Jinghong Tower

Chapter 377 Contract of Sale

Madam He was overjoyed when she heard this. She hugged Mr. He San's miserable head and cried, "Son, thank you for being smart. Otherwise, I would never be able to wash myself clean even if I jumped into the Yellow River."

Old man Yu was disdainful, as if you can wash yourself clean by jumping into the Yangtze River? For someone like you, you can never wash yourself clean no matter where you jump into.

"Ahem!" Old Man Yu cleared his throat. "Don't be too happy yet, He Laosan. Although you wrote Liu Ahua on the document, the signature is your real name. Oh, and you even put your fingerprints on it. Let me ask you, you said Liu Ahua is a fake name, so she is not your mother. Then who is she? Your mother-in-law? Do you have a body contract? Your wife? Do you have a marriage certificate? You can't produce it, right? Then you are kidnapping good girls. He Laosan, you hid it very well. I was wrong. It turns out that you are a kidnapper, and a kidnapper who kidnaps good girls!"

Madam He and Mr. He San were both stunned. What did this mean? How could he become a beggar in just a few words?

Old Madam He pushed Mr. He San's head away with disgust. She would rather give birth to a piece of barbecued pork than admit that this idiot was hers.

He knew to change her name to Liu Ahua, so why didn't he know to make up a fake name for himself?

Actually, Old Madam He really wronged Master He San.

Pawning one's own mother is not a glorious thing. If possible, Mr. He San would like to call himself Zhang San, Li Si, or Wang Ermaizi. He just doesn't want to use his real name.

But he didn't dare to do so. He used his real name when borrowing money from the gambling house. There was no other way. The gambling house had seen all kinds of people and would not lend him money without his real name. While asking him to write an IOU, they had also sent people to check on him near his home.

The IOU is in my real name, so of course the document I use to pawn my mother must be consistent with the IOU and must be in my real name.

Mr. He San was speechless after hearing Old Man Yu's questions and couldn't utter a word for a long time.

If he said that Liu Ahua was not his biological mother, then he was a kidnapper. If he said that Liu Ahua was his biological mother, then Old Madam He was Liu Ahua, and she was Old Man Yu's bed-warmer.

The lease period is three years, and it has only been two years, so Old Man Yu still has the right to control Liu Ahua.

Mr. He San didn't want to be a kidnapper. The laws of those days punished kidnappers very severely and they might even lose their heads. The only way was to let Mrs. He admit that she was Liu Ahua and then sign a contract to sell herself with him.

In this way, the stigma of pawning his own mother could be completely washed away, and he only sold a maid when he was short of money.

Even those famous and aristocratic families cannot avoid selling slaves. Isn't it normal for him to sell a few maids and old women?
It has to be said that with just a few words, Old Man Yu opened up a new world for Master He San.

He was so confused. What was she talking about? He should have said from the beginning that she was a maid, a servant he brought from the capital!

There are only names on the government's household registration. Even the He family's genealogy only has names, no portraits, and no real relatives to identify them. Who can prove that Madam He is not Liu Ahua, and that Liu Ahua is not his maid?

He has no stigma, he is innocent, he wants to be the emperor's uncle, he wants to be crowned king, prince of a county, prince of a duke, he is a prince, a prince!

Thinking of this, Master He San suddenly stood up, crawled to the door, and shouted outside: "I want paper and pen, give me paper and pen!"

Qi Hong's impatient voice came from outside: "What do you want paper and pen for? Are you dreaming?"

Master He San cursed in his heart: You are a bully. When I become a prince, I will ask He Ran for you and marry you to an old bachelor who only knows how to beat women. I will torture you to the point where you would rather die than live!
Master He San suppressed the urge to tear Qi Hong apart, and said in a pinched voice: "Good sister, please have pity on your brother. It's just a piece of paper and a pen. Your brother will be grateful to you for the rest of his life."

Qi Hong: I vomit!
"Who knows if you want to commit suicide? That's not okay. If you die, I will be responsible."

Master He San: Look, you also know that my identity is not ordinary. If I die, He Ran will torture you to death.

Master He San continued in a clip: "Good sister, look at what you said, for your kindness, I can't bear to die. Besides, it's just paper and pen, not a knife, how can I commit suicide?"

Qi Hong: I'm going to vomit again!

"You stuffed paper around your nose and suffocated yourself. You stabbed yourself to death by sticking a pen into your nose. If you want to die, there are plenty of ways to do it. Forget it. I won't give it to you, lest you die in my hands and I have to pay for your life."

Master He San: It’s good that you know. I am the emperor’s uncle, and even if you have nine lives, it would not be enough to compensate me.

"Please, dear sister, my brother has a bright future, how can he bear to die? I promise I will never die."

Qi Hong seemed to be finally convinced by him and said coldly: "Okay, you wait."

Master He San despised the ignorant woman in his heart, but he convinced her with just a few words. He then sold her and she even helped him count the money.

The door opened a crack and Qi Hong handed in paper, pen and a small bottle of ink.

Mr. He San was overjoyed and thanked him quickly. He then hid in a corner of the room and began to write. When he finished writing on a piece of paper, before the words were dry, Mr. He San ran over, grabbed Mrs. He's hand, and pressed his fingerprint on the paper before she could react.

There is no red cinnabar, just three black handprints, but the textures are clear.

Yes, Mr. He San made Mrs. He press three fingers, and unless all three fingers were chopped off, Mrs. He would have to admit it.

By the time Mrs. He reacted, it was too late. She heard the mocking laughter of Old Man Yu.

She turned around stiffly and glared at Old Man Yu: "What are you laughing at?"

"Why am I laughing? Do you know why your son needs paper and pen? Why did he ask you to put your fingerprints on it?"

If it were just now, Madam He would not have known, but with Old Man Yu's tone full of sarcasm, she had no choice but to know.

But she didn't believe it!
"Impossible, absolutely impossible, no way, third brother, you..."

Before he finished speaking, He Shuquan, who had been watching the fun with his arms folded, interrupted and said, "Grandma, you don't need to ask my dad. Even if you ask him, he won't tell the truth. Even a fool can see that he wants you to put your fingerprints on the contract of sale. You are now Liu Ahhua. Oh, forget it. This is the last time I will call you grandma. From now on, you will be my maid. I will call you Liu Pozi."

Old man Yu has seen all kinds of things in the world, and at this moment he couldn't help but sigh in his heart. He still had too little experience. It is true that one never stops learning, and now, he has learned again.

However, it is useless to learn it, as he will not be able to use it. Firstly, his mother died long ago, and secondly, no matter how evil his heart is, it is still a human heart, not a wolf's heart.

Old Madam He's face changed drastically. She glared at He Shuquan, then looked at Old Man Yu, and then looked at Master He San.

"Third brother, Brother Quan is talking nonsense, right? Tell me, is Brother Quan talking nonsense?"

Master He San sighed, "Mother Liu, you have served my mother for many years. I should have let you retire and enjoy your old age, but I was also short of money. I had no choice but to pawn you to this old man Yu. Mother Liu, please don't blame me."

When the voice of "Mother Liu" reached her ears, Mrs. He's head buzzed and she could not hear anything else that was said.

Her body swayed and she fell backwards. Old Man Yu rushed forward and held her in his arms.

"Ahua, don't be too sad. If you don't work for one family, you can work for another. My family is simple. When you come to my house, you don't have to do rough work. You just need to wait on me. Don't worry, as long as I have something to eat, I won't let you down."

Qi Hong, who was eavesdropping outside the door, had to bite her hand to hold back her laughter.

I have learned a lot, really a lot!

Taking advantage of the gap between one guest leaving and the next guest coming in, Qi Hong told He Ran everything she had heard.

He Ran was stunned. She was in awe. How could it be done this way?

She originally just wanted Old Man Yu to deal with the family of three and scare them out of their wits, but she didn't expect there would be such a sudden turn of events. It's true that there is no such thing as the most despicable, only more despicable.

Yes, from the beginning to the end, He Ran did not take this family of three seriously. What she cared about was only the person hiding behind them. Now that that person has been found out, it doesn’t matter whether this family of three lives or dies.

However, this old man Yu is a talented person.

He is also a smart man.

From that day on, Old Madam He never spoke again.

She is no longer Mrs. He, she is Liu Ahua.

Her sons, grandsons, and the person who bought her said she was Liu Ahua.

Of course, there is another person who can prove her identity, and that is He Ran.

But will He Ran testify for her?

Old Madam He was still full of confidence when she came to He Ran to recognize her as a relative and wanted to become the Grand Empress Dowager. She firmly believed that even though she had forced the fish scale book of Jinghong Tower from He Ran, she was still He Ran's biological grandmother. He Ran was just an unmarried girl, and everything she had should belong to her mother's family. Jinghong Tower belonged to her mother's family, and now the empire she had conquered also belonged to her mother's family. She didn't even ask He Ran for this empire, so it wasn't too much to ask her to be the Grand Empress Dowager.

At that time, she thought that even if He Ran was unwilling, the word "filial piety" would make He Ran agree with tears even if she was unwilling.

Filial piety is greater than heaven!

Even though she was locked in a small dark room, Madam He thought so, so she was justified. She knew that as long as rumors spread outside, He Ran would respectfully invite her out.

But now, all these thoughts of hers are gone!

In Jinling City, He Ran is the only one who can prove that she is not Liu Ahua.

So she had to change her strategy. She couldn't yell at He Ran for being unfilial anymore. She had to behave herself and act pitiful. He Ran wouldn't lock her up for the rest of her life. As long as she saw He Ran and cried and begged her, she would not be the Empress Dowager, but just be an old feudal lord, just like Lady Renyi. With just such a small request, couldn't He Ran have some pity on her?
Madam He suddenly fell silent, which made the other three people in the small dark room feel a little uncomfortable.

Master He San stayed away from her, fearing that his face would be scratched by her nails again.

He Shuquan only has Old Man Yu in his eyes. He swears that from now on Old Man Yu is his real grandfather. No, even closer than his real grandfather!

However, after realizing the situation, Old Madam He started to eat. She frowned and swallowed the black-flour cake. She wanted to eat. She still wanted to be a noble lady.

Master He San was also eating black-floured cakes. He also wanted to eat, and he also wanted to be a prince. He was innocent now, so if he didn't become a prince, who would?

Old man Yu still insisted on beating Master He San every day. There was no other way. It was hard to stay slim in old age with money. Eating big fish and meat every day here would make him fat if he didn't exercise. That was not good for health.

At the same time, Zhong Yi finally pried open Qiao Xichang's mouth, and Qiao Xichang revealed the whereabouts of Qiao Meiren and her son.

The Jinyiwei left the city overnight and went to the manor where Concubine Qiao was hiding, but they were one step too late and the manor was empty.

Obviously, Qiao Xichang was deliberately delaying, and he didn't speak until Miss Qiao and her son had left.

Zhong Yi was furious and said to Qiao Xichang, "Zhou Chi is a descendant of Zhou Tong. He doesn't even have the qualifications to be buried in the imperial mausoleum. Even if Lady Qiao's child is really his, it is worthless. No one in the world will recognize him as their master, and the Zhou clan will not recognize him either. What you are protecting is nothing but a useless bastard."

Qiao Xi often laughed dryly: "As long as he is a male, he will be useful. Who do you think you are? You know nothing. You are a pawn for women. Your ancestors will be so angry that they will poke open the coffin lid."

There was murderous intent in Zhong Yi's eyes. He clamped Qiao Xichang's neck and exerted force with his hands. Qiao Xichang's eyeballs gradually bulged out like a dying fish.

Just when he thought he was dead, Zhong Yi let him go.

"When I have time, I will dig up the graves of those two evildoers and grind their bones to dust."

After saying that, Zhong Yi walked out.

Qiao Xichang had a narrow escape from death, and was lost in thought as he recalled what Zhong Yi had just said.

Who are those two evil creatures that Zhong Yi mentioned?
By the way, he mentioned Zhou Chi before and said that he was the descendant of Zhou Tong. Could it be that the evil obstacles that Zhong Yi mentioned are the emperors Taizong and Gaozong?
Yes, excluding Emperor Yonghe, there were five emperors of the Great Zhou Dynasty so far, and three of them are buried in the imperial mausoleum. In addition to Taizu, there are Taizong and his son. Min Man is still alive and is said to have been sent to guard the imperial mausoleum, while Zhou Chi is buried outside the city of Jinling.

So Zhong Yi wants to dig up the tombs of Taizong and Gaozong, and then grind their bones to ashes?

How dare he?

Is this He Ran's order?
No, but Zhong Yi's tone doesn't sound like that.

Even Qiao Xichang felt that unless He Ran was extremely crazy, he would not have ordered the excavation of the emperor's tomb.

Doing this is immoral!
If He Ran had buried Zhou Chi with the ceremony of a prince, she would not have done such a stupid thing as digging up the grave.

Could it be that this is because he likes my idea?
why?
Qiao Xichang narrowed his eyes. This Jinyiwei leader, a popular figure under He Ran, was said to be a relative of the Min family. However, he had betrayed the Empress Dowager and defected to He Ran very early. Now he was going to dig up the emperor's tomb. Could it be related to the Min family?
Although he couldn't guess what the relationship between Zhong Yi and the Zhou and Min families was, Qiao Xichang felt that he had touched the threshold. The next time he saw Zhong Yi, he would test it.

He knew that as long as Miss Qiao and her son had not been found, Zhong Yi would not kill him.

As long as you are alive, there is hope.