Chapter 492: Poem of Missing
Xiangyun asked, "Could it be that he himself didn't hear the noise?"
Sister Feng raised her head and said, "This man is deaf!"
When everyone heard this, they all burst into laughter.
Afterwards, the drum sounded again, and the osmanthus flowers continued to circulate among the people. When it came to Tanchun's turn, she posed a riddle.
It is said that 'the body is upright and strong, and although it cannot speak, it will respond to your words!'
After everyone thought about it for a while, Daiyu guessed that if it wasn't an inkstone, what else could it be?
With the start of Wang Xifeng and Tanchun, everyone became lively. Some told jokes, some guessed riddles, and in short, everyone was very happy.
Finally, when the branch landed in Daiyu's hand, everyone started to rejoice.
"If I were illiterate, it would be fine if I told a joke, but Miss Lin is such a person, it is absolutely impossible for her not to be able to write a good poem." Wang Xifeng said provocatively.
Xiangyun, Xiao Xichun and others all cheered.
Daiyu snorted at Wang Xifeng, but didn't refuse. After a moment's thought, she softly opened her red lips and chanted, "I want to hear about autumn's feelings, but no one knows. I murmur, hands behind my back, knocking on the eastern fence: How lonely is the garden in the dew and frost? Are the returning wild geese and crickets sick with longing? With whom will I, the proud and lonely one, hide? Why are the flowers blooming so slowly? Don't say there's no one in the world to talk to. Why not chat for a while with someone who understands me?"
When the words fell, everyone cheered. Tanchun stood up, went forward, hugged Daiyu and said, "Sister Lin, are you missing Third Brother? There are so many of us accompanying Sister Lin, isn't that enough? It seems that only Third Brother understands Sister Lin's feelings. Well, well, let's go quickly, so that Sister Lin won't say we are ignorant."
Daiyu was mortified when she heard this, "Third sister is teasing me too!"
However, what Tanchun said was right. Daiyu did miss Jia Cong in her heart. Before, she often felt lonely and helpless in this mansion, but after having Jia Cong, her heart was at peace. In her heart, Jia Cong understood her. He was not only her lover, but also her confidant.
After a while of excitement, the flower branch was passed on.
Coincidentally, after the branch went around in a circle, it fell into Baochai's hands.
"Since Sister Lin wrote a poem, Sister Bao naturally cannot let it go. Moreover, it has to be as good as Sister Lin's!" Xiangyun said with a smile.
Baochai smiled, thought for a moment, and then began to chant, "Gazing at the west wind with melancholy thoughts, the red reeds and white reeds break my heart. The empty fence and old garden show no trace of autumn, the thin moon and clear frost seem to me to be aware of dreams. My heart follows the distant geese as they return, I sit alone listening to the evening anvil. Who will pity me for my yellow flower illness, and comfort me with words that the Double Ninth Festival will come again."
After saying this, Baochai turned to look at Daiyu. Daiyu quietly stretched out her hand from under the table and hooked her fingers around Baochai's. In terms of missing Jia Cong, the two of them were the same.
"Are you two sisters going to compete to see who misses third brother more? This poem is of course excellent, but it is a bit too sad on such a happy day. Although I know that you two sisters are thinking about third brother, you should also consider all the sisters. No matter who's turn is next, we must write the most festive one, otherwise we will be punished by drinking!" Tanchun said with a big laugh.
After a moment, Tanchun looked at the flower branch in her hand helplessly, "Qingwen's drumming today is really great. I shouldn't have said that just now. Now it has fallen on me. Isn't it asking for trouble?"
"Third sister set the rules herself, so of course they cannot be broken!" Yingchun said with a smile.
Under the gaze of the crowd, Tanchun thought for a moment and then smiled and said, "Golden flowers, silver hairpins, red silk handkerchiefs, jade liquid in the cup, the face is blushing. Beautiful night of spring, clouds and moon, fate has brought us together, what else can we ask for?"
When Tanchun finished speaking, everyone agreed.
"Everyone says that our third young lady is a genius in literature. Even the old lady admires her a lot. Now I see that it is true!" Keqing said with a smile.
"Come, let's have a drink together in honor of San Ya's good poetry!"
…
Outside the city of Pingyang Prefecture, Jia Cong sat upright. On a temporary high platform, there were several people in official robes tied up. Not only were there soldiers lined up around them, but there were also many people watching.
In reality, the situation in Pingyang Prefecture was not complicated. The government and ordinary granaries throughout the prefecture had long been empty. As for the rice, it had been exchanged for silver and distributed among the government officials, led by Fan Zhuang. Initially, someone had suggested temporarily purchasing some unpolished rice to serve as military rations to address the situation, but this was rejected.
Jia Cong, the Marquis of Guanjun, was not someone to be trifled with. Wouldn't offering brown rice as an alternative directly upset Jia Cong? It would be better to simply give him some silver. While it would cost a lot, it would also avoid complications. Unexpectedly, Jia Cong was different. Not only did he not play dumb, he actually lifted the lid...
Under interrogation, Fan Zhuang confessed everything. Moreover, after the investigation in Pingyang Prefecture, it was found that Fan Zhuang was not a good official.
The emperor is far away, and this guy oppresses the people and deliberately exploits them. They are said to be the county magistrate who ruined his family and the prefect who wiped out his clan, but the reality is far worse than these legends! As local officials, some prefects almost treat their jurisdiction as their own kingdom, allowing the people under their jurisdiction to be slaughtered at will, and their officials deceiving their superiors and their subordinates. Such things are not uncommon.
It would be fine if he hadn't met such a person, but when he met such a person, even if Jia Cong didn't speak up for the people, it would be only natural for him to kill one or two of them as a memorial to the souls of those who died in vain.
Therefore, Jia Cong directly ordered that all officials involved in the matter be arrested, without having to wait until autumn, and beheaded them in public.
After the soldiers came forward and read out the charges against these people and announced them to the people, Jia Cong gave an order and more than a dozen officials, both large and small, led by Fan Zhuang, were beheaded.
"The Marquis's move can be said to have boosted people's morale!" Jiang Zining said with a smile.
Jia Cong shook his head. "The people are suffering. We can't help the whole world , but we should at least do our best to live with a clear conscience. The cheers of the people at this moment are not worthy of our joy, but they are worthy of our deep reflection! Having such officials is a shame for Daqian. Now that I have encountered them, let alone with the Emperor's Sword in hand, even without it, I will show no mercy."
"Immediately report this to the imperial court and fully explain the crimes of these individuals! Also, temporarily leave a thousand soldiers to garrison Pingyang Prefecture. Once the officials sent by the imperial court arrive, they will rejoin the main army!"
After the affairs of Pingyang Prefecture were handled neatly and efficiently, the army set out again, heading towards Jingzhao Prefecture.
As for food and fodder, the homes of the executed officials were directly confiscated, and the silver and grain obtained were enough to make up for the shortage. The news of Pingyang Prefecture quickly spread throughout the country, especially to the prefectures, counties and prefectures that Jia Cong passed through on his march, and the local officials were terrified.
