Chapter 120 Planning
She knelt down with a thud, crying out in a hoarse voice.
Cai Jiuwen was taken aback by her words and rebuked her sharply: "Insolence! What do you mean by 'I promoted him'? That was an imperial edict issued by the Emperor. I was just following the edict."
"If you continue to spout nonsense, don't blame me for disregarding our past camaraderie."
"Furthermore, you are the daughter of a disgraced official. If I am not mistaken, you are already of lowly status. How dare you set foot in my Cai family? Leave at once!"
What do you mean he promoted him? If the Emperor knew this, he would think the salt smuggling case was related to him.
If they are found guilty, it would be a devastating blow to the Cai family.
Moreover, Ding Yixu died, the Ding family was raided, and everyone was reduced to a lowly status. How could a woman of such low status enter the Cai family? Let alone become the eldest son's legal wife.
Upon hearing this, Ding Yunxiang was filled with despair. "No...don't send me away..."
"Uncle Cai, please, I'll do anything you ask if you can help me..."
Seeing her in such a pitiful state, with tears streaming down her face, Cai Benbo, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but feel a pang of pity.
He slowly walked forward and helped her up: "Ding Yunxiang, calm down. The evidence regarding the Ding family is conclusive, and that is an undeniable fact. Just accept it."
Ding Yunxiang was helped to her feet, and his face appeared in her eyes. She vaguely felt that she had seen him somewhere before.
She remembered that when Uncle Cai showed the portrait to her father, she had also glanced at it.
The person in front of me is Cai Benbai, the eldest son of the Cai family.
Realizing this, Ding Yunxiang quickly grabbed his arm and said weakly, "Brother-in-law Benbai, my elder sister is your betrothed, please save me..."
Cai Benbo's throat tightened, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.
He sighed helplessly, "Madam Ding, your eldest sister and I have already dissolved our engagement."
Then she walked towards the steward, stretched out her hand, and gestured for him to take out some silver.
The butler quickly took the purse from his waist and handed it to him.
He took a bag of silver, turned back to her, and handed it to her: "Madam Ding, take this silver and make a living."
Ding Yunxiang was stunned on the spot upon seeing this.
Seeing her confusion, he took her hand and placed it in hers.
"Someone! Show the guest out."
The voice instantly snapped her back to reality, and she hurriedly said, "Uncle Cai, my father had saved a large sum of money before he died. It was kept in a safe place and was not confiscated by the imperial court."
“If you are willing to help me, I am willing to give you everything.”
Upon hearing this, the Cai father and son fell silent. Cai Jiuwen waved his hand, signaling the butler to leave.
“Madam Ding, it’s not that your uncle doesn’t want to help you, but your lowly status is already recorded by the government. Right now, the Ding family is in the eye of the storm. Unless you can change your identity, you can walk on the right path.”
"A complete makeover?"
She looked at him with a puzzled expression, somewhat confused.
Seeing that she still didn't understand, Cai Jiuwen stopped beating around the bush.
“You need to find a good match who can switch identities with you, take her appearance, and live temporarily under her identity. When the time is right, your uncle can help you.”
"But... but where can I find a woman who can help me?"
He stroked his beard, forcing a smile: "You'll have to figure that out yourself."
His gaze then fell on the jade ring in her hand, and he gestured for Cai Benbo to take it back.
“Sister Yunxiang, my engagement with your eldest sister has long been null and void, and I returned the Ding family token along with the letter on the same day. Now you need to return it to me.”
Ding Yunxiang looked down at the object in her hand, and without thinking, obediently returned it to him.
They had no idea that if they returned it to him, it would truly have nothing to do with the Cai family anymore.
After she left, Cai Benbo couldn't help but ask, "Father, since Ding Yunxiang has a lot of money, why not bring her to the manor? We can also arrange a distant identity for her."
Cai Jiuwen sneered and said disdainfully, "Son, do you really believe her story? Do you believe that Ding Yixu is the kind of person who is shrewd and calculating?"
"If he were really that kind of person, he wouldn't have left himself no way out."
"Her statement just now was just a lie she came up with when she was desperate."
"Even if she really has a fortune, it doesn't matter. Let her handle her own affairs regarding her legal status. We will still accept the money. If it is found out, it has nothing to do with us. We are also victims who have been deceived."
Upon hearing this, Cai Jiubai suddenly realized what he meant and laughed, "Father, you were right."
At noon, Ding Yunxiang returned to the Tao family home and sat absentmindedly in the courtyard.
Hearing the sounds of activity in the kitchen, I thought for a moment, then got up and went inside.
"Aunt Tao, let me help you."
As Xixin and Tao's mother were working and chatting, they were in high spirits when they suddenly heard a voice behind them. A hint of impatience flashed across their faces.
She couldn't help but say sarcastically, "Let's not do it, Madam Ding. You've never lifted a finger to do housework. If you do what happened last time, burning down the kitchen is a small matter, but getting hurt would be a big problem."
Last time I asked her to help start a fire, and in the blink of an eye, she burned down half the kitchen.
Upon hearing this, Tao Tao forbade Ding Yunxiang from going to the kitchen again.
With the boss showing such favoritism towards her, Xixin naturally dared not let her do any more work.
Upon hearing this, Ding Yunxiang recalled what had happened last time, and an awkward expression appeared on her face. She still felt somewhat uncomfortable and aggrieved.
She was a member of the Ding family, and such rough work was done by servants, so it was perfectly normal that she didn't know how.
She couldn't understand why Xixin harbored such malice towards her. She hadn't done it on purpose. She wanted to learn it too, but she had been a person of high status since childhood. How could she learn to do things that servants did?
Tao Tao is busy with opening branch stores, so she usually doesn't come back for lunch.
So these past few days it's been just the three of them.
Ding Yunxiang didn't retort, but silently looked at Tao's mother.
Tao's mother was soft-hearted, so she immediately told Xixin to say less and smiled, "It's alright, it's alright, Madam Ding, come, I'll teach you and you'll learn."
On the first day of August, the imperial family of the Celestial Empire began their three-day Autumn Hunting Ceremony.
The imperial court set up a hunting ground within a radius of fifty li outside the capital, where the game included large animals such as deer, roe deer, wolves, sheep, and leopards, as well as smaller animals such as rabbits, foxes, sables, and birds.
It was used for the emperor and his nobles to hunt and enjoy themselves.
Inside the hunting grounds, after the servants brought out tables and chairs to settle their masters, they began to set up tents and curtains.
The Emperor was unusually pleased to be surrounded by the lush green mountains and clear waters, and the concubines and princes in the harem who were around him were also very enthusiastic, which made the Emperor beam with joy.
The ministers' families around them were also filled with curiosity and joy, chatting and laughing, creating a lively scene.
The emperor, beaming with pride, announced that the prize for today's hunt was a jade thumb ring on his hand.
"Father! Today I will hunt a leopard for you, to nourish your blood and strengthen your body."
The speaker was none other than the Third Prince, Qi Heng, who was about sixteen years old and in the prime of his youth.
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