Chapter Twenty-Eight: Silver Banknotes-A Filha Herdeira Reencarna e Abusa os Escrotes, A Mansão do Marquês Regreta Até Não Poder Mais(O ministro gosta de dormir.)

Meng Huaichuan casually glanced at the "tail" that had followed his sister before speaking:

"Father and Mother sent word that they have gone away for a while to travel; the people you sent to deliver items to them will certainly not find them."

As he spoke, he took two thick envelopes from the bundle held by his attendant and handed them to Meng Zhenyue with a faint, wry smile.

"Yanyue could not go with them, so she wrote a stack of letters to 'complain' to you."

Meng Zhenyue took them with a faint smile, though the joy in her heart quickly dissipated. She naturally understood the subtext of her brother’s words. In her previous life, after seeing those two things, she had also sent people to monitor the movements of the Old Madam of the Marquis’s estate, and the information she received was exactly the same. The Old Madam had gone to Xiao Prefecture to find people.

Fortunately, her father and mother had gone away to avoid trouble; it was better that they could not be found. Although the news was identical, it confirmed Meng Zhenyue's suspicions regarding her father’s identity. The Old Madam had used something related to the late Prince Chen—which Mother possessed—to threaten her aunt into searching for someone. It was clear that the person she was truly hunting was not Mother, but the very Prince Chen who, as a supporter of the Emperor, was unwanted by those who opposed his return!

Why, then, after all these years, had the Chengwu Marquis estate suddenly taken such a step? And who else knew about this?

Seeing Meng Zhenyue and her brother enter, Zhao Xianzhi quickly scanned their expressions. Seeing nothing unusual, he stood up to welcome them with a display of respect.

"Brother," Zhao Xianzhi said with a bow, "please, have a seat."

Meng Huaichuan, who rarely showed much expression, cooperated by revealing a look of satisfaction. After seating himself, he pulled the letters from his sleeve and handed them to Zhao Xianzhi. "These are letters written to you by my second sister, Yanyue."

Zhao Xianzhi accepted them with both hands, looking at the letters with great anticipation. A doting smile gradually spread across his face. "One can feel the playfulness and charm of Yanyue in every line."

Seeing this, the usually stoic Meng siblings exchanged a glance, their silent admiration for his performance unspoken.

Zhao Xianzhi continued, carefully tucking the letters away as he suggested to Meng Huaichuan:

"Now that she is the only child left at home, she must be feeling quite bored. Why not bring her to the Marquis’s estate? The three sisters together will surely have endless things to talk about, and they can learn skills from the governesses and prepare for the upcoming needlework selection."

As he spoke, Zhao Xianzhi lowered his head in feigned shame, his tone deliberately distancing. "Mother and the Marchioness have already arranged everything. After the military examinations, we shall go to Xiao Prefecture... to recognize our kin, and upon our return, we will hold a proper banquet for her."

He said the last part while looking at Meng Zhenyue, trying to curry favor.

Meng Zhenyue ignored him. Upon hearing his suggestion, her first thought was: what mischief is this scoundrel planning now? She recalled that in her previous life, Yanyue had met with an accident and was forced to marry a wealthy merchant over fifty years of age. Thinking back on it now, that "accident" must have been the handiwork of Zhao Xianzhi!

Although Meng Zhenyue thought this, she said, "Yes, Brother, have her come."

As long as Zhao Xianzhi had the intent, where could he not strike? It was better to have them all in one place, where Yanyue could better pursue what she loved under the guise of the Marquis’s estate.

Meng Huaichuan had not wanted to bring his other sister into this den of wolves, but he knew his elder sister must have her reasons. After some polite, perfunctory remarks, he agreed.

Zhao Xianzhi let out a breath as if he had accomplished a great task, his face beaming as he raised his teacup. His heart was filled with the triumph of success. When the three women were together, he would ensure Meng Zhenyue was plagued by troubles, and he would see how she chose when conflicts arose!

That day, when he saw Meng Zhenyue and Zhao Zhizhi becoming increasingly close, fear had stirred in his heart. He could not allow them to be too intimate; otherwise, with Meng Zhenyue’s methods, she would surely coax Zhizhi into distancing herself from him, which would only make his position in the Marquis’s estate more precarious. He knew that if he had a rift with his sisters, that "child of old age" would swoop in like a fly to a wound, snatching his sisters away to use as bargaining chips.

Just then, a chaotic sound of footsteps approached, accompanied by respectful cries of "It’s right there!" and "It’s over there!"

A group of people burst in, standing like a wall, led by Xiao Jide. Xiao Jide scanned the faces in the room with a fierce glare, then, without a word, waved his hand and ordered, "Search them!"

The "wall" of men quickly split, heading straight for the attendant, Rusong. Only then did the displeased Xiao Jide address the startled Zhao Xianzhi, who had risen to his feet:

"My apologies. I lost a thousand-tael banknote, and that person just bumped into my attendant. I am here to find it."

Zhao Xianzhi’s face flushed with anger, his tone unyielding. "Young Master Xiao, please, do not misunderstand!"

In truth, he was secretly hoping the storm would rage even harder. He glanced at the Meng siblings, who had also risen. Seeing they showed no panic, and that Meng Huaichuan had stepped in front of Meng Zhenyue to protect her, he sighed inwardly at his own good judgment. *Not flustered in the face of crisis—truly worthy of the person I have set my sights on!* He waited to see how Meng Huaichuan would resolve this, so he could weigh his value...

Before Zhao Xianzhi could finish his thought, he was interrupted by the shout of Xiao Jide’s attendant: "Young Master, it is not on him!"

Zhao Xianzhi was startled. *Not... on him?!*

His eyes darted about uneasily as he recalled the moment Meng Zhenyue had signaled her maid to steal the money for Meng Huaichuan... he suddenly felt a sense of dread.

Just as he was about to do something to remedy the situation, he heard Xiao Jide’s blunt, discourteous voice: "Young Master Zhao, I am truly sorry!"

Following this, the men brought by Xiao Jide searched all the attendants in the room, and even Meng Zhenyue’s maids were surrounded, waiting to be searched. Zhao Xianzhi grew anxious. He tried to use his status as a young master of the Marquis’s estate and his sharp intellect to make Xiao Jide stop, but it was too late. Before he could speak, he heard, "Young Master, the banknote is here!"

Seeing Xiao Jide’s rage visibly flare, Zhao Xianzhi glared at Meng Zhenyue, gritting his teeth. He saw Meng Zhenyue arch an eyebrow at him, almost imperceptibly. Zhao Xianzhi locked eyes with her in a silent contest, while inwardly fearing what expression Meng Huaichuan might be wearing.

"Young Master Zhao!"

Xiao Jide’s provocation pulled Zhao Xianzhi’s attention back. Like his father, Xiao Jide was adept at using metaphors to insult others, and he knew exactly how to strike at a person’s sorest point.

"Is it a case of 'if the upper beam is crooked, the lower ones will be askew,' or has your brain been rotted by poison, Young Master Zhao?"

"Today, I have truly witnessed the behavior of a pauper blinded by greed!"

He had been beaten by his father not long ago; logically, he should not have dared to be so insolent. But hearing his attendant mention the Young Master of the Chengwu Marquis estate had ignited his fiery temper. *It’s him again!* If not for Zhao Xianzhi that day, he would not have been beaten. Xiao Jide was determined to vent his anger. Since the person had walked into Zhao Xianzhi’s private room, it must have been Zhao Xianzhi’s doing!

Similarly, Zhao Xianzhi, his blood boiling from Xiao Jide’s insults, gritted his teeth in hatred. His loathing for Xiao Jide went beyond mere surface level. The oleander poison—his men had indeed discovered that this fellow had been tampering with oleander recently! And now, he had the audacity to bring it up!

Zhao Xianzhi could feel that the people around them had stopped their merrymaking, all watching him as if he were a new spectacle. It was a pity that the Chengwu Marquis estate was at a disadvantage, unable to compare to his own Junior Tutor’s estate.

Zhao Xianzhi seethed with rage, but ultimately maintained the facade of a graceful young master, forcing a smile onto his face. "Young Master Xiao must be mistaken. This banknote is mine."