Jiang Yanyi was sitting in the clinic. The stone that had been pressed into his foot had been picked out and wrapped with a circle of gauze.
Thinking about the embarrassment she had just made on the street, she wished she could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.
Chu Changping sat opposite her. The door was guarded by Chu Changping's confidants. There were no other patients in the clinic. The doctor and a child were decocting medicine in the back kitchen.
Jiang Yanyi hung his head like a quail and told the story of how he opened a restaurant in Xizhou City from the military camp. "At that time, I didn't dare to trust anyone. I was afraid of getting killed, so I made up an identity. After leaving the military camp, I was alone. I was worried about any accidents along the way, so I didn't dare to go anywhere else rashly. I had to open a restaurant in Xizhou City to stay temporarily and write a letter to the capital to report my safety."
"Although the prince is kind, I have never dared to let him know my true identity because I was suspected of deceiving him before... I just met my uncle and was afraid that he would find out, so I had no choice but to pretend that I didn't know my uncle."
She summarized the events in Xizhou in a few words, and Chu Changping knew very well that she was evading the important issues.
He hammered the table hard, turned his head and wiped his eyes: "It's all my uncle's fault. If my uncle had asked more carefully the last time he came to Xizhou, he would have asked someone to do an autopsy before taking the coffin back to Beijing, and he wouldn't have gone through so much trouble to find you."
That time, it was also a coincidence. Feng Shuo thought that it was Jiang Yanyi who died, so he asked people to bury the body in a coffin.
Chu Changping's men went to great lengths to find out that Jiang Yanyi was dead. After digging up the grave and removing the coffin, Chu Changping could not bear to take a closer look because the prostitute had died in such a miserable state that she did not even have a piece of clothing on her body.
He had left Yongzhou privately and was anxious to return to Beijing for fear of complications. On the way, he could not find a woman to clean up his "niece's" face, so he had to transport the coffin back to the capital first. After all, he could not ask a group of rough men under his command to clean his "niece's" face and change her clothes.
Jiang Yanyi didn't know about this, and asked in confusion: "Uncle has been to Xizhou?"
Chu Changping nodded and told the story of the wrong coffin being transported.
Jiang Yanyi felt a little weird for a moment. It could be said that all the confusion originated from that coffin. So her fate with Feng Shuo started from a coffin
Chu Changping's next words made her uneasy.
"It is thanks to King Liaonan that my uncle was able to come to Xizhou to see you this time. Otherwise, the entire Chu family would have been destroyed by that tyrant! The letter you sent was also sent to the capital by King Liaonan at an expedited speed of 800 miles. My uncle thought that you had already confessed your identity to King Liaonan."
Otherwise, why would Feng Shuo help the Chu family
Chu Changping had been in the officialdom for many years, but he didn't believe that the King of Liaonan was helping the Chu family just because he couldn't stand what the emperor was doing.
He originally guessed that the King of Liaonan wanted to use Jiang Yanyi's experience as a sharp blade to penetrate the aristocratic and powerful families. If the emperor lost the support of the people, the King of Liaonan would then launch an uprising and receive support from hundreds of people.
Jiang Yanyi will become the most advantageous weapon for the King of Liaonan to win the hearts of the people, but if everyone in the world knows that she was once sent by the emperor to be a camp prostitute in the army, what reputation will she still have
The King of Liaonan saved the Chu family, and Chu Changping was determined to repay his kindness even at the cost of his life. However, if this kindness had to be repaid with the reputation of his niece, Chu Changping would rather not accept it.
He came to Xizhou this time, partly because he wanted to see his niece, and partly because he wanted the King of Liaonan to give up the idea of using his niece's reputation as a weapon of public opinion. He was willing to serve the King of Liaonan and do his best to repay his great kindness.
In Chu Changping's opinion, his niece has suffered enough. Even if it is to deal with that tyrant, Chu Changping is unwilling to hurt his niece in this way again.
Jiang Yanyi was stunned for a long while before coming back to his senses.
The letter she sent to the capital was sent by Feng Shuo. After the emperor knew that her uncle came to Xizhou to collect her body, he wanted to deal with the Chu family, which was also protected by Feng Shuo...
He knew his true identity long ago? !
Jiang Yanyi was in a state of confusion for a moment, and it took him a long time to calm down and ask, "Are mother and Yan Gui okay?"
Chu Changping felt very upset when he thought of his sister and nephew's miserable appearance when they returned to the Chu family. He was also afraid that telling Jiang Yanyi would worry for nothing, so he just said, "It's all good. When the situation stabilizes, I will find a way to take them all out of the capital."
Although the emperor dare not touch the Chu family now because Feng Shuo has the leverage over them, the capital is still unsafe.
Now Feng Shuo is holding the emperor hostage. When the world is in chaos, the Chu family will probably become hostages in the hands of the emperor again.
Jiang Yanyi wanted to ask something else, but the voice of Chu Changping's confidant came from the door: "Third Master, the prince asks you to come over."
Chu Changping responded: "I'll go right away."
He turned around and asked Jiang Yanyi: "Where is Ah Yi now? Uncle will have someone send you back first."
Jiang Yanyi said, "It's right next to the Protectorate."
Today's assassination must not be simple. Chu Changping may have gone to Feng Shuo to discuss this matter.
When Chu Changping heard Jiang Yanyi say that her restaurant was right next to the Protectorate, he frowned subconsciously, but then he thought that perhaps the King of Liaonan wanted to send people to protect Jiang Yanyi more conveniently, so he didn't say anything.
Jiang Yanyi's foot was injured by a stone and she couldn't step on the ground at the moment. She didn't have a maid by her side, so Chu Changping had to personally help his niece out and said, "Uncle will buy you a few maids later."
Jiang Yanyi thought about his already crowded little courtyard and the monthly salary he had to pay to his maids, and suddenly felt pained. He declined, "Thank you for your kindness, uncle, but it's fine now. I'm used to it. Besides, the outside of the Great Wall is not as good as the capital."
Chu Changping was overwhelmed by the joy of seeing his niece, but now he has slowly calmed down and listened to Jiang Yanyi's talk. He felt that the niece was very different from the one he remembered. That spoiled and willful girl was rubbed into this state outside the Great Wall.
Chu Changping should be happy that his niece has grown up, but he can't be happy at this moment. He just feels heavy. How much did she go through to be forced to mature
For a moment, his eyes were filled with bitterness again, and he said, "Ayi, as long as uncle is still here, everything will be the same as before. Even if you are not the eldest daughter of the Jiang family, you are still the cousin of my Chu family. You don't have to suffer yourself, understand?"
Perhaps it was due to blood, Jiang Yanyi felt a pang of bitterness in his heart and tears welled up in his eyes after hearing these words: "I know, uncle."
There were people outside the clinic. Jiang Yanyi didn't want to cry in front of outsiders, so she held back her tears.
Lu Linyuan had a cut on his hand. He sat on a bamboo chair outside the clinic while the doctor was bandaging him.
When Lu Linyuan proposed to break off the engagement, Chu Changping was still in Yongzhou, thousands of miles away. Even if he was angry, he couldn't do anything to Lu Linyuan.
Now that she had seen him, she had new and old hatreds all together, and was ready to go forward and beat him up: "Your Lu family claims to be a clean family, but what you did is not humane? How has my cousin from the Chu family wronged you? Do you want to publicly break off the engagement and ruin her reputation?"
Once an engaged woman is broken off, no matter if it is her fault or not, she will be the only one to be ridiculed. If she wants to marry a good man again, she can only choose a family of lower status. Families with the same status as the man who broke off the engagement are unwilling to marry her. Otherwise, if the news gets out, it will be like picking up a worn-out shoe that someone else doesn't want, which will make people laugh.
Jiang Yanyi quickly stopped him: "Uncle, it's all over."
She no longer wanted to have anything to do with Lu Linyuan, and was afraid that Lu Linyuan would misunderstand that she still had feelings for him.
Seeing Jiang Yanyi stopping him, Chu Changping thought that his niece was still obsessed with Lu Linyuan. He was angry and sad, and shouted, "You silly girl, you are still protecting him at this time!"
Jiang Yanyi was so embarrassed that his scalp was numb: "I didn't! Uncle, let the past be the past. I was stubborn in the past!"
That marriage was forced by the original owner. If there was any fault on Lu Linyuan's part, it was probably that he did not resist his strong mother to the end and was forced to accept the marriage.
In the carriage not far away, Feng Shuo looked at the scene outside the clinic through the half-lifted curtain, with the corners of his mouth almost pressed into a cold straight line.
Isn’t she protecting Lu Linyuan
He knew that she was engaged to Lu Linyuan. He was proud and had never sent anyone to investigate their past. But at this moment, he wanted to know what happened in their past.
She said that she had hidden a lot of things from herself and that she needed to think carefully before deciding whether to accept his feelings, and whether Lu Linyuan was one of the reasons.
He had been out for a long time today, and the cold wind bit into his bones. Even though he was wearing a fox fur coat, the wound on his back still caused a slight pain in his bones. Feng Shuo covered his lips and coughed twice.
Xing Yao heard Feng Shuo coughing outside the carriage and said with some concern: "Master, let's go back to the mansion first."
Feng Shuo's eyes fell on the beautiful figure for a long time before he lowered the curtain, "Her and Lu Linyuan's past, do not let a single piece of paper leak out. Find out everything for me."
The cold and gloomy voice made Xing Yao's heart shudder.
Jiang Yanyi felt a sharp gaze falling on her. She looked around and saw an imposing carriage slowly driving away from the opposite corner of the street.
She couldn't see the emblem on the carriage because it was too far away, but she inexplicably felt that the gaze just now came from the carriage.
At this time, the doctor also bandaged the wound on Lu Linyuan's arm.
Jiang Yanyi's words "obstinate" sounded inexplicably harsh to Lu Linyuan.
She was indeed "obstinate" and it would not be an exaggeration to even say that she was shameless.
But now that she said this, Lu Linyuan suddenly felt that all the love she had for him before had become light and airy, like an illusion made of fine sand, which was scattered all over the ground by the word "obstinate", and could never be found again.
He concealed the inexplicable emotion in his heart, stood up and bowed to Chu Changping: "I am sorry to Miss Jiang for breaking off the engagement. But love cannot be forced."
Chu Changping suppressed his anger, looked at the young man in front of him who was bowing and apologizing, and said, "You can get away with it by just saying sorry, but she has paid for almost her entire life."
If there had not been that engagement, there would not have been any unexpected joy, and after the regret of the engagement, there would not have been any unexpected disaster.
Chu Changping was a rough man, but he knew his niece's character well. She would not do anything reckless unless she was at the end of her rope.
Chu Changping had long witnessed Minister Jiang's partiality. He remembered one New Year when he went to the Jiang family to pay New Year's greetings. Jiang Yanyi was only five years old at that time. Minister Jiang brought his illegitimate daughter to greet the guests, but ignored the legitimate daughter. If the people who came to pay New Year's greetings did not ask a question, they would probably think that the illegitimate daughter was the legitimate daughter of the Jiang family.
The five-year-old baby hid in the backyard and cried secretly. He carried his niece out of the house to see the lanterns on the street and bought her a bunch of small toys to coax her. But when he sent her home, the baby was still crying with a pursed mouth, and her tears were like rolling beads: "Uncle, Daddy doesn't like me, no one likes me..."
It was from that time that Chu Changping thought that his cousin from the Chu family would be spoiled by his family members.
Whatever others have, Chu Changping's niece is just as good.
He knew that the child had been sensitive since childhood, and his sister, Madam Jiang, was a doting child. She would often curse the concubines and aunts in front of the child. He had scolded Madam Jiang many times, but she never learned her lesson.
The hatred led by her mother and the unfair treatment by her father made the niece willful since she was old enough to understand, and she would target her half-sister whenever she got the chance.
After so many years of petty quarrels, she finally developed the idea of destroying someone's innocence. It was probably because she knew that her reputation was ruined after her engagement was broken off, and Lu Linyuan threatened to commit suicide and marry his concubine's daughter, so she completely went astray.
Chu Changping's words made Lu Linyuan feel heavy in his heart. He wanted to say something, but Chu Changping had already stopped an ox cart and took Jiang Yanyi away.
There was a locust tree next to the clinic. In late autumn and early winter, dead leaves were scattered all over the ground. Lu Linyuan watched the girl sitting on the ox cart going farther and farther away. When the wind blew, many dead leaves from the locust tree swirled and fell to his feet.
He had always felt that Jiang Yanyi's current situation was all her own fault and had nothing to do with him, but at this moment he inexplicably felt a sense of guilt and panic.
***
It was already afternoon when Jiang Yanyi returned to the store. Chu Changping sent her to the store before going to Feng Mansion next door.
Although he was covered in dust, he was still dignified and was accompanied by several trusted aides, looking quite impressive.
As soon as Chu Changping left, the neighbors came into the store to inquire about Jiang Yanyi under the pretext of caring about her.
"Shopkeeper Jiang, the old man who personally helped you into the store, is he your relative?"
Jiang Yanyi smiled and nodded: "It's my uncle, he came from the capital to see me."
When they heard that he was from the capital, they felt that he was even more extraordinary.
"I said that Shopkeeper Jiang's demeanor is definitely not something that ordinary people can have. Your uncle is obviously a capable person!"
"Manager Jiang, is your uncle married? I have a niece. Although she is in her twenties, she is talented and beautiful..."
"Your niece is a jerk, how can she be worthy of him?"
"You are a widow selling tofu. My niece is still a virgin. How can she not be as good as you?"
…
Although her uncle was a handsome man, Jiang Yanyi didn't expect someone to ask about marriage so soon. She laughed awkwardly and said, "Neighbors, I'm not feeling well today, so I won't entertain you. I'll invite you to my store another day."
The assassination in the south of the city had already spread throughout the city. After hearing what Jiang Yanyi said and seeing that her foot was still wrapped in gauze, everyone said a few words of comfort and left.
Jiang Yanyi then breathed a sigh of relief, closed the shop door and went to the backyard.
Aunt Guo was probably discovered by her, and was afraid that she would think too much, so she went back to Feng Shuo to report, and did not come to the store again. Jiang Yanyi did not think so much, she also wanted to thank Aunt Guo in person, if she hadn't been there today, she would have been in great danger.
She planned to tell Feng Shuo about Aunt Guo when she went to deliver herbal medicine to him tomorrow. But when she thought of Feng Shuo, Jiang Yanyi felt confused again, and she hadn't figured out how to face him.
How can I describe this feeling? It was like looking back at the dark history of my childhood when I was an adult. She didn’t know Feng Shuo had already seen through her identity, so she pretended to be so…
Jiang Yanyi felt suffocated just thinking about it.
She put all this aside for the moment and looked at the vegetables in the backyard.
Although the store didn't do any business today, the ingredients had been ordered a day in advance. There was a lot of mutton and various vegetarian dishes piled up in the yard, which gave Jiang Yanyi a headache.
Fortunately, the vegetarian dishes at this time of year are basically green vegetables and radishes that are long-lasting. What are more difficult to deal with are the fat sheep that have just been slaughtered.
She stood in the yard with her hands on her hips and watched for a while, then said to Qiu Kui, "Let's use one to make a roasted whole lamb, and then make a lamb pot. For the lamb chops... we can make them into smoked lamb chops. If there's any leftover lamb, we can build a shed and smoke it into cured lamb."
We have to host a welcoming banquet for my uncle tonight.
There were about ten close confidants who came to Xizhou with Chu Changping, who were just enough to help her deal with the unsold ingredients today.
I will have to send someone to tell Ma the butcher and other vegetable suppliers that they don't need to deliver ingredients to her store in the next two days.
The Hu family had discredited her store, so even if she continued to open it, there would be no business. Two of the three men were dead, and the remaining one was captured by Feng Shuo. After interrogating him about how much he knew about today's assassination, she would know whether the dead cat outside her store this morning had anything to do with the Hu family.
After everything is clarified, she will continue to open the hot pot restaurant.
She took some time off for the past two days and took the opportunity to heal the injury on her foot.
The author has something to say: A certain king: Are you guys having a whole lamb feast tonight? What about me
Author: You are jealous.
The author's typing speed is too slow, and it took an all-nighter to finish the 10,000-word update. I didn't feel anything when I stayed up all night before, but after staying up all night the day before yesterday, my heart beat very fast, my chest felt uncomfortable, and I always felt like there was air leaking in my lungs when I breathed. I felt sick all over, and I haven't recovered after resting for more than a day.
I don’t know if you have the habit of staying up late, but try not to do so. Your life is important. qaq
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated nutrient solution during 2020-11-20 05:35:01~2020-11-21 13:51:19~
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Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!