Chapter 269 Fulfilling the Promise
Shen Mingzhu looked at the small fried fish in Zhao Jue's bowl, lying intact on the white porcelain plate, and he didn't move.
Even if it's just a bite to pretend.
"Third Master, when you were returning to the capital, you encountered bandits on the way. While you were suppressing the bandits, you accidentally came to our village."
"We live in a remote and poor area, relying on farming to make a living. Families with sons go hunting in the mountains, collect mountain products and sell them. When they have enough money, they go to a matchmaker to buy a child bride."
"They bought me from a matchmaker. They were afraid I would run away, so they put iron chains on my feet. I ran away several times, but every time I was caught, they beat me harder and harder."
"I told them that my family is very wealthy and that if they are willing to send me home, my family will definitely pay them."
"They asked me where my family was and what I did for a living. I can't remember a lot of things, but I remember there was an osmanthus tree in the backyard, and underneath it was a water jar with a hole in it. Other than that, I only remember my last name was Chen and that my father was an official."
“No one believed me, and instead laughed at me for daydreaming.”
"Only you." Shen Mingzhu's calm voice finally showed some movement as she whispered, "Only you will believe what I say, rescue me, and take me to Beijing to find my parents."
The family that bought her knew that Zhao Jue was of a high status and was afraid that she would cause trouble, so they locked her up in the house and did not allow her to show her face.
They didn't let Zhao Jue out until she finished her meal and left, and let her go to the river to wash clothes.
Perhaps there is always a way out. She met Zhao Jue by the river and asked him for help.
Zhao Jue frowned, thinking of this past event.
He is not a nosy person and is most afraid of getting into trouble.
From the beginning, he had no intention of saving Shen Mingzhu.
After all, her identity is very suspicious, and whether she was a bought child bride remains to be discussed.
At the last moment, he changed his mind.
Because Shen Mingzhu spoke a few official words and some rules of wealthy families.
If she were a native country girl, she would not be able to speak Mandarin, nor would she understand the strict rules and regulations. Moreover, she had iron chains on her feet, clearly to prevent her from escaping.
This once again proves that Shen Mingzhu was abducted.
Zhao Jue's doubts were dispelled.
Even though Shen Mingzhu's face was sallow and she was skinny at that time, one could still vaguely see that she was outstanding.
Especially her clear and pure eyes, which showed the innocence and simplicity of a woman who was not familiar with the world. This kind of woman who was not familiar with the world and had not been corrupted by the secular world was deeply loved by the officials in the capital.
An idea came to his mind: to take Shen Mingzhu back to Beijing and help her find her family.
If her family background is really as she said, it can help him expand his network of contacts.
If she is lying, then keep her in another courtyard, have someone train her, and then give her away as a skinny horse.
He took her to Beijing, and listening to the shouting on the street, she uttered the name of a street.
Zhao Jue asked Shen Mingzhu a few questions and guessed that she had lived in Qingyi Lane when she was a child.
Since this area was inhabited by dignitaries, he intended to take Shen Mingzhu for a walk around Qingyi Lane, hoping that she would still remember her home.
Unexpectedly, Shen Mingzhu pointed to Cheng'en Marquis Mansion and said that this was her home.
She said that she remembered that when she was a child, she was naughty and poured ink into the stone lion's mouth, and the stone ball was stained black.
Zhao Jue often visited the Marquis' Mansion and had no idea that there was ink in the stone lion's mouth. However, he remembered that there was an osmanthus tree in the backyard of the Mansion, and there was indeed a broken water jar under the tree.
He dismounted and carefully examined the stone lion, and sure enough, he saw ink residue in its mouth.
The ink was very old and quite aged, not like freshly splashed ink.
In addition, the surname Shen Mingzhu mentioned also matched, and an answer was about to emerge.
Despite this, Zhao Jue did not think that Shen Mingzhu was the daughter of Marquis Cheng'en, but instead became suspicious.
He suspected that Shen Mingzhu had been bribed and deliberately asked him for help, then revealed information about her life step by step, and finally deceived him that she was the daughter of Marquis Cheng'en.
If she is the daughter of Marquis Cheng'en, who is Shen Qingtan?
Zhao Jue was certain that Shen Mingzhu had ulterior motives and deliberately approached him just to destroy his marriage with the Cheng'en Marquisate.
Thinking of this, he brought Shen Mingzhu to the door and deliberately asked Marquis Cheng'en to recognize the person in order to expose Shen Mingzhu and then find out the person behind the scenes.
Unfortunately, things did not go as planned. Madam Shen privately examined Shen Mingzhu and confirmed that Shen Mingzhu was the daughter of the Marquis's Mansion.
From then on, things got out of his control.
"You rescued me and brought me back to Beijing, allowed me to recognize my ancestors, and promised me that you would be with me forever and never abandon me." Shen Mingzhu said this with a smile on her lips: "I took it seriously and thought we would grow old together."
He had been noble since childhood and was very likely to become the heir of the Duke's Mansion. Although she was born into a noble family, she lived in the countryside and had never received a good education.
She felt very inferior and was afraid that she was not worthy of him, so she was cautious and tried to please him in front of him.
It was obvious that Zhao Jue had something to ask of the Marquis' Mansion, but she could never muster up the courage in front of him.
What did she get in the end?
"You broke your promise, abandoned me, and gave up the child." At this point, Shen Mingzhu's tone suddenly changed, and her emotions became agitated: "I have nothing left. Even this place to stay was given to me by Shen Qingtan."
All her pride and dignity in front of Shen Qingtan were crushed.
Shen Mingzhu couldn't imagine that she was living in pain and darkness, while Zhao Jue married another woman, holding a high position and a generous salary, and was doing well.
That would be worse than killing her.
Zhao Jue realized that something was wrong, stood up suddenly, and walked quickly towards the door.
The door was shut and locked from the outside.
Zhao Jue's face changed drastically. He kicked the door panel fiercely and pounded on it hard, but the door panel did not move at all. There was only the muffled sound of the copper lock hitting the door panel.
Veins bulged on his forehead and his eyes were filled with anger. He came to the table with rage and grabbed Shen Mingzhu's neck.
Zhao Jue said angrily, "Bitch, what on earth are you going to do?"
He was so strong that he wanted to strangle Shen Mingzhu to death.
Shen Mingzhu couldn't breathe and struggled painfully. She grabbed his hand that was strangling her neck and loosened it a little.
"Third Master, you said you would grow old with me and never leave me." Shen Mingzhu said this with difficulty, and with a push of her hand, she pushed the oil lamp on the table to the ground: "I just want you to keep your promise."
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