swear not to be concubine

Chapter 106

Mrs. Jian's complexion was ashen, and she looked at Jian Yan with a knife-like gaze, wishing she could be cut into pieces with just such a gaze.

Jian Yan looked at Mrs. Jian without fear.Even the slight smile on her lips is still there, and there is a smile between her eyebrows and eyes, and what is conveyed all over her body is a message like, come and hit me if you have the guts, this girl is not afraid of messages like you, an old witch.

But in the end, after the old witch's eyes turned around the wound on her neck, she finally lost in despair.

Since Jian Yan dared to act and speak in front of her in such a high-profile and fearless manner, she must have given up all the money.If he annoyed her, maybe she would seek death again, or talk nonsense in front of Zhou Yuanzheng, then he would really lose money instead of stealing it.

So Mrs. Jian had no choice but to sit down, took a few deep breaths, barely suppressed the anger in her heart, and then said in a cold voice: "I asked the servant girl to invite the people sent by Mr. Zhou to other places. I went to rest in the house. Since you don't want to live in the other courtyard Mr. Zhou bought, then I will ask Pearl to call them over, so you can tell them yourself."

Jian Yan said with a smile: "My mother was discussing with Zhou Yuan that I should be his concubine, and she didn't say anything to me when she decided to take me away yesterday while I was out. Why do you want me to say such things to those servants and maids now? That’s what I mean, and as for how to tell Zhou Yuanzheng, that’s my mother’s business, I can’t control it.”

After saying that, she stood up from the chair, and said with a smile: "It's been a while since I came out, and I'm tired, so I'm going back to rest. Come back another day to say hello to mother."

After finishing speaking, he turned around and took Bai Wei with him, and wobbled out the door.

Mrs. Jane could only watch helplessly from her anger, and her whole body seemed to be shaking uncontrollably.Then, with a sweep of her arm, she swept all the odds and ends on the Kang table to the ground.

Jian Yan, who just went out with Bai Wei, naturally heard the messy sound of Ding Lang bang in the room, and she knew in her heart that Mrs. Jian was throwing things to vent her anger.

So she couldn't help feeling that she was in a good mood, and she actually had a feeling of elation.

All these years, I have been pretending to be gentle and docile in front of Mrs. Jane, even if she humiliated me again, I have to grit my teeth and suffer silently.But Jian Yan felt that she had endured enough for so many years, so she would definitely come over to add trouble to Mrs. Jian when she was free in the future.

If it's hard for everyone, it's hard for her alone.

At this time, Bai Wei asked worriedly from the side: "Girl, you were so angry with your wife just now, are you really okay? I am afraid that although you are happy now, I am afraid that your wife will trip you up in the future." .”

Jian Yan turned her head to look at her, and said with a smile: "What are you afraid of? I used to be so docile and polite to her, and I only hoped that she would still have a bit of mother-daughter affection for me in her heart, and take care of me a little bit. Naturally, she will abide by filial piety, and be filial and filial to her, but what will happen in the end? Doesn't she still have no compassion, so she promised me to Zhou Yuanzheng as a concubine so easily? Bai Wei, don't worry, she Now I am afraid that I will really seek death, and I am also afraid that I will speak ill of them in front of Zhou Yuanzheng, so I must not dare to annoy me. She still has to beg me, after all, her life's glory and wealth and Her son's official career in this life is in my hands."

While talking, the two went back to Dongkua courtyard.

Jian Yan ordered Jian Yan to close the screen door, put down the latch, and then smiled and wanted to go back to the house with Bai Wei.

However, he had just walked into the courtyard, and before he stepped on the steps, Si Yue had already opened the curtain and ran out from the back room, asking anxiously, "Girl, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, what can I do?" Jian Yan smiled brightly.She took out both Bai Wei's and Si Yue's deeds of prostitution from her sleeve, and said with a smile, "Bai Wei, Si Yue, come in quickly, I have something to tell you."

Si Yue didn't know what Jian Yan was holding, she just turned her head and looked at Bai Wei suspiciously.

However, Bai Wei vaguely guessed something, the expression on her face changed a little, and her lips were tightly pursed.

Jian Yan entered the Ming Room, sat down in the chair, then raised the paper in her hand, smiled at Bai Wei and Si Yue: "This is the contract of prostitution for the two of you, I have already asked my mother for it. "

After finishing speaking, he leaned over and gave each of Bai Wei and Siyue's contracts of sale to them, and then said with a smile: "Okay. Your contracts of sale are in your own hands, and from now on, you will no longer be I am no longer a slave, but a free person."

Along with Jian Yan these days in April, she has also learned some words.At that moment, she lowered her head and carefully looked at the paper in her hand, then she knelt down to Jian Yan with a plop.

"Girl," Si Yue only shed tears of gratitude, "Who are you?"

Although it's just a thin piece of paper, it feels like it weighs over a thousand catties in your hand.

Jian Yan hurriedly motioned for Bai Wei to help Siyue up, and said with a smile: "Why are you crying about such a good thing? Well, wipe off the tears on your face quickly, I still have something to say Woolen cloth."

When Siyue heard the words, she didn't care too much, she just raised her right hand, wiped away the tears on her face with her sleeve, and then said respectfully: "What else is there for you, Miss? Just give me orders."

Jian Yan looked at Bai Wei.

When Bai Wei was in Mrs. Jian's wing listening to Jian Yan asking Mrs. Jian for her and Si Yue's contract of sale, she felt that the girl must have some plans in mind.But now, she can hear Jian Yan saying to her: "New Year's Eve will be in half a month, Bai Wei, I want to arrange your marriage with Brother Zhou before the year. Then you don't have to Waiting by my side, leave here and live your life with Big Brother Zhou."

The guess in her heart really came true, and Bai Wei quickly knelt down.

"Girl," her eyes were red and her voice was a little unsteady, "I don't want to leave you. What's more, the current situation is like this, how can you let the servant go?"

Jian Yan sighed, stood up and bent over to help Bai Wei.

"It's precisely because of the current situation that we can pick out one by one." Seeing that Bai Wei was about to speak again, she hurriedly said, "Listen to me first."

"I thought about it last night. Xu Zhongxuan was right. Although he temporarily rescued me from Zhou Yuanzheng yesterday, how could Zhou Yuanzheng be reconciled? You just saw that Zhou Yuanzheng sent someone here I told my mother to let me live in the other courtyard he set up. Although I have refused this matter now, but according to what Xu Zhongxuan said, the next step is that Zhou Yuanzheng will probably send maids and servants to my side On the surface, it is said to serve me, but in fact it is to monitor me. I'm afraid I can't shirk this. With Zhou Yuanzheng's people by my side, every move of the three of us will be watched by them In my eyes, how will we contact Brother Zhou outside? What if I want Brother Zhou to do something? Who will pass on the message? How will Brother Zhou know? We don’t really pay attention Once you get blacked out, you can't do anything? So I thought, take this opportunity, let you marry Brother Zhou, leave this house, and then if there is anything outside, you can take care of it Look at my name and let me know quietly. Even if I really have something to do and I want you and Brother Zhou to do it, I can also ask Siyue to tell Mother Xia that I just miss you. If you come back to see me, other people will not be suspicious of others."

Bai Wei then asked: "It's just that I married Brother Zhou like this, and then I have frequent contacts with the girl, so Zhou Yuanzheng won't be eyeing me? If I follow the vines and find out that the girl actually carries so much property, then what?" But what can we do?"

This is indeed a problem.

Jian Yan pondered for a while, and then said: "Zhou Yuanzheng has been in a high position for a long time, so he may not pay attention to the affairs of you, a little maid. Besides, he sent someone here mainly to prevent me from looking for death again, or with me. Xu Zhongxuan communicates in private, so he shouldn't care too much about other things. Besides, you have already left this house after all. No matter how powerful the people sent by Zhou Yuanzheng are, they can't reach out, nor can they see Going outside, what can I do to you? Don't forget what I just told my mother, the person you are going to marry is Mother Xia's godson, so why would they be suspicious?"

It's just that she was somewhat uneasy, always afraid that Zhou Yuanzheng would notice something else.So in order to be sure, she said again: "Well, after you get married with Brother Zhou, let Brother Zhou go to Shen Chuo's place, and just say that he has something important to do during this time, and ask Shen Chuo to come out temporarily Take care of Shijin Pavilion."

Zhou Lin was originally a low-key person, so many people in the capital did not know that he was the shopkeeper of Shijin Pavilion.Now as long as Shen Chuo is allowed to take over the Shijin Pavilion temporarily and Zhou Lin is not allowed to come forward, others will generally think that the Shijin Pavilion in the capital is Shen Chuo's property.After all, the Shijin Pavilions in the other seven provinces were all opened by Shen Chuo, and most people knew about it.As for whether the money earned during this period will be less, these things are far more important than making money now, so I don't care about that much for the time being.

Bai Wei nodded.But in the end she was still reluctant to leave Jian Yan, so she cried again: "Girl, if Zhou Yuanzheng sent a servant girl by your side to watch you day and night, but this time the servant girl is not by your side, what will you do? Didn't you just let them rub you round and flatten you, you don't have anyone to talk to, and you don't have anyone who can help you with everything? This servant is really worried."

"I have my own measure," Jian Yan reached out to shake her hand, and patted the back of her hand lightly.Turning back to look at Si Yue, he said with a smile, "Si Yue, although you are a free person now, no one can control you wherever you want to go, but for the time being you have to stay in the Help me from my side. When this matter is over, I will definitely not treat you badly. "

Hearing such words, Si Yue knelt down quickly, and then said seriously: "Miss, this is not right. Although Si Yue is not very old, she also knows the four words of gratitude and repayment. Ever since I was a servant, I have never been punished by you, not to mention, you and Sister Baiwei have always treated me and my relatives the same way. If there is anything delicious, delicious, fun, I will think of my servant, leave a portion for my servant, and teach my servant to recognize Reading books, telling the servants some principles of life, these servants keep it in their hearts. Now that you have encountered such a hurdle, if the servants only care about themselves and leave you, then the servants are really worse than pigs and dogs. "

Speaking of this, she raised the deed of sale in her hand to Jian Yan with both hands, and said: "Please keep this slave's deed of sale. The slave will always be yours." slaves."

Jian Yan reached out and took the contract of sale in her hand.Then only a few chichi sounds were heard, and when Siyue and Bai Wei looked over, they saw that Jian Yan had actually tore up Siyue's contract of sale.

"Si Yue, remember, you will no longer be a slave in the future, you are a free person." Jian Yan held the ball of confetti in her palm to Si Yue, and said, " It is because I want you to stay by my side for the time being, it is also because I need your help now, I am asking you, not ordering you."

Si Yue couldn't tell what kind of feeling she was feeling in her heart at this moment.

In fact, she never thought that she would be freed from slavery this day.Even in the past, sometimes when Jian Yan mentioned that she and Bai Wei would be freed from slavery in the future, she just laughed and didn't take it seriously.The girl's own future is in the hands of the wife. If the mud bodhisattva crosses the river, it is difficult to protect himself, so how can he take care of them?But I don't want the girl to be in such a situation now, and she still took into consideration to ask the wife for her contract of sale, and even tore up the contract of sale in front of her.

From now on, she will no longer be a slave, but a good citizen. When she walks out, her back can be straightened.But the girl's kindness, she must repay, otherwise she is really inferior to pigs and dogs.

Si Yue bowed down deeply to Jian Yan, kowtowed three times, and said solemnly: "Girl, I am willing to stay by your side and serve you all my life."

Jian Yan bent down and reached out to help her up, took her handkerchief and wiped away the moving tears on her face, and then said: "Why are you crying? Why don't you help Sister Baiwei tidy up quickly. Marriage is a It's a lifetime event."

Then she ordered Bai Wei to go to Mother Xia before the people sent by Zhou Yuanzheng arrived, and make an appointment with Zhou Lin, and tell him about it, so that he can prepare as soon as possible stand up.It would be best if Bai Wei could get married in the future.

As the evening approached, the north wind became more and more bitter, and it blew on the face, making it painful like a knife.

Pearl ordered the little maids to take good care of Mrs. Jane, and she took a little maid to the small kitchen in the northwest corner to get dinner for Mrs. Jane and Jian Yan.

When he came back with two food boxes, when he passed the gate of Ning Cui Xuan, he saw Xu Zhongxuan standing under the rain eaves in front of the gate with his hands behind his back.

He was wearing a blue satin robe and a black velvet crane cloak, and he raised his head slightly, as if he was looking at the ginkgo tree planted in front of the courtyard.

Seeing Pearl and the little maid approaching, he glanced at them indifferently, without saying a word, then turned around and went straight into the courtyard.

Seeing this, the little maid moved closer to Pearl, lowered her voice and said, "Sister Pearl, I have heard other maids and servants in Xu's house say that this eldest son is interested in our girl, and it seems to be against us. Our wife revealed that she wanted to take our girl as a concubine, but she didn't expect to be stepped in by that Mr. Zhou. No wonder the eldest son is so indifferent when he sees us. I'm afraid he has some What do you mean by resenting our wife?"

"Don't talk nonsense," Pearl hurriedly scolded her in a low voice, "Be careful and let people listen to what you said, what will it be like then?"

The little maid shrank her neck, not daring to speak anymore.

The two of them carried the food box and walked for a while, when Pearl suddenly bent over and stroked her stomach with her hand, with an extremely uncomfortable expression on her face.

The little maid hurriedly asked, "Sister Pearl, what's wrong with you?"

Pearl shook her head, bit her lip and said: "When I came out, I was greedy. I ate a piece of horseshoe cake and didn't drink any tea. I was just swallowed by the cold wind. I already felt a stomachache. I just thought It’s good to bear it for a while, I don’t want to hurt even more now.”

Yin yelled twice again, and then said: "No, you take the two food boxes back to the wife and the maid in the girl's room. I have to find a place to make it easier. If the wife asks , you just say I’ll come.”

Before the little maid had time to agree, Pearl was already caressing her stomach, and went to a small room on the side that was specially used for people's convenience.

The little maid had no choice but to carry a food box in one hand, and then slowly walked towards the Hexiangyuan.

After a while, Pearl poked her head out from the small room and looked around cautiously.

Seeing that the little maid had gone far away, and there was no sign of anyone beside her, she hurried out of the small room, and then quickly ran in the direction of Ning Cui Xuan.

The courtyard door of Ning Cui Xuan was not closed, so she went straight in.As soon as she entered the courtyard, Xing'er, who was waiting by the side, hurriedly closed the two courtyard doors and dropped the latch.Then she whispered to Pearl, "Young master is waiting for you in the house."

Pearl nodded, and followed Xing'er into the room.

Xu Zhongxuan is sitting in the main seat in the Ming Dynasty.On the Eight Immortals table next to it is a blue and white candlestick with folded branches and flowers, and a bright red candle is lit on it.

When Xing'er pushed open the heavy curtain at the door, the wind came in through the gap, the candlelight swayed from side to side, and the room became quite dark in an instant.

Xu Zhongxuan looked over.

Pearl only felt that Xu Zhongxuan's eyes were deep and cold, as if they couldn't even warm the warm orange candlelight.

Seeing that she had been staring at him without speaking, Xu Zhongxuan's eyes turned cold.

Pearl hurriedly withdrew her gaze, lowered her head, bowed her knees again, and said softly: "Your servant has seen the eldest son."

Xu Zhongxuan hummed, and then asked, "What's going on with Mrs. Jian today?"

Earlier, he asked Qi Sang to ask the concierge, and he knew that there was a foreigner visiting today, and he said by name that he wanted to find Mrs. Jian.So he knew that what he expected was right, Zhou Yuanzheng was indeed impatient, and sent someone over to immediately move Jian Yan out of Xu's house and bring her under his control.

Pearl settled down, and then told Xu Zhongxuan in detail what happened at Mrs. Jian's place today, and finally said: "At that time, my wife said to the servant of Zhou's mansion that our girl forced each other to die. , when she decided not to go to the other courtyard that Mr. Zhou had set up, although the maid's face was not very good-looking, she didn't say anything. Then they left, and the servant didn't know what would happen after this matter. .”

After hearing this, Xu Zhongxuan was speechless for a long time.

Although he instructed Jian Yan to force Mrs. Jian and Zhou Yuanzheng to death at a critical moment yesterday, so as to temporarily break away from Zhou Yuanzheng's control, but this is what Jian Yan said today from Pearl's mouth , he still felt a dull pain in his heart.

What was going through her mind when she said these words?He extremely didn't want her to face any difficulties alone, but now he had no choice but to rush over regardless, hug her in his arms and comfort her softly.

"How is the wound on her neck now?" Different from the cold voice just now, Xu Zhongxuan's voice now is very low and hoarse, and there is also a hint of suppressed distress.

Pearl still didn't look up, she didn't even lift her eyelids.She just lowered her eyes, looking at the peony, rich and cloud-patterned wool blanket on the floor, and replied honestly: "This servant is not sure. It's just that when the servant first saw the wound on the girl's neck, she was very frightened." It was a big jump. My wife was also shocked when she saw it."

Since both Pearl and Mrs. Jane were taken aback, it must mean that the wound still looked hideous.

When Xu Zhongxuan thought of this, he felt a dense pain in the heart in his chest, as if thousands of steel needles were piercing him at the same time.

So he asked again: "What kind of dishes does she have for dinner today?"

"Glutinous rice and lotus root, rose tofu, steamed meat, and a bowl of three delicacies soup."

When Xu Zhongxuan heard this, his long eyebrows were tightly furrowed.

Still too vegetarian.Tomorrow, I have to ask Qing Zhu to tell Mother Xia that she should cook more blood-enriching dishes for Jian Yan these days.

Glancing at Pearl who was still standing there with his head down, Xu Zhongxuan said slowly, "The county magistrate of Longxing Mansion has a letter in the past two days, and he has properly settled your brother's matter. He was acquitted and returned home."

When Pearl heard this, she quickly knelt down on her knees, kowtowed heavily to Xu Zhongxuan, and said gratefully: "Thank you, Eldest Young Master, for your helping hand."

Pearl was sold to Jian Zhai as a slave when she was a teenager.Although she came to Tongzhou with Mrs. Jian at the beginning of the year, there were still my mother and elder brother in the hometown of Longxing Mansion.A month ago, her parents entrusted someone to send a letter, saying that two fields in her family were taken by a bully, and they wanted to take them at a very low price.Her brother was upset, so he took a hoe in his hand and went to argue with the bully.Not wanting to miss, the hoe actually broke the bully's leg.How could the bully be willing to give up?Immediately let the servants tie up her elder brother, escort him to the yamen, and hand out money up and down, saying that he must kill her elder brother before stopping.Her parents are both honest farmers, what kind of connections can she have?Only at home, anxious like ants on a hot pot, running around.Because I later remembered that she came to Tongzhou with Mrs. Jian after all, and she was living in the house of some servant for the time being. In short, she was a very big official, so why not let her ask the servant, as long as the servant can write With a letter, the big thing can be solved.

At that time, when Zhuzhu faced the letter that her parents had entrusted, she struggled for two whole days, but at last she had no choice but to come to beg Xu Zhongxuan while he was resting.

She originally thought that this was just her wishful thinking.Xu Zhongxuan is such a clean and honest person, and she has never had much contact with him before, so how can he be willing to help her with condescension?It's just that Xu Zhongxuan immediately agreed when she said it, and wrote a letter to the magistrate of Longxing Prefecture in front of her, asking Qi Sang to send it immediately.

But nature is conditional.The condition is that if Mrs. Jane has anything to do in the future, she must come over and tell him immediately.

Pearl thought for a while, and then agreed.

Her parents are old, and she only has such an elder brother. If something happens, what should I do?If you can't say it, you can only betray Mrs. Jane.

But now Xu Zhongxuan looked at Pearl who was kneeling on the ground, took out two bank notes from his sleeve and handed them to Xing'er who was standing beside him, motioning for her to hand over to Pearl.

Xing'er reached out to accept it, then walked up to Pearl, and handed the two banknotes to her without saying a word.

"This is 200 taels of silver bills. Whether you use this silver bill to help the family, redeem yourself, or go back to Longxing Mansion to share a family relationship with your parents, you can do whatever you want. If it is not enough, you can go with it again." Let me speak," Xu Zhongxuan's voice sounded unhurriedly at this time, "As long as you do your best for me, I will never treat you badly."

Pearl trembled and took the two bank notes and came over.

As Mrs. Jane's first maid, her monthly allowance is only one tael.The 200 taels of silver was her monthly allowance for sixteen or seventeen years.

So she thought about it, and finally became cruel, knelt down again, and said: "There is one thing, I don't know whether I should tell the eldest son or not."

But if you say this, it will definitely not be a simple matter.

Xu Zhongxuan's eyes narrowed slightly, and for a moment, he felt a frightening feeling all over his body.Even though Pearl's upper body was kneeling on the blanket, she couldn't see his cold face, but she still felt a chill down her back and a chill in her heart for no reason.

"Say." Xu Zhongxuan's voice was suddenly cold, and it was as cold as eating an ice cream in winter.

Pearl couldn't help shaking her body, and then said in a trembling voice: "On the day of the Mid-Autumn Festival, slaves and servants organized a banquet and invited Shen's mother next to his wife to drink. At that time, Shen's mother was a little drunk. , and accidentally missed a few words. Although she tried her best to smooth out the words, the slave girl still listened to the truth."

Speaking of this, Zhuzhu swallowed hard, and then continued: "At that time, the servant listened to Shen's mother's insincerity, as if, as if our girl was not actually our wife's biological child. "

(End of this chapter)