The contract was not signed after all. Jiang Miao felt that no matter how poor the son of the Duke's Mansion was, he would not rely on him for such a small amount of money. If he signed this thing, it might be dug up one day and he would be exposed.
Pei Che was touched by his trust, and secretly increased the reward he was going to give Jiang Miao by another 20%. After he asked Jiang Miao about what happened today, he rode away on his horse.
Jiang Miao watched him leave, then returned to the room, picked up the ointment and applied it to himself with a grimace. In addition to his face, he also had injuries on his body. Those people were not gentle, punching him again and again like a sandbag.
But he and Daniu were not easy to mess with. They beat whoever they caught. If they didn't have more people, it's hard to say who would win or lose! It's a pity that both carts were broken, but the frying pan was still there. It's good to use it to hit people. The game really did not cheat me.
Jiang Miao thought about it afterwards. He felt that these people who were looking for trouble must have been instructed by someone. Because he had been selling fried buns at the academy for many days, and he had never heard anyone complain about the bad taste or uncleanness of the buns. But today, when those people came, they bought a bun and hadn't eaten half of it. The skinny guy in the front lay on the ground, holding his stomach, and kept crying, saying that his buns were not clean and asked him to pay two taels of silver for medical expenses.
Money is small, but reputation is big! Jiang Miao naturally couldn't admit it, and he cupped his hands and said to the others: "Please everyone be a witness. I will ask my men to invite a doctor to take a look. If the doctor is sure that he feels uncomfortable because of eating my buns, I am willing to compensate him for the medical expenses he mentioned. In addition, I am willing to pay an extra one or two taels of silver so that he can go home to recuperate. What do you think?" The last sentence was said to the skinny monkey.
This was a fair statement, and the customers who were buying buns nearby all applauded. The skinny monkey saw that things were not going in the direction he expected, so he shouted directly: "You are a shady shop. Not only do you give people bad buns to eat, but you are also planning to collude with the doctor to steal money and kill people, right? Everyone, come and see, this shady shop is harming people!"
Jiang Miao sneered and said, "You are so funny. You said you were not feeling well, so I would naturally find a doctor to treat you. How can it be said that I colluded with the doctor to rob you and kill you? Another thing, let's not talk about your skinny appearance. Even if a thief broke into your house, he would probably have to hold on to the wall and cry as he ran out. What is there about you that is worth my robbing you and killing you?"
The crowd watching on the side laughed at his teasing words. The skinny monkey got angry and stood up, pulled the basin off the cart and threw it to the ground. He said, "You are quite good at talking. I'm putting it this way. Either you pay me or we smash your stall. You choose one!"
As a mature and rational adult, Jiang Miao would certainly not choose either of them. His face darkened, and he said to Daniu, "Brother Daniu, go get the patrolling guards to come over and judge. Liangjing is under the feet of the emperor, but some people are wantonly extorting law-abiding citizens like us. It's just the right opportunity today to have those adults come over and catch these hooligans who are deliberately looking for trouble."
The man and his men looked at each other anxiously. They just wanted to extort some money and didn't plan to make such a big fuss. When Daniu was stopped, he naturally wanted to break free, but he was beaten. Seeing this, Jiang Miao picked up the rolling pin and swung it, hitting the man in the back and making him stagger.
There was a melee at the back. Some of the customers nearby were smart and went to find the guards as soon as they saw them fighting. Unfortunately, those people smashed their stalls and ran away. When the guards arrived, they could not even see their shadows.
Jiang Miao borrowed a wheelbarrow, cleaned up the mess, and took the equally injured Daniu to the clinic. The doctor said they only had skin injuries and prescribed some ointment for injuries.
Jiang Miao asked Daniu to go back and rest for a few days, saying that he could come back to work after the cart was repaired, and promised that he would receive his wages for these days.
Da Niu quickly waved his hands to refuse. He blamed himself and said that it was his incompetence that failed to keep the stall, and that the buns were bought from his stall. If he fried them better, those people might not have come to cause trouble.
Jiang Miao was stunned when he heard this. Finally, he patted Daniu on the shoulder and said, "Brother Daniu, don't go out to look for a job anymore in the future. Just follow me." Being so honest, he would definitely be bullied if he met someone with bad intentions.
In the evening, Jiang Miao took Xiao Shitou home. Although he tried his best to avoid Xiao Shitou's sight with his injured face, he was still discovered.
The child burst into tears immediately. He felt very sad seeing his brother being beaten like this.
"Brother, does it hurt?" he asked with red eyes and a crying voice.
"It doesn't hurt. My brother beat them too." Jiang Miao wiped his tears and comforted him.
"How could it be... it doesn't hurt, it's all blue! Those bad guys... will the officials arrest them all?" Little Stone choked and gently touched Jiang Miao's wound, and the tears that had not yet stopped flowed again.
"Yes, didn't my brother tell you the story of how Lord Feng punished evildoers? They will definitely be caught!" Although he said that, Jiang Miao understood that those people probably could not be caught. In the eyes of the guards who patrolled the streets all day, this was just a small matter that could not be any smaller.
That night, Little Shitou cried from time to time until he fell asleep. He must have been really scared. Jiang Miao touched his back to comfort him. Although his body was in pain, he felt very happy in his heart. It felt good to have someone worrying about him!
The next morning, Pei Che entered the palace. The morning court had just ended and Emperor Liang Ping was sitting in the imperial study reviewing memorials. When he heard the eunuch's report, he had someone bring Pei Che in instead of leaving him outside like he did the day before.
"Pei Che pays respect to the Emperor. Long live the Emperor!" Pei Che stepped forward and saluted.
Emperor Liang Ping glanced at his face inconspicuously and found that his expression looked calm and he didn't seem to be upset by what happened yesterday.
Pei Che looked directly at Emperor Liang Ping and spoke word by word: "I've made up my mind. I'll choose the second imperial edict."
Emperor Liang Ping's pupils suddenly shrank, and he was shocked: "You mean, you want to marry that man?"
Pei Che smiled and nodded: "It's rare to have a bosom friend in life. Since the emperor wants to help us, Pei Che will naturally be more than happy."
Emperor Liang Ping was deeply shaken. He was angry at first, thinking that Pei Che was so ignorant that he would rather marry a man, even a peddler. Yesterday, he sent someone to inquire about it and found that the man was indeed a peddler selling steamed buns. His name was Jiang Miao and he was from Jiangjiawan outside the east city of Liang.
Then, he suddenly felt a surge of satisfaction in his heart. Pei Shijie, Pei Shijie, you have been so self-righteous, but your son is about to become a laughing stock of the world!
Looking around, all noble families pay attention to the matching of family backgrounds when getting married. If this kid really marries a man, there will be something interesting to watch! Thinking that Pei Shijie's son will soon live a life of being despised and in chaos, Emperor Liang Ping felt indescribably happy.
"It is true that it is easy to get priceless treasures, but hard to find a lover. Since your love is stronger than gold, I will not force it. Let's put an end to the matter between you and the princess, and never mention it again. As for the matter of arranged marriage, I will act as a matchmaker and help you two be together." The corners of Emperor Liang Ping's mouth curled up, and he seemed to be in a good mood.
Pei Che understood his hint. Although he didn't know why he wasn't angry at all, he knew that he was definitely not moved by their friendship. However, this matter could be used to his advantage.
"Your Majesty, please rest assured. Pei Che has never met the princess, let alone anything between us. But Pei Che still has something to ask, and I beg Your Majesty to agree to it."
Emperor Liang Ping was in a good mood at the moment, and said indifferently: "What's the matter? Tell me."
"Pei Che was born in the Duke of Zhongguo's Mansion. When my second uncle inherited the title, he swore in front of the ancestral tablets that when I come of age, he would submit a petition to the emperor to confer the title of Crown Prince on me. The petition has been drafted, and I hope the emperor can approve it as soon as possible." Pei Che paused, then spoke a little shyly, "Pei Che wants to marry his beloved in a grand manner, rather than as a commoner."
Emperor Liang Ping frowned at first, but laughed when he heard the latter part. That's right, how could an ordinary person marrying a male wife be as sensational as the prince of the Duke's Mansion marrying a male wife? Moreover, Pei Shijie was also a prince at the beginning, but now their spouses are very different, which makes people think of him and laugh at him.
"I didn't expect you to be so infatuated. Well, I will draft an edict later and bring it to the palace together with the imperial decree of marriage. You can add the memorial later." Emperor Liang Ping agreed directly. Now that his position is as solid as a rock, it doesn't matter to him who inherits the title.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace!" Pei Che also smiled.
The Duke's Mansion received two imperial edicts at the same time. After hearing the first one, everyone in the mansion was shocked and looked at Pei Che with incredible eyes, thinking that he might be crazy. After hearing the second one, everyone in the mansion looked at Pei Shiyuan with incredible eyes, thinking that he might be crazy too.
Pei Shiyuan and Li Yijia were also in a state of dumbfoundedness at this moment. Pei Che's words yesterday were still ringing in their ears. They didn't take it seriously at that time, but now it seems really ironic!
"No, that's impossible!" Li Yijia opened his mouth with these words, causing the eunuch who was delivering the imperial edict to frown and ask, "Is the Duke's wife dissatisfied with the emperor's will?"
Pei Shiyuan quickly pulled her aside and explained to the eunuch with a forced smile: "Eunuch Lin, my wife is just too shocked and doesn't dare to express any dissatisfaction."
"Then accept the order."
"Your Majesty, I bow down to thank you for your grace!" Pei Shiyuan accepted the imperial edict with a bitter face.
After the people in the palace left, Li Yijia looked at Pei Che fiercely and asked, "What tricks did you use to make the emperor suddenly appoint you as the crown prince?"
Pei Che ignored her and turned to look at Pei Shiyuan, saying with a smile: "Second Uncle, don't forget to submit the memorial to the Emperor for approval. Our Duke's Mansion has always been the most disciplined, so don't let others make fun of you."
After saying this, he helped Grandmother Pei to leave, but suddenly he thought of something and turned around and said, "Also, don't say anything you shouldn't say in the future. If the emperor blames you, you can't ask for the red book and iron certificate. This is for the descendants of the Duke's Mansion."
Every word was like a slap in Pei Shiyuan's face. His face turned red and he was shaky, just like Grandmother Pei that day. Seeing this, one can't help but say, God has a way of doing things!
(End of this chapter)