Bright Moonlit Night

When I returned to Jin's mansion, I met servants in the mansion who were distributing ice to the courtyards of the masters.

In previous years in Fu Mansion, Fu Ming could only get some ice in the hottest days of the year.The Jin Mansion used ice earlier, and used it generously.

Fu Ming asked Xie Lan and the others to take out a bucket of ice shavings and a plate that had been delivered to Fang Manting, and put them in the small study.For others, let them move to the servant's room.

Xie Lan asked: "My lord, what are you doing in our house? Put it next to your bed, it will be cooler at night."

Fu Ming said with a smile: "I'm not afraid of heat. Besides, my room is not too hot. Your room is different. It is exposed to light in the afternoon, and there is not much ventilation. After half a day in the sun, it is not like a steamer at night?"

"But this is for the master."

"Yes, I am the master, and I can use it as I say. Alright, let's move."

Fu Ming's tone was firm, and Xie Lan knew his temper well, although she was still embarrassed, she was more moved by a mixture of sourness and sweetness.She called a little girl to move ice with her.

After they left, Fu Ming asked Lu Feixian's wife, Mrs. Zhou, if she had a younger sister.Before and after marrying into the Jin Mansion, Lu Fei secretly inquired about a lot of things about the Jin Mansion, in order to prevent her son from being disadvantaged by ignorance of the situation.

She thought for a while and replied: "There are three brothers and sisters born to my wife and mother. My wife is the eldest sister, and there is a younger brother and a younger sister. Master Zhou is about eighteen or nineteen years old this year, and Miss Zhou is a little younger. It should be fourteen."

Fu Ming nodded.Lu Fei asked: "Why did you suddenly ask this, Young Master?"

Fu Ming said: "It's nothing, just ask casually."

"Oh." Lu Fei smiled, "Soon, the young master may be able to meet these two, I heard that they are both good-looking young masters and young ladies!"

"is it?"

"Well. In half a month, it will be the first wife's memorial day. Every year, people from the Zhou family will come to worship."

……

As Lu Fei said, when the lotus in the mansion was in full bloom, the Zhou family sent people to worship the late wife.The person who came was Zhou's same mother, brother and sister.At least from the outside, these two people are both good-looking and well-behaved, which is really pleasing.

After the two of them went to the ancestral hall with Jin Yi and Zhao Yan to pay homage to their eldest sister, the girl from the Zhou family, Zhou Minqing, was led by Ren Lan and Zhao Yan went to the old lady's house. entertain.

This was the first time that Fu Ming, as Jin Yi's son-in-law, met a foreigner.It's not that Jin Yi really recognized Fu Ming's identity, it's just to show respect to the Zhou family.

The three sat in the main hall drinking tea.Grapes, melons and lychees are soaked in crushed ice, exuding coolness and fragrance.

Jin Yi and Zhou Chengyan had nothing to say after exchanging greetings. Seeing the seriousness of the scene, Fu Ming squeezed a lychee and said with a smile: "A concubine riding a red dust laughs. No one knows it's a lychee. In the Tang Dynasty, in order to eat How many people have to travel day and night to buy fresh lychees. Nowadays, the water transport in Kyoto is well developed, and the freshness of vegetables and fruits is well done. Let alone people like us, ordinary people can buy a few lychees at the market for a few dollars Try it out."

Zhou Chengyan responded: "That's right. I went to the street the day before yesterday and found that not only river fresh food is full of the market, but also seafood can be seen everywhere. There are also all kinds of fruits brought from the south, and some novelties from overseas. They really have everything that one expects to find. These Among the paintings and calligraphy left over from previous dynasties, they are all grand scenes that have never been seen before."

The two discussed from the bustling market to the customs, and there was still a tendency to diverge. Jin Yi made a few casual sentences, and realized that they should be able to talk freely if he was not there, so he left with an excuse and let Fu Ming Haosheng entertained Zhou Chengyan.

After Jin Yi left, Zhou Chengyan took a sip of tea and took a long breath.

Fu Ming laughed and said, "Chengyan is afraid of his brother-in-law?"

Zhou Chengyan smiled coyly and said: "Some. When my sister was still there, I came to play in this mansion. I was not very old at that time, and when I was naughty, I was tamed by my brother-in-law." Then, he pretended to be Jin Yi. Fu Ming and himself couldn't help laughing when he said a few tame words.

Fu Ming suppressed his smile, but his brows and eyes were still stretched: "In this way, it is indeed excusable."

Zhou Chengyan said: "Actually, my brother-in-law treated my sister and us very well, but he was too serious and smiled. I admire my brother-in-law very much in my heart, but I am not very willing to stay with him. Brother Ming, you and him It's very different, when I come to the Jin Mansion in the future, I won't have to face the cold-faced gentleman alone, that's great!"

Fu Ming shook his head with a smile, half amused, half helpless, and said in front of his son-in-law that his brother-in-law, this younger brother, was really frank and unrestrained.

Seeing Fu Ming's friendly expression, Zhou Chengyan changed his mind, and said, "Brother Ming, how about I go to your place for lunch today? Let's eat together."

"Why?"

"In the past, I used to eat in the brother-in-law's courtyard. But every year on this day, my brother-in-law would go to the place where my sister lived before for a while. If my brother-in-law likes me to be with you, then it doesn’t matter if I don’t eat well. But I always feel that brother-in-law actually prefers to be alone. Besides, Brother Ming, you don’t want to eat in such a silent and depressing environment, do you?”

Fu Mingdao: "Then ask someone to ask first. Your brother-in-law is now in the courtyard where Mrs. Xian lived? Is it okay to send someone to disturb you?"

"That's okay. My brother-in-law won't blame others. My sister's place is not a forbidden place after her death. You can go there."

That being the case, Fu Ming let Lu Fei go.

Before that, someone arrived one step ahead of Lu Fei.

Zhou Haoqing was sitting in the old lady's room at first, and during the period, he used the excuse that he wanted to visit the place where his sister lived, so he brought his personal servant girl here.Outside the courtyard gate, she sent away her maid and walked into the courtyard alone.

Jin Yi is indeed here.He is reading a volume of "Heart Sutra" hand-embroidered by Zhou Shi during his lifetime under the green shade of the courtyard:

Viewing the Bodhisattva Bodhisattva for a long time, he has practiced the deep Prajna Paramita for a long time.Seeing that the five aggregates are empty, to overcome all hardships...

Zhou once said that Jin had practiced martial arts since he was a child, and he was upright, but he was inevitably too tough. In the future, even though he was fighting in the battlefield to protect his family and country, he still committed crimes.Supporting his sick body, he embroidered this volume of "Heart Sutra" for him, and urged him to recite it silently in his heart.Therefore, every year today, Jin Yi will read the "Heart Sutra" silently here to cleanse himself.

Today, Jin Yi is not dressed in dark colors like in the past, but white clothes and plain shoes. The greenery in the courtyard seems to have been stained with his clothes and fingertips touching the ink.

"Brother-in-law still thinks about my sister like this. If my sister is alive in heaven, I can smile." A soft and gentle voice came.

Jin Yi raised his head and found that it was Zhou Haoqing, so he got up to give way.Zhou Haoqing shook his head, refused to sit, just stood and looked at the courtyard, smiling like weeping, "Brother-in-law asked people to keep this yard as it was back then. Zhou Qingqing still remembers when he was a child, brother-in-law danced swords here for sister and What I saw was like yesterday."

Jin Yi replied: "The years are fleeting, and it has been several years. You have grown up."

Zhou Haoqing said: "Yes, I'm an adult. My brother-in-law guarded my sister for three years, and it was during these three years that Zhou Qing grew up."

Jin Yi had nothing to say, but Zhou Haoqing was not reconciled, and said clearly: "When my sister was dying, how did you entrust her brother-in-law?"

Jin Yi said in shock, "You know?"

Zhou Haoqing said: "How can I not know? Because I asked my sister for it!"

"you……"

"So, all these years, I thought my brother-in-law was waiting for me... for me to grow up. But, who knows, three years later, you married someone else. "

Jin Yi was silent for a moment, then replied: "I owe her what Si Rou entrusted, and I am sorry for her."

"No." Zhou Haoqing had tears in her eyes, "Brother-in-law's responsibility is clearly... clearly..." The word "I" was finally swallowed, she sighed, and said again: "I know, brother-in-law is also involuntary."

Jin Yi stopped talking, and picked up the "Heart Sutra" again to read silently.

Zhou Haoqing looked at him, and after a while, he asked tentatively: "Brother-in-law, do you know that the lady you cherish in your heart, my sister, has been insulted?"

Jin Yi raised his head, "Why did you say that?"

Zhou Haoqing explained a few words about meeting Fu Ming when he went out last time, and said: "When he heard me mentioning my sister, his face became displeased. I wanted to explain, but he said that a dead person has a bad luck." Short, what else can I say, and then walk away. Brother-in-law, I know that you are unhappy to marry him. But no matter what, since he is married to you, he should respect his sister, but he treats her like that. Contempt. The reason is that I only see the newcomers laughing, but I don’t hear the old ones crying. If my sister is alive in heaven and knows about this, she will be sad and weep.”

Jin Yi rubbed his brows and said, "I already know about this. There is no ice here, and the heat is unbearable. You'd better go back to the old lady. If you come out alone, everyone will be worried."

Zhou Haoqing was silent for a moment, then nodded and said: "Then I'll go first, brother-in-law, take care of yourself." After speaking, he slowly moved to the gate of the courtyard, turned around, and found that Jin Yizheng's back was facing him, and left with a sad expression. go.

"Come out." Jin Yi said.

Lu Fei, who was hiding behind the rockery, came out with trembling footsteps when she heard the words, knelt down and said: "Master, this servant did not eavesdrop on purpose. This servant came to pass on a message and listened to it unintentionally. Come on."

Jin Yi didn't believe what she said, but he didn't intend to pursue it. He just said: "Get up and answer. Why do you want me?"

"Young master Zhou wants to have lunch in Fangman Court, and the young master asks the servants to come and ask the master, is it okay?"

Jin Yidao: "Chengyan can be wherever he likes. You can go to our courtyard and let the cook bring some ingredients prepared for him to your place. Cook a few more dishes at noon."

Lu Fei breathed a sigh of relief, hurriedly replied "Yes", and then left.

When Lu Fei and Jin Yi's cook returned to Fangmanting with a lot of ingredients, Fu Ming and Zhou Chengyan had already arrived. Fu Ming was playing a tune for Zhou Chengyan.

After the meal, Zhaoyan came over from the old lady's side and met his uncle, and there was another intimacy and excitement.

Zhou Chengyan and Fu Ming got along very well, and before saying goodbye, they agreed to meet again at another day.

After the brothers and sisters of the Zhou family left the Jin Mansion, Lu Fei found a chance to tell Fu Ming what she had heard in the day.After hearing this, Fu Ming only nodded, but didn't say much.

Xiang Wan, Jin Qian came to pick Zhao Yan up, before leaving, he asked Fu Ming alone: ​​"Did you meet Miss Zhou when you went out a few days ago?"

Fu Ming replied yes.

"You have some quarrel with her?"

"I don't take children's angry words seriously."

"She mentioned Sirou." Jin Yi explained, "Sirou is the lady's boudoir name."

Fu Ming nodded, "She did mention Mrs. Late, but I didn't respond." The deceased is already dead, and if others want to use it as a gunman, he just doesn't accept the trick. In this way, it is already respect from him.

Hearing Fu Ming's answer, Jin Yi didn't know whether he believed it or not, but he didn't ask any more questions, and called Zhao Yan to his side, took his hand and left.

"Sir, don't you want to explain a few more words? At least it's good to repeat what you said to Miss Zhou that day, so that it will be more convincing." Although Xie Lan didn't know what happened, she trusted her son unconditionally. Now I am very worried for him.

Fu Ming shook his head with a calm expression, "What's the benefit of gossiping? Besides, whether he believes it or not doesn't depend on what I said, but on how he sees me and Miss Zhou."

Fu Ming didn't take this matter to heart. He just thought about what Lu Fei said about the late wife's entrustment, and then thought that if he occupied the magpie's nest, he would return it one day, or he would just occupy it like this for the rest of his life. caught?