But the bright moon shines on the ditch

Chapter 19

The carriage rattled along Jingde Avenue, and the cool snowflakes danced in the dark night.

Shi Nian swung the whip with one hand, and it fell lightly on the horse's buttocks, telling the horse to go slower, and opened the curtain with the other hand to look inside.

Xu Zhiliu was leaning on the carriage, her eyes were slightly closed, and there was a faint smile on the corner of her mouth.

I think An Nineteen was called back to Beijing in a hurry, I am afraid that disaster will be imminent, the young master is really happy?Otherwise, how could he have the time to take a look at the lights on the Lantern Festival night?

How many years have passed, and the young master has never stopped to watch the lights of the Lantern Festival?
What's more, the Lantern Festival has passed for so many days, and the lanterns have been taken down. The streets that were originally decorated with lights are now only left with some unsalable goods, tied with thin hemp ropes, hanging under the eaves on both sides of the street, and being blown non-stop by the wind.

The light also swayed in the snow with the thin rope.

About the merchants can't bear the dust of all kinds of elaborate lanterns, so let's just treat them like a living horse doctor.

He saw that he would definitely not be able to sell it, but unexpectedly he passed by an old man's rabbit stall, and there was a "wait a minute" from behind him.

Immediately, Shi Nian saw the curtain being lifted, and a thin figure came out.

Xu Zhiliu walked up to the old man and knelt down, carefully scanning the rabbit lamps of various shapes in front of him, with a smile in his eyes, he picked up a half-recumbent bunny casually, and couldn't put it down.

Seeing this, the old man smiled and said, "My lord also likes rabbits?"

Xu Zhiliu smiled without saying a word.

The old man took it as his acquiescence, and said inwardly: "My little granddaughter also loves rabbits very much. Every day, she surrounds me and shouts, "Grandpa, grandpa, tie up rabbit lights for me quickly. No, once you tie them up, the whole house is covered, and there is no place to put them. The girl was reluctant for me to sell them, but she felt sorry for grandpa. She knew that it was not easy for grandpa to tie these lamps, so she wanted to exchange money to buy meat for grandpa. My son, tell me, is my little granddaughter very sensible and a pain in the ass?"

After hearing this, Xu Zhiliu's smile faded away, and he said softly: "When I was young, my father also tied lanterns for my younger brother and me, and he drew the flowers with his own hands."

It is said that when his mother was pregnant with him, he was seriously ill, so that he was very thin at birth, as thin as a willow, so his father named him Zhiliu and his younger brother Chengzhi.

Zhi and Liu are one body, relying on each other, and the father hopes that the two brothers can help each other and be connected with each other.

But now he is far away in Jingde, not only unable to take care of his mother, but also unable to care for his younger brother.

Thinking of his younger brother's cold eyes on New Year's Eve that day, his expression was also covered with a bit of frustration.

At that time, my mother entered the room and didn't hear their conversation. She simply didn't hear it, otherwise she should be worried again.

He is not a competent brother, and he will only ask about Anan's homework, and he doesn't know anything else.

Anan asked him: "Do you know what I like to eat and play?"

He was speechless.

Anan had guessed the answer a long time ago, without showing any disappointment, he told him in a calm tone: "What kind of brother are you? Don't worry about my life or death from now on."

With his thoughts returning, Xu Zhiliu was a little sentimental, and said to the old man, "I want all these rabbit lamps."

The old man was overjoyed: "My lord, do you want them all?"

Xu Zhiliu nodded.

The old man said: "Then I will wrap it up for the young master and play for the children at home. One pattern a year can be the same for ten years."

Shi Nian got out of the car and came to help, Xu Zhiliu asked him to take the light to the car, gave the old man a penny, and walked forward.

Shi Nian was worried, and led the horse to catch up.

The master and servant walked together in the snowy night.

After some time, Shi Nian opened his mouth first: "Young Master, A Yao said a few days ago that Xu Dadong's family was proposing marriage to her and found a merchant in Qimen. His ancestors also started as a porcelain maker. His father's family also has relatives who are educated and officials. There are several porcelain shops in our town, as well as two merchant ships. They have a lot of money. They made an appointment to meet at the spring banquet in March. If everything goes well, I am afraid they will discuss marriage soon and marry to Qimen."

Xu Zhiliu seemed to say "hmm", and muttered for a while: "March?"

Shi Nian said: "Yes, time is passing fast."

A Harrier's birthday is also in March, so there are not many days left.

Shi Nian said: "At that time, son, you will be free, you can go wherever you want, and you can..."

The words of the year were unfinished, but both master and servant knew what they meant.

Xu Zhiliu will not stay in Jingdezhen anymore.

He wants to leave here and go back to Yaoli, pick up the books again, and start the road of scientific research.

Although he is over 22 years old, it is already a bit late, but that is the ambition he set up a long time ago, and it has never changed over the years, and it is his only goal after his father's death.

Shi Nian also said: "After the eunuch is settled, Xu Dadong's family will no longer have any worries, so they should let go, right?"

Xu Zhiliu asked without answering, "Is Ah Harrier crying?"

"I cried. After leaving the young master's room that night, I cried sadly for several days. I shut myself in the room and didn't see anyone. This made Xu Dadong's family so anxious that there were several fire bubbles on their mouths. But then I bought good things to comfort her, and she became happy."

Shi Nian shook his head and chuckled, "She really looks like a child."

The girl's family likes nothing more than small items like hairpins, rings and jewelry. He doesn't have much money, so he buys some new gadgets from other places in the boat market.

Seeing him smiling, Xu Zhiliu also felt relieved.

He himself is a child, but he says others are children.

Usually when he saw the two children fighting, he would often put his hands on his forehead and sigh, not knowing how to deal with it, but now that parting was imminent, he couldn't help but miss the scene back then.

Scenes clearly flashed before my eyes, as if it happened yesterday.

"My lord, you don't have to worry about her. Her temperament comes and goes quickly, and she will get better. She also asked me to tell you that although you didn't respond last time, she is still waiting for your birthday gift."

Xu Zhiliu lowered her head, her eyes sparkled like she was drunk, and her laughter seemed to be there, very light and shallow.

"Oh, by the way, she still asked me what love is? How do I know that. Young master, do you know?"

Xu Zhiliu shook her head.

Shi Nian muttered: "That's right, son, you don't have time to think about these messy things. But you can think about it later. When you return to Yaoli, son, you don't have to patrol the kiln every night, you don't have to quarrel with the bosses of the three kilns and nine clubs every day, you don't have to worry about the kiln, you don't have to get up early, and you don't have to go to bed late. You will have a lot of time to think about messy things, which is great."

He thought about everything far away from Jingdezhen, in a paradise like Yaoli, where he opened his eyes every day accompanied by the chirping of insects and birds, and wild flowers blooming all over the mountains and plains. They run freely in the mountains and fields, how free they are!

That was the freedom that Xu Zhiliu had longed for for many years, but at this moment, there was a trace of reluctance in his chest.

Every piece of brick, every kiln, every kiln worker, and even every morning and night, he has had in-depth communication, participation and feelings, and has deep feelings for them.

How can it be so simple to just leave?
Thinking of this, I suddenly thought of another person.

The heart is even more reluctant.

Just tonight, he told that person that they had already met, and he didn't want to lose her as a friend, but he seemed to be breaking his promise...

Xu Zhiliu suddenly thought of something, turned around and asked Shi Nian, "Have all the arrangements for the horse that the owner of the porcelain shop gave me before?"

"It's done, and now we are offering food and drink at the mouth of our kiln. What's the matter? Young master, are you planning to bring Lightning back?"

Lightning is the name given to it by its original owner.

Xu Zhiliu respected his master's wishes and did not change Lightning's name.I had taken care of Lightning for two days at that time, and I had some affection for him, and I was quite happy in my heart.

Unexpectedly, Xu Zhiliu said, "Take it out tomorrow, and I will give it away."

He wanted to give her the bloody horse.

In the future, if she has the opportunity to ride the lightning back to Yaoli, then, maybe, they can meet again.Even if she doesn't go back, he can come to her.

Jingde and Yaoli are only a day's journey away.

Not too far, right?
When Shi Nian's face collapsed, he was about to say something when he saw a black shadow appearing in front of him, blocking their way straightly.

He hurriedly ran to Xu Zhiliu's side, and opened his arms to protect Xu Zhiliu.

After what happened with Heizi, Sangou and Erma, he was more or less shadowy, fearing that An Nineteen would retaliate and attack his young master.

Now that An Nineteen was planned by the young master to return to Beijing, tonight is the last chance to avenge his shame!

In a short breath, Xu Zhiliu saw that he took out a cold knife from nowhere and waved it.

Shi Nian waved and shouted angrily: "Who is in front? Quickly report your name."

The man was obedient, and said neither cold nor indifferent: "Wu Yin."

"Wuying? Who is Wuying?"

When he had to ask again, Xu Zhiliu was the first to react, pressed his shoulder and patted him, and ordered: "Put it away, it's the lord of the Inspection Office."

Wu Yin didn't expect Xu Zhiliu's news to come so quickly, he was slightly startled and took a few steps forward.

Shi Nian was skeptical, and refused to back down, until Wu Yin approached, observed carefully, and confirmed that the other party was not threatening, and then took a step back.

Xu Zhiliu stepped forward and greeted Wu Yin: "Master Wu is waiting here all night, is he here for me?"

This person is not as slick as An Nineteen, not to mention fawning on him, but he didn't expect to go straight to the point.

Wu Yin felt that he was extremely intelligent, so he nodded and cut straight to the point: "You know the regulations of this dynasty. Anyone who leapfrogs the level of the appeal, even if the case is true, will have to pay [-] sticks? What's more, you not only crossed Fuliang and went directly to the county government, but also crossed the state capital, and directly sued the imperial court in Beijing. The penalty will be doubled."

According to the law, Xu Zhiliu had to put on torture tools and be locked up for a month, and after the expiration of the period, he would be beaten with a hundred sticks.

The premise is that the facts of the case are true. If the facts of the case do not conform to his statement, the crime will be aggravated, and his life will be endangered at every turn.

"As the representative of Hutian Kiln, when you presented the big dragon vat, Yang Chenggong, the former magistrate of Fuliang County, was still in place. I don't know if he knew about this? If he is your accomplice, he will be punished. If he doesn't know, he will be dishonest or dereliction of duty, and the court will hold him accountable."

Xu Zhiliu had studied the Four Books and Five Classics seldom, and knew a little about the laws of the dynasty, but he really didn't know about the matter of leapfrogging his superiors. After hearing Wu Yin's words, he stopped involuntarily.

Shi Nian's face was pale, and the hand holding the rein couldn't help shaking.

"Young master, this... how could this happen?"

Xu Zhiliu raised his hand to stop him.

He looked at Wu Yin, feeling so emotional that he couldn't speak for a long time.

All the previous plans, reluctance, or expectations seemed to be changed after Wu Yin arrived.

He let himself go back to the beginning as much as possible. When he decided to write a letter of love on the inner wall of the big dragon tank and risk the capital control, he had already prepared for the worst.

"Master Wu, Mr. Yang is not aware of what I have done, so I ask you to make it clear to the imperial court on your behalf. As for me..."

He looked up at the sky, and snowflakes were clinging to his eyelashes, blocking his vision.

The full moon disappeared.

Today, no one will talk nonsense with their eyes open on the wall to make him happy.

His voice was very soft, "As for me, I have nothing to say."

Wu Yin was silent for a moment, then drew a long sword from his waist: "Xu Zhiliu, be punished."

(End of this chapter)