Taohuaxi

Chapter 24 The embarrassment of birthday

But he looked so haggard.

His eyes were red and bloodshot.

His face was blue and his lips were white.

He coughed, his shoulders shaking.

I went up to him, supported him with Heming, and told the boy to call the doctor.

Cheng Huaishi pointed to the main courtyard and shook his head at me.

I know that he doesn't want the old lady to know.I solemnly order the maids and women to be quieter and not to talk too much in the house.If the old lady asked, she would say that the second master was busy with official duties.

When we got to the bedroom, I helped him onto the bed, dipped a handkerchief in warm water and wiped his face.

The doctor came. After checking his pulse, he said it was due to wind chill and he needed to rest. He prescribed a prescription. He Ming quickly went to grab the medicine.

After a long time, the room became quiet.

The breeze blowing in through the cracks in the window sill carries the smell of herbs and permeates the gently swaying red gauze tent.

I stood up and wanted to close the window more tightly, but Cheng Huaishi took my hand.

I stopped moving and sat on the edge of the bed, looking at him.His lowered eyelashes were hard and tired.I felt a little sour in my heart, so I asked softly: "I'll do whatever the second master wants to eat."

He closed his eyes and pulled my hand to his chest.

I held on and said in a relaxed tone as much as possible: "It is inevitable that there will be some disturbances when the boat is on the water. But I have always believed that the second master can turn the danger into safety and make the best of it."

He opened his mouth and said slowly: "Madam, no matter what happens, I will never forget my original intention of becoming an official. Last night, in Dongchang, Feng Gao told me many lies, overtly or covertly, and asked me to betray Master Zhang. . How can I be a follower of others? I thought I would never come back this time. I always thought in my heart that if I had any shortcomings, the person I would be most sorry for would be you. If you marry into the Cheng family as a wife, only I work so hard that I don’t even enjoy the blessings of a day..."

Before he finished speaking, he started coughing.

I wiped the corners of my eyes with a handkerchief, smiled and stroked his chest, trying to calm him down: "Second Master is ill, don't think too much about it. You once said that the future is long, and I will always keep it in my heart."

He held my hand tightly, with guilt in his eyes.

There is a copy of "Han Yuefu" by the bedside.

I smiled and said, "Second Master, please close your eyes and relax while I read a poem to you, okay?"

He nodded.

"May I ask where the girl came from? She frowned and swallowed her words first. She turned around and thanked the passerby. How could she be desolate and wandering? I was trapped in Qin by thieves for three years, and I vaguely remember the events in Qin. Can you untie the golden saddle for me? I also have a jade toe with you..." I read softly.

Cheng Huaishi listened quietly.

The candlelight in the room gave Cheng Huaishi and I a layer of rare joy.

This joy is light and peaceful, just like all couples in the world who share joys and sorrows.

At this time, He Ming came in to report.

"Second Master, Miss Xun is outside the house and said she wants to come to check on Second Master's illness."

Cheng Huaishi waved to Heming: "I told her to take a rest. Please go back."

The crane responded and went away.

I remembered what he said in his sleep when I was in Yangzhou, put down the book, and said with a slight smile: "Second Master, tell me about your past, okay?"

"Once upon a time?"

"Well, in the past. The former Second Master, the former Miss Xun."

Cheng Huaishi shook his head: "The young man is ignorant and can only read and write. How can he have a past? Even when Mr. Xun was alive, my mother never liked her. The only things I talked about between her and me were political situations and poems and books. Nothing. it."

There was magnanimity in his eyes.

This topic was handled lightly and not continued.

Light porridge was brought from the kitchen, and I helped him up. We each ate a small bowl, and then went to sleep with our clothes on.

Because he was ill and feared that the typhoid fever would worsen, he did not perform the courtesy of Duke Zhou.

I remembered what the old lady often told me about "heirs".

Maybe it's fate, but I've been married for more than half a year, and I'm still a perfect woman. How can I talk about children?

Opportunity is like the moon in the sky, its roundness and lack are unpredictable and ever-changing.

Three days later, Cheng Huaishi's condition improved slightly.

When I got up early and went to the main courtyard to pay my respects to the old lady, he went with me.

The old lady thought that he had been busy with official duties these days, so she gave him a few words to take care of himself.

Then, he looked at me with a smile and ordered the maid: "Bring up the gift I gave to the Second Young Mistress."

The maid brought a tray. On the tray was a pair of crystal clear jade bracelets.

I leaned over and said, "Why does mother want to give me a gift if it's so late in the year?"

The old lady smiled: "Sang Yu, have you forgotten what day it is today?"

I thought for a moment and said, "Today is the day of the awns. It is the season of the awns, and I send my greetings to the God of Flowers."

The old lady shook her head: "Silly boy, today is your birthday."

It suddenly occurred to me.

Since my mother's death, her birthday has not been celebrated for many years, and no one mentioned it, so she forgot about it.

I smiled at the old lady: "How do you know?"

"When we were engaged in the past, the Cheng family and the Zhu family exchanged wedding invitations, which had your birthday and horoscope on them. A few days ago, I was looking through old things, and when I saw them, I remembered them in my heart."

She said to Cheng Huaishi: "Huai'er, let's give Sang Yu a good birthday." Cheng Huaishi smiled and said: "It should, it should. Madam's birthday should be organized well."

Then he raised his hands and saluted me: "May your life be as long as a pine tree, and may you live a prosperous and peaceful life."

The old lady ordered her to set up a table for wine in the garden and invite the best troupe in the capital.The servants were busy.

She pulled me to sit next to her: "Leave these matters to Huai'er to arrange. You are not allowed to work even a little bit today and have a restful day."

About an hour later, the concierge from outside came in and announced: "Go back to the old lady, the second young lady, the in-laws, the in-laws and the young uncle are here!"

I was taken aback.

The old lady stood up and said, "Sang Yu, we have to go out to greet you."

Sure enough, my father is here.

Behind him were my stepmother Lin Yue and their son Zhu Xifeng.

Lin Yue saw me and said with a smile: "Miss, your father is thinking about you at home every day. I said, I miss my daughter, so I will go to the capital to have a look. Your father said that my daughter is different now. My uncle has done this." Officer, the eldest girl is the official’s wife, how can we cause trouble? I said, don’t say that the eldest girl becomes the official’s wife, even if she becomes the mother-in-law, she also has to remember that you are her father! My dear wife, you Do you think this is true?"

I keep my head down.

The old lady smiled and said: "That's the truth. My family has been working hard all the way, so come into the house quickly and have a glass of wine."

My dad stroked his beard and smiled.

The banquet has been set up in the garden.

The old lady invited them to come and sit down.

Cheng Huaishi leaned over to greet my father and Lin Yue.

The troupe lined up, the gongs and drums were ringing, and they were about to start.

When my father saw this, he asked, "Is there any celebration in the house today?"

The old lady coughed lightly: "Today is Sang Yu's birthday."

"Oh--"

My dad was a little embarrassed.

He never remembered such trivial things.

Lin Yue hurriedly pushed him: "Hey, sir, are you confused? I heard you chanting along the way, aren't we just here to celebrate Sang Yu's birthday? Hurry up and hurry up, you can catch up." "

"Yes, yes, yes. Look at me, I'm getting more and more confused as I get older."

On the wine table, there are delicacies and fine food.

On the stage, the music is wonderful and touching.

During the dinner, Lin Yue winked at my father frequently. My father took a sip of wine and said, "Uncle, I have something else to entrust you with during this trip."

"Father-in-law, please tell me."

My heart immediately became tense.

I could only hear my father saying: "Uncle, now that I am at this age, I really have no hope. I am the only one who I can't worry about."

Lin Yueqian smiled and said: "Isn't my uncle here? He is half a son-in-law. My uncle will definitely not see the master worried."

My father nodded, pointed at Zhu Xifeng, and said, "Uncle, I heard that Master Zhang, the chief assistant, appreciates you very much. Can you please ask Mr. Zhang to find a job for your brother-in-law?"

Cheng Huaishi's smile froze at the corner of his mouth.

I hurriedly said: "Dad, don't be ignorant of the importance. The second master has just entered the official position and is careful at every step. How can he be selfish?"

Lin Yue stopped her chopsticks and said, "Hey, big girl, what you said is wrong. The right way is to promote the virtuous and not avoid relatives. How can I find a job for your brother to show favoritism?"

"Excellent?"

I stood up and said, "Zhu Xifeng has not even passed the exam as a boy. He is not good at literature or martial arts. He is only 16 years old. He has never married a wife. He first took two concubines into his room. What kind of virtue does he have?"

My dad was angry and his face turned red: "You! You!"

When Lin Yue cried to Cheng Huai: "It's really unbelievable that a young lady is so unkind and forgets her roots... My aunt, please tell me, you can judge me. I don't believe that my aunt doesn't care about us..."

Cheng Huai was extremely embarrassed.

He has never faced such a situation before, and he can neither advance nor retreat at this time.

"I will try my best," he said.

Someone from the Imperial Academy came to call him.He bowed his hands and resigned to everyone.

The old lady glanced at me and motioned for me to go back to my room.

She gave Lin Yue and others a good meal to comfort them.

The actors on the stage were still singing babblingly.

The birthday party had already been messed up.

The servants in the mansion whispered.

I came back to my room and sat blankly, holding the hairpin my mother left for me before she died, and my clothes were wet with tears.

"sister--"

I looked at the window that suddenly opened, and a familiar face appeared.

"How did you come?"

I was taken aback.

(End of this chapter)