Chapter 122: Multiple Schemes

  She watched as Xiao Xiao's figure disappeared into the rain curtain, and then stood quietly for a while before returning to Li Shi.

  At night, she thought about Shen Zhen's affairs and couldn't sleep at all, but didn't dare to turn over carelessly, fearing that she would disturb Li Shi beside her. She listened to the rain all night and got up with a sore body the next morning.

  Ying Fen came to serve Shen Muqing and dress him, finding an opportunity to wink at Shen Muqing. When Li Shi went out to smoke, Shen Muqing took Ying Fen for a walk in the small courtyard.

  Ying Fan said in a low voice: "Mr. Min said he knew and would find an opportunity to mention it to the Emperor."

  Shen Mu Qing put down his heart and asked: "Do you know what disease the old master has?"

  "English hesitated for a moment before saying in a low voice: 'Dysentery!'"

  Shen Mu Qing's face turned pale with shock and fright.

  She puckered her mouth, lowered her head and sank into thought for a while, then said: "You go to the Xiao family and take a look. If Young Master Xiao has returned, tell him that he should try to move around in front of the prison officer who wrote the indictment, think of a way to send some medicine to the old master - it's best to make it into pills, this illness can't be delayed."

  The British responded.

  In the afternoon, I found an excuse to go out and buy something, and went to Xiao's house.

  The one who welcomed her in was the young man wearing a green velvet jacket with a parrot pattern, who had accompanied Shen Muqing last time. The one serving her tea was an unfamiliar little maid. She sat quietly in the flower hall, waiting and feeling that someone was spying on her.

  The more Ying Fen sat up straight, the calmer and more composed she became.

  Third Granny said: "Lose people but don't lose formation..."

  It wasn't until after a long while that Xiao Sa, dressed in green official robes, finally appeared. As soon as he saw Ying Fen's furrowed brow, his own expression turned urgent and worried: "What's happened?"

  Ying Feng finally let out a sigh of relief and quietly told Shen Muqing's instructions.

  Xiao Xiao responded with a "got it", then loudly called out to the young man wearing a green changshan: "Yuliang, help me change clothes."

  The young man named Yu Liang responded and left.

  Xiao Xiao knelt down and paid her respects to him, thanked him, and then walked out slowly.

  She heard a somewhat hoarse and lazy female voice behind her: "Isn't Young Master Qi going out after dinner?"

  The Englishman's footsteps faltered, and he glanced swiftly over his shoulder.

  The one talking to Xiao Sa was a girl wearing a jade-colored jacket, between 18 and 19 years old, with slightly dark skin, dense eyebrows and eyes, a slender and tall figure like the mountains, as charming and beautiful as a flying fairy in a mural painting.

  Last time it was that quiet one, this time it's this beautiful one... There are really many beauties around Xiao Gongzi! Ying Fen smiled and quickly walked out of the Xiao Manor.

  As soon as I entered the alley, I saw two people tugging at each other in front of the Shen family gate. One was wearing a light purple coarse linen short jacket and was the gatekeeper from our own household. The other wore a dark-colored coarse linen short jacket and wasn't from our household, but looked somewhat familiar.

  She was about to turn into a nearby alley when the man in black coarse linen suddenly saw her and shouted, "Miss, miss, I recognize you, you are serving by Shen's daughter."

  The gatekeeper heard this and immediately swung a big slap: "You dare to spout nonsense."

  The one wearing a dark brown robe retreated two steps back with a light body, dodging the gatekeeper's palm and walked straight towards Ying Fen.

  Ying looked at his orange-peel-like face and suddenly realized: "You, you're not from Liu Niang's family..."

  The man nodded repeatedly and smiled: "Miss has a good memory, I am Liu Niang's younger brother, called Chang Hui."

  Chang Hui chuckled a few times and said, "I've been traveling to the western regions for years, unlike my elder brother who lives in Kyoto, enjoying good food and drink, with a smooth and oily complexion." As he spoke, his eyes sank.

  Yingfen's smile faded away, and she let out a soft sigh.

  The gatekeeper looked at him and said to Ying Fen with a somewhat embarrassed expression: "Miss Ying Fen, I thought this person was... Unexpectedly, he really knows the lady!"

  Ying Fan looked like a peddler, smiled at the gatekeeper and said: "Sorry to trouble you, I'm an acquaintance." He then took out a few copper coins from his bag and handed them over to the gatekeeper: "Buy Uncle a cup of wine to drink."

  The gatekeeper returned to the entrance and asked Changhui: "What business do you have with the lady?"

  Chang Hui's expression was quite awkward.

  Ying Xian laughed and said: "Uncle, I'll tell you straight out. Our daughter is now married to the Town Far Marquis' household, the Liang family, and doesn't often return to her maternal home. This is also a coincidence."

  Chang Hui's face turned red as he said: "I... I came to borrow some money from the young lady!"

  Greatly astonished and shocked.

  Chang Hui's face turned red, and he said in a mosquito-like voice: "Sixth Lady, Sixth Lady is ill, we have to sell the house... We really have no choice, so I'm thickening my skin to beg... He suddenly raised his head, "Miss Ying Fen, yes, I will pay it back... Now I also go to the escort agency to escort, one trip can earn five taels of silver... I will definitely pay it back..."

  The Shen family is also in trouble now...

  Ying Feng hesitated and said: "This, this I dare not take charge of. Let me go ask and then give you a reply!"

  Chang Hui listened and was deeply moved. He stuffed something into Ying Fen's hand: "Trouble sister to go and say a word, I'll wait here."

  A silver hairpin with a single drop of oil on it.

  "Hurry up and give it to Changhui: 'No need, no need, Uncle Chang'en was always very kind to us when he was around.'"

  I don't have anything else, it's worthless, just a small token.

  Yingfen repeatedly declined and let her go home to wait, entering the door to find Shen Muqing.

  Shen Muqing accompanied Li Shi in the main house.

  As soon as Ying stepped into the Li's courtyard, she felt that the atmosphere in the courtyard was vastly different from when she left, with everyone's face suppressing a kind of joy.

  Could it be that Master has let him out?

  She thought for a moment, and quickened her pace towards the main house, where she saw Cheng Xiang and Ming Xia standing under the eaves.

  When they saw Ying Fen, they all made a "light" gesture towards Ying Fen.

  The Englishman nodded and stopped in his tracks.

  Ming Xia walked over with a gentle hand and foot, smiling all over her face, whispering: "Mr. Ouyang is back!"

  Although Yingfen felt disappointed, Mr. Ouyang was able to return, and Third Young Master's wife had one more person to consult with, which was also a good thing!

  She stood in the courtyard for a long time but didn't wait for Shen Muqing to come out.

  She thought for a moment and then went to find Luo Mei.

  "Third Young Mistress has always felt guilty towards Chang En, if Sixth Lady is really ill, she will definitely borrow the silver!"

  "Or else, let's find a servant to ask around. If it's true, we can still lend him the money later!"

  Ying Fan was an impatient person and immediately stood up saying: "I also think so, so let him go back first. I'll go find a servant to ask around."

  In the house, Mrs. Li and Mr. Ouyang were talking, while Shen Muqing stood respectfully behind Mrs. Li.

  "...I already knew about the house search on the way, so I slowed down my journey. It wasn't until I found out you had returned to Ziteng Temple that I hurried back!" Mr. Ouyang said of his own whereabouts.

  Mr. Li told Mr. Ouyang everything that had happened in Kyoto.

  Mr. Ouyang listened carefully and came to the same conclusion as Xiao Sa: "It would be great if we could find a way to contact Master Li. Logically, since nothing incriminating was found during the search, they should have been released by now... but why..." Madam Li was also at a loss for an explanation.

  Shen Muqing suddenly thought of Wang Gonggong's betrayal.

  She couldn't help but say: "Mr. Ouyang, if the old master can't come out, whose interests will be the greatest?"

  Mr. Ouyang and Ms. Li were both taken aback. The two exchanged a glance, and their faces both showed signs of unease.

  "Is it Vice Premier Hu Xing? Or is it Zhang Ranzi who is temporarily in charge of the Cabinet? Or could it be Wang Jiayun?"

  Mr. Ouyang remained silent for a long time before saying bitterly: "Zhang Ran!"

  Serene and calm with slightly raised eyebrows.

  Mr. Ouyang explained: "The imperial examination is divided into southern and northern routes, and the officials in the court are also divided into factions. As a native of Jiangsu, Master naturally has close ties with officials from Zhejiang, while Wang Qiuyun, being a native of Jiangxi, has close ties with officials from Anhui. The two factions have been vying for power for a long time, and Hu Xin's entry into the Grand Council was facilitated by his connections with Yu Gong. As a result, neither southern nor northern officials dare to praise Master's stance. Wang Qiuyun is a stubborn person who has never been favored by the emperor, and recently had a falling out with Wang Gong over the imperial tomb... The most likely candidate to replace Master is Zhang Ranzi."

  Shen Muqing and Li's family both fell silent.

  "This person is not only closely related to Wang Gong, but also comes from a prominent family in Zhejiang Qiantang, which is second only to the Min family of Xiangshan in Jiangnan."

  It seems that Zhang Ran has reached some kind of agreement with Wang Gonggong, an agreement more tempting to Wang Gonggong than money... This is the most frustrating thing.

  But this cannot be said in front of Li's family.

  Shen Mu Qing's face remained calm and unruffled.

  "If the Empress Dowager were still alive, that would be great!" Mr. Ouyang couldn't help but sigh, "Madam, you can still go to the palace to ask the Empress Dowager to give Governor Shen some winter clothes and try to arrange a meeting with the Emperor... But the Queen is a gentle and weak person, let alone whispering in the Emperor's ear, she might even find excuses to avoid seeing Madam just because of what happened."

  Li was quite helpless: "I'm afraid that not being allowed to see the old master is a plan made by Wang Gonggong or Zhang Ge Lao behind the scenes... If it's Wang Gonggong, it's easy to say, just send some money and goods. If it's Zhang Ge Lao, it's also easy to say, can start with Wang Gonggong. What I'm afraid of is that Zhang Ge Lao has colluded with Wang Gonggong... That would be difficult to handle."

  Shen Mu Qing was shocked for a moment. Mr. Ouyang nodded and sighed.

  For a moment, everyone had their own thoughts, and the room fell silent.

  "Mr. Ouyang!" Shen Muqing chased after him.

  Mr. Ouyang stopped.

  Shen Muqing gave him a look.

  Mr. Ouyang understood.

  The two went to the flower hall of the outer courtyard.

  Shen Muqing told about Shen Zhen's illness and the private deduction of the prison officer's note by Wang Gong, as well as Xiao Sa finding Mr. Min and asking Xiao Sa to help deal with the prison officer.

  Mr. Ouyang looked at her, his face gradually revealing a surprised expression.

  "What's wrong?" Shen Muqing felt a little guilty.

  Won't it be myself who has done something I shouldn't have done again?

  Mr. Ouyang smiled and shook his head: "No wonder Master often sighed, if Madam were a son, it would be better!"

  Shen Mu Qing couldn't help but smile bitterly.

  Yes, if he were his own son, Shen Zhen wouldn't have taken a concubine!

  Tip: Enter "Panda Literature" in a search engine to find this site, thank you.

  Chapter 122: Multiple Schemes