The Red Mansion Big Liar.

Chapter 642: Inside and Outside the Palace
"Woooooooo..."

The wind was howling, and the summer rain came quickly and urgently.

Dark clouds covered the sky, as if a curtain had suddenly been drawn over it.

For a moment, the sky was blocked out and raindrops as big as beans hit the windows of Ning'an Hall and a delicate banana tree outside the window with a crackling sound.

The raindrops hit the broad leaves of the banana tree and were immediately broken into eight petals. The splashing water fell on the leaves, gradually gathered into a trickle along the texture on the leaves, dripping slowly, and finally fell into the mud under the tree, forming a pool of turbid shallow water.

The converging water lines slide down into the shallow water, creating ripples. These ripples intertwine with each other, spread out, and then gradually disappear, lasting for a long time.

However, the banana tree, which has been washed clean of dust, looks even greener and more lively. It sways continuously in the wind and rain, as if cheering, enduring the torrential rain and the scouring and baptism of every drop of rain.

I don’t know how much time passed before the wind stopped, the rain stopped, and the dark clouds dispersed.

The sunlight shines through the thin clouds and falls on the moist earth, exuding the unique scent of earth after the rain.

The water droplets remaining on the banana leaves sparkle with crystal brilliance, like pearls inlaid on emerald green leaves. In the sunshine after the rain, they appear more vibrant.

Mrs. Xue, who was just across the window, was curled up on the kang with her arms around her knees, like a cooked river shrimp, dying.

It forms a sharp contrast with the vitality outside the window.

Although it was a long drought and finally a good rain, it had been a long time since I last fought in a battlefield, let alone two hours...

In the end, I had to follow Aunt Xue's example.

Zhang Yunyi was surprised and shocked, yet still felt a little unsatisfied.

He hesitated for a moment, patted the curled-up tail, that alluring curve, pursed his lips and said, "Wait for me in my concubine's room tonight."

It must be said that although Mrs. Xue's figure is similar to Mrs. Mei's, she is different from Mrs. Mei's image of a bullied woman who is reluctant to accept the offer. She is greedy and hungry.

Earlier, Aunt Xue took the initiative to propose to drag Mrs. Xue into the water.

Later, Mrs. Xue's impatient behavior made Zhang Yun逸 inevitably feel that he was the prey.

Whether it was for her own convenience or to keep the money within the family, Aunt Xue was not without this motive.

After all, ever since Second Mrs. Xue moved into the small courtyard in the northeast corner, Zhang Yunyi had been to the Xue family very few times, which was indeed inconvenient.

Anyway, one is willing to fight and the other is willing to be beaten, and Zhang Yun逸 is not a person who hesitates.

Aunt Xue took the initiative to suggest dragging Second Mrs. Xue into the water, but Second Mrs. Xue already knew about the relationship between him and Aunt Xue, so there was no need to hide it.

He struck while the iron was hot and was a little impatient to gather the two plump and thin widows of the Xue family together.

"Hmm?" Mrs. Xue trembled when she heard that. Her dilated pupils suddenly contracted. She swallowed and nodded subconsciously, but then suddenly shook her head like a rattle.

"I told you to find an excuse to go to her room, not to ask her to go to your room!"

Zhang Yunyi smiled evilly and said in a gentle and persuasive way: "Just use this as an excuse to tell her what we talked about today. When I come over, you will just pretend..."

"Uh……"

Zhang Yunyi was still not satisfied, and so was Second Madam Xue.

However, she also knew that she was incapable of doing so and that she could not digest too much at the same time, and she could not stay with Zhang Yunyi for long.

Although Aunt Xue is still unclear about her own situation, it is hardest to keep secrets in bed.

Now, Zhang Yunyi had made up all the lies, giving her the advantage of occupying the moral high ground. It was like killing two birds with one stone, so she just agreed reluctantly.

After being interrupted by Zhang Yunyi, she actually forgot to ask about Xue Baoqin's engagement. However, this was also her preconceived idea, and she subconsciously thought that since Zhang Yunyi benefited from her, he would naturally accept her suggestion.

……

"Oh no! Your Majesty!"

Xia Shouzhong trotted into the imperial study and fell to his knees with a plop.

He recounted the whole story of Zhang Yunyi seeking medicine in a concise manner, and then said, "This old servant has failed in his work. I have made all kinds of plans, but I didn't expect that Xue Jiazi is actually a regular customer of Jinxiangyuan..."

Although Zhang Yun逸 asked him for medicine, it was not up to him to decide whether to give it or not.

Not to mention, now that the news had leaked, he dared not deceive the emperor.

Emperor Wanlong's face was as dark as water. He was silent for a long time before he asked, "Are you sure he didn't see anything? He was just asking for medicine for someone else?"

It might be his self-esteem that was at work. If there was one person that Emperor Wanlong least wanted to know about the medication, it would definitely be Zhang Yun逸.

"What he said is correct, so it must be true..."

Emperor Wanlong shouted angrily: "Useless! Do you believe what he said?"

On the one hand, he was furious and angry when he learned that Zhang Yun逸 might know that he was not as good as him.

On the other hand, the Imperial Medical Service leaked the secret first, and then Zhang Yunyi asked for medicine. It would be fine if they really learned it from outside.

If not, wouldn't the palace become a sieve?

Xia Shouzhong shrank his neck in fear and quickly reported, "Before I returned to the palace, I asked my nephew to go to Jinxiangyuan to ask the madam for information. It was indeed Xue Jiazi who tested the medicine. He also threatened to pay a large sum of money for it. No matter how much money was offered, it was not a problem... The madam even boasted to my nephew that it was her idea to ask Zhang Yunyi for the medicine."

If everything had to wait for the emperor's orders, Xia Shouzhong would not have been able to reach his current position.

What's more, this was the tail left behind because he did not do his job well.

After hearing this, Emperor Wanlong's expression eased a little.

Xia Shouzhong observed the expression on his face, a fierce look appeared on his face, he rubbed his hands together like a knife, made a downward cutting gesture, and said: "Do you want me to bring people to clean up the mess?"

Emperor Wanlong showed a hint of interest on his face, but then he shook his head and said, "Forget it! Since he has not suspected me, if I deal with Jinxiangyuan now, it will alert the enemy."

"Yes! Your Majesty is wise!" Xia Shouzhong flattered him immediately and asked, "What do you think of Zhang Yunyi's reply?"

"You should go to Xiyuan right now and quietly tell the Taoist priest to refine another furnace and use it to deal with the problem..."

But at this point, he suddenly stopped talking and changed the topic, "Give him a few pills to get by, and tell him that the recipe for this pill has long been lost, and your nephew got it by chance, and there are only these few pills left, so that he can shut up and not keep asking for trouble in the future."

The elixirs that the Taoist offered as a gift last time were almost gone, and he had originally planned to do so.

However, the pills were used up too quickly, and he was unable to make up his mind for a while. Zhang Yunyi's request for medicine gave him a chance to back off.

Although it may seem like he is trying to cover up his crimes, Emperor Wanlong still has to save face.

Although Zhang Yun逸 did not suspect him, the Taoist who offered the medicine knew it well.

He himself had no intention of reducing the amount used. If Zhang Yunyi continued to do so, he would have to increase the frequency of refining.

Therefore, I found an excuse to block his way out in advance and prevent him from continuing to ask for money.

……

(End of this chapter)