In the inner room at night, when no one is talking, it is especially silent.
The sound of the wind, the swaying of branches and leaves...even the occasional ravings of little Xiao Yu in his sleep seemed to be amplified several times.
Que'er carefully tucked the corner of the quilt for the little grandson, his curiosity was aroused, and he asked jokingly: "Concubine Shizi, could it be that Mr. Guan has someone with a 'story'?"
Nangong Yue gently caressed the little guy's chubby cheeks with a peach-like blush, and the scenes on Hanshi Street flashed through her mind, she nodded, and said, "I remember when I was seven years old, in Jiangnan old When I was in the house, I once heard my mother mention this Mr. Guan... "
When Nangong Yue said this, both Huamei and Que'er looked over curiously, looking like they "wanted to move the stool over to eat melon seeds and listen to the story", which made Nangong Yue laugh a little bit.
The incident happened ten years ago, that is, when Nangong Yue was seven years old. To Nangong Yue who had a new life, it was a long, long time ago.
She straightened out her thoughts and spoke.
Ten years ago, a barbarian came across the sea, looking for people to teach chess skills in the Jiangnan area, and defeated all the chess masters in the Jiangnan in just a few months, which shocked the Jiangnan chess world. Puyao Temple set up a chess game to break and seek defeat, which caused a lot of trouble in the city for a while...
One day, Guan Jinyun, who was going to Puyao Temple to offer incense, heard about this incident by chance, and broke the chess game that had stumped countless talented chess players, making the barbarians willing to bow down. Mr. Guan".
Later, there was also a young and vigorous talent who wanted to challenge Guan Jinyun in a post, but was refuted by Guan Jinyun with the sentence "Chess is a thing for self-cultivation rather than a skill for competition". This sentence was once also refuted by many literati Praise, I think Mr. Guan has a noble character...
This Mr. Guan is not only highly skilled in chess, but also has a modest heart and does not show his edge easily. Afterwards, he only heard that she had discussed chess with several well-known chess masters such as Zen Master Shengshan and Li Ruomo. His chess skill is quite appreciated.
Nangong Yue's voice was warm and elegant in the gentle night wind, and the maids were fascinated by it with relish.
When the room fell silent again, Huamei said emotionally: "Concubine Shizi, this Mr. Guan is a bit of a hero among women..."
yes. Nangong Yue raised her eyebrows. She still remembered that she felt the same way when she heard her mother talk about it when she was a child, so she still remembered this person after many years...
The night is late, no matter how thrilling the day is, it turns into peace and drowsiness at night, and everything falls into a peaceful sleep until dawn comes again...
Early the next morning, Xiao Rongyu came to Bixiao Hall to say hello to Nangong Yue. The newly refreshed little girl looked clear-eyed and radiant, obviously she had completely cast off the shadow of yesterday.
Nangong Yue and the little girl talked about Baihui going to Huanxi Pavilion to give a thank you gift to Mr. Guan yesterday, exchanged some pleasantries with her, and then sent her back. As for Xiao Yu, she didn't care about it from the beginning to the end. His fifth aunt, his attention was drawn to something outside the window.
"Meow meow—" He lay on the window and yelled repeatedly to the cat Xiaobai who was sleeping on the branch. Unfortunately, Xiaobai was as motionless as a mountain, curled up into a fluffy white ball on the thick branch, and people looked at him. Just a little itchy.
"Meow meow!"
The sound of milky cat meows echoed in the room endlessly. Nangong Yue, who was working as a female celebrity, put down the needle and thread in her hand, and began to think about whether she should divert the little guy's attention, but he suddenly changed his words: "Auntie …”
The little guy excitedly waved his little fleshy palm out of the window, and his body trembled slightly. Nangong Yue had no doubt that if he was older and more agile, he would have crawled out of the window.
As Nangong Yue thought about it, she followed the little guy's gaze and looked out. She thought it was Xiao Fei or a few other younger sisters who came, but she didn't expect that the yard was completely empty.
"aunt… "
The little meat ball screamed again, Nangong Yue looked at it again, and then suddenly realized that the little guy was looking at the sky.
In the blue sky, a white pigeon flapped its wings and flew towards the direction of Bixiaotang. It was getting closer and closer. It should be a carrier pigeon in the mansion...
Nangong Yue was startled, and suddenly realized.
It turned out that the little guy was not called "Auntie", but "Cuckoo", a pigeon called "Cuckoo".
Thinking about it, she was a little funny, and she felt a little ominous in her heart. Looking at the direction the carrier pigeons flew from, it seemed to come from the north. Could it be from the capital...
After half an hour, Nangong Yue's doubts were answered.
Accompanied by the sound of "cuckoo" and the sound of picking the curtain, Baihui quickly walked into the east room holding a chubby white carrier pigeon.
The pigeon immediately attracted Xiao Xiaoyu's attention, and he called "coo coo" again, one after another with the pigeon's cry.
Huamei took the pigeon, and immediately carried it to the little grandson to play with, while Baihui presented a letter folded into long strips to Nangong Yue, and said respectfully: "Prince Princess, this is Housekeeper Zhu. I just received the letter from Feige from the capital..."
Nangong Yue gave Baihui a funny look. Zhu Xing had already read the letter, so there was no need to bring the carrier pigeon. Baihui's unnecessary move was naturally to please Xiao Yu.
Baihui didn't look sideways, she was as calm as usual, as if she didn't see Nangong Yue's playful eyes.
Nangong Yue raised her hand to take the secret letter, and then her eyes fell on the letter in her hand. Since Zhu Xing asked Baihui to hand the letter to him, it must be because he thought there were some things about her in the letter. Must know things...
Nangong Yue took a deep breath, quickly opened the letter, and looked down...
This is…
Nangong Yue only read a few lines, but her eyes were wide open, and there was a look of surprise in her eyes and expression.
This letter is mainly written about Han Huaijun's affairs, saying that the emperor has received the booklet sent by the Marquis of Weiyuan from Xijiang, and issued a Taoist decree on the fourth day of December to punish Qi Wangfu, and Qi Wang was demoted from prince to county king. Han Huaijun was convicted of treason and expelled from his family, and Jiang Yixi...
Nangong Yue unconsciously slowed down the speed of reading the letter, and the expression on her face became more and more complicated and dignified.
"Sister Xi will be coming to Southern Xinjiang soon..." Nangong Yue stared at the letter and murmured, half a statement, half a sigh.
Although she was about to reunite with her old friend whom she hadn't seen for several years, Nangong Yue's face was not full of joy. In the current situation, she really couldn't laugh.
Baihui, Que'er and Huamei all looked at each other in blank dismay. From Nangong Yue's expression, the maids all vaguely guessed that there might be another major event in the capital...
Only Xiao Xiaoyu played with the white dove without any worries. For a while, he called "coo-coo", swung his arms up and down to imitate the appearance of the dove flying, and then gently touched the delicate white feathers of the dove with his small meat claws. Twice, just like he usually pets the cat at home.
Nangong Yue couldn't help but read the secret letter in her hand again, engraving every single word in her heart, unconsciously exerting force with her fingers, and her whole body was even a little stiff.
Long before the emperor's second stroke, Nangong Yue vaguely sensed from the emperor's actions over the years that since she and Xiao Yi left the capital, the emperor seemed to be getting more and more confused...
But judging from this time, the emperor seems to have really gone mad, no, or maybe he's gone mad!
If it was the emperor who loved her and A Yi as his nephew and junior, and the emperor who still had a benevolent heart, Han Huaijun and Jiang Yixi would never be pushed to such a "dead end"...
Maybe my guess is right...
Thinking about it, Nangong Yue's eyebrows were tightly locked, and a faint light flashed in her eyes.
This is most likely the sequela left by the emperor's stroke!
This time, Han Lingguan secretly gave the emperor a heart attack, which caused his stroke to recur. After that, he was in a coma for more than 20 days. The emperor's stroke this time was much more serious than the first time, and he was probably half of the imperial physician who was able to wake up. The medical skill, the other half is luck.
Even if she hadn't checked the emperor's pulse, she could roughly guess that his body was at the end of his battle... If the emperor would listen to the imperial doctor and take a good rest, if the emperor would rest assured to hand over the affairs of state to the fifth prince, it might take a few more years , but the emperor couldn't let it go, he still wanted to hold the power firmly in the palm of his hand...
Working hard, thinking too much, being angry and sad... These are the taboos of stroke, but the emperor committed all of them. If this continues, his condition will only get worse, causing emotional entanglement, violent temper, If you insist on going your own way, you will fall into a vicious circle, and you can't extricate yourself!
Faithful words are harsh, the current emperor may not listen to advice anymore, he can only figure it out for himself, but with his condition, his brain will only become more and more clogged, is it possible for him to wake up
Nangong Yue smiled wryly, but she already had the answer in her heart...
Next, what will happen to the royal capital and court? !
Nangong Yue felt as if something was pressing on her heart, and it became heavier, and a sigh escaped from between her lips and teeth.
Hey, I just feel sorry for Sister Xi.
Xiao Yi told Nangong Yue before this expedition that Lord Han Huai and Jiang Yixi might come to settle in southern Xinjiang... If the emperor ordered Han Huaijun to be convicted of treason and demote Jiang Yixi as an official slave.
According to Xiao Yi's original plan, on the day of receiving the order, Jiang Yixi would denounce the emperor in the street for not distinguishing right from wrong, and refute Lord Han Huai's crime of treason. The army retreated straight to Liuquan City, how could it be a crime of treason!
As long as Mr. Han Huai's crime of treason is not found guilty, Jiang Yixi can naturally avoid being punished as a slave, and after that, he can leave the capital in a fair and just manner...but unexpectedly, Jiang Yixi finally chose to escape with death.
"Death escape" means that she will bear the status of "official slave" until she dies, and she will have no relatives in the future, and there will be no such person as "Jiang Yixi". She has abandoned her past, her roots...
This is definitely not an easy choice.
Based on Nangong Yue's understanding of Jiang Yixi, she could vaguely guess why Jiang Yixi chose to take this path.
Jiang Yixi didn't want Duke Enguo's mansion to be involved because of her, nor did he want the emperor to anger the queen and the fifth prince...
This is my sister Xi!
Thinking about it, Nangong Yue felt a faint sadness in her heart, mixed with a bit of embarrassment...
The room was silent for a while, and even the atmosphere around her became a little dignified and depressing because of Nangong Yue's silence.
After a long time, Nangong Yue finally put down the letter paper in her hand, and her slightly distracted eyes gradually became focused again, and she ordered: "Baihui, please go and make arrangements for someone to clean the house on the other side of Guanzhi Street..."
The house on the other side of Guanzhi Street is the one that Nangong Yue found for Han Huaijun and Jiang Yixi. She has already taken a rough look at it, but she still holds a glimmer of hope in her heart, hoping that she won't come to this point...
Nangong Yue made up her mind, and continued: "Also, choose some safe people from Bixiaotang's family to serve, and make sure Sister Xi and the others... feel at home."
When the last four words were spoken, Nangong Yue felt a slight bitterness spread from her mouth.
Jiang Yixi came alone, and the people who used to serve him must not be able to bring her with her, and her family is also thousands of miles away. Even if the daily expenses are the same as before, everything is different...
After Baihui responded, she took the order and retreated.
Nangong Yue casually threw the piece of tissue paper full of words into the brazier, and the fluffy tissue paper was engulfed by the flames in the blink of an eye, turning into ashes and merging with the coke in the brazier.
Amidst the sound of burning flames, Dongci room became quiet again, only the sound of "cuckoo" occasionally sounded...
Seeing the carrier pigeons being "ravaged" by Xiao Xiaoyu to the point of sluggishness, Nangong Yue couldn't help laughing, thinking that these carrier pigeons were bullied by Xiao Hui and Han Yu on weekdays. A little pitiful, she asked Thrush to release the pigeon.
Xiao Xiaoyu was still reluctant to part with his little friend, and looked at the direction in which the pigeon flew away and cooed, which begged his aunt to come.
As soon as Xiao Fei entered the room, she heard the little guy call "Auntie", and she couldn't hide her joy. After seeing Nangong Yue, she asked complacently, "Brother Yu, are you thinking about Auntie?"
She walked to Xiao Xiao Yu's side, gently touched the top of his soft hair, and shook his warm little hand, with a faint smile on the corner of her mouth.
When the little guy saw his aunt, his attention was diverted, and he raised his arms coquettishly beckoning his aunt to hug him.
Xiao Fei was flattered and hugged the little guy on her lap, her heart was full of sweetness, and it took her a while to remember the business of this trip.
"Sister-in-law, I received a post from Yuanxi Pavilion, saying that a chess meeting will be held today." Xiao Fei said and signaled Taoyao to present a post with lake-colored cloud pattern to Nangong Yue, "Sister-in-law, would you like Don't come with me?"
As Xiao Fei said, her black and clear eyes were shining brightly, obviously she was very interested in this game.
In fact, Nangong Yue also received this post, and she wanted to go, but since it was a chess club, it would take a lot of time to play chess, and it would take a long time to go out.
Playing chess pays attention to peace of mind, and the place where you play chess should not be noisy. Little Xiao Yu is not yet one year old, so it is inevitable that it will be noisy, so naturally you can't take it with you...
After much deliberation, Nangong Yue had no choice but to decline Xiao Fei's invitation: "Sister Fei, Laba is coming soon, the palace is busy with affairs, and I have to take care of brother Yu, so I won't go."
As soon as the little guy on Xiao Fei's lap heard her name, she responded, "Mom?"
He tilted his head and looked at his mother, as if asking, what did mother tell him to do
Xiao Fei was a little disappointed when she heard this, but she didn't try to persuade her, and said considerately: "Sister-in-law, I will talk to you about the chess game in detail when I come back..."
"Sister Fei, if you see a good chess game, can you come back and review it for me?" Nangong Yue said with a smile.
Xiao Fei hastily agreed, feeling a little regretful in her heart, the chess club at Huanxi Pavilion will definitely attract many female family members who are good at chess in the city, and, it is said that Madam Jiang has invited a chess master Guan from the south of the Yangtze River this time. Sir, if you can consult with Mr. Guan, you will definitely benefit a lot. Xiao Fei has already thought about recording more chess records in the chess club and showing them to Nangong Yue...
Thinking of Mr. Guan, the chess master, Xiao Fei thought of another thing, so she said: "Sister-in-law, I heard that Mr. Guan, who temporarily lives in Huanxi Pavilion, is the savior of Fifth Sister, and Fifth Sister said that she also I want to go with me and personally go to the door to thank Mr. Guan for saving his life."
Xiao Fei's words already had the demeanor of an elder sister. As an elder sister, she should take care of her younger sister no matter whether it is in the house or outside the house.
Nangong Yue nodded with a smile.
Xiao Xiaoyu also followed her mother's example and nodded "giggle", Xiao Fei looked down at the little guy in her arms who was smiling and showing eight rice grain teeth, and knew in her heart that Xiao Xiaoyu was the sister-in-law who couldn't go to the chess meeting with her reason.
Little nephew grow up quickly! Only your aunt can play with you.
Xiao Fei held the little guy's hands, and asked solemnly: "Brother Yu, when you grow up, can my aunt teach you how to play chess?"
Poor little Xiao Yu didn't know what her aunt was asking, she just smirked and imitated Xiao Fei's movement to hold her hand instead.
For Xiao Fei, it meant that her little nephew agreed, and she kissed him "click" on his fair and tender cheek with joy, and she knew that her little nephew was the closest to her.
Then, in exchange for a kiss from the little guy.
Sealed for proof! Xiao Fei smiled even more happily.
Looking at the pair of aunt and nephew who played together inexplicably, Nangong Yue has long been familiar with her son's various self-familiarity and good skills.
Anyway, she is sure that her son is definitely not like her...
Xiao Fei stayed in Bixiaotang for about a stick of incense again, looked at the time and left, and planned to go back to Yuebiju to tidy up before going to Huanxi Pavilion...
On this day, sisters Xiao Fei and Xiao Rongyu didn't return to the palace until Shen Shi, and as soon as they came back, they first came to Nangong Yue's courtyard.
After going out for a long time, the two girls, one big and one small, didn't look tired at all, but were radiant and energetic, and the eyes of the two girls were shining like cold stars.
On weekdays, Xiao Fei and Xiao Rongyu are very different in age, and they can't hang out together. The sisters are neither strong nor weak. I didn't expect to go out together today, but they are quite close.
"Sister-in-law."
After seeing Nangong Yue, the two sisters sat down and talked about the chess club with Nangong Yue.
"Sister-in-law, look!" Xiao Fei impatiently handed a chess record to Nangong Yue to read.
Nangong Yue looked at this chess record, first recognized it was the chess record recorded by Xiao Rongyu from the somewhat childish italic script, then carefully examined the chess game, and said thoughtfully: "Sister Fei, you are the one holding the sunspots." ?”
Xiao Fei clapped her hands with a smile: "Sister-in-law is still so bright-eyed."
In Go, it is respectful to hold the black stones. When the black stones are placed first, the white stones are followed by the black stones. The black stones that go first have a great advantage.
Nan Gongyue knows Xiao Fei's chess skills best, but the white chess player can win with the advantage of two and a half eyes.
"Which Mr. Guan is holding the white chess?" Nangong Yue asked again.
Xiao Fei nodded again, her eyes brightened, and then she took out three more chess records, "Sister-in-law, please read these three again."
These three chess records are obviously recorded by Xiao Fei, but the chess game looks much more dull. The person holding the white pieces should be Mr. Guan, and this should be the guiding chess... Nangong Yue frowned slightly, and Xiao Rongyu couldn't help but praise. He said: "Sister-in-law, Mr. Guan's chess skills are really superb, and he played guiding chess with three girls at the same time, and he was still calm."
While Xiao Rongyu was speaking, his eyes showed admiration, and Xiao Fei also praised in agreement: "There is a saying: 'Listening to your words is better than reading ten years of books', Mr. Guan's ability to see the overall situation is beyond my reach. In the past two years, I have felt that my chess skills have stagnated, and today I really benefited a lot."
Xiao Rongyu on the side seemed to think of something, with a hint of shyness on his face, he said: "Sister-in-law, Mr. Guan said that the winter in southern Xinjiang is much warmer than that in the south of the Yangtze River, and he plans to stay in southern Xinjiang for a while..."
After a pause, Xiao Rongyu bravely said her request: "Sister-in-law, can I invite Mr. Guan to come to the palace to be a lady and teach me how to play chess?"