Chapter 189: Finding a Way
Shi Damaizi and Pan Jiuniangzi, along with the four young ladies from the Wei family, secretly breathed a sigh of relief as they saw off the other young ladies.
She hadn’t fully recovered, and after being busy until now, her back was already covered in a thin layer of sweat.
“Let’s rest for a bit,” Wei Si Niangzi stepped forward to support Shi Damaizi.
She had long noticed Shi Damaizi’s poor complexion.
“Mm, I am a bit tired,” Shi Damaizi and Wei Si Niangzi entered a small warm pavilion next to them.
A maid brought soup and pastries. Shi Damaizi slowly sipped the red date soup, smiling as she listened to Pan Jiuniangzi and Wei Liu Niangzi talk about which young lady was pretty and which young lady’s soft, sweet way of speaking the official language was delightful.
Yin Xing, Wei Si Niangzi’s maid, hurried in from outside, looking at Wei Si Niangzi, hesitating to speak.
“What is it?” Wei Si Niangzi asked with a frown.
“I just returned the things those young ladies left behind to the outside of the second gate, and I heard a lot of crying and shouting outside. It seems something has happened,” Yin Xing’s expression was not good.
That sound of crying and shouting wasn’t just one or two people; the cries and shouts were very frightened.
“I’ll go take a look,” Wei Si Niangzi stood up abruptly.
Shi Damaizi also stood up.
“Your complexion isn’t good, don’t go. You three also stay put. I’ll go take a look and be right back,” Wei Si Niangzi held Shi Damaizi back, then instructed her two younger sisters and Pan Jiuniangzi, and hurried out.
Before long, Wei Si Niangzi returned.
“What happened?” Shi Damaizi looked at Wei Si Niangzi’s expression, which was hard to describe.
“It’s Master Yang Wu who is arresting people. He’s arrested quite a lot of people,” Wei Si Niangzi didn’t know what kind of expression to put on.
To arrest people right after an imperial banquet dispersed, guests turning into criminals in the blink of an eye, this was the first time she had experienced such a thing.
Shi Damaizi’s eyebrows slightly raised, and after a moment, she slowly made an “oh” sound.
They must be arresting officials related to the Maritime Tax Bureau. This imperial banquet was probably just to arrest people.
………………………………
A Wu didn’t see the arrests. She stood there, watching the Crown Prince raise his cup, the music playing and then falling silent, then raising his cup again, the music rising again. She watched and listened with great interest until the Crown Prince stood up and left.
When they came off their shift, everyone was confined to the servants’ resting room. By the time they were released to go home, only the chirping of birds could be heard outside, as quiet as usual.
When A Wu returned home, Li Xiaonan had already arrived.
During dinner, everyone at the table looked at A Wu, listening to her excitedly talk about what she had seen during the day, and how every few sentences she would wave her hand and conclude: “Boring.”
As A Wu was talking animatedly and everyone was listening with great interest, a voice called from outside the courtyard gate: “Is Miss Li at home?”
“I’ll go!”
A Wu leaped up and returned quickly, leaning against the doorframe, pointing at Li Xiaonan with her finger, “They’re looking for you.”
“Who?” Li Xiaonan asked with a frown.
“Don’t know him. Over fifty, wearing silk, smiling like this,” A Wu forced a smile and bowed obsequiously.
“I’ll go take a look,” Li Xuedong stood up.
“No need. You ask him who he is and what he wants with me,” Li Xiaonan stopped Li Xuedong with her hand and said to A Wu.
“Okay!”
A Wu turned around and returned quickly.
“He said his surname is Shi, and he’s the President of our Pingjiang Silk Trade Association. He said he wants to pay his respects to you.”
“Tell him I’m not home, not tomorrow, and not the day after tomorrow either,” Li Xiaonan said directly.
“Okay!” A Wu was extremely prompt.
“He’s from the Silk Guild. Could it be about business?” Li Jinzhu looked at Li Xiaonan and asked.
“No,” Li Xiaonan answered very firmly. She paused, then looked at Li Xuedong and said, “Perhaps someone will come to you, offering money, valuable items, crying to you, begging you to see me, or pleading for mercy, or something else. Don’t see them. If you absolutely cannot avoid them or are cornered, don’t listen, don’t accept anything, don’t pay attention, and leave quickly.”
“What happened?” Li Yuzhu asked, looking terrified.
“He’s gone,” A Wu stepped over the threshold. “Looking at him, he doesn’t seem to have given up. I’ve bolted the courtyard gate.”
“I should still explain. It’s better for everyone to know than not to know,” Li Xiaonan sighed. “Today, the Crown Prince held an imperial banquet at the Prince’s Estate Villa. The Young Lord raided the Jiangnan Silk General Store and the Maritime Tax Bureau in Linhai Town, arresting many, many people. It’s likely that many more households will be raided.”
The room fell silent.
“I knew it! Why didn’t I see the Young Lord!” A Wu slapped her thigh.
“Then is our family alright? Why did they come to our house?” Mei Jie asked Li Xiaonan, her face pale.
“They’re coming to our house to beg our A Nan to intercede for them,” A Wu poked her head out and answered.
“Tomorrow morning, I’ll go pay the silver and buy that house. You don’t go to the workshop tomorrow. Pack up with Mei Jie, and once the deed is done, we’ll move,” Li Jinzhu said to Li Yuzhu.
“Okay,” Li Yuzhu nodded quickly.
The sudden visit from the Silk Guild President and A Nan’s words had frightened her a little.
“I’ll come help Mei Jie pack,” Wang Yuting said with a hurried smile.
“Me too…”
“You stay with A Nan. Or, perhaps A Nan could go to the tea house across the street tomorrow to avoid trouble,” Li Jinzhu interrupted A Wu and said to Li Xiaonan.
Li Xiaonan lowered her eyes and hummed in agreement.
Tomorrow she wanted to go to the villa to see how Niu Cheqian was doing. She would go quietly tomorrow, so she wouldn’t mention it now. The current situation had already frightened Eldest Sister and Second Sister a bit.
“Yuting will come with me tomorrow. We’ll go to the Hong Family first, we need to give Yin Zhu some instructions,” Li Jinzhu continued.
Wang Yuting nodded repeatedly.
After dinner, Wang Yuting and A Wu returned to the tea house. Before long, there was a loud banging on the courtyard gate, and A Wu’s voice sounded from outside.
Mei Jie ran to open the door. A Wu, carrying a small basket of grapes, stepped over the threshold and gestured for Mei Jie to quickly close the door.
A Wu rushed into the main house, placed the grape basket on the table, and said to Li Xiaonan, “The shopkeeper asked me to come over and tell you, that President Shi hasn’t left. His cart is parked in that recessed area by the framing shop, watching you.”
“I know,” Li Xiaonan drooped her shoulders, wanting to sigh.
“I’m leaving,” A Wu clapped her hands and walked out. After exiting the courtyard gate, she turned back and quietly instructed Mei Jie, “Bolt the door tightly, and then prop a bucket of water against the back. If someone tries to break in, the water bucket will fall and make a loud noise, so we’ll hear it.”
Mei Jie looked nervous and nodded continuously.
In the main hall, Li Jinzhu watched A Wu come out and said to Li Yuzhu, “If we have time, we’ll move tomorrow afternoon. Let’s move first. That house has four or five doors.”
“Mm,” Li Yuzhu replied, looking worriedly at Li Xiaonan.
Li Xiaonan held a book, her eyes fixed ahead, appearing to be engrossed in reading.
