I stretched out a finger and played with Liu Bo who was in his wet nurse's arms, the little boy's soft hand just barely grasped my finger, while moving, he laughed, his little face was as smooth as a pear. Seeing him my heart was happy, I approached him and asked with a smile, “Why are you laughing? Tell auntie.” Seeing the milk mother's shocked face, I realized that I had said something wrong. Even though this little brat can't speak yet, because of his high position he can't call me auntie. A little embarrassed, I withdrew my hand, then sat up straight. Li Yan glanced at me, then told the wet nurse to carry him away.
If you have a capable aunt like you, Bo er is really lucky, let Bo er call you aunt!”
I straightened my body and said, "He is a prince, I really don't dare to be called aunt by him." Li Yan smiled and said no more.
After looking me up and down for a while, Li Yan asked, “What's wrong with you? Why is your forehead wrinkled with worry like this?”
I shook my head and said, “Has your body recovered?”
“So many people took care of me, I have recovered as before. What's going on between you and the head of Shi Corporation?”, Li Yan inquired.
I changed the subject and said to him with a smile, “Congratulations.”
“Congratulate me? What is going on?"
“General Li Guang's younger brother, Li Gan's uncle, Duke of Le'an Li Caisheng was appointed prime minister. he will lead hundreds of officials, hold the golden seal and help the Son of Heaven manage the country.”
Li Yan's face did not change, he said lightly, "After all, I have to thank you."
I smiled, “I don't dare to praise myself, niangniang invited me into the palace to visit the little prince, since I have met him, I will leave the palace.” I salute Li Yan to excuse himself.
But Li Yan didn't let me excuse myself, without saying anything, he looked at me sharply, then said slowly, "Jin Yu, help me."
I shook my head, "Since I put you into the palace, I've said that after you enter the palace, I can't do anything else."
"You're lying, everything you do is always full of strategy, it's just that until now I haven't been able to guess what you mean."
I was speechless, my original strategy had failed, now I didn't have any strategy at all.
After waiting for a while, Li Yan suddenly sighed, “Jin Yu, it seems that your nature is not rigid, but in fact you are very stubborn. I can't force you, but I beg you not to fight me." I forced myself to smile, “Everyone said that Wei Qing had a good older brother, but I think Empress Weilah was actually the lucky one, after Heaven gave her a younger brother as loyal as General Wei, she still gave him a nephew who was as brave as an eagle. But I can only rely on myself, I really hope you become my real sister, as long as I have a sister like you, I won't have any trouble."
I looked at him sharply, then seriously said, "Don't worry, I won't interfere in your business and won't hinder your path at all."
Li Yan nodded, then somewhat tiredly said, “You must always remember these words of yours, go!”
After getting up, I stood without saying anything, I was worried that I would never be able to see him again. “Li Yan, take good care of yourself, if you have time, read medical books, learn how to take care of yourself. It is said that the Daoist science of breathing is very useful for prolonging life, it seems that the emperor is skilled at this science, there is nothing bad if you learn it, the more you are alone, the more you have to take care of yourself."
LI Yan's eyes were warm, "I will remember your advice, I also have a child to take care of, I will definitely take good care of myself."
I smiled and saluted him, "I'll go first." Li Yan nodded with a smile.
Not long after leaving Li Yan's palace, I saw Huo Qubing walking towards me. I respect him. When he saw the direction I was coming from, he asked, “Are you coming to visit Mrs. Li?” I nodded, seeing the direction he came from, I asked, "Did you go to visit the empress?" Huo Qubing nodded.
I walked a few steps behind Huo Qubing, and he said, “In the palace, even the way you walk is so careful?”
"Our positions are not the same, if we are seen walking shoulder to shoulder in the palace, people will say nonsense." I saw that his facial expression seemed a bit annoyed, so I quickly explained, "Of course you're not afraid, now no one dares to oppose you, when they're happy they'll let it go, but when they're frustrated, everything will be brought up to bring you down." . Now be a little careful, leaving a little way back for yourself is never wrong.”
Huo Qubing snorted coldly, “I hate your overly cautious attitude! After this, don't go to the palace often."
I smiled and asked, “Have you been very busy lately? After New Year, I haven't seen you for two months."
He looked happy, he excitedly said, “This time I will bet big, of course I have to practice well. Oh yes, are you actually going back to Xiyu or not?”
I hesitated for a moment, "I don't know."
“You don't know? He's like that, but you still……you…….you……”. Immediately Huo Qubing stopped in his tracks, with a face full of anger he pointed at me.
With a gloomy face I looked at him without saying anything, he suddenly shook his head, then walked away with wide steps, as if to throw everything that made him unhappy behind him, "I see that you are pathetic, asking to be tortured! But unfortunately I'm even more pitiful than you, begging to be tortured!"
When the gardener was stirring up the soil, he shook his head and said to me, "Until now it hasn't sprouted yet, it looks like it's dead. I will plant some new shoots for you!”
"Nope".
The gardener got up and said, "But this flower pot is bare, it's not nice to look at, how about I plant some peonies?"
"Don't bother, just leave it bald!"
I stood in front of the flower pot stunned, I don't know when the gardener left, I didn't feel it.
As the shadows tilted to the west, Hong Gu called out to me from the garden door, “Xiao Yu, a distinguished guest has come to see you.” I turned to look, it turned out to be Huo Qubing's housekeeper, Uncle Chen.
I stepped forward quickly, he saluted me with a smile, but I avoided, "Uncle Chen, I can't accept your respect." He smiled and said, “Why can't you accept my respect? If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be standing here and saluting you.”
"What is it? Why did you have to bother coming here yourself?”
Uncle Chen looked at Hong Gu who was still standing at the mouth of the garden door. Hong Gu immediately saluted Uncle Chen and quickly left.
"Since the beginning of spring, the young master has been busy every day, he rarely goes home, he can't go home, so he asked me to convey a message to you, tomorrow at dawn he will leave for Longxi."
I bowed to thank Uncle Chen, "It's just a bother for you." Uncle Chen looked at me while smiling very kindly, being looked at like that by him, my whole body felt uncomfortable, finally he excused himself and left.
At dinner, Hong Gu couldn't hold back any longer and said, "This housekeeper Huo is not an ordinary person, it is said that he is good at fighting and also good at literature, even though he has no official position, everyone in the palace respects him very much. I see that although Young Master Huo's temper is a bit bad, his treatment of you is not bad at all……”
“Hong Gu, eat!”
With chopsticks, Hong Gu poked a piece of meat, then grumbled to herself, “Don't want to listen to what old people say, regret it later, you are also getting older little by little, do you want to imitate this old maid Hong Gu?”
After finishing dinner, I returned to my room, then sat stunned in a thousand words of silence, it seemed like I was thinking so many thoughts, but couldn't think of anything.
After sitting alone in the pitch black room, I fumbled to light the lamp, found the stove I used to make tea every day, then put it on the fire. From inside the cupboard I took out a bamboo box, when I saw that the box was full of sheets of cloth arranged by date, I suddenly laughed.
'Happiness is a flower that blooms from an empty heart, enchantingly beautiful, making people feel at home by its side because of its fragrance. Human memory can be deceiving, I'm afraid that one day I won't be able to clearly remember today's happiness anymore, so I wrote down all the events that happened after that, someday when I'm old, I will sit on the bed and read these sheets, reading about happiness, and sometimes my own sadness, no matter whether it's difficult or happy, everything is a trace of my own life, but I will try my best to achieve happiness......'
I heard you say, 'The lantern fires, happiness comes', I really want to know, does my arrival bring you happiness? I really hope for it, but now I don't have the confidence to guess what's in your heart, maybe I guess wrong again, and lie to myself with empty happiness. But one day I will show you all this, you have to tell me, last night, did you light a lantern to wait for me?
When I had just thrown the cloth into the fire, suddenly my heart gasped, I quickly pulled it out, then shook it until the sparks disappeared. Luckily, only the corner was burnt, the handkerchief was slightly black, but the contents were still more or less readable.
After burning the parts related to Li Yan's identity, I looked at the remaining cloths in a daze. After a long time I just made a decision. At that time I longed that one day I could read this girl's heartfelt words with him under the light of the lantern, now, even though I can't see the scene of laughing together under the light of the lantern again, because I have written these writings for him, it's better for me gave it to him, and ended this love story.
I took the gold-plated jasper earrings, after looking at them carefully for some time, I wrapped them in a handkerchief and
put it in a bamboo box. The boundless yellow sand, the scene of the first meeting at Yueya Quan, when my hands carried Loulan's clothes, however I never thought that one day I would tear them with my own hands.
I picked up the Xiangfei bamboo flute, after bringing it to my lips and blowing it for a while, I looked around the room, I have cleared all your things to the bone. If only my heart could be swept clean like this room, as easily as throwing things away, maybe the longing for revenge in my heart would be reduced a lot.
I walked back and forth in front of Shi's house for a while, it was already past midnight, I didn't want to disturb Uncle Shi, so I entered by jumping over the wall. Before landing, someone was already attacking me, I quickly said, “Caixia Jin Yu from Luoyu Fang, going to see Jiu Ye”. The person who attacked me turned around and disappeared into the darkness, leaving behind only the faint sound of laughter.
In his eyes I came to come on a date in the middle of the night, but he didn't know that the person had been heartbroken for a long time.
The Bamboo Hut was pitch black, I slowly placed the bamboo box in front of the door. After standing quietly for a while, I blew the bamboo flute.
'Love should be like white snow on the top of a mountain, as pure as the moon amidst the clouds. I heard that your heart was ambivalent, so I came to break off the relationship.
Today's banquet will be the last, tomorrow we will part, with small steps I walk by the water, the water flows east and west.
I got married without crying. Hoping for a man who is faithful, not separated until his hair turns white'.
......
Inside the room the lantern was lit, the door was slowly pushed open, while leaning on a stick, Jiu Ye stood in the doorway. In the dark of night, his face was pale and full of shock.
“……..
'Today's banquet will be the last, tomorrow we will part, with small steps I walk by the water, the water flows east and west.
I got married without crying. Hoping for a man who is faithful, not separated until his hair turns white'.
“……..
No matter that you and I have been drinking wine while chatting and laughing, rejoicing together in song, from now on, you and I part ways to the west and to the east, flowing our separate ways.
After playing three times, the fire of anger that was burning in my heart subsided a little, "You once said that I don't suit the Bai Tou Yin Song, therefore I find it difficult to follow the rhythm of the song, today I understand the meaning of the song, I should be able to play it well very good, but I would rather never be able to play this song well, and forever not understand the meaning."
When I got there, even though I had tried my best to restrain myself, my voice was still a little shaky. I exerted strength into my hands, with a loud sound, the bamboo flute in my grip broke. Before the broken flute fell to the ground, I had flown over the wall, I still stopped for a moment, but behind me there was silence, I shook my head, then without hesitation jumped out.
'Hong Gu:
I'm gone. When I saw this letter you must have been very angry, don't be angry, look, your forehead is so deeply furrowed, there are so many wrinkles, you said women shouldn't get angry easily, quickly get rid of the wrinkles on your forehead.
All the entertainment houses and brothels in Chang'an, and the pawnshops we secretly opened, I gave them to you. There are two things you must always remember: First, you must take good care of the women in entertainment houses and brothels, you must treat them according to the applicable rules, but you must be somewhat lenient with the women in brothels and treat them them well. You bokeh don't know anything, but you have to learn this, the first thing you have to do is watch your mouth. Second, it is best to close the brothels and shops, or at least not expand them. Remaining honest even though you are poor is a recipe for long life. After reading this letter, burn it. I have written another letter about business matters.
I know that my actions are stubborn. Since entering Chang'an, I have always tried my best to be a Chang'an person, always guarding my attitude and words. I suddenly felt tired, and really missed the rough life in Xiyu. I'm gone, maybe one day I'll come back, but more likely I won't. Therefore, Hong Gu, don't worry about me. The last thing I ask of you is to after ten to fifteen days have passed, deliver a scroll to the housekeeper of the Huo House.
Yu er'. 'Xiao Huo:
I've returned to Xiyu. But sorry, not with you. When you read this letter, of course several months have passed. When you return triumphantly to the palace, I may be chasing a flock of sheep with Lang Xiong, but I may also be doing nothing and just watching the sun set in the west. You once asked me, are tendrils entangling each other endlessly like human life? I was thinking, human life might really be like a flower
Jinyin, but not endlessly entangled with each other, they meet and part, meeting and parting are destined, these vines symbolize the ups and downs of human life. This time I chose to go. Maybe after this we will never meet again, I just want you to always be okay.
Yu er'. EPILOGUE
In the dark of night, he wore red clothes, like a blazing fire.
Meng Jiu knew he was in a bad mood, because he usually didn't like wearing bright colors, but when he was in a bad mood, he always insisted on choosing eye-catching colors, as if to tell others with that color that I was fine, I was always fine, hiding my sadness and helplessness in bright colors.
In his eyes there were two small flames burning, the lonely and cold Bamboo Cottage became warm because of it, Meng Jiu really longed for that warmth by his side, but he couldn't do it.
A woman like this, who comes and goes like the wind, bright as fire, her life as brilliant as the violet of dawn, Meng Jiu wants her to forever live brilliantly, and obtain perfect happiness, absolutely not living in the shadows.
Meng Jiu asked him, "Do you want to have a family?", and he answered, "Want, want to have a big family", Meng Jiu also wanted it, but he couldn't give it to her.
A burning hot fire appeared in his eyes, whether because of love or hate, when he broke the bamboo flute, Meng Jiu's heart was shattered into pieces, when he saw Meng Jiu silent a thousand words, the fire in his eyes was extinguished.
Did he hate himself so much that he didn't want to say anything?
However, if he had known, once he opened his mouth, he would have selfishly kept her by his side, without caring about the consequences, kept her by his side.
The red figure slowly disappeared over the wall, with all his might he restrained himself from opening his mouth.
His heart was very sad, a sweet and fishy taste rose in his throat, he looked down and coughed, drops of dark red blood spurted out.
It fell on her white clothes, like a plum blossom on white snow, it fell on the bamboo box beside the door, like a red flower on green bamboo.
He, who was already seriously ill, was now feeling the pain that pierced his heart again, that was who he was
It was already difficult to stand up straight and he threw away his stick and sat down on the threshold.
He lifted the bamboo box, carefully wiped off the fresh bloodstains on it with his sleeve, but completely ignored the bloodstains on his own lips.
Strand after strand of silk fabric, day after day full of love.
He understood everything much better than her, thought and did more, and went further.
He read letter by letter, his heart felt like it was on fire, but his body felt like he was in an ice house. Has he really ever had this kind of happiness?
Dawn had begun to break, a new day was about to begin, but he didn't realize it at all, his heart was still drowning in dark happiness and full of despair.
'My face feels a little hot, I haven't gotten married yet, but I'm already thinking about children. I asked myself, what if I can't have children for the rest of my life? After thinking for a while, I couldn't answer it, but when I saw Yuanyang Teng who only had green left, I thought I understood that life is often a process, not every flower can bloom brilliantly, but as long as it can live, bloom, welcome sunshine, ushering in
twilight, and playing with the wind and rain, their lives are full, I don't think they have any regrets…….'
His body suddenly trembled, he immediately coughed. But the darkness and despair disappeared from his face, and in his eyes appeared a brilliant light that was rarely seen.
His body, which had always been sickly, was suddenly full of energy, he drew his cane and got up, then quickly stepped forward, shouting, "Quickly prepare the carriage."
The red sun had only just half appeared on the eastern horizon, pink violet filled half the sky, brilliantly dazzling the eyes, like her smiling face. Meng Jiu looked at the violet dawn with joy mixed with sorrow. Yu er, Yu er, I really have underestimated you, hurt you deeply, but I will use my whole life to make up for it, from now on I will definitely not make you sad in the slightest.
Before the horse carriage arrived at Luoyu Fang, sounds of commotion could already be heard.
Hong Gu stood at the door of the courtyard while scolding the doormen, “You are all pig heads! Are you all dead? So you can't see anything?"
Tianchao jumped down from the carriage, then opened the carriage curtain.
As soon as he saw Tianchao, Hong Gu immediately covered his mouth, then stepped forward and saluted Tianchao.
Smiling, Tianchao pulled him up, "He is our master, the head of the Shi Corporation, he wants to meet Yu Fangzhu."
This young man who was as white as the moon and as graceful as a jade tree was actually the head of the Shi Company whose name shook Chang'an?
Hong Gu stared at Meng Jiu who was in the carriage in a daze, he was so shocked that he forgot to salute. Huo Qubing, who was blessed by the sky like a blazing sun or a pine tree, at first he felt that Huo Qubing was very worthy of being married to Yu Er, but it never occurred to Hong Gu that in this world there was a figure like Meng Jiu, the moon was pure white compared to the sun was shining brightly, the kumala tree compared to the pine tree, it was really hard to say who was superior.
However, Meng Jiu, who had always been gentle, was a little impatient this time, without waiting for Tianchao to alert Hong Gu, he immediately asked, "I want to go in to see Yu er first."
Tears welled up in Hong Gu's eyes, he regretfully said, "I also wanted to see him, wanted to find and scold him, and vent my anger on him, he had left Chang'an last night, and said that he would not come back again."