Minister Gu Ming can't take care of himself

On the first day of the first lunar month, He Jijiu went.

But Xu Guanchen was ill, and he didn't know the news until three days later.

He thought for a while, and said: "I worshiped under the teacher when I was five years old, and the teacher taught me to read books. Later, when I was in Qingzhou and Yanbei, I never stopped writing letters with my teacher. The teacher's kindness to me is as great as a mountain. Even though he told me not to go again for a few days, I couldn't..."

Xiao Zhi glanced at him, saw that his eyes were red with anxiety, but asked, "Are you feeling well?"

Xu Guanchen nodded emphatically: "I just fell ill a few days ago, and I probably won't do it again this time around."

But Xiao Zhi didn't understand, he gently wiped the corner of Xu Guanchen's eyes with his thumb: "I just let you go, don't cry."

Xu Guanchen nodded again, got up and went to change clothes: "Then I'll leave now."

Xiao Zhi really didn't understand, that old man He, why Xu Guanchen should treat him like this.

Xiao Zhi just looked at him, flew into the inner room like a gust of wind, changed his clothes, tied his hair again, and picked up the stove.It will be noon at this time, and I don't even need lunch, so I have to rush to Hefu in a hurry.

When he was doing these things, he lowered his head slightly, his eyes were still red, and he couldn't help crying.

Xiao Zhi didn't understand even more, he just felt that the redness in the corners of his eyes was like a touch of redness on fresh peaches.

Xu Guanchen didn't realize it at all, bowed to him, and went out.

When I went to the funeral this time, I didn't bring Feiyang with me.

Firstly, Feiyang is a child at heart, and he still doesn't understand life and death.Besides, before the new year's day, Feiyang was having fun, and Xu Guanchen didn't want to disturb him.

Xiao Zhi was worried about him, so he asked Mr. Cheng to change into casual clothes and let him go this trip.

When you come out of the palace, you have to go back to Duke Dingguo's mansion first.

Chai Bo, the old steward of the mansion, clasped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I asked the Chinese scholars in the mansion to compose the sacrificial text, and sent it along with the mourning ceremony on the first day of the lunar new year."

This is to prevent him from going again.

Xu Guanchen said firmly: "Uncle Chai, if the students don't go to the teacher's funeral, the world will laugh at them."

Seeing that he was determined, Chai Bo had no choice but to nod his head and go with him.

The carriage was in a hurry, Xu Guanchen asked, "How did the teacher get there?"

"Master Jijiu is at the end of his life." Chai Bo replied, "After the New Year's Eve, he lay down and squinted for a while. The sound of the watch on the street rang three times, and his servants found out."

"Why didn't someone tell me?"

Uncle Chai couldn't answer, Xu Guanchen glanced at Eunuch Cheng who was sitting next to him, he also lowered his head slightly, looking at his nose, nose and heart in a peaceful manner.

Xu Guanchen sighed, and asked again: "Whose family will organize the teacher's funeral?"

Chai Bo said: "Naturally, it's a distant house next to He's house."

"That's it." Xu Guanchen nodded.

When I went back to He Mansion last time, I ran into Yang Xun who used to sit and study with the teacher, and had an argument.He thought that Yang Xunhui would take over the matter, but just now he thought that if Yang Xun held the funeral, he would be beaten out if he went.

Xu Guanchen didn't ask any more questions, but just sighed.

The old steward, Chai Bo, and Xu Guanchen's grandfather, Old Dingguogong, belonged to the same generation. They used to work as grooms for the old Dingguogong, but they were injured on the battlefield and had to retire, so they stayed in Dingguogong's mansion.

Chai Bo has been the butler for decades and has never made a mistake.

Xu Guanchen used to practice Taoism in Qingzhou and guard the border in Yanbei. Now he is recuperating in the palace and is often away from the mansion. He handles human relations and management.

But there is one thing, Chai Bo is not like other people who call Xu Guanchen "Little Grandpa", while Chai Bo directly calls him "Grandpa".

Xu Guanchen understands that Uncle Chai has always been deeply obsessed with the former glory of the Dingguo Mansion, and always regards him as the old Dingguo, and wants him to quickly carry the Dingguo Mansion completely on his shoulders.

Seeing that he was silent at this time, Uncle Chai thought about it and opened his mouth: "Grandpa, this year's festival, the annual rewards in the palace are much more than last year."

"Yeah." Xu Guanchen nodded, "Take it well."

"How is the father-in-law's illness?"

"It's still the same." Xu Guanchen didn't tell him the truth, "Once every two months, I'm used to it."

"Recently in the city..." Chai Bo lowered his voice and tentatively said, "There seems to be a lot of gossip and gossip between the Duke and His Majesty. Some people say that the Duke sat in the Queen's seat at the New Year's Eve palace banquet."

Chief Chai Bo urged him to revive the glory of the Dingguo Mansion, and if he wanted to revive the glory, naturally he couldn't break his sleeves, he had to break his sleeves with His Majesty.In that case, Xu Guanchen might be called a sycophant.

Xu Guanchen regarded him as an elder, and didn't want to hurt him, so he just said: "After the New Year's Eve, if Uncle Chai is free, choose a smarter child from among the distant houses, and I will raise him and let him He took the title."

"Could it be possible..." Lao Chai hurriedly said, "In recent years, this old slave has been paying attention to the noble girls in Jinling City on behalf of the father-in-law, and has also saved some money for the father-in-law. The father-in-law originally sent his name to practice Taoism, if at this time To marry a wife..."

Xu Guanchen quickly replied: "I don't want a wife."

Feeling that something was wrong, he lowered his head and coughed twice again: "I don't know when my body will pass, why bother to drag other people's family? It's more convenient to find a child from a nearby room."

Uncle Chai wanted to say something more, the carriage had already driven to the gate of He Mansion, before the carriage stopped, Xu Guanchen lifted the curtain and jumped out of the carriage.

He only knew that he was impatient, Chai Bo pondered his reaction, thinking about what Xu Guanchen said just now, how much was true and how much was false.

He Mansion is very deserted.

Three years ago, He Jijiu's grandson, the Seventh Prince Xiao Qi was defeated and died in a palace change, and many people from the He Mansion accompanied him.After the fifth prince, Xiao Zhi, came to the throne, the big and prosperous family declined. After three years of misery, He Jijiu was the only one left.

After Xu Guanchen lost his memory, he only had time to visit He Mansion twice.At that time, He Jijiu was already very dull.

Now that I have gone, the funeral is very simple.

In the past, He Jijiu was the teacher of most of the scholars in the world, but now most of the scholars come to pay homage to avoid suspicion, but only a few people.

That's it, that's it.

Xu Guanchen sighed secretly, and stepped over the threshold.

In front of the hall, there is a small thin nanmu coffin and white cloth spirit flags, together with Feixue, moving with the wind.

No one stopped him, and no one seduced him, let alone cry with him in return.In the entire He Mansion, there were not many people, and they paid homage to each other, all relying on their own care.

Eunuch Xiao Cheng picked up the three incense sticks on the case and approached the candlelight.

Of the three sticks of incense, one broke before it was lit, and the other two were damp and smoked for a long time without any sparks.

Xu Guanchen was speechless for a moment, took the three sticks of incense from Eunuch Xiao Cheng, and put them back on the table.

He walked to the coffin in a daze.He Jijiu was originally tall and thin, with a literati style, but now he was lying in the coffin, but he looked short.The shroud on his body was the most common appearance. He could have worn a sacrificial gown.

Suddenly, there was a noise under the table case covered with white cloth, and a dirty little hand poked out from under the table case, and touched the snacks on the confession case with the backhand.

Chai Bo grabbed his wrist and dragged out the child under the confession.

Xu Guanchen waved his hand and asked Chai Bo to let him go.

Supported by Eunuch Xiaocheng, Xu Guanchen stood firm. For a moment, he was sad and angry, and flowers bloomed faintly in front of his eyes. With blood, he called out hoarsely: "Teacher..."

Eunuch Xiao Cheng patted the back of his hand and called softly, "Master."

I don't know who it was, knelt down behind him with a plop, kowtowed, and his forehead hit the ground heavily, with a bang.

"Little Grandpa, it's too shabby for our master to leave." The man cried at the top of his voice, and kowtowed to him twice, "I beg the little Grandpa to preside over the matter."

Xu Guanchen recognized him, Xu Guanchen came to He Mansion twice, and he was the concierge every time he saw him.

However, Eunuch Xiao Cheng pressed Xu Guanchen's hand and shook his head: "Master, it's not right."

"It's okay." Xu Guanchen patted his hand too, "Students holding a funeral for the teacher are not considered breaking the rules."

Chai Bo also said: "My lord, our family..."

Xu Guanchen sniffled: "Didn't Uncle Chai just say that he saved up some money for my marriage? After all, I don't want to get married, so use it for the teacher, it's my last bit of filial piety."

"When Grandpa was in trouble, he could buy a house for his lieutenants to mourn." Xu Guanchen said firmly, "If Grandpa is here now, he will do the same."

Chai Bo had no choice but to agree.

"This matter, Uncle Chai, you can go and use the name of Dingguo Duke's Mansion." Xu Guanchen said, "The most important thing is that in half an hour, the rich and powerful families in Jinling City, the teacher's former students know that Dingguo The government will hold a funeral for the teacher."

Uncle Chai went to work on his own, while Xu Guanchen wrote the sacrificial oration in the wing room.

As a servant in He Mansion, Xu Guanchen has been here twice, but he only saw one concierge.

Eunuch Xiaocheng went out in person and brought hot tea: "Grandfather."

"Yeah." Xu Guanchen thought for a while and put down his pen, "You just said 'inappropriate', I understand what you mean. The branch of the He family is still there, and it is really inappropriate for me to hold a funeral for the teacher; use the name of Dingguo Gongfu It’s not right to go your own way, but it’s even more wrong if His Majesty finds out.”

Eunuch Xiao Cheng smiled knowingly: "Young Master, it's from He's Mansion that I want to see Dingguo's Mansion."

"That's right." Xu Guanchen lowered his eyes, "When Grandpa left, I was the only one who took care of the funeral. Now that the teacher has gone, I can't..."

Eunuch Xiaocheng sighed: "The slaves go out and have a look."

The news that Dingguo Mansion held a funeral for He Jijiu spread quickly, and before the mourning hall was finished, the carriages of various families lined up and blocked the entrance of He Mansion.

Eunuch Xiao Cheng led Xu Guanchen out and brought him to a carriage.

The other carriages were all hung with white curtains, but this one was extremely luxurious, with copper bells hanging from the four corners under the eaves.

It wasn't for the funeral.

Xiao Zhi lifted the curtain: "Can I go back?"

Xu Guanchen slightly raised his head to look at him: "I'm afraid we have to wait a little longer."

Xiao Zhi sighed, reached out to touch his face, and finally kissed the corner of his eyes: "Don't be sad."

Xiao Zhi still didn't know why he felt uncomfortable, he died when he died, let alone Xiao Qi's old man, he just couldn't see Xu Guanchen's pitiful appearance.