After Xue Rui returned to the mansion, he didn't tell Xue Lingnan about what happened in the Seventh Prince's mansion. He spent the whole night thinking about it.
Tonight's incident was a fluke. If people misunderstood that he and the Seventh Prince were fighting for a woman's favor, it would definitely remind people of the quarrel they had in the Dingbo Hall not long ago. If they reconciled, it would turn from a personal grudge into a real scandal.
Not only would it ruin his and Liu Hao's reputation, but it would also make it difficult for the young lady of the Ji family to get married in the future.
Although it was killing three birds with one stone, it should be aimed at Liu Hao. Recently, because of the Emperor's favor, the Seventh Prince's limelight had risen, and there were many people who wanted to smear him.
But the person who set this trap could reach the Seventh Prince's mansion and knew his and Liu Hao's temperament like the back of his hand. There were only two or three candidates. Even if he couldn't confirm who it was, he would double his guard against these people in the future.
In Anling City, anyone who wanted to move up might fall into the mud if he was not careful, so he had to be alert to deal with it.
Late at night, Xue Rui sat up from the bed, put on his clothes, and walked to the window. He opened the window and breathed in the cold dew. Looking at the bright moon in the sky, he suddenly remembered the days when he stayed in Yiyang City. He woke up early in the morning and came back late at night. He didn't have much to worry about. It was a pleasure to see the clever waiter every day.
Thinking of this, Xue Rui stopped thinking and decided to see Yu Shu tomorrow after he got off work. He was more than a little interested in the fact that she could predict that he would be in trouble tonight.
The next afternoon, Xue Rui finished dealing with the files of the Supreme Court. He planned to go home to change his clothes and go to find Yu Shu. Outside the magistrate's office, he was stopped by a waiter: "Your Excellency, a letter for you."
Xue Rui looked at the unfamiliar manservant in front of him and opened the letter. The handwriting on the paper was clear and elegant. There was only one sentence: "Please meet Sir Xue at Shuyun Teahouse."
It was signed with the word "Xing". After reading the letter, Xue Rui folded the paper and handed it back to the manservant, saying, "Go back and tell your master that I have something to do today and can't go."
He had just escaped yesterday, and he wasn't a brat who didn't learn his lesson. Moreover, he didn't think that there was anything to say to Miss Ji. Whether or not he touched Liu Hao's people, he couldn't be bothered to provoke them.
Seeing that he was about to take a detour, the manservant hurriedly called out to him, "Sir, wait, there's another one."
Xue Rui stopped and looked at the servant. The servant took out another letter from his bosom. Out of curiosity, he took it and opened it. This time, it was simpler. There were only four words on it.
Miss Lianfang.
Xue Rui raised his eyebrows and thought for a moment. He stuffed the second letter into his sleeve and raised his chin at the manservant, "Lead the way."
The manservant's face lit up. He bowed and led the way, "This way, Young Master."
Shuyun Teahouse's private room was different from other teahouses. It was located in a corridor on the first floor.
When he pushed the door open, there was a screen in front of him. He didn't know if it was intentional or not, but the picture of a carp flying through a lotus was embroidered on it.
Xue Rui glanced at the screen and walked around it. He saw Ji Xingxuan sitting behind the tea table, drinking tea. Half of her face was still covered with a veil, but only her eyes were exposed. No matter who saw them, they would praise them as beautiful.
Xue Rui and Liu Hao had known each other for a long time. He knew that Liu Hao loved beautiful women. When he heard Liu Hao's drunken words last night, he didn't know if Liu Hao really loved this woman. But he was sure that this Miss Ji, who could make Liu Hao lose his composure because of her, was definitely not simple.
"Young Master Xue." Ji Xingxuan stood up and bowed when she saw Xue Rui, and she only sat down after Xue Rui chose a table on the opposite side and sat down, and then she lowered her head and said apologetically, "I was presumptuous to invite you here today, I hope you don't blame me.
The first time they met was in Yiyang City. At that time, the Ji family was still discussing marriage with the Xue family. Later, they met several times during Xia Jiangying's murder. They couldn't be considered close, but they had a general understanding of each other.
"Miss Ji, if you have something to say, please say it." He originally had some admiration for this woman. She was only the granddaughter of the Right Judge, but she was able to establish a foothold in the Imperial Historian's Library, get to know princes and princesses, and make friends with the leaders of Jiangnan.
But after Xia Jiangying's case, he lost interest in her. He always kept a respectful distance from women who were too scheming. It was enough for him to be fooled by an exception.
Ji Xingxuan was silent for a moment, then softly said, "Thank you, young master, for helping me out last night."
Xue Rui said, "I just happened to pass by. There is no need to thank me."
Ji Xingxuan was exceptionally intelligent. How could she not hear the alienation in his words? She didn't mention the matter again, nor did she explain what happened last night. Instead, she picked up the freshly brewed fragrant tea and poured it for him before sitting back down.
Xue Rui picked up the cup and smelled the fragrance of the tea. Before he took the cup, he heard the voice from the other side, "I have a question."
"What is it?"
"That day at the Dingbo Mansion, the Lianfang girl next to Mr Xue was once a young miss of my Ji family. Her surname is Yu."
Xue Rui had already expected this and wasn't surprised, "So what if she is? So what if she isn't?"
"If she isn't, then it's fine. If she is, young master, please tell her that I want to see her." Ji Xingxuan didn't beat around the bush and directly requested.
"Why do you want to see her?"
"Forgive me, Xingxuan, for not being able to tell you."
Xue Rui looked at the woman in front of him. Although it was a request, she didn't sound humble at all. He knew that she was testing him, so he smiled, "Then forgive me for not being able to tell you."
As he said this, he put down the untouched teacup and stood up, "I still have matters to attend to. It's not convenient for me to stay. Miss Ji, goodbye."
Seeing that he was about to leave, Ji Xingxuan didn't stop him. She also stood up and watched as Xue Rui walked around the screen and disappeared.
"It seems that it really is her." Ji Xingxuan expressionlessly lowered her head and muttered to herself, "So it turns out that this person learned Shifu's Liuyao. She went to Yu Shu's house to recuperate for a few days and was finally able to walk. Although it's still sore and swollen, it's much better than hopping around on one foot.
Jing Chen changed the dressing on his hand every day. Fortunately, it was winter and there were no signs of pus. Yu Shu also asked Yu Xiaoxiu to go out and buy two old hens. Every day, she would stew a pot of fresh soup for him to drink to replenish his blood and Qi.
After the 11th, Yu Shu was waiting for news from Xue Rui. She was worried that he would get into trouble and couldn't avoid it.
When Xue Rui came to the door, Yu Shu was sitting on a small stool in the corner of the courtyard, killing chickens. When she heard the door open, she thought that it was Yu Xiaoxiu coming back from school. She opened the door and saw that it was Xue Rui.
Seeing that he was carrying large and small bags in his hands, which seemed to be her favorite pastries, she smiled and said, "If you come, you don't need to bring anything. It's not like you're visiting relatives."
As she said this, she wiped the chicken blood on her apron and reached out to take it. Xue Rui saw that there was still a handful of chicken feathers in her hair and then glanced at the pool of blood not far away. He didn't know whether he should praise her for her ability or criticize her for being careless. He raised his hand to avoid it and said, "Okay, I'll take it in. Is your foot better? You're walking around like this. "
"It's okay. I'll pull out the feather. You can go in and sit."
"Okay."
When Jing Chen heard the movement, he walked out of the house. No matter what he thought, Xue Rui saw him, he still put on a polite face. "Mr. Jing."
"You can just be my bait, Jing Chen."
"Is the injury on your hand better?"
"Yes, Xiaoyu just changed my bandage."
This conversation sounded quite familiar. Xue Rui smiled and nodded. "That's good."
Xue Rui found his way to the big house and put down the things in his hands. He turned around and saw that Jing Chen had followed him and was standing at the door looking at him. He did not take the initiative to speak. When Xue Rui sat down at the table, Jing Chen also came over and sat down.
Yu Shu was still taking care of the old hen outside. Xue Rui looked outside the house and turned around to ask, "When did you and Shu meet?"
"In March of this year," Jing Chen replied. That was what Xiaoyu had told him.
"Oh," Xue Rui said. He was still in Yiyang in March. Why had he not heard Shu mention it?
"I can see that you're quite skilled. May I ask which sect are you from?" Xue Rui asked again.
"It's not convenient for me to tell you." Jing Chen had been warned by Yu Shu not to tell others that he was a Daoist. Moreover, Jing Chen did not know which sect he was from, so he was not lying.
Xue Rui asked a few questions but could not find out anything. When he saw that Yu Shu had washed her hands and came in, he did not continue to ask.
"Are you staying for dinner? I'll make some chicken giblets and two side dishes. I'll ask Xiaoxiu to get a pot of wine later," Yu Shu asked Xue Rui.
"Sure, I haven't tasted your cooking."
"It's just average, don't think it's disgusting when the time comes." When Yu Shu saw Xue Rui's appearance, she knew that he had most likely avoided that disaster. She smiled and sat down between him and Jing Chen, then asked, "You came to find me because there's news from the yamen again? When will the trial begin?"
"There's still a few more days to go. I came to look for you today to express my gratitude." Xue Rui looked at Yu Shu. "Thanks to your reminder, I was lucky enough to avoid a disaster last night."
Yu Shu sat up straight. She looked curious. "What happened?"
If she could gather more information, she would know what to do next time such a disaster happened.
"Let's not talk about it." Xue Rui raised his hand and turned to Jing Chen. "I have some personal matters to discuss. Can you leave for now?"
Jing Chen looked at Yu Shu. Seeing the latter nod, he got up and left.
The door wasn't closed. Xue Rui lowered his voice and said to Yu Shu, "I saw Ji Xingxuan today. She recognized you."
When Yu Shu heard this, she frowned. It wasn't strange that Ji Xingxuan recognized her. When she and Xue Rui went to Dingbo Hall to participate in the gambling, she had seen Ji Xingxuan face to face. As long as she tried to recall carefully, she might be able to remember who she was.
"She also said that she wanted to see you." Xue Rui had copied Ji Xingxuan's words. He didn't pass on the message on her behalf, but to let Yu Shu know.
"She wants to see me?" Yu Shu was suspicious. "Why?"
There was nothing to talk about between Ji Xingxuan and her. Judging from the fact that Ji Xingxuan couldn't even remember what she looked like, Ji Xingxuan knew that Ji Xingxuan didn't care about her at all. Ji Xingxuan must have long forgotten that she was punished because of a jade pendant.
Xue Rui shook his head. "I'm not sure about that. Let me ask you. After you left the Ji family, did you ask for a return card?"
"En." Yu Shu recalled. "At that time, the marriage between the two families fell through. The Ji family kicked me out. I took the opportunity to ask Third Master for my and Xiaoxiu's cards. I was afraid that they would use me again in the future."
Xue Rui said, "Then it doesn't matter. You're no longer a member of their family."
Yu Shu snorted. "I've never been a member of their family."
She wasn't a dog that would recognize its master after eating a few mouthfuls of leftovers. She only had hatred for the Ji family. She had no feelings for them.
"It seems that your mother is still in the Ji family?"
Yu Shu took a deep breath. "If there's a chance in the future, I'll pick her up."
Every once in a while, she would read the fortune and misfortune of Aunt Cui. The divination showed that her life was smooth, so she didn't worry about it for the time being. However, if she kept Aunt Cui in the Ji family, she would become a weakness in the future. She had to find a way to get her out.
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
