On the way back, Minglan didn't say a word. She felt as if her whole body was stuck in a quagmire. She was neither left nor right, advancing or retreating. Her chest was burning with heat, but her hands and feet were as cold as ice cubes. Her mind was blank.
As if she had lost all her strength, Minglan shed tears as she thought about it. Old Mrs. Sheng sat aside and looked at her quietly, with a kind of loving compassion in her eyes, and reached out to gently touch the girl's hair.
【leaf*】【*】
Minglan felt uncontrollably aggrieved, and her sobs gradually turned into soft cries. Her small shoulders were nestled in her grandmother's arms, shaking gently, and she buried her cries in the old lady's sleeves filled with sandalwood incense.
"Ming Ya'er, grandma knows your thoughts." The old lady hugged Minglan and said slowly, "But in the matter of marriage, what is required is a consensual relationship. It's not sweet to force it; it's just a matter of living.
, you can’t understand it just by talking about it.”
I wish to have a person who is of the same heart, and we will never be apart from each other for the rest of our lives. How many women in the boudoir dream of living such a life, with their eyebrows painted and their husbands and wives happy. However, there are a few women who can achieve their wishes. Most of them respect each other as guests, and only a few of them have a heart-to-heart. I am my granddaughter.
She was usually smart, but she became obsessed with this matter. He Hongwen's promise made her confused and confused, hoping that she could figure it out on her own.
Mrs. Sheng couldn't help but sigh secretly.
It was another windy and rainy night. Minglan lay on her side on the bed, looking straight at the green water outside the hanging window, imagining the water slowly flowing along the window edge into the soil. Gradually the rain stopped, and a fat girl
The moon gently flashed out from the dark sky like splashing ink, with a big round face. Through the dense water vapor, it slowly reflected a strange luster, like crystal fragments, and opened its eyes brightly.
Eyes wide open, sleepless night.
The next day, Minglan got up early and knelt straight in front of the old lady with a pair of sleeves under her eyes.
"My granddaughter has done many foolish things in the past few days. She asked my grandmother to worry about her without saying anything, and she also lost face. This is all due to my granddaughter's unfilial piety. I ask my grandmother to punish me." Minglan kowtowed respectfully.
The face that is as beautiful as a delicate flower is pale, "Marriage matters are originally considered and decided by the elders. From now on, Minglan will be entirely decided by her grandmother, and she will never say more words!"
The old lady was sitting on the Arhat bed. The silver-gray brocade embroidered with cloud patterns on her head and her emerald forehead were shining with dark colors. She looked at Minglan intently, her eyes full of thoughts. After a while, the old lady
He sighed and said, "That's all, get up."
Minglan slowly climbed up while holding her knees, then asked the old lady to pull her to her side, patted the back of her hands gently, and listened to her grandmother's detailed talk: "Every girl will be so confused once. She's too confused and twisted.
After making trouble and crying, you will wake up. You are an understanding child. It is a blessing to have an honest person who treats you sincerely. Don’t be obsessed, otherwise it will harm yourself. ~"
Minglan nodded with tears in her eyes; just as she was talking, Cuiping suddenly ran in and whispered: "The young master of the He family is here."
The grandfather and grandson looked at each other in shock. What are you doing here so early?
During this meeting, Mrs. Sheng completely treated He Hongwen as an ordinary old nephew. She changed into formal clothes and asked the girl to serve tea and fruits, while Minglan went into the back room without even showing her face.
But when the grandfather and grandson saw He Hongwen, they were both shocked inside and outside the house. They saw He Hongwen's eyes were black, and there seemed to be a deep cut made by nails on his left cheek, which spread from his eyes.
By the ear, there was a bruise on his right cheek, his lip was also cut, and one wrist was wrapped with thick white gauze.
He Hongwen lowered his head and looked around. When he found that Minglan was not there, he couldn't help but look dim. He clasped his fists and replied respectfully: "It's all Hongwen's ignorance that has dragged down the old lady and Ming..."
Old Mrs. Sheng coughed heavily, and He Hongwen felt sad and quickly changed his words: "It's all Hongwen's immorality that has dragged down the old lady. Hongwen went to his uncle's house last night and made it clear that he would like to ask his mother to accept his cousin as his adopted daughter. Please
When the elders of the clan meet and greet each other, they will become like brothers and sisters from now on, and Hongwen will never mess with the ceremony!"
Old Mrs. Sheng understood. He Hongwen must have gone to Cao's house overnight to show off his cards, but was beaten up by his uncle, aunt, and maybe his cousins. Thinking of this, Old Mrs. Sheng felt happy, stepsister? This
What a good idea!
Old Mrs. Sheng looked at He Hongwen's bruised face and finally felt better, but she still had many questions: "Is your mother willing?"
He Hongwen raised his pig-head-like face and smiled with difficulty at the old lady. He pulled the wound at the corner of his mouth and couldn't help but hissed. He answered the question unintentionally: "Last night, my mother saw me and was quite upset.
…angry.”
This sentence was very mysterious. Minglan in the back room knew clearly that this guy had tried hard on his mother. Old Mrs. Sheng's eyes flashed and she asked meaningfully: "I'm afraid...it's not over yet."
?”
One is crying, the other is making trouble, and the third is hanging oneself; the third and most crucial move has not been used yet.
He Hongwen lowered his head, then raised it resolutely, and said sincerely: "When Hongwen was young, my mother asked me to study for the examination, but I didn't want to, and I studied medicine according to my nature. Old lady, please tell me
When it comes to Hongwen, Hongwen is not the one who has no opinion and leaves it to others to decide. Hongwen knows right from wrong and will never let down the wishes of his grandmother and the old lady!"
Mrs. Sheng's heart was moved by these words, and when she looked at He Hongwen's sincere and solemn eyes, and the shocking scars on his face, the old lady pondered for a moment, and then smiled and said: "I can't say whether I mean it or not, but the old man thinks more;
Brother, I have been reading it for many years, and I can trust the nature of the book. It would be the best if God can fulfill people's wishes. Even if the moon is not always round, it is also God's will. It is not good to carry on day by day. Marriage is destined, brother.
No need to force it. ~"
The words were very kind, friendly, and touching, but in fact she didn't agree to anything. Minglan secretly praised the old lady for her art of speaking. What she meant was: Master He, your starting point is good and your plan is wonderful.
, but the future is uncertain, so just work hard and wait until you turn your cousin into a foster sister. But girls’ youth is short, and we still have to plan for ourselves during this period, so you have to hurry up.
Why does He Hongwen not understand? He also knows that the affairs of the Cao family are indeed very irritating and cannot be covered up by a few words. If there is no definite explanation, the Sheng family will not plan to have this marriage. Now even his grandmother
He also got angry and refused to take care of her anymore. He Hongwen looked gloomy and said many nice things. Old Mrs. Sheng responded with all her words. She had an amiable look on her face and kept talking in circles, but she didn't let go.
There is no intention of letting Minglan come out to meet.
After saying a few more words, He Hongwen left sadly.
After the people left, Ming Lan slowly came out with a calm expression. The old lady suppressed her smile, leaned tiredly on the pillow of the Arhat bed, and said slowly: "Brother Hong has good intentions."
Minglan walked slowly to the old lady, picked up the beauty hammer on the side, gently beat her grandmother's legs, and said: "Everyone has a heart."
"What?" The old lady looked at Minglan's still-like face and felt very interested: "You don't want to fight anymore this time?"
Minglan stopped moving her hands for a moment, shook her head helplessly, and replied: "The granddaughters who should fight have already fought. What my grandmother said is that marriage should be consensual, and it is never good if it is forced; the granddaughter's marriage
It's better for the old lady to see each other, and do whatever you want! If the Sheng family supports me, even if it doesn't bring glory to the ancestors, it shouldn't humiliate Men Rong."
Old Mrs. Sheng looked at Minglan's pale but firm face, feeling a little distressed, and said softly: "Good girl, just understand. You are still young now, so take it easy. We are extremely benevolent to the He family, so I advise you.
I persuaded and said that if Brother Hong can really succeed, then he can be regarded as a good man with the right to be a daughter, so it would be good to agree to this marriage; if not..." The old lady hesitated for a moment, and then made a decisive decision,
"Seeing that the Spring Examination is about to begin, there are many young talents in the capital, and our family is not one of those who follow the dragon and the phoenix. It may not be impossible for my grandmother and you to find a good boy with a scholarly and honest nature."
Minglan knew that the old lady looked at Li Yu very well now, but this time the old lady did not dare to reveal anything. Thinking about it now, she really regretted letting her granddaughter get acquainted with He Hongwen too early.
There were no more tears in Minglan's eyes. The corners of her pale-sleeved mouth curled up on her snow-white skin, and she smiled with two playful dimples. The sweetness seemed to seep into her heart: "Well! What grandma said is that as long as a person is honest,
It’s also great to live a life of peace and ease.”
Growing up is a painful process, and maturation is a last resort. If possible, which girl would not want to be a proud and bright princess for the rest of her life. Human beings are not grass and trees, and that girl does not hope for a happy marriage. There is no need to pretend to be calm and indifferent.
But the world is like a knife, which destroys the girl's innocence and innocence with one knife, rounding off the edges and destroying her aspirations, and she becomes a faceless woman, surrounded by pearls and greenery, wearing brocade and satin, arranging the daily life of a concubine, and taking care of concubines.
The marriage, the busyness of everyone inside and outside, was finally enshrined in the dignity of the family and became a uniform symbol.
She doesn't want to become such a symbol of virtue. Every girl has a dream of being together for the rest of her life. Maybe this is her obsession with He Hongwen. It's time to think more about fields, mountain springs, fishing, delicious food, and more.
Books will last forever without a man. If she saves more private money and raises her children well, she can live a good life.
In late September, Minglan had her hairpin ceremony, and there were not many visitors. As expected, Mrs. He made a fine red gold hairpin inlaid with emeralds, and personally made Minglan's hairdo. With such a relationship, if anyone in the future
Mentioning the dealings with the He family can be ignored.
Hualan sent a pair of precious white jade golden phoenix hairpins, Mo Lan sent a painting and calligraphy, and Princess Pingning, who had not been with each other for a long time, also sent many brocade pearls as a congratulation. Rulan was particularly special.
To be polite, I took out the gold from the bottom of the box and went to Cuibao Zhai to buy a pair of extremely heavy gold-threaded chive head necklaces. Wang's eyes turned green when she saw them.
When no one was paying attention, Minglan secretly pulled Rulan's sleeve and whispered: "Fifth sister, there is no need to bribe me, sister will not tell anyone." Rulan rolled her eyes at her and whispered: "Brother Jing, please call me."
I gave it to him, and he said that I am a sister and should care for my younger brothers and sisters; I even gave Dong brother a lot of materials to make a lot of new clothes!"
Seeing Rulan's face as a respectful and virtuous sister, Minglan immediately looked at Wen with admiration. Can Zhang Sheng improve himself?!
After that, the wind was light and the clouds were light. Li Yu went to the Sheng Mansion every five days to "ask for advice" on average. Every time, he had to eat half a plate of snacks from Mrs. Sheng before he left. His eyes were almost perfected for perspective, and the screen was almost covered with
Poke out two holes.
To be honest, Li Yu couldn't find anything wrong except that he peeked at Minglan for a long time every time. He stayed at brother Changwu's house and studied hard every day, and never went out to socialize casually.
As for the rules, the important thing is that all the five cousins above him are married, and the two cousins below him have not yet grown teeth.
Mr. Wang was busy inspecting those young students with rich family backgrounds, and Mr. Hei was found to be pregnant again. He was very happy every day holding a jar of sour plums. Mr. Quan was already a toddler and loved to play around Minglan with a smile.
A small, toothless mouth was open and drooling.
News came one after another from the He Mansion. In just twenty days, Aunt Cao sought death once, He's mother fainted twice, Cousin Jinxiu was seriously ill three times, Uncle Cao and his cousins even came to the door to make trouble, and Mrs. He became angry.
Angry, not only did he ask his servants to kick everyone out, but he also immediately cut off the Cao family's financial aid, and no longer allowed the Cao family to come to the house.
At the end of October, Aunt Cao came to the He family with tears in her eyes and snot in her nose. She apologized profusely and begged for her fault. Mrs. He couldn't kill them all. She gave her some money, but she still didn't allow Aunt Cao to see her sick bed.
He's mother.
Mrs. He finally put into practice what Minglan wanted to do but could not do.
At the dawn of the golden autumn, Shuntian Prefecture issued a notice saying that the Northern Expedition army had returned with a great victory. They severely defeated several main forces of the Jie people, killed countless enemies, crushed the enemy camp, and killed the three kings of the Jie people and Zuo Guli.
The king captured countless war horses and military supplies, and the Jie people who were directly killed fled, chasing and killing and wounding tens of thousands of enemy troops along the way!
It is said that Uncle Shen Congxingguo made up his mind to meet the emperor's brother-in-law, so he traveled all night to rush to the capital before the death anniversary of the late emperor, and offered the head of General Jienu and many prisoners as a memorial!
On October 27th, the gates of the capital city were opened wide. The soldiers in the capital camp were dressed in new clothes and armor. They were armed with tasseled spears and whips and iron chains. They marched three steps to one post and five steps to one sentry. They opened a wide official road. The emperor came.
He personally led the Royal Forest Army to welcome him, and set up eighteen teams of honor guards. The people of the capital even lined the streets to welcome him. The capital was not far from the northern Xinjiang, and was threatened by nomads day and night. To them, Jie Nu's
The general's work is much greater than that of counterinsurgency.
At the auspicious hour, three salutes were heard in the distance. Pingjie's Northern Expeditionary Army entered the city, led by General Gan, followed by Generals Shen and Gu on the left and right. Firecrackers roared in the city, and colorful flags several feet high were densely planted all the way.
It was fluttering in the wind, and the people rushed to look up at it. The city was filled with colorful festoons. Wherever the army went, there were cheers and applause.
That night, the emperor gave a banquet in the imperial palace and conferred titles on all the victorious generals.
Among them, General Gan was promoted to Minister of the Ministry of War, Shen Congxing was given the title of Northern Marquis, Chao Yishu, hereditary, was promoted to the Commander-in-Chief of the Central Army, and Gu Tingye was promoted to the Commander-in-Chief of the Left Army.
The emperor granted him a mansion and numerous other rewards, and the officers and soldiers under him each received a reward.