Chapter 127: The Root of Past Calamity

  Madam Cai was shocked by these words and, after a moment's pause, said: "What are you talking about? Your husband is still so ignorant of the ways of the world? He is, after all, the young master, and outside he also has an official career; what doesn't he understand about human relationships and reason? How can he let you speak such nonsense?"

  Shu Hua saw Mrs. Cai's face reveal a look of anger, her momentum was suppressed, but she didn't dare not to argue back, "Mother, how can you wrong me like this? Am I making things up? What is it about him and my fifth sister that everyone doesn't know? Now someone comes to instruct, saying that my fifth sister died miserably, does he have a heart that doesn't ache? These past few days, he's been quarreling with me, where do I have half a bit of peace in my heart?" Shu Hua thought that this explanation would move Mrs. Cai somewhat, but unexpectedly, Mrs. Cai's expression became even more unpleasant.

  "How did you get acquainted with your fifth sister? Our Zhao family only came to ask for one daughter-in-law, I think you've gone mad."

  Shu Hua still wants to say.

  Madam Cai was already impatient, her face cold as she said: "You married into our Zhao family, how has our Zhao family treated you? You should also think carefully, what face will our Zhao ancestors have if you say such things?"

  Mrs. Cai was usually kind and reasonable, but who knew that at a critical moment she would be so unscrupulous, not caring about right or wrong? Could it be that she really didn't know about the private affair between Zhao Xuanhuan and Tao Wu's daughter? Shuhua couldn't believe it, but didn't dare say anything else, only saying: "Mother, I naturally understand your kindness to me, but I am also a good person's daughter, I also understand these things, and I absolutely won't dare say anything more."

  Mrs. Cai felt a surge of liver fire, her throat suddenly burning with a fiery sensation. Looking at Shu Hua on the bed, she felt annoyed and didn't say anything else. She turned around and left Shu Hua's room, instructing those around her, "No one is allowed to spread what Big Nai said earlier, otherwise I'll have your skin." She also saw a small maid bringing medicine into Shu Hua's room, and Mrs. Cai gave the medicine bowl a cold glance.

  Mrs. Cai was talking on this side, but she didn't know that Zhao Xuan and Hua had a quarrel that night, and the gossiping wife had already spread the word out.

  Yi Cheng Hou Zhao Xin called Zhao Xuan Huan into the study and asked him a series of questions, "What have you been saying in the mansion for the past two days? Did you really say it?"

  Zhao Xuan asked: "I don't know which ones Father is referring to?"

  Zhao Xin coldly laughed and said, "Do I still need to make things clear for you? No matter what you have in mind, give up on it as soon as possible. Otherwise, not only will you not get what you want, even if I were to drive you out of the Zhao family, I won't let you do something that would shame our ancestors."

  Zhao Xuan didn't speak, and Zhao Xin's anger grew higher and higher. "Don't think that just because you have some backing now, you dare to disobey my orders. You'd better go to the Shuntian Mansion and resolve this matter quickly, otherwise..."

  Zhao Xuan said: "How can this be solved by a son? Shuntian Prefecture has always handled cases impartially, Father just needs to rest assured."

  Zhao Xin couldn't help but widen his eyes, "What do you mean by this? Are you saying you don't want to get involved?"

  Zhao Xuanhuan looked at Zhao Xin's expression, and his heart gradually cooled down. He thought of the time when Tao Wu's daughter passed away, and his father's teachings. "Father was overthinking, it's just a corpse, how much trouble can it cause? Moreover, if I intervene now, who knows what rumors will spread."

  Zhao Xin slapped his palm on the table, "How dare you speak to me like that? I raised you to be this big, but it was not for you to be so disobedient?"

  Zhao Xuan Huan could only remain silent.

  Zhao Xin loudly called for the maid to change the tea bowl, and he himself went outside to change his clothes. On his way back, he heard some old women gossiping about something related to "marrying a title". He thought that these old women's mouths were not tight-lipped at all, and in no time, outsiders would know everything. So, he quickly stepped into the house and took out the family law.

  Madam Cai rushed to the study and saw Zhao Xin taking out the family law, hastily stepping forward to intercept him, "Lord Hou, what are you doing? You should at least consider your own dignity. It's just a child's nonsense, but Lord Hou is also taking it seriously. If outsiders find out, won't they laugh?"

  Zhao Xun said: "This rebellious son may not speak, but he is a threat to me, I don't believe those things."

  Madam Cai hurriedly advised: "Xuan Huan is already a family man, and at home he has two younger brothers who are all dependent on him. Your Lordship shouldn't make things difficult for him. Besides, some matters, as long as the family doesn't agree, what can he do?"

  Zhao Xin was willing to give up then.

  Madam Cai said, "The case of Shun Tian Fu doesn't necessarily require the prefect's presence. Moreover, our family has connections outside and it's not like we don't have any influence. What's so special about a dead body? I think this matter will probably be settled quietly."

  He also knew that the corpse was nothing to be concerned about, he had never taken it seriously. What he was worried about was something else. If this were done by an outsider, it would be fine, but what if it were someone from their own household who wouldn't rest until they stirred up trouble? He had just been testing Proclamation Huang's attitude, but hadn't expected...

  Mrs. Cai said, "Xuan Huang is unwilling to do this, Master Hou should not go against him for the time being." As she spoke, she nodded at Zhao Xuan Huang, letting him temporarily withdraw, and then used the rules to advise Zhao Xin.

  Zhao Xun said, "How can you, a woman, know what I'm thinking? At this critical moment, if that rebellious son were to stir up trouble for some reason, it would be too late for regrets."

  Madam Cai said: "Tomorrow I will go to find the wife of the Shuntian prefect and see if we can talk, besides, our own family should also have a relationship, this is just a small matter."

  Zhao Xin nodded and suddenly thought that Mrs. Cai didn't know about the past, maybe she would ask him about it, but to his surprise, Mrs. Cai didn't mention it, only then did Zhao Xin feel at ease.

  Mrs. Cai and Zhao Xin returned to the house, entered the inner room, and Mrs. Cai only mentioned the matter at hand, "How about that thing? The relatives don't know yet, do they? When are you planning to tell them?"

  Zhao Xindao said, "Originally I was going to say it, but then the matter of the fifth young lady came up, so let's wait a bit. Besides, if this matter were to be known by the Xue family and they were to intervene, who knows whose hands the things would end up in?"

  Madam Cai said: "The lord's worries are also valid, this kind of thing is what everyone wants, besides I see the Xue family doesn't seem to have decided which side to stand on either, being cautious is always good."

  ……

  "The young lady gave gifts to all the misses in the mansion."

  "What did you all bring?"

  "Just a pair of earrings."

  Not only did he bring gifts for the young ladies, but also brought jade hairpins for Mrs. Xue, her, Third Lady and Fourth Lady.

  "My mother said: 'It's not something valuable, just a small favor.'"

  "Small favors?" The Xue family was a big household, and it wasn't easy to stand firm in this family. Tao Ronghua didn't have a noble status, nor did she have the same background as Third Madam, whose family had officials and wealth. In this aspect, she knew how to be frugal. As a concubine's daughter, her natal family probably didn't give her much money. To make everyone happy with limited funds, she had to consider all aspects carefully.

  The old lady took Ronghua to the palace for the first time, and not many people in the mansion seemed to pay attention on the surface, but it was unknown how many eyes were staring at her secretly, especially when she came back, what the palace rewarded, probably everyone would know soon.

  Everyone in this house, whether they are envious or jealous, has all sorts of thoughts. Tao Ronghua brought gifts for everyone, although it's said that everyone has them, but as soon as she entered the mansion, she was like Mrs. Xue who had been lectured and also brought things for the young ladies.

  Although they were all small items, I'm afraid they weren't brought casually either.

  "What did you buy for the young ladies as earrings? Are they the same as those worn by Madame Xiao?"

  Mom thought for a moment, "I didn't think much of it at the time, but now that you mention it, I think it might be the same."

  That's it, no thick or thin, gifts don't have to be expensive, but exquisite, wearing them yourself, others won't have anything to say, Tao Ronghua has already done the best.

  Unlike Qian Shi, after marrying into the family, she only listened to her words and didn't know anything else, earning a reputation in the mansion as being honest and obedient.

  Madam Xue let Nanny Ren withdraw to rest, and herself returned to the inner chamber. She took out the hairpin that Ronghua had given her, looked at it, then put it away. Seeing Xue Chongyi, she said directly: "The wife of the first master is a person who knows how to get along with others."

  Xue Chongyi smiled and praised Er Taizi, "How can anyone be more meticulous than you?"

  The second lady laughed and scolded, but in her heart she was pleased, "But for whom?"

  After chatting and laughing, the two people inadvertently locked eyes.

  " Don't underestimate the daughter-in-law of the main house," she said, thinking of what Mrs. Xue had said today, which didn't seem like her usual words at all. "The old lady is also quite fond of her, you didn't see that when we came back, the old lady was smiling all along. Over the years, I've been keeping an eye on every move the old lady makes."

  Xue Chongyi nodded, "But even if we've pleased Mother, it's not necessarily going to do much good. Besides, the higher-ups have their guard up against the Eldest House, so Mother probably won't put all her hopes on the Eldest House either. The things Big Brother did, Mingrui was able to keep his title only with great difficulty, that's already quite something."

  The second lady's face fell as she said, "Even if that's the case, I still won't agree. The eldest son occupying the title is not right."

  Xue Chongyi sighed and said, "This mouth of yours, don't let others hear it."

  "Who in my household would dare to eavesdrop?" she said, pausing for a moment before lowering her voice. "If one doesn't take care of oneself, heaven and earth will be destroyed. Who wouldn't covet the hereditary title? The descendants will all benefit from it too. If we can't even get close to it, then so be it. But we're only one step away from the title now. As long as those above still have doubts about Mingrui, they'll inevitably find fault with him and strip him of his title one day. Just you wait and see."

  Xue Chongyi said: "It's not as serious as you said, nothing has happened in all these years."

  Second Mistress said, "As for government affairs, I am a woman who does not understand, but you may not necessarily be able to see through people's thoughts. Look at Ming Rui all these years, being careful and cautious, closing the door and refusing to associate with anyone. From this, it can be seen that those in power do not trust him after all. Moreover, as for Su Xiyou's case, outsiders only think that Ming Rui does not know how to adapt, but they do not know that there is a deeper layer..."

  Xue Chongyi wanted to believe in Er Tai's words, now listening to her analysis, he naturally felt that it made sense and couldn't help but smile.

  What exactly happened at Xue's house before?