Chapter 83 Chapter 83 "Of course, find her back."...
"Trust me, brother, let's go back home together."
This sentence was not only a promise made by Zhang Jingxian, but also her purpose of explaining her presence here to her cousin.
Don't worry, and believe her, she will take them away from Jiangyuan and back to Xishan Village.
Four years later, Zhang Jingxian was finally able to say this: they no longer had to be like tiny ants, with their fate dictated to them at will.
A pure joy was transmitted to Zhang Rushan through the close blood.
Xishan Village, which had become distant and vague in his memory, seemed to have regained its original appearance: mysterious and enveloping mountains and forests, slowly flowing streams, busy figures in the fields, and children looking up to reach for mulberries under mulberry trees.
His mind suddenly calmed down, he wiped his face with his hand, and gave his cousin a somewhat awkward smile.
It felt like I hadn't smiled so sincerely in a long time, and warmth overflowed from my eyes.
"Um."
With just one short word, the four-year gap between the siblings gradually melted away.
As if she had noticed this change, Ban Jiang looked back at the two people walking side by side and whispering to each other, and a hint of thought flashed across her charming and beautiful face.
When she sat in Jiang Yuan's reception room, she expressed her attitude directly.
"Uncle, I am willing to hand Jiang Garden and everyone here over to you. I will tell you everything I know, word for word. However, I have one condition, and you must agree to it."
Hearing this, Zhang Jingxian was a little surprised. She thought that based on Mrs. Ban's behavior just now, they would continue to pull back and forth, but she didn't expect it to be so quick.
However, on second thought, Mrs. Ban is a smart person, so it is not surprising that she made such a decision.
"What are the conditions?" Shu Jian asked with a normal expression.
Ban Jiang's eyes flickered, and she sighed helplessly and resentfully, pursing her red lips. "Uncle, you may not know this, but when the eldest master took me in as his wife, he promised me that Jiang Garden would be my home and that I would live happily here forever. If Jiang Garden were to be taken back by the Xie family, it would be considered that the eldest master had broken his promise."
Hearing about the change from husband to eldest son, Zhang Jingxian's eyebrows moved slightly, and she roughly guessed the conditions that Mrs. Ban would propose.
As she expected, Ban Jiang continued with a grievance, "In fact, for the past few years, I have always felt guilty towards the eldest master because I was unable to bear him a child. I am such a useless person that I dare not stay with the eldest master any longer. Why don't you let Uncle Changshi make the decision and let me go?"
But she was unwilling to go to Jiankang. Whether she could escape from Jiankang or survive was entirely up to her.
Shu Jian's eyes darkened. Ban Jiang's request was a bit smart, but unfortunately, he shook his head and refused. "Although I work for the Prime Minister, I am not a member of the Xie family. Madam Ban, you can wait until you get to Jiankang to say these words to the Prime Minister or the eldest son in person."
"Going to Jiankang? The eldest son already has a wife, and I come from a poor family. I will definitely not be liked by the Xie family. I will only be tortured there."
Ban Jiang covered his face and cried sadly. His tearful appearance was very pitiful.
Seeing this, Xie Yuan couldn't help but plead with Shu Jian on her behalf, "Uncle Chief Clerk, Madam Ban is just a concubine of the eldest son. She hasn't even gone through any of the six rites of passage. Basically, she's not even considered a member of the Xie family. If you let her go, even if the Prime Minister finds out, he won't blame you."
Shu Jian frowned and said nothing.
Ban Jiang paused, her tears growing even more pitiful. But her words carried a different meaning. "Rather than dying in Jiankang's inner quarters, I'd rather die in Jiang Garden. After all, there are some people here whom I sincerely care about who can collect my body."
Her tearful eyes seemed to look at Zhang Rushan unintentionally, and then gently swept over Zhang Jingxian.
"...without the six rites, is that right?"
Zhang Jingxian suddenly spoke up and asked Xie Yuan.
Xie Yuan nodded somewhat uncomfortably. The existence of Mrs. Ban and Jiang Yuan was kept secret by the eldest son. In order to prevent the people in Jiankang from finding out, no etiquette was followed.
Zhang Jingxian was strangely silent for a moment, then asked Ban Jiang, "Mrs. Ban, is your indenture in the hands of the eldest son?"
Thanks to what the maid of Changling Mansion whispered in her ear in her previous life, Zhang Jingxian knew the hierarchy of concubines in the aristocratic families. Below the lady there were noble concubines, concubines and lowly concubines.
A concubine is of noble birth and has talent and education. She usually gets some respect and her status is only slightly lower than that of the wife of the main wife.
Ordinary concubines may have ordinary backgrounds or lack talent, but they have good family records, are not involved in business, and cannot be beaten or scolded at will.
Concubines are of the lowest status. Most of them are originally slaves in the family, or obtained through trade and exchange. Naturally, they can be beaten and scolded at will.
Ban Jiang's eyes twinkled. "When the eldest prince took me in, I was only a dancer, but my former master took pity on me and freed me from slavery."
Once you are free from slavery, you are free.
Hearing this, Zhang Jingxian's expression became even more strange. "Since you haven't gone through the six rituals yet, and haven't sold yourself here, Madam Ban, you can hand over Jiang Garden. Where you go next is entirely up to you. What does this have to do with Master Shu Jian?"
Her voice was not loud, but it was clear to everyone's ears.
According to the rules, Ban Jiang can go anywhere freely as long as he gives up the things belonging to the Xie family.
"Master Uncle Jian, do you think what I said is right?" Zhang Jingxian smiled slightly and looked at Uncle Jian with a pair of bright eyes full of hope.
There must be many people in Jiang Garden who are loyal to Mrs. Ban. If Mrs. Ban's condition is not met, these people may fight to the death with them, resulting in more casualties.
The eldest son has become an abandoned child of the Xie family anyway, so letting one of his concubines run away is of no consequence.
Shu Jian shook his beard, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Instead, he ordered Xie Yuan to gather all the people in Jiang Garden.
"Everyone should state their identity and household registration on paper."
He wanted to count the soldiers that the eldest prince had intercepted from the Northern Palace Army four years ago and then present it to Prime Minister Xie.
Seeing that he ignored her, Zhang Jingxian did not get discouraged, but stood quietly beside him, listening to his instructions and helping Xie Yuan organize the list of people in Jiang Garden.
At this time, the benefits of being able to read and write become apparent, so that you don't have to stand aside awkwardly.
Zhang Jingxian's speed was faster than Xie Yuan, a serious member of the Xie family. It might be because her face and tone were gentler, so those people in Jiang Garden who had been abducted for four years were not so numb when facing her.
In comparison, the Xie family's descendants were noble figures, and they instinctively kept their distance and treated them with awe.
Among these people, Zhang Jingxian was also surprised to see familiar faces, the villagers of Xishan Village.
When they saw her, they were like their cousin Zhang Rushan. They first showed an expression of disbelief, and then confirmed her identity. They all felt as if their throats were strangled, unable to speak, but their eyes were wet.
Especially Liu Chuan's brother Liu Cang, a tall and strong man, cried loudly.
When Zhang Jingxian saw him, her reaction was the biggest, because one of Liu Cang's sleeves was empty after four years of not seeing him. It was obvious that he... was missing an arm.
Pursing her lips, she took out the candy she had bought in Jiankang Market and handed it to Liu Cang's intact hand, "Brother, have some candy. Achuan is waiting for you at home."
Liu Cang took the yellow malt candy and cried and laughed.
-
Near dusk, Shu Jian first got the first list of names, which was written by Zhang Jingxian herself and presented it to him.
After reading it, Shu Jian nodded slightly and took her from Jiang Garden back to Xie's ancestral home, while Xie Yuan stayed in Jiang Garden temporarily.
On the way back, Zhang Jingxian honestly admitted her mistake. She shouldn't have deliberately humiliated Shu Jian.
Uncle Jian had a stern face the whole time, but when he caught a glimpse of her uneasy expression out of the corner of his eye, he burst out laughing.
"Why are you panicking, Xiao Axian? I don't blame you." After laughing, Shu Jian calmly asked her what she thought of that woman Ban Jiang.
"He is capable, knows how to judge the situation, and, well, is also a good actor." Zhang Jingxian replied that she did not seem to have much feelings for the eldest son, her nominal husband, and that he should be more than just a concubine.
"If I'm not mistaken, she is the person that the King of Donghai placed with the eldest prince." Shu Jian explained the reason why he wanted to take Ban Jiang back to Jiankang.
Then, he changed the subject and said calmly, "But the Prime Minister and I are not the kind of people who would kill anyone without mercy. Since she is sensible and willing to confess everything, it would be fine to spare her life."
"Master Uncle Jian, are you willing to let her go?" Zhang Jingxian blinked and asked quickly.
Shu Jian stroked his beard and nodded. "There's nothing wrong with letting her go. But just in case, we need to send someone to follow her and keep an eye on her until she really just wants to live a peaceful life."
"That's the way it should be."
"However, we don't have many people with us on this trip, and we don't trust the Xie family members. Xiao Ah Xian, I can't spare your help right now, so you have to go back to your hometown alone."
Shu Jian smiled and said that some people were originally arranged to escort her back to her hometown, but with the additional task of monitoring Ban Jiang, she really returned home alone as they joked at the beginning.
"I don't need anyone to escort me. My cousin, the villagers and I can handle it." Zhang Jingxian was not worried about herself at all. There were more than ten people in total, and they would definitely be able to return to Xishan Village safely.
"Anyway, thank you, Uncle Jian."
She sincerely thanked Shu Jian with a smile on her face.
Shu Jian looked at her, his heart softening. He said, "Before you left, the Prime Minister told me about your cousin and the villagers. Since you don't need an escort, Ah Xian, you can set off for home tomorrow."
This arrangement was also Prime Minister Xie's way of repaying her and Xie Yun for their kindness.
Zhang Jingxian understood Shu Jian's meaning and bowed solemnly.
-
"Envoy, those who followed us secretly have left."
Not long after Achu and the others left, Xie immediately reported to Xie Yun in a low voice, his tone and expression extremely cautious.
Xie Yun had a blank expression on his face and before he could say anything, Gong Chengyue reacted first. He pinched the feather fan in his hand and immediately understood the meaning of the words his friend said before leaving.
It's not only a reminder to him, but also a reminder to myself.
In front of Prime Minister Xie, I must hide my thoughts.
"Next, are we going to continue heading north...back to Changling?" Gong Chengyue asked softly, his tone tentative.
Xie Yun's expression didn't change at all. Her eyes were fixed on the feather fan in his hand. The fan was a mixture of black, gray and white, and was made by the peasant girl herself.
"Of course, to find my savior."
His tone was chilling.
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The author has something to say: Muah, here I come~
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