Court Marriage

Chapter 63: The first wind

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Ping Xi's surname is Kang and his name is Ping. His grandfather was a wealthy businessman. Ping Xi's father inherited the family business and married his only sister to a scholar named Shi in the city. He took good care of his sister and brother-in-law. Pingxi's dear aunt.

Ping Xi is 3 months older than Shi Kang, and they are both 23 years old this year. They were married when they were young, and their relationship is better than that of brothers. She passed away, and Pingxi's mother was weak and sick, and knowing that time was running out, she entrusted her family property and Pingxi to her aunt Kang before she died. He stunned his nephew and handed it over to traffickers to take him to the south and sell it to a theater troupe. He claimed that he was lost. After the government found out, he was indeed abducted by kidnappers. On the surface, they sent people to look for it, but in fact they occupied Pingxi in a fair and honest manner. He bought his family property and used it to buy officials and bribes. Now he has become a sixth-rank magistrate of a state in a certain place in the north.

At that time, there was a loyal servant who didn't believe that the little master was lost by himself, and cheated the truth from the servant who betrayed Pingxi. He was humble and couldn't beat the Kang couple, so he kidnapped Shi Kang with hatred, and Shi Kang knew the truth After that, he never mentioned the matter of going home again, and devoted himself to finding peace with the servant.

The two followed the clues all the way to the south of the Yangtze River, and when they found Pingxi's troupe, it was already a year later. A servant and a child couldn't save anyone. Nine-year-old Shi Kang disguised himself as a beggar and secretly followed the theater troupe until Pingxi entered the county palace. Shi Kang was fortunate to be accepted as an apprentice by an old priest in the palace, Zhong Gengu, and his life was easier.

Pingxi learned the truth about her abduction from the traffickers, so she hated her aunt and uncle and vowed to take revenge. Coupled with the death of the loyal servant, Ping Xi completely understood the cruelty of this world, so after he entered the palace, he kept trying to protect himself, and was a stranger to Shi Kang, but Shi Kang was indomitable and refused to leave his side. Besides, apart from the occasional contact with his grandmother, he has completely betrayed the family. His parents will never let the eldest son go. They also said that Pingxi used him for revenge. Shi Kang just ignored him and continued to cling to Pingxi. , until the county prince Shouxiao sent Pingxi to Qiao Zhifu, Shi Kang left the palace again and went to Qiao's residence as a guard...

"Where is Pingxi's deed now? If it's here, we can ask grandma for help, and we can get it with some confidence. If it's in the palace, I wonder if we can redeem it at a high price?"

Seeing that Pingxi didn't intend to talk about his days in the Prince's Mansion, Gong Zhuoliang inquired secretly, thinking that Pingxi is now an adult, although her appearance is really good, but her body is not as good as those young children... after many years, Presumably that lowly prince should have forgotten about Ping Xi, otherwise he wouldn't have ignored him for so many years. If he asked someone to redeem his body contract in the name of Qiao's mansion, I don't know if it would be feasible or not.

Although Pingxi summed up her life experience in a few simple sentences, Gong Zhuoliang and his wife could imagine the hardships involved, especially in the county palace with a very bad reputation.

"Actually, I have never suffered any disadvantages in the palace, and my body contract was destroyed when I left the palace. It was only for self-protection that I told Master Qiao that I was still in the hands of the prince. I thought it would not last three years, but Unexpectedly, the prince of the county kept his filial piety continuously, and tolerated me for two more years, and I was thinking about how to get out of this mansion when the time came, but now I want to thank you and my wife."

Seeing that Gong Zhuoliang and Qiao Yingze looked at her with pity, Pingxi understood their thoughts after a little thought, she couldn't help but chuckled and shook her head with a sly look on her face.

It is false to say that he does not care about other people's opinions. Although Ping Xi was born in a merchant family, he is still the eldest son of a decent family. If he hadn't been murdered by his aunt, he might not have been able to study and study since he was a child and become a famous official. No matter how bad he is, he can stop his business and buy some farms, and he can be a rich man who has no worries about food and clothing for the rest of his life by guarding those family properties.

Thinking of this, Ping Xi couldn't help but see a look of hatred... According to the law of the current court, a man who enters the lowly status as an actress or a courtesan will not be allowed to pass the imperial examination for the rest of his life. His whole life has been completely ruined.

"That's really great! It's just that since there is no need to care about the county prince's mansion, why would Brother Shi let you..."

For the answer Pingxi gave, Gong Zhuoliang was really surprised. After all, based on his understanding of Shi Kang, he wanted to protect Pingxi's safety, and he should not let Pingxi take the name of another man's concubine. I have lived in Qiao's mansion for five years, otherwise I would be ashamed to say that I am a man, and because of this, Gong Zhuoliang and his wife thought that Pingxi was in a difficult situation and could not leave the county mansion.

"He doesn't know. I have been lying to him that the lord has handed over the deed to Master Qiao. After the filial piety period is over, the palace will come to pick me up again. If he was not afraid that I would be in danger, he would have forcibly taken me away. ... The two of you also know that our relationship is complicated, so please keep the matter of the body contract a secret."

Although Ping Xi had a bad face towards Shi Kang all day long, he didn't want others to misunderstand him, especially Gong Zhuoliang and Qiao Yingze were people whom Shi Kang valued, but even though he had softened his heart towards Shi Kang now, it was I can't let go of my hatred for the Kang couple, so now is not the time to fully support...

"Pingxi, although you and I haven't known each other for long, as a friend, there are some things I want to tell you. Shi Kang's parents hurt you so much. You should hate them, but Shi Kang doesn't owe you anything. , he has gone through all kinds of tribulations and wants to protect you, it is out of his sincerity, not because he deserves it, he may suffer more than you, if you are not ruthless to him, you should cherish him more Bar."

Looking at Pingxi's calm and composed appearance, Qiao Yingze couldn't help but think of Shi Kang's occasional blankness and loneliness. Whether it was out of friendliness or a sense of recognition for the two of them, it was rare for Qiao Yingze to take the initiative to persuade Pingxi In two sentences, I don't want him to do anything that he will regret.

"Pingxi understands, thank you again, sir."

Qiao Yingze's words shocked Pingxi, and then she smiled wryly and got up to bow to the two of them.

How could he not understand these principles? It's just that he is unwilling and timid after all, unwilling to let go of his hatred for him, and afraid that after he really gives up everything for him, there will be a day when he will get tired of this relationship...

"Okay, okay, don't say thank you anymore. Now that the matter is settled, then we will report to grandma first, and Pingxi will also clean up. If it is done, we will move there today Go, lest there will be another accident when the master comes back at night."

He hurriedly supported Pingxi's arm to stop his salute, Gong Zhuoliang was afraid that what Qiao Yingze said would make Pingxi feel unhappy, after all it was a private matter of the couple, so he took the opportunity to leave first and went to Mrs. Qiao's business.

After seeing the two of them out of the yard, Ping Xi withdrew her chaotic thoughts, turned around and walked upstairs, and just entered the room, she saw Shi Kang already dressed and sitting at the table, only the blush on his face It hasn't gone away so far, and when I saw myself, my eyes seemed to light up.

"Let Xuehua come up and tidy up, let's go to the West Mansion together."

Feeling warm in her heart, Ping Xi went to Shi Kang's side and touched his head, leaned over and kissed his lips...

When Qiao Yingze and Gong Zhuoliang arrived at the old lady's courtyard, it was time for dinner. The old lady happily kept them together. As he expected, the old lady readily agreed, and also secretly asked them not to let outsiders see Pingxi, even to the people in the house, they only need to say that he is a master who teaches piano art.

The old lady's move was in line with Gong Zhuoliang's and his group's wishes, so the matter was settled, and Gong Zhuoliang and the others went directly to pick up Pingxi and left together. Of course, besides the maid Xuehua, there was also a girl who had just "run away from home" with her. Stone hero.

Shi Kang admitted his mistakes very readily, and with Pingxi helping him to beg for mercy, Gong Zhuoliang didn't really make things difficult for him, and let Pingxi, as Shi Kang's cousin Kang Ping, enter the West Mansion as Gong Zhuoliang's "qin art" gentlemen'…

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX On the twelfth of August, Qiao Yingxuan sent his sister, Qiao Yuanyin, to Beijing to be married. Because there were female relatives and a lot of dowry, she walked slowly for twelve days, and did not arrive in Beijing until the twenty-fourth of August.

Mrs. Qiao had already invited her natal brother-in-law to act as the woman to handle the marriage, which made Qiao Yingxuan feel more relaxed. He followed the list of relatives given by his grandmother and mother to visit and socialize one by one. Fortunately, this year Over the years, Qiao Yingxuan has matured a lot. Although he is not willing to climb up those rich and powerful, he finally managed to save face.

It's just that facing the bustling and bustling capital city, Qiao Yingxuan really couldn't think of leaving. He also had brother Lu and his future brother-in-law to accompany him, so he didn't return to Bocheng until the end of October to prepare for his marriage.

"I heard that His Majesty has violated the Eucharist, and his personality has become irritable and severe. He has punished many officials. When I was in Beijing, I heard from my uncle that many high-ranking officials had been demoted. Now everyone in the court is free. Be careful."

After taking a sip of the newly brewed fruit wine from his elder brother's house, Qiao Yingxuan pursed his lips to savor the fragrance, then lowered his voice and approached Qiao Yingze and Gong Zhuoliang mysteriously, talking about what he had seen and heard in Beijing.

Although they were estranged from the eldest uncle's family because of their father's relationship at the beginning, they treated Qiao Yingxuan as a nephew fairly close for Mrs. Qiao's sake. When I came to Beijing, I really built some contacts.

"Your Majesty Shengming, it will not happen innocently, do you know the reason?"

Today Qiao Yingze served Qiao Yingxuan with wine at his house, and Gong Zhuoliang came in men's clothes, so everyone didn't have so many scruples, and their words and deeds became casual.

The Holy Majesty is now in his fifties, and there have been rumors that he is unwell in the past six months, but now it seems that it may not be empty rumors.

"I don't know the specifics. I just listened to what the uncle and the others said. Those who were severely punished were those who were close to the second and third princes."

Seeing that Gong Zhuoliang was very interested, Qiao Yingxuan proudly continued to gossip with him.

"The prince is only twenty-two this year, right? Your Majesty is in poor health. No wonder his brothers are restless."

Gong Zhuoliang remembered that the current crown prince was the same age as Gong Zhuoxiang, and ranked fifth. The eldest prince died young, and the second, third, and fourth princes were all descended from concubines. So he was named the prince early, but the power of the second prince and the third prince's mother clan is not weak, only the fourth prince's background is not high, and there are no rumors about him from the outside world, as for the sixth prince and the seventh prince, they are still not popular milk doll.

"That's right, it's so lively in the capital, there are plays every day."

Qiao Yingxuan really missed the freedom in Beijing, and he became more and more determined to take the martial arts test. If he didn't go out and didn't know his knowledge, he didn't want to just idle around like this every day.

"Okay, we can't get involved in those things, don't bring them up again, and recently I heard from my grandmother that one of my father's friends ransacked his home for the crime of embezzlement and disaster relief, and my father was in a bad mood. Be restrained when you go home, don't argue with him again on the day of great joy."

Qiao Yingze saw that the two of them were talking gossip together, and their words were not respectful to the superior, so he scolded Qiao Yingxuan a few words.

In fact, Qiao Yingze's words are considered tactful. Master Qiao's current situation is not as simple as being in a bad mood, but he is very irritable and panicky. It's just that he still knows how to be cautious and not greedy for those terrible money, so why? He couldn't be punished even if he was punished, and now he was just afraid of being implicated.

"Brother put it down, brother knows, what is our status, how can we make do with those big things, as for the family, I don't bother to pay attention to that kind of people."

Qiao Yingxuan accepted his brother's lesson with a smile, but when he mentioned Master Qiao, his expression couldn't hide his disdain. Thinking about his ungratefulness and ungratefulness to his grandparents and uncles back then, when his grandparents passed away, he didn't allow his mother to return to Beijing, and all these years of stalking others, flattering the high and trampling the low, it really makes people feel no respect for him, Let’s just say that the friend he was convicted of this time took so many benefits from others, but in a blink of an eye shut the door of the child who asked for help, and he refused to even meet him.

"Is it father..."

When Qiao Yingze said this, he could only sigh helplessly. They all knew his father's reputation among relatives in the officialdom. He won't waste more than ten years in the post of magistrate and make no progress.

After Qiao Yingze finished speaking, the atmosphere became dull for a while, and Qiao Yingxuan lost interest in gossip, so he left after sitting for a while.

He came here shortly after he got home, and there are still a lot of things waiting for him at home.

"Since you know these things, Brother Gong should also greet you. Needless to say, just ask him to pay attention to safety when going in and out."

Thinking of Gong Zhuoxiang's gift of special products from places he visited two days ago, Qiao Yingze thought that he should send him a letter. He used to be the prince's companion to read, and he heard that he was very close to the prince, but now he is alone like this Outside, there is no guarantee that other forces will not miss him, so it is always better to be prepared.

"I understand."

Gong Zhuoliang knew what Qiao Yingze was worried about. He had read too many books about the heir apparent, factional struggles, etc., so he didn't say much at the moment, and wrote a letter to his cousin.

It's November in a blink of an eye, and the battle in Beijing started with a lot of momentum, but with the improvement of Sheng Shang's health, it now seems to be a bit of a fuss, and the Qiao family has not even blown the tail, everyone It's all at ease.

As the bride was sent to Bocheng to be married, everyone's attention was focused on Qiao Yingxuan's marriage. Since the family had already been separated, Gong Zhuoliang and the others did not participate too much in the preliminary preparations. On the day of their marriage on February 18th, they couldn't resist Qiao Yingxuan's insistence on staying, so they stayed overnight in the old lady's courtyard in the East Mansion, waiting for the new wife's tea to come early the next morning.