Ink Burns

Chapter 96: The Thick Cocoon of Cracks

Qiutou hid the hem of her skirt in a panic, but the more she hurried, the more the melted snow and mud that had accumulated on her skirt were exposed.

Qiu Tao was so panicked that she choked and let out a moan unconsciously.

Shanyue pinched the bridge of his nose helplessly.

This little girl's timidity was different from Zhou Liniang's - this little girl was shivering while digging through the pile of dead bodies skillfully.

"Is the person dead?" Shan Yue asked in a low voice.

Seeing that Shanyue did not blame her, Qiu Tao stammered, "Not dead."

Shan Yue was surprised: "Still alive?"

Is life so important? There is a huge pool of blood and a knife stuck next to the neck!
"She was still breathing. The blood from her neck had stopped. I dragged her under the shade of a tree and gave her two sips of water."

Qiu Tao said sadly: "I took her handkerchief. When we are safe in the future, I will build a cenotaph for her. There is nothing more I can do. I can only protect her from being eaten by wild wolves tonight."

Shanyue looked at Qiutao with a slightly probing gaze, and inexplicably felt a bit of guilt and uneasiness in her heart: she did not kill Qiutao today because she had calculated the answer to Madam Zhu's question; if the correct answer was to kill Qiutao, she might not have refrained from doing it - she had lived in a thick cocoon of hatred for too long, whether it was Miss Wang Er, Cheng Xingyu, or this little Qiutao, this group of people came one after another to help her tear open the silk, and mottled and sporadic spots of light were projected in arrogantly and unreasonably.

I don’t know whether this is a good thing or a bad thing.

After a long time, Shanyue reached out coldly and rubbed Qiutou's head.

Furry, like a puppy with a lame leg but still protecting its companions.

Since we were going to go down the mountain overnight, there was no delay.

It was a dark night in the mountains, and the carriages from Songjiang Prefecture were waiting in front of the fortress. It was almost dawn when they headed south to Songjiang Prefecture. The Liu family didn't know which door they had found, but a small side door was opened through the curfew city gate to allow the carriages to enter unhindered.

When they arrived at the Liu Mansion, the white banners and linen cloth had not yet been removed. The Liu family's chief steward respectfully led Shan Yue into the mansion and said, "Master, please have a good rest. When you have enough sleep, you can go see him. If you need anything, just tell me."

Shan Yue lowered his head and thanked him gently, "Thank you for your concern."

Manager Liu was very satisfied with Shanyue's attitude: he had seen many people who became powerful overnight and ended up as humble folks, but this one seemed to be steadfast in her roots - as long as she hadn't married, she would still be hanging in the air, and everything would be uncertain!

Manager Liu showed his satisfaction by giving Shanyue a thick silk quilt as soon as the other party left.

It feels soft and warm when covered on the body.

Shan Yue, however, couldn't get used to sleeping: being too comfortable would make people indulge.

Shanyue moved the silk quilt away and covered herself with the cotton quilt which was not fluffy before. She closed her eyes but her mind kept running over everything.

Although only five days have passed, everything seems to have quietly undergone tremendous changes.

Originally, she was just a "candidate" with great hopes, but now she has transformed into the popular future daughter-in-law of the Xue family. This identity has a fatal attraction for her, which means that she can naturally enter the capital and naturally step half a foot into the class of the powerful.

For civilians, it is almost a pipe dream to bring down those people.

Even if she became a well-trained killer, it would be impossible for her to kill those four people with just a thin blade - it was very likely that she would die before she could accomplish her mission, and as soon as she appeared, she would be beaten back to her original form by the guards in and outside the mountains.

She can only find the right time and take her time.

It's just a pity for that "unfilial bird" who was ignored by his father and mother since birth - her revenge has nothing to do with him, but she has to sacrifice his precious marriage to pay for it.

When she died, she would leave a suicide note asking him not to observe mourning for her and that it would be fine for him to remarry immediately.

Shanyue turned over while thinking.

The wooden bed creaked.

This wing room is very close to the thatched hut where the Liu family's kitchen stores kimchi. When you open the window, you can smell a strong sour smell of fermented cabbage sticks.

Shan Yue rubbed the tip of his nose, smelling a sour smell, but another question arose in his heart: Xue Yushi, who was rumored to be like a mad dog and did not play by the rules, had a bad relationship with both his biological father and stepmother. From the scattered descriptions of others, it can be known that he was a lonely minister who died alone and no one worshipped him - how could such a person be willing to obey the orders of his elders and let his parents, who were not close to him, manipulate his marriage?
Can Madam Zhu and Mr. Xue really deal with Xue Xiao?

Did they post the message to select candidates after they had dealt with Xue Xiao? Or did they select candidates first and then look for an opportunity to coerce Xue Xiao?
Will Xue Xiao's attitude become a variable in this matter?
Shanyue turned over again, looked at the time on the hourglass, quickly cut off the thoughts in his mind, closed his eyes and fell asleep immediately.

At dawn, Shanyue did not get up to greet Liu Huan as usual.

Liu Huan asked about all matters in the fort in detail, and Shan Yue answered truthfully in a few words. When he said that the last of the three levels was "killing people", Liu Huan twitched his lips and said, "The gentlemen in the capital are having fun." He asked again, "What about the others except you? Are they all dead?" Shan Yue lowered his head and pursed his lips, stirring the silk handkerchief with his index finger.

"Can't tell?" Liu Huan asked with a smile.

Shan Yue stammered, "No, I don't dare."

Liu Huan put her hand on the handle of the chair: "Then tell me everything. Even if you get married in the future, you are still a girl from my Liu family. You should think twice about which is more important, your parents' family or your husband's family. Don't be so ungrateful and forget who helped you so that you can have such strength!"

Shan Yue then whispered, "One died, one ran away, the girl from Zhenjiang Prefecture died; the girl selected from Jinling Prefecture ran away, and the remaining one will probably be sent to the palace by the Xue family to be a good girl."

Liu Huan asked back: "A good family girl?"

Shan Yue nodded hurriedly: "It is said that next spring, the Ye Ting will look for thirty good girls from the common people to enter the palace."

"Be a female official or a concubine?"

"I don't know." Shan Yue said everything he knew, "It's only said that the Ye Ting will select women with both virtue and talent from the people. I don't know whether they are selecting concubines or female officials."

Liu Huan leaned against the armchair: No matter whether it is selecting a concubine or selecting a female official, this is a rare opportunity to open the palace doors.

Even when selecting female officials, there is a high possibility that they will be concubines or imperial consorts.

This means placing people around the emperor in a blatant manner!

Liu Huan narrowed her eyes and sneered, "Our beloved Lord Zhao has selfish motives! He wants to leave us, the Qingfengs who have worked so hard for him in the state capital, behind and do big things quietly! He dare not release any of this fatal news!"

It has been less than five years since the saint ascended the throne, and there has never been any selection. In the harem, except for one noble concubine and two imperial concubines, there are only two or three low-ranking talents and concubines. The Great Wei has a law that there must be a certain number of good girls from common families in the palace. One reason is that the monarch can know all the worldly affairs, and the other is to prevent the nobles from usurping their power.

Ye Ting is recruiting people, what does this mean?
It means releasing a big piece of meat for everyone to tear and fight over!

It’s a pity that this big piece of meat was occupied by the tigers in the capital, and these eagles didn’t even smell the meat!
What is this!
What kind of "Qingfeng" is this!
It would be better to ask these lackeys of the provincial government to behave themselves and act like foot-washing slaves for the masters in the capital!
When they need something, those high-ranking masters will post a notice, and people will come forward to help them.
But when there is no need, or the benefits are big enough, they will hide all the information deep and tight, for fear that others will get the upper hand over them!

Shanyue looked at Liuhuan's expression and asked anxiously, "Is this a bad thing?"

Liu Huan waved her hand: "No."

If he doesn't know, it would be a bad thing.

He knew, so he must give Songjiang Prefecture a chance. Thirty people, could it be that Songjiang Prefecture couldn't squeeze in even one?

Liu Huan glanced at Shan Yue and said, "You did a great job. Not only did you pass the selection successfully, but you also memorized the key points. As a reward, is there anything you want?"

Mostly gold, silver and jewelry.

A girl from a pariah family only has these desires.

If your dog learns to stand and sit, you should also reward him with a few bones.

Shan Yue raised her head and said, "My little girl, my little girl wants to go back to Cheng's house to pack up her things. The inkstone for painting is still at Cheng's house."

Strange, the dog doesn't want the bone, he just wants to go out for a walk.

That’s okay.

Respect the dog.

Liu Huan nodded: "Go ahead, just go for a day, while the Xue family hasn't come to propose yet, so I'll steal for a day."

Sounds like you're in a good mood.

Shan Yue pursed her lips and thanked him.

She was somewhat glad that Liu Hezhou was dead and that the mediocre Liu Huan was now in charge.

If that old man Liu with droopy eyelids were still alive, how could he be so frivolous as to let her go just for such insignificant news?

(End of this chapter)