Chapter 81: Thoughts (Part 2)

  Mrs. Xue was busy getting the poem out with her son, she looked at it by the light of the lamp, but the light was too dim to see clearly. After thinking for a moment, she already had a plan in mind. She looked at Xue Ming and said in a low voice: "Don't make this public for now, let me investigate first." As she spoke, she folded up the poem and put it into her sleeve.

  Mrs. Xue told her son, "Go back and rest early!" After watching Xue Ming'ai walk away, Mrs. Xue found a quiet warm room to sit in, called the reliable Dong nurse from the mansion to ask some questions, and then returned to her own courtyard.

  Old Master Xue Chongyi changed his clothes and was drinking tea in the house. At the dinner table, everyone was flattering him, although he knew that most of these people were trying to take advantage of him, but he couldn't help feeling happy. Xue Chongyi couldn't help humming a little tune, and his raised foot was still following the rhythm, responding with a circle.

  Madam Xue knew as soon as she entered the door that Mr. Xue was half drunk, otherwise he wouldn't have behaved like this.

  The maids at the door were dismissed, and Xue Ping's wife entered the house.

  Xue Chongyi saw his wife and smiled, asking, "Has mother gone to sleep?"

  Xue Xuan nodded, "He's asleep."

  In recent years, thanks to the lady's meticulous service to her mother-in-law and frequent help in understanding her intentions, otherwise, her mother would not have been biased towards their second house in everything.

  Xue Man's wife helped Xue Chongyi onto the bed, then undressed and lay down beside her. Only after lowering the bed curtains did she begin to speak, "I was right, wasn't I? You were thinking of forming an alliance with the Tao family."

  Xue Chongyi was somewhat surprised, he had thought that the previous guess was just Mrs. Hu's random speculation, such a good marriage for Changning Bo, how could the main house possibly miss it, "It's not necessarily! If so, Eldest Sister would also be unlikely to follow Mother..."

  Xue Xi looked at her husband's hypocritical appearance, pouted and said, "What? Are you still taking her side? If it weren't for her, how would we have gotten such a great opportunity?"

  Xue Chongyi was moved by this and sat up straight, asking "Did mother agree?"

  Xue Shi said: "It's not that easy, but I think it's also eight or nine out of ten."

  Xue Chongyi's suppressed smile finally came out, "If that's the case, then it's great," he said, relaxing his elbow and lying down again. "What is the relationship between Changning Bo's family and Zhuang Qinwang? As long as we have this layer, our few shops won't have to worry anymore. Besides..." When it came to politics, Xue Chongyi stopped talking.

  Xue Shi had no interest in politics, she only cared about those few shops. Previously, she heard that some noble family had private property, and she was so envious. She struggled for half a day but ended up with little profit and couldn't even get the goods. Later, she realized that this matter wasn't so simple, it wasn't something anyone could start. However, now as long as you have a relationship with Prince Zhuang, all problems are solved.

  Xue Chongyi said: "Although we think so, the Chang Ning Bo family may not agree."

  Xue Xi smiled complacently, "Now who outside doesn't know about the splendor of our second house? I think Madame Changning also has a good impression of our second house."

  Xue Chongyi was a bit cautious, "I told you before, these words can't be spoken casually. If they get out and Mingrui hears them, it's over. Others have said it, but you still need to avoid it. One careless move and it'll become a reality."

  Xue Xi's expression changed, and she coldly laughed, "I think this time the main house will fall into our hands."

  "What nonsense are you talking about?"

  Xue Xuan said: "Ming Yi is afraid of his second brother, that's fine. But why are you also afraid? He's your nephew, what can he do to you? Ming Yi is now a member of the Imperial Guard, while he... is just relying on the blessings of his ancestors..."

  Xue Chongyi didn't want to say more with his wife on this matter, turned over and was about to blow out the lamp, but was pulled back by Xue Yun, "I haven't shown you the good stuff yet."

  Xue Chongyi turned around, and the lady handed him a piece of paper. He took it over and opened it, on which there was a poem. The first two lines were written in handwriting he recognized as his son Xue Mingbiao's, but the last two lines...

  Xue Xi smiled and said: "I look at this handwriting, it doesn't seem like the young ladies from the mansion. Maybe it's one of the young women who came to the mansion today."

  Xue Chongyi looked at his wife's complacent expression and said, "Have you investigated thoroughly? Which young lady from a respectable family would be so lacking in propriety?"

  Xue Chongyi looked at the light, Xue Min was afraid that Xue Chongyi would accidentally burn this poem, and hurriedly came forward to grab it. He raised his eyebrows with a curved willow leaf shape, "I won't be wrong. There's a lot of room for maneuvering in here."

  "What did you say?" asked Xue Chongyi.

  Xue Xi let her husband support her to lie down, only then did she say: "I've asked everyone, today in the garden, only two young ladies from the Tao family and the fourth young lady from the Chang Ning Bo family were playing around. Since they are all main guests of our mansion, our servants and maids followed them closely and told them what each place was for."

  Xue Chongyi said: "You suspect it's these three ladies?"

  Xue Yan nodded, "Tomorrow I will carefully ask around to see if anyone saw someone going to the study. Now can you still say that our second house is not as good as the main house? Even the young lady who is supposed to be matched with the eldest son of the main house has taken a liking to our Ming Xiang."

  Xue Chongyi blew out the lamp, and Xue Min's wife was thinking to herself on the side. If it were Tao family's eighth young lady, Miss Tao Ba, when she married over in the future, with this handle in her hand, wouldn't that eighth young lady listen obediently? She was worried that water couldn't penetrate the tight defense around Xue Mingrui.

  If it were Miss Tao's second daughter, in the future she would also be the same. With a sister like that at home, her own reputation would not be affected?

  If it were Changning Bo's fourth daughter, she wouldn't have to think about anything else, and the marriage would be settled. Xue Man thought along this line more and more, and as a result, he was so delighted that he couldn't sleep, turning over and over again.

  There's always an idea lingering in my mind, Eldest Sister-in-law has such poor eyesight, picking and choosing, eight out of ten will choose a concubine daughter, where does it look like she can see the wealth and nobility this marriage brings to her. Don't look at how many people are currently being fooled, unfortunately no one can see the future, otherwise I don't know what kind of prosperous scene their second house would be.

  ……

  Madam Xue was talking with Wu Mu Hou Xue Mingrui in the house, "You've seen these few ladies, which one do you think is more suitable?"

  It's rare for her son to put aside his official duties and talk to her, showing that he still cares about his own marriage. This is good, maybe the one she chooses will be more considerate in the future. And it won't turn out like the situation in her dream.

  Today, she just saw Miss Fourth of the Changning Bo family and scared her. That fourth miss turned out to be the daughter-in-law in her dream. She thought carefully and had never met that fourth miss before, how could she see her in her dream? Were those things she dreamed about really happening?

  How could Ming Rui's career path be so bumpy? In the end, the Xue family...

  These words are not easy for her to say to others, if there is someone who can share her worries, she won't have to work so hard and there will be someone to help her deal with it carefully, before confirming, she can't tell Mingrui, lest he gets distracted.

  Mrs. Xue came to herself, "I see that the fourth Miss of the Ning family seems a bit spoiled, but I think the second Miss Tao is more suitable for you. Today, looking at her, I'm afraid the second Miss's illness hasn't improved." Mrs. Xue naturally thought of the eighth Miss jumping into the water to save the second Miss and the second Miss's behavior afterwards.

  Mrs. Cai said slowly, "Miss Tao Ba saved me, and she's also very generous and dignified. It's just that being a concubine is an identity that might be beneath you." Just as she was saying this, Mrs. Gu came in from outside and said, "The carriage sent by the Tao family for their madam and young lady has returned."

  "Madam Xue furrowed her brow, 'Without asking those who followed him, how come he's back so late?'"

  "Gu's mother glanced at Hou Ye, 'I asked, and the coachman, Chu, said that when they arrived at the Tao Mansion gate, they encountered a subordinate of Old Master Tao. The man insisted on paying his respects to Madame Tao, but as it was late and they were outside, Madame Tao refused to see him. However, he refused to leave. With this person present, Madame Tao and the young ladies couldn't get off the carriage, so they waited until someone from the Tao Mansion came, and only then did the man leave.'"

  Mrs. Xue couldn't help but be surprised, "How can such a thing happen?" The subordinates of Master Tao only went to formally pay their respects to Master Tao, how could they block the carriage of Mrs. Tao, and there was even Miss Tao in the carriage, who would not understand etiquette? Or is there another reason?

  "Specifically, we don't know the situation either."

  "Madam Xue nodded and looked at Xue Mingrui, "What I said just now, do you think it's reasonable? If so, I'll go back to Old Madam Xue and settle it as soon as possible. You're not young anymore, and the household should have someone to assist me too."

  Xue Mingrui's facial lines softened slightly, "Mother will arrange it."

  This remark was agreed upon by Miss Tao's eighth young lady.

  Mrs. Xue floated a faint smile, if it weren't for that nightmare in front of her, she wouldn't have put aside her family background and identity to look at someone's character alone, the eighth miss of the Tao Mansion had a calm temperament, was polite and courteous to people, when talking about her, Mingrui also didn't show any signs of rejection, this was already very good.

  Xue Mingrui sat for a while before getting up and leaving.

  Madam Gu entered the inner chamber to attend to Madam Xue's toilette, changed her clothes, removed her adornments, and dismissed the little maid. Then Madam Gu asked, "Milady, do you want someone to go to the Tao estate to find out what happened?"

  Madam Xue said: "Isn't it said that it's about one of Lord Tao's subordinates? Then it shouldn't be an internal household matter. It should be a government affair, you don't need to be too obvious, just send someone to pay attention to it and that will do."

  Mrs. Gu nodded, "The lady is right."

  ……

  The lady of the house got out of the carriage and let Yao Hua and Rong Hua return to their rooms.

  "Master is waiting for you inside," said Mrs. Chen.

  Madam walked into the inner chamber and saw Tao Zheng'an with a gloomy face, tightly furrowed brows, seemingly deep in thought. He looked up and asked abruptly, "How is the situation at the Wu Mu Marquis's residence?"

  The old lady nodded, "I think they will be related to us by marriage."

  Tao Zheng let out a sigh of relief, "This is good, as long as Yao Hua gets married I can rest assured, the rest... if all else fails, there's no other choice."

  The lady didn't understand what Tao Zheng'an meant, "Sir, what are you worried about?"

  Tao Zheng'an's face turned stern again as he looked at the mistress, "I'm afraid someone will come to propose a marriage in these few days."

  The lady couldn't help but let out an "ah".

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