Hongxiu took the antidiarrheal dicine and went out.
Just after stepping out of the courtyard, she saw the eldest young madam, the Minister of the Ministry of Justice’s wife, returning with her daughter.
Hongxiu stepped aside to greet the eldest young madam.
Inside the room.
The Old Madam leaned against a large pillow.
The second young madam was feeding her dicine.
Liao Xue stood aside with a tray.
The tray held candied fruits, their colors enticing.
A maid ca in and said, "Old Madam, the eldest young madam and the young lady have returned."
The Old Madam looked up and saw the Minister of the Ministry of Justice’s wife entering with her daughter Qu Qingqing.
"Daughter greets mother," the eldest young madam curtsied.
Qu Qingqing, stepping back half a step, curtsied and said, "Greetings to grandmother."
The second young madam continued feeding the dicine.
After finishing a bowl of dicine, Liao Xue fed a piece of candied fruit.
The Old Madam then said, "You may rise."
Qu Qingqing rolled her eyes at the stone ground before straightening herself.
The second young madam put down the dicine bowl, stood up, and greeted the eldest young madam, "Why is elder sister only returning now?"
The eldest young madam smiled and said, "There were matters at the mansion that delayed , so I’m back half an hour later than you."
The second young madam’s face imdiately showed an expression of slight displeasure.
She hadn’t returned much earlier herself.
"Was it the matter of Marquis Dongxiang entering the Ministry of Justice that delayed you?" the second young madam asked.
The eldest young madam frowned.
She didn’t speak.
The Old Madam looked at her, "Did the dignified Minister of the Ministry of Justice really flee the Capital out of fear of a bandit?"
"Who has been gossiping to mother?"
"That’s not true," the eldest young madam denied.
"A few days ago, my husband ntioned leaving the Capital to investigate a case. At that ti, Marquis Dongxiang hadn’t broken Vice Minister Chen’s leg yet."
The second young madam’s eyes flashed with a trace of mockery.
Did she think saying this would make everyone believe?
"Although it’s a coincidence, everyone won’t think so; they’ll just assu Lord Minister fears Marquis Dongxiang," the second young madam said.
The eldest young madam picked up a teacup, smiled, and said, "On the court, those not afraid of Marquis Dongxiang could probably be counted on one hand. There’s nothing shaful in our lord being afraid of him; why bother with those who stand and talk without trouble?"
"The Dongxiang Marquis Mansion is the kin of Duke Zhen Mansion; Marquis Dongxiang sent grain and grass to the military camp, and even saved my older brother’s life. Regardless of how Marquis Dongxiang conducts his affairs, he has done a favor to our Duke Zhen Mansion."
Mrs. Wang brought in tea and said, "Eldest young madam, have so tea."
The topic changed, and everyone chatted about other matters, but not delightfully.
Liao Xue then said, "Grandmother, let’s go see Cousin Jinyu."
Qu Qingqing and Liao Xue curtsied and left.
Leaving Qihao Hall, they went to pay respects to Princess Nanzhang and then to see Xie Jinyu.
Xie Jinyu lanted to them bitterly, filled with hatred for Su Jin.
Liao Xue egged on the situation, using the incident of the Minister of the Ministry of Justice being forced to leave the Capital by Marquis Dongxiang to stab at Qu Qingqing’s heart.
Qu Qingqing was very angry.
Of course.
She wasn’t angry with Su Jin and Marquis Dongxiang.
Her mother told her that her father didn’t leave the Capital because he feared Marquis Dongxiang; Marquis Dongxiang had saved her uncle, and her father was grateful and didn’t want to conflict with him, avoiding his edge. Her father wasn’t wrong in doing so.
If she were to conflict with her cousin-in-law, it would indeed seem her father feared Marquis Dongxiang.
Liao Xue’s punches were like hitting cotton, instantly frustrating her. She looked at Qu Qingqing and said, "Don’t you want to vent anger for your father?"
The instigation hadn’t ended.
Qu Qingqing’s face showed a trace of displeasure.
"My father didn’t leave the Capital because of Marquis Dongxiang. Why should I be angry with my cousin-in-law?"
"If I provoke my cousin-in-law without reason, I fear I’d be carried out of the Duke Mansion," Qu Qingqing replied.
"..."
Liao Xue’s face froze.
"I see you aren’t not angry; you’re just too scared to be angry!" Liao Xue said through gritted teeth.
Qu Qingqing also got angry. She had said she dared not provoke her cousin-in-law, yet Liao Xue wouldn’t give up!
Did she demand her to fall at her cousin-in-law’s hands to be satisfied?
"If you’re so furious, why don’t you go?" Qu Qingqing snorted.
"You!" Liao Xue was fuming.
"Are you scared too?" Qu Qingqing retorted provokingly.
"Who’s scared?!"
"I’ll go!" Liao Xue suddenly stood up.
She marched out.
Xie Jinyu was stunned.
Who exactly was provoking whom here?
"Will nothing happen?" the maid worriedly asked.
Xie Jinyu sneered.
"They probably can’t even enter the back gate of Agarwood Pavilion; what could happen?"
"It’d be good if sothing did happen!"
Inside the bamboo house.
Xie Jingchen was not there.
Su Jin was searching for a book on the shelf.
She couldn’t reach the higher shelves.
She called out, "Xingxing."
Called three tis, but no one appeared.
Where did this maid run off to?
Su Jin brought a stool and took down the book.
After flipping through a dozen pages, Xingxing finally returned.
Su Jin saw her and said, "Where did you run off to?"
Xingxing poured so tea to drink, her face gleaming with excitent, "Recently, the young master has been researching tricks. Just now, I got a great idea when I entered the courtyard. I’ll test it first and tell the young master if it works."
Su Jin, "..."
Su Jin was at a complete loss for words.
This maid was not only earnest about her matters but also very attentive to her brother’s affairs.
Her brother was mischievous enough, and this maid was helping. Are these two planning to act out together?
Outside of Agarwood Pavilion.
Liao Xue marched in furiously, asking the maid, "Where is cousin?"
"The eldest young master has left the mansion," the maid replied.
"Then where is cousin-in-law?"
"The eldest young madam is in the backyard," the maid replied.
Liao Xue headed straight to the backyard.
Then the maid stopped her, "Cousin, without the eldest young master and eldest young madam’s permission, no one is allowed into the backyard."
"Then go inform them, and say I have urgent matters to discuss with her," Liao Xue said impatiently.
"I dare not go," the young maid said.
"Why?" Liao Xue frowned.
"The eldest young madam’s maid said she’s set a trap and advised not to go in even if there’s sothing urgent," the young maid said.
"Then what if it’s sothing urgent that must be communicated to the eldest young madam?" asked the young maid nearby.
"..."
The maid silently picked up a gong and drum leaning against the wall.
This was given to her by the eldest young madam’s maid.
She was told to hit the gong if sothing happened, and she would co out.
She knew there wasn’t just one entrance to the backyard, but where the other entrance was, no one knew.
Liao Xue insisted on seeing Su Jin.
The maid had no choice but to hit the gong.
At the courtyard entrance, the maid had only banged three tis when Liao Xue charged through.
"They’re just trying to scare us! Who would be hunting in their own yard?"
And with that, she shoved her way inside.
The maid barely had ti for three knocks when Liao Xue’s patience snapped.
But just as she pushed her way forward, a sturdy log about the thickness of an arm ca swinging down towards them.
It landed directly on Liao Xue’s shoulder.
Instantly, she toppled backward.
Whether due to the pain or the fright, it was unclear.
Nonetheless, she passed out.
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