bullyxtreme Chapter 132 Tribute
Chapter 132 Tribute
It was a rare occasion that there was no snow on New Year's Eve this year. The weather gradually became warmer, and the first war between Dacheng and Dongqi also began.
The Duke's Mansion is particularly depressed this year.
Because they were planning to lay off servants these days, everyone in the mansion was worried about being laid off.
It turns out that the decisions made by those in power are completely different from the moods of those below them.
Layoffs are inevitable, and Yue Niang was also bound to be laid off in her previous life.
But when she saw everyone's dejected expressions, Yue Niang still couldn't bear to do it.
On New Year's Eve, after the reunion dinner, Yue Niang gathered all the servants in the mansion together to hold a meeting.
Everyone came quickly and looked at Yue Niang with a sad expression.
A maid from the kitchen was the first to speak up: "Young Madam, please don't let me go. I have hungry children and a seventy-year-old grandparent at home. If I don't have work, my family will fall apart."
At once, many people knelt down and said, "Please, Madam, don't chase us away."
Jiang Yunxiao looked at the commotion in the crowd and suddenly stood in front of Yue Niang.
"Everyone, we are not trying to drive you away. It's just that we have encountered some problems in our house. We have gathered everyone here today. Please listen to us and finish what we have to say. It is up to you whether you leave or not."
At this time, the people below quieted down.
Yue Niang cleared her throat and said, "I've gathered everyone here today to tell you that there are only the young master and I in the Duke's Mansion right now. The young master will be leading his troops to Dongqi after the New Year. As you all know, this may very well affect the future survival of the Duke's Mansion. That's why the young master and I are giving everyone the opportunity to make their own choices."
Jiang Yunxiao continued, "If you want to leave, those who have signed a contract can come to the young lady to collect their own contract. Those who haven't signed a contract can come to collect the silver. I won't blame anyone."
But several minutes passed and there was still complete silence.
Jiang Hu and Dong Zhu were also in the group, and they were the first to make up their minds: "We won't leave."
Dong Zhu was already sensitive and fragile, and she burst into tears: "The girl said that she treated me as her own, but why did she drive me away?"
Yue Niang didn't mean that: "I don't mean that, Dong Zhu. You've already suffered so much for me before. How can I bear to see you suffer with me again?"
Jiang Hu also blamed Jiang Yunxiao: "Master, I have been serving you since I was a child. I pay more attention to the military and literary strategies taught by your teacher than you do. Although I am not as smart as you, I have learned enough about the fun of going to the battlefield."
The servants below expressed their stance one after another: "We won't leave. We will live and die with the Duke's Mansion."
Jiang Yunxiao sighed deeply, "Many of you have spent your entire lives in the Duke's Mansion, devoting all your energy to it. But what the Duke's Mansion encountered this time is truly not the trivial matters of the past."
Yue Niang persuaded Jiang Yunxiao: "Since you are unwilling to leave, we will remember your kindness and double your money this month."
Jiang Yunxiao was pulled by Yue Niang into the inner flower hall.
"Ma'am, I'm just worried that it will be hard on you."
Yue Niang poured Jiang Yunxiao a cup of tea: "Why is it so hard? You and I are one."
"Didn't Yan Qi and the others bring back news that the Second Branch is colluding with Qie Feng? Qie Feng has a complex network of connections, and their Second Prince is going to pay tribute to the capital again in the next few days. I'm afraid the Second Branch will also make a move. Once I leave, you must be careful."
"Don't worry, I'll leave the jade sword to protect me."
Jiang Yunxiao held the opposite opinion: "Leave it to Message Qi. He's more stable and considerate."
"No, Yan Qi is the leader of them. Together with Yue Ying from Yunzhou, they all listen to Yan Qi more. If Yan Qi is not here, I'm afraid they will cause trouble and hinder you."
"Yue'er, how can I repay what I owe you?"
"If you want to give it back to me, then come back safely."
"it is good."
Fireworks are set off in thousands of homes in Kyoto.
Early the next morning, before Jiang Yunxiao left, someone came from the palace.
It was Eunuch Ding beside the Queen Mother who took the lead: "Young Madam."
Yue Niang also bowed lightly: "Eunuch Ding, how come you have time to come here today?"
Eunuch Ding said to the outside of the mansion, "Come in, everyone."
I saw a group of servants coming in from outside, each of them holding a piece of cloth in his hand.
"Eunuch Ding? What's this?" Yue Niang was dizzy. Didn't the Queen Mother just give him a reward?
After everyone had settled in, Eunuch Ding said, "Young Madam, this was tribute from Qiefeng. It was made by Princess Minjia's dyeing workshop herself."
Yue Niang finally understood and asked anxiously, "Is the princess here too?"
A trace of sadness flashed across Eunuch Ding's face. "No, how could that be? This was sent by Qiefeng's messenger. The princess still cares about the Duke's Mansion."
Jiang Yunxiao and Yue Niang leaned forward together: "Please thank the princess for the reward, sir."
Eunuch Ding said nothing, then looked at Jiang Yunxiao: "Young Master Jiang, these two horses were given to you by the princess, saying that you took good care of her when she first went to Qiefeng. Now that you are leaving for the battle today, we have finally arrived after rushing as fast as we can."
Yue Niang looked at the patterns, her eyes were very dark, and Jiang Yunxiao never liked those looks, but Zhong Hongyuan, the eldest brother, liked them.
Jiang Yunxiao understood what was going on, and thanked him again, and finally gave Eunuch Ding a lot of rewards.
Jiang Yunxiao stroked the two pieces of cloth a few times and said to Jiang Hu, "Go and ask Brother Hongyuan to come over."
Yue Niang asked Jiang Yunxiao, "I heard that Brother Zhong hanged himself again last night?"
Jiang Yunxiao nodded with a heavy face: "Yes, but in just a few years, there is no one left in his family, and his father just passed away. No matter how strong he is, he can't bear this."
Yue Niang rummaged through her several pieces of cloth and found a silk handkerchief.
I laughed out loud when I saw it: "This handkerchief is not given to me, right?"
Zhong Hongyuan's residence was not far from the Duke's Mansion, and they arrived there soon.
Only Yue Niang was left in the room; everyone else had left.
Jiang Yunxiao took out the cloth: "Sister Minjia sent it from Qiefeng."
Zhong Hongyuan burst into tears the moment he saw the cloth: "She has never suffered any hardship since she was a child, and now she has to make these cloths to make a living. I am useless and I feel sorry for her."
Jiang Yunxiao patted Zhong Hongyuan's back with one hand: "Brother Zhong, there is no one left at home. I know you went to Dongqi with the intention of dying, but I hope you will think about it. There are still people who care about you."
How could Zhong Hongyuan not know this, but he and Minjia were afraid that they would not be together in this life.
Yue Niang handed over a silk handkerchief and said, "This was also given by Princess Mingjia. Although my name is written on it, the poem on it doesn't look like it was written for me."
The body has no colorful phoenix wings and wings, and the heart is a little bit better.
Zhong Hongyuan, a grown man, cried for half an incense stick of time.
"Princess Mingjia has good intentions. Brother Zhong, although your father passed away, you are not completely destitute."
Zhong Hongyuan held his handkerchief and said, "Don't worry, I won't ask for death anymore. She has suffered much more than me."
After finally persuading Zhong Hongyuan, Jiang Yunxiao picked up his gun and prepared to go out: "Brother Zhong, it's time for us to set off."
Zhong Hongyuan also calmed down.
Yue Niang hurriedly called out to Jiang Yunxiao: "Husband, wait a minute."
Not long after, Yue Niang came back dragging a new gun, and Jiang Yunxiao hurried over to take it.
"Ma'am, what do you mean?"
Yue Niang looked at Jiang Yunxiao affectionately: "Husband, this is the first gun from my ironwork shop. It uses some synthetic steel. It is much better than the one you have now."
Jiang Yunxiao picked it up without any effort, and even fiddled with it for a bit: "Madam, this is a really good gun."
The two of them set off in high spirits.
This time, Yue Niang did not send him off.
Dong Zhu asked, "Miss, why don't you go and see the young master off?"
Yue Niang fiddled with her own cloth: "I think he remembered that I didn't see him off, so he came back to ask me in person, and he also had the belief to come back."
Dong Zhu was a little confused: "Miss, don't you believe the young master?"
"Donchi is just provoking, and there's no fighting going on for now. I'm just worried he'll be too eager for success and put himself in danger."
Dong Zhu praised: "Miss, you are really thoughtful."
When Jiang Yunxiao was away, Yue Niang started up the iron shop. Before she had time to rest, the second house was already getting ready to take action.
That day, Qin Wanwan came to visit the mansion, and Yue Niang and she were waiting for lunch.
A plate of braised crucian carp was served, and the black gas on it scared Yue Niang.
Qin Wanwan was holding a parrot and teasing it.
Yue Niang saw that the maid who had just brought the dishes also had a black aura on her body.
Quickly ask Yu Jian to control the man.
Qin Wanwan was startled: "Yue Niang, what are you doing?"
Yue Niang looked at the dish and said, "Someone must have poisoned the food."
"Ah?" Qin Wanwan regained her composure after a moment. "I've heard that things aren't peaceful at the Duke's Mansion for a long time, but after spending so much time with you, I finally see it with my own eyes."