The old gentleman had just left the house when Huo became aware of it.
The old man rarely went out unless he had to, not to mention the fact that Song Si was a student from a poor family, so the old man would not have asked him to treat him to a meal, so there must be something fishy here.
She had sent someone to keep an eye on the entrance of the house and tell her as soon as the old man returned, but the hours passed and there were still two quarters to go before curfew, and she had not yet heard any sign of the old man’s return, so she became vaguely uneasy.
She went to the study to find Mr. Big, “Father said he was going to dinner with Song Si, but he hasn’t come back yet, I’m really worried, go to the entrance of the mansion and check.”
Mr. Big did not know about this, and on hearing this, he put down the book he was holding and hurried out to wait.
After waiting for two quarters of an hour, he saw the carriage slowly approaching. When the carriage stopped, he took the lantern from his servant and greeted him, “Where has father gone?”
The old gentleman was coming out of the carriage with his head bowed, and when he heard his voice his movements paused for a moment, then he gave his hand to Xu Liang and waited for Xu Liang to help him down before he returned, “Song Si invited me to dinner and gave him some pointers after the meal, not paying attention to the time.”
“If there is anything he doesn’t understand, he can come and ask me. If he feels uncomfortable seeing me in his heart, he can also go to his second brother. Father is old, so try to go out less at night in the future.”
“Understood.”
The old gentleman lifted his feet and walked towards the house, the eldest gentleman walked beside him with a lantern, and when he had seen him back inside, he turned and went back to his own courtyard.
Huo walked anxiously back and forth in the house, hearing footsteps and hurried to the door to open it, but there was nothing unusual in her voice, “Father is back?”
“Mm.”
“That’s good, father hasn’t been drinking, has he?”
“No, it’s probably because Sons really got under his skin, I’ve watched him in much better spirits.”
“Is that so?”
Huo asked, feigning confusion as the unease in her heart grew heavier.
“Are there any restaurants in the capital that are open until this time of day?”
The eldest gentleman paused, “Naturally not, but with father’s position, give the tavern a word to delay closing and they will be willing to do so.”
……
Over there, the old gentleman sat in his chair, still excited.
“Old gentleman, should I ask the kitchen to prepare some dishes to bring up for you.” Xu Liang asked in a respectful voice.
Today the old gentleman had gone over without dinner and hadn’t eaten when he arrived there.
Only when he asked this did the old gentleman feel hungry, and was just about to let him go when he thought that he was going to the restaurant for dinner. After a pause, he ordered, “You tell the people in the kitchen to heat up the dishes and a pot of wine, and you will have a drink with me. Right, tell the people in the kitchen that no one is allowed to say anything about my drinking, or I will throw them out.”
Xu Liang answered and went to the kitchen, only two maids were on guard, once they heard that the old gentleman wanted to eat and drink, they hurriedly warmed up the cold dishes and warmed up the wine.
“The old gentleman has instructed that no one should say anything about his drinking, or you will not do it in the House.”
The two grannies repeatedly promised that they would not say anything.
Xu Liang came over with the dishes and wine, and poured a glass for the old gentleman before sitting down.
The old gentleman drank it all and put the empty cup on the table, “Xu Liang, I am really happy today.”
Wan’er had returned, and even if he died now, he would have no regrets.
“So you drink a little less, lest you drink too much and she smells and says something about you when you go to see Miss Sun tomorrow.”
The old man laughed out pleasantly, “You don’t say yet, she really did it, before, she ……”
……
Xu’s few people went back home.
Just now Gu Yi had sent Xiao Si back to say that they were coming back a little later, so that the three grandma Song could go to bed early.
But how could they sleep? Grandma Song had been thinking about the engagement, and Song Shu and Liu Cui Lan were worried about what they were going to do when they met their in-laws.
Song Wan Yue gave Song Si a wink, they hadn’t eaten yet and were feeling a bit hungry, but Xu’s eyes were red, if Grandma Song saw them, she would have asked questions.
Song Si raised her voice at the right time, “Grandma, father, mother we’re back.
The three of them came out of the house and when they saw that Xu had also returned, Grandma Song walked towards the kitchen, “There are dishes warming up for you in the pot, I’ll bring them out.”
There were no lanterns in the courtyard, only the faint light from the two houses came through, and Grandma Song did not see Xu’s red eyes.
Song Si stopped her, “Grandma, you’d better go and rest, I’ll go and serve it.”
He often did this at home, so Grandma Song didn’t insist, “Take it to the hall, I’ll light the lantern.”
“No need, go and eat in my house, don’t disturb your rest.”
Grandma Song waved her hand, “We’re fine, it’s fine if we go to bed early or stay up late.”
Song Si scratched his head, “That, Miss Xiao might come over tomorrow ……”
Before she finished her sentence, she received a slap from Grandma Song, “Why didn’t you say so earlier, you brat? We have to go to bed now! We need to go to bed now! We need to be refreshed so that we can meet my granddaughter-in-law tomorrow. You guys eat up and go to bed early too.”
Song Si and Gu Yi went to the kitchen to bring out the hot food and were about to take it to Song Wan Yue’s room when Gu Yi stopped them, “Go to big brother’s room, I have something to say to you and Yue’er.”
Xu didn’t eat much and went back to the house after she finished eating, leaving the three of them alone in the house.
Gu Yi swallowed the dish in his mouth, “I think big brother should tell Duke Ding about Eldest Aunt Xu being a member of the Xu family.”
Song Si’s movements of eating gave a beat.
Song Wangyue also raised her head to look at him.
“If it was in Qingping County, my father could have sent someone to investigate what happened ten years ago, not to mention ten years ago, or even decades ago. But this is the capital, we have no way to intervene, not so with the Lord of Dependency, he has people on hand who can help, the sooner this matter is found out the better.”
“Another thing is that it’s better for us to talk about it first than for someone from the Ding Guoguang Mansion to hear about it from somewhere else.”
“He’s right.”
Song Wan Yue looked at Song Si, “If the people of the Ding Guo Mansion heard about it from elsewhere, they would think that we were deliberately hiding it, and might be suspicious of us, which wouldn’t be good for you and Sister Xiao’s future. If big brother takes the initiative to tell them, it means that he treats them as family, so that the people of the Ding Guo Mansion will like you more and will be willing to help us.”
Song Si nodded, “I’ll go tomorrow morning.”
The following day, after breakfast, Song Si took the carriage and went to the Ding Guo Gong Mansion.
The Duke of Ding had just returned from the morning court with a tired look on his face. Today, in the Great Hall, the Emperor asked him how he was doing in tracking down the matter of the Qin Wang Mansion. When he found out that there was no progress, he scolded him in front of the civil and military officials and ordered him to find out as soon as possible.
Seeing that he was not in good spirits, Song Si thought about it and decided to tell him the matter, “Grandfather, Song Si has something to tell you.”
“Speak.”
“My eldest aunt is Miss Xu Qingwan who has been missing from the Xu family for many years.”