Peach concubine

Just as Jian Ruolin put down the account book in her hand, she rubbed her stiff neck sadly, when she heard someone at the door asking respectfully, "But Mr. Jian Ruolin?" He looked up and saw a man who looked like a servant, He recognized the clothes on the man's body, which belonged exclusively to the servants of the Marquis of Pingyang, so he replied: "I am."

The young man arched his waist and said in a low voice: "Young Master just came back from the palace today, and specially sent a villain to pick up Young Master Jian and go to Nanmingxuan for a gathering. The carriages and horses are already outside the door, please Mr. Jian will go with the villain."

Nanmingxuan is a tea house in Kyoto, with an elegant style and a secluded location, where many literati and scholars like to gather and drink tea.

Jian Ruolin thought, this was probably another trick played by Xiao Jingmo on a whim, so she just smiled helplessly, packed up the account book and got up, and replied very politely: "I'm sorry, brother."

The servant bowed respectfully, stretched out a hand to signal Jian Ruolin to go first, and then followed behind with lowered eyebrows.

After leaving the back door of Liufang Pavilion, there was indeed a carriage parked there, which was exactly the type of carriage used in Xiao Jingmo's house on weekdays.

Jian Ruolin stepped into the carriage, and waited for the carriage to drive leisurely for a while, and when it stopped, the young man graciously opened the curtain for him to ask him to get off: "Young Master Jian, you have arrived."

This Nanmingxuan is the most famous in Kyoto, so although it is located in a remote place, the decoration is gorgeous and elegant, which does not have a taste of elegance and refinement. There are always a bunch of self-proclaimed arty students gathered on weekdays.But looking at it today, Nan Mingxuan seemed a little deserted, and when he looked in from the gate, he couldn't see anyone.

Jian Ruolin couldn't help feeling puzzled: "Why is there no one there?"

The boy's eyes seemed to flicker for a moment, and then he replied: "Master Xiaohou booked Nan Mingxuan early in the morning, dismissed a group of idlers, and is now waiting in the wing room on the second floor. You should hurry up, my lord. I'm afraid the young master should wait in a hurry."

Jian Ruolin glanced at him for a while, then walked in through the lobby. The refreshing incense tablets were still lit in the hall, and the light smell permeated the entire hall.Jian Ruolin sniffed this smell, and suddenly turned her head and looked at the boy who led him here. She could only see a trace of panic on the boy's face, but she only glanced at it, and Jian Ruolin said nothing. He silently walked up the stairs to the second floor, walked to the door of the only wing room, and stretched out his hand to push the door open.

The smell of Ziyi Shenxiang in the room became stronger, and the room was covered with heavy curtains, which looked rather gloomy, but Jian Ruolin looked as usual, and walked straight in until she saw the person sitting in the lord's seat. Talent stops.

"Grassman Jian Ruolin, I have met Mrs. Xiao." Jian Ruolin cupped her hands and saluted without being humble or overbearing.

Mrs. Xiao was still wearing the clothes that Jian Ruolin wore when she first entered the Hou's mansion to meet him, but her expression was a little more gloomy and indifferent than last time.She was originally a dignified and powerful woman with a serious expression, but she sat there expressionlessly at this moment, even if she didn't need to make any movements, it could still bring an inexplicable sense of oppression.

But at this moment, Mrs. Xiao was a little surprised: "You don't seem surprised that the person you saw was me."

"Ruo Lin guessed it just now. The young man said that the young master had booked Nan Mingxuan early in the morning, but when I entered the lobby, the fragrance of the incense slices lit in the hall was very strong. This kind of fragrance can only last for a while. It is time to add new incense slices regularly to maintain the fragrance. If the young master had hired Nan Mingxuan early in the morning and dismissed everyone, how could the incense sticks have been burned until now? Ruolin inevitably had a question in his heart, isn’t it Xiaohou? Lord, then who else can lure Ruo Lin here with a car from the Hou Mansion? To be honest, Ruo Lin didn't think about you, Madam, at first, but when he entered this room, the smell of pleasant fragrance was really strong. It's too strong, if Ruolin remembers correctly, Mrs. Xiao really likes this refreshing fragrance."

After Jian Ruolin finished speaking in a soft tone, Mrs. Xiao already had a smile on her face: "Sure enough, she is a child with seven orifices, and I was thinking before, what kind of mind and skillful hands are able to do this?" Create such a refreshing fragrance."

Jian Ruolin is still that way of being flattered or humiliated: "Madam has a bad reputation."

Mrs. Xiao stood up, and the maid beside her took the initiative to step forward to support her, so Mrs. Xiao looked at Jian Ruolin for a while with a little playfulness, and suddenly smiled. When she was young, she once She is an alluring beauty. Although she is getting older, she still has a charming charm. When she smiles, she has a noble and bright beauty that cannot be ignored: "I was surprised at first... but now I probably understand. No wonder Moer I care so much about you." As soon as the words came out, every word was thorny.

No matter how indifferent or calm Jian Ruolin's temperament is, her face will turn pale after hearing such words. The world is indeed not lenient enough to tolerate two men falling in love.What's more, Xiao Jingmo is the prince of Pingyang Hou in the current dynasty, and Mrs. Xiao is such a powerful woman. She can pretend to be ignorant when she doesn't tell the truth.Jian Ruolin only forced a smile, and said, "Ma'am, you must be joking. If Lin is a man, how could the young master..."

"You also know that you are a man? I thought you had forgotten it long ago!" Mrs. Xiao's tone at the moment can already be called cruel, and even the words are so hurtful: "The princes and grandchildren of all dynasties secretly Have I seen less dirty things? Originally, if Moer wanted to raise one or two male waiters, it would be fine, but he shouldn’t have made a fuss! Don’t you think the things you did in Suzhou City are not enough to show off? Mo'er fell in love with you, I can turn a blind eye to you, but he dared to rob prison, dare to commit crimes, dare to die for you, and dared to resist the order and refuse to marry, and disobeyed criminals, you know, a little Inadvertently offending Long Yan is the crime of ransacking the family!"

Jian Ruolin couldn't control herself and took a half step back, full of shock, she muttered repeatedly: "Resist the order and refuse the marriage?"

"Yes, the emperor speaks well, but Mo'er resisted the order and refused to marry in front of the civil and military courts. My good son is really up to date. He didn't even think about it. The life of Pingyanghou's family was hanging by his words at that time Talk!" Mrs. Xiao said sharply, staring straight at Jian Ruolin, she breathed a sigh of relief after a while, and then said: "What are you thinking about Mo'er, just pick it out with me- ─Based on your Jian family’s family business, you are not short of money. So, is it for an official career or something else? As long as you leave Mo’er, I can come forward to find an official position for you, and I can also match you up and help you in the noble family. Among the women, you choose to think everyone is a lady──Think about it for yourself, offending the Pingyang Hou Mansion, let alone destroying you, even if you destroy the Liufang Pavilion of your Jian family, it will only happen in the blink of an eye──Jian Ruolin, you He is a smart person, so he should be able to understand that the relationship between a man and a man will not last long, so why are you clinging to it now? How long do you think Mo'er will be in love with you, and when he gets tired of you, how will you deal with yourself? Listen Let me tell you, don’t be obsessed with your obsessions—as long as I’m here, no one will be allowed to tarnish the reputation of the Pingyang Hou family, nor will Mo’er and Master Hou be scolded and ridiculed by others!”

Jian Ruolin's face turned slightly pale, and she stood there motionless after listening to Mrs. Xiao finish speaking, but she was speechless.It's really merciless, every sentence hits the nail on the head and hits the nail on the head.

After talking so much, Mrs. Xiao seemed to feel tired, and finally sat back in her original position with the help of the maid.Then I looked at Jian Ruolin, who was standing still, and sighed: "At first, I didn't bother to care about these things anymore. After eating vegetarian food and praying to Buddha for these years, my heart has also become cold, but no matter what, I am also Mrs. Pingyanghou, I can't I watched my son sink. You also know that I can easily make you disappear from this world. Moer, he will not find you, and he will not know what happened—you guess what Moer will do for you. How long have you been sad? How long have you been sad? A man, even if his heart is broken now, it is only for a while, and the entanglement will make the world laugh at that time──I have talked to you so much, but I am reluctant to really ruin you. Regardless of the matter between you and Mo'er, I still appreciate you──the last sentence: leave Mo'er, I will promise you whatever you want, don't make a decision that you and I both regret!"

Jian Ruolin smiled miserably. Since ancient times, people have never fought with officials, let alone a small businessman, how can he fight with the Pingyang Hou family who have been favored for decades? !Mrs. Xiao's words are sharp and beautiful. In fact, she is not using the power to overwhelm people. She can destroy the Liufang Pavilion that Jian's family has painstakingly managed for many years, or make Jian Ruolin forever Do not turn over.Of course, if Jian Ruolin were more sensible and became a so-called smart person, the result would be different—leaving Xiao Jingmo and exchanging his life for peace and wealth sounds like a pretty good deal indeed.

"Old Madam Xiao." Jian Ruolin raised her head and smiled lightly. There was no fear in those clear eyes: "I respect your efforts for the Pingyang family. What do you want to do to me or to the Jian family? Ruolin is powerless to stop him, but he can fight to the death. As for Jing Mo, I will never let go unless he personally tells me that he will never let go of love!"

After hearing this, Mrs. Xiao couldn't control her anger any longer, and slapped her palm heavily on the table: "I don't know what to do!" She was so excited that she even felt dizzy before her eyes. The maid helped her calm down for a long time, and she Only barely slowed down.Staring at Jian Ruolin, there was a faint trace of resentment in his eyes: "Sure enough, I have read too many scriptures over the years, and my heart has softened, so I wasted all these words with you for nothing. I should have known that you did not give up so easily People." He sighed softly, seemingly infinitely regretful: "Mo'er is the eldest son of the Pingyang Hou family, what he has to shoulder is the heavy responsibility of the entire Pingyang family, and he can't help himself in the slightest. I believe he will know in the future, what I said Everything I did was for his own good, so that he would not have to regret it in the future."

Jian Ruolin only felt that the brows were throbbing violently, and felt extremely uneasy in her heart.

The expression and tone of Mrs. Xiao's words really scared him. He believed that this was a crazy woman who would do anything for the honor of the family and the future of her son.

He, Jian Ruolin, just loved a man, and he loved harder than ordinary people, but why didn't he get blessings, instead, he suffered various persecutions again and again?What did he do wrong, who is in the way?

Mrs. Xiao suddenly calmed down and sat upright, holding a small spoon handed to her by the maid in her hand, flicking the incense burner on the table: "Jian Ruolin, this is the path you chose, don't blame me cruel."

As soon as she finished speaking, two burly men quickly came in from the door, and pressed Jian Ruolin's shoulders on both sides.

Jian Ruolin raised her head angrily: "Mrs. Xiao, what do you mean?"

But Mrs. Xiao has already turned her head to the side, and said lightly: "Do it."

The two burly men were obviously the sons of the Lian family. Jian Ruolin couldn't move even with all her strength, so she could only watch as two more burly men came in carrying a soft couch as tall as half a person. The four men easily The ground immediately suppressed Jian Ruolin, restrained her limbs respectively, and pinned her on the soft couch.

A maid brought a low stool, a washbasin, and a stack of pistil-yellow rice paper. Jian Ruolin turned her head to look at it, and her heart suddenly became clear, and she shouted in amazement: "Madam, you can't do this!" It is an unprecedented fear.

Jian Ruolin was like a piece of fish put on an anvil, after several desperate struggles to no avail, she finally lay there quietly, her face turning slightly pale.The four big men who held him down did not dare to loosen their strength at all, and held his limbs tightly. It is conceivable that his fair skin must be black and bruised by now.

The person suppressed by force, at this moment, seems to have a sense of beauty after being abused. After looking at him for a long time, Mrs. Xiao had to admit that Jian Ruolin was indeed a very beautiful man──it's a pity that because he was a man, Pingyang The reputation of the Hou family cannot be ruined by him, so today, she will be cruel and ruin this handsome man!

"Do you have anything else to say?"

Jian Ruolin had given up struggling, and only looked sideways at Mrs. Xiao, with a look of begging and pity: "Madam, please don't let Jing Mo hate you."

Mrs. Xiao's heart trembled, but then she calmed down and said lightly: "You will ruin Mo'er and the Pingyang family. I will not let such a thing happen." As if she couldn't bear to look again, she turned to He turned his head and waved his hand vigorously.

With ten fingers, the maid picked up a piece of pistil-yellow rice paper, soaked it in the copper basin, and slowly covered Jian Ruolin's face.

──This method is a common method used by the palace to deal with criminal female relatives and royal relatives of a little status in private. It even has a rather elegant name called "Tiejiaguan".During the official execution, the execution eunuch will cover the prisoner's mouth and nose layer by layer with wet rice paper, and each time a sheet is added, a slogan will be announced, one plus official, two plus officials, three plus The official... the euphemistic name, so he called this penalty "post plus official".The executed person will eventually die of suffocation, but no other scars will be left, and the appearance of the corpse will remain the same as before, which is the way of death rewarded by the emperor's special gift.

Jian Ruolin never imagined that one day she would personally experience this so-called "attached official".

When the thin rice paper was just pasted on her face, the cold water seeped into her skin, Jian Ruolin shivered subconsciously, and the next moment, the moist paper covered her mouth and nose, she took a slight breath, The wet paper was tightly attached to the nose and mouth, blocking out all the air.The feeling of suffocation came so quickly, Jian Ruolin knew that struggling was useless, but she still tensed her whole body uncomfortably, clenched her fists tightly.But even so, the four big men cooperated well to suppress him, making him unable to even move a bit.

Another piece of wet paper covered his cheek, the harder Jian Ruolin inhaled, the more obvious the huge pressure rising in his chest due to the lack of oxygen, he even heard the sound of his own heartbeat, again and again, It's like beating a drum.The whole heart was beating so strongly, as if it was about to break through the shackles and jump out of the chest cavity.

At this moment, Jian Ruolin suddenly felt infinite sadness... Jing Mo, if a person like that knew that his biological mother had executed him, what would he think and do?That person always crawls into his bed at night, sleeps with him in his arms, and vows that he will travel all over the country with him... But if there is no future, Xiao Jingmo, will he be sad because of it?How much he wanted to be able to look at that person again, take another look, and remember it firmly.

The oxygen in Jian Ruolin's body was slowly consumed, and the great pain caused by suffocation made his whole body tense, and he couldn't help struggling violently—he didn't want to die, but life and death at this moment were beyond his control.

The third layer of rice paper was pasted on her face, and Jian Ruolin gradually felt dizzy and weak, and all her strength was exhausted little by little as time went by.

Mrs. Xiao was sitting on the side, watching Jian Ruolin's struggle gradually weakened, she seemed to be unable to bear it, so she closed her eyes, twirled the Buddha beads in her hands, and whispered the Buddha's name.