Tong Aning, still in surprise, lifted the curtain and said, "Now even husbands can be bought and sold?"
Mu Yao was also very curious, so she came over and looked outside with Tong Aning.
Like them, many people outside were also drawn to the spectacle and stopped to watch.
Knowing that the two young ladies were interested, A Shu specially stopped the carriage.
Because they were in the carriage, even though the area was surrounded by a huge crowd, Tong Aning and Mu Yao were still able to see the people in the middle.
Three women and one man.
One of the women appeared to be a maid; she was the one who had been banging the drums and gongs, eager to spread the news.
As the crowd grew larger, the man tried to escape but couldn't find a gap. He angrily questioned the woman opposite him, "What are you doing? Are you crazy?"
"Why are you only getting anxious now? Where were you before?" Zhao Qianrong smiled slightly. "Didn't you say you wanted to pursue a bright future?"
Having said that, she ignored her good husband and the wealthy young lady beside him, and announced loudly, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is my husband. After ten years of hard study, he finally passed the imperial examination this year and became a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations). His future is limitless. Look at my husband, apart from being a heartless man, he is quite handsome. You can all make your own offers; my husband will definitely be willing, after all, he has already sold himself once!"
As she finished speaking, Zhao Qianrong's voice was tinged with coldness.
Wei Feng was furious at the sight.
Before he became a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), Zhao Qianrong also frequented the student community, helping him build connections and handle trivial matters. Zhao Qianrong's expression back then was exactly the same as it is now.
But now she's doing this to sell him, her husband, off!
This is intolerable!
Zhao Qianrong!
Zhao Qianrong turned around, looked at Wei Feng, and smiled gently. She said magnanimously, "Husband, what's wrong? You said this Miss Cao could give me a lot of money. I thought, what difference does it make who I sell it to?"
Zhao Qianrong's smile became increasingly irritating.
Cao Xiang urged, " Wei Feng, you need to resolve this matter quickly, I'm losing all face!"
Wei Feng quickly replied, "Okay, okay."
Zhao Qianrong was not far from them, and she could hear Wei Feng's soft, coaxing tone clearly.
In every day and night in the past when her husband was impatient with her at home, did he ever try to soothe her in such a gentle voice when they were out together?
It's ironic that she went to such lengths for him and received such a reward in return.
Zhao Qianrong gripped the handkerchief in her hand, somewhat disappointed, and said, "Is there no one bidding?"
The onlookers were buzzing with discussion.
"Is this a case of abandoning one's wife for a better opportunity?"
"That's not all, didn't you hear? That young lady was planning to buy her husband from his wife. This isn't how you humiliate someone."
"Yeah, does having money mean you can do this?"
"And this good-for-nothing husband of hers, he's no better... If someone had a vegetable scrap, I'd be so angry I'd want to smash them both to death."
"I have some, I have some. Just pick some rotten leaves; good leaves aren't worth it."
The crowd became agitated, and some even threw rotten eggs.
Seeing their disheveled state, Tong Aning felt a great sense of satisfaction.
She said, "So people should do more good deeds."
Mu Yao echoed, "Yes."
" A Shu, let's go back to the manor."
"Yes, miss."
Back at the manor, Tong Aning pestered Mu Yao to paint her portrait.
Mu Yao always doted on her, and seeing her like this, she asked Danqing to bring out the easel.
Mu Yao picked up the paints while explaining them to Tong Aning.
Mu Yao bought quite a lot of paint, and fearing she might get thirsty from talking, Tong Aning went to pour her a cup of hot water halfway through.
Mu Yao said, "Thank you for your Aning."
"What's the big deal?" Tong Aning's eyes curved into crescents as she watched Mu Yao drink water, her chin resting on her hand. Mu Yao was so beautiful that even drinking water was a delight to behold.
On the contrary, Mu Yao felt embarrassed by her gaze.
While Mu Yao was painting, Tong Aning ground the ink for her. Tong Aning's image gradually appeared on the paper, and Tong Aning exclaimed in amazement, "Sister Mu Yao, you are amazing!"
Mu Yao stopped writing, and Danqing handed her a handkerchief to wipe her hands. Mu Yao said softly, "It will look even better tomorrow after you've colored it."
"Good."
Worried that Mu Yao was tired, Tong Aning stood behind Mu Yao and massaged her shoulders.
She learned a set of massage techniques from Xue Ruyun, and after being massaged by her, Mu Yao felt much better.
Watching Mu Yao drink her medicine, Danqing timely placed a sugar pill to Mu Yao's lips. Mu Yao put it in her mouth, and the sweetness instantly replaced the original bitterness.
Tong Aning took out a white porcelain bottle from her bosom and said, "These contain new sugar pills."
These sugar pills were all made by Tong Aning for Mu Yao.
It contains some medicinal herbs that can complement the medicine Mu Yao just drank; these herbs were originally intended to be added to the medicine anyway.
Tong Aning thought about it for a long time before coming up with this idea.
Mu Yao knew that Tong Aning had worked very hard, and that the Tong family treated her so well; she was truly lucky.
Coincidentally, Tong Fengye's letter arrived, and the two read it together.
Tong Fengye originally intended to write a letter home, a letter to Mu Yao.
There might be three or four letters now.
Sometimes it was given to Tong Yibin alone, and sometimes it was given to Tong Siyan alone. Everyone in the Tong family received a share, but Tong Aning received the most.
Tong Aning opened it and read it.
He kept asking Tong Aning how she was doing at the Ministry of Rites; he was being sarcastic at first, but then suddenly became serious.
Tong Aning's eyes were red.
After reading the letter, Mu Yao asked Danqing to put it in the box and put it away. Seeing that Tong Aning was still holding the letter, Mu Yao asked, " Aning, are you going to put your letter away?"
Tong Aning said one thing but meant another, "I burned them all."
Mu Yao laughed.
*
A few days later, news of a death came from the capital: the youngest son of the Marquis of Changle had died in battle. The Marquis of Changle was heartbroken and fainted from crying in the court.
"I heard that the youngest son of the Marquis of Changle ran off on his own. He saw that his elder brother had married a princess, and fearing he would fall too far behind, he wanted to make a name for himself, but..."
"What a pity. I remember the eldest son of the Marquis of Changle is also in the army, isn't he?"
"That's right. They originally went to bring their younger brother back, but now they're coming back with a coffin. They must be feeling terrible."
Su Zhouyue was deeply moved when she heard about this.
But soon, she began to worry about Tong Fengye.
She asked Tong Aobai, "Will our Fengye...?"
Tong Aobai said, "No, that won't happen."
"What if something really happens to Fengye..."
Tong Aobai was silent for a moment, then said in a low voice, "That was his own choice."
Su Zhouyue's heart sank, and Tong Aning's heart pounded.
Fortunately, Xixi said that Tong Fengye could live to be eighty years old, which put the Tong family at ease.
However, Su Zhouyue still went to the temple the next day.
There, she met Feng Chu's older sister Feng Jingruo.
Because of this incident, Feng Jingruo was also terrified of Feng Chu. She had several nightmares last night, and before dawn this morning, she sent someone to prepare the carriage. Her husband, Yan Yunze, was worried about her and came with her.
Su Zhouyue said, "Don't worry, Feng Chu is fine."
This was also revealed by the system her daughter used, named Xixi.
Feng Jingruo looked at Su Zhouyue and saw her serious expression. She knew that this must be news she got from Tong Aning, and her spirits lifted.
On the way back, Feng Jingruo into tears of joy.
She said, " Achu is alright, Achu is alright."
Yan Yunze patted her back. Seeing his wife like this, his heart, which had been hanging in suspense, was finally at ease. Coming to this temple was truly the right decision.
He asked in a low voice, "Will you still give me the amulet?"
"Of course we'll send it."
Yan Yunze smiled. "Okay, I'll make the arrangements when we get back."
*
In August, the eldest son of the Marquis of Changle returned to the capital with his younger brother's coffin.
Su Zhouyue took Tong Aning to pay their respects.
The Chang Le Marquis's residence was draped in white mourning clothes. The Marquis of Chang Le, despite his illness, rose to greet the guests. He looked as if he had aged more than ten years in an instant, with his temples turning gray.
Tong Aning also saw the youngest daughter-in-law of the Marquis of Changle, who was clinging to the coffin and wailing loudly.
well.
Faced with life and death, no one can remain unmoved.
Tong Aning turned her head away reluctantly, but suddenly noticed that Weng Qingrui was acting strangely.
The princess stood beside him, and she was also heartbroken, but instead of comforting his wife, he stared at... his sister-in-law.
Is that correct?
[ Xixi, don't you think Weng Qingrui is acting strangely?]
[Host, he is not Weng Qingrui, he is Weng Qingtao.]
Tong Aning: "!!!"
The guests all paused, noting that many high-ranking officials had come this time. This was the little fairy from the Tong family; what she said must be true, but...
Princess Jianing and her youngest daughter-in-law, Chai Mo, stiffened and both looked at Weng Qingrui.
Weng Qingrui asked softly, " Jianing, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
Although Weng Qingrui and Weng Qingtao were twins, how could Jianing not recognize her husband? His tone and expression were exactly the same as her husband's, but...
Weng Qingrui was still staring at Jianing, Jianing shook her head.
"Go back to your room and rest. I'll take care of everything here."
Just as Jianing was about to agree, that inner voice appeared again.
[ Xixi, wasn't Weng Qingtao dead?]
[The one who died was Weng Qingrui. Weng Qingtao had always been jealous of his elder brother, feeling that because they were twins, and because he was born just a quarter of an hour later than his brother, he missed out on the position of heir apparent and the chance to marry the princess. All the good things went to his elder brother, so he simply killed his brother and took his place.]
Tong Aning was shocked: [He killed his older brother?]
[Yes, one fatal blow, a truly gruesome death.]
Tong Aning felt a pang of regret.
[The host is utterly disgusting; he's even dreaming of taking two wives and enjoying the bliss of having two wives.]
Tong Aning: yue
Weng Qingrui called out several times before Jianing came to her senses.
The man in front of her was her brother-in-law, and he had killed her husband?
Good, very good!
The overwhelming hatred in Jianing's chest was about to burst forth, but she told herself to stay calm; she needed to verify it.
In the evening, all the guests had left.
Her husband actually brought up the matter of taking two wives as heirs.
He couldn't wait that long.
Weng Qingtao, that beast!
Jianing slapped him, then summoned Chai Mo, who was hiding in her room, and called out her guards, saying simply, "Kill him!"