After Mother Yang, the steward of Tianxiang Courtyard, left, Meng Hao and his wife sat for a while, and then went home.

When she returned home, Mrs. Meng went to the housekeeper Fu Bo and explained: "Fu Bo, tomorrow you go to Tianxiang Courtyard to find Steward Yang there, and say that Meng Mansion wants to ransom Miss Yun'er, no matter how much the ransom is, you must bring people back." ”

Fauber confirmed, "Madam, are you sure it doesn't matter what the ransom is?"

Mrs. Meng hesitated a little and thought for a while: "Uh... At most, it will rise by 50% on the basis of the market price, and forget if it is more. ”

Fauber departed.

On the other side, Meng Hao sat alone in the study, still holding the letter and sachet in his hand, thinking for a long time, and finally found a book to sandwich the letter in it. It's just that the sachet in his hand is a little difficult to handle, and it wasn't until it was dark that Meng Hao mustered up the courage to open the sachet.

There is still the body fragrance of begonias and the faint smell of rouge on the sachet, as if a beautiful woman is beside her. Meng Hao was a little stunned when he saw things and people. After being in a daze for a long time, I gently opened the sachet and saw a bunch of green silk and a note inside.

In this era, green silk, "green" through "feelings", "silk" through "thinking". A girl gives you a bunch of green silk, which contains infinite affection.

Meng Hao showed a faint bitter smile at Qingsi. Then I opened the note, and there were only four words on it: "May you cherish it". The font is slender and feminine, full of the delicate thoughts of his daughter's family, Meng Hao held the thing in his hand and looked into the distance stupidly.

When dinner time came, Meng Hao didn't have much appetite, so he didn't go to the dining room, and Mrs. Meng also tacitly didn't send anyone to invite.

The two didn't say anything all night.

The next day, Meng Hao woke up from the study and looked at the sachet on the table not far away, which exuded a faint fragrance.

He silently told himself to forget that night, forget the woman, and let himself be hearted.

In just a few breaths, a few thoughts, but it was like a chasm set by the gods, separating the two into two worlds, so far away, so long.

Fortunately, we have not seen each other since.

And this parting is a lifetime.

It's just that in the days that followed, no matter how lightly Meng Hao downplayed the memory he once had, it was a memory that he didn't want to mention. It's not hard to say, it's shameful.

As a man, he is arbitrary, cowardly, and has no responsibility; as a scholar, he is greedy for alcohol and lacks righteousness, which is despicable.

May there be fewer such men in the world.

......

In the afternoon, Fu Bo went to Tianxiang Temple, and soon brought back a little girl.

After returning to Meng's mansion, Fu Bo took a girl named Yun'er to meet Mrs. Meng.

Mrs. Meng looked at Yun'er carefully, and saw that this girl was very white, with two small dimples on her round face, although she was not very beautiful, but she was also very gentle and delicate.

At the end of the inspection, Mrs. Meng asked lightly, "Yun'er, how old are you this year?"

Yun'er was blessed, "Mrs. Hui, Yun'er is seventeen years old this year. ”

Mrs. Meng was a little curious, "You are a lot of age difference with Miss Begonia, right?

Yun'er said softly: "Yun'er is from Jiangning County, Jiankang Prefecture, a few years ago, the family suffered a disaster, and her parents and brothers were gone, so Yun'er was sold to Hangzhou Mansion by her uncle. First of all, she was a little girl in a non-staff house, and her life was quite good, and she could eat and dress every day. It's just that the good times didn't last long, and the family made a mistake, and Yun'er was resold to Tianxiangyuan. Later, she was photographed by Sister Begonia and became her sister's maid. ”

Mrs. Meng sighed: "It's also a poor child, let's do things well in the house in the future." ”

"Thank you, Madame, for taking you in. Yun'er hurriedly saluted and thanked her.

Later, Xiaohuan took Yun'er to the backyard and told her some rules at home.

After the two maids left, Mrs. Meng raised her eyes and looked at Fu Bo and asked, "Fu Bo, have you been embarrassed when you get there?"

Fu Bo shook his head, "I didn't feel embarrassed, then Steward Yang just asked for the redemption of Miss Yun'er at the market price." ”

"Hmm... What did you say?" said Mrs. Meng.

The Yang steward seemed to have something to say, but in the end he didn't say it. ”

"That's it, that's the end of it. Mrs. Meng made a decision.

Fauber said yes, and then stepped back.

......

At night, Mrs. Meng sent someone to the study to invite Meng Hao to have dinner together.

After dinner, Mrs. Meng dismissed the servant and asked meaningfully, "Master, do you have anything to say?"

Meng Hao just replied softly, "There's nothing to say." ”

Mrs. Meng just glared at him and didn't speak.

At night, Meng Hao still slept in the study.

Meng Ran was a little puzzled about the slightly embarrassing atmosphere at home and the fact that there was an extra maid, but he never asked his parents, but just asked his maid Xiaolian before going to bed, "Sister Xiaolian, do you think there is a problem with my father and mother in the past two days? I always feel that they are weird at dinner tonight, and they are not the same as usual." Moreover, today there is suddenly an extra maid in the family, which was not something before. Sister Xiaolian, did you say something happened at home?"

Xiaolian hesitated for a moment, but finally didn't tell Meng Ran the truth about what she heard, but comforted: "Young master, are you tired of reading? I think it's normal, nothing is different from usual." ”

"Really?" Meng Ran tilted his head to look at Xiaolian.

Xiaolian nodded.

Meng Ran no longer dwelled on this issue, but thought that he was wrong.

The lights had gone down and the snoring had risen.

At midnight, the wind blows tangibly, the moon shines without a trace, and the shadows of the sparse trees break the long street.

The moon is fuller.

......

The Mid-Autumn Festival is just around the corner.

The Mid-Autumn Festival began in the middle of the Qin Dynasty and flourished in the Chen Dynasty, and has become one of the traditional festivals on a par with the Spring Festival.

Since ancient times, the Mid-Autumn Festival has had customs such as worshipping the moon, admiring the moon, worshiping the moon, eating moon cakes, appreciating osmanthus flowers, drinking osmanthus wine, etc., which have been passed down to this day and endured for a long time. The Mid-Autumn Festival is a colorful and precious festival with the full moon and the reunion of people, as a sustenance of missing hometown, missing relatives, praying for a good harvest and happiness.

On this day, all the people of the world are busy. Families are busy making mooncakes and shortbreads, and rich people will also steam plump crabs.

After a while, everything in the Meng Mansion was ready, just waiting for night to fall and the bright moon to be in the sky.

It's just that at this time, the door of Meng's Mansion was rudely knocked open, and a group of fierce and vicious servants came, and the leader was Zhong Hui, the county lieutenant of this county.

The next person hurried to report.

When Meng Hao rushed from the backyard to the front hall, this group of people had already broken into the front hall.

Even if he was as deeply cultivated as Meng Hao, he couldn't help but be furious and scolded: "County Lieutenant Zhong, what's the matter with trespassing into a private house?"

I saw that Zhong Hui looked condescending and domineering, hugged his arms and sneered: "Meng Hao, your incident happened, come with me to the yamen." ”

Meng Hao raised his eyebrows, "What did I do?"

"Yes, how could it not be. Zhong Hui looked like a cat and mouse, took out a volume of documents from his arms, threw it on the ground, and jokingly said, "Master Meng, take a closer look." ”

Meng Hao picked up the paperwork and saw that it was written:

"Today, Meng Hao, a native of Lin'an County, Hangzhou Prefecture, was appointed as the county governor of Lin'an, and it was a big crime to offend the emperor's majesty and question the government's strategy during his tenure.

During his tenure as an official, he was diligent, and although he was at fault, he was only punished with a small punishment.

He was dismissed from his official position and sentenced to three months' imprisonment.

Execute it now. ”

The document is impressively stamped with the large seal of the state government yamen.

Meng Hao has been an official for more than ten years, although it is a bit roundabout, but he is well versed in the doorway. After seeing that what was written on the document was only to offend the emperor and question the government, his heart was as open as a mirror. He understood that it must have been the prefect who came forward to block some of the charges for him, otherwise it would definitely not be such a slight punishment. As for the three-month imprisonment, I gritted my teeth and survived.

Meng Hao arched his hand at the county lieutenant Zhong Hui, "County lieutenant Zhong, I have already read the documents, and I will explain one or two to my family before I go with you, okay?"

Zhong Hui hesitated for a moment, waved his hand, and said, "Hurry up." The big guys are waiting to go home for the holidays. ”

Meng Hao left the housekeeper Fu Bo to accompany the servants, and he went to the back hall to explain the matter to Mrs. Meng.

In the back hall, Mrs. Meng walked around anxiously.

"Don't worry, ma'am. Meng Hao comforted Mrs. Meng, "I read the documents of the state government yamen, and I only dismissed the official and removed him from his post, and then imprisoned for three months." ”

"What? three months in prison, how can your body stand the dark and damp conditions of the dungeon?" Madame Meng's panicked voice was already carrying some crying.

"It's okay, grit your teeth and it's over. If you don't follow them, you'll suffer even more. Meng Hao reached out and touched Mrs. Meng's cheek, "Be at home obediently, take care of the children, I'll be back soon." ”

Mrs. Meng's tears immediately covered her cheeks and dripped down her chest and the ground.

Mrs. Meng cried for a while, but she stopped her tears, and kept packing up Meng Hao's clothes, bedding and some daily necessities to be used.

Meng Hao just stood quietly, looking at the busy figure with a complicated look, with love, guilt, and a trace of regret.

The officers in the front hall couldn't wait any longer and began to make a lot of noise and yell. Even in the back hall, you can hear the noise.

Meng Hao had to hurry to the front hall and persuade him with good words.

No matter how hard you grind, you always have to go. Mrs. Meng watched Meng Hao being taken away by the servants like that, and watched him walk out of the front yard and step out of the big threshold.

Mrs. Meng's tears were like the rain in July, swaying non-stop. When Meng Hao turned around, he saw that she was still holding his favorite pair of boots in her hand.

......

On this night, the entire Shenzhou Da Lu is recommended by the golden phoenix, the jade dew is cold, the osmanthus is fragrant, and the silver toad is full of light. The rich and noble people climb the tall building, play the moon in the Xuan, or open the wide pavilion, the tortoise feast is listed, the piano is sonorous, the wine is sung and sung, and the joy of the night is divined. As for the home of the shop, they also climbed the small platform to arrange family banquets and gather children to reward the festival. Although the people in the alleys are poor, they are relieved of the agricultural market wine, and they are reluctant to welcome the joy and refuse to waste it. This night the street sells and buys, until the five drums, playing the moon tourists, the mother-in-law is in the city, and the fire is endless.

All kinds of people are furnishing incense tables to worship the moon and sacrifice, and then the family reunites, admires the moon together, drinks and has fun, and eats moon cakes, shortbreads and all kinds of fashionable fruits and vegetables.

Only Mengfu is miserable.