Mountains and rivers fall into red

Chapter 17: Cuiqiao (5)
After a while, Xiuxiu got rid of the trance, gritted her teeth and stood up straight, looking out from the grid.Sure enough, the eldest prince Xiao Shao looked around and walked towards this side.

Still muttering, he walked dozens of steps along the eaves, as if he heard a faint voice calling him.He stopped moving forward, followed the sound and found Xiuxiu's pale face through the door and window.

As if seeing a ghost, Xiao Shao screamed: "You—why are you here?"

"I've been locked up, they want to kill me...Eldest Prince, rescue me quickly..." Xioxiu said intermittently, his anger was like a thread.

Xiao Shao was furious: "Who is so bold? Dare to touch Mr. Shen's daughter! It must be the troublemakers in Mr. Ji's mansion! Don't worry, I will tell Mr. Ji right away!"

Xiuxiu understood a little bit, shook his head weakly, and said, "That's Mr. Ji..."

"How could it be him?" Xiao Shao felt stupid for a moment, and pushed the door, only to find that the door was locked outside, and said anxiously, "I came out from my third brother, and I felt bored. Parrot, so I wanted to bring my blue and purple King Kong to compete, but I didn't expect to meet you."

After hearing this, Xiuxiu thought that the eldest prince was in the same group as them, so she couldn't help but despair.Seeing Xiuxiu's tragic situation, Xiao Shao aroused his sense of justice, so he comforted him: "Master Ji has no reason this time, how can he act arbitrarily? They are all important officials of the court, and peace should be the most important thing. You wait, I will Go and inform Mr. Shen, let him take you back as soon as possible!"

After finishing speaking, Xiao Shao flashed away and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Half an hour later, there was a sound of horseshoes in front of the empty gate of Ji Mansion.

Shen Buyu brought a few followers and stormed into the gate angrily.The gatekeeper didn't dare to intercept it, and a house slave had already run to report to the master.

At this time, Ji Mingyou had just entered the room where Xiuxiu was detained.

He ordered his servants to untie Xiuxiu, and Xiuxiu struggled and slowly climbed to the side of the stone pillar, where she curled up, her face hidden in the shadow, blue and white intertwined, her whole body trembling uncontrollably.Ji Mingyou thought she was afraid, so he narrowed his eyes and asked, "Have you suffered a lot? Did you say you were all right? Tell me what you know."

Xiuxiu was trembling incessantly, her eyes were dimmed, and she was muttering and talking in detail.Ji Mingyou leaned over and listened carefully. It turned out that there were only a few words repeated: "I want to go home...Father..."

Must have reached a semi-confused state.

Ji Mingyou was a little disappointed, his brows were wrinkled, and he pouted.The house slave picked up a basin of ice water and poured Xiuxiu to soak.Xiuxiu jerked violently and opened his eyes wide.

"Are you awake?" Ji Mingyou smiled sternly, "If you don't say a word, it won't be fun to shower you again."

But Xiuxiu still didn't make a sound, with a dull expression.

At this time, the house slave who guarded the gate ran into the backyard, and only called "Master" from a distance.Ji Mingyou turned his head to look, but saw the log door was open, and several people came in a hurry, with chaotic footsteps. After seeing who was the leader, Ji Mingyou couldn't help opening his eyes.

Shen Buyu strode into the door, saw Xiuxiu who was lying on the ground, and asked angrily, "Master Ji, what do you want to do to my daughter?"

Ji Mingyou's eyes rolled, and he cupped his hands at Shen Buyu, pretending to be surprised, and said, "This... how could this be Mrs. Shen's daughter? They said that today they found the carriage of fugitives from the Northern Zhou Dynasty privately. Da, I was arrested and interrogated for this reason. I didn't expect this woman to be Miss Shen's family. These people are really confused!"

Shen Buyu was so angry that Lie Yan empowered him, pointed at Ji Mingyou and scolded: "Xiuxiu came home from the third prince, only the driver, you clearly blamed others! Now that the driver is dead, you think there is no proof of death Is it? You are clearly avenging yourself!"

"Master Shen, aren't you blasphemy? State affairs are state affairs, and private affairs are private affairs. How can they be confused? Besides, I have neither deep friendship nor grievances with Master Shen. Even if the court discusses it, it can't be justified by emotion or reason. "Ji Mingyou laughed lazily, "It's just a misunderstanding. If you hurt your daughter, Ji hereby expresses his deep apology and will give you expensive tonics as an apology."

Shen Buyu didn't care about confronting Ji Mingyou, bent over and touched Xiuxiu's forehead, took off his ermine cloak and wrapped her around her.Then he hugged Xiuxiu, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's.

"Master Ji, keep this account for now, there will always be a chance to settle it with you!"

"Master Shen, Ji is willing to accompany you. You bought this daughter with money. The third prince doesn't want it. You should keep it for yourself! Haha!"

Looking at the back of Shen Buyu who left in a hurry, Ji Mingyou teased loudly.Looking back, his eyes flashed a cold light at this time.

"Fortunately, I reacted in time, otherwise this would be a big blow. How did Shen Buyu know? Who went to tell the secret?"

Someone leaned close to his ear and whispered something in a low voice.

Hearing this, Ji Mingyou opened his mouth wide and was speechless for a while.

Hugh has been having nightmares.

She dreamed that she was walking on the way back to Mengmata County.Unknowingly, a strange scenery changed ahead, and a deep pit stood in front of him.This is a bottomless long ditch, with dense grasses and weeds growing along the ditch, and the water surface is dark, like a fierce dragon with teeth and claws, winding and lying.

She had to stop.There are palpitating traces everywhere in front of the eyes, crows flapping their wings on the blackened walls and bare tree trunks, the ground is muddy, and pale bones and skeletons are faintly exposed under the feet... The smoke is full of smoke, and there are dots of lights in front of them like will-o’-the-wisps .Xixiu strenuously walked a few steps forward, but the front was still hazy, and the silence was terrifying.She wanted to open her mouth to call out, but a woman's wail sounded from somewhere, sharp and vibrating, and it was creepy to hear.She couldn't help thinking, is she really dead?
"Father! Where are you?"

She called for Dad, sweating all over her head in anxiety.Shaking his head violently, he finally opened his eyes.

The eerie scene disappeared, and there was a shaking figure and an anxious face in front of him.As soon as Xiuxiu exhaled, Yan Xi's voice was heard: "Wake up! Wake up! Miss wake up!"

So more people stood in front of her, with surprise on their faces.Xiuxiu fixed his eyes, only to see Liu Rulan, Shen Xinyang, Yan Xi, and several other women were all gathered around the bed.She struggled to remember, but Liu Rulan held her down just in time.

"Okay, okay, I'll be fine when I wake up. I've been in a coma for four days and three nights, and the high fever persists, which frightened everyone. Don't be afraid, child, just take good care of yourself at home, and everything will pass."

Then, Liu Rulan instructed Shen Xinyang, "Go and tell your father that my sister is awake."

With a smile on his face, Shen Xinyang responded crisply and ran out briskly.

When Shen Buyu entered the Juxin Courtyard, Liu Rulan was giving medicine to Xiuxiu.Seeing the master coming in, he handed the medicine bowl to Yan Xi, motioning for the master to talk.Shen Buyu glanced at Xiuxiu, seeing her eyes lowered, looking weak, he couldn't help asking: "How is it?"

Xiuxiu wept bitterly, and said softly, "I don't want to stay in Jiangling, I want to go home. My lord, please let me go back..."

Shen Buyu remained silent, but his face darkened.

"I'm confused." Liu Rulan smiled, "If you sleep a few more times, you won't think about those things anymore."

Saying that, Liu Rulan walked to the corner, and Shen Buyu knew it.The couple looked at Xiuxiu on the sickbed from a distance, Liu Rulan muttered first.

"Although the body is healed, the heartache is not healed. She kept calling 'Dad' in her dream, and she woke up clamoring to go back. Master, the third prince's mind is changing left and right, elusive. Hugh The child is pitiful enough. Why don't we send her back to her hometown for the time being when she recovers?"

"Damn Ji Mingyou!" Shen Buyu cursed, frowning, "At this juncture, going back to my hometown won't be a waste of all my previous efforts? It's almost New Year's Eve, take a moment, I'll go to the palace to find out what's true. She wants to go back to Meng Mata County, absolutely not!"

Liu Rulan heard that the master's tone was firm, so she didn't dare to say another word.She was also reluctant to rest in her heart, if she could live for a long time, it would be a joyful thing to be the goddaughter of the Shen family.

Shen Buyu thought about it for a while, then approached Xiuxiu's bed, and said in a slow tone: "Don't be afraid, those people are actually coming after me. The court is unpredictable, and the villain's ambition is easy to follow, you children don't understand I thought that there would be nothing wrong with the third prince, but I didn't know that someone made a trick on the way. I was too careless, and I have to be defensive!"

As if she hadn't heard of it, Xiuxiu lowered her eyes and said, "I miss my father...I don't want to stay here."

"Your father is dead." Shen Buyu deepened his tone.

"No, even if he dies, his soul is still in Mengmata County, I'm going to accompany him!" Xiuxiu insisted.

"I see you are really burnt out!"

Shen Buyu let out a yell, a glint of predation flickered across the tip of his eyes, even Liu Rulan was a little startled.Shen Buyu flung his sleeves and left, his boots rustling on the bluestone floor tiles.Everyone in the room knew that the master was annoyed, and they all held their breath and no one spoke.

Liu Rulan thought that Xiuxiu would be frightened by the master throwing up his sleeves and leaving, and she would not dare to mention going home again.

Half a month later, Xiuxiu recovered and was able to eat, wear and walk as usual.Liu Rulan was very happy, and personally sent Xiuxiu the brocade clothes for the New Year on this day.Unexpectedly, after sitting for less than a cup of tea, Xiuxiu suddenly got up, stood in front of Liu Rulan, and knelt down straight.

"Xiuxiu, why are you kneeling down?" Liu Rulan was shocked.

"I implore Madam to ask the master one thing, let Xixiu go back." Xiuxiu spoke respectfully.

Liu Rulan shook her head helplessly, wondering: "I thought you wouldn't mention it, you are really a stubborn child. You get up, and when the master comes home, I will find a chance to talk about it."

Hugh bowed his head in thanks.

After Liu Rulan went back, there was no movement for a few days.Xiuxiu was impatient and sent Yanxi to Shen Xinyang's yard to inquire.Yan Xi came back and said that the young master was imprisoned in the house by the master again, he only needed to study hard and was not allowed to go out for half a step.

Xiuxiu looked at the sky, his face was covered with dark clouds.Yan Xi saw that Miss's illness had made her beautiful face haggard, so she kindly persuaded her, "Let's talk about it after the new year, it's not too bad these days."

"Yanxi, I really don't want to continue living here." Xiuxiu sighed.

"Miss, it's not because you're afraid of what happened last time, is it?" Yan Xi was intelligent, as if she had guessed what the master was thinking, and said with a blink of an eye, "It's because of His Royal Highness the Third Prince? I was so surprised that time, even if he didn't personally send you back, I should also send a car to pick you up, why did you send a message to the Prime Minister's Mansion to pick you up? I have been wondering about this. Miss, what is the matter with you, the third prince?"

Xiuxiu thought of Qiuyue's words, shook her head and said: "The third prince is nothing, he is like this. Yanxi, don't make wild guesses."

"The third prince is like this, so what is it like?" Yan Xi wanted to untie the knot in the young lady's heart, and asked persistently.

Xiuxiu didn't want to say it, but her mind was touched.When he was in trouble, he heard footsteps outside the courtyard, it turned out to be Liu Rulan's maid, Cuihong, trotting in.

"Miss, the master wants you to go to the second lady's yard!"

Xiuxiu thought that Shen Buyu promised her to go, so she straightened her clothes and left in a hurry.Yan Xi followed behind, feeling more and more uneasy as they walked, and asked Cui Hong: "You are so anxious, is it possible that there are other people in the Second Madam's yard?"

"There are too many people, even the eldest lady is here, and Uncle Fu and his wife." Cuihong spoke quickly, and kept urging them to leave quickly.

When Xiuxiu heard the conversation between the two maids, she felt suspicious, but couldn't figure out why.The steps under his feet did not stop, and he entered Liu Rulan's yard not too long ago.

In the main hall, many people really came.Shen Buyu sat in the middle, and the two ladies sat on both sides.The rest of the people were standing, some were whispering, and some were silent with their heads down. When they saw Xiuxiu coming in, they all raised their eyes.

Hugh stepped forward to salute.Shen Buyu coughed lightly, and said: "Xiuxiu, you have been in the Shen family for a few months, everyone from top to bottom, inside and outside, regard you as the daughter of the Shen family, and the second wife treats you like her own life, you know that .”

"Xiuxiu understands." Xiuxiu lowered his eyebrows.

"Shen's family rules are strict, study everything to know, and cultivate oneself with sincerity. You ask Xin Yang, the children of the Shen family must remember it every day. You are a newcomer, but you are a little more relaxed, but you have not yet reached the state of freedom and unfettered. Last time You encouraged Xin Yang to go to the backyard, and I was naturally angry. Later, you two got worse and even ran to Uncle Fu's house. I couldn't bear it, but I never took my anger out on you. Do you know why?"

"Xiuxiu doesn't know..." Xiuxiu replied softly, feeling vaguely uneasy in her heart.

Could it be that Shen Buyu wanted him to know something?
"Father, my child also wants to know." Shen Xinyang took a step forward and bowed to speak.

After a long sigh, Shen Buyu showed a dignified face, and said in a deep voice: "In the past, no one would talk about your father's past. This is also for your own good. Since you want to go back wholeheartedly, and after listening to this, you can do it again." The reason for going back. Alas, I have to let down Concubine Rong, she took special care of me, so don’t mention it in front of you as a last resort.”

Having said that, Shen Buyu stopped talking.Liu Rulan beside her also had a heavy face and sighed softly.Even Li Pinghua, the eldest lady, usually seldom pays attention to Xiuxiu, but now she caresses the silk handkerchief lightly and keeps silent.

It turned out that they all knew the inside story.

Xiuxiu's internal organs were frying, and he didn't know what to say, so he finally said tremblingly: "You tell me, my father..."

"Let Mother Liu tell you first." Shen Buyu said slowly.

Uncle Fu's daughter-in-law Liu Ma came out, bowed to Xiuxiu, smiled wryly and said: "Miss Xiuxiu, don't blame me for being disrespectful last time, I really can't say it. Now that the master is here, the old slave said it, Xiuxiu Miss, please be sure to..."

"Liu Ma, don't be hesitant, tell the truth." Shen Buyu frowned impatiently.

Liu Ma cleared her throat and began to say: "Fifteen or sixteen years ago, Cao Guizhi—that is, your mother was still a maid. After Concubine Rong entered the palace, Cao Guizhi became idle. One day she went to the backyard and met Tao Sir. Mr. Tao already has a wife and children, and his daughter-in-law still takes care of the second lady. Cao Guizhi was pretty at the time, and Mr. Tao fell in love with it at a glance..."

"Nonsense! My father is not like this! He is not like this!"

Xiuxiu screamed, and the sudden onslaught of tears rushed out of her eyes. She tried her best to suppress it, but she still cried out.

Never expected the story to be like this.No, they must be lying, the father in her heart is definitely not like this!
"The old slave was a slave at the age of ten, and left at the age of 20. The old slave knows better than anyone what happened in the mansion and who there are in the past ten years! It's only because your mother Cao Guizhi is young, and she likes gold hairpins and jade hairpins, Tao The master is both literate and able to write poems, and seduced her with a hairpin carved by a jade craftsman... just like that, he was ruined by Mr. Tao."

(End of this chapter)