"For more than ten years, I have been a vegetarian, chanting Buddhist scriptures, being filial to my elders, and remembering my deceased mother. Finally, I have received a good reward."
The old lady choked up as she said, "I will go back to Huguo Temple and donate ten barrels of sesame oil to light an everlasting lamp for my grandson-in-law."
As they were talking, Ying'er and Madam Xie arrived shortly afterward.
Madam Xie said excitedly, "Mother, Jue'er and I will go to see the eldest young lady in a little while."
"Alright, don't make any unreasonable demands on Zhaozhao. Zhaozhao has the Xie family in her heart, and she will make arrangements for her brother."
"Yes, Mother, I will follow Miss's arrangements."
Not long after, Xie Jue ran back from the martial arts arena. He first went to his own courtyard to take a bath and change his clothes. After giving some more instructions, the mother and son took a carriage and followed Yuanyuan to the island in the center of Moon Lake.
On the way, Yuanyuan said to Madam Xie, "Madam Xie, that island in the middle of the lake is His Majesty's private residence, which is lent to the Grand Secretary for his leisure. The Grand Secretary gave the key to Miss Xie, so we should keep a low profile."
Madam Xie "understood" this because Xie Zhaozhao wanted to find someone to arrange things for Xie Jue and was afraid that others would overhear, so she went to the island in the middle of Moon Lake to discuss the matter.
Yuanyuan had no idea how much she was imagining things; she just thought Yuanyuan was taking her advice.
The three of them quietly entered the island in the middle of the lake through the small gate on the west side.
Xie Zhaozhao and Madam Xie exchanged greetings and salutations.
Then he looked at Xie Jue and said, "Second brother has grown taller again."
Xie Jue was a little embarrassed, but admired his elder sister even more. He cupped his hands and said, "Your younger brother has troubled your elder sister. He trains hard every day, hoping to become a great general in the future and live up to your teachings."
Xie Zhaozhao briefly explained to them that she needed Yin Jin'an's help, and then led them to the tea room, where Yin Jin'an and Li Yunmu were sitting.
The two playboys looked rather comical sitting upright, but Madam Xie didn't dare to be negligent and greeted them politely. Yin Jin'an and Li Yunmu also returned the greeting politely.
Yin Jin'an looked at Xie Jue and said, "Your sister said you want to join the army?"
Xie Jue looked at Yin Jin'an and thought to himself: I want to join the army, but I don't want to learn how to fight from you.
But no matter who the other person was, they were his elder sister's friend, so he nodded respectfully: "I don't like studying, I like practicing martial arts."
"Do you simply enjoy wielding weapons and want to be a chivalrous hero? Or do you aspire to be a general who protects your country?"
"General."
"Alright, if you're willing to join the Imperial Guard, we can arrange for you to go in today. If you perform exceptionally well, whether you go to the frontier to earn military merits or join the Palace Guard after a month is up to you."
Yin Jin'an said this without any hint of arrogance or haughtiness.
It doesn't sound like a joke.
Li Yunmu also said, "Besides these two places, there are even better places; it all depends on your own training results."
Madam Xie looked at Xie Zhaozhao in shock, but Xie Zhaozhao's expression remained calm and unreadable.
In Madam Xie's mind, being able to enter the Palace Guard was already the best she could do; she couldn't think of a better place.
She stammered, "Can...can I enter the Palace Guard?"
Xie Zhaozhao nodded: "Second brother can go to the Imperial Guard training camp for a month first. If he can stand out in this month, he can enter the Palace Guard first. He can still train there, and his monthly salary will be higher. He can continue to work hard and improve while doing his job."
Madam Xie's knees buckled, and she wanted to kowtow to Xie Zhaozhao and Yin Jin'an.
Yin Jin'an only looked at Xie Jue: "Should we agree?"
"Yes!" Xie Jue was overjoyed and didn't even ask her mother's opinion. "I can go today after I've packed my things."
"Alright, then you can go to the Imperial Guard first. A month later, we'll arrange for you to join the Palace Guard."
Yin Jin'an didn't think much about it; she was very certain.
He and Li Yunmu may not have many other skills, but they can manage to arrange for a few people to enter the Palace Guard, a place he himself dislikes.
Madam Xie never expected that she would be able to enter the Palace Guard so easily, a position that everyone was vying for.
Xie Zhaozhao nodded: "Yes, it's settled then."
She said to Xie Jue, "You discuss the arrangements for entering the camp with Second Master Yin and Second Master Li. Do a good job and don't embarrass Second Master."
Xie Jue had no reason not to respond.
Today was the happiest day of his life in thirteen years. He no longer had to be forced by his mother to study like his older brother, nor was he forced to take the imperial examination.
He was one step closer to becoming his favorite general.
Xie Zhaozhao gave Yuanyuan and Manman a wink, and Yuanyuan and Manman immediately went out from the island in the middle of the lake, deliberately showing themselves outside the garden to help Moyan prepare to hitch up the carriage to go back.
Xia Hua and the others, who were watching from outside the gate, immediately became excited when they saw this.
He quietly instructed everyone to keep a close watch and sent someone to immediately summon the old lady and the Marquis's wife.
Madam Tu and Xie Xiangxiang arrived quickly. The old lady did not come, saying that she had difficulty walking and asked Madam Tu and Xie Xiangxiang to bring all the servants and old women in the mansion.
Zhang Qing and his group didn't say anything about catching someone in adultery, but the large number of people coming out of the Marquis's mansion still attracted the attention of passersby.
Zhang Qing repeatedly instructed everyone not to show anything, as the old lady had instructed: "Only take down the Xie family, do not affect the Grand Secretary's reputation."
If the Grand Secretary falls from power, the Marquis's mansion will collapse faster than any other mansion, and unfortunately, they may not even be able to stay in the capital.
Yuanyuan watched as a dozen or so people gathered at the main entrance, entered the tea room, and whispered a few words to Xie Zhaozhao.
Xie Zhaozhao said apologetically, "Second Master Yin, Second Master Li, there are some matters to attend to at the manor. I will take you back first."
Madam Xie was unaware of what was happening outside, so she and her son sat quietly in the tea room waiting for Xie Zhaozhao.
Xie Zhaozhao, Li Yunmu, and Yin Jin'an came out of the island in the middle of the lake together. Xie Zhaozhao kept a polite distance from them, while Yuan Yuan followed closely behind.
The group walked confidently toward the exit, while the servants of the Marquis's mansion, who had been waiting at the gate, were so excited their hearts were about to jump out of their chests.
Xie Xiangxiang almost fell off the carriage! She and her mother, Madam Xu, had been trying every possible method for over a decade, but they could never kill this person, and they still couldn't get their hands on Xie Zhaozhao's mother's dowry.
This time we can really skin her alive.
Yin Jin'an and Li Yunmu came over, and their servants led their horses out from the courtyard hidden by green trees.
Cheng Yu whispered something to Yin Jin'an, who raised an eyebrow and a wicked smile appeared on her lips.
The rhythmic clatter of horses' hooves echoed on the hearts of the Hou family members lying in ambush outside the gate, filling them with excitement and anticipation for the scene to unfold.
Just as Mo Yan ran over to open the gate, he glanced at Xie Zhaozhao, who nodded slightly without making a sound.
Mo Yan opened the gate, but before he could even say "Second Master, please," seven or eight male stewards from the mansion rushed forward and pinned Mo Yan to the ground.
Yin Jin'an, Li Yunmu, Xie Zhaozhao and their group all stopped.
Xie Xiangxiang waited for Madam Tu to speak, but Madam Tu sat in the car waiting for Xie Xiangxiang to speak.
Yin Jin'an pinched her chin and clicked her tongue. Li Yunmu crossed his arms and smiled like an old fox. This is interesting!
Xie Zhaozhao calmly said to the managers, "Let go!"
Seeing her suddenly become authoritative and imposing, the stewards immediately relaxed their grip and turned to look at Madam Tu.
Tu remained silent.
Xie Xiangxiang finally couldn't resist jumping off the carriage, her triumphant voice trembling slightly: "Eldest sister, you can't leave now!"
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