Chapter 6, the young lotus first reveals its pointed tip

Relying on their familiarity with the terrain, they quickly left the young Sima Qian behind and entered the slave market, which made Chen Jiao feel a bit uneasy. The steward was very attentive, serving them tea and snacks. Upon learning that Li Xi was looking for two nimble maidservants, he patted his chest and assured them of the quality of the slaves available here, then called forth a group of emaciated little girls that Chen Jiao found hard to bear, allowing Li Xi and the others to make their selections

is ... ... is ... ...

"This, I do not recognize other characters, but I recognize a few words in the family letter." The butcher's forehead began to sweat

It seems that the scholar stole something from the butcher," said a passerby enthusiastically explaining to her. Soon, Chen Jiao learned the ins and outs of the matter from the well-meaning bystanders around her

"Alright, let's do it this way." To my surprise, Li Xi actually agreed just like that, and then casually walked outside, saying, "I will go and have Zhuang Xin prepare the carriage."

Before Chen Jiao arrived, she had never imagined encountering the events unfolding before her. For her, terms like disaster victims and famine victims were things that only appeared on television. As she circled around the group of more than a dozen girls and saw each one looking at her with pleading eyes, she felt a sense of reluctance to make a choice.

The meaningless conversation above is precisely the source of everything. Chen Jiao turned her head to take a look; the two parties in the conversation were a young scholar and a butcher with a face full of flesh. The butcher had a firm grip on the scholar's clothing, causing the scholar's face to turn bright red.

Haha! That originally silent scholar suddenly burst into laughter

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You cannot save everyone; just take care of yourself. This world is inherently like this. There is no need for self-blame. Li Xi noticed her downcast expression and, in a rare moment of gentleness, advised her.

Sima Qian

It must be him who stole it

The name formed a triple echo in Chen Jiao's ears. She turned around with incredible speed and rushed to Sima Qian's side, examining him from top to bottom and from left to right.

It has been proven that the Chinese tendency to join in the fun has remained unchanged for five thousand years. Even with the strong and robust Li Xi and Zhuang Xin providing protection, Chen Jiao still felt somewhat suffocated. It took her a great deal of effort to reach the center of the circle. The revolutionary task was only half completed, but as more and more people gathered, Chen Jiao began to doubt that unless this brother-in-law truly possessed the skills of a martial arts hero, leaping away with lightness of foot, it would be quite difficult to leave this place. However, upon reaching the center, Chen Jiao had already discovered the origin of this encirclement.

"His Royal Highness, the Prince, is kind and approachable. My grandfather was one of his personal guards, and out of compassion for my grandfather who had been away from home for several years, he wrote a letter to his family. This is our family's heirloom." The butcher recited this line as if it were memorized, suggesting he had practiced it numerous times.

A strange silence fell over the hall, and Chen Jiao held her breath, anxiously awaiting the outcome of the negotiation between the couple. At that moment, even with her thick skin, she began to sense that something was amiss.

Li Xi cast a cold glance at those girls, then turned to Chen Jiao and said, "Jiao'er, you go pick two."

I see you are also a refined person; perhaps it is just a moment of greed. If I were to turn you over to the authorities, it would ruin your future. How about this: you compensate me with a string of three cash coins, and I will not hold it against you. At this moment, the butcher put on a facade of magnanimity.

"Cuicui, this time you must listen to your husband. In the past, because of your insistence, there have been no servants in the household. But now that you are pregnant, and Jiao'er is not someone who can attend to others... I think I should go outside and buy one or two servants to help take care of both of you," Li Xi said, looking directly at Zhang Cui, speaking each word clearly.

Thank you, sister!" Li Xi replied with a smile. Chen Jiao thought with some surprise that Li Xi must be in an exceptionally good mood right now, otherwise she wouldn't be smiling so cheerfully at her.

Ah! Chen Jiao thought, how can I tell you that your family holds an official position? If Emperor Wu of Han finds out, I might as well give up. Thus, she smiled awkwardly and said, "Meeting is fate, young master, there is no need to be so fixated on this!"

On the third day of their time together, Zhang Cui gently reminded her, who was troubled by her long hair, saying: "Sister, your hair cascading over your shoulders is indeed beautiful, but it is best for a woman to style her hair in a double bun when going out, as it alleviates many worries."

You are!

Chen Jiao slowly picked up the bamboo slip from the ground and said to the butcher, "Is this letter written by His Highness Prince Yuan for your grandfather?"

I do not know what kind of person your grandfather was. How could he have the honor of having the Yuan Wang personally write a family letter for him

The somber conclusion of this visit to the slave market seemed to sweep away the brightness that Chen Jiao had witnessed since arriving in this world, making her realize for the first time that this world is fundamentally different from the one she belongs to

"Then how did you know it was your family's letter as soon as you saw this?" Chen Jiao feigned surprise as she looked at him, "It's quite normal for a scholar to carry a bamboo slip; how did you conclude that this is your family's letter?"

Seeing the butcher flee in panic, the crowd that had gathered to watch gradually dispersed. The scholar, who had just been wronged, approached Chen Jiao and clasped his hands in gratitude, saying, "Thank you, miss, for your rescue"

"What are you laughing at?" The butcher's face was filled with anger

"No, I do not know him," the butcher replied cautiously

As Chen Jiao was feeling anxious, the road ahead was suddenly blocked by a crowd. She came to her senses and noticed that everyone in front had formed a circle, with layers of people both inside and outside. Turning back, she glanced at Li Xi, only to find that his expression was also grim, likely not expecting to be stopped in the middle of the road. Li Xi quickly stepped forward and naturally took Chen Jiao's hand, intending to lead her through the encirclement. However, as he reached out to pull her, he inadvertently brushed against the jewelry that Chen Jiao had hidden in her sleeve. The unmistakable metallic sensation made Chen Jiao dare not hope that Li Xi had not noticed the secret. She awkwardly raised her eyes to look at Li Xi, only to find that he seemed completely unconcerned, as if he had not detected her little scheme, and continued to lead her forward.

Zhang Cui did not respond, but simply took Li Xi's hand and gently placed it on her abdomen

I heard that in the past couple of days, a new batch of fine servants has arrived at the market in the east of the city. The owner of the pharmacy, Manager Qiao, is also considering picking one or two clever young ones. How about, when the evening cools down a bit, you take your sister and Manager Qiao along with you

"Miss, may I ask for your esteemed name?" Sima Qian inquired once again

Although the edict issued in the fifth year of Emperor Gaozu's reign in the summer of May explicitly stated that merchants were not allowed to purchase starving people as slaves, and those already bought as slaves were to be released without compensation, such regulations often faced disobedience from subordinates. Consequently, the blatant practice of buying and selling slaves continued unabated.

What! After hearing this, Chen Jiao felt enlightened; it was clearly a scam

What kind of mark is this ?

Not bad

Li Xi immediately noticed her predicament, so he stood up and casually pointed to two of the girls, saying to the trafficker: "Just these two. Have someone help them get ready and send them to the carriage at the market entrance."

Good https://www.hetushu.com.com! Good! Where can the butcher say no.

Miss, the rouge and powder here are quite excellent

"What? How did you know?" she looked at Zhuang Xin in surprise

How could Chen Jiao dare to say no? She immediately scurried back to her room like a little mouse, pondering to herself, how strange it is that such a loving couple would end up in a quarrel. While she was lost in thought, her eyes caught sight of the bronze mirror on the table opposite the soft couch. Looking at her current appearance, she suddenly wondered, could it be that because I am as beautiful as a flower, this brother-in-law of mine has developed some inappropriate thoughts? With this thought, Chen Jiao couldn't help but laugh, thinking to herself, how could that be possible? As she continued to ponder, her gaze fell again on the bronze mirror, and she reflected on her looks, realizing that her sister was much more beautiful than her at present. However, she had heard that men always desire what they do not have while still holding onto what they do. Suddenly, this thought crossed her mind, and Chen Jiao felt a chill run down her spine.

"Sister is also idle at home," Zhang Cui further stated, "Since my husband is inclined to find one or two servants to take care of me and my sister, why not let my sister choose someone for me? This way, my sister can also seek out a suitable person for herself."

No way, he seems so refined and gentle

Is that so? Then do you know how to read?

Upon hearing Zhang Cui's words, Chen Jiao's face involuntarily flushed. Although during her time in Changmen Palace, she had diligently learned how to navigate life in this ancient setting, such as dressing and dining, when it came to actually putting this knowledge into practice, she still found herself flustered. Not to mention other matters, but her hair alone was enough to give her a headache. An unmarried woman does not style her hair in a bun, but that does not mean she neglects her hair; at the very least, an unmarried girl is expected to wear a double loop hairstyle.

Ah?" Chen Jiao was momentarily taken aback upon hearing Zhang Cui's words. She finally lifted her head, only to see Li Xi's dark eyes and his enigmatic expression.

"Miss, wait a moment. I am Sima Qian. May I ask for your esteemed name?" Sima Qian called out repeatedly behind her

However, Sima Qian wanted to say something more, but he found that Chen Jiao was being held back by Li Xi behind her.

"What do you want?" The butcher was momentarily taken aback by Chen Jiao's appearance, and only after a moment did he clearly hear what she said, responding with a fierce expression.

"You are talking nonsense, little brat. Do you believe I won't tear your mouth apart if you say another word?" The butcher immediately became furious

Let me speak on your behalf. This book was not stolen by this young gentleman at all. Perhaps your family does not even possess any correspondence written by the Yuan Wang. Everything is merely an accusation against this young gentleman, aimed at extorting money from him.

Although it was already evening, the crowd at the trading market in the eastern part of the city had not diminished much, still surging and bustling. After the painful lesson from the last shopping trip, Chen Jiao wore a light veil this time. After getting out of the car, Li Xi silently followed behind Chen Jiao, watching her in a bright red long robe weave through the throngs of people. He had noticed that something was off with Chen Jiao since the afternoon; surely, the conversation he had with his wife had put considerable pressure and led to her overthinking. However, could some matters truly be laid bare for discussion...

"Wait a moment, my husband," Zhang Cui said shyly as she held Li Xi's hand, "I also have some good news to share with you"

I am not a thief

Oh? What is it

I am Sima Qian, aged 16, young lady" Sima Qian said respectfully and courteously

This scholar has been in Pengcheng for several days, running around both inside and outside the city, in search of people to inquire about old stories. Yesterday, he heard a tale about King Yuan of Chu from a butcher, who boasted that he possessed a family letter written by His Highness King Yuan for his grandfather.

After this incident, she was truly treated by Zhang Cui as a young lady of high status. No, Chen Jiao believed that if Zhang Cui understood modern terminology, she would actually be regarded as a mentally challenged person. At this point, Zhang Cui suddenly mentioned how precious she was, and even though Chen Jiao's resilience had thickened considerably over the past month, she still found it somewhat unbearable

Chen Jiao was so preoccupied with her own embarrassment that she naturally did not notice the look of difficulty on Li Xi's face, who was taller than both of them. Meanwhile, Zhang Cui deliberately avoided looking at her husband, focusing all her thoughts on Chen Jiao.

"Is it possible that ... ... ?" Li Xi had a look of disbelief on his face

Wait a moment! Chen Jiao, relying on her two bodyguards, Zhuang Xin and Li Xi, boldly stepped forward to block the way

What?

Ah, I have embarrassed my younger sister. My husband and I sometimes pay attention to the court's situation, but it is merely for our own livelihood. Zhang Cui covered her mouth and laughed, "It's all just theoretical discussions; sister, forget about it after you hear it."

What is going on? Chen Jiao found this pair quite strange and couldn't help but ask the passerby next to her.

"Alright, alright, that's it. Consider yourself lucky!" The butcher said, extending his left hand, clearly indicating that payment was expected

"If you dare to touch a single hair on my young lady, you will be doomed." Before he could act on his threat, Zhuang Xin had already seized him by the neck.

"It's just a small matter. No need for formalities." Chen Jiao waved her hand dismissively and hurried over to Li Xi's side, playfully tugging at the hem of his shirt as she said, "Brother-in-law, let's hurry up and go. If we are late, they might close the door."

You cannot read the characters, yet you can recognize that this is your family's letter. How did you manage to do that? Is there some special mark on it?

In this way, you have finally alleviated one concern. Let us prepare well, and in a few days, we shall return to Dongyang. Li Xi, seeing that there seemed to be nothing more for him to do, planned to leave.

Chen Jiao had no idea what a double ring bun was. The next day, she found herself staring blankly at the bronze mirror, lost in thought, until Zhang Cui came to urge her to set out. With tears in her eyes, she pleaded, "Sister, please style my hair into a double ring bun."

He took out what he had secretly stuffed into the scholar's bosom while everyone was discussing just now. However, due to the skillful technique, it was not noticeable to the average person. Zhuang Xin informed Chen Jiao of what he had just witnessed

However, Li Xi seemed to have thought of something troubling and suddenly paused.

Really? That's wonderful! Li Xi's expression turned to one of ecstatic joy as he immediately picked up Zhang Cui and spun her around.

You, you... The scholar seemed quite angry, but due to his status, he could not utter any curses.

I clearly saw it, it was you!

Chen Jiao naturally noticed Li Xi's glance and immediately stepped forward to say: "Sister, Brother-in-law is right. Now that you are expecting, you need to find someone to take good care of you. I am not good at taking care of others, and if I accidentally bump into you and hurt the baby, that would be terrible"

"It can't be that way. Isn't that forcing me to leave?" Chen Jiao murmured

I am not

Startled by the news, Chen Jiao finally reacted and immediately walked over to Zhang Cui's side, sincerely saying: "Congratulations, sister and brother-in-law!" Regardless of the many questions she still had about this couple, one undeniable fact was that during her time outside the palace, she had been able to live without worry, thanks to the protection of the Li couple, and so far, there had been no signs of being pursued.

Since the absurd speculations and the book emerged, Chen Jiao felt uncomfortable every time she saw Li Xi. However, in front of Zhang Cui's smiling face, she found it hard to express her reluctance to go to the East City Market with Li Xi, as it seemed to imply a guilty conscience. Thus, she could only go with a frown.

Upon hearing the words "find someone to serve," Zhang Cui's expression already showed some displeasure. Just as she was about to refuse, she noticed that Li Xi was surprisingly giving Chen Jiao a meaningful glance, hoping that she could persuade her.

Having spent more than a month with the couple, Chen Jiao was naturally aware of certain traits of Zhang Cui. This wealthy young mistress strangely insisted on cooking for herself. Along the way, apart from the driver Zhuang Xin, there was surprisingly no other personal maid accompanying the couple.

It is not me, you are making baseless accusations

"Miss, that butcher is framing him." Zhuang Xin had quietly approached Chen Jiao and whispered in her ear.

Oh. Chen Jiao spread the bamboo slips in front of him and asked, "Come, tell me what is written on it? Read it word by word." Chen Jiao pointed from the right and said, "You read, you read."

My father came here to visit His Highness King Chu, and I followed him here. Although I found Chen Jiao's question quite strange, out of gratitude towards my benefactor, I answered meticulously without any concealment

"You don't recognize the characters on this at all. I turned the bamboo slip upside down, yet you still read it without a hitch. Of course, it's amusing!" Chen Jiao also wore a mocking expression.

I believe this young gentleman did not steal your belongings, so I would like to say a few words in his defense. Chen Jiao nodded to the scholar, and upon seeing this, he was immediately very excited, his face clearly expressing a single thought: finally, someone has come forward to prove my innocence.

What happened

Various discussions buzzed around, and Chen Jiao looked at the scholar standing in the center, feeling quite sorry for him. Then, she suddenly heard the butcher's exclamation, "Look, look, it's this, it just fell out of his arms."

I have it. " Zhang Cui nodded, affirming Li Xi's guess

The shouts of the vendors, filled with local dialects, echoed incessantly. Although Chen Jiao appeared relaxed as she paused in one shop and glanced in another, her hands hidden in her sleeves were already damp with sweat. Before stepping out, she had taken quite a few pieces of jewelry from her room and tucked them into her sleeves, preparing to make a quick escape at any moment. If Li Xi continued to be so secretive, she truly would not dare to stay in the Li family any longer

Sima Qian

I feel the same way," Zhang Cui nodded.

"I just told you yesterday that the letter written by His Highness Prince Yuan to my grandfather has disappeared today. It must have been you, you thief, who stole it last night," the butcher said indignantly. "Everyone, please judge for yourselves whether he is the one who stole it."

"Sister, what happened?" Zhang Cui asked with a smile, looking at Chen Jiao, who appeared shocked.

To my dear wife, I am currently serving as a personal guard to the Yuan King, who treats me very well. Do not worry. I am pleased to be in Nanyang. Yours sincerely.

"Young Master, these are all refugees from Henan Prefecture, and they have all voluntarily sold themselves into servitude. They are quite nimble and capable. If you purchase them, you will definitely encounter no trouble at all," the steward introduced with a flattering smile.

Sister, brother-in-law, you all... Chen Jiao did not know what to say

Yes, yes, there is a mark. The butcher seemed to have grasped a lifeline.

Zhang Cui looked intently at Chen Jiao, then glanced sideways at Li Xi, and suddenly smiled, saying: "It seems I have been neglectful. Now that I am pregnant, while I can take care of myself without issue, I hardly have the leisure to look after my sister. My sister is such a precious person; she cannot be doing any rough or tiring work. It is indeed time to find someone to assist her."

"How did you end up at www.hetushu.com here?" Chen Jiao thought curiously, remembering that it was said in literary history that Sima Qian only set out from Chang'an to travel the world at the age of 20

Chen Jiao looked up and indeed saw another piece of bamboo slip on the ground. The butcher, astonished, picked it up and pointed at the blushing scholar, feeling quite pleased with himself. Chen Jiao found it somewhat strange and thought to herself, could he really be a thief

Having said that, he took Chen Jiao's hand and walked out. Chen Jiao turned her head to look at those eyes that resembled abandoned puppies, feeling a pang of pain in her heart

You thief

No, no, no, the sister and brother-in-law's gazes were piercing, and the younger sister felt completely humbled. Chen Jiao hurriedly waved her hand, but her curiosity about this couple had already reached its peak. This couple, with their handsome man and beautiful woman, treated others with a refreshing and gentle demeanor. Such a radiant pair, if they truly claimed to be mere common merchants, she absolutely could not believe it.

"Slow down, slow down, be careful of the child," Zhang Cui pushed Li Xi and then shot him a glance, "Are you showing jokes to your sister?"

"This young master, I have other important matters to attend to with my sister, so I must take my leave now." Li Xi coldly uttered this sentence and swiftly took Chen Jiao away. Chen Jiao felt as if she was almost being half-dragged by Li Xi as they walked. The speed was truly incomparable to her own walking pace

Miss, please buy the hair accessories here; they are very beautiful

"Are you Sima Qian? How old are you this year?" Chen Jiao looked at him suspiciously. The boy in front of her, who appeared to be only in his teens, did not resemble the great man Sima Qian in any way. He seemed too childish, lacking even a hint of manliness.

Sima Qian

On the way back, the two selected girls huddled fearfully in the corner of the carriage, appearing very obedient. Chen Jiao observed that they were only about thirteen or fourteen years old, yet they looked so pitiful, and she gently comforted them with a few words. During the conversation, she learned that one of the children was named A Yu, aged fourteen, and the other was named A Nu, aged thirteen. They had lost both parents during their escape from famine and had no choice but to sell themselves into servitude.

Chen Jiao felt that Li Xi's gaze behind her was like a thorn in her back. In order to escape this discomfort, she began to stop at the small vendors along the way to admire their goods. These vendors were very perceptive; just by looking at Chen Jiao's attire, they immediately guessed her extraordinary status and began to shout at her in unison.

"I knew it," Chen Jiao murmured softly. During her time in Pengcheng, she had fully witnessed the flourishing academic atmosphere of the State of Chu. Many literati and scholars would come to visit King Chu Dao to exchange knowledge. It can be said that King Chu is the most learned and talented among the feudal lords, second only to King Huainan. It is not surprising that Sima Qian's father came here to pay him a visit.

There must be records of His Highness the Prince Yuan's personal guards in the government office. If you are now handed over to the authorities, it can certainly be verified whether your grandfather was indeed one of the Prince Yuan's personal guards. If Lord Chu were to learn that you are spreading rumors and causing trouble outside, tarnishing the reputation of his late father, he would certainly not let you off easily. " Hiding behind Zhuang Xin, Chen Jiao sweetly smiled at him, watching the butcher's face turn pale, and said, "However, my dear brother, I believe it is better to avoid unnecessary trouble. I will pretend I did not see this matter, and you should also refrain from causing any more trouble for this young master. What do you think?" Chen Jiao sweetly smiled at him, watching the butcher's face turn pale, and said, "However, my dear brother, I believe it is better to avoid unnecessary trouble. I will pretend I did not see this matter, and you should also refrain from causing any more trouble for this young master. What do you think?"

"Cuicui, since this is the case, we cannot rush our journey," Li Xi suddenly thought. "I need to make some arrangements. Before you give birth, let us stay temporarily in Pengcheng to avoid the fatigue of traveling on the road"

That is not necessarily the case; one should not judge a person by their appearance

Zhang Cui gazed longingly at Li Xi's figure for a moment, sighed, and then turned to Chen Jiao with a smile, saying: "Sister, selecting a maid is quite a tiring task; you should return to your room and rest for now"