Ask the Nine Ministers

Chapter 49 Everyone celebrates
The dowry was carried out of the house and followed the wedding procession through Fu'an Lane and soon onto the main street, causing quite a stir.

Box after box of wedding gifts meandered away, ranging from washbasins and wine jugs to teaspoons and chopsticks, and even to gold and silver threads from the top weaving workshops in Jiangnan, all of which displayed luxury and financial strength.

It is so grand that even using the phrase "ten miles of red wedding dress" to describe it is too shabby.

There was an endless stream of envy in Fu'an Lane.

"Look at the dowry of Miss Xue Si. One hundred and twenty pieces of it may not be enough."

"I saw more than 150 of them..."

"This is a bastard girl. It shows that the eldest lady is kind and generous. She has no ulterior motives and does not treat her bastard daughter badly."

The onlookers discussed it eagerly.

At this time, someone who knew the situation came in.

"Oh, you don't know yet? This is not the dowry prepared by the eldest lady, but the gift given to the fourth Miss Xue by Princess Pingle."

"Ms. Xue Si and Princess Ping Le are good friends."

"The relationship is very close. There are Princess Pingle and Fourth Miss Xue, and there is no distinction between them."

Jinshu had arranged people early on and dispersed them among the crowd to pass on the news.

Miss Xue Si wants to tie Princess Pingle up, so let them tie her up deeper.

If there was a dog in the capital who didn't know about it, Jinshu would feel that he had failed the girl's trust.

"My Lord, such a generous dowry, how much of the people's blood and sweat must have been spent on it?"

"The rich are covered in brocade, while the poor are left alone!"

"How pitiful! How sad this corrupt world is!"

The moaning sound coming from somewhere drowned out the noise and seemed particularly abrupt on the crowded and bustling street.

In the chaos, a group of masked men in black were suddenly seen jumping down from the roofs of street restaurants and houses.

They were dressed in tight clothes and moved swiftly. In the blink of an eye, they rushed to the middle of the wedding procession.

A tall and strong man came first, waving a big knife in his hand and shouting loudly.

"Kill the rich and help the poor. It is our duty!"

“Take from the people and give back to the people!”

"Ill-gotten gains! The people can take them, but I will bear the responsibility..."

Before he finished speaking, the group of men in black rushed forward and pushed the wedding procession apart. The dowry that was neatly tied with red silk fell to the ground, the locks on the boxes were broken, and the treasures in the baskets were scattered all over the ground...

The streets were suddenly in chaos.

The crowd of onlookers fled in panic at first. Seeing that the men in black did not kill anyone, some brave ones took the lead and rushed forward to "pick up" the valuable objects scattered on the ground. Seeing that no one stopped them, more people rushed forward and fought for the property without any scruples...

It is against human nature to not be greedy when seeing profit.

The crowd rushed forward, and the streets were filled with people rushing to loot.

What's worse, some people call their friends and gather the whole family to take advantage of the situation.

The servants of the Marquis of Jingyuan wanted to stop them, but there were too many people who were "stealing". They could not stop one, and when the officers and soldiers of Jingzhao Prefecture heard the news and rushed over, except for the large items that could not be moved, the precious dowry was almost looted...

By this time, the man in black had long disappeared.

Those who stole things and moved them to their own homes were all ordinary people.

The law does not hold everyone responsible, so how can we get the lost dowry back?

Robbery in the street is simply lawless.

But the people privately applauded!

Many people regretted that they were too far away and didn’t find the treasure…

So on that day, every corner of the capital was filled with a happy atmosphere.

The wedding of Fourth Miss Xue is truly a cause for celebration for the whole world!
-
Outside the wedding sedan, the groom Gu Jie, who was riding on a horse, gripped the reins tightly, his knuckles turned white, and his face was as dark as ink.

In the wedding sedan, Xue Yueying's makeup had already been smudged by crying, her eyes were red, and her tears mixed with powder covered her face.

If the dowry is looted, then the wedding can be cancelled?

The Marquis's mansion had originally wanted to hold a grand wedding. Everyone who could be invited had been invited, and hundreds of wedding invitations had been sent out. How could they just say they would not hold the wedding? This grand wedding could not go as she wished.

From being envied by everyone to being trampled upon by everyone, in just a moment...

Then the joy sounded like funeral music.

The sedan chair carried by eight people finally arrived at the Jingyuan Marquis Mansion.

Whenever they carried up the dowry, it either became an empty box or was chopped into pieces. The embarrassed wedding procession missed the auspicious time, and the wedding ceremony was also hasty.

Xue Yueying was supported by the bridesmaid to go up to the hall. Her steps were unsteady and her body was so frail that it seemed as if she would fall down at the slightest breeze.

Marquis Jingyuan and Madam Chun had already received the news that their dowry had been robbed. Although they were unhappy and embarrassed, they had to consider the overall situation and put on a smile to maintain the dignity of the marquis's mansion with so many guests present.

The bridesmaid was all smiles, her voice clear and loud:
"The bride offers tea, the parents-in-law drink it, blessings will continue, the family will be harmonious and prosperous. The family will be prosperous, and there will be many children and grandchildren!"

The tea had been prepared long ago, and Mrs. Chun sat upright with a blank expression on her face.

Xue Yueying lowered her head, feeling that these auspicious words were like slapping her in the face.

The wedding hall was packed with people and filled with all kinds of noisy sounds.

She got up before dawn today to dress up, and by now she was a little exhausted, and she was frightened. In this atmosphere, she suddenly felt suffocated and could hardly breathe. The laughter in her ears became shrill, as if everyone was surrounding her, laughing at her, mocking her, and pointing fingers...

She knelt down slowly and took the tea, her hands trembling. Before she could offer it to Madam Chun, she felt dizzy and a fishy smell came out of her throat...

"Bride, why don't you offer tea?" Seeing that she didn't move, the bridesmaid reminded her with a smile.

At this moment, Xue Yueying's stomach was surging like a torrent. She tried her best to hold it back, but as soon as she opened her mouth, it was like a flood. She vomited out with a "vomit" sound, and the filth splashed into the teacup in her hand. Some of it even sprayed directly onto Madam Chun and Marquis Jingyuan's faces...
-
When the news came from the Jingyuan Marquis's Mansion, Xue Sui was sitting in the Chuihua Hall, drinking tea and chatting with the old lady, the third lady, and several other ladies.

The old woman lowered her voice and spoke to the old lady alone, saying that the fourth young lady had embarrassed herself when serving tea.

"The bride went to the main hall to pay respects to her parents-in-law and elders. The fourth girl felt sick while holding the tea and vomited all over the floor in public. Not only was the tea full of filth, but it also sprayed on the faces of Marquis Jingyuan and Madam Chun. The scene was so embarrassing..."

Old Mrs. Cui's face looked as ugly as the black ash at the bottom of a pot.

"This evil creature has brought shame to the Xue family!"

The old woman lowered her eyes and whispered, "That's not all. The fourth young lady was so shocked that she felt unwell. She vomited and made a lot of noise, and she had blood on the spot. Fourth uncle Gu was scared and asked a doctor... Now the fact that she is pregnant can no longer be concealed..."

The teacup in Mrs. Cui's hand clanged loudly and she almost lost her grip.

She felt sad about the lost dowry, and was also angry at Xue Yueying for not living up to her expectations and bringing shame to the Xue family. She gnashed her teeth in hatred.

"If I had known this would happen, I should have taken a bowl of medicine to abort the pregnancy!"

Xue Sui sat nearby, listening to everything, and felt heartbroken for Aunt Chun in silence.

I'm sorry to her old lady...

Afterwards I'm afraid I'll have to send her some gifts to comfort her.

The wedding was in such a mess that the guests felt awkward sitting down and soon left.

Xue Sui led the two maids back to Lixiang Courtyard and closed the door directly, leaving only Xiaozhao in the room to serve as a maid. Then he sat at the desk and wrote furiously.

Xiao Zhao smiled with glee.

"The fourth girl has lost all her face this time. Let's see how she can have the nerve to come back..."

Xue Sui paused for a moment, "What's the point of losing face?"

Xiao Zhao couldn't hold back after hearing that, "Why not let her die?"

Xue Sui looked up at her, chuckled, silently rolled the paper into the mailbox, picked up Lingyu, and gently stroked its pigeon head.

"Go."

Li Zhao was very good at judging people and he saw through her.

The seven gates of the Big Dipper in Jiuling Marsh are busy with people, but most of them are peddlers and common people. It is difficult for them to get involved and infiltrate the court, let alone reach out to the core of power of this dynasty and stir up the situation.

Therefore, the next thing will depend on Li Zhao...

Xiao Zhao was a little confused, "Your Highness, will you listen to me?"

"No." Xue Sui smiled slightly, "But the world is bustling, all for profit."

Li Zhao would not refuse anything that was beneficial to him. If a pie was delivered to him, he would take it.

Why wouldn't he do it if he could eliminate his enemies without causing any harm? -
East Palace Waterside Pavilion.

Li Zhao, who was admiring the flowers, saw the pigeon.

It makes a crisp cooing sound, and seems whiter than other pigeons.

Li Zhao lowered his head and took a look at the skull with a knife on the mailbox, then unfolded the note that Xue Liu had wrapped in it. A bright light in his deep black eyes gradually dimmed, and he suddenly clenched the note into his fist.

She is a noble, and she can order him around whenever she wants?

Mei Ruhui could see it clearly from his side and couldn't help but be surprised.

The Crown Prince, who has been a headache for all the civil and military officials in the court and even Emperor Chongzhao, now has someone to give him a headache?
If I follow her will, I will lose face and feel like I am being used by her.

If you don't agree with her, you will suffer a lot and it's not worth it.

This is really a dilemma.

As a guest of the prince, it is time for Mei Ruhui to come out and share his worries.

He cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness, I have something to say, but I don't know whether I should say it or not."

Li Zhao looked back at him, his eyes like cold ponds.

"I don't know, you can cut off your tongue."

Mei Ruhui: ...

He cleared his throat and bowed.

"The men in black attacked the wedding procession. Jingzhao Prefecture mobilized in full force upon hearing the news. They also sent the Military Affairs Department to help. They took the dowry list from the Xue Mansion and searched everywhere for stolen goods. Prince Duan is also in a state of panic right now. This is the right time."

"Gui Guzi said: 'The one who opens and closes may open and let out, or open and take in; the one who closes and closes may close and take, or close and let go. Opening and closing are the way of heaven and earth. Opening and closing are to change yin and yang, to open and close the four seasons, to transform all things. Opposition is also dependence. If Miss Xue Liu treats you honestly, we can use it."

He laughed again and said, "Although this trick is a bit insidious, it is a good plan to win in chaos and fish in troubled waters. The dowry list is real evidence, and the source of the money and property can be found out by checking. If you want to take it back, you will offend the people of the whole city. Even if Your Majesty is biased and cannot punish the serious crimes, it can still seriously damage their vitality."

After saying this, he saw Li Zhao's dark eyes were deep, and he seized the opportunity to make another suggestion.

"Why not give Miss Xue Liu a push for now, and Your Highness will reap the benefits!"

Li Zhao thought about it and chuckled twice.

"Fishing for profit? I'm afraid I'm also a fish in her pond... What she wants is my life!"

As he said this, he went back to his room and changed into court clothes.

Eunuch Lai Fu stared at his master's uncertain expression and asked cautiously, "Master, where are we going?"

Li Zhao: "Let's go to the Ministry of Revenue."

Mei Ruhui: His Royal Highness the Crown Prince speaks ill of others but acts uprightly. He knew very well that the fish were raised in Miss Xue Liu's pond, but he still tried hard to take the bait. As a guest of the Crown Prince, my fellow readers, tell me, should I die to make his position clear?
Xiao Zhao: Did you kill the old man upstairs?

Sisters, this is the last day. If you have monthly tickets, don’t forget to put them in Erjin’s bowl~ Thank you, bow!