Blackening starts from the golden years

In front of the door of the Zhao family teahouse, an old man with a bag on his back was pacing back and forth. Seeing him, Zhao Paner couldn't help but shout with surprise:

"Uncle De."

Hearing this, the old man whom Zhao Pan'er called Uncle De quickly turned around and bowed to her, saying very respectfully:

"This old slave greets my lady."

"Why are you here?"

"Madam, what's wrong with you?"

"It's okay, I just fell down."

Looking at the old servant of the Ouyang family, Zhao Pan'er couldn't hide her excitement and asked excitedly:
"Where's Ouyang?"

Without waiting for Uncle De to answer, Zhao Pan'er gradually became nervous and asked:
"Nothing happened to him, did he fail the exam again?"

"Oh, how can that be possible?"

Looking at Zhao Pan'er, Uncle De smiled with pride on his face:

"I have come back to tell you the good news. My master has been chosen by the Emperor of Jiying Palace as the third place in this year's imperial examination."

"Tanhua?"

Zhao Pan'er was surprised and delighted to hear that Ouyang Xu had really passed the exam and ranked third. She looked at Uncle De and asked nervously:
"Are you coming back to take me to Tokyo this time? Are we going to Tokyo by sea or by land?"

"My lady, don't be anxious."

Looking at Zhao Pan'er, Uncle De said with some guilt:

"My master asked me to bring you a message, saying that since he is now an official, your status is..."

"What happened to my identity?"

Seeing Uncle De who was obviously hesitant to speak, Zhao Paner said hurriedly:
"I know what Ouyang is worried about. Doesn't he think I shouldn't do business anymore? It just so happens that something happened in the teahouse, so I just closed it down."

After saying that, Zhao Paner looked at Uncle De and said:
"Uncle De, please come in and sit down. You have come such a long way. Let me make you a cup of tea. Have you had breakfast yet?"

"No, my lady, I have something to tell you, my master..."

Before Uncle De could finish his words, Sun Sanniang's voice came from afar.

"Pan'er, you're finally back. I've been worried about you all night."

As he was talking, Sun Sanniang rushed over. When she saw Uncle De, she said in surprise:

"Uncle De, when did you come back?"

"Sanniang, Ouyang really won the title of Tanhua."

Zhao Pan'er looked at Sun Sanniang and smiled.

"Tanhua?"

Hearing that Ouyang Xu really passed the exam and became the third place, Sun Sanniang was happy for Zhao Pan'er and said:

"Congratulations, congratulations, congratulations to Madam Tanhua. You got to wear the phoenix coronet and bridal robe earlier than I did. That's great. You will have to go to the capital in two days, right? I will help you pack."

Hearing Sun Sanniang's nonsense, Uncle De became anxious. He looked at Zhao Pan'er and said:
"Madam Zhao, Madam Sun is not an outsider either. I'll just say it straight. I'm not here to take you to the capital. Fortunately, the master has been granted marriage by the virtuous concubine in the palace. After the Grain Rain, he will marry the daughter of Observer Gao."

Zhao Pan'er was stunned, her eyes were dazed. Sun Sanniang looked at her worriedly, then looked at Uncle De who looked very proud and asked loudly:

"What high observation?"

"The deputy commander of the Guangji Army, Gao Hu, the deputy commander of the infantry, is Gao Guanchao."

Uncle De said with pride.

After listening to this, Zhao Paner smiled miserably and said:
"Can you say that again."

"Master Ouyang is going to marry the daughter of Gao Hu and Gao Guancha."

Uncle De said it again, and Zhao Paner felt dizzy and fainted on the ground.

"Pan'er!"

"Zhao, Madam Zhao!"

……

Teahouse, Zhao Paner's bedroom.

"Pan'er, Pan'er?"

Yuan Xudong sat at the head of the bed, holding Zhao Paner's hand and calling softly.

"Ouyang, are you back?"

In a trance, Zhao Pan'er mistook Yuan Xudong for Ouyang Xu. She held Yuan Xudong's hand tightly, and it seemed as if she had returned to the day when she sent Ouyang Xu to Beijing for the imperial examination. It was rare for Qiantang to snow, but the snow scene that day was particularly beautiful. In the heavy snow, by the Qiantang Lake, Ouyang Xu held her hand and solemnly swore:

"Pan'er, when I pass the imperial examination this time, I will definitely marry you with the three letters and six ceremonies."

"Ouyang, Ouyang."

Zhao Pan'er murmured incoherently, tears streaming down her face.

"Pan'er, Pan'er."

Yuan Xudong called softly, and he hugged Zhao Paner in his arms.

"Ouyang, Ouyang."

I don't know what Zhao Pan'er dreamed about, but she took the initiative to snuggle into Yuan Xudong's arms, like a young lady seeking sex with a man, and her pair of white and delicate hands were touching his chest randomly.

Seeing her like this, Yuan Xudong couldn't help but frown slightly. What was going on?

Was it him who cheated on Ouyang Xu, or was it Ouyang Xu who cheated on him?

Just like Yin Zhiping, Yang Guo, and Xiaolongnu?

Xiaolongnu thought Yin Zhiping was Yang Guo, so did she feel happy and comfortable at that time?
It’s terrifying to think about it and I dare not imagine it.

Yuan Xudong quickly collected his thoughts, gently shook Zhao Paner's shoulders and shouted:

"Zhao Pan'er, wake up quickly, are you deliberately seducing me?"

"Ok?"

Zhao Pan'er slowly came to her senses. When she saw Yuan Xudong's face clearly and found that his clothes were in disarray, her face turned pale and she said in a trembling voice:

"You, what did you do to me?"

"Hmm? What did I do to you?"

Yuan Xudong reached out and grabbed Zhao Paner's wrist, pulled her in front of him, looked at her and smiled jokingly:

"You should ask me what you did to me, have you forgotten?"

"What did I do? Let me go, you have no shame."

Zhao Paner struggled hard.

"I still have no shame?"

Yuan Xudong grabbed Zhao Paner's wrist tightly and pushed her down on the bed. He stroked her face with his right hand and smiled:

"One of my men died trying to save you last night. How are you going to compensate me for this?"

"Who, who asked you to save me?"

Zhao Paner glared at Yuan Xudong and said stubbornly.

"Hey, is it wrong to save you?"

"You lecher, please let me go."

Looking at Zhao Pan'er who was staring at him, Yuan Xudong smiled slightly and said:

"Zhao Pan'er, listen to me carefully. I have saved you twice. From now on, your life belongs to me, and even you belong to me. Do you understand?"

"Why?"

Zhao Pan'er glared at Yuan Xudong stubbornly.

"You still dare to be tough with me?"

Looking at Zhao Paner with a stubborn face, Yuan Xudong suddenly lowered his head and kissed her tempting red lips.

"Hmm~~Hmm~~"

Zhao Paner's eyes widened. Why was he so presumptuous?

Yuan Xudong continued to kiss Zhao Paner, and his right hand slowly stroked the bellyband under her coat.

He exerted a little force, and Zhao Pan'er couldn't help but let out a soft moan, her pretty face flushed and her eyes blurred with tears.

"Hmm~"

"You are so presumptuous, don't, um~~"

"I can be even more outrageous."

Yuan Xudong smiled, hugging Zhao Pan'er, who was limp all over, and smiled very gently:

"Pan'er, compared to your sister Yinzhang, I like you more. From today on, you are my woman."

After saying this, he wanted to do something good. Zhao Pan'er was shocked and she struggled hard:

"Let me go, let me go."

In the end, Yuan Xudong let Zhao Paner go. He didn't want to force her and hurt her.

Yuan Xudong got up from the bed and looked at the pitiful Zhao Pan'er hiding under the quilt with her arms around her shoulders. He said:

"Ouyang Xu won't marry you, but I will. If you are willing, I can marry you with three letters and six ceremonies."

"roll."

Zhao Pan'er glared at him with hatred. Looking at her, Yuan Xudong took a step forward, ready to pounce.

"Ah~~"

Zhao Paner screamed in fear, she closed her eyes, and wrapped herself up in the quilt with both hands. "Haha~~"

Yuan Xudong left with a loud laugh. He had already had physical contact with Zhao Pan'er, so she would be his woman sooner or later. At that time, she and her sister Song Yinzhang would share a husband. The two sisters, Ehuang and Nvying, and the wife and concubine would get along well with each other. Wouldn't it be a beautiful thing?

……

Outside the small courtyard of the teahouse, Sun Sanniang was arguing with Uncle De.

"Do you want to kill Pan'er?"

"Oh, how can that be possible?"

Uncle De looked at Sun Sanniang, who was holding her waist with both hands, like a street shrew. He smiled and said with disdain:
"The master said that Madam Zhao is smart and will understand his helplessness. This marriage was personally arranged by the virtuous concubine in the palace..."

"you shut up!"

Sun Sanniang pinched her waist with one hand, pointed at Uncle De's nose with her other hand and cursed, angrily:

"Even if she is a virtuous concubine in the palace, it is not reasonable for her to preside over someone's wedding casually. Didn't she ask Ouyang Xu if he had any engagement before this?"

"I did ask, but the relationship between the master and Lady Zhao was not arranged by their parents, nor by a matchmaker. This is a private marriage, and it doesn't count."

Uncle De argued, and Sun Sanniang was so angry that she cursed:

"You, Yinzhang, and our family of three all know about Pan'er and Ouyang Xu's engagement. Now that Ouyang Xu has passed the imperial examination and has won the third place, you, the Ouyang family, want to break off the engagement and marry someone else. You are so ungrateful. Are you still human?"

"Hey, you can't say that."

Looking at Sun Sanniang, Uncle De explained:
"That was just a verbal agreement. How can it be called an engagement without three written documents and six certificates?"

"A verbal agreement is still an agreement. Your Ouyang Xu is untrustworthy, ungrateful, and heartless. He is a scholar, but he has read so much that he has become a dog."

"Hey, my Master Ouyang had no choice. Madam Zhao was born in a poor family. She was once a lowly woman..."

"Bah, shut up. Your background is good. You are a servant of Ouyang Xu's family. What qualifications do you have to say this?"

"Hey, how can that be the same?"

Uncle De said proudly:

"I have served three generations of the Ouyang family, and now I am the chief steward of the Ouyang family."

"Bah, you are the chief steward of the Ouyang family. If it weren't for Pan'er's kindness in helping you, your Ouyang family would have been gone long ago."

"At the beginning, Madam Zhao was just interested in my master's future."

Uncle De said calmly that now the Ouyang family had begun to rise again, and the past difficulties were the shame of the Ouyang family. And being supported by Zhao Pan'er, a woman of humble origin who earned money by selling tea, for three whole years was an even greater shame for the Ouyang family. The current Ouyang family must draw a clear line with the previous Ouyang family.

The Ouyang family was a poor family. They had fallen to the point where only the young master Ouyang Xu and the old servant Uncle De were left, and they couldn't even get enough food to eat. Ouyang Xu even jumped into the lake to commit suicide after failing the imperial examination, and was eventually rescued by Zhao Pan'er who rowed a boat.

It is such paupers, even if they are obviously penniless, they still pretend that money is dirt. In fact, they are greedier than anyone else. Once they are on the list, they will start to think of ways to make money, under the pretext of restoring the family's former glory.

Uncle De is like this. He now dislikes Zhao Pan'er, who comes from a humble family. He thinks she is the shameful history of the Ouyang family and is now a stumbling block to the Ouyang family. She must be kicked away.

Looking at Sun Sanniang, Uncle De said:
"If no one noticed, it would be fine. But if the virtuous concubine in the palace knew that the master rejected her niece for a lowly woman..."

"Who are you calling cheap?"

Seeing Uncle De, who was a bitch, Sun Sanniang was so angry that she cursed:

"I think you are the real bitches. If I weren't old, I would really want to throw you into the water."

As she spoke, Sun Sanniang glanced at the big lake next to the teahouse and was about to drag Uncle De into the water, saying:
"No, I'm going to throw you into the water right now and teach you a lesson!"

"This, this will cost lives, don't, don't, don't dare..."

Seeing that Sun Sanniang was serious, Uncle De was immediately frightened and panicked.

"Sanniang."

Zhao Pan'er came out of the small courtyard of the teahouse. Seeing her, Sun Sanniang left Uncle De and ran to her side and said with concern:

"Pan'er, you're awake, do you feel uncomfortable?"

"fine."

Looking at Sun Sanniang, Zhao Pan'er forced a smile, then she looked at Uncle De and said:

"Even if he is an official, he would not allow an in-law to seize the wife of an official. When I met him, he had already been declassified. I am from a good family."

"Why does Madam Zhao have to do this?"

Looking at Zhao Pan'er, Uncle De advised:

"Everyone knows that among the four classes of scholars, farmers, merchants and artisans, the word 'business' comes last. In the eyes of the nobles, anyone who does business is still not considered to be in the mainstream, even if he is extremely rich."

"Bah, I'm so ungrateful and unfaithful, and I regret not getting married. How can you still make such a fuss about it?"

Sun Sanniang cursed disdainfully, she looked at Zhao Pan'er beside her and said:
"Pan'er, let's go and sue the authorities right now. I just don't believe that there is still law in this world."

When Uncle De heard that Sun Sanniang was going to file a complaint, he immediately looked at Zhao Pan'er and said, "I will do it, but I will not do it."

"Madam Zhao, do you want this to be known to the world? Do you want everyone to know that you are a courtesan?"

"do not talk."

Looking at Uncle De, Zhao Pan'er said sadly:
"You know what I care about the most, right? Okay, I'll just accept my fate."

Seeing Zhao Pan'er's sad face, Uncle De hurriedly took off the bag on his back, opened it, handed it to Zhao Pan'er with both hands and said:

"Madam Zhao, the master knows that he has let you down, so he can only use these eighty taels of gold to express his gratitude. The master should have a heart-shaped jade pendant with you..."

Before Uncle De could finish his words, Zhao Pan'er pushed away the gold he handed over. She smiled miserably and said:
"When Ouyang failed the imperial examination and ended up in Hangzhou, I bought him some land so that he could become a civilian and take the exam again in Liangzhe. Unfortunately, three years of love cannot compare to these eighty taels of gold. If he wants to bribe me with money, you can, but tell him that eighty taels of gold is not enough. If he wants the Tongxin pendant, he needs five hundred taels of gold."

"Five, five hundred taels?"

Uncle De said with some embarrassment:

"This is too much."

Looking at Uncle De, Zhao Pan'er shed tears sadly and said:

"As long as the money and goods are settled, I will end all ties with him."

After taking a look at Zhao Pan'er, Uncle De collected the scattered gold ingots on the ground, then bowed to Zhao Pan'er and said:

"Madam Zhao, take care."

After saying that, he left with eighty taels of gold. In the dark, Wang Hu followed with two of his men.

After Uncle De left, Sun Sanniang looked at Zhao Pan'er, whose face was pale, and said with concern:

"Pan'er, I'll go buy you some tranquilizers."

"Ah."

Zhao Pan'er hummed softly and said:

"Sanniang, please close the store."

"it is good."

After hanging a wooden sign indicating the teahouse was closed at the door, Sun Sanniang wiped her tears and left.

After she left, Zhao Pan'er sat alone on the steps in front of the door, looking at the sparkling lake not far away. She raised her head, trying not to cry, but found it was no use, and tears still flowed down her face.

"Woo~~"

Zhao Pan'er cried softly. At this time, Yuan Xudong sat down beside her, looked at her and said:
"Don't cry, I'll help you kill Ouyang Xu, okay?"

Zhao Paner glared at Yuan Xudong with red eyes, then stood up and left. Yuan Xudong also stood up and followed her.

Zhao Pan'er walked into the bedroom and wanted to close the door to prevent Yuan Xudong from entering, but Yuan Xudong just forced his way in.

"Ah~~"

Amid Zhao Paner's screams, Yuan Xudong picked her up and walked towards her bed.

"What do you want to do? Put me down, put me down!"

"No, just be good."

Yuan Xudong said in a deep voice. He carried Zhao Pan'er horizontally to the bed and gently laid her down on the bed.

Zhao Pan'er suddenly gave up all resistance, closed her eyes, and waited quietly for something to happen.

"You're not going to resist anymore?"

Yuan Xudong leaned over and whispered in Zhao Paner's ear.

Zhao Pan'er did not respond. She lay on the bed with her eyes closed, neither speaking nor moving, which made Yuan Xudong feel very bored. He did not want to sleep with a dead fish. Besides, he had not planned to sleep with Zhao Pan'er in the first place, at least not now.

Yuan Xudong lay down on the bed with his clothes on. He slept next to Zhao Paner and held her in his arms.

Slowly, Zhao Paner realized that Yuan Xudong did not bully her, so she opened her eyes and looked at him with some confusion.

"what happened?"

Looking at Zhao Pan'er's puzzled eyes, Yuan Xudong smiled slightly and said:
"You're disappointed that I didn't actually touch you, aren't you?"

"I don't!"

Zhao Pan'er said with some embarrassment:

"You lecher, let me go!"

"Zhao Pan'er, although I haven't really touched you yet, I have touched you and kissed you."

Looking at Zhao Pan'er, Yuan Xudong smiled and said:
"You said, you are not my woman now, right?"

"you……"

Zhao Pan'er was speechless for a moment. Yes, is she still innocent in this state now?
Looking at the somewhat confused Zhao Pan'er, Yuan Xudong gently tempted:

"Pan'er, be my woman, forget Ouyang Xu, I will make you happy."

As he spoke, Yuan Xudong's right hand gently stroked the bellyband inside Zhao Paner's coat.

"Well, don't, don't~~"

...(End of chapter)