swear not to be concubine

Chapter 111

Jian Yan tossed and turned all night and couldn't fall asleep. In the end, she simply got up, hugged the quilt and leaned against the railing of the bed, thinking silently.

She never thought that Shen Chuo would like her.After all, even today they only met four times.

She gnawed her thumb, frowned a pair of slender eyebrows, and stared at the faint candlelight on the table in a daze.

Earlier when Shen Chuo said that he liked her, and then asked if she could like him, although she was shocked at the time, she immediately responded and answered him.

No.

She could clearly see that the expression on Shen Chuo's face immediately dimmed.But then he returned to his usual appearance, the corners of his slightly raised lips curled into an arc, and he said with an extremely unbeatable smile, the future is long, and he has a lot of patience to wait for the moment when she likes him.

It's just coming to Japan, so it's a little troublesome.Jian Yan bit her thumb slowly, thinking quite annoyed, what Shen Chuo's words meant was to keep her locked here and not let her go?

She thought about it, got out of bed, and walked barefoot to the window.

The ground dragon was burned in the house, and even if you stepped on the floor with bare feet, you would not feel cold.It's just that when she stretched out her hand to open the window, a gust of cold wind rushed in, which made goosebumps all over her body, almost freezing her into an ice skate hanging under the eaves.

But she still didn't care about the cold, and looked outside carefully.

This is a small courtyard.Now she lives in the main room, with east and west wing rooms, and Shen Chuo lives in the east wing room.Begonias and plantains are planted in the courtyard. In front of the window, there is an exquisite hill made of Taihu Lake stones. The corners of the walls are decorated with green bamboos, which is very quiet.

It's just that there are people guarding the courtyard gate.Although those two people were just servants, there must have been servants guarding them outside.And Shen Chuo is currently living in the east wing...

Jian Yan sighed secretly, stretched out her hand and closed the window again, turned around and silently walked to the side of the bed and climbed up.

Shen Chuo is really too shrewd, I'm afraid that this Zhuangzi has already been guarded by others, and it is too difficult to escape from here.

She put her arms around her knees, rested her head gently on her knees, and began to think about Xu Zhongxuan in her mind.

I don't know what he is doing now?I'm afraid that tomorrow he will know that he didn't return all night, right?Would he think that Zhou Yuan was instigating Biyun and Cui Mama to kidnap her?And when Zhou Yuanzheng came back from his hometown to worship his ancestors and realized that she was gone, would he think that Xu Zhongxuan hid her?At that time, will the two people who are already at war become more unable to tolerate each other?
Originally, she wanted to buy time for Xu Zhongxuan.He thought that after she escaped, he would send someone to secretly explain her whereabouts to Xu Zhongxuan in a few days, so that he should not worry.As for Zhou Yuanzheng, as long as she disappeared, Biyun and Cui's mother would report to Zhou Yuanzheng. At that time, Biyun and Cui's mother would testify that she had escaped by herself, so Zhou Yuanzheng couldn't blame Xu Zhongxuan. .But who knows that Shen Chuo has disrupted all her plans now.

Jian Yan closed her eyes, she couldn't help but hate Shen Chuo in her heart.

He is good at planning.He disposed of both Biyun and Mother Cui in this way, so no one else would know her whereabouts.At that time, Xu Zhongxuan and Zhou Yuanzheng will only think that the other party has kidnapped her or hid her, and they will not be suspicious of him.At that time, when Xu Zhongxuan and Zhou Yuanzheng fought between the snipe and the clam, and ended up hurting each other, he would sit here and reap the benefits of the fisherman.

But in the final analysis, she should hate herself the most.How could she be so stupid?This time, instead of being able to help Xu Zhongxuan, it would even make him worry, and at the same time he would suffer even greater persecution from Zhou Yuanzheng.

Jian Yan could only blame herself and couldn't help reaching out and punching herself several times.

And Shen Chuo's side also quietly closed the window at this time.

In fact, he has been paying attention to the movement of the main house.Although Jian Yan was careful when opening the window and tried not to make a sound, he still noticed it.

Seeing her looking around so cautiously, he knew that she definitely wanted to take the opportunity to escape.

It's just that he has already deployed manpower everywhere in this village, and it is really difficult for her to escape from here.

Seeing her close the window with disappointment and annoyance, Shen Chuo closed the window immediately, walked to the table and sat down, picked up the tea hanger from the tea bucket and poured himself a glass of water.

The warm water slowly slid down his throat, but it still couldn't calm the ripples in his heart.

He didn't expect Jian Yan to reject him so directly and clearly.

When the word "impossible" came out of her mouth, it immediately turned into a sharp dagger and pierced his heart fiercely.

For the first time since he was a child, he felt such frustration and pain.

But he won't let her go.But he also won't force her.The future is long, and he has plenty of time.

When Jian Yan woke up the next day, there was a faint blue color under her eyes.

Si Yue asked her cautiously: "Girl, did you not sleep well?"

Jian Yan pointed at the same blue color under her eyes: "Didn't you also not sleep well?"

April fell silent.

yes.If someone can sleep well under such circumstances, even if he is not a fool, he is probably not far from it.

A servant girl lifted the curtain and came in, bowed her knees to salute Jian Yan, and said respectfully: "Young master invites the girl to have breakfast in the bright room."

Si Yue looked at Jian Yan.Jian Yan was looking at the official kiln sweet white glaze jade pot and spring vase on the dressing table in front of her.

There are two wintersweet flowers in this bottle, the shadows are sparse and the fragrance is floating.

In fact, she was very upset.No matter who it is, being taken away like an object, no matter what you say, you are still imprisoned in such a place regardless of your wishes.No matter how quiet and elegant this Zhuangzi is, and no matter how complete the house is, so what?
Now Jian Yan has a faint impulse in her heart, she wants to reach out to take the bottle in front of her, and then directly pat Shen Chuo's head.

But don't be impulsive.She can use her small temper at will in front of Xu Zhongxuan, but she can't in front of Shen Chuo.

It is impossible for him to tolerate her like Xu Zhongxuan.

Jian Yan then closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths.When he opened his eyes again, there was no restlessness in the eyes, but a clear and bright color instead.

She stood up and followed the maid out of the room.

In the morning, Shen Chuo was already sitting at the table.

Seeing her coming out, he raised his eyes and looked over.

What she was wearing was still the same long double-breasted long jacket and apricot-yellow cotton satin skirt from yesterday.The jewelry on the head has not changed either, it is still just a emerald phoenix spreading its wings and swaying, with a half-moon-shaped gold pendant feet and a flat comb, and two light blue gauze and silk flowers.

Shen Chuo frowned slightly, and asked, "Don't you like those dresses and jewelry in the room?"

She just doesn't want to use what he bought for her?
Jian Yan had already discovered that the closet in the room was full of all kinds of luxurious clothes, and the two rosewood boxes on the dressing table also contained all kinds of jewelry, which must have been prepared by Shen Chuo in advance. OK

But so what?She just doesn't like it.

Jian Yan sat at the table without saying a word, without answering.

The small celadon dishes with flowers on the inside and outside of the table are filled with all kinds of exquisite pastries, many of which she can't name.

A maid came forward and put a bowl of green rice porridge in front of her.She took the chopsticks, lowered her head and began to eat.

Looking over from Shen Chuo, one could see a delicate and fair neck exposed after she lowered her head.There are still a few strands of broken hair on it, hanging softly on it.

Even though she is very indifferent to him now, it still feels good to sit at the same table with her and have breakfast together.

So Shen Chuo began to bow his head and eat breakfast in a happy mood.

When he put down his chopsticks, he saw that Jian Yan on the opposite side had already put down her chopsticks and was looking at him quietly.

"Shen Chuo," seeing that Shen Chuo also finished his breakfast, Jian Yan calmly said, "How about we talk about a deal?"

Shen Chuo leaned over with interest, and asked, "What deal?" "

"I don't need the three-part dividend of the seven Shijin Pavilions in your hands, or I can hand over the Shijin Pavilion in the capital to you. I can even work with you to formulate overseas trade matters, and discuss how to communicate with the world and connect the world. I will tell you everything I know. And there is only one condition..."

"Ask you to leave here?" Shen Chuo raised his eyebrows and asked, "You don't want to be with me like that?"

Jian Yan nodded calmly and indifferently: "Yes."

"Why?" Shen Chuo asked, "Am I not good enough?"

"It has nothing to do with whether you are good enough or not. There are many good enough people in this world, so I can't want to be with them all."

"What about Xu Zhongxuan?" Shen Chuo continued to ask, "Why are you willing to be with him? In fact, a high-ranking person like him is just looking at the wind and the moon on the surface, but how much are you behind the scenes?" Bloody and dirty things that you don’t know about? If you really knew what he did inside, would you still be willing to be with him?”

Jian Yan was only taken aback by what he said.

In fact, she didn't know either.

Seeing that she didn't speak, Shen Chuo went on to say: "I can give you what Xu Zhongxuan can give you. I can even give you what he can't give you. I can give you the talent in your chest." The vast world, instead of you just doing nothing all your life and dying in the inner house of the boudoir."

Jian Yan pursed her lips and said nothing, her eyes flickered.

She really didn't want to just stay in the inner house like this for the rest of her life, confined to that small world.In fact, if she could, she would also like to walk around the north and south of the river.

The world is so big and the scenery around is so beautiful, she really wants to go out and have a look.

Shen Chuo saw that there was wavering on her face, so he took advantage of the victory and said: "If you are willing to be with me, I will naturally not keep you in this place like now. On the contrary, I will With you, I traveled all over the north and south Zhili and the [-] provinces of the Central Plains. We can even go to sea and go to all the other countries you mentioned. But if you want to be with Xu Zhongxuan, Jian Yan, you Think about it, Xu Zhongxuan has the power that he can't give up, how could he take you all over the world like this?"

Jian Yan's two hands on her knees were tightly held together.

I have to admit that Shen Chuo is really good at talking.Every word he said now pointed directly to her heart, just like the letter he asked Bai Wei to forward to her that day.

He would always know what was on her mind, what she was worried about, what she wanted.

Such a person is really terrible.If I listen to him continue like this, I'm afraid that I might follow his train of thought when my brain gets hot.

So Jian Yan stood up without saying a word, turned around and went back to the bedroom.

The corners of Shen Chuo's lips curled up behind him, and there was a smile in his slender phoenix eyes.

Jian Yan was a little shaken by what he said.

This is a good sign.After living like this for a while, Jian Yan will definitely be willing to be with him.

Even if she still had Xu Zhongxuan in her heart at that time, she didn't really accept him, so what?The sky is wide and the clouds are high, the mountains are high and the water is long. He can take her to all the places, and she will always accept him in the end and forget Xu Zhongxuan.

Shen Chuo felt that everything was going in a good direction, so his mood became more and more joyful.

It's just that this happy mood didn't last long, because Shen Jin walked in with his hands down and reported something.

"My lord, our silk and satin shop in the capital was sealed up by people from Wucheng Bingmasi."

The sun is very good today, Shen Chuo had someone move the huanghuali armchairs to the courtyard, spread the white fox chair cushions, and was sitting lazily with his eyes closed, basking in the sun.

Hearing this, he opened his eyes, sat up straight, frowned slightly, and asked, "Didn't we get the money commanded by Ma Siwu, the soldier of the five cities?"

"I have." Shen Jin replied respectfully.

Shen Chuo then asked again: "The reason why the soldiers and horses of the five cities seized our silk and satin shop? Did you say it?"

"It is said that a child went missing during the Lantern Festival last night, and it is suspected that a group of kidnappers did it. Our silk shop was seized. It means that they disappeared near our shop when they followed the trail of the kidnapper last night. They suspected the kidnappers He will take the opportunity to hide in our shop, so we temporarily closed our shop to cooperate with their investigation by the Wucheng Bingma Division."

Shen Chuo sneered twice, this is really an unwarranted charge.

He thought about it, and then said: "I took 500 taels of silver and went to give it to Commander Wu of the Wucheng Bingma Division. I just said that it's a big festival, and I'll treat him to a drink."

Shen Jin agreed to go.It's just that before he walked out of the courtyard, another family member came in in a panic and reported: "My lord, our tea shop in the capital was also sealed up by people from Wucheng Bingmasi."

Shen Chuo asked, the reason for sealing up the tea shop was still that the kidnappers might be hiding in their shop, so for the time being, they sealed it up for investigation and waited until the gangsters were captured.

Shen Chuo's long eyebrows were tightly furrowed.

Obviously, someone was going to punish him on purpose.

So he put on a cold face, and ordered Shen Jin: "Rush to the middle of the capital quickly, collect some money up and down, and find out who is behind the scenes."

Shen Jin agreed to go.And here, from time to time, family members came in to report, or that the antique shop was seized, or that the rice shop was seized.In the end, the Shen family's shop in the capital was about to be sealed up.

It was obvious that someone was going to punish him on purpose.And he suspected that this person was Xu Zhongxuan.Because the chief and deputy commander of the Wucheng Army, Ma Sili, he had already managed it with money, and they took good care of their shop every day, why did it suddenly happen?
If this person is Xu Zhongxuan, could it be because he realized that he had kidnapped Jian Yan?But how did he notice it?Obviously he felt that what he did was impeccable, and Biyun and Cui Mama had taught him how to deal with it. Both Xu Zhongxuan and Zhou Yuanzheng would only think that the other party had kidnapped or hid Jian Yan, so how could they be suspicious of him?

Shen Chuo's thoughts changed sharply, and then he knew where his mistake was.

Bai Wei!Xu Zhongxuan must have controlled Bai Wei, so he knew that he had written a letter to Jian Yan.It's just that he always thought that Bai Wei was a married maid after all, and other people would not suspect her or anything.

If he had known this earlier, he should have disposed of Bai Wei as well.However, Xu Zhongxuan was not misled by him, thinking that Zhou Yuan was instigating Biyun and Cui Mama to take Jian Yan away, but in such a short period of time, he judged that there was someone else who took Jian Yan away. I don't really admire it.

There are still family members who come in and report that a certain shop has been closed down.

Shen Chuo sighed.

Xu Zhongxuan was forcing him to find him.And as long as he takes this step, Xu Zhongxuan will undoubtedly take the initiative, and he can only be passive.

But sometimes businessmen are so helpless.Even though he was able to spread the Shen family's business all over the country, he still couldn't resist the government's torture.

Shen Chuo hesitated in his heart.

And then Shen Jin came back.Shen Chuo inquired carefully before he found out that this time the Censor Xuncheng gave the order directly to the commanders of the five cities, and Commander Wu dared not disobey it at all.

Shen Chuo knew that the patrolling censor in the Metropolitan Procuratorate was surnamed Zheng, and he had just been promoted from the position of Shanxi supervisory censor not long ago.And the person who recommended him was Xu Zhongxuan.

Another boy came in to report that the jade shop had also been sealed up.

So far, all the shops of the Shen family in the capital have been sealed up.

Shen Chuo looked back at the east room of the main house.

Although the window there was closed, the slender figure could still be seen through the window paper.

She was sitting on the wooden kang by the window with her head down, not knowing what she was doing.

Shen Chuo closed his eyes, and opened them a moment later, turned his head and commanded Shen Jin calmly: "Take the carriage, let's go find Xu Zhongxuan."

(End of this chapter)