Chapter 062
Zheng Jiaqu waited for Shen Rong and her servant to leave before he let go of Shen Hao's hand. He clenched his teeth and his expression was distorted, looking ferocious and terrifying. Shen Hao was startled and took a few steps back, which alarmed Zheng Jiaqu. Zheng Jiaqu looked down at Shen Hao and said in a deep voice, "Are these all true?"
Shen Hao shook his head vigorously and said, "I don't know..."
Zheng Jiaqu held Shen Hao's shoulders tightly with both hands. Although he was a scholar, he never gave up the six arts of a gentleman. Such strength made Shen Hao cry out in pain. Zheng Jiaqu then relaxed his grip, looked down at Shen Hao and said, "Then what do you know?"
Shen Hao thought of what Shen Rong said, his heart tightened and he said, "I know that mother and fourth sister were locked up because of second sister." Shen Rong asked Shen Hao to tell the truth, and if Zheng Jiaqu asked, he should tell him what he knew.
Zheng Jiaqu was not concerned about this, and continued to ask, "What about your second sister's marriage?"
Shen Hao shook his head vigorously, "I don't know... I fell asleep first that day. Father seemed to come to talk to mother about letting my second sister marry far away. Then mother and sister started crying. Mother also asked me to hug father and cry. I cried too. Finally, I was taken away to rest because I was tired of crying."
This was a bit confusing, but when Zheng Jiaqu thought about what Shen Rong said, there was nothing he could not understand. He just felt physically and mentally exhausted. They were not destined to be together... They were forcibly separated by someone... If it weren't for the selfishness of some people, such a pure, kind and delicate girl would not have to suffer in such a dangerous place.
Thinking about Shen Zi's intentions and plans after meeting the Earl of Yongning, Zheng Jiaqu felt like he was half cuckolded. "No wonder..." He was filled with hatred. It was because of the selfishness of that vicious woman that he was harmed...
When Shen Hao saw Zheng Jiaqu's look, he became even more frightened, but he didn't dare to say anything.
In Yilan Garden, Shen Zi had been standing at the door for a long time but did not dare to go in. When Shen Rong came over with her maid, she looked at Shen Zi's back and the smile on her face became a little more mocking, but it disappeared in an instant. She called out in a delicate voice, "Second sister, why don't you go in?"
Shen Zi was startled, and turned around to see that it was Shen Rong. He frowned and said, "Why are you standing behind someone quietly?"
Shen Rong just smiled and said, "It's my fault."
Seeing Shen Rong like this, Shen Zi felt a little guilty. She realized that she had just lost her temper. However, before she got married, she was used to being the most domineering among the sisters, so she just said, "Sister, come in with me."
"Okay." Shen Rong lowered her eyes slightly and walked into the yard first.
The gate of Yilan Garden was closed. The maid went forward and knocked on the door. After a while, a servant girl opened the door from the inside. When she saw Shen Zi and Shen Rong, she bowed and made way for them without saying much. Shen Rong took a look and stuffed a small purse into the gatekeeper's hand, then took Shen Zi inside.
There were other maids leading the way. Although the courtyard was remote, it was very clean. There were many flowers planted in the courtyard and the environment was quiet. It was completely different from what Shen Zi had imagined. Princess Rui hated them so much that she would definitely take this opportunity to take revenge. Who would have thought that as they walked along, they saw that although there were few people, the rules were followed, the tea in the house was warm, and the cakes and fruits were also in place.
"Where is my mother?" Shen Zi originally thought that if she was neglected in the slightest, she could go to her father and make a scene, but now it seems that she doesn't know whether it is better to feel relieved or disappointed.
The old woman didn't say anything, and led them to see Concubine Xu and Shen Jing. When they reached the door, she said, "Please be careful, Second Princess and Fifth Miss."
"That's my mother, there's nothing to be careful about." Shen Zi frowned and took a few steps forward and pushed open the door of the house. He saw four servants standing in the corner.
When Shen Zi entered, he saw a gray-haired, thin woman in a satin dress. She was sitting in the middle of the room holding a piece of red satin in her hand. She was poking at it with a needle and humming a song from time to time. She didn't even raise her head when someone came in.
"Who is this?" Shen Zi's voice was sharp and full of disbelief.
Shen Rong stood at the door and said, "Mother has calmed down a lot. Mother specially invited the imperial physician to see her. The imperial physician is indeed very skilled."
Shen Zi suddenly turned his head to look at Shen Rong, his eyes full of fear, but Shen Rong smiled, "It's best not to disturb mother."
"What do you mean?" Shen Zi asked.
Shen Rong stopped talking and asked, "Second sister, do you want to go see fourth sister?"
Shen Zi bit her lower lip and looked at Concubine Xu again. She couldn't believe that this old and crazy-looking woman was actually her beautiful and charming mother. She retreated in a panic and ran out of the yard without looking back.
Shen Rong seemed to have expected it. She stepped aside to let Shen Zi go, stood at the door and looked at her mother in the room for a long time. She put a few purses in the hands of the servants at the door before leaving. Seeing that Shen Zi was not waiting for her at the door, she did not find it strange, and did not even have the intention to look for her. Instead, she went to the main courtyard to accompany Princess Rui.
Because Zheng Jiaqu and Shen Zi had to go back to the Zheng Mansion, the dinner was served much earlier. Not only did Shen Jin not come, but Shen Qi also asked her maid to greet Princess Rui and did not come to eat together. When the King of Rui asked about it, Princess Rui explained softly, "The two of them are pregnant and can't stand the smell of alcohol. They didn't tell me at noon, and they simply didn't let them come at night."
King Rui frowned and said, "These two children are already mothers, how can they still be so ignorant of the seriousness of the matter?"
Princess Rui glared at Prince Rui and said gently, "Isn't it because you want to see Your Majesty happy? Don't the two children want to disturb your mood?"
Upon hearing this, Prince Rui felt that Shen Qi and Shen Jin were more considerate and said, "No wonder I saw that they didn't have anything for lunch, so I told the steward to prepare food for their small kitchen first."
Princess Rui agreed.
The Prince of Yongle, who was sitting nearby, heard his father-in-law's sigh and his eyes twitched. He sat next to his wife at noon and naturally saw how much they ate. He didn't know how his father-in-law could say such a thing.
Because Shen Zi was preoccupied with something, she didn't notice all these things until she sat at the table and realized that Shen Jin and Shen Qi had not arrived. She wanted to ask something but when she saw the look Princess Rui gave her, she didn't dare to ask. She lowered her head and ate absent-mindedly, not even noticing that her husband was in a bad mood, or her brother Shen Hao's evasive look.
After finishing their meal, Zheng Jiaqu and Shen Zi left first.
Prince Rui was in a good mood, so he took his three sons and a son-in-law to the study to continue talking. Shen Rong said, "Mother, I'm going back to my room first."
Princess Rui looked at Shen Rong calmly. Shen Rong was so frightened that she broke out in a cold sweat. Then she said, "Yes."
Shen Rong left quickly, and Princess Rui frowned and said, "Cui Xi, go check it out."
"Yes." Cui Xi responded respectfully.
In Moyun Courtyard, Shen Jin was soaking her feet. She moved her white and tender feet in the water. She listened to Concubine Chen and Aunt Zhao talking. She yawned and said, "It's just diapers. What's there to discuss? You can't embroider every piece of it, right?"
As soon as these words came out, Concubine Chen glared at Shen Jin and said, "Children's skin is delicate, what if you scratch the child?"
Shen Jin felt the water was a little cold, so he stretched out his feet. An Ping squatted beside him to help Shen Jin dry them. Shen Jin went straight to the bed and said, "What is there to discuss?"
This time, not only Concubine Chen, but even Aunt Zhao looked at Shen Jin and said, "They are all pigeon meat, why does Madam prefer honey-roasted pigeon instead of steamed pigeon?"
Shen Jin was stunned for a moment, and suddenly felt that what Zhao Ma said made sense. After thinking for a while, he said, "Then you guys continue to discuss. I'm going to sleep."
"You are such a heartless little thing." Concubine Chen said with a smile, but she still put down the fine cotton cloth in her hand, stood up and walked to the bedside, tucked the quilt in for Shen Jin and said, "Go to sleep quickly."
Shen Jin pursed his lips, smiled, and blinked.
Concubine Chen laughed out loud, then looked at An Ping who was keeping watch today and said, "Madam, if you have anything to do, just go and call for help."
"Yes." Anping responded respectfully.
Madam Zhao carefully checked the windows in the room again, and then left with Concubine Chen. Anping went to close the door and asked, "Madam, shall I turn off the lights?"
"Yes." Shen Jin was lying on the bed and suddenly asked, "Anping, what do you think my husband is doing now?"
Anping turned off the lights in the room, and the room gradually became dark. Hearing this, she said, "I don't know."
Shen Jin responded, and An Ping gently advised, "Madam, go to bed early. I think the general's letter will arrive soon."
"Yeah." Shen Jin said with his eyes closed.
When Shen Jin was missing Chu Xiuming, she didn't know that there were two people in the Zheng Mansion who were also thinking about her, but one of them was cursing her, and the other was full of melancholy.
Lord Liang of Minzhong Prefecture looked at the imperial edict in his hand, his face changing again and again. Chu Xiuming sat aside and took a sip of tea. The imperial edict was nothing else but the one issued by Emperor Cheng, allowing Chu Xiuming to act at his own convenience and execute all officials who colluded with the pirates.
If Lord Liang still had some loyalty to Emperor Cheng before, it was all gone now. On the one hand, Emperor Cheng issued a secret order for them to find a way to lure the pirates to get rid of Chu Xiuming, but on the other hand, he gave Chu Xiuming such an order. How could Lord Liang still trust Emperor Cheng? After all, the most important thing in Lord Liang's heart was himself.
Chu Xiuming took the imperial edict and put it away and said, "Does Lord Liang really believe it now?"
Although Lord Liang cooperated with Chu Xiuming, he did not trust Chu Xiuming and had other plans in mind. Chu Xiuming took out the imperial edict today, which could be said to be Emperor Cheng blocking Lord Liang's way. Chu Xiuming said, "I'm afraid that His Majesty is waiting for us to lose both. Lord Liang, are you sure that everyone around you listens to you?"
Before this imperial edict, Lord Liang could say with certainty that the people around him were all in the same group with him, after all, their interests were the same.
Chu Xiuming casually threw the imperial edict on the table and said, "Why did your majesty issue such an imperial edict? Does Lord Liang have any plans in mind?"
Lord Liang had done many things, and every one of them was a serious crime punishable by beheading if exposed. However, those around him who knew about it were all dragged aboard the ship, and those who were ignorant were also reported in a joint letter signed by him and a few others. At this time, Lord Liang really didn't know what Emperor Cheng had learned that led him to give this order to Chu Xiuming.
Chu Xiuming's eyebrows and eyes were as beautiful as a painting, and even the coldness had dissipated a lot under the light. At this moment, he was more sincere. "I have only taken out this imperial edict until now, and I only showed it to Sir Liang. I just confirmed that Sir Liang was not the person arranged by His Majesty to monitor him."
Lord Liang was startled. Could it be that Emperor Cheng had arranged a spy around him? Thinking of Emperor Cheng's suspicious nature, Lord Liang was already 80% sure at this point, and the remaining 20% was just a precaution.
Chu Xiuming continued, "I am cooperating with Lord Liang, but I don't know whether the spy has sent a message back to the capital."
Lord Liang's face changed drastically, "Why didn't Earl Yongning tell me that day?"
Chu Xiuming sneered and said sarcastically, "How do I know who the spy is? Besides, if I don't agree to cooperate, and you and I exchange leverage, I'm afraid Lord Liang would have taken action long ago. This is Lord Liang's territory, and he has been operating it for a long time. It's not that he would resort to real violence, but..." As he spoke, he glanced at the tea and snacks on the table and said no more.
Lord Liang did not get angry when he heard this, but he knew that what Chu Xiuming said was true. "Then what should we do according to Earl Yongning's opinion?"
"Since this is Lord Liang's territory, I will not interfere." Chu Xiuming stood up, took the imperial edict and said, "Lord Liang, please think carefully about what to do, and... His Majesty would not dare to directly order me to be killed like this." After saying that, he took the imperial edict and left.
Lord Liang sat on the chair with a sway. He knew that Chu Xiuming was telling the truth. He was confused. Who betrayed him? Could it be that someone wanted to take his position? However, it was possible to think so. After all, no one wanted to be inferior to others.
The more Lord Liang thought about it, the more cold sweat he broke out on his body. It's not that he hadn't thought about this being Chu Xiuming's scheme, but the imperial edict couldn't be faked, not to mention that he and Chu Xiuming had no conflicts of interest. He stretched out his hand and rubbed his face fiercely, "Come here, add three more layers of gifts to the Earl of Yongning."
"Yes." The person outside then came in.
"Go and call... Forget it, call Yi'er to me." Lord Liang originally wanted to ask someone to call the counselors in the mansion, but he felt that those counselors were not trustworthy. At this moment, he was like a frightened bird, so he only asked someone to call his eldest son Liang Yi. This son was the only one Lord Liang could fully trust at this time.
The place where Chu Xiuming lived in central Fujian was not an inn, but a courtyard of a wealthy businessman arranged by Lord Liang and his men. The courtyard was extremely exquisite and gorgeous, and even had many rare birds and animals raised. It was specially used to entertain distinguished guests, so it was suitable for Chu Xiuming to live here.
As soon as he arrived at the door, four women in pink dresses came to greet him. Two of them were holding glass lanterns and leading the way, while the other two walked behind Chu Xiuming. They walked in a swaying manner, and the tassels on their slender waists added to their charm. Their skirts were tight to their ankles, revealing a pair of three-inch golden lotus.
There was affection in her eyes, but she did not dare to approach Chu Xiuming easily. After all, when they first arrived, a few sisters didn't know about it and treated them as guests as usual. In the end, Chu Xiuming sent someone to send them back to the host's house. Those sisters were afraid that their lives would be difficult. At least it was quiet here, and they were serving distinguished guests, but it might not be the same after they returned to the host's house.
So these four people have become much more disciplined and never dare to act on their own, but they dress themselves up more carefully. If they could follow Earl Yongning... Thinking of Earl Yongning's appearance and figure, the woman walking behind bit her lip and felt her legs go weak.
This courtyard has a hot spring, and the bathing area is even more luxurious. There are several jade carvings of lotus flowers in the four corners of the white jade pool, and the hot spring water flows out from the lotus stamens, which is truly a work of art that is out of this world.
There were white gauze curtains hanging around the bathing pool, and when the hot steam was swirling, it was like a fairyland. After Chu Xiuming came in, a maid prepared everything. Then, seeing that Chu Xiuming had no other instructions, she closed the door and left. The last time, the maid who wanted to help Chu Xiuming bathe was directly taken away and thrown out by Chu Xiuming's guards, without any sympathy for her.
Chu Xiuming then took off his coat, entered the water wearing his pants, and leaned on the platform. He thought his wife would like this kind of place. Thinking of that delicate young lady, Chu Xiuming's eyes softened a lot. He didn't know how she was doing now. She should have rested by now, and he didn't know if the baby in her belly was making a fuss.
Suddenly, there were three gentle knocks on the window in the corner of the bathroom. If it weren't for someone with good hearing, no one would have noticed it. Chu Xiuming's eyes flashed, and that bit of warmth disappeared without a trace. He returned to his usual cold and calm self, and grabbed a fruit and threw it at the window.
As soon as the fruit fell to the ground, the window was pushed open, and a young man dressed as a servant came in and closed the window. He bent down to pick up the fruit and saw that it was intact. He wiped it and started to eat it, saying, "I didn't expect your kung fu to have improved."
Chu Xiuming took off only his shirt when bathing because this person would come. He asked, "How is the investigation going?"
"It's hard to check." The man walked to the edge of the pool and made a sound of "tsk tsk", "This is really... the people's blood and sweat."
Chu Xiuming looked at the man, and the man stopped joking and whispered what he had found out. Chu Xiuming only brought two personal guards with him, and the rest were arranged by Emperor Cheng and Lord Liang and the others. Even if they wanted to find a place to talk, it would be difficult to find one, so the two of them made an appointment at this place.
The more Chu Xiuming listened to the man, the calmer his expression became. The two had just talked halfway when they heard footsteps outside. The footsteps were weak and not from any master, and they sounded like a woman's. They looked at each other, and the man did not leave, but took a few steps back and ran towards the bathtub. Chu Xiuming's folded hands happened to be under the man's feet, and then he suddenly threw them up, and the man used the force to climb onto the beam and hide.
Chu Xiuming put his hands into the water, and the last trace disappeared without a trace.
At this time, the door was pushed open. Because of the veil, a figure could be vaguely seen walking in. Chu Xiuming pressed the edge of the bathtub with one hand, jumped out of the water, grabbed the outer coat beside him and put it on. Just as he tied his belt, he saw a woman wrapped in a cloak with her face barely exposed walked in. The woman was as beautiful as a lotus, with a bit of shyness and embarrassment on her face. She bit her lip slightly, bowed and said, "Linglong greets the Earl of Yongning."
"Get lost." Chu Xiuming said directly without even looking at the woman a second time.
Linglong's eyes turned red as she said, "Lord Yongning, I am not like those people out there..." She couldn't continue and started crying, "Please have mercy on me, Lord Yongning. I am also from a scholarly family, but my parents and brothers are all in Lord Liang's house... If not for this, how could I be so lowly as to be so lowly."
"What does this have to do with me?" Chu Xiuming asked coldly, "Come here, throw it out."
Linglong didn't expect Chu Xiuming to be so stubborn. She gritted her teeth and took off her cloak. She was wearing a green cloth bag with lotus embroidery inside, and silk pants of the same color. Her skin was white and her waist was so thin that it could not be held in one hand. With tears in her eyes, she begged, "Lord Yongning..."
Chu Xiuming didn't even look at him. His two guards came in without paying attention to the little maid outside who was blocking them. They bowed and asked, "What do you want, sir?"
"Throw it out." Chu Xiuming said in a deep voice.
"Yes." Those who could stay with Chu Xiuming were not the kind of people who were gentle with women. Besides, there was the general's wife who had shared life and death with them, so what was a woman like this to them? If the general had not ordered that the two of them could not act on their own unless he spoke up, the two men would have thrown this woman away before she even came in.
Chu Xiuming said, "Guard the door and don't allow anyone to come in."
"yes."
The maid waiting at the door looked at the woman with some sympathy in her eyes, but more like she was watching a show. They were all doing the same thing, and no one was more innocent than the other. She listened to what the woman had just said inside.
Chu Xiuming simply didn't take off his clothes and sat on the couch next to the bathtub. The man came down from the couch along the pillar and walked to Chu Xiuming before saying, "What a lucky guy."
"Nothing more than that." In Chu Xiuming's eyes, these people were not even a fraction as good as his wife.
The man smiled and said, "By the way, congratulations on getting married."
When Shen Jin was mentioned, the coldness in Chu Xiuming's eyes faded a little and he nodded, "Go on."
"Yes." The man continued without wasting time, "This is what we can find out."
Chu Xiuming said, "Let's hide first and don't alert them. They will become chaotic without us having to do anything."
"Huh?" The man looked at Chu Xiuming in confusion.
Chu Xiuming told him about the imperial edict. The man looked at Chu Xiuming in disbelief and said, "Did Emperor Cheng really issue it?"
"Of course." Chu Xiuming sneered, "I'm afraid he is still feeling proud now."
The sarcasm on the man's face became more and more obvious, and he said, "That's right, if it wasn't for that..."
Chu Xiuming glanced at the man, and the man stopped talking. Suddenly, he asked curiously, "By the way, what would your sister-in-law think if she knew about this? If she were here, what do you think she would do?"
"You're so boring." Chu Xiuming said, "She won't pay attention to that woman."
"Huh?" the man asked, "You won't pay attention? You won't pay attention even after I've taken off all my clothes?"
Chu Xiuming pointed at the window the man had come from. The man knew he couldn't get any more information out of him. "Okay, I'm leaving now. Be careful. I've already contacted those people."
"Yeah." Chu Xiuming responded.
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