Jiangning, September.
The weather had begun to turn cold. In the morning, there were many pedestrians on the road along the Qinhuai River. However, because the many brothels on both sides of the river were still in a quiet state, the scenery in front of people who were used to the nearby ecology seemed a bit bleak.
Zhou Junwu sat in a room in a restaurant across the road. He met with Puyang Yi, who came to see him, and then they discussed business matters.
In the autumn of the 12th year of Jinghan, Zhou Junwu was already 16 years old. As the young prince of Prince Kang, he was now one of the most eye-catching young people in Jiangning City. This kind of attention, of course, was because of his identity, and secondly because of his handsome appearance and temperament, which were different from his peers. After these two points, there were a series of strange and peculiar things that were often discussed.
As the heir of Prince Kang, although being a member of the royal family meant that he couldn't be involved in politics, there were still many things that he could participate in if he wanted to. Especially when he was young, most of the members of the royal family with a bit of wisdom and cultivation would still attach themselves to the arts. For example, reciting poems, inviting scholars to banquets to fight for a good reputation, and so on. For this era, this was the best direction.
Of course, there were still many crooked people in the royal family. If they were rude and overbearing and bullied the common people in the streets, perhaps people wouldn't be surprised. After all, his father, Zhou Yong, used to be very enthusiastic about these things. However, the contradiction was that this young prince was handsome and weak, and he was also quite cultivated in dealing with people. He was gentle and refined, but when it came to doing things, he only liked to do craftsmanship, which was really strange.
He gathered a large number of craftsmen and studied all kinds of strange and obscene skills all day long. If he heard that there was a certain craftsman in a certain place who knew some special skills, he would try his best to invite him. Even he himself liked to do some carpentry and manual work with his own hands. He also gathered a lot of playboys among the "second generation" of Jiangning and formed something called "Ge Wu Gang."
A young prince with a great future would like to do such unorthodox things. Moreover, "a gentleman should be in a group but not in a party." The scholars felt that it was a pity and tried to persuade him many times. The Prince of Kang, Zhou Junwu, was an indifferent prince, but when people praised his son's future prospects, he liked to hear it. So he sent these scholars to personally persuade Zhou Junwu. After a while, the cultured and refined young prince flew into a rage. He dragged a chair and chased the scholars down the street. Only later did the matter settle down.
Just as Ning Yi had said, when people thought that he was a good person, they more or less wanted to "change" and "correct" him. But when the other party really showed his ferocious side, no one would "feel sorry" for him. They would hide if they could.
In fact, it didn't matter whether it was a topic of discussion or whether the scholars wanted to change Jun Wu's mind, it wasn't that simple. If one were to investigate further, it was also because the young prince, at the age of fifteen or sixteen, had used the power of the prince's mansion to prop up a large business. He purchased all kinds of materials, had hundreds of craftsmen and hundreds of small workers working under him, and spent money like water. Even if he had the backing of the prince's mansion, it was impossible for him to make all this work. First of all, it was because the young prince himself wasn't incompetent.
A sixteen-year-old little prince, even if he relied on some help or aides, no matter what he did, with such a scale and momentum of operation, when he grew up and inherited the throne, he would definitely become the most important force in Jiangning City. Relatively speaking, he would be much more powerful than a prince who smashed people's heads on the streets with a golden melon hammer all day long.
Many people approached him and tried to curry favor with him, but the young prince was still rational and was very cautious about the choice of partners around him. He didn't want to have too many interest groups around him and step on the bottom line of "the royal family doesn't meddle in politics". Although the existence of the royal family itself had an impact on politics, there was always a limit.
After they met, the young man, who had tied up his hair and still had a delicate and immature face, talked with Puyang Yi about business. Although in some aspects, there was still an Aokiji side to him, he had a noble status and imitated a teacher's behavior. He already had the aura of a young prince. After talking, the two opened the window and looked down. Zhou Junwu had his hands behind his back.
"When my teacher was still in Jiangning, Brother Puyang, you had some friendship with my teacher. Junwu will be going to the capital soon. Brother Puyang, do you have any words for Junwu? "
"Thank you, Young Prince. The Puyang family, the Takeshi family, and the Su family also have business dealings. There's no need to dirty your ears with the stink of money. It's just that when Liheng was in Jiangning, he was known as the number one scholar in Jiangning. I recently found a few paintings, and they are pleasing to my eyes. I'd like to ask Young Prince to give them to Liheng. "
"Haha, Junwu will definitely bring Brother Puyang's kindness."
The two of them had been in contact for a long time. Puyang Yi had long understood that the young prince was extremely respectful to his "teacher" who had gone to the capital, so much so that he deliberately imitated the way he spoke and did things. He also had business dealings with the Takeshi family and the Su family. At this time, he might as well curry favor with Ning Yi and leave a good impression on Zhou Junwu. However, as the heir of the Puyang family, he was neither servile nor overbearing in his speech.
As the two of them stood in front of the window and talked, they suddenly saw something happening below. It was the back door of a brothel below. The guests were coming out. One of the faces of the guests swayed in their vision.
With his hands behind his back, Zhou Junwu paused for a moment before continuing as usual. However, what kind of person was Puyang Yi? When the figure appeared below, he had already recognized the identity of the person. At the side, the young prince's gaze suddenly became fierce, and his lips were already pursed.
Although it was the fierce look of a sixteen-year-old boy, when it appeared on the face of a young prince, many people would die. Fortunately, after this scene, Zhou Junwu continued to chat as if nothing had happened. Puyang Yi pretended not to see it and continued the topic.
The person who had appeared at the back door of the brothel was the young prince's brother-in-law, Qu Zonghui, who was married to Zhou Pei.
Puyang Yi had more or less heard about this couple, but he didn't dare to say anything at the moment. After a while, the two of them bid each other farewell and left the restaurant. Zhou Junwu asked the people around him and then took the carriage to a Huangcang outside the city. It was late autumn and winter was coming. A lot of supplies and food were being stockpiled here. Not long after he entered, he found his sister, who was checking the warehouse.
In the late autumn filled with fallen leaves, Zhou Pei, who was already a married woman, was dressed in a warm yellow dress. She looked graceful and elegant. The sixteen-year-old boy still had a childish look on his face, but his sister, who was only two years older than him, had quickly shed that childishness in the past two years. Even he didn't understand how she had changed so quickly. The woman only smiled when she saw Jun Wu coming over. She dismissed the people around her.
"Jun Wu, why have you come to see me today? What's the matter? "
"Sister." Jun Wu called out to her and then said, "Nothing."
"Come here." Zhou Pei smiled and waved at him. "I'll take you to a higher place to see."
The higher place that Zhou Pei mentioned was the main building on the side of the Huangcang, which overlooked the surrounding area. The two of them walked over, and the maids and attendants followed behind.
"I don't know when it will turn cold, but the ships of grain from Huainan are still on the way. Last year's famine doubled the number of beggars around Jiangning. They all lost their houses and land during the famine, and they're not used to being beggars … This year, many people will starve to death. But they won't continue to increase, and they'll be fewer and fewer every year … Look at your clothes, they're all wrinkled … "
As Zhou Pei spoke, Jun Wu straightened his collar. The two of them had already reached the top floor of the main building. Jun Wu looked at his sister, who was slightly shorter than him, and hesitated.
"Sister. How have you been recently? "
"I'm a little tired, but I'm not bad." Zhou Pei tilted her head and looked at him teasingly. "Do you need money?"
"No. I'm going to the capital in a few days … Sister, do you have anything you want me to tell Master? "
"I know about this. You're a member of the royal family, so remember to pay attention to your identity when you're in the capital. Even if you need money, don't act like you're going to be a lobbyist for others. You have to remember this. " Zhou Pei straightened his collar. "I'll prepare something for you to bring to Master … I'll also write a letter for you to bring along."
Zhou Junwu stood straight and looked at his sister. "I know about these things. The business is all my own, and I can't be a lobbyist for others. I know what I'm doing. I'll also visit Grandpa Qin and Master, and they'll give me ideas. Also, I'll be going to the capital to meet some of the ladies from the big families. Father said that it's time for me to get married. "
Zhou Pei paused for a moment, and smiled mischievously. "Oh, speaking of marriage, I thought you'd be shy. You've seen the girls our family has chosen for you, and Yumei. She grew up with you. You don't like her, or … "
Jun Wu blushed a little, and followed his sister to the window. "Not really. They … and Yumei, they're all fine. I can marry anyone. This time, it was because I said I wanted to go to the capital that my father asked me to meet them. In fact, Grandpa Qin and Master will help me make the decision. "
Zhou Pei turned her head to look at him. "How can you … marry anyone?"
Jun Wu looked down at the busy activity in the granaries and frowned. "It's the same as anyone. Women … Sister, after you get married, I … I know those things. It's interesting, but … "
Zhou Pei's eyes became serious, "After I married, what happened to the wang fu?"
"It's not too messy." Jun Wu looked at his sister as clearly as possible. "Sister, you taught me how to order those people around. I went to the brothel and had a taste of those things. Luanhong and I also had a relationship, but that's it … After I get married, I'll take Luanhong as my concubine."
"Luanhong seduced you?"
"No. After I had a taste of those things, I thought it was interesting. I also thought that I should have a woman by my side. Otherwise, I'd have to go to the brothel all the time. That's not good."
Jun Wu looked a little nervous as he said this, but deep in his eyes, there was nothing he couldn't tell her. Zhou Pei frowned and didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Before you get married, tell Luanhong to see me. I need to warn her, but don't worry. I won't go too far."
"Okay." Jun Wu nodded.
After a while, the woman asked reluctantly, "… Do you really think it's okay?"
"I'm a man and I have a lot of things to do. Besides, after I get married, I'll have a concubine. How can I waste my time on these things? Master said that there's a limit to a person's mental energy. I should be able to get rid of unimportant things. "
"You don't have to learn that much …" Zhou Pei said softly. "Your master … and his wife are very close."
"Yes." Jun Wu nodded. "I'm also envious of how close Master and his wife are …" After that, he fell silent for a while and then said, "Sister, is that all between you and brother-in-law?"
Zhou Pei blinked and her eyes dimmed. Then she sighed. "What did you hear?"
"I … Nothing …"
"It's okay …" Zhou Pei said. "After all, it was my fault."
"How can you say that it's your fault?!"
"Of course it's my fault." Zhou Pei smiled sarcastically. "Isn't it normal for your brother-in-law to do what he did? I only have one husband, but he … has many women. "
"I …" Jun Wu raised his hand and punched the windowsill angrily. He didn't know what to say.
He actually knew about the relationship between his sister and brother-in-law. It was the truth that Zhou Pei had told him in private after the incident. It turned out that Zhou Pei had talked to Qu Zonghui before they got married. She had hinted to Qu Zonghui that they couldn't sleep together right away and that he would only accept her after they had developed some feelings for each other. At first, Qu Zonghui thought that it was a woman's shyness. He also thought that Zhou Pei was indeed different from the others, so he agreed.
After the marriage, he tried his best to interact with the young princess in a gentle manner, maintaining the seemingly respectful relationship between husband and wife, and also maintaining the warmth of their feelings. However, not long after, this kind of contact gradually became cold. Perhaps Qu Zonghui felt that as a couple, such contact would make a man look weak, or perhaps he was tired and bored. In any case, after that, Qu Zonghui participated in the poetry meetings more frequently and stayed in the brothel several times.
It wasn't a quarrel or an outburst. At that time, Zhou Pei, who was learning how to manage various things from Princess Cheng, was a little confused when she learned about the situation. She didn't know whether to protest or to take care of the princess's horse. Qu Zonghui's attitude also became cold as he lowered his head and remained silent. Things simply slid to both sides. When Zhou Pei was able to think clearly, Qu Zonghui didn't know how many nights he had stayed in the brothel.
Even if she tried to persuade him, she couldn't.
The only thing she could do was to carry out a lot of practical things and not have too much contact with Qu Zonghui.
Zhou Junwu didn't know what to say about this matter. In a sense, the request that his sister made at that time was unreasonable, but he also understood why his sister made such a request. Things had developed to this point. Of course, he could come forward to catch Qu Zonghui back, or simply kill him and throw him into the Qinhuai River, but his sister would not allow such a thing to happen.
"Sister, why don't you go to the capital with me to see Master?" Jun Wu looked at her and didn't know why he said this. Then he added, "Master may have a way."
The royal girl, who was only eighteen years old but already had a gorgeous temperament, tilted her head and looked at him. After a while, she smiled and shook her head, "I won't go. There are so many things to do …" She reached out and tidied her brother's collar, "As I said, don't lose the face of the royal family. You just want to give them a chance to see you, not to persuade them."
"I understand. Sister, you also have to be good. "
"Of course."
His sister raised her chin, and the silhouette of the light fell down, setting off the girl's beautiful, proud and lonely smile. Maturity and immaturity mixed together in such a complicated way …
*****
Bianliang.
It was also the beginning of September, and Ning Yi was at home with Tan'Er, Yunzhu and the others. He had transferred a lot of work on his hands to his home. When he received the urgent message, he was playing Gomoku with Xiaochan under the eaves. The young woman across from him had her feet together and her chin resting on her hands. She watched the game and hummed a tune. She looked very arrogant because it seemed that she was going to win.
Ning Yi glanced at the content of the message and was slightly taken aback. It read: August 28th … Chen Fan and Ji Qianer killed Sikong Nan in Qinkou.
He read the message three times. Across from him, Xiaochan knew that she shouldn't disturb him, so she looked at him with concern.
"Great!"
Ning Yi slammed the message on the chessboard, which startled Xiaochan. She blinked her eyes at the moving chess pieces. Ning Yi waved his hand at the servant who came to deliver the message. "You can go now." After the servant left, Xiaochan stood up and frowned. She felt wronged. "Husband, you cheated. I was going to win … Ugh …"
Ning Yi jumped up and held her face in his hands. He kissed her on the mouth, and she couldn't speak. In the end, even her tongue was taken away.
"Ugh … Husband, you cheated …"
After being released, Xiaochan was still mumbling. Ning Yi grabbed the message and waved his hand. "Don't be so calculative … Tonight, we will make barbecue to celebrate. I will go to the kitchen to get some meat!"
He turned around and left. Xiaochan pursed her lips.
"Humph … I will go too. Husband, wait for me …"
The autumn sun shone down from the eaves. Xiaochan chased after him. Although she didn't know what was going on, everyone was happy to be able to celebrate.
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