Peach concubine

Jian Ruolin sat at the edge of the table, leaning on the edge of the table and trying to stand up, but she couldn't stand still and fell back again.

Even though there was a whole courtyard away, the noisy and annoying scolding from the front yard still faintly passed through.Every time, it was like a sharp knife piercing his heart, and the pain made his face paler and paler.

"What's going on?" Jian Ruolin could even hear that her voice was trembling violently. After all, she had just taken over the Liufang Pavilion not long ago, and the disadvantages of ignoring the business and trivial matters in the pavilion were finally revealed at this moment. For such a big matter, when a group of guests came to the door, they panicked for a while, and could only say in a low voice: "I personally handle the spices and medicinal materials, and you also supervised the production period, Uncle Qi. What, how come……"

The old man Qi Shu who was standing opposite him also had a worried expression on his face, wondering how the good incense powder in Liufang Pavilion could be mixed with poison.Jian Ruoxi had just died, and Liufang Pavilion had just changed to a new owner. If something happened at this juncture, the signboard of Liufang Pavilion would be smashed from now on—the fragrance powder is poisonous, who would dare to come to the door buy?

At this moment, a lot of guests gathered outside the door, holding the incense powder bought from Liufang Pavilion in their hands, they gathered at the door and shouted curses, asking the owner of the pavilion to come out and give them an explanation.

Seeing the noise getting louder and louder, Jian Ruolin couldn't sit still, so she pretended to be calm and said, "Uncle Qi, I'll go out and have a look."

But Uncle Qi stopped him: "Second Master, you can't do it. Now they are angry, and they won't listen to explanations. It's no use if you go out, but you will become a target of public criticism."

Jian Ruolin hesitated for a while, but decided to go out and make it clear: "No, I can't hide here. I am the owner of Liufang Pavilion. At this time, I should stand up and give everyone an explanation. Will they listen? It's one thing to go in, and I have to take my responsibility personally. There is no reason for people from the Jane family to be cowardly."

After some sonorous words, Jian Ruolin finally straightened her back and walked out step by step.

As soon as he arrived at the door, he was frightened by the crowd like a sea of ​​people. Looking around, they were all crowded with people, and there were one or two powder boxes in their hands. At a glance, they knew that they were from Liufang Pavilion.

When everyone saw someone coming out, they almost rushed forward, yelling at each other.

"Losing money!", "Fake goods!", and "profiteer" came into her ears, and Jian Ruolin could hardly control the fighting and chill that erupted from the inside out.The sunlight dazzled his eyes so much that he couldn't stand up.

The crowd was so excited that Uncle Qi could only let go of his voice and yell a few times: "Be quiet, everyone, be quiet, my second master has something to say."

After yelling several times, the voice in the crowd slowly subsided.

Jian Ruolin's complexion was slightly pale, and a pair of bright snowy eyes slowly scanned the crowd below, and the people he saw couldn't help but calm down, comforted by his calm demeanor.Jian Ruolin is a rare beauty. Although she is a man, she has slender eyebrows and slender eyes, red lips and white teeth, and at the moment, because she is panicking in her heart, there is a slight twist between her eyebrows and eyes, which makes people notice it Intimacy comes.

After a while, Jian Ruolin finally heard Jian Ruolin say: "Everyone, don't be impatient, just listen to me. I have been making incense in the Fragrance Pavilion for more than [-] years, and I have never dared to slack off at every level. Naturally, there have never been any problems. This time the incense powder is mixed with poison, Liufang Pavilion will definitely investigate the whole story, trace the source of the toxin, and find out who did it!"

As soon as the words fell, the crowd began to discuss again, and someone said: "You are saying that the powder is mixed with poison, and it has nothing to do with your Liufang Pavilion? I bought the rouge powder from your pavilion. If this is the case, you all want to evade it by saying 'we must find out the truth'?!" This question was well-organized and elegant, unlike ordinary vulgar people, Jian Ruolin couldn't help but glance at the source of the voice , but it is a beautifully dressed young woman with a vivacious look.On that face, there were really a few horrible red spots.

After such a commotion, Uncle Qi had to yell again: "Be quiet and listen to my second master."

After some difficulty, the mood of the crowd calmed down again, and Jian Ruolin spoke again: "My Jian family has been in the incense powder business for more than 30 years. Everyone must have heard about it. This time The incense powder in Liufang Pavilion has been poisoned, no matter whether it is the responsibility of my pavilion or not, it is still hard to shirk the blame, Liufang Pavilion will never shirk the blame."

After he paused for a while, he raised his voice and continued: "Listen everyone, anyone who has purchased incense powder from our pavilion, as long as the original is still there, can go to Liufang Pavilion according to the purchased incense powder box, and use it as a gift." Double the price to recycle, so as not to harm others. You can also tell the left and right neighbors that all the incense powder sold in my pavilion can be exchanged for double money in the pavilion. In addition, because some incense powder in my pavilion is used Those who have erythema on the face can bring the prescription from the pharmacy to the cabinet to compensate the medical fee and consultation fee at the original price!"

His way of dealing with it can only be regarded as an act of mending the situation after a dead sheep, that's all that can be done in a nutshell.Even if he had to lose a lot of money, he still couldn't lose the reputation of Liufang Pavilion.

Uncle Qi applauded secretly, and said loudly: "Now you can enter the cabinet one by one to receive the compensation."

Originally, the erythema on the face was actually not a serious problem. The doctor knew the cause, and after the diagnosis and treatment, he only needed to take a few doses of medicine and take care of it slowly.Now that Liufang Pavilion is willing to come forward to pay double the compensation, and is willing to bear the medical fees and consultation fees, these people who keep saying "seeking an explanation" will naturally have nothing to do when they get money compensation.

Looking at each other, they all seem to be moved by Jian Ruolin's words, and they are ready to receive the money regardless of previous suspicions.

At this moment, a voice suddenly sounded, cursing: "My mother's face was made into such a look by your rouge, do you want to pay two small pennies? You profiteers, every good thing, relying on your own money Just do whatever you want! I don't care about your stinky money!" When he said the last sentence, a powder box flew over and hit Jian Ruolin's forehead before he could catch it.

Immediately, as if in response to this person's actions, several more powder boxes were thrown towards Jian Ruolin.It's just that Uncle Qi and a group of servants took precautions and quickly protected Jian Ruolin behind them, so they didn't get hit again.

As a result, the people who had been calming down just now gradually became angry again, and threw out the powder boxes in their hands one after another. The targets were Jian Ruolin who was standing there in a daze.

Unexpectedly, Jian Ruolin was smashed unexpectedly, and felt a burning pain in the corner of her forehead, and then she was frightened by the boxes thrown at her, and she froze on the spot.The body was staggered by the swarming crowd, but in front of my eyes were magnified faces full of anger, which kept flickering past.

Occasionally, a few boxes still hit the shoulders and arms, etc., but I didn't feel any pain. I just felt empty in my heart, as if I was having a nightmare.I am like a narrow boat, floating in the wind and waves, but even a straw that can save life, God is stingy to give.Jian Ruolin thought of his elder brother's death, and thought of breaking up with Xiao Jingmo, it seemed that he was left alone in this world, struggling hard.

Finally, amidst the noise and pushing, he was hugged into a warm and generous embrace.

The person holding him whispered softly in his ear: "It's okay, Ruolin, I'm here."

Jian Ruolin froze at first, then let her body go limp, and leaned against the man as if she was powerless, plunged into the man's arms, escaping the clamor and abuse from the outside world, and wrapped her arms around the man's waist silently.

The person who came was Xiao Jingmo, who embraced Jian Ruolin with his strong arms, isolated the pushing crowd, and circled a quiet place for him with his body.Hearing the butler talk about Liufang Pavilion, Xiao Jingmo had only one thought in his mind for an instant: "He needs me!" Running all the way, he saw the scene where Jian Ruolin was hit on the forehead by a powder box at the gate of Liufang Pavilion.

A chill came over his chest, accompanied by a deeper, silent pain.

Xiao Jingmo's heart ached, he just wanted to hug him tightly, but he was afraid of hurting him too much, so he could only caress the top of his hair one after another, giving silent comfort.

In Jian Ruolin's room, Xiao Jingmo was holding a medicine bottle in one hand, and a piece of cotton cloth in the other hand. After dipping the liquid medicine in the bottle, he gently wiped it on the wound on Jian Ruolin's forehead.

Originally, Jian Ruolin's complexion was fair, but now there was a bright red mark on her forehead, which made the red and white more distinct.

The image of the fair skin stained with bright red blood, for no reason, showed a sense of grievance and strangeness, which actually entangled Xiao Jingmo for a whole day and night.Whether it was walking, dancing swords, eating, or even sleeping, Jian Ruolin's pale face was always in his mind, clearly unable to support his frail appearance, yet he still pretended to be calm and strong.

Xiao Jingmo was hesitant to think about whether to lend a helping hand—it wasn't that he was cold-hearted, but that he couldn't get anything back with his best efforts regarding Jian Ruolin's matter.When she was discouraged, an accident happened suddenly in Liufang Pavilion, and Jian Ruolin was hit hard. No matter how rational she was, deep down in her heart, she couldn't help but have the idea of ​​"breaking that man's wings so that he can be imprisoned in his arms easily" Come.What Jian Ruolin relied on was nothing but the family business of the Jian family. If, if the Liufang Pavilion were destroyed, Jian Ruolin would be alone... For such a proud person, the only person who can rely on him at that time is himself!

He really can't blame him for this. The environment he grew up in, fighting openly and secretly between brothers, and turbulent undercurrents in the family are still dictated by habit. His first reaction was to think about problems with the tricks and thinking methods he used to mediate in danger.But there is still another voice in my heart, if Jian Ruolin is really ruined, what will happen?

He didn't dare to continue thinking about it...

Xiao Jingmo couldn't help cursing himself for his dirty thoughts. At night, he followed the familiar path and climbed into the wall of Jian's courtyard, only to see Jian Ruolin wearing thin plain clothes, standing in front of the mourning hall, muttering to himself.The flickering candlelight only reflected Jian Ruolin's handsome face. The black and white shadows outlined the handsome appearance of the man. There were two circles of white gauze on his head, revealing a circle of pink blood, which made one feel pity gushing from the bottom of his heart. .

The night was quiet, and Jian Ruolin's voice was soft, choked with sobs, drifting away like blue smoke.

"Brother, I can't do it, I really can't do it...Why did you leave so early, the burden at home is so heavy, I want to bear it for you, but I can't bear it...I don't know what to do, Brother, if you know, can you tell me..."

Xiao Jingmo hid in the shadow of the peach tree trunk, watched Jian Ruolin through the window all night.

The sky was twilight, and Xiao Jingmo quietly moved his body to escape just like when he came here.

When we returned to Zangjiao Villa, it was already broad daylight, and a few lone geese flew by in the sky. Xiao Jingmo stared blankly for a while, and finally made up his mind.Regardless of whether Jian Ruolin accepts this favor or not, he will do his best to help him!

Xiao Jingmo knew very well what kind of existence Liufang Pavilion was to Jian Ruolin. If such a gentle and docile person were only for Xiao Jingmo's bad luck, he would definitely not use such scheming and schemes.Only in order for Liufang Pavilion to survive, and to maintain the family business that his father and brother worked so hard to manage, will he spend all his energy and effort.

Xiao Jingmo immediately spurned his previous thought of sitting on the sidelines, and the distress in his heart became more and more obvious.

The jasper hairpin in his arms was lying quietly, but Xiao Jingmo's constantly groping fingers rubbed it with a little warmth.

Xiao Jingmo thought of that night, under the lights of thousands of houses, Jian Ruolin's face as beautiful as a picture scroll, and his slightly fascinated eyes when looking at him, he put a mahogany hairpin on him, but took away what he had originally used The Jade hairpin to tie the hair.He remembered that the man clearly resisted and hesitated, but in the end he still smiled gently and let him go.

Such a beautiful and moist person... It really is because I don't know how to cherish it.

Sighing lightly, Xiao Jingmo looked out the window and suddenly called out: "Wei!"

In broad daylight, a black shadow leaped in nimbly, kneeling in front of Xiao Jingmo: "Master."

"Go and find out if Jian's family had old enemies before, whether Jian Sheng and Jian Ruoxi had any enemies in business; the list and information of other rouge and powder shops in Suzhou City except Liufang Pavilion." After pondering for a while, Xiao Jingmo then added: "Also, who is responsible for the operation process of making and selling incense powder in Liufang Pavilion, as well as the origin and background of the new servants in the pavilion in the past three months, Check it all out for me."

The black-clothed man named "Wei" is Xiao Jingmo's personal bodyguard. He listened to the order and did not ask his master why he pursued him. Instead, he obeyed the order: "Yes!" No trace.

Xiao Jingmo was anxious, and he couldn't stay in the village to wait for the news. He was restless all day long.

Wanzhen knew what he was worried about, so she had to explain a few words from the side.Xiao Jingmo also had no appetite during lunch, so he put down his chopsticks after hastily eating something.Wanzhen saw it in her eyes, but she didn't know what it was like in her heart.It's just that in the afternoon, I personally supervised the servants, and made a bowl of bird's nest and lotus seed soup, which tasted refreshing and sweet. Wanzhen thought it would be a perfect addition to Xiao Jingmo's meal, so she brought it over with the support of the girl.

As soon as Xiao Jingmo met, he complained: "Didn't I tell you to rest well, what are you doing so busy?"

Wanzhen smiled and said: "I didn't do it myself, I just watched from the sidelines. This bird's nest and lotus seed soup is just slightly hot, so let's eat some now. You, you didn't eat much at noon, so how can you do it?"

Xiao Jingmo knew that Wanzhen had good intentions, and it was hard to refuse, so he could only take a few mouthfuls.

The vague uneasiness in my heart became apparent at this moment, making my heart feel like a mess.Xiao Jingmo frowned, and asked the servant to clean up the half-eaten bowl of bird's nest soup.

While still gossiping with Wanzhen about homework, he didn't want the young boy to slip his hand, and the bowl fell out of his hand and hit the ground directly.

"Huang Dang" sounded loud and clear, and a good bowl was broken into several pieces.

Xiao Jingmo frowned, and there seemed to be something hidden under the skin in his forehead, pulsating.

A little later, Xiao Jingmo finally couldn't sit still, he knew that Jian Ruolin probably wasn't in the Jian's house during the day, so he didn't bother to go out and walked directly to Liufang Pavilion.When they got there, they secretly sneaked into the living room, but they couldn't see Jian Ruolin's shadow, and then quietly went to the greenhouse and storeroom, but they still didn't see anyone; finally, they went to the front hall to search, but they still didn't see anyone. A person with a deep heart.

I couldn't bear to stop a boy and asked him: "Where is your second master?"

"Second master didn't come to the pavilion today, so I don't know what happened."

After Xiao Jingmo let go of him, he felt more and more empty and panicked.Immediately, he stepped up and went to Jian's house, instead of going through the main entrance, he climbed over the wall and jumped into the backyard from the peach blossom tree.There was no one in Jian Ruolin's room, nor in the mourning hall.Xiao Jingmo turned around before he saw Xiao Si'er in the aisle.

"Where's your second son? Why can't you find anyone?" Xiao Jingmo was anxious, jumped out and grabbed him and asked.

However, Xiao Si'er's eyes were red the moment he saw Xiao Jingmo, and he sniffed aggrievedly. When Xiao Jingmo asked him, he said pitifully, "Xiao, where have you been, Mr. Xiao? You have been arrested." Let's go." Still with a complaining tone, it seemed that Xiao Jingmo didn't protect his young master well.

"What's going on, who caught him?"

Xiao Si'er flattened his mouth: "Early this morning, the officials of the yamen sent to lock up people. They said that a girl used the incense powder made by the young master and died of poisoning. They want to take the young master to the court for interrogation." He said. He choked up sobbing, and shook Xiao Jingmo's sleeve sadly: "Young Master Xiao, you should think of a way to save the young master, the incense powder that the young master makes may be poisonous..."

When Xiao Jingmo heard the news for the first time, he felt very restless in his heart, and he couldn't care less about Si'er's pleadings.While in a daze, a jasper hairpin slipped out of the sleeve grabbed by Xiao Si'er due to the shaking of the outside world, and fell to the ground.Xiao Jingmo stretched out his hand to rescue it like a baby, but before he could, he saw the hairpin fell to the ground, so he quickly picked it up and looked around.After the inspection, no crack damage was found, and I was relieved.

But Xiao Si'er, who was standing on the side, stopped crying, and stared at the hairpin with wide eyes: "Isn't this your son's thing?" He raised his head innocently, and asked, "It was Mr. Xiao who picked it up." right?"

Xiao Si'er didn't know about the ambiguity between the two of them, Xiao Jingmo naturally didn't know how to explain it at this moment, so he could only falter and haw.

Xiaosi paused for a while, but said: "This eldest son also has a branch. I heard from my son that it was left to them when the wife was still alive, and let them pass it on to the two future young ladies of the Jian family... ...Young master has been carrying it, but it disappeared a few days ago, and I am still surprised, it turned out to be lost..."

Xiao Si'er muttered something later, but Xiao Jingmo didn't pay attention—he had already heard the most important part.

He is a person who is used to having fun, and he has never been stingy with sweet words like "like", but he has confessed his feelings to Jian Ruolin several times, but that person has never really responded verbally, which made him feel a little bit Regrets and lumps in my heart.It wasn't until now that he realized that that person had already promised to be in love and stay together.

On the night of the Lantern Festival, when he acquiesced in taking away his jasper hairpin, he silently made the promise!

He naturally knew how serious Jian Ruolin was. If it wasn't for the affection in his heart, how could he have easily taken away this jade hairpin with special meaning!It's ridiculous that I was still hesitant at that time, and even cruelly stretched out my hand first, pushing that person's thoughts far away!

Xiao Jingmo suddenly staggered and took two steps back, with bitterness and endless annoyance on his face.