"The second young master went to the bakery?" Qu Moying gently stroked the strings of the zither. The sound of the zither stopped, leaving only a slight tremor on her slender fingertips.
"Yes, Mr. Zhao sent someone to ask us if we had asked the second young master to go there. I said I didn't know about this. Mr. Zhao's people said that when the second young master went there, he said he was looking for the shopkeeper and some old friend. It seemed that he was very concerned and kept asking where the shopkeeper had gone!"
Aunt Miao said.
She happened to be coming back from outside and met this servant at the door. When she heard that he was looking for her young lady, Nanny Miao called the man aside and questioned him carefully.
This surprised Qu Moying. It was understandable that Qu Qiuyan took a fancy to his shop, but how come even Qu Mingcheng got involved now
Qu Mingcheng had been very cautious since the last incident. What was going on now? To appease Qu Qiuyan? Qu Moying already knew that Qu Qiuyan had been scolded and cried by Qu Zhizhen when she went to the study.
She was not surprised by this. Qu Zhizhen was feeling very upset right now, and Qu Qiuyan was adding fuel to the fire. It would be strange if she didn't scold him!
"What else did you say?" Qu Moying asked after a moment of silence.
"Mr. Zhao means that if the young lady wants those old people, it's fine, but we have to pay to buy them!" said Nanny Miao.
It sounded like she didn't understand what was going on, so the servant just told her to tell the young lady.
What do you mean by buying people? What did the young lady want those old people from the shops for? Aunt Miao knew that those old people were related to the Second Madam, and they were all people who had been used by the Second Madam before and were very loyal to her. She had been to the shops and met those people before, but she couldn't get anything out of them no matter how she asked. She clenched her teeth tightly.
Since he is not an old member of the Yue family and is also the Second Madam's lackey, what is the point of staying here!
"Mr. Zhao said so?" Qu Moying asked in surprise. Her long eyelashes fluttered twice, casting uneven shadows on her fair and tender face. Her appearance was delicate and beautiful.
"That's what she said. I thought that since she said that, it must be what the young lady wanted, so I asked them to keep some staff and said that the young lady would send someone to pay." said Nanny Miao.
Qu Moying nodded, "Madam, you did a good job. Since you want to leave it to us, then buy it. It's just a few servants, but I don't know who this Mr. Zhao deliberately left behind."
These people should have all been dismissed, but there were still some of them left in the hands of Mr. Zhao. Qu Moying felt surprised, but not so surprised at the same time.
"Mammy, please go and take them in with Yu Dong. Then check on them. I think there should be a shopkeeper that the Second Young Master likes among them."
There was a hint of coldness in Qu Moying's eyes, and when he raised his almond-shaped eyes, they were sparkling and deep.
There is no smoke without fire. Qu Mingcheng's unexpected intervention made her take the matter seriously. Originally, she just didn't want Qu Qiuyan to succeed, and she also took the opportunity to deal with Yu's minions, so that it was all over.
My mother left behind quite a few shops. This shop was neither big nor small, and the situation was special, so I just dealt with it directly.
Unexpectedly, this matter involved an accident.
Qu Mingcheng is not Qu Qiuyan, something really happened there!
"Yes, miss!" Yu Dong nodded. He already understood what Qu Moying meant. It was just right for him to do this. He had wanted to investigate the shopkeeper's affairs before. Miss said it was no big deal and they could do it together later.
Just let him go. At that time, he felt that the shopkeeper had a sharp eye.
Qu Zhizhen sat in the study with a gloomy face, his hands on the table, pinching and releasing them, releasing and pinching them again.
The servant stood behind him, not daring to say a word, and lowered his head tremblingly. Ever since the Third Miss left and he came in to serve, his master has been like this, looking extremely creepy.
I have served Qu Zhizhen for so many years, but I have never seen him so angry. The third young lady has really offended the master.
A steward came in and poked his head in the door. The servant looked at Qu Zhizhen, and seeing that he wasn't paying attention, he walked out carefully: "What's going on?"
"Minister Liu is here to visit!" The steward rubbed his hands and said. He just came in to report, but he felt that the study was too quiet, so he didn't dare to come in to report.
The servant hurried in to report.
"Master, Minister Liu is here."
"Please come in!" Qu Zhizhen's expression miraculously calmed down. He stood up, turned around the desk, strode out and went straight out to greet them.
At the gate, Minister Liu saw Qu Zhizhen coming out and said calmly, "Minister Qu."
"Your Excellency, please come in!" Qu Zhizhen also bowed with a smile, then went in to welcome the guest.
Instead of going to the study, they went to the living room in the outer courtyard and sat down in the small living room. The servant brought them tea. The two of them picked up the teacups, took a sip, and put them down at the same time.
"Minister Qu, I heard something when I went out just now. I wonder if you have heard about it?" Minister Liu said lightly.
"I've heard about it, and we're investigating it." Qu Zhizhen showed some annoyance on his face, "I don't know who spread this story. The Yue family is a simple person, so how could there be such a thing!"
Minister Liu's eyes fell on Qu Zhizhen's face, and he smiled gently: "It's best that Minister Qu thinks so. I heard there was such a rumor, so I came to see you on purpose. It's best that Minister Qu didn't misunderstand."
"Minister Liu, you're too polite." Qu Zhizhen was also good, with a smile all over his face, looking as if he really didn't care at all.
"Since there's nothing else to do, I'll take my leave first!" Minister Liu stood up.
Qu Zhizhen also stood up hurriedly: "It's a rare opportunity for you to come here, why don't you stay for dinner, Minister Liu?"
"The lady in the mansion is waiting for you, so it's inconvenient. Let's make an appointment next time we have a chance." Minister Liu pointed to his sleeves and said with a smile.
"That's my humble servant's rudeness." Qu Zhizhen felt it was inconvenient to keep him any longer.
The two men walked politely all the way to the door. Finally, Qu Zhizhen bowed to Minister Liu and watched him leave.
When he left, his face darkened immediately, he snorted coldly, and turned back to the mansion...
Minister Liu got off the carriage at his own residence and went to the study with the servant. However, he hesitated at the intersection and decisively turned around and walked towards the inner courtyard.
When the maid at the Chuihua Gate saw her master coming, she hurriedly saluted. After Minister Liu passed by, she called a little maid and gave her a few instructions, asking her to go and report to the Madam immediately. It had been a long time since the master had entered the inner courtyard, and it seemed that he came to see the Madam today. That was a good thing!
The little maid took a shortcut and ran away.
The largest courtyard in the inner courtyard of the Shangshu Mansion is not where the wife of the main wife lives. Madam Liu's courtyard is close to the back door. Although it is also large, it is not the main courtyard in the sense of location. When Shangshu Liu came over, all the maids in the courtyard were very excited.
They haven't seen this male master for a long time.
In the main room, Mrs. Qi sat with an expectant look on her face, her hands on the corner of the table, seemingly calm, but in fact she was not calm at all.
Hearing the sound at the door, she raised her head hastily, and was faced with the stern face of Minister Liu. She was stunned for a moment, but then she stood up, smiled at Minister Liu, and saluted: "How come you have time to come here at this time, my husband?"
Minister Liu didn't say anything. He just stared at Madam Qi with his hands behind his back, and didn't ask her to get up.
Madam Qi almost couldn't stand, and raised her head aggrievedly: "Husband?"
"Qi Xiejiao, how long do you plan to continue making trouble?" Minister Liu finally spoke.
Madam Qi was stunned for a moment, then slowly stood up straight, with tears in her eyes: "Husband, I don't understand what you mean?"
"Don't you understand? Qi Xiejiao, if there is anyone in this world who doesn't understand, it's definitely not you!" Minister Liu sneered with a mocking look on his face.
"My husband, what do you mean?" Madam Qi's tenderness faded, revealing a hint of anger. "My husband never came in the past, but today he came in and said such words. I really don't understand what I did wrong to make my husband so disgusted and say such words."
"I despise you? Yes, I do, but is it useful? Is it too late?" Minister Liu said rudely, his eyes cold, "Qi Xiejiao, you have already got everything you wanted, what else do you want? Now you are not even going to let go of the reputation of a deceased person?"
"Husband, I don't understand what you mean? But I do understand what you said before. Since you didn't refuse the marriage back then, it's too late to say anything now. Even if you regret it, so what? As for the rest, I don't know." Madam Qi sighed and her expression eased again. "Husband, it's been so many years, she is no longer here, so what if you still hold a grudge?"
"Qi Xiejiao, don't say that what's being said outside has nothing to do with you. If there is still an innocent person in this world, it's definitely not you." Minister Liu sneered unmoved, looking at Madam Qi with some hatred in his eyes, "If I hear such rumors again, Qi Xiejiao, you know I won't tolerate it anymore."
After saying this, Minister Liu turned and left.
When I went out, I almost bumped into Liu Jingyu who was rushing in from outside the door.
"Father!" Liu Jingyu hurriedly took a step back.
Minister Liu stopped and gave her a stern look: "Jingyu, you must not learn from your mother."
After saying this nonsense, he turned around and walked away.
Liu Jingyu frowned and watched Minister Liu leave. She had rushed here just because she got the news, fearing that her parents would quarrel again. Now it seemed that they really were quarreling again.
As I reached the door, I suddenly saw that the door to the main house was closed. Nanny Chen, who was beside my mother, was guarding the door. It seemed that she would not let me in again.
"Madam Chen, mother doesn't want to see me again?" Liu Jingyu said with a wry smile. Every time at this time, his mother would have someone guard the door and not let him in, and he would be sad all alone.
"My Lady, you'd better go back first. Madam needs some quiet time right now and doesn't want to talk to you." Nanny Chen lowered her voice and sighed. She had married Madam Qi from the Duke of Qi's Mansion, and this scene had happened more than once or twice.
Outsiders only think that Minister Liu and his wife are harmonious and happy, but what is the truth? It is just an injustice...