After Lu Yan endured the discomfort and returned to Lu's house, he immediately sent someone to inquire about Tao Zihao's identity. After about an hour, he learned about Tao's family.
"She is actually a merchant, and she dares to look down on the magistrate's daughter, how unreasonable she is!"
Lu Yan was annoyed that Tao Zihao didn't take responsibility, and wanted to run away after eating and wiping away the jade pendant. Lu Yan silently swore in his heart that he must catch Tao Zihao and give an explanation.
"Go, keep an eye on Tao's house for me, once Tao Zihao goes out, notify me immediately!"
"yes!"
Tao Zihao hid after returning to the mansion, and dared not go out for a few days, huddled in the room and waited for Xin'er.
Tao Zihao heaved a sigh of relief after about a day or two, "Hey, this young master is scared to death, even an ugly girl dares to plot against this young master, I'm sorry!"
Tao Zihao flirted with Aunt Hong in the room every day, and Aunt Hong rubbed Tao Zihao's shoulder with bare hands, "Master, what are you talking about?"
Tao Zihao shrugged and smiled, and pinched Aunt Hong's slender waist fiercely, "It's nothing, just a rude woman, the Tao family is no different than before, there are some big-hearted and shameless people who want to climb up, if they are beautiful... "
"If it's pretty, young master, don't you want Hong'er?" Aunt Hong raised her red lips. She used to be Tao Zihao's personal servant girl, but Tao Fangfei picked her up as an aunt because of her cleverness and tricks, to serve Tao Zihao.
Tao Zihao laughed, his mind was full of Xiao Concubine's stunning face, he couldn't help swallowing when he thought of Xiao Concubine, he had never seen such a beautiful woman in his age.
"Even if I marry a new wife, how could I forget you, little bitch, my master hasn't been hurt enough these two days."
As he said that, Tao Zihao got a little excited, and he pulled Aunt Hong and started messing around.
After a burst of cloud and rain, the young man gathered at the door and whispered, "Young master, the young master of the Li family sent a letter to invite you out of the house."
Tao Zihao heard the words, and immediately replied, "Go back, just say that the young master will come right away."
"yes!"
Tao Zihao put on his clothes, and glanced at Aunt Hong, "You have a good rest, I'm going out of the house."
After saying that, Tao Zihao simply cleaned up and left Tao's house. Tao Fangfei was very busy and didn't have time to take care of Tao Zihao, so Tao Zihao's departure went smoothly.
After sitting in the carriage, the driver whipped his whip and left. Tao Zihao was humming a little tune in the bumpy road, chic and happy.
After about an hour, Tao Zihao became impatient, and said to the groom through the curtain, "Why haven't you arrived yet?"
There was no sound outside the curtain, and it was quiet. Tao Zihao pricked up his ears and realized something was wrong. He lifted the curtain and saw the carriage surrounded by guards, and there were many maidservants standing in front of him. conspicuous.
"It's you!" Tao Zihao's eyes widened, but before he could react the next moment, he was lifted off the carriage by the woman with one hand.
"Hey, you guys let go of me quickly, do you know who I am, I am the eldest son of the Tao family, and the right minister is my uncle, let go of me before things get serious!"
Tao Zihao's face turned pale with fright, and he was powerless to resist being grabbed by the woman, so he began to punch and kick.
The woman was not polite either, and twisted Tao Zihao's waist fiercely, with a fierce expression on her face, "Shut up!"
Tao Zihao was so frightened that he was on the verge of crying, "You... who are you guys? This is at the feet of the emperor. If you break the law, you will be arrested."
The contempt flashed in the woman's eyes, she had never seen such a cowardly and cowardly man, even worse than a woman, and sent Tao Zihao to Lu Yan.
Tao Zihao was caught off guard and fell to the ground, his hands were worn out, he gasped in pain, his mouth was puckered and he was about to cry.
Lu Yan glanced at Tao Zihao condescendingly, "Tao Zihao, you don't know me so soon?"
Being called out by name, Tao Zihao shrank back like a frightened rabbit, and looked at Lu Yan vigilantly, "Who are you? It's your wish, I didn't do it on purpose. , didn’t you already give a jade pendant as compensation, what else do you want?”
Lu Yan laughed angrily, and raised his hand to slap Tao Zihao on the face. Tao Zihao screamed, and the slap marks on his white and tender cheeks were very conspicuous.
"You...you!" Tao Zihao looked at Lu Yan in horror, he couldn't speak any frightened words, and kept backing away, "What are you going to do?"
Lu Yan glanced at Tao Zihao, "I'm a magistrate's concubine, you're just the son of a businessman, and you want to slap your ass and leave if you want to ruin your reputation. What kind of place do you think this is? Don't say you are the son of the Tao family." , even the grandson of the prince will not do!"
Tao Zihao was startled, "Are you the daughter of the magistrate?"
"That's right, our young lady is the eldest daughter of the Prefect Lu." Lu Yan's maid also looked proud.
Lu Yan looked down at Tao Zihao, her eyes were condensed, her dark face looked a little scary, "I'll give you a day to go to Lu's house to propose a marriage before noon the day after tomorrow, if you dare to run away, if I catch you, I will remove you Lose your two legs!"
Tao Zihao shivered to protect his legs. He could see clearly that the ugly woman in front of him really dared to do this!
"Let's go!" After Lu Yan taught Tao Zihao a lesson, he turned around and left with the maidservant, leaving Tao Zihao sitting on the ground trembling, his fair little face was even paler now.
After a long time, the coachman climbed out, "Master, are you alright?"
Tao Zihao was in a daze, he hurried into the carriage and said, "Let's go, let's go back home."
Tao Zihao hid in the house and couldn't come out. He drove away all the maids and servants, and locked him in the room alone. Some of the maids were worried, so they told Tao Fangfei.
Tao Fangfei was busy. When she heard this, she immediately put down her things, went to Tao Zihao's yard, and knocked on the door, "Zihao, I am mother, open the door quickly, and tell mother if you have anything."
After a long time, Tao Fangfei asked the boy to knock open the door, and seeing the scene in the room, she was so frightened that her legs went limp.
Tao Zihao stood on the table, holding a piece of white silk tightly in his hand and wrapping it around his neck.
"Zihao, what's wrong with you, don't scare mother..."
Tao Fangfei hurriedly asked the servant to help Tao Zihao down. Tao Zihao struggled for more than an hour, but he still didn't have the courage to stick his neck in.
"You look like this, Zihao, tell your mother what happened."
Tao Fangfei saw the slap marks on Tao Zihao's face at a glance, and she was not angry at all.
Tao Zihao obviously hasn't come back to his senses, his whole body is tangled and in pain, he grabs Tao Fangfei, "Mother, you must save your son, my son doesn't want to marry that ugly woman, let's go to my uncle, my uncle will definitely There is a way."
Rather than letting him marry that ugly woman, it is better to let him die.
Tao Fangfei was at a loss, so Tao Zihao held back his fear and told the story. Tao Fangfei was about to explode when he heard it. She had raised her son for thirteen years, and she was never willing to do anything, but was actually beaten by a woman.
"It's unreasonable, Zihao, don't be afraid, mother will take you to her to settle the score, I don't believe that there is no king in this world!"
As Tao Fangfei said, she wanted to drag Tao Zihao to find Lu Yan to settle the score, but Tao Zihao refused to go no matter what, "Mother, the Lu family is the magistrate, and they are the celebrities around the Queen Mother. We can't beat him, so we have to go to my uncle." Let’s get out and solve this.”
Since Tao Zihao came to Beijing, he had heard countless people praise how powerful Prime Minister Right was. He was like a god, and there was nothing he couldn't do, so Tao Zihao pinned all his hopes on Prime Minister Right.
Tao Fangfei calmed down after hearing the words, and said, "Let's go and talk to your aunt and grandma!"
Without saying a word, Tao Zihao followed Tao Fangfei to the Right Prime Minister's Mansion.
Tao Fangfei kept wiping away her tears at Mrs. Xiao, crying very sadly, "Auntie, I can't help it. Since the Tao family came to Beijing, there was a problem with the store first, and they lost a lot of money, and now it's their turn. It's Zihao, Zihao is the only hope for the Tao family, Auntie, you must be the master of the Tao family."
What Tao Fangfei meant explicitly and secretly was that after accusing the right minister of resigning, many people attacked the Tao family, so Mrs. Xiao couldn't just ignore her death.
Mrs. Xiao rubbed her temples, and was very upset when she heard Tao Fangfei crying, "What happened?"
Tao Fangfei explained the matter emphatically, "The Lu family is too bullying. Who doesn't know that Miss Lu can't get married and has a bad reputation. Zihao is young and ignorant. She actually threatens Zihao. Look at Zihao. What did Hao look like?"
Tao Fangfei pulled Tao Zihao forward, and pointed to the slap marks left on Tao Zihao's white and tender skin.
"Grandmother..." Tao Zihao looked at Mrs. Xiao with an aggrieved expression.
Mrs. Xiao felt chills for a while, and a good young master was taught to look like this. She has no masculinity at all, crying like a woman.
"Auntie, Zihao has been taught strictly by the Tao family since he was a child. He has never been a bad guy. He is often praised by his master. The matchmaker has mentioned it many times in the past. This child is sincere and full of heart..."
Tao Fangfei hesitated to speak and looked at Xiao Concubine who was sitting beside her, her meaning was self-evident, "So, I believe that Zihao was designed by someone,
Absolutely can't do such shameless things. "
Mrs. Xiao understood what Tao Fangfei meant, and the disgust in her eyes was even worse. Mrs. Xiao glanced at Concubine Xiao, "Xiao Jiu, you go back first, grandma and your aunt have something to talk about."
Concubine Xiao nodded obediently and left, Tao Zihao stared straight at him, almost drooling, with such a wretched look, Mrs. Xiao doubted whether what Tao Fangfei said was true.
At only thirteen years old, there is a relationship between a man and a woman, and he keeps staring at Xiao Jiu, what good can there be
Mrs. Xiao glanced at Nanny Ruan, and Nanny Ruan immediately understood, and quickly withdrew.
No matter what Tao Fangfei said during this period, Mrs. Xiao was too lazy to argue, and finally only looked at Tao Zihao, "Aunt and grandma asked you, are these all facts?"
Tao Zihao was stunned for a moment, first glanced at Tao Fangfei, and finally nodded, "Yes, Miss Lu shamelessly forced me to marry her, and even said that if I don't marry her, my legs will be broken immediately."
Mrs. Xiao only believed half of these words, and asked again, "It's very good, why did Miss Lu keep you involved, did you have any holidays before?"
Tao Zihao blushed and shook his head resolutely, Mrs. Xiao knew it well, "Don't worry, I'll send someone to the Lu's house to find out, let's find out the matter first."
Upon hearing this, Tao Fangfei was unwilling, and muttered, "Isn't this obvious? Auntie doesn't believe Fangfei's words."
No matter how good-tempered Mrs. Xiao was, she was rightfully offended by Tao Fangfei's expression, and looked at Tao Fangfei with some deep meaning.
"Then what do you think? Go to the Lu family to settle the score, or ask the Lu family to apologize to you. Don't forget, your cousin is no longer a right-hand man. The Xiao family is just an ordinary citizen and cannot afford to offend the Lu family." .”
Seeing that Mrs. Xiao seemed to be angry, Tao Fangfei said awkwardly, "Auntie, that's not what I meant."
Old Mrs. Xiao snorted, she was too lazy to look at Tao Fangfei's face again, she was in front of others and in back, she would only come here when she needed Xiao's house, she didn't even move around on weekdays, she was too snobbish, To put it bluntly, he is an unfamiliar white-eyed wolf.
After waiting for about half an hour, Nanny Ruan came back. Nanny Ruan looked at the mother and son of the Tao family with a strange expression, sighed, walked to Mrs. Xiao and whispered a few words, and handed Mrs. Xiao a jade pendant.
Mrs. Xiao's face darkened, and Tao Fangfei's eyelids twitched when she saw this, "Auntie..."
"Don't call me Auntie anymore, you've completely embarrassed the Tao family. Let me ask you if what you told me just now is the truth!"
Tao Fangfei was frightened by Mrs. Xiao's sudden stern look, she moved her lips, unable to say anything for a long time.
Mrs. Xiao slapped the jade pendant on the table, "Is this Zihao's close-fitting jade pendant? No matter how bad Miss Lu's reputation is, she is still the daughter of an official family. If she wants to marry, there is nothing she can't do. Hao, if you slander someone, turn your head and refuse to admit it, you still have the face to come and ask me to make decisions!"
Mrs. Xiao was disgusted all her life. Fortunately, she didn't believe Tao Fangfei's words, so she went to inquire about it, and it was a thousand miles away from what Tao Fangfei said, so it was not the same thing!
"Auntie, you misunderstood." Tao Fangfei hurriedly explained, "Zihao was calculated..."
Mrs. Xiao was a little impatient, "That's enough, no matter how poor the Lu family is, it is still a family of officials, while the Tao family is just a businessman, Fang Fei, you think highly of yourself, Tao Zihao is a treasure in your eyes, but not necessarily in the eyes of others." It's a treasure, the Xiao family is helpless in this matter, and they will take responsibility for the mistakes they made, and timidity will only make people look down on them!"
Tao Fangfei was speechless after her harsh words, her face flushed red, she always felt that something was different. In the past, when she approached Mrs. Xiao, Mrs. Xiao was very friendly, and she also greeted Tao Zihao, why did she seem to be a different person now? like.
Every sentence was thorny, demoted the Tao family completely, and did not care about the feelings of others. Tao Fangfei became angry when he belittled Tao Zihao face to face, and questioned him blurt out.
"Auntie is afraid of offending the Lu family, so she doesn't care about the Tao family. If the Xiao family had not made too many enemies, no one would be eyeing the Tao family."
Mrs. Xiao sneered, "Fangfei, since you know that the Xiao family has made too many enemies, why did you come to the Xiao family today? The Xiao family can't give you anything. You have found the wrong person. Tao Fangfei, the Xiao family owes you nothing from the beginning to the end."
Tao Fangfei's heart beat faster when she heard these meaningful words. Could it be that Mrs. Xiao knew something
"See off the guests!" Mrs. Xiao stood up and walked towards the back room, unwilling to talk to Tao Fangfei any more.
Tao Fangfei took Tao Zihao and left the Xiangfu in a fit of anger.
"Mother, what should we do now? Aunt and grandma don't care about us." Before recovering from the shock, Tao Zihao tugged at Tao Fangfei's sleeve nervously.
Tao Fangfei was annoyed that Mrs. Xiao was cold-blooded and ruthless, and she couldn't help with such a small favor, "Your aunt and grandmother can't be counted on, that's all, since she won't help, let's go to Princess Chaoren!"
She went to the second room without even entering the door, and only said that Princess Chaoren was not in the mansion. Tao Fangfei waited for a full hour, and finally saw Princess Chaoren get off the carriage, and hurried forward to greet her.
"Princess."
Princess Chaoren glanced at Tao Fangfei, "What's the matter with Mrs. Tao?"
Tao Fangfei gave an overview of the matter, and Princess Chaoren was a little impatient, so she just said patiently, "The princess just came back from the Queen Mother, Madam Lu has already entered the palace to find the Queen Mother to make decisions, Madam Tao, congratulations. "
Tao Fangfei's face changed completely when she heard the words, "Madam Lu actually entered the palace?"
"Yeah, it's a good marriage. Mrs. Tao should go back early to prepare. The Princess has important things to do, so I won't accompany you any longer."
Saying that, Princess Chaoren entered the mansion without looking back, leaving the two of them staring blankly in a daze.
"Mother, what should I do?" Tao Zihao's face turned pale, and his legs trembled uncontrollably when he thought of Lu Yan.
Tao Fangfei was also stunned for a while, "Don't worry, don't worry, mother will think about it."