Chapter 199 Sisters Betray
Aunt Chun also chimed in, "Fourth Miss, we know this might be a little difficult for you, so we didn't bother to bring it up before. But now that Minglu has graduated from the intermediate class, at least she doesn't have to worry about anything culturally. We're not saying she absolutely has to be a secretary. I mean she can work with you for free, without any pay. I just want her to gain more experience and knowledge, so she doesn't have to stay home all day doing nothing."
"Is that so?" Xu Yinxi deliberately dragged out her voice, as if she was thinking about something.
It's not that she meant to make things difficult for Aunt Chun, but she also knew that the closer people were to her, the less useful they would be. What's more, she was already very busy after taking office. If she had an inexperienced Xu Minglu by her side, she would have to make time to teach Xu Minglu, which was simply too much for her to do.
She knew Xu Minglu's personality. Although Xu Minglu had calmed down a bit recently, it was said that it was difficult to change a person's nature. What if Xu Minglu acted like a spoiled brat again? Would she have to clean up the mess?
Xu Yinxi was a little embarrassed.
Xu Yinxi subconsciously wanted to refuse, but then she remembered that when Xu Zhenying took her and Feng'er with him, they also made progress together and did not delay their work.
It must have been a headache for Xu Zhenying to take care of her at that time.
Xu Zhenying once said that those in power must be tolerant.
Xu Zhenying has spent so much effort in raising her, so is it impossible for her, Xu Yinxi, to pass on the legacy?
Xu Minglu may not be without merits.
However, Xu Yinxi has always been good at dealing with people, and doesn't like to say things in a final way or do things in a decisive way. She considered it for a while, then looked at Xu Minglu with a somewhat flattering and expectant look and said, "Sister, if you want to come out and work, I welcome it. Besides, I'm in need of people here. If you can come and help me, it will really solve my urgent needs."
Affirm first, then deny.
This is the essence of management.
Everyone in this world likes to hear nice words, and Xu Yinxi thinks even Xu Zhenying is no exception.
Sure enough, Aunt Chun and Xu Minglu both looked happy.
"But I have to be frank." Xu Yinxi's expression remained unchanged, still the understanding and approachable elder sister. "Secretary work is very tiring and demanding, both physically and mentally. Ye County is in ruins right now, and I'm too busy to handle it. I have to work until at least midnight every day, day and night, and without holidays. My sister has been weak since she was young, I wonder if she can handle the physical strength test?"
"Ah?" Xu Minglu opened his mouth in astonishment and looked at Aunt Chun. "Is being a secretary so hard?"
Xu Yinxi smiled. "When Feng'er and I were the city lord's secretaries, we had to get up at six in the morning to practice and study until midnight. In between, we had to greet guests, serve tea and water, arrange meetings, write speeches, and help the city lord organize all the work schedules. It was like one person doing the work of ten people. In the beginning, I was so tired that my calves were shaking, but I didn't dare to make a sound. I could only grit my teeth and endure it."
Aunt Chun couldn't express her feelings, she only murmured, "That's true. We all saw how much hardship the Fourth Miss endured to get through it."
Sure enough, these words made Xu Minglu hesitate.
"However, everything has its pros and cons. As the saying goes, only those who endure hardships can achieve success. Although being a secretary is hard, it is very challenging. As long as you can handle this job, you won't be afraid of any job in the future." Xu Yinxi gently patted Xu Minglu's shoulder. "You can think about it carefully and don't rush into making a decision."
Aunt Chun also fell silent, as if she didn't know what to do.
"Is the eldest sister back?"
Xu Lezhi's voice came from the side room in the inner courtyard.
Xu Yinxi turned her head and saw a copper lock hanging outside the side room in the corner. The windows in the room were nailed shut. She could only hear Xu Lezhi's voice but could not see her.
Xu Yinxi hesitated for a moment and was about to leave, but was stopped by Aunt Chun. She said hesitantly, "Fourth Miss, be careful. Ever since Le Zhi was put in solitary confinement, his temperament has changed drastically. He hates our entire Xu family."
Even Xu Minglu, who used to be good friends with Xu Lezhi, stopped Xu Yinxi with a look of caution. "Sister, don't go. Seventh Sister has gone crazy... She curses us all day long and kicks and beats us. She's been crying, making a fuss, and even threatening to hang herself several times."
Xu Yinxi smiled and said, "It's okay. Le Zhi is my sister after all. Now that I'm back, I should go see her. Aunt and sister should go to grandmother first, and I'll come later."
Aunt Chun also roughly guessed that Xu Yinxi had something to say to Xu Lezhi, so she took Xu Minglu away.
Xu Yinxi walked slowly to the front of the room, and then saw the figure through the gap between the wooden bars nailed shut on the window.
Xu Lezhi has lost weight and looks even paler because he has been locked in the room all the time.
Xu Lezhi saw Xu Yinxi's face and thought of Lian's words about Xu Yinxi being the magistrate of Ye County. He couldn't help but feel hatred and jealousy in his heart, but his face was just pleading: "Sister, you are finally back. Can you talk to father to let me out? I am really going crazy from being locked up. I have learned my lesson these days and I will never go against Xu Zhenying again. Please, dear sister, my parents will listen to you. Can you please help me beg for mercy?"
Xu Yinxi frowned slightly, but said nothing, looking down at Xu Lezhi.
"Sister, you're the magistrate of Ye County now, right? You have people under you, so you don't have to obey Xu Zhenying in everything. I'm your biological sister, and I won't harm you! You won't end well if you rebel with Xu Zhenying. When the imperial court sends troops, Xu Zhenying will be the first one to be killed!"
Xu Yinxi's voice suddenly turned cold, "Xu Lezhi, who told you that the city lord was going to rebel?"
Xu Lezhi shrank his head, remained silent, and his eyes rolled around.
Xu Yinxi suddenly reached out and grabbed Xu Lezhi's collar through the gap in the wooden bars!
The girl's eyes were full of sharpness. She opened her thin lips slightly and asked word by word: "Xu Lezhi, let me ask you again, who did you hear say that the city lord wanted to rebel?!"
Xu Lezhi pushed her hand away and puffed out his chest: "What's wrong? Now everyone in the family is saying that Xu Zhenying might rebel. It's fine if they lock me in the room and don't allow me to move around, but they also don't allow me to listen to other people's conversations!"
The coldness on Xu Yinxi's face faded.
Fortunately, she thought someone already knew that Xu Zhenying was going to rebel.
Her chest rose and fell slightly, and then she calmed down for a moment, "Lezhi, stay in there well. When you get married, I will let you out!"
Xu Lezhi finally couldn't hold it in any longer and screamed, his face instantly becoming distorted: "Xu Yinxi, what gives you the right to lock me up?! You are so vicious that you don't even let your own sister go! You want to be Xu Zhenying's dog, so you use me to please her! What benefits did she give you to make you do such a cruel thing to your own sister! Oh, a county magistrate position, right? When the imperial army arrives, you will be defeated! You traitors will definitely have your heads chopped off! By then, I'm afraid there won't even be anyone to collect your bodies!"
Xu Yinxi was stunned at first.
Then a mocking smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
It really was Xu Lezhi. He couldn’t pretend for even a moment and his true colors were revealed so quickly.
Fortunately, she had no expectations of Xu Lezhi.
She is now the county magistrate, and she may have a long way to go in the future. If she hadn't considered that others would criticize her for being too heartless and not considering sisterly love, Xu Yinxi would not even want to step into Xu Lezhi's room.
Once upon a time, the two of them were sisters who could talk about anything.
But now, Xu Lezhi probably only has hatred for her.
Two sisters with the same father and mother have ended up in a life-and-death situation. Xu Yinxi felt a little sorry for them, but she felt mostly relieved.
Well, it’s better to make a decision when necessary. It will be easier to start the journey with a relaxed mind.
It is said that those in power should be ruthless and loveless. Xu Yinxi has experienced this at this moment.
She could even feel her heart slowly growing colder and harder.
"Xu Yinxi, you are nothing but a dog of Xu Zhenying! For her, Xu Zhenying, you even abandoned your own sisters, parents, and grandparents. You are nothing but a wild dog wagging its tail and begging for mercy in front of her! If you have the guts, lock me up for life. Otherwise, when I get out, I will definitely report you to the court and make sure you all die miserably! If you know what's good for you, let me out now!"
Xu Yinxi discovered that the words that she once thought were very hurtful no longer seemed to hurt her.
She became stronger.
Faced with Xu Lezhi's crazy verbal abuse and insults, she didn't even have the desire to refute. She just felt that the crazy Xu Lezhi was very noisy, very pathetic, and very ridiculous.
She looked down at Xu Lezhi from above. The moonlight was dim, making the girl's eyes as tranquil as a lake, as if no wind or waves could cause even a ripple.
Xu Yinxi ignored Xu Lezhi's shouting and continued, "Over by the west city gate, there's a family selling tofu. They have two sons. The eldest is a scholar, and the younger is a student. Although they're a little poor, their parents are well-known and kind people in Lan County. The younger son is sixteen now, just two years older than you. He has a handsome face and a gentle personality. He will definitely have a bright future."
Xu Lezhi widened his eyes and looked at Xu Yinxi in disbelief.
Xu Yinxi, like a goddess high above, continued her ruthless words, "Over in Ye County, there's a family that, although they're refugees, their ancestors were officials. They bought hundreds of acres of land in Ye County in one go and have quite a lot of assets. They have an elderly father and an only son. If you marry into their family, they'll have no worries about food and clothing, and you'll even be considered a small landowner in the countryside."
"I won't!" Xu Lezhi seemed to have just realized what Xu Yinxi was talking about, and his face changed drastically. "You want to marry me off casually? That's impossible! Throughout history, marriages have always been decided by parents. Who the hell do you think you are? You're just trying to push me into the fire pit! How can these refugee country folk be worthy of me? And where's Fang Xun? I've been locked up for so long, why doesn't he come to see me?!"
Xu Yinxi actually laughed this time, not knowing whether she was laughing at Xu Lezhi's stupidity or her own pathetic state. "Fang Xun? Haven't you given up on Fang Xun yet?"
"I'm sincere to him! I may have had other intentions when I approached him at first, but later on I really liked him!"
"Xu Lezhi, you should know your own limitations. Whether it's Fang Xun before his exile or Fang Xun now, you're not up to the task. Fang Xun's grandfather before his exile was a third-rank official, and his father was a sixth-rank official. And now Fang Xun is the magistrate of Lan County. With your talent and appearance, wouldn't you feel ashamed standing before Fang Xun?"
"You!" Xu Lezhi was furious. "My grandfather was also a third-rank official. How can I not be worthy of him?"
Xu Yinxi frowned. She used to think Xu Lezhi was a little spoiled, but she didn't expect her to be so confused. It was simply like talking at cross purposes.
"I don't want to waste any more words with you. I already feel bad for the two families I found for you. If you go there with your temper, you will definitely cause unrest in their homes. If I hadn't asked you personally, I'm afraid these two families would definitely not agree. Xu Lezhi, the City Lord and I still have a lot of important things to do. I advise you to be quiet for the time being. Otherwise, if the City Lord has time to spare and remembers that you are such a big shot, then it will be the end of the Second House!"
"Xu Yinxi! Stop exaggerating here. To put it bluntly, you're just greedy for fame and fortune, and you're eager to get rid of me to please Xu Zhenying. I'm telling you, I won't get married! As long as I'm here, I won't let you succeed!"
Xu Yinxi showed a slightly sarcastic smile on her face. "You and I are simply talking to a cow. Well, I owe you what I owe you."
Before Xu Lezhi finished speaking, Xu Yinxi felt very bored and turned away.
Xu Lezhi was yelling and cursing behind her, cursing Xu Zhenying, then the Xu family, and then her and the Lian family.
Xu Yinxi rubbed her temples. The affairs in Ye County were already enough to make her anxious. She was asking for trouble by arguing with Xu Lezhi.
That girl... has lost her mind, and no one can say anything to her.
Ultimately, it’s all about jealousy.
Xu Lezhi and Xu Deyuan were practically cut from the same cloth. They were both indifferent to their brothers and sisters, and were extremely jealous of their sisters from other families. They wouldn't tolerate anyone living better than themselves. If a sibling lived well, they would be consumed by envy, unable to sleep at night, driven mad by jealousy, and even losing their minds.
But there is also a saying that goes, "Aspirations are as high as the sky, but life is as fragile as paper!"
Now that I think about it, didn't Xu Deyuan try his best to stop the others from joining the soap business with the third wife? If it weren't for his father's intervention, the assets of the first and fourth wives would probably be several times greater than they are now!
It is no wonder that the first and fourth wives became alienated from the second wife and turned to Xu Zhenying's camp.
In the final analysis, this is all the second wife's own fault!
Xu Yinxi felt very tired, so she told Lian: "Mother, my sister has become obsessed and won't listen to any advice. No matter who tries to persuade her, it's useless now. The situation in the city is tense right now. If the tax quota is distributed, who knows what will happen. You must keep a close eye on her these days. Don't let her cause trouble at this critical moment!"
Lian sighed frequently, not knowing what was wrong with Xu Lezhi. They were born of the same mother, so why was she the only one who looked so much like her heartless and ungrateful father!
Never mind, children are debts. Just as Xu Yinxi said, I should keep a close eye on her, marry her off quickly, and ensure she has enough food and clothing for the rest of her life. This would be considered as doing her justice.
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