Yang Ling accompanied Ma Ang and his sister out of the room. As expected, there was a large carriage parked in front of the door. The minor official did not go to the extreme and did not take the large carriage back. Yang Ling accompanied Ma Ang and his sister to buy a coffin, spirit banner, and gold and silver baskets. They moved it all onto the large carriage and took it to the station office. He had people clean up the room and set up the mourning hall.
The minor official on night duty heard that the station official had come and hurriedly ran over to greet him. Yang Ling saw his cheeks were swollen and couldn't help but frown. He was a modern person and did not have the thought that a person of high status was superior to others. If it was him who was slapped in the face, he would probably be enraged as well.
So he did not scold him for defending Ma Ang and his sister. He only politely asked him to call a few people over to help set up the mourning hall. The minor official saw that it was his superior who had come and could only embarrassedly find a few couriers to help the daren set up.
There were no good offerings at this time of year. There were only a few simple things placed in front of the incense burner. Next to the coffin were elegiac couplets, white banners, and in the pots were burning paper and paper. Two white candles were burning on the altar. Ma Ang and Ma Lian 'er were keeping vigil in front of the coffin. As they burned the paper money, they cried.
Yang Ling could not endure this desolate and panicked atmosphere. After comforting them, he left. Someone called from behind, "Brother Yang … …"
Yang Ling turned around and saw Ma Lian 'er slowly walking down the corridor. The wavering lantern light in the wind reflected her plain white clothing. She had a mourning belt around her waist. Her slender figure seemed to be about to fly away with the wind. Yang Ling's gaze couldn't help but focus.
Ma Lian 'er walked next to Yang Ling and said in a low voice, "Brother Yang, a friend in need is a friend indeed. Lian' er thanks you." As she spoke, she bent to bow. Yang Ling hurriedly helped her up and said, "Miss Lian 'er, you are too courteous. Uncle is my elder, and this small matter is something I should do. You cannot be so courteous."
Ma Lian 'er stood up gracefully. With a bitter smile she said, "I thank you, I thank you on behalf of myself. Other than brute strength, bravery and ruthlessness, my brother has no other strong points. I am also a woman. If not for you, even if we wanted to fulfill our filial duty as children, we would not be able to do it today."
Her voice was choked with sobs as she sighed, "I've always hated my father for forcing my mother to her death. I've always hated him, so even though I'm sad, I'm not devastated."
She giggled, retracted her gaze, looked at Yang Ling, and asked, "Am I being rebellious by saying this again?"
In his previous life, with the development of video technology, Yang Ling had seen many beautiful women. Their looks were so good that even the current emperor might not have the ability to see all the beauties in the world. Theoretically, with his knowledge, he would not be charmed by Ma Lian 'er.
But there was a common saying, "A woman must be beautiful and be filial." It was also said, "Looking at a beauty under the light, the color will increase." Ma Lian 'er's appearance was already very beautiful and seductive. At this time, with her simple mourning clothes, she had a lively and flawless presence. At this time, her eyes were covered in a layer of tears. She was pitiful and unspeakably moving. Yang Ling didn't dare to meet her gaze.
Ma Lian 'er said serenely, "I am sad, but more regretful. Because only now do I know that if it wasn't for Father, I wouldn't be able to live so carefree. No matter what, Father has been good to me. I shouldn't have been so hostile to him and constantly made him angry. "
Yang Ling sighed silently. Was this another annotation of wanting to raise a child but not his parents? Why did they always have to lose something before they felt they should treasure it?
A bitter smile floated at the corner of Ma Lian 'er's mouth. She said, "When Father obtained the position of Relay Minister, there had been two vacant districts. I felt that this place was closer to the border, and I liked the life outside the border more. So I begged Father to come here. It was I who harmed Father. If I could predict everything that was going to happen, maybe …"
Yang Ling comforted, "Who can predict the future? Miss Lian 'er, this is not your fault. "
What's so good about predicting the future. If I hadn't known I only had two years left to live, I don't know how happy I would be with Young-niang right now. Yang Ling said sorrowfully, "If you can't predict the future, then you should seriously live in the present, and grasp what you should treasure now so that you won't regret it in the future. Does Miss think so?"
Ma Lian 'er saw his deep gaze staring at her. That gaze was filled with complicated emotions and her heart jumped. She didn't know that Yang Ling was so sad because he was thinking of Han Youniang. Her thoughts went astray. "Grasp what I should treasure now? He … … is he hinting something to me? But he is already married. "
Ma Lian 'er felt her face heat up. She panicked under his gaze. She stammered, "Grasp what … … I should treasure now? What can I grasp? My family has no permanent property, no land. Father has some savings, but he can't just eat it all away. Us siblings don't have any friends or family here. Maybe … maybe in a few days, I will go home with Brother. "
As she spoke, her heart was beating like a galloping horse. "Will he keep me? If he keeps me, what will I do? I can see that he likes that Young-niang very much. He definitely won't divorce her for me. If he expresses his love to me, I … … will I, Ma Lian 'er, become someone else's concubine? "
Ma Lian 'er disdained being someone else's concubine, but she also liked Yang Ling's elegant presence. Only this man could understand and tolerate her views that were rebellious to the women of the Central Plains.
Now that the decline of her family was a foregone conclusion, and he was already sitting in the position that her father had worked hard for half of his life for the court. It could be said that his future was limitless. Was she the one who could make the choice? Ma Lian 'er was so flustered that she didn't want to face him. However, a trace of affection quietly rose in the bottom of her heart. She was really conflicted and nervous.
Yang Ling still didn't know how to repay Han Youniang's deep love. He didn't have the mood to get into a debt of love. Although Ma Lian 'er's outstanding beauty was appreciated by every normal man, he didn't understand that Ma Lian' er's tactful expression was just an excuse for him to keep her.
Yang Ling seriously thought from the perspective of a friend. He also felt that this border town wasn't suitable for them to live in, so he said, "This border town is always chaotic. It's better to leave and go back to your ancestral home. There will be friends and family to support you."
Ma Lian 'er's tightened heartstrings loosened. Her clenched fists relaxed, but a trace of disappointment flashed in her eyes.
When Yang Ling left, he didn't notice the hidden bitterness in Ma Lian 'er's eyes. He asked for a horse from a low-ranking official and went straight to the county government. He found the foreman on duty and told him that the officials would come early the next morning. He invited them to go to the Deputy Post Office to mourn Deputy Ma.
Among the officials in the county government, Magistrate Huang held the highest position and had always taken care of him. The others had always been respectful to him because he was Lord Min's advisor. Yang Ling was confident that with his special status, he had this bit of influence.
After giving the order, Yang Ling was about to return home. He remembered that Lord Min had moved back to the county government. He didn't know how his illness was, so he went to have a look. He went to the back office. In the central room, two servants were sitting on the kang drinking wine. There was a plate of fried peanuts and a plate of pig's ears on the table. Seeing that Advisor Yang, whom Lord Min relied on the most, had arrived, the two quickly got off the kang. Old Li grinned and said, "Advisor Yang, you're here to see Lord Min?"
Yang Ling nodded and asked, "How is Lord Min?"
Old Li took his robe in his slippers and said with a smile, "Lord Min's fever has subsided, but he hasn't woken up yet. I'll go in with you."
Yang Ling waved his hand and said, "Don't mind me. It's the New Year. It's rare for you two to stop for a while. Take a rest. I'll leave after seeing Lord Min."
He lifted the cotton curtain and walked into Min Wenjian's bedroom. There was an oil lamp on the small table on the kang. Lord Min was lying on the bed, sleeping sweetly. Yang Ling sat in front of the kang and saw Min Wenjian sleeping on his back with his beard facing the sky. He couldn't help but chuckle.
Looking carefully, County Magistrate Min's dark face had regained some color. He gently touched his forehead and found that the fever had subsided. It seemed that the poison in his body had been removed. There shouldn't be any danger. Yang Ling couldn't help heaving a sigh of relief. He stood up and was about to leave when County Magistrate Min suddenly moaned and murmured, "Water, water, father … wants to drink water."
Yang Ling was delighted and quickly fetched a pot of tea from the table. As soon as the spout of the pot was brought to his mouth, County Magistrate Min was like a whale sucking in water, unable to stop. Beard Min only slowly opened his eyes after half of the pot had gone into his stomach.
After squinting for a long time, he finally saw that it was his advisor, Yang Ling. County Magistrate Min blinked his eyes and looked around. He murmured, "I'm at home? What's the situation now? "
Yang Ling smiled, "Daren, you have slept for a day and a night. Today, General Yongning's army has arrived. The Tartars have retreated into the mountains. The siege of Rooster Crow has been resolved. Daren need not worry."
Hearing this, County Magistrate Min was delighted. He closed his eyes for a while and opened them again. He looked around and sighed, "Only you are here? A long journey tests a horse's stamina, and time reveals a person's heart. Damn it, do you all think that I'm dead for sure? "
Yang Ling couldn't help sweating. There were too many things to do today. A few high-ranking officials had to accompany General He and the others. Everyone knew that County Magistrate Min's life was not in danger, so they didn't have time to visit him. If it wasn't for the Ma family's matter, he wouldn't have thought of coming to the yamen tonight. He didn't expect a boorish person like County Magistrate Min to be so sensitive. It seems that the saying "the more polite you are, the better."
Yang Ling hurriedly explained for everyone. Only then did Lord Min feel relieved. But when he opened his eyes from the sickbed, he felt very comforted to see only Yang Ling here. He instinctively felt that he was right to rely on Yang Ling as his confidant.
Yang Ling remembered General He's temporary appointment and told him about it. County Magistrate Min stared at him and said, "How can I do that? If you leave, who will manage my yamen? "
He thought for a while and felt that he shouldn't mistreat his own people. He said, "That's fine. This way, you can be considered to have officially entered officialdom. My brother-in-law is the prefect of Datong. Tomorrow, I will send someone to inform him to help you get an official post. It'll be very convenient and will take less than two days. "
He laughed evilly, "Heh heh, don't look down on this post. It's not a high position, but it's full of benefits. It's good to give it to you. If someone else takes it, I won't be satisfied."
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