The moon slowly moved to the west. It was obviously late at night, but there was a person lying on the bed tossing and turning and couldn't fall asleep. This person was Du'e.
Now he is Li Zexuan's domestic slave. Naturally, he will follow Li Zexuan wherever he goes. Li Zexuan returned to Yunshan Villa to rest after attending the academy's dinner tonight. Naturally, he followed him to Yunshan Villa!
From the moment he set foot on Yunshan Mountain, facing the novel buildings and strange environment here, Du'e felt a little confused. He didn't know if he had arrived in a fairy palace! Because he had never seen any of the buildings on Yunshan Mountain, he could only classify them as fairy palaces!
The main reason why Du'e tossed and turned and couldn't sleep was that the scenes he encountered while following Li Zexuan kept popping up in his mind, such as Zhu Cairong committing suicide in front of his mother's grave, Li Zexuan returning to Yanhuang Academy to speak to the students, and It’s tonight’s college dinner…
Some of these things were directly related to Du E, and some had nothing to do with him at all. But it was through these things that Du E recognized himself and gained a deeper understanding of Li Zexuan!
He was the number two figure in the Tianlong Sect before, but now he has become Li Zexuan's domestic slave. Of course Du'e felt a lot of resistance in his heart at first. Even though he appeared to be willing to accept it and enjoyed it, That's not what he had in mind.
Seeing Zhu Cairong commit suicide in front of his mother's grave today, Du'e was shocked by the Tang people's steadfastness. On the other hand, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty in his heart. To a certain extent, Zhu Cairong's experience was similar to that of Du'e. The experiences they experienced when they were young were very similar. Both parents were killed by thieves, but the two of them chose different paths. Zhu Cairong committed suicide because of self-blame, while Du'e became bloodthirsty and ruthless because of hatred. In terms of victory or defeat, Du'e indeed won, but Du'e couldn't feel the joy of winning at all;
In the evening, Li Zexuan returned to Yunshan and spoke to all the teachers and students in the academy on the playground. Du'e heard everything word for word. He still clearly remembers that the more than 700 teachers and students on the playground looked at Li Zexuan. The kind of madness and admiration when he shouted. Although he didn't understand engineering, he had a hunch in his heart that within five years, Yanhuang Academy would definitely become an existence that made the whole world tremble and fear. Of course, today's speech gave Du E a clear understanding of Li Zexuan's personality charm;
At night, Li Zexuan and all the teachers and students held a banquet in the college cafeteria. The lively and warm atmosphere made Du'e envious. Such a warm family made him have the urge to join it. However, Du'e looked at his blood-stained hands and couldn't help but ask himself, did he really deserve such a warm life because his sins were so serious? Obviously unworthy!
In such a complicated and contradictory psychology, Du'e tossed and turned for several hours without feeling sleepy at all. It wasn't until the fourth watch that he couldn't help but fall into a deep sleep.
… … … …
"Xuan'er, where were you last night? How come it's just past Hai hour and there's no one there~?"
The next day, Li Zexuan rubbed his sleepy eyes and came to the front hall to have breakfast with his family. As soon as he walked in, Li Jingmo couldn't help but ask.
Hearing this, Li Zexuan opened his mouth and said quickly: "Uh! Dad! My child was too drunk yesterday and went back to his room to sleep! Didn't Yu Xi tell you?"
Father Li glanced at his son and said angrily: "Yu Xi said it, but I don't believe a word of it. You just want to be bad yourself, but you also lead Yu Xi to lie for you. It's really …”
Li Zexuan came to the table, sat down, picked up the rice bowl and put rice into his mouth, and said nonchalantly: "Father, it's wrong to say that. People say that a son takes after his father. You are hurting your son like this, isn't it?" Is it equivalent to harming yourself?"
Mrs. Li and Mrs. Ye both couldn't help but cover their mouths and chuckle after hearing this, but Li Jingmo was so angry that he blew his beard and glared, and even stuttered when he spoke: "You... you stinky boy! Now that your wings are hardened, you dare to beat around the bush." I’m scolding your father! See if I don’t deal with you~!”
Li Zexuan reacted faster. He took two buns from the table as fast as lightning, then jumped far away and ran out of the house, leaving behind a somewhat rogue voice: "Dad, Mom, there are still people at the academy today. There are some things that I have to go over, kid. You don’t have to wait for me for lunch, just eat first~!"
"Hey~! Xuan'er, you should finish eating before leaving!"
Mrs. Li looked anxious and said quickly.
But Li Zexuan had already slipped out of the yard, how could he respond to her words
Li Jingmo frowned and said angrily: "Humph! Tell me about this brat. He just came back from the north after half a month away from home. Now he's back home, but he stays home all day long..."
Mrs. Li glared at her husband-in-law fiercely and said angrily: "You are not a bad old man. You have been feeling sorry for your son so early in the morning. In my opinion, don't eat this breakfast~!"
Li Jingmo was so angry that he almost vomited blood, secretly thinking that the calf protector wasn't that protective, but his arms couldn't twist his thighs, so he didn't dare to speak out what was in his heart, so he had to break his teeth and swallow it!
… … … … … …
After leaving Lantian County, Li Zexuan rode all the way to Yunshan. At this time, Mo Huai had arranged for people to set up a mourning hall in a row of small houses to the east of the academy. Twelve black coffins were arranged in two rows. The entire mourning hall It seemed unusually solemn.
Although the deceased is the most important, the dead still bring bad luck after all, so Mo Huai did not place the mourning hall in the "core area" such as the teaching building or library, but chose the most remote row of houses on the academy side.
Kneeling below the mourning hall were two rows of women and children wearing sackcloth and mourning, as well as some old men with gray hair wearing white clothes. They were obviously the parents and elders of the deceased academy guards.
The ancients usually only wore sackcloth to show mourning to their elders. If the younger generation unfortunately died young, the elders would only wear white clothes instead of wearing sackcloth to show their mourning.
The women and children kneeling in the mourning hall were sobbing softly while burning paper money into the fire. The old people in white clothes next to them could no longer cry. After all, it had been so long since the attack on the academy that night. After four days, they were tired of crying. The grief that the white-haired man sent to the black-haired man was enough to destroy anyone!
In addition, there were two rows of students from Yanhuang Academy standing outside the mourning hall. After learning that the academy was going to hold a funeral for the fallen academy guards this morning, the students who were already on vacation did not rush home, but chose They made a special trip to pay homage to the college guards who had sacrificed their lives. They lined up in two lines, entered the mourning hall one by one, and burned incense to worship the twelve spiritual statues at the top.
When Li Zexuan came to the mourning hall, he saw such a sad and solemn scene.
"The chief is here!"
I don't know who discovered Li Zexuan first and shouted something. The crying in the mourning hall suddenly stopped, and everyone turned their eyes over.
"I've met the mountain chief~!"
"I've met the Marquis!"
The family members of the deceased on both sides of the mourning hall paid homage to Li Zexuan one after another. Some were called Chief Li Zexuan, and some were called Lord Hou. Some women even held down the children in front of them and scolded them in a low voice: "XX, quickly salute the mountain leader!"
"Chief, you are here!"
At this funeral, Mo Huai acted as the master of ceremonies as a matter of course. He personally entertained all the people coming and going to pay homage. When he saw Li Zexuan coming in person, he quickly stepped forward to greet them.
"Hmm~!"
Li Zexuan nodded, then looked at the family members of the deceased on both sides, and said in a deep voice: "Uncles, aunts, and sisters-in-law, there is no need to be polite! I, Li Zexuan, am sorry for you, and caused your son or husband to lose his life! You must Kill or behead, beat or punish, no matter what you do, I, Li Zexuan, will never complain~!"
After saying that, Li Zexuan bowed deeply to the family members of the deceased with a sad face.
This was the first time he had met face to face with the family members of the deceased since he returned to Yunshan. Seeing these sad old people, women and children, Li Zexuan was so heartbroken that he could hardly breathe. At the same time, he also felt deep self-blame. If he had not gone to the north to exterminate the locusts this time, these academy guards would probably not have died. To a certain extent, he had also killed these people!
"What are you talking about, Mr. Hou?"
Hearing this, an old man stood up with a hunched waist and said: "Although the little old man has not read as many books as the Marquis, he is by no means indifferent to right from wrong. My family, Mo Chi, was harmed by the Turkic national master." Damn it, even if we want to hate, the old man, my son and I should hate the Turkic Imperial Master, not the Marquis~!
Last year, a large group of our Mo family came to the border of Chang'an under the order of the prince. The marquis not only built houses for everyone and divided the fields for farming, but also allowed our children to be teachers or guards in the academy. Such a respectable position, if I tell you about it, old man, my face will be bright!
The Marquis treats the people well and promotes culture and education in the fiefdom. To be able to become the people of the Marquis' fiefdom is something that we, the people, can't cultivate in eight lifetimes! Now, unfortunately, my family Mo Chi was killed by the Turkic Imperial Master. That was because he was not with the Marquis. However, my son died to protect Yanhuang Academy. He died with honor! This kid didn't become a deserter at the critical moment and didn't embarrass our Mo family, which proves that I didn't raise this son in vain! "
At the end of the sentence, the old man slammed his chest. Although he said he was not heartbroken, the tears in the corners of his eyes betrayed him. After all, the son he had raised for more than ten years suddenly disappeared, and his hair turned white. Who can help but feel heartbroken when someone gives a gift to someone with black hair
After listening to the old man's impassioned words, Li Zexuan couldn't help but be deeply touched. In his previous life, if an employee of a certain company died due to an accident while working, in most cases, the employee's family would hold a banner. This company is making a big fuss, and he will settle down only when the company boss pays him a large sum of money!
Of course, it cannot be said that the way most people deal with things in modern times is wrong. After all, human life cannot be measured by money. But it is precisely because of such a comparison that it shows how valuable the old man's simplicity and kindness are. !
"Brother Dashan is right! My elder brother died to protect the academy. He died gloriously! Neither my mother nor I regret sending him to the academy as a guard!"
After the rickety old man finished speaking, a skinny couple in their 60s came next to them. The skinny old man took his wife and spoke sincerely to Li Zexuan.
"Chief, my husband died to protect the teachers and students of the academy. We don't blame you, we only blame the Turkic Imperial Master for being too cruel!"
"Yes! Chief Shan (Master Hou), we don't blame you!"
After a while, the family members of the deceased kneeling on both sides of the mourning hall, obviously looking sad, spoke out to comfort Li Zexuan.
Mo Huai also spoke at this time: "Shan Chief, you don't need to blame yourself. People in the Mo family dare to love and hate, and they know right from wrong. No one here blames you!"
Li Zexuan was deeply touched. He closed his eyes, raised his head and took a deep breath to calm down his emotions a little. After a while, he said in a deep voice:
"Uncles, aunts, sisters-in-law or younger brothers and sisters, please rest assured. If your son or husband died for the academy, then he will be my forever brother, Li Zexuan. I will take good care of you on their behalf. As long as there is me and Yanhuang Academy As long as it exists, you will never suffer any grievance! From now on, the academy will issue you a pension every month so that you can have food and clothing without worries. In addition, the children of these twelve heroes can be taught by Yanhuang in the future. Priority for admission to the academy! This is my promise to you! Let the world learn from each other!"
When everyone heard this, their eyes suddenly widened. Some showed expressions of emotion, while others frowned. After a moment of silence, the rickety old man from before spoke:
"Master Marquis, old man, I don't want the academy's money. My son died for the academy. It was his honor. If I take the academy's money, old man, wouldn't it be equivalent to exchanging my son's life for money? Besides, old man, I have With hands and feet, I can fully support my grandson and Mo Chi and his wife! In our Lantian County, as long as we have hands and feet and are willing to work hard, how can anyone starve to death?"
"Yes! Lord Marquis! I don't want your money either! Brother Dashan is right. Under the rule of Lantian County under Lord Marquis, there are no excessive taxes and miscellaneous taxes. As long as you have hands and feet and are willing to work, you will definitely not die of hunger! I don't want Lord Marquis' money. !”
Another thin old man also said.
Lantian County is well-known as a paradise for ordinary people because its officials have clear governance and people live and work in peace and contentment. Here, whether you are farming or working for others, as long as you are willing to endure hardship and work hard, you will definitely make money. People like the Mo family migrated from the borderland and were very lucky to become the subjects of Li Zexuan's feudal clan. For them, this is the best reward. They are very content with their current life!
"That's right! Master Hou! We don't want your money!"
Seeing this, the rest of the people, whether they were willing or unwilling, all declined to Li Zexuan.
Li Zexuan was moved in his heart, but insisted: "Don't refuse, first of all, the money given to you by the academy is not much. It will not make you rich all at once, it will only provide for your food and clothing! If you want to be rich , still need to rely on labor and wisdom to exchange;
Secondly, even if you don’t think about yourself, you still need to think about your children! Yanhuang Academy has developed to this day. Although it is not famous all over the world, it teaches knowledge that is useful in the world. If these children enter Yanhuang Academy, they will definitely become useful people to the Tang Dynasty! This is a small amount of compensation for my brothers who sacrificed their lives. I beg you not to refuse, otherwise I will really feel uneasy! "
After saying that, Li Zexuan bowed solemnly to everyone.
Everyone stepped aside one after another, not daring to accept his salute.
At the same time, what Li Zexuan just said also made everyone fall into deep thought. After a long silence, Mo Huai said: "Da Shan, the Marquis is full of sincerity, so please don't refuse anymore!"
The rickety old man finally nodded and said, "In that case, I would like to thank you, Lord Marquis!"
The rest of the people also bowed and said: "Thank you Lord Marquis (mountain chief)!"
… … … … … …