Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 351 Visiting the Kinmen Winter Cold

Shichahai, the other courtyard of the Li family, the inner hall.

Li Nai's face was a bit haggard, and his eyes were sunken.He is ten years older than Li Ding, and now he is in his thirties.Although he sometimes felt a little jealous towards that younger brother who was extremely intelligent since he was a child, but it did not fail to affect the brotherhood between them.

Today, October 26, Suzhou received news from Beijing on the [-]th.Li Xu and Li Nai, father and son, were both worried.

Li Ding is not a person who doesn't know the rules, even if he really has something to go out of Beijing, he will not ask for leave at the guard's side.

Where did it go?But by other people's schemes?Their Li family still has a bit of face in the south of the Yangtze River, so it's nothing to go to the capital where the rich and powerful gather.Even Cao's family had Pingjun Wangfu as their in-laws in the early years, so Cao Yong was almost beaten to death.

Li Xu thought about his son's temperament, after all, age is a factor here, sensible is sensible, and his temper is a bit stronger, who would know which one he would offend in his usual contacts?
But he was worried, Li Xu didn't dare to go to Beijing without permission before he got the imperial edict, so he sent his eldest son Li Nai to the north to investigate Li Ding's whereabouts.

Li Nai set off from Suzhou on the [-]th day of the [-]th month, accompanied by several guards, walked through post stations along the way, changed horses without changing people, and caught up with the capital early this morning.

The chief steward of the Li Mansion in the capital, Qian Zhongshui, is Li Xu's confidant, but he is not too close to Li Ding, the little master.Qian Zhongshui has been in the capital for more than ten years, and he is a very transparent person who can represent his master in dealing with people in various prefectures.

When Li Ding first came to Beijing, Qian Zhongshui wanted to help the little master sincerely, and pointed out the inappropriateness of Li Ding's actions.However, Li Ding is used to being smart, and he has no eyes for others. He thinks that the big housekeeper is relying on the old to sell the old, and is suspected of bullying him.

After the Wanshou Festival was over and Li Xu returned to Suzhou, Li Ding no longer saved face for Qian Zhongsong, and made several stewards around him, and spent half a month to empty out the old housekeeper.

Qian Zhongsong's good intentions were not rewarded, and he was also depressed. He wanted to write to the old master to express his grievances, but he was afraid of being suspected of provoking the relationship between the master and his son, so he could only grit his teeth and endure it.Unexpectedly, in just half a year, such a mistake happened.

Although Guo Mao talked too much a few days ago, talking about his master's secrets made Qian Zhongshui, the big housekeeper, very angry.But if you think carefully about the people their second master has been with on a daily basis, everyone knows it.Those who entertained at the outer house alone acted more secretly, only Li Ding's confidants knew about it.

After checking that Li Ding was still missing, not only Guo Mao, whose son disappeared at the same time as Li Ding, was suspicious, but also Qian Zhongshen was also suspicious of Bai Yang.

Although the courtyard on this side was not sealed, the people who came from the Li residence were forced to ground all the people in the courtyard here, just waiting for people from the south to deal with them.

Li Nai is the only younger brother, and now he can't see anyone when he is born, and he can't see a corpse when he dies.After listening to Qian Zhongshui's general situation, he was also blinded, so he had to come to this house for interrogation.

*
Yang Ruixue is not considered a smart person, but looking at the situation in the past half a month, she also figured out some reasons.If Li Dingren is still alive, how can he disappear?This Li Ding, I am afraid that he has already lost his life just like her dead ghost husband.
Does this count as "good and evil will be rewarded in the end"?Yang Ruixue thought about it a little bit.What's wrong with her?She has done no harm to anyone, she is just a helpless little girl, what is the sin of following the crowd? .

But it's all for one life, so why should she wipe her neck and hang herself for the sake of her innocence?

But she also knew that if Li Dingruo died in such an unexplained manner, she would have to suffer from Chi Yu's disaster.It is not uncommon for the people of the Li family to take her life to vent their anger.

She thought about running away, but Qian Zhongshui, the housekeeper of Li's house, had already been put to death in the courtyard.Although she was anxious in her heart, she could only bear it and wait for the opportunity.

A few days ago, Shen Liu, the manager, was also afraid of being involved, so he packed his bags and wanted to escape, but was caught by the Li Family Nursing Home, broke his legs and threw him into the woodshed.

With lessons learned from the past, Yang Ruixue had to think of another way.The Li family has no other masters in the capital, and even the chief housekeeper, Qian Zhongshui, has no right to deal with them.This kind of restraint is just waiting for someone from the south to come.

If it was Li Xu who came, Yang Ruixue couldn't help feeling a little hopeful.Li Xu really loved her in spring, and even when he returned to Suzhou later, he had people send things to the capital every month.With his love, Yang Ruixue has nothing to fear.

I was afraid that Li Xu would not be able to come, so another nephew would come instead...

Yang Ruixue made two preparations, one was to dress up in a plain and pretty way, not to look ostentatious, but also to look elegant and charming; the second was to wear all the bracelets and pearls that Li Xu gave her, if it was not possible, she would With the identity of Li Xu's concubine revealed, those people can't act recklessly.

Now, I heard that it was Li Ding's brother and Li Xu's eldest son, the Li family uncle who came here. Yang Ruixue couldn't help feeling a little hot when he thought of the Li family father and son's unusual habits.Sitting in front of the dressing table, looking at the makeup in the mirror, she felt like a deer in her heart, and she couldn't move.

The ones who looked at Yang Ruixue in the inner house were all the mothers from Li's house, so why would they pay attention to her?Seeing her lingering and unable to get up, the two nuns were a little impatient, and one of them muttered: "Grandma Yang, the uncle is waiting, don't make things difficult for the old slaves!"

Although it was with a respectful title, there was no trace of respect on this nanny's face, and she said these words firmly.

Yang Ruixue was furious, she gave the nanny a sideways look, and wanted to reprimand her, but felt that it was really not the time.At this juncture, there was really no need to argue with this servant, she suppressed her anger, got up and followed the two nuns out of the house to the inner hall.

Li Nai was waiting impatiently and wanted to send someone to have a look, when he saw a young woman coming in with two nuns.Snow-blue shirt, lotus-colored skirt, plain plain face, and two pearl flowers on her hair.

Li Nai was quite surprised, because he heard Guo Mao say that the woman his younger brother raised here was not decent, so he came here to interrogate him, and wanted to see if it was really related to his disappearance.

Looking at it now, this woman doesn't look like a prostitute, but looks like a good family.

It's strange to say that when Yang Ruixue was a young mistress in Jiangning, she liked bright clothes and delicate makeup; now that she is forced to stay with Li Ding, she doesn't like to play with those things more and more, and she has returned to basics.

Yang Ruixue followed the two nuns to the hall, and saw a man in fine clothes sitting on the main seat.In his thirties, with a square face and a short beard, his appearance was somewhat similar to Li Xu's.

Thinking about it, this is Li Nai, the uncle of the Li family, Yang Ruixue thought to herself.

Seeing Li Nai looking at her, Yang Ruixue looked very solemn even though her heart was bumping wildly.She lowered her eyes, feeling blessed, and said seriously: "My concubine, Mrs. Yang, has seen the uncle!"

What she said made Li Nai confused.He knew that his younger brother was a flirtatious man, and he had many women around him when he was in Suzhou in his early years, but this Yang family looked different from everyone else.

Moreover, although Yang's words were polite, there was no sense of humbleness in his words.She has a southern accent, she has a Jiangning accent...

Li Nai was slightly surprised, and asked, "Mr. Yang? Are you from Jiangning?"

Yang Ruixue restrained her solemn appearance, nodded lightly, and said, "I am a Jiangning person!"

Li Nai vaguely remembered that his younger brother proudly talked about getting a pearl farm in Jiangning last year.Because Li Nai had heard his father mention that the Cao family was doing this, he was afraid that his younger brother would act like this, and the Cao family was overwhelmed, and even advised him a few words.

Li Ding, on the other hand, didn't take it seriously. He mentioned that he made this windfall by recruiting a little widow, and there was nothing to hide.It is also said that the widow's natal brother is young, and her in-law's family is pressing hard, so it is better to fall into his hands than to take advantage of outsiders.

Yang Ruixue was wearing colored clothes, obviously out of filial piety.

Thinking of her status as a good family, Li Nai couldn't quite believe what Guan Shi said earlier.Therefore, his face was much gentler, he pointed to the chairs in the hall, and said to Yang Ruixue: "Madam Yang, please sit down and talk!"

Yang Ruixue thanked her, then sat down on the chair with her back straightened and her eyes fixed on her.

Li Nai asked about the first eight nights, Yang Ruixue blushed, and told when Li Ding came and when he returned.At the end, she suddenly remembered something, thought for a while and said: "I just remembered, that night, at midnight, the servant sent by the mansion was led to answer under the window, in a trance, as if What girl Tong did you mention..."

Before she finished speaking, someone said bitterly: "You bastard, don't spit blood on people!"

As the saying goes, "You don't slap someone in the face", but this sentence stepped on Yang Ruixue's painful feet alive.

She immediately stood up, blushing, and looked towards the speaker.Behind the head housekeeper Qian Zhongshui, a delicate and pretty young woman flashed sideways, staring at her with raised eyebrows.

Although Yang Ruixue is virtuous in front of her husband, she also looks like a "little white sheep" in front of Li Ding, and she is also delicate in front of other men, but she is a business woman after all, not as shy as an ordinary lady.

In the past six months in Beijing, she also knew a little about Li Ding's favored maidservant Xiang Tong in charge of the inner house in Li's house.

With a sneer at the corner of her mouth, she looked at the servant girl and said, "There is no inner ghost, so you can't attract outside thieves. You servant girl is so guilty, could it be that you are a black-hearted betrayer?"

Because Xiangtong is a person relied on in Li Ding's inner house, she knows more about Li Ding's affairs, so Li Nai and the housekeeper brought her with them.

In Xiang Tong's mind, the most suspicious person is naturally the woman on this side.Since he came back from his entourage, Li Ding stayed in the outer house less often than in the past because of sisters Ye Xian and Zhi Xian in front of him and Miao Yun in the back.Could it be that this woman couldn't bear the loneliness, seduced outsiders, and murdered the second master?
Unexpectedly, now, in front of the uncle, this woman bit her like a mad dog.Xiangtong gritted her teeth and stared at Yang Ruixue, tearing her heart apart.

The room was full of people from the Li family. Although Yang Ruixue felt uneasy in her heart, she forced herself to sit on the chair again.

Li Nai had heard about it from the housekeeper, but it was Li Ding who was invited by the servant in the name of Xiangtong.However, it has been checked that Xiang Tong rested early that night and did not come to the front yard, nor did he send anyone to invite Li Ding.

Xiangtong's parents and brothers are all born in the Li family, and she has been by Li Xu's side for many years, so Li Nai does not doubt her.

This matter was not complicated at all, it was because someone bribed the servant at Li's house, and under the banner of Xiangtong, Li Ding was tricked away.How can he be a kind person who behaves so sneakily?

Li Nai felt that his hands and feet were cold. Although he had had such speculations in his heart before, he still held a hope, thinking that maybe his younger brother had other secrets that he couldn't help.

He just felt confused and didn't know what to do.

Then I heard a servant come to report: "Master, the young master Cao's cousin and two servants from the palace are here!"

Young master of the Cao family, cousin Cao Yong!Li Nai suddenly seemed to have a backbone, he immediately got up from his chair, and greeted him personally.

Before entering Beijing, my father told me that if I need help, I should find Cao Yong.The Cao and Li families are close relatives, and his cousin is also promising.

Yang Ruixue sat on the chair, but she was a little dazed.Even if she can put on the posture of a decent woman in front of Li Nai, she has no face to act in front of Cao Yong.

Anyway, no one thought of calling her, she was happy to stay here in the inner hall.

But it's not that everyone can't remember her. After Li Nai led the crowd out, Xiangtong slowed down and followed at the end.

When she walked up to Yang Ruixue, she stopped in her tracks, stretched out her hand to scratch her ear, and cursed: "You whore with a rotten tongue...a whore who raises an old man..."

Yang Ruixue was unprepared, she was slapped squarely, she straightened her body, and brought the chair down.She wanted to get up, but Xiangtong stretched out her legs and kicked her little feet twice, spit on her face, and then left with a cold snort.

Yang Ruixue sat on the ground, covered her face, looked at Xiangtong's back, she didn't cry, but her face was so gloomy...
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(End of this chapter)