The Empire and the Kingdom

"I'll talk about this later, first get everything on the list together." Mrs. Pan did it herself before Xue Ying took the jade ring down.

Mother Xie continued to face the list, "One pair of purple square warm jade bracelets is missing."

This time, Pan directly reached out her hand, "Ying'er, quickly take it off."

Xue Ying also likes this pair of purple square warm jade bracelets, especially in this winter season, it is very warm and comfortable to wear on her wrists.She knew that she couldn't do without picking it up, so she took it off reluctantly, thinking that such a good bracelet would be worn on Xue Ai's hand, she willfully lifted it up and was about to fall to the ground, but was caught by Pan who was familiar with her temperament.

"What are you going to do?" Pan Shi was also angry at the moment.Why is it not for her good that I am so earnest?She still couldn't understand the situation. "Your father said that if you damage a piece of jewelry, you will be required to copy "Women's Rules" ten times!"

Xue Ying covered her face and began to cry, "Father is facing the third sister, mother, you are also facing the third sister, you don't care about your daughter's face, whether she is dead or alive!"

Faced with Xue Ying's unreasonable troubles, Pan didn't care, and she signaled Xie's mother to hurry up.

Mother Xue tidied it up to the end, only one Pearl Walker was missing, but this time she didn't find it on Xue Ying.

"Where's the Pearl Walker?" Pan asked.

Xue Ying wiped her tears and said, "I'll give it to Yihan."

"What?" Pan was trembling with anger, "It belongs to your sister, how could you just give it away?"

Xue Ying also became angry, "Mother said yesterday that these belong to me, don't you want to take them away today?"

Pan's hands were all raised up, seeing Xue Ying's face was full of tears, she couldn't help it.

Ignoring the crying Xue Ying, Pan returned to the study in the front yard with sixteen pieces of jewelry.Xue Xiang counted them himself, "Why is one item missing?"

Mrs. Pan said with a smile: "Master, there is still a Pearl Walker, which Yinger gave to Miss Sun's family, look..."

Xue Xiang sneered, "The ones that were sent out will naturally come back, right?"

Pan was afraid that Xue would get angry with Xue Ying, so she hurriedly said: "Otherwise, master, you will punish Ying'er to copy "Nvrui" ten times, and I will definitely watch her finish copying carefully."

"No need." Xue Xiang asked Mama Xie to send these sixteen pieces of jewelry to Xue Ai.

Pan Shi suddenly remembered Xue Ying's words, "Wait a minute." After stopping Xie Mama, Pan Shi said to Xue Xiang, "Master, the jewelry is here, but how can you say that it belongs to Ai Er based on a list written by Ai Er's hand?" What about it? Could it be that some of them are not Ai Er's, and she took advantage of the master to support her this time, so she took the opportunity to take Ying Er's jewelry as well."

Xue Xiang looked up at her after hearing this, then turned his head and said to Xie's mother, "Hurry up and send it."

Mother Xie didn't dare to delay, and hurried away with the jewelry in her hands.There are only the husband and wife in the study.Xue Xiang pointed at Mrs. Pan, "Why didn't I realize that you were so confused and biased before. Ying'er told you that just now, right? Do you know that everything given by outsiders has to be accounted for? Thanks to you Being the mistress of the house, Yinger is stupid and you are too stupid! You mother and daughter are really..." He paused when he spoke, after all, he was his own family, and he didn't want to hurt others with ugly words, "Fortunately, Ai'er is not at all. Unlike your mother and daughter, otherwise, what hope does my Xue family have?" Xiang Xiang had already carefully chosen his words, but it still sounded like thunder to Pan's ears.

"Master, it's my fault. It's because I didn't take good care of Ying'er, and I didn't give birth to a son for the master..." Pan began to cry.

Every time he talked about his son, Xue Xiang was tired of hearing it. He waved his hand to interrupt Pan's crying, and also expressed his decision. "Ms. Pan, you are good at housekeeping, but you have no way to teach daughters. You have two good daughters, one is spoiled by you, arrogant, self-willed, mean and greedy, and the other is ignored by you and has been treated harshly for many years. Now I will give you back the right of stewardship." , but Ying'er and Ai'er don't allow you to take care of them, I will find someone to teach them."

Pan was dumbfounded.What does Xue Xiang mean by saying that, if she is not allowed to control her two daughters, Xue Ai can ignore her, but how can she ignore Xue Ying?

"Master, I know I was wrong!" Pan fell to her knees all of a sudden, "Master, just give me one more chance, I promise to discipline Ying'er well, and treat Ai'er well."

Faced with Pan's cries, Xiang Xue just responded indifferently.It's not that he can't understand Pan Shi, that's why he allowed Pan Shi to treat Xue Ai harshly for so many years, now thinking about it, he was really wrong.The death of the son should have been a pain for the couple, but Xue Ai, a child, had to bear it for so many years.Thinking of Xue Ai being so smart and general, but timid in front of him, he hesitated for a long time even to ask the most normal request, they are obviously father and daughter!

Xue Xiang, who realized what he had done wrong, decided to make amends as soon as possible, only hoping to make up for the cracked father-daughter relationship.

"I've already decided on this matter, and it's useless for you to ask. Mrs. Pan, the power to run the house is still in your hands. If you don't want it, someone can help you share it."

As soon as these words came out, Pan immediately didn't dare to say anything more.She finally realized that Xue Xiang was really angry this time, and very angry.The right to run the house is her natural right as the main wife. Unless the wife is divorced, the rich family will not deprive the main wife of the right to manage the rear house, just like the emperor will not deprive the queen of the right to manage the harem.And once deprived, it is tantamount to explaining to outsiders that the main wife has made a big mistake. Although there is no divorce, it is almost the same.

After Mrs. Pan left, Xiang Xue called Xue Ying again and told her about his decision. "Ying'er, you have been spoiled by your mother these years. In order to teach you to be a qualified lady, from today onwards, you are not allowed to leave the mansion, and you are not allowed to leave the Weiying Pavilion. Every day, a master will come to your yard to teach You don’t need to think too much about the principles of your life, you just need to learn from your master.”

It took Xue Ying a long time to understand Xue Xiang's meaning, "Father, are you going to ground your daughter?"

Xue Xiang nodded, "Yinger, I am doing it for your own good."

Xue Ying has been spoiled, she can't understand Xue Xiang's painstaking efforts, she only knows that Xue Xiang grounded her for Xue Ai. "Father doesn't love his daughter anymore? How can you ground your daughter for the sake of the third sister? How can the daughter see people if it is spread like this?" She continued with tears, "Father, the reputation of the third sister has been ruined. Do you still want to spend your time on her? Shouldn't you facilitate the marriage between your daughter and the Seventh Prince, is this the best way for the Xue family?"

Originally, Xue Xiang grounded Xue Ying because he wanted to be cold and cold about the matter with the Seventh Prince, but now that Xue Ying has no brotherhood and only cares about his own flirtatious words, he really doesn't want to say anything.

"You don't need to say much, I have already decided on this matter. Go back to the yard."

Xue Xiang's indifferent words really hurt Xue Ying's heart. Since she was a child, she was the most favored person in the mansion. Even if she did something wrong, she would not be punished with Pan's protection. , She understood Pan's heart knot, so she became more and more courageous, and bullied Xue Ai more and more fiercely, and she was never punished. At most, Pan said calmly, "" Don't bully your sister." Now she was grounded for taking something from Xue Ai, Xue Ying couldn't accept it.She thought it was a sign that Xue Xiang didn't love her.

Xue Ying left crying.Xue Xiang is really disappointed with this eldest daughter. She does not know how to repent when she does something wrong. She has no brotherhood, is selfish, and Xue's family is well-educated. How did she teach such an eldest daughter?

On the other side, Mother Xie took a tray to Pingle Pavilion to give Xue Ai jewelry.As soon as she entered the door and saw Feng Qianzi and Guan Xuejing present, she felt bad, but she had already entered the door, so she could only smile and say: "Miss San, Miss borrowed some jewelry from you a few days ago. , Madam asked the servants to bring it back to you."

"Thank you mother for coming, sit down quickly." Xue Ai asked Meng An to count the jewelry.

Meng An stepped forward to look at it again, "Thank you mother, miss lost seventeen pieces of jewelry, how come there are only sixteen pieces here?"

Mother Xie said that the jewelry was borrowed by Xue Ying, but Meng An said that the jewelry was lost by Xue Ai. This is a real slap in the face.

Mother Xie knew that Xue Ai would definitely ask, anyway, Xiang Xue also knew about this matter, so she didn't panic, "Miss San, there is another Pearl Walker that the eldest lady gave away."

Xue Ai's eyes widened, "Elder sister, give away my things?"

Feng Qianzi suddenly said: "No wonder I saw a pearl bud on Miss Sun's head before, and I said why it is so similar to the one that Princess Yunyi gave you, so..." She laughed, "So it's yours."

Guan Xuejing also chimed in, "The relationship between your sisters is so good. My sister can give away her sister's things at will. My family doesn't have such a rule."

Xie's mother heard this, even if she was just a servant, she felt harsh, but she couldn't say anything.

Xue Ai didn't make things difficult for her mother, and let her go after taking the jewelry. "It's just a servant."

"Father asked Mama Xie to bring jewelry to me just to keep my mouth shut. No matter how much I care about it, I will never argue with Mama Xie." Xue Ai could see clearly that although the jewelry was incomplete, there was only one piece missing. But she is ignorant.Xue Xiang wanted to suppress this matter.

Feng Qianzi patted her hand, "Now I know what kind of situation you are in at home. Even Prime Minister Xue doesn't seem to pay much attention to you."

Guan Xuejing kept looking at Feng Qianzi, not understanding how Feng Qianzi could say such inappropriate words.

Xue Ai didn't pretend to be strong, and said aggrievedly: "Sister Feng said yes, so I can only rely on myself."

"Isn't there still Princess Yunyi?" Feng Qianzi smiled.

"Cough..." Guan Xuejing coughed aside, feeling that Feng Qianzi really talked about everything today!

Xue Ai blushed, "I don't want to bother the princess with such a trivial matter."

Feng Qianzi raised her eyebrows, "So you have another trick?"

Xue Ai didn't deny it, "Sister Feng, just look at it."

After that, the three of them went to see Feiyun.Fei Yun had already grown into a big fox, and her fiery red fur really looked like a red cloud.Several people don't see foxes often, so there is no way to compare them. They just think that Fei Yun is very beautiful.Especially those eyes, which seem to have the power to absorb people's hearts, making people unable to look away after just one glance.

Fei Yun seemed to know Guan Xuejing, and as soon as she was released, she chased and bit Guan Xuejing, so Miss Guan had no choice but to scurry around the yard, making Feng Qianzi and Xue Ai laugh non-stop.In the end, Guan Xuejing was forced to stand on the courtyard wall, "Fei Yun, why don't you bite them?"

Fei Yun lay her front paws on the wall, stood upright and looked up at Guan Xuejing, baring her teeth.

Feng Qianzi and Guan Xuejing sat down before lunch and left.On the way back home, I heard people discussing on the street that Miss Xue's family had stolen Miss San's jewelry.

"This is Xiaoai's second move." Feng Qianzi said.

"Isn't this ruining the reputation of the Xiangfu? I think Xiao Ai is very protective of the family's reputation. Why do you do this?" Guan Xuejing couldn't figure it out.

"It's been rumored that the Seventh Prince is going to marry Xue Ying as his concubine, do you know why it has been rumored for so long?" Feng Qianzi watched Guan Xuejing hold her hand, gritted her teeth and did not let go.

Guan Xuejing was beautiful in her heart, and she didn't dare to push her further, "Because the Xue family doesn't agree with this marriage, otherwise it would have been done long ago."

"Who do you think the Xue family disagrees with?" Feng Qianzi moved her body and leaned against Guan Xuejing's body.After being out all morning, she was a little tired.

Guan Xuejing was so frightened that she didn't dare to move, she just let her lean on her upright. As for what she asked, Guan Xuejing didn't hear at all.

"Ask you something!" Feng Qianzi was dissatisfied.

"What?" Guan Xuejing hurriedly tried to recall, and finally said, "It's Xiang Xue."

"I believe that after what happened to Xiao Ai, Prime Minister Xue should be unwilling to let his daughter marry into the royal family again, especially the eldest daughter Xue Ying." Feng Qianzi said here with a hint of distress in her eyes, "Even at this time, Compared with Xiao Ai, Xue Xiang loves Xue Ying more."

It's a pity that Xue Ying didn't understand.Rumors from outside quickly spread to the mansion, and the Pan family was furious, and no one was allowed to discuss it, but this kind of thing couldn't stop others' mouths, the more people were blocked, the more fierce the private discussions became.

Xue Ying also heard about it, and she was so angry that she smashed the things in the room and cried to death.In the middle, the Sun family came to the door and returned the Pearl Walker that Xue Ying had given to Sun Yihan, which meant returning the stolen goods.

Seventeen pieces of jewelry were returned neatly, and one piece was quite a lot.Meng'an wiped all the jewelry carefully, trying to wipe off Xue Ying's breath.It was obvious that Xue Ying stole something, but now she is crying like a victim about what happened to her. Who gave her face?

Xue Ai has already put on the Zifang warm jade bracelet and jade ring again.This rumor will not go down in the short term, unless there is a big shot to suppress the rumor, then she will be able to judge which force will make a move based on who the big shot is.Everything she did was to stir up the situation in the capital and create opportunities for Feng Jingsu.

The only thing she has to do now is to cook Xue Ying.

At night, the moon and stars are sparse in the sky.In Weiying Pavilion, Xue Ying managed to squint for a while, and suddenly woke up inexplicably.Through the moonlight outside the window, she saw a person sitting in the room. She was about to shout when she heard the person say: "It's me, don't be afraid, big sister." It turned out to be Xue Ai's voice.

"Third sister, why are you in my room?" Xue Ying sat up vigilantly.

"Come and show Eldest Sister the way." Xue Ai's voice was so soft that everyone wanted to believe what she said.

Xue Ying sneered and said, "You will come to help me? Are you wishing for me to be bad? I won't believe you."

Xue Ai smiled, "Elder Sister, it doesn't matter if you believe me or not, the legs grow on your body, can I force you to do things you don't want?"

Xue Ying looked at her and said nothing.

"What's the reputation of eldest sister now?" She smiled sweetly. "I became a widow. In the final analysis, it was not my fault. There are always people who sympathize with me. But elder sister, you stole something from your younger sister. This is a demerit of virtue. I wonder which rich family would be willing to marry a thief like you?" ?”

Xue Ying said angrily, "You spread the word!"

"Hush!" Xue Aibi made a silent gesture, "Catch the thief and seize the stolen goods, there must be evidence for the elder sister to say so."

Xue Ying can't hear the words "steal" and "thief" now, and she is about to get out of bed to beat Xue Ai when she hears it, but she is pushed back to the bed by Yu Yan who is standing by the bed just as she is about to get out of bed.Only then did she realize that there was a third person in the room.

"You... the wrong way!" She was about to shout, but Yuyan tapped Ya acupuncture point quickly, and she couldn't make a sound anymore.

"Sister, don't get excited. If I want to hurt you, you will lose a few lives. I really want to show you the way today. Don't worry, it's up to you whether you listen or not. I won't force you. "Xue Ai paused, "Sister, if you stay in the mansion, your current situation will be grounded every day. The rumors outside have spread all over the sky, and it won't take long for your reputation to be ruined. Now there is only one way to save you." You are just to facilitate your marriage with the Seventh Prince, when the imperial decree comes, who would dare to talk about you, the future Seventh Prince's Concubine, maybe the Crown Prince's Concubine, the Empress of the Central Palace?"

Although Xue Ying couldn't speak, the way she calmed down showed that she had indeed listened.

"Two paths, you choose yourself, sister, I will never force you." She nodded to Yuyan, and Yuyan released Xue Ying's dumb acupoint.

"It's easy for you to say, I think so too, but how to make it happen?" Xue Ying has obviously made a choice.

Xue Ai spread her hands, "Sister, this is something you have to consider. I can ask Yuyan to take you out of the house. As for what to do later, sister, your own life-long event, please use your brain, okay?"

Xue Ying didn't waste time on brainstorming, she used it to tidy up her belongings.Xue Ai and Yuyan watched Xue Ying take out her banknotes, silver, jewelry and other valuables to pack a big burden. After trying, Xue Ying couldn't carry them at all, so she had to simplify and bring a lot more Silver coins and small and valuable jewelry made a small burden.She hugged the bundle in her arms, looked at Xue Ai, then at Yuyan, "You can go."