Inside the restaurant, while waiting for the steamed buns, Dong Yuefan couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Didn't you say that the idea that the Heartbreak God shortens one's lifespan was false? Why don't you agree this time?"
I know a bit about the owner of the San Cai Trading Company. He's a nouveau riche who only entered the capital more than ten years ago. That guy has made a lot of money, but he's very stingy. He's stingy with his servants, and even more so with his wife, children, and relatives.
How can you let such a stingy person get away with it when he's practically begging you for money?
Judging from the way he's gone to such lengths to get you to do this, he's probably afraid that his hard-earned fortune will be divided up with his illegitimate child. If you ask him for a thousand or two thousand taels of silver, I reckon he wouldn't hesitate.
This wasn't stealing, robbing, or cheating. So why did she refuse on the spot without even thinking?
"Kaiyang, please tell Uncle Yuefan why for me," Hong Xiaoduo said to Kaiyang with a smile.
Upon hearing this, Kaiyang immediately sat up straight and, mimicking the teacher he had met, shook his head and said, "As the saying goes, a gentleman loves money but earns it in a proper way. Although my mother likes money, she doesn't earn just any kind of money."
“No, you still haven’t explained it clearly.” Dong Yuefan nodded at first, then realized what was going on.
This put Kaiyang in a difficult position, because that was all he knew.
Moreover, Mother has her reasons for not wanting to earn this money, so why insist on digging into the details?
"The secrets of bloodline identification involve changes in kinship between people and the stability of a family. It is based on protecting the legitimate interests of women and children. This bloodline identification is to prevent the escalation of conflicts, not to cause conflicts and problems."
Take Kaiyang for example. The reason I made this assessment of him and the people in the Wei family was for the sake of a poor mother, a child who had suffered so much, and for their families.
As for that man surnamed Gu, if it weren't for his scheming, even if I knew his child wasn't his biological child, I wouldn't have used that bloodline identification technique for them.
But he was too wicked and aggressive, so I feel no remorse whatsoever for the final fate of his family. It was truly his own fault.
As for your case, the reason I used that secret technique was to find the real culprit.
So, do you understand what I'm saying, Brother Dong?" Hong Xiaoduo explained patiently.
Dong Yuefan nodded and said, "I think I understand, but I can't quite put it into words. What you mean is that if it can help those who really need it to get good results, then this secret technique can be used; otherwise, it won't work."
Hong Xiaoduo nodded in satisfaction and looked at Kaiyang beside her. The little guy also nodded as if he understood.
"Yeah, Brother Dong, don't blame me for not giving you face," Hong Xiaoduo joked.
"Hey, how could I blame you? It was my fault this time too. I didn't even think it through before asking you. I apologize, and breakfast is on me," Dong Yuefan said with a laugh.
Before Hong Xiaoduo could respond, Kaiyang spoke up: "It was originally Uncle Yuefan who treated us."
"You little rascal, you always side with your mother." Dong Yuefan deliberately put on a stern face and pointed at Kaiyang with her hand.
Kaiyang chuckled to himself. Just then, the steamed buns arrived, a stack of small steamers.
Lift the lid of the steamer, and place a steamer in front of each person. The skin of the small steamed buns inside is so thin that you can vaguely see the filling inside. When you pick one up with chopsticks, the soup and filling inside sink heavily to the bottom. Take a light bite, and the soup will flow out. It's so delicious.
Dong Yuefan had the strongest appetite for breakfast, finishing five steamer baskets, two and a few more Xiaoduo dumplings, one basket of dried shrimp, and a bowl of meat porridge.
After they finished eating, the attendant Dong Yuefan had sent to the palace to gather information returned, saying that he had found out that the foreign delegation had entered the palace that day, having gone there in the morning.
Having no other choice, Dong Yuefan had to send Hong Xiaoduo and the other girl to the palace gate, intending for them to wait in the carriage.
As a result, when Murong Jing saw the carriage, he went over and said, "What a coincidence! Let's go to the palace together."
Watching Hong Xiaoduo and Kaiyang follow Murong Jing into the palace gate, Dong Yuefan curled his lip at Murong Jing's figure, he didn't believe it was such a coincidence.
However, Dong Yuefan didn't dare to linger in front of the palace gate, fearing that she might accidentally run into her father.
However, he was mentally prepared that his father would scold him when he returned home.
Because Xiaoduo was a woman, an unmarried woman, how could they disregard her reputation and take her away in front of the palace gates, then stay at a villa outside the capital for one night?
Dong Yuefan wasn't afraid, since she was used to being scolded since she was a child.
Inside the palace, today's foreign delegation has entered the palace for cultural and artistic exchange.
I don't know if it's because the negotiations were dampened, but today's cultural exchange was very well-behaved, without any trouble.
For the simple ones, Kaiyang can translate; for the slightly more difficult ones, Hong Xiaoduo can translate.
Several doctors from Qishan Academy were present, but the headmaster Tan was absent for the first time, saying he had caught a cold due to the changing seasons.
Yung-Gu Academy was also invited, and in addition to the chief scholar and doctors, several other teachers were present.
Feng Jijiu had learned from others the day before that Kaiyang could speak a foreign language, and now he had witnessed it firsthand. Feng Jijiu felt that he was extremely lucky.
Although Kaiyang has not officially entered Yunggu Academy yet, he is considered a student of Yunggu Academy. Therefore, during today's exchange, Kaiyang is sitting on the Yunggu Academy side.
As for the scholars at Qishan Academy, although they did not know what had happened when the Chancellor went to the palace the day before, the Chancellor's expression was very unpleasant when he returned.
Minister Cao has confirmed the identity of the person Hong Xiaoduo asked him to investigate. The envoy dressed in Fengliang Kingdom attire is named John Soni, and he is the deputy interpreter for this foreign mission.
Information found about him indicates that John Sonny's father and grandfather were both merchants and had visited Fengliang Kingdom, but nothing else is known.
"Young Master, help me think of a way. I need to have a private talk with that John Sonny," Hong Xiaoduo said to Murong Jing beside her as their morning exchange was drawing to a close.
"Hasn't His Majesty already decided to stop purchasing opium? Do you still want to confirm whether the Opium Kingdom delegation has ulterior motives? If so, do you want the Emperor to hold them accountable?" Murong Jing asked in a low voice.
Hong Xiaoduo nodded, then shook her head: "Your Highness, please help me think of a solution quickly. You are the most convenient person to deal with things in the palace. If you don't care, then I will find a solution myself."
"Heh, so you're threatening me now, aren't you?" Murong Jing was amused.
"Yeah, anyway, if I cause any trouble, you definitely can't just stand by and watch, you'll have to clean up my mess, oh no, I mean, you'll have to help me clean up the mess." Hong Xiaoduo almost slipped up.
Even though she corrected herself in time, Murong Jing still knew what she was going to say before she changed her words. He raised his hand to his forehead, got up, and left...
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