"Over at the Green Elegance Garden, the opera troupe has already got into their costumes and is just waiting for the ladies to choose the operas. If you don't like listening to opera, there are also playing cards and backgammon in the Adorning Abode next door. We can also play arrow - throwing and riddle - guessing games."
Feng Qingyun walked along, smiling and introducing, which immediately piqued everyone's interest. People got into groups and discussed where to go for entertainment.
"Madam Feng must be inviting me to listen to the opera. What about you?" Chen Wanrong looked at Su Nansheng.
Su Nansheng smiled and said,
"I'll go to the Adorning Abode. I guess the young ladies will all go there."
Chen Wanrong nodded,
"I bet Madam Feng was afraid that you young ladies wouldn't like listening to opera, so she prepared another place for you to have fun."
As she said this, she looked back at Concubine Li. She saw that Concubine Li was whispering something to Su Hele. The latter lifted her chin slightly and looked calm. It was hard to tell whether she had listened to it or not.
Seeing Chen Wanrong looking over, Concubine Li smiled and said,
"I'll also go to the Green Elegance Garden to listen to the opera."
Actually, she wanted to play cards, but those ladies would surely go to listen to the opera. She couldn't miss this opportunity.
Hearing this, Chen Wanrong glanced at Su Hele again.
Concubine Li stepped forward. "She said she didn't like games and competitions and wanted to take a stroll in the garden by herself. I've already given her instructions. Don't worry, Mistress."
"Don't bother with her."
Chen Wanrong said as she walked towards the Green Elegance Garden.
Su Nansheng knew this was meant for her and gave a knowing smile.
So, everyone parted ways at the crossroads. Most of the ladies went to the Green Elegance Garden to listen to the opera, while Su Nansheng and several young ladies went to the Adorning Abode.
...
Inside the Adorning Abode, the young ladies were scattered around in groups, laughing heartily. Coupled with the whining opera music from next door, the garden was noisy but full of joy.
"Miss, why don't you go and play with them?"
Seeing Su Nansheng just sitting alone at the bluestone table outside after entering the yard, Bitao couldn't help asking.
Before Su Nansheng could answer, they heard a voice say,
"All the young ladies here today come from noble families. As an aunt, her status is far from high enough. It's right not to go and make a fool of herself."
Bitao rolled her eyes silently. Didn't she say she was going for a stroll by herself? Why did she come here again?
She turned her head and sure enough saw Su Hele walking towards them.
"No wonder the Second Young Mistress wants to take a stroll by herself. It turns out she knows that as the wife of a concubine - born son, her status is low. She's afraid of dirtying the eyes of those young ladies. She's quite self - aware."
Su Nansheng smiled on the surface, but her voice was full of sarcasm.
"Humph, I just look down on those vulgar things. Besides, I also disdain to be with those noble..."
Just as she was speaking, she saw Feng Qingyun and Qiao Lan walking towards them.
Feng Qingyun first nodded slightly to Su Hele, then smiled and said,
"Aunt Su, why are you sitting here alone? How about coming to play cards with us?"
"Yes, we still want to hear how Aunt Su captured the wanted criminal. Come on, tell us."
Qiao Lan smiled and grabbed Su Nansheng's wrist, looking very intimate.
Hearing the words "wanted criminal", Su Hele's face immediately turned a bit ugly. Seeing that the two of them ignored her as if she wasn't there, she couldn't help snorting,
"Vulgar."
Feng Qingyun heard this but remained calm.
Qiao Lan pulled Su Nansheng again, indicating that they should continue walking.
Seeing that they still ignored her, Su Hele's face became even uglier.
They must be doing it on purpose. They were joining hands to isolate and bully her.
She squinted at their backs for a while, then followed them into the house.
...
The house was divided into three rooms, left, middle and right. The windows were wide open facing the courtyard, and the decoration was very elegant.
The main hall was very spacious. There was a soft mat on the ground, and in the middle was a red - sandalwood table several meters long. The young ladies were kneeling beside it, playing cards.
Next to the table was a censer carved with a coiled dragon pattern. Wispy incense was overflowing from it, permeating the antique shelf behind it.
There were several blue - and - white porcelain ornaments placed in a disorderly manner on the antique shelf. In the middle, a coral tree more than half a person's height was the most eye - catching.
The coral was as red as flame and as smooth as congealed fat. Its branches were strong and its form was natural. It was supported by gold and jade and set on a red - sandalwood base. It was obviously extremely valuable at first sight.
Su Hele smiled faintly,
"It's rumored that Lord Feng is an honest official and often helps the poor. Now that I see this, the rumors are just rumors. They can't be trusted."
Her voice was not loud, but it made the room fall into silence.
Su Nansheng had just been pressed down to sit. Hearing this, she couldn't help covering her forehead.
Why did she start biting right away? Who offended her?
"What does Madam Su mean by this?"
Feng Qingyun, who had been smiling just now, immediately sank her face.
Su Hele looked calm and said softly,
"It doesn't mean much. I just feel sorry for those students who are eager to learn but can't afford tuition fees. It turns out that the respected Dean they admire in their hearts is actually like this in private."
Feng Qingyun took a step forward and said sternly,
"What kind of person? Please clarify, Madam Su."
"Since Dean Feng is an honest official, his mansion should be simple and elegant, with straw mats and bamboo couches. But I see that there are pavilions every few steps in this garden. It's too extravagant. And this coral tree is extremely valuable. I wonder where this treasure came from."
Su Hele pointed at the coral tree with her chin. With Feng Xiuxian's salary, it was unlikely that he could afford such a thing.
So he must have either accepted bribes or embezzled money. Either way was a crime.
Feng Qingyun looked down on her. Now she had caught her. She couldn't tolerate any sand in her eyes.
Thinking of this, Su Hele lifted her chin slightly and looked smug.
But she saw that there was not a trace of panic on Feng Qingyun's face:
"So Madam Su is talking about this yard. My family is a scholarly family with generations of officials. This yard has been passed down for three generations before it was built to this extent. As for the coral tree..."
"She's just maliciously speculating. Sister Feng, why bother explaining? Every family has its heirloom."
Qiao Lan held down Feng Qingyun's hand to stop her from speaking.
"Yes, it has been passed down from generation to generation in their family. Unlike someone who has no background but climbed into the Marquis's Mansion. Suddenly getting rich, she thinks others are like her."
A young woman beside them continued playing cards while casually chatting as if by accident.
But as soon as she finished speaking, she suddenly looked at Su Nansheng, looking apologetic.
Su Nansheng just smiled and shook her head, indicating that she didn't mind.
Hearing others say that she climbed up to the powerful, Su Hele immediately sank her face:
"So what if they are a family of officials for generations? They are just falsely reputed. Otherwise, as the head of the Imperial College, he should have exchanged this extremely valuable coral tree for silver to help the common people long ago. You should know that there are still hundreds of students who can't afford to go to school."
"Since Madam Su is so concerned about those students, she must have generously donated money to help them."
Qiao Lan didn't give in an inch.
Su Hele's expression froze slightly, but she quickly said,
"I'm not in that position, so I don't need to worry about that. It's not my responsibility to make sure every student can go to school."