บท 13: Chapter 13: Discovering the Gold Mine
Zhang Rui hesitated for a moment before saying, "This old servant took a walk around Mingyue Mountain yesterday afternoon and found something unusual about the mountain."
"Unusual?" Zuo Xiangning was inwardly shocked. She told Pan Xia to go out and stand guard, "Don't let anyone in."
After Pan Xia left, she whispered to Zhang Rui, "What do you mean by unusual?"
Seeing Zuo Xiangning act so cautiously, Zhang Rui couldn't help but feel surprised.
He lowered his voice and said, "On the eastern slope of Mingyue Mountain, under the tallest ginkgo tree, the ground has collapsed into a hole. I jumped down to see what caused it, and I found that the exposed rock wasn't like any stone."
"What is it?" Zuo Xiangning asked with a hint of nervousness.
"It looked golden, but I can't be sure exactly what it is," Zhang Rui rubbed his hands together and said, "I thought I should ask for your opinion first."
Zuo Xiangning looked at Zhang Rui in front of her, short in stature with thick brows and narrow eyes, realizing she had no recollection of him from her previous life.
She didn't know if she could trust him, but since Madame Jiang had given him to her, it seemed Madame Jiang thought highly of him.
"You might also understand the madame's intentions," Zuo Xiangning said crisply, "your family will be my chamber servants, sharing my glory and disgrace."
"This old servant understands," Zhang Rui said earnestly. "Fourth Miss, rest assured, I haven't mentioned yesterday's matter to anyone. I came to report to you first thing."
Zuo Xiangning nodded and asked, "Then tell me about what happened on Mingyue Mountain. What should we do next?"
"Before I left the mountain, I used dead branches and rotting grass to cover up that hole," Zhang Rui pulled out a paper package from his clothing and handed it to Zuo Xiangning, "I scraped off some fragments with a knife, wanting to have someone look at it to find out what it really is."
Zuo Xiangning opened the paper package and saw the glittering gold-like fragments, her heart pounding uncontrollably.
Zuo Xiangning's mind searched for a while but couldn't think of anyone appropriate to consult, so she asked with a headache, "Do you know anyone who understands this? If we find someone who's too curious and loose-lipped, it could cause big trouble."
"I have a cousin who grew up with me. He's now the second manager in a gold shop. I want to ask him—he's very tight-lipped," said Zhang Rui. "If this really is gold, then Fourth Miss, you'll have to think carefully about what to do next. Otherwise, I fear you won't be able to keep it safe."
"I understand." Zuo Xiangning nodded, "First do as you suggested."
Zhang Rui responded with a "yes" and was about to leave when Zuo Xiangning stopped him again. She had Pan Xia give Zhang Rui ten taels of silver, "Hire a horse carriage for the round trip, don't be reluctant to spend the silver."
"Thank you, Fourth Miss." Zhang Rui bowed respectfully to Zuo Xiangning and strode away.
Watching his retreating figure, Zuo Xiangning said to Pan Xia, "Have someone go check on Pan Cui's home to see if anything has happened."
Since Pan Cui had returned home yesterday morning and hadn't come back in the evening, Zuo Xiangning was somewhat worried about her mother.
"This maid will have someone go check right away," Pan Xia said.
With her mind unsettled with concern about the news from Zhang Rui, Zuo Xiangning was unable to concentrate and ended up writing just two pages of large characters.
Suddenly, the sound of urgent footsteps came from the courtyard. Zuo Xiangning's pen paused, and a drop of thick ink stained the fine paper.
"Xiangning!" The person who arrived was not Zhang Rui, but her third brother, Zuo Zimo.
Zuo Xiangning put down her brush and stepped out of the study to see Zuo Zimo hurrying in, "Third Brother, why haven't you gone to school again?"
"Mr. Wen is on sick leave today," Zuo Zimo said hesitantly as he looked at Zuo Xiangning.
"What's the matter?" Zuo Xiangning smiled as she poured him a cup of tea.
"The eldest son of the Gu family just came over; he wants to buy that new mountain you purchased and is willing to pay one thousand taels of silver." Zuo Zimo hadn't finished speaking when he noticed that Zuo Xiangning's expression had changed. He quickly said, "I told him that the mountain is yours, and we have to discuss it with you."
"Did he explain why?" Zuo Xiangning was surprised by Gu Zhiqing's prompt action.
"He said it's because his mother is not well; he had someone look at it, and there's a spring on that mountain. He wants to build a hot spring retreat for his mother to stay at occasionally." Zuo Zimo said with a cautious smile, "That mountain is quite large; maybe we could sell them a piece of land to build a small residence?"
"No way!" Zuo Xiangning pursed her lips and refused, "I said I don't like the people from the Gu family."
"I know," Zuo Zimo said with difficulty, "But right after Gu Zhiqing left, Marquis Zhongyuan's Heir came, and he also wants to buy the mountain, saying the price is up to you."
"Marquis Zhongyuan's Heir?" Zuo Xiangning was slightly shocked. Why was he also getting involved?
"The Princely Heir is still waiting in my courtyard. What should I tell him?" Zuo Zimo said with a troubled face, "He's not easy to deal with; I'm afraid the excuses we use to dismiss the Gu family might not get rid of him."
Zuo Xiangning's mind was in turmoil. Could it be that Marquis Zhongyuan's Heir also knew about the gold mine?
Then why was it Gu Zhiqing who discovered the gold mine in the previous life? Moreover, he even gained significant credit in front of the Second Prince because of it.
"What should we do about Marquis Zhongyuan's Heir?" Zuo Zimo urged when he saw Zuo Xiangning silent, "What if he goes to father, and if father agrees, can you still refuse outright?"
Putting aside the chaotic thoughts in her mind, Zuo Xiangning frowned in dissatisfaction, "Just because he wants to buy, why should we have to sell? Why is he so overbearing?"
"His status is there for all to see; the Ling Family is a Meritorious Noble Family, and in our entire capital, they are also considered prominent."
"Why do you boost others' morale and diminish your own prestige?" Zuo Xiangning interrupted her elder brother's endless talk, "Anyway, I guarantee the mountain will not be sold!"
"Then what should we do?" Zuo Zimo turned anxiously in circles, "I can't just keep him hanging there indefinitely, can I? If he gets angry and barges into the courtyard to find me, that would be even worse!"
The more Zuo Xiangning listened, the angrier she got. She stood up abruptly and said coldly, "Let's go, I want to meet him! I really want to see how he would dare to bully and strong-arm under the heaven's son!"
Having said that, Zuo Xiangning strode out, seething with anger.
"Xiangning, where are you going?" Zuo Zimo was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly followed her out.
But Zuo Xiangning, swift as a gust of wind, left her chubby brother far behind.
Upon reaching Zuo Zimo's courtyard, she didn't wait for the maids to open the curtain; she flung it aside and stepped in, only to see the man sitting gracefully on the Taishi Chair, sipping tea.
Lingxiao set down his tea cup and looked up at the woman who walked in.
Her skin was as white as snow, smooth as jade; her cherry lips were red without adornment, and her shimmering apricot eyes seemed to hold endless grace and appeal.
She wore a light pink silk dress, her hair done up in the simplest bun, adorned with only a pearl hairpin. A few locks of hair brushed softly against her cheek in the breeze, adding an alluring charm that belied her young age, beautiful as winter plum blossoms on snowy branches.
"May I know why the Princely Heir honors my humble abode with his presence?" Zuo Xiangning started with an edge of anger in her voice.
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