Exile with Storage Space: Family Fortunes in the Barren Lands-Chapter 773 - 726: Enter the House to Catch the Thief (1)

Chapter 773: Chapter 726: Enter the House to Catch the Thief (1)

Lady Xue was stunned, "You... what? You... do you think acting this way will make Yu Wen Zan value you in the future?"

The Xue Family was indifferent, "I’m not a young girl anymore. We’ve known each other for many years. Mother, you don’t understand what’s between us. You just need to know that he will not abandon me."

What more could be said at this point?

Lady Xue sighed and said, "Things have come to this, and there’s no turning back now. However, you must take advantage of this opportunity and give birth to a child early for him. ’A mother gains respect through her child.’ The Yu Wen Family has few heirs. If you give birth to a child, even without Yu Wen Zan asking, his father, the Marquis Zhongyi, will also value you highly."

Giving birth to the first grandson for the Yu Wen Family was something the Xue Family had been striving to do.

The Xue Family was confident, "I understand, Mother." After a pause, she added, "Mother, I came back for another matter and need your help."

Lady Xue thought about the future, knowing this daughter would bring honor to the family, and responded gladly, "Go ahead, what is it?"

"Prime Minister Pei has been ill for many days without any improvement. I have an acquaintance who knows some medicine. Mother, why not persuade Mrs. Pei to see an external doctor? The methods of the Imperial Physician in the palace are outdated. Since the Imperial Physicians can’t cure him, why not try a new approach?" said the Xue Family. "You and Mrs. Pei have known each other since childhood. Mrs. Pei would certainly listen to your advice."

In recent nights, Yu Wen Zan had been meeting with the Xue Family every evening.

Yu Wen Zan told the Xue Family that Prime Minister Pei had fallen to a stroke and had been bedridden, attended only by the Imperial Physicians in the palace.

A stroke in the elderly is very common.

Only a few recover under treatment, while most remain bedridden until their death.

The Imperial Physicians in the palace are Zhao Country’s best doctors, and the Pei Family doesn’t trust external doctors.

Therefore, the Pei Family only hired Imperial Physicians and never sought external doctors.

Lady Xue found it confusing, "Why is Zhen Niang suddenly concerned about Prime Minister Pei’s condition?"

The Xue Family replied, "If the doctor we recommend cures Prime Minister Pei, given Prime Minister Pei’s influence in the court, it will surely enhance Yu Wen Zan’s career. And since we are the recommenders, Yu Wen Zan will be grateful to our family."

Lady Xue suddenly understood, "When you put it that way, it makes sense. So, who is this doctor you’re talking about?"

The Xue Family said, "It’s Pei Wulang’s sister-in-law, Li San Niang."

Lady Xue blinked in confusion, "The sister-in-law of Pei Wulang is a doctor, why does Pei Wulang not take her to treat his father?"

"Mother has forgotten. Pei Wulang was born to a singer, and Mrs. Pei does not like Pei Wulang, so she didn’t let him live at home and rarely allowed him to return to the Pei Mansion. If he recommends a doctor, would Mrs. Pei trust him?"

Lady Xue further questioned, "But if I recommend Li San Niang for treatment, won’t Mrs. Pei know she’s Pei Wulang’s sister-in-law? Will she agree to let Li San Niang into the Pei Mansion?"

The Xue Family smiled, "Mother, there’s something else you don’t know. Pei Wulang and Yu Wen Zan are currently the Emperor’s most trusted men. They appear to be colleagues on the surface, but they are actually rivals.

Whether or not Li San Niang can cure Prime Minister Pei, as long as Mrs. Pei knows that Pei Wulang’s sister-in-law is a doctor, and an excellent one at that, she wouldn’t favor Pei Wulang.

If Prime Minister Pei is cured, the credit will belong to our family and Yu Wen Zan. It will cause Mrs. Pei to dislike Pei Wulang even more and blame him for not inviting a good doctor to treat Prime Minister Pei, even though he knew of one. Without the support of the Pei Family, Pei Wulang will not be a match for Yu Wen Zan."

Her explanation led Lady Xue to understand, "Ah, I see. This is like giving the Pei Mansion a hot potato. Whether they accept it or not, the Pei Mansion will have a certain perception of Pei Wulang."

The Xue Family proudly smiled, "Exactly, that’s precisely what I mean."

Lady Xue nodded, "Alright, I’ll visit the Pei Mansion tomorrow."

The Xue Family hurriedly said, "Mother, don’t wait until tomorrow, do it today. The sooner, the better."

Lady Xue looked at the gifts the Xue Family had brought and thought that since there was nothing much to do today, a visit to the Pei Mansion wouldn’t delay anything.

She agreed to the Xue Family’s request.

.

The Xue Family did not dine at the Xue residence because Yu Wen Zan would be going to the other courtyard in the evening.

Yu Wen Zan’s elder brother had already been buried, and subsequently, Yu Wen Zan would have a three-day mourning leave, during which he would accompany the Xue Family.

This was what Yu Wen Zan told the Xue Family.

The Xue Family took a carriage and returned to Yu Wen Zan’s other courtyard.

When she got off the carriage, someone in a teahouse opposite the courtyard stretched their neck to gaze at her.

A maid knocked on the courtyard door, a gatekeeper opened the door, and the Xue Family walked in.

The person in the teahouse did not leave, continuously drinking tea while watching the courtyard door.

As darkness fell, someone approached on horseback.

The tea drinker in the teahouse immediately put down the teacup and stood up to see.

It was Yu Wen Zan on the horse.

Yu Wen Zan dismounted and tapped on the courtyard door. Before long, the gatekeeper smiled and said, "Young Master, you’re here? Miss Xue has prepared dinner and is waiting for you."

Yu Wen Zan handed the horse to the gatekeeper, adjusted his sleeves, and walked in leisurely with his hands behind his back.

The gatekeeper led the horse inside and closed the door.

The tea drinker left some Copper Coin on the table, quickly ran out of the teahouse, and after glancing at the courtyard door, hurried off.

This was the nanny sent by Madam Jiang, who had been watching the courtyard from the teahouse all day.

Upon seeing both enter the courtyard, she promptly returned to the Jiang Mansion to report the situation to Madam Jiang.

Madam Jiang’s face turned blue with anger, "How dare Yu Wen Zan treat our Jiang Family like this!"

The nanny suggested an idea, "Madam, the gatekeeper said that the Xue Family prepared dinner and is waiting for Yu Wen Zan. These two must be dining together. We can storm into the courtyard with people and catch the adulterous couple in the act, so let’s see what Yu Wen Zan has to say."

Madam Jiang waved her hand, "No! We cannot step forward; this would make Yu Wen Zan think that our family has been suspecting him all along and set him up. If he dares to deceive us, it means he is a treacherous person, and we must think of another way."

The nanny couldn’t think of a way and blinked her eyes, looking at Madam Jiang.

Outside the main room, a senior maid was scolding a little girl, "Tell me, did you steal my osmanthus cake?"

"Sister Qing, no, I didn’t eat it."

"I saw you, you little thief!"

Thief?

Madam Jiang’s eyes lit up, and she said to the nanny, "I have an idea, do this..."

She whispered the arrangement to the nanny.

The nanny smiled knowingly, "Understood, madam, I guarantee Yu Wen Zan will have a tarnished reputation."

Madam Jiang handed a bag of broken silver to the nanny, "This is the silver for the arrangements, make sure everything is in order, do not make any mistakes, go quickly."

"Yes, madam." The nanny pocketed the silver and went to make the arrangements.

.

Yu Wen Zan entered the Xue Family’s mansion.

Under the care of the Xue Family, he had a comfortable bath.

The two sat under the lamp, eating and talking.

The Xue Family spoke to Yu Wen Zan about going back to her parents’ home after noon.

She told Yu Wen Zan that her mother had agreed to go to the Pei Mansion, and if things went smoothly, she should have already met Mrs. Pei by now.

If everything goes as expected, Mrs. Pei will invite Li Yuzhu to the Pei Mansion to treat Prime Minister Pei tomorrow morning.

Yu Wen Zan praised the Xue Family for being capable and personally poured her a drink.

The Xue Family also poured wine for Yu Wen Zan, "Zhen Niang toasted Zanlang, Zanlang, please."

Yu Wen Zan slightly curled his lips, his eyes smiling, "Zhen Niang, please."

After drinking, both of their gazes became hazy.

The Xue Family smilingly got up and pulled Yu Wen Zan onto the bed.

To ensure nothing went wrong, the Xue Family put something special in the wine that made Yu Wen Zan not want to leave her side all night.

The Xue Family, having experienced childbirth, acted boldly.

Although the curtains were drawn, and the doors and windows were closed, the intense sounds inside could still be heard outside the door.

The two girls blushed and ran away.

Only the elderly woman held back her laughter, sitting in the outer room cracking melon seeds, waiting for the Xue Family to call her in to bring water.

The activity inside continued without a pause, and the elderly woman was so sleepy she began to nod off.

At this time, there was a rapid knocking on the front door of the mansion.

The elderly woman yawned and went to open the mansion’s gate.

As soon as the door opened, a group of government officers burst in fiercely.

Before the elderly woman could react to ask questions, someone gagged her and tied her to a tree in the courtyard.

As for the two little girls, knowing that once Yu Wen Zan arrived, the Xue Family would not allow them inside, as the Xue Family feared Yu Wen Zan might fancy them, the two sensibly went to the side room to sleep early.

The noise in the courtyard was not loud, and the two slept soundly, not one of them came out to check.

"There’s noise over there; the assassin must have gone there, search!" The leading man waved his knife, pointing to the east wing.

A group of government officers rushed to that room, crashing the door open.

There was no lamp lit in the room, it was dark, but they heard some strange sounds coming from one direction inside.

"There’s noise on the bed, the assassin is on the bed!" the leader pointed to the bed again.

Four or five soldiers rushed over together, some pulling down the bed curtains, others catching people.

However, the people they caught took everyone by surprise.

Slimy and soft.

Someone realized something strange, how is there a woman?

"Light the lamps, quickly light the lamps!"

Someone lit a firestick and kindled the candles in the room.

Everyone looked at the two they had caught and was dumbfounded.

The leader widened his eyes, stammering, "Yu...Yu Wen Second Young Master? How... how is it... is it you?"

The Xue Family screamed, taking advantage of the person holding her loosening their grip, crawled back onto the bed and hid under the covers.