tallest building

Chapter 170 Joy and Sorrow

Just as Lady Leng was having a sweet dream, her servants came running back in a daze.

"Madam, something terrible has happened! Master... Master has been imprisoned." This servant was specifically assigned to follow Cui Rong. This morning, Cui Rong went to the yamen in good condition, but who would have thought he wouldn't be coming back.

Madam Leng was shocked: "What did you say? Master has been imprisoned?! Why?"

"I didn't hear very clearly, but it seemed to be about bribing a superior..." Despite the cold weather, the servant's forehead was covered in sweat. "It was said to be a memorial submitted by Zhu Hui at the morning court session..."

"Has Zhu Hui gone mad? Why is he attacking us?" Madam Leng couldn't understand. Her husband was just a fifth-rank official, not even qualified to attend court. Why was Zhu Hui impeaching him?
"Anyway, that's what I've heard. Madam, you should make plans soon! Everyone knows that Zhu Hui is the most ruthless person." Everyone in the capital knows Zhu Hui. Those who respect him say he is an upright and loyal minister, while those who hate him call him a mad dog who will bite you and never let go.

The Cui family has a weak foundation and was impeached by Zhu Hui, so their fate is unlikely to be good.

Leng suddenly stood up and said, "Quickly prepare the carriage, I need to go to the Marquis of Fengxian's residence."

The only person she could think of now was Marquis Fengxian. Although they might not be able to help, she had to try her best and not just sit and wait for death.

“Madam,” the servant said, looking at her with a troubled expression, “Lord Lu has also been impeached, and his crimes are even more serious…”

Upon hearing this, Leng was completely stunned. She seemed to have all her strength drained away and slumped into a chair.

"How could this happen? How could this happen?" Leng Shi seemed to have gone mad, repeatedly uttering this phrase.

"Madam, please take care. I... I don't want my wages this month either." The servant gritted his teeth and said, "I still have a family to support, so I'll go find another job elsewhere."

By this time, the servant was relieved that he hadn't sold a death contract. Not many servants in the Cui family sold death contracts, and the rest were fortunate enough to escape.

By this time, the Fengxian Marquis's residence was in chaos, but no one informed the Cui family, so the Cui family only found out later.

Madam Lu was already quite fat, and in her anxiety, phlegm welled up and she fainted, but fortunately she was revived.

"Quickly call the eldest young master back and discuss how to rescue the Marquis!" Madam Lu cried. "This is truly a calamity from heaven! How could this happen?"

Even at this point, she didn't reflect on the sins she had committed, and instead felt that fate was unfair.

Compared to the panic and frustration of the other two families, Wen Mingqian appeared calm and composed.

"My lady, the plum tree in the southeast corner has bloomed. Although only one or two branches have opened, it looks so vibrant. Won't you go and admire it?" Aoshuang said happily as she walked in.

“I went there yesterday and there was no sign of anything!” Sang Er also found it intriguing. “It opened today.”

"The best times to appreciate plum blossoms are early morning, dusk, and under the moon," Wen Mingqian said. "Why don't we wait until dusk, after dinner, to go and admire them? It will surely be a different kind of fun."

"I always learn a lot of refined things when I'm with my wife." Ao Shuang didn't feel like she was a servant at all. She learned a lot every day, and even if she paid a master, she might not be able to learn as thoroughly.

“Then I’ll prepare a pot of plain wine,” Sang Er said. “When admiring the plum blossoms, Mother can have a cup or two to ward off the chill.”

"I'm not here uninvited, will I be kicked out?" Madam Wei walked in with a maid and an old woman, smiling. "It's you, sister, please have a seat." Wen Mingqian was very friendly to Madam Wei and quickly stood up to offer her a seat with a smile.

"I've wanted to come see you for a long time, but I fell ill after you left. I've only just recovered these past few days," said Mrs. Wei as she sat down. She had indeed lost some weight, and her complexion was not as good as usual.

"Why was my sister sick? It must have been because she was overworking. Is she feeling much better now?" Wen Mingqian asked with concern.

"I'm much better now, don't worry," Mrs. Wei said with a smile. "I just missed you a little. How have you been these days?"

“My sister can tell I’m doing very well,” Wen Mingqian said. “I’m free and easy, I can get up whenever I want and go to sleep whenever I want.”

“It is indeed comfortable,” Weiss laughed. “It seems my worries were unnecessary.”

"Sister, you've heard those rumors too?" Wen Mingqian personally served her a cup of tea.

“Absolutely! I was furious when I heard that. I don’t know who was so malicious as to slander someone’s innocence for no reason,” said Mrs. Wei.

"Since the beginning of human speech, has there ever been a lack of gossip in this world?" Wen Mingqian sighed softly. "The hardest thing to guard against in this world is rumors."

"Although you have left the Gong family, in our hearts we will always be one family. The master and I have already discussed it, and we cannot let these rumors spread under any circumstances."

Yesterday, I attended a banquet at the Huang family's residence, and during the meal, I said in front of everyone, "We trust your character the most. Our Gong family has wronged you, yet you repay evil with kindness. This must be someone with malicious intent, deliberately framing you. Rest assured, we will never stand idly by."

"Sister, thank you so much." Wen Mingqian was genuinely grateful to the Wei couple for helping me like this.

“I told you before, there’s no need to be so polite with us,” said Madam Wei. “We received a letter from Chang’an a few days ago, and we know he’s doing well. The old lady is so worried about him, she asked us to prepare a lot of things and sent someone to deliver them. I came here to ask you if you have anything to send to Chang’an? We can send someone to deliver it before the New Year.”

"I did make him a few clothes, so I'll trouble you, sister." Wen Mingqian had originally planned to send them out herself, but since Madam Wei had asked, she couldn't very well refuse.

"Is everything ready? If not, I'll have someone come and pick it up in a couple of days," said Mrs. Wei. "Time really flies; it's been two months since you left."

"Is everyone at home well? How is the old lady?" Wen Mingqian asked.

"When you left, the old lady was ill. She had been feeling unwell for some time, but nothing serious," said Madam Wei. "As for the second master, a matchmaker has already come to propose marriage for him."

"This is a good thing. I wonder if there's anyone you like?" Wen Mingqian didn't mind at all; on the contrary, he was happy for Gong Xu to remarry soon.

“I have my eye on one, the daughter of the Wan family, a sixth-rank official in the Ministry of Rites. She’s twenty years old this year. She was originally engaged, but the engagement was broken off. So her marriage has been delayed for a while. But people who know her say that she is of excellent character, and her appearance is somewhat similar to yours,” said Madam Wei. “We’ve been discussing the engagement these past few days, and we expect her to marry into the family after the New Year.”

"There's another joyous occasion to celebrate in our household," Wen Mingqian said with a slight smile. "But you'll be quite busy, sister."

All of this was exactly what Wen Mingqian expected. Men are often like this: on the one hand, they can't forget their exes, and on the other hand, they can't stop accepting new ones.

Anyway, she has already let it go and won't mind it at all anymore.