Chapter 38: The Cruelty of Flogging Slaves

  Xu Mingjin remained expressionless, knowing Xu Mingfang had more to say.

  As expected, Xu Mingfang stood up and walked towards the bookshelf on one side, walking closer, bending down to carefully admire the numerous rare and precious antiques on it.

  Xu Mingjin's room gathered Xu Mingxia's heart and soul for a year, and Xu Mingxia even put all the rare antiques from Shangshufu into Feicui Garden. So when Xu Mingjin saw it for the first time, he couldn't help but exclaim: Too luxurious, too extravagant!

  Xu Mingfang looked at it with admiration, and while pulling Xu Mingjin, explained to her: "You are from the countryside, you don't know the origin of these things, it's normal. Now I'll tell you about them, so that you can gain some experience, otherwise three days later when we go to Pingxi Wangfu, you will be like a country bumpkin and lose face for Shangshu fu. Only I, your fourth sister, am treating you with such kindness."

  Xu Mingjin was speechless.

  Xu Mingxia, however, continued to talk to herself: "Do you know? This pair of Linglong flower vases was used by the emperor of the previous dynasty. This lion jade carving is..." As she spoke, she reached out to touch the lion jade carving, but accidentally pushed it off the antique shelf.

  Xu Mingjin had long been prepared for her move, and with a quick stretch of his hand, he firmly grasped the jade carving.

  Xu Mingfang let out a loud shriek, but after she finished screaming, she didn't hear the sound of the jade statue shattering. She looked down suspiciously and saw that there was nothing on the ground. She couldn't believe her eyes, so she lifted her head again and saw Xu Mingjin steadily holding the jade statue in his hands, which should have been smashed to the ground by her intentional throw. Seeing this scene, Xu Mingfang's face turned pale.

  She forced a smile and said: "Fortunately, sister's hands are quick, otherwise, because of my carelessness, I would have caused sister to lose this jade carving."

  "Fourth sister, it's okay if the jade carving is lost, but this thing was arranged by eldest sister. Even if younger sister had a million guts, she wouldn't dare to damage eldest sister's things. Fourth sister, you'd better come with me to apologize to eldest sister!"

  As soon as Xu Mingjin's words fell, a clear voice came from the doorway: "Sixth sister, what do you want to apologize to me for?" As soon as the words fell, Xu Mingxia's face appeared at the door.

  Xu Mingjin hastily put down the jade carving in his hand and returned it to the Bogu shelf, and together with Xu Mingfang, he bowed to Xu Mingxia.

  Xu Mingxia looked down at the ground and searched around after entering the door, then showed a disappointed expression.

  Xu Mingjin's heart skipped a beat: It seems that Xu Mingxia knew that Xu Mingfang was going to smash the jade carving, could it be that this is the trap they set on purpose, waiting for her to fall into it? Xu Mingjin secretly guarded himself, fortunately he had caught the jade carving, now let's see how they would continue the play.

  Xu Mingxia didn't expect that she rushed here on time, but the expected thing didn't happen. She couldn't help but turn her head to glance at Xu Mingfang, her eyes full of accusatory meaning. Xu Mingfang was swept by her gaze and shrank back a little. Xu Mingjin watched this scene and suddenly realized: indeed, these two had planned it out beforehand.

  Xu Mingxia knew she had lost the opportunity to question Xu Mingjin, but she still unwillingly said: "Sixth sister, what do you want me to apologize for?" Xu Mingjin saw Xu Mingfang rushing to speak and was afraid that she would turn things around and frame herself, so she quickly spoke up before her: "Fourth sister came with me to exchange posters, then saw the antique on the bookshelf in Bogu Hall and really liked it, so she picked it up to play. Unexpectedly, she accidentally dropped the lion jade carving, but fortunately, I was quick-witted and caught it, ensuring that the jade carving was intact. Fourth sister said that every blade of grass and every tile in Feicui Garden was carefully arranged by eldest sister, especially the antiques on the bookshelf in Bogu Hall, which were eldest sister's most beloved treasures. Although I caught the jade carving, I still have some suspicion of not protecting it well enough, so I suggested that fourth sister go with me to find eldest sister and apologize."

  Xu Mingjin had just finished speaking when he saw Xu Mingfang glaring at him angrily.

  Xu Mingxia's face wasn't pleasant either. According to Xu Mingjin, not only was she innocent, but also meritorious. If she were to be punished, it would be unfair. Even if she had to be punished, the only one who should be punished is that stupid Xu Mingfang. It's all her fault! Clumsy and inept, how could she let Xu Mingjin catch her? Xu Mingxia glared at Xu Mingfang fiercely, then ignored her, pulled Xu Mingjin's hand over, and warmly said: "Look what you're saying, it's just a dead object, even if it really broke, big sister wouldn't say anything. After all, nothing is more important than our sisterly love, right?"

  Xu Mingjin smiled and nodded, but in her heart she didn't think so. If it were really smashed to pieces, her elder sister wouldn't be able to maintain this gentle and amiable appearance. Xu Mingjin couldn't help but imagine the scene of Xu Mingxia's furious outburst. It seemed that she wouldn't have the chance to see it now, however, Xu Mingfang might have the opportunity to witness it, hehe.

  Xu Mingfang said: "Big sister, Sixth Sister just said that big sister you have been working hard to take care of mother, she wants to share the burden with you!"

  Xu Mingxia heard this and hastily said to Xu Mingjin with tears in her eyes: "It's hard for you to have this heart! Just right, I'm busy alone at my mother's place, come over and help me!"

  Xu Mingjin said lightly: "Big sister is right, little sister should help big sister share her worries. However, fourth sister, do you think only I want to help big sister share her worries, and you don't?"

  As soon as Xu Mingjin said this, Xu Mingxia immediately glared at Xu Mingfang with a fierce expression.

  Xu Mingfang hastily expressed her intention: "Of course, I am willing to help Big Sister share her worries!" She was furious in her heart that Xu Mingjin had dragged her into this, but she forgot that Xu Mingjin was the one who had been pushed out by her, and what Xu Mingjin had just said.

  Xu Mingxia said: "Then you two come together!"

  Xu Mingjin smiled sweetly again: "Big sister, originally the second sister, third sister, and fifth sister were not serving in front of their mother. Now only I and fourth sister are left, and although our mother will be moved by my and fourth sister's filial piety, she can't help but feel dissatisfied with the second sister, third sister, and fifth sister. If little sister does this, it will put them in an unjust situation."

  "What are you going to do?" Xu Mingxia said coldly. She had already figured out that Xu Mingjin was trying to drag everyone down with him.

  "Why don't we sisters take turns to care for Mother, so that Eldest Sister won't be tired and Mother can recover better." Xu Mingjin was unmoved by the cold intent on Xu Mingxia's face.

  Xu Mingxia's face had already turned gloomy like a sky that could rain at any moment. Xu Mingjin was clearly unwilling to serve her own mother, and yet she couldn't find an excuse to refute it. Mrs. Xu was faking her pregnancy, so naturally she was afraid of being exposed in front of many people. Xu Mingxia didn't need to think about it to know that her mother wouldn't let these concubines serve her. Never mind, just let her off the hook. Thinking this way, Xu Mingxia smiled faintly: "Actually, Mother's body has already recovered a lot, and we don't need so many people. Sixth sister and fourth sister, you can both go."

  "How can this be? Won't it exhaust big sister? If big sister gets exhausted, I'll feel heartache! Never mind, I'll go instead!"

  Xu Mingxia was taken aback, what's the point of being clever after getting a good deal? She finally understood today. She shook her head and said, "No trouble, big sister, thank you for your concern, little sister." Now she had an urge to leave immediately.

  The three of them chatted for a while longer, and then Xu Mingxia brought up leaving. Xu Mingfang hurriedly said that she had already stayed long enough and also needed to head back. Xu Mingjin tried to persuade them to stay a bit longer, but seeing their determination, he ended up escorting the two of them to the entrance of Feicui Garden.

  After seeing off the two people, Xu Mingjin returned to the house and fell into a sullen mood.

  Miss Chun didn't understand what was going on. Autumn Cloud, however, had a vague idea and looked at Xu Mingjin's face, saying: "Miss, in this courtyard, except for me, Chun Xiang, and Man Zi, the rest are all people sent by Madam Xu. There are three matrons, four maids, and two young servants. Miss, are you upset that when Eldest Miss came, not one of them came to report?"

  Xu Mingjin nodded. Xu Mingxuan was sent by Xu Mingjin to take care of her, and now she only had these three maids who followed her from Liu City.

  "It seems that these people are quite restless, but I've just arrived and it's not good to drive them out immediately." Xu Mingjin said with a sigh: "Think of a way, otherwise, every move I make here is clear to Mrs. Xu." Xu Mingjin thought for a long time, but couldn't think of a solution. She put it aside for now, after all, she still had important things to do. Xu Mingjin sent Manzi to close the door and guard it, not letting anyone in. She beckoned Spring Xiang and Autumn Yun to come closer.

  "Chun Xing, think of a way to sneak out and go to the Qi's pharmacy for me to inquire about my uncle's whereabouts. Tell him that three days later, I will attend the birthday banquet of the princess at the Pingxi King's Mansion, and I will leave the mansion." Chun Xing nodded and slipped away to think of an excuse to leave the mansion. Xu Mingjin then asked Qiu Yun: "You followed Madam Xu to Songfengyuan, did you find out anything? Who are the people serving Mingxuan?"

  Miss, don't worry, the young master is very clever. He calls all the servants by their names, and only allows his nanny, Mrs. Xu, to attend to him personally. The two ten-year-old maidservants that Madam arranged for him have a flirtatious look about them, but the young master never allows them to set foot in his room.

  Xu Mingjin nodded, if Xu's wife gave birth to a boy this time, then her brother's situation would be in trouble. From now on, we must strengthen the protection of Mingxuan, but he should also have his own confidants, that little servant who followed him out of Liu City had already escaped that night, and now, except for Xu Mingjin's maid, there was not a single person by Mingxuan's side. It seems that finding some trustworthy subordinates for her brother is the top priority.

  Xu Mingjin fell into deep thought.

  Manzi suddenly opened the door and said with a delighted face to Xu Mingjin: "Miss, Young Master has come to see you!"

  Xu Mingjin immediately threw away the question she had just been thinking about, got up with a smile on her face and said: "Really?" Manzi nodded vigorously, Xu Mingjin hurriedly rushed out.

  Xu Mingjin had just come out of the house when Xu Mingxuan bounced up in front of him, and Xu Mingjin grabbed his arm and headed back inside. At this point, a strange ayi next to them spoke up, "Miss, this isn't right."

  Xu Mingjin stopped in his tracks and turned around to look at the old woman who had spoken: "Were you sent by the mistress?"

  The old woman nodded in agreement. Her expression was filled with a sense of superiority, and her gaze at Xu Mingjin was full of disdain. Xu Mingjin suppressed his anger and said, "Although it is said that men and women should not sit together after the age of seven, my younger brother is only six and a half years old and has not yet reached the age of seven, how can this be reasonable?"

  The old woman still stubbornly said: "Although that's true, Miss shouldn't be pulling and tugging with the young master, it's not dignified."

  Xu Mingjin let go of the hand that was pulling Xu Mingxuan's arm and took a step forward towards the nanny: "Nanny means I should stay away from my brother, it's best if we don't even see each other, right?"

  The old woman didn't catch the sarcasm in Xu Mingjin's words and nodded, "It should be that way." The old woman's main purpose here was to prevent Xu Mingjin from coming into contact with Xu Mingxuan. The mistress wanted her to drive a wedge between the brothers.

  Xu Mingjin didn't get angry but instead smiled. The nanny looked at Xu Mingjin with a puzzled expression.

  Xu Mingjin turned around and ordered his men to drag the wet nurse away and give her twenty heavy slaps. The wet nurse immediately let out a shrill cry, saying: "I was sent by the mistress! You have no right to hit me!"

  Xu Mingjin sneered: "No power, huh? You just watch! See if I dare hit you!" As he spoke, he immediately ordered his men to seize the old woman who kept shrieking: "I was sent by the mistress, hitting me is like hitting the mistress's face." Right in the courtyard, a loud and intense fight broke out.