Uncle from a poor family

Chapter 469 The beauty hidden in the golden house
When Zhang Luan arrived at the gate of the villa given by Li Zisheng inside Chongwenmen, it was already dark.

When he got off the carriage, he saw Chang Shun rubbing his hands and stamping his feet from time to time, and he couldn't help but ask curiously: "What's wrong, are you cold?"

"A little bit."

Chang Shun said, "Every autumn rain brings a chill, and the weather is getting colder."

Zhang Luan frowned and shook his head, "You call this cold? You're not in good health... Wear more clothes next time if you're afraid of the cold."

As soon as Chang Shun heard this, he felt that this master was unreliable.

I thought that you are far inferior to the second young master. In terms of consideration for servants, you are perhaps not even as good as the eldest young master.

You came here in a carriage, which is sheltered from the wind and rain. You look so excited that sweat is appearing on your forehead.

and I?
Not only was we driving in the cold wind up front, but we were also being driven in the drizzle. Could the situation be the same?
However, Chang Shun still quickly followed Zhang Luan to the door. When he was about to go forward to help knock on the door, Zhang Luan had already taken out the key and went to open the door himself.

"Hey, why is it locked?"

Chang Shun asked curiously, "Is there no one living in this house?"

Zhang Luan glared at him and shouted, "Whether someone lives here or not is none of your business. Is there only one door to such a large house? Only I can enter and exit the main gate, don't you understand?"

"Uh...don't be angry."

Chang Shun slapped himself lightly on the mouth and said, "It's all my fault for being too talkative. Sorry, sorry!"

"If you know you're talking too much, you should say less. But Chang Shun, you can't tell anyone where I went today, not even when we're drinking and bragging."

Zhang Luan warned.

"It's natural."

As Chang Shun replied, he looked around the house with curiosity and asked, "Master, do you have any secrets that you want to keep secret?"

"Get out! Go back and take my words with you... Remember to go to the accounting office and withdraw two taels of silver as your hush money." Zhang Luan ordered.

When Chang Shun heard this, his eyes widened and he thought, is there such a good thing?
Then I'll have to go out with you more often in the future, maybe I can earn more hush money.

Since you gave me the money so readily, I will take back my previous negative evaluation of you and reluctantly consider you a good person.

Zhang Luan immediately opened the door and went in.

After everyone went in, Chang Shun poked his head out to take a look and asked, "Master, do you want to bring two guards in? So they can protect you?"

"no need!"

Zhang Luan said, turned around and pushed Chang Shun away, then closed the door, pulled the bolt, and shouted, "If you don't leave now, the two taels of silver will be gone!"

"Let's go, let's go!"

Chang Shun was no fool, he walked down the steps in front of the door lightly.

What could be more practical than going home and getting the money?
……

……

Zhang Luan closed the door, walked around the screen wall, and then admired his new house.

Logically speaking, this house is not his because it is currently registered under Li Zisheng's name, but he can use it in the future. In this way, even if something happens... he can completely shirk responsibility and say that it was Li Zisheng's fault and it has nothing to do with him.

It was because Li Zisheng was too enthusiastic. He said he would host a banquet here to entertain me. How could I know what was inside before I went there?
Besides, the Ming Dynasty only counted bribes in the form of silver. Have you ever seen anyone count bribes in the form of entertaining guests?

Zhang Luan stood next to the rockery in the front yard, feeling a little embarrassed.

There seemed to be some movement inside, but no one came to pay attention to him. He felt like a fool, breaking into someone else's house and not knowing where to go next.

"Greetings to the master."

Just when Zhang Luan was planning to find someone to ask, or even going out to call Chang Shun back to ask him to find Pang Qing to show him the way, a graceful woman walked out from behind the moon gate, came to Zhang Luan and bowed politely.

Zhang Luan took a look and asked in confusion, "Have we met before?"

Just looking at the woman's appearance and figure, Zhang Luan couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

The woman was no more than thirty years old, obviously no longer a young girl. She had the charm of a mature woman. Her loose robe did not look very appropriate, but the belt was very long, which made Zhang Luan want to go forward and pull it.

Her appearance and figure are even more graceful.

The woman smiled and nodded, saying, "Yes, I met you once before at the residence of Li Dongzhu, but I was drunk at that time, and Li Dongzhu had to go somewhere else to have fun, so I didn't have the chance to sit down and drink with you."

Zhang Luan seemed to understand something, nodded slightly, and asked, "Are you from Lizi Province?"

"Yes and no."

The woman said honestly, "It was Master Li who redeemed my status as a lowly concubine. From now on, I can hold my head high and live a decent life."

Zhang Luan then understood why the woman's charm seemed so fascinating.

Because this woman came from a prostituted family, she was best at using her external appearance to attract customers. It was obvious that this woman was the best among that group of people, otherwise why would she be favored by Li Zisheng and be redeemed?
Even though Zhang Luan felt a little disappointed, he still couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing here?"

The woman said, "Master, it was Master Li who said that I would give myself to you, Master... Don't you know?"

Zhang Luan frowned: "What? He gave you to me? Aren't you... a good family? Can you give this to me?"

"Although I have left my family, I am grateful for Master Li's kindness and wanted to serve him for the rest of my life. However, Master Li is devoted to cultivating the Dao and is not interested in women. He said that he would choose a good match for me when the time is right."

The woman explained politely, "Then I gave myself to you, Master... This is why I said before that I am both Li Zisheng's and not his. Now I only belong to you, Master!"

"Oh?"

Zhang Luan didn't quite understand.

I thought, how could a decent girl be sent here and there?

The woman said, "Master, you may be wondering what I can do by staying here. Actually, most of the women in this courtyard are not from brothels. They are very impatient and have never experienced any setbacks in their lives. Before they were convicted, they were even pampered young ladies and noble ladies."

"Uh... so what?"

Zhang Luan became even more confused.

"Master, please come into the room, sit down, have a cup of tea and then we will talk in detail."

The woman respectfully invited Zhang Luan to the small flower hall in the front yard and asked him to sit on the chair.

She stood aside obediently, clasping her hands in front of her, looking very humble. "It is precisely because they are born noble and have never been mentally prepared for welcoming and seeing off guests that they need someone to teach them, someone to discipline them, and someone to punish them. Otherwise...wouldn't everything be a mess?"

Zhang Luan's eyes widened, looking confused: "Ah? Is this necessary?"

The woman was very curious. This father-in-law of the Ming Dynasty, a person praised to the sky by Li Zisheng, whom she admired, could he speak so casually?

Why do they sound and look like idiots who have never seen the world?
In this world, are there any women who are willing to degenerate? Isn't it because they are forced by the situation? If they are not restrained and taught, how can they serve men? If they are gritting their teeth and cursing when they are together, what fun is there?

You really have no idea of ​​the ways of the world!
Although the woman was complaining in her heart, she still smiled and said attentively: "That's right, just like if the master wants to go to the Jiaofangsi, the women there are all carefully taught in advance... If they greet guests as soon as they enter the Jiaofangsi, then both the rules and the attitude are not satisfactory. How can the master who patronizes the place enjoy himself? Then how can the master visit again next time?"

"That's nothing."

Zhang Luan said with a smile, "Why do we need to be so particular about this matter when we are just a couple?"

The woman almost laughed at Zhang Luan's words, but she still forced herself to say, "Then...what if all the women in this yard are trying to commit suicide, or even jumping into a well or hanging themselves?"

"Uh……"

Zhang Luan was speechless for a moment.

"What if someone refuses to obey, or even fights back and offends the master? How should the master deal with it?" the woman continued to ask.

"..."

Zhang Luan remained speechless.

He thought to himself, no wonder Li Zisheng could control me so easily, it turns out he really understands the tricks!

This is not only to give me a woman, but also to teach me a way of life, let me know his importance, and arrange everything around me clearly.

Of course, it was impossible for Li Zisheng to guide him personally, so he specially arranged such a caring female housekeeper.

"What do you call it?"

Zhang Luan asked.

"My father's surname is Qi, and others call me Madam Qi." The woman replied.

"Madam Qi, this is a good name."

Zhang Luan complimented him and asked, "How many days have you been here?"

"Four days."

Qi Niang said, "During the past four days, people have been sent here one after another. Now, in addition to the thirty-six people sent here, there are more than twenty servants serving us, and more than a dozen maids who were temporarily hired to help... They are all responsible for daily cleaning and cooking, and there are also people who go out to buy things.

"Don't worry about the money, Master. Mr. Li has prepared enough money. For the next five years, there will be someone in charge of the expenses here. No men will come in and out of the courtyard. Master is the only one. Please don't host a banquet here, because... it's a taboo."

Zhang Luan asked in surprise: "So many people? Can this yard accommodate them?"

Qi Niang smiled and said, "This courtyard is a rare five-courtyard courtyard in the capital. Although the front is small, the back is very wide, with pavilions, towers, rockeries and lakes. Since the purchase, Mr. Li has never been here... Originally, Mr. Li said that a distinguished person might come, and we must prepare it with the highest standards. But now it seems... the master should be that distinguished person."

Zhang Luan couldn't help but take a breath when he heard that.

I thought, could this be the temporary residence that Li Zisheng had carefully prepared for the late emperor to leave the palace? Otherwise, how could such a large house exist in the capital where every inch of land is worth a lot of money?

As a result, the emperor died in his prime, and this courtyard suddenly became useless, so Li Zisheng directly used it to bribe me?
Zhang Luan asked, "Didn't Minister Li say that the number of prisoners sent here was less than thirty? Why is it thirty-six?"

"That's it."

Qi Niang explained again, "Originally, those who were sent here should be between 15 and 40 years old, with good looks, but this time there are a few people who are not in that range, but were sent here temporarily. Maybe they will be lucky enough to leave in a few days. The rest of the people, except for the few people that the master has chosen to stay, will all be sent away within a few months."

Zhang Luan nodded and sighed: "It is indeed extraordinary... I wonder how many people there are in the Peng family?"

"Fourteen people."

Qi Niang introduced, "Most of the Peng family's married daughters are not included, but the wives who married into the family... were all convicted. However, some of the sons-in-law's families were also implicated in the case, and their families were mostly exiled here."

"It seems that this official's crime is being punished based on his in-law relationship. One person is guilty of the crime, and the whole family is implicated." Zhang Luan nodded in relief and asked again, "Is Mrs. Peng here?"

Qi Niang nodded slightly: "Yes. She is a little older, but it is because of her that Master Li considered sending a few more people... There are some things that I can't say, and you have to make the decision yourself."

Peng Hua is already over fifty, and his wife is also over fifty, while Zhang Luan is only forty-three years old, so he shouldn't have sent this woman over.

But how good is Li Zisheng at getting things done?

It's your problem whether to accept it or not, but it's my fault if I don't send it.

Qi Niang said, "In order to make it easier to manage them, in addition to the eleven people who will be sent away in a few days, there are twenty-five people left. I will assign these women to seven courtyards for placement. There is one courtyard for three people, and another for four people. I did not let them live in the same family as before, but arranged them in different places to prevent them from getting too familiar with each other and doing something improper after consultation."

"What's the point of this?"

Zhang Luan asked tirelessly.

Qi Niang nodded: "In the past, there were criminals sent to the Jiaofang Bureau who were so ashamed and angry when they saw their families that they hanged themselves. Now we have to be prepared for various accidents, but we don't have to disrupt everything, after all, they each know each other's whereabouts.

"I suggest that Master, you don't need to meet too many people at once. Once you have met them one by one, and they have let down their guard and even accepted their fate, then everything will... follow naturally."

(End of this chapter)