He tossed and turned until the fourth watch before falling asleep, so he started a little late the next day. Fu Qiuning hurriedly ordered Yujie and Yuniang to freshen up and dress up for him and Zangfeng Zangjiao. He didn't even eat breakfast, so he hurried to Kangshouyuan. Come.
As soon as he entered the door, he saw many maids and servants gathered in the courtyard to talk. Many of them had unfamiliar faces. Fu Qiuning couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling in his heart. He secretly thought that I was late. Because I was busy going up the steps, I saw the little maid opening the curtain and shouting: "Second Grandma Ning is here."
Because she was busy, she entered the house and saw a room full of people, but some of them she didn't know very well. Jiang Wanying didn't wait for anyone to tell her, so she pulled her to the women and said with a smile: "These people must be I don’t know my sister, and everyone doesn’t know my sister.” After saying that, he said to the women: “No wonder, everyone knows that among the new people our father married that day, I was not the official wife, but just a common wife. Now. The person next to me is the head wife, and people in the house now call her the Second Grandma Ning." She didn't even use excuses like "long-term illness and frailty", so why sneer in her heart? If others don’t know, don’t the people in the mansion know? It's just a slap in the face. Now you've got good luck. Otherwise, why would you be worthy of standing here
Fu Qiuning knew that she definitely had no good words for him in her heart, but the smile on her face became more and more cheerful. She felt that like Jiang Wanying, she wanted to bite herself to death in her heart, and despised herself as worthless, but he had the ability to compete with her. I don't know how painful it must be for her to have the qualifications to call her sister with a smile on her face.
Sure enough, when Jiang Wanying saw her bright smile, she felt even more hatred in her heart. She held back her anger and said, "Sister, this is Sister-in-law Liu, the granddaughter of Duke Feng's family." She deliberately emphasized the 'granddaughter' in her tone, and then Then he pointed at a boy and a girl beside Mrs. Liu and said, "These two children, Zhenyun and Xiufeng, are two years older than Feng'er Jiao'er."
Fu Qiuning hurriedly met the Liu family, and then Jiang Wanying introduced Jin Pengzhan's aunt He, who also had a daughter named Jin Xiuli, and his aunt Mingyan, who was an upright official and oiran in the brothel at that time. Jin Pengzhan liked it and redeemed her for her. After getting married, she felt at peace after entering the house, and gave birth to a son, Jin Zhenhe, so she became an aunt, otherwise she would never have been able to have this title based on her status at that time.
So after seeing her one by one, everyone was very curious about this Fu lady who looked like an abandoned woman but could turn herself around, so they pulled her to talk, leaving Jiang Wanying aside in the cold. Fu Qiuning saw that her mouth was almost full of anger, but he still forced a smile, feeling pitiful and ridiculous in his heart, and even more happy. The secret theory is that women shouldn't embarrass women, but I don't embarrass you, but you try to harm me at every turn. In terms of status, I am still a married woman. Since you are so vicious and I am not a holy mother, I can only take advantage of you. well! In a word, the feudal system kills people.
After talking for a long time, Mrs. Jin finally heard what she said: "Okay, after standing and talking for so long, you don't know how tired you are, so you should all sit down. Luo Cui, take Feng'er Jiao'er to see you." Their grandfather and uncle are waiting outside and bring them back to my place for dinner." After that, he said to Mrs. Jiang: "Since Qiu Ning came a little late, there is no need to go to see her father-in-law today, and she will wait for Fengju to come back. She used to be the same."
Mrs. Jiang leaned forward and agreed, and Luocui took Jin Zangfeng and Jin Zangjiao to the study room in the front yard. Qiu Ning felt uneasy and secretly wondered what kind of character the old Marquis was. Would he like these two children? Because he couldn't help but look around, he suddenly heard the old lady laughing and saying: "What are you worried about? That's their grandfather, and they are very friendly when they meet. What's more, the two children are so good. Their grandfather loves the children who study the most, and he likes them very much. , didn't you see that I was afraid that he would leave the children to eat, so why did I ask Luo Cui to follow me?"
Fu Qiuning thought to herself, weren't you afraid that the old Marquis wouldn't like the two children and would embarrass them, so that's why you sent Luo Cui there? Yin said with a busy smile: "What did our ancestors say? Who is worried? I just want to see if the snow has stopped outside."
"You're still being stubborn. Look at those two dark circles under your eyes. You didn't sleep well last night, right?" The old lady laughed and said, "You're just a careless person. What's wrong? They're all family members." After saying that, He stretched out his head to look and asked loudly: "Has the snow stopped outside?"
Immediately, some of the little maids replied: "It hasn't stopped yet. It's raining harder than in the morning." After saying this, the old lady sighed, shook her head and said, "When Feng Ju left a few days ago, It snowed a while ago, and now it snows like this again, alas! Although the auspicious snow heralds a good year, if it continues like this, the weather will be too cold. I don’t know how Fengju is doing now, he is surrounded by some How can a man take care of me so carefully and thoughtfully?"
Jiang Wanying smiled and said, "Don't worry, ancestors. I went to Jiangnan, where the weather is as warm as spring all year round. He is more comfortable than us now." Before she finished speaking, Huo snorted coldly: "Jiangnan is as warm as spring. Spring? This is a lie. Go and ask around. Although it is warmer than our winter there, it is damp and cold. I told you to take me with you so that someone can take care of you, but I refused. Now I don’t even write a letter. This letter is really worrying me to death."
Before she finished speaking, Jiang Wanying glanced at her and heard her sneer: "How can it be as powerful as you said? It made my ancestors worry for nothing." After saying that, Huo glanced at the worried face of Mrs. Jin and said, Knowing that he had made a mistake, he lowered his head and did not dare to speak again.
Fu Qiuning let their conversation arouse his thoughts. Except for Jin Pengzhan's first wife and two aunts who were still talking to the side, Jiang Wanying and others were silent, obviously worried about Jin Fengju.
After a while, Jin Zangfeng and Jin Zangjiao also came back. After answering the old lady's question, they quietly walked to stand behind Qiu Ning, appearing to be well-behaved and sensible. The old lady took advantage of Qiu Ning to talk to the two children, and others were standing not far away chatting. No one paid attention to her side, so she quietly asked Luo Cui: "How is it? The master looked at the two children, what did he say? ?”
Luo Cui hurriedly smiled and replied: "The master is also surprised. He doesn't know what happened at home this year. I heard that these are the two children that the young Marquis got out of ignorance that day. They have grown so big and look so alike. The young marquis was naturally happy and asked the two children a few questions. The young master and the girl answered well, so the master liked it very much and said that he would stay for dinner. The servant replied to the old lady and gave up. I also rewarded the two children with a fine jade pendant each, and the uncle also rewarded me with something."
The old lady nodded and said with a happy smile: "I said he would like these two children, and sure enough..." Before she could finish, she heard Luo Cui smile and say: "Of course, whoever met Mr. Sun and Miss Sun would still..." Some people don’t like them, they are lovable children.”
Because they had a banquet until evening, they left happily. Nothing major happened next. Jin Zangfeng and Jin Zangjiao said that the school was quiet now. Even Jin Zhenyi had restrained himself a lot and no longer caused trouble for him. Qiu Ning listened and knew that this was because the old Marquis came back. , no one dared to cause trouble, I couldn’t help but feel very comforted.
It was the twelfth lunar month in a blink of an eye. After the Laba Festival, the weather became colder and colder day by day. Only the north wind howled, but it didn't snow anymore. Seeing that the weather was not good this year, the school had an annual holiday. The two children were very happy. When they came back, they saw that the new clothes were ready. They were comfortable, warm and exquisitely made, so they couldn't put them down.
Since they didn't have to go to school, Qiu Ning sent the golden seal script and reed flowers back. Their parents were naturally happy. They were also rewarded with satin, some New Year's baubles and a few taels of silver. They were even more grateful and brought their children here in person. After thanking him, Qiu Ning didn't hesitate. He personally welcomed them into the room, said some words, praised Jin Zhuan and Lu Hua a few words, left lunch for them, and then sent them off.
According to the rules here in the north, the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month is the Little New Year. Everywhere in the capital was filled with joy, but only here at the Jin Xianghou Mansion, the atmosphere was a bit heavy, because Jin Fengju had not received any letters since he left for Jiangnan, and no news came out from the palace. At first, everyone said The days were not long and I was busy with errands, so I naturally forgot to think about my family. However, there was no letter for more than a month, but everyone knew that something must have happened, but no one dared to say it, just kidding, Mr. Jin. Taijun and Mrs. Jiang have become sick with worry. If they dare to speak out again, do they not want them to live? Once he was accused of murdering his master because of his tongue-tied behavior, and was sentenced to death, he would have to pay for it.
Therefore, the New Year passed in a solemn atmosphere, but on the 24th of the twelfth lunar month, great news came from the court. It only said that Jin Fengju went to Yangzhou this time and almost bloodbathed the Yangzhou officialdom. From the first-rank Jiangnan Governor to the seventh-rank He himself killed nine of the Zhima County magistrates and escorted twenty-three to Beijing. What's more, it was reported that the real Yangzhou magistrate had been assassinated within a few months of taking office. People with similar looks and cruel and cunning hearts took their place. It was this person who almost killed the imperial envoy in this confrontation.
This information had been kept secret until the prisoners were escorted to Beijing. The emperor read out the evidence of these corrupt officials with a sullen face in the morning in front of the ministers. Except for two of the officials who were relatively less corrupt and were exiled, the others All the ink strokes are drawn.
This is truly an earth-shaking event. Needless to say, the government and the public were shocked. Even Prince Lie and Prince Hong couldn't help but feel heartbroken. Among these officials who were executed, there were certainly members of their camp who were making money, and there were even several officials who were close to Prince Rong. I never expected that Jin Fengju would be so cruel and not even let them go.