129 Chapter 129
◎Cheng Jiuniang, it's you!◎
The villagers from Zhengzhuang Village were the first to arrive.
The young and strong men who went out to fight last night first took them to the drying yard to see the hanging heads and piled up corpses, and then they came to visit Cheng Mu.
"Madam Cheng, Shang'an Township is all thanks to you!"
The sky and earth were gray, and because they enveloped everything, everyone was dyed gray. Zheng Lizheng looked much more haggard and thinner.
"Yesterday, before Madam Cheng sent word, we had just heard that the Mongolian soldiers were burning and killing everywhere, and we didn't know what to do. Fortunately, Madam Cheng was brave and courageous, and her wisdom was unparalleled. She led the people of several villages to wipe out this small group of people. We are grateful to Madam Cheng for saving our lives."
The people who came with him knelt down and shouted, "Thank you, Madam Cheng, for saving our lives!"
Cheng Mu was ashamed. "It's not my fault that I killed the enemy in battle. The Mongols' burning, looting, and plundering are a public outrage. It was the brave men of each village who defended our homeland. We all worked together, and I also want to thank the families for their generosity. I owe you all a debt of gratitude for your help."
Cheng Mu asked Jin Xiong to bring a square table and placed it in front of the house. She listed the names of the warriors from Zhengzhuang Village who had gone out to fight last night and read out the rewards she had given.
Her 100 acres of land, this big house, the food stored at home, everything was taken out and divided up by her.
Zheng Lizheng's expression changed drastically. "Madam Cheng, what are you doing? These fields and houses are the foundation of your life. If you divide them up, what will happen to you in the future?"
"To be honest, my maternal grandparents live in the Huguang region, where there are thousands of acres of fertile land, but they're often plagued by floods. They've written to me repeatedly, hoping I can help find a solution. I'd like to go there and do my best to breed good, flood-resistant seeds. The Mongols here invade every year. We had them last year, and we've had them again this year. I don't want to stay here and live in fear any longer, so I'm heading back to the heart of the Central Plains."
It is understandable that she was afraid. The villagers were all reluctant to let her go. With Madam Cheng's arrival, the land could produce grain and she brought a lot of crops. Every family was no longer poor and could now fight the enemy.
Madam Cheng was like their backbone, and now that she said she was leaving, it was like the main beam of the house suddenly collapsed.
"Madam Cheng! What are we going to do if you leave? Who will we ask for help with farm matters in the future?"
"Madam Cheng, when will you come back?"
"Will Madam Cheng still think of us after she breeds good offspring outside?"
"Mrs. Cheng, please don't leave. We will take care of all the farm work from now on. You can also let us do any work at home..."
“…”
The villagers were talking at once, and the villagers from Banbi Village who came later didn't know what was going on, so when they asked, they also started shouting.
Several escorts came forward to maintain order, and Cheng Mi continued to pay the rewards later.
Madam Cheng is leaving! Gui Er heard this and sulked in the room. Yu said, "If you want to follow Madam Cheng, let's follow her. It's not peaceful here anymore."
Gui'er said, "Why don't the Yunzhou garrison drive the Mongol bandits away?"
Yu: "How can it be that easy? They still come to attack from time to time. Besides, Madam Cheng has a reputation over there, and the people over there will try to catch her. It's hard to guard against."
Gui'er cheered up, "We can protect her. The escorts Mu Yun hired are all very skilled."
"I'm not saying anything bad about you," Yu pressed her forehead, "You said you were protecting someone, but how did you get injured? You collapsed before the critical moment even started!"
"Mom, are you really willing to leave?"
"If Madam Cheng hadn't appeared, we wouldn't be alive." Yu was also helpless. "If Madam Cheng had left, how could we meet such a good person again?"
Gui'er immediately changed her attitude, "Actually, I don't care. I'm just worried that you don't want to leave."
"Are you deliberately playing tricks on your mother?" Yu slapped her hard on the back twice.
Gui'er pretended to feel pain in her wound, which scared Yu so much that she asked her to lie down quickly.
"Mother, hurry up and sell our land. Madam Cheng left without a second thought, what are we going to do if we can't keep up?" Gui'er urged her, "When you see Uncle Zhao Ji later, tell him directly that you should sell it to the clan members and not let outsiders get it for free."
Except for the people from the horse farm who were escorting prisoners, people from several nearby villages came. Cheng Mu gave all the rewards she deserved and said farewell to them. She was busy for the whole morning. When everyone left, it was time for them to pack up and set off.
Cheng Mu said to Mu Yun, "Let's go to Puyang City first and get a pass before we set off." Uneasy, she asked, "Are you ready?"
"I haven't told the boss yet. If we have to leave in a hurry, I'll tell her I'm going to escort the convoy."
If the Mongolian army occupied Yunzhou City, it would take time to see the boss.
We’ll talk about other things after we get to Puyang City.
After harnessing the donkey cart and calling the men and horses, Xu Xiuying was reluctant to leave. She had lost her vitality and spirit, so she definitely could not be left here alone. Cheng Mu signaled Mu Yun to knock her out and take her away directly.
Yu looked at the distant Zhaojia Village with reluctance. Everything changed so fast. Two days ago, she would never have thought that she would leave the place where she had lived for more than 20 years forever.
The nearby villagers stood in groups of three or four on the high ground and watched them go.
After crossing the mountain, Xu Xiuying woke up. She didn't make a fuss. She felt depressed and wanted to go out for a horse ride, but she was injured and couldn't ride.
When Cheng Mu saw that she had woken up, she went back to the carriage and sat with her for a while.
Xu Xiuying was holding in her hand the shoes that Saohu had worn once and was reluctant to wear anymore. He treasured the things she sat on, but she didn't let him leave wearing these shoes. Now he could only hold them as a souvenir.
"Madam Cheng, when Zhao Shu died, people said that I was unlucky, but I didn't admit it. Now it seems that I have to admit it." Her tears flowed again.
"You're admitting all this nonsense?" Cheng Mu said, "Zhao Shu was very happy when he was with you, and so was Sao Hu. They were all good to you because you deserved it. Their deaths only mean that they were blessed with so little. What does it have to do with you?"
"Madam Cheng, you shouldn't care about me. I am also an unlucky person."
"No matter what happens," Cheng Mu held her hand, "the one who survives to the end is the most blessed person. Living brings you everything. You can witness the change of dynasties, see salty and brine turn into rich and tender food, and eat taro, peppers, and tomatoes. These are things Zhao Shu is not lucky enough to see. There is still a long time to go, you should also take care of Sao Hu."
Xu Xiuying wiped her tears and said, "Madam Cheng, you are a very insightful person. It is my blessing to meet you."
Cheng Xi patted her hands.
Gui'er knocked on the car window outside. She handed Jiuniu in and said, "Sister Xiuying, please help take care of the baby when you wake up."
Jiuniu is chubby and has a cute smile. Now he can crawl and chatter with his mouth.
Xu Xiuying tried to make him laugh, but she couldn't help crying.
Outside Puyang City, a lot of rioters gathered. They all heard that the Mongols were coming and wanted to enter the city to avoid disaster. Perhaps there were too many people, and the officers and soldiers guarding the city felt that the matter was serious, so they closed the city gates, took down the drawbridge, and did not allow anyone to enter.
Huaihua and Yapo arrived last night and have not been able to enter the city until now. When they saw Cheng Mu and her entourage coming, they cried with joy and hurried over to meet them.
Huaihua: "It's getting dark. We can't enter the city today."
Gui'er rode her horse forward to investigate: "Who is the general guarding the city? He should be able to let Madam Cheng in."
"Gui'er, come back."
Cheng Mu asked Mu Yun to go and check.
The gathered crowd was already very surprised to see the large number of vehicles and groups of people, but they did not expect that a larger group of people and horses came from the direction of Yunzhou City. The vehicles were very spacious and magnificent, and the crowd became agitated.
Cheng Mu also craned her neck to look. The approaching carriage was moving very fast and was quite domineering.
When they reached the city, they shouted directly at the gate: "Where are the officers guarding the city! Prince Jing's carriage is here, quickly lower the bridge and open the gate!"
Prince Jing!
Cheng Mu also listened carefully. Prince Jing was not in Yunzhou City. Doesn’t that mean Xu Huanzhen led the Mongolian soldiers to occupy Yunzhou!
She looked over repeatedly, attracting the attention of someone next to the frame.
Manager Qin.
Cheng Xi nodded in greeting.
She had a rough idea of what had happened.
Soon, the general guarding the city came quickly to meet him. After confirming the other party's identity, he ordered the soldiers to lower the drawbridge.
Prince Jing's carriage passed first, and several soldiers stopped the people who wanted to take advantage of the situation and follow him. Mu Yun came to ask Cheng Mu to cross the bridge.
Only these two groups of people were released. No matter how the others begged, they were ignored and the guards retracted the drawbridge again.
After entering the city gate, the carriage in front stopped and Steward Qin came to greet Cheng Mu: "Madam Cheng, Princess Jing invites you."
We met on a narrow road today and there was no way to avoid it.
Cheng Mu gave a few instructions, got off the car alone, and came to the magnificent carriage frame with Manager Qin.
The person inside ordered, "Come up."
A maid came to search Cheng Mu and confirmed that she had no sharp blades on her before leading her into the carriage.
In the carriage, Princess Jing reclined on a couch, a child of two or three years old fast asleep beside her. A maid and a nurse attended to her.
The carriage started to move slowly, and Princess Jing looked up at her.
"Is it you?"
"Meet Princess Jing."
Princess Jing was stunned and said in disbelief, "The famous Madam Cheng in the rumors is you!"
She had summoned "Madam Cheng" before, but it wasn't her. Princess Jing glared at her, "Madam Cheng Jiu, it's actually you!"
Cheng Mu lowered her eyes and said nothing.
Princess Cheng Ling looked at it in disbelief, thinking that if she had deliberately concealed it, she would not have been able to discover it. Then who was the "Madam Cheng" she had summoned in the first place? Was it her work?
After she ran away from her marriage, her father abandoned her and erased her identity as Cheng Jiuniang. Later, it was said that she went to find Zhou Mao. But after that, there was no news of her. Some said that she followed Zhou Mao as his concubine and no one saw her again.
She had often heard of "Madam Cheng," a woman known for her farming prowess and righteousness. After her father-in-law ascended the throne, he bestowed upon her an imperial decree. After being taken captive to the Mongol Empire, she raised her own grain to redeem her fellow citizens. The fruits, vegetables, and wheat and rice on her farm were all said to have been raised by "Madam Cheng," growing large, abundant, and healthy. Just today, she had heard that "Madam Cheng" had united the young men of several surrounding villages and annihilated over a hundred Mongol troops.
But how could such a "Mrs. Cheng" be her former ninth sister!
How could her ninth sister be such an ignorant and shallow fool? After spending more than ten years with her, how could she not know that she was good at farming? She had a sense of justice? She was brave and resourceful?
Cheng Ling's thoughts raced for a moment, and suddenly, with the dignity of a superior, she shouted again, "Who the hell are you?"
She wanted to see her reaction, but she showed no reaction at all, neither humble nor frightened.
Her cry woke up the child beside her, who woke up rubbing his eyes: "Mom——"
The carriage frame also stopped and the carriage arrived at the destination.
Cheng Mu's son looked at her curiously, smiled at her with his eyes crooked, then looked at his mother and called out, "Auntie."
The county magistrate of Puyang City is already waiting here to welcome Princess Jing.
Princess Jing ordered her attendants, "I want to have a long talk with Madam Cheng. Take Madam Cheng to the flower hall first."
A steward and two maids came to "invite" Cheng Mu. Cheng Mu got off the carriage and saw Mu Yun who had been following her not far away. She shook her head at him.
After waiting in the flower hall for three quarters of an hour, Cheng Li settled down and changed her clothes before coming over.
She dismissed her attendants and did not allow anyone to serve her.
Cheng Xi guessed that she should have guessed something.
"Let's get straight to the point. Are you Cheng Jiuniang?"
"It seems true, but it's not." Cheng Mu asked her, "Isn't Cheng Jiuniang dead?"
"Then what's wrong with you? Are you reborn?"
Princess Jing was feeling uneasy and was still trying to find out. She held up the teacup to cover her entire face, but her eyes were fixed on the other person without blinking.
This is the secret in her heart. She took the initiative in her new life, avenged herself and found a good marriage. No one knows this secret, not even Prince Jing.
Cheng Mu laughed and asked again, "Is Cheng Jiuniang dead?"
It’s just a matter of how a person who is dead in identity can be possessed by another body.
Cheng Li could not imagine anything beyond her own cognition. She only knew that a stupid person would not become smart after being reborn, and a rich lady would not become good at farming after being reborn. She was basically certain that this was not Cheng Jiuniang.
But she heard the other party ask again: "Aunt Mei died? How did she die?"
Aunt Mei was the biological mother of Cheng Jiuniang, the first person Cheng Ling sought revenge on.
Cheng Ling put down her teacup without changing her expression. "After Ninth Sister ran away from home, Aunt Mei fell ill. After hearing about the decline of her family, she never recovered. She died of illness."
"Oh?" Cheng Xi's tone was unconvinced. "I thought she was tortured to death."
"Who dares to torture and kill anyone from the Cheng family?" Cheng Li asked fiercely. "She was my father's legitimate concubine, and she gave birth to a son and a daughter for the Cheng family. Her biological son, Wu Lang, had no objection to her death, and my father wrote the epitaph for her himself!"
"Princess Jing, there's no need to get so agitated, as if I'm accusing Prince Jing of abusing and murdering Concubine Mei."
Cheng Xi's tone was gloomy.
"You!" Princess Jing slammed the table. "How dare you!"
"Princess, please forgive me."
There is no sincerity in the words, just perfunctory ones.
Cheng Li hadn't been this angry for a long time. The maids waiting outside came in hastily to see her, but Princess Jing waved her hand and they all retreated on their own.
Cheng Li was confused, thinking that the other person was not Cheng Jiuniang, but why did she care about Aunt Mei's death? Moreover, did she know something?
Prince Jing secretly imprisoned Concubine Mei, but never tortured or abused her. He was just using psychological warfare. It was Concubine Mei's own daughter and brothers who did stupid things and defeated her.
Judging from the other party's hostility towards her, how could she not be Cheng Jiuniang!
Cheng Mu was politely "locked up" in the mansion where Princess Jing was staying.
I just returned to Puyang City and haven’t even entered my own home.
After Cheng Mi's repeated requests, Princess Jing's people finally allowed her maids to send her clothes.
The person who came turned out to be a mute woman.
Cheng Xi was so angry that she laughed.
The mute woman gestured to ask her how she was doing, but Cheng Mu just said that she was fine.
But it's good that the mute woman came. Cheng Ling should have some impression of this mute woman. When she saw the person who used to serve Aunt Mei, her doubts about her not being Cheng Jiuniang should be reduced a little.
The next day, Prince Jing returned and summoned Cheng Mu again.
The original body had only met Prince Jing Xu Yong twice before and had never spoken to him alone.
It was only when Xu Yong heard his princess say that this person was her ninth sister that he looked at Cheng Mu in the eye for the first time.
His eyebrows and eyes were raised, and he looked quiet and gentle. He was not a smart person, but he also did not seem ignorant and shallow.
He had no intention of investigating how Jiu Niang of the Cheng family became a breeding expert. He was currently only concerned about the battle of Yunzhou.
Xu Huan took advantage of the opportunity when he took his wife and children to the farm for hunting to seize Yunzhou. The Mongolian army controlled the city, and he, the owner of Yunzhou City, could not go back!
I only found out last year that he was hiding in Mongolia and I never had a chance to catch him. Now that he has come to me, I must make sure he gets killed and leaves Yunzhou Prefecture.
He was supervising the battle outside the city today, but the garrison hadn't managed to capture Yunzhou City. If he couldn't make a quick decision, it would be bad if this matter got reported to the capital.
He already knew that the young men from several villages had defeated the Mongolian army the night before, and he had also seen the captives. He was not as interested in Cheng Mu as he was in Mu Yun. He wanted to recruit Mu Yun to lead a surprise attack, but Mu Yun refused to accept his order because Cheng Mu had been "invited" away by the princess.
He first talked about the two connections between Cheng Mi and the Meng Kingdom from last year to this year, praising "Madam Cheng" for valuing righteousness over profit and having noble moral character. He also talked about the urgent military situation in Yunzhou. The Mongolian soldiers burned, killed, looted, raped women, and committed all kinds of atrocities in the city. The city was miserable and shocking. He mentioned that Huang Nian'an fell into the hands of the Mongolian soldiers, who stole the arms and the consequences were disastrous.
Finally, he asked Cheng Mu to put the country first and persuade Mu Yun to go to the front line.
The news of Huang Nian'an's capture made Cheng Mu's heart sink, but why let Mu Yun go to the battlefield to put out the fire? Mu Yun is a flesh and blood person, he is not a god of war.
"Your Highness, is there no one in the army? Yunzhou has been captured, and the Yanbei Army is still on all sides. As long as the reinforcements come in time, we will definitely be able to recapture the city."
"When Huang Nian'an was in the capital, he tried his best to commend Madam Cheng in front of the palace. All the imperial decrees Madam Cheng received were because of him. Last year, when Madam Cheng was abducted and taken to the Mongols, it was Huang Nian'an who single-handedly rescued her. I thought that when you heard he was in danger, you would spare no effort to help him," Xu Yong sneered. "Was I wrong?"
Lord Huang did her a favor, but didn't Lord Huang also make contributions to the Yan Dynasty? Rescuing Huang Nian'an and taking back Yunzhou City were the court's responsibilities. How could they put such a big blame on her!
Cheng Mu wanted to curse but couldn't, so she said bluntly, "Your Highness, there's no need to provoke me or test me. You've already made up your mind to force Mu Yun to go to the battlefield. What I say won't count."
"Madam Cheng is truly righteous. Before we go to war, I will arrange for you to meet."
So shameless.
Cheng Mu was confined to a small courtyard, but she was given paper and pen on the desk. She knew that Princess Jing wanted to see it, so she didn't write with the pen. Instead, she drew some pictures, which were all meaningless paintings that Princess Jing looked down upon.
It was drizzling outside. She grabbed a handful of berries from the space and ate them, then watched the rain for a while.
Holding the fruit core in her hand, her eyes fell on the ground in the yard. The slightly moist ground was just the right size to bury the core.
As she was squatting in the drizzle and digging a hole with a tickler, she heard footsteps behind her and turned to look.
"Mu Yun!" Cheng Mu's eyes suddenly lit up.
He was already dressed in a gleaming suit of armor, as if ready to go to war. This was the first time Cheng Mu had seen Mu Yun in a "military uniform," and it was true that good-looking people looked better in it.
"Why are you outside in the rain?" Mu Yun strode towards her and brought her into the house in a gust of wind.
Cheng Mu touched the armor. The dense scales looked like scales, which made her shoulders and arms look broader and more heroic. She smiled and said, "Yes, I'll look like a general when I put it on."
There were dense water droplets on her hair, her eyes were as clear as if they had been washed, and her lips looked even softer.
Mu Yun suddenly reached out and grabbed the person in his arms.
Cheng Mu looked up in surprise. Mu Yun had already pressed down on her. He held her slender waist with one arm and pressed the back of her head with the other hand, invading her longed-for red lips.
Cheng Mu was waiting for him to come and meet her, but the meeting she imagined was instructions before leaving, a plan to escape, and future plans. Who, who allowed him to attack her as soon as he came!
Her mind exploded, and a suffocating pain came from her heart.
Mu Yun's kiss had no skill, it was all impulse. He kept grabbing and grabbing. Cheng Mu couldn't bear it anymore, her body became softer and softer. As soon as she opened her mouth to search for oxygen, his tongue instinctively chased and entangled her.
Mu Yun also felt dizzy from holding his breath. He reluctantly let go of her lips and tongue, and put his forehead against hers, "Sister-in-law..." His breath was filled with the heat of lust.
After a brief moment of confusion and blankness in her mind, Cheng Mu's face turned red with shame and anger.
"Mu Yun!"
"Punish me when I come back. If I can't come back, it won't be in vain..."
He took hold of her lips and tongue again, sucking on the sweetness.
His words made Cheng Min extremely confused. This was a battlefield where life and death were at stake. If she wasn't careful, she would be separated from her loved ones forever. She was as anxious as she was during the battle of Songzhuang that day, and it would only be even more anxious now.
But this man! What was he thinking about before going to the battlefield? What did it mean to not be in vain even if he couldn't come back? Cheng Mu bit his lips hard and took the opportunity to break free.
"What on earth are you doing! The enemy has occupied the city, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack. The task Prince Jing has asked you to do is definitely not a simple one. Why don't you focus on that and come here to do this?"
Mu Yun laughed and licked the place where she had bitten him. The desire in his eyes gradually faded away.
"My sister-in-law is right. Prince Jing ordered me to lead eighteen riders into the city to hunt down Xu Huan. If Lord Huang cannot rescue him, kill him."
Killing Mr. Huang? Afraid he'd be captured by the Mongols and used to make cannons for them?
"The emperor's family is all about ruthlessness." Cheng Mu was filled with hatred and anger.
"Despicable! They used me to threaten you, and then used you to threaten me. You shouldn't have agreed to it."
Mu Yun stroked her face, reluctant to leave, "The situation is urgent. No matter what, sister-in-law must be safe first."
"I saw it with my own eyes. The door was open and they didn't even avoid people."
The nanny who stayed in Cheng Mu's yard reported to Princess Jing twice a day what "Madam Cheng" had done.
Princess Jing laughed mockingly, "That's exactly how my ninth sister is. She's used to scheming against men. She's good at farming because of Huang Nian'an, and she's good at defeating the Mongol bandits because of Wu Muyun. All she can do is paint these low-quality paintings."
Several plant paintings by Cheng Mu that the nanny had found were lying on the table.
"Since Wu Muyun has left the city, let her go back. Have someone keep an eye on her secretly."
"yes."
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