Chapter 70 Eliminating Traitors
In Fengweilou, the screen between two private rooms has been removed, creating a spacious room with small tables.
The Earl of Yongqing mingled among the crowd, quite excited.
Sure enough, all my efforts paid off, and I received an invitation from Lord Yuan.
Lord Yuan was already highly regarded by the Emperor, and now that his reputation has been cleared, I heard that the Emperor has comforted him greatly. If Lord Yuan were to say a few good words in favor of the Earl's family inheriting the title, perhaps the Emperor would agree.
The Earl of Yongqing was filled with excitement. Upon hearing that Lord Yuan had arrived, he immediately went out to greet him with the others.
"Sorry, sorry, I'm late." Yuan Chenghai cupped his hands to the left and right, sending out fragrant aromas.
Immediately, people began to praise him: "What incense is Lord Yuan wearing today? It smells so good."
Yuan Chenghai laughed heartily, unable to hide his pride: "It's all thanks to the women in the family who tinkered with it; the main thing is that it smells good."
As he spoke, he looked at Uncle Yongqing and said, "The Earl has arrived."
The Earl of Yongqing cupped his hands and said, "Congratulations to Lord Yuan."
"Oh, not really. I do have a favor to ask of you."
Among so many people present, only he was being spoken to at length. The Earl of Yongqing felt a mixture of pride and trepidation. He politely replied, "Please speak, Lord Yuan."
"Your granddaughter gave some incense to the family before, and they were very good. I'd like to ask for some more," Yuan Chenghai said with a smile.
The Earl of Yongqing's expression froze.
It's fine to talk about things in private, but for someone surnamed Yuan to ask for the incense made by Liu Yatou in front of so many people, isn't that just making his feelings for Liu Yatou public?
Since Qiu Heng became the adopted daughter of the Princess Consort of Kang County, the Earl of Yongqing had completely given up the idea of selling his granddaughter to curry favor with Yuan Chenghai. If he were to sell anyone, it wouldn't be the sixth girl; with that girl's abilities and ambition, he was eager to see how high she could climb.
The others exchanged glances after hearing Yuan Chenghai's words.
The rumor that Qiu Liu made incense plaques for Yuan Chenghai's concubine is actually true.
Tsk tsk, this little girl is really clueless.
Looking at Yongqingbo, some people secretly shook their heads: Perhaps it's not that the little girl is ignorant, but that she has no choice but to listen to her grandfather.
Some looked down on Qiuheng, while others despised Yongqingbo. Everyone waited with enigmatic smiles for Yongqingbo's response.
Surrounded by such gazes, Yongqingbo suddenly felt that being invited was not so pleasant.
These people who fawn over the powerful and belittle the weak will one day find themselves unable to catch up with them!
"Ahem." The Earl of Yongqing coughed to cover his embarrassment. "I'll ask her about it later. Lord Yuan, you may not know, but that girl is obsessed with incense and has a stubborn personality. As her grandfather, I can't just make decisions for her directly."
"Hehe, Miss Qiu Liu has quite a personality." Yuan Chenghai said as he walked towards his table.
Everyone took their seats, and one delicious dish after another was served. The courtesans who had been invited began to play the zither.
"Lord Yuan, I would like to offer you a toast."
"Lord Yuan is going to the south soon, isn't he?"
"Master Yuan..."
Amidst the sounds of string and wind instruments and the clinking of glasses, the atmosphere grew even more lively after a few drinks, and the conversation gradually turned to the Yongqing Marquis's residence.
"Lord, did the fourth young master of the Xiping Marquis's mansion really lay a hand on your granddaughter in broad daylight?"
Even someone as shameless as the Earl of Yongqing was somewhat embarrassed at this moment.
Although the Earl's family won the lawsuit, it involved the girls in the family, and anyone with a modicum of respect should not have asked them questions in public.
The Earl's mansion has fallen on hard times...
"It's true, the government has already made a judgment."
Yuan Chenghai, however, disregarded the Earl of Yongqing's feelings and continued to press, "I heard that it was Miss Qiu Liu who saved Miss Qiu Er. Did Miss Qiu Liu really pull out a large clump of Young Master Zhao's hair?"
As soon as Yuan Chenghai said this, bursts of laughter rose and fell.
This is really hilarious. They couldn't help but laugh when they first heard about it, always doubting that it was true. Today, they can finally hear the Qiu family tell them for themselves.
"The young girl is too weak to even kill a chicken, so she had no choice but to do this in desperation," Uncle Yongqing said with a dry laugh, his face somewhat grim.
This guy surnamed Yuan keeps circling back to Sixth Sister; he's determined to make a move on her!
"Congratulations, Lord Yuan, on getting rid of the entanglement of petty people. I'll toast you again." Marquis Yongqing raised his cup and changed the subject.
"Hahaha, thank you very much, Lord." Yuan Chenghai laughed and drank it all in one gulp.
He knew he had drunk a bit too much; his stomach and throat felt hot, and this heat ignited his wild side, otherwise he wouldn't have said whatever came to mind.
Of course, his unbridled behavior was based on the fact that the other party was insignificant to him.
Even after the matter of accusing him of wrongdoing in the south was resolved, he remained the emperor's favorite minister. After a while, he could once again use the pretext of purchasing rare flowers and stones for His Majesty to enjoy himself in the south.
Southeast China is his true territory.
As for the sixth young lady of the Qiu family who had piqued his interest, it didn't matter if the Marquis of Yongqing didn't know what was going on. He could just send someone to get rid of that girl when he set off. Once he got to the south, who would know who that girl was?
"Hahaha—" Yuan Chenghai felt more and more pleased as he laughed out loud, but then he suddenly noticed that the faces of the people around him were filled with terror.
What happened to them?
The thought had barely crossed Yuan Chenghai's mind when he felt a sweet taste in his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood.
Screams erupted, startling many people who jumped up, knocking over tables and shattering plates and dishes on the ground.
Several courtesans, terrified, clutched their zithers and hid by the door, trembling with fear.
"Lord Yuan, what's wrong?"
"Master Yuan, Master Yuan!"
Amidst countless cries, Yuan Chenghai coughed up blood, wondering: What's wrong with him?
Is he going to die?
The thought flashed through Yuan Chenghai's mind, and everything went black before his eyes; he lost consciousness completely.
"Quickly, fetch a doctor!" someone shouted amidst the chaos.
Yuan Chenghai's guards jumped out: "No one is allowed to leave the restaurant!"
While waiting for the imperial physician and government officials to arrive, the crowd gradually calmed down. They glanced at the fallen Yuan Chenghai and looked away in fright, then looked again and looked away again.
It seems Lord Yuan is beyond saving...
Among them, the one most affected was the Earl of Yongqing.
Yongqingbo's heart is still pounding and he is covered in cold sweat.
What happened? He was talking and drinking with this guy surnamed Yuan, and then this guy surnamed Yuan died.
He just died like that?
This is too bizarre!
The doctor and the officials arrived one after the other.
The doctor, carrying his medicine kit, suppressed his fear and went forward to examine the body. He shook his head and said, "The person is already gone."
"Take another look, examine it carefully!" Yuan Chenghai's confidant angrily grabbed the doctor's collar.
The doctor blinked: "I'm incompetent. Perhaps you could ask another renowned doctor to take a look?"
If we get a new doctor, maybe the zombie will come back to life.
The officials were divided into two groups: one from the Patrol and Inspection Division and the other from the Imperial City Division.
Xue Han bent down to check Yuan Chenghai's breath, then looked at the person holding the doctor: "He's already dead."
The confidant released the doctor's hand and burst into tears: "My lord, my lord, why did you suddenly leave us? Who harmed you? I will definitely seek justice for you!"
"The coroner needs to examine it," Xue Han reminded him, then asked his trusted confidant, "Tell me what happened first."
The man's name was Yuan Qiang, and the story begins with Yuan Chenghai walking into Fengweilou.
(End of this chapter)
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