Taohuaxi

Chapter 47
Xun Yitang followed the crowd of petitioners and retreated.

A green cassock disappeared under the scorching sun.

On the eight streets and nine roads, rumors spread about this vigorous mass movement of all people.

I don't know where the storyteller was. He heard some irrelevant gossip and compiled a story called "The Red Dust", which tells the story of a nun and a high-ranking official falling in love.The nun was talking about Xun Yitang, and the senior official was naturally referring to Cheng Huaishi.Its content is nonsense and bizarre, attracting the attention of many people.

"The young nun is thinking about the mortal world, and her husband has forgotten the scriptures. Just because the mandarin ducks are scattered in the high hall, the man's heart is as iron as empty and full of hatred. In front of the Wufeng Tower, thousands of people have umbrellas, and they finally feel that the beauty of heaven saves the officials. The virtues they have always shown are not Bodhisattvas, but it is a pity that the nun is infatuated. kindness!"

In "The Story of the Red Dust", Xun Yitang is portrayed as a woman who moves the world, while Cheng Huaishi is portrayed as a ruthless and heartless man.

When I was in the carriage, I felt pity when I heard these nonsense words.

Cheng Huaishi shook his head and sighed: "Although she has good intentions, it is a disaster rather than a blessing for all the people to protect me. Today, when Your Majesty forgive me, he said something. He said, 'You are really a good disciple of Mr. Zhang, a great Ming Dynasty A capable minister, a wise minister. A moment ago, His Majesty had a scowl on his face, why did he suddenly praise him like this? Such praise made me panic and I don’t know why.”

I said: "Second Master, you have been busy these days, don't think too much about it, just go back and rest."

He nodded and said: "Fortunately, all the victims have been resettled, which is a great relief. The autumn harvest is coming soon, and the court has to collect taxes. I must be more diligent and replenish the treasury to atone for my sins and maybe get some forgiveness from your majesty."

"Miss Xun, she..." I thought for a while and swallowed my words.Although Xun Yitang's move was a bit aggressive and counterproductive, she had no malicious intentions after all, and it was hard to blame her.

Cheng Huaishi hugged me and said, "Madam, I have to be more cautious in the future. For you and for our unborn child."

Things calmed down just like that.

It was as if the surging river was suddenly cut off somewhere.The water blocked it, but it was stuck behind the mountains, constantly impacting, and the danger was hidden behind the greenery.

When the water rushes down and cascades thousands of miles, it depends on how long the mountains can hold it back.

Cheng Huaishi returned home and fell asleep.

He is really tired.

I moved lightly and told Xiaoyin that the maids, servants and women should move around more quietly so as not to disturb him.

He took a long sleep, and when he woke up, I was sewing his bellyband beside the couch.Green lotus leaves, golden carp.Bright and festive.

He said: "These things can be left to the servants in the mansion. Why does Madam need to do it herself?"

I handed him a cup of warm soup: "Second Master, you must be hungry. Drink it quickly. I always think that I have done a good job in the things that are close to my child."

"I forgot to tell my wife before I went to bed. Such a big thing happened this time. How should I explain it to my mother?"

I said: "The commotion outside is so big, I can't hide it if I insist on it. I told my mother that it was a misunderstanding. The second master is safe and sound, and the Queen Mother protects the second master. These days, I accompany my mother to relieve her boredom. Son, comfort her, she is relieved."

He smiled: "Madam is virtuous."

After drinking the soup, he stood up, wiped his face, and changed into clean clothes: "I'm going to discuss something with Mr. Zhang. The taxation of the new deal is different from the taxation of previous years, so preparations need to be made in advance."

I stood up and said, "Second Master, let's go."

He walked to the door, came back, touched my belly, said, "Good boy, don't mess with your mother," and then left.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival in August, I was summoned to the palace to prepare a picture of the royal banquet.

People in the Twelve Prisons said that every New Year, there would be a decree from the superiors to forgive some concubines and palace people who had made mistakes.

However, I looked around and didn't see Miss Sun.

Zheng Shubin was even more favored than before. She was ordered to sit next to him, side by side with the Queen of the Middle Palace, and even the pregnant Queen Wang was moved back.

The Queen Mother drank in silence, and after half a meal, she said she was tired and took the Queen Mother back to Cining Palace.

After I finished the drawing, I sent it to you for appreciation.

When he was about to leave the palace, he suddenly heard from the palace attendants in the Renzhi Palace that something had happened in the Leng Palace just after returning from the West Palace Garden, and all the Jinyi guards rushed over.

I immediately thought of Miss Sun and asked, "What happened?"

The palace man said: "Shu Cai, who was thrown into the cold palace a few days ago, is dead!"

It was indeed Miss Sun.

How could she die suddenly without His Majesty's will?
The palace man said mysteriously: "I heard that the Queen Mother sent someone to interrogate her, but she bit her randomly and said that the soup delivery was instigated by Zheng Shubin. Who is Zheng Shubin? That is something that is close to His Majesty's heart. Man! She was really an old lady who ate arsenic because she thought she would live too long. The people from Cining Palace just left, and within half an hour, she died inexplicably in the cold palace! Tsk tsk."

I was shocked and walked out of Renzhi Hall, wanting to take a look.

Behind an ancient locust tree in the imperial garden, a man grabbed me and said hurriedly: "Sister, don't go!"

It's Feng Gao.

His bright red gold silk official uniform glowed coldly under the full moon.

I said, "Did you know that Miss Sun of the Cheng family is dead?"

He said: "Sister, please don't get involved in these things."

I looked at his expression and slowly guessed the inside story.

I lowered my voice and said, "Your Majesty ordered someone to do it, right?"

The full moon shines brightly.

Osmanthus fragrance.

He said: "Sister, now the officials of the six ministries and the three divisions are gradually replaced by your majesty's cronies. Your majesty's grace and power in the court are getting stronger day by day. The same is true in the palace. I have something to think about. Discuss it with your sister."

"What's the matter?"

He said with difficulty: "Can my sister return to Dongchang Mansion to raise her child? I built a manor in my sister's name in the western suburbs of Dongchang Mansion. It is very secluded..."

"What are you talking about?" I asked anxiously. "Sister, I'm so worried. I want to make preparations first. Sister, please listen to me." He said solemnly.

"Bean sprouts, if a person has no faith, he will not be established, and if he breaks faith, he will not achieve success. My sister is the wife of the Cheng family, how can she run away in danger? Tell me, what is going to happen? Cheng Huaishi has been cautious these days, and your majesty has treated him as normal. Qiu At the time of taxation, what can happen at this juncture? We can't easily involve the former court because of the harem..." I pulled his sleeve.

He looked at me, then at my slightly swollen belly, and said, "Is sister determined not to leave?"

"I do not go."

The autumn tiger has sadly retreated.An autumn rain brings a chill.

The autumn wind rustled the leaves of the ancient locust tree.

His eyes were moist, like the clear moon sinking into the water.

He didn't tell me anything.

It seems that there are irreversible arrows that cannot be recovered after leaving the bow.

He is infinitely sad and suffering.

"Sister, you must go. Your Majesty has laid out the plan."

The full moon is full of mercy, illuminating the absurd human world.

I turned my head and walked away.

Feng Gao said from behind: "I will definitely take my sister away. Nothing is as important as my sister and Wandou!"

Leave the palace and rush home.

There was chaos in the house.

The eldest mistress has received the letter and is crying and howling in the courtyard.

"Shu'er, my poor Shu'er... you died so unjustly. Your uncle killed you..."

The boys lighted the lamps.

The old lady angrily slammed her crutch down and said sternly: "Wang Yuzhen, if you continue to talk nonsense, you will be dealt with according to the family law!"

The eldest mistress wiped her face with her sleeve: "Mother, what kind of family law am I afraid of now! Shu'er is dead, who will I rely on for the rest of my life?"

When she saw me walking in from the door, she burst out with fire in her eyes: "The wife of Jin Yiwei Mu Lin has told me that it was the second son who offended His Majesty. Your Majesty, because of his reputation as a wise king, could not deal with the second son openly. Now you're taking it out on Shu'er! Are you two proud of watching Shu'er die? Zhu Sangyu, I won't make it easy for you!"

The old lady gave an order, and several boys held her down.

"Ms. Cheng Wang, don't be lawless!"

At this time, Cheng Cangshi came, knelt on the ground, hugged the old lady's thigh and said: "Mother, please spare Yuzhen. She heard that Shu'er was dead and lost her mind, so she contradicted her mother. Mother, please be considerate. Her daughter-in-law's heart..."

The eldest young lady fainted and fell to the ground.

The old lady stumbled and sighed: "I said I couldn't do it, I couldn't do it! You parents, lard has deceived you! Pity Shu'er's life! Come on, take her back to the room. I'll swallow it sooner or later. It’s good to be relieved!”

The third young lady helped the old lady back to the main courtyard.

Cheng Cangshi also carried the eldest young lady back to her room.

I stood in the courtyard and looked up at the sky for a while before returning to the east courtyard.Xiaoyin told me that Qin Mingxu came here today and ate mooncakes with Mrs. Qin and admired the moon.Mrs. Qin never rested, saying that she would tell me if she had anything to do when I came back.

The light in her room was still on.

I knocked on the door and went in. She handed me a letter: "Sang Yu, you must personally deliver this letter to Taiyue for me."

"Why don't you ask Master Mingxu to take you there? He goes to Zhang Mansion quite frequently."

She shook her head, as if she had unspeakable difficulties.

I understand that the content in this letter must be related to Feng Gao, and she doesn’t want Qin Mingxu to know.

Even though I tried to calm her down several times, she was still suspicious.Once suspicion arises, it is like a fire that is difficult to extinguish.

I reluctantly took it and agreed to her.

"Sang Yu, you go now, okay? Mingxu told me that Dongchang has arrested a lot of people recently, and my eyelids were twitching for a long time..."

I nodded, ordered the driver to hitch the horse, and headed for Zhang's Mansion.

When I arrived at the study in the back garden, I presented the letter to Mr. Zhang and said, "Sir, Mrs. Qin urgently asked me to deliver it."

Master Zhang read the letter and said, "She asked me to check Feng Gao's life experience."

Turning around, he said to me: "Sang Yu, I still say the same thing, I can't say it."

I thought for a while and asked, "Sir, how is the new policy of North Korea and China going recently?"

"Taxes are three times more than last year."

I said happily: "That's a good thing. Your Majesty should calm down this time..."

He frowned: "Huai Shi also thought it was a good thing. But I combed through it carefully tonight and found something was wrong."

"what happened?"

"Among them, there are two taxes, which are weirdly large. This seems to be a trap."

As soon as he finished speaking, the servants from outside came in in a panic and reported: "Sir, something happened outside! Dongchang has surrounded Zhang Mansion——"

(End of this chapter)