After coming forward to explain the purpose of the visit, the slave at the side door was still kind and went in to invite a second general manager who was white and fat in his early thirties. The second general manager carefully interrogated it and carefully examined Lu Qi's identity official article. After confirming it, he took Lu Qi into the Minister's Mansion.

On the way through the door, the second general manager took the initiative to say harmony: "Master Lu, don't blame me for being verbose. Now the world is not peaceful. We servants are most afraid of doing wrong things. If we do small things wrong, we will be beaten and scolded at most. If we do big things wrong, we will lose our lives."

"The Second Chief Manager is right. If the bandits are attracted to the mansion and endanger the lord, then the crime will be great." Lu Qi responded with a harmonious voice.

"Mr. Lu is really a sensible person." The second general manager said with a smile.

Lu Qi came to the Minister of Works' Office and had another purpose. Seeing that the Second General Manager was easy-going, he hurriedly asked: "Second General Manager, I'm asking someone below. Is there a woman named Bai Ling'er in the Minister's Office from Shida County?"

The second general manager was stunned, thought for a moment and shook his head and said, "No, there is no Bai Linger in this mansion."

Lu Qi said oh, and asked again unwillingly: "Second General Manager, how many women are there in the Minister's Mansion from Shida County?"

The second general manager stopped suddenly, turned around and smiled, "I am the general manager in charge of internal affairs. I know the origin of the woman in the mansion. There are twenty-three prostitutes in the mansion, of which eight are from Shida County, and there are seventeen concubines of my master. I promise that there is no Bai Linger in the mansion that Lord Lu is looking for. I have never heard of Bai Linger."

The second general manager was so straightforward and detailed that Lu Qi was stunned and hurriedly said, "Thank you, the second general manager."

The second general manager smiled and said, "Mr. Lu, you don't need to thank me. These are just a few words. I can hear that Bai Linger is probably a relative of the adult. If Bai Linger is really here, at most she is the status of a concubine or a prostitute. I don't need to deceive the adults from the origin of these two kinds of women."

After hearing this, Lu Qi felt a good impression and said, "I'm sending a letter, thank you, the second general manager."

The second general manager smiled and turned around and walked forward. With a cup of tea, he took Lu Qi to a two-story building in a single courtyard. Lu Qi was stunned. It seemed that it was an inner house. The minister would not see him here.

"Mr. Lu, the Minister of the Secretariat is not here, and the third wife is the decision of the matter in the mansion. You should report to the third wife if you have any questions." The second general manager's voice sounded in Lu Qi's ears, and he immediately felt fooled.

"Second General Manager, Lord Zhao wants to meet the Minister below to deliver the items. It's not good to meet the Third Lady." Lu Qi hurriedly explained and refused.

"Haha, Lord Lu saw the third wife, that was equivalent to seeing the Minister of the Secretariat, please wait outside." The Second General Manager said with a smile, and stepped into the small building. Only then did Lu Qi realize that this was a smiling fox, but he could not leave when he came.

After a while, the second general manager came out and smiled and greeted Lu Qi into the small building. Lu Qi had to bite the bullet and enter the small building. The door of the building was a spacious and elegant hall, with a faint fragrance that secreted the heart and lungs.

Lu Qi sat in the hall with a beautiful and beautiful woman in her thirties in her blue skirt. A pretty maid of thirteen or fourteen years old standing on the left side of the beautiful woman. He knew that this woman should be the third wife of the Minister of Works.

He hurriedly walked up to respectfully and said, "Secretary Lu Tianfeng pays homage to his wife."

The beautiful woman nodded with a smile and said, "Lord Lu has come from afar. Thank you for your hard work, please sit down."

"Madam Xie." Lu Qi came in and could only face it, and turned around and sat in the guest seat.

"Mr. Lu, Brother Yulin tribe invites you to Beijing. Is there anything wrong?" The third lady asked softly. This polite attitude made Lu Qi feel very comfortable. Regardless of whether he was not a bad intention, he would be very good to be in the upper hand and know how to respect people.

"Returning to his wife, Lord Zhao asked his subordinates to escort a family prostitute and messenger to the capital. Unfortunately, he was not in good condition and stayed overnight in the fortress of Qinghe Township, Danyang County. Both the messenger and the prostitute were killed. Before the family prostitute died, he pointed to the makeup box he brought. Therefore, the subordinates sent the makeup box and a letter from the messenger to the Minister's Mansion." After Lu Qi said that, he stood up and held the letter and makeup box, and placed it on the guest table beside the third wife.

The third lady looked at it, stretched out her hand and pulled the seal open without hesitation. She took the letter inside and read it. After reading it, she put it on a few times in the envelope, and said softly to Lu Qi: "Thank you, Lord Lu, I will pass this letter and makeup box to my master. If Lord Lu has nothing to do, I can stay in the mansion for a few days and wait for my master's decision."

Lu Qi hurriedly said respectfully: "When he returned to his wife, Xiaguan came to Beijing and was responsible for escorting the chief clerk's wife to visit relatives. Xiaguan currently lives in the fifteenth resident of Jichangfang, South District. Xiaguan will come to ask for the Minister's reply in a few days."

"Since Lord Lu has something to do, I won't keep it. Zhao Sheng, I'll send it to Lord Lu for me." The third lady said softly, and the second general manager standing beside her responded.

Lu Qi hurriedly said, "Madam, this time the guards of the officials were not in good shape, which caused the death of the prostitute. It really ruined Lord Zhao's feelings for the Minister. Please explain it to the Minister."

The third lady frowned slightly and said coldly: "It's just a family prostitute, and it's nothing to die. Lord Lu doesn't have to blame himself."

Lu Qi hurriedly said, "Thank you, Madam for your tolerance. This time, the Xiaguan is not a person who gives gifts. I don't know the rules of the Minister's Mansion. In order not to have misunderstandings, the Xiaguan dared to ask the wife to write a collection bill and list the items they received. Because the items that Lord Zhao put in the makeup box are too expensive, and one less thing can't afford to be punished. Only after taking the collection bill can the Xiaguan reply to the county magistrate, please forgive and understand the reckless words of the Xiaguan."

The third lady was stunned and then smiled faintly, "Lord Lu is a person who can do business." After saying that, she waved her jade hand and the maid standing there went to pick up the four treasures of the study.

After taking the four treasures of the study, the third lady opened the mezzanine of the makeup box on the table and took a pen to write down the name of the treasure and signed it. After being blown dry by the maid, she put a bag and handed it to Lu Qi. After receiving the letter, Lu Qi thanked him respectfully and left the Minister of Works' Office with the Second General Manager.

After Lu Qi left, the third wife put away the treasure and pondered. She waited for the Second General Manager to come back before she said calmly: "Zhao Sheng, do you think the matter in Shida County is related to this person?"

The second general manager said respectfully: "I think it doesn't matter, because there is no motive or interest in killing, and it is also a conflict in time."

The third lady said calmly: "Yes, such a precious treasure is delivered to the door intact, it should have nothing to do with him."

The second general manager said respectfully: "What happened too suddenly. Does Madam have any remedies?"

"What? You are willing to make up for this shortage." The third lady said with a faint smile.

The second general manager said respectfully: "I have been with my wife for twelve years, and I really want to have a chance to let go and shine my ancestors."

The third lady shook her head and said, "Zhao Sheng, it's not that I don't give you a chance, but that the current crisis in the court is undercurrent. You also know that the emperor is angry and killed the Minister of Rites. Our adults in the court must be cautious in their words and actions to protect themselves, so that their slaves can be sent to the local officials. Now that high-ranking official dares not do it. We can only give up the lack of the county magistrate of Shida County, or support one among the original officials."

The second general manager said respectfully: "I understand, I don't know who my wife wants to support?"

The third lady said in harmony: "Do you think that person is suitable?"

The second general manager said respectfully: "Are you the surname Wang and this surname Lu?"

The third lady shook her head and said softly: "You will know then. You can do things first." Zhao Sheng retreated respectfully.

As soon as Zhao Sheng left, the third wife and her maid left the residence, walked through the courtyard and arrived at an elegant courtyard, which was a guest room in the Shigong Mansion.

With the maid's crisp shout, the main entrance of the guest room in the courtyard soon opened, and a burly middle-aged man in a long robe and a round face and slightly beard walked out. If Lu Qi saw it, he would definitely be surprised. The middle-aged man turned out to be the magistrate of Niu County.

Lu Qi left Zhao Shilang's mansion with ease and regret. He was relieved of some crises. Unfortunately, the girl he was infatuated with when he was a teenager had no news. He even planned that if Bai Ling'er was really a concubine in Zhao Shilang's mansion, he would definitely find a way to meet him. If Bai Ling'er was willing to go with him, he would definitely find a way to take Bai Ling'er away.

He walked to look for the Qixi Teahouse. The Qixi Teahouse is located on Mingxuan Street in the East District. When he saw the elegant and quaint two-story pavilion, he stopped and observed silently. He saw that the people entering and leaving the Qixi Teahouse were all officials and ladies in brocade clothes and silk skirts. This is a place for officials and nobles to relax.

Lu Qi spent a tael of silver to inquire about the background of the Qixi Festival teahouse, and the result he got gave up the idea of ​​visiting immediately.
Chapter completed!