Pei Wenfeng Pei Wenfeng
To this day, you still haven't let go of your old love, and treasure the token of love that person gave you.
You have already married me, but you still can't forget our old love.
That's a bit too much.
After all, he was young and full of energy. Guo Honglei was furious and took a step forward without thinking, intending to question
However, just as he took a step forward, a young voice came from behind him.
"Where is Second Aunt?" Guo Yu was very happy. The eldest grandson of the Marquis's family, who used to live a life of luxury, now held a few apricots in his hands and shouted happily, "Fruit, there are fruits to eat!"
The nurse said cheerfully, "The Second Young Master's wife is just ahead. Little Master, run slower."
Guo Hongxuan smiled and deliberately threw a fruit at his nephew, threatening him, "Guo Yuyu, be careful not to fall or your teeth will be knocked out."
"My name is Guo Yu, not Guo Yuyuer," Guo Yu retorted.
Guo Hongxuan said arrogantly, "Why do I call you Guo Yuyuer?"
The three-year-old child was angry but dared not say anything, so he ran away with a pout.
Guo Hongzhe was naturally weak and gentle, and said gently, "Fourth brother, please stop teasing the child."
Guo Hongxuan laughed heartily. "It's fun."
By the time his brother and nephew arrived, Guo Honglei had missed the opportunity to question them and sighed deeply. His face was as gloomy as water, and he circled halfway along the ancient tree trunk before quietly leaving.
Jiang Yushu didn't notice her husband, but was startled by her nephew's call. She hurriedly warned him, "Shh, Yu'er is here Cuimei, I am already the daughter-in-law of the Guo family. In order to avoid suspicion, it is not appropriate to talk about my cousin in public. Do you understand?"
"I understand," Cuimei nodded rapidly. "I know the pros and cons, and I never dare mention Master Pei in public. It was only last night when I was packing my luggage that I saw the jade pendant, and because I was afraid it might be discovered by others, I mentioned it."
Jiang Yushu whispered, "Don't worry, I've already made a plan. When we get to Xicang, we'll find a pawnshop and sell some jewelry for silver to start a family."
"Ah!" Cuimei was stunned and asked in shock, "You, you plan to pawn the jade pendant?"
Jiang Yushu nodded and replied, "Better to be than to lose. Alas, when we get to Xicang, we can't just sit back and enjoy all the savings. We must make plans early."
"It's better to pawn it than to lose it, but, but..." Cuimei scratched her head, hesitating, and sighed, "I never expected that you would be willing to pawn the jade pendant that you once valued like the apple of your eye for silver."
Jiang Yushu was afraid of being exposed, so she sighed and said sadly, "Time has passed, things have changed, and people have changed. With my current status, why should I keep my cousin's token of love as a pawn to avoid trouble."
"It will also prevent the girl from being sad when she sees the things." Cuimei figured it out, "Yes, it would be best if she could be the one."
The next moment, my nephew came.
"Second Aunt," Guo Yu threw himself into her arms, raised the apricot like a treasure, and said, "Eat the fruit."
Jiang Yushu asked in surprise, "Where did it come from?"
"My second brother asked someone to make it for me." Guo Hongxuan put away his playful smile and said, "Sister-in-law, please try it."
Guo Hongzhe also handed over a few, "The fruit tree grows just outside that wall, and they're freshly picked."
Jiang Yushu thanked him and took it. "Let's all sit down and enjoy the cool air. Don't wander around in the scorching sun. Be careful of heatstroke."
There was a cool breeze under the shade of the trees, and a few people were chatting and laughing in harmony.
The other side
Guo Honglei was walking around in deep thought, carrying a basket of apricots.
"Young Master" had about ten servants fetching water from the well to wash clothes, and they all asked, "Didn't you find your wife?"
"The young lady is enjoying the coolness in the shade of the tree."
The servant raised his hand and said, "It's behind the sixth tree."
Guo Honglei came back to his senses and calmly replied, "I understand."
He took a deep breath, cheered himself up, turned around and walked towards the shade of the tree again, his expression as usual.
"Second Uncle" Guo Yu asked from a distance, "What are you carrying?"
Guo Honglei answered loudly, "Xingzi. It's a hot summer day. Aren't you hot staying in someone's arms? Come down and sit by yourself."
"Oh." Guo Yu was in awe of his second uncle. He slid down from his aunt's arms obediently and jumped around playing on the dead leaves.
It was indeed hot in June holding a child. Jiang Yushu wiped the sweat off her face and said, "You worked hard, but we had a feast."
Guo Honglei sat down on a wooden block, his injured left arm in a sling, and said calmly, "The fruit trees at the post station were easy to get."
"Have you got a meal yet"
Guo Honglei shook his head, feeling choked up and having no appetite at all.
"Try it, it's almost ripe and very sweet." Jiang Yushu lowered her eyes and peeled the apricots deftly with her slender white fingers.
Guo Hongxuan ate the fruit with the skin on, and leaned over to remind her, "Sister-in-law, my second brother is injured and can't move around easily. You have to take care of him yourself."
"Fourth brother," Guo Honglei glanced at him and asked, "Can't all these fruits stop you from eating?"
"Hehe, is it not okay for me to care about my brother?" Guo Hongxuan shrank his neck and winked at Guo Hongzhe, who waved his hand to indicate that he should not tease his brother and his wife.
Jiang Yushu handed the peeled apricots to her husband and said seriously, "Second Young Master was injured while protecting his family. He has worked hard and made great contributions. We should take good care of him. Please try some."
Guo Honglei was stunned and didn't move.
"Open your mouth." Jiang Yushu smiled.
Guo Honglei opened his mouth involuntarily.
"Is it sweet?" Jiang Yushu picked one and continued to peel it.
Guo Honglei swallowed the fruit, and his heart gradually became less blocked. He replied in a low voice, "Not bad."
The cicadas kept chirping, and Jiang Yushu reminded them, "It's too hot. If you have anything, tell the housekeeper or us. You should rest to avoid affecting the healing of your wound."
"Hmm." Another apricot was stuffed into Guo Honglei's mouth, and his expression relaxed a lot.
Guo Hongxuan was tactful and quietly dragged his third brother away to look for his nephew. The three of them played on the fallen leaves. Cuimei, seeing this, also quietly withdrew.
When they were alone, Jiang Yushu leaned over and asked, "You look unhappy and seem to be worried. Did something happen?"
What's going on between you and your cousin?
If I ask you directly, will you be embarrassed?
Guo Honglei's eyes were deep, his earlier anger having subsided. He wanted to ask, but didn't know where to begin. He glanced around, realizing the situation wasn't right. He decided to find a quiet place to discuss the matter another day, and replied, "Nothing."
Jiang Yushu was skeptical, "Really?"
Guo Honglei nodded curtly.
Jiang Yushu looked at him carefully and asked worriedly, "Are you dizzy because of heatstroke?"
"It doesn't make sense that I would be sick even though you didn't get a heat stroke."
Jiang Yushu couldn't help laughing, "What you said doesn't make sense"
"There are so many things in this world that don't make sense," Guo Honglei thought. "For example, you were first engaged to Pei Wenfeng, but ended up marrying me. It doesn't make sense, but it's fate."
When Wang Qiaozhen arrived, she saw her sister-in-law handing fruit to her husband. She immediately curled her lips, secretly sneer at how shameless Jiang was, flirting and being affectionate in public. She was indeed the one who dared to drug and seduce her future brother-in-law.
She leaned against the tree trunk, fanning herself with her handkerchief, and said lazily, "Second brother, mother wants you to discuss something important."
Jiang Yushu turned her head and said, "Sister-in-law is here, please sit down."
"Important matter" Guo Honglei stood up, "What happened?"
Wang Qiaozhen glanced at Jiang Yushu and chuckled as she replied, "Before we were exiled, the elders in the capital told us that they had asked your cousin-in-law, Gong Yipeng, to look after our family. Just now, your cousin Xiaodie sent a letter of condolences. Mother was very happy and asked you three brothers to go and discuss the matter."
"Got it." Guo Honglei cheered up and called out, "Third brother, fourth brother, follow me to see mother immediately."
After watching the three brothers leave, Wang Qiaozhen sat down on the wooden stool, holding her chin, with a half-smile on her hand, and tilted her head to look at her brother's wife.
Jiang Yushu touched her hair and face, and asked in confusion, "Why are you looking at me like that, sister-in-law?"
"Nothing." After two months of exposure to the elements, Wang Qiaozhen looked sallow and thin, as if she'd aged ten years. She stared at the man's still fair, smooth face, envious and uncontrollably jealous. She said bitterly, "How many years younger are you? If you take a break, you'll look better. Unlike me, I can't even look in the mirror when I'm tanned, for fear of scaring myself."
Jiang Yushu comforted him, "After Xicang settles down, he will rest for a while and his complexion will recover."
"Rest, have you forgotten that we are sent to the army to farm?" Wang Qiaozhen was very angry.
Jiang Yushu smiled and replied firmly, "We have almost completed the 3,000-mile journey, so why should we be afraid of farming?"
Wang Qiaozhen waited for a while, and seeing that the other party was still calm, she couldn't help but ask, "Yushu, do you know Liao Xiaodie?"
"I know. I heard that cousin Liao is the daughter of the Marquis's cousin, her husband's surname is Gong, and her cousin-in-law is currently the magistrate of Xicang." Jiang Yushu answered truthfully.
Wang Qiaozhen shook her head and said, "You definitely don't know."
"I really don't know. Something happened right after I entered the mansion, and I haven't had time to meet my relatives yet." Jiang Yushu remained calm and asked with a smile, "Sister-in-law, I wonder what kind of person Cousin Liao is?"
Wang Qiaozhen raised her chin and answered slowly, "She's a distant relative of a poor family, a concubine's daughter. Her parents died early, and her family was poor and unable to support herself. She took refuge in the Marquis of Jingyang's mansion. With her good mouth for making the elderly happy, she lived there for many years and, through her cunning, she almost became the Crown Prince's concubine."
"Concubine Madam" Jiang Yushu was surprised, "I've never heard of this."
Wang Qiaozhen said disdainfully, "It's a dirty thing that can't be brought to light. My parents-in-law don't allow anyone to mention it, so who dares to speak out?"
Jiang Yushu nodded, thoughtfully.
"That's not all." Wang Qiaozhen said with a sneer on her face, "Since Liao Xiaodie couldn't become the Crown Prince's concubine, she set her sights on Hong Lei."
Jiang Yushu was stunned and asked in surprise, "She seems to be the same age as the prince, right?"
"Yeah, she's four years older than Honglei." Wang Qiaozhen narrowed her eyes and said disdainfully, "I walked into the house right after she came in. Honglei was only twelve years old at the time. Hahaha, Liao Xiaodie was obsessed with climbing up the social ladder, so she was so picky that she ended up being an old maid. In her desperation, she seduced my second brother, but she was caught. The Marquis was furious, so my mother-in-law hastily betrothed her to Gong Yipeng."
"This, this is quite strange." Jiang Yushu couldn't imagine it.
Wang Qiaozhen smiled, a schadenfreude flashing in her eyes, and said softly, "Now, Xiaodie is the wife of the governor of Xicang. You must be careful and keep a close eye on Honglei."
Jiang Yushu brushed her hair sideways and said hesitantly, "That's not the case. She's already a married woman, she shouldn't dare to do anything silly."
"Tsk, you don't understand. That woman is no ordinary woman." Wang Qiaozhen said firmly, "If you don't believe me, just wait and see."
Jiang Yushu was confused and puzzled about his extraordinary abilities.
at night
The oil lamp flickered on the small kang table as Jiang Yushu picked up her pen, dipped it in ink, and wrote a reply to her father who was far away in the capital.
"Not long after the corruption case, the lost Yongzhou has not yet been recovered. The soldiers of Xicang have fought several battles with the Beijiao, and the results have been bad." Guo Honglei said solemnly, "It seems that even if the elders of the capital have asked us to do so, our relatives and friends are unlikely to take good care of us."
Jiang Yushu raised her eyes and asked, "We mainly have to rely on my cousin-in-law and General Mu, right?"
Guo Honglei nodded. "According to the law, all men between sixteen and forty-five must be conscripted into the army, while the rest must settle down and farm. General Mu is an old friend of my father's and the current commander of the Changping Guard in Xicang. After discussion, the men will be sent to join the Xicang Guard. You will stay in the state capital, and your cousin-in-law will arrange for the settlement and farming arrangements."
"The old lady trusts my cousin and his wife very much and has determined that the Guo family will be assigned to cultivate land on the outskirts of Xicang City." Jiang Yushu put down her pen and changed the subject, saying, "But I guess that's not necessarily the case."
"oh"
Jiang Yushu blew on the wet ink on the letter and analyzed it slowly, "Over 100,000 people were massacred in Yongzhou by the enemy troops from the north. To strengthen the frontier, the court ordered many refugees to come to Xicang. Now that the war is raging, the further north you go, the more dangerous it becomes. People are panicking, and while the common people are fleeing south for refuge, the refugees have no choice. Therefore, it's understandable that any refugees with even a little power will try to bribe the government and strive to settle in a safe place to cultivate the land."
"This is human nature." Guo Honglei spread out the paper and lowered his head to write a letter to his uncle. "Even if I become a fugitive, I will do my best to protect my family, the elderly, the weak, women and children."
Jiang Yushu bluntly said, "So, there are too many people and too little porridge. Even though my cousin-in-law is the prefect, he may not be able to help. Besides, the Jingyang Marquis's Mansion was once prominent, but it has been ruined by the corruption case. I'm afraid many people are waiting to trample on us."
"Are you afraid?"
Jiang Yushu raised her head and said, "What's the point of being afraid? Let's take it one step at a time."
Guo Honglei smiled appreciatively and said calmly, "There's always a way out. At worst, we can just find another way."
"That's right." Jiang Yushu's mind moved, and with curiosity, she asked carefully, "Hey, I've heard you talk about General Mu and your cousin-in-law several times, but I've never heard you mention Cousin Liao. Aren't you familiar with her?"
Guo Honglei frowned immediately, then relaxed again, and replied calmly, "We're not close friends, so I wouldn't call you familiar with us."
Jiang Yushu stared intently and asked with a smile, "Strange, I heard that my cousin has lived in the Marquis' Mansion for many years, but you two are not familiar with each other?"
Many people were already asleep by the wall. Amidst the snoring, Guo Honglei replied briefly, "Girls and boys sit at different tables after the age of seven. When my cousin came to live with me, she was already a grown woman, but I was busy with my studies. We rarely met, and even when we did, there was nothing to talk about."
Jiang Yushu nodded and asked, "Then, where is my cousin-in-law?"
"He's the son of a colleague of my father's. After passing the imperial examination, he asked my father for help in securing a position as county magistrate, and he's now been promoted to prefecture governor." Guo Honglei said patiently, "Although we're of the same generation, Brother Gong is ten years older. I was younger than him, so I couldn't get along with him, and therefore didn't know him very well."
"I see." Jiang Yushu's eyes sparkled. She could tell that he didn't like Liao Xiaodie thinking about this. She breathed a sigh of relief, feeling happy. She said briskly, "Okay, don't worry. Everything will be clear once we reach Xi Cang. Get up early the day after tomorrow to continue your journey. You're injured, so go and rest and recharge your energy."
On the fifth day of June, just after dawn, the post station became bustling with activity.
Zhang Feng selected a few strong postmen to temporarily replace their deceased companions and escort the prisoners further north.
"We've only had three days to rest unexpectedly, and we can't delay any longer. Don't dawdle, hurry up and get on your seats." The wounded officers and prisoners couldn't walk, so he had to get a few more carts and urged them, "There's only a little over two hundred miles left, hurry up!"
The wheels creaked, and a few days later in the evening, the group arrived in Xicang, exhausted.
Surrounded by a strange frontier, the Guo family walked towards the city gate, feeling mixed emotions and uneasy.
"We've finally arrived in Xicang." Jiang Yushu stared at the city gate, feeling mixed emotions. "We've walked a full three thousand miles."
Guo Honglei said slowly, "We're finally here."
"Second brother," Guo Hongxuan looked around in confusion, his eyes suddenly warmed up, tears sparkled, and he choked out a sob, "I really want to go home."
When everyone heard this, they suddenly looked sad, mournful and depressed, and took heavy steps.
Guo Honglei patted his brother on the shoulder and said, "Don't be sad. One day, we will always go back."
At this moment, several officers lifted thin iron chains from the cart and shook them out to arrange them. Zhang Feng cleared his throat and calmly ordered, "We are about to enter the city. As usual, lock up all prisoners except those who are seriously injured."
"yes."
There were still two iron chains, and it was still Guo Honglei who took the lead.
But when Jiang Yushu moved, Guo Hongxuan wiped his tears and rushed forward, saying in a sonorous and powerful voice, "Come, lock me up!"
Guo Honglei said "OK" loudly
Soon after, Guo Hongzhe also squeezed forward and extended his hand, saying, "I should be the first in line. Fourth brother, please make way."
"Third brother, you were the first one to enter the city last time, so you should let me go this time." As he spoke, Guo Hongxuan took the initiative to pick up the iron chain and locked his wrists skillfully, which made the officers laugh.
"Xuan'er." Wang wanted to say something but stopped herself, feeling sad.
Jiang Yushu happily praised, "The two younger brothers have become more sensible and more responsible, which is great."
"The family has gone through such a huge change, and it's really hard for the children." Wang touched her grandson's head and almost burst into tears.
Zhang Feng waved his hand and said, "Let's go into the city and follow me to report."
The three thousand miles long journey often crossed counties and prefectures along the way. Jiang Yushu could no longer remember how many times she had been paraded through the streets.
The land and water nurture the people.
The border is vast, majestic and magnificent, and the people have been brave, rough and straightforward since ancient times.
As she walked, Jiang Yushu was inexplicably excited and took the opportunity to carefully observe the Xicang Street Market.
The frontier is of course far less prosperous than the capital. Shops selling clothing, jewelry, and cosmetics are rare, and pawnshops and inns are quite deserted. However, there are many wine shops with various wine signs fluttering in the wind, the aroma of wine is strong, and they are almost always full, making it very lively.
The drunken customers, their faces flushed with spit, were talking loudly, slamming the table and cursing, or even falling asleep on the table. The waiters were busy shouting at the top of their lungs, their hands full.
When the wind blew, the streets were filled with the aroma of wine. Jiang Yushu was amazed at how those people lived, completely drunk.
A moment later, three drunken men walked out of the alley next to them, arm in arm, bare-chested, carrying jars of wine, staggering and drinking as they walked. They ignored the others and saw a group of officials escorting two groups of fugitives in chains. They immediately laughed, danced, and shouted "Hey, what are you doing?"
"Hahaha, two skewers, interesting"
"Why are you guys going like this?"
The drunkards blocked the road and talked nonsense. Jiang Yushu held her breath and moved away, shouting, "Master Zhang, these people are drunk and blocking the road to cause trouble."
"What's going on?" Guo Honglei recognized his wife's voice, turned around and wanted to get closer, but his wrists were locked and he couldn't move.
Zhang Feng, the leader, hurried back, holding the hilt of his knife, and asked dissatisfiedly, "Who is causing trouble? Send them away quickly to avoid delaying our journey."
"yes"
However, just as the officers took action, one of the drunkards stared at them, rushed over to hug Jiang Yushu, and said with a lewd smile, "Come, little girl, have some fun with your brother, drink a few glasses, my beauty, and let's be intimate." As he spoke, he swung the wine jar and the wine splashed everywhere.
Jiang Yushu was unable to dodge and was splashed with wine in her face. She turned pale and without thinking, she raised her hand and slapped the lecher in the face.
"Snap", crisp and loud.
She frowned and glared at him, yelling "Get out!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Guo Honglei arrived with a gust of wind. Without saying a word, he punched the man in the face and then kicked him hard, sending the rude man flying more than a meter away.
"Ah, ouch, cough, cough, cough." The drunkard's nose was bleeding, he curled up holding his abdomen, coughed painfully a few times, and vomited "wow" with a foul smell. He woke up from the pain, his face flushed and his neck thick, and he cursed incoherently, "You bastard, who are you? Tell me your name, I won't let you go, cough cough, you're dead!"
How can a husband tolerate his wife being molested?
"Who do you think you are to be so presumptuous?" Guo Honglei's face turned pale, his eyes were cold and murderous, he rushed forward with big strides, pulling the iron chain so hard that it rattled, and the servants were at a loss.
This was the first time Jiang Yushu saw her husband so angry.
"Okay, okay," she hurriedly intervened, grabbing the furious man's right arm with both hands and admonishing him, "I hit him, and you hit him too. That's enough, stop it. Calm down, and don't argue with a drunkard."
Guo Honglei was filled with rage, his arms as strong as iron, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Let me go, I want to see his skills."
"Don't let go," Jiang Yushu dragged the man back, "Let's continue on our way and ignore him."
Zhang Feng ordered his men to chase the drunkards to the wall, urging them, "They're just a bunch of drunkards. They can't spit out ivory from a dog's mouth. Their nonsense is not worth getting angry about. Let's go and get on with our journey."
Wang and others also advised, "Just teach him a lesson, don't hurt anyone."
"Second brother, you are injured, be careful not to let the wound open."
"Honglei, forget it, why bother with that kind of person?"
After a long period of persuasion from his family, Guo Honglei finally calmed down. He raised his head, closed his eyes tightly, sighed deeply, and wiped the wine off his wife's face with his hand. He said guiltily, "I've wronged you again."
The hands of martial artists are rough, warm, powerful, and covered with calluses. Jiang Yushu's cheek was hurt by the touch. She wanted to dodge but didn't. She said calmly, "I slapped him hard. I've vented my anger and don't feel wronged."
Guo Honglei was filled with guilt and whispered to comfort his wife before continuing on his way with an expressionless face.
As dusk fell, a group of people stood in front of the prison yard used to detain fugitives, waiting for an inventory.
"According to the date, you are three days late." The Xicang official was busy looking through the roster and said in a serious tone, "Four prisoners died on the way. They died of snake bites, disease, and knife wounds. Why are there knife wounds? Did you abuse lynching?"
"You misunderstood. How dare we resort to lynching?" Zhang Feng hurriedly presented another booklet, explaining, "We were unlucky. We were robbed and attacked by deserters. We suffered heavy casualties and were forced to rest for three days. Please review it. We have complete evidence of all the unexpected events."
The official reviewed the evidence book, handed it to his subordinate clerk, and ordered, "It's getting late, count the prisoners quickly."
The clerk bowed and accepted the order, then said in a stern voice, "Guo prisoners, come forward one by one and report your names. No crowding is allowed."
So everyone came forward one by one, and only after verifying that everything was correct did the officer unlock the iron chains.
Dusk was falling. Jiang Yushu rubbed her wrists, her waist and legs ached, and her hair and cheeks were sticky and smelled of alcohol.
"That drunkard is really abominable, crazy, he deserves to be beaten, the son-in-law had better break his hands and feet" Cuimei was indignant and angry. Xiaotao took off the water bag and poured water to soak the handkerchief, "Girl, wipe your face and wash it thoroughly when there is hot water later."
Jiang Yushu happily took the handkerchief and said angrily, "For what happened today, a couple of scoldings to vent your anger is fine, but breaking your limbs is too much. When you're out and about, be careful not to be impulsive. Everything should be done in moderation."
Guo Honglei approached from behind, leveraging his height to easily take the wet handkerchief and wipe the wine stains from his cheek with his own hands. He was still furious, and the smell of alcohol only made him even more unhappy. He could not tolerate his wife being molested, and he wished he had beaten the drunkard until he kowtowed and begged for mercy.
"You..." Jiang Yushu was startled and leaned back subconsciously, "No need, I can wipe it myself."
Guo Honglei leaned over, using less force, and clumsily helped wipe it. He said in a deep voice, "Don't move. That guy was rude and splashed wine all over you. He really deserved to be beaten."
"He has learned his lesson. It was very satisfying to see you take action," Jiang Yushu said happily.
Wang was not far away, frowning and looking unhappy, "Ahem"
Jiang Yushu suddenly felt a headache and immediately tried to take back the handkerchief, whispering, "Give me back the handkerchief, and go do your work."
"What should I be busy with right now?" Guo Honglei raised his right hand.
"Give it to me." Jiang Yushu stood on tiptoe. "If you don't give it to me, I'll snatch it away."
Guo Honglei raised his eyebrows and said, "Go ahead and try."
"That's Xiao Tao's, why don't you let go?" Jiang Yushu turned around and around, but she couldn't reach it. She was panting and tired, so she grabbed the other person's collar and asked, "Why don't you give it back?"
Several maids covered their mouths and laughed secretly. Guo Honglei smiled, his sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes were handsome. He returned the handkerchief and asked seriously, "Who will mend the robe if it is torn?"
Jiang Yushu wiped the sweat off her face and said, "You can fix it yourself."
The next moment, someone suddenly called out in surprise, "Miss Liao!"
"Look, it's Miss Liao"
"Madam, Miss Liao is here."
Wang was overjoyed and asked anxiously, "Where is Xiaodie?"
Liao Xiaodie
Jiang Yushu was shocked. Just as she turned around, she saw a petite girl running towards Wang in the twilight. She was wearing a red flowered dress and cried,
"Madam, I've finally seen you here. How is your family doing along the way?"
Wang caught her niece in her arms, tears streaming down her face, and replied sadly, "The Marquis and Yao'er are dead. I will be stripped of my title, my property confiscated, and exiled. What else can I do?"
"I'm far away in Xicang. I couldn't believe it when I received the bad news." Liao Xiaodie's voice was hoarse. She had a pointed face, almond eyes, and a small black mole on the wing of her nose. She asked with concern, "How are you?"
Wang smiled bitterly, "Alas, I'm just an old man, I can only live one day at a time."
Jiang Yushu asked doubtfully, "Is my cousin's throat sick?"
"It's natural." Guo Honglei replied.
Several people greeted each other, and Liao Xiaodie twisted her waist, her eyes wide open, and she touched her chest in shock and asked, "Oh, this is my sister-in-law, right?"
"Slut, why are you pretending to be stupid?" Wang Qiaozhen secretly gnashed her teeth in hatred, forced a smile, and questioned, "It's only been two years since we last met, and you don't recognize me?"
"No way..." Liao Xiaodie shook her head, and affectionately held the hand of the former noble prince's wife, and said with pity, "I recognized her at a glance, but, but my sister-in-law is so haggard, it really makes me sad. Alas, things have come to this point, I hope you will express your condolences as soon as possible."
Wang Qiaozhen was tanned and thin, with unkempt hair and no makeup on. Liao Xiaodie was fair and pretty, wearing a set of jade jewelry and a smooth, fragrant face. The two faced each other, hands clasped, their black and white clearly separated.
Suddenly, Wang Qiaozhen, who was always proud and arrogant, was deeply hurt. She pulled her hand back and asked stiffly, "What else can I do if I don't mourn?"
Wang said sadly, "No matter what, life must go on."
Liao Xiaodie nodded respectfully, but heard a deep and deep voice behind her.
"cousin."
Liao Xiaodie's heart instantly raced. She subconsciously straightened her skirt, held her head high, and turned gracefully, only to see a couple walking side by side. She froze, her smile frozen on her lips, never reaching her eyes.
Guo Honglei turned to his wife and said, "This is Cousin Liao."
Jiang Yushu stepped forward and said with a faint smile, "Hello, cousin."
"You are Yushan, right?" Liao Xiaodie's almond-shaped eyes didn't blink. Her left hand was hidden in her sleeve, and her red nails painted with nail polish almost pierced her palm. She praised kindly, "It's really hard for you. You have to follow Honglei and suffer so hardship right after getting married."
Caught off guard, Jiang Yushu was stunned.
Wang Qiaozhen burst out laughing, "Xiaodie, you got the wrong person"
Liao Xiaodie blinked her almond-shaped eyes and asked hesitantly, "The letter from the Central Government said that Honglei got married in a hurry. If it wasn't the engaged Yushan, who else could it be, sister-in-law? Stop joking."
Guo Honglei gently put his arm around his wife's shoulders and told her seriously, "Cousin, Yushan and I didn't get together. This is Yushu."
Hiding it would only cause embarrassment, so it would be better to reveal it proactively. Jiang Yushu quickly made up her mind and said with a smile, "Yushan is my sister."
"Oh, so you are Yushan's sister." Liao Xiaodie opened her eyes wide and stared at Guo Honglei, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Wang glanced at the unlucky star in her heart and interrupted by asking, "Xiaodie, why is Yipeng not here?"
Liao Xiaodie slapped her forehead and replied apologetically, "Look at my poor memory. I was so busy asking this and that that I forgot the important thing." She leaned closer and said in a hoarse voice, "There has been unrest in Xicang these past two years. Yipeng has been busy with official duties and has been resting in the government office for many days. He asked you to rest assured for a while. He will come to pay his respects in person in a few days to discuss the details of the exile and farming arrangements."
"Okay, okay," Wang said with tears in her eyes, feeling relieved. "I'm relieved now that you've said this. I'm unfamiliar with this place. Fortunately, you and Yipeng are here to take care of me. Otherwise, my situation would be unbearable."
Humph, old hag, there comes a time when you need my help.
Back then, you two were so high and mighty, you mocked and humiliated others without restraint, and now you dare to dream of my care.
God has given me the opportunity to take revenge. You guys just wait for your retribution.
Liao Xiaodie's heart was filled with hatred, but her face was filled with enthusiasm. She said gratefully, "Yi Peng and I have both received support from the Jingyang Marquis' Mansion. Relatives should take care of each other."
"Yes, yes," Wang smiled happily.
Dusk fades and night falls.
After completing his mission, Zhang Feng led his men towards the Guo family.
Jiang Yushu saw it and asked hurriedly, "Master Zhang, is the task going well?"
"It went quite smoothly." Zhang Feng clasped his fists and said, "Second Young Master, I bid you farewell."
Guo Honglei still had his left arm in a sling, but he clasped his hands together and said solemnly, "It's a six thousand mile round trip. Take care, everyone."
"Thank you, goodbye."
"Goodbye."
After traveling three thousand miles through wind and rain, Jiang Yushu waved goodbye reluctantly.
Zhang Feng turned around, and the group of officials walked away quickly, their backs disappearing into the night.
At this time, the Xicang official ordered, "After dark, the prisoners are not allowed to go out, go in immediately."
Liao Xiaodie sighed, "Old Madam, please go in and rest. I'll come visit you another day."
"Okay, I'll wait for you and Yipeng," Wang said expectantly.
Just wait for death. Liao Xiaodie sneered secretly.
The prison, though shabby and simple, was spacious, holding over three hundred prisoners. The hundred or so members of the Guo family were assigned to the west wing, a row of ten empty rooms.
Here, prisoners are allowed to spend money to buy bedding, food and hot water, and life is much more comfortable than in the post station.
"Oh, I can finally rest for a while." Jiang Yushu took a hot bath and felt drowsy. She curled up in a chair and wiped her hair, muttering, "Remember, don't wake me up tomorrow morning. I'm almost exhausted and want to have a good sleep."
"Okay," Cuimei folded the clothes quickly, "I'll remember, I won't let anyone disturb you." Just as she finished speaking, there was a knock on the half-open door.
"Knock knock"
"Who is it?" Cuimei jumped down from the bunk bed, opened the door, and looked in. She hurriedly and respectfully said, "Second Young Master."
Guo Honglei asked, "Have you girls rested?"
"Not yet."
Guo Honglei said calmly, "I have something important to discuss with her."
Cuimei understood, "Then please come in, I'll make tea."
Tonight, no matter what, he must talk about Pei Wenfeng. Guo Honglei secretly made up his mind and could no longer bear it.
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