Poor Lady

At this time, the nursing home and the dealer came over with six boys ranging in age from eleven to fifteen.

Before Qi Surong could say anything, Manager Zhao had already stepped forward to inspect the goods, looked at them for a moment, nodded and said, "These are good, I want them all."

"Uh..." The tooth seller looked at Qi Surong on the other side, who made a "do whatever you want" gesture.

Qi Surong was born into a high-profile family and has a lot of knowledge. Just by looking at the dress and behavior of Director Zhao, you can tell that his master is either rich or expensive. With her current situation, it is best to avoid her edge and act low-key.

Zhao Guanshi followed the eyes of the tooth seller and found a young man standing not far away, watching him quietly. He has a handsome face, bright eyes, and although his clothes are ordinary, it is difficult to conceal his demeanor. His eyes lit up, compared to the little slaves in front of him, the young man was outstanding.

Just as he was about to say something, he saw a burly man striding behind the young man a few steps, staring at him intently.

The man dressed up as a nursing home, but he was different from ordinary nursing homes. He exuded an aura that had gone through a killing field. Steward Zhao took back his caution. It would be fine if the young man was only a child of the Heike family, but now it seems that his background is not low, at least not something that a little steward like him can afford.

Manager Zhao bowed slightly to Qi Surong, then asked the servant to complete the transaction with the tooth seller, and left with a few boys.

"This little boy, what do you think?" The tooth seller walked to Qi Surong's side and smiled shyly.

"Then who is Director Zhao?" Qi Surong interrupted him and asked.

"He is from Zheng Shida's uncle's family in Zheng County." The tooth seller replied respectfully.

"County Count?" The county Count is a fourth-rank noble, with a fief but no power. In addition to the seal of meritorious ministers, it will also be bestowed on royal relatives. His surname is Zheng, could it be... "The younger brother of Concubine Zheng?"

"The young master is indeed very knowledgeable."

It seems that it was right not to speak out just now. It is rumored that Zheng Shida is fond of fishermen and is not limited by men and women. Although some people have impeached him from time to time, he has never been criticized. Not only because he has a sister who is a concubine, but also because he never provokes the powerful, and he rarely robs the children of good families, and basically only picks people from the hands of the children. Tired of playing or rewarding the next person, or re-selling it to another person.

"Little son, these boys have been bought, and there are a few eighteen or nineteen-year-old men left..."

"Isn't there another one?" Qi Surong pointed at the young man who had just been brought over by Manager Zhao.

The tooth seller hesitated: "Little Young Master, are you sure you want him? He doesn't seem very easy to control."

"Eighteen or nine-year-old men are too big, I just want a boy of my age." Qi Surong said.

"Okay then." The tooth seller said no more, and said politely, "The villain will give the son a resale price, thirty taels."

Qi Surong looked at him with a half-smile but not a smile. Just now, Director Zhao sold it to him for 10 taels, and he made 20 taels in one sale.

The tooth seller pretended not to see Qi Surong's expression, and asked, "What do you think, young master?"

"Okay, just thirty-two."

The toothbrush hummed happily.

Qi Surong asked the nursing home to pay, but she walked up to the boy and asked, "What's your name?"

The young man looked at him coldly, without saying a word.

After approaching, Qi Surong realized that the injury on his body was more obvious than she thought. The arms showing the sleeves were all bruised, and the legs and feet were a little staggered. .

"Little son, it's done." The nursing home handed the contract to Qi Surong.

Qi Surong glanced a few times, and his eyes fell on the name of the contractor.

"Yuanxi?"

The boy was motionless and unresponsive.

Qi Surong's eyes flashed with surprise, wouldn't it be so coincidental? Could this Yuan Xi really be the person she remembered in her last life? Yuan Xi, whose real name was Fan Ziyu, was the son of Fan Gu, a servant of the middle school, and his mother was Fan Guliang's concubine, half of the blood of the Western Regions.

Qi Surong looked at it intently, the outline of the young man in front of him was more distinct than that of ordinary people from the Central Plains, and his pupils were dark gray-blue, which indeed had some characteristics of people from the Western Regions.

Is it really him?

The Fan family was also one of the dignitaries investigated by the emperor this time, but they were even worse than the Qi family. They were not only accused of embezzlement, but also charged with secretly hoarding tributes and colluding with foreign thieves. The identity of his mother became the target of criticism.

The Fan family was sealed up, Fan Gu was executed, his wives and concubines were exiled, and all the immediate family members within three generations were demoted to low status.

Fan Gu has only one child, that is Fan Ziyu.

In one night, Fan Ziyu was reduced from a well-known son to a lowly slave. In order to avoid breaking the taboo, he changed his name to "Yuanxi".

Fan Ziyu was the son of a concubine, and Qi Surong before his rebirth disdain to make friends with him, so naturally he had no impression of him. But after the rebirth, Qi Surong remembered this person deeply.

The Fan family, like the Qi family, both broke down because of the crimes they wanted to add. But Fan Ziyu is stronger than Qi Surong. As a lowly slave, he wandered around in various families, endured humiliation and heavy hardships, like a beast with a restrained breath, patiently lurking, waiting for the day of revenge until he met King Jing.

King Jing is the younger brother of the Nine Emperors of the current sage and the new emperor of the Wei Kingdom in the future.

Fan Ziyu has excellent luck and chooses to be loyal to King Jing, and he is deeply favored by him. Before Qi Surong's death, he became King Jing's humerus minister, ranking the third Duke.

Qi Surong's biggest advantage today is the prediction of the next 30 years. The best way to make the Qi family regain its glory and prestige is to make friends with the powerful and powerful.

Qi Surong took Yuanxi back to the newly bought house, and first asked the maid to take him to wash up, and then asked the doctor to clean up his wounds.

The doctor walked out of the room and said to Qi Surong, "Little Young Master, his trauma is nothing to worry about. As long as the dressing is changed on time, he will be fine for a few days of rest. But..."

He hesitated.

"But what?" Qi Surong said strangely, "If the doctor has something to say, just say it bluntly."

"Uh, he, he has been tortured..." The doctor saw that the young man in front of him was only twelve or thirteen years old, and he was really embarrassed.

Qi Surong was about to ask questions, when suddenly his heart moved, his expression became a little dignified, and he said, "do not need to say more, doctor, I think I know what you are going to say."

Qi Surong asked people to send the doctor away, glanced at the room where Yuan Xi was, sighed slightly, and turned to leave.

The next day, when Qi Surong appeared in the new house dressed in men's clothes again, he immediately heard the nursing home report to him: "Last night that kid tried to escape, but I caught him and put him in the woodshed."

run away? Qi Surong was a little puzzled, where could he go when he escaped like this?

Qi Surong thought for a while, and said to the nursing home, "Bring the person to the study."

But after a while, Yuan Xi was brought into the study by the nursing home.

Qi Surong asked the nursing home to withdraw, leaving only the two of them in the study.

Yuan Xi sat on the ground, put one hand on the chair next to him, and looked at Qi Surong coldly.

Qi Surong suddenly said, "Fan Ziyu."

Yuan Xi's expression was shocked, and his body stiffened unconsciously.

"You don't want to stay here, where do you want to go?" she asked.

Yuan Xi was silent.

Qi Surong said again: "You should be aware of your current situation. You have become a low-ranking member. No matter where you go, there is no way out. Instead of being bullied outside, it is better to stay in Xiu Zhuang and help me."

"Who are you? How do you know I'm Fan Ziyu?" Yuan Xi finally spoke.

"My family, like yours, has been affected by the wind of investigation."

A hint of surprise flashed in Yuan Xi's eyes, and he asked, "Are you..."

"Qi." Qi Surong spat out a word. The reason why she didn't hide it was not only because she wanted to gain Yuan Xi's trust, but also because she was sure that Yuan Xi would not betray her.

"It turned out to be the Qi family." Yuanxi looked at Qi Surong steadily, and suddenly said, "I see, you are..."

"You can understand it in your heart." Qi Surong interrupted him and said, "I want to know what your plans are? Why don't you want to stay here?"

Yuan Xi stood up and replied, "I thought this was just a small workshop."

Qi Surong thought for a moment, then guessed, "Do you want to join a powerful family?"

Yuan Xi was stunned for a moment, and was amazed at Qi Surong's sharpness, before nodding for a moment: "That's right."

"I understand." Qi Surong walked slowly to him and said sternly, "Fan Ziyu, trust me, your goals are the same as mine, I will help you achieve what you want, and I hope you can help me."

"How do you want me to help you?" Yuan Xi asked.

"Be my book boy for now, and help me take care of Xiuzhuang's affairs."

"What can you do with just one Xiuzhuang?"

"A Xiu Zhuang really can't do anything?" Qi Surong said calmly, "But I can use the name of Xiu Zhuang to enter the big family and make friends with powerful people."

Yuan Xi looked at Qi Surong silently, and said word by word, "Sorry, I don't trust you."

He has had several encounters with Qi Surong, and he has always heard of her reputation. A fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boudoir girl, who is full of talent, but has a arrogant temperament and doesn't understand world affairs, how can it help him? Don't be a bad thing.

Qi Surong didn't get angry and asked, "How can I convince you?"

Yuan Xi thought for a moment and replied, "I was bullied by Zheng Shida before. If you can avenge me, I will serve you."

Yuan Xi gave Qi Surong a problem. His original intention was to let him retreat despite difficulties, but he didn't expect that Qi Surong just thought for a while and nodded in agreement: "Okay, I will avenge you."

This time, it was Yuan Xi's turn to be embarrassed. He said solemnly, "Think about it clearly, and don't compromise yourself for the sake of a momentary mood."

"I know." Qi Surong smiled, "Do you think I look like someone who is motivated?"

Yuan Xi is silent, she is indeed different from the rumors. Although he is only fifteen or sixteen years old, his words and deeds are full of maturity, he is neither impatient nor impatient, and he has never shown any contempt for him.

"Qi..." Yuanxi paused, not knowing how to address her.

"Just call me 'little boy'."

"Then you can call me 'Yuanxi' in the future, don't call me by my real name." Yuanxi said, "Your Qi family is also a person who received the emperor's reward more than ten years ago. Don't take it lightly, fall into the trap of others, and bring trouble again."

"A reward from the late emperor ten years ago?" Qi Surong asked suspiciously, "What do you mean by that?"

Yuan Xi was stunned for a moment: "You don't know?"

"Please also clarify."

"Since I don't know, it's inconvenient for me to say more." Yuan Xi closed his mouth.

"Yuanxi, now that we have all fallen to this point, why should we be concerned about other things?"

"You must be careful, otherwise you will be involved more."

Qi Surong thought for a while, her heart moved, and she spit out two words tentatively: "Secret letter."

Yuan Xi suddenly raised his head and stared at her closely.

Really secret letter! Qi Surong was also surprised. This letter is really unusual, and it actually involves the current saint.

Yuan Xi let out a sigh of relief and said lightly, "Do you know how many dignitaries have been investigated this time?"

Qi Surong counted it carefully and replied, "There are more than 20 people above the fifth rank, and about fifty people below the fifth rank."

Yuan Xi nodded: "Yes, among these people, there are more than 30 people, all of them received the emperor's reward at the celebration banquet twelve years ago."

"Twelve years ago... Frontier victory!" Qi Surong remembered, she had heard her father mention it, because it was her father's last battle. "But the border victory should be rewarded for meritorious deeds. What's wrong with this?"

"If it's just an ordinary reward, there's nothing wrong with it, but..." Yuan Xi looked at Qi Surong and said solemnly, "What if it involves a battle for the throne?"

"The battle for the throne?" Qi Surong whispered and asked, "What does the secret letter have to do with these rewards? What does it have to do with the battle for the throne?"

"It seems your father hasn't mentioned much to you." Yuan Xi said clearly, "I can only tell you that there are secret letters hidden in the items that the late emperor rewarded, and secret letters are related to the throne. But I don't know. There are several secret letters, presumably not even the current sage knows."

"So, the emperor simply removed the people who received the reward more than ten years ago from the court one by one?" Qi Surong muttered to himself.

"Obvious." A cold light flashed in Yuan Xi's eyes.

The scope of this investigation is very wide, and there are many children of the official family who have fallen outside. If they can be found out one by one and given corresponding subsidies and support, perhaps they can become a help for the Qi family in the future.

But this matter must be handled with caution, and a slight error will lead to death.

However, she first had to subdue the rebellious young man in front of her.

Qi Surong's eyes gradually changed from doubt to clarity...