Noble Lady

"This year's snow is heavier than in previous years, and more supplies are needed. Add to that the sudden heavy snowfall in the north, and even those who haven't frozen to death have nothing to eat. Where can we find any surplus food?"

"The northern army couldn't collect food even though they wanted to, and instead used the limited rations they had to provide relief to the disaster victims. Now they can't even protect themselves."

Marquis Xue said this with great emotion.

Xue Chenyu, Mrs. Xue, and Xue Huai looked at each other, and they could all understand his melancholy.

This year, the southern border was temporarily peaceful, but a drought suddenly broke out. Disaster relief consumed a lot of manpower and material resources, and the subsequent post-disaster reconstruction also required a lot of money.

Small-scale conflicts with the Western Qiang in the west have been ongoing, and supplies are also essential.

This winter is colder than usual, and charcoal and cotton-padded clothes are already in short supply, and now supplies are running low.

However, these are military reports that have just arrived in Shengjing, so the public has not received the news yet.

Mrs. Xue also felt that it was colder this year. "Charcoal fires are indeed selling better this year than in previous years, and cotton-padded clothes are also selling more than in previous years."

"Yu'er told me to prepare more charcoal and cotton clothes beforehand, just in case. We have enough in our house, but if other families are short of charcoal, it will be difficult to buy them right away."

Upon hearing this, Xue Hou looked at Xue Chenyu in surprise, "How did you know this winter would be colder?"

"How could I possibly know it would be colder this year?" Xue Chenyu said calmly, "Didn't you hear what mother said? I meant, just in case."

Marquis Xue thought about it and realized that his daughter had guessed about the drought in the south because of the passing caravans that brought the news. This time, it must be because of her increasingly cautious personality.

Madam Xue and Xue Chenyu looked at each other without saying a word, and Marquis Xue convinced himself.

Subsequently.

Xue Chenyu asked, "Father, you said the snowstorm in the north was an urgent military report. Logically, the contents of the military report should not be disclosed. Now that you've spoken up, does that mean this news is no longer a secret?"

"Yes, at the latest tomorrow, the news will spread throughout Shengjing City."

Xue Chenyu's heart suddenly felt heavy.

……

evening.

Mr. Lu sent someone to invite the three of them.

I didn't bring Xue Huai and Luo Luo with me because I felt that they were just children and it was better not to let them know some things.

So, after dinner, Marquis Xue took his wife and daughter to Mr. Lu's courtyard.

When everyone meets, they exchange pleasantries.

Mr. Lu looked at Xue Huai and Xue Luoyan who were following behind him, and felt like giving up.

"Mr. Lu, don't worry. Xue Huai is already grown up. What's more, he is a scholar and will be an official in the future. He must understand the hardships of people's lives as soon as possible." Mrs. Xue said.

Xue Chenyu also said, "Our Luoluo accompanied me on a trip to Lingnan and has witnessed life and death, natural disasters and man-made calamities. She is just young and not ignorant of the ways of the world, so Mr. Lu does not need to worry."

Xue Hou nodded quickly, "Yes, they said what I wanted to say."

He played the role of a yes-man very well, but no one present thought that what he did was wrong.

"Then please take a seat." Mr. Lu compromised.

Mrs. Qi also ordered someone to serve tea.

Mr. Lu and Marquis Xue sat in the upper seats, the Xue family members sat on both sides, and Madam Qi and Xue Chenyu sat next to each other.

"I wonder what instructions Mr. Lu has for calling us here?" Marquis Xue asked directly, "If there is anything you need us to do, as long as the Marquis' Mansion is capable, we will do our best to accomplish it."

Mr. Lu stroked his gray beard and pondered, and it was unclear whether he was pretending to be mysterious or was just finding it difficult to speak.

Mrs. Qi couldn't stand his hesitation and said directly, "If you have any difficulties, just tell me directly. There's no need to pretend to be mysterious with this family."

"If it weren't for the Wu'an Marquis Mansion, teaching you everything, your dream would have been nothing but a daydream."

Mr. Lu, who was pretending to be mysterious, was exposed: "..."

"...Madam, please at least give me some face in front of others."

Mrs. Qi rolled her eyes and was too lazy to speak.

after that.

Mr. Lu used his own organized language to tell the story——

"I have a student who offended his superiors early in life and was transferred to the northern border. He's now just the head of a small county. He wrote to me the other day, saying that his jurisdiction was hit by a once-in-a-century snowstorm, freezing countless cattle, sheep, and civilians to death."

"He had already submitted a petition to the court, but the news seemed to have fallen on deaf ears. He has not received any reply from the court for a long time. Now he can only wait for death. The Zhenbei Army said that the Northern Di were invading and were forcibly requisitioning military rations from his territory."

"But the cattle, sheep, and horses had long since starved to death, and countless people had frozen and starved to death. There was simply no food left for him to collect. So he issued a strict order: anyone who refused to pay the military rations would be killed without mercy."

Mr. Lu sighed as he spoke, "Cai Jinxue said in his heart that the day he sent the letter would be the day he died."

"Huh?" Luo Luo looked confused.

"Is that letter his suicide note?" Xue Huai was surprised.

"Suicide note?" Xue Chenyu paused.

"How could this be?" Marquis Xue and his wife were both very surprised.

Everyone in the Xue family was puzzled by this, and then they all looked at Marquis Xue.

This version seems to be different from what they just heard from Xue Hou.

Marquis Xue: "Mr. Lu, I have another version of the story. Would you be interested in hearing it?"

Next, Xue Chenyu took her younger brother and sister and left first.

Because this is not just something that exists, it also involves some secrets that cannot be told to others.

Afterwards, they dismissed their attendants and had Mama He and other trusted aides stand guard at the door. Only Mr. Lu, Madam Qi, Marquis Xue and his wife, and four others were left in the house.

After hearing what Marquis Xue said, Mr. Lu and Mrs. Qi were extremely shocked. Finally, they took out the last letter of his student, Cai Jinxue, the magistrate of Daling County.

It was a letter written in blood, and along with it came a blood-stained shirt and a petition from the people of Daling County who were struggling to survive in dire straits.

For the first time, Xue Hou felt that these things were so hot.

……

After Marquis Xue and Madam Xue returned.

"What does the Marquis plan to do?" asked Mrs. Xue.

Upon hearing this, Marquis Xue sighed, "The Zhenbei Army's report has already reached Your Majesty's desk. Moreover, General Han Hongyue of the Zhenbei Army is the Queen's brother. If we are not careful in this matter, everyone in our mansion will suffer."

The content of the military report received by the court was completely different from the suicide note that the magistrate of Daling County secretly gave to his mentor Mr. Lu.

One said that the Zhenbei Army forcibly requisitioned military rations and forced civilians to death; the Zhenbei Army said that they used the military rations for disaster relief.

It is impossible to say that there is nothing strange about this.

Han Hongyue commands a large army and is the Queen's brother, so he has both power and troops.

As for him, a man who had been stripped of his military power and had no foundation in the court, he would have no chance of winning if he confronted them head-on. He would be like an ant trying to shake a tree or an egg trying to stop a rock.

"I know." Mrs. Xue naturally knew the seriousness of this matter.

The Empress and her family, the Han family, were all very ruthless. This was the real reason why the Imperial Concubine, despite being favored for so many years, had not been able to completely overthrow the Empress.

But the suicide letter written in blood, the blood-stained shirt, and the petition from the people of Daling were all extremely hot potatoes in his hands.

It's impossible to hold it in your hand all the time.

"We have to think of a foolproof plan." Marquis Xue said, and it seemed as if he was talking to Madam Xue, but also to himself.

Madam Xue paused. "Isn't it time for Prince Cheng to return to the capital? Should we discuss this matter with him?"

When she said this, Xue Hou looked at her in surprise, "Madam, why are you..."

"You want to ask, how do I know your relationship with the prince? I'm the boss of Datong Trading Company. If I can't see your relationship with Prince Cheng, then all these years of business would be in vain."

That's why he felt that he had kept the matter secret.

After all, they are each other's bedmates. No matter how much they hide it, she knows him better than anyone else. How could she not see the clues between them?

Isn't it just serving as an advisor to Prince Cheng? Why shouldn't I tell others about it? Are you afraid of being accused of forming cliques and factions, and bringing trouble to the Marquis' Mansion?

However, she didn't ask these questions.

Marquis Xue knew he could no longer hide it, so he didn't make any excuses. He just said, "Then wait a little longer. When the prince returns to Shengjing, I'll discuss it with him and come up with a foolproof plan."

Mrs. Xue nodded in approval.

Next, Mother He and others who had followed Mr. Lu to their courtyard tonight were asked to keep their mouths shut and not reveal a single word. If any news leaked, they would be severely punished!

……