Wang Xia burst out laughing again as she brought it up. "When the eunuch came in to read the decree, the heir and his wife were positively glowing. They served him tea and even massaged his legs. But guess what the imperial decree said?"
"It said that three Coal Mine Spirits had rolled into the Marquis's Residence a few days ago, and ordered the household to capture them and send them to Anyuan County for the common people to worship. Only then would the natural disasters stop!"
"After the eunuch finished reading the decree, he saw those three blackened people and decided they matched perfectly. He cried out that the Coal Mine Spirits had come down from the mountains, then had them tied up and sent to Anyuan County to serve as lucky mascots!"
"They'll probably be gone for ten days or half a month. In the end, you'll still be the one calling the shots in the Marquis's Residence, First Madam!"
Liu Wan looked utterly stunned. That actually worked?
Little Wanwan craned her neck to listen and nearly toppled off the couch!
[Oh my goodness, have I lost my memory? Why don't I remember this part of Dad's story?]
[This is absurd, absolutely absurd! How did a perfectly normal dad turn into a Coal Mine Spirit?]
[What on earth happened? Let me cast a divination for him!]
Little Wanwan flung the milk bottle in her hand onto the floor!
Huh?
Why couldn't I get a divination out of it?
While bewilderment covered her chubby little face, Liu Wan came over, gathered her up, and settled her back on the couch.
"It's good for them to be away for a while. Peace and quiet are hard to come by!"
Her eldest brother and the Fifth Princess would also be getting married during this time. A little peace and quiet would be welcome.
Pan Chun and Wang Xia both nodded.
They had witnessed all the grievances First Madam had suffered lately, and naturally did not want those bullies to remain here either.
Sucking her finger, Little Wanwan stared at the milk bottle standing upside down on the floor, its nipple touching the ground, and sank into thought!
Wang Xia went to the courtyard where Xu Rourou lived to deliver a message.
"Concubine Xu, First Madam says that Fourth Master is gravely ill, and she hopes you'll take Young Master Huai Shan to visit him more often. After all, Young Master Huai Shan is Fourth Master's own flesh and blood, even if he cannot be acknowledged openly."
"After you brought the child to see him last time, even the physician said Fourth Master's health had improved considerably. With no one overseeing the household now, First Madam hopes Fourth Master will recover soon so he can take charge of the family's affairs."
"Really? Fourth Master will be put in charge of the Marquis's Residence?" Xu Rourou's eyes lit up.
She could see it herself: Second Master came and went without a trace, while Third Master indulged in debauchery without restraint. Though Fourth Master's health was somewhat poor, he was an educated man who knew when to advance and when to retreat.
Now that the Marquis's Residence had lost its guiding pillar and Liu Wan no longer wanted to manage things, she would surely let Fourth Master take charge.
"Of course. My First Madam isn't even the mistress of the household anymore. Who else besides Fourth Master could manage the inner household?"
Only after watching Xu Rourou carry the child to Fourth Master's courtyard with her own eyes did Wang Xia return to report to Liu Wan.
Liu Wan smiled faintly. Just then, Xie Zimu hurried in again. "Mother, you were right! Thank goodness you told me to keep an eye on my younger brother in advance. They really did go off to do something bad!" Fortunately, his mother had told him to watch his brother that day, making it easier to catch him in the act.
[Oh no, Grandmother sent that servant! He's taking Second Brother to Flower Street to inhale powder. Once Grandmother ruins Second Brother, she'll go after Eldest Brother too!]
Little Wanwan was even more anxious than Liu Wan. Having just finished her milk, she began babbling again.
Liu Wan handed the baby to Pan Chun, then asked Xie Zimu, "Do you know where he is?"
"He's..." Xie Zimu flushed with embarrassment, then said angrily, "He's in a little establishment on Flower Street. A while ago, a teacher at Tongzhi Academy told me my younger brother was skipping lessons. I thought he'd gone home to play. I never imagined..."
"We're going now!" Liu Wan put on her cloak and prepared to leave without hesitation.
Pan Chun stopped her. "Eldest Madam, Flower Street is full of gambling and prostitution. If you go there just like this, it will surely damage your good name!"
Liu Wan froze.
So this was what Madam Li was after.
If she did not go, Zi Xing would be ruined. If she went, her reputation would be ruined!
Whether she intervened or not, Madam Li would get what she wanted.
At that thought, she clenched her fists, then calmed herself and said, "Have Qing Da come here!"
Xie Zimu was quick on his feet, running to the entrance of the Second Courtyard and back again.
Qing Da followed behind him, barely able to keep up.
"Eldest Madam, what do you need?"
Liu Wan said, "Take a few servants who are skilled in martial arts and go to Flower Street to seize two people for me!"
Flower Street.
Candlelight flickered inside a small Gambling House, where graceful women swayed their bodies to entice customers into placing bets.
In a small room wreathed in smoke, a little boy lay in a chair, holding a pipe and exhaling smoke.
"This is so much fun. It feels even better than going to heaven!"
Xie Zixing sighed languidly. He had just slipped out of the academy, skipping his lessons, and was still wearing his academy robes. Reclining sideways in the chair, he showed unmistakable signs of addiction.
"Oh, young master, you have no idea how precious this powder is. An ounce is worth as much as gold! We absolutely mustn't let Madam or the others know we're having fun here."
"If Madam finds out you've spent so much money, she'll definitely be angry."
The servant beside him spoke fawningly as he lit the pipe for him.
Xie Zixing nodded, only feeling sorry that his mother and older brother could not enjoy something so wonderful.
Just then, the Gambling House's Female Gambling Housekeeper came in.
The Female Gambling Housekeeper wore scanty clothing that showed off her voluptuous figure, utterly unafraid of being ogled.
She set down a small packet of powder and said ingratiatingly, "You must be seven now, young master. You're our youngest patron."
"In a few more years, I'll send some girls over for you to play with. Heeheehee."
The Female Gambling Housekeeper giggled, then massaged Xie Zixing's legs, pampering him until he felt as though he were floating.
Xie Zixing asked, "By the way, I've been coming here for several days, but I still don't know how much this Happy Powder costs."
He wanted to buy some to take home for his older brother and younger sister.
Then they could learn what it felt like to float up to heaven too.
"You've spent a total of ten thousand taels of silver over these past few days. Service is our specialty, and you can't get this stuff just anywhere. We lose a great many brothers on every trip."
The Female Gambling Housekeeper spoke with a beaming smile.
Happy Powder was expressly banned by the imperial court.
At first, taking it brought pleasure, but once addiction set in... the mind grew muddled, and the whole body lost its strength...
Even if someone suffered until death, they could never break free of the addiction.
Xie Zixing already looked as though he was addicted.
Xie Zixing abruptly snapped out of his haze and put down the pipe in his hand. "What? Ten thousand taels?"
Where was he supposed to get that much money? He looked to the servant beside him for help.
The smile froze on the servant's lips. "Second Young Master, perhaps you could put it on credit and ask First Madam for the money when you get home."
Xie Zixing shook his head frantically.
The Female Gambling Housekeeper's expression changed. "Are you saying you intend to skip out on the bill, young master?"
With that, all the enforcers outside the door came in.
The tall, burly men surrounded Xie Zixing.
Before you continue