Dream of the Red Chamber

Chapter 378 Burning of Ningguo Mansion

The industrial capabilities of Da Shun were not much different from those of the Western Yi. They had long since developed transparent flat glass, but they also produced a wide variety of colored glass.

Glassware is easy to fire and shape, and in the past two years, a trend of wearing glass hairpins and ornaments has swept through Suzhou and Hangzhou. However, logistics are expensive these days, and even the cheapest items will see their prices skyrocket when transported to the capital.

Having managed Baicaotang for over two years, and being quite intelligent herself, Sister You San saw this business opportunity.

Chen Siyuan thought there was a way, and since he had already asked Aunt Xue for money, how much difference could there be between 20,000 and 30,000? The houttuynia cordata extract would generate income this year, and his family was small with low expenses. In addition, with the income from latex and Baicaotang, he should be able to break even in two or three years.

He immediately said, "This matter should be handled sooner rather than later. Since you've taken a liking to it, why don't you buy the glass shop soon?"

Sister You laughed and said, "It's not that simple. Glass is easy to fire, but these headdresses have always been about style. We have to hire a few skilled craftsmen from Suzhou and Hangzhou."

Chen Siyuan then smiled and said, "Then you can make the decision, sister. No matter how much money it takes, you must get a property for yourself. If you encounter any difficulties, I will take care of it for you."

Sister You felt comforted and snuggled in Chen Siyuan's arms for a long time. Remembering that she was still in mourning, she reluctantly parted from Chen Siyuan.

Since Old Lady You passed away, Chen Siyuan had not been intimate with Third Sister You for several months. Although Third Sister You hated Old Lady You to death, she dutifully observed the mourning period for her. On the contrary, Second Sister You, who was always close to Old Lady You, would take advantage of Third Sister You's absence to flirt with Chen Siyuan.

Chen Siyuan drank a cup of tea to calm his restlessness. Thinking of the mansion of the Assistant General, he simply said, "Thirty-five thousand taels is about the right price. Sister, let's wait a little longer before buying it."

The house, with its three courtyards, four entrances, and a rear garden, dates back to the Ming Dynasty. Many of the houses are dilapidated, and once purchased, they need to be renovated and repaired, which will cost a lot of time and money.

Third Sister You obediently agreed and stayed with Chen Siyuan for a long time until Qingwen and Second Sister You returned excitedly, which brought the matter to an end.

As soon as You Erjie and Qingwen entered the room and saw Chen Siyuan, Qingwen came over with a smile and chattered on and on.

"...The shop had a front storeroom and a back storeroom, totaling nine rooms, and the asking price was 270 taels. The second concubine spent half a day negotiating with the owner, and finally managed to get it down to 230 taels. They signed the contract on the spot and agreed to go to the government office to finalize the contract the next day."

My second aunt and I, seeing that it was still early, strolled around the various fabric shops, and unexpectedly, we ran into Jin Chuan'er.

Chen Siyuan was astonished. Had Qingwen and You Erjie gone to Feng Jie's cloth shop?

Qingwen smiled and said, "Jin Chuan'er has now been promoted to manager, with four or five maids under her. I talked to her for a while, and she took it upon herself to lower the price by 20%. She also said that if we need to buy silk and satin in the future, we should just let her know."

Chen Siyuan smiled and said, "So, Jin Chuan'er is doing quite well these days?"

Qingwen nodded repeatedly and diligently refilled Chen Siyuan's tea, saying, "The shopkeeper was joking, saying that Jin Chuan'er went on a blind date a few days ago, but it was only because of the national mourning that she had already exchanged her betrothal gifts. I don't know what to give her, so I just said that when the wedding shop opens in the future, I will give her a handkerchief, veil, socks and the like as a congratulatory gift."

Chen Siyuan was in a dilemma... He had forgotten that Qingwen was going to open a wedding shop. If this happened, would Qingwen still be able to go to Qingtang Thatched Cottage with him in the future?

Seeing Chen Siyuan deep in thought, Sister You Er quickly asked, "Master, is there something troubling you?"

Chen Siyuan didn't mince words and said directly, "Siqi, who serves Second Sister, has left the manor, and there's no one else available, so I sent Hongyu there. I was originally thinking of sending Qingwen over, but now it seems a bit inappropriate."

To everyone's surprise, Qingwen's smile vanished, and she became troubled. Qingwen was a grateful person; if it weren't for Chen Siyuan's rescue that day, she would probably have died long ago in her cousin Duoguan's house. Later, she took Chen Siyuan to Jiangnan, where she found her birth mother and brought her younger sister back.

In their daily interactions, Master Yuan never acted like a master. He would gently coax her when she was unhappy and was usually tolerant when she threw a tantrum. Qingwen's heart had long been devoted to Chen Siyuan. How could she possibly help Sister You with the wedding arrangements without Chen Siyuan's consent?
She was more than willing to leave the new house for the Rongguo Mansion, but her only worry was her younger sister, Luan'er.

Seeing what Qingwen was thinking, You Sanjie said, "Your indenture is in your own hands, so even here no one really treats you like a maid. Even if you go to the Rongguo Mansion, if you want to move around, you can just mention it to your brother, right?"

Yes, she was no longer a maidservant of the Rongguo Mansion. Qingwen immediately smiled and said to Chen Siyuan, "Then I will go with Master to the Qingtang Thatched Cottage."

Sister You said with some concern, "Qingwen used to be Baoyu's maid. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for her to return to the Rongguo Mansion?"

Knowing that Chen Siyuan looked down on Baoyu, You Sanjie sneered, "Back then, it was Baoyu's mother who chased Qingwen away, and it was the Rongguo Mansion that released her from her indenture. Now that Qingwen is with her brother, does she have to depend on other people's opinions?"

Chen Siyuan had already made up his mind. Lady Wang had always looked down on Qingwen, and now that Qingwen had returned to the Rongguo Mansion, even if Baoyu had any intentions, Lady Wang would probably have to step in to stop him. Besides, ever since Baoyu had caused a ruckus a few times in the past year, he rarely came to the garden unless it was for a literary gathering or a birthday celebration. Even if Qingwen went to the Grand View Garden, how many times could she possibly run into him?

Chen Siyuan then said, "In that case, you should say a few words to Luan'er, pack your things, and I will have Qingyu come to pick you up tomorrow."

Qingwen happily agreed and hurriedly went to the side room to tidy up.

Chen Siyuan chatted with Sister You for a while, had lunch together, and then got up and walked to Miaoyu Courtyard, north of Nengren Temple.

Just before entering the alley, Chen Siyuan suddenly spotted sandalwood hairpins for sale by the roadside. The style was extremely simple and elegant, so he casually bought one.

Soon after arriving at the small courtyard, Chen Siyuan stepped forward and knocked on the door. The nanny inside responded and opened the door. Upon seeing Chen Siyuan, Nanny Han was immediately delighted and said, "Master Yuan? Please come in quickly. Master hasn't come for quite some time, and our young lady has been talking about him whenever she has a spare moment."

Chen Siyuan strolled inside and said with a smile, "Would Miaoyu talk about me?"

Granny Han was taken aback, then lowered her voice and said, "The young lady hasn't said anything, but her temper has become increasingly bad these past few days. She complains that the cook's dishes are either too salty or too bland, and she often gets caught up in her thoughts... What else could she be thinking if not about the young master?"

Chen Siyuan laughed heartily and casually rewarded Granny Han with two taels of silver. Granny Han was overjoyed and thanked him profusely. She then called out from afar, "Miss, Master Yuan is here!"

After several days of absence, several pots of flowers appeared in the courtyard, and an apricot tree was moved in. It was late spring, and the apricot blossoms were in full bloom, falling with the wind, and half-covering the window lattice on the west side, making it look quite elegant.

No sooner had the greeting ended than a young maidservant named Qingfan hurriedly came out from inside to greet him. Upon seeing Chen Siyuan, she quickly curtsied and then awkwardly ushered him inside.

Chen Siyuan stepped inside, Qingfan lifted the curtain, and Granny Han followed closely behind. Even the cooks in the side rooms peeked out, making it seem like he was being fawned over.

Miaoyu had already heard the commotion, but remained seated at her desk without moving. Unfortunately, the ink from her brush had smudged the beautiful painting of magpies welcoming spring beyond repair.

Miaoyu's heart pounded, but she kept a straight face and remained calm.

She was always aloof and proud, but because the Chang family was embroiled in a lawsuit, she had no choice but to become a nun with her hair still intact to avoid trouble. She followed her master all the way to the capital. Before her death, her master foresaw that her worldly ties were not yet severed, and she was also invited by the wife of Jia Zheng, an old friend of her father. So she reluctantly entered the Rongguo Mansion.

Miaoyu believed that Baoyu was no ordinary person, and that their destiny should be fulfilled by him. However, things took an unexpected turn when she encountered the cold-faced Liu Xianglian. Unexpectedly, Liu Xianglian was a heartless man who plotted to have Miaoyu by his side.

Afterwards, Liu Xianglian's scheme failed and he fled, and Miaoyu also left the Rongguo Mansion. The world was treacherous, and Liu Xianglian and Jia Chang came to harass her one after another. Miaoyu also had her private affairs stolen, and in desperation, Qingfan sought help from Chen Siyuan.

Little did she know that the lingering worldly ties her master spoke of were actually her ill-fated relationship with Chen Siyuan! Recalling Chen Siyuan's domineering, tyrannical, and... strong nature every time, Miaoyu wished she could bite her lips until they bled, and a blush rose to her pretty face.

As the footsteps drew closer, Qingfan called out tentatively, and Miaoyu finally snapped out of her daze. She looked up and turned to look at him, and perhaps because they hadn't seen each other for over a month, there was a hint of resentment in her gaze as she looked at Chen Siyuan.

"You, you've arrived. Qingfan, have the kitchen boil some water, I'll make tea."

Qingfan responded and quickly turned to give the order. Chen Siyuan didn't move closer to Miaoyu, but instead casually sat down and asked Han Mama directly, "Have you encountered any trouble these days?"

Granny Han smiled and said, "The young lady lives a quiet life behind closed doors, so there's nothing to worry about. It's just that the neighbors are a bit sarcastic because the young master doesn't come around often. I don't know who spread these rumors, but a few days ago, a lecherous fellow was waiting outside the door looking for trouble."

Later, the old woman bribed the soldiers of the city patrol to drive those lecherous men away.

Is that so?

Chen Siyuan then said, "You and your servants are inevitably a bit weak-willed. I'll send someone over in a few days, and she'll take care of these kinds of things from now on."

Granny Han readily agreed, and seeing that Chen Siyuan remained silent, she tactfully took her leave.

After Granny Han left, Miaoyu bit her lower lip and moved closer. Chen Siyuan glanced up and saw that Miaoyu was still wearing her traditional Chinese water-field dress, her hair piled high in a cloud-like bun, her eyebrows lightly painted, her face like a spring peach blossom. Her waist was slender, her lotus feet half-hidden, her nipples like cherries, her beauty captivating. Truly, she was unparalleled in the Six Dynasties, with a graceful and charming figure!

Upon approaching, she lowered her head, biting her lip and remaining silent, yet she could not hide the resentment in her eyes.

Chen Siyuan had already figured out Miaoyu's personality, so he casually handed her the sandalwood hairpin he had just bought from his sleeve, saying, "I just carved a sandalwood hairpin on the spot. I don't know if you like it or not, so I'm giving it to you."

"For me?"

Miaoyu was slightly surprised. She took the hairpin and examined it. Although it was a bit rough, it had a unique elegance. She was immediately delighted, and her resentment faded a little.

"Thank you very much."

Chen Siyuan raised his eyes and chuckled, then reached out and grabbed Miaoyu's waist. With a startled cry, he pulled her into his arms.

At this moment, Miaoyu looked like a frightened rabbit, pushing her hands against Chen Siyuan's chest and looking at him fearfully. Chen Siyuan chuckled, reached out and lifted Miaoyu's chin, and asked in a low voice, "Granny Han said you've been talking about me a lot these days?"

"No!" Miaoyu's pretty face was already flushed, but she stubbornly turned her head away.

"Really? No way?"

Chen Siyuan pinched her chin, preventing her from turning her head away. Miaoyu's eyes were moist, her lips parted, and she looked at Chen Siyuan with deep emotion, unable to speak for a moment.

Chen Siyuan knew that this fake nun's worldly desires were probably even more intense than those of ordinary women, so he picked up Miaoyu and carried her straight to the bed in the west wing.

Miaoyu was so embarrassed that she dared not see anyone, yet she felt a mix of reluctance and acceptance. So, her face was awkward, and after a long while, she finally managed to say, "The door... the door isn't closed!"

Chen Siyuan ignored this and said, "What haven't Granny Han and Qingfan seen? Let them see if they want to."

After saying that, he carelessly threw Miaoyu onto the bed and pounced on her like a hungry tiger.

Perhaps it was because they had been apart for more than a month that Miaoyu was a little reserved. At first, she was somewhat resistant, but after Chen Siyuan used all sorts of tricks, Miaoyu immediately dropped her pretense and tried her best to please him and indulge in pleasure.

He was overjoyed, his words carrying the weight of the rain, the flower-filled tents, and the warm, luxurious room... but I won't go into details.

How could the sounds from the bedroom be concealed? Qingfan had just boiled water and was about to go inside to report when she was stopped halfway by Granny Han, who smiled and pointed inside. Qingfan heard the commotion inside and immediately blushed.

Granny Han turned around and closed the door again before letting Qingfan go to the side room to rest. She also instructed the cook to boil more hot water and prepare a good feast for the evening.

By the end of the hour, Qingfan had carried water three times and gathered the bedding and undergarments before helping the limp Miaoyu with her washing and dressing. Miaoyu was still absent-minded at this moment. Qingfan helped her with her makeup in front of the mirror, casually putting her hair in a bun and about to insert a white jade hairpin when Miaoyu suddenly came to her senses and said, "Change to the sandalwood hairpin."

Qingfan responded softly, put the sandalwood hairpin in her hair, glanced at herself in the mirror, and couldn't help but praise, "Miss, you look so radiant."

Miaoyu was startled and looked into the mirror. She saw that the person in the mirror had spring-like eyes and a rosy complexion. Where was there any trace of a nun's demeanor?
However, the lingering charm of the inscription had not yet faded, and in a very good mood, Miaoyu did not scold Qingfan, but only instructed him to bring hot water to brew tea.

A moment later, Miaoyu brewed a pot of "daughter's tea" and then, with her head bowed and eyes lowered, served Chen Siyuan a cup.

At this moment, Chen Siyuan was also lounging on the bed like a lord, his undergarment half-open, with a Buddhist scripture in one hand, glancing at it haphazardly. Seeing Miaoyu come closer, Chen Siyuan casually tossed the scripture aside, drank his tea in one gulp, and then instructed, "You have a proud and aloof nature, so you're probably not good at dealing with outsiders. I'll send someone over in a couple of days, and from now on, just leave the outside affairs to her."

Miaoyu obediently complied, and Chen Siyuan beckoned her, at which point Miaoyu nestled in his arms.

With a touch of tenderness, Miaoyu said in a low voice, "A few days ago, an old customer somehow found out that I was staying here and came to my door in person, inviting me to come and perform a spirit writing ceremony."

Chen Siyuan frowned and said, "The matter of spirit writing is extremely mysterious. You are not short of money now, so why do you want to cause trouble?"

Miaoyu quickly said, "That's what I thought too, which is why I declined. But Madam Dou said that on the second day of the second lunar month, when she went to the temple to offer incense, she seemed to... seemed to see Liu Xianglian."

“Liu Xianglian?” Chen Siyuan snorted coldly and said, “This man is quite bold. He committed murder and still dares to return to the capital.” He paused and then said to Miaoyu, “As the saying goes, those with nothing to lose are not afraid of those with something to lose. This man has a murder on his hands, so I’m afraid his actions will become even more perverse. These days, you should keep the doors and windows closed. Since he dares to show himself, we must make sure he doesn’t leave alive.”

Miaoyu hummed in agreement, her delicate hand caressing Chen Siyuan's chest, her thoughts drifting away, as if she were recalling the enchanting moments from just moments before.

Chen Siyuan hesitated for a while before giving a reply. Looking down at Miaoyu's state, he couldn't help but chuckle and say, "Don't rush. After we've had our food and drinks, you'll have your fun tonight."

Miaoyu was shy but also delighted, and asked, "Are you staying here tonight?"

Seeing Chen Siyuan nod, Miaoyu didn't say anything, but she couldn't hide the joy in her eyes.

............................................................

After a night of debauchery, Chen Siyuan felt completely refreshed. The next day, after having breakfast with Miaoyu, he leisurely returned to the Rongguo Mansion.

At this moment, the Rongguo Mansion was in a state of chaos, because the Dowager Consort was to be moved to the imperial mausoleum, and the noblewomen, including Grandmother Jia, were to set off the next day.

The Jia family had many relatives and friends, so Jia Lian went to Cixi County in advance to make arrangements and found a family temple belonging to an old friend as a place to stay. On this day, Jia Lian returned to the Rongguo Mansion and reported to Grandmother Jia and others that the family temple was a nunnery and had many very clean rooms.

There were two courtyards in total, east and west. The Jia family rented the east courtyard, and Prince Bei Jing rented the west courtyard. The two families agreed to set off together.

Grandmother Jia was getting on in years, and after hearing Jia Lian's reply, she handed over all matters to Lady Wang and others to handle, and went back to the west wing to rest.

Chen Siyuan, on the other hand, sought out Qingyu and asked him to borrow a carriage to go to the new residence to pick up Qingwen. Because the main gate was in a flurry of activity with servants coming and going, he instructed Qingyu to take her to the back gate.

At the hour of Shenshi (3-5 PM) that day, without Xiangling or Wu'er needing to greet her, Qingwen arrived smiling and carrying her bundle, accompanied by the old woman guarding the back garden gate.

Qingwen and Xiangling were already familiar with each other. Whenever Wu'er had free time, she would come to the new house to teach Qingwen to read. The three girls had no ill feelings towards each other, and now they got along very well.

Yunxiang, who had just gotten a new job, was so loud and attention-grabbing that Qingwen secretly disliked her.

Xiangling was someone who didn't care about anything, and Wu'er was frail, so Qingwen took over all the affairs of the courtyard. While Chen Siyuan was reading in the study, Qingwen secretly pulled two girls aside to inquire about the night watch arrangements.

Upon hearing this, Xiangling and Wu'er stammered, unsure of what to say. Ever since Wu'er and Xiangling had fooled around with Chen Siyuan last time, they had become increasingly unable to control themselves, to the point that the two of them hadn't stayed in the west wing for quite some time.

But how can I say these words?
Qingwen was puzzled and knew something was amiss, but she didn't dare to press the matter. She could only ask about the timing of their intimate moments and tentatively decided to change them every five days.

Xiangling and Wu'er both breathed a sigh of relief, then exchanged a glance and chuckled to themselves. They thought to themselves that with their master's temperament, this rule would probably be abolished in a few days.

After settling Qingwen in, Chen Siyuan remembered Miaoyu mentioning Liu Xianglian and hurriedly headed to the Longcui Nunnery. This time he went through the main gate, met Aunt Xue, and told her about Liu Xianglian's frequenting of Buddhist temples in the suburbs of Beijing, which immediately made Aunt Xue grit her teeth in anger!
He immediately sent a servant to find the head constable of Shuntian Prefecture, and slipped him two hundred taels of silver, instructing him to search carefully. Money talks, and the constable, having received the silver, rode out of the capital that very day, heading straight for Fragrant Hills.

The next day, the East and West mansions were bustling with activity early in the morning. Grandmother Jia and Sister Feng rode in a sedan chair, followed by Lady Wang in another sedan chair. Jia Zhen rode a horse and led a group of servants to protect them.

Several large carts carried women, maids, and others, along with some spare clothes and other belongings. At dawn, Aunt Xue, Madam You, and Chen Siyuan led the group to see them off to the main gate before returning home—the second young lady, Yingchun, was still unmarried, so they were only escorted to the ceremonial gate.

Fearing that her actions would be discovered, Aunt Xue got up early and came to see them off without even having breakfast. However, she suddenly felt acid reflux and said that she had not slept well. She then led Tongxi and Tonggui to Longcui Nunnery first.

The second daughter had gone to Furen Yude Hall to manage the household affairs, so only Chen Siyuan and Madam You remained.

The two entered through the side gate. Since Yingchun was still managing things at Rongguo Mansion, Lady You decided to return to Ningguo Mansion from Grand View Garden.

The two walked side by side for a while, and when they entered the alley, Madam You suddenly gave a look to Jin'e and Yindie behind her. The two maids understood and slowed down their pace to gradually increase the distance between them.

When they passed Mengpo Studio, Madam You said, "Following your suggestion, I have already spoken to him."

Chen Siyuan asked, "What did Jia Zhen say?"

Madam You smiled and said, "He pondered for half a day, then found Rong-ge'er and scolded him that night. The next day, he wrote a letter and sent it to Haizhou. He figured the marriage was not going to happen."

These past two days, I've noticed that Rong-ge'er has become much more obedient. He only goes out to drink and play when his father is away, and he returns early, before noon. His father even said that after the Dowager Empress's funeral, he'll send Rong-ge'er back to Jinling to guard the old house.”

Chen Siyuan frowned upon hearing this, and after thinking for a moment, said, "Jia Rong didn't say anything?"

Madam You laughed and said, "Rong-ge'er has always been afraid of his father, so how could he dare to say anything else?"

Considering Jia Rong's temperament, and the fact that his manhood had been ruined by Old Lady You... many eunuchs in the palace were biased, let alone Jia Rong, who had suddenly encountered misfortune.

Chen Siyuan remained suspicious, but advised Madam You to be cautious and keep a close watch on things. Just as the two arrived at the gate of the Grand View Garden, Madam You was about to head to the Furen Yude Hall when a servant woman hurried off to deliver a message to the Longcui Nunnery.

Chen Siyuan went to Longcui Nunnery with the old woman. It turned out that the yamen runners had just returned from Xiangshan this morning, saying that Liu Xianglian had stayed at the Buddhist temple the day before, but now his whereabouts were unknown.

Aunt Xue was so angry that she suffered from morning sickness and kept gagging.

Chen Siyuan's visits to the Longcui Nunnery for two consecutive days were naturally noticed by those who were paying attention. While he was serving Aunt Xue, Baochai arrived with Ying'er.

Thanks to Tongxi's greeting, Chen Siyuan was able to separate from Aunt Xue. When Baochai entered, she saw Aunt Xue retching incessantly. She glanced at Chen Siyuan suspiciously and quickly asked, "What's wrong, Mother?"

Chen Siyuan said, "Auntie is angry." He then pulled Baochai aside and told her about Liu Xianglian's appearance, which made Baochai feel relieved.

When Baochai arrived, Chen Siyuan could not stay long, so he comforted Aunt Xue with a few words and then bid farewell to the mother and daughter, leaving Baochai alone to comfort Aunt Xue.

Chen Siyuan returned to his thatched cottage and pondered aimlessly for a while before picking up a book. But after reading only two pages, Baochai came looking for him.

Chen Siyuan was filled with unease, but fortunately, Baochai did not suspect anything. She only angrily cursed Liu Xianglian for his disregard for human life, drank a cup of tea, and then hurriedly bid farewell to Chen Siyuan.

Nothing was said that day, and Chen Siyuan went to bed early that night, holding Qingwen in his arms.

Just as he was sound asleep, he was suddenly woken up by Qingwen.

Chen Siyuan groggily opened his eyes and saw Qingwen saying with a cold face, "Master, get up quickly, something's wrong outside!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Wu'er pounded on the window frame and shouted, "Master, something terrible has happened! There's a huge commotion at Ningguo Mansion, we're afraid something terrible has occurred!"

Chen Siyuan was jolted awake. He quickly dressed, had Qingwen haphazardly tie his hair into a bun, bolted the door, and strode out of the room.

Upon entering the courtyard, they saw the Ningguo Mansion ablaze with flames, filled with shouts of killing and pleas for mercy. They had no idea which group of thieves had broken in.

Recalling what Madam You had said during the day, Chen Siyuan was convinced that Jia Rong was responsible. However, there was no concrete evidence, and it was hard to guarantee that the thief could not escape by scaling the wall and attacking the Rongguo Mansion.

Stepping out of the courtyard, I turned to look west and saw that the lights of Xiaoxiang Pavilion, Zhuijin Tower, Qiushuang Studio, and other places were on, indicating that they had also heard the commotion.

Chen Siyuan's mind raced, and he quickly ordered, "Qingwen, go to all the different places immediately and have your sister-in-law gather all the sisters and hide in Zhuijin Tower!"

Zhuijin Tower is located on Ziling Island, surrounded by water on three sides and connected by only one passageway, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

"Second Sister, Bao Sister, and Lin Sister have a total of seven maids. Have Second Sister send three of them to accompany me to Ningguo Mansion to rescue the people. The rest should guard Zhuijin Tower. All servants should stay put and send servants to guard all the storerooms. We must not let the thieves succeed!"

While tying her clothes, Qingwen nodded repeatedly and hurriedly ran towards Daoxiang Village.

Chen Siyuan then instructed Xiangling, "It's dangerous here. You two should quickly go to Longcui Nunnery to find the concubine and then go together to Zhuijin Tower to hide."

Xiangling's eyes reddened, and Wu'er burst into tears, both saying, "If we're going to leave, we'll leave together. Master, you can't stay behind by yourself."

Saving lives is like putting out a fire. Even if we can't save Ningguo Mansion, we must at least guard the East Corner Gate. Chen Siyuan had no time to waste words, so he sternly scolded, "Stop talking and hurry up!"

Wu'er wiped away her tears. Xiangling, being a few years older, said, "Master has his own way," and then pulled Wu'er along with the maidservants to hurry towards Longcui Nunnery.

At this moment, Qin Xian's wife, who was guarding the east gate, was trembling like a leaf. Chen Siyuan knew that she was useless, so he simply told her to find a place to hide. Qin Xian's wife agreed with tears in her eyes and ran away in a flash.

Chen Siyuan stood guard alone at the east corner gate. Fortunately, the courtyard wall was high and the gate was bolted, otherwise Chen Siyuan would have escaped.

After about half a cup of tea's time, a string of firelight could be seen approaching from behind. It was three maids leading four or five rough-working women running over. Among them was a woman with a towering figure, who was none other than Baochai's trusted confidante.

Having gained men and seeing that some were carrying batons and others hoes, Chen Siyuan felt emboldened. Just as he was about to give orders, he suddenly heard a knocking on the east gate, followed by Yindie crying out, "Quick, quick, open the door and let our grandma in! The thieves are attacking!"

(End of this chapter)