marry a weak waist

Chapter 46

In the height of autumn, when Dong Mo arrived in Dongchang, a group of officials set up a grand banquet to entertain them. At the banquet, they reported back to the peasant households about the riots.

Dong Mo knew it well, it was originally because of several hailstorms in summer, many fertile fields failed in harvest, and in recent years, various yamen officials cleverly set up names to increase miscellaneous taxes, and now they are urging autumn taxes, which caused the farmers to be angry and dissatisfied, causing riots.

Lu Cheng, the mansion of Dongchang Mansion, placed Dong Mo in a separate courtyard behind the mansion to rest, so as to avoid everyone's single report, "A hundred or so villagers first knelt at the gate of the county yamen to beg for a lenient autumn tax, and with the yamen A few guards clashed with hands and feet, which was nothing serious at first. But the county magistrate Mr. Chen felt that he had insulted the authority and arrested the two leading villagers. The villagers broke up and smashed the plaque in front of the yamen. This Lu Chengcheng dispatched some soldiers to the Qianhu Office to suppress them, and these soldiers were barbarians, and when they clashed, they killed two villagers, which aroused public anger, and the incident broke out."

Dong Mo paced behind the desk, and tapped lightly on the desk with clenched fists, "What's the situation now?"

"Four, five hundred villagers assembled outside the city, set up road cards, and robbed the taxes and grain collected by the counties. The archers of the Thousand Households also camped outside, and killed one by one, saying that these people rebelled and had already killed them." There are more than 60 people."

"Do the villagers have weapons?"

"It's just a list of shovels and hoes. Here, there are a few soldiers who were soldiers in the early years, leading the villagers to hide in the nearby forests and dealing with the soldiers of the Qianhusuo."

"Nonsense." Dong Mo fell on the grand teacher's chair, his expression slightly stern, "It's just some villagers who don't have enough to eat. The county government doesn't try to open warehouses to disperse food. Instead, they beat people into rebels and slaughter them wantonly. This What about the thousand household officials? And the magistrate of this county?"

"Mr. Chen, the magistrate of this county, has been detained by the humble official. As for the Qianhu officer, I know that these garrisons are not under the control of the local yamen, but belong to the Ministry of War. They will not listen to the humble official. Besides, this Qianhu officer The officer is, yes..."

When it came to this festival, Nalu City went all out and cupped its hands, "This Qianhu official is cousin Ling's sworn brother. I heard that he was a small guard in the Bingma Division in Beijing back then, so cousin Ling went hunting and dispatched a few errands. Among them was a man surnamed Feng. I didn't want to go into the mountain and ran into a tiger. It was this man surnamed Feng who rescued Ling's cousin from the tiger's claws. Ling's cousin set up an incense case with him to marry Jinlan, and later got through The relationship made him come here to make a hundred households, and he was promoted to a thousand households the year before last."

Dong Mo thought about it carefully, and there was indeed such a thing, so he leaned on the back of his chair and smiled for a while, then turned his face, and turned his eyes coldly, "Who is he who kills people indiscriminately, and I caught him. Write Send a letter to their commanders, saying that I gave the order, if there is any grievance, let them go to the Beijing Military Department to complain."

"Then County Magistrate Chen?"

"I wrote the memorial and submitted it to the imperial court, that's all. For now, I will go to Shanglin outside the city to persuade those rebellious villagers to surrender, and allow them some food. They are all for a living, and it is for this food that they can live. You can't send people away. It’s a dead end, it’s true, but it’s the opposite. Ask the people below to count the affected fields, and I will report to the court here to exempt these farmers from taxes.”

Things should be done just as simple as Dong Mo's. It's just that the relationship with Dong's family was involved earlier, which made Lu Cheng undecided, and the military guards didn't listen to his orders.

Dong Mo will come to supervise this in person, and Lu Cheng hurriedly smiled and bowed, "Thank you, my lord. Many things will be easier to handle if you have an adult to come forward. I will post a notice outside the city immediately."

Dong Mo didn't bother to pay attention to whether he had offended his cousin at home, but he had another matter on his mind, and immediately called the man from Xiechun to ask, "Have you heard from Qingyu Garden?"

"When I was about to go back to my master, my daughter-in-law sent a message that there was no letter from Miss Zhang. I went to Meng's house and didn't notice anything unusual."

Dong Mo pondered for a moment, his heart was lost for no reason, fluttering and bottomless, which made him a little flustered.He didn't dare to think about why Mengyuan suddenly lost contact and went back to Meng's house, but the thought always popped up irresistibly - she just went back to her place.

He ordered to call Xie Chun back, and asked her to pay attention to whether there was a message from the Meng family, and it was inconvenient to inquire about anything else, even if she inquired, she would not be able to find out, if the Meng family deliberately concealed something.

When it suddenly fell silent, this other courtyard seemed very strange, and the people serving tea and water were all unfamiliar faces. Perhaps because of this, Dong Mo became more and more restless.He couldn't sit still in the chair, and couldn't read a word of those complicated official documents.He got up from his seat and walked to the window.Outside the window, there is a patch of dark green, short and thin trees, which are blown to this side.

The wind is getting tighter and colder, and after the Double Ninth Festival, it will be another scene.The red falls everywhere like rain, the emerald green decreases and the red disappears, only the shadow of osmanthus flows gold.

Half of the clear light seeps in through the cloud window of Qihu, and those lights are like floating shadows on the water, swaying in spots on the white pot.Meng Yuan was sitting on the couch with a bowl of sweet-scented osmanthus porridge, and the thick shade of the phoenix tree was pressing on her brows, as if her forehead was full of worries, and her heart was so heavy that she was almost out of breath.

She opened the window to allow the wind to come in, and her eyes were only staring blankly at the sycamore trees in late autumn outside the iron-wood railing.As soon as the wind passed, piles of red leaves fell in shock. She took a sip from the spoon, but it didn't feel sweet, but rather sour.

I entrusted the old lady's words and waited for many days in a row, but it became a wild goose and went south without any reply.She laughed at herself secretly, how could her mother's words count?I'm afraid he wanted to help her for a while, and then gave Meng Yu a little advantage to suppress her.

These people are unreliable after all, her dispensable love is extremely ridiculous in their eyes, they tried to persuade her a few words at first, but gradually they didn't even bother to laugh at her.

Previously in this mansion, although she had contradictory and chaotic thinking, on the surface she seemed to be one with these people, and everyone had the same purpose, and they all fell into the same abyss.

This time she wanted to climb out alone, but apart from being powerless, she also felt a kind of loneliness that she had never felt before. She couldn't tell whether it was their betrayal or her own betrayal.In short, all the relatives and relatives are isolated and helpless.

Under the corridor, there are two girls sitting and talking and laughing, their skirts are covered with shadows of phoenix trees, and the shadows are like laughter, moving gently.Suddenly, Mengtiao came up with another idea, and stretched out one hand out of the fence to wave at them, "Peizhu, come here and I have something to say to you."

The girl named Peizhu went to the window to bless her, "What orders does Madam have?"

Mengyu leaned his head on the railing, and smiled at her, "Peizhu, I remember you are seventeen, it's time to get married. It is said that you are a girl, so you have to be assigned to the servants in the mansion. But these servants in the mansion , If you want talent but no talent, you want looks but no looks, are you willing? Look at you, you are born with such a good face, if you don’t marry a decent man, I will feel bad for you.”

Speaking of this section, Peizhu shyly lowered her face halfway.Meng Tiao immediately had some hope, put the bowl on the kang table, grabbed the railing with both hands, "Peizhu, have you served me for two years? Except for Caiyi, I will only look at you. If you want to marry, I don't care. What a treat to you. I have money here, so I can give you a generous dowry. With a decent dowry, you can marry a decent man, and you will be able to succeed in this life!"

Peizhu gradually came to understand, Hongyun retreated lightly, and raised her brows and eyes in embarrassment, "Madam, don't say any more, I dare not deliver the letter for you. Let the master know, I'm afraid I might lose my life, so I'll give you my life." What do you say about marrying or not marrying?"

Meng Yu's face changed slightly, and after a blink of an eye, he laughed again, "Just don't let him know, why don't you steal it out, but it will take you a long time, how can he know?"

Peizhu lowered her face and shook her head blindly.Meng Tiao suddenly shook out a cavity of anger!She took half a bowl of sweet-scented osmanthus porridge on the kang table and poured it out of the railing, splashing beads all over her skirt, jumping on the couch and yelling: "Damn girl! You see that I am in trouble now, how dare you even say what I say?" Don’t listen! I’ll lock you up now, and when I come out someday, I’ll peel off your skin first!”

This time Meng Yuan didn't wear makeup all the time, the white skin on his face set off the dark circles around his eyes, and he just stared viciously.The disheveled hair is still idly, long falling to the waist, sitting up and going to sleep, the dress is tossed and wrinkled, and the elegance and beauty of the past have disappeared.

That Peizhu was taken aback by Leng Buding, she stood in front of the window in a daze, not knowing how to reply, and was pulled over by another girl timidly, "Mrs.

No matter how softly he spoke, Meng Yao had been locked up for these days, looking forward day and night, listening to all possible footsteps with his ears up all day long, his ears were trained so well that he could hear every word without saying a word.

Peizhu still cast a blindfolded glance at the window, "Huh? You're talking nonsense."

"You don't know? I heard that if people are locked up for a long time, they will become crazy. My wife has been locked up these days, sometimes quiet and sometimes noisy. Crazy?"

Peizhu was skeptical, and glanced at the window again.

The sympathetic eyes suddenly stung Meng Tiao, she jumped off the couch and took a picture in the newly replaced bronze mirror.Seeing a pale blue face, the once brilliant color was drained instantly, making her like a withered flower, a petal could be broken when touched by hand.

She gradually frowned, looking at herself in the mirror, also a little suspicious.However, that bronze mirror is like a rippling dream, with Dong Mo's voice floating in the gentle ripples round and round.

Those increasingly manic and chaotic thoughts can be calmed down as long as they think of Dong Mo.She maintained her composure for him, leaned softly back against the window, and closed her eyes in the thick shadow of the plane tree.

Nothing but sleep.

When Meng Yu came over in the late evening, Meng Tiao was still sleeping on the couch motionless.He looked at her by the moonlight for a while, found a lamp and lit it, his voice was gentle and tender, "Why don't you light the lamp? You are not afraid of the pitch black."

Meng Tiao didn't talk to him, he smiled to himself, and walked slowly, "Ignore me? Well, talk about something serious and testify against Dong Mo, do you understand?"

Mengyu opened his eyes, turned over feebly, faced the bottom of the wall, and didn't bother to return to him as usual.Meng Yu smiled indifferently, put the silver scorpion on the kang table, and sat behind her.

Sitting for a long time without making a sound, the calmness is like a stalemate between them, one weakly resisting, the other gently showing power.Meng Yu never got angry, but she settled down and stroked her sagging waist, feeling a little sentimental, "You've lost weight."

As he said that, he smiled consolingly, "It doesn't matter, it can be raised in the future. It's just strange, how can you still lose weight if you eat on time?"

Mengyu pressed his palms under his face, and stared blankly at the gradually full moon, "Meng Yu, if you really dare to kill Caiyi, I will die."

The candlelight danced on Meng Yu's face. He was a little surprised, and lowered his face as if admitting defeat, but there was a stern smile in his eyes, "Don't worry, I'm just here to scare you. I'm not that cruel. I was raised by my mother's parents, if you really beat her to death, you still don't know how to hate me in the future."

Based on Mengyuan's understanding of him, although he is unscrupulous, he always keeps his word.But if he didn't threaten her with Caiyi, how could he make her submit?Thinking of this, Meng Tiao was able to cheer up again, climbed up the iron wood on the window and sat up, looking at him vigilantly.

Meng Yu just smiled and stroked her hair, "Look at you, I'm like an enemy, I'm not that bad. My original intention was just to get Dong Mo to leave Jinan, and let's live a good life. I really killed Caiyi, Even if Dong Mo is gone, can we live a good life in the future? I'm afraid you wish you could kill me."

He hugged Meng Yu into his arms, half of her face was covered by her long hair, only a pair of dark eyes were left, facing the white moon outside the window, "Meng'er, tell me, do you really love Dong Mo?"

Meng Yuan was trapped on his shoulder, and he didn't bother to struggle.But when Dong Mo was mentioned, a innocent smile overflowed from the corners of her usually sharp lips.She nodded almost without hesitation.

Meng Yu closed her eyes abruptly for a moment, then opened them resignedly, "What do you love him for?"

"I can't tell." Mengyu thought about Dong Mo's voice and face, and stared at the deserted empty tent, as if being hugged by Dong Mo, feeling some warmth.

She really couldn't tell, she just felt that Dong Mo was a freshman in her conservative life.Loving him is like a rebellion, she overthrows the past corruption for him, and prepares and looks forward to the earth-shaking new dynasty.Although there might be chaotic disputes in the early days of the dynasty, she knew very well in her heart that it was a necessary process to lead to a prosperous age.Therefore, even those disputes are full of confidence and hope.

The anticipation, a feeling she'd fought so hard to resist for so many years, came, and brought more eagerness than just some fear.

The smile overflowed more and more, and became more and more pure, "I only know that the past is the same day after day, because of him, the tomorrow and the present seem to be different."

Meng Yu exerted some strength in his hands, and immediately encircled her even tighter, the shadow of the moon was cast in his eyes, which looked shabby and white.

He can understand, because Yihua has never been so looking forward to the ever-changing future between him and Mengyuan.It is precisely because he understands that, so he understands that even if they return to the original point, Dong Mo will become a permanent rift after their broken mirror is reunited, and he will lie between them like a shadow.

The only safe way is to kill her private expectation of tomorrow for the "tomorrow" they are about to rewrite.This is far more cost-effective than beating that stupid girl Caiyi to death once and for all.

So from this day on, Meng Yu didn't come any more, and only strengthened the lock on the door. Even the cave door in the courtyard was installed with two doors, fastened with a stronger lock.

The guards in the courtyard were all withdrawn, and only two maids were allowed to bring food in according to the time every day, and they were ordered not to say a word to Mengyu.

The first two days were nothing serious, and Mengyuan didn't want to see these unimportant people anyway.She still had hope in her arms, holding the broken mirror and cutting the iron wood on the window day after day.Until I heard the echo of "Wu Chi Wu Chi" resounding in the quiet room.

It turns out that this room can actually emit echoes. Meng Tiao has lived in this room for so long, and has never paid attention to it.Listening to it this time, the echo of the wind, the echo of the rain, and even the fall of the phoenix tree seem to have an echo.

It was so terrifying, her daily expectation quietly changed into the sound of a girl's footsteps.Hearing this sound at noon that day, she hurriedly got up from the couch, suddenly gathered all her strength, and threw herself on the outer door to guard.

Sure enough, Peizhu and another girl opened the door and came in, the light sleeve wind was like a spring breeze blowing on the face, which made Mengyu's whole body agitated, grabbed Peizhu's wrist, and pulled her into the room impatiently, "Peizhu Zhu, where's my mother, did you ask me? Where's Mei Qing? Did you go home?"

Peizhu took a look at her, pulled out her wrist without saying a word, and placed a set of dishes on the table, her hands and feet were very dexterous.After setting it up in no time, I put the empty dishes from the previous meal into the food box, exited cleanly and locked the door.

The slamming sound of locking the door awakened the dazed Mengyu, she threw herself on the door and slapped it like crazy, "Peizhu, don't go! Tell me, what day is it today?! Tell me , What day is it! Say something! Say something to me! Peizhu, let me out, let me out! Let me out, I'll give you money..."

Shouting to the point of exhaustion, she gradually weakened and slumped on the ground.The entire room was empty, wailing her cries, whimpering and whimpering, like a twisting wind, very low and deep.

Hearing this cry, Mengyu couldn't help suspecting that she was a lonely ghost who was suppressed underground, and couldn't tell where she was in the world, as if it had been a thousand years.

In fact, it was only late September, but the wind at night was as tight as the twelfth lunar month, and the two doors were blown open with a "patta", blowing a stack of papers on the case all over the sky.

The whimpering and sobbing of the wind poured into the door intermittently, Dong Mo picked up a bunch of official documents and letters on the ground, and walked to the door.But I saw the dead branches whirling outside the door, and a thin moon hung in the dark sky, forever separated from the world.

He suddenly became flustered, and hurriedly sent someone to the Futai Lu Cheng to come over overnight to ask, suppressing a little confusion, and speaking in a cold and businesslike tone, "How are the people in turmoil arranged?"

Na Lu Cheng was taken aback, everything was done step by step, why did he remember to ask in the middle of the night?Although he was puzzled, he didn't dare to slack off, and hurriedly cupped his hands and replied, "Most of them have already surrendered. After receiving the whipping, they took the food and went home. Only a few dozen people are still wandering. I'm afraid they are about to turn into bandits."

Dong Mo nodded and stomped his feet, "Post up a notice that if these people don't return within a month, they will be dealt with as thieves in the future. I have already submitted the memorial to the court for opening warehouses and exempting taxes, and there will be one next month or so." The decree of expediting the [-] miles has come down, but the disaster food for hundreds of families is not a big amount, most of the imperial court agrees, and you will follow the decree at that time."

"Are you going back to Jinan in a hurry?"

"Yes, prepare some fast horses, and I will leave immediately."

"This time?" Lu Cheng glanced at the sky outside the window, "Your Excellency, let's wait for dawn, I'm afraid it will rain tonight."

Dong Mo cast a sideways glance at him, and he immediately changed his words, "I'll order people to prepare horses for a humble job."

There was no day and no night on this journey, half wind and half frost, Dong Mo's heart was burning with fire, and the wind and frost were dyed, half hot and half cold, but after arriving in Jinan in the past ten days, he was sick all over.

Jinan is not good either. In October, it becomes smoky and cold, the wind whimpers like a flute, and willows cling to the lonely city like thousands of hate.

Dong Mo didn't even have time to change his clothes when he returned home, how could he bother to invite a doctor?First called Xie Chun for questioning.Xie Chun replied that except for no news of the girl, everything else was as usual.Hearing Dong Mo cough, she quickly poured hot tea, "Master is sick? Do you want to invite a doctor to see him first?"

Dong Mo's mind was dizzy, fluttering, his whole body was hot and cold, and he couldn't sit or sleep.He couldn't even care about it anymore, he just waved his sleeves, "Where's Little Cicada Alley?"

"I send people to Xiaochanhua Lane every day, and the door is always locked. I went there the day before yesterday and heard that someone from my neighbor had refunded the rent. I inquired carefully, and it seemed that people from the Meng family had refunded the rent."

Now that things have come to an end, they can only go to Meng's house to find out the news. Dong Molian ate a few cups of hot tea, hurriedly changed his clothes, and then went to visit Meng's house during the day.

It was a sunny day and the wind was warm, and the Meng Mansion was still full of wonders, green like spring.Follow the boy all the way to the hall, and there is nothing abnormal in everything he sees.

Even Meng Yu, as usual, came face to face and greeted, "I heard that Brother Dong went to Dongchang Mansion on business? It's always been hard work. If you have anything to say, tell me to send a message. I'll go to the mansion to answer, why not?" Dare to be tired and come in person?"

Seeing his situation, it seems that the mansion has always been stable and nothing major has happened.Dong Mo calmed down a little, and exchanged greetings with Meng Yu, "Don't dare to trouble me, Shu Wang will be back soon, I'll send a letter to my sister-in-law."

"It's a trivial matter, just ask a servant to talk about it, why is Brother Dong going there in person?" Meng Yu guided him to sit down, and at the same time ordered the servants to watch the tea and treats, "I heard Brother Dong's voice, is it true?" sick?"

"I have a cold on the road, it's not a hindrance." Dong Mo sat down on the chair, and took a private look at the young man who came up to deliver the tea, but he didn't see any traces of wearing sackcloth or filial piety on his body.

He faintly relaxed his heartstrings, but another string gradually stretched again.Since everything is safe and sound, why did Meng Tiao suddenly find his way?Just like when she came, he was full of panic and suspicion.

Meng Yu scratched the teacup, and glanced at him meaningfully, "Since I'm sick, I should rest at home, and I've made this trip myself for this trivial matter, I'm afraid Brother Jin will feel bad if he knows."

Looking at him like this, all the concealment seems to be meaningless, no matter how much Dong Mo cares about rules and etiquette, no matter how hard he cares about whether he has fallen into a trap.

Simply put down the tea bowl, with a solemn expression, a little menacing expression appeared on his sickly face, "I don't think there is any need to play charades, Mr. Meng, you and I have turned our faces in the morning, and there is no need to pretend to be like this at this meeting." You're welcome. I'm here to ask you, where is Meng Tiaoren?"

Meng Yu was stunned for a moment. He didn't know that Dong Mo had a clear glimpse of the truth, but Xie Chun came to the house to inquire secretly last time, which aroused his suspicion.It was even more unexpected that Dong Mo would expose it directly.

He pursed his lips, turned around quickly, and changed into a sneering face, "Meng Tiao...Brother Dong's name is really easy to pronounce. It's probably not appropriate for you to come to my house to ask my wife." Right? Don’t say that Brother Dong is just my Shangfeng officer, I think even the head of the court would not dare to do such a bullying thing in public, which is against human ethics.”

Dong Mo didn't have time to listen to his accent, so he stood up with a flick of his sleeves, "I just want to ask you, where is she?"

Meng Yutiao stared at him for a while, her throat rolled, swallowed her anger, and smiled lightly, "A relative in my hometown in Suzhou passed away, and she went back with her mother-in-law to express her condolences, and to relax by the way. "

Speaking of this, he also stood up under Dong Mo's suspicious eyes, and walked a few steps towards the front wall with his back turned, "I guess Brother Dong must be suspicious. Why is she going to relax when she is fine? Let me tell Brother Dong the truth." Since she met Brother Dong, she has been a little confused. Our husband and wife have quarreled several times because of this. When the quarrel was serious, we almost tore our faces. Later, my mother-in-law persuaded her, and she felt ashamed of me, so she took the opportunity to go to Suzhou This trip is not only to avoid the quarrel between husband and wife, but also to avoid you."

These words are so tight and tight, that people can not only test the truth without evidence, but also follow the clues of the wrongness.

Looking back on Mengmeng, Dong Mo could indeed feel her vacillating attitude from time to time. She had indeed never made any choices, nor had she ever promised him anything.

His majestic body swayed slightly, and there was still a little doubt with expectation, which was also dispelled by Meng Yu's melancholy when he turned around.

He said: "She didn't tell you in advance, just because she was afraid of telling you. If you keep her, she will be confused again. Maybe she is really moved by you,"

As he said that, Meng Yu smiled frankly and wistfully, "But the relationship between a man and a woman is not like that. You don't care about it as soon as your thoughts are burning, but as long as you calm down and think about it, it won't stand up to a few times of scrutiny."

He knew that no matter how wise Dong Mo was, he would be able to cheat this time.Because what he said was true, his expression was true, and even the tears in his heart were true!Even if those empty-eyed eyes stared at him to death, it was true!

A gust of wind suddenly rushed into the orchid hall, causing Dong Mo to cough repeatedly, stumbling, pulling his heart from his throat, and tightening it once and for all.When he was still persistently looking for a little proof in those years spent with Meng, the wind woke him up, what was he trying to prove?

She didn't come to him in the end, so even her heart for him became a mystery.Just like a story, if there is no ending, no matter how many ups and downs the plot has, it is nothing but a loss.

The author says:

Meng Tiao: I love Zhang Ping, an unquenchable hope.

Dong Mo: As for me, it is my determination to flourish after several declines.

Meng Yu: But I want to tamper with the traces of her heart, and I want me to be her end.

Meng Yu may have gone crazy, beat him up.