In March, spring blossoms.
My health has improved a lot. Mrs. Jiang intends to take Xu Qihe to Xinglong Temple to stay for three days. Firstly, he wants to pray to Buddha because of the disasters at home. In this trip, Xu Qihe insisted on taking me with him: "You are bored at home, why don't you come with us to relax."
Although it was a troubled time, the Xu family was still a high school in Beijing. As soon as we arrived at Xinglong Temple, the abbot's eldest disciple came to welcome us and led us to the backyard first. The wing rooms in the backyard are divided into two places, the West Court is for ordinary pilgrims and ordinary disciples, and the East Court is a place for receiving dignitaries. Although it is a pure place of Buddhism, looking around, this courtyard is also a rockery with endless water, and even a little monk who sweeps the floor and delivers water is more upright than others.
This trip, because it was in a temple, Jiang only brought a maidservant who served her personally, and the rest were child servants. I live in the same room with Xu Qihe, and naturally I will take care of his daily life in these three days.
This rare trip, Xu Qihe also became more cheerful. On the way to the front hall, he told me many allusions about Xinglong Temple: "Xinglong Temple was built during the Gaozong period, employing thousands of craftsmen and tens of thousands of workers. It took nearly ten years to complete." Pointing to those carved pillars, he said, "Don't underestimate these pillars, the small characters engraved on them are all Sanskrit from the West, and they contain hundreds of Buddhist scriptures. arts."
When we came to the Buddha Hall, we saw countless people coming and going, and the incense was flourishing. After all, it was my first time here, and I saw that the hall was resplendently refurbished, and there were three golden statues of Tathagata in front for believers to pay homage to. Seeing my surprised face, Xu Qihe smiled and said: "There is also a Golden Buddha Hall in Xinglong Temple, which enshrines seven to forty-nine golden statues of Buddha, large and small, guarded by eighty Buddhist arhats."
Mrs. Jiang looked over from the front, and Xu Qihe took my hand and said, "Let's go, don't keep mother waiting."
When we got to the front, a monk came over, and I asked him for six sticks of incense. According to Buddhist rules, three sticks of incense are for oneself, and six sticks of incense are for blessings of parents, husband and children.
I lit the incense, held it up high, and Jiang Shi also ordered someone to burn thirteen sticks of high incense. Afterwards, Xu Qihe and her knelt on the futon, clasped their hands together, and after meditating, Fang spread his palms and prostrated himself on the ground. I heard from others that the lottery from Xinglong Temple was extremely effective, so I followed others to ask for a lottery. At this moment, my mind is calm, and the question is only about my own affairs.
After I obtained an autograph, I handed it to the monk, and after a short wait, he gave it to me with an autograph.
I unfolded it to see, but it was a sign. I silently read the words on the signature: "The moon is dark and hazy, board the boat and wait for the wind, the moon will appear, and the mountains are tens of thousands..."
At that time, the maid was helping Mrs. Jiang to get up, when a voice suddenly came from behind: "Mrs. Huayang."
When we looked back, we saw an old woman in a costume coming with her family members. As soon as Jiang saw her, she grinned and went up to meet her: "So it's Junjun Sun."
In our dynasty, the mothers of civil and military officials of the fourth rank and above were conferred the title of county lord, and those of the third rank and above were conferred the title of wife of the county. The old woman and Mrs. Jiang seemed to be old acquaintances, only to see Mrs. Jiang holding her hand, and said affectionately: "It's really a coincidence that I ran into you here. I heard that you were a little unwell earlier. It just so happened that I just got some old ginseng from there, and I will send someone to send it to you later."
"Hey, I dare not trouble you—"
"Why should the old lady be so out of touch, these are all as it should be." Jiang's eyes were sharp, and she caught sight of the girl holding the old lady's arm at a glance, "This is—"
Mrs. Sun Jun took advantage of the opportunity to push the person to the front, and said with a smile: "This is the little Jiu'er in Laoshen's house. She is just fifteen this year. With so many granddaughters in Laoshen, she is the most quiet and caring, and Laoshen is reluctant to tell her. Dear." When the Ninth Lady heard this, she called out coquettishly, "Grandmother—"
Mrs. Jiang looked at the Jiu Niang, as if she liked it very much, she beckoned Xu Qihe to the front, and said, "He Lang, do you still remember this Jiu Niang? Mom remembers that you played together when you were young."
Xu Qihe looked at the little girl and nodded with a smile: "I remember the ninth sister of the Sun family."
As soon as Jiu Niang saw him, her jade-like face turned pink, she didn't hide behind the big maid, but looked at him openly.
I stood behind them, squinting my eyebrows, quietly looking at the light patterns on the shoes.
After saying goodbye to the Sun family, I walked out of the Buddhist hall holding Xu Qihe's hand, and he asked me abruptly, "Sanxi, what did you say in the lottery you asked for just now?"
My heart tensed up inexplicably, but I shook my head at him, smiled and said lightly: "It's nothing." Xu Qihe looked at me and didn't press on.
Living in a temple is not as convenient as at home, but it is still quite comfortable. The vegetarian food here is extremely delicate, it is rare for Xu Qihe to eat a bowl of rice, and with the beautiful mountain stream and pleasant scenery, the complexion on his face is much better than that in the mansion. Seeing her, Mrs. Jiang also felt extremely happy, as if as long as Xu Qihe was in good health, everything would go well for her.
Today, after I helped Xu Qihe wash and wash up, Mrs. Jiang walked in. I heard her words and knew that she had something to talk to Xu Qihe, so I got up knowingly and said, "Master Wucuo said, the kitchen made red bean soup for breakfast today. I'll get it myself."
I went out, and when I was about to close the door, I heard Mrs. Jiang say: "He Lang, I've been thinking about this for a while, what do you really think about that Ninth Lady of the Sun family?"
Xu Qihe didn't answer, Jiang continued: "Although this Jiuniang is a concubine, her mother's family is also a scholarly family, clean and innocent. The most important thing is that her birthday is just right for you. You let your mother hold the lantern I can’t find it any more.”
"Mother knows that you miss him in your heart." Jiang Shi sighed, "It's true that misfortunes never come singly, so Mother thought, let a lucky man come in to give you a happy ending, maybe in the future, he will be able to give you a little bit of happiness." The next son and half daughter..."
Xu Qihe didn't answer her from the beginning to the end, but he didn't say no. It wasn't until I came back with breakfast that the mother and son stopped talking. Mrs. Jiang looked back at me with no flaws on her face, and said kindly: "Sanxi is back, let's sit together." I filled two bowls for them, The three of them sat together, and the atmosphere was extremely harmonious.
After breakfast, Mrs. Jiang went back to the house to rest. Xu Qihe said to me: "Not far from this courtyard, there is a peach blossom forest, let's go and see it together."
I helped him, and after a short walk, I found the kind of forest with a few peach trees. This place is close to Xiyuan, not far away you can see a few scholars sitting at the stone table talking, and there are also many ordinary people walking around, it is indeed much noisier than the east courtyard, but it is also more crowded.
Xu Qihe walked under the peach blossom tree, and he broke off a peach blossom. This picture actually made me feel a little bit like deja vu—when I first married him, he also folded a peach blossom for me. Later, I put it in a bottle, and within a few days, the peach blossom branches withered.
Xu Qihe looked at the flowers: "Do you remember, I told you that I ordered someone to plant a peach garden in my other courtyard in Nanchun." He murmured softly, "I said, when the peach blossoms bloom, we will come together Go see."
I nodded and responded with a smile: "I remember."
Xu Qihe let go of his hand, and the peach blossom slipped from his hand, and fell lightly into the mud mixed with petals. I was slightly stunned, the smile in Xu Qihe's eyes gradually faded, he raised his eyes and looked into the distance: "Just now, you heard everything, didn't you?"
I looked at him quietly, and Xu Qihe turned to me slowly: "Mother told you this on purpose, and you already guessed it, didn't you?"
"..." I moved my lips, but I didn't know what to say.
I met his eyes, only to see that his eyes were watery, like a hazy mist, but there was a little spark in his eyes. In the end, the light gradually faded, and he turned his eyes away: "Actually, I knew a long time ago that you have more compassion than affection for me."
I paused, then shook my head immediately, and said anxiously: "Helang, I'm not..." He interrupted me: "Stop talking, I don't want to hear it."
Xu Qihe laughed at himself: "If I didn't ask you today, would you still help my mother and persuade me to take a concubine together?" He took a few steps and said softly, "I told you so much in the past, in fact, in your heart , and never really believed in it. But in the final analysis, I am too greedy.”
He stopped and murmured: "I don't want to exchange ten cents for sincerity, but I want you to give ten cents back. It is true that I am too greedy. I also understand that you will have thousands of difficulties. If you get it down, I will always give you ten cents." I'm forcing you to..."
At the end, Xu Qihe was a little disheartened, and said: "You guys go and make up your mind, I don't want to care about anything."
Soon after, Mrs. Jiang asked me to see her.
"He Lang said, as long as you are willing to nod your head, he will have no objection. Some words may sound harsh, but they are also true. You know that He Lang's body is good and bad. I hope you can understand , what I think about as a mother." Jiang burst into tears, came over and held my hand, choked up and said, "Sanxi, I beg you, mother, at least... let Helang stay for a while."
After self-abstinence, the doctor asserted that within three to five years, I might not be able to conceive again. I deeply understand Jiang's anxiety as a mother. I have known since I was a child that my offspring will be great. If I have not had a miscarriage, maybe I still have the face to say this. However, I also know in my heart that as long as I nod my head, there will be no room for change between me and Xu Qihe.
I sat alone all night, before I could respond to Mrs. Jiang, Xu Qihe vomited blood. Originally, he had just recovered a bit, but overnight, his physical condition took a sharp turn for the worse. Jiang's face turned pale with shock, but fortunately, some of the disciples of the abbot in the temple are good at Qihuang.
After Xu Qihe woke up, with a trace of determination in his eyes, he looked at me and said fiercely: "...if someone's daughter is not afraid of becoming a widow as soon as she enters the house, then just ask someone to bring her in."
The matter of the three concubines was still left unsolved.
After returning home, Xu Qihe stopped talking to me.
I know that he is very thoughtful, and he can't rub a little sand in his eyes. If he wants something, he wants it all. If he can't get it, he simply doesn't want it. He has always been like this, he would rather be broken than broken. This life has never changed.
Now, I have become a thorn in the eyes of Mrs. Yu, and since Xu Changfeng is not in the mansion, Mrs. Yu is even more unscrupulous. If she is not clear enough, she will secretly seek trouble for me. The news of my infertility has spread throughout the Xu family, and the wife in the back house clearly looks down on me. In this world, if a wife is infertile, her status is inferior to that of ordinary wives and concubines, and those servants gradually no longer treat me Respectful as always.
Now, I have moved to a secluded small courtyard. This place is located in the remote courtyard of Xu Mansion. Although it is a little remote, it is still far away from the Yu family and others, and I have a moment of peace.
It's just that I didn't expect that my rare tranquility would be easily shattered after only two months.