The sound of the door opening woke up Mrs. Chen. No, we can't call her Mrs. Chen now. She is Chen A'li, her husband's surname is Chen, her maiden name is Li, and she is known by her common name as the wife of Dai Sin.
The bed beside him was empty, the charcoal fire had long been extinguished, and his tentacles were cold.
Chen Ali stood up suddenly.
"Danniang." She shouted, with a hint of panic in her voice.
When she was found guilty and had her house confiscated, some women in the clan hanged themselves because they couldn't bear the change. Although Dan Niang followed her quietly, she was still afraid. She was afraid that Dan Niang would also...
She looked up at the wall.
A bow hangs on the gray earth wall.
"Mother."
A crisp sound came from outside the door.
Someone leaned out of the door, bringing a chill.
Chen Danniang, who was wearing an old coarse cloth coat, had a smile on her face.
"It's snowing."
The sound of swishing quickly woke up people in other rooms in the large courtyard.
A family came out and watched Chen Ali and Chen Danniang clearing snow in the yard.
There was a thick layer of snow, and a layer of sweat broke out on the heads of the mother and daughter.
"Sister-in-law, let me do it," a man said. Just as he was about to take a step, he was grabbed by the woman beside him.
"The firewood at home hasn't been chopped yet." The woman said with an unhappy look on her face, "Go and chop the firewood quickly."
The man looked embarrassed.
"There's no rush now," he said.
The woman stared.
"For a moment's sin, we will have to chop wood for a lifetime." She said with resentment.
The man lowered his head and stopped talking.
People in the various rooms in the big yard came out, took a look, and then went their separate ways. No one came forward to help clear the snow.
Chen Ali and his daughter didn't seem to notice it, and they continued to sweep the snow seriously, not even missing the chicken coop in front of the door, in the yard, or in the corner.
"Danniang, take a rest when you are tired." Chen Ali said.
Chen Danniang shook her head, piled the snow under the tree, looked at it for a moment and thought of something, and ran away.
"Danniang?" Chen Ali called. "Don't play with the snow with your hands, you will freeze."
"It's okay." Chen Danniang said, rolling the snow into a ball.
"Sister Nineteen."
There was a shout outside the door.
Chen Ali turned around and saw a young man walking in quickly with a shovel in his hand.
"Jiushiro." She called with a slight smile.
Chen Shiliu Lang first saluted Chen Ali and then straightened the shovel in his hand.
"Aunt and sister, you guys have a rest and I'll clear the snow," he said.
Chen Ali was not polite and stood aside.
"Has your house been cleaned?" she asked, "Is your mother's illness getting better?"
Chen Shiliu Lang answered them one by one, and skillfully swept away the remaining snow in front of the door in the courtyard.
"Brother Sixteen, help me make a pile of snow." Chen Danniang shouted from the other side.
"Don't bother your brother, it's so cold." Chen Ali said hurriedly.
Chen Shiliu Lang had already passed by with a smile. He quickly helped Chen Danniang pile up a big afu in the yard. The brother and sister also found radish roots and branches to decorate it.
"It's so beautiful." Chen Danniang said with a smile and clapped her hands.
"Okay, come in quickly." Chen Shiliulang said with pain as he looked at her face and hands, which were red from the cold.
Chen Danniang smiled and nodded.
Someone walked by the courtyard gate and curled his lips when he saw the big fus piled up in the courtyard.
"It's so heartless to harm everyone like this and yet be so happy," she said.
A trace of anger flashed across Chen Shiliu Lang's face, and he was about to step forward to argue, but Chen Danniang stopped him.
"Brother, this is frostbite ointment." She said, giving something to Chen Shiliu Lang. "It's from Yichundang in Beijing."
Yichuntang's chilblain ointment is exclusively for the northwest military camps, and the price is extremely high. It is difficult to buy it even in the capital.
Chen Shiliu Lang was slightly surprised but then relieved.
"Someone brought it to me." Chen Danniang explained to him, but she didn't say who it was.
Chen Shiliulang didn't ask any questions and stuffed it back to Chen Danniang.
"Brother is not afraid of the cold, just take it and use it," he said.
"My cousins' hands will get cold if they wash their hands every day, so you can use them for your sisters," Chen Danniang said.
Chen Shiliu Lang did not refuse and saluted Chen Ali with a smile.
"Auntie, I'm going back first," he said.
Chen Ali nodded.
"Brother Shiliu, tell your grandfather that I will go to him to practice archery after dinner." Chen Danniang said.
Chen Shiliu Lang said hello and walked out with the shovel.
Because there were not many people in Tianleng Fort, but there were still a few who huddled up and walked out.
"It's really hard to go to the fields in this damn weather." They said, and stopped when they saw Chen Shiliu Lang, "Shiliu Lang, what do you care about them?"
"It's all them who caused us to be where we are today," said the more popular one.
Chen Shiliang looked at them.
"A clan is a clan that is prosperous when it prospers and loses when it suffers. If you don't complain when you are prosperous, what's the point of complaining when you lose?" he said.
Several people suddenly looked unhappy.
"Is it okay for him to have done harm to the clan? The Chen family's glory was not achieved by him alone, but it was destroyed in his hands."
"Because of this sinful body, the future of the children in the clan has been ruined. Should we still be grateful to him?"
"If nothing else, Juliusho, your marriage has been annulled. Your hands holding pens and books are now working in the fields with shovels, and all your books have been read in vain."
Everyone said bitterly.
Chen Shiliuang lowered his eyes.
"Studying is not for the imperial examination." He said, "How can it be said that studying is in vain."
As he spoke, he raised his head again.
"What's more, what my uncle does is my uncle's business. How can I resent my aunt and Dan Niang?"
"Forget it, we can't compare to your kindness and kindness at Sixteen." Those people waved their hands and said.
Chen Shiliu Lang took a step forward, walked over and then stopped.
"What's more, if my aunt and Dan Niang weren't here, why would we be here now?"
Chen Shao committed a serious crime of treason, which affected the three clans. They should be sent to Lingnan or northwest to be exiled to die, just like Gao Lingbo's family.
Although for the sake of the Queen Mother, the Gao family did not punish the three clans. They only punished the Gao Lingbo clan, but that clan could be said to have been completely destroyed.
The Chen family members were only confiscated of their property and sent to farmland, and the place of distribution was near Quzhou. Their wives and children were all together. They just moved out of their big houses, lost their shops and fertile fields, and took off their fine clothes and jade crowns.
But I can still have enough food and clothing in this farm. Compared with the situation where half of the people died on the way to distribution, it is a world of difference.
To put it this way, it was a great blessing among misfortunes. Several people were stunned for a moment. Could it be because of Chen Shao's wife and daughter?
Chen Shiliu Lang walked away without saying anything, lowering his head.
The yard in front of Chen Shiliulang's house has been swept. Mr. Chen is boxing in the yard.
"Your father went to the mountains to look at bamboos," he said.
Chen Shiliu Lang hurriedly responded and put down his shovel.
"I'll go right away," he said.
"Let's go after dinner." Mrs. Chen Si came out and said.
Several daughters came out to serve him food.
"Mom, this is the frostbite ointment given by Dan Niang." Chen Shiliu Lang said, handing the ointment to Mrs. Chen Si, while picking up a piece of cooking cake, "I will come back to replace my father."
Mrs. Chen Si shouted several times. Chen Shiliulang had already walked out quickly and had to give up.
"Where did you get the frostbite ointment?" she said, looking at the plaster in her hand.
"Mother, she is from Yichuntang." A daughter came forward to look at her and said with a happy look on her face, "Now my hands are no longer afraid of freezing."
The lady who once kept her fingers clean of spring water now has to wash her hands to make soup, sew and take off quilts. The hands that have been carefully cared for for more than ten years have become rough in just a few months. As the weather gets colder, they become red, swollen and cracked by the cold.
The words "Yichuntang" made Mrs. Chen Si startled. She gave the frostbite ointment to her daughters and walked to Mrs. Chen.
"Father, what do you think this means?" she asked in a low voice.
Although Yichuntang is said to be the property of the Cheng family in Jiangzhou, no one knows that it once belonged to the Queen.
The plaster, which is hard to buy, was delivered in time in winter. Without the Queen's permission, it would have been absolutely impossible.
"Good intentions." Old Mrs. Chen said, "She has always treated your third sister-in-law and Dan Niang like this."
"Third brother, I feel at ease in that room." Mrs. Chen Si said.
Mr. Chen stopped and stood up, and Mrs. Chen Si quickly handed over the handkerchief.
"Your third brother is determined to die," he said, "probably because he knows in his heart that someone will take care of his affairs after his death."
Mrs. Chen Si nodded and sighed softly.
"grandfather!"
A voice called outside the door.
Mrs. Chen Si raised her eyes and saw Chen Danniang smiling outside the door.
"Danniang, come quickly. Your sister has made mutton soup today. Come and have a bowl of warm soup." She hurriedly waved and smiled.
Nowadays, other families are jealous and ignore Chen Shao's wife and daughters. As an uncle and aunt, it is Chen Shao who is resentful and does not neglect his wife and daughters.
Chen Danniang shook her head.
"Thank you, Auntie." She said, "I have eaten. I came to see my grandfather."
She shook the long bow in her hand as she spoke.
Old Mrs. Chen nodded with a smile, took his coat and put it on.
"...Danniang is really good, she perseveres day by day." He praised and walked out.
"That's natural. I do what I say." Chen Danniang said.
"There is a veteran general in the next village. I told him to give him some advice."
"That's great, thank you grandpa."
The old man and the young man chatted and laughed happily and gradually faded away.
"I really didn't expect that Dan Niang didn't change at all," said the daughter of the Chen family.
Mrs. Chen Si turned around and saw all her daughters looking outside.
Yes, I really didn’t expect that.
Her father murdered the prince and died, and he himself was once a prince. After such a big change, some women in the clan couldn't bear it and hanged themselves. But she, the person most directly responsible for the crime, was calm, eating and drinking as she should.
Talking, laughing and having fun, just like before.
"You don't have to be seen to be miserable," she said.
"But you can't hide it from others by forcing a smile on your face." The daughters said, "Danniang is acting like this because she really has nothing to do with her heart."
"How could it be okay?" Mrs. Chen Si sighed and said, "My whole life is ruined."
Speaking of this, his expression became even sadder.
It wasn't just Daniang who was ruined, her whole family and her children were also ruined.
Even with the queen's good intentions, life is not just about eating and drinking.
Not only children, but also descendants. Thinking of descendants makes me even sadder. Daughters and sons have all been disowned and cannot be married, so where are the descendants?
Mrs. Chen Si couldn't help hiding her face and was about to cry. Just as she raised her hand, someone coughed outside the door.
"Is it Chen Silang's family?"
Mrs. Chen Si looked up and saw two women and two men standing outside the door. When she saw her looking over, she smiled and saluted.
"We are from the Liu family in Taizhou."
Taizhou Liu family?
Mrs. Chen Si was a little surprised. Which company is it? What are you looking for?
"That's right. Our family came here specifically to marry your family, Chen Shiliu." The man said with a smile.
Propose marriage!
Mrs. Chen Si was immediately stunned.
Nowadays, everyone is avoiding the Chen family. Someone actually comes to propose marriage. Moreover, the way this person dresses and talks is definitely not ordinary.
This, what's going on?
…………………………………………
"Taizhou Liu family?"
Mr. Chen Si, who was called back from the mountain, frowned slightly.
"It is the home of a military commander, and Liu Nianchun, the current Qinzhou Road guard, belongs to their family."
"That family is not lowly." Mrs. Chen Si said in surprise.
Even in the past, when Chen Shao was still alive, although he could not discuss marriage with the children of Chen Shao's family, he was in the same household as them.
But now it's a door they can't reach.
"It's the daughter of a man named Liu Kui from the Liu family. This Liu Kui is the new governor of Northwest Road." Mrs. Chen Si said while looking at the name card in her hand.
Master Chen Si looked surprised.
"His daughter is blind?"
Mrs. Chen Si shook her head.
"Deaf?"
"Fool?"
"Or is there something wrong with his character?"
Master Chen Si asked in one breath, and Mrs. Chen Si shook her head and laughed.
"No, not really. He said he is seventeen years old. He is capable of both literary and martial arts. He also brought a portrait." She said while looking at the scroll on the other side.
"The portraits are not trustworthy either," Mr. Chen Si said.
Mrs. Chen Si looked at him.
"But this portrait is signed by everyone from Beijing to Zhongfan," she said.
Mr. Chen Si’s eyes suddenly widened.
Everyone, Fan! He is a famous artist who paints beauties. Not everyone can afford such a famous artist, and he is definitely not someone who works with others to hide their secrets.
What's going on?
Going to such trouble to get married to their family? It would have been a matter of course in the past, but now...
"The Liu family said that their master had met the young master once in the capital and wanted to propose marriage, but he was of low status and did not dare to reach out. He has always been thinking about it and heard that the 16th son broke off the engagement. So he came to propose the marriage in a hurry," said Mrs. Chen Si.
.
Is this like this? Why does it sound like something performed on a stage?
Mr. Chen Si was stunned.
"I always find this thing strange." He said, standing up, "I'll ask my father."
………………………………………….
After the snow in winter, there were few people outside the village. A long arrow flew past, causing the birds gathered on the branches to fly around.
Chen Danniang's laughter rang out.
She looked back and saw that Mr. Chen was talking to Mr. Chen Si. She stuck out her tongue, straightened her bow and arrow, pointed it at the grass target in the open space, and seriously drew the bow and shot.
Old Mrs. Chen who was listening suddenly burst into laughter.
"Shiro, this is indeed weird."
Old Mrs. Chen said, twirling his beard with a smile.
Master Chen Si suddenly became nervous.
"I'm going to reject the Liu family right now." He said, "They are staying in the town and waiting."
"Wait a minute, you go to the town to meet them, not to refuse, but to agree to the marriage," Old Mrs. Chen said.
Mr. Chen Si was stunned.
"Silang." Old Mrs. Chen looked at him with a solemn expression, but his eyes could not hide his excitement, "In the future, the Chen family will rely on Shiliu Lang."
Can this marriage improve Shirokuro's future? But since he is a criminal after all, even if he marries an official, he has little chance of restoring the Chen family.
"Silang, do you know who this Liu Kui is?" Old Mrs. Chen said.
"Taizhou..." Mr. Chen Si said, but was interrupted before he finished speaking.
"When your brother was here, he fought with Gao Lingbo for military power in the northwest. Do you still remember the desertion case in the northwest?" Old Mrs. Chen said.
Mr. Chen Si nodded, looking a little sad. The people who had fought with each other finally fought to the death.
"That deserter is the Queen's adopted brother," he said.
"Then Liu Kui was the one who caught the empress's sworn brother and caused this desertion case." Old Mrs. Chen took over his words and said.
It's him!
Mr. Chen Si was shocked!
"Then Liu Kui was also the one who led the people to testify in the Maoyuan Mountain incident to redress the injustice of the Maoyuan Mountain brothers." Mr. Chen continued.
so!
Mr. Chen Si suddenly realized.
"Then. Then him, and the Queen..." He stammered, already having vague thoughts in his mind.
It is well known to the world how much the Empress attaches great importance to these sworn brothers. Naturally, those who have a close relationship with these sworn brothers also...
Could this be...
Looking at the silent old man Chen, Mr. Chen finally became excited.
It turns out that when marrying the Liu family, not only does he have the support of his father-in-law's family, but he also has the support of the empress. Even if the sixteenth son does not have a chance, the children he has with the Liu family's daughter will definitely have a chance.
This is to give them the chance to revive the Chen family!
The third-bedroom Chen Shao was convicted of being a traitor and could no longer stand up, but the Chen family still had a fourth-bedroom, and they could still raise a fourth-bedroom to make the Chen family prosperous again.
It turns out that being able to feed and clothe the scapegoat is not considered care, but here is the real care!
Mr. Chen Si couldn't help but burst into tears.
"She. Why is she like this..." he said tremblingly.
She has always been the benefactor of the Chen family. She saved the old man and even helped Chen Shao against Gao Lingbo in court affairs, intentionally or unintentionally. However, the Chen family did not repay her kindness, but instead blocked her several times.
The deserter incident, and the original attempt to prevent the adoption.
The Chen family has never stood with this woman. On the contrary, it can be said that they are in opposition.
But why….
"From now on, just treat your third sister-in-law and her family well." Old Mrs. Chen said. He stopped talking and walked to the side with a smile on his face, "Danniang."
Chen Danniang looked back at him and smiled.
"Grandpa," she said, holding up the bow in her hand, with a bright smile on her face that was roughened by the wind, "I can hit the bull's eye."
Mr. Chen Si looked at Chen Danniang with a complicated expression and nodded with emotion.
Chen Shiliu Lang's marriage was quickly settled. He asked Naji Liu Lili, and when the second snow fell, the bride who was playing the music came in to marry her.
When the wedding procession appeared in Tunpu, there was a sensation throughout Tunpu.
"Come and see!" Someone shouted loudly, "The Chen family is getting a wife."
The people in the town shook their heads in disdain.
"What's so good about the Chen family's wife? Where did they buy her from?"
"What? I married a very rich wife." The man shouted, "The dowry has already gone around Tunpu!"
A lap around Tunpu!
How much dowry is that?
"It's estimated to be a hundred thousand!" someone shouted.
One hundred thousand coins!
My dear mother, this is crazy!
A person who can afford a dowry of one hundred thousand guan can even marry into the prefect's family. Who can afford to marry his daughter to a criminal?
Suddenly the crowd rushed towards Tunpu.
The gongs and drums are noisy, the sheng flags are fluttering, and the fireworks are constantly exploding, forming gorgeous clouds in the sky, causing adults and children to raise their necks in pain but reluctant to look away.
"Mom, look, the fireworks are the same as those in the capital with Sister Cheng..."
Standing in front of Master Chen Si's house, Chen Danniang said happily.
Someone squeezed over and shook mother and daughter.
"Come on, the newcomer will come in later. Sister-in-law, please stay out of the way." The woman said.
Chen Ali smiled and said nothing, pulling Danniang out of the way.
The newlyweds came in here, and everyone rushed to Mr. Chen Si's house to see the dowry piled all over the yard.
"Danniang, let's go back." Chen Ali pulled Chen Danniang and said.
Chen Danniang nodded.
As soon as the two turned around, they were stopped by someone.
"Third sister-in-law, come quickly, come quickly."
Looking at Mrs. Chen Si, Chen Ali was a little puzzled.
Mrs. Chen Si couldn't help but grab her, squeezed through the crowd and entered.
People in the courtyard looked at Chen Ali who was pulled in in surprise.
Mrs. Chen Si did not speak, but pushed her to the mountain of dowry with tears in her eyes.
"Third sister-in-law, look, look at these." She choked and whispered.
These?
Chen Ah Li looked over with some confusion. She saw a bright red cage covered with colorful ribbons and balls. Her eyes widened suddenly, she took a step forward and covered her mouth with her hand.
These...these are...
"The dowry originally prepared for Dan Niang will be sent to the Cheng family tomorrow."
"We must let her marry gracefully."
The box with the Chen family's mark that seemed to have never been opened made Chen Ah Li's vision blurry.
Why go to such trouble to give back!
How come!
What a silly lady!
"Third sister-in-law, it was you who saved our entire Chen family."
In my ears was the choking voice of Mrs. Chen Si.
The grace of a drop of water will give you spring water, and a kind thought will give you the spring of a dead tree.
Chen Ali covered his mouth with his hand, as if all the tears he had accumulated since leaving the capital were poured out.
………………………………….
The noisy excitement and the sound of firecrackers made people in a small Taoist temple at the foot of the mountain stop talking.
"What's so noisy?" she asked.
A little Taoist boy turned his head from outside the door.
"Miss Eighteenth, it's a happy event in your family, don't you know?" she said.
When these words came out, the Taoist nun in front of me had a dull look on her face, and her expression fluctuated slightly.
"Home?" she said, "I don't have a home."
The Taoist boy curled his lips.
The Chen family was convicted of crimes against three clans, including the in-law clan. In order to evade responsibility, the Chen family's daughter was divorced by her husband's family, but the Chen family did not accept her. They gave her dowry to a Taoist temple so that she could live here.
I don’t know what kind of unlucky person he is, but he ended up in a situation where no one wants him.
"Where is the home? The country is gone, the sky is gone, no one has a home, no one has a home!"
The woman in front of me said, looking excited.
"The sky is gone, the sky is gone!"
Here we go again, here we go again.
The little Taoist boy jumped out and locked the door. As soon as he finished all this, he heard loud laughter inside, followed by loud crying, crying and laughing like crazy.
"Heaven is unfair! God is unfair!"
"I'm not willing to give in! I'm not willing to give in!"
There are many things in this world that one cannot be reconciled to. If anyone could get everything going as he wished, wouldn't he be a god? The little Taoist shrugged and put his hands away, ignoring the lunatic inside, and continued to look up at the fireworks blooming in the distance.
*******************************
I’ll write about the Chen family first, and then the Qin arc in the next chapter.
Also, who do you want to read, who do you want to know, and if you have any questions, leave me a message in the book review area, and I will explain it in between.
(*^__^*) Hee hee...
We haven’t seen each other for just one day, and I miss you all as if it had been three autumns. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
