The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 137: Taking out the hot potato

A thin stack of deed documents was packed in a nanmu box over a foot long. It was so light that it was almost weightless. Zheng Wanniang moved her lips, wanting to say something, but looking at the still slightly blue face of the eldest princess Linhai, she still lowered her head silently.

The eldest princess glanced at her and sneered, "Why, do you think I'm cruel? Why do you think these slaves are loyal to their masters? Which one of them in Luoyang didn't make slaves call their maids and hide their beauties in the golden house? Which one of them still remembers his own slaves? It's not for their own happiness, but for the sake of the industry there. After enjoying the blessings for more than ten years, it's time for them to make some efforts! It’s been a hard time, and if they don’t have that blessing, then it’s their new master’s fault for not understanding the current situation!”

Seeing that Zheng Wanniang still lowered her head and said nothing, the eldest princess snorted coldly. Among the three daughters-in-law, this one was originally the most clumsy and useless. Telling her this was like playing the piano to a cow! If it's Atui... When I think of this name, I can't help but think of what she wrote on the paper that day: "Your parents are still alive, how dare you not cherish yourself? Return to Ning and serve me to fulfill your duty." There is a bit of irony and a bit of threat between the lines. , just like a needle or a cone, every thought of it still made her furious!

After a while, the eldest princess suppressed her anger, closed the box tightly, glanced at Zheng Wanniang, and said coldly: "If there is another way, do you think I am willing to use this trick? These twenty Many of them are very capable stewards in the house, and their children, wives, and families are also doing their own jobs in the house. If one person is not handled well, it may affect the whole body... But if we don't do this, how can we? I just watched helplessly as the Cudi took advantage of our influence to subjugate the Zhongjuan Pei clan, and then continued to openly oppose us. Could it be that the reputation of our house was in vain, and all the pain I suffered was in vain? Can you bear it? It’s said that the master will humiliate his subjects to death, let alone some cheap slaves!”

Zheng Wanniang didn't dare to hesitate and responded quickly in a low voice, "That's what the A family taught me."

The eldest princess let out a long sigh, lowered her head and thought for a moment, her face slowly became calmer, "Let's go, we should go and entertain the guests!"

When she came out of the back hall again, the eldest princess looked as if she had really gone to change clothes. She smiled and apologized for being rude. Without saying a few words, she smiled and said, "Just now, Wan Niang reminded me. Another thing is that I didn't think it through well. The people who are helping aunt take care of her property are all old people from Hedong Gongfu. In the early years, it was Qiniang who begged me as a foster mother to help her, so I helped her. It’s just that my memory is getting worse. I haven’t asked him a question in these years, but now that I think about it, it’s really inappropriate.”

"After all, the aunt is not my daughter. It would be unseemly to let these slaves of mine take charge of the property, and it would easily cause gossip. Just now, I asked people to find out their identities and deeds, and gave them to them as well. Auntie." She turned to look at Zheng Wanniang with a smile, "Why are you so stupid? Why don't you give these deeds to Auntie?"

The female relatives of Zhongjuan Pei, who originally had smiles on their faces, were dumbfounded. Then they looked at Liuli, who was a little surprised. After thinking about it for a while, she already understood: Although these shopkeepers and Zhuangtou are physically bound to But since they are all old people serving the eldest princess, their family and children are naturally still in the Hedong Duke's mansion, and the eldest princess can still control them. In this way, no matter how much they pay in the future, or whether the previous accounts were wrong, they will not be able to pursue it again. What's more, there are so many clerks, accountants and farmers in those manors and shops, and they are all from the Hedong government. I'm afraid it won't help if these shopkeepers send them away...

Seeing Zheng Wanniang getting closer and closer with her head lowered, Liuli felt a little uneasy in her heart. It seemed that there was something else that she had not thought of. She raised her head and said with a smile, "May I ask the eldest princess, these shopkeepers and village heads are from the Hedong Duke's mansion?" Are you a slave?"

Princess Linhai's eyes were indifferent, but her smile was very friendly, "There are indeed a few. Why, aunt is worried? Could it be that you also believed those rumors and thought I had ulterior motives in sending these slaves to you? You think I, Linhai, am coveting them?" What are your family’s properties?”

Liuli sighed silently in her heart, and immediately stood up and bowed to the banquet, "The eldest princess said something serious, Liuli didn't dare. Liuli had only seen these shopkeepers once, and was a little confused..."

The eldest princess waved her hand and said, "What is there to be confused about! From today on, these slaves are your slaves. Whatever they have done and what they are going to do, do you still need me to teach them a lesson? I took them away without any suspicion." "Qi, if you are suspicious..." She looked at Liuli and smiled brightly, "Please tell me straight away!"

Liuli was speechless for a moment: In today's situation, the eldest princess would never allow her to speak. If she dared to say something suspicious of the eldest princess in public today, it would be an insult to her elders. The laws of the country and the family would not tolerate her. If If you don’t say it, how can you refuse these things? Seeing that the nanmu box was at hand, he could only lower his eyes and say with a smile, "Thank you, the eldest princess, for the reward." He took the box with both hands.

The eldest princess breathed a sigh of relief and smiled brighter and brighter, "Auntie is indeed a cheerful person, how can I deserve a word of thanks? These slaves are all clumsy, and they have served me for decades. Stubbornness is inevitable. If there are any If you do anything wrong, I will teach you a lesson. You don’t have to give me face! In other words, they really show me face by taking good care of you.”

Her voice changed slightly and became a bit solemn, "It's just that although these slaves are not worth anything, they have served me for all these years, and now they are all old. I just feel that they are useless, and I don't even beat or scold them." Come on, don't just keep the promise and sell it in a rage, separating them from each other, it will harm Tianhe!"

Liuli had no choice but to lower her head and say "yes", then the eldest princess smiled and said, "I finally sorted out my secular affairs. It's rare that we get together today, so please have another drink!"

Liuli returned to the banquet, and as everyone toasted, her face became somewhat serious. The eldest princess saw this, and she was in an even better mood. After lunch, she left everyone chatting and laughing for a long time, and then left with unfinished thoughts. , Zheng Wanniang accompanied everyone to play on the water again. The people in Zhongjuan Pei exchanged several glances with each other, and intentionally or unintentionally moved farther away from Liuli.

Liuli had already given the wooden box to Ayan behind her. She just looked at the perfunctory smiles on everyone's faces, but there always seemed to be a strange touch on her hands, as if she was still holding the box in her hand, and it was getting worse and worse. Somewhat heavy.

After finally returning home, the first thing Liuli did was to open the wooden box again and look at the deeds written on Yizhou jute paper one by one. She lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then turned back to Ani and said, "Alang is going to eat five meals today." For a raw plate, go to the kitchen and see if you have bought five kinds of fresh meat: sheep, pig, cow, bear, and deer. If you have it, ask the cook to cook it carefully. Chop the meat carefully and season it with Marinate the black pepper for a while longer. The salted lychees, cut rose pear meat, and sour plum and lotus root slices should be cooked separately to avoid letting the smell of oily meat smoke." A Ni said with a smile, "My maid has made a note of it, and I will make it. This five-life chart is very different from other places, so it’s no wonder that Alang is worried about it.”

Seeing that A-Ni opened the curtain and went out, and walked far away, but there was no one else in the room, Liuli turned back and glanced at A-Yan, "Whatever you want to say, just say it."

Ayan was silent for a moment and said softly, "Madam, it is a taboo to use the family members of other people's houses to give birth to slaves. The eldest princess is no better than Mrs. Yang. I am afraid she has a lot of hatred for the lady. If she forces these shopkeepers to do this As the masters, Madam and Alang can't escape the blame sometimes. What's more, these people are called slaves, but they have been operating in Luoyang for many years. I'm afraid they also have a lot of money and silk, so it's even harder to say if they don't get what they want. Something will be done.”

"My servant has also thought about it. The lady should summon them immediately and imprison them in several courtyards at home to hold them accountable for their previous crime of embezzling property. But since these people know that the deed is in the hands of the lady, how can they not Do you have to make some preparations? It’s just a shame.”

Liuli nodded silently, these deeds were indeed a hot potato: today the eldest princess has put down her words, they can't sell them, and naturally they can't kill them - not to mention that according to the law of the Tang Dynasty, a master who intentionally kills a slave will have to serve for one year. , even if you can manage to count it as a missed kill and not be held accountable, can you think you can get over this hurdle? Ayan is right, I'm afraid we can't lock them up yet, they are not stupid! But if they let it go, let alone anything else, they would have owed a huge sum of money to a few dignitaries and ran away with the money. Is it possible that they would have to pay for it themselves? What's more, with the temperament of the eldest princess, the back-up plan she arranged can only be a hundred times more vicious than this... Fortunately, although she did not expect this, no matter what chess she played, she would only respond to that move!

Looking up and seeing Ayan's frown, Liuli couldn't help but laugh, "Don't worry, I already have an idea."

A-yan's eyes lit up and she was about to speak when a maid called "Alang" outside the door. Then the door curtain was raised and Pei Xingjian strode in. "If you have any ideas, tell me."

 Is this person born with a soft ear? Liuli looked at the sky outside and blurted out, "Why did you come back so early today?"

Pei Xingjian smiled and said, "Didn't I tell you that I want to eat the five-course meal you made, so I will naturally come back early."

 A man who talks a lot but doesn’t mean what he means! Liuli couldn't help but roll her eyes at him, but the corners of her mouth raised slightly involuntarily.

A Yan hurriedly retreated, and then Pei Xingjian came over, sat next to Liuli, turned over the deed on the case, and smiled faintly, "As expected." Turning to look at Liuli, "Have you really made up your mind?"

Liuli said sternly, "Of course it is."

Pei Xingjian glanced at her intently, then suddenly smiled and nodded, "That's good." He pressed his hands on the chopping board and stood up, reaching out to pull Liuli, "Come with me to the pavilion in the backyard to make tea."

Liuli couldn't help but be a little stunned, and couldn't help but said, "Why didn't you ask me what my idea was? Is it appropriate?"

Pei Xingjian looked back at her and raised his brows deliberately in surprise, "What else could it be? You just have to write eight big characters on your face in ink - to remove the fuel from the cauldron and get rid of it once and for all! This is of course the most appropriate thing. Speaking of which, you Did you have this idea in mind since the Dragon Boat Festival? But you kept it in the dark! I’ll punish you by making tea for me today. If you don’t make it well, you’ll punish me later!”

Looking at the playful smile in Pei Xingjian's eyes, Liuli couldn't help but touch her face: Is it really that obvious?

Pei Xingjian walked out with his hands behind his back, and before leaving the door, he hooked his fingers at Liuli. Liuli couldn't help but laugh, and suddenly felt a little proud in her heart: After all, he only saw half of it clearly, but he didn't see the eight words behind it - "If you have revenge, please enter the urn"!

p.s: In one month, this pair of stuffy gourds will go to Turpan to eat grapes without spitting out grape skins. I will speed up the pace and rush to the Western Regions... Thank you dear little white rabbit Ting and Mo Heer, thank you Jing Tianqing , nsy1970, Vincent77777, Rose and Cannon, Xia Xinlian, book friend 68181625 and Piranha classmate Pink rewarded. Speaking of pink, Alan is very satisfied with the results of pink votes this month. The final ranking is not important to me. What is important is that today is the last day. If you don’t vote for pink, it will be invalid after the expiration date. Uh-huh. , it’s a pity to waste...

Recommended book: "Rebirth of the Military Camp", Jiang Xiaoqun, a very special military heroine.

 (End of this chapter)