Court Marriage

Ping Xi's original surname was Kang Ping, and his grandfather was a wealthy businessman. Ping Xi's father inherited the family business and married his only sister to the city's Shi Xiucai, and he took great care of his sister and brother-in-law, so Shi Kang's mother was Pingxi's dear aunt.

Pingxi is 3 months older than Shi Kang, and both are 23 years old this year. They were a pair of horses and horses when they were young, and their relationship was better than that of their own brothers. When Pingxi was eight years old, his father went out to do business and was seriously injured by bandits. He returned home soon after. He passed away, and Pingxi's mother was weak and sickly. She knew that her time was short. Before her death, she entrusted the family property to her aunt Kang Shi, but unexpectedly Kang Shi and her husband became greedy, so the servants coaxed Ping Xi's house, and then Confused his nephew and handed it over to the traffickers to take him to the south to sell to the troupe. Externally, he said he was lost. When the government verified that he was indeed abducted by kidnappers, they sent people to look around on the surface. He used it to buy officials and bribes, and now he has become a state clerk from Liupin in a certain place in the north.

Back then, there was a loyal servant who didn't believe that the little master was lost by himself, and cheated the truth from the servant who betrayed Pingxi. He was humble enough to be unable to fight against the Kang family, so he kidnapped Shi Kang with hatred, and Shi Kang knew the truth. Afterwards, he didn't mention the matter of going home again, and focused on finding peace with the servant.

The two followed the clues all the way to Jiangnan. When they found Ping Xi's troupe, it was already a year later. One servant and one child could not save anyone at all. The servant was beaten to death by the troupe's thugs to protect Shi Kang, and then he was only young. The nine-year-old Shi Kang pretended to be a beggar and followed the troupe secretly. It was not until Pingxi entered the palace of the county king, Shi Kang was fortunate to be accepted as an apprentice by an old enshrined in the palace, Xiangzhong Gengu, and his life got better.

Pingxi learned the truth of her abduction from the traffickers, so she hated her aunt and uncle, and vowed to take revenge, but what happened back then was unfounded and the enemy was already an official, Pingxi was even more hopeless for revenge. Coupled with the death of the loyal servant, Pingxi completely understood the cruelty of this world, so after he entered the palace, he has been working hard to protect himself, and Shi Kang is like a stranger, but Shi Kang is indomitable, and has always refused to leave his side. And apart from the occasional contact with his grandmother, he has completely betrayed the family. His parents would never let this eldest son go, and they also said that Pingxi was using him to get revenge, but Shi Kang just ignored it and inherited the obsession with Pingxi. , until the county prince Shouxiao gave Pingxi to Qiao Zhifu, Shi Kang left the Wangfu again and went to Qiaofu as a guard...

"Where is Pingxi's body contract now? If we were here, we would ask our grandmother to ask for it, but we would be somewhat confident that we would get it. If it is at the palace, I wonder if we can redeem it at a high price?"

Seeing that Pingxi didn't plan to talk about his days in the county palace, Gong Zhuoliang made a cryptic inquiry, thinking that Pingxi is now an adult. Although his appearance is really good, his body is not as good as those of the children... After many years, Presumably that sleazy prince should have forgotten about the pity, otherwise he would not have been left unattended for so many years.

Although Ping Xi summed up his life experience in a few simple sentences, Gong Zhuoliang and his husband could imagine the hardships involved, especially in that county palace with a very bad reputation.

"Actually, I have never suffered any loss in the palace, and my deed was destroyed when I left the palace. It was only for self-protection that I told Mr. Qiao that I was still in the hands of the prince. I thought it would last for three years, but Unexpectedly, the prince of the county actually kept the filial piety, but he tolerated me for two more years, and I was thinking about how to get out of this mansion when the time came, but now I want to thank the lord and madam."

Ping Xi saw Gong Zhuoliang and Qiao Yingze look at him with a hint of pity, and after a little thought, he understood what they were thinking.

It’s a lie to say that he doesn’t care about other people’s opinions. Although Ping Xi said that he is a businessman, he is still the eldest young master of a decent family. If you can't afford to stop your business and buy some farms, you can be a wealthy master with no worries of food and clothing for the rest of your life by guarding those family properties, and you will never become an actor like you are now.

Thinking of this, Ping Xi's eyes couldn't help but glide through a trace of hatred... According to the law of the dynasty, a man became a courtesan and became an actor and a servant.

"That's really great! It's just that since you don't need to take care of the prince's mansion, how could Big Brother Shi let you..."

Gong Zhuoliang was really surprised by the answer given by Pingxi. After all, based on his understanding of Shi Kang, he wanted to protect Pingxi's safety, and he should not let Pingxi bear the name of someone else's concubine. Having lived in this Qiao's mansion for five years, it would be shameful to say that he is a man, and because of this, Gong Zhuoliang and his husband thought that Pingxi was in a difficult situation and could not escape from the mansion of the county king.

"He didn't know, I kept lying to him that the lord handed the deed to Master Qiao, and the palace would come to pick me up after the filial piety expired. If it wasn't for fear that I was in danger, he would have forced me to leave. ... The two of you also know that our relationship is complicated, so please keep the matter of the body contract a secret first."

Although he regrets that he has not been nice to Shi Kang all day long, he doesn't want others to misunderstand him, especially Gong Zhuoliang and Qiao Yingze are both people Shi Kang values, but although he has softened his heart towards Shi Kang now, he I can't let go of my hatred for the Kang family, so now is not the time to fully support...

"Pingxi, although you and I don't know each other for a long time, as a friend, there are some things I want to tell you, Shi Kang's parents hurt you so much, you should hate them, but Shi Kang doesn't owe you anything. , he goes through all the hardships to protect your comprehensiveness. It's out of his sincerity, not what he deserves. He's probably suffered a lot more than you. If you're not ruthless, you should cherish him more. Bar."

Looking at Pingxi's calm and composed appearance, Qiao Yingze couldn't help thinking of Shi Kang's dazed loneliness occasionally, saying that it was out of a friend's morality or a sense of identification with the two of them, Qiao Yingze rarely took the initiative to persuade Pingxi. Two sentences, I don't want him to do anything that will make him regret.

"Pingxi understands, thank you again."

Qiao Yingze's words made Ping Xi's heart tremble, and then she got up with a wry smile and bowed to the two of them.

Why doesn't he understand these truths? It's just that he is unwilling and timid in the end, he is not willing to let go of his hatred for him, and he is afraid that after he really gives up everything for him, there will be a day when he will get tired of this feeling again...

"Okay, okay, don't say thank you anymore, since the matter is settled like this, then we will go to report to grandma first, and Pingxi will also clean up. If it happens, we will move there today. Go, lest there be another change when the master comes back tonight."

He hurriedly held Ping Xi's arm to stop his salute. Gong Zhuoliang was afraid that what Qiao Yingze said about Ping Xi would be unhappy. After all, it was the family's private matter, so he took the opportunity to leave first and went to Mrs. Qiao's place to do business.

After seeing the two of them out of the yard, Ping Xi retracted her chaotic thoughts, turned and walked upstairs. As soon as she entered the room, she saw Shi Kang was sitting at the table, dressed neatly, but with a blush on his face. It hasn't dispersed so far, and when I see myself, my eyes seem to light up.

"Let Xue Hua come up and clean up, let's go to the West Palace together."

Pingxi felt warm in her heart, walked over to Shi Kang, touched his head, leaned over and kissed his lips...

When Qiao Yingze and Gong Zhuoliang arrived at the old lady's courtyard, it was dinner time, and the old lady happily kept the two of them together. After the meal, Gong Zhuoliang saw that the old lady was in a good mood, so he proposed to ask Pingxi to teach the piano, and not to come out. As he expected, the old lady agreed very readily, and also vaguely instructed them not to let outsiders see Pingxi, even for the people in the house, they only need to say that he is a master who teaches piano art.

The old lady's move was in line with Gong Zhuoliang and the others. The matter was settled like this. Gong Zhuoliang and the others went directly to pick up Ping Xi and leave together. Stone Hero.

Shi Kang admitted that he was wrong, but it was very refreshing. In addition, Pingxi helped him to plead for mercy, Gong Zhuoliang didn't really embarrass him, and let Pingxi join the Xifu as Gong Zhuoliang's 'qin art' as Shi Kang's cousin Kang Ping. gentlemen'…

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX on August 12, Qiao Yingxuan sent his younger sister Qiao Yuanyin to Beijing to be married. Because of the female dependents and many dowries, he walked slowly for 12 days and arrived in Beijing on August 24.

Mrs. Qiao had already invited her mother's brother and sister-in-law to act as the wife to handle the marriage, which made Qiao Yingxuan relaxed. Over the years, Qiao Yingxuan has matured a lot. Although he is not willing to climb up those powerful people, his face has finally been rounded up.

It's just that in the face of the bustling and bustling capital of the capital, Qiao Yingxuan is really reluctant to think about Shu, and he has Senior Brother Lu and his future brother-in-law to play with him, so it was not until the end of October that he returned to Bocheng with no end in sight to prepare for his own marriage.

"I heard that His Majesty is now against the Holy Communion, and his character has become irritable and severe, and he has disciplined many officials. When I was in Beijing, I heard from my uncle that many high-ranking officials were demoted. Be cautious."

After drinking the freshly brewed fruit wine from his brother's house, Qiao Yingxuan pursed his lips and savored the fragrance, then lowered his voice and approached Qiao Yingze and Gong Zhuoliang mysteriously, talking about his experience in Beijing.

Although they were estranged from their eldest uncle's family because of their father's relationship, they were still close to Qiao Yingxuan's nephew for Mrs. When I entered Beijing, I really established some contacts at the beginning.

"Your Majesty, when it won't happen innocently, do you know the reason?"

Today, Qiao Yingze served Qiao Yingxuan with wine in his house. Gong Zhuoliang came to participate in men's clothing, so everyone didn't have so many scruples, and their words and deeds were more casual.

The Sage is now in his fifties, and rumors about his health have spread over the past six months, but now it doesn't seem to be empty rumors.

"I don't know the specifics. I just listened to what Uncle and the others said. The heavy punishments are all close to the second and third princes."

Seeing that Gong Zhuoliang was very interested, Qiao Yingxuan continued to gossip with him proudly.

"Prince is only twenty-two this year, right? His Majesty is ill, no wonder his brothers are restless."

Gong Zhuoliang remembered that the current prince was the same age as Gong Zhuoxiang, ranking fifth. The eldest prince died at an early age. The second, third, and fourth princes were all descended from concubines. So he was named a prince early, but the power of the second prince and third prince's mother family is not weak. Only the fourth prince is not of high background, and there are no rumors about him from the outside world. As for the sixth prince and the seventh prince, they are still not good. milk doll.

"No, it's so lively in the capital, there are dramas to watch every day."

Qiao Yingxuan really missed the ease in Beijing, and he became more and more determined to take the martial arts exam.

"Okay, those things are not something we can mix up, don't mention them in the future, and I heard from my grandmother recently that a friend of my father's house was raided and beheaded for the crime of embezzling ink for disaster relief and silver liang. My father is in a bad mood. Go home and be more restrained, and don’t argue with him on the big day.”

When Qiao Yingze saw that the two of them were whispering together to talk about gossip, they were not respectful to them, so he lowered his face and taught Qiao Yingxuan a few words.

In fact, what Qiao Yingze said can be considered euphemistic. Mr. Qiao's current situation is as simple as being in a bad mood, but it should be said that he is very irritable and panic, but he also knows that he is cautious and not greedy for those terrible money, so why? The punishment could not be punished on his head, and now he is afraid of being implicated.

"Brother put it down, my brother knows, what identity are we, how can we make do with those big things, as for the family, I don't bother to pay attention to that kind of person."

Qiao Yingxuan answered his brother's lesson with a smile, but when he mentioned Master Qiao, his expression was hard to hide his contempt. Thinking of his unkindness to his grandfather and his uncle back then, not allowing his mother to return to Beijing when his grandfather passed away, and his tendency to become flamboyant and infatuated over the years, it really makes people unable to respect him. It is said that his friend who was convicted this time received so many benefits from others on weekdays, and in a blink of an eye, he shut the door of the child who asked for help, and he refused to even meet him.

"It's the father..."

Qiao Yingze could only sigh helplessly when he said this. They all knew about his father's reputation among the official family. Although others saw that these relatives in the family did not attack him, no one liked him. I won't waste ten years as the prefect, and I won't be able to make further progress.

After Qiao Yingze said this, the atmosphere became dull for a while, and Qiao Yingxuan lost interest in gossip, so he left after sitting for a while.

He came here shortly after he got home, and now there are a lot of things waiting for him at home.

"Since he knows about these things, Gongxiong should also greet him. Needless to say, he just needs to pay attention to safety when entering and leaving."

Thinking that Gong Zhuoxiang had just sent some special products from the places he traveled back two days ago, Qiao Yingze thought that he should send him a letter. He used to be the prince's companion, and he heard that he was very close to the prince, but now he is alone. Outside, there is no guarantee that other forces will not miss him, it is always better to be prepared.

"I understand."

Gong Zhuoliang knew what Qiao Yingze was worried about, such as the struggle for succession, party disputes, etc. He had read a lot of books, and now he didn't talk much, so he wrote a letter to his cousin.

In a blink of an eye, it was November, and the battle situation in Beijing started to be full of momentum, but with the improvement of Shengshang's health, it now has a meaning of nothing, and the Qiao family did not even blow the wind, everyone. All at ease.

As the bride was sent to Bocheng to be married, everyone's attention was focused on Qiao Yingxuan's marriage. Since the family had already separated, Gong Zhuoliang and the others did not participate too much in the preliminary preparations. On the day of their marriage on February 18, they could not resist Qiao Yingxuan's insistence to keep them, so they stayed in the courtyard of the old lady of the Dongfu, waiting for the new daughter-in-law's tea to come the next morning.