Wen Zhuojin was unable to leave through the main gate and was stopped by Marquis Jing'an and his men before she even left the yard.
"Azhuo, stay in her yard. The situation outside is complicated now. If things go wrong, the Marquis' Mansion may be implicated. Besides, what can she do if she goes out? Your father will look after you outside and send someone to tell you if there is any news. It's cold, why don't you help your young lady in!" Jing'an Marquis Wen Heming said to Wen Zhuojin. His tone was relatively gentle, but obviously much stronger than usual.
Without giving Wen Zhuojin a chance to say anything, the two maids brought by Marquis Jing'an stepped forward to attack.
Wen Zhuojin, feeling anxious, paused as she looked at her father, who always spoke to her in a soft voice. Without asking anyone to help her, she grabbed Nanny Jiang and turned to go to her own yard.
"Don't go out these days." Wen Heming's voice came from behind, but Wen Zhuojin did not respond.
When Wen Zhuojin first heard what Nanny Jiang said, she also panicked.
She was much calmer now.
My uncle is the kind of person who would never be corrupt.
Someone must have framed him.
The seizure of gold does not prove anything. After all, the Changyuan Marquis's family has been a noble family for generations, and they have some wealth and do not rely on salaries to live.
If the higher-ups are observant, they will be able to find out the truth. If not, how the crime of embezzlement is convicted will depend entirely on what outcome those nobles want.
Wen Zhuojin was somewhat suspicious that this was another way for the eldest princess to make money, or in other words, a means to eliminate dissidents.
After all, my uncle does not worship the Queen Mother Xuannv and is not on the same side as the eldest princess.
"Oh, I don't know if the Marquis will help. Miss, why don't I go out and take a look, and come back to tell you if there is any news." Nanny Jiang said to Wen Zhuojin, obviously not trusting Wen Heming.
"Mammy, it's snowing outside now, and your legs and feet are not in good condition. I'd better find a way to go out and see a doctor." Wen Zhuojin said.
"How can the young lady go out? The Marquis has placed those two old women in the yard to watch over them. If something really happens to Marquis Changyuan, what will the young lady do?" Nanny Jiang became more worried as she spoke.
Wen Zhuojin's position in the Marquis' Mansion depends largely on the influence of her uncle's family.
When Wen Zhuojin's biological mother passed away, Wen Zhuojin's uncle was very dissatisfied with Wen Heming. Wen Heming was already a little afraid of her brother-in-law in the court, and he didn't dare to say a word at that time. When choosing the second wife of the Marquis's Mansion, he also had to consider the mood of Wen Zhuojin's uncle. He didn't dare to marry someone they were not satisfied with, so he finally promoted a concubine of low status to be the second wife.
Once Wen Zhuojin's uncle's family was defeated, Nanny Jiang, who knew the most about the inside story, would be filled with uncontrollable worry.
Wen Zhuojin watched as Nanny Jiang pushed the person to sit on the chair, and she turned and went into the inner room.
Although she was usually afraid of trouble, she was not afraid when something happened, especially when it involved her uncle's family.
Nanny Jiang was thinking of arranging the nimble Zirong to go out for a while, and when she was about to tell Zirong something, she saw Wen Zhuojin coming out.
Nanny Jiang and Zirong were both shocked.
Wen Zhuojin came out and took off her women's clothes and changed into men's clothes.
She had her hair tied up in a simple high bun with only a jade hairpin on her head. She wore a moon-white round-necked robe, a belt around her waist, and black leather boots, looking like a handsome young man.
"Miss, what are you doing..." Nanny Jiang was so surprised that she didn't know what to say.
"No one will recognize me when I wear the veil hat. Let Bai Tan pretend to be me first. Don't worry, I'll be back soon." Wen Zhuojin walked out while putting on the veil hat.
When the other maids saw Wen Zhuojin like this, their eyes lit up.
Wen Zhuojin is more handsome than any other man out there.
"Miss, how can I let you go out? What's more, no matter how you go out, the two maids outside won't let you go out." Nanny Jiang grabbed Wen Zhuojin.
"Climb over the wall to go out. In the summer, I often climb over the wall to go out. Zirong knows it. Don't worry, Ma'am. The matters of Qinfangxuan are handed over to you. Don't let father find out." Seeing Ma'am Jiang's worried look, Wen Zhuojin turned sideways and whispered to Ma'am Jiang, then patted Ma'am Jiang, turned around and went to the west window of the outer room, opened the window and jumped out.
By the time Nanny Jiang reacted and quickly walked to the window, Wen Zhuojin had already walked a long way out.
Nanny Jiang wanted to say that Wen Zhuojin was wearing too little and didn't even have a hand warmer. What if she got frozen? However, there was a maid guarding outside, so she couldn't speak loudly and could only watch Wen Zhuojin walk away.
Outside is a small garden, and further ahead is a wall.
Nanny Jiang watched as the person who was usually pampered lightly jumped, grabbed the top of the wall with both hands, and then used her legs to jump up, jumped up!
This is the child she raised under her nose. She watched her grow up. This is a gentle, kind, respectful, frugal and modest lady from a noble family. When did she learn to climb over the wall?
The news that Wen Zhuojin could climb over the wall surprised her even more than hearing that the Changyuan Marquis's mansion was raided that morning.
"This, this... Miss learned it from her cousin when she was in the Marquis of Changyuan's mansion. It's been several years. She said that the nanny is timid and asked me not to tell the nanny..." Nanny Jiang called Zirong to ask questions, and Zirong said timidly.
Zirong didn't dare to say that Wen Zhuojin not only learned to climb walls at her uncle's house, but also other skills such as climbing trees, riding horses, archery, etc. She learned everything that her cousin could do. The two injuries she suffered before the New Year were both caused by falling off horses.
When Wen Zhuojin was a child, she would go to the Changyuan Marquis' Mansion, and Nanny Jiang would follow her. They would plant flowers and grass in the backyard and tend to various aromatic materials. Someone had to stay to look after them. Nanny Jiang's legs and feet were not very agile, so it was safest to stay in the Changyuan Marquis' Mansion. So Wen Zhuojin arranged for Nanny Jiang to stay in Qinfangxuan.
Who would have thought that she had missed a few years. Has the girl grown up in a wrong direction?
While Nanny Jiang was feeling anxious, Wen Zhuojin had already left the Marquis of Jing'an's Mansion.
At the foot of the wall she climbed over, a servant was waiting.
"Why are you here? What's going on? Tell me quickly." Wen Zhuojin recognized him as the servant beside her eldest cousin.
"The young master asked me to wait here to stop my cousin, saying that this is a matter between the men outside and my cousin should not interfere. The young master has already gone to see the Prime Minister, and I believe that things will turn around. My cousin, please go back." The servant said with a bow.
Wen Zhuojin paused.
At this time, her uncle's family still had the mind to send someone to stop her because they didn't want to implicate her.
"Don't stop me. I have to meet my cousin. Go find my cousin and come to Shengfengxuan to see me. Tell him that I won't leave until he sees me." Wen Zhuojin didn't say anything more to the servant and walked out quickly.
The servant had no choice but to follow quickly.
Shengfengxuan is a shop under Wen Zhuojin's name, which deals in silk and satin.
Wen Zhuojin went there first, found the shopkeeper to check the accounts and ask for money, and then sent people to other shops to collect the debts.
When Wen Zhuojin was settling accounts, her cousin Wu Yuanheng arrived.
"Azhuo, you are so smart, how come you don't know that it is the best time to avoid suspicion. I told you to stay at home, why did you still come out? Go back quickly!" Wu Yuanheng, who originally looked tired, said anxiously when he saw Wen Zhuojin.
Wen Zhuojin looked up and saw her cousin, put down the abacus, and first handed the small package she brought with her to Wu Yuanheng.
"Now is the time to use the money. Take it and go make arrangements. I'll find a way to raise some more money." Wen Zhuojin said.
Wen Zhuojin inherited her mother's dowry and owned several shops and farms. She received a monthly allowance from the Marquis' Mansion, and her uncle's family often gave her all kinds of good things, so she never had to worry about food and clothing.
Just studying the art of incense and purchasing incense materials is a considerable expense. Although I am not short of money, I don't have much cash on hand.
The small bag she took out now contained the farm deeds and silver. In addition to what she had just collected from the store, some of it was the dowry given to her by her uncle and aunt years ago.
It was more generous than what the Marquis' Mansion had prepared. Her aunt told Wen Zhuojin to take it with confidence, as her sons would earn what they wanted. Wen Zhuojin was a girl, and marrying into a high-ranking family like the Duke of Rong's Mansion, so naturally she had to use the dowry as a basis and not let others look down on her.
Now that something happened at her uncle's house, Wen Zhuojin took out everything at once, including the jewelry she thought was valuable, and put them in a small package.
Even if he really committed a crime, with the current princess's means of making money, she might be able to exchange money for his life.
"Azhuo, take your silver. Father's matter is not a trivial matter. A lot of things happened in the court today. Many officials were charged with various crimes. A rebellion case involved dozens of people... Now they have all been sent to the Ministry of Justice. I will go to the Prime Minister. He can hardly protect himself. If he didn't have so many disciples and was not highly respected, he might..." Wu Yuanheng said.
"Are these all officials who don't believe in Goddess Xuannv?" Wen Zhuojin asked in surprise.
"Basically, all of them. Father said before that the eldest princess is not someone who cannot distinguish right from wrong. Compared with the faction that believes in Goddess Xuannv, her faction is more loyal to the court and can balance the forces of all parties. Now it seems that they are all being used. The court has just been stabilized for a short time, and now it is time to put away the bow and arrow after the bird is dead..." Wu Yuanheng said angrily.
Wen Zhuojin wanted to ask her uncle to immediately convert to the faith of Queen Xuannv and join the eldest princess.
Considering my uncle's personality, and considering that he is in this situation, he might become even more radical. Moreover, the matter is not simply caused by a belief.
"No matter what, make sure your uncle is okay first. It's so cold now, we need to arrange for people to send food and thick clothes to your uncle so that he won't suffer. All the money in the house has been confiscated, and my aunt and cousin have to make a living. You take this money first. If you don't take it, I will go to your house openly and plead for justice for my uncle." Wen Zhuojin said.
"Azhuo, you... okay, I'll take it. You have to promise me that you don't have to worry about other things, I will find a way." Wu Yuanheng looked at Wen Zhuojin, shook his head helplessly, and took the thing.
"Okay." Seeing Wu Yuanheng compromise, Wen Zhuojin nodded.
"Azhuo, don't go to your father's side or the Duke of Rong's Mansion to ask for help. I went there, but was turned away. Everyone is in danger now. Your father's affairs may affect you. If Shen Yuque has really wronged you, I will never forgive him." Wu Yuanheng hesitated and told the story to remind Wen Zhuojin, so that she would not be so eager to save people that she would go to ask for help and be humiliated in vain.
"Cousin, I understand. This is the best. It's better to see clearly sooner rather than later. If we can't share hardships together, then it's better not to have each other." Wen Zhuojin said that it was good that the perfect engagement partner revealed a flaw when disaster struck.
Wen Zhuojin's open-mindedness made Wu Yuanheng feel even more guilty.
Wen Zhuojin said a few more words to comfort her and asked for some more specific information.
Wu Yuanheng had other things to do, so he didn't stay long and left quickly.
Wen Zhuojin sorted out the accounts and thought about what Wu Yuanheng said about the turmoil in the court, and realized that her uncle's matter was not a small matter.
The money given to Wu Yuanheng is definitely not enough.
Wen Zhuojin frowned and started to worry about the money.
The valuable things she could bring out included homemade incense and some rare fragrant materials in her collection.
However, the Northern Jin Dynasty prohibited the private sale of incense materials and incense.
Especially the incense, which is used for sacrifices, is strictly controlled.
Just like when you go to Tianxuan Temple to burn incense, you must buy the incense sticks provided by Tianxuan Temple.
The spice business was controlled by official stores and royal merchants.
The punishment for illegal trafficking is very severe.
The spice business was very profitable, and the imperial court wanted to take full control of this business.
Those things can only be sold to official stores.
All in all, I spent tens of thousands of taels of silver, and I don't know how much I could get if I sold it.
Wen Zhuojin was in a hurry to leave today and didn't bring anything with her. Nanny Jiang and the others were still waiting. After Wen Zhuojin received the silver from the shopkeeper, she put on a veil and went back to the Marquis' Mansion.
After returning, Wen Zhuojin comforted the others with a few words, then went to her small warehouse to take inventory. At the same time, she took out some incense materials to make incense.
Hexiang is the most valuable, provided you meet someone who knows the business.
Wen Zhuojin tried to make a few functional ones. On the third day, Wen Zhuojin changed into men's clothes again and took the incense pills she had made to the official store to ask about the price and see if she could sell them.
Wen Zhuojin has been paying attention to the situation outside these days.
Wu Yuanheng will also send messages.
The situation is indeed getting worse.
The arrogant eldest princess was like a madman.
The group of people who were detained were basically convicted. The false charges involved many officials in the capital. Many men were exiled and many women were sent to the Jiaofangsi.
The city of Yunjing was shrouded in gloomy clouds and fog.
Several families that Wen Zhuojin's uncle was familiar with had been convicted. Among them were young ladies that Wen Zhuojin knew, or those who were already married, who were classified as slaves and sent to the Jiaofangsi.
The situation on Wen Zhuojin's uncle's side was relatively good. He was protected by the Prime Minister, and with the help of the silver, he was not convicted for the time being, but the danger was not over.
It depends on the situation, more money will be needed.
Otherwise, he would inevitably be exiled and sent to the Jiaofangsi to suffer humiliation.
Wen Zhuojin had sold most of the farms and shops she had, and with the money raised by Wu Yuanheng, she just made sure not to implicate her aunt and cousins, as her uncle was still imprisoned.
Wen Zhuojin climbed over the wall and went to the official store to try selling the incense she made.
"It's homemade and has not gone through official procedures. No matter what materials you use, it can't be guaranteed to be harmless if it's made privately. These incense pills are worth at most two taels of silver." After Wen Zhuojin took the things out, the person from the official store said nonchalantly.
Wen Zhuojin choked. She knew the price might not be high, but she didn't expect it to be so cheap.
The coins sold in the official shop were not as good as the ones Wen Zhuojin had, and they cost several hundred taels of silver each.
Seeing the look on the faces of the people in the official store, Wen Zhuojin stopped and turned to walk out, looking gloomy under her hat.
It turns out that my love for incense is really an unorthodox method and I just did it for fun.
She spoiled her uncle and aunt, who also helped her find incense materials, and encouraged her to do whatever she liked, as long as it was not a bad habit.
Wen Heming didn't agree with her before, but he didn't dare to care about her.
Wen Zhuojin sighed, endured the unpleasant smell in the street, and walked around.
A team of officers and soldiers were patrolling everywhere, and Wen Zhuojin smelled the smell of blood and iron weapons.
Wen Zhuojin felt a little disgusted with these officers and soldiers.
She wore a veil to hide her identity and didn't want to be bumped into, so she deliberately avoided the lower part and walked into the alley.
Unexpectedly, after walking for a while, Wen Zhuojin smelled a strong scent of powder. Looking up, she saw a building with carved beams and painted rafters, flying eaves and brackets standing in the street. There was a plaque with the words "Xiaoxiang Pavilion" on it.
This is a famous brothel in Yunjing City.
I think the people who use the most incense gather here.
Wen Zhuojin walked closer without realizing it, and the scent of perfume became stronger.
Many inferior fragrances are choking, pungent, confusing, and have no layers. When they rush to the nose, people can't help but want to cover their mouths and noses.
When Wen Zhuojin was hesitating whether to go in, a heavily made-up woman approached Wen Zhuojin.
The smell on her body made Wen Zhuojin unconsciously take a few steps back.
"Young master, is this your first time here? It's okay to come in and take a look. I won't eat you." The woman said with a sweet smile, reaching out to pull Wen Zhuojin.
Wen Zhuojin quickly threw away her sleeves and wanted to leave immediately, but she smelled a familiar cold fragrance.
It was the same smell of shame that I had smelled in Tianxuan Palace.
It was much lighter than the one she smelled at Tianxuan Palace, but Wen Zhuojin would not mistake it.
The smell doesn't fit in with the environment.
Wen Zhuojin paused and was then pulled in by the woman.
"What kind of ladies do you like, sir? We have all types in Xiaoxiang Hall. Even if you like men, Xiaoxiang Hall has them..." the woman said with a smile, her voice very charming.
Wen Zhuojin cleared her throat and calmed down.
Even though she was quite brave, this was her first time in such a place, and her hand unconsciously fell on the dagger hanging on her belt.
"Sister, the smell here is not very pleasant. Please take me to the private room first." Wen Zhuojin said in a rough voice, pulled out her sleeves, and stuffed a few pieces of silver into the woman's pocket.
"Sir, you are so generous. Of course it is possible. Please follow me." The woman smiled happily and agreed quickly.
Wen Zhuojin followed the woman and continued walking inside.
The smell was still there, and if Wen Zhuojin didn't have a keen nose, it would be difficult to distinguish it in this complex environment.
There are many customers in Xiaoxiang Pavilion, some of whom may have been to Tianxuan Palace before and were contaminated by the smell.
After several days, this kind of incense can still remain, which is worthy of being a top-grade incense material.
When she came to such a place, Wen Zhuojin didn't think about finding the source, but wanted to sell her own incense first.
During the day, the incense shop was not as lively as it was at night, and was relatively deserted, with constant sounds of crying and cursing.
"Don't pay attention to those voices. The Music Bureau is overcrowded recently. Some of the people sent here are newcomers. They are pretentious and cry all day long." The woman took Wen Zhuojin inside and explained to Wen Zhuojin.
Wen Zhuojin frowned. The news Wu Yuanheng brought was just one sentence.
Hearing these miserable sounds, Wen Zhuojin felt the pain deeply.
The consequences of a word from a noble person who is high and mighty are unbearable for ordinary people.
When the woman took Wen Zhuojin upstairs, there was a sudden scream, followed by a bang and the sound of the door slamming.
Wen Zhuojin looked in the direction of the sound and saw a man who looked like a servant rolling out of a room, holding his bleeding neck. At the same time, the smell that was faint before became a little stronger.
In the open door not far away, the gauze curtain fluttered, and a woman with long hair could be vaguely seen inside. She was sitting in an elegant posture, with a slender figure. A bloody sleeve was exposed outside, which was shocking.
Wen Zhuojin's heart skipped a beat for no apparent reason.
The woman whose face I couldn't see clearly in my dream a few days ago overlapped with the woman in front of me.