Chapter 12 Chapter Twelve

After Lan Xin's "July Seven" was over, Master Chuan left home. He didn't look back when he left.When Lan Xin was alive, especially in the last few years, he never looked at her directly, so during the funeral, there were a lot of discussions, wondering why Master Chuan cried so heartbreakingly - Lan Xin's natal family originally planned to ask the teacher to blame her Yes—they didn't believe that Lan Xin couldn't think about it for a while because of a little quarrel, but later, all the arrogance was extinguished by Master Chuan's soul-shattering tears.In addition, Hui Niang arranged the funeral in a grand manner, and took good care of all the masters and servants who came to mourn the funeral. Later, Lan Xin's brother also sighed, lamenting that his sister has always been strong, and after so many years Not being able to give birth to a boy and a half girl, being depressed all the year round, and sometimes being unable to hold on to the face for a while and doing stupid things.The third girl did not come to Lan Xin's funeral because she was pregnant.In fact, Ling Yang knew that the third girl was different from Lan Xin, and she knew best in her heart what was the most important thing.

Everyone could only see that Master Chuan, who was not much talkative in the first place, became even more reticent after his young mistress passed away. In addition, he lost a lot of weight and looked gloomy.Of course, in the eyes of women outside, this kind of gloomyness naturally has a different taste.Maybe he didn't understand until now that Lan Xin was not dispensable to him.But Ling Yang had no way of knowing the answer, because they never talked to each other until Master Chuan left home. Master Chuan went further this time, leaving Huizhou and arriving in Changzhou.In Wuxi County, Changzhou Prefecture, there was a man named Gu Xiancheng who was originally a Beijing official, but was dismissed as a citizen. When he returned to his hometown, he set up a "Donglin Academy". Knowledgeable scholars who are worried about the world gather there to criticize the current situation and point out the country-not to mention the county magistrate of Wuxi or the magistrate of Changzhou, even in the capital court, there are also important ministers who support the Donglin School.Master Chuan felt that he could find a career that a man should have there.At least there, more people scolded eunuchs with him, and scolded them more intelligently.

These are all Xie Shunhui explained to Ling Yang.Master Chuan's participation in the "Donglin Conference" was actually Xie Shunhui's suggestion. According to Xie Shunhui's vision, among the large and small private academies, only Donglin Academy has the best chance of becoming a big one.As soon as Lan Xin left, Master Chuan seemed to have forgotten overnight what he said he would never allow Xie Shunhui to enter the house again.Instead, he knocked on the door of Xie Shunhui's room in the middle of the night, and shouted in helplessness and bewilderment as he did many years ago: "Mr. Xie, I can't stay in this house no matter what."

Master Chuan left, but the Tang family mansion did not appear to be very empty.Everyone was still bustling through it, which made Ling Yang faintly feel a "miserable victory" in his heart.The maids who used to serve Master Chuan and Lan Xin personally were not dismissed, the older one was transferred to Xiulou to accompany Sister Wei, and the two younger ones were transferred to Lingyang's house.Ling Yang watched and trained these two children for a few years, and when Brother Danggui married his wife, he happened to send them to serve the new young mistress.Everyone said that Madam really loved Brother Danggui, and that she had planned everything so carefully.Ling Yang secretly hoped that Yun Qiao could come and say even a warm word to her at this time, but of course she knew that this was an extravagant wish.Now in this house, if you want to see Yun Qiao, you have to rush to the early morning of the 15th day of the Lunar New Year to see her appearing in the courtyard with her maids - that is the day when she goes to the temple to offer incense, of course, Nor would she speak to anyone in the house.

Ling Yang dislikes the season of early winter the most. Although the coldness outside is not severe, it is subtle. Even wearing a thick skirt and cotton bijia, the soles of the feet still feel like they are stepping on a wet ball of cold cloth.She ordered Xiaoru to build more braziers in the room, but after staying there for a long time, she felt hot again, filled with charcoal gas, and there seemed to be a hard crust on her lips from morning till night.I am afraid that only when Xie Shunhui visited, did she have a little joy to encourage her.She clearly instructed the maids to scald the wine well after sifting. There was sporadic cold rain outside the window, and the raindrops were faintly mixed with some hard ice crumbs.

"I know Yunqiao must hate me to death now." She sighed desolately, "Didn't you see that she lived like a sister-in-law all day long, I really didn't expect that she would even 'live' just because she hated me They all seem to be boring." Xie Shunhui frowned and said, "Madam, don't think so. If a person feels that he has no interest in life, he is probably bored with the whole world. This cannot be done by Madam alone." Ling Yang held her chin in confusion: "I really don't understand this. No matter how desolate this world is, there are still times when it is lively."

Xie Shunhui smiled warmly: "Madam is not an ordinary person. If everyone in the world is like Madam, the world will definitely not be peaceful." "If you don't tease me a few times a day, you will feel uncomfortable all over, won't you?" Ling Yang rolled her eyes angrily. During those days, Ling Yang was happy.Inside and outside the Tang family's mansion, there is Hui Niang berating Fang Qiu, it seems that everything is running in an orderly manner according to the original rules, she only has one task, and that is to pretend to be the "fair woman" who is like a sign in the mansion. She is good at things and is familiar with them; Sister Hu's illness is mostly cured, although she is still indifferent when seeing her, but she talks and laughs with her maid in the embroidery building; brother Danggui has grown into a strong young man , this child is tall, simple and honest, with a real heart, he is the only ray of light in the ashen-hearted Yun Qiao's eyes, but it's a pity that this child can't understand the subtle tension between adults at all, and getting closer to Ling Yang, He has some request that he knows is too much, just go to the wife's room to act coquettishly——Hui Niang discussed with Ling Yang, and it's time to settle on Danggui's marriage, but Ling Yang felt that it would be better to wait until the next spring Maybe Master Chuan will be a Jinshi next year, so the girls that Angelica can choose will be even more different. Hui Niang still laughed, saying that Madam is really far-sighted; because Master Chuan is far away, the fear that always threatens her faintly relaxes. Now, she can finally be a kind-hearted "stepmother" with peace of mind. After winter, she will arrange for thick clothes and food, and order Hou Wu to find a suitable merchant to take them there.

Every now and then, Xie Shunhui would still come.Although there is no longer the pretense of discussing knowledge with brother, the people in the mansion have long regarded his friendship with Ling Yang as the most natural thing.Ling Yang warmed a pot of wine for him, and they chatted and taunted each other, if Xie Shunhui was too mean, Ling Yang would walk away when he got annoyed—but he forgot about it after a while.Occasionally, she would talk to Xie Shunhui, and she didn't know if Eunuch Yang had promised to help as much as he could, whether it counted or not--but it didn't matter, she no longer felt suffering, and the years would slide down like this nonchalantly from now on until four Ten years old, until fifty years old, until death.

The news of Liugong's death came during the first month of the twelfth lunar month.In fact, Liugong had been sick for more than half a year, so when everyone saw Tang Pu riding a white horse and bringing a group of boys in mourning clothes and riding black horses to knock on the door to announce the funeral, they were not surprised.It is said that when Liugong died, it was just twilight, and Liugong's youngest son took one of Liugong's clothes, climbed to the roof south of the main house and shouted for the soul, because the surrounding was silent, the cry was mournful. It spread for a long time, startled a group of crows on the tree in the distance, and at that time, the old lady who had been silent for a long time suddenly sat up from the bed, as if she was kicked out because of a huge chill. She got up—and made the guard women hold their breath to look at her extremely nervously, like a group of hunters ambushing to observe a leopard, hesitating, wondering if it was time to go up and tie her up again.

Tang Pu is Liugong's nephew, and in Liugong's complicated and grand funeral ceremony, he naturally became a "mourner guard", responsible for supervising and taking care of all the links of the funeral ceremony.When the mourning team left, Madam Hui put her hand on her chest and smiled, "At most two or three people come to other people's houses to report funerals. It's the first time I've seen such a grand scene. It's worthy of Uncle Nine." Dixun Hou Wu sent someone to deliver the funeral ceremony. Three days after a person dies, it is the day of the big funeral, the day when the body is put into the coffin.Liu Gong's family asked Mr. Feng Shui to look at it. After being put into the coffin, Liu Gong had to stay in the mourning hall for seven to forty-nine days, and he could only be buried in the second ten days of the first lunar month.On the second day of the funeral, all the children of the family and even the female relatives came to mourn, and put on the mourning clothes that everyone should wear according to the rules of "five clothes".Tang Pu invited monks and Taoists to perform rituals for forty-nine days to save the souls of the dead.During these forty-nine days, each family in the family must find one or two people to guard the mourning hall, and weep once every morning and evening.This is indeed a hard job, people in the family who were pushed out "cry day and night for a funeral", they dare not confide in anything, and there is no one who does not secretly complain in their hearts.In particular, some descendants of the clan live very far away. Every day at the hour of the day, they have to dress up and kneel in the mourning hall to wait for incense to pray. Then they have to let out a mournful cry and kneel until their legs are numb. Usually, the servants come dinner.It was even more difficult for Xi Dian. If everyone was still crying there, no one would be ashamed to leave first—how long Xi Dian would be able to go back to sleep after crying depends on luck.However, Tang Jian's family is far away from Liugong's family, and the round trip is nearly 30 miles away. Master Chuan is far away in Changzhou and cannot come back to guard for forty-nine days. Ling Yang is the only one who is qualified to represent Tang Jian's family.Fortunately, Tang Pu, the mourner, was thoughtful and ordered people to clean up a dozen or so empty houses in the temple of the Liugong family for the children of the clan who lived far away; Then they all live in Tang Pu's mansion, so they don't have to travel back and forth.

Ling Yang packed several sets of replacement mourning clothes, took Xiao Ru and a woman who was used to report messages to the family, and set off on the road.She had never left the Tang family's mansion alone for so long, so she was really full of expectations.However, she did feel a little uneasy, so she asked Hui Niang, "What if I can't cry?" If you can really cry from the beginning to the end, I am afraid that the mourning hall will be flooded. When Madam really has no tears, it is good to follow up; when tears come, don’t make a sound to save some effort—— You will know when you go there, everyone around you must be like this, if you have to last for so many days, it will be troublesome if you are exhausted." Ling Yang nodded, and then thought of another thing embarrassingly: "This day and night It’s all right to cry, but don’t you have to cry every day when you want to cry? If I don’t cry once in a while, doesn’t it look bad?” Hui Niang is also serious She thought about it for a moment: "Otherwise, Madam will just watch the situation and go there once or twice every two or three days. If you see that everyone doesn't cry except day and night, then naturally you don't have to go again." Now both of them felt that there was a problem. It was resolved, and they were all relaxed and happy.Hui Niang sighed: "This is nothing compared to when the master went there. At that time, no matter how many times a day we cried, the tears were true." Ling Yang said: "Our master only stopped for seven days. If he stopped for more than one Yue, I think we may not be able to cry." Hui Niang smiled happily: "For so many years, Madam loves to tell jokes, but it has never changed." At dawn, Ling Yang had already put on the "Xiao Gong" mourning dress and knelt in the crowd.Liugong and Master Chuan's grandfather are brothers, so Ling Yang is counted among the group of female relatives in the "Sifu" and is far away from the coffin.She followed everyone and stared down at the ground, smelling the chief mourner, the eldest son of Liu Gong, burning incense in front of him.As soon as he raised his head, he was caught off guard and saw Tang Pu standing beside the mourner.I have never seen him dressed like this before, his whole body is as white as moonlight, because it is the coarse cloth of "Great Gong", this moon white is a bit rough, but it gives his serious face a solemn flavor.Normally annoying and domineering, but at this moment it quietly condensed into a kind of heroism.Ling Yang felt that he was standing firmly in front of the crowd, as if a poplar tree suddenly broke through the ground in a large piece of low and tangled white grass.He held up the wine cup with his right hand. The wine cup seemed to be nailed in mid-air by the fingers of his left hand. With the beating of gongs and drums that only Tang Pu himself could hear, he filled a glass. He quietly put down the wine pot, then turned around, and offered the wine glass to the mourner with both hands for pouring offerings; Refill the wine. It was like suddenly washing away the mortal dust of this world and turning him into a part of the ritual. Ling Yang stared in a daze. For a short while, she forgot to lower her head, and almost straightened her back.After the three glasses of wine were poured out, the master of ceremonies on the other side of the main funeral announced something in a breathy voice, but Ling Yang couldn't hear it clearly, only felt that the man had recited a spell that sounded like a bell, and the lingering sound had not yet dissipated. The chief mourner knelt down and wailed loudly as if he had been ordered.Then, one or two hundred people kneeling on the ground also joined in, and Ling Yang realized for the first time that "voice" can also be like the wind, which can catch people by surprise.The cries around her rang out, and she herself became one of the thousands of leaves.But I no longer feel flustered, because no one cares whether she is crying or not.Only Tang Pu stood up straight as before. Of course, he kowtowed with everyone at first, but after kowtowing, his duty was to stand up and continue to ensure every procedure.There are no tears on his face, and he will not let his expression be torn apart, he doesn't even have mourning eyes - the surrounding grief is overwhelming, only he, calmly and indifferently, seems to intercept the weak sorrow of everyone the dam. Ling Yang leaned down again to kowtow, and when his forehead touched the ground, he seemed to be able to suppress the uneasiness in his chest.She was looking forward to the short moment between one kowtow and the next kowtow, because at that time, she would be able to look at Tang Pu confidently. In his eyes, the people all over the ground were rushing forward like waves of wheat. He will not notice a certain pair of eyes in the wheat wave. The morning ceremony finally came to an end, and the evening ceremony seemed to begin not long after. Sandwiched between two grand memorial services, one day seemed frivolous and pitiful.The ceremony on the first day has not been finished yet, Ling Yang already feels that he is going to be exhausted.She couldn't help but wonder, could Tang Pu's body be made of iron?Between day and night, there are many things that need to be watched, and no mistakes can be made in etiquette. After the daily evening ceremony, everyone and the mourner can go to rest, but he has to call the people in charge everywhere to check After completing the accounts for the day, how much was spent, and how many funerals were received; by the way, the supplies needed for the next day, as well as the rewards and punishments of the servants for various things, must be arranged.Thinking about it, it's not unreasonable for him to be the most respected by the elders in the entire clan - one cannot survive all situations just by being arrogant.The sun was setting, and the bleak light of the setting sun fell on him, making Yang eager to see a little tiredness on his face, because at this moment, her heart was very soft, and she hoped that his face could be prepared for a little tiredness. Hit this soft.But he remained motionless, including his expression.Even if he is not tired, she can still feel sorry for him, but she doesn't understand why she started to "crave" again. A few days later, Hui Niang sent Hou Wu to spread the news, saying that Madam should take advantage of the situation and go home to rest for two days before coming back. She also said that many relatives did the same thing, and no one could bear to endure this for forty-nine days. As long as everyone communicates a little bit, it is good for everyone to divert the days when they go back to their own homes. Don't find that there are too few people suddenly one day, and the host family will not be embarrassed.This proposal was rejected by Ling Yang, Ling Yang only said that he didn't feel tired here, he might as well do his filial piety in front of Liu Gong every day, and he could be regarded as a substitute for Master and Master Chuan.Of course she chose the most irrefutable excuse, but she didn't know that when the word spread, it sounded like another paragraph of praise in the sacrificial oration of the virtuous woman Tang Wang from everyone's mouths.However, outside of the ceremony, there were almost no relatives who were willing to take the initiative to talk to her. In fact, she also understood that if it were her own, she would also feel that there was something to say about an epitaph. What was supposed to come, finally came at a certain moment of laxity. The evening ceremony ended early that day, and it felt like it didn't take long for the crowd to disperse when it got dark. At this time, a few women came over to serve dinner for the relatives and friends gathered in the mourning hall.Xiaoru took a few mouthfuls, and immediately said with a bitter face that her heart hurts, her complexion turned sallow, and then she rushed out and vomited.Ling Yang lost his mind for a while, and wanted to call the mother-in-law brought from home—but there were so many servants coming in and out of the house, it was also a question of who could recognize the person in the house.Thanks to the help of a maid who looked refreshing and kind-hearted, she seemed to know everyone in the master's house very well, so she immediately found someone to carry Xiao Ru out.When the carriage at home finally came to pick up Xiaoru, it was already late at night, and the maid who took over from Xiaoru to serve Ling Yang could only come early tomorrow morning, Ling Yang didn't mind this, but just cared about Xiao Ru's illness.She was sitting alone in the guest room in a daze - it was the first time she went out and encountered such a big incident, it seemed that going out was really difficult to deal with.At this time, someone knocked gently on the door, Ling Yang hesitated, opened the door and saw that it was the maid who helped during the day.Just as she laughed with relief, the servant girl opened her mouth first: "Madam, I was originally the servant girl in Jiu Ye's room, and I told Jiu Ye about Madam's affairs today, and Jiu Ye said that I can't let Madam be alone all night. He brought tea and water by his side, so he sent me here. My name is Yingluo." Hearing this, Ling Yang realized that the "Jiu Ye" in the maid's mouth was referring to Tang Pu. "This is too much trouble for Uncle Jiu." Ling Yang smiled embarrassedly. "Ma'am, please don't be so polite. Master Jiu said that Ma'am is a distinguished guest of our family, and she will not be neglected at all. If there is anything you tell me to do, just say it." "When I see Uncle Jiu tomorrow, we must Thank him very much." Ling Yang lowered his eyes and smiled slightly, his face was a little warm. "Jiuye also said..." Yingluo looked at Lingyang tentatively, "If Madam thinks that I can use it easily tonight, then you don't have to bother the housemaid who will be sent all the way tomorrow, why don't you just let me Waiting on Madam until Xiao Ru's sister recovers, I don't know... what Madam means." Ling Yang looked at Yingluo, Yingluo's face was full of innocence, as if she was just waiting for her answer, She squinted her eyes slightly, what seemed like a long time had passed, but it was only a moment, and then she nodded. The next day, Ling Yang sent a letter home, saying that as long as Xiaoru recovered from her illness, she would come back, and the maids in Uncle Jiu's house were very considerate, so there was no need to call the little girls out to embarrass her.In this way, two days were spent peacefully.On the third night, the lights had already been turned off, but Ling Yang couldn't sleep, she turned her body slightly, and the curtain above her head faintly revealed a little silhouette in the dark night.Yingluo's voice came in from outside the tent clearly: "If Madam can't sleep, how about I talk to Madam?" She didn't make a sound, just listened to Yingluo's voice and continued on her own, "Our Ninth Master and I Said, there is something you want me to ask Madam, if Madam doesn't want to answer, forget it." Ling Yang closed her eyes, as if she could really fall asleep as long as she closed her eyes, and she would never hear what Ying Luo said again.Eyelids drooped, the darkness in front of her eyes didn't get any thicker, but she heard herself saying: "Ask." Yingluo was encouraged, and her voice seemed to be sprinkled with a handful of sugar: "What about the "Xiuyu Pavilion"?" In the play, Wenxiu's "broken arm" folded, Ma'am, do you still remember that Wenxiu opened the door for that bad guy? Our Uncle Jiu wanted to ask, Madam thought that Wenxiu knew that she was a widowed weak woman, why did she still want to Open the door for that person?" "Because that person said that he was poor and sick, and Wenxiu had a kind heart." Ling Yang replied softly. "Isn't it because, hearing the man say that she was poor and sick, and it was another snowy night, she thought of her deceased husband? Uncle Jiu has a second question to ask. This is the third time Wenxiu has heard a passer-by knock on the door with poverty and illness, and she has learned a lesson, why does she still open the door?" "If you don't open the door, you won't be able to see Shangguanyu." Ling Yang didn't know why Somewhat annoyed, feeling offended. "But how did she know that the door was Shangguanyu at first? Why did she still open the door... Uncle Jiu also asked, if it was Madam, would he open the door?" She buried her face in the pillow and said nothing. After a long time, Yingluo said quietly, "Jiu Ye is outside in the corridor right now, Madam, would you like to answer Jiu Ye face to face?" Forty-nine days passed, Liu Gong was buried, and the year was over.Although because the whole family is observing filial piety, the Tang family's mansion is also sloppy this year-even so, Hui Niang still has to be busy for a long time: although it can't be luxurious, the food for the whole family must be prepared during the New Year; Relatives and friends outside the door always come to pay New Year's greetings and have to be entertained; Master Chuan came back to burn incense and worship ancestors on New Year's Eve, and went to cry in front of Liugongling. Before the fifteenth day, he was anxious to go to Beijing to take the exam Packing and wrapping up the horses is naturally the responsibility of Madam Hui... Therefore, when Ling Yang and Xiao Ru finally came back after forty-nine days, the whole mansion was still shrouded in the tiredness of "the year is finally over". Even Hui Niang didn't bother to look at Ling Yang carefully, only Zi Teng said with a smile: "This is also strange, others say that keeping the spirit is hard, why does our wife seem to be a little fatter? Could it be that the food of Liugong's family is really good?" Is it so good?" Xiao Ru pursed her lips and smiled, and didn't say much, in fact, as long as you take a closer look, you can see that Xiao Ru has changed a little bit.Because she and her master have kept a common secret, there is already a well-thought-out security between her brows. Only Xie Shunhui was shocked when he saw Ling Yang again after the new year - it was as if Ling Yang had thrown a stone into his heart, and all the birds flew away with fluttering wings.Although she has taken off her mourning clothes, she is also dressed in white at home. The ordinary white has a shimmering luster on her body.Her eyes, too, seemed darker and deeper.She approached him gracefully, saluted, and sat down again—this time when she completed all these actions, she didn't care about her stump arm at all, and it was because she didn't care that it was not as stiff as before, and sometimes because of losing In order to balance, he will roughly tilt his body like a dragonfly on the water, but it is like a weak willow facing the wind.The tone of her ordering Xiaoru to warm the wine was softer than usual. After she finished the order, she turned her head and fixed her gaze on Xie Shunhui, as if the gaze itself was a precious gift. Then she smiled quietly and looked at He, but the smile remained at the corner of his mouth until her eyes turned away. "I also want to ask my husband to help me deliver some things to others." She said lightly. Xie Shunhui exhaled forcefully, and said straightforwardly: "Tell me clearly, who is that man." She was startled, but she didn't seem too surprised.Instead, he smiled slowly: "Mr. is really different from others. It doesn't take much effort to say anything." He looked into her eyes without smiling. She lowered her voice, like a naughty child about to admit that she broke the vase, and said softly, "It's Uncle Jiu." Xie Shunhui sighed shortly as if laughing at himself: "Tang Pu. Why didn't I think of this earlier." In an instant he became angry again, "Madam don't blame me for blaming you, but this matter is really too muddled. If you really It's hard to bear, I understand, you tell me, I can get you any number of actors, but you want to take advantage of the fire, and you want to meet a man from the clan. If something really happens, don't say that we have been planning for so many years I can’t even save your life, so why can’t you find a way to discuss with me about such a big matter earlier?” He paused and drank a glass of wine fiercely, in fact, he himself I also know that this is too stupid. "Sir, what are you talking about?" She looked confused and innocent, "I have never felt hard to bear, the master has been here for so many years, although some people make me feel sorry for me, there are still many people who treat me well in this house, This is home, and it's my destiny to live here. I don't have to have a man, I'm just, just..." She seemed to suddenly not know what to say, looking at him, her eyes flashed upsurge. "You just can't help it." After he finished speaking, he regretted it, especially when he saw her nodding vigorously with surprise on her face.He smiled slightly, but there was a bottomless sadness in his chest.After so many years, he finally understood why he valued her so much—the conclusions made in the past were all inaccurate. Fengsheng... the real answer is that she is ruthless.All the things he admired in her came from this "ruthlessness".But now everything is over, that man named Tang Pu terminated her, and from now on she really fell into the mud of the world, and the filthy struggle made her more beautiful at this moment.And he could only watch from the sidelines.He drank the contents of the cup again and said: "Madam, you know, I can't help it, I'm afraid it's the worst thing in the world." "I know." She smiled sweetly, "Mr. can do it like 'be in heat, stop being polite'. I am an ignorant and rude woman. Please forgive me, sir. I am not that confused. In April and May, He has to go out to do business again, and he will go for a year or so. The two of us only fight for the moment, and once he goes, no one will mention it anymore." She brushed the flat surface with her pointed fingers like playing a piano. The left arm on the table, "Don't worry, sir, I will be careful. It's been so many years, how can I not take the important matter of the two of us to heart?" "That's all." Xie Shunhui waved his hands and smiled, "I should have expected this day to come sooner or later, but Xie has to remind Madam that he is a man, he is used to playing outside, and there are occasional novelties. Madam is different..." "Okay, Mr. Xie." She was tolerant like a mother, "Similar things must be told to you by others. I don't expect to be a lovebird in Tianyuan, so what else can he do to me?" This is probably the first time in her life that she knows what addiction is, and it is also the first time she has tasted the taste of "pleasure".Let her go, he felt sad for a while, life is already so short. In the 33rd year of Wanli, Ling Yang spent the whole spring in intoxication.She didn't seem to care much about the great joy that Master Chuan finally won the exam.On March 17th, the results of the palace examination were released, and the young master Chuan was awarded the second best, and he was awarded a Jinshi background.When the news spread back home, not only the Tang family's mansion, but the whole Tang family was filled with joy.The congratulatory post from the magistrate of Xiuning County was delivered to the home at the first time, and Hui Niang complained to Wisteria full of joy: "The new year has just passed, and after a few days of rest, we have to prepare a big banquet again. Why don't we take advantage of this year to hire more people?" Come in a few people." Ever since Master Chuan embarked on his journey to Beijing, Ling Yang lit a sea lantern in a Taoist temple not far from home.Donate some silver taels as lamp oil money every month. On the first and fifteenth day of the Lunar New Year or some important days, I always take Xiaoru to worship in person, saying that it is to pray for Master Chuan and ask him to be named on the gold list. The safety of his official career in the future.Sounds very reasonable, no one will suspect anything.It was true that she went to offer incense, but every time she asked the boy who drove the car to stop at the entrance of the Taoist temple and wait, saying that she would chat with the Taoist nun before coming out.Then go out through the back door of the Taoist temple, and within a few steps is the ancestral hall of the Tang family.Tang Pu always had the key of the ancestral hall in his hand. Since the old lady and his wife were transferred to the Tang family mansion, the guardian of the ancestral hall was replaced by a deaf old man.Ling Yang could easily walk into the backyard of the ancestral hall without his attention.Once, she was locked in that small room and spent a long sleepless night; now, she took a deep breath, gently pushed the door open, and the man was inside the door, she stepped in, looked at him intently and vigorously, As if it was another farewell.She knew that she was guilty of serious crimes, not only because of cheating, but also because such pure bliss must not be something in the world, but she and her adulterer stole it from the gods together. That was fifteen years ago.She held the poison in front of her face, her hands trembling slightly, and she was in this room; now that the concubine has moved out of the ancestral hall, this room is empty and unoccupied, and her poison turned into a human form, encircling her, burning Melting into her embrace, they became a single piece of amber together.While trembling, she caressed his thick and lush hair like a knife. He didn't say a word, but risked his life to kiss the gap between her breasts. One day dies at your hands.His hug made her almost suffocate, he held her face in his hands, and said with care, "I'll take you away, I'll find a way." She smiled softly, noncommittal.She just said, "Do you still remember that the first time you saw me was here?" Of course he remembered. "You are standing under that bamboo. That clump of bamboo has been cut down now, but you are still here. For fifteen years, you have grown in my heart. Do you know what it means to 'grow in my heart'?" he said. He lowered his head and kissed her scarred left arm.A fierce light suddenly appeared in his eyes: "I heard that you cut off your own arm. At that time, I wish I could ride out and kill all the elders who forced you to commit suicide, kill all those who chewed your tongue, no Seeing their corpses strewn all over the place, I couldn't be more happy in my life." She patted his head coquettishly: "Fifteen years! If Liu Gong hadn't held a funeral, wouldn't you have never planned to let me know?" Xiao Ru gently knocked on the door outside: "Ma'am, it's almost time, if you don't go home, you should be suspicious." The two of them realized at the same time that he had been in her body until now.She laughed, and he laughed too.She suddenly lost her mind and kissed his face, she said: "I didn't drink that bowl of poison here, so it was because of today." In the carriage home, Xiao Ru methodically arranged her sideburns and hairpin rings.Her complexion was calm, completely clueless.In fact, she didn't have a thunderstorm in her chest and her face was as flat as a lake, she was just recalling that first late night.Yingluo pushed the door deftly and went out, seeming to swim silently into the night outside.Immediately, a gap was raised in her tent.The man came with Moonlight.Without saying a word, he undressed awkwardly and lay down beside her.He was unexpectedly a little shy, and she whispered: "Uncle Ninth, why are you doing this?" He answered irrelevantly: "I don't know what to call you." She was quiet for a moment, and said to him solemnly: "My mother's name is I'm Lingyang." "Lingyang." He carefully held the precious name in his mouth like a child learning his tongue, "Lingyang." His voice was as soft as a whisper, "I miss you so much." On the last snowy night, Wenxiu could not have known that the person standing outside the door was the soul of her deceased husband, but why did she open the door? Now she sort of understood why Lian Qiao had promised so well, but suddenly couldn't poison Dr. Luo to death; she also understood why everyone felt that she was too cruel and sister Wei was too pitiful; she even understood why the master was dying at first. At that time, why Yunqiao's eyes were full of cold hatred overnight - she understood, until now, she did not understand those things that people thought she had understood long ago. But people have forgotten that she was only sixteen years old that year. I am afraid that Master Chuan will never forget that day after the announcement of the rankings, the day when he faced the Holy Spirit alone.First, two eunuchs came to the posthouse where the Xinke Scholars lived to announce him to the palace, and immediately, his head began to have some subtle, imperceptible dizziness, as if he had drunk wine, and if he drank another glass, he would be slightly tipsy time.The memory going down is not very coherent, because he followed the two eunuchs all the way, his eyes fixed on his feet all the way, he didn't even remember the vast and magnificent scenery along the way, he only remembered that he was in the In an absolute emptiness, this emptiness is still, with a kind of self-evident majesty. For a moment, he almost forgot that there is actually a sky above this emptiness.He walked into the imperial study room, saluted in a panic, kowtowed, paused for a long while, and heard someone in his chest vigorously beating a drum, and then heard a voice say lightly, casually, and even listlessly: "Get flat."他愣了片刻，才恍然大悟，这便是天子的声音了，他险些忘了怎么“平身”，也险些忘了谢谢皇上。 那个平淡的声音又沉默了好一会儿，他不知道自己该不该抬起头来，好像是害怕天颜猝不及防地闯入眼帘，会灼伤了双目。圣人书里的“天子”就在那里，宇宙间完美秩序的化身。他终于做到了一个男人最该做的事情——十年寒窗，金榜题名，踩着多少失意人的累累白骨，换取了一个辅佐他的资格。尽管，这完美的秩序拥有着一把略微孱弱的声音。 天子很瘦。早有耳闻他身体并不好。眉宇间与其说是肃杀，不如说有种满不在乎的萧条。川少爷注视着眼前这个普通人，一时间像是失魂落魄。天子像是看见了一只呆头鹅，随意地笑笑，使用一种极为家常的语气和措辞：“朕听说，你的继母，是徽州极有名的节妇，可有这话？”川少爷不记得自己回答了什么，做梦也没想到，圣上跟自己说的第一句话，居然是关于令秧。垂下头去听着，渐渐地，也明白了些来龙去脉。曾经被令秧收留的宦官知恩图报，把令秧的事情上奏给了皇帝，自然也少不得渲染一番关于自断手臂，关于《绣玉阁》的传奇。原来即使是天子，也会对“传奇”感兴趣。直到最后，他听见了那句：“虽然你家主母守节不过十五年，还没到岁数，又是继室并非元配，可是朕念及她不仅恪守妇德贞烈有加，更难得的是深明大义，救护杨琛有功，还含辛茹苦给朝廷供养出了一个进士，朕打算旌表她了，你可有什么说的？” 他膝盖发软，不由自主地跪下了。他想象过无数种面圣的场景，却唯独没想过这个。他知道自己该拒绝，该不卑不亢，神情自若地拒绝。当皇上对他的拒绝深感意外的时候，他再慷慨陈词，痛说一番宦官充当矿监税使的弊病——这有何难？一肚子的论据早已纵横捭阖地在书院里书写或者激辩过无数次。他只需要声情并茂地把它们背出来，顺序颠倒一下都不要紧，说不定讲到激动处又能妙语如珠。不怕龙颜震怒，哪怕立刻拖他去廷杖又如何，满朝文武明日起都会窃窃私语着“唐炎”这个名字，圣上最终还是会记得他，这才是他原本该有的命运，这是天下每个男人都想要的命运。 有些事情，他自然是不知道的。就在他们殿试的那两天，云南又发生了民众围攻税监府的暴动。满朝文武自然又是一片对宦官的骂声，其中，东林党人尤甚。各种痛陈厉害的奏折，皇帝已经看腻了，他偏要在此时旌表一位曾经在类似的暴动中，收留过受伤宦官的孀妇，这举动便已说明一切态度。更何况，这孀妇的继子，还是东林党人，这是再好也没有的事——与其跟这帮永远不知满足的大臣们生气，不如借这个举动让这帮东林党人们看看，什么才是天子的胸怀。即使是天子，满心里想的也无非是这些人间事。 但是川少爷脑袋里一片空白，他机械地深深叩首，满怀屈辱地说：“谢主隆恩。” 在遥远的家乡，自然无人得知川少爷的屈辱。他们沉浸在一片狂欢之中。令秧跪在地上，听完了圣上御赐的所有赞美之词。满满一个厅堂的人一起深深地叩首，知县大人含着笑说道：“好好准备准备吧，建造牌坊的石材过几日便能运到，你们府上也须得出些人手来帮忙建造。” 令秧只觉得，寂静就像柳絮一样，突然飞过来，塞住了她的耳朵。阖府上下的欢呼雀跃声她也不是听不见，只是被这寂静隔绝在了十分遥远的地方。她嘴角轻轻地扬起来一点，却又觉得身体里好生空洞，有阵风刮了进来。一转脸，她看到了眼里噙着泪的小如：“夫人总算是熬出来了。”小如的声音分外尖细，听起来更像是某种小鸟。她用力地抱了小如一下，小如措手不及，那一瞬间还在她怀中挣扎了一下，她耳语道：“下一件事，便是把你托付到一个好婆家。” 小如一定是因为太开心了，所以她已然忘记了，今天清晨她是那样忧心忡忡地提醒令秧：令秧的月事已经晚了快要十天。也许小如并不是忘记了这个忧虑，只是从天而降的喜讯让小如天真地确信了：不会发生任何糟糕的事情。令秧掠过了小如，掠过了回廊上的那群聒噪的仆妇婆子，掠过了沿途没完没了的笑脸，她平静地缓步前行，跨过了一道门槛，再跨过了一道，终于，她惊觉自己已经站在属于老夫人的那个天井里。她拾级而上，楼梯的响动听起来像黄昏时林子里盘旋的乌鸦。“老夫人看看是谁来请安了？”门婆子头一个发现了令秧，老夫人不为所动，她端正地坐在那里，像婴儿一般，认真且无辜地凝视面前一道屏风。一回头，看见令秧盈盈然地向她行礼，开心地一笑，伸出一根枯瘦的手指颤抖着指着屏风道：“你看这绣工，是苏州运来的呢。” 令秧也微笑着对周围那几个婆子道：“你们都去前头领赏钱吧，今儿个家里有喜事，蕙姨娘说了所有人都有赏，去晚了可就被人家抢光了。”一句话几个婆子登时笑逐颜开，争先道：“罪过罪过，都没给夫人贺喜，反倒是夫人先过来了，哪儿有这个道理。”只有门婆子在众人都出去之后，询问地看着令秧，令秧往门外抬了一下下巴，笑道：“你也去吧，我同老夫人说几句话，不妨事的。”门婆子便也不再多言，谦恭地退出去，刚要掩上房门的那一瞬间，却听得令秧急急地说：“慢着，我还有一句话。” 她随着门婆子跨过了门槛，回廊上寂静无人，阖宅的狂欢里，这条回廊上寂静得不像真的。她静静地一笑：“这么多年，我未曾好好地谢过你的救命之恩。” “什么救命之恩，夫人又在说糊涂话了，我怎么不记得。”门婆子爽利地笑了，胸有成竹地垂着双手。 令秧却不理会她，径直问道：“当日在祠堂里，你为何要救我？” “这个……”门婆子抬起眼睛，“我死了丈夫那年，也是十六岁，跟当日的夫人一般大。”跟着她毋庸置疑地挥了挥手，像是把令秧的疑问无声地截断在了半空中：“我现在的当家的，是我二十岁那年改嫁的。我不过是替夫人不值，我们这些命如草芥的人，嫁个三次五次其实都不打紧，可是夫人入了这大宅子，没了老爷，便连活着也不能够……夫人可千万别当成是件了不得的事情，老太婆不过是一时心软打抱不平。十五年过来了，夫人觉得这硬抢来的十五年，可有滋味？” 令秧含泪点点头：“何止是有滋味，有了这十五年，才不枉此生。” “那我这个老太婆可就心安了。”门婆子带着一脸如释重负的笑容，为令秧拉开了门：“夫人快过去看看老夫人吧，那些人一时半会儿是回不来的。” 不知何时，老夫人已从里头出来，静静地站在离门口不远的地方，默不作声地站着，形销骨立，衣裳像是风筝一样，好像马上就要从她身上飘起来。 “老夫人认得我吗？”她的语调安逸得像是常常来这里闲话。老夫人安静了片刻，突然肯定地说：“认得。”——门婆子早就说过，老夫人近来清醒的时候比以往多了，可见是真的。 “有件事想请教老夫人。”令秧笑笑，语气倒是和缓，“老夫人是如何知道我是淫妇的呢？是有人来跟老夫人说过什么吗？”见老夫人无动于衷，令秧继续提示道，“老夫人能告诉我是谁么……是蕙娘，还是云巧，还是哪个？” “这有何难？”老夫人陡然漫不经心地笑了，“女人都是淫妇。” 她也如释重负地长叹一声道：“还是老夫人英明呀。”随即更加戏谑地笑笑，“那老夫人究竟为何要把老爷推下楼去呢？” 老夫人也舒缓地笑了，抿了抿原本就已瘪进去的嘴：“我不喜欢那盏灯。” 谢舜珲再度造访唐家的时候，发现自己常住的屋子也收拾一新了。蕙娘一高兴，整栋宅子便忙碌得卓有成效。晚间设了一桌丰盛家宴不说，就连被褥也给换了床新做好的。众人推杯换盏，至夜阑方散。最近几个月，唐家大宅的宴席就没有断过，也许是因着这缘故，厨子的手艺都像是进步了。夜深人静，他的耳朵便格外敏感，听见外头回廊上似有若无的响动，一开门，果真是令秧和小如站在外头，正准备叩门。小如捧着一个捧盒，令秧右手单手抱着一坛小小的扬州雪醅。 谢舜珲一面将二人让进屋内，一面拱手笑道：“可饶了我吧，府上盛情太过，我着实吃不下了。”小如将捧盒放在案上，促狭地笑道：“别人的我管不着，先生若是不吃了我们夫人敬的酒，我都不答应。”将酒箸摆好，便退了出去。谢舜珲笑着摇头，说这丫头越来越没正形想是人大心大留不住了，一转头，却看见令秧从容不迫地跪下了。跪好之后，扬起脸一笑：“我谢你。受我一拜吧。” “夫人这是干什么。”他大惊失色地上去拉她起来，“赶紧起来，这可真要折煞我了……” 令秧终究还是被硬拽了起来，她委实没什么力气，被谢舜珲重新按回椅子里的时候，脸上却没有羞赧之色。她只是认真地盯着他，她认真的时候脸上就充满了天真气，她说：“我是来和先生告别的，这样还不许我拜你么？” 他狐疑地看着她，心里已经想到了最坏的事。她玉葱似的右手看似不经意地停留在自己肚子上，五指尖尖，像只粉蝶。然后那只手微微用力地按了一下肚子，淡淡地笑道：“有身孕了。不会错。白天刚刚求连翘帮我把了脉。” 他脑袋里“嗡”的一声巨响。然后开始负着双手，绕着她坐的椅子踱来踱去：“不慌，容我想想，堕胎不妥，太危险，一旦有个好歹便会把事情闹大……牌坊建成大概要一个月的时间，最多两个月——不会看出来，一旦牌坊落成了，那些该应酬的都应酬了，我们便跟人说你生了重病需要休养，我来想办法，把你送到别处去躲躲，孩子生下来你再回来，这孩子一出生就给人抱走，我去寻可靠的人家，你千万别自乱阵脚，多少风浪都过来了……” “罢了。”她笑着摆摆手，“先生没明白我的意思。这种日子我过够了，我也不想让你们谁再陪着我圆谎陪着我担惊受怕。如今牌坊到了，万一有朝一日事情败露，那罪过便是欺君，这是诛九族的事情，我不能让先生替我担这个风险。我该做的都做到了，这人间对我委实也太凶险，我想要带着这孩子去个更清净的去处，先生就别再阻拦我了吧。” “你胡说什么。”一阵暴怒涌了上来，他的额头上绷起了青筋。 “我想好了。”她耐心地看着他，的确，眼下自乱阵脚的确实是他谢舜珲，“十五年了，先生都成全我到今日。不如这最后一步，也一并成全了我吧。先生是明白人，这归宿对我来说，是再好也没有的。你我的大事已经做到了啊，就当我累了，行不行？” “早知如此，当初为何不让你吊死在祠堂里？”他脸色惨白地质问她，“当初吊死了，也拿得到牌坊，我们何必费这十几年的辛苦？你那么聪明，为何此时偏偏如此糊涂？” “先生，那怎么能一样呢？”她笑靥如花，“你们救下我十五年，我是在这十五年里，才真的不枉此生啊。我同蕙娘，同云巧，同连翘和小如结下了情谊，我认识了先生你，我已尝过了被众人当成是故事的滋味，我还知道了……”眼泪充盈着她漆黑的眸子，“我还知道了什么叫'情不知所起，一往而深'，够了，先生，真的够了。那时候是一个孩子救了我的命，如今我因着另一个孩子把这条命还回去，这便是天意，足够公平。” 他用力地凝视着她，知道她心意已决，也知道这其实是唯一万无一失的办法。可是他真的恨，他脸上掠过一丝惨然。令秧接着说：“我只有最后的两件事拜托先生。一件是，麻烦先生帮忙关照着，万一到时候出了什么岔子，把仵作唤来验尸了，请先生使些银子，让他马虎一点，别把孩子验出来；另一件事情，便是溦姐儿。你莫笑话我，我时至今日才知道，把溦姐儿交到你手里过一辈子，放心是必定的。可是人生在世，除了图放心，还有别的滋味。先生能不能答应我，等溦姐儿嫁过去了，若有一天……” “若有一天，她遇见了可心意的人，我定成全他们。”他恢复了平静，慢慢地说，“你尽管放心，若有一天，她看中的人就算是我的长子次子，即使不能明媒正娶，我也尽心保他们安然无恙。” 她举起了酒杯，一饮而尽。 他也端起来一口喝干了，对她亮了亮杯底。 她脸颊立即艳若桃李，两行清泪顺畅地滑下来，她的手指轻轻地抹了一把，对他笑道：“我是高兴。” “咱们今天将这坛酒喝完，好生送你。”他的泪水也溢出了眼角，“西出阳关无故人。夫人，你若去了，这人世间我便是没有故人了。” “我也一样。”眼泪像是被她的笑容溅起的水花，“我真舍不得先生。” “也罢。”他再度斟满自己的杯子，“早走一日，便早了一日。你定能化作花，化作云，化作那些最有灵气的物什；过完了今晚，我便独自回去，回去泯然众人。夫人，走好。” 令秧的贞节牌坊落成的时候，正是暮春。她于万历十八年开始守节，万历三十三年得到了朝廷的旌表，只用了十五年，空前绝后。 牌坊建成那日，自然有个典礼。为了这道牌坊，唐家大宅特意从自家门口修了一道崭新的石板路，这条新路径直延伸，劈开了油菜花盛放的田野，汇合上了通往不远处休宁城的主干道。令秧的牌坊便孤单地矗立在离大宅大约两里的地方。六公过世以后，新任族长十一公起了个大早，一丝不苟地盥洗——迎了这牌坊之后便要带着全族祭祖，自然马虎不得。没承想自家的小厮急急地到书房来报，说有客人。十一公皱眉道：“能是什么要紧的客，告诉他，今日是全族的大事，我没工夫会客。”小厮面露为难之色，往前走了两步，对十一公说了一句什么，轻得像是耳语。十一公的面色即刻凝重了些，缓慢道：“把她带进来吧。” 不多时，云巧便站在十一公面前，恭敬行礼道：“奴家明白，论礼不该出门更不该擅自拜访十一公，只是这事情委实了不得，事关全族清誉，不能不禀报给族长。” 云巧的小轿轻盈地穿过了这条新修的路，也自然经过了令秧的牌坊。清早的空气带着露水的清香，过了很久，她才掀起轿帘，嫌恶地看了那牌坊一眼。 隔着远远的田野望过去，那牌坊像是将一座庙宇压扁成薄薄的一片，孤独地耸立在那儿。青色的茶园石，和斜穿着飞过的燕子正好押韵。高二十一尺，宽十六尺，进深三尺有余；两柱一间三楼，一排斗拱支撑挑檐，明间二柱不通头。并没有多少奢华的雕饰，只有两柱落墩处的狮子和雀替上的喜鹊。因为令秧是继室，所以这牌坊比其余烈妇的略小了些。云巧看着，一丝微笑浮了上来——是时候了。 十一公终于听完了云巧的陈述，跌坐在太师椅里。云巧满意地望着族长，垂首道：“奴家所言句句是真，我家小姐并非老爷的骨血，若十一公派人去查问，罗大夫便是再好也没有的证人。小姐是夫人和川少爷的女儿，夫人当日断臂也不过是为平息事态，铤而走险演了一出戏。云巧不能看着全族的清白就这样被一个道貌岸然的淫妇玩弄于股掌之间，特地来禀报十一公……”话没说完，却见十一公已经挥手唤来了好几个小厮，十一公声音嘶哑，无力地说道：“把这个满嘴污言秽语的疯妇先关起来，待祭祖之后再交给她家当家的蕙姨娘，赶紧延医诊治要紧。” 云巧已被拖走了好久，十一公都未能从那椅子里站起来。似乎一瞬间，又老了二十年。 就在同一个清晨，云巧奔波在去往十一公家的路上，也奔往自己的绝路；麻雀如胶似漆地停留在簇新的牌坊上面，像是牌坊的一部分，眺望着田野尽头的天空。令秧躺在自己的拔步床上，再也没有醒来。当年连翘配好的预备毒死罗大夫的药，如今物尽其用，能让她看起来无比安详，就好像急病猝死于睡梦中。她终究错过了自己的盛典，所有的荣耀全体成了哀荣，她是故意这么做的。 在最后一段睡眠里，她梦见了碧绿的江水。她看见自己沉下去，她知道自己融化了，她成了透明的，她变成碧绿的，甩掉那具肉身的感觉，原来如此之美，她成了江水，然后，没有尽头的虚空来临。 令秧卒年三十二岁，其实，还差几个月。那是万历三十三年，1605年，所以她并不知道，那种化为江水的感觉，名叫自由。 谢舜珲平静健康地活到八十一岁，无疾而终。他一直怀念她。