Gusu City
Xu Xi knew nothing of this; she didn't even attend the opening of Gathered Treasures Studio, instead staying at the academy to attend classes.
As a designer, all she needed to do after the opening of Gathered Treasures Studio was to collect some data to see which styles of jewelry sold well and which did not, so as to grasp market trends and adjust her design direction accordingly.
While attending classes peacefully, she calculated that it should be almost time and began to look forward to the return of Zhao Yuanxun and the others.
Xu Xi was living a leisurely life at Gathered Treasures Studio and the academy, but things were in complete chaos at the Marquis of Suiping's Residence these days.
The morning after that incident, when Lady Wei woke up, she wanted to urge the First Madam to punish the man with a cane and then take him away. She found a row of servants kneeling in the main courtyard, and the First Madam was furious. She then learned that Li Mu's family had actually run away overnight. She almost fainted and immediately started arguing with the First Madam.
However, the First Madam's authority over the household, built up over many years, was undeniable. Furthermore, the Zhu Family was not easily manipulated and was no less powerful than the Wei Family, so Lady Wei dared not go too far.
But when she discovered that it was the Third Madam Lady Su's people who let the Qingliu family go, things got really out of hand. She grabbed Lady Su and made a scene for a long time, scolding Lady Su until she fainted, until the Old Madam stopped her and gave her a good scolding.
"They're just servants, aren't they? They're not made of gold, how many taels of silver are they worth in total? You made a scene with your sister-in-law and your brother's wife over this, is this the Wei Family's upbringing? You're such a short-sighted person, causing chaos in the household over a few taels of silver. If word gets out, who would dare marry a girl from your Wei Family?"
Then the old lady instructed the eldest wife, "Regardless of how those servants escaped, it's ultimately your fault for not guarding them properly. Take fifty taels of silver from your private account and give it to your second sister-in-law, and that will settle the matter."
She glared at Lady Wei again. "If you keep making trouble, I'll take people to your Wei Family Wei Family and ask just how precious your servants are that they've caused Wei Family mistress to disrespect her elder sister-in-law and create discord with her younger siblings for their sake. Could it be that you've ordered those servants to commit murder, arson, or other shameful acts, and you're feeling guilty, hence this fuss? If so, our Lady Wei's mansion dares not keep your mistress. I'll have my Second Brother give you a letter of divorce, and you can take your servants and go back to your parents' home."
These words nearly made Lady Wei faint with anger.
Is it just a matter of a few taels of silver? Is it just a matter of a few servants? It really infuriates her.
No one but her could cause trouble. If they continued, it would confirm that she had instigated the Qingliu family to commit murder and arson.
Lady Wei was not a person who could control her temper. Otherwise, when Xu Xi returned to the Marquis's mansion, even though she knew she couldn't treat Xu Xi badly and arouse suspicion, she still couldn't help but lose her temper when Xu Xi talked back to her, which eventually led to Xu Xi taking the opportunity to break free from her control.
This time, she had lost Li Mu's family of three and Qingliu brother who had disappeared at some point, and she had also suffered from the anger of the old lady, the first lady, and the third branch of the family. She was filled with resentment and took it out on Matron Li when she got back. She pointed at her and vented her anger on her, and even had Matron Li locked in the woodshed and not given any food.
Matron Li was an elderly woman, and she was worried about the safety of her children and grandchildren. After being tormented by Lady Wei, she fell ill within a few days, suffering from a persistent high fever and delirium.
Thinking about all the things that Matron Li had handled, and worried that she might talk nonsense and reveal those things, Lady Wei would rather she were dead.
The mouth of a dead man is the most secure.
But if Matron Li is in her hands, the Li Mu family will be hesitant to act rashly, at most hiding outside, or being kept by the First Madam or the Third Madam, but they won't dare to reveal her secrets. Once Matron Li dies, the Li Mu family will hate her to the bone, wouldn't that force them to expose her?
"Carry Matron Li back, give her a bath and change her clothes, then have the kitchen cook her some rice porridge. After she drinks the porridge, invite Physician Shi to come and take a look," she instructed.
"How is the second branch of the family doing?" The First Madam asked Matron Zhou, sitting in her courtyard.
"We carried Matron Li out of the woodshed and invited Physician Shi to take a look," Matron Zhou said.
The First Madam nodded, gazing at the trees in the garden beginning to shed their leaves, and said, "How is things going with the Marquis?" Judging by the days, the matters in Gusu should be mostly resolved by now, shouldn't they?
In a private room facing the street in a restaurant near the Gusu City government office, Zhao Yuanxun sat by the window on the second floor, looking out. Sitting opposite him was Zhu Heyu, the eldest brother of the Lady Zhu Heyu, Earl of Lin'an.
"My lords, she's here," Yang Hong, the head of the guards standing next to Zhu Heyu, whispered a reminder.
Zhao Yuanxun and Zhu Heyu perked up and looked closely. They saw a carriage approaching from a distance and stopping some distance from the yamen gate. An elderly woman in her sixties got out, accompanied by two maids.
She stood beside the carriage, hesitating for a long time before moving.
A man who had come with the carriage walked up to her and said a few words to her. Only then did the old woman slowly walk towards the entrance of the government office.
The man who had spoken to her didn't move, nor did the maid who had helped the old woman down from the carriage; they both remained where they were.
The old woman looked back every few steps, finally reaching the entrance of the government office. She climbed the steps, picked up a drumstick, and struck the large drum standing at the entrance.
"Dong dong dong," the drumbeats were deep yet carried far, and the two constables standing at the entrance of the yamen quickly dragged the old woman inside.
The man who had initially tried to persuade the old woman had already left quickly the moment she picked up the drumsticks, leaving behind two bewildered maids and a coachman.
Zhao Yuanxun and Zhu Heyu exchanged a glance.
Zhu Heyu stood up and said, "Let's go back."
Instead of going through the main gate, the two went directly out the back gate, got into a tung oil mule cart parked there, and rode to a place not far from the city gate.
Zhao Yuanxun didn't get out of the car, but grasped his brother-in-law's hand. "Brother, I'm entrusting this matter to you."
"Don't worry, I'll handle it." Zhu Heyu patted him on the shoulder. "Take care on your journey."
He looked up and instructed the guards behind Zhao Yuanxun, "Take good care of your master. He's not well, so it's better to walk slowly than to rush. We'll take care of everything."
Zhao Yuanxun got off the mule cart, got into a horse-drawn carriage, greeted a wealthy man sitting in the carriage, changed into servant's clothes, disguised his face, and squatted in the corner of the carriage.
Zhu Heyu watched as the wealthy man produced a travel permit and slipped some money to the guards at the gate. The carriage then smoothly left the city and sped away.
He breathed a sigh of relief and ordered, "Go back."
The mule cart did not return to the restaurant opposite the yamen, but instead entered a two-courtyard complex.
Guards were already waiting there. Before Zhu Heyu even got off the carriage, one of them stepped forward and reported, "Sir, it's done."
Zhu Heyu looked towards the capital and nodded slightly. "Good."