Just when Yao Hei'er and the Empress Dowager, Empress and others of Jiyan City all arrived in Hancheng, there was unexpected good news.

Originally, the six state capitals in the south of the Xu State heard that the monarch had become the prisoners of the Mu State, and they all came to surrender to the Mu State, and they were willing to join the Mu State. This is also their only choice, otherwise, they will inevitably be annexed by Jing or Yue. As a result, with the exception of Dingnan Prefecture, which was occupied by Yongdong and Dusin, the State of Mu had already accepted all the state capitals of the former State of Xu.

Without spending a single soldier, he gained six more state capitals, which was naturally a great benefit to Li Gong.

Although Mu does not need to send troops to the south for the time being, there are still things to do.

Xu Junlongyin and his concubines and princes, how should they deal with it? What should be done with those who have become high-ranking officials through flattery, and those corrupt officials who ravaged the people, who are still imprisoned in prison?

Regarding the handling of Long Yin's family, everyone's opinion is very consistent, the tyrant is unreasonable, cruel to the people, and innocent of death. Which of his sons is not as mischievous as the dragon's roar? As a result, Long Yin's family, not long after, were all executed.

And what should be done with those officials who are imprisoned in prison? The kings and ministers of the kingdom of Mu had different views. Some people think that God has the virtue of a good life, and these people are not the chief evildoers, and exile them, that is; Some people think that they are aiding and abusive, and that their crimes are not punishable, and they should be guilty of the same crime as Long Yin, and they can also warn those who are flatterers.

At the end of the court meeting, Yao Hei'er came to meet Li Gong and said bluntly, "Your Majesty, Weichen is a woman, and Weichen doesn't understand military affairs." However, the crown prince and young master Wang Yi was one of the masterminds who framed his father that day, and he framed Zhongliang for disloyalty; Framing the righteous brother is for injustice, such disloyal and unrighteous people, Weichen thinks that there is no reason to stay, and please ask Your Majesty to make a holy judgment! ”

A few days later, a holy decree came down, and except for the former Grand Sima Chen Chun and the crown prince and young Fu Wang Yi, all the other imprisoned officials of the Xu State were exiled. Chen Chun and Wang Yi's two families, half a month later, were beheaded.

Hearing this holy decree, Yao Hei'er breathed a long sigh of relief.

In the afternoon, the sky was heavy and the wind was cold, and it seemed that it was going to snow again. Yao Hei'er was wearing a sable cloak, a silver-red satin jacket, and a stove in her hand, talking to Zhong Cuiling in the room.

In the corner of the room, the silver charcoal in the two beast-shaped large copper furnaces was burning vigorously, and a layer of fine beads of sweat appeared on the tips of the noses of the two people.

This Lady Yao Guo's mansion, located in the eastern district of the cold city, is not very large, but there are all kinds of pavilions. This was originally the mansion of an official eunuch of Xu Guo who returned to his hometown with his family, and after a little tidying, he temporarily lived for Yao Heier.

Li Chun originally told Yao Hei'er that when everything settled down, he would build her a bigger mansion. Yao Hei'er politely declined, she said, "If the saint is gracious, the original Yao Mansion will be simply repaired, and Weichen will still live there, that is." ”

This request was reasonable, and Li Gong naturally agreed.

The original Yao Mansion still exists there, Yao Hei'er has already gone to see it, the yard has been dilapidated, the courtyard is overgrown with weeds, the pavilions and pavilions have mostly collapsed, and from time to time hares and squirrels come out of the grass, which is frightening.

After entering the city, another thing Yao Hei'er did was to send someone to find the original slave of the Du family. However, because Du's house was raided, the slaves had long been displaced, some were sold, some escaped, and some were imprisoned with Dusin, and later ran away with Dusin. Zhong Cuiling's husband Lu Chang and son Lu Tai have gone, no one can say.

Zhong Cuiling desperately suppressed the loss on her face, barely squeezed out a smile, and said to Yao Hei'er, "Sister, don't worry, just look for it slowly." ”

Yao Hei'er understood the bitterness in Cuiling's heart, but she had to comfort, "Cuiling, don't worry, I will definitely help you find them." Qiong'er and the three of them, treat you closer than me, they are also your daughters! ”

Although Zhong Cuiling pretended to be indifferent on the surface, she fell ill on the second day after arriving in the cold city. Without Yao Hei'er's instructions, the three girls, Yao Qiong, Yao Pei and Yao Jiu, took turns to serve soup and medicine to Zhong Cuiling, taking care of their Aunt Zhong like taking care of their mothers.

At this time, Zhong Cuiling, who had just recovered from a serious illness, was still quite haggard, Yao Heier specially ordered someone to invite her to come, and then said some gossip to comfort her.

A pot of goose-yellow plum in the room, the branches are scattered, and the faint fragrance is faintly exuded.

Zhong Cuiling lifted the lid on the hand stove, put another plum blossom cake on it, and said with a slightly tired smile, "Sister, I haven't been so relaxed for a long time." ”

Yes, since Zhong Cuiling followed Yao Heier and left the Du family, she has been doing her best to help Yao Heier take care of the house, if there is no Zhong Cuiling, just three children, Yao Heier can't do anything, the four mother and daughter, whether they will starve to death or freeze to death, is really uncertain. Later, in Yaojia Village, life was better, but Yao Heier was still busy with the affairs of the iron mine, busy with the people of the government, and the family still relied on Zhong Cuiling to run it.

Yao Hei'er glanced at Zhong Cuiling gratefully, and was about to speak, when she suddenly saw a mother-in-law coming from outside, and after giving a salute to the two, she smiled and said, "Mrs. Hui, the person on the door said that there was an old lady outside, and she wanted to see Mrs., and she had something important to say." ”

Oh? Yao Heier and Zhong Cuiling glanced at each other, at this time, who would come? An old mother, whose family is it?

Yao Hei'er thought for a while and said to the woman, "You can bring her in." Because a few years ago, Yao Heier ate a lot of closed-door soup at the door of the rich and noble's house, so she instructed the doorman at home not to take a shelf, and if someone came to see her, she must return in time, otherwise she will know about it and will not forgive.

In came a very old woman, unkempt, hunched, gray-haired, staggering, wearing a short brown undergarment, a black cotton skirt, and a hairpin on her head.

The old woman walked into the hall, bowed down, and said, "Meet Mrs. Yao Guo." ”

Yao Hei'er looked at the old woman a few times strangely, vaguely, it seemed to be a little familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen it, so she asked, "This mother, who are you?" Is there anything you want me to do? Just say it. ”

The old woman raised her head and looked at Yao Hei'er, with a hint of embarrassment on her face, and said, "Yao...... Does Mrs. Yao Guo really not know me anymore? I am...... I'm ......" suddenly turned his head again, looking at the girls and mothers-in-law in the room.

Yao Hei'er became more and more surprised in her heart, and hurriedly instructed the girl and the mother-in-law, "You all go out." ”

Everyone hurriedly agreed, and Qi brushed and retreated, and the old woman said, "Mrs. Yao Guo, I am ...... I'm Mama Qin of Master Wang's family! ”

Yao Hei'er was taken aback, hurriedly stood up, picked up Mama Qin, tears fell from her eyes, and sighed, "Mama Qin, how did you become like this?" After I came this time, I heard that the Wang family was in prison, so I rushed to the prison to inquire about your news, but I didn't see your name, how can you ...... "Busy and changed the subject again, "Mom, since you have come to me, just live in peace, and I will do everything!" ”

Mama Qin broke free from Yao Hei'er's support, knelt down again, and wept, "Miss Yao, since you still recognize me as an old woman, I have one thing to ask you, you want to help me!" ”

Yao Hei'er was busy trying to pull Mama Qin up, but she insisted on kneeling, and said earnestly, "Miss Yao, I shouldn't have said this, but I really can't help it......"

Yao Hei'er also understood in her heart, her face was slowly covered with a layer of frost, and she said lightly, "Mother Qin, if something happens to you, even if I go to the soup, I will do it for you, if there is something to do with the people of the Wang family, please excuse me!" ”

A trace of shame appeared on Mama Qin's face, and after hesitating for a moment, she still raised her head, looked at Yao Hei'er, and pleaded, "Miss Yao, what is my fate?" And who dares to bother the girl? You resent Master Wang, and you deserve it, it's just that Mrs. and Young Master are really innocent, when the Lord wanted to do that, Mrs. persuaded Master ...... Girl, think about it, our young master, when I was a child, I followed behind the girl every day, and called ...... sister one by one."

"Say no more!" Yao Hei'er rudely interrupted Qin's mother and said coldly, "Back then, my father and Wang Yi didn't call each other brother and brother? Didn't you delay the surname Wang to frame my father? I didn't frame them, and they did it to themselves to get to where they are today! ”

There was an awkward silence in the room.

After a long time, Mama Qin kowtowed again, stood up, and walked straight out.

"Qin ...... Mother Qin......" Yao Hei'er couldn't help but scream, and said, "Mom, I don't think your situation is very good, it's better to ...... Why don't you let me fund you some silver taels...... Or, your old man will stay in my house......"

Mama Qin turned around slowly, looked at Yao Hei'er sadly, and said lightly, "No need, Miss Yao." I have been a descendant of the Wang family all my life, I grew up with my wife, and later brought up the young master with my own hands, if they are gone, I am an old woman, what is the fun of living? With that, he turned around again and walked out woodenly.

Yao Hei'er opened her mouth again, but she didn't say a word after all.

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