Grandmother Jia had a bad night's sleep yesterday and woke up in the middle of the night. The mandarin ducks waited on him attentively and chatted with him for half the night. At the fourth watch, they came out to comb the hair. Seeing the servant girl carrying a bucket of steaming water, she instructed,""How can you be so unstable? You can't even carry a bucket of water, so you changed to a stronger one.”
The girl looked up at Yuanyang's face and knelt down to beg, crying,"I beg elder sister to spare me this time. I didn't sleep until midnight last night, and the stove was turned on a little late this morning. I didn't get any rice or water, so I spilled it because I didn't have enough strength. I beg elder sister to raise your hand and spare me this time.”
Yuanyang tied the caltrop belt around her waist and sighed."It's not about whether I'll forgive you or not. You should be more careful today and be more stable. Forget it, go and call two reliable people over to sweep away the fallen leaves and dust in this courtyard. The dead branches and leaves on the branches are also about to be cut off.”
The servant girl hurriedly kowtowed to thank her. She happily shouted," I'll go right away." Then, she took to her heels and ran away. Yuanyang saw that she had lifted her skirt without covering her feet. She was about to scold her, but she did not shout at her loudly. She lifted the curtain and went in.
Grandmother Jia helped the servant girl up. When she saw Yuanyang, she asked,"Why is the courtyard so restless so early in the morning?”
Yuanyang quickly took it and held it, saying,"Old Lady, please slow down." I just went to take a look. There was nothing else. It was a servant girl who came from outside to bring water. She was ignorant. When she saw that Haitang had opened a column of powder in our courtyard, she was overjoyed. I smiled at her and she was embarrassed.”
"Is that so? Haitang is a fan. So my dream should be here?”Grandmother Jia pushed the dressing staff and quickly went outside to see the begonia. When she saw it, she found that the pink begonia was not too red, but it was not white either. For a moment, she was happy and worried. Yuanyang put the robe on her shoulders and did not feel anything.
Grandmother Jia's heart was racing, and her ears and eyes suddenly became sharp as if she had a spiritual epiphany. Suddenly, she heard the sound of a horse outside the courtyard and was frightened. "Did you hear that? What's that sound?!"”
Yuanyang was in pain, but she supported Grandmother Jia with both hands and advised,"Perhaps it was the sound of horses galloping on the street, brought by the wind. She is not from our residence. Old Lady, don't be alarmed.”
Hearing this, Grandmother Jia relaxed her hands and chanted a Buddhist incantation. She looked around and saw that everything was as lively and orderly as usual. She was relieved and listened to Yuanyang's advice to return to the house. Just wear when suddenly had the idea, called mandarin duck to tell xifeng, said today to the temple to pay god to fulfill his wish.
Xifeng hadn't been feeling well these few days, and Jia Lian wasn't at home. She had just finished dealing with the family matters, but she felt that she couldn't handle it. She leaned on the chair, and even those lazy and cunning daughters-in-law couldn't be bothered to reprimand her.
Just as she was about to take a sip of the hot soup, someone suddenly came to pass on the message that the old lady was going to the temple to fulfill her wish today. She asked Second Grandmother to make preparations and must not be negligent. Xi Feng held the hot soup and suppressed her sadness and tiredness. When she asked for details, the servant girl who passed the message actually couldn't answer. Xi Feng was so angry that her red nails pinched her palms.
Ping 'er saw that Yuanyang was free and invited her over. Xi Feng quickly became strong and pulled Yuanyang to laugh. The two walked into the room, and Ping' er put down the curtain and stood guard by the door.
"On this day, we should go to the temple to burn incense more often. However, the temple didn't inform us in advance, nor did it send people to clean it. The incense, candles, money, and offerings in the residence weren't accurate either. Moreover, it was not peaceful outside at the moment. It was noisy, and today was not a solar term. Why would the old lady want to go? Good girl Yuanyang, please tell me what the reason is.”
Yuanyang pointed at him." What's the reason? It's not a solar term, nor is it something that Second Master and the ladies came up with. Also, it's just that Old Lady was dim. I can't guess what the reason is.”
After sending Yuanyang away, Xifeng sighed softly on the couch.
"If the ladies don't know what's going on, then it's fine. Times are different now. Putting aside the difficulty of spending money, it's not difficult to make emergency arrangements. But now that there's chaos outside, how can we suddenly have a plan? If I collide with them and cause any accidents, wouldn't it be my fault?”
"The old lady said she wanted to go, so there's nothing we can do about it."”
"Don't I know?" Xi Feng said. Forget it, go and call your Second Master back. The matters outside still needed the men to arrange. I'll make the preparations first. Go and ask if Old Lady Dan is going or who she's bringing. If you can ask, come back quickly. This body of mine, hiss, I don't know how many more times I can endure.”
Ping 'er agreed and went back to work.
When it was time for the clock to strike, Jia Zhen, Jia Lian, Jia Rong, and two other servants with the surname Jia led three large carriages, twelve maids, and more than twenty boys. They carried seven or eight baskets of incense, candles, paper money, ingots, flowers, fruits, and vegetables as offerings. They left the Jia residence and headed for the ancestral temple.
Rongning Manor's carriage exited Rongning Street. As soon as it entered the street, it encountered a patrol team in green silk and yellow armor.
The leader of the group stopped his horse and pointed his gun. He shouted,"Is that General Wei Lie and the Dragon Guard?”
Jia Zhen, Jia Lian, Jia Rong, and the others quickly dismounted and went up to talk to the officer. Speaking of the patrol officers set up in the city, he also comforted the honor of the guards of the imperial city.
"We enjoy the benefits of the king and serve him. It's just our duty.”The officer immediately cupped his fists and said," I have no talent. I can only defend the city. With General Wei Lie and the Dragon Guard in front of me, I dare not speak of hardship.”
Baoyu and Grandmother Jia were in the same carriage and were in the front of the convoy. When he heard this, he shouted,"Whose family is this person from? He's so long-winded. Since he recognizes us, just make way. He's not blushing on the streets.”
Grandmother Jia pulled Baoyu to comfort him. She lifted a corner of the curtain and looked over."If you don't come out often, you won't know these people. Although they were small soldiers, they didn't even have an official position. They were not afraid of people because they were under the emperor's orders. If there was a chance to use troops in the current season, they would be even more arrogant.”
Baoyu also looked at the corner of the curtain and said,"Martial pawn, you gave birth to a good appearance for nothing! What are you talking about? Why aren't you letting us go over? I'll go take a look.”
"Baoyu!" Grandmother Jia was a little slow to pull Baoyu back and hurriedly instructed,"Stay far away, don't let the knife and spear scratch you!”At the same time, he called out to a few kids,"Hurry up and serve them carefully!"”
Jia Zhen, Jia Lian, Jia Rong, and the officer were all military generals. When they started talking, they began to talk about the Emperor's order to recruit soldiers half a month ago. State affairs were the most important, and the great powers were the most important. The year before last, when winter approached, the border was lit up with beacon fires. As for today, the battle was at a small station, and the battle reports were like snow and dyed red. The great powers had lost hundreds of battles to the barbarians, and the imperial court could not rest assured for a day.
The loss of soldiers and generals is only a matter of personal life and death. In the end, it is a small matter. It is a pity that the barbarians see that the barbarians have repeatedly benefited and actually take advantage of the situation to plunder, so that the more chaotic the front line of the country's border is, the more land lost.
"A month ago, the little heroic general carried the coffin back to his hometown. I happened to be on duty and was also here to see the heroic general's legacy. On the top of the red coffin, His Majesty personally wrote the funeral oration: A man dies in the country, and the noble spirit lives on. I am so angry that I can't hold back my tears. I hate that I can't ride on the battlefield with you and kill the enemy. I hate that I can't help you at all. General Wei Lie is so righteous. I thank you here.”
The official dismounted and saluted with his hands folded. Baoyu happened to arrive, and he received the salute in a daze. He hurriedly returned the salute to the Jia family.
At first, Baoyu was a little angry, but when he saw that the other party was also a handsome and polite person, he couldn't get angry. He just couldn't interrupt and stood to the side to bow with everyone.
Jia Zhen wiped away her tears and helped the official up."It's only right. It's not worth the thanks.”
After chatting idly, Jia Zhen ordered everyone to stop by the roadside and let the city patrol pass. Only then did he mount his horse and set off for the family temple.
"Father, who is this little heroic general? Why did he thank us?" Jia Rong asked.”
Jia Zhen said,"It's fine if you don't know how to improve yourself when you're out on a horse and having fun, but you can't even recognize a few people. What's the point of being successful?"”
Jia Rong didn't dare to say anything else. He only heard Jia Lian say,"Brother, you must have forgotten. I only said that the little heroic general fought with Baoyu in the arena. Do you remember?”
"Oh?" "Which one?"
Jia Lian said,"Who else? You'll know if I write the pipa song." His family also had a hereditary title. His father, Ma Zhengyuan, volunteered for a vacancy and was sent to the west. After half a year on the battlefield, he was appointed as a heroic general. Unexpectedly, he was killed by the enemy in less than three months. It was said that his grandmother cried to death several times. The Emperor took pity on him and let him inherit the title. He also gave him the salary of his father, General Yinglie, so he called him Little Heroic General.”
Jia Zhen sighed." Ma Zhengyuan grew up with me. Xiri was also a person who enjoyed poetry and wine. I didn't expect that he would go to that dangerous place for a few taels of silver and lose his life in the end.”
"Why are you so poor that you don't even want your life anymore?" asked Baoyu curiously. Is the money that good?"
Jia Zhen said," Speaking of which, his family was originally the same as ours. Gradually, the family's financial situation deteriorated, and he couldn't afford to pay the gifts for guests. Gradually, he cut off his contact with the rich and powerful families, and they forgot that they were his family. Oh, his family cut off the New Year gift exchange with our family a few years ago, so you don't recognize him.”
"Who is that young general?" asked Baoyu."Why is he more affectionate to that heroic general than I am?"”
Jia Zhen swept his beard." He looks very unfamiliar. I only know his surname is Wu, but I don't know which family he's from.”
Baoyu returned to the carriage, feeling a little depressed. When Grandmother Jia asked him why, he told her what he had just seen.
"If you say you're poor, then you're very poor. Isn't it all for your own selfish desires? You fight to be an official, I fight to make money. The world is in chaos because of this group of people, and there is not a day of peace. What they didn't know was that the world was so big, and they had everything they wanted. Why did they have to do this? Not to mention him, there was a saying that a real man died for fame and integrity. It was the most ridiculous. What was the name of General Yinglie's death? What was he actually? That's why I say, these bastards are doing this for the sake of…"
Just as he said this, the carriage suddenly stopped.
Hearing the sound of horse hooves approaching from afar, there was a sudden rumble. The outside was filled with screams, and Grandmother Jia couldn't help but look solemn. After waiting for a moment, he called Jia Lian over to ask. Jia Lian said,"It's not a big deal. A messenger's horse ran to death and happened to crash into a peddler's stall. The peddler pulled him over to claim compensation.”
Baoyu looked through the gap in the curtain and saw that the messenger was very domineering. He kicked the peddler over. "What did I say? Who knew how many people they had harmed?”
Grandmother Jia pressed down on Baoyu's hand and said,""Amitabha. The hawker's stall is also his family's livelihood. He should have paid some money. You should have gone to persuade him. You can't let a powerless peddler suffer a loss and lose his livelihood.”
Jia Lian replied yes and returned, only to see that the messenger had already drawn his sword and was declaring that the peddler would behead him if he did not let go. At that moment, he did not dare to go forward. He only took out two pieces of silver from his purse and ordered the servant to drag the peddler to the side. He scolded him for his guts and actually blocked the way of the noble. He was frightened and gave him silver to stop him and obediently move to the side.
The messenger left his body to pull the reins of the fallen horse. However, when he fell off the horse, he broke his hand bones and could not exert any strength. The back of his head also buzzed with dull pain. He suddenly turned around and cupped his fists at Jia Lian,"This is an urgent matter, can you lend me a horse?”
The messenger's clothes were dirty and tattered. Jia Lian said,""This, the women in the residence don't have many horses, but they can't lend you any.”
"It's urgent, but please move," the messenger said. Once this matter was over, he would personally return it.”
Jia Lian had the intention, but at the moment, Jia Zhen was riding alone, Jia Rong was riding alone, and he was riding alone. There were three carriages, one carriage, and one horse. He really could not bear to part with any of them. Although he was willing to give up and send a message, he couldn't do it to make a friend. Thinking about it, he couldn't help but blame Xifeng for not preparing enough for this trip and losing this opportunity.
Just as Jia Lian was about to say goodbye again, he heard a woman's voice at the end of the carriage shouting,"Brother Lian! Untie the horses of my chariot and give them to the believer.”
Jia Lian looked over and saw Xiao Lin alighting from the carriage. Xiao Lin did not wear a curtain hat with her, so Qingwen used four light green silk to tie a veil to cover her face.
Jia Lian hurriedly said,"Second Sister Lin, quickly return to the car.”
"Why not? This believer was so seriously injured that the medicine shop and medical hall did not even look at him. My daughter was grateful.”Little Lin bowed slightly. The messenger turned his head without looking and only returned the bow.
Xiao Lin said," When my father and brothers all died in battle, my daughter hasn't seen such a bloody expression for many years. As the saying goes, small paths give way to big paths, slow does not suppress urgency. My daughter is just an idle person. If you believe me, you should untie this horse and go. Please don't mind that this horse has no saddle and bridle, which will add to the injury of the believer.”
When the messenger heard this, he said,"So Young Lady is also the daughter of a general. You are indeed noble!"”He did not say anything else. He thanked him, waved his dagger, broke the shackles on his horse, and mounted his horse without saying a word.
Xiao Lin got into the second carriage and went with Daiyu. "It's none of your business what the believers outside are like," said Daiyu with a smile."Why do you have to give him your horse?" What's that on your head that you have the cheek to meet people? Qingwen, she's going crazy. Why didn't you persuade her?”
Qingwen took the Juan Zi and folded it, saying,"He's really crazy. Just now, my heart was jumping to my throat." I can't persuade him."
"But what's the point of sacrificing a thin horse?" Xiao Lin laughed.”
Qingwen said,"You've given away dozens of taels of silver. When the time comes, Second Grandmother will look for you to make up for it. Let's see if you can take it out." Anyway, I don't have it here."
Daiyu covered her lips and laughed." Aiya, even Lin Er's butler said that he has no money. How can that be good? This time, Qingwen is going to die of grievances."”
" Isn't it true?" Speaking of dozens of taels of silver, Zijuan talked about the matter in the kitchen again and started chatting with Qingwen. She couldn't finish talking. Daiyu stopped talking and leaned against the wall to listen. She smiled from time to time to make it interesting.
"What are you looking at?" asked Daiyu."What's so fun about it?"”
Xiao Lin put down the curtain and sighed." I didn't see anything. I only remember that when we went to the capital that year, there were still many street vendors and acrobats. Now, it's much quieter."”
Daiyu didn't dare to look at anyone, only looking at the wall and the roadside. Suddenly, she asked,"What's that yellow thing on the wall?"
"It's the order to recruit courage," Xiao Lin replied.
"What's the order for conscription?" asked Daiyu. What did it say?"
Xiao Lin then read the contents of the list to Daiyu, who laughed and said,""Does the Emperor still need someone to order him around? I've never seen Baoyu lack someone to order him around.”
This book comes from：m.funovel.com。