Chapter 13 anxiously waiting

Since he decided to stay and not leave, in the next few days, with hope and confidence in the improvement of the situation, Mao Xiang plunged into the rush to strengthen the joint defense of his family. However, although the leaders of the uprising had promised that the chaos in the city would be brought under control soon, and Mao Xiang tried his best to lobby the neighbors and encourage everyone to stay and not leave, but a few days later, that promise was not fulfilled. Realized that the lawless behavior in the city has not stopped, but has a tendency to intensify.As a result, the neighbors who were once persuaded to stay were shaken one after another and prepared to flee abroad again.Seeing that the situation was difficult to control, Mao Xiang felt very anxious and annoyed.As the number of manpower became less and less, he had to send a large number of his own servants to replace him; thus, the burden of the entire guard and guards became heavier and heavier on his shoulders alone.

Dong Xiaowan, who was a concubine and took care of her husband's daily life, was more or less aware of these situations that happened outside.Although Maoxiang seldom talked to her about the outside world, she didn't dare to ask too much, but from her husband's obviously thin face, from his increasingly irritable temper, it was not difficult for Dong Xiaowan to guess the outside world. How unsatisfactory things are.Especially when Mrs. Ma and Mrs. Su couldn't bear the day-to-day disturbances and finally moved out of the city to the countryside first, Mao Xiang had to arrange time to visit every three to five days, so that besides worrying about the things in the city In addition, more Yizhong traveled a long way.Regarding these, Dong Xiaowan watched all of them silently, and naturally felt pain in her heart.She knew that she couldn't get involved in the affairs of the outside world, so she really wanted to do her part in the affairs of the family.However, those masters in the family always seemed to regard her as a servant, and the servants regarded her as a master, no matter what kind of business it was, they would not come to recruit her.This left her with nothing to fall back on, as if abandoned.Especially when the husband is not around, this feeling of loneliness is even more intense.

Now, it's evening again.Looking out from the bright room of the East Wing where Dong Xiaowan lives, one can see a wide and huge pile of flocculent cloud bands, spreading meanderingly from the northwest, passing over the courtyard, and extending to the southeast.Under the reflection of the setting sun, the fiery red cloud bands are extraordinarily dazzling and vivid, making the whole sky seem to be on fire.However, this magnificent scenery foreshadows that tomorrow may be rainy, or at least windy. Right now, Dong Xiaowan is looking at the cloud, resting her chin with one hand, thinking silently.However, what she was thinking about was not tomorrow's weather, but about two and a half years since she married into a risky family.Last year, when the whole family escaped from Rugao to avoid Gao Jie's rebellious soldiers, when they arrived in Danyang after going through many hardships, her husband once told her personally: the master found that she was conscientious, clear and careful in handling the money in and out, and appreciated it very much. Entrust her to manage the finances.At that time, although she was overwhelmed by flattery and feared that she would not be able to bear it, she was rather grateful for the trust of the master.Because although she has no intention of taking power, she is very eager to be accepted by this family, to become an intimate member of everyone, and to do her best to maintain this family.The approval and intention from the master's mouth is undoubtedly a clear expression of approval.Unexpectedly, shortly after returning to Rugao, she followed Maoxiang to Nanjing, where she lived for more than half a year.Then the Qing soldiers went south in a big way, and she fled here with her family in a hurry.Up to now, that incident seems to have been completely forgotten, and no one mentions it again.Regarding this, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling that she was indeed not up to this level, and it might not be a good thing to force herself to bear the burden.However, she didn't know whether it was because of her own carelessness or other reasons, but she felt that after returning home this time, the atmosphere around her had changed.The master is fine, he is still kind to her; but when it comes to his wife, grandma, and Aunt Liu, his attitude has become indifferent, not as affectionate as before, although it will not embarrass her, but intentionally or unintentionally, he no longer Take her seriously.This made Dong Xiaowan feel rather uneasy.Especially this time, the wife and grandma moved to Dabaiju outside the city with their children and grandchildren. Even Aunt Liu didn't stay, but she just left her behind.Undoubtedly, since Maoxiang did not leave, she was actually unwilling to leave her husband and leave.However, when the parents made a decision, they didn't even ask her about her intentions, as if she couldn't even count.This made Dong Xiaowan feel even more sensitively that she was not really recognized and accepted by this noble family.This grievance and doubt had been stinging and haunting her in recent days, and now it popped up again. "Ah, I have been in the door for more than two years, why are they still like this? What did I do wrong, or did I not do enough? What should I do?" She stared blankly at the area that was getting darker and darker Huo Shaoyun went down, thinking distressedly and racking his brains, "Actually, they don't know how much I love this family, and how much I love them! As long as they really treat me as a close relative, no matter how hard they suffer, No matter how tired I am, I will not complain! Ah, if I can do it, I really want to show them my heart and soul! But now, who can I tell and help me with this suffering? What? Hey, it seems that only my husband is the only one. He is the closest person to me, and he knows a little about my suffering. Although I also know that from the beginning to now, he has never... never He really puts me in his heart. I don’t know what he’s thinking in his heart? Maybe he’s still thinking about that Chen Yuanyuan—but besides him, there’s really no one I can count on and rely on! So, then—ah, It's getting dark today, why hasn't Mr. Xiang come back?"

Because she suddenly thought of her husband, Dong Xiaowan felt uneasy for a moment and came back to her senses.Indeed, Maoxiang left early this morning, saying that he was going to visit Mrs. Ma and Mrs. Su outside the city.It stands to reason that he should have returned by now, because before that, he had visited twice, and each time he came back shortly after noon. "Oh, not only did he not come back, but none of them even pretended to come back. Then what happened? Did something happen in the countryside? Or did they encounter robbers who murdered and robbed halfway? Or were they sick? Injured Did you go the wrong way?"

While guessing uneasily, she tried to comfort herself: "Well, no, it won't be like this! Mr. Xiang is not the kind of person who is reckless and thoughtless. He will adapt to the situation and deal with everything Well done!" However, when her eyes fell on the darkened courtyard, she couldn't help jumping up in fear. "If it's okay, why hasn't he come back so far? He doesn't know that the master, me, and the family are thinking about him! Even if he has something to do and can't come back, he should send someone back to say something. Ah, if something really happened to them, what will happen to them at this moment? Are they seriously injured, or are they being beaten and tortured, or, or they are no, no longer..." The last thought flashed, and Dong Xiaowan felt as if he had been hit on the head. A stick, suddenly froze.

"No, no! It can't be!" she thought horrified.Indeed, not to mention how deeply she loves her husband, just take her as an example. Now the country is ruined and the family is in chaos, and the only person she can count on and rely on in this family is her husband.In case something happens to Maoxiang, then from now on... "No, I'm going, I'm going to find him!" She couldn't help but stand up and said aloud. Zi Yi, who was sitting next to her, was clearly startled, and quickly put down a piece of clothing that was about to be folded in her hand, and asked, "Mother, where are you going?"

"Look for a husband, you must find a husband!" Dong Xiaowan said, and walked out. Ziyi quickly followed up to help: "But, I heard that the master has sent someone there!" "No! I have to go by myself!" "But……" "Don't stop me! Call the sedan chair quickly, go, go!" Seeing that Dong Xiaowan had a terrible expression, his eyes were wide open, and his body was trembling slightly, he seemed very excited, Zi Yi didn't dare to disobey him, he answered "Yes" and hurried out. After a while, Dong Xiaowan got on a small sedan chair and went out.Mao Qizong in the upper room was probably also anxious about this matter, so he didn't stop him after learning about it, but only sent someone to pass the message, asking her to bring more servants and guard carefully in case of accidents.

Now, surrounded by eight servants holding torches and knives and sticks, Dong Xiaowan walked along the long and narrow alley towards the main street.This alley in the east of the city is home to many high-class families, who can be regarded as wealthy and powerful in the city on weekdays.Based on this, if everyone works together and join hands, it should be said that they can temporarily protect themselves.But now, those rich and not-so-rich families have almost escaped cleanly, making the normally prosperous lane become dimly lit and silent, and filled with gloomy and gloomy surroundings. The atmosphere of horror is almost the same as a cemetery.It wasn't until Dong Xiaowan's ranks passed by, with chaotic steps and shaking torches, that the housekeepers who were waiting inside the closed doors like ghosts were startled, and they put their eyes in the cracks of the doors anxiously, peeking out ...

Seeing with his own eyes the mysterious and desolate scene outside the house, and thinking of how dangerous and unpredictable it would be for Mao Xiang to walk in such an environment, Dong Xiaowan felt even more anxious at the moment.Although she could only sit in the sedan chair, she kept raising the curtain and looking out, hoping to get to the front as soon as possible and take her husband home. However, as he walked, the sedan chair stopped for some reason.Dong Xiaowan waited for a while, but still did not start. She opened the curtain a little more, looked over the head of the servant standing in front, and found that she had come to the wooden gate at the entrance of the alley.In the doorway, a number of people gathered indistinctly, talking buzzingly there.Dong Xiaowan was a little puzzled at first, but then his heart moved: Hey, could it be that the husband is back?Immediately, her heart widened, and she quickly pulled the window sill, opened her eyes wide, and stretched her neck to look around, hoping to recognize her husband's familiar figure as soon as possible.

"Auntie..." An old voice sounded outside the sedan chair. Dong Xiaowan looked back and found that it was the head deacon Maogui who spoke.She hurriedly asked: "Why didn't you leave? Is the Xianggong's family here? Ah, where is the Xianggong? Where is he? Why can't I see him?" Asking, she stretched her neck again and tried her best to search. "The young master hasn't come back yet. It's because there's a lot of chaos outside. It's said that they've entered the city. There are groups of people killing and robbing everywhere." Mao Gui replied in a hoarse voice.I couldn't see his expression clearly in the dark.

"Oh, then why don't you leave? Hurry up and pick up the young master!" Dong Xiaowan urged anxiously. About to find that Dong Xiaowan didn't hear him clearly, Maogui gave a dry cough, repeated the incident of Zaohu's entry into the city, and said: "The young master hasn't come back yet, he must have rested outside the city." .Now that the outside is in such a mess, my aunt and grandma don’t go out, go back to the mansion and rest, and it won’t be too late to send people out of the city tomorrow to investigate.” After a pause, seeing that Dong Xiaowan didn't make a sound, he said again: "Zhang Yi and Wu Qi are back. My aunt and grandma don't believe me, just ask them." Zhang Yi and Wu Qi, the team leaders who were sent to meet Maoxiang's family members, had already arrived in front of the sedan chair at some point.Hearing what Maogui said, they all agreed with one voice: "This is the truth. Aunt and grandma must never go out! If not, there will be a mistake, and the villains can't bear it!" Dong Xiaowan still did not speak.However, when she found that Zhang Yi, Wu Qi and their subordinates were all gathered here, she also understood: it turned out that although these people were ordered to visit and greet their masters on the street, they were actually very timid and afraid of death. If the situation was not right, they immediately retreated to the inner alley, even urging Maguire not to go. "They said that Mr. Xiang took a rest at Dabai's house. It's obviously an excuse! How do they know? What's the reason?" Dong Xiaowan thought angrily and anxiously.As a servant, he has never been so perfunctory when it comes to his master's life-safety errands. "Ah, how dare they! Where is their usual loyalty?" However, with her current status and status, she felt that it was very difficult to beat these respectable old family members.Therefore, despite the bitterness in her heart, in the end, she could only push hard on the floor of the sedan chair and say in a tearful voice: "Go!" "Where are you going?" A bearer asked hesitantly. "Of course, go to the street to meet Mr. Xiang!" "Hey, auntie..." Mao Gui, who was obviously taken aback, hurriedly stopped her. "Let's go, go!" Dong Xiaowan suddenly screamed desperately.That sad, indignant, shrill and persistent cry tore through the air of the quiet night and shot out, making the hearts of all the people present tremble! In this way, no one dared to stop him.Dong Xiaowan's sedan chair shook and started again.It moved forward tragically and persistently in the passage made by the servants. It seemed that even if there were swords and swords and trees outside, and bleeding to death, it could not stop her determination to meet Maoxiang. The team leaders look at me and I look at you. Although they are not so willing, they seem to be forced by an invisible pressure. Finally, they have no choice but to follow the sedan chair and walk out together...

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