My wife has a secret

Chapter 25 The past goes with the wind

Feng Tuo's first reaction was that Prince Kang wanted to use him as a knife to kill dissidents.

But he thought again, if there was no confirmed news from the palace, why would Prince Kang make such a fuss at this point in time?
The Empress Dowager has many allies and spies in the court. How long can the disappearance of a figure like Prince Kang be kept secret?
Therefore, the story of the Queen Mother's downfall is most likely true.

Now that I think about it, the family property in the Marquis' Mansion will not be passed down for more than three generations, and the person I love is about to fall into the quagmire of family breakdown and death. Now is really a good opportunity for me to fight for it.

"Feng is loyal to the court, so I am willing to serve you and bring glory to the Li Qi clan. However..."

Feng Tuo frowned, looking a little hesitant, "Your Highness should also know that I have no other skills except reciting poems and writing couplets. How can I deal with Xu Qing?"

Prince Kang looked at Feng Tuo jokingly, and the laziness between his brows made him jump with fear.

"It is precisely because you understand poetry and grew up in Suzhou that this matter must be handled by you... Do you know which poem is the most popular right now?"

Feng Tuo replied with a somewhat gloomy expression, "Of course it is the poem "Sending My Lover Off on the Night of the Full Moon" written at the Puyuan Poetry Festival. This poem has spread all over the country and has been praised by many people in a foreign land... Wait, isn't this the poem your Highness is talking about?"

Feng Tuo noticed that there was something else in Prince Kang's eyes, as if he was referring to something else.

"Apart from this one, there is only another seven-character quatrain that leaked out of Zuiyuan Pavilion two days ago that is somewhat famous. Although it was written by Xu Qing, it was also written by his concubine Lu."

“Yes, this is it.”

Prince Kang smiled and said, "There is nothing wrong with the first half of this poem. The key lies in the second half, which expresses the memory of Liu Lang and the overgrown tombstone."

Feng Tuo recited the poem silently and suddenly realized that just as Prince Kang said, one of the sentences was "The former lover Liu Lang is gone now."

"Liu Ziyuan, a scholar in the previous dynasty, was an official of the Ministry of Rites. He committed the serious crime of treason and was implicated along with his entire clan. However, the Wenyuan Academy he founded has remained in the neighboring Huaiyuan County."

"This……"

There was a flash of panic in Feng Tuo's eyes, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead, and his fingers were tightly grasping the armrests of the chair.

"He has never been to that academy. This is a fabricated frame-up."

"He has never been there, but Lu once followed the great scholar Master Nie to preach here, and this poem was written by Lu. Doesn't it further prove that the Xu family is determined to change the dynasty?"

Feng Tuo gritted his teeth, still feeling that this matter was untenable. "How could a person be convicted of a serious crime based on just one line of poetry? If it were to get out, who among the contemporary writers would dare to write poetry?"

"In the Puyuan Poetry Festival you hosted, in addition to the former Grand Tutor Xiao Zhong being invited to attend, there was also a white-haired old man, right?"

Feng Tuo recalled that day and thought of the old man who followed Mr. Xiao.

The other party's words, actions and demeanor were extraordinary, but after asking everyone around him, no one knew where they came from.

"You only need to report that Xu Qing met with him in private, and the crime of treason can be convicted against the Xu family... I know what you are worried about. Don't worry, once this is accomplished, I will arrange for the Lu family to fake their death and change their household registration."

Prince Kang's words shattered the last line of defense in Feng Tuo's heart.

He looked at the portrait on the wall, gritted his teeth, and uttered the word "good".

……

Lu Mansion.

After Lu Wanhe finished washing up, she gathered her long black hair into a bun in front of her left chest. With her pair of exquisite and crystal clear jade feet bare, she sat on a pearwood chair in the front hall, warming herself by the fire and looking through the list of accounts.

Her black hair was like a waterfall, her skin was like cream, and in the reflection of the firelight, her nose and lips were even more delicate and picturesque, and she was as beautiful as a fairy.

"Miss, the young master and his companions have gone back. Chief Steward Hai left behind a few guards and followed the young master back to the mansion. Now in the Lu Mansion, Miss has the final say..."

Ji Xia returned to the room holding a square wooden box. He suddenly saw the figure of his young lady and was slightly distracted.

She knew that her young lady was naturally beautiful and charming, but she never expected that she could be so beautiful at just a casual glance today.

I am a famous woman!

"The lady is so beautiful."

Lu Wanhe smiled slightly, thinking that the girl was teasing him.

"Don't make a fuss. My husband helped me get this business back. Now I am married into the Xu family. From now on, the owner of this place will be him instead of me."

"The young master was really amazing this time. The day he found Ji Xia, he was completely different from his usual casual and undisciplined personality. He seemed like a completely different person."

After this incident, Ji Xia was convinced by Xu Qingxin.

At first, she thought Xu Qing was deliberately trying to get her away.

But after she slept for a night in the inn rented by the young master of the Zhang family, she found that this matter was not as simple as she thought.

"Miss, you don't know, when I saw that the invincible general was as big as my palm, I was really shocked... Alas, I used to look down on others and didn't realize that the young master had such intelligence."

Lu Wanhe smiled and raised her head.

She immediately saw the box in Ji Xia's arms and whispered softly, "That's it."

"Yes, the young master got this this morning. He said he would give it to the young lady intact. What's in it?"

"Nothing, just put it on the table next to here."

"Humph, we are really unfamiliar with each other. Miss is still hiding a secret from Ji Xia."

Ji Xia curled her lips, and after making a joke, she put the wooden box in her hand on the table.

When she saw that the young lady was reading a registered list instead of a Confucian book, she was stunned.

Ji Xia knew the other party's temperament and hobbies well, and knew that her young lady hated this kind of thing the most, so why would she look at it so carefully and seriously?
"Miss, what is this?"

"My husband put all the money of the Lu family into this account and gave it to me to manage."

Ji Xiatan opened his mouth slightly and forgot to speak.

She stayed in the inn until noon the next day and found out how crazy the Lu family members were about cricket fighting.

Now that all their money has gone into the young lady's pocket, doesn't it mean that the young lady will never have to worry about food and clothing in the future?
"Miss……"

Ji Xia smacked her lips, but still felt dry in the mouth, which was unbelievable.

"Okay, I know what you're thinking... My husband gave me this money because he hoped that I wouldn't have to live under someone else's roof and act according to the old lady's wishes in everything."

"what?"

Ji Xia felt that Xu Qing was already a great favor by helping the young lady regain her family property, and she never expected that he could be so attentive to the young lady.

Originally, the young lady had no one to rely on due to her frail body and had to rely on the Xu family for everything. But things will be completely different in the future.

"Miss, the young master really has good intentions... Do you think he was just pretending before, deliberately letting your relatives relax their vigilance so that he could accomplish today's task?"

"how is this possible?"

Lu Wanhe coughed lightly and tightened his fox fur coat.

She actually thought so, but Xu Qing's reputation as a playboy had already spread before her grandfather passed away.

Ji Xia stuck out her tongue playfully and asked with a smile, "Miss, I was just joking... Why don't you let Chief Steward Hai stay and do these things, but do them yourself?"

"Uncle Hai is in charge of so many things in the Xu Mansion that he can't spare time. Besides, Uncle Hai is old, and he is only two of us... There must be someone in charge of the backyard in the future. I have to find a way out for my husband."

"Miss, are you serious?" Ji Xia finally understood what was different about the young lady today.

In the past, the young lady would often stare at something in a daze, with an expression of self-pity and worry unconsciously revealed on her face.

But now the lady is angry.

Although her body was still as fragile as before, the light in her eyes was so pure and clear, as if it could illuminate the beauty deep in her soul.

"My husband is honest with me, so we should also be kind to him and help him to the best of our ability... And for some reason, my right eye has been twitching today. I always feel that something big is going to happen soon."

"I know what the young lady said, but please don't think too much. The Xu family is so rich and powerful, what can go wrong?"

Lu Wanhe nodded, feeling that what Ji Xia said made no sense.

The Xu family has Aunt Xu Qing as their support, so everything they do will go smoothly. Maybe I'm just thinking too much.

"I'm not good at managing family business, but the Lu Mansion is the property left by my grandfather, so I can practice managing it... Tomorrow we will go to the streets and the East and West Markets to recruit some people for the mansion and Pu Garden, and turn this place into a summer resort, so that my husband can have a leisurely and quiet place to go."

"Yes."

In just one day, the difference between the young lady before and after was surprisingly great.

But Ji Xia felt that as long as her young lady had hope in life and could live happily every day, she would be satisfied.

After Ji Xia went back to tidy up the bed, Lu Wanhe put the account on her knee-length skirt aside, took the box on the table, and looked at it carefully.

The tenderness in her eyes seemed to warm the whole house.

With a "click", the box was opened, revealing stacks of slightly bent, yellowed letter paper.

Lu Wanhe stretched out her delicate jade fingers, picked up one and looked up.

The writing on it is blurry and crooked.

"I peek at the young man through the window, just like looking up at the spring terrace."

On this day of that year, the moon was bright in the window.

She vaguely remembered that she saw teenagers playing in the yard next door when she was in her grandfather's house.

The other person saw me in the moonlight and climbed up the locust tree to chat with me.

That was the only friend she made when she was seriously ill.

In the following days, she recorded everything that happened between the two of them in this box until the other party moved out of East Chang Street.

So when she learned that she was going to marry into the Xu family, Lu Wanhe did not object. Instead, she was looking forward to what the boy would look like when he grew up.

"Revisiting an old place is like looking for a sword on a boat. Even if you find what you left behind, everything has changed and nothing has happened... Since my husband can no longer remember the past, I should let go of the past and forget it."

After Lu Wanhe made the decision, he turned the box in his hand upside down and let the papers filled with black words and carrying past memories pour out.

Papers fell everywhere.

The blazing fire was reflected in her pupils, and she could vaguely see the letters curling up and turning to ashes.

……

In the carriage, Xiaohuan looked at her young master quietly and swallowed secretly.

Xu Qing had already observed the girl's expression and movements, and looked up at her with a mixture of anger and amusement.

"Just say what you have to say, don't hide it."

The wheels rumbled and happened to run over a stone, which startled Xiaohuan.

She reacted, blushed and looked at Xu Qing, and said with some grievance: "Master, why don't you assign me to handle the affairs of the Lu Mansion? Isn't I someone close to you, Master?"

"You're so stupid that you're easily tricked."

"How can there be..."

Xiao Huan was about to refute, but she seemed to remember something and muttered softly: "Even if there is, it's only a little."

"You're still being stubborn. The elder sister of that woman surnamed Gao was talking to you in the yard, and you almost told her my date of birth."

Xu Qing sighed, moved to the side, and made room for an empty seat.

"Come sit here and let the master hold you for a while."

Xiaohuan felt so ashamed by what Xu Qing said that her rosy cheeks looked like ripe apples.

She originally thought that the young master would punish her, but she did not expect that the young master would let her sit next to him and showed her great love.

It turns out that the person the young master cares about the most is himself.

Xiaohuan snuggled obediently in Xu Qing's arms, her cheeks blushing, and she secretly put her arms around his waist.

Xu Qing asked in confusion: "Are you feeling unwell or have a fever?"

“No…No way!”

"Then why are you twisting your body secretly?"

The two of them were close to each other, and Xu Qing could clearly feel that the girl was twisting her body gently. Although the amplitude was small, it was still noticeable.

Moreover, Xiaohuan's body was very warm, as if she had a cold and a fever.

Xiaohuan's face turned red all the way to her ears.

She was so ashamed that she closed her eyes and lowered her head, then snuggled into Xu Qing's arms, never daring to act rashly again.

"Xiao Huan... Xiao Huan didn't have it, Master, please don't ask anymore, don't ask anymore!"

When the little girl spoke the latter part, her voice was as soft as a mosquito or fly, so shy that she could not suppress it and it was almost inaudible.

Seeing this, Xu Qing patted her on the back to comfort her and then focused on other things.

Today should be the day when Qin from the fourth house returns. As she is a key suspect, she must be thoroughly investigated.

But when he thought of Qin Shuying's demeanor and temperament, Xu Qing felt a headache.

Based on the meeting in the house that night alone, Xu Qing was certain that this was an experienced love veteran.

How can someone have charm engraved in their bones and exude it in seemingly casual gestures?

Born to be charming was the only evaluation Xu Qing could think of.

However, it is precisely because of this that it shows that Qin has the most problems.

Princes and nobles flocked to her. It should not be difficult for her to become a legal wife. Why would she fall for a playboy like Xu Qing and bring trouble upon herself?
Could it be that my predecessor was very good at picking up girls?
Just as Xu Qing fell into deep thought, the carriage creaked and stopped.

Xiaohuan quickly stood up, straightened her clothes, and reminded the young master that they had arrived.

　I'm a little slow today, sorry

　　
　
(End of this chapter)