Chapter 110: Young Master Cui's Escape (Two Chapters Combined into One)

"Hey, what's going on?"

"Don't get tired, old man. I'll get the knife for you."

"Who is this person?"

As they were talking, the others dismounted and gathered around.

Chen Guanyue exclaimed, "Young Master Cui?"

Zhao Shiqing was startled and asked, "Is this Third Master Cui? Alive?"

Chen Guanyue nodded. He was present at the trial that day. Young Master Cui was not an ordinary person who could be lost in a crowd. Besides, Young Master Cui was in a mess when he ran out of the brothel that day. Young Master Cui who was hiding in the carriage today was also in a mess. Chen Guanyue recognized him at a glance.

The young man who was held hostage by Zhen Wuduo, after hearing the three words "Cui Sanshao", became like a deflated ball. He had no strength left and was carried out of the carriage by a guard like a chicken.

Zhao Shiqing looked Zhen Wuduo up and down: "Grandpa, are you okay?"

The old man stuffed the dagger into his boot and said smugly, "I've seen all kinds of monsters and demons. Let alone a petty thief like this, I wouldn't be afraid of even eight or ten of them."

Zhao Shiqing said angrily, "You're amazing, you're the best. Fortunately, the boy I met this time was a weak and frail boy. If I had really met a desperado, I would have lost my grandfather."

The old man was in the wrong. Based on his experience, he found someone in the car as soon as he got in. He could have gotten off immediately or informed others, but he just wanted to show off in front of his granddaughter. Now, the thief was caught and he was blamed by his granddaughter.

"Hey, my precious granddaughter, don't be angry. Grandpa has changed. I won't dare to do it again next time. I really won't dare to do it..."

The group continued on their journey. Young Master Cui was tied up and gagged and thrown into the carriage. The old man volunteered to be the guard.

After walking for another hour, the group arrived at Zhuxitang.

Instead of entering the village, Zhao Shiqing went directly to the cemetery. He paid homage to his grandparents, father and mother, and also took some gold ingots to burn in front of the tomb of old doctor Yang. He also talked a lot with his grandparents.

When they left the cemetery, it was already late. If they hurried on, they might not be able to find a place to stay that night, so they decided to stay in Zhuxitang for one night and continue their journey tomorrow morning.

The Meng brothers were overjoyed to see them back, and Zhao Shiqing was also very satisfied to see that the small courtyard was tidy.

The beddings in the room were bought last time. While there was still sunshine, Lingbo and Xiuxiu took the beddings to the yard to dry in the sun. They would put a hot water bottle in the room at night and it would be very comfortable.

Zhao Shiqing took advantage of this time and, together with Shen Guanyue, brought Young Master Cui into an empty house.

Chen Guanyue first untied Cui Sanshao and took the cloth out of his mouth. Cui Sanshao was able to speak and immediately said, "I have no ill intentions, really!"

Zhao Shiqing asked, "I believe you have no ill intentions, but do you know why you were in our carriage? You almost scared my grandfather."

Cui Sanshao: Your grandpa? The fierce old man who always carries a knife? Would he be scary? Thank goodness he's not scary.

"I don't know whose carriage this is. I just want to leave Luzhou City. The farther away the better. The carriage can go faster."

Chen Guanyue: "Yes, if you are recognized, they will definitely send you back to the Cui family. You are worth 50,000 taels of silver now."

Cui Sanshao's face changed drastically, and he asked nervously, "Do you think so too? Are you planning to send me back too?"

Zhao Shiqing smiled: "Yes, that's what we thought. That's fifty thousand taels. I've never seen fifty thousand taels in my life."

Young Master Cui clenched his fists. "It's useless. I tell you the truth, the Cui family can't afford fifty thousand taels. They are just bluffing, trying to make everyone think that they care about me and want to find me."

Zhao Shiqing nodded: "Yes, I know."

Cui Sanshao was stunned: "You know?"

Zhao Shiqing continued to nod: "Yes, I know, but what does it matter? I don't care whether the Cui family has 50,000 taels or not. Before sending you to the Cui family, I will beat the gongs and drums to let everyone in the city know about this. Then, I will send you to the Cui family in front of everyone. Oh, and finally report it to the officials and let the officials do justice.

It doesn't matter if the Cui family can't come up with 50,000 taels right away. I'm a very easy-going person. If you give me 5,000 taels, I'll be satisfied. The important thing is that I must send you home so that you and your family can be reunited!"

Young Master Cui's face grew paler and paler. He knew that the little girl in front of him had hit the nail on the head.

The Cui family wanted to save face, but because of the relationship with the prince, they didn't want to offend their parents. So the girl mobilized a large number of people to send him back. The Cui family couldn't afford 50,000 taels, but they had 5,000 taels. Besides, the girl had already said that she would be satisfied if she was given 5,000 taels.

"Please, don't send me back, please..." Young Master Cui moved his lips and finally squeezed out a few words.

Zhao Shiqing looked at Shen Guanyue: "Are we easy to talk to?"

Shen Guanyue: “Of course not.”

Zhao Shiqing: "Are we short of money?"

Shen Guanyue: “Lack of money.”

Zhao Shiqing grinned at Young Master Cui: "Did you hear that? It's no use begging me!"

Young Master Cui was almost in despair. These people were skilled in martial arts, and even the most harmless-looking old man was carrying a knife. What should he do? Could he still escape?

"Then what will it take for you to let me go?"

Zhao Shiqing: "Tell me your story. Sigh, I love to hear stories. If you tell it well, I'll be happy and maybe let you go. But if you're talking nonsense, Guanyue, what should we do?"

Chen Guanyue: "Of course, they sent him back to the Cui family in a sedan chair carried by eight people!"

Young Master Cui was on the verge of tears. A young boy of thirteen or fourteen years old, he had finally escaped from the tiger's mouth, but ended up in a wolf's den. He didn't know what to do.

"Don't you want to hear a story? Well, I'll tell you, I wasn't the one who did the bad thing, so I have a clear conscience."

Hearing him say he wanted to tell a story, Zhao Shiqing immediately shouted towards the door: "Grandpa, Loach, Xiuxiu, Lingbo, come and listen to the story——"

Cui San Shao......

After a while, the old and the young sat in a row, eating melon seeds and waiting to listen to the story.

Young Master Cui...what kind of people did he meet?

Zhao Shiqing: "Let's start——"

Young Master Cui was a little embarrassed, but in order to avoid being sent back, he still went on to talk.

That day, he escaped from the brothel and went to the government office to sue Mr. Lou and the brothel.

Then, an astonishing scene happened. His uncle, Mr. Cui, beat Mr. Lou in court.

In everyone's eyes, Master Cui was so eager to protect his nephew that he started beating people.

But that’s not actually the case.

Because of insufficient evidence, Mr. Lou was beaten again. Therefore, the two defendants were not imprisoned and returned to their homes. Young Master Cui was also taken back to the Cui Mansion by Master Cui.

The Cui family's main branch has five branches, and these five branches have not yet split up, and all live in the Cui Mansion.

Young Master Cui came from the second branch of the family, and his father was Master Cui Er.

The Cui family produced two Jinshi in this generation, one was from a side branch, and the other was the second master Cui.

Although Mr. Cui Er was a Jinshi, his official career in recent years was not smooth. He was not very lucky. He served as a county magistrate twice, but had no political achievements and many mistakes. Therefore, Mr. Cui Er was almost forty years old and was still a seventh-rank official. He was not promoted as fast as the one from the side branch.

Although his official position was not high, Mr. Cui Er had spent a lot of money over the years. Besides, if he had not bribed people from all levels, he would have been demoted to the bottom long ago due to his mistakes. Of course, he is now at the bottom.

But no matter what, the money was spent and the official position was kept.

But it is also because of this reason that over the years, the other four branches of the Cui family have been quite critical of their second branch, complaining openly and secretly.

Young Master Cui is the only legitimate son of the second wife, and Second Wife Cui only gave birth to him as a child.

Master Cui Er had been so nervous about being an official these years that he had no time to take care of his wife and children. Therefore, when Master Cui San was fourteen years old, Master Cui Er did not take them to take up their posts. The one who stayed with Master Cui Er was Aunt Wang. Aunt Wang had served Master Cui Er for more than ten years and had given birth to two sons and two daughters. The fourth young master was only three months younger than the third young master, and the youngest, the ninth young master, had just turned one year old.

The fourth young master Cui was sent back to the Cui Mansion when he was young and raised by the second wife. The ninth young master was still young and was still with Aunt Wang.

Third Master Cui and Fourth Master Cui are of similar age and grew up together. Although they are only three months apart in age, Third Master Cui always gives in to his younger brother and never treats him as a bastard. Fourth Master Cui is very sweet-spoken and does well in his studies. He is loved by the old man and the old lady of the Cui family even more than Third Master Cui.

The Fourth Young Master Cui also respected his biological mother, the Second Wife, and his brother, the Third Young Master Cui. Therefore, over the years, the second house has always been a place where the mother is virtuous, the sons are filial, and the brothers are friendly and respectful.

But everything changed when Young Master Cui was brought home from the yamen by Master Cui.

That day, several masters except Master Cui II gathered in Master Cui's house. After some discussion, they called in Master Cui IV, and then called in Madam Cui II.

When Mrs. Cui came out of the house, her face was pale.

Young Master Cui San was confused and asked what had happened. Mrs. Cui Er cried and told him that the old man had decided to register Young Master Cui Si under her name, and would open the ancestral hall to inform the ancestors in two days. From then on, Young Master Cui Si was no longer a concubine's son, but a legitimate son.

Young Master Cui San didn't think much about it, and was even happy for Young Master Cui Si.

In the future, his younger brother will be a legitimate son like him, and he will be able to find a good marriage in the future.

Although Mrs. Cui was unhappy, this was the decision of the elders. As a woman, her husband was not around, so what else could she do?

Besides, even if her husband was around, she would agree. After all, she hadn't seen her husband for many years, and Aunt Wang had been in office all the time.

But things are far from over, it's just the beginning.

In the next two days, even the careless Master Cui discovered the problem.

He seemed to have become a marginal figure in the Cui family, no, a transparent person.

Except for the second wife, no one paid any attention to him. Everyone treated him as if he didn't exist. Instead, it was the fourth young master Cui who was called to the study by Master Cui to ask about his homework.

However, Master Cui, who had never experienced setbacks, did not take it too seriously. But on the third night, something happened.

Before it was time to light the lamps that day, the doorman came to look for his servant Changtian and said that a neighbor of Changtian's family had come to tell him that Changtian's mother was ill and asked him to go back and see her.

When Changtian heard this, he became extremely anxious. He asked for leave from Master Cui and left the house in a hurry.

Although there were maids, Young Master Cui was not used to having maids on duty in his room at night, so when Changtian was not around, he slept alone.

But in the middle of the night, he suddenly felt short of breath and woke up abruptly.

He opened his eyes and found that he could not see anything, but he heard someone talking next to him.

"Keep applying. Young people are full of energy and vitality. You should apply at least four layers, otherwise you will not be able to die."

Young Master Cui immediately understood what was going on.

Mulberry paper, these people put mulberry paper on his face.

Born in a wealthy family, even if you haven't seen the secrets of the backyard, you have heard about them.

The characteristics of mulberry paper are that it is thin, tough and has good water absorption.

Cover your face with mulberry paper and wet it with water. The paper will stick tightly to your face and the person under the paper will instantly have difficulty breathing. If you stick several layers on it, you will suffocate to death. Few people can survive five layers.

Young Master Cui was horrified. This person had already said that he would stick four layers of paper on his face until he died.

Young Master Cui wanted to resist, but found that his body could not move at all, as if his muscles were pulled and he had no strength at all.

He wanted to save himself, but he couldn't. His breathing became more and more difficult, his head felt dizzy, and finally he lost consciousness.

He woke up again in the hut of gardener Old Wu.

Only then did he realize that he had been tied with stones and thrown into the lotus pond. It was winter at that time and there were no lotus flowers in the pond. Old Wu hid behind a tree and witnessed all this. After those people left, Old Wu jumped in and pulled him out.

"Third Young Master, last year my youngest son fell ill and needed good ginseng as a medicine. It was Third Young Master who gave me a jade pendant. I pawned it and used the silver to buy the ginseng. Without Third Young Master, my youngest son would have died long ago. Third Young Master is our family's great benefactor. Old Wu, I don't know if Third Young Master can come back to life. I just don't want Third Young Master to stay in that mud. I want him to rest in peace."

Yes, Old Wu never expected that Young Master Cui was not dead, but was alive.

Old Wu has skills and can take care of flowers and plants. Gardeners like him are very popular in the capital, but in Luzhou City they can only barely make a living.

However, he was not a child of his family and had not signed a death contract, so he was more relaxed, sometimes returning home once every two days, and sometimes once a day.

The next day, Old Wu returned home. The day after that, Old Wu did not go back. His youngest son came to Cui's house to look for him. The Third Master Cui changed into his youngest son's clothes, followed Old Wu, and left the house through the back door. When the doorman at the back door saw them, he greeted them with a smile, not noticing that someone had replaced him.

In this way, Young Master Cui escaped from home. When he got outside, he found out that the Cui family had offered a reward of 50,000 yuan for finding him.

The whole city was looking for him, and many people in Luzhou had seen him. Moreover, his portrait was on the notices on the streets.

He could not move and could only hide in Old Wu's house.

He hid for a few days until he got a chance that day and went out of the city with a group of porters. He wanted to find Master Cui Er and let his father make the decision for him. In the carriage inn, he overheard Niu Qiu and Shen Guanyue talking about Liangdi. Without thinking much, he got into the carriage.

His father was an official in Liang.