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  Chapter 16: The Cost

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  The old lady leaned back against the cushion, and Madame Meng hurriedly went to pat her chest and back. Jing'er quickly went to pour tea, and after a flurry of activity, the old lady finally caught her breath.

  "We're all dead? Let others say that our girls, we don't go up and beat her? Actually still called the girl to take action herself?" The old lady said with a heavy heart, patting the bedding.

  Jing'er lowered her head and stammered, "Hong Xiuniang brought over a dozen maidservants, and as soon as we went there, we were blocked by the women for quite a while..."

  The old lady was so angry that she leaned back on the cushion, panting heavily. Mr. Meng hurriedly whispered to comfort her, "It's all right, let's just calm down and talk about it slowly..."

  The old lady panted for half a day and asked Jing'er, "Has the young lady been hiding something from you all these days?"

  "Jing'er shook her head and said, 'No... People say that girls are timid, but I think girls are calm and quiet, without many thoughts.'"

  "What about Third Master of the County Prince's Mansion and Fourth Miss... what did she say?"

  "That's all." Jing'er only said this one sentence, and even she showed a completely indifferent expression.

  The old lady looked at her with some suspicion for a while and said, "Is the incense on the door your idea, or was it suggested by someone else?"

  "Jing Er said this was actually what the girl said, but in fact, going up to burn incense was just a casual remark, mainly because she wanted to slip away..."

  This is somewhat consistent with what Mr. Men said at the beginning, and the old lady's doubts have also disappeared. After thinking seriously for a moment, she called Chu Ke to go out and consider the possibility of avoidance.

  Jing'er didn't say a word, nor did she try to persuade her. The old lady was suspicious by nature, and if Jing'er had said another sentence or two, showing that the girl really wanted to go out, who knows, the old lady might have started thinking again.

  After a while, the old lady asked, "Did you girls go out to burn incense and keep an eye on her?"

  "Jing'er looked up and said, 'Madam, I will definitely serve with all my heart and won't make any mistakes.'"

  The old lady nodded and went away."

  Jing'er immediately informed and exited, returning to Chu Ke's side. She reported the old lady's questions one by one to Chu Ke, who nodded in satisfaction, "It seems we're allowed to leave."

  She guessed wrong, the old lady next door had already told the Madame to call San Yatou out and hide for a while.

  Men nodded and asked cautiously whether it was really called San Guniang to burn incense, or stayed with relatives? Or... send it directly to Huaiyuan to live for a while?

  The old lady glared at her and scolded: "You're also getting muddled-headed! What if the Fourth Young Master's matter hadn't been settled? You still haven't had enough of being bullied?"

  Men nodded hastily and said "yes, yes...the Prince's mansion is also too..."

  "Don't mention it," the old lady scowled and shouted immediately.

  Men immediately shut his mouth and didn't dare speak again.

  The old lady furrowed her brow and pondered for a moment, saying "Just have her go burn incense, follow along, and find two capable women to guard San Yutou with Jing'er... coax her a bit, this girl has been bothered enough lately."

  Men was taken aback, unwilling in his heart, and replied slowly.

  The old lady said in a low voice, "I don't feel at ease when others go."

  Men said hastily: "It's a servant who just went to think about it, and who is suitable to take..."

  The old lady hummed in her heart, didn't expose her, closed her eyes and leaned on the pillow to rest, Men Shi frowned and turned her face away, thinking secretly.

  It was originally a good opportunity now, the government is replacing people, and many people outside are seeking her out. The silver sent by Guang just the other day has already exceeded 100 taels. She still wants to take advantage of this opportunity to make a big profit. But if she follows San Guniang, the chance to get rich will be gone...

  The old lady finally spoke up, and she didn't dare to refute it either. Moreover, there shouldn't be any hesitation at all... just now the old lady had already seen that she was unwilling...

  Men was secretly regretting his hesitation just now and grieving for missing this opportunity to make a fortune.

  After the old lady closed her eyes for a while, seemingly asleep, Meng's mother quietly came out and immediately looked for someone to follow along with. She also hastily called over some family members, instructed them on some matters, and took advantage of the chaos in the mansion to gain some benefits, busily rushing about without stopping.

  The next day, Men Shi came to Chu Xue's side and said with a smile that the old lady had agreed to let Chu Xue go out to burn incense, but told her to go to the nunnery where the women of the Chu family often went.

  That nunnery is not within the borders of Chengde, Chu Ke'er hesitated and said "Fourth, isn't that the nunnery we went to... Let's change to another one, does anyone have an insider who can collaborate with us?"

  Men said the door was suddenly stunned, because she did not understand, and told the old lady, the old lady just understood, this reminded the old lady, and quickly sent someone to check that nunnery.

  Men's family chose another nunnery, went to find Chu Kei, Chu Kei still disagreed, smiled and said "That nunnery is too far from home, we don't need to go that far...... what do you think, mom?"

  Men just smiled, the girl disliked the distance, this is not nitpicking, but rather can prove that the girl did not want to go too far...

  "Can only smile and say that the girl is also right."

  "When I was at the Duke's mansion, I heard some noble ladies who were guests at the Duke's mansion say that there is a temple on Qingyun Mountain, which is very efficacious and clean. It only receives people with status to burn incense, and there are no messy people around. It sounds pretty good." Chu Ke smiled and said, "Mom, why don't we send someone to check it out first? If the temple is suitable, then let's go there."

  Men's family also told the old lady, the old lady ordered someone to inquire about Qingyun Mountain, and it was indeed so, and she agreed. She asked them to pack up and leave in two days, and Liu Yiniang followed to take care of San Guniang.

  Two days later, Chu Ke and Liu Niang led seven or eight maidservants, as well as the three women brought by Men Shi, a total of over ten people, set off in carriages towards Qingyun Mountain. Another three women had gone ahead earlier to instruct the nunnery to make preparations.

  The prince's mansion, Zhu Yuhuan finally received the news, Keqi is leading Liu Niang to Qingyun Mountain, overjoyed, hastily packing up, without reporting, brought a guard and rushed to Qingyun Mountain.

  Qingyun Mountain is actually two mountain peaks, this place has a good location, it is situated at the throat of the transportation route from Chengde to the southeast, with talented people and spiritual land, there are mountains and water, so the Feng Shui is also good.

  The An Tang is frequented by many aristocratic families from the capital, and its incense is very prosperous. Often, a whole family will go to stay for a while, eat some vegetarian dishes and pay respects to the Buddha.

  Chu Xue and her party arrived first, reaching the foot of the mountain. They changed to a smaller sedan chair and continued up the mountain, stopping in front of the An Tang Hall. Everyone got out of the sedan chairs.

  Liu Yiniang wore a dress made of green fabric, and among the group of maids, she was unexpectedly inconspicuous. She raised her head to look at the thatched cottage, and her face actually had a solemn expression.

  The nun of the thatched cottage led the crowd into the thatched cottage, bypassing the front hall where people burned incense and worshiped Buddha, and went to the backyard residence first. The aunt who came earlier had already arranged a separate courtyard for them, which was the same as their home, with three main rooms, east and west wing rooms, and a reverse seat room on the south side.

  Chu Ke lived in the room on the east side of the main house, Liu Niang lived on the west side, Jing Er and Qing Guo Bai Guo lived in the east wing, Men Shi lived alone in the west wing, and even squeezed Liu Niang's maid into the inverted seat to sleep with everyone.

  Chu Ke and Liu Yiniang went into the house to rest for a while, then followed the nun to the front to worship Buddha and burn incense, listened to the lecture for a while, and the maidservants cleaned up the yard behind them, taking out what they had used.

  Chu Ke heard for a while and couldn't listen anymore, went to see Liu Niangniang, but listened very seriously. She quietly came out first and prepared to rest in the back.

  Jing'er and Qingguo followed closely behind her, although Mennü didn't need to follow, she also came out. As soon as they walked out of the front hall, Bai Guo reported to the young lady at the door, "What a coincidence! Second Master is also in the An Tang, he just met with the slave servant and wants to see Madam Liu."

  "Chu Ke asked with a soft 'oh', "Where is Second Brother now?""

  "In another grand hall."

  Chu Kei stepped forward and walked to the entrance of the main hall. As expected, she saw someone walking out from that side, and it was indeed Zhu Yi Chen.

  He wore a moon-white long shirt on his slender body, with the same sash that had been brought to him last time still tied around his waist. He was holding an ivory folding fan in his hand, looking leisurely and contented. His face was handsome and radiant under the sunlight, with a hint of a smile playing on his lips, and his eyes were fixed on her all the time.

  Chu Xue saw his gaze and her face flushed slightly. She calmed herself down and greeted her brother-in-law calmly.

  "Cousin." Zhu Yichen smiled as he looked at her, "What a coincidence indeed."

  "What a coincidence! Is your elder brother also here to burn incense?"

  "No, I had an appointment with Huan to go for a spring outing on the nearby mountain. We only arrived today and are staying in this temple. From down the mountain, we saw your family's carriage and heard that Aunt Liu and Cousin were coming to burn incense, so I came to take a look."

  Zhu Yucheng was like a silent book, explaining the ins and outs clearly. Chu Ke'er listened with a secret smile in her heart, seeing that her beautiful lips had opened into a smiling expression. Zhu Yucheng's heart skipped a beat, becoming even more tense, his hand holding the fan sweating...

  "Wait a moment, Aunt Liu is listening to the scriptures, I'll have someone go and invite her."

  "Oh, no hurry, don't disturb the aunt listening to the scriptures... " Zhu Yichen smiled and pointed with his fan, "Has your cousin come here before? Will you walk with your cousin?"

  "This...". Chu Ke'er hesitated for a moment, smiling and shaking her head. "I just arrived, I feel a bit tired."

  Men who followed behind listened vigilantly to the two of them. Upon hearing this, he nodded secretly in his heart, thinking that San Guniang was quite sensible.

  Zhu Yichan sighed and said, "Alright... I'll wait for you in the grand hall on the other side. If Madam Liu finishes listening to the scriptures, have someone come call me."

  "Good." Chu Ke nodded.

  Chu Ke ordered a maid of Liu Niangniang to go to the gate of the main hall and wait, if Niangniang had finished listening to the Buddhist scriptures, then ask her to take a look at Second Master.

  The maid hastily replied.

  Chu Xue and Zhu Yi Zhen bid each other farewell, then turned around to go their separate ways. Madam Meng saw that the two of them were neither too cold nor too warm in their attitude, and Third Miss was very measured in her words and actions, so she nodded to herself in approval and secretly felt at ease.

  Chu Ke Hui returned home and saw a package on the bed. She hastily opened it and found that it contained over ten taels of silver.

  Bai Guo followed behind and came in softly saying "It was just now that the slave saw Second Master, Second Master gave it to her, and told the slave to send it first."

  Chu Ke nodded and went to guard the door.

  The white fruit is gone.

  Chu Ke took out three ingots of fifty taels each, ordered Jing Er to empty the pastry box, put the silver in it, and told Qing Guo to deliver it to Men Shi with a note that said "no jumping words".

  The green fruit nodded.

  Chu Xue was a bit worried and asked with a smile, "What's that? You'd better tell me first?"

  Qing Guo nodded seriously and began to speak, "Mother, this is what our young lady means. Originally, she only wanted to avoid the chaos in the mansion, but didn't expect you to be called here. Now, there are some things that can't be done without you, and some things are still being delayed until you arrive to resolve them. By then, it will surely have caused a lot of trouble for you, old lady. Our young lady really feels apologetic..."

  She said to Jing'er, who stretched out her hand and pushed it away, saying "No, no, no", how can this be? I'm a slave and I listen to the old lady for everything. If the old lady tells me to do something, I dare not push or drag my feet again. Being able to follow the young lady out to play is already making me very happy.

  Qing Guo smiled and said, "That's what I meant to say. After all, it delayed the big thing for our mother-in-law... Cough, you'd better take it, or our girl will be unhappy..."

  Jing'er lowered her voice and dragged out a long tone: "This..."

  "That's right, these are just rumors spread by the servants. Only the young lady and the servant girl know about it... Don't worry, mom, our young lady is now sensible and doesn't dare to think too much. As for the old lady, she doesn't even want anyone to talk to her all the time - it's actually not good if someone does. I just hope that we can get through these chaotic days safely and not be implicated... "

  Jing'er smiled and patted Qing Guo's hand, saying "This has nothing to do with Third Young Miss, this old lady..."

  "Don't be polite, just take care of our girl and let her have a peace of mind"

  "Uh..."

  "Chu Qiao couldn't help but laugh at the sight, clapping her hands and saying 'I think you two are a perfect match, you can even sing a duet together!'"

  Qingguo and Jing'er both laughed, Qingguo hastily took the box and left.

  After a while, he put down his hands and smiled, saying "I've collected them."

  Chu Ke let out a sigh of relief.

  In the evening, when the vegetarian dishes were laid out in the main hall, Liu Niangzi finally heard the noise outside and smiled as she went to greet them, saying "It's still Auntie who is sincere."

  Liu Yiniang listened and seemed to have gained some insight, with a quiet smile on her face, she said softly "Miss's heart is also sincere."

  Chu Ke didn't understand what she meant, raised an eyebrow, and Men Shi understood, whispering behind her, "There are rules here in the Buddha's place."

  Chu Xue understood and smiled faintly, nodding at Men Shi.

  Men also showed a deep and affectionate smile. (If you like this work, welcome to subscribe, reward on Starting Point Website, your support is my greatest motivation.)

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