Like this kind of light gauze sedan chair, it's not like a sedan chair that a serious family's daughter rides, but more like a means of transportation used by a dancer, a singer, or a woman in the dust.
Seeing the sedan chair stopped in front of him, Rong Xia calmly patted the horse, preparing to bypass the sedan chair and leave.
"Nu Jia Yun Niang has seen Cheng An Bo." A woman in a snow-colored gauze walked out. She had a plump figure, like a ripe peach, exuding a feminine charm that attracted men. Compared with her figure, her appearance is slightly inferior. However, although she was covered in dust, she was very restrained in front of Rong Xia.
Rong Xia looked at the strange woman in front of her and did not speak.
Du Jiu still had an impression of this woman, but the last time he saw Yunniang, she was still wearing an ordinary woman's costume and her hair was simply wrapped in cloth. I didn't expect that a few months later, she seemed to change. A person, from a simple camellia into a coquettish beauty snake.
"Girl," Du Jiu said, "I don't know what's the matter with the girl?"
"The slave family came back from Shangxiang, and I happened to meet Cheng Anbo, so I wanted to greet Uncle." Yunniang said slowly to Rongxia, "Thank you uncle for helping Yunniang last time."
After she came to the capital, she waited for Xie Qilin for more than a month, and also visited Xie's house, but the concierge of Xie's house would not let her in, and even ridiculed her, a lowly and dusty woman, for wanting to marry her. Xie's door is really ridiculous.
Yes, she is ridiculous and has a delusional heart, but aren't these delusions given to her by the second son of the Xie family
Yes, she is a dusty woman, not worthy of the Xie family lintel, but the second son of the Xie family wanted to elope with her, not her begging Xie Qilin to take her away, who is more shameful and who is more ridiculous
So she was not reconciled. She wanted to find Xie Qilin to make it clear, but she was a helpless and dusty woman, and she had left the capital for several years.
When she was desperate, Cheng Anbo's guard took her to see Xie Erlang.
I still remember when he was deeply in love, he painted her eyebrows and painted her, she called him Erlang, he said she was Qinglian, the most beautiful and noble. But this man, who used to be full of sweet words, now allows her to be abused by the servants of the Xie family, as if all those affectionate feelings in the past were fleeting.
When she saw him, he was reciting poetry with several literati, even wearing a silver mask, it still did not detract from his elegance.
He didn't seem to have expected her to appear, and after a long stun, he walked up to her and looked at her with an unfamiliar expression.
Like annoyance, like guilt, but more embarrassment.
"Yunniang," he said the first sentence, "how did you come to the capital?"
Yes, how did a woman who has no way to lead, a woman with limited money, come to the capital
Yunniang looked at Xie Qilin with a sneer: "Erlang, as a woman, what else do you think I can do?" After saying this, she saw that the expression on Xie Qilin's face became even more ugly. Then he seemed worried that other readers would see her, and took her to a secluded place.
"Niang Yun, I'm sorry for you." Xie Qilin gave her a purse, which contained a lot of broken silver and a few silver notes, enough for her to live comfortably for many years, even enough for her to live in the capital. Buy a small house.
"It's better to be your second son of the Xie family," Yun Niang smiled and took the purse, "I'm afraid this purse alone will be worth dozens of taels of silver. Unlike back then, it was useless for you to keep me. woman, begging for people to sell calligraphy and paintings.”
"Yun Niang..."
"Second son Xie, don't need to say more. Although Yunniang is a lowly person, she also knows how to write the four characters of courtesy, righteousness, integrity and shame." Yunniang gave Xie Qilin a blessing, "Xie Jun gave me a happy dream, now the dream Wake up, it's time for Yunniang to go back."
"Where are you going?" Xie Qilin said, "You are a weak woman, helpless in the capital, I will let someone arrange a place for you to live..."
"Could it be that Master Xie still wants to raise me to be the outer room?" Yunniang sneered, "Young master eloped with Yunniang, he has already lost a woman, do you still want to bear your future wife? It is Master Xie who is willing to , Yun Niang is also reluctant to bear it. Sin, Yun Niang did it once, and she doesn't want to do it again."
Xie Qilin stared blankly at Yunniang, as if she did not expect that she would say such words, and after a while said: "The past has nothing to do with you, you should blame me. You don't have to be angry with me, I just want to find you a safe and secure person. I don't mean to raise you as an outsider, you have no relatives and no reason in the capital, how can I leave you alone?"
"It's that the son doesn't mean it, but people are so talkative, who can guarantee that your future wife will not misunderstand?" Yunniang laughed softly, not knowing whether she was laughing at Xie Qilin or at herself, "I am alone in Xuezhou. I've lived for nearly two years, isn't it okay? Besides, my daughter's family is very soft-hearted, so please take pity on your future wife."
"Where are you going then?"
"Where you come from, go back to where," Yun Niang squeezed the purse in her hand, "The slave family was supposed to be a person with jade arms and red lips, and it was the son who gave the slave family a happy dream. When you wake up, you should be yourself."
"Master, the slave family is leaving. I wish you good health for the rest of your life, and your descendants are full of gold and jade."
"Niang Yun!" Xie Qilin grabbed Yun Niang's hand.
Yunniang looked back at him: "Young master is reluctant to let Yunniang, do you want to accept Yunniang into the manor as a concubine?"
Xie Qilin's hand loosened like a fire, and he looked at Yunniang guiltily: "I'm sorry, Yunniang."
"Young Master Xie doesn't need to say more," Yunniang lowered her eyelids and looked at her wrinkled clothes, which she had never been willing to wear, and was specially put on today. His favorite lotus flower is still embroidered on the skirt, but he won't notice it now, "If the son is really ashamed of Yunniang, please ask the son to answer Yunniang's question."
"Just ask."
"When you eloped with Yunniang, was it really because you were happy with Yunniang?"
Xie Qilin was silent and did not speak.
Yun Niang smiled palely: "The slave family understands."
Seeing Du Jiu again, this memory deep in her mind emerged. She smiled nonchalantly and turned to look at the plaque on the door of Ban's house, "The slave family has no other intentions, it's just that I have a chance to meet my uncle today. Lord, I want to say thank you to Uncle."
"Besides..." Yun Niang smiled coquettishly, full of air, "Fu Le County Master is a good woman, please treat her well."
When she thanked Rong Xia, she did not give a big gift. After saying this, she actually carried out a big gift.
No one knew that for her, the past was absurd, and the only fortunate thing was that she had met a good woman. Back then, if Ban Hua was a little cruel and unreasonable, she would have been dead long ago, how could she still be alive today
She thought about it more than once, maybe the county master Fule had guessed that she and Xie Qilin would not last long, so not only did she not resent her, but instead gave her a sum of money.
It was only with this money that she was able to walk to the capital and see the man who made her feel great again.
Squeak.
The gate of Ban Mansion opened, Ban Heng came out from behind the door, saw so many people standing at the gate of his house, and looked at Rong Xia suspiciously.
It's so daring to flirt with a woman at the door of their class's house. Is this a provocation
"What are you doing at the door, can't you get out?" Ban Hua, who was walking behind, saw Ban Heng standing dumbfounded at the door, stretched out his hand and poked him, and stuck his head out to look out.
"sister!"
Ban Heng had no time to stop him, so he reluctantly touched his face and walked out after his sister.
Ban Hua was stunned when she saw many people standing in front of her house, but the first thing she saw was not Rong Xia, but Yun Niang.
"It's you?" Ban Hua looked at Yun Niang in surprise. Although two years passed and Yun Niang's makeup was more beautiful than before, Ban Hua recognized her at first sight.
"The county master," Yunniang bowed respectfully to Ban Hua, "I met Cheng An Bo on the road of the Nu family. Because Cheng An Bo was kind to the Nu family, the Nu family got off the sedan chair to thank him." This is to explain to Ban Hua why she told Rong Xia stood at the gate of Ban's house together.
It was only then that Ban Hua noticed Rong Xia. She looked at the sky and it was getting late: "It's already evening, have you eaten yet?"
For the family members, whether to eat or not is a very important question.
Rong Xia got off the horse and walked in front of Ban Hua: "I'm not hungry, I just heard that someone came to trouble you, so I'll come and take a look."
trouble
Ban Hua stayed for a moment before realizing who Rong Xia was talking about. She coughed dryly: "I didn't see him, he has been taken away by the Yan family."
Rong Xia smiled: "I know."
However, his gentle smile could not attract Ban Hua at this moment, because Ban Hua's attention had already drifted to Yun Niang. She walked over to Yun Niang and glanced at the veiled sedan chair behind her and the makeup on her face. She didn't ask where she lives now, but just said, "When... when did you return to the capital?"
"I went to the capital last year," Yun Niang didn't mention that she almost hit Cheng Amber with a window pole, she just said, "Is everything okay with the county master?"
"Everything is fine," Ban Hua recalled what happened after Xie Qilin eloped with Yunniang, and sighed, "You shouldn't have come back."
"Yunniang grew up in the capital, although other places are good, but it's not my hometown after all, it's not interesting to live alone," Yunniang lowered her head and smiled, "Seeing that everything is fine with the county master, Yunniang can rest assured. already."
Ban Hua knew what she was talking about, and sneered: "The past is like the wind, don't need to mention it again, let him go."
"Yeah," Yun Niang followed with a smile, "The slave family was ignorant back then, so the county master suffered so many grievances, and I am afraid that I will not be able to repay the county master in this life."
"What does this have to do with you?" Ban Hua shook his head. "The person who blamed me hasn't mentioned any guilt yet, so why should you feel ashamed?"
Yun Niang raised her head and saw that Rong Xia was standing not far from the two of them, worried that if she mentioned Xie Qilin again, Cheng Anbo would misunderstand the county master, so she stopped talking about the past. She was ashamed of Ban Hua in her heart, and after hearing the rumors outside, she was worried that Cheng Anbo would be bad to Ban Hua, and Ban Hua would be wronged.
The woman is afraid of marrying the wrong man, and the character of the Fule County Master is so different from that of Cheng Anbo. She is really worried that Cheng Anbo minds the past of the County Master.
She felt that her status was inferior. If she stood with Ban Hua for too long, she would provoke other people to gossip about Ban Hua, so she said, "The county master, it's getting late, and the slave family will retire."
"It's so late," Ban Hua saw that the sedan chair that Yun Niang was sitting in was not too tightly shielded, so she called two guards, "They are all good hands of the Ban family, there are few black people on the road at the moment, let them accompany you go back."
Yun Niang hurriedly shook her head and said, "How can this be done?"
"There's no need to refuse, if I let you go back like this, I'm not at ease." Ban Hua waved his hand, "That's it."
Although Ban Hua used an arrogant tone that did not need to be discussed further, Yun Niang felt warm in her heart, she did not refuse any more, she just bowed to Ban Hua and sat in the light gauze sedan chair.
Several bearers originally despised Yun Niang, a dusty woman, but seeing that she knew a noble person like the county master, and the noble person personally sent an escort to escort her, they couldn't help feeling a little bit of awe in their hearts. In the eyes of ordinary people, the people who guard the door of the noble family are also very remarkable, and they dare not offend them.
After Yun Niang left, Ban Hua turned to look at Rong Xia: "If you don't go back, do you want to stay at my door as an ear for God?"
"Not to mention the ear to report the gods, it is also a groom to be a groom." Rong Xia looked at the light gauze sedan car away, and for some reason, he felt that this woman named Yun Niang didn't happen to pass by, she was Came to find Hua Hua
But why didn't he say anything after seeing Hua Hua
Is it because of his presence
"That's all, if you let others know that I have made you a gentleman as a groom, then I will be accused by thousands of husbands," Ban Hua touched the neck of Rongxia's mount, "Go back quickly, the second prince's wedding tomorrow, You have to enter the palace early in the morning and go to bed early at night."
"Okay." Rong Xia smiled. She didn't talk to Ban Hua about Yan Zhen, and Ban Hua didn't explain anything to him. The two smiled at each other, and Rong Xia rolled over.
"This is a good horse," Ban Hua patted the horse's neck, "does it have a name?"
"Not yet." Rong Xia's mount was a jujube red horse with a wisp of white hair on the forehead. The hair was shiny, the eyes were bright, and the hooves were strong and powerful. It was a rare good horse.
Ma Er rubbed against Ban Hua, and seemed to be very close to her.
Rong Xia saw that this bad-tempered horse was so close to Ban Hua, and said, "Why don't you give it a name?"
"It's fur is so red..."
Du Jiu immediately raised his ears, this horse is a rare royal gift, and its reputation should not be too casual.
"Let's call it Baiyu Cake."
Why is Maohong called white jade cake, should not be called red jade cake, red date cake
No, why is such a majestic horse called such a rustic name? !
"Why... think of this name?" Rong Xia didn't expect that his beloved horse would be given such a random name, seeing this horse rubbing Ban Hua's hand stupidly. As a master, with a serious and responsible attitude towards the horse he loves, Rong Xia felt that he could still win for the horse.
"It's red, and the white hair on its forehead is the most conspicuous," Ban Hua gently stroked the horse's neck, "It's just right to call it Baiyu Cake."
Rong Xia opened her mouth and finally nodded: "You are right, this name is indeed quite suitable."
Du Jiu: You guys... just be happy.
"Hua likes horses very much?" Rong Xia saw that all her attention was on her horse, and leaned down on the horse's back to look at Ban Hua, "There is another horse of this breed in my house, tomorrow I'll have someone bring it to you."
"No," Ban Hua shook her head, "that must be Bai Yupao's companion, let's leave it in your house to accompany Bai Yupao. I have my own mount, but I like horses since I was a child, and I see beautiful horses. I couldn't help but want to touch it."
When she was very young, her grandfather took her to play on horseback, and told her about things on the battlefield, as well as the stories between generals and their horses, so that she formed a concept from a young age, that is The horse is his partner. Even if he is old, he should take good care of him. He will not be discarded at will, and he will not be replaced at will.
Rong Xia remembered that Ban Hua did often ride a white horse: "Is that the white horse?"
"Yes," Ban Hua nodded, "it's called Moyu, and it was rewarded by His Majesty."
"Mo Yu?" Rong Xia laughed dumbly, a white horse named Mo Yu
"Well, its eyes are very beautiful, like ink jade," Ban Hua was very proud when she mentioned her beloved horse, "If there is a chance in the future, I will show it to you to compare its riding skills."
"Okay." Rong Xia responded with a sigh.
Du Jiu thought blankly, his own horse is called Moyu, and others' horses are called Baiyu Cake.
"Okay," Ban Hua took his hand away from the horse, "Go back."
Rong Xia looked at Ban Hua, her eyes were beautiful, like a lake, so clean and clear that he could hardly take them away. But in these clean eyes, there is no reluctance, no nostalgia, and not even much friendship.
She didn't like him, or... not attracted to him.
She looked at him as if she was looking at a favorite ornament, a beautiful peacock, with surprise and appreciation, the only thing missing was the love between men and women.
"Farewell." Rong Xia smiled.
"Well," Ban Hua smiled with frowning eyes and shook her hand at Rong Xia, "Go slowly."
The sound of horse hooves sounded softly, and after Rong Xia's figure could not be seen, Ban Hua turned to Ban Heng and said, "Go, go back."
"Sister, let's not go to Bie Zhuang anymore?" Ban Heng originally thought about going to bury some money or something, but he didn't expect to meet Rong Xia when he went out, and the time was delayed until now.
"Don't go," Ban Hua looked up at the sky, "it's getting dark, next time."
"Okay." Ban Heng was a little disappointed. After burying money twice, he suddenly felt that the feeling of digging a hole and burying money was quite refreshing, and he fell in love with this kind of game.
The area where the nobles lived was a long way from the building where Yun Niang lived, and the bearers drove fast all the way. Before they reached the building, it was getting dark.
The closer to the red light district, the more complicated the identities of the people coming and going. Sometimes they have to deal with a few unreasonable alcoholics who are drunk. As soon as he entered the alley, a young man dressed in a messy clothes and dressed as a scholar came out.
He walked staggeringly and muttered in his mouth, as if complaining about the injustice of officialdom and cursing relatives and friends. Then he slammed his head into the sedan chair, fell to the ground and flipped two somersaults. He was about to scold him when he knew that a man walked up to him and pulled out a large sword exuding a faint cold light, and he was so frightened that he was silent.
The people who could wear weapons and walk on the street in the Daye Dynasty were all people with specific identities, such as soldiers, yamen, high-ranking guards, and ordinary people who dared to carry such a sword and walk on the street, within 20 steps. Sent to the yamen.
He thought that sitting in this veiled sedan chair was an oiran who was favored by a noble, so he sent an escort to bring it back, so he dared to curse in a low voice after the pedestrian left.
"It's just a prostitute, what's so great, wait for my uncle... I'm admitted to the top spot, and even a princess can marry. It's not a good thing to have a woman in the book, and a woman is not a good thing..." He burped his wine and got up from the ground. , did not even pat the ash on his body, then stumbled away.
Walking to a sparsely populated alley, he saw two men in black were pulling a knife out of a fat man's stomach. He was so frightened that he almost spit out the contents of his stomach. But maybe because he was frightened by someone holding a knife before, he actually held back and didn't say anything. It was not until long after the man in black left that he dared to lean against the wall and move closer to the man lying on the ground.
Not knowing what he stepped on, he jumped forward and just fell in front of the fat man. His hands were sticky and greasy on the ground. Using the faint light of the moon and stars, he saw that something seemed to be on his palms. He lowered his head to smell it, and finally couldn't help vomiting out.
"Murder... kill!"
"Murder!"
This poor scholar shouted out the loudest voice in his life, startling hundreds of lights and attracting people from the yamen.
The identity of the deceased was quickly determined. One of the fifth-grade Gongbu Lang, who was in the capital of all the nobles, was not a high-ranking person. However, this person's surname is Zhao, and he is a branch of the Zhao family.
The patriarch of the Zhao clan is Zhao Li, his eldest son Zhao Jun is currently the left servant of the Ministry of War, and his second son Zhao Zhong is the prefect of Xuezhou. The Zhao family acted very low-key, and they were not conspicuous in the capital on weekdays.
The reason is that the third son of the Zhao family, who died young, once had a baby marriage with Fule County Master, and when the child died, the marriage was automatically voided. Later, the Xie family broke off the marriage with Ban Hua. So the early death of Zhao Jiasanlang became iron evidence for Ban Huo Kefu. Although the Zhao family has explained time and time again that their own children are not in good health and have nothing to do with Ban Huan, people who love gossip don't care about the opinions of the parties, and even think that the Zhao family is trying to please the Ban family. He guessed happily.
When there is talk and a topic, who cares about the opinions of the parties, and who knows if the parties are lying
The deceased was Zhao Jia, the cousin of the patriarch Zhao Li. Zhao Jia belonged to a degenerate dude who was proficient in eating, drinking, prostituting, gambling, and gambling. However, these two types of dummies do not like each other, so they have little contact with each other.
There were two stab wounds on Zhao Jia's body, which penetrated from the front abdomen to the back. It can be seen that the murderer is very strong, and there may be two people.
Who would put so much effort into killing a dude who is useless? You must know that tomorrow is the big wedding of the second prince. In order to ensure that the marriage will not be unexpected tomorrow, the capital has sent many more people to closely monitor the city.
In this case, there are still people who have successfully assassinated, and they can't find half of the murderer's figure, and the water inside is deep.
In order to keep the marriage out of trouble, the assassination case was temporarily suppressed. The next morning, the capital was red, and the dowry that the Xie family had prepared was carried out the door one after another. Although it was not a real "red makeup", it also made the people of the capital see a lot of excitement.
Ban Hua was in her sleep when she heard the blowing and beating outside. She pulled the quilt over her head and covered her head to continue to sleep, but the blowing and beating was over and the crackling of firecrackers was heard again. She sat up from outside in anger, "Outside. Why is it so noisy?!"
"County Lord, you forgot, today is the day when the second prince and Miss Xie's family got married." Ruyi knew that the county owner was getting up, so she hurriedly comforted her in a low voice, "The outside is crowded with people watching the fun, I'm afraid it's going to be lively. For a while."
"I forgot if you didn't tell me," Ban Hua rubbed his temples and lay down on the bed, too lazy to look like a soft boiled noodle, "I really don't want to get up."
"It's okay if you can't afford it, the servant will wait for you to wash your face and rinse your mouth first," Ruyi smiled gently, "I'll let someone bring you breakfast into the room for you?"
"Well." Ban Hua was lying on the quilt weakly, not even wanting to lift his face.
"The groom is here to pick up the bride!"
"Where's the groom?!"
When the horse team that greeted the bride arrived at the door of Xie's house, everyone discovered that it was not the second prince who came to welcome Xie Wanyu into the palace, but an official from the Ministry of Rites. The Xie family's smiles were a little stiff, but they weren't easy to show on their faces.
According to the rules, it is true that the prince does not have to come in person when he marries his concubine. But if they live together in the capital, the princes will generally give the Yue family a face and come to marry the bride in person. Even when the prince married the prince concubine, the prince himself came forward.
What did the second prince mean to not give the Xie family face like this