Chapter 40 The Lively Scene (4)
Liu Zhi came over: "Grandma, Madam is looking for you."
Granny Qi hurried back to the main room, and Madam Liu asked, "What's going on in the courtyard? Why is it so lively?"
Granny Qi quickly said, "It's nothing, Xiaoxiao is just being naughty, Mama Mao is disciplining her."
Madam Liu didn't press further, but immediately began to tell her what had just happened at the Zheng residence: "Granny Qi, have you found out? Who is that Young Master Lu?"
Granny Qi's eyes held a hint of satisfaction: "I've found out. He is the only son of Lu Jingli of Lin'an Prefecture, Lu Weifu, and also the nephew-in-law of Prefect Song. He is a member of the Lu family."
When Magistrate Meng was on his deathbed, Prefect Song took advantage of his misfortune, not only impeaching him but also privately ordering that no doctor from the Lin'an Prefecture Medical Center be allowed to treat Magistrate Meng in Biyang County. If it weren't for the magistrate's good fortune, he might be dead by now.
Now that Lu Weifu has made such a fool of himself in front of everyone, witnessed by hundreds of people, the news can no longer be kept secret. It will surely reach Lin'an Prefecture soon, and one can only imagine the impact it will have.
Liu's eyes lit up: "It's actually Lord Song's wife's nephew! Heaven has eyes, it's finally retribution. I just don't know if Lu Weifu is married yet, if he is..." Will the woman's family let his family off the hook?
Jingli was an official under the prefect, a rank of eighth grade. Surely the family he married into couldn't be powerless and insignificant? Perhaps Prefect Song was even involved as a matchmaker. If the two families were to quarrel, Prefect Song, the matchmaker, would be utterly disgraced.
He acted as a matchmaker for his wife's nephew, only to find out he was gay, needlessly ruining a perfectly good girl's life...
Liu was overjoyed: "I never expected to see such a big show today, it's so exciting. It's a pity I can't see how the woman's family makes a scene... Granny Qi, go find Steward Zhao and tell him to keep an eye on the news from Lin'an Prefecture and come back to tell me if there's anything going on."
Don't underestimate the gossipy spirit of the ancients; who wouldn't want to watch something like this?
Granny Qi agreed and went to find Steward Zhao.
Liu lay down to rest, completely satisfied.
Not long after Meng Guanqi left, Asheng ran to the kitchen: "Mama Mao, the young master wants a plate of jujube paste cake."
Mother Mao hurriedly put down what she was doing: "Oh, I'll do it right away, it'll only take one incense stick."
Ah Sheng said, "Young Master also instructed me on other matters. After the jujube paste cakes are made, please have Sister Xiaoxiao help deliver them to the study. Young Master is reading at the time."
Mother Mao agreed and quickly got to work.
The sun was blazing, and the tall chinaberry tree next to the kitchen was covered with cicadas, chirping merrily. The sound was so loud it made one drowsy, especially since this was the time when people were most prone to sleepiness. Yet, the young master was still reading, which showed how diligent he was.
Soon, a plate of hot jujube paste cake was ready. Mama Mao instructed Li Xiaoxiao, "Take it to the study quickly."
Li Xiaoxiao knew that Meng Guanqi had made up an excuse to see her, so she took the plate and went to the study.
Ah Sheng wasn't there, and Lord Meng had gone to his office; only Meng Guanqi was in the study.
This was Li Xiaoxiao's first time visiting the outer courtyard study. This was usually where Magistrate Meng, Meng Guanqi, and the steward spent their time, and the maids in the inner courtyard rarely had the opportunity to come here.
Upon seeing her approach, Meng Guanqi immediately put down the book in her hand and hurried out to greet her: "You've come."
Li Xiaoxiao stared intently at the jujube paste cake: "Young master, let's eat the cake first, it won't taste good if it gets cold."
Meng Guanqi pushed the whole plate of jujube paste cake directly to her: "You eat it, and after you finish, tell me what happened next."
Li Xiaoxiao only ate half full at the Zheng family's house, and she didn't actually go out to eat noodles with Liu and the others. Instead, she followed the Lu family's carriage to gather information.
She finished the jujube cake in a few bites and told what she had seen: "That Lu Weifu seems to be quite extraordinary. After Ah Cai took him away, I followed them all the way. Besides the two personal servants who were with him at the Zheng residence, there were three more guarding the carriage. Including the coachman, he had seven people with him whenever he went out. He was much more arrogant than the master."
When Magistrate Meng travels to other counties, he only has the Zhao family steward and his son, plus a coachman named Yu Dayong. Lu Weifu, on the other hand, has twice the entourage of the magistrate, which shows that he is not a family without power.
Li Xiaoxiao continued, "After Acai put Lu Weifu in the carriage, they left immediately. Baohe followed behind. I watched their carriage leave the city gate and then stopped following them."
Meng Guanqi frowned: "Is there anything unusual?"
Li Xiaoxiao said, "After leaving the city gate, Baohe was called onto the carriage, does that count?"
Meng Guanqi was shocked: "Lu Weifu almost beat Baohe to death at Mingyue Hall, and then called him onto the carriage after leaving the city gate?" It was already good enough that he didn't drive Baohe away, but he even called him onto the carriage. This is too abnormal.
Li Xiaoxiao was more perceptive than him; the moment Baohe was taken away, she knew he was in grave danger.
The Lu family's carriage was so luxurious, and Lu Weifu was surrounded by so many maids and servants. Lu Weifu openly drugged Meng Guanqi, which was enough to show that he was from a powerful and influential family. He only cared about his own comfort and did not care about the lives of others. Being tricked into having a fling with an ugly servant must have been a disgrace for him. If Baohe had been smart enough to run away immediately, he might have survived. But he was so stupid as to want to spend his dream of a life of wealth and luxury with him. How could someone like Lu Weifu let him go?
Li Xiaoxiao said, "Do you know who Lu Weifu is? Why would he dare to scheme against you like this?"
Meng Guanqi said in a deep voice, "All I know is that he seems to be a relative of Prefect Song."
Li smiled and said, "He tried to scheme against you but ended up being outmaneuvered. He must hate you to the core. In the end, he'll get the truth out of Baohe. What are you going to do?"
Meng Guanqi frowned deeply. The whole thing started because of him. Lu Weifu had plotted against him first. Li Xiaoxiao had replaced him with Baohe, which not only saved him from being humiliated, but also made Lu Weifu lose face in Biyang County. The two of them were now mortal enemies. If he didn't take the initiative, Lu Weifu would definitely find a way to get revenge once he recovered.
Unfortunately, he knew nothing about Lu Weifu, and if he didn't do something, he would really only be able to passively take a beating.
But he had never done anything like retaliating against someone before, and for a moment he really couldn't think of what to do.
He stared at Li Xiaoxiao with his clear, bright eyes and couldn't help but ask, "What do you think I should do?"
When he asked the question, even he was stunned. He actually asked a girl what to do... But for some reason, he trusted her a lot. From the moment she helped him up from that bed, from the moment she insisted on teaching Lu Weifu a lesson and helping him get revenge, and she actually did it, he trusted her a lot. Looking at her calm and collected attitude, he inexplicably felt that she could do anything.
If it were Li Xiaoxiao herself who was being bullied, she would have been a dead man the moment Baohe decided to leave with Lu Weifu.
With Baohe dead, Lu Weifu could not possibly know the truth about Meng Guanqi's replacement. While following Lu Weifu's carriage, she considered taking action several times, but ultimately gave up.
His death in Biyang County will ultimately affect Magistrate Meng. He will have to spend time investigating the murderer, and if he is unlucky enough to find her, Magistrate Meng will definitely not protect her, and she will have no choice but to flee.
She had long been tired of life on the run, so she suppressed the thought of killing.
You can't just kill people in this world.
Even if you want to retaliate against an enemy, you must follow the rules of this world.
When Meng Guanqi asked her what to do, she didn't think much of it. In her eyes, he was just a fourteen-year-old boy. His first reaction to this kind of thing was to vomit and leave. How could she expect him to immediately transform into a messenger of revenge and come up with a perfect plan?
She thought for a moment and said, "Why don't you ask Lord Meng?"
Meng Guanqi was shocked: "Ask... ask my father?"
Li Xiaoxiao opened her big eyes wide: "That's right, you're still young, isn't it normal for you to ask your father for help if you have any problems?"
Meng Guanqi's face turned bright red. How could he possibly bring up such a thing with his father? This was utterly disrespectful.
In ancient times, people were very secretive and shy about the word "sex," and in some cases, they even felt ashamed. In wealthy families, boys were given a maidservant to guide them through sex education, while girls were given a book on bedroom arts or an elderly matron to talk to them about the ways of husband and wife before their marriage. The bride was often so ashamed that she dared not lift her head, let alone ask any questions.
Moreover, Lu Weifu drugged him to have a homosexual relationship, which he considered a shameful thing. He wanted to cover it up immediately and never mention it again, for fear that others would find out. He never thought of telling his father and asking his father to help him deal with it.
But in Li Xiaoxiao's opinion, fourteen-year-old Meng Guanqi was still a child, so it was normal that he couldn't do anything about Lu Weifu. But Magistrate Meng was, after all, a county official and also his father. Using him to handle this matter would definitely be more useful than the two of them just thinking about it here!
Meng Guanqi's entire body flushed red, and his hands and heart were sweating. How could she say it so matter-of-factly? How could he tell his father something like this?
So when Magistrate Meng returned from the yamen to check on his son's writing, he saw his son standing in front of a maid with a flushed face, looking both shy and helpless.
Magistrate Meng was momentarily lost in thought, then suddenly realized that Qi'er was already fourteen years old and would blush in front of young ladies. Perhaps he should start preparing some things for him...
He stopped in his tracks, hesitating whether to go in. But the maid who had her back to him had already heard the footsteps. She quickly turned around, and when she saw him, a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes: "Lord Meng is here!"
Seeing that he had been discovered, Magistrate Meng had no choice but to go inside. Li Xiaoxiao bowed to him and said, "Sir."
Magistrate Meng raised his hand: "You are... a maid who works in the kitchen?" He hadn't paid much attention before, but now she looks a bit dark-skinned. In Dawu, fair skin is always considered beautiful. Could it be that Qi'er likes this kind of skin?
Aside from her blemishes, the girl's features were fairly regular, her eyes were very bright, and what was rare was that, as a servant, she didn't have that timid and hesitant feeling.
Magistrate Meng asked calmly, "What are you talking about?"
Why is her son blushing so much in front of her?
A great opportunity! Li Xiaoxiao looked intently at Meng Guanqi.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com