Jian Huaizhen knew that Fang Yu had a lot of complaints about the imperial court, but what he said was true, so he sighed: "What Brother Fang said is reasonable. It's just that Cao Jixiang is dead, so don't think about the past so much. Today, the emperor is sick and weak, but the crown prince is kind-hearted. In the future, when the crown prince becomes the emperor, the people will definitely have a good life. ”

Fang Xiao sighed and said, "I hope so." ”

Everyone went out of Cao Jixiang's mansion and separated. Jian Huaizhen returned to the palace, and the rest of the people returned to Huaiming Yuan with Jiang Shaoheng, and Wan Zhenniang returned to Qianhong Courtyard.

When I returned to Wan'an Palace, I was greeted by Zero. She saw that Jian Huaizhen's clothes were wet, so she didn't care about saying much, and hurriedly instructed Yanran to get a new shirt for her to change into.

Jian Huaizhen opened his mouth and asked, "Scattered, how is the situation on the emperor's side?" ”

Scattered eyes were a little sloppy, avoiding Jian Huaizhen's topic, and only said, "Princess, can you rescue the crown prince today?" Why are all the clothes wet? ”

Jian Huaizhen said rather disappointed: "No, it's a step late." Zero, you've been with me for so many years, how could you not know you? Why do you avoid my topic? Could it be that something happened to the emperor? ”

Scattered re-combed Jian Huaizhen's hair and comforted: "Don't panic, princess, it's not not very good, it's still the same." The death of Grandpa Sun frightened the emperor. The crown prince couldn't find him for a long time, and the emperor would inevitably have trouble sleeping and eating, so his spirit became more and more trance-like. The slave maid went to see before, but the emperor refused to even drink the medicine. The slave accompanied the maid and persuaded him for a long time, and he finally drank the medicine. Slaves and maids look, half of the emperor's illness is the body, and most of the heart is the heart. The disappearance of the crown prince has always been a thorn in his heart. The so-called heart disease also requires heart medicine. If he wants to recover, he will probably have to wait for the crown prince to return. ”

Jian Huaizhen was silent, and his heart turned a thousand times for a while.

Scattered asked again: "Princess, can you still go to the palace to see the emperor?" ”

Jian Huaizhen shook his head and said in a low voice, "I'm not going." What's the use of going? If the prince is not found, the emperor will not be happy in his heart. ”

Scattered persuasion: "That's it." Rest early, princess. I'll talk about it later. The matter of finding the prince is not a day or two, and the princess must not exhaust herself first. ”

The flowers bloom at two ends, one on each branch.

But it was said that Wan Zhenniang, who had experienced nine deaths and a lifetime, couldn't help but be stunned after returning to Qianhong Courtyard in despair.

Qianhong Courtyard is the first green building in the capital, and its glorious scenery is not a problem. But once the trees fell and scattered, no one could see the Qianhong Courtyard now. Even the small merchants and vendors in front of the door have disappeared.

Wan Zhenniang knew that Gu Fenghuang died in the Thousand Red Courtyard, and she was originally a little scared. It's just that now she has nothing on her, even a change of clothes, and the clothes on her body are wet, how can she see people?

In desperation, she walked into the Qianhong Courtyard. Gu Fenghuang's body had been taken away by the government, but despite this, she still felt terrified in her heart.

She ran into her room, but found that the cupboard in the room had been opened, and the few taels of silver that she had managed to accumulate had been looted. And the clothes that I changed on weekdays, I don't know who used them to vent my anger, and I tore them to pieces.

The silence in the Thousand Red Courtyard is terrifying, like a hell on earth.

Wan Zhenniang walked in it alone, and always felt that there were ghosts in front of her, dangling around, and the fear in her heart was to the extreme.

She went into the rooms of the reddest girls, and finally found two sets of clothes in their rooms that they didn't want, and changed the soaked clothes on her body, and took the other one with her, ready to go out.

She had just walked a few steps when she suddenly heard a snap behind her, and the whole person was suddenly frightened and froze on the ground, not daring to move.

After a while, she couldn't help but look back, only to find a string of copper coins on the ground. It turned out that the string of copper coins was tied by the girl in this room with a red rope and hung in front of the window to ward off evil. After too long, the red rope loosened, and it fell to the ground just at this time. The string of copper coins was hung too high, and no one actually found it.

Wan Zhenniang was surprised and delighted, picked up the copper coin, and rushed out.

Walking on the bustling Jinding Street, she looked at the crowd coming and going, and she was very confused and didn't know where to go.

She carefully counted the copper coins in her hand, there were twenty-eight in total. She felt a little hungry, so she went to buy three steamed buns and spent two copper coins.

After eating the buns, she sat at the intersection of the alley and the street, looking at the bustling crowd, but she didn't know what to do. Suddenly, the shadow of a person flashed in her heart. That person is Yu Mian!

She remembered that Yu Mian was good to her, so she decided to try her luck with Yu Mian. Perhaps, Yu Mian is willing to let himself take refuge in him. He knew that his background was not good, and he didn't have many extravagant hopes, he just hoped that he could be a slave and maid serving him by Yu Mian's side, with food and clothing.

Thinking of this, she asked people for directions and came to the front of Yu's mansion.

Yufu is located in Zhongfu Lane, which is very quiet. Wan Zhenniang looked at the two stone lions in front of her to ward off evil spirits, and knew in her heart that this was her only chance. Then he mustered up courage and went up and knocked at the door. After knocking for a long time, an old man in his sixties came and opened the door.

"Who are you looking for?" The old man saw that the person who came was a beautiful woman in her twenties and thirties, but her eyes were tight, and she couldn't help asking.

"May I ask if Yu Mian and Yu Gongzi live here? Old man, please help me pass it on, I am his friend, and I have something urgent to find him. Wan Zhenniang pleaded with the old man.

The old man saw that her hair was fluffy and her face was pale and gray, as if he had been frightened, and he felt sympathy for a while, and said, "Girl, you want to find my son-in-law, please come back in the evening." Childe goes out to do things, and he will come back in the evening. ”

"Where did he go? Can I go to his place where he works? Wan Zhenniang asked eagerly.

The old man shook his head and said, "I'm afraid this is not good. Gongzi went to the yamen to handle official business. Come back in the evening. Madame and Mademoiselle have just returned from out of town, and Childe will definitely return home sooner. ”

Wan Zhenniang looked at the sky, and only felt anxious in her heart, so she said, "Old man, it's not too early now." Why don't I go to your house and wait for my son to come back? I beg you, I really have something important to find your son-in-law. ”

The old man saw that she was pitiful, so he sighed and said, "Well, in that case, you can come in with me." You go to the living room for a cup of tea and wait for Childe to come back. You have to remember that you must not move around or alarm anyone. Madame's body has just healed for a long time, and she needs to meditate and recuperate. ”

"Thank you, old man." Wan Zhenniang showed a relaxed smile on her face, and followed the old man into the Yu Mansion.

The furnishings in the mansion were very different from what she had seen in Qianhong Courtyard. The so-called scholarly heirloom, in the side hall of the house, is already full of scholarly elegance. Whether it is the mural on the wall or the pen, ink and paper inkstone on the table, they all exude the temperament of a scholarly family.

Wan Zhenniang sat on the rosewood chair of Huanghuali, holding a warm teacup, and she didn't dare to come out. It was the first time she walked into such a solemn family, and she was inevitably nervous.

She was on pins and needles, fidgeting, and it was only a moment later, as if a long time had passed. Suddenly, I heard the old man's voice sounding outside: "Old lady, you walk slowly, be careful of falling." ”

A deep female voice said, "Old butler, you are older than me." Don't always treat me as a patient, the doctor will check the pulse, and I will be cured. ”

"Yes, yes, I'm just nervous old lady." The old man said with emotion: "Before I knew it, the old man had passed away for six years. Of course, I have to take care of my wife, otherwise how can I be worthy of the great kindness of my former master. ”

Wan Zhenniang thought to herself, this is Yu Mian's mother, the old lady of Yu Mansion. I only heard the old lady's voice very kind: "Old butler, don't say that. You've worked hard all these years. ”

While the two were talking, they walked into the side hall.

Wan Zhenniang looked up and saw the old housekeeper supporting an old lady with gray temples, the old lady's face was full of wrinkles, and her spirit was also strong, but she looked older than the old housekeeper. This old lady is Yu Qian's original wife, Mrs. Dong Wansleeve (a mistake was made in the previous article, Yu Qian's original match was wrongly written as Zhang's, in fact, Yu Mian's wife in history was surnamed Zhang, and it is hereby corrected.) Thank you for your understanding. Her age was originally similar to Jian Huaizhen and Zhu Luoxue, but in these years, she suffered a lot after being sent to Shanxi, and because she missed Yu Qian deeply, she would decline before she was old, and she was only in her fifties, and she looked like she was in her seventies.

When Mrs. Dong turned her head, she had already seen Wan Zhenniang, and was about to ask, but Wan Zhenniang had already stepped forward and said, "The little girl Wan Zhenniang, I have seen the old lady." ”

When Mrs. Dong saw her dress, she felt very strange, so she said, "Please get up." The girl is ------."

The old butler explained, "Madam, this girl has come to find her son. Childe was not there, and she said that there was an emergency, so I took it upon myself to let her wait here first. ”

"Oh", Mrs. Dong answered, glanced at Wan Zhenniang, and asked, "What is the matter with Miss Zhenniang looking for my crown?" ”

Wan Zhenniang hesitated for a long time, but she never said. The old lady's face gradually became grim. She turned her heart and said, "The little girl Wan Zhenniang was originally from Zhucheng in Qingzhou. A few days ago, I was rescued by Yu Gongzi, and I remembered it. The little woman is alone in the capital, without relatives, and now she is desperate, so she has come to run, hoping to be taken in by her son and be a maid servant. ”

Mrs. Dong's face softened a little, and said, "Don't be sad. I have been in Shanxi with my daughter Arou for six years, what kind of suffering has I not suffered? In that case, stay in my house. ”

"Thank you, ma'am." Wan Zhenniang's face was overjoyed and she knelt down.

"Get up." Mrs. Dong smiled and helped her up.

While several people were talking, Yu Mian had already returned. He walked into the side hall and shouted, "Mother, sister." ”

Mrs. Dong turned around and said, "Your sister was taken to Huaiming Garden by Miss Tang today. ”

"Miss Tang has been here?" Yu Mian's eyes suddenly showed a glint of joy, "When did you leave?" ”

The old lady didn't understand her mind, and said with a smile: "You just left not long in the morning, and you came." Mian'er, this girl said that you once saved her, and now she has come to join us, and her mother has promised to let her stay. Mrs. Dong said as she pointed to Wan Zhenniang.

When Yu Mian saw Wan Zhenniang at first glance, she was stunned for a moment, and she didn't recognize who she was. When he saw her bending her eyebrows, he suddenly said, "It turned out to be a virgin girl from Qianhong Courtyard." In January, I actually forgot, girl. Yu Mian said embarrassedly. It turned out that on the way to Nanjing, after he met Tang Jingran, he was quickly attracted by Tang Jingran's sassy and heroic posture and chivalrous tenderness, and he didn't care much about others.

Wan Zhenniang lowered her eyebrows and said, "How dare Zhenniang blame Gongzi? Last time, thank you Gongzi for coming to the rescue, I am grateful. ”

Mrs. Dong frowned slightly, and asked softly, "What is the place of Qianhong Courtyard?" But is it a teahouse? ”

"This ......" Yu Mian glanced at Wan Zhenniang, and didn't know how to answer for a while.

The old butler said, "Madam, you are not in the capital, you don't know. Qianhongyuan is the largest green building in the capital, which has only risen in the past one or two years. I heard that yesterday the eldest princess found that Qianhong Courtyard was harboring anti-thieves, old. The bustard committed suicide in fear of sin, and the Qinglou has been dispersed. ”

Mrs. Dong's face suddenly darkened. She glanced at Yu Mian and said in a deep voice: "Mian'er, is there such a thing?" ”

"Mother..... Yes, it's just that I went back to Qianhong Courtyard, and I followed him in because I saw the crown prince go in and was afraid that something would happen to him. If you don't believe me, you can ask the princess. Yu Mian was afraid that Mrs. Dong would be angry, so he was busy explaining to her.

Mrs. Dong's face was slightly pale, the dragon head crutch in her hand pointed to the ground, and she said to Wan Zhenniang with a pleasant face: "Miss Zhenniang, you don't have to explain anything to the old body. I have lived this age, and I have read countless people, and I can see at a glance what kind of people I have. I've been talking to you for so long, and I haven't found a trace of dust in you, which shows that you are a good woman. ”

Wan Zhenniang didn't expect Mrs. Dong to talk to her like this, and immediately said gratefully: "Zhenniang, thank you for your trust." ”

Mrs. Dong's words changed sharply and said: "Although the old body trusts you, I have always been a high-ranking family when I talk about it. I don't know how many pairs of eyes are staring at the world, and I don't know how many people are staring at the court. Zhen Niang girl, I'm sorry, the old body really can't keep you. Now that my crown has regained the trust of the emperor, I can't make a mistake and let him be criticized in any way. What's more, although the old body is old and dizzy, the heart is transparent. I can see that you have affection for my crown, but first, because of your background, second, you are older than my crown, and third, because you already have another sweetheart------ that is Miss Tang, the daughter of the eldest princess's handkerchief. Therefore, the old body must not leave you. ”

After listening to Mrs. Dong's words, Wan Zhenniang's heart became cold and cold in an instant, and the whole person seemed to have fallen into a thousand-year-old ice cellar.

Yu Mian wanted to say comfort, but he didn't know how to say it. First, he didn't want to disobey his mother's wishes, he felt that what his mother said was reasonable. Second, he felt that he would not be able to like Wan Zhenniang at all, even if he didn't meet Tang Jingran, he wouldn't be emotionally attached to Wan Zhenniang. At the beginning, I sympathized with Zhenniang and saved her, but there was a small touch in my heart, but I didn't mean anything else.

Wan Zhenniang's tears flowed all over her face like beads of broken threads, and she shook her head and said, "That's it." Old lady, I understand what you mean, I'll leave now. With that, he turned around and walked outside.

"Wait!" Mrs. Dong stopped her and said, "Miss Zhenniang, although I can't keep you, it doesn't mean that I don't feel sorry for you. Old housekeeper, go and fetch thirty taels of silver for the virgin girl, let her go back to her hometown, marry someone, or do some small business, and use the silver to make a living. ”

The old butler agreed, and went to fetch the money. Wan Zhenniang turned her head, her gentle face was covered with stubbornness for the first time, and there was a hint of hatred in her eyes, and she said, "Thank you for your kindness!" Zhen Niang's heart is understood! With that, he turned around and ran out.

The old housekeeper took the silver and asked Mrs. Dong, "Old lady...... This...... How is this good? ”

Mrs. Dong glanced at Yu Mian and said, "Mian'er, you take these thirty taels of silver, catch up with the Zhenniang girl, and give it to her." She is a girl's family and lives outside, and she has no silver to live by, which is always bad. ”

Yu Mian glanced at Mrs. Dong gratefully and said, "Yes." So he took the money from the steward's hand and chased him out.

Yu Mian chased to the door, but found that Wan Zhenniang had already disappeared. There was no one in front of the door. Occasionally, the west wind picks up the remnants of the leaves and throws them on the ground. It seems that Wan Zhenniang has never been here. Yu Mian sighed and had to walk back to the mansion slowly.

At this time, Wan Zhenniang walked out slowly from behind the stone lion. It turned out that after she saw Yu Mian chasing him out, she went to hide behind the stone lion. She has love for the crown in her heart and wants to come to him, but Mrs. Dong actually dislikes her because of her background. She was not allowed to stay in the mansion. Yu Mian didn't say a word for himself, he must have disliked himself. She felt that her heart had been deeply hurt.

She walked out of the alley and walked aimlessly down the street alone. There were people coming and going on the street, but none of them she knew. What should I do in the future? She tortured herself, but she couldn't find an answer.

There are only twenty-five copper coins in his hand. Twenty-five copper coins can only buy twelve bowls of wonton noodles, or thirty-seven steamed buns. This food is enough for her to last three or five days at most. What's next? What's next?

She couldn't help but regret a little, why she didn't accept Mrs. Dong's thirty taels of silver in a moment of anger at that time. If she had thirty taels of silver, she would have done nothing, and it would be enough for her to have tiles to cover her head for two or three years, so that she would not have to starve.

It was twilight, and there were fewer pedestrians on the streets. Wan Zhenniang took out her copper coin, put it in her hand, and sighed for a long time. I finally made up my mind to buy some food to eat first, and then plan for something else later.

She still went to buy steamed buns, didn't dare to buy more, and still only bought three. After buying it, I held it in my hand and ate it after a long time. At this time, on Jinding Street, some shops lit up lanterns, and the streets were dim and bright.