Mountains and rivers fall into red

Chapter 52
one

Liu Rulan brought Cuihong into her yard, and Shen Buyu rushed over from behind, her tone was slow, but she couldn't hide her anxiety: "You went to see Xiuxiu? What did she say?"

"Master, you don't have to worry about it. She said that she is not from the Shen family and has nothing to do with the Shen family."

Facing Liu Rulan's lukewarm response, Shen Buyu shook his head helplessly, and said in a deep voice, "Rulan, don't be angry with me anymore! I'm also thinking about Xiuxiu's future now, she won't marry that Chu Tianji Happy. She doesn't necessarily want to marry some prince or grandson, but Chu Tianji is Ji Mingyou's man, and the Mu family is dying, and sooner or later there will be no good fruit to eat. I'm afraid that misfortune will befall Xiuxiu!"

Facing Shen Buyu's half-sincere and half-compromising words, Liu Rulan snorted lightly, her eyes turned red, and said, "Can Xiuxiu believe what the master said? Now she only believes in herself. No wonder, since stepping into the In the Shen family, she was at the mercy of the master, and she ended up in a state of desperation. The father who raised her died... What could be more unfortunate than these?"

"She doesn't believe me, but at least she believes in you. You should persuade her not to let her do impulsive things."

"If Xiuxiu believes in the concubine, who should the concubine trust? In Xiuxiu's eyes, the words of the concubine are the words of the master, can she believe it? It's good if she doesn't drive me, the second lady of the Shen family, out! What the concubine said, she just said: no one can interfere with her and Chu Tianji's affairs. In the end, she even said that they used to live their lives well, and it would be great if we didn't show up..."

Having said that, Liu Rulan choked up her throat, wiped away her tears, turned and left.

Looking at Liu Rulan's back, chewing on the words she left, Shen Buyu couldn't help but feel his heart suffocate, and his expression became even darker.After thinking about it, he greeted Uncle Fu: "Go and call Chu Tianji."

Uncle Fu leaned over and said, "Master, teach this kid a lesson, and he won't dare to marry Miss."

"Stop adding to the chaos!" Shen Buyu shook his sleeves, dissatisfied, "Miss ran away from home, it would be embarrassing to say it! Now we need to stabilize people's hearts, one step at a time. If Miss is really in a hurry to draw a line with the Shen family, she will be punished." Mrs. Mu caught a trace of chaos and sued me for indiscriminately killing innocent people, how will I run the officialdom in the future!"

"Master, villains don't dare." Uncle Fu turned pale with fright.

"Oh, the family is dead. This matter is really tricky!" Shen Buyu sighed again.

Tianji got off his horse, handed the reins to the gatekeeper, and inadvertently glanced at Han Yuan's appearance.

The gables had been painted and the peeling spots were gone.The gate has also been newly painted. It looks black from a distance and smells the fragrance of lacquer up close. In addition, the branches and vines in the garden have quietly poked their heads out. Outsiders can feel the simplicity and elegance of this garden at a glance.He smiled with satisfaction, and walked briskly towards the main hall.

Mother Ni Xiu'e is instructing the servants to move the tables and chairs.She ordered a pair of walnut wood chairs carved with magpies to be moved to both ends of the hall, but she seemed to feel that something was wrong, so she moved them out and replaced them with a pair of beech wood chairs with pagoda patterns.

Looking at his mother's busy figure, Tianji smiled and said, "Mother, what are you doing moving around like this?"

"Son, you don't understand." Ni Xiu'e had a serious face, "Yesterday my mother took you and Xiuxiu's birthday horoscope, and asked a fortune teller to make a divination, saying that both of you are compatible in marriage, and you must be careful not to be haunted by demons. You When I moved in, I didn’t invite the Bodhisattva, but the master said to move the decorations in the house first, and then I will invite the Bodhisattva for you.”

Tianji laughed disapprovingly: "Mother's words are really mysterious."

Ni Xiu'e said admonishingly: "If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense. Mother is not only for you, after Xiuxiu enters the door, she will be the owner of this place. You have to think about her if you don't want to."

Skyrim hastened to promise.At this time, the young man ran in to report: "Master, someone came to the prime minister's mansion, saying that the prime minister wants you to go."

The mother and daughter looked at each other, Tianji's face was serious.Ni Xiu'e sighed and said, "Since Mr. Shen has agreed to this marriage, you don't have to be nervous. We are from a small family, and Xiuxiu will be wronged by marrying you. Mr. Shen must be feeling very uncomfortable. You must be respectful in front of him." Be humble and don't talk back."

"Naturally, a lesson is unavoidable." Tianji muttered.

"It's also right for the father-in-law to teach the son-in-law!"

Tianji was obedient, and was about to go out, when Ni Xiu'e called him again: "If Xiangye mentions when to let it go, and when to celebrate, you will have the final say."

Hearing that it was so cumbersome, Tianji became troubled again.Ni Xiu'e said solemnly: "This is etiquette. Although we are a poor family, we must pay attention to this etiquette, so as not to be looked down upon by others."

A few words speak to Tianji's heart.Although he and Xiuxiu were in love with each other, he always felt unable to lift his head up in the Shen residence.The punch that Shen Buyu gave him was still in his heart.It's good to have a mother here, at least it can soothe his heart.So he asked: "Mother, you won't go back when Xiuxiu gets married, right?"

"Stupid boy, Xiuxiu is Miss Qianjin, and it's too late for my mother to serve her. It's just a young couple who are newlyweds, so don't think I'm such a bad old woman to disturb the fun." Ni Xiu'e joked.

The back view of Tianji's departure in the sun was tall and handsome, and the smile lines in the corners of Ni Xiu'e's eyes unknowingly stretched.

The son has achieved fame, is young, and has a bright future in the future. It is not a loss for Shen Buyu to find him as his son-in-law. He must have thought of this.

She was afraid before, but what is she afraid of now?

The Xiangfu in autumn is solemn and solemn.Shen Buyu met Tianji in the study.

His sharp eyes were fixed on the sky standing in front of him.For some reason, he just didn't like him. Even though the person in front of him stood with his head bowed, he always felt that there was a rebellion, a kind of resistance in him.

Xiuxiu wanted to marry him.He had no choice but to give in in front of others for the first time.

He is very clear about Xiao Kui's position in Xiuxiu's heart.Xiuxiu was eager to marry Chu Tianji because of the Shen family and because of Xiao Kui.

Today is not what it used to be, and he has no choice but to obstruct it, let alone intervene arbitrarily.

However, he still had a faint hope in his heart that after hearing what he said, the young man in front of him could change his mind and give up the idea of ​​marrying Xiuxiu.

Of course, he can't be too explicit, otherwise it will backfire.The chess pieces in front of him can only be moved cautiously, and he does not know what will happen in the future, so every step counts.

"Sit down." He said heavily.

When Tianji sat down, lowered his eyebrows and lowered his eyes to listen to the teachings, Shen Buyu suddenly smiled and said with emotion: "Last year, you were still a scholar, but now you have achieved great fame. You are a formidable future generation!"

Tianji got up quickly, cupped his hands and said: "The late students are ignorant and inexperienced, and don't take care of things well. Please forgive me."

Standing in front of Tianji, Shen Buyu patted him on the shoulder: "In the past, I was old and dim-sighted, so you don't have to worry about it too much. After you marry Xiuxiu, we don't have to be too formal when we talk to each other, right? ?”

"Yes."

Shen Buyu sighed and said, "You must have known that before, I felt sorry for their mother and daughter and left them in Mengmao County. Afterwards, I still couldn't bear it, so I brought her here and wanted to find a good one for her. Destination, there is the matter of choosing a concubine."

Skyrim was silent. He was desperate then, and he has been brooding about it ever since.

"To tell you the truth, because the Third Highness and this official have always had a grudge, Xiuxiu's true identity is naturally afraid to be disclosed. Although the Third Highness likes Xiuxiu, I didn't expect that Xiuxiu's identity would be exposed too early. The Third Highness is young and vigorous. , chose someone else." Shen Buyu continued.

Skyrim's face darkened visibly.

That day he saw her enter the palace gate with his own eyes, and he turned his head and smiled at Yan Xi. She really hoped that she would be chosen, didn't she?

Shen Buyu's eyes stopped on Tianji's cloudy and uncertain face, and he continued: "For some reason, the Third Highness regretted it again. A few days ago, he made an appointment with Xiuxiu to meet in the suburbs. You think, he already has a prince and concubine. Don't you want to be a partial concubine?"

Tianji's lips turned pale, and his voice tightened: "So, they met again?"

"No. It happened to be your blind date that day, and Xiuxiu ran to see you. If it had been a day earlier, maybe things would not have been like this, what do you think?"

Tianji's eyes were fixed on his feet, and he didn't move.

Shen Buyu seemed to see Tianji's heart, and continued to say: "Xiuxiu is a person who values ​​love and righteousness. You two were childhood sweethearts, and she naturally couldn't let you go. I got lumps before marriage. That Xiao Kui is self-willed and conceited, maybe he will come here again, but I hope you don't misunderstand Xiuxiu."

Tianji was in a cold war, and suddenly snorted: "No matter what, Xiuxiu chose me in the end, right?"

Not to be outdone, he raised his head and faced Shen Buyu with a disdainful posture.

Such a counterattack caught Shen Buyu a little off guard, and he was speechless for a while.Knowing that his words had an effect, he was still somewhat resentful, so he put on a relaxed appearance and smiled faintly.

In the palace at this time, autumn is late, the westerly wind blows, and the vegetation is scattered.The palaces and pavilions with golden glazed tiles are shrouded in the misty autumn mist, and they look even more desolate.

Qiuyue tucked in the brocade quilt and feather quilt, lifted the tasseled outer curtain of the pearl screen brocade tent, and walked straight into the inner hall.

It's time to change the quilt again.

Skillfully lifting the heavily embroidered curtain, she spread out the fragrant silkworm brocade in her arms, sliding her palms slowly, feeling the fluffy softness of the satin.Then she lifted the fur pillow embroidered with Panlong Suxiu on the bed, looked sideways, and her movements froze for a moment.

A piece of white gardenia stamen jade appeared in front of my eyes.

She held it in her hands as usual, rubbing her fingers lightly, feeling warm and smooth, then put it back in place and pressed it with a new fur pillow.After adding water to Jianlan on the flower stand, she brushed off the invisible dust on the white jade incense burner, and lit sandalwood smoke.Immediately, the fragrance in the inner hall lingered, refreshing the heart and lungs.

There was a court lady calling her outside, she answered, looked around, saw no flaws, and then walked through the screen carved of huanghuali wood, and walked outside the hall.

The maid in the third concubine's bedroom was looking for her, and when she saw her come out, she hurriedly said: "Sister Qiuyue, the eldest prince is here, and the third concubine sent you to serve her."

Qiuyue frowned and snorted coldly: "Your master is too flattering on me, he always thinks of me in everything."

The maid didn't mind, and seeing no one around, she whispered: "Sister, don't be angry, the Third Highness is closest to you, of course she is unhappy. These days, the Third Highness has become tempered again for some reason. There is a match and there is no match, are you going to send troops to fight and pretend to be worried?"

"Are you summoning me to serve, or are you trying to inquire about something?" Qiuyue asked.

The maid had no choice but to keep her mouth shut.

Qiuyue sneered, without answering, handed the replaced quilt to the maid, and then walked slowly towards the pool.

Under the Baihua Pavilion by the pool, Xiao Kui leaned lazily on the pear blossom wooden couch.Next to him is the eldest prince Xiao Shao who is also leisurely.Sitting a few feet to the side, Zheng Yizhen, the third concubine, was smiling and looking at Xiao Kui.

Qiuyue served tea, Xiao Shao took it, took a sip, and said with a smile: "Miss Qiuyue makes better tea than others."

Yizhen burst into laughter, even the maids in the pavilion laughed.

Xiao Kui said lazily: "Brother's virtue is good, no wonder there are so many women clinging to you."

Xiao Shao saw that he was in low spirits, so he joked: "I can't talk as well as you. When you blink your eyes, don't those women just follow up?"

Yizhen on the opposite side said with a smile: "Look at what the First Prince said about the Third Highness, no matter what happens to those women, the Third Highness can control the severity."

Xiao Kui's brows froze for a moment, and he narrowed his eyes to rest his mind.Yizhen closed her mouth, a little melancholy, and silently picked up the teacup.

Xiao Shao had a solid eye, seeing that the atmosphere was a bit cold, he found a joke to tease Yizhen: "Sister and sister, you have been married for more than half a year, why haven't you seen any movement?"

Yizhen immediately blushed, glanced at Xiao Kui, and said with a smile: "My family is still young."

"How can I do that? You have to take the initiative. The third younger brother is going to go to war now. I don't know how long this battle will last. If you drag it on, I'm afraid Miss Xiuxiu will catch up with you."

Yizhen glanced at Xiao Kui intentionally, seeing that he was silent and still squinting his eyes without expression, he said with a smile: "Talking and talking, why did you talk about Xiangfu's house?"

"You don't know?" Xiao Shao sighed suddenly, "It doesn't matter if I don't say anything, I have done a good deed."

Xiao Kui sneered inadvertently, and said: "Brother, could it be that the beauty of an adult is not enough?"

"That's right."

Xiao Shao said proudly: "Chu Tianji of Mengmao County is Mr. Ji's favorite student. He likes Mr. Shen's daughter. Mr. Ji has other plans in his mind, and Mr. Shen is also behind it. Such a match made in heaven is better than the sun and the moon. Like a pair of jade, five stars like pearls, as the great prince of the Liang Dynasty, of course I want the beauty of an adult."

Xiao Kui narrowed his eyelids and twitched, and asked Xiao Shao, "What did you just say?"

Xiao Shao always thought that Xiao Kui became depressed because of the upcoming expedition, and thought that he had regained his spirits, and added: "Miss Xiuxiu is getting married soon, I met the groom's official a few days ago, and I asked him for a wedding drink!"

Yizhen on the side changed her face early, the teacup in her hand shook, and the tea scalded her hands, she couldn't help but let out an "ouch".

It seemed that he woke up at this time, Xiao Kui stood up abruptly, fixed his eyes on Xiao Shao, as if he was going to devour him in one bite.Xiao Shao panicked, and said: "Hey, don't look at me like that, if you don't believe me, you can ask yourself."

"If you talk nonsense, I'll come back and settle accounts with you!"

After sternly uttering a word, Xiao Kui flew towards the palace gate like a whirlwind.

Xiao Shao gradually regained his composure, and slapped his head: "Yes, yes, the two of them used to have a relationship. But, hasn't he already given up on her? He obviously chose—"

Looking back at Zheng Yizhen, she saw that her face was pale, she kept biting her lower lip, and the handkerchief in her hand seemed to wring out water.He was about to explain, but seeing Zheng Yizhen's crimson green sleeves waved, the tea bottles and fruit bowls on the table were swept to the ground, and he left angrily.

Xiao Shao was dumbfounded alone, and kept regretting: "I came here today by mistake! I said the wrong thing!"

Hugh likes to open the windows during the day.But when the weather turns cold, the wind from the bamboo courtyard will surely pass through the bamboo forest.But today's wind is extremely loud, and there is a rustling sound in my ears.The chirping noises of the birds were caught in the wind, and their tiny claws danced on the bamboo tips for a long time, rubbing the whole body dark brown.

The sun was half setting in the west, the wind seemed to die down, and the flocks flew away, leaving behind a strange tranquility.However, Xiuxiu became restless and lost his mind when doing anything.

She was a light sleeper at first, but after moving into the bamboo courtyard, she couldn't fall asleep even more.No one will come in the bamboo courtyard, and she plans to catch up on sleep when it gets dark.Mrs. Shen Liu Rulan is preparing her dowry.According to the custom, the two parties could not meet until Skyrim married her.She was the only one in the bamboo courtyard, and it seemed very quiet, really quiet.

In fact, nothing will happen again, and everything is carried out according to her wishes, but there is always something in her heart that she can't let go of.That feeling was very uncomfortable, and she wanted to move it away, but she didn't know what it was.

Confused, she closed the window casually.There was silence all around, and seeing the darkness gradually covering up the remaining light of the setting sun, layers of panic surged in her heart.

After being silent for a long time, she took a deep breath and asked herself: "What's wrong with me..." After a long while, she said, "Don't think about anything. When Brother Tianji marries me, it won't be like this."

It was windy outside again, and the wind was blowing from outside the wall.The sound of horseshoes was rushing in my ears, which quickly covered the sound of the wind.Xiuxiu was stunned, and when the sound of horseshoes stopped outside the courtyard gate, she suddenly became alert and walked into the courtyard.

The courtyard door opened, and someone stood in front of her.She opened her eyes wide, raised her head in disbelief, and saw Xiao Kui's brows furrowed like a sword, without any childish mischievous expression, but unexpectedly stern.

The color of the setting sun scorched half of the sky, and scattered countless halos, making Xiuxiu feel like he was in a dream for a while.She stood stiffly, thinking: Dream, the dream is absurd, this person has entered the absurd dream again.

The yard is full of crazy flowers, just like Xiao Kui's mood.When he saw her, with those quiet and bright eyes with a hint of surprise, his agitated heart suddenly calmed down.

"I just found out today that you moved out of Shen's residence. What's the matter, your father and daughter broke up?"

When Xiao Kui spoke, he raised his eyebrows with a little bit of anger, a little bit of grievance, and a little bit of sarcasm, even he couldn't figure out why he was like this.

There was a sudden tremor in the air, Xiuxiu calmed down, and smiled indifferently: "It's nothing... I'm happy to do this."

Xiao Kui asked, "Is it because Shen Buyu forced you to marry?"

Xiuxiu's heart skipped a beat, and he replied casually, "No."

"Why did you break the appointment that day?" He still asked persistently.

"I don't want to see anyone."

This was originally an inappropriate word, but Xiuxiu was perfunctory to Xiao Kui because he was flustered.At the end, she almost didn't dare to look him in the eyes, and turned her head slightly, showing an unexpected frailty.

Xiao Kui smiled innocently like a child.He reached out and grabbed Xiuxiu's wrist, took her to one side, looked at her face, and still only smiled.

Big Brother must be lying to him.His reckless intrusion almost frightened her.

Xiuxiu clenched her fists and tried to restrain herself.He stood right in front of her, with sparkling eyes, and his warm breath mixed with the sound of rapid breathing, brushed against her cheek.She concealed her confusion and just said lightly: "What are you doing here?"

"It's ridiculous to think about it. Brother said you were going to get married, so I ran over here. This guy is a liar, go back and deal with him." Xiao Kui felt a little embarrassed, held the corners of his mouth, and smiled, "Anyway, you I am very happy to leave Shen Buyu."

Her eyes quickly passed in front of him, a blushing flush reflected on her cheeks, and clear waves of light flowed in her eyes, then she lowered her head.

A contented smile floated on his lips immediately.He is so confident, how could she marry so easily?

"What does it matter to you if I leave him?"

"Of course it does." He said seriously.

She was powerless to perfunctory, her eyes had been raised, her eyes were cool and calm, she looked straight at him without evasion or avoidance: "I left Shen Buyu just because I want to get married, that's all."

Xiao Kui froze for a moment, shook his head, his thoughts were a little disordered, his hands involuntarily grasped her shoulder blades: "Is someone forcing you? Tell me, I will find a way to deal with him."

"Third Highness!"

Regardless of the numbness and pain in her shoulder blades, Xiuxiu looked solemn, and shouted in a low voice: "No one forced me, I did it willingly."

"Why?" Xiao Kui frowned.He asked why again.

"No reason, I want to get married, Brother Tianji treats me very well." Xiuxiu gritted her teeth.

"Brother Tianji? Who is he? Why don't I know?" Xiao Kui raised his eyebrows and blurted out, "How dare he touch you? I'm the prince, and I won't let anyone touch you!"

Hearing this, Xiuxiu got angry and raised his voice: "I beg you, don't bother me, okay?"

(End of this chapter)