Princess Menglang is hard to change, the whole capital is embarrassed for her

After the little girl finished crying, she wiped her tears and continued talking.

"My brother asked me where I was working, and he said he wanted to buy me freedom. Later I heard that he was working at the prefectural government office, and the young man next to him said there was no rush to buy me freedom. They said that the prefectural government master and his wife were not good people, and asked me to be careful. They also asked me to help them find out the news in the government office and agreed with me on the day to meet each time."

"The time I met my brother, I was lucky I was out alone buying snacks for the mistress. No one else was with me, so I wasn't noticed. After I returned, I observed the master and the mistress again, and sure enough, my brother was right. There was something wrong with them. Especially the mistress. She always used the maids in the mansion to go out and gather information. If anyone didn't do what she wanted, she would have them dragged out and beaten to death. Others were so frightened by the sight of the beaten maids that they dared not look, but she wasn't afraid. She even said it was a pity for the delicate skin and flesh. If it hadn't been broken, she could have peeled it off and used it. Listening to her words, it was terrifying."

When she said this, the little girl seemed to recall horrible memories and couldn't help shivering.

"Two days ago, I lied to my benefactor because I was afraid he would hand me over to the prefect's wife. Actually, I knew when her men threw me into the river. I've been swimming since I was a child, so I held my breath and swam a long way down the river, enduring the pain as I crawled towards the riverbank. I finally reached the shore and was trapped in the waterweed when I gave up."

"I was lucky. There were several horse-drawn carts carrying military grass on the shore. I rested for a while and crawled into the grass to hide. I don't know when the carts started or where they went."

"I woke up again in a daze and saw my brother beside me. He said that everyone outside was searching, saying that the lady had lost her dog. In fact, someone must have found my blood in the grass. The magistrate's wife suspected that I was not dead and was afraid that I would reveal the secret, so she found an excuse to search for me."

"Because of this, my brother and that young man didn't dare to send me to the pharmacy. Later, I heard the young man say in a daze that there was a courtyard here, where everyone knew medicine and there were many medicinal herbs. They said they would hide me there first and then think of other ways."

"So, they brought the herbs they dug from the mountains here to sell, and secretly hid me in the cart that was carrying the medicine. Before my brothers could figure out how to ask the owner of this courtyard for help, you, my benefactor, saved me. I didn't dare to tell you before because I was afraid of implicating my brother and younger brother. I didn't mean to hide it on purpose. Please don't blame me. I will repay your kindness in my next life, even if I work like a slave."

Xiao Chenze listened for a long time, frowning tightly.

A young man in a military camp could easily bring in a living person. I thought this place was a solid block of iron, but it turned out to be full of holes, like a sieve.

There must be someone in this yard that her brother knows.

who can that be?

"I brought you here and hid you. Not only will the prefect's wife be unable to find you, but your brother won't be able to find you either. Won't he be anxious?" Shen Li asked.

The little girl thought for a moment and said honestly, "That shouldn't be the case. My brother and that young man both said that the people in this courtyard are very reliable. Otherwise, they wouldn't have dared to secretly leave me in a corner and leave first. Besides, they know the people here, but I don't know their names. I'm sure my brother will ask about them if he can't find me. If he finds out that I was saved by a benefactor, my brother will be relieved."

"How did you and your brother arrange the date for the meeting?"

Xiao Chenze had been silent the whole time, but when he suddenly asked this question, the little girl was so startled that she looked up suddenly and quickly leaned towards Shen Li again.

"Yes, it's at an inconspicuous tea stall next to the pastry shop called Ruyizhai in the east of the city. It's held on the first and fifteenth day of every month, at the hour of Chen. Whenever you want to meet, just go there and wait. When I first met my brother, I would go there on every date, and so did he."

Xiao Chenze said nothing. He walked outside with his hands behind his back and said in a deep voice, "Someone come here."

Shopkeeper Lu's voice came over quickly, "Master."

"Send someone to a small tea stall next to Ruyizhai and ask the owner if there have been any siblings meeting at his place on the first or fifteenth day of the lunar month recently."

"Yes."

Shopkeeper Lu’s footsteps went out again.

Xiao Chenze came in, looking serious.

The little girl felt like her heart was about to jump out.

"Don't be afraid, I'm here to ask you," Shen Li said, "What does your brother look like? If he comes to ask about you, we will tell someone to keep him. As long as you tell the truth, we won't make things difficult for him."

"Really?" The little girl's eyes were very clear, and she looked at Shen Li with such trust that Shen Li's heart softened. "Of course, I won't lie to you, and you don't lie to us either, understand?"

"I understand, I understand. Listen to me, my brother's name is Zhuzi. Oh, and my benefactor, I call him Xing'er. I heard him call the little brother he's always with, Brother Lin. He's not fat, but he has a very obvious scar on his left forehead from when he was a child. As for Brother Lin... I can't really describe him, but I know he doesn't talk much, but if he puts on brocade clothes, he'd be no worse than a young master from a wealthy family."

Zhuzi? Brother Lin?

According to Xing'er, it's possible that Brother Lin is really a young master from a wealthy family.

Just because he said the people in this yard are reliable, we have to check what he knows.

"I see," Shen Li said to Xing'er, "I hope your brother will come to see you soon so that you two can meet sooner."

Having said that, it’s time to ask other things

So Shen Li said, "You were in the prefect's house and heard the prefect meeting with that man. Do you know what the goods they were talking about were? In addition, you also said that the prefect had a backer? Do you know who his backer is?"

Xing'er raised her head, thought seriously, and said, "I really don't know what that batch of goods is, but I did hear Madam mention the master's backer."

She frowned and tried to recall, "It was two years ago, when the master brought his wife to Beijing. When the master entered the palace, his wife and her father were talking in the garden, and I overheard a few words. His wife said that the master's backers were not only..."

She thought hard, and thought hard.

"The Yao family? Yes, there is not only the Yao family, but also a noble person whom even the Yao family dare not offend easily."

"Her father asked who it was, but the lady couldn't say. She just said that she herself realized that there was someone supporting the master behind the scenes, but she never found out who it was."

Anyone else?

Don’t even dare to offend the Yao family?

Who could that be?

......