Chapter 944: Chapter 944: Liu Zhi’er’s Disappointnt Chapter 944: Chapter 944: Liu Zhi’er’s Disappointnt So that’s how it is!
Di Cheng’s face imdiately grew much graver.
“Third Uncle, if this news gets out, I fear our Di Residence will imdiately beco the target of collective aggression. You must make early preparations.”
“I know, recently no one from our mansion is allowed to go outside at will, including myself, and it’s enough to claim illness to outsiders. Fortunately, there’s still half a month before the next early morning session at court, so we still have ti.”
Di Yelei decisively issued orders, secretly calculating in his heart—should anyone in the mansion contract the vile disease, they would most likely show symptoms within half a month. By then, it wouldn’t be too late to take asures.
Because of quelling the turmoil, followed by the concubine-accepting scandal, Marquis Yongping had long been placed in the eye of the storm, becoming a topic of lively discussion after als and tea.
Nowadays, with Marquis Yongping’s Mansion suddenly closing its doors, everything happening inside imdiately sparked much speculation among the public. Many discussed fervently, especially since the three imperial doctors sent by His Majesty had been mysteriously absent from the palace for many days. To say there wasn’t sothing fishy going on was sothing no one would believe.
All sorts of speculations were rapidly spreading far and wide, yet the Di Residence still kept its doors securely shut, completely ignoring the commotion outside. Even the eunuch sent by His Majesty to inquire was blocked at the gatehouse with the excuse that “the masters of the house are out and not inside the mansion.”
Not long after, a figure approached the Di Residence and knocked on its main entrance.
The one who ca to answer was Mansion Chief Manager Old Cheng. He peered through the crack of the slightly open door at Liu Zhi’er standing outside, a look of difficulty on his face.
“It turns out to be the esteed miss from the Liu Family. Currently, several masters of our mansion are out and not inside. Perhaps you could visit so other day? Or you could go back first and wait, and once the masters of the house return, this old servant will inform you at the first opportunity.”
He did want to let Liu Zhi’er in; however, he feared that if indeed there was a spread of smallpox within, wouldn’t it harm the other party?
The smile on Liu Zhi’er’s face gradually faded: “It’s fine if Marquis Yongping is not here. Sisi, Niuniu, Chou Chou—they would do as well. I’m not picky.”
As she spoke, she began to push open the door that Old Cheng was guarding, trying to squeeze her way inside.
In these days, with Sisi’s help, she had started her own business in South City—her old trade—opening a shop to sell wontons and dumplings. With the backing of the Marquis Mansion, she was bustling daily around the little shop, living an exceptionally joyous life. And so, she opened another branch, which was also doing a brisk business.
And because of this, she seldom went out and about. Only today did she rush over in a hurry after overhearing people in the shop talk about an incident at Marquis Yongping’s Mansion.
Old Cheng’s heart was heavy with an unspeakable burden as he hurriedly stopped Liu Zhi’er’s steps.
“Please hold on, Second Miss. Actually, none of the young masters or misses are here either. There’s no master in the house, so I hope you’ll understand the difficulties of us lower servants and not make things hard for this old one.”
Yet to Liu Zhi’er’s ears, these words took on a different aning altogether.
She scoffed coldly right away! The smile vanished from her face.
“All the masters of the house are out? How coincidental indeed! Old Cheng, don’t forget whom you truly serve! When you were down and out, it was my Sisi who bought you. Over the years, you’ve been entrusted with heavy responsibilities, even rising to beco the steward-in-chief of the Marquis Mansion. How can you, now, turn a blind eye and be so cruel and unjust, indulging in such actions?”
Her words were harsh!
Old Cheng couldn’t accept it any longer: “What do you an by that, Second Miss? Are you accusing Old Cheng of being disloyal, unfilial, heartless, and unjust to the Master?”
Liu Zhi’er was not intimidated by his assertiveness, her eyes instead growing wide.
“`
“I, Liu Zhi’er, certainly don’t need to know who you are! But even if that person has entered as a concubine, do you really think she can drive our Sisi away? What a joke! Move aside!”
As she spoke, she forcefully thrust herself forward, ramming straight into Old Cheng.
Instinctively, Old Cheng stepped back, inadvertently creating a gap. Liu Zhi’er bent over and slipped into the mansion quickly, breaking into a run inside. All the while, she continued to shout loudly.
“Sisi! Sisi where are you? Sisi, it’s your Second Sister, Sisi!”
Seeing it was too late to stop her, Old Cheng cursed under his breath and looked up to see another pair of eyes in the dark space in front of the Marquis’ mansion and hurriedly closed the room door.
“Sisi, don’t be afraid! It’s your Second Sister! Sisi, co out quickly, Sisi…”
Liu Zhi’er continued to call out as she quickly approached the small courtyard.
This was Liu Sisi’s original residence, and she certainly hadn’t forgotten. Practically bulldozing her way through, she avoided the servants blocking her path, knocked down the old won trying to grab her, slamd past the trusted soldiers trying to stop her, and rushed straight to the small courtyard where Liu Sisi was located. She looked around but only saw a shocked-looking Di Yelei.
“Second Sister, how did you co here?”
Liu Zhi’er stopped in her tracks and scrutinized Di Yelei with a critical eye.
Imdiately, her lips curled up in disdain, “What, do you look down on poor relatives like us, so much so that you wish we wouldn’t visit? Di Yelei, have you lost your conscience to a dog? To treat Sisi like this for the sake of a re concubine, you might as well not bother wearing that official hat!”
She had once harbored special feelings for Di Yelei. Little did she think he would be such a person!
She really was blind!
Di Yelei’s expression was also quite poor. The isolation of everyone in the mansion, the anxiety of failing to find Sisi, the balancing of various forces… all were tornting his mind. And now, he had to face such accusations from Liu Zhi’er, how could he not be infuriated?
Rembering that the woman before him was nonetheless Sisi’s Second Sister, he took a deep breath, “Second Sister, you have misunderstood! Sisi, she is…”
“Whether she’s older or younger, all you n take multiple wives and concubines, always seeing the new and laughing while forgetting the tears of the old! Surnad Di, I’ll lay it out for you today. Just because you’ve made great contributions to the Great Zhao and even His Majesty wouldn’t intervene in this matter, don’t think that Sisi doesn’t have family. Today, I, Liu Zhi’er, will take care of this business!”
Liu Zhi’er was boiling with rage, spitting words rapidly without pause.
“Second Sister! Could you let speak a word!”
Di Yelei interrupted Liu Zhi’er’s endless diatribe with a raised voice, then took a letter from his arms and handed it to her: “Read this letter first, and then we can discuss further.”
“What’s this? What kind of excuse are you looking for now?”
Liu Zhi’er looked skeptical, casually took the letter, unfolded it to read, and imdiately her eyes widened as she looked at Di Yelei. Seeing his profoundly sorrowful nod, she looked at the letter once more, her expression growing more and more grave. When she finished reading, her confrontational deanor dissipated instantly.
“Is what’s written in this letter all true?”
“Yes! That’s why I ordered the mansion’s gate to be sealed. I hadn’t expected you…”
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