to the main road, pretending to be lost: "Huh, which way should I go?"

Cuixiang came out of the courtyard and finally couldn't hold back her tears.

She grieved for her innocent companions, for having a capricious master, and for her future fate.

After walking a few steps, she saw Qin Sang. She had accompanied Song Jinhe to the family banquet during the day and recognized this new mistress. She quickly wiped away her tears and stepped forward to greet her: "Miss, have you... taken the wrong way?"