Ma Erniang's Splendid Pastoral

Chapter 214
Xia Xiaoren pointed to the patch of Merlin behind him: "It's over there."

Ma Min'er was about to run over, but was blocked by Xia Xiaoren, "Young Madam, she has already come."

She hurriedly looked back, and the Prince of Changshan was following her, protecting Feng Luoyao with his sword and coming towards this side, "Yaoyao..."

"Second sister..."

When the man in black heard the sound of siege, Xia Xiaoren and the guards of the Beijun Prince's Mansion hurriedly blocked it. Ma Min'er quickly ran to Feng Luoyao's side, and grabbed her hand, "Yaoyao..."

"Second Sister..." Feng Luoyao was so frightened that she was already trembling, and when she saw her kind acquaintance, she grabbed Ma Min'er's arm and burst into tears.

"Don't be afraid...don't be afraid..." Ma Miner patted her on the back to comfort her.

Liu Zaiwen, King of Changshan County, stood beside the two of them, holding a sword in both hands, while looking nervously at the men in black who were fighting in the outer circle, and at the same time looking at the two young ladies, his eyes were dark and his face was gloomy. Because of his love, he insisted on running here. He was so frustrated that he wished he could cut down the plum blossom tree beside him with his sword.

After finding Feng Luoyao, Ma Min'er looked at Princess Yunbao again, she was in Zhuang Hao's arms, she was relieved, she didn't need to worry about herself, and looked at the fighting crowd again.

Except for assisting Emperor Yuantai to ascend the throne, Xia Zhen and Liu Zaili almost never faced each other, but today, these black-clothed men were clearly aiming at the two of them.

The guards dispatched by Master Fu and the Eldest Princess finally arrived. There was a clear disparity in strength between the fighting sides. The men in black retreated. In the blink of an eye, except for the man in black who was killed, the rest quickly retreated to the hill, and were about to flee.

Xia Zhen and Liu Zaili quickly led their people to follow, and when they reached the high hill, they fought again.

There was no fighting here at Merlin, the princess and his wife hurriedly asked if anyone was injured or...

"Back to the princess, some sons and young ladies have been injured."

"Have you..." The eldest princess didn't ask, but everyone knew what she meant.

"Back to the princess, it seems that someone has been..."

"Whose family?" the princess asked nervously.

Seeing that everyone was looking at the princess, Da Fuma was startled, frightened, and at a loss, and hurriedly stopped: "Jin'er, quickly take everyone to the hall to warm up by the fire, and I will take care of the rest."

"Okay." The eldest princess was determined to be in charge of the horse, and quickly asked her subordinates to lead everyone to the atrium hall.

Ma Min'er looked at the small hill, then turned around and followed the crowd to the atrium hall, where there was a charcoal fire, which made it much warmer, and the frightened young masters and ladies of the aristocratic families felt much better in the warmth.

Mei Ruo'er also followed the hall in the crowd, and as everyone hid in the corner of the hall, everyone else was in a daze, only she couldn't figure it out, didn't she say that she asked herself to do it herself, how could there be so many people here, and there was no one there? If he succeeds, then what is the significance of this assassination? Not only that, but Liu and Xia are afraid that they will be uprooted by Liu and Xia, so do they still have a chance of revenge?

Ma Miner always felt that someone was looking at her, but she didn't see who it was. Could it be the little lady surnamed Zhao?She looked over and found that she was standing next to the eldest princess, helping the eldest princess to count the princes and young ladies from various families who came to the flower fair, to see who were injured, who...

What a crime, to implicate innocent young lives, Ma Min'er sighed deeply, stood in the hall and waited anxiously for Xia Zhen, when he came back, they would go back.

Half an hour later, Xia Zhen, Liu Zaili, and Da Fuma arrived in the living room. The Eldest Princess rushed to greet her, "How is it?"

"Assassin dies, arrests, it's all right." Liu Zaili replied.

"That's good." While the princess was relieved, she frowned again, and looked at the three men in charge. After all, there are children from aristocratic families who died in this assassination, and this matter is not easy to handle.

Liu Zaili seemed to have seen the embarrassment of the eldest princess, "I will report this matter to the emperor."

"Thank you Zili." The eldest princess said, "I will also go to the palace to tell my father about this matter, after all, this matter happened in my princess mansion."

Liu Zaili glanced at Xia Zhen, the assassins came for them, but they couldn't have said it here, he cupped his hands and said, "I'll go to the palace and report back to the emperor right away." Just after he finished speaking, Zhao Yuning said, " Can you take me back by the way?"

"Ah."

Before Zhao Yuning was happy, he was pushed forward by some force and fell straight forward. Liu Zaili hurried forward to support him.

Everyone was frightened by this sudden change, and those young masters and young ladies who were already frightened suddenly screamed, "Ah..."

"what……"

Xia Zhen immediately protected Ma Min'er, but Ma Min'er only cared about her future sister-in-law, so she hugged Feng Luoyao in her arms as soon as the incident happened.

Liu Zaiwen's outstretched arm was retracted halfway, and no one in the chaotic crowd noticed his blue face and creaking wrist joints, Ma... Ma...

Looking at Xia Zhen who was hugging Ma Min'er tightly, Liu Zaiwen's anger had not yet been suppressed, his nose was filled with the smell of blood, and when he heard the woman call "Master..." he quickly looked in the middle.

What's happening here?In Liu Zaili's arms was his future wife, Zhao Yuning. A little lady was kneeling beside her, her arm was bleeding. In front of him, his sword was stabbing a young man's chest. As he drew the sword, blood spurted out.

"what……"

"what……"

In the hall, the sons and daughters of the aristocratic family were fainting, screaming and screaming, and they were in chaos again.

what happened?Ma Min'er poked her head out of Xia Zhen's arms, looked towards the middle of the hall, and saw the young man stabbed to death in the middle, who seemed to be a servant, and the injured little lady who was kneeling beside Liu Zaiwen, her eyes half squinted, as if she was about to Can't hold on.

Ma Min'er was about to call for help, but Xia Zhen covered her mouth. She looked up at Xia Zhen, who shook her head at her.

Oh, Xia Zhen didn't let her save her. There were reasons for not letting her save her. She fell silent and lowered her head. Only then did she realize that Xia Zhen was hugging her, and she was hugging Feng Luoyao. Damn, that's enough... She quickly loosened her arm, and smiled awkwardly at Feng Luoyao.

Feng Luoyao also realized it, and hurriedly stood to the side, almost dying of embarrassment, really... really... But she didn't dare to look in the middle of the hall, it was too bloody.

Dafu Ma Jiexuanqi said, "This is not a servant of the princess mansion."

"Come here..." Liu Zaili called out in a low voice.

"The king—"

"Drag the body down to find out the identity."

"Yes, the king of the county."

Liu Zaili called again: "Come here—"

"The king of the county!"

"Find a doctor for this ditty singer."

"Yes, the king of the county."

"Singer?" Xia Zhen asked, "Do you know her?"

Liu Zaili turned his head, "She is an actress in Yazhuxuan."

I see!Everyone knows that Liu Zaili likes to entertain friends at the Princess Restaurant - Yazhuxuan.

"No wonder this girl can block the sword for King Yancheng." The children of the aristocratic family who didn't faint had the leisure to gossip.

"No wonder..."

……

Liu Zaili looked over at the whispering crowd, they immediately fell silent and dared not speak any more.

Although she was quite frightened, but being able to snuggle into her fiancé's arms, Zhao Yuning felt that she was a blessing in disguise. She was enjoying his fiancé's broad chest, and the sound of gossip made her wake up and look to the ground.

"Who are you?" Zhao Yuning left Liu Zaili's embrace in a flash. She felt that this woman's eyebrows and eyes were so familiar, as if she had thought of something, she quickly turned her head to look at Ma Min'er, "Why do you look so alike?"

"Ah..." Seeing the little lady surnamed Zhao staring at her, Ma Miner felt puzzled, "What does it look like?"

Xia Zhen snorted coldly, "Liu Zili..."

"Yuning, I'll have someone take you home."

"Brother Zili..." Zhao Yuning looked at his beloved fiancé with whirling eyes, "I don't want anyone to give it to me..." As long as you give it to me.

Liu Zaili bowed to the princess and his wife, "Let's go first."

"I'll see you off." Dafu Ma Jiexuanqi said.

"No need." Liu Zaili said to Zhao Yuning, "I'm not leaving yet."

"Yes, Zigeli." Zhao Yuning happily followed Liu Zaili and left, passing by Mei Ruo'er who was half kneeling on the ground, secretly snorted, it's just a plaything, and it looks like a woman surnamed Xia, it's really interesting , walked away with pride.

When the person surnamed Zhao mentioned it, Ma Min'er took a closer look at the little lady on the ground, did she really resemble her?Could it be the lost sister?Bah bah... My father is not that kind of person, there are people who look like him in the world, it's just a coincidence.

The flowers in the Princess Mansion will lower the New Year atmosphere in the capital a lot. After all, the children of the rich and powerful were killed by assassins in this flower show.

Sitting on the carriage home, Ma Miner asked, "The target is you and Liu Zaili, so it must be the two who have competed with the current emperor for the throne."

Xia Zhen nodded, "Well, it's the former King Zhao."

"Where is he?"

Xia Zhen replied: "It is rumored that he proclaimed himself king at the junction of Jiaozhi and Yinan."

"Self-established king?"

"Well, the Holy Majesty has been blocking the news, and the people of Great Wei Kingdom don't know much about it."

"Will it pose a threat to the Holy Majesty's throne?"

"This kind of thing... who can tell."

Really, Ma Min'er didn't ask any more, sighed, and nestled into Xia Zhen's arms, "I'll sleep for a while, call me when you get home."

"Well, go to sleep." Xia Zhen hugged her daughter-in-law tightly.

Outside the carriage, Jing Mo had already inquired about the actor who looked like his wife, "Master, that's all I've heard for now."

Xia Zhen narrowed her eyes, "If you ask again, it's absolutely impossible to be just a commoner woman."

"Yes, Lord!" After Jing Mo recalled the incident, he did not leave the carriage, sat on the horse, and walked slowly, and after a while, Xia Xiaoren's horse came head-to-head.

"You don't go to work, why are you taking your time?" Xia Xiaoren glanced at him and said casually.

"Someone is going to find out." Jing Mo looked forward, his body sitting on horseback was straight, like a red cherry gun.

Xia Xiaoren rolled her eyes and mouth, disdaining to talk to her any more.

-

Liu Zaili sent his fiancée to the door, and rushed to the palace without even getting out of the carriage.

Standing in the wind, Zhao Yuning gritted her teeth and watched her fiancé's carriage drift away. For some reason, she couldn't feel the love from her fiancé at all, but felt bitter in her heart, "Is business really so important? There's no time to even walk me in ?”

"Ning Niang, the king of Yancheng County is the most favored family member in front of the Holy One, with power all over the sky, he must be busy." The close girl persuaded.

"Busy..." Zhao Yuning turned and went back home.

"Ning Niang, don't be sad."

"Can't you be sad, there are still sluts who want to block the knife for him." Thinking of this, Zhao Yuning gritted his teeth with hatred.

"Ning Niang, the county king ignored her."

Hearing this, Zhao Yuning felt better. Her brother Zili didn't even look at her, so what's the use of being a vixen.

-

Mei Ruo'er was stabbed in the arm, fortunately, she had some skill, the knife missed, she only suffered some flesh wounds, after the wound was bandaged, the steward of the Princess Mansion personally sent her to Yazhuxuan.

"During this time, don't show your face and sing ditties, so you can rest."

"Thank you, Manager."

The steward of the princess mansion squinted his eyes and waved his hand. The attendant behind him quickly took a box, put the box on the ground, opened it, and there were 100 taels of silver neatly inside, "Take the flowers."

"Thank you, Manager."

"Thank you and thank you for blocking the knife for the king of the county. You deserve it."

Mei Ruo'er lay on the ground, and waited for the people to leave before she lifted up, sat up, looked at the silver flower in front of her, took one in her hand, her eyes were dazed, "Isn't it okay to look alike?" She looked down. Looking at his clothes, he touched his temples, "Then how can I have a chance?"

-

After leaving the palace, Liu Zaili arrived at his private mansion. As soon as he sat down on his buttocks, all the people involved came.

"Talk one by one."

"Yes, the king of the county, the younger one will speak first," said the first hidden guard, "The younger one has sent a thorough investigation inside and outside the princess mansion, and if a hundred assassins can enter the princess mansion's Merlin, they will definitely respond."

"Who is Nei Ying?"

"The little one hasn't been found yet."

"What did you say if you didn't find out?" Liu Zaili narrowed his sharp eyes, feeling very bad.

"Little... I'll check it out right away."

Seeing that the master was in a bad mood, the second steward became more cautious about the matter, "Go back to the county king, I went to investigate just now, and the one who sang the ditty song was temporarily called to the princess mansion."

Liu Zaili rubbed his chin, "Let me pick up her life experience again."

"Yes, the king of the county."

-

In the mansion, Da Fuma sat in the wing room outside the bedroom, leaning on his ear with one hand, holding a teacup in the other, shaking gently, and there were two stewards kneeling in front of him, "I found out, how did the assassin get in?"

"Back... back to Mr. Ma, it's... someone is greedy and wants to steal plum branches and sell them, so that... the assassin can take advantage of it and enter the plum forest."

"Is it that short of money?"

"Master Fu Ma... these plum blossoms will... every year..."

"They will all be less, and they will all be sold, right?"

The steward didn't dare to say anything.

Da Fuma said coldly, "It's fake to sell plum branches, but it's true to be the entrustment of a certain son."

"Fu... Fu Ma Ye..." The steward was so frightened that he couldn't even reply.

"The person who entrusted him must have been quite frightened. He probably didn't expect that he would be taken advantage of by others after setting up a game. It's really clever but being misunderstood by cleverness."

"grandfather……"

-

Liu Zaiwen's gloomy face dripped water, and after so much thought and thought, he got nothing, and the teacups and books in his hand fell to the ground.

The steward beside him shook his body and said, "Master... want... what if Yan Cheng finds out about us?"

"So what? I am of the same clan as him."

"Master... I heard... I heard that the six relatives of Yancheng County King don't recognize..."

Hearing this, Liu Zaiwen's mouth froze, and he immediately said, "I'm just looking for a few gangsters to give me a chance to be a hero to save the beauty. Even if those assassins take this opportunity to come in, what does it have to do with me? Besides, the assassins want to kill them , even if it’s not in the Grand Princess Mansion, it will be in other places, how can they avoid it?”

"Grandpa...do you want to go back and talk to the old prince and ask him to say hello..."

Liu Zaiwen's eyes were dark, he narrowed his eyes, and didn't say anything for a long time.

-

Three days later, after the morning court, Liu Zaili and Xia Zhen went to the imperial study together and stood in front of Emperor Yuantai.

"Everyone has been arrested?" Emperor Yuantai's sharp eyes were dark and frightening.

"Return to the Holy Lord, all the strongholds that can be found in Beijing have been taken."

"It can be found..." Emperor Yuan Tai sneered, "You mean there are still things that cannot be found?"

"Yes, Your Majesty." Liu Zaili bowed his head and replied.

Emperor Yuantai's eyes were sharp, and he looked at Xia Zhen, "Where is Zi'an?"

"My lord, this is not my duty."

Emperor Yuan narrowed his sharp eyes and snorted lightly, "Didn't you check?"

"My lord, there is a little lady who looks like my wife. I suspect they are related by blood, so I checked."

"Really." Yuan Tai narrowed his eyes.

"Yes, my lord."

"Have you found it?"

Xia Zhen said: "Return to the Holy Lord, we found out that she is only from the south of the Yangtze River, and has nothing to do with my little wife's family."

The corners of Emperor Yuantai's mouth were cold, "I didn't expect Lao Qi to live a comfortable life in Nanyi, and even have the leisure to mess with the two of you. How do you think he should repay him?"

Xia Zhen and Liu Zaili looked at each other, but did not reply.

Emperor Yuantai looked at them deeply.

-

The weather is getting colder and colder, and the streets and alleys of the capital have lost a lot of carriages for the nobles to travel, but there are a lot more commoners and traders traveling.

The nobles seldom go out, and they are afraid to go out due to the assassination of the princess mansion. The common people and merchants go out because of the sharp reduction in business taxes. They find that doing a small business is not like before. Five or six of them fell into the pockets of the government or local snakes. With more copper in the pockets, people became more active and motivated to do business, and the streets and alleys suddenly showed a scene of prosperity.

"Are you going to pay your taxes?"

"Yeah, I heard that salt and oil are rewarded for paying taxes. My family just lacks these. I have to go there quickly. If I go late, there will be no more!"

"I went for the towels. I heard that this thing is good for washing your face. It's soft and soft. If it's good, I'll buy some goods and sell them in the market..."

"I heard that Jiangnan merchants donated writing brushes..."

……

Shopkeeper Peng donated towels, cotton shoes, and scarves, and brought the boy out from the back door of the yamen, shrinking his neck in the cold wind.

"Boss, where are we going?"

"Go to the shop."

"Okay."

The shopkeeper went out of the back street of the yamen, walked around to the front, and glanced at the side of the crowded yamen. Small merchants and hawkers had lined up on the street. Almost everyone who came out of the yamen had gifts in their hands. They happily took and went home.

Turning his head, he saw Mr. Feng, wearing casual clothes, standing behind him with Mr. Zhao, "Master, Mr...."

"Are you sending donations again?"

"Yes, Grand Master." Shopkeeper Peng saluted quickly. If it wasn't for his boss, he might not even see the magistrate in his life.

"Aren't Ma Erniang afraid of losing money in vain?"

Shopkeeper Peng smiled and said, "Cotton in the north is growing well this year, and the harvest has been bumper. In order to increase consumption for everyone, the owner is willing to spend a lot of money."

"Haha..." Grand Master Feng laughed loudly, "It's hard for her."

The shopkeeper bowed his head and said, "This is a win-win situation."

"Win-win?" Grand Master Feng nodded again and again, "Okay, okay..." He waved his hand at him, and shopkeeper Peng immediately retreated respectfully.

Zhao Yuyan was standing on the street, and small traders came to pay taxes on their own initiative, causing some people's interests to be damaged, and he will have many things to do next!

Feng Jiangyi felt his heaviness, "Master Zhao, just let go and do it, the old man is standing behind you."

"Thank you sir."

"You're welcome, we are all working for the welfare of the Great Wei Dynasty."

"Yes, my lord."

-

No matter what happened in the capital, Ma Qifeng's family lived their lives behind closed doors, bustlingly preparing for their youngest son's birthday. On the day of the birthday, everyone came over to have a meal, and it was a lot of fun.

Before I knew it, it was the nineteenth day of the twelfth lunar month, and the Ma family got up early. Ma Xiaowu seemed to know that today was his birthday, so he didn't need his parents to call him. He woke up early and asked his mother to dress him up. He took off his clothes, supported the small car, and happily ran around the room.

Mo Wanyi smiled as she straightened her husband's robe, "After the new year, he will be able to run away after taking off his cotton-padded jacket."

"Yeah, it's growing so fast, Xiao Wu will leave." Ma Qifeng also reached out to help his wife straighten her collar, "It's all good, let's go out."

"it is good."

Mo Wanyi reached out for her son's cloak, Ma Qifeng went to hug her son, the three of them went out of the room together, and arrived at the small hall where the second daughter had already arranged everything for the servants.

"Yue'er, why is it so early?" It was only now that the sky was bright outside.

"Today is Xiaowu's birthday, everything has to be done properly." Ma Yueer said to her parents with a smile.

"Sister... sister..." Ma Xiaowu struggled to get off the ground in Ma Qifeng's arms, ran to her side, and hugged her thigh with both hands.

"Brat, you already know whose thigh you want to hug!" Ma Yueer couldn't help but squat down, and nodded his little nose, "You really know how to flatter."

"Hee hee, sister..." Ma Xiaowu hugged Ma Yue'er's neck with her chubby little hands, her little face nestled into Ma Yue'er's heart, with a frowning look on her face.

Mo Wanyi smiled and said, "Si Niang, take Xiao Wu to rest, and I will do the rest."

"Okay." Ma Yue'er couldn't hold Ma Xiaowu, stood up, and held his little hand, "Xiao Wu, let's go, let's play."

"Go to my toys... room."

"Okay."

"Wait, don't forget to have breakfast."

"Understood, Aunt Wan."

Ma Qifeng found the steward and prepared to entertain the guests, "Have all the posts been delivered?"

"Uncle Ma, everything has been delivered." It was Guo Erping who answered, Xiaoyou was not here, and he was running errands for the Ma family's affairs, big and small.

"That's good." Ma Qifeng said again, "The people who come today are all of high status, we must not lose our courtesy."

Guo Erping said, "Uncle Ma, don't worry, Brother Xiaoyou will come back later."

"That's good."

Ma Qifeng was about to go to have breakfast when the concierge had already brought in the first guest, "Luoyang Duke?"

"Uncle Six, good morning." Liu Zaicheng greeted casually.

"Good morning, the king of the county." Ma Qifeng entertained the little overlord of the capital, and glanced at Guo Erping, implying that he was not invited.

Guo Erping blinked, that's right, I didn't send a happy post to Lao Liang Wufu!

(End of this chapter)