Mountains and rivers fall into red

Chapter 41 Fragrant Ink (3)
Ni Xiu'e spat, poked her son's forehead and said angrily: "Don't be a fool! I've said it countless times, the Chu family can choose whoever is their daughter-in-law, but Hugh is not allowed! She is not yours, silly son, wake up!"

"Mother, you always say no, you have to give me a reason why you can't. If you can convince me, I will let go, otherwise I will accept Xiuxiu!" Tianji said confidently.

Ni Xiu'e was taken aback.At this time, she remembered what Mr. Tao said in his dream.Mr. Tao is reminding her that this will be the doom of Skyrim.As a mother herself, how could she just watch her son be ruined by this calamity?Her son had grown up, she had to tell him the truth and cut off his thoughts early.

So she leaned close to her son's ear, speaking very carefully and very softly.

Tianji's complexion gradually changed, his face was hidden in the shadows, and no expression could be discerned.

Ni Xiu'e suddenly let out a long breath of relief.

This long-buried secret, she dared not and didn't want to tell others, preferring to let it sink in her heart and rot in her stomach.Now she has to let her son know that after hearing these words, he will choose to give up Xiuxiu. Isn't this what she wants?

She was also involved innocently, and God would not blame her.

Xiuxiu went up the mountain alone, and because it was the Qingming Festival, grave sweepers could be seen everywhere.Among the green grass, hundreds of graves are arched, and there are thousands of steles.Green smoke curled up, and mournful cries continued.The wind rolled up the burnt paper money on the ground, and scattered ashes all over the ground, which was a desolate and mesmerizing scene.

She placed sacrifices in front of her father's grave, poured a few glasses of cold wine, burned a few handfuls of tin foil, and knelt down to worship.

"Father, I lost the treasure you gave me..." She choked up and spoke.

Really lost!
She cried, her heart full of soreness and regret.That jade pendant was her treasure, but it was nothing to that person.At that time, I didn't predict my future, so I gave it rashly.It was impossible to predict that the spring breeze that night was just a beautiful and gentle deception.He cheated her of everything!

Perhaps he had thrown it away long ago, with a smug smile on his face.And she will spend the rest of her life confessing her mistakes, she doesn't understand, why is this happening?

The pain that had been pent up for a long time tore her internal organs irresistibly. She covered her face with her hands and sobbed endlessly.

"Father, it would be great if you were still alive. If you were alive, I wouldn't have to go to Jiangling, and if I didn't go to Jiangling, I wouldn't encounter these things. I'm still that Tao Xiuxiu, the happy Tao Xiuxiu who doesn't understand anything... ...They still say bad things about you, but I don't believe it! Dad, tell me, you are not such a person! Tell me, please? What should I do in the future? You are so cruel, why did you leave me? Dad ..."

When the mist in the mountains dissipated, wisps of cooking smoke wafted from the roofs of people in the distance, Xiuxiu had knelt in front of the grave for a long time, the wind dried the tears on her face, her expression was a little dull.

After packing up everything, she walked slowly down the mountain with her numb legs.

After walking for a while, she was a little tired. She sat on the rock to rest, and her heart was filled with faint melancholy.Looking up, the distant mountains are hidden in the clouds, and clusters of wild rhododendrons are blooming lonely nearby.

"Hugh."

Someone faintly called her name.

She suddenly looked back, only to see that the surrounding area was full of smoke, the weeds were full of smoke, and it was empty and lonely.

"Who is calling me? I must have heard it wrong. Dad, you have to protect me, and I will live a good life." She murmured, closing her eyes to listen to the wind, with a sour smile on the corner of her mouth.

The wind is fluttering, cold and mournful.Can't help but lose your soul, where is the dark fragrance and sleeves?
Some hands gently stroked her temple hair and landed on her thin shoulder blades.She opened her eyes, and the mist shrouded the faint figure in the sky. He frowned and looked at her in bewilderment.

"Brother Tianji, it turned out that you were calling me."

She smiled, wrapped her arms around his legs naturally, and pressed her cheek lightly against his robe.A sense of tiredness swept over her, she was really tired.

Tianji hesitated for a moment, looked at the distant mountains with complicated eyes, and patted her slowly and jerky.

"Go back, your mother promised you to go home. I should go too, take care of yourself."

His words were very flat, so light that he couldn't hear any emotion.

Hugh nodded meekly.

The next day, Xiuxiu moved out of the inn and lived in his own home.

When Skyrim returned, she didn't know.He left in a hurry without even saying hello.When she went to Chu's house, Ni Xiu'e told her calmly that Tianji left before dawn.

Xiuxiu didn't feel the slightest difference, but felt a little regretful that he didn't send Tianji off.

Although Tao's house is an old house, Mr. Tao repaired the house very firmly with his superb techniques during his lifetime.Xiuxiu has been away from home for a year and a half. Today, the courtyard wall is covered with moss and vines, and weeds are overgrown all around. Fortunately, the gardenia tree against the wall is still densely shaded and growing vigorously.

In less than a month, gardenias will bloom again.

Naturally, Cao Guizhi did not welcome her daughter, and hoped that someone from Jiangling would come to pick her up every day.Days passed by, there was no news for a long time, and Xiuxiu was not in a hurry, showing signs of staying for a long time, Cao Guizhi became unhappy again, scolding and ridiculing Xiuxiu from time to time.

His mother was so cold and cold, Xiuxiu was used to it since childhood, silently endured it and refused to contradict her.After Tianji left, Ni Xiu'e relaxed and regained her previous intimacy with Xiuxiu.So Xiuxiu went to Chu's house to be a female celebrity, and talked with Ni Xiu'e, even teasing the chickens in the yard was fun.Cao Guizhi felt bored, and gradually lost interest in scolding his daughter.

Although the days are monotonous, they are comfortable, and Xiuxiu is willing to forget everything in such tranquility.

As the end of March approached in a blink of an eye, it rained for three consecutive days, and the sky in Mengmata County was clear and clear.A gust of wind blew from the direction of the capital, and the news of the third prince's upcoming wedding spread to Mengyu County.From time to time, people gathered in and out of the alley, talking loudly with great interest, and the sound reached Xiuxiu's ears.

The hard-won peace suddenly shattered, she lowered her head and walked silently.She clearly knew that the pain burning in her heart would stab her unexpectedly from time to time, and it was difficult to erase.

As soon as she walked into the courtyard gate, she saw the girl struggling to work under the wall, and Cao Guizhi stood aside and pointed.The hoe in the woman's hand was followed by another, and a big hole had been dug under the gardenia tree. The roots were exposed, the branches were shaking, and the lush green leaves fell to the ground like rain.

Xiuxiu's back stiffened suddenly, and she yelled: "What are you doing?" Immediately afterwards, she rushed over and snatched the hoe from the woman's hand.

Seeing her daughter appearing, Cao Guizhi frowned dissatisfiedly: "I figured it out, the family is always in trouble, it's the tree planted by the dead ghost. Apart from it, the family will be peaceful!"

"Dad and I planted it with our own hands! You are not allowed to touch it!" Xiuxiu shouted, anger spewed from his chest, and his eyes were red.

Cao Guizhi was annoyed, and slapped his daughter: "Damn girl, how dare you stop me? This home is my home, so I can do whatever I like!"

"It's mine! If you touch it again, I'll fight you hard!" Xiuxiu roared frantically.

She forgot to be afraid, forgot that the woman in front of her was her own mother, her eyes were wide open, staring at them fiercely.

The maid hid aside in fright.

Cao Guizhi was inexplicably terrified. She was overwhelmed by her daughter's horrifying expression, calmed down, and pretended not to care too much: "Isn't it just a tree, so fierce that it wants to eat people? If you don't get rid of it, don't get rid of it. This dead ghost, with a lingering spirit, will sooner or later recruit the whole family!"

Xiuxiu ignored her mother and buried herself in filling the pit again.Looking at the fallen leaves all over the place, she felt a little sad in her heart, and went upstairs alone.

Cao Guizhi looked up at the window of Xiuxiu's room, and was still chattering: "How long do you want to stay, have you figured it out? You are already a member of the Shen family, and it is written in black and white! Now you wear my clothes and eat mine. I can't afford to support you. Go back and pack up and go back to Jiangling!"

Someone was knocking on the door outside, Cao Guizhi stopped scolding, and called the girl to open the door.The lady just opened the door, and a young man in his 20s came in outside, with a dusty robe and warm eyes.

"Excuse me, is this Xiuxiu's house?"

Cao Guizhi looked at him lazily at first, seeing that the man was dressed in dark-patterned brocade of excellent quality, and his demeanor was dignified and dignified, so he asked cautiously, "Where did you come from?"

"I came from Jiangling."

Cao Guizhi smiled, changed his tone, and shouted upstairs: "Xiuxiu, Jiangling has guests!"

Xiuxiu was still in the room secretly feeling sad, when she heard her mother calling Jiang Ling to come, she thought that Shen Buyu sent someone to pick her up, so she just sat there and didn't want to move.After Cao Guizhi yelled again, he lazily went downstairs.

The visitor stared at her intently and grinned at her.

Xiuxiu stood there for a moment, at a loss for what to do, his lips moved: "Four...Four Highnesses."

"I'll come to see you." Xiao Hao said briefly with a smile.

Cao Guizhi opened his mouth wide and stammered, "Fourth Highness... Could it be the Fourth Prince? The emperor's son?"

As if she understood, she hastily called the girl to bring tea and snacks, and she invited Xiao Hao into the room with a smile.Xiuxiu ignored her mother, suddenly made up her mind, and walked out of the yard.Xiao Hao motioned towards Cao Guizhi slightly, and followed Xiuxiu away.

The lake breeze gently blows the water, and the poplar flowers are dancing freely.Luohuaren is independent, and the clear sunlight falls on Xixiu's silhouette, making him look even weaker and slender.She folded her arms, as if she couldn't stand the long wind, and the silhouette would be blown away in no time.

Xiao Hao silently looked at the scenery in front of him.

In late spring, it was like the heart of the woman in front of her, wandering in a daze.

He pretended to be relaxed and said: "You don't yearn for the blue sky grassland I have depicted for you, are you reluctant to part with this landscape?"

Xiuxiu shook her thick long eyelashes, and replied softly: "My roots are here. Only when I stand on the land of my hometown, can I have a sense of solidity and feel that I am myself."

"Did you lose yourself in Jiangling?"

"I don't know..." She shook her head, appearing to be in a state of confusion, "I don't know why this happened..."

He was very close to her, and smiled lightly.A strand of her hair was blown off by the wind, sticking stubbornly to her cheek.With a dull pain in his heart, he gently brushed his hair away.

"I don't know why this happened. I always thought that the third brother would choose you. When the news reached Huanyi, I was stunned. So I rushed to Jiangling in advance to find you. I didn't expect you to go back to your hometown, and I traveled day and night. Get here."

Xiuxiu felt a little dazed, and asked casually, "Advance? What do you mean?"

"It's the third brother's big wedding! Xiuxiu, why don't you question the third brother? He won't know that you came back alone and endured the sorrow silently! I've looked for him, but he doesn't even have a shadow. What Haidongqing went hunting. He is really idle! Although he is the closest to me among brothers, I really can't stand his virtue of not caring about anything!"

Xiao Hao has always been gentle, but at this time his face was flushed with anger.The cloak was caught in the wind, fluttering along with his voice.

"Come on, let's ask him together!" He squeezed her hand tightly.

Xiuxiu was pale, struggled weakly, and said with tears in his eyes, "What are you asking? Ask him why he didn't choose me? Don't let me beg him pitifully! My heart has been cut and dripping with blood. It hurts so much! I'm afraid, I don't want to be whipped by him again, I really can't bear it, I will die..."

She fell to her knees, covered her face and wept silently.The wind tightened, and the waves of the lake slapped wave after wave.Daishan Xiushui, like a painting screen, is shrouded in the vast mist, eliciting bursts of sobbing and mourning.Only Xiuxiu's lonely and sad figure came into Xiao Hao's eyes.

He felt cold and uncomfortable, hugged Xiuxiu, and said softly: "If you are sad, just cry at me heartily, if you are afraid, I will be here with you. Xiuxiu, everything will pass. I said , When you really open your smile, my eyes will no longer be dim, and we will wait for the sun to come out together."

Unable to bear it any longer, Xiuxiu burst into tears, leaning against Xiao Hao's chest, holding onto his arm tightly, as if this was the only support in the world.

Gangneung.

Shen Buyu sat in the study, closed his eyes and meditated.

Xiao Kui's wedding was approaching, and all the departments in charge were busy, but he, the prime minister, was idle.On the table was a wedding invitation from the Imperial Servant's Mansion, and the bright red lettering of "Happy" was eye-catching.It seems that Xiuxiu, the third prince and concubine, is hopeless and must be considered in the long term.

I thought that everything in the ancestral hall, inside and outside the palace had been taken care of without any problems, but in the end Zheng De took advantage of it.

Sister Zheng De used to be Emperor Liang's favorite concubine, and brother Zheng Wei was Marquis of Huanyi.Once when he was in court, Shen Buyu deliberately approached Zheng De to congratulate him.Zheng De was humble and respectful, on the contrary, he thanked Qi Shen for his kindness, and his answer was impeccable, without any flaws.

No wonder the folks are talking about it. It seems that Xiao Kui was really right in choosing his daughter.

Shen Buyu felt annoyed in his heart, and had to put on a kind and magnanimous appearance in front of everyone.As the end of March approached, every time Emperor Liang went to the court to ask questions about the big wedding, he had no intention of intervening, and went home when he went to court, hiding in his study all day long, thanking guests behind closed doors.

Uncle Fu came in quietly and called softly, "Master."

Shen Buyu opened his eyes slightly, and asked, "Have you found out the matter?"

"Returning to the master, Jiang Chen couldn't figure out what happened. In the past six months, especially since the third prince was deposed, I haven't seen him interacting with other women. The one closest to him is the young lady. Before the election of the concubine, the palace also Nothing unusual happened. Recently, the Third Prince didn't even bring Jiang Chen with him, and he hunted and had fun with the First Prince every day, so happy!"

"Don't go to see Jiang Chen these days, if Xiao Kui finds out that Jiang Chen was inserted by me, the trouble will be even greater."

Shen Buyu rubbed his forehead in distress, and looked out the window.In the distance, there are several colorful purple dots dotted with greenery on the Yeying Pond, which looks like a fairy, but it is actually a lotus flower that is just about to bloom.Suddenly, I saw a woman named Cao Yanrong standing by the pool.At that time, she was slim and tall. Although she didn't smile, her eyes were as agile as water, which made him fascinated.

"Understood, the root cause lies in me. When Xiao Kui discovered that I had an old relationship with Concubine Rong when he was a child, he hated me to the bone. Young people have learned to be unpredictable. From the very beginning, Xiuxiu was destined to be an abandoned child. I have to admit , I lost. Xiuxiu suffered a loss, so she ran away. As for what she lost, she must understand..."

"My lord, won't the miss come back any more?"

"Let me think."

Shen Buyu waved his hands with a lonely expression.

At this moment, the guard guarding the gate ran in in a panic, shouting "Master".

Uncle Fu frowned, and scolded: "Slave, why are you in such a panic? I have trained you for nothing for so many years!"

The guard was so out of breath, he could only bend down and bow, talking intermittently: "Back... back to the master, here we come... Your Highness the third prince... here we come!"

Shen Buyu was taken aback for a moment, then his whole body bounced off the chair, and the book in his hand almost fell to the ground.Uncle Fu hurriedly helped the master dress up.Shen Buyu had just stepped out of the threshold when he suddenly hesitated.

"Xiao Kui has never entered Shen's house, why did he break the sky today? Could it be—"

"Master, is it true that the Third Highness has regretted it, and I beg you to come?" Uncle Fu said happily.

Shen Buyu was also flustered, but said in his mouth: "Don't be impatient, watch his expression before acting."

When they arrived at the gate of the mansion, the ground was already packed with people kneeling in darkness.Xiao Kui happened to be standing there leisurely, dressed in emerald yellow.Light and shadow reflected each other on his body, making his bright eyes and teeth even more radiant.

Shen Buyu took a step forward, Ji Shou said: "The Third Highness is here, the old minister is far away from welcoming you, Your Highness please forgive me."

Xiao Kui supported him politely, and said: "Master, why did you say that? According to royal rules, the students have prepared some small gifts today. Thanks to the teacher's teachings in the past, I am here to thank the teacher." Two large lacquered gold gift boxes came over.

Shen Buyu felt a little discouraged, so he kowtowed again to thank him, ordered his subordinates to accept him, and accompanied Xiao Kui into the Zhengdong room.

After sitting down in the main hall, a servant girl came in with a silver-embedded tea tray to serve tea.Xiao Kui glanced at her and said with a smile, "Teacher is so lucky, the maids at home are much more beautiful than Cai'e in the palace."

"The Third Highness laughed." Shen Buyu didn't know what to do, so he smiled and said a few polite words.

Xiao Kui seemed not to want to sit for a long time, so he stood up, walked to the threshold, looked around at the surrounding scenery, and said in a loud voice: "I heard that the Yeying Pond at the teacher's house is better than the father's Taiye. The students don't believe it. Come today. Yes, I would like to see and see."

Shen Buyu didn't dare to be negligent, and led the way in front, walked through the corridor courtyard, passed the screen wall, and arrived at Yeying Pool.

In late spring, the Nightingale Pond is full of vitality, with fragrant flowers and plants, willows on the banks of the river, and all kinds of red and purple.The breeze blows towards the face with a delicate fragrance, which makes people feel refreshed.Xiao Kui lingered on the bank, tsk-tsk praised.

After a while, they came to the side of the water pavilion, Xiao Kui lifted his robe and climbed up, Shen Buyu had no choice but to follow step by step.Looking from the pavilion, it is really the so-called one mountain and one scenery. The Yeying Pond has been shrouded in thousands of trees and flowers, and the towering pines and cypresses behind are lush and shaded to avoid the sun.Across the sea of ​​pine trees, you can vaguely see the upturned eaves of Juxin Courtyard.

Shen Buyu secretly observed Xiao Kui's expression, but saw him standing with his hands behind his back and said: "This place is so elegant. I heard from my mother that there is a unique courtyard by the Yeying Pool. She has lived in it for two or three years. It must be this place." gone."

"It's been more than [-] years, and the yard is old. Later, the old minister asked people to renovate it and let Xiuxiu live in it. Now when he leaves, the yard is empty." Shen Buyu's tone became calm.

"gone?"

An inexplicable light flashed across his eyes, the corners of Xiao Kui's mouth curved, and a sneering smile appeared: "Really? Would the teacher really be willing to let her go? Could it be that there is another good place to go?"

"She said she wanted to go back to her hometown, but the old minister couldn't keep her."

"My hometown? I thought this is where she should stay. Why is there any reason to go back?" Xiao Kui snorted softly.

Shen Buyu remained calm, and asked with a smile: "Your Highness has also been in contact with Xiuxiu. According to His Highness, is it better to leave or not?"

Xiao Kui looked at the vast blue pool, seemed to guess the meaning of Shen Buyu's words, and smiled indifferently: "Whether to go or not, it has something to do with the teacher, and what does it have to do with me? Since she has gone, go That's fine too."

He stood on the waterside pavilion for a while, then said goodbye and left.Shen Buyu has been standing by his side not to disturb, when he sent Xiao Kui out of the house, he suddenly breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Kui's arrival seemed to have left such an ambiguous trace, and brought him new hopes. He hurriedly called Uncle Fu, "Hurry up, prepare the carriage! Go to Mengmao County!"

(End of this chapter)