tallest building

Chapter 164: Intrigue

Leng said aggrievedly, "I am now in a bad situation, both inside and outside. If it weren't for the Marquis, why would I have wasted all this effort?"

If you hadn't often lamented to me about the difficulty of finding a husband for the second young master, why would I have risked being criticized to give up the second daughter?
Now it's all a mess, a complete loss!

"Alright, don't be too sad. Your husband's situation isn't settled yet, there's still room for maneuver," said Marquis Fengxian. "It's just that he's been in that position for too long, and he can't stay still."

“That’s true, but who else can we rely on besides you?” Leng said while wiping away her tears. “I’m just sad that all my efforts have ultimately come to nothing. I only thought that you, me, and everyone else would be happy, but in the end, everything fell on my shoulders.”

Why did the Leng family insist on relying on Marquis Fengxian? Firstly, he was indeed quite capable; secondly, given their current relationship, switching allegiance to someone else would be a loss.

As the saying goes, it's better to have nothing at one place than to ask a hundred for help. If you ask too many people for favors, you'll likely end up not getting anything done.

"How could I not want to help you? Haven't I helped you enough over the years? But how can I handle things in officialdom with just a word? If it were just a sixth or seventh-rank official, maybe I could, but your husband is already a fifth-rank official. For anything higher, you'd have to go to the Prince." In fact, Marquis Fengxian wasn't entirely lying.

"Salt and iron are lucrative positions, can't they be placed there?" Lady Leng asked. "If they can be assigned to one of these two places, it would be fine even if they weren't in the capital."

"You know it's a piece of fat meat, but don't others know? Countless eyes are eyeing it. Your family's foundation is ultimately too shallow." Marquis Fengxian shook his head. "Just a few days ago, the second son of Marquis Wulin wanted to secure a position in the Imperial Guard and even gave the Prince of Chu five thousand taels of silver! Does your family have that kind of money?"

One sentence stumped Lady Leng, but she was still not giving up. When she heard Marquis Fengxian mention the King of Chu, she immediately thought that the King of Chu was an extremely lecherous man.

So a plan to kill three birds with one stone was devised: "My lord, didn't you say the other day that the Prince of Chu's birthday is coming soon? Have you decided what birthday gift to send?"

“What else can we give? Just some ordinary gold and jade jewelry. We haven’t found anything new or interesting this year,” said Marquis Fengxian. “But we can’t not give anything.”

“I have a good idea,” Lady Leng said with a smile. “What if you send the Prince an unparalleled beauty?”

"Oh? You have someone like that on your hands?" Marquis Fengxian perked up immediately. "But is she truly an absolute beauty?"

“How could it not be true? If I tell even half a lie, may I suffer poverty and hardship for the rest of my life, and beg for food on the streets.” Leng Shi assured, “She is truly a delicate and charming little fox spirit, and still a virgin.”

"From what you're saying, it really is a rare find. I wonder which family it comes from?" Marquis Fengxian was clearly interested.

He had sent beautiful women to the King of Chu before. But beautiful women are always rare, and the King of Chu was not unsophisticated; ordinary beauties simply did not catch his eye.

"To tell you the truth! It's that little maidservant next to Wen Mingqian, named Sang Er. I don't know where she bought her from. To be honest, I've been inside the inner quarters of every household in the capital, and I've never seen anyone who can compare to her!"

The more she said this, the more curious Marquis Fengxian became. To be honest, he naturally wanted to curry favor with the King of Chu, since the King of Chu was second only to the King of Zhao, and his own son was raised in the palace.

If the birthday gift truly touches his heart, he will certainly receive many benefits.

Moreover, I do have something I want to ask him, but I can't ask without a reason.

"I don't know if she'll be willing to sell this girl, but I wouldn't mind asking for more money," said Marquis Fengxian. "I can't say for sure. Perhaps Your Excellency could send someone to inquire," said Lady Leng with a smile. "But let me make this clear from the start: if this matter is settled, don't forget my reward."

"Don't worry, if the King of Chu really likes her, I will naturally speak well of your husband to him. Whether he stays or gets promoted, isn't it just a matter of the King's word?" Marquis Fengxian agreed readily, because he knew that the Cui family's affairs were nothing to the King of Chu.

If this beauty truly wins the prince's favor, all I need to do is say that she was introduced by the Cui family, and the prince will definitely not hesitate to bestow some favors upon her.

"In that case, it's better to do it sooner rather than later," said Madam Leng. "They're only staying at the nunnery temporarily; it's uncertain whether they'll remain in the capital in the future!"

Leng Shi had a very clear plan in mind. Wen Mingqian had caused her marriage alliance with the Lu family to fail, so she couldn't let Wen Mingqian get away with it. She had to take a piece of her flesh no matter what.

If things go smoothly, Wen Mingqian will only lose a maid.

But with just two words, he could get Marquis Fengxian to claim credit for his family before the King of Chu. Could there be a more worthwhile deal in the world?

If Wen Mingqian and Sang Er refuse, that would be even better. She knows the temperament of the Marquis of Fengxian; he is not one to give up easily.

We'll find a way to make them suffer in time. Who knows, they might eventually be forced to submit. In that case, they'll have been tormented, but we'll still benefit. Wouldn't that be more interesting?

“In that case, I’ll send someone to check tomorrow to see if it’s really as you say.” Marquis Fengxian embraced Lady Leng affectionately. He knew this woman was shrewd and capable, and that she was most likely right.

"My lord, just send someone to check. If they return saying what I said was not true, I am willing to apologize with thorns on my back," Lady Leng said with a smile. "I'm afraid that when you see it, you won't be willing to give it to the Prince of Chu!"

"What are you saying? I'm already this old, what's there to be reluctant about? Taking care of important matters is more important," said Marquis Fengxian.

“In that case, I’ll head back. Things are still a mess at home.” Madam Leng stood up. “I’m destined to never get any rest, since no one cares about me.”

"Alright, stop complaining," said Marquis Fengxian with a smile. "There are some tonics that others gave me on that cabinet, take them!"

Leng Shi, of course, didn't stand on ceremony with him. She thanked him in a sweet and coquettish voice, then carried the box in her arms and left.

The coachman was her confidant, and he waited obediently outside.

As soon as Leng stepped out the door, she got into the carriage and told the driver to go home.

She opened the box in the car and saw that it was filled with high-quality tonics such as ginseng and deer antler, and a smile appeared on her face.

"You bastard surnamed Wen, you ruined my plans. Just you wait and see, I won't let you off easy either." Madam Leng muttered to herself, gently stroking the box as she thought about how she would devise another wicked scheme for Marquis Fengxian if Wen Mingqian didn't agree to hand over Sang Er.

Lost in thought, I drifted off into a daze...

(End of this chapter)