Tranquility

"At that time, there were only my ex-wife, Mrs. Zhang, and Mrs. Zhao at the door, and the door was only as wide as one person. My first wife was standing at the door, and Mrs. Zhang was caught by the threshold. How could I miss my first wife!" Tangning said loudly while standing in the hall.

"I didn't meet it. She had already moved away at that time." Niuniu started yelling in the next door without waiting for the lawyer to speak.

The Zhang family specially hired a lawyer from the capital to complain secretly. They are not afraid of opponents who are like gods, but teammates who are like pigs. When Niuniu said this, it was tantamount to admitting that Tangning said that Niuniu stole his family's ginseng slices. What do you think? Do people believe what a thief said, or what Xie Yuan said.However, without waiting for him to make amends, Tang Ning pressed forward step by step.

"Since she has already got out of the way, how could she fall? Who else could it be if it wasn't you?"

"At that time, I was terrified. How could I know who it was? Anyway, it wasn't me. When I fell down, it was my mother."

This time the lawyer immediately added, "Maybe Tang Juren's wife fell down by herself."

"Impossible. My first wife was very close to the door at the time, almost leaning on the door frame. If she fell by herself, she could have grabbed the door frame with her hands, but when she fell to the ground, she covered her stomach with both hands. Everyone present could Testify. Under what circumstances would a pregnant woman hold her stomach first, regardless of the danger of falling and miscarriage? Unless her stomach was attacked at that time, which was more urgent than falling."

"These are just your inferences, do you have any evidence?" The lawyer insisted.

"The two doctors who diagnosed my first wife at that time can all attest."

County Magistrate Min slapped the gavel, "Pass to the two doctors."

Among the ordinary people outside the court, two people squeezed out, they were Dr. Lu and Langzhong Sun.

"The two of you were the ones who took Cheng's pulse that day? How can you tell the truth and not lie." County magistrate Min sat in the hall with a dignified appearance, but he was full of anxiety in his heart.

"Returning to my lord, Caomin arrived first that day, and it was only a stick of incense before Mrs. Tang Juren's accident. At that time, Mrs. Tang was dying. It was indeed the abdomen was hit by an external force, causing severe pain, leading to a recurrence of heart disease, and then unable to give birth. If you add the two together, it will be hard to get back to heaven."

At the side, the lawyer of the Zhang family secretly thought that something was wrong, didn't Sun Langzhong have already been bribed, why did he turn his back on him temporarily?

Dr. Lu also added: "That's true. If you fall, you won't feel severe pain so quickly. At most, it's just a normal labor pain."

The people nearby heard this, and buzzed about it. If it was really pushed down, it must be the mother and daughter, no matter which one is Tang Juren's relatives, they can do it.

"As far as I know, Dr. Lu and Tang Juren have a very good relationship. Every time Tang Juren comes to town, he usually stays at Dr. Lu's house. His testimony needs to be verified." The lawyer of the Zhang family began to blur the point.

"As far as I know, Dr. Sun has treated Zhang's family for more than ten years. Anyone who is sick within a hundred miles of Zhangjiacun will go to Dr. Sun. For more than ten years, Mr. Sun's medical skills and medical ethics have been well-known." Tangning didn't pick up his words, but instead praised Dr. Sun.

Suddenly, he changed the subject and suddenly became sharp, "In my opinion, it must be Mrs. Zhang. She has a mean character since she was a child, and she is used to stealing. At the age of six, he stole his mother's money for a few flowers, which caused his mother's dystocia and greatly weakened her vitality. When her mother had a dystocia, she did not worry about her mother. On the same day, he stole his earrings again.

In the past few things, I was young and powerless, but on the day my elder brother got married, I strictly disciplined Mrs. Zhang, and asked her mother to restrain her to make some red knitting. It was safe for four years. I thought Mrs. Zhang was in pain Changing her previous mistakes, I was planning to find a good marriage for her, but I didn't know that she got pregnant out of wedlock, which ruined the Tang family's family style. Even so, I thought about the relationship between relatives, and brazenly begged the Zhang family to marry her as his wife. We are not blood relatives, but we have been together for ten years. I think that I have done my best to this step-sister. To put it bluntly, even if I have a dog, I know how to repay her kindness. "

Speaking of this, Tangning paused, her eyes were slightly wet, and she let out a long sigh.

"It's just a box of ginseng slices, she wants to tell me that's it, how could I not give it to her, but she became greedy, it's just a box of ginseng slices, and because of this, let me and my beloved wife, heaven and man After a while, we will never see each other again."

What he said made the onlookers feel very sad, those who heard it were sad, and those who listened to tears, all angrily scolded Niuniu for being ruthless and ungrateful, repaying kindness with revenge, and so on.

Tangning wiped away her tears and pointed at the neighbor next door angrily, "It must be Mrs. Zhang. She thought that if she married the Zhang family, she would be rich and honored, but she didn't want to find precious ginseng in the next family. She was jealous and greedy, so she ran away from her first wife." , trying to get out of the door!"

"No! Nothing! You slandered me! I really didn't touch that woman at all, it was my mother who accidentally pushed her!" Niuniu immediately screamed and retorted.

At first, Niuniu was a little uneasy when she heard Tangning expose her old background, but it became even more difficult to hear the people around her angrily scold her. In the end, Tangning's words pierced her mind, and her psychological defense suddenly collapsed, and she fell out of everything.

As soon as her words fell to the ground, the crowd roared with contempt. People who had doubts about Tangning's words immediately turned to Tangning's side. This girl actually pushed her mother out at such a time, which just confirmed Tangning's words.

Aunt Tang, who was kneeling and rubbing her waist, also stared wide-eyed, looking at her daughter in disbelief, forgetting to refute, and there was no way to refute.

County Magistrate Min patted the gavel again and again, he had a war between heaven and man in his mind. Originally, apart from Niu Niu stealing the film, the evidence was conclusive, and everything else was a one-sided story. The doctor’s testimony was not enough to convict him. In the end, he came out to make peace. After all, among the people in the hall, the people sent by Gao Pu were hiding on the one hand, and the people from the Princess Mansion and King Zhennan were standing on the other. He couldn't afford to offend on both sides.

But seeing the current situation, he had no choice but to choose a side, and when the surroundings gradually quieted down, he also made up his mind and asked: "Mr. Zhao, what your daughter said is the truth."

Aunt Tang came back to her senses, lowered her head, and said with difficulty: "I lost my footing when I was supporting my daughter, and accidentally pushed the third daughter-in-law down."

What can she say at this time, it's not her, could it be Niuniu? But it's better than Niu Niu going to jail, she has no hope at all.

Tang Ningyou was not reconciled, and asked, "You are so close to the door, you didn't stand firmly and grabbed the doorframe, why did you push your ex-wife instead?"

Lawyer Zhang's family failed to interject a few words from the beginning to the end. His employer was completely led by the nose, but he didn't try his best to regain control.

The magistrate of Min County patted the gavel again, intending to make a final verdict, "Since the truth of the matter is known, Mr. Zhao's manslaughter, the victim is Juren's wife or a relative, the crime will be increased, and the law will be forty. ..."

"Wait!" Suddenly, a person ran in from outside the hall. He managed to squeeze through the crowd, took out a box and handed it to the lawyer. Tang Juren's main wife was born as an official slave!"

"Oh?" County Magistrate Min was shocked. Sister Cheng is Mr. Cheng's daughter, how could she be an official slave, "Send it here for a look."

At the same time, there was an uproar outside the hall, official slaves, the daughter of a scholar, the wife of Juren is actually an official slave, this is more exciting than unmarried pregnancy, ordinary official slaves are either exiled or sold into high-end brothels, People in Cangping County have never seen what official slaves look like.

When Tang Ning heard the word "official slave", her brain buzzed and her heart sank quickly.

I don't know how long it took, as if it was a moment, as if it was another year, he heard the heavy voice of County Magistrate Min slowly ringing in his ears: "Since the victim was born as an official slave, Zhao's manslaughter, according to the law, the crime is reduced by two." Wait, stick twenty. Mrs. Zhang is the cause of the incident, because her husband is an official, according to the law, he was fined 300 taels of silver."

"Master Min!" Tangning suddenly shouted.

"What, do you have an objection?"

"No, I remember that I sued Mrs. Zhang for stealing the ginseng slices. I don't know if this crime can be established?"

"The evidence is overwhelming, and the crime can be established."

"Then what should be the judgment according to the law?"

"Ms. Zhang stole nearly 500 taels of property from Juren. According to the law, he should cut off one finger and be imprisoned for ten years."

County Magistrate Min lamented in his heart that his luck was bad. Now, he offended both parties. It's not that he didn't want to help Tangning, but no one thought that Sister Cheng was an official slave.Now I can only try my best to make up for it. Imprisonment can be bought with money, but punishment can’t be bought. Cutting off one finger is finally an explanation. After all, Niu Niu is a pregnant woman, so it’s hard to say if she can bear it. Dazhao waits for the pregnant woman to give birth before executing The provisions of the death penalty do not wait until the delivery is over before chopping off fingers.

"Master Min, legal principles are nothing more than human feelings. Mrs. Zhao is pregnant, how can she carry out such a cruel punishment? Besides, Mrs. Zhao is the fiancee of the seventh-rank official, and the nephew and daughter-in-law of the Ministry of Household Affairs." The lawyer panicked. "Aren't the people like the magistrate of the county already taken care of, why is there something wrong with one or two of them.

County magistrate Min raised his eyelids, "Dazhao doesn't have a provision that pregnant women can be exempted from punishment. The law of heaven is clear, and the retribution is not good. Compared with another pregnant woman who died because of her, just breaking off a finger is already extrajudicial. Besides, she stole What’s more, everyone has equal status, and there is no reason to reduce the crime.”

As he spoke, he immediately threw out a stick.

The two yamen servants next to him immediately turned around and entered the next door. Before everyone could react, Niu Niu yelled in panic: "Mother, save me!"

Before he could finish shouting "I", there was a pitiful howl that pierced everyone's hearts into panic, except for Tangning, who stood calmly by the side, neither sad nor happy.

"Niu Niu, come here, Niu Niu is going to give birth, help me!" Aunt Tang's panicked cry followed.

"Come here, drag her to the back hall to give birth. Mr. Sun, Doctor Lu, I will trouble you first. Is there a stable woman outside the hall? Come in and deliver the baby." Now that the matter is a foregone conclusion, County Magistrate Min is not entangled anymore, calm down commanded.

Then, he slapped the gavel again, "Silence! Someone, hold Mrs. Zhao, twenty big boards, hit hard!"

A stick fell to the ground, and two more yamen servants came out next to them, and entered the next door. Aunt Tang's howling was as loud as Niu Niu.

Tang Ning lowered her eyes and listened quietly. For Aunt Tang, the twenties may be a lifetime, but for Tang Ning, it has passed without much time.

After a while, a yamen servant came out to report: "Return to your lord, the execution is over, it seems that Mrs. Zhao is not well."

Aunt Tang's waist was hurt by Tangning's kick, and she hasn't healed yet. Now that she's twenty feet down, it's normal for her body to be weak.

There were boos all around. Although the mother and daughter deserved what they deserved, hearing them howl so miserably and dying, it was no different from being sentenced to death. Compared with Tangning's calm and calm, some people began to mutter. Feel Tangning's pain.

At this time, Dr. Lu actually came back again. With Sun Langzhong here, why should he make trouble? Well, in fact, he didn't want to treat Niuniu, but when he heard the yamen servant say it, he immediately went into the next door and took dozens of silver needles. Interrupted, pulling Aunt Tang back from the gate of hell.

Seeing this miraculous scene, everyone around praised Dr. Lu for his excellent medical skills and high morals. Dr. Lu went over and patted Tang Ning on the shoulder, saying, "Don't be sad, the matter is over. Let's go back and burn incense sticks for your wife. It is a comfort to her spirit in heaven."

The onlookers understood, and recalling Tangning's performance just now, they all responded with sympathy, revenge for killing his wife, and saving the life of his stepmother at the last moment, it is really kindhearted.

Back at the Lu Residence, Dr. Lu called Tangning into the study, sat down, drank some herbal tea, and sighed, "You bought the yamen servants and let them beat you hard, right?"

Tangning gritted her teeth tightly and remained silent.

"But do you know that you are the plaintiff and she is the defendant. Although you have never targeted her, it is a fact that she was beaten to death in court. You have offended the chief minister of the cabinet because of this incident. This is a ready-made handle , as long as they pinch the matter from the beginning to the end and reveal only a little bit, your reputation of killing your mother will immediately spread throughout the court, do you still want your official career reputation?"

Tangning raised her head suddenly, "I'd rather not have an official career, but avenge Yu'er."

Dr. Lu frowned tightly, hating that iron cannot be made into steel, "It's better to bully a white-bearded man than to bully a young man who is poor. They are so old and you are still young. One day they will get revenge. But, have you ever thought about it? If your official career is ruined, what will your son do? He is an official slave, who else can get rid of his citizenship except you? If you become an official in the future, there are ways to get your son removed from his citizenship. If you are a commoner , this will never happen. Do you want your children and grandchildren to be slaves for the rest of their lives?"

Tangning was shocked, her heart was torn apart by two forces, and she was in extreme pain.

"Why can't you seek justice for Yu'er? Isn't it because Yu'er is an official slave?"

Tangning suddenly sat on the chair, silent.

At the same time, in a remote and quiet hut in the chaotic back hall, County Magistrate Min knelt on the cold floor tiles.

"Is this what you said you must do your best?"

The magistrate of Min County wiped his forehead, "Hui, Hui, my lord, the night before yesterday, after you left, Chang Shi from the Princess' Palace came to me with the gold medal of the first emperor, and asked me to help Tang..."

"Oh? Princess Kang Le?"

"Exactly."

The man was a little surprised, then puzzled, and finally frowned in thought. Although the princess can't participate in politics, sometimes a word from the princess is worth thousands of memorials to civil servants. It turns out that the eldest princess has something to do with Tangning, and the civil servants and the clan are not in the same circle. As long as it doesn't involve imperial power, the Eldest Princess can't get involved in civil affairs. It seems that it's better not to touch Tang Ning at the moment, and she has to go back and report to her master.

In the blink of an eye, three months have passed, and the cases that had been making a lot of noise that day have gradually disappeared in the hustle and bustle.

Niu Niu gave birth to a sick and weak son, and she was also seriously injured. After giving birth, she was taken back to the Zhang family by a small carriage. Don't think about it, the marriage certificate was also returned, and there was no concubine paperwork. The title of concubine, Niu Niu already looks like this, and the Zhang family spent another 2000 taels to redeem Niu Niu's sin, it's no wonder they can show a good face, and just let her stay there.

It is said that the daughter-in-law Zhang Youcai married in the capital was very jealous. Not only did Zhang Youcai not be allowed to go out for sex, but even a concubine like Niu Niu who had a relationship with her and was far away in the country sent a servant girl to teach the rules.

I'm afraid teaching the rules is secondary, what I really want to teach is the premature baby.No matter how tolerant and magnanimous the main wife is, facing the eldest son of the concubine, she will have all kinds of reactions, not to mention the jealous one, it will be a thorn in the flesh, and it will be difficult to sleep for a day.

Aunt Tang suffered heavy [-]-year-old boards, but she survived and was able to walk, but she couldn't straighten her waist, her whole body was distorted and deformed, and she had to squint at people from the bottom up.

Tang Mu advised Tang Carpenter to divorce her. After all, no matter how loyal Tang Mu was, he couldn't bear such a stepmother.

Unexpectedly, not only was Aunt Tang not ashamed and cowardly, but she was even more arrogant and had a bad temper. Since she was Zhao Huiniang's aunt, she opened her mouth to scold when she couldn't help it, which made people very incomprehensible. It is only careful to please, but it seems that it is a different person.

Aunt Tang grew old very quickly after all this training, she didn't even dress up, she looked sloppy all day long, she couldn't straighten her waist, she spoke in a strange way, and her face became more and more hideous. In just three months, people in the village would not be able to see her when they met her. She walked around, so she didn't go out, just stayed in the room, talking about something, often bursting into strange laughter, and Tang Xiaoya was scared to cry several times by her.Until Niu Niu took care of her body and came back to see her, she didn't know what Niu Niu had said, and finally tidied herself up like a human being, and occasionally went to Zhang's house to see Niu Niu.

On this day, Tangning hugged her son and stepped into the door of the Tang family for the first time since the accident. Standing at the door, he was a little dazed. This was once his home.

Carpenter Tang was a little excited when he saw Tangning. He didn't know what to say, "San'er, are you here?"

"Yeah." Tangning looked at Carpenter Tang with all white hair and wrinkled face, with complicated eyes, "This is your grandson, Mr. named him Tang Yu. I'm here to add to the family tree."

Carpenter Tang hesitated, and tapped his palm with the pipe.

Tangning asked in confusion, "What? What's the matter?"

"Well, I heard that this baby is an official slave?"

"Bring me the family tree!" Tangning's eyes turned cold as she walked into her original room.

Tang Carpenter was flustered by his son's eyes, and quickly brought over the genealogy, thinking, the official slave should be the official slave, and he will always be his first grandson.

Tang Ning held her son in one hand, took out a brush with the other, dipped it in the ink, and swiped forcefully. On the genealogy, "Tang Ning, Cheng Yu" turned into a patch of ink.

He sneered and dropped the pen, and walked away.

Within a few days, Carpenter Tang heard a commotion next door, and it soon calmed down.

In the evening, Tang Mu came back and said, "Father, San'er moved to the town today."

Carpenter Tang took a deep breath on his cigarette and remained silent.

****

Autumn is crisp, with a gentle breeze, blue sky and white clouds, and sparkling blue waves.

In Wan'an Temple in the capital city, Xie Baiyun was wearing a moon white and golden gown, standing with his hands behind his back by the railing of the attic near the lake, looking into the distance.Not far away, there was singing of warblers and swallows, and colorful clothes were flying. I don't know which family's family members came out to release lives and pray for blessings.

After helping Tangning settle down, he left Cangping County. On the one hand, he hadn't returned to the capital for a long time and was afraid of accidents.On the other hand, he had to sort out his feelings. Although Tangning had changed a lot and became more and more lonely, he liked him even more and felt sorry for him.Even a casual look from Tangning could make his heart beat faster, and he was deeply trapped in his cold eyes, unable to extricate himself.This kind of relationship is like poison, sweet and dangerous, so he ran away. He knew that Tangning would not be able to respond to him, and he was afraid of getting hurt, so like a deserter, he fled back to his lair in a panic.

"Master, all the young masters have been dismissed." Mo Yi's deep voice sounded behind him.

"Oh, everything is settled? Are you sure there is no one around me?"

"Well, does Mo Shisan count?"

"It's too beautiful, it's easy to be misunderstood, and it's emotional. I remember offending Zi'an a few years ago, and I can't even be a servant. Even if it is left by my mother, if he is unqualified, he is unqualified. Let him go back to Kunnan Take care of the mansion over there for me." Xie Baiyun unfolded his fan and fanned it impatiently.

"Yes." Mo Yi bowed his head and cupped his hands.

There was a slight air flow, and Mo Yi raised his head alertly. There was no one in front of him. He hurried to the railing, just in time to see Xie Baiyun fall into the water with a "plop".

Mo Yi's heart trembled, could it be that the master was telling his last words just now?

Mo Yi held back his tears, quickly took out something from his bosom and put it down, and then jumped down: "Master—"