The protagonist chased the villain, and Tiandao screamed in anger

In Furong Courtyard, Mrs. Xiao saw that there was no movement from Qingxi Courtyard for a long time. When the sun rose high in the sky, she could no longer sit still and sent her mother Lin to investigate.

Mother Lin understood, and holding a box of scented ink, she found an excuse to go to Qingxi Courtyard, wanting to enter the study to investigate.

Xiao Yu likes quietness, and needs to rest even more due to his illness, so there are very few servants in the courtyard, and they almost always leave after cleaning the courtyard.

Although there were a few people guarding and serving, they did not try to stop her because they recognized that Mother Lin was someone close to Madam Xiao.

But when she reached the middle corridor, Mother Lin was stopped by the sharp-eyed Zhu Huan.

"Mother Lin, thank you for your hard work. Why would you trouble me to make such a trip? Just leave it to me." Because Xiao Yu had given instructions in advance, although he did not say everything, Zhu Huan also knew what to do.

"Hey, what do you mean by tired or not? We are all servants. How can we complain about being tired just to deliver some perfume and ink to the master? Is the eldest young master here? Madam asked me to hand these to the young master personally."

As she said this, Mother Lin wanted to push aside the red ring and walk inside.

Zhu Huan hurriedly tried to stop him again, blocking his way and putting his hand on Mother Lin's arm. "Mother Lin, the young master has specifically ordered that no one be allowed in."

"The young master is not feeling well again this morning and needs to rest. You know that. We are all servants, so please don't make things difficult for me!"

If it were usual, according to the way Mother Lin treated Qiao, she would definitely give this tactless maid a slap in the face, but the situation was not right. Mother Lin keenly grasped the key point in Zhu Huan's words and hurriedly asked:

"Not good again? Ouch! What's wrong? Why don't you ask a doctor to come and take a look?"

"It's an old illness that has been recurring for years. The young master said that he has been seeing doctors everywhere but it hasn't improved. It's better to rest. Look, he was coughing up blood again last night until midnight. Now he has taken a tranquilizing soup. It's a rare moment of peace. You must not go over and disturb him."

Zhu Huan sighed as he spoke, and never loosened his grip on Mother Lin's hand.

"If that's the case, then so be it. You can give the ink to the young master on my behalf," Mother Lin thought to herself. Although Zhu Huan looks thin, she has quite strong hands.

It was she who sent the bride over last night. Mother Lin wanted to ask more about the bride, but she felt that it was unlucky and was afraid of being contaminated, so she didn't say anything.

Seeing that she was refused entry no matter what, and sensing something was wrong from Zhu Huan's words, Mother Lin was secretly delighted, so she didn't care about it anymore, let go of her hand, and happily went to report to Madam Xiao.

"Goodbye, Mother Lin." Zhu Huan held the brocade box in her hand and watched Mother Lin leave with a smile.

As if possessed by some mysterious force, Mother Lin, who was walking away, looked back and saw Zhu Huan, the girl, still smiling and waving goodbye from a distance. She couldn't see her eyes clearly through the layers of windows, but she felt that the smile was quite strange.

Suddenly, Mother Lin shuddered without any warning. She looked up at the clear weather, rubbed her arms, and quickly left Qingxi Courtyard.

Zhu Huan at the end of the corridor stopped smiling, rubbed her face which was almost frozen from smiling, sneered at Mother Lin for being as timid as a mouse, and turned around and left with her skirt picked up.

……

"really?"

In Furong Courtyard, in Madam Xiao's cabinet, Mother Lin leaned over and told her in a few words.

Upon hearing this, Madam Xiao paused slightly as she was combing her hair with the comb. She placed the comb on the crimson dressing table in front of the bronze mirror and raised her hand to wave Mother Lin away.

The woman lowered her head and left the room, leaving Mrs. Xiao alone.

Madam Xiao was puzzled as there were no screams or unusual movements last night. According to what the old Taoist said, the news of Xiao Yu's death should have spread by now, but now... was it just a few mouthfuls of blood that were not too serious?

Isn't it said that evil spirits will not wait until dawn to take your life?

Mrs. Xiao wanted to find out the current situation of Qingxi Courtyard, but she was worried about running into the female ghost. If she accidentally provoked her, it would be bad.

The old Taoist has reminded us not to disturb the ghosts and gods.

Thinking of this, Mrs. Xiao knew that she should not be too hasty. She must distance herself from this matter. The best way was to never show up from beginning to end.

As for the maid who was bought and died unjustly, he would have to bear the corresponding price according to the amount of silver he took from her.

It was normal for a maid to die in a wealthy family. At most, it was just that the maid had the wrong idea and wanted to climb into the young master's bed, and was beaten to death with sticks.

She just waited quietly, letting the aggrieved female ghost claim her life. Once Xiao Yu died, no one would dare to snatch the family property from her son.

"Mother! Mother!"

Thinking of his parent-child relationship, the second young master Xiao Qi spoke in a loud voice and directly pushed open Madam Xiao's door.

Madam Xiao put down the bronze mirror, turned sideways and scolded her son. Although she was scolding, her tone was neither light nor heavy, and it had no effect of admonishment.

"Qi'er, why are you so reckless? Do you still act like a young master?"

"Mother, I have always been like this, you know that." Xiao Qi came back quickly with a layer of sweat on his forehead and back. He took the teapot on the pear blossom table and drank from it.

"Slow down, do you still have the manners?" Mrs. Xiao picked up her fan and walked closer.

"Those rules are for outsiders. Do I need to kowtow three times and nine times when I come to see my mother?" Xiao Qi knew from a young age that his mother loved him, and he also knew how to say it so that her mother would stop lecturing him on etiquette.

"...You are a scholar, a young man who will take the imperial examinations in the future. I can't argue with you!" Mrs. Xiao shook her head and picked up the fan to fan Xiao Qi.

Seeing her son's dry laugh, how could Mrs. Xiao not see that her son seemed to be asking for something? She put down her fan gently and asked, "Tell me, what's the matter?"

"Hey, mother, I don't have enough pocket money."

Upon hearing this, Madam Xiao's face fell and she scolded him, "But you went out to fool around with your group of bad friends again? I have told you so many times that the autumn examination is approaching, and you should study hard behind closed doors for the next three or two months! Now that your father is ill, there is no one to restrain you!"

"Don't worry, mother. I'm not fooling around. Recently, Baixiufang has changed its business and has come up with a wonderful way to make friends through poetry. Most of the candidates participating in the autumn examination have gathered here. I want to make friends with a few more gentlemen, and also make plans for the future. Who knows, I might even meet a noble person!"

Xiao Qi knelt on one knee beside Madam Xiao and explained, but he did not mention that the prostitutes in Baixiufang were all beautiful and talented, attracting many talented men and beautiful women.

But this beauty is not easy to meet. You need to use silver to buy a puzzle lantern and win the game of chess to have a chance to be with her.

It was also for this reason that Xiao Qi's money spent very quickly. It was only halfway through the month when it was gone again.

As a female member of the family, Madam Xiao naturally could not show her face in public. She had never paid attention to the affairs of some restaurants and teahouses in Lingcheng, and had no time to investigate. She believed Xiao Qi's evasive statement and really thought that Xiao Qi had changed his nature and knew how to plan for his future.

"Well..." Madam Xiao touched Xiao Qi's head, got up and went inside to get her own private money, muttering again:

"It's a relief that you've become more sensible. Your father is ill now, so you have to take good care of your studies and pass the imperial examination for your mother."

"It's just that these few days have been restless. It's fine during the day, so let you go. Remember to go home when the sun sets. Qi'er, remember to close the doors and windows at night..."

He put a bag of silver into Xiao Qi's hand, and after he barely listened to what he said, Xiao Qi nodded in response, took the purse and rushed out the door.

"This child..."

Xiao Qi was only sixteen years old. Madam Xiao was particularly lenient with her son because she thought of his young age and his talent in study, which had been praised by the teacher many times. She thought he had a chance to leave the business world and get a government job, so she was particularly lenient with him.

After Xiao Qi walked away, Madam Xiao called Mother Lin, who was beside her, and ordered her to warn the concubines in Xiao Qi's garden to stop acting like coquettish people. If anyone disturbed the Second Young Master's autumn examination, they would be beaten out of the Xiao Mansion with sticks.