The beauty of the Hou family and the king's plan

At Shen Baozhao's signal, Bixiao repeated word for word the conversation that had just taken place in Kunning Palace.

Mei Qianhe was stunned. Was Bixiao talking about what happened in his family?

Recently, he had just been promoted to the Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, and had a lot of things on his hands, so he was often too busy to leave the office on time.

But I haven't heard Duan Ning mention it. Besides, although his mother is a bit strong, she is still reasonable. Why would she specifically target Duan Ning?

Seeing how confused he was, Shen Baozhao thought, okay, another fool!

Mei Qianhe was a good official, responsible and capable, but he still lacked insight. He had lived a smooth life in the past, and the biggest setback in his life was probably the request to marry Duan Ning in front of the palace.

The emperor and the empress did not say much. This was the family affair of the Mei family, and they could not interfere too much. The rest had to be solved by Mei Qianhe himself.

Mei Qianhe walked out of the palace in a daze, and the sun was already gone.

Many shops on the streets of Kyoto are closed, leaving only the lights under the eaves, illuminating the way home.

Mei Qianhe sat in the carriage, with a conflicting feeling in his mind.

He is just insensitive to matters in the inner house, but that doesn't mean he is stupid.

Since the queen could tell him the whole story, it meant that it must have happened. He just realized it later.

But how serious was the situation? How much suffering and injustice did Duan Ning endure?

He couldn't just leave it alone. He married Duan Ning in the hope that she could be as happy and free as before.

When he thought about how she was not having a good life and was enduring it for him, his heart ached.

Soon, the carriage stopped. The servant brought a footstool, and Mei Qianhe put away all his worries and got off the carriage.

After crossing the main gate of the Mei Mansion and turning around to pass through the hanging flower gate, behind the screen wall, one would see Haitang, Madam Mei's personal maid, waiting there.

When Haitang saw Mei Qianhe, she lowered her head slightly in embarrassment, revealing her snow-white neck.

Bowing, he said, "Master Qianhe, Madam sees that you are too tired due to your busy work. She has specially asked the kitchen to prepare your favorite dishes. Please come to the main room for dinner."

After saying that, he stood up and wanted to follow Mei Qianhe without waiting for instructions.

But unexpectedly, today Mei Qianhe's footsteps stopped and did not move.

Haitang waited for a while, feeling somewhat puzzled. Every time she invited the young master, she never failed. Why did the young master look so unhappy today, with a frown on his face?

Mei Qianhe thought for a moment and said coldly, "I still have something to do. Tell Madam that she doesn't have to wait for me. I'll go to the study to handle official business first."

"But..." Haitang wanted to say something, but Mei Qianhe looked at her and the words got stuck in her chest and she couldn't utter them.

Mei Qianhe walked slowly to the study and sat down. The moonlight was alluring, and the study was quiet, with a slightly lonely feeling.

It was already past dinner time. I wonder if Duan Ning looked at the moonlight outside the window like this every day, hoping that he would go to the main room.

Mei Qianhe stood up suddenly, without bringing a servant or a lantern, and walked slowly to the outside of the kitchen.

The kitchen was brightly lit by candlelight, and a few old women were chatting while eating melon seeds.

"Mrs. Zhang, please put out the firewood in the big stove. I went to the county lady's yard to inquire, but she hasn't come back yet. She won't come to order food."

"Mother Li, I'll turn off the fire. If the county lady comes back and wants to eat, you can light the fire yourself."

"I'll light the fire. The county lady is generous anyway. If you come to trouble the kitchen so late, you must give me more money, otherwise I won't do it!"

"Oh, oh, oh, you are so powerful, how can you refuse the county lady? If the higher-ups find out, be careful to kick you out."

"Pah, pah, pah, Aunt Zhang, let me tell you, no one in this kitchen will be kicked out except me."

"Why? You collect so much money from the county lady every day, and we are all watching."

"Tsk." Mother Li sneered, "What are you afraid of? I'm just following orders. Who dares to say anything? Even the county lady has to hold it in!"

Mei Qianhe became angrier as he listened. He quickly stepped forward and kicked the kitchen door, which made a loud bang.

Everyone in the kitchen was startled.

Mei Qianhe was furious that this group of people dared to bully Duan Ning like this, so he raised his foot and kicked towards Mother Li's heart.

Mother Li vomited blood and fell to the ground. She knelt on the ground and still said stubbornly: "Master Qianhe, I always followed Madam's orders. I didn't act on my own!"

Mother Li did this at the behest of Madam Mei. She was fearless. How could the young master get past the madam? The label of being unfilial was enough to suppress her.

Mei Qianhe nodded with bloodshot eyes, "Okay, since you have received Madam's order, then you can come with me to talk to Madam."

He lifted Mother Li's collar and walked towards the main courtyard.

On the other side, after hearing Haitang's report, Mrs. Mei had some food packed in a food box and asked Haitang to deliver it to the study. She also specifically instructed Haitang to serve the young master well.

Haitang received the order with a shy look on her face and was about to deliver the food.

Unexpectedly, when he walked to the door, he saw Mei Qianhe, furious, coming towards the main room with a violent aura emanating from his body.

Haitang's heart skipped a beat, and after looking at Mother Li, she understood most of what was going on.

I'm afraid the Madam's attempt to make things difficult for the Young Madam has been exposed.

She quickly picked up the lunch box and ran back to tell Mrs. Mei. Mrs. Mei straightened her clothes and sat upright, feeling a little uneasy but trying to remain calm.

Mei Qianhe entered the room and saw Mother Li being thrown to the ground like a dead dog.

"What are you doing?" Mrs. Mei said with an unpleasant face and put on airs.

"Everyone of you get out!" Mei Qianhe yelled, and Mrs. Mei was also frightened.

With a wave of his hand, all the servants retreated, leaving only Mei Qianhe, his mother and Li's mother.

Mei Qianhe tried his best to suppress his anger, his eyes were red, and his voice was trembling: "When my son was engaged to the county lady, I discussed it with my mother.

The county lady has a sweet and innocent temperament, and is somewhat spoiled. She has been raised in luxury since she was a child. I hope that my mother will be more tolerant of her for the sake of her son, and not restrict her with the rules that are common to women in the inner house."

"Mother agreed." Mei Qianhe stared at Mrs. Mei coldly.

Mrs. Mei's face tightened and she said, "I didn't tie her up!"

"Yes, you didn't restrict her. You just complained about her being inferior to others, which made her doubt herself. You also allowed the servants to belittle her, which made her not want to leave the hospital.

You even specifically instructed the kitchen to treat Duan Ning badly and tried every way to make her life miserable. You also repeatedly prevented me from meeting her."

Mei Qianhe spoke word by word and Mrs. Mei turned her head away, not daring to look him in the eye.

"I'm doing this for your own good! You are a minister of the Ministry of Revenue with a promising future ahead of you. She is just a county lady in name only. She has no talent and no means. How can she be worthy of being the mistress of a mansion?"

"She is very close to the Queen, but your sister is also going to enter the palace for the selection. Naturally, she is the opposite of the Queen. It is still early, so you should change Duan Ning's temper and let her know the difference between relatives and strangers.

The princess must support your sister, otherwise Duan Ning will not have a good life in Mei Mansion!"

The more Mrs. May spoke, the more she felt that she was not wrong.

"Enough!" Mei Qianhe interrupted Mrs. Mei.