Chapter 211: Ming Gatekeeper
"Mother, how will the Emperor deal with this matter?"
King Jing was waiting for news.
After returning to the harem, Concubine Lu Jing said, "The emperor uses his power for his own benefit, so don't speculate. However, your cousin was at most scolded for this matter."
"My cousin is not the kind of person who is willing to suffer bullying." King Jing was smart and had long discovered that his cousin did not have the same awe for his father as he did for the emperor.
"Could he still turn the tables?" Concubine Lu laughed, "Child, stop imagining nonsense."
"Where is Shou'an?" asked King Jing.
……
It was still that remote place, on the side of an abandoned side hall.
Zhu Shou'an was sitting on the steps, where usually King Jing sat.
"You are a taciturn person. Since you have been bullied, you should find an opportunity to tell your father. You don't know your father's temper. Once he knows about this, he will definitely punish Zhang Jing..."
Prince Yu sat on the side.
"But I'm also afraid of my father." Zhu Shou'an shook her head, "I don't dare to complain to my father."
"What are you afraid of?"
"But Third Brother, you didn't dare to say anything when you were bullied!"
Prince Yu was speechless for a moment, "I am a man."
"What man? You haven't left the palace to build a mansion yet!" Zhu Shou'an made a face, "It's a relief to file a complaint, but the emperor can't keep an eye on us all the time. Those people will become more hidden... and make things difficult for us. You are afraid, and so am I. So I just endure it."
"Ah!" Prince Yu sighed, "Other families may be poor, but at least they have parents to take care of them. We are much better..."
"Don't say that." The little girl looked around warily, and then said to Prince Yu: "Be careful, I complained about Zhang Jing in private at the beginning, and then someone reported me, so Zhang Jing asked me to embroider... I embroidered for half a year, look at my hands, there are still calluses here."
The little girl's hands looked thin, with calluses still on her index finger and thumb.
"You cunning slave!" Prince Yu was angry, then smiled bitterly, "I want to help you, but I don't have the ability. I am ashamed that my brother has reached this state."
"It's already very good." The little girl smiled and said, "I can leave the palace with my third and fourth brothers, and I am even freer at my cousin's house. I like Duoduo and my cousin. And Shitou often brings me some straw-woven things..."
"Third brother."
"Ok!"
The little girl held her chin with both hands and said longingly: "You say, if Zhang Jing can be nicer to me from now on, how great would that be?"
There were footsteps, and Zhu Shou'an quickly jumped up and hid behind. The princess couldn't run around in the palace, or she would be scolded if she was seen.
"Don't be afraid, it's Yang Xi."
It was Yang Xi who came. He said happily, "Your Highness, Madam, Lord Wei has left the West Garden."
Both of them brightened up.
"Has my uncle been punished?"
Yang Xi shook his head, "I don't know, but Lord Chang Wei just sent someone to pass on a message to Concubine Lu..."
……
"Long Wilbur said that if such a cunning servant is still kept, it will be a disaster. Although the crime is not punishable by death, we cannot feed him for nothing and throw him to the laundry place..."
The person who delivered the message was a eunuch.
Concubine Lu was stunned. Although she supported Jiang Qingzhi in this matter, how to deal with Zhang Jing was a matter between her and Emperor Jiajing!
Jiang Qingzhi has overstepped the line.
"What is this, Lord Changwei..." Concubine Lu Jing was puzzled, but Prince Jing's eyes lit up.
"Could it be that Father has made a decision?"
The eunuch nodded, "His Majesty said that he is too busy to do anything, and he also knows that the queen is not in a position to help. But he can't just sit there and watch the servant do evil, so he asked Chang Wei Bo to take care of him."
Concubine Lu covered her forehead with her hands, feeling a little disappointed but also a little secretly happy.
In this way, she and Jiang Qingzhi had a professional relationship.
This is great for the fight for the throne...
King Jing was laughing, a laugh that seemed to be gloating over someone else's misfortune.
"What are you laughing at?" Concubine Lu Jing asked unhappily.
"I'm afraid my third brother will be frowning."
……
When Zhu Shou'an returned to her own place, two strong palace maids were waiting for her. "We are waiting for the Madam."
"This is..." Zhu Shou'an was a little timid.
The female officer in charge said with a smile: "Chang Wei Bo said that this kind of cunning servant has been causing trouble for many years. Although there are other reasons, the root cause is that the lady is too weak. Today, let the lady see how to deal with this cunning servant. Come on, drag that slut out!"
Two palace maids went in and quickly dragged Zhang Jing out.
"Who dares? Let me go! Let me go!"
Zhang Jing yelled and struggled, the female official sneered, "I'll teach you that His Majesty just said that he would let Chang Wei Bo take care of the princes and princesses from now on. Chang Wei Bo is merciful and allows a slave like you to survive after doing evil. However, the death penalty can be spared, but the living punishment cannot be escaped. From now on, you should wash clothes to atone for your sins!"
Washing clothes is the hardest job in the palace. It is not bad in summer, but it is hard work and makes your back and waist sore. When it is cold, such as now, it is really not a job for human beings.
Washing clothes all day long, soaking hands in freezing cold water, frostbite is just the beginning, then arthritis, etc...
That was the concentration camp for criminals.
"No!"
Zhang Jingru was struck by lightning. She looked around in panic and when she saw Zhu Shoumen, she reached out her hand, "Madam, save me, Madam..."
The female official was observing Zhu Shou'an.
The little girl moved her lips, but in the end she said nothing.
Fortunately, he is not that kind of pushy person.
"Madam! Madam, save me..."
The female official bowed, "Slave Li Shu, greets the Madam."
"You are..." Zhu Shou'an was not stupid and felt that the female official's attitude was wrong.
The female official looked up and said, "From now on, I will be the manager here, Madam. Please take care of me, Madam."
Zhu Shou'an looked at the gentle female official and suddenly thought of her gentle cousin.
……
When Prince Yu learned of Jiang Qingzhi's new responsibilities, he was tormented.
He had the same disease as a widower and was ridiculed by Jiang Qingzhi as being lustful.
Finished!
Prince Yu looked at the palace maids in front of him and was extremely sad.
Just when Prince Yu felt that the good days were gone forever, a light rain fell in the capital.
Sun Bu Tong is on his day off today and is going to the city to buy some things for his family.
The treatment at the Bo's Mansion was good, with food, clothing and other expenses all covered, and the monthly salary was also quite generous.
As we walked out of the alley, there were suddenly more pedestrians outside.
It was almost the end of the year, and the country folk would bring some local specialties to sell. With the money they earned, they would buy a few feet of cloth to make new clothes for their wives and children. If there was any money left, they would buy some maltose to make their children and grandchildren happy.
If they could get themselves a pot of wine and half a pound of pork head, it would be a prosperous time for them.
Sun Bu Tong bought a few feet of cloth, some wine his father liked, some cosmetics his mother didn't know whether she liked or not, and a smiling pottery jar for his sister to save money.
Everything was packed in a bag.
Sun Bu Tong's family lived about 20 miles outside the capital, near the foot of a mountain, and their families had been farmers for generations. Both his parents were honest people.
However, recently someone outside said that he wanted to kill Sun Bu Tong. The reason was that Sun Bu Tong met Zhu Hao of Jinyiwei last time, and Zhu Hao was so hurt by what he said that he almost wanted to draw his sword on the spot.
Sun Bu Tong was worried that someone might kill him, so he asked Mo Zhan to accompany him. "You go ahead." Mo Zhan said little.
"I know." Sun Bu Tong said with a smile, "Come to my house and enjoy all the food and wine! I have saved a lot of money in the past few months. Oh! Uncle is so generous. I really did not choose the wrong place..."
Looking at the happy Sun Bu Tong, Mo Zhan thought of his military career.
After arriving in Xuanfu, he wanted to gain fame and fortune with his excellent swordsmanship, but he was suppressed because he refused to flatter and bribe his superiors.
Thinking of this, Mo Zhan’s thick black eyebrows couldn’t help but twitch.
Every time this happened, he wanted to kill someone.
After leaving the city, Sun Bu Tong accelerated and Mo Zhan followed from a distance.
Gradually, there were fewer and fewer people on both sides of the road.
You can see mountains in front of you, and at the foot of the mountains is a village, and Sun Bu Tong’s family is in the village.
The road gradually narrowed. Two men in front were sitting by the roadside to rest. When they heard the sound of horse hooves, they looked up and their eyes under their bamboo hats suddenly lit up.
Two horses on the side.
Two people on the roadside.
Mo Zhan's eyes turned slightly cold, and his right hand pressed on the hilt of the knife.
The two men in bamboo hats stood up, and one of them bowed, "But Mo Zhan?"
Mo Zhan reined in his horse, "What's the matter?"
"Brother, you are good at swordsmanship. Wouldn't it be a waste of your skills to be a guard for others?" The man said with a smile, "My master is willing to provide you with a place to show your skills, money, a house, women... All those things that can only be obtained after success, can be obtained by you right now, brother Mo."
Another man said, "The best swordsman in Xuanfu, do you want to be a slave?"
Mo Zhan was on horseback, looking at the two through the rain, "Jinyiwei!"
"My master is eager for talent!" The man did not answer.
Mo Zhan shook his head, "Sorry."
"Brother Mo, why don't you consider it again?" The man's smile gradually cooled.
"No need." Mo Zhan's thick eyebrows gradually raised.
"Don't refuse a toast... or you'll have to drink the penalty wine!" The two men slowly placed their hands on the hilt of the knife.
In front, Sun Bu Tong turned the corner and didn't see what was happening behind him. Besides, the Jinyiwei wanted to get rid of him, so he didn't worry about Mo Zhan at all.
The horse slowly moved forward...
Two men stood on the left and right sides of the road, their five fingers tightly gripping the hilt of the knife.
The two sides are getting closer.
The horse was stimulated by the evil spirit and suddenly neighed loudly.
Choking!
Choking!
Choking!
The flash of the sword appeared almost simultaneously with the sound of the sword being drawn.
Dangdang Dangdang!
The harsh sound of metal collisions rang out continuously, and sparks flew everywhere.
The blade flashed at high speed, cutting through the rain and fog...
One of the two men fell to the ground, and the other knelt on one knee in the road.
Mo Zhan was sitting on horseback, holding a knife, his thick black eyebrows slowly relaxed.
"Good knife skills!"
The man in the street smiled and said, "You can't escape from the commander..."
Mo Zhan mounted his horse and said, "Tell Lu Bing that I will kill whoever the Lord wants me to kill!"
The horse went away.
The man in the road fell down.
A man slid down from the tree on the rear right side.
He walked up to the two dead bodies, looked at the wounds, picked up the bodies, and went into the city.
"Mo Zhan refused?"
"Yes."
The man said respectfully.
Zhu Hao said dissatisfiedly: "Being a guard at home is better than being proud of being in the Jinyiwei? Is Mo Zhan a fool?"
Zhu Hao asked: "Did anyone see him being killed?"
The man lowered his head.
Zhu Hao was startled, "Failed?"
The man said, "After Mo Zhan refused, he started to attack. In less than ten breaths, our two best fighters were killed by his sword. He seemed to have discovered someone hiding nearby, so he said that he would kill whoever Jiang Qingzhi asked him to kill."
“Damn it!” Zhu Hao’s face turned pale. “Two experts in knife skills were killed in just ten breaths! I still underestimated this Xuanfu’s number one knife master!”
……
The small village far away from the capital is quite quiet.
"Da Lang is back?"
"mother."
Sun Bu Tong entered the house and saw his father sitting in the room. His sister was beside him, offering him some candy. His father pretended to be unhappy...
"Brother!" The sister jumped up when she saw him and then stared at the bundle.
"Are you back?" The father looked calm, but he couldn't help but stand up.
"Yes."
His wife came out with her son to greet him, all smiling.
Mo Zhan came, Sun Bu Tong introduced him, and then Mo Zhan left.
He was not used to this kind of atmosphere and would rather be alone.
Inside, Sun Bu Tong took out the gifts one by one, his son shouted, his sister cheered from time to time, and his mother scolded him for spending money recklessly...
The family gathered together in the evening. His wife cooked his favorite dishes and his mother kept serving him food with a smile on her face.
My father took a sip of wine and said, "Good wine, it's not cheap, right?"
Sun Bu Tong swallowed the food and said, "I have no worries about food and clothing in that uncle's house, but I have nowhere to spend the money every month."
The father drank another sip of wine, and his son came back and learned to be filial to him, which made him feel tipsy.
"You are in the uncle's house..." Mother said worriedly, "After all, you are a guard dog. Doesn't every family in the village have a guard dog? He looks majestic, but behind the scenes, the villagers call him a guard dog!"
"What nonsense are you talking about, old woman?" The father scolded his wife, then softened his tone, "A man should eventually find a way to make a living."
Sun Bu Tong put down his chopsticks, raised his glass to toast his father, and then drank it all in one gulp.
Sun Bu Tong said, "If it weren't for Chang Wei Bo, I would still be hanging around in the capital, just like a beggar. I know the kindness but don't repay it... Then what kind of person would I be?"
"Ah!" sighed the father, "As it should be, as it should be."
The mother hesitated and gave a piece of fat meat to her son.
Sun Bu Tong ate the fat meat and said, "Chang Wei Bo once said that he was also guarding the door."
"Ah! For whom?" Both parents were quite surprised.
"For this Ming Dynasty."
(End of this chapter)
