But the bright moon shines on the ditch

At this time in the capital, the weather suddenly cooled down after the beginning of winter. The north wind blew in overnight, the autumn leaves withered, and the courtyards were full of fallen flowers.

Wu Jia woke up in the morning and saw that the duckweeds in the pond under the window were submerged, and the delicate orchids under the eaves were wilted by the dew. She hurriedly asked Cistanche Rong to move the flowers into the house.

The master and servant were busy at work, and Wu Jia suddenly made a move, remembering the simple bamboo house on the outskirts of Beijing, and vaguely remembered that when he left a few days ago, there seemed to be some leaks in the roof, so he turned to ask Cang Rong: "Is there a letter from Uncle Liang? "

Cong Rong shook her head: "No."

"How many days?"

"I haven't received any letters for about three or four days."

"It shouldn't be." Wu Jia muttered and didn't worry about it for a while. When he stayed in the evening and saw the strong wind blowing non-stop, he couldn't worry about it anymore. He picked up a pen and wrote a letter and asked Cuan Rong to take it to the front yard. The city gate will open tomorrow morning. Send it out as soon as you open it.

Unexpectedly, it was only half a stick of incense, and the letter found its way into Wu Fangyuan's hands.

The girl's family has grown up and has a little secret. She will no longer lie on her father's knees like a baby and talk about her thoughts as she did when she was a child. It can be seen that Tian's running away is not the same thing. Wu Fangyuan has long been suspicious. When Tang returned to Beijing with Wu Yin's letter, he simply pretended to be sick and detained him at home.

Sure enough, soon there was movement on Zhuangzi's end.

First, there was a regular exchange of letters once every three days, and Wu Jia spent time alone in her boudoir as before.She only came to care about his physical condition from time to time, showing some urgency to return to Zhuangzi.

Wu Fangyuan saw that this letter could no longer be sent, so he cut off the last letter when it was sent.When Zhuangzi wrote to ask questions, he also asked the concierge to intercept them and send them to his desk.

Wu Fangyuan has always loved Wu Jia and does not want to be hasty in this matter and be separated from her daughter.After thinking about it again and again, I decided to call him over.

As soon as Wu Jia entered the study, the first thing he saw was a few letters neatly arranged on a long desk. His face that was delicate and beautiful one second suddenly froze, and the next second his face darkened.

"I asked why Uncle Liang hasn't received a letter for a few days. It turned out to be that his father had detained it."

Wu Jia's attitude was open and clear, without any hint of guilt.On the contrary, Wu Fangyuan saw that his behavior was upright, and he suspected that he had wrongly blamed his daughter, and was a little unsure of his tone.

"Aren't you going to explain it to me?"

"Explain what?" Wu Jia asked, "The father should explain first when he withholds his daughter's letters, right?"

Wu Fangyuan knew that he was in the wrong, and coughed lightly and said: "It was indeed wrong for me to leave your letter, but I have my own reasons. You are a daughter's family, and they are exchanging name cards with the Sun family to decide on birthdays. How many pairs of eyes are watching from outside. , how can you be careless? Let me ask you, what is there about Zhuangzi that requires you to write to Liang Bo every three days? "

Just when Wu Jiaqian was about to speak, Wu Fangyuan was the first to say: "Of course you can deceive me, but I can also send someone to Zhuangzi to investigate the situation in person. You have to think carefully about whether you can hide this matter."

Wu Jia thought for a while, his expression softened a little, and he walked over to squeeze Wu Fangyuan's shoulders.

"Now that my father has discovered it, let me tell the truth. I did hide a man in Zhuangzi."

"what?!"

Wu Fangyuan almost had a heart attack and was not in the mood for a massage. He immediately pressed Wu Jia's hand and asked, "Who is this man? Please explain everything to me quickly."

Wu Jiada discussed: "Dad, I heard that you have a personal relationship with Abbot Guangpu of Puji Temple. Is he in Beijing these days?"

"What do you ask for this?"

"I heard that he has a secret disguise technique that can turn a person into a completely different person?"

"This is not something that a daughter's family should inquire about!" Wu Fangyuan said, "Tell me about the situation at Zhuangzi first."

"Okay, but I need to know the whereabouts of Abbot Guangpu first."

Wu Fangyuan frowned: "At the end of the month, someone from the Fang family will come to hire someone. It is estimated that Fang Xian's nephew will also come with him. You two haven't seen each other for many years. Let's get to know each other before getting married. When the time comes, let your mother take you to Puji Temple, just in time to invite you. Abbot Guangpu is testing marriage luck and asking for a fortune."

"Okay." Wu Jia readily agreed, "With your words, Dad, I feel relieved. Abbot Guangpu will definitely be there when the time comes. I still have something to ask him for help!"

"Slippery, can you talk now?"

After all, Abbot Guangpu was asked to look after Xu Zhiliu's face. Wu Fangyuan could not get past this matter, so Wu Jia no longer concealed it.Wu Fangyuan looked very solemn after hearing the cause and effect.

"I didn't expect the situation in Jingdezhen to be so complicated."

"With his talent, it's not surprising that he is envied by others. He must have been killed, and he managed to save his life."

Wu Jia knew better than anyone how thrilling the process was. How many times she had a high fever and her life hung by a thread. The doctor said there was no hope and asked her to give up. She was unwilling to give up, thinking that he would be unwilling too, so she desperately filled in the medicinal ingredients. Fill in whatever can save your life regardless of the consequences.

He was also trying to live up to his expectations, keeping a low tone and refusing to close his eyes.Thinking about it now, she felt even more embarrassed. What kind of will to survive was that?
She couldn't help but think of her first meeting in Jingdezhen.

At that time, the story of how he and the little god were going against each other was being told on the stage. The little god was arguing for him in the audience, while he was hiding behind the scenes, watching from the outside, facing countless black and white people who were pointing at him. The flying comments are like a long cloud, out of reach.

Still water flows deep, regardless of sorrow or joy.

That was the first time Wu Jia experienced the feeling of his heart being tightened from a man.

"Dad, he was seriously injured. You must help him."

"You still say? How dare you brothers and sisters hide such a big thing from me!"

Wu Fangyuan slammed the table, and the fine mahogany case shook. The documents that were piled in a pile rose into the air, and then fell into a mess.

Wu Jia had never seen him so angry before, and was so frightened that he backed away.

"The incident happened so suddenly that I didn't have time to inform you in advance. Besides, I, we are also afraid that you will think too much and refuse to help."

"Thinking too much? Tell me, what can I consider?"

"After all, you are a member of the officialdom. This matter is probably related to the eunuchs. What if you don't want to cause trouble and want to protect yourself wisely?"

"Mingzhe protects himself? Oh, now I don't need Mingzhe to protect himself?"

Wu Jia said: "I saved you all, Dad, you are already a member of the same boat."

Wu Fangyuan was so angry that she put her hands on her hips: "Why did I raise you brothers and sisters? They only bring me trouble!"

There are no people in Jingdezhen. In the final analysis, it belongs to Jiangxi. Speaking more broadly, all civil affairs are related to the chief envoy.The Wu family is discussing marriage with the Sun family. Should Sun Min be informed about this matter?If you don't know, how should you deal with it?

"What's his plan now?"

"I do not know either."

"Then what are your plans?"

"My daughter, my daughter thought, it is important to heal the burns on his body and face first. Otherwise, he might not even be able to cross the threshold." Not to mention a mere young man in his early twenties, he is like this Those who have experienced thousands of sails will find it difficult to overcome the hurdle in their hearts if they suffer such harm.Most of those with weaker willpower will not be rescued. Even if they are rescued, they will probably die long ago.

Wu Fangyuan felt sad. After calming down, he said to Wu Jia: "I will go with you to Zhuangzi tomorrow. I want to see him."

At this time, Xu Zhiliu still didn't know that the Wu brothers and sisters had secretly hidden him in Zhuangzi. He spent every day waiting at the window for a message from Jingdezhen.

Facing this face with ruined sound and appearance, he still felt an unspeakable fear.

It seems that what is fearful, unacceptable, and difficult to face is not the disfigurement itself, but the conspiracy, hypocrisy, or possible mispayment of sincerity hidden behind the disfigurement or death.

He has always been a person who is good at thinking and planning for the future.In the past many years, in order to redress his father's grievances openly and openly, he had not been planning a day.His brain can be divided into two parts, one part is used to deal with kiln affairs, and the other part is planning an escape route.

Every time one step is completed, the arrangements for the next step and even the next step are already being implemented.

However, this time, he completely lost the ability to think.He didn't dare to analyze and judge who the black hand behind the situation was, and he didn't dare to even think about something bad about that person without making a final decision.

It pained him to think of her.

The only piece of intact, uncorrupted meat is both a weakness and a poison.

In the afternoon of the next day, Wu Fangyuan arrived at Zhuangzi. Under the guidance of Uncle Liang, he met Xu Zhiliu who was studying on the high ground behind the bamboo house.

Looking from a distance, the young man was holding a book and standing by the stream bank with his hands behind his back. The cold wind came from the wilderness, roaring and roaring with the power of winter, but he was focused on one thing without any distractions.He
At that time, the forest was deep, the streams were gurgling, and among the mountains and rivers, Wu Fangyuan suddenly felt a sense of trance, as if he had returned to his youth and saw his old friend - a bandit gentleman, Yuan Ting Yue Zhi.

Just by looking at it, you can tell it's not bad.

Xu Zhiliu turned around when he heard the noise, and for the first time he saw clearly Wu Fangyuan, who looked very similar to his friend.

Because their ancestors were heroes on horseback in Saibei, Wu Fangyuan and Wu Yin were both extremely tall. Although Wu Yin's complexion was darker, he had sharp eyebrows and starry eyes and strong features, making him barely a handsome man.

Wu Fangyuan, on the other hand, has a more sloppy appearance, with a square face and a hanging nose. At first glance, he looks intimidating, quite a bit like Guan Gong, but upon closer inspection, his smile lines are very deep, giving him the air of Maitreya.

Especially since he is not going to court today, he is wearing a dark floral gauze uniform, which makes him taller and squarer, and does not touch Fang Yuan at all.

The two looked at each other for a moment across the trickling stream. Xu Zhiliu reacted first, put on his curtain hat, and waded back to the shore.

He first bowed to Wu Fangyuan, and then said: "Master Wu, please forgive me, this young man has an ugly face. I am afraid that I will frighten you so you can hide your face. I hope you don't mind."

"It's okay. Jiajia has already told me about your matter. I do have something to ask you when I come here this time."

The two returned to the bamboo house. Uncle Liang poured them each a cup of tea and wisely retreated outside the door.

From the moment Xu Zhiliu saw Wu Fangyuan, his almost dead brain finally started to work again.Therefore, without waiting for Wu Fangyuan to speak, he took the initiative and said: "It was me who dragged Brother Wu and Miss Wu down this time. I am willing to bear the responsibility. Please don't blame them."

Wu Fangyuan asked: "How can you bear this responsibility as a commoner?"

Xu Zhiliu thought for a while and replied: "As far as I know, only Brother Wu and the Miss Wu family know that I am still alive. Master Wu and these people in Zhuangzi know about it. Everyone in Zhuangzi is from the Wu family, so there must be no master." They dare not speak out casually according to my orders, not to mention they don’t know my true identity. Since the matter has not been exposed yet, it will probably not implicate your family. I... I will leave as soon as possible so as not to cause trouble to the Wu family. "

Wu Fangyuan said nothing.

Xu Zhiliu's heart gradually sank: "If you are worried, sir, and insist on Xu Zhiliu dying in Jingdezhen, then you can take my life."

"You don't want to live?"

Xu Zhiliu smiled softly: "An ant needs faith to survive. If the world thinks that Xu Zhiliu is dead, then with my face, who can believe me? Who dares to believe me? There is a huge grievance, and I have no place to say it. .”

"Then why don't you die?"

Xu Zhiliu smiled again: "My lord, I must have noticed that I am not willing to die like this. Even if I am like a yellow crane and everything comes to nothing, I still want to fight."

Wu Fangyuan sighed: "Xu Zhiliu, a year ago when you went to Dalongtan to file a letter to sue An Jiu, I knew you were not willing to give in. But what did you get? Do you know that if the eunuchs hadn't been so unruly, we and other civil servants would The collective is intolerable and is trying every possible means to move around the government and the public for you. You will suffer more than just a sword? Your life will be gone a long time ago!"

Xu Zhiliu was shocked.

"You want to fight for fairness, justice, and justice. Don't I know that? But can you earn these things? What capital do you use to fight for the life of a mere commoner?!"

Wu Fangyuan said, "You didn't die that time because you were destined. This time you didn't die, but it was not something human beings could do, but God's grace. In that case, I advise you to let go and forget your past."

"What do you mean, sir?"

"I will give you an identity. You can find a place where no one is around to spend the rest of your life. This will also end your friendship with my son."

Before Xu Zhiliu could express his position, a voice broke through the door: "Father, no! You promised me that you would ask Abbot Guangpu to treat his burns. How can you go back on your word?"

Wu Fangyuan looked at his daughter who appeared out of nowhere, and then looked at Uncle Liang who shrank behind him, and knew that this girl had not just appeared.He suppressed his anger and defended: "I didn't say I wouldn't heal his injuries."

"Then don't delay any longer and write to Abbot Guangpu as soon as possible."

She said it so lightly. Can anyone invite Abbot Guangpu to do so?Is it possible to see him whenever he wants?The emperor had to apply in advance if he wanted to meet anyone, let alone him.

Wu Fangyuan had nothing to do with her. He looked at Xu Zhiliu's exposed skin and felt a little pity in his heart when he thought of his suffering, so he said, "Yesterday I revised the book and sent it to Puji Temple."

Wu Jia was immediately happy.

She always behaves like a young lady from aristocratic families in front of outsiders, and she only cries and makes trouble in front of her father, which is completely exposed.Thinking that Xu Zhiliu had just been anxious and saw his aggressive side, his cheeks suddenly felt warm.

But compared to the opportunities that were secured for him, this embarrassment was nothing.

She immediately asked Cistanche Rong to prepare the evening meal.

The chef hired with a high salary finally has a use!She was really happy and said to Wu Fangyuan: "Dad, you don't know that since my brother from the Xu family got sick, he hasn't had a good meal a day. How can this person get well if he doesn't eat? Please give me some advice." Him, let him know how powerful Abbot Guangpu is."

Wu Fangyuan and Xu Zhiliu didn't react when they heard the words "brother of the Xu family".

As if Wu Jia didn't notice, he walked between the two of them, sat down comfortably and poured a cup of tea.

Smelling the faint scent of tea brewed from the dried osmanthus she and Cistanche Rong picked up in the golden autumn, she winked at Wu Fangyuan and said, "My mother is not here tonight, so feel free to drink as much as you want, but I promise not to reveal a word to her. Oh yes. , I forgot to tell you, I also prepared your favorite aged flower carvings and drunken crabs for you. In the middle of winter, drink a pot of warm wine and eat a bite of crab, not to mention how happy it will be!"

Finally, while Wu Fangyuan was fascinated, he smiled brightly at Xu Zhiliu.

Xu Zhiliu couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.

Wu Fangyuan was driven away by her tricks and touched her forehead.

Where was he talking about just now?