After the visitor crossed the threshold, he paused for a moment, seemed to look up at the memorial tablet, and then went forward to burn incense and pay homage.
Because of the light behind him, I couldn't see his face clearly. I could only catch a glimpse of a tall silhouette with broad shoulders and narrow waist. Judging from the lightness and agility of his movements, I guessed he was a young man.
Xi Fuwei returned the gift from behind the curtain, and was about to explain the reason for Xi Jiao's absence when the other party spoke first: "My condolences."
The voice was low and there was no emotion, but the ending had a hint of southern softness, revealing that he had come from afar.
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Xi Fuwei said, "May I ask who your Majesty is...?"
"A passerby has heard about Mr. Xi's talent for a long time, but he never knew that Mr. Xi was seriously ill." The man said slowly, "I came to make trouble before I arrived at Dongchang Mansion. Who knew that I heard the bad news just after arriving. I was worried and angry in my heart, so I came to see the spirit."
Xi Fuwei felt uncomfortable in her heart. Her brother had already become famous to such an extent even before he was named on the gold medal list. One can imagine what kind of success he would have had in the future if he had not left in a hurry.
only…
The girl, who was suspicious by nature, keenly noticed the word "chronic illness" mentioned by the other party.
"Although my brother was bedridden for many days before his death, he didn't have any serious illness." She thought subconsciously, "Logically speaking, even if I catch a cold during the autumn exam after recovering from a serious illness, I can't get up. … However, the condition has been relatively stable, so how could it be said that it is gone?”
However, since I didn't know the person outside the curtain, I couldn't tell whether he was just saying it casually or if he meant something.
Xi Fuwei was silent for a moment and said: "My brother's poor fortune makes me disappointed."
She once again asked about the origin of the other party's identity, "Where is the unknown in the fairyland? What's your surname?"
"An unknown person is not worth mentioning." The man said calmly, "There are differences between men and women. I don't dare to disturb the lady... Farewell!"
Before Xi Fuwei could persuade him to stay, he turned around and strode away.
Xi Fuwei narrowed her eyes, immediately stood up with her skirt in hand, ran out of the back door, and whispered to the servants guarding outside: "Follow the man who just came to pay his respects, and check his feet!"
After arranging this matter, she returned to the mourning hall, her face getting paler: Xi Fucui died of illness, which was hard for the Xi family to accept!
If this brother actually didn't die of illness... but was killed by others...
Xi Fuwei didn't know what she would do
The most important thing is that you must not tell Xi Zongwang until the truth is fully understood!
Otherwise, Xi Zongwang might not be able to hold on at all...
The girl was in a mess, and she had to endure it until Xi Jiao came to watch the funeral, and then she immediately found an excuse to get up and leave.
She returned to her room, ordered someone to grind ink and lay out paper, and wrote several big words in one breath. Only then did she calm down a little. She ordered someone to call Magpie Branch over for questioning: "You will tell me about the situation before your brother's death, including the clues. Tell me again!"
Magpie Branch's eyes were red and swollen, the result of crying day and night for the past two days, and he was still in a daze now.
After hearing this, he was stunned for a moment, and then slowly began to describe.
Xi Fuwei listened carefully and asked questions from time to time.
Finally, the magpie branches were sent away, and the other servants who had served Xi Fucui were called to him one by one for comparison.
After a lot of work, I couldn't figure out any problems.
"We bought people like Quezhi when we were young." Xi Fuwei muttered, "We have the pressure of the bond and the friendship we have been with for many years... Ordinarily, we will not betray our brother."
After all, if Xi Fucui had not passed away, he would have to give a status to a maid like Que Zhi in the future. Xi Jiao's biological mother used to serve him.
Even if an outsider contacts Quezhi through some method, can he come up with a better bargaining chip than this to bribe her
It should be noted that magpie branches are not very beautiful, but they are delicate.
"... Maybe I'm overthinking it." After thinking about it, the girl let out a breath, threw down her pen, and asked someone to come in and burn the few large characters she had just finished practicing.
Her personal maid, Xilei, was cleaning up and lamenting: "The word "Miss" is written so well, why does it have to be burned every time?"
"I don't make a living by selling calligraphy, so why do I keep these?" Xi Fuwei responded casually and went to see Xi Zongwang and Xi Jiao.
... Because Xi Fucui was young and died before he got married, according to the custom at this time, he could not stay for a long time and was buried the next day.
One evening a few days after he was laid to rest, the Xi family's grandparents and grandson were having dinner in silence. A servant came up to report that Wen Xianyun was asking for an audience at the back door, and said, "Look at my uncle, he is in a hurry."
Xi Zongwang and Xi Fuwei looked at each other in surprise.
"You use it, I'll go take a look!" Xi Zongwang pushed the bowl and chopsticks away, stood up and left.
After being gone for a long time, Xi Fuwei coaxed her nephew to finish the meal, and then watched the servants clear up, but there was no sign of his father.
So she walked directly towards the study, intending to check out the situation.
When they arrived at the door, they heard a "squeak" sound, and the study door happened to open. Xi Zongwang and Wen Xianyun let each other out.
Seeing her, her expression was a little complicated.
Xi Zongwang stopped and said, "I'm going to see Jiao'er. Weier, please send Xianyun to the back door."
Xi Fuwei glanced at her father with some confusion. Although she had been engaged to Wen Xianyun for several years, because she knew that the Wen family had strict rules and that Wen Xianyun's mother and the matron of the Wen family were particularly strict, Xi Although the family has always been casual, when they came into contact with the Wen family, they always acted like a family with strict rules and regulations, so as not to be looked down upon by the future mother-in-law.
There has never been any precedent of deliberately giving Xi Fuwei and Wen Xianyun a chance to get along in private.
"Fuwei." After Xi Zongwang left in three steps and two steps at a time, there were only two unmarried couples left outside the study.
Wen Xianyun's eyes were a little complicated. He looked at the girl in plain clothes and skirt in front of him, gently called her by her given name and said, "You have lost a lot of weight."
Xi Fuwei frowned and looked him over a few times. Wen Xianyun always had a reputation in Dongchang Mansion for being both talented and beautiful. Although this statement was not without the bonus brought by his background, it still made sense.
He is tall and tall, has delicate features and a gentle temperament. He is dressed in a moon-white t-shirt, which against the rising crescent moon makes people subconsciously think of the four words "a gentleman is like jade".
"Master Wen has also lost a lot of weight." Xi Fuwei noticed that his cheeks were also thin, nodded lightly and said, "Please take care of yourself!"
After saying this, I wanted to turn around and walk towards the back door.
When Wen Xianyun saw this, he sighed helplessly and said, "Fuwei, with the current situation of the Xi family, it is human nature that you cannot leave the cabinet after your brother has fulfilled his filial piety! In fact, in my father's words, Such a loving, righteous and filial daughter-in-law-to-be is exactly the kind of wife my Wen family wants! So my family can take care of all your previous worries."
Pointing in the direction of the main house, "My father-in-law is very old and stays here in the countryside. Firstly, it will be inconvenient to take care of us after we get married. Secondly, this is where Brother Fu Cui grew up. I'm afraid my father-in-law lives here. The scene stirs up emotion, and I feel increasingly sad!”
"As for Jiao'er, at his age, it's time for him to enter school."
"With all due respect, Brother Fu Cui has left. I'm afraid it will be difficult to find a good gentleman in this village."
"For his future, the Xi family will have to move to the city sooner or later."
He looked at Xi Fuwei with soft eyes, "If you have other concerns, just say it! You and I have a marriage agreement. Although we are not married yet, we are still a family. Aren't your worries also my business?"
"...You came here today just to tell your father what you said?" Xi Fuwei also looked at him and asked softly, "Then why don't you go through the front door instead of the back door?"
"..." Wen Xianyun hesitated for a while and then said, "It's my mother, she... She has some ideas. But you also know that my father has always made the decisions in my family, but now my father is still out of town, and I don't want to make my mother angry. This is how we concealed our whereabouts."
Xi Fuwei narrowed her eyes and said: "What you are doing is wrong! Your father is your biological father, isn't your father-in-law also your biological mother? As children, we will never be able to repay the kindness of our parents in this life! Not to mention my brother It’s gone, Jiao’er is still young and not strong enough to support the family, so the decline of the Xi family is only to be expected! You were originally a high-ranking member of the Wen family, and now it’s even harder to drag you down.”
Wen Xianyun smiled, the smile was very light, barely reaching her eyes: "Fuwei, are you tired of me?"
Seeing that Xi Fuwei was stunned, he said slowly, "Although you have always been reserved, you are also filial. Brother Fu Cui has just left. If you follow us and break off the engagement, let alone what the outside world thinks, how can your father-in-law not be worried?" ? At this moment, my family has no intention of breaking off the engagement, but you are trying every possible means to distance yourself from me... After thinking about it, I can only think that you are disgusted with me from the bottom of your heart and are unwilling to marry me."
"It's just that I don't understand. I'm in Dongchang Mansion. I can't say that I'm a first-class son-in-law who can ride a dragon. I think I'm pretty good-looking."
"Over the years, I can't say that I've been meticulous to you and the Xi family, but I've been very considerate."
"You and I have been engaged for many years, but why have you always been neither far away nor close to me... and now you are trying every possible means to break off the engagement?"
"...You are thinking too much." Xi Fuwei frowned for a moment and then said, "I lost my mother when I was young, and I have always envied other women's affectionate and affectionate ways. So you said that you came here secretly through the back door because you were afraid of making your father-in-law angry. , I naturally want to advise you not to break your mother's heart."
After prevarication, she turned around and said, "It's getting late, let's go!"
Wen Xianyun seemed to want to say something, but he smiled to himself when he saw this, but he didn't say anything and quietly followed her footsteps.
Xi Fuwei took him to the back door, glanced at the green horse outside the door, and said lightly: "Be careful on the road." before closing the door.
Just as she held the door latch with her hand, Wen Xianyun, who had already stepped out of the threshold with one foot, suddenly turned around and inserted something into her hair with lightning speed!
Xi Fuwei was startled by his action, and subconsciously took a step back. She hurriedly touched the hairpin and pulled it out. When she looked closely, she saw that it was a silver hairpin with lotus flowers on it.
Wen Xianyun watched her movements with blurry eyes, but he just smiled and said, "Fuwei, I'm leaving, please take care of yourself."
Xi Fuwei frowned and watched him mount his horse and leave. He closed the door gently and gently before turning around and saw Xi Zongwang standing on the steps not far away, thoughtfully: "Weier , I see this kid is really interested in you?"
"What's the use of that?" Xi Fuwei glanced at the hairpin in his hand and said calmly, "The head of the Wen family and his wife are still young and powerful, so it's not his turn to make the decision! So it doesn't matter whether he really likes me. Besides, it doesn't matter. With my family like this now, how can I possibly leave the government with peace of mind in a year?"
She pursed her lips and asked, "Dad, what did he just say to you in the study? I think you seemed to be convinced by him?"