Tianliangyuan

Chapter 261: Criticizing Sang and Huai

Lady Fang, the wife of Zhao Yuezhou, the Vice Minister of the Chancellery, naturally came from a prestigious family; otherwise, she would not have been able to marry into the Zhao family.

Zhao Yuezhou is currently the most powerful member of the Zhao clan in the court. This is not only because he is from the Zhao clan and has a strong background, but more importantly, because he is extremely talented. When the late emperor was alive, he praised him as a talented man and hoped that he would become a pillar of the country in the future.

Now, more than twenty years later, Zhao Yuezhou has indeed become a capable minister praised by everyone in the court, just as the late emperor had praised him.

He was a capable minister, not a powerful one, because he had indeed done several practical things for the Daxing Dynasty.

Was she here to confront someone?

No, families like the Zhao family, who pride themselves on being a prominent and influential family with a history of centuries, have always held themselves in high esteem and ordinary powerful and wealthy families are simply beneath their notice.

So how could Madam Zhao possibly come to the Marquis's residence with Xu Lin?

Even before Xu Lin got married, despite being the daughter of a marquis, the Zhao family might not have given her a second glance, let alone now that she is just the wife of a minor official.

Xu Zhaozhao became interested and wanted to hear what this Madam Zhao had to say.

After they entered the house to pay their respects and chatted for a while, Xu Zhaozhao learned that the two had just met outside the gate, which was why Xu Lin had eagerly welcomed them inside.

Xu Zhaozhao wouldn't even approve of such ingratiating and obsequious behavior, let alone Madam Zhao.

Wang Ruolan smiled and ordered someone to serve the most popular osmanthus black tea in the capital, then invited Madam Zhao to taste it.

"I had long heard that this Osmanthus Black Tea was made by the Princess of Anle County, but I was somewhat skeptical. Now that I see that you don't seem to value this tea, I finally believe it."

Who doesn't take osmanthus black tea seriously?

Naturally, only the host family would do this.

Because their family doesn't lack such things.

"Madam Zhao, please don't make fun of her. She's just an unmarried girl who's just idly thinking things through. If you praise her any further, she'll probably get all cocky."

Madam Zhao smiled and took a sip: "Indeed, excellent tea! But this tea tastes even sweeter than the ones I buy myself. Why is that?"

Wang Ruolan looked at Xu Zhaozhao with a smile: "You tell us."

Xu Zhaozhao smiled and said, "Madam Zhao thinks this tea is sweeter, probably because of the different brewing methods. Osmanthus black tea can be boiled, steeped, or brewed, and each method produces a different appearance and taste of tea."

"Oh? This has certainly broadened my horizons."

"If Madam has some free time another day, she can try the tea that I have brewed; it has a unique flavor."

"Great! Your osmanthus black tea is amazing enough. I really want to see how many other tricks you can come up with."

After a round of laughter and conversation, no one mentioned the Zhao family's jade mine, but Xu Lin, who was standing to the side, couldn't sit still any longer.

"Zhao Zhao, you really are something else. Your mother and Madam Zhao used to be close friends. What you did this time was rather unkind. You're going to ruin their sisterly relationship."

Xu Zhaozhao was certainly aware of the relationship between Wang Ruolan and Fang Shi. They were indeed friends before their marriage, but not to the point of being close friends.

"What do you mean, Aunt? What have I done?"

Madam Zhao's face darkened. She hadn't come here to make enemies, but coming from Xu Lin's mouth, it sounded like she had come to confront her.

"Zhao Zhao, don't pay any attention to her. I've known her for quite some time, but she has a big mouth! You did a great job this time, both accepting that memorial and the subsequent handling of the matter. It was all what you, as the county magistrate, should do. This matter was also due to poor internal management within our Zhao family, so it's only right that we pay some compensation."

Xu Zhaozhao understood that although Madam Zhao's words seemed to indicate that she didn't mind, she was actually reminding her that she was just a county princess, not a court official, and that she didn't need to meddle in other people's business.

Moreover, it was only a few thousand strings of cash, which was nothing to the Zhao family.

More than a hundred lives might not be as valuable as a box of jewelry in their eyes.

“I feel much more at ease now that you understand, Madam. It was quite a coincidence. I blame myself for being nosy and questioning the magistrate about why so many people came to the county office to seek justice, and why all I saw along the way were people wailing and selling their children.”

Madam Zhao's expression had already turned somewhat unpleasant.

Xu Zhaozhao seemed oblivious to this, and sighed, "I didn't expect it either. Just asking a question led to this case. Especially the Zhou family, they've done all sorts of evil. They only have one scholar and one servant working at the Prince An's mansion, yet they dare to act so arrogantly in Lantian County. It's simply outrageous!"

Madam Zhao's face turned ashen. This wasn't just an insult to the Zhou family; it was clearly a veiled attack!

But they didn't mention the Zhao family in any of their words. How do you respond to that?

Even if you want to yell back, you can't find a reason.

Madam Zhao felt that in all her decades of life, she had never felt so frustrated, and her chest ached in waves.

"Alright, Zhaozhao, let's not talk about these things in front of your grandmother and guests."

"Yes, mother."

Xu Zhaozhao sat for a while longer. Madam Zhao knew she wouldn't get anything out of her and didn't want to talk to Xu Lin any more, so she took her leave.

The old lady's room suddenly became much quieter.

Xu Lin said discontentedly, "Xu Zhaozhao, how can a young girl like you only know how to offend people? Do you even know what kind of family the Zhao family is? You have quite the nerve to bring the case to the Emperor's attention right away. Why don't you think about us relatives?"

Wang Ruolan frowned: "Alright! It's not that serious! Besides, this matter was originally the Zhao family's fault, what more do you want? Zhao Zhao's fief is in Lantian County, what's wrong with her helping out? If you ask me, this is precisely her duty!"

Xu Zhaozhao stopped pretending and said coldly, "Mother is right. Aunt, Madam Zhao didn't say a word against me. Who are you standing up for here?"

Xu Lin choked, looked at the old lady, then at the mother and daughter, and felt that she had been looked down upon.

"Well, Xu Zhaozhao, have you become so ill-mannered? I'm your elder, your aunt, and how dare you speak to me like that? You've gone too far!"

"All right!"

Xu Zhaozhao was originally planning to retort directly, but the old lady spoke up instead.

"The deed has already been done, and the Zhao family is indeed in the wrong. Although Zhao Zhao's actions were somewhat rash, at least they are justifiable. So why hasn't Madam Zhao criticized Zhao Zhao? It's because she also knows that the Zhao family is in the wrong. Do they really think that no one knows about the scapegoats they've pushed out?"

Xu Lin shrank her neck slightly: "Mother?"

"If you can't see the situation clearly, then you should talk less!"