With everyone watching with curiosity and expectation, Cao Ya stretched out her little hands, which were much plumper and thinner than those of a little girl of her age that Wei Changying had seen, and opened the oil paper a little clumsily.
The oil paper, which had become brittle due to age, followed her movements, and scraps of paper fell sparsely onto the golden silk brocade embroidery in Ming Peitang.
But no one has the mind to pay attention to this at this moment, and everyone is watching the last layer of oil paper fall...
"What's this?"
After seeing clearly what was in the greased paper, everyone in the hall was stunned!
"Hiss..." Wei Changying narrowed his eyes slightly, leaned back, looked at Mu Chunmian coldly, and said, "Master Mu Fortress, are you, mother and daughter, here to entertain us?"
When she said this, she also glanced at Shen Lun coldly - Shen Lun was suddenly sweating like rain!
It's just that even he was shocked and speechless by the last thing exposed in the oil paper. At this moment, although he was afraid that he had offended the young lady by his incompetence, he didn't know how to explain it-
On top of the oil paper, there was a piece of rag.
Not only is it a rag, but it is also stained with a lot of blood stains, oil stains, or other dirt. Because the sunlight is too long, the true color of the cloth can no longer be seen. Even after opening it, there is no peculiar smell... But no matter what, it is A rag! And it was thrown in the corner, the kind that even beggars would be too lazy to pick up...
It's not big yet, a little smaller than Cao Ya's palm. If Wei Changying and Duanmu Xinmiao hadn't both had very good eyesight, they would even have to be brought up to see it!
Wei Changying was angry and asked coldly, "If you want to exchange a piece of rag for three thousand taels of gold, could it be that Caojiabao has been doing private business for a long time without any capital, and even I, the Shen family, dare to blackmail you? !”
As soon as she spoke like this, everyone in the hall was silent. However, after a breath of silence, someone didn't understand - Cao Ya opened her eyes wide and said in a sweet voice: "It's not just rags, but also needles!" Speaking, he walked forward naturally and held up the oil paper to show Wei Changying.
Wei Changying frowned and looked down... After looking at it for a long time, she realized that there was indeed a thin needle placed on the dirty rag. Although the needle sucked, it was quite long and dull in color. I can’t tell what the material is... Duanmu Xinmiao looked at it for a moment and said, "This is a needle used for acupuncture... Is it a bone needle?"
Mu Chunmian, the next man, said respectfully: "Miss Duanmu has good eyesight, these are indeed bone needles."
Duanmu Xinmiao was suddenly moved and said: "This looks like it is just made of ordinary animal bones. Its toughness and strength are far inferior to the normal silver needles or gold needles! My uncle is an uncle after all, and he can actually use such bone needles for acupuncture!" "
Wei Changying paused for a moment, then reminded her: "Is it really an ordinary bone needle? Is it worth three thousand taels of gold?"
The topic turned back to gold - Mu Chunmian said leisurely: "Young Madam and Miss Duanmu, please don't get angry, and let the young lady explain the reason for these three thousand taels of gold: The humanity of those who left these things behind, this piece of gold." The rag was from when his brother died, and he had no time to put it away, so he could only cut off a piece of his clothes as a souvenir. However, this bone needle was not his, but was specially obtained by his sister in order to save his nephew. Grind it into... These things may be worthless to others, but to Doctor Ji or Miss Duanmu, three thousand taels of gold is definitely not much - because everyone who died in the Ji family in Xiliang died violently over the years. The prisoners were buried together, and there was no separate tombstone. It was impossible to find them after so many years!”
Duanmu Xinmiao suddenly changed his expression and said: "Relics?! The relics of my master's family members?"
Mu Chunmian nodded: "That's right! Although no bones can be found, with these things, a tomb can be built, right?"
"How many of these things do you have?" Duanmu Xinmiao asked subconsciously.
Before Mu Chunmian could answer, Wei Changying, who was watching with cold eyes, suddenly asked: "According to what you said, Ji Gu is indeed dead? More than ten years ago, you didn't lie to me, Mrs. Shen, to inquire about someone?"
Mu Chunmian affirmed: "As the young lady said... the old people in the castle said so, and the members of your family have personally confirmed it."
"Then why didn't you talk about these relics more than ten years ago?" Wei Changying asked with a sneer!
After being reminded by her, Duanmu Xinmiao also came to his senses, clapped his hands and said: "That's right! Since it is a relic left by my master's uncle, and there are also things belonging to my master's other relatives... why didn't you mention it back then?"
Mu Chunmian smiled bitterly and said: "Three thousand taels of gold, even people with the status of Young Madam and Miss Duanmu think it is too much, let alone me and other untouchables in the countryside? At that time, the previous castle master was here, and he just thought it was a lot. Hearing the joke, naturally he didn’t dare to mention it to the Shen family.”
"Why do you dare to mention it now?" Wei Changying asked her with squinted eyes. He glanced at the oil paper and the things in the oil paper. By taking a few steps closer, he could better look at the coral on his temples. The beaded Cao Ya said calmly, "And you also brought your only biological flesh and blood here! Aren't you afraid that such a ridiculous request will anger us, and it will not be a good thing for you, mother and daughter?"
Mu Chunmian smiled slyly when he heard the words, raised his head slightly and said: "Firstly, there is a shortage of everything in the castle, so this gold is very needed; secondly... Although the little woman is ignorant, she also heard from several people who arrived a few days ago. Relatives from the fort who came to Xiliang for medical treatment talked about the news that the little miracle doctor... is Miss Duanmu. In recent days, she has spared no effort to treat me, a commoner like Li Shu, with such a compassionate heart. , he must be a pure and filial person! Naturally, he will not buy it!”
"You are very courageous." Guard Chief Ying said, "Aren't you afraid of making us feel unhappy by opening your mouth like this?"
"Three thousand taels of gold is still a big sum for the young lady and Miss Duanmu. It's just because the two nobles are shrewd and careful people and don't want to waste it in vain." Mu Chunmian said with a smile. , "Actually, as two noble people, how can they really take such a sum of money seriously?"
Wei Changying glanced at her, turned around and asked Duanmu Xinmiao: "Sister?"
"...Give her three thousand taels of gold!" Duanmu Xinmiao only hesitated for a moment, then said resolutely, "I also ask my third sister-in-law to pay for it for me first! I will pay it back after I return to Beijing..."
"My family, those who said they haven't repaid the money have gone out of their way." Wei Changying said in a pleasant tone, "Sister Xinmiao, when you helped me and your third brother, we were not so polite to you."
The two of them negotiated for a while, and Wei Changying ordered people to collect gold. Finally, he asked Mu Chunmian: "You are just mother and daughter. Is it inconvenient to take these three thousand taels of gold back? Do you need me to send them away?" Is someone going to give you a gift?”
Mu Chunmian was a little surprised when she heard that she could really get 3,000 taels of gold, but her palace was not cheap. Her eyes fluctuated for a moment and then calmed down. Now I was very surprised to hear that the guard chief Ying meant to let the mother and daughter go. After thinking about it, he said: "Thank you young lady, but the young lady wants this gold. It is also to give the castle The little lady will go to the market in Xiliang City to buy things for use, but she will not bring all the gold back to Caojiabao. "
She pondered for a moment, and then said tentatively, "The little lady thought that the gold she would bring back would not be much. There are some men from the castle outside, so I guess there is no need to work for the young lady's subordinates."
Wei Changying did not insist and said, "In that case, I will have someone send it to you in a moment."
... When the mother and daughter really left, Duanmu Xinmiao frowned and asked Wei Changying: "Sister-in-law?" She didn't want to let Mu Chunmian go just like that - although the few relics were indeed of great significance to Ji Qubing, those people Ji Qubing had heard the news of his death a long time ago, and Ji Gu's life and death was what she cared about most.
But just now when she wanted to continue questioning, Wei Changying secretly stepped on her foot and signaled her to be silent. Now that Mu Chunmian and her daughter are gone, Duanmu Xinmiao naturally wants to ask questions.
"Don't worry, sister, I think there are eight out of ten chances that Ji Gu is still alive!" Wei Changying took a leisurely sip of tea and said lightly.
Although Duanmu Xinmiao guessed that Wei Changying stepped on his feet and stopped him from speaking, there must be a reason. But he didn't expect Wei Changying to give such an answer directly. He was stunned for a moment and almost jumped up: "Seriously?!"
"Eighty-nine times out of ten. Eighty-nine times!" Wei Changying said with a smile, "I dare not fight for sure, but the possibility is huge!"
Duanmu Xinmiao hurriedly asked: "Sister-in-law, how did you know?!"
"Don't you think that Mu Chunmian's identity is too courageous to ask us for three thousand taels of gold based on a relic?" Wei Changying sneered and said, "Why is it because Caojiabao is short of money now? Why is it because she knows that you are a disciple of Divine Doctor Ji... I'm sure that she has a great connection with Ji Gu! Even if she turns against us, we won't seriously embarrass them if she brings Ji Gu out! "
Duanmu Xinmiao was surprised and said: "Then why didn't they tell me directly? Are they afraid that they would tell me directly and be embarrassed to ask for the three thousand taels of gold?"
"I don't think they are necessarily embarrassed." Wei Changying reminded, "If they prove their relationship with Ji Gu and ask you for three thousand taels of gold, will you give it to them?"
"If I really have a close relationship with my uncle, I will naturally help him!" Duanmu Xinmiao said seriously, "My master cares about my uncle very much! Now that the master is still in Fengzhou and has no time to come, I will naturally help him!" You have to take good care of people for him!”
Wei Changying said: "The problem is, I believe your idea, but Ji Gu may not believe it!"
Duanmu Xinmiao was startled, then Wei Chief Ying said: "Do you think that more than ten years ago, my grandmother entrusted the Shen family to go to Caojiabao to find him? How could we not say that it was because of Divine Doctor Ji? Our Wei family had to find a way to help Ji. Gu is not guilty? It's just that the Caojia Fort is easy to defend and difficult to attack, but it is very closed when it comes to information, isn't it? That time, Ji Gu almost suspected that the Shen family was talking nonsense. He was ordered by Concubine Deng to kill them all, so he needed a clever doctor to convince the people in Hebao to help him forge the corpses and tombs!"
She sighed, "More than ten years ago, he didn't believe that the Shen family was looking for him. In the past ten years, he must have been very cautious, living in seclusion so that no one would discover his identity! In such a situation Under such circumstances, he wouldn't have heard too much, right? So, he found someone asking about him again. Even if this person is you, the only disciple of Divine Doctor Ji, Ji Gu may not be willing to believe it... After all, the big families are intermarrying with each other. Marriage, among the most famous families in the world, who can't get close to a few relatives through a few twists and turns? Ji Gu was once the son of a magistrate of the Taiyuan Hospital. He must know that we nobles have a lot of in-laws, so he may not be relieved. you!"
Duanmu Xinmiao understood a little bit: "What does sister-in-law mean? These three thousand taels of gold depend on my sincerity?"
"That's right." Wei Changying said calmly, "I think that Mu Chunmian must have been warned by Ji Gu before she came here. After she asked for three thousand taels of gold, Ji Gu must have had all the reactions we had. Speculation. Otherwise, how can a country woman, no matter how much she has a city like Caojiabao, not pay taxes, how much wealth can she accumulate in a few decades? If we didn’t have a complete plan and trained for a long time, how could we do it?”
She glanced at Duanmu Xinmiao and said, "When she returned to Caojiapu after buying enough things with these three thousand taels of gold, she found that we were really willing to spend three thousand taels of gold to buy some tattered relics. I think that Ji Gu Cai can believe that you really have no ill intentions towards him - he thinks that he should not be worth three thousand taels of gold in the eyes of Concubine Deng. This price is not the price of the relic, but it is the price he places on his own life! "
He then said thoughtfully, "Caojia Fort...Cao Ya, Mu Chunmian left the son of the fort outside, but brought a little girl in specially. It must be for some reason. Could it be that the one who is really related to Ji Gu is That little girl named Cao Ya? Hey, Shen Lun should have been asked just now, is this Cao Ya definitely Mu Chunmian's biological daughter?" (To be continued)