Lin Jiabiyu

On the 22nd of the first lunar month, the sun is shining brightly in Pingliang Mansion, and the spring is getting stronger.Different from the panic and panic everywhere in Beiyan, every city in Pingliang Mansion is full of lively scenes.The ice accumulated in winter slowly melts, and the snow-covered trails in the suburbs gradually melt under the warm sun, and the tender grass that sprouts under the snow also shows its face, clusters of emerald green, Hot and eye-catching.

The weeping willows by the side of the small river ditch also sprouted buds, as if they had faded from the lifeless and scorched overnight, and replaced them with another pair of vibrant faces. The tender green willow branches danced with the wind, creating a unique scene.

Young masters and girls from various families traveled together, in groups of three or four, all smiling, competing to appreciate the beautiful and picturesque spring scenery.Many literati also gathered together to recite poems and eulogies, which was very lively.

The academies in Yong'an City and Weiyuan City were even more lively.Although it has not yet been completed, the academy is built on the mountain, following its natural trend, with pavilions, terraces and pavilions scattered around, either hidden in the mountains and rivers, or hidden in the greenery and flowers. This scenery is extremely beautiful. Naturally, it attracts countless entertaining crowds.If there are too many people, it will be difficult to start construction. The supervisor of the academy can't do it, so they have to invite people from the yamen to persuade a group of scholars and tourists to go back, and then started to start construction.

Ding'an City is also bustling now.After the fifteenth day, the shops on the street opened their doors one by one, and the peddlers also came out with their loads of goods to shout. Early in the morning, the streets and alleys were filled with the sound of singing one after another, making it lively for a while.

The servants of each family also gathered together in groups of three or four, basking in the sun and gossiping.This one says it's a good day this year, and that one says the kid in the family is engaged.Some also talked about the battle in the north - from trivial matters to the movement of the imperial court in the capital, the more they talked, the more lively they became.

It's just that the gate of the Qin family's mansion is closed, the second door cannot be opened, and the alley at the back door of the house is deserted, and there is no trace of popularity.

The courtyard was also lifeless, and the closed painted gate blocked the bright sunlight and hustle and bustle outside, which only made the house even more deserted.Occasionally, the maids and women who passed by all hurried past with their heads bowed and cautious appearance, not daring to say a word.

There was no sound in the study yard at the back of the main courtyard, and the servants stood at the hanging flower door with their hands down.He didn't dare to let out the atmosphere, he only watched his nose and nose and his heart, and stood still with an unshakable appearance.

There was a depressing and dreary atmosphere in the study room, like the sky before the heavy rain in summer, gloomy.It was breathless.

Mr. Qin was dressed in an old gray cloth jacket, slumped on a chair, his hair was gray, his face was old, wrinkles were folded on his face, and his breathing was rapid and laborious.Patting the back of the chair with his fingers one after another, he looked ten years older than before.

The second master of Qin, Qin Rushou, stared blankly at his father.His face was full of lifelessness, and then he looked at Elder Qin blankly, and after a long time, he squeezed out a few words: "Father, fourth brother..."

Qin Rushou's words hadn't hit the ground yet, his arm suddenly hurt, he quickly swallowed the words in his throat, and looked at Qin Ruhai who was beside him suspiciously and anxiously.

Qin Ruhai's complexion was extremely ugly.His brows were furrowed, and his eyes were full of gloom.Shaking his head at Qin Rushou, looking at the appearance of old man Qin, he sighed slightly after a while, with a bit of self-mockery in his eyes, and a wry smile on his face: "A letter came from Yong'an City early this morning, and Shi Erlang is taking care of it now." The matter of Yongan City Academy. Sanlang and Shi Erlang are on good terms. That child is also a sensible magistrate. Let him go to the academy to study for two years. Since the two masters have been told, it is intentional to favor the Qin family, yes The Qin family won't kill them all. The younger generation of the Qin family can always keep someone."

Qin Ruhai paused when he said this, and saw Qin Rufu, the third master of Qin, staring at him with wide eyes, with the word disapproval written on his face, Qin Ruhai laughed at himself even more, and ignored Qin Rufu's gaze, but his tone was a bit more Very dejected: "It doesn't matter if you are really generous or just pretending, now is the right time, the Lu family wants to take over the Liang mansion, and the two masters of the Xining palace are smart people, so they won't let the Qin family get into trouble. You have to do it This appearance will reassure the big families of Pingliang Mansion, and let the people of Pingliang Mansion see the generosity and benevolence of the Wang Mansion."

"Brother, what you said...how did you get to this point?" Qin Rufu took a breath, the fat on his face was squeezed together, he sighed one after another for a long time, and then tentatively opened his mouth to persuade, " Where is the relationship between Sanlang and Shi Erlang? Our family and Shi's family are nodding acquaintances. That Shi Erlang has a weird and mean temper. Sanlang doesn't like reading, and he has to look at people's faces when he goes to the academy. Although Sanlang has a gentle temper , and shouldn't be wronged..."

Before Qin Rufu finished speaking, Qin Rushou, the second master of Qin, glanced at Qin Rufu abruptly, took a deep breath and interrupted Qin Rufu: "Brother is very right, I think it's also good." He glanced at Qin Rufu.

Qin Rufu was stunned for a moment, opened his mouth wide, swallowed the words in his mouth again, and persuaded with a smile: "Second brother, don't get angry. Since the eldest brother and the second brother have agreed, I won't say anything else. Sanlang Young and inexperienced, it’s okay to be wronged a little bit, I just didn’t think about it for a while... But,” Qin Rufu hesitated for a moment, looked at the faces of several people and asked hesitantly, “Fourth brother, do you want to send me back? Take it back personally..."

Just as Qin Rufu was halfway through his words, he was suddenly swept away by Mr. Qin's sharp gaze, and stopped the second half of his words, looking at Qin Ruhai in surprise and fear.

"From now on, there is no such person in the Qin family!" Mr. Qin's voice was cold and harsh, with an old hoarseness that could not be concealed. It went down, and was replaced by a frozen dead silence, "The boss stays, the second and third go out."

Qin Rushou hesitated to speak and glanced at his old father, sighed with worry on his face, finally got up, and pulled Qin Rufu out of the study together.

With two people missing, the study suddenly seemed empty again.Old Man Qin stared blankly at some of the old beams, his voice was tired and weak, he seemed to be talking to himself, and he seemed to be telling Qin Ruhai: "Cooperating with the enemy and treason is a capital crime, and it will harm the nine clans, and there is no place for the Qin family in the north. But besides the Pingliang Mansion, where else can the Qin family go? All my life, I have done nothing for my family and country, let alone taught my son well, and I am ashamed of my ancestors..."

Qin Ruhai lowered his head in a slumped body, and opened his mouth, but he still didn't say anything else, just quietly listening to his father's instructions.

"Qin Rushan committed a capital crime, the uncle and the second master are lenient, but the Qin family can't be ashamed! The Qin family should also get together, you write a letter, and let people from all over come back to hear about Qin Rushan's crimes. I, Qin The head of the clan is ashamed of his ancestors, and it's time to step down."

Mr. Qin paused for a moment, raised his hand to cover his eyes, suppressed the regret and sadness in his eyes, and murmured in a weary voice: "Qin Rushan committed a serious crime, and my sin of being a father is unforgivable. You are brothers." Sanlang is generous and honest, so let him take over as the patriarch of the Qin clan." Mr. Qin's voice became lower and lower, as if he had fallen asleep, and he lay motionless on the rocking chair, his whole body covered with tears. Sad and lonely.

Qin Rufu didn't respond, but frowned. Seeing that Mr. Qin had no other orders, he stood up, looked at the bright spring outside, and narrated in a flat tone: "The Xu family was almost ruined back then, but after more than twenty years, it's still the same. It is very lively. The Qin family is not comparable to the Xu family, but there must be a leader who has a long-term perspective, otherwise, in 20 years, the Qin family will eventually disappear. The third uncle's family has a grandson who is the same age as Erlang. I I have seen him, he is mature and stable, he is worthy of the position of head of the Qin family, father should also meet him."

It took a long time before I heard old master Qin's tone of dejected but powerless reply: "Forget it."

On the 23rd of the first lunar month, Qin Rushan's collusion with the enemy and betrayal of the country was leaked. Luo Qianzhong, the head of the city gate guard, was convicted and executed. Qian Laosan received forty army sticks. One by one, the punishment is different.In Weiyuan City, the crowd was excited for a while. At the same time, He Zhanpeng, the magistrate of the county, took the initiative to plead guilty.

On the 24th of the first lunar month, news spread to Ding'an City that the Qin family's mansion was completely surrounded, and the noisy crowd smashed things with their hands. Fortunately, the magistrate of Ding'an City brought people from the yamen to persuade the angry crowd. Go back, and this will avoid a riot.

Old Master Qin looked haggard, and personally invited the magistrate of Ding'an City to come in. He said that he was ashamed of his ancestors and that his death was not a pity... After some earnest words, everyone in the Qin family burst into tears.

The county magistrate of Ding'an City sighed, but he couldn't do anything. He declared that the crime of collaborating with the enemy would affect the whole family, so he had to enroll the Qin family in the yamen and wait for trial.

That night, Mr. Qin was ashamed and bitter.Early the next morning, Lu Junzhao, the general of the Zhenguo, said that Qin Rushan's crime was unforgivable, but since Mr. Qin kept his duty, and the lamp was extinguished after death, he allowed his descendants to be buried in filial piety.Early the next morning, the three masters of the Qin family hurriedly buried Mr. Qin, and then they were taken back by the servants in the yamen.

At the same time, the news of the final execution of Liang Wang's rebellion in the capital of Beiyan also spread to Pingliang Mansion. The people immediately broke the pot, and the morale of the army was even higher.Lu Junzhao led his men to take the two cities of Beiyan, and Beiyan begged for peace in a panic, and the fighting stopped.

On the 26th of the first lunar month, Beiyan's peace agreement was handed in. Lu Junzhao took his people back to Weiyuan City, and Xu Luwen stayed behind in Xiangcheng.On the way through Ding'an City, Lu Junzhao also stopped by the Confucian Mansion to visit Master Kong Er.

Kong Qing accompanied Lu Junzhao all the way into the gate tremblingly, until he sent him out, and then slowly heaved a sigh of relief, turned around and went to Master Kong Er's study.

Second Master Kong twirled his beard slowly, and before Kong Qing could speak, he waved his hands and said with a smile: "I am optimistic about Wen's marriage. I also met Mr. Wei Jiasanlang. It is rare. Since you are back, you can Take a break for the time being, and let's talk about other things after finishing my daughter's marriage."

Kong Qing was stunned for a moment, his brows were furrowed, looking at Master Kong Er's peaceful expression, and thinking of Lu Junzhao's unexpected visit, he took a deep breath and nodded. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation.)

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