carved heart

Chapter 14: Serving the Emperor (2)
The next day, when Li Chenggong sent Lord Luocha away, he was secretly rejoicing that Mu Yanghou was really only here to play in Suizhou, when his confidants came in panic and said, "Guilan Fang has changed hands." Suizhou is located in the Yellow River To the south is a land of wealth and prosperity, and Guilan Fang almost monopolizes the business of silk and porcelain wine shops and restaurants in most of Suizhou.Others didn't know it, but Li Negative knew it. He dared to be so arrogant in Suizhou because he was backed by Prime Minister Wang.

As if thinking of something, Li Negative's face paled.

"Mu Yanghou is so ruthless." Wang Xiang came to Suizhou to take advantage of the corruption case, and evacuated several members of the Shen family vigorously. frenzied.

But in just half a month, Luo Jiao has lost a lot of weight.

Ever since that time when she broke her teeth and swallowed blood, Luo Jiao never left Luo Mansion, staring at her two severed fingers every day in a daze.Originally thought that Ah Yin's six-knife unique skill was the biggest nightmare in her life, but unexpectedly there was an even bigger nightmare waiting for her.

She lost two fingers, the index and middle fingers of her right hand.

She can no longer pick up the carving knife in her right hand, and can no longer carve the core carving.

After Mrs. Liang knew about it, she washed her face with tears all day long, and comforted her daughter with a forced smile every day: "Jiaojiao married and went to Xie's family to enjoy the blessings. She stretched out her hands for her clothes and opened her mouth for food. There are thousands of maids and servants waiting for you. Two fingers is not a big deal. The Xie family has also made a statement and will cherish you even more." As soon as she left Luo Jiao's room, Liang's tears fell again.How did her poor daughter encounter such a thing?Why did the gangster who received a thousand knives specifically look for her daughter?

Luo Jiao didn't even dare to tell her parents about that matter.

I can only use money to seal the mouth of the man in black and swallow this dumb loss.

The man in black is also smart, knowing that if he speaks out, his life will be in danger, so he silently took the money and spent several years in prison.

Luo Jiao's silent state only changed when Luo Yuan returned.

Luo Yuan had received a letter from his family a few days ago, and when he learned of his sister's plight, he was furious, wishing he could tear the man in black to pieces.As soon as I came back today, I said a word or two to my parents, and then went straight to Luo Jiao's room.

When Luo Jiao saw her elder brother, she finally burst into tears with a "wow".

In the fits and starts of her sister, Luo Yuan finally knew the whole story.The younger sister is so confused, but Luo Yuan can't bear to blame her.

"Brother! You want to avenge me!"

Luo Yuan didn't express his position, but comforted Luo Jiao in a warm voice, saying: "Tomorrow is a good day for you to get married, don't cry. You have an elder brother as your backer, and the Xie family will never dare to bully you. Tomorrow you will be Gongcheng The most eye-catching girl, no one can compare to our Jiaojiao, everyone will envy you."

Luo Yuan knows what his sister likes best.

She likes the stars to hold the moon, likes to be the center of attention, from childhood to adulthood.

Sure enough, under Luo Yuan's few words, Luo Jiao gradually showed a smile, and began to look forward to tomorrow's marriage.The husband that the Yin family could not get, waited for five years and hoped for five years to be the first wife, and now it is hers.

Unexpectedly, when Luo Jiao got into the sedan chair the next day, the outside was not as grand as she imagined.

As my brother clearly said yesterday, I discussed it with Xie's family. There will be yamen servants in the welcoming team, so that she can be seen as different. People who eat official meals come to greet her. She is a person who married into an official family. .

But looking at it today, not to mention the yamen servants, there are fewer people in the welcoming team than when ordinary girls get married!
Luo Jiao called her maidservant and asked, "Quickly go and find out what happened?"

The servant girl came back quickly and said: "It seems that a nobleman from Yongping came today. Magistrate Xie was busy to greet him. He brought half of the yamen to the gate of Gongcheng early in the morning."

Luo Jiao gritted her teeth, her face turned cold.

But last night, County Magistrate Xie received news from Zhang Yicheng that a nobleman from Yongping was coming to Gongcheng.Hearing the word Mu Yanghou, County Magistrate Xie was so frightened that his calves were trembling. He immediately counted the people and ran to the city gate to wait before dawn.

After waiting for two hours, a mighty team appeared from the corner of the sky. The Xuanjia guards were shining with iron light, and the heavy characters on the flags were solemn and majestic, like rolling black clouds pressing down on the city. The calf began to tremble again.

Finally, a large carriage stopped.

Magistrate Xie led the crowd to salute.

"Xie Cheng, the next official, pays homage to Lord Hou."

A slow voice came from the carriage: "Is there a happy event in your family?"

County magistrate Xie was taken aback, and said: "If you go back to Lord Hou, today is just the day of the dog's marriage." At the same time, there was a drum in my heart, thump, thump, and I had no idea what the noble man's next sentence would be. Can deal with fear.

"Oh, go and see."

County magistrate Xie was startled again, but when he realized it, his whole body was beaming with joy.

Mu Yanghou of Yongping is coming to drink his youngest son's wedding wine!This is a great honor!
In the wedding hall, the newly married husband-in-law and she held red silk in their hands, bowed to heaven and earth in the envy of the hall, and then the husband and wife bowed to each other. The guests had a good time, and life was so unhappy.

However, none of these happened during Luo Jiao's wedding day.

The wedding hall was deserted and deserted, the guests were silent, not to mention her in-laws, not even her new husband-in-law, she was left alone standing in the wedding hall, the draft blew in, the pearls on the wedding crown collided, and the crisp sound was a little tingly. Wordless embarrassment.

Under the red hijab, Luo Jiao clenched her teeth.

At this moment, Xie Shaohuai was kneeling on the ground, saluting Mu Yanghou.

He was wearing a scarlet wedding gown and a bridegroom official's wedding hat, and fell on the ground.Beside him are County Magistrate Xie and Mrs. Xie, in front of him is Luo Yuan who has an official position, and a little further away are some servants of Xie's family, and the chilling Xuanjiawei.

Xie Shaohuai trembled a little.

He had never seen such a big battle before, before he came to visit the nobleman, he heard from his father that this nobleman was Mu Yanghou of Yongping, who was violent by nature, and would splatter three feet of blood when he got angry.But at any rate, it is a noble person with status, as long as he is well served, that is a chance to rise to the top.

You know, how many people can't even look forward to this kind of opportunity.

Wealth is in danger.

But having said that, Xie Shaohuai had been kneeling for a full quarter of an hour, and the nobleman was questioning Luo Yuan who was also kneeling on the ground.Mu Yanghou doesn't talk much, but when he speaks, it will definitely make people's hearts tremble.

Luo Yuan was not sure what Mu Yanghou meant, let alone how the marriage of the son of a county magistrate attracted this Rakshasa.

In Yongping, he already knew that Mu Yanghou and his mentor Wang were not on the same page. At this moment, every word he said was carefully considered, for fear that he would cause trouble if he made a mistake.Finally, Mu Yanghou gave a faint "um" and let him go.

Luo Yuan secretly heaved a sigh of relief.

Xie Shaohuai broke out in a cold sweat.

"Get up, you don't need to kneel."

Hearing Luo Yuan's response, Xie Shaohuai dared to stand up when he got up, and lowered his head slightly, not daring to look at the nobleman.

"You are the young man of the Xie family?"

"Yes." Before he finished speaking, he was stabbed indistinctly by the county magistrate Xie who was beside him, and he immediately changed his words: "Back... If you go back to Lord Marquis, it's Cao Min."

"Head up."

Xie Shaohuai's heart skipped a beat, he couldn't figure out what the nobleman was thinking at all, so he could only slowly raise his head, accidentally touching the nobleman's sight, he shivered in fright.

... so majestic!
Shen Changtang was looking at Xie Shaohuai, from head to toe, looking very slowly.

It made Xie Shaohuai feel that he had strayed into the snake den, as if he was stared at by thousands of poisonous snakes, and his back was faintly chilled.

Finally, Shen Changtang withdrew his gaze.

"Yanmo."

Xie Shaohuai looked up, and saw a black-faced gentleman presenting a palm-sized brocade box, and said in a deep voice, "A congratulatory gift from my Lord Marquis." After finishing speaking, the nobles in the pavilion got up, amidst the sound of saluting and kneeling, Walk away slowly.

Xie Shaohuai didn't know if it was his own illusion, but he always felt that during the long look at him just now, there seemed to be a flash of disappointment in that nobleman's eyes.

Yan Shen couldn't figure it out, so he asked Yan Mo: "What was written in Chen Dou's letter that day? How could the noble Marquis come to give a congratulatory gift to the son of a county magistrate for no reason? Could it be related to Wang Xiang? That's not right, The Xie family can only have a relationship with Wang Xiang is the elder brother of their bride, and there are several floors in between, so why bother Lord Hou to come forward in person?"

Yan Mo said: "On that day, Lord Hou personally read the letter."

The words were deep and speechless: "Personally?"

"Yes."

Yan Shen was extremely surprised, his family Hou Ye didn't even bother to read the letter from his mother!Yan Mo said again: "But I asked Chen Dou." Yan Shen said: "You've got the hang of it this time, you're not a single-minded person anymore."

Yan Mo glanced at him and said angrily, "Do you still want to know?"

Yan Shen coughed heavily: "Okay, tell me."

"In Chen Dou's letter, he didn't mention the Xie family, nor the Luo family, nor the king's chancellor, but only the Yin family. He said that the Yin family unexpectedly killed a gangster with terrifying brute force. That gangster, Chen Dou I've tried it, and I can survive a few tricks in Chen Dou's hands."

Hearing this, Yan Shen's face became serious.

Chen Dou is a master, and those who can survive a few tricks in Chen Dou's hands must have some skills, but Yin's can solve it with one trick, really underestimated her.In the past, she was only regarded as a girl with no strength to restrain a chicken, and it would not be a problem to put her next to Lord Hou, but it would not be safe to put her by Lord Hou's side with such brute force.

Yan Shen and Yan Mo thought of going together.

At this time, Shen Changtang's voice came from the carriage.

"Bring Yin Shi here."

After Brother Hao entered Shouquan School, the entire Yin family surrounded Brother Hao.One day Brother Hao was late from school, and the Yin family's meals must not start until Brother Hao came back.The second aunt and the third aunt were very dissatisfied, but the second aunt had just released the door lock, and the third aunt was a newcomer, so they dared not say anything more.

But to Ah Yin, it doesn't matter, on the contrary, life is more comfortable than before.

Parents wholeheartedly take care of Brother Hao, and they don't have the heart to think of her.

She practiced carving and carving skills every day, and occasionally took a few nuclear carvings from Fan Haohe's hands. In just half a month, her pockets gradually filled.She counted, and now she has a total of 45 taels of silver. If she saves money, it is not a problem to support herself and her sister.

"Sister, the money is enough, but..." Jiang Xuan paused and said, "Can we really leave?"

This is Jiang Xuan's long-standing concern.

My sister wants to leave this family, but the world is like this, can she really leave so easily?Not to mention willingness or reluctance, how could the master and wife let my sister go?

Ah Yin said: "Ah Xuan, it is no longer a question of whether we can or cannot, but that we must leave. Brother Hao has been in Shouquan School for half a month, and the expenses of the family are gradually increasing. There is a shortage of money, and my father's first idea will definitely be my marriage. I have already asked Fan Xiaolang to find candidates for me, so I will act first."

Jiang Xuan froze for a moment.

"Wh... what candidate?"

"The choice of husband-in-law."

Jiang Xuan said: "Didn't my sister say she won't marry?"

Ah Yin sighed.

She originally wanted to rely on her nuclear carving skills to earn a piece of the world after her reputation was thoroughly established.I have to rely on myself, and I am not afraid of my parents at home.But she happened to bump into the nobleman of Yongping, she could never reach the height of Lord Hou no matter what she earned, and now she could only make a bad plan.

The last time I served the nobleman, the nobleman asked her to take a bath first, and then wash her hands. She is a very clean person, so she can't do dirty things like stealing someone's wife, right?
Ah Yin said in a low voice: "Fan Xiaolang said that he has several candidates in his hands. The first one is Zhang Weng in Shuzhou, who is sixty years old and has no relatives in his family; the second is Ji Weng in Xiangzhou, who is in his seventies and only The third one is Suizhou Gong Lang, who is 35 years old and is a widower who suffers from a serious illness. The third one is the most suitable one, but it is a pity that he is from Suizhou and is too close to Gongcheng. So now I I am thinking about Zhang Weng and Ji Weng, at their age they just want to find someone to die with, after they get married, they will stay away from Gongcheng, and they will be able to establish their own family within a year or two."

Ah Yin muttered to himself again: "I prefer Ji Weng in Shuzhou, the farthest away from Suizhou, I heard it will take several months..."

Jiang Xuan was very sad to hear it.

Today, Xie's young man is happily marrying his wife, but her elder sister is considering which old man to marry...

"Ah Xuan?"

Jiang Xuan regained consciousness: "What?"

Ah Yin smiled and said: "Do you like Xiangzhou or Shuzhou? Zhang Weng and Ji Weng are actually similar. Although Ji Weng has a grandson, he is still only a child, no matter what his nature is, he can teach him well."

Jiang Xuan said: "Then... let's go to Shuzhou, it's far away from Suizhou, my sister can rest assured."

Ah Yin said: "Okay, Fan Xiaolang happened to be in Gongcheng today, I'll go talk to him and settle the matter, and my father will almost be short of money. At that time, I will ask Fan Xiaolang to come with 40 taels of silver." Proposing a marriage is to repay the parents for their 20 years of upbringing."

Since then, one of her worries has been settled.

After noon, Ah Yin and Jiang Xuan went out.

Ah Yin and Fan Xiaolang made an appointment at the nuclear house under Cangshan Mountain.Fan Haohe got in touch with Ah Yin for a period of time, and gradually found out about Ah Yin's background, knowing that she was a disciple of Yuan Gong, but because of her parents' orders, she had to stay in her boudoir and be slaughtered.Fan Hao felt sympathy for his heart, and because A Yin gave him bad benefits on weekdays, he was especially enthusiastic.

"... Zhang Weng is good!" Fan Haohe said: "Zhang Weng's family members were all killed by robbers a few years ago, and he is the only one left. His wish now is to find someone to die. It is a house in a busy city, where there is tranquility in the bustling city, so it is very suitable for people to live in. I heard from a businessman in the past that nuclear carvings in Shuzhou have become more and more popular in recent years, and you don’t have to worry about your livelihood when you go to Shuzhou, Miss.”

Ah Yin nodded.

Fan Haohe said again: "I'll go back to Hediao Town later and do this for you, Miss. When the girl leaves for Shuzhou, if you don't dislike me, I can still escort the girl."

"Please trouble Fan Xiaolang." A Yin bowed.

Fan Haohe blushed slightly, and said, "Don't bother, don't bother, it's easy."

A Yin and Jiang Xuan thanked Fan Haohe again, and when they left, Fan Haohe stared at A Yin's back for a long time before turning around and leaving.Ever since he met Miss A Yin, he has dreamed of Miss A Yin's nuclei carving every day, and her appearance when she carved the nuclei, as if there were thousands of stars shining.But he still has self-knowledge, the nuclei carved by her are astonishing, such a girl will shine brightly sooner or later, and he is not worthy of him as a small stall trader.

It is an honor for him to accompany him on this journey.

Fan Haohe thought about being able to spend more time with A Yin on the way to Shuzhou, and he felt very happy in his heart. He stepped on the empty space without paying attention, fell a dog and gnawed shit, and when he got up, there was an extra seat in front of him. Black-faced gentleman.

Ah Yin left Cangshan, and when he returned to Gongcheng, he could hear people in the small streets and alleys discussing the nobleman Yongping who came from Gongcheng today.Hearing the word nobleman, Ah Yin subconsciously thought of that Lord Hou, and even quickened his pace a few steps.

Jiang Xuan was curious, so she paused for a while, and found out after a while.

She hurried to catch up, and said in Ah Yin's ear: "Sister, they said it was Mu Yanghou of Yongping. Then... that nobleman seems to be a Marquis too, shouldn't it be such a coincidence? Didn't he just leave soon?" ?”

Ah Yin also didn't know the title of that Lord Hou.

In fact, not to mention the title, Ah Yin wanted to respect and stay away from the bottom of his heart, so he didn't even see Hou Ye's face clearly, and so far he only remembered his voice, which was obviously no different from ordinary people, but he said it out, simply A few words seem to have majesty, which makes people fearful.

She whispered: "Whether it is or not, let's talk about it when we go home. It's better not to go out for a few days."

The Yin family is in an alley on the East Street, and there is still a long way to go after turning a corner.Ah Yin has good eyesight, so he saw a familiar person in front of the alley from a long distance away.She grabbed Jiang Xuan, turned around immediately, and said, "Let's go back through the back door today."

Jiang Xuan didn't know why, but followed Ah Yin to another road.Unexpectedly, as the back door of the house was approaching, a leisurely voice came from behind.

"How come Miss Yin didn't say hello when she saw me?"

Jiang Xuan recognized that it was the person next to Lord Hou.

Ah Yin said softly: "The sun is quite good today, I didn't recognize Mr. Lang for a moment."

"My Lord Hou wants to see you, come with me."

Jiang Xuan squeezed Ah Yin's hand tightly.

Ah Yin patted the back of her hand lightly, signaling her not to worry, and said to her in a low voice: "I'll come back as soon as I go, don't say anything, don't let the family know." There is no other way but to say: "Sister, don't worry."

Ah Yin bowed deeply to Yan and said, "I also ask Mr. Lang to lead the way."

(End of this chapter)