swear not to be concubine

Chapter 141

Jian Yan didn't treat Aunt Wan well from the beginning.

She ordered two servants to gag Aunt Wan's mouth with a cloth ball, and after carrying her all the way back to the Tongxiang Courtyard, she was locked in the house directly, and she was not allowed to step out.

Then Jian Yan asked Ting Feng to move an armchair under the eaves of the corridor, and she leaned over and sat in the chair, and then ordered all the maids and servants in Tongxiang Courtyard to come out.

Although Aunt Wan is just an aunt, but because the eldest daughter has become King Ning's concubine, and she has been in charge of the Duke's family for more than ten years, there are about twenty servants in Tongxiang Courtyard. The battle is really not small.

Kneeling at the head is Mrs. Liu.

Jian Yan had been checked early in the morning, and she knew that Aunt Liu was served by Aunt Wan's side when she was in Uncle Ningyuan's residence, not to mention how long she had been with Aunt Wan, she had always been her confidant.Thoughtful and flexible, many things Aunt Wan does are her ideas.

So Jian Yan had already arranged everything, and today she just waited for this sister-in-law Liu to spit it out properly.

The midsummer sun is fierce and intense, and it looks like it is about to peel off a layer of skin when it shines on people.

Jian Yan didn't speak, just sat under the eaves of the corridor, beside Siyue, Tingtong, Tingfeng and several servants.

Not to mention the stoutness of these servants, they all held boards that were about four fingers wide in their hands, and it was frightening to look at them.

And these days, everyone has more or less heard the things that this delicate third girl has done. With such a timid maid, this meeting is already frightening and trembling.

Yue Mo felt that it was almost time for them to kneel, so Jian Yan stood up while holding the armrest of the armchair.

She pinched a piece of light blue gauze in her hand, walked back and forth slowly, then looked at the twenty or so servant girls kneeling in the courtyard, and said in an unhurried voice: "I think you must I’ve also heard that, when I’m interrogating people, I don’t like to talk nonsense, and I don’t like to play dirty things. I just like to go straight to the board. If you don’t say anything after getting on the board, then keep beating until you get hit. I don’t have a piece of good skin on my body anymore, so let’s just let it go. Naturally, if there is someone who is so happy, I will answer whatever I ask, and instead of embarrassing her, I will reward her.”

Having said that, she waved her hand.The servants with boards in their hands took two steps forward and stood still.

Jian Yan signaled Si Yue again with her eyes, and Si Yue ordered two maidservants to carry out a rosewood Eight Immortals table from the open room behind her, and then with great difficulty picked up a table at her feet. Picking up the cloth bag, he dumped all the contents on the table.

But when they heard a jingle, everyone felt their eyes light up.

But seeing that the money poured out of the cloth pocket was all white silver, which rolled all over the table with a clatter.There were also a few ingots of silver that rolled down from the table to the ground, and then rolled all the way to the courtyard. Reflecting the noon sun, those ingots of silver became more and more bright, almost blinding people's eyes.

At this time, Jian Yan sat down in the chair slowly, leaning on the back of the chair, and asked slowly: "Whether you want boards or silver, you can choose for yourself."

On the left stood a few ferocious and stout servants with boards in their hands, but on the right hand there was a pile of bright silver on the table, the maid kneeling in the courtyard, you looked at me, I looked at you for a while, then A servant girl boldly opened her mouth and asked: "I don't know what the third girl wants to ask the servants? The servants will definitely answer honestly."

Jian Yan smiled slightly.

"It's nothing. You are all serving Aunt Wan, so you must know something about Aunt Wan. Today, if you can tell about a wrong thing Aunt Wan did behind her back, you can get a piece of money." Money. Of course, the more you talk, the more you get. It’s just one thing, if the person in front has already said a wrong thing that Aunt Wan did, and if the person behind says the same thing again, it’s not worth counting. There is no money. Take it."

Doesn't this mean that the person who speaks first gets more money?Because the people in front told all the wrong things that Aunt Wan has done in these years, wouldn't the people behind have nothing to say, and no money to take?
The servant girl kneeling in the courtyard was still undecided at first, not knowing whether she should speak or not.But when he was dazzled by the white silver, he just felt, what can't be said?Over the past few years, Aunt Wan has not treated them very well, so she beat and scolded them in the operation department, and often used various reasons to defraud them of their monthly schedule.

And these money, they have to work for several years to earn it.

So for a moment all the maids rushed forward to tell Aunt Wan about the wrong things she had done these years, and almost wanted to fight.

Jian Yan was not in a hurry, she casually ordered a maid first, and asked her to come forward and talk.

The maid walked forward on her knees, first kowtowed to Jian Yan, and then talked about how Aunt Wan secretly withheld their maids and servants' monthly allowances all these years in charge of the house.He also talked about the flowers and trees in the garden, such as the roses and wintersweet flowers, when they bloom, people will take them out and sell them.Even the new bamboo shoots in the garden in spring are dug up and sold.As for the money that was sold, it naturally fell into the hands of Aunt Wan, and did not go into the public.

In April, someone had already carried a piece of paper and placed it under the eaves of the corridor, and took paper, ink, brush and inkstone and put it on the desk.After hearing what the maid said, she wrote down the words one by one on the paper.

Ever since she said she wanted to know how to read, Jian Yan taught her very hard, so now Si Yue has learned a lot of characters, and she is also good at writing Zanhua Xiaokai.

And after the maid finished talking about the two crimes committed by Aunt Wan, Jian Yan asked the maid to go to Si Yue.

This maid couldn't read, so Jian Yan didn't ask her to sign, but only asked her to press a fingerprint.

Immediately, she asked Ting Feng to take two pieces of silver to the maid, and at the same time nodded to her with a smile, and said: "That's a good point. You deserve it, so just take it."

The maid was overjoyed, knelt down and kowtowed to Jian Yan, and then retreated with a smile on her face holding the silver in her hands.

After that, these maids rushed to talk about Aunt Wan's crimes, and finally even the big maid Caizhu and others who were serving Aunt Wan were relieved.

So Jian Yan knew how Aunt Wan had been in arrears with the servants of the Duke's Mansion all these years without paying the monthly bills, and instead used it to lend usury, and how she had secretly colluded with the buyers in the Duke's Mansion, She reported low prices and high profits, and how she intervened in the property of the farm and shop in the Duke's mansion. A lot of money was collected, and how she set up farms and shops outside for herself and her children.In the end, Jian Yan even knew the exact location of the farm and the shop.

Jian Yan laughed after hearing this.

This Aunt Wan really fell into Qian's eyes, and even Yan Guo had to pull out a few hairs.

In the end, all the maids kneeling in the courtyard either signed their names or pressed their fingerprints, and then they all took the money and went back.

So for a while, Mrs. Liu was the only one kneeling in the courtyard.

After all, it was midsummer, and it was noon again, and Mrs. Liu, who was only basking in the scorching sun, was dizzy all over, and she was covered in sweat as if she had just been fished out of the water.

Jian Yan looked at Aunt Liu, but didn't make a sound.

Since Sister-in-law Liu has followed Aunt Wan for the longest time and is also Aunt Wan's confidant, I am afraid that Auntie Wan has many secret things that she dare not tell outsiders, but Sister-in-law Liu knows about them, and there are many things that she is afraid of. participated in it.

Such a person, no matter if he used a board or silver, he might not be able to pry her open.

She and Aunt Wan have long been in a relationship where both are prosperous and both are prosperous.If Aunt Wan was pulled out, she would definitely not be able to escape, so she had to grit her teeth tightly and not let go.

However, Jian Yan was not satisfied with the crimes committed by Aunt Wan just mentioned by the maids in Tongxiang Courtyard.

There is nothing that can shock Li Yi if you take it out.So this sister-in-law Liu's mouth, she is bound to pry it open.

"Sister-in-law Liu," Jian Yan thought for a while, and then slowly asked her, "What do you have to say about Aunt Wan?"

"Your maidservant has nothing to say." Even though she was a little dizzy from the scorching sun, Mrs. Liu's back was still quite straight.

If she hadn't known that Sister-in-law Liu and Aunt Wan had worked hand in hand and done so many bad things together over the years, Jian Yan would have admired Sister-in-law Liu's loyalty in protecting her lord.

But it's a pity that she has a heart of stone now, and she has long since ceased to know what it means to be compassionate.

She felt sympathy for others. When her mother and her younger brother were neglected for so many years, who ever felt sympathy for them when her mother was forced to commit suicide?

So when Jian Yan heard the words, she didn't ask any more questions, but just winked at Ting Feng.

Listening to Feng's understanding, he waved to the servant woman standing at the gate of the courtyard.

So soon, several servants came over with a young woman and a boy in their arms.

Seeing Mrs. Liu kneeling in the courtyard, the two rushed forward together to call their mother.

As soon as Mrs. Liu saw the two of them, her expression changed.

But the young woman and the boy were her daughter and her son.

The daughter is already married, and she is married to a steward of the farm of Zheng Guogong's mansion.The son was born weak and unable to do heavy work, but he randomly found a leisurely job in Zheng Guogong's mansion to make a name for himself.

Everyone has weaknesses.Aunt Liu was afraid that after she confessed what Aunt Wan had done, she herself would not end well, because she was also involved in many things.But now seeing his daughter and son...

She turned her head to look at Jian Yan, her eyes flickering slightly.

Jian Yan is going to use her daughter and son to coerce her.

Jian Yan is not afraid of her gaze.

She just leisurely played with a flounder jade pendant hanging on her belt, and then slowly said to Aunt Liu: "I know your son is weak and can't do heavy work. But I also know that he is a young man He likes to read, and he also has knowledge in his belly. But what if he is more knowledgeable? He is a slave and cannot take the imperial examination."

Aunt Liu's gaze darkened.

Her son loved reading since he was born.When I was young, I was a book boy next to Li Jing, and I followed Li Jing to school every day.That Li Jing has an impetuous temper and can't read well, but her son is serving Li Jing and listening to the teacher's lecture.He was smart, he knew everything, and later on Li Jing did a lot of homework for him.The teacher who gave the lecture didn't know it at first, but he only praised Li Jing for his good learning. Later, when he found out that her son was doing it for him, he shook his head and sighed, saying that it's a pity that he is a slave and can't take the imperial examination, otherwise he would have won the honor and glory of his ancestors.

Naturally, she also hopes that her son will be able to obtain fame and glory in the family, so in these years, she has been more and more dedicated to helping Aunt Wan, and she also thinks that one day she can ask for Aunt Wan's grace to free her son from slavery Citizenship, and then you can go to the imperial examination.It's just that Aunt Wan is just an aunt after all, and she has no control over these things...

Thinking of this, Aunt Liu's gaze darkened even more.

At this time, Jian Yan's voice was heard saying: "I can let your son and your daughter be freed from slavery right now, and from now on, their descendants will no longer be slaves."

Aunt Liu was taken aback, and couldn't help but looked up at Jian Yan.

Jian Yan looked serious, and said slowly: "I am a person who is right about things and not about people. I have already sent people to investigate your daughter and your son. Both of them are pure people and have never done anything wrong. A little bit of bad things, so of course I will not do anything to them. I will also take them off their slavery and let them do what they want freely. But sister-in-law Liu, I know a lot about you, you In these years, I have helped Aunt Wan to be a pawn for a tiger, and I have done a lot of things that hurt my mother and my brother, so you should have the punishment you deserve, but you cannot escape this."

Sister-in-law Liu originally thought that Jian Yan pulled her daughter and son out to coerce her and beat them in front of her face, but she never expected that she would take the initiative to propose to her daughter and her son in the end. The son was released from slavery.

As long as her son is freed from slavery, he will be able to take part in the imperial examination.If her son can get the fame, then her descendants will also be officials, and they will no longer have to be slaves or handmaids for others, and live in the face of others.

Aunt Liu only felt that her heart began to boil.

Compared with this, what is Aunt Wan?What is it if you are punished yourself?So what is there to hesitate about?

Aunt Liu leaned down and kowtowed to Jian Yan: "Your servant must tell you everything you know."

And what Aunt Liu said next really shocked Jian Yan.

She did not expect that Aunt Wan was actually involved in the unfortunate disappearance of herself when she was born.

According to Mrs. Liu, the remnants of Prince Duan blocked the way for Ningyuan uncle's family to go to the capital. Although there were many guards in the palace, how could they be against those who had bloodthirsty on the battlefield?Soon they were defeated, and they could only protect Nie Qingniang and others and run on the official road.At that time, Nie Qingniang had already given birth to herself prematurely, and she was carried by the wet nurse.Among the chaotic army, the wet nurse hugged her and ran wildly all the way, already seeing that she was about to get into the carriage.

But the person sitting in that carriage was not Nie Qingniang, but Aunt Wan.

Aunt Wan saw the wet nurse climbed into the car, she kicked the wet nurse down immediately, and then ordered the driver to drive away quickly.As for the coachman, he was also killed by random arrows, so no one except Aunt Wan and Aunt Liu knew about it.

Then there is Li Xin, Li Xin's temperament was not as timid as it is now.It's just that Aunt Wan wanted to get rid of Li Xin early in the morning, so when Li Xin was young, she bribed the servant girl who served Li Xin, and played ghosts to scare him at night.In the summer, he caught a poisonous snake and put it in his room. Li Xin was frightened by this and became seriously ill for two months. Although he did not die, his temper became timid.Fortunately, Nie Qingniang later moved Li Xin to live in Ya'an Juli, otherwise Li Xin would be killed by Aunt Wan sooner or later.

There are also Aunt Jin and Aunt Zhen, both of whom had conceived children at first, but Aunt Wan managed to make them both abort.It was because they were afraid that the two of them would give birth to a boy, which would threaten Li Jing's status.

These few things are much more shocking than the monthly deduction, low price and high report.

Afterwards Aunt Liu also pressed her fingerprints, and Jian Yan returned the contract of prostitution of her two children in front of her.

Mrs. Liu and her two sons and daughters kowtowed to thank them.Jian Yan sent someone to send Aunt Liu's two children out. As for Aunt Liu, her hands were not clean these years, so she still deserved the punishment she deserved.

Then Jian Yan took the stack of papers on which Aunt Wan's crimes were recorded, lifted the curtain and went into the inner room.

Aunt Wan was sitting on the kang with her hands cut behind her back. To prevent her from screaming, a cloth towel was stuffed in her mouth, and there were two maids guarding her.

She is sitting here, the window next to her is open, she can see the outside very clearly, and she can also hear the voices outside very clearly, so now she knows that everything she has done these years is nothing Jian Yan knew everything about it.

And if she knew it, the Duke of the State would surely know it soon.

Li Jing is still in prison, Li Nianyi is afraid that he will never be able to return to the Duke's residence, Li Nianlan still doesn't know what he is like, as for himself...

Aunt Wan closed her eyes, thinking sadly in her heart, it's over.She has worked so hard to plan and manage for so many years, but in the end, everything is over.

She couldn't help but began to resent Jian Yan in her heart.

If it wasn't for her appearance, Nie Qingniang is dead now, and Li Xin is just like a small quail, who can be squeezed casually and die, then Li Jing will be the heir of the Duke's Mansion, and will inherit the entire Duke Zheng's Mansion in the future .If King Ning succeeds in the future and Li Nianyi becomes a noble concubine, her son will be the eldest son of a concubine, maybe he will be established as the crown prince.At that time, there will be a brother who will be Zheng Guogong and a sister who will be a concubine and empress. Li Nianlan will naturally be able to marry a wealthy family, and she herself will be extremely honorable.

But now these are all gone.Jian Yan actually started to plan secretly early in the morning, and then just like this, they brought down all their wives one by one.

But Jian Yan looked at Aunt Shangwan's venomous gaze, but she felt even colder in her heart.

If it wasn't for Aunt Wan's kick back then, neither he nor Nie Qingniang would have suffered so many years, nor would they have had to be separated from their mother and daughter for so many years.

And she dared to plot Li Xin secretly like that.If it weren't for Li Xin's fate, he would be a dead bone now.

Their mother, daughter, mother and son should have been happily together without the pain of the past ten years, but because of Aunt Wan, now Qingniang Nie committed suicide, and their mother, daughter, mother and son will always be separated from each other. scene.

Jian Yan stared at Aunt Wan coldly, then suddenly put the paper in her hand on the kang table, and then ordered loudly: "Bring the whip."

She originally wanted to take this stack of papers and talk to Aunt Wan about her crimes over the years, but when she saw Aunt Wan's face, Jian Yan felt that she didn't want to say anything.

Why do you say that?Will she seriously repent after telling her?Even if she confessed seriously, would it be useful?In exchange for Nie Qingniang and Li Xin, would he have suffered all these years?
Simply take the whip and forget it.

This time Jian Yan did not pretend to be someone else.

The riding whip made of raw cowhide core is hard and straight, even though it is covered with a layer of soft cooked dog skin, it still hurts extremely when it is whipped on the body.

What's more, now that Jian Yan is in a rage, every time she whips down, there are really bloodstains on the whip.

Aunt Wan was in pain and wanted to struggle, but her hands were cut behind her back.I wanted to scream, but my mouth was tightly blocked by a ball of cloth.In the end, she could only curl up on the ground and keep rolling back and forth.

Jian Yan still gritted her teeth tightly, and lashed at her with a whip.

She never knew she could have such a tyrannical side.These days, she never dared to think that she turned out to be such a scheming person who used to use various methods to torture others.

In fact, she was a little afraid of herself, but she still whipped on Aunt Wan's body.Later, her eyes were red, and she seemed to be insane.

Bai Wei and Si Yue cried and went forward to snatch the whip from her hand, knelt down in front of her, and cried: "Girl, you can't ruin yourself because of these low, low people."

These days, Jian Yan's changes are seen in their eyes and anxious in their hearts.

They have followed Jian Yan for so many years, and they know that although she is not a submissive character, she has never been such a tyrannical person as she is now.

Jian Yan was a little dazed by the two of them crying.After she came back to her senses, she saw blood stains all over the green brick floor, and Aunt Wan who was lying on the ground was covered in bloody welts.Moreover, her face was pale and pale, and she could only breathe out, not in.

Could it be that she beat Aunt Wan to death just like that?
If that's the case, then it's really an advantage to her, Jian Yan thought viciously in her heart.But then she began to feel dazed again.

Her hands began to tremble uncontrollably, and she walked aimlessly towards the door.

"I want to see Xu Zhongxuan," she murmured, "I want to see Xu Zhongxuan."

At this moment, she really wanted to bury her head in Xu Zhongxuan's arms, smell the faint fragrance of Ganan wood on his body, and then cry heartily.

(End of this chapter)