218 Chapter 217! Being disturbed by this incident, not only did I miss breakfast, I didn’t even want to eat lunch. I asked Cui’s mother to force her to use half a bowl of winter bamboo shoots, mushrooms, and chicken soup to soak the glutinous fragrant green rice, but it tasted the same as chewing wax. ~
Over there, Mr. Shao knew that someone was coming from the palace. He thought that Minglan would enter the palace to receive the order. Unexpectedly, after waiting for half a day, there was no news. Instead, he heard that there was a big fuss in front of him. The two angels left in anger, threatening to ask for punishment. When the house was searched, she was so frightened that she went to heaven. After being forced to come forward and send the wife away last time, she began to be afraid of Minglan, so she only sent her trusted daughter-in-law to inquire.
Cui Wei patiently explained for a long time that it was just a misunderstanding, but she heard that the person was still hemming and hawing. "In order to avoid upsetting the nobles in the palace, I would like to ask the second lady to endure some grievances and go to the palace." Cui Wei was on the spot. He lowered his face coldly and said displeasedly: "Our madam has her own opinions on what she should do and what she shouldn't do. The eldest madam doesn't know what's going on outside, she just wants to enjoy her happiness."
Seeing the coy appearance of the daughter-in-law, she was afraid of offending Minglan, but also hoped that no harm would come to her. Cui Wei felt contempt in her heart, secretly feeling that Shao was really cowardly and irresponsible.
After hastily dismissing the person, Cuiwei turned around and went back. When she was walking through the courtyard, she saw green branches on the porch outside the main house, guarding a small red clay stove and gnashing her teeth. A sweet fragrance came out of the slightly shiny charcoal wires. She smiled. He said: "You girl, what are you baking? It's only been a long time since you had lunch, and you're not afraid of accumulating food."
Luzhi used a small purple-gold copper fire tongs to stir the charcoal fire, and said bitterly: "Xiao Tao's dead hoof has slipped away. I don't know where it went! He treated a few chestnuts as if they were treasures, saying that they were the last ones he would see this year. , I have to watch the fire, but I don’t care what kind of weather the rain is falling at every turn, what kind of delicious food can be baked!"
Cui Wei couldn't help but smile and asked, "Madam, are you still resting?"
Luzhi shook his head: "Mother Cui asked me to watch at the door and not to make any noise in the courtyard. She wanted to ask Madam to take a nap, but I couldn't hear the sound of people talking inside."
Cui Wei nodded and walked into the back room softly. As soon as she raised the corner of the curtain, she heard Cui's mother's low and gentle voice: "... Nothing is certain now. Madam, don't think too much. You won't hurt yourself by worrying." She passed After a while, there was no sound inside, and then he stepped in. After curtsying, he replied: "The people sent by Madam have gone back."
Minglan wore a half-worn moon-white moire brocade warm fur, with loose black hair covering her shoulders. She was lying leaning against the bed. She looked at Cuiwei's expression of surprise when she mentioned Shao, and said: "But someone came and said What nonsense."
Cui Wei said angrily: "I was so angry that I sent the person away. I was just angry that when the incident came, I didn't even ask the lady about her identity. I was only afraid of hurting her, and even persuaded the lady to enter the palace! Humph, it's just a stubborn stone, cover it. It’s been warmer in the past two years!”
Normally, Minglan would not take it seriously when she heard this. At this time, she was full of thoughts. She frowned and said, "Tell Liao Yong's family to send more girls to the other side to keep an eye on the comings and goings, so as not to cause trouble." Trouble!
These words hit Cui Wei's fancy, she smiled and left.
Minglan was upset and worried, so she asked Cui's mother to look at Brother Tuan. She lay down next to the quilt with her eyes open, her mind filled with uncontrollable random thoughts. She hoped that she was full and thought too much. But I feel vaguely that I am right. I just regret that ancient communication was too backward. In modern times, things that can be done by sending a group text message are so troublesome here...
Tired of thinking, she fell asleep in a daze, and then had a bunch of messy dreams. First, Mannia and the Golden Saints came to the door and threatened her to hand over the Dragon Balls. She stared and asked, "Don't you want Athena?"
, then Jie Nu invaded the capital and captured her back to the grassland to perform eighteen beats of Hujia. It turned out that she was a music idiot and immediately sent her to wash horses and sheep. While she was washing, suddenly a brigade descended from the sky and killed the entire tribe, just for her.
The flaming red eyes of the Kuluta horse were washed. Before the shepherd who worked with her died, he pulled her shoulder and said tremblingly: "...It turns out...you...really...will bring about a bloody storm..."
Hey, she was about to die, why did she still pull her shoulders and shake her so hard?
——Minglan woke up from being shaken, and her face appeared in front of her hazy eyes. She said hurriedly: "...Madam, Madam, please wake up. The people sent by Manager Hao are back. Didn't you tell me to have someone there?"
Will I call you right away when I get back..."
Minglan woke up with a start, regained her composure, and quickly asked Luzhi to help her get up and change clothes.
The rain outside has stopped, and the sky is dim, with half a lingering gray-blue color and a few dim orange-red colors in the distance, which makes the leaves in the courtyard look a little decadent. A few plants planted in autumn beside the pond
The late chrysanthemums are swaying slightly in the wind, just like what is written in the poem. The moonlight leaves the chrysanthemums in the dusk, and the autumn water is blue in the evening wind.
Minglan supported Cuiwei and walked steadily. The cool evening air cheered her up. The side hall was not far away, and she was there in just a few steps. She saw Manager Hao already bowed down and waiting in the corridor, followed by several people who were sweating profusely.
As soon as he sat down, Minglan quickly asked how the situation was.
Hao Dacheng sent out a total of more than a dozen boys, and at this time several groups came back one after another. Minglan knew that this matter was of great concern. If nothing happened later, she would be suspected of instigating resistance, so she did not wait for the handwritten letter.
As a token, I just asked the servant to pass on the message: "If anyone comes to announce the decree in the palace, please be careful, my wife feels something is wrong."
After the boys knelt down to salute, Minglan asked them to stand and answer.
The first ones to come back to report the news were not because the two families were close to each other, but when the messengers rushed there, Mrs. Duan and Mrs. Zhong had already entered the palace with their mother-in-law and children.
If he left, he would come back as fast as he could fly.
——Minglan was shocked. Even these two families were spared. Could it be that she had really guessed it?
Next came the Geng family. Because Geng's house was far away, the young man who rushed there happened to be a step early. After conveying the mistress's words out of breath, the honor guard announcing the decree arrived. Although Mrs. Geng was illiterate, she had a flexible mind.
, she neither dared to believe Minglan's words nor disbelieved them, because she was afraid that resisting the edict would implicate her husband, so she gritted her teeth and sent her children out the back door. She only said to the angel, "I'm going to visit relatives in other places," and then she followed.
Entered the palace.
——Minglan shook her head and sighed, but she was blameless.
Finally, the young man added: "Mrs. Geng also said that for the sake of the friendship, please bear witness to her. If she has any bad intentions, ask Master Geng to marry her third uncle and grandpa in the fourth room of her natal family."
The second girl is filling in a house, and the vixen next to her is not allowed to look for her."
Minglan:……
In contrast, the news about Zhang and Chen's family is much more exciting.
During the "Shenchen Rebellion", Mrs. Zhang was one of the unlucky hostages held in the palace. She was bitten by a snake, and now the situation in Beijing was different. How could she not be vigilant? As soon as she heard this order, Mrs. Zhang was on the spot
She had doubts. She didn't ask questions aggressively. She just relied on her noble status to pester the two angels.
Her husband-in-law is from a top-notch noble family. He has been visiting the palace as if he were a relative since he was a child. He is far more familiar with the rules and routines in the imperial city than Minglan. After a few words, the two who announced the decree appeared. Flaw. Mrs. Zhang has been in charge of the British government for decades and has been telling the truth. She broke out on the spot and took down all the people who announced the decree.
When the young man arrived, Mrs. Zhang was preparing to send the 'thief who falsely conveyed the decree' to the Yousi Yamen for justice. After asking the young man to express her gratitude to Minglan, she also sent four capable archers.
"Mrs. Zhang only said 'just in case of any eventuality' but refused to say anything else." The boy was confused and thought to himself that there was going to be a war.
Minglan became more and more panicked. Mrs. Zhang might have noticed something, but it was hard to say without any evidence. She continued to ask: "What about the Shen family?"
Another servant stepped forward and replied: "Mrs. Zhang has sent a letter to the uncle's house. Originally, the uncle's wife wanted to take her children to her parents' house, but the mother next to Mrs. Guo's said that Aunt Zou and her eldest brother and sister were not I was willing to leave, but Mrs. Shen was so tired that she had no choice but to stay. When I left, Mrs. Shen had already excused herself from illness and driven away the group of people who came to announce the decree, and was closing the house under martial law."
Minglan nodded, turned around and said, "Manager Hao, are these the only ones back?"
Hao Dacheng looked troubled and cupped his hands and said: "Go back to Madam, these are the only ones." He paused and then said, "I originally wanted to ask someone to inquire, but at noon today, there was a fight at Chongyang Gate. Now Mr. Liu has ordered the capital to be under martial law."
Minglan's heart skipped a beat. Seeing this, Hao Dacheng hurriedly said: "Madam, don't worry, I made my own decision and sent someone to go to the in-laws' house to have a look. The third uncle's wife said that everything was fine in the house, and she also said that it would be convenient if , I asked my in-laws to come to the office to see my wife, but... I'm afraid that my in-laws can't come now. I originally wanted to go to Uncle Zhongqin's Mansion to send a message to my aunt and wife, but when I went out, I encountered martial law, so I couldn't leave. ."
The civil servants are fine, but the generals and their families are...? Why is the situation so different from the last time?
Minglan frowned and couldn't figure it out. She could only repeatedly tell Manager Hao to be more vigilant about the door and not to neglect it. Hao Dacheng knew that the situation was not good and that the security relationship was important. He agreed repeatedly and immediately went down to handle the errands. (·~ )
Just as he was about to return to Jiaxi Residence, he suddenly heard a commotion outside, mixed with a girl's exclamation. Before Minglan could say anything, she saw a chubby and silly girl crawling in and plopped in front of her.
Minglan couldn't help but laugh and said: "Silly girl, where have you been running all afternoon? I'm so tired that Luzhi showed you the furnace for half a day. Go back carefully and she will pinch you!"
Xiaotao raised her head and said in a panic: "Madam, it's not good! Brother Shi just came back from outside. He said...said..."
"What did he say?" Minglan's face was solemn.
Xiao Tao said anxiously: "Liu Liu, Mr. Liu, he, he... was stabbed..."
"What...?!" Minglan's chest beat rapidly.
"But it didn't hit." Xiaotao swallowed and finished.
Minglan almost screamed: "Say it in one breath!"
It almost scared her to death! - "What the hell is going on! Where did you hear this!"
Xiao Tao quickly took a deep breath and began: "Brother Shi asked me to go to the outer courtyard to eat squab at noon today. I said it was a pity that there were no sweet and sour mulberries to go with it. He said he knew a shop that sold Nanbei and Nanguo which was very good. I said It seems that martial law has been imposed outside. He said it doesn't matter. When the Jianghuai war broke out, he was still carrying his little niece and running through the streets..."
Looking at the stupid girl's round face that was suppressing its redness, Minglan closed her eyes and sighed: "Speak carefully, take a breath first."
Xiaotao gasped for air and continued half-deadly: "So Brother Shi changed his clothes and went out. I waited for him for a long time before he came back. He said that when he rushed there, the store was closed, but he remembered that there were still people nearby.
There is a shop that sells pretty good preserved fruits, but the shopkeeper’s Ai Quejinshaoliang..."
"Don't mention that fruit of yours!" Minglan felt her blood pressure rising, "Tell me what's important!"
Xiao Tao felt aggrieved. Storytelling is all about the context, "...Brother Shitou had just walked out of Shan Hutong when he heard someone shouting 'there is an assassin' on the street! Brother Shitou hurriedly ran to the street, but unexpectedly he ran into Liu.
Brother Chen from your Lord's bodyguards. Follow me and read WEN Wen Xue XUE Xue LOU Lou. Remember! Brother Chen said that someone was making trouble at Chongyang Gate at noon. Lord Liu searched for General Zheng Jun but could not find it. He was about to go to Wu in person.
The City Soldiers and Horsemen were responsible for the investigation. Unexpectedly, as they were riding around the corner, a large group of masked men suddenly appeared on the roof and in the surrounding areas to assassinate Mr. Liu. He was injured, but fortunately his life was saved."
Minglan took a long breath and said sternly: "You idiot! It's such a mess outside, but you dare to ask Brother Shi to go out. If anything happens, how can you explain to his brother and sister-in-law! Where are the others? Come here yet.
, you little brat, let’s see if I don’t teach him a lesson!”
Xiao Tao stuttered: "He, he, he...suffered some flesh injuries, and he is showing them to Mr. Tu now."
Minglan suddenly raised her voice: "Didn't you say there was no assassination!"
Xiao Tao lowered her head guiltily: "The shopkeeper of that store saw that Brother Shitou was wearing shabby and shabby clothes, and used old goods as fresh goods to bully others. He asked Brother Shitou to taste it, and argued that he would refund the money and exchange the goods. Unexpectedly, the shopkeeper suddenly became angry.
, and asked a few guys with sticks to come out to scare people. Brother Shitou was so angry that he had a fight with them..."
Minglan lost all her anger and sighed: "Very good, very good. Have you bought the fruit yet?"
Xiao Tao raised her head and said, "Brother Shitou knocked them all down, and the shopkeeper gave away several kilograms of the finest candied fruits for free!" Seeing the girls behind Minglan snickering, she said sarcastically, "Go back and give it to everyone.
Sisters try it."
Minglan looked up to the sky and sighed - the capital was in chaos, thieves were rampant outside, and many powerful people were frightened, but this pair of live treasures actually got into a fight over the quality of snacks? What a strong nerve!
Seeing Cui Wei beside her, she was almost hurt from holding back her laughter. The little girls standing behind them all turned their heads and made faces. Minglan waved her hand feebly and said, "That's it. You help me go back to the house, change my clothes, and go see Shi."
Little brother, if Mr. Shi and his wife knew about this, I wonder if they would still want you as my sister-in-law..."
The silly girl actually knew that she was blushing, so she moved over nervously, and Cuiwei and Minglan each picked up Minglan, and walked slowly outside. Cuiwei kept teasing Xiaotao along the way, and Minglan listened in amusement, and she slightly understood what was on her mind.
Bored.
Suddenly I heard a little girl exclaim: "Look, there's water over there!"
Everyone hurriedly turned around and looked along the little girl's arm. They saw thick smoke rising in the distance and billowing flames spreading far into the distance.
The sky that had just fallen into the night was like a light-colored cloth stained with soot, dark and thick, yet light. Against the remaining halo of the golden crow, the flames in the distance were dazzling and thrilling.
"Husband, madam, isn't that direction...?" Cui Wei was surprised and uncertain.
Minglan nodded silently: "With such a high fire, it must be a fire in a very high building... It should be the palace."
——It finally started.
It was quiet all around. The girls looked around, with fear in each other's eyes.
Minglan looked quietly into the distance, half of her face was submerged in the dim and ambiguous twilight, and half of her face was shimmering and obscured by the light of the sky. However, she had never understood it so clearly.
When Cui's mother persuaded her to rest at noon, she once said, "Madam, you think too much. Who were the nobles who were announced to the palace during the "Shenchen Rebellion" last time? We are not relatives of the emperor, so what is the use of arresting you?"
She didn't understand it at the time, but she understands it now.
Times have changed. When the three princes rebelled, the late emperor was still alive, and all political and military power was vested in the throne. What the three princes lacked was the orthodox title and the recognition of the clan and family, so they deceived all the royal relatives and noble women in Beijing.
Entering the palace as hostage means forcing cabinet ministers and academicians to write edicts. But now... Alas, King Rui, King Rui!
Minglan once saw that boy of about ten years old from a distance. He was born with pink makeup, smart and studious, gentle and polite. He was quite famous among the scholars. Compared with the iron-fisted and tough people nowadays, he was even more praised by the powerful people of the family.
, even the Queen Mother Sheng An and the Queen like it very much - are they really going to make a fuss about this child?
Prince Rui was the successor of the fourth prince by the late emperor's express decree. The fourth prince was also the crown prince established by the late emperor. His position was still before today. The emperor had only succeeded to the throne for a few years and his power was not stable. If unfortunately, he died suddenly in the palace.
', it would be better for several emperors to be 'disadvantaged' or missing at the same time. If not...then it just depends on who has a tough back.
The situation in Beijing is unclear, and most of the troops are marching westward.
Leaving aside the unknown life and death of Zhang and Gu, Marshal Bo is seriously injured and is in bed. General Fu may not be able to compete with the cunning General Gan. Moreover, Queen Mother Shengde's natal family has been entrenched in the northwest for many years, and their operations are intricate. Shen Congxing, who is now actually in control of the army,
It's Duan Chengqian and others.
If the palace is successful and King Rui succeeds to the throne and proclaims himself emperor first, and then threatens these generals with his family and children, then he will not be afraid of the army returning to the capital and King Qin will be ready to accept the rice.
Really good calculation!
"Madam, madam!"
Manager Hao, who had always been calm, ran over in panic and knelt down on the bluestone floor, "It's all chaos outside. The soldiers and horses of the five cities are in chaos. Not only did they not listen to Master Liu's orders, they sealed the city gates themselves, not allowing anyone to enter or leave.
Let’s fight with Master Liu’s imperial army!”
He wiped off the cold sweat and glanced at Minglan carefully, "...Also, and...I heard that General Zheng also rebelled. The boy who came to report said that he saw the Imperial Guards about to attack the palace..."
The girls all around screamed and sobbed softly.
Minglan said quietly: "The strange way dares to cause trouble, it turns out that it was prepared."
Hao Dacheng said hurriedly: "Madam, would you like to take shelter first? Let's escort your wife out of the house."
Minglan sneered: "Avoid? Where to avoid?"
She gently smoothed her temples blown by the evening breeze and said calmly: "We have just left the mansion. Now that the city gate is closed, where can we hide? It is a blessing, not a curse. It is a curse that cannot be avoided. Your Majesty is wise and will definitely
It can put an end to chaos in one fell swoop.”
There is a mess of porridge outside, and it may not be safe to go out. I just hope that Gu Tingye will be more discerning about picking a boss than a woman, otherwise, there will be no eggs in the house!
Minglan ignored everyone's various expressions and walked back to Jiaci Residence. Cui's mother had laid out the meal in the second room, and her brother Baotuan was waiting beside her. On the small octagonal table decorated with water chestnuts, there was a bowl of minced meat stuffed rice.
Steamed egg custard with diced shrimps, a plate of salted sweet-scented osmanthus duck with crispy purple radish flowers, a bowl of braised beef tenderloin with red scallions, and another bowl of green braised Chinese cabbage with mushrooms. ( ·~ )
Minglan calmed down and ate with her chopsticks, teasing her while eating. Little Fatty, who had not been naughty with her mother for a long time, giggled and almost rolled under the table. The wet nurse managed to feed him a bowl of custard.
While serving dishes, Cui's mother secretly looked at Minglan, opening and closing her mouth several times, wanting to ask but not daring to ask.
After eating and drinking, Minglan rinsed her mouth and hands, and said: "Look carefully at the eldest lady's courtyard. The two sisters are not allowed to run around. They are all staying here. Move Ruomei and the child to the eldest lady's courtyard as well."
."
Stay away from their mothers, maybe they will be safer.
"As for Brother Tuan..."
Minglan whispered a few words into Cui's mother's ear, and Cui's mother suddenly realized, "Madam, don't worry, I understand."
After setting up the left and right sides, it was time to turn on the lamp. Minglan sat at the desk in the main room with the door open, reading quietly. She turned to "The Peach Blossom Spring" and read, "The grass is delicious and the fallen flowers are colorful."
Running from outside, his face was as white as a ghost, and he didn't care about etiquette. He knelt down and said hurriedly: "Outside...there are officers and soldiers outside surrounding our Hou Mansion..."
Minglan slowly put down the book and asked, "What did the visitor say?"
The member of Liao Yong's family swallowed his saliva and said, "I told you that my wife was disobedient for resisting the decree, and I want her to be imprisoned! Uncle Tu blocked the front and refused to open the door."
"I guess that's the case." Minglan smiled slightly, "I'm going to the front."
A soft sedan chair had been prepared outside, and Minglan swayed slightly along with the steps of the sedan chair woman. The capital city in early spring was unexpectedly cold, as if it had suddenly returned to the cold winter. The new wind moved quickly among the trees, like a poisonous snake lurking in the dark.
Write the letter.
Minglan looked up at the sky. The night was as dark as ink, the moon was dim and the stars were sparse. The boundless darkness shrouded the sky. She was surrounded by servants and maids, but it was so quiet that you could hear a needle drop. The silence was as scary as the darkness, she thought.
——But my heart is as bright as the bright moon in the sky.
Like every beginning of life, like every bud that is moved to bloom, all dharmas are empty and will never be destroyed or reborn.
Walking to the front hall of the outer courtyard, the courtyard was crowded with strong guards, everyone holding torches, lighting up the night like daylight. The nearly three-person-high red lacquer door was banging, and there were noisy shouts outside——
"Gu Sheng will be captured quickly!"
"Gu's traitor doesn't hurry up and open the door!"
"We have been ordered to capture the traitor. Anyone who opens the door will forgive his innocence and be promoted to a higher position!"...
Tu Da stood in front of him and blocked a straight passage. Minglan helped Xiaotao walk over. There was a palm-sized window next to the side door. Minglan leaned over to take a closer look. A large group of people gathered outside the door.
Only the first few were wearing the official uniforms of the Military and Horse Division, but the dozens behind were dressed in various colors, with sinister looks, fierce looks on their faces, and curses in their mouths.
Minglan turned around and left the door, stood at the top of the steps of the main hall, and said loudly: "Please listen to me!"
There was a commotion inside and outside the door, and Tulong summoned his breath and shouted: "Listen outside, our wife is here, all of you, please listen carefully!"
The Lianjia's roar was extraordinary, it made Minglan's eardrums buzz, and it was indeed quiet outside.
I heard an arrogant and showy male voice outside the door: "Mrs. Gu Hou heard this. Last time, you refused to enter the palace as ordered, which angered the emperor and the queen mother. We are here to arrest you! Capture him quickly, and I will spare your life!"
Minglan raised her eyebrows and said neatly: "I won't go to your spring and autumn dream!" The high-decibel female voice was particularly clear in this dark night. The guard gate in the courtyard couldn't help but chuckle softly.
The man outside roared: "How dare you do this to that thief woman?!"
"No reason, it's just because you have a deer head and rat eyes, and you look like a loser at first glance!" Minglan deliberately spoke softly.
There was roaring laughter all around, and some laughter even came from outside the door.
The other end yelled angrily, with dirty words in his mouth. As soon as he suppressed the noise around him, Minglan suddenly interrupted: "I know very well what kind of people you are! Don't pretend to be human and rebel.
Those who cause trouble dare to show their faces!"
The four words "rebellion and rebellion" were extremely intimidating, and everything fell silent again.
Minglan raised her voice and said coldly: "Everyone can punish traitors and traitors. Everyone knows this truth, but there are those who are short-sighted. They think they are lucky, knock their necks against the blade, and insist on gambling.
Go ahead! Remember the 'Shenchen Rebellion' a few years ago, how many nobles and powerful ministers helped King Ni, hum, but so what? In just seven days, the late emperor put an end to the chaos, and you don't even think about your own weight.
How does it compare to the Ni Wang back then? I don’t know if it can last for seven hours!"
She sneered and said in a loud voice: "Stop talking nonsense, come in if you have the ability, and don't try to fool people. I would like to advise the good guys outside to sneak away before they show up. There are many ways to get rich."
, don’t wade into this muddy water. Rebellion and rebellion are not just about robbing a few wealthy households and losing their heads. Think more about your wife, children, and children!”
It was suddenly quiet outside, and after a while, the arrogant male voice shouted: "Don't be deceived by this woman, the gold, silver and jewels in the Hou Mansion are full of gold, silver and jewels, you can make a fortune tonight!"
Tu Long also roared: "We have all the marquises on our roster. If you fail to protect your wife, you will be severely punished! My wife promised, one hundred taels of silver for each arm and one hundred and fifty taels for each leg. If you lose your life, your family will
The urination is taken care of by the Marquis! Brothers, come on, if you survive this, everyone will be generously rewarded, and you will be able to enjoy the food and drink well in the future!"
With these two roars, the night's fighting officially began.
The sixteen vermilion fans in the main hall were opened wide. Luzhi moved a tall grand master's chair and placed it in the middle of the hall. Minglan sat on it and watched the fierce battle ahead, which was regarded as a sweep of the formation.
According to regulations, in addition to the imperial palace in Beijing, the gate walls of the Marquis Mansion are only slightly inferior to those of the Prince's Mansion. They are much taller and thicker than ordinary homes, with two or three people tall. The nearly half-foot-thick red lacquer door has a bolt and cannot be broken without a heavy hammer;
There was a frantic beating on the door outside, but there was no movement at all, and slashing and stabbing with swords and guns was of no use.
The thief obviously didn't expect Minglan to be so stubborn. He wanted to scare the woman, but now he didn't have any powerful attack equipment at hand, so he had to order to find a thicker tree to cut down to break the door, and at the same time urged his subordinates to support each other.
Climb the wall and jump in.
Unexpectedly, Tulong had already prepared many sharp wooden poles more than two meters long. Two people were holding them up inside the wall. However, when they saw a human head emerging from the wall, they stabbed it hard, only to hear screams and squeaks.
As soon as there was a sound, several thieves were stabbed through their jaws or chests and fell down. There were also brave thieves who climbed up the wall wielding big knives. Who knew that the wooden pole was coated with tar and could not move even if it was cut with a sharp weapon; some were agile and could not move.
If the wooden pole fails to poke the target, two archers inside the door will watch and shoot it down with a few shots.
After stopping outside for a moment, he also started shooting arrows in, covering his accomplices as they climbed in. Arrows were flying in. In a moment, several strong men holding wooden poles were hit by arrows. Minglan quickly asked someone to carry the injured into the hall.
When all the guards turned around, they saw the mistress sitting calmly in the back hall with her pregnant belly. They didn't dare to slack off. They all thought, 'Even a weak woman has such courage, let alone a man like me'?!
Slaying the dragon and dancing with the ghost-headed knife, people climbed up the ladder placed against the wall, took the small packages of lime, avoided the rain of arrows, and quickly raised their hands to scatter the lime. There was a loud scream outside, mixed with curses.
exclaim——
"Close your eyes quickly and put lime in them!"
"What a shameless thing, actually using such cruel methods!"...
Boss Tu couldn't help but murmured and sighed, "If my brothers in the world know about it, I, Old Tu, will be really embarrassed to see anyone... What are you looking at, you little bastard, hurry up and start talking!"
After nearly half an hour, the inside and outside gradually became quiet. Suddenly, there was a sound of footsteps, and it seemed that many thieves were coming. Tulong listened attentively, his face changed greatly, and he shouted: "Brother, be careful, the thieves are coming again."
"
Within a moment, the thieves covered their eyes with a thin piece of cloth and roared as they climbed the wall again. This time, there were many people attacking. The wall was crowded with people, but it was too late to shoot arrows and poke poles.
At this time, the oil pan that had been set up in the courtyard was already emitting oozing green smoke. Tulong yelled and asked people to pass the buckets of boiling oil up the ladder, then stabbed and poured down, and only heard a moment outside.
There were howling cries of ghosts and wolves, accompanied by the smell of burnt human flesh, which seemed particularly terrifying in the middle of the night.
Luzhi's face was pale, his teeth were chattering uncontrollably, and he was staring straight at the pools of blood on the ground. Xiaotao was much stronger, and even helped move the wailing wounded when he had time.
It was spring at this time, so the servants wearing cotton-padded jackets and carrying leather cases were not afraid of the pouring, but the thieves outside were all wearing thin spring clothes. Not to mention that the one who was hit in the head lost half his life immediately.
It was a little splashed around, and there was severe pain in my feet when I jumped.
The splash of oil had a far greater impact than the others. The thieves suffered heavy casualties, and there was a moment of silence outside.
Tu Long wiped his sweat profusely, rushed into the hall, raised his fist and said: "Madam, I promise you can live in peace for a while."
Minglan's finger joints holding the armrest turned slightly white, "They won't give up easily."
"Don't worry, ma'am, my brother and some people are watching at the back door. There are enough hot oil pipes and plenty of pickets!"
Minglan nodded stiffly, stretched out her hand to wipe the cold sweat from her forehead, and touched her belly with one hand. She felt that it was beating violently. The fetus must have also felt the fear. Minglan felt pity and held back her tears as she gently caressed the baby.
After less than an hour of calm, a servant covered in blood ran up from a distance and shouted: "Uncle Tu, the gang of thieves ran to the back door. Second Master Tu called some helpers -!"
Tu Long turned to look at Minglan, with a questioning look in his eyes. Minglan said with a hearty smile: "Female women don't know how to attack and defend. The manpower and equipment in the house are all assigned by Tu Ye!"
Tu Long secretly screamed "Yes" and held his fist respectfully. He then picked a group of strong men to run back to help. He and the remaining men continued to guard the front door. The thieves had to bypass the entire street to attack the back door, but inside the Hou Mansion,
It runs in a straight line, so as long as it resists for a while, the manpower turnover can be smooth.
In fact, the back door is easier to defend because the alley is narrow and can only accommodate four or five people walking side by side. It is difficult to even hit the door with a large wooden stake. The thieves cannot fully disperse and are crowded together in one place, no matter pouring oil or pouring oil on them.
Spreading lime is more effective.
About two or three quarters of an hour later, the sound of shouting and climbing could be heard again from the wall of the front door - the thieves in front of them had indeed not gone all the way, and they wanted to lure the tiger away from the mountain. When the people behind them start killing, the thieves in front of them might relax their vigilance.
Unexpectedly, Tulong had been on guard against this attack, and ordered several boys to stand guard along the wall, watching for the wind without blinking. Wherever half of his head was exposed, he immediately poked it with a stick, and the opponent fell off the wall before he could even groan.
Seeing this scene, Minglan couldn't help but praise: "Master Tu is indeed worthy of his reputation! It's strange that Master Tu always boasts."
Tu Long turned around and grinned, and said proudly: "These are all cheap tricks, just laughable. Madam has never seen the heroic figure of Lord Marquis in front of the battle. He is invincible and invincible!"
Minglan was about to give a few more words of praise when a fire suddenly lit up from the side. Everyone in the front yard turned their heads and saw that the old courtyard of the Hou Mansion on the east side had been turned into a sea of flames. Miserable screams were heard in the distance. Unlike the panic of others,
Ming Lan and Tu Long were very calm.
Tulong looked at the fire in the east, his cheeks gnawing bitterly: "These bastards really want to get in from over there! Alas, what a pity that old house has been there for so many years!"
Minglan had no expression on her face and wrote lightly: "There is no need to be pity. The valuables have been evacuated long ago, and the ancestral hall is at the corner, so the fire cannot spread, so it won't be a problem at all. After all, lives are at stake, and the house can be rebuilt."
It was already the beginning of the Yin period, and Mother Ge led a group of maids to deliver supper. Minglan also hastily finished half a bowl of rice porridge before putting down the bowl. She saw a fire in the forest on the west side.
Minglan stopped her movements, looked at the place from a distance with Green Branch, and said regretfully: "Oh, it's a pity that there are cranes and deer on that mountain, and there is also a cage of little rabbits newly raised by the two girls."
Not long after, people from the east and west sides came to report that the thieves had been driven back. It seemed that five or six people were burned to death on the east side. On the west side, because they were in the mountains and forests, if you didn't look carefully, there were always four or five.
Minglan caressed her chest, secretly calling her lucky.
Ningyuan Hou Mansion, with Chengyuan as the center, is a huge square mansion when viewed from a bird's eye view. There are two gates at the front and back, and the east and west are the old Hou Mansion and a small mountain forest. To prevent anyone from coming in from both sides,
Minglan was cruel and ordered people to lay out flammable oil - the mountains were densely forested in spring and the beams in Gu's old house were thick, so it was not a problem to burn it all night. Then he separated a wide fire break from Chengyuan and pulled up the fuse.
Someone broke in and immediately started a fire.
Seeing that the old house in the mountains was in a sea of flames, if she said it was not a pity, it would be a lie. Minglan only hoped that she could really stop the thief.
At this time, Tu Long walked over with heavy steps and whispered beside Ming Lan: "Madam, this is not right."
He has a lot of experience and knows that every incident is usually accompanied by Xiaoxiao taking the opportunity to rob and steal. Therefore, he thought that with his arrangement, ordinary thieves would be easy to deal with; but unexpectedly, after fighting in the middle of the night, the two brothers
With the left and right weak, we can only resist with difficulty.
"Now the thieves have more than 30 dead and injured, but they are still so tenacious... This group seems to be instigated by someone behind the scenes." After fighting for so long, he found that the opponent originally had more than a hundred people. After the first two rounds of fierce fighting, many helpers ran away.
, I vaguely estimate that the core of the thieves is only fifty or sixty, and so far, more than half of them have been killed or injured, but they still refuse to retreat, which is really strange.
Minglan wanted to go deeper.
In this incident, there are only two types of people who will come to the Hou Mansion to kill. One is the gangsters who took advantage of the situation and were the focus of Boss Tu's defense, and the other is the rebels.
The former is seeking wealth. There are so many rich and powerful families in Beijing. It is not robbery to rob any house. Why should they be reluctant to give up and not bite the hard bone of the Gu family?
The latter sought power and wanted to capture Minglan as a hostage. If all the Gu family members were forced to die, what else could they use as a threat? It would be strange if Gu Tingye didn't risk his life for revenge; but the gang of thieves in front of him were extremely vicious and they were clearly here to kill him.
"you say……"
Ming Lan looked solemn and opened her mouth. Suddenly she heard a familiar cry outside. Xiao Cuixiu came running with disheveled hair and cried: "Madam, it's not good! There is a thief inside!"
Minglan felt like she was struck by lightning and cried out: "How is this possible?!"
Cuixiu cried: "They came from the mountain forest. Several thieves broke in from a small road in anger! Brother Shi is leading people to block it. Madam, please send someone quickly!"
Minglan was on the verge of collapse, but she forced herself to calm down.
Tu Long said in a deep voice: "Madam, don't worry, I will lead you right away!" Then he pulled a big man beside him and said, "Brother, look over here for me!" The big man responded, and Tu Long immediately led a team of guards to rush inside.
go.
Luzhi bit her lip tightly, while Xiaotao held on to Minglan and whispered: "Madam, don't be afraid, not many people know where Brother Tuan and Mother Cui are! There are so many rooms in the mansion, you can touch each one."
How much effort it takes.”
Minglan calmed down for a moment, but she was so worried that she had to go and see the situation, so Luzhi had to call for a sedan chair. Because it was dark and the road was dark, the women in the sedan chair did not dare to go fast. Minglan was so anxious that she almost cried.
Finally arrived.
The inner courtyard was in a mess, and the maids were either crying for help or looking for shelter. Minglan didn't dare to sit in the sedan chair, so she walked inside holding on to the green branches. With sharp eyes, Xiaotao grabbed a figure running by and shouted.
Said: "Brother Shitou!"
The person who came was none other than the stupid little brother Shi. He was covered in blood. When he saw Minglan and the others, he said happily: "Madam, I was just going to find you! Those seven or eight thieves were running around like headless flies.
As soon as the two men reached the entrance of the eldest lady's courtyard, they were killed by the guards outside, and now the butcher is going around the world to catch thieves!"
Minglan breathed a sigh of relief: "Everyone is fine..."
"Madam..." Shi Xiaodi said eagerly, "When Mr. Tu and I went to the Dafufu Courtyard, we saw that there were only Aunt Qiu, Aunt Mei, and a few mothers in the house."
"Ah! What's going on?" Minglan was stunned.
"Master Tu also asked." Shi Xiaodi was confused. "A mother said privately that the eldest lady found out that Cui's mother and her brothers were hiding elsewhere. She felt that it was safer there, so she asked Miss Bisi about her whereabouts.
, I took my two sisters and hid there..."
Minglan bit her lower lip - she had missed it here! What a Bisi! What a Shaw!
"The butcher asked me to ask Madam where Brother Tuan is. Don't let the thief blind cat meet with death. Oh..." Brother Shi thought that this metaphor was inappropriate and quickly shut up.
Minglan said hurriedly: "It's in a certain wing of Kouxiang Garden! Go quickly and find Mr. Tu!" As he said this, he stamped his feet again and again. The so-called secret hiding place must be known to as few people as possible. This is what he saw in front of him.
What the hell?!
Watching Xiaodi Shi leave, Minglan also hurriedly walked in that direction. Pian Xiaotao remembered Cui's mother's instructions and held her arm tightly. Her mother-in-law's voice came from behind to persuade her, and Minglan was not allowed to walk even half a step faster.
.
The group of people moved for almost half a quarter of an hour before they saw their destination. Minglan felt that it seemed like two hours. On the way, he grabbed a little girl with a headless head and asked: "How about the Kouxiang Garden?"
This little girl had just run from the direction of Kouxiang Garden when she suddenly saw her mistress and stammered: "Everything is fine, ah... No, Mother Lu said that Miss Rong has gone to the eldest lady's place and told us not to keep guard..."
Minglan was slightly reassured and was about to ask her to hide in the Shaw courtyard when the little girl suddenly said: "But, but...just now I saw Aunt Ren leading two or three dark figures to Kouxiang Garden...eh.
, It’s really weird, there’s no one there anymore.”
"Aunt Ren?!" Lvzhi shouted loudly, grabbing the little girl's wrist tightly, "The one next to the eldest lady...?" Aunt Ren was originally Shao's roommate, and was later given to Gu Tingyu by Shao as his wife.
, Gu Tingyu was promoted as his aunt before his death.
The little girl felt pain and nodded quickly.
Minglan was so frightened in her heart that she couldn't speak. She could only hold back one sentence: "Hurry up!" Everyone didn't dare to delay any longer and hurried away.
As soon as I stepped into Kouxiang Garden, I smelled a strong smell of blood. I looked down through the lantern and saw that the ground was covered with blood. The corpses of two women were lying at the door. They were the strong women who protected Cui's mother.
Ming Lan was spinning for a while, and almost fainted. Fortunately, Tu Long and others came over at this time, bowed and said: "Madam, we have killed two people, and also caught a thief."
The guards behind him threw the two corpses in black to the ground, and pushed out a woman in dirty clothes. It was Ren who often followed Shao. Minglan was so angry that she immediately slapped the woman.
The woman slapped her twice, and was about to ask Tu Long if she had found the room in which her son was, when she suddenly heard the exclamations of women and children coming from the west room, and then Brother Shi's shout - "Thief, how dare you...!"
Tu Long and others rushed over with torches, and a room in the dark row of rooms lit up. Minglan quickly helped Xiao Tao go there, and saw candles burning on the table. Mr. Shao hugged Sister Xian and huddled in the room.
In the corner, Mother Cui seemed to have been knocked unconscious, leaning against the bed. Brother Shi came out of the back room holding his bleeding arm, "Madam, inside..."
Minglan pushed Xiao Tao away, rushed in without hesitation, pulled down the half-loose curtain, and saw a black-clothed corpse lying on the ground. Dragon Slayer and two guards stood at the door with knives in hand, looking sideways with smiles.
Minglan followed their gazes - Sister Rong was half sitting on the edge of the bed, holding a fat ball in her arms that was crying.
The girl's face was still wet with tears, her hair was messy, a bunch of hair was torn off her forehead, and blood streaks spread near her temples. She held a gold hairpin tightly in her right hand, her left hand was dripping with blood, and her bones were visible. Her face was pale, but her eyes were filled with tears.
It looked like it was burning with blazing flames, and there was blood all around the mouth, and the cheeks were slightly bulging from the bite.
Tu Long smiled in his heart. Seeing this situation, he had already made a rough guess. Seeing that the place was clear, he was concerned about the situation outside, so he left two guards and Brother Shi behind and went out to capture the thieves and protect them.
Minglan slowly walked over with her belly in hand, hugged Sister Rong gently, and said softly: "Good girl, what's wrong? Tell me."
Sister Rong raised her head blankly, opened her mouth, but couldn't say anything.
Sister Xian heard it outside, broke away from Shao, rushed inside, and spoke loudly and fluently. After a while, Brother Shi, who had wrapped his arms randomly, came in and added more in a chattering voice.
As the two of them talked, the eyes of my aunt looked at her with more tenderness and admiration, but she was filled with confusion.
——The scene just now was like a dream.
The female relatives were hiding in the dark room. The thief held up a torch and kicked open the rooms. Listening to the rough and cruel yelling, everyone was trembling with fear. Seeing that the thief was almost here, even Cui’s mother
Also helpless.
At this moment, I didn't know where the courage came from. I carried my brother into the back room, stuffed him under the bed, moved a stool and put it by the door, pulled out the gold hairpin, held it in my hand, and stood up.
The thief kicked open the door, and the uncle screamed very sharply, like an old hen that had its neck strangled. Sister Xian just cried softly, and then heard a muffled sound, and Mother Cui made no sound.
Listening to the footsteps of the thief walking towards the inner room, the hairpin in her palm almost sunk into her flesh. She gritted her teeth and could not make a sound. As soon as the thief stepped into the room, she jumped towards him.
The man was caught off guard and was knocked to the ground. She grabbed hold of the thief's back and stabbed him wildly. Some of them hit his shoulders and necks, and some of them hit his back. The thief cried out in pain, dropped the long knife, and pulled it out of his boot.
She grabbed the dagger without even thinking about it, and the sharp edge cut into her fleshy palm, which immediately hurt her heart.
She never knew she could be so stubborn. She didn't say a word, but she was so angry that she aroused the fierceness in her bones and bit the thief's head and face. The thief was so painful that he grabbed her hair with his backhand - she was so stubborn.
When the attack occurred, my scalp and palms were so painful that the flesh was raw. I gritted my teeth and refused to let go. I held the gold hairpin in one hand and continued to prick hard.
Finally, the thief pulled off a lock of her hair and a piece of scalp, and she bit off half of his ear. When the thief finally got her off his back and saw that he was about to be stabbed to death, Brother Shi arrived.
Brother Tuan crawled out from under the bed, looked around crookedly, then opened his arms and came towards her with tears in his eyes. Sister Rong couldn't bear it anymore and rushed over to hug her younger brother Yuanhuhu tightly.
The two siblings burst into tears.
…
Minglan's eyes welled up with tears, and she caressed the girl's bloody wound. She was so grateful that she could only kneel on the ground and kowtow a few times. She choked and said, "Good boy, Brother Tuan is really lucky to have a sister like you."
point!"
Sister Rong was held in her aunt's arms. She had mixed feelings and was inexplicably sad, so she started crying again. Fatty didn't know why, and couldn't speak the whole sentence. He could only pull her sister's clothes, whine and cry repeatedly, "
elder sister'.
Mr. Shao was squirming at the door, wanting to come in but not daring to come in. Minglan caught a glimpse of her and deliberately ignored her. She wiped her tears and smiled at Sister Rong: "Girl Rong, tell me honestly, are you afraid?" she pointed out.
Refers to the corpse on the ground.
Sister Rong looked at the ground, thought about it seriously, and said in a panic, "...To be honest, I'm not very scared..." She was just very angry.
Minglan shook her head and clicked her tongue, clapped her hands and said with a smile: "She is indeed your old daughter! She is naturally strong, brave and bold!"
At this time, the sky turned slightly white, and the thieves who had entered the inner house had been eliminated. Minglan took the two children back to Jiaxi Residence. Cuiwei found Gu Tingye's golden sore medicine, and Minglan personally cleaned Sister Rong's wounds and bandaged them with medicine.
Xiao Tao smoothly took away half the can and sneaked over to bandage Shi's wounds.
After all, she was a child. She had not slept all night, was frightened, injured, and cried bitterly. Sister Rong was so tired that she fell down on Minglan's bed and fell into a deep sleep. Next to her was the little fat girl who slept like a pig.
Minglan stood by the bed, holding the candle and watching quietly, with a smile on her lips. The two siblings were exactly the same, even sleeping with their hands and feet spread out.
By the way, Rulan also likes to sleep in a large font. I wonder how brother-in-law Wen came here in the past few years, and whether he was awakened by his wife's thigh in his sleep - thinking about it, she suddenly hoped that in the future this girl could be like Rulan.
, find a good home.
The noise outside gradually stopped, and Minglan knew that the test had been passed.
Not long after, the Tu brothers sent someone to report that the thieves wanted to make a last stand, but suddenly saw Master Liu sending troops to protect them, and the thieves immediately dispersed like birds and beasts.
Minglan frowned tiredly, "Everyone has worked hard. Let's go and invite a few doctors first. The house is full of people who want to treat diseases and injuries. Then we will count the damage of objects and household items later, and reward them based on their merits.
, one by one, take your time." Mother Cui is awake. I don't know if the lump on her head is serious or not, and Sister Rong's palm needs to be treated properly.
Hao Dacheng couldn't help but said: "Madam, why don't you ask how the situation is outside?"
Minglan put down her hand and said with a smile: "Although Mr. Liu will care about our palace, his loyalty to the emperor is far behind. If there is no peace in the palace, can Mr. Liu spare his manpower to rescue us?"
Hao Dacheng smiled bitterly and marveled: "Madam, you are really knowledgeable and knowledgeable."
"Forget it, no matter how chaotic the world is, I just want to take care of my children and have a good rest first!" Ming Lan lightly beat her neck, feeling sore, "Guan Shi Hao, don't hold on, we are almost done, go and have a rest."
stop."
Hao Dacheng was about to leave when he suddenly stopped and turned around, "Madam, last night..." He hesitated, "There was a person among the thieves, many people looked at him... he looked very much like the Third Master..."
Minglan's hand that was beating her shoulders stopped halfway, and she looked around in surprise.
——Gu Tingbing?!
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