The Summer Solstice had not arrived, and the weather at the end of spring had a bit of the fickle atmosphere of summer. It was sunny for a while in the morning, but gradually turned cloudy in the afternoon. The pedestrians on the streets of Jiangning looked hurried. The housewives put away the clothes that were drying in the courtyard and waited for the possible raindrops in the courtyard.
In the Su family's mansion, there was also a haze. Although it was not visible on the surface, a depression that was about to rain shrouded one courtyard after another. Yesterday's Ning Yi's havoc, coupled with Su Yu's taking the opportunity to make a fuss, brought too many possibilities of change to this family. This change had many foreshadowing from the beginning, but the outbreak was unexpected. Ning Yi's toughness and Su Yu's early closing of the net caught Su Zhongkan, Su Yunfang, and the others by surprise. The power of the second and third branch was originally going to be handed over, and many of the Su family's resources were also going to be concentrated on Su Tan 'er's side. But Su Yu's determination was so fast that these things were really pressed in front of them.
The internal situation of the Su family was originally delicate. It was not a situation of tripartite division. Although it was divided into three families, most of the power was not divided after all. Whether it was business or family property, Su Zhongkan, Su Yunfang, and the others did not have enough strength and courage to separate the family. But Su Yu planned to let them withdraw from the historical stage of the Su family and completely confirm the dominant position of the first branch. After that, although the second and third branches still had their own industries, even if they spread out, Su Zhongkan and Su Yunfang's branch would not leave the core circle and become a complete side branch. But in the current round, they really lost the most critical game.
Originally, they thought that perhaps the first branch's bloodline was thin, and the fourth generation of the Su family born by Su Wenxing and the other idiots might have enough people to support the heavy responsibility of the Su family. But now that Ning Yi and Su Tan 'er were so powerful, for them, this hope became extremely slim.
The second and third branches tried to make Su Yu change his mind at the last moment, or to buy some buffer time. Managers like Su Yu were already considering which of the second and third branches could be completely eliminated from the competition. The situation was not lively. In this gloomy day, many things were also hidden under the serious atmosphere and undercurrent. If it were outsiders, only those small merchants who came to the Su family every day to deliver vegetables and meat or collect night incense could vaguely sense that the atmosphere of the Su mansion was different from the past. Occasionally, he would ask, but the answers he got were all vague. This was because most of the servants of the Su Family couldn't see the situation clearly.
In addition to the second and third branches who were in a panic, the first branch of the Su family, which had smoothly passed the incident yesterday, also seemed a bit solemn at this time. Not only Su Tan 'er's side was silent, but Su Boyong's side did not have any big reaction today. Even many shopkeepers or stewards who belonged to the first branch did not talk about this victory today, but secretly speculated about another thing that drove this matter: Did Young Master Ning have an ambiguous relationship with that woman from the brothel? Or: What would Second Miss's attitude be?
This matter had passed on the surface, and it was impossible for the second and third branches to mention it again. At this time, everyone in the first branch could finally put it in front of them, take a closer look, and make a little analysis. In a sense, while the conspiracy led by Su Wenxing in the second and third branches of the Su family failed, the negative impact of this matter still appeared.
After all, Su Tan 'er had just given birth to a child. It was the time when a woman was the most vulnerable and needed her husband's care, but her husband spread such a thing. After all, Ning Yi did not give a positive account of this matter. It could be said that he felt it was unnecessary, but it could also be understood that there was such a thing, but it was covered up by Young Master Ning with a beautiful method. Now that Ning Yi's ability and importance were increasingly recognized by everyone, the relationship between him and Su Tan 'er, how to obtain mutual understanding and tacit understanding, became the most concerned issue for a time.
In such silence and speculation, as the person involved, he made a response in the first time. However, although the couple were not passive people, the sudden decision made by Su Tan 'er still surprised Ning Yi to some extent.
It was still afternoon. When she was called into the room, Su Tan 'er was leaning on the bed, looking at a list of the second and third branches of the Su family. Although she had just given birth to a child, it was not a serious thing after all. It was said that some peasant women went to the field on the day of giving birth. Su Tan 'er was in good health, and the child had been born for two days, so it was okay for her to use her brain a little. The arrangement of the second and third branches was led by Su Yu. She just looked at it casually. After Xing 'er came in, she looked down for a while, but obviously, she was thinking about other things in her mind.
Xing 'er poured her a glass of water. She took it and took a sip. After a pause, she asked, "Where is Husband?" She didn't get out of bed, so her voice was a little weak.
"It seems that … Master called him over."
"Oh." Su Tan 'er nodded and put down the list in her hand. After thinking for a while with the teacup in her hand, she said, "Xing' er, ask Juan 'er to come over later. Go out in the afternoon and help me do something."
"Okay."
While thinking about things and making a decision, Xing 'er could see that Su Tan' er had the usual attitude of dealing with business at this time, but the feeling at this time was quite different. She was obviously hesitating, but finally, she smiled with uncertainty. "I don't know if this is right, but … go out and find Miss Nie later. Tell her that … if she is free tomorrow, invite her to the mansion for a talk. Xing 'er, you have to be polite … "
Xing 'er hesitated slightly. "That Miss Nie …"
"It's that Nie Yunzhu, Miss Nie." Su Tan 'er smiled. Looking at her smile, Xing 'er nodded. "Oh, I, I know …"
Su Tan 'er was silent for a while and added, "This is a private invitation. Xing' er, you arrange it. It doesn't need to be a secret, but don't let people in the mansion disturb Miss Nie. There's no need to apologize for the time being. Those people have bad intentions and will only embarrass her. Also, tell her that it's just a meeting between me and her. There won't be anyone else. And … it's better not to let Husband know. Just tell her this … "
"Okay." Xing 'er nodded. "But as for the son-in-law … if Miss Nie comes to the mansion, he will know eventually …"
"It's fine if he doesn't know for a while … In fact, it doesn't matter if he knows." Su Tan 'er smiled with a complex and weak feeling. "Husband can't guess what I'm going to do."
Xing 'er nodded and waited for a while. Seeing that Su Tan' er didn't have any more instructions, she prepared to go out and call Juan 'er. After taking two steps, she turned back and gritted her teeth. "Miss, in fact, the son-in-law's character has always been upright. Since he said in front of those people … said that Miss Nie is a virgin, it must be true. I think, I think … the relationship between you and the son-in-law has always been very good. If you listen to those people, then, then … "
Xing 'er and Su Tan' er were like sisters, but it wasn't good for a servant to casually comment on the matters between the masters. Among the three servant girls, Xing 'er's temper was relatively straightforward. When she blurted out these words, it was a little awkward to say it. However, Su Tan 'er didn't mind. She sat on the bed and rubbed the teacup with both hands. Then she turned back and smiled at her. After a while, she looked at the window at the side and said faintly,
"I also know Husband's character. He disdains lying to those people in the family. I didn't call Miss Nie over because I wanted to interrogate her or teach her a lesson with my status as the First Madam. But … Xing 'er, I'm not thinking about these things … "She paused." In the past, I let Husband attend those poetry meetings and let him make friends with those scholars … Even if it's a beauty, it's nothing. Husband's literary talent and bearing, it's very easy for someone to like him. Our Jiangning's Four Top Courtesans, Miss Qi Lan and the others, if Husband was interested, there would have been many people talking about them … That's nothing … "
She said it was nothing, but her tone was slightly downcast. There was probably something. Then she continued to say, "But Husband didn't mess around with them at all … Only when we were in Hangzhou, that Liu Gua, Liu Zhaizhu, fell in love with Husband. Husband might also … admire her, but that kind of admiration, I don't care. My husband treats me and all of you very well. It's rare to see a man like him. But it's also because of this, it has to be this Miss Nie, I don't know what I should think … "
"She and Husband have known each other for a long time. Husband even taught her how to open a shop and became friends with her. How does she look at Husband, and how does Husband look at her … "She smiled bitterly." Xing 'er, I don't dare to ask these things, and I don't want to test Husband. That Miss Nie … She has been in the brothel for so many years. She was able to keep her chastity and redeem herself. Maybe only such a person can get Husband's approval … "
Su Tan 'er shook her head. "Actually … Actually, I don't know how I feel about that Miss Nie, and I don't want to risk my life to guess in front of Husband. Perhaps I have to see him before I can know what I really think in my heart … "
After Su Tan 'er said this, not long after, Xing' er called Juan 'er. She asked the steward who knew about Miss Nie's address and went all the way there. It was cloudy, and the road by the Qinhuai River still had traces of yesterday's fight. The small building that had been smashed in many places had not been repaired. Although there seemed to be some guards near the door, they did not stop her. She went over and knocked on the door, and then she saw Miss Nie Nie Yunzhu.
She was a little curious about this Miss Nie after listening to what Miss Nie said at home. After relaying all the words and being sent out of the small building, Xing 'er was also thinking about how this Miss Nie could be such a quiet and elegant woman. She had a vague feeling that tomorrow's meeting with her might not be a good thing.
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