Ning Weizhi bowed deeply again.
"So, General He, since you've come this far, why not act as a wealthy merchant to lure those bandits into the trap?"
Sure enough, He Xun snorted coldly and slammed his teacup onto the table.
"Prefect Ning has a good plan. If we successfully wipe out the bandits, it'll be thanks to your wise guidance. If we fail, no outsider will be able to make a fuss about it, and you can still ask for help."
Caught red - handed with his scheme, Ning Weizhi was no longer embarrassed. Instead, he smiled obsequiously.
"With the general taking action, those bandits will surely be eliminated. Why let others share the credit?"
These bandits had been causing trouble for a long time, and the people around Qilin Mountain had suffered greatly. If they could be wiped out in one fell swoop, not only would he receive rewards from above, but the people would also be grateful to him.
He Xun didn't care about these rewards and gratitude and wouldn't compete with him for them. But others might not be the same.
"You're quite honest. I'll agree to your request then."
He Xun looked at Ning Weizhi with a half - smile, his eyes filled with deeper meaning.
This Ning Weizhi was really good at reading people's minds. He knew that He Xun always hated the hypocrisy and scheming in the officialdom, so he deliberately acted honestly while actually having other plans in mind.
However, He Xun was too lazy to care anymore. He couldn't ignore the safety of the people.
The reason he tested Ning Weizhi was just to see if he was really as calculating and hard - to - read as the rumors said.
Under He Xun's gaze, Ning Weizhi slowly averted his eyes and smiled.
"With General He's help, it'll be like adding wings to a tiger for our Jingzhao Prefecture. May I ask when the general plans to take action?"
Hearing this, He Xun silently pondered how to deploy his troops.
Just then, he heard Su Nansheng, who had been silent all this time, say,
"Linchuan, I want to go with you as bait."
He Xun turned his head and saw that Su Nansheng, who had been charming before, now had a serious face and a determined look in her eyes.
"No way. Those bandits are ruthless killers. They don't know how to cherish a beauty. Please don't cause any trouble, miss."
Before He Xun could say anything, Ning Weizhi refused Su Nansheng first.
"Since it's a wealthy merchant going to the capital, it's more convincing to bring his family along. As for causing trouble, does Prefect Ning still remember Li Kunshan?"
Su Nansheng stared directly at Ning Weizhi with burning eyes.
"Of course I remember. He was beheaded at the vegetable market a while ago. Why do you mention him, miss?" Ning Weizhi asked with a puzzled tone.
"Because it was me who ordered my maid to capture Li Kunshan. Her name is Bitao. Does the prefect have any impression of her?"
Although it was a question, Su Nansheng's expression was confident.
Ning Weizhi was stunned for a moment, then his face showed a look of realization. "So you're that Second Miss Su."
Su Nansheng nodded with a bright smile.
Ning Weizhi started stroking his beard again, then looked at He Xun.
"Even so, the enemy is outnumbered. If something happens to Miss Su by accident, I can't bear the responsibility."
In other words, he still didn't agree to let Su Nansheng go.
Su Nansheng immediately looked at He Xun, but heard him say,
"This matter can wait. Prefect Ning, please list the names of the yamen runners who will participate in the bandit - suppression first. I'll send someone to pick it up."
Ning Weizhi understood that He Xun was hinting for him to leave, so he bowed and said,
"I'll go and list the roster right away. I'll take my leave first."
After Ning Weizhi left, He Xun said,
"Family member, tell me. Why do you insist on going with me?"
Su Nansheng smiled gracefully. "Naturally, it's because I'm worried about my husband."
Without outsiders around, He Xun relaxed and leaned back in the mahogany chair, playing with the pouch on his waist one by one.
"Tell the truth."
Su Nansheng's smile instantly faded. Was she that easy to see through?
She rolled her eyes, then found He Xun staring at her with an interested look on his face.
Helplessly, Su Nansheng had to tell the truth.
"I just think that although Qilin Mountain is big, it's too lucky that those bandits can escape every time. It's a bit suspicious."
He Xun stopped his movement. "What do you mean?"
"I don't mean anything. I'm just making wild guesses. You can't blame me if I'm wrong."
Su Nansheng quickly distanced herself, afraid that He Xun would suspect her because of this.
He Xun didn't say anything more. After pondering for a moment, he said,
"Feiyu, go and check those yamen runners in Jingzhao Prefecture to see if any of them are colluding with the bandits."
After Feiyu left, Su Nansheng also stood up.
"I haven't finished checking today's accounts yet. I have to go and get busy first."
After saying that, without waiting for He Xun's reply, she left in a hurry.
He Xun was too sharp. She didn't want to stay here and let him guess and pry into her mind.
Behind her, He Xun's eyes were dark, and his expression was unclear.
...
In the Siji Pavilion of the waterside pavilion, Su Hele peeked through her veil at the dozen or so people in front of her and frowned slightly.
"Are the others on duty?"
There were hundreds of servants in the mansion. Were there only these few who were not on duty?
She had been teaching the servants to read here in the waterside pavilion for more than ten days. Only on the first day did more people come. On the remaining days, there were only a dozen people each time.
These people were naturally slow - witted, and yet they were so unmotivated.
If this continued, how could everyone learn to read? Then they would be no different from the servants in other mansions.
If they couldn't stand out and show the uniqueness of her management as the mistress of the house, why should she bother teaching them?
"Reply to the Second Young Mistress. We've checked both the maids' and the servants' quarters. Everyone is here." Granny Qing, who was in charge of the maids, replied.
Su Hele stroked her veil and said softly,
"In that case, we won't learn new characters today. But we can't slack off either. Review the characters I taught you in the previous days. You can go back after an hour. Granny Qing, please keep an eye on them for me. If anyone leaves early, they'll be punished."
After saying that, Su Hele got up and left. Her figure was as ethereal as a fairy.
After she left, there was immediately a chorus of complaints in the waterside pavilion.
"We still have to practice writing for an hour after our shift. I should have signed up for continuous duty."
"She makes us suffer here while she leaves."
"Alas, this dress is dirty again. I might as well wash it every day."
Cough...
Granny Qing cleared her throat, and the surrounding area immediately fell silent.
"Since the mistress has given the order, you should follow it. How dare you talk about the mistress behind her back? I think you all don't want to live anymore."
Granny Qing's face was solemn, and her voice was stern.
After her scolding, everyone immediately fell silent and started practicing writing obediently, but there was still a look of indignation on their faces.
Seeing this, Granny Qing sighed silently.
It wasn't strange that these little maids complained. The Second Young Mistress was really too much trouble.
Teaching them to read was a good thing, but this dress...
Granny Qing looked down at the pink and white silk dress on her body with a look of despair.
At this moment, she really missed the days when Chen Wanrong was in charge of the house.