Chapter 343: 343 Struggle
Chapter 343 Chapter 343 Struggle
With the palace guards present, the surroundings became much quieter.
Fifteen years ago, when Mrs. Shen got married, it was rumored that she had ten miles of red dowry. Now, it took a full hour for all the dowry to be moved out of the gate of the Marquis Mansion, and it took ten carriages to load it.
Mrs. Mu Guogong and Chu Qianchen did not stay and left in the presence of everyone in the Chu family.
This incident was like a huge stone falling into a lake, causing thousands of waves in the capital.
Just as Mrs. Tai expected, so many dowries were moved away from the Marquis's Mansion. It was impossible to hide it from so many pairs of eyes in the capital. In just one day, many people knew about the grandeur of Duke Mu's Mansion. Aunt Shen Zhi wants to make peace with her husband.
In the Da Qi Dynasty, there had never been any disputes among noble families. Moreover, Mrs. Shen was still the head mistress of the Hou Mansion.
When the various prefectures in Beijing heard about it, most of them had an unreal feeling.
However, Shen's dowry has indeed been moved away. With the way Duke Mu's government behaves, this matter is almost certain.
There were a lot of discussions in private in each mansion, and members of the Chu family and other families who were close to the Yongding Marquis Mansion couldn't help but come to inquire in person.
Some of these visitors are really concerned, some are just curious, some are here to watch a good show, and some are somewhat gloating...
For the Madam, these people's visits were like slaps one after another on her face, but she couldn't say anything bad, so she could only speak vaguely. In the end, the Madam simply asked the concierge to close the door. Thank you.
When Rongfu Hall once again received an "uninvited guest", the maid in blue who was guarding the corridor was already a little impatient. She almost wanted to ask the little maid to drive them away. When the other party came closer, she realized that the person who came was responsible for purchasing. Grandma Zheng, the steward.
The maid in blue did not dare to offend these nuns in charge, so she hurriedly said hello to Aunt Zheng, and then went in to inform the wife.
After a while, Grandma Zheng was welcomed in.
Aunt Zheng, who was also a girl with one head and two heads, bravely said to the Madam who was leaning on the kang: "Madam, it's time to pay for the rice and grain purchases in the house.
The noble family buys all kinds of rice, fruits, vegetables, fish, etc., and most of them are paid once a month. Today, the store owner personally came to collect payment, so the steward knew that the wife was in a bad mood, so she had to come. .
The madam wore a two-finger-wide forehead wiper on her forehead and looked sickly.
The eldest maid was gently beating the Madam's legs at the side.
The madam's head was still hurting, so she raised her hand and rubbed her temples, and asked, "How much money does the Duke have left?"
She asked Grandma Wang this question.
Since Mrs. Shen returned to her parents' home, Grandma Wang has been helping Mrs. Tai take care of the accounts these days. Naturally, she knew it in her heart, and replied awkwardly: "Five hundred taels."
Grandma Wang frowned deeply, with a worried look on her face.
Since Chu Lingxiao was exiled, life in the Hou Mansion has not been as easy as before. However, a skinny camel is bigger than a horse, no matter how bad it is, it is not much worse. In fact, when Mrs. Shen returned the account books and cards a few days ago, When I gave it to the Madam, the Duke still had money.
However, Chu Lingyu was severely beaten and severely disabled. For this reason, the Hou Mansion invited many famous doctors and imperial doctors from the capital to visit the house for treatment. The fees for the doctor's consultation, medicine and various tonics were all paid for by the government. Yes, money is flowing like water.
In addition, several stores have also come to check out in the past few days, such as materials for spring clothes, some expenses for buying lanterns for the Lantern Festival, and other miscellaneous expenses.
A lot of money was spent on Chu Lingxiao alone. For example, on the day Chu Lingxiao returned to Beijing, Chu Lingyu specially took care of the **** guards; for example, the wife lamented that Chu Lingxiao had suffered in Youzhou. , bought a lot of things for him, from clothes to various tonics.
In addition, Chu Lingxiao had just received an errand from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and in order to socialize with Shangguan and his colleagues, he took a lot of money from the official.
These expenditures are all recorded in the accounts.
Aunt Zheng was shocked when she heard this, and then she lowered her head, sighing in her heart: This dignified Duke of the Marquis Mansion only had five hundred taels of silver.
The rice eaten by the Hou Mansion is naturally not the rice eaten by ordinary people. It is all top-quality rice noodles, such as green rice, rouge rice, etc. For example, the rouge rice costs half a pound per kilogram, while the best quality rice costs Eight taels of silver per catty.
A mere five hundred taels of silver, not even enough money to earn rice and grain.
"How is that possible!" The madam blurted out in disbelief and sat up from the kang.
The public always has at least thirty or forty thousand silver in his account. Even if his income is a little less now, he won't be out of money!
It's only the first month of the year. At the end of last year, the family had just closed down the shop and the village.
Grandma Wang was feeling bitter. In fact, she had also tactfully reminded the Tai Fu that the prince's money was running low. However, because the eldest lady Shen had previously intended to reduce the family's expenses, the Tai Fu was very unhappy about this. Grandma Wang didn’t dare to say more, so she could only stop there.
Grandma Wang carefully asked for instructions: "Madam, can I bring you the account book?"
The madam nodded in agreement.
So, Grandma Wang quickly brought over the account book.
She brought over two account books, one was handed over by Mrs. Shen before, and the other was a new account book, which was recorded from the day when the right of payment was returned to the Dowager.
The madam first flipped through the new account book. She looked at it more slowly and carefully, with a serious look on her face.
I didn't feel it when I spent it before, but now when the wife looked through her account book, she realized that she had indeed spent a lot in the past few days.
Each transaction may seem like a small amount, but when added up, the amount becomes large.
After Mrs. Tai flipped through this new account book, she went to look at Shen's old account book. Most of the records in the old account book were last year's accounts.
When the lady saw an account of ten thousand taels, she couldn't help but stop and take a closer look.
These 10,000 taels were money that the family had used to spend here and there when Chu Lingxiao was imprisoned last year.
The madam looked through it repeatedly, and later she looked through the new account book a second time, and was convinced that there was really no money in the account.
It's only late January, the year has just begun, but the public hall is empty.
The rent of the shop is collected once a quarter, and most of the other businesses of the Chu family only turn over their income once a quarter, at least until the beginning of April.
How to spend the next two months?
The madam began to panic.
Aunt Zheng asked politely: "Madam, would you like me to ask the store owner to wait for two days..."
Madam Tai raised her hand to interrupt Nanny Zheng, looking at her with disapproval and frowning.
This is just a lot of money. If the Hou Mansion doesn't give it today, it will inevitably make the store owner wonder if the Chu family is going to default on the bill. Of course, Mrs. Tai couldn't bear those merchants talking behind her back about whether the Hou Mansion had money.
Madam Tai held the account book, took a deep breath, and told Grandma Wang: "Go to my place and get some."
The madam could only take the private room to fill in the account first.
Aunt Zheng breathed a sigh of relief. When Aunt Wang got the banknote, she took the banknote and hurriedly left. But as soon as she left the house, she began to worry again.
Counting the days, the shops that supplied chickens, ducks, geese, and pork to the palace in the past two days should also come to ask for payment.
Aunt Zheng happened to pass by Mrs. Liu and Aunt Zhang who were hurriedly coming this way. Aunt Zheng hurriedly made way for Mrs. Liu.
Then, the next guest was welcomed into the warm pavilion of Rongfu Hall.
The madam leaned on the kang again, with a sad face.
Normally, Ms. Liu would have asked how the wife was doing, but now she was not in that mood and said straight to the point: "Mother, my husband didn't sleep last night. He just closed his eyes and fell asleep, and his daughter-in-law came. "Mother, my daughter-in-law wants to spend some money to buy some ginseng and blood swallows for her husband."
Mrs. Liu made the trip specifically to help Chu Lingyu get the tonic.
During these days, Mrs. Tai felt sorry for Chu Lingyu who had suffered a serious crime, and sent various tonics to him like running water.
But now that the madam knew that there was no money in the account, she couldn't help but frowned.
Mrs. Zhi was like Grandma Wang. She knew what Mrs. Tai was thinking as soon as she saw it, so she asked on her behalf: "Second Madam, how much do you want?"
Mrs. Liu said: "Mother, five hundred taels should be enough for my husband to eat for five days."
The madam couldn't help but widen her eyes and was shocked.
Taking five hundred taels for five days means that Chu Lingyu has to take one hundred taels of tonics a day, which means that it is 3,000 taels a month and 36,000 taels a year.
Can the Hou Mansion afford it? !
The madam looked at the two account books on the coffee table, and her heart suddenly shrank.
She clutched her chest uncomfortably and breathed quickly.
Grandma Wang quickly gave Mrs. Tai a favor, patted her on the back, and gave her smelling salts.
"One hundred taels a day?" The madam's voice seemed to be squeezed out from between her teeth, her eyes were sharp, "Are you giving me gold and silver?"
Mrs. Liu was already in a bad mood because of Chu Lingyu's injury. When Mrs. Tai said this, her anger suddenly burst out as if adding fuel to the fire. She said in a crackling voice: "Mother, what are you talking about?" mean?!"
"I'm just here to ask for some money to buy tonics for my husband. It's not like my family can't afford it. Do you need to be so arrogant?"
"My daughter-in-law also knows that you have always been partial to your uncle. Now that your husband is paralyzed, you are probably even more displeased with him. Do you disown this son now?"
Mrs. Liu's voice became more and more shrill and excited, as if she was about to pierce her eardrums.
The madam's mood finally calmed down, but now she was stimulated again, her breathing suddenly became rapid again, and her face turned pale.
Seeing this, Grandma Wang was frightened, panicked, and shouted: "Mrs. Madam, don't get excited, it will hurt your health to be stingy!"
"Come on, call the doctor!"
There was a chaos in Rongfu Hall, and two little maids ran out in a hurry to ask the doctor for the wife.
After a while, people from the eldest, third and fourth wards came after hearing the news and gathered in Rongfu Hall. There was another commotion. The other three wards accused Mr. Liu of making the madam sick, while Mr. Liu cried again. He shouted again and cried out how miserable Chu Lingyu was, saying that his second wife had been wronged.
The Hou Mansion was noisy for a while, and it was not until dark that it returned to calm.
The next day, Mrs. Tai personally went to Mu Guogong's mansion, and also brought the patriarch and elders of the Chu family to the door.
"Niece-in-law, please listen to my advice. You also have children and you have to consider them."
"We know you have been wronged. If anything happens, we can sit down as a family and discuss it carefully."
"If you think about it again, the Chu family will never let you take Brother Mu away. There has never been such a rule. Even if you file a petition, it will be useless."
“…”
The clan leader and clan elders talked to each other one by one, some pretending to be innocent and some pretending to be evil, just to persuade Mr. Shen not to reconcile.
No matter how the Chu family tried to coerce or induce her, or how to suppress her elders, Mrs. Shen never changed her expression. She believed that Chu Qianchen could find a way, so she didn't want to say much and served tea to see the guests off.
From the beginning to the end, Mrs. Shen never mentioned that Kang Hongda had a crush on Chu Yunyi. Even though the Chu family was not ashamed of this kind of thing, she found it disgusting! The heads of the Chu family and the elders were all in their fifties and sixties. They had never suffered such grievances, and they were still with a woman. They couldn't stay any longer, so they walked away one by one with blowing beards and glares.
The madam had no choice but to go with them.
After leaving the Duke's Mansion, the patriarch comforted the wife: "Sister-in-law, Brother Mu's surname is Chu. No mother can abandon her child. Don't be anxious. Please delay this matter first and persuade her slowly." Niece-in-law.”
"There is a way of saying that one can make great efforts, then they will fade away, and three times they will be exhausted."
The clan leader meant to hold off for a while. After a long time, Shen will naturally calm down.
Mrs. Tai could only agree, but she felt bitter in her heart. If Shen didn't come back, the Yongding Marquis Mansion would suffer from the northwest wind.
Mrs. Tai returned to the Hou Mansion in a nonchalant manner, but Mrs. Shen never returned to the Hou Mansion.
Chu Yunmu also never returned to the Hou Mansion. He stayed in Prince Chen's Mansion and lived with Chu Yunyi.
After Chu Yunyi got drunk, he acted as if it had never happened. His character was still as proud and frivolous as before. Apart from practicing martial arts or going to the military camp for training every day, he would play with the little kid Chu Yunmu.
"Whoosh!"
At Yun Zhan's order, Chu Yunyi and Chu Yunmu fired arrows almost at the same time, and both arrows hit the target.
The two brothers were fifty paces apart. One shot the arrow a hundred paces away from the target, and the other shot the arrow fifty paces away.
Chu Yunmu was so happy that his little face turned red. He excitedly turned his head to show off to Chu Qianchen who was not far away: "Chu Qianchen, I hit the target!"
In contrast, Chu Yunyi was much calmer and plucked the bow string nonchalantly, as if to say, this is not a big deal.
Chu Qianchen clapped twice in cooperation.
In Chu Yunmu's opinion, this applause was naturally given to him.
Although he is a little worse than Chu Yunyi now, he is still young. In two years, he will grow taller and stronger, and he will definitely be better than Chu Yunyi!
The little kid lifted his chin up proudly, and his tail almost went up to the sky.
snort! Chu Yunyi was too lazy to argue with him. Anyway, Chu Qianchen definitely couldn't count on a little kid to support her, he was too young.
Yunzhan: "..."
Yun Zhan could guess what the two brothers were thinking even if he thought with his toes, and thought to himself: With the prince here, will it be your turn? !
Yunzhan made a solemn expression and shouted with a straight face: "Continue!"
So, Chu Yunmu quickly stood facing the target again, raised his head and chest, then took the arrow, then nocking the arrow, hooking the string, and firing the bow... This series of actions was very skillful, as if it was engraved in his bones, and became a kind of Knee-jerk reaction.
The brothers again fired arrows at the same time.
Chu Qianchen smiled and said to Yun Zhan: "Yun Zhan, I leave it to you."
The prince is really good at choosing people, and Yunzhan is really good at raising children!
As Chu Qianchen thought, he turned around without hesitation, and then he saw Gu Jue standing at the entrance of the school ground wearing a moon-white cloak and smiling brilliantly.
She stepped forward, took Gu Jue's hand, and said, "He's gone?"
The "he" Chu Qianchen said was the prince Gu Nanjin. When he mentioned him, his cold eyes were full of disgust, as if to say, why is the prince here again?
Chu Qianchen was originally going to find Gu Jue in the outer study room. When he was halfway there, he heard that Gu Nanjin had come to the palace, so he temporarily changed his route to the school grounds, thinking that Chu Yunyi and Chu Yunmu should be practicing bows at the school grounds at this time. shoot.
"Yes." Gu Jue responded, first gathered her cloak for her, and then took her hand and walked back.
Chu Qianchen asked casually: "Is it the twenty-fourth today?"
"Yes." Gu Jue guessed what she was going to ask and said, "The King of Andaman County is leaving tomorrow. The prince just asked me if I wanted to send them out of the capital with him."
The marriage between the two countries has been full of twists and turns, and has gone through many changes. Because the emperor was seriously ill before, the date of Haoren's departure has been delayed again and again, and it is only now that the dust has settled.
Tomorrow the King of Andaman and Yuan Zhitong, who had just been named princess, will leave the capital, and the prince will be responsible for sending them out of the capital.
"..." Chu Qianchen pursed his lower lip, disapproving in his heart.
She shook the hands they held together, as if she was being coquettish, but also seemed to be asking him.
Gu Jue knew what she was thinking and smiled slightly: "I told him that I won't go."
Chu Qianchen instantly showed off her face and felt that the prince was so good. She liked the prince the most.
She stopped, then stood up on her tiptoes, raised her hand and rubbed the top of his black hair. Her movement almost said -
Your Majesty, you are so good!
Gu Jue didn't wear a hair crown today, and her long black hair was half **** and half draped, which was convenient for her.
Chu Qianchen squinted his eyes and smiled, finally understanding why he liked rubbing her head so much.
Amber, who was a few steps behind, was so shocked that her jaw almost dropped. She felt that her girl was too brave, and she even dared to rub the prince's head.
Chu Qianchen stood on tiptoe with some difficulty. When he retracted his hand, his feet returned to their original positions and stood upright.
"I will still grow taller!" She looked at him with her chin raised, her chin connected with her slender neck to outline a pleasant arc, and she smiled proudly and confidently.
She was telling the truth. According to her previous life experience, she could still grow at least two inches.
Gu Jue was startled, then laughed loudly, his beautiful eyebrows spreading like rippling lake water.
He liked her being wanton with him and her unrestrained smile.
This is the smile you can only have if you know you are favored.
He also wanted her to have such a smile forever.
Waves of joyful laughter spread with the gentle breeze of early spring. The magnolia flowers on the branches bloomed even better, and the flowers were fragrant and refreshing.
On the twenty-fifth day of the first lunar month, the envoys of the Hao Kingdom and Princess Anxing and their entourage left the capital in a grand manner from the South City Gate and set off back to the Hao Kingdom. Gu Nanjin and officials from the Ministry of Rites personally led the imperial army to see them off.
This team was quite large, and the princess's carloads of dowry made the people who came to watch marvel.
Gu Nanjin sent the people to Wuliting before ordering the accompanying imperial troops to stop.
Next, he would propose a toast to the king of Andaman on behalf of the emperor, and wish the Hao envoys a safe journey.
In front, the farewell ceremony was carried out in an orderly manner under the auspices of officials from the Ministry of Etiquette; behind, an unexpected person was also welcomed next to Chu Qianhuang's carriage.
"Aunt, why are you here?" Chu Qianhuang looked at Aunt Jiang outside the carriage, a little surprised and a little moved.
She did not set out from the Chu family today, but entered the palace last night, and then set out from the palace with her colleague Yuan Zhitong early in the morning.
She didn't expect that Aunt Jiang would come to see her off. After all, no one from the Chu family came.
With tears in her eyes, Aunt Jiang said with sobs: "How could I not come? You have traveled thousands of miles, and I'm afraid if you don't come today, you will never come..."
Chu Qianhuang stretched out her hand from the window of the carriage, wiped Aunt Jiang's tears with her own handkerchief, and comforted her: "I'm fine, everything will be fine. I can take care of myself."
"Auntie, please go back and take good care of brother Hao Yi." As he spoke, Chu Qianhuang lowered his voice and said solemnly, "I will also try my best to take care of brother Fu Yi... and find a way to make him seize the throne."
She is confident that if she goes to Hao Kingdom, she can gain the respect of Uhaduluo, and then Hao people can come forward. Uhaduluo's words will be useful no matter how much he does more than her. Today, she has no ambitions, and just wants to be with Hao If the two countries have good relations and maintain peace between the two countries, he will agree.
Chu Qianhuang thought confidently, his eyes exceptionally bright.
"Sister Huang..." Aunt Jiang held Chu Qianhuang's hand firmly, but hesitated to speak, as if she was reluctant to leave.
Chu Qianhuang couldn't help but give another warning: "You must remember that father cannot be trusted."
There was a sad and depressing atmosphere throughout Daqi's motorcade.
Including Anxing Princess Yuan Zhitong, no one went to Hao Kingdom voluntarily, they all just had to go. When they thought that they had gone so far away and would never have the chance to return to Daqi in this life, these people all became red-eyed.
Probably only the king of Andaman and his envoys from the Hao Kingdom were eager to return home.
After Andaman drank the wine, he slammed the wine glass to the ground with great enthusiasm.
"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Daqi, let's take our leave then!" Andaman bowed his hands to Gu Nanjin with the etiquette of Daqi, "In the words of Daqi, we will see you later!"
Andaman made a gesture to the entourage and set off along the official road at the earliest opportunity.
Until this moment, Andaman felt relieved. He originally thought that the Emperor of Da Qi was procrastinating, sometimes doing this and sometimes doing that. He thought that bringing Chu Qianhuang back to Hao would still encounter obstacles, but he didn't expect everything to go so smoothly.
The convoy soon moved away.
Aunt Jiang has also got on the Chu family's carriage, turning around and heading back to Beijing first.
The Crown Prince Gu Nanjin and the others from the Ministry of Rites stayed at Wuliting for a while. Then Gu Nanjin turned his horse's head and said, "I'm going back to my father."
Whenever he mentioned the emperor, Gu Nanjin's expression and tone were surprisingly heavy. This was also visible to the accompanying officials from the Ministry of Rites. The emperor's displeasure with the prince was well known throughout the court, and the prince's status was in jeopardy.
After a while, the area around Wuliting became empty. The sound of horse hooves in the distance gradually faded away, and the dust and mist were flying.
Before the dust on the official road settled, there was a commotion in the woods on one side.
A convoy of about twenty people came out of the woods, escorting five carriages. The carriages were ordinary, carrying boxes of goods, and seemed to be a caravan.
The leader is a man in green riding a white horse. The green curtain on his head blocks his appearance, but cannot block his tall and straight figure.
The middle-aged man following him eagerly accelerated his horse, only one horse head behind Uhagalou, and mockingly recited the name "Andaman" in Hao language.
Did Andaman think he could make great contributions to Uhadura?
Not that easy!
The young Chiang Rai shook his riding crop and said with great energy: "Sir, it's time for us to set off!"
Chiang Rai's eyes were shining like the rising sun in the eastern sky. He had been waiting for too long.
Others also looked at Wuhejialou's back with burning eyes, thin and tall, like a mountain peak.
Just looking at this figure will give the people behind him incomparable courage and give them a sense of peace and belonging.
The breeze blew slowly, blowing away the thin gauze under the curtain, revealing the young man's graceful chin, gentle and determined.
"Let's go."
On the official road, the messy sound of horse hooves soon sounded again...
(End of chapter)