Chapter 284: Choosing Gains and Losses

Although he had expected that Qiu would definitely not refuse, after receiving such an answer, Gu still let go of a matter. Zhang Chao and Zhang Qi are all the daughters of meritorious families, one is because both of them are martial arts, and the other is because Zhang You's future is good, which is naturally a good match. However, she chose the Du family among the Du Meng family, but she did not fancy the background of the Du family at all, but because Du Zhen was Zhang Yue's mentor, and the teacher's character and knowledge were first-class.

Seeing that Qiu Shi turned his gaze over, and Du Juan also looked at himself, Zhang Yue couldn't help but take a deep breath. He knew early on that his family was arranging his marriage, either Meng or Du. The first meeting with Du Juan Peach Blossom Forest, goodbye at the Meng family poetry meeting, and then the unforgettable experience of walking all the way to the east of the mountain and Qingzhou. She is Bing Bing smart, but she has an admirable strength in her bones, she has been with him for so long, she has helped him countless times, never said a word, never hesitated.

He did have a good impression of her, and it was precisely because of this that he gave the gold fan at the beginning, and the last time he returned to Beijing to beg his grandmother, he also said that the marriage was still a trade-off between the two Mengdu families. In fact, at that time, he already knew what kind of choice he would make between the Meng family and the Du family with his grandmother's insight into human affairs.

Now, Meng Xian has been released from prison, but his mentor Du Zhen is still in Jinyiwei Prison, and he doesn't want to see his mentor like Yang Pu, who has been locked up for more than ten years despite his worry-free life. Zhu Di had previously said that he should leave Du Zhen alone, but when he was talking about marriage, if he could ask to see the emperor, he might be able to make the other party remember all the benefits of Du Zhen.

However, he decided to accept it, is Du Juan willing? Is she interested in him?

However, before he could speak, Gu Shi gently broke free from him and Zhang Xuan, and immediately opened his mouth and said to Du Juan: "Miss Juan, if it is still early today, would you like to walk a few steps with me?" I have something to say to you. ”

Du Juan was already in a state of confusion, and at this time, Gu opened her mouth to invite, she quickly agreed, and stepped forward to support Gu's arm. At this time, Gu Shi turned his head and ordered: "Brother Zhen still has to study in the afternoon, go back and prepare first." Brother Yue is talking with your wife, but it's a pity that it's not yet time for the osmanthus to bloom, otherwise the fragrance of the osmanthus flowers in this garden is also pleasant. ”

Seeing Du Juan helping Gu Shi forward, Zhang Yue really didn't know what the old grandmother had to say to her, and he was really uneasy. When he came back to his senses, Zhang Zhen had already gone without a shadow, leaving only Qiu Shi looking at him with a kind face. Thinking of the first time he saw this master in the past, the other party was also kind and kind, and then treated him like a nephew, he hurriedly stepped forward, and said with a guilty face: "Master, when I returned to Beijing from Shandong, I couldn't go to Jinan Mansion with Sister Juan......"

"It's all in the past, you still remember." Qiu interrupted Zhang Yue's words with a smile, and then motioned for him to walk slowly in the other direction with him, and said again, "Wan'er told me all those things, Mrs. Meng was seriously ill at that time, your two families are relatives, you can't leave her to take care of me, if the lord is here, he will agree with your approach." Wan'er experienced those things when she was young, and she always had her own ideas, and her temperament was a little too strong, but she was easy to rely on at critical moments. ”

Speaking of this, Qiu Shi paused, and suddenly shook his head again: "I connived too much at the beginning, she didn't think much about the female red cooking, and she had to make up for it before she got married." It's just that I know you shouldn't care about that. ”

Zhang Yue was a little embarrassed by Qiu's words, and immediately gritted his teeth and asked: "Master, Sister Juan is indeed a rare good woman, and I have always respected her strength, but today my grandmother suddenly proposed marriage...... Does she really want to? ”

"Why are you worried about this?"

At this time, a gust of wind happened to blow, and Qiu Shi was wearing a silver bun, and only his forehead hair was blown a little. She smiled dumbly and brushed away a few strands of messy hair, and then said earnestly: "Although it is the words of the parents, but as a parent, who doesn't want to find the best family for their children?" Besides, Wan'er and you spend a lot of time together, and they know each other well. You probably don't know that she has read through the articles you will try to test, as well as the little collection you published. She is naturally attentive to you, but her daughter's family is thin-skinned, how can she show it easily? ”

The osmanthus tree in July is verdant and green, but it is not yet the season of osmanthus blooming, and it is difficult to find the bright yellow stars on the branches. Qiu Shi casually pushed a slightly longer branch away, and when she turned around and saw Zhang Yue's face full of surprise, she smiled again: "Yuanjie, your husband and I only have such a daughter as her, and I have always wanted to entrust a safe person, I hope you will treat her well in the future." I can trust your character and knowledge, and even if your husband knew about it, he would definitely approve of this marriage. ”

If Meng Xian was still in office, the loss of his wife could be regarded as a first-class funeral, and countless colleagues and friends would inevitably come to mourn. However, now that he himself has just been released from prison, most of his former colleagues sent their families to send ten taels of silver to count, and the worse ones simply pretended not to know such a thing.

Baoding Hou Mengying heard that his brother-in-law had passed away, although he shed tears of sympathy for it, but he had not been in good health since the beginning of the summer, and he told Mrs. Lu and his daughter-in-law Zhang Qing to come forward for this funeral, and he did not go to help. Most of the heroes who attacked the lord were annoyed that Meng Xian had done too much this time, although he had never lost his honors, most of them did not come to the door in person. Mrs. Wang was pregnant with Liujia, the Gu family was old, and the Zhang Mansion on both sides was together, and Zhang Chao and Zhang Zhen came to the door together to send a hundred taels of ceremonies. The civil officials had no friendship with Meng Xian, so naturally they would not come, only Du Juan brought two family members to the door to offer condolences and sent twenty taels of ceremonies. Even Zhu Gaosui, the king of Zhao, who once valued Meng Xian a lot, was worried about angering Zhu Di, but he just sent the head of the palace to send two hundred taels of silver.

So, although Meng Jianuo's big mansion was maintained by the Baoding Marquis Mansion, it was sparsely populated in front of the door, and the two miserable white lanterns hung on the gatehouse, which was just miserable and miserable, revealing infinite sadness.

Because Mrs. Wu has not yet been buried, the children of the Meng family naturally go to the mourning hall every day to cry. Suddenly encountered such a great change, not to mention the people who were uneasy, even most of them also had no masters, Meng Tao and Meng Fan, who were good at talking and having fun in the past, also became silent. Even if you are not sensible on weekdays, now you can see what is going on even if you are a fool and look at your mother's funeral coldly. As for the few young children who are still honest now, the eldest Meng Bai once sprinkled a coquettish to Meng Xian because the spirit guard was too hard, but in exchange for a big slap, so the others were silent, and they didn't dare to slack off.

Aunt Liang, who was kneeling at the bottom, cried countless times with the crowd, and now she has long since lost her tears, but she howls twice, and she has her own small calculations in her heart. The Meng family can also be regarded as a big family, this partial concubine Fuzheng naturally has no hope, Meng Xian is only in his early forties now, and he has to continue the string, if he marries into a powerful steproom, I am afraid that her concubine, who only gave birth to one daughter, will have a worse life! Thinking of this, her crying couldn't help but bring a little real sadness, but she was crying herself.

On this day it was the third seven, but after the weeping, there were guests who came to pay their respects. After the sacrifice, Meng Xian met this unexpected guest in the flower hall of Mengfu, and after looking up and down, his tone suddenly became extremely ridiculed: "Since the second brother has something to order, why don't you want to move here?" Do you think that I am now a femme fatale, and once I get on the side, it will hinder his future as the Marquis of Baoding? Now it's your aunt's Sanqi, and the Zhang family also sent Zhang Chao to come over to offer condolences, but Brother Jun, you are still the first time to come back. Tsk, people say that distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors, and I think this close relative is nothing more than that! ”

"I was sent to Xuanfu by the Governor's Mansion before, and now I have just come back, and if my uncle accuses me of being unreasonable, I have nothing to say." Meng Jun, who is in his early twenties, has been training in the Governor's Mansion for nearly two years, and now he is quite calm, and then said, "My father didn't have any instructions for me to convey, he just said that although the Meng family has been separated, there are still a few properties in Nanjing that have not been disposed of, and now the eldest aunt needs money for the new funeral, so he asked me to send the land deed." ”

Meng Xian sneered and said coldly: "I have lost my official position now, but your father is suddenly so kind, probably trying to draw a clear line so as not to be affected by me in the future, right?" Very good, Tian Qi you stay, this is what I deserve. ”

Before coming to the door today, Meng Jun was already mentally prepared to look at the cold face, and it was not surprising to hear this at this time. Just as he was about to say goodbye and leave, he heard a voice from outside the flower hall.

"Master, the third young master of the Zhang family came to the door to offer condolences."

As soon as he heard this, Meng Xian in the flower hall was stunned for a moment, then smiled faintly, and said with a pun: "Zhang Yue has a heart, and he also knows that when he comes to see his wife for the last time, he doesn't avoid coming to the door like others, and he finally has a beginning and an end to doing things." He paused, and then ordered in a deep voice, "Tell the third young master and the fifth young master, let them have a good reception, I have been too sad, so I won't go to see him." ”

After sending away the little guy outside, he got up from his seat, paced back and forth in the study for a few steps, turned his head and saw Meng Jun's face uncertain, so he stepped forward with his back hand: "Brother Jun is not going back?" ”

This is a clear order to evict customers, Meng Junyuan planned to leave, and he didn't stay longer at this time, so he got up and said goodbye. Out of the flower hall from Yongdao to the mourning hall, he specially called a small servant, and learned that Zhang Yue was mourning, so he deliberately waited for a while. After a while, he saw Zhang Yue leave the mourning hall and hurriedly walked up.

"Third brother!"

"Big brother-in-law?"

Zhang Yue came to tell his grandmother Gu in advance today, because Zhang Chao and Zhang Zhen had already sent a gift before, so he just took a stick of incense to chat about his heart, and found that Meng Tao and Meng Fan seemed to have grown up a lot all of a sudden. But what he didn't expect was that today was the day of Mrs. Wu's Sanqi, which was supposed to be the season of the Great Seven Hanging Sacrifice, but when he just arrived outside the Meng Mansion, he almost didn't see anyone, and there were only the children of the Meng family in the mourning hall. Seeing Meng Jun at this time, he thought that this time it was thanks to the Baoding Marquis Mansion that sent many helpers, otherwise it would be even more difficult for the Meng family to support it.

Meng Jun chatted with Zhang Yue for a while, and then walked out side by side with him, sighing as he walked: "Although the eldest uncle said that he was released, there was a decree that he would be appointed as an official in the Xuanfu, but now he has to mourn for the eldest aunt for a year, and he will not take office for the time being." Seeing this situation, I really feel uncomfortable. By the way, how many times have my mother and your eldest sister talked about you, so you simply went to the Baoding Marquis Mansion to sit down? I just have something to tell you. ”

Zhang Yue thought for a while, and then sent Lian Sheng, who came out with him, to report the news, and when he left the Meng Mansion, he and Meng Jun got on the horse and galloped to the Baoding Hou Mansion. Thinking of the words he had just heard from a few acquaintances of the Meng family, and seeing the cold and deserted appearance, he couldn't help but feel that the world was cold.

The home of the great hero, once the person is offended, it will only be like this in the end.

According to the etiquette system, the Baoding Hou family should serve Mrs. Wu in May, however, this is different from the system of Ding Wei after all, so the Baoding Hou Mansion has not closed the door to thank guests, the Langfang Hutong in front of the door is quite lively, and there are many people in and out of the east and west corner gates. Zhang Yue and Meng Jun got off the horse at the East Corner Gate, and immediately a porter greeted them, and the two people who had just entered the door also turned around, recognized that it was Meng Jun, and went out to see the courtesy and smile, looked at Zhang Yue's identity, and asked a lot of questions.

Because there was a Zhang Yue there, Meng Jun really didn't have the time to grind with the literati recruited by his father, and dragged Zhang Yue into the door after a few perfunctory words. It wasn't until he passed the Hanging Flower Gate that he slowed down and explained: "I don't know who picked it up, but I let my father raise so many people, and he doesn't know how to fight and doesn't understand military affairs. ”

Speaking of this, he suddenly changed his words and said: "I heard your eldest sister say that the old lady once ordered someone to send a basket of peaches to the Du family, and the two families often corresponded after that, but the old lady liked Miss Du family?" Now that you're back, is this marriage decided? ”

"That's true." When Zhang Yue heard Meng Jun's inquiry, he simply said bluntly, "Grandmother has officially mentioned it to my grandmother yesterday, and the two families will exchange Geng posts in the next two days." It's just that before the marriage is decided, I still want to try to meet the emperor once. Mr. Du has taught me for so many years, and although I am now free of worries, Jinyiwei Prison is not a good place after all. If the emperor can sympathize with Mr. Du's actions that day is a public heart, it will be the best. ”

"You actually want to plead with the emperor for this matter? Do you still want to use this to get your teacher out of the Jinyi Guard's prison? ”

Meng Jun was suddenly startled, stared at Zhang Yue for a long time, and he couldn't help but smile bitterly: "The emperor is usually majestic and fierce, and the slightest mistake is a reprimand, even if he is a high-ranking civil and military official, he often does not dare to face the saint easily, you actually dare to beg for Lord Du...... Anyway, do you really think the emperor is so easy to see? Unless there is a great dynasty, officials below the fifth rank are almost ungraceful all year round, that is, officials above the fifth grade, except for the six books and the cabinet of scholars, almost all of them are only waiting to be summoned. ”

Zhang Yue spread his hands and said honestly: "This brocade guard is serving hundreds of officials, for the sake of marriage, my family and the Du family have been in frequent contact these days, even the British government is also alarmed, and the emperor will naturally know." If I can't ask to see you, I will wait for the summons, I just hope that the emperor can give me this opportunity. ”

"You're really far-reaching!"

Even if it is Meng Jun, he is still happy at this moment - he actually counted all the Jinyi guards who were investigating hundreds of officials, why is his brother-in-law so bold? Thinking of Meng Xian's vague attitude before, although he knew that he shouldn't say it at this time, he still couldn't help asking: "Although it is the words of the matchmaker of your parents, what about yourself?" Say something that I don't dare to let your eldest sister hear, when I met her for the first time, I really fell in love at first sight, and I suffered from gains and losses for a while. Otherwise, even if I marry her according to my parents' orders, I will have three wives and four concubines...... You've been with Miss Du for a while, but do you really like her? ”

"Since the eldest brother-in-law said that he suffered from gains and losses back then, I am not the same now?"