Although there are still many suspicious points about the three sons of the Shen family, such as the Zhang family being suspected of being "gangsters" and the He family being suspected of being "gangsters," and so on, judging from the conclusion of the Qin Cha in court that day, the case of the Songjiang Japanese rebellion should be considered to be over, and the rest is to bring the prisoners and witnesses back to Beijing for retrial.

Counting the days, it is time for the two Qincha lords to return to Beijing.

Shen Li and Shen Rui didn't expect to see Wang Shouren, but they got the news that they "won't return to Beijing for the time being".

"The prisoners and witnesses will be escorted back to Beijing by the Jinyi Wei Qianhu in the next few days." There are no outsiders, and Wang Shouren does not hide it, and said: "Gonggong Zhang and I stayed and waited for news in Beijing, either to return to Beijing, or to Taihu Lake." ”

Taihu Lake?

King Ning's private soldiers! Shen Rui immediately thought of this, and hurriedly asked, "But do you want to do it?" As soon as the words came out, he felt unlikely, "Can the court respond?" ”

Wenchen generally believes that "the weapon of the soldier is also the weapon of the saint, and the saint has to use it as a last resort", and when he encounters the matter of using a sword, he often looks forward and thinks about it in every possible way. And the various departments of the court will also quarrel due to various expedition matters, and it is difficult to quickly reach the conclusion of the march, and it is often delayed until the daylily is cold.

Not to mention that there is a "Battle of Jingjing" in front, and the court will not easily move the vassal king. After all, a few months after the death of the first emperor, the new emperor is only fifteen years old, and he is prone to turmoil.

"It has been secretly reported to the emperor through the channels of Jinyiwei." Wang Shouren is not a person who sticks to the rules and waits, "I'm afraid it won't work if I want to let the DPRK send troops, this year Datong has not been peaceful, and the elders will not allow another war." ”

It's not that this year is not peaceful, it is that it has not been peaceful in any year.

Shen Rui sighed in his heart, border troubles have always been a heavy burden for the Ming Dynasty court.

Shen Li also nodded and said, "Now that the treasury is also tight, it will not be lightly armed." ”

Wang Shouren said: "Although this is the case, the Taihu Lake bandits must be exterminated as soon as possible." They have just grabbed a bet back, and if it drags on for a while, the money will become grain, grass, weapons, and ships, and it will only be even more difficult to fight. There are also the people who are coerced back, even if they are temporarily forced to join the gang, they are not convinced, and the imperial army will immediately turn against them as soon as it arrives at eight or nine times out of ten, but it is difficult to say if it drags on for a long time. ”

Shen Rui agreed with this point of view, because he asked: "If the imperial court does not send troops, where is the teacher going to get an army?" ”

Could it be Jinyiwei? Shen Rui didn't look down on Jinyiwei, but he just had an inherent impression that Jinyiwei was good at arresting and interrogating, and there was really no advantage in fighting on the march, especially on the water.

Wang Shouren couldn't help but laugh and said, "Where can you and I put together an army from?" ”

Shen Rui laughed dryly, and said in his heart: In the history books of later generations, you are an expert in recruiting rabble to win more with less.

But there is no section of "Taihu Lake Bandits" in later generations, is it his butterfly wings that stirred up historical ripples, or was the Taihu Lake Bandit Suppression Action vetoed by the imperial court and was not carried out at all?

He couldn't help but pay more attention to Wang Shouren's next move, and unconsciously stared at Wang Shouren nervously.

Wang Shouren felt even more funny, and he didn't sell it, and said directly: "The emperor ordered to sign from the Nanjing Military Department and transfer the manpower here to suppress the bandits." Wang Shi, the secretary of the Nanjing Military Department, is the most honest and upright, and does not avoid labor insurance in case of trouble, so he has a good reputation. In the first few years of quelling the rebellion in Guizhou, he made great contributions. If you get his help, you can level Taihu Lake. ”

After listening to this, Shen Li also praised this Wang Shi and Wang Shangshu.

Shen Rui is not familiar with this big man, even if he has paid attention to the court before, he is also one of those pavilion elders who have left a name in history, at most, he has paid attention to the Tartars outside the Saiwai, and he has not paid attention to the southwest border, let alone the war a few years ago.

However, since he can be praised by Wang Shouren and Shen Li, and he can achieve a great victory in a place with complex terrain like Guizhou, he is obviously a powerful character, and with his help, it will be much smoother to come to Taihu Lake to suppress bandits.

Shen Rui saw Wang Shouren talking about the bandits, his face was shining, and he was really happy for him when he thought that the teacher could show his ambitions so quickly.

Turning to the robbery of Songjiang by the Taihu bandits, thinking of the missing brother of the sect and the wife and children of Shen Qi who were taken captive, Shen Rui's heart was gloomy again, and he said to Wang Shouren: "Teacher, the disciple has something to ask for......

As he spoke, he briefly talked about Brother Xiaodong and Shen Qi's wife and children.

The Shen family wants to completely get rid of the involvement with the vassal king, and the best choice is to directly "go out to the funeral" for them, so as not to be said to be "the eldest grandson/wife and children as hostages, and make a difference for the vassal king".

But no matter how important the eldest grandson of the sect is, it is impossible for the sect to give up directly.

And Wufang attaches great importance to flesh and blood, and Shen Qi is also determined to refuse to give up his wife and children.

Therefore, Shen Rui still begged Wang Shouren to say: "Although I don't know whether they are in Nanchang or Taihu Lake, I still want to ask the teacher to help pay attention to the people who were taken captive when they were suppressing bandits in Taihu Lake." ”

Wang Shouren nodded solemnly.

Shen Rui also breathed a sigh of relief, and was ready to go back and ask Zongfang and Wufang to prepare a few more portraits, of course, he couldn't take the news of the Taihu Lake bandits, and only said that he would spare it.

Talking about the suppression of bandits in Taihu Lake, Shen Li talked about going back to Beijing, Wang Shouren was a messenger, and there was a Zhang Yong by his side, and the news in Beijing was more well-informed.

"There have been frequent changes in officials these days, and there are all three cabinet members." Although Shen Li is Xie Ge's old son-in-law, Wang Shouren has been friends with him for many years, and he has a relationship with Shen Rui, and he does not shy away from the fact that the three pavilion elders wrestle: "Almost every day, one or two are promoted or descended. There are also external transfers. If there are too many transfers in the six departments, they will be promoted from the Hanlin Academy to fill the vacancies. ”

Shen Li bowed slightly, indicating that he understood. But with his understanding of Xie Ge Lao, Xie Ge Lao would not push his son-in-law to the fore right now, and he himself didn't want to jump out at such a time of strife.

"Recently, there have been a lot of impeachment of ministers, the northwest side is impermanent, and the impeachment of Miao Kui has not been broken, that's it, and the eunuchs in various places have been impeached repeatedly." Wang Shouren said.

Zhu Hui, the Duke of Baoguo, led the troops to be conscripted in Xuanfu, and the great eunuch Miao Kui was the supervisor of the army.

Shen Li was slightly stunned, and didn't care, the prison army is a frequent visitor to impeachment, and it doesn't matter, just say that there are many lawlessness in guarding eunuchs in various places, and being impeached is also the norm.

Shen Rui was thoughtful.

Wang Shouren sighed in his heart, when Shen Rui told him that "Zhuangsheng Dream Butterfly", he clearly pointed out that "eunuch erection and re-xing", and since then Wang Shouren has paid a lot of attention to internal officials.

From this point of view, Shen Rui obviously did not mention it to Shen Li, Wang Shouren didn't want to say more, and instead said: "It's fifteen years old today, and the palace has issued a decree ordering the great eunuch Gao Feng to take charge of His Majesty's marriage selection. ”

In fact, they didn't know about this matter before they left Beijing, or the case was closed a few days ago, Gao Nianen chatted with Zhang Yong and Wang Shouren at the banquet, and talked about his godfather Gao Feng being entrusted by the Empress Dowager with the important task of choosing marriage.

Of course, at that time, Zhang Yong praised Gao Feng in his mouth, but there was no smile in his eyes. The internal officials are more inclined than the civil ministers.

Shen Li frowned when he heard this, "Your Majesty's early wedding is also a happy event." It's just that the internal officials choose to marry, and I'm afraid that there will be chaos in various places for a while. ”

In order to prevent the dictatorship of foreign relatives, now the royal draft marriage is mostly the home of the small officials.

If you choose a palace person, the people will rush to marry their daughters first, so as not to let their daughters enter the palace to do labor, and there are a few people who come out, most of them are buried in the palace. In the trend of marrying daughters, there are often all kinds of absurd things about marrying daughters indiscriminately.

And if you choose a concubine for the dragon son and phoenix grandson or even the emperor, it is different, if the marriage is not selected, the girl will be returned, and the marriage will not be delayed; If it is hit, it will fly on the branch and become a phoenix, and immediately become a palace concubine, and the family will also become relatives of the emperor and the country, enjoying endless glory and wealth. Therefore, there are many low-level officials and squires who are eager to choose concubines, and they compete to smash money to tie up the officials who come to choose concubines.

Not to mention that now is the emperor's marriage, this is the highest position in the world!

Not to mention, the queen mother's maiden family, the Zhang family, is the best example for these people, and the Jin family, the wife of Changguo, resolutely sent her daughter to choose the crown princess, and sure enough, the Zhang family is now full of wealth.

It turned out that those people robbed their heads and smashed silver, and then sent an internal official to choose a marriage, this internal official was greedy and cruel, and he was afraid that he would scrape the ground and harm the place.

Shen Rui's focus was different, he was more concerned about Brother Shou, because he asked: "After Your Majesty gets married, you will be in power, right?" ”

Wang Shouren couldn't help but laugh and said, "Now many things are also judged by His Majesty. ”

Shen Rui smiled, but he was stubborn, and being able to send Wang Shouren out as a messenger shows that Brother Shou can speak right, and he is not like those little emperors who are not pro-government in film and television dramas, and they have no right to speak, and everything is subject to the ministers.

Wang Shouren said again: "But after the wedding, it is much more comfortable than now." I just don't know when this marriage election will have a result. ”

Shen Rui sighed when he heard this, it can be seen that although Brother Shou can say the word, in the eyes of the ancients, he can only be considered an adult after marriage, and he can make his own decisions about many things.

So, will there be anyone who doesn't want him to call the shots so quickly?

And I don't know how many forces intervened when I chose to get married, and each had a ghost, so I don't know how this matter will eventually go.

Speaking of the emperor's wedding, Shen Rui really can't remember who the queen of Zhengde is. All he could think of was the wild history gossip of Sister Li Feng, who was playing the dragon and the phoenix, as if Liu Liangnu also went to Datong very later, what about before? It seems that the very arrogant relatives of the Zhengde Dynasty only have the Zhang family, the queen mother's mother's family, and there is no shadow of the queen's mother's family.

He was thinking nonsense, and Shen Li sighed when he heard the words, which dynasty and which generation of concubines after the election did not stir up a storm, originally the new emperor ascended the throne, the old and new courtiers would have a wrestle, and after catching up with the election, the situation in Beijing would only become more chaotic.

*

The seventh day of August.

The monkey rushes the tiger and the south.

It is advisable to bury and sacrifice; Don't get married.

Shen Ling went out for the funeral on this day.

Although Shen Ling did not remember the family tree, the popularity of the clan is really good, and this unjust case is known to the clan, and at the clan meeting that day, the clansmen were indifferent to the family affection of the three rooms, and many people showed pity and sympathy for Shen Ling. Therefore, there are many people who come to the funeral.

Shen Jun could barely get off the ground, and he also called someone to help him come and cry with Shen Qi to see off this brother who was also suffering from prison.

But I saw a mountain of silver and a sea of silver, and the white expanse covered the entire street.

Passers-by on the street saw it, and heard that it was a soldier who was tortured to death in the Tongyu case, and then looked at the young woman at the front of the line, who described it as withered, and the young child still in her arms was ignorant and innocent, and they all sighed and said a word of evil.

The major families in Songjiang also set up road sacrifices, and this funeral scene was quite large, not inferior to the funeral of the children of the Shen clan.

Although it was said that Shen Quan and Shen Rui would take care of everything at the funeral, Shen Zhou still worked hard and personally asked about everything, and finally saw such a scene, Shen Zhou was finally a little relieved.

When he arrived at the place where Shen Ling was cremated, the firewood had been piled up in advance, the coffin was placed on it, and vegetable oil was drizzled.

He's eyes were red and swollen, but there was no trace of tears on his face, as if all the tears in this life had flowed out, and there was not a single drop. The voice was so dry and hoarse that he could barely speak, but he stubbornly signaled that she would come.

And after taking the torch, He did not hesitate at all, and threw it out.

With a whew, the flames rose into the sky.

In August in the south of the Yangtze River, although it has begun autumn, the sun is still very poisonous, and the fire has set off a heat wave, so that people can not get close, and the children who help in the clan are responsible for throwing the Jinshan Yinshan paper cow paper horse into the fire one by one, and they have to stand far away and push it with a hoe, for fear that they will burn themselves if they get closer.

Only Ho stood very close to the fire, motionless like a carved stone statue of wood.

Sweat was already drenching her hair and running down her emaciated face, but she stood there unaware, staring at the fire.

There was no precedent for cremation, so there were no rules, and the burning of bones was quite long, and there was no need for the funeral people to wait together.

And the weather was very hot, and many frail and elderly clansmen couldn't stand it, so here Shen Rui, Shen Quan, Shen Lian and others began to send the clansmen away. There were also those who refused to leave, so they were let into the pergola that had been set up in the morning in the open space.

Mrs. Liansi carried Brother Xiao Nan into the pergola early, and took turns calling He with several female dependents, but He never moved.

Shen Zhou was also a little physically exhausted this time, he went into the pergola and drank two teas, stabilized his mind, and saw that He Shi in front of the fire was still standing there upright, for fear that she would have a heat stroke accident, so he had no choice but to go over in person.

Hearing Shen Zhou's persuasion, He lowered his eyelids, suddenly spoke, and asked, "My nephew has one thing, I have always wanted to ask the second uncle for my father-in-law." Xianggong has always admired the second uncle, and the second uncle should not know. The second uncle didn't choose his father-in-law as his heir, where is he? The nephew and daughter-in-law are talkative, and I want the second uncle to tell me, so that the husband can be a ghost......"

He Shi's voice was hoarse, as ugly as an old eagle, indifferent and cold, but it hit Shen Zhou's heart. Those guilt, remorse, and fear came up for a while, and it was even more scorching than this heat wave, making him almost unable to stand and stumbling a step.

Shen Rui has been paying attention to this side, for fear that someone will faint in the scorching heat, seeing Shen Zhou's body shaking, he was scared into a cold sweat, and hurriedly trotted over to support Shen Zhou.

Shen Zhou was also a little stunned, holding Shen Rui's hand, but he didn't seem to have anyone around, he didn't look at him, stared at the fire, and said like a dream for a while: "I...... How can you not want to live with Brother Ling...... I hurt Brother Ling. I was treacherous and ungrateful, and God punished me...... My brother Luo, my brother Jue, are all fifteen or sixteen years old, but they just died...... Brother Ling became a child, but I had the idea of succeeding him, and he died in less than half a year...... I'm tired of them......"

Shen Rui was a little stunned when he heard this, knowing that Shen Zhou was confused, so he pushed him in a panic, for fear that he would lose his mind.

Shen Zhou was pushed by this, and then he turned his head, although his eyes looked at Shen Rui, he seemed to be looking at nothingness through Shen Rui, and his voice was even more erratic: "Brother Rui, don't be both, I am an ominous person...... I can't succeed Brother Xiao Nan, I'm an ominous person...... I am unfilial and unrighteous, and I am not worthy of children and grandchildren to die. I can't pass by, I can't pass by, I can't hurt you......"

Shen Rui had mixed feelings in his heart, it turned out that Shen Zhou actually thought like this. He just crossed over, and he didn't believe in gods and ghosts, knowing that although these three people were all disasters, they were also man-made disasters, and it was just a coincidence. But Shen Zhou ...... like this It's not that I feel guilty and obsessed with myself......

The sun is shining, the flames are blazing, Shen Rui looked up at the sky, sighed slightly, the sky does not retribution, people retribution, they are all demons.

Over there, Ho had a completely different reaction.

At the moment when Shen Zhou said his true thoughts, He Shi closed his eyes suddenly, knelt in front of the burning coffin with a plop, and cried bitterly.

The tears dried up quickly, and her throat couldn't make a sound, but she said to Shen Ling over and over again in her heart: "Second brother, listen...... The second uncle didn't abandon you! ”

"He knows all your hard work! He is determined to be yours and will succeed you! ”

"He didn't abandon you, he gave up Brother Xiao Nan, he wanted to protect Brother Xiao Nan!"

"Second brother, you, go with peace of mind......"

*

After a funeral, Shen Zhou and He both fell ill, but fortunately, Imperial Doctor Zhang was there and prescribed a prescription, and the two of them got better quickly.

This illness delayed the trip for a few more days, although August 15 is imminent, but the relatives are far away, and Shen Li and Shen Rui have no intention of staying for the holiday. And Shen Li's leave of absence for one month has expired, and it is time to set off.

Fortunately, there is good news before departure, Wang Shouren sent Wuyan to quietly send a message to Shen Rui, the matter of Taihu Lake has been approved, and Nanjing is in preparation.

Shen Rui and Shen Li said, both of them were in good spirits, and they swept away the haze of the day.

The day of departure was booked, but it was Shen Li, Shen Rui and He's mother and son who returned to Beijing, while Shen Zhou took Shen Yu's family and Shen Chen's family back to Nanjing.

When these two families heard that they could follow Shen Zhou to do things, they all responded happily. Shen Yu and Shen Chen are both proficient in general affairs, and they are quite simple, and Shen Zhou is also very satisfied.

On the dock, the two sides went on the road separately, and many of the clansmen came to see each other off, and everyone said goodbye.

After Shen Zhou finished telling Shen Rui a few words, he looked up and saw Brother Xiao Nan who was held in He's arms, and his eyes unconsciously showed love and reluctance.

After saying those words that day, Shen Zhou was so stunned that he almost fainted, and was dragged back to the pergola by Shen Rui, and forcibly poured a cup of tea before he recovered, and he fell ill when he went back. Since then, I have been afraid of being sick to Brother Xiao Nan, and I have never seen it again, and today I don't know if I can see each other again in a few years, so I am reluctant to give up.

He Shi listened to what he said that day, and after thinking about it for a few days, he was already relieved, and when he saw this, he hugged Brother Xiao Nan and saluted Shen Zhou, and said, "Second uncle, take care." ”

Shen Zhou sighed, he wanted to say a lot, but in the end he only said: "Your eldest aunt and third aunt are both kind people, don't be afraid, just tell them if you have something." ”

Ho nodded yes.

Shen Zhou reluctantly glanced at Brother Xiao Nan a few more times, and then he was ruthless, turned around and strode on the boat.

The He family also boarded the ship to the north with everyone.

After everyone was settled, Shen Rui handed over a burden to the He family, and said: "The second uncle said that the price of goods in the capital is expensive, and the second brother Ling's pension money has not yet arrived in Songjiang, I am afraid that the second sister-in-law Ling will not make up for a while, and I am afraid that you will not accept it if you give it to you directly, so I will hand it over to you after I get on the boat." ”

The burden was opened, and in addition to the gold and silver ingots, there was also a thick pile of silver tickets.

This is more than 30,000 taels of silver brought by Shen Zhou from Nanjing, and he originally wanted to use it to settle the lawsuit, but he couldn't use it on Shen Ling, so he simply gave it to Shen Ling's wife and children.

He couldn't hold back any longer, tears welled up in his eyelashes, picked up Brother Xiao Nan and confessed to Shen Rui, and walked quickly onto the deck.

Shen Zhou's ship had already sailed far away, merging into a field of sails, and could not be found again.

He hugged Brother Xiao Nan, stood on the boat for a long time, and finally knelt down in the direction of Nanjing with tears in his eyes, and solemnly kowtowed three times.