xymnovel Chapter 96: They've fallen!
Chapter 96: They've fallen!
"Uncle...why do you treat me so well?"
This inquiry was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, almost inaudible, yet it contained a myriad of emotions and a thousand doubts.
Pan Jinlian looked up at Zheng Tu, her foxy eyes now devoid of their former charm, filled only with confusion and vulnerability.
Now, Pan Jinlian was the daughter of Pan the tailor outside the South Gate. She was the sixth child in her family and was called "Sixth Sister".
Because she was born with some beauty and was quite outstanding, and had a pair of delicate and small feet that were as exquisite as pearls and white jade lotuses, she was named "Golden Lotus".
When she was nine years old, her father died of illness, and her mother struggled to make ends meet. In a moment of desperation, she sold her to Wang Zhaoxuan's household as a maid for thirty taels of silver.
In the Zhaoxuan Mansion, she learned to play musical instruments and sing, and in her spare time she was taught to read and write. This girl was naturally quick-witted and clever. At only twelve or thirteen years old, she had already learned to draw eyebrows and apply powder and rouge, and was proficient in playing bamboo and string instruments. Needlework and literacy were also a given for her.
She often wore her hair in a cute bun, dressed in a tight-fitting shirt, and acted very elegantly and gracefully. Although she was only a young child, she already showed a lot of charm.
When she was fifteen, Wang Zhaoxuan died. Her mother then took her away and sold her to the wealthy Zhang family for another thirty taels of silver. She lived with the Zhang family until she was eighteen. By then, she had blossomed into a beautiful young woman with a face like a peach blossom and eyebrows like crescent moons. She was truly as beautiful as a peach blossom and plum blossom, an absolute beauty.
The wealthy Zhang family attempted to take advantage of her, but she refused, even at the cost of her life, and repeatedly complained to the mistress of the house. Enraged, the wealthy Zhang family even provided a dowry and married her off to a short, ugly pancake seller named Han Wu Dalang.
In her life, she was sold three times like a commodity. Men coveted her beauty, and women were jealous of her appearance, but which one of them ever cared about her?
Zheng Tu's thoughtfulness and consideration at this moment was something she had never experienced in the past twenty years.
Zheng Tu remained silent for a moment before saying, "I will do what I promised. Besides..."
He turned to look out the window, unable to bear seeing the beautiful young woman with such a sorrowful expression. "Brother Wu is a good man, and you are also a person with a tragic fate. Since I have met you, I will help you if I can."
Upon hearing this, Pan Jinlian's eyes reddened.
That foxy face had completely lost its allure at this moment. Her eyebrows and eyes were lowered, and she was gently biting her red lips with her pearly teeth, looking quite pitiful. Tears welled up in her eyes, about to fall but not quite.
Seeing her like this, Zheng Tu felt uneasy.
He chuckled, got up, and walked towards the door: "In that case, I'll head back now. I'll buy a few more maids to serve you properly later, and you too..."
"Uncle Zheng!"
A melodious shout rang out from behind, followed by a series of hurried footsteps.
Zheng Tu turned around in confusion, only to see the young woman lifting her skirt and running up to him.
Those foxy eyes were red, with tears still clinging to the corners.
Her plump breasts were heaving violently, perhaps from her brief run or from the turmoil of her emotions.
"Is there anything else..." Before Zheng Tu could finish speaking, she had already tiptoed, hooked her pink arm around his neck, and pressed herself against him!
The two finally separated after a full half-incense stick's time.
Her lips were slightly parted, she breathed softly, her starry eyes were hazy, and a thin blush appeared on her face.
They have already adopted a permissive attitude of giving whatever they want.
Zheng Tu looked down at the person in front of him and felt his thick blood and qi surging like a river bursting its banks, almost overwhelming his reason.
The woman before him now exuded an irresistible aura, like a lamb.
[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name 12199.99]
It was at a time when it was becoming increasingly difficult to suppress.
"Second Uncle Zheng! Second Uncle Zheng! Uncle Ximen has something urgent to discuss with you!"
Dai An'er's cries came from outside the courtyard.
Zheng Tu's eyes narrowed, and his gaze immediately returned to clarity.
He gave Pan Jinlian a deep look, then turned and strode out the door.
Pan Jinlian stood there, watching Zheng Tu's broad back disappear through the courtyard gate.
She raised her hand to gently touch her slightly swollen lips, a sly glint flashing in her still reddened eyes.
Zheng Tu hurriedly followed Dai An'er to the Ximen residence, and was greatly surprised as soon as he entered.
The mansion was in complete chaos, with everyone looking anxious and walking hurriedly.
The courtyard was piled with many chests, bed curtains, tables, chairs and other items, scattered all over the place.
Ximen Qing was standing in the courtyard, looking rather unwell, with a man and a woman standing beside him.
The man was about twenty years old, dressed like a scholar, with a refined and fair complexion, and a fearful expression; the woman was sixteen or seventeen years old, with eyebrows and eyes somewhat similar to Ximen Qing, and was currently wiping away tears with her head down.
Judging from the servant's address to the two, they were Ximen Qing's daughter, Sister Ximen, and her son-in-law, Chen Jingji!
Zheng Tu was shocked: What major event has occurred that has caused his son-in-law and daughter to rush back to their parents' home?
He quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Brother, what's the matter that you're in such a panic?"
When Ximen Qing saw Zheng Tu arrive, he grabbed his wrist and whispered, "Brother, trouble has struck!"
...........................
It turned out that Ximen Qing had just been drinking and having fun with the girls he had hired on a monthly basis when his servants hurriedly called him home.
Upon entering the courtyard, I was taken aback by the chaotic scene. Boxes and trunks were piled up like mountains, and my daughter and son-in-law were both there, their faces filled with fear.
Although Ximen Qing was nervous, he managed to keep his composure.
If even he, the one in charge, panics, then everything will truly fall into chaos!
So he immediately asked, "Why are you two in such a hurry to come home? And with so many things? What happened?"
Upon seeing his father-in-law return, son-in-law Chen Jingji hurriedly knelt down with a thud and kowtowed three times to Ximen Qing before raising his head and speaking in a tearful voice:
"Father, please report! A terrible calamity has recently befallen the court! My master, Master Yang, has been impeached by those censors! An imperial edict has been issued, ordering Master Yang to be arrested and sent to the Southern Prison for questioning. His relatives and associates, as well as those in charge, will all be sentenced to cangue and exile!"
Chen Jingji's voice trembled as he continued, "Yesterday, Yang, the clerk in the manor, rushed over overnight to inform Father. Father panicked and instructed my elder sister and me to take these trunks and belongings and temporarily store them at your house to avoid trouble for a while. Father himself has already set off for my aunt in Tokyo to inquire about the situation. When things are settled, I will surely repay my father-in-law's kindness to me, and I will never forget it!"
After saying this, he kowtowed repeatedly.
Ximen Qing was terrified when he heard this.
That "Master Yang" was Yang Jian, a powerful eunuch in the court and the commander of the 800,000 Imperial Guards in Tokyo. He, along with Gao Qiu, Tong Guan, and Cai Jing, were known as the Four Traitors or the Four Great Villains in the court.
Although Yang Jian was a high-ranking eunuch, he had a godson. Chen Jingji's sister married Yang Jian's godson, thus becoming in-laws.
Chen Jingji's father, Chen Hongneng, was able to establish himself in Tokyo entirely thanks to Yang Jian's protection, and Ximen Qing also built his own power base in Qinghe County based on this relationship.
Now that Yang Jian has fallen from power, Chen Hong, this big tree, has also fallen. Not to mention his future, if he is implicated, his life and fortune may be in danger!