Before they had even finished dinner, Xi Jing'an came over and told Zheng Boyuan that Lord Chu's attendant had come to invite Zheng Boyuan to the government office, saying that there was something important to discuss.
Zheng Boyuan looked at Xu Di, who frowned and thought for a moment before saying, "I concealed my whereabouts along the way, so he probably doesn't know I'm here. I think he invited you because of the things that Fourth Sister and Fourth Sister's husband brought."
Zheng Boyuan knew what was going on, but after finishing the rice in his bowl, he got up and headed to the government office.
After dinner, everyone went to Zheng Boyuan's study to chat, and Zheng Boyuan returned shortly afterward.
Xu Di asked in surprise, "How come you're back so soon?"
Zheng Boyuan sneered, "Our Lord Chu, I think he's been in Miaozhou for too long, he's got absolute power, he can get whatever he wants just by reaching out."
Upon hearing this, Xu Zhi smiled and said, "What did your Lord Chu ask you for?"
Zheng Boyuan looked at Xu Yao and Lin Zhining and said, "What else? Isn't it the things that Fourth Sister and Fourth Brother-in-law sent today? He told me that his wife went back to her hometown early to celebrate the birthday of the elders in the family, and the family was not prepared. They are about to run out of food these days, so he asked me to lend him some food to tide them over."
Xu Di frowned and thought for a moment, then asked Zheng Boyuan, "When Chu Huaigui was talking to you, was there anyone else around or nearby?"
Zheng Boyuan thought about it carefully and said, "There were only the two of us in the study at the time. As for whether there was anyone in the inner room, I'm not sure. If there was, they must have been someone with excellent skills, because at least I didn't hear any breathing."
Lin Zhining asked, "Brother, is there a problem with this?"
Xu Di thought for a moment and said, "At this point, our two families have already secretly broken ties, yet he is still able to come to Boyuan to ask for things. I don't understand what Chu Huaigui is going to do next."
Xu Zhi noticed that even Wu Muyue was frowning and pondering. Zheng Boyuan said, "At this time, we can no longer just go to their house and arrest them like before."
Upon hearing this, Xu Di asked Zheng Boyuan, "Have the people you arrested confessed everything?"
Zheng Boyuan thought of the old nanny who was still gritting her teeth and insisting, shook his head and said, "The others have already been explained. They are all disciples from some sects in the martial arts world. My uncle helped invite the elders of their sects over and they have already left with the people. My uncle gave them face and let them take the people back and deal with them themselves. These sects are most afraid of having any connection with the imperial court. There is just one old nanny who has not spoken yet."
Xu Di suddenly stood up and said, "Take me there right away. I have people here who are experts in interrogation. Let them try it out. I have a feeling that things are not that simple."
Zheng Boyuan led his men to the back room where the people from the martial arts sects were being held. They had already registered, written letters of repentance, and had their elders from their sects sign and affix their fingerprints as witnesses before being taken away. The room was only where the old nanny was being held. Zheng Boyuan had given the old nanny a muscle-relaxing powder, and for the past few days she had only been given a steamed bun and a bowl of water each day.
Xu Di led Zheng Boyuan, Lin Zhining, Xu Bai, and Chen Yuyuan to the backyard. Xu Zhi and Xu Yao accompanied Wu Muyue in the study in the front yard. Wu Muyue asked Xu Yao, "Little Si, are you scared?"
Xu Yao smiled and said, "Uncle, what's there to be afraid of? It's a matter of life and death. If you don't do it because you're afraid, someone might end up harming you."
Wu Muyue nodded and said, "That's true. If you don't do it, someone else will, and in the end you'll have nowhere to go."
Xu Yao poured Wu Muyue a cup of tea and said, "Uncle, that's exactly the point. Our family situation is so complicated, like a big tree with deep roots and many branches. If we're not careful, a sudden gust of wind could blow this big tree down. Then we who depend on this big tree won't even have a place to hide. So, at such an important time, we can't ignore even a small detail. No matter what it is, if we need to use a sledgehammer, we must use a sledgehammer."
Xu Zhi smiled and said, "Fourth sister, ever since you married your husband, I've always felt that you're different from before. Now it seems that it wasn't just my imagination."
Xu Yao glanced at Xu Zhi with her bright, sparkling eyes and asked, "Tell me, how am I different from before?"
Xu Zhi was stunned by Xu Yao's gaze. Suppressing the ripples in her heart, she said, "So you weren't always so eager to fight. It's only been a few years, and you're already so decisive. You seem quite dashing in doing things."
Xu Yao didn't seem to notice the smile in Xu Zhi's words. She nodded and said, "That's true. Let me tell you, although your fourth brother-in-law takes care of many things outside, if I really didn't care about anything, how tired would he be? In the two years since I married into the family, I've followed your brother-in-law through the Lin family's businesses and gotten to know all the big and small managers in the household. Now, in the Lin family, my word carries just as much weight as your fourth brother-in-law's."
Xu Yao spoke with great pride, and Xu Zhi looked at her in surprise. She thought to herself, "They say that a woman's marriage is like a second reincarnation, and it seems to make a lot of sense now." This fourth sister, back when she was at home, her aunt arranged for her to learn how to manage the household from the steward of the inner courtyard. She avoided it as much as possible and didn't get involved. In just a few years, she has become a remarkable woman who can rival the head of the family.
Wu Muyue looked at Xu Yao with great admiration and said, "Fourth Sister, I am very happy that you have done this much. You must remember not to look down on yourself just because you are a woman."
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