Chapter 295 The Xu Family's Secret
When Prince Zhou asked where the jade pendant was hidden, he immediately sent people to the courtyard to look for it, and then according to Grandma Xu's description, he sketched the other person's appearance stroke by stroke.
Pausing his brush, he looked at the figure on the scroll. Prince Zhou paused for a moment, then looked at Granny Xu standing beside him. "Does it look like her?"
"Yes, it's him!" Grandma Xu recognized him at a glance. Everyone had their faces covered at the time, but this man accidentally revealed his true face.
Zhu Mingqing was also searching for this person's identity in his mind, but looking at the expression on Prince Zhou's face, he knew that the other party was not simple.
"You know him too?"
Prince Zhou pursed his lips and said slowly, "The current deputy commander of the Imperial Guard, Pang Fei, is also the eldest prince's man."
Zhu Mingqing scoffed, "It seems that whether it was an accidental killing or not is really hard to say!"
Grandma Xu didn't want to hear any more secrets, so she asked the young lady in a trembling voice, "Can I leave now? I want to leave the city!"
Zhu Mingqing: "I'm afraid not yet!"
Grandma Xu panicked immediately, her voice rising: "You promised me, and now you're going back on your word..."
Zhu Mingqing quickly explained, "Grandma, don't be so anxious. Just listen to me! Where are you going if you leave alone now? Do you have any money to spend? Have you thought about these questions? The Chinese New Year is only half a month away. Why don't you leave with me in a few days? You'll have someone to accompany you on the journey. How about living in Guancheng?"
Grandma Xu didn't expect the other party to think so much, and her face flushed with shame: "It's my ignorance, madam, please forgive me!"
"So you agreed?"
Grandma Xu nodded: "I agree, of course I agree!"
Prince Zhou thought of the troubles in the mansion and continued to ask, "Do you know that the man surnamed Jin has a brother?"
Granny Xu: "I've heard of it, but I've never seen it."
Prince Zhou slowly asked, "Did Concubine Xu and the Jin brothers engage in any inappropriate behavior?"
Grandma Xu's heart sank. Could it be that Concubine Xu...
"When the old woman was here, she never noticed it, but Concubine Xu did have a good relationship with the Jin brothers."
Not long after Grandma Xu left, the guard came back with a jade pendant and handed it to Prince Zhou.
"It's indeed the prince's jade pendant!" Prince Zhou took out one of his own. "Whenever a child is born into the royal family, they will have their own jade pendant carved for them. This one is exactly the same as the one I have, and most importantly, it has the Fourth Prince's name on the back!"
Zhu Mingqing pursed his lips and said, "This matter is indeed very serious. Prince Zhou, please be extremely careful!"
Prince Zhou: "I will report this matter to my father. Even though it's about Concubine Xu and Steward Zhou, there's still no evidence!"
Zhu Mingqing reminded: "Some things will leave clues no matter how deeply they are hidden, especially don't try to hide it from the people around you!"
Prince Zhou's eyes lit up. "Oh right, why didn't I think of that? Madam, as you can see, now that this matter is settled, I, the Prince Huai's Mansion, owe you a great favor!"
…
Ten days before the end of the year, there was still no news from the Wan family.
Zhu Mingqing brought his group back to Guancheng, and Grandma Xu was also arranged to live on the farm.
The people here don't know her identity, nor do they look down on her as an old woman. She can be self-sufficient and is not afraid of being hunted down when she goes out.
Grandma Xu just felt that this period of time was a rare period of free life after the death of her husband and son.
And what Luo Tingshan had said about the Hu people invading border villages in winter did not happen.
Everything went smoothly until the end of the year.
Guancheng gradually became lively, with small vendors selling all kinds of goods on the streets. Huaxianglou also started various promotional activities, and daily profits were reaching new highs.
But now the largest source of income is still sugar.
The newly opened sugar factory operates almost 24 hours a day. Of course, with the wages paid, people from many surrounding villages and counties have also joined in.
With the sugar factory as the center, some houses and buildings gradually radiated to the surrounding areas, forming a mobile village of more than 30 households.
Generally, residents from other villages live here.
It gets even more lively as the end of the year approaches. Because people are reluctant to spend their wages, family members move here from their hometown to celebrate the New Year together.
Because the cotton mill was also constantly recruiting people, more and more people flocked to the city.
From the initial population of 3,000, it has now reached nearly 4,000.
All this is because of the Ming family’s factory.
In the hearts of the common people in Guancheng, the Ming family is no less than their savior. However, no one knows where the Ming family lives, otherwise the chickens, ducks, rice wine, etc. they send will sooner or later flood the entire yard.
Magistrate Wang was also very fortunate that the 3,000 acres of wasteland at that time had now begun to take shape.
We just need to work out the details after the New Year, and we can start planting crops in the spring.
Zhu Mingqing also started shopping with his family, recreating the scene when he first arrived in Guancheng.
But now the pockets of the people in Guancheng are fatter. Just when Guancheng is busy preparing for the New Year, a news comes from the capital that Emperor Jiancheng has fallen ill!
There are undercurrents in the imperial court, but none of this affects the Luo family, which is now far away from the center of power.
However, Luo Tingshan felt very unwell. Falling ill once didn't mean anything, but this was the third time today.
I'm afraid there must be something wrong with Emperor Jiancheng's health.
"Master, the New Year is coming soon. Should we go to the Luo family to celebrate the New Year?" Jiang Feng asked tentatively.
Luo Tingshan came back to his senses from his deep thoughts and asked calmly, "In what capacity?"
Jiang Feng blurted out: "I am the master of these young masters and young ladies!"
It’s over!
Jiang Feng wanted to slap his own big mouth. Doesn't this mean he is on the same level as his master?
Look, the master's expression is obviously wrong!
"My subordinate is just talking nonsense, Master, please don't take it seriously..."
"No, you're absolutely right!" Luo Tingshan suddenly spoke up, his eyes gazing in appreciation. "Go send an invitation to the Luo family so we can have a reunion dinner together at the end of the year!"
Jiang Feng was stunned, but when he realized what was happening, he raised his thumbs up happily: "Master, you are wise!"
After being busy until the last day of the year, Zhu Mingqing had also arranged the food for tonight's banquet, and the voice of the little world spirit echoed again.
"Qingqing, the fourth repair can begin now."
Zhu Mingqing clapped his hands: "If you don't listen, let me have a good New Year first!"
The little world spirit said aggrievedly: "Well, you must not forget it!"
Late at night, fireworks were set off all over the city.
In the main hall of the Luo family, the table was filled with various delicious dishes, but the atmosphere seemed a little quiet.
At this moment, everyone's eyes fell on Luo Tingshan, who was sitting next to Zhu Mingqing.
Luo Xiao curled his lips in his heart: It's New Year's Day, and you come to someone else's house for a free meal, are you so poor?
Luo Fu was also wondering in her heart: How strange, wearing a mask while eating, is it so shameful?
Luo Feng, who was the farthest away, felt a chill in his heart for some reason and wanted to escape back to his room immediately.
Luo Huai laughed and the stiff atmosphere slowly broke. However, Luo Tingshan didn't eat at all. Instead, he looked at the children with a look that made people who didn't know the situation feel uneasy.
Zhu Mingqing kicked him lightly and signaled him to pay attention with his eyes.
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