cite Han

Chapter 190 The Three Caves

The death of his father, stepmother, and elder brother was a huge blow to Deng Yuan, and he was plunged into great grief.

In the next few days, she couldn't eat a single meal, let alone fish, she didn't even touch vegetables, and only had rice to satisfy her hunger.I can't fall asleep at night, and often sit by the window, facing the bright night sky, muttering words in my mouth, and weep until dawn.

Deng Yuan's abnormal state of mind made Liu Jing very worried. Now it is an extraordinary time, he is exhausted during the day, and he is very busy, and he has to go home to take care of his wife at night, so it is difficult to get enough rest. With his high energy, even after several days in a row, he felt a bit overwhelmed.

On July [-]th, the day of Qixi Festival, Deng Yuan finally stepped out of the room again after a few days. There was no other reason. His second brother Deng Lang and his whole family finally arrived in Ling County after a long journey by water.

Deng Yuan is no longer the gorgeously dressed, radiant and high-spirited appearance of the past, now he is wearing sackcloth, looks haggard, and his eyes are swollen like a pair of lanterns.Liu Jing held his wife's hand tightly, full of pity in his heart.

"Second brother..."

"Sister..."

Deng Lang, who was dressed in plain hemp clothes, had just disembarked from the boat when he saw his younger sister Deng Yuan crashing into his arms, laying on his shoulders and weeping loudly.

Since Deng Yuan received the bad news at home, although she shed tears every day, she has always suppressed the emotions in her heart. It was not until today when she saw her second brother who loved her since childhood that her emotions finally broke out.

Seeing his sister's heartbroken appearance, Deng Lang was also reminded of his sadness. While stroking her back to comfort him, he couldn't help crying.

Liu Jing stood aside, silent.

After a long time, Deng Yuan's mood eased slightly, his crying gradually stopped, and he escaped from the embrace of his second brother Deng Lang.

It wasn't until this time that Liu Jing spoke to Deng Lang: "Second brother, please give me your condolences. I heard the news of the death of my uncle, aunt, and eldest brother. In the past few days, the young master mourned too much, and almost ruined my body..."

Deng Lang looked directly at Liu Jing's handsome and powerful face, and sighed, "Zhongda, do you know that when my father was dying, what he missed most in his heart was not his family, but Shaojun and you!"

Hearing this, Deng Yuan shed tears again.

Liu Jing said with a look of emotion on his face, "Jing lost his father when he was young, and his father's voice and smile have gradually become difficult to recall. The year before last, when he went to Xinye in the north, my uncle treated Jing like a parent and son, but he asked for everything, and he was very moved. Achievement, there is a chance to repay it, but I didn't expect to wait for bad news! How unfair it is for God to treat my uncle!"

Deng Lang nodded and said: "Zhongda has this intention, and it is worthy of the importance your father attaches to you." After a pause, he said again: "Zhongda, I will be a filial piety for my father for three years, so don't arrange a luxurious and gorgeous house for us. As long as it can shelter from the wind and rain, it is fine. It is best to be outside the city, so as not to disturb the surroundings."

"Second brother, don't worry, your residence has been arranged a long time ago, and you can move in at any time." Deng Lang's request was all expected, and Liu Jing naturally would not make such a low-level mistake.

At this time, Deng Yuan took over the nephew from his elder sister-in-law Wang's hand, and felt pity for him. He was the only heir left by his deceased brother Deng Chong, and he was four years old this year.When Deng Yuan got married the year before last, he loved him very much, but he was only two years old at that time, so he didn't know anything about it yet.

Deng Chong has only one son, and Deng Lang has not many heirs, but only one son and one daughter.

Perhaps God saw that Mrs. Deng had suffered too much, so a group of more than [-] of them, including the three young children, were lucky enough not to get sick when they came to the wet Changsha this time. Arrived in Ling County without incident.

The Deng family was settled in a manor by the Chengshui River on the outskirts of Ling County. When Liu Jing left at night, to his surprise, Deng Yuan did not stay with his brother, sister-in-law and nephew, but chose to go home with him. I have something to discuss with him.

On the way, Deng Yuan remained silent until he got back to the county house, and said to Liu Jing with a sad expression: "Liu Lang, I want to be a filial piety for my father, I hope you can agree."

Liu Jing couldn't help but "click" in his heart. What he was most worried about still happened.

The Han Dynasty claimed to rule the world with filial piety, from the top to the world, down to the common people, and everyone obeyed filial piety. Keeping filial piety for their dead parents for three years was the consensus of the whole society in the Han Dynasty. Even the imperial court repeatedly issued orders. To be strictly followed.

However, it is traditionally stipulated that men should be filial piety, but it is not stipulated that women should also be filial to their parents.

But it is not without precedent, for example, Nanyang Deng's daughter has this tradition.At that time, Deng Xun, the father of Empress Hexi and Deng Sui, died of illness while serving as the captain of Qiang Huqiang. Deng Sui was only 12 years old at the time.

During the period of keeping filial piety, there are many taboos, and people are still trying to find ways to treat themselves harshly, lest others will not know how filial they are.Liu Jingxin admired Deng Sui's filial piety and persistence, but he never wanted his wife to become like Deng Sui.

"We still have to come up with a way to get the best of both worlds." Liu Jing couldn't help but fell into deep thought.

Deng Yuan saw her husband frowning tightly and remained silent for a long time, with an expression of reluctance, sobbing in a low voice: "Liu Lang, I..."

Liu Jing had a plan in mind, stepped forward to gently embrace Deng Yuan, and said warmly: "Young Master loves your father, knows his death, and imitates Empress Hexi. There is no reason in the world to prevent people from performing filial piety. What reason do I have?" Against it?

However, Empress Hexi kept filial piety for her father, "crying day and night, and did not eat salted vegetables for three years", which is admirable, but it is such a bad treatment of the body... Women are not as weak as men, and they are born weak. Having an heir may not have nothing to do with this?This point, Shaojun cannot be careless. "

Deng Yuan immediately forgot to cry, and stared blankly at Liu Jing with tear-stained eyes.

However, she has never considered this issue. No one can be sure whether Empress Hexi has no heir because of this, but she is not afraid of ten thousand, just in case.

She is only this year and has not yet given birth to a son and a half daughter for Liu Jing. If she has no heir for life because of her father's filial piety...

On one side is her father, on the other side is her husband... Now Deng Yuan is facing a difficult choice, which of the two men she loves the most in her life, who will she choose?Deng Yuan burst into tears, with a helpless expression on his face.

Liu Jing couldn't see his wife's appearance the most, and sighed: "Shaojun, what I mean is not to prevent you from observing filial piety, but to not be too harsh on yourself during the filial piety, even if you don't eat fish, you should eat more vegetables, so as not to damage the body, causing hidden dangers."

Deng Yuan was filled with grief and joy for a moment, and nodded desperately: "Liu Lang, I will definitely abide by it, and my body will not be damaged." If Liu Jing directly persuaded her to cherish her body, she would most likely not listen to it, but he would make peace. The fact that Empress Xi had no heirs frightened her, and she immediately made her submit.

Deng Yuan thought for a while, and then said: "Liu Lang, when I was filial to my father, I followed the etiquette and could no longer serve you." Then, she seemed to have made up her mind, and said: "The maidservants around me are all the best in a hundred. Girl, you can serve Liu Lang on my behalf. If Liu Lang doesn't like them, he can also take concubines." After finishing speaking, Deng Yuan's long eyelashes were covered with tears, and his face was full of seriousness.

At this moment, Deng Yuan was very conflicted, she naturally didn't want to share her husband with others, even the maidservants who grew up with her.But since she is determined to be filial piety for her father, she can't let her husband keep his body for these three years, right?Instead of her husband looking for a woman behind her back, it would be better for her to "generously" propose it herself.

Seeing Deng Yuan's desperate appearance, Liu Jing didn't know whether to cry or laugh for a moment, and asked, "Young Master, do you know what you are talking about?"

"?" Deng Yuan was stunned.This is the secret that her stepmother taught her in private when she was married, and it can only be used at critical moments. Why does Liu Lang react like this?

Liu Jing said without hesitation: "The "Historical Records" said: 'When a husband and wife are married, there is a great relationship between human beings. Rituals are used, but marriage is a cautious one.' We are married couples who have gone through the six rituals. Sharing, life and death together. During the time when Shaojun was keeping his father's filial piety, how sad must be in his heart, as a husband, how can I ignore your feelings and be happy alone?"

"But..." Liu Jing loved her so far, Deng Yuan was deeply moved.

Seeing that Deng Yuan wanted to speak again, Liu Jing hurriedly raised his hand to stop, and said: "Okay, okay, young master, this matter is over, don't talk any more."

Deng Yuan borrowed the slope to get off the donkey, and lightly said "Yes".

…………

After the Qixi Festival, Deng Yuan began to observe filial piety. During the filial piety, there were many taboos, except that he was not allowed to drink fine wine and eat fish or meat, he was not allowed to wear beautiful clothes, he was not allowed to have sex, he was not allowed to have fun... Even visiting friends was restricted.

However, Deng Yuan didn't shut herself completely at home, she would occasionally go out to visit her siblings, nephew, and even go to the Salesian's House.

And although Deng Yuan no longer eats fish, Liu Jing personally formulated a nutritious vegetarian menu for her, including tofu, bean sprouts, bamboo shoots, sunflower, leeks, melons, etc., almost changing every day.Deng Yuan only lost some weight in the first few days, and then maintained a graceful figure.

In the middle of July, since the end of the month, as Liu Biao continued to transfer troops to Jiangling, the situation in Jingzhou suddenly became tense.

Jiangling is located on the north bank of the Yangtze River, just between the north and south of Jingzhou.

Jingzhou has three major strategic locations. In terms of the world, the emphasis is on Xiangyang; in terms of the southeast, the emphasis is on Jiangxia; in terms of Jingzhou, the emphasis is on Jiangling.

Liu Biao ordered the warships to gather at Jiangling, what was his intention, it is self-evident.

Facing the aggressive Liu Biao, even though Zhang Xian did not want to go to war, he had no choice but to make a decisive decision and continue to increase troops to Baqiu to confront Liu Biao's army in Jiangling across the river.

Jingzhou's North-South War is imminent.

Changsha, Linxiang, county government.

After being dismissed from office, Huan Yi, dressed in high clothes and with dignified features, hurried to the official residence of his elder brother Huan Jie. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Huan Jie sitting upright, looking at the copybook in his hand intently.

Huan Yi said, "Brother, are you looking for me?"

Huan Jie nodded lightly and said, "I have something to discuss with you."

Huan Yi didn't ask any more questions, just waited for his words.

Huan Jie was silent for a while, and asked, "Have you communicated with Liu Zhongda recently?"

"Yes." Huan Yi nodded and admitted.

The two are brothers of the same mother, so there is nothing to worry about. Huan Jie asked directly: "Did Liu Zhongda tell you anything?"

Huan Yi frowned, and replied with a little hesitation: "Zhongda said that Liu Biao may send troops at the time of the autumn harvest in August, and this battle - the Fujun will definitely lose."

"Sure enough." Huan Jie couldn't help but smiled wryly, he guessed almost as well as himself, but he only came to this result recently, and Liu Jing...

"Liu Zhongda's intellect is divinely endowed, and he has prescient knowledge. His previous judgments on the general trend of the world have all come true. He chose to leave last year and take up the post of Ling County. I am afraid that he has already expected this day."

Huan Yi asked calmly, "I don't know what the elder brother's intention is when he asks about Zhong Da." In this world, in terms of people who know Liu Jing best, his former close neighbor and friend is definitely one of them, so it is not surprising .

Huan Jie said eloquently: "My lord Wu Chenghou was killed by Liu Biao, and the lord of Fu also treated me well and entrusted me with the important task of going to the right. At this time of life and death, I will repay it with myself and swear to you." Changsha will live and die together.

However, the old saying goes: 'The cunning rabbit has three holes. "Huan, it is enough for me to live and die with Changsha alone. You don't have to stay in Linxiang. I intend to send you to the south." "

Huan Yi's heart moved, and he asked, "Brother, do you want me to become a county magistrate like Liu Zhongda?"

Huan Jie nodded and said: "That's right. Just recently, due to the great changes in the situation in Jingzhou, many senior officials in Changsha, Lingling, and Guiyang counties have left to avoid disasters. Understand my Huan family's difficulties."

"Brother, do you have any specific goals?"

"Leiyang." Huan Yi asked casually, but he didn't expect that Huan Jie really had a goal in his heart, "Leiyang is the only place with iron officials in the four counties of Jingnan. Armors and weapons all depend on their strength. Waiting for the future is very important, and it must be firmly in the hands of our own people. The current county magistrate in Leiyang is not from the direct line of the Fujun, but is appointed by the court. Therefore, I am going to recommend you as Leiyang Order."

Huan Yi's eyes were fixed. Although Leiyang and Lingxian belong to Changsha and Guiyang counties, they are connected by county borders and connected by waterways, so they can be horns of each other.Brother's arrangement like this is by no means as simple as it says on the surface.

Huan Jie didn't explain much, but said: "Now the situation is chaotic and the place is restless. Before you go to the post, you'd better meet with Liu Zhongda and ask him to send troops to send you to the post."

Huan Yi nodded when he heard the words, he and Liu Jing had a close relationship, and when he went south, he would definitely meet him.Moreover, he has an upright personality, would rather bend than bend, but he is by no means a pedantic person, and he does not reject Liu Jing's help.

The two brothers then chatted until late at night before giving up. Early the next morning, Huan Jie begged to see Zhang Xian alone, and the two chatted secretly for a long time.

On the same day, Zhang Xian appointed Jin Caojuanyi as the magistrate of Leiyang County in Guiyang County.

It only took Huan Yi one day to pack everything up and sail southward by boat. Not only his wife, but also dozens of Huan clan members followed him.

(End of this chapter)