Chapter 57: Heart Warmth
Osmanthus flowers fell into the pond, spreading a layer of light yellow.
The afternoon weather was so hot and humid that it made people feel irritated. Zhuang Wan lay on the windowsill, fanning herself lazily while staring at the courtyard gate.
Pei Xingju had entered the palace, and she didn't know what Marquis Cheng'en would say to the emperor. Although she had done nothing wrong in this matter, it was an indisputable fact that the Marquis Cheng'en Mansion had been embarrassed today.
The emperor has always struck a balance to appease his subjects. Perhaps Pei Xingju is being scolded in the palace right now.
"well!"
She sighed deeply, and her guilt towards Pei Xingju increased.
After a while, Qiu Tan came back with a lot of snacks in her arms.
"Miss, look what I brought you?" She happily introduced: "This is candied water chestnuts, and this is walnut cake. Miss, these used to be your favorites."
Qiu Tan had been busy in the shop and had no idea what happened this morning.
Zhuang Wan asked, "How's the shop getting ready?"
Qiu Tan: "Today, we cleaned the place inside and out, and stocked the shelves with new items. The servant Xuejuan sent by Furong Cloth Shop was distributed to the embroiderers, asking them to start working as soon as possible. Tomorrow, I will go to the needlework shop to see if I can get some needlework and fabric in, so we can barely open the shop."
Zhuang Wan secretly gave Qiu Tan a thumbs up. It seemed that Qiu Tan was very capable. She had sorted out the miscellaneous affairs in just half a day.
After thinking for a while, she turned and went into the house, calling Qiu Tan: "Come in and help me grind the ink."
Qiu Tan went in with something in her arms: "Miss, do you want to write?"
"No, I'm writing letters."
She had originally intended to go to Furong Cloth Shop to meet Su Zhiyan today, but she ran into Princess Wu Jing on the way and was forced to delay. She could only write a letter to ask her to help contact some caravans, preferably those heading south, to facilitate her escape.
After writing the letter, he instructed Qiu Tan: "Personally deliver this letter to Shopkeeper Su of Furong Cloth Shop."
Qiu Tan nodded, took the letter and went out immediately.
Not long after, I heard that Pei Xingju had returned.
Zhuang Wan hurriedly picked up her skirt and ran out.
In the front yard, Pei Xingju had just walked into the second door when he saw a figure running from the corridor.
She stopped far away and looked over here across the skylight.
Pei Xingju also stopped and saw that she looked worried. After thinking for a moment, he walked over.
"It's all right now." He said simply.
Zhuang Wan was anxious: "What do you mean by 'it's all right'? What did the emperor say? Did he punish you?"
"Why are you punishing me?" Pei Xingju's eyes showed a hint of smile: "It's obviously you who committed the crime, why are you punishing me?"
Zhuang Wan choked and his old face felt inexplicably hot.
"I was just joking with you." Pei Xingju said, "The emperor didn't punish me or blame me, he just asked me to come to the palace to inquire about the details."
It was originally just a trivial matter of a quarrel between women. How could the emperor punish his subjects for such a thing? However, the Marquis of Cheng'en felt that his family had lost face, and going to the emperor to complain was nothing more than an attempt to save some face.
The emperor understood this situation, and so did Pei Xingju. He followed the emperor's instructions and apologized to the Marquis of Cheng'en. The emperor also offered a few token words of comfort, and the matter was over.
"I really didn't punish you?" Zhuang Wan asked, "Then why did you stay in the palace for so long?"
Pei Xingju was surprised: "Have you been waiting for me?"
"Of course." Zhuang Wan nodded, not thinking there was anything wrong with it.
Pei Xingju felt a warm feeling in his heart.
"I was discussing something with the Emperor in the palace, so it took a while."
"Oh." Zhuang Wan breathed a sigh of relief.
The girl's eyebrows and eyes moved, worried one moment, then relaxed the next, like a blooming crabapple. A smile played on her lips, slowly spreading.
"Great!" she said, then came over and asked playfully, "Master Pei, I made a delicious dessert. Do you want some?"
Pei Xingju remained silent, neither saying whether he wanted to nor whether he didn't want to, and just looked relaxed.
Zhuang Wan blinked and said, "Then I'll go get it now."
After saying that, she walked away briskly like a rabbit.
Pei Xingju stood there, and after a while, the corners of his lips suddenly relaxed and a smile appeared on his face.
.
Cheng'en Marquis Mansion.
Marquis Cheng'en returned home and was about to go to the study when a maid came hurriedly up to him.
"Master, you are finally back. Madam asked me to wait for you here and said that if you come back, please go to the main courtyard."
Marquis Cheng'en frowned: "What's the matter?"
"It's about Master Sui. Master Sui...he was beaten."
Upon hearing this, Marquis Cheng'en felt very upset and immediately went to the main courtyard.
As soon as I entered the room, I heard noise and crying in the house.
"Mom! I don't want to go back to my hometown. I don't want to go! Mom, can you please speak well of this to Dad and ask for mercy on my behalf?"
On the other side, Jiang Sui yelled, "It hurts, it hurts, can you be gentler? Do you want to kill me?"
The Marquis' wife sat by and wiped her tears: "Why am I so miserable? In one day, my daughter was bullied and my son was beaten like this..."
Seeing Marquis Cheng'en enter, she hurriedly stood up and asked, "Master, what did the emperor say?"
The noise in the house gradually stopped.
Marquis Cheng'en glanced at Jiang Sui, who was lying on the couch. Seeing that his cheeks were bruised and his forehead was injured, his face suddenly turned pale.
"What's going on? What trouble have you gotten yourself into again?"
The Marquis's wife hurried forward to defend him: "What are you talking about, Master? Sui'er was beaten like this, and instead of asking the person who beat him, you ask what happened to him."
Jiang Sui immediately said, "Dad! My son didn't cause any trouble, but was beaten! You have to help him vent his anger!"
"Who hit you?"
"It's Chen Yi from the Ministry of Justice."
"Chen Yi?" Marquis Cheng'en frowned, "Why did Chen Yi hit you?"
"Because... because..." Jiang Sui hesitated and didn't dare to say anything.
"Call his followers." Marquis Cheng'en ordered sternly.
"Yes." The old woman hurried out.
After a while, the attendant came running over and told the whole story in detail. Finally, he said, "After Lord Shen beat the man, he also asked me to report the matter to the Marquis, but the Marquis went to the palace, so I was unable to report it in time."
After hearing what happened, Marquis Cheng'en was furious.
"You said you didn't cause any trouble! It's ok that you're unlearned and unskillful, but you even dared to provoke Princess Wu Jing."
He was so angry that he looked around the room for something. Finally, he walked to the table, picked up the ruler and hit Jiang Sui with it.
"You evil creature! I'm going to beat you to death!"
Seeing this, the Marquis's wife rushed over to stop him. "If you want to kill him, why not kill me first? I don't want to live anymore anyway! Not only do you ignore your daughter and son when they are bullied, but you also want to kill them. Yes, I know you only have your precious son in your heart. What do my Shan'er and Sui'er mean to you?"
"Go ahead and beat us! Beat us three to death, and you and your son will be satisfied!"
After receiving the favor, she raised the ruler, not knowing whether to hit him or not, and her face was gloomy and ugly.
"A loving mother often spoils her child! Look at the kind of person you've raised!"
He threw away the ruler, turned around and walked away. When he reached the door, he said, "Shan'er must be sent away. She can't stay in the capital anymore. As long as she stays in the capital, my Cheng'en Marquis Mansion will be unable to raise its head."
After he finished speaking, he walked out the door, and behind him was the sound of Jiang Shan crying.
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