Chapter 673: Fushan Xiangjun
In the bedroom of the old lady of Duke Xin, the scent of Zen incense was curling up, carrying a cool and distant smell.
Xingxing sat opposite the old lady of Duke Xin. The old lady of Duke Xin looked at Xingxing, her eyes seemed to be carefully describing Xingxing's eyebrows and eyes.
From the first time she saw Xingxing, she felt that Xingxing was like the former Atong.
However, the little, lovely Atong, over the course of time, day after day and year after year, turned into a standard noble lady, and became Jiao, the wife of the Crown Prince, who doted on her children for no reason.
The last group of people who went to Nantuo Village for a secret investigation returned these days.
The investigation took so long because they were not only investigating in Nantuo Village.
They followed the rocky beach where Mrs. Wei had picked up the apricots and went upstream. On the way, they came across a pier. There was a white-haired boatman at the pier who was recalling an incident that happened nearly ten years ago.
It is said that he was working as a boatman on a cargo ship at that time. Later, the ship encountered pirates and the people on board had to hurriedly change to a small boat to escape.
The boatman saw with his own eyes that in order to take more belongings, the family actually threw a little girl of three or four years old into the turbulent river...
The white-haired boatman gestured: "Oh, what a sin! You don't know how much space such a tiny creature could occupy. Those people refused to..."
"That little girl is pretty, but she's skinny. She looks like she's not treated well..."
"What a sin! That family didn't look like they lived in poverty, so how could they raise their little kid to look like that... I, an old man, even looked for him downstream along the river, thinking, what if, by some chance, God has mercy and can find the child, no matter if he's dead or alive... even if it's just a corpse, it would be a good deed."
"But the old man walked along the river for several days and didn't see anything. He didn't know whether the little girl was rescued or not. Sometimes the old man would dream about the little girl..." The old boatman coughed a few times, "I dreamed that the skinny and cute little girl had grown up and became very beautiful!"
When the undercover investigator showed the old boatman Xingxing's portrait among the portraits of several little girls, the old boatman was stunned. He pointed at Xingxing's portrait and said repeatedly: "This is what the girl in my dream looks like when she grows up!"
It is really hard to explain how a person who has never been to the capital recognized Xing Xing, except in a dream.
This means that Xingxing was indeed thrown into the river from a boat near this pier!
The undercover investigators searched the old list of people who had crossed the river at the pier for a long time and found out that there were eight families on the ferry at that time.
These days, people who were secretly investigating have been following this clue and have been investigating.
Of the eight households, two are no longer around because they could not survive the natural and man-made disasters.
For the other three households, there is evidence that they could not have had any relatives aged three or four years old ten years ago.
Finally, there were three households left, and they were also the focus of the secret investigation.
One of the families settled nearby after crossing the river. The secret investigators were waiting nearby and secretly checked them thoroughly, and also ruled them out.
There was another family, whose surname was Zou. This family used to do business in the capital. That time they crossed the river, they went south from the capital and returned to their hometown. Coincidentally, it was said that they had a little girl born more than ten years ago, but she died young.
The last family, surnamed Nian, was a bit mysterious. The people who secretly investigated for a long time found that the male owner of the family was responsible for a murder and they were hiding from the crime. In the end, they were ruled out as possible suspects.
After much investigation, the most suspicious family was the Zou family.
The person who was secretly investigating took the portrait of the Zou family and showed it to the old boatman, but the old boatman shook his head and said he could not recognize them.
It is understandable that he has not been able to forget the little girl who was thrown into the surging river for the past ten years. Firstly, it was because the act was too cruel and heartless, and secondly, the little girl was too cute to be forgotten.
Like the others, the old boatman naturally couldn't remember them.
The person who was secretly investigating gave the old boatman a large sum of money and told him not to spread the matter. Then he began to work secretly to get the Zou family to return to Beijing.
It was also a coincidence that the Zou family had a distant relative in the capital, but that distant relative had no children and happened to have passed away recently.
When the Xin Guogong couple found out, they had someone forge a letter from the distant relative to the Zou family before his death, saying that they had left behind an old house and some inheritance, and asked the Zou family to come to the capital to inherit.
The Zou family had no doubts and had already set off for Beijing these days.
The person who conducted the secret investigation finally returned to Beijing with the Zou family.
The Zou family was originally a merchant family and was quite wealthy, but no one knew what had happened in recent years. They lost money in everything they did, and their originally wealthy family property had shrunk by more than half in the past ten years.
Therefore, the house and a few shops in the capital city that fell from the sky this time were enough to attract them back to the capital.
…
The old lady of Duke Xin looked at Xingxing, and her eyes became moist when she thought of what the old boatman said.
She didn't dare to think about what her granddaughter went through after being replaced.
She was so skinny and was thrown into the river, narrowly escaping death. If she hadn't met a good family like the Yu family, she would have been afraid that she would never see her Xingxing again in this life!
"Madam, what's wrong with you?" Xing Xing saw that the old lady of Duke Xin's eyes were red and sad, so she asked with concern, "Is it because of Sister Lou? Don't worry, Madam, Sister Lou is fine now. I have also thought of a way to help Sister Lou restore her reputation. Don't worry too much..."
The old lady of Duke Xin felt her eyes become more sore as she listened to the girl's caring and soothing words.
The fake daughter that the Duke Xin's Mansion had raised like a treasure for more than ten years was bent on harming people, but their own granddaughter who was living away from home turned out to be so good, kind and strong!
The old lady of Duke Xin felt mixed emotions!
"It's okay, Xingxing..." The old lady of Duke Xin stroked Xingxing's little head lovingly, "I called you over here because I want to give you something."
The old lady of Duke Xin took out a black brocade box from the small compartment under the dressing table and pushed it to Xingxing.
Xing Xing refused subconsciously: "Madam, you and the old Duke have given me enough things before. I can't take any more."
The old lady of Duke Xin smiled and shook her head: "Good boy, open it and take a look first."
Xingxing hesitated for a moment, but still opened the gold box.
In the brocade box, there was a small fish carved from jade.
The little fish was a piece of jade with very fine water content, without any trace of carving, as if it was born in this shape, vivid and lifelike, with its eyes exactly where the red rope passed through, looking extremely lively.
The old lady of Duke Xin took the little fish out of the brocade box and wanted to put it on Xingxing.
"Good boy, come on."
Xingxing hesitated for a moment.
This thing is obviously a very good item. Xingxing didn't know why the old lady of Duke Xin suddenly gave her something. She could only smile bitterly and decline: "Old lady, I won't accept the gift without any merit."
"How come you have done nothing? With you often accompanying me, an old woman, I won't be mad at the things at home." The old lady of Duke Xin looked at Xing Xing lovingly, "I told you, just take it."
Xingxing wanted to say something else.
The old lady of Duke Xin acted angry and said, "With our relationship, I gave you a piece of jade ornament, but you refused it like this? Do you think nothing of my gift?"
Xing Xing said helplessly: "You know I clearly didn't mean that..."
She sighed, but finally "surrendered", leaning her head forward and letting the old lady of Duke Xin tie it for her.
The old lady of Duke Xin then changed her anger into laughter, and she personally put the jade-colored fish around Xingxing's neck with a smile.
The old lady of the Duke of Xin pulled Xingxing aside to talk about something else. Xingxing sat with the old lady of the Duke of Xin for a long time, until the old lady of the Duke of Xin, who was old and had limited energy, had her eyelids getting heavier and heavier, and finally she leaned on the soft pillow and fell asleep.
Nanny Qingluan came in and made a gesture to Xingxing.
The maids went to serve the old lady of Duke Xin and let her rest.
Xingxing came out quietly, and Nanny Qingluan also came out to see her off.
Nanny Qingluan escorted Xingxing all the way to the second gate and said, "Princess, I really thank you for coming to accompany the old lady often."
Xing Xing felt a little embarrassed: "Mammy, you are too polite."
Nanny Qingluan looked at Xingxing lovingly until Xingxing went out of the second door and got on the carriage back home.
She stood quietly at the second gate for a long time before quietly returning to the main courtyard.
…
Not long after the rumor about the beloved daughter of Marquis Mingguang and the failed scholar spread in Beijing, the Meimu Opera Troupe, whose tickets were hard to get every day, staged a new play.
The play tells the story of a rich lady who accidentally learned that the people were living in hardship. Before the snow fell in the cold winter, she helped the people repair their houses and courtyards, and sent them warm clothes and food, so that the people could spend the winter safely. However, this kind-hearted rich lady stole the limelight from others because of her good deeds, and was slandered for having an affair.
In this play, a corrupt official wants to capture this rich young lady and put her in a pig cage.
Finally, the people who had been helped by the rich young lady stepped forward together, using themselves as ropes to pull the rich young lady's pig cage out of the lake. The scene was very touching.
In the end, it had a happy ending. The people signed a joint petition, and the God was moved by this kind-hearted young lady, so he sent down divine thunder to strike the rumormonger on the head.
This short play, which is similar to a skit, was deeply moving under the passionate performance of the Meimu Opera Troupe.
The rich lady played by Ruihong, the top actress in Beijing, left a deep impression on people with her sad and holy appearance.
As the Meimu Opera Troupe was taking their bows, troupe leader Mo added that this was adapted from a true event.
At first, no one thought that it was the beloved daughter of Marquis Mingguang who had been troubled by rumors in recent days. However, when this story spread to the streets, the people who had been helped by Lou Ruhui responded immediately. They were also infected by the people who were hailed as "righteous people" in the play, and they took to the streets one after another, loudly telling about Lou Ruhui's good deeds.
Gradually, everyone formed a perception that the beloved daughter of Marquis Mingguang was just like the slandered rich girl in the play. She was slandered and vilified because she was too kind and did too many good things, which made people jealous.
If you follow and spread rumors, you will be no different from the ugly characters in the play!
In addition, the fact that the storyteller was paid to deliberately slander Lou Ruhui was revealed, which further confirmed that Lou Ruhui was wronged.
People are waking up!
As a result, more and more people think they know the truth. Anyone who still spreads rumors about Lou Ruhui will be spit on the face as soon as he opens his mouth!
Lou Ruhui was still playing double-six at home when she heard the maid running to her with a happy face to tell her the good news. She was stunned.
Isn't this her handwriting?
The wife of Marquis Mingguang also received many invitations from noble ladies, all of whom vied with each other to invite her and her daughter to visit their house.
Lady Mingguang Hou was overjoyed. After asking Lou Ruhui, she found out that the Meimu opera troupe was originally owned by Xingxing.
She guessed it immediately, this must be Xingxing's work!
The wife of Marquis Mingguang was so happy that she had ten boxes of silks and satins sent to the Zhenxi General's Mansion overnight, saying that she wanted Xingxing to use them to make clothes.
Yu Mingzhu, who was still recovering from his injuries, almost vomited blood when he heard this, and almost cursed Cheng Yuying to the sky!
Jiao felt mixed emotions when she learned about the change in Lou Ruhui's reputation in the capital.
She learned from an insider that the Meimu Opera Troupe played an indispensable role in this.
If you check the Meimu Opera Troupe again, you will naturally know that it was Xingxing who helped Lou Ruhui.
Jiao's nose felt a little sour.
Xingxing, you are nice to everyone.
Why is he so distant and aloof to her?
Jiao was inexplicably jealous of Lou Ruhui and felt extremely complicated!
…
Madam Mingguang Hou, you seem to be walking with the wind these days!
Because the matter of Lou Ruhui reached the ears of Emperor Jiazheng!
Emperor Jiazheng praised the beloved daughter of Marquis Mingguang on the spot, saying that she had the good character of her ancestors, so he bestowed the title of Lady Fushan on her!
In other words, because of this incident, Lou Ruhui turned a disaster into a blessing and was given the title of county lady!
Through this incident, the court officials understood that their emperor particularly liked kind little girls.
All of a sudden, the atmosphere in the capital changed drastically, it was full of truth, goodness and beauty!
Lady Mingguang Hou has been talking ever since the day her daughter was conferred the title of Lady of Fushan Township!
She felt that the ten boxes of silks and satins she had given away were still too few, so she gave away another box of land deeds on the spot.
This was the stuff she had prepared long ago as a dowry for Lou Ruhui - deeds to the prosperous shops all over the capital!
She immediately gave half of it to Xingxing!
Because Lady Mingguang Hou knew that once the title of Fushan Xiangjun was given, her daughter's life would be secure!
She was grateful to Xingxing, and it was a genuine gratitude!
This gift was too expensive for Xingxing to accept. But Lady Mingguang was very determined and said that if Xingxing didn't accept it, she would stay in Yu's house.
Xing Xing had no choice but to take the deeds, intending to add some things back to Lou Ruhui when she got her makeup done after her marriage was settled.