Chapter 309 House
The Minister of Rites took the jade pendant and his eyelids twitched.
The last time he went out for a drink with Duke Xue, he lost this jade pendant. Since it was something he always carried with him, he felt uneasy about losing it, so he asked his servants to look for it for a long time.
Something that couldn't be found anywhere was unexpectedly found in a fire?
"Where did you pick it up?"
"It was on the path in the small garden, on the stone path. I almost stepped on it when I passed by."
The Minister of Rites stroked the jade pendant and thought about what He Chao had just said.
Report safety.
Did this jade pendant really fall into the small garden before and was brought out by the fire?
Or someone stayed here intentionally or unintentionally.
If it was unintentional, then it was related to the arsonist? The jade pendant was hidden on the arsonist's body, and the arsonist accidentally dropped it when he committed the crime?
If you want...
What was the meaning of deliberately dropping a jade pendant? Was it to frame him? Or was it to remind him of something?
Stroking the jade pendant, the Minister of Rites couldn't help but think of the drinking party that day. There were four people present, him, Duke Xue, another one was a minor official in the Ministry of War, who was also a descendant of one of the eight great families, and the remaining one was the new top prostitute in the waiter brothel.
He was handsome and well-versed in poetry and songs, and was very much loved by Duke Xue. In those days, Duke Xue always took the young waiter with him wherever he went to eat.
Who could it be?
"Where are the old lady and the others?"
After a moment's silence, the Minister of Rites gathered his thoughts and said to the housekeeper.
The housekeeper hurriedly responded, "The old lady took the ladies, concubines, and young ladies in the mansion to Duke Xue's mansion."
The Minister of Rites' heart skipped a beat. "Did they go to Duke Xue's mansion? How long have they been there? Who entertained them? Is Duke Xue at the mansion?"
The housekeeper didn't understand why his master looked so frightened, but he also felt uneasy. "When the fire started, there was no escape from the front, so the old lady made the decision and everyone fled from the back garden.
Because that place was close to Duke Xue's mansion, if a fire broke out at home, the masters would inevitably be embarrassed. Moreover, there was an unmarried young lady, who could not show her face in public and be watched by others.
So I went to Duke Xue’s mansion.
I personally sent it over. When I arrived, Duke Xue was at his residence. He entertained the old lady very warmly. The old lady at Duke Xue's residence even comforted our old lady for a long while."
Speaking of this, the housekeeper himself realized that something was wrong.
"Duke Xue's Mansion did not send anyone to help put out the fire. The fire was put out by the people from the Beijing Guard Battalion."
The Minister of Rites asked, "When you went to Duke Xue's mansion and met Duke Xue, what was his reaction?"
The housekeeper knew that the master would not ask such a question casually, so he carefully recalled the scene at that time, frowned and shook his head, "There was no special reaction. The Duke asked about the fire with concern, and then sent the servant back, saying that putting out the fire was important and the masters would be fine over there."
After saying this, the housekeeper was uneasy, "Sir, shall I go and fetch the old lady and the others?"
The Minister of Rites looked at the fire in front of him that had not yet been completely extinguished, feeling irritated and depressed, "Where should I take him back to live?"
The housekeeper said, "When we put out the fire just now, I was thinking, why don't we just buy a spacious yard to live in, and move back after this place is repaired?"
"How can such a large number of people just buy a place and live there?"
The housekeeper knew that the Minister of Rites was in a rage, so he patiently said, "From among the servants in the house, first pick the managers from various places to stay, and the kitchen and the guards to stay, and the rest can be sent to the manor first.
Going there , they can relax and unwind, which is what they want most.
In this case, we only need to buy a courtyard with two entrances and exits to live in. My lord, please bear with it for a few days. Otherwise, the old lady can bring the ladies and the young ladies back to live in the manor, which will have enough room for them.
Even if the adults have to attend court early in the morning, they still have to buy a courtyard with two entrances and exits."
The Minister of Rites looked at his house which was burned to the point where not even a slag was left and sighed, "Go and buy it. Buy it before dark. The price..."
He wanted to give some instructions, but now he was really annoyed. The Minister of Rites finally waved his hand and said, "Go buy it!"
The butler obeyed the order and set off immediately.
This is one of the larger pawnbrokers in Kyoto. The mansion of the Minister of Rites often cooperates with the pawnbrokers here when buying and selling maids and servants, so the butler didn't choose too much. After leaving the Minister of Rites, he came straight to this pawnbroker.
As soon as he entered, he saw a woman in her forties with a worried look on her face. She said to the matchmaker in a flattering way, "Please help me find out more. My house is in a good location and is big. It looks like a two-story house, but in fact, the large yard at the back is big enough for expansion or whatever you want. It's no smaller than a three-story house."
The matchmaker also looked helpless, "Sister-in-law, if you are not in a hurry, you can definitely sell this house for a good price, but you want me to sell it in a day or two, I don't have the ability to do that.
It's not a rental, and it's such a big house in that location, and you're in a hurry to use the money. If I sell it cheaply, you'll suffer a loss, and if I sell it expensively, not everyone can afford the money.
A house like yours is suitable for those gentlemen who have just come to Beijing to do business or to work as officials. But now is not the time for official transfers, and our house business is not in its prime period. Sister-in-law, listen to my advice. If you are really in urgent need of money, you might as well pawn this house.
The pawn shop will exchange the money for you right there, which is better than asking me for help!"
"Are you selling your house?" The steward at the Minister of Rites' residence interrupted after hearing this.
The matchmaker and the woman in her forties turned their heads to look over.
Because they always cooperated, the matchmaker recognized the butler at a glance and immediately greeted him with a smile, "Hey, you're here."
As he said this, he glared at the waiters beside him and said, "How can you do your job? You didn't even let me know that Master Zhao came to visit. Don't you know how to fart?"
The housekeeper was thinking about the conversation between the two of them just now, "Don't blame them, I came in quietly, they were busy."
As he spoke, he glanced at the woman next to him and said, "I just heard that this girl wants to sell her house? What house?"
The toothbrush was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing, and then slapped herself twice on the mouth, "I shouldn't laugh, I shouldn't laugh, it's my fault, it's my fault."
She glanced outside with her sly eyes, and pulled the housekeeper into the store, "What happened to the fire in your house today? Oh my God, we can feel the heat wave here, how come there is such a big fire? The house is burned down and it is uninhabitable, right?"
The steward sighed, "So I came to your place. If there is anything suitable, I will buy it on the spot and then take the masters of the mansion over."
