Chapter 192

The sun has set.

Outside the corner gate, two old ladies from the Xue family were walking back and forth anxiously in front of the gate, stopping from time to time to look into the deep alley.

A woman with sharp eyes said: “Look, here it comes, here it comes!”

I saw four cavalrymen escorting a sedan chair, followed by two carriages.

Watching the sedan chair enter the corner gate, four cavalrymen rode their horses towards Ningrong Street.

The carriage stopped, the maid opened the curtain, Ying’er came out, and the maid helped her out of the carriage.

Then, a little girl came out of the carriage.

The old woman: “Where is Xiangling?”

Ying’er: “Xiangling is gone.” She said and walked quickly into the corner gate.

After hearing what she said, the old woman was stunned: “What do you mean ‘Xiangling is gone’?”

The little girl quickly waved her hand and chased after him.

The sedan chair stopped at the gate of the courtyard, and the servants withdrew. The maid on duty outside the door came up and opened the curtain of the sedan chair. Ying’er hurried over to help Xue Baochai get out of the sedan chair.

Xue Baochai held Ying’er’s hand and walked into the courtyard.

In the blink of an eye, the group had arrived outside Xue Pan’s courtyard. Suddenly, there were bursts of excited cheering and laughter, followed by melodious flute music and light singing.

Xue Baochai paused and looked at the maid beside her: “Who’s here?”

The old woman said, “Master Bao, Master Feng, and, and Officer Qi.”

Xue Baochai suppressed her anger and asked in a low voice: “What’s going on with the singing girl?!”

Mother-in-law: “My uncle got promoted, and my master is having a party at home to celebrate, and he invited you to drink with him.”

Another burst of laughter was heard.

Xue Baochai swallowed a breath and walked quickly to the backyard.

The backyard was empty, and only a faint light was coming from Aunt Xue’s room.

Xue Baochai walked in and saw Aunt Xue doing needlework with the maids.

When she saw her come in, Aunt Xue asked, “Why did you come back just now?”

Xue Baochai: “Something happened over there.” As she spoke, she sat down next to Aunt Xue.

Aunt Xue was startled and waved to the maids.

The maids all retreated.

Xue Baochai pondered for a while, and then told Aunt Xue what had happened in the Li Mansion.

Aunt Xue’s face changed: “Jia Yucun’s wife is a maid in Xiangling’s family. Xiangling’s father is indebted to Jia Yucun.”

Xue Baochai smiled bitterly and said, “If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears, I wouldn’t have believed that such a thing could happen.”

Aunt Xue nodded and asked, “Where is Xiangling?”

Xue Baochai: “I’m staying at the Li family for the time being.”

Aunt Xue: “That’s good. I’ve always seen Xiangling behave differently from other girls. She’s gentle and quiet. Girls from ordinary families are not as good as her! I didn’t expect she was really a daughter of a wealthy family.” At this point, she suddenly remembered: “Will this matter have any impact on your brother?”

“Don’t worry, mom. We’ve made it clear in person. Nothing will happen.”

“As long as it’s okay, it’ll be okay!”

“On the way back, I thought about it. Although Xiangling has never been wronged in our family, it is still my brother’s fault. In addition to sending the indenture to Xiangling, I also need to prepare a box of cloth, a box of jewelry, and a thousand taels of silver. We have known each other for a long time, so let’s part ways in peace. These are the dowry that the Xue family prepared for her in advance.”

Aunt Xue’s heart was bleeding, but she had to respond: “That makes sense. That makes sense.” Xue Baochai seemed to see through Aunt Xue’s thoughts and continued, “Xiangling’s father left with a crazy and lame Taoist priest, and her mother lives with her maternal grandfather. I heard from Jiao Xing and Mrs. Jia that her maternal grandfather was not a kind person. Xiangling is no longer a child, so it is not easy for Minister Jia to take her in. Miss Lin likes her very much. If my guess is correct, Xiangling will most likely stay in the Li family.”

Aunt Xue understood that this was a consideration for the future and an investment.

Xue Baochai suddenly remembered: “Mom should also discipline my brother. Not to mention that we are staying in Rongguo Mansion now, even if we were at home, it would be unreasonable to bring a singing girl into the house. It’s too outrageous.”

After a pause, he said, “And he’s dragging Baoyu along with him. If the old lady and the aunt find out tomorrow, who knows what will happen!”

Aunt Xue was a little panicked: “This…”

Xue Baochai was silent for a moment, then said, “Take some money and ask Ying’er’s mother to treat the night maids to a drink, and then ask Mingyan to call Baoyu away. Without Baoyu, they will disperse.”

Aunt Xue’s eyes lit up.

Xue Baochai: “There will be a festival at Qingxu Temple tomorrow. No one from the Li family will go, and no one from Ningguo Mansion will go either. The fourth girl is staying at Miss Lin’s place. I heard that no one from the Shi family will go either.”

Aunt Xue sighed. Mrs. Wang had offended everyone she could.
As soon as it got dark, the light in the study came on.

Emperor Yongchang walked in quickly and saw the urgent letter on the imperial desk.

Walking to the dragon throne and sitting down, Emperor Yongchang picked up the urgent letter, tore open the seal and read it.

As he watched, Emperor Yongchang’s expression suddenly became serious.

Dai Quan looked at him in surprise.

After reading the urgent letter, Emperor Yongchang closed it gently and concentrated on thinking carefully.

After a long while, Emperor Yongchang shook the express mail and said, “According to the information in this express mail, there was another express mail before this one.”

Dai Quan was startled at first, then he understood: “Someone intercepted and killed the messenger of the Imperial Household Department?!”

“What a saint’s hometown!” A fierce and cold light flashed in Emperor Yongchang’s eyes.

Dai Quan was startled.

Emperor Yongchang: “According to this dispatch, the Imperial Household Department first captured the Azure Dragon Hall Master alive, and then wanted to use the Azure Dragon Hall Master and the fake White Tiger Hall Master as bait to capture the remaining White Lotus Sect members in Shandong.”

After a pause, he said, “According to the time, the escort team should have already set off.”

Dai Quan was stunned for a moment, and said softly: “Your Majesty, don’t worry. Even if the express delivery falls into the hands of the White Lotus Sect, with the cooperation of the cavalry of the Ruishi Battalion, we will definitely be able to capture the remaining White Lotus Sect in one fell swoop.”

Emperor Yongchang nodded and continued, “You are right. Li Hu is quite broad-minded. I really didn’t expect that he would agree to Zhou Kui’s participation in this matter. With this contribution, even if the Kong family can’t find anything, I can still inform the Ministry of Personnel next year and let Zhou Kui resign and come to Beijing early.”

Dai Quan’s heart skipped a beat. How could this killer be so kind?!

“Tea.” Emperor Yongchang unfolded the urgent letter and began to read it again.

Dai Quan: “Yes.” He answered and walked to the compartment, picked up the copper kettle, and brewed tea in front of the imperial desk.

Emperor Yongchang picked up the tea bowl and drank several mouthfuls before putting it down. He said, “Send a secret order to Li Hu. It is better to kill the wrong person than to let him go. This time, we must catch all the White Lotus Sect members in Shandong! In addition, let him help the Imperial Household Department investigate the incident of the messenger being intercepted and killed.”

Dai Quan: “Yes.”

At this moment, a red-robed eunuch from the Imperial Household Department appeared outside the study room, holding a stack of paper in his hand.

Dai Quan hurried to the door, collected the stack of paper, walked back to Emperor Yongchang, and held it there.

Emperor Yongchang took them and looked at them carefully one by one.

After reading the last page, Emperor Yongchang smiled and said to Dai Quan, “It’s not just that evildoer who is moved.”

Dai Quan didn’t know how to answer, so he could only smile back.

Emperor Yongchang: “It’s almost time. Don’t pass it on any further.” He picked up a memorial, unfolded it, and began to review it.

(End of this chapter)