Chapter 303: Chapter 270: The Rouge She Likes_2
"Six years ago, when your grandfather suddenly fell ill, it was Uncle Feng who helped stabilize all the Ning Family’s businesses. By the time those properties were passed into my hands, there wasn’t a single error."
"You have to understand that in such a situation, even if our shopkeepers were loyal, it would be hard to guard against those with ill intentions. If they wanted to cause trouble, it would be quite simple."
Fu Zhen agreed, "Someone who would think of us in such times truly deserves gratitude."
Mrs. Ning nodded.
Fu Zhen pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "That’s right, Grandfather also passed away six years ago."
Mrs. Ning opened her mouth to reply, but paused and nodded before saying, "Exactly, that year, quite a lot happened to both of us."
Fu Zhen vividly recalled the time of Ning Pochi’s passing. He passed away in June of that year. He was just over fifty at that time, and despite being always healthy, he suddenly fell ill in April of that year.
"What illness did Grandfather have?"
All the arrangements for the old master’s funeral were made by Mrs. Ning and the shopkeepers. Fu Zhen wasn’t fully aware of these things.
Moreover, she herself had been in poor health, and the old master didn’t want her to see him, unwilling to pass on the illness.
Mrs. Ning furrowed her brows, "He fell ill after an accident while receiving goods at the dock. The doctor couldn’t pinpoint what it was, just that he frequently fainted suddenly, followed by vomiting. Doctors from all over the area were consulted, and various prescriptions were tried, but nothing worked."
"Vomiting?" Fu Zhen propped herself up, "Could it have been poisoning?"
"How could it be poisoning?" Mrs. Ning looked at her, "Though some did suspect this, if it were poisoning, it wouldn’t drag on for two months. If someone wanted to poison him to death, they’d opt for a quick method, don’t you think?"
Fu Zhen couldn’t refute this.
Indeed, no one would poison someone over such an extended period.
Besides, what would be the gain from spending so much time poisoning him?
Eventually, the Ning Family’s properties, without losing a single cent, ended up back in Mrs. Ning’s hands.
And besides the inheritance, what else could the Ning Family offer?
"Master, Manager Su says that there’s a distinguished guest today who wants a jar of Green Jade Brew for the gathering..."
A bookkeeper was standing at the door, knocking while holding a note.
Mrs. Ning gestured for him to come in.
Fu Zhen stopped her train of thought and sipped her tea.
Her gaze accidentally drifted downstairs, where she was soon captivated by a familiar figure.
She put down her teacup, leaned on the window sill for a moment, then turned and walked out the door.
Mrs. Ning called after her, "Hey, where are you going?"
"Back in a moment!"
Fu Zhen replied without turning her head and swiftly went down the stairs.
Yang Tong, who was waiting below, quickly caught up when he saw this. Just as he was about to ask if she needed a carriage, he saw her turn on her toes after exiting the courtyard gate and head toward a private room on the second floor on the east side.
Yang Tong asked, "Young Madam, what’s the matter?"
Fu Zhen stopped under a pine tree, pointing to a private room ahead, "Guess who I just saw going in there?"
Yang Tong was puzzled, "Who?"
"He Qunying."
"Oh."
Yang Tong suddenly understood.
This person hadn’t been mentioned for a long time. Ever since Xu Yin secretly maneuvered events leading to Zhe Yu’s murder, He Qunying, who was once known for beating his wife to death, had been given a chance again.
Later, he got entangled with Zhang Shicheng for a while, but ultimately, Zhang Shicheng met defeat, and He Qunying quieted down. Recently, it was heard that He Qunying and his father He Huan had become closely associated with Xu Yin.
He thought for a moment and said, "Should I go listen to whom he’s meeting?"
Fu Zhen crossed her arms and said, "No need to go, I know who he’s meeting."
Yang Tong was surprised again, "Who?"
Fu Zhen squinted at him, "Your master!"
Yang Tong’s mouth gaped a little wider, "The General?"
Why would Pei Zhan have a private meeting with someone like He Qunying?
Last time, when his father He Huan invited Pei Zhan, Pei Zhan wasn’t keen on attending!
Fu Zhen snorted twice, "Not only the ’General,’ but the ’Miss’ too!"
"Young Madam, what do you mean by this? I don’t quite understand," Yang Tong scratched his head.
Fu Zhen tilted her chin toward the corridor, "Look there, isn’t that the ’Miss’?"
Following her gaze, Yang Tong saw a house servant leading two singers carrying a pipa and jade flute, heading in the direction of the private room Fu Zhen was focused on!
Yang Tong exclaimed, "The General is having a secret meeting with someone like He Qunying, and even invited performers?"