57 Shopkeeper Chen, you actually have such a great ability
◎Letting a person half buried in the earth drink it...it's really a waste of good things.◎
Ming Wanjun fled famine with her parents as a child, settling down in Lingnan County. As for her parents' former occupations, no one in Lingnan County knew, but seeing her family's collection of dozens of books, she figured they were no ordinary people.
Therefore, under the guidance of her mother, Ming Wanjun soon showed extraordinary talent. She was proficient in all books at the age of six and could write articles at the age of eight. She was also considered a well-known child prodigy.
If she didn't have the ability to read and write, she naturally wouldn't be able to work as a teacher in the county school for several years.
Chen Jingshan naturally knew her, not because of her identity as a teacher, but because of his elder brother, Chen Yuechuan.
He asked, "Why are you looking for her?"
Ye Yunzhao sighed, put a wonton in his mouth, and said helplessly, "It's still the county school teacher's business."
Chen Jingshan lowered his eyes, guessing that she was not able to cope with the situation at the county school, but he said in a deep voice: "It is impossible for her to be a teacher anymore."
Ye Yunzhao looked up in confusion: "Why? She..."
A bad thought came to her mind: "Is she sick?"
Chen Jingshan shook his head.
"Why is that?"
"She got married." Chen Jingshan said meaningfully.
The heart that had been in his throat just now quickly fell back into his stomach, and Ye Yunzhao breathed a sigh of relief: "So what if I'm married? I can still go out to work... to make a living..."
After she finished speaking, she didn't hear any response from the person next to her. She turned her head and saw Chen Jingshan seemed to be in deep thought, wondering what he was thinking about.
Ye Yunzhao asked, "Do you think that women can't go out after getting married? Can't do what they want?"
Chen Jingshan looked into her sparkling eyes and shook his head pessimistically. "Of course I don't care about that. It's just that Ming Wanjun is not marrying an ordinary person."
"I know..." Ye Yunzhao said as he took a sip of wonton soup. "He's an official."
"It's the prefect of Yuezhou." Chen Jingshan put his head close to her ear and spoke in a low voice.
"Poof!" Ye Yunzhao suddenly sprayed out the wonton soup that had just entered his mouth. She was startled and turned around to ask, "Who? The prefect of Yuezhou?"
Chen Jingshan nodded silently, and raised his hand quite naturally to wipe the soup from her lips.
Ye Yunzhao was very surprised that it was the governor of Yuezhou. If that was the case, then this matter might not be so easy to handle.
She put the last wonton into her mouth and asked, "Can you arrange for us to meet secretly?"
Hearing this, Chen Jingshan was stunned: "Are you still going to look for her?"
Ye Yunzhao said confidently, "Of course, I have to ask in person."
The Yuezhou prefect hosted a banquet for his friends at Ruyi Tower every month, but Ming Wanjun had never been seen there. Chen Jingshan's mind raced, and now that he thought about it, he realized he hadn't seen her leave the house for a year.
Chen Jingshan shook his head. "I'm just a businessman. You think too highly of me. How can I arrange a meeting between you two?"
Ye Yunzhao raised his eyebrows suspiciously: "Manager Chen, you own the largest and most luxurious restaurant in Yuezhou City, how could you not have a solution?"
Chen Jingshan was amused by her little expression, and after a little thought, he replied, "I can arrange it. You..."
"Me what?" Ye Yunzhao asked impatiently.
He suddenly stopped talking mid-sentence, lowered his head and ate a mouthful of juicy wontons. A hint of cunning flashed in his eyes: "What good will it do me if this thing is accomplished?"
Ye Yunzhao frowned in embarrassment, tapping his fingers anxiously on the table a few times: "How about... I write you another pastry recipe?"
Chen Jingshan smiled and said, "If I remember correctly, you should still owe me two prescriptions."
After he said that, Ye Yunzhao remembered that she had exchanged three cake recipes for one hundred quilts. She slapped her forehead and said, "I almost forgot. Don't worry, when I have some free time, I will definitely send all of them to Ruyi Tower.
It’s just…this time…”
Ye Yunzhao understood that merchants valued profit, but what kind of profit could a mere ninth-rank official like her offer him? It was nothing more than a cake recipe and a cooking method, and even this was something she had memorized in her previous life.
Could it be possible to allocate some land to him in Lingnan County? No, no, Ye Yunzhao quickly rejected this idea. She really couldn't do such a thing as abusing power for personal gain.
Chen Jingshan held his chin with one hand and stared at her expectantly: "What is it this time?"
"I'll just owe you this time... okay?"
Ye Yunzhao's bright and clear eyes were smiling, and he blinked pitifully a few times, adding as if swearing, "Don't worry, I won't let you help me in vain!"
Even though Chen Jingshan hadn't originally thought about asking for anything, he still acted as if he was reluctant and said, "Okay, I'll owe you this time."
After hearing this, Ye Yunzhao, who had been looking pitiful just now, changed his expression in the blink of an eye and asked more aggressively, "What time?"
Chen Jingshan looked bewildered: "What time?"
"Of course, what time do you want me to meet with Master Wanjun? Can it be done today?" Ye Yunzhao asked impatiently.
"Today?" Chen Jingshan couldn't believe what he heard. "Someone has to be assigned to this matter..."
The unspoken words remained in his stomach. Ye Yunzhao only heard the first half of the sentence and said in surprise, "Manager Chen, you actually have such a great ability that you can let me meet Master Wanjun today?"
Hearing this, Chen Jingshan's cold face seemed to have a crack, and the look he cast at her was filled with disbelief.
*
At three quarters past noon, under Chen Jingshan's "careful" arrangement, Ye Yunzhao disguised herself as a maid and sneaked into the residence of the Yuezhou prefect.
Ye Yunzhao tugged at the clothes that didn't fit her well. Although they were maid's clothes, she felt that the fabric was too smooth.
"Oh, Aunt Liu is here, please come in quickly."
As the man spoke, he gently opened the side door of the backyard. Ye Yunzhao secretly raised his eyes to look, and saw a thin nanny with a rather fierce look in her eyes smiling and greeting someone. Then, a scrutinizing gaze was cast on Ye Yunzhao.
The thin nanny asked, "Aunt Liu, why haven't you seen this person before?"
As soon as these words were spoken, Ye Yunzhao quickly averted his gaze, his heart beating like a drum.
The person called Aunt Liu by the thin nanny was the one that Chen Jingshan helped her find. This person was the owner of a dessert shop in Yuezhou City. Because she came to the Yuezhou prefect's residence to deliver food every few days, Ye Yunzhao had the opportunity to take advantage of her.
Aunt Liu quickly lifted the silk cloth from the small bamboo basket she was carrying and said with a smile, "Excuse me, Ma'am, for opening the door. This is the Autumn Chrysanthemum and Apricot Drink we've just made. It's very fragrant and refreshing. Ma'am, take it back and try it."
The thin nanny glanced down and saw a white porcelain bowl in the bamboo basket. In the bowl was a pale yellow apricot curd, and on top was a delicate and attractive golden chrysanthemum as a decoration, which was quite original.
"Oh, it looks really unique, but for someone like me who's half buried in the ground to drink it... it's such a waste of good things."
"What are you talking about, Madam..." Aunt Liu retorted with a smile. As she spoke, she gently lifted a corner of the silk cloth, and a jade hairpin fell into the eyes of the thin Madam. She lowered her voice and said, "This blind girl is my cousin's daughter. She works for me now. I took her to see the world today. I didn't expect her to offend Madam. I hope Madam will forgive her for being so stupid."
The thin nanny laughed. She worked at the prefect's residence and had naturally seen the situation where a family would seek refuge with one person when he gained power. It was quite common.
She smiled and said, "Alright, what's the big deal? Send it in quickly. Madam is waiting."
Aunt Liu quickly agreed and handed the bamboo basket forward: "Mammy, look..."
The thin nanny covered the basket with silk cloth and took it. "No need to bother carrying it back and forth. Come in quickly."
Seeing that she had packed up the things, Aunt Liu felt relieved. She said "Hey" happily and walked quickly to the yard with a group of maids and servants behind her.
Ye Yunzhao carried the food box and followed a group of maids with his head down, fearing that others would notice anything wrong.
Aunt Liu slowed down her pace and walked to her side, lowering her voice and saying, "The bamboo forest on the east side should be Madam Ming's residence. Be careful. If you accidentally run into the maids and nannies in the mansion..."
"I said I went to the wrong place the first time I followed you." Ye Yunzhao tilted his head and whispered.
Aunt Liu gave her a meaningful look and said, "As long as we don't run into that nanny just now, everything will be fine."
Thinking of the look in Nanny's eyes that wished she could see the person thoroughly from head to toe, Ye Yunzhao felt a chill in his spine. "Who was that person just now?"
Aunt Liu said, "She is the prefect's wet nurse and is now in charge of the backyard. She is quite cruel in her dealings with others. You must be careful."
Wet nurse? Ye Yunzhao thought secretly, a wet nurse is half a mother, if the prefect has a conscience, he would have to give her some leeway, no wonder he can act so arrogantly.
"I've got that in mind. Thank you for your help, auntie." Ye Yunzhao looked at her gratefully.
Aunt Liu gently waved her hand: "Since it's Shopkeeper Chen who asked, I'll help if I can. You can find a chance to leave secretly later. Remember, we'll meet here after one stick of incense."
After she finished speaking, she stood up straight. Seeing that there was no one around, she quickly walked to the front of the group and said, "Hurry up, the lady is waiting anxiously..."
It was at this time that Ye Yunzhao secretly ran away. She carried the food box and quickly walked into the bamboo forest on the east side.
Perhaps it was because three quarters past noon was the time when the owners of each room were having lunch, or perhaps she was lucky, but there was no one along the way, and she arrived at Youzhuju behind the bamboo forest very smoothly.
Ye Yunzhao stuck his head out to take a look. The courtyard inside Youzhuju was not big, but there was a lake inside. The clear water and green bamboo made it look very quiet and elegant.
To her surprise, there were no maids or nannies waiting outside Youzhuju at the moment. Wasn't this a good opportunity for her to sneak in?
Ye Yunzhao did it right away, carrying the food box in one hand and the hem of her skirt in the other, and sneaked in. She bent down and walked along the bamboos beside the courtyard wall towards the main house.
When he took her to hide under a window behind the main house, he heard someone in the house say, "Who does she think she is? How dare she ridicule the lady like this..."
The woman's tone was filled with strong dissatisfaction and resentment, and she paced back and forth in the room as if venting her anger.
Then a gentle voice sounded: "Well, she has always been like this and you know this today, so why bother getting angry with her?"
Ye Yunzhao felt that this person must be the one she had come to find, but she didn't know who the angry person was. A maid? Or someone else? If she was a maid, was she a confidant?
Her legs were sore from standing, so she lifted her feet slightly to slow down. Ye Yunzhao was extremely anxious, wondering how long she would have to hide here.
After waiting for a while, she heard the lady in the room ordering someone to clear away the food. After a rustling sound, the room returned to silence.
Ye Yunzhao lay on the side of the main room and peeked out. After making sure that a woman dressed as a maid had left with a tray of food, she quickly walked to the window and stealthily poked her head out.
The woman was leaning against the couch, her cheeks were pale and sickly, her eyebrows were slightly furrowed, and there was a small vermilion mole between her eyebrows. There was a hint of sadness around her.
"Master Wanjun? Master Wanjun?" Ye Yunzhao put the lunch box on the ground and called her softly while leaning against the window.
She had never seen Ming Wanjun before, so in order to avoid mistaking her, she asked Chen Jingshan in detail. She only knew that the red mole between her eyebrows was very special, but when she saw it with her own eyes, she was amazed.
Ming Wanjun started at the sound. She hadn't heard this name for a long time... a long time. She thought she had dreamed of something that happened several years ago, but when she opened her eyes, she was shocked to find a stranger breaking in.
"Who are you?"
Seeing her stand up, Ye Yunzhao waved at her hurriedly: "Master Wanjun, come here quickly!"
After seeing her take a few steps forward, Ye Yunzhao said concisely, "I am Ye Yunzhao, the new county magistrate of Lingnan County. The county school was reopened a few days ago. Master Wanjun, do you want to go back to the county school to work?"
"Go back to the county school..." Ming Wanjun murmured, "I can't go back..."
"Why can't you go back?" Ye Yunzhao asked hurriedly, "If you want, I can go and talk to the Yuezhou prefect."
Hearing this, Ming Wanjun suddenly woke up. She quickly walked to the window and warned, "Don't do that. If you tell someone, you'll lose your life!"
Ye Yunzhao was stunned and shook his head quickly: "I am an official appointed by the court, don't worry..."
Ming Wanjun grabbed her hand that was clinging to the window frame, tears on the verge of falling: "Really, don't do it. Believe me."
She spoke with conviction, and there was worry in her words. Ye Yunzhao recalled the Yuezhou prefect he had met. Although he was cunning, he did not look like someone who would dare to kill an official appointed by the court.
But if what Ming Wanjun said was true, if the fear was real... then he must have killed someone...
Thinking of this, Ye Yunzhao froze in place, feeling a chill running down his back.
"My time is limited, so I can only make it short. I heard that your family has a large collection of books and that you are a woman of considerable talent and character. Seeing you today, I can sense that you must have some unspeakable difficulties in getting married..." Ye Yunzhao spoke earnestly, holding her hand. Their eyes met, both of them filled with sincerity. "If you are willing to return to the county school, I will... I will definitely protect you..."
Ming Wanjun's face was full of haggardness. It had been five years since she married into this place. Her mother had passed away, and her father had died tragically... Every single thing had made her breathless.
She looked at the woman in front of her with eyes full of hope, and listened to the future she described. Ming Wanjun had a ridiculous idea in her mind: escape, seize this opportunity, escape.
But she didn't dare to think about what would happen to the new county magistrate if the truth came to light: "No... No..."
Ye Yunzhao met her gaze: "Do you want to? Do you want to go back to the county school?"
Ming Wanjun nodded imperceptibly: "I think..."
"Okay, I feel relieved with your words."
Ye Yunzhao pulled a smile from the corner of his mouth and handed her the Qiuju Xingsu Drink from the lunch box: "I heard that you haven't been out for a long time. This is the most popular sweet drink in Yuezhou City right now."
When she finished, she picked up the food box and said, "Time is running out. I have to go. Master Wanjun, please wait a few more days. I will do what I say. When the time comes, we will use the kite as a signal."
Ye Yunzhao walked quickly out of Youzhu Residence, but as soon as he left the courtyard, he saw the girl who had just been dressed as a maid coming towards him angrily.
She was in a dilemma for a moment and had to turn around and go into the dense bamboo forest. Ye Yunzhao held his breath and stared at her, and only felt relieved when he saw her enter Youzhuju.
Just as she was about to leave, a tall man came into Ye Yunzhao's sight through the dense bamboo forest. She was startled when she saw the thing on his waist. It was actually him...
The object hanging around the man's waist was none other than the sharp official knife that had once been placed on Ye Yunzhao's neck.
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