Yutai Bi

Chapter 41 Weakness
"If you don't want to, the Cen family can't force you, right?" Fang Ming whispered.

Cen Sanniang lowered her head: "Sanniang just wants to get my grandfather's permission."

Needless to say, it is too clear, everyone knows this kind of thing in their hearts.Fang Ming looked at her sympathetically.

"Brother Fang Qi doesn't need to answer me now. That matter won't be settled in three to five days. I'll wait for you for three days. If it's not convenient for you, just pretend that you haven't seen Sanniang today. I, I'll try to find another way. Please No matter what, keep this secret for Sanniang." Cen Sanniang said softly.

This kind of trust made Fang Ming's blood boil instantly. What else could she think of?Fang Ming wanted to help her, but he didn't know if he could help her. He didn't dare to look Cen Sanniang in the eyes for a while, and said hastily, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone. I will give you an answer within three days. Farewell."

Fang Ming turned around the screen wall, the courtyard door creaked, and there was silence all around.

Cen Sanniang closed her eyes and leaned against the pillar.Three days, if Fang Ming says no after three days, then she has only one way to go.Isn't that person waiting for him?
Only Mrs. Cen and Mrs. Madam were in the room.

On the round table, the bundles were spread out, and there were six pairs of shoes that Cen Sanniang made into Mrs. Li's.

The eldest lady said softly: "Mother, I have checked everything carefully, and there is nothing in it. Look..."

"Don't worry, let's talk about it later." Mrs. Cen said calmly.

"My daughter-in-law knows." The eldest lady rewrapped the shoes.

"Come and taste the tea that the second brother brought." Mrs. Cen was frying the tea.Under the hot air, a piece of tea cake on the bamboo clip exudes a burst of fragrance.

Sitting in front of the old lady, the eldest lady saw a satisfied expression on her face, and said with a smile: "Second brother is really filial, and the purple bamboo shoots from Huzhou, which was bestowed by the imperial cake, were rushed to be delivered even thousands of miles away."

"He, he can collect these things to please me. How can the boss and you take care of everything for me? Without your care, the second and third children can't live comfortably outside. The fourth Another disappointment, these years, you have worked hard."

"This is what we should do." The eldest lady's eyes immediately became moist.

"I am partial to the fourth brother because he is the least up-to-date. In the future, the property of the fourth house will be lost to him, and I will let go of my worries. But in the end, it will be due to you. The boss is the head of the patriarch, and there is no benefit. Instead, he is easy to be beaten. People pick and choose. So I think about Sanniang's marriage, but she should be willing." Seeing that the tea was almost roasted, Mrs. Cen put the tea into a jade bowl and ground it finely.

The eldest lady showed gratitude: "Mother is sympathetic, and the daughter-in-law can only take care of this matter with her heart. Sanniang has lived in our house for three years, and she has never been short of food and clothing, so she is afraid of being picked on. Her relatives and daughter-in-law don't dare Whatever you say, the mother is in charge."

The old lady Cen sighed and said, "Why don't I want to find a good marriage for her? Mr. Fan's body is a bit weak, and he doesn't speak very fluently. But apart from the Fan family, is there any rich family who would like to marry a first wife?" An orphan girl? I was thinking that the Fan family would be able to hire Mrs. Governor as a matchmaker, and Mrs. Fan would not dare to bully her in the future. For a 5 taels gift, my Cen family is short of cash! Give 5000 to San Niang Buy a dowry. The eldest lady is only [-] taels of dowry when she gets married, and the Cen family will not treat her badly."

"What my mother said is true. There are only a handful of people in Longzhou City who can have 1 taels of silver for a dowry." The eldest lady was a little distressed, thinking that she could still earn 4 taels, and she completely dismissed Cen Sanniang, and her heart sank. draw.

The old lady Cen cooked the tea in a smooth manner, and poured it into two teacups. And always feel uneasy.”

The eldest lady was puzzled and said: "Mother is worried that the nobleman who gave the hairpin will interfere with Sanniang's marriage? I asked someone to check it out, and the nobleman's boat left on the same day."

The old lady Cen took a sip of tea slowly and said: "If something goes wrong, it's a demon. The Fan family is only a wealthy businessman in the city, how could they hire the governor's wife to protect the matchmaker. I was probing that day, and the governor's wife was vague, and it didn't sound like a victim. Entrusted by the Fan family."

Da Furen had an idea: "That day when the nobleman's servant came to send the hairpin, he showed the famous assassin of Mr. Zhang Shi. Could it be that the nobleman entrusted him?"

The old lady Cen sighed and said: "This is what I can't figure out. We can guess what the nobleman thinks. Therefore, this marriage must be Sanniang's willingness. Go and call her bring it on."

"Yes."

Cen Sanniang took Baicao to see the old lady, and told Mrs. Xu when she left: "Mom is bored, so go and keep company with Zhang Mama, who is guarding the garden."

Xu understood.If Fang Ming has news, Ninth Young Master will ask Ah Fu to find him at the Moon Cave Gate.She took the sewing dustpan and went.

"Third lady, the old lady will ask you to go, could it be that matter?" Baicao asked Cen Sanniang in a low voice.

"It should be. It's been two days since I proposed marriage and secured a matchmaker. It's time for my cousin to talk to me." Cen Sanniang couldn't make up her mind how to respond to Old Madam Cen.Seeing Baicao's worried look, she smiled and said, "What are you worrying about? I'm just engaged, and I'm not going to marry soon. I can get married and divorce after marriage. Isn't it easier to divorce?"

Baicao murmured: "The third lady will talk nonsense, her reputation matters a lot."

Cen Sanniang's outlook on life and values ​​are naturally different from Baicao's, and it is inconvenient to explain it to her, so she can only laugh it off: "I mean, there must be a way to reach the mountain. There is always a way."

Baicao nodded vigorously: "Third Lady will always find a way."

Cen Sanniang smiled, let her stay outside the door, and went in alone.

"Sanniang, come to my grandmother's side." Mrs. Cen beckoned to her lovingly.

Cen Sanniang saluted and sat on the drum stool in front of the couch.After entering the door, there was only old lady Cen in the room, and it was obvious that she wanted to have a private conversation with herself.Although Cen Sanniang was mentally prepared, she was still a little nervous.

"Back then you were seriously ill, and I took you into the mansion to recuperate. Three years later, you will become a big girl." Old lady Cen said sadly.

Cen Sanniang has experienced this drama so many times in the past three years, and she has already memorized the lines fluently, and blurted out: "If there is no grandmother to take care of it, how could Sanniang be today..." As he spoke, he pulled his handkerchief and pressed the corners of his eyes.There were no tears at first, but the corner of the handkerchief was soaked in ginger juice, and when I wiped it, my eyes turned red.

"Good boy, don't be sad." Mrs. Cen patted the back of her hand, her tone suddenly changed, "I just want to protect you from growing up and marrying a good family. Unexpectedly, there is a trickster plotting against you. Come on Ya! Bring it up!"

Cen Sanniang turned her head in surprise, the bamboo curtain was raised, and Tian's mother tied a few thick women and pushed one of them in.

"Nurse!" Cen Sanniang stood up in shock.

Mrs. Xu was gagged by Wuhuada and pressed down to the ground, her temple hair was disheveled, and half of her face was swollen from being slapped.Looking at Cen Sanniang, she could only groan, and two lines of tears burst out.

Cen Sanniang turned around and knelt down in front of Mrs. Cen, her heart clenched tightly, making her feel breathless: "Grandmother, what did the wet nurse do? For the sake of serving my mother and me faithfully, Forgive her!"

Mrs. Xu was tied in, and Baicao didn't even cry out in surprise outside.It's not difficult for Cen Sanniang to imagine that after she came in, Baicaoding was also taken away silently.

"Loyalty? Hmph! This old slave deceived you into being young and ignorant, tricked you into letting go of her deed, and secretly hid a large sum of money from the master's family. Not only did she set up a female household outside, but she also set up a second house! If I don't deal with her today, how can I be worthy of your deceased grandparents!" The old lady Cen was full of anger, and slapped the desk hard.

"Grandmother, you misunderstood. I released her deed. The house was bought with money from my mother's private house, and I gave it to her! It was my idea for the nanny to set up a female household and buy the house." Cen Sanniang breathed a sigh of relief. Said.

The old lady Cen didn't believe it at all: "San Niang, you are kind-hearted, and now you are taking everything on yourself to intercede for this old slave. Come on, drag me out and beat me until she tells the truth! "

The two women set up Xu and went out.

"Grandmother, what I said is true!" Cen Sanniang called out, stood up and went to stop her.

The old lady Cen winked, and Mother Tian reached out and grabbed Cen Sanniang, with a smile on her face: "Sanniang, you are young, you have to listen to the old lady about this matter."

Suddenly there was the muffled sound of bamboo boards hitting a person outside, and Xu let out a scream.The gag cloth was pulled out, and it was a call to himself.Cen Sanniang was so angry that she couldn't break free from Tian's hand, so she kicked Tian's hand hard.Tian let go of her hand with an ouch, and Cen Sanniang rushed out.

Mrs. Xu was tied to the bench, her skirt was lifted, and blood was already oozing from her trousers.Half of his face was swollen, and he called her in a low voice: "Third Lady..."

"Stop!" Cen Sanniang rushed over and stopped in front of Xu.Looking up, he saw that Baicao was tightly tied up and his mouth was gagged, being held down by two maids and knelt on the porch, with tears in Xing's eyes.Cen Sanniang clenched her teeth, feeling so uncomfortable that she wanted to laugh out loud.It turned out that no matter how many plans were made, they were like paper in front of Mrs. Cen.

Mother Tian helped Mrs. Cen out.

Old Madam Cen said with a straight face: "Pull Sanniang away, today my cousin will let you hear how this tricky slave confessed!"

"Grandmother, Sanniang is telling the truth, please don't hit the nanny!" Cen Sanniang knelt down slowly.She wanted to cry, but her eyes were so dry that she didn't even have a tear.

She knew in her heart that if the beating continued, Mrs. Xu would either be killed, or Mrs. Xu couldn't take it anymore and could only confess according to Mrs. Cen's will.Either way, the Xu family has no way out.

(End of this chapter)