Chapter 9 Chapter nine

The third day of September in the twenty-sixth year of Wanli was the day when the township examination results were released. As soon as breakfast was served, the servants sent by Hou Wu hurried back. From a distance, Ling Yang could hear the servants cheering: "I've won! Master Chuan has won!" Ling Yang put down Chopsticks, I asked Xiao Ru to go out and have a look, but Madam Hui was already standing outside the door: "Congratulations to Madam." Madam Hui said like a spring breeze, "I'm so good, Brother Chuan, now the master can feel at ease in the spirit of heaven." Yang patted his chest: "Amitabha, we have finally survived until today." The two laughed and sighed for a while, then Hui Niang hurried to leave, saying that there would be many things at home today, and the first thing was to arrange for someone to come to the door When setting off firecrackers, you have to pay for tea and rice for newspapers.Ling Yang was sitting alone in front of the untouched breakfast, she knew her heart was still beating, she stood up suddenly, and didn't care about Xiaoru shouting anxiously behind her: "Where are you going, madam, after dinner Let's go..."

She pushed open Lan Xin's door, only to see that she was dressed meticulously as always, cleaning up the dust in the incense burner. "It's so early, ma'am." She said quietly, her whole body was like a blooming gardenia, and Ling Yang seemed to feel that the night when she saw her disheveled was like a dream. "I congratulate you." As long as he was with Lan Xin, Ling Yang's tone of speech could not help calming down, "Did you hear, Brother Chuan won the prize, and you are Juren's wife, are you unhappy?" A look of surprise flashed across Lan Xin's face, and then she remained calm: "I really haven't heard of it, please trouble Madam to come and tell me in person." Ling Yang secretly sighed in her heart: the world is really cold in this house, We all know that Mrs. Chuan is dispensable. "It's outrageous." Ling Yang bit her lip, "Where's Brother Chuan from?" Lan Xin smiled, and that smile made Ling Yang feel that she had become a wayward child instead: "I don't know. If I wasn't in Meixiang There, it must be in the study——didn't Mr. Xie arrive last night."

Ling Yang hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "Lan Xin, now Brother Chuan won the exam, maybe he can get higher in a few years... I want to say that your good days are in the future, as long as you Brother Chuan is promising, you can’t finish your life of glory and wealth. I advise you to look at the good - you are not me, I have nothing in this life, you are different. Don’t put all your heart on the third girl body, you know that I am doing it for your own good..." "I know." Lan Xin interrupted her softly, "In such a big Tang family, only the madam really loves me. But the madam should also see how wronged the third girl is by marrying—she compares to me in my heart. Everything is precious, I don't want others to spoil her, but I have no ability, so I can only do my best to love her."

"Tell the truth." Ling Yang stared deeply at her face, "In your opinion, am I wronged or not? But this is my fate; the third girl is the same, she has her fate. Since the woman was thrown I've lost my life, so I can live no matter what. As for you, Lan Xin, your life is better than ours, and it's because of this that I can't see you ruining yourself. " For a while, there was the sound of firecrackers in the courtyard, and finally two little maids came to report with laughter: "Master Chuan has won, congratulations to Mistress Chuan!" My son's little hoof, I finally think of you, you."

Xie Shunhui stood in Master Chuan's study, looking at a painting by Tang Yin on the wall.Master Chuan's voice came from behind him with a slight smile: "This "Picture of Ban Ji's Group Fan" was given to me by my husband when I was nineteen years old. Do you still remember?" "That is..." Xie Shunhui turned his face away, frowned and thought about it seriously, "It happened eight years ago." Master Chuan said with a smile, "It's not been eight years, I've become a father now." ——But the picture of Master Chuan The face that seemed to be sculpted was the same as before, and it still looked like that of a beautiful boy, with no trace of age at all.When he smiled slightly, it was like a ray of moonlight shining on a quiet lake, but Xie Shunhui could tell that there was no smile in his eyes, of course, he might not be aware of this.Xie Shunhui just smiled wryly and shook his head: "You have become a father, how can I not grow old." Master Chuan suddenly knelt down: "Mr. Xie, please accept my worship. It is Mr. who has always sympathized and taught me this orphan who lost his father. Now I It's all thanks to your kindness." After saying that, he kowtowed deeply.Xie Shunhui was shocked and went to pull him up: "What is this? To tell you the truth, I am most afraid of this kind of battle. Get up quickly. Get up and talk. It is all because of your hard work that you are today, so it has nothing to do with me. I have never passed the provincial examination myself—how can I teach you..." Seeing Master Chuan finally stand up, Xie Shunhui sighed with relief, "I can't help you now, next year The exam in February is all up to you, just remember, all the women in your family are looking forward to your success." "I remember." Young Master Chuan smiled heartily again, "You have been with me many years ago. As I said, the more promising I am, the sooner my wife's chastity archway will come. It stands to reason that if the Tang family wants to glorify the lintel, the most important thing is my fame-but the husband is so concerned about my wife's archway, Isn’t it a little bit upside down?”

Xie Shunhui smiled and said: "You are different from Madam. Whether you can win fame or not depends on destiny besides your own hard work. How can destiny be controlled by me, an ordinary person? But Madam is different. As a widow, it is already her The greatest destiny is, what she wants is all within the reach of human affairs, as long as she does her best..." "I don't think so." Master Chuan seemed to be careless, "Fate is unpredictable, in the eyes of Mr. And, in the eyes of God, I don’t know what it is. But I actually want to discuss something with my husband. Next year is my first time to take the exam, and it’s normal if I fail—but I don’t want to go to the Imperial Prison to waste money Time..." "That's natural." Xie Shunhui waved his hand vigorously, "Why do you want to hang out with that ignorant person? Our Biyang Academy in Shexian County is very good, and several gentlemen there are familiar with me. Friendship, you are already a Juren, and it’s too late for them to be happy—you can meet a lot of really educated people there, I’ll just write a letter, so you don’t have to worry.” “It’s nothing better than that,” listened After saying this, the former beautiful boy was like a spring breeze, "Going to this academy, it is not far from home, and more importantly, it is closer to my husband. When I am not studying, I really want to listen to a few songs with my husband." Playing." He actually wanted to see the legendary Qimen Xiaodan who was held in the palm of Xie Shunhui's hand like a pearl, but of course, he couldn't say that.

The third girl faced the mirror and inserted the last jade hairpin.She didn't look back, and said directly: "Mr. Xie brought the money, shouldn't we go home too?" Didn't hear her husband's answer, she said again, "My mother sent a maid to tell me, If I want to stay for two more days, my elder brother has just won the imperial examination, so he has to treat guests, and the family will hold a banquet to celebrate, Mother said that we can send someone to send the money back first, and it will not be too late for people to leave after watching the show." The uncle finally said lazily: "Don't look. I'll go back now. He's a new recruit who set up wine and set off firecrackers, and we're waiting to save people with money—you're not afraid that people will despise us for bad luck, but I can't afford to lose this person. Besides, really It’s not that I speak badly, let alone a Juren, my father was also a Jinshi in the past—what will happen to him? No one should get too excited, it’s not good for extreme joy to cause sorrow.” He was not so easily angered Third Miss, Third Miss calmly put down her powder puff and said, "What you mean is to go back immediately. Why don't you take Yin Zi's home first, we have been delayed for so long, so at least we brought three hundred taels back , so I can explain to my brother. I will stay for a few more days. It is rare that there is something good in my mother's house. Come back to pick me up in a few days." Husband's family fell into trouble and hurriedly hid back to her mother's house—"The uncle sneered, "You still think that we used your family's several hundred taels of silver, and you can come and go whenever you want, I agree You said, we are also poets and writers, and there is no reason to look at people's faces because of money."

The third girl has long been used to his meanness, and the best way is to ignore it. She continued to say flatly: "In short, I think it's better for me to stay for two more days. It's rare for my mother to be so happy. I don't want to..." "Don't leave One mother and one mother." She couldn't see the young master's face, but she also knew that he must have raised an eyebrow mockingly as usual, "I only know my mother-in-law as Mrs. Tang, and I don't dislike you as Mrs. That’s all for the concubine, but you still have to push yourself to the limit and catch up with the mother-in-law who came out of the teaching workshop in front of me—are you sincere?” The third girl clenched the wooden comb tightly, the teeth on the comb were blunt She poked her finger fiercely, and she had already practiced the ability to not let her voice tremble even when she was short of breath: "My mother always greets you with care, don't lose your conscience." It was a similar scene, but I still felt apprehensive, so I just said as if nothing had happened: "My lord, the girl has already dressed, it's getting late, it's time to go to the main room—the newspaper will be here soon."

Baozi stepped on the crumbs of firecrackers on the ground, as if he had stepped on the fallen flowers on the ground carelessly.A few craftsmen followed behind the newspaper. After entering the main room, they took the wooden sticks in their hands involuntarily, first knocked twice on the door, and then hit the window lattice with a "bang bang". At random, everyone gathered in the main room cheered following the beating sound. This cheering sound seemed to give Baozi more courage and strength. He concentrated all his strength and then waved hard, "Kacha", a certain fan The mullion of the window was broken.The newspapers have to perform such a play in every Juren's home, which means "changing the family".Everyone was smiling at the destruction, making Yang feel that this scene was extremely weird.The housekeeper, Hou Wu, came forward with a smile on his face, and handed a red purse to each of the newspapers and the craftsmen who followed behind to repair the doors and windows.Ling Yang looked around, naturally Lan Xin could not be seen in the lively crowd.

Young Master Chuan will go to the state capital to attend the "Luming Banquet" in three days, so the Tang family's mansion will naturally invite all the guests that should be invited within these three days.At noon the next day, the banquet was set up——Ling Yang asked in amazement how Madam Hui had prepared so well in one day, Madam Hui smiled relaxedly and said, "What's so difficult about it, I'm from Brother Chuan to take the exam. We sent people to buy it when we were in the middle of the day, and planned the dishes ten days before the announcement of the list—if we didn’t pass the exam, let’s just eat it by ourselves, or give it away, otherwise it would be ugly if we were caught off guard. "Huiniang's whole body really has the posture of "talking and laughing, the mast and scull disappear in ashes". For so many years, Ling Yang has been amazed.During the noon banquet, Shi Shigong was the guest of honor; in the evening, Shi Shigong naturally invited Brother Chuan and the others to his house to listen to the opera.Needless to say, Brother Chuan and Mr. Xie, even the son-in-law of the third girl, Lord Eleven, also thought of it, and he must follow.The uncle felt that he was proud of not being treated poorly, so he naturally packed up and led the horse in a good manner, and didn't mention the matter of going home again.

When night fell, Madam Hui and the servants of the whole family were not free, and the luncheon did not end until dusk. Cleaning up the mess and tidying everything up made everyone tired and exhausted—except for their own servants, the Eleven Dukes and even Tang Pu's family. Some mothers-in-law and handymen were transferred to help.At this time, Ling Yang is the most boring.She went to Lan Xin's room again, this time without Xiao Ru - as she walked, she was also laughing at herself for being ignorant, finally my uncle went out to have fun, Lan Xin naturally wanted to be with the third girl Together, even if it passed, it was not boring to sit for a while and then leave because she was sitting on pins and needles, but she couldn't explain why, she felt that she had to go and see them even so, she just sat there and felt that there was no reason in her chest for a while As soon as it tightened, it was as if all the internal organs shivered. In short, nothing could be at ease. Lan Xin's room was quiet, no one was there, only a little maid was dozing by the table.Ling Yang stood at the door and watched for a while, then quietly left.She went back to the third girl's room, and the third girl's maid, Huanpei, saw her and stood up straight in shock. From her eyes, she could see a flash of lightning flashing past.Ling Yang gently put his index finger on his lips, and then patted her shoulder reassuringly.She sat down quietly, lowered her voice and said to Huanpei: "It's okay, I'll just sit here for a while. You don't have to go in and go back to her. When Brother Chuan's daughter-in-law comes out, I will leave when I see her." "Then ..." Huan Pei's expression was obviously relieved, and she also whispered, "Madam sit down, I'll pour tea for Madam." At this moment, Lan Xin's voice came from the inner bedroom, which actually startled Ling Yang.Lan Xin's voice was loud, with unprecedented resentment and grievance in her tone, Yang Yang was stunned for a moment before she realized that Lan Xin would quarrel with others. Lan Xin said: "You promised me to stay for a few more days before going back, why didn't you keep your word?" The third girl's voice was very low, she couldn't hear what she answered, only Lan Xin was crying: "I look forward to your return every day. How many days do you think I'm not suffering throughout the year? When will you let me see you next time?" The third girl's voice finally came out clearly: "How can I I don't want to come back to see you? But now that I'm married, what can I do if my worthless man insists on me going back?" "Yes, I understand." Lan Xin said excitedly, "Now that the girl is old enough, I can't wait to see you again." It’s not the time when you used to pester me every day. You have a husband, an in-law’s family, and your own life to live, so I became a dispensable decoration, but like this?” “You are so boring! "It was the third girl who cried first. "Young lady doesn't know, I spend my days in this house, and I can live to this day because of my concern for her. Apart from you, what else can I worry about..." Huanpei and Lingyang looked at each other in embarrassment, and finally Huanpei sighed and said: "How about I go in and tell them that my wife is here, and ask Mrs. Chuan to come out to see my wife first." "Alright." Lingyang nodded, maybe so Don't let the two of them continue to quarrel.But there was a sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs outside the door, and the wooden boards were reluctantly ringing, accompanied by a burst of cursing and complaining out of order. "It's amazing." Huan Pei clenched his fists and said in a panic, "Our uncle came back from drinking too much again. Ma'am, why don't you hurry up? When the uncle comes back, there will be another trouble. The third girl will feel that my wife is here too. Embarrassing..." "But, I'm leaving, what should Lan Xin do?" Ling Yang asked in a daze.In fact, it was already too late, the door was kicked open with a "bang", Ling Yang never knew that the silent and elegant carved wooden door could make such a violent sound, my uncle staggered in with a strong smell of alcohol, behind him There were two women with strange faces chasing him anxiously: "Young master, you can't just go back to the house like this, sober up first and then talk..." Seeing the door being kicked open, the two women did not dare to follow him. When I came in, I had to watch pitifully at the door. My uncle rushed towards the bedroom as if he didn't see Ling Yang.Ling Yang was at a loss as he watched Huanpei swing her skirt flexibly like a fish, and then she slid in front of the uncle. "Young master, let's rest on the couch outside today. The third girl is not feeling well, please take care of me..." After being drunk, my uncle's eyes were not as mean as usual, and he waved his hands and said: "Little hoof, let me take care of you..." Open up, I don't have time to talk to you." "My lord, I beg you." Huan Pei's whole body stood in front of the bedroom door, "Ma'am is still here, it doesn't make any sense to make a mess." My uncle seemed to want to lean down and get close to Huan Pei's face, probably because his head was too heavy and he couldn't control it well. It looked like he fell down suddenly because of dozing off, and the tip of his nose was about to touch Huan Pei's bridge of nose: "Then you Tell me, my bedroom is here, I will go in and sleep with her, can you accompany me tonight?" After speaking, she smiled and squeezed Huan Pei's chin, "It is said that you are also a dowry maid, I always respect you You, how can you thank me?" Ling Yang didn't even think about it, so he rushed over and pushed the uncle hard: "Be careful, this is our Tang family's place!" The uncle was pushed back several steps, stumbled and smashed his back on the floor. On Baoge, he finally stopped and looked at it in surprise. Amidst the sound of two pastel bottles being smashed to pieces, he discovered that there was still a seedling in the house.There was already a dense circle of people outside the house, and Ling Yang didn't care about it. She felt a lot of blood rushing to her head: "Which Tang family doesn't tolerate you these days and doesn't care about your family's suffering? We treat you as a spoiled guest , not to make my aunt put your nose on your face, I advise you to be more self-respecting." It was only then that she felt that her hands hidden in her sleeves were trembling slightly, but she knew that there was no way out at this moment, she I could only watch helplessly as my uncle's face turned into a liver color. The door of the bedroom was suddenly opened, and Lan Xin stepped out dignifiedly, and said coldly to the aunt, "Miss San is not feeling well today, I don't want to hear you making noise here." Then she waved her hand, and the disgust on her face was gone. Like chasing flies.In fact, it was precisely this gesture of waving that really hurt my uncle—if I really wanted to pick out any good points about this young man, it would be that he is actually a sensitive person, but unfortunately, he didn't follow him. This sensitivity matches the cleverness of each other. "What are you doing?" He pushed Lan Xin explosively, but Lan Xin dodged lightly, "Don't think I don't know, two women sneaking around about my son, I turn a blind eye Just close one eye and forget it, I'm just afraid that my tongue will be dirty if I say it! I'm ashamed to say that it's your Tang family, so I don't have to slap myself in the face." When Lan Xin dodged, she accidentally bumped into a round stool, The sound of the stool dragging on the ground made Ling Yang feel that Lan Xin was about to fall. "If you act wild again, I'll ask the boys to drag you out!" Ling Yang went up to help Lanxin, while yelling at the aunt.Two or three of the spectators had already been sent downstairs to call for Hui Niang. They probably felt that in the current battle, it would be better to let the most influential people come over. The uncle didn't think about it, so he pushed Ling Yang's right arm with a heavy palm: "Then ask someone to drag me out, Amitabha, I think your house is dirty for me! Ma'am, don't look at everyone else. Fool, the outsiders have already spread the rumors, only you still think of yourself as a character—who doesn’t know that your sister Wei is not a child left by the master at all—I only blame my father for making me suffer , I want me to marry your daughter. It is her blessing that I have not divorced her and she came back, but now you are talking about it, why are you not afraid of making people laugh..." Maybe he was really drunk, completely unaware of the surroundings at this moment. It was a dead silence.The two servants dispatched by Wisteria jumped out from the crowd. If they hadn't had to, they wouldn't have just broken into the third girl's room. Going downstairs again, his cursing sound still came from afar, like some kind of insect's wings, vibrating and "buzzing" in my ears. Ling Yang turned her head dumbly, and as far as she could see, everyone's faces seemed to be dull, and their expressions froze into a vague and ambiguous look under her gaze.Her eyes finally met Hui Niang's pale face, Hui Niang had just rushed up from the yard, but it was already too late.Ling Yang knew that she had no choice but to walk through these clay sculptures transformed from living people and walk out slowly by herself.She knew what happened just now, and she also knew that there were many servants from other families in the family today, and she also knew that maybe before tomorrow morning, what my uncle said would spread throughout the whole family. She thought she would be afraid, ashamed, sad, and cry.But in fact, she just said to herself calmly that this day has finally come. Xie Shunhui sat on the wine table of Eleven's House, watching Master Chuan flushing and exchanging glasses with everyone.It's the right moment on the stage, the new team of Eleventh Princes has gradually become popular in Huizhou, and today's stage sang just happened to be the last part of "Resurrection", Liu Mengmei returned home in glory, and finally married Du Liniang.In a few days, I must visit Mr. Tang and have a good talk about this play—now that he is no longer an official in the capital, it is much easier to find him.Suddenly, a servant from the Tang family walked in nervously, came straight to his seat, and leaned down to whisper a few words.Others didn't see any abnormality from Xie Shunhui's face, but he seemed to ask the servant a few words, then he calmly sent him away, and then stayed with everyone until the banquet was over. It was almost three o'clock when we returned to the Tang family's mansion.It was Wisteria who opened the door for him, and he handed Master Chuan, who was hobbled by alcohol, to the waiting woman. When the woman was far away, he followed Wisteria tacitly all the way to the master's study.Almost at the door, Zi Teng said briefly: "Sir, don't worry, the two people watching the night today are my husband's confidantes. I have personally told you that I will not disturb you." The calm charm between the wisteria-style brows is more and more like the housekeeper's wife back then. "Is Madam Hui there?" He asked casually. Wisteria shook her head: "Aunt Hui originally wanted to wait for the husband, but it's a pity that there was such a big commotion today, and the third girl just argued that she would never go back to her husband's house and just wait for their divorce papers——Aunt Hui In a fit of anger, I had a severe headache and fainted when I stood up. I just went over to watch her fall asleep, and I planned to invite the doctor over in the morning. Sir, just feel free to talk to Madam, I am waiting outside, just call me if you need something. " Ling Yang was sitting next to a lonely lamp, and when he saw him coming in, he didn't get up to salute, but lowered his eyelids slightly, but he could understand that she was saying hello.He silently sat down on the chair opposite her, but when she suddenly stopped being polite, he felt inexplicably nervous and even ashamed.After a long time, she said: "Drink tea, sir." He replied: "I have heard about it." She raised her head and smiled at him: "I really don't know how to meet people after dawn, I also wanted to pretend to be sick just now Forget it, but Madam Hui really fell ill——if I get sick again, it will look even more fake and hypocritical." He also smiled with relief: "Since Madam can still make a joke, Xie will let it go. Half of my heart." "Sir, don't worry, I won't look for death. I haven't got the archway I want, so I don't want to die. I just really have no choice. How should I get there tomorrow." "Xie thought about it on the way here. Now that the paper on the window has been punctured by that ineffective son-in-law of yours, he can't cover it anymore—the only way to let everyone stop spreading the word is to It’s nothing more than a more shocking or bigger story from Madam for everyone to tell, and those gossips before will naturally be covered up.” “That’s the truth.” Ling Yang sighed blankly, “But Where can I find a more appalling thing, big enough to make everyone forget about it, unless I die... No way, if I really die, then people will feel that they are right, I am not People who don't behave themselves will die." She also picked up the teacup in front of her, seeing that she was about to fall into a situation where life would be worse than death, so why not drink some hot tea first.The slight pain in her right arm pulled her, she couldn't help but frowned, and put down the teacup anyway. "What's the matter, madam?" Xie Shunhui asked. "It's okay." She was a little embarrassed, "Just now that bastard got drunk and went crazy to push Lan Xin, I was afraid that Lan Xin would fall, so I went to help her, but he pushed me with him, and I accidentally bumped into the flower stand. I went to look at the room, and there was a large bruise on my arm..." She stopped for a moment, her face became hot, because she suddenly realized that she had already used an intimate tone, otherwise, Xie Shunhui would not have Will stare at her with a strange look like now. "I really thought of an idea, but I've wronged you too much." When these words blurted out, Xie Shunhui felt restless for a while, he couldn't believe that he really said it like that. "Mr. is worrying too much. No matter what Mr. thinks, it is for my own good. If I don't even understand this truth, then I will be in vain." She looked at him sincerely, and the look in his eyes made his heart tremble. Sour—everyone thinks he is a licentious person, no matter whether he praises him or derogates him, but no one has ever given him such unquestionable trust like Ling Yang. "I don't know if Ma'am has heard of it. During the Hongwu period, I forgot where it was. There was a woman—a widow just like Madam, who was determined to be chaste. It's a pity that she was spotted by a well-known local evil gentry. The woman went to fetch water from the well, and the evil gentry was waiting there, and came over and belittled her with words; seeing the woman ignored her, he came up to help her carry the bucket, at this time, there were already people watching, the woman was naturally ashamed and indignant, and touched the man He threw his bucket of water into the well and turned to go home. Unwilling to give up, the evil gentry ran after him and held the woman's hand. At this time a woodcutter happened to be passing by. The woman broke free from the evil gentry and asked the woodcutter if he could borrow her. As soon as the hatchet was used, in public," Xie Shunhui paused for a moment impatiently, and continued, "in public, he chopped off his hand that was held by the evil gentry, and threw the hand to the man, saying that it was the same as the hand. The bucket just now was dirty and should not have been kept. Later, the woman was too seriously injured and could not be rescued, but she alarmed the state government and reported it to the imperial court. I remember that the minister of the Ministry of Rites wrote for her The poem praises her integrity..." He knew that Ling Yang's face was gradually turning pale, but he continued. "I understand what you mean sir." Ling Yang's voice suddenly became dry, "This is indeed a solution. I cut off the arm that the bastard touched - it should be able to scare these people." "That's exactly what I mean." Xie Shunhui paused and said, "In the clear, Madam can say that, the arm touched by this uncle will be dirty, so don't; Everyone who is gossiping keeps silent. This can hardly be regarded as a slap in the face. However, I advise Madam, before doing anything, write a letter to the Eleven Lords in your clan, and make it clear that your reputation has been tarnished by rumors. Shi Mingzhi, but Brother Danggui is still young, and it would be against ethics to leave the only blood of the master at this moment, so I can only do this to prove my innocence. I will draft this letter for my wife, and my wife only needs to copy it once. Eleventh Duke is highly respected in the family, and seeing this letter and seeing how staunch his wife is, he will definitely come forward to make decisions for his wife." "Just remember, don't write that letter too well, or it won't look like I wrote it." Ling Yang smiled shyly, and gently stroked her hot face with her fingers. That's the only way. In Mr. Xie's story, the woman who chopped off her hand alarmed the court, but is it true?" "It's absolutely true. Otherwise, where would I know it?" Xie Shunhui watched in surprise, the woman's eyes gradually brightened, which made him suddenly feel ashamed, and he asked himself if there was really no better way: just Even an idea of ​​self-harm can make her feel like a treasure, so he added, "Madam, don't worry, Madam can just do it. As for how to cover it up, how to spread it, and how to let the court know, it's all Xie's responsibility." matter." "Okay." Ling Yang nodded vigorously. It had been many years, and she didn't have such an innocent expression on her face like this time, "I knew it, sir can do anything." "Scholars die for their confidantes." Xie Shunhui stared at her face and smiled, "It's okay to die, there's nothing else you can't do." "But I'm just a woman." Ling Yang's eyes widened. "Who said that a 'confidant' has to be a man?" He gritted his teeth and swallowed the sudden sadness with the tea, "Remember, you should be careful with your strength. It's not like cutting too lightly, but it must be done." It can't be too serious—if the injury is really too serious, it will be difficult to treat, and this fire can only be controlled by Madam, Madam must take care of herself." "Can I ask Mr. one thing?" Ling Yang lowered his head again, "If I'm really hurt too badly, bleeding too much, and something unexpected happens——If I remember correctly, Mr. has three sons, The eldest son is in his twenties, he has already married and established a business, the second son is seventeen years old, and the youngest is nine years old, but this?" "Exactly." "The youngest one, have you ever arranged a marriage?" Ling Yang's cheeks were flushed as if she was trying to match herself. "No." Xie Shunhui said with a smile, "I'm only nine years old, I always feel it's too early to say that." "Will sir despise my sister Wei?" She looked at his face, something was about to burn in her eyes, "Anytime, as long as I know, when sister Wei is in your hands, In your house, even if I die, I feel relieved." "Let me go back and discuss it with Zhuo Jing, okay?" "But do you mind about Sister Wei's background?" Ling Yang straightened her back, smiling on the corner of her lips, but her eyes seemed to be filled with tears, "Let me tell you this, although Sister Wei is not the master's My child, it's just——she is indeed the blood of the Tang family, not a bastard of unknown origin, do you understand, sir?" He felt like a thunderbolt, but he felt it was reasonable.After a long time, he said: "I understand. I will send someone to propose marriage in a few days. She will never be wronged when she is in my house. It's just that she will never know about my wife's wronged in her whole life." "If I were a man, I would become brothers with my husband." Tears overflowed a little bit, and she breathed hard, forcing them back. The day they agreed on was the day when Master Chuan went to the state capital to attend the "Lu Ming Banquet".Therefore, Ling Yang has two days to make some preparations.The reason why it was chosen on that day was that before that, there were still many entertainments in the clan to greet Master Chuan, and they were all to congratulate Master Chuan. In two days, she prepared everything methodically.Except for Xiaoru, no one knows their plan.Xiao Ru brought her a polished hatchet, and when her fingertips were caressing the edge of the knife, Xiao Ru was shocked and said: "Madam scratched her finger carefully, this knife is very fast. She retracted her hand obediently, and the two of them looked at each other aimlessly like two little girls, and smiled at the same time. "Tell me." She asked Xiaoru, "Compared with human bones and firewood, which one is stronger?" Xiaoru said honestly, "Madam, I don't know." No one came to the room to disturb her in the past two days, maybe everyone knew it was better not to provoke her at this time, she was almost greedily enjoying the rare cleanliness and freedom.Maybe it's because everyone in the family is really busy—Aunt Hui was lying down, still seriously ill, and the son-in-law who caused the trouble ran away after sobering up, and went back to her home without saying hello. The third girl stayed there as she wished; but Hui Niang was very worried again, she was afraid that the third girl would suffer a lifetime of torture if she followed this man.I was also afraid that the third girl would really be divorced and go home now, and the dilemma made her headache worse——in addition to hiring a doctor for her all day long, Zi Teng and Hou Wu must try their best to maintain the close relationship. the operation of the government.She has plenty of time to strategize, order Xiao Ru to arrange some things, secretly prepare what she needs, and herself, the only two days must be used for practice.When Xiao Ru was a child, she also chopped firewood at her parents' house, so she needed Xiao Ru to teach her how to use a hatchet.They brought a worn-out stool with one leg broken from the kitchen, and she practiced it time and time again as if showing her the movement of chopping wood.In the beginning, I was very clumsy, and my little feet were extremely disobedient, so when I swung the knife, I always made myself stagger.Xiaoru hugged her hastily, and said with a smile, "Madam, move carefully!" It was like a game with joy. Before that day came, Ling Yang thought she would stay up all night, but it turned out to be fine.She slept hazily for an hour or two, but she had no dreams.When she opened her eyes at dawn, the sky outside the window was still gray and blue, which reminded her of the first morning when she got married, when she opened her eyes, she saw the same sky.At that time, Yunqiao was still by my side.In the past two days, Yun Qiao insisted on coming to her room to accompany her, maybe only Yun Qiao felt something, but she pushed Yun Qiao out stubbornly, she said you are here with me, who will take care of those two children .When thinking about the child, Yun Qiao didn't insist.在云巧眼里，“孩子”永远比什么都重要，想到这里她微微一笑，眼前浮起的是云巧当年面对两个婴儿时那种手足无措的满足。但不知为何，想到如今的云巧，她突然感到一阵刻骨的孤独。 小如进来的时候，意外地发现她已起来，收拾整齐，坐在梳妆台前面。她穿得简单素净，一袭灰紫色的麻布袄裙，轻轻一抬胳膊，宽大的袖子便会从手腕滑至手肘，干干静静地把一截白皙静谧的手臂露出来。她轻轻地在左臂上摸了摸，心里的确觉得很对不住它。也不敢往深里想，所以还是把右手收回去了。“夫人这么早啊。”小如的语气其实并没有意外，“我还说，要赶着回来伺候夫人梳洗。”她专注地看着小如怀里抱着的那个粗陶的罐子：“香灰取回来了？”“取回来了，都还是热的。”小如道。“布施香火钱了没？”她问。“夫人放心，我都没忘。我还给菩萨磕了头，求菩萨保佑夫人平安。” “你这孩子。”令秧笑了，“平时不想着菩萨，到这个时候了去磕头，菩萨不罚你是菩萨慈悲呢。” 小如却没有笑：“那封信已经送到十一公家的门房那里，早饭时候便能递到十一公手上了；罗大夫也来了，夫人放心，是我跟侯武说夫人昨儿晚上有些不大舒服，叫他一早把罗大夫请来，他没疑心到别处去；我只跟罗大夫说请他稍等片刻，待夫人起床了便唤他进来。” She nodded.小如说罢，便安静地低下头去，帮她将左臂上的绳子绑好，绳子绕过肘部，穿过张开着的手指，再穿过桌面下方那排雕花，拉紧，打一个结。头一次，她满怀温柔地看着小如的侧脸，她专注的神情，以及鬓角的几缕碎发：这孩子生得不漂亮，买进来的时候倒是比平常那些乡下小姑娘清秀些，可是这两年大了，反倒开始往粗壮里长。 “夫人。”小如迟疑道，“要是没有别的吩咐，我就先出去了。我就在门口候着，待会儿一有动静，我便去唤罗大夫进来。”“你越来越会办事儿了。”言毕，她才惊愕地发现，自己很少夸奖小如。 “小如。”这孩子的背影停顿在门边，转过脸来，“夫人又想起什么来了？” 她笑了笑：“我就是想跟你说，那时候，为了侯武的事情打过你，你不要记恨我。” “夫人这是说哪里的话呀。”小如眼圈红了，却像是躲闪她一样，急匆匆地跨了出去。 她出神地看着自己的左臂，那个娘留给她的玉镯依然戴着，昨天她想过要将它摘下来，可是它就像是长进肉里一样顽固。若这只手等一下真的掉落在地上，那这镯子岂不是就要被摔碎了？恍惚间，她想把小如叫回来，最后一次陪她试一试，看能否安全地将这镯子褪下来。但她知道不能这样，心就是在此刻突然跳得像一面鼓，腔子里呼出来的每一口气都像是根线，脏腑像提线木偶那样颤巍巍地抖着——若此刻把小如叫回来了，她怕是再也没有勇气去做那件早已决定好了的事情。 原本被姑爷推搡过的是右臂——可是没法子，若是没了右手，往后的日子可就太不方便了，况且，没人会注意这个的，她由衷地，慌乱地对自己笑了笑。 银色的刀刃抵在了左边手肘往下约一寸半的地方，她觉得这个位置刚刚好。 想得太多，便什么也做不成。她抓住自己脑袋里某个空白的瞬间，就是此刻吧——不行，忘了最重要的事情，她不得不放下刀，从怀里摸出手帕来，咬在嘴里。松软的棉布在唇齿间，让她有了一种放松下来的错觉，第一刀便挥了出去。一道鲜红的印记出现在皮肤上，为何不疼呢？她不敢相信——血随后流出，将这整齐的红线抹乱了，还弄脏了她的衣服——疼痛来临的时候她砍下了第二刀。然后她闭上了眼睛，应该不会比生产的时候更痛吧，再想挥刀下去的时候似乎可以驾轻就熟了。血弄脏了一切。 第三刀，第四刀，第五刀。有什么东西飞溅到她脸上，刀似乎碰到了什么坚硬的东西，震颤着她的右臂。她开始觉得即使想要试着睁眼睛，眼前也似乎是一片镀着金边的黑暗。嘶吼声从她喉咙里像水花那样飞溅而出，那种闷闷的声响胀痛了她的耳朵，清凉的空气涌进了她嘴里，她不知自己是怎么做到的，居然一点一点将那团手帕吐了出去。 是不是可以惨叫了？ 惊动了整个唐家大宅的，其实是小如的惨叫声。小如听见柴刀掉落下来碰到了家具的声音，推开门，便看见昏厥在血泊里的令秧。虽说这惨叫声是事先准备好的，可是那条绳索中血肉模糊的残臂依旧成了小如很多个夜里的噩梦。