Looking at the half-male, half-female person in front of him, he looked familiar. The mine supervisor couldn't help but cup his hands and said, "Eunuch Jia, you are well."
The man called Eunuch Jia was stunned for a moment and did not dare to look at the mine supervisor. He turned away and said in a panic: "You have recognized the wrong person. There is no fake father-in-law here, only a useless man named Jia Quan."
When the new emperor of the Dawu Dynasty ascends the throne, the eunuchs in the palace must be cleaned up and replaced with people whom the new emperor can trust.
Gu Shengchao looked this man up and down. He had not seen him when he visited the palace at night. He must not be a close aide of the old eunuch Wen Zhe, otherwise he would not have appeared here. He had lost his life in the purge.
"How can we meet before? I once visited the palace at night. Even though you and I have never met, we are still old friends. Now we are all for our own masters. Fighting and killing only hurt the harmony. I have something to say." Gu Shengchao stopped immediately. Bao Jian looked at them with a smile.
The tense atmosphere suddenly disappeared. Jia Quan was a little stunned. He thought for a moment and suddenly raised his hands to everyone and said, "Thank you all for your support. I, Jia Quan, will take my leave now."
Without waiting for a reply, he left on his own, riding away along the winding path alone.
Jia Quan's departure without saying goodbye surprised everyone, especially the people who came out of the coal mine, who looked at each other in confusion.
"Let's go, the county magistrate is still waiting at the government office, we have to do our official business first." Gu Shengchao winked at Lu Shouwen.
There were scouts and guides in the mission who had already warned them that they could reach the county government office before sunset.
Lu Shouwen understood, raised his banner high and headed back. The ancient sage came to the rear.
Jia Quan's escape, Gu Shengchao's bravery, and the news that they were the honored guests of the county magistrate made those who were showing off their power just now lose their mind and watched them go away without daring to make any mistakes.
The sky is high and the emperor is far away. The more remote the area, the greater the authority of the small yamen, which is actually much more effective than the senior officials in the capital.
There was a delay in the process, and by the time the delegation arrived safely at the county magistrate's office, it was already time to light the lamp.
Someone had notified the county magistrate long ago, and led the officials to greet them on the roadside. They arranged the accommodation for the envoys and held a sumptuous banquet to entertain the members of the envoys.
It is impossible for hundreds of people to dine in the Yamen at the same time. Most of them are entertained on the spot in the inn.
There were nine chief envoys and deputy envoys in total. They represented the envoys and came to the county government office to attend a banquet with the county magistrate.
As a matter of course, Lu Shouwen sat at the head of the table, accompanied by the county magistrate, and the other eight people took their seats respectively.
Before the banquet started, the sound of silk and bamboo was heard first, and several singers danced under the banquet to enhance the atmosphere.
The county magistrate toasted and invited: "Everyone is here, you have worked hard all the way. On behalf of the people of the county, I would like to toast you."
Everyone was drinking, and the graceful maid was in charge of serving food.
When passing by the door, it was inconvenient to get in and out after carrying the tray. Guards stood outside the door to help open and close the door to ensure that outsiders could not see inside.
Just when the door is opening and closing, the guard always glances at him inadvertently.
When a high official came to the capital, it was normal for the servants to take a few more glances out of curiosity. However, this man's eyes were bright and his aura was calm. Gu Shengchao couldn't help but notice him and take a few more glances.
The county magistrate noticed his strange behavior, picked up the wine glass and said: "There are no beautiful girls in the backcountry who make adults laugh."
"Where, where." Gu Shengchao interrupted: "I did find one, the woman who served the food just now. From behind, it is also a sign that she is a rare beauty."
The county magistrate beamed with joy: "Your Excellency, you have good taste. That woman is a courtesan who has just been trained by the local Cuihong Mansion. I am afraid that it will disturb the adults' enjoyment of drinking and drinking, so I specially asked her to serve the dishes. If you like it, I will let her serve you in a moment." Warm the bed.”
After three rounds of wine and five delicious dishes, Lu Shouwen got to the point: "When we passed through Guixian County, we saw a coal mine being mined. It was not on the imperial list. We were about to inquire in detail, but we were violently stopped by someone. We didn't know the county. Do you know?"
"Impossible. My jurisdiction knows best. How could something like this happen? Coal mines are exclusively owned by the imperial court. Mining without permission will cost you your head. You must have made a mistake." The county magistrate shook his head like a child's rattle. He looked completely unaware.
He tried so hard to deny it, but he was hiding his inner panic. There must be something ulterior.
Lu Shouwen probed: "Could it be that the people below are doing things secretly behind your back? Otherwise, let's check together tomorrow. I wonder if you can go with us?"
"Okay, it's settled, let's drink." The county magistrate agreed happily without any hesitation.
With singing and dancing as company, everyone drank until late at night. The three deputy envoys were already drunk and unconscious. Everyone was helped back to their residence to rest.
The inn was not far away, but they came to a pink flower building at the back.
The three-story flower building is surrounded by high stone walls. There is only one door for entry and exit, which is safe and ensures the privacy of the guests.
Gu Shengchao was helped to the third floor, pushed open the door and entered the guest room to sleep. Someone lit an oil lamp in the guest room in advance, and there is also a private room for taking a shower, which is thoughtful.
He was exposed to the wind and sun all the way, and his body was filthy. He was about to take off his clothes and wash himself, when the door was gently pushed open, and a beautiful woman walked in. She saluted and said: "My lord, you have been working hard all the way. I heard that you specially ordered a little girl. Let me wait for you and take a rest."
"No, please go back. I want to take a shower." Gu Shengchao refused decisively. He did not expect that the county magistrate would take it seriously.
The woman closed the door with her backhand and gently bolted the door: "You don't have to be restrained, sir. I have a slave to keep you company. Anyway, there is no one to disturb you here. God knows that you know that I know. Isn't it the right time to have fun together?" "
After that, the woman stepped forward to take off his clothes.
With the experience of dating Liu Ximei, Gu Shengchao knew that many of them were forced to do nothing, and he had no prejudice against these prostitutes.
He stopped the woman and said: "Girl, please respect yourself. If you are suffering from persecution, rest here tonight. I will not embarrass you. If you are ignorant, I will throw you out immediately."
The woman looked at Gu Shengchao with her big eyes, tears streaming down her face, and she stood there sobbing silently.
Seeing the other party being so aggrieved, Gu Shengchao felt a little overwhelmed and restless.
"Okay, it's up to you to stay or go. I won't force you. I just want to go in and take a bath. You just don't want to harass me."
Gu Shengchao entered the single room, found a candlestick and lit it, closed the door and took a slow bath.
When he washed off the dirt all over his body, put on his clothes and went to the guest room outside, the woman was still dressed up, stopped crying and sat on the edge of the bed silently.
"I'll leave the bed for you, I'll just sleep on the floor."
Gu Shengchao picked up the quilt and spread it on the floor. Just as he was about to lie down, the woman fell asleep there first.
Gu Shengchao couldn't bear the woman's repeated rudeness, pointed at her and said angrily: "Are you done?"
Facing Gu Shengchao's rebuke, the woman did not shed tears this time. She pursed her lips and said, "I know you have good intentions. I will sleep here. You have been working hard all the way, so please rest in bed."
So that's it.
The woman's kindness surprised and touched Gu Shengchao. He sighed and said: "You girls are weak, and I, a thick-skinned and thick-skinned person like me, will sleep anywhere. This place is just right for me."
"I don't. If you have mercy on me, sir, let's sleep in the bed together."
The woman was afraid that the ancient sage might misunderstand, so she explained: "I promise to be obedient. I will do whatever you ask me to do, and I will never act recklessly."
Seeing that the woman's expression was sincere and didn't look like she was lying, Gu Shengchao agreed: "It's up to you, let's sleep on the bed together."
The woman became happy, took the quilt and spread it on the bed. She waited for Gu Shengchao to sleep in his clothes before blowing out the candle and carefully lying on the other side of the bed.
Gu Shengchao couldn't sleep and sensed that someone was eavesdropping outside the window. He was probably from the county government or the women's group.
"There are people eavesdropping outside, let's pretend to deal with it, do you understand?" Gu Shengchao whispered in the woman's ear.
The woman nodded: "I understand."
"You little prodigal, are you convinced?" Gu Shengchao's voice suddenly rose.
The woman was rising and falling on the bed, deliberately making noise, and gasping softly: "Sir, please be gentle, I can't bear it."
The man outside walked in the corridor and tiptoed downstairs.
"It's okay, the people outside have left." Gu Shengchao explained in a low voice.
The woman calmed down and said with shame, "I just lost my temper and made you laugh."
Gu Shengchao put his hands behind his head and said quietly: "I guess someone was afraid that you would not submit, so they secretly checked."
The woman said "Yes": "They are from Cuihonglou, and they secretly inquire about our cooperation. Any disobedient sisters will be tortured after they return, until they obey their arrangements."
"The county magistrate also has a stake in Cuihong Mansion?" Gu Shengchao knew what happened to these women after a little thought. Without the county magistrate's permission, they would never come uninvited tonight.
"Yes, we don't know how much of the shares we hold." The woman replied softly.
In such a remote county, the county magistrate is really the father-in-law of the people, possessing absolute power and controlling the power of life and death for everyone.
"Is the county magistrate also involved in other industries?" Gu Shengchao asked casually, and he didn't expect the woman to really know.
It's really awkward to lie on the bed alone, just to pass the time out of boredom.
The woman turned around, stared at Gu Shengchao and said, "I wonder if you can make the decision for me, sir, depending on your official position?"
The ancient sage was surprised. He heard the woman's uneasiness and resentment towards the world.
"I am a close official of the emperor and have won the trust of the emperor. I am passing by Beihu on this mission. If the girl has any grievances, please speak up. I will try my best to clear the grievances for the girl." Gu Shengchao sat up and assured the woman seriously.
The woman stood up and prostrated herself before Gu Shengchao: "I believe you are a good official. Please make the decision for me."
I couldn't see clearly in the night, but I could feel the woman's sincerity.
She was visibly moved and shed tears of gratitude.
"Please get up quickly. Be careful that the walls have ears. Just whisper." Gu Shengchao helped the woman up and asked her to sit on the edge of the bed and speak slowly.
The woman sat down, took out a handkerchief to wipe her tears, and said softly: "The little girl's name is Dong E. She is from the local Dong Village. Although she lives in poverty, she is quite happy and comfortable farming with her parents and brothers."
"There was a severe drought the year before last and there was no harvest. The county government said that it was out of consideration for the people and allowed us to borrow money to survive and avoid the risk of fleeing. Including us, the people in the village basically borrowed money to a greater or lesser extent. Last year's harvest Yes, we thought we could live a normal life after paying off the debt."
"I never expected that the county magistrate would say that it was usury, and we would have to repay many times the debt with interest compounded. We couldn't pay back the debt, and my father and brother were forcibly taken to the coal mine to suffer. They said they were using their labor to mortgage the debt. When you pay back, you go home."
"They saw that I was pretty, so they took me to Cuihonglou and sold me. Only my old mother was left at home, and I didn't know whether I was alive or dead."
After saying this, Dong E prostrated again: "I beg you, sir, to visit my home. If there is anything wrong with them, I don't want to live and suffer in this world. I will go with my family and avoid a lot of suffering."
