Chapter 142: Confession Banquet (II)

Originally, it was a "recognition banquet" for Wen Yi to recognize Mrs. Luo as her godmother, but she didn't expect the result to be unexpected by everyone, and it really became a recognition banquet.

It turned out that Mrs. Li's maiden family was also surnamed Lu, and she was in the same family as Mrs. Lu, but she was an aunt and nephew of the same clan. When the first emperor, Mrs. Li's father used to be a certain palace Jishan, but he was an eight-grade petty official, and he was idle, and he was not visible in the clan, but he also had some prestige. Who knew that the prince was later involved in a major case of rebellion, although the lives of the whole family were saved, the throne was lost, and all the subordinate officials in the palace were also affected. Mrs. Li's father, Mrs. Lu, was exiled to northern Xinjiang along with his colleagues. At that time, the Lu clan avoided his whole family, and almost no one reached out to help, only the old lady Lu, who was only twelve or thirteen years old at the time, because she had been friendly with this fourth lady Lu since childhood, quietly asked someone to send twenty taels of silver to help her. Later, the fourth prince Lu passed through Huaicheng on the way to exile, and received the will of the palace to give birth to a little prince for the first emperor's favorite concubine and pardon the world to pray for blessings, and escaped the catastrophe. But at that time, he was tortured, his body was greatly damaged, and under the great sorrow and joy, he fell ill, and was disheartened by the lack of affection of his clansmen, so he simply settled down in Huaicheng. His wife, who had accompanied her eldest son, had stayed with her.

Mrs. Li said with tears in her eyes: "When my father settled down, I also thought about sending a letter back to Beijing, but I was sick again, so I asked a colleague from my father who returned to his hometown to carry a letter back, but I never heard a reply. My father and mother settled in Huaicheng, and later opened a museum to teach apprentices, and I became a teacher. My brothers and sisters and I were both born in Huaicheng, and if I hadn't married our master, I would never have returned to Beijing one day."

She cried sadly, and others were a little sad when they heard it, and one of them, a stout wife in her forties, said, "Who said it wasn't? We all came back from the north with our husbands, you and I are okay, when we ascended the throne today, we have ordered someone to find out the people who were wronged in the rebellion case back then, and edict Xue for them. Although your family has endured hardships in Huaicheng for several years, they have finally come out of the day. I also know a few people who have been wronged like your old lady, who have died in prison, and they can't even wait for the day of pardon. The family is also dead and scattered, in comparison, we can have today's life, it is really a rare blessing. ”

Everyone nodded. Wen Yi was in the audience, only to know that three or four of the ladies present had such an experience as Mrs. Li. There were several princely rebellions during the first emperor, and when he was now the prince, he also encountered several dangers, each of which caused a major change in the court, and the mastermind deserved it, but there were many innocent people who were affected. Due to the vast and sparsely populated northern frontier, and the imperial court intended to use the tuntian there to fund the military, a large number of criminal ministers and their families were sent to that area. Some of them were later pardoned, but more of them continued to stay there and take root, unable to turn back in the name of the guilty. Among the wives, one of them is actually not in the main room, but just an aunt, because she is the granddaughter of a criminal minister, for the sake of the future of her children, after the death of the main room, she would rather be a concubine for the rest of her life than be corrected.

Wen Yi listened, and couldn't help but think of Old Doctor Xiao, his children and grandchildren, who were also involved because of this kind of thing back then, right? It's a pity that he is so old, he has made contributions to the court all his life, but in the end, he can't even keep his children and grandchildren, and he has to leave behind his glory and comfort, hide his name, and be a little langzhong in the countryside.

Her eyes couldn't help but turn red, and she hurriedly held back her tears, and persuaded Mrs. Li and the stout wife: "Don't be sad anymore, my Buddha is merciful, your relatives have suffered such a grievance, and they will definitely enjoy peace and happiness after reincarnation." ”

When Mrs. Li heard this, she felt that her heart was right: "If this is the case, it will make people feel much more at ease." The other wiped his tears and smiled: "You girl is a little interesting, we cry about us, why are you sad too?" It's a good-natured child. ”

Only then did everyone find that Wen Yi also had red eyes, and Mrs. Luo Si hurriedly said: "Hurry up, today is a good day, when the two of them meet on weekdays, they always have to hold hands and cry a little, so that they can show each other's deep sisterhood, what is it if you get involved?" Everyone laughed out loud at her. Mrs. Li gave her a blank look: "I'm feeling uncomfortable, and you want to make fun of me."

Mrs. Luo Si smiled: "Your old lady suffered back then, but he has been in Huaicheng for decades, and he has lived a very happy life. You brothers and sisters, and they are all filial, and the grandchildren and granddaughters you give birth to, all of them are smart and courteous, and when your old lady goes, the children and grandchildren are full, isn't it a great blessing? What are you crying and crying here? I haven't settled accounts with you yet, but you blame me," he said, pointing at Wen Yi, "This is not your family's long-lost relative?" Today, I have blessed you so that you can recognize each other, and it is a great joy, why are you crying? ”

Mrs. Li burst into tears and laughed, took a sip of her, took Wen Yi's hand and looked at it carefully, and sighed: "When my mother was here, I often talked about the old things. If it weren't for the medicine and clothes that Aunt Seventh received and the twenty taels of silver, she and my eldest brother wouldn't know how to suffer? Since I returned to Beijing, I have been paying attention to the news of my seventh aunt, but I can only find out that she married your grandfather, and then your grandfather is gone, and she took your father back to the hometown to guard the system, and there is no news again. I was about to send someone to Pingyang to inquire, but I didn't expect to meet you, it is really destined by God, and the fate of our two families is not over."

Wen Yi smiled, and suddenly remembered that Mama Zhao also came over today, she was her grandmother's companion, she must have known the old things back then, and she hurriedly called Dong Kui to invite her in.

After a while, Mama Zhao arrived. She heard the reason for the incident from Dong Kui, and after a few closer glances at Mrs. Li, she was overjoyed: "Is this lady born to the fourth grandmother really like the young lady of the fourth grandfather and the fourth grandmother after they arrived in the north?" Our old lady also got the letter and knew that the fourth master and the fourth grandmother were safe, but she didn't know the details, and it was difficult to ask someone to inquire. This matter has been pressing on her heart for decades, and it is really a great joy to see her cousin and wife today" and said to Wen Yi: "Miss, I have to write a letter when I go back today, the old lady must be very happy when she knows"

Wen Yi was convinced, and responded with a smile, thinking that her grandmother had been widowed for many years and was far away from her mother's family, except for giving New Year's gifts to each other during the New Year, she rarely interacted, and she would be very happy to be able to reconnect with her long-lost relatives. Her old man is too lonely on weekdays, and it is also a good thing to have more relatives and be able to walk around in her spare time.

After listening to Mama Zhao's words, Mrs. Li knew that she must have been a close attendant by Aunt Seven's side back then, thought about it, and hurriedly asked: "The one who sent the silver over back then was the Yahuan next to Aunt Seven, whose name was Red Carp, I don't know if Mama can recognize it?" ”

Mama Zhao smiled: "Before the old slave got married, he was called this name." When the old slave waited beside the old lady, because he didn't dare to let the elders know, the old lady put away her jewelry and the silver bills and silver bracelets she had obtained in the old years, so that the old slave reported her illness, and under the pretext of going home to recuperate, she took the opportunity to go out to find a silversmith to melt the jewelry, and scraped together some broken silver, so that she got thirty taels of silver and ten taels and took it to buy medicine that could be used on the road, as well as the washed old clothes collected outside, and the rest was wrapped with a handkerchief of the old lady, and the old slave personally wrapped the burden and asked the brother at home to drive. Quietly sent it to the fourth grandmother"

Mrs. Li listened, and the details of her mother's life were matched, and she hurriedly said: "Exactly, I didn't expect to meet the main master, if it weren't for your master and servant, my mother and brother were afraid that they wouldn't be able to survive on the road......" Thinking of the sad place, I wanted to cry again. The crowd hurriedly persuaded him.

Mrs. Luo Si said: "It's a happy event for my relatives to see me today, and it's also my blessing, don't mention the sad things Wen Yi only knows me as a godmother in Beijing, except for her uncle's family, since you recognize her, take care of it more, and it is also the affection of relatives." ”

Mrs. Li hurriedly said: "Of course" and pulled Wen Yi with one hand and Mama Zhao with the other, and asked about Mrs. Lu's body and her experience over the past few decades. After learning that she had lost her husband, she lost her son again, and she only relied on her granddaughter for her life, so she cried again, regretting that she didn't send someone to find the elder earlier. Wen Yi hurriedly told the seventeenth brother Wen Kang about the sixth room, and she was better.

Mrs. Luo Si presided over the overall situation, ordered to go down, and prepared for the banquet, which finally brought the big event of recognizing relatives to an end for the time being. Mama Zhao retreated according to the courtesy, and she also asked people to prepare a table for Mama Zhao. Mrs. Li also asked the big girl next to her to accompany the table, and then pulled Wen Yi tightly, and the two went to the quiet room to freshen up together, and returned to the table together, Mrs. Li also insisted that Wen Yi sit beside her.

Everyone experienced two happy events of recognizing relatives, and they were in a good mood, and seeing the host's hospitality, they felt that today's dishes were particularly delicious. One of them, the sea bass, has tender meat and is most praised by everyone. Perch is also in the best fishing season in the south at this time, let alone in the capital, and there is such a large perch at every table, which is not something that can be done by being rich and powerful.

Second Mrs. Ruan smiled and complained to Mrs. Luo Si: "Since you can find such a thing, why don't you tell me?" A few days ago, our family was entertaining, and we didn't even have any decent dishes, which made people laugh and laugh if I had known that you could get fresh sea bass, I wouldn't have to lose that face."

Mrs. Li was in a good mood, so she also smiled and said: "If the banquet in your Guogong Mansion can also make people laugh off their big teeth, wouldn't the dishes that our family had last month treat without seeing people?" When you say this, I will cry out for your cook."

Everyone laughed, and Mrs. Luo Si hurriedly said: "This is all filial piety from below, how do I know?" It's just a few home-cooked food, because there is a shop at home, which is slightly cheaper than yours. If you want it, I'll ask the shopkeepers at home, why don't you get some more. The ladies were pleasantly surprised and thanked her.

Wen Yi has been sitting listening to the audience talking and laughing, and answering Mrs. Li's questions from time to time, in addition to quietly tasting the dishes on the table, she is dignified but not formal. In contrast, Wen Xian, who was sitting at the same table as Ruan Mengxuan, was a little stiffer. Wen Juan and Wen Ya relied on Jiang Yao and talked to Ruan Mengxuan several times. Wen Juan was very happy in her heart, and secretly said that these daughters are also very kind, and when they return home, they must tell the sixth sister Wen Hui. Wen Ya secretly paid attention to the embroidery patterns on Ruan Mengxuan's clothes and the hairpin ring on her head, and thought about mentioning it to her aunt when she went back, to see if she could do a set of them, and wear them the next time she went out as a guest, wouldn't it be more decent than the clothes and jewelry that the eldest wife Jiang ordered Gongzhong to buy?

The Luo family had a very successful treat on this day, and the visitors felt at home and recognized many new friends. After the banquet, they drank tea and chatted for a while, and it was not early, so everyone said goodbye and left.

The mother and daughter of the Ruan family took the lead, followed by the other guests. Wen Yi accompanied Mrs. Luo Si and sent Mrs. Li and others out of the second door, Mrs. Li repeatedly told her to go to her house as a guest, and Wen Yi responded with a smile.

The Gu family fell behind, and because Mrs. Luo's fourth wife Xu had something to hand over to Wen Yi to bring back to Mrs. Yu and Jiang's, she left a few juniors in the flower hall and took Yahuan to the backyard. Wen Yi sat at the table, drinking tea quietly, recalling today's words and deeds, there should be no rudeness, and secretly remembered a few newly recognized female elders in her heart.

Wen Xian quietly pulled her sleeve, motioned for her to follow her to the corner, and whispered, "Ninth sister, don't think I'm too talkative." The ladies I met today...... I heard that my husband is both in the military, and there are not many people from scholarly families...... Therefore, there is no taboo in speaking, if you want to associate with them, don't forget the etiquette."

Wen Yi was surprised: "The fifth sister is too careful." The wives are just because they are used to it, so they speak more sharply, but there is nothing rude about it. ”

Wen Xian sighed: "How could I not know that they are used to acting like this? It's just that you are different from them, if you also follow the learning, in the eyes of outsiders, I am afraid that you will gossip. She hesitated, "I was afraid that you would suffer, so I persuaded you more...... If you don't think it matters, forget it......"

Wen Yi hurriedly said: "The fifth sister is also kind, and my sister can save it." Sister: Sister Xie reminded: "Say it, a solemn salute."

Wen Xian hurriedly supported her and said with a smile: "What is this?" They are all sisters in the family. It was the first time we came back to the capital, and the first time we didn't have any elders with us, so we were guests outside. As my sister, I naturally have to remind my sister a few more words. Speaking of which, I was also a little panicked, I just saw two nobles today, and I have been restrained to such a point, and when I arrived at the Luwang Mansion, it was a nobleman from the Manchu Mansion, what should I do then? If we are slow to act, we are afraid that people will say that we are not polite, and we will talk too much, and we are afraid that people will laugh at us and slap up the powerful, which is really embarrassing."

Wen Yi smiled: "According to me, it's good to be like Sister Yao, generous, say when you should talk, laugh when you should laugh, it's just a tea party, we don't have much knowledge, fifth sister don't need to panic." ”

Wen Xian sighed: "How can it be so simple? Sister Yao is used to seeing the scene, and she knows nobles, so she is naturally relaxed, how can we compare with her? Besides, if we learn to be as diligent as she is, won't we make people laugh at our uncle? The reputation of the Gu family will also be damaged. ”

Wen Yi was a little surprised. Wen Xian seems to have drilled the tip of the horns, but she is not good at persuasion, but she is glad that at tomorrow's tea party, except for Wen Hui, the Gu family sisters are all accompanying guests, so they are more restrained, and it doesn't matter.

On the way back, because Wen Ya and Wen Juan could chat, they wanted to take a car, Wen Xian accompanied them to sit together, Wen Yi and Jiang Yao were in a car, but it was quiet.

On the way, Jiang Yao looked at Wen Yi several times, as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't speak. Wen Yi was suspicious, but she didn't show it on her face.

When the car arrived at Shilang's Mansion, the sisters got out of the car and were about to enter the second gate, but they saw Wen Hui running out of the direction of the inner courtyard in a hurry, with tears on her face, panting, and a hairpin on her head.

Wen Xian was taken aback and hurriedly asked, "Sixth sister, what's wrong with you?" ”