Chapter 419 Blood Sacrifice

The old marquis looked at the Chu family's "merit book" and called the second master to scold him. He said that if one prospers, all prosper, and if one suffers, all suffer. Now the Yong'an Marquis's Mansion is already in such a difficult situation. It's not easy for the two women in the family to contribute money, effort and ideas to the court, but their own family doesn't support it. If Li is so ignorant, she should spit out all the silver she has embezzled from the inner house in those years.

The old man said it so clearly that the second master blushed, and he went to Li's yard to scold Li. Li had no choice but to donate five taels, but seeing that the second master had the urge to take action, she had to donate ten taels more than the two daughters-in-law, donating thirty taels of silver.

After hearing this, Chen Afu felt that Li was really not smart. Dozens of taels of silver bought a face, not only to please the old marquis, but also to ease her relationship with the powerful third wife. The second master Chu was smart. He got angry when he should get angry and tried to please people when he should. Even though he did so many bad things, the old marquis and the marquis Chu could not bear to ignore him. In fact, many of the silver that Li embezzled were used by the second master to live a life of luxury and support women.

With the help of many people, more than 6,000 taels of silver and hundreds of carts of clothes and quilts were collected in three days. So much money will save countless lives. Of course, the clothes of the ladies could not be donated. The clothes and quilts donated were the clothes and quilts of the servants.

The queen mother also issued an imperial decree to commend Princess Huachang, saying that she was a role model for women in the world and a model for women in the royal family.

Because the two women in Yong'an Marquis' Mansion made outstanding contributions to disaster relief and were praised by the emperor and the queen mother, the impeachment of Yong'an Marquis' Mansion gradually decreased.

The third wife was happy and gave Chen Afu a lot of jewelry and ornaments. Those things were made by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and there was no place to buy them even if you had money.

The old marquis, the Chu marquis, and the third master were even happier. They gave Chen Ahfu another 1,000 taels of silver each, under the pretext that they couldn't let Chen Ahfu suffer too much.

Li was furious again when she heard this, thinking that she had spent so much money and was scolded instead. Chen Ahfu had such a good reputation, not only did she not suffer any loss, but she even earned back the extra money.

The snow kept falling, and the emperor personally led the ministers to the Temple of Heaven to offer sacrifices to the sky, and issued an edict of self-blame, but still did not stop this huge snowstorm.

On the 20th, Chen Ahfu thought to herself that the end of the month should be between the 20th and the 30th. If the snow can stop within these 11 days, it will be soon. If it stops in February, it will be even worse.

On the 26th, the heavy snow was still falling. In the afternoon, Chen Ahfu and Hua Mama made some osmanthus biscuits in the small kitchen, and sent a plate to the old marquis and An Rongtang, and kept another plate. The men of the Chu family all like sweets, and she now makes some snacks every day, mainly to entertain the Chu marquis who came to see his grandson. Even if he ate less, he had done his best.

Chen Afu now sympathized with the grandfather. From the gentle look he gave his grandson and his endless concern for Abbot Lechen, it can be seen that he was a good man who valued his family. It must be so painful for such a man to break up his family with his own hands and send his wife to the nunnery.

But because he wanted to be loyal to the emperor, he had to do it. Of course, the emperor asked him to do it, and he had to do it. If he didn't do it, his family would be ruined. If he did it, he could still survive.

At the end of the Shen time, Chen Afu was sitting on the kang watching the two little brothers turn over. The two boys were dressed too thickly, like fat penguins, and it was not easy to turn over. After a long time of effort, they finally turned over, and then raised their heads, looked around with trembling little heads, and laughed triumphantly.

Chen Afu was very happy, and mischievously turned them over again. The silly little brothers didn't lose their temper and continued to turn over hard.

The few people were having fun when the old man and Lord Chu came again.

Chen Ahfu poured them tea and served them biscuits, smiling, "It's just out of the pot, it's time to eat it."

The old man took the biscuits and ate them. Lord Chu nodded and sat on the edge of the kang to see his grandson.

The two boys liked their grandfather very much. When they saw him coming, they turned over much faster. They looked up at him and laughed, and their saliva flowed like silver threads.

Lord Chu smiled and took out a handkerchief to help them wipe, and pinched their little faces. He didn't dare to hold such a small child by himself, thinking that they were too soft and afraid of hurting them. If he really wanted to hold them, he would spread his two big hands, let people put the children in his big hands, hold them and put them down quickly.

Seeing that it was time, Chen Ahfu kept the two of them here for dinner, and said that she would invite the third master to come, and she would cook a few side dishes herself.

Lord Chu readily agreed.

Chen Afu was busy in the small kitchen. The maid said that there seemed to be something urgent in the outer courtyard, and the old marquis and the marquis had already left.

Chen Afu felt bored and didn't want to continue cooking. The dishes she had already prepared were enough for her. She had just finished dinner when the servant came to report that the marquis invited her to Liuyunzhai.

Liuyunzhai was the inner study room of the Marquis Chu before, and it was also the place where he received distinguished guests and discussed important matters. It was in a bamboo forest between the outer courtyard and the inner courtyard.

Chen Afu was shocked. Since she came to the capital, she has not participated in a secret high-level meeting.

Chen Afu put on a small jacket and cotton skirt for going out, and put on a windy fur hooded cloak. Hongfei held an umbrella and Xiaohong held a lantern and walked to the outer courtyard.

After walking for more than a quarter of an hour, they came to a quadrangle. Many lanterns were hung under the corridor, illuminating the courtyard. This is the most confidential place of the Chu family, and this courtyard at this time is no different from other courtyards, all white.

They walked through the guard corridor and arrived at the main house. The gatekeeper was a handsome young man. He opened the door, lifted the thick curtain, invited Chen Afu in, and asked Hongfei and Xiaohong to go to the side room to rest.

Although the two treasure cabinets in the hall were filled with books, it was more like a reception room. Four glazed palace lanterns were hung down, illuminating the room with brilliant lights. On the wall opposite was a large painting of a tiger descending from a mountain, and on the large red sandalwood carved dragon table was a few feet high ancient bronze tripod. In front of it was a red sandalwood eight-immortal table, with two armchairs on both sides of the table, and four red sandalwood official chairs on each side, and a Western Region velvet carpet on the floor.

Chen Afu took off his cloak and put it on the outermost chair.

A servant invited Chen Afu to the east room. There was a large kang under the north window in the room, and a large red sandalwood bookcase was placed on the south side, occupying the entire wall. Eight celadon Kunpeng candlesticks were lit with candles, illuminating the room.

On the kang sat the old marquis and the Chu marquis on both sides of the small carved dragon and painted gold table, and the third master Chu sat on the armchair on the left.

The faces of several people were very solemn.

Chen Afu went over and knelt down to greet them.

The old marquis pointed to the chair on the right and said, "Xuan'er's wife, please sit down."

Chen Afu sat down. The servant served tea and left quietly.

Marquis Chu told Chen Afu again. He just received the news from the ninth prince. The second prince asked the emperor for instructions. He said that he saw that the emperor was worried day and night because of the snow disaster. He was very anxious and worried. Starting from midnight tomorrow, he would fast for three days, and on the 30th day, he would offer a blood sacrifice to the gods at the Temple of Heaven, praying that the gods would protect Dashun and stop the disaster.