Linglong

Chapter 117

She begged old lady Yu, "Mother, tell Linglong a few words so that she will not forget her two sisters. Although Linglong has lived in seclusion in Yujia Village, if she is willing to write a letter to her aunt, Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Chang, those noble ladies will not I won't give Linglong any face."

Old Madam Yu was not very happy, "If Linglong was here, I would definitely say a few words about her; if she wasn't here, I wrote a letter specifically to mention her, as if..." She felt that a grandmother like herself really wrote such a letter, It's a bit embarrassing.

Mrs. Guan and Mrs. Yu have been mother-in-law and daughter-in-law for many years, so they naturally understand her temperament. Seeing her expression, you can guess her mind, and there is some resentment in your heart, "The granddaughter's future is more important, or is your face more important?"

"Mother, Xiaojia and Xiaoxi are already at this age, and the marriage will not be settled this year and next year, but it will be decided in the next year. I know you are in a difficult situation, but for Xiaojia and Xiaoxi, you are wronged and wronged for the time being." Please, please!" Guan Shi said, her eyes were red, "Mother, do you know what Shi Qilang said a few days ago? He said that he would tell Xiao Jia and Xiao Xi about her husband's family among the old master's old friends. !Old friends of the old man, you also know that some are poor, some are lonely, and there are not many wealthy families..."

Madam Yu let out a long sigh.

Mrs. Guan took out her handkerchief and wiped her tears, "Many literati are poor. A family like He Shanzhang's is already very rich among the old man's old friends, and there is no other family. However, the He family and those princes Compared with the Houbo Mansion, it is really far away. Mother, Xiaojia and Xiaoxi are your own granddaughters, do you want them to marry into a wealthy family with rich clothes and fine food, or marry a poor scholar to suffer hardships?"

Mrs. Yu was very moved when she heard that.That's right, getting married is a lifetime affair for Xiao Jia and Xiao Xi. Whether they can enjoy happiness in the future depends entirely on how they get married.

Unable to stop Mrs. Guan begging repeatedly, Mrs. Yu finally bit the bullet and wrote the letter, ordering her confidant maid to send it to Linglong herself.

Linglong wrote a reply letter and immediately ordered someone to bring it back.In the letter, Linglong told old lady Yu one thing: "Grandmother, do you know Song Changqing from the Heqinghou Mansion? Her husband, Guan Shousheng, once informed my eldest cousin that she knew something private about the Yu family. , is plotting against the Yu family."

"The so-called private matter is that my uncle once entered the stronghold, and my father rushed over to rescue him alone. In the end, the two brothers went down the mountain safely-for decades, no one except my father and uncle could survive. Walking out of the village. Song Changqing asserted that my father and uncle must have secretly colluded with bandits to escape from death. There is a lot to do in this matter. She discussed with Mrs. Su, but Mrs. Su was very hesitant. Make a decision—you probably know a thing or two about the situation of Song Changqing and Guan Shousheng. She was abused by Guan Shousheng, hated him to death, and wished to drag him to die together, but Guan Shousheng was also on guard against her, The girls around her were all bribed by Guan Shousheng, and Guan Shousheng knew about any trouble. She discussed with Mrs. Su several times, and was threatened by Guan Shousheng after returning to the official's house. It's vicious, but Song Changqing can't stand it anyway, to tell the truth."

"Grandmother, if someone wants to use this incident to accuse the Yu family, do you know how troublesome and tricky it will be? The crime of colluding with Jiangyang robbers is very serious. If someone really bribes the robbers, say that my father Colluding with them with my uncle, hiding stolen goods, and finding something from the Yu family, even if the Yu family jumped into the Yellow River, it would not be cleared. Even if my uncle and aunt came forward, they might not be able to wash away the Yu family. , so that everyone in the Yu family can retreat safely and unharmed."

"It happened more than ten years ago. How did Song Changqing know about it? The second sister told her. I don't understand why the second sister, as a girl of the Yu family, didn't think about the Yu family at all and wanted to tell the Yu family such a secret. Song Changqing. You can ask Second Sister to see what kind of consideration she has for saying such heartfelt words to Song Changqing and putting the Yu family in a dangerous situation."

"Guan Shousheng has now locked Song Changqing at home and forbids her to come out. He is afraid that she will cause trouble for the official family. If it were in the past, the eldest cousin would not allow Guan Shousheng to do this even for the sake of the Heqinghou family's face. She came out for Song Changqing, but Song Changqing is so deliberate to put Yu's family to death, the eldest cousin hates her so much, why would he treat her like a younger sister, he no longer cares about her."

"Grandmother, the second sister is too gullible in others, and her words and deeds are not prudent. It is safest to sit at home. Otherwise, maybe one day the Yu family will be in disaster, what do you think?"

After reading Linglong's reply, the old lady Yu was ashamed and annoyed, she didn't want to believe it, "Xiaoxi has always been a proper child, how could she tell Song Changqing all the secrets of the Yu family like this? There must be a misunderstanding."

Although Mrs. Yu didn't want to believe it, she called Jing Xi over after much hesitation.

Old Madam Yu didn't turn corners with Jingxi, and directly took Linglong's letter for her to read.

After reading the letter, Jingxi was taken aback, and cried out: "How could she...? No, I don't believe it, Sister Song wouldn't treat me like this!"

Her face was pale and her face paled, she was clearly frightened.However, from what she said, she should have really told Song Changqing about the Yu family.Linglong did not wrong her.

Among the three granddaughters, Mrs. Yu always valued Jing Xi the most—Jing Jia said she was dignified at best, but rigid at worst; Lady—seeing Jingxi like this, Old Madam Yu's heart sank, and she asked in a trembling voice, "Silly girl, did you really tell her?"

"Grandmother, it's like this." Jing Xi helped the old lady Yu's knees and knelt down, and hurriedly defended herself, "When Mrs. Song Jiatai celebrated her birthday, I went to change clothes with her, and she accidentally mentioned it, saying that she had no intention Only then did Linglong send Linglong to King Zhou's mansion, so that Linglong could meet and know King Zhou. I heard that she was taking credit for her pride, so I couldn't help but refute her, saying that Linglong and King Zhou had actually met each other a long time ago..."

Old Madam Yu's eyes were full of disappointment, "So, you're telling the truth all at once? Xiaoxi, you're so stupid."

"Grandmother, my granddaughter doesn't know people well..." Jing Xi cried on Old Madam Yu's lap.

Old Madam Yu looked at her crying granddaughter with anger and pity.

"Xiao Xi, are you just not familiar with people?" Old Madam Yu asked with a sigh.

Jingxi raised his head hesitantly, with a look of shame on his tear-stained cheeks, he said hesitantly: "Grandmother, she...she said that she has been adopted by He Qinghou and Mrs. Hou, just like...her brother ...she will help me..."

Although what Jing Xi said was obscure, how could the old lady Yu not understand?Stars flashed in his eyes with anger, "Xiaoxi, you are stupid! Marriage, is this possible? You and Song Changqing are good friends, and she wants to help you, so you can marry Song Changlin? What a whimsical idea! Marriage is subject to It's the order of your parents, don't you understand?"

Jingxi was not convinced, "But grandma, isn't Linglong like this?"

"How could Linglong be the same?" Old Madam Yu had a headache.

Jingxi bit her lip, as if she had made up her mind, and said, "Linglong is just lucky to meet King Zhou? I am no better than Linglong. If I meet...and Song Changlin, he will also meeting……"

"He will also be interested in you and want to marry you?" Old Madam Yu couldn't laugh or cry.

Jingxi hesitated for a moment, then nodded shyly.

Old Madam Yu closed her eyes tiredly.I used to think that Xiaoxi was sensible, but now it seems that she is clearly... still a child, a silly child who is easy to trust others and doesn't know the dangers of the world.

"Then, have you seen him?" Old Madam Yu opened her eyes and asked Jing Xi carefully.

Jingxi's face glowed, "I've seen it once. Sister Song... Song Changqing and I were walking in the garden, and I ordered someone to call... called him over..."

Old Madam Yu jumped up angrily, and asked in a deep voice, "What did this guy tell you?"

Jingxi lowered her head and fiddled with her belt, "No. He... he saw that I was there, so he stopped before he arrived at the place, made a bow from a distance, then... then left..." Thinking of that The man is handsome, elegant, and polite, and his heart is beating like a deer.

"He's smart." Mrs. Yu snorted.

There was a bewildered smile on the corner of Jingxi's mouth, looking a little out of his mind.

"Xiaoxi, don't give birth to thoughts that you shouldn't have." Old lady Yu's heart skipped a beat, she held Jingxi's hand, and instructed earnestly.

Jingxi said quietly: "What do you mean you shouldn't have thoughts? Grandma, sooner or later I will promise someone else."

She fell on Old Madam Yu's lap and sobbed silently.

Mrs. Yu also felt sorry.

That's right, Xiaoxi will marry someone one day, whether the marriage is good or not, the difference will be big.It is related to a lifetime, who can not take it seriously?It's no wonder Xiao Xi is so attentive.

"Song Changlin is not the prince yet..." Mrs. Yu mused.

Song Changlin was adopted to Marquis Heqing, and Marquis Heqing also invited him to be crowned son, but the process of inviting him to be crowned son was actually very cumbersome. After the title is issued, one does not know what year and month it happened.

"He will definitely be the son of the prince in the future." Jingxi's voice was soft but firm, "Marquis Heqing has done a great job in rescuing him. His Majesty has always been generous and benevolent. He will not have the heart to let his house be cut off from the incense."

The old lady Yu was moved by what Jingxi said, but looking at the current situation, she couldn't help but sigh, "Your grandfather and your father don't care about these things. I don't go out very much, and I don't have friendship with Mrs. Song Jiatai. Your mother She is wholeheartedly for you, but she is just Juren's wife, whether Mrs. Song Jiatai or Mrs. Hou, how can she be taken seriously."

Only at this time did Old Madam Yu realize that although she had always disliked Mrs. Qiao and Linglong, without Mrs. Qiao and Linglong, she would be helpless.

"Grandma, what should we do?" Jingxi asked anxiously.

"Let grandma think about it again." Mrs. Yu was very troubled.

An old friend of Mr. Yu, Mr. Qu, came to visit with his grandson Yunyi, and Mrs. Yu ordered Jing Jia to be called to Jinshizhai.

After seeing Mr. Qu, Mrs. Yu ordered Jing Jia to retire.

Jingjia kept her eyes on her all the time, until she was about to leave the house, she quietly glanced at the old Mr. Yun, just in time, Yun Yunyi was also peeking at her, their eyes intertwined, and they lowered their heads shyly at the same time.

Qu Yunyi is sixteen or seventeen years old, with delicate features, a little thin, speaks slowly, and blush when he speaks.

After the old friends, grandpa and grandson, left, Old Master Yu ordered someone to call Second Master Yu and told him that the Yun family wanted to marry Jingjia.

Second Master Yu was taken aback, "The Yun family? Which Yun family? Father, don't rush to agree, let me inquire about this family first, and then make sense." Old Master Yu hit him dissatisfied, "Old man I want to ask my granddaughter to be my granddaughter-in-law, so I agreed as soon as he mentioned it? You, father, just watch it coldly, and give me a correct word later." Second Master Yu agreed repeatedly, "Yes, Yes, dad, let's talk about it later, talk about it after a while."

Yu Erye asked a friend to find out about Yun's house, and at the same time told Guan Shi, "I'm only inquiring on the surface. You can also ask someone to ask how the inside of Yun's house is." Guan Shi was shocked and hurriedly said "I know about the Yun's family, let's not talk about anything else, his family has no family background, very poor! If our Xiaojia gets married, won't we have to live a hard life?" Second Master Yu didn't care, "How many people are there in the Yun's family?" One hundred acres of land, it’s not considered poor.” Hearing what he said, Guan secretly complained.

Guan felt that the sky was about to fall, but Jingjia said, "I listen to my grandparents, my father and mother." It seemed that if the elders in the family asked her to marry into the Yun family, she would marry there willingly.

The Guan family hated the second master Yu for being ignorant of world affairs, and also hated Jingjia for lack of ambition, so he gritted his silver teeth.

After making many inquiries, Erye Yu agreed to the Yun family's marriage.

First, Yu Chang and Miss He's family got engaged, then Jing Jia and Yun Yunyi got engaged, and after He Zhihua and Ji, Yu Chang got married first, and then Jing Jia got married.

Old Mrs. Yu was very proud of having hired a wife for Yu Chang and a son-in-law for Jing Jia among the grandchildren of his old friends.

He really wanted to do the same with Yu Yan and Jingxi's marriage. After Guan knew about it, her face turned pale with fright, "No, Xiaoxi is destined to marry late, and if she decides to marry early, it will hurt her!" Yu Yan repeatedly told his grandfather, "You must find me a fairy. You must not be worse than my mother and my younger sister in appearance. What about your temperament? It's better to be like a younger sister, more lively and cute." Old Master Yu was a little embarrassed , "Mianzhi, how can there be so many gods in the world?" The thought of talking about a little daughter-in-law for Yu Yan gradually faded.As for Jingxi, he was just talking casually, and Erye Yu and Guan Shi said that it was not appropriate to settle it early, so he ignored it.

Guan Shi could finally sleep peacefully.

Jingxi, however, was worried about her life, and was haggard day by day.

After Linglong returned to Yujia Village, her life was very busy.

She was busy improving the sanitation first, and built a special bathroom with a few large black water bags on the roof, which can be used directly for bathing in summer, and boiled water for washing when the weather is cold and sunny; She also repaired an exquisite bathroom with a "tiger" similar to a toilet, with a water tank on it, and a rope on the water tank. After going to the toilet, you can flush the water by pulling it with your hand, and the waste water will flow away along the pipe. until the farmland.

"Daughter, how did you come up with such a good idea?" Mrs. Qiao was amazed.

Linglong proudly said, "The sewer pipes existed in the Warring States period, right? Maybe earlier, and I don't remember clearly. I improved the tiger's son according to the shape of the Han Dynasty, which is similar to the book. I have been in and out of Jinshizhai for a long time. , the harvest is still a lot.”

The ancients were actually very fashionable, and many things had existed for a long time, but the descendants did not carry them forward.

What Qiao's lacked most was money. Seeing that Linglong was interested, she let her make troubles, and finally the Yu family's old house had the most advanced bathroom and sanitation facilities at that time.

In Linglong's boudoir, pianos, chess pieces, books, paintings, vases, cups, and all kinds of decorations are well arranged, making Xiao Ran lovely.

Linglong changed the environment, and that pink girl's heart was ready to move. She requested that the bed, curtains, window screens, curtains, etc. in her room should be soft and light pink. Qiao Shi agreed without thinking about it, and she did as she asked. A room was furnished for her.

Changing the environment is a step-by-step process. After Linglong decorated her boudoir, she set her sights on the entire Yu family's old house.

The old house was originally simple and unsophisticated, but under her spare no efforts in management, it became more and more elegant.

She brought in Uncle Zhong and other gardeners from Yu's house, and she directed the gardeners to work every day. The old house was full of precious flowers, colorful everywhere.

Not only was she tossing around in the Yu family's old house, but she also cared about the villagers in Yu's family village.

Knowing that some peasant women in the village are forced to earn a living, and soon after the child is born, they have to carry the child on their backs to go to the fields, or tie the child at home when the child is a little older, and go to work in the farmland by themselves. Linglong couldn't bear it, "son When I was young, it was the time when I needed the most care, and it was very pitiful not to have a mother by my side." She asked people to count the families in the village with children under the age of three, and she used her own money to subsidize the children's mothers, "Looking at the children at home Let’s go to the fields when the child is older.”

She bought two big houses in the village, one for children aged three to six, "someone just needs to watch and play, and reading is second." The other is for children aged six to 15, "no matter the boy Children and girls, you should study at this age.” As for children over the age of 15, there is no need to worry about it. Many farmers at this age can already work as laborers, and it is time to work to support the family.

The nannies who take care of the children and the teachers who teach the older children are all from the Yu family.

Uncle Yu was very moved, "My daughter has the heart to help the world."

"What does it mean to help the world? I have [-] acres of land to squander. Otherwise, I'm afraid I'm powerless." Linglong, who always likes to boast, becomes modest, "Besides, I can only care about these few people in front of me." Forget it, no matter how far away it is, it will be beyond reach."

The life in Yujia Village is very leisurely, and before I know it, it will be the spring of the next year.

The spring breeze greens both sides of the small river, Linglong picks wild flowers along the river, listening to the children's laughter not far away, her eyebrows are curved.

What a farmhouse.

There was dust flying in front, and the sound of horseshoes was rumbling, probably a cavalry was coming.

Linglong stood up and narrowed her eyes.

There is a small bridge in front, and the cavalry of the brigade stopped in the distance, only a white BMW galloped slowly.

The young man on horseback was dressed in white, with a jade-like face, a handsome figure, and shy eyes.

He got off the horse, led the horse and slowly approached Linglong.

Linglong held a bunch of colorful flowers in her hand and looked at him quietly.

He slowly approached Linglong, the two were relatively silent.

"I have never dared to come to see you." He held the reins of the horse tightly with his slender and strong fingers, lowered his noble head, his eyes were gentle, "Little Bell, do you hate me?"

Linglong's nose was sore, she shook her head sadly, "I don't know. Wang Xiaosan, I don't know."

If he hadn't been to Qiao's Lane that day, maybe my grandfather wouldn't have...

"I just want to see you." Zhou Wang whispered like a dream, "Little Bell, I just want to see you."

He has always been a high-spirited young man, but now his expression is full of helplessness.

Linglong burst into tears, and the teardrops fell among the flowers, crystal clear like morning dew.

Zhou Wang stretched out his hand as if being burned by fire, wanting to wipe away her tears, but stopped when he reached her cheek, as if he was afraid of offending her.

Linglong wept sadly, and heard his deep voice, "I really want to see you, but I dare not come, I am afraid you will hate me. Little Bell, I am afraid you will hate me."

Tears flowed more recklessly on Linglong's cheeks.

Both were silent.

"I'm going to go to the north." After a long time, the king of Zhou was cruel and said: "The barbarians have repeatedly invaded the frontier, and your majesty ordered the northern expedition, and I will be the commander..."

Linglong was surprised, "Wang Xiaosan, you are so young!"

Zhou Wang saw that she was very concerned, and he was as comfortable as if he drank ice water in the summer, and said comfortingly: "Don't worry, uncle is my deputy commander."

The uncle Zhou Wang talked about was naturally the Duke of Chu, Chang Shao.His father was the founding father of the country, and he himself had been on the battlefield for a long time, with rich combat experience, which was completely different from young people like King Zhou.

"Then, I wish you a successful start and a triumphant return." Linglong blushed in embarrassment when King Zhou saw through her mind.

"I will." King Zhou looked at her with a smile, full of confidence.

The spring breeze blew slowly and drunkenly, and both of them were a little lazy, neither talking nor wanting to leave.

"Will you pick me up when I come back?" King Zhou looked at Linglong expectantly.

Linglong nodded involuntarily.

King Zhou's heart was warm and warm, and his peach blossom eyes were bent into crescent moons in the sky.

"Wait for me to come back." He took a deep look at Linglong, picked up his horse, and strode up the small bridge.

He didn't look back, and the figure gradually moved away.

Small bridges, flowing water, and weeping willows in the setting sun form a meaningful picture.

Linglong looked at his handsome back, tears filled her eyes again.

"Wang Xiaosan, wait a minute!" Linglong called from behind King Zhou.

He didn't intend to turn back when he left, but Linglong's calling sound reached his ears, and he stopped involuntarily.

Turning her head, she saw that Linglong had already boarded the small bridge, running towards him lightly.

"Little Bell." Zhou Wang opened his arms with fever in his eyes.

A flower-like face appeared in front of him, and Linglong took off a wreath necklace from her neck panting, "There is a ruby ​​lock on it, which can lock good fortune and longevity. It is very effective, you wear it."

Zhou Wang gazed at Linglong tenderly for a long time, then lowered his head, "You put it on for me."

Linglong stood on tiptoe and put the Yingluo collar around his neck.

"You locked me up, and I will definitely come back safely." Putting on the collar, King Zhou looked at Linglong and smiled.

The smile is shallow and faint, but it contains infinite affection.

"Yeah." Linglong hummed lightly as her cheeks became hot.

Linglong spent more than two years in Yujia Village.

In the past two years or so, many things have happened, the two biggest things, apart from the Northern Expedition of Zhou Wangshuai's army, is the emperor's decision to move the capital.

Shuntianfu replaced Jinling and became the new capital of the empire.

Foreign relatives and celebrities from all walks of life poured into Shuntian Mansion, and Shuntian Mansion glowed with new vitality.

Another year of green grass.

A young girl stood on a small bridge looking north.

She should be 15 years old, her skin is white and pink, like the best pink pearls in white milk, her long black and smooth hair is combed into a double ring bun, shining with a satin-like luster, her eyebrows are like distant mountains, The eyes are like autumn water, elegant and outstanding, and exquisite.

There were fishes swimming in the water, but when her beautiful figure was reflected in the water, the fishes froze and gradually sank.

White thatch grows by the river, and tender new shoots are sprouting at this time, swaying in the spring breeze, soft and charming.

She raised a pair of slender hands in the spring breeze, her fingers were long and white, softer and more beautiful than the tender white thatch.

The so-called soft hands are talking about her.

(End of this chapter)