Shipin Dalizheng

Daya's dark yellow face was a little shy. But soon Chuncao's complaints continued, "Look at you, you've lost weight, you're dark, and you don't have any meat on your body. How will your in-laws like you? Eat quickly."

Daya's face turned pale again.

Erya was two years younger than her sister, and was already ten years old. She knew that although Sister Chuncao's words were harsh, she actually cared about them. She couldn't be the one to be ungrateful, so she took a big bite and said, "Sister Chuncao, don't be angry, let's eat. Sanya, you should eat quickly too."

San Ya was only six years old, a year younger than Rong Xiaobao, but she was already aware of her place in the family. She was definitely not as good as her brother, Xiaobao. Whether it was good food or not, it was always Xiaobao who got the most. As girls, they couldn't carry on the family line, so they were lucky to be alive. Therefore, from a young age, they knew how to help with housework and eat as little as possible.

But she also knows she is hungry!

Their family was considered well off in the village. They could have two meals a day, each consisting of only a bowl of wild vegetable porridge. During the busy farming season, they would be given half a pancake. When they were hungry at night and couldn't sleep, they could only get up and drink cold water.

Even so, sometimes other children envy them for having a good life.

San Ya cried, taking a bite of the meat pie and chewing it carefully and cherishingly. She didn't know if she would have another chance to eat the meat pie. Grandma said, "The young master is a noble man, and sooner or later he will go to the capital to enjoy a good life."

But these girls in the village are destined not to have such blessings.

Seeing her sisters eating, Daya also began to eat awkwardly, taking small bites while explaining, "Sister Chuncao, we didn't suffer that much. People in the village are all like this, they're all too poor. At least the three of us sisters were raised well. Some families..."

As she spoke, her voice lowered. "Some families drowned their baby girls after they were born, threw them into the mountains, or sold them. Can I tell you such things, young master?"

Don't pollute the ears of such a godlike person like him.

Rong Tang ate barbecue and listened quietly, with ripples in his heart. Yes, favoring boys over girls is indeed an old custom, but poverty is also the biggest reason. As long as the people can have enough food to eat, who would want to starve their children?

As Gui Ergou was eating, he suddenly felt a lump in his throat and started crying, "Although I'm a man, wasn't I also sold because I was hungry? If I hadn't met my godmother, I would have starved to death long ago."

The twenty-year-old boy was crying so hard that his nose was bubbling, making everyone around him feel sick. Rong San slapped him on the forehead with a slap on the face and said, "Go away and cry. You're so disgusting. Are you going to let us eat you?"

Gui Ergou rolled up another pancake and squatted aside crying. Rong San was about to scold him a few more times, but when he looked around, Rong Si, Rong Wu, and Rong Qi all had sad faces and were silent.

"Damn it, what's wrong? Eat your meal properly, you all act like your parents have died, are you going to let the master eat?"

But think about yourself, it’s because you have no way to make a living that you have lost your freedom and have to live a life on the edge of a knife.

His face fell.

Rong Tang ate his meal, letting them reminisce about the past. In terms of suffering, was it as hard as his? He had died once, and now he was alone in this strange world.

When the three girls saw that the big men had recalled their sad memories, they were so scared that they lowered their heads and ate their own food.

After Rong Tang finished eating, he pointed at Rong San and the others and said, "Come with me. Chuncao, you take the three girls to clean up. Let Daya take back the leftovers!"

"Hey!" Chuncao agreed and directed the three girls to clean up the scene.

Rong San and the others followed Rong Tang into the main hall. Gui Ergou lit a candle and was about to leave when Rong Tang said, "Ergou, stand at the door. You don't have to stay away."

Gui Ergou was stunned for a moment. Along the way, the young master discussed things with them and basically asked him to stay away. He thought he was not qualified to listen to these important matters.

Rong San glanced at Gui Ergou without saying anything, just frowning slightly. Given Gui Ergou's identity, is it really appropriate for him to participate in their conversation?

"Rong San, don't look at him. Compared to you, he is my own man."

Several people looked at him sideways.

Rong San said, "Master, where did you get this from?"

"Things have come to this point, so there's no need for you to continue lying. I asked you to call your masters along the way only so that you could reach the Northern Dynasty safely and smoothly and fulfill my promise. Now that it's almost accomplished, you can return to your true masters."

Rong San's eyes widened instantly, "Master, what do you mean by that?"

"Do you still need to talk about your family's lives now? Rong Qi and Rong Jiu are both secret guards. Even you might be secret guards. I've never heard of secret guards having wives and children."

They stared at each other for a moment, Rong Si and Rong Wu lowering their heads first. They were both honest and not good at speaking.

Rong San choked for a moment, not knowing how to explain it.

Rong Qi said in a deep voice, "We didn't lie to you. We went out to look for you a year ago... indeed, we were following Madam Rong's orders. Madam Rong can also testify to this."

"Then can I understand that your master has made a deal with Concubine Rong and needs to find an heir to the Jian'an Marquisate to achieve some purpose? I'm guessing that this purpose isn't as simple as just regaining control of the Marquisate. Is it also about gaining control of the Rong Family Army? Let me guess again. Assuming whoever becomes the Jian'an Marquis will take over the Rong Family Army, that would certainly be a considerable force. Considering that a prince... Prince Rui personally arrived today to assist the Jin family, and the Jin family sided with Prince Rui. And Concubine Rong clearly supports the other side, so your true master..."

Rong San and Rong Qi stopped him at the same time, "Stop talking."

Rong San wiped the sweat off his face. It was too scary, too weird. This Rong Tang was a monster!

Rong Tang sneered, "Everyone, let's not talk about how ridiculous it is to think that the heir to the Rong Mansion can take over the Rong Family Army just because he has appeared. Even for me, there is no reason for me to be inexplicably involved in the fight for the throne. Now that the Jin family has no chance of inheriting the title, I don't want the Rong Family Army either. If your master has any ability, go and do it yourself. If he can win it, it's his own ability. I won't participate or interfere. Since I kicked the Jin family out for him, I hope he will let me go and let us live our own lives as master and servant."

Rong San frowned. He knew Rong Tang's abilities too well. With him, it didn't matter whether the Rong Family Army wanted him or not. If such a person couldn't be recruited into the master's camp, then he definitely couldn't enter another camp.

Rong Tang seemed to understand what he meant and said slowly, "I said I won't participate, and that means I won't participate. If I have to find a supporter in the end, I will give priority to Concubine Rong's choice. With that said, are you relieved?"

Rong San felt relieved. At least his master had not made any enemies and disrupted King Rui's plan, which meant that half of his work was done.

But he immediately added, "Even so, Master, you've come a long way, so you need someone available. Although we're not very talented, we've been with you for two months and know each other well. Even if we still have to follow you and take orders, it's still acceptable."