"Besides visiting my son, I also have something I'd like to ask Xiao Yao'er for help with," said Tong's mother. As she spoke, she looked at Fucha Shi, who had been silent since entering the room, and said, "Tell Xiao Yao'er about it and see if she has any ideas."
Nan Yi also looked over and saw that the woman sitting below Tong's mother was in her thirties and was more beautiful than Tong's mother.
Tong's mother was the matriarch of the household, exuding an imposing aura. Her words and actions were dignified, and every move she made reflected the demeanor of a noblewoman.
The woman had a gentle expression, and appeared extremely frail in comparison to Tong's mother. When Tong's mother spoke, she stood up, and before she uttered a word, tears streamed down her face; her expression was one of deep sorrow.
When Tong's mother saw this, she sighed. Fucha was weak-willed and had given birth to two daughters, each more capable than the last. As for her, she considered herself quite capable, but her only legitimate daughter was actually soft-hearted. Sometimes, she really wondered if they had switched daughters.
"Don't blame your aunt. She was heartbroken because of your two older sisters. Your second sister's husband works for your father."
Last year, he somehow got involved with the Crown Prince's people and got a job in the Imperial Household Department. Your father was furious about this and said he would no longer care about the Second Miss's affairs.
To be honest, it's a good thing that my second son-in-law was transferred to the Imperial Household Department. Everyone knows how lucrative it is there. Even if your father feels embarrassed, he's still happy for him.
Who could have foreseen that this happy period wouldn't last long? Your second son-in-law was suddenly framed and imprisoned. Your second sister was heartbroken and devastated at home. This matter was far too serious; even your father, a minor official of the sixth rank, couldn't do anything about it. So she wanted to ask your fourth master to intercede on her behalf.
Madam Tong took a sip of tea, her brows furrowed with worry. She didn't really want to get involved in this troublesome affair. Fucha Shi had entered the household one after the other, and for more than ten years, the master had favored her. If she hadn't been childless, she probably would have lost her status in the household long ago.
So what if she wasn't favored? Both of her sons were born from her womb, got married and had children, and each took on a job. Her daughter married the fourth prince as a secondary consort. Her position as the head wife was secure. No matter how much the master favored Lady Fucha, he would have to be careful.
It's because her son and daughter both have her heart set on them.
Fucha has become much more docile in recent years. Her two daughters are useless, and her concubines who have no sons will eventually have to beg for food from her.
Tong's mother felt extremely relieved; after enduring for more than ten years, she could finally hold her head high.
She hadn't wanted to plead for Lady Fucha, but her father, Xiaoyao'er, had humbly asked her to intervene for the first time.
After twenty years of marriage, she couldn't bear to put him in a difficult position.
Another reason was that she had some concerns. She wondered if this matter would involve her husband. Although the two of them did not work together, she was afraid that if her second son-in-law got into trouble, he would try to frame her.
"Mother, don't worry. I need to ask my father first to see if there's any way to salvage this situation."
Nan Yi dared not agree. There are priorities in everything. She had no clue about the affairs of the previous dynasty. If her second brother-in-law's case was too serious, she would not force the fourth master to help.
"How about this, you and your aunt stay for lunch. After the master finishes court, I'll go and ask if I can help."
"Alas, this is the only way," sighed Tong's mother.
After the meal, Nan Yi arranged for Tong's mother and aunt to rest for a while.
Xiao Shunzi came to tell her that Fourth Master had left court and was discussing official business with Thirteenth Master in his study.
Nan Yi thought for a moment, then called Yiren and Xiaoshunzi to bring some snacks and headed straight for the study.
As she approached the study door, the eunuch Quanfu told her that the master had gone to the Fujin's courtyard and that the thirteenth prince had returned to the mansion.
Nan stamped his foot, thinking, "Running this fast, I'm freezing!" He said, "Xiao Shunzi, you stay here and keep watch. Let me know when Master is coming back."
"This servant understands."
She didn't go to the Fujin Courtyard to look for the person. Instead, she told Tong's mother about the situation and asked her to go back to the mansion and wait for news. She would go to the Tong mansion to report as soon as she received any news.
Mother Tong didn't want to stay here any longer; there was a lot of stuff to deal with at the mansion.
After presenting half a cartload of gifts and seeing off Tong's mother, Nan Yi kicked off her shoes and returned to the inner room. She beckoned to Yi Ren and said, "Tell me, is what my mother said true? That she deliberately treated me coldly to toughen me up? But to me, this reason doesn't seem very plausible. Could it be that she made up this story just to get my help?"
She always felt it was a bit unreal.
Tong Yilan sat on the sidelines at her parents' home for several years. After three years in the mansion, her parents' home never sent anyone to visit her. It was such a test.
Yiren stroked her chin thoughtfully, and after a long while, gave an answer: "I'm afraid it's true."
"What's the reason?"
"It's ready-made. Your family is just a branch of the Tong family. Your father is a sixth-rank official. To be honest, this is the first time I've heard that your dowry is 30,000 taels of silver. I was quite shocked. Even for a Fujin (a high-ranking wife), the dowry would not exceed 40,000 taels of silver at most."
You must understand, the Fujin (Prince's wife) is a high-ranking official of the second rank. Your family has gone to great lengths, giving you their entire fortune. What the lady said is almost certainly true.
That makes sense. If she's willing to spend a fortune on her daughter's dowry, she must genuinely love her daughter. In that case, she'll inevitably have to do her best in her second brother-in-law's affairs.
“However, the matter that Madam came to ask you for today is perhaps a bit complicated,” Yiren reminded her with suspicion.
"Ah, my second brother-in-law can't be saved?" Nan asked in surprise.
Yiren shook her head. "Perhaps Master will understand tomorrow," she said meaningfully.
Nan Yi hates people playing coy. She can't figure out the secrets herself, and Yi Ren refuses to reveal them. There's a girl who's smarter than her who talks in a mysterious way. She's exasperated and too lazy to ask. What's wrong with waiting?
She wasn't in a hurry and treated it as normal. However, the result of waiting was that the next day, Xiao Shunzi suddenly ran over to tell her something: her father had also had an accident.
That unreliable second brother-in-law insisted on accusing his father, saying that he had ordered it. Immediately, people from the palace came and arrested his father as well.
The claim that a former superior instructed a former subordinate to steal tribute from the Imperial Household Department is utterly ridiculous, yet some people actually believed it.
The reason given was that the two were father-in-law and son-in-law; the father-in-law threatened the son-in-law, leaving the son-in-law with no choice but to take the risk and steal the tribute.
In this way, her father became the mastermind. Upon receiving the news, Nan Yi was so angry that she buried her head and rushed to Yinzhen's study.
Ama was just a minor sixth-rank official. Why would he give up his good job and order his son-in-law to steal tribute? He must be tired of living.
Anyone with a discerning eye can see that something is amiss; Dezhong's words are not true.
Mother must be extremely worried. Nan rushed to the study, where Quanfu said that Yinzhen was not there and had not returned to the mansion.
The next afternoon, Yinzhen stayed overnight at Fangfei Courtyard.
On the afternoon of the third day, Yinzhen stayed overnight with Lady Nian.
On the fourth day, Yinzhen was away on official business and did not return.
After enduring the arduous wait, Nan Yi calmed down and her mind became clear. She sat quietly in the room, and even if she was slow to react, she realized that Fourth Master was avoiding her.
Usually, because his study was close to Wanyue Pavilion, when he got tired of reading official documents, he would take a walk and sit in Wanyue Pavilion for a while.
It hasn't happened for five days in a row; that hasn't happened in a long time.
It seems that her father's situation is more serious than she imagined.
However, she disagreed with the Fourth Uncle's actions; in her eyes, such behavior was utterly inhumane.
Regardless of whether she can be saved, at least talk to her and explain the seriousness of the situation, instead of just avoiding her. You can avoid her for a while, but you can't avoid her forever.
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