"I would like to ask Miss Xu to borrow the hand of my wife and give this letter to the Minister of Ji Xiu for me." Xu Mingyi took out a letter from his arms.
The real owner behind Shang Yu Pavilion is Ji Xiu, which few people know.
But she and Miss Xu had known it for a long time.
It was the Ji family who secretly reminded Miss Xu that the death of her sister Xu Su was related to Xia Han.
The reason why she didn't go to Shang Yu Pavilion in person to find Madam Yu was very simple - there were many powerful people in and out of Shang Yu Pavilion, and she was afraid that someone would find out her identity. And Madam Yu, as the chief shopkeeper of Shang Yu Pavilion, was not her.
A young boy can see it just by asking for it.
As for asking the Ming Yushi to directly arrange an appointment with Ji Xiu for her, there are actually many disadvantages.
For one thing, the Censor of the Ming Dynasty had never been on good terms with Ji Xiu, and the two of them approached rashly. If they were targeted by the police, they would undoubtedly be in trouble.
What's more, everything is still undecided now, and she is not absolutely sure whether Ji Xiu has changed his mind. Therefore, she does not want Ji Xiu to know that she took advantage of the Ming Yushi, and she does not want to expose the Ming Yushi's position.
, and I don’t want to expose my whereabouts.
This time in Beijing, there is no room for any carelessness. The other party is in the light and she is in the dark. It is safest to take the initiative in everything.
Asking Miss Xu for help, and passing the letter to Ji Xiu through the hands of his wife, is the least likely way to attract attention.
Xu Ying had already received the letter: "Don't worry, I will take care of this matter."
It's just a letter, but she can handle this little thing well.
She didn't ask any more questions, she didn't even show the slightest curiosity or confusion, such as why Xu Mingyi wanted to see Ji Xiu, she just made a promise.
After thinking for a while, he asked again: "But you are very anxious?"
"Don't worry, I asked him in the letter to meet him in three days."
"If that's the case, then I'll go look for Mrs. Yu's family tomorrow." Xu Ying said: "Although no one is keeping an eye on my small shop, if you leave, I will go out to look for you. I'm still afraid of being seen by someone interested.
...it’s best to be careful in everything.”
It's okay for her to send a letter, but it can't ruin Miss Xu's plan.
Xu Mingyi nodded: "Okay, then tomorrow."
He stood up and saluted again: "Thank you very much, Miss Xu."
At this juncture, it was only natural for Xu Ying to refuse her request for help.
As long as we are alive, we should be grateful for every help we receive.
"Thank you for what I did. It's just a small effort." Xu Ying stood up and supported one of the girl's arms, and said softly with a smile: "This is Miss Xu's path to make it smooth, so the road Miss Xu will take in the future will also be smooth."
of."
Xu Mingyi was a little stunned when he heard this.
What you do is to transform into Tantan——
When she helped Xu Ying before, she never thought of any so-called reward.
Just as my grandfather said at the time, "If even our Xu family dare not help, I'm afraid no one in the capital can help this girl", and "Justice cannot only lie in the human heart" - they are all just for the peace of conscience.
But now that we have reached this point, it really seems that everything has its own cause and effect.
Xu Ying's incident is just a small microcosm.
If you think about it carefully, what Linyuan gave to the Xu family was also a two-way gift to each other.
But when doing good deeds, don’t worry about the future, but the future will have its own smooth path.
Although things in the world are unpredictable, there is still some cause and effect in the unpredictability.
Half a quarter of an hour later, Xu Mingyi left Suyufang holding two empty boxes.
As the carriage passed Qingyunfang, she subconsciously looked in the direction of the Zhenguo Palace.
Although it is still far away, you can still see the high eaves of the pavilion and the long courtyard with Zhumen, which stretches for most of Qingyunfang.
I wonder what happened to Uncle Yun and the others at this time...
Xu Mingyi didn't dare to look any further, quickly retracted his gaze and continued driving forward.
…
Early the next morning, Xu Ying picked up a snack box and went to Shang Yu Pavilion to find the Yu family's wife.
The next day, in Ji's mansion, the housekeeper brought two account books to Ji Xiu.
Ji Xiu handles official affairs. Even if he is reluctant to do things for the emperor, at this last moment, he has to do it while pinching his nose.
He knows very well that there are certain things at the moment that can only be used to their fullest effect at critical moments if they are in his own hands.
In order to hold on tighter, you have to work harder than before.
"There is no need to give these things to me for review. You can check them yourself." Ji Xiu didn't bother to pay attention to these account books. However, after finishing his words, he thought about it and added: "I will send it to Wan'er.
Well, from now on, all the account books from all parties will be sent to her. If you don’t understand, you can teach her more.”
The old housekeeper responded "Yes" and added: "In addition to the account books, Mrs. Yu also sent a letter, saying that someone found her and asked her to deliver it to the master."
While talking, the butler took the letter out of his sleeve.
Ji Xiu frowned when he heard this. Not many people knew about Shang Yuge's relationship with him. Who would send him a letter through Shang Yuge?
This is undoubtedly strange.
"Who asked her to deliver the letter?" Ji Xiu asked as he opened the letter.
The old housekeeper shook his head: "Ms. Yu said she didn't know. The man never revealed his identity. He only said that this letter is important. You will understand after you read it."
Xu Ying did not reveal to the Yu family that the person who sent the letter was Xu Mingyi, and the Yu family did not mention Xu Ying's name to the Ji family.
Do you understand after reading it?
Ji Xiu looked at the few words on the letter and frowned even deeper. It would not be difficult to catch a lot of flies.
He doesn’t even have a signature, but he really understands it...
What on earth can he understand?
I only wrote down the place and time of the meeting, why should I just leave it here to trick him?
Who knows if it was a trap set by well-intentioned people?
"You go down first." Ji Xiu read it twice more and put the letter aside for now.
The butler responded and left.
But outside the study, he met Ji Wanyou who came to deliver tonic soup.
"girl."
"Ning Bo."
Immediately, there was a knock on the study door, and a servant announced through the door: "Master, the girl is here."
"Come in."
Looking at his daughter who walked in, Ji Xiu's frowned eyebrows relaxed: "Why are you cooking again? Just leave these things to the servants."
"After all, I have nothing to do, and there is nothing I can do to help my father." Ji Wanyou came to the desk, put down the tray, and pushed the soup bowl in front of her father: "Try it while it's hot to drive away the cold."
As he spoke, his eyes fell on the piece of letter paper. He glanced at it unconsciously, and then couldn't help but look at it intently.
After taking a closer look, he couldn't help being surprised, and lowered his voice and asked: "Miss Xu... made an appointment with father?!"
There was no one else in the study, and all the servants were staying outside.
Ji Xiu was stunned when he heard this.
Then I looked at the letter again, and there was a roar in my head.
Miss Xu...
It is possible!
But because the other party was far away in Linyuan, he couldn't think about it immediately——
but……
"How can you tell it's a letter from a girl from the Xu family?" he asked his daughter.
"This is Miss Xu's handwriting... I've seen it before, don't you recognize it?" Ji Wanyou glanced at her father in confusion, and then her eyes fell on the line of small characters - Miss Xu's handwriting is so beautiful, how could it be
How many people can write this? Does my father still have any eye for beauty?
Ji Xiu was silent for a moment.
It turns out that it is such a "you will understand it when you see it".
The Xu family girl thinks highly of him...
I think he is a rough man whose literary attainments are not much higher than those of the Duke of Zhen. If you expect him to recognize people by their handwriting, isn't that just playing the lute to a cow?
"The letter says it's the day after tomorrow..." Ji Wanyou said, "Father, please accompany me then."
Ji Xiu raised his eyes and looked at his daughter in confusion:...Who is accompanying whom?
"Are you confused again?" Ji Wanyou pointed at the letter: "Suyufang is a jewelry store. If you don't follow me, do you think you have to go shopping by yourself?"
A jewelry store.
Ji Xiu nodded and said, "Wan'er, remember not to make any announcement about this matter."
"This is natural." Ji Wanyou looked at her father: "I still want to remind you, don't let others see anything."
With her father's confused and staring look, she was really worried that Miss Xu's whereabouts would be exposed, and she would be needed to keep an eye on him.
However, Miss Xu came to Beijing alone...
Just think about how risky it is.
Ji Wanyou felt a little worried and uneasy, so she asked a few more questions: "Does father know why Miss Xu wants to see you?"
Unless it was an important matter, she would never take the risk of meeting her father.
Ji Xiudao: "We should talk about some old things."
As he spoke, he threw the letter and the envelope into the brazier.
Old things...
Ji Wanyou secretly weighed the weight of these two words.
"By the way, Wan'er." Ji Xiu patted the two account books at hand and said, "From now on, you will try to take care of the business at home. If your father is no longer around, these things will be taken care of by you."
For personal use.”
He secretly set up these properties so that if something happened to him one day, he could leave a way out for his daughter.
Ji Wanyou looked at the account book, and then looked at her father for a moment: "Why did my father suddenly say such things? Are you afraid that when King Yan becomes powerful in the future, he will settle old accounts with his father? I heard that His Highness King Yan is broad-minded, and he had personally discussed it with his father before.
To explain the truth of that year, the meeting in the lacquerware shop that night shows that he is not a grudge-minded person, and his father was also deceived back then——"
At this point, he paused slightly and said: "But no matter what, you will have to bear the consequences if you do something wrong... If there is an opportunity to make up for it in the future, father must seize it."
It is to make amends and to save oneself.
And if she thought correctly, since they met in Pingqing Hall last time, she thought that Miss Xu was the one who built the bridge.
Ji Xiu nodded: "Don't worry, father has made arrangements."
As for how to make up for it, he had already made a decision in his mind.
"In the future, if my father no longer serves as an official, we will move out of the capital. My daughter will manage these properties carefully and keep them without starving her father." Ji Wanyou picked up the two books and hugged them in front of her, and said with a smile.
Ji Xiu also smiled: "Okay, Wan'er, study hard..."
"Hurry up and drink the soup, it's almost cold."
"Okay, dad, try it!"
…
In the afternoon the next day, the Ji family's father and daughter's carriage appeared on Xiyi Street.
In Suyufang, I saw a guest arriving, and the waiter hurriedly came to greet him.
Ji Wanyou took the girl to look at the jewelry, while Ji Xiu sat aside and waited.
At this time, Xu Ying came over from the back hall, saw Ji Xiu sitting there, and said with a smile: "There is a private room in the back with tea. This gentleman can go and sit for a while.
"
This is the rule of hospitality in Suyufang.
Ji Wanyou was holding a coral hairpin in her hand and looking at it. After hearing this, she said, "Father, I have to pick it out for a while. Why don't you just go inside and wait."
Ji Xiu nodded, stood up and walked slowly to the elegant room with his hands behind his back.
As expected, there were already people waiting there in the private room.
When the man saw him coming in, he raised his hand and saluted: "Ji Shangshu."
Ji Xiu took two steps forward and asked with some uncertainty: "Miss Xu?"
Is this young boy with a yellowish complexion really Miss Xu?
Xu Mingyi smiled: "It's me. Can't Master Ji even recognize my voice?"
Before she came to the Yuan Dynasty, she asked Divine Doctor Qiu for some advice on how to modify her appearance. If Ji Xiu could recognize her at a glance, she would be worried.
"...When did Miss Xu enter Beijing?" Ji Xiu reluctantly got used to the face in front of him.
"It's been a few days. Lord Ji, please sit down and talk."
The two of them sat down, and Ji Xiu said: "How come Xu Jiajun hasn't sent a letter since he arrived in Linyuan? It's a good time for Ji to wait."
He thought that Xu Jiajun and King Yan were determined to attack to the end and there was no need for him anymore - if that was the case, what would his Wan'er do?
Moreover, he also wanted to see with his own eyes the day when the emperor was completely despised by the people of the world, otherwise it would be difficult to understand the hatred in his heart.
Hearing the urgency in his tone, Xu Mingyi was a little surprised.
She was originally worried that the other party would change her mind, but now it seems that the other party is worried about her changing her mind...
This is great, it saves a lot of time.
She said: "I just found the opportunity to enter the city recently. I might be intercepted if I send a message. Such a big matter naturally requires an interview."
Ji Xiu didn't say much and went straight to the point and asked, "I wonder what the next plan is? Do we have to wait until King Yan attacks the capital?"
"I can't explain the specific details to Mr. Ji right now. I hope Mr. Ji can understand this." The girl's tone was sincere: "I came here this time to confirm Mr. Ji's determination and position so as to facilitate arrangements.
What’s next.”
But now she can't guarantee that Ji Xiu will not change. All plans are still being deployed. To ensure nothing goes wrong, they must be kept secret.
Her words were frank enough. Ji Xiu thought about it and didn't get angry. Instead, he said: "I understand. You don't have to explain the whole plan to me. If there is anything you need me to do, just leave it to me alone."
It's a good thing for the little girl to be vigilant. If she doesn't tell him, she won't tell anyone else either. This way she can ensure that the plan won't be leaked.
He only needs the results, and the process has little to do with him.
After all, he can't be said to be someone who conspired with the Xu family and King Yan. To put it bluntly, he only needs to obey orders now so that he can get what he wants.
He saw this clearly enough.
This sobriety is a good thing for Xu Mingyi. What she needs is a clear-headed collaborator.
Next, the two discussed some unplanned arrangements.
Including all the truth about the death of the late emperor - Ji Xiu has told everything.
Nearly half an hour later, Ji Xiu returned to the front hall.
"Wan'er, haven't you finished picking it yet?"
Ji Xiu looked helpless as he looked at the girl choosing jewelry with the maid in front of the counter.
"This gentleman doesn't know something. When choosing something for your daughter's house, you have to compare it carefully." The waiter took the words with a smile on his face and not the slightest bit of impatience.
"That's right, how does father know this?" Ji Wanyou pointed to the things on the tray and said, "I want these and these."
It's not easy to let a clerk work for so long in vain.
The smile on the waiter's face became even brighter: "Hey! I'll wrap it up for you, little one!"
…
It's night, the lonely moon hangs high, and the misty clouds blow over the stars.
In the eldest princess's palace, Princess Yufeng was lying lazily on the beauty's couch. Two young men were kneeling on the soft blanket in front of her. One of them was beating her legs, and the other was holding a storybook and was reading to her.
"What is written here, why does this woman have to be a widow for that general? She is so beautiful and so young, why can't she marry another one? I don't want to listen anymore." I'm tired of listening.
, she covered her mouth and yawned, and said, "Everyone, please step aside."
The two teenagers responded "yes" and backed out.
Shi Shi came over and helped the man up: "My servant will wait for you to rest."
As he was about to finish his words, he suddenly heard a "Tuk-Tuk-" sound coming from the window lattice.
