A stew of the Red Chamber

Chapter 61 Xiangling

The Western City Military Command, the prison.

Wang Qing, speaking through the fence to Qin Fu and Wang Shanbao inside, asked, "Are you doing alright? Has no one been giving you any trouble?"

"Very good! Very good! Thank you so much for taking care of me, Uncle Qing!"

Wang Qing nodded and said, "Alright! Then stay a few more days. Although you failed to steal, you did pretend to be thieves, so you have to play the part convincingly."

The two men's faces stiffened, and they quickly said, "What you say is true, sir, but... could you please call home and let them know you're safe?"

"Let me know you're safe?"

Wang Qing thought to himself, "I was planning to use you guys to lure Siqi, but now that you've reported that you're safe, what's the point of catching her?"

But he said righteously, "If we're going to put on an act, we should go all the way. If you had just reported that you were safe, would your family have been worried? Wouldn't that have given people away?"

"Yes, yes, yes!" The two nodded in agreement.

Nie Chong leaned closer and bowed, reporting, "My lord! The Pan Youan we captured yesterday is quite cold; if this continues, his life may be in danger..."

Even though she disliked Pan Youan quite a bit, as a transmigrator with a modern education, she couldn't just disregard human life knowing he was a scapegoat.

Wang Qing raised his eyelids slightly and said, "Let that Hu guy from Huichuntang take a look at him!"

These days, it's common for prisoners to die in jail. Wang Qing had already done more than enough by having someone examine him. As for whether this guy surnamed Hu, who seems to have misplaced his skill points, can actually diagnose the problem, that's just the fault of a quack doctor.

After thinking for a moment, he glanced at Qin Fu and the other man, and said in a serious tone, "To escape punishment, you'd even betray your own uncle. Just tell that guy surnamed Hu, and you can save his life!"

"Understood!" Nie Chong quickly accepted the order.

"Oh, right! Have the cleaning staff spread the word outside that someone impersonated a thief and broke into the Rongguo Mansion last night, and was caught red-handed. Don't mention anything else."

Wang Qing had two intentions. On the one hand, if you can only be a thief for a thousand days, how can you guard against thieves for a thousand days? By making the impersonation a fact, if he fails to catch the thief in the act next time, the problem will not be too big, and he can also make an example of him to warn others.

On the other hand, it also adds some pressure to Siqi.

Nie Chong accepted the order and left.

Wang Qingchong said to Qin Fu and the other man inside, "You can stay here in peace. If you need anything, just send someone to find me."

Having said that, he ignored the two grateful men, waved his hand, and strode away.

After leaving the prison, Wang Qing summoned Zhuang Ze and instructed him, "The gold shop manager we arrested last time can be released. Take the confiscated gold ingots with him as well. Tell him to make sure he does his hair and jewelry according to Jia Lian's instructions, and send them, along with the gold and silver ingots he was given as a reward, to Second Mistress Lian in the mansion."

With the shopkeeper's testimony and Wang Xifeng's receipt of the jewelry, this chain of evidence is complete.

After making the arrangements, they inquired about the treatment of some sanitation workers and the situation of the hooligans who had changed their appearance.

Wang Qingfang returned to his duty room, took out his performance review materials from the drawer, and reviewed them to gain new insights.

They added some more details about the plans after the merger of the five city military commands. After lunch, Wang Qingfang led his men on another inspection tour around the western city. They returned home just in time for evening.

As soon as he entered, Granny Liu greeted him with pride, "Master! Madam and Concubine have been waiting for you for a long time. Madam Zhen also came briefly but had to leave."

Although one of them was a second wife and the other was a relative living away from home, with Lady Wang's outstanding example before them, the servants in the courtyard were already used to it.

However, the fact that the two of them were waiting so eagerly was enough to show how extraordinary their master was.

The thought that her family would soon be under this man's tutelage and no longer be neglected in the Rongguo Mansion made Granny Liu even happier.

Did Madam You leave first?

Wang Qing was taken aback for a moment, but then felt it was only natural. If he ran into these two, wouldn't he have to leave first?

But why did Madam Xing come?

Could it be that he couldn't resist Wang Shanbao's pleas and came to beg for mercy?

Wang Qing was not surprised by Aunt Xue's arrival.

He was just wondering if the Xue family's apology would truly satisfy him.

However, this doubt vanished instantly when she saw the girl in the hall, carrying a bundle, standing gracefully beside Aunt Xue, with a beauty mark between her eyebrows, a slender figure, and a gentle and kind demeanor.

After exchanging greetings, Wang Qing glanced at Xue Pan, who looked as if he had defeated a rooster, on the other side of Aunt Xue, and then asked knowingly, "May I ask what brings you two ladies here?"

The two looked embarrassed and quickly offered in return.

"Please go first, Madam!"

"Let's start with the concubine!"

Seeing that the two were at an impasse, Wang Qing quickly said, "Madam is a guest, so please don't be so modest."

Upon hearing this, Aunt Xue couldn't refuse, so she had to bite the bullet and say, "It was all Wenlong's fault for obstructing Qing-ge'er's work. He now knows he was wrong and has come to apologize to Qing-ge'er!"

As he spoke, he gave his son a nudge, and Xue Pan quickly stepped forward, saying in a carefree manner, "I have always respected heroes and valiant men. If it weren't for Brother Lian..."

At this point, Aunt Xue coughed and kicked her son's leg.

She and Baochai told Xue Pan about their idea of ​​sending Xiangling, and instead of encountering much resistance, they learned that their son had originally intended to befriend her, but was stopped by Jia Lian.

Immediately, they told Xue Pan about Madam Wang's complaints, and the three of them discussed taking the opportunity of making amends to bring up the matter openly.

Unexpectedly, they ran into Madam Xing.

Madam Xing noticed Aunt Xue's subtle actions, but felt a great sense of regret.

She desperately wanted the Xue family to give Jia Lian a hard time, but as his stepmother, she couldn't openly encourage them. She could only regret that she had come at the wrong time and anxiously watch helplessly.

Xue Pan looked back at his aunt with a blank expression, then stammered, "I...I..."

Whether out of fear of saying too much and making a mistake, or because he had never apologized to anyone, after dawdling for so long, he simply gave up and said, "I'm not saying anything more. Xiangling will be yours to warm your bed!"

His bluntness made Aunt Xue blush.

On one hand, she complained to her son, "If you're going to give someone away, just give them away. Why did you have to add anything extra and bring up the bed warmer?" On the other hand, she tried to smooth things over by saying, "I heard you don't have anyone to serve you in your room. Xiangling is the most well-behaved and sensible child. I was thinking of having her come and serve you."

"Then I'll accept!"

Although to outsiders, Xiangling, bought for eight hundred taels, was far inferior to the divine bow given by Grandmother Jia, Wang Qing preferred the Xue family's apology gift and accepted it without hesitation.

"Oh! Oh!" Aunt Xue breathed a sigh of relief and quickly added, "There was a bit of a rush. We've made a few outfits for the child and are still working on them. Once they're finished, we'll have someone deliver them."

Originally, the Xue family planned to come and apologize after everything was ready, but early in the morning they heard that Grandmother Jia had given the old Duke's magic crossbow to Wang Qing. Fearing that things might change if they waited too long, they rushed over.

Because Madam Xing was present, there were many things that could not be said directly. In addition, it was not good to keep her waiting. Seeing that Wang Qing accepted the gift with a smile, Aunt Xue gave Xiangling a few more instructions and then got up to take her leave.

Wang Qing had no choice but to get up and see her off. Xiang Ling looked at Wang Qing, then at the Xue family mother and son, and followed them out somewhat blankly.

After seeing Aunt Xue off, Wang Qing saw Xiangling standing helplessly in the courtyard, so he went up to comfort her and said, "Now that you're here, you're mine. From now on, just stay in the house and serve me. You don't need to worry about anything else, and you don't need to be reserved."

Then he summoned Granny Liu and instructed her, "From now on, Xiangling will serve in the house. Take her and settle her in!"

Upon hearing that Xiangling intended to go directly into the house to serve her, Granny Liu was taken aback. She quickly glanced at Xiangling, a hint of panic flashing across her face. She hurriedly lowered her head, agreed, and called out, "Miss, come with me!"

……