After Fang Zilan returned home from the camp on the outskirts of Beijing, she took a rest for several days. Because she was injured in public, no one dared to say anything. They all expressed their condolences, and for a while, her house was filled with people and it was very lively.
During this period, she got two pieces of news from Xiao Xuan'er -
One is the sister Cong Rong mentioned who was sold into a wealthy family as a concubine and was driven crazy after the death of her master. Her identity is not simple, she is the daughter of the Huan family of the previous dynasty.
She has heard about the Huan girls. Huan is not a surname, but a unified name for this kind of women. They are nameless, but very beautiful. They are female slaves specially raised by the royal family for their pleasure, so they are named Huan girls.
After the fall of the previous dynasty, most of the Huan girls were missing, and it was reasonable to think they were being trafficked. It's just that if Cong Rong's fake parents who trafficked people had a Huan daughter, then Cong Rong...she had a very good appearance. Is it possible that she was also a Huan daughter?
However, after she proposed this idea, Mo Han and Xiao Xuan'er rejected it. This sister was brought up by Cong Rong herself. She knew she would be investigated but still set herself on fire. Such stupidity was really not the behavior of someone who could have pretended for so long and still have no flaws.
So she had no clue about Cong Rong, so she simply asked Xiao Xuan'er to put in some effort, starting with Cong Rong's fake parents who trafficked people, and make a list of all the people they had trafficked, and check them one by one.
As for the other news, it is related to the Taoist debate held by Master Lioyuan on the first day of next month. It is said that Master Ran Deng, the abbot of Jiangnan Zhongling Temple, will also come by then. This master is as famous as Master Luo Yuan’s master. They correspond to each other in the south and north, and now he is going to Beijing.
After Fang Zilan heard the news, her heart sank involuntarily.
Under the spotlight, once Master Lianyuan makes a mistake, even a small flaw will be magnified infinitely. If anything goes wrong, your reputation will be ruined.
For several days, Xiao Xuan'er saw that Fang Zilan was worried, so she revealed another piece of news to her.
"Actually, Master Ran Deng once owed my uncle a favor." Xiao Xuan'er pursed her lips, looking a little unnatural, "The flood in the south the year before last year affected Zhongling Temple, killing and injuring many monks. If my uncle hadn't arrived in time to help, , I’m afraid it will cost more monks.”
Fang Zilan listened quietly and said after a while: "So Master Ran Deng made a promise to Brother Wan?"
"That's right." Xiao Xuan'er hesitated: "Master Ran Deng once said that if my uncle has any difficulties in the future, as long as he opens his mouth to him, he will not respond. It's just..."
She paused, and while looking at Fang Zilan's expression, she said: "Arguments and debates should be open and honest, not to mention relying on favors and threatening repayment is not the behavior of a gentleman. If someone accidentally finds out, I'm afraid..."
She didn't say any more, but Fang Zilan still had a gloomy face, "I know. This is a favor from Brother Wan, and I won't abuse it."
"I..." Xiao Xuan'er's red lips opened slightly, but she still swallowed the rest of her words.
"Miss Xiao, I won't embarrass you." Fang Zilan's expression softened slightly and she said solemnly: "Anyway, thank you for telling me this."
Xiao Xuan'er breathed a sigh of relief, and before she could say a polite word, she saw Cao Hong knocking on the door and walking in.
"Old Cao, why are you here at my house instead of preparing for the wedding ceremony?" Fang Zilan frowned, "The day after tomorrow is the big day. According to custom, the bride and groom cannot see each other for the first three days."
Cao Hongqi said: "Boss, I'm not here to see Xiu Niang..."
Seeing this, Xiao Xuan'er stood up to leave. Cao Hong hurriedly said: "Miss Xiao, please stay for a while. I also want to hear your opinion."
Hearing this, Xiao Xuan'er sat back down again, but saw Cao Hong touching the back of his head and saying nothing for a long time.
"Old Cao, if you have something to say, just say it, why are you so dawdling?" Fang Zilan lost his patience. Cao Hong hesitated and said: "Wedding ceremony, why not forget it..."
Before he finished speaking, Fang Zilan said sharply: "What the hell are you talking about?"
"No, boss, listen to me..." Cao Hong explained: "There have been a lot of things going on in the capital recently, and boss, you are injured and recuperating, I was thinking about..."
"Old Cao, tell the truth." Fang Zilan interrupted him coldly. He sighed and said, "I knew this rhetoric would not be able to hide it from the boss."
"This rhetoric?" Fang Zilan thought for a moment and said, "Miss Bai asked you to say these words?"
Cao Hong nodded, "Xiu Niang said that there will be no guests except the boss at our wedding ceremony. And if it is so grand and grand, I'm afraid it will cause a lot of gossip for you and me. After all, she..." He bit his lip, unable to say the word "widow" no matter what.
"Gossips have spread a long time ago. Is it because of your wedding ceremony?" Fang Zilan said helplessly: "My injury is not serious. I can go to the camp in the suburbs of Beijing as far away as you. Your house is so close. I Is there anything I can’t do? Or are you saying you don’t want me to go?”
"Boss, that's not what I meant." Cao Hong looked at Xiao Xuan'er as if asking for help, but saw her smile and said: "General Cao, your intention to marry Miss Bai is noble, and you deserve a grand wedding. Yi. You have to live your life by yourself. As long as you feel comfortable and don't disturb others, why do you think so much?"
"What Miss Xiao said is right, you deserve a toast from me." Fang Zilan's eyes were full of approval, and Xiao Xuan'er's smile became even brighter, "Master Fang, have you forgotten that you are injured?"
"It's okay to use tea instead of wine." Fang Zilan waved her hand and poured three cups of tea. He took one himself and handed the other two to Xiao Xuan'er and Cao Hong.
"Old Cao, the wedding ceremony will be arranged, and it will be as lively as it needs to be." Fang Zilan said, patting Cao Hong on the shoulder, "It's okay if no one else comes. Anyway, for things like getting married, it's good for relatives and friends to be present, and the rest is not important. .”
"Okay." Cao Hong nodded solemnly, picked up the tea cup and drank it all in one gulp, as did Fang Zilan and Xiao Xuan'er.
On the wedding day, in addition to Fang Zilan and the people in her house, a rare guest arrived.
Fang Zilan looked at her from a distance and felt that this lady looked familiar. Xiao Xuan'er leaned into her ear and said, "This is the wife of Mr. Wang Quanrui, the Minister of Rites."
"Mrs. Wang?" Fang Zilan raised her eyebrows and took the initiative to greet her.
The Ministry of Rites is the most respectful place in the capital. Wang Quanrui, the Minister of Rites, should be the person who knows the most etiquette in the capital. His wife was present in person, which can be said to have given Cao Hong enough face. I think after today, those people who frequently gossip about Bai Xiu Niang will be able to stop. only……
Fang Zilan chatted with Mrs. Wang with a smile, while secretly thinking about why Wang Quanrui would betray her. She didn't say much about the ranking on New Year's Eve. Wang Quanrui didn't have to come to her to please her after several months just because of this matter.
But if it's not bribery, then there's something to ask for. Among the recent major events in Beijing, the only one related to the Ministry of Rites was Master Luo Yuan’s debate on Taoism. I heard that Li Shengxuan arranged for the Ministry of Etiquette to entertain the eminent monks who came to Beijing, but what does this have to do with her?
Fang Zilan was puzzled, but Mrs. Wang never mentioned anything. It wasn't until the wedding ceremony was over that Mrs. Wang suddenly remembered something and took out an invitation.
"Master Fang, look at my memory." Mrs. Wang smiled and put the invitation in Fang Zilan's hand, "There will be a flower party at our house on the second day of next month to celebrate Master Yuan's successful discussion of Taoism and debate. If you invite a famous family from the capital, Mr. Fang will give you a favor."
Fang Zilan glanced at the invitation in her hand and said to herself that she still didn't know the outcome of Master Yuan's argument. Wang Quanrui actually asked his wife to prepare a flower party to celebrate so early. What kind of medicine was he selling in this gourd? ?
"Mr. Fang?" Mrs. Wang kept a smile on her face, obviously waiting for her reply. She nodded and said, "Thank you, madam, for the invitation. I will make the appointment on time."
