Chapter 162: Even for civil service exams, you have to check three generations. This is too unscientific.
Hongju was silent.
She had been serving in the mansion since she was young, and the young master was undoubtedly his master, so she couldn't comment too much.
"Young lady said those harsh words to the young master because you were afraid that he would be in danger and wanted to force him to leave Huaizhou City, right?"
Song Lingyi did not answer immediately. She turned to look out the window. The night was as dark as ink, and the fire in the courtyard was bright.
After a moment of quiet contemplation, he said, "My uncle and aunt treat me like their own child. I can't let Lu Qian fall into danger because of me."
What's more, the pirates are targeting her, and as long as he takes her with him, he will be in danger wherever he goes.
It was unexpectedly cold tonight, and it was not until three o'clock in the morning that the master and servant returned to the backyard to rest.
During the day, Huaizhou City was as bustling as usual.
The Song residence was connected to the main street. When the shouting reached the courtyard, the guards were digging traps in the yard.
Lu Bao had experience in marching and fighting, and was quite familiar with setting traps. Early in the morning, he ordered the guards to bring in several large pots and place them in the yard. He also chopped all the firewood in the kitchen and piled it next to the large pots.
Around noon, four or five sealed wooden barrels were brought back on a bullock cart, which made the scene very mysterious.
The guards carried the wooden barrel into the yard. Song Lingyi happened to come out of the backyard and saw them, so she asked a question.
"This is a good thing. We don't have enough weapons. When the pirates attack, we can't fight them head-on immediately. We have to rely on this to hold them off for a while." Lu Bao patted the wooden barrel, his eyes calculating.
Seeing how he spoke so miraculously, Hongqiu, who was standing next to him, came over to take a closer look.
As soon as she got close, she smelled a strong stench and immediately covered her nose and stepped back.
"It stinks so much. Why does it smell so much like..." shit, urine, fart, etc. It's a bit difficult to say.
Lu Bao laughed heartily: "Just as Miss Hongju thought, there is golden juice in the wooden barrel!"
The master and servant were silent.
"So that's how it is. I've heard that during wars, manure and molten iron would be mixed and boiled. If someone attacked the city, the soldiers defending the city would pour the gold liquid down. Anyone who got burned by the gold liquid would greatly increase the probability of infection and death." Song Lingyi said.
I never thought that the knowledge I learned from books in my previous life would come in handy one day.
"That's right, as long as the pirates dare to come, we will pour gold juice on them." Lu Bao said.
In addition to the gold juice, the guards also set traps in the yard. After passing the first level, there is still the second level. After all, they can delay the situation as long as possible. As long as they can delay until the reinforcements from Danyang County arrive, there will be a chance of survival.
By noon, the trap was almost set.
The sun was shining brightly today, and the guards were sweating profusely. Song Lingyi had the kitchen prepare mung bean soup and was just arranging for the maids to distribute it when she heard a knock on the door.
Lu Bao went to open the door and saw a lady dressed in jewels and jade outside. He was surprised and asked, "Who is the lady looking for?"
The lady looked at him, her attitude revealing a bit of arrogance: "This is the Song residence, so of course you are looking for Miss Song."
There was a trap set in the courtyard. Lu Bao was afraid that the lady would step on it by mistake, so he carefully led her and the maid carrying the gifts into the hall.
"Mrs. Guo, how are you?" Song Lingyi smiled lightly and knelt down to salute.
This noble lady was none other than the wife of Prefect Guo. When she returned home after the banquet last night, she told Prefect Guo about the Crown Prince's proposal to Song Lingyi. She had thought that Song Lingyi was just making it up, but she had not expected that the guard was actually under the Crown Prince's command.
So, in order to make friends, the couple gave away the most valuable jade porcelain bottle in their private storehouse as a gift.
"Miss Song, you're welcome. My master and Mr. Song are old friends. You can just call me aunt."
Mrs. Guo smiled brightly and pointed to her maid to place the gift on the eight-immortal table in the middle. The maid was very clever and took the jade porcelain vase out of the brocade box and placed it on the table, silently demonstrating the sincerity of the Guo family's friendship.
The host and guest took their seats.
Song Lingyi glanced at the gift nonchalantly, her eyebrows slightly curved. "Mrs. Guo, you are too polite. This jade porcelain vase is a rare item and priceless. I really can't accept it."
"Now the whole city knows that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is seeking to marry Miss Song. This jade porcelain vase is a gift from my master to congratulate Miss Song on her marriage to the Eastern Palace."
Madam Guo took a sip of her tea and raised her eyebrows. "Although Lord and Madam Song are gone, Huaizhou City is Miss Song's hometown. It's only right that my master take good care of you. As for this jade porcelain vase, there's no other like it even in Kyoto."
"It's so valuable, I dare not accept it." Song Lingyi smiled slightly, her attitude polite and distant. "Please go back and thank the governor for his kindness on my behalf, madam."
Seeing that she was unwilling to appreciate it, Mrs. Guo's smile faded a little.
"Could it be that Miss Song has been to Kyoto and is so used to the prosperity of the world that she doesn't appreciate the things in our remote place?"
Hearing her words, Song Lingyi felt unhappy. She picked up the teacup beside her and said slowly, "Madam, you are wrong. Relationships require reciprocity, but you are well aware of the Song family's current situation. I am an orphan living under someone else's roof, and I cannot afford a gift more valuable than this jade porcelain vase."
In fact, she understood the intentions of Governor Guo and his wife. Huaizhou City was not as peaceful and prosperous as the capital and Jiangnan. Governor Guo's connections were just to persuade her to transfer to the capital or other places.
But there is no sign of marriage yet, and now she has to face the attack of pirates. It is uncertain whether she can return to Kyoto alive, so she must not accept this jade porcelain bottle.
"No request for return of courtesy." Madam Guo hinted with a smile, "As long as Miss Song returns to the capital, don't forget to support our old friends in Huaizhou City. During your time in Huaizhou City, if you encounter anything, just tell us, don't be polite with us."
Song Lingyi pondered for a while, put the teacup on the table, and skipped the topic.
"Come to think of it, I do have something I want to ask Madam."
"What is it?"
"How much does Madam know about that Sima Wang?"
Mrs. Guo blinked, a little surprised. "Why is Miss Song asking about him?" After a moment of confusion, she added, "This Sima Wang took office last year. He works diligently and conscientiously. There's nothing much to say about him."
"However, my master has known Sima Wang for many years." Madam Guo lowered her voice, a look of disdain on her face. "It is said that his father was originally a fisherman in Danyang County. Later, unable to bear the hardship of life, he turned to pirates and committed many evil deeds. When Sima Wang was ten years old, his father was captured by soldiers and beheaded for public display."
Song Lingyi was shocked. She didn't expect that the identity of this pirate was hereditary.
"Since his parents were pirates, why did they appoint him as Sima?"
Even for civil service exams, they have to check three generations, which is too sloppy.
Madam Guo curled her lips and sighed, "After his father's head was publicly displayed, Sima Wang left his hometown to make a living. It wasn't until the beginning of last spring that he happened to save a highly respected old gentleman. To express his gratitude, the old gentleman recommended him for the position of Sima."
After that, she drank some hot tea to soothe her throat.
"After this man took office as Sima, he was too smooth in his dealings. My master said that he was too cunning and could not be a close friend."
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