Chapter 29: Robbed
Gong Xu returned to the capital early and first went to Song Xiang’s home. After lunch, he returned to the mansion with Consort Song and her son.
“Master, your official duties must have been very taxing. I see you’ve even lost some weight. You must eat well to recover.” Consort Song looked at Gong Xu in the carriage, her eyes full of heartache.
“It’s not taxing. Perhaps it’s the hot weather, and the food isn’t quite to my liking,” Gong Xu said with a smile. “On the other hand, you’ve been ill and tired these past few days. You should take better care of yourself. When we get home, have Granny Yang pay more attention to your diet.”
“People say that summer doesn’t nourish yang energy, so one must be especially careful. You always focus your thoughts on me and neglect yourself, which is not acceptable.”
“Master is my sky, and Bao’er is my life. As long as you and Bao’er are well, I am well,” Consort Song said, hugging her son and looking at Gong Xu affectionately.
At this moment, Gong Bao’an, nestled in Consort Song’s arms, looked up and said, “Mother, when we get back, I want to play with Fourth Brother. Can I?”
Consort Song paused slightly and said softly, “Be good, you still have a lot of homework to finish.”
Gong Bao’an quickly replied, “Then I’ll finish the assignments the tutor left as soon as we get back. I can still play with Fourth Brother before dinner.”
Consort Song had to continue coaxing him, “Madam is a person of pure cultivation and dislikes being disturbed. How about this: if Fourth Young Master comes to play with you, you can stay in our courtyard. Don’t disturb Madam lightly.”
Upon hearing this, Gong Bao’an was inevitably disappointed. He lowered his head, looking dejected.
Gong Xu couldn’t help but feel sympathetic, but he deeply understood Consort Song’s hidden worry. He said to Gong Bao’an, “Don’t you spend time with many brothers at the academy every day? Don’t always be so eager to play.”
“The tutors at the academy are too strict. Even when there’s time to play, I don’t dare to enjoy myself fully. Besides, none of them are as smart and interesting as Fourth Brother,” Gong Bao’an sighed. “Moreover, Fourth Brother and I are blood relatives. We should spend more time together and be close. Isn’t that right?”
These words were particularly jarring to Consort Song. She looked at Gong Xu for help.
Gong Xu also reassured her with his eyes and said to Gong Bao’an, “Changan has been neglected in terms of discipline these past few years. Now that he’s back home, he needs to learn the rules and study more. Therefore, he has very little time for play. You wouldn’t want an uneducated elder brother, would you?”
Gong Bao’an naturally couldn’t refute this, so he said, “Then when can Fourth Brother also go to the school? That way, we’ll have company.”
“When I have some free time, I’ll test him. If he passes, I’ll let him study with you.” Gong Xu knew he couldn’t keep Gong Changan confined at home forever; he had to send him to school eventually.
But before that, he needed to have some foundation, otherwise sending him would be embarrassing.
Consort Song listened to Gong Xu’s words from the side, calculating in her mind.
She certainly didn’t want Gong Xu and Gong Changan to be close, as it would be detrimental to her.
So, she put on a worried expression and appeared dejected.
Gong Xu saw this and said to comfort her, “Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you and our son again.”
Consort Song immediately looked at Gong Xu with tears in her eyes and whispered, “Master, I believe you.”
The horse carriage stopped in front of the mansion’s gate. The three of them alighted and entered.
Upon entering the second gate, they faintly heard sounds of a dispute.
“Steward Chen, you have always been loyal. How could Master not trust you? Just tell us directly.”
“Yes! It’s not your fault, why should you have to compensate?”
“Stop talking. I am the steward. If something happens in the mansion, who else will take responsibility if not me?”
Steward Chen had a bundle on his shoulder, while two other servants were trying to placate him.
Seeing Gong Xu and Consort Song return, they quickly fell silent.
Steward Chen, with a slight limp, came forward, his face showing embarrassment.
“Is your leg feeling better? What happened?” Consort Song asked first.
“Thank you for your concern, Little Madam. My leg is fine,” the old servant said, tears streaming down his face. “I must apologize to Master. I have sold my family property and gathered some silver as compensation for the mansion…”
“Let’s discuss this inside.” Gong Xu glanced at the banknotes he held in his hand. “Did something happen in the mansion while Madam and I were away?”
“Alas, I really had no choice,” Steward Chen said, wiping his tears and sighing. “I’ve been the steward here for six or seven years and have never made such a mistake… It’s truly… alas!”
“Bao’er, have Liuyun accompany you to the back courtyard to play,” Consort Song said to her son. “Didn’t you say yesterday at Uncle’s house that you wanted to eat lotus root flour balls with rock sugar? I’ll have the kitchen make them for you, but you can’t eat too many.”
Gong Bao’an gave the piece of candy in his hand to Steward Chen and said, “Uncle Chen, don’t cry.”
After saying that, he sensibly followed the maid away.
After Gong Xu and Consort Song sat down inside, Steward Chen explained the details: “Yesterday, Master sent word that we needed to prepare a birthday gift for the Old Master of Marquis Su’s family for the day after tomorrow. I opened the storeroom, only to discover that several items were missing.”
“I didn’t know how to explain it. After much thought, I felt I had failed Master and Little Madam’s trust…”
“What items were stolen?” Gong Xu interrupted him.
“There were thirteen items in total, all listed here.” Steward Chen handed over the list of stolen items.
Most of them were wine cups and spoons, all made of gold, as well as some jade and coral prayer beads, all small items.
Gong Xu frowned as he read, “How could this happen? Has our mansion ever experienced a theft?”
“Indeed. I was worried I had made a mistake, so I had people check several times. They were indeed lost,” Steward Chen sighed. “As the steward, losing valuable items without knowing the reason is truly a betrayal of Master’s trust. Please punish me, Master.”
“Steward Chen, you have been recovering from your injury these past few days and haven’t been overseeing the mansion’s affairs. How can you be solely responsible for the lost items?” Granny Yang, beside Consort Song, spoke up.
“I also had matters to attend to,” Consort Song said self-reproachfully. “The loss of items is secondary; it’s just that the news spreading would be unpleasant.”
Gong Xu knew clearly in his heart that during these days when he, Consort Song, and even Steward Chen were not in the mansion, only Wen Mingqian was present. The loss of valuable items was likely related to her.
“It’s naturally impossible for an outsider to have stolen them,” Gong Xu’s voice was as cold as autumn frost. “Who was in charge of guarding the storeroom? Have they been questioned?”
“There were four people guarding this storeroom. A few days ago, Madam transferred Li Fu to an outer manor and brought Zhu Dashun over from there…” The steward stammered, hesitant to speak.
“Who allowed her to move people in the mansion as she pleased?” Gong Xu was clearly displeased. “What mistake did Li Fu make to be driven out?”
“Li Fu has always been diligent and made no mistakes,” the steward said. “I only heard…”
“Just say what you have to say. Who are you afraid of, speaking so hesitantly?” Gong Xu’s face showed impatience.
