A Complete Explanation of the Negative Textbooks of the Imperial Examination - Chapter 2

    After the village chief knocked on the door of the Xiao family that day, everyone in the Xiao family seemed to be stepping on the clouds, and there was an extremely unreal feeling.

      The Xiao family’s ancestral tomb was smoked, and there was a marquis. Although I don’t know how long the new imperial court can exist, it was Marquis after all. Tongmu Township has been up and down for hundreds of years. ! The village chief staggered excitedly and threw himself on the road, but he got up and continued to run without caring. Seeing that the Xiao family was about to develop, he now had to make a good relationship with the Xiao family in advance and come to be the auspicious person who reported the news. , Maybe the Hou Ye of the Xiao family is happy, and he will give him some benefits, he will have enough in this life.

    In the cold winter and twelfth lunar month, the village chief ran with sweat all over his head. He didn’t care about wiping off the sweat. Daxing City enjoys happiness, oh yes, it should be called Chang’an now.

    This change woke up the whole family, not only the Xiao family, but also the lights of the neighbors. Xiao Yuli and Xiao Yufang hid behind the door, poking their heads to watch what was going on in the yard.

    Xiao Yuli turned back and spoke to Xiao Yufang in a low voice: “Sister, did you hear that, the village chief said that the uncle has become a marquis.”

    “I heard.” Xiao Yufang nodded, her expression on her face was both excited and apprehensive, she glanced in the direction where the big house lived, and said to her sister with dissatisfaction, “Look, I’ve said it a long time ago, don’t mess with the man in the big house. Now that he’s the son of the Marquis, I’ll see what you do. “

      Xiao Jinghu and his grandmother asked for money to buy a Trojan horse, and they responded fiercely to Xiao Jingduo. Because the grandmother is partial to the second room, the people of the second room are quite indifferent. They never thought of leaving a line for the big room, just as they never thought that the uncle of the big room who had disappeared for ten years could be named a marquis. Now that the big house is about to develop, Xiao Yufang and Xiao Yuli are a little panic, what should we do in the future?

    Second Aunt Xiao naturally thought of this, she put on clothes indiscriminately, stood in the yard with her husband, listening to the village chief show off the wealth of the Houfu: “You don’t know, the nobles from the capital , that bearing, that pomp and pomp, it’s really extravagant that we can’t imagine. I also heard nobles say that Dalang Xiao Ying has not disappeared in recent years, but has joined the army! Back then, that group of laborers rebelled halfway through, and he went back and forth. He was transferred to the army of the Duke Rong family of Xuan Guo. As Duke Xuan went south to fight in the north, last year, he attacked Daxing City together, captured the rebels alive, and established a new emperor. A few months ago, the new emperor ceded the throne to Zen. Xuan Guogong, Xuan Guogong ascended the throne, and set the country’s title as Xuan. The sage was especially affectionate to the ministers of merit, and many generals who followed the sage to conquer the world were made marquis. Brave!”

      Died outside inexplicably. It turned out to be a marquis, okay, okay!”

    Neighbors all gathered around to congratulate Mrs. Xiao. Second Aunt Xiao listened for a while, and her heart became more and more uncomfortable. Finally, she couldn’t bear it anymore and withdrew from the crowd.

    Just after exiting, Second Aunt Xiao looked back with a sense of emotion, just in time to see Xiao Jingduo standing under the eaves, looking at her mockingly.

    Second Aunt Xiao gave Xiao Jingduo a stiff smile, with an ingratitude that she was unaware of.

    Xiao Ying has now become a prince. In addition to complimenting Mrs. Xiao for giving birth to a good son, everyone is also looking at Xiao Jingduo secretly. Originally thought that Xiao Jingduo was just an orphan who lost his father, but now he suddenly became the son of Lord Hou. Everyone was secretly envious of Xiao Jingduo’s good life. Those who were smarter had already surrounded him and became close to Xiao Jingduo.

    As the village chief said, it didn’t take long for the convoy from Hou’s residence to pick up Mrs. Xiao to Beijing. The fat and strong horses parked at the gate of the courtyard, and the gorgeous carriage blocked the entire alley in front of the Xiao’s house. Even so, there were still several carriages that could not get in, and the well-dressed servants had to get out of the car and take them personally. The box in the car was moved to the yard. The beautiful and slender maids got down from the carriage and instructed the sergeant’s servants to move things and put things away. For a time, the Xiao family’s not-so-small courtyard was crowded with people, and it was even difficult to turn around.

    A woman in a long dress that dragged the floor came from outside the courtyard, and the maid who had just been eloquently instructing the next person to carry the box saw her, all bowed their heads and saluted, respectfully and softly called: ” Sister Shirley.”

    Xue Lan just nodded casually, without looking at the crowds who retreated to both sides, and walked straight towards Old Madam Xiao.

    When Mrs. Xiao saw the person coming, her nervous palms were sweating.

    Xue Lan, holding a long shawl and a warm fragrance, stopped three steps away from Mrs. Xiao. Then she stretched out her arms and gave a graceful gift: “Slave Xuelan, I have seen the old lady, the old lady is very happy.”

    Old Mrs. Xiao’s face suddenly became embarrassed, she hurriedly waved her hands, she wanted to help Xue Lan up but she was afraid of soiling other people’s clothes: “I can’t help it, girl, hurry up, I’m a bad old lady I can’t make you bow.”

    “Of course the old lady can bear it. You are the mother of the Marquis, the ancestor of our Dingyong Marquis, you can bear the gift of anyone.” Xue Lan stood up and smiled gracefully.

    Old Mrs. Xiao has dealt with people in the village all her life, and the village women are mostly rude and straightforward. When have you ever seen such a delicate beauty. Xue Lan was beautiful, and she was quite good at talking to the old man. After a while, Mrs. Xiao took Xue Lan’s hand and was unwilling to let go.

    Xue Lan was led by the old lady to recognize people. When she saw everyone, she was smiling and polite. When Xiao Yufang and the sisters saw her, they all bowed their heads in embarrassment, showing a look of shame.

    When she came to Xiao Jingduo, the old lady hurriedly introduced: “Xue Lan, this is Xiao Jingduo, Dalang’s son!”

    “Oh?” Xue Lan raised one eyebrow, obviously a little surprised. Lord Hou has a son, why didn’t you hear Lord Hou mention it? Xue Lan looked at Xiao Jingduo calmly, and then smiled, “It turned out to be the son of Lord Hou, Lord Hou still doesn’t know. Xue Lan greets Dalang-Jun, and when he returns to Chang’an, he will let Master Hou see him. Lord Lang, how happy you must be, Lord Hou!”

    “Yes, yes.” Mrs. Xiao said aside, “When Dalang left home, Xiao Jingduo hadn’t been born yet, and a month after he left, the eldest daughter-in-law was diagnosed with pregnancy. The father and son of them are also rough, Duo’er has never met Dalang, and Dalang doesn’t know Duo’er.”

    “How difficult is this? After returning to the Hou residence, Da Langjun will be able to recognize Hou Ye.”

    Old Mrs. Xiao laughed, but Xiao Jingduo was acutely aware that something was wrong. He was the son of his father, so why should he recognize each other?

    But the lady Xue Lan stood in front of her with a small smile, and there was no difference in her eyes. Xiao Jingduo was not sure whether he was thinking too much or whether Xue Lan really said something. talk.

    Xiao Jingduo didn’t bother about it, he reminded Mrs. Xiao dissatisfied: “Grandma, you haven’t introduced my mother yet.”

    “Oh yes, I forgot.” Mrs. Xiao just woke up from a dream, she never wanted to see Zhao Xiulan, all these years she just thought she didn’t have this daughter-in-law, now she is happy, she completely forgets it Zhao Xiulan’s existence. If it wasn’t for Xiao Jingduo’s reminder, Mrs. Xiao still couldn’t remember her eldest daughter-in-law, Xiao Ying’s serious wife.

    Zhao Xiulan is still a little weak, but her face is crimson, and there are faint tears in her eyes. She waited for nine years, and finally waited until Xiao Ying came back!

    Xue Lan had a smile on her face, moved her lotus step lightly, and folded her hands in a salute to Zhao Xiulan. She squatted like this, just to show her graceful figure, Xue Lan’s delicate voice like a yellow warbler coming out of the valley slowly sounded: “I have seen Madam, Madam is very happy.”

    Zhao Xiulan’s face was a little stiff for some reason. She looked down at her clothes, the gray-blue top, the washed white bottom skirt, and a patch sewn on the cuff. Zhao Xiulan didn’t want to stand in front of Xue Lan for some reason, she turned her head and stumbled back two steps.

    Old Mrs. Xiao looked at Zhao Xiulan with disgust, scolding in her heart “disgraceful”, she had to laugh at Xue Lan: “She is like this, a village woman has never seen the world, Xue Lan You don’t care.”

    “Grandmother!” Xiao Jingduo frowned in displeasure, and said aloud, “My father split the earth and made a marquis, and my mother is Mrs. Hou, how can you say that to her?”

    After finishing speaking, Xue Lan shouted behind her: “Qing He.”

    “The servant is here.” A beautiful maid in green said.

    “I will transfer you to Madam. From now on, you must serve Madam well. If Madam loses a hair on the way to Beijing, I am the only one who asks you.”

    “The slave obeys.” Qinghe bowed his head and replied.

    Old Mrs. Xiao was frightened by this battle, and murmured: “Zhao Shi can do everything by herself, how can she call you!”

    Zhao Xiulan also quickly waved: “I don’t need it, you all go back.”

    “Madam’s words are bad.” Xue Lan smiled, “Changan’s Madam is surrounded by servants like clouds, and those without servants will lose their identity. We went out in a hurry and didn’t bring enough. The manpower can only be allocated to Madam as a maid, and when you return to the Hou residence, there is a yard for you to send.”

    Zhao Xiulan wanted to refuse again, but Xiao Jingduo held her mother’s hand and said, “Aniang, just accept it.”

    Zhao Xiulan has a weak temperament, and she does not dare to retaliate when she is bullied. Instead, she listens to her son the most. Since her son said so, she could only nod nervously: “Okay.”

    Xue Lan had a deeper smile on her lips, and she called two more people, saying that they would be assigned to Xiao Jingduo. Xiao Jingduo glanced at the two maids whose clothes were fragrant, and refused without thinking.

    Xue Lan persuaded for a long time, but Xiao Jingduo was unmoved. Later, Xiao Jingduo simply said with a straight face: “If I say no, I don’t want it. Who is in charge here?”

    Although Xue Lan was the one who actually made the decision, but Xiao Jingduo put these words on the surface, but she did not dare to accept it. Xue Lan didn’t expect this little master who appeared halfway to be so difficult to deal with. She was a little embarrassed, so she could only smile with all her might, “I didn’t expect Dalang-Jun to have such a hard idea, it’s a slave to trouble, please forgive me.”

    “Duoer!” Old Madam Xiao stared at him angrily, dissatisfied with the embarrassment he had embarrassed for Xue Lan, and even her mother showed her disapproval.

    In this regard, Xiao Jingduo just snorted softly, but still insisted on his own opinion.

    Second Aunt Xiao, who was hiding and eavesdropping, muttered in a low voice, “He doesn’t want someone to serve him, it’s a pretense.”

      He turned his face to the side and saw Second Aunt Xiao hiding behind the corner, pretending to be passing by by chance, while the two sisters, Xiao Yufang and Xiao Yuli, were also lying on the corner of the wall, staring at him both enviously and fearfully. Aware of Xiao Jingduo’s gaze, the two of them turned their heads quickly. Xiao Jingduo glanced at the maids standing by his side. When his eyes swept over their fresh and gorgeous clothes, he showed a clear expression.

    Aunt Xiao used Xiao Jinghu to rob her mother for medical money. Don’t even look at him.

    It’s all because his father, who has been missing for nine years, has returned.

    After the people sent by my father arrived at Xiao Mansion, Xiao Jingduo felt refreshed for a few days, as if the depression that had been pressing on his chest for many years had finally been vented. Father came back, and in a gesture he could not have imagined, he came back with glory and clothes. He couldn’t help but look forward to his father, who was not yet masked. Both his grandmother and mother said that he was very like a father.

    When Xiao Jingduo sat on the carriage back to Beijing, he was still thinking, this is so good, the father is back, and no one will dare to bully their mother and son in the future.