The Empress’ Livestream - Chapter 122

Chapter 122: Nice Try, Kid (I)

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The Liu residence did not have many masters. They had Liu She, the second lady, Madam Hu, and Liu Lanting. Other than them, there were two other concubines and their children. The concubines kept to their rooms and hardly appeared in front of others.

The few masters had even temperaments and would not increase the servants’ workload. The previous mistress had created a workflow for each servant, and, once they had completed their daily tasks, they had quite a few hours to themselves.

Tong Sanniang was preparing to visit the embroidery workshop for some new threads when she passed by a group of servants and merchants whispering amongst themselves.

“What did you say happen in Cang Prefecture and Meng County?”

The new servants’ whispers were heard by her. At first, the new retainer looked pissed that they were heard, but when he noticed her, the main wing’s servant, he quickly put on a smile and brought his hands up in greeting.

“Maiden Tong.”

Tong Sanniang was around twenty years old and not married. Based on Dongqing’s laws, she would have to pay another portion of tax. Her elder brother and his wife found that embarrassing and had tried forcing her to get married. She agreed on the front, but went to find Madam Hu for help. She managed to convince Madam Hu that she would rather be an independent woman.

She was the first in the whole of Liu residence to have Madam Hu’s support and thus, none of the other servants dared cross her.

Tong Sanniang’s expression was cold when she said, “You were just talking about Cang Prefecture and Meng County. What’s going on?”

The merchants who caught her gaze felt overwhelmed and quickly bowed their heads. “This, this…” they mumbled.

“Speak!”

A merchant spoke quickly while quaking, “We are merchants traveling from Cang Prefecture and Meng County. Your residence had ordered some goods from our master, but on our way here, we were robbed. We came here to ask for some more time and forgiveness. We do not mean to waste your time, but now that Meng County is in turmoil, pillaging and plundering can be seen everywhere…”

They were just regular traveling merchants, how could they resist a mob’s robbing?

The Liu residence may not be huge and the necessities they required were not be top notch. Every year, they would put in an order of large quantities and they were generous in their spending. They were a valued customer. The merchants did not expect to be robbed before they even left Meng County, and thus, could only visit their customer empty-handed and negotiate.

After hearing that, Tong Sanniang was at a loss for words.

If something happened in another county, she would not have lost her composure… but this was Cang Prefecture’s Meng County!

“When did this happen?” Tong Sanniang asked.

The few merchants hung their heads and answered honestly. “Meng County may be part of Cang Prefecture, but it’s very far from Hejian County. If we used the fastest speed, we would need at least half a month of traveling time. Such a thing happened in Meng County, but it had been awhile. How could Hejian not have heard of this?”

The merchants started to complain incessantly, pouring out all their heartfelt grievances. “Maiden Tong, you have no idea. The Mengs suppressed the people and did not allow anyone to leave Meng County whenever they wished. They did not want such news to leave the county. Us merchants were obstructed when we tried to leave, too. It took us a while to get our official traveling documents and then we were robbed…” While they spoke, the sorry looking merchants quietly wiped at their eyes.

The amount of goods that the Liu residence had ordered was enough to line their pockets for half a year. Now that the goods had been snatched by the mob, they would have no money. They nearly died on their way to the residence, too.

If the Lius thought they had wasted their time and wanted them to compensate, their losses would be worse than not earning anything at all.

Tong Sanniang’s expression turned solemn and cold sweat formed in her palms. It seemed like she remembered something.

“I need to inform the master about this. You all follow one of the retainers to wash up and rest. I’ll head over to the master’s. If you have anything to say, you can tell him yourselves.”

Tong Sanniang visited Liu She and relayed what had happened. He was burning incense and practicing his words when she visited him. He was expressionless when he put down his brush.

“In that case, send them over. I’ll ask them what happened.” He found out that the Meng’s private army had clamped down on the issue and thus did not allow the news to spread.

The Meng’s private army? Ha!

Bloodlust flashed through Liu She’s eyes for a second…

You would even have such a day?

Shh––

The horses let out a long neigh and the carriage slowed down before it stopped right in front of the Liu residence’s door.

Jiang Pengji stepped out of the carriage, ignored the sedan that the coachman had brought, and jumped down.

When she noticed an unknown carriage, she frowned and asked the gatekeeper, “We have guests?”

The gatekeeper replied politely, “It’s a maiden from the late lady’s home.”

“Mother’s side?” Jiang Pengji raised her brows. “I wonder who.”

As Liu She had to work in Xu County, the mistresses seldom left the residence. They hardly left Liu She’s side as well. Due to the second lady’s health, she had not visited her family in Langye County and had only exchanged gifts with her family on new year’s day or other festivals.

A wild animal was possessive of its own territory and would be aware of another animal’s tracks or smell. Jiang Pengji had not reached that point yet, but she did notice the tracks made by the unknown guest. It made her unhappy.

Before she entered the house, she heard an adorable and sweet voice made by a young girl.

The girl looked to be around thirteen or fourteen and wore pink robes. Her brows were painted and her skin was fair. She still had some baby fat that made her look even younger. A pair of bright eyes, a pert nose, and red lips made one think of peach blossoms under the spring sun.

Tsk. Another adorable girl.

“Uncle, is this my younger cousin, Lanting?” The girl turned and looked at Jiang Pengji while she asked Liu She in a spoiled tone.

Jiang Pengji did not need to look at her stream’s comments to know that they were crying from the cuteness.

Niyade Zhaosi: “Ohhhhhhhh! She’s so cute! Even her voice is so sweet! A real lolita!”

Laosiji Lianmeng: “I noticed that the host’s world has all the beautiful people. There doesn’t seem to be many ugly people… Ahhhh… This is heaven for people with a face fetish.”

Jiang Pengji coldly studied the other girl.

Host V: “What’s so cute about a shit-stirring rod?”

Her viewers were dumbfounded. What did she mean?

,除了柳佘,继夫人,蝶夫人和二郎君之外,便只有那两位常年闷在房中的庶妾以及她们膝下的庶子庶女,一年到头也不会出现在人前几次.

几位主人脾性温和,不会故意给下人增添工作难度,加上先夫人留下的规章制度,上下分工明确,所以柳府下人只要完成分内的事情,一天下来还能有不少空闲的歇息时间.

佟三娘正要去绣坊采买一批新绣线,路过角门的时候看到几个人低声私语.

“你说沧州孟郡怎么了?”

新上任的柳府采买管事和几个庶民装扮的人在角门那边低声谈论,正好被她听了个完整.

那位管事原本还有些恼怒,然而一看对方是主院服侍的佟三娘,不由得挂上讨好笑容.

拱手作揖,”佟姑姑.”

佟三娘今年二十有一,未嫁,按照东庆律法应该要多交一份税,兄嫂觉得丢人,态度强硬逼她成婚嫁人,她当面答应,扭头就去向蝶夫人求情,说动对方支持她自立女户.

这在整个柳府还是头一份,人家背后还有一个蝶夫人支持呢,其他管事都不敢惹她.

佟三娘面色冷凝,”你们刚才提及沧州孟郡,这是怎么回事?”

被她盯着的几个商贾颇感压力,不由得低头,声若蚊呐,”这,这…”

“说!”

商贾冷汗蹭蹭直冒,语速飞快地道,”小的几人是沧州孟郡的行走商贾,贵府在我们东家那边定了一批货,只是送来的时候被一群流民匪寇抢了,来府上是想请贵人宽容一些期限.延误贵人时间,并非小人故意,实在是孟郡如今乱成一团,烧杀抢掠随处可见…”

他们不过是普通的商贾队伍,哪里能抵御那些暴民的抢夺?

柳府虽然不大,然而吃穿用度无一不精致,每年需要采买的货品都十分多,出手也大方,可是大客户,只是他们送来的货还没出孟郡境内就被抢了,如今交不出货,只能上门商谈.

听完,佟三娘觉得自己得了一瞬的失语症.

如果是别的郡县出事了,她也不至于如此失态,可问题是…

那是沧州孟郡啊!

“那是何时发生的事情?”佟三娘冷着脸追问.

几个庶人垂着头,老老实实回答,却不想佟三娘因此冷笑连连.

“沧州孟郡虽是沧州境内,然而与河间郡并非极远,两地快马加鞭,也不过半月路程.孟郡发生这样大事,为何过去这么久,河间这里都没有收到丝毫风声?”

那个商贾纷纷叫苦不迭,内心有一窝子的苦水没地方倾倒.

“佟姑姑有所不知,这件事情早已闹开,然而孟家军欺人太甚,不许难民随意进出孟郡,更不许将这等消息传出去,小的一行人想要将货物运出,也遭到了阻挠,好不容易得到通关文书,又碰见暴民抢夺…”说到伤心地方,几个容颜狼狈,神色倦怠的男人纷纷抹泪.

柳府每年订的货物,赚来的钱足够他们半年嚼用,如今被暴民抢走,他们货丢了,钱没了,还差点死在赶来河间郡的路上,这些天过得日子更像是地狱,提起来都心酸.

要是柳府觉得他们耽误时间,提出赔偿,那他们的损失就更大了.

佟三娘容色一肃,手心捏出了冷汗,似乎想起什么事情.

“这件事情干系重大,需要老爷过问.这样吧,你们先由管事带着下去好好洗漱一番,奴先去将这件事情禀告老爷,你们有什么话,等会儿告知老爷即可.”

佟三娘将这件事情告知柳佘的时候,他正在焚香习字,周身环绕着静谧的气息.

他神色不动,放下手中的笔.

“既然这样如此,让那几人过来,询问个清楚.”

他说呢,为何孟郡发生如此大的事情,却只有寥寥几人知道,原来是孟家军有意封锁消息.

孟家军?

呵!

柳佘心中闪过一丝冷意,平静的眸子有一闪而逝的杀意…

你也会有今天?

吁——

马儿长吁一声,马车的速度慢慢降了下来,然后平稳停在柳府面前.

姜芃姬出了车厢,不等车夫取来轿凳,直接跳了下来.

看到门前还停着一辆陌生的马车,她眉头微微蹙了蹙,询问门房.

“家里有客人?”

门房恭恭敬敬地回答,”回二郎君的话,是夫人娘家的娘子.”

“母亲那边的?”姜芃姬眉梢轻轻挑起,”不知道是哪一位.”

因为柳佘远赴浒郡上任的缘故,家中女眷甚少出门走动,与柳佘那边的族人交集也少,更别说继夫人远在琅琊郡的娘家人了,也就逢年过节偶有礼节往来,平时几乎没有怎么走动.

野兽对自己的领地都有着强烈的占有欲,一旦出现陌生人气息和痕迹,它们都会察觉.姜芃姬虽然还没到那种程度,但一路走来,柳府的确多了一些本不该有的陌生痕迹,令人不悦.

她还未入屋子,耳朵已经听到里头传来一声软萌甜腻的少女萌音.

那个少女年纪约莫十三四岁的样子,身穿一袭粉色襦裳,眉如远山含黛,肤若桃花含笑,双颊带着些许婴儿肥,将她年纪衬得更加偏小,一双眸子似盛了一汪清泉,清澈明亮,波光潋滟,琼鼻挺翘,樱唇不点而红,令人不禁想到春日盛阳下怒放的烂漫桃花.

啧,又是一只萌动四方的萝莉.

“姨父,这便是兰亭表弟么?”少女扭头见到姜芃姬,眉目含笑,娇俏问柳佘.

姜芃姬不用看直播间,都知道弹幕上已经是一片鬼哭狼嚎.

不管是哪个世界,都不缺颜控狗这种生物.

[你丫的找死]:嗷嗷嗷嗷——萌死了,音清体软易推倒,正宗纯天然的萝莉!

[老司机联萌]:我发现,目前为止,主播那个世界的整体颜值真的好高,几乎没有歪瓜裂枣的,再不济也是五官端正…哭唧唧,简直是颜控狗梦想中的天堂.

姜芃姬冷冷扫了一眼那个少女.

[主播V]:搅//屎,,棍有什么萌的?

直播间众人万脸懵逼.

这是什么意思?