In the eyes of the Hidden Guard—
Xingxing wasn’t out of the mansion to deliver dicine, this maid was simply using the excuse of delivering dicine to go shopping.
From the start of the street to the end...
No!
It’s from the start of the street to the end, eating.
As a Hidden Guard, a martial artist, the Hidden Guard felt a bit ashad of Xingxing’s appetite, truly inferior to hers by several levels.
Eating while buying.
Pastries, paper kites, flower hairpins, sugar figurines, candied hawthorn...
All these were brought by Xingxing to give away.
Because Mrs. Tang rarely goes out, the maid’s opportunities to go out are few and far between.
The Marquis Dongxiang was afraid they’d be watched if they leave before they established themselves in the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, so he wouldn’t let them out.
Everyone knew the Marquis ant well for them, but no one could suppress the yearning to shop.
They chatted idly, envying Xingxing, and then she promised to bring things back to the mansion for them next ti.
Just didn’t expect the opportunity to co so quickly.
In the carriage, Xingxing looked at the half-full carriage of items, pondering what else she hadn’t bought.
After she finished checking, the driver had silently stopped the carriage in front of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.
"Seems like I forgot the chestnut cake..."
Xingxing lifted the curtain and asked the driver to divert to buy the chestnut cake.
As soon as the curtain was lifted, she saw the grand entrance of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.
Xingxing, "..."
The usually deserted and empty doorway of the mansion was unusually bustling today.
Soone had visited to claim kinship.
They were clamoring to enter, and no matter how Steward Lin tried, they wouldn’t listen.
Steward Lin lost his temper and punched them.
Uncle Wen Yuan was pushed down the steps with a punch and a kick from Steward Lin.
Madam Wen Yuan turned pale with fright, quickly went down the steps to help him.
She looked up at the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion’s door and cursed, "Marry into a high-ranking family and you refuse to recognize your brother, where in the world is there such a heartless sister?!"
Young Master Su and a few others were watching the commotion by the door.
Marquis Dongxiang didn’t allow them out, so they only poked their heads out to watch.
Upon hearing Madam Wen Yuan scold his mother for being heartless.
Young Master Su beca instantly furious.
He wanted to go out, but was tightly held back by Young Master Shen and the Ninth Prince.
They had just been punished by Marquis Dongxiang to transcribe books, and had only completed a little over halfway, they couldn’t afford another punishnt.
The two of them struggled to hold him, even so, Young Master Su couldn’t break free.
But whatever he wanted to do, nobody could stop him.
"Little Black, go bite her!"
At Young Master Su’s command.
Little Black dashed out of the mansion and lunged at Madam Wen Yuan.
Madam Wen Yuan was terrified.
Little Black bit onto her skirt and wouldn’t let go, scaring her so much her face went pale, her hairpin fell off and scattered all over.
The Ninth Prince, "..."
Young Master Shen, "..."
The two were dumbfounded.
They thought by holding onto him, they’d avoid punishnt.
But they forgot to hold onto the dog.
Before Xingxing could get out of the carriage, Uncle Wen Yuan and Madam Wen Yuan had hastily boarded a carriage to flee.
Xingxing looked at the maid of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, "What happened?"
"Shalessly visiting to claim a relation, insisting that Madam is their eldest girl who fell off a cliff from Wenyuan Bo Mansion many years ago," the maid furiously said.
"How could Madam be the eldest girl of Wenyuan Bo Mansion," Xingxing said.
"Exactly, we tried reasoning with them saying they had the wrong person, yet they wouldn’t listen, making a scene for so long, if it wasn’t for Steward Lin’s anger, who knows when they’d leave," the maid said.
After speaking, the maid looked at Xingxing and said, "Why are you back?"
"I ca to deliver things for the lady, I also brought you all so tasty snacks," Xingxing said.
Talking about food and fun, the unpleasantness was quickly forgotten.
No one born yet has managed to take advantage of the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion.
Inside the carriage, Uncle Wen Yuan leaned against it, clutching his aching chest.
Madam Wen Yuan tried wiping his mouth with a handkerchief, only for Uncle Wen Yuan to slap it away.
He really must be out of his mind, falling for her coaxing to visit claiming kinship.
Didn’t even get to et anyone, just got beaten.
His prestige as Uncle Wen Yuan gone in an instant.
Uncle Wen Yuan’s sudden visit to claim kinship began with Madam Wen Yuan’s disastrous loss yesterday—
After making an excuse to return ho, she took a ten-thousand tael silver note, and had the maid send it to the Beauty Pavilion.
She thought as long as she quietly hid it from Uncle Wen Yuan, everything would be fine.
But with so many onlookers witnessing the event at the Beauty Pavilion, how could it be kept secret?
Uncle Wen Yuan’s return to the Capital this ti was aid at acquiring the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue position.
The Old Madam Sun of the Ministry of Revenue was gravely ill again.
Last ti she was critically ill, the Imperial Physician advised preparing for her last monts, but she sowhat recovered. This ti it was beyond treatnt, just a couple more days left.
Thanks to the resilience of Old Madam Sun, had she passed away last ti, with Assistant Minister Sun in mourning at ho, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue position might have been taken by soone else, who could have imagined it would land in his lap?
If not for a more lucrative position and his daughters reaching marrying age, Uncle Wen Yuan would have been reluctant to leave Yongzhou.
The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue position holds significant power and benefits, with many eyes watching.
To secure the position, Uncle Wen Yuan spared no expense on antiques, paintings, gold, and silver treasures, having no idea how much he had given away.
A pair of Dongzhu plus a Jade Ruyi, this was no small gift.
But yesterday, his gift was disliked, "Uncle Wen Yuan must have amassed quite a bit of illicit gains during these years in Yongzhou."
Uncle Wen Yuan modestly replied, "How could I engage in such unscrupulous activities, it was all thanks to my subordinates being savvy and respectful."
The lady chuckled, "Uncle Wen Yuan is too modest, your respected madam lost ten thousand taels in a mahjong ga at the Beauty Pavilion without batting an eyelid."
Uncle Wen Yuan’s smile froze.
Upon returning ho, he questioned Madam Wen Yuan.
Madam Wen Yuan, of course, denied it, "Who dared to gossip in front of you, don’t you know I’m always frugal, how could I possibly bear losing ten thousand taels!"
"Then exactly how much did you lose?!" Uncle Wen Yuan asked.
"Tell the truth!"
"..."
"Lost... nine thousand eight hundred taels."
Madam Wen Yuan shrunk her neck.
Uncle Wen Yuan was about to rage to death.
What difference was there between nine thousand eight hundred taels and ten thousand taels?!
Uncle Wen Yuan seethed with chest pain.
Madam Wen Yuan, afraid of any harm from his anger, quickly supported him to sit, saying, "I lost so much for the sake of your career, didn’t I? Yesterday, Princess NanAn and the others were so pleased."
Uncle Wen Yuan went dark-eyed.
Who wouldn’t be pleased to have a fool giving money?!
Madam Wen Yuan quickly said, "I clearly saw yesterday, Dongxiang Marquis’s wife has a small mole on her left brow, she is Yun Chu."
"The Dongxiang Marquis Mansion’s Madam is our great-aunt from Wenyuan Bo Mansion. The nephews and nieces are outstanding, as soon as this news spreads, who’ll need to plead for anything, others will be eager to cater to us before we even ask."
With such a connection to the Dongxiang Marquis Mansion, not just the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue position, even higher positions wouldn’t be out of reach.
Madam Wen Yuan firmly believed Mrs. Tang was Uncle Wen Yuan’s sister.
Uncle Wen Yuan naturally desired so too.
Yet due to what had happened years ago, he wasn’t completely convinced.
He had planned on Mrs. Tang acknowledging him as her brother, receiving good tea, being entertained, and welcod warmly. But they didn’t even get to see her, let alone get greeted warmly.
What they got instead was a swift rebuttal, and if it hadn’t been for Steward Lin losing his temper, they would still be there without any certainty of ever leaving.
Despite what had just happened, Uncle Wen Yuan hoped the claim was true.
"""
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