It rained tonight, I thought he would not be able to make it back. Unexpectedly, he returned to the mansion before he arrived. Xu Changfeng rode his horse in the rain, and when he came back he was wet, so I hurried to welcome him in.
I asked him, "Can you tell someone to prepare some hot water?"
"No need." I sent my servants to rest a long time ago, but now I do everything myself. Xu Changfeng went to the cubicle, and I followed him in to serve him.
Xu Changfeng has been in the army for a long time, and he doesn't often ask someone to serve him personally. He untied his coat himself, and I hung it up for him, then walked over. "Come." I took out the silk handkerchief, raised my hand to gently wipe the water droplets on his face, and Xu Changfeng stopped.
The sound of the rain was pattering, the candles were flickering, sometimes bright and sometimes dark. When I looked at his facial features, I thought the outline was tough at first glance, but now that I looked at it carefully, I think it is not inferior to his other two brothers. His eyelashes are like feathers, and they are a little softer under the hazy firelight. My hand froze for a moment, I hadn't noticed it before, but after a closer look tonight, I saw a scar on the corner of his forehead, the color was already pale, but it was also a bit long and narrow, extending from the forehead back into the scalp.
Xu Changfeng clasped my wrist, and I was stunned, only to realize that I had lost my composure. But Xu Changfeng seemed to see through me, and said, "Swords have no eyes, and some old wounds are inevitable."
"Sanxi knows." I nodded my head lightly, only feeling the heat coming from my wrist little by little, I wanted to pull my hand back, but he didn't let go.
When I raised my eyes, he also stretched out his hand and hooked my sideburns behind my ears.
Xu Changfeng doesn't talk to me much, but he acts carefully and takes care of me everywhere. After a long time, I can gradually notice his kindness. He bowed his head slightly, and put his mouth on my lips. My lips that had been drenched by the rain were a little cold, I trembled slightly, and opened my lips to meet him before I knew it. After getting close, I heard him say in a deep voice: "Go to bed."
Xu Changfeng has never been very flirtatious, and he is used to being straightforward when making out, but this is the worst way to deal with it. Especially tonight, I hide my thoughts, and he is as careful as a hair, so why can't he see that I am absent-minded. When Xu Changfeng covered me, he asked, "What happened?"
I originally wanted to shake my head, but when I looked at him, I suddenly felt an unexplainable discomfort in my heart. There was no reason for this emotion, as if he knew clearly that those thoughts were just meaningless thoughts, although he could understand him, he still had doubts and felt that he was not very sensible. I'm afraid I've really lost my mind and confused my mind today, so I couldn't hold back and asked him: "The official has been keeping Luo's things, but... still thinking about her?"
When Xu Changfeng heard it, he fell silent.
I grew up in the inner house, and I often heard that the women in that room talked badly, only saying that most couples in the world are related more by kinship than love, and some live under the same roof, with cold faces to cold faces, just living together. At first, I only hoped to respect him as a guest, and didn't expect him to love me more, so I couldn't care about other things. Now, the more I love Xu Chang, my heart is contrary to the original, and delusions secretly arise, but I also feel that this is really unfair to him. But in the final analysis, no matter who this justice is for, it has never existed. I just thought, even if he told me the truth, I would be the same as in the past, when he cared about the old man, I would never think about such things again in this life. As long as he has a small place for me in his heart, that's fine.
Unexpectedly, Xu Changfeng asked, "Did you touch something in my study?"
"I..." I raised my eyes, only to see that his expression was slightly cold, and I suddenly felt guilty.
Xu Changfeng lost interest, turned over and sat up.
I suddenly felt very regretful, the Luo family did not hesitate to lose his family in order to seek peace and separation, no man in this world would like to bring up such a thing again. Although Xu Changfeng occasionally talked about Luo Wan'er with me in the past, it was mostly when he was happy. When I walked in the door, he and Mrs. Yu's mother and son seemed to be in harmony with each other, and he couldn't put on a good face towards me. Presumably... this matter, It must be a sharp thorn in his heart.
I waited quietly for him to speak as before the execution. Xu Changfeng stood up and said, "I'll go to the study to stay, you go to bed first."
I couldn't help being startled, and followed suit. Before he put on his robe and went out, I hurriedly called to him: "Officer."
Xu Changfeng froze in his steps, and without turning his head, he said, "In the future, you are not allowed to come into my study again." He opened the door curtain and strode outside.
After this night, whether it was intentional or not, Xu Changfeng seemed to be a little colder towards me. In addition, he was busy with military affairs these days, so naturally he had a lot of troubles, even if he came back, it would be very late. After my tidal period, I can rest for half a month and don't need a round house, so I have been staying in his room these days. After that night, I can count on ten fingers what I said when I met him in the past few days, even if he stayed by my side, he never touched me.
In the past two days, the heat has been getting worse.
I asked my servants to stew lotus seed soup to cool off the summer heat, and filled three bowls, and asked them to send two of them to the second and third bedrooms. Xu Changfeng came back early in the past two days, and he was discussing matters with his colleagues, so he rarely saw anyone. I heard a discussion in the mansion that the Wuxu envoy brought tribute and beauties to visit earlier, but not long after, a Wuxu assassin was captured in the palace. One faction said that this matter is full of flaws and should be discussed again.
Biyu picked up the last bowl, and I said, "Leave it alone, I'll take it to the young master myself."
The servants said that Xu Changfeng was in the elegant building at the other end. In the past few days, we have been ignoring each other. Although he has put in a lot of superficial efforts, the servants are still faintly aware of it. I walked over with the soup, and when I arrived at the yard, I saw no one guarding the outside. I thought that there must be guests inside, and I was hesitating whether to go in, when I suddenly heard a familiar voice.
I paused, and subconsciously looked in—
In that compartment, two people sat cross-legged in front of the wine table. The man facing me was holding a wine cup, his upturned peach eyes were stern, and the corners of his mouth were raised in a half-smile. This person was none other than Xu Yanqing. Xu Changfeng sat facing him with his back to me. Everyone in the Xu family knew that the two brothers were incompatible, and they were always on edge when they met.
But now seeing Xu Yanqing's solemn expression, the two seemed to be discussing something serious.
"——Yanshan Iron Mine produces several thousand catties of red iron a year. It takes three months to transport it to Chenzhou Manufacturing Bureau by waterway. The weapons manufactured are distributed and supplied to various places according to orders. Fusi guard." Xu Yanqing said eloquently.
Xu Changfeng looked at him, nodded and said, "Not bad."
Xu Yanqing hooked the corner of her mouth and took out a dagger. Xu Changfeng received it, pulled out the dagger with a "shua", then retracted it and threw it back on the case, saying: "Second brother, Ming people don't speak secretly, but speak directly when they have something to say."
Xu Yanqing leaned over, filled it with wine, picked it up and drank it by herself: "This dagger is less than half an inch shorter than ordinary daggers, and its blade is thinner, so it is lighter and easier to carry. This batch of weapons is only available from Chen. The State Manufacturing Bureau can forge it, but Ningwu has no output after three years. Ningwu six years, because this batch has been stored and sealed in the Beijing Central Armory for a long time, it was returned to the furnace to be melted and used to make other ironware."
Xu Changfeng was quiet and asked, "Where did you find this dagger?"
"You know, I've always had a good memory. I checked the records. Back then, this batch of weapons only flowed to two places. One was the Beijing-China Armory, and the Shanyun Humen Pass." He narrowed his eyes and lowered his Voice: "In that case, the navy stationed in the south shouldn't have such a weapon in their hands." He continued, "I remember that Yang Xian, the general of the Nantou navy, was originally under the command of General Yu. General Yu's niece is married to Yang Xian's eldest son, so it seems that she is related to you."
Xu Changfeng fell silent completely.
Xu Yanqing sat up straight and said, "After returning to Beijing, I began to investigate this matter, and found many more interesting things. From all indications, it seems... all have something to do with Jiangbei."
"Second child," Xu Changfeng's voice sank, "talking too much about this matter will not benefit you, me, or Xu."
Xu Yanqing's eyes froze, she suddenly slammed the case, and said cruelly: "Xu Changfeng, I don't need you to tell me. You should be lucky, this time, I found it, otherwise..."
They were silent for a while, and Xu Changfeng sighed: "I will write to General Yu, and I will trouble you to settle this matter."
I listened to this, and my palms felt a little cold. It's just that since ancient times, various families have done things that violated the rules, openly and secretly. Today, they may not know it, but as long as they don't catch the handle, they will naturally turn a blind eye. However, such a thing naturally cannot be caught by the braid, who knows what disaster will be caused in the future. The matter they mentioned may not necessarily be related to the Xu family, but the relationship among them is intricate. These few families are often prosperous and all of them are harmed by each other, and they are inextricably linked.
I thought to myself, I'm afraid it's inconvenient to disturb you at this time, and when I was about to turn my head and leave quietly, I suddenly heard Xu Yanqing say: "It's not difficult to settle it, but you owe me a favor, how - how do you plan to pay it back?"
Xu Changfeng said: "Just tell me, what's the condition?"
Xu Yanqing looked at him, there seemed to be a trace of calculation in his eyes, and he said frivolously: "I don't lack anything. If not, if he followed you during this resurgence, then no matter what happens next time, you will give him to me for a while." God, how?"