By the time they arrived at Xishangang, the sun had already set, the sky in the east was slightly dark, while the sky in the west was as red as blood.
During this period of time, Xishangang has almost become the busiest place on the outskirts of the capital. During the day, there is always a continuous flow of people, but now it is dusk. The world is jealous of ghosts and gods. When it gets dark in this cemetery, there are always some people. It was gloomy, so at this time, the people who came to worship the official and the general had almost left, only the setting sun and the black crows were left, and the rough crows were singing one after another, which still sounded a little creepy.
A farmer who happened to pass by couldn't help but glanced at them, and saw that young couple in plain clothes were so handsome that they couldn't be compared to ordinary people. If they saw it on the street outside or in a restaurant, the farmer would only appreciate it. But in this half-light and half-dark hour of encountering demons, and near this gloomy Xishangang cemetery, it made his heart chug.
This, this can't be... that thing
Now it's not July to open the gate of hell, isn't it
The farmer ran away quickly with a hoe on his shoulder, thinking that he should go home to drink a cup of hot Erguotou and burn some wormwood to get rid of Yin Qi.
Xiao Yi and Nangong Yue in the front continued to walk up the hill, but they didn't know that they had scared an innocent passerby. Soon, the two arrived at the top of Xishan Hill, but at a glance, they were all It was all white, and the mountain of white paper money was almost impossible to find.
crunch, crunch...
Stepping on those white paper money is like stepping on thick white snow, making a subtle sound, and this subtle sound seems to be amplified several times in this peaceful place.
When they stopped in front of Guan Ruyan's tombstone, there was only death-like silence covering the top of the mountain...
For a while, the four of them didn't speak, but their eyes were already flushed unconsciously.
Xiao Yi stared at Guan Ruyan's tombstone for a moment, and suddenly said: "This is carved by Xiaobai."
Not only Xiao Yi could recognize Guan Yubai's handwriting, but Nangong Yue and Bai Hui could also recognize it. After Nangong Yue looked at it carefully, she gestured to Baihui, who immediately looked at the entire row of tombstones and nodded.
This row of tombstones were carved by Guan Yubai himself!
A picture appeared in the minds of all four of them - a thin young man in white sitting next to the tombstone, chiseling and hammering...
Xiao Yi's fists were clenched tightly together unconsciously.
I still remember that three years ago, Guanyu Bai Fuling returned to the capital and set up a mourning hall in the Marquis of Anyi. He went to offer his condolences. He only wanted to see what kind of person this young man who was once known as General Anyi was, and how he could win the honor of his grandfather. Praise, and being able to be friends with his stinky girl. When he went there, he was somewhat provocative, but he didn't expect to hit it off with the other party...
Unknowingly, three years have passed, and they have become close friends who talk about everything, making him feel the pain of Guan Yubai.
Xiao Yi has never been as sure as this moment, he is still too weak, he needs strength and greater power.
He must be stronger to be fearless, he cannot let his family, his friends, and the people he cares about be destroyed instantly because of someone's light words!
On this day, they stayed until dark before returning to the capital.
After sending Nangong Yue back to the palace, Xiao Yi went out again, this time to find Guan Yubai...
Nangong Yue went back to Fufeng Courtyard alone, before she reached the gate of the courtyard, she saw Xiao Fei in a white fox fur cloak walking towards her.
"Sister Fei..." Nangong Yue stopped and looked at Xiao Fei with a smile.
Xiao Fei hurriedly quickened her steps, with the corners of her mouth slightly raised, and said, "Sister-in-law, you're back." As she spoke, her eyes paused for a moment beside Nangong Yue, and her brows frowned. The eldest brother clearly went out with his sister-in-law, but why did the sister-in-law come back alone
Could it be that the eldest brother left his sister-in-law halfway and went to another place
Thinking about it, Xiao Fei frowned even tighter, the elder brother is still not safe enough in doing things! I should mention him a bit. ... But it's okay if the elder brother is not here!
Nangong Yue didn't know what Xiao Fei was thinking, so she took Xiao Fei's hand and went into the Fufeng Courtyard together, saying: "Sister Fei, you came just in time, come have dinner with me."
Of course Xiao Fei agreed.
The two had a simple dinner, and when the hot tea for digestion was served, Xiao Fei, who had endured it for a long time, finally said earnestly, "Sister-in-law, will you play chess with me?"
She looked at Nangong Yue expectantly, and thought: It's good if the elder brother didn't come back with him, if he was there, nine times out of ten he wouldn't let the sister-in-law play chess with her!
However, since the elder brother is in charge of the Wucheng soldiers and horses, he must not be in the mansion during the day, right? In that case, she and the elder sister-in-law can play the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting together as before!
Thinking about it, Xiao Fei was looking forward to it.
"Play chess?" Nangong Yue thought of something, her eyes became clear, but it was just the game of chess the day before yesterday
Xiao Fei showed a hint of shyness on her face, and looked at Nangong Yue with burning eyes.
Under such eyes, how could Nangong Yue refuse, she could only nod her head, and took Xiao Fei to her small study.
Baihui quickly set up a chessboard on a mahogany round table, and Xiao Fei went over by herself first to put the chess pieces away one by one. It was the half game that Xiao Fei played with Miss Chen at the furnace meeting the day before yesterday.
That day Miss Chen was holding Bai Zi, so Nangong Yue planned to sit down beside Bai Zi, but Xiao Fei stopped her and said, "Sister-in-law, let me hold Bai Zi." For the past two days, she has been thinking about this Playing chess, I always feel that Baizi still has something to do.
Nangong Yue couldn't help laughing, and walked to the other side in a good manner.
After the two sat down, Xiao Fei picked up the white stone and dropped it decisively...
But Nangong Yue was not in a hurry, anyway, Heizi had already gained the upper hand. Moreover, for her, playing chess was a pastime, and she had never had any ambition to win.
Afterwards, the two of them stopped talking, and the room was silent, only the sound of their breathing and the sound of falling balls one after another...
slap, slap...
I don't know how long it took before the servant girl's saluting voice sounded in the room: "I have met the son."
Nangong Yue suddenly came back to her senses, looked towards the direction of the door curtain, and a smile escaped from the corner of her mouth: "A Yi, you are back!"
Xiao Fei also turned around and looked at Xiao Yi, but her eyes were full of scrutiny and reprimand, as if she was saying: Why did you come back so late
Xiao Yi keenly caught the scolding in Xiao Fei's expression, but his understanding was: why are you interrupting our chess game
Xiao Yi stared back angrily, meaning: He went back to his own home, and he couldn't allow her to talk! She is the one. It's so late, and she still stays in the sister-in-law's room and doesn't go back, is it decent
The siblings quarreled with each other several times with their eyes at the snap of their fingers...
Although Nangong Yue on the side didn't know what they were staring at like fighting cocks, she also knew that this would never be a good thing, and she sighed again in her heart: This pair of brothers and sisters are really real, and I guess they have a temperament that no one will let go They followed the old prince... Anyway, Nangong Yue would never think that they followed the king of Zhennan.
Lily was about to laugh unkindly, feeling that she had accidentally watched a good show.
Although she was dissatisfied with Xiao Yi in her heart, Xiao Fei still knew the etiquette. Now that it was getting late, it was really inappropriate for her to stay any longer. She straightened her back and stood up, bowed to Xiao Yi and Nangong Yuefu, and said with a straight look: "Brother and sister-in-law, Fei'er will leave first." After finishing speaking, the corners of her lips raised slightly, and she added in a good mood, "Sister-in-law, let's play chess together some other day."
As soon as Xiao Fei left, Xiao Yi walked over and sat down in Xiao Fei's original position. He wanted to reprimand Xiao Fei a few words, but when he got to his mouth, he was distracted by the chess game on the chessboard.
Xiao Fei is in charge of white, Nangong Yue is in charge of black, now Bai Zi has the upper hand, but...
No matter how you look at this chess game, although Xiao Fei has the upper hand now, the white pieces seem to be scattered in the early stage, and the black pieces are also weird, and the local chess style really doesn't look like a stinky girl...
How did these two people play the chess game in such a way
He raised his eyebrows and looked at Nangong Yue, Nangong Yue seemed to see his doubts, so he talked about the furnace meeting at the Princess Yongyang's mansion that day...
Xiao Yi looked at the chess game again, with a flash of interest in his eyes, and said, "That means this game is played after the blind game that day?" I didn't expect that girl Xiao Fei to play blind chess well. good…
Thinking of the situation that day, Nangong Yue found it very interesting, and chuckled softly with crooked eyebrows.
Seeing her smiling happily, Xiao Yi's heart was itchy, and holding her hand, the two of them walked out of the small study together and returned to the banquet room. Xiao Yi pulled her to sit on Luohan's bed, first kissed her tenderly on the cheek, and then said: "... After the Lantern Festival is over, we can start tidying up things, we just need to pack lightly."
Nangong Yue nodded according to her words, and said, "I will leave my dowry in the capital for now."
When she got married, her dowry was a total of one hundred and twenty-eight lifts. If she wanted to take it away with her, it would be very troublesome.
Xiao Yi put his arms around her and talked about the secret letter that Uncle Chang Ping handed over. Hearing this, Nan Gongyue was dumbfounded, blinked and said: "This is too good at talking... the emperor really believes it?"
"Uncle Changping has always been favored by the emperor, and he has the ability to speak eloquently." Xiao Yi smiled, and Taohua's eyes sparkled, "Xiaobai really knows how to choose people."
Of course, who to choose to go to Baiyue is not a casual choice, every step of Guan Yubai has his own consideration.
In fact, not many people knew the truth about the Baiyue Mutiny. With Uncle Changping's temperament, if the errands were not done well, he would only whitewash the peace. In this way, it is even more impossible for the emperor to know the truth.
"By the way." Xiao Yi remembered something and said, "Xiao Bai felt that the incident in the capital a few days ago was not done by the third prince alone, and the third prince should be someone's shield."
Nangong Yue raised her eyebrows slightly, and said in surprise: "The third prince has been used by someone?... Who could it be?" As soon as the words fell, she asked and answered, "The fifth prince has the status of a legitimate son, and now the situation is clear, so there is no need to do this." Hands and feet. And once the third prince falls, only the other two princes can benefit... the first prince and the second prince?"
Xiao Yi gestured with the word "two", "Xiaobai said that it is probably this one."
The second prince... Han Lingguan.
Recalling the last life, the fifth prince died of poisoning, at that time all kinds of doubts pointed to the second prince, the empress was in grief, and recklessly attacked the second prince, in the end, it was not known whether it was an accident or man-made, the second prince died early. But in this life... the fifth prince survived and changed a lot
Xiao Yi didn't want to see her bothering her, so he hugged her secretly and kissed her, and said: "Let's wait and see for now, we will talk about it later."
Nangong Yue leaned against him and nodded slightly.
In the early morning of the second day, Xiao Yi went out after breakfast. He planned to go to Pei's mansion first, call Pei Yuanchen out, and go to Guiyuan Pavilion for a drink together.
Nangong Yue returned to her own room in Fufengyuan after finishing the chores of Zhongfei.
She winked at Baihui, and Baihui immediately nodded understandingly, and dismissed all the little maids, only Nangong Yue, Baihui and Baihe were left in the room.
"Lily, come here, I have something for you." Nangong Yue waved to Lily, and Lily walked over in a daze.
Nangong Yue took out a list from the box on the dressing table and handed it to Lily.
Lily blinked suspiciously, and after only one glance, her eyes widened in surprise.
This is…
She looked at Nangong Yue, then at Baihui, a faint blush appeared on her pretty face.
It turned out that this list was actually a dowry list, which listed in detail the houses, properties, jewellery, cloth, utensils prepared for her... It was so comprehensive that it would be impossible to get all these things together without one or two thousand taels of silver.
"Shizifei..." Baihe whispered flatteredly, "That's too much." As far as she knew, there were not so many Yimei's first marriages before.
"Don't worry." Nangong Yue looked at her with a smile, as if guessing what she was thinking, "I already made up your sister Yimei yesterday." After a pause, she said, "In the future When your cousin gets married, there will be so many... no, maybe more than you, don't be jealous!"
Lily was accidentally amused, and calmed down again, and said with a smile: "Prince Princess, slaves are not jealous. Even if you give your cousin double the dowry, slaves are not jealous!"
Seeing Lily's blushing, heartbeat, and mouth full of dowry in an instant, Baihui shook her head helplessly.
Nangong Yue said again: "Lily, you are going to get married in a few days, so don't be on duty these days, go back and get ready to get married."
"No need, Princess Concubine." Lily didn't take it seriously, "It's fine to stay at home..." As she spoke, she thought of something, and blinked mischievously, "Why don't you give your cousin a few days off? Let her Just help the slaves make a fuss."
This girl... Nangong Yue and Baihui looked at each other with a broken smile.
Amidst the laughter, Que'er came into the room and announced: "Concubine Shi, Young Mistress Han is here!" The Young Mistress Han she was talking about was actually Jiang Yixi.
Given the friendship between Nangong Yue and Jiang Yixi, Nangong Yue didn't go to the flower hall to meet guests, and ordered Que'er to bring Jiang Yixi in directly.
Jiang Yixi's face was a little dignified, and Nangong Yue knew something was wrong when she saw her appearance, so she waved away the maids.
"Sister Xi, what happened?" Nangong Yue asked with concern, thinking: Could it be that Princess Qi has made some fools again
Jiang Yixi really couldn't say that this matter had nothing to do with Princess Qi, although the perpetrator was indeed not Princess Qi, and Princess Qi just followed the trend.
After Jiang Yixi settled down, she smiled helplessly, and said, "Sister Yue, I wonder if you know Mrs. Gong, the wife of the general soldier in Xuzhou Town in the south of the Yangtze River?"
Mrs. Gong? Nangong Yue blinked and shook her head in bewilderment, wondering why Jiang Yixi suddenly mentioned this person.
A cold light flashed in Jiang Yixi's eyes, and he said with a half smile but not a smile: "Recently, this Mrs. Gong is a famous person in the capital, and she is sending her adopted daughters to various mansions, and she even sent one to us a few days ago. The palace..."
Could it be... Nangong Yue probably guessed it. Basically, thinking about it with Princess Qi's temper, she roughly knows how this matter will develop.
Jiang Yixi nodded and said: "Yes, the concubine mother decided to accept that girl Gong and sent it to our yard. She even said grandly that she would help the Han family to spread branches and leaves..." She had already recognized her heir She doesn't care about the difficulty, and neither does Mr. Han Huai, but Princess Qi always likes to mention it intentionally or unintentionally.
"Professed daughter?" Nangong Yue raised her eyebrows slightly, her voice could not hear any emotions, "This is very interesting."
This kind of "righteous daughter" who can be sent everywhere is really rare.
Nangong Yue looked at Jiang Yixi and asked, "Sister Xi, where is that person?"
"Keep it." Jiang Yixi didn't care. After thinking for a while, the corners of his lips raised slightly and said, "Although I don't know what Gong Zongbing is jumping up and down, but something like that happened in the capital a few days ago, don't worry about it." Not to mention, His Royal Highness the third prince is still banned up to now, and the emperor must still be troubled in his heart. If Zongbing Gong did this, even if he was only worried about one point at first, he might end up with ten points in the end... I will wait until that At that time, the father and the princess came over in person and asked me to take Miss Gong back, and then I can't just return it casually."
Jiang Yixi smiled slightly with a relaxed expression.
Seeing her thinking so clearly, Nangong Yue felt relieved, and couldn't help pursing her lips and laughing.
But at this time, Jiang Yixi hesitated for a moment, and continued: "Sister Yue, I came to you today to remind you that your Ayi has been favored by the emperor recently, so I thought, maybe the Gong family will also go You send a charming righteous daughter over here."
Nangong Yue smiled, and was about to speak, when Jiang Yixi said with deep meaning: "Sister Yue, don't look at our girls in the backyard all day long, but the man who can make the decisions in the backyard will always be a man. It’s not something we can save by crying. But if a man can treat us wholeheartedly, it’s just an extra bowl of food to support a ‘servant’.”
Just because Mr. Han Huai didn't care about that "Miss Pei" and wouldn't have any intimacy with her, so for Jiang Yixi, she didn't have to care about it either.
Jiang Yixi is a girl raised by a real honorable family, and she knows the way of the back house like the back of her hand. If the person she married was not Han Huaijun, she would not even care whether her husband had a concubine or not. In contrast, she was more worried about Nangong Yue because she knew that the second room of Nangong's family did not have a concubine. When the person came, Nangong Yue would be so angry that she ran to make trouble with Xiao Yi. No matter how deep the relationship between husband and wife is, it will gradually fade away due to unprovoked rudeness.
From Jiang Yixi's point of view, Xiao Yi has a deep affection for Nangong Yue, and he will definitely not even look at other women like Han Huaijun. If this is the case, they can just sit and wait for the Pei family to be unlucky.
Naturally, Nangong Yue understood what she meant. If such words were not as close as sisters, how could Jiang Yixi come here to speak with her heart-to-heart.
She couldn't help smiling, nodded, and said, "I understand, thank you sister Xi for reminding me."
Jiang Yixi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
Nangong Yue looked at Jiang Yixi with some reluctance. In the capital, she still had too many people she couldn't let go of. However, it was imperative to return to southern Xinjiang.
For a moment, Nangong Yue's eyes flashed a look of complexity, but she immediately smiled nonchalantly and said, "Sister Xi, it's rare for you to come to my place when you have time, but you have to leave after lunch..."
Jiang Yixi responded with a smile, and said: "I heard that your maid named Lily is about to get married, call her over, and I will add makeup to her."
"If the relationship is good, Lily must be overjoyed!"
Nangong Yue and Jiang Yixi chatted happily, and at this moment, Xiao Yi, Pei Yuanchen and Cheng Luo had also arrived at Guiyuan Pavilion.
Yesterday, Li Chengen refused their invitation on the pretext of something. Xiao Yi couldn't see the other party's avoidance attitude. He is not a character who swallows his anger. Since Li Chengen doesn't like him, there is no need for him Pay more attention, otherwise the best wine will be wasted.
Xiao Yi helped Pei Yuanchen, who had troubled legs, to go upstairs, and as soon as he was seated, Cheng Luo bowed to the two future brothers-in-law lively: "Big brother-in-law, big brother, today I will do it first as a respect, and I will invite the two brothers-in-law in the future." The brother-in-law is willing to give advice.”
Cheng Luo boldly drank two glasses in a row, and politely filled Xiao Yi and Pei Yuanchen with wine. Although he was courteous but not flattering, it made people feel bad.
After Cheng Luo was seated, she still felt a little giddy in her heart, not quite real. Are you really going to be your brother's brother-in-law
The three of them were talking while drinking, when the wine was in full swing, there were two knocks on the door outside the private seat, followed by Xiao Er, and came in, asking respectfully: "Guest officer, there is a guest who said he knew you Look..." Guiyuan Pavilion is deeply loved by these princes, ministers and princes in the capital.
Xiao Yi frowned, and before he could speak, Cheng Luo smiled boldly and said: "Since we are friends, please come in and have a drink."
Xiao Er made a promise, and then retreated. After a while, a middle-aged man in his fifties came, and behind him were three young girls wearing pink dresses of the same color. He is fifteen or sixteen years old, with a delicate and graceful appearance.
Cheng Luo originally thought that the visitor should be drinking and playing with them on weekdays, but he didn't expect it to be an old man whom he had never met before.
Since I don't know him, the other party is obviously coming for Xiao Yi or Pei Yuanchen.
Cheng Luo looked at the two of them intuitively, Xiao Yi smiled casually, and said, "Isn't this Mr. Gong? Is this really a 'coincidence'?" Holding a white porcelain wine glass.
Zongbing Gong? So this is that Zongbing Gong!
Pei Yuanchen also thought of something, and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. Recently, the story of Gong Ruhai, the commander-in-chief of Xuzhou Town in the south of the Yangtze River, and his wife sending away adopted daughters has gradually spread... Logically speaking, this kind of thing is not a big deal It's a glorious thing, so some mansions that have taken in adopted daughters are hiding it, but there are also some mansions that will take this matter as a romantic affair.
This Zongbing Gong deliberately went to Guiyuan Pavilion to find them and brought three young girls with him, could it be...
Pei Yuanchen and Xiao Yi quickly exchanged a knowing look.
Gong Ruhai naturally heard the meaning in Xiao Yi's tone, but he didn't care. He cupped his hands at the three of them: "Xiao Shizi, Pei Shizi, and Cheng Sizi, it's really a coincidence." He smiled so triangularly. His eyes narrowed, and he said in a familiar tone, "This old man happened to bring a few adopted daughters to Guiyuan Pavilion for a drink today. I didn't expect to meet three of them."
When he heard that these three girls were indeed the "righteous daughters" in the rumors, Pei Yuanchen already knew it in his heart.
He was thinking of dismissing this General Gong, but he didn't expect that Gong Ruhai was thicker than he thought, and he cut straight to the point: "Xiao Shizi, Pei Shizi, Cheng Sigong, the old man, these three righteous men Although the daughter is not a lady of a great family, she is also a jade from a small family, but it is a pity that her life is a bit hard, and her family is in decline. She saw them as pitiful, so she adopted them, and she was raised like pearls and jades. The three of them have admired Xiao Shizi, Pei Shizi and Cheng Sizi for a long time. This girl is extroverted, and the old man wants to make them perfect..."
-off topic-
I wish the girls a happy new year, good luck, and everything goes well~