The emperor didn't expect things to come to this point, and his face hesitated. The stakes are very high, but it is not a matter of casual words.

In order to show justice, the emperor simply sent his chamberlain to summon Mu Jinfan into the palace.

So, half an hour later, there was another person in the imperial study, it was Mu Jinfan, the prince of Taijun.

After Mu Jinfan saluted the emperor, the king of Taijun scolded him sharply: "Rebel, don't hurry up and make amends to the Duke of Weiguo!" ”

The emperor didn't speak, just looked at Mu Jinfan scrutinically, wanting to see how he would react.

Mu Jinfan looked at King Taijun, looked cold, and asked in a calm tone, "What's wrong with my son?" ”

"You...... Die without repentance! King Taijun's face turned blue, and he felt that his face was about to be lost by this rebel. He looked at the emperor again and said ashamedly, "Your Majesty, this rebel is really hopeless. ”

The emperor looked at Mu Jinfan with a heavy gaze, judging from what this young man did today, his mind was inevitably too narrow-minded. He sighed with some embarrassment in his heart and made a decision......

The next day, that is, on December 28, the emperor issued a holy decree to abolish the prince of Taijun before sealing the pen, which caused an uproar in the entire capital, and all eyes looked at the palace of Taijun.

On December 29, the Taijun Mansion hurriedly cleaned up a three-entry mansion and officially separated Mu Jinfan.

However, in just a few days, everything has settled, but Mu Jinfan's cousin, the young son of the Liang family, whose whereabouts are unknown, has not been found, and Cheng Xunli, the commander of Jinyiwei, was also scolded by the emperor for this, and the emperor felt that Jinyiwei was still far less reliable than Dongchang.

Except for Liang Xiaogongzi, the rest of the Liang family is all in prison, waiting for the next year to be questioned.

On December 30, the emperor specially took the queen and several princes and princesses to Huangjue Temple to welcome the Empress Dowager He back to the palace. After all, it's the New Year, and if the Queen Mother stays outside, it will only provoke criticism.

After the Empress Dowager He returned to the palace, she took the eldest princess of Changqing in Cining Palace without stepping an inch, it is said that she wanted to devote herself to chanting scriptures and praying for the blessing of the country.

In addition, inside and outside the palace, there is a joyful atmosphere, the streets, houses, and courtyards are full of bright red lanterns, and the doors and windows are pasted with red spring couplets, announcing that the new year is coming.

The same is true of the Duanmu family.

At the beginning of the year, the family sacrificed their ancestors as in previous years and enjoyed the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner together, which was lively and orderly.

This is the second Chinese New Year's Eve that Duanmu Xian has spent after taking charge of Zhongfang, and with the last experience, she is more and more comfortable with everything, and it can be seen that Duanmu Xian is more and more satisfied with this eldest granddaughter.

In this jubilant atmosphere, the time for the replacement of the old and the new came, and the deafening sound of firecrackers resounded in the sky of the capital, one after another, until the gong sounded on the fourth watch, and then gradually stopped.

Everyone hurriedly rested, after all, on the first day of the Lunar New Year, Duanmu Xian and the He family had to enter the palace early in the morning to congratulate, and Duanmu Fei slept in the house beautifully, and only got up lazily until three poles in the morning.

Duanmuxian and He Weichu went out of the palace and returned to their homes, and after that, people from all rooms went to Yongxi Hall to pay New Year's greetings to them.

In a short time, the main hall was filled with people, and there were a number of servants on standby outside, all of them radiant, and their faces were full of festive joy.

Duanmu Xian and He sat on the two Taishi chairs with smiles on their faces, and then, everyone in the house began to pay New Year's greetings to them according to the respect of the elders and the young.

The husband and wife of the long room have gone to the immortals, so they respect the second room, and the second old man Duanmu Chao and his wife Xiao He stepped forward, walked to the two futons and knelt down to kowtow to their parents.

Duanmu Xian and He both took out the New Year's money prepared in advance, however, the red seal in Duanmu Xian's hand was about to be handed out, and his eyes suddenly fell on the bright red gold silk five phoenix Chaoyang pearl hairpin on Xiao He's head.

Duanmuxian would not have paid attention to the jewelry of his daughter, let alone his daughter-in-law's hairpin.

A few days ago, after Duanmu Xian had sorted out the dowry with his two granddaughters, he heard that they had specially listed a booklet to record the missing things in the dowry, so he asked the sisters to bring it to him, thinking that if there was a chance in the future, he would slowly replenish them.

At that time, Duanmujun also pointed to some jewelry on the booklet with some pity and said that these could have been given to Duanmu Fei as a dowry, and Duanmuxian casually took a few more looks.

The booklet is not only marked with the name, but also the picture, so Duanmuxian recognized it at a glance, and the red gold silk five phoenix Chaoyang pearl hairpin that Xiao He was wearing on his head at the moment was clearly the one that was "lost" in the Li dowry.

Duanmu Xian's face sank instantly.

Duanmu Chao and Xiao He, who were kneeling below, saw that Duanmu Xian had not moved, and looked up strangely, Xiao He's raised his head, and several pairs of silk phoenix wings on the five phoenix Chaoyang pearl hairpins trembled slightly, and the pearl in the mouth of Chijin Danfeng swayed in her forehead, shining.

For some reason, Xiao He felt that Duanmu Xian's eyes were a little panicked.

"Second daughter-in-law, where did this hairpin on your head come from?" Duanmu Xian asked casually, his expression indifferent.

The atmosphere in the main hall suddenly cooled with his question.

The other people who were talking fell silent, and their eyes fell on the beads in Xiao He's sideburns.

The people present are all from their own families, and they also have a good understanding of Duanmuxian's temperament, Duanmuxian is by no means the kind of person who has no purpose, so ......

Thinking about it, everyone's expressions became subtle, and their expressions were different, or they showed surprise, or frowned, or looked at each other, or waited and watched.

The fourth lady Ren and the fifth lady Ni secretly exchanged a look with each other.

Xiao He didn't expect Duanmu Xian to ask about this, his heart chuckled, his heart pounded faster, and his eyes fluttered.

She swallowed and said vaguely, "Father, this is ...... The daughter-in-law asked someone to beat me. ”

When He heard this, his face was slightly gloomy, knowing that Xiao He's was like her, and when he looked at it carefully, he could see that Xiao He's had a ghost in his heart.

Duanmuxian let out an "oh", let out a faint sneer, and then asked Xiao He: "So, where did you fight?" Who painted it, which master, and how much labor was used? ”

Xiao He sneered, and his heart became more and more uneasy, and his fingers squeezed the handkerchief tightly, as if this could give her a little comfort.

She tried to make her tone more casual, and smiled, "Father, why are you suddenly interested in this......"

"Smack!"

Duanmu Xian casually put the red envelope in his hand on the rosewood table on the side, like a photograph, and as if inadvertently, interrupting Xiao He's words.

Xiao He's body trembled with fright from this sound, and he saw the corners of Duanmuxian's mouth pursed, and his usually elegant face became serious and solemn.

"Father," Xiao He continued, hesitantly, "this hairpin was beaten in Jinyuzhai, and it has been some time......

He still can't see the cat in it, although she also wants to question Xiao He, but she can't let others see He's girl's jokes, she secretly gritted her teeth, planned to be vague first, and persuaded with a smile: "God, today's New Year, if there is anything to talk about later......"

He didn't have a chance to finish his words, Duanmu Xianshun picked up the teacup in his hand and smashed it towards Xiao He......

There was another "pop", and the teacup smashed on the side of Xiao He's futon, the porcelain pieces shattered to the ground, and the hot tea splashed in all directions, splashing Xiao He's new lilac-colored horse-faced skirt with a faint tea stain, and the smooth bluestone slab ground was a mess.

Xiao He snorted in fright and shrunk his neck.

The room was getting quieter, and you could hear a pin drop.

After Duanmu Xian took a deep breath, he pointed to the five phoenix Chaoyang pearl hairpins on her head and scolded angrily: "Jin Yuzhai?!" Do you want me to ask someone to go to Jin Yuzhai and ask if this is their beating? ”

Xiao He's mouth opened and closed, and he wanted to say something, but he heard Duanmu Xian say again: "You yourself are stupid, do you think that others are as stupid as you?!" This is clearly your sister-in-law's dowry, 'you' are good, colluding with each other, using the housekeeper's convenience to secretly cover other people's dowry, guarding and stealing themselves! ”

Of course, the "you" in Duanmu Xian's mouth refers to not only Xiao He's, but also He's, hearing He's face was blue and white, and her facial features were slightly distorted, at this moment she really wanted to step forward and slap Xiao He's twice.

The other people around secretly exchanged glances, and said in their hearts: No wonder the He family and the Xiao He family have been dragging the Li family's dowry and refusing to let go, there are really a lot of "benefits" in this. There is a saying that if you don't ask, you steal. It's really ugly!

"Father, you misunderstood!" Xiao He's face turned pale, and she only felt that the smiling eyes of other people around her pierced her like knives, making her ashamed and indignant, "This is my mother's sister-in-law......"

Duanmu Xian heard that she still wanted to quibble, so he scolded directly: "Honest and unscrupulous!" Your sister-in-law Li's dowry list is not only available in the house, but also in the Li family, do you want me to ask the Li family for a copy? Maybe the in-laws still remember where this hairpin came from, and which master beat it! ”

Speaking of later, Duanmu Xian's voice was as cold as frost, and the words were piercing.

Xiao He was speechless, the rubies and southern pearls embedded in the five phoenix Chaoyang hairpins are worth a lot of money, Mrs. Li is still alive, she personally prepared the dowry for her daughter, for such precious jewelry, she can't be impressed.

Xiao He's forehead began to ooze a thin layer of cold sweat, and he couldn't hide the embarrassment in his description.

Seeing her depressed appearance, the people in the room and those who were waiting under the porch to get the reward didn't know what was going on, and there was an uproar for a while, especially the people outside the house were talking privately and noisy.

Xiao He's face was almost as dead as ashes, and his heart fell straight down quickly. If the crime of embezzling the sister-in-law's dowry is convicted, her reputation will be completely ruined, and even if Duanmu Jun marries in the future, she may not want to take the right to give back to her hands......

Duanmu Fei on the side was smiling from beginning to end, drinking tea by herself, smiling like the little fox she raised.

Duanmufei knew that most of the Li family's dowries were privately swallowed by the He family or the Xiao He family, but there was no evidence, under the words of the He family, Duanmu Xian, who never cared about the affairs of the house, would probably be used up as if it was really spent. Even if they made a fuss directly at the beginning, there was no evidence, and it was impossible to let the two sisters go to the second room to search, which would not benefit them at all.

Only when the matter of the dowry on the surface is already over, can the person who embezzled it take it out.

Some antique calligraphy and paintings, gold and silver jewelry can be found but not sought, and it is impossible to sell them all.

So, after Duanmufei finished sorting it out, he deliberately asked the maid to draw the lost objects one by one according to the dowry list, re-register and make a book, and found an opportunity for Duanmu Xian to see it, just to plant seeds in Duanmu Xian's heart in advance......

Duanmu Fei was not in a hurry, but when he met in the morning and dusk, he showed off in front of Xiao He's from time to time, and sure enough, Xiao He's couldn't hold his breath and showed his feet so quickly.

A bright streamer flashed in Duanmufei's eyes, as if he was smiling.

With her understanding of Duanmuxian, Duanmuxian was afraid that she never thought that her daughter-in-law's dowry would be embezzled.

Not...... It's really good tea. She pursed her lips in intoxication, smiled deeper, and her eyes crooked.

Xiao He's face turned even paler, and he could only say, "Father...... This, this is indeed the sister-in-law's dowry, but the daughter-in-law did not deliberately want to ignore the sister-in-law's dowry. ”

Xiao He racked his brains to explain, "The daughter-in-law just borrowed it and forgot to return it...... Seven years ago, the Queen Mother's Qianqiu Festival, originally because the emperor went to Jiangnan, the Queen Mother said that she would not hold a birthday banquet, who knew that the emperor rushed back to the capital before the Qianqiu Festival, and issued an order to celebrate the birthday of the Queen Mother. At that time, the time was urgent, and the daughter-in-law did not have suitable jewelry, so she borrowed the sister-in-law's, and then put it in the box, and forgot about it for a while......"

Xiao He's was a little weak at first, but when she said it later, she had words and words, and almost even she almost believed that she had forgotten it.

Duanmu Xian's eyes became even colder, a sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth, and he said slowly: "This kind of excuse also wants to prevaricate me?" He didn't even bother to discipline any more, and it was useless to talk to such greedy and ignorant women.

He on the side also gritted her teeth secretly in her heart, before returning the Li family's dowry, she instructed Xiao He's to sort out the dowry, but she didn't expect Xiao He's to swallow part of it behind her back, causing her to pay 22,000 taels of silver for it.

Thinking about it, He still felt that his heart was dripping blood, but after all, Xiao He was her niece and a member of the He family, so He could only suppress the anger in his heart and said: "Old lady, the second daughter-in-law has always been a little sloppy. "No matter how much punishment is given afterwards, now He must round the scene first.

Duanmu, who was kneeling beside Xiao He's side, jumped towards the corners of his forehead, if it weren't for the fact that he was still scrupling about the occasion at this moment, and didn't want the other rooms and the people outside to see the jokes of the second room, he wanted to kick Xiao He's foot.

Short-sighted, really short-sighted!

She also doesn't want to think about how she will let the children behave in the house in the future!

For the sake of a few children, Duanmu Chao could only follow the round: "Father, Brother Heng's mother is indeed wrong to borrow his sister-in-law's jewelry, she has a bad memory, and she doesn't think about it......" Duanmu Chao only felt that his face in this life was about to be lost by Xiao He's family.

Between the words, Duanmu Heng stood up silently and knelt directly behind Duanmu Chao, ignoring the tea and broken porcelain pieces in that place and kneeling on the cold and hard bluestone slab ground.

From beginning to end, he didn't say a word, just silently expressed his attitude with his actions. He knew that his mother was wrong!

Xiao He knew that he was afraid, and hurriedly kowtowed and begged for mercy: "Father, my daughter-in-law knows that she is wrong." You just went around your daughter-in-law this time. She kowtowed again and again, and even the beads on her head were crooked because of the violent movements, and her description became more and more embarrassing.

Duanmu Xian sat there unmoved, didn't look at her, and said directly to Duanmu Chao: "What about Mo? You let her come and kowtow! ”

The atmosphere around changed again, not only Duanmu Chao and Xiao He, but also the others were shocked, and the atmosphere became even more strange.

It stands to reason that although the Mo family is a good concubine, she is a concubine in the end, how can she be qualified to come over and kowtow to Duanmuxian and the He family on this occasion.

Duanmu Xian's proposal is clearly to depreciate the He family and promote the Mo family, it seems that the wind direction of the second room is about to change again!

Everyone's eyes looked at Duanmu Xian again.

Duanmu Xian's expression remained unchanged, and he said unhurriedly: "Second brother, I heard that the Mo family has a body...... Your yard can't be left unattended, and when the New Year is over, a banquet will be set up, and she will be raised as a flat wife. ”

Duanmu Xian's expression was calm, as if he was saying something very ordinary, but it shocked everyone in the room.

"Father!" Xiao He cried out excitedly, his body swaying like a weak willow in the wind and rain, and his face was completely bloodless, as if he was about to faint at any time.

He was also anxious, and hurriedly said, "Old lady, this is not appropriate, right?" This famous family in the capital, who still raises his wife? Our Duanmu family is a scholarly disciple, the door is upright, and if the matter of the flat wife spreads, wouldn't it be plain for people to criticize our Duanmu family for ignoring etiquette and improper manners after tea and dinner, and provoking people's handles? ”

"In that case, then let the second child write a letter of resignation, and then straighten out Mo's." Duanmu Xian said lightly.

He Shi's eyes widened slightly, and he was speechless for a while.

Duanmu Xian said in an unquestioning tone: "Either divorce the book, or raise your wife, you think about it yourself." ”

The room was quieter, the air was more condensed, and even the fourth and fifth ladies realized that Duanmuxian was not joking, and their father-in-law had always said and could do it.

I don't know when the house was empty, and after the big maid of Yongxi Hall gave a stern warning to the people, she sent them away, and only the sound of the cold wind whistling around her was endless, and the joy of the original New Year was completely dispersed.

After being quiet for a while, He had a choice in his heart, and told Mama You to call Mo Shi.

Everyone seemed to have guessed He's choice, their expressions were complicated, and Xiao He's eyes were already red, his eyes were full of tears, and his heart was empty and cold......

When Mo Shi came in with the maid of Yongxi Hall, she was still confused, she tactfully inquired with the maid who came to pass the word, and the other party only vaguely said that the second lady had made the old lady unhappy, and the old lady called her to talk.

When she entered the house, she found that the atmosphere in the room was very strange, and the eyes of everyone looking at her were so complicated that she could not describe it. Mo was dressed very elegantly and decently, wearing a purple engraved silk gown, with a slender waist and a flat abdomen, and he was not pregnant.

At this moment, Mo Shi couldn't afford to look at and think more, so he could only walk behind Xiao He without squinting, and was about to bend his knees to salute Duanmu Xian and He, when he heard Mama You say: "Aunt Mo, kowtow to the old lady and Mrs. Tai......"

Mama You then said concisely about lifting his wife.

Mo was shocked when he heard this, and his heartbeat pounded faster.

Since Mo Shi entered the Duanmu family, she has been living well, especially Xiao He's stayed in Huangjue Temple with He's for more than half a year, during that time, she only needed to serve Duanmu Dynasty well, and manage the inner courtyard of the second room, and her life was comfortable. That is, after Xiao He's returned home in July last year, he troubled her from time to time, let her settle down in the morning and dusk, let her make rules, and let her serve the sick.

For her, being raised to be an equal wife is almost a beautiful thing that fell from the sky, and of course she was happy, but she was silent.

Mo Shi is a smart person, he didn't respond immediately, he looked at Duanmu Chao with some embarrassment, and he didn't make a sound, but he had already made a look of "only his order is obeyed".

The Mo family has been through the door for more than a year, and she has always been gentle and gentle, and she knows the general situation, Duanmu Chao is quite satisfied with her, and no matter where she talks about this matter, it is Xiao He's fault, so she admits it.

Mo Shi knelt down obediently, and without waiting for the maid to carry the futon, he directly kowtowed to Duanmu Xian and He's and took the New Year's money.

Xiao He's expression was in a trance, as if half of the three souls and seven spirits were missing, and when she saw that the maid was about to help Mo Shi get up, she finally came back to her senses and kowtowed to Duanmu Xian again and begged for mercy: "Father, daughter-in-law really knows that she is wrong!" For the sake of Brother Heng'er's face, you can spare your daughter-in-law. Daughter-in-law really didn't mean to......"

Xiao He became more and more excited, almost hysterical, tears falling from the corners of his eyes, and his eyes were red.

In the end, it was a husband and wife for many years, Duanmu Chao felt a little unbearable in his heart, but Duanmu Xian said indifferently: "It's really bad luck for the New Year, don't bring the second lady down!" ”

Duanmu Xian gave an order, and immediately two mothers-in-law stepped forward and took Xiao He's family down half-dragging and half-dragging.

The main hall was quiet, but the atmosphere was becoming more and more depressing.

Duanmu Xian still looked calm, and lightly instructed Duanmu Heng: "Brother Heng, after a while, you will be responsible for collecting and collecting, and see if there is anything that your mother 'borrowed' and forgot to return." He did not hide the mockery in his words, and it was obvious that he had already decided that the five phoenixes and Chaoyang Zhuhai were by no means the only exception.

Others are well aware of this.

The wealth is moving, and the Li family has such a large dowry at hand, with Xiao He's sharp-eyed temperament, since it is "borrowed", there will naturally be a second and third kind......

Duanmu Heng was still kneeling on the ground, and he should say yes.

After Duanmu Chao and Duanmu Heng got up, some people neatly cleaned up all the broken porcelain pieces on the ground, and then the others continued to pay New Year's greetings to Duanmu Xian and his wife.

After the old ladies of the third, fourth and fifth rooms have saluted, and after taking the New Year's money, it is the turn of the grandchildren below.

Most people were affected by what happened just now, so that their behavior was a little restrained, not like a New Year's greeting, but like receiving a punishment, and after a while, it was Duanmufei's turn.