The little lady in the dining room

Chapter 22 Before and After
Gong Zhengsi, Xue Li was frightened and cried spinelessly.

And have been crying all afternoon.

This is really scary... When I was taken over in the morning, I was locked in this cell—oh, no, it's not a cell, it's a torture cell.

Three of the four walls are erected and hung with all kinds of instruments of torture, ranging from bamboo sticks, leather whips to clamps and nail boards. There is also a large brazier in the center, with charcoal in it, and the charcoal is burning red. iron.

So, even though the eunuch who brought her dropped her and left, no instrument of torture was used on her in the past few hours, it still made her weak from fright.

Unable to cry even if she wanted to, Xueli shivered in a corner, sitting with her knees hugged and weeping silently.

As soon as she looked up, her eyes were full of torture instruments, and she couldn't help but imagine how miserable she would be tortured. She felt that this afternoon was longer than half a year.

Finally, hearing the sound of the iron lock outside the door lightly touching the door panel, Xueli trembled until her upper and lower teeth chattered non-stop. While shrinking back, she couldn't help staring there until the door opened.

Three eunuchs and two palace maids came in, and the leading eunuch seemed to be of a high rank.

Glancing at her, the eunuch sat down on a wooden chair not far from the brazier, and the other two eunuchs and two court ladies lined up on both sides, looking very imposing under the dim light.

Xue Li was still huddled in the corner and weeping silently. The eunuch looked at her with a look of contempt, and then said slowly, "Girl, did you say it yourself, or should we ask slowly?"

The incoherent voice fell in Xueli's ears, like thunder.

"My lord..." Xueli emphasized to herself, "If you don't talk, you will die", so you can speak out against your fear, "Your servant did not do what he shouldn't, the hairpin is, yes, yes..."

She "yes" can't come out.If she could "true" what happened in the small courtyard, she wouldn't be brought to such a spooky place as Gong Zhengsi.

Palace ladies are human beings too, and many families even serve as petty officials, so it's not a big deal to make friends with officials.Like giving a hairpin or something, even if you are questioned, you will say who it is, go there and ask, and you will be fine if you match. At most, you will be reprimanded because of "why didn't you take the initiative to report it and record it".

But if you don't say it, it's very problematic.

Who knows what's going on with your friendship?Is it "starting with love and ending with courtesy" or is it really shameful to give hairpins?The former doesn't matter, the court ladies will be released to marry when they grow up, and the female officials are very good at turning a blind eye to their way of paving the way for themselves in advance.But what if it's the latter?Let the night watchman catch him another day, whose fault is it?

To put it even more frighteningly, what if the gift was not because of a personal relationship, but secretly asked her to do something?Poison or something?

The eunuch looked at her indifferently, as if looking at a little rabbit waiting to be slaughtered.Seeing that she didn't say anything, she didn't look annoyed, and just waved her hand: "Tie her up."

Sydney fell silent for a moment, then burst into tears with a "wow".

So she cried and was tied to the bench, tied straight and straight, she cried so much that she felt like a hairtail with tears in her eyes.

The eunuch followed her to cry, with a high-pitched voice, he opened his mouth again: "Beat."

The first plank fell immediately, and Xueli, who was already crying, felt her body sink, but she didn't feel much pain.

When the second board fell, it was really painful.

She yelled, closed her eyes and gritted her teeth, waiting for the third blow.But before she yelled the next one, a voice rang out: "Stop."

The five members of Gong Zhengsi all turned their heads.Xue Li secretly opened her eyes and looked at them before daring to open them fully.

Wei Chen picked a dozen or so cronies to come with him, and the situation looked bluffing.He stepped into the room and glanced at Sydney, then turned to raise his waist card to the eunuch in charge: "I order the imperial guard to command the Tongzhi, Wei Chen."

When he said "I'm next", the tone was not polite at all.The eunuch could tell that this was deliberately oppressive.

But if the imperial guards want to suppress people, they can only submit willingly.

The eunuch nodded and bowed his head: "I have heard about Lord Wei's name for a long time..."

"Don't talk nonsense." Wei Chen casually put away the belt card, expressionless, and said in a business-like tone, "Let him go, and I will forget about the groundless charges."

The eunuch was dumbfounded: "My lord, this is... dirty..."

Before he could say the phrase "dirty and chaotic harem", Wei Chen held his collar against the wall, and Wei Chen said viciously, "This is my god-sister!"

"But..." The eunuch reacted in time before arguing with him, "You mean..."

"What do you doubt about me, talk to His Majesty!"

The eunuch's face turned pale after being drunk by him, how could he dare to talk too much, his eyes were full of "Master, please forgive me".

The imperial guard who untied Xueli had a serious face at first under Wei Chen's imposing manner, and he couldn't hold back after a few glances at Xueli.

The pitiful look of this little girl is too serious to be taken seriously...

When they untied the rope from her hands, she watched with tears in her eyes, let go of one hand and murmured "thank you".

When I untie the foot, I couldn't hear her say thank you, but when I untie one side, I saw her twist her ankle, and after both sides were loosened, she kicked around hesitantly.

Afterwards, as if she was finally sure that she was completely let go, she let out a heavy sigh of relief, and her whole back relaxed.

Gong Zhengsi's people were so frightened by Wei Chen that they took a break and ran away. Wei Chen turned around to help her, and when she looked up at him, her cheeks flushed suddenly.

When Xue Li came back to her senses, she suddenly felt that she was quite ashamed...

Tied up like a small octopus, watched by a group of people, wept heart-piercingly after not being beaten much.

It's so hot on my face!

So she didn't feel the nerve to take Wei Chen's hand to help her, so she stood up with her head down.The two blows just now were no longer painful, Xue Li quickly rolled down the bench, stood up and went down deeply: "Thank you, sir!"

She obviously got up serious, but there was a circle of low laughter around her.Xueli's face was flushed, Wei Chen held back a smile and picked up the box with the hairpin on the desk, opened it, and frowned slightly: "Master Commander said there is a note inside, where is the note?"

"There was a newly promoted envoy who was taken away by Gong Zhengsi's people, and now he has returned safely, and he can't even find out what the crime was."

——This statement spread in Shangshi Bureau, and even in the Six Shang Bureau, which is very staggering.

The relationship between Sydney and the three people in the same room has become more subtle day by day.This was the first time she had seen the schemes between palace maids, and she believed what Su Zixian said before: there are a lot of court ladies stabbing each other!
Jiang Yuyao hasn't said a few words since she came back from Sydney.With a cold face from beginning to end, one can imagine the complexity in his heart.

It was also the first time for her to do such a thing. She was cruel, but she had to be cruel for herself.With such a thing that can squeeze Sydney away and make herself stand out, the seat that Sydney vacates must be hers.

She never expected that Xueli would come back. I heard that she was sent back by her imperial guard's god-brother.

Jiang Yuyao's teeth itch with anger.

But fortunately, the Shangshi Bureau still credited her for her. Several female officials who knew her felt that she had a clear distinction between public and private affairs, so they gave her the position of chief envoy, and she had a way out.

A few days later, at the end of the month, it was the day of receiving monthly salary.

The monthly salaries of the Six Shang Bureaus were all under the management of the Shang Palace Bureau. On this day, most of the palace ladies would take turns when they were free, and there were also those with good relationships waiting to be picked up.

Xueli and Zixian often bring back together for each other, and then keep half of it in case they need to take care of it on weekdays, and the other half to buy delicious food for themselves.

Jiang Yuyao has just been promoted to the position, and this month's salary is already calculated as the eighth-rank chief envoy.She was in a good mood, so she went out early to go to the Shang Palace Bureau, and she even dragged Bai Ji along.

Bai Ji, who has always been so soft that he has no temper, is a little unhappy seeing her like this. He almost killed his roommate and changed his position. What is there to be proud of?Besides, Xueli and Zixian are half a rank higher than her, and I've never seen them show off like this.

So although she didn't choke on Jiang Yuyao, she didn't praise her very much, and walked quietly all the way, without looking down at Jiang Yuyao.

It was noon when the two of them walked back after receiving their monthly salaries, and the warm sun pierced through the winter cold. If they walked in a hurry, it would even be a little hot.

The Liushang Bureau is located on the easternmost and western sides of the harem, and there are three bureaus on each side. They are all relatively remote places, and there is no view to see.

Jiang Yuyao was stunned and the whole journey was considered quiet. The two girls walked quietly on the path between the red walls.After turning three more turns, it was time to arrive at Shangshi Bureau, but just after turning the first turn, the two stopped together.

Five or six eunuchs were waiting at the intersection, they were leaning lazily against the wall, and they all stood up when they saw them.

Seeing the tall and thin one sizing up the two of them, his eyes fell on the kit in Jiang Yuyao's hand.

The monthly salary for the palace maids is all packaged in kits, and for the convenience of distinguishing, different positions have different colors.

The one in Jiang Yuyao's hand is jade-colored, and Bai Ji is still a ninth-rank envoy who has not yet been promoted, so it is pale pink.

"Your name is Jiang Yuyao?" the eunuch asked her.

Jiang Yuyao nodded blankly.

"Heh." The eunuch waved his hand with a fake smile, "Take her away."

"My lord?!" Jiang Yuyao was startled, before she could ask any more questions, her hand was empty, and the bag in her hand was also taken away.Then her hands were cut behind her back suddenly, causing her to scream in pain.

The tall and thin eunuch walked a few steps away, bowed to the eunuch standing under the wall, and handed over the kit in a fawning manner: "Brother Xu, keep it."

Xu Shishui took the bag, weighed it, walked out from the shadows, and walked towards Bai Ji step by step.

Bai Ji stepped back.

"Take it." Xu Shishui grabbed her hand and forced the kit into her hand.

Bai Ji subconsciously wanted to make money, but was held tightly by Xu Shishui, even if he wanted to let go of the bag.

Xu Shishui pressed his voice, and the faint smile sent chills down Bai Ji's back: "Take this money and keep your mouth shut. You didn't come out with her today, and you haven't seen us. If you have to say something outside, you can If you are capable, don't walk this way again in your life!"

Mo Yin's ruthlessness made Bai Ji's whole body tremble, and he stole a glance at him without daring to raise his head: "My lord, are you... a member of the imperial guard?"

Taking Jiang Yuyao away is because of Sydney?

"Yu Lingwei?" Xu Shishui snorted and laughed, then took a deep breath, and whispered in a whisper, "Girl, the Sa family will teach you something important today - in this palace, there is only one person who can't be offended." people."

(End of this chapter)