good season

The excitement in the county government office did not last long because A Lei came back.

Coming back with A Lei was the master Gou Ran.

Master Gou has followed County Magistrate Cui for many years. Like A Lei, he is County Magistrate Cui's confidant.

These two people are considered celebrities in Fuyun County. Even if the people have never spoken to them, they must have seen them.

But today, the images of these two people are a little difficult to describe.

There were dozens of bloody streaks on Are's face, seemingly disorderly, but in fact in order, juxtaposed on the left and right, and even the length, depth and shallowness were exactly the same.

There were no bloodstains on Master Gou's face, but his eyes were full of red bloodshot and there were two dark circles under his eyes. He didn't look much better than Arei.

Also, what's that smell on Master Gou's body?
Seeing the half-dead County Magistrate Cui, the usually smooth-talking Mr. Gou began to tremble like a sieve.

The current situation of County Magistrate Cui and Aunt Wang is no longer suitable for them to continue living in the county government office. Firstly, the place where they live has been smashed and looted, and secondly, the angry citizens have not left yet and are all outside the government office.

A Lei said to Master Gou: "It's not convenient to see a doctor here. Why don't we send the master and the mistress to stay at the house in Erliying for a while? What do you think, Master?"

Master Gou was absent-minded. He just listened to whatever A Lei said and could do nothing but nod.

This cannot be blamed on him, as he was tied up last night. The other party did not hurt him, but tied him to the tombstone with a rope for the entire night!
Master Gou fainted from extreme fear. This morning, he was awakened by drinking boy's urine.

Normally, a person who fainted from fright could be woken up by pouring some boy's urine on him, but Master Gou was so frightened that being poured with boy's urine was no longer enough to satisfy him. He had to be poured with urine, so when he opened his eyes, he saw three grinning little boys. He screamed, and the three children ran away laughing.

The little brother who was as black as a loach said that one pee was worth ten copper coins. So the three of them had three pees, which was a total of thirty copper coins!

Fortunately, Master Gou saw A Lei who came to pick him up. Master Gou's head was buzzing, and he didn't even think of going home to change clothes. He followed A Lei to the county government office.

There were already two donkey carts waiting outside. Magistrate Cui, Aunt Wang, and their three children were stuffed into the carts.

Maids and old women? No, County Magistrate Cui has Aunt Wang to take care of him, so there is no need for maids and old women.

The house in Erliying was bought by Cui Rong to accommodate Wang Honghong, but neither A Lei nor Master Gou expected that the missing Wang Honghong was in this house at this time.

Seeing the miserable Cui Rong and Aunt Wang, Wang Honghong held her child with a cold look.

"Uncle and aunt, it's been a long time since we last met. I didn't expect that we would meet again."

After sending Magistrate Cui and his family to Erliying, A Lei and Master Gou left. A Lei had another mission. He had to go to Luzhou and report back to the Cui family.

Originally, it was planned to arrange for Master Gou to go along, but Master Gou’s tolerance was too poor to travel long distances, so he had to stay.

As for Arei, Zhao Shiqing was worried that it would be unsafe for him to travel alone, so he borrowed two guards from Zhen Wuduo to accompany him.

The two guards threw Arei onto the horse's back like a chicken. Arei looked back at Fuyun County which was getting farther and farther away, and said silently in his heart: Master, Arei was forced to do this, you can't blame Arei.

The three of them changed horses along the way but did not change people, and they rode non-stop, and soon arrived at Luzhou City.

Hearing that Cui Rong had sent his personal followers back, Master Cui brought his sons and the fourth young master Cui to meet the visitor.

They all knew Arei. Although the two big black men who came with Arei were strangers, Master Cui did not care. There were so many people in the yamen, it was normal to just ask two people to escort Arei.

Seeing the eldest master Cui and the fourth young master Cui, A Lei knelt on the ground and burst into tears: "Eldest master, fourth young master, I am finally here to see you. My master is ill, and the ninth young master is still young and needs to be taken care of. Auntie is too busy to take care of him. Besides, there must be someone to take over the family in the mansion."

This time Cui Rong suddenly fell ill, and everyone in the Cui family was shocked and worried, but they still secretly breathed a sigh of relief in their hearts.

I was just sick, I didn't ask for money.

Mrs. Cui cried bitterly. She had just lost her son and now her husband was sick. She wanted to go and take care of him in person, but the old man and the old lady disagreed. As a daughter-in-law, she should be filial to her husband. As for Cui Rong, he was taken care of by Aunt Wang, and besides, the fourth young master Cui could go to take care of him.

Compared to the deceased Third Master Cui, Fourth Master Cui is smarter and better at studying. He will definitely take the imperial examination in the future. He will be criticized for not going to take care of his father when his father is sick. In the future, when he passes the imperial examination, it is inevitable that he will be attacked by people with ulterior motives.

There were three people in A Lei's group when they came, and five people when they left, including the Fourth Master Cui and his long-time attendant A'an.

They had to sleep in the open air and eat all kinds of food on the way, but they rode the fastest horses and arrived in Fuyun in the shortest time.

Young Master Cui thought that Cui Rong was recuperating in the county government office, but he didn't expect that they didn't even enter the city gate and were taken directly to Erliying.

Here, the fourth young master Cui saw Cui Rong, who had a crooked mouth and slanted eyes, Aunt Wang, who looked ten years older, and Wang Honghong, who sneered at him, as well as the child in Wang Honghong's arms.

Young Master Cui was confused. When he found that A Lei did not come in with him, he felt something vaguely, but the courtyard door had been locked from the outside and he could not get out!

The family was finally reunited, and from then on this small courtyard was filled with family love.

Cui Rong was free to defecate and urinate, and Aunt Wang asked Wang Honghong to serve him. Wang Honghong slapped him in the face. Aunt Wang endured the nausea and threw the quilt and clothes stained with feces into the yard. She also twisted Cui Rong's thighs a few times. Cui Rong screamed in pain and cursed Aunt Wang as a vicious woman incoherently.

Although the winter in Liang was not as cold as in Northern Yan, it was still bone-chilling. The two daughters were too young, so Aunt Wang could only ask the Fourth Master Cui to wash the quilts and clothes that were stained with feces.

Young Master Cui’s hands are used for writing and drawing. He has never washed clothes since he was a child and doesn’t even know how to wash clothes.

But if he didn't want to wash it, then Aunt Wang had to do it. He wanted Wang Honghong to wash it, but Wang Honghong got a whip from somewhere and whipped the Fourth Master Cui twice.

Logically speaking, Wang Honghong is just a weak woman, while Cui Sishao is a teenager of about fourteen or fifteen years old. If he fights against Wang Honghong one-on-one, Wang Honghong may not be his opponent.

But in fact, Wang Honghong only whipped him once, and he became obedient and well-behaved in front of Wang Honghong, and only dared to vent his anger on Aunt Wang and his younger brothers and sisters.

As for food, when they were sent here, Zhao Shiqing prepared firewood, rice, oil and salt for them. Of course, most of them were left over by Wang Honghong when she lived here. Zhao Shiqing was kind-hearted and even had someone bring in two large jars of pickles.

So their family has no worries about food and drink, but they need to cook their own meals.

This family doesn't know how to do it! Wang Honghong ordered the two girls to light the fire, while Aunt Wang and Fourth Master Cui cooked.

The rice was burnt, so Wang Honghong beat her on the head with a whip. She had to cook it again. After a few tries, she managed to cook it pretty much the same.

It was just a pity for Cui Rong, who was unable to take care of himself. He was beaten every day. At first, only Aunt Wang and Wang Honghong beat him, and later Fourth Young Master Cui also joined in. Cui Rong was beaten so hard that he kept crying for help.

Amid the love-hate relationship among this family, Zhizhou Chang Wei came to Fuyun and took over personally. Before the court sent a new magistrate, Chang Wei temporarily served as the magistrate.

The prefect was very nervous. As Cui Rong's immediate superior, he certainly knew that Cui Rong had connections in the capital, and he had also received tributes from Cui Rong. Therefore, although he looked down on Cui Rong, he had only reprimanded Cui Rong in the last inheritance dispute. As for the deduction of salary, it was just done for the people to see. As a local official, if he still lived on that little salary, no one would believe it if he told others about it.

However, when the prefect learned that Cui Rong had suffered a stroke and could not even speak clearly, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It would be better if Cui Rong died.

Under the management of the prefect, Fuyun County finally calmed down. At least, the government office was no longer surrounded by people.

It was already the end of the year. Zhao Shiqing left a few guards to keep an eye on Cui Rong's family. She took Zhen Wuduo and her small team back to Liangdu.

The evidence of Cui Rong's crimes had already been sent to the capital. According to the capital's usual practice, the matter would not be dealt with until after the first month of the year.

Let’s leave the rest to the officials.

Zhao Shiqing went directly to the royal tomb, which made Shen Wangxing, who wanted to stroll around Liangdu, very disappointed. Who would go to visit a grave during the New Year? Although it was the royal tomb, wasn’t the royal tomb also a grave?

However, when Shen Wangxing saw Prince of Liang Zhao Tinghan and Princess Zhao Yunnuan coming to greet him in person, Shen Wangxing was stunned.

What kind of arrangement is this? Prince Liang and the eldest princess were actually asked to personally welcome him inside and outside the gate?
Fortunately, not long after, this silly child finally understood why Zhao Shiqing said that she had no right to let him use her surname.

Because this Zhao is the Zhao of the royal family, and is the surname of the State of Dayong!
Now that I think about it, Miss Zhao Er still gave him some face.

If it were someone else, they would definitely say -

"You bastard, you also want to be named Zhao? Are you worthy of being named Zhao? How dare you be named Zhao?"

Children aged fourteen or fifteen always have a lot of ideas, and they are particularly biased.

Zhao Shiqing, who is the same age as him, is introducing his grandfather to his older brothers and sisters.

Zhao Shiqing's biological parents are no longer alive, and Zhen Wuduo is her only blood relative in this world.

Zhao Tinghan and Zhao Yunnuan were very respectful to this sophisticated yet humorous old man, not to mention that he gave them a valuable gift.

It was truly valuable. Even the Zhao brothers and sisters, who had been used to seeing good things since childhood, could hardly afford it.

Zhao Tinghan was still in mourning, so he could only receive guests in the royal mausoleum. The food in the royal mausoleum was simple, so it was inconvenient to entertain guests. Zhao Yunnuan wanted to entertain the distinguished guest Zhen Wuduo in the royal mansion, but was afraid that her younger sister would not want to go back. Fortunately, Zhao Shiqing didn't care at all. She had told her father when she left the royal mausoleum last time that she only broke off her relationship with the Nie family, but not with anyone else in the royal mansion. Her father had agreed to this. Zhao Shiqing was a good and obedient child, so of course she would do what her father agreed to.

On the twenty-seventh day of the twelfth lunar month, Zhao Yunnuan, on behalf of her brother Zhao Tinghan, hosted a banquet in the palace to entertain Zhen Wuduo and also to welcome Zhao Shiqing.

It was still the mourning period, so the banquet was a vegetarian one, with no music or wine, but Zhao Yunnuan was so sincere that Zhen Wuduo completely put his mind at ease.

Although his granddaughter always said that she had not suffered any hardship over the years, Zhen Wuduo did not completely believe it. How could life be easy living under someone else's roof?
But now seeing how Zhao Shiqing gets along with Zhao Tinghan and Zhao Yunnuan, Zhen Wuduo believes that his granddaughter did not lie to him.

A hundred years later when he is gone, his granddaughter will not be alone. Although she has lost her grandfather, she still has brothers and sisters.

As for whether Zhao Shiqing would have been married and had children by that time, Zhen Wuduo would not think about it. There was no pig in the world that was worthy of this juicy little cabbage in his family.

When Nie learned that Zhao Shiqing had returned, she was so angry that she gnashed her teeth. This ungrateful guy didn't even come to greet her after returning.

As for what Zhao Shiqing said last time, Nie automatically skipped it.

It was only when Nanny Zhang reminded her that Nie remembered the harsh words Zhao Shiqing had said at that time.

Zhao Shiqing didn't bother to care what Nie was thinking. She stayed with Zhen Wuduo in the palace until the third day of the New Year.

The advantage of the mourning period is that no one comes to pay New Year's greetings, and they don't have to socialize, so the family can reunite in peace and quiet.

When Zhao Shiqing met Yuan Xiaotang, she learned that Yuan Xiaotang had a new identity. She was now named Meng Xiaotang and was the granddaughter of the retired Hanlin Meng.

The eldest son of Mr. Meng, a Hanlin, was born to his first wife, who died early. When he was young, Mr. Meng had a hostile relationship with his stepmother. At the age of 18, he left home in anger and cut off contact with his father from then on.

A few years ago, Mr. Meng retired and returned to his hometown in Liangdi. His step-wife had passed away, and his children were not around. Mr. Meng felt lonely and remembered that he had an eldest son. He sent people to inquire around, and only then did he learn that Mr. Meng had died several years ago.

Mr. Meng has only one daughter. This year, Mr. Meng brought Miss Meng to Liang. Because she was in mourning for her father, Miss Meng missed the flowering season. Now she is already in her prime, but still unmarried.

After Zhao Yunnuan finished talking about Yuan Xiaotang, no, Meng Xiaotang's new identity, Zhao Shiqing asked curiously, "Is there really a Miss Meng?"

Zhao Yunnuan nodded: "Master Meng did have a daughter, but unfortunately she died at the age of seven. Even if Xiaotang didn't exist, Mr. Meng wanted to adopt a child in the charity to carry on the family line for Master Meng."

As for why he didn't choose one of his other grandsons to adopt, it was of course because Master Meng hated his stepmother so much, and he also had no good feelings towards his stepmother's younger brothers. As for his own family, all of them sided with his stepmother and helped Old Hanlin Meng to criticize him. Therefore, Master Meng would rather hide in a small mountain village in poverty over the years than return to his own family. If he adopted a child from his own family to inherit his family line, Master Meng might be so angry that he would jump out of his grave.

Emperor Yongjia issued an edict that Zhao Tinghan should get married within a year. There is still half a year left. During this half year, Meng Xiaotang has plenty of time to adapt to her new identity.

The Meng family's family background is very suitable for being the maiden's family for a vassal princess.

He came from a family of scholars, noble but not wealthy, without real power, and without having been a military commander. Although Mr. Meng had been in the Hanlin Academy for many years and had written many books, he had only taught one student, whom he turned into a nerd who didn't know the difference between grains and food and was lazy. Now, he is also a Hanlin.

The emperors of Dayong Dynasty were happy to marry a princess who was educated in such a family.

For example, Nie family. (End of this chapter)