peasant girl wedding

Chapter 269 Method
The dark and narrow corridor only allowed two people to pass side by side. Tong Zhi'er heard the sound of rats creaking and digging holes, and was brought to the door of the last cell by two servants before stopping.

"Hurry up and finish talking quickly."

One of the servants opened the cell and said impatiently.

Tong Zhi'er thanked them, took out a few taels of silver from his sleeve and stuffed them into their hands, and then went into the cell.

"Zhi'er, it's cold here, you're healthy, you shouldn't come!"

Ji Li looked at her worriedly and said.

Tong Zhi'er didn't speak, but just kept looking at him, "This is the clothes and some food that my mother asked me to bring you. You stay here for a few days, and we will definitely find a way to rescue you. .”

While talking, Tong Zhi'er handed a bundle to Ji Li.

"You don't have to force it, luck and misfortune are unpredictable, even if you are sent to Mobei, I will accept it." Ji Li said quietly.

Tong Zhi'er's eyes were sour, and he firmly held Ji Li's hand, "We will not watch you be sent to Mobei!"

"...Okay, it's getting late, you go out first."

Tong Zhi'er nodded, and quickly came out of the cell, and before leaving, he handed over some silver taels to the two yamen, so that Ji Li could live more comfortably in the cell.

When Tong Zhi'er returned to the Duke's Mansion, everyone was waiting for her in the hall.

"Zhier, how is Ali?"

The old lady and the eldest lady came over at the same time and asked eagerly.

Tong Zhi'er briefly explained Ji Li's situation, walked up to Ji Chang, and said, "Father, the daughter-in-law made her own decisions, please forgive me."

She was talking about making a promise to the emperor above the court.

Ji Chang shook his head and sighed, "I don't blame you. Zhi'er, you said in court that you will raise 10 taels of gold in three days. What are you going to do?"

"Father, how much money does our government have in total?"

Ji Chang looked at the eldest lady.

The Duke's Mansion has always been the eldest lady's housekeeper, so he doesn't know about these things.

"The rent collected in the farm every year, plus some ancestral property left by the ancestors, add up to 1 taels of gold."

The eldest lady looked at Tong Zhi'er with a bitter face.

"Mother, you find a way to turn these into cash of 1 taels of gold, and I will figure out a way for the remaining 9 taels of gold."

"Zhi'er, what can you, a weak woman, do?"

The eldest lady shook her head and smiled wryly.

Tong Zhi'er didn't speak, took a sip of water and left the hall.

The carriage stops at Tongji Rouge Shop, Tong Zhier enters the shop, and after a while, Wang Tan arrives.

"Boss, I've heard about everything. The plan of the boss is to sell all the properties under the name of the boss?" Wang Tan said this as soon as he opened his mouth.

Tong Zhi'er nodded, "You're right, that's what I planned."

"But my master," Wang Tan frowned, "Even so, my master can barely make up 1 taels. Where can my master get the rest?"

"Ignore this for the time being, Wang Tan, you will immediately find a good seller for all the properties under my name, including the Tongji rouge shop in Beijing and several shops in Qingzhou."

"...Yes, Master."

Tong Zhi'er insisted, and Wang Tan couldn't say anything more.

.........

Da Furen and Wang Tan acted very fast. At the end of the day, at night, the two of them each collected 1 taels for Tong Zhi'er.

"Mother, you've been tired all day, go back early and rest."

Tong Zhi'er sent the eldest lady out of the room, and said.

"Okay, you also rest early."

"I know mother." Tong Zhi'er closed the door and walked back to the table. After a while, there was a knock on the door.

Tong Zhi'er opened the door, but it was the second lady standing at the door.

"Second mother?"

"Zhi'er, don't mind if I go in and sit for a while."

Tong Zhi'er stepped aside, "Er Niang, please sit down."

The second lady looked at the silver taels on the table, and took out a piece of folded cloth from her sleeve.

"This is……"

The second lady smiled, "Open it and have a look."

"...Erniang, you sold the restaurant?" Tong Zhi'er was surprised.

The second lady shook her head and said with a smile: "How can there be such a number just for selling restaurants? There are also jewelry I have saved over the years and things that A Jie respected me."

"Second mother, you..."

Tong Zhi'er looked at the second lady movedly.

A friend in adversity sees the truth, although the second lady sometimes speaks a little harshly and has some problems of being fussy, but now, she is able to give away her wealth.

"Okay, I've been busy all day and I'm exhausted. I'm going back to the house to rest. You should also rest early, don't be tired."

"Well, thank you Er Niang."

After sending the second wife out of the room, Tong Zhi'er collected more than 2 taels of silver, and then lay back on the bed to rest.

However, she couldn't close her eyes no matter what.

There is still more than 7 taels of silver left. How to get together this large amount is really a big problem for her.

Tong Zhi'er thought about it all night and didn't close his eyes for the whole night. When he woke up the next day, both eyes were swollen badly, which made Da Furen and others feel very distressed.

"Zhier..."

"Mistress, mother, Er Niang, I'm fine, let's eat quickly, everyone."

Tong Zhi'er said to everyone with a smile.

After dinner, Tong Zhi'er didn't go out, but went to the study.

In the study, Ji Chang was not there, Tong Zhi'er waited for a long time before seeing Ji Chang came back.

"father."

Tong Zhi'er stepped forward, seeing Ji Chang's solemn expression, and knew that he probably asked others for help to no avail.

That's right, if the emperor doesn't let go of this matter, it's useless for anyone to intercede.

Which one of the officials in the court is not a human being?

"Father, drink some water first."

Tong Zhi'er poured a cup of tea and said.

Ji Chang took the teacup, but didn't drink it.

"Father, this is 10 taels of military pay. What did the emperor intend to use it for?"

"One-third is used to buy grain, and the rest is used to buy salt." Ji Chang said.

Tong Zhi'er's eyes lit up. As far as she knew, the salt production at this time was limited due to poor refining methods, and everyone could not get much.The salt which is supplied to the army of a country, besides what is supplied at home, must be purchased abroad for the greater part.

"Without the money to buy salt, the soldiers at the border will have no strength. Once the enemy invades, our soldiers will have no strength to fight back!" Ji Chang said in a deep voice.

"Father, besides fine salt that can be used directly, do we have coarse salt or bittern salt in our country?" Tong Zhi'er looked at Ji Chang nervously.

Ji Chang was slightly startled, "Zhi'er, you mean that you can turn coarse salt and bittern salt into edible fine salt?"

Tong Zhier nodded, "Not bad."

Ji Chang was overjoyed, and suddenly stood up, "Yes, not only, but also a lot, Zhi'er, if you can really turn bittern salt into fine salt, not only Ah Li will be saved, but also for the entire empire. Great merit."

Natural fine salt, at least in China, most of it is coarse salt with many impurities, and bitter bittern salt.In the past, some people ignored the difference between coarse salt, brine salt and fine salt, and put them directly in the dish to cook together. Who knew that the cooked food was extremely unpalatable, and there would be adverse reactions after eating.Since then, no one has eaten coarse salt and bittern salt.

.........

Two days later, the court.

The emperor was still dressed in a bright yellow dragon robe, sitting expressionlessly under the plaque hanging high in the mirror.

Ji Li was brought out by two yamen servants and knelt down in the hall.

Beside him, Tong Zhi'er is kneeling.

The two looked at each other, their eyes were very tender.

"Tong Zhi'er, three days have passed, where is the 10 taels you mentioned?"

The emperor spoke in a deep voice, interrupting Tong Zhi'er and Ji Li's gaze at each other.

"Report to the emperor, the minister's wife has prepared more than 2 taels of silver."

"More than 2 taels?"

The Son of Heaven murmured, but his voice could not hear any emotion.

Tong Zhi'er knew that at this moment his heart must be very angry.

"Come here, escort Ji Li to Mobei immediately!"

"Hold on, Your Majesty, my wife still has something to say!"

The emperor suddenly stood up, with a displeased expression, "Tong Zhi'er, I have given you a chance, but you didn't do it, and I don't want to listen to your tricks. Come, hurry up and escort Ji Li to Mobei!"

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Several yamen servants stepped forward and put chains on Ji Li involuntarily.

Tong Zhi'er was shocked, and didn't care whether he would offend the emperor, and said loudly: "Your Majesty, my wife has a way to turn coarse salt and marinated salt into edible fine salt!"

The emperor, who was about to enter the court, stopped in his steps.

He turned around and condescendingly looked down at Tong Zhi'er who was raising his head.

"My wife is willing to show it to the emperor on the spot. If there is even half a lie, my wife, please send me to Mobei!"

Ji Li turned pale with shock, "Your Majesty, the daughter-in-law of the guilty minister is talking nonsense, please don't take it seriously. The guilty minister knows that he has committed a serious crime and will never escape."

"Your Majesty, this is a great event for the benefit of the people, please let your majesty let the courtiers give it a try!"

"Zhi'er, you..."

Tong Zhi'er ignored Ji Li who was very excited beside him, and fixed his eyes on the emperor.

"Okay, I will give you this last chance. If you can't do it, I will not only send you to Mobei, but also the entire Duke's Mansion!"

"...my wife, thank the emperor for his kindness."

Tong Zhi'er bowed three times and kowtowed nine times respectfully, said in a deep voice.

.........

Everyone looked nervously at the courtroom, and at the same time, their eyes were on a young woman with a protruding belly.

Holding a stick in her hand, she kept stirring the boiling pot, adding some juice from time to time...

It's been a long time.

I don't know how long it has passed, everyone only knows that when the woman said, "Please take a look at the emperor", their legs and feet became stiff.

In the box, white salt was presented to the emperor.

Unlike those fine salts that have been dried in the sun, the salt on the box still has moisture, and the whole is in balls.

Everyone looked nervous, watching the emperor's movements with trepidation, waiting for the emperor to speak.

A lump of salt came close to the emperor's mouth, he stuck out his tongue to taste it, his eyes widened suddenly, and he said to Dali Siqing, Lord Shangshu and the envoy of the Metropolitan Procuratorate: "Three lovers, come and taste it too!"

(End of this chapter)