The peony arrived early the next morning. At that time, Su Xubai and Cheng Chun had not yet gotten up, so she waited outside the house and waited for almost half an hour before she was spotted by Hongdou who came out to heat hot water.
Hongdou hurriedly invited Shaoyao in: "Why didn't you say anything since Madam is here? It's still cold in the early morning and Madam's body is not fully recovered yet. If you wait outside, you won't be afraid of catching typhoid fever!"
Hongdou spoke quickly, with a bit of blame, but it sounded warm to Shaoyao's ears. She looked at Hongdou, smiled, and said softly: "I couldn't sleep at night, and I got up early in the morning.
Some of you, when I come here, I see you haven’t gotten up yet, so I won’t disturb you!”
"My wife is used to sleeping in. If I don't call her, she can sleep until midnight!" Hong Dou said, bringing Shaoyao a bowl of sweet porridge that had been prepared long ago. "My wife, drink some porridge first to warm your stomach.
I'll wake up our lady!"
Shaoyao held the bowl of sweet porridge and nodded with a smile: "Okay, but don't worry, if she is still sleepy, let her sleep a little longer, I will just wait for a while!"
Hongdou responded and went to call someone.
When Hong Dou entered, he saw that Chengchun and Su Xubai had already gotten up. When Cheng Chun saw Hong Dou come in, he said: "Hong Dou, please bring us some water. Let's wash up and go out. Don't let Lady Shaoyao wait."
It’s too long!”
Hongdou nodded and hurried out to fetch water.
Not long after, Su Xubai and Cheng Chun walked out together. When they came out, Shaoyao had already eaten the sweet porridge, and her slightly pale face became rosier.
Chengchun hurriedly walked to Shaoyao and sat down: "How come my sister came so early and didn't say a word when she came? It's dewy in the morning now. Don't get cold by then!"
"Why do you and Hongdou always say the same thing? You two don't look like master and servant. You are obviously good sisters!" Shaoyao said with a smile.
Chengchun looked back at Hongdou, and then smiled: "Hongdou and I are close friends of life and death, so naturally we are the best sisters!"
Shaoyao paused, then said with a smile: "You sent someone to tell me yesterday and asked me to come here this morning. Is there something wrong?"
"Yes, as soon as our master came back yesterday, I told him about you. He asked you to come over and he wanted to talk to you!" Cheng Chun looked at Su Xubai aside, "Sir, Sister Shaoyao
Come here, next..."
"Come to the study with me. There are some things that are not easy to talk about here." Su Xubai looked at Shaoyao and said lightly.
Shaoyao was a little surprised, but still got up and followed Su Xubai to the study next door, while Cheng Chun sat down to drink porridge.
"Madam, do you think Madam Shaoyao will agree?" Hongdou walked to Chengchun and asked in a low voice.
Chengchun looked at the sweet porridge in the bowl and said calmly: "Promise, why don't you agree? Although it is very dangerous, at least there is a possibility of surviving like this. Otherwise, she will only die. In today's world,
, once a woman enters the yamen, how can she possibly come out alive? Even if she does come out alive, she has been ruined and has no way out for the rest of her life. We are willing to help her, which is the only way for her.
A possible way to survive."
Hongdou was silent for a long time, and then said: "Then, will our master really help her?"
"Although I don't think he is a good person, he will still do it well if he agrees to other people's things." Chengchun looked at the porridge bowl in front of him, "If Shaoyao is smart enough, he can take advantage of this moment to recover.
Now a free woman, she is no longer a lowly citizen, but she still has a long way to go in the future."
Hongdou didn't speak anymore, just stayed by Chengchun's side quietly.
Shaoyao followed Su Xubai to calligraphy. Compared with Hu Sheng's study, Su Xubai's study seemed a bit messy. There were many things piled up on the desk. It was obvious that he was usually very busy.
Su Xubai sat down in front of the table, while Shaoyao just stood there, not daring to speak.
"Do you know what kind of crime it is to buy and sell by force?" Su Xubai looked at the peony and said lightly.
Shaoyao nodded.
"I heard that the rich businessman died miserably, and he was a kind man. He donated a large amount of money to the court every year to buy new clothes for the poor for the New Year. For such people who were persecuted like this, the court often gave them
A serious crime!" Su Xubai said softly, tapping the table firmly and forcefully with his index finger.
"I really don't know anything. How could I, a concubine, be so capable of murdering a wealthy businessman?" Shaoyao said quickly, "I really don't know anything. I only know that house.
, it was not easy for Hu Sheng to buy..."
"But it's your name on the house deed. It can be said that you borrowed his identity to act recklessly in Yangzhou. At most, he will be scolded a few times, fined some money, demoted from an official position, and he will continue to live his normal life.
days, but you don’t know if someone will give you a mat to help you collect the body at the end!" Su Xubai looked at Shaoyao and said coldly.
Shaoyao trembled all over, and knelt down in front of Su Xubai with excitement: "Master Su, I have nothing to offer, and I am a lowly person. Although I have nothing to repay you, I can be a cow for you."
Don Ma, I just ask you to save me! From the beginning to the end, I have never harmed anyone. Really, I swear that I have never harmed anyone. I just want to live with a little dignity."
Su Xubai looked at the trembling Shaoyao in front of him, feeling a little unbearable. After a long time, he said: "Shaoyao, I don't need anyone to act as a cow or a horse for me. For Achun's sake, I
I can save you, but you have to show your sincerity!"
Shaoyao looked up at Su Xubai with a puzzled look on his face: "Sincerity?"
"Yes, sincerity!" Su Xubai laughed, "A Chun is a simple person. She thinks that everyone in the world is good, so you can deceive her, but you can't deceive me. In the beginning, you
There is a purpose in contacting her. Both you and Mr. Hu are testing the bottom line between me and her, testing whether I am really lustful, and testing whether Achun is really greedy for money!"
Shaoyao's face turned pale in an instant, her thoughts were exposed so nakedly in front of her, it would be a lie to say she didn't feel guilty.
"That girl Ah Chun is easy to talk to. She feels sorry for you and insists on letting me help you. I couldn't bear to make her sad so I agreed to help you. But your case is already confirmed and the evidence is conclusive. If you want to turn over, it will be very difficult.
Difficult!" Su Xubai looked at the peony in front of him and said coldly.