Do You Know?: Rule the World.

Chapter 4 Seize the handle
Seeing that Xiaodie was still hesitant, Zhao Han directly stuffed the silver into her hand.

"You left the house secretly today to resell charcoal. If someone with ulterior motives found out, you would be slandered for no reason."

Xiaodie couldn't help but frown when she heard this. Now all the affairs in the backyard were under the control of Lin Xiaoniang.

The maids around her were guarding against her like they were guarding against a thief. Once they knew about this matter, they would definitely make a big fuss about it.

She shook the heavy silver in her hand and said, "Thank you very much, sir. I hope you can leave your name and address so that I can return the silver in person one day."

"My surname is Zhao and my given name is Han. I live in the Zhao residence not far away."

After saying that, Zhao Han smiled lightly and left with Changqing.

Xiaodie looked at his figure in the distance, lowered her eyes, and seeing that it was getting late, she bought some charcoal and quickly returned to Sheng Mansion through the east corner gate.

Sheng Mansion, the back house, a remote and inconspicuous courtyard.

This is Wei Xiaoniang's residence.

As Xiaodie stepped into the yard with the charcoal, she saw a little girl with delicate eyebrows, bright eyes and white teeth sticking her head out of the house and running out.

She rubbed her hands and said crisply, "Sister Xiaodie, did you get the charcoal? Did the maids find you when you left the house?"

"Don't worry, young lady. I will never make any mistakes when I do things."

Xiaodie smiled and carefully lifted the coarse cloth covering the bamboo basket.

Minglan stood on tiptoe to take a look and couldn't help but exclaimed, "Where did all this charcoal come from?"

Xiaodie made a gesture to keep quiet, led Minglan into the house, and lit the charcoal fire in the stove.

She came to Wei Xiaoniang and took out the remaining silver from her sleeve.

Wei Xiaoniang frowned, "Xiaodie, where did you get this silver?"

After Xiaodie explained what happened, she hurriedly stood up and took out her dowry bracelet.

"No merit, no reward. Tomorrow you will pawn the bracelet and return the silver to Master Zhao."

Wei Xiaoniang was originally from a noble family, but because her family fell into poverty, she had to sell herself to become a concubine in the Sheng Mansion in order to pay for her mother's medical treatment.

She was of aloof and aloof disposition, and was most reluctant to owe favors to anyone, especially to a young man she had never met before.

"My dear, this is your only dowry. You can't sell it!"

As she spoke, Minglan's eyes reddened as she snatched the bracelet away and held it against her chest.

Xiaodie knelt down in front of Wei Xiaoniang with a thud.

"My dear, it's only the beginning of winter, and the kitchen maids are already skimping on charcoal."

"If we return the silver in a while and it gets freezing cold, we won't have any charcoal to burn. What will we do if Miss Lin and Xiao Tao get frozen? Will Miss Lin call a doctor?"

"Besides, I'm pregnant now. It's one thing for me to not have enough to eat on a normal day, but what if I catch a cold?"

Minglan felt a pang of sadness in her heart. She stepped forward and hugged Wei Xiaoniang, crying, "We'll just have to wait until we have the money to return it to Master Zhao. Xiaoniang, I'm not afraid of the cold, I'm just afraid of freezing you and the little brother in your belly."

Wei Xiaoniang raised her hand and stroked her bulging belly, staring at young Minglan and Xiaotao.

After thinking for a while, she let out a breath.

"Well, Xiaodie, you keep the silver for now. We will return it to Master Zhao in the future no matter what."

Xiaodie nodded repeatedly: "I understand."

Minglan wiped away her tears, raised her eyes and asked, "Mother, why don't we go and ask Daddy for help? If Daddy knew, he would definitely make the decision for us."

Wei Xiaoniang's face changed slightly. She knew very well that it was Lin Qinshuang who caused her to be in this situation.

But Sheng Hong doted on Lin Qinshuang very much. Even if he knew about this, he would only give her a few simple reprimands, lift her up high and then put her down gently.

In the future, there's no guarantee that Lin Qinshuang won't escalate her difficulties even further. Right now, all she wants is to shut herself away and live a peaceful life.

"Your father is busy with official duties and can't take care of the affairs of the harem. If you feel wronged, go to the old lady."

"I heard that they use silver bone charcoal over there, and they provide three meals a day."

Old Madam Sheng had a serious illness not long ago and nearly lost her life. The doctor suggested that Sheng Hong find a well-behaved and obedient child to raise with Old Madam Sheng. This would help her relieve her loneliness and provide her with spiritual comfort, which would naturally help her recover faster.

After Wei Xiaoniang learned about this, she wanted Minglan to serve Old Madam Sheng. She knew very well that she was just an unfavored concubine, and Minglan could only have a good future if she went there.

"No, I'm not going!"

Minglan refused loudly. She had never thought of leaving Wei Xiaoniang.

"If you don't want to go, then don't stir up trouble."

Minglan lowered her head, and listlessly pulled Xiaotao out of the house and sat on the steps under the corridor.

Xiaodie looked at Wei Xiaoniang and sighed softly, "She just feels sorry for me."

"If I can have a boy this time, he may not be inferior to Miss Lin in the future."

In terms of appearance and talent, Wei Xiaoniang far surpasses Lin Qinshuang.

Wei Xiaoniang shook her head. "What brothers and sisters? If the master had us in his heart, he would have come a long time ago."

"Right now I just hope this baby can be born safely."

Xiaodie said with a firm look in her eyes: "With this servant protecting me, I will definitely be able to do it."

Wei Xiaoniang took Xiaodie's hand and smiled gently.

On the other side, Lin Qinshuang's residence.

The candlelight flickered, the gauze curtains hung low, the newly added silver bone charcoal in the copper stove crackled, and a screen with eight-treasure peony branches separated the inside and outside.

Lin Qinshuang sat upright in front of the bronze mirror, wearing a peach-pink embroidered brocade skirt, her hair loosely tied behind her head, with a few delicate and small hairpins inserted diagonally. She had slender eyebrows and a beautiful face, and her eyes were gentle and calculating.

Zhou Xueniang, the personal maid, stepped into the inner room and said with her head lowered, "Just as I expected, they really can't hold on any longer."

"Lin Xiaodie just sneaked out of the corner gate carrying the stove charcoal. I sent someone to investigate in her courtyard and they said there was charcoal burning in the stove."

Lin Qinshuang raised her lips when she heard this, and said softly, "Now I have something on her."

"It won't be easy to take action against Wei Shuyi if we don't get rid of that bitch Liu Xiaodie."

Zhou Xuenniang nodded in agreement, "What I said is right. Liu Xiaodie is someone who refuses to suffer any loss."

"Today, she even went to the Madam's room to make a scene over charcoal. Fortunately, I got there in time, otherwise Madam Guan would have been unable to do anything to her."

Lin Qinshuang's eyes turned cold, and she snorted, "Let her run wild for a few more days."

She raised her hand and knitted her brows, then continued, "It's just that Wei's belly is really struggling. The doctor has said every time he takes her pulse that the fetus is stable. It looks like the due date is only two months away. We must come up with a way to save both lives with one body."

Zhou Xuenniang nodded in agreement, "You are right, my dear. I am willing to serve you like a dog or a horse."

"I know your loyalty, and you will definitely get the benefits after the success."

"My lord didn't come so late, it seems he is staying in the lady's room tonight."

Lin Qinshuang turned her head to look at the sky outside the house. A hint of loneliness flashed across her eyes. She thought to herself that after getting rid of Wei Xiaoniang, she could compete with Wang Ruofu.

　Is anyone reading this book? A new author and a new book, please bookmark, recommend, and read. If you have any comments, please leave them in the comments section, and the author will take a look at them one by one.

(End of this chapter)