Pei Ji was momentarily surprised when he heard her words; he hadn't expected her to act so quickly. Then, he curled his lips and smiled. "The Ministry of Works has been very busy lately because they're renovating the palace at the hunting grounds. Zhao Xingwen had just been appointed director, and he didn't have a family visit. He's on duty today, just like me."
Lin Muyang told him this last night.
Su Li nodded. She knew about this. In the original novel, Zhao Xingwen could basically be said to be a workaholic, and his abilities were also very outstanding, otherwise he would not have been promoted two or three levels in just a few years. Of course, the promotion of his father-in-law, the Minister of Works, was also indispensable. She just didn't know if the Minister of Works would still promote him if he knew that he had concealed this matter.
The two chatted for a while, and it was getting late, so Su Li urged Pei Ji to go to work quickly. After all, it was his first official day on the job, and being late would not be good.
Pei Ji nodded: "Then I'll go." After a pause, he called her softly, "A Li."
"Um?"
He said seriously, "I can't."
Su Li was confused, and it took her a while to realize what he meant. She smiled without commenting. He wouldn't do that, but he wasn't that affectionate either, otherwise he wouldn't have fallen in love with the original heroine so quickly after the original owner's death.
She said perfunctorily, "Hurry up and go to work, or you'll be late."
"good……"
It was indeed getting late, so Pei Ji left the inn and took the carriage that Su Li had hired early in the morning to go to the Dali Temple to do his duty.
Su Li took the key to the Zhuangyuan Mansion and the carriage order form and went to the rental house.
At this time, in the hall of the Minister of Works' Mansion.
Zhang Yao was furious and threw the teacup in his hand directly at Zhao Xingwen.
Zhao Xingwen didn't dare to dodge, and the teacup was thrown directly on his head, splashing half of his head with tea.
He immediately knelt down and said, "Sir, please listen to my explanation. Things are not what you think."
He had originally dressed in his official uniform early in the morning, waiting for the Shangshu Mansion's carriage to pick him up at his rented house. After waiting for a long time, the carriage did not show up, so he hired a carriage himself and went to the Shangshu Mansion. Upon arriving, he was exposed to the truth in person. God knows how they knew that he already had a wife and children. Fortunately, fortunately, he could explain...
"Explain?" Zhang Yao sneered angrily, "You're full of lies. You've tricked my entire Shangshu Mansion into this state, and even made me be ridiculed behind my back. What else do you have to explain?"
As he said this, he threw the teapot on the table at him. Zhao Xingwen's official uniform was instantly wet in a large area. Fortunately, the tea was not scalding hot, otherwise, he would be in trouble.
"father!"
At this moment, Zhang Ruying rushed in despite the maid's attempts to stop her: "Dad, please don't hurt him."
Zhang Ruying was also furious when she knew that Zhao Xingwen was already married, but now seeing him in such a miserable state, she couldn't help but feel distressed.
"Mr. Zhao, how are you?" He rushed towards Zhao Xingwen and took out a handkerchief to wipe the tea leaves off his face.
"What are you doing out here? Go back to your yard!" Zhang Yao was furious. "This guy has a wife. What do you want to do with him?"
Then he looked at the two maids beside him and shouted angrily: "You two, why don't you take the second girl back!"
"Yes, Master!" Zhang Ruying's two personal maids hurried forward to pull her up: "Miss..."
"Aying!" Zhao Xingwen's face was filled with affection. He held Zhang Ruying's hand tightly, then looked at Zhang Yao and said with a sincere and distressed look, "Sir, I am indeed married, but, but that was a marriage arranged since childhood. I have no feelings for her, but I can't go against my parents. But I am sincere to Aying..."
As an old fox in the officialdom, Zhao Xingwen certainly knew that these words had no persuasive power on him. He actually said this to Zhang Ruying.
He knew clearly how much Zhang Yao loved this second daughter who had come from an old age, and he also knew how Zhang Ruying felt about him. As long as her heart was still with him, he was confident that he could change the situation. Moreover, "Besides, my wife had passed away in an accident. I was afraid that Aying would dislike me at first, so I didn't dare to tell the truth. This matter is my fault. I hope you will forgive me."
Thinking of his wife who had died unexpectedly not long ago, he felt no guilt at all. What was the point of keeping a disobedient woman...
Zhang Ruying, who had already softened her heart, was even more moved and delighted after hearing this. She pleaded, "Dad, you've heard it too. Young Master Zhao didn't actually deceive you. He was just afraid that his daughter would mind. Please don't be angry, Dad..."
He could divorce his wife, but now Young Master Zhao said that the woman had died a long time ago, so she was naturally happy. As for his child, she would naturally not let him appear in front of her in the future.
Zhang Yao was even more furious: "So what? You are my daughter, the legitimate daughter of the Shangshu Mansion. Do you want to be the second wife of a poor boy?"
"Dad, I really like Mr. Zhao..."
"Aying, thank you..." Zhao Xingwen expressed his gratitude at the right time.
Seeing this, Zhang Ruying's heart softened. She knelt on the ground side by side with Zhao Xingwen and said, "Dad, I only love Master Zhao in my life. Please help us..."
"You, you want to piss me off to death!"
Zhang Yao was so angry that he threw his sleeves and left the hall.
"father!"
"Aying, the ground is cold, get up quickly."
Seeing Zhang Yao leave, Zhao Xingwen took Zhang Ruying by the hand and said, "Aying, go back to the courtyard first. Leave the rest to me. I will talk to the adults."
Seeing her nod, he hurried out of the hall and chased after Zhang Yao...
Rental office.
The people who rented the house had just finished breakfast. When they saw Su Li coming so early, they knew she had something to tell them.
This was indeed the case. After entering the rental house, Su Li directly assigned a task: "Xiao Sanzi, Ah Fu, the two of you go to the carriage shop behind Changming Street and drive the two carriages from our mansion over."
As he spoke, he handed them the order form. According to the date, the carriage had been completed the day before. Su Li had not sent anyone to drive it back because he had no house to put it. Now that the Zhuangyuan Mansion had been granted, he could drive the carriage back.
Xiao Sanzi and Ah Fu answered and immediately left.
"Well, where's Xiao Mu?" After looking around, he found that Xiao Mu was not there.
Xiao Ye immediately replied, "Madam, my brother went to keep an eye on Zhao Xingwen early in the morning."
Yesterday, Xiao Sanzi and Afu went to spread the news, while he and his brother took turns keeping an eye on Zhao Xingwen. After all, it was something assigned by their madam, and they each wanted to do a good job.
Su Li nodded to show that he understood, and said to the others, "Little Sanzi told you before that this year's top scholar is your male master, right?"
Several people replied in unison: "Yes."
She continued, "Now he has been appointed as the Dali Temple Secretary, and the top scholar's mansion has been granted to him. You will come with me to see the new mansion and clean it up."
When they heard they were going to the new mansion, they all showed excitement and replied in succession, "Yes, Madam."
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