Chapter 164: A Treacherous Scheme
Leng Shi said aggrievedly, “I’m not pleasing anyone right now. If it weren’t for the Marquis, why would I have gone to all this trouble?
If you hadn’t often lamented to me about the Second Young Master’s difficult marriage prospects, why would I have taken on a bad reputation to offer up the Second Girl?
Now it’s all gone to pieces, truly losing the wife and also the soldiers!”
“Alright, don’t be too sad. Your husband’s situation isn’t set in stone yet, there’s still room for maneuver,” Marquis Fengxian said. “It’s just that he’s been in that position for too long, and inaction is no longer an option.”
“That’s true, but who else can we rely on besides you?” Leng Shi said, wiping her tears. “I’m just sad that all my painstaking efforts have ultimately come to nothing. I only thought of your well-being, his well-being, and everyone’s well-being, but in the end, all the blame falls on me.”
Why did Leng Shi have to rely on Marquis Fengxian? Firstly, he indeed had some ability, and secondly, their relationship was already at this point. To turn to someone else would be too much of a loss.
As the saying goes, it’s better to have one’s own than to seek from a hundred others. When asking for favors, if you involve too many people, the matter might not get done in the end.
“Do you think I don’t want to help you? Have I not helped you enough over the years? But matters of officialdom aren’t something I can settle with a single word. If it were just a sixth or seventh rank official, perhaps. Your husband is already a fifth rank official, so for anything higher, you’d need to approach a Prince.” In truth, Marquis Fengxian wasn’t entirely lying.
“Salt and iron are lucrative positions, can’t we arrange for him there?” Leng Shi asked. “If he could be assigned to either of those places, it would be acceptable even if it’s not in the Capital City.”
“You know it’s a lucrative post, don’t you think others do too? How many eyes are watching? Your family’s foundation is ultimately still a bit shallow,” Marquis Fengxian shook his head. “Just a few days ago, the second son of the Marquis of Wulin wanted a position in the Imperial Guard and even gave Prince Chu five thousand taels of silver! Does your family have that kind of money?”
That one sentence stumped Leng Shi, but she was still unwilling to give up. Hearing Marquis Fengxian mention Prince Chu, she immediately thought of how lustful Prince Chu was.
And so, a plan to kill three birds with one stone was conceived: “Marquis, didn’t you say Prince Chu’s birthday is approaching? Have you thought of what birthday gift to give?”
“What else can I give? Just some ordinary gold and jade jewelry. I haven’t managed to find anything novel this year,” Marquis Fengxian said. “But I can’t not give anything.”
“I have a good idea,” Leng Shi said with a smile. “What if you give the Prince a peerless beauty?”
“Oh? Do you have someone like that on hand?” Marquis Fengxian’s interest was piqued. “Is she truly exceptionally beautiful?”
“Why wouldn’t she be? If I speak even half a lie, may I suffer hardship and poverty my entire life and beg on the streets,” Leng Shi vowed. “She is truly a delicate, exquisitely delicate little fox spirit, and still a maiden.”
“Hearing you describe her, she truly sounds like a rare find. I wonder which family she belongs to?” Marquis Fengxian was clearly interested.
He hadn’t sent beauties to Prince Chu before. But beauties were always scarce, and Prince Chu wasn’t inexperienced; ordinary appearances wouldn’t catch his eye.
“To tell you the truth! It’s that little maidservant by Wen Mingqian’s side, what’s her name, Sang Er. I don’t know where she bought her. To put it shamelessly, I’ve been inside the inner chambers of every family in this Capital City, and I haven’t seen anyone who could compare to her!”
The more she said this, the more curious Marquis Fengxian became. Honestly, he did want to please Prince Chu. After all, Prince Chu was second only to Prince Zhao, and his Heir Apparent was raised in the Imperial Household.
If the birthday gift truly hit the mark, the benefits would surely not be lacking.
Moreover, he did have something he wanted to ask of him, but he couldn’t just ask without reason.
“I wonder if she’s willing to part with this maidservant. Even if it costs more silver, it’s fine,” Marquis Fengxian said.
“I can’t say for sure about that. Why don’t you send someone to ask?” Leng Shi said with a smile. “But I must be upfront: if this matter is successful, don’t forget my share.”
“Don’t worry. If Prince Chu truly likes her, I will naturally put in a good word for your husband before him. Whether he can stay or be promoted is just a matter of the Prince’s word,” Marquis Fengxian agreed readily, because he knew that the Cui family’s matters were less than a little finger to Prince Chu.
When this beauty truly wins the Prince’s favor, he only needs to say she was introduced by the Cui family, and the Prince would certainly not be stingy with his kindness.
“If that’s the case, the sooner the better,” Leng Shi said. “They are only temporarily staying at the nunnery. It’s uncertain whether they’ll remain in the Capital City in the future!”
Leng Shi’s calculations were very clear. Wen Mingqian had ruined her marriage alliance with the Lu family, so she couldn’t let Wen Mingqian off the hook either. She had to take a piece of her, no matter what.
If things went smoothly, Wen Mingqian would only lose a maidservant.
But with just a few words, she could make Marquis Fengxian claim credit for her family before Prince Chu. Was there any more profitable deal in the world?
If Wen Mingqian and Sang Er refused, that would be even better. She knew Marquis Fengxian’s temperament; he wasn’t someone who easily let things go.
Then he would naturally find ways to make them suffer. Perhaps in the end, they would be forced to comply. At that point, they would have suffered hardship, and she would still gain benefits. Wouldn’t that be more interesting?
“In that case, I’ll send someone to check tomorrow to see if it’s truly as you say.” Marquis Fengxian affectionately embraced Leng Shi. He knew this woman was shrewd and capable, and this matter was likely to be accurate.
“Just send someone to check, Marquis. If they report that what I said is untrue, I am willing to accept punishment,” Leng Shi said with a smile. “I’m afraid you might be reluctant to give her to Prince Chu once you see her!”
“What are you saying? I’m already this old, what is there to be reluctant about? Getting things done is important,” Marquis Fengxian said.
“If that’s the case, I’ll be going back. Home is still a mess,” Leng Shi stood up. “My fate is to have no one to dote on me, destined to never rest.”
“Alright, stop complaining,” Marquis Fengxian said with a smile. “There are some supplements others gave me on that cabinet. Take them with you!”
Leng Shi naturally didn’t stand on ceremony. She thanked him in a sweet and coquettish tone and carried the box out.
The coachman was her confidant, waiting obediently outside.
As soon as Leng Shi got out, she got into the carriage and told the coachman to go home.
She opened the box in the carriage and saw it was filled with high-quality supplements like ginseng and deer antler. A smile appeared on her face.
“You surnamed Wen, for ruining my plans, just you wait. I won’t let you off easily either,” Leng Shi muttered to herself. As she gently stroked the box, she thought about how she would devise more wicked schemes for Marquis Fengxian if Wen Mingqian refused to hand over Sang Er.
Lost in thought, she drifted away…
