Mrs. Chen's beard is white, and she walks with a cane, but she is deaf and clear-sighted. On the day Chen Tingjing went home, the old lady looked at his son for a while and said, "Tingjing, you go in with me, I have something to ask you." ”

The old lady led Chen Tingjing into the garden, found a secluded place, and asked, "You tell your father the truth, did you commit something in the imperial court?" ”

Chen Tingjing smiled and said, "Dad, don't worry, I didn't commit any crimes." I said in the letter that I wanted to come back and wait for my father. The emperor took pity on me for my filial piety and allowed me to return to my hometown. ”

The old lady poked the ground with a cane and scolded: "Such a big matter, I don't write to discuss it in advance!" The emperor treats you like a sea, you have to do your best to serve the court! Dad's body is good, and there are people in the family to serve, what are you doing when you come back! ”

Chen Tingjing knelt down, kowtowed, and said, "Daddy's lesson is true, it's just that my son is thinking about his father day and night outside, and he is uneasy." You can let your son stay at home for a few years, and then go out to be an official! ”

The old lady still sighed and said, "Everyone is back, what's the use of saying this!" ”

Chen Tingjing tried every possible way to comfort him, but his father was still unhappy, and said: "I first heard that something happened to your in-laws, and now you are back with your family." What do you call Sanxiang and four neighbors, what do you say about our Chen family and Zhang family! ”

Chen Tingjing instructed the family that no one should talk nonsense in front of the old lady, but the old lady seemed to have a number in his heart.

One day, the old lady asked Chen Sanjin: "Sanjin, don't hide it from me, you said that Tingjing went home this time, I'm afraid I didn't do something, right?" ”

Chen Sanjin said: "Where! If the master makes a mistake, he will still be so beautiful when he comes home? ”

The old lady said, "Scenery? Last time he went home, the people from the governor's yamen and Taiyuan Mansion came, what about this time? I can't even see the people from the county government. ”

Chen Sanjin said: "Maybe the people from the governor yamen will come another day!" ”

Chen Tingjing was about to go to the old lady to say goodbye, but he could hear what was being said, and deliberately made the footsteps louder. The old lady stopped asking questions, and looked back at Ting Jing as he entered the door. Ting Jing asked the old lady if she was in good health and what she wanted to eat.

The old lady said, "There are always people around me, don't bother." Tingjing, the weather is good today, go up to Heshan Tower to have a look. ”

Chen Tingjing said: "That's what I'm talking about! ”

Chen Sanjin said: "It's rare that the old lady is interested, and the old man is afraid that he hasn't gone up for a year." ”

Chen Tingjing helped the old lady, and Shuxian, Yueyuan, and Zhen'er led the children to follow and went up to Heshan Tower. Looking at the beautiful mountains in the distance, the villages are long, the houses in the courtyard are continuous, and the garden trees are shaded. Zhuang came up with a glass chess piece and played against his brother Qianji.

Chen Tingjing picked up a chess piece and put it in the old lady's hand, and said, "Dad, this is called glass chess, which was given by the emperor, and it was originally a tribute from Westerners to the emperor. ”

The old lady was playing glass chess, very surprised, and said, "Don't say it, I thought where did the ice miles come from in March!" ”

Zhuang Zu deliberately teased his grandfather and said, "Grandpa, this chess piece was originally made of ice and then burned in the kiln." ”

The old lady laughed and said, "Grandpa is old, you coax grandpa as a child!" ”

Zhen'er smiled beside her: "Zhuangshou will really make grandpa happy." The family burst out laughing.

The old lady lay down on the chair, and Chen Tingjing sat next to the chair, talking with his father while watching his son play chess. The old lady slowly became tired, and her eyes closed slightly. The family hurriedly took the thin quilt and covered it, and everyone was silent.

The old lady closed her eyes and said, "Why don't you speak?" I only nourish my gods, you should laugh and laugh, it's okay. I listened with pleasure. ”

Chen Tingjing smiled and said: "You two brothers just knock the chess pieces loudly, grandpa likes to listen!" ”

Chen Tingjing watched the chess for a while, and suddenly became a poem in his heart, and ordered someone to go to get the four treasures of the study. After a while, the pen, ink, paper and inkstone were delivered, and Chen Tingjing wrote with a pen: "Personnel are like playing chess, so the mountain looks back on the rotten Ke Chi." After the ancient pine flowing water is searched, when the curtain is sitting. The vicissitudes of the old are chaotic at the beginning, and the dawn of the stars is uneven. Only everything should be pushed outside, and the night rain and autumn lights will be in the later stage. ”

Listening to the recitation, the old lady opened her eyes and stood up. Chen Sanjin helped the old lady walk to the front of several cases and read the poems written by Chen Tingjing.

The old lady recited it silently, pulled Chen Tingjing aside, and asked quietly, "Tingjing, you must have something to hide from your father." Reading these few lines of your poems, Dad will guess that you have something in your heart! ”

Chen Tingjing smiled and said, "Dad, don't worry, I'm really fine." I watched two children play chess just now, and I felt something in my heart and wrote a few sentences. It's just disease-free**, and there's no real point. ”

The old lady shook her head and sighed, and said, "Tingjing, you can't hide your father's presbyopia." If you're okay, if the spring breeze is proud, what governor, prefect, and county will come to visit early! Alas, the world is hot and cold! ”

Chen Tingjing still said: "Dad, it's really nothing. Ting Jing did not forget his father's teachings, studied seriously, behaved seriously, and was an official seriously. ”

The old lady shook her head, and didn't want to talk about it anymore, so she called Chen Sanjin: "Sanjin, ask someone to boil more water, the weather is good today, I want to take a good bath." ”

When the water was boiled, Chen Sanjin came over to help the old lady take a bath. Chen Tingjing followed him to the bathroom and said to his family: "You all go out, I'll bathe the old lady." ”

The old lady said, "Tingjing, let them come." ”

Chen Tingjing smiled and said: "Dad, you bathed me when I was a child, and I have never bathed your old man." ”

The old lady said no more, but smiled. Chen Tingjing tried the water first, and then helped the old lady to lie down in the bathtub. Chen Tingjing slowly rubbed his father's body, and after a while, he instructed his family to heat the water.

The old lady said, "Boil some more water, and I'm going to wash it today." ”

Chen San Jingang came in and said, "Old lady, you're still boiling water!" ”

After adding hot water several times in a row, the old lady still wanted to soak it again, and said, "Tingjing, don't rub it, it's very clean." You go out first, I'll lie here comfortably, and I want to soak a little longer. ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Dad, you go clubbing, I will guard you." ”

The old lady said: "Don't keep it, see you're tired." ”

Chen Tingjing had no choice but to go out first, and said that he would come in later.

When the family saw Chen Tingjing coming out, he hurriedly moved the stool. Chen Tingjing didn't want to sit and paced with his hands behind his back. At this time, Shuxian, Yueyuan, and Zhen'er also came over.

Shuxian asked, "Tingjing, isn't Dad taking a bath?" ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Dad has washed it, he wants to soak it for a while." ”

Yueyuan asked, "Is there anyone guarding it?" ”

Chen Tingjing said: "I want to guard, my father won't let me." ”

Zhen'er said, "That's not good, you have to go in and keep watch." ”

Chen Tingjing said: "The old man won't let me, I'll go in later." ”

Chen Tingjing suddenly felt his heart beating tightly, and he couldn't help touching his chest.

Yueyuan hurriedly asked, "Tingjing, what's wrong?" Where is it uncomfortable? ”

Zhen'er said, "Go and see Dad." ”

Chen Tingjing hurriedly entered the bath room and asked, "Dad, do you still want to soak?" ”

The old lady slowly opened her eyes and said, "Don't worry, I want to soak for a while." You go out. ”

Chen Tingjing said: "I will sit here with you." ”

The old lady closed her eyes and lay quietly in the bathtub. After a while, Chen Tingjing tried the water again and asked, "Dad, how is the water?" Do you want to add some hot water? ”

The old lady didn't agree, and Chen Tingjing asked again, "Dad, are you asleep?" ”

The old lady still didn't squeak. Chen Tingjing hurriedly touched his father's hand, tried to snort again, and suddenly felt that his eyes were black, and five thunderbolts hit the top. It turned out that the old lady had already gone. Chen Tingjing shouted out to his father and wailed.

The Chen family is such a family, and the old lady's funeral is beautiful. The governor of Shanxi finally found out the quasi-Xin'er, Chen Tingjing went home this time and was not guilty, but the emperor temporarily avoided suspicion for him, and he still wanted to recover in the future, so he sent two thousand taels of silver. The prefect and the prefect all watched the governor act, and they all sent money. Although it is a rule of officialdom to send money in the yamen, if Chen Tingjing is in the past, he will never accept it. He has already figured it out now, things on the scene must always give people face, and everything must be done according to etiquette.

At night, the family sat around the vigil, talking about how the old lady walked so fast, it was really unpredictable. Chen Sanjin said: "The old lady went without illness and disaster, and the family is a man and a woman, and the old man is a blessed person." ”

Chen Tingjing said: "The old man seemed to know that he was leaving, so he took a bath for a long time and washed cleanly. It's just that my dad has always been worried that something will happen to me, and he won't worry about it when he leaves. I'm really unfilial! ”

Shuxian said: "Don't blame yourself, master, you are also filial piety to hide it from your father." Besides, you didn't commit any crimes, the emperor really allowed you to go home. ”

Chen Tingtong was far away in Guizhou at this time, and Chen Yupeng was still in the capital. Tingtong was released to Zhixian County that year, first in Anhui, then in Jiangxi, and later in Guizhou, and further and further. Yu Peng returned home after 40 days, and it had been more than two months since Tingtong arrived home. It was not until the filial sons arrived that they chose an auspicious day and buried the old lady with the old lady. When Chen Tingjing Ding's mother was worried, he had already built a tomb in Ziyunqian. After burying the old lady, Chen Tingjing lived in the tomb, where he revised the "History of the Ming Dynasty" all day long.

One day, Chen Tingjing was revising the "History of the Ming Dynasty" in the tomb, and his family came to report that someone from the palace had come. Chen Tingjing was startled, and hurriedly went down the mountain with Dashun. I hurriedly entered the courtyard and saw that the whole family was already waiting there.

It turned out that Zhang Shande and the fool were sitting in the guest hall drinking tea with four guards. Chen Tingjing never thought that it would be Zhang Shande and the fool coming, so he hurriedly stepped forward to salute and asked, "Grandpa Zhang, fool, why are you here?" ”

Zhang Shande smiled, his face quickly became solemn, and he preached: "Chen Tingjing takes the order!" ”

Chen Tingjing hurriedly knelt down. Zhang Shande preached: "The emperor said that Chen Tingjing has been away from Beijing for almost two years, and I miss him a little. I wanted to visit his house this time on my western tour. Chin this! ”

Chen Tingjing hurriedly kowtowed and said: "The minister thanks the emperor for his grace, and the minister will lead the family and the child to welcome the car in fear." ”

After Chen Tingjing received the order, he beckoned Zhang Shande and others to sit down and drink tea, and asked, "Where is the emperor now?" ”

Zhang Shande said: "The emperor is coming to your house from Taiyuan, and it will arrive the day after tomorrow at most." ”

Chen Tingjing was very panicked: "In such a hurry, Tingjing didn't prepare anything!" ”

Zhang Shande said: "It's okay, the emperor is used to being simple, and he is in the old minister's house, and everything is to be comfortable." We have to go, Master Chen, you can get ready to take over. ”

Chen Tingjing said: "I don't dare to keep you, I'm slacking." ”

Dashun had already prepared Cheng Yi, and Zhang Shande and the others naturally wanted to put it off for a while, so they had to accept it in the end.

Seeing off Zhang Shande and the others, the whole family gathered in the guest hall to listen to Chen Tingjing's words: "The emperor's arrival is a great favor to my Chen family." Be sure to be careful and don't miss the slightest. All large and small affairs are managed by Chen Sanjin. Chen Sanjin doesn't understand anything, just ask me. ”

Chen Tingjing was talking, and his family reported that the governor yamen had come and was waiting in the flower hall. Chen Tingjing had no choice but to put this head down and rush to the flower hall. When the official saw Chen Tingjing, he hurriedly got up and saluted: "Meet Lord Chen below!" ”

Chen Tingjing asked the official to sit down and ordered tea to be served. The official said: "Governor Lord Wu is waiting in front of the car, and he specially sent someone down to ask Lord Chen to show him, and asked him to bring 20,000 taels of silver, and the governor said that he could also send some people to listen to Lord Chen." This is a letter from the Governor. ”

Chen Tingjing read the letter and said, "Thank you, Lord Wu." I'll take the money, there's enough people here. The emperor has always been simple, and it doesn't cost much silver. ”

The official said: "I'll go back to Lord Wu and say goodbye!" ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Please wait, I will write a letter to reply to Lord Wu." ”

Chen Tingjing quickly wrote a reply letter and handed it over to the official to bring with him. Dashun sent Cheng Yi according to the gift, and the official received it with great gratitude.

For a day and two nights, the Chen family was busy preparing to take over, but they didn't close their eyes. On the day when the holy car was coming, all the men of the Chen family stayed all night on the official road five miles away. After dawn, Chen Tingjing sent someone Pegasus to visit the letter early, and kept coming back to report the news. In the afternoon, when the letter was finally found, the holy car was about to arrive. Chen Tingjing immediately sent someone back to tell the ladies that they were busy standing neatly according to the elders and young classes.

Seeing the holy car coming from a distance, Chen Tingjing hurriedly beckoned his brothers and nephews to kneel. At the hunting banner, I caught a glimpse of the emperor sitting on a mule and pulling the royal chariot, slowly approaching.

Chen Tingjing got up and bowed his head, walked to the imperial chariot and knelt down, and said, "Chen Ting, the minister, respectfully welcomes the holy driver." ”

The emperor didn't get out of the car, but still sat in the car and spoke: "Tingjing, it's been almost two years since I left you, and I miss you." Get up, and I'll go to your house. ”

Chen Tingjing stood up in gratitude and said, "I am glad to hear that my emperor is coming, and the ministers and children are grateful. ”

The emperor looked at the Chen family kneeling not far away, and said, "Everyone get up." ”

Chen Tingjing called his brothers and nephews to get up. Everyone got up and knelt down along the side of the road again. This is naturally explained by Chen Tingjing in advance.

When the emperor saw that the road was covered with yellow sand, he said: "Tingjing, the court is still fighting Galdan, and the silver is not too much to spend." On my western tour this time, I am not allowed to do any pomp and circumstance of yellow sand paving below, how did I get to your door and pave yellow sand? ”

Chen Tingjing replied: "Your Majesty, the minister did not spend the money of the yamen, nor did he spend the money of the people, but the ministers and the whole family showed their loyalty!" The ministers followed the ancient system, and the yellow sand paved the road, and they never knew that the emperor had this edict. ”

The emperor nodded and said, "I don't blame you. Your Chen family is commendable for your loyalty, and I am very happy. ”

The holy car continued to move forward, and Chen Tingjing caught a glimpse of Suo Etu, Xu Qianxue, Gao Shiqi and others all driving and greeted each other with glances. When he arrived at Zhongdaozhuang, the emperor got off the car and changed into a shoulder. When he arrived at the gate of the Chen family, the emperor came down and walked.

The emperor called Chen Tingjing to his side and said, "My trip to the west this time is to deploy next year's fight against Galdan. Galdan has no faith and no righteousness, which makes his return to Xinjiang and cause rebellion in all directions, and his lives are ruined. ”

As he spoke, he entered the courtyard prepared for the emperor. Chen Tingjing said: "Your Majesty, the courtier's family is really cold, and the emperor will live in this courtyard for a few days." ”

The emperor raised his eyes and looked around, and said, "It's very good here, so don't be polite about Tingjing." I have long heard that your Chen family has been in business for more than 100 years, so it is rich today. Diligence and thrift are rich, benevolence and righteousness are noble. This is how the family is governed, and the same should be true of the country. ”

Chen Tingjing put his mind at ease and said: "As long as the emperor can live comfortably in the minister's house, the minister will be at ease." ”

The emperor called the governor of Shanxi again and said: "Chen Tingjing has been by my side for many years, and I trust him. Whether he is at home or not, you, as the governor, must come to his house more often to reflect my caring heart! ”

The governor of Shanxi kowtowed to the leader. Chen Tingjing said: "The emperor is playing, and the ministers tell the old man to be at home, which is just a cloth cloth, and the local officials should not be worried." If the minister is in the court, the family should not interact with the local officials, lest the minister be suspected of interfering in local affairs. ”

The emperor smiled and said: "Ting Jing is a person who understands, but I sent someone to ask the minister, this is my intention." Okay, that's not going to be talked about for now. Tingjing, call all your children over and take a look at them! ”

Chen Tingjing ordered people to quickly bring the whole family's men, women, and children to meet the driver. The family had actually been waiting in the courtyard for a long time, and it didn't take long for them to come in with their heads down. The emperor has sat down on the dragon chair, Chen Tingjing led the family to bow down, Chen Tingtong, Chen Yupeng, Chen Zhuangxu and others reported their official positions and fame.

The emperor said: "Since the founding of the Chen family, there have been many people who have studied and become officials, and they can be described as loyal ministers for generations. Now there is Chen Tingjing in the court, and the daily value is around, and I am very satisfied. Chen Tingjing is still worried about Ding, I shouldn't have taken love, but when the country is employing people, I want you to return to Beijing as soon as possible. ”

Chen Tingjing arched his hand and said: "Your Majesty, the period of filial piety has not expired, and he will return to Beijing to take office, which is not in line with the etiquette system!" ”

The emperor said: "Didn't you see that I summoned Xu Qianxue and Gao Shiqi back?" I order you to return to Beijing and fill the position of the imperial history of the left capital! ”

Chen Tingjing had no choice but to obey the order. The emperor said: "Chen Tingtong, I remember that you were trapped by traitors and were charged. I will allow you to return to Beijing to take up your post, and still be Langzhong. ”

Chen Tingtong was unexpectedly surprised and kowtowed.

Suo Etu interjected on the side: "Your Majesty, there is a shortage of officials in the arsenal of the Ministry of War. ”

The emperor said: "You can make up for it by Chen Tingtong!" ”

Chen Tingtong kowtowed again to thank him, tears flowing.

At this time, Suo Etu was ordered to proclaim: "Fengtian carrier, the emperor said: Er Chen Tingjing has a good character, profound literary thinking, and has served as the four books of the criminal workers of the household, the imperial history of the left capital of the Metropolitan Procuratorate, and the official of the banquet, diligent and honest, and has no guilt in his office. The state commends hundreds of officials, and must chase Zude. Chen Sanle, the great-grandfather of the gift, was a doctor of Guanglu, a lecturer at the banquet, and a scholar of the criminal department; Chen Jie's grandfather, Chen Jiecong, was a doctor of Guanglu, a lecturer at the banquet, a scholar of the two criminal departments, and the head of the Metropolitan Procuratorate. Chen Changqi, the father of Er, gave it to the first Guanglu doctor, the official of the feast, the second book of the official punishment, and the imperial history of the left capital of the Imperial Palace! ”

The emperor was in great interest, and when Chen Ting thanked him, he climbed the Chen family tower to lookout. Seeing a tall building standing in the distance, I was very curious and asked, "What is that?" ”

Chen Tingjing replied: "That is Heshan Tower, built in the fifth year of Ming Chongzhen. The bandits from Shaanxi came here to burn and loot, and Chen's grandfather and father led their families to build this river and mountain tower in a hurry, saving more than 800 villagers. Later, in order to prevent the bandits from coming back, these walls were built. ”

The emperor smiled and said: "Your Chen family is not only good at financial management, but also understands military affairs!" Next year, I will conquer Galdan, and you will follow suit! ”

Chen Tingjing said a few words humbly and bowed to the leader's will.