I have been painting skin in the cemetery for fifteen years

Chapter 135 Ascension! Battle of Destiny!

Pingjiang County!

Zhigao's family of six is having dinner.

A couple, two sons, and a concubine.

He has fallen to this point, and the concubine still doesn't run away?

This really admires Zhigao's personality charm. This prodigal son is very worldly.

His father lost his title, and then two generations tried their best to curry favor with the powerful and wanted to restore the title. They thought of all kinds of methods.

Bribing high officials with money and spending money to become famous.

Paying brothel girls to promote the good reputation of his family, paying storytellers to tell the glorious past of his family, paying scholars to say good things about him, and paying poor scholars to write stories to promote the benevolence of his family.

In his letters, after drinking wildly, he often satirized the emperor, one to express his inner resentment, and the other to cater to these scholars.

Therefore, in Pingjiang County, this is definitely a role like Mengchangjun, with friends all over the world.

If any scholar had no food to eat, he could go to Pingjiang County to find Zhigao, where he would not only have food to eat, but also get some money for his journey.

In short, Zhigao had squandered the wealth accumulated by his family for several generations in just ten years.

Of course, he also left a great reputation.

But in a sense, he was also a winner in life.

His wife Liu Wan was from a scholarly family, and her family had once been a second-rank official.

When Zhigao was young, he tried to curry favor with the rich and powerful, and when he met this official lady, he fell in love with her.

In order to pursue her, Zhigao really used all his means and all his wealth, and climbed over the wall to enter the mansion for a secret meeting several times.

He was bitten by dogs several times, and was caught by the servants and beaten half to death.

In this bold, careful, thick-skinned, wasteful and romantic stalking, this official lady Liu Wan was really pursued.

But how could Liu Wan's family be willing? Her grandfather was a second-rank official, and her father was also a fifth-rank official.

As for Liu Wan's appearance, you can tell from Zhi Fan that she is a beauty that is one in a million.

As for Zhi Gao, he is just a poor man who has lost his title. How could the Liu family agree to this marriage?

As a result, Liu Wan, who was overwhelmed by love, staged a drama of elopement and almost got married privately.

The Liu family is also a family that wants to save face, so they can only grit their teeth and let the two of them be together.

But from now on, they will just treat this daughter as if she doesn't have one. They are really heartbroken.

Liu Wan has been married for several years, and gradually found that her husband is a complete loser.

But so what? The child is born.

Besides, this husband has no future, but he is funny, humorous, and loves his wife.

In order to make his wife happy, he will do anything.

Although there is no glory and wealth, it is not hardship, and a husband who understands the cold and the warmth is also good.

After giving birth to Zhi Fan, Liu Wan didn't know why she could no longer have children.

The two generations of Zhigao spent all their wealth just to restore their titles. But they couldn't even give birth to a son. What should they do?

The couple tried for several years but couldn't get pregnant again.

So Liu Wan agreed to her husband's concubine.

This concubine.

Zhigao welcomed another incredibly beautiful girl, who was ten years younger than him, and the daughter of his teacher, who had fallen in love with Zhigao many years ago.

This concubine Lin, whose father was also a poor man, failed to pass the school city exam, so he became a tutor. He taught Zhigao for several years, and then became a staff member for a county magistrate. His future was not bad, but he made a big mistake because of drinking and was dismissed.

But even so, Lin would not be a concubine. She was so beautiful, and there were many people who wanted to marry her.

But... she just liked Zhigao.

After marrying Zhigao as a concubine, she really gave birth to two sons.

After Zhi Gao squandered his family fortune, he was reluctant to let the two women suffer, so he started selling his land and house.

In short, as long as the two wives stayed with him for one day, he would let them live a life of luxury.

They still lived a luxurious life.

The two women didn't understand. Liu Wan was a young lady from a scholarly family, and Lin was innocent and naive. They were both people who didn't care about money.

Anyway, this husband could always take out money to let them eat and drink, and make new silk clothes every month.

In this way, the land was sold out, and the extra houses were sold out.

Zhi Gao was about to live a hard life, but he didn't expect that Zhi Fan would become rich here.

Although he hated his father for selling his daughters for fame, he still had no shortage of money, and he sent money home every year.

Zhi Gao's family lived a wealthy life.

However, it was impossible to save money.

No matter how much money Zhi Fan sent back, it would be spent by Zhi Gao.

It was not all spent on extravagant life, but still for the eternal theme of the family, to restore the title.

He still spent money desperately on bribes and reputation.

And the two sons have grown up, Zhi Gao has to find a way to marry with high-ranking officials and nobles.

But the two sons are not as capable as him, and those officials' daughters can't chase him, which makes Zhi Gao angry.

He is unwilling to marry a girl from a small family.

So, the eldest son is already 24 years old, and the youngest son is 22 years old.

He has not married yet.

And the people of Pingjiang County know Zhi Gao inside and out, he is a prodigal son and a ruined family.

When he was young, he lived on the ancestral inheritance, and after eating up the ancestral inheritance, he lived on the allowance of his daughter.

But last year, this handsome and romantic old prodigal finally met with bad luck.

He was framed and reported by the father of Li Shiyun, the governor of Nanhai, and his whole family was imprisoned in the Black Dragon Terrace.

All the family property was also confiscated.

He thought it was definitely over this time, and the whole family would be executed.

Unexpectedly, the situation turned around, and Li Shiyun and his son became the rebels of the Dark Academy, including the Black Dragon Terrace official who arrested him.

In this way, Zhigao's family was released in a muddle.

But when he returned home, he was penniless.

He wanted his daughter to help him, but he didn't expect that his daughter and son-in-law were also unlucky, broke with the Shen Gong family, and were exiled to the White Bone City, penniless.

Finally, Zhigao's family lived a hard life.

There was no more big fish and meat every day.

And Zhigao himself couldn't carry anything on his shoulders, couldn't lift anything with his hands, and couldn't go out to make money.

So his two women began to sell their silk brocade.

The family property was confiscated, but at least some silk clothes were left.

But they could only eat simple meals every day.

Moreover, the silk clothes left by the two women were gone. They couldn't sell them all, and they would not even have decent clothes to wear.

In the future, they might not even have simple meals.

These days were so poor that they made people despair.

At this time, the table was extremely shabby, with six bowls of porridge, a pile of pickles, and a small piece of fermented bean curd.

Looking at his wife and concubine, although they were not young, they were still beautiful.

Zhi Gao was about to shed tears.

How could he live in the future?

His two wives were spoiled, but they had to live such a hard life with him.

"Wan Wan, Lian Lian, don't worry, I will find a job tomorrow. I am Zhi Gao in Pingjiang County, who doesn't know? Isn't it easy to find a job?" Zhi Gao patted his chest and said.

But only he knows the bitterness.

A few months ago, the silk clothes of his two wives were sold out, and there was only one set of satin clothes left, which Zhi Gao refused to sell no matter what.

So he went out to find a job.

He thought it would be easy because he was so famous. How many people had he helped and sponsored before?

Now many people have become rich. As long as he put down his face and dignity and looked for a job, he would always make money.

The result... was cruel.

All those who were very enthusiastic about him were as miserable as him.

All those who were already rich were not willing to help him at all. They were very affectionate verbally and praised Zhi Gao to the sky, but they did not help him at all.

Some people were even more sarcastic.

The most disgusting thing was that Wang Shiren, a scholar he had helped before, was now the chief clerk of Pingjiang County. He actually said in both open and secret ways that Zhi Gao should sell his concubine to him, or let his wife Liu Wan accompany him for one night.

Suddenly, Zhi Gao exploded with anger.

People can't be so shameless.

You didn't pass the school city exam and didn't even have food to eat. How many times did I help you?

I gave you the money to go to Yingzhou to take the school city exam?

Now you not only don't help me, but also want to steal my woman.

The reason why everyone is unwilling to help Zhi Gao is largely because of the two beauties in his family.

Although the wife is already in her forties and the concubine is thirty-nine.

But they are spoiled, and now they are more than just charming?

Moreover, the down-and-out scholar stayed at Zhi Gao's house for many days. The two ladies were even more beautiful back then. He was trembling in his dreams.

Now he has become the chief clerk and has become rich. Although the beauty is old, he still wants to fulfill his dream.

Thinking of this man's ugly face, Zhi Gao is still indignant.

He has never lived a hard life in his life. He really doesn't know when such a life will end.

Therefore, all his expenses in recent months were borrowed from loan sharks.

Not only to maintain the family expenses, but also to find a job and bribe various parties, he has borrowed hundreds of taels of silver in total.

Before, what was more than a hundred taels of silver?

But now, this amount of money is a huge sum of money.

"Alas, I don't know how the girl and her husband are doing." Liu Wan sighed, "I heard that the Bai Gu Ling is so poor that they don't have food to eat, it's like hell."

Concubine Lin Lianlian said, "Anyway, the eldest girl's letter also said that she and her husband are in love, that's good! The couple is in love, and it doesn't matter if life is a little hard."

Hearing the concubine's words, Zhi Gao felt even worse.

Now he just wants to find a job to earn money and support his two wives.

As for the restoration of the title, he dared not even think about it. After being imprisoned in the Black Dragon Terrace, it was already very difficult to survive. He should give up the idea of restoring the title.

His heart is dead!

Next, I, Zhigao, will live only for my two beloved wives.

As for my two sons, let them be, I don’t care if they can’t find wives.

Is it so difficult for two useless things to find wives?

What’s the point of giving birth to you?

At this time, someone outside shouted: "Is Zhigao here?"

Suddenly, Zhigao’s face changed.

Then, he quickly brought out a bowl of bacon and a salted fish from the kitchen and put them on the table.

This bowl of bacon and a salted fish must not be eaten.

They are just for viewing.

Whenever someone comes to the house, they will be put out quickly to let people outside know that I, Zhigao, am living a good life.

Then Zhi Gao used his fingers to rub the oil from the bacon on his beard, and then changed into his only silk shirt as quickly as possible, and then walked out.

As he walked, he laughed heartily and said, "Hello, Boss Li, have you eaten yet? Let's eat together, let's eat together!"

After arriving outside, he closed the door.

The Boss Li who came was the one who lent him money at high interest rates.

Now he came to the door, I'm afraid he was here to collect the debt.

Zhi Gao was thinking of using sweet words to delay the debt period, but he didn't expect that Wang Shiren, the chief clerk of Pingjiang County, was next to Boss Li.

He was the beast in human clothing who had been funded by him but wanted to take his wife.

Boss Li said, "Zhi Gao, the 120 taels of silver you owe is due in three months. Including the principal and interest, it is a total of 250 taels. You should pay it back."

This interest.

Now Zhi Gao has sold almost all his property. Where can he get 250 taels of silver?

Even if it was two taels of silver, he couldn't take it out.

Boss Li smiled and said, "Zhi Gao, you have sold all your property anyway, and Bufan sold it more thoroughly. Your concubine Lin Lianlian is almost forty years old, old and faded, and is worthless. But Wang Zhubu is willing to spend two hundred and fifty taels of silver to buy her because of our past friendship. Don't you thank Master Wang?"

Zhi Gao was immediately furious.

"Don't say that. My Lianlian is a priceless treasure. She is not a concubine. Even if she is seventy or eighty years old, she is still my treasure."

Boss Li said, "Infatuated seed? Then pay back the money!"

Zhi Gao had no money.

He said coldly: "Don't go too far, my son-in-law is the son of the Marquis of Zhenhai."

"Hahaha..." Pingjiang County Chief Wang Shiren sneered: "Don't say anything about your unlucky son-in-law, he's finished, completely finished! His poor and white-boned collar has been taken. He himself has been arrested and taken back to Zhenhai City, and will be in prison for life. I'm afraid your daughter will go to the Jiaofangsi."

Pingjiang County is not in Tianshui Province, so the news is delayed.

Boss Li said coldly: "Your son-in-law Shen Wuque is finished, so you either pay back the money or sell the woman today."

Zhi Gao gritted his teeth and said: "I sell the house, I sell the house!"

The house behind him is the only remaining ancestral property. If it is sold, the family of six will have no place to live in the future.

And at this moment!

A cavalry galloped over quickly.

Zhi Gao was almost scared to collapse, because the last time the black cavalry rushed over, they arrested his whole family and put them in prison.

Even now, he still has nightmares, dreaming that the black cavalry came to catch him.

So, not only was he paralyzed on the ground, he also urinated directly.

But even at this time, Zhi Gao shouted inside: "Wan Wan, Wan Wan, run, go back to your mother's home."

Then, he said to the chief clerk Wang Shiren: "I give you Lian Lian, I give it to you, no money. Please treat her better in the future, please."

He felt that if he was caught again this time, he would definitely die.

So, he couldn't drag his two wives to die with him.

This kind of love is really amazing. No wonder he is so poor, but his two wives still love him wholeheartedly.

And Wang Shiren and Boss Li had already retreated quickly and hid in the corner to watch the show.

Several cavalrymen came forward, and several warriors quickly carried a sedan chair.

The sedan chair fell.

An eunuch walked out slowly and said loudly: "Zhi Gao accepts the order!"

His wife Liu Wan and concubine Lin Lian Lian walked out with a determined look on their faces and helped their husbands up.

The two women looked like they were ready to die.

They also thought that they were being arrested again.

When the eunuch saw this scene, he felt funny and sad.

People are like ants. Others can send them to hell with just one finger, and they can ascend to heaven with just a slight raise of their hands.

"The Emperor of Heaven and Mandate of Heaven decrees that Zhi Gao is loyal to the emperor and loves the country, but was harmed by traitors. It is my negligence. From now on, Zhi Gao's title of Viscount Pingjiang will be restored. This is my decree!"

What? ! Restore the title? Did I hear it right? !

Hearing this imperial decree!

Zhi Gao was stunned.

The two wives were also stunned.

Wang Shiren and Boss Li outside were even more stunned.

This... this... this, a dead salted fish can also turn over?

And Zhi Gao was really like a thunderbolt.

Two generations of his family spent decades, exhausted several generations of family property, flattered countless dignitaries, bribed countless high officials, but still could not restore the title.

Now that he is suffering to the point of not being able to live, his title is restored?

But I didn't do anything?

The ultimate dream of our two generations, that unattainable dream, was realized so easily?

So, Zhi Gao didn't even dare to be ecstatic.

I just felt a wave of unreality, as if it was a dream.

The eunuch stepped forward and said: "Your son-in-law Shen Wuque has made great contributions. His Majesty the Emperor wants to reward him, but he doesn't want anything, just wants to restore your title. His Majesty is grateful for his filial piety, so he agreed."

This eunuch is a smart person.

Son-in-law Shen Wuque? !

All this is actually the credit of son-in-law Shen Wuque?

Liu Wan said: "I, I heard that my son-in-law is in the White Bone Territory and is suffering a lot."

The eunuch said: "Your son-in-law is extraordinary, you will know later."

Zhi Gao dared to believe that everything in front of him was really happening.

Suddenly, boundless ecstasy surged in his heart.

It made him howl.

I really never expected that such a big thing would be easily handled by my son-in-law Shen Wuque.

After a long while, Ji Gao kowtowed and said, "I thank you, Lord, for your kindness. Long live my emperor!"

Next, he wanted to give money to the eunuch.

But I found that I couldn't even get out a tael of silver.

The eunuch smiled and said, "Viscount Pingjiang doesn't have to be so polite."

Zhi Gao kowtowed and said: "What is the name of the eunuch Gao? I, Zhi Gao, will remember it in my heart. I will definitely repay you in this life."

The eunuch said: "We don't need you to repay us, but we like to make friends. Our name is Andulu!"

Zhi Gao solemnly said: "I remember this name, and I will definitely repay you in this life!"

The great eunuch Andlu smiled, "Where in this life do we have the opportunity to need you to repay me?" It's just to sell it to Shen Wuque to gain face and create a good relationship.

After the eunuch took the people away.

Wang Shiren and Boss Li walked out with smiles and bowed to the end.

"Congratulations, Lord Viscount, congratulations, Lord Viscount!"

The chief registrar Wang Shiren even bowed to the end and said: "Brother, I am really happy for you from the bottom of my heart for your blessing today!"

Then, he looked at the house and said with tears in his eyes: "Brother, you are a Viscount, and we in Pingjiang County have the same title as you. We are all your vassals, how can we live in such a shabby house! Change it to House, change house!”

"How can this family be so shabby? It's all about my brother. I will definitely get back all the things my brother lost before!"

Ordinarily, the chief bookkeeper Wang Shiren does not need to be afraid of a short-term viscount.

However, he saw the attitude of the eunuch just now. Shen Wuque didn't know what he had done, and it was already remembered by the emperor.

This is scary!

After that, Shen Wuque took over the power and took revenge, but his little chief secretary couldn't bear it.

So I quickly took the opportunity to curry favor.

Zhi Gao was furious in his heart, thinking that he must take revenge and send the beast in front of him to prison.

But on the surface, he laughed loudly, held Wang Shiren's hand and said, "You're welcome, dear brother, you're welcome."

……………………

In the Marquis’ Mansion of Zhenhai!

"Chu Chu, you are going to Piaoling City to attend the Golden Bell Conference soon. Are you nervous?" Shen Wuyu said with a smile.

His smile is always warm and contagious.

Chu Chu said: "I'm not nervous at first, but the stakes are huge! It's not just about my reputation, but also about the outcome of the Marquis, so I can't help but be nervous."

Shen Wuyu said: "First of all, our people have inspected it many times in the White Bone Collar. The so-called rebuilding of the Star Reaching Pavilion is a joke. The rough conditions cannot even make a pointer, let alone a clock. . And our table clock has been improved by the master of craftsmanship, and it is a step up from the Starry Sky series of the day. So in terms of products, it is impossible for Shen Wuque and Sanfan to win."

Chu Chu said: "He is vicious and exaggerated, and never down to earth, so it must be a vicious trick, and he wants to use the trick of stealing one thing for another. If he can't compare with our products, he will use despicable means."

Shen Wuyu said: "Yes! We have to guard against this, but I have made complete preparations and will not let him succeed, so you don't have to be stressed."

"In addition, your teacher, Master Jingji, will also go to the Golden Bell Conference this time to take charge of the Star Reaching Pavilion, so you don't have to worry."

Chu Chu was surprised.

Second Young Master Shen Wuyu, what is his background?

How could he actually invite Master Jingqing to sit in Piaoling City and endorse the Shen Gong family?

How arrogant is the master of craftsmanship? What qualifications?

Shen Wuyu said: "Your teacher, Master Jingjiao, cannot always be the master of the Star Reaching Pavilion. So after you defeated Shen Wuque and Xie Fan this time, you can legitimately become the master of the Star Reaching Pavilion."

Suddenly, Chu Chu's body trembled, she raised her head and said, "Thank you, Second Young Master."

Shen Wuyu said softly: "Call me second brother."

Chu Chu bowed and said: "Thank you, second brother."

Shen Wuyu said: "Go! I believe you will be able to triumph."

Chu Chu leaves.

Looking at her graceful and charming back, Shen Wuyu's eyes were slightly warm.

……………………

Chu Chu is preparing!

She is about to usher in the most important moment of her life.

She wants to become the master of the Star Reaching Pavilion.

She wants to fly up the branches and become a phoenix.

Perhaps it was destined by God that she must step on the heads of Shen Wuque and Ji Fan to reach the pinnacle of life.

At this time, her father Chu Liang walked in.

Chu Chu frowned and said, "Father, what are you doing here?"

Now Chu Chu is already very rich, so she gives her parents a large amount of money every month.

But she didn't really want to see her father, because when she saw her parents, she would think of herself as a slave of the Shen Gong family.

Chu Liang said: "Girl, you are going to Piaoling City and you are going to make an enemy of Young Master Wuque, right?"

Chu Chu said coldly: "You don't have to worry about it."

Chu Liang said: "Chu Chu, if you were my daughter, you would have to admit defeat in Piaoling City this time. You will definitely not be able to defeat Young Master Wu Que!"

"Why?" Chu Chu said: "Just because I was his maid, will I have to give in to him all my life? Absolutely impossible. Not only do I want to win against him, but I also want to win completely! This time I not only fight on behalf of myself , and fight on behalf of the Shen Gong family, I want to be honest and defeat Shen Wuque completely!"

Then, Chu Chu said coldly: "Father, you are so loyal, why don't you follow him to the Bone Collar?"

Chu Liang is heartbroken, what do you know?

Chu Liang was just a domestic slave. By the time he knew what happened that day, Wu Que had already arrived at the Bone Collar.

Chu Liang's first reaction was to immediately take his family to Baiguling to serve Shen Wuque.

But after thinking about it carefully, he found that it was not possible.

If he went to the Bone Collar, Shen Wuque would just have a few more useless slaves.

He wanted to stay in the Marquis Mansion to find out information for Young Master Wu Que. The most important thing is that he must become the link between Prince Wu and the Marquis.

In his opinion, father and son must not completely turn against each other.

The best outcome in the future is that Marquis Shen Gong Ao recognizes Young Master Wu Que again and allows him to inherit the title.

Although Chu Liang is incompetent, he must do his best to help achieve this goal.

But at this time, his biological daughter actually wanted to defeat Young Master Wuque.

The slave actually wants to defeat his master?

How is this possible?

Chu Liang's internal organs were all burned.

Chu Chu said: "Father, is the money I gave you enough? Next, you can move out of the Marquis Mansion. I bought you a house covering several acres."

Chu Liang looked at his daughter, slowly knelt down and said, "Daughter, please, can you please? In Piaoling City, you must lose to Master Wu Que, you must!"

Chu Chu was stunned when she saw her father kneeling down.

Then, endless anger and shame.

Is this true again?

Why do you not help me every time I want to fly high, but you still come to hold me back?

Suddenly, Chu Chu couldn't help but said: "Father, you, you are so pathetic!"

Then, without saying a word, she rushed out.

Chu Liang shouted from behind: "Chu Chu, I am incompetent, I have no ability. But if you win Master Wuque this time, I will hang myself immediately after hearing the news! I have no face to see Miss Mingzhu, she saved us I have given birth to a wolf-hearted daughter, and I want to harm his son. How can I survive in this world? Not only will I commit suicide, but I will also destroy my face with acid!"

When Chu Chu heard this, the anger in her heart was about to explode.

In an instant, infinite hatred and anger surged onto Shen Wuque's head.

Shen Wuque, I must defeat you, I must!

The next day!

Zhenhaicheng Pier!

Shen Lingluo personally led the fleet to escort Bi Xiaoxiao and Chu Chu to Piaoling City.

at the same time!

The ships from the Exquisite Castle of Sky Book City also headed south to Piaoling City.

The highly respected Master Jingming also appeared in person to face Shen Wuque and Xie Fan.

This... is actually very strange!

What is the status of a master of craftsmanship? The Shen Gong family simply didn't have the face to let him appear.

The Shen Gong family has no backers in the imperial court or Sky Bookstore.