Tianliangyuan

Chapter 73 Are you threatening me?

Wang Ruolan didn't move, and smiled, "Mother doesn't know, I've already given Junqing the two things my sister just mentioned. And Mother probably doesn't remember, Junqing will also be taking the provincial examination this year."

Xu Junqing was the eldest son of the second wife and also pursued a literary career.

The old lady was taken aback. Oh right, how could she have forgotten her beloved grandson?

"Junqing's fate this year? Is he still serving under the second prince?"

"Junqing is already on his way back and should arrive in a day or two. The provincial examination is not far away, so he can study at home in peace."

"Good, good! Feng'er is still in the manor now, so the brothers can finally meet up."

The topic was thus steered away, and Xu Lin tried several times to bring up something else, but Wang Ruolan didn't give her the chance.

Moreover, Xu Zhaozhao would occasionally chime in, making it even harder for Xu Lin to say anything if she wanted to take something.

Although Dingxiang was just a maid, she looked down on this kind of lady.

The dowry back then was quite substantial. She's been married for so many years now, and she still keeps thinking about going back to her parents' home to skim off their wealth. How incredibly stupid can she be!

"Miss, what do you think my aunt is after? How much of the good stuff she brought back from our Marquis's mansion can she actually use for herself? I wonder if my aunt will regret it later, since she's always scheming like this."

Xu Zhaozhao smiled faintly and remained silent.

Xu Lin will regret it sooner or later.

Because Sun Qingyang was never a good person to begin with.

The Sun family, on the other hand, is more like a greedy leech, clinging to others and constantly sucking blood to survive.

Only Xu Lin would treat such a family as a treasure.

Xu Zhaozhao took Dingxiang out to inspect the shops without revealing their identities, just casually looking around.

"That woman's headdress looks somewhat familiar."

Dingxiang followed her mistress's gaze and asked, "I didn't notice. Should we go and inquire about it?"

"Go, but don't disturb her."

"Yes."

The more Xu Zhaozhao looked at the hairpin in the other person's hair, the more familiar it seemed. She thought she had seen it at a banquet at the Duke of Su's mansion.

Who wore it on their head?

Xu Zhaozhao couldn't remember, but Dingxiang returned quickly.

“This Lady Ding lives in Sanhe Lane in front. People say that her husband is an official, but he doesn’t live there permanently, so they suspect that Lady Ding is an official’s mistress.”

Xu Zhaozhao slightly raised her eyelids: "Have someone keep an eye on it and find out which house number it is."

"Yes."

Xu Zhaozhao had a gut feeling that this was a chance God was sending her to get revenge on the Jiang family.

Sure enough, Xu Zhaozhao stood in front of an ordinary magnolia tree, rested her hands on the trunk for about half an incense stick's time, and then smiled slightly.

“It’s really interesting!”

Xu Zhaozhao glanced back at the sign above the door and instructed, "Find someone to keep an eye on this place, but not too conspicuously. It would be best to rent it next door or across the street. Don't let the other party notice. If possible, it would be best to send a few servants inside as well."

"Yes, sir, I'll get it done as soon as possible."

"No need for you, let Zhu Zi handle it."

Zhu Zi is a man, and he's quick-witted, so it's cheaper for him to do this kind of thing.

Xu Zhaozhao never expected that the Jiang family would play such a complicated game!

If it weren't for her special abilities, she would probably have been deceived by appearances.

Some people in the neighborhood did suspect that this was a mistress kept by an official. Because they didn't dare to offend the official, Madam Ding lived quite comfortably here.

But in reality, Madam Ding was not the exclusive possession of any one official, but rather maintained long-term physical relationships with several officials at the same time. How was this any different from that of a brothel owner?

Oh, perhaps there are some, because this Lady Ding's lovers are all regulars, and there's even a pair who are uncle and nephew!

Wow, I have to say, these people are really something else!

Xu Zhaozhao needs to think carefully about how to maximize her own interests by utilizing this Lady Ding.

Devastating the Jiang family is what I want to do most right now.

It's a pity that this Lady Ding doesn't have a son, otherwise, that would be quite interesting.

At the coming-of-age banquet for the eldest daughter of the Duke of Su, the Second Prince was assassinated. This was a major event, and for a while afterward, no family held a grand banquet.

When Xu Junqing returned to the mansion, the old lady originally planned to hold a small banquet, but after Xu Han and Wang Ruolan discussed it, they still felt it was inappropriate.

"Junqing has returned to participate in the provincial examination. It is not advisable to make a big fuss at this time. If he passes the provincial examination, it will not be too late to hold a banquet."

The old lady also thought it made sense, since Xu Junqing might be a little nervous at the moment, and she didn't want to put too much pressure on him.

In fact, two days later, all the members of the second branch of the family returned.

This gave the old lady a huge surprise.

"So, they've transferred you back?"

Xu Han and Xu Wen are brothers born of the same mother, and both of them pursued military careers.

Now that Xu Wen has been transferred back, it means he is very likely to be transferred to the Ministry of War.

Xu Han himself was unwilling to enter the Ministry of War, but instead held the position of Right Guard General. In fact, to be honest, it was quite easy for him, because he had two other generals under him who were responsible for things like training troops and rotating garrisons.

Emperor Yong'an had asked him to join the Ministry of War countless times, but Xu Han refused, saying that he only wanted to be a general leading troops and protecting the capital day and night.

Xu Han grew up alongside Emperor Yong'an and knew all too well the dangers of serving a ruler.

The Daxing Dynasty valued both civil and military affairs, and its court was full of talented people, so Xu Han always tried his best not to stand out.

Especially in recent years, as the princes have grown up, he doesn't want to become someone who needs to be courted.

Xu Wen's return, seemingly a promotion, actually distanced him from military power, which was just right.

As dawn broke, a master and servant hurried out of Sanhe Lane, trying to figure out how to cover up their lie, when they were stopped in their tracks.

Who are you? What do you want?

"Young Master Jiang, our master invites you."

The other party immediately revealed Jiang Wenchong's identity, which made him more wary.

"Don't worry, Young Master Jiang, our master is not far ahead. If you can hurry, it won't delay your return to pay your respects to your elders."

Jiang Wenchong's eyelids twitched, and without much hesitation, he followed the other person.

"Does Young Master Jiang know that Madam Ding is your uncle's lover? Everyone in the capital says that Young Master Jiang is utterly unruly, but if it were to spread that you and your uncle share a woman, do you think Grand Tutor Jiang would choose to beat you to death, or beat you to death?"

Jiang Wenchong's lips twitched. He wanted to argue, but he felt that his grandfather would never kill his legitimate son for the sake of a grandson born out of wedlock.

Therefore, he will definitely be the one abandoned in the end.

"Are you threatening me?"

Xu Zhaozhao laughed: "Sixth Young Master Jiang, this is called seeking cooperation. If you want me to threaten you, that's not impossible."

Jiang Wenchong was stunned, and then his body seemed to suddenly become unable to move. He watched helplessly as the woman walked towards him, holding a grayish pill in her hand!