Chapter 57: Master’s Grace Then, just twist his ear.
In the warm morning light, Song Baoyuan sat in front of the dressing table with her hair loose, picking at her hairpin.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Qiao Yue coming in with a wooden basin in her arms. Without even looking up, she asked, "Are Cheng Cheng and Sui Sui awake?"
"He's gone," Qiao Yue said. "The young master left early this morning, taking the young lady with him. He said he was dropping the young master off at school and told you not to worry."
She put down the basin, felt around her sleeve, and handed over a letter. "This is from my husband."
Song Baoyuan took it and saw three powerful words written on the envelope - her name.
When I opened it, I saw familiar handwriting.
After reading just a few words, she glanced at it, stuffed the letter back, and threw it into her dressing box.
Qiao Yue, who came over to comb her hair, asked curiously, "What did my husband say?"
"He said..." Song Baoyuan stared at herself in the bronze mirror, her eyes blurry. "He's very sorry and will spend more time and energy on caring for the children. He also told me not to worry too much, saying he has arranged for special care for both Chengcheng and Suisui."
Qiao Yue nodded and soothed him, "Overthinking can be detrimental to your health. Young Miss, you'd better relax a little. Young Master is very concerned about the affairs of Young Miss and Young Master, especially since Young Master went missing. Not only have more people in the mansion been watching over you, but they've also been much more thorough."
"I know." Song Baoyuan said lightly, changing the subject without leaving any trace. "Have you prepared the gift for Princess Liu'an?"
"I'm ready. Where do you plan to meet the princess?"
Song Baoyuan thought for a moment and said, "Let's go to the teahouse. It's quiet."
At noon, Liu An arrived as promised.
When they met, he snorted coldly, "You taught the apprentice and betrayed the master, and you even plotted against me."
Song Baoyuan chuckled as she set the dishes and poured the wine. "I wonder if these delicious dishes made by the legendary cook from the Ruyang Palace and the best wine from Qianqian Pavilion can calm the princess down."
"Stop bluffing!" Liu An sat down. "Isn't the best wine at Qianqian Pavilion the Fenyanzui?"
"We only sell three jars of Fen Yan Zui per month, and we're out of stock this month."
Liu An rolled his eyes, "Is this your sincerity?"
She covered her chest, looking heartbroken, "As expected, I don't cherish what I have."
"How dare you."
"I had just presented those two bottles of wine to His Majesty, and right after, you did something so drastic. If something happened to you at this critical moment, I would be cutting off my own escape route. As soon as I heard the news, I rushed here without stopping, fearing I would be too late."
Song Baoyuan offered the wine glass, "Thank you for your kindness, Princess."
"Tsk." Liu An took the wine glass unhappily and drank it all in one gulp.
"I have no other choice," Song Baoyuan said with lowered eyes. "Those three villains didn't succeed, and I haven't seen the person who actually ordered them. If I report it to the police, even if it goes smoothly, it will be a case of sacrificing the chariot to save the king, and at most, a maid will be punished. So I have to take the initiative and accuse her of the crime in a crowded place. When the discussion starts, even if she defends herself, her voice will be drowned out and no one will hear her."
Liu An's eyelids twitched. "This doesn't sound like seeking justice, but rather like a frame-up."
Song Baoyuan laughed, "Because this is the method she used against me before."
"Oh?" Liu An knocked on his wine glass. "The Sheng family girl's reputation is ruined now because this matter spread out unusually quickly. It was you who did it, wasn't it?"
Since they were allies, there was no point in hiding such a small matter. Song Baoyuan admitted it generously, "There are so many shops, especially in a place like Qianqian Pavilion, it's easy for interesting things to spread. Since we've already formed such a deep hatred, I absolutely cannot let her marry a good husband and have the possibility of rising to prominence. Otherwise, what if she gets retaliated against again in the future?"
"She's prepared for a rainy day." Liu An sighed. "It's a good thing she wasn't selected that day. If she had gotten a position, you would have been in trouble."
Song Baoyuan remained silent.
Liu An leaned forward, approaching her, tapping his index finger on the center of the table. "You've made some progress, but I must warn you. If our plan succeeds, you'll inevitably have to deal with people from the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works. Those men who are deeply involved in officialdom are much more difficult to deal with than someone as childish as the Sheng family girl. They're more concerned about their reputation, so their methods are more sinister. If their interests are affected, their behavior will be even more disgusting. And just because you're a woman, they will harbor unwarranted ill will towards you."
Song Baoyuan also leaned forward and looked into Liu An's eyes. "I suddenly remembered that someone came to the teahouse to cause trouble before, trying to uncover Qingze's past so that he could say he was a filthy person and that my teahouse was a filthy place. That person must have been arranged by the princess."
Liu An was stunned, then covered his mouth and laughed, "Hehe, you found out."
"I've seen a lot of unwarranted malice." Song Baoyuan sighed imperceptibly.
Liu An looked at her and suddenly became serious.
"Since you are ready, come with me to the palace tomorrow."
*
In the inner hall of the Dali Temple, Jiang Keyu, who had just returned from prison, changed his clothes and made sure that he did not smell of blood before entering the house.
Jiang Suisui was sitting on the ground with a basin of mud on each side and various balls made of mud in front of him.
"What is Sui Sui doing?"
"Daddy's back!" Jiang Suisui pointed at the various lumps of mud on the ground. "This is the head, this is the body, this is the arm. This is the eye... Put them together and you have a person!"
Jiang Keyu squatted down, and although she didn't see it, she still praised: "Sui Sui is really amazing."
“Bang, bang.”
There was a knock on the door.
Jiang Keyu turned around and saw Liu'an with a bad look on his face.
"What's wrong?"
Liu'an's face was filled with indignation. "Someone from the Sheng family said that Mr. Sheng is seriously ill."
Jiang Keyu's brows furrowed instantly.
"Who knows if it's true or not? Maybe they're trying to trick you into coming over again." Liu'an muttered softly, "Who is holding this favor hostage?"
Jiang Keyu turned around and looked at her daughter who was seriously putting together a clay figurine.
"Alright!" Jiang Suisui held up the little man, "Daddy, look!"
"Hmm!" Jiang Keyu raised her hand and wiped the mud off her daughter's face with her fingertips. "It looks really good."
Jiang Suisui smiled so hard that her teeth were showing, "Uncle Liuan!"
Liu'an quickly recovered from his anger and gave a thumbs-up. "Young lady, you're amazing! You can pinch a duck!"
Jiang Suisui: “?”
"This is a human." Jiang Keyu reminded with a squint.
Liu'an quickly covered his mouth and said, "I misjudged it. It turned out to be a person. It really looks like a person!"
Jiang Suisui puffed up his cheeks and pinched the little man again.
"Then, sir, are you going to the Sheng family?" Liu'an asked.
Jiang Keyu stood up and said coldly, "Go! My mentor is seriously ill and has come to tell me the news. If I don't go, wouldn't I be even less of a human than this duck?"
He forced a smile as he lowered his head, "Sui Sui and Daddy will go out for a while, okay?"
"Then take it with you!" Jiang Suisui said, holding up the little man.
"good."
The atmosphere in Sheng Mansion was depressing.
When Jiang Keyu came in holding her daughter, she could even hear faint crying.
Not only the descendants of the Sheng family, but also Gao Luoshu, were guarding Mr. Sheng's bed.
Gao Luoshu was restless in the strange atmosphere of the Sheng Mansion. He didn't feel better until he saw Jiang Keyu. "Why are you so late?"
"Do you think I'm as free as you are?"
Gao Luoshu glared at him first, then smiled broadly at Jiang Suisui, "Suisui is here too, Uncle Gao, give me a hug."
"Ahem, who's here?" Old Sheng on the bed struggled to sit up.
Jiang Keyu quickly stepped forward to support him, "Teacher, don't move. You need to have a good rest."
"It's Keyu."
Mr. Sheng looked weak and haggard.
Jiang Keyu could clearly see that her teacher was in a much worse state than the last time they met. There was a lingering sadness in her eyes, especially her brows.
"Hello, Grandpa!" Jiang Suisui tilted his head.
When Mr. Sheng heard the voice, he looked up at the young child and was speechless.
After a while, he said, "This child looks like you. How cute."
"She's a student's daughter, so naturally she looks a bit like him." Jiang Keyu said with a smile, "Sui Sui, go out and accompany Uncle Liu'an for a while. Daddy will come to see you later."
"oh."
Jiang Suisui jumped out of Gao Luoshu's arms and ran towards Lu'an at the door.
Elder Sheng glanced at the other people in the room and said, "You all should leave as well."
Soon, only Mr. Sheng and two students, Jiang Keyu and Gao Luoshu, were left in the room.
"Why did the teacher suddenly become so ill?" Gao Luoshu asked worriedly and puzzled.
Mr. Sheng sighed deeply.
"What did the doctor say?" Jiang Keyu said expressionlessly, "Do you need me to go to the palace to ask for the imperial physician?"
Mr. Sheng held his hand tightly and shook his head.
"I'm old, and I don't have many years left."
"Pah, pah, pah!" Gao Luoshu said anxiously, "Teacher, don't talk nonsense."
Elder Sheng spoke slowly, "As for me, even if I want to get out of this bed now, I need someone to help me. They say there are no filial sons for a long-term patient's bedside, and I think I understand."
Gao Luoshu was stunned. "Is someone in the mansion treating you badly?"
"Not really." Elder Sheng smiled bitterly. "It's just that they are all busy and can't take care of an old man like me. It's human nature. In this big family, only Qiyin is considerate."
"Then let Xiao Si take care of you." Gao Luoshu blurted out.
Elder Sheng looked at Jiang Keyu and said, "Qiyin, she did something wrong. I want to apologize on her behalf."
Jiang Keyu felt depressed and hooked his finger at Gao Luoshu. Gao Luoshu understood and helped him onto the teacher's chair.
Jiang Keyu tried to pull away, but Mr. Sheng held her wrist tightly.
“Cough cough cough!”
"Why is the teacher like this?"
“Ahem!”
Mr. Sheng coughed repeatedly, and Gao Luoshu hurriedly patted his back.
"Keyu, the teacher really doesn't have much time left, and Qiyin is the only sweet child by my side. She did something wrong, and in the final analysis, it's my fault for not teaching her well. Can you please forgive the teacher just once?"
Jiang Keyu was helpless, "Teacher, do you really have to do this?"
"Let her stay by my side to take care of me. I promise that I will not let her leave the Sheng family easily."
Jiang Keyu remained unmoved, and Elder Sheng seemed heartbroken. "Ahem!"
Gao Luoshu was frightened and panicked.
“Cough cough cough!”
Mr. Sheng doesn't look fake.
"The teacher wants to protect his granddaughter, so can the students let their daughters be wronged?"
"Just this once, the last time!" Elder Sheng lowered his head and said, "Qiyin really knows she's wrong. There won't be a next time. She told me she didn't mean to do anything to the child. At most, she just wanted to scare him..."
"Scare?" Jiang Keyu suddenly pulled her hand away. "My daughter is only three years old. Can she stand being scared?"
Elder Sheng said sadly, "I promise, this will never happen again! I will keep a strict watch on Qiyin, and let her meditate in the Buddhist temple in the mansion. She can never leave the Sheng family again! Just think of this as my teacher's last wish. For the sake of our relationship as master and disciple, please forgive her this time!"
Jiang Keyu took half a step back and was speechless for a long time.
“Cough cough cough!”
"Teacher, don't get excited!" Gao Luoshu said in a panic, "Your own health is more important!"
Elder Sheng said sadly, "Can you bear to watch your master end up like this?"
"Teacher..." Jiang Keyu felt mixed emotions and finally turned her back.
"In the academy, teachers have the grace to teach students. When entering the officialdom, teachers have the grace to support students. When overturning the verdict on my biological father's case, teachers have the grace to help students."
Jiang Keyu clenched her fists and spoke affectionately, but her eyes gradually turned cold. "Teacher, your kindness is great, and I will never forget it. Since you insist, I will do as you wish to repay your kindness."
After he finished speaking, he didn't want to stay any longer and strode away.
Mr. Sheng seemed relieved, but looking at his back as he left, he felt a pang of sadness in his heart.
*
After leaving Sheng Mansion, Jiang Keyu carried her daughter into the carriage and heard Gao Luoshu's shouting behind her.
"Wait for me!"
Gao Luoshu got into the carriage without hesitation and asked directly, "What happened?"
"Don't ask questions that you shouldn't ask." Jiang Keyu said coldly.
Jiang Suisui in his arms turned around and blinked, "Daddy, you are not happy."
Jiang Keyu realized her own emotions and quickly put on a smile, "No, with Sui Sui here, how could Daddy not be happy?"
He said, hugging his daughter tighter.
"Daddy, look!" Jiang Suisui held up the little clay figurine again. "Uncle Liu'an helped me pinch it. Doesn't it look more like a human?"
Jiang Keyu looked at the little clay figurine with a cold gaze.
"Daddy?" Jiang Suisui was dissatisfied with his distraction and patted his shoulder.
"Yes." Jiang Keyu took the clay figurine from her daughter, placed it in front of her and asked, "If this is the person who bullied Sui Sui, how would Sui Sui treat her?"
Jiang Suisui heard this and thought seriously, "Then, just twist his ear and make sure he doesn't dare to do it again!"
Usually, when the maids did something wrong, Aunt Yao would twist their ears.
Jiang Suisui followed suit and twisted the clay figurine's ears.
"oops!"
The mud didn't stick firmly.
"It fell."
The ear fell to the ground.
Jiang Keyu smiled and said, "It doesn't matter. If it falls off, it falls off."
He looked deeply at his daughter, kissed her ear, and whispered, "Nothing is more important than the New Year's harvest."
For some reason, Gao Luoshu, who was standing by, felt creepy when he heard what he said and looked at his eyes that no longer smiled.
*
That night, a heart-wrenching scream was heard from the Sheng Mansion.
"ah!"
"Ears! My ears!"
“…”
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