Red Mansion and Crimson Pearl

Chapter 458 Kill

The maid behind came up with a hand warmer, tremblingly bowed to Prince Zhongshun, and then timidly hid behind Xue Baochai.

King Zhongshun waved his hand half-doubtfully and asked the master and servant to leave.

Xue Baochai turned and walked away, the long hem of her lotus-green crane cloak being kicked up by her rapid steps making her look quite flustered.

A handsome young face turned out from behind the window beside Prince Zhongshun, his mouth pursed down, his face showing murderous intent:

"My Lord, this Crown Prince's Consort..."

"I like to be smart the most." King Zhongshun had a gloomy face.

After saying this, he picked up his robe and was about to leave, "This foolish woman who is so fickle cannot be kept."

The young man hurriedly grabbed him and said, "Your Majesty, please stay!"

Prince Zhongshun shook his head repeatedly: "Ji Qing, please don't persuade me! What you and I said just now is too important. If she spreads it..."

"Who would believe it?" The young man smiled slightly, with a sinister look in his eyes, "Her family has been detained, and she is the only one who has taken refuge in the palace and is safe.

"If she dared to shout it out, I would come forward to testify that she got the news from her uncle and wanted to use it to frame her and force the prince to intercede and save her mother and brother.

"The prince abides by the law and resolutely refuses to allow it, so she is just arguing back..."

King Zhongshun laughed so hard that he twirled his beard and said, "Ji Qing, Ji Qing, you can turn clouds and rain with just a flip of your hand. No one is better than you!"

He stopped walking and said nothing, then went back to the table and sat down.

There was wine and food on the table, and the two of them started drinking again.

"I heard from my father that the Ministry of Revenue is now in a huge hole. When Jia returned to Beijing, everyone was looking forward to collecting some money, but who knew that he was sent to the Dali Temple before he could even get comfortable in his position.

"The emperor has no money in his treasury, so he is naturally stingy when it comes to hiring soldiers. The military pay in the border areas is already stretched to the limit, not to mention that information from various places cannot be bought back..."

The young man's voice was light and light, and it sounded particularly pleasant to Prince Zhongshun's ears.

After drinking another small cup of wine, Prince Zhongshun let out a long breath of depression and smiled: "Forget it, let's leave it at that for today.

“The girl that the Crown Princess just mentioned is indeed her dowry.

"Since she said so, if I don't look for this girl, I'm afraid the Crown Prince's Consort will do something desperate.

“At critical moments, it is better to do less than more.

"Let's go back to the study.

"I will have someone search for that girl."

Xue Baochai left the garden quickly, her mind racing. She asked the maid again, "Did you see Ying'er just now?"

"Sister Ying'er just came back from the backyard. I saw her go into her room and then go out again. Well, she seemed to be holding a small bundle in her hand."

The girl looked silly, "I just entered the main room and she ran into the garden. She's really fast, she can even walk ahead of the Crown Prince's Consort!"

Xue Baochai felt that the sweat was about to seep out of her temples. She took a deep breath to calm herself down and pulled the corners of her mouth stiffly:

"I wanted to go to the garden for a walk, but the prince was there chatting with a man from another family, so I couldn't go.

"My head was getting heavier and heavier. Ying'er had disappeared again.

"Go to the kitchen and help me make a bowl of soothing soup. Don't let the maids in the kitchen put the ingredients in a mess."

There are snacks in the kitchen!

I can sit and eat for half an hour while I cook soup~

The maid got the good job, she happily accepted it and trotted away.

Xue Baochai watched her leave, threw off her crane cloak, and strode straight to the side door!

That bitch Ying'er!

He must have sensed danger from my words and was planning to defect!

She was just a servant girl, if she said she wanted to turn herself in, she would be able to do so! If she just said a few words about the Xue family, she would be pardoned!

——What a good plan!

Xue Baochai’s steps were almost flying!

Sure enough, on the path leading to the side door, she saw Ying'er at a glance!

The girl changed into the clothes of a servant and took off the pearl flowers that always sparkled on her bun!

Xue Baochai used up all her strength, chased after her, grabbed her arm, and pulled her to a side road, which happened to be a kitchen courtyard that had been abandoned for a long time.

"Ying'er, what are you doing?" Xue Baochai pretended not to know her intention.

Ying'er was so flustered that her legs went limp, but she had seen this before, so she forced a smile.

"Didn't the young lady say that it would be best to get some reliable information? I looked too conspicuous just now, so I changed into this outfit. I pretended to be a servant..."

Seeing Baochai staring at the bundle in her arms, she said in panic, "This is also intended to bribe those guards!"

This lie comes out of his mouth so easily!

Xue Baochai was extremely angry in her heart, but her face remained calm. She just scolded her with a look of regret: "Nonsense!

"You are dressed in such rags, yet you are using gold, silver and jewelry to buy information. How can you convince people?"

Ying'er's face was pale and she could hardly stand.

Baochai smiled gently and said, "Silly girl! I'll find a good excuse for you... Just say you stole from your master!

"Then the soldiers will believe it!"

Ying'er's shoulders relaxed instantly, and she smiled sincerely: "You are really resourceful, girl!"

"Don't come back again." Baochai whispered in her ear, then tilted her head to look behind her for a long time before whispering:

"After you get out, no matter how much you beg, you must go find Miss Shi!

"You have to see her in person to say: I heard some amazing things!

"Tell her to tell them to tell me about this! I want to see Marquis Huaiyuan!"

Ying'er was shocked: "Why would you see him, young lady? He specializes in robbing people's houses!"

"Good Ying'er, I can't tell you! If I tell you, you will die without a burial place!" Baochai choked with sobs and her eyes turned red.

Ying'er looked at her master like this, and was in a trance. She couldn't help but be moved and sad. She cried, "Okay! I will definitely get this done for you, young lady!"

Xue Baochai finally felt relieved, looked back for a while, and whispered: "To avoid alerting the enemy, wait until I am far away and see that there is no one around, then go out quietly!

"If we do this well, not only can we both escape unscathed, but we might even be able to save our mother and brother's lives!

"And your family!"

Ying'er was a servant of the Xue family, her real name was Huang Jinying. The Huang family was now in Jiangnan, and I was afraid that she had been arrested along with the servants in the ancestral house.

If I could save my family as well...

Ying'er's heart was pounding!

Xue Baochai walked away quickly, looking back two or three times to look at Ying'er.

The girl still trusts me as before...

Ying'er bit her lip and waited for Baochai to leave for nearly a moment before she came out from her hiding place and went to the side door in a covert manner.

Just as she opened the side door and faced the guards outside, a fierce and ferocious shout suddenly came from behind:

"Catch that traitorous girl!"

"The prince has ordered that all servants who have deserted will be killed without mercy!"

"The Crown Prince's wife lost her jewelry! This slave girl stole it!"

"Bring the arrows!"

Ying'er was so frightened that she screamed, "Help!"