Chapter 519: Escape
On the morning of the 11th day of the lunar month in winter, all things for returning to Beijing were ready. Chen Afu took Chu Hanyan again and went to Luomei Temple accompanied by Mrs. Song.
Liao Chen was still chanting sutras in the small Buddhist hall. The little nun who serves her, Little Master Qingmiao, said that these days, except for going back to her room to rest for nearly two hours in the early morning, she spends almost all her time in the small Buddhist hall chanting sutras.
Chen Afu waited outside the door for more than half an hour, but Liao Chen did not come out.
Little Master Qingmiao came out and said, "Amitabha, the abbot asks the two donors to go. She wishes you a safe journey."
Chen Afu was very helpless. With Liao Chen's character, it would be really difficult for Lord Chu to get her back in the future and Chu Lingxuan to take her home.
Chen Afu said, "In the future, I have to ask the little master to take good care of her."
Little master Qingmiao Heshi said, "Amitabha, this is natural."
On the way, Chen Afu asked Mrs. Song to take good care of Chen. Not only in life, but also spiritually. After a few days, Liao Chen didn't feel so sad anymore and wanted to take Brother Wen to spend more time with her. The thing that can soften people the most is children.
Ms. Song nodded in agreement, "Don't worry, sister-in-law, we will definitely take good care of your uncle."
When they arrived at the outer courtyard, Chen Shi, Chen Agui, Chen Yulan, and Wang Xiaodi were already waiting here. The Fu family, the Qin family, and the Wang family also sent people to see them off.
Saying goodbye to everyone, Chen Afu led Chu Hanyan into the carriage.
The little girl's mental condition is still not very good, she has also lost weight, and her eyes appear bigger. Chen Afu kept holding her in his arms and humming songs to her softly, including "Little Swallows Wear Flower Clothes".
As soon as she heard this song, the little girl's eyes lit up and she said softly, "Mom, as soon as I listen to this song, I feel like..." She thought about how to describe that feeling, and then said, " My heart feels like I’m bathing in the sunshine in spring, it’s warm and not too hot. “
Chen Afu laughed and said, "Well, Mom feels the same way. As soon as she sings this song, Mom can think of the past."
Fuyuan, Luyuan, and Tangyuan appeared in front of her again, the ghostly little Dabao, the cute and silly little Yan'er, and the gentle little Alu... This time, time was tight, and that thing happened again. Take time to visit the countryside,
The next day, Chen Afu and his entourage arrived in the capital before sunset. When we returned to the Hou Mansion, it was already dark.
The steward who greeted them asked them to go directly to Yong'an Hall, saying that the family was already waiting there.
Chen Afu and the little girl took the sedan to Yong'an Hall again.
At the door of Chuihua, the little girl guarding the door bent her knees and said with a smile, "Master Marquis, please ask the eldest grandma and eldest sister to go directly to the main courtyard."
Go to the main courtyard with three entrances instead of the rear room with five entrances where the third master and third wife temporarily live. So, Lord Chu has already moved into the main courtyard? In other words, he left the Princess Mansion and returned to the Yongan Marquis Mansion to become the master?
Chen Afu felt excited and led the little girl back quickly. When I arrived at the third main courtyard, I saw many lanterns hanging in the courtyard, and the upper room and side rooms were brightly lit. Talking and laughing also floated out from inside, especially the laughter of the old Marquis and the noises of the two young brothers and Xie Heng.
Chen Afu and Chu Hanyan entered the upper room, walked around the twelve screens, and saw Mr. Chu and Mr. Chu sitting on both sides of the Eight Immortals table. Both sides were full of people, including Xie Ling and Chu Hua's family. Xiao Yuer was riding a walker and was walking in circles in the middle.
When Xiao Yu'er saw her mother and sister coming in, she didn't rush up to kiss them. Instead, she gave them a slap on the back of her head, stumbled and ran to Lord Chu, threw herself into his arms and burst into tears, feeling extremely aggrieved. .
Brother Yu and Brother Ming, who were sitting on the brocade stool, also started crying at the top of their lungs. While crying, they said, "Mom, I only want my sister, and she doesn't want us or my sister."
The three little people who thought they had been abandoned burst into tears, as if they were about to tear down the roof.
Chen Afu was also very sad, so he went to the old Marquis and the Marquis of Chu to bow down to them.
Lord Chu had already sat down with Xiao Yu'er on his lap, coaxed her a few words, and said to Chen Afu, "Xuan'er-in-law has worked hard. You have contributed a lot to Luojiazhuang's ability to survive the disaster this time."
Chen Afu hurriedly said humbly, "My father-in-law is very grateful, and so is my daughter-in-law..." Before he could finish his words, Brother Yu and Brother Ming had already ran forward, hugging one leg and crying, "Mom, we miss you so much."
The old Marquis laughed and said, "These little monkeys will be like this when their mother comes back."
The third lady also laughed and said, "When their mother didn't come back, they either followed grandpa or me. Now when they see mother, they don't recognize us. You are such a heartless child!"
Chen Afu smiled and dragged the two brothers to sit down in his seat, coaxing them in a low voice. Then he said to Xiao Yu'er who was sitting on Grandpa, "Baby, come here quickly, Mom, Mom misses you very much."
Xiao Yu'er pursed her lips and looked at Chen Afu, then climbed into her grandfather's arms and faced her with the back of her head.
Everyone went to the west wing to eat, and Chen Afu took the opportunity to ask the third lady a few words.
The third lady whispered, "Rong Zhao and Concubine Ma Shu have been convicted of colluding with the second prince and the deposed queen Wang to frame important court officials, and helping the second prince and the deposed queen to persecute the prince and empress. Rong Zhao has gone to Huangjue Temple to practice, and Concubine Ma Shu He was demoted to a commoner and relegated to the cold palace."
This crime is quite serious, especially the second one. Maybe the emperor is also angry that they let his plan of suppressing Lord Chu fail, so he should deal with them severely.
Mrs. Chu Third said again, "Now, the court has begun to purge the second prince's remaining party..."
Originally, the emperor and the crown prince wanted to purge the remnants of the second prince later, but the incident with Rong Zhao and Ma Shufei brought this matter forward. This time, many families will suffer again, and they will not be able to live well for years.
In any case, Lord Chu was finally free.
Chen Afu looked at Lord Chu at another table. His face was not as jubilant as that of the old Lord and the second Lord. He was smiling and saying something to Xiao Yuer in his arms.
After the meal, everyone laughed and left one after another. The old Lord and Lord Chu left the third wife and Chen Afu.
Chen Afu carefully reported the situation in Dingzhou Prefecture, especially explaining that Lechen was in a bad mood now.
After hearing this, Lord Chu's eyes dimmed again and he said, "Although Luo was a little bit temperamental before, she was still gentle and virtuous. She suffered such a big blow and stayed in the monastery for more than ten years, and her temperament changed. Alas, it was all my fault."
After that, Lord Chu explained the situation in the capital. Now the capital is not peaceful. Two relatives of the Chu family were implicated in the party of the second prince. One is Miss Chu's maternal family, the Ma family, and the other is Chen Afu's sister's husband's family, the He family.
These two families came to Lord Chu for help, but Lord Chu did not help, and specifically told Chen Afu not to get involved.