Mother Xie looked at her son with a stern expression and was stunned for a moment. The face of the child she saw in the horse farm during the day appeared in front of her eyes. Suddenly, all her doubts at that time seemed to be confirmed, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt it was right.
She suddenly realized what was going on and slammed the edge of the bed.
"No wonder I felt so familiar with that child when I saw him today. He looked a bit like you when you were little! I thought it was just a coincidence! So that's it! Why didn't you tell mother earlier!"
She was so excited that she jumped off the bed.
"I was just saying, that child is not only handsome, but also well-behaved and sensible! It turns out that he is my grandson! Go quickly! Bring my grandson here right away! It would be better if I go back and take my grandson with me, so that I can raise him well and save you from trouble!"
He had expected his mother to believe him, but the way he reacted, saying that the child looked like himself when he was a child, was a little surprising.
Maybe she saw it wrongly, or maybe she took it for granted because of what I said and formed such an impression.
Xie Changgeng did not think much about it. Seeing his mother's attitude change drastically, his tone also softened. He said, "Mom, I have explained it just now. The situation was special back then. After the child was born, he was raised there. Although my son is now a governor, it seems to be quite glorious on the surface, but there are countless eyes watching him inside and outside the court. He cannot make any mistakes. It is not convenient for my son to recognize the child now. It is better for my son to keep him with the Mu family as his adopted son for the time being."
As soon as Xie's mother had the idea of taking her grandson home to raise him, the idea was given up.
She was extremely disappointed, but she did not dare to ignore her son's future after hearing what he said. She was stunned for a moment and said, "What if the Mu family holds a grudge against me for being partial to them in the past and refuses to return my grandson to me in the future? What should I do then?"
She grasped her son's sleeve.
"Geng'er, wait until she comes back, and tell her not to bear a grudge..."
She paused, then murmured, "Forget it, forget it. You are a man, and I cannot ask you to be servile in front of a woman. I will talk to her myself! As long as she can take good care of my grandson and let him return to his ancestral home in the future, I will sacrifice my old reputation!"
Xie Changgeng's previous anger had gradually dissipated. Seeing his mother like this, he knew that she was intimidated by his previous actions. He sighed secretly, helped her, and sat back on the bed.
"Mother, you just need to know about the matter between Mu family and that child. Don't worry about it. I know what to do."
He pondered for a moment and changed the subject.
"My son was a thief in his early years, and his hands were stained with blood. Although he is now an official, he still has to fight and kill. He is always worried that the sins of killing are too heavy and will damage his blessings. You should listen to my son. This time when I go back, I will send someone to accompany you and donate a temple for you. You have nothing to do at home, so do more good deeds, worship Buddha and recite scriptures to accumulate blessings and eliminate sins for my son."
"You raised Ah Mao, but you thought she was clumsy and stupid, and ordered her around and made her do chores. I asked her if she wanted to stay with the princess, and she said yes, but she didn't repay you for your kindness in raising her. In the future, you should treat her better and raise her as a daughter. She will serve you wholeheartedly. Don't be confused and deceived like before!"
Xie's mother's eyes gradually turned red. She nodded to every word her son said.
"Mother has remembered. It's all my fault for being so confused before. It's not easy for you. Don't worry. When I go back, I will do more good deeds and chant sutras to ward off disasters for you!"
Since we have chosen this path, why would we care about the so-called sin of killing people? The strong prey on the weak, which is the way of heaven.
The reason why Xie Changgeng said this was that he just wanted his mother to find something to do after returning home, so that she would have something to think about, so that she would not be idle all day and cause trouble like before.
Seeing his mother so moved, he knelt down straight and kowtowed, saying, "I am truly an unfilial son. Thank you for your understanding. I will visit you when I have time."
Mother Xie hurriedly helped him up and whispered, "If you can bring your grandson back to see me, I will be even happier."
Xie Changgeng paused.
"Son knows. Mom, take a rest now."
He helped the old lady to sleep. Xie's mother sat on the bed, wanting to say something but stopping herself. Xie Changgeng asked her what was wrong.
Mother Xie hesitated for a moment and said, "Feng'er..."
She quickly glanced at her son and changed her words.
"That Qi family, although she did something wrong, at least she saved mother in the past. After you left home, the Qi family also took care of mother. She will definitely change. Geng'er, for mother's sake, please forgive her when you can and don't make it too difficult for her..."
Xie Changgeng said, "Don't worry, mother. I still regard her as your savior and will not treat her unfairly."
The next day, the steward of the Jiedushi Mansion arranged the affairs of the family and escorted the old lady and her entourage back according to Xie Changgeng's arrangement.
Xie Changgeng went with them personally. A few days later, before he sent them out of Hexi and turned back, he instructed the steward to preside over Qi's marriage after arriving, and to arrange for someone he trusted to stay behind before he returned. If Qi and the old lady had frequent contact again, they should inform him in time.
The steward wrote down everything, said goodbye, and set off.
Xie Changgeng watched the carriage go away, then immediately turned his horse around and rushed back to Guzang.
A few days ago, when Eunuch Yang, who was sent by Empress Liu to deliver the gift, arrived, he said that he had long heard of the magnificent scenery of Hexi and wanted to take this opportunity to see it. The Jiedushi was busy with affairs and had important responsibilities, so there was no need for him to accompany him, so he let Xie Changgeng take care of his own business while he walked around casually.
Xie Changgeng naturally knew it well.
Empress Liu, who was far away in Shangjing, simply sent her confidants here to inspect the place in the name of transferring tribute.
Originally, the imperial court would regularly send officials to inspect the local areas, inquire about the people's sentiments, and examine the administration of officials. After Xie Changgeng came here to serve as the governor, the imperial court had not sent anyone to visit in the past few years.
This time, he had to do what Eunuch Yang said. Therefore, he had not accompanied him for the past few days, but only ordered all places, including the garrison and the barracks, to be opened to the eunuchs to move around.
He hurried back to Guzang and was told that Eunuch Yang had returned and was resting in the inn.
Xie Changgeng hurried back home, changed into his official uniform, and went to the post station to meet someone without stopping. After some polite exchanges, the eunuch said that he would leave for Beijing the next day.
That night, the governor's mansion held a banquet to entertain Eunuch Yang and his entourage. The food was delicious and the hosts and guests were very happy.
After the banquet, Xie Changgeng personally escorted Eunuch Yang back to the inn to rest.
"Thank you for the Empress Dowager's concern and for sending me this reward. I am extremely grateful. Envoy Yang has troubled me to come here personally from the capital, and I feel really bad for you to have to return to the capital without any hospitality. I have prepared the tribute, and I will send it to the Empress Dowager through me. I have also prepared another small gift, and I hope Envoy Yang will accept it."
Eunuch Yang said with a smile, "Why should I be polite to you, Jiedushi? I have been serving the Empress Dowager in the palace for many years and it is rare for me to come out. To be honest with you, Jiedushi, I asked for this errand myself. I have been traveling around these days and it is worth it."
He praised the scenery of Hexi and looked at Xie Changgeng with a meaningful look.
"When I was walking around the other day, I heard that the princess had come to Hexi not long ago. I didn't see the lady show up at the banquet tonight. Could it be that she is not at home?"
He lowered his voice and whispered in her ear: "Jiedushi, I am saying this because I treat you as my own. You also know that if the Queen Mother knew about this, she would inevitably ask a few questions."
Xie Changgeng explained the matter of the natives. He said, "Thank you, Envoy Yang, for your kindness in telling me. Mu is now on her way to Tianshan to get medicine. To be honest with Envoy Yang, I sent her back to Changsha at the beginning of the year. I brought her back again this time just to use her. Not long after she arrived, I submitted a memorial to the Queen Mother, reporting the matter in detail. The Queen Mother must have received the memorial by now."
He met the two glances that Eunuch Yang cast at him.
"Ms. Mu is a doctor. By chance, she became friendly with the local natives because of her medical skills. The purpose of Xie bringing her here is to use Mu to help me solve the problem of the natives, so as to facilitate the court's peacekeeping. Envoy Yang is here, please ask Envoy Yang to pass on Xie's message to the Queen Mother after he returns. Regarding Mu's matter, Xie always remembers the Queen Mother's instructions and dares not disobey in the slightest."
Eunuch Yang's doubts were resolved, and he nodded and smiled, "I was wondering why this Mu came back here again, and it turns out there is such a hidden story. The governor is very smart to make the best use of people! It's even better that he has submitted a memorial. Don't worry, I will explain to the empress dowager on behalf of the governor after I return."
The next day, Xie Changgeng saw off Eunuch Yang and his party again. On the way back, it started snowing again.
He went straight to the horse farm and brought Xier back to the city. Before he had time to catch his breath when he returned to the governor's mansion, he came on a fast horse with another message.
The old leader's injury relapsed and he fell into a coma again. His condition was critical.
Xie Changgeng immediately braved the heavy snow and rushed to Mahe Valley. After the visit, he came back with a heavy heart. That night, he came back from the study, tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep for a long time. He simply put on a snow hat, rode alone, came to the west gate of the city, and climbed up the city wall.
Outside the city, at the end of the visible road, there was a vast dark field. The north wind was howling, and the snow was falling like cotton.
This winter, the snow came earlier and heavier than in previous years. Based on the experience of previous years, it is common for heavy snow to block mountains and congest roads.
On such a snowy night, and with no military intelligence, the gatekeeper didn't know why the governor came here so late at night. Seeing him gazing at the dark road heading west with his figure frozen, the gatekeeper didn't dare to ask any questions. He just stood behind him, holding his breath and waiting.
When Xie Changgeng returned to the Jiedushi Mansion and passed by the door of Xier's room, he hesitated for a moment, then held a candle and gently pushed the door open and walked in.
The child was in bed, fast asleep.
His little face was tilted over, pressing on a piece of paper with vertical lines drawn on it beside the pillow.
Xie Changgeng looked at it for a moment and stretched out his hand. When his hand touched the paper, the child woke up, saw him, and called him "Master Xie".
Xie Changgeng picked up the paper.
Twenty-two vertical lines have been drawn on the paper.
"Sir, we can draw one more line tomorrow!" Xier rubbed her eyes and said vaguely.
Xie Changgeng slowly put down the paper and said, "Xi'er, I'll go pick up your mother and ask her to come back earlier, okay?"
Xier opened her eyes wide and crawled out of the bed: "Okay! Thank you, Master, go quickly!"
Xie Changgeng smiled slightly and touched his little head.
…
The long winter night finally gradually pushed on to the fifth watch. The sky above was still pitch black, and snow kept falling.
While the whole city was still immersed in the last sleep of this winter night, Xie Changgeng walked out of the gate of the Jiedushi Mansion, stepping on the crackling snow under his feet.
Outside the door, the fire rods illuminated the snow. A group of people were ready to go with him on the journey to the west.
Xie Changgeng explained the matter to Liu Guan and others who came to see him off. After giving the instructions, everyone said, "Master, be careful on the road. Go early and come back early!"
Xie Changgeng tied on his snow cloak, put on his snow hat, climbed on his horse, and was about to lead his men on their way when he suddenly heard a child's voice behind him: "Master Xie!"
He turned his head.
Behind the door, there stood a small figure.
The child was dressed very warmly and looked chubby. He actually chased out and stood behind the threshold, staring at him with wide eyes without blinking.
The light from the fire stick was reflected in his eyes, flickering slightly.
His eyes were filled with eagerness, and he said loudly, "Thank you, sir. Xiao Ma and I drove away the wolf together!"
Xie Changgeng and the child looked at each other for a moment, then dismounted and walked towards him.
The child immediately rushed out, ran in front of him, raised his little face and looked at him.
Xie Changgeng took off his snow hat and put it on the little head, covering the whole face tightly. Then he picked him up with one arm, put him on the horse's back, and shouted: "Let's go!"
The author has something to say: Thank you little angels for voting for me~
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