Chapter 009 Chapter 9

Xu Duanyi was not aware of this matter and was shocked when he heard it.

"Is there anything else?"

Dong Yu nodded, "It's just that Liaodong was too chaotic at that time, and the lady couldn't bear to leave the Marquis, and was also worried about him. When you were still in her belly, she followed the Marquis to live in Liaodong. In the following years, she rarely came back. Otherwise, you and the little Prince Nan'an grew up together, and this marriage should have been decided a long time ago."

Xu Duanyi was stunned.

If that were true, she would not have been married to her cousin by her aunt at that time.

But who can say these things well?

It's just a coincidence.

The bright winter light of snow shone in from the window, outlining Xu Duanyi's figure and casting a faint halo.

She held the book in her hand, looking at the red plum blossoms and snow-white scenery outside the window, remaining silent.

…

The next day.

Xu Duanyi's cousin, Ming, the wife of Xiao Yuanxing, the prince of the Duke of Huguo's mansion, came to apologize with Xiao Baozhu.

At that time, Xu Duanyi was arranging a ceremony to pray at Huang'en Temple in a few days.

Upon hearing that Ming and Xiao Baozhu were coming, Xu Duanyi naturally hurriedly asked someone to invite them in.

Ming is twenty-five years old this year. She is the daughter of the Minister of Rites. She is elegant and beautiful. Although her appearance is not the best, she has an excellent temperament.

She has a son and a daughter, and is deeply loved by Xiao Yuanxing. She is now in charge of the funding for the Duke of Huguo's Mansion and has a lot of say in the Duke of Huguo's Mansion.

The woman in pink behind her is the jewel in the crown of the Duke of Huguo's Mansion.

——Xiao Baozhu.

Xiao Baozhu was pulled in by Ming. She no longer looked as proud and arrogant as before, but rather a little listless.

The eyes are also a little red and swollen.

Looks like she's been crying hard.

"younger sister!"

Ming saw Xu Duanyi standing in the corridor waiting for them from a distance, so she called for help.

Xu Duanyi walked out to greet people with a smile.

"Sister-in-law."

She had a good relationship with the Ming family, so she greeted her first, then looked at Xiao Baozhu, who lowered her head and didn't dare to look at her, and smiled and called her, "Baozhu."

When Xiao Baozhu heard this familiar name, her eyes suddenly turned red again.

She looked up at Xu Duanyi, and seeing that her expression remained the same, tears welled up in her eyes almost all of a sudden.

"……cousin."

She called her with her red lips.

Ming said to Xu Duanyi, "I brought this naughty girl to give you a gift and apologize. You can beat her or scold her as you like. I will never argue with my parents-in-law and husband."

"Baozhu and I are sisters. We have no connection or reason. Why are you hitting her?"

Xu Duanyi smiled.

After she finished speaking, she took Ming in one hand and Xiao Baozhu in the other and went to the inner room to talk.

Although Shi Yu had Xu Duanyi's advice, she was still furious when she saw Xiao Baozhu. She had no idea that her master liked Xie Qingya. She just thought that her master had to marry Prince Nannan because she had to bear the consequences for Xiao Baozhu, so she was full of resentment towards her.

Although he didn't say anything, his expression was still a little ugly.

Ming was good at observing people's words and expressions, so she naturally knew the reason behind this. She also knew that the Xiao family was to blame, and she had to bear the consequences for Baozhu and the Xiao family.

When the imperial edict came down a few days ago, my parents-in-law didn't say anything, but my husband was very angry and made Baozhu kneel in the ancestral hall for two days.

Knowing that Duanyi had left the palace last night, she reminded her to bring Baozhu with her to apologize.

Don't let this become a rift between us.

"We are a family and we don't talk behind each other's backs. Baozhu was wrong in this matter, but we didn't expect that Auntie would marry you to the King of Nan'an."

Ming took Xu Duanyi aside to talk in private.

"The decree was issued too quickly. By the time my husband knew about it, it was too late to save the situation."

"I heard from my husband that Cao Da was responsible for this?" she asked in a low voice.

Xu Duanyi did not hide it: "It was indeed Cao Da and my aunt who proposed it."

When Ming heard this, her face darkened: "This slave is becoming more and more rampant now!"

However, Cao Da’s current power is not something she can say.

It was also Cao Da's contribution that enabled my aunt to support His Majesty to ascend the throne.

In all these years, the Xiao family and Cao Da's people have kept to themselves. However, it happened that a few months ago, a nephew of the Xiao family killed someone, and that person turned out to be a family member of Cao Da's adopted son.

I think this is also the reason why Cao Da suggested that Duan Yi replace Baozhu to marry into the Nan'an Palace.

Thinking of this, Ming felt more and more sorry for Xu Duanyi.

Although there is a seven-year age difference between the two of them, they have always had a good relationship because of their similar personalities.

The palms and backs of your hands are all made of flesh.

Ming naturally couldn't bear to see her suffer like this.

But it was too late to say this now. Ming could only hold Xu Duanyi's hand and sigh, "We, the Xiao family, are sorry for you."

Xu Duanyi gently held her hand back and advised her gently: "Since sister-in-law said that we should not talk about other people's affairs, please don't talk about these things with me anymore. There is no need to be estranged."

Hearing her say this, Ming felt even more guilty and compassionate.

When he looked at Xiao Baozhu again, he was disappointed that they had failed to make it. He asked, "What did your elder brother say to you when you came here? Have you forgotten it?"

Ming is nine years older than Xiao Baozhu, so Ming has watched Xiao Baozhu grow up.

The relationship between the aunt and the sister-in-law has always been good.

Xiao Baozhu was trembling with fear after being yelled at by Ming. She stammered to Xu Duanyi, "Cousin, I, I am sorry for you. You can scold me. I, I didn't expect to implicate you."

This was something Xiao Baozhu had never expected.

She has always been self-indulgent, doing whatever she thinks of, regardless of the consequences, she only cares about making herself happy.

But she never expected that Xu Duanyi would be implicated this time.

Although she and Xu Duanyi are cousins, they have a very good relationship.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have accepted the punishment obediently this time.

She thought of her elder brother's instructions and was about to kneel down to kowtow and admit her mistake to Xu Duanyi, but her knees just went weak and Xu Duanyi held her up.

"Okay, Baozhu, it's all over."

Xu Duanyi helped Xiao Baozhu sit down next to him again and did not let her kneel down.

After being treated like this by her, Xiao Baozhu finally couldn't hold back and burst into tears while hugging her.

She has been scolded these days. Her mother said she was stupid for falling for such a thing, her eldest brother also blamed her, and even her sister-in-law, who always loved her, criticized her several times.

I wanted to go see Liu Lang, but my family stopped me.

She felt so aggrieved that she couldn't tell anyone, but to her surprise, her cousin still treated her the same as usual and didn't distance herself from her because of this incident.

Xiao Baozhu also burst into tears because of this.

Fortunately, Shi Yu is not here at the moment, otherwise, seeing Xiao Baozhu like this, he would definitely have to stare and start sharpening his knife again.

Ming also looked speechless.

However, Xu Duanyi patted her back as usual and comforted her, "Okay, don't cry."

The more gentle she is.

Xiao Baozhu felt more and more guilty.

With tears flowing endlessly, she hugged Xu Duanyi and said guiltily, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, cousin, I really didn't know that I would implicate you. I know I was wrong, please don't be angry with me."

Xu Duanyi patted her on the back: "I'm not angry with you."

But how could Xiao Baozhu and Ming believe it? They just thought she was comforting them, and even Ming couldn't help shedding a few tears.

After a while.

Xiao Baozhu was tired of crying, and was led inside by her maid to clean up.

Ming wiped away her tears, held Xu Duanyi's hand, and asked her what she planned to do in the future.

Xu Duanyi actually hadn't thought about it.

At this time, hearing Ming's question, all he could say was, "Let's wait and see."

When Ming heard this, her eyes became even redder.

"We are sorry for this." Before Xu Duanyi could speak, Ming held her hand and said, "Listen to me, if you hadn't taken the blame for Baozhu, both Aunt and our Xiao family would have been implicated."

"This child is so stupid. He did something like this and got criticized for nothing!"

There was also a hint of blame in Ming's words.

She really didn't expect that Baozhu would fall in love with this year's third place winner. In order to marry him, she not only broke off the engagement, but also had an affair with someone in secret.

Putting the Xiao family in the position of being the target of public criticism.

If this matter gets out, how will the Xiao family and my aunt still have face?

The court had long been dissatisfied with my aunt and the Xiao family for being in power for so long.

Ming held Xu Duanyi's hand and said, "I know you are a simple person, but Duanyi, we owe you this matter after all. Your cousin said that no matter what you ask for in the future, the Xiao family will do its best to help you."

“Sister-in-law…”

Xu Duanyi frowned.

Seeing that Ming was determined and would not tolerate rejection, he could only sigh and say, "Okay, I'll remember that."

Only then did Ming feel relieved.

Xiao Baozhu hasn't come out yet, and Xu Duanyi also has something to ask.

"What are your uncle and aunt going to do about Baozhu and Liu Tanhua?"

Ming got a headache when she heard the word Liu.

She couldn't hide her disgust, and she had no reason to hide it from Duan Yi: "That Liu guy is just the son of a prefect."

"Even if we don't talk about his family background, just the fact that he dared to do such a shameless thing with Baozhu shows that he is not a good person."

"Your elder brother and father-in-law want to deal with him."

"But firstly, Liu Xun is an official after all. Secondly, Baozhu loves him so much that she even said that if Liu Xun's life is taken, she will die." The more she spoke, the angrier she became. Ming gritted her teeth and said, "This girl has been spoiled by us. She knows that everyone is used to her, so she dares to do this!"

"Mother-in-law is reluctant to part with Baozhu, so I guess she will let them get married."

Xu Duanyi also guessed this would be the result.

She also doesn't like this Liu Xun.

Knowing that Baozhu was engaged, he still got involved with her and even disregarded Baozhu's reputation by getting close to her, deliberately letting things come to this point.

This shows how deep this person's mind is.

"Baozhu has a simple personality. Sister-in-law, remember to assign Baozhu a few more capable maids. Don't let Liu Xun bully her."

"Don't worry, Liu Xun will have everything just because he has become a member of a high-ranking family."

"But he was wrong."

"Your elder brother hates people like this the most in his life."

"If he treats Baozhu well in this life, it's fine. If not..." Ming sneered.

He caught a glimpse of Xu Duanyi, and a trace of worry and sadness surged into his heart again: "But what can you do? The temperament and character of the King of Nan'an..."

After that, she sighed again: "Although the Prince of Nan'an is useless now, his status is still there. Even if your cousin and I are willing, we are powerless."

Xu Duanyi patted her hand gently and said comfortingly: "Sister-in-law, don't worry about me."

Ming held Xu Duanyi's hand. She was not worried that she would be bullied, but she couldn't help feeling distressed, thinking about the many concubines that Prince Nan'an had outside.

She couldn't do anything else.

But these women can still solve the problem for her.

Ming had already made up her mind, and she turned around to tell her husband.

Her husband is in charge of the Shenjiying and is also the Minister of War. He will come forward. She wants to see who will be so bold as to receive the King of Nangan in the future!

Duan Yi has a gentle and indifferent personality and never cares about these things.

But she couldn't stand those beautiful girls, which made her be gossiped about and feel wronged!