Marrying a treacherous official

Choi Yeo-joo sat back in the rose-covered armchair and smiled serenely, "Mother is always so thoughtful."

When Lady You got tired of playing with the parrot, she had her maid take the gold-framed cage out so she could have some peace and quiet.

"You are in charge of drafting the New Year's gifts for the Pei family. I'll have Granny Tong deliver them to the Pei residence later."

"I don't know what General Pei likes, or how to win his favor."

As Cui Lizhu thought of that elegant and refined figure, tender emotions welled up within her, and she couldn't help but wistfully recite:

"That merchant's daughter, I don't know what kind of seductive tricks she used, actually bewitched General Pei to the point of losing his mind. He disregards social status and insists on marrying her. I wish I had half of her skills."

"This is not difficult."

Instead of scolding her daughter for these absurd words, Madam You even offered her advice.

"Wang Mama is in Qianzhou. I'll just send her a letter and ask her to check."

Lust is a double-edged sword.

Back then, she knew exactly what the Marquis liked about innocent, naive girls. She knelt in the mourning hall to observe mourning, and used her pitiful, tearful eyes to seduce the Marquis's family. From then on, she received continuous favor and became the undisputed mistress of this deep mansion.

Once we find the shortcut the merchant's daughter took and replicate it, capturing General Pei will be just around the corner.

Choi Yeo-joo hugged Yu-shi's arm and shook it coquettishly.

"If Mother helps me marry into the Pei family, I will certainly not disappoint you when I become the head of the household."

Madam You stroked her head affectionately and murmured softly:

"Only the Xuanjia Army can rival the Tiger Wing Army in the entire court. Don't be fooled by the fact that the old man is powerful now. He has killed so many old ministers and made so many enemies. If the new emperor doesn't like him one day, that will be the time when General Pei rises to power and kicks him off the throne."

She gently smoothed the stray hairs behind Cui Lizhu's ears, saying, "Since you've taken a liking to General Pei, and he has such a promising future, your mother will do everything in her power to marry you into the Pei family."

Cui Lizhu raised her eyes slightly and smiled brightly, "Mother, rest assured, after I marry into a prominent family, I will definitely help my husband to help my second brother rise step by step in the court."

These words struck a chord with Lady You.

"I sent a generous New Year's gift to the Empress's sister-in-law. After the spring, the Phoenix Palace will hold a flower viewing banquet, and that sister-in-law will take you to be chosen by the Empress."

"Thank you, Mother."

Cui Lizhu threw herself into You Shi's arms, overjoyed and forgetting herself.

After Granny Kong instructed the gatekeeper to intercept the New Year's gifts that the aristocratic families were sending to Cui Zeming, the entire Qinghui Courtyard became unusually busy.

Chunxuan handed a gift list to Yunji.

"This is the proposed New Year's gift list for the Gu family. In addition to silk fabrics, there are couplets handwritten by the eldest son, as well as traditional festive gifts such as red lacquered pastry boxes. Madam, please take a look and see if there's anything else you'd like to add?"

Yunji flipped through the storeroom ledger in his hand, saying without looking up:

"Have enough carriages been loaded?"

"Madam, over the years, a carriage has been more than enough to accommodate all the formal attire."

"Then let's find a way to fit enough for two carriages."

Yun Ji gave the order without room for argument, and then Chun Xuan cleared her throat and coughed. She looked up and saw Huo Xi hesitate and shut his mouth.

Her eyes flickered slightly, and a smile appeared on her face:

"Last time I visited relatives, I brought two cartloads of gifts to the Gu family. This time, when I send New Year's gifts, they can't be less than last time, can they? Guard Huo, don't you think that makes sense?"

Huo Xi really wanted to say that last time, the double gift for returning to the bride's parents' home was only given because the old man had agreed. This time, no matter how you calculate it, a whole carload of New Year's gifts would be enough to send. But he didn't dare to say a word of the truth.

"The lady manages all affairs, and everything is decided and decided by the lady."

After hearing this, Yunji found Huo Xi much more agreeable.

"I heard from the old woman that the heads of the various estates presented the master with a lot of delicacies?"

"The old woman mentioned it, and it's true."

"What exactly was sent over?"

"This servant remembers there were live deer, golden pheasants, roe deer, sea cucumbers, wild boars, and sturgeon."

"Pick some of them and put them in the carriage, that way we'll have enough for two carriages of New Year's gifts."

Yunji took out a list of books from the hidden compartment and handed it to Chunxuan.

"We can't leave with a full load of New Year's gifts and return empty-handed. These are rare and unique books that I asked the Gu family for. They've all been packed up and shipped back. There's also a letter for you to take to your second uncle."

"This servant understands."

Chunxuan went out to do her errands and saw Huo Xi following her closely. Wherever she went, he followed.

She stood before the moon gate, turned back fiercely to glare at him, and said, "What are you doing following me?"

Huo Xi looked directly at her and said, "If word gets out, how am I supposed to explain this to the old man?"

"If you don't tell and I don't tell, how will the old man know about this?"

"Chi Yinghui said."

"Madam sent New Year's gifts to the Gu family, so she didn't return empty-handed."

Chunxuan waved the book list in her hand and said righteously:

"Most of the books in the Gu family library are rare copies passed down from their ancestors. In particular, the classics that Madam wants are priceless. The fact that the Gu family can entrust such precious books to Madam is worth far more than the two cartloads of New Year's gifts."

Huo Xi looked at her with a knowing look in his eyes, until she felt guilty and raised her voice:

"If all else fails, you can pack these ancient books into two mahogany boxes, put them on two separate carriages, and transport them back. That way, you can at least give an account to the master."

Unable to bear his mournful and accusing gaze, Chunxuan handed him the book list and ran away without looking back.

Huo Xi had no other choice but to believe this explanation, which was a form of self-deception.

The thought that the old man would stare at him like he was an idiot after he said those words made him feel utterly humiliated.

I don't know when it started, but he went further and further down the path of betrayal and there was no turning back.

Hua Chao took a brocade box into the accounting room, dismissed the maids inside, closed the lattice door behind her, and quickly walked to the desk.

"Madam, look what this is?"

Yunji opened the brocade box and saw a stack of silver notes inside. After carefully counting them, she found that there were as many as five thousand taels.

"Where did you find these banknotes?"

"In the New Year's gift box that the He family gave to the old man."

Hua Chao recalled many details from that time and said:

"I was summoned to the gatehouse to collect the New Year's gift. I met the steward of the He family. He repeatedly told the master that he loved this kind of food and that the plate box must be delivered to the master. I thought there was something behind his words. After opening the plate box, I found this stack of silver notes in the bottom compartment."

Yun Jiqing's expression turned cold as she confirmed again, "Is this a New Year's gift from the residence of the Right Grand Counselor, Lord He?"

Hua Chao: "It is indeed the He family."

Yunji and He Nian had no connection whatsoever, but she harbored a deep-seated hatred for He Nian's second son.

In her past life, He Qingchang killed Gu Yunshan. Unexpectedly, in this life, before she could even take action, He Qingchang came knocking on her door.