Red Mansion: After being expelled from the family, I was granted the title of Marquis of Mobei

Chapter 92 Don’t be surprised by changes
Although Zhao Pan'er was very anxious, she could only force out a smile and speak.

"It is my honor to have such a distinguished guest. Sir, please come in."

After Jia Jue leisurely walked into the teahouse, he found a seat and sat down.

Zhao Pan'er came closer and asked respectfully.

"Sir, what would you like to drink?"

Jia Jue said after a moment of thought.

"Since we're in Yuhang, let's have some Shifeng Longjing tea."

"Okay, wait a moment, sir."

Zhao Pan'er then went to make tea.

Not long after, a cup of fragrant tea was served.

Zhao Pan'er put down the tea, bowed and said.

"Sir, please enjoy your meal."

Jia Jue picked up the covered bowl, separated the tea leaves, took a sip, and said calmly.

"It's from before the Qingming Festival, but unfortunately, it's last year's old tea."

Zhao Pan'er said helplessly after hearing this.

"I hope you will understand, Master. Lion Peak Longjing is a famous tea from Yuhang. New tea is only for the rich and powerful. Apart from that, it can only be distributed to the outside if there is still money to be made."

"It's still April, and I can't even buy this year's Mingqian Longjing tea."

Jia Jue waved his hand and said.

"Okay, Madam Zhao, there's no need to be so panic."

"Since you can make a living running a teahouse here, you must be a very good person."

"I like smart people. This makes it easy to talk."

"I came here today specifically for Madam Zhao."

Hearing this, Zhao Pan'er's heart skipped a beat and she said with some uneasiness.

"I am just a small businessman in Qiantang. How can I deserve your condescension? You are joking."

Jia Jue looked at Zhao Pan'er meaningfully and said.

"I don't like joking with people I don't know well. Well, just hand over the original Night Banquet, and everything will be fine."

Zhao Pan'er was shocked, then pretended to be calm and said.

"Sir, your information is a bit delayed. The Night Banquet Painting was indeed in my possession before, but I have already sold it to Yang Zhiyuan, the Judge of the Liangzhe Transportation Bureau. The painting is no longer in my possession."

Jia Jue said after leisurely drinking a sip of tea.

"Zhao Pan'er, 24 years old, from Dengzhou. At the age of nine, she was confiscated as a government slave due to her husband's crimes. She was assigned to the Yuhang Music Camp as a singer, dancer, and entertainer."

"At the age of sixteen, I received an imperial decree and was freed from my official duties and returned to good health."

"Well, Miss Zhao, do you want me to continue?"

Seeing her past being revealed one by one, Zhao Paner's eyes couldn't help but turn red.

In ancient times, being cast into a lowly society was the most despised thing for a woman. Since Zhao Pan'er was freed from her status as a lowly woman, she has tried her best to get rid of this past event. Over the years, no one has mentioned this incident for a long time.

Now Jia Jue's words revealed Zhao Pan'er's disguise and exposed her most vulnerable side.

Zhao Pan'er said with a sob.

"Sir, what are you going to do?"

"I'm just a small businessman, and this is probably the first time I've met you. We have no grudges against each other, so why are you making things so difficult for me?"

Jia Jue said calmly.

"I'm saying this just because I hope you'll be honest and stop trying to flatter me."

"You're right. You're just a small businessman. If I say I'm giving you a hard time, you think too highly of yourself."

"I'll say this one last time. Hand over the original Night Banquet, or you'll bear the consequences."

Zhao Pan'er was also very nervous at this time and was at a loss as to what to do.

She could tell from the moment Jia Jue entered the room that he was a man of great vigor and bearing, and that he was definitely not some rich young man, but must be someone in a high position.

When Zhao Pan'er was singing and dancing, she performed dances for many dignitaries and met many powerful people from the gods.

But no one can have such a intimidating aura as Jia Jue.

Moreover, when Jia Jue was talking about the authentic copy of The Night Banquet just now, he emphasized the word authentic and emphasized it in his tone.

This instantly reminded Zhao Pan'er of the Night Banquet painting she sold to Yang Zhiyuan.

In order to increase the popularity of his teahouse, Zhao Pan'er hung up the only relic left by his father, the Night Banquet Painting, to attract literati and poets to the teahouse.

However, as a masterpiece of the previous dynasty, Night Banquet soon attracted a large number of Yuhang dignitaries.

Yang Zhiyuan even wanted to buy the painting directly.

Zhao Pan'er was reluctant to sell the relics left by her father, but she couldn't afford to offend Yang Zhiyuan, so she made a fake and sold it to Yang Zhiyuan.

When she heard Jia Jue emphasize the original, she immediately understood that the person in front of her had most likely seen the Night Banquet Painting in Yang Zhiyuan's mansion and recognized that it was a fake.

After hesitating for a while, Zhao Pan'er looked at Jia Jue and said.

"Sir, this painting is a legacy of my late father. A gentleman does not take away what is loved by others. You are obviously a man of high moral character. Why do you bully a weak woman like me?"

Jia Jue said calmly.

"I'm willing to come to you and ask for it instead of sending someone to arrest you directly. Asking you to hand over the painting is already very polite to you."

"Why, Miss Zhao, do you really want to try my methods?"

Hearing this, Zhao Pan'er couldn't help but shudder in her heart. She knew very well the methods of the powerful. If she offended them, she would be in danger of death.

After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Pan'er looked at Jia Jue pleadingly and said.

"Sir, my fiancé is a successful candidate in this imperial examination. You are obviously a high-ranking official in the capital. You will surely serve in the same court as my husband in the future. Why are you being so aggressive?"

After hearing this, Jia Jue smiled and said.

"Speaking of which, Miss Zhao, asking for your Night Banquet Painting was indeed a rip-off by me."

"Well, I'll give you a piece of news. This is a beautiful story in the capital."

Zhao Pan'er was a little confused, but still bowed and said.

"I am all ears."

Jia Jue said calmly.

"Shortly before I left Beijing, the results of the imperial examination were announced in the Divine Capital. The top-ranking scholar was from Qiantang County, Yuhang, and his name was Ouyang Xu."

Hearing this, Zhao Pan'er could not hide her joy, because her fiancé was Ouyang Xu.

However, before Zhao Pan'er could be happy for long, Jia Jue waved his hand and said.

"Miss Zhao, I'm afraid it's a little too early for you to laugh."

"Listen to me, after the results were announced, this third place winner was chosen as a son-in-law by the Gao family and was betrothed to Gao Hui, the daughter of the Gao family."

"Your Majesty's favorite concubine, Lady Gao, is from the Gao family."

"Gao Hui is the niece of Empress Gao."

When Zhao Pan'er heard the news, she was struck by lightning and her face was full of disbelief.

"Impossible, impossible, you are lying, you are lying to me."

Looking at Zhao Pan'er, whose expression was extremely complicated, Jia Jue said calmly.

"Okay, I've even looked up your background thoroughly. So, checking your fiancé, do you think that's that difficult?"

"As for lying to you, do you think it's necessary?"

"Don't say your fiancé is heartless and has left you."

"Even if he never leaves you, what can you do about it?" "In the eyes of others, the third place winner is still a man of character. He will be admitted to the Hanlin Academy and be appointed a seventh-rank official. His future is limitless."

"But in my eyes, it's nothing special."

"Alright, I've also given you a message. Hand over the Night Banquet Map. If you persist, you'll only be asking for trouble."

Zhao Pan'er looked at Jia Jue, who looked determined to win, and her heart began to beat faster.

She also realized that Jia Jue really didn't care about things like the third place in the imperial examination. It seemed that there was no difference between the third place in the imperial examination and ordinary people to him.

After thinking about it, Zhao Paner said helplessly.

"Sir, I don't know who you are and why you insist on asking for the Night Banquet Picture."

"But the Night Banquet Map is no longer in my hands."

"After Ouyang and I got engaged, I gave the Night Banquet Painting to Ouyang as a token of our love."

"When Ouyang went to Beijing to take the imperial examination, he took the Night Banquet with him."

"Excuse me for being blunt, but sir, you asked for the Night Banquet Painting because it's a confidential matter and you don't want everyone to know about it, so you condescended to come to my little teahouse."

Jia Jue looked at Zhao Pan'er meaningfully and said.

"Miss Zhao, don't you know that the more you know, the worse it is."

After being looked at by Jia Jue, Zhao Pan'er couldn't help but shudder, but after thinking about it, Zhao Pan'er spoke calmly.

"Since you said so, it seems that I guessed right."

"Don't worry, I'm not interested in your identity, nor do I want to know your purpose."

"But there's one thing I think we can agree on. That's that you definitely want to quietly request the Night Banquet Picture. The fewer people who know about it, the better."

"In this case, I will certainly be of some use to you."

"The Night Banquet Painting is now in Ouyang's hands. If he is really as you said, he is the third place winner in this imperial examination and is also destined to marry into the Gao family."

"Then it will be difficult for you to retrieve the Night Banquet Picture without alerting the Gao family, which is definitely not in line with your original intention."

"But I can help you get the Night Banquet Picture back."

"I am willing to go to the capital with you to meet Ouyang Xu."

"If he's truly unfaithful and heartless, he'll surely be worried that I'll cause trouble and ruin his marriage. I'll ask him to return the Night Banquet Painting to me under the pretext of retrieving my father's relics. If he's not stupid, he'll definitely agree."

"If he hadn't been so unfaithful, I would have been able to obtain the Night Banquet Painting and gift it to you, young master."

"After all, I don't want to cause trouble for my future husband, right? What do you think, sir?"

Jia Jue said with a calm smile.

"It's amazing that you can still be so clear-headed at a time like this. Interesting, really interesting."

"I like smart women. Okay, I'll do as you say."

"I still have some things to take care of in Yuhang, so you should stay in the teahouse honestly for the next few days. After I finish my business, I will take you back to the capital."

"As long as you cooperate, I will ensure that you are safe."

Zhao Pan'er said after bowing.

"Thank you very much, sir. I have another favor to ask of you. I wonder if you can grant my request."

Jia Jue said with a chuckle.

"You're getting a bit over the top. Anyway, I'm in a good mood. Let me hear it."

Zhao Pan'er then told Jia Jue everything about Song Yinzhang.

"Sir, this is exactly what happened. Zhou She was obviously a liar. My sister was naive and was abducted by him. Now she is nowhere to be found."

"She is also a musician affiliated with the Song and Dance Department. If she is caught by the government, she will definitely suffer."

"Sir, you can tell at a glance that I am invaluable. Could you please help me escape from the clan and relieve me of my worries?"

"This way, I can go to the capital with you without any worries."

Jia Jue said with a calm smile.

"You really know how to use someone else's strength to your advantage. Logically speaking, I wouldn't bother with such a stupid woman."

"But it wouldn't hurt to help you. You just said they went north on a merchant ship, right?"

"In that case, I'll be a good person to the end and help the Buddha to the west. Come on."

"Son."

Jia Jue's personal soldiers disguised as attendants came up to Jia Jue and saluted.

Jia Jue looked at his personal guards and gave orders.

"Immediately send men to track north along the canal. Stop and search all ships departing from Yuhang and Qiantang. Bring back Song Yinzhang and that swindler named Zhou She."

"As ordered."

The personal guards immediately took the order and left. Zhao Pan'er felt even more complicated when she saw this.

On the one hand, she was delighted that her good sister was rescued.

But on the other hand, she became more and more frightened about Jia Jue's identity.

You know, Yuhang is an important cargo port with countless ships coming and going every day.

Zhao Pan'er was shocked that Jia Jue could block the canal for search with just one word.

What is the story behind the Night Banquet Picture left by his father? How could it attract such a great god?

Although she was surprised, Zhao Pan'er pretended to be calm, bowed respectfully and said.

"Thank you, sir. I am very grateful."

Jia Jue glanced at Zhao Pan'er indifferently and said.

"I've solved all your worries for you."

"I hope you will honestly cooperate with me in entering the capital."

"Once I get the Night Banquet Map, I will naturally set you free."

"If you have any messy thoughts, not only will you die, but Song Yinzhang will die, and everyone close to you will die."

"do you understand?"

Zhao Pan'er couldn't help but feel a chill in her heart and nodded quickly.

After drinking the tea, Jia Jue left leisurely.

Zhao Pan'er saw two more people following her not far from the teahouse, and she immediately knew what was going on.

Needless to say, this must be the person Jia Jue left behind to watch over him.

Seeing this, Zhao Paner felt a sense of unease in her heart.

But she knew very well that she had no ability to resist Jia Jue.

Now I can only hope that Jia Jue will keep his word and give me a way out after the matter is accomplished.

If he has bad intentions and wants to kill to silence me, I'm afraid I won't be able to escape his clutches.

Thinking of this, Zhao Pan'er couldn't help feeling a little sad.

It is said that good fortune never comes alone, and misfortune never comes singly. This saying really applies to me.

My little sister was kidnapped, and my fiancé seemed to be a transformed Chen Shimei.

He was also targeted by this nobleman of unknown origin because of the Night Banquet Picture.

It is rare for a person to experience so many hardships at the same time in his lifetime.

After expressing her feelings for a while, Zhao Pan'er also forced herself to cheer up.

After all, no matter what, I can't just die.

There are still many doubts in my mind that have not been resolved.

(End of this chapter)