Magistrate Lu's words attracted the attention of madam Lu and Feng Yu Heng. They all looked down from the window and saw that there was a group of people arguing in front of the inn.
Originally, this kind of street argument was very common and would not attract their attention. However, what was special about this argument was that it was between the guests of the inn and the guards at the door.
The person who had brought them here had said that this inn was specially reserved by Lord Duanmu in order to receive guests who had come from afar to celebrate his birthday. The people who stayed here were all officials and their family members who had come from other provinces. Outside the door, the Commander-In-Chief had sent a large number of soldiers to guard the entrance to ensure the safety of the officials.
Normally, this kind of arrangement was reasonable and no one had any objections. They even thanked the Duan Mu family for their thoughtful arrangements. However, at this moment, they heard a madam from the arguing crowd say: "What are you doing? We came all the way to the North. After settling down, we must want to stroll around the streets and experience the North's wind and snow. Why can't we go out? "
The guard participating in the guard replied: "There is no reason. If we can't go out, we can't go out. This is also for your safety."
"We're just strolling around the streets. What could happen?" A young miss said with dissatisfaction: "Could it be that this place is filled with bandits?"
The madam on the side quickly covered her mouth and scolded: "Don't speak nonsense!" However, she agreed with the young miss' words. Thus, she pointed at the people on the street and said: "Look, aren't these people all walking around outside? What happened?"
However, they did not expect that the guard would say: "You are different from them. They can, but you can't. Quickly go back. There are still three days until sir leader's birthday banquet. In these three days, no one can take half a step out of the inn! " After saying this, the guards immediately pushed the people inside. At the same time, they closed the inn's door with a "peng" sound.
The guard who had spoken earlier suddenly raised his head and looked upstairs. In an instant, the people who had pushed open the windows to watch the commotion quickly shrank back. The windows were also quickly closed.
Magistrate Lu also closed the windows and said to madam Lu with a calm face: "Go down and see if we can go out."
Madam Lu became cautious. Thinking for a bit, she nodded and said: "Okay." Then she brought Feng Yu Heng out of the room and headed downstairs. Magistrate Lu also followed behind.
The madams and young ladies who had been chased back were still gathered in the lobby of the first floor of the inn. They were discussing animatedly, their voices full of dissatisfaction. The innkeeper kept persuading them from the side: "Everyone, this is for your own good! Now that Qian Zhou is rebelling, the North is right next to Qian Zhou. If an enemy sneaks in, you are all members of the government. If you run into danger, it would not be good. "
"But you can't even close the door. Isn't that imprisoning?" It was unknown which young lady suddenly muttered such a sentence. Her voice was very soft, but it was still heard by Feng Yu Heng who was passing by.
Imprisonment? Is that so? She narrowed her eyes at the closed door and felt that the young lady's analysis might be correct.
Madam Lu's expression was solemn as she headed straight for the door. Upon seeing her fierce appearance, the madams and young misses that were making a ruckus fell silent and turned to look. The innkeeper quickly went forward and bowed, saying: "Madam, official, you really can't go out! Just be kind and don't trouble this lowly one any further. "
Madam Lu's eyes lit up, as she loudly said: "I am a member of the Duan Mu family. Leader Duan Mu is my maternal uncle. My husband's daughter of a concubine is currently the ninth concubine in the leader's palace. How could our status be the same as theirs!" As she spoke, she glanced at the madams and young misses with a look of disdain.
The innkeeper was a little troubled. On one hand, he did not dare go against the leader's palace's orders. On the other hand, he was a little afraid of madam Lu's status. But after thinking a bit, he had no choice but to correct her: "Currently, the young madam in the leader's palace is leader Duan Mu's twelfth concubine. She is not the ninth concubine as madam said!"
Magistrate Lu was stunned and blurted out: "It hasn't even been a year and he's already married to the twelfth concubine?"
The people in the hall were originally very dissatisfied with madam Lu's words, but the matter of concubines had successfully diverted their attention. It was unknown who said: "I heard that each concubine is younger than the last. The youngest concubine hasn't even reached marriageable age."
The innkeeper waved his hand and said in a small voice: "You can't say it! You can't say it! If it gets out, you really won't be able to go out! "
Magistrate Lu's face was already gloomy to the extreme. Madam Lu's heart was filled with unwillingness. She went forward and slammed the door. "Peng, peng, peng." Finally, someone outside shouted: "Don't make a ruckus!"
Madam Lu loudly said: "I am a member of the Duan Mu family. Leader Duan Mu is my maternal uncle. Let me out, I want to greet my great uncle!"
"No!" The person outside did not even think as he bluntly said: "Leader Duan Mu's orders are that no one is allowed to leave the inn. He did not mention a relative like you. Don't make a ruckus; otherwise, don't blame us for being impolite! "
This shout truly frightened the people in the room. They all understood what impoliteness meant, but they did not know why they would be treated like this even though they were clearly guests.
Magistrate Lu furrowed his brow and looked at his madam. At this time, madam Lu was fuming with anger. But no matter how angry she was, there was nothing that she could do. With things as they were, she also wanted to know why; however, there was nobody that could tell her.
Magistrate Lu coldly snorted then turned around and got up. Feng Yu Heng quickly supported madam Lu and followed behind him. After the three entered the room, they heard magistrate Lu say: "Early on in Xiao Zhou, I heard that the North has an ambiguous relationship with Qian Zhou. I said that I should not have come, but you insisted on coming. What is it now? Did something happen? "
Upon hearing this, madam Lu immediately exploded, "You're blaming me? Who am I doing this for? I am just a woman. Could it be that I would become an official? If it wasn't for you constantly thinking about the lucrative position of prefect of Qing Zhou, would I have ignored my family's objections and insisted on coming to the North? Also, it's not certain that something has happened. Qian Zhou is causing trouble, and this place is so close. There are so many officials from Dashun that have come. Safety definitely needs to be protected. "Her voice softened, as she advised:" Don't panic. Let's think of something. "
"The situation is clear. You're the only one that refuses to believe it." Magistrate Lu's expression was gloomy. Glancing at Feng Yu Heng, he very much disdainfully said: "The more chaotic it is, the more trouble there will be. Bringing this child along will only trip us up. We might as well just throw her away."
Feng Yu Heng hid behind madam Lu in fear, but madam Lu did not protect her this time. She just furrowed her brow and did not say anything.
Magistrate Lu thought long and hard before finally making a decision: "Run! Let's think of a way to escape. I keep having a feeling that if we don't run now, I fear that we won't be able to escape. "
"I fear that we won't be able to escape now." Feng Yu Heng suddenly spoke up. Seeing that they were glaring at her, she raised her hand and pointed outside, quietly saying: "Listen."
The Lu family couple was startled then turned their ears to listen. Only then did they notice that there were footsteps hurriedly coming from outside. The sound of footsteps hitting the wooden floor did not avoid anyone in the slightest. Following this, someone shouted: "For the sake of protecting everyone's safety, starting from today until the day of the leader's birthday banquet, no one is allowed to enter or leave!" Very quickly, there were people standing outside the doors. It was clear that every room was being guarded.
Magistrate Lu inhaled sharply, and his face was a little pale.
Madam Lu fell back into her chair, her body trembling slightly; however, she still said: "How could that girl be so stupid. She could not even keep any favor. She is the ninth concubine. Now, there are already twelve concubines. Thinking about it, that bit of favor has already disappeared. "
Magistrate Lu also sighed heavily. Although she was the daughter of a concubine, he was not some sort of high-ranking official. His family's residence was very small. In addition to madam Lu not having any children, the daughter of a concubine was the same as the daughter of the first wife in his heart. During Duan Mu An Guo's previous birthday, they had come to celebrate and personally sent that daughter into the leader's palace. At that time, it was very grand, and Duan Mu An Guo had even specially toasted the couple. But it was as madam Lu had said. In less than a year, he had already taken in the twelfth concubine. What favor could the ninth concubine have left?
His expression was mournful, and he could not help but feel distressed for his own daughter. But madam Lu's thoughts moved a little faster than his, and she did not have much feelings for that daughter of a concubine. She very quickly began to think of a way out. She thought for a while, and a look of determination appeared on her face: "We definitely can't escape. Moreover, if there really is a problem with the North, even if we return, it would not be Dashun's justice."
"Then what do you think we should do?" Magistrate Lu was also out of ideas. The madam was right. Even if they returned, Dashun would pursue the matter, and it would be terrible. His madam was a member of the Duan Mu family. Once something happened to the Duan Mu family, his Lu family would not be able to escape. In all of these years, magistrate Lu felt regret for marrying a woman from the Duan Mu family for the first time. When he looked over again, there was a look of irritation in his eyes.
Feng Yu Heng took note of the two's mental states and could not help but sneer internally. She thought to herself that it really was as the saying went: Husband and wife are birds in the same forest, but when disaster strikes, they fly separately. The Lu couple had not yet reached the end of their road, yet they had already developed animosity. With this sort of couple, it was no wonder that maidservant was able to stick her foot in.
Magistrate Lu had given birth to two children, but madam Lu was still focused on planning for her husband, saying: "Rather than going back and being troubled by Dashun, it would be better to take a risk. It's not as if we can't accomplish anything in the North."
"What did you say?" Magistrate Lu was extremely shocked.
Madam Lu suddenly stood up, her face filled with excitement. Doing her best to lower her voice, she said: "What I mean is, why don't we stay in the North? With my maternal family's connections, we can at least find a job for you here. Husband, it's not that I don't care about the Lu family, but the arrow is already nocked. Even if you don't release it, you can't take it back! "
Magistrate Lu naturally understood this logic, but this meant that he would have to completely abandon his family business in Xiao Zhou. Not only would he have to abandon his family business, but the people in his family, his concubines, and his daughters would also be implicated. The price of this life-saving method was too high.
He closed his eyes and listened to madam Lu say: "Husband, right now, it's not about whether you're willing or not. We're also being forced! Even if we don't make this decision, do you think that after we return, the Lu family will have a path to survival? If the North doesn't rebel, then it's fine. We'll just treat this trip as celebrating granduncle's birthday. But if they really rebel, Dashun will not let go of anyone related to the Duan Mu family. Husband, make a decision! "
Magistrate Lu's decision was truly too difficult, but he still nodded. After all, in his heart, his own life was definitely the most important. He could remarry a woman, and he could give birth to another child. As long as he could survive.
But how could he obtain a job in the North? How could they get closer to Duan Mu An Guo? He opened his eyes and suddenly looked at Feng Yu Heng with a calculating gaze …
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
