Chapter 220: If you say anything more, you will be exposed (two chapters in one)
Yang Shengqiu listened carefully to every word Xiuxiu said, his expression focused and his eyes calm. Xiuxiu's nervous excitement finally calmed down. The second young lady was right. If you don't know how to answer, just talk nonsense. See, Yang Shengqiu really didn't doubt her.
The Second Miss is always right.
Xiuxiu wanted to continue talking about the good deeds of Old Master Zhen, such as giving a white flour bun to a beggar and not asking for change when buying soy sauce, but she remembered what the second young lady had told her: the more you talk, the more mistakes you make. When facing a knowledgeable and intelligent person like Yang Shengqiu, you should talk less and listen to him.
Thinking of this, Xiuxiu swallowed back the words that were on the tip of her tongue, but she didn't know how to get Yang Shengqiu to speak. She didn't know any poetry or songs. She thought of Aunt Ji, who was also a good talker. By the way, what would Aunt Ji say if she encountered this situation?
"Master Yang, how many children do you have?"
Yang Shengqiu was stunned. The tone of the words changed too quickly.
He shook his head: "I'm not married yet."
But I was wondering why she asked this?
I understand. The little girl admires him but doesn't dare to confess her feelings, so she tests him first.
He breathed a sigh of relief. Su Xiuxiu was very simple. Perhaps he was wrong. She just continued to love him in a different way.
Xiuxiu: Finally found a topic.
The surprise that Xiuxiu could not hide on her face fell into Yang Shengqiu's eyes. Yang Shengqiu knew that he had guessed right, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. As long as this silly girl liked him, he was not afraid of not being able to get anything out of her.
He was about to speak, but Xiuxiu spoke first: "Do you have a girl you love? Tell me and I will help you mediate."
Yang Shengqiu...what does she mean by this?
Before he could speak, Xiuxiu continued, "Let me tell you, no matter how much a person studies, how high an official he holds, or how high his achievements are, as long as he doesn't get married and have children, it's all in vain. When he's old, he won't even have someone to support him. His life will have been lived in vain."
Yang Shengqiu...was he actually being urged to get married by a girl who loved him?
Xiuxiu racked her brains and relayed to Yang Shengqiu all the words that Aunt Ji had always said to her.
After she finished speaking, she regretted it. She had said too much and wanted to leave the chance to speak to Yang Shengqiu.
"By the way, Lord Yang, is there any result in the last case?"
Yang Shengqiu breathed a sigh of relief. As expected, it was so difficult to communicate with these ignorant and stupid women.
When Xiuxiu asked about the kidnappers, he said, "We've already found out. These people are habitual criminals. Don't worry, they will definitely receive the punishment they deserve."
Xiuxiu pointed at herself and said, "What about me? I'm the victim. Shouldn't they compensate me?"
Yang Shengqiu was stunned: "Compensation? Compensation for what?"
Xiuxiu: "Second Miss said that there will be compensation for this kind of thing. Those kidnappers want to compensate me. Why didn't the government notify me to collect the money? Lord Yang, last time you helped the government officials come to question me. Did they give you the silver for compensation? It's really a coincidence that we happened to meet today. Just give it to me and save you the trouble of delivering it to me."
Yang Shengqiu......
Greedy for money? And it was the Second Young Lady who taught her that?
"I do have this amount of money, but I was in a hurry today and didn't bring it with me. I'll send it to you another day."
Xiuxiu was a little disappointed: "Since you have this money, you should have given it to me earlier. Forget it, I will go to the Ministry of Revenue to get it from you tomorrow. You must remember to bring it with you."
Yang Shengqiu frowned slightly. Do I have to go to the Ministry of Revenue to ask him for money tomorrow?
He took a deep breath and didn't say yes or no. Instead, he asked, "Your second daughter knows a lot. She even knows that there will be compensation for this kind of thing. Has she been educated and is familiar with the law?"
Xiuxiu nodded vigorously: "I have read it. When we were in the mountains, Mr. Wu often taught the Second Miss. But the Second Miss was too busy and didn't have time to listen to Mr. Wu's lectures."
She was not lying. There was indeed a Mr. Wu in Baihe Mountain. He was sent by Prince Liang's Mansion to teach the second young lady. Although Xiuxiu had only lived in Baihe Mountain for a few days, she had met Mr. Wu. Mr. Wu lived comfortably in Baihe Mountain. He brought his wife and children over and settled down in Baihe Village, living the pastoral life he longed for.
"On the mountain? Isn't Old Master Zhen a businessman? Why does he live on the mountain?" Yang Shengqiu grasped the key point.
Xiuxiu was stunned. As expected, the more you talk, the more mistakes you make. She said the wrong thing.
She had no choice but to try to make up for it: "Old Master Zhen was doing business in the mountains. Oh, I don't understand, but he always lived in the mountains and moved to several mountains. Later, the business in those mountains became bad, so he came to the capital."
Hilltop?
Business is not doing well?
Coming to the capital?
Yang Shengqiu thought of a business with a long history, a business with no capital!
The bandit who occupies the mountain and becomes the king!
Xiuxiu became more and more panicked as she spoke. Oh, and she couldn't remember what else the second young lady had said.
"The last time I visited them, Old Master Zhen and the second young lady were not at home. Miss Xiuxiu said they had gone out to do business. Now Old Master Zhen has not retired yet and is still doing business?" Yang Shengqiu asked.
Xiuxiu didn’t know what to say. As expected, one lie had to be covered up with countless lies.
She had no choice but to bite the bullet and say, "No, Old Master Zhen is no longer doing business. He went out to visit a friend."
Yang Shengqiu remained calm and said, "No wonder Old Master Zhen came to the capital. It turns out he came to seek refuge with a friend. Anyone who can be friends with a great man like Old Master Zhen must be of high status."
The four words "noble status" fell into Xiuxiu's ears, like a flash of lightning, and she suddenly remembered what Zhao Shiqing had taught her.
"Hey, Lord Yang, how did you know? Old Master Zhen's old friend was indeed of high status, but he has passed away, leaving only his wife and children in the capital. However, I heard that his grandson also passed away last year. Alas, that old lady is really pitiful, seeing her son die before her."
Finally, she said what she wanted to say, and the heavy stone in Xiuxiu's heart finally fell to the ground. She couldn't hold it in any longer, and if she said anything more, the truth would be revealed.
She picked up a plum and put it in her mouth. The sweet and sour taste spread throughout her mouth, and her heart also felt sour, only sour, no sweetness.
The second young lady was right. Yang Shengqiu really wanted to use her to find out about the second young lady and the old man. Even if she talked nonsense, Yang Shengqiu would turn the topic to the second young lady and Old Man Zhen.
She actually thought that Yang Zhuangyuan was a good person.
Xiuxiu felt that she would never trust men again. Master Murong was right, all men were pigs.
Master Murong saw through everything, that's why he didn't want to get married. She wanted to learn from Master Murong. She didn't want to get married either. She wouldn't fall in love again anyway, so she might as well not get married.
Miss Xiuxiu's love comes like a cloud and goes like a gust of wind.
Yang Shengqiu observed the girl's expression, watching her mood fluctuate between sadness and joy. When she stood up, her face was filled with the determination of being in love but unable to obtain it. "Yang, Lord Yang, I've been out for too long. It's time to go home. Tomorrow I'll go to the Ministry of Revenue to get some silver. You must bring it with you. By the way, how much silver is it?"
Yang Shengqiu: "...Ten taels."
Xiuxiu became happy again. Ten taels of silver could buy a lot of paint.
The girl couldn't hide the joy on her face: "Master Yang, I will come to see you tomorrow, see you there."
Looking at the girl's uncontrollable smile, Yang Shengqiu thought to himself, isn't it just to see me, and she is so happy? What a foolish and infatuated woman.
"It's not easy to hire a sedan chair here. Let me take you back." Yang Shengqiu said politely.
Unexpectedly, Xiuxiu agreed immediately: "Okay, then Lord Yang, please wait a little longer and let the sedan chair bearer come back to pick you up."
The words were out, what else could Yang Shengqiu do? He could only pretend to be generous: "No problem."
Then he said to Xiao Mo, "Go and ask the sedan bearers to take Miss Su home first."
Xiuxiu walked very quickly and disappeared at the entrance of the teahouse in a blink of an eye. Yang Shengqiu shook his head helplessly, what a superficial thing!
Who could that person of distinguished status that Xiuxiu was talking about?
This person holds a high position of power.
This person is dead.
This man's wife and children are still alive.
This man's grandson died last year.
People die every day in the capital, but not many children of the rich and powerful died last year, and they died relatively few...
Suddenly, Yang Shengqiu thought of someone.
Zhu Yu!
If we were to say who among the children of powerful and wealthy people who died last year had the highest status and was the youngest, it would definitely be Zhu Yu!
If the deceased grandson was Zhu Yu, then Old Master Zhen’s friend was the old marquis who had passed away many years ago!
Although the old Marquis Baoqing is no longer with us, his wife and children are still alive.
When he first arrived in the capital, Yang Shengqiu heard Lord Lang talk about the Baoqing Marquis Mansion.
Old Lady Wei of the Marquis of Baoqing's Mansion is the cousin of Concubine Li. The sisters have a deep affection for each other and take care of each other. Concubine Li treats Zhu Yu as her own daughter. In terms of closeness, she even treats Zhu Yu closer to her than her own grandson.
As a result, the current emperor is also particularly tolerant of the Baoqing Marquis's Mansion. Zhu Yu's father, Baoqing Marquis, is an old playboy. Zhu Yu is even better than his father. He is even more wicked, more brutal, and more fearless than his father.
If Zhu Yu had not lost his life last year and been rejected by Marquis Baoqing, and later died of illness, he would probably have gotten away with it even if he was punished for multiple crimes.
Despite having such a disgraceful grandson like Zhu Yu, it did not affect Concubine Li's protection of the Baoqing Marquis' Mansion. As soon as he returned to the capital, he heard that Madam Wei was now living in the palace.
Looking around the capital, is there any woman from outside the imperial family who can live in the palace?
But the Baoqing Marquis Mansion can do it.
I really didn't expect that Old Master Zhen had such a strong backer.
Yang Shengqiu remembered another thing.
If you ask which noble family is the richest, it must be the Baoqing Marquis Mansion.
When Zhu Yu lost a street, Baoqing Hou found out and instead of punishing Zhu Yu, he bought the gambling house.
The Baoqing Marquisate is rich, but this old man Zhen used to run a business with no capital and was a bandit.
By the way, there is a big pirate in the East China Sea with the surname Zhen, but it is said that he retired twenty years ago. Moreover, the eldest son Zhen, who is very popular in the circle of nobles, is his son.
Could this Old Master Zhen be the same person as the pirate king with the surname Zhen?
Yang Shengqiu shook his head and said no.
Others don't know, but he knows.
Young Master Zhen’s current backer is the Third Prince!
Besides, one of the things that Zhen Wu had more of was that he had many sons. He only had sons but no daughters. He had no adopted daughters, goddaughters, or illegitimate daughters.
Without a daughter, where would a granddaughter come from?
He secretly observed Old Master Zhen and found him to be just an ordinary fat old man.
Those who have been at sea for many years all have dark skin and a weathered look on their faces.
But that old master Zhen was fat and white.
The most important thing is that Old Master Zhen always has a smile on his face and looks humble and submissive.
How could such a person be the powerful overlord of the sea?
He seems more like someone who works for the old Marquis of Baoqing, with a pair of hands that grab money.
This is what is called collusion between officials and bandits.
No wonder the Baoqing Marquisate is so rich. I had long suspected that their money came from illegal sources, but I didn't expect that they even supported bandits.
Old Master Zhen is old and can no longer rob, so he came to the capital to retire. But are his disciples still doing worthless things?
No wonder he had never heard of Aunt Shi's family when he was a child, and of course he never mentioned her family being bandits.
After the death of his family, Old Master Zhen took the little girl away. The little girl spoke with a Liang accent, which was probably because Old Master Zhen had once been the king of Liang.
The reason why the little girl was so secretive was probably because her maternal family was actually a servant of the Baoqing Marquis's Mansion, and she could not reveal her identity without the permission of the Baoqing Marquis's Mansion.
Yang Shengqiu thought of the children of the Yan family and the brothers of the Zhao family.
Yan Xia played an indispensable role in Zhu Yu's death.
Madam Wei injured Yan Xia, and the Yan family went to the Baoqing Marquis Mansion to demolish the house.
If you ask Marquis Baoqing and Old Madam Wei who they hate the most, the first one is the Yan family!
Yang Shengqiu felt that he had discovered an incredible secret.
Marquis Baoqing used the Zhen family's grandparents and grandchildren to get close to the underage children of the Yan family in order to take revenge!
Although Marquis Baoqing had remarried, he had no children and his only son had died. However, the Yan family was prosperous with more than a dozen male offspring. Marquis Baoqing was afraid that he even wanted to wipe out the Yan family.
Thinking about it this way, all the mysteries surrounding the Zhen family's ancestors and grandchildren have answers.
Yang Shengqiu was both excited and disappointed.
He was excited because he knew that the Baoqing Marquis Mansion was planning to destroy the Weiguo Duke Mansion.
To his disappointment, he knew about this but didn't get any benefit from it.
Unless he went to the Duke of Wei's mansion to inform them and told them to stay away from the Zhen family, would the Duke of Wei believe him? That family was reckless and might even drag him to the Baoqing Mansion for a confrontation.
That’s right, Yang Shengqiu believed that this was something that the Weiguo Mansion could do.
He couldn't afford to offend either the Baoqing Marquis' Mansion or the Weiguo Duke's Mansion.
Why aren’t the ancestors and grandchildren of the Zhen family spies in Prince Liang’s mansion?
Why did they have to be servants of the Baoqing Marquis’ Mansion?
Yang Shengqiu sighed, thinking that even the only way out was blocked, he suddenly felt oppressive and suffocating in the teahouse. The sedan chair had not returned yet, so he prepared to wait outside.
Before he reached the door, the waiter caught up with him and said, "Sir, you haven't settled the bill yet. Thank you for the five cents of silver."
Yang Shengqiu was stunned. Wasn’t it Su Xiuxiu who treated them?
But Su Xiuxiu is gone...
Just a pot of tea and some snacks cost five cents of silver. Why not rob them?
Yang Shengqiu took out five cents of silver from his purse and handed it to the waiter, then strode out of the teahouse.
Oh, by the way, Su Xiuxiu has to go to the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow to ask him for money, and he has to pay for it...
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