Idle courtiers

Chapter 280 The mouse meets the cat

After entering the inner city of the imperial capital, Zhou Nan would not be rash enough to take his wife, mother and son directly to Duan's house, so he found an inn to accommodate them, and ordered Xiaoer to buy a bunch of candies and snacks to coax brother Yi to stay.

Brother Yi is a dull and simple child, he doesn't talk much, and keeps his mouth shut all the way.Seeing so much food at this moment, I said a few words happily.

He probably doesn't know that today will determine the fate of his future life.

This is the second day after Mr. Duan passed away. According to the customs of the Ming Dynasty, it is a small coffin to be put into a coffin.

The day after the small burial is the big burial, and guests can accept condolences on the day of the big burial.

Tomorrow is the additional exam for this year's Qiuwei in Shuntian Mansion, and something like this happened to the Duan family, will the old Duan still preside over the exam?Thinking of this, Zhou Nan was suddenly startled. Don't be busy for a long time, Duan Tixue asked for leave because of a new funeral at home.In this way, it would be in vain to make some arrangements by myself.

Although it was a small funeral, when Zhou Nan arrived at the ground, he still saw a lot of cars and horses parked outside. Apparently, some guests had come to pay their respects in advance. guest.

Zhou Nan and him had met yesterday, so they knew each other, so they went forward and bowed their hands in salute.

Duan Shisan was taken aback when he saw Zhou Nan, why did this person come again: "I have seen Mr. Zhou."

Zhou Nan: "Dare to ask the butler, who is the bereaved owner of Duan Mansion this time, but Duan Tixue?" The so-called bereaved owner refers to the owner of the funeral.

As soon as Duan Shisan asked this question, his face showed annoyance.But it was not easy to get angry in front of the guests, so he just said with a dark face: "There is no reason in the world for a white-haired person to send a black-haired person. My master is old and grieved too much. How can he be the bereaved master, Mr. Zhou?" How impolite?"

"This funeral will be presided over by Mr. Duan." Mr. Duan is a distant nephew of Duan Tixue, and now he is Duan Tixue's aide.

Generally speaking, the head of mourning is the direct descendant of the younger generation, the heir of the family, who will send the deceased elder to the end.The only heir of the Duan family is dead. Isn't this a question you ask which pot should not be opened and which pot should be lifted?Zhou Nan's question has already offended the Duan family.

It's a pity that Mr. Zhou didn't know this, so he continued to ask: "Then, as for Duan Tixue, can I ask the court for leave?"

When Duan Shisan saw him asking questions, he felt impatient: "My master is going to preside over the exam tomorrow, so how can he ask for leave. If Mr. Zhou is fine, you can watch tea inside."

Hearing what he said, Zhou Nan secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but it was not in vain.He said: "I have something to ask for a meeting, please inform me."

Duan Shisan finally couldn't help having an outburst, and scolded in a low voice: "You are so ignorant, you came here yesterday, and you came again today, and it's not because of tomorrow's exam. Things like this have happened in my house, how can the master still say that?" I have time to take care of you, hurry up and go away."

After all, Zhou Nan was about to be kicked out.

Seeing his refusal, Zhou Nan was also annoyed, and shouted: "What a scumbag, my lord is here today for official business. Official business is bigger than heaven. If there is a delay, you are the only one to ask."

"Master Zhou doesn't use official business to oppress people, isn't he trying to please my master?" Because many guests came to the house, Duan Shisan naturally refused to let Zhou Nan make such a fuss.He sneered and said, "Okay, I'll report it right away. If you really have business, that's fine. If you lie to others, you know the consequences."

"You talk too much nonsense, go quickly."

"Wait."

After a while, Duan Shisan turned back and led Zhou Nan into a shrine in the back house.

Duan Chengen sat inside alone, he vomited blood yesterday because of excessive grief, now he is slumped on the chair, his face is as white as paper, making people worry that he will die in the next moment.

Seeing Zhou Nan coming, Duan Tixue didn't speak, but just stared blankly at the snowflakes outside the window.

Cutting off the bloodline and losing a child in old age is the greatest tragedy in life.Unconsciously, Zhou Nan felt great sympathy, and stepped forward to salute: "Ti Xue, the noble son of the Duan family died young, and the lower official is also very sad. Please take care of yourself. Zhou Nan has an urgent business today. Come and report."

Duan Tixue still looked at the distance dumbly, looking like dementia.

Duan Shisan glanced at Zhou Nan: "Master Zhou, I have something to say, so let's go quickly."

Zhou Nan nodded: "Duan Tixue, I'm here today because of Wu Xinhua's adultery case. My lord taught me the lesson yesterday. After all, this case is related to the future of a scholar and the name of a good woman. After Zhou Nan went back, he interrogated the woman again. During the interrogation, the woman probably mentioned Duan Tixue's name because she was afraid of the yamen. She said that she had a close relationship with Master Duan, and please see Xuezheng's For the sake of forgiveness last time."

When Duan Shisan heard the words, he shouted: "My old man's disciples and old officials are all over the world, and there are many people who have connections with his old man."

Zhou Nan ignored this house slave, only looked at Duan Chengen intently, and said slowly: "This woman's surname is Shi. I heard from her that she used to be Mr. Duan's eldest wife, and she was kicked out of the house because of disobedience to the elder."

"What, it's Master...young mistress..." Duan Shisan was shocked and couldn't help crying out.

Zhou Nan continued to look at the motionless Duan Chengen: "In addition, when my wife married Yu Er, she brought a six-year-old child with her, who she said was born to her ex-husband. Recently, the imperial court ordered Beizhili to recruit servants into the palace. The lady has no food and clothing, so if she wants to send the child to the palace, she will have something to eat. I heard from her that she is the ex-wife of the son of your family. This child may be the son's blood. It is a matter of great importance, so I come here Prove it. Tixue, if this person cuts off the root of his descendants, he will not be able to take it back."

"Mistress has a child, six years old..." Duan Tixue was startled suddenly, and screamed sharply: "Really, where is he now?"

Back then, he coveted his daughter-in-law's beauty, and he did something that reversed human theory.Afterwards, he was afraid that the scandal would be exposed and his future would be ruined, so he was kicked out.He also wrote an article on how a gentleman governs his family, and gained a lot of fame among scholars.

He thought he did a good job in this matter, and he was very proud of it.

Looking back now, it has been six years so far, could it be that she was pregnant at that time.

Zhou Nan: "This matter is no small matter. How dare the officials talk nonsense. Now the mother and son are placed in an inn two miles away. Don't worry about studying, no outsiders will know."

Duan Tixue jumped up with the agility that the elderly do not have: "Quick, take the old man."

Because of the excessive force, the old man staggered and his face became even paler.

Soon, Zhou Nan brought Duan Tixue master and servant to the inn.

Seeing Duan Tixue, Mrs. Shi's body softened, she fell to the ground, and said in a trembling voice: "The woman has seen the old man!" She was originally a bold person, but now she saw the old man like a mouse. see the cat.She was shaking all over, and her forehead was covered with cold sweat.Obviously, the scene six years ago left a heavy psychological shadow on her.

"It really is you." Duan Tixue has returned to normal, and he glanced at her sharply, and then fell on Brother Yi who was eating candy next to him: "This child was born by you, from my Duan family? You Tell me the truth."

"Concubine, concubine came into the brothel behind me... I also, I don't know..." Mistress knelt down on the ground, the sweat on her forehead fell on the wooden floor, and it was wet in a short while.

Mr. Duan, Eunuch Duan's accumulated prestige ends here.

Zhou Nan was startled, and was so angry that he almost scolded his mother: What a bitch, you just insist that this child is the blood of the Duan family.I will leave the rest of the matter to my lord.Replying in this way must be bad food.

(End of this chapter)