Volume 1: The Imperial Capital's Marquis Manor Chapter 14: The Incident Unfolds

  It's the New Year, and all the government offices are closed. There are more people coming to our house, so Chen Lan has to be prepared at any moment for someone to call her to see guests. She feels even more tired than usual. If it weren't for what she heard on New Year's Eve, she would almost want to use the excuse of a relapse of her injury and headache to hide in her room. Now she can only force herself to deal with wave after wave of guests. Fortunately, not all the guests are those cunning and manipulative people, occasionally there are some innocent children who don't have many thoughts.

  On the fifth day of the first month, a decree from the East Changhou family arrived. The elders were speaking in the main hall of the Lianxiang Temple, while the younger ones were separated by gender and stayed in the east and west wings. As soon as Madame East Changhou arrived, she called Chen Lan over and personally apologized for the incident where he fell into the pond last time. After sitting down in the room, Chen Lan felt that the two young ladies from the East Changhou family had a hint of malice in their words. Although she was able to endure it, she still felt annoyed while sitting there. Just as Chen Tai went out, she also followed him and left after closing the curtain. As the curtain fell, she faintly heard a burst of soft laughter coming from inside.

  "Bing Jie, she's even more arrogant than you, the dignified Young Master Ning's daughter!"

  "It's just that, who knows if I myself didn't slip and fall into the water, yet he still says something about chivalrously saving his brother, it's laughable!"

  "Alright, alright, you two stop talking, or people will think I'm bullying my own sister. However, to be honest, she really is overestimating herself, Young Master Yu is the son of the Duke of Dongchang, and she dares to get close to him?"

  "Yes, the toad wants to eat swan meat!"

  Hearing the laughter inside, Chen Lan was furious in her heart and took a deep breath to calm down. When she looked for Chen Tai again, she found that he had already disappeared. From the eastern wing of the house came the voices of several boys, but behind the screen at the back of the main hall seemed quiet. She thought that it would not be good to retreat rashly at this time, and since men and women should not be too familiar with each other, going into the eastern wing was even more inappropriate. It would be better to go to the back where the elders were gathered to join in the fun and maybe gather some information. Just as she was thinking this, the pearl curtain on the left side of the screen moved, and it was Green Lotus, the first-class maid beside Zhu Shi, who came out. Seeing Chen Lan, she hurried forward.

  "How did Third Miss come out?"

  "It's too stuffy in the house, let's go out for some fresh air." Chen Lan said this without batting an eyelid, and gently wiped his forehead with a handkerchief. He then smiled and said, "Besides, I also want to see if Grandmother is free. Fourth brother told me the other day that it's already the ninth of the first month, according to our annual custom, we should go to the Huguo Temple to burn incense and make offerings. I'd like to report to her first."

  Lü Yu was already seventeen years old, and by reason she should have been married off long ago, but as the most senior maid in the Lianxiang Institute, Madam Zhu had not arranged for her to be married. She herself never mentioned this matter, and whether it was in front of the master or the young masters, she was always courteous and respectful. However, although she seemed gentle and calm, she was a worldly person who knew that the two young ladies from the Dongchang Hou Mansion would inevitably mock her behind her back. So when Chen Lan didn't mention this matter at all, Lü Yu naturally pretended not to know.

  "Dongchang Hou's wife went to Er Furen's Zining residence to chat, and the old lady had just rested for a while, and was now awake."

  Did the lady of East Changhou and Madam Ma go to Zining residence to talk? Chen Lan glanced at the door curtain of the western wing, thinking of the conversation between Chen Bing and the two young ladies from the East Changhou Mansion just now, and suddenly showed a smile. Then he said in surprise: "The old lady has just rested? Why didn't you tell us, so we can be quieter."

  It's convenient for others and oneself, Green Bud quietly revealed a hint, at this time hurriedly explained: "It's the old lady's intention. The old lady said that listening to her grandchildren laughing and chatting, sleeping is also more stable. Third Miss, follow me."

  Chen Lan followed Lü Yu from the pearl curtain and entered, only to see Zhu Shi reclining on the warm couch behind the screen, with Yu Mei using a beauty mallet to massage her legs. Seeing Chen Lan come in, she slightly nodded her head. After Chen Lan paid her respects and briefly explained the matter of making offerings on the anniversary of his mother's death, Zhu Shi nodded and merely instructed him to carefully select the people who would accompany him out, make proper arrangements for the journey, and have someone notify the temple ahead of time, etc. Finally, seeing Zheng Mama come in, she mentioned this matter again.

  "Now that Lin'er is a big girl, she can't go out as carelessly as before. Hong Xiang and Yun'er will follow her, and we'll also choose two third-class maids to accompany them. We can leave two third-class servant girls to watch the house, which should be enough. As for Yan'er, there's no need to bring a maid; just having a few young servants following him is sufficient. Let's also choose two suitable matrons and eight family guards to escort them. By the way, you might as well go to Huguo Temple and check on the Longming lamp for me. Also, remind them that on that day, except for officials' families, no other idle people should be allowed in casually, lest they cause trouble."

  Madam Zheng responded with a single word, and Chen Lan could only sigh inwardly, thinking that being born in this strict household made it difficult to even catch a glimpse of the bustling scenery outside. However, she had to express gratitude for her grandmother's careful arrangements on the surface. Just then, Madam Zheng left first, and she chatted with Zhu Shi for a while before getting up to take her leave. Suddenly, a commotion was heard from outside, followed by Yu Xiang bursting in through the door curtain.

  "The old lady...the old lady is no good!"

  Chen Lan's heart tightened, and she instinctively thought of the words Hong Luo had heard on New Year's Eve. Without thinking, she scolded: "On this festive occasion of the Lunar New Year, how can you speak like that, sister? What's wrong? Can't you say things calmly and peacefully? Don't forget, Madame Dongchang Hou and the two young ladies are our guests!"

  Yu Mei was also shocked by the sudden news and lost her composure. At this time, Chen Lan said so, she suddenly came to her senses. Lu E also tasted the flavor and hurriedly pulled the person forward, also whispering: "Third Miss is right, there are still guests in the western wing!"

  Madam Zhu also looked over sternly, and Yu Rou's heart shrank, but thinking of the urgency of the news, she stepped forward and bowed her knees after bowing. In a low voice that was still trembling: "Old lady, someone just came to see the Grand Manager at the outer courtyard, claiming to be sent by the Princess... also said that our Second Master has committed an offense, the Embroidered Uniform Guard... the Embroidered Uniform Guard is ordered by the Emperor to take him down... this person has already gone to the yamen! The steward can't find Zheng Mama, and I happened to be at the second gate looking for someone to handle matters, so I was informed..."

  The Chen family, as one of the top Houmen families that had been passed down for hundreds of years, knew what it meant when the Imperial Guards came to their door. The meritorious officials who followed the Taizu Emperor in conquering the country were granted hereditary titles, but only a few dozen families remained after all these years. Those declining families of old either rebelled, stood on the wrong side, lost battles, or got implicated... In short, when the Imperial Guards came to take someone away, it almost always meant disaster!

  At this moment, Yu Xuan and Lu'e saw Zhu's face change greatly, and she pressed her chest, panting slightly. Seeing Yu Xuan's shock and wanting to shout, Chen Lan quickly supported Zhu, whispering: "Don't make a sound, do you want the current situation to become even more chaotic? Hurry up and get a cup of hot water, also bring the medicine that Old Lady usually takes...and go to Zi Ning Ju to pass on a message to Second Madam, don't say what exactly happened, just say that Old Lady invites Second Madam and East Chang Hou's wife over for a talk. If Jin Yi Wei arrives and East Chang Hou's wife and two young ladies are still here, who knows how much more trouble it will cause!"

  Having said that, Chen Lan looked at the four third-class maids in the house who were as stupid as wooden chickens and ordered in a deep voice: "What you just heard, don't reveal half a word later!"

  Yu Rong was stunned by Chen Lan's rapid-fire speech, while Lu'e came to her senses more quickly and hastily pushed her: "Didn't you hear Third Miss's words? Hurry up and go, don't be late!"

  Yu Rou stood there for a moment, then suddenly came back to her senses, nodded and ran out like the wind. Meanwhile, Lu'e was busy getting water and medicine. When she brought the medicine, Chen Lan hurriedly gave it to Zhu Shi with water, and then gently patted Zhu Shi's chest and back. After a while, when the old lady finally came around, Yu Rou carefully examined her pale face, but couldn't see any clues.

  If she hadn't firmly believed that Hongluo would never lie about something so critical, she must have thought that Zhushi was stunned by sudden bad news!

  "Alright, San Yutou, you've done well, I haven't spoiled you for nothing!" Zhu Shi sat up straight, holding onto the armrest of the warming couch, and gently patted Chen Lan's hand. She then let out a long sigh, and her usual calm and collected expression reappeared on her face. "Lu'e, in a little while, go to the eastern and western wings and invite all the young masters and misses over. Also, invite those two misses from the Dongchang Marquis' household."

  P.S: I recommend my own old book "Spring Palace Intrigue", yeah, it's about the history of the Tang Dynasty, personally always liked that book ^_^