Even though she was full of questions, she couldn't resist the overwhelming exhaustion. Minglan plunged into the soft and warm bed and fell asleep. She didn't dream anything this time. Brother Tuan sobbed quietly in her arms and fell asleep soon.
In the past, there were still tears on her little face, and while she was sleeping, her short fingers unconsciously hooked her mother's sleeves. [Ye*][*]
The two mothers slept in darkness and woke up at three quarters past noon, which was the auspicious time for the opening of the food market.
Brother Tuan suddenly became more sensible. He didn't cry or fuss after he woke up. Cuiwei fed him a bite, but she was wrapped tightly around Minglan. Anyone who hugged him was wary, and her little hands grasped her mother's clothes. Nai Manfu's affairs, etc.
Looking at Minglan, she had no choice but to coax Xiaopang and said: "Let's go see my sister. My sister's hand hurts very much. Can you go and help her with her breathing?"
Xiaopang opened his big black and white eyes. Xiaoxiao hesitated for a while, then nodded obediently, and was carried by Cuiwei to Sister Rong's resting place in the side room. Immediately, the stewards from all walks of life came forward hurriedly, waiting in the corridor in order, taking turns.
Report various matters.
A night of chaos and half a night of fire, the losses were not insignificant.
The old house was reimbursed 70% of the time, but fortunately the ancestral hall was safe and sound. The ancestors of the Gu family originally built it in a remote and moist place, and Minglan was quite knowledgeable. Unfortunately, the other side did not have such good luck, and the entire mountain forest was destroyed.
It is a pity that the red plum blossoms that have just bloomed, the peach trees that have just produced green and cute little fruits, and the rows of beautiful flower trees that Hua Da Yin moved here have all turned into charred wood.
While searching the forest, they also found several burnt corpses. Minglan was feeling sorry for the innocent people who were burned to death, so she angrily asked someone to wrap them up in a torn straw mat, along with the corpses of the thieves left outside the door.
, sent together to Shuntianfu Yamen.
Except for these two places, there was no major damage to the rest of Chengyuan - not counting that Mother Ge burned down half of the stove in her panic.
No matter how heavily damaged the houses or forests are, they are still dead things and will eventually be repaired. The real pity lies behind.
After careful investigation, there were a total of thirty-two casualties among the guards of the Hou Mansion that night, including fourteen with minor injuries and nine with serious injuries. The rest... had passed into the afterlife. Minglan sighed endlessly and ordered Hao Dacheng to bury the dead with a generous burial.
, and generously compensated his wife, children, children and the injured.
Every time Minglan said something, Xia He took up his pen and entered it into the book. The abacus on the side was crackling, and his face was even uglier than Minglan's - based on a rough estimate, the pension alone would cost tens of thousands of taels!
After all the stewards finished reporting and filed out, the green branches were as green as watermelon rinds. Minglan had no choice but to comfort her and comfort herself: "...If you think about it carefully, if no one had resisted desperately last night, we would have become ghosts!
Now that the rain has passed and the sky is clear, drink water without forgetting the man who dug the well, let alone chill the heart of the man below."
Lu Zhi nodded reluctantly.
Having said that, if you include the expenses for rebuilding the mansion in the future, almost half of the money Minglan has accumulated in the past few years due to her careful management of the house will be spent - oh shit, it's really as Brother Bohu said,
The wind blows the egg shells, and the wealth is gone and people are happy!
Minglan clutched her chest and felt distressed for a long time before she regained her composure. Before she could catch her breath, she saw the sun was setting in the west, and a report suddenly came from outside, saying that someone from the British government had come to deliver a message.
"The Zhang family was not attacked by thieves last night?" Minglan was shocked and confused after hearing the news.
The daughter-in-law who brought the report stood by the door and said in a loud voice: "That's right. The Zhang family was peaceful last night, so Mrs. Zhang didn't expect the situation in our house. As soon as she heard about it this morning, she hurriedly sent someone to say hello."
Minglan asked again: "What about my uncle's house?"
The daughter-in-law said: "The person who came to deliver the message said that the security outside is still tight right now, and there is no communication. The situation... can't be explained clearly."
Minglan was silent for a long time. The question that had been in her mind all night had an increasingly clear answer.
After that, she summoned several stewards from the outer courtyard for questioning and continued to manage the affairs. Tu Long came with a tired look and reported that the house had been cleaned up, and there were no traces of the thieves outside the front and back doors. Hao Dacheng and Liao Yong's family had assigned servants to tidy up the courtyard.
The house was like this... After being busy for more than an hour, Minglan finally got free. Thinking of Sister Rong, she quickly got up and asked someone to help her go to the side room to visit.
Just as she was about to step out the door, she saw Xiao Tao running back from outside, with honey in her mouth and a face that made people want to lick her. Minglan stopped and squinted, saying in a long voice: "You're back -? Mr. Shi Er is injured.
It’s such a good situation.”
Xiao Tao said half-wittedly: "Injuries? Oh... Brother Shitou only had a few cuts on his skin and flesh, but Uncle Tu said it's okay."
Minglan said angrily: "Then why did you delay your return until now?" The mistress had woken up and the directors had finished, but the personal maid was still nowhere to be seen.
Xiao Tao said embarrassedly: "Brother Shitou said... He said that last night was really scary, with blood splattering everywhere, and dead people on the ground at the front and back doors. His heart was pounding when he thought about it, and he was so scared that he didn't even dare to close his eyes and sleep!"
Lu Zhi, who was still checking accounts in the room, felt a chill and nearly fell into the inkstone. Xia He, who was supporting Ming Lan, was visibly shaken. He bit his lip to endure it again and again, and finally couldn't help it: "This
Do you believe it?"
Xiao Tao said blankly: "Brother Shitou, why did you lie to me?"
Xia He didn't have any plans and naturally blurted out: "I'm not afraid of killing people with a knife, how can I be afraid of nightmares! He's tricking you. He likes you and wants to stay with you for a while!"
Xiao Tao's face immediately blushed, and she gave her a gentle push with her strong, fat arms, and said coquettishly: "Oh, what do you like or dislike... you, you are so annoying!" She then said shyly to Minglan, "
Madam, I'm going to help Lu Zhi." Then he twisted his chubby body and walked into the house.
Xia He was pushed and staggered, and almost hit her head on the door frame. Minglan kindly helped her and said sympathetically: "Don't argue with this girl, and don't make fun of the Shi family. You are just holding your breath."
"
The young couple, one ignorant and fearless, the other extremely thick-skinned, were a match made in heaven. Minglan thought about it again, and if she didn't turn around, she would write to the Shi family couple, and they could prepare for the wedding after the baby was born.
Already.
Thinking that Xiaotao would marry Jianghuai, Minglan couldn't help but feel sad. She walked silently with her head lowered. After a few steps, she arrived at the side room, where she heard children's laughter faintly coming from inside.
Crossing the door and turning left, he walked into the back room and saw Sister Rong sitting on the bedside. On the inside of the bed was Brother Tuan with his fat legs crossed on her body. Outside was Sister Xian sitting on the edge of the bed. The window
Shao and Qiuniang sat on both sides of the small table. Cui's mother sat alone at the Ruyi round table, gently blowing on the dark medicine overnight, and had two small plum blossom-shaped plasters on her forehead that activate blood stasis and dissolve blood.
.
Seeing Minglan come in, everyone had different expressions. Qiuniang stood up with a smile and saluted. Unexpectedly, Mr. Shao got up faster than her, jumping up from his seat like a rabbit, with a look of fear on his face, as if he had died again.
Husband, Minglan nodded towards Qiuniang and walked straight to the bed without looking at Shao.
Sister Rong was looking at the decoction in Cui's mother's hand with a sad face. When she saw Minglan, she said happily: "Mom, you are here..." After saying that, she was about to get up. Minglan hurriedly stepped forward to hold her down and said softly.
"What are you doing when you get up? Lie down quickly." Then asked if the injury hurt and if there was any discomfort nearby. Sister Rong shook her head and said, "After taking the doctor's medicine, it doesn't hurt anymore."
Minglan felt pity in her heart, thinking that when the effects of the medicine wore off, the pain would definitely be worse. She brushed the girl's thick forehead hair to take a look, and saw only two or three inches behind the forehead, a patch of scalp covered with dark green pungent ointment, as if
Seeing a bit of oozing blood, she sighed: "Thank you for having such good hair. If you had had less hair, how would you have been able to cover the injury? Alas, with such an injury, it will take half a year at least."
It’s not easy to wear a hairpin ring with gold beads, it will fall so heavy it will make your head hurt.”
Sister Rong touched her head and said carelessly: "Sister Xian said, it doesn't look good if I wear a ponytail in a ponytail anyway. I'll just wear it in an upright bun from now on. Didn't my mother just give me a box of fresh gauze palace flowers?"
, It’s okay.” Her face was rather heroic and upright, and every time she wore her bun in that kind of soft and coquettish bun, it was always awkward.
The topic came to Sister Xian, but she changed from her usual cheerful and shrewd appearance. She kept her head down since Minglan came in. After hearing these words, she raised her head slightly and glanced at Minglan cautiously.
Minglan stretched out her hand to caress the girl's face and said gently: "You two are just like sisters. I feel relieved when you are by Sister Rong's side to help me."
Sister Xian had tears in her eyes, a precocious shame on her childish face, and nodded gently. Shao on the side opened her mouth to speak, but when she met Minglan's cold eyes, she immediately became speechless. She wanted to say something apologetic.
, but it’s hard to say it in front of a room full of people.
Minglan turned back and picked up Sister Rong's gauze-wrapped left palm and looked at it carefully. Afterward, she inspected the thief's dagger and found that it was sharp. Fortunately, the girl had a strong personality and simply held it tightly in her stubborn anger.
If you hold the blade of the knife loose for a moment, the entire palm of your hand will be split apart when the blade slides.[~]
Even so, the blade of the knife still penetrated into the bones, and the skin and flesh were torn, which made Minglan terrified. According to the doctor, even if the wound is healed in the future, the palm of her hand may not be as flexible as before.
"When the martial law is lifted in a few days, I will write a letter to your husband. Fortunately, it is my left hand that is injured. Writing is not a problem, but embroidery... is so good..." A large embroidery is propped up on a square frame.
To do it, you need to needle with one hand and lower the needle with both hands, "It's impossible to say that Mrs. Hong won't be able to do her homework..."
Sister Rong was overjoyed and blurted out: "Really? I don't have to learn from Aunt Hong anymore? Oops..." Before she could finish her words, her head was poked by a finger after she was put down on the bed. Seeing that Sister Xian was so hard, she saw
Glancing at herself, Sister Rong understood what she was doing. She immediately lowered her head and said in a weak tone: "My daughter is very sorry that she failed my aunt's careful teachings."
Ming Lan was originally full of melancholy, but she couldn't help but burst into tears when she saw this situation.
The expressions change and become distorted, the tone becomes stiff, and the coordination is not coordinated. It is far from the smooth acting skills of the past. I think back when they were sisters fighting, even the last Rulan was far better than the two girls, let alone the drama.
Mo Lan and herself are at the bone level. Is it true that only through competition can progress be achieved?
When the two girls saw Minglan's joke, they both lowered their heads, full of shame and frustration. Minglan smiled and patted the girls' little faces: "Well, it's much better this way. It's a bit decent. I'll describe it to you later.
Look, sir."
As soon as he said this, the whole room laughed. Mother Cui stopped spooning the cold medicine, shook her head and smiled, Sister Xian fell happily on Sister Rong's shoulder, the two girls covered their mouths and whispered, Qiuniang stepped forward two steps
, jokingly said: "Madam, she knows that reading accounts and things like that won't be a problem for our eldest girl at all, only her needle-headed and thread-savvy mind is annoying!"
Minglan smiled and said: "Nvhong is a work of pleasure, nourishing one's character, and displaying women's virtues. Daughters like us don't necessarily have to practice to be good at it. Otherwise, what would the embroiderer do?"
What she said had a mature and prudent tone, and she felt quite pleased with herself. After thinking about it, she added, "Forget it about embroidery, but you have to be good at sewing." Then she turned to Qiuniang and said, "You have to work harder.
It’s up to you to teach me carefully and carefully.”
Sister Rong quickly nodded her head like a rattle. Sister Xian covered her mouth and scratched her face with her fingers and snickered. Qiuniang also expressed her position quickly: "Madam, don't worry, this is my duty."
This is actually inappropriate. A concubine's duty should be to serve men and ladies. However, today, she has consciously relied on her mother's identity.
Minglan smiled slightly and asked Cui's mother how the injury on her head was. Cui's mother kept saying, "It's okay."
Qiuniang was sleeping well, and she frowned when she saw Minglan, and added spontaneously: "After the doctor prescribed the medicine for Mother Cui, he said that it will be fine for now, and he will come back after a while to check."
Minglan nodded. In fact, according to her opinion, it was best to take a picture to be safe. But there were no X-rays these days, so she had to tell Mother Cui to rest more.
Seeing that she had been praised, Qiuniang worked harder and said, "I have already visited Aunt Mei at noon today, and she is sitting and breastfeeding her little brother. Both mothers are looking very good."
Minglan showed her face and said: "That's good, otherwise I wouldn't be able to explain to Mr. Gongsun."
There was a big chaos last night, and almost everyone was affected. They were either frightened or tortured. Who knew that the most unharmed were Qiuniang and Ruomei, who were usually unreliable?
Since the two of them moved to the wing of Shaw's courtyard, they were actually very frightened.
The two ladies-in-law who were serving Ruomei had already received orders from their mistress, and they knew that this delicate and elegant concubine was sensitive and thoughtful, so they wanted to make a fuss with her, so they simply drank a bowl of thick soothing tea, but they didn't know what was going on.
Unknowingly mix it into the decoction and give it away.
Ruomei slept until dawn, unaware of the flashes of swords and swords in the night. When she woke up, the rain had passed and the sky cleared. Not only did she feel refreshed, but her baby also slept in her wet nurse's arms with her face flushed. Early in the morning, her mother
The two of them shouted back to their hospital in high spirits.
Minglan greatly admired these two clever women, and all three of them, including the wet nurse, were rewarded with ten taels of silver each.
As for Qiuniang, she was worried all night in the house. When Sister Rong disappeared, she wanted to look for her, but was frightened by her mother-in-law.
"Has my aunt forgotten Madam's instructions again? Madam has specifically told her that no matter what happens, she is not allowed to leave the house. If my sister disappears, she will have her own maids to look for her. If my aunt has to go, she will look for her one by one.
Getting lost is a bad thing!"
Because Ming Lan had recently put down some rules with a cold face, Qiuniang was afraid of her mistress's majesty, so she stayed in the house honestly, not daring to move around on her own, and only raised her ears to listen to what was going on outside - nothing happened in the first half of the night, but lively in the second half of the night.
.
The sound of sword fighting was right at the door of the courtyard, mixed with the screams that echoed late at night. She was so frightened that her legs became weak and she almost lost control. She almost jumped out of the window and escaped. Unexpectedly, before she could muster up the courage to open the window, the thief was guarded outside the courtyard.
The guards cleaned up.
Next, the guards sent the mother-in-law in to report that she was safe. After she and the maids breathed a sigh of relief, they saw that the sky was getting slightly brighter, and they felt that they could not stand it physically and mentally, so they went to find a house to rest. From the beginning to the end, Qiuniang was purely spiritual.
Frightened, very safe, just like hearing a scary ghost story.
"...Everyone said that last night was dangerous, but we didn't even see whether the culprit was round or flat." When it came to the end, Qiuniang was not just flattering the mistress, she was really grateful to Minglan for her thorough protection, "Aunt Mei asked me to take my place.
He kowtowed to Madam and thanked her, saying that thanks to Madam’s careful planning, their mother was able to be safe and sound, without even a hair being hurt.”
She didn't mean to be sarcastic when she said this, but Shao still felt ashamed, and his face changed color for several moments. Finally, he couldn't help it, and stepped forward and said: "...Brother and sister...I, I...it's all my fault for being stupid...I almost got involved."
Brother Tuan..." As he spoke, his eyes turned red, and he covered his eyes with a handkerchief, "If you have any bad intentions, brother, I, I really don't have the face to see you..."
Don’t have the face to see me?
Minglan sneered in her heart, such a light word, if she really killed her son, he would eat her alive!
"Sister-in-law, what's wrong? People have different opinions. It's reasonable for my sister-in-law not to trust me, so she wants to find a hiding place on her own." These words were sharp and sour, and Sister Xian looked down in embarrassment.
head.
Shao was anxious and couldn't stop apologizing. Minglan deliberately ignored her for a while, wanting to hear what else she had to say. Unexpectedly, Shao was not able to speak well and had no depth in his heart. He just kept saying "I'm confused, I'm not good" over and over again.
, the words were not very brilliant, and the tears shed were not sincere and pitiful. Even Sister Xian shook her head secretly, feeling deeply that such words could not be forgiven.
Shao sobbed for a while, originally thinking that her siblings had always been good-tempered, and even if they were still angry, they would give themselves a step down in front of everyone. Unexpectedly, after waiting for a while, Minglan didn't say anything forgiving.
She just put aside the conversation in a lukewarm tone and turned her head to tease Brother Tuan. She couldn't help but stand there in embarrassment.
Minglan could only sigh again, the Sheng family is really talented.
If it were Aunt Lin today, she would have faced this kind of self-incriminating situation, and she would have been able to cry out from pity for her life experience to the vastness of the world, with nothing to rely on, and then she did something stupid - to put it bluntly, she smelled sad.
Those who saw her shed tears, feeling sorry for her and ordered her to be her concubine, and finally forgot all the mistakes she had made.
Shaking her head secretly in her heart, Minglan stopped delaying and gave a few more instructions to Sister Rong. Then she said to Shao: "There is something I wanted to discuss in a few days. Seeing that my sister-in-law is in good spirits, why not do it together today?
It’s over.”
Shao's heart was beating wildly, and he forced a smile and said: "What...what...?"
"What else can happen? Auntie Ren." Minglan slowly turned around and stood up, "I led the thief all over the garden. How many pairs of eyes saw him, there must be an explanation."
After saying this, she helped Xia He and walked out of the house first. Shao's face was pale and shaky, almost unwilling to shirk away. Xia Zhu, who was standing beside him, hurriedly stepped forward, held Shao's arm, and half
Fuban dragged him along.
The group of people walked around to the back seat, walked straight out of Jiaxi from the side door, and walked north along a pebbled path; Minglan held her belly in her hands and walked very slowly, swaying, and Shaw didn't dare
Urging, one can only endure the urge and follow step by step.
In fact, they had not walked a few steps, but Shaw felt like he was in another world, and broke out with sweat on his forehead. The group of people came to the westmost wing of the back row house. There were not many furnishings in it, only a round Ruyi table, and three people beside it.
There were four stools, and a huge flowerpot was set up by the window. The mud and dry grass inside it looked like it had not been taken care of for a long time.[~]
Xia He said softly: "In a hurry, I only had time to do a rough sweep. Madam, don't be surprised."
Minglan looked around and saw that the windows were bright and the ground was spotless. She said with satisfaction: "It only takes a while, no effort, it's good." She sat down on the round table and said, "Don't worry.
If you're too late, call someone to bring it over quickly."
Xia He left in response. Seeing this, Xia Zhu threw Shao onto the stool and quickly walked around the table to serve Minglan.
Not long after, Xia He came back, followed by three groups of people. At the head was Tu Hu, followed by two guards carrying a woman who had her hands and feet bound, and finally two women dragging in a maid who was tied up. The guards will
The woman threw it to the ground, then clasped her hands to guard both sides. The two women followed suit and threw the maid in front of Minglan.
Shao looked down and saw that the woman on the ground had a plump figure, one of her beautiful almond-shaped eyes was blue, she looked miserable, her hair was messy, and there was a lot of mud rolling on her clothes. Who else could she be if she wasn't Aunt Ren?
As for the other one rolling on the ground, it was Bi Si.
Shao touched his chest, still feeling startled and doubtful, but he heard Minglan smile and say: "Master Tu has worked so hard last night and it's time for him to have a good rest. You can leave this matter to others, so why do you have to do it yourself?"
Tu Hu smiled and said: "The outside has been cleaned up. Let's take care of this quickly so that everyone can rest at ease." After saying that, he bent down and pulled away the cloth stuffed in the woman's mouth. "Madam, you have a question."
stop!"
Bisi was also gagged and could only make a low whine. She looked up at Minglan with a look of pleading in her eyes.
Minglan didn't look at her, but turned to Shao and said with a smile: "What do I have to ask? This is the caring person next to my sister-in-law, so it's better for her to ask."
Shao's face was hot and he didn't dare to look up at the three burly men opposite him. He could only stare at Aunt Ren and said weakly: "...I, I...why did you bring the thieves in..." Regardless of her mother-in-law's family, she had never been in charge of it.
When he was doing general affairs, his words had no authority when asked, and the more he spoke, the softer he became.
When Aunt Ren saw Mr. Shao, she burst into tears on the spot and cried: "Madam, I was wronged... How dare I... It was the thief who threatened... He put a knife on my neck..."
Before she finished speaking, Minglan smiled and said, "I said, Aunt Ren, you have to look at the place to fool people. Look at the current posture, can you get through it if you ignore your wife?"
Upon hearing this, Aunt Ren glanced at Tu Hu and the two guards, and shrank back.
Because Shao was widowed, her daughter-in-law and maidservants also followed her to dress up in a dull and old-fashioned way. They were not allowed to wear makeup or wear hairpins or rings. Minglan had not paid attention to it before, but now she took a closer look and saw that her eyes were black and blue, and her cheeks were high.
She was so swollen that she still couldn't conceal her good looks. "Did you lure the thieves to Xiangxiang Garden under threat, or did you think the thieves were inside and outside? Do you think everyone else is blind?"
Aunt Ren knew in her heart that Minglan was not as powerful as Shao, but she was just lucky, so she said harshly: "You may have made a mistake..." Then she twisted her tied body and nodded to Shao.
"Madam, we have been together for so many years, and you have to make the decision for me!"
Shao moved his lips a few times, his eyes touched Minglan's frosty face, and he retracted his words.
"What a person who won't shed tears until he sees the coffin!" Minglan snorted coldly, "Okay, let me make it clear to you."
She pointed to Mr. Shao with her left hand, "Your wife lives a pure life and doesn't hear what is going on outside the window. How could she know where I hid Brother Tuan? Your mother Qiong said that it is you who will repay the university."
My sister-in-law knew about it and urged her to find out."
Shao's face was dripping with blood, and his head almost dropped to his chest. Aunt Ren was speechless, and Minglan sneered: "I am so conceited that I act secretly, but you can find out the news; huh, don't say you just heard it."
! It shows that you are very attentive on weekdays!" This kind of thing cannot be discovered by chatting casually on weekdays. You must always pay attention to the movements of Jiaxi.
Aunt Ren trembled and said softly: "...I, I keep paying attention for the sake of my wife and the girl..."
Minglan ignored her sophistry and continued, "After you persuaded my eldest sister-in-law, you took advantage of the large group in the outer courtyard to call Bisi to ask questions. My eldest sister-in-law was not good at talking, so she just sat on top, and you were the one who spoke wisely.
With good words, he can induce you with huge profits, but in the end you will find out the truth."
The tied-up Bisi twisted hard and made a whining cry. Her eyes were like spitting fire, and she glared at Aunt Ren. After all, Aunt Ren was not an experienced adulterer, so she didn't dare to look at Bisi.
"Okay! Even if what you said just now is right, you paid attention to the situation in our courtyard because of the Lord. Now that you have found out Brother Tuan's whereabouts, you should hide with the elder sister-in-law and the others to protect the Lord personally! But you ran away
Where did it go?"
Minglan's eyes were full of sarcasm, and she asked questions again and again, but Aunt Ren couldn't answer them.
"You excused yourself and ran out in a hurry. You met Yan Po from Nuanxiang Pavilion first. You said you were going to order some midnight snacks for your sister-in-law. Yan Po said that there was no fire on both sides at that time. Then you looked at Mother Chong from the second door.
You run to the west, when the old house on the east side is already on fire; the last one is Uncle Fu who is looking at the forest, when the forest on the west side is just on fire."
Minglan gradually raised her voice and her tone became more fierce, "You are a housewife. Why did you run to the forest in the outer courtyard during the chaos? You clearly went to meet the thieves! And everyone who saw you last night said that there was no way to put a knife to your neck.
, you still dare to quibble?!"
Aunt Ren was at a loss when she was interrogated. Tu Hu on the side showed a cruel look and said slanderously: "Madam, why do you need to talk to this wretched maid? Put her in my hands and tear her bones apart one by one. See if she doesn't say anything."
!”
Minglan waved her hand, she was a legal officer in the new era and she had to be polite before fighting.
Aunt Ren was so frightened that she stood up as if in convulsions. She tried her best to move as far away from Tuhu as she screamed: "Second Madam, spare your life! I have already told you, and I don't dare to deny it anymore!"
Minglan looked at her coldly: "You know what I want to ask."
Aunt Ren bit her lip, endured the paralysis of her hands and feet, and said in a trembling voice: "...it was the Madam... who sent people to come to me."
Minglan closed her eyes and murmured: "I guess it's her too."
"...No, it's not just me. There are also people from the outer courtyard who have promised to open the door and let people in. Unexpectedly, the two butchers arrived and transferred many Ding Yong from the village and personally watched the front and rear gates. There was no chance.
Let's start." Aunt Ren said intermittently.
Tu Hu became furious when he heard this and shouted: "Who is this bastard who eats the inside out?"
Aunt Ren was so frightened that her liver and gallbladder were split apart, and she hurriedly said: "It's...it's Han San from the concierge..."
Tu Hu was stunned, "Han San...? But that little one was shot and killed by an arrow last night." Then he picked up Aunt Ren again and shouted, "Could it be that you just framed her in order to escape!"
Aunt Ren howled like a pig: "It's really Han San! It's really him! Originally I was just trying to find out the news, but before nightfall last night, Han San secretly sent me a message, saying that the situation had changed and that the gates on both sides might not be able to be opened.
He couldn't be let in, so he asked me to find out where Brother Tuan was hiding, and then I went to Xibian Lin to meet him!"
Tu Hu loosened his grip and cursed loudly: "What's happening is that there is sand under his eyes!" He apologized to Ming Lan again and again.
Minglan couldn't laugh or cry, everyone was dead and the mission was not completed, so there was nothing to say was bad luck. Tu Hu was still angry and said that after finding out, he would wipe out the pension money for the three Han family members.
Shao listened silently for a long time. At this moment, he finally couldn't bear it anymore and said hoarsely to the ground: "...I, we grew up together, and we served the same husband together. I used to treat you well, why do you have to..."
Aunt Ren was huddled on the ground and crying softly. When she heard this, she suddenly erupted like a volcano. She straightened up with all her strength, glared at Shao with hatred, and yelled: "You still dare to say that you treat me badly! It's all your fault!
It’s all you! You hypocritical, hypocritical bitch!”
Her plump chest kept rising and falling, and she breathed heavily, "... all the sisters who came as dowries got married one after another, and I was the youngest. I thought that I could have a decent marriage at my age, but who knew... who knew, you would actually
You gave me to that consumptive man...! I still have a few days to live, and it's not enough for you to be a widow yourself, you have to drag me along with you!"
Shao was knocked unconscious by her drink. It took him a long time to react and argued sharply: "You, how dare you say that my uncle is... or tuberculosis...?! I haven't done anything for many years after giving birth to Xian'er. I see that you are a good man."
Prime Minister, if I have the heart to promote you, if you give birth to a brother in the future, wouldn’t you have great dignity!”
"Bah, what a shame!" Aunt Ren suddenly seemed like a different person, her hair was flying around, and she yelled like crazy, "You don't know the uncle's identity?! In the next few years, he couldn't even have sex, so he gave birth to a son.
! I already said I didn’t want to, but you stupid pig insists on saying that I am thin-skinned and shy, and you went to show off your merits to the madam to pretend to be virtuous, but the madam directly served me a drink..."
Thinking about the past, she burst into tears, "When it got to that point, I couldn't do it even if I didn't want to."
Shao lost her mind and murmured: "So you really don't want to..." In her heart, Gu Tingyu is the best man in the world and the master of the Hou Mansion. In addition, everything she sees and hears on weekdays is what the maid wants.
How about becoming a man's aunt...?
Minglan looked on with cold eyes. Logically speaking, the secrets of the former Marquis of the Gu family should not be discussed, but she thought of this couple. One bullied her husband before she was alive, and the other almost killed her son last night. Minglan did not stop her, and spoke slightly.
With sarcasm, I sat quietly and listened.
"I have served that consumptive ghost less than five times in total. When he was alive, you asked me to be a widow, and even after he died, you refused to let me go! You even said you wanted to depend on me for life! How old am I? How dare you do this?
So cruel!"
Shao's hands and feet felt cold when he heard that, and he panicked: "I, I really want to ask the house to provide for you in old age, I..."
"Fuck you! What's the point of being old? At my age, I still have more than half my life left to live!" Aunt Ren yelled, "It's boring to be a widow by yourself, you just want a companion to relieve your boredom!"
Shao was so shaken by the scolding that he couldn't argue, and his face turned purple. Minglan was so angry, until she saw Shao trembling with anger, she said: "You have such a sharp tongue, my sister-in-law has really buried you."
But I have a question, you have been with your elder sister-in-law for many years, don’t you know that she is soft-hearted and it is best to talk to her. If you really want to get married, just tell her directly. Even if she makes her unhappy, she may not punish you. After all,
I'll let you out. Isn't it just that you want to marry someone?"
Seeing the sudden change in Aunt Ren's face, Minglan knew that she had expected it.
It is not difficult to remarry a dead man's concubine, but it is not easy to marry well - a decent and good family, why do you have to marry you, a loser? You have to have a large sum of money as a dowry, or someone else.
It takes lifting.
Aunt Ren originally wanted to marry a respectable steward in the Hou family, but the Gu family brothers were at odds with each other. How could Minglan marry a concubine who had served Gu Tingyu to a capable steward? After Shao became a widow, she wanted to save more dowry for Sister Xian.
, took Yin more and more seriously, and if he proposed to remarry, he would have made the Shaw family unhappy. At most, he would have given up his life contract in vain, so why would he be willing to give him a generous dowry?
After thinking about it, I think I could have a better future if I took refuge with the madam.
"I..." She was about to open her mouth to defend herself, but Minglan raised her hand to stop her.
"Even if you have difficulties, you have to do it as a last resort." Minglan slowly withdrew her hand, "But I have never treated you badly, nor have Rong'er and her brother. Uncle An, who was stabbed to death by the forest, have never treated you badly.
Not even those maids who died tragically at the door of Kouxiang Garden! Just because you have suffered, can you be a thief and harm people's lives?"
Minglan slapped her palm on the table, covered her face with frost, and looked away coldly. Aunt Ren was speechless, and lowered her head with a pale face. Minglan turned around and said, "I have asked Mr. Tu clearly, please tell her
Just hand it over."
Tu Hu had been waiting for this for a long time. After hearing this, he picked up the ball of cloth and stuffed it back into Aunt Ren's mouth. When the two guards picked up Aunt Ren, he took the lead and walked outside quickly, leaving Aunt Ren far away.
A distant whining sound.
Shao froze on the spot, holding the handkerchief tightly with both hands. His face seemed embarrassed, angry, and sad. After a while, he said: "...She, where will she be taken...?"
Minglan pointed to the door and signaled Xia Zhu to close the door. At the same time, she replied smoothly: "Call Mr. Liu Zhengjie." As she said that, she curved the corner of her mouth and said, "Our family is a good family, even if it is a traitor, it will not be good.
If you take your life at will, let it be left to the government."
No matter how stupid Shao was, he could still hear the deeper meaning in Minglan's words. He paused and asked in a low voice: "Lu Niang, what will happen to her..." Lu Niang is Aunt Ren's name.
"Then it depends on how Mr. Liu's trial goes? If those who attacked last night were just ordinary thieves, then Aunt Ren would only be charged with being a thief. If the group of people last night were accomplices of rebels, then Aunt Ren..." Minglan
He said it expressionlessly.
As a rebel, the common end is nothing more than hanging and beheading. If you are at the leader level, you can probably enjoy the highly technical punishment of "Ling Chi".
Shao had a lot of thoughts, sometimes sad and sometimes afraid, and suddenly she fell down at the table and began to cry softly. Minglan didn't have any sympathy for her, and said coolly: "Sister-in-law, don't cry in a hurry, let's settle this first, how about that?"
Only then did Shao realize that Bi Si was still rolling on the ground, and there were two women sitting on both sides, wiping tears and sitting upright.
Po De Minglan signaled and pulled out the cloth that was stuck in Bisi's mouth. Bisi just allowed her aunt to confess. Knowing that she had caused a big disaster, she was so frightened that she burst into tears. As soon as she let go of her mouth, she quickly cried and begged.
: "Madam, I know I was wrong! I deserve to die, please forgive me this time!" He kowtowed again and again, talking nonsense.
Seeing her beautiful face covered with mud and blood stains, Xia He couldn't help but feel pity secretly, and unexpectedly heard Minglan say to herself: "Take it out." She quickly regained consciousness, quickly took out a small bag of things from her sleeve and put it on the table.
superior.
They were a pair of bracelets wrapped in silk scarves. The bracelets were made of red gold and were shaped into round lotus leaves with wide edges. They were inlaid with several bright pearls, which were eye-catching. There was even a large soybean embedded in the buckle of the bracelet.
cat eyes.
When she saw this thing, Shao's face suddenly turned green and red. She glanced at Minglan guiltily. Minglan fiddled with the pair of bracelets leisurely, "These bracelets were the betrothal gift given to the eldest sister-in-law by the Gu family. Sure enough,
nice one."
Shao didn't dare to answer, so he just nodded casually.
"Just for this pair of bracelets, you sold Brother Tuan and I?" Minglan's voice was soft.
Bisi was shaking like chaff and cried: "No, it's not... I see it's the eldest lady. Mrs. Suri has a lot of faith in the great lady, so she thought it would be okay to tell the eldest lady..."
"What did Mother Cui tell you? Not to mention the eldest lady, even the King of Heaven is not allowed to say a word." Minglan said indifferently, "You have eaten all these words in the dog's belly?"
Bi Si had nothing to say, she could only kowtow and beg for mercy, and then went to see Xia He and Xia Zhu, hoping that they would intercede on their behalf.
Xia Zhu was soft-hearted and wanted to speak, but Xia He pulled down his sleeves and stopped him.
It's not that Xia He is hard-hearted, it's that she knows her mistress's nature better. Few people can change Minglan's decision, not to mention - she glanced around and slowly lowered her head.
In today's scene, Minglan brought her and Xia Zhu to serve. What was her intention?
Xiao Tao is about to get married, and the green branches are about to be let out. However, in the next two years, all the maids of Jiaxi will be replaced. Cuixiu and Chunya are popular with the lady, but they are still too young, so
All that's left is... Xia He had a clear mind and secretly decided to be more attentive to his duties recently and be less smart.
Minglan looked at Bisi, who was kowtowing repeatedly, and felt sad in her heart, "You have not had any big ambitions since you were a child. You are neither smart nor clever, nor loyal and diligent enough. As long as you are given good food, drink and clothes, you will be satisfied." This is far from modern times.
, but she is a very law-abiding second wife material, and will never have ambitions to advance.
"When you are with me, you are a bit like a little girl. You spend all your time in idleness and avoid hard work. Fortunately, Danju and the others are generous and don't care about you. But although I don't like you, we have been together for ten years.
"Human beings are not like vegetation."
They all say that liking memories means getting older. Minglan suddenly woke up from her Yangzhou dream. The past was vividly in her mind, betrayals and hurts time and time again, departures and separations time and time again. When she looked back, she was surprised to realize that she was already old.
"However, you haven't caused any trouble." Bisi is lazy by nature. She is neither as innocent as Ruo Mei nor as thoughtful as Yancao. She has already thought about her future. "I originally thought that when I treat Xiaotao
When Luzhi leaves the pavilion, I will find you someone who will love you and marry someone from a well-off family to keep you warm for the rest of your life. Our fate as master and servant can be considered a good beginning and a good end."
Bisi was panicked and didn't know what Minglan meant by these words. Suddenly she heard several ding-dong sounds, and golden light flashed in front of her eyes. It turned out that Minglan threw the pair of bracelets and silk scarves in front of her, and Minglan heard the sound in her ears.
A cold voice.
"I won't punish you, nor will I beat or scold you. However, our fate is over." Minglan sighed softly, "Remember that you still have a brother, sister-in-law and mother at home, so I will let you go. This bracelet is for
You, all the silver pearls and silks you have saved over the years will be taken away, whether you buy some land or a shop...after all, you can take care of yourself from now on."
After saying this, Minglan waved to the two women.
Bisi's ears were buzzing, and she could only hear the words "let your family go"——
No! She doesn’t want to go home! Since her grandfather and father passed away one after another, the family has become worse and worse day by day, so she sold herself to the Sheng family. Her mother is weak, her brother is incompetent, and her sister-in-law is mean. What’s more, the family is poor and they have to do housework for a copper.
I have to worry about it over and over again, but how can I spend my days leisurely with Minglan's side, with fine clothes and fine food, without touching the spring water with my fingers.
She was about to cry and beg for mercy, but the woman's attack was like lightning, and the cloth was quickly stuffed back into her mouth, and she couldn't say anything.
She struggled desperately, whined and screamed, and kept begging Minglan for mercy with her eyes. She only hated that the hands of the two women were like iron pliers, holding her so hard that she could not move. She could only watch as she was dragged away from Minglan.
When she got outside the door, one of the women taunted her softly and said: "My aunt, please stop it! You still think you are the noble master of gold." The other one said: "Madam, you are so kind. Such a lowly maid, it is almost impossible.
It cost my little master his life. According to me, I can only relieve my anger by selling him out!"
Cold words were passed into the room intermittently, and Xia He's eyes were filled with soreness. In the past two years, she and Bi Si had lived in the same house and had been getting along day and night. Even if they were not sympathetic to each other as sisters, seeing her end like this made her feel very sad. She was thinking at the moment,
After it became easier to get in and out by myself, I would visit Bisi often to help her.
Unexpectedly, things went against her wishes. A few years later, she married a very talented steward, and then followed her husband to the south to manage the farm for the Gu family. They went there for several years, and when she saw Bisi again, it was already ten years later. At that time, she
, I can't believe that this humble strong woman with a red face, a loud voice, and big hands and feet is actually the idle girl who once had a waist as slim as a willow, a green color, and a love for elegant things.
After leaving Bisi, Minglan was also in a low mood. After a moment, she said: "Xia He, go pack her bag and bring her every stitch and thread. Don't let others get greedy. Xia Zhu, go outside and watch.
I want to have a conversation with the eldest lady."
The two girls responded in a low voice, one went straight out the door, and the other quietly closed the door from outside.
At this time, they were the only two people left in the room. Shao's whole body was tense and restless like a frightened bird. When she caught a glimpse of Minglan staring at her, she became even more panicked: "Brother and sister, don't scare me.
This time it was my fault! It was my fault...I..."
After listening to Aunt Ren's confession, although her confession was still the same as before, her heart became a bit more sincere, and every word came from the bottom of her heart.
"Where did my sister-in-law go wrong?" Minglan asked forcefully, "Should I have listened to Auntie Ren's advice, or should I have disobeyed me?"
Shao was immediately stunned by the question, and his face suddenly turned dark red.
"I'm here to take my sister-in-law's pulse." Minglan pressed forward, "There are two things wrong with my sister-in-law. One is that she doesn't trust me; the other is that she is too trusting of others! In the final analysis, the sister-in-law just can't trust me, Aunt Ren said.
I put you in the open just as a cover for Brother Tuan, but you actually believe it!"
Shao didn't dare to answer, so he could only wave his hands: "No, no, no...how can you..."
"Let me make it clear!" Minglan clapped her hands and stood up on the table, "There is chaos in the capital, and there are only two types of people who will come to the Marquis Mansion to cause trouble, either for money, or people with ulterior motives. I specially asked people
The main house of Jiaxi was brightly lit in order to attract money-grubbing thieves. Huh, is there any place in the house that is richer than mine? After robbing my house, the thieves might not even be able to leave.
I can’t walk anymore!”
Shao opened his mouth wide and stammered: "I, let me tell you, why is your courtyard so bright...!"
"If you come here to attack someone... Humph, the two brothers, Lord Marquis, have been at odds with each other. They have had more than one quarrel, and half of the capital knows about it! No matter who comes to arrest us in the palace, or our good stepmother, they will only attack our mother.
, what does it have to do with you! Well, if you have to go in... your courtyard is built next to the lake! Two and a half of the four sides are facing the water. Is it possible that the thieves can bring a raft with them for night attacks?! All in all
There is only one exit, which is easy to defend but difficult to attack. How many guards have I deployed? Boss Tu has already said that unless there are three times as many thieves rushing in, we will never get in!"
Minglan put her palms on the table, her momentum was so threatening that Shaw was so frightened that she almost wanted to get off the table.
"To tell you the truth, the one I'm most wary of is actually the Madam's side! It's not like she's behind the rebel side, and the number of people who can come to cause trouble is limited. What I'm afraid of is that it's easy to dodge open guns, but hard to guard against hidden arrows!
There are so many old people from the past who are in charge of this house. People's hearts are unpredictable. When the house is in chaos, the women and maids are coming in and out, with hairpins, packets of medicine, stones and thorns. How old is Brother Tuan, what can he do?
How can I guard against it? But before it happened, how could I have said such heart-wrenching words!"
Shao was about to cry but had no tears. She almost knelt down to Minglan. She collapsed on the table and begged: "Brothers and sisters, I am blinded by lard. I have no vision and no knowledge of good and evil. If, if it is true... I will give it to the group."
Brother, please pay with your life..."
"I won't ask my sister-in-law to pay for her life." Minglan said coldly, "I have always liked Sister Xian, but even if the Marquis doesn't like her, I also want to find a good future for her. But if Brother Tuan really calls
If you were killed, what would I think?"
Shao trembled violently, waving his hands wildly: "No, no...this is none of Sister Xian's business..." She suddenly felt extremely grateful to Sister Rong. If she hadn't fought to save her brother, or their mother and daughter would have survived, I'm afraid
The days to come will also be sad.
"It's so dangerous, only half a step away..." Minglan's eyes showed deep fear, "If Rong girl hadn't been strong and courageous, Brother Tuan would have lost his life. What is happening now is really unimaginable."
Shao didn't dare to think about it. Without Ming Lan, Gu Tingye's anger could roast the mother and daughter alive into ashes and still be rich. The more she thought about it, the more she became afraid, and for a while her palms and vests were covered in cold sweat.
Minglan stared at her coldly for a long time, and then said: "I say this today, not for you, but for Sister Xian."
Shao raised his head like a fool, not knowing what he meant.
"When you went to hide in Kouxiang Garden, you only wanted to take Sister Xian with you, right?" Minglan sighed, "Sister Xian is a good girl, so of course you still remembered Rong Yatou and called her along.
"
Tears suddenly filled Shao's eyes, and she raised her head and cried: "My good daughter! Mother almost killed you, but you saved mother!"
Sister Xian called Rong Yatou, and Rong Yatou saved Brother Tuan, which indirectly saved her and her mother's situation - God's will, and good deeds are rewarded! She suddenly felt extremely pious and devoted to the gods.
, for causal loops.
Minglan opened the door and before stepping out, she said solemnly: "Sister-in-law, don't worry, as long as my sister-in-law doesn't act stupid in the future, I will treat both girls as my own daughters." After a pause, "I keep my word."
After saying this, she didn't look back, supported Xia Zhu who was guarding the door, and left.
That night, after dinner, Luzhi came to report the news delivered by Qiong's mother - Mr. Shao had told Sister Xian the cause and effect. The mother and daughter hugged each other and cried for a while. Although Ms. Shao blamed herself, she also let go.
Heartbroken.
Early the next morning, Sister Xian came to greet Minglan with red and swollen eyes. She moved her hands and feet uneasily. Minglan touched her head with pity and told her to go and be naughty with Sister Rong and Brother Tuan.
However, she was no longer so good-tempered towards Mr. Shao. Although she was still polite, her expression was solemn and cold, and she didn't say a single unnecessary word, which frightened Mr. Shao into submission.
Minglan once thought that if Shao had been afraid of her as he was afraid of his wife, even if Aunt Ren tried her best to persuade her, Shao would probably not have dared to rush to Brother Tuan's hiding place - Qiuniang was very good.
example.
Villains fear power but not virtue, and the spring breeze and rain are not effective for everyone.
Minglan lamented this helpless reality.
The author has something to say:
I am scolding me, I am scolding me, there is no other reason, I just can’t write it down.
No matter how much I thought about it, I felt that the ending was inappropriate and I couldn’t write it. I just couldn’t write it.
Don't guess any other reasons, publishing will definitely come after the Internet - as an apology, the next few extras will occasionally be posted for free.
Bow, sorry.
I really can’t write it. Even if I kill my head, I can’t write it.