Chapter 193 A Scheme Within a Scheme

Meng Qing and Du Li returned to the Prefect's residence, where Yin Caiwei was waiting in the main hall. She went in to deliver the news, saying triumphantly, "All eleven birds have been sent out, and the two parrots that Prefect Xu received are the two we originally planned to have."

Yin Caiwei breathed a sigh of relief. She glanced to the northwest and wondered if Prefect Cui would bring the bird back once he heard the news.

Meng Qing wasn't sure either, but regardless of whether Cui Biejia would interfere, it wouldn't delay her plans.

“I’ll go check on the parrot,” Meng Qing said.

“I’ll go too.” Yin Caiwei stood up.

Two birdcages hung in Du Min's study, and the two parrots inside looked exactly like the ones Meng Qing had delivered to Governor Xu that day. Perhaps only when Prefect Cui arrived could he distinguish the two groups of parrots based on their habits.

The door opened, and the three entered one by one. Du Li lagged behind. He picked up a small black kiln jar from the windowsill, opened the lid, and plucked a pinch of rice from inside. "Du Min..."

The two parrots tilted their heads and looked at his hand without saying a word.

“Du Min, be careful of the wine and tea at the governor’s mansion,” Du Li said, wagging his finger as he repeated, “Du Min…”

“Be careful…” a parrot chimed in.

"Be careful of the wine and tea at the governor's mansion," the other parrot repeated in full.

Du Li smiled and fed the rice in his hand to the second bird.

Another parrot flapped its wings in the cage, screeching and yelling, "I want to eat! I want to eat!"

Du Li then went over and taught it to say "adult".

Meng Qing picked up the teapot and filled the water bowl in the birdcage. She helped Yin Caiwei out, and a little while later, Du Li also went out.

"Prefect Xu told his attendant, 'Take the two parrots to Consort Liu and Consort Li, and teach them to call out to Consort Li and Consort Liu.'" Meng Qing instructed.

Du Li nodded, "Understood."

"Let's go. We'll wait patiently for the rest of the time," Meng Qing said to Yin Caiwei. "Don't worry too much about things outside. Just focus on your pregnancy and avoid making Lao San worry about you."

"Nothing will happen." Taking advantage of being from the same household, Yin Caiwei had a rare opportunity to participate in planning matters in the officialdom, so she was reluctant to give up this chance.

The two sisters-in-law walked out of Maple Forest Courtyard and ran into Steward Ma, who was returning. He stepped forward and said, "Your Highness, I have already spread the news that Governor Xu and the six military advisors have donated books and that the library has given away birds."

Meng Qing nodded, "I understand, you can go now."

*

The next day, Prefect Cui learned the news from the servants in his mansion and was instantly enraged. His carefully raised parrot had been sent to his enemy to please him? He got up to confront Meng Qing, but after a few steps, he remembered the contract he had signed, which stipulated that he could not interfere with how Meng Qing profited from the birds, or who he leased or sold them to.

"Oh! So that's what she was planning from the beginning!" Cui Biejia realized.

When Madam Wang received a message from her servant, she rushed over and asked, "Where are you going? Cui Jin, don't even think about bringing those birds back."

"No, I'd rather strangle those parrots than let those beasts play with them." Cui Jin rushed out the door. He knew he couldn't get the parrots back from Governor Xu and the Six Military Advisors, so he could only go next door to find Meng Qing.

Madam Wang chased after her.

"Where is your princess? Tell her to come out." Cui Jin went to bang on the door.

"Cui Jin, don't go crazy!" Madam Wang was so angry she was almost out of her mind. How could she have married such a man? He was hopeless. She gritted her teeth and whispered, "Think about what your brother-in-law told you."

Du Li came out. "Prefect Cui, what brings you here?"

"Where is Lady Meng?" Cui Jin asked with a gloomy face.

“She’s not home. If you need anything, tell me, and I’ll pass it on to her when she gets back,” Du Li said.

“Tell her that if she wants to continue using parrots to attract business, she must retrieve the parrots that were delivered to the governor’s mansion and the six military advisors within three days,” Cui Jin declared. “If she doesn’t agree, I will take back all the parrots.”

“You signed a contract,” Du Li reminded her.

"I've changed my mind, I'm breaking the contract." At the mention of this, Cui Jin was furious. He kicked the door and said viciously, "Everyone wants to scheme against me? No way."

Madam Wang was trembling with anger. She summoned the gatekeeper and ordered the servants to drag Cui Jin back, while she stayed behind to handle the aftermath: "Young Master Du, you don't need to listen to him, nor do you need to inform Lady Meng. He won't come looking for trouble again."

Du Li did not respond.

"I'll come back to apologize another day." Madam Wang left quickly, and once home, she scolded, "Cui Jin, have you wasted your life these past few years? Where's your brain? Do you even remember what Prime Minister Zheng said? He wanted you to befriend Du Min! What are you doing? Do you still want to go back to Chang'an? Do you still want revenge?"

Cui Jin glared at her menacingly. "You despise me too?"

Madam Wang was frightened by his gaze. She took a step back and said stiffly, "You shouldn't have done that."

“Everyone can scheme against me.” Cui Jin lowered her head.

Madam Wang stared at him, feeling both disappointed and heartbroken. That beast Xu Ang had ruined Cui Jin. Once such a virtuous and upright person, he had now become sensitive and easily angered.

"You're scheming against them too, aren't you scheming against Du Min?" Madam Wang gently reminded her. "If others scheme against you, you scheme back."

The violent aura emanating from Cui Jin suddenly subsided considerably, and he calmed down. "Yes, I'm going to retaliate."

Mrs. Wang breathed a sigh of relief, "Don't go next door and cause trouble."

Cui Jin nodded.

Madam Wang returned to the backyard.

In the evening, Meng Qing arrived at the door. Madam Wang greeted her and said apologetically, "Miss Meng, I'm so sorry. I was planning to come and apologize tomorrow, but you came first. We were rude and offensive today, please forgive us."

"What's wrong with Prefect Cui? Why is he suddenly throwing a tantrum? And even trying to break the contract? He signed the contract himself, and we agreed that he wouldn't interfere with how I run the birdhouse," Meng Qing questioned. "Where is he? He had the guts to cause trouble when he came to make a scene, but now he's hiding like a coward?"

“Lady Meng, please watch your words.” Madam Wang’s face turned cold, but the next moment her expression softened, and she said to her maid, “Go and invite the young master to come and greet the guests.”

"I apologize, I'm a street urchin and my speech is a bit rough. Please don't take offense, madam," Meng Qing said calmly.

Madam Wang didn't want to argue, so she said it was nothing and then fell silent.

Meng Qing picked up her teacup and took a sip.

After finishing a cup of tea, Cui Jin finally appeared.

"Lady Meng," Cui Jin said, taking a seat, "I'd like to discuss something with you. Could you retrieve the parrot you sent to the governor's mansion the day before yesterday?"

Madam Wang's expression changed, but she swallowed her anger and did not lash out on the spot.

"Why?" Meng Qing asked, "The contract says..."

"Stop talking nonsense, just tell me if you're willing or not." Cui Jin interrupted her, "I can offer compensation for breach of contract, just ask me to name it."

Meng Qing immediately smiled, "What are you telling Du Min to be careful of? What does Governor Xu intend to do to him?"

Cui Biejia's face stiffened.

“Tell me everything tonight, and I’ll go get the parrot for you first thing tomorrow morning,” Meng Qing said.

"Please return, Your Highness." Madam Wang rose, making a gesture to see the guest out.

"If you're going to be a good person, why not be a bad person to the end?" Meng Qing looked at Cui Jin.

Cui Jin stared at her, and he suddenly realized that Meng Qing was imitating him. He used a parrot to deliver messages, and she used a parrot to inquire about information.

"Your Highness is so cunning." He clapped his hands. "So I fell for your scheme from the very beginning."

"What do you mean?" Meng Qing asked.

"Please leave," Cui Jin said, seeing the guest out.

"It's getting dark," Madam Wang reminded her.

Meng Qing looked disappointed. She shook her head, got up, and left.

Madam Wang escorted her to the front yard and watched Meng Qing leave. She then turned back and asked, "What did you mean by your last sentence?"

"She's using a parrot to gather information and then using this scheme to plot against me. She's not losing out either way." Cui Jin's anger was overwhelmed by his admiration. He said with annoyance, "It's also my fault. A simple note could have solved the problem, but I insisted on using a parrot to deliver the message. It was unnecessary and caused me a lot of trouble."

"I see..." Madam Wang realized, "Then you must bring the parrot back. What if she finds out something? Wouldn't that be a bad thing?"

“We’re going to take it back.” Cui Jin already had a plan. He chuckled. Even if Du Min handed over all the profits from the paper mill, Xu Ang wouldn’t let him off the hook. Let the two of them fight it out.

"Are you going to get it yourself? Will they give it to you?" Madam Wang was worried that Governor Xu wouldn't give it to her and might even take the opportunity to insult Cui Jin.

"Yes, I will." Cui Jin smiled.

But Cui Jin didn't take any action for a long time. Instead, he went to Qingniao Bookstore every day, bringing his own bird food to feed the parrots in the aviary. Occasionally, he would also copy books with the scholar.

"Prefect Cui, you're here again?" Meng Qing brought Wang Zhou to the library and saw Cui Jin there as well. She joked, "How about I pay you a salary so you can come to the library every day to keep order for me?"

“I won’t be coming tomorrow.” Cui Jin looked up and smiled. “The princess is a responsible person. The parrot is doing quite well here, with good food and drink, so I’m relieved.”

"I'm glad you're at ease, Prefect Cui." Meng Qing nodded. "I won't bother you any longer. I'll go upstairs to organize my books."

Cui Jin nodded, dipped his brush in ink, and continued writing. Once the article was finished, he put down his brush, got up, and left without a second thought.

The paper was blown up by the wind he created, twirling and landing, instantly staining the still-wet ink with fine dust, ruining a beautiful piece of calligraphy.

"What a pity," the scholar sighed regretfully as he picked up the paper.

*

“Tell Governor Xu that I want to see him.” Cui Jin arrived at the governor’s residence.

The officer glanced at him twice and casually said, "Just wait."

He waited for almost half an hour before Governor Xu dragged his lazy steps into the main hall. "Why have you come?"

“Lord Meng sent you a few parrots. I need to take them back,” Cui Jin said.

Governor Xu laughed, “What does it have to do with you that she sent it? Hey, Cui Jin, you wouldn’t happen to have taken a fancy to her, would you? Your precious bird that you’ve raised for four or five years, Military Advisor He once wanted to get one for his beloved concubine, and you said you’d rather die than give it to him, but as soon as Meng Qing asked, you gave her all the money you had in the world.”

"Finished?" Cui Jin asked with a smile. "Then it's my turn to speak. Xu Ang, why don't you go to the Bluebird Bookstore and take a look? The parrots there have learned to call out to customers in just half a month, and they've also learned poems that I've never taught them."

Xu Ang looked at him strangely for a moment, and then, under Cui Jin's mocking gaze, he gradually realized what was going on.

"Will you return the bird to me?" Cui Jin raised an eyebrow.

Xu Ang's face darkened. "Go and fetch the parrots from Liu Ji and Li Ji's places."

Cui Jin successfully took the bird.

After he left, Xu Ang was so angry that he overturned the table. "Someone, go to Wen County and keep watch. As soon as Du Min returns, immediately invite him back."

Cui Jin went to several other houses and calmly took away nine more parrots. After taking them back, he didn't rush to send them away. Instead, he stole Meng Qing's fruit and tried to find out the secrets of other houses from the parrots, but all he got were complaints from the women in the inner quarters and insults.

After keeping them for two days, Cui Jin took advantage of a day when Meng Qing was home and personally led the servants to deliver the eleven parrots to the neighbor's house.

Meng Qing saw the parrot's expression change. "Prefect Cui, didn't I say you can't interfere with how I use the parrot to make a profit?"

“I didn’t interfere. This was sent by Governor Xu and his men,” Cui Jin said shamelessly. “You can send it again, I won’t stop you.”

Meng Qing stared at him coldly, "Please leave."

Cui Jin was overjoyed. "Goodbye, Lady Meng."

"Goodbye," Meng Qing whispered.

As soon as Cui Jin left, Meng Qing immediately asked Du Li to bring the two parrots she had prepared in advance to switch them out. She then had the two parrots stay in the same room with the other nine parrots for the night.

The next morning, Meng Qing and Du Li carried two birdcages and took a carriage to the governor's mansion. As soon as the couple landed, they immediately attracted several unfriendly stares.

"I want to see Governor Xu," Meng Qing said sternly.

"Let her in." Governor Xu was in the public room.

Meng Qing stormed in, and Du Li followed quickly, carrying two birdcages.

“Governor Xu, if you don’t give me an explanation today, I’ll go to Chang’an and sue you!” Meng Qing shouted as soon as he entered the room.

"Your Highness is quite the big shot." Governor Xu stared at her with a forced smile. "I haven't even come to you yet, and you've already delivered yourself to my doorstep."

"These two parrots look familiar, Governor Xu, don't they?" Meng Qing took the two birdcages. "These were sent back to me by Prefect Cui yesterday. If I remember correctly, these are the two that were given to you that day."

Governor Xu glanced at it twice, "What do you want to say?"

“Du Min,” Du Li said.

"Du Min, be careful of the wine and tea at the governor's mansion," the caged parrot suddenly spoke.

Governor Xu's expression immediately changed.

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Author's Note: There will be another update at 12 o'clock.