Chapter 119 The Cai Family
He pinched it between two fingers and then put it in his mouth. A sweet taste spread from the tip of his tongue, accompanied by the fragrance of pear blossoms, and soon filled his mouth. He also smelled the sweet aroma on the tip of his nose.
His eyes brightened slightly, his expression somewhat unusual, and a little surprised.
She couldn't help but laugh when she saw his expression.
She had never seen anyone make that expression while eating candy before; it was quite funny.
They seem like people who lack common sense. Perhaps they're standing too high up and don't know what life is really like for ordinary people, which is why they're surprised by such common things.
Qi Heng could tell that she was mocking her, and her face turned slightly embarrassed, a sense of shame rising in her heart.
He said softly, his voice lacking conviction, "Stop laughing..."
"The weather is dry, be careful with fire..."
The sound of the night watchman came from afar, and Tao Tao quickly covered her mouth, but her bright eyes still curved into crescent shapes.
"I didn't mean it. Just smile. It's your easygoing nature."
Hearing this, he still smiled. Although he knew her words sounded offensive, he didn't seem to care that much.
"I'm not blaming you, as long as Xiaotao is happy."
"Would you like to hear a story? A story about a drowning ghost."
"A drowning ghost?"
She nodded, feeling that the night was particularly suitable for telling a ghost story.
He suddenly became interested in listening to stories of drowning ghosts by the lake, which was quite a novel experience.
Seeing that he acquiesced, Tao Tao smiled and began to speak:
"Once upon a time, there was a rushing river in a remote village, but all the villagers preferred to fetch water from a place thirty miles away to wash their clothes rather than fetch water from the river in the village..."
People who work in the funeral industry are always more adept at telling ghost stories than others.
Seeing that he was listening attentively, she began to speak earnestly.
In the end, the story, despite its many variations, still revolves around the relationship between a man and a woman.
This woman is ruthless; she'd rather not be reincarnated than not kill every man, regardless of whether he's a heartless man or not.
"This woman killed the man who wronged her, so why did she kill so many innocent men as well?"
Qi Heng still didn't understand the woman's feelings. There's a cause for every wrong, and a debt for every debt. Why would a woman want to kill a man?
"Because she resented all the men in the world, her resentment turned into an obsession. She wanted to save the women of this world from being hurt by love and kill all the men. Her obsession would not disappear."
"Unfortunately, it was eventually destroyed by a Taoist priest invited by the village."
Tao Tao looked slightly disappointed.
"What a pity? Does Xiaotao also agree with her approach?"
His expression became even more puzzled.
In his mind, how could a kind-hearted woman like Tao Tao agree with such an extreme approach?
"She is a good person."
She stood up and explained, "If someone has kind intentions and wants to save women like her from ending up in the same situation, isn't that being a good person?"
"Let's go, Your Highness, it's late."
His Highness the Crown Prince was unhappy, so I just chatted with him casually.
The two boarded the carriage, and Tao Tao was still driving it.
She slowly stopped at the entrance of the alleyway leading home. "Are you sure you don't need me to take you home? Are you going home alone?"
"Why can't I, a man, go back? Thank you for accompanying me, Xiao Tao. Go back now."
Qi Heng watched her walk into the alley and disappear through the door, when suddenly the bodyguard Chen Yu appeared behind her.
"Your Highness, your subordinates have discovered that Ding Yunxiang was once at Chunzhu Tower, and was subsequently bought by a man. At that time, someone saw Prince Murong Yan appear."
"You mean Murong Yan bought Ding Yunxiang?"
"No, the two men who bought Ding Yunxiang have not yet been found."
He frowned and said coldly, "Then let's hurry."
"Yes, Your Highness."
...
Ding Yunxiang refused to give up and went to the Cai family every day, carrying the token and determined to see the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.
Finally, as the saying goes, "Heaven helps those who help themselves." Before dawn today, Ding Yunxiang, who was waiting at the Cai family home, met the owner of the token, Cai Benbai, the eldest son of the Cai family.
Cai Benbo was the top scholar in the second class last year. He was born into a family of scholars and is currently serving as a fourth-rank official in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Recently, he has been working long hours preparing for the autumn hunt.
He had just stepped out the door when a woman rushed up to him.
"Please, please let me see Uncle Cai! My eldest sister is the Cai family's betrothed!"
Ding Yunxiang's eyes were filled with tears as she gripped his arm tightly, refusing to let go.
The servants following behind her were shocked and rushed forward to stop her rude behavior.
"What's wrong with you, young lady?! Let's go, let's go!"
"I won't leave... let me go..."
Two servants, their faces contorted with rage, dragged her along without any courtesy, attracting the attention of many passersby.
The Cai family's residence is that of an official appointed by the imperial court. How can they allow people to tug and pull at the gate? This is utterly improper.
Cai Benbo quickly stepped forward to stop him, his face extremely grim: "Alright! Let's go inside and talk about it slowly."
He forcefully brushed away the hands that were clinging tightly to his arms, and angrily flung his sleeves inside.
In the reception room, he sat in a high position, coldly looking at the uneasy woman in front of him.
"Who exactly are you? Just say what you have to say."
Ding Yunxiang sobbed as she said, "I am Ding Yunxiang, the daughter of the Salt Commissioner of Suizhou."
Salt Commissioner of Suizhou?
Upon hearing this, he immediately stood up, looking surprised. He then hurriedly dismissed the servants around him and sent someone to invite his father, Cai Jiuwen, over.
"Are you really from the Ding family?"
Upon hearing this, she quickly took out the jade ring, a token of their love, and handed it to him.
Upon seeing this item, he immediately thought of another jade ring he kept in the room, which was a pair with this one.
His father said that this was a token of betrothal between him and the Ding family.
But wasn't the Ding family's property confiscated? How did Ding Yunxiang find her way here?
And now she's bringing this to our door, could it be that she's planning to seek refuge with relatives?
Didn't Father say he would send the letter of annulment to the Ding family? Why is she still here?
All these questions were answered only when their father, Cai Jiuwen, arrived.
Soon, Cai Jiuwen, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, hurriedly arrived at the reception room. As soon as he entered, Ding Yunxiang went to greet him.
“Uncle Cai, do you still remember me? My father is Ding Yixu, the salt transport commissioner of Suizhou. I am Ding Yunxiang, the second daughter of the Ding family. My eldest sister is engaged to the Cai family.”
Upon hearing the word "engagement," Cai Jiuwen's expression changed slightly, and his eyes filled with coldness.
“Madam Ding, I have already sent a letter to the Ding family in Suizhou to dissolve the engagement. Now the engagement is no longer valid, so you should be careful with your words.”
Ding Yunxiang looked at him, stunned. She had finally managed to meet Uncle Cai, and he actually told her that the engagement was canceled?
What will happen to the Ding family? Who can exonerate them?
"But...but you didn't take back the token! Uncle Cai, please help us! My father was truly framed. He would never betray the court like this."
"My father was promoted by you, you know him best, please help me..."
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