Chapter 238: Getting carried away
"This is not an easy task." Xie Zhuoning raised his hand and asked Hongxiu to sit down, and Banxia immediately poured tea for the two of them.
She picked up the tea, took the lid with her bare fingers and took a sip. "Generally speaking, those who dare to open a brothel must have a strong force behind them and thugs to protect them. You are a woman with too little power to defeat them."
There is a high possibility that the money is gone and the people cannot be rescued.
Hong Xiu put away her usual nonchalant attitude, and her expression was serious for once. "No matter how difficult it is, I have to give it a try. There are many sisters like me who had to enter the world of prostitution. I don't want them to suffer the same pain I have experienced."
Seeing that she seemed to have made up her mind, Xie Zhuoning raised his almond-shaped eyes slightly, and a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, "You misunderstood me. I am not stopping you from doing this, but I want to help you."
Hongxiu raised her head and her eyes widened.
Listening to her slowly speaking, "Not to mention that it is difficult for you to rescue people, even if you go through all the trouble to rescue people and get rid of slavery, it is not easy. I can let Mr. Murong help you. He has many connections, and it will be much easier with his help."
"Besides, many families are stranded because they have no way to make a living. Even if they are rescued, they may still go back to their old ways. My Zhenyang Marquis Mansion has industries all over Kyoto, so we can provide them with a place to make a living."
Not only save people, but save them to the end.
It is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish.
Hong Xiuyuan didn't think so much. She thought that it would be enough to pull the people out of the fire, but she didn't consider what those prostitutes could do after they came out. Even if they wanted to do something, who would be willing to hire them?
"Why?" She looked puzzled. "These things are thankless, why are you willing to help me? Don't you mind our identities?"
Xie Zhuoning put down his teacup with a light smile, "Since ancient times, there have been heroic women in the dust. If you don't look down on yourself, no one will look down on you. Just because you made a mistake, can you never be a decent person again?"
My head was buzzing, as if someone was ringing a bell right next to my ear, and the lingering sound didn't stop for a long time.
Hongxiu opened her mouth but could not utter a word. She simply stood up and bowed solemnly to Xie Zhuoning.
"Thank you, Miss. I thank you on behalf of all the sisters!"
"Don't thank me," Xie Zhuoning raised his hand and interrupted her. "I just said that Mr. Murong will help you, but you still need to be the main responsible person. Are you willing to stay and do this?"
Hongxiu clenched her fists, her face flushed with excitement, "I do!"
After this matter was finalized, Hongxiu no longer talked about leaving and went off to work in a hurry.
Xie Zhuoning stretched himself and felt a little sleepy, so he wanted to take a nap.
Fuling came in briskly with a letter in her hand, "Miss, there's a letter from the Crown Prince."
…
Royal Martial Arts Arena.
Xie Zhuoning arrived as promised.
As soon as I got off the carriage, I saw people from the East Palace standing in a neat line at the door.
When he saw her, he immediately came over to greet her warmly, "Thank you, Miss, for coming in. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has been waiting for you for a long time."
The martial arts arena is extremely large. It not only has a competition arena, but also a place for practicing various weapons.
Led by the attendants of the East Palace, Xie Zhuoning came all the way to the Archery Hall.
"Sister Zhuoning, you're here?" When Xiao Bicheng saw her coming, the corners of his lips curled up into a perfect arc.
Today he was wearing a royal blue robe embroidered with gold threads, a jade crown on his head, and scented with incense. No matter how you looked at him, he looked like a peacock with its tail spread out.
It's no wonder that he was so complacent. Although the case of selling official positions and titles did not implicate Prince Yong and Duke Zheng, the death of Minister of Personnel Ren Yuanjie meant that they had lost their money, which was like cutting off their left and right arms.
Not to mention that Cui Wen's first three actions after taking office were to take action against the officials on the list.
Prince Yong lost money and people, his wife and his soldiers. I heard that he was furious in the palace these days and smashed a lot of things. When he went to court, his face was so dark that it seemed like ink was dripping out.
Xiao Bicheng had picked up the leak for nothing and had suppressed Prince Yong, so how could he not be proud?
Xie Zhuoning's gaze passed over Xiao Bicheng and fell on the man standing behind him.
Tall and thin, cold and indifferent, his facial features are deep and sharp, like a murderous knife.
He was carrying a bow and arrow on his back. He must be the archer from the secret room who shot and killed Song Jian and his wife.
According to Xiao Bicheng's original plan, he should have been allowed to stay out of the spotlight for a while.
But she didn't expect that Xiao Bicheng would show up so quickly just to ask her out.
Sure enough, when you are proud, it is easy to lose your composure.
"Your Highness." Xie Zhuoning stepped forward and saluted him.
Xiao Bicheng quickly reached out to help her, "Sister Zhuo Ning, why do we have to be so polite to each other?"
But before the hand touched him, Xie Zhuoning had already stood up quickly.
It was just for show, and she did it in a perfunctory manner.
Perhaps because he was used to her like this, Xiao Bichen found her somewhat adorable and genuine.
"Sister Zhuo Ning's clothes look really nice today."
"Oh, it's an old dress from last year. If Your Highness likes it, I'll give it to you to wear?"
The corners of his mouth twitched awkwardly, and Xiao Bicheng said, "That's not necessary."
Xie Zhuoning didn't want to make small talk with him anymore. He just wanted to start learning archery as soon as possible to verify his guess. "Can I start teaching you?"
Xiao Bicheng glanced to the side and said, "Xu Yi, teach Miss Xie a lesson. Do you understand?"
Xu Yi bowed and said, "I understand."
After saying that, he walked forward, took a light bow from the rows of bow racks behind him, and handed it to Xie Zhuoning.
"This is a crossbow. Miss Xie, you can practice with it first."
Xie Zhuoning took it with a smile, "Thank you, Master Xu."
"You're welcome, Miss Xie."
Xu Yi had a calm expression and didn't waste any words. He immediately began to teach her what posture to use, how to exert force, how to draw the bow, how to aim...
Xie Zhuoning studied very hard and would ask questions from time to time.
The two of them acted as if no one was around, and Xiao Bicheng, who was dressed up carefully today, became their background.
Xiao Bicheng clenched his fist, looking a little angry.
I originally planned to use the excuse of teaching archery to get closer to my sister Zhuoning and rebuild our relationship.
According to their teachings, how can we get close to them? How can we cultivate ourselves?
Suddenly, his eyes lit up, "Sister Zhuoning, your posture here is not right."
As he spoke, he immediately walked behind Xie Zhuoning, put his arms around her hands, and helped her adjust her posture, "It should be like this..."
Seeing this, Xu Yi wanted to say something but stopped.
It seems... Miss Xie's posture is correct, right?
But before he could say anything, Xiao Bicheng gave him a cold look.
He immediately became interested and fell silent.
"Like this, with your arms straight..." Xiao Bicheng said this, but he couldn't help but move his head closer, sniffing the elegant scent on Xie Zhuoning's body with intoxication.
Xie Zhuoning narrowed his eyes immediately, and was wondering whether he had elbowed or stepped on someone's foot when a voice suddenly rang out.
"Your Highness, how about you also give me some advice?"