Chapter 43: The Taoist's Words

  Xu Mingjin also bowed his head and got on the last horse carriage. Soon, the horse carriage slowly moved forward. Mrs. Xu also understood Xu Mingxia's mind, she knew that Xu Mingxia stopped her, must have arranged another plan. Therefore, the two people tacitly understood each other, and Mrs. Xu never mentioned her previous idea again.

  Xu Mingxia coldly gazed at Xu Mingjin, who was so stunning and captivating. Later, when they arrived at the Pingxi Wangfu, she would definitely be the center of attention for everyone. And she was going to make her, under everyone's watchful eyes, become the most disheveled.

  Xu Mingjin didn't look at Xu Mingxia's expression, nor did she look at Mrs. Xu's, including Xu Mingying and others. These people all had smiles on their faces, but Xu Mingjin had already seen the dirty thoughts hidden beneath those smiling faces. Those smiles were so forced. Xu Mingjin couldn't help but think of Xu Mingxuan's smile, which in her opinion was the only genuine one, coming from the heart. Without a mask. However, Xu Mingxuan also only showed such a sincere and happy smile when facing her, and when facing others, he too wore a fake face with a mask on. Reflecting on herself, Xu Mingjin realized she was the same way.

  Such a life is really tiring, when will it end? Sitting in the carriage, Xu Mingjin was still thinking about this issue, and he thought about it all the way. This time, Xu Mingjin didn't bring Chun Xing out, but instead of showing an unhappy expression, she actively said to Xu Mingjin: "Miss, you can rest assured that I will take good care of everything in Feicui Garden, and I will also visit Songfeng Academy often to take care of Seventh Young Master."

  Chun Xiang was able to say such words, Xu Mingjin expressed extreme surprise. But also extremely happy. Chun Xiang had this realization, which means she must have thought deeply about Yu Zhu's words. Xu Mingjin praised Chun Xiang and made another request, that is, to properly train several new little maids at home for her. Chun Xiang agreed happily.

  Madam Xu and everyone else arrived, then went over the things to pay attention to at the banquet. Finally, she sternly swept her gaze over everyone and said in a low voice: "You must remember that once you leave the Shangshu Mansion, each and every one of you represents the image of the Shangshu Mansion. You should know the principle of sharing honor and shame together. Whoever does something that disgraces the family will be dealt with by family law when they return!"

  It's unclear if it was just an illusion, but Xu Mingjin felt that when Madam Xu said the last sentence "family law will be served", her eyes were deliberately staring at him. Xu Mingjin didn't say anything, but secretly increased his vigilance.

  Madam Xü finished speaking, and everyone hugged each other as they left the Shangshu Mansion gate. Four horse-drawn carriages were parked at the entrance.

  "Xu's wife said: 'Xia'er and I will ride in the first carriage, Mingying and Mingyu will sit in the second carriage, Mingfang and Mingsi will sit in the third carriage, Jiner will sit in the fourth carriage.' After finishing speaking, Xu's wife pulled Xu Mingxia's hand and got on the first horse-drawn carriage."

  Xu Mingying glanced at Xu Mingjing and said, "Some people just love to be special. Even the madam is sitting with the elder sister, but others are fine, one person per carriage. Just be careful not to get too comfortable and fall over, or it'll be troublesome if something happens!"

  The remaining people all looked at Xu Mingjin with schadenfreude.

  Xu Mingjin smiled slightly and said, "Is Second Sister dissatisfied with me or is she dissatisfied with Madam? This was arranged by Madam, I only have to follow suit, I ask myself if I'm wrong, could it be that Second Sister is expressing her dissatisfaction with Madam?"

  Xu Mingying snorted, but still unwilling to give up, said: "Hmph! I'm just dissatisfied with you, not the madam!" After finishing speaking, she lowered her head and got on the second horse carriage. The rest of the people saw that there was no excitement to watch, so they all got on their respective carriages.

  Xu Mingjin felt a bit unaccustomed at this time. In the past, when sitting in a horse-drawn carriage, there were always the chirping sounds of spring apricot and small sparrows, which she was used to. Now, Yu Zhu had a steady temperament, and Qiu Yun originally didn't like to talk much, so the quietness in the carriage made her feel unaccustomed.

  Xu Mingjin kept moving back and forth, until finally, Qiuyun couldn't help but say: "Miss, if you move around any more, you'll wrinkle your clothes!" Only then did Xu Mingjin calm down.

  At this time, Yu Zhu suddenly said: "Miss, something's wrong."

  "What did you find?"

  Jade Bamboo looked around the carriage, then pulled out a dagger and made a slash on the top wall of the carriage. A small package fell out from inside. Autumn Cloud quickly picked it up and was about to hand it over to Xu Mingjin when she said: "Give it to Jade Bamboo, she knows what's inside."

  Jade Bamboo took it over, carefully sniffed it, and without opening the small paper package, she quickly threw it out of the car. She said to Xu Mingjin, "Miss, if a woman smells the medicine powder inside, her face will immediately break out in some red bumps like an allergic reaction, as if disfigured. And if there's no antidote, she'll be like this for the rest of her life."

  Xu Mingjin's heart skipped a beat. Such ruthless and vicious thoughts, but she didn't know whether it was the work of Xu Furen or Xu Mingxia. After some thought, Xu Mingjin felt that it should be Xu Mingxia who did it, because what Xu Furen wanted was her life, on the night when Pan Furen passed away, those people disguised as beggars weren't they trying to kill and silence them? At that time, Xu Mingjin already knew that Xu Furen wanted her and her brother to die together. As a result, she and her brother were rescued by someone, Xu Mingjin didn't believe that Xu Furen would give up on pursuing them just because one attempt failed, this was only the beginning.

  Xu Mingjin finally knew why others were two people in a horse carriage, while he was one person in a horse carriage. Because now Xu Mingxia wanted to harm only herself.

  "Yu Zhu, Miss, will you be alright?" Although Yu Zhu had already thrown away the small paper package, Qiu Yun was still worried about Xu Ming Jin.

  Yu Zhu carefully looked at Xu Mingjin's face, took out a small porcelain bottle from her bosom, opened it, and poured out three small green pills. She gave one to Xu Mingjin and one to Qiu Yun, keeping one for herself as proof of loyalty. She swallowed the pill in her hand first. Xu Mingjin shook his head and said, "You don't have to do this, I trust you." After speaking, he also swallowed the pill. Qiu Yun followed closely behind and swallowed the small green pill in her hand.

  "Let's just pretend nothing happened." Xu Mingjin handed over two people. At this time, the horse carriage stopped. The Pingxi Wangfu had arrived.

  Xu Mingjin carefully supported Yu Zhu's hand and got out of the carriage.

  Mrs. Xü was already chatting with several elegantly dressed women not far away, Xu Mingjin glanced at Xu Mingxia who had gotten down from the carriage and squeezed to Mrs. Xü's side, Mrs. Xü was introducing Xu Mingxia to those noblewomen, while Xu Mingying and others also got off the carriage and were approaching Mrs. Xü's side, Xu Mingjin adjusted her clothes and followed behind, walking towards Mrs. Xü.

  Xu Mingjin heard from afar one of the noblewomen speaking in a loud voice: "Oh my, are these your several illegitimate daughters? Each and every one of them is as beautiful as flowers. I've heard that you just acknowledged an illegitimate daughter under your name, which one is it? Introduce her to me."

  Xu Mingjin hastened his pace to get to Mrs. Xu's side. Just then, Mrs. Xu happened to look over and saw that Xu Mingjin was still intact, without a single pimple on her face. She was shocked: "Jin'er, you...you..." Xu Mingxia saw her mother's ghostly expression and quickly looked in the same direction, but she too was so shocked that she couldn't speak.

  Xu Mingjin smiled slightly and took a step forward, holding onto Mrs. Xu's arm, saying in a spoiled tone: "Mother, there's no need to get so excited just because you see me?"

  Mrs. Xü finally came to her senses, her heart racing like a drum: it was really eerie! This girl had clearly gotten into that carriage, how could nothing have happened? Was the medicine fake? The black-hearted owner of the pharmacy had taken so much silver from her and actually given her a bottle of fake medicine! She would go back and settle accounts with him again! Mrs. Xü thought hatefully, but on her face was a warm and kind smile as she doted on Xu Mingjin, saying to the noblewoman who had asked the question: "Lady Li, this is my newly adopted daughter, Jin'er, hasn't she come to pay respects to the wife of the Minister of Revenue?"

  Xu Mingjin straightened up and composed himself, respectfully bowed and said: "Jin'er pays respects to Lady Li."

  Madam Li, the wife of the Nabu official, saw a delicate and charming little girl, no more than twelve or thirteen years old, greeting her with a bow. Although she was still young, she already showed signs of extraordinary beauty. Madam Li couldn't help but examine Xu Mingjin carefully, praising her repeatedly: "Mrs. Xu has such great fortune! With such a beautiful young daughter, why didn't you introduce her to me earlier!"

  Mrs. Xü smiled awkwardly, not knowing how to respond. Could she reveal that Xu Mingjin was from the countryside? If she did, Xu Ruoyi would probably abandon her immediately.

  Xu Mingxia hastily said: "Madam, you don't know that my younger sister has been weak since childhood. A Taoist priest said that if she was sent to the countryside for recuperation, she might be able to survive. So, my mother had no choice but to send my younger sister to a rural farm in the countryside. This year, my younger sister's health has improved significantly, and only then did my mother bring her back to the capital. That's why I haven't introduced my younger sister to you before, please forgive me."

  Xu Mingxia's words were elegant. Not only did she help Mrs. Xu out of the predicament, but also put a dung pot on Xu Mingjin's head, and what's more, Xu Mingjin had no way to defend himself in this situation. It was really high-level.

  Madam Nabu's enthusiasm immediately cooled down when she heard Xu Mingxia say that, and she let go of Xu Mingjin's hand, not looking at her again.

  Xu Mingjin's mood was also a bit off, even though she didn't care about what the Governor's wife thought of her, but being labeled as someone who had been weak and sickly since childhood was something that no one would be happy about.

  Xu Mingxia and others watched Xu Mingjin's predicament with schadenfreude. Xu Mingxia sneered in her heart: Even if you escaped that poison powder, what can you do? I still have a way to make you be despised by everyone! She had already thought of it, today she would introduce Xu Mingjin like this to all the young ladies, believing that after today, there would no longer be a place for Xu Mingjin in the noble circle of the capital!

  Thinking of this, Xu Mingxia couldn't help but smile triumphantly.

  Xu Mingjin was thinking of a way to defend himself, when suddenly, a bright and clear female voice with a playful tone said: "Oh? I wonder which Taoist priest said that?"