Hearing the sound, Hong Ling’s face turned dark, she cursed, “It’s those little brats again! I will make them cry for their mothers and fathers today.”
There were several families living in this alley, and among them, a few children who didn’t understand much often came to knock on their door, extending their hands to beg for food.
Ming Zhu would give them food most of the time, but Hong Ling could not stand to see this group of rabbits deliberately disturbing people’s peace, so she took a broom and rushed out, opening the courtyard door with a fierce and vicious expression.
When the little rabbits saw her, they all ran away and scattered.
Hong Ling proudly closed the door and went back to the room, saying to Ming Zhu, “You have spoiled these kids too much, that’s why they are going overboard and coming here every day to pester you.”
Ming Zhu laughed, “Children love to make trouble, I was also like that when I was a child.”
Hong Ling did not believe her words, Ming Zhu had a gentle nature, she was not like those children that jumped up and down and caused trouble.
The sky was already turning dark, Hong Ling lit some lamps and the bright candle flames illuminated the whole room. Ming Zhu sat quietly by the window and cut the wick of the candlestick on the side. The candle flames were like young plants, swaying and rocking.
Under the light of the candles, Ming Zhu was sorting out the fabric she got back from the store today, her fingers were slender, white and beautiful, and she whispered, “How about I make you a dress out of this ruanyan gaze?”
Hong Ling had very few new clothes in her closet, she didn’t know how to dress up, but she had a very good foundation, her skin was white, and she had big eyes, her features were well-defined and lively, so she was a little beauty when she dressed up seriously.
Everyone liked to be beautiful, and she blushed a little after hearing what Ming Zhu said. Embarrassed, she couldn’t help but say, “You’d better keep it for the child.”
Ming Zhu cut the thin thread in her hand and raised her head, her delicate jade face was illuminated by the candle flame, “I bought this piece of fabric for you in the first place.”
Hong Ling stammered vaguely, “Ow, then don’t tire your eyes, I’m not in a hurry to wear it.”
She didn’t say it with her mouth, but she was actually very happy in her heart.
Ming Zhu said yes, and then lowered her head to continue to arrange the needles and the threads, her side profile under the candlelight was like a painting, her long black hair was falling in her lap, her expression was soft, she rambled, “I can even make a few pouches with the extra fabric.”
“But you already have a lot of pouches!”
Ming Zhu’s hands paused, as if she suddenly remembered something, she slowly raised her face, her eyes were dark, the watery light in the bottom of her eyes was like a clear spring, she said, “Hong Ling, bring me the clothes I just took off.”
Hong Ling didn’t understand her intention, “We can wash the clothes tomorrow.”
Ming Zhu shook her head with a white face, “It’s not about that.”
Although Hong Ling couldn’t understand what she was trying to do, she turned around and went to the compartment to bring her the clothes, which she handed to her.
Ming Zhu rummaged through the pile of clothes, her complexion looked worse every second that passed, she muttered, “My pouch is gone.”
Hong Ling saw that she looked terrified, and only thought that it was because there was a lot of money in her pouch and that she was feeling it was a pity. She said a few kind words to comfort her, but Ming Zhu did not seem to be relieved, sitting in a daze by the window, her small face was so white she made people feel distress for her.
Ming Zhu tried to recall the events, but she really couldn’t remember when she had dropped her pouch, the highest probability was that she had lost it when she was fleeing in panic to avoid Zhao Zhi.
Now, she could only hope that that pouch wouldn’t be seen by Zhao Zhi. He was man with a such a meticulous mind, so if he found the slightest abnormality, he would be able to follow the traces and find out the truth.
Ming Zhu held her breath, and began to secretly comfort herself, there wouldn’t be such a coincidence in this world.
Hong Ling asked her, “Zhu Zhu, are you alright?”
Ming Zhu cheered up and smiled to her, “I’m alright.”
As a person who valued money more than life, Hong Ling could understand her feelings right now, her pouch was full of shining silver, it hurt to have lost it! She said to comfort her: “Money gets rid of disaster, we can always earn more money.”
Ming Zhu nodded: “You’re right, money gets rid of disasters.”
On the other side, the prefect of Suzhou was summoned by the crown prince on his day off.
He had to leave the comfort of the beauty he was with, and quickly get dressed up to go to the small courtyard where the crown prince was staying and do his best to flatter him.
He waited outside the study with a joyous smile on his face, while his heart was beating like a drum inside his chest, thinking carefully about whether he had done something wrong which the crown prince learned about. When he was at his wit’s end, he was summoned inside.
The crown prince did not even look at him, he threw him a portrait, and ordered him to go look for that person.
