Chapter 28: Are you really going to redeem him?
It was a new day, the door of the teahouse was still half open, and the sound of ping-pong could be heard from inside.
People passing by the door couldn't help but tilt their heads to look, but all they could see was a carpenter busy working with a ladder hanging on his back.
Song Baoyuan sat by the window, holding a pen and drawing curved lines on the paper.
Qiao Yue and Qiao Yin came forward together, their eyes sparkling with excitement. They asked curiously, "Miss, is Young Master Qing Ze really going to be our musician? Is he really as stunningly handsome as the legend says? Is he even more handsome than our husband?"
Song Baoyuan shook her head honestly, "I didn't see him. He was wearing a veil."
He emphasized, "Besides, they haven't confirmed their arrival; they've only said they're here to give it a try. So, you should prepare well and be sure to act reliably on the day of the event so you can keep them here."
"We are of course reliable!"
"Why don't you go and help?"
Qiao Yue stuck out her tongue and pulled Qiao Yin away.
After they left, Xu Pingsheng came forward again, "Madam Song, the carpenter is already hammering in the nails as you instructed."
Song Baoyuan nodded and beckoned him closer. "Come and take a look. I've been thinking about this all night. Since Master Qingze doesn't want others to see him, let's cover the platform. Besides the wooden screen, there are three more sides. One for paintings, one for calligraphy, leaving the front for riddles, couplets, or the first half of a poem."
"The front is changed daily. If anyone can answer the riddle or match the couplet, the tea fee will be waived. Besides that, if anyone wants to come up with a riddle or question, we can also put it up for them. What do you think?"
Xu Pingsheng thought about it carefully and felt that it was feasible.
"I didn't expect that Madam Song is such a thoughtful person."
Song Baoyuan chuckled, "Could it be that I don't look like that?"
Xu Pingsheng smiled but said nothing.
Not hearing his answer, Song Baoyuan looked up suspiciously, "Do you really think so?"
"Madam Song, do you want to hear the truth?"
Song Baoyuan put down the pen in her hand and said seriously, "You say."
Xu Pingsheng inexplicably took a half step back. "Actually, the first time I met Madam Song, I felt she was intelligent and clever. But... after your brother came over, you suddenly became indecisive and less confident when you spoke. It made me doubt my initial judgment. But today, you've changed back to your old ways."
Song Baoyuan was stunned.
"It's better to follow a shopkeeper like today, because it makes me feel more hopeful about the future."
Xu Pingsheng said this to make her laugh, but not only did she not laugh, she seemed to be stunned.
Xu Pingsheng quickly cleared his throat and changed the subject. "Speaking of which, Master Qingze hasn't agreed to be our musician yet, and Madam Song is making such a big fuss about preparations. Aren't you afraid it'll be a waste?"
Song Baoyuan came back to her senses.
"It doesn't matter. We can still realize this idea by changing the musician."
She smiled. "Besides, according to Princess Liu'an, over the years, no matter who invited Master Qingze to play the zither, he never left Yaofang. But yesterday, he actually agreed to come to our teahouse and give it a try. I'm truly flattered. Since he's given us this opportunity alone, I naturally have to treat it with sincerity."
Xu Pingsheng nodded.
"But then again, you were there last night. Why do you think he agreed to it?"
"Perhaps because..." Xu Pingsheng paused, as if thinking, "He also feels that with a manager like you, life will be more promising."
Song Baoyuan was stunned and suddenly smiled.
"Xu Xiucai is the most pleasant-speaking scholar I have ever met."
Xu Pingsheng opened his eyes slightly, as if expecting something.
"So, will this give me a raise?"
"Won't."
Xu Pingsheng immediately stopped smiling.
Song Baoyuan's smile widened. "But if things go well and everyone works hard to keep Master Qingze, there will definitely be a reward."
"Okay!" Xu Pingsheng said loudly, "I'll go and urge everyone!"
He turned around and looked around, as if he was actively looking for work to increase his salary, which made Song Baoyuan laugh again.
At the same time, Cen Zhou passed by with tea in his hand, probably delivering it to the carpenter.
When he turned back, Song Baoyuan hurriedly called him back.
"Cen Zhou." Song Baoyuan reached into her sleeve and took out a small jar. "Take this."
Cen Zhou took it in a daze.
"Looking at your hands yesterday, it's no exaggeration to say you're an old man. You're still young, so you should take care of them."
Song Baoyuan carefully reminded: "This is for hand washing. Use it on your hands before going to bed at night. It should be effective in half a month."
The fresh scent of ointment flowed out from the gap of the small jar. Cen Zhou lowered his head and groped the jar with his fingertips.
He didn't know what he was thinking, and it took a long time for two stiff words "thank you" to come out of his mouth.
"You're welcome. Go get busy."
"good."
A pair of short legs stepped through the doorway. Xu Pingsheng was the first to see them and asked, "Little boy, what are you doing here?"
"I'm looking for my mother."
Song Baoyuan was surprised when she heard the voice and immediately looked up, "Chengcheng?"
"mother!"
Jiang Chengyou's eyes lit up, he rushed over, and couldn't wait to throw himself into his mother's arms.
Song Baoyuan hugged him tightly, touched his head, then touched his face, and examined him from top to bottom.
"Why does Chengcheng seem to have lost weight?"
"No way!" Jiang Chengyou retorted loudly, "I eat my fill every day!"
The love in her eyes was about to overflow, and Song Baoyuan hugged him tighter. "Why are you here? Are you alone?"
As soon as she asked, Liu'an walked into the teahouse with a shy smile.
"I'm going to Uncle Zheng's house to attend private school."
"Private school?"
Song Baoyuan looked at Liu'an in surprise.
Liu'an immediately explained, "Young Master is talking about Mr. Zheng from the Dali Temple. His family has opened a private school, and from today on, Young Master will go there to study. On the way from the mansion to Mr. Zheng's house, you will pass by here. Young Master missed you, so he stopped the carriage and came here."
Song Baoyuan was puzzled. "Was it my brother's decision to send him to a private school?"
"My dear, there are children of the same age as the young master in the private school who can be playmates."
Song Baoyuan lowered her eyes and stroked her son's face again, unable to hide her heartache. "You came to see your mother, does your father know?"
Jiang Chengyou nodded, "Dad knows, and he also asked me to give you something."
As he said this, he turned and ran towards Lu'an and asked for an envelope.
Song Baoyuan took it, opened it, and looked at the contents with a gloomy expression.
"Mom, when can you finish your work and come home? Your sister misses you too." Jiang Chengyou pulled the corner of her clothes and asked coquettishly.
Song Baoyuan quickly put on a gentle expression and hesitated for a moment before answering, "Today, when Chengcheng comes back from class, mother will go home with you."
"good!"
*
In the evening, the doorman of the Jiang Mansion saw the visitor and sighed.
"Miss Sheng, I've already told you that our husband doesn't see guests."
Sheng Qiyin, dressed as a man, was very angry, "You didn't even pass on the message!"
"No need to pass it on. The young master has already given instructions that he will not see anyone who comes."
"Go tell him I'm here and I've brought him some cakes and medicine. He'll definitely come see me!"
The doorman was very confident, "Since the master has ordered it, let alone you, even if the emperor comes, we will not entertain him!"
"You..." Sheng Qiyin's face turned grim. "You are so inflexible! When I see my second brother later, I will definitely ask him to sell you out!"
Unexpectedly, the concierge was not only not scared, but even more assertive. "Goodbye, Miss Sheng!"
Sheng Qiyin stamped her feet in anger, but had no choice but to turn around and leave, only to see another carriage parked next to the one that brought her here.
Song Baoyuan, who had not been seen for a long time, came down, holding her son's hand.
Sheng Qinyin walked over quickly, and stopped immediately when she noticed him.
"Why is Miss Sheng here?"
Song Baoyuan didn't expect to meet her, and her mood became even more depressed.
"I heard from my third brother that you and second brother have divorced."
Song Baoyuan's pupils trembled, and she glanced at her son out of the corner of her eye, not daring to say anything more.
Sheng Qiyin snorted softly, "Since we're already divorced, I don't need to explain to you why I came to my second brother's house."
After she finished speaking, she turned and walked towards the carriage next to her.
As if he had let out a sigh, his steps became lighter.
"Mom." Jiang Chengyou raised his little face, "What is a divorce?"
Song Baoyuan suddenly became nervous. "Divorce means... separation. Mom and Dad are both busy with their own things and can't see each other all the time."
Jiang Chengyou seemed to understand but not quite.
"Let's go home first." Song Baoyuan hurriedly diverted his attention.
Seeing her coming back from afar, the doorman hurried out to greet her.
Sheng Qinyin lifted the car curtain and saw that the doorman had become so flattering, and her mood, which had just improved, became worse again.
In the courtyard, Jiang Suisui sat on the stone table, facing his father who was sitting on a stone bench.
She held the ointment in her hand, carefully picked it off with her fingers, and then applied it to the corners of her father's eyes.
The servant suddenly came to report, "Madam and the young master are back!"
Jiang Keyu opened her eyes, "Madam is back?"
"yes."
"Mom is finally back!" Jiang Suisui shook her legs excitedly.
Jiang Keyu picked up the mirror on the table, looked at herself with purple corners of eyes and mouth, and felt annoyed.
"Um, Sui Sui." He stood up, "Daddy has something to do and needs to go back to the study. Don't tell Mom about Daddy's fall later, okay?"
Jiang Suisui blinked her big eyes in confusion, "Why?"
"Tomorrow Daddy will take you to buy candied haws."
"good!"
Jiang Keyu picked up her daughter from the table and hurried to the study.
When Song Baoyuan came, she saw only Jiang Suisui in the yard.
"Mom, you're back!"
Jiang Suisui stretched his legs and ran towards his mother quickly.
Song Baoyuan picked up her daughter, weighed her, and kissed her cute face. "Why are you here alone? Where's Daddy?"
"Daddy was busy, so he let me play alone."
Song Baoyuan's heart sank.
He sent his son to a private school and his daughter was either left with someone else or left alone. He said he was busy, but he could still meet Miss Sheng.
Is it... a bit too much?
In the study, Jiang Keyu was facing the mirror and applying medicine to herself.
When I heard the knock on the door, I was stunned at first.
"who?"
"Brother, it's me."
Jiang Keyu's eyelids twitched. She thought that the two children would cling to her and be unable to get away since they hadn't seen her for so long. She didn't expect that they would come looking for her.
"Come in."
After Jiang Keyu finished speaking, she hurriedly hid the ointment among the books piled on the table, then turned to face the bookcase, looking for something.
Song Baoyuan pushed the door open and saw only his back.
"Ahem." Jiang Keyu picked up a book and flipped through it. "Why did you come back so suddenly without telling me in advance?"
Song Baoyuan waited for a long time, but he didn't face her.
"Got it. Next time, I will definitely ask for my brother's consent in advance."
"That's not what I meant." Jiang Keyu didn't understand why she understood it that way. "This is your home. You can come back whenever you want. You don't need anyone's permission. I just think it's a bit sudden. After all, it's almost dark today."
Song Baoyuan stared at his hands as he slowly turned the pages of the book.
When Miss Sheng came, he certainly wouldn't treat her so perfunctorily.
"Are you busy?"
Jiang Keyu responded calmly, "Well, I've taken on two more cases recently."
Song Baoyuan was silent.
Jiang Keyu couldn't see her expression or hear her voice, and felt unsure.
"What do you want to see me about?"
Yes, Song Baoyuan thought to herself.
I wanted to ask him why he arranged Chengcheng to go to a private school so far away from home.
I wanted to ask him why he had the heart to throw away such a small ear of corn.
I want to ask him why, if he is so busy, he has time to see other women but not care about his own children.
But faced with such an indifferent back and perfunctory attitude, I couldn't ask anything.
In other words, there is no need to ask, the answer is already obvious.
Song Baoyuan felt extremely aggrieved and her eyes were sore.
After a while, she pulled out the envelope that Chengcheng gave her today from her sleeve and asked, "Why did my brother ask Chengcheng to give this to me?"
"Did you see it?"
Song Baoyuan took a step forward and placed the envelope on the desk. "I read it, but I don't understand what you mean, brother."
What was written in the letter was the details of Master Qingze.
This man was sold to a wealthy businessman's wife by his biological parents when he was ten years old. He was molested by the wife until he was fifteen. The businessman discovered their affair and sold him to a brothel.
At the age of seventeen, he was redeemed by Princess Zhangyang, who was known for her debauchery, and became her lover.
Two years later, the eldest princess died suddenly and was forcibly abducted and taken away from the capital by Prince Ruyang who came to Beijing to celebrate his birthday.
Five years later, after changing hands countless times, he returned to the capital and became Master Qingze of Yaofang.
She is 27 years old this year, and there are still many dignitaries who want to take her for themselves.
But he is no longer afraid of death.
Song Baoyuan now knew why his eyes were empty.
"No matter why you're involved with him, he's too complicated a person for you to be involved with."
Song Baoyuan lowered her head.
wry smile.
Maybe the feng shui of this house is not suitable for her, so every time she stands here, she wants to cry.
Song Baoyuan spoke after a long time, "Since my brother is so busy, I won't disturb you."
Instead of waiting for her promise, Jiang Keyu heard her footsteps leaving. She crumpled the paper in her hand and asked, "Are you really going to redeem him?"
Song Baoyuan's steps suddenly stopped, her eyes flickered, and her nails dug into her palms.
She said, "Yes."
Jiang Keyu looked back in disbelief, but she was no longer there.
"Bang!"
He slammed the book in his hand on the table.
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