After coming out of the backyard of the teahouse, Su Ningxin did not go back to the Chamber of Commerce. Instead, she turned around and went to the slave market in Xingyuan Mansion, where most wealthy families bought their slaves.
Xingyuan Prefecture is located on the border, and the sources of these slaves are also complex. There are poor families who sell their children and daughters because they cannot make a living, there are people who are issued as slaves by officials in the capital, and there are even Xixia and Tubo people who were captured by the border wars.
Su Ningxin was walking in the messy market. There were slaves in shabby clothes on the roadside. They were flattering and flattering to the buyers, but turned to the slaves with a sinister expression.
This place is like a world away from the bustling and cheerful Xingyuanfu Market.
"Sir, what are we doing here? Buying people?" Shuangbai asked doubtfully, full of disgust at the market with its bad taste.
Su Ningxin shook the fan, letting the woody fragrance of the fan dissipate the odor, "I want to buy some people to build an escort agency."
"Escort Bureau? The Chamber of Commerce does not have its own Escort Bureau, but isn't it good for Young Master to ask Uncle Qin to find some people? Why come here in person?" Shuangbai felt that a fairy-like figure like Young Master should not come to such a dirty place.
Su Ningxin smiled and said nothing. Although she had contributed to the establishment of the Chamber of Commerce and was one of several masters, the Chamber of Commerce was ultimately in the hands of the Queen.
Now that she has left the capital, she is separated from her former identity as a secret guard. It is not always good to use the power of the Chamber of Commerce. It is more appropriate to be a hands-off shopkeeper and wait for the money.
As a result, she has no power to use in her hands, and it is very inconvenient to do things.
For Su Ningxin, she has become accustomed to all kinds of news coming to her over the years. She has full control over the movements of all parties. With just one sentence of instructions, everything will be handled properly.
Now she is as if she is deaf and blind, her eyesight to the outside world is dark, and her hands and feet have been cut off, so she can't do anything.
"Ah!" A burst of exclamation suddenly came from not far ahead. Many people made the sound, as if they were shocked by something. They all made a sound, and the onlookers took a few steps back.
"Go and take a look." Su Ningxin walked over there, waving her folding fan.
It wasn't until Shuangbai separated the crowd and the two of them reached the innermost area that they could see clearly what was going on inside.
A slave with iron chains on his hands and feet was confronting Ren Yazi. Behind him was a little girl of eight or nine years old. Ren Yazi looked furious and kept waving the whip in his hand, but he didn't stop. Don't dare to step forward.
Looking at the five or six people around who looked like thumpers, one could understand why that person did not dare to step forward.
The slave had sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, and a noble appearance. Even though he had many scars on his body, his noble temperament could not be concealed.
Still an acquaintance!
Su Ningxin had met him several times. Zhong Xiyan was the youngest son of a concubine who was once the Minister of Household Affairs.
To be honest, in Su Ningxin's impression, the Minister of Hubu could be regarded as a good official. However, as the emperor and his ministers, the Minister of Hubu was on the side of the third prince, and the death of the emperor's mother and concubine was somewhat embarrassing. The shadow of Mrs. Bu Shangshu is inside.
Therefore, the ending of the Hubu Shangshu family can be imagined. The Hubu Shangshu was beheaded by Qiu Hou Wen, and the rest of the family members were exiled as slaves, and the servants were confiscated.
Calculating the time, it is not surprising that Zhong Xiyan appears here as a slave.
The emperor spent two years holding all the power in his own hands, and then began to settle accounts after the fall. The Account Department is the most prone to problems. It is almost impossible to keep the accounts without errors. As long as the emperor goes over old accounts, anyone can be defeated. Down.
Unfortunately, the Zhong family was recorded in the enemy's notebook by the emperor.
Someone from the onlookers was talking about what happened, "Mother Fu from the brothel came to pick someone up and picked his little sister. He protected her from selling her and wouldn't let anyone touch the little girl no matter how hard he beat her."
Su Ningxin looked behind Zhong Xiyan. The little girl was hiding timidly. Her face was a little dirty, but it was not difficult to tell that she was a beautiful woman. No wonder she was attracted by the people in the brothel.
When Su Ningxin looked at the little girl, the little girl also looked at her, her eyes fixed on her without moving, not knowing what she was thinking.
"Do you still think you are some young master? Now that you are a slave, you will be a slave for life. You can't even protect yourself and you still want to protect her." Ren Yazi pointed at the tip of Zhong Xiyan's nose and cursed.
Zhong Xiyan still stood there motionless, as if he didn't hear anything, but if you look closely, you will find that his hand holding the chain is tighter, with veins popping out and his fingers turning white.
Ren Yazi threw down the whip in his hand and said viciously, "Let that little girl follow Fu's mother. She can still have good food and clothing. If one day she is bought by someone from the camp in the west and becomes a military prostitute, I think you will stop her." Can’t stop it.”
Seeing some emotion in Zhong Xiyan's eyes, Ren Yazi took the opportunity to wave his hand, and the thugs immediately stepped forward to attack again. Zhong Xiyan reacted, holding the chains and started fighting with them again.
Su Ningxin fanned her hands and watched them fight. Zhong Xiyan was born in a family of officials, and his poetry, writing, and martial arts skills would definitely not fall behind since he was a child. Judging from his skills, he did not lose the reputation of the Zhong family.
However, Su Ningxin just took a look and had no intention of helping. Although she needed some skilled people as bodyguards, she didn't want to cause trouble for herself. She didn't want to get into trouble with people who were blacklisted by the emperor. .
What's more, she and the other party have only met each other. From the standpoint of the two of them, she belongs to the fifth prince, and the third prince in his family has only tit-for-tat but no friendship.
When everyone's attention was focused on Zhong Xiyan, the little girl behind him took the opportunity to run around the fighting people and ran out.
In a blink of an eye, she ran to Su Ningxin and hugged Su Ningxin's waist, "Brother, save me."
Su Ningxin and Shuangbai noticed her when she ran over, but Shuangbai caught Su Ningxin's look and did not stop her.
The little girl had been looking at her for a long time, and Su Ning wanted to know what she was planning, whether she really had a good plan, or whether she simply felt that she was the best-dressed among the onlookers, so she came to her for help.
Su Ningxin watched the little girl hug her tightly and said, "Brother, save me." Then the little girl suddenly raised her head, as if she had been frightened, with a bit of disbelief on her face.
"Little girl, you got the wrong person. I'm not your brother." Su Ningxin put a folding fan on the little girl's shoulder and pushed her away. She didn't use much force, but it was enough for a little girl.
Su Ning was a little disappointed, thinking that this little girl could bring her some surprises.
She also had some impression of this little girl. When the queen held a banquet, Madam Shangshu took her into the palace. She was the daughter of Madam Shangshu who was only born when she was nearly forty years old. The whole Shangshu Mansion was filled with pain like jewels.
Su Ningxin remembered that she thought she was a very smart and insightful child at the beginning, and thought she would be smarter as she grew older.
(End of chapter)