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Chapter 182: Encounter with Two People

  "Ah?" Ye Zhuo was somewhat surprised. She really didn't know about this news. It seemed that Yang Jianxiu hadn't told the Ye family about it, otherwise Ye Yuqi and Guan Shi wouldn't have kept it from her.

  She sighed inwardly. Zheng Manwen did this, firstly to cherish the brotherly love, and secondly to help Zheng Peng rise up a bit, so that she would have a strong and powerful maternal family, and not be belittled by the Yangs.

  "Cousin, my mother... sometimes doesn't think things through, I'll apologize to you on her behalf." Zheng Fangjing's face turned slightly red as he bowed to Ye Zhuo.

  "Uncle doesn't have to be like this, I didn't take it to heart." Ye Zhuo shifted his body to the side, avoiding Zheng Fangjing's courtesy. "Uncle coming here at this time must mean there's something you need to do? Then I won't disturb you, farewell." After finishing speaking, he bowed and then helped Autumn Moon onto the carriage.

  Although Ye Zhuo said "I didn't take it to heart", her attitude was indifferent and distant, how could Zheng Fangjing not feel it? Watching Ye Zhuo's carriage drive away, he only felt that his chest was blocked by something, feeling extremely uncomfortable.

  Ye Zhuo had many important things to attend to, where did she have the time and energy to care about Liu Shi and Zheng Fangjing? Sitting in the carriage thinking for a moment, she called out: "Wei Gege, let's go to Yu Street instead."

  After walking for so long, she still didn't see anyone or any car following behind her. It seemed that the Nie family didn't take someone like her seriously. She would occasionally look at the raw stones but not buy them, believing that even if someone from the Nie family was following her, it wouldn't be a problem since no one knew what she was doing.

  However, to be on the safe side, she still instructed, "Let's take the road by the river." That road was quieter, and if someone was following them, they would be more likely to be discovered.

  Wei Daxiang responded with a "yes" and turned the carriage around, heading towards the riverbank alley.

  The carriage entered the Riverbank Lane, and the hustle and bustle of the main street could no longer be heard. Only occasionally would they encounter some pedestrians or carriages, which was quiet but not particularly secluded, making Ye Zhuo very satisfied.

  As they walked, Wei Daxiang smiled and said: "Miss, you've never been to my house before, have you? My home is just up ahead, not far from here. Why don't you come in and sit for a bit? You don't know, but Zhuzi's mother has been nagging at home every day, saying that our family must be the ancestral tomb that has risen to prosperity, and now we've met such a good person as you, Miss, and have had a good life. She also took Zhuzi as an apprentice. Several times she said she wanted to go and kowtow to you. It's just because Miss is busy, so I didn't bring her over. If she knew that I brought Miss past our house and didn't even invite you in for a cup of tea... who knows how she'd scold me?"

  Ye Zhuo smiled and said, "Brother Wei, don't be polite. You've also helped me a lot, Zhuzi can take care of himself, you two live a good life, it's not much related to me. I didn't tell my family when I came out today, if I stay too long they'll worry, so I'll just sit for a bit and then leave, you go persuade Sister Wei not to be polite."

  Wei Daxiang thought Ye Zhuo was making excuses not to go, but unexpectedly the last sentence was an agreement. He couldn't help but feel overjoyed, and with a forceful crack of the whip, he quickly drove the carriage to the front door of his house. He stopped the horse carriage.

  Ye Chou pulled open the curtain and took a look outside, but saw that the Wei family's mansion was old and dilapidated. However, the surrounding environment was not bad: it was located at the bend of the riverbank, with the right and back sides facing the river, and a large wutong tree on the left side separating this mansion from other residential houses, extremely quiet and peaceful.

  "This is the old house left by our ancestors, and we haven't been willing to sell it all along." Wei Daxiang explained. He took a step forward and pushed open the slightly ajar courtyard gate: "Please come in, miss."

  "Father, you're back?" The people in the house heard the sound and quickly came out to greet him. But it was Zhu. Seeing Ye Zhong enter the door, he immediately widened his eyes, somewhat disbelieving. However, he quickly reacted and respectfully bowed: "Master."

  "After going to the girl's place for a few days, I learned some etiquette. If it were before, I wouldn't even dare to hide." Wei Daxiang laughed loudly and then turned his head to instruct Wei Zhu, "Go tell your mother that her teacher has arrived, let her prepare tea and snacks."

  "Yes." Wei Zhuo responded crisply and turned around to rush into the house, "Mother, mother, my master has arrived, my master has arrived."

  "This kid..." Wei Daxiang chuckled and shook his head, then ushered Ye Zhuo into the house.

  Before Ye Chou could even lift her foot, a middle-aged woman with a sickly complexion hastily came out of the house, her face filled with surprise and delight: "Miss Ye, is that really you?" Without waiting for Ye Chou to respond, she knelt down and kowtowed several times.

  "Wei Dashi, what are you doing? Hurry up and get up." Ye Zhuo hastily came forward and helped her up.

  "Alas, the young lady doesn't know that her body is not good and she has been taking medicine for years. It's a wonder she can still hold on. If it weren't for me getting some silver from the young lady to buy her some good medicine, her illness would have taken a turn for the worse by now. We don't have anything good to give the young lady, just let her kowtow a few times to show our gratitude." Wei Daxiang said on the side.

  "This is the blessing of good fortune. Later, when Zhu has made a name for himself, you will have even better days ahead." Ye Zhuo said with a smile, supporting Wei Dajie as they went into the house.

  Wei Daxiang's family also had a blind old father, who heard Zhu Zi say that his master had arrived, and he also came out to greet the guests with a cane.

  If it were the past life's Ye Zhuo, she might still be disdainful of this family's illnesses, old age, and the dirty and shabby house, unwilling to stay here and talk to them more. But since her rebirth, what has made her feel the most kind-hearted, sincere, and thick-skinned are these people who are not high in status or position. From them, she can feel a strong sense of human touch; with them, she feels extremely relaxed and at ease, intimate and peaceful.

  So he started saying that he would only sit for a while, but still chatted with Old Man Wei and Big Sister-in-law Wei for quite a bit before getting up to bid farewell.

  As Ye Zhuo got on the carriage, Wei Da Xiang urged the horse to move forward while turning his head to say apologetically: "But it has delayed Miss for quite some time."

  Ye Zhuo smiled and was about to speak, but heard someone running and shouting in front of her, as if chasing after something. She opened the car curtain and saw that two men were chasing after two women in front of them, with a chubby middle-aged woman wearing red and green clothes panting behind them.

  Wei Daxiang looked at the scene and showed an awkward expression, slowing down the horse carriage, and said to Ye Zhuo: "Miss, please put down the curtain quickly, don't dirty your eyes."

  Ye Chou looked at the attire of those few people and vaguely guessed something in her heart. Just as she was about to lower the curtain, she suddenly caught a glimpse of the woman being chased and hastily called out: "Wei Da Ge, drive forward a bit."

  Wei Daxiang didn't know what was going on, just as he was about to speak up to advise, he heard Ye Zhuo say: "Hurry up, drive a bit further and it'll be fine, don't let them discover us." His voice was extremely serious.

  Wei Daxiang hastily swung his whip, making the horse run even faster.

  "Alright, stop." Ye Zhuo's eyes were fixed tightly on the woman in the red dress, his gaze deep and heavy.

  Wei Daxiang shouted "Halt!" and tightened the reins, stopping the horse carriage.

  "What's wrong?" Autumn Moon knew that Ye Zhuo did this, he must have found something. But her eyesight wasn't as good as Ye Zhuo's, and they were still a distance away from the people in front, she couldn't see clearly who the few people in front were.

  Ye Zhuo didn't answer Qiuyue's question, seeing the two women in front were finally caught by the men, tied up with ropes, and the fat woman was scolding. He opened his mouth to ask: "Wei brother, do you know those two men and that fat woman behind?"

  Wei Daxiang looked a bit uncomfortable and scratched his head, saying: "I know them. They are the madam and a servant from a brothel not far from here. Those two girls are probably runaways from the brothel."

  Qiu Yue grew up in the second house of the Ye family since childhood. Where had she ever seen a courtesan? She suddenly widened her eyes.

  "Which brothel?" Ye Zhuo asked again.

  "Called... called Drunken Red Mansion." Wei Daxiang said hesitantly, and then quickly explained, "Because we drive horse-drawn carriages through the streets every day, those guests need to know where they're going, sometimes we also help deliver messages and whatnot. So I'm familiar with these places and recognize a few people. But it's not like I've been there myself. The money I earn isn't even enough to support my family, how could I dare go to such a luxurious place?" After finishing speaking, he felt embarrassed again for saying such things to Miss Ye, and didn't know what to do.

  Where did Ye Zhuo have the energy to care about Wei Da Xiang's feelings? She furrowed her brow and pondered for a moment, then spoke frankly: "That woman in red clothes I recognize, she's an enemy of mine, who has wronged me twice. Once, she nearly ruined my reputation, and another time, she nearly took my life. I hate her to the bone, wanting her to lose her reputation while keeping her life useful. Brother Wei, are you willing to help me? If you think this is against your conscience, I won't force you, let's just forget we said anything today."

  "What?" Wei Daxiang and Qiuyue both exclaimed in surprise at the same time.

  Autumn Moon pointed at those who were about to walk away and stuttered, "She... she is..." then wanted to stretch her head out again to carefully identify.

  Ye Zhuo reached out and pulled Autumn Moon back in the carriage, not letting her continue speaking.

  Wei Daxiang did not expect Ye Zhuo to say this, and thought that Ye Zhuo was questioning his morals for visiting brothels outside. He was a loyal person and grateful to Ye Zhuo, but didn't know how to repay her. At this moment, he heard these words and wouldn't refuse. He immediately nodded and said: "Even if the young lady doesn't want me to do anything, knowing about this matter I won't let her off. Young lady, please tell me what to do, even if it means taking her life."

  "Alright." Ye Zhuo pulled out a silver note from her pocket and handed it to Wei Daxiang, "This is twenty taels of silver. You go and dress up as a wealthy young master and go to the Drunken Red Building to inquire about these two women. See how the old madam has arranged for them. No matter what arrangement she has made, you must find a way to quickly ruin their reputations and then give the old madam some money and tell her not to let them die." She also warned, "You must remember this, try your best not to be recognized by anyone. Otherwise, it will bring great disaster. Because... "She stared fiercely at Wei Daxiang's eyes, "The identities of these two women are not simple. We must not let people know that we have intervened in this matter, or it will bring us catastrophic consequences."

  (My eyes still hurt, but there's an important recommendation this week, so I'll try my best to double update. If the text doesn't get stuck tonight, there should be another update later. Thanks to q青青河边草q for giving me a perfect evaluation vote on JJWXC, and thanks to 广寒宫主a for sending me a peace charm.)

  xs.o

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