Shuse Jinjia

"Brother Xie Shou, how are the people at Xie Linzhu's estate dealing with the rabid dog?"

Xie Zhaotang inquired.

Xie Shou said meaningfully, "That estate was part of Madam Xie's dowry for Xie Linzhu. The estate manager and his wife, Chen, were originally brought by Madam Xie and were extremely loyal to her. After Xie Linzhu and Xu Hanlin got engaged, Chen went to see Xie Linzhu."

"When a rabid dog appears near the estate, it should be killed and buried. But just like the farmers on Madam Xu's estate, they didn't kill it but caught it and locked it up. Madam Chen went to inform Xie Linzhu about this last night."

Xie Zhaotang smiled, understanding Xie Shou's implication. This Chen Shi probably shared the same thought as Madam Xu, believing that keeping the mad dog would be useful.

"Fourth Miss, I've investigated everyone around Xie Linzhu, and there's nothing unusual about them. The incident with those two beggars shouldn't have been orchestrated by Xie Linzhu!"

Xie Shoudao: "Madam Xu hasn't noticed anything unusual yet, but I've already assigned people to keep an eye on things. We'll report any leads to you immediately!"

Xie Shou gave Xie Zhaotang all the information he had found over the past two days about Madam Xu and the people around her, and Xie Zhaotang went home and began to study it.

Three days had passed since she was robbed, and there was still no news from Huo Beiyu. Xie Zhaotang finished reviewing the information and it was time to prepare dinner, so she put down the information and went to work.

After finishing dinner, she was just about to take Tian Tian for a walk when Huo Ling arrived and gave Xie Zhaotang a wink.

"Sister Tangtang, the foundation for the pharmaceutical factory has been laid. Would you like to come with me to inspect it?"

Xie Zhaotang understood her implication; Huo Beiyu wanted to see her.

She asked Qiu'er and Dong'er to accompany Xie Tiantian, and then followed Huo Ling to the pharmaceutical factory.

Huo Beiyu stood under a tree next to the pharmaceutical factory, and Xie Zhaotang walked over.

Huo Beiyu said directly, "My men have found the other robber who escaped that night. The beggar identified him and confirmed it was him, but I haven't arrested him yet for interrogation."

Xie Zhaotang looked at Huo Beiyu, frowned, and asked, "Why not arrest him? Is it because he's of high status, or because you can't touch him?"

Huo Beiyu is a marquis and someone the emperor values. Apart from the princes, is there anyone he cannot touch?

Huo Beiyu stared at Xie Zhaotang's face and said in a deep voice, "There's no one I wouldn't dare to touch here! But I want to let you know first. If you're sure you want to pursue this, then I'll make the arrest..."

"That escaped robber was Pei Yu's servant, Shuncheng!"

Xie Zhaotang was bewildered: "Why would Pei Yu's servant want to ruin my reputation? Did Pei Yu instigate it? But I have no grudge against Pei Yu, why would he do this?"

Huo Beiyu was also somewhat puzzled when he learned that the escaped robber was Pei Yu's servant.

He also knew Pei Yu. Although Pei Yu sometimes spoke extremely, he was fairly fair and would never do something like plotting against a woman.

"Fourth Miss, let's go over this. Did you and Pei Yu have some kind of grudge before? Or did you do something that made him think you wanted to marry him?"

Huo Beiyu, having offended Xie Zhaotang with a slip of the tongue last time, quickly added, "Don't misunderstand, I didn't mean anything by asking this; I just wanted to find out his motives!"

Xie Zhaotang wasn't ungrateful; she was objective and frankly expressed her feelings about Pei Yu, as she didn't have a good impression of him.

She said, "I disliked them when they made things difficult for me at Hexi Garden. When I saw him at the bookstore that day, I only said a few words to him. Is that why he hired someone to retaliate against me?"

Xie Zhaotang told Huo Beiyu and Huo Ling about her conversation with Pei Yu.

Huo Beiyu smiled after listening to the two's conversation about "The Jade Hairpin Scheme," especially Xie Zhaotang's final rebuke to Pei Yu, "A man who will only become a burden cannot be married!"

Even without seeing it with his own eyes, Huo Beiyu could imagine Pei Yu's speechless expression when he was rebuked.

Huo Ling burst out laughing, leaning on Xie Zhaotang's shoulder and exclaiming, "Sister Tangtang, how are you so amazing? You can even interpret 'The Jade Hairpin Scheme' like this!"

She and Huo Jing would read storybooks when they had nothing to do at home. At the time, she thought the love between the young master and the maid in "The Jade Hairpin Scheme" was very sweet. But after Xie Zhaotang said that, she also felt that she couldn't marry such a young master.

Huo Beiyu thought for a moment and said, "If you and Pei Yu only exchanged these few words, even if you scolded Pei Yu, based on my understanding of him, he will just laugh it off and won't think of retaliating!"

"By the way, my people checked. After Pei Yu left the bookstore, he strolled around the streets and then went to a restaurant. Later, it started raining, so he stayed in the restaurant to take shelter from the rain. Pei Yun and Pei Shu were with him."

Xie Zhaotang then remembered that he had also taken shelter from the rain at a restaurant that day and asked, "Is it Juxianlou Restaurant?"

Huo Beiyu nodded.

Xie Zhaotang was even more baffled: "I was also taking shelter from the rain at the restaurant, but I didn't see them until I left, let alone offend them!"

Huo Beiyu frowned. Since there was no enmity between them, why did Pei Yu instruct Shuncheng to ruin Xie Zhaotang's reputation?

Huo Ling didn't think too much about it and said directly, "Brother, instead of overthinking here, why don't you call Pei Yu over and ask him clearly? With your relationship, do you think he would turn against you for a mere servant?"

Xie Zhaotang agreed: "I also want to know what Pei Yu is thinking, so let's bring him here! Let's clear up any misunderstandings. If he really harbors ill intentions towards me, you should be wary of this kind of friend in the future!"

As for her, if it was indeed Pei Yu who instructed the destruction of her reputation, the authorities would be unable to punish him.

Let's give him the medicine that Madam Xie prepared for herself to prevent her from having children!

Huo Beiyu then said, "Let's go back to the city together. I'll have someone invite Pei Yu and Duan Chengyu to the Prince's residence for a talk."

Huo Beiyu went ahead, while Huo Ling and Xie Zhaotang returned to the manor and rode there on horseback, with Huo Ling leading Xie Zhaotang.

Xie Zhaotang hugged her waist, and she nagged him again that he should learn to ride a horse.

When the two returned to the city, Huo Ling took Xie Zhaotang to the Zhenyuan Marquis's residence.

Upon hearing the news, Huo Jing, who was staying at the Marquis's residence, quickly came out to greet them.

Huo Ling introduced the two of them, and Huo Jing affectionately followed Huo Ling in calling Xie Zhaotang "sister".

Huo Jing is fifteen years old this year. Xie Zhaotang heard from Huo Ling that Huo Jing is not engaged yet, and the old lady Huo has arranged several marriages for her, but none of them have worked out.

Huo Ling didn't give a specific reason, and Xie Zhaotang didn't press her for details.

Seeing Huo Jing's enthusiastic demeanor, Xie Zhaotang felt that both Huo Jing and Huo Ling were very innocent, and he also had a good impression of her.

Huo Ling briefly told Huo Jing about Xie Zhaotang's situation. Huo Jing immediately had someone make some arrangements in the flower hall. When Duan Chengyu and Pei Yu arrived, Xie Zhaotang, Huo Jing, and Huo Ling hid behind the screen in the flower hall to eavesdrop.

Duan Chengyu had no idea why Huo Beiyu had invited him and Pei Yu together. He sat down and laughed, "Did Beiyu hunt something that he wants us to come over and enjoy it with him? He didn't even invite me to the hunt, how inconsiderate!"

Pei Yu laughed and said, "You didn't invite me last time you went hunting, don't forget me next time!"

Huo Beiyu waited until the tea was served, and only the three of them were in the hall before he spoke.

"I didn't go hunting. I invited you two here today because there's something I want to clarify!"

"Pei Yu, we've been friends for many years. While we might not be bosom buddies, our friendship is certainly deep. I hope you can be honest with me!"

Pei Yu laughed and said, "Isn't Bei Yu being too polite? Just say what's on your mind!"

Huo Beiyu then asked, "Then I'll just ask directly, what kind of grudge do you have against Xie Zhaotang?"

The three people, Xie Zhaotang and his companions, who were hiding behind the screen, immediately perked up their ears...