Happiness Consist in Contentment

On the hazy spring day, the ancestral house of Liujiahuicheng began to be lively in the early morning. The servants came and went to sweep the courtyard, prepare breakfast, hot water, and wait for the masters to get up...

The two-year-old Liu Fang was lying on the bed and rolled around, letting the maid Moxiang whisper softly again and again by the bedside, "Good girl, you can get up, if it's too late, it will be too late."

Liu Fang shook her head, she couldn't get up with her face covered, "No, no..."

Mo Xiang, who was only twelve years old, had no choice but to turn around and go out to find Mother Chen.

This Mother Chen had just been released from the palace and returned to Huicheng. When Mrs. Fang found out about it, she deliberately brought her over and placed it by Liu Fang's side as a parenting mother. Mother Chen is not very old, she is only 25 years old now, she can stay by Liu Fang's side and serve her, even if she is married.

Liu Fang's two older sisters, Liu Ai, the eldest sister, and Liu Rui, the second sister, also have such upbringing around them. Therefore, when they arrived at Liu Fang's place, Mrs. Fang also looked for Chen Mama early.

Liu Fang's last mission was too frustrating, and a bunch of dog blood plots made her have a headache, so her mission this time was to think about how to be relaxed and happy, and how to get here.

Since she is a child now, let her be a child well, what do you think so much about?

Today is ten days. In the Great Wei Dynasty, ten days were all sacrifices, especially ten days in spring and ten days in autumn. They were big sacrifices. The former was to pray for blessings, and the latter to celebrate the harvest.

Today, just in the tenth day of spring, the Liu family needs to gather early in the morning to perform sacrifices before breakfast.

Liu Fang was the youngest and the only one who had the privilege of staying in bed.

Like her brothers and sisters, I'm sorry, I have to get up before dawn, get ready, and wait for a while to go to the ancestral hall for the sacrificial ceremony.

Mo Xiang went out and told Mammy Chen, Mammy Chen smiled, stepped into the room, looked at Liu Fang who was hiding under the quilt, and said, "Three girls, the sacrifice will be over in a while, but there are braised suckling pigs that can be shared. "Aren't you up yet?"

Suckling pig?

Liu Fang immediately lifted the quilt, stared at Mama Chen with round eyes and said, "Really?"

Mother Chen nodded and said with a smile, "Of course, if you are late, then this suckling pig will probably be eaten by the fourth young master."

Fourth brother? !

As soon as Liu Fang heard the name of the fourth brother Liu Jing, she sat up immediately, "Hurry up, let's hurry up, or the fourth brother will really eat up all the suckling pigs."

The suckling pig made by the Liu family's cook is simply a must. Anyway, Liu Fang has experienced it.

After so many missions to the world, the only thing that made her drool was this dish.

Even the Buddha Jumps over the Wall is somewhat inferior. After all, the Buddha Jumps over the Wall still has a light taste, but this suckling pig is really fragrant, and the smell makes people drool.

In fact, the family doesn't really like eating pork. Well, people here in the Wei Dynasty were not very popular to eat pork. Therefore, every time the suckling pig after the sacrifice was divided by Liu Fang and Liu Jing. .

Yes, Liu Jing, the elder brother who was born to the same mother as Liu Fang, also likes the roast suckling pig very much. After the sacrifice, the food is divided, and then the cook returns to the pot and braises it. The taste is simply - unforgettable!

Anyway, Liu Fang started to swallow just listening to it, standing on the bed and urging Mo Xiang, Mammy Chen hurriedly dressed her, washed and so on.

When everything was in order, she put on her shoes and ran out. Chen mama couldn't catch up. Mo Xiang, as a personal maid, was young, so she was naturally able to catch up.

The two ran in the corridor, causing all the busy servants to smile when they saw it.

The three girls are really lively enough!

The courtyard where Liu Fang lives is not far from the main courtyard, and soon after arriving at the main courtyard, Zhu Xin saw Liu Fang coming, stood in the corridor and bowed, opened the curtain and said, "Three girls are here."

Liu Fang held the door frame, crossed the threshold, entered the main room, bypassed the screen, and entered the second room. Mrs. Fang and Liu Zhizheng were sitting on the soft couch. Mr. Liu and his wife, Mrs. Luo, were sitting under the right hand. He and his wife, Mrs. Pei, and Mrs. Liu Mao, sat here in turn, and on the opposite side sat Liu Ai, Mrs. An, Liu Jing, and Liu Rui.

As soon as Liu Fang came in, Liu Zhi laughed, watching her come over to salute, smiled at Fang Shi and said, "Sanniang is quite good, she didn't sleep late."

Fang Shi smiled, Liu Pu and Luo Shi looked at each other and smiled, but Liu Jie winked at Liu Fang and said, "Sanmei, you got up really early today!"

Liu Fang knew that the second brother Liu Jie was deliberately teasing her, and wrinkled his nose at him and said, "Hmph, the second brother is bad! Not good!"

The voice was soft and waxy, and everyone laughed again.

Liu Fang: …

It's not that she doesn't want to control it, it's that she can't control it.

Forget it, these adults will make fun of her now, she is too lazy to care about them.

Mo Xiang saluted everyone, and then hugged Liu Fang and sat on the chair next to Liu Rui.

Liu Zhi smiled and said to the crowd, "Okay, everyone is here, let's start offering sacrifices."

"Yes."

Everyone got up and followed Liu Zhi to the temple

On the other side of the hall, the spring festival began.

After a busy day, Liu Fang knelt down several times, listening to her father Liu Zhi finish the prayer for the sacrifice, and after burning it, the whole ceremony ended.

Liu Fang stood by, swallowing and watching Liu Zhi divide the food, one portion after another, when it finally arrived at her, she quickly took it with a smile and saluted, then walked to the side and stood.

Liu Zhi looked at her and smiled, picked up a piece of suckling pig with chopsticks and ate it, then said, "Eat it."

"Yes."

Everyone saluted, and then each ate a piece of suckling pig, and then a servant came to take their food and the tribute on the table, and replaced it with fresh fruit. As for the previous tribute, they took it to the kitchen and returned to the pot. Eat it at breakfast time.

When the family finished their breakfast and sat chatting in the main room, the servants came to report, "The imperial decree has arrived."

Liu Zhi was taken aback, and the others were even more baffled, but they hurriedly prepared the incense case to meet the imperial decree.

Liu Fang knelt on the back and listened to what the decree official said. In short, Liu Zhi was taken by the current empress dowager—but the imperial decree said that the emperor remembered it, so let him hurry back to Beijing to take up his post.

This time, Liu Zhi's position was that of the emperor's teacher, Taifu.

Liu Fang watched Liu Zhi respectfully and calmly bowed and accepted the will, and knew that their family was going back to the capital again.

When the emissary was sent away, the family went to the main room holding the imperial decree. Mrs. Fang had a faint worry in her eyes. Others, except Liu Rui, were very happy, and there was not much happiness on their faces.

Liu Fang looked at the faces of her family members, and she probably understood that this time, when their family returned to Kyoto, they might not have a better life.

The reason why Liu Rui is happy is actually very simple. She is still young, only 6 years old. When she left Kyoto, she was very unhappy when she was separated from her little friends. Now that she can go back to Beijing to play with them again, she Naturally happy.

After all, she still doesn't know much about politics and the rise and fall of families.

As for Liu Pu and others, they basically understand it. Even if Liu Jing, who is not big, and Liu Ai, who is already close to the scorpion, understand the meaning of returning to Beijing this time.

Not to mention Liu Fang, an old wine in a new bottle. Since the Liu family is an aristocratic family whose surname is well-known in the Great Wei Dynasty, to this extent, his father Liu Zhi's character is that kind of upright and upright. , it is conceivable what will happen to them when they return to Beijing.

Of course, no matter what, the imperial decree has already been issued, and it is impossible for the Liu family to refuse

Absolutely, I can only go back to Beijing.

The young emperor didn't understand, and after a year and a half, Liu Zhi was revived, and the real operation was probably the empress dowager behind the little emperor, or someone else.

However, no matter who it is, Fang is not optimistic about this trip back to Beijing, and the same is true for others.

After everyone packed up and packed their luggage, they started their journey.

Liu Fang sat on the carriage and looked at the ancestral house outside the car window. In fact, she really liked it here. It was much more comfortable and free than Kyoto.

Fang Shi held her, and Liu Zhi said to the servant outside the car, "Let's go."

The carriage moved forward and gradually drove out of the alley. Liu Fang was lying at the window and turned to look at it. Speaking of which, she had thought about going out to play when she grew up. Here, she has not taken a good look at it. over.

Liu Zhi sighed when he saw the young daughter's expression, and said to the driver outside, "Let's go shopping in the inner city first."

Anyway, let the little daughter see what Huicheng's hometown is like.

I'm afraid, it will be difficult for them to come back again in this life.

Liu Fang turned to look at her father, Liu Zhi, and said very sensible and authentic, "Father, don't do it anymore, will it be too late to go out after a walk around?"

Liu Zhi looked at his little daughter and smiled, and said gently, "It's okay, you can watch it if you like. Take a good look at it. This is the root of our Liu family."

Listening to Liu Zhi's words, Liu Fang felt sadness in her heart for some reason, and she remembered a poem: Misty Rain returns to Huicheng in March, she doesn't know the voice of a child, she doesn't know the family.

This was written by an ancestor of their Liu family who traveled abroad all the year round, and it was full of unspeakable sadness.

Now, Liu Fang also felt this sadness.

Will she be able to come back later?

Liu Fang looked at the streets of Huicheng, the bustling crowd, the sweet aroma of wine in the air, the intoxicating Jiangnan scenery, and the light rain that gradually floated from the sky.

Her eyes were red, and she turned to look at Mrs. Fang, "Mother, can't I leave? I don't want to leave."

Fang's eyes were also red, holding her, patted her back slowly, and said gently, "Good boy, take a good look..."

Why does she want to leave?

She thought that her husband was far away from that turbid place, but she didn't expect that, in the end, they would return there and continue to live their fearful days.

In the carriage that followed, Liu Pu sat with his wife Luo Shi. He looked at her worriedly and said, "Wan'er, are you alright?"

Roche shook his head and said, "It may be that I didn't sleep well last night, so I'm not feeling well."

Liu Pu frowned, looking at her pale face, really worried, and said to the driver outside, "Go to the medicine hall."

Anyway, when the third sister is curious about the scenery of her hometown, it is okay to go around a few more times.

☆、Other types are content and happy to wear

Liu Zhi and others in the front knew that Luo Che was unwell in the back, and they all agreed to transfer to the pharmacy.

Liu Rui sat with An shi, lifted the curtains of the car window and looked outside. She hadn't gone out much to see the streets of Huicheng, and now she looked at it with relish.

An shi just lowered her head and continued embroidering the handkerchief in her hand. She was able to marry into Liu's family and become Liu Zhi's concubine. She was very happy and content. She didn't have to stay in the palace or be sent to other people. The palace of the royal family, she was really fortunate in her heart.

Think about the people who were once sent to the palace with her. The family background is low, and there are not many people who can live now.

As for her family, because of the Liu family, it is enough that they can live in peace in their hometown.

What's more, she also met a generous mistress like Fang's, and An's always knew how to cherish happiness.

Seeing that the madam liked the young daughter, she simply sent the young daughter to the madam to raise and teach her. She thought that if the madam taught the three girls, she would definitely be better and be happy and healthy in the future.

But the honest An family didn't understand that the girls of the Liu family had never been able to help themselves, but they are fine now. If they encounter a last resort in the future, they also need to sacrifice themselves to make the family continue.

This is the responsibility that the children of the big family have to bear since birth. Like the boys in the Liu family, they also have their responsibilities, which no one can avoid.

...

The group turned to the medicine hall. Liu Pu helped Luo Shi get out of the car and went inside to check the pulse. After a while, the servants around Liu Pu came to report to Fang Shi, "Madam, grandma is pregnant! Congratulations Madam, Madam Hexi. , Congratulations, Master, Hexi Master!"

Fang Shi and Liu Zhi couldn't help but be overjoyed when they heard it. Liu's ancestors had famous doctors, so there has always been a tradition of getting pregnant after the age of 20. Fang Shi had an accidental pregnancy at that time, and her physique was the kind that was particularly easy to conceive. , so there is Liu Pu. After that, she only became pregnant and gave birth to a child after she had enough rest, including An Shi later.

When they arrived at Liu Pu and the others, in order to prevent his own kind of accident, Mrs. Fang specially asked Liu Zhi and Liu Pu to explain these taboos in detail, and told him to be careful in daily life, and never ignore Luo Shi's body for the sake of his children.

Liu Pu has always been obedient and obedient. This year, because he was 21 and Roche was 20, Fang Shi and Liu Zhi loosened the control in this area. No, all of a sudden, Roche became pregnant. .

This is really a very happy event!

However, Mrs Fang turned to Liu Zhi and said, "Now the old people are pregnant, and it is not safe enough. Let their husband and wife stay here first, wait for the baby to be stable, and then it is not too late to go back to Beijing slowly."

Liu Zhi thought about it as well, so he nodded in agreement, ordered someone to take the luggage of Liu Pu and his wife back to the ancestral house, and left two old servants to watch them, lest they were young and ignorant and hurt the children.

After all these tossed, the group set off again.

Liu Fang didn't feel any sadness anymore. She lay out of the car window and waved goodbye to the elder brother and sister-in-law who stayed here, and shouted, "Brother, sister-in-law, I'll be waiting for you in Kyoto!"

Both Liu Pu and Luo Che couldn't help laughing. Looking at Liu Fang's cute face, they waved their hands, and Liu Pu responded loudly, "Good third sister, don't forget about Big Brother!"

Children at this age tend to forget things the most.

Liu Fang smiled, whatever, she is a child anyway! Can't ask for too much.

...

After walking slowly for three months, Liu Fang and his party finally arrived in the capital and returned to the Liu family's ancestral home here.

This house is owned by the Liu family. Although it was also given by the Tai/zu at the beginning, after hundreds of years, the ancestors of the Liu family have already asked for this ancestral house from the hands of the royal family. The only private residence in the imperial city.

From this we can see how splendid the Liu family is.

Even if Liu Zhi is the only one left in the Liu family, and even if he has been dismissed from office by the emperor, the Liu family is still the Liu family, and no noble family in Kyoto dares to despise its existence.

As soon as he got home, Mrs Fang settled everyone down and sat in the living room looking at the pile of salutations, her head started to hurt.

In Huicheng, the Liu family's status is detached, and she is not willing to socialize. Naturally, she can thank guests behind closed doors and see no one.

But in Kyoto, even if Liu Jiaxuanhe, she had to socialize, not to grasp all kinds of news that had not been inquired for more than a year.

The mistress of the backyard has the most well-informed information. Even if she is not for herself, she has to work for Liu Zhi and the future of her child, which is unavoidable.

So, why bring their family back into this whirlpool?

Fang Shi really couldn't help being irritable and tired.

Liu Zhi walked slowly back from the front yard. As soon as he entered the door, he saw Mrs. Fang holding his head and frowning. He sighed, walked over to her and sat down, and said slowly, "If you don't like it, then ignore it. , even without these

, I am not afraid of anything. "

However, Mrs Fang heard his words, her heart skipped a beat, her brows did not wrinkle, she sat up and said to him, "Master, you don't understand. If everyone is like you, I naturally don't have to worry so much, but you I also know how turbid the courtroom is today, how can I rest assured?"

When Liu Zhi heard this, he was immediately ashamed, "It's your husband who dragged you down."

Mr. Fang shook his head and said, "Master, what does this have to do with you? I just sigh that the world is like this."

Liu Zhi also sighed, "The world is turbid, so we should clear it up, but I don't know if a mediocre person like a husband can do it."

Fang Shi stretched out his hand to hold his hand and was speechless.

To be honest, if Liu Zhisheng hadn't been in the Liu family, maybe he would have been a very ordinary teacher, or a petty official who would never be able to make his mark. But in such a situation, at least he won't lose his life. Now because of his background, he is destined to be in such a turbulent era and take on things beyond his ability.

Fang Shi was really worried about him, for fear that he would lose his life because of it.

But no matter what, they can only move forward, not back, nor back.

...

The courtyard where Liu Fang lives is still a small cross courtyard not far from the main courtyard, next to the courtyard of the eldest sister and the second sister.

Originally, she was so young that she couldn't live alone, but her inner core was a mature adult, and she couldn't bear to stay under Fang's nose all day long, so when she worked hard to learn how to speak smoothly, And when the truths were put in front of Mr. Fang, Mrs. Fang let her go and let her live in a yard by herself.

From Liu Fang's point of view, no matter how she lived alone, in fact, she was accompanied by a bunch of servants to serve her, and there was no possibility of truly living alone.

But at least, she was alone when she slept, instead of sleeping with Fang as before, which was really embarrassing.

In particular, when her father Liu Zhi was still staying with Fang, she would inevitably hear some movements that children should not hear, which was really embarrassing.

So, she should live alone, anyway, when she sleeps, she will be more clean.

She's still young, she's still a baby, she shouldn't listen to so many adults.

If you think too much, the president will not be tall!

...

Miyagi

The Queen Mother was relieved when she heard the people reporting back that Liu Zhi had arrived in Kyoto.

She was the one who was wrong before, Liu Zhi

Although this person is so arrogant and annoying, he still supports orthodoxy and his own emperor. He really shouldn't have dismissed him from office, and finally let himself fall into the difficult situation of advancing and retreating.

Who would have thought that there are so many people in the royal family who are eyeing them, and that there are so many people in the court who don't all listen to her?

The more the Empress Dowager thought about what had happened over the past year, the more frightened she became!

If she doesn't get Liu Zhi back, I'm afraid it won't be long before her queen mother will die, and her emperor, the young majesty, will also die inexplicably.

Thinking about it made the Empress Dowager's back sweat.

Now she only wants to have the support of the Liu family, so that she can live safely in the palace, let her emperor live, and be the emperor in peace and stability.

As for the rest, she can open one eye, close one eye, even if all eyes are closed without looking.

Just keep her alive!

...

The Liu family rested for a day. The next day, someone from the palace came over and summoned Mrs. Fang into the palace.

Mrs. Fang didn't bring anyone, so she went into the palace alone. When she came back, she met Liu Zhi, who was in the next court. The two looked at each other and didn't speak. Sit down and exchange messages with each other.

When Liu Zhi went to court, the Empress Dowager did not appear. Instead, the two princes of the same generation of the late emperor sat left and right to assist the young His Majesty in handling the affairs of the court. A position, but his meaning is clear to everyone.

However, Liu Zhi didn't say anything right away, he just watched and listened silently, and when he went down to the court, he just set the daily class time with the chief attendant next to His Majesty, and then came back from the palace.

His attitude made the two princes who were in charge of the government secretly relieved their sighs, and the Qingliu faction in the court was also much calmer. As for the other people, no matter what they thought, at this time, they were unwilling to be with Liu Zhi. This nerd is the enemy.

So, for the time being, the court is stable.

When Mrs. Fang went to the harem, she saw that she was the queen mother, but the feeling the queen mother gave her was completely different from before, like a bird frightened.

Fang Shi guessed that something big must have happened in Beijing, and it affected the harem, the queen mother, and even her majesty, so she made the queen mother look like this.

After the two finished talking about each other's news, they were a little dignified. The situation in Kyoto was even more severe than they thought.

Liu Zhi sighed, "It's better to prepare early. If it really doesn't work, use the dark guard to send the children away."

Fang Shi nodded, "Don't worry, sir, I will arrange the follow-up matters. I will also warn the secret guards around the children. If something goes wrong, I will take them away immediately."

The two of them can't go, but the child can still go.

I just hope it doesn't happen that day.