In the carriage, Su Jinxiu was still reflecting on the other side of Wen Xi that she had shown him today, when Madam Zhao pinched his ear and demanded, "Tell me, what on earth happened today? None of it makes any sense. I don't know how that Prime Minister ever got his position—even I could see through the clues. How did he suddenly wake up midway? How did they find the witnesses? Hmm? Stop smiling at me, and give me an honest account!"
Remembering Wen Xi's warning that this matter must not be told to anyone, and that if anyone from the Grand General's Estate asked, he should claim he handled it himself without revealing the slightest thing about Wen Xi, Su Jinxiu erased Wen Xi from the story and substituted himself as he told it to Madam Zhao. Madam Zhao showered him with praise, declaring him brave, resourceful, and capable of protecting his younger brother, and saying how deeply relieved she felt.
"Oh, that's right. Today Jiu'er had a lot of things sent by express courier, along with some local specialties from the Northwest. I didn't have time to look at them because I was in such a rush to get over here. Your Grandmother said we should all look at them together," Madam Zhao said happily, though her eyes kept glancing outside, making it clear how eager she was to get home.
Chapter 87