It is said that after Xu Congzhi decided the case of Gu Mingqiu, after a period of time, he went to Zuo Mansion to visit Zuo Guangdou, told him about it, reassured him, and praised Huang Wanqing to Zuo Guangdou, saying that although she is a woman, it is really rare to be able to understand righteousness and uphold justice. He said,

"That Huang Tianba framed Gu Mingqiu for robbery, refused to admit his mistake, and I broke his cane with twenty sticks. ”

Zuo Guangdou listened, smiled and said:

"The case is closed, but the matter is not closed. Think about it, if Huang Wanqing interceded for Gu Mingqiu in the county court, his brother would forgive? His father would forgive? I think she can't stay at home!"

Xu Congzhi said:

"Then it shouldn't be, if Huang Wanqing is hurt, I will ask. ”

Zuo Guangdou laughed:

"Since ancient times, it has been difficult for Qing officials to cut off family affairs - can you manage it?"

Mrs. Zuo Zhou brought a few side dishes, carried a pot of wine, put it on the table, and said:

"Lord Xu has a drink. ”

Xu Congzhi thanked:

"Mrs. Sister-in-law is virtuous and hospitable, so I'm not welcome. ”

He lifted the flask and said with a smile:

"I'm just going to be the guest, come, have a drink!"

The two were in high spirits and both raised their glasses.

When the wine was drunk, the family ran in in a panic and said:

"Lord Zuo is not good, the capital is riding to arrest people!"

Xu Congzhi was shocked, put down the wine glass, and said:

"You have been dismissed from management and cut down to serve as a citizen, how can you come to arrest people again, how can this be reasonable! Aren't you just suing that Wei Eunuch for a case! As an imperial historian, you have this responsibility!"

Zuo Guangdou's face did not change, calm as usual, and said:

Yang Lian played a copy of Wei Zhongxian and was already in prison in Dongchang. I played Wei Zhongxian for 32 beheadings, how could he let me go so easily? I know that sooner or later there will be such a day, come, let's drink. ”

At this time, there was a commotion in the market. People shouted in horror: "Ti Cavalry is coming to arrest people!" Old man Zuo Chuying was reviewing his manuscript in the study at this time. Throughout history, he learned about the rise and fall of the dynasties, and he was quite touched, so he wrote a book to teach his children and grandchildren, and also entertained himself in his old age.

When he heard the market being crowded and rode into the city, he knew that he was coming for his son. He called Guangdou's daughter Mingjuan and said:

"Go, talk to your father about the song "Farewell Father's Words"!"

Mingjuan came to her father with the piano, and Guangdou reached out and stroked the little daughter's head, saying:

"Good daughter, let's play. ”

The sound of the piano sounded, sometimes faintly like thunder, sometimes agitated like a storm breaking the shore.

Mingjuan sang while playing:

"The spirit is still too empty, and Dan's heart is eternal. He did not repay the favor in his life, and kept it as a loyal soul. ”

The old man in the study next door could understand it, and he couldn't help but feel a heart-wrenching pain, and the old man burst into tears. The "Farewell Father's Words" tells the facts of the current dynasty, and the old man knows best. With the sound of the piano, the old man seemed to feel Yang Jisheng's heroic righteousness of risking death to impeach the traitor Yan Song, and he seemed to feel that Yang Jisheng was victimized by Yan Song and sang farewell to his father's heroism. Zuo Guangdou was proud to be able to repeat Yang Jisheng's tragic scene, and he was able to smile at Jiuquan.

After Mingjuan finished playing "Farewell Father's Words", the old man Zuo Chuying walked in.

Zuo Guangdou left the table, sat down in front of his father and said:

Although he is not filial, he also wants to emulate Yang Jisheng's feat. Only the old father and mother are in the hall, and the son can't rest assured!"

After that, I couldn't cry, and tears rained down.

In this situation, Xu Congzhi's tears rippled on the other side.

The old man picked up his son, choked back tears, and looked at his son, but still did not speak.

Zuo Guangdou said:

"The son is both the son of the father and the minister of the emperor, if loyalty and filial piety cannot be both, only ask the father to forgive - after the son leaves, I am afraid that I will no longer be able to serve the father......"

Humanity knows the son of Mo Ruo's father. Zuo Guangdou was cut from his post and returned to his hometown for the crime of accepting bribes. The old man Zuo Chuying knows that his son is honest and upright, and there is no corruption or bribery. He also knows that his son is worried about the emasculation and the sun is burning, and he loves the people like a son, and will never take the people's fat and people's ointment to fatten himself. knows more that his son is loyal and jealous, and he will inevitably be intolerable to traitors. The old man looked at his son, his lips trembling, as if he had a thousand words, but he couldn't say a word.

"Ti rode to Zuofu!" shouted someone in the market.

The old and young families of Zuofu gathered in the courtyard, silent, each crying.

Zuo Guangdou said goodbye to his father, went back to his room, and changed into clean clothes. Comb your hair neatly and tie it well, and wear your hat. Then he came to the hall and saw that the four fierce horsemen had already been in their hands.

One of the horsemen stepped forward to flail Zuo Guangdou.

Zuo Guangdou waved his hand and said:

"Wait! Wait a minute. ”

Zuo Guangdou suppressed his feelings, bowed to his mother a few times, and helped his wife, who was almost crying, and told her not to be sad, honor her parents, and take care of the children. Then, he said goodbye to his brothers, sisters, sisters, and nephews one by one. They were looking for the pillars, but they saw five children standing by the door together. They all came together, holding hands and holding their clothes, and they all cried.

Mingjuan knelt on the ground, hugged his legs, and cried:

"Dad, you can't go, you can't go!"

Zuo Guangdou felt pain in his heart, but he endured it and didn't let the tears flow out. He helped Mingjuan up and comforted:

"Don't cry, dad will go to the capital, wait for the emperor to investigate clearly, and take you into Beijing. After I leave, I must study hard, and don't waste my studies. ”

He looked around at the crowd, one by one, and resolutely walked towards the cavalry, leading his neck to the flail.

Zuo Guangdou was flailed by the long flail, and when he turned around, the plaque of "Pepper Hall" hanging on the hall was in sight, and now he realized more deeply the deep meaning of his father's "Pepper Hall". He took another look at the courtyard, at the well, at the eaves. Take a look at the ginkgo, magnolia, Tianzhu and hexagonal lattice blue brick wall, this is the home where he was born and raised!

The family hugged and said goodbye with tears. He had only gone a few steps when he heard someone shouting:

"The old lady is here!"

I saw the old servant Ah Xiang supporting the old lady and walking out of the door tremblingly.

Zuo Guangdou saw the ninety-year-old father with a fluttering silver beard, so he couldn't hold back any longer, knelt down in a flail, and cried in front of the old man.

The old man held back his tears, lifted up his son, and said:

"Go, remember: you are my son, and you are a courtier of the Ming Dynasty!"

Zuo Guangdou nodded, bowed to his father, and then went on the road.

Watching his son go away, the old man Zuo Chuying couldn't support it, he knew that his son was going to be more and more auspicious, and he had always been vicious, since he had framed him, how could he let him go? He hated those traitors and thieves so much that he almost bit his lips to bleed! Maybe he was too angry, and he felt that his chest was so stuffy that he only felt that the blood was gushing up, almost breaking through the top of his head. I wanted to see my son more, but I walked away and couldn't see it.

Although the old servant Ah Xiang and Zuo Guangdou are master servants, they are also brothers and sisters. He secretly thought that after settling the old lady, he would ride a horse to see him off. He helped the old lady back to the house to rest, feeling his arm heavy. When he looked at the old lady again, his face had changed. This was not a small shock, and quickly called a family member, carried the old man into the house together, put him on the bed and lay down, and then asked the family to quickly call Lang Zhong. Ah Xiang heard that the old lady was still squirming and talking, as if calling the name of Guangdou.

After a while, the old lady said no more, opened her eyes, seemed to have some energy, pointed to the big chair, and said, "Hold me up and sit down!"

Ah Xiang picked up the old lady and sat on the chair, the old man asked for his own jade sandalwood cane, held it in his hand, the thinker himself had such an incorruptible, upright, iron-clad son, smiled and passed away, Ah Xiang saw the old man pass away, and cried bitterly.