Chapter 38 Chapter 38 Cousin can look at the people around him...

The Jielu Pavilion is located deep in the mountains. If it is not taken care of for a few days, the lush grass and trees will grow and block the view. Fangdian will go there from time to time to do some trivial chores such as pulling weeds and sweeping the pavilion.

Seeing that Lu Suizhu temporarily lacked someone to take care of her, Wu Lianjin bought a girl from a human trafficker and placed her in the Chen residence, waiting for her to be used.

The girl's name was Yueying, and she lived up to her name, with fair skin and a quiet complexion like the full moon. Lu Suizhu saw that she was very beautiful, quiet and taciturn, so she stayed with Aunt Li to help with some chores in the kitchen.

"Miss, please eat a little, or you'll starve yourself."

Lu Suizhu was not on a hunger strike intentionally, she simply had no appetite. She sent Yueying away with a few words and squatted behind the door, her legs curled up and her arms around her knees.

Wu Lianjin carried a heavy, delicate food box, rimmed with silver patterns and embroidered with silk. Inside, several thin, wing-like bowls and plates were stacked. He knocked gently on the door a few times. "Cousin, there's a new dim sum shop just east of here. They say the food there is just as good as the ones in Beijing. I brought you a few too. Try them."

The doors and windows could reveal the woman's graceful figure. She squatted by the door, looking unhappy. "Just leave it there. Thank you, cousin."

Wu Lianjin was not annoyed by such a cold attitude. He ignored the light blue and white shirt he had just made at the clothing store and sat down on the low steps in front of the door, one hand casually resting on his knee, his back to the door, talking to himself.

"A few days ago, I heard from my uncle that you were promised to someone else, a high-ranking official in the capital. I suddenly felt empty inside, as if something had been taken away from me. I couldn't muster the energy to do anything."

The hem of the skirt covering her feet swirls half a fold, revealing a bit of the light yellow embroidered shoe upper, and Lu Suizhu's heart is shaken.

"Today we know it was a false alarm, and my uncle and I are relieved. Wenjia, in fact, my uncle, aunt and I all feel the same way about you. We hope that you will live a peaceful and smooth life for the rest of your life, and never have to endure the pain of separation from your loved ones again."

Lu Suizhu tilted her head slightly, just able to see Wu Lianjin's eyes through the glazed diamond-shaped pattern on the window lattice. His pupils appeared a clear amber color under the sun, which was a clean background unique to this place surrounded by green mountains and clear water.

He paused for a moment, as if weighing his words.

"If the lord coming to the capital isn't so kind..."

Lu Suizhu's collarbone stood up, her breathing stopped for a moment, and she suddenly wanted to avoid what he was going to say next.

"You can also look at the people around you."

A horizontal peach branch was broken by the wind and fell into the pond, just like these light and soft words, which caused several ripples, along with Lu Suizhu's tangled fingers.

There is a light pink halo.

After saying these words from his heart, Wu Lianjin didn't want to stay any longer. If he pressed too hard, it would seem bad. If Pei Zhiji hadn't appeared, he wouldn't have to be so hasty. After spending a long time with his cousin, it would be natural for him to express his feelings.

But now, he can only test it carefully.

In terms of family background, family status, appearance, and talent, he could not compare to that young Master Pei.

But since ancient times, gentlemen have always sought beautiful ladies. No matter how good that gentleman is, he is just a worldly man who is easily bored with the old and easily pleased with the new.

He has the patience to wait. If his cousin takes pity on him, he will cherish and love her for the rest of his life.

*

Li Ji, twenty-four years old, was the second child in his family and a wealthy businessman in Pengzhou.

"Hurry up, Mr. Li, please come in. I've reserved the best private room for you. I wonder if you're interested in Cuixiang or Hongxiu. I'll have her serve you in your room right away."

It was a rare occasion for a wealthy young man to come, and the madam of Xiangyi Garden greeted him warmly, smiling so much that her hair was shaking. She followed the young man and kept introducing the girls in their courtyard.

"Cuixiang is a dancer, Hongxiu plays the pipa, Zuiyin is beautiful and educated, and their talents are self-evident. And the one who knows how to serve the most is the elderly Su Wuniang. Young Master, you must try her."

The madam blinked, the metaphor obvious.

"Li Ji" held up a fan embroidered with golden cloud patterns, and with a pretentiously deep look he scanned the Xiangyi Garden, then sighed with regret.

The madam was anxious.

The servant behind him stood in front of the young master swiftly, his face as cold as stone and his tone even more unfriendly.

"Our young master has very high standards. Not just any mule or horse can get close to him. Please arrange a private room on the second floor. Let our young master look around and pick the one he likes."

The madam, who had easily obtained two silver bills, was naturally smiling from ear to ear, with her wrinkles almost unable to smooth out, and she nodded repeatedly, saying yes, yes.

No matter how weird or arrogant he is, anyone who gives him so much money is an ancestor and must be respected.

The most secluded private room on the second floor is backed by the Fanxi County Government Office, surrounded by thick green shade and located in a corner, blocking all possible prying eyes.

As soon as the servant entered, he glanced around, closed the door and locked it from the inside. During all his movements, his calloused hands were always holding the scabbard buried deep in his waist.

He clasped his hands together and knelt in front of "Li Ji".

"I have done my job poorly, please punish me, sir."

After working illegally in the mine for a year, Suo Ye became dark and thin. He had never seen the sun for years, and his blood vessels were clearly blue. There were also several man-made scars on the bridge of his nose.

Even Pei Zhiji found it difficult to admit it for a moment.

He used the pseudonym Li Ji and found a dozen strong men in the county. Under the pretext of treasure hunting, he dug around the miasma area of ​​Xiaofeng Mountain for several days, causing quite a stir.

Suo Yecai came after hearing the news.

At least he is still alive and well.

Pei Zhiji also felt relieved, reached out to help him up, and looked at his increasingly thin shoulders.

"You've suffered too."

A year ago, on the order of Pei Zhiji, Suo Ye brought eight death squads from the Pei Mansion to the southeast to investigate for mines. They followed the trail all the way and finally found the inconspicuous little place of Fanxi.

The plan was to go undercover and wait for an opportunity to deliver a message to the capital.

He never imagined that he was trapped in there with those death row prisoners, completely isolated from the outside world, never seeing the light of day all day, let alone passing on any news.

"Some of our men escaped the mine at first, but they died before they could escape the miasma. I was worried that if everyone ran out at once, it would arouse the mine boss's suspicion, so I told the rest of us to stay put."

"Anyone who tried to escape from the mine was killed on the spot. As the mine got deeper and deeper, the number of people working there dwindled. The number of death row prisoners was no longer enough to support the labor in the mines. So they secretly recruited many beggars, widowers, and orphans to work in the mines."

"Even the miasma on Xiaofeng Mountain is to cover up their illegal weapon forging."

Pei Zhiji rubbed the jade ring in his hand in deep thought.

My father calls himself a clean official who supports orthodoxy. I wonder how he would feel if he knew that the prince he supports is plotting to kill his father and the emperor.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince played a good hand. Whether it was succession or rebellion, the Pei family was his best and most favorable stepping stone.

Back to the present, regardless of the emperor's intentions, saving Pei Wuyou is more important.

"The mine has received a huge amount of money in recent months."

"Yes, last month a shipment of valuable Qiangzhou ore suddenly arrived. I've secretly tested it, and the weapons made from it are truly as powerful as cutting through mud, far superior to the ore used in the barracks."

"Is there any account flow?"

Suo Ye shook his head. "The mine owner is Governor Fan's right-hand man. He's extremely vicious, cautious, and suspicious. He never writes down his accounts on paper, but always waits for his superiors to arrive before verbally stating them."

"But I found another clue. The mine owner had a lover in Xiangyi Garden, and I redeemed her last month."

Fireworks exploded in the daytime, but the bright color was not dazzling and the sound was barely audible.

Suo Ye frowned and walked a few steps towards the window. He looked at the fireworks in the sky, skillfully covered his face with a black scarf, leaving only his eyes exposed, and said goodbye to Pei Zhiji.

"Sir, it was our own people who sent out the signal. The mine boss is going to take a headcount again."

"Go back, and be careful."

After Suo Ye left, Pei Zhiji stood on the second floor, looking down, fanning himself and watching. With a flick of the fan, the madam brought Zui Yin, who had the most delicate figure and could read a few words, into his room.

Zuiyin got drunk last night and had a severe headache this morning. She was not very happy to be arranged by the madam to come here. She was wearing a thin indigo shirt and a blue velvet flower on her head to match the color. She came like a swaying orchid.

When he entered the room and saw that Li Ji was such a handsome and beautiful man, and also a man who spent money lavishly, he immediately wanted to win him over, and his resentment disappeared.

She walked forward with a smile, put her arm around Pei Zhiji's shoulders from behind, and her snow-white chest and abdomen naturally pressed against his straight spine.

Soft as the waves, it hits and crashes again and again, gathers into waves, and then flows back quietly.

Her slightly plump hands slid around his neck, and she gently exhaled a faint orchid fragrance, filling his nostrils with it: "Let me pour a glass of wine for Master Li."

Just as she took the wine jug with her bare hands, she was stopped by Pei Zhiji. Zui Yin didn't understand why, so she just followed him hesitantly.

Walking to a zither, Pei Zhiji chuckled, looking even more dashing and romantic, his voice as clear as a spring.

"If I drink this worldly wine, I won't be able to appreciate your beautiful face. Why don't you play a piece of music for me first, so I can listen to your heart."

Zui Yin, who had been dealing with men who were drunk and indulged in meat and wine all day long, had never seen anyone so "smooth-tongued". He suddenly felt a little dizzy and didn't know why. He sat at the piano and played it until he was exhausted.

Then he heard Master Li's cheers again.

The sound of the piano rose again, and "Li Ji" was intoxicated. Looking at her affectionately, he spoke in verse.

"It is really 'the subtle fragrance of orchids makes you drunk, and the flowing music makes you seek shade and coolness!'"

Although she did not understand the meaning, she understood the two words "Zuiyin". She was coaxed into giggling and drank two glasses of wine. When she was drunk, she could not help but tell her "friend" about some of the things that made her angry.

"Young Master, you don't know the suffering of Zui Yin!"

Pei Zhiji gathered his sleeves and poured her more wine. "Since it's boring to stay in Xiangyi Garden, why don't you redeem yourself, Miss Zuiyin?"

Zui Yin scoffed coldly, and as the cold wine went down his throat, anger surged in his heart, "It's not as easy as you say, young master! In this garden, the price a girl would pay to redeem herself would be exorbitant!"

"Hmph, speaking of this, Miss Liuli is really lucky."

After looking around and seeing that there was no one around, Zuiyin leaned close to Pei Zhiji's ear and kissed his neck. The smell of alcohol entered his lungs, making him sticky and wet. Pei Zhiji suppressed his disgust.

"Mother won't let me talk about it, but that Liuli is really lucky. Last month, her old lover redeemed her. It is said that he paid a thousand taels of silver before mother agreed to let her go. I wonder where she is now, enjoying herself happily."

Glaze.

Glaze.

After redeeming himself, Liuli disappeared without a trace. No one even knew the name of his old lover. All they knew was that he always came with his face covered. After the madam took the money, she kept her mouth shut like a dead duck and didn't know anything when asked.

Zuiyin was on good terms with her, and he only knew that Liuli liked to eat sesame cakes from Mr. Tang's house and would buy one every two days.

After several rounds of inquiries, Mr. Tang, who sold sesame cakes, found out the residence of a man named Liuli for Pei Zhiji.

There are twenty-eight households in Hualiu Lane in the east of the city.

Pei Zhiji went there several times during the day, but the door was always locked. Her family was the only deserted family in the bustling city.

At the hour of Xu, a clear crescent moon hangs in the sky, as bright as a silver thread.

The door opened from the inside, and the wooden frame creaked. Pei Zhiji stepped in and immediately felt a gust of cold wind and a white cloth flying in the dark night.

He turned around and tried to leave.

The door at the back slammed shut twice with a "bang-bang" sound.

At some point, a girl appeared in the yard, half naked and bathing with wet hair.

The girl's eyes widened in fear, and she yelled at the strange man in front of her with all her might, her voice loud enough for the neighbors to hear.

"Someone come! Come quickly! There's a hooligan here!"