Shanglin Night Snow

The weather was fine, and a hunched gardener was working alone in a small courtyard.It is still in the new spring, even if the garden is neglected, no weeds will grow because of the cold weather, because only a few clumps of flowers and trees need to be repaired.

As the sun was getting higher, a woman in yellow clothes came out of the house. She walked to the edge of the flower garden as if strolling in the courtyard. The flowers were only transplanted last year, so I wonder if they will bloom this spring?"

The gardener was trimming osmanthus twigs with his back, and his voice was hoarse: "It depends on the luck of the lady. If you pay more attention, coupled with the right time and place, the weather will improve in the next year, and you can hope to achieve your wish."

The woman heard it and said with a sad face: "However, I have tried my best, but unfortunately the effect is very little. If this continues, I really don't know when the flowers will bloom?"

The gardener put down the pruning shears, arched his back and coughed twice: "Where there is a will, there is a way! A little taste will never pay off."

"However, I..." The woman frowned slightly, turned her head and looked around, and then stepped into the flower garden, with a voice so soft that the two of them could hear: "Recently, a man called Chen Huaili came to propose marriage, saying that he was an old friend of the Gu family. , the Patriarch intends to facilitate this matter."

The gardener bent down, as if looking at the peony bushes he had just pruned, and said in the same light way: "You have to try to evade this matter yourself, I should not interfere, so as not to cause waves like the Hui Youren case."

The woman lowered her gaze, and suddenly raised her voice in surprise: "Why is the root of this flower withered?" She squatted down and pushed aside the branches and leaves to attract the gardener's attention. When he got closer, she said softly, "But what can I do? Patriarch From the beginning to the end, I was not allowed to get close. Don't say that Lingzhi obeyed my words. In fact, it is difficult for me to see him once in a while, but how can I use it? Besides, Chen Huaili and Gu E have been appointed for life since childhood. If I force him If you refuse, you are afraid that the Patriarch will be displeased."

The gardener said indifferently: "It's a done deal, there's no way to turn back, besides, you and I have a grudge, how can we retreat when we see difficulties? Don't forget how you and I have tried our best to get today's opportunity! So you have to try to get close to him no matter what. Even if you can't let him be at your mercy, you still have to get evidence of his treason, so that we can live up to what we have done all these years!" He raised his voice: "My lady is wrong, this is not a peony, it is the original peony. It’s just dead flowers and trees that have not been rooted out.”

"Then pull it out." The woman ordered loudly, then said softly: "Little sister understands." After a slight pause, "It's been two months since you showed up, I'm still worried that something bad happened."

The gardener bowed his head and pulled out the dead branches: "some accident happened, but it won't hurt you, it's just better to be cautious in everything, but remember, you can't look for me at any time, I have the opportunity to come here. And don't go out if you have nothing to do, and don't provoke people who have nothing to do, so as not to cause trouble."

The woman nodded, straightened her body, and her voice was as usual: "My family is short-sighted, I taught the old man a joke, so it won't bother me much, but the old man has worked hard." After saying this, she turned and went back to the room.

At noon, the woman went to the kitchen to make some soup, and then sent it to the west courtyard alone.

In the past two days, Shao Jingheng took leave from the wind and cold to rest at home.When Gu Lianyou left, he saw that he was turning the pages of the book in Linxuan, he didn't look sick, at most he was just tired and absent-minded, but he managed to cheer up after seeing him.

After exchanging pleasantries, the woman got to the point: "Little sister came here today. Apart from checking on my brother's illness, after a few days of thinking about it, I have made up my mind about what my brother mentioned that day, so I came to report it."

Shao Jingheng nodded: "About this marriage, although I don't want to force you, I still have to say what I have to say. But the Chen family was really close to your Gu family back then, and I have ordered people to inquire about it. The Chen family is in business. Therefore, the family background is well-off, and there is quite a reputation in one side, although Chen Huaili has no fame, but he also has poetry and books, he is honest and elegant, and he is really suitable for you."

The woman's eyes were clear and compassionate: "My little sister left home at a young age, she only has a few memories of the Chen family, and it is even more difficult to know this Chen Huaili, but my little sister has no doubts about what my brother said, and I also believe that he is a gentleman and a good man. "

Shao Jingheng was pleased: "Since this is the case, then..."

The woman lowered her eyes: "Brother, forgive me, Chen Huaili may be a dragon and phoenix among people, but my younger sister cannot marry him."

Shao Jingheng was surprised: "Why? Could it be because of the past..."

"It's not because of this!" The woman shook her head, with stubbornness in her eyes: "Although my younger sister was once in a quagmire, things have changed now. Besides, my younger sister has always been self-loving, so why should she be ashamed of her innocence? Besides, since the Chen family came to propose marriage, they naturally don't care about it." I was born as a younger sister, so why should I bother with others? The reason why my younger sister can’t agree is because she has seen through the world of mortals and has no intention of marriage in this life.

Shao Jingheng frowned and pondered for a moment: "Because of what you've experienced, you have a lack of human affection in your eyes, which is why you are tired of the world. However, the so-called one leaf blinds you, and you must know that there is no shortage of happy marriages in the world, and even if your parents are alive, you can't be alone forever!"

There was silence for a while, the woman didn't argue much, she just said: "Elder brother thinks wholeheartedly for younger sister, younger sister is grateful, and also knows that it's not easy for elder brother to understand younger sister's heart, so if elder brother thinks it's okay, you might as well Allow some more time to test my younger sister's determination to live alone." Seeing the confusion of the man, he smiled and said, "Big brother will allow younger sister a year or two to see if I can shake my current intentions. If so, then I will regret it at that time. If not, then my younger sister will have the courage to ask my brother to fulfill my little sister's wish, okay?"

Seeing her promise, Shao Jingheng thought that it would not be easy to persuade her, and if the Chen family really wanted to facilitate this marriage, they would be willing to stay for another year or a half, so they agreed.As soon as the words fell, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a white shadow on the window sill—it was a kitten with snow-white fur, which looked quite familiar.

"Meow——" the cat was not timid when it saw him. It took small steps forward, jumped in through the window, sat down generously on the desk, yawned, and looked up at the person sitting opposite.

"Whose cat is this, it's so cute!" The woman took two steps forward, and Fang wanted to pick up the cat, but a pair of big hands protruding from the side preempted it.

Meeting the woman's surprised eyes, Shao Jingheng stroked the ball of fluff, and said, "This cat is timid, and I'm afraid it will hurt you."

The woman concealed her embarrassment: "This cat is raised by my brother, so it is natural to be close to the Lord." After a short hesitation, she pleaded: "To tell you the truth, my little sister really likes this cat very much, I don't know if I will wait for my brother to go out in the future At this time, can the younger sister feed it for you?"

Shao Jingheng twitched his forehead, coughed lightly, and said vaguely: "I am taking care of this cat for a friend. I come here occasionally, and I will send it back before night." He pondered for a while: "If you really like cats and dogs, teach me It’s enough for a person to adopt one.”

Gu Lianyou smiled again when she heard this, exchanged a few words of pleasantries, then said goodbye and went out.

After sending the woman away, he sent old man Li to the front yard. Shao Jingheng stopped in the yard with the cat in his arms.After a while, the door of the wing room opened from the inside, and the person in purple robe walked out slowly.

After a while of relative silence, it was better for the person who came to speak first: "I see that this lion and cat is very boring alone in the palace. I think that since I picked it up here that day, I will bring it back to see if I can find some playmates."

Hearing this, Shao Jingheng expressed his helplessness: "Your Majesty doesn't know, the old man Li who is taking care of this yard recently drinks less alcohol and spends more time sober. Those cats and dogs who broke into the yard either became stews in his pot or It is because the teacher chased him and fled far away in fear, and now it is really difficult to find traces."

Mu Yunqi was not reconciled: "However, your house always feeds one or two cats and dogs?"

The man thought for a while: "There is a yellow dog in the front yard, but it is not of another breed. I don't know if the two may play together."

Mu Yunqi stepped forward to take the cat, apparently disappointed: "Well, I'm going back." After saying this, the person didn't move, but lowered his head and let the kitten's soft tongue lick the back of his hand until it turned red.

The corner of the mouth moved slightly, and the person who saw it felt as if his heart had been licked, and suddenly snatched the cat back, held it in his arms, and petted it: "Although they are not of other species, they are all animals. How can you know if you don't put them in the same place?" Congenial? I will order someone to bring the yellow dog here to try."

The afternoon sun is lazily falling under the eaves, making people drowsy.

Mu Yun rested his chin and looked out the window at the lion and cat chasing the tail of a yellow dog, with a look of relief on his face.There was a slight sound in his ears, and when he looked back, there was an extra cup of tea in front of him.Wu Yan cast a grateful glance at the man, picked up the teacup and took a sip, the tea tasted light but suited the occasion.

"I offended His Majesty that day because of Concubine Jing, I hope you will forgive me." The man said.

Mu Yunqi smiled, his eyes still lowered: "I know you are unintentional, so you don't take it seriously."

"Your Majesty..." The speaker hesitated, and paused for a moment: "I'm only a little curious. Has Your Majesty...haven't had any affection for Concubine Jing in these years?"

The astonishment on his face turned to relief after a short stay, and Mu Yunqi shook his head: "Never! I have nothing but sympathy and pity for Concubine Jing, nothing else."

"However, Concubine Jing really admires Your Majesty..." Sitting down next to him, the man expressed regret and self-ashamedness: "I heard from my aunt that Concubine Jing has never met His Majesty since she first entered the palace when she was 13 years old. I have secretly agreed with my heart, and I have been thinking about it, but it is a pity..."

"Jingheng..." Mu Yunqi murmured, not knowing what to say.

"I know this is Concubine Jing's wishful thinking, Your Majesty is helpless." The man Xu Xu, "It's just that every time I think of the mixed joy and disappointment in Concubine Jing's eyes when she looks at Your Majesty, I feel mixed feelings..." The bitterness in the corner of his mouth The color gradually moved to the face, "Sometimes I dream back in the middle of the night and see her scolding me for taking away people's love, I really can't explain..."

"Jingheng, you're overwhelmed!" Covering the hand that seemed to have nowhere to rest it, Mu Yun begged softly, but no longer hesitated, "In those years when you were in the northwest, even though I succumbed to Empress Shao again and again, I pretended to be in everything. Stupid and idiotic, she is at her mercy everywhere, but only in the world. If Concubine Jing is sober, she should also know that it is difficult for me to marry her, and I have absolutely nothing to do with you!"

The four eyes met, and Mu Yunqi clearly saw the happiness that flashed in the other's eyes.With a smirk, Yu Ji said, "Don't worry, I promised to make Concubine Jing safe in this life, so I will never break my promise."

Outside the window, a cat and a dog have stopped chasing, leaning closer and whispering under the shade of a tree.The viewer looked back, and his eyes seemed to pass over the stretched eyebrows unintentionally: "Jing Heng, does this dog have a name?"

The person next to him thought about it for a moment: "It seems to be called Wangfu."

"Wangfu?" Mu Yunqi frowned, "This is too... just change it."

The other said lightly: "Please give me a name, Your Majesty!"

With slender fingers across his chin, Mu Yunqi's eyes lit up: "How about 'indisputable'?"

The man nodded: "Thank you, Your Majesty, on behalf of me."

"By the way," Mu Yunqi blinked, "What did Gu Lianyou do just now?"

"Her?" Shao Jingheng shook his head and sighed, and told the truth about Chen Huaili's visit to propose marriage and how Gu Lianyou refused.

Mu Yunqi was unhappy as expected: "I always feel that this Gu Lianyou doesn't want to leave the Shao Mansion." Seeing that the man was eager to speak, he forced a smile: "I have no other intentions, but this matter is really unreasonable, naturally, If she finally wants to let it go, she is willing to marry Chen Huaili, and everyone will be happy." After taking a sip of tea, she asked again: "Have you seen Yin Che recently?"

"King Jia?" Shao Jingheng was a little surprised: "We haven't seen each other since we came back from hunting in the mountains that day." His eyes paused for a while on the face of the opposite person, "Why do you ask such a question, Your Majesty?"

Mu Yunqi was frank: "That day in Chunshou, Yin Che met with Guo Kai in private, and the two talked for a while."

"Oh!" The eyebrows of the listener frowned slightly: "What did you say?"

Mu Yunqi shook his head: "It's not an important thing, but I am only worried. Yin Che would rather get close to outsiders now, but stay away from you and me. Isn't it frustrating?"

With a sigh of relief, Shao Jingheng turned patiently: "For Yu Yinche, although your majesty is an elder brother, he is also your lord. It is because of his awe of your majesty. Besides, he knows that your majesty has a lot to do every day, so how dare he come to disturb each other because of small things?" As for my cousin, "smiled wryly, "although I have been in the same place since I was a child, I have not been close to him for more than ten years since I left Beijing. In addition, he has experienced the changes of cold food, so he must have some guesses in his heart, so we will be with him It's also expected that I'm alienated. It's Guo Kai who saved his life at the beginning, and because of the clan rules, there are only a handful of people around him who can be close to him, and he has no choice but others!"

Mu Yun prayed for a while: "Although what you said is not unreasonable, Guo Kai is a warrior after all, and it is rare for Yin Che to benefit from being with him. I think it's better to choose another learned scholar as Wang Youyi, It’s good to always be on the sidelines to give pointers.”

"Rather than this..." The man smiled slyly: "King Jia is about to be crowned weak, why don't His Majesty find a beautiful woman and a confidant for him, maybe he can make him accept it?"

Mu Yun prayed and sighed: "I thought to myself, but firstly, he is still in the period of filial piety, and secondly, he is not very willing. If I make the whole proposal for him, if the choice is not human, wouldn't it be counterproductive?"

The man disagreed: "Even if you choose an inhuman person, it's better than becoming rough and blunt after being with Guo Kai all the time!"

"Ah!" Guo Kai, who was riding on the horse, had an itchy nose and sneezed loudly.

Who said me?Rubbing his nose, Guo Kai thought for a while, and then returned to what he was thinking about earlier: King Jia must have been interrogated at the moment, and he was in front of Zhao Yude just now, only that King Jia seemed to have seen Qin Liu that day To be honest, he didn't say anything about Shao Jingheng, because King Jia also admitted that he didn't see the truth that day, and secondly, everyone knew that he and Shao Jingheng had a long-cherished wish, and it would be contemptuous to say such a relationship without evidence. In addition, King Jia's defense of Shao Jingheng may not be reported truthfully, even if he took a step back, what he said was slightly different from what King Jia said, and he thought it was because of his caution, so he should not pursue too much.

Thinking about it like this, my mood suddenly stabilized, and I was about to ride my horse and go fast, when I suddenly heard the sound of a manic dog approaching from far behind, I wondered when I turned around, the figure running wildly in my eyes was familiar!

"A Miao?" Guo Kai was stunned, and hurriedly pulled the man who had rushed in front of him on his horse, and drove away the dogs of different colors with a whip, and said angrily: "I told you earlier, you can hold a horse in your hand. Seeing that the dog wants to go around while eating, you just don't listen!"

The man was out of breath, gasping for half a day with his mouth wide open, before he became annoyed: "You...you have to look carefully before blaming me, I...have something to eat in my hands?"

Guo Kai snorted: "For no reason, why doesn't that dog chase other people, but only you?"

"I..." The man put his head on his shoulder, looked exhausted, and murmured, "Didn't I mistake the dog... I just saw a black dog whose back looked like Xifu on the road. Playing with a group of wild dogs, the so-called bird of a feather flocks together, I can't allow it to behave badly, so I chased it and wanted to bring it back. Unexpectedly, after chasing the dog for two streets, when I turned around, I saw a gray spot on its forehead. I admit my mistake, but that bastard didn't give up, and led a group of wild dogs to chase me for two streets, if I hadn't met you here, I would have died today!"

Guo Kai couldn't help but laugh: "Don't talk about a dog, even if it's a human, it's hard to tell it from the back, but you..." At this point, a thought flashed through his mind, and he immediately frowned and fell into deep thought.

The back view... The messy scene jumps and floats before the eyes: the familiar back view in the night... Turning around, the completely unfamiliar face...

"Akai? Akai!" The voices in the ears hurried.

Guo Kai turned a deaf ear to it, but frowned: If so, it would be really intriguing...