Duanmuxian was left alone in the study, quietly around, a few plum trees were planted outside the window, which had quietly bloomed, when the cold wind blew, the plum trees danced with the wind, rustling, and the tender yellow plum trees trembled slightly, like butterflies.

When Duanmuxian came back to his senses, Duanmujun was long gone in the house.

He frowned slightly, and suddenly felt as if he had forgotten something...... By the way, it's Duanmujun's marriage.

Ay!

Duanmu Xianchang sighed, rubbed his eyebrows, and felt that the marriage of the eldest grandson and the eldest granddaughter was really more troublesome and worrying than the political affairs in the court.

Since he agreed to Duanmujun, Duanmuxian mentioned the matter of the Li family's dowry in front of the whole family that day, and directly asked the He family to be sorted out as soon as possible, and it will be handed over to Duanmujun to take care of in the future.

He Shi felt as if a thunderbolt hit her ears, shocking the spot, and felt that Duanmu Xian was going to rip flesh from her heart.

She gritted her teeth secretly, but she couldn't show anything on her face, and sighed: "I gave Sister Jun a shop and a Zhuangzi to practice last year, thinking that she would take over her mother's dowry step by step. However, Sister Jun is still in charge of the middle feed in the house, and she is about to talk about marriage at the age of marriage, so she should leave some time to embroider her dowry. She is alone with a pair of hands, where can she be busy......" He tried to find an excuse to prevaricate.

Duanmu Xian frowned when he heard this, how could he not know that He Shi was pushing, and interrupted He Shi in a cold voice: "Sister Jun is busy, isn't there still four girls?" The daughter-in-law's dowry was originally the two granddaughters, so many years, that is, the two girls were not in the capital, and they have been keeping filial piety after returning to Beijing, so you are just in charge of it. ”

Duanmuxian's voice was not particularly loud, but it was reverberating in the room like a drum.

Everyone in each room was silent, looking at each other secretly, with different expressions, for the fourth and fifth rooms of the concubine, it was just a good show. No matter how thick the dowry of the Li family in the long house is, it has nothing to do with them, anyway, no matter who it is, they will not get any benefits.

He Shi felt that Duanmuxian's words and everyone's eyes were like several slaps directly on her face, her face was hot, but she could only force it and said: "Old lady, I also have good intentions." There are a lot of shops and Zhuangzi in the dowry left by the eldest daughter-in-law, and those shopkeepers and stewards are all human spirits, and Sister Scarlet is only eleven years old, young and thin-skinned, I am afraid that those people will rely on the old and sell the old and bully her. ”

"Old lady, you also said that I am keeping it on my behalf, this is done, no one said, if the matter is messed up, I will not only be unable to explain to the two granddaughters, but also make amends to the Li family. In the past ten years, there has been no credit, there is always a hard work! ”

He Shi said vigorously, and there was still a bit of grievance between his words.

However, everyone present was not stupid, and their expressions became meaningful. The Li family's dowry is rich, which is well known, and the more the He family refuses to let go, it means that the interests involved are not small.

Duanmu Fei drank the tea slowly, but the corner of her eyes looked at the He family quietly, from the He family's seemingly righteous words but actually strong and capable attitude, she could guess that the Li family's dowry was afraid that it had been misappropriated a lot.

However, now that Duanmu Xian has come forward, neither she nor Duanmu Jun have spoken.

Duanmuxian has become more and more disappointed with this old wife in the past two years, his heart is like a mirror, and he doesn't want to be entangled like a shrew scolding, so he said in a tough tone: "Since you have to give it sooner or later, it's better to take advantage of it." If something goes wrong in the future, it won't be on your head. I think the two girls will think about your grandmother's hard work all these years. ”

He's face was blue and white and purple, she knew that the words had come to this, if she didn't go down, the old lady was afraid that she would be suspicious, so she could only grit her teeth and say: "The old lady is right." But the dowry is going to be long after all, and I'll have to give me some time to sort it out......" She tried to delay the time.

Duanmu Xian had already prepared for this retreat, and said without hesitation: "The end of the year is the time to close the accounts, so it will be handed over before the year, which is just right." ”

He originally wanted to delay until next year, but the words were blocked by Duanmuxian lightly, so he could only respond in silence.

Duanmujun and Duanmufei quickly exchanged a look with each other, and this time was acceptable to the two of them, so there was no fight.

A turmoil in Dingjiang passed like this, and soon, the people in each room said goodbye one by one, and the Yongxi Hall became empty again.

Duanmuxian has also left, and the He family is still sitting on the Luohan bed, slowly twisting the Buddha beads in his hand, the surface is calm, but his heart is like numbness: in the early years, Duanmuxian was just a bachelor from the Hanlin Academy, all kinds of entertainment, interpersonal contacts in the house, so many people's daily flowers, children's dowry, and grandchildren's wearing and reading family learning, all have to spend silver, Li's dowry is at hand, and it is easy to use, where is there so much consideration.

Right now......

"Mama You," the Buddhist beads in He's hand stopped, and ordered in a deep voice, "You go and sort out the dowry left by the Li family with the second lady......"

"Yes, Madame." Mama You bent her knees to accept the order and retreated.

It is not possible to sort out the account books for more than ten years in a short time, and Mama You almost lived in Qionghua Courtyard next, and she was so busy that it took five days to sort out the account books.

On December 12, He's Yongxi Hall was filled with the account books that Xiao He and Mama You had brought with them.

He Shi flipped through the account books they had sorted out, his face became more and more ugly, and even the atmosphere in the room became cold.

She didn't expect that Li's dowry would only leave about fifty percent.

"Wanrong, why is there only so much left?!" He Shi Meiyu looked at Xiao He Shi tightly, and asked in a deep voice.

She originally estimated that in addition to the income from the shop and the grange over the years, which were used to spend it, the original dowry should be at least seventy or eighty percent.

"Mother," Xiao He straightened his waist and explained in a scismatic manner, "a few years ago, the Emperor's Wanshou Festival, the Queen Mother and the Empress's Qianqiu Festival, and the annual congratulatory gifts, some antique ornaments were moved by nearly half. There are also the 60th birthday of Liu Shoufu and the happy event of Prince Bao's mansion...... This pile, one by one, has to be gifted! ”

Xiao He said as he pinched the handkerchief in his hand, and a trace of emptiness flashed in his eyes, but it disappeared in a flash.

He slowly turned the rosewood Buddhist beads in his hand, silent, and there was no joy or anger on his well-groomed face.

Xiao He's carefully observed his words and looks, and saw that He was not angry, so he said again: "Mother, the concubine Niangniang married into the royal family back then, so the dowry was very rich, but there was no silver in the family back then, so I had to borrow some from the sister-in-law's dowry...... After the emperor ascended the throne, the concubine Niangniang had to work everywhere in the palace, and silver was used everywhere...... also gave a lot of subsidies to the mother. ”

"Mother, so much silver...... Let the daughter-in-law go where to make up for it. Xiao He raised the handkerchief and wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, his eyes were slightly red, and he sobbed aggrievedly, "Auntie, you have to help you think of a way to do this." ”

What can be done?! The Buddha beads in He's hand stopped, and he glanced at the several account books placed aside with a sinking face.

After careful calculation, if you want to make up for this shortfall, it will cost at least 10,000 or 20,000 silver, and besides, some antique calligraphy and paintings can't be bought back at all.

He was distraught and closed the account book with a snap.

Although they have a "last resort" on their side, they will be poked in the backbone wherever they misappropriate their daughter-in-law's dowry.

"Mother," Xiao He wiped the corners of his eyes again, and took two steps forward with a smile, "It's been more than ten years...... her tone was a little meaningful, meaning that when doing business or something, there are always profits and losses.

He Shi heard the meaning of her words, glanced at her lightly, and said, "Can you lose half of the loss?" ”

What's more, whether it is Duanmujun or Duanmufei, these two girls are not easy to let others move, and they can be counted if they lose a sentence? I'm afraid it's going to overturn the sky!

Xiao He's eyebrows jumped, a strange glint flashed in his eyes, and he asked hesitantly: "Mother, then do you think you should go into the palace to discuss with the concubine?" ”

He's eyebrows moved, and his intention moved, but then he thought that he had concealed that the concubine wanted to marry Duanmu Jun for the eldest prince, and he was afraid that he would enter the palace, so he didn't know how to tell his daughter, so he was a little hesitant.

Xiao He's didn't know He's thoughts, and thought that He was embarrassed to talk to the concubine about it, so he arrogantly proposed: "If the mother feels inconvenient, the daughter-in-law can enter the palace on behalf of the mother......"

He pursed his lips, the Buddha beads in his hand turned again, and after hesitating for a while, he said, "Let me think about this matter again." ”

After Xiao He retreated, only He was left in the room, and his heart was even more irritable.

For the sake of the Li family's dowry, the He family was very nervous, and he also thought about telling the truth to Duanmuxian, but looking at Duanmuxian's obedience to the little girl, he felt that he would only be bored with himself.

The He family is struggling to return the dowry, and in the Zhanqing Courtyard, the two sisters Duanmujun and Duanmufei are busy with the clothes that Duanmufei will wear as a praiser.

The ceremony of the dancing sun is on November 16.

Duanmu Fei's clothes have already been made by Yujin Lou several times, and at this moment Duanmu Fei is impatient to try on the dress, and Duanmu Fei and a few maids will match her with jewelry to see if there is anything missing.

"Zhen Zhen, it seems to me that this begonia red dress not only matches your complexion, but also does not dominate the guests."

"Zhen Zhen, this set of garnet beads should match the clothes, I think I can match another Yingluo, and Huasheng ......"

"Let's just go to Yufangzhai tomorrow to see if there are any ready-made jewelry."

“……”

Duanmu Fei sat obediently in front of the dresser, tinkering with Duanmu Jun on his head, and proposed with a smile: "Sister, I'll paint this Huasheng's appearance!" Liulizhai's jewelry is playing well, so let's go to Liulizhai. ”

Duanmufei has always been very casual about dressing up or something, it is rare to see her so many ideas, Duanmujun couldn't help laughing, and the joy of having a sister in my family rose again in her heart.

Duanmu Jun echoed continuously, but whenever her sister said it, she would not say a "no" word.

Duanmu smiled more happily at the corners of his mouth, as if he was looking at himself intently in the bronze mirror, but in fact, his mind gradually drifted away......

Although Chu Qingci had promised to praise Wuyang many years ago, both of them actually knew that it was not easy for Chu Qingci to live to fifteen and Xu, and I am afraid that he would not be able to last until November this year......

Thinking of the past, a trace of nostalgia and sadness flashed in Duanmufei's eyes, and it disappeared in a flash, and the corners of his mouth quickly curved.

Maybe there is really "providence" in this darkness, and she didn't expect that she could become the praiser of Wuyang in another way and complete the agreement between the two of them.

The ceremony of dancing will be perfect!

The corners of Duanmu's mouth curved higher, and his eyes were slightly trance-like, as if covered with a thin veil.

"Quack!"

The little starling's dissatisfied cry woke Duanmu Fei from her thoughts, she looked down, and saw the little starling screaming while flapping his wings and running towards her......

It seemed to want to fly, but as soon as its right wing was forced, it screamed in pain, like a hen running for her life.

"Hachi." Behind the little starling, Bi Cicada chased after her quickly, still holding a white gauze in her hand, and her pretty face was dyed red.

Looking at the scene of chickens flying and dogs jumping in front of her, the pothos almost didn't laugh, for fear of being hated by the little starling, so she tried hard to hold back the laughter, and her shoulders trembled.

"Quack, quack, quack!" The little starling rushed to Duanmufei's skirt in a hurry, jumped at her and Duanmu and shouted, louder than the other, and the intact left wing pointed to the back, as if to tell the cicada.

"Fourth girl, the slave maid just gave Xiaoba the medicine, and it ran away while the slave maid was taking the gauze...... Bi Chan complained aggrievedly.

The little starling flapped his wings and called twice, as if to say, it shouldn't be bandaged!

Its right wing had been coated with some green, slimy ointment, and with a flap of its wings, it threw the ointment foam away......

Two drops of green ointment splashed on Duanmu Fei's skirt.

There was silence all around for an instant, and only Duanmu's voice sounded word by word: "Small, eight." ”

The little starling also seemed to know that he had made a mistake, and he seemed to freeze in an instant, unable to move.

It wilted and wrapped gauze for it by the cicada, and then hid in a small nest covered with bamboo leaves, curled up in a ball, with a small appearance of "I just don't love anyone and no one loves", which made the sisters both helpless and funny.

The days passed quickly in the grievances of the little starling, its wings got better little by little, and on November 15, there was finally no need to bandage the gauze, and the little starling who was so happy that he couldn't fly jumped several laps in the Zhanqing courtyard, and the little guy who had been hiding for half a month was finally willing to go out of the house.

In the afternoon of the same day, Duanmufei also got the jewelry that was urgently ordered in Liulizhai, and he just waited for the ceremony of Wuyang tomorrow.

This night, Duanmu Fei thought that she would not be able to sleep, but she didn't expect that she almost fell asleep on the pillow, all night, she seemed to have a lot of dreams about the past, and when she woke up, she didn't remember anything, the whole person slept full, and her cheeks were flushed with a healthy flush.

The genius was bright, and Duanmu Fei was in good spirits and called the maid to serve her to wash, dress, and groom...... Before the hour, the carriage carried Duanmu Fei to the palace.

The carriage gathered at the gate of the palace this morning was no longer the civil and military officials who participated in the early dynasty, but the ladies of the noble ministers of the clan who came to participate in the ceremony, and the carriage formed a long winding dragon at the gate of the palace.

Duanmu Fei, as a praiser, had to enter the palace in advance to prepare, so the attendants sent by the queen were given priority to welcome him into the palace gate.

As the eldest daughter of the emperor, the ceremony of dancing yang and the ceremony is extraordinarily grand, along the way, the entire palace is decorated everywhere as far as the eye can see, the ground is covered with a long brocade carpet, and the surrounding is full of lanterns and ribbons.

And the ceremony was held in the Baohe Palace, there were more than 100 female guests who participated, even Mrs. Chu, who rarely went out on weekdays, also arrived, and the hall was full of fragrant clothes and sideburns, and the atmosphere was particularly solemn.

A melodious sound of sheng music sounded leisurely, which also represented the beginning of the ceremony, the emperor personally presided over the ceremony, the eldest princess of Huaqing was the guest, Duanmu Fei was the praiser, and the lord of Yunhua County was the secretary.

"There is a girl in the Mu family who has just grown up, and my eldest princess will perform an adult ceremony today......"

With the emperor's clear and solemn speech, the ceremony was officially opened.

Wearing a pale pink dress, Wuyang quickly walked out of the east room, the first addition, then addition, three additions, the ceremony was carried out in an orderly manner, the dress on Wuyang's body was also more gorgeous and dazzling, and finally put on a graceful atmosphere, elegant and elegant red large-sleeved dress, wearing a luxurious and exquisite Jiuzhai four phoenix crown on her head, which is only the emperor's concubines, princesses, princesses and princesses can wear hairpin crowns, symbolizing her noble identity.

Fifteen-year-old Wuyang is tall and beautiful, and when she wears a crown, she seems to have grown up in an instant, and Gu Panjian has a noble temperament, step by step, under the guidance of the female official, she elegantly approached the emperor and empress on the throne.

That firm step seems to declare that she is the princess of the Dasheng Dynasty!

The queen looked at her daughter without blinking, for fear of missing any detail, and her eyes were slightly moist. Her only daughter grew up.

Wuyang knelt down and bowed below, listening to the emperor's teachings, and ended the whole ceremony with a sentence of "although the child is not sensitive, dare not only admit it".

Next, the guests were invited to the feast that followed, and for the emperor, the ceremony was over.

"My daughter has really grown up!"

After the ceremony, the emperor walked on the way back to the imperial study, and said with emotion, with a little nostalgia and embarrassment on his handsome face, looking like a loving father.

"I still remember that Maiyang was only so big when she was born, and she howled and cried in the crook of my arm......"

"There is a way, two lifts, four turns, six will sit, seven rolls and eight climbs will walk. Wuyang is quite dexterous now, he was slow to learn everything when he was a child, he couldn't turn over on his own after four months, and he couldn't walk when he was one year old, so he was so anxious that he was ...... the imperial doctor every day."

"It's like in the blink of an eye, Wuyang is in time, and you can talk about marriage."

The emperor sighed for a while, Xu thought of fifteen years ago, he stopped outside the imperial study, changed his words, and asked, "By the way, Ah Yin, how is the investigation?" ”

Cen Yin took a step forward, walked to the left rear of the emperor, and replied: "Your Majesty, the minister has inquired about some old people in the palace, and Ning Rende has never left the palace on the day of Chongyang fifteen years ago, and has been staying by the side of the puppet emperor. After the puppet emperor immortal went, Ning Rende killed himself that day, and many people can testify that he cut his throat with a knife, and there was absolutely no chance of survival. ”

Fifteen years ago, that day was the most important day of the emperor's life, and some things the emperor still recalls as if they were yesterday.

After the chaos was rectified, the emperor had ordered a wave of purge of the palace manpower, but before that, most of the palace people who served the puppet emperor and Empress Xu were martyred themselves.

He still remembered that Ning Rende was a close eunuch next to the puppet emperor, and he won the trust of the puppet emperor, at that time, when he walked out of the Qianqing Palace, he seemed to vaguely see Ning Rende dead in a bloody corpse.

The sun was shining all around, but the emperor who came back from his memories felt a cool feeling all over his body, his mood was a little depressed, and his face sank like water.

Fifteen years have passed in a flash, and he hasn't thought about that year for a long time...... It's all the fault of the seal!

The emperor looked at the rising sun and muttered to himself, "It seems that there is really no doubt......

Although the emperor had basically relieved his doubts when he was hunting in the palace, after returning to the palace, he still felt like a fish in his throat, and in line with the idea of never missing the slightest, he asked Cen Yin to investigate the events of the year carefully.

"Your Majesty, there are still many old servants in the palace who have left the palace, but do you want the ministers to check again?" Cen Yin asked with a cautious look.

The emperor raised his hand and said casually, "No need. ”

As he spoke, the emperor withdrew his gaze from looking at the sky, looked at the fallen trees in front of him, and said with emotion: "Fifteen years, Xu is children have grown up one by one, and I can't help but think of the old people recently...... and when they were young.

The winter breeze blew gently, making the bare branches rattle around it, as if in response to the Emperor's sigh.

Cen Yin stood behind the emperor, silent like a shadow, covered by his thick and long eyelashes, and a cluster of blazing fireworks flickered in his long and narrow eyes.

The emperor's eyes were fixed on a whirling and falling leaf, and he suddenly said: "As long as Ah Yan's marriage is over," the shadow guard left by the first emperor is in hand, "I will be completely relieved......"

As he spoke, the corners of the emperor's mouth curled up slightly, he had already put pressure on An Ping several times, and this matter was just around the corner! And he can finally rest easy!

"It's a good day!"

The Emperor laughed loudly and strode on, feeling better.

Cen Yin stayed where he was for two breaths, and then followed into the imperial study.

The rising sun rises higher and higher, hanging high above the blue sky, and the palace is as lively as this bright sun, until the afternoon and the feast of the ceremony disperses.

When the emperor got the news, he went to Fengluan Palace, saying that he wanted to discuss Wuyang's marriage with the queen, and casually sent Cen Yin to work by himself.

Cen Yin went back to the celebrant first, but before he went in for a while, he changed into a regular suit and came out, with an extra note in his sleeve, and left the palace alone.

Cen Yin didn't even ride a horse, he walked slowly on the street, dressed in brocade clothes and jade belts, he looked like an ordinary nobleman, attracting amazing eyes on the side of the road.

Cen Yin is going to Cen Mansion, but this "Cen " is not the other "Cen ", he is going to Cen Zhenxing's mansion in Hulu Lane.

Cen Zhenxing, as the eunuch of the palm seal of the celebrant eunuch, in order to facilitate his entry and exit from the inner court, his house was naturally not far from the palace, only two streets apart.

"Ah Yin, sit down." Cen Zhenxing couldn't help but show a gentle smile on Cen Yin's white-faced bearded face, and deep laugh lines appeared at the corners of his eyes, "I recently got a good tea, and our father and son sat down to drink a few cups together." ”

Cen Zhenxing, who was at home, wore a loose Taishi Qingdao robe, and his silver hair was casually raised with a bamboo hairpin, looking comfortable, just like an ordinary old man seeing his own nephew.

"Thank you, father-in-law." Cen Yin smiled slightly, and after saluting, he sat down next to Cen Zhenxing.

Looking at the insightful smile on the corner of Cen Yin's mouth, Cen Zhenxing seemed to think of something, put away his smile, sighed, and waved his hand to let the little waiter serving in the room retreat, leaving only their father and son.

There was a brazier burning in the room, warm and warm, like a spring day, but the place where the father and son met was as cold as water.

"Ah Yin, do you already know?" Cen Zhenxing asked slowly, in a questioning tone, but his expression was very certain.