Chapter 74 Chapter 74 Jinjiang First Release

Chapter 74

The caning did not end until the night was so deep that it seemed as dark as indigo.

Yang Da still had some mercy in the palace, so the guards who were carrying out the execution did not dare to offend him. They only hit him hard the first two times, and went easy on him afterwards. Fortunately, Yang Da was smart and continued to scream miserably to cover up for the guards.

After being beaten with the cane forty times, Yang Da was still able to come to Cui Jue to express his gratitude, holding his swollen, painful and bleeding buttocks. It can be seen that Cui Jue showed mercy.

Yang Da was no fool. He knew full well that Cui Jue was a man of great influence. As a former prince in charge of state affairs, how could he be unaware of the intrigues within and beyond the imperial court? Cui Jue, of course, knew that the guards who had caned Yang Da were letting him off the hook, simply to save face for Yang Da, despite his contributions.

"Your Majesty...I know I was wrong." Yang Da knelt down obediently, crying tears and snot.

Cui Jue had just bathed and changed his clothes. The ends of his hair were slightly damp, revealing a glossy dark blue color. When he was at home, he did not wear the royal family's regular clothes embroidered with dragon patterns. Instead, he wore a black cloak and a snow-white shirt, just like when he was in Shuyue Pavilion.

The man knelt before the desk and casually flipped open a document. "Yang Da, do you know why I punished you?"

Yang Da thought a lot while being beaten. He knew that since Cui Jue had taken action, he would make him confess his crimes honestly.

Yang Da racked his brains for a long time, finally coming up with two or three minor evils. He said to Cui Jue, "This slave deserves to die! Previously, the second lady of the Yao family wanted to perform a dance for His Majesty at the official banquet. She bribed Ah Fu to find me. I thought the young lady also admired His Majesty, so I told her that His Majesty loved blue shirts and pear blossom patterns. That's how the Yangchun Xueli Dance came about..."

However, Cui Jue did not enjoy the dance. Before the performance began, he left the table and returned to the inner court, causing Yang Da to be scolded by Madam Yao Er.

After Yang Da finished speaking, he saw Cui Jue was silent, with a pair of cold and solemn eyes, unable to tell whether he was happy or angry. He thought of Cui Jue's horrible appearance of killing people like crazy, so he had to kneel down and continue to think about the charges.

For example, tell the noble ladies of the aristocratic families that Cui Jue would return to the Cui family's Mudong Pavilion every autumn and winter. If they came to the Cui family's old house to ask for instructions, they might meet Cui Jue by chance.

For example, they told the noble ladies that Cui Jue would eat a bowl of chicken noodle soup on his birthday. In order to gain the emperor's favor, they would occasionally ask their fathers, who were officials in the court, to deliberately mention that their daughters were good cooks and were best at kneading noodles and making chicken soup.

…

After hearing the last part, Cui Jue narrowed his eyes slightly and twitched the corners of his lips: "Yang Da, I didn't know you were such a traitor. If the eunuchs in the inner court follow suit, wouldn't it be because of you, a black sheep, that the rules of the entire palace are disrupted?"

Upon hearing this, Yang Da was so frightened that he trembled and kept saying that he didn't dare.

"I think forty strokes of the cane are not enough. Let's deduct half a year's salary." Cui Jue didn't kill him after all. He just waved his hand and drove him out.

Yang Da was in great turmoil. He couldn't figure out Cui Jue's temper. Just when he thought he was going to lose his life in front of the emperor, Cui Jue was lenient and spared his life.

Furthermore, Yang Da didn't think Cui Jue was completely unaware of these evil deeds. This emperor was a man of great resourcefulness and a master of employing men. By allowing Yang Da to cause chaos under his command, he was deliberately showing him a glimmer of favor.

Yang Da had been able to get away with it for three years, so why was Cui Jue suddenly bringing up old issues today?

After returning to the dormitory, his godson Ah Fu came to massage Yang Da's legs as usual: "Godfather, you look worried, but what's bothering you?"

Yang Da couldn't figure it out on his own, so he couldn't help but tell Ah Fu the truth.

But Ah Fu smiled and said, "Godfather, have you ever spoken to any noble lady since the late Queen passed away?"

Yang Da's expression suddenly became solemn, and he whispered, "Really not."

Everyone knows that Cui Jue was deeply in love with his deceased wife. Not only did he want to be buried with her a hundred years later, he also remained faithful to his wife to this day.

Not to mention women, there isn't even a maid to serve in the palace... They are as simple as monks who strictly observe the rules and regulations.

Ah Fu prompted, "Godfather, think again, is there anything different about His Majesty today?"

Yang Da suddenly realized something and muttered to himself, "Your Majesty actually stepped off the imperial carriage just for a woman selling pancakes in the market, went out of his way to talk to her, and even allowed the imperial dog to eat food from outside..."

And what did he do? He scolded the young lady in front of His Majesty and even hit her hand!

Yang Da was so frightened that his legs trembled. He kept saying, "No wonder, no wonder! I was so bold as to dare to yell at you, my lord! I really don't deserve to die!"

This time Yang Da understood that when the young lady came to the fort to feed Taxue in the future, he would be sure to bow and scrape and treat the young lady well, and would never dare to go against her again!

-

It was late at night, and Su Li closed her stall and went home.

Starting tomorrow, she would go to Cuijiawu Fort to feed Taxue. It would be unknown what time it would be by the time she finished feeding Taxue and returned home.

Su Li didn't think that the nobles in the palace would specially send servants to escort her home. It seemed a bit dangerous for Su Li to travel alone in an ox cart at night.

Thinking of this, Su Li decided to buy some mutton to bribe Yang Dalang, so that he could wait for her at the door of the store after finishing his work. After Su Li finished feeding Taxue, the two of them could go home together.

Su Li paid someone to bring in a slab of lamb ribs. In addition, she also bought a bag of candied dates, osmanthus cake, and a jar of honey, intending to give them to Mrs. Hu and Yuan Ge'er. She also wanted Mrs. Hu to cook an extra meal every night starting tomorrow and bring her a portion.

Su Li thought about it and decided that at the end of every month, she would give Mrs. Hu some food money. If Mrs. Hu refused to accept it, she would buy clothes, shoes and socks for Yuan Ge'er's children. She couldn't let someone take care of her for nothing without getting any benefit.

When Su Li got home, Mrs. Hu had just finished cooking a dish of scrambled eggs with Chinese toon.

Yuan Ge'er sat in front of the stove, warming himself by the fire. His little face was dry from the yellow flames.

After Su Li sorted out the food at the pancake stall, she gave the mutton to Yang Dalang.

Yang Dalang: "Isn't it just an hour of waiting for you? It's a small matter! Why bother sending food? It's so strange. Sanniang, please put it away quickly. The lamb ribs are so expensive. I won't eat them alone!"

Su Li chuckled and said quickly, "Okay, I'll ask Mrs. Hu to make some soup and stir-fry some meat, and we can eat together."

Brother Yuan took a bite of the sweet-scented osmanthus cake and muttered, "No, not three. Including Brother Yuan, that's four!"

Su Li and Yang Dalang burst into laughter at his amusement, but Mrs. Hu glanced at the child and said, "Why are you eating mutton at such a young age? Be careful not to get a sore throat and a nosebleed."

Lamb is hot in nature and the meat is tough. Children have fragile spleen and stomach and it is difficult to digest, so it is best to eat less.

Su Li said, "Brother Yuan, be good. If you don't want to eat, Godmother will make you some mutton soup, okay?"

"Okay." Yuan Ge'er nodded sensibly.

Mrs. Hu suddenly remembered something and said to Su Li, "Oh, by the way, the owner told me today that there will be new tenants moving into the east house in a while."

Su Li nodded to show that she understood.

This courtyard house is old and located in a remote countryside. Few people come here to rent a house. For this reason, the house on the east side has been vacant for a long time and no one has moved in.

Several dishes were cooked and served on the wooden table in the courtyard.

Just as they were about to sit down to eat, there was a loud knock on the door outside.

Su Li's heart trembled, and she subconsciously looked back.

She couldn't help but think of those dark and gloomy nights, the mountains full of soldiers and flames, and the violent and cold Jade-faced Shura Cui Jue...

Su Li sat quietly, and it was Yang Dalang who went to open the door.

Fortunately, the person who poked his head in was not Cui Jue, but Zhang Che who brought the Iceman with him.

Zhang Che is the youngest son of the owner of a cloth shop in the city. He fell in love with Su Li at first sight and asked the shop owner to persuade Mrs. Hu to let Su Li come to the restaurant to meet him.

Su Li didn't want to marry anyone, she just went out to give Mrs. Hu some face.

Su Li had no feelings for Chang Cheh, but Chang Cheh was attracted by the coldness in Su Li and felt itchy. Even though he was rejected by Su Li many times, he persisted and came to her house to ask for her hand in marriage from time to time.

Later, Mrs. Hu found out that Zhang Che had some spare money at home. Although he had not married, he had several concubines. He even deliberately slept with the cousin who came to the Zhang family to ask for money.

After sleeping with her, Chang Cheh turned his back on her and refused to marry her. He claimed that it was his cousin who had seduced him and called her a fickle whore, forcing her to jump into the well.

A man with such a bad reputation naturally alarmed Mrs. Hu. She hurriedly reminded Su Li not to have too much contact with Chang Cheh.

It was useless for Su Li to be cold to him, but Zhang Che stuck to her like a dog-skin plaster and would cause a scene every now and then.

When Mrs. Hu saw Zhang Che, she was so angry that she had a headache. She hurriedly blocked Su Li's way and said to him, "Mr. Zhang, you'd better leave quickly! Sanniang said she won't marry, so it's useless for you to come here several times!"

Zhang Che wasn't afraid of Mrs. Hu. He came prepared today. He pretended to throw the betrothal gifts to the ground and shouted, "Sanniang, I know why you've always been hesitant and unwilling to be with me!"

"The doctor who examined your pulse said that you're in poor health and have difficulty conceiving. You're worried you won't be able to continue the Zhang family, so you've repeatedly rejected my marriage proposals. My love for you is truly evident to all. I don't mind if you have trouble conceiving in the future. Even if you don't have children, I can take a concubine and have children, and then have them under your name... Sanniang, I'm so considerate of you. You should understand my feelings, right?"

Su Li was almost shocked by his shamelessness. Zhang Che had been shouting about her illness in front of the house just to let the villagers in Meihua Village know that she was not a good fertile woman. It would be more difficult for her to get married in the future, and no one would come to ask Su Li to marry him.

Although Su Li doesn't want to get married in this life, she doesn't like people talking about her private affairs.

Su Li brought a basin of water from the well and poured it on Zhang Che's face, soaking him like a drowned chicken.

When Zhang Che was about to curse, Su Li raised the fire poker and hit him hard, making him scream.

"Who do you think you are? What qualifications do you have to go to the doctor to check my condition? Even if all the men in the world were dead, I would not have anything to do with you. Why don't you get out of here?!" Su Li's attitude was tough, like a shrew.

Yang Dalang understood that Zhang Che was nothing but a playboy, so he hurriedly helped to hold the door shut and kick Zhang Che out.

Su Li also threw all the betrothal gifts over the courtyard wall, hitting Zhang Che on the head.

Zhang Che had lost all face tonight. He cast a sinister and resentful glance at the courtyard and sneered, "Sanniang, don't be so confident! I have my own way of making you marry me willingly... But when the time comes, whether you become my wife or concubine, I have the final say!"

After Zhang Che left, Mrs. Hu recalled the boy's harsh words and said with lingering fear, "Sanniang, starting tomorrow, you must be careful when you go out. This young man from the Zhang family will definitely do something stupid. I'm afraid he'll attack you. Moreover, he's familiar with the city's ruffians and is capable of doing anything evil..."

Yang Dalang also said, "It's okay. Starting tomorrow, I'll carry a butcher knife on the ox cart. Sanniang, you follow me home. If they dare to attack me, I'll give them a blow on the top of their head!"

Su Li nodded repeatedly: "I understand, I will be careful."

For some reason, she suddenly thought of stepping on the snow and said to Mrs. Hu, "When we have a chance in the future, let's go to the market and buy a dog to guard the house. It would be best if it was a puppy born from a mountain wolf. It has good teeth and a sharp bite..."

Su Li didn't have the chance to buy a dog to guard the house. The next day, she woke up and learned from Mrs. Hu that Zhang Che, perhaps drunk or otherwise, had fallen off a cliff from the mountain path the previous night. His body was torn apart, and even his head was carried off by a stray dog. His father had run two miles to retrieve his son's head from the dog's jaws...

Chang Cheh did so many bad things that his death was not a pity. It was his retribution for his evil deeds.

However, when Su Li heard about this bloody incident, she felt doubtful.

What a coincidence, isn't it? And yet, it was a tragic scene of people's heads falling off...

But she didn't think much about it. She just thought that Zhang Che had bad luck, so the King of Hell wanted to send his life to the underworld early.

-

That day, after Su Li finished selling the cakes, she headed towards the inner city of Liuzhou.

A tall fortress with hundreds of years of history was built in the inner city of Liuzhou. It was previously the capital established by local nobles in order to divide the river and govern the country.

Outside the fort, every mile there was a strong guard of the Imperial Guards to prevent common people without good eyesight from mistakenly entering the place and offending the royal family.

Su Li drove the ox cart to the outermost edge of the fortress. She took a look at the city walls and towers in the distance, and the pavilions and terraces built against the cliffs and Gobi, and she couldn't help being shocked.

Su Li showed the token left to her by Cui Shunying and entered the fort. Under the guidance of the guard, she walked up the bluestone plank road that was built as a bridge over the cliff, and climbed up to the top of the mountain.

When Su Li stopped at the gate of a majestic seven-story mansion, Yang Da approached her and greeted her flatteringly, "Madam, you must be very tired after climbing all the stairs. Next time, we will directly send someone to carry the sedan chair and bring you into the courtyard. You won't have to go through so much trouble to go up the mountain."

Ever since Su Li was given a warning by Yang Da last time, she has had a clear understanding of this eunuch's behavior of flattering the powerful and looking down on the weak.

In Yang Da's eyes, even Taxue's dog life is more important than Su Li. If that's the case, why would he suddenly go against his usual behavior and try to please her?

Could it be that he was beaten by Cui Shunying?

Su Li was worried, but she didn't want to scare herself, so she decided to take it one step at a time and wait and see what happened.

Yang Da wanted to lead Su Li into the courtyard, but he had something urgent to attend to, so he could only point Su Li in the direction: "Madam San, please go in by yourself. We have already given instructions. No one dares to offend you! The imperial dog is probably still taking a nap in the pavilion. Look, the door with the new red paint is where the imperial dog lives."

Something happened in the kitchen, and Yang Da was afraid that the soup for the Supreme Emperor Cui Weng would be delayed that night. He did not dare to make any mistakes and ran to save the situation in a hurry.

Su Li was left alone. She carefully moved to the yard with two mutton pancakes wrapped in oil paper in her arms.

The courtyard for the emperor's temporary residence was built in the mountains and covered a large area. Su Li couldn't find a maid to ask for directions, and there was no one to lead the way. He turned around and around and got lost.

Fortunately, Su Li followed a winding path, passed several rockery and a forest of newly blossomed pear trees, and finally saw a brand new red-painted gate.

Su Li stepped forward and was about to knock on the door and call out to Taxue when she heard several hurried calls from behind her.

Su Li could tell that the man was shouting, "Your Majesty!"

Cui Jue is actually here?

Su Li was terrified and her head was buzzing.

The girl had almost no time to hesitate, and she rushed into the mahogany door anxiously. After entering the house, she also deliberately closed the door tightly.

Su Li wanted to avoid Cui Jue temporarily, and leave this place immediately after they were far away.

However, the man's shouting became closer and closer, until finally, he was shouting anxiously through the door: "Your Majesty, Lord Situ wants to discuss the salt policy in Liuzhou with you. What do you think, should we let him into the imperial study to discuss the matter?"

Su Li was listening to the eunuch's request outside behind the door. She was suddenly frightened and her legs went weak, and she almost fell to the ground.

She felt the gradually rising temperature in the room, the slightly damp water vapor, and the increasingly strong fragrance of orchids. It was as if she was immersed in a deep valley in the mountains, and every part of her body felt soft and numb with coldness.

She finally realized where she had trespassed.

It turned out to be Cui Jue’s bathroom.

Su Li was so scared that her palms were covered with sweat. She couldn't help but cover her mouth and nose, hunched over, and dared not breathe.

Until from the depths of the inner room, a stern and cold voice came: "I am not feeling well today, let him leave."

It was Cui Jue's cold and solemn voice.

Oh no, Su Li was scared to death.

She thought desperately: Cui Jue really bathed here...