The woman's skin was as white as snow,
The gauze on her body was like the hazy moonlight on the snow.
But her eyes were like smoke, drowning a group of romantic guests in the vast expanse.
She was the famous beauty of the capital, Shou Yingying.
This was the last touch she left for the world,
A side profile that could be spied on.
Then, this unparalleled beauty,
From the jade building where she lived alone,
Walked into the deep vermilion door of the stone lion without looking back and never came out again.
There was an additional concubine Shou in the Cheng mansion.
The traces of her fragrance disappeared from the mortals, but her reputation became more and more popular,
Hidden in the wine cups of the black gauze hat,
In the wisps of rouge of the embroidered family's boudoir.
From as long as Cheng Jiling could remember,
He had never seen concubine Shou wear a slightly brighter dress.
She was always bare-faced and wearing a gauze dress. Kneeling in front of the Buddha's main tablet,
In the green smoke, she lowered her head again and again,
Almost to the dust,
Her long hair scattered on the futon.
The sound of the wooden fish was accompanied by whispers, "… forgive my sins … pardon …"
At a young age, he didn't know what sins concubine Shou had to atone for.
He only knew that everyone seemed to despise her.
But whenever concubine Shou left her small Buddha hall to visit the main wife, even if she didn't draw her eyebrows,
She didn't wear rouge. She always lowered her head,
Her eyebrows withered. They were still like drifting snow,
Like hazy moonlight. The eyes of the whole mansion were still following her.
If her neck was exposed when she lowered her head,
It would be white,
Pairs of eyes stared at that small piece of skin.
Concubine Shou didn't like this.
Cheng Jiling was very happy.
Because when everyone was staring at concubine Shou,
It meant that he could follow concubine Shou to visit the Madam again.
The Madam was a very loving person.
She didn't hate concubines like the madams in other mansions. She couldn't wait to tell them to stay away. She was especially tolerant of those young concubines. She always asked them to come to the main wife's room to play. She rewarded them with delicious food, delicious drinks, and fun things.
She wanted the concubines to dress up beautifully, but what about herself? However, she was always dressed in dusty, silver-colored clothes. She did not put on any makeup and only had a square face. She was bare-faced like Concubine Shou. Although he was wealthy, he was so old that he looked like he was about to die.
Although she was already so old and had no children, she still treated the sons of the concubines very kindly. Cheng Jiling often saw his concubine-born brothers licking their faces as they brought back exquisite desserts and sweets that made people tremble.
Therefore, Madam's place was always bustling with activity.
However, Madam never called Cheng Jiling over. Therefore, Cheng Jiling did not have any of these things.
"Ji Ling, come, come." In his memory, there was only one time in the winter when his wife, smoking a pipe, was half lying on the couch in the midst of the fog, and called him in an oblique and kindly way.
On both sides of the couch stood the concubines who were always in the dowager's room.
He walked over. Madam looked at his face again and again. Then, she touched his face until it was hot. "Where did you go just now? The ice was pitiful. Look at you shivering. "She said softly," Take off your outer clothes and come to madam's couch to cover yourself. Eat some desserts. "
The concubines all laughed and said affectionately, "Go quickly. Madam loves these children the most."
He took off his clothes and climbed up. Madam gave him desserts.
The desserts were delicious, but they were too dry. Therefore, the concubines took turns to give him tea.
After drinking for a while, he panicked and shouted, "I want to pee!"
Madam laughed. "You do want to pee. You are seven years old. You are big."
When she said 'big', the other concubines also laughed.
"It is so cold," Madam said. "My son, don't go out and freeze. Mother has a chamber pot."
She said, "It is for boys." With a strange warmth and concern, she said, "Take off your trousers and sit by the bed to pee."
Cheng Jiling could not hold back the urge to pee and wanted to take off his trousers. In an instant, the room was silent. Pairs of women stared at him and held their breaths.
Concubine Shou, who had been called out by a servant, rushed in.
She was no longer like the hazy moonlight.
She was no longer like the fluttering snow.
What was she like? She was like a female beast that wanted to eat people the most. She kicked over the chamber pot. Cheng Jiling's face was slapped three times by her.
Hard. Because of this, his naturally smooth face was swollen.
He was scared out of his wits and was beaten out of his wits. He did not even have time to pull up his trousers. Yellow liquid flowed down from his lower garment, dirtying his trousers and shoes.
Concubine Shou's delicate wrist, who knew where the strength came from, pushed him out of the warm room and fell on the snow.
"Get out!" She suppressed her voice, which was so suppressed that it even trembled. "Dirty person, get out!"
Concubine Shou had never hit him.
The ice shards froze his lower body. He was so cold that he hurt, but he could not cry out. He only saw Concubine Shou's whole body tense up, as if she wanted to give him a few more slaps. He pulled up his trousers, took a few steps back, turned around and ran.
He quietly looked back.
Concubine Shou turned around and did not look back. She twisted into the opened curtain of the main room.
He ran far away. Madam's voice was intermittent, "I'm his mother … I called the child to play. You're just a concubine, yet you're acting like a mother … You broke him …"
He seemed to hear Concubine Shou's agitated voice, "I'm … He's not …! I don't want him to be! "
That day, Concubine Shou came back very late. She went directly to the small Buddha hall.
Like before, she lowered her head and bowed in front of the Buddha. This time, she did not talk about her sins.
She just bowed like that for the whole night.
The next day, Concubine Shou was punished. She did not teach her son well. She was fined her monthly salary and knelt in the snow in front of the main room for the whole morning.
Madam said lightly, "A concubine is a concubine after all. What's more, you're a …"
She did not continue. She just went to pull Cheng Jiling, who was kneeling beside Concubine Shou and did not dare to make a sound. "Son, concubine is being punished. You're the master, why do you have to kneel?" Her voice was like greasy and sweet sugar. It was even more amiable, "Call me mother."
He looked at Concubine Shou at the door with some fear. He then looked at Madam hesitantly.
Madam was very patient. Seeing that he was afraid, she was about to help him.
Concubine Shou suddenly stood up from the snow. She walked over shakily and ruthlessly slapped him in the face again.
A crisp sound. Everyone in the hall was shocked.
Concubine Shou stared at Cheng Jiling. Although his face was originally red and swollen, she could still see the beautiful boy next to the Bodhisattva.
She looked at Madam and said to Cheng Jiling word by word, "Call me mother. This is your biological father's wife. In the future, you have to call her biological mother. "
This' biological father 'was colder than a stone. This' biological mother 'was harder than a stone.
She looked at Madam. Madam also looked at her.
He was beaten until he cried. As he cried, he shouted, "Biological mother, biological mother!"
Madam's face turned green.
She called Concubine Shou, "B * tch!" She pointed at the snow outside, "B * tch's son!"
Hence, Concubine Shou brought him back to kneel on the snow with a slightly relaxed expression.
The snow was really cold. He was so cold that his whole body was trembling. Gradually, he became numb from the cold. He did not know where the heat came from.
However, the more the heat rose, the more dizzy his head became …
Shou Yulou opened his eyes.
The straw in the underground prison of this palace had long been rotten. It was rotten.
He touched his hot forehead and forced his dizzy head to stand up with the help of the wall.
Why did he dream of such a thing?
Suddenly, a woman's face squeezed in front of the prison door. It was full of hatred and resentment. He was stunned. He focused his eyes and saw clearly that it was Ye Xiuwen's wife, Madam Wang.
She looked at Shou Yulou and giggled, "You also have a day like this? You also have a day like this? Langjun and you have known each other since you were enlightened. How can you be so ruthless! "
Shou Yulou did not say anything.
She was still laughing to herself. As she laughed, she screamed and cursed viciously, "You son of a whore! Whose son are you? Who hasn't slept with your mother? Your father slept with her, your legal mother slept with her. Your father climbed up the imperial court so quickly. Is it because half of the imperial court slept with your mother? "
She giggled. "Maybe you're a prince?"
A rebel army officer who was guarding the dungeon came over and dragged her away. He then turned back and said in a low voice, "Mr. Shou … She is crazy. Don't mind her. You, what else do you want? Whatever I can, I will … get it for you. "
This officer looked a little familiar. He also called him Mr. Shou. He probably studied in the literacy school he ran.
Shou Yulou felt dizzy. He said, "I only want paper and a pen." He paused. "Your surname is Meng? I still remember you … "
"Yes! Yes, yes! "The young officer was a little embarrassed." You still remember me … "
"I remember all the students I taught." Shou Yulou's voice became a lot more distant. Suddenly, there was some warmth in it. "If you still remember the words I taught you, do me a favor. Help me write a letter and bring it to … to Hongfei. Don't worry, it is not a secret. It is just a letter about some of my works. If you are worried, you can read it first. "
The officer was a little sad. "Why would I be worried? You shouldn't be here. I don't believe it. Many of my brothers and sisters don't believe it …" He was incoherent. After a while, he wiped the corners of his eyes. "Don't worry! I will definitely bring the letter! "
The dungeon was quiet again.
The sun shone through the iron window and shone on the chopping board. Shou Yulou picked up the pen, tired. Enlightened? Oh, enlightened. He met Ye Xiuwen when he was enlightened …
When was he enlightened … He was dizzy. Finally, he could not take it anymore and lay on the chopping board …
He was enlightened at the age of seven.
His brothers scolded him and called him "the bastard son of a whore."
Although Concubine Shou gave birth to him, she rarely stayed in the temple. She rarely kissed him.
Cheng Jiling grew up and was only locked in the backyard. He had never seen his father.
After kneeling in the snow for a night, he went back and had a high fever.
For the first time, he knew that there was a father in his life. After the fever was cured, his father, who was as far away as the clouds, asked a servant to bring him a message, saying that he was going to school.
A servant was moving his things and told him, "Starting today, Shiliang, you are going to school."
When he went to school that day, he was surprised to see Concubine Shou standing at the door. She even pulled him to her side, which was rare, with a rare ease.
It snowed heavily that day. She took him through the corridor and through the garden. In the garden, there were plum blossoms stuck with snow, strong branches, red plum blossoms, and white snow.
Concubine Shou broke a plum blossom and put it on his head.
He called, "Mother." Concubine Shou opened her eyes wide and stared at him. After a while, she smiled.
"Concubine Shou, Concubine Shou," she said. She leaned over and whispered in his ear, "You should call her that. Remember, madam is your biological mother, your biological mother. "
Her breath was like the clouds.
He would always remember when she was picking flowers. Her clothes fluttered, and her gauze was blown up by the wind with snow, revealing her excessively slender and excessively charming waist.
Suddenly, it was like the fluttering snow in the wind described in Fu of the Han dynasty.
That snowy night, when she jumped down from the pagoda in the capital, her clothes fluttered like this.
Before she died, she said, "My sins have been redeemed."
From then on, he lived near madam's main courtyard in the backyard. He was taught by madam.
The backyard was always like that. In the gloomy and damp old house, the luxurious furniture always had a sticky touch. No matter how strong the sun was, it could not shine into the corridor.
Behind the layers of curtains, in the smoke, the madam, who was twirling her Buddhist prayer beads, shaking her pipe, and lying on the couch, always had a kind smile on her face that never changed.
In the shadows, those concubines were like parasites relying on a big spider. They always huddled together, peeking and laughing, and shrank to the side. Only when madam was happy and called, "Cui Dian, Hongyan, come here!" They would crawl out, obediently listen to the command, and wait for the leftovers.
No matter how bright the colors were, everything was still covered with ashes.
Only his concubine-born brothers, who came in and out, with their young faces, fresh and tender skin, and strong physiques, could bring a little fire to this cold and damp place, some heat of youthful life.
But they were always drinking, women, avarice, and anger. Sometimes, when his brothers were only in their teens, they were already relaxed. The family school was just a daily roll call. Not only were the corners of their eyes blue from excessive drinking, their footsteps were unsteady, and they only knew how to talk and play, it was also the kind of relaxation that came from the inside when their youth was long gone.
These people's youth was a gift from heaven. When squandered, it was like morning dew, and it was sucked away by the gloomy big house. Under the winks of the concubines and madam, there was not much heat.
Cheng Jiling was not the same.
He was the only one who was recorded under madam's name.
Madam never kept him in the house to eat snacks and drink tea like she did that year. The boy in the house used a urinal, and she never taught him to use it again.
The other brothers ate, drank, and played, and they ate, drank, and played. Madam never provided it to him. If anyone said half a word to him outside of studying, madam would break his leg the next day.
Once, he got first place in an exam in the family school. Madam called Cheng Jiling over. Other than looking at his appearance, she asked, "Did you make any progress?"
He just pursed his lips and did not want to say a word.
Madam blew out a cold smoke ring. "Your concubine mother had the courage to pull you to kneel in the snow and had the courage to jump down from the tower. If you can't even study well and can't jump out of these dirty places, you might as well have entered my house."
He turned and ran.
Later, he found out that his father had long forgotten about his son in the depths of the Cheng family.
It was that day, after he and Concubine Shou knelt in the snow for a day and refused to enter madam's house. Madam, whose face was green with anger, personally informed Cheng Chuanzong, his biological father, to arrange for him to enter the family school.
But, he still hated her.
Until …
Every time he heard his father's name, everyone said that he was taking care of his grandmother.
Of course, he had never seen his grandmother.
But everyone said that his grandmother was a chaste woman. The Cheng family was originally a scholarly family with strong family values. She remained a widow for several decades and raised her only son to become a scholar.
The chastity memorial arch, which was made of stone, and the plaque, which was bestowed by the emperor, stood in front of his grandmother's courtyard.
People also said that his father was filial and filial, worthy of being the descendant of a great scholar.
Before he took the county level exam, he finally saw his father and grandmother.
He followed the usual practice of the exam and listened to his father, who was a scholar.
But his father just turned his back to him. He did not even have the slightest interest in this teenage son that he had never seen before. He did not even bother to turn his head and told him some of the dullest words, such as, "Be more attentive."
He then sent him back and focused on feeding his grandmother medicine.
After he respectfully responded to his father, he was about to go up and greet his grandmother when he was suddenly shocked.
It was a thin woman's face behind layers of gloomy curtains. She was old and wrinkled.
Those ferocious eyes were looking at him over his father's shoulder.
He could not tell what kind of eyes they were. Those eyes looked at him as if they were trying to distinguish something.
When they noticed his nose and chin, which were like his father's, those eyes were gentle. When they noticed that he did not look like his father, but like Concubine Shou's eyes, lips, eyebrows, and other places, those eyes had a ferocious and vicious curse.
Those were not the eyes of a grandson.
He remembered those students who were a generation older than him, those who did anything to eat, drink, whore, and gamble, lowered their voices and purposely whispered into his ear, saying, "Your father is indeed always at your grandmother's." Even on the night of his marriage with your di mother, he was at your grandmother's. "
"Your grandmother died when she was pregnant with a man. For decades, she guarded her chastity memorial arch, and there was only one man. She guarded it for decades, and finally this man grew up and brought her the title of First Rank Madam.
In the blink of an eye, his glory was going to be shared with another woman, or even several other women. "
They did not say who this man was, and only laughed. In the blink of an eye, they talked about his di mother, Madam Yuan. They said, "Without a son, is endless love?" Hehe, a woman whose husband did not enter the house for decades, has a son? Then she should be drowned in a pig cage.
He was silent for a long time. From then on, although he still felt hatred for this di mother of Madam Yuan, he felt a trace of pity in his heart. He no longer avoided her like a snake or scorpion.
His father was still carelessly blowing cold medicine for his mother. His head was lowered and his eyes were respectful.
He remembered an incident when he was young. Once, the Empress Dowager hosted a banquet in the palace. Therefore, his father, Cheng Chuanzong, came back with a gift.
The imperial family showed a little warmth and allowed the officials to choose their own gifts.
Cheng Chuanzong asked for fish for his mother. The gift he chose was a rare fresh fish by the sea in this season.
Everyone said that Scholar Cheng was worthy of being the descendant of a great scholar. He always remembered filial piety.
But in fact, Scholar Cheng's mother, Madam Cheng, did not like fish at all. She even felt nauseous when she smelled fish. This was something that everyone in the residence, including him, knew.
The reason why Madam Cheng often bought fish in her courtyard in the early years was because she loved to eat fish. It was Cheng Chuanzong.
However, Cheng Chuanzong, who was filial to his mother until now and whose name was known throughout the world, did not know this matter.
However, in any case, as a story of chivalry praised by the imperial court, it must have a happy ending of a loving mother and filial son.
When he came out, he passed by his grandmother's courtyard. He looked at the tall signboard of a virtuous woman and shuddered.
This was actually his family, the place where he grew up. The young Cheng Jiling hated everything. He swore that he would study, go to the Hall of Emperor, and then get rid of all of this.
"Yulou!
The door of the dungeon was opened again. The sound of many footsteps woke him up from his dizziness. He stuffed the pen and paper under the pile of straw.
"Repent!" he heard a voice that sounded bitter and hateful.
Shou Yulou lowered his eyes, "I have nothing to repent for. Everything I did in Yunnan was done when I was clear-headed. I won't regret it even if I die a hundred times. "
Fang Xiuming stepped aside. An old man walked over weeping and knelt in front of Shou Yulou. He first kowtowed to him, then said, "Teacher, I kneel to you. Thank you for saving our family from the hands of the landlord. But I hate you, I hate you! My son also risked his life for the rebel army. He only occupied a few mu of land, and you want to execute him! He is the only son? Only son, do you understand? My family line is gone! "
"Do you hate the landlord? Do you hate the clan? "Shou Yulou said lightly," If you hate, then your son deserved to die. "
"Deserved to die!" The old man was flabbergasted as he repeated these words. He was so angry that his whole body trembled. Fang Xiuming hurriedly stopped him and said to Shou Yulou, "Do you still not regret it even if you die a hundred times? Do you know how many brothers and sisters in Yunnan hate you right now? "
Shou Yulou closed his eyes and leaned against the wall of the dungeon. He did not say another word.
On the execution ground, the cold wind whistled.
For the first time, people saw one of the most senior leaders of the rebel army being executed.
The second commander personally read out the evidence.
Since that day when the southern troops joined forces with Shengjing's troops, the people of Shengjing knew what Senior Commander Shou, who had been entrusted with everything in the south, did with his subordinates and students.
He searched for the Four Books and Five Classics of thousands of families, burned them, and then replaced them with his own notes. He tried to replace Confucius with his own pen and ink.
He set up the Yuan Treasury system and asked the local residents to hand over their property to the government. He did it most thoroughly in Yunnan and Zhejiang. Even merchants were not allowed to open their businesses privately. It was simply a robbery.
The rebel army paid attention to pacifying the people. Someone as tolerant as Leader Fang was always tolerant of the local gentry. He only ordered them to reduce taxes.
However, he confiscated all the gentry's property and land. His subordinate, Rakshasa, was even more cruel. Blood flowed in Zhejiang Province, especially in Jiaxing. Countless gentry families were killed and injured.
He was even a pervert. He forcibly took away other people's wives and concubines and servant girls. He forced the poor women to do heavy labor like the men. Women had to do whatever the men did.
He took away other people's wives and concubines. He himself took in a lot of female officials, female generals, and female soldiers. It was said that in the entire rebel army, Shou Yulou had the most female soldiers.
This was said by Shou Yulou's general himself! Everyone expected that it must be a night of debauchery. How dare he humiliate the sisters who should be enjoying life in the rear!
People could not help but feel even more indignant.
Not to mention how many of his brothers and sisters he had killed in the great purge, and all of them were for trivial reasons.
The relatives of the soldiers below cried. The crowd was suddenly angry. "Punish the scum! Punish the scum! "
Fang Xiuming's eyes were red. He asked Shou Yulou, "You … Do you have anything else to say?"
Shou Yulou thought for a moment and said with a smile, "What will you do next?"
Before Fang Xiuming could answer, Lin Dengdao answered firmly, "Of course, we will set things right! How many of our brothers have risked their lives, but they still have to hand over their property to the Yuan Treasury. They are bitter and short of money. How can they fight for us like this? How many of our fellow villagers look forward to being able to farm peacefully and steadily under our rule? They don't have to endure exorbitant taxes anymore. But you took the land as public property and did not give it to the villagers. How can the villagers trust us? The scholars rely on us for the sake of achieving a clear and honest government. The scholars of the world can speak freely and not be suppressed by the literary prison. But you want to burn books and bury scholars. Such a perverse practice is destroying the foundation of our rebel army. How can we not set things right? "
Shou Yulou stared at him and saw that Fang Xiuming also had a look of agreement. He said, "Then, other than sorry, I have nothing else to say."
When Fang Xiuming heard this apology, his whole body shook. He turned his head away and felt extremely uncomfortable. He said in a hoarse voice,
"Yulou, don't hate us. You … You've gone too far. "
Shou Yulou shook his head, "I won't hate you. I … I'm very sorry. "
People always thought that Shou Yulou's apology before his death was because he finally regretted his actions in the south.
It was not until many years later that the handwritten letter he left behind was made public.
Before his death, he wrote two letters in prison. One was given to his student, Luo Hongfei.
The other was left in the dungeon where he was locked up. It was for the person who locked him up. It was not until many years later that it was discovered.
"When I was young, I always wondered who the culprit behind all this was. Was it my mother's natural beauty? Was it my official mother's fault? Was it my grandmother's fault? Was it my father's fault?
I used to hate my concubine mother. I hated why she gave herself up to the wind and dust, why she entered a noble family, and why she faced these insults and didn't resist. She only knew death. Later, I knew that everything was beyond her control.
I also hated my official mother. Later, when I finally became a juren, I already had the qualifications to be an official.
When I passed by the back residence, my official mother, along with a group of concubines, looked at me from the courtyard entrance.
They were like insects that could only hide in the courtyard and die when exposed to the sun.
I wanted to enter the world of loyal, filial, benevolent, and righteous men. They could no longer hurt me.
In fact, I can even create groups of Yuan Family members just like my father.
I couldn't hate them anymore.
I hated my grandmother. Her perversion, her harshness to her daughter-in-law, her fear of losing her son, caused countless tragedies.
However, when I looked at the high plaque of the Virtuous Woman, at the fish that she never ate from her son, who claimed to be a filial son, my grandmother was at a loss. She had been a widow for her entire life, and had already grown old behind the memorial arch.
I couldn't hate her anymore.
I hated my father. I thought that he was the bane of everything.
However, when I wanted to escape all this by studying for the imperial examinations, I entered my father's world. Only then did I realize that I had more than one father. They all looked the same. In order to climb up in these "benevolent, righteous, and moral values", they did everything.
Although they had facial features, their faces were blurry.
Although they had names, they were just puppets of "loyalty, filial, benevolent, and righteous".
Puppets of hatred?
I don't hate my mother, my official mother, my father, and my grandmother. Just like I don't hate you.
However, I regret that I didn't have time to smash and destroy my mother's, official mother's, father's, and grandmother's things. I didn't have time to save you.
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