Chapter 83 Chapter 83 "I will treat you as my own child."...
They were parked by a beautiful river. He said he was going to fetch some water. Jasmine looked at the tall figure from afar and couldn't wait for him to come over, so she ran over quickly.
"What's the matter?" Yan Ke looked at her suspiciously.
Jasmine asked excitedly, "You know?"
"Know what?"
"Those three people said a lot of bad things about me to you?"
Jasmine was certain he knew. If those three fell into his hands, they would definitely confess. Even if they didn't, there was no way he wouldn't ask.
As expected, Yan Ke nodded.
Jasmine felt like a joke. "Master, you knew it, why didn't you tell me?"
Yan Ke looked at her calmly: "Since you don't want to talk about it, why should I force myself to do something that makes you unhappy?"
Yan Ke was a little sad that his aunt refused to confide in him, but he understood and didn't think it was a big deal.
But Jasmine was hurt by his indifferent expression. He shouldn't look at her like that.
It must be her repeated lies that chilled his heart.
Jasmine grabbed his hand, feeling embarrassed but unwilling to wait even a moment longer.
"What did they say? Did they say I was a bad guy with a rotten heart and vicious? Or did they say I stole something? I admit that I put poisonous grass juice in the water they drank, but I just wanted to escape, and I was caught in the end. Do you know the old injury on my arm? It was caused by that time!" Jasmine rolled up her sleeves to show him her arm.
"I stole their money so I could escape. They owed me money. During those years I herded sheep for them and didn't have enough to eat. They beat me and scolded me, and they deserved it! I admit that I didn't just steal from them. I also stole from others, not just money but also food..."
"Stop talking."
After saying the beginning, the rest came out surprisingly easily. Knowing she only had the courage for this one time, Jasmine continued without pause: "Yes, I'm very annoying. Not only does this couple hate me, but the entire village hates me. But I hate them too! They watched me get beaten, watched me being caged like an animal. So many times I could have escaped, but they found me and sent me back!"
"Stop talking!"
"By the way, I haven't told you why I ran away."
"You said they beat you."
Jasmine shook her head. "They didn't just beat me. When I was seven, my brother actually took off my pants. I stabbed one of his eyes, and they beat me so badly that I couldn't get up for a month. Later, my father also came to take off my clothes. I told him that no one likes a slut and that I wouldn't be able to sell me for a high price, so he stopped. But since then, every day has been a nightmare for me!"
Jasmine tightly grasped his hand and quickly added, "I've confessed everything. Can you please forgive me? If I had a choice, I'd also like to be a lively and kind-hearted woman like Lady Wan..."
Yan Ke covered her mouth and scolded her dumbly: "I told you to stop talking, but didn't you hear me?"
Jasmine really stopped talking. She was just thinking about it with fear when a hand grabbed her in the next moment.
She heard a sob.
Jasmine felt the hand resting on the back of her head again. It was not only strong but also trembling.
...
Yan Ke only learned how many bad things Jasmine had done from those three people.
"...Master, it's not that I have to do this, it's just that this girl has done so many bad things! If you don't believe me, you can go to our Santian Village and ask. No one in the village has a good word for her. She has been stealing, cheating, and lying since she was a child, and that's not all. She also picked poisonous herbs and wanted to kill her parents and brothers! That's right!"
Qin the dealer's cloudy eyes bulged out, and he said excitedly, "If our family could afford this huge Buddha, we wouldn't have sold her...to Erhei. We raised her, and we wouldn't want to let her go."
Yan Ke sneered as he pointed at Qin the trafficker kneeling before him: "You're lying. If you were really reluctant to part with them, why would you accept betrothal gifts from both families, and why would you let these two people...enter your house?"
Everyone could see the Duke's suppressed anger.
Qin the trafficker was trembling with fear, trying to explain himself with a stuttering voice: "Master...Master, you must not be deceived by that girl..."
Unable to continue his story, Qin the Merchant slapped himself hard, "Please spare my life, Master! It was my own fault that I gambled, lost money, and had no money to pay back my debts, which is why I got into trouble with those two. But it was my parents' order, and how could I disobey them when they told me to marry? That girl is definitely not innocent either, she has many ulterior motives. She was the one who deliberately killed Erhei!"
Qin Ku kowtowed several times and then said, "Master, she...she not only killed Erhei, she was so cruel as to kill her own brother. She blinded my son's eye. We raised a beast!"
The lame man followed suit, saying, "Yes, she wanted to kill me at that time, but luckily I escaped quickly! If she has the guts to kill someone, what else can't she do? Please, sir, help us!"
At that time, Yan Ke did not think that what the three people said were all lies. Maybe some of them were exaggerated, but most of them were definitely true.
After all, my aunt is indeed cunning, pretentious, and loves to lie. These are all true.
In prison that day, Yan Ke heard many new things about his aunt, and he was able to escape only after he took the initiative to come out of the cell.
He was certain that his aunt was a person who had committed many evil deeds, but in his heart he was unwilling to give up.
Yan Ke was confused for a long time before he could make up his mind.
He grew up under strict rules and regulations, never made a mistake, and always upheld fair rules for His Majesty.
Who knew that one day he would be ruined because of his aunt.
He is no longer worthy of being an official of Daqi, nor worthy of being worshipped by others.
...
Jasmine later wanted to talk to her grandfather about her childhood, but he was very opposed to it and ordered her not to mention it again. Jasmine really didn't mention it again.
She dealt with Duan Zhi, but ignored Duan Xue.
After learning about this, Yan Ke confirmed that Duan Xue was a vindictive person and told the matter to Minister Duan. Minister Duan reflected on the matter, but also knew that he could not break the rules.
The day before Yan Ke left, he heard that the old minister had picked out several of his illegitimate grandsons who were not young anymore, as well as two of his youngest illegitimate sons, and planned to train them into talents in the next two years.
He told his aunt about the Duan family, but did not mention those three people.
The three of them had only accepted benefits and had not committed any serious offense. After asking about the person behind the scenes and listening to the three of them talk about some things about the aunt, Yan Ke searched and took away the bag of silver that Duan Xue gave them, and then released them.
But right now, he felt that it was too easy for the three of them. He didn't like to embarrass others, but right now he decided to embarrass a few of them.
He ordered Yan Pu to deliver a letter to Zuo He in Kyoto.
There were many other things Jasmine didn't ask about, including the Duke's Mansion and Lady Wan's affairs. She knew the old lady must be terribly worried, and Lady Wan must be having a hard time.
Her grandfather must also feel guilty towards them.
But who can blame her for being the most important in her grandfather's heart?
After this incident, Jasmine finally believed that her grandfather really loved her.
Ever since she left the capital with her grandfather, Jasmine had tried her best to act obedient and well-behaved. But over time, her true colors would eventually show.
That day, when she saw her grandfather sobbing and crying for her, she almost let herself go, but fortunately she managed to hold it back with great difficulty.
She couldn't let him down any longer. She had to let him see her good side.
These days, Yan Ke has to sleep in a separate room from her.
Her grandfather's reason was that they hadn't been together for a long time and he felt unfamiliar, especially since she was pregnant.
The rooms were all reserved for separate use, but in the middle of the night, my aunt crawled directly into his bed. She had a good reason: she was afraid of being in such a strange place.
What could he do? He couldn't just chase the person away. The key was that he couldn't chase him away either. He sighed and gave up.
After that, they seemed to have returned to the time when they were both in the Duke's Mansion. The concubine was still the concubine from before, as if they had never been apart.
All those things about his aunt were just dreams.
After several days of traveling, Jasmine finally had time to ask, "Master, where are we going?"
Yan Ke looked at her and said, "Let's go to Anton Lushui."
A place Jasmine had never heard of. "Is that place special?"
Yan Ke nodded.
Jasmine stopped asking. As long as her grandfather was where she was, that was enough. As for how special Anton Lushui was, that was unimportant.
But Jasmine never expected it to be so special!
They were on the road for two months, and Anton was actually guarding the border of Yumikoku.
Not only did they have to face frequent harassment from the Sumikoku, but there had just been a severe flood in the Anton Green Water, and people were running away, leaving only their carriages heading all the way to the border.
As soon as they arrived at the place, without taking a rest, Yan Ke took his men to rescue the trapped victims.
Jasmine couldn't help but suspect that this man was doing this on purpose. He must be punishing her on purpose. After all, she was such a bad person.
Even though she didn't like it, Jasmine decided to endure it. She thought it was God's punishment.
...
Two years later.
A village somewhere in Lushui, Andong.
The bright moon hung high in the sky, and two figures, one tall and one short, ran wildly along the grass that was as tall as a person.
"Faster."
Yan Ke ran without even breathing, his steps were steady and fast. Poor Jasmine, she was dragged along, stumbling and falling. If her grandfather hadn't held her, she would have fallen down long ago.
Yan Ke finally reacted and turned around to ask, "Can you still run?"
Jasmine was speechless. She shook her head in embarrassment, panting, wanting to tell him to leave her alone. She would find a place to hide. "Don't worry about it, Master..."
Before she could finish her words, she was pulled up, her feet in the air, and the reeds on both sides quickly retreated.
After running for more than half an hour, the horses chasing behind him finally disappeared.
"What are we going to do tonight?"
Jasmine asked, curled up in her grandfather's arms. She wasn't actually afraid. With her grandfather around, she wouldn't be afraid even if a knife was held to her neck.
But she still liked to lean on her grandfather's arms. If her grandfather misunderstood that she was afraid, then let him misunderstand.
Yan Ke thought he could do anything as long as he was alone, but when the sun rose, he had nothing to eat and no place to keep warm. If it rained again in the middle of the night, his aunt would not be able to bear it.
"Looking for a family."
"Isn't that too risky?"
They had been here for two years, and situations like today's had happened four, five, or six times. Jasmine was experienced enough to know that asking for help might lead to betrayal.
Even if they revealed their identities and the people wanted to protect them, they would eventually do as they were told when a knife was at their necks.
If it weren't for her grandfather's superb martial arts skills, they wouldn't be where they are today.
"Don't worry."
Before Jasmine could say anything more, her grandfather had already carried her on his back and quickly rushed into a village.
When she was nestled in a farmer's pigpen, Jasmine didn't want to say anything.
They hid in the pigsty and the people didn't know about them, so they really had no need to worry.
Jasmine clutched her rumbling stomach and looked around fearfully. She didn't dare cry out that she was hungry; after all, it would be useless.
She caught a glimpse of her grandfather stuffing something into his mouth, and then he stuffed one into her mouth as well.
"Open your mouth."
Jasmine opened her mouth.
It is a piece of vegetable stem mixed with offal.
It tasted bitter and irritated their throats, but they had been hungry all day and had fled to this point, so the vegetable stems were not unpalatable at all. But this was pig food!
Jasmine said that they had a really miserable life.
After eating a few more pieces of vegetable stems, Jasmine thought about the pig food and realized she wasn't really hungry anymore. But her grandfather stuffed several more pieces into her mouth.
"Go to sleep."
Yan Ke lay under the pig's butt, leaving some space inside for Jasmine.
Perhaps it was because she had had it too easy these past few years. Yes, not to mention the two years of luxury at the Duke's Mansion, even in the past two years since she came to Green Water, except for occasional times like now, she had eaten well and slept well at home.
Her grandfather would rather suffer himself than let her and her daughter starve or freeze.
Looking at the pile of pig manure in front of her, Jasmine did not move for a moment. She whispered, "I'm not sleepy. Go to sleep, I'll keep an eye on it."
The next moment, Jasmine was pinned down, but she didn't lie on the ground.
His grandfather's arms were like iron around her, and she lay on him. Not very soft, but very warm.
"Go to sleep. I'll call you in two hours."
"good."
Jasmine raised her head and looked at her grandfather for a moment, then buried her face in his arms and closed her eyes in peace.
It was already early morning when we returned to our home in the small town.
Shan Cha was pacing around the door of her house, while Yan Pu and his men searched outside for half the night.
Yan Ke returned just as Yan Pu rushed back. Seeing his grandfather, he immediately knelt at Yan Ke's feet and screamed, "Grandpa!"
"I'm fine. Is everyone okay?"
Yan Pu's expression remained grim.
Yan Ke asked solemnly, "What's wrong?"
Yan Pu: "Madam Yao went to the Green Waterside to see me last night."
Yan Ke's expression became more solemn.
In the past two years, although Yu State has signed an alliance with Da Qi, Yu State has been making irregular moves. For example, it has sent spies into Da Qi countless times.
Normally, Yan Ke was just an ordinary citizen, so it wasn't her responsibility to worry about catching the traitor from the Sumikoku region. However, when her grandfather learned that the Sumikoku spies had broken through the border defenses and were heading to the capital, he took Yan Pu with him and went to kill them overnight.
After this, the Yumi thieves were stopped, and their lives were completely ruined. When the Yumi generals learned that Yan Ke was here and had brought his family with him, how could they let him go?
Yan Ke had no choice but to hire a group of skilled servants to guard his house.
In short, Jasmine has been living in dire straits for the past two years.
This time, the reason why Jasmine and her grandfather were in danger was also thanks to the spies from the Yumi Kingdom.
Yan Ke helped the suffering people rebuild their homes. Moli was worried that he wouldn't have enough to eat, so she went to deliver him food without fail. Unfortunately, she happened to run into the traitors of the Yumi Kingdom that day.
The Yumikoku thieves recognized her and immediately tried to kidnap her, but her grandfather showed up just in time. However, despite his formidable skills, he was outnumbered, making it even harder for him to protect her. They were chased all the way, fleeing from midday until the next day.
Fortunately, I escaped.
Upon learning that they were in trouble, not only did Yan Pu take his servants to look for them overnight, but Yao Niang also took her own people to search the entire Green Water, and even they haven't returned yet.
Manxi's loud crying was heard in the house.
Jasmine stopped listening to them and hurried into the house.
I saw a short, stout man standing barefoot against the door frame, crying loudly with his mouth wide open.
"Man'er!"
Jasmine rushed over, picked up Aidunzi, and touched her cold little feet. "Did you get out of bed by yourself? Did you fall?"
Manxi was held in her mother's arms. She was no longer afraid, and naturally she didn't want to cry anymore.
Wiping away tears, Manxi shook her head pitifully.
Jasmine rubbed her little head and pressed her daughter into her arms, feeling distressed. "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. Mom is here."
"I'm sorry, madam. It's my fault that I didn't take good care of you." The wet nurse also ran out from the inner room at this time, explaining to Jasmine with an apologetic look on her face.
Jasmine kissed Manxi and replied to her nurse: "I don't blame you."
Jasmine really didn't blame the wet nurse. As a mother, she knew the little guy's character best.
Manxi was lying in her mother's arms, sucking her fingers happily. When she saw her tall and strong father, she pointed at the door with her wet fingers and shouted with bright eyes, "Dad!"
Jasmine turned her head and the smile on her face froze when she saw Yao Niang, who was dressed in a charming and charming manner and smiling, standing next to her grandfather.
But she didn't go forward, and comforted Manxi: "Daddy is busy, we will go to him later."
Jasmine knew her father would definitely discuss with Yao Niang and the others how to resolve the issue of discovering the Yumikoku spy. As a considerate and good wife, even if she wanted to go up and rip Yao Niang's face off, she had to hold back for now.
Especially since Yao Niang was looking for them, she couldn't repay kindness with hatred.
After a while, Jasmine went out again carrying Manxi.
As he walked, he muttered, "Oh, little guy, Mommy told you not to disturb Daddy. Just be good, okay?"
Manxi wanted to jump out of her mother's arms. She shouted at the top of her voice, her face wrinkled: "Daddy!"
Yan Ke only heard his daughter's call at this time. When he turned around, he saw the little girl's body leaning towards him. He quickly took it over.
Then he said to Yao Niang, "Thank you very much for today. I'll treat you to a drink when I have time."
Yao Niang smiled sweetly: "General, are you not free today?"
Yan Ke said solemnly, "I am no longer an official. Madam Yao, you don't have to call me General anymore."
Yao Niang continued to smile with her hands covering her lips, her eyes flickering as she asked, "If not General, then what should Yao Niang call you? How about Yan Lang?"
Jasmine couldn't believe it. This guy was even more shameless than her!
In public, in front of her and her daughter, she openly seduced her man.
Jasmine had been pretending to be honest for two years, but she had had enough. Especially when faced with the annoying Yao Niang, how could she tolerate it?
Jasmine turned lightly and seemed to stand between the two of them unintentionally.
Jasmine bowed and said, "My master and I have troubled Madam Yao this time. If Madam Yao doesn't mind, please allow us to treat you well today. However, you were very busy yesterday, so please allow us to leave for a moment."
"Couple? Aren't you married yet?"
Yao Niang was born in a border area and has a straightforward personality. In Kyoto, Jasmine would have thought this woman was looking for trouble. But Jasmine knew that Yao Niang was not.
She replied calmly, "We haven't gotten married yet, but soon."
Yao Niang looked at Yan Ke in shock.
Jasmine also looked at her grandfather nervously.
They had been guarding the border for two years. Knowing she was the one who had done the wrong thing first, Jasmine felt inferior and never dared to speak up.
Her grandfather never mentioned it. Jasmine was initially worried, but a year ago, she discovered that her grandfather had a childhood friend.
It’s Yao Niang.
How could Jasmine tolerate Yao Niang's covert and overt collusion with her grandfather? This was also the reason why she went to deliver the meal.
Most importantly, Manxi is almost two years old. The little girl is very smart. When she went out to play and heard others say that she was an illegitimate child, she came back to ask her. Jasmine didn't know how to answer.
She didn't want her daughter to be sad.
Today, Jasmine decided to go all out.
She knew her grandfather liked her understanding, sensible and obedient side. She swore, just this once, that after they got married, she would be even better.
She believed that her grandfather didn't want her to be sad or embarrassed, so he might admit the matter.
Then they can just let things take their course and get married! Kill two birds with one stone!
Jasmine's abacus was clacking loudly.
Yan Ke frowned and looked at her. Moli was afraid that he would be unwilling, so she hurriedly said, "Manxi is old enough, it would not be good if she heard what was said outside."
Seeing Yan Ke hesitate to speak, Yao Niang smiled again and turned to look at Moli with a half-smile: "So Auntie was talking nonsense. Aren't you going a bit too far? Manxi is not...Yan Lang's flesh and blood. Why do you force Yan Lang to marry you?"
Jasmine was furious: "You're talking nonsense! Manxi looks exactly like her father, how could they not be his biological child?"
As she spoke, Jasmine brushed off the stray hair on Manxi's forehead, turned Manxi's little face over, and let Yao Niang take a closer look.
Ever since they started living here, people outside had been saying that Manxi wasn't Yan Ke's biological child. Jasmine hadn't explained it countless times, and every time she did, she got furious.
When Yao Niang heard this, she looked at the father and daughter in front of her. Needless to say, they really looked alike, but she still didn't believe it: "Yan Lang said this himself, how could it be false?"
Jasmine turned around in disbelief and looked at her grandfather resentfully.
Yan Ke did say this, and it was spread outside. When Yao Niang asked about it, there was no reason for Yan Ke to lie to his friends.
At the moment, Yan Ke didn't want to lie to his aunt, but looking at his aunt's sad eyes, he felt helpless.
"That's right."
Just as the word "That's right" came out of his mouth, a sharp cry rang in his ears.
Manxi puffed out her little chest and cried loudly, mumbling: "I have no father, no father...ah..."
We may be small, but we are very smart! Follow my mother on this point!
Jasmine took Manxi in and comforted her distressedly. The mother and daughter burst into tears together.
Yan Ke was at a loss. "Man'er..., Qiang'er..."
Yan Ke then calmed down and said to her mother and daughter, "Don't worry, even if she is not, I will still treat her as my own."
The mother and daughter glared at him resentfully.
Jasmine turned and left, holding her daughter.
Yao Niang was very proud. She stopped Yan Ke and said, "How can you raise someone else's child? She even dreams of becoming your wife. What's the point of keeping a woman like her?"
Yao Niang had found out everything that happened in Kyoto two years ago.
In her early years, she had a fight with a group of bandits and was rescued by General Yan. She originally wanted to take him as her husband, but who would have thought that he was actually Yan Ke.
Yao Niang suddenly felt ashamed of herself. She was a widow, and the man was a virgin, a general of Qi State, and the best man in Qi State. She knew she was not worthy of him, so she didn't force him.
But Yao Niang never expected that this man would find a woman who was even worse than herself!
Yao Niang vomited blood! This time she was determined to get him back!
Yao Niang couldn't help but ask seriously, "If she can do it, why can't I?"
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