The Empire and the Kingdom

Pan couldn't believe what she heard, she got up and pulled Xiang Xue's sleeve, "Master, are you confused? I am your wife, the mistress of the Xiangfu, don't say I didn't poison, even if this It was really me who did it. You send me to the official, don’t you want to lose face? And... there are a few daughters in the family, don’t they want to marry? What will your colleagues think of you then? What do you think? The Xue family?" At this moment, Pan's brain was unexpectedly easy to use.

Xue Xiang threw Pan's face away, "You can still think of this? Pan, is it because of this reason that you treated Ai'er wantonly and indulged Ying'er all these years? How can you not bring this matter to the surface? You have nothing to fear. Mrs. Pan, let me tell you, as the prime minister, I am in charge of the country's political affairs, and I must be upright. I want face, but I will not indulge such a poisonous person like you for the sake of face. Wife, don't threaten me with your daughters' marriage, because the first person who will be implicated is your beloved Xue Ying."

Pan cried, "Master, you can't do this! I didn't poison you, I really didn't!"

Xue Xiang stabilized his mood, sat down again and said, "It wasn't you, could it be Xue Ying?"

Mrs. Pan hurriedly knelt and crawled beside Xue Xiang, "Master, I know you love Ai'er very much now, but you can't just blame Ying'er and me for poisoning just because Ai'er was poisoned! It's just a child, how could it be poisoned? And that poison..." She stopped suddenly when she said this, covered her mouth with her hand, and looked at Xiang Xue with horror.

Xue Xiang shook his head, "Pan, what do you want to say? I never said that Ai'er was poisoned, do you know?" Xue Xiangyang slapped Pan with his hand, "I hate men who beat women the most in my life. But today I will be a villain, for the suffering that Ai Er has suffered all these years. She is a human daughter, and she cannot take revenge on your own mother, but I can."

"Master!" Pan's tears came down like rain, she knew that she had slipped her tongue, she knew that the matter was irreparable, she hugged Xue Xiang's leg, "It's my fault! I was cruel, but Master, back then I I watched my son die young, and the doctor said that I would never be able to bear another child. I wanted to die at that time. Watching Ai Er grow up day by day, it was like a knife piercing my heart bit by bit. Growing up, my heart hurts! I am in so much pain! What can I do? Master, you are busy with government affairs, and the concubine of the Wang family is aggressive towards me, and the Jiang family is young and beautiful. , without Wang’s family background, without Jiang’s beauty, a woman can’t even do the basics of having children, I hate it so much! But who can I hate?” Pan said pitifully, she said There must always be an outlet for anger. At that time, she only felt that she was going crazy. She didn't know how long she could bear it. If she couldn't bear it, she would probably die.

Sure enough, she didn't hold back for long, seeing Xue Ai babbling and calling her "mother" inarticulately, she often had the illusion that her son was calling her, but she was dazed and realized that it was only Xue Ai.She really couldn't take it anymore, so she secretly bought arsenic, mixed it into the porridge, and fed it to Xue Ai mouthful by mouthful.She originally wanted to eat it herself after Xue Ai finished eating, and the mother and daughter died together.But Xue Ai was weak, and started to vomit after taking two bites, almost throwing up all the porridge.

Probably Xue Ai's reaction was too strong, she was frightened and dared not eat it herself.Xue Ai was still retching after throwing up, and was in such pain that she felt as if she would die at any time. She thought that this daughter might not survive, and she couldn't let people doubt herself, so she buried everything secretly.After she finished dealing with all this, she returned to the room and found that Xue Ai had fallen asleep.

She was terrified in her heart, Xue Ai would not die after eating arsenic, could this be fate?She didn't dare to poison Xue Ai anymore, and she didn't dare to harm Xue Ai, but she felt that Xue Ai was sent by God to torture her, and she finally refused to get close to Xue Ai.It has been so many years that she has forgotten about it.When Xue Xiang asked about it today, she had no memory at all, and it was only later that she remembered it slowly.

"Yeah, who can you hate?" Xue Xiang lowered his head and pinched Pan's chin, "Pan, I ask myself that I have been consistent with you for many years. Let Wang or Jiang replace him. How many methods have Wang and Jiang used over the years, how many times have I not protected you, trust you? I don't have too many demands on you, as long as you can manage the back house well, I will take care of other things. But I never thought that my wife, whom I tried my best to protect, would personally poison and kill my daughter." He let go of his hand, "Seeing that you are filial to my parents for me, I'll give you one day, and you can write down whatever you have to say. I'll take you to the yamen in the morning of the day after tomorrow."

Xue Xiang left, and Pan sat on the cold ground, crying all night.

In Weiying Pavilion, Xue Ying learned the rules from her master during this period of time. In fact, her rules have always been good. Sitting, lying and walking are in line with the standards of a lady.It's just that the master not only teaches these external things, but also teaches the character and virtue of being a lady.

In this regard, Xue Ying pretended to be very good at the beginning, and the master was also very satisfied.It's just studying day after day, which is really boring for Xue Ying, who is spoiled and is about to become a princess, and her temper gradually grows.Faced with the questions asked by the master, he gradually began to reveal his true inner thoughts.

Masters are well-informed, and it can be seen that Xue Ying's previous humility was all fake.The master got what Xiang Xue said, and he must bring back Xue Ying's eldest lady's temper, so she deliberately arranged some heart-wrenching homework, and Xue Ying's temper became more and more irritable.It's a pity that she couldn't get out of Weiying Pavilion, couldn't complain to Mrs. Pan, and couldn't even see Xiang Xue. She started to treat her stern-faced master every day.

After asking Prime Minister Xue for instructions, Master began to use a ruler on Xue Ying.The pampered Xue Ying couldn't bear this kind of suffering. After a few days, she could only be obedient and dare not confront her master.

Today she was copying Buddhist scriptures in her room, when she heard from Ru Mei that Xue Xiang had gone to Wanning Garden.She was overjoyed, and immediately dropped her pen and came to the gate of the courtyard, there was still a woman guarding the gate, Xue Ying knew that she couldn't get out, so she just stood at the gate and looked out, hoping to see Mrs. Pan coming to rescue her.

After waiting for a long time and seeing no one coming, she couldn't help being suspicious: "Didn't father come to reconcile with mother?"

"Miss, maybe Madam needs to have a good talk with Xiang Ye before she can come to see you." Ru Mei just tried to think in a better direction.Because Xiang Xue seldom enters the back house, if it is not a good thing to go to Wanning Garden this time, it must be a bad thing.

"Mother, really, don't you know that I'm in dire straits? You should hurry up and save me." Xue Ying was dissatisfied.

After standing for a while, the outside was still calm, so Xue Ying had no choice but to return to the room dejectedly.Looking at the half-copied Buddhist scriptures on the table, she frowned in disgust, "Put it away quickly, it will be bad luck if you see it!" She felt that Mrs. Pan would definitely come to save her, and there was no need to copy this thing at all.

Xue Xiang went to Yunjianxuan after leaving Wanning Garden.Jiang Shi is still beautiful and gentle. She understands that Xiang Xue is her biggest reliance in the Prime Minister's Mansion, so she never disobeys Xiang Xue's intentions.Compared to Wang's calculations, she is more honest.

"Master Xiang, your complexion is not good, but you are not feeling well?" Mrs. Jiang was very concerned when she saw that Xiang Xue's face turned red.

Xue Xiang leaned on the couch, and Jiang started to help Xue Xiang massage and massage, which made Xue Xiang very useful. "Yuan'er, if Madam made a big mistake and I wanted to punish her, what would you think?" Xiang Xue asked with his eyes closed.

Yuan'er is Jiang's boudoir name.After hearing this, the hand she was massaging suddenly stopped, and Xiang Xue opened his eyes.

"Master, this concubine doesn't know anything, it's just that my wife is the mistress and someone who has honored her parents-in-law. No matter what mistakes she makes, you should watch her honor your parents, raise children, and take care of housework for you." , you have to save some face for her." Jiang's voice was gentle and soft, the kind that men like most.

Xue Xiang didn't expect that Mrs. Jiang would intercede for Mrs. Pan, and judging from Mrs. Jiang's expression, it didn't seem like a fake.

"You really think so?"

Mrs. Jiang sat next to Mrs. Xue, "My concubine speaks from her heart. Mrs. Xue has already grounded his wife in Wanning Garden. It would be unjustifiable to punish her severely. If nothing else, the young ladies in the mansion have all arrived The age of marriage, the eldest lady is still the concubine, if something happens to the biological mother, will the eldest lady's marriage be unexpected? The third lady's marriage is already like that, if the eldest lady can't marry again, the other ladies, including the concubine Ruo'er is very difficult."

Xue Xiang sighed, "It's still you who are well-behaved and sensible." Jiang's gentleness is what Xue Xiang needs most now.

The next day, Mrs. Wang received the news that Xiang Xue stayed at Yunjianxuan last night.She gritted her teeth with hatred, "Pan's downfall, but let that foxy girl take advantage of it!"

Xue Ruo also heard the news, and after Xue Xiang went to court, she slipped into Yunjianxuan.Seeing Jiang's face full of peach blossoms, she asked: "Mother, why did Dad stay overnight?"

Jiang said with a straight face: "You, a girl, should ask this kind of thing?"

Xue Ruobian said, "Then I'm curious. Dad hasn't entered the back house for a long time, and I heard that he went to Wanning Garden yesterday, and then came here. Mom, did dad say anything to you?"

Mrs. Jiang frowned when she heard this, "Your father did say something about the eldest lady. It seems that the eldest lady has made some mistakes. He wants to punish the eldest lady severely. He asked me what I think about this matter."

"Mother, what did you say?" Xue Ruo's eyes widened.

"I'll intercede for Da Furen, and tell your father not to punish Da Furen again." Jiang took out the Babao Bu Yao, which she hadn't worn for a long time, and stuck it on her head, and looked at herself in the mirror. It needs nourishment of love.

"Why?" Xue Ruohuo got up, "Mother, how could you intercede for Da Furen? If Da Furen collapsed, wouldn't you have a chance..."

Mrs. Jiang looked at her, "What chance do I have? Do you think Xihaiju is a dead person? She has already obtained the right to head the house, but with the eldest lady here, her name is not right. If the eldest lady is divorced or divorced If she didn't do other things, she could be justified as the wife." Jiang felt a little disappointed that her daughter couldn't even see this thing clearly, "The eldest lady's background is similar to mine, so she can accommodate our mother and daughter anyway. But if Xihaiju becomes his wife, how can you and I have a foothold? Silly boy, your mother doesn’t study much, but she has also heard the stories of the Three Kingdoms, the three kingdoms can be stable, and the world is divided into two. What should we do with Xihai? Where do you live?"

Xue Ruo thought for a while, "Mom, you are the best!"

Jiang sighed, "It's just that I've seen too much." She took Xue Ruo's hand, "I know you are a high-minded person, but you must not be confused at this time. If your father asks about the eldest lady's Do you have to say more good things, you know?"

Xue Ruo nodded, "Daughter understands."

Xue Xiang came back from court and went to Wanning Garden again.Sitting on the chair, Pan seemed to have aged a lot.Seeing Prime Minister Xue come in, she wiped away the tears that hadn't dried up, and stood up, "Master, can you let me change clothes and make up for a husband and wife? After all, I am still the mistress of the Prime Minister's mansion, and I always take care of the Prime Minister's mansion when I see people." decent."

Xue Xiang looked at her, after a day of precipitation, he was not as angry as yesterday. "I know what you want to be decent." He sat down and motioned for Mrs. Pan to sit down too, "Don't worry about Ai'er's affairs or the affairs of the prime minister's house. You are my first wife, and you still are until now. Don't think too much, just live your life."

Xue Xiang left, ignoring Pan's cries behind him.He finally couldn't bear to send his wife to the yamen with his own hands. Standing at the gate of Wanning Garden, he looked up at the blue sky, then turned his head and said to Mother Chen beside him: "Madam got mad, locked the yard, and no outsiders are allowed to approach. "

"Yes." Mother Chen lowered her head, knowing that Xiang Xue had already made a decision.

The news of Pan's madness spread quickly, and Xue Ai was secretly sad when she heard it.That woman is her own mother after all, the one who brought her into this world.She didn't understand why other mothers loved their daughters in every possible way, but Mrs. Pan always wanted her to die. It was obvious that Mrs. Pan loved Xue Ying so much.

"Is it because my presence is unwelcome? Without me, my brother would not have died. Then my mother would not be like this, and everything would be different." Xue Ai raised her head and looked at him as if asking for help. Feng Jingsu.

Feng Jingsu reached out and touched her head, "No one is unwelcome. Your mother is confused. All this has nothing to do with you. You are the most innocent."

"Then why does mother hate me?"

Feng Jingsu sighed, Xue Ai is so smart, how could she not know the answer, she just needs another person to tell her that the answer in her heart is wrong, and she needs other people's approval.No matter how smart Xue Ai is, she is still a little girl under 15 years old.Being poisoned twice by one's own mother is unacceptable to anyone.The fact that she was so sad just showed that she still cared about the woman who wanted to kill her twice.

"Xiao Ai," Feng Jingsu hugged Xue Ai into her arms, reaching out to wipe away the tears rolling down from Xue Ai's eyes, "because you are the weakest and least capable of resisting. Your mother always wants to kill your son when your son dies young." If she hates someone, she can't hate others, she can only vent her anger on you. Xiao Ai, you don't need to deny yourself, you are just a victim, the most pitiful person in the past 15 years is not your mother, but you."

Xue Aiwo cried aggrievedly in Feng Jingsu's arms. She really thought that she didn't mind anymore. After Pan Shi did so many things to her, she could face it, but when Pan Shi was rumored to be insane After hearing the news, she felt that she was far less strong than she imagined.

Maybe she is too smart. Only from this piece of news, she can understand that Xue Xiang has found out the truth of the year. No matter what the process is, it must be the poison of Pan. This can make Xue Xiang make up his mind to completely shut Pan. stand up.

Xue Ai only felt the bone-chilling cold. She had been suffering from illness for so many years, so it was all thanks to her mother. No wonder Mrs. Pan looked at her so strangely every time she was sick. Mrs. Pan just missed her Just die.

Feng Jingsu didn't persuade her too much, as this kind of thing wouldn't be painful if it didn't happen to her.She just felt pity for Xue Ai's struggle to survive these years, pity that Xue Ai still worked hard to grow into a smart and kind girl in such an environment.

Xue Ai cried very sadly, and finally cried out of breath, hiccupping all the time, crying and beating, looking pitiful and cute.

"You will have me in the future, even if you don't have a Xiangfu. Xiaoai, I will not let you be wronged again."

Xue Ai has a cheerful personality, she hugged Feng Jingsu's waist, "Sister Su, we will always be together, right?"

Feng Jingsu didn't speak, but kissed instead.

Tired of crying, the little fox fell asleep in Feng Jingsu's arms.There were still wet tears in the corners of her eyes, which made Feng Jingsu's heart ache.

When Guan Xuejing came, she saw Feng Jingsu hugging the sleeping Xue Ai and not letting go.She widened her eyes and asked silently what was going on.

Feng Jingsu gently put Xue Ai on the bed, and let Yuyan and Mengan watch over her, then took Guan Xuejing to the study.

"What's wrong with Xiao Ai?" Guan Xuejing asked before entering the door.

"Do you know about Mrs. Xue?"

Guan Xuejing nodded immediately, "I just heard that she is suffering from madness. Could it be that Xiaoai loves her mother?"

Feng Jing Su Fu's forehead, "Xuejing, I think you may have spoiled the reputation of the academy."

Guan Xuejing flattened her mouth, don't think she can't hear it, the senior sister just thinks she is stupid.