On the Difficulties of Escape in Ancient Times

Chapter 430 Taking Office 5
After hearing that the assassins had failed and that the people from the Li Mansion had not even spared the bodies and sent them to Shuntian Prefecture, Madam Gu felt a chill down her spine: "Is it not a good time for me to go there? Will they suspect us of being the ones who did it?"

Lord Gu sneered: "Whether we come or not, we will be suspected. We might as well just admit our insignificant mistakes."

"You said that the third family is young and ignorant, and she is a concubine's daughter and has a short eye. She saw that the ladies donated a lot of good things, so she became greedy."

"Just say that you found something a little strange when you came back yesterday, and you carefully questioned the third brother's..."

Nowadays, most women still favor their natal family even after they are married.

Mrs. Gu was not very willing at the time: "Wouldn't this make the Third Elder's family take the blame?"

After all, they are her own children, so the lady still feels a little embarrassed.

"That's just a woman's opinion." Lord Gu frowned and said, "When the nest is overturned, no egg will be left unbroken. If I do it the way I want, only the Third Brother's family will suffer a little, and we can subsidize them privately."

"Now the matter has become a big deal. If someone finds out something else, the Gu family will be finished..."

Mrs. Gu also thought about their private brothels, embroidery shops, and grain shops. If they were discovered, they would not only lose money and face, but they might even lose their lives.

That would be a devastating disaster for the Gu family.

So she asked people to prepare gifts, found the land deeds and house deeds herself, and then called her third daughter-in-law over, persuaded her with kind words, and promised her huge profits. After the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law reached an agreement, she brought the valuable gifts to Li's house.

After listening to Mrs. Gu's complaints and her apology, Mrs. Li was half-believing and half-doubting.

But we are all in this circle, so even if we are not close, we will see each other every day.

Mrs. Li did not show any displeasure to them, so as to avoid creating an unnecessary enemy.

She said it very nicely: "The Queen Mother ordered my eldest daughter-in-law to take over the affairs of the charity hall. I can't take over her responsibility and make decisions for her."

Like a loving mother-in-law, she said with a worried look on her face: "But Xiao was frightened yesterday, and I don't know if she can see guests now."

After that, he ordered the maid: "Go and see if the eldest grandmother can get up to meet the distinguished guest."

When Xiao Zhou went there earlier, the maids had already woken Xiao Xiao up.

After Xiao Xiao simply washed up, she ate breakfast while listening to Xiao Zhou talk.

"I suspect that it is the Gu family who wants to harm you."

"I didn't expect them to come to my door."

"I have already made an agreement with my mother. I will write a letter of greeting and send it to the palace. I will also tell my elder sister not to meddle in the affairs of the charity hall anymore."

"Not only is it a thankless job, but I almost lost my life. Why bother?"

After Xiao Zhou finished speaking, seeing that Xiao Xiao was eating with relish, she asked the maid to bring her another portion of soy milk and steamed dumplings, which she dipped in chili and vinegar and ate with relish.

Xiao Xiao also knew that this was not a good job, but when she thought of those sensible and pitiful little girls she saw yesterday, she still couldn't say a word of agreement.

"Thank you for your concern, sister-in-law." Xiao Xiao looked at her gratefully: "I know you are thinking about me."

She also knew what was right and what was wrong, and understood that Xiao Zhou had good intentions, so she was of course generous in praising her for being a beautiful and kind person.

"But there are many people watching this matter now. If we give up halfway, I'm afraid it will hurt the Queen's feelings."

Now the imperial power is supreme. If the emperor wants his subjects to die, they have to die.

If Xiao Xiao refuses, she would be ungrateful and Li Yan's future would be affected as well.

Of course, the main reason was that Xiao Xiao was unwilling to abandon the charity hall. Otherwise, she would risk her reputation by going to the mansions of dignitaries to ask for money, so that the Queen could replace her. Xiao Zhou also came to her senses and realized that if Xiao Xiao didn't do it, it would be the Queen's face, so she could only smile dryly and change her words: "Sister-in-law is right, we are not afraid of those shameful people, we should just bring a few more guards when we go out in the future."

Xiao Xiao also nodded in agreement: "You are very thoughtful. I will definitely bring a few more guards with me when I go out next time. It will definitely look impressive."

Just as the two sisters-in-law put down their chopsticks, the maid from Madam Li's room came over.

The girl who could be the head maid of Madam Li was indeed very clever. She not only said Madam Gu's apology, but also said those words of confession of guilt by Grandma Gu San.

"Mrs. Gu San admitted that when she saw the ladies donating some good fabrics, she had evil thoughts and sold all the fabrics."

"The money came quickly, so Madam Gu San followed suit and sold the good rice and flour donated by the ladies."

"So now there is no money or rice on the books, only an empty shell."

"But Madam Gu and Third Madam Gu both said that they swear on their own lives that they definitely did not send anyone to assassinate our First Madam yesterday."

"Madam asked me to invite you, Madam. If you are not feeling well, you don't have to force yourself to meet the guests."

Xiao Xiao understood what her step-mother-in-law meant. If you don't want to see them, then just use the excuse of being unwell to avoid them. There's no need to force it.

But Xiao Xiao wanted to meet the Gu family.

She stood up and said, "When a distinguished guest comes, I will go to meet him."

Xiao Zhou immediately pointed at the two maids Yiqing and Menghui and said, "You have no sense, why don't you help your grandmother?"

This time Xiao Xiao didn't refuse. She looked like she was scared.

As soon as Xiao Xiao entered the room, before she even bowed, Madam Gu came to support her and said, "Grandma, you are frightened. I also heard about the assassination you suffered yesterday."

"I feel that this is targeting our two families. There must be someone secretly trying to make our two families enemies."

If Xiao Xiao didn't know what was going on, she would really believe what she said.

Xiao Xiao also cooperated: "Madam, what you said makes sense."

Then he added: "But I am really scared. Please ask my sister-in-law to ask the Queen to return the charity hall to you."

Even if Madam Gu was tempted, she would not dare to agree to it even if she was beaten to death after such a thing happened, otherwise the Queen would definitely target the Gu family.

Furthermore, it is not known whether Xiao Xiao did it intentionally or unintentionally, and what she said really means killing without spilling blood.

What do you mean the charity is theirs?

The charity hall belongs to the royal family.

If she dares to agree to this, the Gu family will be confiscated and exterminated tomorrow.

Madam Gu was so frightened that her soul almost flew away. She almost wanted to kneel down to her. It was like this: "Grandma, we definitely don't want to take over the charity again."

"My disappointing daughter-in-law did such a wicked thing. How can we have the face to take over?"

Grandma Gu San didn't expect Xiao Xiao to speak so harshly. She gritted her teeth and knelt down in front of her: "It's my fault. I'm greedy. I'm willing to die to atone for my sin."

Of course, no one present believed what she said.

Madam Li could only try to smooth things over: "He just took a little money. He won't commit suicide. Hurry up and get up."

Madam Gu also immediately joined in: "The third family embezzled about two thousand taels of silver. We will compensate them three times. We only ask the madam and the grandmothers to spare her life."