Now that Cheng Qi has a place to live in the capital, Cheng Hui should live with her brother in the future.
"It's okay, let's eat."
Lu Lingjun sat down and ate with everyone.
During the meal, Cheng Suying, Cheng Binghao and others were chatting and laughing with Lu Lingjun, while Cheng Lanying and Cheng Bingzhi were eating quietly.
The second day.
The General's Mansion.
Cheng Hui stayed in the general's mansion for one night. The next morning, while eating, she sighed, "Brother, it's great to have our own home."
Even in the Marquis' Mansion, Lu Lingjun never treated Cheng Hui badly, but it was not their own home.
How could Cheng Hui not be happy to be able to live in their own home?
She just looked at the empty General's Mansion and said, "Brother, let's go out and buy some things today to decorate the General's Mansion."
Hearing this, Cheng Qi smiled at her lovingly, "Okay, we'll go out after dinner."
At this time, a servant came to report, "General, someone outside handed you a note, inviting you to have tea."
As he spoke, a post was presented.
Cheng Qi took it casually, unfolded it, and saw six big words on the envelope: From Brother Cheng Qi.
Cheng Hui poked her head over and asked, "Brother, who is it?"
Cheng Qi immediately turned the envelope upside down and stuffed it into his sleeve, with an unnatural look on his face, "No one."
"No one is so nervous as you, brother?" Cheng Hui looked at him strangely.
"They are just some irrelevant people." Cheng Qi said perfunctorily.
The more perfunctory he was, the more curious Cheng Hui became.
"Irrelevant? Why would an irrelevant person come to you?" Cheng Hui asked, and then she thought, "Could it be that someone wants to make friends with you, brother?"
"Yes! Some people who want to make friends with me." Cheng Qi nodded seriously.
Hearing this, Cheng Hui let out a long "oh" and didn't ask any more questions.
Cheng Qi then said, "Take Sister Xia with you to go shopping later. I won't go. Just keep the money on account and ask them to come to the mansion to collect it."
Cheng Hui showed displeasure on her face, but she still said considerately, "Okay, brother, you take care of your business first."
After breakfast, Cheng Hui took Xia Mei out to go shopping.
After Cheng Hui left, Cheng Qi opened the letter in his sleeve. After he opened the envelope and read the contents of the letter, he pondered for a long time and said, "Come on, prepare the horses."
At this time, in the market town in the west of the city.
Cheng Hui walked and looked along the way, and if she saw something she liked, she would ask someone to send it to the general's mansion.
"Sister Xia, do you think this is beautiful?" Cheng Hui stopped in front of a porcelain shop, pointing at the large blue and white vase and unable to take her eyes off it.
"Miss, our young lady's shop sells this porcelain vase!" said Sister Xia.
"oh?"
"Our young lady's shop is not far from here, just in front." Sister Xia pointed to the largest grocery store in front.
When Cheng Hui heard this, she immediately changed her target, "Then let's go to my sister-in-law's shop and take a look."
After a while, they arrived at Lu Lingjun's grocery store in the west of the city.
A few years passed, and Lu Lingyun's grocery store became more than three times larger than before. Lu Lingyun's business grew bigger and bigger in recent years. This grocery store alone swallowed up four or five surrounding stores and expanded its scale.
It is obviously the largest shop on this street with the most complete goods.
As soon as Xia Mei entered the grocery store, the woman at the counter looked up and said, "Xia Mei!"
"Sister-in-law!" Xia Mei called out crisply to Zhiran, who was wearing an apron, had her hair in a bun and a striking gold hairpin on her head.
Zhiran is the housekeeper of Lu Lingyun's businesses outside the capital, helping Lu Lingyun manage all the businesses and shops in the capital. She has also gotten married in recent years.
She married Dongsheng.
It can't even be said to be a marriage, it's Dongsheng who married into her family!
When Zhiran reached marriageable age, she was pursued by many families, including a scholar who lived next door. The scholar's mother looked down on Zhiran. After all, Zhiran was a slave, although she was a slave of a wealthy family, but her son was going to take the imperial examination in the future. What was the big deal about marrying a slave of a wealthy family, who was still working in the public eye.
The scholar was very pleased with Zhiran and was determined to redeem her and marry her despite all the pressure. His mother threw a tantrum and spoke ill of Zhiran everywhere, saying that she seduced her son and ruined her reputation.
Zhiran said at that time that she would never marry and didn't care about her poor son!
After Lu Lingjun found out, he was furious and annoyed, and kept scolding Zhiran for being crazy. Why would she waste her life getting angry with that kind of person over such a small matter?
But Zhiran had already made up her mind not to leave Lu Lingjun in this life. If she married someone else, no matter if she married a cat or a dog, she could no longer work for Lu Lingjun like before.
It doesn't matter if it ruins your reputation.
At this time, Dongsheng proposed that he marry Zhiran!
Dongsheng is a few years younger than Zhiran and has no father or mother. He has been working under Zhiran for many years and has always obeyed her orders and followed her arrangements in everything. Now that Zhiran has encountered such a big thing, he said directly that he would marry into Zhiran's family and work for her for the rest of his life.
Lu Lingjun didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He asked the two men separately and found out that they both had the same intention, so he gave them a big party.
On the other hand, after hearing what Zhiran said, the scholar's mother immediately married her son a pure woman whose father had just passed away and who was left with only an old mother at home.
Because that lady's family used to run a school, even though her family members are no longer around, they are still considered a "scholarly family" in her eyes!
But a slave girl like Zhiran can't compare to her!
She just mocked Zhiran for never being able to get married in her life!
But she never imagined that the woman from a "scholarly family" she married was indeed from a "scholarly family", her family was very poor but extremely particular.
She can't lift anything, and needs others to serve her in everything. If things don't go her way, she will fall ill. And her mother is also a sickly woman. When they got married, they said that their family would take care of them for the rest of their lives!
The scholar's mother felt very distressed when she saw the situation she faced after marriage. It was already difficult for her to support a son who was studying for the imperial examinations, and now she had to support two more delicate and favourable masters!
At this time, she saw that Zhiran, whom she looked down upon, was living a better life than before. Her husband, who had married into her family, loved and protected her very much and never asked her to do any work!
Zhiran would often say when she was around that having a son-in-law was a hundred times better than being a slave! She had to thank some people!
The scholar's mother felt uncomfortable after hearing these words.
And after she returned home, she had to face her son's complaining and resentful eyes from time to time, blaming her for ruining his life!
This is how Zhiran got married.
Considering the seniority, Xia Mei has to call her sister-in-law.
"Why are you here? Does the young lady have any arrangements?" Zhiran looked at Xia Mei and Cheng Hui who came over with a smile.
"No," Cheng Hui said, "I'm here to pick out some nice ornaments to decorate my brother's general's mansion."
"It turns out that the Second Master's General's Mansion needs to be decorated," Zhiran looked at Cheng Hui with a smile, "Miss Huihui, please wait, I will ask someone to bring all the best things in our shop to you, you can choose."
"This is a problem for Sister Zhiran."
"Miss Huihui, what are you talking about? I'll take you to have some tea first and ask them to go to the warehouse to get the goods. Once they're ready, you can come back and pick them up."
Cheng Hui listened to this and smiled, "Okay."
"Dongsheng, go and work. Send someone to call me when you're done." Zhiran gave Dongsheng an instruction, then turned around and led Cheng Hui and Xia Mei out of the shop, talking and laughing.
On the way, Zhiran ran into an old lady holding a pile of clothes to be mended. She stopped and said hello, "Oh, Aunt Zhao has taken on a lot of work again. It's really hard work. You still have to work at such an old age."
When Aunt Zhao heard what Zhiran said, her old eyebrows immediately raised, her wrinkled face flushed red, and she glared at Zhiran, "That can't be compared to you, you will be a slave all your life!"
Zhiran snorted, "Aunt Zhao, you are right. I, a servant, have to take my master to have tea. Unlike you, you work for the whole family. There are several people in the family, and even my mother-in-law has to rely on you to take care of her!"
Seeing that Aunt Zhao was about to lose her temper, Zhiran quickly said, "Okay, okay, I won't disturb you from working. I have to accompany the master for tea, and then I have to accompany the master to select goods!"
After saying that, Zhiran took Cheng Hui and Xia Mei and continued to move forward.
Aunt Zhao was furious when she saw Zhiran leading people to have tea. She spat and yelled in the street, "What are you so proud of? In the end, you are still just a lowly slave! We are commoners! You will never be able to compare to us in your life!"
She cursed like this, asking Cheng Hui and Xia Mei in the front to listen.
"Sister-in-law, why don't you tell her that the young lady has already released you from slavery and you have been a commoner for a long time." Sister Xia said.
"Tsk, I won't tell her." Zhiran glanced at the jumping Aunt Zhao, "The more she does this, the angrier she gets. Look at me, a servant, enjoying a good life, while her family is an honest family, and the innocent ones can't even afford to eat!"
There was a bad look in Zhiran's eyes.
Some people act very high and mighty, thinking they are just commoners. When they see slaves, they feel superior and look down on them.
The more she looks down on me, the more she will see that I eat and drink better than her all day long. She can even curse me in front of others, but she will be so angry behind their backs.
As expected, after Aunt Zhao jumped up and down and cursed in the street, she felt even more aggrieved.
Oh, oh, oh! How come Zhiran, that lowly servant, gets to eat and drink the best food all day long, while this servant of a wealthy family also gets such good treatment, relying on the master's help, and living a good life.
If her son had hired her, maybe it would have brought some honor to their family...
At least I don't have to worry about food and drink...
The more Aunt Zhao thought about it, the more aggrieved she felt. When she returned home, she saw her delicate daughter-in-law reading a book in the yard. Seeing this, she became even angrier.
How could their family marry such a daughter-in-law who can't do anything and only knows how to enjoy herself!
This girl from a "scholarly family" is really good-looking but useless. If you think about it carefully, she is not as good as that cheap girl Zhiran.
That girl runs such a big shop, she is very efficient and can handle all kinds of work. Looking at her physique, she can plow three miles of fields by herself in the countryside. She can do all the chores around the house, such as washing clothes, sewing, cooking and cleaning. Why does she need to be an old woman and still do these things at her age?
After comparing them secretly, Aunt Zhao felt uncomfortable.
At this time, her daughter-in-law said, "Mom."
"What's wrong?"
"My mother has finished her medicine today, you have to buy some more!" said the daughter-in-law tenderly.
When Aunt Zhao heard this, she really wanted to give up and couldn't help complaining, "How come it's gone? I remember I just bought it a few days ago."
As soon as she finished her dissatisfied voice, she heard a cry of "Xizi holding her heart". Her daughter-in-law covered her chest and said, "Oh, why do I feel depressed again?"
Seeing this, Aunt Zhao dared not to disobey her, "Okay, okay, I'll go buy the medicine right away!"
I really married a great ancestor!
Not only do you have to support your daughter-in-law, but you also have to support her mother.
She would feel unwell if things didn't go her way, and her daughter-in-law would fall ill too. How could she dare not agree?
As for divorcing this daughter-in-law and marrying another one, not to mention that their family does not have the money, when he proposed to marry her, she promised in front of all the neighbors to take care of them. If they divorced her and kicked her out, their family would have no place to live in this alley.
No matter how reluctant Aunt Zhao was, she had to swallow it. She quickly put down her clothes and took the little money she had at home to buy medicine for her mother-in-law.
There are a lot of people in the clinic.
The west of the city is full of ordinary people, and the medical clinic here is doing good business.
As soon as Aunt Zhao entered the store, a familiar apprentice greeted her, "Aunt Zhao, you're here to get medicine for your in-laws again!"
"Yes." Aunt Zhao's face was dark. "Let's start with three...one pair."
Buy them one by one, eat them one by one, why buy all that!
"Okay, right away!"
Just then, an old woman who was dressed much more luxuriously than the common people in the west of the city came in.
She was over fifty years old, with a very dignified face. The front of her clothes had two embroidered silk patches, and it was obvious from her attire that she was not an ordinary person.
She exuded an aura of majesty without even getting angry, very much like the maids that followed the masters of wealthy families.
Aunt Zhao recognized it at a glance because she had seen her master Zhiran twice. When she came, she rode in a carriage, and when she got off, she was surrounded by a large group of maids and nannies.
At first glance, this man looks just like the servant beside Master Zhiran.
Because of this, she couldn't help but take a closer look, and then she heard the man take out a prescription from his pocket and said, "Get the medicine according to this, quickly."
She looked at the medicine boy with great majesty, and her words were orders.
The medicine boy took the prescription carefully and asked, "How many doses do you want?"
"One is enough."
"Okay, wait a moment."
The medicine boy lowered his head in a flattering manner and turned around to get the medicine.
At this time, the nanny felt that Aunt Zhao had been looking at her, so she turned her head and glanced at her.
Aunt Zhao turned her head away immediately, "Are you done? I still have something to do later!"
"Right away, right away."
Seeing that it was just an ordinary old woman, Nanny Qin withdrew her gaze.
After a short while, two doses of medicine were prepared at the pharmacy counter.
Aunt Zhao was anxious to go back and mend her clothes. "Which one is mine? I'm in a hurry to go back."
As soon as she finished speaking, Nanny Qin spoke majestically, "Give me my medicine first!"
She was very imposing and immediately suppressed Aunt Zhao and the servant. The servant hurried to sort them out, "Grandma, this is yours."
"Give me the prescription too!" Nanny Qin ordered him loudly.
After she shouted at him, the servant became flustered and the prescription fell under the medicine cabinet.
"How do you do things!" Nanny Qin asked harshly.
"Grandma, it's okay, it's okay." The servant hurriedly bent down to pick up the medicine. When he looked up again, he looked at the two packets of medicine on the counter. He hurriedly handed one of the packets to Madam Qin along with the prescription.
Nanny Qin took the things and checked the prescription. Then she snorted coldly, "You are not allowed to steal the medicine in this prescription!"
"Grandma, how can we remember it in just a short time? And we don't even know what the medicine is. How can we imitate him..."
The medicine boy was speechless, and when he was glared at by Nanny Qin, he immediately shut his mouth.
Nanny Qin casually threw a dime of loose silver and quickly left with the medicine.
After she left, Aunt Zhao walked to the counter. The pharmacist handed her medicine to Aunt Zhao, and then couldn't help but curl his lips at her, obviously disgusted with the bossy nanny, "She also said that we are not allowed to steal her medicine. We don't even know what her crappy prescription is, what's there to steal! Right!"
Aunt Zhao nodded and said, "All slaves are like this. They are lackeys all their lives and cannot be seen in public!"
The medicine boy used the small change given by Nanny Qin to cushion the pain: "..."
Whether he is a lackey or not is not up to debate for now, but he is not so unpresentable as to be unworthy of the public, right?
He watched Aunt Zhao count out the copper coins from her body one by one. While he was counting, Aunt Zhao quickly left with the medicine.
"That's not right, Aunt Zhao, you're one cent short!"
"I'll owe you the money today and talk about it next time." said Aunt Zhao who had already walked out.
Medicine boy: "…"
Bah, I don't know who is not worthy of being on the stage!
The east courtyard of the Marquis's Mansion.
In a small pavilion in the inner courtyard, a pretty woman in a lotus pink long dress was sitting there.
While she was waiting, Nanny Qin came over with medicine.
"How is it? Is it done? No one found out, right?" the woman asked.
"Miss, don't worry. I went to the common people's clinic in the west of the city to get this medicine. No one recognizes me."
Qin Shaojing took a look at the medicine he grabbed and said, "That's good."
"Then Master Cheng hasn't come yet?"
"No hurry, go and boil the medicine and add it to the tea."
"yes."
After Nanny Qin had boiled the medicine and waited for a while, the sound of horse hooves was heard outside the east courtyard.
When Qin Shaojing heard the sound of horse hooves, a smile appeared on his face.
After a while, a tall and dignified man walked in with his servants.
"Brother Cheng Qi." As soon as Qin Shaojing saw him, he stood up with a smile on his face and walked forward to greet him.
"What's wrong?" Cheng Qi frowned, his face showing deliberate coldness and indifference.
Qin Shaojing looked at his aloof appearance and hummed in his heart, pretend, pretend for her as much as possible!
If he really wanted to keep his distance from her, why would he come here today!
"Brother Cheng Qi," Qin Shaojing lowered his eyes slightly at this time, "Have you really lived well these years?"
"Yeah, okay."
"As long as you're doing well." Qin Shaojing suddenly stopped talking, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were full of brokenness and hurt.
How could one not feel sorry for her in this state! No need to investigate!
Cheng Qi frowned, "What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing." Qin Shaojing turned around and walked back.
Cheng Qi asked quickly, "You were like this yesterday, did something happen to you?"
Qin Shaojing waved his hands hurriedly, "No, no, Liu Ye treats me very well."
Hearing her say this, Cheng Qi immediately flew into a rage, "It really is that Liu Ye! That bastard promised me that he would never bully you in this life! I'm going to find him!"
"Brother Cheng Qi!" Qin Shaojing shouted urgently, stopping him from leaving.
"Shao Jing, don't worry, I will definitely seek justice for you."
"What use is that kind of justice to me? I was a fallen woman to begin with. I was so... so unbearable when I married into the family."
Cheng Qi immediately said, "You were framed! And you asked that bastard to force you!"
Qin Shaojing was so happy to hear this, her eyes became more weak and helpless, "Brother Cheng Qi, don't mention the past. I don't know why someone in the Duke Zhao's Mansion would target me like that. Maybe I did a lot of wrong things, so people always hate me..."
Until now, Qin Shaojing has always said to the outside world that someone framed her and drugged her at Tong Nanxia's wedding banquet.
As for who drugged her, it could be anyone. After all, she had offended many people in the past...
"Shao Jing! You have never done anything wrong!" Cheng Qi quickly said for her, "You were kind-hearted when you worshipped Master Miaoyin in this courtyard. You didn't even know she was a liar. You just wanted to share good things with those noble ladies. You didn't take their money, and you didn't ask them to do anything. Why would they blame you for harming you?"
Qin Shaojing listened to Cheng Qi's active defense for her, and laughed even more in his heart, "But they don't know."
"They can't harm you like that if they don't know! If I find out who poisoned you, I will make her pay!" Cheng Qi clenched his fists, his eyes full of hatred.
"Brother Cheng Qi, I don't want you to be like this." Qin Shaojing looked at him worriedly, "Forget it, these are my lives, as long as you live well, I'm fine."
"Shao Jing, you are so kind that you are taken advantage of!"
Cheng Qi was getting more and more angry, "That Liu Ye is such a bastard, he married a good woman like you, but he still doesn't cherish her, I must give him an explanation!"
Seeing that he had completely revealed his feelings, Qin Shaojing knew that it was time to take the final step.
She knew that Cheng Qi definitely couldn't let her go.
But at the same time, Qin Shaojing also knew that her current identity as a married woman would make it difficult for Cheng Qi to overcome this step.
He could speak up for her, but that was in the name of brother and sister. However, what she wanted was not just brother and sister.
What she wants is for him to completely fall under her spell...
"Brother Cheng Qi, you treat Shao Jing like this, which only makes Shao Jing feel guilty. I invited you here today just to chat with you," Qin Shao Jing walked to his tea table and picked up a cup of tea. "Shao Jing is already satisfied enough that you can chat with me."
Cheng Qi saw the teacup handed to him by Qin Shaojing and took it and drank it without hesitation.
When Qin Shaojing saw Cheng Qi drink the cup of tea, her eyes were filled with joy and happiness, and her face looked even more pitiful. She led Cheng Qi to sit down and continued to complain to him with a sob.
Since ancient times, men have had a desire to rescue beautiful women, especially those in distress.
Cheng Qi felt angry and anxious when he heard that Qin Shaojing had been bullied by her parents-in-law, her husband had cheated on her, her servants were disrespectful, her sisters-in-law were fighting with each other, and the East and West Courts were constantly scheming against each other in Duke Liu's mansion over the years.
Of course, the dirty things Qin Shaojing did were something he would never tell him.
With each cup of tea and each word of bitterness, Cheng Qi's brows became more and more furrowed, and his stomach became more and more tight.
"The Liu family is really going too far!" Cheng Qi slammed the table and stood up, his brows furrowed, his facial muscles tense, and his hands trembling on the table. In addition to being very angry when he heard about Qin Shaojing's experience, he seemed to be suppressing something.
Seeing him like this, Qin Shaojing raised his eyebrows slightly, "Brother Cheng Qi, I am very satisfied that you care about me in this world. The only regret I have now is that I was ambushed twice in a row, lost my virginity to Liu Ye, and missed you."
She looked at Cheng Qi with affection in her eyes, looking at him with an ambiguous yet passionate gaze.
"Brother Cheng Qi, do you think Shao Jing is dirty..."
"Sister Shaojing." Cheng Qi interrupted her abruptly. His whole body became tenser and tenser, his abdomen became more and more unbearable, and the suppressed and endured look on his face was seen by Qin Shaojing.
Qin Shaojing couldn't help but clench his palms. He was about to stand up and fall into his arms when he heard Cheng Qi speak.
"I'm not feeling well. I'm going to the bathroom first and will come back later."
After saying that, Cheng Qi turned and fled.
Qin Shaojing: "..."
Cheng Qi ran away.
Once you run away, you'll never come back.
Qin Shaojing waited longer and longer, and the more he waited, the more puzzled he felt. "What's going on? Go and see if the person is still there!"
She gave him the most powerful aphrodisiac. How could Cheng Qi go to the toilet at this critical moment!
Still that long!
Maybe he ran away and something went wrong, or maybe he solved it by hiding himself.
This won't do!
After a while, the servants came to report.
"Miss, the Second Master is still in the toilet."
Qin Shaojing: "..."
She couldn't help but cover her nose, feeling extremely unlucky for a moment, "What's going on!"
She slapped the table hard, and the teacup on the table shook.
Looking at Cheng Qi's cup of tea, because of the failed experience a few years ago, she would not take any medicine randomly now.
Just use it on Cheng Qi.
But now...she stared at the cup of tea she had added something to, "Madame Qin, you put the right thing in, didn't you?"
"There's no mistake. I caught it right from the clinic and cooked it right away. It didn't go through anyone else's hands during the entire process." Nanny Qin said.
Nowadays, they are more careful in doing things, for fear that there will be too many people involved and something might go wrong.
She was personally watching over this medicine.
"That doesn't make sense." Qin Shaojing picked up the tea that Cheng Qi had drunk, took a close look at the color of the tea, then pulled his personal maid over and poured the tea into her mouth.
The personal maid was suddenly forced to drink a mouthful of tea. She was so scared that she struggled to spit it out, but unfortunately, most of the tea went into her mouth.
After being released, she knelt on the ground and coughed violently, "Miss..."
Qin Shaojing glanced at her coldly, "Don't spit it out! I'm not going to kill you!"
When the personal maid heard this, her heart sank.
She was born in the Duke Qin's Mansion and had followed Qin Shaojing since she was a child. Although her status was not as high as Nanny Qin's, she had followed her for so many years and was very diligent to her!
But now...
After a while, the maid suddenly frowned and her lower body reacted.
"Miss, your servant..."
"How are you..." Qin Shaojing's eyes lit up.
"I want to go to the toilet!" The maid tried hard to suppress the discomfort in her abdomen, but she was no match for Cheng Qi, who had been on the battlefield and had a strong endurance. Immediately, an unbearable force came from her lower abdomen.
With a puff, she rolled and crawled out without waiting for Qin Shaojing to agree to her.
Only the people at the scene were left smelling the smell.
"That dead girl doesn't want to live anymore. What does she eat that smells so bad..." Nanny Qin couldn't help but scold.
After she finished speaking, she heard Qin Shaojing say, "Madame Qin, are you sure you didn't make a mistake with this medicine?"
At this time, west of the city.
In the streets.
Zhiran came back with Cheng Hui and Xia Mei after having tea. As soon as she returned to the street where the shop was, she heard loud crying and arguing coming from the clinic in front of her.
"What the hell are you doing! My mother-in-law took the medicine your clinic gave her and she died!"
"Pay your life, you must pay your life!"
Zhiran listened to the familiar voice and went in to take a look, and saw Aunt Zhao leading a large group of neighbors carrying a person to the door of the clinic.
The pharmacist in the clinic was being pulled and torn apart by the two of them, and was sweating profusely in anxiety.
"No, I just prescribed the medicine according to your previous prescription. There is no way it can be wrong!"
"My mother-in-law has had indigestion for years and her intestines are weak, so she relied on that medicine to relieve constipation and promote blood circulation. What kind of medicine did you give my mother-in-law this time? After taking it, her whole body became hot and she kept screaming. She died soon after!"
Aunt Zhao took today's medicine back home and cooked it for her mother-in-law who was very cold-faced as usual.
After cooking, I sent it to her to drink. Her mother-in-law ate too much good food when she was young, and her intestines couldn't digest it, so she relied on taking some medicine every now and then to relieve the symptoms. But she never thought that not long after drinking the medicine today, she started howling like crazy in the house.
The howling sound made her face turn red, she was so embarrassed!
The neighbors all heard it and came to see what was happening. Aunt Zhao had no choice but to go to her mother-in-law's room to see what was wrong with her. It turned out that her mother-in-law was red all over and felt hot all over.
She hurriedly called people in, but before they could send the person to the clinic, the person died while howling!
"It's the medicine you usually take!"
"Nonsense!" At this time, a weak woman rushed in from behind the crowd, holding a jar of medicine residue in her hand, and smashed it in front of the medicine boy, "Look, this is the medicine my mother usually takes!"
The medicine boy looked at the broken medicine residue in front of him and knelt on the ground to examine it. The more he examined it, the wider his eyes widened. "This, this, this... this is definitely not a medicine for relieving constipation. It's a yang-boosting... an aphrodisiac."
"I don't have this kind of dirty medicine at home! How can your clinic give this medicine to my mother!" Aunt Zhao's daughter-in-law cried loudly.
The medicine boy then realized that he had taken the wrong medicine from the noble nanny!
He quickly looked at Aunt Zhao, "Aunt Zhao, you got the wrong one! This aphrodisiac belongs to the nanny of that rich family. Aunt Zhao, you have an impression of her, right?"
"I don't care what medicine that maid gave to their master! Anyway, you took the wrong medicine and killed my mother-in-law. You have to pay compensation!"
"No! I want you to pay with your lives! You have such a vicious heart. You let my mother take aphrodisiacs at such an old age. You have to pay with my mother's life!"
Aunt Zhao and her daughter-in-law cried and shouted, forcing the medicine boy to pay compensation and his life.
In the crowd, a man who looked like a scholar watched this scene and couldn't help but shrink back. At this time, he met the gaze of Zhiran opposite him, and suddenly felt even more embarrassed. He felt it was ugly and shameful, so he turned around and left.
Zhiran saw his huddled back and was too lazy to watch the scene outside. "Let's go."
"All right."
Xia Mei responded. On the way, she couldn't help but ask, "Sister-in-law, who do you think bought the aphrodisiac? Why do they say it's a nanny from a wealthy family?"
"How would I know? But you also heard that it was that dirty medicine. Those wealthy families always buy this kind of medicine. If they buy it in familiar clinics and drugstores outside, people will know about it immediately. They come to the West City Clinic to buy it, aren't they afraid of being recognized?" Zhiran said with a look of seeing through.
She has been working outside for many years and has seen everything.
Just like her grocery store in the west of the city, there were also some nobles who brought people to buy some good goods, and most of those people were concubines or temporary mistresses.
There are so many things happening in the west of the city!
Xia Mei said "oh" in understanding.
Soon, they returned to the shop.
Dongsheng had picked out all the good items in the warehouse in the backyard early in the morning and let Cheng Hui choose.
When Cheng Hui saw a pile of exquisite porcelain jars, bowls and plates of various colors, she picked out a lot of them at once and had Dongsheng deliver them all to the General's Mansion of Zhenjun.
As for silver and money.
"I asked our young lady about these things, and she said they are all family members and don't count silver."
Dongsheng was very capable. When he saw that it was Cheng Hui who came to buy things, he picked out the things and went to the Marquis' Mansion to ask Lu Lingjun.
When Lu Lingjun heard that it was Cheng Hui who bought it for the General's Mansion, he waved his hand and said he would give it to them.
After all, Cheng Qi had sent the marquis's body to Guangji Temple and helped to cover up for her in front of the emperor. She was indebted to him. Besides, Cheng Qi's surname was Cheng, so he was half a relative. There might be a need for Cheng Qi's help in the future. So Lu Lingjun just gave away these small amounts of money.
Cheng Hui heard this and said, "Sister-in-law, you are so polite. I will definitely tell my brother that I will go and thank you in person."
"Miss Huihui is very polite." Dongsheng and Zhiran said to her with a smile.
After saying that, Cheng Hui took Xia Mei back to the general's mansion.
Not long after she returned, all the things were delivered, and Cheng Hui directed people to put the items in place.
When everything was almost ready, Cheng Qi came back.
"elder brother!"
Cheng Qi's face turned pale at this moment, and he looked a little exhausted. "Hui Hui."
"What's wrong with you?" Cheng Hui saw him like this, "Are you feeling unwell?"
"It's nothing, just some intestinal discomfort." Cheng Qi said.
How could he have thought that he would have diarrhea for almost a whole day when he went to the East Courtyard to meet Qin Shaojing!
When I finally came back on horseback, my calves were sore.
Thinking about it again, I feel ashamed.
Cheng Hui didn't think much after hearing this. She pulled Cheng Qi into the house and said, "Look, are the things I picked today good looking?"
Cheng Qi saw that the originally empty house and courtyard were decorated with many screens and porcelains. It immediately looked much better. "Well, not bad."
"These were picked out from my sister-in-law's shop. She confiscated our money and said she was giving them to us as gifts," said Cheng Hui.
Cheng Qi heard this and said, "How can this be possible?"
"That's what I said. Let's go to the Marquis' Mansion tomorrow to thank my sister-in-law."
"Yeah, okay."
Cheng Qi nodded.
It should be like this.
The next day, at Ningyang Marquis' Mansion.
Lu Lingjun was in his own courtyard, taking care of the affairs of the Marquis' Mansion bit by bit, and putting the mansion back on track.
The first thing to be affected is not the trivial matters of the farm shops or the mansion, but the maintenance of the relationship network of the mansion.
The miscellaneous chores and even the household affairs within the Marquis' Mansion can be delegated to the subordinates. Those are all trivial matters. Interpersonal relationships and maintaining a network of relationships are the most important and necessary things for the head of the family.
Cheng Yunshuo became a monk and Lu Lingjun took charge. The core seemed to remain unchanged, but it was equivalent to having a new owner. Now Lu Lingjun was the one in charge, both openly and secretly, and she had to personally re-establish the network of relationships associated with the Marquis' Mansion.
Ask everyone to recognize each other. The only person who will have dealings with the Ningyang Marquis Mansion in the future is Lu Lingjun.
Lu Lingjun is now the real master of the Marquis' Mansion.
When she was dealing with interpersonal matters in the Marquis' Mansion, the maids came to report that Cheng Hui and Cheng Qi had arrived.
Hearing this, Lu Lingjun put all these things aside for the time being.
Well, in terms of interpersonal relationships, Cheng Qi's family is already considered a very important family in the Marquis' Mansion.
"Second Uncle, Huihui, you are here." Lu Lingjun looked at them with a smile.
"Sister-in-law." Cheng Hui ran to her side with a smile, very intimate, "Where is Siying?"
"Xiying is in her grandmother's home, and she has been taking care of her these days."
"Xiying is filial." Cheng Hui sat next to Lu Lingjun naturally and intimately, then turned to her brother and said, "Brother, please sit down."
Seeing this, Cheng Qi greeted Lu Lingyun first, "Hello sister-in-law, thank you for your hard work these days."
Lu Lingjun smiled and said, "What did Second Uncle say? Come and sit down."
"Sister-in-law, the things you gave us yesterday were too valuable!" Cheng Hui said.
"You're being so polite again," Lu Lingjun tapped her forehead, "We are all family."
Seeing how close the two of them were, Cheng Qi could tell that Lu Lingjun was really good to his sister when he was away. "Sister-in-law, Huihui has been taken care of by you for so many years. Cheng Qi is really grateful. What you have done for us siblings is beyond Cheng Qi's ability to repay you."
When Lu Lingjun heard this, he smiled even happier, "Second Uncle, you are being too polite. We are a family and we don't talk behind each other's backs. You have seen the current situation in the Marquis' Mansion. Maybe you will need Second Uncle's help in the future."
"Of course." Cheng Qi said without hesitation.
Lu Lingjun was so good to him, what else could he say?
If he doesn't help when something happens, he's not a human being!
Seeing this, Cheng Hui smiled and felt very comfortable. She chatted with Lu Lingyun and her brother and talked about what happened yesterday. "I heard that a strange thing happened yesterday."
"What's so strange?"
"When I was selecting things in your shop, I came across a murder case. The drugstore on that street gave the wrong medicine to someone, and an old woman died from it! Can you guess what medicine the drugstore gave the old woman?"
"What medicine?" Cheng Qi asked.
Cheng Hui looked at the two of them and whispered, "It's an aphrodisiac!"
As soon as Cheng Hui finished speaking, she asked Cheng Qi to knock on the head.
"You are a grown-up girl, aren't you ashamed to listen to this kind of stuff?"
Cheng Hui immediately held her head and said, "I didn't want to hear that. I saw it happen. The pharmacist in the clinic packed the wrong medicine. He said that he took the wrong medicine that a nanny from a wealthy family secretly prepared outside! Do you know what medicine the old lady was originally taking?"
"You still say that." Cheng Qi glared at her.
Cheng Qi didn't allow her to say it, but she insisted. Cheng Hui turned to look at Lu Lingyun, "It's a laxative!"
After she said this, Lu Lingjun burst out laughing.
Cheng Qi is not Cheng Hui. He has lived with Lu Lingjun for so many years and there is no barrier in their conversation. He says whatever he wants and says it is fun if it is fun. Cheng Qi just feels helpless.
He looked at the two people who were laughing and didn't blame them for the moment, then he heard Cheng Hui continue.
"Alas, that old lady has been suffering from indigestion for years, and has to take laxatives every now and then to relieve constipation. I don't know which rich family got the wrong medicine. Today was supposed to be a romantic night, but now she's going to have diarrhea for the whole day!"
Cheng Qi laughed along, but suddenly he couldn't laugh anymore.
After Cheng Qi and Cheng Hui left the Marquis' Mansion, Cheng Hui asked on the way, "By the way, brother, where did you go today? Who invited you?"
"nothing."
"Will you go shopping with me tomorrow? We have never been around the capital together."
"OK."
Cheng Qi agreed readily.
But when he went out the next day, Cheng Qi received another invitation.
After the invitation came, Cheng Qi interrupted Cheng Hui's shopping and asked her to go out and play alone.
Upon hearing this, Cheng Hui turned around and went straight back to Ningyang Marquis Mansion.
In Lu Lingyun's yard, Lu Lingyun saw Cheng Hui who came alone today.
"Why are you here alone today? Where is your brother?"
"Sister-in-law, please stop talking," Cheng Hui said with a slightly dissatisfied look on her face, "My brother has been busy these days! Every day someone comes to see him and invites him to play, and he breaks my promise every day."
Lu Lingjun glanced at her and said with a smile, "Your brother is now also a new noble in the court, so naturally there are many people who want to make friends with him."
"Why would we make friends with those people who curry favor with the powerful?" Cheng Hui curled her lips.
In fact, she and her brother have experienced the warmth and coldness of human nature.
The two of them had originally fled from the border to escape famine. They suffered from hunger and cold along the way. When they arrived in the capital, they took refuge in the Ningyang Marquis' Mansion, which was where they finally had a place to stay.
But at the same time, it was precisely because she was in the Marquis' Mansion that she felt more strongly the fawning looks of some people.
Take Qin Shaojing for example.
Ever since she and her brother entered the Marquis's Mansion, she had never looked at them straight in the eye.
Now that their lives are better, even if someone comes to her, she just thinks these people are boring.
It would be better to follow Lu Lingjun and interact with her.
She is the only person who has been truly kind to them over the years.
"You're not right. It's hard to help someone in times of crisis, but it's also a good thing to add icing on the cake." Lu Lingjun poked her head and reminded her, "Your brother is very popular now. If more people come to make friends with him, it will be convenient for him to do anything in the future. This is also one of your strengths."
Cheng Hui snorted again, "Sister-in-law, you also said that these are just icing on the cake. Will these people save our lives when we are in trouble? No way, most of them are lucky enough not to step on us when we are down! If we really get into trouble, all these icing on the cake will be gone! What's the point of them!"
Lu Lingjun listened to her and laughed, "Who told you that this is how to use icing on the cake?"
"oh?"
"It is true that once a family encounters a major event, its original network of relationships will be cut off at the first opportunity to avoid being implicated. As you said, there are also those who step on others and bite back. However, when it comes to this point, you cannot blame them, but yourself." Lu Lingjun looked at her.
"The flowers added to the icing on the cake are like adding several layers of protection to the family tree. When a rainstorm hits, these flowers will give early warnings and even weaken the power of the rainstorm and strong winds. At this time, the family will be much weaker when facing the wind and rain. When our interpersonal relationships are well maintained, the big family will hold hands with each other and fight together."
"Expanding these connections and getting to know other forces will increase your ability to deal with risks, rather than trying to ask a vine to pull you up completely when you are completely down and out."
"If you fall completely, no one will be able to help you up. Anyone who tries to help you will drag themselves down with you. They will naturally cut ties with you. When that happens, you won't be able to blame others."
Cheng Hui suddenly understood after listening to Lu Lingjun's words, "Sister-in-law, I understand. It turns out that the big families are intertwined and connected to each other. This is to deal with the crisis in the early stage and improve the ability to fight against danger, not to expect them to fall down and save themselves in the end."
Lu Lingjun smiled and nodded, "Yes, they can only help you when the tree falls. Even with the help of layers of relationships, it can still fall. That means all the brocade flowers that embellished it have been used up. If others don't help you escape at this time, you can't blame the heavens or others, you can only blame yourself."
Lu Lingjun didn't expect anyone to send her charcoal in the snow. When the time came, the charcoal sent would be just a drop in the bucket. She had to make arrangements in advance and build up more personal connections. Only in this way could she give herself multiple protections and get through the difficulties.
No matter what time, you must always rely on yourself, you are the core.
Never rely on external forces or complain about the unfairness of nature.
Cheng Hui nodded repeatedly. She had learned a lot from Lu Lingjun today.
She thought over and over again, "Sister-in-law, we haven't seen Sister Tong and Sister Liu for a long time, why don't we go see them?"
When Lu Lingjun heard Cheng Hui's words, she nodded with appreciation.
Cheng Hui was a smart girl who learned things very quickly. Now she understood why these women in the family would get together from time to time to drink tea.
That is the vine that protects the relationship between them. If anything happens, they will face it together in advance.
"Okay, I just happened to be going to Nan Yuan's place today, and I invited Nan Xia and Qing Ping, so let's go together."
"Yeah, okay."
Lu Lingjun took Cheng Hui to Lu Kuan's house by car.
When they arrived, everyone was already there.
After hearing what Lu Lingjun said, Cheng Huiyin was much more enthusiastic when she saw them, and she stepped forward to greet them actively.
"Sister Nanyuan, Sister Nanxia, Sister Qingping, Sister Qingshuang."
"Oh, why do I feel Huihui is much more lively today?" Liu Qingping was the first to respond.
Liu Qingshuang said, "Needless to say, Mr. Cheng has returned with honors, and my brother is back, so he will naturally be lively!"
Tong Nanxia and Tong Nanyuan looked at Cheng Hui with a smile, "Come and sit down."
Cheng Hui followed Lu Lingjun and sat among the crowd.
Everyone first asked Cheng Hui how her brother was doing now, and Cheng Hui answered one by one.
She said that he was busy with social events every day and had no time to take care of her.
Everyone was talking at once, saying that Mr. Cheng was currently in the limelight and was naturally busy, and told her not to take it to heart.
Cheng Hui nodded obediently.
After talking about Cheng Qi, everyone asked Lu Lingjun about the current situation of Ningyang Marquis Mansion and whether there was anything they could help with. Lu Lingjun looked at them with a smile and told them to keep their energy to themselves because they would definitely need their help in the future.
The core of the Marquis's current network of relationships is Lu Lingjun's family.
The Liu family, the Lu family, the Tong family, and even the Duke Zhao's Mansion.
In addition, there are Duke Xu's Mansion and General Wang's Mansion.
As for some scattered people outside who had good relations with the Marquis' Mansion before, such as Qin, who was familiar with the old Marquis, Lu Lingjun did not inherit much.
She has to develop slowly, and similarly, the prerequisite for development is still to stabilize her own basic foundation first.
As everyone chatted, Liu Qingshuang talked about her sister-in-law again, "By the way, I have some good news!"
"What good news?" Everyone looked at her.
"My elder sister-in-law is pregnant!" Liu Qingshuang said happily.
When everyone heard this, their eyes lit up and they said, "Congratulations!"
"Then your elder sister-in-law is the hope of Duke Liu's mansion!"
Liu Qingshuang smiled and said, "That's not certain. My eldest sister-in-law's sister-in-law is also pregnant. I don't know who will give birth to a son by then!"
"Oh my god," Liu Qingping exclaimed, "Isn't it that the eldest branch of Duke Liu's mansion is pregnant with two children?"
When Cheng Hui heard about what happened at Duke Liu's mansion, she asked with great interest, "Does that mean Qin Shaojing has no hope?"
Liu Qingshuang nodded, "The first wife has two pregnant women at the same time, so it is very likely that they will give birth to sons. No matter who gives birth to the prince, the title of Duke will belong to the first wife, and Qin from the second wife will basically have no hope."
"Then she must be smashing bowls and pots in the house right now!" When Cheng Hui heard that Qin Shaojing's plan had failed, she was filled with anger.
Liu Qingshuang said at this time, "That's true. My eldest sister-in-law said that the second room often breaks pots and pans. Some time ago, Liu Er even brought a woman back from outside and made love with her in Qin's room, which made her very angry."
"Oh my god!" Tong Nanyuan couldn't believe it when she heard this. "Can Miss Qin tolerate this? I remember she was very arrogant before."
Tong Nanyuan and the others have all had contact with Qin Shaojing.
Qin Shaojing had only met a few times before, and she always acted like the eldest daughter of a Duke's mansion.
"I'm also wondering, what's wrong with Qin now?" Liu Qingshuang frowned, "Liu Er insulted her again and again, but she didn't make a fuss. I only heard that she was angry in the house."
"Sister Qingshuang, didn't you say before that she had an affair with someone and asked her husband to catch her on the spot?" Cheng Hui said, "She has evidence against her. She can't be considered clean, so there is no reason for her to say anything about others."
After she finished speaking, the women at the table sighed and shook their heads, looking sorry for Qin Shaojing.
I don't know what her future will be like.
Afterwards, everyone chatted for a long time. Lu Lingjun drank tea and was full. She listened more and spoke less.
Especially regarding Qin Shaojing's matter, even though she, as a reborn person, could see through many of her secrets at a glance, she didn't tell anyone.
After drinking tea and chatting, Lu Lingjun took Cheng Hui back.
When passing by the market, Cheng Hui said, "Sister-in-law, let's go to the west of the city again. I want to pick up some things there."
"Okay." Lu Lingjun responded and asked the carriage to go to the west of the city.
Soon, they arrived at Lu Lingjun's shop.
When their carriage stopped at the door, they heard a commotion ahead.
"Miss! Miss Huihui, why are you here!" Zhiran, who was originally watching the excitement in the front, saw Lu Lingjun's carriage coming, and turned around and came back to greet them immediately.
"Let's come and take a look." Cheng Hui looked towards the noisy place, "By the way, Sister Zhiran, what happened up ahead?"
Zhiran glanced ahead and said, "It's all about Aunt Zhao's family. Today, the maid of that noble lady came again and asked Aunt Zhao to see her. Aunt Zhao is trying to get her to pay the money!"
"Oh?" Cheng Hui immediately became interested when she heard this, "Let's go and take a look together."
Zhiran looked at Lu Lingjun, who smiled dotingly, "Let's take a look."
Lu Lingjun led his men to move forward.
At the entrance of the clinic, the body of Aunt Zhao's mother-in-law was lying.
They hadn't finished discussing yesterday's incident because the boy who prepared the medicine caused a death and fled overnight. Now the clinic is even more irresponsible, pushing everything onto the boy and telling her to go ask him to pay for her life if she had the guts, as their clinic will not be responsible at all.
Aunt Zhao and her daughter-in-law had been making a scene for two days, and it seemed that no one was taking responsibility. This afternoon, she suddenly saw the nanny from the wealthy family who had dispensed medicine yesterday in the crowd.
As soon as she saw her, Aunt Zhao grabbed her and shouted that it was some aphrodisiac she had taken, which was too strong and had killed her mother-in-law.
Aunt Qin in the crowd was grabbed by this old bitch until her face turned red.
She came back today to cause trouble!
I never thought that this would happen.
This old bitch even kept shouting that the medicine she prepared was a strong aphrodisiac, which made Nanny Qin feel extremely embarrassed and angry.
If this old thing was from Duke Liu's Mansion or her Duke Qin's Mansion, she would skin her alive right now!
But this is on the street!
Seeing more and more people watching, Nanny Qin was so ashamed and angry that she threw a gold ingot from her body, "This gold is enough to buy ten lives of your family! Get out now!"
When Aunt Zhao saw the gold ingots rolling on the ground, she quickly tried to grab them. There was so much money!
She did let go of her hand, but her daughter-in-law refused to let go and held on to Nanny Qin tightly, demanding that she pay with her life!
Nanny Qin was annoyed. "You are such an ungrateful bastard. You really pissed us off... I'm going to make your whole family pay!"
"Forget it," Aunt Zhao went forward to pull her daughter-in-law, "She didn't do it on purpose, just pay the money."
"I don't want money, I want my mother's life! Give my mother's life back to me!"
Seeing that her daughter-in-law was still holding on to her, Aunt Zhao kept calling her a fool. If this really angered the nobleman's nanny, their whole family would be finished!
Let her mother-in-law die, she is not her family anyway, it is better for her to die! It also saves her the money to earn for her medicine.
Thinking of this, fearing that Nanny Qin would go back on her word, she slapped her daughter-in-law hard. After a few slaps, she became unconscious. She let go of her hand, nodded and bowed, telling Nanny Qin to leave quickly.
Nanny Qin gave them a disgusted look and quickly entered the crowd.
At this time, Lu Lingjun and others who were walking over saw the fleeting figure of Nanny Qin.
"Isn't that... Qin Shaojing's nanny?"
Cheng Hui recognized the figure flashing in the crowd at a glance, and she grabbed Lu Lingjun's sleeve and said.
Lu Lingjun naturally recognized Nanny Qin. She watched the figure quickly hide in the crowd and asked with a frown, "Huihui, are they the ones you mentioned yesterday who took the wrong medicine?"
"right."
Lu Lingjun stopped talking.
When they returned to the Marquis' Mansion at night, Lu Lingjun said to Cheng Hui, "Go back and tell your brother that I will come to your house tomorrow to see if there is anything missing in your house."
"good."
After Cheng Hui left, Lu Lingjun called Shuanghong and asked her to tell Dongsheng a message.
On the second day, Lu Lingjun arrived at Cheng Qi's general's mansion.
As soon as she entered the gate, Cheng Hui came to greet her, "Sister-in-law, you are here."
"Where's your brother?"
"Stop talking, he went out again today." Cheng Hui said.
"You didn't tell him I would come over today."
"Stop talking, he originally agreed, but he received the invitation early this morning and left."
When Lu Lingjun heard this, a gleam of light flashed in his clear eyes, "Do you know who invited him these days?"
Cheng Hui shook her head.
She really didn't know that Cheng Qi would go out every day after receiving the letter without saying a word. When she came back in the evening and asked him about it, he would just say that he was someone she didn't know.
When Lu Lingjun heard her say that, he smiled and said, "It's okay. If your brother is busy, let him be busy. I'll go with you to see if there's anything missing in the house."
"Okay." Cheng Hui nodded.
Lu Lingjun followed Cheng Hui to visit the general's mansion. The mansion was very big. Cheng Hui had bought some things there a few days ago, so there was still a lot of empty space.
Lu Lingjun walked around and sat down to rest after a turn. Shuanghong walked up to her and whispered something in her ear.
After listening to this, Lu Lingjun raised his eyebrows and turned to Cheng Hui and said, "Huihui, I think our East Courtyard has been idle for a long time. Many of the screens and curtains in it are very good. It would be a waste to leave them empty. Come with me to the East Courtyard to pick some to decorate your room."
"Okay." Cheng Hui did not doubt him and followed Lu Lingjun out.
The two of them quickly took a carriage to the east courtyard outside the city.
The East Courtyard has been idle since Qin Shaojing got married.
Originally, Qin and the old marquis had planned to give the East Courtyard to Qin Shaojing and Cheng Qi as their wedding house.
After their affair was over, the East Courtyard was put on hold. Over the years, only an old servant from the Marquis's Mansion was guarding the gate.
When Lu Lingjun's carriage arrived, the old servant immediately panicked and did not come out to greet him immediately. Instead, he wanted to walk into the yard.
When Lu Lingjun saw this, her eyes turned cold, "Madame Wan, what's going on?"
Nanny Wan received the order and strode forward. Before the door was about to close, she grabbed the skinny old slave and said, "What's wrong with you? Why didn't you greet the master of the mansion and walk in with the door closed?"
The old servant's surname was Lin. After being caught, he looked at Lu Lingyun and begged for mercy, "Master, I was blind and didn't recognize the young lady. I thought she was someone from outside who wanted to stay overnight."
"You don't even recognize the young lady, what's wrong with your dog eyes!" Nanny Wan slapped him in the face.
Old Lin got slapped in the face, and his face immediately turned red. He fell to his knees and said, "Young Madam, I was wrong. I was wrong."
"Forget it. I'm sorry you haven't been back to the Marquis' Mansion for many years. Maybe you are just shortsighted." Lu Lingjun leisurely led Cheng Hui out of the car and walked in front of him. "But is my East Courtyard okay?"
Old Lin was extremely nervous. "Okay, okay, okay."
After hearing this, Lu Lingjun walked in. Old Lin stepped forward to stop him and asked, "Master, what are you doing here today?"
"Look at what you said. Do I have to talk to you just because I came to visit the East Courtyard?"
"That's not what I meant. I meant that today, the yard wasn't cleaned. Why don't you come back tomorrow? I'll clean it and don't dirty your feet!"
"How dare you!" Nanny Wan stepped forward again and grabbed him with her big palm, "When did you ever get to decide the master's affairs! You old bastard, are you not taking good care of the East Courtyard or have you stolen something from the other courtyards and are afraid that the master will find out?"
"I don't have any!"
"Then why are you stopping us here! Get out of the way!" Nanny Wan pulled Old Lin aside.
When Old Man Lin saw this scene, his brows immediately furrowed, and he looked so miserable that he wanted to stop them but he didn't dare. He could only pray to the gods on the spot.
With the blessing of the Buddha, he accepted some money from the eldest daughter of the Qin family and asked her to sit in the East Courtyard with Mr. Cheng without reporting to the master of the family.
These two were my former masters, so it's not that I'm overstepping the boundaries!
While he was praying, Lu Lingjun had already brought Cheng Hui to the inner courtyard.
As soon as I entered the inner courtyard, I saw several maids and servants.
Cheng Hui asked at this time, "Sister-in-law, isn't there only one gatekeeper in your East Courtyard? Why are there so many servants inside?"
As soon as she finished speaking, the maids and servants in front immediately walked towards the inner courtyard, looking frightened.
Nanny Wan shouted, "All of you stop!"
The maids and servants trembled in fear at the roar.
Aunt Wan walked up to them and looked at them. "Where are you from? Why haven't I seen you before?"
All the maids and servants lowered their heads, and no one dared to say a word.
Cheng Hui was more and more surprised. "Sister-in-law, aren't these the servants of your mansion?"
As she finished her words, a strong and energetic voice of a woman was heard from inside.
"Who's making noise outside?"
The moment this voice sounded, Cheng Hui was startled. She looked in the direction of the voice and saw Nanny Qin whom she had met yesterday appear in front of her.
When Nanny Qin came out and saw Lu Lingjun and the others, her eyes widened. She was about to walk into the yard when Cheng Hui immediately shouted.
"Why are you here!?"
Cheng Hui strode forward, "Aren't you Qin Shaojing's nanny? What are you doing here!"
After Cheng Hui finished speaking, Nanny Qin's face was extremely embarrassed, especially when she saw Lu Lingjun also coming. She forced a smile and said, "Madam, why are you here?"
"You are interesting. This is the villa of my sister-in-law's family. We can come whenever we want. But you, why are you here?" Cheng Hui asked.
At this moment, a voice came from inside the room, "Madame Qin, what happened outside?"
"Miss, don't..." Nanny Qin had just opened her mouth, and before she could tell her not to come out, the door was opened.
Qin Shaojing and a man walked out of the house.
When Nanny Qin saw this, she immediately swallowed the rest of her words.
Actually, there is no point in saying it. Now that they are here, where can they hide?
Cheng Hui was not too shocked when she saw Qin Shaojing appearing in front of her, but when she saw the man next to Qin Shaojing clearly, she widened her eyes and said in disbelief.
"elder brother!"
Cheng Hui was shocked to see her brother in the East Courtyard.
When Cheng Qi saw the people in front of him, a trace of embarrassment appeared on his face.
Before he could even open his mouth to explain, Cheng Hui rushed over to him in big strides, "Why are you here! And with this woman Qin Shaojing!"
Cheng Qi coughed and said, "Huihui, please be polite. You should call Shao Jing sister."
Cheng Hui understood at this time. She widened her eyes and looked at Cheng Qi for a while, then at Qin Shaojing, "Brother, this is the friend you told me every day to go out and meet? Someone I don't know?"
After hearing what Cheng Hui said, Cheng Qi's face turned red.
He was very embarrassed and pulled Cheng Hui over, "Hui Hui, let's go back and talk about this."
Cheng Hui fiercely shook his hand away, "Brother! How can you be with her! Have you forgotten the humiliation she gave you back then? She was the one who forced you away!"
"Huihui, what happened back then was just a misunderstanding. Shao Jing was framed, and she was also a victim."
Cheng Hui sneered when she heard this, "Brother, the victim would rather marry into the Duke's Mansion than marry you."
"Shao Jing feels that he owes me."
Cheng Hui: "…"
She was so pissed off by her brother that she almost laughed. She really wanted to knock open his head and take a good look at what was inside!
She looked at her brother who had an embarrassed look on his face and said coldly, "So what are you doing now, brother? Hanging out with a married woman?"
"Sister Huihui, it's not what you think." Qin Shaojing said tenderly at this time, "I'm just in a bad mood recently, and I thought about the past, so I talked with Brother Cheng Qi about the past. Please don't misunderstand."
"That's right, Huihui, don't talk nonsense and tarnish Shao Jing's reputation."
Cheng Hui was so angry that she had a headache. "If you are innocent, why don't you drink tea and chat outside instead of coming to this deserted private courtyard! Brother, wake up. Qin Shaojing clearly wants to seduce you because he sees that you are successful now!"
"Cheng Hui!" Cheng Qi yelled at her.
Qin Shaojing helped to persuade with an innocent look on his face, "Brother Cheng Qi, please don't be mean to Sister Huihui. She misunderstood me, so she said that. I know she has a good heart, so please don't be mean to her anymore."
"Cheng Hui, did you see that? Shao Jing is still speaking for you!" Cheng Qi turned around and lectured Cheng Hui.
Qin Shaojing turned around and looked at Cheng Hui with a delicate and pitiful look, "Sister Huihui, we are really innocent and have not broken any rules. You must believe us!"
"Come on! Everyone knows that you, Qin Shaojing, are a slut!" Cheng Hui blurted out.
After she said this, a heavy slap suddenly fell on her face.
"Bang!"
Cheng Qi slapped her hard.
Cheng Hui, who was beaten by her brother for the first time in her life, opened her eyes wide. She covered her almost numb face and looked at Cheng Qi in disbelief.
After Cheng Qi slapped him, regret quickly filled his eyes.
"Hui Hui..."
"Brother, you hit me for that bitch Qin Shaojing!" Cheng Hui looked at him angrily, then she covered her face and turned and ran away.
"Hui Hui..."
Cheng Qi took a step forward and wanted to chase after him, when he heard Qin Shaojing's voice beside him.
"Brother Cheng Qi."
Cheng Qi stopped immediately and turned to look at Qin Shaojing, "Shaojing, today..."
"Brother Cheng Qi, please stop talking. Go chase Huihui and make sure to explain everything to her. Don't let her misunderstand us. If Huihui is really angry with me, I will personally go to her to apologize."
Cheng Qi listened to her words and said, "Shao Jing, don't say that. It was the girl who was wrong in the first place. She should be taught some good manners!"
"No, Brother Cheng Qi, go quickly." Qin Shaojing pushed him, "I'm serious. I don't want you to have any grudges because of me."
Cheng Qi hesitated again. As Qin Shaojing pushed him, he said, "Okay, I'll find you another day."
After saying that, he quickly chased after Cheng Hui.
As for Lu Lingjun, she listened to everything they said. When Cheng Qi went to chase Cheng Hui, he passed by her. Cheng Qi glanced at Lu Lingjun, then quickly looked away without saying anything, and continued to chase Cheng Hui.
Lu Lingjun also retracted her gaze at this time. She glanced at Qin Shaojing above her, and without saying anything more to her, she turned and left.
Leaving the gate of the East Courtyard, she glanced at the old Lin who was kneeling on the ground and said, "Go back and enjoy your retirement."
Lu Lingjun sent him away directly and found someone new to look after the East Courtyard.
Qin Shaojing, who was walking at the back, saw this and snorted indifferently.
Let's just change the people in the East Courtyard.
She won't come here anymore anyway.
Marquis' Mansion.
Cheng Hui's house.
Cheng Hui ran straight back to the Ningyang Marquis' Mansion. When she reached her own room, she closed the door and hid in the room, refusing to see anyone.
After Cheng Qi caught up with him, he kept apologizing outside the house.
"Huihui, Huihui, open the door."
"Huihui, listen to your brother."
Cheng Qi only has Cheng Hui as his relative. When they fled back from the border, they depended on each other. When Cheng Qi left, the person he was most worried about was his own sister.
He felt really regretful after slapping her today.
When Cheng Qi was trying to coax people at the door to no avail, Lu Lingjun came with his men.
When Cheng Qi saw her, he felt embarrassed subconsciously, "Sister-in-law..."
"Second uncle." Lu Lingjun still wore his usual friendly smile, "What's going on?"
Cheng Qi heard this, "Shao Jing and I..."
"Sister-in-law believes in you as a person. You must be innocent."
Cheng Qi was so moved that he almost cried when he heard this. He immediately spilled the beans, "Sister-in-law, we are really innocent. I just ran into Shao Jing outside the East Courtyard that day, and I went in with her to reminisce about the past. She invited me these few days just to drink tea..."
"Okay, I understand." Lu Lingjun smiled, "Let me try to persuade Huihui."
Hearing this, Cheng Qi felt like he had received a huge help, "Thank you so much, sister-in-law!"
"Yes." Lu Lingjun nodded at him, "You go and get busy first."
Cheng Qi glanced at the closed door and turned to leave.
Lu Lingjun looked at his leaving back, his eyes becoming more and more profound.
She knocked on the door in front of her, "Hui Hui."
As soon as she knocked on the door, the door in front of her opened immediately.
Cheng Hui threw herself into her arms with tears in her eyes, "Sister-in-law!"
"Good Huihui, don't cry." Lu Lingjun comforted.
Her comforting voice made Cheng Hui cry even louder, "Sister-in-law, my brother beat me for that woman! He has never beaten me in his life!"
Lu Lingjun hugged her and said, "I taught your brother a lesson for you. Don't be sad."
With her comforting voice, Cheng Hui calmed down. She wiped her tears and cheered up, "That Qin Shaojing is seducing my brother! I will never allow it!"
After listening to Cheng Hui's mumbling for a long time, Lu Lingjun became more and more convinced that it was Qin Shaojing who seduced her brother.
Especially when she recalled the scene where Nanny Qin bought aphrodisiacs at the civilian market in the west of the city, she suddenly realized.
"Sister-in-law, my brother came back a few days ago feeling unwell. He said his intestines were upset and he had diarrhea. He must have taken the medicine Qin Shaojing gave him!" Cheng Hui said angrily.
Lu Lingyun nodded after hearing this, "I'm afraid that's the case."
"I knew Qin Shaojing was seducing my brother!" Cheng Hui clenched her fists. "My brother lost his mind and was deceived by her again!"
"So what are you going to do?"
"I must explain it to him clearly. Sister-in-law, come back with me and tell him." Cheng Hui wiped away her tears. "If he knew what Qin Shaojing did, he would definitely see what she was thinking!"
After hearing this, Lu Lingjun didn't say anything, just responded and turned around to accompany Cheng Hui to the general's mansion.
Cheng Hui gathered all her strength and wanted to make things clear with Cheng Qi as soon as possible, so she hurried back.
But when she returned to the general's mansion, she found that the mansion was particularly lively today, with a group of people carrying things inside.
Cheng Hui looked strange because she hadn't done any shopping in the past two days.
But now was not the time to ask about these trivial matters, so she grabbed a servant and asked, "Where is my brother now?"
"The general is having dinner in the house."
Upon hearing this, Cheng Hui took Lu Lingjun straight to Cheng Qi's yard.
After a while, she hurried back.
"Brother, I have something to tell you."
When she opened the door, she saw a man and a woman sitting at the table, where she was supposed to be having dinner alone tonight.
At this time, Cheng Qi was chatting and eating with the beautiful lady with a bun on her hair. He was peeling shrimps with his hands, and on the beautiful lady's plate, there were already several peeled fresh shrimps.
Cheng Hui was stunned when she saw this scene. She looked at Qin Shaojing in disbelief, who appeared in her house and sat at her seat to eat.
"Huihui, why are you back?" Cheng Qi was obviously shocked to see Cheng Hui coming back so soon. He stood up and said with an unnatural guilty look on his face.
Cheng Hui didn't listen to him at all, her eyes were fixed on Qin Shaojing, "Why are you here!"
"Sister Huihui." Qin Shaojing was not timid at all when being questioned. She stood up leisurely and greeted her with a smile, "You are back."
She reached out to pull Cheng Hui, but Cheng Hui shook her hand away, "Why are you still with my brother? Do you have any shame?"
"Huihui, how can you talk like that?" Cheng Qi frowned. "Shao Jing is our family. She was wronged in the Duke's Mansion. What's wrong with her staying in our house for a few days?"
Cheng Hui heard this and wondered if she had been wronged in Duke Liu's mansion? She wanted to stay at her house for a while?
She suddenly realized that all the things being moved at the door belonged to Qin Shaojing!
Cheng Hui simply had no place to complain about her brother, "Brother, how can she be considered our relative! In the whole capital, only Madam Xue from the Ningyang Marquis's Mansion is considered her relative. What is your relationship with her?"
"Huihui, why are you so cold and indifferent? We lived together in my uncle's house back then, and Shaojing was considered your sister."
Cheng Hui snorted coldly, "I called her sister back then, did she ever respond to me? She is a rich girl, she never looked down on me, but she looks down on you!"
"Sister Huihui." At this time, Qin Shaojing said, "My father had just passed away not long ago, and I was relaxing at my aunt's place, so I didn't have time to care about too much. If I made you unhappy in any way, I apologize to you."
"You better save your breath! If you don't want to bother with anyone because of your father's death, why are you holding a poetry gathering and tea party in the East Courtyard and inviting a witch to perform a ritual to attract bees and butterflies everywhere!"
Cheng Hui's words immediately left Qin Shaojing speechless. Cheng Qi's face turned serious at this time, "Huihui, how can you talk like that! Shaojing only came to stay for two days and you are so aggressive."
Cheng Hui was furious when she heard this. "Brother! You've let this woman fool you! She's a married woman now, and has no blood relationship with you. You're living in our house like this. Aren't you afraid that others will gossip about you? And let the Duke Liu's Mansion look for trouble with you!"
"We are clean and have nothing to fear from people. That Liu Ye is a bastard who bullies Shao Jing, and he still has the nerve to cause trouble to me!" Cheng Qi said coldly.
Cheng Hui: "…"
She turned her head to look at Qin Shaojing standing beside her, and saw a glimmer of pride in her helpless and downcast eyes.
Cheng Hui could never tolerate this.
"Brother, if Liu Ye is not a good person, then Qin Shaojing is a good wife?" Cheng Hui pointed at Qin Shaojing and said.
"Huihui! If you keep talking about Shaojing like this, I'm really going to be mad at you!"
Cheng Hui turned her head and looked at him, "Brother, do you remember what I told you the other day, about a nobleman's nanny in the city's west pharmacy who got the wrong aphrodisiac and killed someone?"
Cheng Qi was stunned when he heard this, while Qin Shaojing's face suddenly changed.
Seeing Qin Shaojing's changed expression, Cheng Hui sneered, "Miss Qin, God really doesn't help you. You gave my brother an aphrodisiac and tried to seduce him, but it made him have diarrhea for a whole day!"
When Qin Shaojing heard this, his eyes quickly wandered for a while, and he raised his head to look at Cheng Qi, "Brother Cheng Qi, it's nothing..."
"No?" Cheng Hui stepped forward and pointed at Nanny Qin behind her. "Your Nanny asked Aunt Zhao from the west of the city to drag her to pay compensation that day. She threw a gold ingot and a group of people saw it! Do you want me to call someone over to identify her now?"
This time, Qin Shaojing was really shocked.
She glared at Nanny Qin fiercely. She kept saying that this matter was important, this matter was important and should not be interfered with by others.
She even asked Nanny Qin to do it personally, but she still messed it up!
It was even discovered by Cheng Hui and the others!
At this moment, Nanny Qin fell to her knees with a thud.
"Ms. Huihui, please don't wrongly accuse our eldest lady!"
"You old slave, you still want to say that I was wrong?"
"No!" Nanny Qin took the blame frantically, "I did get the medicine, but it was not for our young lady to use. It was, it was this old slave myself..."
Cheng Hui sneered, "Some people believe what you said!"
"Miss Huihui, I really used it myself. It has nothing to do with our eldest lady. I did such a shameful thing and implicated our eldest lady. I really deserve to die!" As she said this, Nanny Qin slapped herself in the face.
"You act, you keep acting!"
"That's enough!"
At this time, a male voice sounded, and Cheng Qi spoke.
"Brother, you know Qin Shaojing's true face now!" Cheng Hui looked at Cheng Qi expectantly, "When you came back that day, you told me that you had diarrhea for a day, and you took the medicine they gave you!"
Cheng Qi looked at Cheng Hui and said something.
"You misunderstood. I have diarrhea because I ate the wrong food. It has nothing to do with Shao Jing."