"Anymore?"
The steward took a pen and wrote a few accounts on the account book, then raised his eyes and asked about the old servant.
"Melons and fruits, jewelry, clothes..." the old servant pointed his fingers, "there are also lanterns, flowers and candles... yes, everything is complete."
"How many guests are here? Are there enough plates?"
"Everyone who was invited accepted the invitation, but Craftsman Xu was too busy to come."
"This is because he is not lucky," the housekeeper sneered and closed the account, "There is nothing here. Considering your age, there is no need to hang a lantern in front."
The old slave lowered his hands and obeyed the order, saying yes again and again.
The housekeeper clutched the account book and walked out of the accounting room. He saw several servants stepping on the ladder, holding lanterns in their hands and hanging them on the wall. Another one took a large piece of red silk, tied it into a flower, and tied it to the corner eaves. As far as the eye can see, there is bright red.
He walked to the meeting hall, which had been decorated as a wedding hall, and saw that people were bringing in another natural table. It was bought by the old servant from Suzhou.
A double happiness sign was hung in front of him, and two red candles were placed on the table. Then a pair of red lanterns were hung at the door, with the inscription "Happy Events to Chen Tongpao Mansion, Magistrate of Taizhou." I'm just waiting for it to light up when the wedding banquet starts tomorrow.
After urging him for a while, he retreated from the hall and went to the west study room to see Chen Tongpao.
Since the meeting hall was renovated, the east and west study rooms have occupied the space of the original inner hall and become much more spacious. There are screens on both sides of the west study room, and a fan-shaped table in the middle with several bowls of tea, which Mr. Chen sometimes eats here. There are two bookcases by the window, and a door on the east side. Open the door and go in, which leads to the east study room. The aisle. Tongpao Chen was standing in front of the door.
"Master, it's complete." The butler handed over the book and said with a smile.
"As long as it's complete," Chen Tongpao accepted the account book. When he saw the housekeeper turning to leave, he hurriedly called out: "Call Zhu Qiuguang."
The housekeeper froze on the spot and said after a long time: "I'm afraid it's inappropriate for me to call you Miss Zhu..."
"No matter what, she is just a maid now and has no other rules. It doesn't matter if you go and call her."
The housekeeper didn't agree very simply, but he had to do it.
Chen Tongpao knew that the housekeeper had gone, so he leaned against the door, slowly opened it a crack, and glanced into the corridor a few times, but found that no one was there. He turned around and walked to the bookcase, squatted down, touched the wall a few times, took out a wooden box, and opened it.
"Master Chen."
He heard a thin female voice and quickly closed the box.
"Come in."
Zhuo Lengping walked into the room quickly and saw Tongpao Chen holding a box and pacing seriously. He knew it was not a good thing and felt nervous.
"What do you want me to do if you call me slave...slave?"
"Come here," Tongpao Chen waved, "Come here and you will know."
He gently opened the box and took out a dagger from the box. The scabbard was inlaid with green jade, and it looked like a valuable item.
Leng Ping felt inexplicably familiar, as if he had seen him more than once.
Chen Tongpao took the initiative to clear her doubts: "There was originally a pair of this knife, and the other one was given to Mei County Prime Minister. He has not asked for it again, just for tomorrow's plot..."
"You persuaded me to go to Jiangdu to pay off the debt. You should be credited with a great contribution." Chen Tongpao held the scabbard, "Now we have to put an end to this, girl, don't take it lightly."
His two hands clenched into fists under the calm words, trembling manically, not because of fear or nervousness, but because of determination. The power contained in this was, to Leng Ping, a pair of giant hands that could tear everything apart.
Tongpao Chen took off the scabbard and handed it to her: "Tomorrow is our big day. I didn't want to leave it to you, but I have no choice but to have to grieve you, Qiu Guang."
Zhuo Lengping took the knife tremblingly.
Seeing that she was so frightened, the colleague held her shoulders and said comfortingly: "Not only have you never killed anyone, but this county has never done it yourself. Haven't you ever chopped firewood? Just treat it as firewood, and you will be judged by this county." You are like a condemned criminal. When the time comes, you first place the dishes in the west study, wait for Lu Jishou to wait for the guests, show your face on purpose, and then rush to the east study from the corridor. I will send the Prime Minister of Mei County out at that time, and Lu Jishou will take the opportunity to come and find him. You, if you are afraid, turn off the light in the east study room, stand by the door, listen to the door, stab him a few more times in the dark, and then abandon the knife and run away. The rest of the matter will be handled by Wen Zhong of Jiangdu. Just do it boldly. .”
Leng Ping never thought that he would kill someone again. Although that goal will be achieved tomorrow, with it comes the end of the past.
"What a joy! What a joy!"
Lu Jishou wore a bright red embroidered jacket and bowed to people all the way from the gate of Taizhou County to the inner courtyard of the Yamen.
"Hey, the young master is here!" Mei County Prime Minister laughed and tugged on his clothes, "You are dressed in style today!"
"It makes today even more grand!"
After hearing what he said, Prime Minister Meixian suddenly changed his expression and whispered: "This matter must not be made public."
Lu Jishou took his arm, walked to the corner, and asked in surprise, "What? Did you do as I told you?"
Meixian Cheng gritted his teeth and said: "I only bribed government officials who have a good relationship with us. People like Chen Tongpao don't dare to do this."
Lu Jishou clapped his hands: "Okay! More than ten people are enough. When I know the location of that girl with my own eyes, I will order you to send troops to the house to capture her and keep her stolen goods. I don't expect Chen Tongpao to be able to move."
"It's over..."
Lu Jishou smiled confidently: "Of course I will be appointed as the county magistrate of Taizhou, Uncle Mei, let's do a good job!" After that, he laughed up to the sky, sang a few happy words, and left for the Chen Mansion. Meixian Cheng glared at him angrily, hating himself for being a coward, so he could only follow him honestly.
The old servant directed his men to carry the lanterns amidst the din of gongs and drums. He saw Lu Jishou leading a group of idlers including the Prime Minister of Mei County to arrive, carrying several large boxes of things. One of the idlers pointed at it and said, 'a piece of cloth' or 'a pig'. The slave accepted it with a smile.
"Where is the groom?" Lu Jishou asked.
"Master Chen is busy freeing up the west study room to hold a banquet. Can you, distinguished guests, take a look?"
Everyone said hello in unison and followed the old servant to the wedding hall. They saw Chen Tongpao with a golden flower pinned to his official hat and a red shawl on his shoulders. He was wearing official uniform and bright color.
"Master Lu! Prime Minister of Mei County!" Chen Tongpao saluted in turn.
"Congratulations! Congratulations!" Lu Jishou was completely immersed in joy, and his behavior was obviously very natural.
"Master, are you in good health?"
"Okay! Very good!" Lu Jishou said with a smile, "If Mr. Chen wants to chat with us, he might as well prepare a few pots of fine wine. That would be so fun!" Everyone agreed.
"It's time to get drunk today!" Chen Tongpao ordered the old servant again: "Bring a few bottles of wine, and I and the guests will go to the west study room to talk!"
They were talking and laughing next to each other, and slowly walked into the west study room; Lu Jishou was the first to go in, his eyes accidentally glanced forward, and he met Leng Ping's eyes, and he immediately stood dumbly. Leng Ping saw him and hurried to the aisle.
