Du Xiaoyue then secretly escorted Xiangyun home.
But it was not until an hour later that she returned to the thatched cottage, and she was not alone.
"Xiaoyue, why have you been gone for so long? Did something really happen?" Xiang Nan asked with concern, "Hey, who is this old man?"
There was an old man tied up next to Du Xiaoyue. He looked about fifty or sixty years old. He looked honest and honest, with a grimace on his face. He didn't look like a bad person.
"Sir, something big happened. I discovered a big secret!" Du Xiaoyue picked up the teapot, pointed it directly at the spout, and took two sips of tea before reporting to Xiang Nanhui, "That Xiangyun is fake. , she is not Cao Xueqin’s dying maid at all.”
"What?! What are you talking about?" Xiang Nan asked pretending to be shocked, "What is going on?"
"Sir, I listened to you and secretly escorted Xiangyun home and watched her enter a house in the west of the city." Xiaoyue explained, "I wanted to stay outside to ensure the safety of Miss Xiangyun, but I didn't want to After the incense burning time, her old servant slipped out."
"I saw him sneaking around and it was very strange, so I followed him secretly. Where do you think he went?" Du Xiaoyue opened her eyes wide and looked at Xiang Nan and asked.
"Seeing how shocked you are, could it be that you went to He Mansion?" Xiang Nan said with a smile.
"Oh, sir, you are indeed a great talent. You have a clever calculation and you guessed right." Du Xiaoyue said in surprise.
"Ah, he really went to He Mansion?" Xiang Nan said with a surprised look on his face.
"Yes, sir, I felt strange too, so I followed him in secretly." Du Xiaoyue nodded, "I saw him meeting He Shen, muttering a lot, and then leaving He's Mansion.
I thought it was strange, so I arrested him. After asking, I found out that Xiangyun was not Cao Xueqin's dying maid at all. She was the wife of bookseller Chen Weiyuan, who was instructed by him to get close to Cao Xueqin in order to defraud him of the manuscript.
This old man Ah Fu was sent by He Shen to Chen Weiyuan in order to monitor him. Sir, we have all been fooled! "
"Is what Miss Xiaoyue said true?" After hearing this, Xiang Nan frowned and looked at Ah Fu.
Ah Fu nodded with shame.
…
"You are both a member of Heshen and someone close to Xiangyun. You must have known the whereabouts of the manuscript of "A Dream of Red Mansions" for a long time. Why didn't you tell Heshen before?" Xiang Nan asked again.
"Although Ah Fu is a close friend of your Excellency, I saw with my own eyes that in order to protect the manuscript of "Dream of Red Mansions", my wife did not hesitate to turn against the master, abandon wealth and honor, be willing to suffer, risk her life, and run around.
Ah Fu saw all this. People's hearts are made of flesh, and Ah Fu was deeply moved. Ah Fu knew that if he handed "A Dream of Red Mansions" to Mr. He, he would be struck by lightning.
Therefore, despite the urgent urging from the adults, I kept evading it and pretended not to know the whereabouts of the manuscript of "Dream of Red Mansions". Ah Fu is determined to leave Mr. He and serve his wife for the rest of his life. "
"I see." Xiang Nan nodded, "So, although Miss Xiangyun is Chen Weiyuan's wife, she has already turned against her husband and still refused to hand over the manuscript of "A Dream of Red Mansions" to him?"
"Yes, sir!" Afu nodded repeatedly, "After Madam got the manuscript, she kept it carefully. Although Mr. Chen pressed him many times, Madam would rather die than obey and vowed to keep the manuscript.
For this reason, he did not hesitate to leave the Chen Mansion and give up his glory and wealth. Ah Fu was deeply moved by this, so he decided to serve his wife for the rest of his life. "
"What a loyal servant, what a righteous wife." Xiang Nan praised, "Xiaoyue, please untie me quickly."
Du Xiaoyue nodded, knowing that she had misunderstood the good guy, and quickly untied Ah Fu.
"Old man, I'm so sorry, I thought you were a bad person." She also apologized.
"Girl, you don't have to be like this. Ah Fu did make a mistake first." Ah Fu quickly waved his hand and said, "Sir, if nothing happens, I will go back."
"Hey, don't go back." Xiang Nan waved his hand and said, "I know He Shen. He is extremely smart and extremely suspicious.
Although you can deceive him for a while, you can't deceive him forever. If he knew you betrayed him, he would definitely not let you go. It will be in danger if you go back. Well, you can stay in my thatched cottage.
Xiaoyue, please try again and invite Miss Xiangyun. Chen Weiyuan and He Shen are all staring at her now. It is dangerous for her to be alone outside. "
"Thank you, sir!" Ah Fu said with a deep bow.
Du Xiaoyue also nodded.
…
An hour after burning the incense, Xiangyun was escorted by Du Xiaoyue to the thatched cottage.
"Ah Fu, are you really from Heshen?" Xiangyun asked in shock when seeing Ah Fu.
"Yes, Ah Fu deceived the girl and deserved death." Ah Fu knelt down and kowtowed.
"That's all. Miss Xiaoyue has told me that although you were sent by Heshen, you did not hand over the manuscript of "Dream of Red Mansions" to him. There is nothing wrong." Xiangyun waved his hand and said, "On the contrary, I Thank you also for taking care of me over the years.”
"Madam, you don't have to be like this. Ah Fu is willing to serve Madam." Ah Fu said respectfully.
Xiangyun nodded, and then bowed to Xiang Nan Yingying, "Sir, I'm so sorry, I have been lying to you all this time!"
"Hey, it doesn't have to be like this. Ah Fu has already told Ji about Madam's righteous deeds." Xiang Nan waved his hand and said, "In order to protect the manuscript of "Dream of Red Mansions", Madam did not hesitate to break up with her husband, give up her glory and wealth, and take risks. Ji I admire you so much, how can I be surprised?
Madam can forgive Ah Fu, and Ji can forgive Madam, please get up quickly! "
"Mr. Xie Ji." Xiangyun stood up and said.
"Since Madam is not Mr. Xueqin's dying maid, Xiangyun must not be Madam's real name." Xiang Nan smiled and said, "Madam, can you tell me Ji's real name?"
"Suddenly I arrived at a secluded place in Yunshan Mountain, and there were unknown birds singing through the forest." Xiangyun said quietly.
"Madam is free and easy, but Ji is more reserved." Xiang Nan said with a smile, "Madam, please forgive Ji for being blunt, you are in a very dangerous situation now. He Shen, Fu Kang'an, and Chen Weiyuan will all deal with you in order to get the manuscript of "Dream of Red Mansions" of.
And you, a prostitute, are alone and unable to protect yourself. Madam, Ji please stay in Ji Mansion, at least until I can vindicate "A Dream of Red Mansions" before leaving. "
"Sir, you said that because you thought of a way to vindicate "Dream of Red Mansions"?" Xiangyun asked in surprise when he heard this.
Xiang Nan nodded, "Actually, I didn't want to wade into this muddy water. After all, "Dream of Red Mansions" is a rebellion authorized by the emperor, and it is not easy to redress.
But tonight, I saw that my wife would not hesitate to turn against her husband to protect "Dream of Red Mansions"; Ah Fu would not hesitate to break up with He Shen to protect "Dream of Red Mansions".
You still have such a big heart, how can I, Ji Xiaolan, protect myself wisely and only care about myself! "
"Sir, what you said is very good." Xiangyun said gratefully.
