When Xiao Zhan returned to the Prince's Mansion, three people were kneeling in the front courtyard.
It was none other than Chen Hui and his sister, Jia Liansang, kneeling there.
Upon seeing Xiao Zhan return, he lowered his head even further.
The three men said in unison, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Xiao Zhan didn't wake them up; he glanced at them and then walked towards the study.
Finally, a voice came from within: "Go and receive your punishment!"
"yes."
"yes."
Chen Hui and her brother answered in unison.
"Master, please wait." Lian Sang kowtowed and hurriedly stopped Xiao Zhan.
Xiao Zhan turned to look at Lian Sang, whose head was already on the ground.
"Are you dissatisfied?" Xiao Zhan looked down at her.
"This servant dares not, this servant has something to report to the master."
"Please listen to my master's words, and I will go to receive my punishment." Lian Sang did not raise her head from beginning to end.
"Speak!" Xiao Zhan said succinctly, staring at Lian Sang to see what she had to say.
"Yes, Master. The young lady arranged yesterday's events the night before last. She said that when the third master of the Chen family came to the capital, she had to go and wait for him early."
Since the young lady had already arranged everything at An Sheng Ji, she asked her maid to go and inspect the shop early in the morning before going to the Chen family to find her.
When the maid arrived at An Sheng Ji's shop, she found that there had been a lot of noise outside. At first, no one paid much attention to it, thinking that it was just those who couldn't receive their gifts and had some complaints or emotions. She figured that it would be fine after calming them down.
Unexpectedly, more and more people started causing trouble. Every now and then, someone would come to the shop entrance and shout. The maids would appease one group, and then another would come.
They were indeed residents of Anle Street, and the maid and Chen Hui couldn't force them to leave, so they had no choice but to stay there.
When the appointed time arrived, the maid went to the Chen family to find the young lady. She met Miss Jiang at the Chen family gate, who said the young lady had left with her. After escorting Miss Jiang back to the Jiang residence, the maid, still worried about An Sheng Ji, went back again, only to discover that the common people were indeed acting under someone's orders.
An Sheng Ji only gave things to a few orphans and widows, which made the ordinary people resentful. Why should they only give things to widows?
Aren't they just ordinary people on Anle Street?
The day before, they had heard about this matter and sat down together to discuss it. They couldn't help but want to come to An Sheng Ji to find out the truth, but it was already dark and the shop was probably closed, so they gave up.
Yesterday morning, they rushed to the entrance of An Sheng Kee Restaurant and made a scene, demanding an explanation from the manager and employees.
They have been patronizing An Sheng Kee ever since it opened here, buying things and supporting her business.
Now that there are benefits to be had, the owner of An Sheng Ji doesn't remember them and only sends things to those widows. Are those widows more capable of taking care of her business than they are?
The shopkeeper stood at the door and gave a long explanation, appealing to both emotion and reason.
The people remained silent, still indignant. The shopkeeper thanked them profusely, and only after they had calmed down did he dare to open the door of An Sheng Ji.
Before long, the line for delivering cotton finally formed, but then the commotion started again over the grain and charcoal purchases.
As they were talking, they started to order him to beat up the shopkeeper, but luckily Lian Sang arrived in time and saved him.
Those men always took advantage of Lian Sang and the others when they were not around, or when no one was around, to harass the lonely widow.
They either robbed them of their things, or they caused trouble at the entrance of An Sheng Kee when only the manager and staff were there.
"Have you investigated? Who is it?" Xiao Zhan asked Lian Sang.
“I investigated and found that it was Hong Xinyue, the eldest daughter of the Prime Minister’s family, who hired someone to do it. I also saw Hong Xinyue near Anshengji.”
Xiao Zhan recalled the incident with Prince Shen last time; it was probably around that time that Hong Xinyue began to hold a grudge against her!
"I understand. Don't tell your young lady about this yet. You may leave now!" Xiao Zhan felt sorry for Jiang Wei's injured hand, fearing that if she knew, she wouldn't even be able to rest and would have to worry about the shop again.
Xiao Zhan went to the study.
Xin Si, who had been standing to the side, curiously leaned closer. "I didn't expect you to be able to say so much in one breath. Before, all I could see you doing was nod or glare. I thought you had a stutter!"
Lian Sang rolled her eyes at him. "I just don't like to talk, not that I'm bad at talking like you." She ignored him and walked to where she was being punished.
"Sigh... I just can't speak properly," Xin Si said with some dissatisfaction.
He thought to himself, "Isn't he talking?"
He's not mute!
Seeing Lian Sang and Chen Hui, brother and sister, walking together towards the place of punishment, I asked, "Didn't the master tell you to go back? What are you doing going there?"
Lian Sang was too lazy to pay attention to him, but Chen Lie kindly took a liking to him.
"Our master told us to go back, but he didn't exempt us from punishment." Chen Lie's tone was devoid of any resentment.
"Did you think I said those things to get our master to forgive us?" Lian Sang glanced at Xin Si.
From the moment she started following Jiang Wei, she felt many different kinds of warmth by her side.
“Dereliction of duty is dereliction of duty, and I cannot argue with that.” After saying this, Lian Sang ignored Xin Si’s questions.
She was supposed to stay by the girl's side at all times, but because the girl left with her former master, she forgot her duty.
She deserves this punishment.
It was the kind-hearted Chen Hui and his sister who answered his questions.
……………………
Jiang Wei sat in the wooden tub, the water reaching above her chest. Her dark hair hung down behind her in the water, and the surface of the tub was sprinkled with plum blossom petals, filling the air with fragrance.
The steam from the hot water rose gently, carrying the fragrance of plum blossoms that enveloped Jiang Wei, making her cheeks flush slightly, as if she were drunk.
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