Chapter 40 Fill in the Blanks (Part 2)

  Amber was taken aback: "I don't know!"

  She had never thought of this problem.

  The eyes of the eleventh girl sparkled.

  Finally saw a glimmer of hope!

  "The people in the house can be brought from Yuhang's old home, but the driver who drives the carriage cannot be brought from his hometown." She smiled at Hupo and said, "Tomorrow, take two taels of silver and ask the driver to help buy some famous Beijing snacks. Take this opportunity to ask him if he knows about the Jiang family in Leiping."

  Amber hesitated: "A carriage driver, how would he know about the Le Ping Jiang family?"

  "You grew up in the inner courtyard, and there are some things you don't know." Eleventh Sister smiled. "If we're talking about being well-informed, no one can compare to the sedan chair bearers and porters. They travel around the countryside, visiting many households, knowing many people, and seeing many things. Nothing that happens in Yanjing can escape their eyes and ears. You might as well go ask them. You can even try to find out about the matter of Wang Gongzi killing someone." As she spoke, her brow furrowed slightly. "Since Xu's family servant girls already know, these people must also be aware." Her voice gradually dropped lower. "If we're lucky, who knows, there might even be some rumors about why that Wang Gongzi has never married..."

  Amber nodded and went away in response.

  Dong Qing was very disheartened: "Miss, that Prince Wang... no matter what the reason is, he killed someone, after all, he's not a good person. You'd better give up on that idea!"

  "I know." Eleventh Sister's smile was bitter. "People always have a lucky psychology, thinking there is still a future and they will meet someone better, so they hesitate, waver, and are indecisive... But when the future doesn't exist anymore, they can only focus on the present!"

  "Miss, what's going on here..."

  "It's okay, it's okay." Eleventh Sister waved her hand. "Let's go to bed early, we've been out all day and I'm really tired!"

  The next day, Wu Niang and Shi Yi Niang went to pay their respects to the old lady. The old lady had already gotten out of bed, and the room was cluttered with trunks and chests. She sat on a divan, listening as Da Nainai and Xu Mamah checked the accounts against the contents of the trunks, while Liu Yin Niang waited on her with downcast eyes.

  Seeing them come in, the lady simply raised her eyelids: "They're here!"

  The fifth daughter and eleventh daughter hurried forward to pay their respects to the mistress and the elder lady.

  "I'm busy over here, you all go take a rest!" The mistress said calmly.

  Everyone knows that Liu Ge Lao has retired, but the three old masters of the Luo family are all idle at home... They are all worried and anxious. Who dares to ask or say more in front of the eldest lady?

  The two of them bowed their knees and backed away.

  The Fifth Daughter asked Du Juan who sent them out: "What is this for?"

  "Send gifts!"

  The fifth daughter's eyes shone brightly: "To Master Hou's place?"

  Azalea shook her head: "I don't know!"

  Wu Niang's eyes dimmed, with a hint of disappointment. She sent Zi Wei to walk in front of Luo Qiao, but Luo Qiao had Lian Qiao in front of her, and the atmosphere was very tense. No matter how they asked, they couldn't get any information out of them. They just saw Master and Mistress busy - Master went out early and returned late every day, while Mistress often took Da Nainai to check the trunks.

  During this time, Mrs. Lian went to the Yongping Marquis's residence twice. She left Wu Niang and Shi Yi Niang at home, only bringing Xiaoyi, leaving after lunch and returning before dinner. As if visiting relatives as usual, she either brought a few boxes of snacks or a few pieces of silk fabric.

  This made Eleventh Sister very concerned - who knew what purpose Eldest Madam had gone for?

  She would occasionally stop her needlework and stare blankly into space.

  Fortunately, news came from the other side of the amber: "... Young Master Wang came out of Cuifang Hutong early in the morning, and a vegetable vendor happened to pass by him. For some reason, Young Master Wang was enraged and beat up the vegetable vendor... Later, Xu Jia's fifth master intervened, accompanied by 1,000 taels of silver, and the matter was settled without involving the authorities." As she spoke, her face showed a few hints of hesitation, "I told the carriage driver that I was originally from Yanjing, and when my old grandfather died, I was taken back to Yuhang by Second Madam. Later, I was given to Miss as a gift. These years, I have been staying in Yuhang. Originally, I had a younger sister working at the Mengguo Gongfu...

  This excuse is pretty good!

  The eleventh girl's gaze at Amber had a few more appreciative glances.

  "Who knows, the carriage driver heard this and hurriedly told me, 'You'd better think of a way to go to the Marquis of Mau's residence and take a look! Just last month, they lost two maids - one supposedly died from illness, and another fell into a well. You haven't been in the capital for three or four years, who knows whether your sister is dead or alive?'"

  The eleventh girl couldn't hide her surprise.

  Amber's forehead also had fine sweat: "Miss, or I'll sneak to the Mochizuki public house? Just say it's to find my sister. The car driver also said that if I want to go, change into a disguise, he borrowed his friend's car, and it will be done in an hour. As long as the internal affairs are arranged well, no one will know."

  "No way." Eleventh Sister flatly refused, "His idea is indeed good. But if he takes you to some other place, it will also be unknown to the gods and ghosts."

  Amber wanted to speak but stopped.

  The eleventh girl's expression turned solemn, and she said seriously: "This matter will stop here. Never mention going to the Marquis of Mo's mansion to gather information again!"

  Amber could only nod in agreement.

  Eleventh Girl saw that her expression was somewhat forced, and she repeatedly reminded her of a few words such as "be careful with the boat for ten thousand years", and asked about the Jiang family's affairs: "...can you find out something?"

  "Huai hurriedly said: 'The Jiang family has a five-compound mansion in Shi Shihutong. Currently, it is inhabited by Jiang Hanlin and several young scholars from the Jiang family who are studying at the Imperial Academy. Their family values strictness and humility towards others. The little sixth son said that he had an acquaintance who was a carriage driver, and once when he passed through Shi Shihutong, someone suddenly came out of the alleyway, and he hastily pulled the reins, scaring the person so much that they sat down on the ground with a thud. His friend saw that although the person was dressed very plainly, they had white teeth and red lips, and their hands were even whiter and more beautiful than those of a young lady from a good family. At first glance, it was clear that this was a young master from a wealthy family. The friend was so frightened that he hurriedly apologized. Who would have thought that the young master not only didn't scold him but also gave him two silver coins to calm his nerves? He didn't dare accept them. The young master gave them to him and then left. He was afraid it was a 'ghostly trick'. He specially went to ask around and found out that it was indeed the young master of the Jiang family. The person said, since it was given by the young master of the Jiang family, you can just take it. They are not the kind of people who bully others with their power. Only then did he happily accept it, and he went around telling his relatives and friends about it."

  So the Wang family doesn't want to get involved in Jiang's family affairs?

  Eleventh Sister thought for a moment and asked Amber, "Who is Little Liu? Do you still remember 'Fairy Jump'?"

  Amber's face turned slightly red, and she said somewhat uneasily: "The driver our family hired is called Little Liu. 'Sianren Jump', it was him who told me that it's a trap set to deceive those greedy people into taking a big loss..."

  The eleventh girl smiled, and then thought of the two families of Wang and Jiang with completely different styles of doing things, and the smile on her face involuntarily converged.

  How did these two families become related by marriage?

  An idea flashed through her mind and she couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

  A good marriage should be a match made in heaven, with mutual support and harmony, sharing joys and sorrows together...

  Why did the Luo family want to form an alliance with the Wang family?

  If it's for a good marriage, just based on what I've heard, this Wang Lang is not a good person. If it's for power and status, even the maids in the Xu household know that the Mu State Duke's mansion has declined, and Yuan Niang can't be unaware of it. In that case, it would be more advantageous to marry those officials who have lost their wives and hold real power as a second wife.

  Moreover, judging from the general situation, Luo Yuanniang should have put all her energy into ensuring that her brother's interests would be maximized if she died, so how could she spare the energy to help her own younger half-sister who she hadn't seen in over a decade with a marriage.

  At this thought, Eleventh Sister was startled.

  Not bad, at this time, Luo Yuanniang's thoughts and actions should all be for Jun Ge... Then, what benefits does this marriage bring to Jun Ge?

  The Luo family, the Wang family, the Xu family, the Jiang family... kept spinning in Shiyi Niang's mind like a revolving lantern.

  She asked herself: If I were Luo Yuan's mother, what would I do?

  Once an idea pops into your head, you can't help but think it through.

  Internally, find a stepmother who can be controlled by the Luo family to ensure that Rong Ge grows up smoothly. Externally, seek powerful support and confirm Rong Ge's position as heir as soon as possible. After all, Rong Ge is the eldest son born to Xu Lingyi, more noble than the eldest son born to a stepmother, and the first in line to inherit the title.

  Now, Yuanniang has made up her mind about internal affairs. As for external...

  The eleventh daughter couldn't help but rub her forehead.

  The Jiang family... a noble clan that values self-respect and humility, with a reputation for integrity... doesn't need to be protected, just needs to stand up at the critical moment and speak a fair word for Jun Ge. But at the same time, it's also a political family. Such a family has its own way of measuring things... how can they be tied together with Jun Ge?

  The best way, of course, is to marry into each other's families!

  It just so happens that Duke Mu of Qin has a daughter who married into the Jiang family, and one son needs to take a wife...

  She smiled wryly: "Does the Jiang family have a daughter? How many daughters?" Before Amber could answer, she muttered to herself, "Of course they have a daughter. Otherwise, why would they go around in so many circles..."

  "Why don't I go ask Little Liu again?"

  "Once is enough, don't go asking about it again," she said, pointing eastward. "Lest you arouse suspicion."

  "I understand."

  The eleventh girl nodded slightly and smiled: "You go rest now!"

  She needs to think carefully about what to do with this matter.

  Amber backed away and bumped right into Jade.

  "How did you get here, little sister?" She smiled and invited Feicui to her own west wing room.

  Feicui smiled and shook her head: "I'm here to invite Miss Eleven - Third Aunt has arrived, bringing Fifth Master and Sixth Master, and is having tea with Eldest Mistress. Eldest Mistress asked me to come and tell Fifth Miss and Eleventh Miss to go over and pay their respects."

  Amber smiled and nodded, waiting for Feicui to go to Wu Niang's place to pass on the words of the eldest lady, then accompanied her to Shi Yi Niang's place.

  Knowing the meaning of Feicui's words, Shier Niang tidied up and brought Hupo to follow Feicui to Da Tai Tai's place.

  Compared with when she was in Yuhang, the 27-year-old Third Lady had obviously become much more haggard.

  Eleventh Sister gave her a bow, and Fifth Brother and Sixth Brother, who were standing aside, laughed and shouted "Eleventh Sister".

  On duty tonight. It's said that there might be a flood diversion...