Chapter 77 Where did this jade pendant come from?

At night, at the Grand Tutor's Mansion.

The housekeeper hurried into the old master's yard.

It was dinner time. In the room, the old Grand Tutor Bai Changming and the old lady Qiao were eating their dinner slowly.

Seeing the old butler rushing in, Bai Changming looked at him unhappily.

"How old are you? Still so irritable."

Even after being reprimanded, the old housekeeper didn't even bother to apologize.

He hurriedly handed over the jade pendant in his hand.

"Take a look at this first."

Bai Changming didn't take it seriously at first. What's wrong with a jade pendant?

He raised his eyes and glanced casually, intending to continue eating, but suddenly his hands stopped.

Then he suddenly raised his head, stared at the jade pendant, and his expression changed slightly.

"Where did this jade pendant come from?"

Seeing his urgent tone, Old Madam Qiao couldn't help but look at the jade pendant.

Upon seeing this, his expression changed slightly.

"This... isn't this jade pendant that Baoqing's? She wears it around her neck all year round and never takes it off easily. How did it end up in your hands?"

"That's right, why are you here? Tell me!"

The old butler hurried to explain.

"They claim to be from Wanhe Tower and say the jade pendant's owner was captured by Jingzhao Prefecture soldiers and is probably in jail now..."

When the old lady heard this, she swayed.

If the old nanny beside him had not been quick to catch him, he would have fallen headfirst.

Bai Changming has already stood up.

"Jingzhao Prefecture? Why are they arresting her?"

"I didn't know. As soon as I received the jade pendant, I rushed to see you."

"Is the person who gave the jade pendant still here?"

"Yes, it's outside the gate."

"You said to call him..." Bai Changming couldn't wait any longer and walked out. "No need, I'll go see him myself."

Qiao also wanted to follow, but was stopped by Bai Changming.

"Prisons are dirty and messy places. Stay home and rest assured. If it really is that girl Baoqing, I will definitely bring her back safely."

Qiao was so anxious that her eyes turned red.

"I'm worried about you being alone. Go get the eldest and second oldest to come along."

"What are you going to do with them? They're just two idiots who only know how to eat and drink."

The butler beside him twitched his lips when he heard this.

The old Grand Tutor and Madam Qiao had three children in total.

Uncle Bai Jinyan is the Minister of War, a second-rank official in the imperial court. Who wouldn't treat him with respect when he goes out?

The second master, Bai Jinguang, is the Minister of Taichang Temple and a well-known third-rank official. He is so busy every day that he has no time to eat and drink.

There is also a little daughter named Bai Jinyu.

It was the mother of 'Baoqing' mentioned by the old Grand Tutor. She was married to General Shen Huaishan of Pingxi. Shen Huaishan had been stationed in Mobei, and Bai Jinyu had been there with him. She had not returned for many years.

The old couple were already very concerned about their daughter's family, and suddenly they heard that their precious granddaughter was thrown into prison... How could they not be anxious?

And at this moment, outside the Grand Tutor's Mansion.

Xiaoxi was waiting anxiously. She wanted to go back to the Taifu Mansion to find the housekeeper, but she was afraid of missing something.

Just as she was getting anxious, she saw an old man hurried out of the house. As soon as he saw her, he asked, "What happened? Tell me in detail."

Xiaoxi hurriedly told what happened in Wanhe Tower.

Hearing that it was Duan Yanzhou who asked her to come, Bai Changming stopped asking questions and was about to get on the carriage when two people hurried out from the mansion.

It was the eldest master Bai Jinyan and the second master Bai Jinguang from the Taishi Mansion.

Bai Jinyan still had a letter in his hand.

When he saw Bai Changming, he hurriedly said, "My son just received a letter from his brother-in-law, saying that Baoqing secretly left Mobei and returned to the capital."

Bai Jinguang continued, "The girl didn't bring anyone with her and sneaked away on her own. How could she be so bold? Mobei is thousands of miles away from the capital. If something happened along the way..."

"Something happened? She has already gotten into trouble and is now imprisoned in Jingzhao Prefecture." Bai Changming said angrily.

Bai Jinyan: "Ah?!"

Bai Jinguang: "What?!"

…

The study of Jingzhao Prefecture.

The prefect, Lord Hu, was admiring an antique vase on the table. This vase was sent by someone from the Anqing Palace in the afternoon. It was said to be the work of a master from the previous dynasty. If it were kept today, it would be worth a fortune.

Hu Tao originally didn't dare to accept it.

Because when he heard that the people they wanted to arrest were from Wanhelou, he wanted to refuse on the spot.

Last time, because of the girl named Jiang from Wanhe Tower, Lord Lu came to his house in person and almost made him lose his official hat.

From then on, he was determined not to touch anyone from Wanhe Tower again.

After all, Wanhelou belongs to Lu Sui. If he messes with his people, he will mess with himself.

This vase, which is worth a thousand gold, is nothing compared to his black hat.

But Hu Tao finally accepted the gift.

With the Crown Prince placed under house arrest, Prince An being favored, and Lu Sui being punished by His Majesty... the situation in the capital was also quietly changing.

Hu Tao thought, Lu Sui couldn't even protect himself, so how could he care about the life and death of a small shopkeeper in Wanhe Tower?

So, he accepted the gift with peace of mind, and sent someone to bring the person back at the agreed time.

Yu Chong knocked on the door and came in, taking a look at the vase on the table.

The colors are bright and very eye-catching.

He retracted his gaze and spoke, "Princess Xiangning's intention is to let you handle the matter yourself, but no one can be brought out alive."

Hu Tao frowned when he heard this.

"These are two lives."

Yu Chong immediately took a few steps forward, took out a stack of banknotes from his sleeve and handed it over.

"The princess sent someone to deliver these again."

Hu Tao stared at the banknotes with his eyes wide open.

He reached out to take it, but hesitated.

"If it were someone else, they would be dead, but these two are Lu Sui's men after all. If he pursues them later, we can't escape responsibility."

Yu Chong said, "I heard that Lord Lu is not in the capital."

"Not in the capital? Where did you go?"

"I heard that the emperor doesn't want to see him now, so he sent him to An County to control the flood."

"Is this true?"

"Absolutely true."

Upon hearing this, Hu Tao breathed a sigh of relief.

He took the stack of banknotes and gave some to Yu Chong.

Then he smiled and said, "If this is the case, if we don't accept this gift, wouldn't it be a disservice to the Prince An's Mansion's kindness?"

"You and I are of the same mind."

"Then let them stay here for one night. Tomorrow, we'll find a time to let them end their lives on their own."

"yes."

Yu Chong put the banknotes away and was about to go out when someone came in hurriedly.

"Oh no, sir, people from the Grand Tutor's Mansion are here."

When Hu Tao heard this, he stood up in fright.

"Who are you talking about? The Grand Tutor's Mansion?"

"Exactly. Several people came and said they wanted to see you."

When Hu Tao heard this, he hurriedly moved the vase down and hid it, then straightened his clothes and was about to go out when he heard some noise outside.

Then, a deep voice was heard.

"Is Lord Hu here?"

When Hu Tao heard the voice, he hurried out.

In the light of the lantern under the corridor, when he saw Bai Changming's face clearly, he was frightened.

Why did the old master come to him in the middle of the night?