"You're back at this hour?" Ruan Qingzhi looked at the sky.

It turned out that the three of them only cared about talking, and no one paid attention to the time, and only then did they find that the porch was already dim, and they could barely see people's faces.

Lin Ping hurriedly rushed in and said, "County Lord, the second lady has been setting up a stall on South Street to sell paintings today, and she hasn't seen any special people, and there have been no accidents. ”

Ruan Qingzhi stood up, frowned and asked, "Isn't she cold when she sells paintings on the street?" ”

Lin Ping scratched his scalp and sneered: "It shouldn't be cold, right?" The girl next to her changed her hand stove every once in a while, and even the ink was boiling on the stove. ”

"She's well prepared!" Ruan Qingzhi sneered, "The second lady of the Prime Minister's Mansion sells paintings on the street, there should be a lot of people who watch the excitement, right?" ”

Lin Ping lowered his head and replied yes, and added: "The entrance of Moxiangju is originally the most lively place. The second lady sold a total of two paintings, four characters, and painted a fan for people today. ”

"Amazing!" Ruan Qingzhi exclaimed, "After painting so much in one day, she is not too tired!" - How much silver did she sell? ”

"Seven hundred and fifty taels." Lin Ping said busily.

Ye Han got up and walked over and asked, "What did the people say?" ”

Lin Ping hurriedly bowed to him again and said, "There are all kinds of things to say, most of them are not good words." Some people say that she is pretentious, some people say that she is acting like a man, some people say that she is a fake phoenix and deceives the world and steals her name, and she can only come out to sell miserably and deceive people, and more people say that she is embarrassed by the county lord, and her paintings are not worthy of being used as wrapping paper for the county lord. ”

Ruan Qingzhi's face was gloomy, and he didn't feel happy in his heart.

She looked at Ye Han and asked, "I only earned seven hundred and fifty taels of silver for a whole day of hard work, and I had to endure the cold eyes of the world, be judged by others, and be compared with me, do you think this seems like something Ruan Biyun can bear?" ”

"Not really." Ye Han shook his head, "There must be something strange about this matter." If nothing else, she will continue to paint tomorrow. ”

Ruan Qingzhi nodded, and suddenly frowned again: "Mo Xiangju? I think that place seems to be not far from Ju Ink Studio, right? ”

Lin Ping hurriedly said: "Diagonally opposite the door, it is separated by two or three hundred steps. Today, the shopkeeper Song of Jumo Zhai also went over to see it, and commented that the painting could only be regarded as medium, and the second lady also got up and thanked her, saying that 'medium' was already a very high praise for her. ”

"There is no doubt about it, it must be coming for me." Ruan Qingzhi sneered.

Lin Ping hurriedly proposed: "County Lord, why don't we just lock the second lady at home and don't allow her to go out!" ”

Ruan Qingzhi shook his head: "Let her go." Our two girls have been pampered since childhood, and have never experienced the hardships of people's livelihood, and now she is willing to taste the taste of the north wind, how can I, as a sister, stop it. ”

Lin Ping didn't dare to persuade him to retreat, so Ruan Qingzhi smiled and said: "Although I don't know what tricks she has prepared, I guess public opinion will definitely reverse later." When the matter of 'Miss Ruan Er selling paintings on the street' is known all over the city, it will be when my Qingyang County Lord is ruined. ”

Ye Han smiled and agreed: "It must be so." Miss Ruan Er never does useless work. ”

Ruan Qingzhi couldn't help but laugh when he heard that he was mocking.

Only Luan Yutang was a little worried, and asked urgently: "Since you know that she has a conspiracy, why don't you just trap her in the mansion?" ”

Ruan Qingzhi said with a smile: "Big brother, it's easy to dodge with an open gun, but it's hard to guard against a hidden arrow!" ”

Luan Yutang saw that she seemed to be confident, and she couldn't persuade her for a while. At this time, someone from outside came again, saying that the eldest master of the Luan family was here and was drinking tea in the front hall.

"Uncle? It's coming pretty fast! Ruan Qingzhi was overjoyed and was about to run out immediately.

Ye Han stretched out his hand to hold her, and said with a smile: "Luan Zhongcheng has practiced the world, so he naturally knows that this matter should not be delayed. If he doesn't send someone tonight, I will definitely take Yutang to live in the Golden Chestnut Garden. You remember: no matter what, you can't let Yutang live in the Prime Minister's Mansion. ”

Ruan Qingzhi thought for a moment, and immediately understood: "I know, once you live here, it will be difficult to move out!" When my brother honestly becomes the eldest young master of the Ruan family, my father wants to clean him up, but it's just a matter of words! There are also grandmothers and two aunts, and the resentment accumulated today will inevitably come out in the future. ”

Ye Han nodded, and pushed her out of the door: "You go back and rest, I'll take Yutang to see the Luan family." Otherwise, it will inevitably take a lot more talk. ”

Ruan Qingzhi understood, and without saying more, he stood on tiptoe and pecked Ye Han's chin, turned around and ran.

Luan Yutang's face sank, Ye Han had already raised his hand to wrap his shoulder, and gently instructed: "You are used to seeing people, you must not be afraid of life, and I am not too worried." You only remember one thing: no matter whether others keep it or not, and how to keep it, you only say that you want to go to Luan's house to meet your grandfather, don't say too much. ”

Luan Yutang was already very familiar with human relations, and when he heard the words, he immediately understood the meaning of the night cold, and couldn't help but feel warm in his heart.

Seeing that his face had improved, Ye Han secretly breathed a sigh of relief and was very happy.

Ruan Qingzhi jumped all the way back to Xifang Garden, only to find the old lady sitting there waiting for her.

"Ancestral ...... Grandmother? Ruan Qingzhi was stunned for a moment, "You didn't go to the front hall?" ”

The old lady nodded and motioned for her to sit, and then asked with a smile: "Do you think that the old body should be arguing with the Luan family in the front hall at this moment, and they are not allowed to take my grandson?" ”

Ruan Qingzhi was speechless, so he had to laugh wryly.

The old lady snorted and continued to ask: "You know that the Luan family is here, but you refuse to accompany your brother to see it, are you afraid that the old man will use you to play the family card and make you in a dilemma?" You let King Li accompany you, because you think my wife doesn't dare to confront the prince in person, so you will definitely be able to win, right? ”

Ruan Qingzhi's thoughts were all guessed by her, and she had nothing to answer, so she had to be coquettish: "Grandmother! You're bullying me! ”

"Isn't it just a family to bully each other!" The old lady snorted, "You originally planned to bully me in the front hall, why can't I come to your courtyard to bully you!" ”

Ruan Qingzhi flattened his mouth, very aggrieved.

She felt that this grandmother had gone bad. An old lady at such an age can actually play tricks and bully people, isn't this the same as when she was the queen mother in her previous life!

Originally, it was enough to use identity and status to suppress people, but now with the means of playing tricks, this is to be invincible in the world!

"Grandmother, what the hell are you going to do?" Ruan Qingzhi was worried and asked tentatively.

The old lady beckoned her to sit down beside her, grabbed a handful in her hand, and then let go: "Now that you are old and have an idea, I can't control you." ”

This opening sentence is often followed by a reprimand. Ruan Qingzhi understood when he heard this, and hurriedly lowered his head and waited honestly to listen to the training.

Unexpectedly, the old lady changed her words, but said: "Your father is a bad person, your second uncle and third uncle don't have the same heart with us, and your younger brothers are still young." I've calculated it, sooner or later, the future of the Ruan family will still fall—"

"Grandmother!" Ruan Qingzhi hurriedly said, "I know that you are very happy that my brother is back, you can rest assured, my brother is not trying to leave the Ruan family, but my grandparents want to see him, so I ......"

The old lady raised her hand and interrupted her: "You are wrong. I'm not talking about your brother, I'm talking about you. The future of the Ruan family will ...... sooner or later Or rather, from now on, it's already up to you. ”

"Me?!" Ruan Qingzhi hurriedly waved his hand: "Grandmother, don't laugh, I'm the most unreliable!" It's good if I don't cause trouble, what future can I afford! ”

The old lady looked at her and smiled: "You can't afford it, then I'll go and leave your brother?" ”

Ruan Qingzhi was stunned for a moment, blinking, very innocent.

The old lady will not be deceived by such a stupid appearance. She leaned back in her chair steadily, with a smile on her face: "You can't wait to send your brother out of the Ruan family, it's just because the Ruan family's broken ship is about to sink in a few days, and you don't want him to take this risk." I know your thoughts, so I won't stop you. At this time, your brother should have already sat in the carriage of Luan Mansion. ”

"Grandmother," Ruan Qingzhi frowned, and wanted to pretend to be stupid: "What are you talking about?" How could the Ruan family be a 'broken ship'? My father has always been in the phase, although he has no credit, but he has never done any major wrong, and there will be no major sin, right? ”

The old lady did not answer, but shook her head and looked at her.

Ruan Qingzhi subconsciously wanted to see Mama Zhou's expression, but found that not only Mama Zhou was not there, but even with Yun Banyue was taken out.

The old lady clenched her hand and sighed, "You are a smart boy. I have suffered so much before, and I haven't seen you say a word, and I have been silent for so many years...... Grandmother knows that you are an ambitious person, and you are much stronger than Yun'er in terms of temperament, so she is very relieved to hand over the Ruan family to you. ”

This seems to be a bit of an answer!

Ruan Qingzhi was anxious: "Grandmother, you are relieved, but I am not at ease!" I, the eldest lady of the Ruan family, deserve it well, and I still expect to marry someone in the future, and the Ruan family will back it up for me! Now you're cold enough to tell me that the Ruan family is a broken ship, this- you should always tell me where it is broken, right? ”

The old lady said in a deep voice: "Your father, you can't be trusted. ”

Ruan Qingzhi was silent.

Everyone knows that Ruan Wenzhong is unreliable, and this sentence does not have to be left to this day.

The old lady sat silently on the back of the chair for a long time, and finally sighed again: "...... He's not just mehric and incompetent. He did some bastard things in his early years, and His Majesty has always been helping him carry it. Of course, His Majesty did not do this because he was rare, but because he was forced to do so. ”

Ruan Qingzhi listened quietly, and when she saw that the old lady said this, she stopped talking, and knew in her heart that she didn't plan to elaborate.

But that's enough. Nguyen Thanh Chi was completely convinced that the previous speculations about Nguyen Van Trung were correct.

Moreover, the old lady also knew about it.

In this way, the broken ship of the Prime Minister's Mansion is indeed very unreliable.

Who else knows but the old lady? Is there anything in the palace? Dowager? Empress?

Ruan Qingzhi could already foresee that it would not be far from the secret being revealed.

"Grandmother, what do you want me to do?" Ruan Qingzhi asked tentatively.

"Keep the Ruan family!" The old lady said firmly, "No matter what happens in the future, I want you to do your best to protect the Ruan family!" ”

This request was not unexpected, and Ruan Qingzhi did not feel embarrassed.

Keep the Nguyen family. Ye Han also promised Ruan Wenzhong this way. Once the incident happened, Nguyen Van Trung alone would bear the responsibility for the crime, not the whole clan.

For such a big crime, it is a blessing to be able to save the lives of his family.

Ruan Qingzhi was about to nod in agreement, when he heard the old lady continue: "Your two younger brothers can't study, and they are young, so it shouldn't be difficult to plead for them with your status and status; Your brother just came back, and now he refuses to return to the sect and wants to go to live in the Luan family, so when something happens, he will say that he has given it to the Luan family, as long as he doesn't punish the three clans, it will be his business. ”

Ruan Qingzhi only then knew that the old lady still had such a plan, and she couldn't help but secretly admire it in her heart.

The old lady sighed and rubbed Ruan Qingzhi's hand lovingly: "It's easy for a boy to say anything, if something happens at home, he can live in peace by farming and studying." You girls have to rely on the family, if the home is gone, you will become a willow catkins without roots, and you don't know where to float. ”

"Grandmother, it's not there yet." Ruan Qingzhi comforted.

The old lady smiled, and then she said, "But it's not far away." According to the national law of the Southern Qi Dynasty, the mother family was convicted, and the crime was not as good as that of marrying a daughter. So I've been thinking lately, the sooner you four sisters get married, the better, it's best to make a decision about your family in advance, and go out as soon as you can. ”

It's really a good idea to plan ahead.

When the Ruan family was at its most powerful, the person looking for it would definitely not be bad. If the Ruan family can really survive until the four daughters are married and then fall, then the young masters will retain the hope of making a comeback, and no matter which sister they rely on, it will be better than farming and studying.

However, can Ruan Van Trung's sin be concealed after the marriage of his four daughters?

Once he is convinced, Ruan Qingzhi will not help him hide it, and neither will Yehan.

And in Ruan Qingzhi's view, the sooner the crime is exposed, the better. Not to mention waiting for her three younger sisters to get married, even if she herself is not married by then, she will not help Ruan Wenzhong hide it for one more day because of selfishness.

That's too big.

Ruan Qingzhi didn't want to say this to the old lady, so she only pretended to be puzzled and asked, "So, does grandmother want to find someone to say to her sisters as soon as possible?" But Su Ying Hongyu is still young, even if she gets married as soon as she is married, she will have to wait at least four or five years......"

"So," the old lady became serious and looked at her solemnly, "I hope you will be more attentive and keep the Ruan family safe and sound within five years." ”

Ruan Qingzhi stood up with a sigh.

Not to mention five years, she doesn't want to protect for a year, she doesn't want to protect for a month!

As long as she had any evidence in her hands that could prove that Nguyen Van Trung and the Emperor were involved in that plague, she would immediately make the whole matter public to the world, and she would not wait for a moment!

When the old lady saw Ruan Qingzhi's expression, her face sank: "What, you don't want to?" ”

Ruan Qingzhi hesitated for a moment and sat back in place: "Grandmother, it's not that I don't want to, but this matter is meaningless!" Today you want me to protect the Ruan family for five years, because my youngest sister will not die until five years later; But how do you know that in five years there won't be someone more worthy of your attention? Father is not yet at the age of confusion, he still has to marry a stepfamily, and he has to take concubines, and I will definitely have younger brothers and sisters in the future, do you think it is best to protect the Ruan family for another ten years after five years? When the time comes, my brother should also marry a wife and have children, will you ask me again if I can protect the Ruan family for 20 years because you are worried that your great-grandson will be implicated? ”

Every time she said a word, the old lady's face became ugly. After saying a lot of words, the old lady was completely gloomy: "I asked you to protect the Ruan family, am I harming you?" ”

Ruan Qingzhi stopped his mouth, and he was sullen for a long time before he whispered, "No." ”

The old lady looked at her and sneered: "Yes, I want you to protect the Ruan family for five years today, just so that you will have the opportunity to protect the Ruan family for another ten or twenty years in the future!" What is the reason for your reluctance at the moment? Could it be that you wish that the Ruan family would be raided and beheaded immediately? ”

"Grandmother knows that it is inevitable to raid the house and behead." Ruan Qingzhi gritted his teeth and said.

The old lady's face sank: "What do you know?!" ”

Ruan Qingzhi avoided her gaze and refused to answer directly: "If the Ruan family doesn't have the crime of raiding the house, grandmother won't come to me today." But grandmother, I can't control the affairs of the court, whether my father will be convicted and when he will be convicted, I can't change it alone. All I can say is that after my father is convicted, I will do my best to protect all the innocent people in the Prime Minister's Mansion. ”

"It's not that you can't manage it, you don't want to manage it!" The old lady sneered coldly, "You think you have climbed to the top of the branches, and you naturally don't care about the survival of the Ruan family!" ”

Ruan Qingzhi's face was also a little ugly when he heard this, and he said-for-tat: "Since grandmother said so, I won't worry about it too much." Anyway, I'm on the high branches, what does it matter to me if my brothers and sisters are guilty or not! ”

"You!" The old lady choked on her words, and then sighed helplessly: "Eldest sister, how much hatred do you have with the Ruan family?" Asking you to do something for the Ruan family seems to be trying to harm you! ”

Ruan Qingzhi slowed down his tone and said leisurely: "It's not 'a little thing'. Grandmother, everything has a cause and must have an effect, and you believe in Buddhism. ”

Everything has a cause before it has an effect. Your family has never given Ruan Qingzhi anything, how can you ask me to do my best for you, and do those unconscionable things for you?

The old lady was speechless for a long time, and finally had to sigh: "Eldest sister, you and the Ruan family are one!" ”

Ruan Qingzhi sat steadily, unmoved.

The old lady knew that this was silent resistance, and her face couldn't help but sink again, and she held the bamboo cane in both hands as if she was about to get angry.

At this time, there were a few bangs on the door panel, and Mama Zhou's voice came from outside: "Old lady, His Royal Highness King Li said that the buns brought by Siweiju for the eldest lady are about to be cold, and I asked if I can send them in first, and then talk about it after the eldest lady eats?" ”

This is a very polite question, but the old lady is not stupid.

His Royal Highness King Li is not an errand boy, so there is no reason for him to wait outside. I could have pretended not to know that he was there, but now I can't pretend anymore, and I will definitely invite him in.

"How can you let His Royal Highness King Li wait outside? Please come in! She snorted coldly, suppressing her anger and calling outside.

Ye Han came in immediately, and as soon as he entered the door, he really held a paper bag and put it on the table, and said with a smile: "When I bought it, it was hot, but I didn't expect it to be cold outside, and it was cold when I said it was cold." Would you like to taste it? ”

Ruan Qingzhi smiled and beckoned him to sit down, and then gave way to the old lady, "Grandmother doesn't often eat outside things, does she?" The steamed buns of Siweiju are a must-have in Beijing, you can try them! ”

"That's it!" The old lady stood up with a bamboo cane, "It's not early......

Speaking of this, she turned around again and looked at Ye Han: "Although the marriage has been decided, it has not yet passed the door, and His Highness is better to be more restrained." The sound of my Ruan's door is nothing in your eyes, but there are still three younger sisters under the green branches who have not yet said goodbye, and I ask Your Highness for your mercy. ”

Ye Han got up and responded, with a good attitude, but he didn't mean to be honest and obedient at all.

The old lady was not good at picking people up, so she had to say to Ruan Qingzhi again: "Don't forget, you still have to marry from the Ruan family!" ”

In a word, it is not only to remind her to pay attention to protecting the reputation of her sisters, but also to reiterate once again that protecting the Ruan family is harmless to her.

Ruan Qingzhi had a bun in his mouth, so he had to nod again and again, and agreed vaguely.

The old lady sighed and went out, Ruan Qingzhi immediately swallowed the bun, grabbed Ye Han's sleeve and said, "Grandmother must know what my father did!" She also tried to use family affection to force me to keep the Ruan family! ”

Ye Han nodded: "She is the old lady of the Ruan family, it is normal to have such thoughts." ”

Ruan Qingzhi snorted heavily: "It's okay for others, even Ruan Biyun is counted?" I wish she had died! I listened to my grandmother's intentions as if she wanted me to contribute to their marriage, and I pretended to be confused. ”

Ye Han smiled, reached out and rubbed her hair: "Eat first." ”

Ruan Qingzhi was indeed hungry, so he picked up another steamed bun and ate it with bulging cheeks, and asked again, "Why did you remember to buy steamed buns?" ”

"I didn't go," Ye Han said with a smile, "Cheng Hu went." I've got to have an excuse to knock on the door. ”

Ruan Qingzhi laughed and almost choked.

Ye Han hurriedly patted her on the back, and before she could ask, she hurriedly said, "Luan Yutang has been picked up by the Luan family." I privately instructed them not to have much contact with the Ruan family. ”

Ruan Qingzhi nodded, and asked again, "What are you busy with today?" I haven't seen you for a day! ”

Ye Han sat down opposite her and said calmly, "Ling Xiao wants to retract his confession." ”

The news that Cheng Hu brought back seemed to be true. Speaking from Ye Han's mouth at this moment, Ruan Qingzhi couldn't help frowning: "Is he really playing?" It's so big? ”

Ye Han sneered slightly, and mocked: "It's just a battle of trapped beasts." Today, after a day of trial by the three divisions, he suddenly denied many charges that he had already confessed, and kept saying that I framed him. ”

"And then?" Ruan Qingzhi took a sip of tea and asked urgently.

Ye Han said nonchalantly: "What else?" If the evidence is sufficiently prepared for him, he cannot afford to repay the debt. After a day of arguing today, he didn't get rid of a single crime. ”

Ruan Qingzhi laughed hesitantly, and then felt that something was wrong: "Ling Xiao, doesn't he know that retracting the confession is useless?" Now that the charges are about to be decided, what is he tossing? ”

"I guess I want to delay a little bit," Ye Han smiled, "Don't worry. His charges can't run away, and the people at Dali Temple said they would do their best not to drag the case out until the Chinese New Year. ”