Tong took a fan to cover the sun and stepped into the bamboo courtyard against the heat wave. At this time, it was just after noon, and several little girls were sitting against the pillars under the porch, all drowsy and sleeping. Tong didn't wake them up, and walked directly to the main room with Su Yun.

As soon as he walked to the door, he heard the angry voice of the Nala clan coming from inside: "What? He's dead?! Why are you so careless?! Tong stopped and glanced at Su Yun, and Su Yun raised his voice and shouted, "Is the eldest lady at home?" The third lady has come to see you. I heard that a woman hurriedly walked out of the house, but it was Nala's companion Jin's mother.

Tong said with a smile: "If you have nothing to do in the afternoon, you came to talk to your wife, and you didn't disturb her rest, right?" ”

Mother Jin laughed with her, and Nala also greeted her at the door of the room: "Where is this?" You know that I'm not used to sleeping at noon, it's just that it's too hot, so I'm just recuperating. I'm bored, you're here, it's great, it's hot outside, come in and sit. “

Tong smiled and followed her into the house, and when he saw that there was no difference in her face, he didn't ask what he had just heard, but only talked about some family affairs. She said: "In two days, it will be the old lady's Qiqi, and the eldest sister-in-law invited someone to fast, but look at the hot and humid weather, I am afraid that it will rain." If you do things in the yard, I'm afraid of inconvenience. ”

Nala said: "I have thought about it, when the old lady was there, she lived in Rongqing Hall all the year round, and there was a large place there, and there were hugging buildings on both sides and in front and back, so it was better to move the Dharma to do it there, and you would not be afraid of rain." ”

Tong clapped his hands: "Wonderful, in this way, even if the weather is sunny and rainless, those nuns and monks can be protected from the scorching sun, and the eldest sister-in-law has accumulated yin virtue for the old lady." ”

Nala smiled silently. The two talked about some trivial matters again, and after being with Jin Ma for a while, she said that she was going to take care of Dege'er. Retreated.

As if he suddenly remembered, Tong asked Nala, "I heard the second sister-in-law say." She seemed to see Lao Xu of her sister's house on the second gate before lunch, could it be that Jiangnan sent a letter back? She saw that Nala's face seemed to be a little unnatural, and she felt bad in her heart, so she hurriedly said: "Could it be that the second sister-in-law is wrong?" Or is there something inconvenient about it......"

Nara paused and smiled: "What's inconvenient? In fact, it's okay to tell the third siblings. I didn't plan to make a statement, but my brother-in-law wrote a letter to our father to inquire about some court affairs. In the letter, he told him to do things privately, and we couldn't tell anyone to go. Tong said: "I see, this is also a trivial matter, why should my brother-in-law avoid people?" ”

Nala suddenly remembered: "Speaking of what he asked in his letter, maybe the third brother has heard of it." It's that Lord Chen Liangben, didn't he come to our house to look for the third brother? You're on good terms with him, aren't you? ”

"I can't talk about friendship, but I've just met a few times. That time, Lord Chen was willing to come. In fact, he also came to the old man. What does my brother-in-law want to inquire about him? ”

"It's nothing, I don't know where he heard the rumor that the emperor was going to send Lord Chen to be the governor of Jiangnan at the end of the year. He and his colleagues and friends couldn't figure out what they meant. So write back and ask. Tong Shi let out an "oh". He lowered his head and took a sip of tea, and wondered: "How come I have never heard of the position of governor of Jiangnan?" But these are the big things in the court. I don't care about it, it's all about their men outside, maybe our lord will know something, right? She smiled apologetically at Nala.

Nala didn't care: "That's right, let them men worry about these things." All we have to do is take care of the housework. She immediately changed the subject: "Speaking of which, my sister also sent a letter, saying that next spring, they will be able to return to Beijing after their term of office expires, and it is very likely that they will stay in Beijing to serve at that time." ”

"That's a good thing." Tong reluctantly tugged at the corners of his mouth, "Speaking of which, we haven't seen my sister's family for a long time." Originally, I thought that they would return to Beijing this year for the sake of the child's draft, but who knew that they were sick again, and they missed a session. Nala pretended not to see Tong's expression, and said, "It is said that it is a serious illness, but it is actually not a serious illness." She saw that there was no one outside, so she approached Tong and whispered: "I heard that he was infected with some strange disease, and the child's whole face was covered with red bumps, and he really couldn't see anyone." ”

Tong covered his mouth: "How can this be?" I haven't heard of it at all. Nala nodded slightly: "My sister's family told outsiders that Su Su was seriously ill and couldn't see the light, and they begged their flag leader to report a serious illness and were able to postpone." My sister has always been a strong one, and I was afraid that my relatives would laugh at her, so I didn't tell my parents. This was revealed by Lao Xu. ”

Tong sighed: "It's a pity, although I haven't seen that child, I have heard that he has grown up very well, who knew that he had such a strange disease." Nala said: "You don't need to pity her too much, I heard that my brother-in-law hired a famous doctor and treated her for more than half a year, and she is almost as good as she is." I'm afraid that when they come home next year, there will be no trace of it at all. ”

Tong also breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this: "Fortunately, otherwise wouldn't my sister's family be too pitiful?" She and Nala looked at each other, and each smiled and bowed their heads to tea.

Nala sighed and said, "Think about it, the third brother and sister are the most blessed. Of the children of our sister-in-law, only your family's Duanning and Shuning are the most sensible and capable, and even the youngest Xianning is also so well-behaved that it makes people feel distressed. But we are all broken for our children

Tong Shi hurriedly comforted: "Why did the eldest sister-in-law say such a thing? I saw that after Brother Qing and Brother Shun got married, they were much more sensible and knew how to be motivated. Wanning is getting better and better, although she missed a draft this year, she will definitely have good fortune waiting for her in three years. The eldest sister-in-law doesn't have to worry about it. Nala smiled bitterly: "You also come to coax me." Wanning is good-looking, but her temperament can't be changed. I thought she had grown up, but the old lady had only been a few days before she showed her former appearance. You see she ...... a few days ago" paused, but still didn't speak: "Anyway, I can't help it if I take 1147sodu." I thought she could have a good family, but I don't know what she thinks, so I forcibly pushed the good marriage out. Tong Shi said softly: "The child's family is not sensible, and my sister-in-law is a mother to teach her well." But that family business, if it can be done. It's still a success. Decency and dignity come second, and the most rare thing is that one who thinks about grace and tranquility. ”

Nala nodded slightly: "I think so too." Although Wanning has always been close to me, she is my biological son in the end. What mother doesn't want her children to have a good land? It's okay for her to be a little noisy, as long as she knows the rules. It's enough not to lose face at home. ”

Tong agreed, but he was actually a little disapproving. She casually talked a few more gossips with the Nala clan, and then took her leave and went back to the Huaiyuan.

As soon as she left with her front foot, Jin's mother turned into the main room through the back door and said to Nala's: "Go back to Mrs. Talk." I have already asked someone to decorate the burial, and I can quietly send it out of the city while it is dark. ”

The Nala clan was interrupted by the Tong clan, and the original anger had almost disappeared, and he was finally able to calm down and think about the problem: "That's it, if it's too sneaky, it seems that we are weak-minded, and it will be bad if we ask the second room to hold the handle." You ask someone to buy a plain coffin, and you keep a low profile, but you don't have to be too evasive. If anyone asks. said that Aunt Qiu in Brother Qing's room had a relapse of her old illness and died. ”

Jin's mother was a little worried: "What if someone finds out?" Nala sneered: "How can someone find out?" When the old man went out of the funeral, Qiu Ju had already had a miscarriage, and many people knew about it. Later, she was also sick all the time, saying that she was sick and had a blood collapse. Who wouldn't believe it? Knowing that she is pregnant again. In addition to you and me, there are only her personal maids and doctors. You make some money, and you seal the mouths of those people, and then you take the girl away from afar. Who else would fail to find the body? Send them out of the city and burn them, lest you have too many dreams at night. ”

Mother Jin took the order and left, leaving Nala alone in the room, sulking again. After a while, Qingning entered the house, knelt in front of his mother, and without saying anything, he began to cry. Nala was angry and scolded: "Look at your useless appearance! You are still wearing filial piety, Qiu Ju's girl only had a miscarriage a few months ago, you really want to feel distressed, why are you so anxious, and run to her bed? Now that someone is dead, what do you have to cry about? ”

Qingning cried breathlessly: "Eniang, my son knows it's wrong, Qiu Ju...... She waited for her son to beg her mother to let her have a place to be buried, right? ”

Nala spat at him: "Who are you to be a mother?" I had already asked someone to buy a coffin. It is impossible to have a grand funeral, and a coffin and a few bundles of paper money can still afford it. It's just that you made your concubine pregnant and miscarried in your filial piety, and if you say it, it will affect you Ama to be a royal envoy, and you are not allowed to make a noise! only said that she died after a small postpartum illness last time, and she relapsed again. Did you hear me clearly? ”

Qingning was a little surprised, and hurriedly hugged her mother's thigh: "Thank you, E-niang...... My son will be grateful for your great kindness for a lifetime! Nala laughed angrily: "I still have to rely on a girl to get my son's gratitude, I really can't imagine it." She saw that Qingning's face was flushed and she wanted to confess, so she interrupted him and said, "Enough, you don't need to say more, as long as you are more sensible in the future." ”

Qing Ning bowed his head suddenly, and when Nala saw this, he sighed and said, "It's not easy for your daughter-in-law, you should treat her better in the future." That Qiu Ju is also an unblessed place, she has been pregnant several times, but she can't keep it, but you don't know how to control it. Don't do that again. "I'm the dividing line of the transition scene

Zhang Bao listened to the news that the Tong family got from the Nala clan, pondered for a moment, and then had some realization: "Although I haven't heard about the local affairs of the governor of Jiangnan, I have heard Yu Heng say that the emperor used troops against Geldan a few years ago, but he has not completed all the work, and he is ready to fight again." Therefore, in recent years, various customs offices have to transport silver to Beijing. For example, General Wu Dan, he doesn't care about local political affairs, except for the army, he only collects cash, which is to prepare military funds for the emperor. If you want to come to the richest place in the world, there is no one in Jiangnan. Is the emperor planning to place his cronies and ministers in that place so that the treasury can be richer? ”

Tong Shi was surprised: "But the provinces in the south of the Yangtze River each have their own governors, and if there is a general territory, this authority can be ...... With such a heavy responsibility, why did the emperor hand it over to Lord Chen? ”

Zhang Bao thought thoughtfully: "I once heard that the salt merchants in Jiangnan are the richest, but they sell illicit salt every year, and the tax evasion is extremely heavy, and the officials have nothing to do with them, and there are even many people who are in the same stream as those profiteers." Just when the prefect of Yangzhou was in office, he didn't know how many heads he lost. If you send Lord Chen to go, first, he has been in the Ministry of Officials for many years, and he has accumulated residual prestige, and he can speak to the Jiangnan officials; Second, he acted tactfully and was loyal to the emperor, and he was not expected to act recklessly, nor would he be easily bribed. He thought about it for a while, and then smiled: "It's all someone else's business, let's still worry about it now, what do you do so much?" ”

Tong was a little anxious: "If Lord Chen wants to go to Jiangnan, what will you do with your official position?" Zhang Bao said: "This is a matter for the future, let's talk about peace of mind in a few years." This battle will be fought sooner or later, will Lord Chen still be the governor of Jiangnan for the rest of his life? ”

Tong thought about it and felt that it made sense, so he also settled down.

Two days later, the 77 ritual for the old lady began in Rongqing Hall. Only halfway through it, it started to rain. After the ritual was completed, Jin Bao asked the Nala clan to greet the fast, and then went with his brothers to receive a few acquaintances who came to burn incense. By the time Shen had passed, it was a little darker, the rain had increased, and there was not a single guest outside. Jin Bao asked the monks and nuns to pack up their belongings outside, disperse to a few large houses to rest for a while, and wait for the rain to stop before leaving.

Zhang Bao and Rong Bao helped the eldest brother with some chores, and Xingbao went back to the hospital early. Nala and Tong and other concubines were sitting in the room in the main courtyard talking, and suddenly the chief steward Wu Xinda rushed in from outside and reported that a distinguished guest had come to the house to offer incense to the old lady.

It's the fourth elder brother.