Chapter 185 Useless Person
The next day, the threshold of the general's mansion was almost worn down by the crowd.
As dawn broke, the steward's face was beaming with joy, a thick, heavy stack of visiting cards in his hand.
Red, gold, silver-sprinkled, flower and bird-decorated invitations... all sorts of invitations piled up on the desk. From prominent nobles and high-ranking officials in Nanjing to fifth and sixth-rank officials in the capital, and even some members of the imperial family, they all eagerly sent their invitations.
"Miss, look at this scene!"
Xie Sangning was sitting at the desk by the window, writing something.
Upon hearing this, she looked up and glanced at the pile of visiting cards.
"As expected."
"Father has been gone for ten years, and now he is returning with such fanfare. Who wouldn't want to come and test the waters and build a relationship with him?"
She put down her purple-tipped brush and lightly tapped the note on the table with her fingertip. "Keep the invitations safe. For those of ministers and nobles of the third rank or above, make a separate list for Father to review. For the rest, return them."
The steward quickly replied, "Yes, this old servant understands. But this rejection letter... I'm afraid it will offend quite a few people."
"It's alright. Father just returned and needs to rest. Besides, seeing each one individually is too much trouble."
She picked up the plain paper covered with writing from the table and handed it to the steward: "Go, give the order that a banquet be held at the General's Mansion in three days to welcome my father and brothers back. I have already prepared the guest list, so send out invitations according to the names. Everyone in the mansion must be on their best behavior. I want this banquet to be watertight and not tolerate the slightest mistake."
The steward took the list with both hands and glanced at it. It included almost all the influential official families in the capital and their female relatives, including some families he didn't usually interact with.
What made his eyelids twitch even more was that at the end of the list, the name of the Marquis of Yongning was prominently displayed.
He couldn't help but look up at his young mistress.
Xie Sangning seemed to see through the steward's thoughts: "The invitation to the Yongning Marquis's residence doesn't need to be sent to Xie Wuyou; it can be sent to the Yongning Marquis himself."
Originally, her plan was to act as a backer for Xie Wuyou, which would allow Xie Wuyou to live comfortably for a while and also make Xie Wuyou cause trouble in the Yongning Marquis's mansion. Who would have thought that she was so stupid? Yesterday, she was publicly humiliated by her father, and this plan could not be implemented.
But it doesn't matter, let her fend for herself.
There are other ways to deal with Wei Zikai, of course. Since Xie Wuyou is useless, let's send her on her way.
The butler's heart skipped a beat. Miss was... putting Xie Wuyou on the hot seat!
“Miss… this, the Yongning Marquis’s residence…” Old Liu cautiously reminded her.
Xie Sangning chuckled: "If the Marquis's family were any better, they wouldn't have let her appear at the banquet."
She paused, a hint of mockery flashing in her eyes, "Yesterday, my father publicly shoved her aside and treated her like nothing. If we send her in front of him again today... then the Yongning Marquis's mansion is deliberately trying to make an enemy of my father."
She stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the servants busy cleaning the courtyard: "Hasn't Wei Zikai always wanted to gain experience under Father's command and get some experience? The Wei family won't provoke my father at this critical juncture."
This post was the last straw that broke the camel's back, making Xie Wuyou's life in the Marquis's mansion even more miserable.
"It's better for her to bring about her own destruction than to dirty my hands."
A thin layer of sweat seeped from the steward's back. He dared not say another word, and bowed, replying, "This old servant understands. I will go and do it immediately."
After he left with the list, Ruqiu quietly walked in.
"Miss," she whispered, "there's news from over there."
Xie Sangning turned around, raising an eyebrow slightly: "Pei Mingyue?"
“Yes.” Ruqiu took a few steps closer. “Our people followed them out of the capital. Less than thirty miles away, in a deserted forest beside the official road… they disappeared.”
Xie Sangning's eyes remained unchanged: "How come you didn't get it?"
"He was strangled to death."
"The one who did it was probably a male concubine she used to keep in her household, named Zhao Qi. That man had been secretly following her and took advantage of the two old servants who were the only ones left by her to go to the river to fetch water. The method was swift, as if it had been premeditated."
Xie Sangning gently tapped the window frame with her fingertips.
"This saves us some trouble."
When Pei Mingyue was mentioned, Xie Sangning couldn't help but think of another person—Xie Wulu.
That once spirited and learned young man.
"Is Xie Wulu still in the palace?" she asked.
Ruqiu shook her head: "The palace keeps the news very tightly under wraps. All we know is that after being brought into the palace that day, she never came out again. Whether she is alive or dead... it's hard to say."
Based on Xie Sangning's understanding of Emperor Pei Yan, Xie Wulu's fate was only one of two things: death or a fate worse than death.
Now the second wife has been used up completely and is no longer of any use.
"Go down and withdraw Xie Chengzong's men. There's no need to keep an eye on them anymore."
Father will definitely not let them live much longer.
"Yes, Miss." Ruqiu accepted the order and quietly withdrew.
Xie Sangning sat back down at his desk and continued to handle the banquet arrangements.
She flipped through the draft menu presented by the steward of the manor, carefully outlining it with a red pen, occasionally adding or subtracting a few strokes.
Seasonal fresh vegetables, delicacies from the sea, and exquisite pastries should reflect the general's mansion's heritage without being overly extravagant or ostentatious.
She even marked a few places.
This soup should be served in a blue-and-white porcelain bowl with a lotus scroll design. The fresh fruit slices should be as thin as cicada wings, and it should be served chilled.
The attention to detail is evident.
As she was deep in thought about the music arrangements for the banquet, the study door creaked open.
Xie Sangyu leaned in halfway. He had changed out of yesterday's light armor and was now wearing a moon-white brocade casual dress. His black hair was tied up with a jade crown. He had lost the sharpness of the battlefield and instead showed some of the noble and elegant demeanor of a young master from a noble family.
"Little sister, are you busy?"
He walked in with a grin, picked up the Yixing teapot, poured himself a cup of tea, and gulped down a big mouthful. "Tsk, the tea at home is still the best."
Xie Sangning looked up at him: "Brother, is there something you need?"
Xie Sangyu put down her teacup and casually slumped into the armchair beside her. "Well, Father has finished packing and is preparing to visit Grandfather's house. He asked me to ask you if you want to come along?"
“I won’t go. I just said goodbye to my great-grandfather and grandfather a few days ago, and I’ve said everything I needed to say. The banquet is approaching, and there are many things to do at the manor, so I have to keep an eye on things. It’s the same if we meet again on the day of the banquet.”
She picked up another list, a proposed seating chart for the guests. "Besides," she said, "my great-grandfather probably has a lot to say to my father alone today."
"Alright, I knew you were a very busy person."
Xie Sangyu stood up and stretched. "Then I'll go with Father. Don't overwork yourself at home."
"Hmm." Xie Sangning then raised her head and gave him a slight smile. "Give my regards to the Lin family."
Xie Zhenting and his son arrived at the Lin residence with carefully prepared gifts.
The Lin family had already received the news, and their main gate was wide open.
Lin Zhu, with his gray hair and vigorous spirit, was supported by Xie Sangning's maternal grandfather, Lin Zhijie, and personally stood at the foot of the steps to greet him.
The men and women of the Lin family also stood solemnly at the back.
The carriage stopped, and Xie Zhenting nimbly jumped down from the carriage shaft.
He was tall and imposing, and even in casual clothes, his imposing presence was still hard to conceal.
"Grandfather, father-in-law!"
Xie Zhenting strode forward and bowed deeply to Lin Zhu and Lin Zhijie, his posture respectful.
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