"Siqin, how much of the money I asked you to keep last time is left?"
"I haven't used it much. I've only used twenty taels so far. The rest is still here."
"Twenty taels?" How did Siqin manage to spend only twenty taels in more than half a month?
In fact, she didn't know that half of the twenty taels was used to bribe the seventh prince's guards when she asked to see him, and the rest of the silver was just small change. Siqin was very frugal.
"Well, you're quite capable. Go and take fifty taels each and give them to Cai and the beaten servant. Tell them I'm using them to treat their injuries."
Siqin looked embarrassed. The second young lady was too generous. Moreover, giving money for no apparent reason made it clear to others that this matter had something to do with her.
"Miss, this is inappropriate. There is no name for it. Giving it will arouse suspicion."
Xu Yixing didn't think too much about it. In her logic, you were wronged while doing things for me, so I naturally have to compensate you. However, after Siqin's reminder, she also realized that she was indeed wrong.
"Well, then, you just go to the palace doctor to buy some medicine and send it to them quietly. That should be fine, right?"
"Okay, I'll do it right away. By the way, Madam just sent a message saying that you should go alone to Madam Jing's banquet tomorrow. She won't be going."
Is there such a thing? Xu Yixing could also figure it out. Gu Shi herself would definitely not go, otherwise she would become the target of public criticism. Letting him go would also be to shut them up and tell them that their mother was only ill, Yunyun. She was such a face-conscious person.
"Okay. Then help me prepare clothes early, and don't be too flashy."
Siqin was indeed thoughtful. She picked out a goose yellow dress for Xu Yixing, which set off Yixing's little face and made her look particularly gentle.
Today, he was riding in the Xu Mansion's wide-top carriage, which was padded with thick cushions and was particularly comfortable. The carriage swayed into Madam Jing's residence. As soon as Xu Yixing got out, he saw that Madam Jing had come to greet him personally, and she was particularly affectionate.
Speaking of Madam Jing, she was also a legendary figure. Other people's mansions were named after the surnames or official titles of their masters, such as "Fuyuan General's Mansion" and "Yan Mansion" for the Shangshu family.
Mrs. Jing’s home is called “Mrs. Jing’s Mansion”.
Of course, Madam Jing's surname was not Jing. Like her elder sister, Concubine Yi, the Seventh Prince's deceased mother, she shared the surname Li. Jing was her title, a symbol of good fortune.
Madam Jing once saved the emperor's life and was truly a lifesaver.
It is said that in his early years, the emperor was viewing the view from a high building, and for some unknown reason the building collapsed!
The emperor fell into a crack on the top floor and was about to fall down. At that time, Concubine Yi's sister stepped forward and grabbed the emperor's arm. She didn't care about the crime of usurpation and held on until the guards rushed up the stairs and rescued the emperor from the high building together.
Afterwards, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau reported that the Jingqing nebula was shining brightly, which was beneficial to the emperor. So the emperor, with a stroke of his pen, bestowed upon her the title of Jing, allowed her to establish her own government and become an official, allowing her to choose her own husband and decide all matters in the government.
Because of this, Concubine Yi at that time was particularly favored by the emperor and gave birth to the seventh prince.
However, Madam Jing remained unmarried throughout her life, and it had been delayed until now. She was kind and gentle, and never caused trouble. Therefore, even though she had no real power, officials and noble ladies in the capital had to give her some face and respect.
This was Xu Yixing's first time to visit Madam Jing's Mansion. He saw that the layers of buildings inside did not look like the style of the capital, but rather had a bit of a Jiangnan feel.
Madam Jing spoke softly, pulling Xu Yixing along as she explained:
"My mother's family is in Jiangnan and used to run a small business. Later, my sister and I moved to the capital and missed our hometown very much. So when the emperor allowed me to build a mansion, I found some Jiangnan landscapes and moved them in. It turned out to be quite good."
Xu Yixing knew that the small business she was talking about must not be small, otherwise how could she be able to send her two daughters to the capital to participate in the selection and become the emperor's concubines.
I just don't know why she was only kind to me. There were a bunch of ladies and young ladies in front of her, but she only took me to visit the garden.
"Thank you, Madam, for explaining this to me. However... it's not good for the two of us to be here and neglect the other ladies."
"You are a child who cares about others." Mrs. Jing has had a smile on her face ever since she met Xu Yixing, which makes people feel warm.
"I know your mother let you out today to distract her. You're too honest. If you go in front of those people, they'll definitely drag you along and talk about this and that. Why bother?"
"Has the madam also heard those rumors?" Well done.
"Haha, who doesn't know now that Madam Gu was sprayed with horse manure? Hahaha..." Unexpectedly, Madam Jing looks gentle, but she is not soft-hearted when it comes to mocking people.
Xu Yixing didn't say anything, just laughed in his heart, there was no need to laugh out loud.
When they reached a pavilion, Madam Jing suddenly said that she wanted to go to the front hall to take a look. She told Xu Yixing to do as he pleased and then left in a hurry.
Xu Yixing was just feeling completely bewildered when he heard someone talking in the pavilion:
"Miss Yi Yan, please come in."
Hey, is this Lu Anyuan? It's him again!
Sure enough, when I walked into the pavilion, I saw that Lu Anyuan had already brewed tea and poured two cups, as if he was waiting for me.
"Please take a seat."
Xu Yixing didn't want to go in, and wanted to ask him why he was here. But then he thought, Madam Jing is his aunt, why can't she come, so he had to bite the bullet and go in.
Anyway, Siqin, Sihua and Ada who is by his side are all here, so nothing should go wrong.
"Greetings, His Highness the Seventh Prince." After finally completing the formal greeting, Xu Yixing sat down on the stool with half of his buttocks touching it. "Madam Jing said there was something going on in the front yard and she should be back soon."
Lu Anyuan smiled and said, "She lied to you. She won't come back."
"Ah?" Xu Yixing's butt, which had just sat down, was lifted up again. He really didn't understand what these two people were going to do.
"Yi Yan, don't be afraid. Auntie wants you to get in touch with me. I don't mean any harm."
"Why..." Could it be that Lu Anyuan really likes Xu Yiyan?
Lu Anyuan was very frank and said it very bluntly: "Because she hopes that you can become my prince consort."
"Hiss!" This was the sound of Si Hua taking a breath. Si Qin had long felt that there was something fishy going on between the two of them, so she pretended to be deaf at this moment.
Even though Xu Yixing had guessed it long ago, he still felt nervous when he heard him say that. What kind of approach was this, talking to the girl in person without her parents involved?
"Your Highness, even though you are a prince, it is still against the rules to do this."
"What rules?"
Xu Yixing took a deep breath. "Even if His Highness and Madam Jing really wanted to marry me, they should have sent an intermediary to the girl's house first and asked her parents for their opinion before making a decision. Meeting privately like this is against the rules."
Xu Yixing paused for a moment, then continued, "Besides, I secretly think that Your Highness and I are not a good match."
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