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  Chapter 16: The Cost

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  After a while, Bai Guo left first, and at noon, Jing Er also left. Chu Ke'er took Qing Guo and Bai Guo out, without asking Jing Er to pass on the message to her mother, but instead asked Jing Er, "Does Old Lady plan to marry me off to someone?"

  Here is the translation:

  "Opening with such a question, Jing'er hesitated for only a moment before telling the truth. Originally, my mother and Madam Meng had some grudges because of the Gu family's affair, but Madam Meng wanted to win over my mother, so she told her some secrets that were not known outside the mansion. The old lady... plans to marry Third Young Miss to a young master from the old lady's natal family."

  Chu Xue heard this and felt a pang in her heart, she quickly asked "Who is that person? Is he an old lady's relative? What's his name, what does he do, where does he live?"

  "The old lady's brother's own grandson, named Xue E, is now still a child and will participate in the imperial examination."

  Chu Ke'er had no impression of Lao Taitai's mother and could only say "Tell me more about it."

  "Yes, this young master Xue E is about eighteen years old and has been in Huaiyuan all along. He took part in the imperial examination last year..."

  "Where is the old lady's hometown? What does her brother do?"

  Jing'er was somewhat surprised, not expecting the girl to ask such things... She could only hastily answer that her maternal grandmother's hometown was in Huairou County, Beijing suburbs. Her maternal grandmother's brother used to be a county magistrate, and now the only one in their family who held an official position was Mr. Xue, the father of Young Master Xue E, who worked in the Ministry of Justice...

  Governor.

  "It seems like this is the official title, Mr. Xue's first wife is the daughter of Wang Dongshan, a compiler of the Hanlin Academy..."

  "Honorary compiler? Just like Madame Liu's father? Also a disciple of Old Master?"

  Jing'er was stunned again and nodded, "This servant really doesn't know..."

  Chu Kei's heart was filled with cold laughter, and as soon as she heard it, the old lady wanted to use this to form an alliance and prop up their maternal family.

  Although her teeth were itching, Chu Kei still asked about the situation of Lao Taitai's family clearly.

  The old lady's father, who had risen to the position of a fourth-rank official in the Imperial Censorate, was able to form this marriage alliance with the Chu family. However, by the time of the old lady's generation, among her three brothers, not one of them achieved success. The eldest brother did manage to pass the imperial examination, but he ranked several hundred places after the top candidates and spent his entire life as a county magistrate without any further advancement. The two younger brothers were not imperial examination graduates and had purchased their official positions, but unfortunately they did not live up to expectations. One of them was demoted to Sichuan due to corruption, while the other was implicated in another case and exiled to Yunnan.

  This family, even if it has fallen, still has the strong old lady. She found a marriage for her nephew, the daughter of Wang Dongshan from the Hanlin Academy. Wang Dongshan had an older brother who was a high-ranking official, and originally they could have lifted their family up. Unfortunately, Wang Dongshan wasn't cut out to be an official, and within two years he offended those in power and resigned his post to return to the countryside. This marriage can be considered hopeless now.

  It's hopeless for my nephew now, I can only find a good marriage for his son.

  His nephew was Xue E, and he also had a younger brother named Xue Rong, who was 15 or 16 years old.

  It turns out that the old lady had indeed gone to great lengths for her natal family. Chu Gao Shi was her daughter, and many members of the Gao clan held official positions in the imperial court. She arranged for Chu Gao Shi to be married into the Chu family as a secondary wife, thereby linking the Chu, Gao, and Xue families together, making it impossible to distinguish between them. From now on, wouldn't the people of the Xue family have to pull strings with those in the Chu and Gao families?

  Thinking about it made her angry, Chu Ke'er was stunned for half a day before she suddenly remembered and hastily asked, "What about Second Miss? Who is going to marry Second Miss? Are there any suitable men in the old lady's natal family?" But in her heart, she thought, "It can't be that they're going to marry both of them off to those two sons of the Xue family, can it?"

  "No... Second Miss isn't promised to the matriarch's family..." Jing'er suddenly became tongue-tied, lowering her head and not daring to look at her, nervously fidgeting with her sleeve.

  "Could it be..." Chu Ke suddenly had an epiphany and said in surprise, "Could it be that you want Second Young Miss to enter the palace?"

  Jing'er suddenly lifted her head, looking at her third aunt with surprise and admiration... "You are really too clever!"

  Chu Xue almost burst out laughing. The old lady wanted to summon Chu Yun Ting into the palace? The current emperor has no children, and even the old lady can't help but want to intervene?

  She frowned again, "This matter is for Old Master to decide."

  "Master may not... It's possible with Third Sister, but Master won't agree with Second Sister."

  Chu Xue was startled and widened her eyes, looking at Jing Er's old master, "No, she... the old lady wants to do it first and report later?"

  "Hmm, this servant doesn't know, but Second Young Miss's matter... might... Madam Meng will listen to Old Lady's meaning and not tell Master for now."

  Chu Xue was indeed a little shocked in her heart, this old lady's courage is really big. Is Chu Yun Ting's big courage inherited from the old lady's temperament?

  Now she's a bit regretful, after Chu Yunqing went missing that time, she shouldn't have stayed at home being obedient, she should have followed the crowd and made some noise...

  "What's up with you, old man? Are you also agreed? Who else is there? Is Grandpa not jumping?"

  "Old master, but it's not the same as agreeing. The last time the girls went to the Duke's mansion, I did hear Old Madam and Old Master mention it, but later when they discussed it, my mother didn't hear... It should be true, Old Madam had mentioned it to him before."

  Chu Ke nodded slightly, and Chu Nan naturally wouldn't oppose it since he had always let Lao Tai Tai have her way.

  The white fruit is gently calling out "girl" outside

  "Come in."

  Bai Guo came in, took a look at Jing'er, and hastily and joyfully went to the side of Old Lady Dai, calling over the sedan chair bearers who had just finished carrying out the execution.

  Jing'er suddenly showed a surprised expression, Chu Ke nodded and warned them to stop here, don't go asking around anymore. The old lady is not a simple person, you two should not run around everywhere, just stay quietly in the yard."

  "But... what if Old Lady Bai lets off the Car Family's punishment?" Bai Guo was a bit anxious, if the Car Family didn't fall this time, his mother's future days would be unbearable.

  Jing'er also looked at Chu Ke with concern.

  Chu Ke's light and casual mention of the theft might have been forgiven by the old lady, considering her decades of service. But as for the affair with the young master's servant girl, would the old lady let it slide? Don't worry, this time Car Gu's family will either be driven out or die trying."

  Bai Guo and Jing Er felt what she said was very reasonable, and they nodded in agreement.

  "Chu Kei, go out and bring me food."

  The two of them left.

  Chu Ke smiled coldly, just as she was about to finish speaking, the Car Guiren family would be driven out, and outside, there was still Zhu Yuchen waiting for her. This woman had only one outcome, which was a "death" sentence.

  She colluded with Qin Niang and Chu Yun to make Liu Niang give birth prematurely, and stole her child. Even if she didn't follow Chu Yun's orders to abandon the child, it can be said that she saved Zhu Yuhuan's life, but her purpose was only for her daughter Qin Niang, not to pity the child. Such a ruthless mother-in-law, keeping her around would only bring harm to people.

  Chu Xue's heart was never soft, nor was she kind.

  When it was done, Zhu Yucheng didn't have to dirty his hands. The old lady's original words were: "Beat the rich family's ten slaps and drive them out."

  It's strange that the tenth board killed the rich family. It seems that having too many things to worry about is also not good for the old lady.

  After scolding Chegui's family to death, the old lady's anger dissipated again, and she thought of Chegui's usual kindness, sighed for a while, and called Chegui over again. She gave him 50 taels of silver to handle the funeral, and then had Chegui's eldest son summoned from another courtyard. Then, she arranged for Chegui to marry a widow.

  The car was expensive and got a new one, got 50 taels of silver, had both face and inside, naturally did not pursue it, still happily working under the old lady.

  The old lady, after this incident, still trusted some people in certain positions. For example, the warehouse was a very important place and had never had any problems before, so she called Jing'er's mother again and ordered her to guard the warehouse.

  The loss of the warehouse has also come out, and the old lady's personal loss is not great. Some jewelry, precious medicines, and rare medicinal materials were lost inside, but large items such as fabrics, furniture, and even more valuable ones were not taken.

  The old lady didn't care, anyway she didn't report it to the authorities.

  Chu Ke had just finished dealing with Che Gu's family and was now facing the old lady's stubbornness, but instead of relaxing, she became even more tense.

  ……

  Zhu Yi Chen waited until the guards had finished their investigation and the Car family's death was confirmed, then left Beijing early the next morning. After all, Beijing City is under the emperor's feet, and there are too many acquaintances. If someone saw him, the news that he hadn't left but was still staying in the inn would spread to the Chu family, and even if Old Lady Chu didn't suspect him of being involved with the theft and fire, she might suspect him of having a relationship with his cousin Ke Gui, thinking that he couldn't bear to leave, which would be even more troublesome.

  ……

  The excitement of the Chu family is not over yet.

  It's been a month, and Chu Ke'er has paid attention to it, but there is still no news of Chu Yunqing and Chu Yunting. The two seem to have been locked up tightly, without any news at all. Even the marriage with the Duke's mansion has not been finalized yet. Looking at this situation, it seems that this matter has become ordinary, and the servants have nothing to gossip about. Because now the masters of the mansion are holding knives over their heads, everyone is in danger, where do they still have the mood to discuss this matter? However, Chu Ke'er has become more mindful and cautious, fearing that the Duke's mansion will play another trick and implicate them.

  In addition, there is Chu Lao's abacus of intention, she wants to think about destroying it. As a princess who has gone through countless hardships from one life to another, she didn't come here to help that disgusting old woman calculate and plot against her. She won't even give them a good look.

  The servants and maids in the Chu mansion were constantly changing, which made Lady Chu anxious and worried, and quarrels and fights kept happening.

  Chu Xue had already taken control of all the maids around her, and in the past few days, she had ordered them to scatter and keep an eye on the movements within the manor. She didn't have any specific plans, but just wanted to see what would happen inside the manor, hoping to find something that could be used to ruin the reputation of Xue family's eldest son.

  On this day, Qing Guo followed San Guniang's intention and went to Liu Yiniang's side to ask for fruit to eat. Incidentally, she went to Lao Na's side to turn around in a circle. Who would have thought that after a while, she flew back, panting and running into the house, shouting "Niang Niang is not good!"

  Chu Xue now has a bit of a mind that fears the world is not chaotic, and immediately asked with a smile?

  Look at her still smiling, Qing Guo said angrily to Liu Niang... Hong Xiuniang is making trouble over there with Liu Niang.

  Chu Ke suddenly couldn't laugh anymore, 'Teng' stood up and immediately walked out "What's going on?"

  "No, the slave girl went and saw Hongxiu Niang tearing out Liu Niang's hair..."

  Chu Ke's anger suddenly reached its peak, suppressing the old man. Even if it was Chu Gaoshi or Old Lady Chu who personally took action, I wouldn't say anything and just stood by watching with my hands in my sleeves. But can they send Hong Xiu to settle the matter? Who does Hong Xiu think she is?

  She rushed to the gate of Liu's courtyard with a livid face, only to see a group of people fighting together inside, with screams and curses filling the air. The maids were fighting each other, the wives were fighting each other, Hongxiu was pulling out Liu's hair, Liu was forced to tilt her head back, probably because it hurt too much, both hands covering her head and screaming, while Hongxiu continued to scold loudly.

  Chu Kei's sleeves were rolled up, and without thinking, she rushed forward, staring at Hong Xiu's face, and slapped her hard with a loud "slap" sound. Hong Xiu let out a sharp cry, and before she could react, the second slap had already landed, followed by a stinging sensation on her face, and blood started flowing down...

  Hong Xiuniang let out a loud shriek, immediately loosening her grip to touch her face, and indeed felt a face full of blood. She was... killed without ruining her looks, how terrifying! Hong Xiuniang stared at the blood in her hand, letting out a long, sharp scream...

  Chu Ke's nails were pointed downwards, scratching her face, but her own fingernails were also split in two. She didn't care, stretching out her hand to pull the disheveled Liu Niang behind her. Then, she rushed to Hong Xiu Niang's front and shouted, "Who dares to be arrogant?"

  Hong Xiuniang let out a long, sharp cry as she lifted her face to look at her, but was kicked directly in the chest by Chu Keqian's leg. The sharp cry was like a broken zither string, suddenly cut off. Hong Xiuniang fell backwards like a torn sack.

  The maids and servant girls who were fighting had already stopped, and Red Xiuniang's maid servant saw her mistress being kicked and screamed as she helped her up. One of the servant girls rushed in front of Chu Keqian to try something, but Qingguo and Jing'er had already rushed over and shouted "Dare"

  The old woman cowered, the aunt could only be considered half a master, sometimes not even a master, and they were also slaves, but different, a real master she did not dare to touch, given her courage she would not dare.

  Look at Hong Xiu's aunt. (If you like this work, welcome to start point net () subscription, reward, your support is my greatest motivation.)

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