The Famous Detective of the Red Mansion
Ch. 504 - Supreme Emperor Shi's Two Banquets at the Grand View Garden [Part 3]

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This Zhengguo Mansion referred to the relatives of the Niu family, while the Old Lord of Zhenguo Mansion referred to the birth mother of Duke Yongyi, Niu Jizong, who was also the Sister-in-law of Empress Dowager Niu’s Younger Brother.

Wu-Shi did not die before or later, but she died at the moment when the Zhenguo Mansion was thoroughly investigated. It was estimated that the officials responsible for investigating the case would be implicated one by one.

After all, according to the rules of the legitimate Concubines, Emperor Guangde was supposed to call Niu-Wu the Aunt. Since the Empress Dowager was still alive and had not yet obtained evidence of the Niu family's crimes, even if he were unwilling to do so, he had to make a gesture to avoid carrying the stigma of forcing her to death.

But these were all later words.

When Jia Baoyu heard that the Old Lord of Zhenguo Mansion had died, it immediately startled him, and called out to the servant inside to report it.

Sun Shaozong quickly stopped him with his arms and whispered, "Don't rush to make a fuss about this matter. First, discuss with your Uncle, Mother, and Sister-in-law to come up with a constitution, and then let the Old Lady know."

Jia Baoyu nodded and rushed forward a few steps before suddenly turning back. He hesitated and asked, "Second Brother Sun, are you saying that the Niu family is unjustly accused, or is it true?"

*He is still struggling with this question?*

Sun Shaozong rolled his eyes in silence and couldn't help but say, "Look at those who are all facing up and down, trying to distance themselves from the Niu family. Who cares if the Niu family has been wrongly accused?"

The meaning of this statement was that, regardless of whether the Niu family has been wrongly accused or not, it was not wrong to first clarify the relationship, after all, this was not done by one or two families. Even if the Niu family could turn over in the future, they didn’t dare find so many people to hold them accountable.

However, Jia Baoyu scratched his head, but his expression was not very clear, clearly not understanding the true meaning behind it..

Sun Shaozong couldn't explain it too thoroughly, so he gave him a push on the shoulder and urged, "Alright, since it's not your turn to decide on this matter, just go ahead and report it."

Jia Baoyu then strode into the Hengwu Garden.

There was only one mountain road leading to the Hengwu Garden, and there was no fear that thieves would sneak into it. Sun Shaozong was too lazy to follow and only found a small pavilion near the dock to rest.

Not long after, a person hurriedly rushed over and asked a few questions on the dock, then walked straight towards the small pavilion. However, as the person approached, the person timidly stopped on the steps.

Upon seeing this scene, Sun Shaozong sighed inwardly, "As expected," and then stood up and called the people into the small pavilion.

"She... she asked me to come and ask you for the silver notes," said the person with a disappointed expression.

She naturally referred to Wang Xifeng, and the person who came here was Ping’er, who was ordered by Wang Xifeng to hastily over to beg for the silver.

As the saying went, the greater the expectation, the greater the disappointment.

Originally secretive, this year has passed, but now she finally got the opportunity to escape, but it was stopped by Wang Xifeng, which made Ping'er feel frustrated.

Sun Shaozong saw this scene and reached out to pick up her drooping head. He chuckled and said, "Since the young lady wants my money, how could you not even give a smiling face?"

"My Lord!"

Seeing him still teasing at this moment, Ping’er couldn't help but let out a cry of grievance.

"Hurry and give me a smile."

Sun Shaozong moved his finger slightly upwards and rubbed her smooth face, saying softly, "Although she refuses to let go at the moment, we are still one step closer than before."

As he spoke, he added, "When I come back to this mansion next time, I'll bring you that pocket watch."

As he mentioned the sketched pocket watch, the stiffness on Ping’er's face instantly dissipated. She nodded like a cat but shyly withdrew, whispering, "Under the blue sky and white sun, we should not be seen by anyone."

"What are you afraid of? Jia Lian doesn't even care!"

Speaking of which, Sun Shaozong still withdrew his hand and took out two silver notes from his sleeve pocket. He said bitterly, "I originally wanted to use this excuse to redeem you, but she saw through the reality and instead used you as a bargaining chip."

Ping'er sighed helplessly and smiled bitterly, "Of course, I don't want to be a bargaining chip too, but my contract is still being held in her hand?"

Speaking of which, she wanted to take those two silver notes over.

Unexpectedly, Sun Shaozong changed his mind again and handed one to Ping’er, kicking the remaining one back. In Ping’er's puzzled gaze, he chuckled and said, "I will stay in the garden for another night tonight, and the remaining one, you will come and ask for it later tonight."

Upon hearing the meaning behind his words, Ping'er's face immediately turned red, and she couldn't help but ask sourly, "Do you want to call Xiaohong again?"

"No need!"

Sun Shaozong quickly shook his head like a tambourine, afraid to say, "This little hoof is like a fairy sucking on the bone and marrow. If it weren't for my strong body, I would have almost lost face yesterday—this time is enough, I wouldn't dare to provoke her again."

Upon hearing this, Ping'er chuckled and quickly covered her little mouth, giving her a seductive look as she coquettishly said, "I originally wanted to learn her techniques, but now it seems that there's no need to worry."

Sun Shaozong was dumbfounded and quickly changed his mind, saying, "Actually, my physique is..."

Before he could finish speaking, Ping’er giggled, stood up, and gave a blessing. She said to report this half of the money back first, and then she left like the wind.

Watching her enter the Hengwu Garden from afar, Sun Shaozong was about to retract his gaze when he saw a person rushing over from afar. However, it was Jia Lian whom he had just been nagging a moment ago.

Sun Shaozong quickly stood up and welcomed Jia Lian out. Just as he was about to greet him, he saw that Jia Lian's forehead was swollen and bruised. He couldn't help but be surprised and said, "What's wrong with you, Brother Lian? Is there anyone else who dares to fight you?"

Jia Lian cursed with a gloomy expression on his face, "Don't mention it. That stone fool really lives up to his name. At first, I tried to speak to him, and finally saw his dozen or so fans. Because they are indeed treasures, I wanted to ask for a price list on behalf of my father first."

"Unexpectedly, as soon as I spoke, the stone fool became angry and ignored me, pushing and shoving me outside..."

"Was this beaten by that stone fool?"

Sun Shaozong was surprised and said, "Just a broken household, if he doesn’t want to sell it, then don't sell it. How dare he start beating people? Is he too brave?"

"No!"

Jia Lian quickly shook his head and said, "That stone fool was just pushing and shoving, but he didn't dare to take action. This injury was caused by my father..."

It turned out that when he came home and told Jia She, he was scolded to the point where he couldn't even intimidate a broken household. Jia Lian just spoke a few words, but was hit on the forehead by Jia She with a cricket gourd.

"Anyway, I can't handle this matter."

Jia Lian twisted the bruise on his head with his ring finger and grinned, saying, "That stone fool said it's only a handful for one thousand taels of silver, and he would never sell it outside. Can the old man still increase it to two thousand taels?"

Looking at his unintentional display of feminine energy, Sun Shaozong felt that he was feeling weak all over.

Fortunately, Jia Lian quickly regained his *"normal"* state and smiled, "I heard that Erlang is going to spend the night in the garden. Why don't we have the theater troupe in the mansion sing a concert to liven up the atmosphere? How about the *"Sun Public Case"* edited by Jiang Yuhan?!"

Sun Shaozong has already made an appointment with Ping'er; how could he have the leisure to listen to any bird play? Especially when it came to singing one's own story.

Just as she politely declined, someone nearby shouted, "Lord Sun, the Old Lady is going to hold a banquet and have some wine at the Lotus Pavilion. Please come over and have a drink, too.”

***Tch!***

He didn’t know if Old Lady Jia had received the news of the death of the Old Lord of the Zhenguo Mansion. If she had already known, then she would have been truly relieved.

Sun Shaozong was originally entrusted to accompany and protect Old Lady Jia, so he naturally wouldn't refuse this invitation. So he hurried with Jia Lian to the outside of Hengwu Garden, where he joined Jia Baoyu and rushed with the team towards Hengwu Garden.

At this banquet, Grandma Liu's witty words were repeated, which unexpectedly drew laughter from everyone.

Until around 3 pm, Old Lady Jia felt a bit tired because she had not taken a nap. She yawned twice at the banquet, and Wang Xifeng next to her came up to advise her to go back and rest to avoid hurting her body.

So this second banquet was considered a drunken farewell.

It was said that Wang Xifeng ordered someone to send the Old Lady to the front yard for rest. She stayed behind and discussed with Old Madam Wang, and decided to let Li Wan and others only stayed in the front yard with their intimate maids, while the other maids and nannies all returned to their respective homes.

Sun Shaozong, as the *"key stand,"* was once again placed on the Zhuojin Tower, surrounded by water on all sides and only accessible by an arch bridge.

Not to mention others.

When it came to the evening, after another round of toasting, Sun Shaozong managed to persuade Jia Lian and Jia Baoyu to go back.

Just as he returned upstairs and covered his face with a hot towel, he drank a cup of ginseng tea to relieve his slight drunkenness. He heard a crisp sound from the window edge, and a small stone was thrown up.

Sun Shaozong quickly poked his head and looked out, only to see two figures standing vaguely in the hazy night.

Why did she still bring Lin Hongyu along?

Sun Shaozong felt a little unhappy in his heart, although that little fairy was a clingy person; in front of her, Sun Shaozong had to keep his demeanor up all the time, making it difficult to fully immerse himself.

Everyone has come, so it was useless to think about all these things.

It was just that…

He should head down and see if he could coax Lin Hongyu back and leave Ping'er alone to serve.

With such thoughts in mind, Sun Shaozong hurriedly came downstairs and removed the latch. Just as he was about to open the door, the two people outside couldn't wait any longer. They suddenly pushed the door in and squeezed their mature body into Sun Shaozong's arms, panting softly and saying, "My Lord, I've been thinking day and night, and I've finally come to this day again."

After listening to the soft murmurs, Sun Shaozong suddenly froze on the spot, because what rushed in was not Ping'er and Lin Hongyu, but Li Wan's master and servant.

*Oops~*

If this was seen by Ping’er...

Just as he was thinking about it, Su Yun also squeezed in and anxiously locked the door, suppressing her voice and saying, "It seems like someone came over from the bridge with a lantern!"