The old lady thought to herself: I also want to divorce her, so that her dowry will all go to the Marquis's mansion. But I've already clashed with her; to divorce her? That's difficult!
Seeing her silence, Aunt Zhi felt an indescribable disappointment: "Sister, you wouldn't be afraid of the Xie family and make your third nephew wear a green hat, would you?"
The old lady's face darkened, and she said, "Sister-in-law, you have never dealt with the third son's family. Compared to that, the difference between the young master's wife and her is not small. I can't get any advantage over her."
“You can’t just watch your son sleep with someone like that,” Aunt Zhi said indignantly. “If you don’t care, I will.”
The old lady waved her hand and said, "Sister-in-law, please don't interfere. Just watch."
The old lady didn't trust Xie Xiangxiang from the bottom of her heart, and she disliked her even more.
However, Xie Zhaozhao has never been able to control her. If Xie Xiangxiang and Tu Shi can find a weakness in Xie Zhaozhao this time, she would be happy to see it happen.
She didn't want Gu Shaoyu involved. She could tell that Gu Shaoyu liked Xie Zhaozhao, and if he was biased, he would definitely handle the matter without leaving a trace. Secondly, she wanted to control the third son and his wife. She wanted Xie Zhaozhao's dowry and the power behind her.
However, Qingpuyuan soon learned of Ci'en Temple's series of actions.
A grayish bird was released from Qingpu Courtyard.
Nanxing was chatting with the guards from other residences outside the second gate of the palace when he suddenly spotted the gray sparrow in Qingpu Courtyard.
He took the note from the sparrow, read it, and paused for a moment.
His face immediately darkened.
Looking at the sundial, it was not yet noon, so he immediately rode out of the palace gate and headed straight for Moon Lake.
He didn't use the usual main gate, but the west gate.
This door leads through winding alleyways, past a garden, and then past two small courtyards, where a small door, almost the same color as the wall, is hidden among green vines.
This door is never opened under normal circumstances.
Because Gu Shaoyu doesn't come to the island in the middle of the lake very often, he always uses the main gate. This gate is hidden; it's a life-saving gate.
He went in through the back door and saw Yuanyuan and Manman waiting outside the island in the middle of the lake.
Upon seeing him arrive, Yuanyuan and Manman greeted him with smiles, "Nanxing, what brings you here? Aren't you with the Grand Secretary?"
"I have urgent business to attend to. May I see Madam?"
“Sure, I’ll go call her. She’s talking to Young Master Yin and Young Master Li right now.”
Manman skipped and hopped to call Xie Zhaozhao. Nanxing saw Yuanyuan holding an account book and asked, "Where did you go the other day? Why were you gone for so long?"
Yuanyuan observed that Nanxing was tall and strong. Martial artists have broad shoulders and backs, and an upright posture, exuding a heroic air.
This person is quite good-looking.
"I went to see my cousin, and while I was there, I checked on the goods Madam was selling in the south." Yuanyuan subtly steered the conversation away from there. "The goods Madam, Second Master Yin, and Second Master Li got are selling incredibly well, especially those horses..."
She deliberately whispered to Nanxing, "Madam, Second Master Yin, and the others—each of them can earn this."
He made a two with his fingers.
Nanxing was indeed swayed and tentatively asked, "Twenty thousand taels?"
Yuanyuan rolled her eyes. Earning 20,000 taels of silver from a trip to Xiandou? How ignorant!
Two hundred thousand taels?
Be bolder!
"Two million?"
"Yes, two million taels, how about it?"
Yuanyuan thought to herself, "Two million taels is nowhere near enough; at least ten million is needed," but she couldn't say it.
As the two were talking, Manman came over to Nanxing and said, "Madam wants you to come in."
Xie Zhaozhao met Nanxing next to the teahouse on the island in the lake.
"What's the matter? Why are you in such a hurry?" Xie Zhaozhao asked Nanxing to reply.
Nanxing gave Xie Zhaozhao the note that Grey Sparrow had brought from her leg.
Xie Zhaozhao unfolded the small piece of paper, about the width of a finger, on which was written: "Madam Hou and the Old Madam sent people to catch the adulterers at Yuehu Lake."
Xie Zhaozhao:......
"You're really quite idle!" Xie Zhaozhao put the note away and said indifferently, "Nanxing, wait a moment, I'll write a short message to the Grand Secretary, and you can take it back to me."
Nanxing nodded.
Xie Zhaozhao quickly wrote a short message and handed it to Nanxing.
"Which door did you come in from?"
"That hidden door in the west." Nanxing knew about that door, and Xie Zhaozhao knew about it too. Gu Shaoyu had told her about it when he gave her the key, explaining how to escape in case of danger.
Xie Zhaozhao called Yuanyuan in and said, "Yuanyuan, go with Nanxing out through the west gate to the Xie residence and invite Second Aunt over. Oh, and tell her to bring Xie Jue here."
Nanxing and Yuanyuan exited through the hidden door on the west side. Nanxing said, "You ride my horse. We're in such a hurry; how will you make it in time without a carriage?"
Yuanyuan's face turned slightly red. This horse was private property, especially since men and women were strictly separated. How could she ride Nanxing's horse?
“If you don’t ride a horse, things here will be delayed.”
"Then what will you do if I ride your horse?"
“There’s a large private caravan shop nearby. I’ll rent a car for an hour and deliver the letter to the Grand Secretary first.”
Nanxing gave the horse to Yuanyuan, who was in a hurry to get things done, so she didn't stand on ceremony.
Yuanyuan rode her horse along the side road. The Xie residence wasn't far, and Yuanyuan arrived at the Xie residence quickly.
The gatekeeper saw that it was Yuanyuan and thought, "Oh dear, the young lady's head maid has returned. There must be something important." He quickly welcomed her inside.
"Young lady, why are you back?" the gatekeeper asked politely.
Yuanyuan smiled and handed him the horse, saying, "Miss has some great news and asked me to come and find the Second Madam."
I went to Wutong Garden.
Madam Xie was watering the flowers in the courtyard when Ying'er saw Yuanyuan return and asked happily, "Is Miss going back to the mansion?"
Upon hearing this, Madam Xie looked up at Yuanyuan and said with a smile, "It seems the eldest young lady sent you. Is there something you need?"
Yuanyuan said with a smile, "The old lady is so wise! The eldest young lady said that she wanted to find a job for the second young master a while ago, and now there is some progress. She asked me to come and invite the second madam and the second young master to meet the person."
Upon hearing this wonderful news, the old lady happily said to Ying'er, "What are you still standing there for? Go and call the Second Madam over."
Ying'er exclaimed "Hey!" and happily ran towards Madam Xie.
Women generally don't leave their homes, so Madam Xie was in the courtyard making shoes and embroidering patterns with Xie Wanwan.
Ying'er came in, and before she could even speak, Madam Xie saw her.
"Is something wrong with Mother?" she asked with a smile as she put down the embroidery frame.
Ying'er said with a smile, "Second Madam, there's good news."
She then repeated Yuanyuan's words, and Madam Xie was overjoyed. She quickly instructed her maid Siqin to find Xie Jue and tell him to go to the Old Madam's Wutong Garden immediately.
Madam Xie changed her clothes and asked her maid to restyle her hair, making herself look very dignified.
Taking this opportunity, Madam Xie asked Yuanyuan, "Is Miss's menstrual cycle still regular?"
This question asks if she is pregnant!
Yuanyuan said with a smile, "Madam, please don't worry. The young master said that he consulted the imperial physician and that a girl's body is considered fully grown only after she is over eighteen years old. The Grand Secretary is very fond of the eldest young lady and wants to treat her like a child for two years before becoming a mother!"
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