Chapter 186 Letter

In order to build the villa for the imperial visit, Rongguo Mansion not only demolished all the servants’ houses on the east side, but also included part of Ningguo Mansion’s Huifang Garden.

As a result, the Lixiang Courtyard where the Xue family was staying was cut off from the Rongguo Mansion, making it inconvenient to enter and exit the rear residence of the Rongguo Mansion. So the Xue family moved from the Lixiang Courtyard to the courtyard in the northeast corner behind the Rongxi Hall, and opened a corner door on the east wall that led directly to the alley between the Ning and Rong residences, making it convenient for Xue Pan to enter and exit.

Many old women from the Xue family were carrying large baskets and small boxes towards the backyard.

In the room, Xue Baochai was sitting at the desk under the south window, watching the maids and old women arrange things.

Ying’er called a few maids and brought in two boxes.

Walking up to Xue Baochai, Ying’er asked softly, “Miss, where is the account book?”

Xue Baochai glanced around the room and paused.

Ying’er muttered in a low voice: “There’s not even a bookshelf.”

Xue Baochai glanced at her with dissatisfaction and said, “Put them on the ground first, and let your master write an order, and the shop assistants will go and buy them.”

Suddenly, Xiangling ran in like a gust of wind, panting: “Miss, that, that famous actor is here again!”

Xue Baochai was startled at first, then her face changed: “Didn’t I tell you not to let him in?”

“The maid who brought the news said that the man came with Master Bao, and the maid at the door didn’t dare to stop him.”

It’s this unmotivated phoenix egg again!

Xue Baochai didn’t know how to respond to this.

Ying’er spoke up: “Since Master Auntie took office, Master Bao has not been to the school again. He has been busy all day.”

“Ying’er!” Xue Baochai interrupted her hastily, looking at her and saying, “As you get older, you become more unruly. Why don’t you go and pour some tea?”

“Yes.” Ying’er walked out in a hurry.

Xue Baochai looked at Xiangling again: “What are they here for?”

Xiangling paused and said, “He said he came to celebrate the housewarming.”

After hearing this, Xue Baochai felt a tightness in her chest and she almost couldn’t hold it in. She took a deep breath and finally suppressed the nameless anger in her heart.

“Madam is back.” Ying’er’s voice came from outside.

Xue Baochai stood up quickly and saw Aunt Xue walking in wearing a cloak.

“Why are you back at this time, Mom?” Xue Baochai went up to her, took off her cloak, handed it to Xiangling, and helped her sit down.

Ying’er came in with a cup of tea.

Xue Baochai personally held the tea for Aunt Xue.

Aunt Xue looked at the maids and servants and said, “You all should go out first.”

“Yes.” The maids and servants retreated one after another.

Xue Baochai: “What’s wrong? Is there a fuss over there again?”

Aunt Xue shook her head: “Your uncle has sent a letter.”

Xue Baochai: “A letter to my aunt?”

Aunt Xue nodded: “There is also a bill of exchange for 100,000 taels of silver.”

Xue Baochai was surprised.

“You didn’t see it”

Aunt Xue took a sip of tea, put it down, and continued, “Your aunt is so arrogant, as if what she held in her hand was not a bill of exchange, but an imperial edict. She even said things like ‘family members are caring’ and ‘I just said that in the letter’, which made the old lady very angry. She seemed to have forgotten that the 100,000 taels originally belonged to the Jia family.”

After a pause, he said, “This is just one of the many sums of money ‘borrowed’ from the Jia family.”

Xue Baochai smiled in her heart. She suddenly realized that her aunt seemed to have a different mind from others. No, it was very different. “Where did your uncle get so much money?” Aunt Xue suddenly asked.

Xue Baochai was shocked to realize that this money was definitely not clean!

Aunt Xue sighed and said, “I wonder if our family will ever see the money back?”

Xue Baochai opened her mouth but didn’t know how to continue the conversation. She felt so tired!

“Your aunt is getting more and more arrogant. Just now in the old lady’s room, your aunt interrupted her several times and didn’t even take the first wife seriously. If the queen in the palace gave birth to a prince, who knows what would happen!”

Xue Baochai shook her head. What if she gave birth to a prince? Not to mention that the emperor had four adult princes, Mrs. Wang had already offended everyone in the palace that the empress could rely on. Could she rely on that fifth-rank Shandong education commissioner to compete for the throne?

“Hey, why don’t you consider Baoyu? This child is well-behaved and sensible.”

Xue Baochai was in a bad mood and said coldly, “He is drinking with that actor in my brother’s room.”

Aunt Xue was stunned.

At this moment, the door curtain was raised, and Zhou Ruijia walked in. She bowed slightly to Aunt Xue and said with a smile, “Aunt, Madam wants you to come over and talk to her.”

Aunt Xue came to her senses and said to Xue Baochai, “Think about it carefully.” Then she stood up and said to Zhou Ruijia, “Let’s go.”

After seeing Aunt Xue off, Xue Baochai walked back to the desk and sat down, lowering her head and thinking silently. After thinking for a moment, she picked up a blank piece of letter paper and began to write.

After finishing writing, Xue Baochai picked up the letter and blew on it, then put it into the envelope, sealed it, and called out, “Ying’er!”

Ying’er came in in response.

Xue Baochai handed the letter over and said, “Give it to your mother and ask her to go to Li’s house and hand it to Miss Lin personally.”

“Hey!” Ying’er took the letter, turned around and walked out.

Xue Baochai stood up again, walked out, and stopped under the eaves of the corridor. She looked at the dead leaves that were blown up by the wind and swirled in the air, and chanted softly: “Good wind, with your power, send me up to the blue sky.”

The strong wind blew away the fog over Zou County, but the sky was still gray.

The magistrate of Zou County walked back and forth under the eaves outside the study door with his hands behind his back, stopping from time to time to look at the moon gate in the courtyard.

There was a sound of hurried footsteps and the magistrate of Zou County came in excitedly.

The magistrate of Zou County quickly looked over.

Walking up to him, the Zou County Magistrate reported, “County Master, I have found out everything. The Azure Dragon Hall Master and the White Tiger Hall Master were indeed captured alive by the Imperial Household Department.”

The magistrate of Zou County was overjoyed: “Have all the White Lotus Sect members in Yishan been wiped out?”

County Magistrate: “They said they were all wiped out.”

“Good,” the Zou County Magistrate clapped his hands, “Now we can finally have some peace and quiet.”

County Magistrate: “I also heard a piece of news that the Imperial Household Department wants to put the Azure Dragon Hall Master and the White Tiger Hall Master in a prisoner car and send them to the capital.”

The Zou County Magistrate nodded and said, “You should leave immediately and report this good news to the governor.”

The magistrate of Zou County answered loudly, “Yes.” He turned around and strode out.

The magistrate of Zou County clapped his hands twice and said excitedly: “The disaster star is finally gone!” Suddenly he remembered the letter he wrote to the Duke of Yansheng yesterday, and thought: I sent such a letter so abruptly, which will definitely arouse some suspicion. Reporting the situation here can also resolve the misunderstanding. In addition, it can also be regarded as good news. After all, the White Lotus Rebellion appeared in the hometown of the saint, which is not good to hear.

Thinking of this, he turned and went into the study, walked to the desk, sat down, picked up a pen and started writing.

After sealing the envelope, the Zou County Magistrate shouted, “Come on!”

The confidant came in in response.

The magistrate of Zou County handed over the letter and said, “You should leave immediately and hand this letter to Duke Yansheng in person. Forget it, just deliver it to the door of Duke Yansheng’s mansion.”

(End of this chapter)