A heavy snowfall came suddenly, and almost overnight, the entire capital was covered with a thick coat.
In the Gu family's small yard, two maids wearing thick leather coats hurriedly passed under the blooming plum tree in the yard holding hands.
"Miss, Miss, have you said hello to Madam?" they asked delicately.
The door of the room opened in response, and Gu Shiba Niang came out wearing a dark red satin jacket and a silver satin rolled squirrel fur lotus leaf short cloak.
"Okay." She said with a smile.
"Madam came here and asked three times this morning..."
"Hehe, is this what people often say about returning home like an arrow?"
Behind her, three little maids were holding bundles and laughing.
"What's the reason for returning home? I saw that the young master's heart was like an arrow." The two maids who came smiled and took the extra baggage from the hands of the three of them.
The clear laughter of the women echoed in the sky above the courtyard, and they gathered around Gu Shiba Niang and headed towards the front yard.
Just a few days ago, Gu Shiba Niang suddenly decided to go to Nanzhang to celebrate the New Year. This news almost made Cao family cry with joy. In the next few days, everyone was so busy that they had food and drink in their bags. After getting into two large cars, Ms. Cao still looked at the things that had been picked out because there was really no room to part with them.
In the front yard, Cao and others were getting ready to go.
"You take good care of the house." Gu Shiba Niang took Lingbao, who had red eyes, and whispered.
Lingbao nodded, lowered his head and wiped his tears.
Gu Shiba Niang hesitated for a moment and looked aside. Mrs. Cao was talking to the maids, and the maids were also saying goodbye.
"During the Chinese New Year, you can have your brother come to our house, but you are not allowed to go to that house with him." Gu Shiba Niang said solemnly.
Lingyuan nodded and did not ask why.
Gu Shiba Niang stretched out her hand to wipe her tears, "Why are you crying..."
"Miss, will you come back?" Lingbao choked.
Gu Shiba Niang was startled, but did not answer immediately. Her expression was slightly disappointed.
"Miss..." Lingbao's guess became clearer and he burst into tears, "Miss, why did you sell Shunhe Hall?"
At the same time that he made the decision to go to Nanzhang to accompany Gu Hai to celebrate the New Year, there was another decision that surprised everyone, that is, Gu Shiba Niang wanted to sell Shunhe Hall.
The one who least understands and is most surprised is naturally Peng Yizhen.
While he was busy taking his wife and children back to Hezhong County for the New Year, he took time out to come over and question him.
No one knows better than him how Gu Shiba Niang sacrificed others and did not benefit herself in order to get Shunhe Hall, and how she was determined to win. Moreover, Shunhe Hall is currently developing well, and there is no reason to sell it.
"You can't do two things at once. I need to concentrate on studying my skills. This business is still too distracting." Gu Shiba Niang just said.
Although this girl's thoughts were always unfathomable, he still understood Peng Yizhen better than others.
As she spoke, Gu Shiba Niang lowered her gaze and her voice was as calm as ever, but Peng Yizhen clearly felt that something was different from before.
"Baba Niang, what's the matter?" he asked tentatively.
This girl looks weak, but she is extremely stubborn. She believes that even if she is facing a mountain of swords and fire, she cannot stop her. And the most important thing is that although she looks gentle and amiable, she is actually wrapped in this hard shell. She stands there. In front of you, my heart is far away.
When something happened, she always resisted silently, without talking, asking, or begging.
"No." Gu Shiba Niang smiled at him and replied.
Peng Yizhen looked unbelieving, but he also knew that if she didn't want to tell, asking would be in vain.
"Okay..." He sighed. He couldn't tell what it was like, and stood up to leave. "If I had known this, why would I have..."
If she had known this day, why would she have... Gu Shiba Niang lowered her gaze, a tear fell on the back of her hand, and quickly disappeared.
"Is the lady not coming back?" Lingbao covered his face and cried, "Miss..."
Gu Shiba Niang stretched out her hand to wipe her tears. She was silent for a moment and then said slowly: "No, I will not throw away the Lingbao."
Lingbao raised his head and said, "Miss, you keep your word."
Gu Shiba Niang smiled slightly and patted her cheek gently, "When did I stop keeping my words?"
Lingbao's mouth dropped, wanting to cry and laugh at the same time.
Mrs. Cao came over and reminded her tactfully that it was getting late, and people from the escort agency were also here.
Gu Shiba Niang patted the Lingbao and Mrs. Cao gave her a few more instructions. Everyone got in the car, the door opened, and under the escort of more than a dozen bodyguards, the five cars left.
Lingbao kept sending them out of the city until the convoy turned into a black dot on the horizon, then turned around in tears.
She believed that the young lady would not abandon her, or even her brother, but she knew that after leaving, the young lady had no intention of returning to the capital.
What happened? Lingbao turned his head and looked at the empty white sky again. That day, the young lady came back from outside, and her whole person changed. That night, the young lady, who had always been reading late, was in the room. Surprisingly, there was no candlelight.
The wife was very happy at the time. Her daughter worked hard every day and finally knew she could take a break.
Although she was surprised at the time, she thought so and was very happy. A few days later, the young lady decided to go to Nanzhang and sold Shunhe Tang. This was not right. All these things were too sudden and very unlike the young lady. The style.
But what happened to the lady? Ah Si, who always followed the young lady out, must have known it. She turned around and exhaled helplessly. It was too late and there was nothing she could do to ask. Ah Si followed the young lady and left.
The New Year is coming soon. For people who are busy with the New Year Festival, they have no intention of knowing who has left and come to the capital. This rare heavy snow has not stopped people from welcoming the New Year. The streets are bustling with traffic and laughter. , and occasionally firecrackers sounded sporadically.
A carriage passed through the busy streets and entered Medicine Street. The unique scent of medicine floated into the car.
Shen Anlin reached out to lift the car curtain, looking haggard. His gaze seemed to be inadvertently sweeping along the street as the car passed by. A sharp light occasionally flashed through his dull eyes, showing that beneath this decadent and lonely appearance, perhaps Hiding unknown secrets.
"Slow down." He said suddenly.
The driver hurriedly reined in his horse in a panic, and looked back at him with some exploration.
Shen Anlin's eyes fell on a medium-sized store. Different from the bustling surroundings, only one of the four doors here was open, and a sign saying "for sale" was hung in the middle.
"For sale..." He frowned slightly and muttered to himself in a low voice. His eyes moved up and landed on the gold and black plaque of "Gu's Shunhe Hall".
Like the capital, Jiankang's atmosphere to welcome the New Year is equally lively. The snow in the alley of Gu's family has long been cleared away. Children in cotton robes are running past laughing with various toys, and servants are hurrying around.
Gu Changchun's house has been decorated, with bright red lanterns hanging under the eaves, the sound of crackling firecrackers and the shouting and laughter of urchins can be heard from time to time in the yard, and the servants are busy giving and receiving gifts. New Year's goods, with joy on their faces.
At this time, Gu Changchun's expression in the room was incompatible with the festive atmosphere. His face was gloomy, and he suddenly let out a heavy breath.
"So Xiaoyu won't come back?" He seemed to be talking to himself.
"Master Yu said that due to the heavy snowfall, parts of Liuting County were hit by disasters. He dare not neglect his duties in his position, so he can only be unfilial." A family member replied respectfully.
Is the snow in Liuting County that heavy? Gu Changchun muttered in his heart, but he had nothing to say, but he felt a little lost in his heart.
"As the head of a county, it's perfect for him to be so loving and dedicated to the people. Go and prepare more New Year's gifts and send them to him. He's a child, and he's out alone..." Gu Changchun said, sighing softly.
"Yes, Third Grandma is ready." Jiayuan replied with a smile.
Gu Changchun nodded, and the family resigned knowingly.
"I didn't expect that he wouldn't be able to come back either..." Gu Changchun sighed softly.
Gu Hai's family sent a message back very early, saying that Cao was not coming back because he was not in good health and would not be able to travel long and hard. Everyone knew whether this reason was true or not. When they heard that they would not come back, many people were relieved.
Thinking about their attitude towards the Cao family at that time, if that violent girl comes back, I don't know how to torture them. If she doesn't come back, everyone will be fine and they can live a good year.
It’s just that Gu Yu didn’t come back either, which really disappointed everyone. Even though Gu Yu’s fortunes were not good in the past due to Gu Hai’s drag, according to the latest news, Gu Yu’s political achievements were outstanding, and there was an auspicious appearance in Liuting County. This not only shows that Today's saints are generous and virtuous, which also shows that Gu Yu was blessed by heaven, otherwise the auspiciousness would have come from nowhere but in Liuting County.
For the emperor who had been ill for a long time, this news made him very happy. He greatly praised Gu Yu and gave him royal meals. It was said that the emperor intended to transfer him to the capital area, but Gu Yu declined, thinking that he was not qualified enough. , he was promoted too quickly and it was difficult to convince the public, and he was willing to be close to the people on behalf of the emperor, observe public opinion and feel the suffering of the people, so being a county magistrate was the most suitable one.
Knowing the current affairs, knowing how to advance and retreat, the future is limitless. A smile appeared on Gu Changchun's face unconsciously. After Gu Shen'an was released, the future of the Gu family depended on him.
"Those who shouldn't come back won't come back, and those who should come back won't come back either..." Gu Changchun was silent for a moment and muttered to himself, tapping his fingers lightly on the table. Although there was still a smile on his face, for some reason, he felt in his heart An inexplicable taste emerged, a little sad and a little sour, and the branches spread like wildfire.
At this time, Gu Shiba Niang and her party had already walked half of the way. The road was difficult to walk in the snow. They were afraid that Cao's body would not be able to bear it, so they stopped and walked. It took nearly ten days to walk this half way.
"At this rate, it will be good to arrive at Nanzhang on the sixth day of the first lunar month." Cao said with a worried look on her face.
At this time, they settled in a ruined temple. Because Cao was in a hurry, he missed a town and could not find an inn to stay.
"Actually, the most important thing is that we can see our brother, right?" Gu Shiba Niang said with a smile.
Mrs. Cao nodded, feeling very relieved.
Gu Shiba Niang chatted with her and looked very tired, so she was served by the maids and rested. She got up and walked to the front of the temple. There were more than a dozen bodyguards and five or six courtyards lighting bonfires, but But instead of drinking, eating, and joking, he looked out the temple door with a somewhat nervous expression.
Seeing this situation, Gu Shiba's heart couldn't help but jump. She stretched out her hands and tightened the collar of her cloak. The farther north she walked, the more different the scenery she saw was from that side. The supplies were poorer and the thieves were more arrogant, especially their group. , a woman who has a family and carries gold and silver, is really a perfect target for robbery, which is why she spends a lot of money to hire the best escort agency in the capital.
The journey was uneventful, but something seemed wrong at this time.
When he was nervous, several escorts ran in from the door, with strange expressions on their faces.
"How is it?" the leading escort asked solemnly.
"No more..." the escort who came in replied, obviously he was also confused.
"Didn't you say there were twenty or thirty bandits? Did we make a mistake?" The bodyguards were startled and asked with eyes wide open.
"No..." the escort who came in whispered, stretched out his hand and scratched his neck, "They are all dead..."
"Dead?" Everyone was shocked, "How could it be?"
"We also said it was strange. These people have been following us since yesterday, but it seemed that they were all wiped out just now... not a single person was left alive..." the escort said, shuddering when he thought of the scene he had just seen, and at the same time he felt sad in his heart. I breathed a sigh of relief, but was a little scared. If these people hadn't died suddenly, I'm afraid they would be lying in a pool of blood now...
"What's going on?" All the bodyguards looked at each other, "Do they have enemies? They happened to be seeking revenge?"
What a coincidence...
"By the way, Master Yang, I noticed someone following us these past few days..." a person suddenly said.
"What?" The expressions of all the escorts changed slightly. The one who spoke just now was the best at observing and tracking among them, and his reaction and perception were more sensitive than others. Since he said so, it was correct.
"However, these people don't seem to have any ill intentions. It's just that they just don't want to meet us..." The man whispered, looking past the crowd and landing on the girl standing in front of the dilapidated Buddha statue, quietly listening to their words.
"Ms. Gu." He greeted with a smile.
Everyone said hello one after another.
Gu Shiba Niang nodded to them, smiled, then bowed her head and retreated, seemingly not hearing their conversation just now.
In the dead of night, the maid on night duty stood by the bonfire and nodded repeatedly. Everyone was extremely tired from the bumpy journey.
"Go and take a nap." Gu Shiba Niang came over and said softly.
"No, no, miss, go to bed..." The little maid was frightened and said hurriedly.
Gu Shiba Niang smiled, "I just took a nap and I'm not sleepy anymore. Go ahead. You can sleep for a while and then come and take my place." "
Everyone knew the young lady's temper, so the little maid stopped refusing and said thank you to the young lady, then she lay down on the hay bed beside her, and soon she began to snore softly.
Gu Shiba Niang sat beside the bonfire, looking at the bonfire and lost consciousness for a while.
"It's Lingyuan, right..." She suddenly murmured to herself, and then smiled bitterly. Naturally, Lingyuan used Zhu Chunming's manpower. So who did she owe
For Lingyuan, it must have been a very complicated mood for him to do this, so he hid away to prevent her from knowing.
"Thank you for me...your second young master..." Gu Shiba Niang raised her voice slightly and said.
There was no strange sound outside the wall despite the howling wind.
After that, the road became much smoother. After several days of trekking, we finally entered the territory of Nanzhang County. From a distance, we saw Gu Hai urging his horse to greet him.