diskusbooks Chapter 206 Madam
Chapter 206 Madam
The second wife immediately said, "Xiao Chuan, I've secretly saved up quite a bit of silver over the years. If you need it..."
Qin Jiu quickly refused: "No need, Mother can keep her money. When the Emperor made me a Marquis, he bestowed many gifts upon me, and the Princess also had a dowry, all of which are on Chongming Island. Others' monthly allowances may not be enough, but our family's expenses are sufficient."
For the first time in so many years, the second wife felt warmth: "Xiao Chuan, just ask if you need anything. Money can't be taken with you when you die, I'm very open-minded about it..."
Qin Jiu helped the Second Madam walk back: "Mother, you'll be staying with us at Shanshan Residence today. I wonder if Grandma will like it when she sees you."
Seeing them approach, Su Wuming quickly moved around the camphor tree. Qin Jiu glanced at him as he passed the camphor tree, but didn't stop.
Su Wuming straightened up only after they had walked away, and then realized something was wrong: acting suspiciously was unbecoming; they should have come out and greeted him openly.
Su Wuming straightened his back and turned to continue walking forward when he saw the dark figure in front of him. He was so frightened that he almost screamed. He patted his chest and said, "Uncle Adai, you almost scared me to death."
Ah-Dai said, "A clear conscience is the best policy..."
Su Wuming walked forward on his own: "Uncle Adai, don't try to out-argue a top scholar who has achieved the highest honors in the imperial examinations."
Ah-Dai followed beside him: "You don't know martial arts, so don't walk alone at night."
Su Wuming turned into the main kitchen and saw signs of smoke; the fire wasn't entirely fabricated. He placed the bowl on the stove: "Uncle Adai, want to walk with me for a bit?"
Ah-Dai asked warily, "Where do you think you're going?"
Su Wuming took Ah Dai to the Biyun Palace and gestured for Ah Dai to unlock it. Ah Dai hesitated for a moment, then reached out and twisted the lock, which came off easily. Su Wuming, carrying a lantern, pushed open the door and was immediately greeted by a thick, dusty smell.
The Biyun Palace was empty. Su Wuming walked around inside, threw the lantern into the withered grass in the garden, turned around, and went out to close the door.
Ah Dai shook his head: "Lord Su is really quite bold."
Su Wuming said calmly, "The late emperor's residence should have been abandoned long ago. Uncle Adai, are you coming with us or staying here?"
Ah-Dai was clearly taken aback for a moment, then asked, "What's the master's opinion?"
Su Wuming laughed and said, "Uncle Adai is a member of the manor, so you should follow the manor master's arrangements. Uncle Adai, I'll go back first. Remember to have someone put out the fire later. Although the manor is large, given the current situation, probably no one will dare to touch me."
Su Wuming walked away, but Ah Dai remained standing in the same spot. To leave or to stay was merely a matter of a single thought. Yet, most things in this world are also determined by a single thought.
Is there a light in the room? Is it Xue Yunting or someone else? Su Wuming stared at the room for a long time without opening the door.
Qin Jiu's voice came from inside: "It's me, come in."
Qin Jiu saw Su Wuming come in and pointed to the chair opposite him: "Wuming, come on, have a few drinks."
Su Wuming slowly sat down, looking at the openwork blue and white porcelain cup in front of him: "Ninth Brother, this set of wine utensils is quite valuable."
Qin Jiu nodded and replied, "Yes, I was just thinking about selling my assets."
Su Wuming laughed and said, "Ninth Brother, it wouldn't be that bad. By the way, I just burned down the Biyun Palace for you."
Qin Jiu said, "Burn it for me? You might as well just burn Jingzhao Manor down."
Su Wuming laughed: "It's worthless if it's burned to ashes, we have to keep it so that Ninth Brother can sell his family property."
No wonder Nianyao couldn't stand Su Wuming's chatting. Qin Jiu said seriously, "Stop joking around, tell me your plans."
Su Wuming said, "I'm going back to Qinzhou. Yunting should go find Qi Yang."
Qin Jiu pondered for a moment: "Isn't Yun Ting with Prince Rui? Has something happened in Jingjiang?"
Su Wuming said, "Chongming Island has Xu Lai, Jiangxin Island has Zhou Zhen, the Xiang River has the Golden Tiger Gang, and the upper reaches of the Jing River are controlled by Xiling..."
Qin Jiu suddenly realized: "You want to seize Jingjiang?"
Su Wuming remained noncommittal, instead asking, "Ninth Brother, do you plan to stay at the manor or return to Chongming Island?"
Qin Jiu thought about it carefully: "The people at the resort still need to be taken care of; we can't just leave like this."
Su Wuming wasn't surprised at all. He took a sip from his cup and said, "Ninth Brother, if you're not sleeping at night, you might as well speak your mind."
Qin Jiu sighed, "It's nothing, I just wanted to find someone to have a drink and chat with. Besides you, there's no one else here who would be a good fit."
Su Wuming smiled, about to say something. Qin Jiu raised his hand to stop him, stood up, tilted his head back, and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp: "Get some rest, I'm leaving."
Su Wuming curled his lips and did not stop him. After watching Qin Jiu leave and close the door, he shook his head slightly and muttered to himself, "Hesitation only leads to trouble."
The room was dimly lit, and Liang Qingcheng was fast asleep, showing no signs of waking. Someone was pressed against her, their arms wrapped around her neck.
Qin Jiu checked Liang Qingcheng's breath and gently stroked her still-childlike face. He sat sideways on the edge of the bed, flicked his finger to turn off the light, and the room was plunged into darkness.
Qin Jiu sought out Su Wuming, intending to discuss Liang Qingcheng, but ultimately decided against it.
Qin Jiu thought that Liang Qingcheng had already tried her best to be good to him, but she couldn't control herself. Subconsciously, Liang Qingcheng probably hated him, but the situation forced her to comply. If their family stayed away from trouble at the manor, would things gradually improve? At least, he and Liang Qingcheng wouldn't know who their biological parents were!
When Liang Qingcheng woke up, it was just dawn. Only she and Buzhi were in bed. Liang Qingcheng sat up gently and heard someone softly ask from outside the bed curtains, "Madam is awake?"
Liang Qingcheng reached out and lifted the tent flap, lowering her voice as well: "Where's Qin Jiu?"
The maid said, "The master and General Xue have gone out on business and will probably be back around noon."
Liang Qingcheng rubbed her temples, feeling tired even though she had slept for a long time.
Seeing her get up, the maid immediately took her clothes and helped her straighten them. Having relied on herself the whole way, Liang Qingcheng was a little unaccustomed to being served so attentively.
Liang Qingcheng asked, "What's your name?"
The maid replied, "My name is Qingcao, Madam."
Liang Qingcheng heard Qingcao repeatedly addressing the manor lord and his wife: "Did the master pass the position of manor lord to Qin Jiu?"
Qingcao explained, "Last night, Xuanyuan Palace caught fire. The manor lord, his wife, the eldest son, the second son, and many servants died while fighting the fire. Now the manor is leaderless, and everyone has unanimously elected the ninth son as the manor lord."
Liang Qingcheng felt something was off, but she couldn't remember: "How long have I been asleep?"
Qingcao said, "Madam has been sleeping since yesterday afternoon."
Liang Qingcheng responded with an "oh," as memory fragments were not uncommon for her, so she didn't delve into it further.
The peach tree in the courtyard was covered with tiny buds, which looked very tempting as they were about to bloom. The second wife reached out and plucked a small bud in her palm, thinking that she herself was like this peach blossom when she was young, withering before she could fully bloom.
But what good is such a glorious past? Jingzhao Manor, once the most prestigious manor in the land, flourished for decades, only to crumble in a single day. The First Madam, a woman of cunning and power, perished and lost her children in a single day—who could have foreseen this?
Qin Jiu was a man of deep thoughts. Was his acceptance of her as his mother a genuine expression of gratitude or a scheme? The Second Madam wasn't quite sure. She hadn't opened up to anyone in a long time, and she didn't pay attention to others in her daily life; she had long since lost her ability to fathom people's hearts.