Chapter 7 3

--three-- As soon as the chaimen clicked, nine-year-old Rong Gu rushed in: "Sister! Sister! Brother Tongchun is coming back again! He doesn't sing opera anymore!" Meng Gu stopped the spinning wheel abruptly, His eyes widened: "Really? Who are you listening to?" Brother Tongchun did this because of you!" "Don't talk nonsense!" Meng Gu blushed and reprimanded in a low voice, but her eyes were shining like dawn stars.In two springs and autumns, the little girl in the red coat was born into a beautiful young girl: her light eyebrows are like the shadow of a mountain in the distance, and the slightly frowned eyebrows make her always have an innocent and pure expression.The round eyes have become longer, and the tails of the eyes are swept to the sideburns.The small mouth is as red as a cherry and round like a cherry.The slightly elongated duck egg face adds to her gentle and kind impression.The little sister was not afraid of her at all, she shook her head, blinked her big round eyes, and said innocently: "I'm not talking nonsense? Aren't you willing to marry Brother Tongchun?" "Damn girl!" With a hot face and smiling lips, she pushed the spinning wheel away with one hand and jumped off the kang, pretending to be angry and said: "Besides, I won't beat you!" Aunt Rong jumped out of the room like a kid: "I just said, I Just say it! My sister wants to be with Brother Chun every day!..." Meng Gu chased out to cover Rong Gu's mouth, but Rong Gu ran away, one after the other, and the two sisters were laughing and laughing, making a fuss.

"Sister Menggu! Sister Menggu!" The shouts outside the courtyard stopped the two sisters from chasing each other. Menggu opened the door and saw that it was Fei Yaose, a little tartar.He refused to enter the door, but handed Menggu a piece of paper folded into a flying swallow, and whispered, "I met Brother Tongchun in Panshan. He asked me to bring you this, and he'll be back in a few days... Don't let others know, brother Chun ordered it! ...Okay, here I go. "Fei Yaose, don't go!" "Rong Gu shouted in the yard as if ordering: "I left you a lot of wheat yellow apricots, just wait! She ran back to the house, took out a flat bamboo basket full of yellow and fresh apricots, and handed it to Fei Yaose, then raised her face and said: "You go! " Fei Yaose made a grimace at her with a grin, grabbed a few handfuls of apricots, stuffed them into his pocket, ate them and left.

Menggu was flustered, clutching the note in her hand like holding a ball of fire, hurriedly opened the curtain and retreated to the room. It took a long time for her breathing to calm down, and she opened the "Flying Swallow" tremblingly.It was written neatly on it: Meng Gu Xianmei sees the words like meeting: I have left my nationality, and I will return within a weekday.There is no hindrance to the marriage, please rest assured, Miss Wangxian. brother spring He really wants to leave his nationality and return to his hometown! ... He is a popular figure in the capital. He eats well, dresses well and lives well. He makes friends with senior officials. He doesn't want gold or silver. It's all for me! ...Menggu thought, feeling so grateful that tears filled her cheeks.

Does mother know this news? ... Mother and Daogu Yuan, the abbot of the Huanxiu Temple near the village, are friends, and they went to the temple again today, maybe they knew about it earlier!What is the mother's mind? ... After the land enclosure lawsuit was over, An Wangzhuang made an exception and still leased the 30 mu of land to the Qiao family, instead of taking it back to the grain households for cultivation.Qiao's thus became the second tenant.Since the land in Wangzhuang did not pay grain or tax, after paying the rent, the Qiao family earned more than any other year.As a result, Qiao Shi was also a little rich and powerful, and his eyes were raised.Can she fulfill Menggu's wish? ...Menggu stood for a while, sat for a while, twisted her hands, rubbed them, frowned and smiled quietly, and finally couldn't stay still, asked Ronggu to look after the house, and went to Shanghuan Xiuguan by herself.

After the white-clothed Taoist came to Malan Village, he stayed at Huanxiu Temple because he was a fellow Taoist.Daoist Yuan was very righteous, and gave up the four guest rooms on both sides of the main hall in the front yard, and led two apprentices to live in the back yard.Menggu's family is friendly with Aunt Yuan, and the backyard is full of female Taoist priests. She has no taboos, and seeing that the door is ajar, she gently pushed it in. The ground is full of pine shade, the sound of cicadas is long, and the quiet courtyard is spotless. It is indeed a place for monks to cultivate their spirituality.Menggu didn't realize that her footsteps became lighter and her breathing became weaker, for fear of disturbing Sanqing and being punished by heaven.However, the voices came from the wing room, it was the two little Taoist nuns: one was crying, the other was persuading, and a few inexplicable words reached Menggu's ears: "...why are you crying? Yang Guifei The empress also became a Taoist girl, and Empress Wu Zetian even shaved her head and became a nun!..." What is this called?Aren't monks cultivating immortals?Meng Gu had something on her mind, so she had no time to think about it, she just walked into Aunt Yuan's upper room, opened the curtain, and softly called, "Gu Gu!" No one answered.In the middle of the hall is the holy statue of Bixia Yuanjun, the jade girl of heaven, like the previous Xuande stove, with green smoke curling up and incense burning.It seems that Aunt Yuan has not gone far.She waited for a while, but finally couldn't bear it any longer. Seeing that the door of the west ear room was unlocked, she opened the door and entered, but there was still no sign of anyone.The bells, cymbals, gongs and other objects used for performing rituals are wiped clean, and they are shining brightly in the dark room.All the high tables and low cabinets, bedding and vestments are neatly placed.Standing against the north wall was an empty wooden cabinet one person tall, a little skewed, which disrupted the harmony of the whole hut.Meng Gu approached and straightened the wooden cabinet, but was suddenly taken aback. There was a newly opened secret door on the wall behind the wooden cabinet!Meng Gu's heart was beating wildly.

She tried her best to suppress her panic, curiously opened the secret door a crack, peeked close to her face, and recognized it, that was the west room of Laojun Palace in the front yard.The sun shines through the window sills, illuminating the room brightly.There is a table of wine and banquet in the center of the room, which is very rich in chicken, duck and fish.The white-clothed Taoist, a mighty-looking banner man with a swallow's jaw and a tiger's beard, was wearing a crimson coat, and was setting wine glasses at the table. The white-clothed Taoist was talking in a low voice with a guest in green.The man had gray beard and hair, he was clean and energetic, Meng Gu had never seen him before.She was very puzzled, the white-clothed Taoist master and apprentice were all true, how could they be sloppy?

The door was gently pushed open with a sound of "ah", and the apprentice of the Taoist priest in white came in.Seeing him, Meng Gu couldn't help but shiver.In the past, whenever she went to the temple to burn incense, this Taoist boy would always stand beside her, staring at her intently, with a terrible fire in his eyes, approaching Meng Gu as if he wanted to eat people.But now, he seems to have become another person, with pale face, frowning brows, and sad figure and expression, so delicate and melancholy, that Meng Gu felt sympathy for him: Did he offend Master? Come here to accept the crime and wait to be punished?

However, Meng Gu was extremely surprised: the white-clothed Taoist, the green-clothed guest, and the Chu-clothed bannerman stood up together, took a few steps forward, lined up, and fell on their knees to welcome the little Taoist priest, and respectfully offered the little Taoist priest a seat.The little Taoist accepted it calmly, without embarrassment.After sitting down, the three of them kneeled three times and kowtowed nine times in awe. The little Taoist priest raised his hand, and the three sat down on the left, right and bottom seats. Meng Gu was completely dazed, not knowing whether the strange thing in front of her was real or a dream.She was afraid of being discovered, so she couldn't help tightening her body, her eyes widened, and she held her breath.

The little Taoist said in a sobbing voice: "I have been in exile for several provinces, but I have not found a place to stand on. Recently, I heard that Li Dingguo withdrew from Guangdong and was defeated in Nanning, and King Le'an was defeated and killed. Looking at the times and the situation, we can know God's will... Zhuqing I ran with me through all kinds of hardships and dangers. I wanted to let me inherit the ancestral business, but the situation is gone, what should I do?..." Chu Yiren knelt by the side of the table and cried: "Recently, I heard that Prince Zheng Jierhalang, the regent of the Tartars, died of illness and entered the customs. All the generals are dead, just when the lord and ministers are suspicious, and the country's affairs are unstable; Zheng Chenggong has fallen into Zhoushan, and his power is growing, it is better to join him and take the opportunity!" The Taoist in white shook his head and said: "Although Zheng's name is enshrined, The ambition is to be self-reliant, you can join forces but not join forces, and Zhoushan is too narrow to be used for military force. As for the Tartar court, although the master is young, he is quite knowledgeable, with the empress dowager at the top, good ministers at the bottom, and Wu Sangui and Shang Kexi outside. Work hard, the foundation is solid, and it is difficult to move away for a while. Only Nanlian Yongli, Dongtong Zheng, set foot on Xu Tu's development, and maybe great things will be accomplished." The guest in Qingyi took out a picture from his sleeve and displayed it in front of the little Taoist priest: " I have planned for six years, but this area can temporarily establish a country. Yesterday I received several secret letters from old generals, and they are all training their troops to accumulate millet for change. The minister intends to take the three mountains as the foundation first, and then the royal driver will come in person, and he will be a hundred times more courageous!  …”

His voice became softer, and the expressions on the faces of the four became more and more cheerful. Menggu couldn't understand their conversation, but she understood that this little Taoist priest was not an ordinary person. He was in a difficult situation and had to change into exile.As a result, many stories about the troubled young man told by the blind storyteller became active in her heart, and she felt even more pity for this unfortunate "young man", and she also admired the "righteous men" like the Taoist in white.The bad feeling towards the little Taoist priests accumulated in my heart these days disappeared in a blink of an eye.

After drinking for three rounds, the little Taoist said something in a low voice, and the three "righteous men" showed embarrassment.The little Taoist was not happy: "I want to delay a certain line of worship, but I shirk it like this!" The white-clothed Taoist laughed and said: "I hope that the prince will put the great cause first. Besides, it has been..." "Today, my king There are no heirs!" The little Taoist took the lead and said angrily: "If there is no future, even if the great cause is accomplished, whose family will rule the world?" The white-clothed Taoist explained again and again: "My lord, calm down. It is really a lesson learned by Emperor Hongguang. I am afraid that the wine and sex will cause trouble, and the ministers will have to remonstrate again and again. The lord wants, and the minister has asked Huanxiu Guanzhu to do it." The little Taoist turned happy: "It's done?" "I don't think there is any obstacle. Daoist Yuan has told her clearly. She just needs to see the certificate." The little Taoist smiled and said, "It's easy! Ask Daoist Yuan to take her to see you!" Chu Yiren went out for a while , and brought in two wives.The one in front wearing a Taoist crown and a paddy field dress is of course Aunt Yuan; the one behind, Menggu, who couldn't see clearly, leaned forward quietly, then shrank back suddenly, and was shocked!Oh my god, it's her mother, Mrs. Qiao! Aunt Yuan pulled Mrs. Qiao and knelt down to kowtow to the little Taoist priest!Meng Gu was startled and frightened, her heart beating loudly.She was gentle and obedient since she was a child, and she was very timid and fearful. The scene in front of her was originally more mysterious and terrifying than those stories in storytelling and singing. Mother got involved!This is even more unpredictable.Menggu was trembling like a fever, she didn't dare to look down, and sneaked home. Leaning on the kang table, resting her chin, she thought for a long time, using storytelling and opera stories, but she couldn't come up with a trick.She sighed, didn't think about it anymore, got up and took out a small cloth bag from the depths of the kang cave, and opened it layer by layer. The pair of jasper bracelets were held in her little palm for the hundredth time, so shiny and smooth, Like the buds of new willows in early spring, like the gorgeous feathers of a kingfisher.She put her face on the warm jade bracelet, and Brother Tong Chun's shadow appeared in front of her eyes... There was a knock on the door.She quickly hid her treasure, stretched herself, and went to open the door. "Ah! You!...Who are you looking for?" Menggu was surprised to see a little Taoist standing in front of the door. His eyes were as hot as fire, which made Menggu's heart tremble. The little Taoist licked his chapped lips and forced a smile: "I'm looking for you!" "No! No!" Menggu panicked and hurriedly closed the door, but the little Taoist blocked it with her body. "My mother is not at home, no one will be allowed in!" Meng Gu tried her best to suppress her fear, her face was stern, and her tone was very firm. "I know your mother is not at home... Your mother just came looking for me. Look, didn't your mother give this to me?" He raised his left hand. On his ring finger, a gold ring inlaid with plum-shaped pearls stood out in front of his eyes. .Menggu was stunned when she saw it. This was the only treasure her mother had treasured for many years, and it was the gift of her father when she married her.It turned out to be a pair, and that one had been buried with his father ten years ago. While Menggu was in a daze, the little Taoist stepped into the door, turned around and locked the door.Menggu panicked and opened her mouth to yell, but the little Taoist covered her mouth and ordered in an irrefutable tone: "Don't yell! Come with me, I have something important to tell you!" Except many years ago, my father used to be like this Apart from speaking to her, this was the first person to order her in a coercive tone.She was deterred and followed him into the back room involuntarily.The little Taoist said with burning eyes and a hoarse voice: "This ring is my engagement token from your mother. From now on, you will be mine..." He couldn't continue, his eyes and face turned blood red.Menggu retreated step by step under his gaze, trembling all over with fright, and kept muttering: "No! No!..." Mrs. Qiao stayed in Daoist Yuan's house for a long time before returning home happily. The white-clothed Taoist has only been in Malan Village for three months, he has cured many people's illnesses and saved many people's lives, no one would say he is a living god from far and near! Who dare not listen to the words of "living gods"?Aunt Yuan is right, although the current court is more generous to the people than before, but he is a barbarian, no matter how generous he is, he is also an invitation to buy people's hearts, it is unbelievable!Qiao Shi is the wife of a Gongsheng in the former dynasty. She knows the book and the ceremony. How can she forget the principle of loyalty first! "After all, Gongsheng's wife is knowledgeable and scheming!" This is what the Taoist in white said, and it sounds very comforting.Because she didn't easily believe that the little Taoist priest was the descendant of the dragon, she insisted on looking at the golden seal of the little Taoist priest's dragon button. It was indeed engraved with the words "Daming Yangqu County King Zhu" in seal script.The gold seal is proof, is there any fake?Then listen to the white-clothed Taoist and the green-clothed guest talk about the general trend of peace in the world, rebellion everywhere, and provincial and provincial responses. In three to five years, the Ming Dynasty will be revived, and Menggu will be the princess! Mrs. Qiao did not expect that her family's feng shui was so prosperous that she could produce a princess!The little Taoist really couldn't see him, he put on a posture today and looked carefully, he really had dragon eyebrows and phoenix eyes, and his face was like a crown of jade.Menggu is so lucky!Qiao readily agreed to the arrangement of the white-clothed Taoist: let the little Taoist marry Menggu secretly, while maintaining his identity as Xiao Quanzhen on the surface. She came home excitedly, pushed the door, but it wouldn't open, and knocked a few times, but there was no movement.Qiao was puzzled, knocked on the door vigorously, and shouted: "Menggu, open the door!" There was a sound of hurried footsteps and the sound of the door latch, and the door opened, and the little Taoist stood in front of her, his hair and clothes were wet, as if he had just When he was fished out of the water, his face was blue, his chest heaved, and his breath was very uneven. "You?..." Joe gasped. The little Taoist smiled and whispered, "Mother-in-law, this king has already accepted your daughter as his concubine!" He nodded, and drifted away. Qiao Shi stood by the door, angry, surprised, happy, and afraid. She was very confused and at a loss for a moment. With a sound of "wow", Menggu cried bitterly in the room, Qiao Shi was startled, rushed into the back room, opened the curtain, and she understood everything.The daughter, with her hair disheveled and half naked, was throwing a sweat towel on the beam.She rushed up and hugged her daughter, and shouted, "My silly girl!" The two mothers hugged their heads and cried loudly. Menggu couldn't help crying, "I'm not going to live anymore!...how can I face people!..." Qiao comforted her daughter incoherently: "good girl, don't go down the road... He is a prince... Mother has promised you to him, he is your husband..." Menggu cried dizzily, and then cursed: "What a damned prince! A husband who suffered a thousand knives!... so How can you make people live!..." Qiao Shi tenderly hugged her daughter, combed her hair, wiped away her tears, and dressed her again, waiting for her to tell the details of the promised marriage in detail. Only then did Menggu, who was looking for death, understand, her face was as white as snow, and she blurted out, "Brother Tongchun is about to leave his hometown and return to his hometown!..." Qiao's heart trembled, and her nose felt sour.Today when she went to see Daoist Yuan, she planned to marry her daughter to Liu Tongchun, who had returned from nationality. The ring she brought with her was also for Daoist Yuan to see if it would be shabby to use it as a token for Tongchun.Whoever wants to see Aunt Yuan will change everything... Qiao Shi sighed, and said softly: "Silly boy, since ancient times, women have always said that they are always the same. Now that you have lost your body to him, you can stay with him for the rest of your life." .Tongchun, what else do you want him to do?..." Only then did Menggu understand the truth of today's incident.In the past three years, she has woven a mysterious and sweet dream with a girl's graceful and exquisite heart and sincere love -- a dream that belongs only to her and Tongchun.Today, that dream was shattered.There was a sharp pain in her heart, her eyes turned black, she leaned back, and passed out. "Meng Gu! Meng Gu!" Weeping, Ms. Qiao hugged her daughter and shook her vigorously.It took a long time before Menggu let out a sigh of relief. "Is there anyone in the house?" A loud gong-like voice asked in the courtyard, causing Qiao Shi to tremble in fright, only then remembered that the door was open, and rushed out to greet her.As soon as she stepped out of the house, she stopped involuntarily: this is a big man with a beard as tall and strong as a cypress tree, with a black red face and sparkling eyes, unfamiliar yet familiar. "You..." Qiao Shi only uttered one word, her heart was beating wildly, and her hands and feet were trembling secretly. "Mother! You don't know me?" The big man rushed over, knelt at Qiao's feet, raised his head and said, "I am your eldest son, Bai Nian!..." "God!" Qiao cried out and fell down. On the ground, with legs crossed, laughing and crying: "God, isn't this a dream? You are still alive, you are back!... I just think that all the men in the Qiao family are dead, and they are the only ones left!...Your bones It's so strong, such a big man!... I just think that I don't have the face to see the ancestors of the Qiao family again, you are still alive, alive!..." She stroked her son's hair and shoulders, and chattered upside down, as if she was crazy with joy. Qiao Bainian wiped his eyes with his fingers, and said in a choked voice: For ten years, I have always been thinking about my mother, my hometown, and my ancestral grave.Today, I finally narrowly escaped death and recovered a life! ..." Mrs. Qiao looked at her son with good eyes: "You still know your family, so you just walked straight into the courtyard like this!scare me! ..." "Where did my son find the house? It was pointed out by a handsome young man who entered the village on the same road.What a character! "Joe was startled, a little nervous: "Who are you talking about? "" Guidance boy!Warm hearted, good body, handsome appearance.Mother knows him, right?He said his name was Liu Tongchun. "Mr. Qiao was speechless, holding her son's big strong hand and crying. The crying in the room resumed.But it is no longer the endless wail and tears just now. This cry can hardly be heard, it is a heartbreaking, heartbreaking cry... Four "My wife, a lady is here to visit." Gu Meisheng put down the "New Odes on the Jade Terrace" she was holding in her right hand, and still held her in her left hand. The "little gentleman" dressed in gauze and silver and smelling fragrant, frowned faintly, and said, "Confused! Why didn't you report to the visitor's mansion?" I just said it was my wife's old story... Sitting in a sedan chair with eight carriages, my servant Xuanhe..." Gu Meisheng thought for a while, and said, "Please invite her to have tea in the inner flower hall. I will come right away." The old servant went downstairs Then, Gu Meisheng handed the "little husband" to the nanny beside him, stood up, took a cup of tea and rinsed his mouth with fragrant tea.The maid hurriedly held up the spittoon, and when she had spit out, she hurriedly withdrew.But Gu Meisheng was not in a hurry to go downstairs, and walked slowly to the window.The oval window hole carved with clouds and cranes was covered with green veil, so she could see the gate, the second gate and the front yard clearly, but she couldn't be seen outside. Following the old servant at home, two maids with colorful makeup came in first, followed by a lady holding a shoulder of a maid, and walked in slowly, followed by two maids, and behind the maid were two girls in livery. old servant.Look at the lady again, wearing a lake-colored cloak inlaid with gold and silver, and a veil like clouds and mist on her head.Gu Meisheng thought unhappily: It doesn't matter if it's noble or reserved, it doesn't matter if you come to my house to show off! Having said that, she still went downstairs to the inner flower hall quickly, and put a kind and bright smile on her face long before entering the door.Stepping into the flower hall, she was startled: the visitor had already removed her veil and cloak, and was standing in front of the wall to watch the painting "Baby Playing in the Autumn Court" by Su Hanchen of the Song Dynasty.This person is wearing a white skirt and a light green double-breasted thin silk shirt. His shiny black hair is piled up on the top of his head, and he is wearing a flat hairpin with red gold dotted beads, like a golden phoenix flying in the dark clouds. .Although her face was invisible, she was graceful and graceful, as elegant as a fairy, which dazzled Gu Meisheng. Hearing the sound of footsteps, the noble lady turned to face the master, smiled, showing her white teeth, and said gracefully: "Mrs. Gu, I have heard about you for a long time, so I came here to pay you a visit. Isn't it strange?" Gu Meisheng greeted with a smile: " Please sit down, please have tea..." But she secretly wondered: This person's face seemed familiar...She called herself Mrs. Gu, could it be that she was a family member of an eunuch in the south of the Yangtze River? "Mrs. Gu, please stay safe...you really don't know me anymore?" Gu Meisheng still smiled charmingly, and under the cover of a smile, those famous eyes called Hengbo looked up and down the person very quickly, very decently, He shook his head lightly, not to make people feel offended. The person who came suddenly stopped smiling, and said seriously, "Sister Mei, have you forgotten? Fifteen years ago, when the lotus was in full bloom, at the Xishi Well in Gusu Tiger Hill, incense was burned in a silver furnace, and we were married to golden orchids... Sister, are you serious?" Can't remember?" The last sentence, uttered in a soft and charming Su Bai, immediately brought back Gu Meisheng's distant memories.She squeezed the visitor's hands in surprise, and shouted: "Little Sister Suyun! Little Sister Suyun!... Sister, I never thought we would meet again!" Gu Mei's true feelings were vivid, and she no longer Pay attention to your expression and posture, and ask excitedly and eagerly: "Where have you been all these years? How did you escape the two catastrophes of Jiashen and Yiyou? Where are you now? Why didn't you come to see me until today? I really miss it!..." As she spoke, tears flowed down her cheeks. Suyun patted the back of Gu Meisheng's hand with a smile, and comforted him gently: "Sister, aren't you and I all right? It's been twelve years since Jiashen and Yiyou. Sister, don't cry, I'm here to find you Sister is reminiscing about the past!" Gu Meisheng slowly became quiet, and when she heard Suyun's emphasis on the word "reminiscing about the past", she immediately understood and said, "It's not easy to talk here, so follow me upstairs and go to my room !" She took Suyun's hand, and the two walked towards the depths of the courtyard affectionately. Along the way, she kept looking at Suyun: "Auntie, you are so handsome, you have a good bearing. You should be thirty years old, and it looks like you are less than twenty miles away! I don't know who is so lucky to be able to Enjoy the beauties of your generation!...Look at you, you have a servant like a cloud, and you are generous. You must have married a wealthy son-in-law and become a wife, right?...Who is he? Is he in the capital? Which yamen is he working for? " Suyun smiled and didn't answer, just said: "Sister, your appearance and temperament have not changed, you are still as lively as in the early years. When you were married, you were a sister in terms of age, and you were the youngest in terms of temperament. My little sister! I'm tired of this, and I'm not sure about it.*"Fifteen years ago, they were girls under the age of sixteen. Su famous prostitute.On June 22, people in Suzhou call it the birthday of the lotus, and they meet at the Xishi Well in Huqiu to burn incense and pay homage.They are all proficient in poetry, calligraphy and flag painting, and the time and place they choose are very poetic.They hope that they are as beautiful and fragrant as lotus flowers, and have the character of emerging from the mud but not stained.Like them, Xi Shi is a beauty, and she is also a seductive woman. Xi Shi finally has a happy ending with her beloved in the five lakes, which is exactly what they yearn for. The two walked into Gu Meisheng's boudoir hand in hand, and quickly knelt down to pay their respects to the nanny and maid holding the "little husband".Suyun immediately stepped forward and hugged the "little husband" to appreciate it carefully, and said with a smile: "It really lives up to its reputation. Sister's little husband is very exquisite! I will definitely bring a younger brother!" "Have you heard of my little husband?" Gu Meisheng glanced at Suyun: "I know that some people call me a ladyboy outside! I just ignore them, a ladyboy is a ladyboy! We were born to be scolded!Besides, if a woman can't have a son, no matter how much her husband loves her, relatives and friends will always scold her behind her back if she doesn't say it to her face. I hate it to death for a hen to lay eggs and a sow to give birth! ... If I had a son, the word Mrs. Gu would not weigh more than a thousand catties! " Speaking of this, she suddenly felt a change in her heart: when Suyun went upstairs and saw Muzi, she called him "Little Xianggong" just now when she entered the door, she called Mrs. Gu at the first sound.I haven't seen you for more than ten years, how does she know about these recent events? At the beginning, when Gong Dingzi was the censor of Zuodu, the imperial court bestowed a title on his wife.According to the system, the imperial seal must be awarded to the original wife.Gong Dingzi didn't dare to disobey his orders, so he sent someone to send him to Hefei's original wife.But the lady said: "I have been conferred twice by the previous court, and I can't be conferred by the new court. Give it to Mrs. Gu!" In this way, Gu Meisheng was granted the title of wife, and the title of "Mrs. Gu" was called away. up.Gu Meisheng also readily accepted it, because she could avoid titles such as "Second Madam" and "Aunt Grandma" that she hated. However, compared with the formal title of "Madam", it was still unavoidably short. This happened eight years ago, and the appearance of "Xiao Xianggong" only happened in these three or two years. Gu Meisheng was upset: "Sister, I think you have been in the capital all these years, why didn't you come to see me? Don't you know me?" "How can you not know Sister's name!" Suyun said with a smile: "In the early years I dare not come, and I have not been able to come in recent years. Sister, don’t be angry." "How do you say that?" Suyun looked at the nanny and maid, and smiled.Gu Meisheng knew that she was playing tricks, so she waited for the maids to fill the table with delicate refreshments and side dishes, before sending them out.Only the two sisters were left, Gu Meisheng said: "Okay, tell me!" Same rank but different rights, be careful everywhere, and be afraid that people will say that forming a party for selfish interests will hinder the official voice..." "Then, how dare you come today?" Gu Meisheng asked dissatisfied. Su Yun smiled and lowered her voice: "Recently, your brother-in-law is out of the capital, so I have time to visit sister." Leaning over Gu Meisheng's shoulder, he leaned into her ear and whispered: "Fu Yijian from Liaocheng, Shandong, whose name is Yu Pan..." "Ah! Fu Yijian! A bachelor of the Academy of Internal Secretaries!" Suyun nodded embarrassingly, tilting her head Leaning on Gu Meisheng's shoulder, she looks like a shy girl in her thirties. "Oh, you are the prime minister's wife!" Gu Meisheng pushed Suyun away, pretending to bow down, but Suyun stopped her and said angrily, "Sister, look at you!" Gu Meisheng laughed without hesitation.Back then, her maniacal laughter had captivated Jiangzuo literati, and today she can still recognize the shadow of her maniacal laughter in her early years that did not damage her beauty in the slightest. She was really happy in her heart, and it would be good for her husband's recovery.She patted Suyun's soft little hand and said repeatedly: "Okay, okay! At the beginning of the marriage ceremony, you were young, and the elder sister laughed at you for being rich and honored, and you were still angry. What did you say that you must follow Xi Shi and live in seclusion in mountains, rivers, flowers and trees?" What do you say now?" Suyun smiled, took Gu Meisheng to sit down with her, and asked according to her words: "How are the sisters doing now? There is no news at all these years." Gu Meisheng said: "It's those of us in the wild who walk around Deqin, Zhilu is very hospitable, and the news is very good." So she counted with her fingers: the eldest sister Liu Rushi later married Qian Qianyi, and in the third year of Shunzhi, Qian Qianyi resigned as the vice president of the Ming History Museum. Going back to Changshu and Liu Rushi's home, amusing themselves with writings, quite happy; the second sister is Gu Meisheng; the third sister, Chen Yuanyuan, is already the second concubine of Pingxi Wang. When she stayed in Beijing in the early years of Shunzhi, she still had contacts from time to time. With the army, Gu Meisheng went to see her off when she left Beijing; her fourth younger sister, Dong Xiaowan, married Mao Bijiang, one of the four sons of Jiangnan, and she passed away three years ago... "Where are the sisters in Jinling?" Together with Liu Rushi, Gu Meisheng Chongzhen went to Nanjing at the end of his life, and he was very clear about the whereabouts of the famous Qinhuai prostitutes: Ma Xianglan died of illness, Li Xiangjun, who had a good relationship with another prince Hou Fangyu, became a monk, and Bian Yujing and Kou Baimen also escaped into Buddhism. "Only us ordinary people are still up and down in the world of mortals!" Gu Meisheng finally said such a sentimental sentence, picked up a few pieces of candied fruit between the cups and plates, and chewed with relish. "Oh, sister, if you eat these things again, you will still gain weight. No matter how fat you are, it will not be easy to raise a son!" "Damn girl, you still have such a tricky mouth!" The family rebellion? Are the sisters involved?" Suyun finally asked carefully, as if unintentionally. "I know, I know! That happened a few years ago, and countless people died and broke their homes. If Zhilu was still in the Metropolitan Procuratorate, he would try his best to admonish him.Sisters, if there is one, it is the Qian family and the Mao family.Have you never heard of it? ""It seems that there are Renhe and Lu Wenkang's family, right?" "Suyun suddenly went straight to the point, and raised the central topic of her visit, but her tone was very calm, as if she was chatting casually. "That's right, Renhe Lu's family, it was a disaster. The huge mansion was converted into an official residence and Wanguan's furniture was confiscated." "Is there no one else in the house?" Now...you met the Lu family?" "No. It's a relative who has a classmate with Lu Wenkang." Suyun expressed his interest, so he picked up a piece of cold lotus root, and followed her, secretly heaving a sigh of relief. She provoked it again, and Gu Meisheng already talked about the details of this unjust prison with a clear face, eloquently.These are all from the mouths of literati who come and go to and from Gong Dingzi's family, which are much more vivid than official memorials.It seems that the second elder sister didn't know anything about Suyun's later experience in Suzhou, and perhaps she had already forgotten it. Suyun looks very leisurely, eating snacks and drinking fragrant tea, half listening.In fact, she listened to every word of Gu Meisheng in her heart.It wasn't until Gu Meisheng changed to another topic that she stood up, walked around to inspect Ajie's boudoir, and kept teasing her.When she stopped in front of the window and looked out like Gu Meisheng looked at her just now, she couldn't help being startled, she saw her old servant talking to a young book boy, it was this handsome book boy with bright eyes and bright teeth, who was so scared. She had a hard time finding it.This is really nowhere to be found, and it takes no effort to get it! "Sister, is that boy from your family?" Gu Meisheng walked over and took a look: "That's the bookboy of Zhilu's disciple Zhang Han. It's a pity to say that he was originally a famous actor in the Liyuan, and he once swore that he would never sing again and would leave his hometown and return to his hometown.As a result, his father died of illness, and the betrothed daughter-in-law divorced again. She was homeless and had no relatives to turn to, so she returned to the capital.He admired Zhang Han's talent, learning and character, and recommended himself as a book boy.But he refused to sell himself as a slave, he was just a buddy serving Zhang Han.Zhang Han is also willing, this is called fate.The master and the servant both look like Pan An and Song Yu in the painting..." Gu Meisheng covered her mouth and smiled as she spoke, the sour and ambiguous smile of a middle-aged romantic woman when she talks about beautiful young people. "Sister, let's go downstairs, I want to ask him for questioning." "Hey, little sister, isn't your university student jealous?" Gu Meisheng glanced sideways at Suyun, and laughed even harder. "Sister, I didn't look for him because he was beautiful. A month ago, he sent a letter for my natal family. Before thanking him or asking him carefully, he left and was never found again. Today I have to ask clearly! ..." When Suyun arrived home, the Bannerman who went out with Fu Yijian came to report: the master is well, and he will be able to return home this afternoon. Suyun had an idea, staggered, and then lay down, complaining of headache and nausea, and didn't eat lunch.So everyone in the whole family knew: Mrs. Sunstroke. There was a sense of silence in the courtyard, and in Suyun's deep and spacious bedroom, it was even more serene, and one could almost hear the subtle sound of sandalwood cigarettes curling up in the air.The maid stood in front of the door and in front of the bed with her arms down, not daring to show her air.Suyun lay lazily on the embroidered bed under the green tent, motionless, but her mind was extremely active and sensitive.The fourteen years were slowly lifted like a thick and heavy curtain.Just because the time is too far apart, Suyun can clearly see the whole process of the whole thing, as if she is a calm spectator off the stage, not the parties involved: Zhejiang Ren and Lu Jian, talented, unrestrained, romantic, the famous Mr. Jia .Like all wealthy sons, he likes to keep divas and concubines.During his spring trip to Suzhou, he met Suyun, a sixteen-year-old famous prostitute.Suyun Seyi is the crown of all concubines, so she is naturally favored extraordinarily. One day, suddenly a scholar from Shandong came to invite him to meet him, but Mending refused on the grounds that he never knew each other.This travel-worn young scholar is very stubborn, sitting in front of the door, he has the intention of waiting for Mr. Lu to drive out.Lu Jian had no choice but to receive him in the living room.The scholar had no time to greet, and called himself "Shanzuo Fu Yijian", because he heard that one of Lu Gongzi's concubines named Suyun was so charming, so he came here specially to have a look. Lu Jian was quite surprised, hesitated for a while, and said: "Mr. Lao, please wait for tea first and discuss slowly." Fu Sheng said generously: "I came here on foot for a thousand miles, and I have nothing else to ask. If you are lucky, Allow me to wait for you; otherwise, you don't have to stay with us." Lu Jian was helpless, and unwilling to lose his reputation as "Mr. Xinling", so he agreed, and Fu Sheng took his seat.It was almost dusk at this time, so Lu Jian immediately ordered the bannerman to entertain Fu Sheng with a banquet.After drinking for several rounds, the lights and candles were brilliant, the ring was ringing, and more than a dozen maids led and embraced, like stars holding the moon, Suyun came out to meet.Fu Sheng stood up, stared at Suyun for a long time, and sighed: "As expected, the name is worthy of my reputation, and I have come here!" After saying goodbye, he said goodbye to his master.Lu Jian insisted on staying with him for a few more days, Fu Sheng said with a smile: "To see the beauty of Qingcheng, my private wish has been fulfilled, how can I come here for food!" He bowed and left. Lu Jian was restless, unhappy, as if he had lost something.When he was melancholy, he suddenly became alarmed, and shouted loudly, "Lu Jian, Lu Jian, how can you love a woman and lose your country!" He immediately brought a horse, stepped on the carved saddle, and galloped northward, finally at thirty miles away.外追上了傅以渐，强制他一同回府，并以最高礼遇款待他。第二天傍晚，陆健把傅以渐引进一间红烛高烧、锦帐华褥的寝房，对傅以渐拱手道：“君来此虽属无心，但其中似有天意。我今以素云相赠，此室即洞房，今晚即七夕。"傅以渐坚辞不就，说夺人所爱将陷他于不义。陆健笑道：“君何迂腐！自古就有赠姬之事。我念君家力单，难致佳丽，我粉黛盈侧，岂少此女。我视君为大丈夫，方有此举，何必效书生羞涩之态！"说罢，侍女已导引素云出拜。傅以渐惊喜过望，便也就依从了。 在陆府，傅以渐夫妇过了满月，陆健父为素云出装奁十箱，更赠傅以渐千金，送归聊城。傅以渐安然当了富家翁，从此得以博览群书，专心举业。 甲申之变天下大乱，傅、陆两家音书断绝，整整十二年了……素云在床上翻了个身，侍女连忙用托盘捧上一把精致的小茶壶，素云端着喝了一口，重新躺下，又跌入绵长的回忆…………这件事从头到尾，两个男人都以豪爽侠义相标榜，自以为可传为佳话，可留于青史。但陆健也罢，傅以渐也罢，谁都没有想到去问问素云的意思，问问素云到底喜欢谁，愿意跟谁--尽管她身价高达三千两银子，尽管她是个倾国倾城的姑苏美人。直到洞房花烛夜之前的那个下午，陆健才告诉素云要把她嫁给傅以渐。 素云大吃一惊，感到蒙受了耻辱。应该说，她见到的傅以渐，给她的印象是不错的：宽额、隆准、阔嘴，目光湛湛，清亮如水，当时她就想，此人仪表非凡，气度轩朗，前途未可限量；但是她眷恋的是风流潇洒的陆公子，她的主人。she cried. 她的眼泪好象使陆健有些感动，他柔声说：“你是嫌他穷吗？你这么个超逸的人儿，竟也脱不了俗气。你想想，你就是在我府里过十年二十年，仍不过是个歌姬，嫁给傅以渐，你就是他的结发妻子。傅以渐乃国士，你还愁当不了一品夫人？“素云使气，跺着脚说：“我不管什么夫人不夫人，我真心喜欢你。可你，拿我当一件东西，随便送人！……”陆健不说话了，在窗前默默地站了许久。他眼睛不看素云，低声说了一段话，那忧郁的声调，伤感的表情，永远留在她的记忆中：“素云，别看我只大你三两岁，在男女之间的事儿上，真情实意早就埋葬到坟墓里去了。对酒当歌，人生几何！凡事不过逢场作戏，何必认真？对你也无非如此，你有什么可留恋的？不错，我拿你送人，没有把你当人看。那么从今以后，我拿你当我的妹妹，好不好？哥哥送妹妹出嫁，当是天经地义了！……”他没有食言，送给她的嫁妆跟他亲妹妹的相同；她随傅以渐回山东后，在来往书信中他也以兄长自居，称他们为贤妹、妹夫……这些年他是怎么过来的？听那小书僮说起在盘山相遇的情景，他该是很狼狈的了。他一定老了许多，十四年没见了！ ... 十四年来，她与傅以渐相依为命，倒也十分恩爱。傅以渐确是个不同凡响的男儿，他并不在意素云的出身，也从不问起素云在陆府的那段歌姬生涯，一心一意拿她当结发妻相待。素云为他生了一子一女后，他连娶妾的心思都打消了。顺治三年，他以头名状元大魁天下，授内弘文院修撰。为了显示荣贵，同榜进士纷纷在京纳妾，他却毫不动心。事后素云问他何不入乡随俗，也纳小星？他笑道：“任它弱水三千，只取一瓢耳！纵然美女如云，谁能比得上拙荆？"傅以渐居官谨慎，尤其拜大学士以后，得在议政王大臣、满尚书等满洲亲贵间周旋，既要施政，又不能得罪他们，真是费尽心力。江南十世家谋反案，从顺治初年直闹到今天，满官总是一口咬定。因为这十家是明朝的首富大户，文人渊薮，在满人看来，他们谋反是确定无疑的，不严加镇压，江南就难以服帖。傅以渐敢去碰这棘手的事儿吗？弄不好，丢官丧命都是可能的。不见陈名夏的前车之鉴！ 可是，人不能没良心啊！……素云努力压制着烦乱，在心里演习着如何说服激励自己的丈夫。 “夫人，你怎么样了！"还在窗外，傅以渐就急不可待地大声问。他一进门就听说素云卧病，一步未停，边走边脱朝衣、朝帽，直赶到寝室，几个大步就迈到了床前。侍女连忙把纱帐挂上银钩。 素云慢慢回脸，睁开迷迷矇矇的眼睛，看着自己的丈夫。 十多年来，他的最大变化，就是唇边颔下多了一些胡须，略略遮住了阔嘴；由于薙发，额头更显得宽大，可是鼻梁高耸，目光清湛，和当初一样，是个可以依赖的男子汉。她怦然心动，忽然觉得一阵轻松，微笑道：“你瘦了。一路劳累吧？““我还好。你这是怎么了？怎么会中暑呢？”“在花园太阳底下站久了。”“丫头为什么不撑把阳伞？"他转头要责问侍女，素云连忙示意侍女们退出，说：“不怪她们，是我不小心。”“你现在觉得怎么样？”“好些了。就是心里有事，总放它不下。"傅以渐端起茶壶喝了两口，坐在床边，安慰道：“有什么大不了的事？我来帮你排遣。”“这几日，天天晚上梦见庙里判官戳手指斥我，说什么女子也当报养育之恩，你岂能忘记娘家！连梦三夜，心绪不宁，如病缠身，但我向来不记事，离家年久，又逢世乱，实在不知娘家在何处啊！"傅以渐想了想，和悦地说：“贤卿难道忘了？按理而论，仁和陆府实在应该算是你的娘家，对不对？"素云恍然，似有所悟地连连点头：“对的！但不知陆健在哪里？"傅以渐叹口气，低声道：“我听说顺治初年，陆家就牵入十世家谋反冤案中了。去年拜大学士后，也曾暗地差人到仁和寻访他的消息，回报说痛遭冤祸，家没身亡。怕你难过，一直没有告诉你。"素云静静地对傅以渐凝视片刻，说：“相公本是一介寒儒，贫困交加而得以专心向学、坐致通显，实在是陆文康的恩德；你我十数年相濡以沫，相敬如宾，也实在是陆文康的情分。我想相公不会忘记吧？”“没齿不忘，终身铭记。"傅以渐说得很郑重。 “那么，如果文康至今尚在，你将何以报答？"傅以渐一惊，看素云时，病态全无，炯炯目光直视自己。 他毫不犹豫地说：“果真如此，以身相报尚且不惜，何况其它！”“此话当真？““可对天日！"素云立刻拿出陆健的那封信。傅以渐脸色都变了，开封时双手略略发抖，但他还是从头到尾读完了这封写给妹夫和贤妹的信。信中不过恭问起居寒温，但末后说了一句：“因遭冤狱，数载亡命山野，昭雪无由。"素云一面看着傅以渐的表情，一面小声解释：“这是你出京后一个小厮送来的，连他也不知文康现在何方……”傅以渐看罢，收信入封，面容严峻，沉吟不语。 素云见状，猛跳起身，从枕下抽出一把锋利的剪刀，扯下自己的头发就剪，傅以渐连忙阻拦时，已剪下一绺二尺长的青丝了。素云手捧青丝，望天发誓：“人生在世，信义为本。 要是不能报恩，狗彘不如！要这荣华富贵有什么用啊！ ..." 傅以渐夺过剪刀，生气地说：“你这个人怎么这样性急！ 不报文康之恩，我成什么人了？朝廷里的事你又不是不知道，大权尽属满官，汉员不过是陪从。我虽拜大学士，也不过秉承皇上和王大臣会议的意思办事，哪能说了就算数？何况逆谋大案非同小可，满官视为禁脔，从不让汉官插手……““照你这么说，报答文康还不是一句空话！ ”“我想，唯一的希望在皇上。天子圣明，或许有开恩之举，但也需时日。我将遍谋有识之士，看准有利之时机，会同申奏，这都不是十天半月能办得成的…………”这些，素云理解。不过她还是问了一句：“那么解江南冤狱的事，你是经我提醒才想到的吗？ ”“哪里。如今讦告成风，汉官人人自危，再不设法阻止，成何朝廷？成何世界？ ”“唉，"素云长叹一声，又躺下了：“但愿皇上明察秋毫，解天下冤狱，让江南还如旧日江南那般昌盛明丽吧！ "