Chapter 109 Are you born to like men?
Coincidentally, today is the birthday of one of the He sisters. Because they helped the manager of the Jiaofang Bureau a few days ago, they got a chance to have a small gathering.
Everyone was celebrating the sister's birthday and talking about the past when the He family was still in existence. Looking at the current situation, it really seems like a lifetime ago.
Ever since the He family fell from power and they fell into disgrace, they have seldom smiled sincerely. Over the years, they only smiled quietly when several noble families met with misfortunes one after another.
It is the same today. The Chen family was destroyed by the Cui family, which is very similar to the He family back then.
The Li family, the Chen family...the murderers who persecuted the He family back then have all received their retribution. How can they not be happy?
But even at this moment, they did not dare to celebrate openly and wildly. From the beginning of the party, they did not mention a word about the Chen family. The whole time they talked about the past and the present, themselves and the future.
Some people laugh and then cry, some people laugh and then get drunk.
This was supposed to be a gathering of the He sisters, but there was a person from another family present, and that was Ning Yue.
Ning Yue came specifically to give a birthday present to the girl from the He family. After hearing the news about the Chen family's disaster, she thought the girls from the He family might have something to discuss, so she wanted to find an excuse to leave. Unexpectedly, He Yan asked her to stay.
Ning Yue just sat in the corner, eating her food in small bites, occasionally staring blankly, trying her best to reduce her presence.
Fortunately, although the girls from the He family were happy, they knew their limits and did not say anything they shouldn't, so as to avoid embarrassing her if she heard it.
Seeing that it was getting late, Ning Yue was about to get up and say goodbye, but He Yan, who was originally chatting with her sisters, suddenly stumbled over to sit next to her with a glass of wine in her hand and put her arm around her shoulders.
The woman's body was soft, and along with the aroma of wine came the light scent of makeup.
"Xiaoyue, I'm so happy today..." He Yan rubbed Ningyue's face and grinned foolishly.
Ning Yue supported her and said softly, "I know."
It is natural to feel happy when revenge is achieved.
He Yan asked again: "Xiao Yue, are you happy for me too?"
Ning Yue said: "Of course, we are friends."
"Friends..." He Yan repeated, whispering softly, "Come to think of it, we have known each other for several years. Time flies."
Ning Yue recalled the interactions with the He sisters over the years, and her eyes softened involuntarily. However, when she thought of the purpose of her approaching them, the smile on her lips froze immediately.
If the truth comes out one day, I wonder how they will view themselves as liars?
"Why aren't you talking?" He Yan tilted her head to look at her, and Ning Yue quickly restrained her expression.
He Yan frowned, "Do you think I talk too much?"
Ning Yue shook her head and made up an excuse: "No, it's getting late, I should go back."
He Yan turned her head and glanced out the window, then nodded blankly. With a flushed face, she smiled and said, "It's time to go back, or you won't be able to go back during curfew. Come on, I'll take you out."
As she spoke, He Yan tilted her head back and drank the wine in the glass clean. Then she put the glass on the table beside her, picked up Ning Yue and walked towards the door.
The other girls from the He family politely asked Ning Yue to sit for a while, and some even jokingly tried to pull her over, but were blocked by He Yan.
When they reached the door, the two of them turned their backs to the other girls. Ning Yue was just about to tell He Yan that she didn't need to see them off and should go back to accompany her sisters.
Unexpectedly, He Yan suddenly grabbed her waist, pulled her into her arms, and kissed her lips in her surprised gaze.
Ning Yue was so frightened that she stood there in a daze, until she met He Yan's eyes, which did not show any sign of drunkenness at all. Then she suddenly woke up, pushed He Yan away, and took a few steps back.
He Yan did not make excuses saying that she was drunk or joking, but directly asked: "Xiao Yue, do you understand my feelings?"
Ning Yue's mind was in a mess. She didn't give He Yan any response. She turned around, opened the door and trotted out.
He Yan did not stop her from leaving. She only heard Ning Yue's maid shout, "Miss, why are you walking so fast?" Then the footsteps of the two people gradually became lighter and lighter and disappeared.
After standing there for a while, He Yan closed the door and walked back.
Her younger sister, He Yi'er, the girl Ning Yue had saved that year, came to He Yan's side, looked at her expression, and whispered, "Sister, you've kept it a secret for so many years, why can't you hold it back today?"
He Yi'er saw what He Yan did to Ning Yue just now.
He Yan said calmly: "It's nothing, I just don't want to endure it any longer."
As early as when she was still a daughter of the He family, He Yan realized that she was different from most women. She did not love young men and only fell in love with women who were the same as herself.
So when the He family fell from power and the young women in the He family were sent to the Jiaofangsi, she had no choice but to force herself to accept men. Her different sexual orientation made her suffer even more.
Originally, she was the only one who knew that she liked women, and her family had not noticed it for so many years until she met Ning Yue, a woman who brought a ray of light into her dark world.
She fell in love with Ningyue not long after she met her, and the love in her eyes cannot be hidden. Soon her sister He Yi'er discovered that something was wrong with her.
He Yi'er was shocked that her sister actually liked a girl, but when she thought about their current situation, it seemed that there was no need to worry too much about anything other than life and death.
He Yan has been secretly in love with Ning Yue for many years, but because their identities are so different, and she knows that Ning Yue is different from her and loves a man, she has always pretended to only treat Ning Yue as a friend, so that she can continue to be close to her smoothly.
Perhaps it was because she was drunk today, or perhaps He Yan had long been unable to control her love for Ning Yue, but without any preparation, she openly confessed her love to Ning Yue.
He Yi'er said anxiously, "You are too reckless. What if Sister Ningyue gets scared by you and never comes to see you again? What will you do then?"
He Yan shook her head and said firmly, "She won't give up on me. She will definitely come again."
Because He Yan knew that Ning Yue approached her in order to obtain evidence of the crimes of Cui Chen and other noble families, and she has not succeeded yet. Even if she struggles in her heart, she will still come back in the end.
Over the years, the Cui and Chen families have used all kinds of threats and inducements to test whether the head of the He family has left any evidence for them, but none of the girls in the He family were fooled.
The reason why Ning Yue became their friend was that He Yan took the initiative to let her into her circle. Otherwise, after repaying her life-saving grace, she would no longer have any contact with Ning Yue.
As the top girl in Qingqiu Pavilion, people from both aristocratic families and royal family have had ties with Ning Yue. He Yan can't tell who she belongs to, but this does not prevent her from keeping Ning Yue by her side.
The longer they spend together, the more He Yan understands Ning Yue.
She knew that Ning Yue was a kind person, and she felt guilty more than once for approaching them with a purpose.
But strictly speaking, He Yan felt that she was much worse than Ning Yue. In order to keep her beloved by her side, she not only pretended to be innocent, but also used the evidence of the family's crimes as bait to tug at Ning Yue like fishing. For such a long time, she didn't even let her smell it.
He Yan did not feel guiltless, but selfish thoughts made her indulge herself again and again, just to keep the only ray of light in her second half of life.
…
The Cui family and Zong Zhengxiao simultaneously sent people to look for Master Chen, but there was no news after a long time.
Rong Yin was feeling a little depressed, so she brought her classmate Xiao Ai and the little beans to Qingqiu Pavilion to play. The dogs were taken away by the maids, so Rong Yin stayed to chat with Ning Yue.
"Where do you think Young Master Chen will go? How come he hides so deeply that no one can find him?" Rong Yin propped his chin up and sighed, but found that Ning Yue did not respond to him. Turning around, he saw Ning Yue staring at the handkerchief in her hand in a daze.
In fact, Rong Yin noticed that Ning Yue was not feeling well when she came in just now. She didn't look well, with some dark circles under her eyes. Even with makeup on, she couldn't hide her haggardness.
Rong Yin didn't intend to ask at first, but seeing that Ning Yue's condition was not good, he was worried, so he waved his hand in front of her eyes, and after she came back to her senses, he asked carefully: "Ning Yue, have you encountered any troubles recently?"
Ning Yue clenched the handkerchief tightly and looked at Rong Yin's worried expression. She knew that if she told Rong Yin the truth, Rong Yin would definitely not let her get close to the girl from the He family again.
But although she was very panicked after returning from the Jiaofangsi, she never thought of giving up halfway.
Therefore, in response to Rong Yin's questioning, she had no choice but to lie.
She smiled and said, "I caught a cold a few days ago and didn't sleep well at night. I feel much better today. Thank you, Boss Rong, for your concern."
"Is that so?" Rong Yin believed her words, but still advised: "But if you really encounter any trouble and need my help, don't be polite to me. Although I am not talented, the person behind me is quite capable."
Ning Yue was fed dog food again. She smiled and suddenly thought of something. After rubbing her handkerchief, she asked casually, "Boss Rong, I'd like to ask you a question. Are you and your wife born to like men?"
The two were friends, and Rong Yin didn't think the question was presumptuous, so she answered honestly, "Neither of us had ever liked anyone before we met each other, so it's hard to say whether we were born to like the same sex or just happened to like men. For me, I didn't seem to have any idea about men or women before. Maybe I just liked him, and it had nothing to do with gender."
What Rong Yin said was all true, but it really had no reference value to Ning Yue. She silently wrote down Rong Yin's words and started talking to him about other things.
下午，戎音走後沒多久，寧月的丫鬟就拎了個食盒進來，對她道：“姑娘，這是賀嫣小姐托人送來的，裏面是你愛吃的棗糕，還熱乎着呢。”
丫鬟把食盒放下，将那碟棗糕端到了寧月面前。
寧月用筷子夾起一塊放進嘴裏，熟悉的棗香味迅速占領了味蕾，她嘗得出來，這是賀嫣的手藝。
放下筷子，寧月靜坐許久，然後對丫鬟道：“明日你幫我走一趟，給賀嫣姑娘送點東西過去。”
有來有回，是在向賀嫣表明心意，她們的關系不會因為上次那件事斷開。
兩月後，陳大少還是沒有被找到，戎音也由一開始的着急變為淡然。
他樂觀地道：“壞消息是我們沒找到，好消息是崔家也沒找到，而且陳大少現在肯定恨透了崔家，說不定正在背地裏給崔家制造麻煩呢，所以崔家才該是最害怕的。”
宗政逍肯定了他的說法：“我們的人也轉變了策略，只用跟着崔家就行，崔家找不到他那萬事大吉，崔家要是想對他動手，我們也能及時制止。”
“我知道。”戎音積極回答，“這叫螳螂捕蟬黃雀在後！”
宗政逍輕笑：“說的不錯。”
戎音邊吃果子邊笑道：“崔家現在估計慌死了，本以為能斬草除根，結果卻促成了陳家的報複，崔老頭怕是都要被氣吐血了。”
宗政逍挑眉，跟着幸災樂禍，“确實有這個可能。”
“廢物！！！”
随着一聲怒吼，幾本書啪啪砸在了書桌前管事的腦袋上，管事敢怒不敢言，只能瑟縮着低下了頭。
“給了你那麽大的權限，你恨不得把所有護衛都派出去，但幾個月過去了，別說抓到姓陳的，你連他的行蹤都沒發現，你說我要你何用？”
崔家主氣得面紅耳赤，胸口劇烈地起伏着，眼神更是兇得像要殺人。
管事低聲認錯：“是小人沒用，還請家主責罰。”
崔家主還在氣頭上，說話也十分之難聽，“要是罰你就能找到姓陳的，我早就把你給打死了，還輪得着你在這裏跟我廢話。”
管事是半句不敢為自己辯解的，除了認錯，他什麽都做不了。
看他那副樣子，崔家主也生氣，扶了扶額，說：“算了，繼續派人去找，是死是活都要把人帶到我面前，絕不能不能讓他落入皇室之手。”
管事應了聲是，轉身準備離開，卻在走到門口時被崔家主重新叫住。
“對了，你讓下人去叫老三來書房見我，我有話要跟他說。”
“好的老爺。”
管事一聽，心道三少爺大概率又是來挨罵的。
此時崔家的情況是，崔大少因為李家姨娘的事情，被崔家主認定為是個腦子不靈光的，不然怎麽會被一個女人騙到，所以崔家主不可能會培養他當繼承人。
崔炘死無全屍，崔二少自殺，幾個庶子也是不中用的，那就只剩下平時沒什麽存在感的崔三少了。
三少爺這人無論哪方面都是中規中矩，之前他知道自己沒機會，所以從不參與繼承人之位的競争，只想當個纨绔少爺。
因此，他才沒有得罪過崔二少，直至飲毒酒自盡，崔二少都沒有動過他。
除了因為他确實無辜外，崔二少不殺他，也是因為他清楚三少爺再培養也不可能成為一個合格的家族繼承人。
比起殺死他，把他留下膈應崔家主，才更符合崔二少報複崔家的想法。
而他的這個計謀也确實很成功，因為三少爺既沒有崔二少狠辣，也沒有崔炘聰慧，如果跟普通人比，他還算可以，但在衆多優秀的兄弟面前，他跟個榆木腦袋也沒什麽區別了。
基本每次他來見崔家主，都會被罵得狗血淋頭，沒有一次意外。
導致他現在非常害怕見到崔家主，連聽見他的名字，都會被吓得直發抖。
其實管事這些下人又何嘗不是如此，或許是因為遭逢大變，崔家主的脾氣是越來越火爆了，哪裏還有當初老謀深算的冷靜與智慧？
管事嘆氣，抱着對自己和三少爺的同情，派了下人去請三少爺過來。
三少爺最近在學着管理家裏的生意，這會兒正稀裏糊塗地聽賬房教導他該怎麽看賬本呢，下人就跑過來，說是家主叫他過去。
三少爺聞言，臉上露出了痛苦的神情，可父命難為，如果遲到了還會被再教訓一頓，三少爺只得硬着頭皮去了書房。
到了書房以後，崔家主讓三少爺關上門，一雙冷如寒冰的眼睛看着他，問道：“這幾日學管理生意學得怎麽樣了？”
三少爺聞着書房裏那清淡的香氣，咽了咽口水，答道：“還算可以，先生已經在教兒子看賬本了。”
崔家主蹙眉，似是很不滿意：“這麽長時間了，還在學看賬本，你要學的可不止做生意這一項，按你這速度，等到老夫死了，怕是都看不到你出師。”
三少爺心道我本來就不想學，是你逼我學的，可考慮到自己說出來可能會被打死，只得忍着脾氣，小聲說：“兒子定會更努力學習管家的。”
看着低垂着腦袋，一副衰樣的三兒子，崔家主深呼吸一口氣，怒意莫名強烈。
“男子漢大丈夫，說話怎麽跟只蚊子似的，腰背給我挺直了，回答得大聲點，你那麽怕我做什麽？我還能把你吃了不成？”
崔家主吼一句三少爺抖一下，到最後腿都吓軟了，但迫于崔家主的淫威，他還是只能勉強擡頭挺胸，白着一張臉看向崔家主，加大了音量重新回複：“兒子一定會盡力學習管家，不讓父親你失望。”
三少爺以為自己只要按照父親所說的做，至少能讓父親滿意一點點，可當他對上父親的視線時，看見的依舊是失望與憤怒。
崔家主嘆氣：“果然不行就是不行……”
聽見他這句話，三少爺心裏一陣刺痛，默默咬緊了牙關。
崔家主一瞬間像是累極了，他揮揮手，讓三少爺先出去，自己則坐回椅子上，擡頭看着頭頂的橫梁，眼裏布滿血絲。
崔家主不得不承認，崔二少不愧是他最先看中的繼承人，脾氣和做事風格都像極了他。
留下一個老三，既讓他有了一點希望，又要讓他慢慢絕望，這就叫做殺人誅心。
直到死了以後，崔二少還在算計這個家，還在算計他，并且還成功了。
想自己自從當上崔家家主以後，專制橫行幾十年，用過的陰謀詭計也不計其數，沒成想如今卻連自己死去的兒子都鬥不過。
老二呀老二，你還真是恨崔家入骨啊。
可你已經死了，即便謀劃得再周全，還能像我一個活人一樣知變通？
你能贏一時，但能贏一輩子嗎？
崔家主的眼神從苦澀逐漸轉為狠厲，他用力攥緊拳頭，像是要把什麽東西狠狠掐死在手心裏。
他在心裏道：你放心，帶壞你的家夥們，我一個都不會放過。
崔家主在書房待到半夜才離開，他走後，負責管理香爐的婢女進來，熟練地将香灰一點不剩地倒進桶裏，還用刷子刷了幾回，清理得幹幹淨淨。
沒過幾日，暗衛來向宗政逍報告了幾則消息。
李楚的母親兩日前出門參加權貴夫人們辦的賞菊宴，不知為何跌倒，摔斷了腿，治療途中引發了舊疾，現下躺在床上起不來了。
李家的運往各地售賣的布匹多次遭劫匪搶劫，造成了很大的損失。
住着李家主的那個偏院不小心着了火，要不是下人及時發現，最近天氣幹燥，火勢一大，定然會波及整個李府。
還有李家的店鋪這些日子經常會有人去找茬，一鬧就是一整天，害得生意都做不成。
聽完暗衛的話，宗政逍若有所思，他問暗衛：“崔家沒有人過去幫忙嗎？”
暗衛道：“有，但更像是去攪混水的，遠遠不如最初那麽盡心了。”
晚上，宗政逍跟戎音說了這件事，戎音想了想，問道：“這種情況是不是從崔二少死以後才開始的？”
宗政逍道：“對。”
戎音擡頭，跟宗政逍對視，他道：“其實陛下已經猜出來了吧，崔家主發現了，當初是李楚慫恿崔二少報複崔家的。”
宗政逍道：“崔老二死後，崔家主肯定會将他查個底朝天，李楚和崔老二的關系被發現并不奇怪，恐怕就連我們和李楚的合作，也瞞不了多久了。”
戎音默了默，又繼續問：“那陛下你會去幫李家嗎？畢竟你當初答應過李楚會幫他照拂李家的。”
“當然會。”宗政逍笑得意味深長，“一諾千金，更何況朕還是皇帝，自然得履行承諾。”
戎音摸着下巴，揶揄道：“陛下，你知不知道，你現在笑得一臉壞相啊？你是不是又要捉弄人了？”
宗政逍抱着戎音，撒嬌：“阿音污蔑我，我明明一身正氣，哪裏會捉弄人？”
戎音假笑：“呵呵，陛下說這種話，怕是連你自己都不信吧。”
Zong Zhengxiao was indeed a man who kept his promises. The next day, he sent a royal doctor to treat Madam Li, and also sent several guards with high martial arts skills to protect the head of the Li family and Madam Li. Several thugs who often went to the Li family's store to cause trouble were also arrested by the government on the pretext of something.
Even for the escorts who delivered the goods, Zong Zhengxiao found a new group of more reliable ones for the Li family.
He simply took the saying "helping others to the end and helping them to the end" to the extreme, leaving no room for criticism.
His actions were half-hidden and not aboveboard, but if someone wanted to investigate, they could easily find out that he was the one who did it.
After Mrs. Li felt a little better, she learned about everything Zong Zhengxiao had done for her Li family. She pondered for a long time alone, and finally wrote a letter of thanks and asked the imperial physician to pass it to Zong Zhengxiao.
Zong Zhengxiao looked at the words in Madam Li's letter that were explicitly and implicitly pleading for Li Chu and the Li family, and thought that this woman was worthy of being the one who raised a son as smart as Li Chu, and she actually understood his intentions so quickly.