novelaction Chapter 373 Keeping an Appointment
Chapter 373 Keeping an Appointment
Old Kang went to the old marquis, but before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by the old marquis.
"Let's just leave it at that. Jiang and the fifth girl had good intentions. Who would have thought that your two daughters-in-law were so short-sighted that they would cause such trouble over a few pieces of cloth? Now that people on both sides have been hurt, there's no need to mention this matter again!"
What do you mean there is no need to mention it again?
I think it is you, an old man, who took the tribute from the third house. It is not good to scold Jiang anymore!
Old Kang was so angry that she felt uncomfortable. After the people from the palace came to make trouble, there was not much change on the old marquis' side. The meals were just a little less than usual, but there was meat every day. Unlike her, she had been eating tasteless vegetarian dishes for several days in a row. Old Kang now drooled unconsciously when she thought of the meals she had eaten before.
"Go back! It's time for dinner soon." The old marquis didn't want to see her.
He didn’t know before that Mrs. Kang had hidden so many private properties. This time, when people from the palace came to her house, they took a lot of things directly from her. He was stunned when he saw it.
While recuperating these days, the old marquis thought about the situation at that time and couldn't help but blame old Kang. He should have been told earlier that there were so many private properties, so that he could arrange them in advance and they would not be taken away by the people in the palace.
Speaking of which, Old Kang was indeed not a housekeeper. She had been constantly supporting her mother's family in the past. Thinking of this, the old marquis suddenly remembered that on Old Kang's birthday, he had given the Kang family a banknote. He immediately frowned and said to Old Kang:
"I think your injury has almost healed. Take some time out in the next two days to go back to the Kang family and get back the money I gave them on your birthday. With that money, our mansion will be able to get through this difficult time."
Old Mrs. Kang also suddenly remembered that Aunt Xu had told her at that time that the old marquis had given money to the Kang family, but this money was equivalent to hush money given to the Kang family. It would not be so easy to get it back, and it might even capsize the marquis's mansion.
"How can I go out in my current state? I came to you today despite the pain. I will go back after I recover for a few days."
Old Mrs. Kang said that she had just heard the old marquis say that he was going to have dinner, and she had been planning to stay and ask Madam Xu to put her own food on the old marquis' side so that she could have a taste of the old marquis's meat dishes. But now she had lost interest, and after she finished speaking, she hurried away.
Aunt Xu supported her and walked back slowly. She also thought of the money from the Kang family and couldn't help saying:
"Madam, what the Marquis said is not wrong. The Kang family has taken advantage of the Marquis's mansion for many years. Not to mention the Second Madam, the two shops you gave to the Kang family alone bring in 1,800 taels of silver a year. What's more, the house they live in now was also bought for them after you married into the Marquis's mansion, right?"
"Madam, you've been getting a lot of things from the Kang family over the years. Forget about the annual gifts during festivals. Whenever Uncle Kang comes to the Marquis's Mansion, has he ever left empty-handed?"
Naturally, what Nanny Xu said was also heard by Old Mrs. Kang, but when she thought of what Old Madam Kang said, she still felt a little uneasy.
"Let's put this matter aside for now. I have to think of a perfect solution for this matter."
Old Kang went to find out the news about the old marquis, and within a moment, she was brought to Fuguang Courtyard. Su Qingwan was trimming a pot of holly in front of her with scissors. This was also sent by the palace for her to enjoy.
"It doesn't matter! She's not hungry now. When she gets hungry, she won't want to walk back and forth." Su Qingwan smiled slightly.
The next day, Su Qingwan said something to Jiang and went out.
The carriage carried her slowly across the Shuiyu Bridge and headed straight for Luming Garden in the north city.
It took almost an hour to reach the destination. When Su Qingwan got off the carriage, she could only sigh and said that it would be more convenient for her to sneak into Prince Xian's mansion at night to look for someone!
"Fourth Miss, please come this way."
The captain of the guards stared at the door for a long time, and finally saw Su Qingwan coming. He immediately stepped forward and bowed and said.
"Let's go!" Su Qingwan knew him, so she followed him into Luming Garden.
Not long after we walked in, we saw two sika deer strolling back and forth on the lawn. They seemed not to be afraid of people.
The chief guard saw her looking at him for a few more times and explained, "These deer have grown up here since they were young, so they are not afraid of people."
Su Qingwan nodded and said nothing.
If he guessed correctly, the boss behind Lumingyuan should be Li Yuncheng.
After she followed the chief guard for a while, she stopped in front of a door and said, "The prince is inside. Miss Four, just go in."
The captain of the guards gently pushed open the door and invited Su Qingwan in.
Su Qingwan walked in. The room was very spacious with several large carved screens. Curtains hung from the beams, swaying slightly in the wind.
She walked inside, around the screen and curtains, and saw a wide couch with a low table on one side. Li Yuncheng was sitting on one side. When he saw her come in, he immediately stood up.
"Miss Fourth is here. Please take a seat." He gestured to the seat opposite the low table.
Su Qingwan walked over and looked down. There was a chessboard with unfinished pieces on the low table. It seemed that he had just been playing chess.
Judging from the two giant dragons fighting each other on the chessboard, the battle is very intense.
She sat down and took out a white piece from the jar, and asked with a smile: "Is it time to place the white piece?"
Li Yuncheng nodded slightly, "Yes, Miss Four, please."
He signaled Su Qingwan to make her move. In fact, although the situation on the chessboard was tense at this moment, it was obvious that the white piece had already fallen to the bottom. Within ten moves, the white piece would surely lose.
Su Qingwan took the white piece. Did she want the white piece to turn defeat into victory?
Holding the white jade piece between two fingers, Su Qingwan raised her hand and placed it on the chessboard.
Li Yuncheng took a look at it. He had thought about this move before. If the white piece landed here, it would not survive even seven moves, let alone ten.
He said nothing, only picked up the black piece and put it down.
Su Qingwan took out another chess piece with a calm expression and placed it on the chessboard.
This move was exactly as Li Yuncheng had guessed. He continued to make moves, thinking that Su Qingwan would do the same thing as before, but he didn't expect that she changed direction and made a move, catching him off guard.
After several exchanges of hands, Li Yuncheng put down the black piece in his hand, stood up, and said, "Fourth Miss, I lost."
Su Qingwan smiled lightly and asked, "You made me run so far today just to play a game of chess with you?"
"Of course not!" Li Yuncheng sat down again.
"The day the Emperor sent someone to reprimand the Marquis of Chengping, he used Prince Yi's tiger talisman to test me."
Su Qingwan's eyes were calm. According to Wen Jindi's character, testing Li Yuncheng meant that he was suspicious.
"Did you accept it?"