Chapter 45: What you want
Chapter 45 What you want
Lu's reaction was unexpected by Ke Chengxing.
The deceased wife, who seemed to be weak and weak, changed from her usual docility and became hysterical and wanted to sue the government. This movement also alarmed Mrs. Ke, so Mrs. Ke also learned everything.
His mother was more decisive and cruel than him, so she only asked him to lock Mr. Lu in the house and tell the public that Mr. Lu was crazy and delirious, and said some unreasonable nonsense. He also expelled the servants who were talking in the courtyard, whether they were selling or living, and driving them far away.
When the Lu family saw this, they probably noticed something, so behind their backs, they secretly bribed their servants to deliver a message to the Lu family in Changwu County.
That's all, what's worse is that she is pregnant.
Counting the days, it should have been left behind that night at Fengle Tower.
After the doctor left, Ke Chengxing looked at the mess and didn't know what to do.
The evil seed in Mr. Lu's belly is not his. Speaking of which, he should drink it down with a bowl of medicine to avoid asking for trouble. You can't give birth to a son and ask him to raise a son for others.
But Mrs. Ke interrupted him when he ordered people to cook abortion pills, and only asked people to send a letter to the Taishi Mansion, asking people from the Taishi Mansion to come and negotiate.
At that time, Ke Chengxing was puzzled and asked Mrs. Ke: "Mother, what else can be discussed? The young master in the Taishi Mansion has not yet married, so it is impossible for him to have a wife first. Where will he raise such a scoundrel after he is born? Where? Could it be that he is raised in our Ke family?"
"Confused." Mrs. Ke shook her head: "The Taishi Mansion cherishes its reputation and will not leave such a scoundrel behind. I asked you not to give medicine to Mrs. Lu first, not for her, but for you."
"for me?"
Mrs. Ke spoke slowly: "The Lu family was originally yours, but they were usurped by the Qi family. They just wanted to send us away with just some money. Do you really think that the Ke family is easy to bully? I was not there at the time, so I could tolerate it." Their family escaped easily. It’s a good thing that Mrs. Lu is pregnant now.”
"Our Ke family's business has been declining since my father passed away. Now, through the Lu family, we have established a relationship with the Taishi Mansion. With such a relationship, there is no need to worry about the business not being prosperous."
“You are still too young.”
Looking at Mrs. Ke's withered face, he understood something in an instant.
That night, someone came from the Taishi Mansion.
It was still the same steward with a kind smile, but this time he brought not just a few banknotes.
The old housekeeper said to him with a smile: "Since the last time we said goodbye, my young master has been thinking about my wife's injury. I should have sent my servant to visit her earlier, but I have been busy with the old lady's birthday recently, so it was delayed for some time."
He didn't mention Mrs. Lu's pregnancy at all, he just looked at Ke Chengxing and smiled: "Speaking of which, the old lady used a lot of bowls, chopsticks and cups for her birthday party every year. The family who presented the porcelain this year went back to their hometown and was short of someone. ...I heard that the porcelain from Guifu kiln is good?"
Ke Chengxing was stunned for a moment, then became excited.
The birthday banquet of the old lady of Taishi Mansion!
If you can do a porcelain kiln business for the Taishi Mansion, wouldn't it be a good way to communicate with the officials in Shengjing!
Even when his father brought the Ke family business to its peak, he had no chance to establish relationships with officials. Supplying goods to the Grand Master's Mansion is something that is unthinkable!
In an instant, all the anger, frustration, and hatred about the Grand Master's Mansion disappeared. He looked at the old housekeeper in front of him as if he were looking at the shining golden God of Wealth.
Ke Chengxing forgot about the grudge between them and the insult given to him by the other party. At that moment, he forgot everything and only saw the wealth and business opportunities that the Qi family could bring him, and immediately started chatting enthusiastically with the other party.
He talked about Lu's pregnancy, his wife's resentment and tears, and the letter from home that was secretly sent to Changwu County behind someone's back.
In the end, he no longer knew whether he said these words for "discussion" or to please.
The old housekeeper was very considerate and felt very ashamed after hearing what happened these days. First he apologized on behalf of his master, and finally said to Ke Chengxing: "Logically speaking, this matter was caused by my young master, so my young master should have been careful. But my wife is a member of the Ke family, and after all, this matter is also a Ke family matter." .”
“It’s hard for me to intervene rashly in this matter. But I think Mr. Ke should be able to handle it well. After all, he will have to take care of the porcelain kiln used for the old lady’s birthday in the future, so such trivial matters will certainly not be a big deal.”
The meaning of this statement is that if this matter is not handled well, there will be no discussion of the porcelain kiln business.
Ke Chengxing asked tentatively: "Then what's the most comprehensive way to deal with it?"
The old housekeeper smiled and said: "Madam is weak and it is really not suitable to be pregnant now. Mr. Ke also said that Madam is suffering from madness and talking nonsense. The most important rule in the Taishi Mansion is innocence. If such gossip spreads, it may be... It’s not appropriate, the young master is fine on his end, but when the Grand Master hears this, I’m afraid he will be furious.”
He sighed: "This madness is the most difficult to cure. The old slave once knew a lady who was mad. She talked crazy words every day and was unconscious. Finally, one day she was wandering in the garden, and the maid didn't pay attention. , she fell into the pond and drowned... What a pity."
Ke Chengxing said nothing. The old butler glanced at Lao Ke, said "Ah", stood up with a smile and said: "I have been talking for a long time, but I didn't notice that it was already so late at night. The old servant went back to his house first, and turned around to report the matter about the porcelain kiln to the comprador. , after getting the news, come back and make arrangements with the great master."
He took advantage of the darkness to get into the carriage again. His short body seemed to look at people with a look of disdain, which made people feel weak.
Ke Chengxing looked at the shrine in trance.
The sound of rain was cold at night outside the palace, and drops hit the window of the palace, coming and going.
Cluster after cluster, curtain after curtain, exuding some coldness and making people feel hesitant.
Only the green lamp in the palace is dim.
The scraps of paper in the copper basin have been burned away, and the hazy green smoke lingers in the hall, blurring the tall statue in front of the shrine and making it unreal. Occasionally, he could hear the flapping sounds of red fish and turtles in the large water tank, which startled him.
Ke Chengxing was a little frightened for no reason. He came to his senses and was about to bow a few more times before leaving. Suddenly, there was a soft sound from the door of the hall.
He thought Wanfu had come in, and was about to speak when he turned around and felt weak at the knees. Xu had been kneeling on the futon for too long, and his legs were numb, so he suddenly fell down.
He wanted to ask Wanfu to help him, but when he opened his mouth, he was surprised that his tongue was stiff and he could not speak.
what happened?
How could he suddenly be unable to speak or move?
Ke Chengxing's face turned pale, and a thought suddenly came to his mind.
There is a ghost! It's Lu's ghost that's following!
He slumped stiffly on the spot, but the footsteps behind him were getting closer and closer. The footsteps were light, slow, and graceful, like a woman, and stopped behind him.
She is coming to claim her life!
Ke Chengxing was sweating like rain.
The footsteps stopped and circled in front of him again.
Ke Chengxing saw a black robe. The corners of the robe were stained with cold rainwater, dripping down under the dim light. Just like the water stains on Lu's body in the dream.
He was distraught.
Ke Chengxing couldn't raise his head. He only felt that he had been kicked lightly. He fell backward and leaned in front of the water tank. Then he raised his eyes with difficulty and saw the figure of the other party through the dim light.
It is a man wearing a black cloak.
The black cloak was as wide as his feet, almost covering the other person's entire body. The person slowly raised his hand and took off the hood of the cloak, revealing a beautiful and pale face.
She is a young woman with snow-skinned skin and black hair, and bright eyes, as charming as an elegant magnolia.
Ke Chengxing breathed a sigh of relief, this was not Lu Rou.
But soon, he became confused, who was this woman and why did she appear here in the middle of the night?
Before he could think clearly, the woman suddenly spoke.
She said: "It is said in the Buddhist scriptures that if you ask for wealth, you will get wealth and honor, if you ask for a man and a woman, you will get a man and a woman, and if you ask for longevity, you will live a long life. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas do not dare to lie and deceive others."
This voice is clearer and softer, colder than the night rain outside the window, and it is as ethereal as a ghost under the green smoke in the palace.
The woman lowered her eyes, her dark eyes were as deep as the abyss under the dim light, making her whole person look colder and less like a living person. She looked down at Ke Chengxing at her feet, her expression so calm that it was almost weird.
She asked: "Master Ke, what do you want?"
(End of this chapter)