Ning Family Residence
Chapter 27: Ning Family Residence
The next morning, Caideng reported to Cui Luan while she was dressing, "Madam, Aunt Huan is here again."
"Looking for my husband?"
"Yes, I heard that she was asking Langjun for information about someone."
Cui Luan became interested. "Please ask her to come in. I have something to ask."
"He's not here, I'm looking for you." After hearing her words, a look of loss flashed across Yi Huan's eyes.
Cui Luan's tone was quite provocative, and he started the conversation by asking, "I heard you were asking about someone?"
"You know?"
"Perhaps after you kneel before me for a few hours, I can find out, and you can find out too."
Yi Huan believes that Cui Luan can find out about Nalan Han, but Peng Zuoyuan’s refusal to see him last night was obvious. Can Cui Luan tell him?
"He won't see me and won't let me know the news, and you dare to tell me?"
Cui Luan curled his lips and said frankly: "I want you to kneel down and submit to me. In return, I can order an investigation. I will not break my promise."
"I will kneel down to you when you really know." Yi Huan was worried about other things and was unable to fight back against her humiliation. He left with disrespect after saying this.
"Hmph, Caideng, take the sign and leave the house to find out about that person."
Caideng hesitated, "Madam, the master has issued an order that Concubine Huan is not allowed to know anything about that person."
"Why?"
“I didn’t ask.”
Cui Luan thought of Yi Huan's arrogance just now and wanted to see her bow her head even more. His resistance became stronger. "Be careful when you ask, don't let my husband know. I don't believe it. I must make her kneel to me willingly."
Four days later in the main courtyard, Cui Luan picked up a folded piece of paper and said, "That person's name is Nalan Han, right?"
Yi Huan took a step forward excitedly, "Have you found out?"
"You have to kneel before me first."
Yi Huan knelt on the ground obediently, and said, "Madam, I kneel down to you because I want to know what Nalan Han is like, and I also believe in you."
Cui Luan sneered, "Do you think I'm someone who doesn't keep my word? The Cui family's business is based on trust. I will keep my promise."
"So I believe Madam, that paper contains the information I want to know."
Mentioning the contents of the letter, Cui Luan paused her fingers. She had read the contents beforehand. Facing Yi Huan's persistent and inquiring expression, Cui Luan didn't know for a moment whether she was happy to know the result or would rather have never asked about it.
Two hours later, as the sky gradually darkened, Yi Huan recalled his first time. He supported himself with his right hand and pressed his legs to get up. "Madam, you can give it to me now."
"He's in Chang'an too. Maybe you can go see him after this is over."
Yi Huan took it and asked in confusion: "What's the end? She came to Chang'an to do something? Where is she..."
"Ah Huan!"
Peng Zuoyan snatched the unopened letter away. Receiving the news, he hurried over and asked with concern, "You believe such worthless news?"
The contrast was so strange that Yi Huan's knees were unsteady. Eager to know the news, she tugged at his sleeve and asked, "Ah Han, what news should I not know? Why have you been hiding it from me?"
"What could possibly happen to her in Changzhou? What do you want to know? I'll send Chang Yi to investigate."
"No." Yi Huan shook his head, noticing. "Your behavior is wrong. If she's fine, why did you deliberately avoid seeing me? Why did I have such a dream?"
"Just for a dream? Ah Huan, when did you start believing in this?"
"She's fine, just be obedient and go back."
"No……"
Peng Zuo's voice suddenly changed to a commanding tone, "Be obedient! Ah Huan, go back."
Yi Huan's stubborn eyes gradually changed, and he had some guesses in his mind. He didn't waste any more words, shook off his hand on his shoulder, and left without saying a word.
Peng Zuoyan turned to the quiet Cui Luan and asked casually, "Luan, where did you get this news?"
"Madam Huan wants to know how her old friend is doing, and I have good intentions."
"Aluan, let me make it clear to you once again: Yi Huan cannot know about this, okay?"
Cui Luan involuntarily took a step back, avoiding his gaze, "I understand."
Caideng's actions were soon discovered. Cui Luan received the news and rushed to see Caideng kneeling on the ground with her hands tied. He called out, "Caideng."
"Madam, I'm fine, don't worry."
Peng Zuo's expression lost its warmth, and he asked in a questioning tone, "Didn't I tell you not to pass on any news about Nalan Han to the Four Yuan Courtyards? Alua, you knowingly broke the law?"
Cui Luan was intimidated by his obvious threat and argued breathlessly, "I think that man is at least known to Concubine Huan. Now that he's dead, she should be called..."
"Aluan."
Peng Zuoyang stroked her hair and said lightly, "And you, a servant, spread the news privately and disobeyed the master. I will kill you and buy you another one called Caideng."
The colored lantern trembled slightly in fear, but she mustered up the courage to remain calm. She belonged to the Madam and represented her face, so she couldn't let her down.
Cui Luan moved sideways to protect Caideng and said firmly, "Caideng is a member of the Cui family. She belongs to me. You cannot easily decide her life or death."
"It was my order to gather information, and you're going to kill Caideng? How can I be so proud of you if you touch her? Shouldn't you ask me first? Have you ever thought about how I can stand up for myself?"
"I'm telling you now, isn't that enough of a face? The slave who disobeyed the master's words, the slaves of the Cui family are raised in an unusual way."
Chang Yi received a signal from Peng Zuoyang and raised his foot to pull the lantern down. Cui Luan pulled up the lantern faster and scolded Chang Yi: "She is my wife's person, get out!"
He was about to move forward, but Cui Luan dodged decisively, pulled out the silver hairpin and stabbed forward. The latter dodged effortlessly and waited for Peng Zuoyang to continue giving orders.
Cui Luan faced the two of them alone and questioned Peng Zuoyao, "Let's not talk about my order. Just say that I brought the lanterns. If I made a mistake, you should have informed me and I will handle it at my discretion. You have no right to beat her to death."
Peng Zuoyao tutted, "But your people made a mistake, shouldn't they be punished?"
"Made a mistake?"
Cui Luan's sneer intensified. "Peng Xishan, you know who this is for. I'm not your subordinate, so I have the right to speak on the same level as you."
"Aren't we equal? If we weren't equal, do you think she would still be waiting for you to save her?"
Peng Zuoyao stood with his hands behind his back and decisively ordered, "Aluan, I'm telling you this for the last time. You are not allowed to spread it. Not a single word."
"Are you afraid that she'll be sad and upset if she finds out? After all, they're having a good time?"
Peng Zuoyan's expression suddenly changed, and he asked in a bad tone, "What did you say?"
He repeatedly urged her to be tolerant, and Cui Luan, not afraid of a falling out, said bluntly, "She's close to someone else, and it's unclear what's going on. How can you accept that? Yet you constantly protect her. Aren't you conflicted? What's going on in your heart?"
The most likely outcome was too unacceptable, but Cui Luan still didn't have the courage to state it directly.
"Cui Luan, don't meddle in my affairs."
"I'm your wife, so I can't interfere in these matters? It's your responsibility to be completely open with me, and I should be the one to condemn you, but I'm still talking to you nicely. Can't you feel it? My newlywed husband has a concubine who is obsessed with him and repeatedly touches my life. Can't I say anything?"
He only felt that she was being unreasonable and irritated, and was annoyed by her exaggeration.
"Peng Zuoyan, do you still remember what you said before? Can you still do it?"
Peng Zuo's patience had already run out, and anger was visible on his face. He knew what words would add fuel to the fire, so he deliberately said, "Madam, if you don't overstep your bounds, I will follow your instructions."
"You have the ability, Peng Zuoyao."
Cui Luan wanted to take the lanterns and leave the house, but without the master's order, no one else took the initiative to stop him.
The noise from the main courtyard reached Peng Xun's ears. He was the only one there when the old man came over. "Where are the people?"
“…Go check.”
Chang Yi came back and reported: "Madam and Caideng got on the carriage and seemed to be heading towards Cui's house."
"Chang Er, follow and make sure Madam gets home safely."
"yes."
Peng Xun sat down with his hands in his pockets, pointed at him and said, "You can't control a concubine?"
"Don't meddle in my affairs."
"If you can't manage it, I'll manage it for you."
Peng Zuoyan looked impatient, "What do you want to do?"
"Send him away. If you want to see him, go to the farm in the countryside. There's a limit of three times a month. We'll decide when to pick him up."
Peng Zuoyuan carefully considered the feasibility of this method and decided to send Yi Huan away first. After a while, when she had forgotten about Nalan Han, he would take her back after the three-court trial was over.
"You decide."
"What are you going to do about the Cui family? Has the marriage lasted four months? You've driven Cui Luan out of the house. You're so capable."
Peng Zuoyuan was confident he could handle Cui Luan's problem, so he said directly, "Wait until Yi Huan arrives at the farm, and I'll go to Cui's house to pick him up."
"Control your stubbornness. Besides, your wife is always your wife. Is there anything you can't discuss? A lowly wife can cause discord between you two. Your attitude is key. Do you really think she's that important?"
Peng Xun looked at Peng Zuoyuan's expression and wondered in his heart if both father and son had made the same mistake and couldn't control the weight of the scale?
Peng Zuoyan asked himself about his feelings, but then suppressed the answer. There was no need to think too deeply about something that didn't make sense.
"Cui Luan is the wife of the Peng family. This will not change. Don't worry, I will take care of it."
On the way back to the mansion, Caideng couldn't help sobbing, "I'm sorry, Madam, I caused you to quarrel."
"None of your business."
Although Cui Luan looked lonely, she did not show any regret. The word "destruction" was too strong. Perhaps the person involved was confused, but Peng Zuoyuan took Yi Huan too seriously. She didn't know whether it was necessary to continue wasting time.
"Don't overthink it. You are husband and wife for life. Don't let trivial matters hurt your relationship."
"Cai Lantern, our relationship hasn't developed any deeper yet, but he already has deep feelings for me."
Caideng didn't quite understand the meaning of this sentence, nor did she have the courage to criticize her husband in her heart.
"I don't understand."
Cui Luan laughed and explained, "You are a novice and don't know the relationship between men and women. You can see it because you have experienced it."
The carriage drove into the main road, which was unusually lively. Caideng saw her looking outside and introduced, "Today is the Spring Festival fair, and the streets are bustling."
"Since getting married, you haven't participated in any of these."
"There are too many people on the street. How about we take another route?"
Cui Luan's face was filled with sadness, his glass-like eyes sparkling. "No need, let's go inside. We haven't seen each other for a long time. Let's feel each other today."
After a few steps, the carriage was stopped by a masked man dressed in Nuo dance attire. He was leaning on a stick, had a white beard, and was doing funny movements with his back hunched. He invited, "Madam, I am a juggler. If you are free, you can watch me for fun. If you are not interested, I will keep it for free."
The colorful lights slightly obscured Cui Luan's face. After receiving her signal, he said, "Since that's the case, let's begin."
Wang Qi knew that the nobleman in charge inside was also watching, so he bowed exaggeratedly, and then started singing with his powerful voice, accompanied by jumping steps and drinking.
The singing and dancing were average, except for the final curtain call where the man accidentally stepped on someone else's boot. The masked man bent down at a 90-degree angle and kept bowing to apologize. A hint of uneasiness and anxiety could be seen on his unchanging mask.
Cui Luan read it all without blinking, with a smile on his lips.
Big beads of sweat streamed down his neck beneath the mask. When the dance ended, Cui Luan said with a smile, "Colorful lanterns, reward him with small amounts of silver."
Wang Qi knelt down and said words of welcome. When he looked up and took the silver, he saw most of Cui Luan's face in the carriage. It turned out to be the kind-hearted man of the Cui family! Thinking of his appearance as a beggar, he quickly covered his face.
But he forgot that Madam Cui had never been curious about the face under the mask, and he also forgot that he was wearing the mask of the land god.
The carriage for sending the person was ready, and Peng Xun personally told Yi Huan that he wanted her to move out of the house and live in the farm.
"Why should I go to the other courtyard? I'm just asking for information about someone, why on earth can't I ask?"
Peng Xun said nothing, not understanding the reason. He simply said, "I'm old now, and I can't bear to see unrest in my family home. Since I don't want to cause trouble, I'm thinking of cutting off the root cause so that I can settle my family home."
Yi Huan sneered, feeling that he was being hypocritical when he said this.
"From now on, Xishan can only visit you three times a month. You must abide by the duties of a concubine and don't act like a troublemaker."
"Is this your reward? I don't acknowledge it."
Yi Huan felt uneasy as she hadn't asked about Nalan Han yet. Something must have happened to her, otherwise why would she keep silent? She had to find Nalan Han and confirm her safety.
Peng Xun wanted her to leave, not because he had no other options. He tried to save face by saying, "The consequences of your leaving are certain. It's just a matter of whether you go willingly or not."
"Is your principle to treat everyone equally, regardless of right or wrong, and only consider the wife and concubines? Concubines themselves are inherently sinful, and are just toys that can be discarded at will? You and your son are really the same bastards."
Peng Xun thought of his former wives and concubines. He had never considered Deng Jin a concubine, and even felt particularly sympathetic towards her situation because of this identity. But they ended up like that.
Alas, fate plays tricks on us, and we can only chase the past.
"If I don't go, will you drug me and break my legs to make me go?"
Peng Xun grinned and uttered a threat in a gentle tone: "Fighting and killing are not popular in the Peng family."
As they were about to get into the carriage, Yi Huan opened the window and said quickly, "Doctor Peng, I can go. In exchange, you tell me the news about Nalan Han. I promise that I will go to the other courtyard after I find out. Even if Peng Zuoyuan never comes, I will accept it."
Peng Xun gave her a complicated look and said, "That girl has her own destiny. Just stay in the manor and don't cause any trouble."
As a father, it was natural for him to stand on Peng Zuoyan's side, and it was normal for him to hide the fact of Nalan Han's unfortunate death from her. As for her emotions, Peng Xun didn't need to put himself in her shoes.
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