There is a lot of snow in the northern country. As the year approaches New Year's Eve, it becomes more and more reckless, falling all over the world, and then being blown up by the strong wind, it is flying. Lanterns were hung high in the city of Chang'an early in the morning, the white snow against the fiery red, and the eyes were filled with joy, as if it had dispelled a lot of chills from people's bodies.
The affairs between the DPRK and China are getting thinner, and officials big and small are also looking forward to the arrival of the annual leave, so that they can enjoy peace at home.
The Weiyang Palace was wrapped in silver, the wind and snow outside the palace were swept away, and the interior was suffused with warmth.
After listening to the report, Li Yanzhen suddenly said, "Speaking of which, Su Aiqing and Chu Aiqing seem to have gotten a lot closer recently?"
Chu Mingyun raised his eyebrows, and just as he was about to answer with a low laugh, Su Shiyu took the lead, "I have had a lot of government affairs with Master Chu in recent days, and it is inevitable that we will have more contacts. Besides, we both share the same For many years, the relationship has always been harmonious, how can it be said that they have suddenly come closer."
Chu Mingyun did not remember that he and Su Shiyu had always been in harmony.
"Yes." Li Yanzhen nodded and smiled at Su Shiyu: "The end of the year is approaching, everything is in order at the Censor's desk, will you be free before the resumption of the court in January?"
"Yes," Su Shiyu said, "although there are occasional people who pervert the law, but the general administration is still clear and orderly, and it is also His Majesty's leisure."
"I didn't listen to you," Li Yanzhen waved her hand, looked at him and said, "Since there is nothing to do, don't go back to the mansion after the court is closed on New Year's Eve, how about staying in the palace to watch the age with me?"
Chu Mingyun, who was ignored, glanced at the two of them, and pulled the corners of his lips inexplicably, without making a sound.
Su Shiyu was obviously taken aback for a moment, and after confirming that he heard correctly, he replied, "Your Majesty loves you, but it is difficult for you to obey."
"Why not?" Li Yanzhen asked.
"At the end of the year, His Majesty should have a banquet with his concubines. It is unheard of for foreign ministers to be mixed in."
"Then don't call them, it's just me and you?"
Su Shiyu glanced at him and said helplessly, "That would be even more contrary to the patriarchal etiquette system, and I'm afraid I will be criticized by others."
"I am the honor of the ninety-five, who dares to argue? You just say whether to answer or not."
"The duty of the minister is to supervise the officials, how can he violate the law with his body?" Su Shiyu knelt down on one knee, "Your Majesty's kindness, the minister's heart has taken it."
"Su Aiqing," Li Yanzhen said dissatisfiedly, "It wasn't that you didn't stay with me in the palace when I was in the East Palace, so why are you so reluctant now? Besides, now your parents are deceased, you can't see your relatives, and you don't have a family. Reunion, what's the point of you returning home alone?"
Su Shiyu lowered his head, his eyes suddenly dimmed where no one could see, and he didn't make a sound for a while.
A moment of silence made Li Yanzhen slowly realize that she had said the wrong thing, but she had good intentions, and it was inconvenient to retract her previous words, so she could only stare at the figure with a little unease.
It's just that Su Shiyu stood up and sighed lightly. When he raised his eyes, there was no turbulence. "At that time, the minister was His Majesty's companion, and there was nothing wrong with him, but this time is different from the past." He paused, "In addition, , Since Your Majesty still remembers, you should also remember why the minister was not allowed to return to the mansion on New Year's Eve that year, and was banned from the East Palace with you." The tone lowered a little, "Your Majesty, be careful with your words and deeds."
Li Yanzhen was stunned, opened her mouth but was speechless, her eyes fell to the side of Chu Mingyun, and she took it back, keeping her mouth shut.
Chu Mingyun looked at their expressions with great interest, suddenly coughed lightly, and said with a smile: "Actually, Your Majesty doesn't have to worry about Master Su. His cousin is living in the minister's mansion now, if Master Su thinks he is lonely in the mansion alone , I'm sure he'll come here too, and this minister must entertain His Majesty with all his heart."
The provocation in these words is too obvious, Su Shiyu frowned slightly and looked at him, but did not refute. Li Yanzhen stared straight at Chu Mingyun for a while, then turned her head away without saying a word.
When the two of them walked out of the hall, it was snowing, and the color of the snow was all over the distance. Su Shiyu suddenly stopped, looking at the heavy clouds of lead and ash above his head, silent for a long time, the cold wind cut his throat, he looked at Chu Mingyun, who had walked several steps away, and suddenly said, "Master Chu."
The sound was blown to pieces, Chu Mingyun stopped and looked at him sideways, "Huh?"
Su Shiyu stepped up and approached, the snow under his feet made a small creaking sound, he stood in front of him, and smiled slowly, "After the seal is sealed on New Year's Eve, I will go when I return to the house and change into my regular clothes, please excuse me. already."
"Go?" Chu Mingyun said in surprise, "Master Su is coming to my house?"
"Yes," Su Shiyu said, the white air he exhaled dissipated, he looked at the bleak sun in the distance, and his tone was gentle, "This winter is indeed too cold."
Chu Mingyun couldn't understand what he meant, "... Master Su's house... Not enough charcoal fire?"
"It's not that poor." Su Shiyu laughed lightly, "What's the matter, I didn't say that I should be entertained, and now I am not welcome?"
"How come," Chu Mingyun smiled, "wait for you at any time."
The two pairs of footprints on the snow were quickly covered without a trace, and they walked side by side and drifted away, blending into the vast snowy landscape.
In fact, what Li Yanzhen said was right. When she returned to the mansion, she was alone. She always sat in front of the tablet for a night and ended up being lonely. Besides, this winter... it's too cold.
It was still sunny on New Year's Eve, but it suddenly snowed again as it approached dusk. There were cumulus clouds in the sky, snow piled up in the courtyard, and the cold wind blew the window lattices.
Qin Zhao closed the window tightly and turned to look at the person leaning on the soft slump. Chu Mingyun changed his official robe early, held a stove in his hand, and buried half of his face in the white fox fur.
Qin Zhao's footsteps only sounded, and Chu Mingyun said without opening his eyes, "He's here?"
"It's still early." Qin Zhao said, "But since Su Shiyu is coming, won't the mansion make some arrangements?" He glanced at the furnishings as before, "Quan Chang'an, I'm afraid we have the least taste of the new year here."
"Don't you think it's not festive enough?" Chu Mingyun slowly lifted his eyes and said with a smile that was not a smile, "Then cut some wedding calligraphy and put them on the doors and windows, and then put red candles and melons. Su Shiyu and I are sitting in the hall, and you and Du Yue put on new ones. How about you worship the church?"
"Senior brother." Qin Zhao looked at him with a paralyzed face.
After that day, although Qin Zhao and Du Yue reconciled, they looked fine on the surface, but they became dull when they were facing each other. Qin Zhao was naturally speechless with something hidden in his heart, but Du Yue saw that the more time he was silent, it was rare for him to keep his mouth shut.
Chu Mingyun laughed, stopped poking at his wound, sat up, and pushed his long loose hair behind him, "There is nothing to arrange. If Su Shiyu is not satisfied, turn around and leave. Heart."
"Why would he want to come here?" Qin Zhao asked, "because Du Yue is here?"
"Do you think Su Shiyu is the same as you? Du Yue is not so attractive to him." Chu Mingyun glanced at him, and then looked down at the golden hand stove again, "I don't know what he is planning, I just thought about it. I haven't been able to figure it out for a long time. Besides," he paused and frowned slightly, "I don't know if it's my illusion, but Su Shiyu's attitude towards me seems to be much better than before."
Qin Zhao thought about it for a while, "Maybe it's because you've been in contact with each other so much that he sees you as a friend."
"Heh," Chu Mingyun sneered and said sarcastically, "Have you not noticed? Su Shiyu's closest friends are Du Yue's kind of people who go out without thinking. Obviously he doesn't like to associate with people who are too scheming. Too deep. And how I am, I am still a little self-aware.”
"Then what do you mean?"
"Let the mansion be on guard and keep an eye on the people brought by Su Shiyu."
After staying in the inner room for a while, they estimated that the time was approaching, so they got up and went to the main hall.
The hall is spacious, with four small tables placed opposite each other, with small stoves beside each, the charcoal fire is burning red, the whole hall is warm and warm, and the cold wind blows in the snow foam, and a little water is dissolved under the red corridor. stains.
Du Yue squatted in the corner, with his back to them, he didn't know what he was tinkering with.
"Why?" Chu Mingyun asked.
Du Yue turned his head and snorted softly, his eyes full of pride, "I won't tell you."
Chu Mingyun glanced at the pile of fireworks in front of him, "You are too short to cover up."
"Damn it!" Du Yue stood up suddenly, "You..."
Qin Zhao stood behind Chu Mingyun and looked at him with quiet black eyes. His heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly avoided his gaze, remembering that Qin Zhao might still be angry, and if he provokes Chu Mingyun again at this time, he might not know whether the other party would protect him again, so he had to mutter, "I'm still young," he said. It will definitely be taller than you in a few years."
Chu Mingyun listened carefully and didn't bother to pay attention to him.
The sound of footsteps suddenly sounded behind him, and the maid in blue hurriedly came to report, Chu Mingyun responded nonchalantly, turned around, raised his eyes, and was slightly stunned.
The red plum blossoms in the courtyard, and a figure appears in the snow-covered eyes. Black hair is like ink, snow clothes are like flowers, Su Shiyu stepped on the snow alone and came steadily, holding a purple bamboo umbrella, the wind was full of sleeves, as if the cold plum blossoms silently bloomed as he walked, dyed with the flying snow His shoulders are like a roll of freehand paintings with a clear rhythm.
"Fuck! My cousin is so good-looking!" Du Yue didn't know when to come forward.
Chu Mingyun glanced at him and moved his fingertips slightly, resisting the urge to beat him in front of Su Shiyu and Qin Zhao.
Su Shiyu had already walked into the corridor, took the umbrella for a while, and looked at Du Yue, "A Yue, speak well."
"Cousin! You are so beautiful!" Du Yue leaned forward with a grin.
Su Shiyu smiled lightly, then turned to Chu Mingyun and nodded slightly: "Master Chu, it's been a long wait."
"It's okay." Chu Mingyun looked outside, "Master Su, actually came alone?"
"I was originally going to come by myself, what should I bring others to do?" Su Shiyu looked at him and smiled.
Chu Mingyun slightly raised his eyebrows and said with a smile, "Ask casually."
They sat down on the table together with Su Shiyu, and the tea and dishes came up one by one, and the steam was steaming and tempting. Chu Mingyun quietly left the seat, turned to the shadow outside the corridor, and asked, "How is it?"
Shadow Guard said: "Lord, the house and surrounding areas have been checked, and there are no suspicious persons."
"..." Chu Mingyun looked at Su Shiyu who was talking with Du Yue in the hall in confusion, and frowned slowly, "... It's actually a person."
Su Shiyu suddenly turned his head and looked over as if he had felt something, and met Chu Mingyun's gaze. His eyes met, he didn't have time to react, but Su Shiyu smiled lightly and turned his eyes away.
The clear cold wind carried Mei Xiangyou into the corridor. He was silent for a moment, and then whispered, "Understood, you all retreat."
After dinner, the maids packed up the dishes and served warm wine and kumquats, and then they all retired, leaving the four of them to continue to keep the year old.
The huge main hall was suddenly a bit empty, Du Yue grabbed the cup and sat down beside Su Shiyu, hehe smiled, "Cousin, I'll accompany you!"
Chu Mingyun glanced aside, Qin Zhao lowered his eyes expressionlessly, and did not want to look there at all. He smiled in a low voice and moved over to sit next to Su Shiyu, "Of course he is accompanied by me, it's your turn?"
The three present looked at him in surprise, but Chu Mingyun poured a glass of wine for Su Shiyu unhurriedly, and squinted at Qin Zhao, "Why are you sitting so far away?"
Qin Zhao understood, hesitated for a moment, and then sat down. The four of them sat around the fireplace, and the hall became even more empty. Su Shiyu sipped his wine lightly and glanced at Du Yue's awkward look at Qin Zhao, but he didn't say a word.
Du Yue secretly retracted his gaze, sighed secretly, and then focused his attention on the cup, and immediately exclaimed dissatisfiedly: "Why is it only me who has tea?!"
Chu Mingyun said slowly: "It won't grow long after drinking too much, you are still young."
Du Yue pointed at him tremblingly, "Fuck..." Su Shiyu glanced at him, and he changed his words abruptly, "... After working so hard for so long, you still squeeze me when you are a big New Year's Eve."
Su Shiyu retracted his gaze and said with a smile, "Don't you always pour it in a cup? It's fine to drink tea."
"That's so boring," Du Yue frowned, "and how many years have you been here, cousin, I'm different now, I've already poured a glass, don't believe me, let me try it?"
Su Shiyu smiled, "I believe it."
Du Yue choked for a moment, facing Chu Mingyun's smiling appearance, and felt extremely uncomfortable. He drank all the tea, and then suddenly reached out and grabbed the jug to fill the glass. He raised his head and poured it down. He moved quickly and in one go. Just say it's alright."
Qin Zhao looked at him with a flushed face, but his eyes were indeed clear, and he didn't know what to do for a while. Du Yue happily filled another glass, looked at Chu Mingyun and Su Shiyu, took a sip, "I'll just say..." After a pause, he felt relieved in his hands, and tilted his head to the side beside him. On Qin Zhao.
Qin Zhao quickly grabbed Du Yue with one hand and grabbed the cup with the other and put it back on the table.
Chu Mingyun put his hand on Su Shiyu's shoulder and sighed: "Master Su, your cousin is really not telling a lie, and I don't know why you have only had a sip of alcohol over the years."
Su Shiyu didn't answer, and took his hand silently.
Qin Zhao looked down at Du Yue who was drowsy in his arms, hesitated for a moment, then hugged him carefully, "I'll take him back to the house." Without waiting for the two to answer, he got up and walked out.
There is a faint bitter fragrance of herbal medicine in the medicine house, and the lights are silent. Qin Zhao bowed and put Du Yue on the couch. Du Yue suddenly grabbed the front of his shirt with his backhand, opened his eyes and muttered in a daze, "I can still drink..."
"Well." Qin Zhao rescued the front of his clothes, "Go to sleep."
"Huh?" Du Yue suddenly opened his eyes and stared at him blankly for a while, "Qin Zhao?... You finally ignored me."
"No," Qin Zhao said, thinking about it before adding, "How could I ignore you."
He remembered that winter was also vaguely like that that year.
After years of severe drought, the family fled the famine. When passing Cangwu Mountain, he only slept for one night, and when he woke up, he was left alone. He understands that the elder brother can work, the younger brother is still in swaddling, and only he should be abandoned, he understands that.
At that time, the snow was heavy on the mountains, and the frost was freezing.
I was cold and hungry, but desperately wanted to live for no reason, so when I met my brother in the mountains, I would slam on him, but of course I was overturned and stepped on the ground. Chu Mingyun's brows and eyes were always gloomy when he was a teenager, and he looked at him carefully for a long time before letting go, "...It turned out to be a person."
He struggled to get up but had no strength. He raised his eyes and saw a child behind Chu Mingyun hurriedly catching up, "Chu, if you don't wait for me, I will sue your master!"
Chu Mingyun said indifferently, "As you like."
The child saw him, his eyes lit up, and he clumsily pulled him up, "Are you also going up the mountain to apprentice? Am I going to have a younger brother soon?" The other party was silent.
And he finally touched the temperature during the long cold winter.
I never expected someone to be as warm as the sun even in a blue shirt.
When his thoughts fell back, Qin Zhao repeated in a low voice, "...how could I ignore you."
But he forgot that Du Yue was drunk, so he didn't listen to what he said at all, Gu Zi tugged at his sleeve and muttered upside down. Qin Zhao leaned in to listen carefully, and was slightly stunned.
Du Yue's voice was very low and low, but he said very seriously: "... I'm sorry, Qin Zhao, I'm sorry, I... I shouldn't scold you like that, but you ignored me before, I know I'm wrong, Qin Zhao, I I don't dare to apologize to you, Qin Zhao, don't be angry... don't be angry with me... "
His voice gradually fell, he opened his eyes and closed them again, and fell asleep completely.
With a sour heart and a choked throat, Qin Zhao looked at him quietly for a long time, hesitantly held his hand, and finally said in a low voice: "… Can you please stop looking at him all the time. I… "
I like you.