tallest building

Chapter 49 A Scheme

When Madam Gong fell ill, Wen Mingqian was rarely home.

At first, the old lady didn't say anything, but as time went on, she couldn't help but reveal some of her thoughts.

Fortunately, Madam Wei was there to speak up for Wen Mingqian.

Madam Gong was worried about her youngest son and was too lazy to restrain Wen Mingqian.

With Lady Wei serving him, there was no need for her.

Wen Mingqian would only come over briefly every morning and evening, neither serving by his side nor explaining what he was busy with each day.

That day, after taking her medicine, the old lady asked again, "How many more days until Master returns home? If he comes back, he can still walk around outside and gather more information."

"It should be soon, don't worry, old lady. That case won't be resolved in a day or two. There were a dozen or twenty people called in this time, and every family is waiting." Madam Wei told the maid to take the medicine bowl away and personally fed her mother-in-law the sweet soup she had just tasted.

“In previous years, when I returned from my Buddhist pilgrimage, many people would come to visit me. But this year, it’s as if everyone has made an appointment; not a single one has come.” Old Madam Gong smiled bitterly. “It really shows how cold and heartless the world is!”

“That’s just how things are, Madam, you don’t need to take it to heart,” Madam Wei advised. “People always try to avoid suspicion, and besides, even if you came, we wouldn’t be in the mood to entertain you.” “I had a bad dream last night,” the old lady said, her eyes slightly closed, looking rather weary.

“You’re just worrying too much. What you think about during the day, you dream about at night.” As she spoke, Madam Wei picked up the agarwood prayer beads from the side and placed them in the old lady’s hand. “Why don’t you recite some Buddhist prayers and calm your mind?”

Upon hearing this, Madam Gong sighed deeply and slowly began to twirl the prayer beads in her hand. She knew that excessive worry would not help.

After settling her mother-in-law in, Madam Wei came out of the room when the steward arrived.

"Madam, the Luan family has come to report the death," the butler whispered.

"What happened to the Luan family? Who passed away?" Madam Wei asked in surprise.

“It was Luan Huan who ordered Lord Luan to commit suicide in prison,” the steward said.

"Ah?!" Mrs. Wei couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice, "How could he have committed suicide?"

They had been close friends with the Luan family for generations. Luan Huanling was also detained because of Yu Fengchen's case. Like Gong Xu, he had worked in the Salt Tax Bureau.

"It seems the higher-ups are pressing too hard!" the butler guessed. "Or perhaps for some other reason, the Luan family hasn't said anything."

"Send the prepared funeral gifts over, and I imagine the master will be back soon. We'll go to pay our respects in person then," said Madam Wei. "Keep the servants quiet and don't let them talk nonsense, especially don't let it reach the old lady's ears."

"I know, but if the old lady finds out about this, it will be a big problem," the butler said.

He then asked, "Should we tell the West Courtyard about this?"

After thinking for a moment, Mrs. Wei said, "There's no need to tell them. Telling them will only make them anxious. If things get chaotic, it will be even more troublesome."

But this can't be kept secret forever, and she's not like an old lady who can simply keep quiet about it from those around her.

Wei knew that Song and the others would hear the news sooner or later, after all, Song had quite a few informants.

Sure enough, not long after the Luan family came to report the death, Madam Song also heard the news.

She was naturally worried; Luan Huanling's suicide only meant the situation was getting worse. "What should we do?" Madam Song was so anxious that her eyes were dry, and she couldn't even cry.

“Young Madam, didn’t you say that the Master was coming back soon?” Granny Yang said from the side.

“What good will his return do? Do you think Zhu Hui will give him any face?” Song said dejectedly. “At most, he can gather some information, but what good is that? It’s not enough to make people anxious.”

"Young Madam, Auntie has arrived," Liu Yun said as she walked in. "She's already in the courtyard."

"Please come in quickly." As soon as Madam Song heard that her sister-in-law had arrived, she quickly got up.

As they were talking, Madam Ge walked in.

"Oh dear, my dear aunt! You've become so thin in just a few days! You're pregnant! How can you not take care of yourself?" Madam Ge was surprised by her sister-in-law's haggard and emaciated appearance as soon as she saw her.

"Sister-in-law, you don't know how my heart has been frying in oil all day long. I can't find a moment's peace. I can't even take care of the baby in my belly anymore." When Song saw her family, she couldn't help but shed tears.

"Alright, alright, stop crying." Madam Ge took out her handkerchief to wipe away Madam Song's tears, and said, "I heard that your old lady has returned, so I came here to see her and make sure she doesn't feel that I've been impolite."

“Even if you come, they might not be willing to see you.” Madam Song knew that Old Madam Gong did not like her and her family, especially since she was in a bad mood.

"Whether she sees me or not is her business; whether I come or not is mine," Madam Ge said with a smile. "Besides, I still need to see you!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Song sent someone to that courtyard: "Go and see if the old lady is feeling any better. Ask the eldest madam if she will come to pay her respects to the old lady."

"Sister-in-law, have you heard about what happened to the Luan family?" After giving her instructions, Song turned to Ge and said, "I felt so bad when I found out."

“Luan Huanling served under Yu Fengchen for longer than your second master,” said Madam Ge. “He must have had something on his mind, otherwise, without being tortured, why would he commit suicide?”

“This trial has just begun and a death has already occurred. Who knows what will happen in the future?” Mrs. Song said worriedly. “I can’t think of any other way to help now except to burn incense and kowtow every day.”

After glancing around to make sure no one else was around, Madam Ge said, "Sister, I've come today because I have something important to tell you."

"What is it?" Seeing the seriousness in her voice, Madam Song leaned forward and hurriedly asked.

“Didn’t your brother go to the Prince for help before? The Prince said this matter was extremely difficult to handle and he couldn’t get involved,” Madam Ge said in a low voice. “You know our status; when we ask our masters for favors, we can only rely on their grace.”

“Yes, that Zhu Hui is stubborn and doesn’t listen to reason. When he gets angry, he even dares to talk back to the Emperor.” Madam Song sighed. “Of course, the Prince wouldn’t want to cause himself any trouble because of our family’s affairs.”

“But now I’m telling you, there’s a way to get the Prince to help you as much as possible, but what do you say?” Madam Ge looked at Madam Song, her eyes revealing a deep meaning.

"Really? Sister-in-law?" Song grabbed Ge's hand excitedly. "Tell me quickly, what's the method?"

"For this method to succeed, we still need that person." Madam Ge raised her chin and pointed to Lingyue Pavilion, where Wen Mingqian lived.

"Rely on her? What kind of magic weapon could she possibly have?" Madam Song was stunned.

“If you really want your master to return safely, or even rise in rank, you must give up the son born to Wen,” said Madam Ge. “If your Gong family can really do that, you will have no worries about becoming even richer and more powerful in the future.”

Her words made Song Shi's heart itch. She said that she was going to give up Gong Chang'an. Why would she be unwilling?
(End of this chapter)