Chapter 006 The beautiful lady
Huang Cheng was stunned first, and then asked: "Who is the woman in the hall? Can you tell me your name?"
Chen Cao was surprised that Li Xiang came back and said that he was an important witness. Before he could turn his head away, he heard Li Xiang's words that gave him a headache for the rest of his life.
"The little girl Li Xiang, whose father is Li Maohui, currently a member of the Nanjing Ministry of War, has opened a bookshop in the west of the city called Juxianju..."
ah...
The entire hall was boiling, and the people listening to the trial outside the hall also stood up and tried to see the situation clearly. At this moment, Yang Wei opened his eyes and looked at Li Xiang.
"Your Excellency, I heard that Chen Cao was arrested for raping his daughter. After hearing this at home, I was very anxious. I can swear to God here that Chen Cao has never done such an evil thing. He Not that kind of person."
Chen Cao felt warm in his heart. After traveling here for so long, this was the first time a woman besides his own family had spoken to him like this.
Huang Chengxian didn't think that a woman would dare to pretend to be an official's family member, let alone a member of the Nanjing Ministry of War, so he was very respectful to Li Xiang, but respect is respect. If you say no, then it is impossible: "Miss Li also knows that it is impossible to resolve the case. It’s not just about swearing.”
Li Xiang blushed, then raised his head and said loudly: "Because...because Chen Cao was with the little girl last night, it is impossible for him to do these things."
Oops...
As soon as these words came out, the whole hall was completely boiling. Huang Chengxian opened his mouth and stood stunned behind the case. What is this?
Chen Cao couldn't stand. Although he thought Li Xiang was indeed beautiful and belonged to the category of beauty, why would she help him like this? Isn't this because she put all her reputation on a man? How important it is for a woman who leaves the cabinet.
Chen Qing looked at Chen Cao strangely. Chen Cao smiled bitterly and shook his head. His head was spinning for a long time before he finally realized: Li Xiang liked her and came to save her...
what to do?
Xu Er and Zhao Li were even more panicked. Originally, they were lying, but now an official lady came out to prove that Chen Cao was with them all night. This made it clear that Chen Cao had no problem and the suspicion was gone. But this is a false accusation.
No official lady would make fun of her own reputation. This was the consensus of everyone in the entire magistrate's yamen.
Huang Chengxian coughed twice, and this matter was over for today. Even with the 'tips' from the people above, it was finally concluded that Chen Cao had nothing to do with this matter: "Mr. Chen Qi, I'm really sorry. "As he spoke, he cupped his hands towards Chen Cao: "Since there are Miss Li and General Qi testifying here, it is naturally credible."
Yang Wei stood up, patted his Feiyu uniform and said: "Huang Tongpian, when you arrest people on these matters in the future, you'd better investigate clearly before arresting people. Don't arrest people from my Jin Yiwei at the beginning and bring them to court. Otherwise it will be difficult to meet each other in the future..." After saying that, he took the people away.
Chen Cao had a good impression of Yang Wei from the bottom of his heart. His words were all about protecting Chen Cao and warning the people behind Huang Chengxian, but Huang Chengxian was a mute and couldn't tell the story of his suffering after eating coptis.
Chen Cao is not a good person. Since he has proven that he has nothing to do with this matter, he must find out the dirty hands, otherwise he will be framed again in the future and he will not even know who it is.
"Wait a minute..."
"Mr. Chen Qi, do you have any questions?"
Chen Cao pointed at Xu Er and said: "This man is Qingpi from Liuye Hutong. This general banner was caught here and was wronged. According to the law, those who falsely accuse him will sit down."
Huang Chengxian had nothing to say. Chen Cao's words were reasonable. Even if he complained to the emperor, he would still be on the right side. After hearing Chen Cao's words, Xu Er trembled, and then cried: "Master Chen, calm down, I didn't accuse you falsely." He is the murderer. The younger one just said that he saw the black shadow enter the alley and disappear, but he did not say that you are the murderer, sir."
Depend on...
Chen Cao really didn't think of this statement, but now he was in an embarrassing situation. The person who arrested him was from the Xicheng Army and Horse Department, and Wang De was the commander of the Army and Horse Department. Even if he didn't look at the monk's face, It also depends on the face of the Buddha. The Xicheng Army and Horses Division dared to come to arrest him. Obviously Liu Yong was the first person to be instigated. However, there was nothing he could do about it here, but Chen Cao made up his mind to repay double the amount in the future.
But we can't let Xu Er off. Since this guy dares to come forward to testify, it means that he is also involved to a certain extent. Maybe he is Liu Yong's man. Since Liu Yong can't be punished, we should deal with this green skin first. No problem.
So Chen Cao looked at Huang Chengxian coldly and didn't answer. People like Huang Chengxian were all veteran officials. When he saw this look, he knew he couldn't be kind. So he slapped Huang Chengxian hard with a cold face and shouted: "Bold, please" Second, because of your words, Mr. Chen Qi almost suffered a big loss. However, considering that you are a first-time offender and you have good intentions, I will be given a lighter punishment. Someone comes and drags Xu Er down. It’s a serious matter of 30 big boards. Be a warning to others.”
Xu Er cried and was dragged off. Obviously, the final explanation of this farce ended with Xu Er. Chen Cao lifted up his skirt, turned around and left, leaving the dark-faced Huang Chengxian sitting in the hall for a long time.
The development of the incident quickly spread throughout Jinling, and there was only one story that everyone talked about the most. The story of Li Xiang, the only daughter of Li Maohui, a member of the Nanjing Ministry of War, personally rescued Chen Cao. The hero who saved the beauty in the past changed his identity.
Boom...
Gu Linsheng slammed his fist on the wine table, and Zhao Cheng also looked angrily at Chen Cao who came out of the prefect's Yamen safe and sound: "I didn't expect this guy to be so lucky. He didn't even tell Li Fengchun, but also took Li Maohui's daughter. I was deceived, how shameful..."
Gu Linsheng looked at Chen Cao who was walking away with hostility in his eyes. After drinking a glass of wine, he said angrily: "Brother Zhao, don't be anxious. If you can't do it today, there will be opportunities tomorrow. I don't believe that he, a little royal guard, can Qi, what other big shot can protect him?"
After Chen Cao left the magistrate's office, he bowed his hands toward Li Xiang apologetically and said, "Thanks to Boss Li today, Chen... Chen... I'm really embarrassed."
Li Xiang's face was too red at the moment and he didn't talk to Chen Cao. He got into the carriage with the help of the maid and left. It wasn't that she didn't want to, but she used this reason to save Chen Cao today. There were people watching the excitement outside the Yamen. How could I, a woman in deep boudoir, withstand the ill-intentioned looks of those people?
"Yao Zhong," Song Che approached Chen Cao and said with a smile, "You are lucky. Such a beautiful woman is also the daughter of a member of the Ministry of War. She will benefit from you in the future."
'What about Yuan Wailang? I was divorced by the commander of the guards.' Chen Cao thought helplessly, but he couldn't say it himself, but then he realized something and lowered his head and said in Song Che's ear: "Please One thing about you..."
The Liubu Yamen of Nanjing is located on the left side of Chengtianmen, with the Ministry of War in the middle. At this moment, Li Maohui was doing business in his office. A clerk walked into the office and smiled and said to Li Maohui: "Master Li, you are very lucky. People."
Li Maohui was over sixty years old, and he had his only daughter Li Xiang in his forties. He had a daughter at an old age, and he always regarded her as the apple of his eye. In addition, Li Xiang was very knowledgeable, so Li Maohui had nothing to do with Li Xiang opening a bookstore outside.
"What's going on?" Li Maohui frowned.
This was a member of the staff who walked into the department and said with a smile: "Ke Cang, why is it not a blessing? Nalan Rongruo is now famous throughout Southern Zhili, so he is worthy of your daughter, but It’s a pity, I heard that this guy is the general flag of the Imperial Guard, it’s a pity.”
The civil servants of the Ming Dynasty were most afraid of Jin Yiwei and looked down upon Jin Yiwei the most. Such people were the hawks of the court and the emperor's lackeys. For those who had read books about sages, they were people who should not be associated with them.
"What's going on? Why can't I hear the reason?" Li Maohui really didn't know what the two of them were talking about.
"Hey, today the Yingtian Prefecture's Yamen tried a scandal case, which involved a general bannerman named Chen Cao. It was not until the first trial that he found out that this person was Nalan Rongruo, who has recently become popular in Nanzhili. The most important thing is that this person In the end, the person has nothing to do with the case. The key to getting out of the case is that Ke Cang's daughter comes forward to prove that Chen Cao was with Ke Cang's daughter last night." The foreigner smiled and looked at Li Maohui and said: "I didn't expect Ke Cang's daughter to come forward. Cang, you hid it so deeply, I admire you, I admire you."
"Ke Cang... Ke Cang..."
With a clang, Li Maohui angrily grabbed his coat and trotted out.
Chen Cao naturally didn't know that Li Maohui would find trouble for him, but now, he was looking at a piece of rice paper and worried. The reason for his worry was the content on the paper: "How could this happen?"
This thing couldn't be more familiar. It was exactly the same as the marriage certificate he had returned to Miss Zhang. It contained the woman's name, place of origin, birth date, and information about her parents.
Once the woman gives this thing to the south, she will become the man's person. From this point of view, Li Fengchun is already Chen Cao's person. As long as she is willing, no one can marry except Chen Cao in this life. Of course, Chen Cao With this piece of paper, even if Li Fengchun marries someone, he will still belong to Chen Cao.
Now the two women have fallen in love with Chen Cao, which makes Chen Cao, a bastard who likes to play with women, a little uncomfortable.
As a result, Chen Cao was invited before evening. The visitor claimed to be the butler of Mr. Li Maohui, a member of the Nanjing Ministry of War. He had something important to ask Mr. Chen Cao to have dinner at Juxianju.
'dinner? This is probably the Hongmen Banquet. '
Chen Cao was beating the drum in his heart, if he went, he would be killed by himself. During the day, Li Xiang came forward to help him prove it. In the evening, his father invited him to dinner. It was a fraud, so he didn't go. The key point was that he had already reported himself. When the family is over, the officers of the Nanjing Ministry of War, starting from the fifth rank, will not be given face if they don't go. If they get some small shoes to wear later, they will still have to shed their skin even if they don't die.
It's just a matter of risk, and the soldiers will stop you...
Outside Juxian Residence, Chen Cao's old acquaintance Zhou Decai, whom he had not seen for many days, was standing at the door of Juxian Residence to greet him. When Chen Cao saw Zhou Decai, he smiled and held his hands, and then he discovered that Zhou Decai had a lot of blisters on his face: "Eh... Shopkeeper Zhou, are you scalded by the water? Why are there so many blisters?"
Zhou Decai's expression changed, and he said viciously: "Mr. Chen Qi didn't know something. A few days ago, some killer sneaked into my Juxian Residence and threw a bowl of hot tea at me. No, it was Zhong Qi. Come on, I haven’t slept well for several days since the blisters started.”
Chen Cao was shocked. Didn't he just spill a bowl of hot tea a few days ago? Then he asked cautiously: "Oh, why are you so careless? You don't know how to hide?"
"You're getting angry when you say that," Zhou Decai said angrily: "The killer took advantage of me to go to the latrine and poured a bowl of hot tea in. I couldn't escape. Look at my nails. They're hot. I scratched the door of the latrine. If he lets me know who did it and I catch him, I will pour a bowl of hot oil on him to relieve the hatred in my heart."
Chen Cao shuddered and immediately laughed, but when he heard Zhou Decai said with a smile: "Mr. Chen Qi, you Jin Yiwei have many eyes and ears. We are all old acquaintances. If you can help me find out, I will be very grateful."
Chen Cao retorted sternly: "Old Zhou, although you and I are old acquaintances, we cannot set this precedent. Forget it if you suffer a loss. How long will it take to retaliate? In this way, I will give you five taels of silver, which will be considered as the cost of the soup and medicine. You Just let the matter rest and make peace."
Looking at Chen Cao's retreating figure, Zhou Decai put five taels of silver into his sleeves and secretly cursed: "It's none of your business, why are you paying for my soup and medicine?"
In the main hall, the old man Li Maohui was sitting at the main seat and sipping tea. When he heard the butler reported that Chen Cao was coming, he waved his hand. The figures behind the screens on the left and right sides of the hall swayed, and finally calmed down.
When Chen Cao walked into the lobby, he felt that something was wrong in the atmosphere. Years of physical training had given him an awareness of danger. He then looked around with wandering eyes, and finally discovered the unusual movement behind the screens on the left and right sides. Then he calmed down and faced the main Li Maohui, who was sitting on the throne, cupped his hands and said, "I have met Mr. Li, the lower official, Chen Cao."
What Chen Cao wore today was Jin Yiwei's Feiyu suit. With this outfit, Li Maohui had to weigh Chen Cao's identity even if he wanted to make a move. Li Maohui was also secretly frightened when he saw Chen Cao coming in wearing Feiyu suit.
"You're welcome," Li Maohui waved his hand and said, "Sit down."
Chen Cao was not polite at that. After standing up straight, he raised his hands towards Li Maohui and said, "I don't know why Mr. Li would invite me to come to the banquet. But I remember that I don't have much interaction with you?"
snort...
Li Maohui snorted coldly. He was very dissatisfied with Chen Cao. This guy went straight to the topic as soon as he came up. He didn't have the subtlety of a scholar at all. He even wondered if Chen Cao, Nalan Rong, was a fake: "Chen Cao, do you know Why did I call you here?"
Really not knowing, Chen Cao could only hand over to Li Maohui.
"Is there any misunderstanding between you and my husband's daughter Xiang'er?" Li Maohui also directly clicked on the topic.
If this was the case, Chen Cao finally understood, and said with a smile: "Master Li, if you don't remind this junior, I will really forget this important matter."
So he took the initiative to tell the cause and effect of what happened, and took the initiative to clarify his relationship with Li Xiang: "My relationship with your sister is just a cooperative relationship, and there is no misunderstanding."
Li Maohui was very satisfied with the answer, but now it has spread throughout half of Jinling, and by tomorrow at most, it will spread throughout the whole of Jinling. By then, his daughter's reputation will be completely gone.
"Do you know why she came to save you regardless of her reputation?" Li Maohui then asked.
He likes himself. This Chen Cao is still a little conscious, and then he handed over his hand and said: "To be honest with you, this junior's background is not good. I must have understood it clearly before coming here." Chen Cao still knows himself, in front of an old man in officialdom You must not pretend, otherwise it will be counterproductive. That's right. After the incident, the first thing Li Maohui did was to ask for all the information about Chen Cao. He was a member of the Ministry of War. Although he did not deal with Jin Yiwei, he inquired about Chen Cao from the side. Things are still very relaxed.
"My father died in the battle of Saarhu. I have inherited my father's legacy all my life, and I have been greatly favored by the Duke of the country. I have been offered an official position in the Imperial Guard Banner. Although I am a member of the army, I am also a sage and have little knowledge. I wrote a few crooked poems and a few unpopular story-telling novels, that's all." Chen Cao handed over his hand again: "When I cooperate with Miss Li, I am grateful to Miss Li for looking up to the younger generation. If the adults are willing, the younger generation will also want to Marry Miss Li. After all, Miss Li came to rescue me for the sake of this junior. This love will naturally require your admiration."
"You have a good idea." Li Maohui sneered, and then said: "Okay, I won't talk nonsense with you. I said I let you come to eat, so I let you come to eat."
The dinner was very relaxed, even like meeting old friends. Chen Cao, who was flattered, still had a bad drinking ability. After only four or five glasses of old wine, he became erratic again.
Li Maohui asked: "Chen Cao, who is your mentor?"
"Graduating from college..."
The answer was wrong, and Li Maohui frowned: ""The University"? You have only read "The University"? What is graduation?"
Chen Cao shook his head and pursed his lips, and then said: "Master Li is so funny that he didn't even know he graduated. Hey, drink...drink..."
This guy's wine taste is terrible...
Li Maohui shook his head secretly, and then asked: "Which teacher taught you your knowledge?"
"Teacher? Professor?" Chen Cao squinted his red eyes and said with a smile: "In four years, I became a self-taught person."
At this time, Li Maohui finally understood that Chen Cao had a teacher and studied for four years. He was just self-taught, which was fine. However, this guy had only read "The Great Learning" and not all the Four Books and Five Classics. He was not influenced by Confucian culture enough. .
"Dad..." Li Xiang, who had never been on the road before, trotted into the lobby. Seeing Chen Cao who was already drunk, he felt a pity in his heart. He looked at his father Li Maohui and said angrily: "Dad, my daughter told me , Chen Cao is not that kind of person, don’t underestimate people, why do you make people so miserable?"
Li Maohui looked at Xiaochun and others who were following closely, and knew that these maids could not control his precious daughter, so he said seriously: "If you don't want fame, I will accept your father. Who doesn't like you?" Find someone for your father who is a factory guard. Do you know the vicious reputation of those people? Even if your father and I can't screw you, before this happens, your father and I must investigate, otherwise how can I become an old man? son in law?"
Li Xiang was very happy to hear this and asked directly: "Dad, has Chen Cao fallen into your eyes?"
"Talking the truth after drinking, this guy just admitted that he has been studying as a teacher for four years. He has only read "The Great Learning" in Confucian culture and does not know any other basic classics. The key point is that this guy is still self-taught. This is acceptable. Among the factory guards, the only one who had such literary talents was Ji Gang'er during the reign of Emperor Wen." Li Maohui stroked his beard, then changed his expression and said, "I'll ask you about the last few words."
"Ask me..." Chen Cao drank all the wine and said righteously.
"Let me ask..." Li Xiang grabbed the conversation, looked at the drunk Chen Cao, and said seriously: "Chen Cao, do you have a fiancée?"
"Hi..." Chen Cao waved his hand, put one foot on the bench, and made a sword gesture with the other hand, which made Li Maohui frown: "My father assigned one before his death, and it was from the Nanjing Right Guard Commander. My daughter, it’s a pity that my father died in the war, and her family immediately came to ask for a marriage certificate, wanting to regret the marriage.”
"Ah..." Li Xiang and Li Maohui exclaimed together. They all know Zhang Tiande, the commander of the Nanjing Right Guards.
"Then what?"
"Then?" Chen Cao put away his sword skills and said with a powerful aura: "Of course you can't give it to me for nothing. Do you think I, Chen Cao, am a fool? If you give me the marriage certificate, where will I put my Chen family's face?" "
The father and daughter nodded in unison. It was true that having the marriage certificate withdrawn would be a humiliating matter. If someone like Li Maohui suffered such a great humiliation, he would definitely hang himself to express gratitude to the world.
"Then you have a fiancée..." Li Xiang felt sad for a while. Chen Cao turned out to have a fiancée. Although monogamy did not exist in this era, he was also from an official family. It was natural to raise a child for the daughter of a commander. He hurt his father Li Maohui's face.
Li Maohui felt reassured and slowly picked up the wine glass, sipping it with squinting eyes. However, Chen Cao's next words made him spit out all the wine in his mouth.
"So, I, Chen, went to negotiate with the future Master Tai Shui, and finally sold the marriage certificate to their family for ten thousand taels of silver."
Damn...
Li Xiang was shocked at first when he heard this, and then he became happy, but said with a little pity: "Wouldn't that also damage the face of your Chen family?"
Li Maohui, who squirted out a mouthful of old wine, felt that his elegance was unworthy. How could there be such a reason in the world for selling his marriage certificate for money? He was about to refute it when he saw Chen Cao wave his hand and said: "Such a woman, give it to me." Don't give up. How can we share wealth and wealth if we can't share the suffering? It's only ten thousand taels of silver. They don't lack it, but I, Chen Cao, am short of it. For ten thousand taels of silver, I, Chen, can buy ten young girls in Jinling City to be concubines and still have more. , it is much more comfortable than that girl from the Zhang family whom I have never met, hahahaha..."
Li Xiang and Li Maohui both had black lines floating on their heads.
Who are these people...
Seeing that Li Maohui was about to curse, Li Xiang quickly asked: "Then what do you think of me?"
Chen Cao stared at Li Xiang hard, making Li Xiang feel embarrassed. After Li Maohui coughed, Chen Cao put away his unfriendly eyes and said in a gentleman's tone: "The first time Chen met Miss Li, I think Miss Li is pretty, to be honest, if Mr. Li doesn’t dislike her, Chen Cao really wants to propose marriage to Mr. Li and marry your daughter to me, Mr. Chen.”
Li Xiang blushed and felt happy. Who wouldn't like such a talented person? However, the act of selling the marriage certificate for money was really offensive and gave people a disgusting feeling that they regarded money as life.
"Chen Cao," Li Maohui didn't want to answer. It was obvious that tonight's affairs had come to an end: "Is there anything else you want to say?"
Chen Cao rolled his eyes and thought for a long time and said, "It would be great if I invited you to the Hongmen Banquet..."
"Hongmen Banquet?" Li Xiang frowned and didn't know what Chen Cao said.
Li Maohui blushed, then hesitantly said that Chen Cao was drunk, and then ordered the housekeeper to send Chen Cao back. In his heart, he was surprised that Chen Cao actually saw the secret. In the future, Not bad.
