After the prosperous Tang Dynasty

Luoyang City.

The Zhao Mansion, which was completely rebuilt after a sudden fire, has reappeared mottled traces of time on the later built houses. Occasionally, a few wet bricks and stones next to the ground are covered with moss.

Zhao Junzhuo was sitting in the study room, flipping through a book casually with his slender and well-articulated fingers, his eyes fell on the handwriting on the page, in his slightly lowered eyes, there was no youthful vigor at all, on the contrary, there was a trace of Thrilling coldness.

Qingwei, the capable maidservant next to the old man of Zhao's mansion, hurriedly crossed the Moon Cave Gate and entered the little man's yard. At the beginning, he smiled and pulled a maid who was waiting here, and asked in a low voice: "Little man What are you doing now?"

The maid who was held by her had a good relationship with Qingwei, and she didn't care about her. Instead, she took Qingwei's wrist, pointed in the direction of the study, and then lowered her voice, reminding in a low voice: "Xiao Langjun I'm reading in the study, I don't like to be noisy, if you are not in a hurry, you might as well wait here for a while."

——Wait a little longer, it will be the time when Zhao Junzhuo is used to visiting Mrs. Liu in the small Buddhist hall every day, and when the time comes, he will rush to say a few words, and Mr. Xiao Lang will be able to listen to him.

Qingwei nodded, and also said with a suppressed voice: "In a few days, Mr. Xiao Lang is going to take the imperial examination in Chang'an City. When Mr. Lao Lang remembered it, he asked me to come over and ask. As soon as I checked, I packed my luggage. In Chang'an City, the Zhao Mansion happens to have a suitable house, and the old man sent someone to clean it up a few days ago, and we just need to wait for the little man to go there himself."

After separating from the maidservant in Zhao Junzhuo's courtyard, Qing Wei walked to a place not far from the study, but did not continue forward, but stood here obediently, waiting for Zhao Junzhuo to come out later.

It was cold and windy in winter, and Qing Wei didn't feel it when she just came out of the house. After standing outside the study door for a while, she couldn't help feeling a bit cold, and her body trembled slightly. She turned and walked away. After taking a few steps, I moved my body a little, trying to warm myself up.

After all, the winter is cold. The peach blossom tree in the yard, which was transplanted after the fire, has grown thicker and thicker over the years. In autumn and winter, the withered and yellow leaves are all over the ground. The buds are dyed with new green, and the peach blossoms are full of trees.

Not long after, with a soft "squeak", the door of the study was pushed open from the inside, Zhao Junzhuo's delicate and handsome face showed no expression, and he just glanced over indifferently.

Qing Wei immediately turned around when she heard the sound, lowered her head slightly and said to Zhao Junzhuo, "Little Lang."

Zhao Junzhuo didn't answer, he didn't even move his eyelids, but continued to walk forward on his own, Qingwei didn't dare to stop him, so he could only take two quick steps, followed behind Zhao Junzhuo, and said quickly in a low voice: "Chang'an The house in the city has already been packed, and you can live right away when you go there, I don’t know when Xiao Lang-jun plans to leave, but have all the people under Yi Ying’s luggage packed up..."

Only then did Zhao Junzhuo speak casually, and replied lightly: "Just let grandfather rest assured."

Qingwei's heart fluttered, and she was secretly worried about how to reply to Lao Langjun in order not to be so blunt and indifferent when she went back. As for Zhao Junzhuo, his pace was not slow at all, and he had already thrown Qingwei who was standing still .

In the small Buddhist hall in the courtyard where Mrs. Liu lived, there was still an ethereal fragrance of Buddha. Mrs. Liu's body seemed to be getting weaker and weaker, and her temples were becoming more and more frosty.

Hearing Zhao Junzhuo's footsteps, Liu Shi finally put down the string of Buddhist beads in his hand slowly, turned around, raised his head slightly and looked deeply at Zhao Junzhuo.

Zhao Junzhuo knelt and sat on the futon next to his mother Liu Shi without saying a word, and said softly: "Mother, I will leave for Chang'an City tomorrow." When he said this, his face was still as calm as water.

Mrs. Liu nodded slightly, a rare warm smile finally appeared on her pale face, and she warned softly, "Be careful on the road. When you arrive in Chang'an City, ask someone to send you a letter."

"Don't worry, Aunt." Zhao Junzhuo responded one by one with a very docile attitude.

Liu stared blankly at the tablet enshrined in the small Buddhist hall. The name of Concubine Zhao who died in the fire that year was deeply engraved on the hearts of both mother and son, and it has long been a wound.

However, compared to Liu's grief when he recalled the past, Zhao Junzhuo always had an unspeakable depth and complexity in his heart.

Zhao Junzhuo sat silently with Mrs. Liu in the small Buddhist hall for a while, as if thinking of many old things in the past, and also as if his thoughts were empty and gradually drifted away.

Inadvertently recalling that slender figure, his eyes seemed to be filled with flames that could burn everything, and in an extremely calm tone, he spoke the last few words to him almost calmly...

For a moment, he suddenly realized that after so many years, the face of his sister Zhao Concubine had gradually become blurred in his mind, leaving only the girl with a slender figure who was related to him by blood. Trying hard to hide the gloomy melancholy, he showed a warm smile to him and A Niang.

As for the other her, Zhao Junzhuo thought about it for a long time before recalling that she seemed to have smiled at him once. That faint smile was not warm, but revealed a kind of resolute, decisive freedom, and true love. Concubine Zhao is a completely different person.

Zhao Junzhuo lowered his eyes to hide the complexities in his eyes, slowly put away the thousands of thoughts in his heart, sighed softly in this room of Buddhist incense, and just got up, respectfully bid farewell to his mother Liu, and then left.

·

After talking with Xuanzong, Xiao Song came out of Xingqing Palace together with Huangfu Weiming.

Although most of the officials in the Tang Dynasty were not separated from civil and military families, their respective factions were still clearly distinguished.

Like Huangfu Weiming, he had been close friends with the prince Li Hengnai before, but when he was away, he failed to participate in the competition for the crown prince in Chang'an City, or even in Xingqing Palace. Therefore, his current Identity, in fact, is equally subtle.

However, before Xiao Song could think too much, Huangfu Weiming had already leaned over on his own initiative, and chatted with Xiao Song with a smile.

Both of them had been Hexi Jiedu envoys, and they both knew Tubo very well, so it took no effort to find some common topics.However, Xiao Song couldn't guarantee whether Huangfu Weiming got something in his heart after such a conversation with Xiao Yanyan. up.

In this way, Xiao Song probably has some idea about the possible changes in the court situation in the future.

It can be said that there has been a long-standing grievance between Li Heng, the prince of the East Palace, and Li Linfu, who is bent on abolishing the prince. Now, Huangfu Weiming obviously wants to help the prince Li Heng.

That is to say, Huangfu Weiming had been away before, and the crown prince Li Heng was weak. Therefore, Li Linfu and his family were planning and planning everywhere, trying to drag the prince Li Heng into the water.However, Prince Li Heng, knowing that there is no one available around him, simply endured with all his heart, seeking for the future, and on the surface he did not fight back.In addition, Xuanzong himself turned a blind eye and never took the initiative to protect the prince. Therefore, the struggle between the two sides has always been reluctantly kept in the dark.

An important minister like Xiao Song who was favored by Xuanzong but unreliable on both sides was naturally also the target of Prince Li Heng's wooing.However, the identity of the crown prince Li Heng is too delicate and sensitive. Due to Xuanzong's pickiness about the identity of the prince, at least on the surface, Li Heng never dared to be intimate with any loyal minister in the court. Lessons from the past are still there...

As for Huangfu Weiming, it was just because he had just returned to Beijing, and he had not yet been labeled as a princeling. Therefore, his actions just now, besides wanting to ask questions to the old fox Xiao Song, he wanted to come here. , but also seize the time to show favor for the prince and win over people.

After watching Huangfu Weiming leave with a smile, Xiao Song sat back in the carriage by himself, looked at the teacups and snacks on the small case, without the slightest appetite, and even couldn't help frowning slightly.

He always had a bad premonition that Huangfu Weiming's return to Beijing this time might completely disrupt the peace that remained in Chang'an City...

It was past noon at this time, and the sun, which was not very warm at all, was shrouded in a layer of thick clouds.

The stable carriage drove along Zhuque Street, all the way towards Xu Guogong's mansion.

After returning to his main courtyard, Xiao Song didn't need to take the initiative to signal, his own maid looked at the time and filled the table with noon meals from the kitchen.

Xiao Song was about to sit down, but he saw that He Shi, who usually ate by himself in the backyard, came over with a slight frown.

"Ma'am?" Xiao Song took the initiative to ask when he saw his first wife frowning.

After a brief moment of pondering, He frowned slightly, and said softly: "The ancestral house in Lanling's hometown just sent a letter, saying that it is a little lady of our grandchildren who just met with Beijing not long ago." A young gentleman from the Zhaodu clan's collateral lineage is engaged, and because of the long journey from Lanling to here, he wants to leave the court in Beijing."

Xiao Song thought about it carefully, and there are several granddaughters under his cousins, but there are many people in the Xiao clan in Lanling, and there are two generations of young ladies from him, except for his own family, Xiao Yansui There are quite a lot of such single seedlings, and there is no chance to see them at ordinary times. After thinking about it seriously, Xiao Song also recalled that among the young ladies who are a few years older than Xiao Yansui, there is probably Xiao Yansui. Xiao, Xiao Yu, and Xiao Qingyu.

"Who is betrothed to Mrs. Jingzhao Du?" Xiao Song asked directly, "Where's the family letter, I'll take it later and have a look."

He Shi directly ordered the maid beside her to go to her room to get the letter, and then replied: "The one who is going to become a monk this time is a girl from the long room, Xiao Sanniang Xiao Nianru."

Xiao Song couldn't help but frowned, "Xiao Sanniang? Xiao Nianru? That child didn't seem to be called that name before!"

He Shi rolled his eyes at him, "You remember that time, San Niang hadn't passed her hundred days yet, and the ones who shouted at that time were all the girls' nicknames, and later on, if they didn't want to give them a big name, it wouldn't work." ?”

Xiao Song smiled and waved his hands, "Wait for the reply later, just let them come. Sanniang's engagement and marriage is a happy event, and the family can also be lively and lively. Except for the marriage of Shao'er a few years ago, there is nothing to do in the house for many years." Happy event."

The Can'er that Xiao Song was talking about was Xiao Can, the youngest daughter of Xiao Song and the He family. After getting married a few years ago, she has been traveling with her husband in Beijing. In addition, Xiao Can's family also has children who need to be taken care of. Although the rituals and annual ceremonies have never ceased, except for Xiao Po's husband who can meet with his family when he returns to Beijing to report on his work, with this daughter, Xiao Song and the He family have not seen each other for quite some time.

When the two of them said this, He Shi's heart moved slightly, and he couldn't help but said: "Sanlang has reached the crown now, and he is not young. I know that you have been suppressing him before, and now let him try it out. After the imperial examination, what rules do you have in mind for San Lang's marriage?"

Xiao Song waved his hands and said with a smile: "Xiao Heng is the eldest grandson of Duke Xu's mansion, and he will succeed Duke Xu in the future. We should be cautious about his marriage."

Immediately, Xiao Song continued to ask with a smile: "Madam, is there any suitable candidate? If you want to meet a young lady who has not left the court, you have to pay more attention to Sanlang's mother."

Hearing Xiao Song's words, He Shi's complexion changed slightly almost invisible.

After the conversation just now, although he was asking for her opinion, how could the He family not know that they have been married to Xiao Song for many years? After a generation.Regarding Xiao Heng's marriage, Xiao Song naturally prefers to hand it over to Xiao Hua and Pei's couple for negotiation, perhaps he himself is unwilling to get involved.

Xiao Song is a person who obviously has a lot of hills and valleys in his chest, but he is the best at letting go. It sounds good, but he has no authority.In the court, he was able to sit on the position of prime minister for many years, but he was obedient and ignored everything, and he didn't know how many times he was secretly complained by officials in the court. Even in the family affairs of Duke Xu, Xiao Song was still so displeased. The habit of meddling in the affairs of future generations casually.

Future generations have blessings for future generations. As elders, unless it is a matter of life and death, otherwise, why care so much?The more you control, the more mistakes you make, Xiao Song has always been well versed in this way.

No matter how reluctant He Shi was, anyway, Xiao Song had always been able to let go and think about it.

Xiao Heng is the eldest grandson of the Xiao family, and if nothing happens, he will inherit Xiao Song's title as Duke Xu from his father Xiao Hua in the future. With his status, the candidate for Xiao Heng's future wife, status and family status Naturally, it is impossible to go lower.

Last time, the He family had a conversation with Lu's sister for a while, no matter how much he wanted to help the Lu family's He family, it was impossible for the He family, as Mrs. Xu Guogong, to promise the position of the eldest grandson Xiao Heng's wife. Bringing up this matter today, I also want to use Xiao Nianru's engagement to come to prepare for marriage, and then probe into Xiao Song's tone, with the intention of the future marriage of the granddaughter Xiao Yansui who she least likes.

Unexpectedly, before He Shi took the opportunity to ask, Xiao Song clearly stated his attitude - that is, the relatives of the grandchildren were selected from Aye and Auntie who had children to worry about. Ah Weng's, anyway, he definitely won't carelessly care about it.

Moreover, Xiao Song let go of everything, even if he didn't say anything, the implication was that he should not reach out to take care of it, so as not to turn a good happy event into a bad one. It was so overwhelming that He Shi couldn't speak at all.

·

A few days later, it was the Shangyuan Festival again.

After walking along the official road from Luoyang City, Zhao Junzhuo’s carriage finally stopped outside the city gate early in the morning. He opened the curtain slightly and looked up at the three big characters "Chang'an City" painted with silver hooks on the city wall. , For a moment, my heart, which has always been calm and calm, actually had a bit of ups and downs.

The coachman let out a "wow", stopped the carriage for the time being, turned his head to Zhao Junzhuo who was sitting in the carriage, and said, "Mr. Lang, there are some carriages and horses waiting to enter the city, I think we have to wait here for a while. "

Zhao Junzhuo nodded slightly, and then whispered a few words to a servant.

The accompanying servant got off the carriage, and after walking a few steps away, he randomly chose a commoner in front who was waiting to enter the city with a burden, and after asking a few words in official language, Dexin turned around and came back, blocking the way for a while. At the air vent of the curtain of the carriage, he explained to Zhao Junzhuo: "Young Lord, today is the Lantern Festival, and the curfew is opened in Chang'an City tonight, and there is a sky street lamp market in the city, which is very lively. These ordinary people also want Going to the city to watch lanterns, or taking advantage of today, to do some small business overnight, after the Lantern Festival tomorrow morning, it is estimated that these people will probably go home and disperse."

"So that's how it is." Zhao Junzhuo said calmly, and didn't say any more.

On the contrary, after the servant got on the carriage again, after a while, he couldn't help asking Zhao Junzhuo in a low voice curiously: "Mr. Xiao Lang is going to come out tonight, and also go to the street lamp market that day to enjoy the lamps?"

Zhao Junzhuo turned a page of the book slowly, without moving his brows, Zhuo, who was still careless, said lightly: "When I enter the city, I will go to the mansion first, as for the lantern market at night—"

Speaking of this, his expression seemed to be a little loose. After all, for Zhao Junzhuo who lived in Luoyang since he was a child, this was his first visit to Chang'an City. , I also have a bit of curiosity.

"Let's talk!" Zhao Junzhuo said lightly.

The accompanying servant responded briskly with "Hey".

·

The sun is setting and the night is getting darker.

In today's night sky, there is still a layer of thick clouds, and the stars and the moon in the sky are dark, all of them are hidden behind layers of dark clouds, revealing only a low darkness.

However, the gloomy weather did not affect the bustle of the Tianjie Lantern Market. As dusk fell, the lanterns on the entire street gradually lit up.The sky was dark and difficult to distinguish, and the lanterns on the ground were reflected in the water, and a new vast sea of ​​stars was born in an instant.

For Xiao Yansui, who used to go out to play every Lantern Festival, after all, it was a place he had been to several times, and the streets were crowded with people, so no matter how lively the Sky Street Lighting Market was, in fact Every year, the tricks are always somewhat the same, and the more I see them, the earlier interest and curiosity become so-so.

However, before I knew it, the Lantern Appreciation at Shangyuan seemed to have become a habit that I had become accustomed to at this time of year. After having the glutinous rice balls for dinner, which symbolizes family reunion and reunion, Xiao Heng made another appointment earlier. When classmates and friends met in the teahouse, Xiao Yansui put on the cloak again, and only together with Xiao Wu, he came out from the gate of Xu Guogong's mansion, and slowly walked towards the most lively Tianjie Lantern Market.

"Don't get separated again today." Xiao Wu and his younger sister Xiao Yansui walked side by side, and started chattering endlessly since they left the house.

"Well, that's not certain. After all, there are many people on the street outside." Xiao Yansui agreed first, but then laughed and teased again.

The temperature was cold at night, Xiao Yansui was wearing warm and dense clothes, and a cloak was wrapped around it. The snow-white fox fur was made into fluffy piping and dotted around the neckline of the cloak. The slender fur fluttered in the wind. Trembling lightly, when touching the delicate jaw, it feels warm and soft to the touch.

After hearing this, Xiao Wu couldn't help sighing deeply, and said helplessly, "Then if we get separated by accident, will we also go to the teahouse that Sanlang made an appointment with later?"

Xiao Yansui did not answer directly, but analyzed with a smile: "When can't we meet with friends in the same class, do we have to choose a time when there are many people to squeeze into such a teahouse? I think that in that teahouse, today's Did someone prepare some activities tonight, it must be themed on the Lantern Festival, and a group of people want to compose poems?"

Xiao Wu made a fist with his left hand and lightly hammered it in the palm of his right hand, nodded and said, "Liu Niang is right!"

After a pause, Xiao Wu continued excitedly, "Let's watch the fun!"

"No." Xiao Yansui refused quite simply, after all, she had no interest in writing poems or listening to other people's poems.

As a person who has worked hard for so many years, although he has been able to understand classical Chinese proficiently in the Tang Dynasty, but is born with a science and engineering thinking, and his literary literacy is still worrying, going to a place where future literary giants gather, that is for him. I feel uncomfortable.

Xiao Wu was helpless, and just as he was about to speak with a sigh, he heard Xiao Yansui's brisk voice say again: "Although I'm not interested, but if you're curious, Goro, you can go over by yourself to join in the fun!"

"That can't be done, I have to accompany you." Xiao Wu waved his hand and said very responsibly.

"Anyway, after a while, if you are not careful, you will get separated." Xiao Yansui's tone was particularly innocent and calm, which was her experience all the year round.

Xiao Wu: "..."

Although he also felt that what his sister said was the plain truth, she was extremely frank.