Selling children

Chapter 37: Selling Children

After the two had dinner outside, the carriage was on the street. Peng Zuoyan held Yi Huan's hand and walked slowly.

"Come, Ah Huan, I'll help you up."

“No need.”

Before Peng Zuoyan could say anything, he heard a surprised "ouch" from behind him.

Chen Tianchen bowed and said happily, "Your Highness, the Regent Prince, is here with my wife, Liu, to greet you."

"Um."

"I didn't expect it to be such a coincidence. It's really fate. I wonder who this person is?"

"Oh, this is my wife."

"Your humble servant greets Madam. I just saw the extraordinary lady beside Your Highness from a distance. Now that I see you up close, you are even more beautiful."

The color, which was originally rated 80%, was praised by him to 100%.

Peng Zuoyan was very pleased with these nice words. Yi Huan avoided them, feeling overwhelmed and said stiffly and coldly, "Thank you for your courtesy."

Yi Huan didn't want to stay here, so he got on the carriage first.

Seeing his protective attitude, Chen Tianchen helped her into the carriage with his own hands. A plan emerged in his mind, and his face looked as if he wanted to say something but didn't.

"If you have something to say, why not speak frankly?"

"To be honest, your features are very familiar to me. I even felt a sense of familiarity when I saw you."

Can you tell the resemblance just by looking at one side and with insufficient light?

Peng Zuoyuan knew what he was thinking. He looked at him several times but didn't expose him. He then asked, "Does Censor Chen have any reason?"

"My lady and I had an eldest daughter, but she was lost during a garden or temple fair. Judging by her age, she's the lady's current age. I just don't know what her family background is like."

"I will personally verify it another day. If it is true, Madam will also recognize her ancestral roots."

Chen Tianchen was overjoyed, knowing that his words meant he would consider the possibility. He quickly swore, "Your Highness is right. If my Chen family's eldest daughter were to wander around, my husband and I would have trouble even eating or sleeping. If we can find her, my Chen family will definitely make up for her."

The couple watched the carriage leave. Liu knew he was lying and timidly asked, "How could you deceive the Regent? What if you get caught?"

"What do you know? He's probably got some ulterior motive. If I can seize this opportunity to seize the Peng family, my Chen family will be able to reach a higher level in my lifetime."

The issue of identity was basically settled, and Peng Zuoyong went to the palace to ask for permission, specifically ordering that red silk used for the wedding be hung everywhere in the house.

Yi Huan walked out of the courtyard, but he didn't expect that the main courtyard had been completely hung up. He stopped and asked, "What is this for?"

"Madam, the eldest son has gone to the palace to get the imperial decree granting the marriage, and has instructed us to decorate the house and make plans for the date."

"What date? Go and tell them to stop hanging any more."

The servant dared not disobey Peng Zuo-yang's order. He knelt down in fear before her and begged for mercy, "Please, Madam, don't embarrass me. If the red silk is not hung, the eldest son will come back and kill me."

"Where's Chang Er? Call him over."

Chang Er was checking the list of wedding expenses and directly rejected Yi Huan's refusal: "Madam, the master said it must be hung, even if there is a fire or rain."

"snort."

Yi Huan came from the corridor holding a torch and started a fire. The people around him tried to persuade him while looking for Chang Er for advice.

"Ah Huan, what are you doing?"

Yi Huan turned around with a torch and said angrily, "The wedding ceremony was destroyed, can't you see that?"

"How dare you disobey my order? Ah Huan, do you want me to be executed with you?"

Peng Zuoyuan came over holding a bright yellow imperial edict, and what he said sounded more like a joke.

"You're just pretending. Whatever you've done secretly is less serious than disobeying the emperor's order. Even if I did, who would dare chop off your head if you didn't give the order?"

Peng Zuoyan smiled calmly and praised, "Ah Huan is smart."

He took her hand and threw away the torch. Peng Zuoyan took out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat and asked with concern, "Are you hot? Go back to the courtyard and take a shower later. I'll have someone send some ice cubes over."

"I won't marry, and I won't marry you."

Yi Huan did not want his position as the main wife and mistress, and her status as a concubine warned her not to forget that she would never treat him as a legal couple who would be listed in the family tree and buried together after death.

"Just fill in the time on the imperial edict. There are many things to prepare for the wedding, so take your time and don't rush."

Yi Huan was furious and said with determination, "I won't get married. If you insist on holding a wedding, I won't cooperate. Then you will be the one who will be embarrassed."

Peng Zuoyang still wanted to persuade her, but considering that it would be even hotter next to the fire in summer, he casually handed the imperial edict to her and pulled her away.

"Forget it, let's go back first."

Peng Zuoyang was determined to give her a distinguished and honorable background for her marriage, and he arranged a family reunion banquet for the next time they met.

"You're so eager to be someone's son, I won't go."

"Let's go to Chen's house and have a cup of tea. If you don't want to stay longer, I'll accompany you back early."

The carriage and servants were ready. Yi Huan roughly calculated that there were only ten people in sight. The Chen family's guards were definitely no match for the Peng family's. Maybe he could still find an opportunity.

Yi Huan thought for several seconds, then pretended to be timid and distant, "I'm not close to the Chen family. I don't like being alone with them."

Knowing that she had given up, Peng Zuoyuan promised, "I'll be with you. It's okay, don't be afraid."

Peng Zuoyuan was entertaining guests in the front hall, and Yi Huan was pulled by Liu to the group of ladies to recognize their faces. Where he couldn't see her, Yi Huan took the opportunity to dirty her skirt and used the excuse to go to the Chen family's backyard.

"Chen Tianchen, are all your servants made of tofu?"

"Your Highness, please forgive me. I will go find my wife right away. I'm sure she hasn't gone far. I will make it up to her right away." Chen Tianchen wiped the sweat from his face in fear and knelt down to beg.

Peng Zuoyan calmly mobilized people and troops, and was certain in his heart, Ah Huan, you can't run far.

Unexpectedly, after searching Chang'an City two or three times, he didn't see a single person.

"Focus on the city, patrol day and night, and check the portraits one by one. Second Officer, take your men outside the city and search thoroughly."

"yes."

Business in Huajie has slowed down a lot due to the search, so Old Guo hid from the officers and soldiers and brought people in for inspection under the pretext of delivering timber.

Scar Si glanced at the unconscious girl, weighed her eyes and palms, and made a price in his mind.

Old Guo bent his waist and laughed, "Fourth Master, look at this money?"

"A bag of brown rice."

"You give alms to beggars?"

"Even if you become a beggar, you won't get many copper coins. Either a bag of grain or twenty strings of cash. It's your choice."

Although Chang'an was the capital, not everyone could have enough food to eat. The autumn harvest was still not ripe in the fields, and poor families still had to make a living.

Old Guo hesitated, his face wrinkled as he cried out in pain, "Fourth Master, could you please give me two bags of food? I'm having a hard time getting food, please have some mercy on me."

Yi Huan squinted his eyes and listened to these words. The effect of the drug had not yet worn off and he fell into uncontrollable sleep again.

"If you don't want it, just get out!" Scar Four slapped his bargaining face, and his eyes revealed murderous intent.

Old Guo immediately became honest and said with a smile, "Haha, yes ...

As for how to deal with these goods, Old Guo had heard a few rumors that the small and pretty ones would be sent to brothels, the big ones would be sold to officials and wealthy people, and the ugly ones would all end up as slaves.

The goods have been difficult to export recently, so Scar Four summoned Cheap Seven and ordered, "Take them in."

The man who delivered the meal was called Jianqi. He coveted the girl living in the single room but dared not touch her. The last girl locked up on the road was of average appearance, with more than ten people in a room. Jianqi sent her to the end and suddenly grabbed the girl who was reaching out to hold the unleavened bread, pulled her over, undressed her and bit her.

"What are you doing! Let me go."

The forced behavior was not avoided at all by others. The other girls either turned their heads away because they couldn't bear it, or were numb and indifferent.

The sound came from across the cage. Yi Huan blocked his ears as if he was shocked, and protested with tears in his eyes: "No, get out! Get out, Peng Zuoyang, you beast..."

When Jian Qi was passing by after finishing his work, he saw her half-dead leaning against the wall, tying her belt and saying, "She's not dumb, is she? You fool."

On the dark blue wall was a number she had scratched with sawdust. Today was the tenth day.

Yi Huan knew that she might be sold and killed. Not only was she under strict guard and unable to escape, she had no will to live. She spent the whole day in silence waiting for death, staring blankly at the wooden window that was only the size of her palms.

The longer I wait, the more confused I become.

Fortunately, he escaped from the man-eating dragon, so even though it was a prison that ate human flesh, and he was happy to stay there for a few stolen months of leisure.

As for committing suicide, Yi Huan was completely unwilling.

If Peng Zuoyan had the ability to find her, he would definitely control her body. She was unwilling to accept this. He was the one who did all the bad things, so why should his final retribution be just the loss of his love forever? Such an ending was too good and he didn't deserve it.

What Yi Huan wants is that the perpetrators will never have peace, be tortured to death, and feel sick of being held in his hands all the time.

Another ten days passed, and Yi Huan was awakened by the coldness on her face. It was raining outside, and raindrops fell on her dirty and black face.

Yi Huan reached out his hand. This was the first summer rain in so many days, and it was hot and humid.

The new changes in the weather aroused her curiosity, but the habitual sadness made her stare blankly at the raindrops coming down from the light, from black dots to transparent outlines, and finally disappearing from the world, leaving no one and nothing to sigh.

The rain gradually got heavier, and some drops fell into her open eyes. The physiological discomfort made Yi Huan close her eyes.

In a trance, she heard someone calling her.

"Ahuan? Ahuan, open the door quickly! Ahuan, it's me."

Peng Zuoyan was the first to rush in. Seeing that she was dirty, hungry and thin, he apologized and asked her questions with heartache.

Yi Huan saw his face clearly and looked away in disappointment. She was right. The evil dragon had come and crushed her fantasy once again.

"I'm sorry, Huan. I've put you in this situation again."

Peng Zuoyan knelt on one knee, smoothed her dry and greasy hair with his own hands, and wiped her face with a handkerchief lovingly, without any disgust at all.

"Ah Huan, you've suffered, don't worry, everyone involved will die."

Yi Huan's eyes were dry, and he said calmly, "It's you. Why can't I avoid you wherever I go?"

Peng Zuoyuan felt bitter after hearing this and loosened his clenched hands, with mixed feelings echoing in his heart.

"Ah Huan, it's smelly and damp here. I'll take you away, okay? Let's go home."

"Is it raining heavily outside? In late summer, it should be a long, dense rain. If it was a light rain, the few drops that drifted by the window wouldn't be this big."

Peng Zuoyan spread his wide sleeves to shield her from the rain. When he lowered his head, he saw her lifeless face. She was like a bright flower that had been plucked from the roots. Everyone knew that her withering was just a matter of time.

"I feel very comfortable without you."

Peng Zuoyan was angry and distressed, and reached out to hug her.

Yi Huan looked at the two pairs of hands in fear, and with nowhere to retreat, he pressed himself against the wall and said subconsciously, "No."

"Ah Huan, are you afraid of me?"

That look showed her fear of him. She was more afraid of him than starving to death, being eaten, or being sold.

Yi Huan restrained his emotions and said, "You are happy to go back with you. I am afraid that I will live a life worse than death."

"snort."

"Uh, let go."

Peng Zuoyan left her lips, licked the saliva on the edge of his lips with his tongue, slid his thumb across his bitten lips that had turned red, and warned grimly: "Ah Huan, go home."

When he returned home, Yi Huan was already fast asleep.

Peng Zuoyan carried her into the yard, his fingers gently sliding across her cheek, without desire, only the cherishment of lost and regained love.

He thought that Yi Huan was stubborn and heartless, and gave him too little tenderness. He could only blame him for losing his heart on her. It didn't matter that she didn't have him in her heart now, as they still had a long time to spend together.

He was the one who met her first more than ten years ago. There was no reason for him not to fight for her. He just wanted to take back the feelings that belonged to him.

He fell in love with Yi Huan first, so she should be his.

As for Chao Lanyu, the dead cannot speak, and their weight will decrease year by year. He is a scourge and will live for a thousand years. He has enough time to wait for Yi Huan to forget his love for him, and he will wait until that day.