Chapter 279 No News
Seeing the young lady's gloomy expression and silent silence, Zhiqiu also sighed. Just as he was about to persuade her again, the prince came in with a few guards. When Zhiqiu saw them, he hurried forward to greet them and said:
"Your Highness is here. Your Highness is well."
Hearing Zhiqiu's call, Mengxi turned around and saw the prince approaching with a happy look on his face. He hurriedly called out:
"Brother is here. What's the matter? Are there any news about the Second Master?"
After hearing Mengxi's words, the prince's smile suddenly disappeared. For three months, he had tried every possible way, but still couldn't get into her heart. Looking at the increasingly haggard Mengxi, the prince sighed and said:
"We have searched almost all over the south, but there is no news at all. Don't worry, second brother. Xiao Junfu is lucky and will be fine."
Mengxi felt lost for a moment. The two stood there in silence for a long time before Mengxi came to his senses and said:
"It's so cold, don't stand here, brother. Please come in."
As Mengxi spoke, he turned around and led the prince into the house. After they entered the house and sat down, Zhiqiu served tea. The prince took a sip, waved his hand, and sent everyone out, leaving only Zhiqiu and Xiao Zongzi. Then he said:
"I just received a quick report from Pingyang. The emperor has approved the reward we submitted for the merits of curing the plague. This time, Yichuntang contributed manpower and manpower to treat the plague and provided a large amount of medicine for free. Thanks to Xier's effective measures, the spread of the plague was suppressed. The emperor has ordered you to be promoted to the director of the Imperial Hospital, a fifth-rank official, and has also rewarded you with a hundred acres of fertile land and a beautiful house. The imperial edict will arrive in one or two days, and we are required to prepare to receive it..."
Mengxi frowned, pondered for a moment and said:
"Brother, you also know that I am a girl, so how can I show my face and work as an official? I beg you to speak well of me in front of His Majesty. The Xiao family was raided and stripped of its title of a noble family because of my crime of deceiving the emperor. I beg His Majesty to accept Yichuntang's request for its meritorious service in treating the plague, and take back the reward and restore the Xiao family's title of a noble family."
The prince fiddled with the ring on his thumb and pondered for a long time. He looked up at Mengxi and said:
"Xi'er is not in the court, so she doesn't know the rules of the court. As the saying goes, grace, power, rain and dew are all the will of the emperor, and thunder and lightning are all the will of the king. How can you refuse? Moreover, the imperial edict has been issued and will arrive in one or two days. Xi'er will accept the edict first. When I return to Pingyang to meet my father to thank him, it will not be too late to resign. As for the matter of protecting the Xiao family, Xi'er will write a memorial first, and I will pass it to my father on your behalf to see what the emperor thinks. Xi'er remembers that if my father does not agree, don't force it. Once you anger the emperor, no matter how great Xi'er's merits are, I am afraid it will be difficult to save her."
Wow, it's true that serving the emperor is like serving a tiger. With such great skills, he would wipe them out just because the emperor is unhappy. This emperor is really a piece of shit. After hearing what the prince said, Mengxi cursed in her heart and nodded helplessly.
Seeing Mengxi like this, the prince sighed silently and continued:
"Don't worry, Xi'er. Although the Xiao family has been stripped of its status as a noble family and its management rights have been taken back, it has some foundation after several generations of management. This time, the Xiao family and the Fulishan Copper Mine jointly opened a charity warehouse to provide relief to the victims. Not only did they make the first contribution, but the third master of the Xiao family somehow managed to curry favor with Shangguan Jun. There are rumors outside that the Fulishan Copper Mine also suffered losses in the flood and is short of funds. There is a trend that it will jointly operate with the Xiao family. If the two families unite, the Xiao family will use the management rights in Shangguan Jun's hands, and Shangguan Jun will use the Xiao family's connections and financial resources over the years. It will not be difficult for the Xiao family to make a comeback."
"I've heard about this, too. But I've also heard that because of the news that the Fulishan Copper Mine was short of funds, the Ouyang family had already sent people south to cooperate with him. Shangguan Jun is ambivalent about both the Ouyang and Xiao families. The Ouyang family is in its heyday, so how could Shangguan Jun choose the Xiao family over the Ouyang family? The Ouyang family is loyal to the King of Yan. Once the Ouyang family and Fulishan join forces, it will do more harm than good to you, brother."
"I have been worried about this too. I heard from Master Xiao that when the Xiao family transferred the business, Shangguan Jun promised Xiao Jun that Fulishan would definitely help the Xiao family if they had any problems. Judging from the fact that he tried his best to protect the Xiao prefect this time, Shangguan Jun is indeed a man who keeps his promises. However, choosing a partner is not just a matter of promises... As a last resort, I want to meet Shangguan Jun in person."
"I heard that Shangguan Jun has a strange personality. I went south this time, thanks to his help. I invited him several times, but he was not willing to meet me. I wonder if he is willing to meet you, big brother."
“It’s hard to say at this moment, but no matter what, we must not let him cooperate with the Ouyang family. If he insists on doing it his own way, don’t blame me for using extraordinary measures…”
The prince will not treat Shangguan Jun like the King of Yan treated the Xiao family. This position of heir really requires life and blood. It's a pity that a little girl like her is dragged into this. Hearing this, Mengxi shuddered and quickly changed the subject:
"Brother just mentioned Mr. Xiao Er. I wonder if his case has been concluded?"
"It's settled, thanks to Shangguan Jun. Censor Zhang impeached us for twenty crimes, including embezzlement and corruption. After the Ministry of Justice reviewed it, only three of them were finally confirmed. The whole family should have been exiled 3,000 miles away and the soldiers should have been rewarded as slaves. But because the Xiao family had made great contributions in opening the charity granary, and Shangguan Jun and the people of Jiangnan jointly guaranteed it, plus Prime Minister Jia and I guaranteed it, we were spared from exile, and were fined 50,000 taels of silver, demoted to civilians, and never employed again. This can be considered the emperor's great grace."
Hearing that the second master had been demoted to a commoner, Mengxi said with emotion:
"High positions and generous salaries are nothing more than that. It is a blessing to be able to live a peaceful life. This result may not be a bad thing for the second master. By the way, big brother, have you not heard from the third master of the Xiao family?"
"I heard that he was in the Fuli Mountain area. I sent people to look for him twice, but unfortunately I didn't see him. I left a message saying that you need to see him, but I don't know why he never came. I think he is afraid that we are the King of Yan's men and fell into his trap. After all, the King of Yan has been secretly arresting them."
After hearing this, Mengxi felt sad and fell silent for a while. The prince saw this and his expression darkened. He picked up the tea, took a sip, waved his hand and sent Xiao Zongzi and Zhiqiu out. When Zhiqiu closed the door, the prince looked at Mengxi, coughed and said:
"Xi'er, I heard that the Xiao family has an ancestral precept. A few months ago, your lawsuit for deceiving the emperor had already caused a sensation in Pingyang. Everyone knows that the Xiao family divorced you because you were a concubine's daughter who married in a substitute marriage. The Xiao family also lost face because of you. I'm afraid that even if you find Xiao Jun, it will be difficult for you to continue your relationship. It will only add to your sadness. Xi'er, you should just give up."
"Second Master was trying to protect me as I traveled south, but something happened to him. His life or death is unknown. I can't feel at ease without knowing his information."
"Don't worry, Xi'er, I will do my best to help you find out where Xiao Jun is."
Seeing Mengxi nod, the prince pondered for a moment and said in a low voice:
"Xi'er, why don't you accompany me to meet the Emperor? I will ask the Emperor to appoint you as the Crown Princess. How do you think?"
Seeing Mengxi looking at him with eyes wide open, the prince added:
"Whatever Xiao Jun can give you, I can give you. Once the emperor knows your talent and your contribution to Da Qi, he will not refuse..."
"Well, big brother, I have always treated you as my own brother. Maybe you don't know that when I left the Xiao family, I swore a solemn oath that I would leave the Xiao family and never marry anyone else, otherwise I would be struck by lightning!"
After hearing this, the prince sat up straight and looked at Mengxi for a long time before muttering:
"Does Xier really have to be alone all her life? I won't allow it!"
After hearing this, Mengxi smiled bitterly and said:
"Some things are already destined. So what if I have to live a lonely life? It's really good to have my elder brother, Cheng Yuan, Li Du, Ouyang, Zhiqiu and the brothers of Yichun Hall accompany me..."
"Xi'er..."
"Big brother is always just little sister's big brother!"
Seeing Mengxi's resolute tone, the prince fell silent, sat for a long time, put down the cup in his hand, and walked out slowly. Looking at the prince's lonely back, Mengxi leaned back weakly and slowly closed his eyes.
Just as King Yan said, what is the difference between a lie and an oath, the only difference is that one is taken seriously by the listener and the other is taken seriously by the speaker. Her soul is that of a modern person. Would she really believe, like this pedantic ancient, that if the oath was broken, the curse would come true?
I don’t think she would believe it. It’s not like she hasn’t been struck by lightning before!
While she was deep in thought, she suddenly heard a commotion outside. Mengxi sat up straight and was about to call Zhiqiu to ask for clarification, but she saw Zhiqiu pushing the door open and saying:
"Sir, the Third Master is here and he and Cheng Yuan are fighting outside. The guards can't stop them. Miss Cheng will listen to you. Sir, go and try to stop them."
When Meng Xi heard that Xiao Yun was coming, his eyes lit up, he stood up and asked:
"The Third Master is here, where is he?"
"He was stopped by the guards at the gate. The Third Master said he was looking for the Second Sister-in-law, but the guards said there were no women in the courtyard. Coincidentally, Miss Cheng came back. The guards saw her and remembered that Miss Cheng lived in the courtyard. They thought the Third Master was looking for her. But Miss Cheng listened to the guards and without saying a word, she drew her sword and started fighting with the Third Master. I think the Third Master also realized that you have been using the identity of the God of Medicine here. You dare not explain in front of everyone, for fear that the guards will suspect you. You dare not say that you are looking for the God of Medicine, but just say that it was a misunderstanding and ask Miss Cheng to stop. But the more the Third Master talked, the more fiercely Miss Cheng fought. When I found out, it was too late to persuade her."
As Zhiqiu was talking, the two of them had already arrived at the door one after the other. When they pushed the door open, they saw a fierce fight going on outside. The guards formed a circle around them, cheering and clapping one after another. Cheng Yuan was chasing Xiao Yun with a sword. Xiao Yun was being chased and dodged, jumping and leaping here and there, looking very embarrassed. He kept shouting:
"I never hit a woman. If you don't stop, I will break my rules and hit her!"
…
"Hey, girl, stop it now. You are so fierce and unreasonable. Who will dare to marry you in the future? Be careful that you won't be able to get married."
"I want you to worry about it..."
Xiao Yun had been forced to speak without thinking. The more she spoke, the angrier Cheng Yuan became. The more fiercely he stabbed with his sword, the sweat had already seeped out of the Third Master's forehead. Meng Xi saw this and hurriedly shouted:
"Sister, stop it, we are all family."
Hearing the shout, San Ye's eyes lit up, and in a flash, Cheng Yuan's sword slashed San Ye's chest, revealing the snow-white cotton. Fortunately, it was winter and the clothes were thick, so he was not hurt. Cheng Yuan was also stunned, and his body paused. Just as he was about to push the sword forward, he heard Meng Xi shout again:
"Sister, stop it, we are all family."
Cheng Yuan just heard Meng Xi's cry. She turned around and saw Meng Xi's forehead was sweating with anxiety. He was looking at her and the Third Master nervously. When he saw her turn around, he hurriedly said:
"Sister, stop it!"
Seeing this, Cheng Yuan turned around and glared at the Third Master fiercely, saying:
"You're lucky, hum!"
After saying that, he turned and ran towards Mengxi. When he got close to Mengxi, he said:
"Brother, how come you know this pervert? He's talking nonsense..."
Mengxi smiled dotingly when she saw it. Just as she was about to explain, she glanced at the guards in the yard and changed her words:
"Sister, go back to the room first and I'll talk to you later."
