Chapter 209: The Prime Minister's Daughter
The scene in the Prime Minister's Mansion was quite different at this time.
"Sister, in previous years, you always accompanied mother in the mansion during the autumn hunt. However, this year, mother is in good health and does not need anyone to accompany her. Mother should also accompany the queen and the imperial concubine, right?"
Xue Zhiqing sat in Madam Xiao's room, handed Madam Xiao a piece of freshly made dessert, and talked to Xue Wanning, but her eyes were on Madam Xiao.
Madam Xiao took a look at the dessert, which contained crushed peanuts in the osmanthus cake. She reached out to take it and wanted to put it aside. Xue Zhiqing said softly, "Mother, this is specially made for you by Zhiqing. You should eat it while it's hot."
Madam Xiao hesitated for a moment, and was about to open her mouth to eat. Xue Wanning suddenly stood up, took the snack and took a small bite: "Sister, I like this kind of snack the most, so I snatched it and ate it. Don't blame me, sister."
Madam Xiao raised her hand to try to stop her, but when she saw Xue Wanning shaking her head slightly at her, she said nothing more, but there was a little more pity and love in her eyes.
Xue Zhiqing only brought one piece of osmanthus cake, which she had worked on for more than an hour under the guidance of the cook. The others were either in bad shape or broken. Only this piece looked okay, so she put it in the food box and brought it over.
At this time, Xue Wanning snatched it away and ate it. Madam Xiao was still looking at her lovingly, like a doting mother who indulges her child and tolerates his rude behavior.
"It's okay. Mother dotes on my sister. Not to mention a piece of dessert, even if my sister snatches it away, my mother won't blame me, and my sister won't dare to blame me either."
Xue Zhiqing said lightly.
Madam Xiao was slightly startled, and turned around to explain: "Zhiqing, actually your sister..."
"Mother, I was greedy for a moment. It's not my fault that I'm a little upset. I apologize to you. Please don't blame me, okay?"
Xue Wanning ate some snacks at this time, took a sip of tea, and said to Xue Zhiqing with a smile.
"Sister, what are you talking about? How can I be such a stingy person? I am already very satisfied to be able to return to my mother's side and enjoy her caress... Mother, do you want to go with father on this autumn hunt?"
Madam Xiao didn't know what to say, and nodded when Xue Zhiqing asked, "I have already discussed it with your father, and you sisters and I will go with you.
Because of me, Wan Ning has never participated in the autumn hunting for so many years, and has never seen such a lively scene. It is really unfair to her. This year, with you sisters around, I also want to go and see the lively scene. ”
"Sister, are you going with us? I heard that only the legitimate children of civil officials above the fifth rank have not yet married..." Xue Zhiqing's eyes fell on Xue Wanning.
"Mother, I won't be with you..."
"Zhiqing, Wan Ning is still listed in our Xiangfu's household register, and she is still your father's legitimate daughter, so she can go."
Madam Xiao interrupted Xue Wanning and explained to Xue Zhiqing, with a hint of coldness in her eyes.
"Mother, Zhiqing didn't mean anything else. She was just reminding me...whether my sister would be talked about if she went there. After all, it's only our family that has had such a thing happen. I'm afraid my sister would have a hard time dealing with it."
Xue Zhiqing lowered her head somewhat aggrievedly, hiding the indifference in her eyes.
"Yes, sister, you are absolutely right. Mother, this time I will..." Xue Wanning nodded with a smile and spoke to Madam Xiao.
"Wan Ning, you will eventually have to face criticism from others. I want everyone to see that you are still the eldest daughter of the Xiangfu. You and Zhiqing are both my daughters. You don't need to feel ashamed. Anyone who despises you is despising the Xiangfu and me, Xiao Nishang."
Mrs. Xiao sternly rejected Xue Wanning's refusal.
"Thank you mother for planning for me. Wan Ning was short-sighted." Xue Wan Ning nodded in thanks.
"Wan Ning also wants to thank her for her consideration. Although time is a bit tight, after all, I have heard from those little sisters in the past that I know what to prepare. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me.
I will make arrangements for my father and mother first. There are also some things that I need to tell Dingzhou... Tell Dingzhou, otherwise I'm afraid he won't be able to handle the affairs in the mansion. ”
Although Xue Wanning changed her words in time, Mrs. Xiao still heard the change. She sighed and felt distressed for Xue Wanning's caution.
"Don't bother me, sister. I'm already too busy helping mother manage the household affairs of the Prime Minister's Mansion. I can still take care of this little thing."
Xue Zhiqing raised the corners of her lips, stared at Xue Wanning with her eyes, and smiled meaningfully.
The Emperor's autumn hunting was a big event, and the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Works were in chaos, so they complained bitterly for three days.
The Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Revenue were not much better.
The notice of Gu Yunqing's redress was sent everywhere. On the day when Mi Ziyong and Zhang Yong's houses were searched, in addition to the wailing and scolding in the mansion, there were also the discussions of the people outside. The young men, ladies and noble ladies who used to be so arrogant were now tied up with a rope and led out of the door, looking miserable and desperate.
The Gu family brothers and sisters, sitting in the black carriage, watched those people being taken away, but they did not feel the joy of revenge in their hearts. Even if the Gu family reorganized itself, their parents would no longer be in the mansion. As for their future generations, it was just a false name, and they would no longer have their own children.
On the day of the execution of Zhang Kuinian and his son and Fu Zhixing, Madam Shaohua - now Gu Yin, indeed placed fireworks and incense tables beside the execution ground. The brother and sister kowtowed to their parents to tell them that their grievances had been redressed and their revenge had been avenged. When the ghost-head knife was swung down, fireworks rose in broad daylight and the sound of firecrackers shook the sky.
From that day on, the brother and sister disappeared from Xijing, and no one knew where they went.
The deeds and house deeds of Madam Shaohua's Xie Fangyuan and the teahouse were delivered to the owner of Anmin Teahouse. There was a letter inside, stating that these properties would be used to provide pensions to wounded soldiers and their dependents or for the Qin family army.
Su Qianqian knew about this when she was already on the carriage heading to Wohu Mountain. The convoy was huge and it looked like a long dragon winding behind. The emperor's carriage and the empress's phoenix sedan in the front were also surrounded by heavy guards, and only their shadows could be seen.
Qin Hanzhang was in charge of the joint guard duty. This trip was accompanied by the Imperial Guards led by the Crown Prince himself and the Imperial City Guards under Qin Hanzhang's command. The two masters of the Qin family and Qin Hanjin and Qin Hanyue were among them.
Su Qianqian was leaning against the carriage, feeling sleepy. Qin Hanzhang suddenly came in and woke her up. He wiped the corner of his lips and asked in a daze, "Is it time for dinner?"
Qin Hanzhang couldn't help but laugh. This was the third day of the trip. They would reach Wohu Mountain in one more day. Su Qianqian did nothing but eat and sleep. Others were too tired from the long journey to eat, but she and Qin Yuzhuo ate and slept well, and looked even plumper than when they set out.
"Where are we going to eat? If you're hungry, aren't there plenty of food in the cupboard?" Qin Hanzhang pointed to a small cupboard beside the seat, which contained dried fruits, snacks, and tea.
"Oh..." Su Qianqian was ready to continue sleeping. She had this habit before. Whenever she was in a car or on a plane, she would sleep, eat at a certain time, and then do Zhou Gong after eating.
"I just received news that the Gu brothers and sisters have left Xijing, and that Gu Yin's property has been given to Anmin Tea House to be used to provide relief to disabled soldiers and the military. I don't know why they specifically specified that it must be given to Wuning Marquis' Mansion."
Hearing Qin Hanzhang's words, Su Qianqian became more alert: "Could it be that he is giving me compensation out of guilt for what he did before?"
"Maybe, but there is another possibility. Gu Yin knows something about what Zhou Tang did, but cannot tell anyone. This method is used to compensate those soldiers on behalf of Zhou Tang."
Su Qianqian nodded. This was indeed possible. Although the brother and sister did things by any means necessary, they still had a conscience.
"Now that we have the secret code to decipher the list, we can find out what kind of transactions these are once we crack the accounts in the list." Su Qianqian lowered her voice and said stealthily.
On the second day after Liang Xun said that, she and Qin Hanzhang went to the house in Shigufang. There was only an old man guarding the house, who pretended not to see them when he saw them come in.
In the main room where he had met Liang Xun before, Qin Hanzhang jumped onto the beam. A flat wooden box was nailed to the west side. Inside the box was a booklet wrapped in oil paper. Inside the booklet were words with different meanings corresponding to each word.
"Yes, I have been too busy these past two days. This thing is dangerous and it is inconvenient to keep it with you..."
"Yes, yes, yes, it's inconvenient!" Su Qianqian nodded hurriedly like a chick pecking at rice.
"Madam, Miss Zhiqing from the Prime Minister's Mansion sent a message saying that she wants to come over and reminisce with you." Su Mu's voice came from outside the carriage.
[Xue Zhiqing, what is she going to do? 】Su Qianqian was a little suspicious.
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