Xie Ming

Dust settles on the wild path, old bones stand guard in the cold village.

Leaning on my cane, I probe the truth; facing the wind, I inquire about the ferry crossing.

Eyebrows and beard like icy tassels, breath like white silk.

Don't laugh at my unsteady gait; the rice at the thatched gate has already burned.

In the vast mountains of western Ji, in Jiulong Town, Xu Jialin, the head of the Xu clan, braved the wind and snow to visit the home of the second patriarch. He managed to ask for a letter from the patriarch's granddaughter, Xiaoyun, regarding his second daughter, Jingyi.

My temples are turning gray; all I ask for is the well-being of my children.

There's nothing we can do about it.

After leaving the old man's house, I put my hands in my pockets and stood in the white snow. My legs felt like lead. I was unwilling but had no choice. I had to follow my wife's plan from the night before and pay my respects to Xu Jialu's family in the east of town.

Why go?
It was all because the couple discussed it at night. Although Jingyi had disappeared without a trace, Hongwen was still at home.

If it is indeed Qi Dayong, the murderer, who was sent to handle matters in Jiulong Town, he will not forcibly come to demand people.

So, if the older sister takes the place of the younger sister, how should Hongwen deal with herself?
Even though his reputation was ruined by the bandits of Ma Dabangzi Mountain.

But, after all, both are my flesh and blood.

Qi Dayong, that fierce soldier, is someone who is easy to deal with, even if he is not.

They really stop at nothing to achieve their goals. They forcefully take Hongwen away, but isn't she just a lamb to the slaughter?

Moreover, Qi Dayong should also be aware of Hongwen's situation.

I imagine that if things get to that point someday, and I enter into someone else's home, it will only make things worse, with beatings, scoldings, and humiliation. How could I possibly bear it?

The son is Zhongshan Wolf, and he is mad when he is successful.

Thinking of all this, Mr. and Mrs. Jialin have been sighing and worrying a lot lately.

So, when I went out today, I only had two things on my mind.

Firstly, since visiting the two old masters would be embarrassing, no matter how they were treated, they would still ask for a souvenir.

This one is alright; after some effort, we'll eventually succeed.

The second reason was that he wanted to go to Jialu's house to discuss whether he could arrange a marriage with Wang Fu from Baoding Prefecture.

Wang Fuqi is Jialu's nephew; at the very least, he's someone you know well.

Moreover, Baoding Prefecture was a well-established family.

Leather goods business in the bustling city.

Although they weren't big business owners, they never had to worry about food and clothing.

The only fear is that Hongwen has a bad reputation and will be disliked, and people will say cold words and refuse to accept the marriage.

That's why Jialin and his wife thought of this.

In the past, Wang Fu often visited our home and was familiar with the sisters, so he wasn't considered an outsider.

Actually, it was because he wasn't from this town that they valued him.

Regardless of what happens in the future, right now, Qi Shacai is eyeing us like a jackal and a tiger, so it's only right to escape outside the town as soon as possible.

Moreover, the couple discussed it last night.

If all else fails, even if it means spending money, giving up a few acres of land, or even demolishing the ancestral home to give to Wang Fu, we must make this marriage happen.

This was the only workaround the elderly couple could think of.

Even if Xu Jialin looked down on Wang Fu, that was all.

Things are different now.

The problem is that even if you're eager to get what you want, the other party might not be willing.

The door is closed, the mossy steps are cold; I bow deeply to the empty courtyard.

Sparrows laugh softly under the eaves, and green bamboo branches bend at the waist.

Dust swirls beneath my sleeves, snow settles between my brows.

As I returned home, the wind rolled up the curtain, and I was still reciting the Heart Sutra.

Sure enough, Jialin admitted defeat, humbled himself, and tried to fawn over the other party.

Despite making the trip through Jialu Gate, the matter still didn't go as planned.

Xu Jialu was shrewd, and Jialin understood perfectly well that he had already planned out the gifts and matchmaking fees, and was willing to be ripped off by this old man.

However, Jialu's wife was unwilling to let it go. She heard this explanation, after all, Wang Fu was from her family.

Upon hearing this, she immediately got angry at the sarcastic tone.

They make sarcastic remarks and say the most unpleasant things possible.

Carried to the back, Jialin simply couldn't stand the woman's veiled insults.

Even though he loves his daughter dearly, look, this plan will ultimately fail, and he will only bring shame upon himself.

Nothing can be done.

Being a father is difficult, more difficult than this.

The heavy snowfall felt empty and desolate, leaving me feeling stifled and frustrated.

Xu Jialin hurried home in a huff.

His trembling feet left one mark after another.
Going back, I'm afraid I won't know how to explain it.
Half a lifetime spent toiling without rest, bowing and scraping, working like a horse or ox.

The debts of children's marriages are hard to repay, and as summer turns to winter, frost covers their heads.

Hey, now that the song is over, let's get back to the other side of the story.

People come from the south and go to the north, and travel from the west and east.

The world's sorrows are too numerous to recount. Looking southeast, even in Hangzhou, the city is currently in a state of utter chaos.

Ten days passed in a flash, and the date was pushed to the seventeenth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Sixteen, in the name of the Emperor of the Great Ming Dynasty, a decree was issued to the world:

I hereby proclaim to the four corners of the world that the Ming Dynasty has not fallen and the dynasty still exists.

The barbarian invaders have crossed the border, and the imperial artifacts have fallen into disrepair.

All my subjects should think of respecting the king, repelling the barbarians, and jointly facing the national crisis.

Righteous men of the land, united in purpose, will drive out the powerful invaders and reclaim our lost lands.
The edict, a lengthy and elegant document of over five hundred characters, was sent out to all corners of the country just before the year's end.

No matter if you are a military governor or military commander in the southwestern provinces, or a powerful and rebellious force in the northwest, dominating a region.

This edict contains all of this.

The purpose was also very clear: to unite all the forces of the Han people and soldiers to jointly resist foreign invaders.

The next day, the 17th.

Early in the morning, before dawn, the streets and alleys of Hangzhou were already quiet, with the sound of horses' hooves clattering on the stones.

According to the calculations, starting from the 19th, the imperial court will seal off the seals and observe the festival.

At that time, affairs of state will be impossible to manage, and it will not be possible to resume them until around the 20th of the first month of the new year.

Speaking of the holidays, there haven't been many busy days left.

However, he still needs to go to court at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM).

Therefore, at the third quarter of the hour of Chou in the night, when the water clock struck, Xiao Lang's head steward, Xue Bo, knocked on the window to wake him.

Xiao Jingchuan held a high position and was entrusted with the care of the young emperor by the prime minister, so he should naturally be the first among all officials to speak out.

Even if it's just for show, you can't be the slightest bit lax.

He then dressed in his court robes, hastily drank a bowl of hot soup, ate some long tea, and then went out to sit in a sedan chair and hurried towards the palace.

At that time of year, the snow on the streets of Hangzhou had melted early, but the weather was still cold.

As the officials gathered at the palace gate and alighted from their sedan chairs, there was little conversation. They simply waited for the vermilion gate to open, and in the dim light, palace lanterns flickered as they walked in a line.

The bell tolls outside the hall, the palace gates slowly open, and people follow the flow of people across the water bridge and onto the white marble steps.

The further in you go, the brightly lit hall comes into view.

First came the court officials, who were listed according to their rank. Xiao, serving as the Grand Secretary, stepped in first.

From then on, everyone wore thick cloaks, occasionally letting out a light cough, but no one made a sound. They all tiptoed in, as if a cold wind from outside had carried them into the hall.

Afterwards, everyone was present. Before long, on the steps, the young emperor was in the arms of the Empress Dowager and Consort Hui, who had already taken their seats.

Elevated by General Xiao, the newly appointed Chief Eunuch Xiao Chunzi (formerly the head eunuch of Yu Zhen's household) announced in a shrill voice, and all the officials immediately prostrated themselves on the ground.

Touching the cold bricks, Xiao Yi felt a moment of disorientation, realizing that he was in a temple today.
Outside the door, another eunuch cracked his whip three times, bringing the entire hall to a standstill, awaiting the start of court. (End of Chapter)