The clan leader knew the third elder so well, how could he let him go so easily? How could he miss any opportunity? Zi Jian was still young at that time, and Zi Jian who was playing in the yard suddenly disappeared. The whole clan was looking for him.
They searched everywhere, but there was no sign of the child. Where could a two or three-year-old child go? At that time, they all suspected that the child had an accident. Suddenly they remembered that there was a lotus pond in the family garden, so they went to the lotus pond to look for it.
.As a result, they only picked up one of the child's shoes on the shore.
The clan leader knew that something was wrong, so he planned to go down to the lotus pond to take a look. Suddenly someone handed the clan leader a note, asking him to go back now.
After the clan leader returned, he found a wooden box placed in the yard. The clan leader stumbled and almost lost his balance. He was afraid of the wooden box.
Later, the patriarch closed his eyes tightly and opened the wooden box in one go.
I saw Zijian squatting in the box. After seeing his grandfather, he shouted that his master was great and that he would be discovered by his grandfather even if he hid in the box.
The clan leader knew that this was not a false alarm, because Zi Jian would not scare them intentionally, and Zi Jian would not let anyone send him a note.
The man just now looked a little strange, but he was in a hurry to come back and didn't pursue it.
He asked Zi Jian what was going on. Zi Jian only remembered that an older brother took him to play hide and seek. He always played in his yard, and no one accompanied him on weekdays. He heard that an older brother was willing to
Playing with him, of course he quickly agreed.
He said that his elder brother asked him to hide in the wooden box, and everyone would look for him everywhere in a while. Moreover, the elder brother did not let him talk, otherwise he would never play with him again if he was discovered.
The patriarch knew that this matter was not simple, but he had no clue.
A few days later, something like this happened again. The second time, the third elder came to the door.
The third elder threatened the clan leader that if he did not agree to his request, he would not know whether he would be able to send Zi Jian back alive next time.
Even if the clan leader hates the third elder deeply, he must agree to his request because he cannot leave the Leng family or the capital now.
Many years later, the clan leader thought that the three elders would no longer threaten him. After all, Zi Jian had grown up and admitted it. He did not expect that Zi Jian would be used by them again because of his kindness.
But he knew in his heart that even if this thing didn't succeed, they would look for the next opportunity. Zi Jian was a kind-hearted person, and he would be taken advantage of by them sooner or later.
"Grandpa, the matter is over, don't think about it anymore," Zi Jian said.
After Zi Jian had a small chat with his grandfather, the clan leader felt a little tired and was going to take a nap. Zi Jian covered his grandfather with a quilt and left the house.
Zi Jian came to the yard and met A Lan in the yard.
"Is the clan leader a little tired?" Alan asked.
Zi Jian nodded and said, "Yes, he said a lot to me. I saw that he was tired, so I let him rest for a while."
"He has just recovered and is still a little weak. Don't worry, he will be fine in a few days," A Lan said.
"Master, although my grandpa didn't say it, I knew he was really sad. He always thought that he was ashamed of the Leng family. I knew he had no choice. He had no choice but to do this. I know this, grandpa.
I can't let go, because he betrayed the Leng family for me. I felt a little distressed by the way he looked just now, and I know it was all for me. Young Master, this happened all because of me. If you want to punish me, then
Please punish me." Zi Jian said excitedly.
A Lan patted Zi Jian on the shoulder and said: "Zijian, I didn't understand what was going on at first, that's why I was disappointed in the clan leader. But later I found out that he was actually not only doing it for you, but also for me and Leng.
Family, he would endure all the hardships and stay in the capital. I understand the patriarch’s temper very well. If the third elder threatened him, he could just walk away. But I was still too young at that time, and I couldn’t take over the Leng family’s business at all.
It is precisely because of this that the patriarch has to stay here. I know that the patriarch blames himself, but in fact I have stopped admiring him for a long time. On the contrary, I feel sorry for him just like you." A Lan said.
"Master..." Zi Jian asked.
"I will remember what you said, and I will do my best in the future. The Leng family's business cannot be taken lightly. I will leave the accounting issues to you," said A-Lan.
"yes."
Just like this, another half month passed, and the injuries on the three elders had almost healed, and they were now able to come down and walk around.
Ah Lan didn't delay and took Nan Qing to the clan.
"Master, why are you here?" the third elder asked.
"It's because of what you told me before. I originally planned to go to the government to ask the prefect to be accommodating and let me go, even if it never happened. However, I didn't expect that the official found the girl and shopkeeper Liu first.
, but they confessed. Fortunately, nothing happened, and now you have returned to Leng Mansion. However, the magistrate planned to take you back, but I stopped him. I told him that the three elders had actually told me
The truth is, and you have been seriously injured now. Because the government has been alerted, the prefect is unwilling to let it go. Only three elders went to the Yamen with me, but this trip will not avoid physical pain. I have tried my best, if
If Princess Hades hadn't spoken for me, I'm afraid these elders would have stayed in prison for three or four years," A-Lan said.
"What? How can this be done? We are just getting better. If we get beaten up again, wouldn't it make our injuries worse?" the great elder said excitedly.
"Brother, it's our fault. We shouldn't use Leng Zijian to threaten the clan leader. Young master, I will go back with you. However, among the three of us brothers, I am the youngest one. I should bear the responsibility for my two brothers. After all, they
You are older than me, and your body may really be unable to bear the pain of suffering again." The third elder said.
"No, the three of us are brothers, and I am your eldest brother. I can't let you suffer alone. Since we did it, the three of us will bear it together. Second brother, what do you think?"
asked.
"Brother is right. Even if only one person can go, it won't be the third brother's turn. There are me and eldest brother in front of us." The second elder said.
After hearing this, A-Lan didn't say anything, and asked someone to help the three elders get into the carriage, and they went to the Yamen together.
When they arrived at the yamen gate, the guards saw it was the young master of the Leng family and Nan Qing, and asked them to enter the inner hall.
The prefect actually received A-Lan's letter early in the morning and knew that A-Lan was coming today. After waiting for about a quarter of an hour, he slowly arrived at the front.
"I will not pursue this matter for the sake of Princess Pluto, so this matter cannot be tried openly. Otherwise, several elders may not be able to avoid prison. I have figured out what happened, then
The girl and shopkeeper Liu also made it very clear. Considering that this is a matter of the Leng family, I have sentenced the three elders to a penalty of 200 sticks each. Do more than three elders have any objections?" said the prefect.
How could the three elders dare to object? They gritted their teeth and agreed with the magistrate's judgment.
So, the three elders were taken out by the officials. When the magistrate saw that the people had been taken away, he said: "I have already told you, the first hundred sticks should be used as normal strength, and the last hundred sticks should be lighter."
"Thank you, Lord Magistrate. They are old and were punished just a few days ago. If they are punished severely today, I am afraid they will be beaten to death. My intention was just to teach them a lesson, and I did not intend to kill them." A Lan said.
"I know, and I hope they sincerely change their ways. However, what are you going to do with the girl and shopkeeper Liu who are in the prison? You can't just keep them in prison, right?" said the prefect.
"Shopkeeper Liu also gave him two hundred dollars and let him go. Leave that girl to me," A Lan said.
"Someone, bring that girl here." The Lord Magistrate said.
"yes."
Soon, the girl was brought into the front hall by the official. The girl was dressed in white and looked a little haggard.
"Sir, I'm going back home first. I've arranged a carriage at the yamen gate. After the three elders are punished, I'll just ask you to send them to the carriage." A Lan said.
"Don't worry, I will make appropriate arrangements." The prefect said.
A Lan and Nan Qing left the Yamen together with the girl and soon returned to Leng's house.
The girl didn't say a word from the moment she got on the carriage to the moment she entered Leng's house.
A-Lan found a maid to bathe and change the girl's clothes. After an hour, A-Lan saw the girl again.
No wonder Lengzi was fooled when he saw her. This girl really looks so good to me that I feel pity for her. Plus, she has been in jail these days, making her look even more haggard.
"What's your name?" Alan asked.
The girl still didn't speak, nor did she look at A-Lan.
A Lan found it strange that women in brothels were always eloquent. How could she not say a word when she was brought here? He had not seen this girl in Yanyu Tower last time. What was going on? The magistrate.
Your Excellency has also said that this girl has not said a word since she was imprisoned.
"How can I help you if you don't speak?" Alan tried again.
The girl finally looked at A-Lan and said to him: "What do you want to help me? Where is this place? Why didn't you send me back to Yanyu Tower? My bond of betrayal is still in Yanyu Tower, I have to go back."
"You were taken to prison, do you know why?" Alan asked.
"After I was sold to Yanyu Tower, I have always been a showman but not a person, but my mother didn't let me go and hung up my sign that night. I thought I would live such a life of debauchery from now on.
But the person who sold me just wanted to negotiate a business deal with me. He said that as long as I did what she said, he would buy my deed of sale and set me free. I was hesitant at first because I couldn't do it for myself.
To get out of the sea of misery, he just plotted against others. But he told me that that person was not a good person. He specialized in defrauding brothel girls of their money. He also told me a few things, all of which were stories about the young master deceiving brothel girls. In order to redress the injustice, I
I agreed to him, and he just gave me a thousand taels of silver as a thank you. He said that he just couldn't stand the young master's behavior, and he chose me because of my ugly face. He didn't take advantage of me, and he didn't take advantage of me.
After receiving the money, he left, which made me believe what he said. I followed his plan and went to the mountain road to wait for the white-faced scholar. He was so naive that he was fooled by me. When I returned to Yanyu
After going upstairs, I thought the man would come soon, but I didn't expect that an official came to my door." The girl said.
