High-class maid

Shen Kun rarely had the chance to stay overnight at home, so the couple didn't sleep but just lay in bed chatting.

"Her father, you haven't been too busy these past few days. Have you finished the tasks that Master assigned you?" Madam Wang asked.

"Yes, everything is ready, just waiting to be finished."

"No matter what, you must be careful and never be the first to stick your neck out."

Although Wang knew her husband wasn't like that, as the pillar of the family, she still couldn't help but give him a few words of advice.

Shen Kun reached out and pulled Wang Shi into his arms, saying, "Don't worry, my wife, I know everything. Don't you want to know what I've been busy with these past few days?"

"I want to know, but it's not important. Nothing is more important than your safety." Madam Wang was afraid of putting Shen Kun in a difficult position, so she never asked about the tasks her husband assigned to her.

"It's alright. In less than ten days, this matter will be all over the capital. It's fine for me to tell you now, since I've already obtained the evidence," Shen Kun said.

It turns out that everyone knew that Xiao Luosheng's assassination attempt at Lingshan Temple was carried out by the master's rival in the officialdom. However, since they hadn't caught Duan Laohu and had no evidence, they could only suffer in silence.

But the official had served for decades; how could he allow the other party to live freely?

The man who bribed Duan Laohu was surnamed Li and named Li Sanxiao. He was a treacherous person who smiled while harboring a knife; he was an absolute villain.

The master was in charge of the promotion, demotion, appointment, and dismissal of civil officials in the imperial court, so Li Sanxiao was one of those who flattered the master. However, Li Sanxiao colluded with his cronies and formed factions, and everyone in the mansion, even the servants, bullied others by abusing their power, so the master looked down on him very much.

"So, he hired someone to frame the young lady? That's incredibly petty," Wang said in shock.

"No, no, this is just the beginning. Later, some people asked Li Sanxiao to buy official positions and promotions. Because the positions were too high, he couldn't make the decision himself and could only recommend them to the master."

However, after investigating the recommended man, the master discovered he was merely a nouveau riche with a history of misdeeds. Therefore, the master rejected Li Sanxiao. Feeling ashamed, Li Sanxiao began to create obstacles for the master at every turn.

"It's true that you can't afford to offend a petty person. What position does Li Sanxiao hold that he dares to trip up the master?" Madam Wang asked suspiciously.

"It's ironic, really. Your husband is the Minister of Personnel, and he's the Minister of Rites. But the Minister of Rites is utterly lacking in manners, which is truly ironic," Shen Kun said with a sneer.

"Isn't it higher than our master's official rank?" Madam Wang didn't care about what kind of official rank she was in charge of, as long as it wasn't as high as her master's.

"Of course not. After the incident at Lingshan Temple, the master investigated the man he recommended and found that the man's sister was a beautiful woman. Now, she is Li Sanxiao's mistress."

"I see. Li Sanxiao wanted to show off in front of his mistress, but our master is unyielding and won't fall for it at all," Wang said.

"That's right. But this Li Sanxiao was able to hold his position as Minister of Rites in his early years because of his father-in-law's reputation in the court. Now that he's become powerful, he's not content with keeping concubines, so he's even looking for mistresses."

"So, you just let his own backyard catch fire?" Madam Wang asked.

"Exactly."

The most direct business battles often employ the simplest methods.

"I've been observing and following Li Sanxiao outside this outer room for many days, and I've discovered that he goes there every three days. Recently, I found out that he's actually going to this outer room to get medicine to prevent miscarriage!"

"Since you are pregnant with his child, why not bring that mistress home?" Wang asked in confusion.

“Of course, her status won’t allow it. I heard she’s already divorced three times,” Shen Kun said.

"Quite a lot..." Wang murmured.

"Alright, alright, I've already handed over all the evidence to the master. I think this matter is about to come to an end," Shen Kun said, patting Wang Shi on the shoulder.

"My husband, you work so hard outside, and I still misunderstand you. I'm so..."

If Shen Kun had been discovered by Li Sanxiao's men, she probably wouldn't have seen him again. Wang Shi shuddered at the thought.

"I'm perfectly fine, don't worry about me, go to sleep." Shen Kun patted his wife to comfort her, not wanting her to be anxious for him.

Wang nodded, secretly vowing never to doubt Shen Kun again, and then held him as they fell asleep.

The next day, the family and Shan Tao were having breakfast. After everyone finished eating, Shen Kun said...

"Xing'er, you and Shantao should stay in the courtyard and do your embroidery today. Your mother and I have something to do."

"Father, what's wrong? Is something serious?"

Shen Kun had never interfered with Shen Xing'er going out, but this time he specifically told her not to go out, which made Shen Xing'er think something serious had happened.

"It's nothing serious. Your father and I finally had some free time and wanted to go check on the five acres of fertile land we bought. Look how scared you've made the children."

Wang rolled her eyes at Shen Kun.

"Oh, I see. Can't I go with Shan Tao?" Shen Xing'er asked.

"No!" Shen Kun and Wang Shi said at the same time.

"At the foot of the mountain outside the city, there are fertile fields. I heard that the mountain is the estate of a noble concubine in the palace. I only managed to buy five acres this time because of the master's influence. You two unmarried girls should not show your faces in public, lest you offend the noble."

Shen Kun's concerns were not unfounded. The autumn air was crisp and clear, and many noblemen were hunting and playing outside the city. Although these two girls were not stunning beauties, they were not bad-looking either.

Playing around in the city is fine, but it's best to avoid going outside the city.

"Alright, alright, once you're engaged, Mother will take you and your future husband out of the city to see them," Wang Shi comforted her.

“Alright…” Shen Xing’er didn’t say much. Her parents were already being lenient with her by letting her go out so casually, and she didn’t dare to go out of the city to cause trouble for them.

"Then we'll be going. If you two don't want to cook, go buy something to eat on the street." Wang smiled slightly, turned around and left with Shen Kun.

Shen Xing'er and Shan Tao spent the morning embroidering purses in the courtyard, basking in the sun.

Whether it was because she calmed down or because she practiced more, Shen Xing'er felt more and more skilled. Although Shan Tao still couldn't tell whether she was embroidering magpies or ducks, she could still embroider simple flowers and plants.

"Xing'er, why don't you stop embroidering? The patterns you draw are so beautiful, you could sell them in the future!" Shan Tao said, looking at the patterns on Shen Xing'er's purse.

"Haven't you seen this pattern before?" Shen Xing'er asked.

"No, this color scheme is also nice. I didn't know blue and silver could look good together." Shan Tao picked up the purse embroidered by Shen Xing'er and examined it carefully.

Shen Xing'er suddenly realized that she had seen her own designs on the computer. In modern times, she loved to draw, but she couldn't afford the tuition, so she could only learn from others on the computer.

While I was off guard, I actually managed to draw it.