The faint morning light shined on Shen Zhen through the paired window.
After sixteen years of living, she experienced the pain of a hangover for the first time.
In fact, she had already woken up.
It's just that while she has a splitting headache, she intermittently recalls all kinds of yesterday, which she really doesn't want to face.
Shen Zhen curled up at the head of the bed, biting the tip of her thumb, she really wanted to erase all the pictures that were hovering in her mind.
Just when she was annoyed, Tang Yue knocked on the door and said softly, "Girl, it's time to get up."
After washing up, she was picked up by Tang Yue like a wandering soul, looking at herself in the bronze mirror, she closed her eyes in despair.
She remembered it all.
Breakfast has always been served on the east side.
When Shen Zhen opened the door, Lu Yan was already sitting at the table.
Today's breakfast is quite different from that of the past.
The table case seems to be separated by a boundary of the Chu River. The side he was sitting on was full of delicious delicacies, while on her side, there was only a bowl of glutinous rice dumplings and a bowl of very light bean soup.
As if it was deliberately prepared for her "drunk" person.
Shen Zhen walked up to him and whispered, "Sir."
Lu Yan looked up at her, "Sit down."
After being seated, Shen Zhen glanced at him secretly, and seeing that he was the same as usual, he breathed a sigh of relief. fine.
At this time, Tang Yue brought two towels as usual.
Lu Yan took one of them, wiped his hands repeatedly, and was extremely meticulous from start to finish. Looking at his actions, Shen Zhen's heart seemed to be grasped by someone, and the picture of him washing his body yesterday suddenly appeared in his mind.
She raised her hand and waved in front of her eyes, quickly interrupting this red-faced memory.
After Lu Yan picked up the wooden chopstick and took a sip, Shen Zhendi picked up the porcelain spoon and drank it with a sip.
After a while, she was still chewing slowly, and Lu Yan had run out.
He put down the wooden chopsticks and looked at her calmly.
There was no trace of the savageness on her body yesterday.
Maybe his eyes were too hot and too dazzling, so even if Shen Zhen lowered his head at this time, he could guess that he must be slandering himself in his heart, and the content was still related to yesterday.
She raised her hand slowly, pretended to rub her eyes, and then secretly looked at him through her fingers. With just one glance, she saw the blood on his ears and the bright teeth marks.
Shen Zhen paused and immediately lowered her head.
After a while, she put down the wooden chopsticks, took a deep breath, clapped her hands in mock surprise, and stood up, "My lord, I suddenly remembered that I made a mistake in an account yesterday, and I have to quickly change it back."
When Lu Yan saw that she was about to run away, he glanced at his long arms and held her in his arms, "Did I say let you go?" For some reason, his last upward ending sound was too much. A hint of flirtation.
Shen Zhen met his eyes and said bravely, "But if you don't change it now, you might forget it later."
He raised his hand and pinched her face, and replaced it with the tone of Lord Jingzhao Mansion: "Yes, then tell me, which account is wrong?"
Her excuse was revealed by him mercilessly.
Suddenly, her cheeks, ears, and neck were all stained with blush, and when she was nervous, her little hands couldn't help clenching into fists.
Lu Yan pulled the small fist in front of her and opened her fingers one by one. This easy action was destroying her heart defense step by step and forcing her to obey.
While playing with her palm, he looked straight at her.
This kind of expression, coupled with the smile on the corner of his mouth, added a sense of cynicism.
See she can't answer.
Lu Yan said again: "According to the laws of Jin, if you make a fool of yourself in front of the court officials, at least you will have to suffer 20 boards."
After all, he took her index finger again, first touched the three shallow marks on his neck, and then took her to touch his ear.
Every time he moved, her heart skipped a beat.
"If you do something with an official, it's the lightest thing, and you'll have to eat in prison." Lu Yan held her hand with a hint of contempt in his smile.
Maybe it's because yesterday's drinking vigor hasn't passed, and Shen Zhen's courage hasn't gone down yet.
Hearing these words, she blushed, looked at his eyes with burning eyes and replied, "Master Lu usually tries cases, does he also hold people's women in this way?"
With a serious tone and serious expression, the man in front of her couldn't help laughing.
After a while, he lowered his head and steadied her lips, keeping this position unchanged, and carried her back to the inner room.
Shen Zhen's body suddenly lost weight and could only wrap around his neck.
Inadvertently, he scratched again.
Lu Yan curled the corners of his lips, as if to say, Shen Zhen, you did it on purpose.
—
When the time came, Lu Yan went to the Governor's Mansion as scheduled.
He didn't take a sedan chair, but went directly on foot. There is no other reason. The two families are located in Wulipu, not far from each other. There is only one street between Luyuan and Zhao's house, and it's just a corner.
Hearing someone knocking on the door, the servant slowly opened the door of Zhao's house. He didn't recognize anyone, so he said, "Dare to ask who the son is?"
"At Xiawei, please let me know." Lu Yan said.
The Zhao family has a high status in Yangzhou, and most of the visitors are not rich but expensive.
Seeing that he was imposing and handsome, the servant was very polite. He put the bamboo broom aside and said respectfully, "Wait a minute."
Today, Zhao Chong took a break and was teaching his eldest son, Zhao Nian, to study in the study. Zhao Nian was not very smart. See you sir."
When Zhao Chong heard this, he hurriedly pushed open the door of the study and said, "Please come in quickly." After speaking, he felt inappropriate, and said, "You ask Wei Lin to take him to the front hall to sit down, and you must look at him. , don't ask him to go anywhere else, I'll come when I go back to the house to pick up some clothes."
Butler Wei received the instructions, trotted to the door, and bowed to greet him warmly, "It's Young Master Wei, please hurry up."
Lu Yan nodded in thanks.
Walking to the inner courtyard, a gust of wind hits, and there are bursts of cool air around. After Lu Yan was seated, Butler Wei poured him a cup of tea, "This is this year's new Maojian, you can try it."
Lu Yan looked at Zhao's residence calmly.
This place is much more low-key than he thought. It is a yard with three entrances and three places. There are very few servants. From the outside, it is really impossible to tell that this is the mansion of a corrupt official. I just don't know if there is a darkroom under the ground.
It's a pity that there are people around him, and he can't walk around freely, so he picks up the tea on the side, weighs the tea lid, and takes two sips.
After a while, Zhao Chong walked over.
Lu Yan got up and saluted, "Master Zhao."
Zhao Chong smiled and said, "Sit down, sit down, Brother Wei doesn't have to be so polite with me."
He looked at the prints on Lu Yan's neck and ears, and then smiled, "Brother Wei, did the guy in the family get it?"
Lu Yan stared blankly and nodded.
I have to say that, being so troubled by Shen Zhen, his image of "indulging in wine" is more convincing.
After Zhao Chong sat down, Butler Wei poured another cup of tea.
He picked it up, took a sip and said, "Brother Wei hasn't been in Yangzhou for a long time, and he probably hasn't had time to see the scenery. I know that there is a good scene on the other side of Slender West Lake. Why don't Brother Wei come with me to see it? "
Lu Yan said: "Then it's better to be respectful than to obey." This seemingly polite inquiry actually gave no chance to refuse.
Before noon, they arrived at Slender West Lake.
Zhao Chong took him into a splendid restaurant - Baiyuelou, the shopkeeper inside saw him, the corners of his mouth hooked into his ears, "Mr. Zhao, the good wing on the second floor has been reserved for you a long time ago. "
It can be seen that Zhao Chong likes this kind of courtesy very much, this kind of star holding the moon, the earth emperor's general sense of self-sufficiency, makes him blushing.
And the admiration on Lu Yan's face made him even more useful.
I just don't know how Zhao Chong would feel if one day he learned that the son of the merchant in front of him was the nephew of the current sage.
After going up to the second floor, they entered a windowless wing, it was dark inside, like late at night.
After being seated, the shopkeeper of Baiyuelou set up a white curtain in front of them, and then lit lights on both sides of the curtain.
Gourmet pastries, sake and side dishes are also prepared together.
Zhao Chong took a sip of wine, and the sound of silk and bamboo, accompanied by the sound of sandalwood boards, slowly sounded from the door, and then, behind the white screen, five figures appeared, in other words, the figures of five women .
This is a shadow play of living people.
The sound of the zheng was getting faster, and the five girls danced vigorously, with long sleeves and slow belts, wrapping around the body like a ring, moving and twisting, and they were charming.
Zhao Chong took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Brother Wei renting me five shops, what are you doing?"
Lu Yan replied, "Wei wants to make wine."
When Zhao Chong heard this, he immediately became interested.
Everyone in business knows that, apart from the two lucrative businesses of salt and iron, the most profitable one is wine.
Zhao Chong raised his eyebrows and said, "Isn't the Wei family in the silk cloth business? Why are they still in the wine business?"
Lu Yan replied: "The Wei family's family motto, it's not important to do business, what matters is to adapt to local conditions. Since Wei came to Yangzhou, he saw clothing and cloth shops everywhere on the street, and they were all high-quality goods. If someone intervenes halfway through, I'm afraid he can only return in disappointment."
Hearing this, Zhao Chong was delighted, "Why, then it can be done by making wine?"
"It's just the so-called golden bottle of sake fights ten thousand, so high interest, it is naturally worthy of Wei Mou's blog." The word businessman's interest is the word, and Lu Yan has brought it into full play.
It is true that Lu Yan wanted to make wine, and it was just right in Zhao Chong's arms.
Anyone who has made wine knows that - three catties of grain and one catty of wine, Lu Yan wants to make wine, where does the grain come from
Right now, all of Yangzhou's grain shops and mills are in Zhao Chong's hands.
It had to be said that "Wei Yan" really caught Zhao Chong's eye.
In his opinion, this is still a small profit at the moment. The Wei family has a great business. If Wei Yan can be recruited, it will be of great use in the future.
It's just that Zhao Chong is suspicious by nature. He has been an official for many years and has always been cautious. He has always believed that the smoother it is, the more careful it is.
When the song in front of him came to an end, a few yams walked in slowly, holding the lamp slowly, and then pulled away the curtain in front of him with a smile.
Five beautiful and graceful women, reflected in the eye shadow.
It was only then that Lu Yan suddenly realized that the drunkard's intention was not drinking alcohol today.
Where did Zhao Chong want to invite him to the show, he clearly wanted to put his eyes on him.
Zhao Chong tapped his lips with his index finger, then turned his head to Lu Yan and said, "This year's Yangzhou thin horse, the most lovely, are all here."
Lu Yan said nothing.
In Yangzhou, there are many yams who make a living by buying and selling young women.
At this time, a woman wearing a purple jacket, took the head girl's hand, and shouted: "Girl pays a visit!"
The thin horse hurriedly bowed his head and saluted.
Granny Ya shouted again, "How old is the girl?"
The thin horse said slowly, "Fifteenth year."
"Let's go, girl."
The thin horse took two more steps in response.
Granny Ya said again, "Girl go around again?"
The skinny horse moved his little feet and walked to Lu Yan. At this time, Granny Ya said again, "Show Lang Jun's hand."
Usually at this time, if the man in front of him is willing to hold the thin horse's hand, then the deal is considered a deal.
But how could Lu Yan reach out
His temples jumped along, obviously, none of these five lamps were fuel-efficient lamps, they were all trained by Zhao Chong.
Zhao Chong saw that Lu Yan didn't move for a long time, and said at Granny Ya, "Next!"
With a bad tone, Granny Ya closed her mouth in fright, and hurriedly went to hold the second girl's hand.
But after the second and third, after walking around in turn, Lu Yan still did not move.
When the fourth one didn't move, Zhao Chong picked up the tea cup on the table, slammed it, and fell to the ground.
Everyone in the room knew that Master Zhao was so angry that he was not rushing at the girl, but at Young Master Wei on the side.
After all, it was not the first time Zhao Chong had done stuffing people into the room, and this was not the first time Zhao Chong had fallen.
It was said that the aunt Zhao of the magistrate's family was stuffed by Zhao Chong.
Feng Zhixian was originally a fearful one, but he was suddenly stuffed into a concubine's room. The eldest grandmother in the family was angry for a while, and Feng Zhixian regretted it for a while.
But later, I don't know what seductive technique that Concubine Zhao used, and in less than three months, she became pregnant with the child of the magistrate.
The child has been born, it is a boy, and the magistrate is in pain.
Being forced by Zhao Chong like this, Lu Yan's face was expressionless, but he was actually burning with anger.
After all, he is not a Wei family member. In his eyes, Zhao Chong is nothing more than a dog official. If he tried to stuff people into his room, Princess Jing'an had not succeeded.
Lu Yan turned the wrench in his hand.
He really couldn't do it by dying for the country.
But he knew that as long as he wanted to get on the pirate ship, the five girls in front of him would be the pass. If he accepted it, everything would be fine. If he refused, he couldn't stay in Yangzhou any longer.
The magistrates of Yangzhou, the prefects, and the governor not far away were in unison. If they wanted to kill a businessman's son, it would be too easy.
Lu Yan turned his head to the side and said coldly, "Which one does Mr. Zhao think you like?"
When Zhao Chong heard this, his face brightened.
He hooked at the fifth girl, "Come here."
The fifth girl is named Fuman, she is charming and attractive. When these girls meet guests, they don't wear much, so it's hard to hide their charm.
Zhao Chong said: "She looks at it, although it's not as good as the one at Brother Wei's house, but it's better because of her figure. It's good to mix meat and vegetables, and you can adjust it. Mrs. Lu's skinny horse has always been docile and will not disturb the Wei family's house. ."
Lu Yan sneered and whispered, "Really."
As long as Lu Yan was willing to accept it, Zhao Chong naturally wouldn't care about his faint anger at the moment. After all, in his opinion, this is the biggest difference between court officials and businessmen.
Even if a businessman has invaluable assets, he must eventually seek the protection of the yamen. If he is obedient, he can make a fortune together.
Lu Yan picked up the wine glass on the side, drank it all, his Adam's apple slipped, and said coldly, "Then listen to Mr. Zhao."
Zhao Chong knew that this was his answer.
He got up and gave Granny Ya a sum of money, then turned around and said slowly, "This girl is my brother, so I'll give you a gift."
Lu Yan didn't answer.
Zhao Chong waved with Fu Man and said, "Go, you can go home with Lord Lang today."
Fu Man was overjoyed, and first said to Zhao Chong, "Thank you, sir." Then she said to Lu Yan, "I have seen Lang Jun."
Lu Yan didn't look at her, but got up slowly, "I'm afraid she won't be able to go back with me today, the other courtyards of Luyuan haven't been cleaned up yet, please ask Master Zhao to give me two days, and I'll send someone to pick them up in two days. she."
Zhao Chong patted him on the shoulder, "She's all yours now. Of course, when Brother Wei says to pick him up, he will pick him up."
As soon as the voice fell, Lu Yan saluted: "Wei has something to do, take a step first, and you won't disturb the adults Yaxing."
Zhao Chong narrowed his eyes, but still smiled: "Then brother Wei is gone, I won't give it away."
After Lu Yan left, Butler Wei whispered in Zhao Chong's ear, "Sir, I see this young master of the Wei family's body turned upside down, I'm afraid it's not a good idea."
Zhao Chong smiled and shook his head, "This Wei Yan is a man of temperament. Today, if he accepts it with a smile, I think he's not good. He played with me, but I appreciate him even more. ."
"But that Fu girl, he didn't take it away?" Butler Wei said.
"The one in his family is really a hooker, otherwise I wouldn't have sent Fu Mandu out. He went back first this time, probably because he wanted to appease the beauty." Zhao Chong sighed.
His eyes were like someone who came over, smiling at all the infatuated men in the world.
Looking back on his weak crown years, there is only the wife of the family in his heart.
But people are fickle, no amount of friendship can resist the temptation of fresh, concubine, if there is one, there will be a second.
—
After returning to Lu Yuan, Lu Yan had a calm face.
With that look, it seemed that everyone owed him thousands of dollars. Even Yang Zong didn't dare to make a sound.
He walked to the door of Chunxi Hall, and happened to see Shen Zhen and Tangyue drumming vases at the door. She pointed to this, and then pointed to that, and she didn't know what Tangyue said, which made her laugh.
Lu Yan took a step.
He strode closer to Chunxi Hall, and when Shen Zhen saw him, he hurriedly called, "Sir."
Lu Yan's eyes were as dark as a pool of stagnant water, and the heavy aura around him was like an underworld official who came up from the ground to catch people.
He stopped and said to Shen Zhen, "You come in with me."
Shen Zhen looked back at Yang Zong and asked him with his mouth, "What's going on?"
Yang Zong spread his hands evenly, with an expression that you don't know, little lady, and I don't even know.
Shen Zhen entered the room nervously and stood beside him obediently.
He coughed lightly and said, "Go and clean up the Qiuzhu Garden in the south tomorrow, no, it's the Dongli Garden in the north, clean up as soon as possible."
Shen Zhen nodded and said softly, "Is there anyone who wants to live here?"
Lu Yan put his hands against his temples and let out a long sigh, "Zhao Chong sent a thin horse from Yangzhou." After speaking, he looked into her eyes subconsciously.
Shen Zhen was a little surprised, Yangzhou thin horse, this is a very distant word for her.
Lu Yan looked at the surprise in her eyes, and guessed that she would not know how different Yangzhou thin horses were, so he reminded: "Those thin horses are trained by special personnel..." When he said this, he suddenly felt that some words were wrong. It was suitable for her to listen to, so he said: "In short, stay away from her. It is best not to talk to her. When you are at home, remember not to call me an adult."
Shen Zhen suddenly realized and nodded, "I remember."
Lu Yan came back all the way, thinking that she would have countless reactions.
Thought she would have red eyes, thought she would not want to stay under the same roof with that kind of woman, thought...
He just didn't expect that she accepted it quite happily. Also good.
Lu Yan was turning his head and turning the white jade finger on his hand, thinking about what to do in the future, when Shen Zhen said in distress: "She lives in, it's your concubine, if she talks to me, how can I Shouldn't it?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Lu Yan pinched her face and said in a deep voice, "You're thinking quite well, aren't you?"
Seeing that he was angry, Shen Zhen quickly pursed her lips. That's what it means to say no more.
Seeing her interest, he slowly let go.
But the sullen breath Zhao Chong gave him still prevented him from getting up and down.