Chapter 17 Gathering
Qiandeng winked secretly at Daimao, then looked up and saw Xue Xiyang and Meng Lanxi coming in with Aunt Xuanji. She nodded to them and said comfortingly, "It's really just a minor injury. I got pricked by a bamboo thorn while in the mountains."
Although Aunt Xuanji was relieved, she couldn't help but feel angry: "I heard that the county lady was injured while saving Jin Langjun's Seventh Aunt? You are a precious person, why would you risk it yourself?"
"Yes, the county lady must be wary of the Jin family in the future. The situation of the richest family in Chang'an is complicated. Be extremely careful!"
Xue Xiyang, who had come with them, heard Aunt Xuanji's words and immediately seized the opportunity to criticize Jin Tang: "The county lady's precious body was injured because of him! This time, the Jin family is lucky. If the situation is more serious, I wonder what they can afford to compensate!"
Seeing that the usually charming and gentle Xue Xiyang spoke so harshly, everyone knew that he was really angry. No one at the scene tried to dissuade him, and everyone just cast their eyes towards Jin Tang next to him.
Jin Tang, who became the target of public criticism, stood outside the door with regret and hatred, lowering his head and not daring to speak.
Qian Deng could only give him a comforting look, and turned around to see that Xue Xiyang's clothes were quite messy, with a little dust splashed on the hem of his pine-colored round-necked summer dress. It was obvious that he had been riding his horse all the way here, and he didn't even care about the elegance and splendor that he usually paid the most attention to.
She could only smile at the gentlemen, and even managed to stand up and turn around to show them: "Thank you for your concern, gentlemen. Don't worry, I'm fine."
Meng Lanxi came over with a medicine box. At this time, she had already walked to the Qiandeng couch and said in a slightly tense voice, "County Lady, let me take a look at your foot injury."
"It's okay. The bamboo thorns have been removed, the wound has been treated with medicine, and the decoction has been drunk. I'm the daughter of a general, so I'm sure I'll be fine in a couple of days." Qian Deng smiled and lifted the hem of her skirt to show him her shoes, which had been bandaged and put on as usual. She added, "If Mr. Meng has time, please make me some ointment to remove the scars."
Seeing that she was indeed fine and it was obviously a minor injury, Meng Lanxi breathed a sigh of relief, opened her medicine box and said, "I have scar removal ointment ready. I'll give it to the county lady..."
Before he finished speaking, a white shadow suddenly jumped out of the medicine box and threw himself into Qiandeng's arms.
Hearing the low cry of the hawksbill rabbit next to him, Qiandeng subconsciously hugged it, raised his hand to gently stroke the white and soft rabbit, and looked at Meng Lanxi.
Meng Lanxi was also stunned. "I heard something happened to the county lady, and I was worried she might be hurt, so I quickly packed up my medicine box and came here. I guess Baibai got in when I opened it. It doesn't make any sound, so I carried it all the way without noticing."
Jin Tang curled his lips in disbelief. However, although he believed that Meng Lanxi had brought the rabbit specifically to please the county lord, he had just made a serious mistake and dared not mock others. He could only keep silent.
"Since it's here, let it stay with me tonight." Qian Deng stroked the rabbit's soft fur. Seeing that it was getting late, he looked at Aunt Xuanji and said, "It's probably too late for everyone to go back. Why don't we just stay at the manor?"
Aunt Xuanji agreed and called Uncle Ying over to discuss how to accommodate so many people who had suddenly arrived at the farm.
The east courtyard in front is the quietest, so it is naturally assigned to Wei Fengyang and the East Palace guards.
Qian Deng remembered something and said hurriedly, "Oh, by the way, Old Wei and the others are so eager to help. They are also the elders under my father and grandfather, so we can't treat them with disrespect."
"They're easy to arrange. Uncle Ying and Uncle Shou were comrades in arms. They've already been welcomed to the side courtyard and are chatting about the past," Aunt Xuanji said, pointing to the back of the courtyard where Qiandeng lived. "As for the young men, why not arrange for them to stay in the side rooms in the back? They're not far from the county lady, and the rooms are neat and clean. No matter which room you stay in, the furnishings will be the same, and there's no bias."
Qiandeng nodded in agreement. With Aunt Xuanji's careful arrangements, everything would naturally be in order.
She returned the rabbit to Meng Lanxi and asked him to take it to find something to eat. Meng Lanxi agreed and picked up the rabbit before whispering to her, "I also brought some incense to help you sleep. If the county lady needs it, I'll bring it over along with Baibai later."
Qian Deng silently turned his gaze towards the water pavilion in the backyard. He hesitated for a moment as he looked at the place where his mother had died, then nodded and said, "Okay."
After the young men had finished their greetings and left, Daimao remembered something and took two items from the next room for Qiandeng and Aunt Xuanji to look at. He said, "County Lady, Aunt, my brother seized a pair of powder boxes from the rebels. He wants to give one to my sister-in-law and one to me. He asked me to ask if this is in accordance with the rules."
Aunt Xuanji took it and looked at it. It turned out to be a pair of round sandalwood boxes inlaid with mother-of-pearl, the size of a palm. The items were exquisite, and the rouge inside was gorgeous and fragrant. It was obvious that the rebel army had looted them from some noble family.
Qian Deng asked, "How can we help suppress the rebellious army? The court didn't count the things that were taken away?"
Daimao didn't quite understand, so he leaned out and shouted, "Brother, come here!"
Ah Zhong from the outer room hurried over and saw the powder box and explained, "After the war last year, there were many remaining soldiers and bandits in the mountains. After the officers and soldiers surrounded and suppressed them several times, they hid in the mountains with nothing to eat or drink. Most of them could neither run nor fight. Some time ago, someone stole the green wheat from the farm, so a few of us strong men took turns to keep watch and patrol. Sure enough, we caught several groups of remnants and seized a lot of things!"
Since they had accomplished merit, they naturally received spoils of war. Aside from valuable gold and silver and inscribed vessels, the imperial court did not take any other unowned items, allowing them to distribute them among themselves.
"Your Highness, you don't know this. Back then, those rebel soldiers looted Chang'an. They stole everything, all sorts of things, including cups and plates—all exquisite items." Ah Zhong pointed to the powder box, then to a vase on the table next to him, which held a few pomegranate blossoms. "Look at this vase," he said. "It's so pretty with its small mouth and big belly. The rebels wrapped it in blankets along with a bunch of porcelain and hid it in a cave. We brought it all back!"
The vase was in the corner. Aunt Xuanji hadn't noticed it at first, but now she smiled. She took down the flower branch stuck in it and said, "This thing is a sutra vase (note: plum vase), which is used by noble families to hold wine during lectures. They are used to pour wine for teachers to thank them. How can you use it to grow flowers?"
Ah Zhong scratched his head and laughed awkwardly, "How would we country folk know about these things? Such exquisite things, they feel like they're just for flower arrangements."
Qiandeng also smiled, pointing at the powder box and said to Daimao, "You and sister-in-law can keep it, it's not a big deal."
Aunt Xuanji also said, "These things were captured by everyone from the rebel army. They can be considered rewards from the court, so it's okay to take them. However, to prevent the original owner from coming back to argue in the future, you should ask everyone about the things you took over the next two days and make a list for us to take back and record in Yingluo's account. This will also be a clear way forward."
A Zhong quickly agreed and left with Daimao to prepare food and accommodation for the guests staying in the manor.
There were only two people left in the room. Aunt Xuanji's eyes fell on Qiandeng's toes, and tears welled up in her eyes: "County Lady! How could you do this!"
Then, choking with sobs, she came to terms with Qian Deng, accusing her of disregarding her status as a county lord and always putting herself in danger. If anything were to happen, how would they explain this to the prince, princess, and the crown prince's wife? Who would anyone in the palace rely on in the future?
Qiandeng huddled on the couch, at a loss for words and not daring to argue. She could only try to turn her feet to show her that they were really just minor injuries and nothing serious.
Just as he was in trouble, he suddenly heard a commotion outside, followed by Jin Tang's uncontrollable voice: "Nonsense! You are slandering me! You are slandering my family!"
The sound was clearly audible, obviously coming from the men on the other side of the wall.
Aunt Xuanji was distracted for a moment and turned to look: "What's wrong?"
Qian Deng felt relieved. To show that her foot was completely fine, she quickly got off the bed and walked out despite the pain: "It seems that the gentlemen are having some dispute. I'll go and take a look."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com