Chapter 136: A Perfect Match (Middle)

  Madam Xue led Madame Chen, who was in charge of the six departments of the Inspection Office, into Old Madam's room.

  Mrs. Chen paid her respects to the old lady, and a few people chatted for a while. Soon, the sound of Second Lady's bright laughter came from inside the old lady's room, "It's likely that we'll still have to trouble you several times in the future."

  Madam Chen smiled and said: "Second Madam is being polite."

  Xue's wife thought of today's events and felt very pleased in her heart. "No matter what the lady says, I must thank her sincerely."

  Mrs. Chen just smiled.

  The old lady smiled and said, "Our family's second wife is indeed a straightforward person. If she hadn't been with the madam for so long, I wouldn't know how to laugh at her."

  Madam Chen said: "I just like Second Madam's temperament, it makes people around her feel at ease."

  After the proper business was finished, Old Mrs. Wang wanted to keep Mrs. Chen for dinner, but Mrs. Chen declined politely due to other engagements and was escorted out by Lady Xue herself.

  Watching Mrs. Chen leave, Xue's second wife had a triumphant smile on her face.

  Ronghua was reading a book in her room when Xiangyu, the maid beside the old lady, came to invite Ronghua, "The old lady said that the young lady should come over."

  Ronghua smiled and said: "I'll go change clothes and come out."

  Ronghua went into the inner room to change her clothes. Chunyao had already brought candies for Xiangyu to eat. Xiangyu was initially shy, but after Chunyao said a few words, she smiled and accepted them.

  Ronghua changed into a new dress, re-did her makeup, and only then came out from inside. She then took Jinxiu and Xiangyu to the old lady's house.

  Ronghua entered the house and paid respects to the elderly lady.

  The old lady beckoned to Ronghua to sit beside her, and then ordered the maid to bring over a six-piece fruit platter. "These candied fruits were just made, I know you love eating them, so I called you over. Try which one tastes good and let them pack more for you to take back."

  Ronghua smiled and replied.

  The old lady said again: "I heard you are going to teach Yishuang to recognize characters and read."

  Rong Hua smiled and said, "I myself have only learned some superficial things, I don't qualify as a teacher, it's just that we read books together and chat."

  The old lady nodded upon hearing this, "This child Yidou is just not fond of talking, it's good that you're with her even if it's just discussing books."

  Rong Hua smiled and said: "I also just had such an idea, I don't know if it will work yet."

  The old lady smiled kindly, "I've had someone prepare some things. They'll bring them over to you in a bit. You can't do without brush, ink, paper and inkstone, and there are also some books and miscellaneous items. Use them first, if they're not enough, just let me know."

  Ronghua's face lit up with joy, "It should all be my responsibility, I didn't think Old Madam would have prepared everything for me." She spoke warmly.

  The old lady did raise an eyebrow and smile, "I won't say anything else, but these things, I can still afford them. The things in my house weren't prepared for you all."

  Ronghua smiled and pursed her lips, and the two of them chatted and laughed for a while.

  The old lady picked up her tea and took a sip. "Just now, your second aunt asked Bao Shan to come over and say that the Chang Ning Bo Fu has agreed to form an alliance with our family through marriage."

  Ronghua's heart had already vaguely guessed, but her face still couldn't help showing surprise. She didn't mention the previous time she came to the Xue manor with Changning Bo's fourth miss, and instead quietly waited for Old Madam's next words.

  The old lady said, "Your second aunt asked for the fourth miss of Changning Bo's mansion for Ming Yi. It was also after three or four requests that they agreed to come to Baoshan." Rong Hua thought of Mrs. Xue asking someone to propose to the Tao family, and since she was asking for her and not Yao Hua, there were some twists and turns in between.

  It's just that the Tao family is willing to form an alliance with the Hou family, which is still inferior to the second house's high-profile marriage with the Chang Ning Bo Fu.

  Ronghua smiled and said: "In that case, our family will have another happy event."

  The old lady nodded, "If everything goes smoothly, maybe this year they will get married."

  So fast.

  Ronghua smiled.

  Ronghua didn't mention the fourth miss of Changningbo's mansion, and neither did Old Lady. It was as if everyone had forgotten about that time when Changningbo's and Tao's families came to Xue's house for a gathering.

  The old lady let Ronghua try some of the fruits, and Ronghua picked one up to eat. The first one was sweet and soft, very delicate. But when she ate the second one, it was sweet with a bit of sourness.

  The old lady said: "See which one is delicious, let them pack more."

  Rong Hua tasted them all and chose the sweetest one.

  The old lady smiled and said: "At my age, I can't even eat many sweets."

  Rong Hua smiled and said: "When it's made into pastries, it won't be that sweet anymore. When I get back, I'll make some to send to the old lady."

  The old lady smiled, her eyes gleaming with a hint of satisfaction, "You're such a thoughtful child."

  Ronghua took out a woolen shawl she had made for Old Lady, "It's useful to wear it when the weather is bad."

  The fabric and embroidery are extremely good, the needlework is dense and firm, the buttons are not ordinary style, with longevity knots on top, Ronghua serves the old lady to try it on, and the size is just right.

  Mrs. Li smiled and said: "The young lady is good at making clothes, much better than those professional tailors."

  The old lady smiled kindly, "This embroidery is not a work of one or two days." She instructed Lee's mother, "Bring the meal in," and looked at Ronghua, "You stay with me in the house to eat."

  Ronghua smiled and replied.

  After dinner, the old lady and Ronghua went to the next room to talk. "How has Mingrui been these past two days? Although he comes to my room every day to pay his respects, they can't say more than a few words."

  Ronghua said: "Master Hou has been busy for a few days."

  The old lady asked again: "Didn't Mingrui say anything to you?"

  Ronghua was taken aback for a moment, "There's nothing at home, but outside... the Lord Hou never discusses state affairs in the house."

  She was unwilling to talk about things outside of Mingrui with her, and the old lady took another sip of tea. "You have to advise him that it's a small matter when something goes wrong outside... but you must not be careless."

  It's just a small matter. What can't be taken lightly?

  Ronghua sat for a while before leaving.

  Mrs. Li stepped forward and said, "What the old lady said, can you understand it, young lady?"

  The old lady stretched out her hand and let Li's mother support her into the back suite.

  "She understood as soon as she came into my room, knowing what I was going to say. I spoke and she didn't respond directly, it seems she's on the same side as Mingrui."

  Mrs. Li was taken aback, "This slave didn't expect it, but didn't the young mistress say that Master Hou never discusses official business in the house?"

  The old lady sighed, "It's a pity that you've been by my side for so long and still haven't figured it out? Why did Ronghua choose the sweetest fruit after eating those fruits? She doesn't like to eat sweets when she eats. Those were meant for Mingrui, this side asked for fruit, and the other side had already thought about how to make it for Mingrui to eat. She's only been married for a short time, but she knows all these things clearly. How could she not know what kind of trouble Mingrui has recently gotten into? Just because Mingrui didn't mention it doesn't mean she hasn't noticed."

  Mrs. Li said: "Now that you mention it, old lady..."

  The old lady said, "She's a clever child," lying on the soft couch, "It's just that this child, Mingrui, sometimes is really... What's wrong with being an idle and carefree young master? Why must she go and compete, what if..."

  Mrs. Li knew that the old lady was thinking of past events again and feared she would be heartbroken, "The old lady shouldn't think about it anymore, didn't you say that children have their own blessings, and there's no use worrying?"

  The old lady closed her eyes, "How can I not think about it? This child was very close to me when he was young, always following me around and calling me grandmother. To say the least, that thing was all my fault... With that intention in mind, it ended up like this... Am I not heartbroken and distressed? It's all for the sake of this family that I gave him up... He is my own flesh and blood, who can compare to a mother's love? They think I'm heartless, but they don't know that everyone's heart is made of flesh."

  Mrs. Li hastily comforted, "The things that happened back then were all seen by the slaves and servants, how many people in this household truly know about this matter? Who can understand the hardships of the old lady? Besides, so many things happened at once, the old lady had no choice but to do it under duress."

  The old lady sighed, "Let's not mention that matter again. I think Mingrui's errand this time may cause big trouble. It's just that no one can change this child's decision." After thinking for a moment, she added, "We also need to hurry up and clean up the house in Abdu."

  Mrs. Li nodded, "Don't worry, although it's been a few years, someone has always stayed there to take care of the house. The person I sent last time said that the yard is not messy either, and by the end of the month, all the houses can be cleaned up." After a pause, she added: "But what about Haiyu? She also came to me privately several times, still wanting to go back and serve Master Hou."

  The old lady thought for a moment, "Yonghua has never mentioned these two maidservants, how can I bring it up first? Besides, she and Mingrui have just gotten married, they are still busy with many things."

  Mrs. Li listened to Old Lady's words and indeed had a tendency towards Young Madam, but Haiyu's affair was probably hard to say.

  "Haiyu has been by Mingrui's side for some years now, right?"

  Mrs. Li nodded, "Yes, I still remember when Old Lady chose her for the young master, she secretly cried a whole noseful, unwilling to leave Old Lady's side."

  The old lady also remembered the past, Xiangyu, Xueyu and Haiyu were three children she personally selected to stay by her side. At first, Haiyu was not as good-looking as Xiangyu and Xueyu, but who knew that Haiyu became more and more beautiful as she grew up, and all the maids in this mansion couldn't compare with her. "Who has been attending to Master Hou's daily washing these days?"

  Mrs. Li said, "It's all done by the young mistress herself."

  "Take a bath?"

  "Although there is a maid named Mugun by the lady's side, she also doesn't get close to her, this is also the young master's habit."

  "Who was in charge of Haiyu before?"

  Mrs. Li said, "The young lady has rearranged things, and it's said that all of the master's clothes are taken care of by the maids under her supervision. Whenever the master returns from outside, there are fewer maids serving in the house. At night, even the head maid doesn't sleep in the inner room, and the maids on duty in the outer room take turns. However, it is true that the two senior maids, Chunyao and Jinxia, who serve the mistress, have been on night duty more often. The master has also rarely gone to the large study recently, mostly staying in the small study in his house to read."

  The old lady nodded, "It seems that Tong Fang has not yet arranged for a marriage."

  Mrs. Li smiled, "The young master and the young madam have just gotten married and haven't even thought about it yet, how can they not have a personal maid? Otherwise, when the madam is having her period or gets pregnant in the future, who will attend to her?" Even an average family would have a personal maid, or else they would marry a concubine early on. Besides, Old Mrs. Li has always wanted someone by the young master's side who shares her heart.

  The old lady thought for a moment and said: "Someone has to go with you, let Haiyu prepare, and go to the capital first after a while."

  Mrs. Li smiled and replied.

  Ronghua came out of the old lady's house and went straight to the big study to find books. There were books from the previous dynasty that recorded floods, but only a flood near the capital was mentioned, and it wasn't described in detail. The general situation is that if the main dike bursts, it will be unstoppable, causing countless casualties and damage, and officials in charge of defense will not escape punishment.

  The affairs of national defense are originally difficult to handle. The Great Wall is damaged every year and repaired every year, but there is no particularly good method.

  Marquis Hou, although only in charge of a secondary task, overseeing the river dikes in the capital region, was neither too strict nor too lenient. He couldn't just listen to the officials in charge of defense talking nonsense, but he also couldn't ignore what they had to say.

  Nor does he know how Xue Mingrui will solve it.

  Rong Hua thought of Su Xi Yao's case, Xue Ming Rui was single-mindedly doing things for the imperial court, not allowing personal feelings to interfere with each case being handled clearly. Su Xi Yao was sentenced to death and also implicated some officials who were all imprisoned. This case was handled efficiently, otherwise Tao Zheng An would not have been so cautious in front of Xue Ming Rui.

  This time, the inspection of water affairs is also like this. Everything starts from the interests of the imperial court. What can be done clearly will be done clearly, even if it means offending people as a price to pay.

  Ronghua's heart moved, and he thoroughly understood Xue Mingrui's idea. At this time, everyone was guessing which prince the position of Crown Prince would fall to, from the royal family to officials, all thinking about which side to support and which prince to stand on. And how many were truly working for the court? Xue Mingrui either wanted to be a nominal noble or come up with a foolproof plan to dispel the Emperor's concerns about him. The first option seemed more stable, but it also depended on what had happened in the Xue family before. When a new emperor ascended to the throne, there were also enfeoffments and demotions. If the Xue family was unfavorable to the new emperor, it was hard to say how things would go. The second option was more dangerous, but it was taking the initiative to find a way out, not waiting for death. With Xue Mingrui's temperament, he wouldn't be willing to be manipulated by others, so he had no choice but to take the second path.

  Just now in the old lady's house, I understood from the old lady's words that Xue Mingrui had already received this appointment. As officials of the same dynasty, outsiders knew even more about it, and the engagement between Changning Bo's mansion and the second branch should also have seen something from this matter.

  Ronghua was thinking, when Jinxiu came in from outside and whispered in Ronghua's ear: "Madam, there is news from the Yi Cheng Hou Fu, what was said before is true, it really is Big Uncle... The word that has been passed out says that Big Uncle caught a thief, but he himself was also accidentally injured by the thief."

  Rong Hua's expression changed slightly, "What if someone got hurt?" How could the Hou Mansion be so easily infiltrated by thieves? Even if a thief really did get in, why would they just happen to run into the young master?

  "The thief has been sent to the authorities."

  If it's said to be fake, but there is real evidence, "How is big sister?"

  Jinxiu said: "The young lady is fine, just a bit startled, and she's recovering from her illness in the mansion."

  That is to say Shu Hua cannot return to the Tao Fu for a period of time.

  Rong Hua thought of Tao Zheng'an asking her to go to the Zhao family's house, and she wondered whether she should go or not.