、、、、、、、、、、 Not to mention that when I talk about peony flowers with Lu Fang, we all hate each other late, and we have the same interests. Peony returned from Fangyuan and it was Chinese New Year's Eve a few days later. On this day, the family sticks spring books, peach charms, burns paper money, lights a fire in the courtyard, lights and candles on the embankment in the living room, sings and dances, drinks and keeps the New Year. Although He Zhizhong and others were not at home, the He family had long been accustomed to this kind of farewell, after having dinner and drinking pepper wine to dispel cold and dampness, but when they heard the noise outside, it was the beginning of the annual exorcism activity. The children shouted for a while, and they all went outside to see the excitement, and Peony also went out with everyone.

But I saw countless people wearing hideous masks, pretending to be in the shape of various ghosts and gods, and the two in the center, respectively, wearing old man masks, one was a woman, and the other was a mother, leading everyone to sing and dance, dancing and laughing, and shouting, all boiling, so lively.

After passing a group of people, I suddenly saw another group of people, but they were dressed in red clothes and black pants of the same color and style, all holding yak tails, which was obviously more neat than the group of people in Shicai. One of them stopped at the door, lifted his mask, looked at the He family and smiled, and the children immediately burst out laughing and shouted, "It's Uncle Zhang." Where is Uncle Zhang going? He Yan and He Chun stepped forward and grabbed his sleeves.

Erlang hurriedly hugged his fist at Zhang Wulang and said with a smile: "Where is Wulang going?" ”

Zhang Wulang glanced at the jubilant people behind him, and said with a smile: "These are all guards who are going to the palace, and they will enter the palace with the musicians later." He squeezed his eyes and said, "I heard that the Holy Lord and the nobles are going to come out to watch as usual, and it is a rare opportunity. In fact, it is the best time to peek into life in the palace.

Erlang smiled: "It's been a long time since I saw you have this kind of Yaxing." ”

Zhang Wulang smiled embarrassedly and said, "There are about a thousand people who entered the palace this time. Many people took this opportunity to sneak in and have a look, and because I knew the musicians well, they asked me to help. ”

Everyone understands. At this time of year, there are always many people looking for the clothes of the concubines, trying to blend in with the expulsion procession, peeking at the concubines and princesses in the palace, noble beauties, among which there are many rich brothers and scholars. Zhang Wulang must have colluded with the musicians to take advantage of these people's curiosity to collect money.

Seeing this, He Wei, He Hong and others all wanted to follow to see the excitement, and they didn't dare to ask their parents by themselves, so they went to pester Peony, Peony thought that it was not a big deal, so they went to talk to Mrs. Cen, so the four eldest children all went with Zhang Wulang. Everyone in the He family watched the excitement for a while, turned around and prepared to continue the New Year's celebration.

As the day dawned, the crowd was about to go to sleep, when they heard footsteps outside, accompanied by a burst of laughter, but the four boys had returned. Entering the house, everyone inquired about each other, He Hong said happily: "It's really in vain, the palace is full of splendid flowers, lights and candles are set up, singing music is played, dozens of volcanoes are lit in the court, the flames are several zhang, bright as day, the fragrance is overflowing, and it is extremely beautiful." It's a pity that when the fire dimmed, the palace people pushed in the car with agarwood to add, and the nearest volcano had a strange smell. It's clear that the agarwood burned inside is inappropriate, and I don't know how to do it. ”

Erlang said indifferently: "There are always bold minions, fishing in troubled waters, changing the good ones, taking the bad ones to make money." Then no one cares? ”

He Hongdao: "Someone asked, but it didn't affect the overall situation, and a large number of nail decoctions were added to cover up." The people above don't seem to smell it either. ”

Gorou smiled, "When is this, even if you smell it, you have to pretend not to smell it." After that, I will take my time to pay attention to it. ”

He Wei was impatient and said, "Don't talk about this, let's talk about something fun." Then the rest of the boys followed along and talked about what they had seen and heard, and the other children who had not made it were envious, and pulled them to ask questions, even the adults were interested, and interjected from time to time. Shake also got up and followed the loud noise, everyone forgot to sleep, and it was not lively for a while. Seeing that the atmosphere was warm and in a good mood, Mrs. Cen let the children shout, and only told the waiters to greet them, and when they were in the kitchen, they went to bed.

Peony returned to the room and slept until noon before getting up and dressing up. When I got outside, the whole family got up and was about to start eating, so I was preparing to eat lively, but before I could raise my chopsticks, I heard the door hurriedly run in and say, "There is a guest arriving." ”

It's rare to go out on the first day of junior high school, and the big guys are all visitors who start visiting from the second day of junior high school. Mrs. Cen is strange, and she still asks people to please quickly.

After a while, a young woman wearing a cyan blue hooded cloak and a water-red jacket skirt hurriedly walked in, looked at the banquet first, saw the peony at a glance, and said, "He Niang, the slave is Ah Hui, do you remember?" ”

Peony had already recognized her as Qin Niang's personal maid Ah Hui when she walked in, and the reason why she didn't take the initiative to ask was to see what she wanted. At this time, I heard her name call her name, so she asked someone to set up a seat for Ah Hui and serve hot tea soup, and said with a smile: "Remember, what kind of wind is blowing you here?" I thought I was wrong. ”

Ah Hui glanced at everyone, lowered her voice and said, "The slave is here to pass the word, I don't know if it is convenient for He Niang?" ”

Peony thought that Qin Niang had not moved for a long time since that time, and suddenly sent a maid at this time, I couldn't say that it was still a big deal, so I hurriedly asked Ah Hui to go back, but Ah Hui glanced at Mrs. Cen and Erlang, and said, "The matter is very important, please also ask Mrs. and Ergong to listen together." ”

Mrs. Cen and Erlang glanced at each other in surprise, and the Xue family immediately got up and led the others out, leaving only Mrs. Cen and Ah Hui inside. Seeing that everyone retreated, Ah Hui didn't wait for the He family to ask each other, so she said in a hurried tone: "My mother asked the slave maid to inform her, there is a disaster in the house!" ”

Everyone was amazed to hear this sentence, if it was an ordinary person, hearing such unlucky words at this time, I was afraid that I would be angry, but Mrs. Cen had seen many scenes, and her face did not change: "Where does the disaster come from?" Please also ask Miss Hui to elaborate. ”

Seeing that her face was as usual and she was able to deal with it easily, Ah Hui secretly praised herself and said, "Has the government ever handed over forty carts of agarwood and various spices to the palace before?" ”

Erlang unconsciously tensed up and said, "There is such a thing." ”

Ah Hui sighed and said: "Last night, the palace lit a fire, only used agarwood and nail decoction, there was a bunch of fire, the agarwood added was problematic, the smell was bad, many people smelled it at that time, but they didn't dare to alarm the nobles, and reluctantly pressed it, but after that, it must be traced, checked and checked, some people said that it was ten of the forty cars of agarwood sent by the house, and they were not all bad, but mixed with fakes." If you separate and burn in the rest of the volcanoes, you won't be able to smell it, and all the partial creatures will be gathered in one place......"

Mrs. Cen and the others were immediately shocked, they had heard He Hong mention this matter before, but no one thought that it would be related to their own family. Erlang said categorically: "Impossible! The spices sent by my family were all handed over to Mr. Jian in person after careful investigation and confirmation by our brother's hands! If there is a problem, it will be beaten back at Jian Lao! Where to get to the palace! ”

Ah Hui didn't say anything, and when he finished speaking, he said slowly: "The He family has been famous for many years, and naturally no one has the integrity of the house, but in the end it can't stand the villain's trouble." There was obviously a mark on the car, but now Jian Lao has pushed it cleanly, saying that it is because you have dealt with each other for many years and have never made mistakes, so you did not take a closer look. However, he also hinted, saying that he originally wanted to give the government some more shares, but the agarwood in the house was not enough, so he gave forty cars, and some people testified that the government had been running around a few days ago, looking for agarwood everywhere to make up the forty cars, and even the surrounding prefectures and counties ran over, and they didn't get together, and there were eleven cars, and then somehow, all of a sudden, it was done...... My master doesn't know what's going on, but let the slave and maid come to talk to the house first, and the house has a number in mind, so it will be better to be prepared when someone comes to inquire later. ”

This means that in order to make this business, the He family tried every possible way, and when there was no way, they did not hesitate to use shoddy goods, and even added fakes. Erlang was stunned for a moment, knowing that he had fallen into a trap, and that Jian Lao had also been bought, and he thought of the eleven carts of spices that Liulang led to get back, and he was so angry at the moment. Peony and Mrs. Cen also remembered that Liu Chang ran to the door to make trouble, and they both changed color a little.

Seeing this, Ah Hui hurriedly comforted: "Black can't be white, white can't be black." The government really didn't do these things, and he wasn't afraid of him checking it. My master remembered He Niang's affection, and he had already gone out, hoping to find out as soon as possible and return the innocence of the house, but it was just that his strength was limited, and he was afraid that he would still have to suffer some hardships. Knowing that it would not be good to stay long, he got up and took his leave.

Although Mrs. Cen was so anxious that her hands and feet trembled a little, she could still hold on, thanked Ah Hui and asked her to convey her gratitude to Qin Niang, and rewarded her heavily, so she asked Peony to send off the guests. Turning around, he instructed Xue Shi and the others to quickly hide their belongings in the sandwich wall in case of accidents.

Peony sent Ah Hui out and walked to no one's place, Ah Hui looked at Peony and saluted, and said softly: "So that He Niang can know that our mother never dares to forget your help and life-saving grace." There are many times when I can't help myself, but I have never stopped repaying in my heart, and I hope you don't care. ”

Peony hugged her and sighed: "I helped her that day, and I never expected her to repay her." It's just a matter of doing what you want, seeing the scenery and making love. Today's favor from her is to resist it, and you let her not have to take it to heart. She felt that since Qin Niang could know about this matter in the first time and send someone to report the news, she must have known it from King Jing. How Qin Niang will deal with this matter has long been known, no matter how she and Qin Niang get in love, it will not change the final ending, be generous, there is no need to mention it.

Ah Hui saw that she never mentioned what happened to Lu Wulang last time, and only said that she had thanked her for today's feelings, and she did not have the slightest intention of hitting the snake on the pole and reciprocating with her, and secretly said that she was interested. smiled and whispered: "He Niang is generous, but my mother does not dare to be ungrateful." She has a thoughtful sentence for the slave to pass on to you alone, and this matter is still on General Jiang. ”

Peony was stunned for a moment, and then smiled bitterly. Sure enough, King Jing was playing the idea of watching jokes first, and then selling favors when someone came to the door to beg for help, if he wanted his help, he wanted Jiang Changyang to make a clear statement. But Jiang Changyang is obviously unwilling to express his position now, and it is inconvenient to express his position. Besides, she didn't know where Jiang Changyang was at the moment, how could she count on it. If you can't bear it, bear it first, and find another way, there is always a way to find it.

Seeing that Peony was silent, Ah Hui smiled knowingly and said, "My mother also said that she understands your difficulties. If General Jiang is inconvenient, she will also do her best for you. It's just that she is a small person, and it will take some effort and time, and the house will have to worry about and delay for a longer time. ”

Peony listened to the sound and knew what Qin Niang meant, bypassing King Jing to make a force for her, although she didn't dare to believe it all at the moment, and she didn't believe that Qin Niang could have this ability, she was also a little happy, and she didn't refuse, she saluted and thanked her, and sent Ah Hui out.

As soon as Ah Hui went out, Peony envoy Gui went to look for Guo Duwei, and she rode a horse to find Mrs. Bai. Immediately afterwards, Erlang sent someone to call Liulang, and called He Hong and He Wei to inquire about the scene in detail. Liulang naturally refused to admit it, but the eleven cars of agarwood were checked by Erlang and Goro together, and confirmed that there was no problem, and at this time, he couldn't put all the blame on him alone.

As he was talking, the door was smashed again, and a guy who looked at the shop came in, saying that the spice shop had been sealed, and more than a pound of fake agarwood and inferior agarwood were found from the warehouse. For a while, it seemed that it was confirmed that the He family really had fakes. Erlang suddenly slapped Rokuro in the face and said angrily, "What's the matter? It was clean before, but the last two days were your shop. Who the hell did you let in? ”

Before Gorou and Peony and the old shopkeeper cleared the accounts, and in the last two days, because he and Gorou went to collect the accounts, but it was Rokuro who went to guard the shop, and if there was a problem, it was on him. Liulang's heart was weak, cold sweat soaked his clothes, and he only beat him to death and didn't admit it, and he didn't know. After he took Fang Er's money, Fang Er said that he wanted to see the famous incense hidden in the He family's warehouse, let him make it convenient, the warehouse was heavy, and outsiders were not allowed to enter easily, because he had a handle in Fang Er's second-hand, it was not easy to shirk, so he secretly took Fang Er in, and afterwards went to Fang's house to drink a wine, and he was drunk until he woke up in the evening. How dare he tell the truth to everyone, he just blindly denies it, and says: "A big disaster is coming, run away." ”

Gorou pressed Zhang's shoulder soothingly, and sneered, "Run? Where to run? What if we run away from a family? ”

Then there was another uproar, and a group of officials came in Hulala, and they couldn't help but say, they didn't want the money sent by people, but only put the chain on the necks of Erlang, Wulang, and Liulang, and tied people to turn over the boxes and cabinets, and Mrs. Cen shouted: "Slow!" Take people, take people, is this to raid the house? Let's take out the public approval first! ”

Aunt Feng and others blocked the second gate one after another, not allowing those people to enter, his family was good, and the neighbors around him saw this, so they came out to persuade and surrounded several layers inside and outside.

sneered at the official: "This is a rebellion, take it all down for me!" ”

Suddenly, I heard someone say in front of the door, "Yo, what's wrong?" This junior high school student made a lot of trouble. But it was Liu Chang who was dressed brightly and slippery, Shi Shiran walked in, and glanced at Mrs. Cen, Erlang, Wulang, Xue Shi and others with a smile, but he didn't see the peony, he was slightly disappointed, and turned to the official who was doing it and smiled: "Meng'er, you don't celebrate the festival at home, what are you doing when you run out?" ”

The official named Meng'er looked at him and said with a smile: "It turned out to be Liu Sicheng, the brothers are on errands, how did your old man get here?" ”

Liu Chang said with a smile: "An old acquaintance of mine lives here, and he came over to hang out during the holidays these days, who would have thought that it would be just here." What the hell is going on? ”

Meng Er said this once, it is nothing more than saying that He is a traitor, he dared to sell fake goods into the palace with shoddy goods, committed the crime of defrauding the king, and wanted to take it to ask for the crime, and Mrs. Cen and others resisted the decree and conspired against the will.

Liu Chang faked a few exclamations and said, "There must be a misunderstanding in this, right?" The He family is a well-known honest businessman, and it is not once or twice to send incense to the palace, how dare he do such a bold thing? ”

The official sang and harmonized with him, and sneered: "The desire for profit is getting darker, who can say it clearly?" Now that several people are accusing his family, and they are coming out of his shop, is there still a fake? ”

Liu Chang stepped forward to salute Mrs. Cen, and pretended to ask Mrs. Cen what was going on, and what could he do to help? Mrs. Cen knew that she had nothing to do with him, so she just turned her face coldly and said nothing. Liu Chang held his forehead and sighed: "I wanted to be cheeky and do a favor, so as not to frighten the female dependents, since you don't appreciate it, I don't have the face to ......" After that, he turned around and gave Meng'er a look.

When Meng Er got his hint, he immediately laughed evilly, and then asked people to do it, tied them all up, and said unashamedly that he was responsible for something. So he broke into a group of people in a mess, and he was angry, but he didn't have anything valuable, and only took the fragrant mountains in the main hall, a few gold and silver bowls and plates, some silk brocades, and women's ornaments as stolen goods.

Liu Chang went out, just standing outside with his hands in his hands and listening to the excitement, his mood was indescribably good, and his eyebrows were flying. In the past, his family pressed him with money so that he had no power to fight back, and when he left, his family knocked on the door and beat him up for a good meal, and in the East Market, during the Dragon Boat Festival, and at the Doubao Meeting, he was told to lose face, suffered countless dumb losses, and fell to this point. And look, immediately someone came to him. Thinking that Peony would beg him with rain, he refused, she begged again, he refused again, and he didn't answer her until he was in a good mood, and then he ...... He couldn't help but smile.

Not long after, in addition to the pot-bellied Zhang, Aunt Wu, Aunt Yang, and others, the official sent several women such as Mrs. Cen, Xue, Bai, Zhen, and Feng, as well as a few older boys such as He Hong and He Wei at the head, and took them away in a row. It didn't take long to go out, and I saw Peony leading Pan Rong and Gui to a black-faced man on horseback, and when I saw this miserable scene, Peony jumped off the horse with a pale face, with tears in her eyes, and first rushed over and hugged Mrs. Cen.

Pan Rong and the black-faced man stepped forward to deal with Meng'er, so that they wanted Meng'er to release the women and children, but Meng'er just didn't agree with a calm face, and shouted when he was in a hurry, and for a while, Pan Rong and the black-faced man had nothing to do.

Liu Chang watched from afar, standing still. He knew that Peony knew a lot of people, and he knew that he would inevitably invite many people to come, and look, even Pan Rong was invited. But this time is different from the past, he has been laying out for a long time, invited many enthusiastic people to help, and really held it in his hands with real evidence, if he didn't squeeze the He family dry, he wouldn't stop if he didn't crush the He family, and see what the He family would do to be crazy in the future.

But seeing that the He family was squeezed at the corner of the street and made a fuss, they were led in the end. The black-faced man and Pan Rong persuaded Peony a few words, and they both rode up to watch, leaving Peony with Gui, standing alone in the crowd, stupidly watching the back of the He family and not moving. Suddenly covered her face and squatted down, she didn't look up for a long time, several women stepped forward to persuade her, she just desperately shook her head and didn't look up.

Liu Chang's heart suddenly seemed to twitch violently, and then there was a hearty pleasure. He clenched the whip in his hand and stood in the shadows and watched the peony. After about a cup of tea, Peony slowly stood up, looked at the neighbors around her and squeezed out a smile that was more ugly than crying, and took the hand of one of her aunts and turned around and walked towards the gate of He's house.

Liu Chang couldn't help but take a step forward, just in front of Peony. He wanted to tell her that he could help her, and that he didn't want her to beg him, but that if she opened her mouth and said a kind word to him, he would be able to let her mother, sister-in-law, and nephews come back unharmed.

But Peony just stopped, and walked in front of him indifferently, without even looking at him more. Liu Chang couldn't help it, followed, blocked the peony at the door again, coughed heavily, and said, "Danniang!" I can help you. ”

Peony raised her eyes and looked at him steadily, and did not speak, Liu Chang was uncomfortable by her, and was a little irritable, and suddenly heard her speak: "How far can you help me?" Can you wash away my family's grievances? ”

Liu Chang was overjoyed, held back his joy and said slowly: "Your brothers are really bold, and the things they have done are conclusive, and the human and material evidence is complete. This spice shop will never be opened again, and what I can do now is to first save your mother, sister-in-law, and nephew in peace and security for you, and then tell your brother that they will suffer less and be less convicted. You can't do a spice business, but you can still do a jewelry business. ”

Peony narrowed her eyes: "How do you know that they have all the evidence?" ”

Liu Chang said: "How don't I know? I won't hide it from you, this matter has been decided, and now the hall is really just a formality, if you don't believe it, you will know the ending in a few days. I just pity your mother, who is very old, and your sisters-in-law and nephews, who have never suffered such a sin. The woman's family, after being locked up in prison for the first ten days and a half months, everything is over, and the future of your nephews is also worrying. There are also a few of your brothers, who have to open their skin and flesh and suffer a lot. ”