In the backyard of an inconspicuous needlework shop in the capital, Ye Qiong was sitting alone on the edge of a simple stone table drinking tea.

After a while, the curtain of the backyard was lifted by the cuckoo, and a person came out from behind the cuckoo, walked in front of Ye Qiong, solemnly saluted Ye Qiong, and said, "Man'er has seen the girl." ”

Ye Qiong casually pointed to the seat opposite him and said, "Just sit down." ”

Man'er glanced at Ye Qiong, not as fearful as an ordinary slave, but lifted the hem of her skirt and sat down opposite Ye Qiong in a regular manner, behaving like a maid who had sold herself, but like a young lady from a well-behaved family.

Ye Qiong smiled lightly at Man'er, knowing in her heart that Man'er dared to show her true self in front of her, that is, she had already regarded Ye Qiong as her own person.

Man'er's move was to tell Ye Qiong that even if the situation in the second room of the Ye family is changing now, she is still on Ye Qiong's side.

Ye Qiong didn't let Du Juan interfere, but poured a cup of tea for Man'er herself. Pushed it in front of Man'er and said, "The tea I brought from the Ye family, it was the flower tea brewed by my mother, can you taste it?" ”

Man'er really took a sip, her expression darkened, and after a while, she smiled and said, "The third wife's craftsmanship is really good." ”

Ye Qiong chuckled lightly, and suddenly said, "How is it compared to your mother's craftsmanship?" ”

Man'er was not surprised, but said with a smile: "The last time we met in the fourth master's mansion, because Xiaoman was there, the girl didn't talk thoroughly. Now, the girl is going to use me, so she will get straight to the point with me? ”

Ye Qiong bowed her head, and her words became more sincere: "I know your life experience, you are actually not from a simple and honest family, your father is Zhengbapin County, although the official position is not high, but you are also the daughter of an official family." Your biological mother is a Jiangnan person, originally the daughter of a merchant who sold flower tea for a living, and married your father by chance. ”

Speaking of this, Ye Qiong's eyes couldn't help but be sympathetic, and she continued: "Your parents originally lived a life of raising their eyebrows, until your father became an official, and he felt that the wife of the chaff was yellow, and began to take concubines from the family in one room. Your mother died of depression, and your father married the daughter of Shangguan after a year's watch. The stepmother is arrogant, and she turned around and sold you and your sister, the daughter of the original match, to Renyazi, right? ”

Man'er's eyes were full of hatred and sarcasm, and she said angrily: "Miss Qiong, do you know what I envy you the most? I envy your parents for being truly in love, and for being harmonious. My mother is a bad wife, how can he spoil his concubine and kill his wife so much, and even turn a blind eye to let my stepmother sell me, even my seven-year-old sister did not let go! ”

Ye Qiong sighed and said, "You are a woman in the boudoir, there is one thing you may not know." The stepmother betrays her original child, according to the law of Da Liang, it is sinful. Generally speaking, those who devise the sale of their children as slaves by means of deception and other means will be given 80 rods and will be paraded outside the prison for a month in chains. You were sold by your stepmother, and logically speaking, you can be guilty of one more degree, because you are a daughter of an official family, you can also increase one degree, so your stepmother should at least be hanged. ”

Man'er was stunned in surprise, suddenly whimpered, covered her mouth and cried, Ye Qiong sighed, and said to the cuckoo: "You go to the store to ask for an impermeable strip of cloth, and pack some clean snow into it and bring it over." ”

The cuckoo responded, Ye Qiong took his handkerchief and handed it to Man'er, saying, "You don't know, it's not your fault." At least you know by now, don't you? ”

Man'er took Ye Qiong's handkerchief, listened to Ye Qiong's words, knelt down at Ye Qiong's feet, pulled Ye Qiong's skirt and said, "Miss Qiong, I know you have great skills, I beg you to help me, you can do whatever you want me to do." If you know the law well, you will be able to help me win my case and that of my stepmother. I want nothing more, I just want her to die! ”

Ye Qiong blinked, eliminating the wetness in her eyes.

This is the reason why she took a fancy to Man'er.

The main reason for taking a fancy to Xiaoman and Man'er is indeed that the two of them do have something to use, but the other reason is that Ye Qiong sees herself from them.

Xiaoman struggled to climb up for the sake of his relatives who could abandon their dignity, and Man'er, like herself, was always burning with the flame of revenge in her chest when she was killed.

Such a person can also understand Ye Qiong, and the relationship between them is not just a simple cooperation and master-servant relationship, but also sympathy for each other.

Ye Qiong grabbed Man'er's hand and said to her with a smile: "You get up first, the snow is freezing." I promise you, but on your terms, is it true that there will be no more one to help you find your sister? ”

Man'er was stunned for a moment, and said excitedly: "Girl, can you really find her?" ”

Ye Qiong shook her head and said, "I shouldn't have said something to hit you, but I still have to tell you clearly, I can only try my best, and I don't dare to guarantee whether I can find it or not." ”

Man'er's eyes sparkled, and she said, "If the girl is willing to look for it, I believe that our sisters will meet one day." ”

Ye Qiong nodded, and the cuckoo had already brought a strip of cloth wrapped in snow over and helped apply it to Man'er's eyes.

Ye Qiong said: "If you are still asked by them, you will say that you were bullied when you bought needlework, and that the people in the needlework shop belittled you openly and secretly when they saw that the second room was falling, so you cried secretly for a while." You're smart and know how to say it to be more convincing. ”

Man'er bowed her head and said, "The girl doesn't need to make a written contract with me, I believe in the girl." If the girl wants to ask, ask directly, and I will not hide it. ”

Ye Qiong liked Man'er's cheerfulness, so she asked, "When you were in the second room, did you notice where the income of the second room was?" ”

Man'er thought for a moment before saying, "I don't know. The degree of everyone in the house is fixed, but on the side of Young Master Huan, it seems that he can often get some good pen, ink, paper, inkstone, etc., I have heard his little guy show off. ”

Ye Qiong tapped the stone table with her fingertips and fell into deep thought.

Not long ago, the verdict of the second uncle came down, and after Ye Huan and Jiang's maiden family ran in many ways and paid a fixed fine to the government, the criminal department relented and changed the originally advocated hanging sentence to imprisonment.

The sentence is another name for imprisonment, how long the second uncle will be in prison, the verdict does not say, it seems that it will be until the world is amnesty, and the second uncle will be released.

Ye Qiong didn't care about this, what she cared about most was that the second room had really paid the fine.

That's not a small amount, Ye Qiong saw the family property list that the three rooms received when the family was divided that year. Grandfather will not be unfair in the division of family property, so in addition to the fourth uncle and the fifth uncle who are concubines, the second room should be the same as the third room, and the second room property is not so much fine!

Even if the Jiang family's dowry is added, or there is the help of the Jiang family's mother's family, the fine can not be made up at once, the second room said to take it out, and the fine has not counted the silver money spent by the second room running around to get through the news.

Second room, when did you become so rich?

If there is really such a sum of money in the second room, where it comes from and how much it is, there is a possibility of a resurgence in the second room. In any case, this is what you should be guarding against.

Ye Qiong put these doubts and worries in her heart for the time being, and asked Man'er again, "How is Ye Huan doing lately?" All I know is that he hasn't been to the Guozijian for a long time. ”

Man'er said: "Young Master Huan was broken his right hand and is recuperating. The second wife and Miss Mei asked several times how they were injured, but Young Master Huan only said that he was careless. But I used to be an errand boy in Young Master Huan's house, and I know that he can read with both his left and right hands."

Ye Qiong frowned and said, "Ye Huan's right hand should have been broken by someone sent by the Xie family." is worthy of being a cabinet minister who has dominated the court for many years, Xie Yongyan really knows how to take revenge on a student like Ye Huan. It's a pity, it's a hundred secrets. By the way, I also heard the news that the second room has plans to go to the northwest to join Jiang's mother's family recently? ”

Man'er replied, "Yes." Girl, shall I go with me? ”

Ye Qiong thought for a while, sighed, and then said: "The second room is such a scene, and the situation of the Jiang family in the northwest is unknown. I shouldn't have let you go on an adventure, but I really need you to go along. You can rest assured, I will not break my promise to do what I promised, and the second room will return to the capital in three years at the latest, first, Ye Huan will participate in the imperial examination, and secondly, with the mercenary character of Erbo and Ye Huan, Ye Mei will not marry in the northwest, but will marry into Beijing. I know it's hard for you to do this, and if you don't want to, I can find another way. ”

Man'er smiled proudly: "I trust the girl and respect her even more." Since the girl is willing to help me fight the lawsuit and help me find my sister, I am naturally willing to go to the trouble for the girl. It's just to follow them to the northwest, so I'll take this trip. ”

"Good!" Ye Qiong said with a smile, "Now that the second room is declining, it is the time when people's hearts are weakened, and at this time, it is the easiest to sell loyalty, you might as well seize this opportunity to get close to Ye Mei." Remember, it can only be Ye Mei! Ye Huan is insidious and suspicious, you try to avoid him. Besides, if you don't want to be a concubine, Ye Mei is also the best choice, the maid around her is going to be brought to her husband's house, before that, for the sake of Ye Mei's reputation, whether it is Ye Huan or the possible Jiang family in the future, they will not force you to be a concubine, and you can be safer. ”

Man'er bowed her head and was moved in her heart.

Ye Qiong's advice really kept her safety in mind.

Ye Qiong hesitated for a while before lowering her voice and said, "If you have the opportunity, please help me keep an eye on the income and expenses of the second room, I suspect that the second room is still doing other things that are not easy to expose in private." This is just my guess, you remember, and your safety is still the best thing. ”

Man'er responded, Ye Qiong poured two more cups of flower tea, raised her glass with a smile and said, "Okay, you go, let's not say that it will take a few years to meet." I will replace the wine with tea, and I wish you the fulfillment of your wishes. ”

Man'er smiled and raised his glass, the two touched, the two looked at each other, and drank together.

……………………

When Ye Qiong returned to Ye's Mansion, as soon as she got off the carriage, she saw the mother-in-law guarding the door and said, "The girl is back, the eldest master is waiting for you in the third master's study, please hurry up." ”

Ye Qiong went to the study, in addition to Ye Zhujin and Ye Qishu in the study, Ye Lang and Ye Jin also sat down, seeing Ye Qiong coming over and nodding to her, Ye Zhujin smiled: "Sister Qiong is here, come and sit down, listen to us." ”

Ye Qiong knew that the eldest uncle had something to say, so he sat in the last seat, and Ye Zhujin really began to say slowly: "You second uncle...... Now it's time to call Ye Chanyan, you all know his affairs, not only did he go to prison, but the whole family had to leave the capital and move to the northwest to seek refuge in others. Bribery is a great sin, and if he gets such an end, he also deserves the consequences of his own crimes, and you should take this as a warning. ”

Everyone present said yes, but after Ye Qiong responded, he said: "Uncle, you and I know very well that Ye Chanyan's crime is not only bribery, but also very likely that there are many parts that we don't know. ”

Ye Zhujin was stunned, he and Ye Qiong had heard the confession of the fourth brother Ye Zuhui with their own ears, so they naturally understood the meaning of Ye Qiong's words, so they listened carefully to Ye Qiong and continued: "The Ye family seems to have a clear relationship with Ye Chanyan, but after all, we have been blood relatives for many years, we don't know him, but he touches us thoroughly. Ye Chanyan is still in prison, but if he suddenly remembers something in prison to discredit our Ye family, His Majesty doesn't believe it now, but if there is another thing like a soul case in the future, then his words will become very critical, not to mention, there is also a Ye Huan. ”

Speaking of Ye Huan, Ye Lang and Ye Jin both had suspicious looks on their faces, but Ye Qiong smiled and said: "The lion fights the rabbit, and also uses all his strength, brother and cousin Lang don't underestimate him." I heard that his right hand was broken the day before yesterday, and if you look at it this way, can you say that his future is ruined? ”

Ye Lang nodded ignorantly and said, "If you fold your right hand, won't you even be able to hold the pen, but isn't your future ruined?" ”

Ye Qiong smiled slightly and said, "I also got a piece of news, Ye Huan can read with both left and right hands, but have you ever seen him use his left hand in front of everyone?" Even if his dominant hand is the right hand, as long as he has the heart to practice for three years, five years, or even ten years, will he still not be able to practice left-handed characters? Let's not underestimate others. ”

Ye Qishu praised: "Qiong'er is right. Brother Lang and Jin'er are going to be admitted to the Jinshi in the future, you have seen few people, and when you pass the exam, you will try to know a few more students, there is a sky outside the sky, there are people outside the people, those who are more modest and deferential, maybe they have to work harder than anyone else behind their backs, can you remember? ”

The two said yes, and Ye Qiong said: "I have already sent someone to continue to stare at the second room, be cautious, you will not make a mistake." ”

Ye Zhujin nodded and said, "Some of the slaves in the second room are the old servants of your grandfather and my biological mother. ”

Speaking of this, Ye Zhujin set his eyes on Ye Lang and Ye Jin again, and said, "The words of Sister Qiong'er and Third Brother reminded me of one thing. Lang'er and Brother Jin'er's academic foundation has been laid very firmly in Wenshan Academy, but they don't know much about officialdom communication and human sophistication, especially Lang'er, you will end next year. I was thinking when Ye Huan went to Guozijian first, after the next year, Guozijian will recruit new prisoners, and Lang'er and Brother Jin may also have time to enter Guozijian. ”

When Ye Huan was stuffed into the Guozi Prison by the Xie family, Ye Qiong also thought of this.

It's just that the Guozi priest wine is still Hu Zhezhang, the father of the eldest aunt Hu Shi.

Hu Zhezhang was jealous of his master, Mr. Zou's reputation in Shilin, and his eldest aunt Hu had formed a bond with the Ye family's three rooms because of the Su family's miscarriage before, and the relationship between the Hu family and the Ye family's three rooms was really not good.

Cousin Lang is Hu Zhezhang's own grandson, and he may be taken care of, and if his brother enters the Guozi Prison, I am afraid that he will only be put in small shoes.

By the way, if she remembers correctly, the eldest uncle said earlier that the eldest aunt Hu invited herself out of the family temple because Hu Zhezhang was seriously ill, and Hu, the daughter, had to take care of her?

Ye Qiong was thinking of this, and Ye Zhujin's little servant outside the door knocked on the door and shouted inside: "Master, young master, the eldest lady asked you to go back quickly, saying that Master Hu Zhezhang Hu Xijiu had just died of illness." ”

Ye Qiong was shocked, but she didn't expect to hear the news of Hu Zhezhang's death. Ye Zhujin had already stood up, arched his hand to Ye Qishu, and said, "My father-in-law has passed away, I want to go back to the house quickly, so I will say goodbye first." ”

Everyone saluted, and Ye Jin whispered with Ye Qishu after Ye Zhujin left: "I only said that I was seriously ill before, but I didn't expect it to ...... so soon."

Ye Qiong sat on the chair and lowered her eyebrows in thought.

Hu Zhezhang died of illness, and the position of the country's priest was vacant, who would succeed him?

If she remembers correctly, Su Qingyi, Su's father, is the secretary of the Guozijian business.

Ye Qiong loosened her eyebrows. If this is the case, it may not be a bad thing to send my brother and cousin Lang to the national prison.