Chapter 33 Chapter 33 The convoy did not stop for just one day...
The convoy did not stop along the way, only taking a short break for meals three times a day.
Shen Xuan was locked in the car and couldn't go out except to eat, drink, defecate and urinate. That is to say, it is only at night that the caravan will find an inn to rest.
Shen Xuan did think about escaping from the inn, but the Xue family brought many people, and there were always people guarding the door of the room, so he couldn't find an opportunity.
Two days later, Shen Xuan learned from the servants that the old woman's surname was You. The servants in the Marquis's Mansion called her Mother You. She and Butler Zhao were both close confidants of the Marquis's wife.
But judging from the way the two get along, Mother You should be closer to Butler Zhao and the Marquis's wife than they are to Butler Zhao, so when Butler Zhao encounters something he is hesitant about, he will listen to her decision.
The Xue family is worthy of being a marquisate, even the servants in the mansion are quite impressive.
On the way to Beijing, Shen Xuan saw that the food, clothing and daily expenses of Butler Zhao and Mother You had exceeded the level of the teachers in Lezhou Academy.
You should know that the teachers in Lezhou Academy all had the title of Juren or above, and received a monthly salary of twenty taels of silver, which was considered a wealthy class in Lezhou.
However, several prominent servants of the Xue family earned more than these gentlemen, which shows how wealthy and prosperous the Xue family was as a marquisate.
One day the convoy stopped in Jinzhou, a big city rich in beautiful jade.
When Mother You was out for a while, she had a white jade hairpin with a very fine texture on her head. She was also wearing a pair of purple jade bracelets on her hands, which she had obviously just bought.
This kind of jadeware would cost at least over one hundred taels of silver in Lezhou. Even if it was a little cheaper in Jinzhou, it would still cost seventy or eighty taels.
Mother You could take out so much money to buy jewelry without hesitation, which shows how rich her purse is.
Shen Xuan had been setting up a stall in Koi Street for so long, and he had seen many noble families in Lezhou, but none of their servants were so respectable.
Two days later, the convoy finally arrived at the gate of the capital.
Shen Xuan lifted the curtain of the carriage and saw that the capital city was indeed the capital of Dajin. Even the city walls were much higher than those of Lezhou.
A team of soldiers stood on the top of the city wall, and armored officers and soldiers were standing guard at the gate, checking the identities of passing vehicles and pedestrians one by one.
There is a sign hanging on the gate tower with three big characters "South City Gate" written in gold paint. The font is solemn and looks particularly majestic.
Although Shen Xuan lived in Beijing before he was eight years old. But he was a young boy who seldom went out and had no impression of the capital city at all.
Because it was the marquis's carriage, the soldiers at the door asked a few questions and then registered the vehicle and Shen Xuan's name. After that, the convoy entered the city smoothly.
Shen Xuan looked out of the car window curiously. There was actually a canal running through the city wall of the capital, and there was a pier and market not far from the city gate.
The market was bustling with a constant stream of ships and vehicles coming and going. There are many laborers moving back and forth in the shops on the street, and there are also many small stalls and vendors targeting workers and ordinary people, creating a scene of thriving business.
There was a huge gap between the rich and the poor in the Jin Dynasty. Although the people in the countryside were poor, the big cities had already developed very prosperously.
In southern cities like Lezhou, business is already very mature, not to mention central cities like Beijing.
"I'm selling candied haws. Ten cents a string."
"Meat buns, big and fresh meat buns, eight cents each!"
"Vegetarian wontons are only six cents, don't miss it if you pass by..."
…
The continuous shouting of street vendors rang in Shen Xuan's ears.
The dock market in the south of the city is considered to be a more down-to-earth place in Beijing, but the prices are much higher than those in Lezhou.
After listening to the whole process, Shen Xuan found that the prices here were only slightly cheaper than those on Jinli Street, and twice as much as those in the south of Lezhou City. It can be seen that the cost of living for people in Beijing is much higher than in other places.
However, such a high cost of living cannot stop such a large influx of population, which shows that the income of people in Beijing is much higher than that in other places.
On this street of the dock market alone, any small stall will have no trouble selling. Judging from the flow of people at this stall, I think it can make about a dollar a day.
It can be seen that in Beijing, as long as you are diligent and willing to work, and are not particularly stupid, it is not a problem to earn more than ten taels of silver a month.
Although such income is only at the level of ordinary people in Beijing, it is enough to rent a house and support the whole family, and there will be a lot of surplus at the end of the year.
Many people work in Beijing for a few years, then use the money they save to go back to their hometown to buy a few acres of good farmland, and then they can become a country gentleman in their hometown who will never have to worry about food and clothing.
Just as Shen Xuan was thinking about how to make money in the capital, the carriage left the market and the roads on both sides gradually became quiet.
As the convoy headed north, the houses on both sides also changed. The north of the city is where the famous families in the capital live, and the former Duke Shen’s Mansion was also located here.
Another hour later, the carriage passed a very imposing gate with a bronze lion as tall as a person standing on each side of the gate. One male and one female, with majestic appearance.
The wooden door was dark red in color, with the four corners covered with brass and a pair of gold-painted pepper patterns biting the door knockers. The wooden door was a full ten feet wide, with a flying eaves on top. There is also a black plaque with gold characters hanging in the middle, with the words "Xue Mansion" inscribed on it.
Is this the Xue Mansion? Shen Xuan thought in his heart. A familiar feeling arose in his heart. He probably came here when he was very young.
The convoy passed through the gate and went in through the corner door next to it. After stopping in a yard with a stable, Mother You, Butler Zhao and others got off.
“Brother Chen, we have arrived at the Marquis’ Mansion.” Mother You said as she opened the car door, put him down, and carefully examined the expression on Shen Xuan’s face.
Shen Xuan grew up in the Duke's Mansion and later traveled to a modern famous family, so he was not surprised by the Xue family's gorgeous mansion.
He also knew that this courtyard was only used to receive the carriages of the Xue family's servants, and the real owner and guests would not get off here.
But he found that Mother You was secretly observing him. After thinking about it, he immediately put on the appearance of a timid country boy who had just arrived in the city.
Mother Nayou said nothing, but led him through another gallery.
The gallery is the road where guests are usually received. There are hollow carved windows on both sides, and in the corner, there is a pair of painted plum vases with gold thread placed on high stools.
The pair of plum vases were obviously fired in an official kiln and were extremely exquisitely crafted. A pair of colored vases of this size would cost at least a hundred taels on the market, but they were now placed directly in the corridor.
Shen Xuan thought about it, and deliberately looked at the plum vase with envy and said, "Such a good bottle, why is it left outside like this? Wouldn't it be a pity if it gets broken by someone?"
really. As soon as he finished speaking, Mother You couldn't help but reveal a hint of contempt in her eyes.
He said, "There are countless bottles like this in the Marquis' Mansion, and they are not considered good things. Brother Chen, take a look at the plum tree outside the corridor?"
"That's the plum blossom that the master dug from Qishan. It blooms every winter and fills the garden with fragrance. This plum vase is used to match the plum blossoms."
After hearing what Mother You said, Shen Xuan naturally put on an expression of surprise that made him unable to close his mouth.
Mother You took Shen Xuan to a guest house and placed him in the house.
Although this house is only used to receive ordinary foreign guests, it has been renovated very exquisitely.
The furniture in the house is all made of fine elm and has a bright color. Each piece of furniture is also carved with exquisite patterns.
Even the bed weft is made of the finest gauze embroidered with orchid patterns, and the sheets and quilt covers are made of finely spun cotton cloth produced in Huzhou.
"This... is this where I live?" Shen Xuan deliberately stroked the jujube flowers carved on the headboard, looking flattered.
Seeing how unpresentable he was, Mother You curled the corners of her mouth in sarcasm.
I thought to myself that it was just an ordinary guest room and he was making such a fuss. He was really a country boy who had never seen the world.
Mother You: "Brother Chen, this is just a guest room in the Marquis's Mansion, and the things used are not good."
"If we talk about the most exquisite person in the mansion, it must be our Xue Mansion's eldest young master Xue Fenglin. The furniture in his room is all made of golden nanmu wood, which is priceless. Everything he eats, wears and uses is the most expensive in our mansion."
"But you don't have to rush. After a while, when you get married and become a family, won't all these be yours?"
Shen Xuan listened to what Mother You said and did not refute it. Instead, she acted surprised and happy. After thinking for a while, she lowered her eyes, shook her head shyly and said, "Master Xue and I are too different in status. I think he is unwilling to acknowledge me as his husband. If I force him, he will definitely despise me and there will be no place for me in the mansion in the future."
What he said was half true and half false, and his acting skills were also at the level of an award-winning actor.
She did not immediately deny her marriage to Xue Fenglin, but instead revealed some uneasiness about the unknown married life.
The reason why Shen Xuan took so much effort to act was mainly because he had been too resistant in Yunshui Village before.
The result was that not only did he fail to escape the engagement, but the Xue family became more wary of him. They kept a close watch on him throughout the entire process, making it impossible for him to find a chance to escape.
After hearing this, Mother You actually believed it about 80% and relaxed her guard against Shen Xuan a little.
I thought to myself, how could a poor guy like Shen Xuan not want to marry into a marquis's mansion? He was reluctant to come before because he was worried that Xue Fenglin disliked him.
But the more Xue Fenglin disliked him, the more Bai wanted him to marry her. Then he rolled his eyes and comforted Shen Xuan: "What are you afraid of? You are a person with a marriage certificate, not to mention that there are the master and the mistress in the mansion to support you. For the sake of his parents, the eldest master dare not treat you badly."
"Madam, can you really help me?" Shen Xuan blinked when he heard this, and asked innocently, "But I still feel it's strange. With my status and appearance, and having been married once, how could the Marquis' Mansion be willing to let me be the husband of the Crown Prince?"
"Of course our lady is kind-hearted. You and the young master are already engaged, and she can't bear to see you wandering around outside. If you are obedient and willing to listen to our lady, you will be able to marry the young master and enjoy the wealth and glory of this mansion." When Mother You heard that Shen Xuan was still worried, she painted a pie in the sky for him to calm him down.
“Although you said so, aunt, I always feel uneasy.” Seeing that Mother You was determined to let him marry Xue Fenglin, Shen Xuan said tentatively.
Hearing that Shen Xuan was still making excuses, Mother You's face darkened, and she said with a bit of ruthlessness in her words: "If you can't be the eldest young master's husband, then you are useless to our lady."
"With your status, I'm afraid neither the eldest young master himself nor his mother's family, the Ye family, want you to exist in this world."
"Ah? Mother You, you don't want me to exist in this world? Do you mean... my life will be in danger?" Shen Xuan saw Mother You hit a stick and gave two candies. He actually started to threaten me, and I immediately made a frightened expression.
"That's what you think." Mother You said coldly, "There are many people who disappear for no reason in Zuoyoujing every year. You don't have any relatives. If you disappear, I'm afraid no one will look for you."
Seeing Shen Xuan shudder, his eyes trembled in panic. He only murmured, "From now on, I will obey Madam's arrangements in everything. I will do whatever Madam tells me to do. I only ask Madam to support me and save my life!"
Mother You curled the corners of her mouth, thinking that the goal must have been achieved. She comforted Shen Xuan a few more times before going to the inner courtyard to find Bai to report the news.
On the other hand, just as Shen Xuan registered his identity at the South City Gate, the Ye family got the news.
Mrs. Ye was extremely anxious and was already on her way to the Xue family.
When Ye Chen learned the news, he sent someone to the Imperial College to inform Xue Fenglin who was preparing for the imperial examination there.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
