Red Mansion: Picking up a Lin Daiyu

Chapter 269: Evil disciple!

"I don't know what kind of weather has happened. The dam has been destroyed. All my savings for a year are gone. How will I live in the future?"

A woman in a straw hat and a cloth skirt found a mud bowl and poured water into it.

The man took a sip and then spit it out.

"What the hell, whose man drinks plain water?"

The woman smiled helplessly, "Yan'er, it seems that there is not much tea here."

"What about her?"

"I didn't see him, and he didn't sleep in his room. I guess he went to the temple. It's past noon, so he should be back."

"A girl runs around like a boy all the time. It would be much easier if she really was a boy."

The woman smiled awkwardly and didn't dare to talk to anyone.

Outside the door, Xing Xiuyan paused while knocking on the door, bit her lip lightly, and held back the tears in her eyes. She knocked three more times and walked in.

"Yan'er, you're finally back. Where have you been? Your father is here. Come and talk to him."

Xing Xiuyan nodded slightly and bowed to the table.

The visitor said bluntly, "There's been a big flood in the city, and we have very little left. We can't even make a living now. Your mother and I are planning to go to the capital to stay with our relatives. You should pack your bags and come with us."

Xing Xiuyan did not have much affection for her parents, but she had a deep friendship with Miaoyu. Unexpectedly, this sudden change would separate the two of them.

"I heard that there are people doing disaster relief at the foot of the mountain. They should be able to make a living. Haven't you heard the saying 'Living long makes people dislike you, and poverty makes relatives estranged'?"

The man got angry and blew his beard and glared, "Do you want me to raise ducks like those people? I don't know where you read some books, but you are trying to reason with your father."

"To tell you the truth, your aunt is the eldest lady in the Rongguo Mansion, and she enjoys endless wealth and splendor. Even if she lets go of her wealth, it will be enough for our family to live on."

"You are a girl, and you are old. You have no outstanding features except your dignified appearance. The young masters in their house are all unmarried. If they like you, your mother and I will plan to arrange a marriage for you."

Xing Xiuyan pursed her lips tightly and tears fell uncontrollably.

"I do not want to go."

"What did you say?" The man's face changed suddenly.

The woman was busy comforting him, "Master, don't be upset. Yan'er is still young and can't tell right from wrong yet."

Coming to Xing Xiuyan again, the woman said earnestly: "You are ignorant of worldly affairs and don't know how difficult the world is. It's not easy to make a fortune now. It's a good thing to have a rich relative. How can you not go and get involved?"

"The Rongguo Mansion is a distinguished family, and is favored by the emperor. The eldest daughter has just been given an official position in the palace, and it is not impossible for her to be promoted to a concubine in the future. In this way, she will be a relative of the emperor."

"If we can settle down in the mansion, we will have endless wealth and splendor. Then, we won't have to live in poverty now."

"Besides, this was not your father's or my idea. Your aunt sent a letter. The Jia family is not prosperous, and it has been a troubled time recently. She wants us to come to Beijing to celebrate the New Year, to add to the crowds and make the place lively."

"Well, our family just happened to be hit by a disaster. Our house was flooded, and we had nowhere to go. As for marriage, I'm not sure if you can be my match. And you know, the famous Zhen family in Jinling has always been close to the Jia family, and they have long wanted to form a relationship with us."

"There's nothing much to stay in this shabby temple. Are you going to stay here alone while your parents are going to Beijing? Are you going to become a monk in the future?"

Xing Xiuyan remained silent. Clinging to the powerful and wealthy is not the right way.

"Come on, don't just stand there like an idiot. Pack some clothes and follow us to the dock to buy a boat ticket. It will be hard to leave if we get late after the disaster today."

Xing Xiuyan found her parents' words extremely unreasonable.

Even if he wanted to curry favor with the emperor, there was the famous Marquis An Jing in front of him, so why would he want to join him?

But Xing Xiuyan is a woman after all, and it is difficult for her to control her own destiny.

Right now, she couldn't reveal Yue Ling's identity, otherwise she would be making a big mistake.

She also didn't want to trouble Miaoyu, but she felt a little regretful that she would not see the day when Miaoyu would clear her father's name, nor would she see how the Marquis Anjing, who was as bright as the rising sun, would turn the situation around.

Xing Xiuyan's heart sank as she moved her lips. She said softly, "Okay, I'll go with you."

……

The public sentiment was far more turbulent than Yue Ling had imagined.

When people learned of Panxiang Temple's intention, they were all extremely indignant. Braving the heavy rain, they all went into the city to seek an explanation.

The situation completely reversed. The crowd that originally went to Xuanmu Mountain to avoid disaster actually went into the city, which made the yamen runners who had just gone out very confused.

After hearing some fragments of information from indirect sources, everyone was shocked and rushed to the government office to report the news.

Ever since digging the dike, Sun Yicai has been feeling uneasy. After all, he had done something wrong, and he was not a person without a completely guilty conscience, so it was difficult for him to calm down.

Only the company of beautiful girl could ease his inner fear a little.

No matter whether it is Xu Yaozu or Zhen Yingjia, they painted a gorgeous picture of the future and said their plans were flawless, but if they were really charged with a crime, they would not be able to escape.

By then, what does it matter if you have wealth and glory?
But he had already boarded the ship and had no chance to get off.

"come over."

In the yamen, Sun Yicai waved to Mei Niang.

Mei Niang nodded slightly and moved closer, but saw Sun Yicai unbuttoning her belt. She took a step back in fear.

"Master, it's still broad daylight, and we're in the government office. We shouldn't..."

With a slap, Sun Yicai slapped him in the face.

"Bitch, what do you mean you are from a good family? You are just a prostitute sent by Xu Yaozu. Why are you pretending to be noble in front of me?"

"Just because you have climbed up the social ladder, does that change the fact that you were born in a humble family? If you don't serve me well, you will never have a good life!"

Sun Yicai glared over and frightened Mei Niang greatly.

Mei Niang covered her red cheeks and did not dare to cry. She could only take two steps forward and let Sun Yicai do what he wanted.

Sun Yicai pushed him away and said angrily: "What a spoilsport! If you really had some dignity, I would respect you more. You spineless bitch, get out!"

Sun Yicai looked at Mei Niang as if he was looking at himself.

Even though he was wearing a crimson official uniform, he was just a plaything of those top figures. At most, he was reluctant to accept it, and he had to do whatever they asked him to do.

She is so similar to Mei Niang, a prostitute.

Thinking of this, Sun Yicai became even more furious, and he vented all his anger on the poor woman.

When Mei Niang ran out crying, more yamen runners came in.

"Sir, it's bad. The people have gathered in front of the government office, banging on the gate and fighting with us. We are just trying to get an explanation."

Sun Yicai stood up and straightened his official robe, staring at them and saying, "What explanation do you want from a bunch of unruly people?"

The yamen runner said in panic, "It is said that at the Panxiang Temple on Xuanmu Mountain, the Buddha appeared and gave a warning, 'Destroying the dikes and flooding the fields, sitting in office and eating without doing anything, will be hated by both humans and gods, and there will be no redemption!'"

Sun Yicai was stunned, and sat down in the chair in a daze, his eyes widened unnaturally.

The bailiff was also stunned and asked in astonishment: "Sir, is this true?"

"What nonsense!"

Sun Yicai suddenly came to his senses and said immediately: "Stop all the people and call two captains to bring soldiers to protect this government office."

The yamen runner said with a bitter face: "Sir, you haven't seen the scene outside. The streets are full of people. Even the soldiers can hardly get in."

"My lord, haven't you heard about what happened with the previous prefect? ​​This time is much more serious than that time." The previous so-called disturbance by the people attracted the attention of the Executive Secretariat, and people were sent to investigate.

Everyone knows that making a fuss is effective, and the bigger the better. This is the case when the news spreads to Hangzhou, but if it spreads to the capital, wouldn't the high-ranking officials there come to investigate?
With the lessons learned from the previous incident, the people became even more agitated.

"Sir, please be careful. We really can't suppress it this time!"

In a dilemma, Sun Yicai thought for a while before saying, "Let's appease the people first, and we will open the granaries and release the grain soon. As for the breach of the dike, I will send people to investigate after the rain stops and the river is dredged, and then I will give the people an explanation."

"Yes."

The bailiff was about to leave but was stopped by Sun Yicai.

"Wait, where are you from?"

The bailiff reported: "It's from the torture chamber."

"You were the one who reported this morning?"

The yamen runner nodded repeatedly, "That's right, the ones who usually deliver messages to the adults are all out busy, so I'll take over this time."

Sun Yicai then ordered, "It just so happens that you are in the torture chamber. Go check if there is any evildoer in the Panxiang Temple who wants to frame me."

The bailiff accepted the order and said, "Yes."

……

Xuanmu Mountain,
Yue Ling dressed up and went up the mountain with a group of people to make plans.

The bait has been put out, and now it all depends on how big a fish can be caught.

"Boss, the news of our disaster relief has spread widely. We have already released 100,000 shi of grain, and more than 10,000 households have benefited from it. According to rough estimates, more than 50,000 people have been saved."

Yue Ling looked straight ahead, his eyes filled with the suffering of the people, and a slight frown rose between his brows.

"How was the damage to Suzhou City?"

"The disaster was quite severe. About 60% of the rice fields were flooded. It is estimated that more than 300,000 families were affected. Millions of grain will be needed for disaster relief until the beginning of next spring."

"What about the city? What are the government doing?"

"The people attacked the government office. Officials from the government office came forward and wanted to open the granaries to release grain. But according to the clerks in the granaries, Suzhou only had enough grain to last for a dozen days. Their ultimate goal was to buy land from large households at low prices and use it as food for the people. Moreover, the city is already promoting the sale of land, and they really can't wait."

"No problem. With us blocking them, no one will be willing to sell their ancestral property at a low price."

As Yue Ling climbed the stone steps step by step, his mood became even heavier.

Now he can understand what a political machine is.

Perhaps the number of people affected is just a number in their eyes, and only serves to calculate the food rations needed.

However, they, who live in luxury and hold high positions, are completely unable to understand the suffering of the people. They cannot see it, or even turn a blind eye to it.

"They all deserve to be killed."

Yue Ling took a deep breath and walked towards the entrance of the trail.

Not far away, a pretty girl seemed to have sensed something. She suddenly raised her head and looked in the direction of Yue Ling.

However, he only saw a person who looked 70% similar to Yue Ling, who turned around and walked into the deep forest.

"Isn't that the Marquis? It should be, I won't admit my mistake."

Xing Xiuyan stared at him infatuatedly and forgot to move for a moment.

Crowds of people were flowing around her, and she was standing alone among them, like an isolated island.

"Silly girl, what are you looking at?"

The woman in the straw hairpin and cloth skirt turned around, grabbed Xing Xiuyan's arm and pulled her forward, fearing that she would change her mind again.

Xing Xiuyan stretched out her hand forward, trying to touch the light, but she could no longer see it.

Xing Xiuyan was pulled and staggered. When she came to her senses, she was filled with grief, because she realized that perhaps this was the reason she had missed the chance to change her destiny.

"Silly girl, why are you becoming more and more dull? What are you looking at?"

Xing Xiuyan lowered her head again, shook it and said, "I didn't see anything, let's go."

……

Panxiang Temple,
In the small courtyard, Miaoyu served at her master's bedside, taking care of him carefully.

After feeding him the medicine soup, he heard the master speak weakly, "You didn't return to the temple a few nights ago. Where did you go?"

Miaoyu put the soup bowl aside and said, "I went down the mountain to perform a ritual. It was late at night, so I stayed at someone else's house for one night."

The master frowned slightly and said angrily, "Nonsense! I raised you all by myself, how can I not tell whether you are lying or not?"

"You've been feeling restless lately. What happened to you?"

When her master asked this, Miaoyu opened her mouth but didn't know where to start.

Seeing her hesitation, the old nun became more and more dissatisfied. She took a deep breath and suppressed her anger. She said sternly: "You are half monk and half layman. Master has never forced you to convert to Buddhism and cut off worldly ties. You have your own destiny. But you can't go astray because of this and use tricks for your father's matter."

Miaoyu was startled, realizing that her master had misunderstood her, and hurriedly said, "Master, I did not use any despicable means."

"Then why is your heart not at peace? What on earth has caused you to get into trouble?"

Thinking of the fact that Yue Ling's identity must be kept secret, Miaoyu could not tell her master the whole story.

Turning her head away, Miaoyu said shyly, "Master, I can't say it."

It's not that there is nothing, but that she can't say it. The old nun took a few deep breaths and then burst into a severe cough.

"You are hiding something from your master, okay, okay."

Miaoyu was in a dilemma. "Master, this matter involves others, so I can't tell you. Please understand me and I will be able to explain it to you after some time."

The old nun frowned and asked, "You, like him?"

Miaoyu blushed and shook her head.

Compared to her actions, the girl's expression already gave the answer.

The old nun closed her eyes tightly and asked again, "Why can't I tell you? Master, can't you tell me either?"

Miaoyu nodded, "I can't say, he has a special identity."

The old nun sighed and patiently reminded him, "Master is also a woman, and she did not become a nun at a young age. Love is like a demon, and it is hard to control. Master is afraid that you will fall into it, be fooled and abandoned. Most men are like this, and the vows they made are nothing but passing clouds."

"Master also had someone he liked? Who was he?"

"He's already dead, and his death was very painful, so it's better not to mention it."

Miaoyu nodded slightly, "It is true that evil will be punished. Master just met the wrong person. The person I met is the best in the world."

The old nun sneered disdainfully and said, "One and one? Did you also meet the royal family?"

Miaoyu shook her head repeatedly, "I'm talking about quality, not power, status, or wealth. Of course, he doesn't lack these external things either."

The old nun picked up the whisk beside her and hit Miaoyu on the shoulder, "Master made it up. You came down the mountain a few times and you really found a man you love. You evil disciple!!!"

(End of this chapter)