The autumn wind rustled, bringing a bit of coolness, and the red sun hung high in the sky. Although it was already the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, the sun was still a little warm, but it just dispelled the chill brought by the north wind.
On the spacious official road, a long procession snaked into the middle of the procession. Several spacious black-covered carriages walked in the middle of the procession. In front of the first carriage, a person was wearing a narrow-sleeved arrow robe, a green scarf tied up his hair, and Dressed in men's clothing, with soft armor underneath and a long knife hanging from his waist, he also carried a custom-made carved recurve compound longbow on one side of the horse's back, and a full pot of feather arrows tied to the other side. Tie with string.
There were several guards riding horses beside him. Two of them were also women disguised as men. They were slightly older than the woman at the front, probably in their early twenties. They were guarding the young master. The rest were guarding the young master. There were several riders, two in front, and the rest were scattered on both sides of the carriage, guarding the convoy.
The curtains of the first carriage were suddenly opened, revealing a beautiful and beautiful face: "Qian'er, how long until we reach Runzhou?"
The crisp voice was like an oriole leaving the valley. The girl in the arrow robe and tied hair in front of the carriage rode her horse and walked to the side of the carriage. Then she turned the horse's head and said: "There are still more than twenty miles to go. At our current speed, we don't need a single person." The time will come.”
"Auntie, are you tired? It's still early anyway, how about we find a shady place to rest for a while?"
The girl in the arrow robe with tied hair was none other than Wang Qier, who was ordered by Wang Zhong to escort Ming Lan and Mrs. Sheng back to the capital.
"No need to wait until we get to Runzhou. It's only an hour away."
After walking for less than half an hour, there were gradually more and more pedestrians on the official road. Busy farmers could be seen everywhere among the criss-crossing streets on both sides of the official road.
Now that the autumn harvest has just passed, farmers are busy clearing their fields and burning straw to kill the insect eggs remaining in the fields. At the same time, they are also trying to find ways to fertilize the fields in order to have a good harvest next year.
To go north from Runzhou, you have to cross the Yangtze River. The accompanying Shi Keng and his wife had already made arrangements. As soon as everyone arrived in Runzhou, they drove their carriages and horses and carried their luggage onto the big ship.
Early the next morning, in Yangzhou City, Minglan and Mrs. Sheng, in addition to inspecting the many properties of the Wang family, also took Wang Qier back to Baishui Village to worship at the Wang family's ancestral hall.
Although there are only a few tablets in the Wang family ancestral hall and few names in the family tree, there are still necessary procedures to follow.
After paying homage to her ancestors, Wang Qianer went straight to Baishui Academy and delivered a letter. Early the next morning, the group left Yangzhou and continued northward.
It's already a bit cool in Kaifeng in October, and the cold wind has crossed the North China Plain, blown across the Yellow River, and begun to spread to the south bank.
The journey north was not smooth. I encountered three groups of thieves on the way. The biggest mystery among them was that the leader was carrying No. 70 or 80, and he also had some skills. Unfortunately, he still could not escape in the end and was beaten by Wang Qier. The result was a transparent hole pierced by the gun, and his head was cut off. He took it to the nearby prefecture and county government office and exchanged it for a reward.
When Mrs. Lian Sheng saw it with her own eyes, she couldn't help but be overwhelmed by Wang Qier's momentum of taking the lead and seizing the flag.
Along the way, no fewer than ten strong men died under Wang Qier's pointed steel spear.
"Hey! I don't know what your family's plan is. Sister Qian is a girl, and she has been taught by him to become a female general!" In the carriage, Wang Qier looked out the window at Wang Qier who was riding on a horse with a long knife hanging from her waist. , Old Mrs. Sheng couldn't help but sigh, and became worried about Wang Qier's lifelong events.
Minglan smiled and said: "The official told me about this. When it comes time to marry Sister Qian in the future, you don't have to choose someone with a good family background. As long as the person is honest, honest and motivated, that's better than anything else." .”
"That's what I said!" Old Mrs. Sheng was not a pedantic old stubborn, but said: "It's just that men like women to be humble to them and express their feelings. Who would want to find a wife who is better than themselves!"
As she spoke, Mrs. Sheng couldn't help but have a strange light flashing in her eyes.
"Hey!" Minglan also sighed and was about to say something when the carriage suddenly stopped. She could only suppress her words first, opened the curtain and asked what was going on.
Xiao Tao, who was sitting on the carriage shaft, said, "Miss Qian has already gone to the front to check."
After a while, Wang Qianer rode back to the carriage and said loudly: "Auntie, ancestors, there are two caravans heading towards Bianjing in front of them. It is said that just after noon today, all the gates in Bianjing It is closed, no entry or exit is allowed, and there are soldiers guarding it. They say that there are bandits in the city, and the officials have issued an order to have the city defense camp behind closed doors to search for thieves."
"Surveying thieves behind closed doors in broad daylight?" Minglan and Mrs. Sheng looked at each other and got out of the carriage one after another.
"Have you asked clearly?" Minglan asked.
Wang Qier said: "I asked clearly, both caravans said the same thing!"
Grandfather and grandson looked at each other, and they all remembered the last time Changbai mentioned in his heart that on the night of the Lantern Festival at the beginning of the year, Rong Feiyan of the Fuchanghou family, the biological sister of Concubine Rong's mother, was kidnapped. matter.
In an instant, the two of them suddenly thought of the fight for the heir.
"Oops!" Mrs. Sheng's face instantly darkened.
Minglan's first thought was of her mother and young brother who were still in the city.
"Are all the doors really closed?" Minglan looked at Wang Qier and asked.
Wang Qier said: "Second Uncle Wang has sent someone to check immediately. What I mean is, why don't we go back to the village first and rest while waiting for news? What does Auntie think?"
Minglan nodded and said: "Now that the matter has come to this, we can only go to Zhuangzi first!"
With a hundred and ten people at home, and so many cars with cargo in their cages, it was natural to find a place to stay first.
Minglan and Mrs. Sheng returned to the car. Wang Qier directed the convoy and headed towards the village that Wang had resettled.
The Wang family's village is located in the southeast of Bianjing, not far from the Bian River. It was originally a small village with only more than a hundred acres of land. Later, the Wang and Li family added some more land, and now it has more than 400 acres. Mrs. Sheng took over the land from Wang Zhong. After the property was acquired, he used his own money to buy the two small villages next to Wang Chongzhuang and gave them to Minglan as a dowry. The original small villages have now become a large village covering an area of nearly 2,000 acres. Zhuangzi.
There are also several breeding farms in the village, which sell pigs, chickens, ducks and fish. There is also a raw meat shop in the city. In just a few years, it has become a famous large village in Tokyo. There are many in the city. Some of the ingredients used in restaurants and restaurants are purchased from Wangjiazhuangzi.
The total number of tenant farmers and hired workers working on Wangjiazhuangzi is hundreds of households, with a total population of nearly 2,000 men, women, old and young. Today, Wangjiazhuangzi has almost developed into a small market town.
Although a large Zhuangzi like this is at the foot of the imperial city, it still needs Zhuangding to protect Zhuangzi. After all, there are many rogues in Tokyo who are causing trouble everywhere.
As soon as Minglan and others entered the village, before their buttocks were even hot, Wang Erxi rushed to see them.
"Madam, the brothers who went to Nancheng and Dongcheng have all returned. Nanxun Gate, Caihe Water Gate, Chenzhou Gate, Dongshui Gate, Xinsong Gate, Xincao Gate, and Northeast Water Gate are all closed. There are many boats parked along the Bianhe River. , were all stopped outside the city."
"Is there any news coming out in the city?" Minglan asked immediately.
Wang Erxi shook his head and said: "It is only said that there are bandits making trouble in the city and making a lot of noise, but no one can tell what happened in the city."
"Isolate the inside and outside!" Mrs. Sheng squinted her eyes and said solemnly: "This matter is not trivial."
"Where's Caobang?" Wang Qier, who was sitting next to her, suddenly asked.
Wang Er said happily: "Brother Shi and his wife have already contacted us, but there is no news yet!"
Minglan and Mrs. Sheng looked at each other and saw the solemnity in each other's eyes. They couldn't help but sigh: "It seems that things are going to change!"
Wang Qian'er's eyes narrowed slightly, and she ordered in a deep voice: "Second Uncle Wang, go gather all the trained villagers in the village, go to the warehouse to get the weapons and distribute them, and inform everyone that there may be a big chaos in the near future. Wangjiazhuang has entered In a state of war readiness, all villagers are not allowed to leave the village unless there is anything wrong. They send people to guard the main roads in and out of the village. They move in three shifts day and night. They ask the slaughterhouse to kill more pigs and send ten catties of meat and ten catties of rice to each household... ····”
"Auntie, do you have anything else to add?" After finishing speaking, Wang Qier raised her hands to Minglan and asked.
Minglan smiled and shook her head: "You have already thought it through!"
Wang Erxi immediately took the order and went down to arrange it.
Wang Qier held Minglan's hand and said safely: "Aunt, ancestors, don't worry too much. Third uncle has long expected that this situation will happen today, and has left a back-up in the city long ago."
Old Mrs. Sheng was stunned for a moment, and asked with some surprise: "Zi Hou had anticipated today's situation earlier?"
Minglan thought of Wang Zhong's words the night before leaving, and thought of the current situation in Bianjing City, and couldn't help but feel surprised. If nothing else, Wang Zhong should have guessed it, and there must be something going on in the city today. Big chaos, maybe even the officials...
Minglan didn't dare to think any further.
Wang Qian'er nodded calmly and said: "Third uncle said that the throne has been vacant for many years, and King Yan and King Yong have become unstoppable. There may be trouble in the future, so we have made preparations early. Unfortunately, our family has no power. Being powerless means that even if you make preparations, you cannot change the overall situation. You can only protect yourself."
"What preparations have the officials made?" Minglan asked curiously.
Wang Qier shook her head and said: "Actually, I don't know the details. I only know that through the Caobang, the third uncle has kept a lot of informants in the city and arranged some manpower in case of emergencies."
Time passed by, Minglan and the old lady were sitting in the room, feeling that the days were like years, when suddenly the female envoy from the second door hurried in to report.
"Madam, Second Young Master Gu led a group of people to the village. Second Young Master Gu heard that Madam and the old lady were also there, and said he wanted to see them."
Minglan looked at Mrs. Sheng: "Grandma!"
Old Mrs. Sheng said: "You can take Sister Qian with you, I won't go!"
Minglan said: "Grandma, the officials have always praised the second brother Gu very highly, saying that he is talented in literature, martial arts, and wise. Now that all the doors in Bianjing are closed, we are helpless. But the second brother Gu was born in the Ningyuan Hou Mansion, and He is the leading general, maybe he can do something about it!"
Mrs. Sheng was suddenly moved, and immediately changed her mind, and followed Minglan and Wang Qier to the front hall.
"Second Uncle Gu!" Wang Qier couldn't wait to shout before she even entered the front hall.
"Sister Qian?" Gu Er was very surprised: "How come you, little girl, are also in Tokyo?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Mrs. Sheng and the other three people walked into the front hall with some female envoys. Gu Er hurriedly greeted the old lady and Minglan who came in: "Gu Er paid my respects to the old lady and met my brothers and sisters!"
"No need to be polite!" Minglan helped Old Mrs. Sheng sit on the seat of the chair, and Old Mrs. Sheng held out her hand to help her.
"Brother Gu!" Minglan saluted Gu Erfu.
Wang Qier then explained: "The third uncle asked me to escort my ancestor and aunt back to Beijing! The third uncle also said that the second uncle Gu has made great achievements this time, and the officials will definitely issue an order to announce that the second uncle Gu will return to Beijing and be granted a title. , and asked me to say hello to Second Uncle Gu on his behalf!"
Gu Er smiled and said, "Your third uncle always has a good plan! He got it right again."
"Who are these friends?" Unlike Wang Qier who was busy reminiscing with Gu Er, Minglan noticed the three people sitting in the hall with Gu Er.
Gu Er immediately introduced everyone: "This is Zhao Zongquan, the envoy of Yuzhou Tuanlian, this is Zhao Ceying, the son of Zhao Tuanlian, and this is Shen Congxing, Zhao Tuanlian's brother-in-law."
"I've seen Zhao Tuanlian..."
Knowing the doubts in the minds of the three of them, Gu Er told Minglan and the others everything about Yuzhou after they withdrew.
"King Yan?" Minglan frowned and said, "I heard that at the beginning of the year, King Yong offered sacrifices to Chengtian and prayed for blessings for the official family. At that time, there were many rumors in the court that the official family intended to adopt King Yong as his heir. Establish him as the crown prince! It’s not impossible for King Yan to jump over the wall if he feels that he has no chance of being crowned crown prince!"
Wang Qian'er's eyes lit up and she immediately said: "So, the changes in the city now are probably related to King Yan?"
"It must be King Yan!" Zhao Ceying slapped his hand on the table and said excitedly: "This guy is ambitious and cruel. With just one edict from Tuogu, he wanted to kill my father. There is no guarantee that he can't do anything else." Crazy things are coming."
"Ying'er!" Zhao Zongquan turned around and glared at his son: "Don't be rude!"
Mrs. Sheng waved her hand and said: "No problem! No problem!"
Minglan looked at Gu Er: "Brother Gu came to the village for temporary refuge because he was blocked from leaving the city?"
Gu Er nodded and said: "Yes! In fact, the best choice is the Western Suburbs Camp. Unfortunately, we can't enter the Western Suburbs Camp. After thinking about it, your village is the safest, but I didn't expect you and the old lady to be the safest. exist."
Wang Qian'er stood up and said confidently: "If Uncle Gu is worried about those assassins coming to his door, there is no need. Uncle Wang has ordered strong men to guard the main roads in and out of Zhuangzi, and arranged for people to patrol and guard day and night. Anyone who wants to touch It’s not easy to get into Zhuangzi.”
The eyes of Zhao Zongquan, father and son, and Shen Congxing all focused on Gu Er. Tokyo was Gu Er's hometown, and they were unfamiliar with the place. Now their fortunes and lives depended on Gu Er.
Gu Er's face turned sharply. In fact, he had already thought about leaving. Minglan and Mrs. Sheng, old and weak women and children were all there. They were doing the business of hanging their heads on their belts. If they failed, wouldn't it be? Minglan and the others were implicated.
(End of chapter)
