Caishikou, there are many people to be executed this year. After all, there are not a few people involved in the case of the third prince and General Han Guanghong. , So the blood flowed from Caishikou to the ground. People could smell the stench of blood from far away on the corner of the street. In the chilling autumn wind, people could not help but break into hairs.
The Xiao family was scheduled to be beheaded on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, and when the head guard Xiao came back after hearing the news, he also brought back another bad news: "The little official said that the eldest young master had an accident a month ago. Seriously ill, violently killed in prison!"
"What!" Before Young Jin could react, Mr. Yu, who was beside him, exclaimed when he heard the news, and then instantly became paralyzed and fainted on the armchair.
"Madam (sister-in-law)!" Youjin and Zhao hurriedly helped people up, and called the Autumn Equinox again. The three of them helped the three back to the room together. The head guard Xiao, who knew he was in trouble, quickly invited the doctor back. .
After the old doctor took her pulse, he pondered for a moment and wrote down a prescription, and said, "It's okay, it's just that you are in a hurry, take a few doses of medicine, and take care of it for a few days, and you'll be fine."
Hearing what the old doctor said, Young Jin and the others breathed a sigh of relief. The wife of the shopkeeper Wu sent the old doctor away and took the medicine back. Young Jin ordered the autumn equinox to guard the Yu family well, while he took the medicine with him. Guard Xiao went to the front flower hall and asked in detail about Xiao Linyu's sudden death.
In fact, the head guard Xiao only heard some news from the mouth of the little official. He only said that there was an epidemic after the sudden death. Even the body was burned that night, and nothing was left.
"My subordinates will go to inquire again in the past few days, and see if I can get any news." The head guard Xiao thought that he had followed him for more than ten years, and he saw that the young master, who had grown from a toddler to a gentleman, was so indifferent. The half-drooping eyes of this man in his 30s couldn't help but feel sour: "My condolences, girl!"
Young Jin bit his lower lip tightly, although he was already mentally prepared to come to collect the body for him, but now he knows that he is long gone, or that there are no bones left. The knuckles of her hands that tightly grasped the armchair were already white, she suppressed the sourness in her heart, and said with a wry smile, "I'm fine, you can go." The elders couldn't hold it anymore. Young Jin knew this. Although he was sad in his heart, he still held on.
Guard Xiao saw that she didn't want to speak, so he handed over and stepped back.
A transparent tear slid across his cheeks and silently fell onto the collar of the tender green shirt that the girl was wearing, leaving only a slightly darker mark and then disappeared without a trace. Young Jin's slightly red eyes closed weakly, and a shallow sigh echoed in the silent flower hall, but no one responded to her.
***
On the ninth day of the ninth lunar month, Chongyang was originally a festival for family reunion and viewing chrysanthemums, but for the criminals who were about to be beheaded and their families, it was just a catastrophe. When the day of the execution arrived, it was the time when the family members of the condemned were sent off before they went to the execution ground. Young Jin, Yu and the others had been preparing the last meal of Brother Xiao Hairu since the dawn of the day, for fear of delaying the final meal. A moment of time together.
Although Dafeng has the practice of visiting prisoners before their execution, but if you really want to enter the prison for the last time, it will also cost a lot of money to manage. The group of five including Yu, Zhao and Youjin entered the prison smoothly, and they also met the two brothers Xiao Hairu as they wished.
"Today is Chongyang. My concubine made chrysanthemum cakes with her own hands, and she also bought your favorite pear blossom, sir. Maybe it's been a long time since our husband and wife sat together for dinner." When he woke up in the morning, he took out the same prepared meals and put them in front of Xiao Hairu. Seven or eight dishes were put out, such as chicken with osmanthus sauce, shredded crab meat, goose palms stuffed with hundreds of flowers, and stir-fried Hericium erinaceus.
The dirty-faced Xiao Hairu vigorously lifted up the shackles and tightly locked hands of Yu's, and shed a turbid tear: "Qingru, I've always lost you!" Qingru is Yu's Their boudoir name, in the first few years of their marriage, when the young couple was in love with each other, even though Xiao Hairu was also a young and old man back then, he would call her Qingru from time to time in private.
"Master!" The long room was embracing each other and weeping, and the second room on the other side was in a similar situation. Young Jin stood a few steps away, full of reluctance to look at the brokenhearted and dying elders of the Xiao family. For a while, he had mixed feelings in his heart, and secretly reminded himself that whether it is the Su family now or in the future, it must not have anything to do with the struggle for imperial power. , Just like the Xiao family, who can be regarded as the top-ranked wealthy family in the capital, they all end up in ruins, and their own family will die in minutes
"Miss Su is so kind and virtuous, someone Xiao has nothing to repay!" While You Jin was still shaking her head, Xiao Hairu gave her a big gift. It turned out that it was Mr. Yu who shared his experience with Xiao Hairu. After mentioning it, he introduced the little girl of the Su family and what he knew. Xiao Hairu realized that it was the country woman who suggested that the eldest son should be brought into the mansion to save his old mother and wife. The girl's generosity of friendship made him feel a little overwhelmed, so he sincerely thanked her for this friendship.
"The little girl is just to repay Big Brother Xiao's life-saving grace, and she really shouldn't be given such a big gift by Uncle Xiao." The young golden face was turned back to God after being quietly tugged on the sleeves by the autumn equinox, and she respectfully greeted Xiao Hairu. After a full ceremony: "Please rest assured, uncle, as long as I am here, I will not wrong my ancestors and my wife."
"Good boy! Good boy!" Xiao Hairu saw that her eyes were clear and her expression was firm. After so many years of ups and downs in the business world, she could naturally see that she was telling the truth. Such a good child is his blessing, but it's a pity... "
"Master!" Yu's tears, which she managed to take back, were brought into tears by Xiao Hairu's unfinished words. Xiao Hairu knew that he had made his wife sad, so he looked at Yu with some guilt, and didn't know how to speak for a while.
The time to visit the prison soon passed. Xiao Hairu put on the clean clothes his wife brought him. After cleaning up a little, he still looked a little down, but he was much better than before. With a faint smile on his face, he patted his wife's hand and comforted: "Qingru, you are fine, take the lead for your husband, and we will be husband and wife in the next life."
The handkerchief in Yu's hand, who was already heartbroken, had long been soaked with tears, and the whole person was unable to stand firm. Young Jin-eyed on the side quickly stretched out his hand to hold the man tightly. Under the urging of the jailer, Young Jin and Qiufen were alone. With a staggering step, he walked out of the dark prison, where many grievances and dead souls were hidden.
"I'll go to Caishikou with the head guard later. You stay at home and take good care of the two wives on the autumn equinox." You Jin wet the clean veil with the cold water in the teapot, and then explained the details of Yu and Zhao, who were already beginning to be in a trance. After carefully wiping his face, he whispered the autumn equinox.
When Yu Shi, who was already a little sluggish, heard her say this, he immediately sat up and said, "I'm going too!"
Young Jin refused to agree, just now he was still alive. These two elders already felt that they had lost half their lives. If they watched the beheading for a while, wouldn't they have to go with them on the spot? "Don't worry, ma'am, I will bring the two uncles back. You two are in good health now. If you are stimulated again, you should think about your ancestors! Both uncles are filial. If you have three strengths and two weaknesses, the old man What should the ancestors do? If they know that the ancestors are not well, how can they rest in peace..."
Two lines of clear tears flowed out of Yu's closed eyes, and there was an air of grief in the silent carriage, no one spoke, and didn't know what to say.
***
But Youjin and Xiao Guards waited in Caishikou for a day. They waited from the midday sun to the dusk of the Youshi. There was a disgusting bloody atmosphere in Caishikou, and the last decapitated body was also pulled away. , Even the executioner had finished his work, and he did not wait for Xiao Hairu and Xiao Erye brothers.
"It's a bit strange. When it's dark, you can go to the little official surnamed Wu to inquire." Young Jin, who was startled with goose bumps by the night wind, suddenly felt a little panic, and traveled through Before, she was a staunch atheist, but after she crossed over, she also faintly believed in ghosts and gods. Now, I don’t know how many unjust souls have been beheaded in Caishikou. Naturally, it is the place where the yin is most prosperous. Now that the sun has gone down, the people watching have long since After dispersing, only the three of them were masters and servants, some desolate and some gloomy.
The head guard Xiao nodded and said yes, took Young Jin back to the backyard of Su's tea house in a carriage, and changed his clothes before going out to inquire about the news. As for Youjin, they quickly informed Yu and Zhao who had been waiting for a day about it. They heard that they had not been beheaded today, so Yu and Zhao couldn't help but ignite a glimmer of hope: "Could it be that it's Master and the others? Is there any help?"
Young Jin frowned and sat under the heads of the two of them, and said solemnly: "There is no news about everything now. The head guard has already gone out to inquire about the news. Let's wait patiently for a while." , Even if it is delayed by one day, it is the blessing that the two brothers Xiao Hairu can live one more day.
"Madam! Girl! Good news!" In the main room in the backyard of the Su family tea, the candles were burning until the third watch. Finally, when he returned to the head guard Xiao, who was slightly panting with excitement, he went straight into the main room and knelt down on one knee with his hands clasped together. , and informed the female relatives of the Xiao family one by one the news that he had inquired about: "My subordinates have inquired, I don't know why, it was the sage who suddenly issued a decree, and the eldest master, the second master and other groups of people who are not deeply involved are all involved. The death penalty is spared, and it is changed to exile in the northern border!"
"What you said is true?!" Yu and Zhao tightly clenched the handkerchief in their hands, gritted their teeth in disbelief to prevent them from fainting with joy, for fear that they had heard the wrong thing, and they would talk to Guard Xiao. Confirm again.
Guard Xiao nodded vigorously: "It's true, my subordinates have searched for several people in a row, and I also asked Young Master Fenghua to help. The death penalty of the eldest master and the second master is indeed forgiven!" At first, Guard Xiao also felt that it was a little impossible. I believe, there was no news in advance, and the pardon was only after the beheading, so I asked a few more people to inquire, and also asked the Feng family, Fenghua was also very effective, and immediately asked Master Feng to ask if the news was true or not. After going around in circles like this for several times, Chief Guard Xiao struggled until midnight before returning.
"Don't get too excited, madam, it's the biggest happy event for the two uncles to save their lives now, and the madam has to go back to Luohe Prefecture to tell the old ancestors the good news!" Young Jin rushed to Yu and Zhao passed out with joy. The emotions of the two were stopped before, and sure enough, when the two heard what she said, they quickly suppressed the excessive joy in their hearts: "Yes, yes, You Jin, you are right."
Early the next morning, Chief Guard Xiao and Shopkeeper Wu both went out to inquire about the news, and brought back good news before lunch.
"It's autumn now. According to the practice of exile in previous years, I think that I will be leaving before October. If I don't leave, I will not leave until next spring, when the snow and ice in the northern Xinjiang melts." Although the shopkeeper Wu is only an introduction Bai Yi, but he has been in the market all the year round, and it is very cheap to inquire about these gossip: "I heard an old friend who I know today said that I am afraid that I will be on the road in the next few days."
"You two have worked hard." You Jin nodded clearly: "If you are going to set off in the near future, the northern border is the most bitter and cold, and we have to prepare."
When Yu and Zhao heard it, they naturally understood what she meant. The northern border was bitter and cold, and the clothes, shoes and socks had to be the thickest. The two, who were still at a loss, found work they could do. Everyday, when I am in good spirits, I am busy making clothes, shoes and socks. Seeing the two of her like this, Youjin was quietly relieved. She had been so sad and happy for the past two days. She was afraid that these two delicate elders could not bear it.
The author has something to say: Super big fat chapter~~ Yeah~~