The second steward rode the only horse on the farm and rushed to the capital city, exhausted.
This horse was not as fast as the second young master's thousand-mile horse. It rested several times on the way and did not enter the city gate until noon the next day.
The second steward did not go to the marquis's mansion immediately, but found an inn to stay, washed off the dust on his body, changed into clean and decent clothes, and went to the gate of the marquis's mansion leisurely.
Looking up at the four big characters "Dingyuan Marquis Mansion" on the tall and solemn door lintel, and seeing that everyone coming in and out was dressed in silk and satin and driving luxury cars, he finally understood why Xiu'er wanted him to be so stylish.
Fortunately, he had showered and changed his clothes beforehand, otherwise he would have been chased away by the guards as a beggar.
Even so, he was stopped by the guards when he stepped forward to ask for a meeting.
"You can't just go and see the Marquis whenever you want?" The guard shouted impatiently after hearing his introduction. "The Marquis is in charge of the country's major issues, so he doesn't have the time to care about the trivialities of your little farm. If you have something to report, please ask to see the lady or the chief steward, and don't bother the Marquis."
Before coming, the Fourth Aunt repeatedly reminded her that it would be better not to meet the Marquis than to meet the Madam. If she met the Madam, not only would she not be able to get things done, but she would also most likely lose her life.
The second steward stood up, straightened his clothes, and said in a deep voice: "This young man is wrong. Hongou Manor was built by the Marquis to show his respect to the old lady. The name was inscribed by the current emperor himself. There is only one such manor in the Great Zhou Dynasty. How come it has become an insignificant manor in your eyes?"
"..." The guard was stunned by what he said and said angrily, "How dare you, a country bumpkin, teach me a lesson?"
The second steward said sternly, "Although I am a peasant, I am the steward appointed by the Marquis himself. What's wrong with me teaching a gatekeeper like you a lesson?"
The guard was so angry that he puffed his beard and glared, and reached for the sword at his waist.
The second steward was terrified, but he forced himself to remain calm and raised his hand to slap him: "Boy, do you still want to kill me?"
People who do farm work are very strong, and the guard was slapped so hard that he saw stars and stood there in a daze for a moment.
When the guards nearby saw that things had gotten out of hand, they hurried forward to help.
The second steward was so frightened that his calves were twitching, but he still maintained a stern and fearless demeanor.
Several guards were really frightened by him. One of them tried to smooth things over by saying, "We are all family. Why should we be unhappy? This steward has come a long way. He must have something urgent to report to the Marquis. Calm down and let me pass on the message."
The second steward snorted coldly, stood with his hands in his sleeves, and waited for him to pass on the message.
The guard who was beaten was very angry, but he didn't say anything more.
After a while, the guard who delivered the message came back and said that the Marquis had approved the second steward's request to see him, and then took him into the Marquis' Mansion through the side door.
The second steward felt his back wet with sweat as he stepped into the mansion.
Xiu'er said that wealth and honor must be sought through risk, but before he even got close to wealth and honor, he had already been to the gates of hell.
While feeling scared, he secretly admired Xiu'er's foresight and her incredible trick. She said that he could get in by slapping him, and he really got in. But if he couldn't get in, his life would really be over here.
He was so scared the whole way that he had no time to appreciate the beautiful scenery of the Marquis' Mansion. He followed the guards into the Marquis' study tremblingly.
There are no secrets in the marquis's mansion, and the news that the second steward angrily slapped the guard soon spread throughout the mansion.
Qin was teasing her grandson in her niece Qin Wanru's yard. When she heard that the manager who beat the grandson was from Hongou Manor, her heart skipped a beat and she hurried back to her own yard with Madam Cao and others.
"Why did someone suddenly come to Hongou Manor? I have always been in charge of the affairs of the manor. Why did the guards take him to see the Marquis? What does Chang Fu do for a living? Why didn't they stop him?" Qin sat down in the hall and asked questions one after another.
Chang Fu is Madam Cao's man, the chief steward of the mansion, and Qin's most capable spy in the outer courtyard.
Madam Cao poured her a cup of tea and handed it to her: "Madam, don't worry. This happened suddenly and Chang Fu didn't know about it. He rushed over as soon as he heard the news, but the person had already been taken to the Marquis' study."
Qin had no time to drink tea. She put the cup heavily on the table and said angrily, "What is this dog slave Hu Sanmu doing? We have come more than 300 miles and his pigeons haven't arrived yet. Could it be that he didn't notice it at all?"
Madam Cao couldn't say for sure, so she could only guess: "Perhaps the second steward came secretly without telling anyone, or perhaps the pigeon was caught by an eagle or shot by someone on the way..."
Qin was so angry that her head hurt. She rubbed her temple and said, "I don't know why that person suddenly came to see the Marquis. If it was about planting lotus roots, it would be fine. But if it was about the matter of the Fourth Aunt, then it would be a big trouble."
"Fourth Aunt?" Yun Yan continued, "It's been almost a month. Could it be that Ma Po has succeeded?"
After her reminder, Qin became even more uneasy. If she succeeded, that would be great, but if she failed, that was also a small matter. What she feared most was that if she failed, she would be discovered. If she was exposed again, it would be like giving Fourth Aunt a handle for nothing.
There was no point in making random guesses at the moment. Qin suppressed her anger and ordered Cao Ma: "Go tell Chang Fu to wait over there. As soon as the second steward comes out of the study, he must bring the person to me as soon as possible."
"Yes!" Madam Cao took the order and left.
After half an incense stick of time, Madam Cao came back in a panic and said that there was no way to bring the person. The Marquis sent six guards to follow the second steward to the farm to pick up the Fourth Lady and bring her back to the manor.
Qin was shocked and angry, and wanted to go to the front yard to argue with the Marquis.
Madam Cao hastily tried to dissuade him: "Madam, calm down. I'm afraid the Marquis has heard the slander and is waiting for you to come."
Qin stopped abruptly, dropping several teacups and vases. She called Chang Fu and ordered him to arrange some men to follow the guards and wait for an opportunity to kill the Fourth Aunt on the way back to the capital.
(End of this chapter)