A Collection of Old Sayings by Fourth Sister You

Chapter 203 Meeting the Best Him: Red Dust (38)
38
Dingyi has also struggled for a long time over this matter.Confessions always have to be confessed, but I have no idea in my heart, and I am not sure what the situation will be after I say it.In case the men become angry from embarrassment and put her up for trial, or expel her directly, wouldn't it be a waste of success that Changbai Mountain is close at hand?She made up her mind and waited until she got there to play by ear.Before leaving, Master had told her not to blindly recognize her brother even if she saw her, and she understood the truth.So be steady, now is not the time, even if the words come to your lips, you have to swallow them back.

She didn't want to mention it, so naturally he wouldn't ask, he just knew in his heart that he cared more about her.

It is still heading towards the night and resting at night. Starting from Fusong, you have to go around the official road in a big circle, and insert it obliquely to the southeast, which can save half the journey.It's just that the road is difficult. There was a heavy snow at the end of October, and the road was extremely difficult.

It was freezing cold, and the two birds were really terribly cold. They shrank their necks all day, like chickens waiting to be slaughtered in the market.The song was no longer sung, and the dance was no longer danced. After Rong Hua died, the mountains and rivers were forever silent, extremely desolate and desolate.

The small gold silk cages that Qi Ye bought in Beijing came in handy, both were the size of a grasshopper cage, and it was easy to fit on the chest.It's just a bit ugly, she swayed up and down for fear of being choked to death, and swayed left and right for ventilation, but she felt that the sweeping face was thorough.However, Qi Ye always wanted to come to see her. Before she could do it, he would take off one of her skirts, and the other side would protrude. It looked weird and made people dumbfounded.

With something bulging on his chest, Qi Ye sighed, "Look how much our tree looks like a woman. Wearing a head mask and beautiful clothes, it will be eye-catching no matter where you put it."

She was extremely embarrassed, Qiye had a really good eye, but her situation was far from as beautiful as imagined after the real exposure.

She continued to pretend to be stupid, act cautiously, and stick to her duty.The horse team braved the snow and finally arrived at Changbai Mountain on the scheduled day.

Standing at the gate of Huangzhuang, there is a feeling of a world away.Looking around, the sky and the earth are vast, and it is rare to see it in winter, but the mountains are continuous and the pine waves are windy.Dingyi's whole body was trembling, and his teeth were chattering, not because of the cold, but because he couldn't hold back his excitement.I have finally come here after all the hard work, and the past 12 years seem to be living for today.Stepping on this land, this is the place where her elder brothers suffered. When she finds them, she feels that her long-cherished wish has been fulfilled, and her parents can comfort her.

The so-called Huangzhuang refers to the Zhuangtian ranch directly operated by the royal family. There were only five or six farms in the early days of Daying, but now it has increased to more than 20.Where there is a villa, there must be a house. The imperial court specially appointed eunuchs to supervise them. Usually the mountains are high and the emperor is far away. These eunuchs are the emperors of the earth.Now that the prince has arrived, the eunuchs led Zhuangtou and his companions out to greet him, and a large crowd fell to their knees outside the gate.

It was too cold, his face was numb, Qiye had frostbite on his ear, he rubbed his horse and yelled, "Stop making such fucking gestures, I know you guys are coming and you're not ready!"

Tao Yongfu, the head eunuch, nodded and bowed down to serve him, "Tell me, the things from the mountain villages and wild places are all things that can't be put on the table. The servant hastily asked someone to prepare the table noodles. The vegetables are game from the mountains, and the wine is self-produced." Daqu, all the preparations have been made, let the men warm up, please move."

Qiye lost his appetite when he heard the wild game, and waved his hand and said, "I've had enough meat on the way, stew fish in a pot, and then cook taro in a pot."

When Tao Yongfu agreed repeatedly, he quickly winked at his subordinates, one side welcomed the gentlemen to enter the door, and the other side ordered the kitchen to go to the kitchen.

The prince and all the adults from the Ministry of Military Affairs and the Criminal Department went to the lobby, and Geshha and the guards had their places to go.There are not many houses in Huangzhuang, but there are many houses. Rows of tube houses from south to north are like pigeon coops, and the roofs are very low, but it is comfortable for two people to live in one room.Dingyi got a special order. She lived in a room with the birds, so she didn't have to squeeze in with others, set up a brazier, cleaned up all the birds, and finally could go out for a walk.

As the evening approaches, the sky is like an upside-down pickle urn, the potherb mustard has been marinated into yellow, and the bottom of the urn is groggy.She looked up and breathed into clouds.He moved back with his sleeves up, and saw a farmer dressed up pushing a three-wheeled cart. There were a lot of things in the cart. There were tofu in the pot, and radishes, yams, winter bamboo shoots, and lotus roots in the basket. dishes.Pushing and pushing the wheel, it hit a rock, bumped a bit, and a basket fell down, immediately rolling potatoes all over the ground.

Dingyi hurried up to help pick it up, the farmer thanked him one after another, his accent was from Beijing.She felt very curious, "Are you from Beijing?"

The farmer replied yes, "You are the long-term follower of the imperial envoy? Look at your face."

Dingyi sighed, "I just arrived today. After the resettlement, I went out to look around. It's so cold here, it's incomparable to Beijing."

The man smiled and said: "Well, whoever comes here, they all made a mistake and were assigned, and they came here to sacrifice their lives to atone for their sins."

Ding Yi glanced at him, and since the words came to this point, he continued, "I see that this place is big, do all the slaves live here?"

"Where, is this the residence of Eunuch Tao and the others? It's the turn of those poor people to live? There is a place on a hill away from here, surrounded by a net of barbed wire and thorns, inside the shack, dozens of people sleep in one room , next to it is the cowshed and the sheepfold, and they live next to the livestock."

Dingyi didn't like it, and sighed: "I'm not considered a person when I come here..."

"Sinners, you save your life for refining, and you can still eat and drink as offerings?" The farmer shook his head, "You don't know, the supervisor drove out to reclaim the wasteland in the morning, and came back after it was dark. It looks like a mule and a horse. What are you wearing? An old padded jacket that is not cold-proof. The sleeves are rotten on the top and the bottom of the trousers is hanging down. The group of people surnamed Tao. We peasants are so miserable that they can’t hold their heads up. We don’t know how much rent the imperial court collects in a year. Anyway, if you produce ten shi of grain, he will ask you for nine and a half shi. Yes, if you can’t afford the food rations for a year, how can you live this life?”

The farmer was full of complaints, and complained whenever anyone came from Beijing.Dingyi was concerned about other things, he answered vaguely, and moved the basket to the car for him.The man was very grateful, and she smiled and said, "What's the matter, thank you for something." Then she asked, "Where are those ahas cultivated? In such a cold day, don't you want to make ginseng?"

The man said: "Ginseng comes three times a year, and it is the last time in September. When I come back, I rush to make it day and night, and it has been finished long ago. Now I have no work to do, so I can't be idle. They are all driven into the mountains, and let it snow. It’s better to cut the knife and plow the field.” Pointing to the south, he said, “There are two hills away! There is a young child crying from the cold, and yesterday I heard the crying loudly, oh, what a pity! "After finishing speaking, he cupped his hands and thanked him, and pushed the cart away.

Dingyi stood in a daze, not knowing how many Ahas there are in Huangzhuang, and where to find the list of these people.I was very anxious, but there was no way to ask for help. After thinking about it, since Master Twelfth came here for the case, I should be able to find my brothers by staring at him.

She turned around, and the smog swept across her face, she narrowed her eyes, looking forward to it a thousand times, but separated by two hills, it was no different from before.Ruliang and the others didn't know if it was good or not, she remembered what the man said just now, she didn't have enough food and clothing, so she wasted her life in this icy and snowy place.She always felt that her life was difficult, but in fact they were a thousand times more difficult.It is unimaginable how desperate the heart must be in the hard days without end.

She was walking back in dismay, when she met Na Jin who came out to look for her, and greeted her: "Master Twelfth is talking about bird scriptures, and I want you to send the two birds."

She responded, and went back to the house to cover the bird with a thick blanket.Slip across to the upper room.As soon as the curtain was opened, the room was filled with hot air. The two princes were sitting on the seat, and officials lined up on both sides. There were people from the Ministry of Military and Criminal Affairs who came together, and there were also local officials from the prefectures and counties.As for Qiye, he was peeling taro and dipping it in sugar. When he saw her, he waved and said, "Shu'er, the taro grows so well here, come and taste it."

This prince is really unrestrained, she smiled and shook her head, "You eat, this servant is not hungry, and this servant sent the bird."

When the cover was removed, the room was warm, and the two birds came alive.Opening up the voice to sing, Bailing learns from the waterwheel, creaking and creaking, Hongzi "chuckles and chokes", and automatically brings up the gongs and drums, and everyone in the room who understands and doesn't understand applauds.

Qi Ye was impatient to talk about the case, so he turned his head to talk to someone about the bird.The Twelfth Master hurriedly finished his errands and went to Ninggu Pagoda, and when he sat down, he recruited the steward to check people.

"In the 27th year of Chengde, the Emperor Taishang issued an imperial decree to prosecute the case of Wen Lu, the censor of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Wen Lu was upheld, and the three sons were sent to Huangzhuang. It has been 12 years now. When I left Beijing, I was ordered to re-examine the case and bring them as witnesses. ..." He scratched the lid of the cup and took a sip of tea, "How many people are there in the Zhuangzi? Find the roster and check them one by one. I'll do it right away."

Tao Yongfu rubbed his hands and said, "Your Majesty, wait a moment. The slaves expect it will take time to investigate. The imperial court has rectified the discipline. Over the years, many people have been sent to Changbai Mountain. Like the six years of Chengsheng, the internal affairs The case of Fu Wang's family was involved, and Zhuangzi took in a total of 220 seven people. At present, it is estimated that the number of Aha's people will exceed [-]. There are people in and out, and it will take a lot of effort to fall on the head..."

Hongce glanced at him, "It takes a lot of energy to worry about doing business for the emperor, so what should we do? We have worked hard, and we are no more blessed than you. You have made great achievements in Zhuangzi these years. There is a consultant in Dunhua. I mentioned you when I went to Beijing to report on my duties, and praised you vigorously. The emperor also sent a message and ordered me to investigate. If it is true, I will naturally praise you. You just said that there are ins and outs. I know the ins and outs. Where did you come out? coming?"

Tao Yongfu was wary of what he said, it's not that he has never heard of the reputation of the Twelfth Lord, the so-called achievements are obviously ironic.Asking now, you have to be 12 points more careful. If you offend him, you can take his head off with a uniform decree. Going into the mountains to dig ginseng in September, one will freeze to death if you make a mistake. The other is that the mountains are steep, and there are not a few people who fall into them every year. To put it bluntly, when you come to this place, you just come For those who are suffering, whether they live or not depends on fate. For example, if they are sick, there is a doctor in Zhuangzi, but this doctor not only treats people, but also treats animals..." He smiled shyly, "Mongolian doctors treat people like animals. A few lives are hard enough to withstand, so if you enter, the court has a gracious decree to send people here, and if you leave, you will die. Not only here, but Ningguta is the same. There will be dozens of them every year, and there is no way. thing."

When they talked, Ding Yi listened carefully, and couldn't help shivering when he heard this.Eunuch Tao said that life and death were the same as eating, and he didn't take human life seriously at all.She suddenly felt terrible, and Bi Bi jumped up in her heart.I hope the brothers are all well. The reason she endured all these hardships is because she has a belief supporting her, and she wants to find a way to rescue them.The twelfth master is kind, so she went to kowtow and beg, maybe she could forgive some affection.If this road fails, she even made up her mind to ask Qi Ye.He once said that if she is a woman, let her be Shu Fujin, which means that in the eyes of Qi Ye, she is not annoying.She never thought about Gao Pan, as long as she can save her brother, she is willing to sacrifice anything, even if she is a servant girl, she will recognize it.

On the scene, you come and go with bureaucratic accents, she stands there anxiously, looking out the window frequently, only to see the boundless snow flying all over the sky.After waiting for about three quarters, the pen note style that went out earlier came in, holding a roster book and singing: "Returning to the prince, I was ordered to investigate the files more than ten years ago, and there was indeed such an entry in the year of Gengxu. , Wen’s third sons, Ru Liang, Ru Gong, and Ru Jian, were allotted to Huangzhuang because of their father’s crimes..."

Ding Yi felt that his soul was hovering above his head, as if it would leave at any moment.He stretched his ears tremblingly and listened. After finishing the letter, he took a step forward and handed over the booklet, pointing his finger at a certain place, and replied: "My lord, look at this again, here are the records of three people serving in Huangzhuang—— In the second year of Chengsheng, Gu Yu was infected with the military service and became seriously ill. After ten days of treatment, no improvement was seen. On the [-]th, his condition took a sharp turn for the worse, and he died within three days."

(End of this chapter)