Volume 6: Dream Record Chapter 381 Yuan Xudong's Dominance
Near Zhao's Teahouse, Sun Sanniang and Zhao Pan'er were drawing water from the river. When she heard Zhao Pan'er's account of Song Yinzhang and Zhou She, she almost dropped the bucket and sighed:
"You have protected Yin Zhang so well over the years. She is not stupid, she is just unworldly!"
After helping Sun Sanniang steady the bucket, Zhao Paner sighed softly and said:
"What can I do? I owe her sister this!"
"Where does that Zhou live? To deal with a guy like him, just beat him up. You too, why didn't you tell me this?"
Like Yuan Xudong, Sun Sanniang believed that if she couldn't solve the problem, she should solve the person who created it. Looking at the hot-tempered Sun Sanniang, Zhao Paner smiled and said:
"Aren't you busy teaching your son a lesson?"
"Don't even mention it. As soon as his father came home, he tried his best to protect him, but he ran away in a flash and I couldn't beat him up!"
As they were about to leave with their buckets, a large rock fell into the water, splashing water and startling them. Fu Zifang appeared on the other side of the river with a smile and said:
"Mother, I am your own son. If you hurt me, who will earn you a crown and a bridal robe?"
"Hey, you dare to come back?"
Seeing Fu Zifang, Sun Sanniang was so angry that she picked up a small stone and threw it towards the other side of the river. Fu Zifang quickly dodged and laughed:
"I came back to tell you the news. I just saw the girl Yinping who served Aunt Song and the young man surnamed Yuan on Ren'an Bridge. They were hugging each other. Could they be having an affair?"
"Little bastard, do you know what it means to have an affair?"
Looking at her son who was so smart, Sun Sanniang threw another stone at him, scaring Fu Zifang so much that he fled. Then, she looked at Zhao Pan'er, whose face showed no special emotion, and smiled:
"Pan'er, Zifang has always liked to talk nonsense since he was a child. Don't take it seriously. Let's go back!"
"Okay, let's go!"
…
It was getting dark, Zhao Pan'er and Sun Sanniang were still tidying up the messy teahouse. After a while, Yuan Xudong returned to the teahouse with a smug look on his face, followed by Song Yinzhang's personal maid Yinping, who was holding a bundle in her hand. Seeing Zhao Pan'er and Sun Sanniang busy tidying up the teahouse, Yinping quickly put down the bundle in her hand and went forward to help very sensibly. Seeing Yinping, Zhao Pan'er and Sun Sanniang both widened their eyes slightly and glanced at Yuan Xudong. Sun Sanniang looked at Yinping and said in surprise:
"Yinping, why are you here? Where is Yinzhang?"
Looking up at Yuan Xudong, Yin Ping looked at Zhao Pan'er and Sun Sanniang and said shyly with a slightly blushing face:
"The young lady is still in Leying. She asked me to come here. She asked me to take good care of Mr. Xiao!"
Looking at the blushing and shy girl Yin Ping, and thinking of what Fu Zifang said, Zhao Pan'er was slightly startled. She quickly pulled Yin Ping aside and said with concern:
"Yin Ping, tell me the truth, did Young Master Xiao bully you and Yin Zhang?"
"No, no, Master Xiao didn't bully me, nor did he bully Miss. He is a very nice person!"
As she spoke, Yin Ping's face turned even redder. She lowered her head and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito:
"After sending the young lady back to Leying, I followed Master Xiao here. When we passed by the shops on the street, Master Xiao bought me a lot of rouge, powder and food. Apart from the young lady and Sister Pan'er, Master Xiao treats Yinping the best!"
"Yeah?"
Looking at the silver bottle that Yuan Xudong had bought over with just a few small gifts, Zhao Paner couldn't help but poke her head with her finger and said unhappily:
"Your young lady is ignorant, and you are also ignorant. How long have you known Mr. Xiao? And you are speaking well for him?"
"Mr. Xiao is so good!"
Looking up at Zhao Pan'er, Yin Ping said seriously:
"Sister Pan'er, Yinping is not stupid. She can still distinguish between good and bad people. For example, Zhou She looks like a gentleman on the surface, but he is actually evil. But Master Xiao is different. He looks like a pervert and a bad guy on the surface, but he is actually a good person, a good person who is good to both Miss and Yinping!"
"Little girl!"
Looking at the silver bottle that seemed to be missing her lover, Zhao Pan'er said with a smile:
"Are you in love with Mr. Xiao?"
"No, no, Yinping doesn't dare!"
Hearing Zhao Pan'er say this, Yin Ping was startled and quickly explained in a low voice:
"Sister Pan'er, Master Xiao said that he will marry you as his first wife and our young lady as his second wife in the future. If, if you and the young lady agree, Yinping can continue to take care of you as Master Xiao's concubine. Sister Pan'er, will you agree?"
As she said this, Yinping glanced at Zhao Pan'er timidly. As Yuan Xudong's first wife in the future, Zhao Pan'er would be the head wife of the Xiao family. Song Yinzhang, as Zhao Pan'er's sister, would be better off. But Yinping was just a maid. Even if she was taken as a concubine by Yuan Xudong, she still had no status and position. At most, she would be better than an ordinary maid or servant. Therefore, she dared not offend Zhao Pan'er!
"Pah, what are you talking about?"
Rolling her eyes at the silver bottle, Zhao Pan'er said unhappily:
"The person I'm going to marry is Ouyang Xu. What does this have to do with Master Xiao? If you and your daughter want to marry him, just marry him. But don't involve me!"
"But……"
"But what is it?"
Looking at Yin Ping who was speaking hesitantly, Zhao Pan'er rolled her eyes at her and said:
"If you have something to say, just say it now, don't hesitate!"
"All right!"
Looking up at Zhao Pan'er, Yin Ping said directly:
"But Master Xiao has said that you will definitely marry him, because Master Ouyang has changed his mind and wants to marry the daughter of the Gao family. Sister Pan'er, you don't want to be someone else's concubine, so you can only marry Master Xiao as the first wife. If you ask me, Master Xiao is handsome, speaks interestingly, and has a good family background. He is willing to marry you and our daughter at the same time. The two of you will be like Ehuang and Nvying in ancient times. Two sisters share one husband and can take care of each other. Isn't this great?"
"What's good about that, you silly girl? I think you can't wait to marry Mr. Xiao as a concubine, right?"
"Where is that?"
Looking at Zhao Pan'er's coquettish expression, Yin Ping blushed and said shyly:
"Miss, you want to marry Mr. Xiao soon. I am at most your dowry. When you go to the Xiao family in the future, I can continue to take care of you and Mr. Xiao. Mr. Xiao also said that after you get married, you and Miss can still do what you like. You can open a teahouse and Miss can continue to play her pipa. He won't restrict you too much!"
"Yeah?"
Looking at Yin Ping who was speaking for Yuan Xudong, Zhao Pan'er said with a smile:
"What about you? What benefits did Master Xiao promise you?"
"Mr. Xiao gave me many gifts!"
As he spoke, Yin Ping showed the silver watch on his right wrist to Zhao Pan'er and said with a smile:
"Sister Pan'er, look, this is the watch Young Master Xiao gave me. Miss also has one. Isn't it beautiful?"
“It’s quite beautiful!”
“It can even tell time!”
As she spoke, Yinping briefly introduced to Zhao Paner the purpose and usage of the watch. Unexpectedly, the watch could also be used to tell time. A hint of envy flashed in Zhao Paner's eyes, and she was also a little curious about where Yuan Xudong got so many strange things.
After chatting with Yin Ping for a while, Zhao Pan'er went back to the teahouse with her. Seeing Yuan Xudong and Sun Sanniang still cleaning up the teahouse, Zhao Pan'er looked around and sighed:
"The shop has been smashed to pieces. Sanniang, Master Xiao, you don't have to help clean it up. Anyway, Ouyang said that it's not good for a scholar to marry a merchant. I was worried about who would take care of the shop after I went to Tokyo. Now it seems that it's all God's will!"
Sun Sanniang didn't expect Zhao Pan'er to close the shop, so she hurriedly advised:
"Then don't close the shop. I don't know how to make tea, but I can make some fruit drinks and help you collect the bills. As for Yin Zhang, you should go and take care of her business first!"
"Yin Zhang is such a fool. She doesn't know that people are treacherous and always trusts others easily!"
As she spoke, Zhao Pan'er glanced at Yuan Xudong, whose face was pure and innocent, and then looked at Sun Sanniang and continued:
"I want to ask Yang Yunpan for a favor and ask him to introduce me to Xu Zhizhou and General Leying. Then Master Xiao will come forward to plead for Yin Zhang so that she can get out of the Jiaofang Division as soon as possible!"
"Yang Yunpan only came up to drink tea a few times and bought a few paintings from you. Is he willing to do you a favor?"
"I can't care less. After all, he still owes me a favor, so he should help me!"
Seeing that Zhao Pan'er had made up her mind, Sun Sanniang could only nod and agree:
"Well, the Yang residence is outside the city, and it's getting dark soon, so be careful!"
"good!"
Seeing Zhao Pan'er was about to leave the city, Yuan Xudong quickly followed her and said with a smile:
"Pan'er, I'll go with you. It's so late now, it would be bad if we run into any bad guys!"
"Okay, let's go!"
…
The Yang Mansion was located outside the city, quite a distance from the Zhao Teahouse. Yuan Xudong and Zhao Paner hurried to the Yang Mansion before curfew. The maid in the mansion knew Zhao Paner and let Yuan Xudong and Zhao Paner enter the Yang Mansion. The courtyard was quite large. After they explained their purpose, the maid led the way and said with a smile:
"Madam Zhao, Master Xiao, don't worry. My master is busy with river works and hasn't left his study much in the past two days. How about you go sit in the inner room first while I go to the study to take a look?"
Yuan Xudong looked around the huge Yang Mansion, with its carved beams and painted rafters, pavilions and terraces, bright candlelight, and groups of servants. He secretly sighed in his heart that the treatment of Song officials was good. If they were a little more greedy, their lives would be like those of a god. No wonder all the officials were masters. Scholars, farmers, merchants, and artisans all worked hard to study and write for an official position, so that they could become high and mighty masters, with a clear conscience hanging high in the sky and an official robe on their bodies, trampling all those lowly people into the dust!
Zhao Pan'er looked at the maid who led the way and said anxiously:
"But my matter is too urgent and can't wait!"
"Then I'll go and report first, okay?"
"Okay, thank you!"
After entering the inner room, the maid closed the door. Zhao Pan'er handed her a box of tea and fruit and said with a smile:
"This is the fruit for Madam Yang. Please bring it to her!"
"Thank you, madam. Please take a seat, Madam. Mr. Xiao, please take a seat!"
"good!"
Yuan Xudong and Zhao Pan'er sat in the inner room waiting for the owner of the Yang Mansion. The maid bowed and left with a box of snacks. In the quiet room, Zhao Pan'er looked at Yuan Xudong and asked directly:
"Master Xiao, I heard from Yin Ping that you plan to marry my sister Yin Zhang as your co-wife?"
"Yes, I said that, Pan'er, don't you agree?"
"It's not that I disagree, but you've only met Yin Zhang once, why do you want to marry her?"
"What do you think of your sister Yinzhang?"
Without Zhao Pan'er's reply, Yuan Xudong continued:
"Yin Zhang has bright eyes and white teeth, a graceful figure, and is the best pipa player in Jiangnan. Most importantly, she is your sister. Although I have only met her once, it is enough. After we get married, I will take good care of her!"
Having said that, Yuan Xudong looked at Zhao Paner and said seriously:
"Of course, if you don't agree, forget about this marriage. Anyway, I must marry you as my principal wife. Although I also like Yinzhang, I like our Pan'er more. If you don't like me liking other women, I can only marry you as my wife!"
"Won't Yin Zhang hate me as her sister to death?"
Rolling her eyes at Yuan Xudong, Zhao Paner said helplessly:
"I told you that the person I want to marry is Ouyang Xu, not you, Master Xiao. Why don't you understand?"
"Didn't I tell you? Ouyang Xu has changed his mind. He wants to marry Observer Gao's daughter. It doesn't matter if you don't want to believe it now. When you go to Tokyo, I will take you to see Observer Gao. Then you will know me..."
Before he finished speaking, there was a noisy sound like chickens flying and dogs jumping outside the house, as if some bad guys had broken into the Yang Mansion on horseback, scaring the maids and servants to scream. Yuan Xudong and Zhao Pan'er hurriedly got up, walked to the door and looked out, only to see a team of people in uniform riding their horses through the yard and galloping towards the main hall. The maids and servants were frightened and dodged along the way, and there was chaos. The first person to be hit was Yuan Xudong's brother Gu Qianfan, who was dressed in fine clothes and riding a horse, looking very majestic. It was obvious that these people were from the Imperial City Division, no wonder they were so arrogant and domineering!
Yang Yunpan had just come out of the study, accompanied by a group of maids and servants. When they saw him, Gu Qianfan did not slow down his horse and actually rushed over. Amid the exclamations of the crowd, Yang Yunpan and the maids and servants were frightened and fell to the ground. At this moment, Gu Qianfan pulled the reins hard, making the horse stand up, and finally stopped a foot in front of Yang Yunpan. Yang Yunpan, who had fallen to the ground, was helped up by the servants. Looking at Gu Qianfan who was standing with his horse reined in, he said angrily:
"How dare you! I am Yang Zhiyuan, the judge of Liangzhe Road. Who are you, the thief, to dare to trespass?"
Looking at the timid Yang Zhiyuan, Gu Qianfan sat on the horse, tightened the reins, took out the Golden Lion card of the Imperial City Bureau from his waist and said:
"The commander of the Imperial City Investigation Department, Gu Qianfan!"
Under the firelight, looking at the ferocious and terrifying golden lion head waist badge, Yang Zhiyuan swallowed his saliva and shouted in a bluffing voice:
"Well, I won't sell you the Night Banquet Picture, but you dare to break in late at night. Do you still have the law in this world?"
"Hand over the Night Banquet Map, and I'll leave right away!"
Looking at Yang Zhiyuan, Gu Qianfan said indifferently. As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the people from the Imperial City Division rushed straight into the main hall of the Yang Mansion and began to search through the boxes and cabinets. It was more appropriate to say that it was destruction than to search. Gu Qianfan turned over and dismounted, and sat down on the main seat in the main hall to drink tea. Seeing the people from the Imperial City Division wreaking havoc in his own home, Yang Zhiyuan's face turned pale and blue. Looking at the famous paintings and calligraphy thrown to the ground by these reckless men, he couldn't help but cry out in pain:
"What are you doing? Stop it, be careful not to break anything. Even if you are from the Imperial City Bureau, you can't be so arrogant!"
"Get out of the way! Search! Search everything carefully!"
Old Jia pushed aside Yang Zhiyuan who wanted to stop him and others, and ordered his brothers to search more unscrupulously. The valuable antiques and paintings were thrown on the ground. Yang Zhiyuan was heartbroken and heartbroken. He had no way to deal with these reckless people, so he had to beg Gu Qianfan:
"Why do you insist on having that painting?"
Looking up at Yang Zhiyuan, Gu Qianfan dipped his finger in the tea and wrote the word "prophecy" on the table, then said:
"I am going to Jiangnan this time to arrest the magistrate of Renhe County. I am not targeting you. However, if you don't appreciate my kindness, Yang Yunpan..."
Before he finished speaking, Yang Zhiyuan had already understood what Gu Qianfan meant. Looking at the two words "prophecy" that were gradually drying up on the table, Yang Zhiyuan looked sad and said helplessly:
"I'll just give you the painting!"
"Okay, then thank you, Yang Yunpan!"
Seeing that Yang Zhiyuan finally compromised and was willing to hand over the Night Banquet Painting, Gu Qianfan asked Lao Jia and others to stop, and followed Yang Yunpan to the secret room to get the calligraphy and painting. After a while, Yang Zhiyuan handed the Night Banquet Painting to Gu Qianfan with both hands and said reluctantly:
"Commander Gu, here is the Night Banquet Map!"
"good!"
At the same time, Yuan Xudong and Zhao Paner were hiding in the inner room, looking towards the main hall. Seeing the majestic and imposing Gu Qianfan, Zhao Paner looked at Yuan Xudong beside her and said with a smile:
"Mr. Xiao, are you and Commander Gu really brothers?"
"Yeah, what's wrong?"
Looking through the crack in the door at Gu Qianfan sitting in the main seat in the main hall, Yuan Xudong was a little envious. It turned out that the Imperial City Division was so impressive. It was simply a necessary job for bullying men and women. At this time, Zhao Paner next to him whispered jokingly:
"Commander Gu is so majestic, why are you like a drunkard and a womanizer, with no ambition at all?"
"You can't say that. He loves the country, power and status, while I love beauties and freedom. How can we compare?"
“Why is there nothing comparable?”
Looking at Yuan Xudong who didn't take it seriously, Zhao Paner told the truth:
"Which woman doesn't want the man she likes to be extremely powerful, second only to the emperor and above everyone else?"
"Yeah?"
Looking at Zhao Pan'er, Yuan Xudong smiled and said:
"So you want to marry Ouyang Xu, not because you like him, but because he can pass the imperial examination and you can become his wife?"
"yes!"
Knowing what Yuan Xudong meant, Zhao Paner did not defend herself, but admitted openly:
"I do like Ouyang. I like his talent as a Jinshi. If he was really just an ordinary peddler, I probably wouldn't like him. If I just wanted to find an ordinary man to spend my life with, why would I wait until today?"
At this point, Zhao Paner looked at Yuan Xudong and said with a smile:
"Master Xiao, are you disappointed? I'm such a power-hungry woman. You..."
"What's there to be disappointed about?"
Before Zhao Pan'er could finish her words, Yuan Xudong interrupted her and said:
"If you are really a woman who is greedy for power, then that's fine. My father is the prime minister, and I have plenty of ways to improve my political status. Even splitting the land and becoming a king is not impossible. I have much more potential than your Ouyang Xu, but are you willing to marry me?"
"I……"
Not knowing how to refute Yuan Xudong, Zhao Paner could only say stubbornly:
"I know Ouyang Xu, but I don't know you. How can I know if you are bragging?"
"I like to joke, but I never brag!"
Looking at Zhao Pan'er who was so close, Yuan Xudong couldn't help but touch her delicate face and said with a sly smile:
"Zhao Pan'er, I am officially informing you now that you are my wife, Yuan Xudong. No matter if it's Ouyang Xu or any other man, no one can take you away. You can only belong to me. Do you understand?"
"not understand!"
Staring at Yuan Xudong, Zhao Paner said angrily:
"You are so overbearing. You just say I am your wife, right? My parents' orders, the matchmaker's words, the three letters and six betrothal gifts, the dowry..."
Without waiting for Zhao Pan'er to finish, Yuan Xudong pulled her into his arms with his big hands and kissed her rosy and moist lips. After a long time, Yuan Xudong smiled with satisfaction at Zhao Pan'er, whose face was rosy and eyes were filled with mist.
"It really tastes sweet, even sweeter than your sister Yinzhang and Yinping. Pan'er, now you are my wife, right?"
"you……"
