carved heart

Chapter 35
All my fears, all my fears, all my overwhelm for 20 years were brought on by you!As long as I can choose to be the master, I will definitely dismiss you!
"Sister? Sister?"

"what?"

Jiang Xuan stopped, leaned on the edge of the arch bridge, tilted her head slightly, and asked, "Why is my sister so absent-minded? Could it be that she is thinking about Lord Hou? Or is my sister thinking about tomorrow's affairs?"

After the morning, Mu Yanghou sent someone over to explain that he would take Ayin to Fahua Temple two hills away to enjoy the flowers.

Jiang Xuan joked with a smile: "Didn't the Marquis also order that only my sister should go there alone? Oh, it's really like what is said in the scriptures. Talented men and beautiful women meet, and the beauty of the beautiful day is beautiful."

Ah Yin shot her a look and said, "You know how to tease your sister."

When Jiang Xuan said this, she observed the expression on Ah Yin's face without any trace, and didn't want to let it go.Regarding what Ah Yin said this morning, Jiang Xuan was happy for her sister at first, but after she went out to fetch water and came back, she felt something was wrong.My sister liked Xie's Xiaolang at the beginning, but she never got married because she refused to be a concubine.She always thought that her sister was unwilling to share a husband with other people.She tried to find a trace of reluctance on her face, but unfortunately she couldn't find it.

When mentioning the Marquis, there seemed to be a different light in my sister's eyes, just like when I first met Xiaolang from Xie's family.

Jiang Xuan thought again, maybe that Lord Hou is a nobleman, and such a family is different after all.

"Sister, there is a water pavilion over there!"

She let go of Ah Yin's hand, and excitedly ran to the water pavilion looking around.A Yin looked at her with a smile, not in a hurry, and walked slowly.The bushes are green and bloom with unknown flowers.The two sisters wandered around all morning without seeing anyone, presumably Mu Yanghou ordered them to go down.

Thinking of Mu Yanghou, Ah Yin's mood was extremely complicated.

Undoubtedly, he is domineering and powerful.But the inadvertently revealed tenderness made her almost fall into it several times.Fortunately, there is always a string in my mind, and I restrain myself rationally, so I can't fall into it.

He is Mu Yanghou.

The intrigue in the Hou's mansion, the grievances in Mu Yanghou's mother's letter, and all the noble daughters who are waiting to be married to Mu Yanghou, these are the things she wishes to stay away from.One Xie Shaohuai is enough.

But he would not let go, and she seemed to have no other choice.

Ah Xuan said that she lost weight, she was anxious and helpless, worried, unable to sleep at night, how could she not lose weight?

She doesn't think that Mu Yanghou's concern for her can last long. Now it's fresh because she can't get it. If she doesn't care about it in the future, she has no family background and no support. How will she deal with herself in Yongping, where the rich and powerful are everywhere?The hairpin flower in the family letter is clearly written in lower case. Princess Yucheng in the palace loves Shen Changtang, and the Holy One is interested in the beauty of adults.

When she read this, Mu Yanghou didn't react at all. To him, it must be a matter of course.

He wanted to take her back, either as a servant girl, or as an unknown sleeping girl.

She didn't want to, but if he pestered her like this, sooner or later she would be marked as a member of Mu Yanghou, and she would still go to Yongping in the end.

If she can't get rid of Mu Yanghou, she won't be able to live in peace in this life.

Now that it was over, she had to make other plans for herself.

The rooms in the villa are not small, there are two rooms inside and outside. Jiang Xuan slept on the couch in the outside room when she came, and Ah Yin slept in the inside room.Because Yue Mo was preoccupied, she still couldn't sleep at night, staring at the crow-blue curtain in a daze.At dawn, she quietly got up, washed and changed her clothes.

Then she walked out the door lightly.

She called Xiaotong to lead the way and went to the kitchen.

She burned wood to boil a pot of hot water, made flour dough, and steamed a pot of steamed buns.

Xiaotong has been following Ah Yin's side all the time, and he wanted to say that it would be better to let the servants do these rough jobs, but after thinking about it, maybe it was Yin who wanted to wash his hands and make soup for Lord Hou, so he didn't say anything to stop him.Later, I saw Mrs. Yin kneading the dough and making about a dozen big steamed buns. The steamed buns were big and round, not delicate at all. I wanted to say that the steamed buns were too rough to catch the eyes of Lord Hou, but I was afraid to say Coming out hurt Yin's face, he hesitated for a while, and when he was finally ready to make a speech, Yin's steamed buns were already out of the pan.

She neatly put three steamed buns on the plate, and said: "I made too much, please put away the rest for me. If my sister is hungry at noon, you can give it to her. My sister likes the steamed buns I made very much." .”

As he spoke, he nodded slightly to the little boy, and left the kitchen with the plate in his hand.

The boy was dumbfounded.

...It's not for Master Hou?
When the servants waited for Mu Yanghou to change his clothes, he found that Lord Hou was in a good mood today, so he flattered him a little and got a reward.

After all, he knows how to read words and expressions, and knows that Miss Yin is inseparable from Hou Ye's good mood, and said: "Yesterday, the villain saw Miss Yin and her sister go shopping in the garden, and sat there for a long time at the waterside pavilion, he seemed very happy. Lord Hou is sympathetic, Miss Yin must be grateful to Lord Hou at this time."

Mu Yanghou saw Zhang Su off yesterday and returned to the villa at night. Hearing these words, it was rare for him to answer.

"How happy are you?"

The servant is a bit embarrassed, very happy is very happy, how happy can it be?I had to say: "The smile on my face has been hanging all day."

When Yan Mo and Yan Shen came in, they heard their Lord Marquis asking again: "Has she got up?"

The two looked at each other silently, thinking that Lord Hou really suffered a lot this time, how could they have cared who got up or not in the past?The servant replied: "I saw Miss Yin entering the kitchen fifteen minutes ago, and I heard that Miss Yin is going to make breakfast for Lord Hou."

Shen Changtang frowned slightly, and said: "It's not that there are no servants and maidservants in the room, how can it be her turn to work here?"

The two servants couldn't figure out Mu Yanghou's temper for a while, and their expressions were embarrassing.

Yan Shen was good at smoothing things over, he walked up and asked: "Master Hou, breakfast is ready, but do you want to call the boy to bring it in now?" In the past, Master Hou mostly had breakfast at this time.

Unexpectedly, Shen Changtang said: "No need, I'm not hungry, let's put it back first." Then, he pondered for a while, and said: "Is everything done?"

Yan Mo replied: "If you go back to Lord Hou, Zhang Yushi sent two people to escort him."

Yan Shen also said: "The matter over there in Suizhou is settled, and the exposed eyeliner of Prime Minister Wang has also been cleaned up one by one."

……

Several people talked about the time for a cup of tea, Shen Changtang half-raised his eyelids to look outside, and asked, "What time is it?"

Yan Shen said, "Mao hour has just passed."

After speaking, Shen Changtang looked outside again, and when he looked away, he started to talk about Suizhou's problem again.After finishing speaking, he asked again, "What time is it?" Yan Shen coughed softly, and said, "Returning to Lord Hou, it was just half an hour past Mao..."

Shen Changtang's eyes darkened slightly.

Yan Shen continued: "Master Hou, this subordinate called the little boy in to make tea, and stopped by the kitchen to see what Miss Yin made for breakfast."

Yan Mo stayed in the house alone, for no reason, and felt a little embarrassed for the first time, so he also said: "Master Hou, my subordinates also go out to have a look." Yan Shen didn't disturb anyone, and only gently touched the door of the kitchen. He took a quick look and went back, just happened to miss Yanmo.

When he entered the room, the little boy was already cooking tea, and his master's gaze was swiftly and sharply directed at him.

He shivered all over, and said: "Report to Lord Hou, Miss Yin is steaming steamed buns, and it will be ready in about half an hour."

Shen Changtang said indifferently: "Forget it, since she was sincere, Ben Hou reluctantly ate it."

Before the words finished, Yan Mo also came back.

He was even more embarrassed now, and if he had known earlier, he would have stayed in the house and not gone anywhere.The figure of Miss Yin in the kitchen disappeared, and the five steamed buns left in the pot seemed to be guarded by the cook, saying that they were to be reserved for Miss Yin, and she would eat them when her sister was hungry at noon. .

Yan Mo quietly glanced at his master Hou, obviously looking forward to it, but pretending to be reluctant.This is great, how should I explain to Lord Hou that Miss Yin never wanted to cook breakfast for Lord Hou at all, and even the five steamed buns left in the pot were reserved for her younger sister.

Unfortunately, Yan Shen asked again: "Is it almost there?"

Yan Mo was not good at words, so when Yan Shen forced him to question him, he had no choice but to say, "...So it was a misrepresentation, Miss Yin just made breakfast for her younger sister."

As soon as these words came out, Shen Changtang's expression darkened slightly.

Yan Shen hurriedly said: "Breakfast! Haven't brought in the breakfast yet! The Marquis is hungry, and you are the only ones asking!"

The time to go to Fahua Temple to enjoy the flowers is set at the four quarters of the day.

After eating and drinking, Ah Yin gave Jiang Xuan some instructions before getting into the carriage.Not long after getting into the carriage, Yan Mo called him down again.She looked at Yan Mo's complicated expression, and asked, "Could it be that Lord Hou isn't going to Fahua Temple anymore?"

Yanmo said: "Please also invite the girl to get on the carriage in front."

Ah Yin took a look, the carriage in front of him was spacious and luxurious, and he knew it was Mu Yanghou's exclusive carriage.She pursed her lips, said nothing else, and obediently got into the carriage.She gave a salute, and Mu Yanghou's voice sounded over there.

"Sit down."

Sound like you're in a bad mood?She got up and sat down, not drooping her brows as before, but looking up at him, her eyes were bright and clear, black and white.Looking at it like this, he felt strangely better, and asked, "What did you have for breakfast?"

Ah Yin said, "I drank porridge and ate steamed buns."

"Oh? Mantou?"

Ah Yin said: "I made a pot of steamed buns, and my younger sister liked to eat my steamed buns since she was a child. In the past, her family was not well off, and she ate all the leftovers. I was afraid that my sister would be hungry, so I mixed the dough and steamed it. A pot of steamed buns is big and round, bigger than a fist, and my sister can eat it for two days." Seemingly thinking of something, she smiled and said, "But they are all rough food, not as good as the ones Hou Ye usually eats. .”

As soon as Shen Changtang's words reached his throat, he swallowed them back.

She also said: "If Lord Hou wants to taste it, you can tell Ah Yin to do it next time. Ah Yin is just a commoner, with a dull talent. There are some things that Lord Hou doesn't know clearly, and Ah Yin can't figure it out. After a long time, I'm afraid it will cause trouble." Master Hou is angry."

He heard something in her words.

Today she is very different from the past, there is a lot of straightforwardness in her bright eyes.

He said: "You don't have to belittle yourself, you are not dull, on the contrary you are very smart. I like you." He gently held her hand at the time, and said: "This is the first time this Hou has lived for 28 years. Girl, I want to put her in a sleeve bag, cover her, protect her, and take her home."

Her eyelashes fluttered slightly.

"A Yin, follow me back to Yongping."

She didn't show any expression, just looked at him quietly, and asked: "Ayin wants to ask Lord Hou, if I go back to Yongping with Lord Hou, how will Lord Hou arrange me? Be a servant girl? Or marry me?" Me as a wife?"

It took a lot of courage to say the last sentence, she could even feel her heart beating hard.

Shen Changtang seemed to be stopped by her question, and after a while, he said: "You have read my family letter, you should know..."

She said: "What do you know? Knowing that Master Hou's marriage is not up to him? Or did Master Hou take me back because he wanted me to be a housekeeper?"

Her tone was extremely aggressive.

Shen Changtang frowned, and said: "I didn't plan to let you be the housekeeper all the time. Your family status is too low. If you want to be the official wife, you will be the first in the palace to disagree." He was a little annoyed. With a family background, with her status as her main wife, he can protect her for a while, and when there is always negligence, it doesn't take a month and a half to die without even the dregs left.I wanted to get angry, but it was the first time she said to marry her as his wife, but she still couldn't get angry.But still with a cold face, he said: "There is only one woman in the backyard of this Marquis, what difference does it make if you are the housewife and the wife?"

The cold face didn't last long, and it softened again after a while.

He squeezed her hand tightly and said: "I am 28 years old. The child in Yongpingli is my age, and the child is seven or eight years old. My parents have been very anxious. If you become my person, my parents will not be afraid." It will be difficult for you. You should be the housekeeper for a few years first, and I will look for opportunities to improve your family status, or make a few more contributions, and gradually improve your status. When you can be independent, I will let you be the wife .”

This is so beautifully said.

It seemed as if she could turn a sparrow into a phoenix and become Yongping's Mrs. Hou Ye if she endured it for a few years.But all of this has to be established on the fact that he likes her as always, and even more care and satisfaction are needed to ensure that he is willing to earn credit for her day after day and year after year.

And what she has to do is to cling to this man, be happy for him, and worry about him.

And...he can't decide his own marriage. If the emperor issued an imperial decree, would he still be able to resist it?
Just like Xie Shaohuai, the promises are all false.

She doesn't believe it.

She asked again: "Can I still carve cores in the future?"

Shen Changtang thought she was persuaded, stroked her hand, and said in a gentle voice: "Yes, but I can't show my face outside anymore."

She pulled her lips into a smile, and leaned gently on his shoulder.As the warm and fragrant nephrite struck, he recalled the beauty of last night, as if the sound of wind beating bamboo was heard again.Her voice was soft and soft: "Master Hou, I don't want to be your wife anymore, and I don't want to be your housemate. I will go to Yongping with you, and I just ask Master Hou to place me in the outer room. If Master Hou wants me I am sick, or need my sickness, I will bathe in soup and wait for Lord Hou. I just ask Lord Hou to hide me well so that no one will find out. If one day, Lord Hou gets tired of me, I don’t want glory and wealth, but only I beg Lord Hou to let me go home."

Half of his arm suddenly became stiff.

She thought of him so considerately, but he couldn't be happy at all.

He didn't say a word.

Ah Yin said again: "Master Hou, how are you?"

"The Vegetarian Food at Fahua Temple is pretty good, you can try it when you get there."

She was really annoyed, she didn't ask for a title, she didn't want anything, didn't she just ask for one and let him go when he got tired of her!He refuses to do this!Ah Yin stood up abruptly and sat directly on the other side of the carriage.

However, just as he sat down, the carriage suddenly bumped heavily.

Then there was a chirping sound, and the wheel actually cracked open.The carriage was going downhill right now, the moment the wheels cracked, the heavy carriage rolled like a snowball.Ah Yin knocked around, only to feel the world spinning, and with a bang, she fell out of the carriage. When she looked up, there were many people in black on the hillside. In the shadow of swords and swords, someone shouted: "Mu Yanghou!" over there!"

Yan Mo blocked the man in black in front of him, and said, "Master Hou, you go first."

Shen Changtang took out a long sword from the scattered carriages without panic, pulled up Ah Yin who was on the ground, and said in a deep voice: "Follow me." Before Ah Yin could reply, he jumped on a horse, and the two The man quickly galloped away into the dense forest.

Ah Yin was out of breath, the first time he encountered such a scene, his clothes were soaked in cold sweat.

It took her a long time before she realized and asked, "Someone wants to kill you?"

Shen Changtang didn't answer her, but his breathing was a bit heavy.

She wanted to turn around and look at him, but he immediately snorted and said, "Don't move." Ah Yin suddenly smelled the smell of blood, and looked down, only to find that Shen Changtang's clothes were stained red, and the blood flowed from his thigh .She was startled, then remembered how he was hurt.The carriage rolled over just now, and someone hugged her, no wonder she fell out but was unscathed.

He added: "Don't be afraid, it's an ordinary assassination, but this time there are a little more people."

He remained calm and was clearly on the run, but his tone sounded as if the two of them had come out for an outing on the same ride.Ah Yin gradually felt relieved and said, "I understand."

After a while, he suddenly said: "There is an ambush ahead, hold on tight, and if you are afraid, close your eyes. Once you open your eyes, we will be safe." After finishing speaking, he yelled loudly, and as soon as the scabbard came out, the sword The light is cold, and there seems to be a buzzing sound.

He licked his lips: "It's been a long time since I used a knife."

Countless black shadows swarmed up like a swarm of ants, Ah Yin was really terrified, and closed his eyes tightly.There were constant sounds of swords and swords in her ears, and the sound of spears piercing into her body. There were double images in front of her eyes, and her hands were shaking.

It seemed as long as a year had passed, and the sounds of fighting in my ears still hadn't stopped, but it was much less.

She opened her eyes and saw that the blood on Shen Changtang's legs had even stained her jacket and skirt red, sticking wetly to her thighs.

She gasped.

There was a loud shout from the top of his head.

"Look down!"

Ah Yin didn't react, all he knew was that the horse suddenly neighed as if it was out of control, its front hooves raised, Ah Yin lost its grip and fell to the ground.The pungent blood made her cough violently.

The horse was stabbed twice in the stomach and back, and now it is insane.

(End of this chapter)