Chapter Thirty-Two: The End of the Prime Minister's Residence

  When I arrived at the city gate, the sky had already darkened and night was approaching.

  The carriage slowed down noticeably and finally came to a stop. Xu Mingjin sat in the carriage, and at this time, it was not good to lift the curtain to look out again. Besides, it was dark and nothing could be seen. She couldn't help but turn her gaze to Zhou Mama, who was the most knowledgeable among them. It seemed that she should know what was going on outside.

  Zhou Ayi also experienced such a thing for the first time. When she saw Xu Mingjin's gaze looking at her, she shook her head, indicating that she was not very clear either.

  Do you still want to investigate? Xu Mingjin thought that it was likely only because of this reason. Just then, Xu Mingjin heard a thick and husky female voice ask from not far away: "The one sitting in the carriage, is she the sixth miss of the Shangshu Mansion?"

  Xu Mingjin was taken aback. Sixth Miss? Was she referring to her? Ah, yes, Old Lady Zhou had mentioned that she was the sixth daughter of the Minister's household.

  Xu Mingjin hinted that Chun Xing would lift the curtain of the horse carriage a little, and she saw a group of lantern-carrying maids standing three meters away from their horse carriage. They were dressed in bright and beautiful clothes, obviously from a wealthy family. The leading maid stepped forward, walked two steps forward, saluted the horse carriage, and respectfully said: "Is it the sixth miss who is going to the Shangshu Mansion from Liu Cheng? I am the housekeeper of the Shangshu Mansion, and our madam has ordered us to wait for Miss and Young Master here for many days."

  Xu Mingjin felt surprised, had Madam Xu been sending people to wait here for their return all along? Xu Mingjin sat in the carriage without moving, only lightly instructing Chun Xiang: "Lower the curtain." Zhou Mama and others also looked at Xu Mingjin, waiting for her decision.

  Xu Mingjin fell silent. She had once told Ze Gongzi that it was not the time to return to the Xu family now. She hadn't thought about returning to the Xu family at this time either, but Xu Furen had sent someone to wait for her at the city gate, which caught her off guard. She thought that the original plan needed to be changed. Since Xu Furen had sent people to wait for her here, it would be best for Xu Mingjin to take advantage of the situation and return to the Xu family. Regardless of what calculations Xu Furen had made in sending people to wait for her, this was the best opportunity for her to enter the Xu mansion. Xu Mingjin found it difficult to make a decision immediately - should she pretend not to be herself and leave now, or acknowledge her identity and return to the Xu mansion at once? She became entangled in her thoughts.

  Those maids and wives also looked at each other in dismay, could it be that the young lady sitting in this carriage wasn't the second miss who had rushed back from Liu Cheng? They had been guarding this city gate for many days already, every day until the gate was closed. This was really exhausting. Really didn't want to continue guarding anymore.

  Xu Mingjin finally spoke up: "Are you people sent by Mrs. Xu?"

  That official nodded slightly.

  Chun Xiang understood Xu Mingjin's hint and loudly said: "My family's young lady is indeed the sixth miss of Xu Shangshu's household from Liu City."

  That busybody immediately walked a few steps forward, put on a smile all over her face, but the words in her mouth were: "Oh dear! Is it really Miss Six who has returned? We've finally waited for you! Thank goodness! However, Miss Six, how can you call Madam Xu 'Mrs. Xu'? You should be calling your mother that. Oh dear, Stewardess Fan is indeed from a humble background, and look at what kind of lady she's taught you to become! But this time in the capital, with Madam's guidance later on, Miss Six is so clever, I'm sure you'll learn etiquette quickly."

  Chun Xiang's eyes were wide with anger as she listened to the woman's vicious words, each sentence was a personal attack on Lady Fan and also mocked her clever daughter. Chun Xiang was so angry that she lifted the curtain and was about to go down and scold the group of women who were speaking nonsense, but her hand was caught by Xu Mingjin. She looked at him in confusion.

  However, Xu Mingjin just smiled faintly: "I don't know what to call this person in charge?"

  The steward immediately wiped the self-satisfied expression he had just shown after saying those words and respectfully said, "This old slave is surnamed Zhang, Miss can call this old slave Zhang Mama."

  Zhang Ya, the head housekeeper by Madam Xue's side, is a sycophant who likes to stir up trouble and turn things upside down. She has been responsible for the deaths of many low-ranking maids and servants. She is the most evil person in the Shangshu Mansion. This information was obtained by Xu Mingjin from Zhou Ya. However, Xu Mingjin only believed five parts of what Zhou Ya said because she thought that as a fellow servant of Madam Xue, Zhou Ya must have either been wronged by Zhang Ya or be jealous of her being the most trusted person by Madam Xue's side, and therefore had a grudge against Zhang Ya. The two women must have had some conflict in the past, which was why they were sent on this difficult and thankless task to pick them up from Liu City. Xu Mingjin smiled slightly.

  That steward had just lifted the corner of the curtain that Chun Xiang had raised, and saw Xu Mingjin's face. Almost immediately, she was certain that this must be the second young lady without a doubt, only because Xu Mingjin's face looked a bit like Xu Shangshu's. Unfortunately, the curtain was quickly lowered by Xu Mingjin's order to Chun Xiang, and she couldn't take another look to confirm it. However, this time it should be no different. Zhou Mama suppressed the joy in her heart, it seemed that she wouldn't have to come to this city gate every day to suffer anymore. Zhou Mama was in a great mood and asked again: "Is the young master sitting in the carriage behind?"

  Xu Mingjin said, "That's right. However, Zhang Niangniang, my brother and I have not yet acknowledged our ancestors, so it doesn't mean anything to call me Mrs. Xu now." Zhang Niangniang heard this and wanted to retort but was left speechless. Xu Mingjin continued, "Zhang Niangniang has been leading all these maids and servants every day, waiting here with great difficulty. After we return, I will definitely let Mrs. Xu reward everyone properly."

  Zhang's face didn't change a bit when Xu Mingjin praised her. She still smiled and said, "Sixth Miss and Young Master have had a hard journey, let's hurry back to the manor? The old master and mistress have been worried, if they know you're back, they'll definitely be delighted."

  Xu Mingjin nodded, just thinking of going back to the mansion, suddenly thought of Zhang's words, and said: "Auntie only said that Father misses my sister and brother, could it be that Father's letter to my aunt was false about bringing her into the capital?"

  Zhou Mama was stunned, she knew from the madam that Fan Niang had already passed away, so she hadn't asked about her. But Xu Mingjin's question made it difficult for her to respond. She couldn't say "I know Fan Niang is dead", could she? Zhou Mama, known for being sharp-tongued in the Shangshu Mansion, was once again at a loss for words in front of Xu Mingjin. This countryside-born Sixth Miss seemed gentle and soft-spoken, but her words were like a thorn that made people feel uncomfortable. As Zhou Mama quickly thought of a response in her mind, she also secretly raised her guard. This Second Miss looked like an easy target, but was actually a prickly hedgehog. She would have to be more careful from now on.

  Xu Mingjin sneered in her heart, it seemed that the news of Fan Niang's misfortune had already reached Xu Furen's ears, and Zhou Mama also knew about it, which was why she had been avoiding talking about Fan Niang just now. Xu Mingjin pretended not to know and waited to see what kind of lie Zhou Mama would come up with to deceive her.

  Zhang Yini was indeed the quickest-witted person in the Shangshu Mansion. She had a sudden inspiration and said, "The letter that Master wrote to Madam Fan must be genuine. I haven't been able to pay my respects to Madam Fan because Master told me that she has been unwell and needs plenty of rest after such a long journey. Every day when I'm waiting here, Master instructs me not to disturb Madam Fan and to wait until we return to the mansion before paying my respects."

  Xu Mingjin couldn't help but praise, this lie is so well-rounded, even she can't help but believe it. However, the person who can believe Zhang's words is absolutely not Xu Mingjin. She wouldn't trust anyone in the Shangshu Mansion.

  Xu Mingjin nodded and said: "So that's how it is. I was wrong to blame Zhang Niangniang. You shouldn't mind, elder."

  Zhang Yini let out a sigh of relief, forcing a smile on her face: "It's normal for Sixth Miss to have such suspicions, how dare I blame you." She glanced at the city gate guards who had already made way and said: "Miss, let's hurry back to the manor?"

  Xu Mingjin said: "This is my first time entering the capital, and I still need to trouble Nanny to show me the way."

  She was afraid of any more unexpected events, and now she just wanted to bring Xu Mingjin back safely, and this task would be considered complete. As for Xu Mingjin's request to let her lead the way, she was originally the most favored maid by Madam Xu, and Madam Xu had assigned her to wait at the city gate every day to pick up Xu Mingjin and his sister, just to show off to the people of the capital. Which household didn't praise their own madam's virtues? Treating a concubine and her two illegitimate children with such care was truly a model of a virtuous wife and good mother! Zhang thought to herself, fine, she would lead the way for them, so in the future when Madam Xu disciplined her, it would be even more ruthless.

  Thinking so, Zhang Ya's voice responded with a "yes", then the maids and servants she brought followed her, waiting around Xu Ming's sedan chair, slowly heading towards the city gate.

  She's about to go to the place she least wants to go, Xu Fu, but Xu Mingjin's heart doesn't have a bit of turmoil or tension. The expression on her face is even relaxed, Mother, I'm back, and I will definitely avenge you.

  As soon as the carriage entered the city gate, it sped up, and in less than half an incense stick's time, it stopped at the entrance of the Shangshu Mansion.

  Xu Mingjin sat in the carriage without moving, when suddenly, the curtain was lifted by a pair of hands. Xu Mingjin raised her head and saw a face with a flattering smile: "Sixth Miss, please get off the carriage." Xu Mingjin guessed that this was probably Zhang Yiniang, the number one 'villain' in Xu Fu, as described by Zhou Yiniang. She took her hand and slowly got off the carriage.

  "Jin'er!" A loud and clear voice full of surprise exclaimed, as the speaker quickly walked down the high steps at the entrance, taking big strides to stand before Xu Mingjin. He looked her up and down: "Jin'er, you've grown taller again, and prettier too, great." Behind him, a noble-looking woman also hastily descended the steps with the help of an attendant, rushing to stand beside him in front of Xu Mingjin. The two were followed by four beautiful young girls, all around fifteen years old, who stood behind them, their eyes fixed on Xu Mingjin and her brother, sizing them up. Xu Mingjin thought to herself: I'm sixth in line at the Shangshu Mansion, so these must be my nominal sisters... but there should be five of them, why are there only four?

  However, Xu Mingjin couldn't think much, the two people had already walked in front of her. Xu Mingjin looked at the couple walking towards her, the man was handsome and extraordinary, the woman was elegant and noble, although they were both middle-aged, they were still a beautiful couple.

  Xu Mingjin guessed that this was probably the legendary Xu Shangshu and his wife Ye. They were also her nominal parents. Xu Ruoyi, a romantic and sentimental person, had many concubines in the backyard, but they all slowly disappeared. Of course, this was all done by Mrs. Xu. Ye Xu's wife was jealous, and her reputation in Beijing was not good at first. The reason was that there was only one legitimate daughter and four illegitimate daughters in the Shangshu Mansion, with no male heir. Xu Mingjin sneered to herself, if it weren't for this reason, how could Xu Shangshu and his wife have taken her and Mingxuan back? These two people were not kind-hearted, Xu Mingjin thought to herself, but her expression suddenly changed to one of extreme joy and tears at the sight of her "parents". She bowed respectfully to the two of them and said, "Father, Mother," before she was even finished speaking, Mrs. Xu hugged her tightly in her arms and said, "You're Jin'er, right? I've finally been able to see you, you must have suffered a lot on the road? And where's young master?"

  Madam Xu hugged Xu Mingjin in her arms, and she restrained herself from feeling uncomfortable and wanting to break free, trying to speak calmly: "Mingxuan is on the horse carriage behind."