Yutai Bi

Chapter 78 Confrontation 2
"Since you have returned to Chang'an, this money is the dowry silver that your grandfather gave you. What is 10 taels of silver? I have inherited the incense of Xiangwu County King. Although you have no title now, you must remember your grandparents." He was once a meritorious official who received an imperial seal from Conglong. Please keep your mark, this hairpin is now just an ordinary jewelry, and you often wear it as a reminder. Get up." Old Master Li's eyes were extremely loving.

"San Niang thanked grandfather for his great love." Cen San Niang kowtowed anxiously, and took it with both hands.She didn't need to pretend, her heart was tossed with various secrets and her hands trembled slightly.

When he stood up and looked up, he saw Mrs. Li smiling.That smile surprised Cen Sanniang again, her grandfather was obviously very satisfied with his timidity towards her.why?

"Sit down." Mrs. Li seemed to have explained the most important thing, called someone to bring tea in, and said gently, "After you were born, your mother wrote a letter saying that she had a daughter named Ziyi. I I know, she wants to tell me that she is doing well. Giving you this name probably also wants to tell me that if you don’t return to Chang’an, she will let you live comfortably and happily in Longzhou. The relatives of the Fang family are also very happy. Not bad. The Fang family is the richest man in Longzhou, even if Master Fang passed away and the brothers split up. There are still a few catties of nails in the rotten boat, so it is no problem to keep you well-fed for the rest of your life."

It means that he obviously didn't ask any questions these years, but he actually knows his own situation like the back of his hand?Baicao is a girl bought when parents were around.Seeing that appearance, Xu didn't know the inside story.Cen Sanniang suddenly remembered the two Zhuangzi whose mother did not enter the public account of the fourth house, Uncle Liu and Uncle Fu who managed the farm.

Mrs. Li seemed to have seen through her thoughts, and said, "Uncle Liu and Uncle Fu have always been in correspondence with this old man."

If you are really good to her, why do you have to stand on the sidelines and never intervene?Cen Sanniang asked again in her heart.A grateful look appeared on her face at the right time: "It turns out that my grandfather has always cared about Sanniang. Sanniang thought..."

Her voice was choked, and she took out her handkerchief and wiped it, tears rolling down her cheeks.It was supposed to be a prop to recognize relatives and cry bitterly, but I didn't expect it to come in handy.

"It's my grandfather's fault for this matter, and I have always been displeased with the Cen family in my heart. I thought that you had booked a marriage with the Fang family, and you had a good home, so you didn't come forward. I didn't expect that King Teng would take a fancy to you when he passed by Longzhou unexpectedly. I used a method to lure you to Hongzhou." Old Master Li sighed.

Since Cen Sanniang became suspicious, she naturally refused to believe his words.

She still remembered that before the Fang family got married, the Cen family wanted to marry her to the young master of the Fan family.Uncle Liu knew all this.At that time, even if Mrs. Li sent a letter, she would not rack her brains to take advantage of King Teng's influence and use the reputation of the Li family in Longxi to threaten her cousin to dissuade her.

If King Teng hadn't appeared unexpectedly, maybe her good home would not be Fang Ming, but the stuttering and emaciated Fan Yushu.This is not an expression of genuine love for my granddaughter.Although Mrs. Li has been paying attention to himself, he is not concerned about her happiness.Cen Sanniang judged that Mrs. Li had other plans.

She kept her doubts firmly in her heart, sobbing softly.He was very energetic and ready to respond to Mrs. Li's inquiries at any time.

Mrs. Li continued: "Later, news came from Longzhou that you accidentally drowned and died at the night banquet in the middle of the River Teng. Teng Wang also lost a bodyguard. I didn't expect you to be alive, and went back to Chang'an after a roundabout. What's going on?"

Cen Sanniang bit her lips in embarrassment, and murmured after a long while, "Prince Teng wanted to accept me as a concubine, and even withdrew from the Fang family's marriage. I didn't want to be a concubine, so I thought of committing suicide. I jumped off the boat and was rescued by Prince Teng's guards. I begged him to let me fake my death. He was very soft-hearted, so he agreed... If he promised me to cheat my death, he betrayed the Lord, so he simply let the prince think that he also drowned , I heard that my grandfather's family is in Chang'an, so he sent me here."

The sunlight through the window sills shone on her face, her eyes were lost and out of focus, like a lost child.Mrs. Li observed her carefully, but didn't see any flaws.

Cen Sanniang spoke more and more smoothly, and half-truthfully said: "He also hired a car to send the nanny and Baicao away first. I never knew that my grandfather was taking care of me in secret, so I didn't dare to come to the door without authorization. I wanted to see the nanny and Baicao to settle down first." After coming down, I still have more than 2000 taels of silver left by my mother. In the future, I will change my household registration and find a family to make a living. I didn’t expect that the Qiu family incident happened as soon as I arrived in Chang’an..."

"So that's the case." Old Master Li frowned, stared at Cen Sanniang and said sharply, "Ziyi, you have an affair with him? Otherwise, how could he betray the Lord for you and guard you loyally all the way?"

Cen Sanniang was so shocked that she left her seat and knelt down, extremely nervous.

If you don't admit it, why does Kongqing want to protect her against the Lord?Let's admit it, people in this era are full of contempt for those who have privately ordered their lives, and they are considered to be ignorant of etiquette.What are the consequences of a bad reputation?
Two thoughts flashed, and Cen Sanniang made a choice.She must not let Mrs. Li know what Kong Qing told her.Never let Kongqing and that branch hairpin be linked together.Fame is compared to treason, the crime of decapitation.

She was heartbroken, covered her face and cried: "I, I didn't have an affair with him, but Jiang Zhong had a skin-to-skin relationship... He said he would be responsible for me, so he agreed to feign death with me and escort me back to Chang'an When he arrived in Chang'an, he knew something happened to Baicao, so he went to Qiu's house to rescue her. But before he could leave the next day, the Qiu's family came to rob her. He was seriously injured and left. There is no news to this day .I only know that he is the guard of King Teng, and I don't know anything else."

Mrs. Li's eyes were flickering, and in the end he could only believe such words. He sighed and said, "I can't blame you for this matter. It's up to you. Even if he saved you, if he finds you, grandfather will take care of you." Thank you for the generous gift. You must not miss your life because of this. The guard is also kind to you, just treat him as drowned. He only said to the outside world that he met a kind person to send you back to Chang'an. Get up, everything depends on the old man Make the decision for you."

"Yes. I will tell nanny and Baicao." Cen Sanniang stood up sobbing, the veil was too hot, and the tears didn't stop.She thought it was good, taking advantage of her young age, no matter how much she tried or asked, she just cried.

Old Master Li thought for a while and asked again: "Prince Teng is just passing through Longzhou, why did he fall in love with you? Has he seen you wearing this hairpin?"

"This hairpin has been hidden in the box and has never been shown to anyone." Cen Sanniang denied that anyone had seen it, and replied exactly as Kong Qing told her: "I heard from the guard that Lord Yuan Tiangang once made a speech for King Teng, saying I can save him from disasters, so King Teng wants to keep me by his side as his concubine."

"Ridiculous!" Old Master Li said angrily, "If I have a chance, I would meet that old man Yuan. His nonsense almost killed my granddaughter!"

He said softly again: "His Royal Highness Prince Teng has always been unfettered because he is the emperor's uncle today. I heard that his large-scale construction projects by the river have caused Hongzhou to make ends meet. A few days ago, the imperial censors all issued reports to impeach him. Even if he is a prince, he can't do whatever he wants. Just relax. You will be 14 years old next month, and your grandfather will hold a banquet to celebrate your birthday. When Jiji arrives, he will find a good home for you in Chang'an. I will write to let you know Your cousin grandma, you can live at your grandfather's house with peace of mind."

Cen Sanniang left her seat again, thanking her with a salute.

"Go. You still live in your mother's original yard. Everything there is as usual, and it hasn't been touched since she got married. If there is anything that needs to be asked, let Mrs. Xu ask Li Fang to buy it." Mrs. Li said lovingly.

Cen Sanniang got up and left.

After leaving the study, Cen Sanniang only felt that the hairpin in her arms was extremely heavy.

Although Mrs. Li didn't mention Li Jiancheng a word.But Cen Sanniang is almost certain that what Kong Qing said is true, this hairpin must be related to Li Jiancheng.

She thought about it, and there was only one explanation that could make sense—the eyeliner placed by Mrs. Li in Longzhou, who was concerned about who this hairpin could attract.

In the past, he didn't care about his own happiness and let her live a life of being dependent on others.

Now he gave the hairpin to himself again in order to allow her to continue to assume the role of Li Shi, and use her body as a bait to lure out the Eastern Palace Yinwei who can recognize this hairpin.

He specifically asked King Teng if he knew about this hairpin.

He deliberately told her Chai's secret.If any hidden guard recognizes her, her background will be revealed.If she unites with it, she will definitely take out the silver flower buds to get the silver.Rebellion, don't you need a lot of money to support it?
When the wind blew over, Cen Sanniang shivered, only to realize that she was already sweating heavily.

Now she can only pretend to be confused.

At this time, she was looking forward to Kong Qing's quietly appearing.She will tell him firmly, never to contact those hidden guards, never to tell those loyal hidden guards that he has found her.

The door of the study was gently closed again.The light from the sky leaked from the roof tiles, forming several bright beams of light.

Old Mrs. Li sat quietly, looking at the dust floating in the beam of light, a line of sadness finally appeared on his face.His lips moved, and he whispered to himself: "This kid really looks like you."

At this point, the concern in my heart was touched again.Mrs. Li stood up, walked to the bookshelf, opened a hidden compartment, and took out a scroll.

Holding the painting scroll, he said to himself: "The first emperor was lenient to the old king of Qi in the Eastern Palace, and entrusted him with a heavy responsibility regardless of the previous suspicions. Later, he named Xi Wang as the hidden prince, and adopted two sons to inherit the incense of Li Jiancheng and King Qi respectively. Now the Tang Dynasty Stable and prosperous, the late emperor was also a talented and wise ruler. The past is over, if Li Jiancheng's remnant party does not give up and intends to rebel, it will only fall into the flames of war in the Tang Dynasty."

When he said this, he paused, and his voice became softer: "I can't allow the villain to succeed, can I?"

(End of this chapter)