[Caiyun Kingdom] The beginning of people

I thought that my fate was not as good as Liu Bang, but I had to go to the banquet at the Hongmen.

Governor Hu Dongnian invited me to sit with Xiao Zhifu, and it was obvious that there was a plan, but I had no choice but to go.During the banquet, Hu Dongnian sang the bad face, the magistrate Xiao Wu sang the bad face, the magistrate's wife played the chorus, the magistrate's lady Xiao Gui was in charge of throwing cold arrows, and the rightful magistrate's son Xiao Jin was the background music—sneering and cheap laughing.They tried different ways to force me to agree to marry Xiao Jin, but I insisted that my elders were not around, so I couldn't discuss marriage in private.

At the end, the magistrate Xiao Wu even said: "What if your father is gone?"

not there?Do you mean to curse him to death?

After drinking for three rounds, the female relatives went into the inner room to have a rest.As soon as I closed the door, the smile faded from my face, and my face was sullen.

I have never been so embarrassing among Zhang's shopkeeper and those old fritters of the Quanshanglian, but now I am forced to hear the other party cursing my father just because of the other party's power.It's not that my own ability is not enough, which makes me even more unwilling.

"Or do you want to hide in the turtle valley and be your country bumpkin?" Kui Huangyi, who was disguised as a servant of the governor Hu Dongnian, came out from the shadows.

I glanced at him coldly, then closed my eyes, took a breath, and calmed down.Whether it's the people at the banquet or Kui Huangyi who seems to be an ally in front of me, the relationship is essentially a mutual calculation, and I can't lose my cool in front of them.

Opening my eyes, I smiled, "Master Aoi, do you have any orders?"

"The first time they were not clear, the next time they came to the dark. I only remind you this time."

"Lord Kui, if you hadn't detained Xiao Wu's criminal evidence, he would have stepped down a long time ago." I stepped into the inner room, sat in front of the dressing table, turned my back to him through the screen, and smoothed my hair. Tidying up the hairpin, "I remember what we agreed at the beginning was just to bring Xiao Wu down. Mrs. Kui has other plans, and of course the daughter of the people has nothing to do with it. But, I can't get more than I can." Kui Huangyi wanted to drag the case forward. Only then would he hold back against Xiao Wu, the magistrate who had already succeeded.

"You still want to stay in Longqing County?"

"It's good to make great achievements, but you have to be careful about the past and ignore the future." If Zhou Mu is really exposed, I don't believe that Kui Huangyi can still live a stable life. He will definitely become a thorn in the side of some people in the court.In fact, with his skills and background, if there is no accident, he will become a member of the imperial court when he is 50 years old, but now he is eager to make meritorious service.Benefits and risks go hand in hand, if he is not careful, he will be doomed, and Kui Huangyi will be too aggressive.If he had no other reason, why would he take this risk?But this is his own business, and he can't drag me into the water.

He walked around the screen and stood behind me, sneered, "Do you have the capital to take your time?"

I sighed secretly.Regardless of Kui Huangyi's reasons, as a woman, if I want to keep the Zhang family by myself in this generation, I need to have the courage to move forward.From this point of view, Kui Huangyi has an eye for chess pieces.I put the agate earrings that hurt my ears on the table, turned around, and looked up at him, "But that doesn't mean I can only choose you."

He raised one eyebrow, "Will you choose those idiots?"

"Idiots are good too." If I hadn't had a conflict of interest with the Xiao family, and they were too greedy, I would rather cooperate with them.When Kui Huangyi made a serious move, he would make people breathless.

"If you spend too much time with a pig, you will turn into a pig. Look at yourself," he said coldly.

I laughed out loud, then turned back to face the dressing table, sighed lowly, and rubbed the space between my brows.Okay, I know that I was in a bad state just now, and I even pointed fingers at Kui Huangyi's matter.Cooperating with this kind of person is all about keeping half a secret, why should I spread everything out?It's just, who wouldn't be angry if his father was told?I haven't learned to swallow my mouth.

"Time is running out. Master Aoi has something to say, but it's okay to say it." After stabbing him a few times, I was out of breath, so I calmed down.

"Take their words, I want to know where their copper mine is."

The State Shepherd's Mansion suddenly needs a large sum of money, just for the copper mine.Caiyun Country's national law stipulates that copper mines can only be mined by the state. This is the state's monopoly interest, and it is also to prevent people from privately minting copper coins and disrupting the currency market.According to Kui Huangyi's investigation, the State Shepherd's Mansion mined a copper mine privately, but a serious accident occurred, so funds were urgently needed to repair the mine, and it was also used to cover the mouths of the families of the dead and injured.

I nodded.

Once this matter was exposed, Zhou Mu not only lost his official position, but also ransacked and killed even the nine clans.It is a heinous crime to disclose copper sulfur privately, and Kui Huangyi's actions are both accurate and ruthless.

Looking at the bronze mirror, I thought for a moment, picked up the powder puff, and swept my face whiter than paper.

"Have you lost your temper yet?" Kui Huangyi asked.

"This is a sick makeup that is popular recently." I picked up Meidai again, and drew my eyebrows into a mournful downward slope, "I'm creating a topic to talk to Miss Zhifu." Well, you're done.

Hahahaha.

"Nonsense." Kui Huangyi reprimanded lightly.

When I had laughed enough, I stood up and saluted him, "I was rude just now."

"You've done a good job." After saying that, he stepped out of the room.

I was the only one left standing there.

Was he praising me just now?Am I right?Ah, no, that's not the point.I rub my temples.I was distracted by the fact that he, the devil, could praise people.The point is, I was being appeased as a child by someone who was actually younger than me.I shook my head and laughed again.I really haven't improved at all in these years, and I'm still a little girl who can lose my temper.It seems that I have to do a good self-examination.

I bowed my head and straightened my clothes, then went out to the front hall for the banquet again.

Everyone was shocked when they saw my appearance, only my maid Yan Tian still had a blank face, calmly supported my hand, and sent me back to my seat.

"...Miss Zhang?" Governor Hu Dongnian's gentle and elegant smile was a little stiff.

I pretended to be puzzled, "What's wrong?"

"Sure enough, he is a shameless person." The magistrate's daughter Xiao Gui whispered, and then stood up, "Everyone, I will take Miss Zhang down to clean up first, excuse me." She pulled me over and dragged me out .

"Miss Xiao," I followed her and asked in a low voice beside her, "Is there something wrong with my makeup?"

Xiao Gui's expression was contorted, as if he was trying hard to swallow some inappropriate curse words, "...Sick makeup is not like this, you...painting a tiger is not an anti-dog!" She scolded.

I smiled wryly and said, "I just watched the latest fashion..."

She took me back to the inner room, stared at me as I washed my face, then dismissed the other maids, and rolled up her sleeves to reapply my makeup in person.

"The main point of makeup for a sick look is to be as delicate and soft as Xizi, and a pair of eyebrows should be non-congealed..."

"Excuse me, Miss Xiao."

She said lightly: "In the future, you will be my sister-in-law after all. Although you have a bad background, there is absolutely no reason to ignore you when you make a fool of yourself. Our official family is not fond of small-scale disputes, and even face Arguing and crowding out regardless, we officials disdain."

"Miss Xiao," I took out a box of rouge from my sleeve and handed it to her, "This is the new orange red from Hongzhou, just accept it as my thank you."

Happiness flashed across Xiao Gui's face.She accepted the things, and then said with a shallow smile: "You don't have to flatter me, as my daughter-in-law of Xiao's parents, you have to show some momentum."

"Miss Xiao, stop talking," I pretended to be a little shy, "marriage needs to be ordered by my parents. Although I don't read much, I know the rules. If my father is not here, I definitely can't handle it." Marriage. I'm not like Miss Xiao, you and the young master of the Zhao family in Hongzhou are well matched, and that is a great joy."

Xiao Gui smiled even sweeter.She coughed lightly, turned her face away slightly, and returned to her reserved expression, "You are also right, women's rules can't be broken. You are also a sensible person, let me remind you," she turned her back to me Organize things on the dressing table, "Be careful with the wine."

I squinted my eyes.It was already clear what the Xiao family was up to.

I reached out and wiped the corners of my eyes, "Miss Xiao...I...I really don't know how to thank you..."

"Don't," she turned around and frowned and pulled my hand down, "You messed up the good makeup again." She picked up the powder puff and added some powder to me, "You are smart, so you understand what I mean It is a disgrace for a woman to be...before marriage, and I don't want my sister-in-law to come in so dishonestly, but," her expression became severe, "don't make any more foolish ideas! As a concubine, you don't I wish, now that I have made you a regular wife, you just obediently wait to enter the door!"

Xiao Gui, who has always disdained me, also tried her best to let me marry into the Xiao family, she really knew something.Xiao Gui is clever and smart, and has always been favored by the magistrate couple, so she should know a lot of things.

"...Here, I only obey the orders of my parents and the words of the matchmaker..." I still tried to evade.

"Your father agreed, so you agreed?"

Seeing her pensive look, I had a bad premonition, but I still didn't dare to stop, and continued to perfunctory her, "It's natural." I picked up a golden hairpin on the dressing table, shook it, "Oh , if there are officials to rely on, it is naturally good. This year, my family’s gold shop was blackmailed by hooligans again, and I lost a lot of income.”

Xiao Gui's hand paused, "Gold shop?"

"Yes, my family also has a gold shop, but they are not in Longqing County." I picked up the mirror and took a look at myself. , no wonder the court wants to snatch it away.”

"Silver and...copper?"

"Yes, gold is expensive, and few people buy more, and if they buy it, they treat it as a family heirloom. If no one buys it, then what business do I still have? Silver jewelry is relatively cheap, but it's profitable and quick to sell. , more profitable than gold. When it comes to copper..."

"What's wrong with the copper?" Xiao Gui's voice was a little softer and slower.

"Well, the way to illegally profit from copper..." I coughed, "I won't say much more. Let's just talk about daily life. Copper can be used to make many daily necessities." I picked up the copper candlestick on the table, " There are places where copper is needed.” I smiled, “It’s a pity that this is just fantasy, ordinary people, no matter how much money they have, they can’t get involved in these industries that make a lot of money.”

Under the light of the candlelight, Xiao Guijiao's pretty face flickered, "The Zhang family...has a lot of spare money?"

I blinked and covered my mouth with my sleeve, "Look at what I said, I have nothing to say about this small business, it's just some small money, and I can't get into the eyes of officials." I stood up, "Miss Xiao, we are going back ?”

The routine is one piece at a time, and it is best to hook it to the other party and automatically deliver it to the door.

Back at the banquet again, they no longer mentioned the matter of marriage to me, and put on a gesture of enjoying the guests.I was reminded, so I didn't even touch the glass.It was Xiao Jin who was the most impatient, and actually walked over to offer me a toast.

"Then I'll pay you back, Mr. Xiao, with tea instead of wine..."

"How can this tea be made!" Xiao Jin stuffed the wine glass into my hand.

Should I drink this wine or not?

"Come on!" Xiao Jin's still handsome face was full of gloom, "Miss Zhang is looking down on me, isn't she?" He leaned forward and whispered: "This is not your Zhang family's place, I think How dare you ask someone to block me!"

What a bandit logic, obviously you blocked me, okay?

Although I couldn't smell anything, I was still afraid that something had been added to the wine, so I didn't dare to drink it, so when Xiao Jin was approaching, I took advantage of the situation and threw the wine out.While apologizing to Xiao Jin, I gestured to Yan Tian.When the next bottle was served again, it was served by Yan Tian, ​​so I drank it with confidence.I don't know whether their idea was to drug me or to get me drunk, and then Xiao Jin kept forcing me to drink, but I refused to respond, so it was his father Xiao Wu's turn to play.When he couldn't persuade him to join, it was Hu Dongnian who came on stage.Their identities are higher than each other. I had to bear it when they talked about my father just now, let alone when they were toasting with smiles on their faces?I frowned and drank one cup after another.

After another bottle of old-fashioned Huadiao, my stomach seemed to be on fire, so I quickly stood up and said goodbye.

"Miss Zhang is too drunk, right?" Hu Dongnian said, "Why don't you rest in the house for a while before going back?"

I should come down.

When Yan Tian helped me to the inner room, I quietly asked her to prepare people at the back door, and let half of the servants from the Zhang family stay where they were and put on a show, while the other half went to the back door to meet them.Entering the inner room, as soon as the door was closed, I immediately pinched myself with my nails, patted my face again, and became sober.The next step is to leave the inner room without attracting attention.I opened the door slightly and saw two people guarding it outside.No one was looking out of the window of the inner room, because it was connected to a lake.In this way, I can only go out through the window.

This is what I expected, and I wasn't too surprised.

I took off all the jewelry on my body first, and then took off the coat that was so long to the floor, wrapped the jewelry, and then quietly opened the window.I climbed onto the window frame and gently lowered the bundle into the water.

I looked at the lake and swallowed.

I have swam before crossing, but now I have not been in the water for more than ten years, and I am really guilty.I took a deep breath, then entered the water as lightly as possible.

Although it was summer, I was so cold that I almost had cramps the moment I entered the water.

...No, I forgot to do warm-up exercises before going into the water...

Forget it, anyway, I don't have much time, so it's better to take a quick step.I moved my cramped feet and swam out with a wry smile.With the blessing of luck, I swam to the other side of the lake smoothly, and escaped through the back door with Yan Tian's support.

The next day, I sneaked back again, and when Hu Dongnian and others asked about it, I replied that I was drunk and went the wrong way and went to another room.When I showed up with Yan Tian, ​​they really asked about my whereabouts, and their faces were all ashen.

"My lord, it's too bad!" A servant came running over, "Xiao Tao said that she was unwilling to be insulted by Mr. Xiao, so she wanted to hang herself!"

what?

When I think about it, I know what happened.Immediately, I took advantage of the situation and said: "You...you are just casually following the maid...the family style of the Xiao family..." I widened my eyes and pretended to be angry, "Don't mention the matter of getting married again!" I turned around and left with a flick of my sleeves .

Now it's their fault, of course they will immediately take advantage of the situation to turn their face and deny anyone~

"Miss Zhang, Miss Zhang!" Hu Dongnian didn't know what to say, so he vented his anger on the boy, "You idiot who can't control your mouth!" His elegant face was gone.

When I left Hu Dongnian's residence, I sat in the sedan chair with my chin propped up, smiling happily.Once this kind of thing rises to the height of human morality, at least on the surface, it is no longer something that power can forcefully suppress.I thought I would be troubled this morning, but I didn't expect that things would go smoothly unexpectedly, and it gave me an excellent excuse to reject Xiao's marriage proposal in the future.Killing Xiao Jin to death would be detrimental to his personal virtues, even their banquets could be turned down.Anyway, I am also a good family girl.

Ha ha.

A few days later, when Kui Huangyi came to my room again, I suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

"It's you?" Things will go so smoothly, it must be Kui Huangyi who is behind the scenes.

"What are you? Don't talk too often, no one can understand what you are talking about." He said without raising his head, and continued to write the document in his hand.

"You understand clearly." I poured a cup of strong tea made by Kui Huangyi, "What's wrong with that maid?"

"died."

I tightened my hand holding the cup, trying not to change my face, "Really."

"It wasn't suicide, it was the hands of the Xiao family. They haven't given up on you yet, so naturally they don't allow their son to take a maid as a concubine before marriage, which hinders his reputation for marriage." He put down his pen and moved his neck, "That maid was originally a concubine. Hu Dongnian's person. Since she did something, she has to bear the consequences herself."

Although they all climbed the bed, if she had been with Hu Dongnian instead of Xiao Jin that night, she might not have ended up like this.

I made myself laugh, "Of course I can't let them give up on me as a water fish, otherwise, how can I still talk?" After a pause, I asked again: "Then Xiao Jin? I'm the one who got drunk, not him." How could he? Will he be so stupid that he dares to have a spring dinner with the maid at Hu Dongnian's residence?

"Treat the body of the person with the way of the person."

……what?

I looked at him strangely.

Did Kui Huangyi get Xiao Jin drunk or raped him?

The author has something to say: