novelraw Chapter 834 - 792: Demolition
Chapter 834 - 792: Demolition
After washing hands and drinking tea, Yun Huai finally asked, "Where did it happen?"
"Zhu Chao Street," Xu Jia replied. "Reportedly, it was in Shiban Alley."
"The location is quite secluded," Yun Huai paused. "Coincidentally, I don’t have any hidden threads there."
Or rather, there used to be; a small shop was set up in Shiban Alley for shaving. However, after Emperor Xuanjing proposed to reclaim the Sky Eagle Guard, that hidden thread, along with other substantial forces, surrendered to the court and is now undercover in Bei Yan.
Xu Jia was anxious, "If the cause of the incident can’t be uncovered, wouldn’t my brother’s crimes be confirmed by the people from the Princess Mansion?"
Yun Huai remained calm and said softly, "It’s not impossible to find out; as long as you see your brother, just ask, and you’ll know."
Xu Jia had thought about this before; no matter what people outside said, it was just one side of the story and not entirely trustworthy. To truly know what happened at Zhu Chao Street, she must personally ask her brother.
But that is the Princess Mansion, protected by the late Emperor, with certainly numerous household guards. If she sneaked in, the chance of returning safely is slim.
At this time, Yun Shisan suddenly said, "The Feng Family? If I remember correctly, the Yun Family has business dealings with the Feng Family."
"Is this true?" Xu Jia seemed to have caught an opportunity, her eyes burning as she looked at Yun Shisan.
Yun Shisan nodded affirmatively, "I’m not mistaken; it’s the Feng Family, the family of Princess Qing Shui."
If the Yun Family has ties with the Feng Family, things would be much simpler. Xu Jia gathered courage and looked to Yun Huai, "Master Yun, could you take me to the Princess Mansion?"
Yun Huai asked, "How will you go?"
Having to bother someone else, Xu Jia felt uneasy but still had to owe this favor, blushing as she said, "The outfit Ah Rong made last time is still here. If I disguise myself as a disciple of the Yun Family, it should be much easier to follow you in and out of the Princess Mansion."
The mention of "Ah Rong" made Yun Huai look at her for a while.
Xu Jia did not understand why he was looking at her; she just felt a tingling on her scalp, and her speech became somewhat stumbling, "Is, is it inconvenient?"
Yun Shisan laughed twice, breaking the stiff atmosphere. "Why not disguise as Sixteen; Miss Xu’s build is somewhat different from Sixteen’s, but Sixteen has never been to the Princess Mansion, so people there will not recognize her."
"We’ll leave after burning incense," Yun Huai’s voice was indifferent, "Although Princess Qing Shui seldom appears, she is not someone easy to deal with. Keep what needs to be kept, don’t let her see any clues."
The phrase "what needs to be kept," Xu Jia wasn’t sure if Mo Xiang and Yun Shisan understood it, she almost instinctively glanced down at her chest the moment he spoke, and then her face flushed furiously.
Yet looking again at Yun Huai, his long lashes were slightly lowered as he drank tea, his manner graceful and leisurely, appearing pleasing to the eyes.
Xu Jia thought, perhaps she was overthinking.
Back at the Western Marquis Mansion, Xu Jia searched for a chest binding cloth, firmly restrained herself, and then put on the Yun Family uniform that Ye Rong had prepared for her earlier.
Mo Xiang saw this and concealed her laughter, "With this outfit, Miss Xu, even a servant like me sees you as a disciple of the Yun Family, let alone others."
She glanced at the flattened area by Xu Jia, feeling sympathy, "Miss Xu, binding so tightly, isn’t it uncomfortable?"
Standing, Xu Jia already felt dizzy and said through clenched teeth, "Uncomfortable but I have no choice, the most important thing right now is to meet my brother."
...
When Xu Jia returned to Yun Huai’s residence, it seemed he glanced at her briefly, so quickly that Xu Jia couldn’t react.
Yun Shisan approached, looking at her playfully, "Once we reach the Princess Mansion, you will be Sixteen, be careful not to get exposed."
Xu Jia nodded, "Okay."
The hour arrived, and the group set off, riding horses to the Princess Qing Shui Mansion.
At this time, in the east secondary room of the courtyard of the Princess Mansion, sat a woman in her fifties, with a long face, graying hair on the temples, fine lines etched at the corner of her eyes, her eyes always holding an imposing look, somewhat harsh.
She held a teacup, gently brushing the foam with the lid, asking the man in a round-collar robe sitting below, "How’s it going?"
The woman was Princess Qing Shui, and the man below was Feng Chuan, the stepson of the Eldest Princess.
Hearing this, Feng Chuan sneered arrogantly, "Mother, don’t worry, that slut is dead for sure. It’s just, getting involved with the Western Marquis Mansion makes it hard to wrap up."
Princess Qing Shui frowned, yet said, "Originally I thought of hiring someone to assault her, then I could justifiably send her back; who knew the boy from the Western Marquis Mansion would crash into the situation, causing me to blow things out of proportion."
Feng Chuan’s official wife, Mrs. Li, was the daughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War.
The Feng Family, merchants, being able to marry such a noble lady, was all because of Princess Qing Shui.
Mrs. Li had an extraordinary background, and being the legitimate daughter, if the Feng Family wanted to divorce her, they would need a legitimate reason.
...
Yun Huai and the group were still on the road.
While Xu Jia went back to change clothes, Yun Huai sent Yun Shisan to the "Information House" responsible for selling intelligence to buy a report on the Princess Qing Shui Mansion, which had just been delivered.
In the past, contacting hidden threads would thoroughly uncover the secrets of Princess Qing Shui Mansion, but now it’s different; all Sky Eagle Guards have been withdrawn, and Yun Huai knows Emperor Xuanjing is apprehensive, so he no longer planted his people in the Capital; hence all intelligence has to be bought.
Currently, he is scrutinizing the newly acquired report.
It states that Princess Qing Shui has always been favored by the late Emperor due to a life-saving favor and was looked after by him. Every year, in addition to food distribution, the palace would give her extra money, which she used to support her family and also bought several farms and residences.
But after the late Emperor passed away, this money was cut off. The new emperor, swift and decisive, made some sweeping changes while consolidating the court, one of which was ordering the Ministry of Works to demolish extravagant buildings of the nobility in the Capital. Princess Qing Shui Mansion had the most extravagant buildings, suffering the most.
The Feng Family, accustomed to being parasites, used to extend their hands to Princess Qing Shui when money was short; suddenly stopping the money and requiring demolition was equivalent to ending the livelihood of Feng father and son.
...
Yun Huai narrated the report he read to Xu Jia.
Xu Jia rode beside him, and upon hearing it, deeply frowned, "The Princess Mansion being demolished, what does it have to do with my brother? He is not from the Ministry of Industry, and those buildings weren’t demolished by him. On what grounds does the Eldest Princess say to detain him? My brother, after all, is from the Five Cities Military Department and a Princely Heir of a Marquis Mansion. What exactly are they up to?"
"I’m afraid there’s more to it," Yun Huai said.
Xu Jia thought of something, "I find something very strange."
"Tell me," Yun Huai looked towards her.
Xu Jia analyzed, "Mrs. Feng is the daughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, quite an exceptional background. Now with a scandal, shouldn’t the Princess Mansion try every means to suppress the rumor? Why is no one managing the rumor, instead detaining my brother, making it known throughout the city? Is it because they rely on the influence of the Princess Mansion and aren’t afraid to face off with the Vice Minister of the Ministry of War, or haven’t they considered salvaging Mrs. Feng’s reputation at all?"
"We’ll only know the answer when we see Heir Xu," Yun Shisan said.
The trio soon reached the entrance of Princess Qing Shui Mansion, from a distance one could see that part of the mansion’s east side was demolished, and now the new wall hadn’t been built yet.
Xu Jia’s lips twitched, "Our new emperor sure is imposingly impartial."
After all, she’s his aunt, yet he decided to demolish it without a bit of respect.
Yun Shisan chuckled, "Since he’s making a move, naturally he’d pick a fat sheep. Who told the Feng Family to overexpand their mansion, and expand so widely? I’ve heard that apart from this place, several prince residences also suffered, if they don’t allow demolishing then they are driven out to find a place themselves."
While speaking, Yun Shisan dismounted and headed to the gatehouse, presenting the Yun Family Token.
The gatehouse’s expression changed, and quickly they ran inside.
Princess Qing Shui was talking to Feng Chuan, hearing that Yun Family had arrived, she was startled and then wildly delighted, "Quick, invite them in!"
No matter who came, the Yun Family was an unwavering solid support, to affiliate with the Yun Family meant a secure future for the Feng Family.
With this thought, she instructed Feng Chuan, "You should retreat to your room for a while, the people from the Yun Family should not be easily offended."
Although Feng Chuan wanted to personally witness the elegance of Yun Family disciples, he thought of the scandal involving Mrs. Li, and indeed it was not suitable for him to appear, so he gave up, stood up, and went to his room.
Led by the gatekeeper, Xu Jia and the others wound through several turns for about fifteen minutes and finally reached the main hall. She couldn’t help but click her tongue inwardly; no wonder the new emperor ordered demolition — Princess Qing Shui was usually discreet, but this demeanor wasn’t low-key at all. Such a large mansion, even grander than the home of the Imperial Tutor. It’s important to note the Feng Family were mere merchants, and even though the Eldest Princess had her noble status, such expansive mansions challenged Chu Country’s rigid hierarchy. The late Emperor might have turned a blind eye for the sake of family, but reaching the new emperor, it wasn’t as easily overlooked.