Chapter 33
Dou Haitao's legs were weak as he looked at the Taifu carriage being driven by three tall horses. The servants of the Li Mansion were silently guarding the carriage. The wheels of the carriage pressed against the bluestone and soon disappeared into the vast night.
Luo Jinhu had been hiding aside for a long time. As soon as the Grand Administrator's carriage left, he jumped out like a monkey and grabbed Dou Haitao's arm: "Brother Dou, how are you?"
There are many figures in the distance, like ghosts staring at this place, and I don’t know which spy they are. Dou Haitao is no longer in the mood to care about that place. Ever since Lord Jiedushi moved into his mansion, it goes without saying that every day There were a hundred, or at least seventy or eighty, people watching. As far as Dou Haitao knew, many of the houses of Hu merchants and landlords in Xinchangfang, where they lived, had been secretly purchased, and many new faces had moved in.
That is to say, Mrs. Xiao and Mrs. Xiao, who do not go out in Dou Mansion every day, do not know these things. As they often go out to deal with, they have already turned a blind eye to these situations.
As long as Lord Jieduzhi didn't express anything, they would treat it as if they didn't see it.
"I'm telling you, you can't tell others." Dou Haitao held his neighbor's hand.
Luo Jinhu immediately responded: "Brother Dou, don't worry. The most important thing in my business is credibility. Besides, I just want to know in advance who will stay, the Jiedushi Master or the Prefect."
Now anyone in Taiyang County who has some information knows that the Grand Administrator and the Jiedushi Master are at odds with each other. Seeing that the relationship between the top officials cannot be adjusted and integrated, they naturally have to place a bet on whether the Grand Administrator will still sit in the position of Taiyang County Governor. Everyone is waiting for this result.
Dou Haitao whispered: "Because the Grand Administrator scolded Mrs. Xiao angrily, the Jiedushi Master asked a Lei family servant to go to the prison and chop off four fingers of the Grand Master of the Li family."
Luo Jin's eyes widened and he said in disbelief: "Seriously?"
"Of course it's true. I guess the news will be unbearable tomorrow." Dou Haitao's calves are still trembling when he thinks of Master Jieduzhi's cold expression. The Dalang of the Li Mansion is not just a kitten or puppy, he is a county. Zhi Shou's son had his fingers cut off at the drop of a hat.
Dou Haitao couldn't explain what he felt, he just felt like he was dreaming.
"Then will Li Dalang die?" Luo Jinhu asked in a daze. He had seen Dalang Li a few times, but he could only watch him from a distance. He was a young man in about twenty-five or sixty-five years old in colorful clothes. He was riding a horse and wearing red sleeves. He is a first-class guest of Hongxiufang.
"No." After hearing what his third son said, Prefect Li in the carriage wiped his face with a handkerchief. The gaffe he had in Dou Mansion had long since disappeared, and his clear face had regained its composure.
Li Hanzhang looked at his father and felt that he could not see through him. His eldest brother had four fingers cut off, but his father acted so calmly. It was obvious that the eldest brother did such wrong things for his father.
"Father, is your heart made of stone?" Li Hanzhang murmured. His name is Li Hanzhang. His family is the Li family of Hedong. The Li family is praised as a scholar. His father is the younger brother of the Li family leader. Logically speaking, Even if they were not in Hedong, they would have grown up in Chang'an. Indeed, in the first thirteen years, Li Hanzhang was indeed in Chang'an. Later, his father was transferred to Taiyang as the prefect. After that, Li Hanzhang lived in Taiyang. I like the place of Youzhou, and when I grew up, I lived with my eldest uncle in Chang'an. My eldest uncle was ranked as the Zuo Bu Que of the Menxia Province and worked as the crown prince and tutor. He was full of talents and was always highly valued by the saints and respected by the nobles.
The fact that his father was a prefect in the Youman region has always been a minor thorn in Li Hanzhang's heart, as his family is so distinguished and noble.
Li Bozhi glanced at his third son, who had been smart since childhood: "I treat you the same."
"Then the eldest brother has become a useless person, why are you so indifferent?" Li Hanzhang looked at his father, feeling filled with anger.
"At least he is still alive." Li Bozhi said calmly.
"It is better to lose four fingers than to lose one life." Li Bozhi closed his eyes. He was irritable, impulsive and resentful on the outside, and now he seemed like a Bodhisattva.
As if it was the first day he met his father, Li Hanzhang suddenly felt a sense of fear in his heart. Does he really know his father? Is the man in front of me really the father known as the Great Chu Wenji?
"Father...you..."
Li Bozhi slowly laughed: "Hanzhang, you have to remember that your surname is Li. As long as you are in Youzhou for one day, you will have to fight against Zhou Youzhou for one day. Otherwise, how will the loyalty of our Li family be reflected to the world?" see."
"Outside, you have to be a loyal minister, even if you are foolishly loyal, it doesn't matter. Everyone in the world likes loyal ministers, and the Holy Spirit also likes loyal ministers." Li Bozhi fixed his son's collar and patted his shoulder gently.
Li Hanzhang said after a while: "So, you deliberately angered Zhou Youzhou?"
Li Bozhi looked at the innocent child, but did not answer his words. Instead, he said to himself: "I, Li Bozhi, have served Taiyang faithfully for five or six years, never forgetting the grace day and night. Now, in order to fight against Zhou Youzhou, I have even disabled one of my sons. I'm so exhausted that I can no longer hold the position of prefect, so it shouldn't be too much to ask for demotion." Of course, asking for demotion was just his excuse. As long as the Li family remains a symbol of the gentry and literati, the Holy Emperor will not treat them badly. What he did was too much. Besides, he had already lost a son, so how could the Holy One punish him so harshly?
Seeing that Sanlang still didn't understand, Li Bozhi could only peel it into pieces, knead it and tell him: "This is a well-understood exchange. There is a high probability that Zhou Xu has already selected the next candidate for the prefect. I am in Taipei." Yang has never touched the military power in these years, so he allowed me to sit safely in the position of prefect. Now I have reached the time when I have to retire, but how to retire from the position of prefect in a perfect and honorable manner without letting the Li family in front of the world I have lost the good reputation of Li family’s pen-knife, and I cannot let the Holy Spirit blame me. Instead, I want to think of our Li family’s good deeds.”
"Dalang did this on impulse, which can be regarded as an accident that broke the situation."
Li Hanzhang was stunned: "Does Zhou Youzhou know what you think?"
Li Bozhi smiled: "Zhou Xu just followed the flow of the situation and did everything for outsiders to see."
When Li Bozhi thought of Zhou Xu's look at the end, he couldn't help but be a little surprised. At that time, Zhou Youzhou seemed to be serious.
In the officialdom, especially civil servants, they pretend to be fake when meeting everyone, and they put on layers of masks for themselves. Only smart people can play the games behind the masks.
Zhou Xu is a rare person who can play chess with Li. The two have a tacit hostility, which is 70% true and 30% false.
Could it be that someone like Zhou Xu really has a bad intention? Li Bozhi thought about it for a while and then stopped thinking about it. They estimated that they would return to Chang'an soon, and once again brought the glory of the Li family to defy the strong thieves and denounced Zhou Youzhou. After all, it was the Li family who wrote the history books.
Li Hanzhang slowly looked at his father, puzzled and confused: "Father, why did you do this?"
Li Bozhi closed his eyes again and did not answer.
"Because they are the Li family." Zhou Xu used a knife to peel the pear, peeling it into circles. He smiled casually and replied to Mrs. Xiao's words: "Li's reputation is more important than his life. Clan, don't let them scold you, why do they achieve this position? Reputation is everything that supports them. The greater the reputation, the better the noble officers will do."
Xiao Qingxue's face was still red with anger: "The old man can't curse people casually."
Zhou Xu cut the pears into pieces and put them on the plate, handed them to Madam Xiao, and said with a smile: "Eat some pears quickly, don't get angry."
Xiao Qingxue sat next to her mother angrily and ate a piece of pear.
Xiao Luolan thought of Taishou Li who suddenly scolded him in the middle hall. After hearing what Master Zhou said, she felt a little uneasy. She always felt that she was being used by Taishou Li. In a short period of time, Xiao Luolan thought a lot but couldn't get any clue at the moment. Is Taishou Li really as he appears? Xiao Luolan suddenly felt a little afraid of these ancients.
"Don't think too much, Mrs. Xiao only needs to look at the results. His son's four fingers have been left to apologize." Zhou Xu peeled another pear with a knife and gave the cut pear to Mrs. Xiao alone.
"It's just that I feel wronged that Mrs. Xiao and Mrs. Xiao have been implicated by me."
When Xiao Qingxue saw Sect Leader Zhou speaking so politely, the anger in her heart was extinguished. After all, Prefect Li was scolded by them, and... Xiao Qingxue secretly glanced at Sect Master Zhou and felt that people in ancient times were really scary. If the finger says to cut, cut it off.
To be honest, Xiao Qingxue was a little scared of Clan Master Zhou, especially the last words Clan Master Zhou said to Prefect Li, which didn't seem like a joke.
"Master, little lady." Fang Yun bowed with her hands folded outside the study.
Xiao Qingxue looked at Fang Yun: "What's wrong, Fang Yun."
"Mrs. Dou has prepared the food. Where do you want to use it, Master and Madam?"
Zhao Qingshan smiled and said: "It just so happens that we are of no use. Let's send all the food to Qingfeng Hall."
After finishing the food, Xiao Qingxue thought of the soap she had made, and ate faster with concern. Seeing that her mother hadn't finished eating yet, she couldn't help but go back to Xinghua Residence with Fang Yun. Zhao Qingshan then carried a pot Drink wine and go outside to admire the moon.
Inside the Qingfeng Hall.
Xiao Luolan suddenly realized that they were the only two people left in the hall.
"Mrs. Xiao, I got back the jade pendant that Li Sanlang gave you." Zhou Xu put the broken jade pendant on the table. The jade pendant glowed with an oily warm white color under the candlelight and looked very valuable.
Xiao Luolan originally wanted to leave, but when she saw the jade pendant, she remembered what happened to Li Sanlang, and she told Clan Master Zhou that Li Sanlang came to see her.
After Zhou Xu listened, he took a sip of wine.
"The jade pendant was given to me suddenly by Li Sanlang. Does this jade pendant have any effect?" Xiao Luolan was worried that there was something weird about this jade pendant.
Zhou Xu moved the green mat to Mrs. Xiao's side, and just put his head on his hands and looked at Mrs. Xiao with a smile.
Xiao Luolan felt uncomfortable looking at him: "Did I say something wrong?"
Zhou Xu asked another question: "Li Sanlang asked Mrs. Xiao if you were coerced to be with me, are you?"
Seeing the ambiguity of what Zhou Zongzhu said, Xiao Luolan frowned but still shook his head: "Zhou Zongzhu, you saved Qingxue. Qingxue and I have always been very grateful to you for your help at that time, and we will also receive your help later. Help us so we can get to Taiyang." Naturally, it wasn't a threat.
"You are our benefactor."
Zhou Xu asked seriously: "Mrs. Xiao, can I ask for repayment by threatening you with kindness?"
Xiao Luolan was stunned for a moment, and then breathed quickly for a few breaths. He lowered his head and bit his lip tightly without speaking, his face was a little pale.
Zhou Xu saw Mrs. Xiao's temples trembling and her delicate body trembling slightly, and said hoarsely: "Don't be afraid." In his heart, he wanted to pounce on her, and his heart felt dry and uncomfortable.
"Mrs. Xiao, I just don't want you to avoid me."
Zhou Xu saw that Mrs. Xiao was still lowering her head, her bitten lips were getting redder and redder, and only the bright red color on her face was eye-catching. Zhou Xu leaned forward and lowered his head as if he had been seduced.
Xiao Luolan looked at the approaching Sect Master Zhou in fear, supported her body with her hands and retreated to the red pillars in the house until there was no way to retreat.
Zhou Xu looked at Madam Xiao's exposed embroidered shoes and peonies in bloom like a man possessed, and suddenly reached out and grabbed one of Madam Xiao's feet.
Xiao Luolan suppressed the scream that reached her throat. Zhou Xu leaned forward and caressed Mrs. Xiao's face, as if sighing: "Mrs. Xiao, give me a chance to be a good person, okay?"
Xiao Luolan's mind was in confusion and she couldn't figure out why things were like this. She pressed her hands firmly against the cold bamboo floor, wet traces of sweat slid down her temples, and her body trembled unconsciously.
Not far away, an embroidered shoe fell off.
Zhou Xu lowered his head and kissed Mrs. Xiao's snow-white ankles, and her half-tied socks were half hooked on the toes.
It seemed to be tugging at his heart.
Chapter 34
Lei Shan escorted Mrs. Xiao back to the East Pavilion of Dongyuan with a lantern.
There is a moon gate between the east and west gardens of Dou Mansion. After passing through the winding corridor, the fragrance of flowers planted in the courtyard is astonishing. Lei Shan is not used to the fragrance of flowers, so he just silently leads the way. Mrs. Xiao walks behind him, like He was in a trance, and his steps were a little frivolous.
Lei Shan's hearing was very keen, and he always felt that Mrs. Xiao was different tonight from usual, as if she had been greatly stimulated.
What happened in Qingfeng Hall?
Lei Shan was standing far away at that time and didn't know what was going on inside. He sent Mrs. Xiao to the door of the East Pavilion, then turned and left. Xiao Luolan stood at the door of the East Pavilion, but did not go in, and came along the green bamboo path. In her daughter's Xinghua Residence, Mrs. Dou gave them both mother and daughter a very good place to live. There was a big apricot tree in the courtyard of Xinghua Residence. It was now May and there were no more apricot blossoms. Xiao Luolan said softly I pushed the door open and found it locked, feeling relieved.
"Master." Fang Yun came out of the side room of Xinghua Residence, bowed her hands and said, "My lady just went to bed."
"Thank you for your hard work, Fang Yun." Xiao Luolan remembered that in a few days it would be the day when Fang Yun would receive her monthly payment. She looked at the little girl and said softly: "Have you eaten yet?"
"I've already eaten it. I used it with Brother Lei and the others." Fang Yun said.
Xiao Luolan warned: "Go to bed quickly after eating. Remember to lock the door when you go to bed at night."
"Master, you haven't taken a bath yet, do you need me to serve you closely?" Fang Yun asked for instructions.
Xiao Luolan touched the little girl's head and said, "No need, I'm used to washing by myself."
Seeing her master's insistence, Fang Yun returned to the side room after bending her knees.
Xiao Luolan returned to the East Pavilion, entered the inner room, and soaked in the hot water. It was only then that her whole body relaxed. Maybe it was because of the Dragon Boat Festival. There was a faint aroma of mugwort in the bath water. Xiao Luolan stared at the water in a daze. , the sachet she made for her daughter still has a few stitches left to sew, and she needs to finish it before going to bed. She will go to Mrs. Dou tomorrow to discuss borrowing a craftsman. I don’t know what happened to the soap her daughter made.
Xiao Luolan forced herself to think about other things, trying to forget what happened in Qingfeng Hall, but the more she didn't think about some things, the more they kept reminiscing... Xiao Luolan didn't understand what was so good about feet, but fortunately she couldn't She just kissed her feet, and she also didn't understand why Clan Master Zhou would have such thoughts about her. In her opinion, what kind of woman would a person who sat in Clan Master Zhou's position want? Why bother with her?
When the water cooled down, Xiao Luolan got up, put on her slave clothes, closed the doors and windows, sat on the bed and sewed sachets for her daughter by the candlelight in the room. In modern times, she would occasionally embroider cross-stitch. This kind of hand-made sewing This is the first time I have made a sachet, so I think it has the advantage of fine stitching.
Xiao Luolan carefully inspected the sewn sachet and found that there were no major flaws, so she placed it under the pillow and prepared to give it to her daughter early tomorrow morning.
She has never had any big ambitions, she just hopes that her daughter and she will be safe and sound. Xiao Luolan closed her eyes and curled up to sleep on the bed, so as long as Sect Master Zhou didn't do too much to her, she could deceive herself and think of it as anything. Didn't happen either.
She had a complete falling out with Sect Master Zhou, and Xiao Luolan was not among her choices ever since she saw Lei Hu, Lei Bao and the others' murderous behavior.
Early the next morning.
Xiao Qingxue was very happy when she smelled the sachet that exuded the fragrance of herbs. When no one was around, she kissed her mother loudly on the cheek: "Thank you, Mom." Snowball meowed around Xiao Qingxue's feet. , Xiao Qingxue picked it up and rubbed the kitten's belly. The snowball had stuck to her tightly these past few days. Xiao Qingxue guessed that it was the effect of her regular feeding.
