After walking in twists and turns for a long time, I felt that I had reached the depths of Qi Mansion. The old butler finally stopped in front of a wooden door, surrounded by an outer wall of red bricks and green tiles. It was not high, but I could not see the scene in the courtyard. The wooden door On the top, a piece of bluestone is engraved with four small characters in seal script, and the pinnacles are beautiful and elegant.
Pushing open the wooden door, Yu Jian waved his hand to signal the others to step back, and only let the two servants carry the wooden box and lead Murong Shuqing into the courtyard.
Inside the small gate, the courtyard is not large and can be seen. Compared with the endless bamboo forest and the surrounding blue lake, this place is much more sophisticated. The two-story wooden hut is not big. There is a pavilion in front of the house. It opened very well, and it was particularly eye-catching in this verdant green.
In addition, the most planted in the small courtyard is a kind of plant unique to the east corner - wattle grass. It is a grass, but it is actually a low shrub plant. This grass is evergreen all year round, and its smell is very different. It is neither floral nor woody, but a tea fragrance, which is more scented than any other. A kind of tea should be fragrant and mellow, and the fragrance of dragon birthday is not as attractive as its fragrance, but this kind of grass can be poisoned if eaten by mistake. It was the first time that Murong Shuqing had seen such large-scale planting of wattle grass, and the people who took care of them must have spent a lot of thought.
In the small yard, a girl dressed as a maid was squatting in front of the white chrysanthemum to trim the branches and leaves. When she saw them coming in, she was stunned for a moment, then got up quickly and stood respectfully to the side.
Yu Zhan asked people to carry the wooden box into the back room, glanced at the girl standing beside her with her head lowered, thought for a moment, and said to Murong Shuqing: "Miss Shuqing, this is the rough maid of Pinecui Xiaosu, the old slave will give it to Murong Shuqing. You find two smart people to serve you."
The woman kept her head down and couldn't see her expression clearly. Murong Shu looked at her for a while and smiled, "Old housekeeper, I like quietness. She is very good, so you don't need to find someone to serve her."
Yu Jian was a little hesitant, and under Murong Shuqing's firm gaze, he didn't say any more, such a Miss Shuqing always made him unable to resist, "Well, what do you need to tell this old slave."
"Excuse me."
Yu Jian bowed and said, "Don't say that, the old slave will retire first." After Murong Shuqing nodded, Yu Jian left Pinecui Inn with his servants. Before leaving, he whispered beside the girl, "Good life to serve you."
The girl nodded slightly, still standing with her head bowed.
After Yu Qian and the others left, the courtyard was quiet. Murong Shuqing didn't say a word. He just walked to the small white chrysanthemum, fiddling with the branches and leaves, and continued the pruning that the girl had not finished. As if thinking about it for a long time, the woman slowly walked to Murong Shuqing's side, bowed her body and said, "This servant has seen Miss."
The soft sound is very comfortable to listen to.
Without looking back, Murong Shuqing put the branches and leaves cut in his hands aside, continued to organize the white chrysanthemum, and asked casually, "What's your name?"
"Pure water." The woman replied simply with two words.
clean water? Murong Shuqing caressed the petals of the chrysanthemum and smiled, "Good name."
She got up and straightened her dress. She turned around and saw Jingshui was still half-kneeling and saluting. She didn't get up. Murong Shuqing patted her forehead and stayed with Lu Yi and the others all day. She had forgotten about this era. Can't get up. Murong Shuqing gently supported her arm and made her stand up, "You usually take care of this place?"
Jing Shui hesitated, but still held Murong Shuqing's hand, stood up straight, and replied softly, "Yes."
The courtyard is not big, but it is still not easy to manage it so well. Looking at Jingshui again, she kept her head down, wouldn't her neck be tired? Murong Shuqing smiled and said, "Do you always lower your head and talk to others?"
Hearing Murong Shuqing's slightly teasing words, Jingshui thought for a while before slowly raising his head.
This made Murong Shuqing a little curious, is it so difficult to look up to see people? She didn't know the reason why the girl refused to lift her head until Jishui completely raised her head. Jingshui is very beautiful, and her smart eyes are also moist, but on the left half of her face, from the left forehead to the corner of her lips, there is a dark red birthmark, which hides her beauty and looks a bit scary at first glance.
After Jingshui raised her head, she didn't dare to look at Murong Shuqing, she just stared at the hem of her skirt. For a long time, she didn't hear Murong Shuqing screaming or speaking, and finally she couldn't help it and met Murong Shuqing's eyes. There is no panic, no disdain, no disgust. There is calmness, there is a smile, as if her face is no different from ordinary people. Jishui lowered his head again, covering the mist in his eyes. It's not that I sympathize with her or pity her. This woman with a light smile is the only person who feels that she is the same as ordinary people for so many years.
She lowered her head again. This time, Murong Shuqing didn't ask her to lift her up again. Instead, he walked to the pavilion and sat down, asking, "Is there no one living in this garden?" The garden was very special. She was very curious. who is it
After calming down a little, Jingshui followed behind Murong Shuqing, and replied in a low voice, "Diancui Xiaosu used to be Miss Yue's boudoir, and then I and my mother took care of it. Except that the master occasionally comes to take a look, no one comes."
Is this Qi Yue's residence? Looking around this delicate and elegant courtyard again, Murong Shuqing whispered a couplet on the pavilion, "The white bird forgets its hunger, let the clouds come and go in the forest; the green hills are silent, and the flowers bloom in the world. Fall, flowers fall and bloom." Qi Yue... What kind of woman should she be
Is she retracing a lost beauty? Murong Shuqing shook his head amusingly, and said to the two beside him, "Lu Yi, you and Jing Shui go in and clean up."
"Yes!"
The two walked into the back room, and Murong Shuqing also came out of the pavilion. Facing the sunset, they came to the large patch of wattle grass. The faint mellow tea fragrance made Murong Shuqing take a deep breath. , but no taste. Such a special plant, you can smell its fragrance only when it is planted in pieces. The closer you are, the farther away the fragrance is from you.
Still fascinated by the elegant tea fragrance, an uncertain call sounded behind him, causing Murong Shuqing to turn around.
"Qing'er?"
Qi Rui stared at the white figure standing in the bushes in front of him, he thought he was wrong. When I came back, I heard that Qing'er had arrived, and hurried to Liufangyuan, but no one was seen. Later, I learned that my grandfather let her live in Pinecui Xiaoju. Mother's Pinnacle Lodge has always been accessible to very few people, and Qing'er doesn't like the deserted place here, how could she be willing to live here
When he entered the door, the white and beautiful figure made him think that he saw his mother many years ago, with a faint smile in front of him, is the woman in plain white robes his little sister
While he was looking at her, Murong Shuqing was also watching him, with a light blue shirt and robe, sword brows and star eyes, both elegant and handsome, yet arrogant, with vigor and vigor between his brows, he was indeed a dragon and a phoenix among people. The person who will come to her now should be Qi Rui, Murong Shuqing called out with some difficulty: "Big brother." After all, Qi Rui is only twenty-four years old, and it is really not used to call a boy so much younger than himself, big brother.
A big brother called back Qi Rui's mind and helped Murong Shuqing out of the bushes. Qi Rui said angrily, "Why did you come by yourself, and I didn't wait for me to pick you up."
Murong Shuqing pulled the silk scarf between his neck and replied softly, "It's not too far."
Looking at Murong Shuqing next to him again, Qi Rui sighed, "Qing'er, you have changed a lot." She would not have said that three years ago. Did he miss the growth of his little sister in the past three years
Murong Shuqing smiled bitterly and said, "Yes, you have grown up." It was indeed big enough.
Qi Rui tightened his fists slightly and asked in a deep voice, "Is it because of Xuanyuan Yi?" He always knew that the little sister had a soft spot for Xuanyuan Yi, and even fell into the water because of him. If it was because of him that the little sister was stimulated to become like this, he would never let him go.
Xuanyuan Yi? If he didn't mention it, she would almost forget that domineering figure. Gently pressing down Qi Rui's clenched fist, Murong Shuqing said lightly, "He and I have broken off our engagement."
Break up the engagement? "He forced you?"
force? Murong Shuqing almost laughed, this kind of fingertips is marriage, who should say who is forcing whom? Shaking his head, Murong Shuqing sighed, "This marriage contract, isn't it because we are forcing him?"
As the sun went down, the figures of the two of them were elongated, and the original outlines were also blurred. Murong Shu's calm and elegant voice seemed a little hazy in the autumn wind, and her always peaceful smile made her look softer, but these made Qi Rui's brows furrowed even tighter, "Qing'er, you have really changed."
Although Qing'er in the past was rambunctious and willful, even arrogant and unreasonable, her joys, anger, sorrow and joy were all on her face, but now Qing'er, a calm and soothing smile occupies her face, but he can no longer see her. I was thinking about something, and felt that she was getting farther and farther away from her.
Has it changed? She has not changed, but she is no longer the original Murong Shuqing, but these can no longer be explained, and I don't know how to explain them. Then let him think she has changed. Some things, perhaps not knowing, are easier to accept.
The two faced each other for a long time, but they were speechless, sighed secretly, took Murong Shuqing's hand, Qi Rui said, "Grandpa is still waiting for us to eat, let's go."
"Okay." Knowing that her change would make Qi Rui unacceptable for a while, Murong Shuqing nodded lightly and let him pull, wandering down the winding path, she missed her brother too.
After dinner, he declined Qi Rui's company, and Murong Shuqing walked slowly back to Pinecui Lodge on the winding path. The design of the backyard of Qi Mansion is different from that of Murong's house. There is basically no such winding corridor in Murong's house. This is actually what Murong Shuqing finds strange. The gates and buildings of the mansion are full of masculinity, even the flowers and plants. There are very few of them, but there is such a delicate corridor with such gentle twists and turns. The combination of masculinity and softness is really interesting.
At tonight's family dinner, I didn't see the "big uncle", "little uncle" and "cousin Fengxian" mentioned by Lu Yi. I only saw two lovely children, one is the youngest daughter of my uncle Qi Yun, Qi Yu, the only girl in the Qi family, and the other is my uncle's son Qi Fengzhuo. The two little guys were very interested in her and asked about it all night. Looking at them reminded her of Star Soul. When he first saw Xinghun, he was also as big as them, but a child with thorns all over his body, full of defensiveness and melancholy.
Murong Shuqing thought randomly in his heart, walked leisurely into the small courtyard, and saw two girls around the low table in the pavilion, not knowing what they were doing. Walking quietly behind them, the two were seriously stuffing the washed leaves of the vines into a beautiful crescent purse. Murong Shuqing asked with a smile, "What are you doing?"
The two were taken aback, and when they turned around, they saw Murong Shuqing standing behind them with a smile. Lu Yi patted his frightened heart and said, "Miss, you scared me to death."
Murong Shuqing took the purse in her hand and took a closer look. It was very beautiful. It wasn't because of the extraordinary embroidery skills, but the fine stitches and the clever white chrysanthemum. All of them could see the care and meticulousness of the embroidered person. The faint fragrance of Zhujing tea makes this purse more elegant.
While playing with it, Murong Shuqing asked with a smile, "This is?"
Lu Yi explained with a smile, "This is a purse with pure water embroidery. It is said that the wattle grass is placed in it and can be carried with you. I guess Miss, you love tea so much, and you will definitely like it."
"Give it for me?" Murong Shuqing chuckled.
"Yeah." Pure Water tightened the packed purse and handed it to Lu Yi.
Lu Yi didn't answer, she turned around and stood beside Murong Shuqing, giving her the look you brought it yourself.
Murong Shuqing smiled and saw the eye contact between the two little girls, and when she was away, the two had established a good relationship.
Jingshui squeezed the purse, moved slowly to Murong Shuqing, and said in a low voice, "Miss, this is for you." After speaking, she handed the purse to Murong Shuqing.
Murong Shuqing took the purse from Jingshui's hand, pulled Lu Yi and Jingshui to sit on the wooden chair beside him, and said softly, "Thank you, Jingshui."
Jingshui, who didn't dare to sit in the first place, heard Murong Shuqing's words and stood up quickly and said, "Miss, don't say that."
Putting the purse on his belt, Murong Shuqing smiled lightly: "You guys make me a cup of tea!"
"Yes!" At this time, Murong Shuqing liked to be alone and quietly, and Lu Yi took purified water and entered the inner room.
Murong Shuqing walked out of the pavilion and came to the white chrysanthemum in front of the hut. Under the moonlight, the chrysanthemum became whiter and whiter. No wonder the ancients would say that it is easy to use and unintentional, and it has a natural charm. Gently stroked the petals, Murong Shuqing whispered, "Yan Yu."
Yan Yu dodged and appeared in front of Murong Shuqing. After arriving at Qi's house, he and Cang Su became shadow guards again. They were still more used to protecting her in this way. However, because of the last hostage, the two were more cautious.
After thinking for a moment, Murong Shuqing said, "Go to the Yingke Building and tell Qin Rui that I will go there tomorrow and let him prepare what I want." This time in the capital, checking business and accounts is also an important purpose. For the past three years, she has been focusing her business on all parts of the East, but the capital is where she controls the speed of development. This is where politics and imperial power are the most powerful and concentrated. Any changes in interests and relationships are very sensitive. appear particularly important.
At the same time that Yan Yu replied "Yes" in a low voice, the figure was swept out of the hospital.
Murong Shuqing had become accustomed to their "trapeze"-like skills. Letting go of the white chrysanthemum in his hand, Murong Shuqing got up and returned to the pavilion, gently untied the silk on his neck, the scars on his neck were basically invisible under the moonlight.
"Pure water."
Hearing her call, Jingshui came to her side with a pot of tea.
"Is there a study in this garden?" The books she brought were almost enough to read in the car. If there was a study in this garden, she would not have to move it from the holding the moon study.
Jingshui poured tea for Murong Shuqing and said, "Yes, they are all the books that Miss Yue collected before, and they have never been moved."
Murong Shuqing was curious about what kind of books that gorgeous woman would like, so she got up and said, "Take me to see it."
"Yes." Jingshui took Murong Shuqing to the leftmost wing on the first floor of the wooden house, and asked Murong Shuqing to wait at the door. Jingshui entered the house and lit the candlestick before welcoming her in.
Followed her into the room, and looked at the study carefully. It was not big, but there were a lot of books. When I entered the door, I was facing a desk, with all kinds of writing, ink, paper and inkstone on it. The room was neatly organized and cleaned.
Most of the bookshelves are poems and essays by famous scholars, as well as some historical notes. Purified water brought the candlestick and raised it slightly. According to Murong Shuqing's experience, some interesting or different books can be found on the upper and lower layers of the general bookshelf. Sure enough, she found several travel novels and some miscellaneous treatises on medicinal herbs on the top shelf of the bookshelf.
Murong Shuqing squatted down to check the lower bookshelf, but saw a black shadow under the innermost bookshelf, she leaned down and took the candlestick to check, it was a rectangular wooden box, Murong Shuqing raised her head and asked the purified water, "This is What's the wooden box underneath?"
Purifying Water was obviously also very puzzled. When she usually wiped the bookshelves and cleaned the ground, she didn't notice that there was a wooden box under the bookshelf, so she shook her head and replied, "I don't know."
Handing the candlestick back to Jingshui's hands, Murong Shuqing sat on the ground on his knees, reached out to the bottom of the bookshelf, groped for the wooden box, and said to Jingshui, "Jingshui, you don't have to call yourself a slave by my side, I'm not used to it. "
Jingshui said "yes" in a low voice, put the candlestick on the ground, knelt on the ground like Murong Shuqing, and said anxiously, "Miss, let the slave... let me come."
Murong Shuqing straightened his waist and rubbed his arms, but it was really heavy. After pulling for a long time, he only pulled out a little bit, giving half of the position for water purification, Murong Shuqing said, "It's very heavy, we are on one side. Pull it out."
Clean water nodded. The two struggled to pull the wooden box out of the bookshelf. Take the candlestick over and take a closer look. The wooden box is covered with a layer of ash. If you wipe it gently, you can see that it is carved from red sandalwood. The workmanship is very simple. There is no complicated carved pattern on the box, but it is very fine. The wooden box is not locked, just covered, but still very tightly combined.
The wooden box was gently opened—
Some blue-covered books without titles, a piece of folded silk, and a small stone sculpture.
Murong Shuqing picked up the stone carving and took a closer look. The craftsmanship was a bit rough and the skills were not skilled. Under the shadow of the candle at night, he could vaguely see that the carving was a man. Qing looks, but I can still feel that the sculptor is very attentive in portraying the appearance of the man.
Murong Shuqing put down the stone sculpture and gently stroked the silk. The smooth, thin but strong texture shows that this is a fine silk. This type of silk is generally used as a canvas, which is light and convenient, and not easy to break. It can also keep the picture as bright as new for a long time, but it is expensive.
Under such light, when opening the picture scroll, nothing could be seen. Murong Shuqing skipped it and picked up the books next to him to read. Upon closer inspection, these books were all poems and essays written by Qi Yue in her early years. Thinking it was very interesting, Murong Shuqing picked out a few books and said to Jingshui next to him, "Purewater, move the rest to the room for me."
In Murong's house, she also saw some notes left by Qi Yue in some books. At that time, she felt that she was a special woman. When she came to Qi's house and lived in her Pinecui Lodge, she was especially fond of her. There is an inexplicable closeness. Is this what is called a blood relationship? She shouldn't be bored in the next few days.
"Yes." Jingshui packed up the rest of the books and followed her out the door.
Entering the main house on the second floor, Lu Yi had already tidied up the room, took the book from Murong Shuqing's hand, and placed it on the low table beside the reclining chair. She knew that Murong Shuqing didn't like sitting at the desk seriously. Before reading, she moved the reclining chair to the back room so that she could lie down and read.
Murong Shuqing leaned against the window, took over the freshly brewed tea, and the corners of his mouth couldn't stop rising as he watched the two of them open their mouths in an orderly manner. She finally understood why the average daughter-in-law is an idiot with no basic self-care ability in life. With such a thoughtful and well-prepared girl everywhere, let alone hands-on, she doesn't even have to use her brain, and it's hard not to be an idiot.
After brushing her hair that was ruffled by the wind, Murong Shuqing said with a light smile, "You all go down and rest."