Pingyang Fu of the Red Chamber

Chapter 883 How did this happen?
Chang'an County,
He Mansion in North City,

In the study,
He Yonghua, the garrison commander of Chang'an, sat at his desk, reading a book carefully by the light of an oil lamp. He was melancholy, thinking of his second son's marriage, which should have been a happy occasion, but now it had caused a lot of uproar and the He family had lost all face.
Especially that rich man Zhang, who had the guts to actually think of asking me to break off the engagement and curry favor with the prefect. You know, Chang'an County is Yun Guang's territory. In the end, it was the prefect Chang who wanted to exclude me, which was too much.

Thinking about some things.

Inside the main house of the mansion,

Mrs. He was still trying to persuade her son He Miao that he was already a grown man, but it was not proper for him to cry for a woman.

"Boss, you didn't pay attention to keeping an eye on him, and you went out to see Brother Jin again. It's fine if you're having a private meeting, but how come you were seen by others, and then you made a scene, and finally sent him back, and you still think it's not embarrassing enough,"

After complaining for a while, the eldest brother He Weifeng looked helpless. Seeing the angry face, he said something nice to his second brother and clasped his fists.

"Mother is right. My second brother also misses Brother Jin a little. After all, they are childhood sweethearts. The engagement was made and the date has come. The Zhang family wants to cancel the engagement by relying on the power of the prefect Chang. There is no such thing as this in the world. Besides, my second brother and Brother Jin are in love with each other and are a perfect match."

The words sounded nice, but Madam He's face turned cold, the golden hairpin on her head shook, and she snorted coldly;
"You are good at making excuses for him. What deep love and loyalty? It's just that vixen who deceived us. Now we are stuck here. Although your father has connections with the main family in the capital, Lord Chang is a disciple of Lord Gu of the Ministry of Revenue. Everyone knows the purpose of his appointment here. He has already confronted our He family. How dare your father take a step?"

This is the most difficult thing. I don't know what the prefect is thinking. He would make trouble at this time. Logically, the two of them should cooperate sincerely to suppress the governor Yun Guang, but unexpectedly, the two of them are the first to oppose each other. Madam He is not a lady from an aristocratic family who only knows needlework, calligraphy and painting. She has been with He Yonghua for so many years, and she already knows what she should know.
He Weifeng was embarrassed. His second brother was like this. It was really embarrassing. A grown man was still crying. His mother was still angry and could only persuade him.

"Mother, don't be angry. Now it's not about whether we cancel the engagement or not, but what the Zhang family and the Chang family want to do. If the He family cancels the engagement, Dad will lose face."

Madam He heard this, her face remained unchanged, that is what she said, even if she retreated, there should be an explanation, but this explanation, you can mediate with outsiders, in Chang'an County, only the Jiedushi Yun Guang, was thinking,

There was a noise in the yard.
A butler and a servant hurried back to the study and shouted;

"Master, Master, the Jiedushi Lord Yun is here,"

He Yonghua was startled for a moment, then his face lit up with joy. He quickly put down the book in his hand, stood up without caring about the clothes he was wearing, lifted the hem of his skirt, and walked out of the house quickly.
"Quick, open the middle door."

Yelling along the way,

He led the group to the front door.
Opened the middle door,
There was a firelight, and the Jiedushi Yunguang, dressed in plain clothes, was waiting in front of the door with his personal guards holding torches.
How could He Yonghua dare to neglect it? He stepped forward carefully, bowed and said;
"I have seen the governor, Your Excellency,"

Yun Guang looked at He Shoubei, who looked a little haggard. His casual clothes were a little wrinkled and baggy, showing that he had been "sad" these days. He smiled and reached out to help He Yonghua up.
"Brother He, you are being polite. We have worked together for many years. There is no need for such common etiquette."

"How can this be, Lord Yun, please come in quickly,"

He Yonghua was somewhat moved, made way, and quickly invited Yun Jiedushi in.

Yunguang nodded.
He led the people into the front yard, which was not luxurious with carved beams and painted buildings, but just an ordinary family's house. After entering the main house in the inner courtyard and opening the front door, Yun Guang walked in first, followed by He Yonghua, who asked him to take the seat.
After they sat down, the maidservant began to serve tea and water. Thinking that the governor must have important business, she withdrew her attendants.

"You all go down."

"Yes, sir!"

With one word, he drove out all the servants. That left only the two of them and the personal guards brought by the Jiedushi in the room.
"Ahahaha, it seems like Brother He knows why I'm here this time?"

Yun Guang was also a little surprised. He came here today because of a letter from the capital. He thought he would wait a little longer, but he didn't expect that He Shoubei was waiting for him.
interesting,
"Envoy Yun, please don't joke. I have been looking forward to your coming. You must know that there have been some misunderstandings between the He family, the Zhang family, and Lord Chang. The marriage of my second son is imminent. Now that this has happened, I have lost my backbone."

He Yonghua had a sad face, complaining about it. Was he really helpless or was he just pretending to be helpless? Yun Guang was thinking in his heart that the court sent them to the post just to monitor him. Over the years, He Yonghua was quite tactful, but the prefect was not. In this case, this matter could really be a cause for fuss.
"Brother He, don't worry. Everyone in Chang'an County knows about this. The Zhang and Chang families are in the wrong. How can they rob a bride halfway? The engagement has not been cancelled. It's useless to say it to the gods. But dragging it out like this is not a solution. What do you think, Brother He?"

This is the key point. If He Yonghua does not want to cancel the engagement, there are ways to not cancel the engagement, but it is difficult to explain to Rongguo Mansion in Beijing. If he wants to cancel the engagement, there are other ways to cancel the engagement. I will explain it in detail later. So let's test the waters first.
Seeing the Jiedushi coming here with the intention of negotiating peace, He Yonghua's heart moved. Who had given the face? After thinking for a while, it could only be the capital. But he did not write a letter to the master over there. Could it be that the Chang family took action first? Thinking of this, his face looked a little ugly.

"Yun Jiedushi, I am a rough man and I will not beat around the bush. I will just say it directly. You can cancel the engagement, but I am also right if you don't. However, I have lost face after being forced to do so. If I cancel the engagement again, how can I continue to work in Chang'an County?"

"Well, well said. As the saying goes, Buddhas fight for a stick of incense, and people fight for a breath. If you lose your face, how can you behave as a human being? However, how can you regain your face? We should discuss it carefully. Come, show me a letter, Brother He."

Yun Guang thought about it again and again before taking out the letter from Rongguo Mansion and handing it over. This was the critical time to win over He Shoubei. As long as he surrendered to him, the military power of Chang'an County would be unrestrained. With 20,000 mansion troops and 10,000 garrison troops, it would be just around the corner. Although his face was expressionless, his eyes were filled with murderous intent.

He Yonghua still didn't quite understand what the letter was. He took the letter in his hands while he was wondering. He brought it close to the light under the oil lamp and saw the signature on it, Rongguo Mansion. He was shocked. This was a letter from the Jia family in the capital. Could it be that...
He quickly took out the letter and read it carefully. His face changed drastically in an instant. It was actually written to Yun Jiedushi, and asked the He family to make concessions. How could this be? He turned pale for a moment. The Jia family was a behemoth. It seemed that he had to retreat. Even if he fought to the end, the main family would not agree.

Yun Guang smiled, knowing that He Yonghua was wavering, he reached out to take the letter back, put it back into the envelope, and said;
"Brother He, there is one more thing I want to tell you. The daughter of the Rongguo Mansion has been named a noble concubine in the palace. She is extremely noble."

As if this was the last straw, He Yonghua slumped in his chair and replied;

"Envoy Yun, please stop talking. The He family has withdrawn from this marriage, and I have no complaints."

But there was a hint of humiliation in his eyes. The He family was probably the only one who was forced to cancel an engagement by someone.

Yunguang put away the letter and smiled. This is the case, but the marriage does not necessarily have to be withdrawn. The Zhang family is nothing more than a local gentry, and they are in collusion with Lord Chang, but the military power, think about it for a moment, and persuade him;
"Brother He, don't worry. This doesn't necessarily mean that the engagement will be cancelled. The Zhang family colluded with the Chang family just to gain the right to speak in Chang'an County. This governor has 20,000 troops, plus Brother He's garrison has 10,000 troops. No matter what, we are still under the control of our two families. If you really don't want to cancel the engagement, it doesn't matter. How about this governor hand over a divorce letter to the capital?"

Yun Guang did not delay any longer and pointed it out. Who doesn't want to be as powerful as the Lu family in Daliang City? He Yonghua was not stupid and he understood the inner meaning. However, thinking of the implicit instructions from the court and the instructions from Lord He of the Military Department, he dared not agree to it casually. And there was the letter and the Rongguo Mansion in the capital. This was what he was worried about. She was just a woman!

"Envoy Yun, I thank you for your kindness. We will discuss this matter later. As for the cancellation of the engagement, the Zhang and Chang families have already reached this point. As the saying goes, a forced melon is not sweet. The engagement will be cancelled first. I am confused for the moment. I will give you a reply tomorrow."

Yun Guang was a little dazed. Was this a rejection or an agreement? But when he saw that He Yonghua's face had calmed down and was no longer as depressed as before, he knew that the other party had let it go. He thought to himself that it was a pity for his whole life. Then he realized that it was because of the letter just now that he backed off. This matter was a bit too hasty. However, the Zhang family and the Chang family would not force him just this time. If he lost face, it would be difficult to lead his subordinates. He had a plan in mind, smiled, and stood up.

"Okay, Brother He, you should think about it more. I will go back first."

"Jiedushi, please go slowly,"

He Yonghua personally led people to escort Yun Guang out of the mansion, and did not return until the motorcade passed the corner of the street. Then he instructed,
"Come here, quickly get the marriage certificate and the return gift from the Zhang family, and send them to the Zhang family overnight. Remember, bring back the betrothal gift and the marriage cancellation document sent by the He family, go quickly,"

"Yes, sir." In just a moment, the carriages at the door were ready. Several carriages were covered with tarpaulins and headed west. At this time, He Yonghua barely returned to the inner hall.
As soon as he entered the house, he found his wife sitting inside.
"Why is Madam still awake?"

"Why did you return the marriage certificate and the return gift? Tomorrow morning, the whole Chang'an County will know about it. We can't let the He family lose face just because of the Yun family's visit."

Mrs. He looked unhappy. Her second son, He Miao, kept crying and was upset.
He Yonghua smiled bitterly. How should he answer? If it was really Yun Guang who came alone, he really would not retreat. But how could he dare to do that in Rongguo Mansion? The royal family always had power.
"Madam, Yun Guang is not the only one who is concerned about this. If he wanted to come, he would have come long ago. Why wait until today? The reason he was able to come today was because someone instigated him. I have read a letter from Rongguo Mansion in the capital, asking him to persuade the He family to cancel the engagement. Also, Rongguo Mansion has now become a royal family."

"Ah, what? How is that possible? He is a nobleman."

Mrs. He was speechless. How could this happen?
At that time,

The He family's convoy for the marriage break-up had already arrived at Zhang Laocai's mansion. The huge manor was brightly lit. Inside the main house, the housekeeper hurried over and reported to the old master when he saw him.

"Master, the He family is here to cancel the engagement,"

"Hmm, haha, good, good, it really is the Bodhisattva appearing, he is worthy of being the living Buddha. Quick, take the prepared things and the marriage annulment document, let them take them away, and leave our things behind."

Zhang Laocai was all smiles, watching as he carried the land to Chang's car. The land in the south of the city would be his. In addition, there was Master Qingxu from Shuiyue Temple, who was not only physically fit but also efficient in her work. In the future, could he establish a connection with her?
was saying,

outside the door,

The little girl, Jin Ge, who was wearing a flowery dress and had long braids, heard the noise in the mansion, sneaked in and shouted;
"Dad, I won't cancel the engagement. I won't."

Zhang Laocai's face turned cold and he cursed;

"What do you know, you damned girl? Come on, take the young lady back and keep an eye on her. If even one hair is missing, you will all be buried with her."

"Yes, sir, hurry up and take the young lady away,"

A steward hurriedly called out to the maids to drag Jin Ge down, and let him shout and make a fuss for a long time before he was finally calmed down. Outside the mansion, the agenda of the two families to cancel the engagement had already been completed, and the gifts from both families were also loaded onto the carriages and counted before they left.

But the people of Chang'an County didn't know that after the two families broke off the engagement, they should have been living in peace, but Zhang's little girl, Jin Ge, escaped from the back window. That night, she met He Miao, the second son of the He family, in the south of the city. The two met there secretly and discussed eloping. Unexpectedly, they were penniless and had no courage to go home, so they both stood on the South City Bridge and jumped into the river to commit suicide.
As the second day approached,
A commoner passing by this place, carrying firewood and selling vegetables, found someone in the water and reported it to the government. The government sent people to retrieve the bodies and brought them back to the government for identification. Only then did they know that the two people were the son of He Shoubei and the daughter of Zhang Laocai. Only then did they realize that the matter was serious.

I dare not neglect it and report this matter to the prefect Chang Yunze.

inside the house,

Prefect Chang and his wife Li Feng were having dinner when the head of the police came in with a message:

"Master, I have an urgent matter to report."

Chang Yunze, who was drinking porridge, put down his bowl and chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a brocade cloth,

"What's up so early in the morning?"

"Uh, sir, two bodies were found drowned in the south of the city, one male and one female. The male was the second son of the He family, and the female was the youngest daughter of the Zhang family in the west of the city, Jin Ge. I heard that the two families broke off the engagement last night because, because,"

The captain of the police swallowed his saliva. Everyone in Chang'an County knew about the matter of the prefect's brother-in-law Li Li and the He family's abduction. Unexpectedly, people from both families died in the south of the city today. I'm afraid this matter will not be resolved peacefully.

"Because of what?"

Chang Yunze's face was gloomy. How could this happen? Everything was fine before. Could it be that the Jiedushi Yun Guang did something?

"Because, because last night someone saw the governor, Lord Yun, go to the He family's residence, and then the He family canceled the engagement overnight."

The captain of the police did not dare to hide anything. These old local leaders knew everything that was going on in the city.
really,

It was Yun Guang who intervened, so why did someone die in the end? The He family lost two sons, how could they let it go? Thinking that this was Li Li's doing, he slammed the table fiercely.
"Li Feng, your good brother has caused a big disaster. How can the He family let this go?"

Madam Li Feng, who was sitting next to her, shuddered upon hearing this, and with a look of dissatisfaction on her face, she put down her bowl and chopsticks and said;
"What the master said makes no sense. It was the Zhang family who asked them to cancel the engagement. It was the governor Yun Guang who advised them to cancel the engagement. We didn't say a word to the He family. We just wanted to get married to the Zhang family. Besides, the Zhang family is not that kind of family. It was the rich man Zhang who didn't want to do it. What does it have to do with our family?"

Mrs. Chang looked indifferent. She ignored her younger brother who came to look for his relatives before. Now that something happened, she came out to complain. How could she do things this way?
Perhaps Chang Yunze had heard it and was right. The spearhead of this matter was still on the Zhang family and the Jiedushi.

"Madam is right. Come here, write the closing document, and bring the witnesses and evidence. Notify the Zhang family and the He family to come and identify the person and take him back for burial."

"Yes, sir."

The captain was secretly shocked. The case was closed just like that. He dared not say anything more and turned around to leave.

As soon as people leave,
Chang Yunze hurried back to his study, preparing to send a letter to his teacher to tell him about the situation.
It turned out that the He family and the Zhang family outside had heard the news, but they didn't know whether it was true or not. When the steward entered the yamen and saw the body, he was so scared that he collapsed to the ground and hurried back to the master's house to report the news.
Zhang Laocai of the Zhang family remained silent for a long time after hearing the news. He only arranged for the steward to claim the body, and then sent someone on horseback to the capital to find Master Qingxu of Shuiyue Temple to come up with a solution. Another thing was to see if he could find someone to mediate and compensate the He family to resolve the grievances, or send someone to contact the Jiedushi Lord Yun to let the prefect mediate the matter.
On the other hand, before the He family received the news, Yun Guang was having breakfast in the Jiedushi Mansion when a steward rushed in and told him about the incident. He had just taken a few mouthfuls of porridge when he froze there.

"What? He Miao is gone. He was fine last night. How could such a big mistake happen? It's impossible!"

"My Lord, I dare not lie. The people from the government office have already notified the Zhang and He families. The body is still in the government office, and Lord Chang has not shown up."

The manager lowered his head. Things couldn't be resolved peacefully at this point.

"Go to the study and write a memorial to the capital. It's useless for anyone to make peace now. The He family will never give up. I never expected these two to be so stubborn. If I had known, I should have helped them last night."

After saying this, he glared at the lady beside him.
Madam Yun put down her bowl and chopsticks and curled her lips.
"Why are you glaring at me? If there's anything wrong, write to your Rongguo Mansion!"

(End of this chapter)