Chapter 584 Rescue
On this day, the people of Kyoto got up very early.
Because it was the Autumn Festival, if you stay in bed on this day, you will have a yellow face in the future.
I can't go to work, otherwise I'll be busier but get less results.
You can’t go to school, otherwise you will learn less and less.
"Mrs. Tan?! Why are you back? Didn't you go to Xiangzhou with Song Lang?" The residents of Yongningfang pushed open the door and found a figure they hadn't seen for a long time, getting off the carriage with a lot of bags.
Mrs. Tan showed a sweet smile on her round face and greeted the neighbors enthusiastically: "I haven't been back for several years. It happened to be the Autumn Festival, so I thought of going back to visit my mother's home."
There is a custom of returning to one’s parents’ home during the Autumn Festival. Generally, married women will bring chickens, ducks, fine wine, and their children back to their parents’ home.
The mother’s family will also prepare some things to welcome the nephew, such as gourds, dates, etc.
The neighbors looked around and asked, "Why don't we see Mr. Song? Are you back alone?"
Madam Tan actually returned to Kyoto alone. Could it be that she was divorced?
Madam Tan knew that if Magistrate Song and his son did not come back with her, it would definitely lead to gossip.
"My husband is busy, and my son wants to join a society organized by the academy, so I came back alone."
The neighbors exchanged glances, obviously not believing what Mrs. Tan said.
Mrs. Tan pretended not to see anything and closed the gate to block out all sight.
I haven't been back for many years, and the yard is overgrown with weeds and spider webs in every corner.
Mrs. Tan carried the things and walked around the rooms. The furniture in the houses were covered with a thick layer of dust and were not as clean as the ground in the yard.
Mrs. Tan simply swept the house and put her luggage in. Then she planned to go to the street to buy some chickens, ducks and wine, and then visit her uncle's house.
Walking on the street, Mrs. Tan clearly felt that Kyoto was no longer as prosperous as before.
In the past, various parties would invite various kinds of performers and artists to perform in the neighborhood, and the residents would gather together to chat, watch the performances, eat and drink, and then everyone would go back satisfied with flower baskets, community cakes, fruits, vegetables, meat, etc.
Nowadays, only a few wealthy towns have such performances, while most towns are quiet and there is no movement.
People from the neighboring street squatted at the door with their community meals in their hands, eating while looking at the passers-by and chatting from time to time to pass the time.
Mrs. Tan noticed that their community rice was only topped with cheap pork, and that it did not fill the entire rice, only one or two thin slices.
Mrs. Tan frowned and knocked on her uncle's door.
"Sanniang is back!"
Mrs. Tan's parents died early, and her only family from her mother's side was her uncle's. The two sides did not visit each other often, especially after she married Magistrate Song, they were almost considered to have severed their relationship.
After so many years, Mrs. Tan's sudden visit surprised Uncle Tan and his family.
Uncle Tan had a stern face and didn't want to bother with this woman who was determined to marry the niece of Governor Song. But when he thought that this was his brother's only blood, he couldn't bear to drive her out.
"Why are you back? Did Song Zhizhou bully you?"
Mrs. Tan shook her head.
Uncle Tan snorted coldly and asked his family to serve the community meal.
This bowl of community rice is completely different from the community rice that Mrs. Tan had seen along the way.
Mutton, kidneys, udders, stomach and lungs, duck cakes, melons, ginger and the like were all cut into the shape of chess pieces, seasoned with flavors, and spread on the rice, filling up a large bowl.
After the community meal was served, the family sat down to eat quietly, and no one dared to speak.
"Tell me, there is no one here for no reason. What on earth are you here for?" Uncle Tan put down his bowl and chopsticks.
Everyone else also put down their bowls and chopsticks, looking at each other, not daring to even breathe.
Aunt Tan said in a warm voice: "Autumn Festival is a day for families to gather together for banquets. How about we talk about it tomorrow?"
Uncle Tan glared at Aunt Tan and said, "You fool, if you don't explain clearly today, how can you be sure that others won't harm you?"
These words were extremely harsh, and Aunt Tan looked at Mrs. Tan worriedly.
Mrs. Tan put down her bowl and chopsticks, wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, and said in a gentle but firm tone: "Uncle, I am here for Su Dalang."
Uncle Tan slammed the table and kept looking at Madam Tan, his eyes becoming increasingly serious: "Su Dalang disobeyed the imperial decree and wanted to leave the capital privately, so he was imprisoned in the Dali Temple. You saw that I was the Dali Temple Secretary, so you wanted to get a connection with me!"
Upon seeing this, Aunt Tan hurriedly took everyone else at the table away, leaving the space for Uncle Tan and Mrs. Tan.
Uncle Tan stood up and looked down at Madam Tan. His eyebrows knitted slightly and his voice was somewhat reprimanding: "Although you are a married woman, you are still a member of the Tan family! Have you ever thought about how badly you will harm our Tan family by doing this?"
Madam Tan raised her head and looked directly at Uncle Tan: "No, I think this is an important opportunity for our Tan family to move up a level! The Dali Temple Secretary is only a sixth-rank official. Uncle, how many more steps can you take? But if you make a great contribution in rescuing Su Dalang, and when the Duke of Yun ascends to the throne of the Nine Cauldrons in the future..."
Bang!
Uncle Tan raised his hand and slapped Madam Tan hard, and roared in a low voice: "Women's views! How can Duke Yun compete with the emperor for the world?!"
Uncle Tan's expression was stern, and his thin lips were pressed into a straight line: "If you dare to say such treasonous words again, don't blame me for killing my relatives for the sake of justice!"
The Imperial City Bureau is spread all over Kyoto. Who can be sure that there are no spies from the Imperial City Bureau in his home?
Mrs. Tan touched her red and swollen cheeks, her eyes filled with tears, but she still insisted on persuading him.
"Uncle, the Great Zhou is strong on the outside but weak on the inside. It is said that the Bian River is the first to receive the Great River, and the water is drawn from the rivers and lakes, and the benefits reach the South China Sea. Half of the world's taxes and the general merchandise from the mountains and lakes all come from this route. But take a look, is the capital now as prosperous as it was in the past? How many capitals does the Great Zhou have?"
Uncle Tan threw his sleeves, not wanting to listen to his niece's nonsense any more: "Don't say any more, it's just a waste of words. How many civil and military officials in the court believe that Duke Yun can accomplish anything? It's difficult for her to even go south to Hezhong County, let alone march to the gates of Kyoto."
Uncle Tan ordered his family to take Mrs. Tan to the guest room and not allow her to contact the outside world.
Madam Tan was shocked. She didn't expect that her visit would end in failure. "Uncle, let me out quickly. What are you doing?"
Uncle Tan's face was tense, and he said without question, "For your father's sake, I'll help you! I'll write a letter later to ask you to divorce Song Zhizhou. Song Zhizhou wants to follow Gu Nanxi to the end, and I really can't bear to ask you to die with him."
Uncle Tan's father softened his tone only after he watched the servants push Madam Tan into the guest room and lock the door.
"If you listen to us, we will not let you starve. After Governor Song signs the divorce agreement, I will find a marriage for you. Then our Tan family will be completely separated from Gu Nanxi! No matter what he does, he will not bring harm to our Tan family."
Happy New Year to you all! Love you guys.
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