The Red Mansion is so charming

Chapter 194
Xiuyan sat in the carriage holding Fu Geer who was sleeping soundly, laughing muffledly from time to time.The two girls, Meilian and Mio, looked at each other in blank dismay, their expressions also changed several times.

The scene on Deyue Tower just now really made everyone dumbfounded. Fu Geer's small buttocks exposed by the open cotton trousers happened to be pressed on Song Chen's hand. Before the little guy went out, he was afraid that he would die because of hunger Crying and fussing, so I specially asked the nanny to feed her milk, and Xiuyan in Deyue Tower also gave her a mouthful of hot water, so it's no wonder that the little stomach can digest it.It happened that nothing was wasted, and it was all poured on Song Chen's skirt.

"You are such a troublesome little guy!" Xiuyan poked her hands on the round face of the little meatball, tightened the cloak in her arms, and hugged her younger brother even more firmly.

Outside the curtain, a strong wind blew up at some point, the sky was already dark, and snowflakes were flying all over the sky.Zhao Xing yelled at the coachman to speed up, and several guards even surrounded his girl's carriage.

The third master of the Ouyang family, who had been following behind, saw the team that was drifting away from the gap in the car curtain, and hurriedly told the long follower: "Don't get lost."

The long follower responded immediately, but helplessly, the porters and servants of Ouyang's family stood outside Deyue Tower for more than an hour, and the third master forbade them to move around. Husband's limbs are weak, and even now he can barely lift the sedan chair.

Everyone in Ouyang's family heard the words of the long follower, but they were full of dissatisfaction but had nowhere to vent, so they had to grit their teeth and walk forward.

The third master Ouyang sat in the terribly cold sedan, rubbing his hands from time to time to keep warm, the rickety sedan suddenly stopped, and then fell to the ground.The third master hurriedly asked: "Why did the sedan chair stop?" No one outside responded, it was so quiet that it didn't look like it was on the street.

The third master Ouyang was startled suddenly, and hurriedly raised his hand to lift the felt curtain. Before he could fully see the situation outside, a sharp sword with a cold light came in from the gap in the curtain like a poisonous snake, and Unbiased, it just hit the throat of the third master Ouyang.

"You, who are you? Do you know who I am?"

The person outside the curtain let out a muffled laugh, his voice was low and hoarse, and his accent sounded a bit like the Western Regions: "The famous Ouyang family, how could the brothers not know about it?"

The third master Ouyang hurriedly raised his hands and smiled apologetically: "Brother, if you are short of money for passing by, just say it. I respect the heroes of the rivers and lakes and the heroes of the green forest the most. Brothers can come to my house to get money. It hurts the innocent."

Seeing the cold sword retreat slightly, the third master Ouyang felt relieved, and he took a breath, but the other party coldly opened the felt curtain with his long sword. Under the night, the third master could barely see through the moonlight. A burly man, more than seven feet tall, wearing black night clothes, leaving only a pair of murderous eyes looking at him.

An hour later, the Ouyang family got the news that during the night patrol, the people from Wucheng Bingmasi found a small blue woolen sedan chair in the pomegranate alley, and a few lanterns scattered on the ground with the word "Ouyang" written on them.Because the people from Wucheng Bingma Division knew that the ancestral family of the fifth prince was named Ouyang, and they were probably from the same family, so they rushed over to inquire.

The old lady Ouyang fainted as soon as she heard it, and the two granddaughters strangled and poured water, which barely saved the grandmother.

"Those three boys from my family have only been in the capital for a few days. Today we are going to visit our teacher's mansion to pay New Year's greetings. There is no way we have any enemies." The old lady Ouyang cried heartbrokenly, as if she had witnessed the scene of her own flesh and blood being murdered.

The Commander of the Wucheng Army and Horse Division rolled his eyes impatiently in his heart, but smiled politely: "Don't worry too much, old lady, I asked them to check carefully, there is no sign of fighting in the pomegranate alley, presumably not too old That's what my wife said."

The two sisters, Huiping and Huiling, were crying like tears, especially Huiping.

The old lady Ouyang was troubled: "Then according to adults, what is the most important thing for us now?"

The Commander of the Wucheng Army and Horse Commander said: "I have asked my subordinates to search from house to house, and the curfew is still ten minutes away. Even if those gangsters have wings, they will not be able to escape from the capital city. Don't panic, old lady. If they come to ask for a ransom , you hold your ground for the time being, and wait for me to follow the vine."

The old lady Ouyang knew the worst of the best strategies, but she was helpless.After sending away the people from Wucheng Bingmasi, the old lady hurriedly called Ouyang Jingde: "You tell the accountant to calculate it immediately, how much money can we use now?"

After a while, a number was obtained in the front yard, Ouyang Jingde looked at the old lady cautiously: "Going back to the ancestors, the silver that can be used is only more than five thousand taels."

The old lady Ouyang's face was full of disbelief: "Don't coax me, Yangzhou only dialed 3 taels a year ago. I'm afraid that when we walk around next year, we will be shabby and embarrass His Highness. It's only a few days. How can it be possible?" Is that all that's left?"

Ouyang Jingde smiled wryly in her heart, but she didn't dare to say that the second master hadn't left, he just lived in the capital, and asked someone to pay money from time to time.

Seeing Ouyang Jingde's concealed appearance, the old lady said sternly: "At this point, you still haven't told the truth? Could it be that you saw the third master was arrested by the bad guys, and you looked at our orphans and widows to bully us?"

Ouyang Jingde was so frightened that she quickly knelt down: "The ancestor wronged my nephew to death, how dare my nephew have such vicious thoughts, yes, yes"

He simply gritted his teeth and told the truth: "The second master has never left the capital, and he lives in Tiaozi Alley. Years and years after the year, the second master has paid a total of 8000 taels of silver to the account, plus managing the Beijing Palace. , Nan’an County Prince’s Mansion and the mansions of several Shangshu lords, the remaining 5000 taels are barely enough.”

The old lady Ouyang was shaking with anger, Huiling wiped away her tears and scolded: "You are talking nonsense, my father can't!"

Ouyang Jingde felt very uncomfortable. Although he was only an errand in the clan, he was also Ouyang Huiling's uncle.This little girl reprimanded him like a servant, how could there be any rules?

Ouyang Jingde sneered and said: "Miss Huiling doesn't have to believe it. The second master bought a small courtyard in Tiaozi Lane. There are about twenty houses in all sizes, and there are four or five maids to take care of them. They come here behind closed doors. My own little days."

Huiling was crying and fussing, holding on to the old lady Ouyang: "The ancestor drove him out soon, how dare he slander my father like this as a servant. My father is the most honest person, for no reason, why didn't he go back to Yangzhou? Buying a house and buying a girl, spread the word, and tell my father how to gain a foothold in the clan from now on!"

The old lady Ouyang only felt that the unrest was rising again and again, and she had a constant headache. She didn't know how to respond to her granddaughter. Ouyang Jingde said without thinking: "What's going on, you have explained it clearly."

Ouyang Jingde suppressed his anger, and said indifferently: "Yes, old lady. The second master fell in love with a woman a few months ago and wanted to marry her as a concubine, but he was worried that the old lady would not agree, so he quietly bought it in Tiaozi Lane. The second master did not expect that the old lady would send him back to Yangzhou. The second master was unwilling and reluctant to leave, so he concealed the news and stayed in the capital secretly."

Huiling was so angry that she wanted to scold, but was glared back by the old lady Ouyang.

"What is the origin of this woman? But a good family?"

Ouyang Jingde didn't hide anything, just said: "I heard it's the oiran of Lingyan's restaurant."

The old lady Ouyang slapped away all the tea sets on the table, and there were broken pieces of porcelain all over the floor. Huiling, who was still reluctant just now, also fell silent and huddled beside Huiping.

Ouyang Jingde came out of the old lady's yard in a depressed mood, and looked back with resentment.I have been working as a cow and a horse in this family for these years, even if I have no credit, I should have hard work, but these women simply don't treat him as a human being, and they are slaves one by one. Could it be that my surname is "Ouyang"?

Ouyang Jingde spat hard on the ground: Since they are unkind, don't blame yourself for being unrighteous.

Early the next morning, Ouyang Jingde sent someone to secretly send a post to Ma Tingyuan, begging to see him.

After a few days, the kidnappers in Ouyang's house did not come to ask for ransom. The old lady Ouyang was even more panicked. She dared not sleep day and night. Whenever she closed her eyes, she seemed to see her son appearing in front of her covered in blood. , crying and shouting for the old lady Ouyang to save him.

The old lady was so frightened that she fell ill, and it was useless to invite several imperial physicians to see her. Time passed and it was the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.Ouyang's family was full of gloom, the imperial physician had already hinted to the two sisters, Huiping and Huiling, to prepare things for the old lady as soon as possible, so as not to panic.

Huiping made a quick decision, and hurriedly sent someone to Tiaozi Lane to call the second master to come back and preside over the important event.Unexpectedly, the second master thought it was the old lady's trick, and tied him up and escorted him back to Yangzhou just to coax him, so no matter how much the housekeeper begged, the second master was unmoved, and pushed the housekeeper instead, scolding the housekeeper for blocking his way to get rich way.

The steward came back with a sad face and told Huiping: "I have inquired about it. The second master has been playing cards with a few officials' children recently, and he doesn't even go back to Tiaozixiang very often."

Huiping despises the second uncle's plaything and loses his mind, and hates the second uncle's heartlessness and ungratefulness. The old lady is dying, but he still doesn't care about anything.

Huiping had no choice but to send a letter to Yangzhou, begging the old man to come to Beijing to preside over the overall situation.

After the [-]th day, the year is considered to be over, and all kinds of red and colored silk lanterns have been cleaned up in the city, but the lively atmosphere has not disappeared at all.It turns out that the examination will be held in more than a month. Talented scholars from all over the country gathered in the capital, Xie Yuan, and the major guild halls and restaurants are already overcrowded, and the streets and alleys are all talking about this matter.

In order to prevent the literati from causing trouble, the Army and Horse Commander of the Five Cities mobilized most of their troops to patrol the city, and they were not as devoted to the affairs of Ouyang's family as before.The old lady Ouyang lingered on the sick bed, hanging her breath with ganoderma lucidum and ginseng, just to hear the news that her son was safe and sound.Therefore, Huiping did not dare to reveal to the old lady the actions of Wucheng soldiers and horses.

Seeing that her grandma was exhaling more gas than breathing in, Huiping couldn't help discussing with Huiling: "Otherwise, you should go and find the second uncle yourself, and the second uncle may believe what you say."

Huiling rebuffed flatly: "Tell me to go to that kind of dirty place, absolutely impossible!" Huiling hated her father for not loving himself, and found a woman from a brothel to be a side room. How can she get married when she is established among the ladies of the famous family?
Huiping could only persuade her with good words: "At this time, we should pay attention to the meaning. After all, the second uncle still loves you the most. It is useless for us to go, but the second uncle can still listen to what my sister says." Huiping quietly wiped away her tears. : "I don't hide from my sister. I have seen the appearance of the old lady these few days, and then I think of my father whose life or death is uncertain."

Huiling felt sore and nodded helplessly.She has a harsh mouth, but she is not a fool. Things happened one after another at home. Thinking about it now, everything happened after the dispute with the Xing family.

Huiling hurriedly said, "Do you think the Xing family did this?"

Huiping's heart tightened: "Don't talk nonsense."

"Why am I just talking nonsense? The third uncle has never offended anyone. If the kidnappers had come to ask for money earlier, why would they have waited until now? The Xing family hates us to the bone, and if it were me, I wouldn't let it go. And you know that dead girl in their family With a heart like a poisonous scorpion, she must have set her sights on third uncle a long time ago, yes, she was the one who kidnapped third uncle."

Huiping hurriedly asked someone to find out what happened to the opposite door on the day her father disappeared, and in the afternoon, someone came back to report: "At around the time of that day, the girl from the opposite door Xing's family brought many people out of Fengwei Hutong. Because their car at that time The horse is really eye-catching, many people have seen it, and"

The person who answered did not dare to continue talking, and carefully aimed at the two girls.

Huiling scolded: "I'm dumb, what are you talking about?"

"Yes, yes," the servant said hurriedly, "and the doorman of the Zuo's house next door told the young man that he vaguely saw our third master's sedan chair passing through the house without entering, and followed the Xing family's chariot and horses all the time."

Huiping looked at Huiling puzzled: "Why is father chasing after the Xing family?"

Huiling also ignored her, and still asked the servant: "You mean, the carriage that the girl from the Xing family was riding in was extremely unusual that day?"

"Yes, I heard it's a pearl car."

Huiling clapped her hands: "It must be the Xing family's dead girl who is going to meet someone. The third uncle saw the clue and wanted to follow up to investigate, but was silenced by the Xing family." People from Bingma Division go to Xing's house to search, and they will definitely find Third Uncle. Let's see how they argue this time!"

Huiping hurriedly stopped her: "Don't be rash, go back and understand the old lady first." The sisters hurried to the upper courtyard of the old lady Ouyang. Find the box in my closet."

Nanny Sheng found a wooden box of huanghuali from the depths of the cage, and slowly put it in the arms of the old lady Ouyang.Now, the old lady can't even use the strength to lift the neighbor, it was Huiping who helped her open the box.It turned out to be a stack of bank notes.

The old lady Ouyang nodded at Nanny Sheng: "Take out 1 taels and ask Jingde to send it to the Commander of the Wucheng Army and Masi, and then tell him the conjectures of the two girls, but don't say it's just a random guess. Tell him, it was our family who saw clearly."

Nanny Sheng took the silver ticket and went out hesitantly. The old lady Ouyang waited for a long time before she brought up the tone. During this time, Huiping stuffed half a slice of ginseng into her mouth.

"The money here is my savings. I didn't stay in Yangzhou. I thought that your uncle would come over in the future and distribute it to their three brothers. They are all my sons, and I am not partial. But now" the old lady With a sad expression: "I don't know how long I can live, whether I can support Huiping's father back. I will hand over the bank notes to your sisters, [-] yuan each. There are some antique jewelry in Yangzhou. Your sisters The two are divided, and it will be regarded as a dowry in the future. Some loose money will be given to the nanny and other old people who serve me, so don't make them feel cold."

The two sisters were choked up, and the old lady Ouyang waved her hand casually with a tired face on her face: "Go, I'm tired, and I'll tell my grandmother to rest."

The two granddaughters went out, and the birth mother was not by her side. A feeling of helplessness gradually hit the old lady Ouyang's heart.She has made countless decisions in her life. When she was young, she fought with her stepmother, when she went out to fight with her mother-in-law and husband, and when she was older, she fought with her daughters-in-law.The old lady claimed that she had never made a big mistake, but today, lying here with a weak and sick body, the old lady Ouyang had to say that she made the most wrong decision when she was approaching old age.

That is to become the enemy of the Xing family!

Now that the matter has come to this point, it is useless for her to say more.What I hope now is that the commander of Wucheng Bingmasi can rescue her son from the Xing family for the sake of the 1 taels of silver, otherwise she will die in peace.

Here, the commander received the bank note, but only asked the Ouyang family to go back and wait for news.He drank two cups of tea in the yamen, and went to Zhenfusi without any haste.Song Chen had just returned from the palace, and when his subordinates said that Commander Duan of the Bingma Division was waiting for him, a smile appeared on his face.

"Brother Duan!" Song Chen cupped his hands to those sitting upright in the hall, Commander Duan hurriedly got up and said with a smile, "Brother Song, why should you be so polite? I'm afraid this is just coming out of the palace? Why, the emperor announced you to speak again?"

Duan Commander made it easy to hear envy in his tone, but it may be more probing.Who will take over the southeast water army? This matter has been rumored for a long time. Song Chen is not a small character. Commander Duan always feels that the other party's news comes from a wider source.

Song Chen said with a smile: "What are you talking about, but Long Live Lord scolded me, let's go, let's not talk about that, brother Duan is here today?"

Commander Duan smiled knowingly, took out a bank note from his pocket and patted it on the table: "It was given to me by Ouyang's family, and they said they asked me to lead troops into Xing's house and rescue the third master Ouyang." But my brother also knows, not to mention the unclear relationship between the Xing family and the fifth prince, even if the Xing family has no relationship with the royal family, there is no evidence, how can I arrest people?"

Song Chen nodded and said, "Brother Duan is right. Besides, Mr. Xing has worked so hard in the ordnance department. Today, Long Live Lord secretly reminded Mr. Xing that he will be promoted to the official rank of Mr. Xing! You go to the Xing family to arrest people and beat him up." It's not the fifth prince's face, but the emperor's face."

Commander Duan hurriedly nodded in agreement: "Then what should I do according to brother's wishes?"

Song Chen understood the slyness in Commander Duan's eyes, and suddenly smiled: "Brother Duan has something to say, just say it."

"Okay! Brother is a straightforward person." Commander Duan restrained his cynical smile and said seriously: "Brother Song's business in the southeast, I want to take [-]% of it!"

(End of this chapter)