Quick Wear Dream Qiqi

Chapter 432: Training the Prodigal Son 2

She walked over, picked it up, and held it in front of the fat woman: "Is this the breakfast that the Duke's Mansion prepared for the new daughter-in-law?"

The fat woman's face changed, she snatched the bun and threw it to the ground: "How can you eat something that's moldy? If you don't like it, go out and buy some yourself!"

Meng Qiqi didn't say anything, bent down to pick up the steamed bun on the ground, turned around and left.

As soon as I walked to the door, I heard the fat woman muttering behind me: "Poor guy, don't you see your own status..."

Back in the courtyard, Meng Qiqi placed the steamed buns on the table and said to Chuntao, "Go and call all the stewards of the Duke's Mansion and tell them that I want to treat them to breakfast."

Chuntao looked confused, but still went obediently.

Half an hour later, the Duke's mansion's housekeeper, accountant, and several maids in charge arrived.

They looked at the moldy steamed buns on the table with unhappy expressions.

"You are all elders of the Duke's Mansion." Meng Qiqi sat in the main seat and said in a calm tone, "Normally, the mansion should take good care of the newlywed daughter-in-law. But now I can't even have a hot meal. If this gets out, I'm afraid people will laugh at the Duke's Mansion for its harsh treatment of its daughter-in-law, right?"

The housekeeper said with an apologetic smile, "Third Young Madam, what are you talking about? It must be that the people below are not doing their job well. I will go check it out right away!"

"No need to check." Meng Qiqi picked up a steamed bun. "Just now in the kitchen, Mrs. Wang said there was nothing left in the storeroom. But I saw with my own eyes that there was enough charcoal in her room to last for three months."

She paused, her eyes sweeping over the crowd, "According to the rules of the Duke's Mansion, what is the crime for a servant to embezzle his master's things?"

Everyone's expressions suddenly changed.

The fat woman was so frightened that she fell to her knees with a plop: "Third Young Madam, spare my life! It is my fault for being blind. Please be magnanimous..."

"Since you know you're wrong, I'll punish you by making you sweep the stables for three months." Meng Qiqi put down the steamed bun. "As for the charcoal and rice, send them to my yard within half an hour. If you dare to make things difficult again..."

She didn't finish her words, but the threat in her tone made everyone shudder.

After the stewards left, Chun Tao was so excited that she jumped up and down: "Young lady, you are so amazing! Before, when you were in the Prime Minister's Mansion, you didn't dare to speak out when you were wronged..."

Meng Qiqi smiled.

The original owner was cowardly and had no one to rely on, so he could only be bullied.

But she is not the original owner. She has seen people in the martial arts world who are more difficult to deal with than this.

As he was speaking, footsteps were heard outside.

A maid came in holding a quilt, followed by several servants carrying boxes full of rice, flour and charcoal.

The leading maid smiled apologetically and said, "Third Young Madam, this is sent by the new kitchen manager. Do you think you need anything?"

"That's enough for now." Meng Qiqi nodded. "By the way, tell your manager that I want to have osmanthus cake for lunch. Ask him to prepare some fresh osmanthus flowers."

After the maid left, Chun Tao couldn't help asking, "Miss, why do you suddenly want to eat osmanthus cake?"

Meng Qiqi smiled mysteriously: "Of course it is useful. Meng Wanqing will come in three days, we have to prepare well..."

She looked out the window. The morning light shone on the old tree in the yard, casting a mottled shadow.

She has already taken the first step in this family feud.

----

Three days later, the Duke's Mansion was decorated with lights and colorful lanterns.

Zhao Chengye's elder brother, Zhao Chengxuan, had just had a son and was holding a grand banquet to celebrate his full moon.

Meng Qiqi sat in front of the dressing table and let Chuntao comb her hair.

The bronze mirror reflected her elegant makeup, and the moon-white skirt made her temperament gentle - this was a dress she had chosen specially, which was neither ostentatious nor lacking in status.

"Miss, the carriage from the Prime Minister's Mansion has arrived." Chuntao said softly outside the door.

Meng Qiqi stood up and walked towards the main hall.

Before I even entered the door, I heard Meng Wanqing's gentle voice: "Congratulations, brother and sister-in-law, on the birth of your son. This is a longevity lock that I specially prepared for you. I wish your little nephew peace and happiness."

As she stepped over the threshold, she saw Meng Wanqing handing a jeweled gold locket to Zhao Chengxuan's wife.

Everyone in the hall focused their attention on Meng Wanqing until she bowed and said, "Greetings, big brother and sister-in-law. Greetings, big sister."

Meng Wanqing only then noticed her, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes - she obviously didn't expect that this half-sister who was timid in the past could be so calm today.

She quickly regained her smile and said, "Sister is here too? I heard that after you got married, everyone in the Duke's Mansion took good care of you."

This statement was a veiled praise but a subtle criticism, implying that she was not living well in the Duke's Mansion.

Meng Qiqi smiled and said, "Thanks to my sister, my husband and mother-in-law love me very much. Yesterday, they even specially asked someone to make my favorite osmanthus cake."

Zhao Chengxuan's wife asked curiously, "Osmanthus cake? I don't think there should be osmanthus flowers at this time of year."

"It's a special idea from the kitchen," Meng Qiqi explained. "They pickled fresh osmanthus flowers with honey, and the resulting cakes are sweet and delicious. If you like it, sister-in-law, I'll ask the kitchen to send some over."

This statement not only showed her status in the Duke's Mansion, but also gave Mrs. Zhao Chengxuan enough face.

The other party was indeed grinning from ear to ear: "Thank you very much, sister-in-law!"

Meng Wanqing's face looked a little ugly. She changed the subject: "By the way, why didn't I see my second brother?"

"My husband went out early in the morning, saying he had something important to do." Meng Qiqi spoke calmly, but sneered in her heart.

She had already found out that Zhao Chengye was going to Zuixianlou to drink and have fun today.

But of course, this kind of thing cannot be said in public.

As he was speaking, a sudden commotion erupted outside. A servant rushed in in a panic, "Oh no! The Second Young Master had a conflict with someone in Zuixianlou and has been taken away by the authorities!"

The hall suddenly became chaotic.

Zhao Chengxuan frowned and said, "I'll go take a look."

Meng Wanqing rolled her eyes and said, "Brother, I'll go too. Maybe I can help."

Meng Qiqi looked at the two people's backs as they hurriedly left, and a barely perceptible smile appeared on the corner of her mouth.

She had anticipated this drama.

Yesterday she had someone deliberately spread the news in Zuixianlou that Zhao Chengye owed money to the gambling house and refused to pay it back.

With Zhao Chengye's hot temper, he would definitely argue with others.

"Miss, are we really not going to care about it?" Chuntao was a little worried.

"What's the rush?" Meng Qiqi took a sip of tea slowly. "Let's wait until they come to us and beg for mercy."

She put down her teacup and looked out the window.

The sunlight shines in through the carved window lattices, drawing beautiful patterns on the ground.

This family feud was far more interesting than she had imagined.

The news that Zhao Chengye was taken away by the government quickly spread throughout the Duke's Mansion.

Zhao Chengxuan and his wife were extremely anxious and sent people to the government to inquire, but they were told that Zhao Chengye not only fought with others, but also damaged the property of Zuixianlou, and they had to pay one hundred taels of silver before they would release him.

In the evening, Meng Wanqing returned with Zhao Chengxuan.

She looked unhappy, obviously having run into trouble with the government.

When Zhao Chengxuan's wife saw them, she asked, "How is it? Can the person be rescued?"

Zhao Chengxuan sighed: "The government office is really demanding money, but how can the government raise so much money in a short time..."

Before he finished speaking, his eyes suddenly fell on Meng Qiqi.

Meng Wanqing also reacted and said with a forced smile: "My sister is from the Prime Minister's Mansion, maybe she can help my second brother?"

Meng Qiqi sneered inwardly, but a look of embarrassment appeared on her face. "Sister, you're joking. Although I'm the daughter of the Prime Minister, I've had no contact with my parents since I got married. Besides, I'm just a woman, how can I have any money?"

Zhao Chengxuan's wife was so anxious that she burst into tears: "What should we do? We can't just watch our second brother suffer in prison, can we?"

Meng Qiqi was silent for a while before she said, "There is a way, but I'm afraid my elder brother and his wife won't agree."

"What method? Tell me!" Zhao Chengxuan asked anxiously.

"A few days ago, when I was cleaning the house, I found some calligraphy and paintings from when my husband was young." Meng Qiqi said slowly, "Although I don't understand these, but I heard that my husband was also a famous talent in the past. These calligraphy and paintings should be worth some money."

This is half true and half false.

Zhao Chengye did learn calligraphy and painting, but later he degenerated into a playboy.

Meng Qiqi had already sent someone with some calligraphy and paintings.

As soon as he finished speaking, the servant hurried in holding the scroll.

The old silk cloth was mottled with ink, and the picture of the Four Gentlemen of Plum Blossom, Orchid, Bamboo and Chrysanthemum was lifelike. The inscription was written with vigorous strokes, making him completely different from the drunk Zhao Chengye in his daily life.

Meng Wanqing took a closer look, a flicker of suspicion in her eyes: "How could my second brother have such accomplishments?"

Meng Qiqi gently unfolded another painting called "Night Mooring on the Spring River". The moonlight shone through the window lattice onto the picture, and the rippling waves seemed to flow out from the silk cloth.

She traced the two characters "Chengye" (Chengye) at the signature with her fingertips and said casually, "Although my husband has neglected writing in recent years, when he was studying at the academy, even the teacher praised him for his extraordinary talent."

Zhao Chengxuan stared at the painting, his brows furrowed tighter and tighter.

He suddenly remembered that although his brother seemed to be extravagant in recent years, the deficit in the accounts of the Duke's Mansion had never really affected the food, clothing and other expenses of the mansion.

At this moment, the butler came hurriedly and whispered a few words in his ear.

Zhao Chengxuan's face suddenly changed and the teacup in his hand almost fell.

"Brother, this is..." Meng Qiqi spoke at the right time.

Zhao Chengxuan forced himself to remain calm: "Nothing, just some trivial matters."

But the cold sweat on his forehead revealed his inner panic.

It turned out that just now, he received news that the owner behind Zuixianlou suddenly changed, and the mysterious new owner had a close connection with several gambling houses that Zhao Chengye often visited.

Meng Wanqing keenly noticed her brother's abnormality and alarm bells rang in her heart.

She knew very well that if Zhao Chengye really had hidden power, it would not only disrupt her plan to form an alliance with Zhao Chengxuan, but it would also threaten the position of the Prime Minister's Mansion in the capital.

She rolled her eyes and said softly, "Sister, your heart is with your husband. This affection is truly touching. However, calligraphy and paintings are only material possessions. Why don't I go back to the Xiangfu and ask my father to help smooth things over..."

"Then there's no need to trouble you, sister." Meng Qiqi interrupted her and pulled out a banknote from her sleeve. "The housekeeper just said that one hundred taels of silver would be enough. I happen to have some money from my own pocket. Although it's not much, it can help you out in this urgent situation."

The banknotes glowed dimly in the candlelight, and Zhao Chengxuan and his wife were surprised and happy.

Meng Wanqing's face suddenly turned gloomy. She didn't expect that this half-sister who had always been manipulated by others could be so shrewd.

What makes her even more uneasy is that Meng Qiqi seems to know Zhao Chengye's background very well. What secret is hidden behind this?

Late at night, in the west courtyard of the Duke's Mansion.

Meng Qiqi leaned against the window, looking at the lonely moon in the sky.