Du Shiniang looked at the body deed handed to her and asked blankly: "What do you mean?"
Cao Bin shook his head and said, "I don't want to force others to do things I don't like, so what's the difference between me and Li Jia?"
Du Shiniang looked at the contract in Cao Bin's hand, struggling in her eyes, and after a long while she said:
"Li Jia sold me for a few thousand taels of silver. You know I have a treasure chest. You..."
As she said that, she took out a small box from her arms, opened it and said, "Are you really willing to give it up?"
I saw that the treasure box was dazzling with light, and just the surface layer of treasures was worth tens of thousands of gold.
There are three things that are most difficult to get rid of in life: money, power, and beauty.
Money should come first, and few people in this world can withstand the temptation of money.
Especially endless money.
Du Shiniang stared at Cao Bin's expression closely, as if she wanted to see clearly what he was thinking.
Cao Bin laughed and said a little speechlessly:
"You underestimate me too much. It's just some extravagance. When I invited all the girls from Bianjing, I spent no less than one hundred thousand taels!"
As he said that, he tore up Du Shiniang's prostitution contract to pieces, threw it into her treasure chest, and said:
"You have no worries this time! You are free!"
Du Shiniang stared blankly at the thousands of confetti and didn't react for a long time.
I don't know how long it took before her eyes filled with tears and she said, "I misjudged you. Everyone misjudged you."
With that said, she ran into Cao Bin's arms and said, "You have bought me, and I am yours, even if there is no physical contract."
Then she said with some sadness: "Besides... I am a weak woman, even if I have some wealth, where can I go? This world is full of evil people."
Cao Bin looked at her charming appearance and couldn't help but smile: "You have to think clearly, I am not a good person!"
Du Shiniang looked at Cao Bin with tears in her eyes and said, "I don't care what others think of you, you are a good person in my heart."
Cao Bin complained: "Shi Niang, it's hard to be a good person these days!"
Du Shiniang looked at him doubtfully and said, "What did Cao Yan say?"
Cao Bin shook his head and said: "Nothing... Damn, people from Kaifeng Mansion are here."
As soon as he looked up, he saw a handsome man wearing a bright red robe, a black turban on his head, and holding a sword, rushing towards him with people.
He stretched out his sword, stood in front of Cao Bin and said:
"Little Marquis, please let this girl go!"
Cao Bin's face suddenly turned foul, and he asked unhappily: "Who are you?"
The man holding the sword cupped his fists and said: "I am a fourth-grade imperial guard with a sword in front of me, Zhan Zhao, and I am now under the command of Lord Bao."
Cao Bin was shocked and looked carefully: "Are you Yu Mao Zhan Zhao?"
No wonder he is so handsome, he is a childhood idol.
Zhan Zhao said with a serious face:
"Little Marquis, why did you hijack the witness? This is a matter of adding guilt to crime. Please don't break the law."
Only then did Cao Bin remember that he was now a villain, fighting wits and courage with the decent ones, so he quickly retorted:
"Guard Zhan, don't talk nonsense. How did you know that I was taking hostages?"
"Besides, I haven't been convicted yet. Can't I come out for some air?"
Zhan Zhao said with a serious look on his face: "Little Marquis, there is a serious suspicion on you. Mr. Bao wanted you to be seriously ill, so he allowed you to recuperate at home and wait for retrial."
"Now the young Marquis lets people get the Kaifeng government officials drunk, but he secretly goes out to look for witnesses. This has to make Zhan doubt your intentions."
Cao Bin smiled and said: "What does your drunkenness have to do with me? I just felt sorry for the hard work of my brothers and gave them some food and drinks."
"It makes more sense if I am with the witness. We are friends, so why not go shopping together?"
Zhan Zhao frowned, not wanting to hear Cao Bin continue to argue, and said directly:
"If that's the case, please let the young master let go of this girl and let her go back!"
Cao Bin shook his head and said: "Where can she go back? It was Yingchunyuan that kicked her out, so I took her home."
Zhan Zhao glanced at Cao Bin suspiciously, extremely suspicious that he threatened Yingchunyuan and asked Yingchunyuan to drive Du Shiniang out.
But he couldn't force Yingchunyuan to take Du Shiniang in, so he pondered for a while and said:
"Then girl, just follow me back to Kaifeng Mansion, and we will arrange accommodation for you."
With that said, he was about to step forward and take Du Shiniang away.
Cao Bin quickly stopped her and said, "Why? She is not a prisoner. Why did your Kaifeng Mansion take her into custody?"
Zhan Zhao stopped, frowned and looked at Cao Bin:
"We are not taking her into custody. We are providing this girl with a place to live. If the young marquis wants to invite someone to go home, he should also ask the girl if she is willing, right?"
As he said that, he looked at Du Shiniang and said:
"Girl, don't be afraid. Our Kaifeng Mansion will ensure your safety. Now go with Zhan."
He thought Du Shiniang would be very happy, but unexpectedly she shook her head and said:
"Master Zhan, I voluntarily follow... the young Marquis."
Zhan Zhao couldn't believe it and said, "You...?"
Cao Bin snatched the horse's rein over and said, "Guard Zhan, look, I have already said that we are friends, but you insist on suspecting that I have bad intentions. I am wronging a good person this time, right? See you later, you!"
With that said, he took the reins of the horse and left.
Zhan Zhao was stunned for a long time, then waved his hand helplessly and said: "Withdraw, it seems that this case will be difficult to handle."
A government servant next to him said: "Hey, they say prostitutes are ruthless. I finally saw it today. Her lover hadn't been dead for a few days, and she had already climbed up a high branch."
Another yamen servant sighed: "It's not easy for her. Her lover is dead, and her family won't recognize her as a brothel girl. If she doesn't find a way out for herself, there will be no end in the future."
Zhan Zhao waved his hand and said: "Okay, don't talk about people behind their backs, report it to Master Bao and see how he handles it!"
At this time, Du Shiniang was riding on the horse and said tangledly:
"Actually, I should have gone back to Kaifeng Mansion with them. Now I'm afraid they won't believe my testimony."
Cao Bin smiled and said: "Don't worry, I don't have your physical bond. Who can prove our relationship? They have to believe it even if they don't believe it."
Soon, the two returned to the Zhongjing Houfu. Before they could dismount, an old man hurriedly came to greet them.
He grabbed Cao Bin's hand and said hastily:
"Master, why did you sell everything? You..."
Cao Bin quickly turned over and dismounted and said, "Uncle Fu, why are you back so soon?"
This man is the old housekeeper of the Zhongjing Marquis Mansion. He has been with the Cao family for three generations. He once saved the life of Cao Bin's grandfather on the battlefield and is very loyal.
Thanks to his strict management of the family, the Cao family has not been completely ruined after two generations of dandies.
Half a month ago, he took his son out of Beijing to inspect the Cao family's farm, planning to retire and let his son take over some of the Cao family's affairs.
When he heard Cao Bin's question, he was full of resentment:
"The farm has been sold to others, and I'm still patrolling. If the master finds out, I'm afraid he will be so angry that he crawls out of his grave."
He was once a personal soldier of Cao Bin's grandfather, and he could not change his military habits after decades, so he occasionally made some vulgar words, and Cao Bin was used to it.
Seeing that he couldn't stop scolding him, Cao Bin ignored him and turned around to hug Du Shiniang down.
Du Shiniang gave him a sweet look and stood silently behind him holding the baggage.
Only then did Uncle Fu notice Du Shiniang and wondered: "This is..."
Cao Bin smiled and said: "This is your new aunt."
Uncle Fu did not dare to be negligent and quickly bowed respectfully.
Du Shiniang was not surprised, but returned the gift as a matter of course.
Cao Bin then explained:
"Hey, isn't there nothing we can do? Now that I have killed someone, what can I do if I don't get some money? Now there are people from my family in Kaifeng Mansion who want to testify against me!"
He couldn't explain the whereabouts of the money, so he could only make nonsense. He couldn't say that he asked the brothel girl for a holiday. This was not the point, okay?
When Uncle Fu heard this, he immediately glared and said:
"Do our own family members want to testify against the young master? I think they have taken advantage of others. I hate people who betray my master the most."
After saying that, he immediately jumped up and said:
"Don't worry, young master, I'll go see them and see who of them dares to stand up in front of me."
Before he finished speaking, he had already called his son and ran out. Cao Bin could still faintly hear his shout:
"Let's go to Kaifeng Mansion with me."
Cao Bin did not stop him, because as soon as he saw this person, he had a clue in his heart.
Uncle Fu has always managed a family as well as an army. Although he seems reckless, he is a careful person and will not act recklessly like Pang Yu.
Time soon came to the tenth day.
Early that morning, Cao Bin got up under the service of Du Shiniang, waiting anxiously for the summons from Kaifeng Mansion.
