Adoption brings disaster

The man seemed to have a grudge against Chen Jiu. He didn't care that it was freezing cold and Chen Jiu was still sick. He just asked two servants to pull Chen Jiu up and was about to leave. But then he found that Chen Jiu was really sick and couldn't walk by himself. So he cursed for a while, then asked the two servants to support him and leave. No more words were said.

After being tormented like this, Chen Jiu felt even more uncomfortable, but the pain and coldness made him sober, and he no longer looked as dazed as before.

Chen Jiu was not a man who would sit and wait for death. He was carried by two men and shuttled through the house. He just kept trying to remember the route he came from and observe the surrounding environment to see if there was any chance of escape. But he soon gave up this stupid idea.

It was a stupid idea because not only was the complicated route impossible for him to remember, but the servants coming and going and the guards standing every three steps and every five steps also cut off any possibility of his escape.

The most crucial thing was the snow that covered his insteps, which made the barefoot Chen Jiu dare not try to escape at all. Even the two people who were holding him seemed to have a deep hatred for him. They deliberately bumped him onto the stones, pillars and steps, making Chen Jiu dizzy and aching all over. Moreover, they bumped him very skillfully. Chen Jiu was in extreme pain, but there was no visible injury on his body.

Chen Jiu was carried like this, and no one knew how long he had been walking. He was so cold that he was almost unconscious, and the pain all over his body made his consciousness a little fuzzy. He was afraid that if he continued like this, Chen Jiu would not be able to escape, and he would even lose his life.

At this moment, the leader who had been arrogant and cursing all the way suddenly became quiet.

Chen Jiu suddenly realized that the leader, who had been holding his head high and chest out, now lowered his head and became fawning. The two people who had been holding Chen Jiu also did their job conscientiously and did not dare to act recklessly.

Not far ahead, I heard someone saying something, but Chen Jiu was so cold that he couldn't hear clearly. After the person finished speaking, the leader turned around and scolded the two people who were holding me.

The two men were scolded but didn't dare to talk back. They could only quickly take off their clothes, put one on me and covered my feet and legs with the other.

On the way back, although the two men were still carrying Chen Jiu, they were much more attentive, as if they were carrying their best friend, fearing that Chen Jiu would be hurt again.

After wrapping myself in clothes, my body gradually warmed up and my mind gradually became clearer.

Chen Jiu looked around and saw a place that was completely different from the slave house, a place that looked like a fairyland.

It was not yet dark, and lights were on everywhere in the place. Various lanterns were exquisite and stylish. If Chen Jiu had not been in this situation, he would have stopped to take a closer look.

The servants coming and going were all dressed appropriately, with smiling faces. In the eyes of the devastated Chen Jiu, it was like a fairyland in the sky.

Looking further away, tall and majestic houses rise one after another, and the roofs, eaves and windows are carved with various auspicious beasts and poems symbolizing good luck and fortune.

Several plum trees stood tall in the courtyard, their blossoms adorned with a touch of snow, their crimson hues accentuating their beauty. Their winding branches resembled the Chinese character for "Fu," which at another angle resembled "Lu," and at yet another, "Shou," demonstrating the ingenuity of the gardeners.

It was a pity that Chen Jiu was in pain, cold, sick and hungry at the time, so he had no time to care about these things. He could only let the servant carry him and walk all the way, watching the whole way like a revolving lantern.

After walking for a while, when they turned a corridor, there were suddenly fewer servants, but more guards.

Each guard was big and strong, with murderous eyes, just like a real murderer who had killed many people. Just looking at him made Chen Jiu feel creepy and terrified.

Each of these guards had a precious sword slung around their waist. Even though it was snowing heavily and they were freezing, their hands never left the hilts of the swords. Their eyes were fierce, as if if you had a bad thought, they would raise their swords and chop you off, and you would die on the spot.

Chen Jiu was not afraid of these people. There was a parent who was also very burly and had fierce eyes before. He was very scared when he first met him. But after a long time, he found that the parent was also very reasonable and kind. He was not afraid of this kind of people anymore, but at least he was not so scared.

Moreover, that parent was even scarier than these guards. When he was young, he acted like a gangster and got into fights with others. The two scars on his face made him look like a ghost, and he had several lives on his hands. Of course, these words were spread by other teachers, and no one knew whether they were true or not, but they really scared a lot of people.

The other teachers were speechless looking at him because of these rumors, but Chen Jiu relied on the righteousness in his heart to argue with him and finally won his respect. It also gave Chen Jiu great courage to face such people.

Going further in, not only were the servants missing, but even the guards were gone, and even the lanterns under the eaves gradually disappeared.

In the end, it was pitch black everywhere and we could only move forward by moonlight. However, the occasional tiny sounds coming from the shadows showed that this place was not as simple as it seemed.

The crowd walked through a bamboo forest again. After the three people who had carried me here put me down, they retreated respectfully.

As the three of them left, a man holding a lantern came over from a distance, bowed and said with a smile: "The master has been waiting for a long time, please follow me, Chen Jiu."

I followed the man barefoot and with difficulty. He turned around and said, "Look at my memory. The Third Young Master has already given you a name. I should call you Chen Jiuyi now."

That person deliberately emphasized the word "Jiuyi". I was in such a state now that I didn't notice it. I was just sad in my heart, thinking that when a person is about to die, what's the important thing about his name.

I had no idea what he meant by this nonsensical remark, but I could sense that he had no ill will towards me, so I laughed and said, "The master has been waiting for a long time, let's get going quickly."

When the old man saw me speaking so confidently and clearly, he was stunned for a moment, but he recovered immediately, just nodded, holding the lantern and leading the way in front without saying a word.

After the old man took me around a few corners, we finally arrived in front of a small building.

The old man said that the master was inside, then he extinguished the lantern in his hand and quietly stepped back. In a moment he disappeared into the bamboo forest.

Looking at the small building in front of him, Chen Jiu felt like he was on a home visit. But a home visit wouldn't kill him, and certainly wouldn't freeze his feet to the point of losing all feeling.

Chen Jiu's mind was full of random thoughts, but he still walked quickly to the door, knocked on it and said, "Master, I'm Chen Jiu. Can I come in now?"

Chen Jiu was really cold. He didn't care whether the master answered or not. He pushed the door open and walked in, and closed the door very politely.

There was no idea what the mechanism was in the room, but it was surprisingly warm. His frostbitten feet started to itch badly in the warm room, but Chen Jiu was able to control himself and avoid making a fool of himself.

There was a carpet on the floor, which was very comfortable to walk on. Chen Jiu rubbed his feet on the floor from time to time, hoping to make his feet less itchy, but the more he rubbed, the more itchy he became, and the more itchy he felt, the more he wanted to rub his feet.

The master and the mistress were sitting in the middle of the room. The master was thinking about something while holding a cup of tea with a gloomy look in his eyes, while the mistress was sobbing and saying something. Chen Jiu didn't hear clearly, so he walked inside again.

The master looked at Chen Jiu who came in directly. Although he felt a little dissatisfied, he didn't say anything. However, his wife was furious and cursed: "You lowly slave, you killed my son. I will make sure you die today."

Chen Jiu knew in his heart who was the one who decided his life or death, so he did not respond to his wife's words. He just looked at the master, bowed slightly and said, "Master, you are well."

The master took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Just based on the way you acted just now, committing treason and bullying your master, I can sentence you to death."

"I don't think the master will kill me." Chen Jiu said confidently, but his frozen feet showed my inner panic.

The master also found Chen Jiu's words interesting. He was stunned for a moment and said with a smile: "Why wouldn't I kill you? You killed my son. Letting you die a hundred times is enough."

After hearing what the master said, Chen Jiu also felt that there was a chance, and hurriedly said: "It is because I deserve to die that the master will not kill me."

This was a strange thing to say. The master put down his teacup and asked with interest, "What do you mean by that?"

"If you want to kill me, Master, it would be easy and legitimate. I have no words to refute and no power to resist. Why bother bringing me here to kill me?"

After Chen Jiu finished speaking, he looked at the master's expression again. There was no change, so he had to continue boldly: "This place is secret. He brought me here. I believe the master has something that he needs me to do. Naturally, he won't kill me."

Chen Jiu is taking a gamble now. If he can really find a way to survive, that would be the best. If not, at least he has done his best.

The lady listened to my words and looked at the expressionless and thoughtful master. She knew what he was thinking and said in disbelief, "Master, are you really going to let this lowly slave go?"

The master stared at the beads in his hand, ignoring his wife, and just fiddled with them intermittently. After a long time, he said, "I am not a bloodthirsty person. Yuan'er's death cannot be blamed entirely on you."

Chen Jiu was delighted to hear this and was about to say something to save his life, but then he heard the master say, "But smart people don't live long. Rather than letting you die outside, it's better for you to die in the mansion. At least you can have a complete body."

Hearing this, Chen Jiu panicked and kept asking himself why it was different from what was written in the novel.

Although Chen Jiu was panicking, he looked as calm as an old dog. He just smiled and said, "I don't agree with what you said, sir. Smart people live to be a hundred years old. Those who don't live long are just being smart."

The master was surprised when he heard this. He looked at Chen Jiu with a playful look in his eyes. He fiddled with the beads in his hand a little faster and said with a smile on his face, "You are really an interesting person. No wonder Yuan'er wanted to take you with him even if he died. But how can you prove that you are a smart person and not a smart-aleck?"

Chen Jiu didn't know how to answer, so he just asked casually: "A son is like his father. The Third Young Master likes me, so does the Master not like me?"

The master did not answer my question directly, but simply said, "How did that old slave give birth to a son like you?"

The old man's smile grew wider, and his tone became more cheerful. Chen Jiu saw this and felt relieved, and his body felt much more comfortable.

"Master." The lady's voice was a little hurried.

The master didn't even look at the lady who suddenly spoke, and continued to fiddle with the beads and said, "If you are tired, go back and rest early."

After saying that, he ignored his wife and just stared at Chen Jiu and continued, "You are a little smart, but it's just a little smart. A little smartness won't make you live a hundred years."

"The world is bustling with people because of profit. The master has spared my life, I think he has something to entrust to me, and it can only be entrusted to me. I can do the master's things well. I don't know if this can be regarded as a great wisdom that will lead to a long life." Chen Jiu could only continue to pretend.

Chen Jiu was nervous and could only cheer himself up. He stared at the master with a smile on his face, pretending to be confident.

After hearing what Chen Jiu said, the master also came. He was interested and leaned forward slightly and said, "Tell me what's going on?"

Chen Jiu quickly reviewed all the information he had in his head, thought about it carefully, and then decisively said the answer he had already prepared: "Select the minister."

After hearing my answer, the master was stunned for a moment, then he stood up, took my hand, sat down, and said lovingly, "Yuan'er is already eleven years old, half an adult, smart and capable, he is really blessed by our ancestors."

This was such a nonsensical remark that my wife and I were completely baffled. My mind was racing as I pondered how to respond. My wife took my hand, looked at the master, and said, "It's true that our ancestors have blessed us, but it's also thanks to the master's careful guidance."

With the reference answer given by my wife, I also imitated the Third Young Master, hugged my wife and made intimate gestures, and said innocently: "It's all thanks to my father and mother's good teachings."

After pretending to be happy with the master and his wife for a while, the master suddenly said to the outside: "Butler, what time is it now?"

As the master asked, a voice came from the wall outside: "Master, it has just passed the third watch. It is already late at night. Please go to bed early, Master, Madam, and the Third Young Master. Your health is the most important thing."

The master stood up and stretched himself, fiddling with the beads in his hand, and said, "It's already so late. Yuan'er has been weak since childhood, so go back and rest early. Don't hurt yourself and miss the selection of ministers in half a month. I still have some official business, so I'll go to the study first. Madam, you should also rest early."

"Goodbye, sir." I followed my wife in bowing.

Hearing the noise inside, the old man who had just brought me in also hurried in, put a cloak on the master, stood hunched in front of the master, holding a lantern.

"The housekeeper likes Yuan'er the most. If Yuan'er enters the palace as a lady, it will not be easy for you to see each other again. You should stay by Yuan'er's side and serve him recently. You must serve Yuan'er well and must not make any mistakes." The master ordered.

The butler nodded in agreement and said nothing more. He just walked and stood behind Chen Jiu.

The master looked at Chen Jiu and said casually, "The servant who was with Yuan'er before was buried with honor. His parents and relatives should also be treated well. You, the housekeeper, should handle this matter yourself. You must do it well. You must not disappoint the servants, and you must not hurt Yuan'er's feelings." After that, he walked out.

After watching the master leave, the lady also left on the pretext of being very sleepy due to the late night. Chen Jiu followed the housekeeper and was not mentioned again.

Predict what will happen in the future, and listen to the next decomposition.