Bend Over [ 折腰 ] - Chapter 77

[Chapter 76]

In the afternoon of the next day, when Beiwu came back, Xiao Qiao changed into half-new, light onion-colored clothes, removed her hairpin rings, dressed as if she was from an ordinary family, and wore a face-covering lily. Accompanied by Chunniang Lin Yu, Take the carriage to the Yuefu Inn in the city. Lin Ni was waiting in the carriage. Bringing Chunniang inside, he asked the court waiter about the gentleman who had settled down a few days ago.

The waiter said: “Master Zonglang is still here. And three or five friends came to visit today, and asked to set up a banquet in the open space in the back hall. I’m about to go over there to add wine.”

Chunniang gave the porter ten big money: “I’m an old acquaintance with him. , I’m looking for him to do something. I’ll take the wine for you on the way.” The

waiter saw that the lady wearing a gauze hat was not well dressed, but the servant girl who followed, stood out and looked more dignified than the mistress of ordinary people’s homes. , and have money, how could he refuse to agree.

Xiao Qiao came to the back hall according to the instructions of the court waiter.

This Yuefu Inn is also well-known in the city. In order to add elegance, a small courtyard was built in the back hall, and a few yellow trough bamboos were planted. Although it is late autumn and the weather is getting colder, this yellow trough bamboo is cold-resistant, with yellow leaves and green leaves, rustling in the wind, and it has a bit of Jiangnan charm.

Xiao Qiao walked along a corridor to the back hall, and heard faint laughter coming from the wind. When he got closer, he saw four or five men feasting on the ground beside a clump of bamboo, sitting or lying down, all twenty. The age of the upper and lower, the oldest among them, is only twenty-five or six, and their postures are all arrogant. I heard a slightly older man sitting in the north side smiling: “I was attached to the Linqing county magistrate and served as his disciple. One day, a warehouse supervisor thief Cao came to pay tribute to the magistrate early in the morning. Yunji had a dream last night. I dreamed of making the king become rich, and I came here to report it. The county magistrate was very happy at first, and the reward was great, but the next day, he suddenly became furious and ordered the staff to

blame this person. Do you know why?” When he couldn’t figure it out, he suddenly heard a woman’s voice behind him saying, “The duty of the warehouse supervisor, Cao, should be to arrest the thieves at night. He went to sleep and dreamed. He should be blamed for such a dereliction of duty. I don’t know what I guess, right?”

The number of people sitting on the ground was startled for a while, suddenly felt reasonable, suddenly laughed, turned around, and saw the woman who had just spoken in the open space not far away. She wears a power loquat on her head, her face is covered with silk gauze, and she is accompanied by a middle-aged servant girl behind her. I don’t know where it came from, and several people couldn’t help looking at each other.

One of the men in green shirts, who was about the same age as Wei Shao, stood tall, wore a long sword on his waist, and had a refined appearance. He was Zong Ji. She turned around and recognized Chunniang, got up from the ground, adjusted her clothes, and went to meet her.

Chunniang nodded to him with a smile, called out “Lang Junan”, and handed over a pot of wine.

When Xiao Qiao saw Zong Ji’s eyes falling on her, she looked puzzled, and said: “It’s very rude to visit rashly. The day before yesterday, I was very grateful to pass the book thousands of miles. I passed by today, and I came to express my thanks. If there is any interruption, Looking at Haihan.” As soon as

Zong Ji heard her speak, he knew her identity, it should be the lady in the Wei residence. Startled, he hurriedly greeted her. When the rest of his friends saw this, they knew that the woman should be visiting on business. At this point, the banquet was almost finished, and they all got up and left. Passing by Xiao Qiao’s side, although she could not see her face clearly because of the power cladding, she could still vaguely recognize that she was a young and beautiful woman under the thin silk. Smart and very curious, he couldn’t help but glance at it.

When Zong Ji sent his friends out, several people joked, saying that he had only been in Yuyang for a few days, when did he get to know such an outstanding beauty, hide it and not report it, and he will be punished for drinking next time.

Since Zong Ji had already guessed the identity of the woman, how dare he blaspheme, hurriedly denied it, and quickly sent his friends away and returned. When he arrived at Xiao Qiao, he respectfully said, “I don’t know if the lady came here in person, but it would be a loss to welcome me. But there is something useful for me? But yes, despite your orders.”

He was rescued by Bi She that day and swore to repay. Listening to the Bishe couple talking about this Queen of Yan Hou, they are very respectful. It seems that they had been kind to them, and they also regarded her as a benefactor in their hearts. Xin knew that in her capacity, if there was nothing else, she would not come here to see herself in person, so she said so.

Xiao Qiao asked Chunniang to avoid first, and then said: “My elder sister specifically mentioned the step in the letter. The cloud has a lot of friends and is a trustworthy person. So I came here rashly. To be honest, I really want to ask for the step. .”

Saying that, he lifted the Milo cover to reveal his face, Xiang Zongji smiled slightly, and nodded.

Zong Ji’s eyes fell on her face, his eyes fixed slightly, and then he reacted. He didn’t dare to look at her eyes again, and only said: “Meng Nujun praised me. As long as there is something wrong, the lady can give me orders. Zong Ji’s liver and brain are on the ground, in order to repay the benefactor for saving him that day!”

…

Xiao Qiao came out of the Yuefu Inn and continued to meditate on the way back to the house.

Last night, Huang Yu secretly reported Jiang Yu’s sneaking whereabouts, which made Xiao Qiao’s nervous nerves tense again.

In the previous life, Mrs. Xu’s accidental death, Da Qiao, Mrs. Zhu, Jiang Li who was next to Mrs. Zhu, and Mrs. Li surnamed Xianghou who appeared in her sight for the first time…

So many people, it seems that they should be able to wear clothes. one line.

Jiang Li is Zhu’s confidant, Zhu is the mistress of Wei’s house, and the Mrs. Li surnamed Xianghou is a noblewoman in Yuyang City. If the two met in the past, it would make sense for Zhu to send Jiang Li to the door now.

But Xiao Qiao’s intuition told her that things would not be so simple.

Judging from Huang Yu’s description last night, it is still impossible to judge whether Jiang Yu quietly went to the house of Mrs. Li’s Township Hou’s house, whether it was dispatched by Zhu’s family, or whether she acted without the knowledge of Zhu’s family.

Just when Mrs. Xu was sick and Wei Shao was away from home again, it was doubtful that Jiang Hao did such a sneaky thing.

But in the middle, it seemed like something was missing, so she couldn’t connect the relationships of these people reasonably.

And that Mrs. Li surnamed Xianghou, who is the holy place?

She has been coming to Yuyang for nearly a year. The lady of Yuyang, Xiao Qiao has seen most of them.

She has a good memory. She will never forget the people she has met, even if it is only once.

But this Mrs. Xianghou, Xiao Qiao is sure, she has never come to the Wei residence.

Because of her widowed status, it was reasonable to live in seclusion.

But now, since she broke into his sight in this way at this moment, Xiao Qiao didn’t plan to let it go.

So she personally found that Zongji and asked him to help her to keep a close eye on this Mrs. Xianghou, and she couldn’t let go of her every move.

In fact, Xiao Qiao now also has a servant who can send errands. But this matter is special, and ordinary people may find it difficult to make a name for it. That Zongji was different. Da Qiao described in the letter that he was a ranger.

Rangers have been a special social group since the Spring and Autumn Period. Emphasis on righteousness over profit, promises a thousand dollars, and even repays his confidant with death.

If this ranger Zongji is willing to help, it will definitely be better than if she leaves things to ordinary people.

But this kind of river and lake ranger is difficult to buy with money. Looking at what Da Qiao said in the letter, this Zong Ji also seems to be quite loyal. He wanted to rely on his relationship with Bi She Da Qiao to ask him for help.

Originally, she was a little apprehensive, fearing that it would be too hasty to come to the door like this.

Unexpectedly, Zong Ji agreed immediately, and it was not reluctance to see his attitude.

This made Xiao Qiao finally feel a little relieved.

She couldn’t help but turn her attention to the medicine Madam Xu was taking.

She had thought repeatedly before that, assuming that everything was the same as in the previous life, and Madam Xu, who was recovering, suddenly died of a serious illness, then the most likely possibility was that the decoction she was eating was manipulated.

So after she was sure that Guo Li, who was in charge of decoction in Beiwu, was fine, she repeatedly instructed her to ensure that every decoction would be watched from beginning to end and could not take a step away.

I thought it was almost there. Now because of this accident, Xiao Qiao is even more nervous.

As soon as she returned to the Wei residence, she instructed Chunniang to leave her alone, and then went to decoct with that Guo Concubine before Madam Xu recovered and stopped taking the medicine.

Chunniang was a little inexplicable. But the woman’s emotions these days have also infected her. I didn’t ask any further questions, I immediately responded.

“When it comes to decoction, you can go over and stay in front of the stove for an excuse to make sure the soup is clean. You don’t need to let people know that I sent you to watch it on purpose.”

Xiao Qiao thought for a while, and then ordered again.

…

After Chunniang left, Xiao Qiao pondered for a long time and decided to go to the East House.

After what happened to Wei Yan a few days ago, Madam Zhu kept herself locked in the East Room for the rest of the time except for seeing Wei Shao off a few days ago, and she didn’t want Xiao Qiao to ask her hello.

Xiao Qiao hasn’t seen her for a few days.

She wanted to test it out to see if Jiang Li went quietly to Mrs. Xianghou’s house. She knew whether she knew.

Xiao Qiao arrived at the east room and waited for a long while, but she didn’t even see Jiang Hao’s face. A servant girl came out and told her to go back, saying that the lady was missing.

Xiao Qiao had no choice but to give up her thoughts.

…

She actually thought about it, and simply leaked the news that someone might want to be detrimental to Mrs. Xu to Zhong Li, and asked her to help prevent it.

But after thinking it over and over again, I still can’t make up my mind.

If you tell Zhong Li, Zhong Li will definitely ask the reason and the object of suspicion.

What would you say then?

After all, so far, everything is just his own doubts, or rather, chasing shadows.

Her biggest suspect is Zhu Shi. Because only Zhu has the motive and the possibility to attack.

But this is no small matter. Zhu Shi was the mistress of the Wei family and Wei Shao’s mother. She suspected that she was going to kill Mrs. Xu without any basis and reason, so she was mad at the light, and alienated her in front of Mrs. Xu. If it was serious, it was treason and ulterior motives.

No matter in terms of human relations or common sense, without conclusive evidence, it is impossible for her to casually reveal some rumors.

So what she can do now is to do everything she can to prevent it in the future.

that is it.

…

Chunniang went to the North House. Xiao Qiao summoned Lin Ni and asked her to inquire about the details of the Mrs. Li surnamed Xianghou. The more detailed the better.

Lin Nuo has been in the Wei Mansion for many years. She is a native of Yuyang, and she is also smart. It would be more appropriate to ask her about this kind of local family.

Lin Li complied and left in a hurry. In the evening of the next day, Xiao Qiao returned to the Westinghouse from Mrs. Xu, and as soon as she entered, she was greeted by Lin Li. Knowing that she should have news, after entering the room and closing the door, she asked, “How? What can I find out?”

Lin Li said, “Hui Nu Jun, the lady of the township lost her husband a year ago, so she returned to keep her filial piety. Yuyang’s ancestral home. I used to live in Luoyang for a long time. After I came back, I lived in a secluded place, and I have a good reputation. I only know that there is a young son in the family. I really can’t find out the rest.

”

Luoyang…

At the first moment, a name popped into her mind: Su Ehuang.

Could it be that Emperor Su E and Mrs. Xianghou knew each other, and then met Jiang Yu through Mrs. Xianghou?

But Jiang Li was Zhu’s confidant, and Zhu’s obviously hated Su Ehuang.

What else is there that she doesn’t know?

What’s more, Su Ehuang has now left Yuyang, which she can be sure of. Because she had heard Zhong Li tell Madam Xu that the people in the post house personally took her out of the city twenty miles away.

Unless she turned back at the risk of angering Mrs. Xu, and stayed at the home of Mrs. Xianghou.

Could it be that…

Jiang Li is actually from Su Ehuang?

Xiao Qiao was taken aback by the thought that suddenly occurred to him.

If this is true, then a link in the unconnected line that has been bothering me these days will be completed.

Mrs. Xu, Mrs. Zhu, Jiang Yu, Emperor Su E…

That is to say, besides the Zhu family, there is now another Su Ehuang.

Although she was not in the Wei House, if Jiang Li was hers, it was not that she had no chance to attack Madam Xu.

Mrs. Zhu had the motive to resent Mrs. Xu. Emperor Su E seems to have it too.

Xiao Qiao felt his heart skip a beat, and his palms were sweating.

…

This night, Mrs. Zhu, Emperor Su E, Jiang Yu, face after face, like a revolving lantern, kept appearing in her mind. She slept all night. Early the next morning, with a dark circle under his eyes, he got up, packed up and was about to head to the North House. Chunniang came in and quietly told Xiao Qiao that there was news from Mr. Zonglang early in the morning, asking the lady to go to the inn again. There is something to tell the lady.

Xiao Qiao was shocked, knowing what he should have heard, and hurriedly changed his clothes, took Chunniang and Lin Ni as before, and hurried to the inn.

In the inn, Zong Ji was already waiting.

[End of This Chapter]