Chapter 24 Chapter Twenty-Four
There are many legends about Dong Xiaowan's life.The third volume of "Yu Chu Xin Zhi" compiled by Zhang Chao, a scholar of the Qing Dynasty, collected short stories in classical Chinese in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, which recorded the life stories of Mao Bijiang and Dong Xiaowan.Zhang Chaoji himself had some contacts with early Qing literati such as Mao Pijiang, Kong Shangren, and Chen Weisong.
In "Yu Chu Xin Zhi", the "Biography of Mao Ji Dong Xiaowan" written by Zhang Mingbi, a talented scholar in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties was collected.Zhang Mingbi, courtesy name Gongliang, nicknamed Qin Muzi, has a very close personal relationship with Mao Bijiang.
In "The Biography of Maoji Dong Xiaowan", he narrated the life of Dong Xiaowan and Mao Pijiang's joys and sorrows, and the novel was written with passion.
Regarding Dong Xiaowan's death, the "Biography of Mao Ji Dong Xiaowan" is somewhat ominous, and there is no clear record of Dong Xiaowan's death.The book only says that after Dong Xiaowan married Mao Pijiang, a celebrity in Rugao, as her concubine, she and Mao Pijiang lived in Yanyue Tower in Jinling, collecting antique calligraphy and paintings.Reading and painting with Mao Pijiang all day long, playing the piano and playing chess, enjoying the fragrance of tea, when the Qing soldiers went south, they wandered for nine years.He died in the eighth year of Shunzhi, at the age of twenty-seven.
When Dong Xiaowan was dying, he was transported back to Rugao by a small boat.
In February of the eighth year of Shunzhi.The winter chill lingered, the heavy snow last night broke many branches by the river, and the bare field blurred the original outline.The boat arrived outside the south gate of Rugao City in the evening.This evening is the same as the previous weather, and some auspicious clouds cannot be seen.
Aunt Liu sat there expressionless, she felt that her thinking was numb, she hoped that Long Lan had arrived at Maofu and notified Mao Pijiang.Aunt Liu knew that if Mao Pijiang came late, she might not see Dong Xiaowan.She thought that Dong Xiaowan would die before dark.
Shandong Yizhi Meilonglan is not only a master of martial arts, but also has excellent kung fu with her feet.After he flew ashore from the bow of the ship, he rushed to Jixianli as fast as he could, and informed Mao Bijiang.
Long Lan came to Maofu all the way.When he met Maoquan, the steward of Maofu, Maoquan told Long Lan that the young master was recuperating in the water painting garden, so he rushed to the water painting garden like the wind.
Mingyan was turning around the door with a flat lantern, and when she saw Long Lan rushing in sweating profusely, Mingyan greeted her with a smile: "Master! My young master is having a silent fast, I will lead you there. "
"Okay." Long Lan nodded, and went to Yimozhai with Mingyan.
Mao Pijiang was lying drowsily on a bamboo recliner covered with dog fur, next to a pot of charcoal fire, the charcoal fire was burning very vigorously, illuminating the dark room brightly.
Hearing the words, Mao Pijiang raised his sleepy eyes and looked outside, and saw Long Lan walking towards Yimozhai following Mingyan with sweat dripping down his face in the dusk.Mao Pijiang jumped up and stood up.
After Long Lan entered the room, Mao Pijiang stepped forward and grabbed Long Lan's hands, and hurriedly asked, "Second Brother, how is Xiao Wan?"
Long Lan nodded: "Brother, Xiaowan is back! The boat has almost arrived at the south gate of Rugao, please ask someone to prepare a sedan chair to pick her up." Looking at Mao Pijiang's excited expression, Long Lan said: "She is injured. gone."
"Injured! Is it heavy?"
"Heavy!" Long Lan said a little irritably, "You should go first."
Mao Pijiang kept walking around distractedly.Long Lan went out to call Mingyan, and told him to report to Pijiang's parents.At this time Mao Quan also came, Long Lan ordered Mao Quan to find a few people, carry a soft sedan and rush to the pier outside the south gate.
After Long Lan finished giving her orders, she was surprised when she walked into the room and saw Mao Pijiang.
He saw Mao Pijiang burst into tears.Long Lan didn't know if the spirit of risking Pijiang had been stimulated, he thought, now he can't control so much.He walked over and grabbed Mao Pijiang's wrist, he felt Mao Pijiang's wrist trembling.
"My dear brother, let's go! It's getting late."
Mao Pijiang stopped walking, looked at Long Lan, his confused eyes suddenly glowed: "She's back! Xiao Wan is back."
When Mao Pijiang got on his horse, he suddenly became energetic and rode the horse so fast that even Long Lan was left far behind.
After a while, the horse that took Pijiang ran to the pier outside the south gate.As soon as he got on board, he ran to the cabin.Sister Liu just had time to shout: "Sister Xiaowan, Maolang is here!" Mao Pijiang fell beside Dong Xiaowan.
At this time, the unconscious Dong Xiaowan seemed to hear some voices, which sounded distant and hollow.She struggled to regain her scattered thoughts.It was finally believed that the sounds were a mixture of shouts and cries.Dong Xiaowan couldn't help but feel refreshed, feeling that these voices were long and familiar.She tried her best to open her eyes, looked at the thin Mao Pijiang, and nodded slightly towards him.Two lines of clear tears flowed down her pale face, Long Lan rushed to the boat and saw this situation, she pulled Lamao Bijiang and said: "My dear brother, this is not a time for sorrow, it is important to save people, quickly carry Xiao Wan back Go home and find a doctor for treatment."
How could Mao Pijiang listen to Long Lan's advice, he fell on Dong Xiaowan and cried mournfully, his body trembling constantly, two hot tears dripping down Dong Xiaowan's face.
Suddenly, Dong Xiaowan struggled, opened her green lips, and said intermittently to Mao Pijiang: "...Mao Lang, I finally saw you...you have to take care of yourself, and if you have anything to say, just ask Mrs. Liu , I'm sorry for the risky family...I, I, I'm afraid I can't do it. "
She seemed to raise her hand, but in the end she couldn't do so, she looked at Long Lan and said intermittently: "Thank you, second brother."
Dong Xiaowan tilted her head, closed her eyes, was short of breath, her chest kept rising and falling, her head shook slightly on the pillow twice, and then stopped moving.On his pale face, two lines of tears froze, looking like icicles.
The butler stood aside with tears streaming down his face.Several servants lit pine oil torches and stood at the door of the cabin. Mrs. Liu was crying loudly, her voice hoarse, and it sounded extremely miserable in the cold night. The river wind kept shaking, and the torch was tilted to one side, and the dissolved pine oil dripped down like short beads.
Long Lan pushed away a servant with a torch, stepped forward and carried Mao Pijiang to the straw mat outside.Instruct the book boy Mingyan to wake up Mao Pijiang quickly with white wine.He turned around to look at Mao Quan and asked, "Housekeeper, now that he is dead, everyone should mourn. The first question is where to bury him?"
Mao Quan is a very capable housekeeper and has seen many things in the world.Immediately cheered up and said: "I originally planned to carry Mrs. Ru to the mansion for treatment. I don't think she has passed away outside, so I can't be carried into the mansion again." Mao Quan flicked the ear protection leather cap and said: "There is a temple in Xiaoyuan. Both the master and the young master are great benefactors in the temple. Let's take the young lady there for now, and I will ask the master for instructions at the mansion, shall we see what to do?"
"Well, you can go quickly, I will send the boatman back first."
Maoquan went to Jingren Temple first, and consulted with the abbot and the monk. There is no reason why the presiding officer should not be allowed.He agreed on the spot.
When going back all the time.Mrs. Liu has been persuaded to cry and is standing on the side of the boat wiping her eyes with a silk handkerchief.Mao Pijiang was also choked awake by the wine, and sat dazed by the door of the cabin, crying continuously.Long Lan stepped out of the cabin door to persuade Mao Pijiang, saying: "Brother, people cannot be resurrected after death. There is no banquet in the world that lasts forever. My sister-in-law can die righteously, just like those loyal people, she is really a righteous woman! I said, you Just don't be sad. It's time to take care of the funeral."
Aunt Liu also came over to persuade Mao Bijiang at this time, and said with red and swollen eyes: "Brother, don't be too sad..." Before she finished speaking, she began to cry again.
Mao Pijiang looked at the dark mountain, and the woods by the river were swaying by the wind.
He felt a shiver.Seeing the scene in front of her, Long Lan knew that Mao Bijiang was already useless and could not help.He said to Mingyan: "Help the young master into the cabin, for fear of catching cold."
Mao Quan got on the boat and said to Long Lan: "Master, the temple has been agreed, and the abbot is asking someone to clean a meditation room for the young lady."
Long Lan said yes, and ordered the housekeeper Mao Quan to send someone to carry Xiao Wan's body ashore and send it to Jingren Temple.
Mao Bijiang was supported by Mingyan, and wept all the way beside Xiaowan's body.The servants holding torches were walking through the woods by the river. The nearby people thought the woods were on fire, so they ran over one after another, only to realize that someone was dead.The deceased was Dong Xiaowan who was famous in the Qinhuai River.
When they arrived at the temple, the abbot of the temple asked them to carry Dong Xiaowan into the meditation room.Mao Pijiang was supported by Mingyan and had just entered the steps of the temple when he collapsed to the ground, leaning against the railing, looking up at the dark sky with red and swollen eyes.
The housekeeper Maoquan asked Mrs. Liu to look after Xiaowan's body, and ordered Mingyan to take care of the young master.Then he got up and hurried back to the mansion to tell the master.Long before Maoquan rushed back, the entire Mao family had already received the unfortunate news, and everyone was crying bitterly.Su Yuanfang persuaded her mother-in-law while wiping her tears.
Looking at the situation, they knew that they had received the news of Dong Xiaowan's death.So he stammered and asked the master how to do the funeral.
The old man Mao Song had a sad face, and his gray beard kept shaking.He knocked his crutches on the ground, stood up and said to Mao Quan: "Xiao Wan's generosity is entirely for the sake of protecting my Mao family. The funeral should not be hasty, but Xiao Wan can be carried to Hanbi Hall overnight to prepare for the funeral." .”
On the third day after Dong Xiaowan's death, Mao Bijiang fell ill, and Dong Xiaowan's coffin was kept in Hanbitang.
On this day, Aunt Liu handed over the poems written by Dong Xiaowan in Suzhou to Mao Bijiang.Mao Pijiang looked at the Jue Ming poem on the white silk handkerchief, and burst into tears.He put the white silk handkerchief in front of the coffin and wept for a sacrifice.
On the tenth day of February in the eighth year of Shunzhi, Dong Xiaowan's coffin was buried in Pengjiadang by the Youlong River outside the south gate of Rugao.
Among the many legends about Dong Xiaowan's death, the most legendary is "Manuscripts Collected by Meicun Family" written by Qing Dynasty literati Wu Weiye.Wu Weiye not only gave a detailed account of Chen Yuanyuan, a geisha on the Qinhuai River, but also gave an extremely detailed account of Dong Xiaowan's life and death.However, Wu Weiye's narration seems to be different from that described in "Biography of Maoji Dong Xiaowan" written by Zhang Mingbi, a contemporary of Mao Pijiang and a good friend of Mao Pijiang.
In fact, in Zhang Mingbi's "Biography of Mao Ji Dong Xiaowan", there is basically not much description of Dong Xiaowan's death.This leaves a bit of regret for future generations.The description of Dong Xiaowan's death in Wu Weiye's "Manuscripts Collected by Meicun Family" is obviously legendary: After Long Lan left Rugao, Mao Bijiang finally fell ill after his daily expectations failed, and he lay on a bamboo couch , sighing and sighing all day long, not thinking about food and tea.Mrs. Yuan Fang was troubled by her increasingly thin body.Su Yuanfang thought to himself, Dong Xiaowan's news has not arrived yet, what if the young master falls ill?So I went to tell my father-in-law and mother-in-law, and asked to accompany the son to the water painting garden to relax.
After Mao Bijiang moved from the lingering sickbed to the Shuihui Garden, his mood improved.One day, he asked Mingyan, a book boy, to take out the guzheng that had been dusty for many days, and began to practice playing.
His hand, which had just recovered from a long illness, felt extremely stiff.Every time you pluck a string, it feels like you're hitting it with a piece of wood.The piano skills he had always been proud of suddenly lost their charm.
When he plucked the strings with his wood-like fingers, what he heard was the continuous sound of the flute floating towards him, the sound was melodious and melodious.In the middle of the dilapidated brown gate faded by the years, the copper ring that knocked the door made a light and crisp sound.Outside the window, the quiet garden lawn is partially covered by the shadow of the tall courtyard wall.Mao Bijiang went back to the reclining chair, listening to the sound of the flute coming from a distant place, passing through the door with a light buckle of copper rings, and crossing the lawn covered by the courtyard wall, and then transmitted to his ear drum.
He listened with satisfaction to the vague and distant sound of the flute.When the sound of the flute became clearer and clearer, he recognized the melody, and then he recognized the person playing the music, and he saw her walking towards him playing the flute.He felt that tears were running down his cheeks, and he couldn't be more excited.He yelled "Wan Jun", he wanted to stretch out his hand to pull her, but he felt that he couldn't move, so he yelled "Xiao Wan." Then he was pushed awake.
"My lord, are you dreaming again?" Su Yuanfang stood in front of him and asked with a gloomy expression.
Mao Pijiang was sweating profusely, panting heavily from the corner of his mouth, his right hand was always pressed sideways behind his back, and felt a little numb.He looked at the sky outside the window, it was already night, and it was as dark as the bottom of a pot outside.
"Why did I fall asleep?" Mao Pijiang asked, he felt that the sweat was still coming out.Underwear feels a little wet.
"You fell asleep before it was dark. When I saw you, you were in a deep sleep, so I didn't wake you up." Su Yuanfang said dejectedly. "You'd better go into the back room to rest, worried about catching a cold?"
When Su Yuanfang was walking towards the inner room with the lamp on, he turned his head and said to Mao Pijiang, "Long Lan should have come back these days." The light printed Su Yuanfang's shadow on the window, which looked like a strange shadow constantly shaking.
Mao Pijiang looked at the continuously deformed shadow on the window, and then remembered that Dong Xiaowan had never heard from him, and that Long Lan had been away for so long and there was no news of him.When he got up and walked to the inner room, he said to himself: "It's time for Long Lan to come."
After Yizhimei Longlan left the capital, she rushed back to Rugao on a starry night to inform Mao Bijiang, wanting him to know Dong Xiaowan's current whereabouts. When he arrived in Rugao and came to Maofu, he ran into the housekeeper, Maoquan, who was holding an oil-paper umbrella. Walking in the direction of Dongshi, I saw Longlan's yellow cassock galloping from the east.Mao Quan greeted him with joy, his brows kept turning with a smile.
"Master, thank you for your hard work. My son and wife are looking forward to you."
"Where are you going in a hurry? Is your young master in the mansion?" Long Lan saw him hurrying out with an oiled paper umbrella, thinking that something had happened.
"No, now the Water Painting Garden. I'll accompany you to the Water Painting Garden first."
"No, I know the way. You look like you are going to do something? You go first."
"It's no big deal. I'll go to Wang Yuan's house in the east and ask him to help the family recover some loans. These loans were borrowed by those tenant farmers to spend the new year. Now the family is also a little tight. By the way, I will grab some medicine for the young master."
"What? Is the young master sick?"
"Yes, since you left Rugao to look for the young lady, the son fell ill, and the lady accompanied him to the water painting garden to recuperate, and he is much better now."
"Oh. Go and do it yourself, I know the way." After speaking, Long Lan went straight to the Water Painting Garden.
Mao Pijiang was sitting in front of the coffee table, staring at the guzheng in a daze.The guzheng was painted brightly. He watched his pale face swaying on the mirror-like surface of the zither, just like standing by the water. As the water wave spread, the figures slowly gathered together, and a real image appeared.
As he had had a satisfying night's sleep, at this moment, he left the piano table and stood in front of the carved window looking at the lawn and the pond in front of him.He could feel the cold weather outside. Although the belated spring brought him an indescribable feeling, it was still cold outside, and Mao Pijiang didn't plan to go outside for a walk.
At noon, the sun made him feel that the bright spring had come.By mid-afternoon, the snow had almost melted away.The bluestone patio in front of the windows is barely shaded.The cracks in the stone were carved there long ago.Most of those cracks are due to the long-term rain and snow erosion, and the sun's exposure. They are as open as spider webs, and as fine, casual, and careless as palm lines.
Mao Pijiang looked across the lawn, and through the bare branches, he could see the whole pond.The ducks swimming on the surface of the water seem to be cautious, and more often, they seem to be less focused on foraging, but looking around.
He looked past the flock of ducks to the gentle slope across the pond.
He saw some green plants growing in the uneven field, which may be a rapeseed field.The colors are very vibrant.Due to several years of war, the south of the Yangtze River is the same as the north, the agriculture has been destroyed in a mess, and hunger and death are everywhere.Mao Pijiang heard from the housekeeper Mao Quan that every tenant farmer in the countryside starved to death, and people fled to the south in droves.
Therefore, the green seen in front of his eyes made Mao Pijiang's eyes shine a little bit.
Mao Pijiang slowly withdrew his gaze from the lingering nostalgia.His eyes finally left the pond and the lawn, and when he moved to the far gate on the right, a mass of yellow objects rolled in like a thick ball. He looked back in surprise and saw Long Lan walking in sweat.
Long Lan walked towards this side with a Zen stick, her black face looked like a huge moon cake.Big beads of sweat kept falling from his beard.
"Second brother!" Mao Pijiang yelled loudly, startling Su Yuanfang who was pouring tea.
Mao Bijiang pulled Su Yuanfang with his pale fingers and said, "Second Brother is back, look at Second Brother Long is back." When Su Yuanfang was about to walk to the door, Long Lan had already arrived at the door.
Mao Pijiang waited for Long Lan's narration in the uneasy excitement.
"My dear brother," Long Lan said, "I have met Xiaowan before, but..."
"Have you seen Jun Wan?!" Mao Pijiang kept rubbing his hands in excitement.
"...but," Long Lan waited for Pijiang to sit down, "however, the situation is not good. She is no longer in Suzhou."
"Ah!" Mao Pijiang yelled, "Then she..."
Long Lan shook his hand at him and said, "She was taken to the capital by Hong Chengchou."
"Ah!" Mao Pijiang and Su Yuanfang exclaimed again, "Then why did Bandit Hong take her there?"
"Hong Chengchou gave Xiaowan to the emperor, the emperor of Shunzhi."
"Ah!" After Mao Pijiang yelled this time, his face was as pale as a piece of paper, and he started coughing again.Su Yuanfang hurriedly patted him on the back, mao Bijiang said: "Then what should I do..."
"However, it is said that Emperor Shunzhi's mother, Concubine Zhuang, did not allow him to marry Xiaowan. Because Man and Han cannot intermarry."
"But..." Mao Pijiang said sadly, "After Xiao Wan is brought into the palace, I'm afraid she won't be able to get out."
"If according to the system of the Qing Dynasty, intermarriage between Manchu and Han is not allowed, and Emperor Shunzhi's mother, Concubine Zhuang, firmly forbids her to marry a Han concubine, maybe Xiaowan can come out of the palace again. It's just..." Long Lan hesitated for a moment.
"Just what, second brother, tell me!" Mao Pijiang said anxiously.
"It's just that the little emperor of Shunzhi valued Dong Xiaowan very much. The eunuch I bribed said that as long as Dong Xiaowan agreed, Shunzhi would make her a noble concubine. Concubine Zhuang heard the news somewhere, so she called Shunzhi to scold her." Dun. Concubine Zhuang wants Emperor Shunzhi to send Dong Xiaowan out of the palace, not to break the rules of the Qing Dynasty. Emperor Shunzhi did not dare to offend his mother and concubine, so he quietly ordered someone to send Dong Xiaowan to Ziguang Pavilion to hide."
"The eunuch I bribed was surnamed Huang, who is also from Shandong. He gave me the eunuch's clothes and took me into the Forbidden City. Then we came to Ziguang Pavilion together. Because I was also dressed as an eunuch, no one came to search Me. We walked all the way to Ziguang Pavilion, and Eunuch Huang told me to wait a moment, and he went up to the pavilion first. After a while, Eunuch Huang came down and waved to me to go up to the pavilion with him. Eunuch Huang told me, Dong The empress knew you were coming, so she sent those maids away."
Long Lan came to Ziguang Pavilion with Eunuch Huang that night. He thought it was interesting. A monk dressed as a palace eunuch and broke into the deep palace. Isn't it a bit of a joke?It's just that he was facing the tall red city wall and the temples carved with dragons and phoenixes everywhere, which really made him feel a little nervous.He thought it was a pity that the old emperor lived in such a big place.
Long Lan followed Eunuch Huang to the pavilion, and saw a woman dressed in plain color sitting under a copper lamp.She is truly a beautiful woman.Long Lan guessed that she was Dong Xiaowan.He thought to himself, if Dong Xiaowan wasn't a beautiful beauty, Emperor Shunzhi wouldn't have put in so much effort. Long Lan once heard that the emperor's Sangong and Six Courtyards were all as beautiful as angels, and even the maids of Gong'e were from different ages. Locally selected beauties.
"Are you a plum dragon orchid from Shandong, Brother Long?" Dong Xiaowan asked him first.
"That's right." Long Lan nodded anxiously.
"Did the young master call you here? How is the young master?" Dong Xiaowan burst into tears after speaking, "I wonder if I can meet the young master." She kept crying.
Long Lan was a little anxious, but he knew that staying like this would be dangerous.Eunuch Huang told him when he went down that he couldn't stay for too long.
Long Lan said to Dong Xiaowan: "Xiaowan, don't be too sad. Although I have never met you, I know that you are a clean woman, and my brother Pijiang misses you. I will try my best Find a way to get you out of the palace."
"I'm afraid it's difficult." Dong Xiaowan held back her tears and said, "If the emperor doesn't give up, I won't be able to leave the palace."
"Have you ever met the emperor?" Long Lan asked.
Seeing Long Lan's question, Dong Xiaowan burst into tears again.
"Second brother! How do you know that my concubine really lives here like a year! Ever since that old thief Hong Chengchou saw me half a month ago and was scolded bloody by my concubine, he came up with this poisonous plan and dedicated his concubine to the emperor. , he can take the opportunity to be promoted." Dong Xiaowan calmed down and said: "After the concubine was brought to the Forbidden City, that afternoon, Emperor Shunzhi called a group of eunuchs and maids to surround the concubine to Yongdi Palace."
"Did you not ask him to let you go back?" Long Lan asked.
"Why not, as soon as he came to Yongzhai Palace, I knelt down and cried to him, asking him to let me go back to Rugao, but he didn't mention letting me go back, but just kept persuading me with a smile, saying that he would treat me well. I said, "I am a married woman, how can I come to serve Wansui? Although Wansui is the king of the world, he should not randomly recruit women into the palace. There is a lot of virtue. If he rapes each other, his concubine will only die once." '.The Emperor Shunzhi saw that I was determined and could not persuade me, so he asked the eunuchs and maids to send me to Ziguang Pavilion, and told them to be careful day and night to prevent me from committing suicide. "Dong Xiaowan sighed and continued: "When I arrived at the Ziguang Pavilion, there were two elderly court ladies who tried various methods to persuade me to obey the emperor.The emperor came every morning after the court, and sat for a while, just persuading me with a smile.But when I saw him, I just cried and didn't talk to him.The emperor has never done anything wrong to me.I have already thought about it, there are only two ways, either go out of the palace and go back to Rugao Maolang's side, or die. "As she spoke, she began to cry again, her mournful voice made Long Lan's blood rush upwards. He looked around and knew that he couldn't let it go, so he suppressed the rising anger and calmed down to face her. Dong Xiaowan said: "Xiaowan, I'm afraid you have to bear it first, I can't take you out now, you know, I entered the palace disguised as an inner eunuch.After I leave the palace, I will think of a way to rescue you from the palace. "
"I'm afraid I can't get out of this imperial city compound," Dong Xiaowan said sadly, "Unless the emperor agrees for me to leave the palace, I don't know when I can meet the young master."
"I don't have much time, do you have anything else to say?" Long Lan saw that it was getting late, and said, "Do you want to say something to Mr. Mao? Xiao Wan?"
Dong Xiaowan pondered for a while and said: "If you go to Rugao, please advise the young master not to worry about me too much, and ask him to take care of his health. Since I entered the Mao family, I owe it to everyone in the Mao family not to see me as humble. I have received such kindness, often Situ repays, today is the opportunity for Xiao Wan to repay her kindness. Please rest assured, my concubine will not lose her chastity, second, she will not humiliate the Mao family, and third, she will not bring trouble to you." After speaking, tears streamed down her face.
It was midnight when Long Lan left the Forbidden City.The next day, he wandered around the capital for a whole day, but he didn't come up with a feasible solution. He was alone and weak, although Long Lan had a good kung fu and a warm heart.But Long Lan also knew that this Forbidden City could not be freely entered and exited by relying on a good kung fu, and he didn't know how many masters were hidden in this wall.
At night, Long Lan went around under the red wall again.Looking at the high red wall, he shook his head helplessly and sighed.Even if he can get in and out, it is not easy to bring Dong Xiaowan out.
In the early morning of the third day, Long Lan rode that charcoal-like fast horse to the south.
Before Mao Pijiang finished listening to Long Lan's narration, he had already collapsed on the reclining chair.
Su Yuanfang was so anxious that he shook Mao Pijiang's arm beside him, and kept calling for son, son.
Mingyan heard his wife calling for the young master, and the voice sounded miserable, so he threw away the feather duster in his hand and ran in hastily.Long Lan said to Mingyan: "You can help the young master into the back room to rest, and after he wakes up, we can discuss what to do."
Mao Pijiang was helped into the house by Mingyan and Su Yuanfang to rest, but in fact Mao Pijiang never fell asleep.He lay motionless on the bed, staring at the dark roof with wide eyes.He kept his eyes open until the middle of the night, and the sound of Su Yuanfang's even breathing came from beside him. Mao Pijiang knew that Su Yuanfang was completely asleep in a dream and would not wake up for a while.
Mao Pijiang got off the bed slowly, put on his dress, walked out of the room, and walked downstairs with a firm expression.
In the dim light of the pine oil lamp, Long Lan was surprised to see that Mao Pijiang was dressed in light clothes, instead of a robe, he was wearing a short shirt, looking at him calmly.
Long Lan said, "What?" Immediately he realized that Mao Pijiang had important things to say, or important actions to take.
"What are you going to do?" Long Lan still asked.Then he waited for Mao Pijiang to speak.
"Second brother, I want to ask you for a favor." Mao Pijiang said while looking at him motionless.
"Speak, I'm listening."
"I would like to ask you to accompany me to the capital."
Long Lan looked at Mao Pijiang's stern face in surprise.
"Third brother, the capital is thousands of miles away, can you bear it?"
"I've made up my mind, even if I die, I still want to meet Wanjun." Mao Bijiang said firmly, "I just want to trouble my second brother to walk with me again."
"Third brother, how can you say such a thing, we are sworn brothers, your business is my business, and what is brother's is not a problem."
When Mao Bijiang and Long Lan rode on the road, it was still dark.
In "Manuscripts Collected by Meicun Family", Wu Weiye gave a more detailed account of Maobijiang and a branch of Mei Longlan from Shandong who went to the capital overnight to search for Dong Xiaowan's whereabouts.
That belated spring, the weather was still cold.The scorched earth, hardened by the night frost, was very hard.Mao Bijiang and Long Lan rode fast horses to Yangzhou.When they left the water painting garden and passed the plum garden, the branches that were once full of plum blossoms no longer had any plum blossoms. Looking at those bare branches in the gray morning, it seemed very strange.
Long Lan, who was walking ahead on horseback, reined in her horse and turned her head to see Mao Pijiang, feeling that Mao Pijiang's dejected image was like a piece of rotten wood about to fall against the wind.He shouted to Mao Bijiang: "Let's hurry up and get on the road!"
They arrived in Yangzhou in the early morning of the third day.On the road, they often saw the Qing soldiers heading south. Long Lan and Mao Pijiang would always go to the forest beside the road, and only rode on the road after the Qing soldiers had passed by.
Mao Bijiang intends to go to the city to join Zheng Chaozong, to understand some situations, and seeing this situation, maybe Zheng Chaozong is also in trouble, so he gave up the idea of going to the city.After discussing with Long Lan, he finally decided to go around the city.
When they rode around Nanjing, they saw a large group of Qing soldiers rushing to the south. It is said that they were going to encircle and suppress the last emperor who was crowned king in Quanzhou.
Looking back at the dilapidated city in the dust, Mao Bijiang couldn't help but lament: "The country is ruined and the family is ruined."
It was after noon when they arrived in the capital, and they dismounted and stayed in a small inn outside Xizhimen.After many days of hard work, Mao Pijiang was as haggard as a wormwood.
Looking at Mao Pijiang's paper-white face, Long Lan felt pitiful. He thought, after recovering from a long illness, Mao Pijiang was able to endure such a long journey, which is quite remarkable.He said to Mao Pijiang: "You should have a good rest, I'm afraid you will be tired tonight." Then he went out and headed towards the Forbidden City.
When Long Lan came back, Mao Pijiang hadn't woken up yet. Long Lan looked at Mao Pijiang who was sleeping soundly, and then looked at the weather outside, and walked over to push Mao Pijiang to wake him up. Mao Pijiang opened his eyes and asked: "Second brother, where have you been? Have you seen Xiao Wan?"
"Get dressed and get up, it's getting late, I'm going to see Xiaowan tonight."
When Mao Pijiang heard this, he quickly got up and muttered happily: "Tonight?"
"Let's eat first, it's already dark, put on this clothes after eating."
Long Lan put a set of Qing court inner prison clothes on his bed.
When Mao Pijiang saw that it was the clothes worn by the Qing court harem, he felt awkward.
"Don't act like this," Long Lan said, "Do you think the imperial palace is a place where you can come and go as you please? I was willing to lend me these two sets of clothes after I talked to Eunuch Huang. I packed one in your bag." Only after giving him all the hundred taels of silver did he agree to take us into the palace." After Long Lan finished speaking, she began to try on a set of slightly bulky inner prison clothes.After he put it on, he didn't look very much like a eunuch. Although his beard was clean, he looked more like a big inner guard.
When Mao Pijiang walked through the winding and deep courtyard with a lantern, he began to feel a little tired. Even though he had just slept, he still felt that some parts of his body were out of balance, and his feet stepped on those The huge bluestone slab was so light and light, those tall wooden pillars and magnificent palaces faintly appeared in the dim light, which made Mao Pijiang suddenly feel sleepy, and he followed the two floating shadows in a daze. , The sound from the footsteps, in the deep courtyard, seemed hollow and remote.
Eunuch Huang hunched over a garden path, bypassed a rockery with the sound of running water, stepped on a path erected on a pond, and walked through a winding corridor. The wooden objects under his feet made crisp sounds.Mao Pijiang walked into the shadows with a tired expression.He wanted to stop and recover, maybe it would be better, but he still unknowingly followed Long Lan and Eunuch Huang and moved into the darkness.
When Eunuch Huang stopped, they saw a huge palace standing there in the darkness not far away, with a faint light shining through it, which looked like a ferocious monster from a distance.Eunuch Huang coughed lightly and said, "The Ziguang Pavilion is here." Then he turned around and handed the paper lantern to Long Lan, and said, "Go up by yourself, the maids think you are eunuchs sent by the emperor. You don't look suspicious." He coughed lightly again, and said, "I'm not far away, I'll wait for you near here, don't delay too long."
Standing in the shadows, Mao Bijiang still felt a little drowsy. He heard Eunuch Huang's voice in a trance. He felt that the voice was like the crowing of a newly grown rooster, sharp and hoarse.He felt himself wallowing in something of the past again.When he was about to sit down, his arm was grabbed by a claw-like hand, and a sharp pain made him wake up again: "Let's go up quickly." Long Lan said to him in a low voice, he The voice seemed to be suppressed, and Mao Pijiang could feel Long Lan's heavy breathing, "You seemed to have fallen asleep just now." Long Lan pulled him again.
Mao Pijiang moved forward. He looked at the tall wooden building and said, "Second brother, where is Eunuch Huang?" He suddenly felt that there was one person missing. When Eunuch Huang left, he was still in a state of obsession.
"Let's go, let's hurry up."
Mao Pijiang followed Long Lan towards the main hall, thinking as he walked, he felt that it was unthinkable for Eunuch Huang to leave, and he should take us up.
When they had just set foot on the granite steps, a young eunuch came out and kowtowed to them, saying, "Is there an edict from the Long Live Lord for the father-in-law to come here?"
Long Lan nodded, and Mao Pijiang also nodded; at this moment, Mao Pijiang felt the sudden dizziness disappear.
The little eunuch immediately turned around and shouted to the top: "Long live there is an order! Madam Dong is ready to receive the order."
Mao Bijiang's newly recovered expression was covered again.Is Xiao Wan really a concubine?He felt uncomfortable for a while, he thought, but it's good, it's a wish to see him once.Long Lan turned around and saw Mao Pijiang standing on the steps hesitantly, looking a little frustrated, so she gave him a hand and said, "Let's go."
At this time, two court ladies walked over gracefully, their gorgeous clothes rustling as they walked.He stepped forward and kowtowed: "Please, two father-in-laws, enter the hall."
Long Lan pulled Mao Bijiang again, and said generously: "Please, you will lead the way."
When they arrived at the pavilion, they saw the grand palace, the gorgeous furnishings permeated with a faint fragrance, looking from the dim light, the woman dressed in plain clothes did not look like Dong Xiaowan.The woman turned her back to them and muttered to herself inarticulately: "What is my will or not? What does it matter to me?"
Long Lan waved his hands to tell the maids to retreat, then turned around and pulled Mao Pijiang, seeing that there was no one in the pavilion, Mao Pijiang boldly walked up and said in a low voice, "Greetings to Madam Dong." He tilted his head When seeing Dong Xiaowan's face, it was like in a dream, Dong Xiaowan's beautiful face was slightly sad.Mao Pijiang said again: "Ms. Dong is sad, and her health is important." He paused and then said: "I still remember that the lamp upstairs accompanied Xiaoshuang, the sleeping person got up on the bed of acacia, lovesickness had many one-night stands, and the corner of the earth Isn't the end of the world long?"
那女子猛然一惊站了起来，低声喝问道：“尔等是何人？”
冒辟疆就把衣服往上一掀，百感交集，泪水盈眶。董小宛苍白的脸上露出疑惑的目光，然惊叫一声，扑上前来紧紧抱住冒辟疆，眼泪像断线的珍珠滚落下来。
“郎君呀，想死我了。”随即伏在冒辟疆的胸前轻轻哭起来。
龙兰这时悄悄离开他们，来到楼梯口站立着，左手揣模着那把藏在袍子里的短剑。不一会，董小宛停止了哭泣，对冒辟疆说道：“冒郎呀！你也胆子太大了，冒充内监，私闯深宫，那可是死罪呀！”
龙兰站在楼梯口手扶朱漆栏杆，看着黑暗中幽深的庭院，在他看来，冒辟疆和董小宛的谈话显得空洞而漫长，他烦躁地抓住栏杆上雕着凤凰的羽翼，耐心地站在那里。
“……冒郎啊，竟置父母于不顾，蹈这杀身之祸，危及冒氏全家，值得吗？你和我不成了罪人吗？你，你，你的胆子也太大了。”
冒辟疆泪流满面地说道：“自卿离家后，全家上下哪一个不痛惜。你我是生死与共的恩爱夫妻，今既得见卿一面，辟疆虽死何恨。”冒辟疆轻轻抚摸董小宛的身体，一种熟悉的感觉溢满心头，情不自禁又流下了眼泪，“这些日子里，卿受苦了。”
冒辟疆忍着心头的惨痛，垂着泪听着董小宛悲切的叙述。
董小宛对他矢志不移的恋情使他心中感到一阵暖意，他收住眼泪劝说董小宛：“宛君呀！你可千万不要寻短见啊，自从我与你相识以来，我就把你当作阁中知己相待，你可是为了我和我们冒氏全家，受尽了千般痛苦，在我们朝夕相处的九载当中，你任劳任怨，尝尽辛苦。我怎忍心看你再受这般离别之苦呢？只恨我不能以身相救……”冒辟疆抽泣的声音逐渐放大，在外面守护的龙兰正准备进来劝住，哭声又小了下去。冒辟疆的声音又传了过来。
“……你还是忘了我吧，勿以我为念，好么？看来是没有办法把你带出去了……”
“……我的冒郎呀，你这回舍命到此，不是为了小宛吗？我会永远牢记在心的。你还是快速离开吧，不然就会命悬人手了。如果是这样的话，君死而妾独生，还能算是阁中知己吗？……你还是快些离开吧！”
“唉……那个顺治皇帝真难对付。”董小宛幽幽地说到，“他以为呆在紫光阁，便有可乘之机了，他每次来到这里，都对我软语温存，装出一副情爱有加的样子……他也知道你是我的夫君，有次他问我想不想见丈夫一面？我怎么不想见你呢！可我知道他把你诱到京城来是不会有好结果的，我就对他说'奴婢不想'。他就笑着说：'这就对了，说实话吧，朕自从见了你以后，便觉三宫六院如粪土。我可是痴心地想着爱卿的啊。'前晚一个姓牛的老太监来到紫光阁，一进来就对我说'恭喜恭喜娘娘'。我还以为是同意让我回如皋了呢，我问：'喜从何来？'牛公公取出一张丹书，往我面前一放：'娘娘，这是封你为鄂贵妃的丹书，你接着吧。'牛公公放下丹书就走了，那些服侍我的宫女齐声向我下跪恭贺呢，我就对她们说：'我又不受封，你们贺什么！”
冒辟疆问道：“皇上封你鄂贵妃了？”
“我可并没有接受啊。”董小宛说道：“昨日早朝后皇上到这里来了一趟，他说：'朕封你为鄂贵妃你满意吗？'我不答语。他就自言自语地说：'只要你能回心转意，朕便可即刻下旨封冒辟疆为官。'他说话的神态看起来并不那么严厉，不过是在威胁我顺从他罢了。我想只要我不一口回绝死了，他是不会对冒家采取行动的。我就对他婉言说道：'陛下之言差矣！是否从命乃是贱妾的事，与冒氏何干？况且忠孝义节，皆为历代人君所重。若妾失身于陛下，则妾就成为不节不贞之妇了！不洁之名，也会玷污陛下。'顺治问道：'难道朕贵为天子还不如一个凡夫俗子吗？'我冷淡地答道：'皇上定知三军可夺帅，匹夫不可夺志的古话。妾夫也常说，为士先气质而后文章，惜名甚于惜身。对于万岁的恩宠，妾岂不知恩？'他听完后慨然长叹道：'唉……，朕贵为天子，意不能使一妇人回心转意。这天子又何足贵呀！'说完他就离开了。”董小宛停顿一下，看了看冒辟疆憔悴的脸说：“冒郎！你还是赶快和龙二哥离开这里吧，不要以妾为念了。郎君一去，妾便寻个机会自裁，以免夜长梦多，也算妾对得住冒氏家族了。说完小宛泪如泉涌。
冒辟疆与董小宛在那儿相抱而泣，冒辟疆说：“宛君呀！幸得还能与你见上一面，就是一死也心甘情愿了。可我怎忍心抛卿于不顾呢。”
这时龙兰听到了远处传来的脚步声，便藏在高大的朱漆木柱后，看着点点星光由远而近，等走近一看，是个疲弱的老太监和几个提着灯笼的宫女，他正准备叫冒辟疆暂且躲避一下，就忽听那老太监破着嗓音叫道：“万岁下旨！宣董娘娘到拥翟宫召见。”
冒辟疆和董小宛正在缠绵悱恻的时候，忽听这一声音，吓得两人一大跳。董小宛赶忙推开冒辟疆，整理了一下凌乱的发髻，娇声应道：“回奏万岁，奴家稍稍梳理即刻前往。”又转过头对冒辟疆说：“郎君，让妾前去巧与周旋一番，你可趁此与龙二哥赶快逃离此地，快走吧。”
龙兰也侧身踱了进来对冒辟疆说：“贤弟，此处不可久留，我们还是赶快离开为好。”
冒辟疆忽然像吃了豹子胆了，愤然说道：“卿既不负我，我又岂能负卿？要死就一起死吧。”他觉得他此刻像个大丈夫一样，把骨子里光辉溢彩的一面透露出来：“既然阳间不能成夫妻，到阴间总会做夫妻吧。”
龙兰听了这话觉得快要火冒三丈了，董小宛把脚一顿：“你这个冤家呀！我死了只我一人，你这样不仅要连累龙二哥，而且还要诛连九族的。你赶快和龙二哥逃出去吧，从今以后，千万不要以妾为念，小宛是万万不会辜负你的。”说完又用手去推冒辟疆，一行清泪滴落在冒辟疆的手上，从那片洁白透明的白指甲上滚落下去。
就在此时，忽听楼下破锣似的嗓子高喊：“万岁驾到，董娘娘接驾。”
董小宛一听惊呆了，转瞬间她收住眼泪镇定自若地说：“奴家接驾来了。”她迅速朝冒辟疆打了个手势，用眼神招呼他，叫他不要慌，站在一旁别动。她又朝龙兰站处一看，龙兰已不知去向。
这时楼梯上靴声响起，不像宫女们的脚步声，倒像一群武士冲了上来。董小宛不知所措地看着楼梯间灯光移了上来，她本打算前去迎接，谁知脚步还没来得及移动，一大群人提着灯笼上来了。
前面六名带刀的御前侍卫，分立两旁，两个太监和三名宫女走上前把四周的青铜油灯点亮，刹时，整个大厅犹如白天。
冒辟疆感到自己稍稍有些稳定了，腿也不像先前那样抖得厉害了，他就偷偷抬起头来，越过董小宛高高的仍有点凌乱的发髻，看着那个衣饰华丽的年轻人。站在董小宛面前的这个年轻人并没有穿着龙袍，颜色也不是黄的，他穿的只是一件质地上好的绿色绣袍，在灯光的照射下闪闪发光。
冒辟疆认定他是顺治皇帝。他生得齿白唇红，俊眉朗目。
一副满洲人装束，气宇轩昂，威显仪赫。看着这个气质非凡的皇帝，冒辟疆觉得自己这身内监服装，也太相形见拙了。
顺治上前往一把摇椅上一坐，把华丽的绣袍一抖，董小宛赶紧上前叩头请安：“臣妾死罪，接驾来迟。”
“什么！臣妾！”顺治一脸的怒气：“你的意思是说，你不想当贵妃娘娘！嗯。”
“奴婢有罪，请皇上恕罪。”董小宛知道自己说漏嘴了，慌忙请罪。
“唉……”顺治叹了口气说：“尔可知道，尔算是朕遇见过的一奇女子了，到了现在还不知道朕的苦心么？”
“请皇上恕罪，奴婢难以答允圣上美意，奴婢已是有夫之人……恳请圣上宽恕奴婢……”
“知道？知道何必多说。”顺治朝董小宛后面望了一眼，然后说道：“他是何人？”
董小宛还没来得及把身子挺直，一听心头忽然惊慌，忙又伏在地上奏道：“启禀皇上，他乃奴妾的家兄董玉，因思念奴婢，又不谙宫廷制度，冒死前来见奴婢一面。恳求皇上龙恩，赦其无知，则奴婢感恩不尽！”
顺治听后，“嘿嘿嘿”仰天长笑了一阵说：“既是汝兄，为何不具奏上，却要冒充内监私入宫廷呢？再者，为了探望在皇宫享福的弟妹，而甘愿被杀头吗？”顺治说完又“哈哈”大笑起来：“这可真是一个弥天大谎，你二人在阁中所为，朕已完全知晓。我看你们还是从实招来。”
冒辟疆知道隐瞒不过去了，就挺身而出叫道：“我乃如皋冒辟疆是也，乃董小宛之夫；我可是明媒正娶，不像你这样的皇帝夺天下人之爱，要杀便杀得了，何必在那儿虚情假意！”
冒辟疆的骂声语惊四座，那些侍卫和宫女被吓得目瞪口呆，惶恐地睁着眼睛看看冒辟疆又看着同样惊住了的顺治皇帝，跪在地上的董小宛早已吓得面如土色。
顺治没有预料到一个卑微的汉人竟敢如此辱骂堂堂天子，用颤抖的手朝前点了点叫道：“与朕把他拿下去斩了，胆敢如此犯上！……”
冒辟疆不知从何而来的英勇气概，大义凛然地对董小宛说道：“宛君，我在黄泉路上等你。”
“扑通”一声，董小宛又跪伏在地上，额头撞在楠木地板上，发出空洞的回响。
“请万岁恕罪，实告万岁，他真乃臣妾之夫。请万岁饶他一命。小宛愿意留在宫中侍候万岁。”董小宛说完又把头叩在地板上，盘起的发髻散落下来，乌黑的秀发像云鬓一样飘飞在空中，把董小宛泪流满面的粉脸遮盖得时隐时显。
顺治怒气冲冲的脸，慢慢变得柔和起来，最后他叹了口气：“你起来吧！既然答应朕的要求，我就把他释放了。”顺治停顿了一下又接着说道：“不过，你得答应，永不再进京城，同意吗？”
冒辟疆木然地站在那里，眼睛却游移不定。董小宛拉了冒辟疆一下，说：“还不谢主龙恩。”冒辟疆无力地跟着跪了下去。
顺治从摇椅上站了起来，朝四周看了一下，说：“你们不是有三人在这儿吗？”他又提高声音喊道：“是哪位，该显身了。”
一个黑影从厚重的窗帷后面飞身进来，落在顺治前面，脚下没有发出一点声响，在场六个带刀侍卫先是一惊，然后敏捷地抽出宝剑，顺治也略微感到吃惊，想不到居然有如此身手。他镇静下来后，面带微笑说道：“想不到你还是武林中人，身手不凡。”他对侍卫们说道：“尔等退下。”然后又对龙兰和颜悦色地说：“朕不会定你的罪，不过，你愿意留在宫中么？”
龙兰跪伏地上，叩着头说道：“谢皇上龙恩，在下龙兰已是出家之人，法号严戒，恕在下不能从命。”
顺治听后，脸色略带不满：“怎么今天这么晦气，总是不能让朕满意，看来这天子的名份不当也算了。”他转过身，然后又挥挥手，说：“唉，罢了罢了，尔等快速离去，莫等朕想不过意时，尔等想走也走不了了。”
冒辟疆和龙兰回到客栈时已接近黎明。冒辟疆什么也没做就和衣躺在床上了，龙兰不停地在屋内走动，大骂那个姓黄的太监坑害了他们，既收取了他们的银两，又把他们给出卖了，龙兰气得咬牙切齿。
“下次要是让我缠上，我就叫他断子绝孙！”龙兰说完，又嘿嘿笑了起来，“他本来就是个太监嘛。难怪他要做伤天害理的事。”
冒辟疆并没有睡着，他眼睛盯着屋顶，不答龙兰的话，没觉得龙兰刚才说的话好笑。他可能根本没有听龙兰在说话。他此刻想他该死去，他后悔当时不该跟着小宛下跪请求恕罪，他痛恨自己的软弱，他甚至不希望他活着想起小宛的音容笑貌，他不希望小宛成为众人仰慕的贵妃娘娘，他也不希望他们活在世上，而小宛那娇弱的身躯一直长存在他们记忆中，他迷迷糊糊地在“卿当享富贵，我独向黄泉”的愁绪中进入了无边的梦乡。
冒辟疆回如皋后，大病了一场，一直在水绘园中躺着。龙兰离开了如皋到泉州去寻明朝遗臣和桂王政府。
他们离开京城的时候并没骑马，冒辟疆遭到这场打击后，他那衰弱不堪的体质和易倦的精神，完全倒下了，他一心想到死，龙兰几经劝说无效后，就到东行去租了一辆笨重的带车篷的马车，把冒辟疆放在车中，于当天傍晚向南方出发。
冒辟疆在昏昏欲睡中，不由想到他和董小宛在紫光阁上缠绵悱测的情景，只不过董小宛是那样模糊而形影不定。他看见那些类似侍卫的武士和宫女像陶俑一样站在角落里。当他努力想象董小宛最初的形象时，他才完全清醒过来。
他在水绘园没日没夜呆着，不曾走动一步，即使每天苏元芳对他无微不至地关怀，依然不能唤起他对生活的重新热爱。丫环惜梅搬到水绘园来照顾冒辟疆，每天清晨她把园中打扫一遍后，就来到湘中阁，帮苏元芳梳洗照料冒辟疆，冒辟疆在没有恢复过来的时候，像个无助的小孩，茫然地坐在床上，任凭她们耐心而细致的摆弄。惜梅得知小姐为保全冒氏一家委身于顺治皇帝的消息后，她的脸上就失去了往日的笑容。每当苏元芳从窗格中看见惜梅娇弱的身影向湘中阁走来的时候，就产生了一种兔死狐悲的感觉。
在冒辟疆清醒的时候，惜梅的到来，总使他进入对董小宛娇美身形的回忆中，他甚至在一天早晨，惜梅打扫完园中的枯叶后，来到湘中阁帮助苏元芳料理时，他从某种沉迷中抬起头来，问惜梅：“小宛起床了么？怎么很久没看见她了。”
惜梅吃惊地转过身来，悲哀的眼神露出一种茫然若失的神声：“公子……你。”
“噢，对不起，我又想起往日的情景了。”他哀声叹息一阵后，便沉默不语了，然后他就用失神的双眼看着园中的景象。
冒辟疆的身体差不多彻底恢复过来的时候，已是三个月过后了，春天在时间的流逝中消失了，园中的植物在灼热的阳光下茁壮成长，在仲夏到来的季节变换中，火热的阳光和残存的春天的气息，总使人有不安的情绪滋生。
冒辟疆早晚走出湘中阁，来到草坪和池塘边散步游走。在清爽的早晨他散完步回来后，他那先前白如绢纸的脸庞，偶尔会现出红晕，他看见惜梅时，不像以前那样进入对董小宛的沉迷中。事实上董小宛在他脑海中残留的印象变得有些模糊和遥远。一天，他在一个装针线的木质盒中，看到一只翡翠绿的手箍子，他想了很久也没有想起在哪儿见过这么漂亮的手箍子。
他对着那翡翠箍子凝视了很久，这时，惜梅提着一只编织精美的花篮走了进来，花篮里装着还在滴露水的栀子花，冒辟疆说：“这花真漂亮，哪儿摘的？”
“在假山后面，”惜梅说：“公子喜欢，我就把它插到公子的书房里。只要换上清水，它会保持几天不枯萎。”
惜梅刚要向书房走去的时候，冒辟疆拿着那只绿色的手箍子漫不经心地问：“这个小玩意是谁放在这儿的，它看起来很漂亮。”
惜悔朝那个手箍子看了一眼，说：“公子你忘了！那是小姐的。”她看见冒辟疆迷惘的眼神，像是提醒他，说道：“小姐绣花时，就常把它带在手上，你陪小姐绣花时，不是时常赞叹这手箍子漂亮么？”
惜梅离开后，冒辟疆又把那只色彩鲜艳的手箍子拿起来，在早晨的阳光中凝视它光茫四射的迷人色彩，就在惜梅提醒他那一刻，他就想起了董小宛曾带着它绣花，他有些后悔向惜梅问这只手箍子的来历。
事实上，他突然感到一阵痛心，他居然连董小宛都想不起来了。他沮丧地坐在窗前的椅子上，凝视着窗外橙黄色的阳光，一种轻微的负罪感袭满他的脑际。他努力回忆董小宛最初娇美的形象，只想起了董小宛模糊而缥缈的模样，他不禁有些伤感起来，他自言自语地说着一些漫无边际的话语。忘记一个真心相爱的人是可耻的，毕竟小宛是为自己而委屈求全的……
他含糊不清的话语，让刚进门的苏元芳吓了一跳，她还以为他又病了呢。她劝冒辟疆休息，冒辟疆朝他摇头，说才起来，怎么又去睡呢，我还打算出去走走。
他没有再搭理苏元芳，对着渐渐热起来的阳光瞧了瞧，开始沉入对往日的回想中。
当苏元芳和单妈经过窗前时，看见他熟睡的模样，都没有去打扰他，变得火热的阳光已经越过他的头顶，照射到他背后的墙壁上，把那幅挂在墙上的《清明上河图》照得透亮。
他伏在桌上睡着的模样，就像一个劳累过度的人。
冒辟疆在水绘园养身体的时候，早先四分五裂的天下，正被满族武士用铁骑和利剑收治。他每日早晚在园中散步，修剪花枝和锄草，然后就读书写字。他的身体在每日的劳动中很快恢复过来。当觉得精神完全恢复过后，便打算写一篇类似《哀词》的文章，以追悼小宛，当他最后决定写《影晦庵忆语》的时候，已是姗姗来迟的秋天了，看着窗外的残叶，他此刻的心境异常平静。
与他宁静的心情相比，外面纷扰的世界正发生一场瘟疫，瘟疫过后必然是饥饿，到处是灾难之中的人民，他们犹如巢穴被灌水后的蚂蚁，扶老携幼地逃离家乡。
清朝的军队正与各地起义军、以及明朝灭亡后由官僚地主们建立的偏安政权，进行各种规模的战争。
那时，闯王李自成和另一支义军领袖张献忠早已战死，而他们手下那些将领各自另立山头，又拉起一面面不同颜色的旗帜。
数十年来，连绵不断的战争，造成农业上的破坏，人民生活在水深火热之中，浩大的瘟疫，首先从贫瘠的陕北地区爆发，那里一直土地贫瘠、生产落后、工商业不发达，而王公、宫绅们对该地农民的层层盘剥、政府的征商和军饷加派也使得贫穷的人民吃不起饭，买不起药，再加上连年的水旱和天灾，瘟疫的发作已势不可挡。
当瘟疫和灾祸从贫瘠之地蔓延到曾经是富饶的江南水乡时，江南这自古有鱼米之乡美称的地方，也成了的尸横遍野的地狱了，到处都是孤魂野鬼。
顺治九年，如皋瘟疫弥漫。急得如皋陈知县如烟薰火燎，他在赈灾中显得一筹莫展，当他听说冒辟疆在崇祯九年的时候，曾办理过如皋灾荒的赈灾事宜，而且卓有成效，就向清廷奏请冒辟疆为官，清庭下令赐冒辟疆的官职。当陈知县命令差役把封书交给冒辟疆时，冒辟疆仍足不出户地呆在水绘园里写那篇令后世伤感的《影梅庵忆语》。
冒辟疆接过封书时，并没有马上回答是否愿意任这一职务。他只是把那羊皮纸漫不经心地放在桌上，对差役说：“你先回去吧，过两天我会回话的。”
三天后，冒辟疆对陈知县的答复是：可以担任赈灾的重任，但拒绝做官，陈知县马上就答应下来。
冒辟疆前往如皋各地赈灾的时候，他的《影梅庵忆语》还没写全。他在办理赈灾事宜时，是依照宋朝的赵汴赈灾的方法，分门分处，分老幼病残，就地施赈。年轻有力的以工代赈，在各疫处立医局，如若有病死的，就随殓随葬。同时，他又会同陈知县邀请官绅、地主，分头征粮，寺庙也劝粮捐米。
冒辟疆带头率先卖掉一部分田地房宅来助赈，并每日到各处巡视赈务，问医问药。
灾赈过后，陈知县感谢冒辟疆赈灾有功，便