swear not to be concubine

Chapter 108

In the dead of night, Jian Yan was reading Shen Chuo's letter to her by the faint candlelight in the room.

Shen Chuo is good at reading people's hearts.So at the beginning of the letter, he first stated that the Zuiyue Tower was his property. He saw that the situation was wrong that day, so he immediately sent his family to seek help from Xu Zhongxuan.This can not only show that he has no malice, but also thinks of Jian Yan wholeheartedly, and secondly, it can make Jian Yan believe what he said next to the greatest extent.

And what he said next were some major events that happened in the DPRK and China recently.

If the business has reached Shen Chuo's level, it is natural that he has to understand the affairs of the court.

According to Shen Chuo, the Southwest Earthquake happened years ago, and King Xingping, the feudal lord guarding the Northwest, was ready to stir up troubles.Some of the ministers of the DPRK and China supported the main battle, and some supported the main and wooing, and they couldn't agree on what to do.And Zhou Yuan was taking this opportunity to write to the emperor, requesting to send a minister to the northwest to appease him.

When Jian Yan saw this, her heart tightened.And sure enough, Shen Chuo immediately said that the minister Zhou Yuanzheng suggested was Xu Zhongxuan, the left servant of the Ministry of Officials.It's just that the proposal was rejected by the emperor, and another minister was sent to the northwest to appease him.But Zhou Yuanzheng did not give up, so he proposed to let Xu Zhongxuan go to the southwest to appease the people.

What Shen Chuo said in the letter was that he guessed that the reason why Zhou Yuanzheng tried everything possible to get Xu Zhongxuan to leave the capital was because Xu Zhongxuan left the capital, and no one could protect Jian Yan, and the most important thing was that as long as Xu Zhongxuan After leaving the capital, he can send people to harm Xu Zhongxuan on the way.Afterwards, he casually made up some unexpected excuses, and at most others would just sigh that Xu Zhongxuan died young, and never thought that someone did something wrong behind it.

Then he said bluntly that although he understood Xu Zhongxuan's eagerness to bring down Zhou Yuanzheng, but Zhou Yuanzheng was cunning and had been in the court for many years, and his power was deeply intertwined, Xu Zhongxuan might find it extremely difficult in the short term.And now Zhou Yuanzheng still has King Ning behind him, but Xu Zhongxuan is a lone minister.If he wanted to overthrow Zhou Yuanzheng, he would have to join King Liang's party.But Shen Chuo also said that according to his understanding, the current emperor has hated crony disputes for a long time, and the reason why Xu Zhongxuan has been promoting Xu Zhongxuan all these years is precisely because he is a lonely minister.What would the emperor think of Xu Zhongxuan if he was caught in a battle between two kings for the heir?At the beginning, the person I was promoting was thinking of using him to fight against other cronies, but in the end this person fell into a quagmire, and I became one of the parties. The emperor would definitely not let Xu Zhongxuan go easily.At that time, with Zhou Yuan on the sidelines constantly talking, I'm afraid Xu Zhongxuan must be in danger.Therefore, for the current plan, there is only one way to save Xu Zhongxuan, and that is Jian Yan to leave here.

Only Jian Yan left, so Zhou Yuanzheng and Xu Zhongxuan had nothing to contend with.As the saying goes, there is no permanent enemy, Zhou Yuanzheng is such a shrewd person, there is no need to continue to fight with Xu Zhongxuan, at least not in a short period of time.And these two, as long as Jian Yan leaves, Xu Zhongxuan doesn't have to join Liang Wang's party just because he is eager to overthrow Zhou Yuanzheng in a short time.He can take his time and still maintain his status as a lone minister and Qingliu. After a few years, he is bound to make some achievements in the six departments. At that time, Zhou Yuanzheng will not be Xu Zhongxuan's opponent when he uses the power of the department to fight against the power of the cabinet. .

In the end, Shen Chuo directly stated that as an outsider, he didn't care whether Xu Zhongxuan was dead or alive.And the reason why he would say this to Jian Yan now is because Jian Yan is his partner.If something happened to Jian Yan, how would he maintain it since there would be no new products in Shijing Pavilion?And the most important thing is that at that time, Jian Yan had shown him a map of the world, and also wrote the eight words "Cargo to the World, Huitong Tianxia" to him, but how should this overseas trade develop to the whole world? But Jian Yan did not tell him the practical method on how to achieve the connection of goods and services in the world.But he wanted to know these methods, so he didn't want anything to happen to Jian Yan.And he also said very sincerely that he felt that with Jian Yan's talents, she should not just exist as a concubine of Zhou Yuanzheng in this life, doing nothing in the boudoir.He felt that she should have a wider world for her to fly.So if she is willing, he will help her get out of this cage and let her go to a wider world to display her talents.

At the end of the letter, he said that he had found out that from the [-]th to the [-]th of the first month of the Shangyuan Festival, officials in the DPRK and China were on holiday.And Zhou Yuan will take advantage of these few days to go back to his hometown to worship his ancestors.If Jian Yan intends to leave, Mo Ruo had better ask her to go to the capital to watch the lanterns on the day of Shangyuan Festival, so as to go out and leave Xu's house. At that time, he will arrange everything by himself, and guarantee that no one will notice, and Jian Yan will be sent safely. Leaving the capital, no one will notice it anymore.

After Jian Yan finished reading the letter, she put the two thin pages of letter paper next to the candlelight.

The flames rolled up in an instant.In the light of the fire, Jian Yan's face can be seen to be calm.

She quietly watched the two pages of letter paper in her hand turn into black ashes and fell onto the kang table inch by inch. The flames gradually weakened until they were completely burnt out, and only after there was no more light did they turn around and go to bed to rest.

In fact, she has also thought about the things Shen Chuo said in her letter these days.

She also knows how difficult Xu Zhongxuan is now, and she also knows that staying here will hinder Xu Zhongxuan.She also thought about leaving and finding a safe place to hide for a while, so that at least Xu Zhongxuan could buy some time, instead of rushing to bring down Zhou Yuanzheng before April.

It was at this time that Shen Chuo had such a letter.

Originally, Jian Yan didn't trust Shen Chuo much, thinking that he was too clever and tactful.But now, she seemed to have no other choice but to trust him.And Shen Chuo said it so bluntly, the reason why he was willing to help her had nothing to do with Xu Zhongxuan or her, it was just for his own sake.Because he felt that Jian Yan would be of great help to his Shen family's business, and he was also eager to know how many other countries overseas trade could reach, and how to truly connect the world with goods.

This is really normal for a businessman, especially an ambitious businessman, to think this way.That's why Shen Chuo is willing to help her leave. This is a win-win situation.

Shen Chuo's magnanimity can dispel Jian Yan's distrust of him.So Jian Yan had to admire him.

He really knows how to read people's minds.He directly stated that he had been kind to her before, and couldn't bear to see her fall into Zhou Yuanzheng's hands. Then he analyzed the major affairs in the court, pointed out that Xu Zhongxuan was in a difficult situation, and then said how to save Xu Zhongxuan. In the end, he was afraid that she would suspect him, so he simply It is to reveal that his purpose of doing this is actually for his own sake.

After reading such a letter, it is really hard not to follow his train of thought.

The snow fell silently overnight.

The next day is the fourteenth day of the first lunar month.After Jian Yan finished her lunch, she asked Si Yue to invite Xu Miaojin over to talk.

Although the snow outside had stopped, the wind was getting stronger and stronger, blowing on the person, almost like blowing him into a popsicle.

After Xu Miaojin entered the Dongji room, Jian Yan hurriedly greeted her to sit on the big kang by the window.Then he ordered Siyue to bring the foot stove and put it under Xu Miaojin's feet to keep her warm.

Xu Miaojin saw that Jian Yan was holding a small embroidery stretcher in her hand, on which were embroidered with orchids and flying butterflies on a dark green satin surface.

She twisted the thin embroidery needle between her fingers, and the apricot yellow silk thread was slowly stretched.In a short while, the pistil of the orchid was embroidered, followed by the emerald green and slender leaves, and two dancing butterflies.

Xu Miaojin held the teacup that Biyun brought up in her hand, and turned her head to see her embroidering orchids and butterflies on the embroidery frame with her head down, and asked, "Sister Yan, what are you doing embroidering this?"

Jian Yan raised her head and smiled at her: "I want to make a sachet."

Such a dark green sachet, presumably she used it herself, right?While Xu Miaojin was drinking the tea in the teacup silently, she was thinking in her heart, it seems that this sachet should be made for the elder brother.

After Jian Yan embroidered for a while, she stretched out her hand and carefully smoothed out the creases on the satin, and then she lowered her head and began to embroider one stitch at a time.

While slowly chatting with Xu Miaojin.

Xu Miaojin knew that she wanted to ask about Xu Zhongxuan's situation. After thinking about it, she said vaguely: "Brother seems to be very busy recently, and he didn't come back much even during the holidays. He was just in Beijing. I also haven't been there for quite a while. Nice to see him."

There was a pause for the hand twisting the embroidery needle, and then Jian Yan asked in a shivering voice: "He's been here recently, is everything okay?"

How can it be good?At that time, Zhou Yuan was doing everything possible to use the reason of the Southwest Earthquake to get his eldest brother to leave the capital and go to the Southwest. In the end, his eldest brother really had no choice but to make himself seriously ill as an excuse.

And how did he get himself seriously ill?According to Qi Sang, first there were a few braziers that were flourishing in the room, and the young master was sitting inside covered with a thick quilt, sweating profusely.Then he soaked for a long time naked in the bathtub filled with ice water.First it's hot, then it's cold, how can you not get seriously ill if you go back and forth several times?So in the end, all the imperial physicians from the Imperial Medical Office came over in person and confirmed that he was indeed suffering from severe typhoid fever, and it was not suitable for him to go out for the time being, so Zhou Yuanzheng had nothing to say.

And that's why Xu Zhongxuan didn't come back during the holiday.I'm afraid he is still lying on the bed now, how can he come back?

Xu Miaojin sighed secretly, but the eldest brother strictly forbids her to talk to Jian Yan about such things.

The eldest brother is always afraid that Jian Yan will worry about him.

At this time, Jian Yan has embroidered all the petals of the last orchid.So she took apart the embroidered frame, took the scissors, and started making the sachet with her head down.

The sachets made are gourd-like.On the dark green silk and satin, there are noble orchids and butterflies fluttering.

Jian Yan stretched out her hand to smooth out a tiny wrinkle on the sachet, then raised her head and ordered Si Yue to bring over the lotus leaf koi picture she embroidered a few days ago.

Si Yue agreed, and a moment later, she held the folded lotus leaf koi picture in front of Xu Miaojin with both hands.

Jian Yan reached out and handed over the gourd-shaped sachet she was holding, with a slight smile on her face, and said: "This is what I promised you a few days ago to embroider for you." The screen and the sachet. Since you are here today, I will hand them over to you to take back, so I won’t have to make the servant girl make a special trip.”

Biyun had been standing by the side with her arms down, and Cui's mother might be bending over to listen to the corner somewhere, so she couldn't say too much about some things.

Xu Miaojin also understood, so she didn't say anything more at the moment, but asked Qingzhu to take the sachet and the lotus leaf koi picture, and said with a smile: "Then I would like to thank sister Yan."

The two chatted for a while, and seeing that it was getting dark, Xu Miaojin got up and said goodbye.

Jian Yan didn't keep her either, she just got up and shook her hand, and said in a low voice: "You guys have to take good care of yourselves, so that I can rest assured."

You, of course, have Xu Zhongxuan.

Xu Miaojin nodded, took Jian Yan's hand back, and replied solemnly: "Sister Yan, I understand."

Jian Yan didn't say anything more, but ordered Biyun to send Xu Miaojin and her maid out on her behalf.

After Biyun came back, Jian Yan ordered her again: "Please go to my mother's place with Cui Mama, just say that I am really tired of staying in this house these days. I said that there will be beautiful fireworks in the capital, and I intend to take you for a walk and have a look, so I want you to tell her."

Biyun agreed to go with Cui's mother.Here, Jian Yan whispered to Si Yue that she was leaving tomorrow, and told her not to leave her side at any time tomorrow.

Si Yue was only taken aback, and was about to say something, but in the end she still didn't say anything, she just asked in a low voice: "Do you want me to pack something and take it with you?"

Jian Yan shook her head, with a sense of melancholy and loneliness in her tone: "You don't need to bring anything. Just the two of us, we left here cleanly."

On the day of Bai Wei's marriage, she took the opportunity to take away all the bank notes and silver accumulated over these years.

Under the current situation, the people sent by Zhou Yuanzheng are always by his side. It is always safer to keep those banknotes and money by Bai Wei's side than by his own.And when they got outside, Bai Wei would naturally find an opportunity to join them.

Although Shen Chuo said that he would help her leave the capital, she didn't want to follow Shen Chuo to arrange where she was in the future.Who knows what kind of person Shen Chuo is?Who knows what his real intention is in doing this?She just needs Shen Chuo to help her leave the capital, and then she will naturally have places she wants to go.

On the night of Shangyuan in the capital, the lights and candles are brilliant.Tourists and ladies come and go like weaving, and there are endless lively and prosperous scenes.

Jian Yan took Si Yue and walked slowly among the crowd, behind them Biyun and Cui's mother followed suit without missing a step.

Jian Yan also ignored the two of them, she would stop when she encountered a fun stall and buy some novelty and exquisite gadgets.

So in a short time, she held a hydrangea lantern in her hand, and a lotus lantern in Siyue's hand, with many small gadgets in her arms.

I saw that there were masks selling at the stall in front of me.Jian Yan stepped forward, and after picking and choosing for a while, she chose two masks.Then, after signaling to April to pay, she raised her hand and put one of the masks on April's face, while she put on the other one.

At that time, there were many people wearing masks on the street, coming and going, and it was hard to tell who was who.

At this time, Biyun came forward, stood in front of Jian Yan, and said with a serious face: "There are many people here, and there are all kinds of religions and schools. If the girl accidentally wanders away, the consequences will be disastrous. Please also ask the girl to take off her face." mask."

Although she looked respectful on her face, her tone of voice was not respectful, on the contrary, there was a sense of order in it.

Jian Yan looked up at Biyun.Biyun didn't look away, but still looked at her calmly.

The corners of the lips under the mask raised slightly.

These days, Jian Yan has always felt that although Cui's mother is impulsive, such a person is actually easy to deal with.But this Biyun, who keeps silent all day, can't tell what's going on in his heart, this is the most difficult thing to handle.

And sure enough, Cui's mother was already a little dizzy after being led by her and Si Yue to walk back and forth in the crowd tonight.But this Biyun followed her very calmly from the beginning to the end, never taking his eyes off her.Now seeing her wearing this mask on her face, she stepped forward and said such a sentence.

So Jian Yan quickly took off the mask on her face, and then simply handed the mask to Biyun, and said with a smile: "Okay. Then I won't wear it. I will reward you."

Biyun took the mask and bowed down to thank him.

Jian Yan also ignored her, and instead dragged Si Yue to continue walking around.

There is a food stall in the alley on the right hand side in front, selling food like crystal kueh, sweet-scented osmanthus lotus root and rose yuanxiao.Seeing Jianyan, she pulled Siyue over, ordered a few bowls, and invited Siyue, Biyun and Cui's mother to eat together.

After walking for so long, Mother Cui was also hungry, thanked Jian Yan, and then planned to sit at the table to eat.But Biyun stopped her sharply: "Mother Cui."

Jian Yan smiled and said: "Why, you are afraid that I will collude with the owner of this food stall, sprinkle medicinal powder in these food, stun you, and then take the opportunity to escape, right?"

"Miss, you were joking," Biyun said with a calm face, and her voice was even calmer, "I just think that you are the master and we are servants, so why should I sit with you?"

Jian Yan smiled, and then ignored her, just sat at the table with Si Yue, waiting for the boss to serve them food, and while eating, gossiping and laughing constantly.

When Cui's mother saw her, she cast a sidelong glance at Biyun, and there was a hint of blaming her in her eyes.

The girl and the little maid ate so deliciously together, but the two of them stood here drinking the cold wind.Why be so cautious?It's just a weak woman, so can you really be afraid that she will run away?But where can he go?
Biyun ignored Cui's mother, but carefully looked at the people at the food stall.

The boss is naturally busy back and forth, and the woman helping him should be his wife.In addition, there are customers sitting at three tables.

Just glanced over, these guests were all burying their heads in eating the food in front of them, and none of them even took a look at Jian Yan.And judging by the clothes these people are wearing, they are just ordinary people.

So Biyun relaxed his mind a little, and then turned his eyes away, only staring at Jian Yan intently.

While she was looking at the people beside the food stall, Jian Yan was also quietly looking at these people from the corner of her eyes.

Then he saw Shen Jin.

She met Shen Jin twice, once in Jade Emperor Temple and once in Shijin Pavilion.And in the Jade Emperor Temple, Shen Jin clamped Bai Wei's throat like that, so no matter how ugly he was, he would not take a second look when he was thrown in the crowd, but Jian Yan still recognized him .

Shen Jin is now wearing a green cotton padded robe that is old and not old, as if he doesn't recognize Jian Yan, he just hangs his head and concentrates on eating the rose-stuffed Lantern Festival in front of him.After he had finished eating, he called the boss over, paid the money, turned around and walked out of the alley.When passing by Jian Yan's side, he kept his eyes on.

But Jian Yan was slightly relieved in her heart.

During this trip tonight, she didn't see Shen Chuo at all, she didn't know why, and then she suddenly saw Shen Jin here.

Presumably Shen Jin will definitely tell Shen Chuo about her presence now.

So after Jian Yan and Si Yue finished the food in front of them, they also called the boss over and paid the money.Immediately, she lifted the hydrangea lamp that had been placed on the table earlier, took Si Yue's hand, and said softly, "Let's go."

After leaving the alley, Shen Jin could be seen standing among the crowd.

Seemingly aware of Jian Yan and the others coming out, Shen Jin raised his feet and walked forward.Seeing Jian Yan, she also walked forward behind him.

After walking for a while like this, there were fewer and fewer people around.After arriving, I could only see the surrounding bleak trees, but not a single person.

Biyun's heart suddenly became alert, and hurriedly stepped forward to stop Jian Yan, and said in a low voice: "Please turn back, girl."

Jian Yan looked up at her with some displeasure.

But Biyun insisted: "It's night, the girl should go back."

Jian Yan pursed her lips, and Si Yue beside her was holding her arm tightly at this moment, with her round eyes open, her body trembling a little.

And at this moment, two people turned out from the shadow on the side.

The first person wore a purple brocade robe with a round collar and a jade-colored wind-blown wool satin cloak.With a handsome face and a chic figure, it was Shen Chuo.Behind him is Shen Jin.

"Miss Jane," his voice was clear and bright, with a hint of a smile inside, "Long time no see."

Jian Yan was silent.Because she didn't know which play Shen Chuo was singing.

So simple and easy to show up in front of Biyun and Cui's mother?Why, isn't he afraid that Biyun and Cui's mother will identify him in the future?Or, he felt that Biyun and Cui's mother had no way to identify him at all?That is to say, he didn't intend to let Biyun and Cui's mother live at all.

Jian Yan's heart sank slightly.

But Biyun turned around abruptly, and then stood in front of Jian Yan, asking cautiously: "Who are you?"

Shen Chuo looked her up and down, and then sneered, "You're overthinking yourself. You deserve to ask me who I am?"

Then he waved to Shen Jin behind him.

What happened next made Jian Yan dizzy.

She knew that Shen Jin should have kung fu, after all, when he was at the Jade Emperor Temple that day, he saw his moves like lightning, and his body changed extremely quickly.But she didn't know that Biyun also had kung fu.

The fight between these two people is really dazzling.

And obviously, Shen Chuo didn't bring Shen Jin alone.Because then a dozen or so people appeared in the shadow on the side.Cui's mother was very vulnerable and her arm was twisted by a person.She was about to scream, but before the sound came out, the man slashed her neck fiercely with a knife, so she immediately went limp like a puddle of mud.

At this time, Shen Jin also restrained Biyun, and slashed down fiercely with the same knife, and Biyun soon lost consciousness.

Jane Yan: ...

I thought it would be a very complicated thing, but in the end it was done so simply and violently.

At this moment, Shen Chuo walked towards her slowly.

At that time, the moonlight was like water, and the ground was as bright as stagnant water, clear and bright.

In a trance, Shen Chuo came here under the moonlight.

He stood still in front of Jian Yan, bowed his head, the corners of his lips were slightly raised, and the water in his pair of phoenix eyes gleamed.

"Jian Yan," the smile in his voice was obvious, his eyes were slightly bright, as if all the stars and moons of this night were reflected in his eyes, "You are startled."

Jian Yan felt that something was wrong.But she didn't make a sound for the time being, she just looked at the dozen or so people standing beside her with their hands down, as well as the unconscious Biyun and Cui's mother, and asked, "What are you doing?"

Shen Chuo chuckled, and said in a somewhat rambling way: "Shrimps have their way of shrimp, and crabs have their way of crabs. The struggle between Zhou Yuanzheng and Xu Zhongxuan's literati will only be resolved in the court struggle, but I have my own way." way."

Then he raised his chin slightly, motioning Jian Yan to look at those people beside him, with a look of contempt slightly appearing in his expression: "Ms. Shen is not talented, and I still have some friendship with some friends in the world."

Jian Yan's heart sank a little.

For some reason, she suddenly had the feeling that she had just stepped out of the tiger's mouth and into the wolf's den.

(End of this chapter)