A Thousand Hills

Chapter 53

One day, I hope that people in the world can understand that they misunderstood me, misunderstood me, and underestimated me.

Xie Bo sent Xie Moru back to Dujuan Courtyard, and he suffered from insomnia for half a night. He was thinking, why did I study so hard for so many years?Zhong Tanhua, Princess Shang, went out of Hanlin, and entered Honghe, why did she come here?
Just for wealth?

If it is for the sake of wealth and honor, not only my wealth and honor, but also the wealth and honor of my children and grandchildren after the Lord is honored.

So, what about my life, and why?Do you live a mediocre life in Honglu Temple?Did I ever think about it in high spirits, one day, I hope that people in the world will see me, and I hope that pen and ink will remember me.

Xie Bo woke up the next morning with dark circles under his eyes, obviously he didn't sleep well last night.Qiu Ju brought Huang Mei and Purple Rose to serve her, and said, "I heard the second master turned over for half a night, I asked my mother-in-law to boil eggs, and I will apply it to the second master later."

Xie Bo was always gentle, and smiled, "What are you going to do, I'm busy during the Chinese New Year, hurry up and have dinner, it's time to go to court after eating."

Zi Gui spoke quickly, and said, "It won't take a long time. While passing the meal, the second master closed his eyes, and it will be fine in a while. Otherwise, go to the court with dark circles, and the emperor will see you." Not good either."

The maid waited on Xie Bo to tidy up his appearance, and after breakfast, Xie Bo went to the Songbai Courtyard. Xie Shangshu saw that his son was slightly tired, and he knew what he was doing. The second son was always ambitious and young. Xie Moru's heart fluttered last night, so he was haggard.Xie Shangshu didn't say much, some things, no matter how you say them, are empty words, and you can't comprehend them without your own body.It is his blessing that the second son can realize it, but if he doesn't, he can live a peaceful life by relying on the second son's rationality and self-control.When the eldest son came, the time was just right, and the father and son went to court together.

Xie Moru didn't know that her words caused the second uncle to suffer from insomnia and haggard. Of course, even if she knew, she wouldn't feel anything.The second uncle suffers from insomnia, it can only be said that his mood is unstable.

The New Year is busy, Xie Moru and Xie Moyou come over after breakfast in the morning to take care of housework with Mrs. Xie.Not only is it the New Year's goods, the annual rent, the theater, the wine and the New Year's ceremony, but also, Shangshu's Mansion is the home of the patriarch, and sacrifices in the clan are also a major event.In previous years, it was Aunt Ning who helped, but now that the two sisters have changed, Mrs. Xie doesn't feel any difference, she even feels a little more relaxed than in previous years.Mrs. Xie said inwardly, she should have asked the children to practice a little earlier.

It's not just Mrs. Xie who is busy, the three fathers and sons of the Xie family are even more busy. They are busy with errands in the yamen, and they have to find time to go to the New Year's ceremony, and those in the family who are struggling have to send some New Year's goods to help.There is also ethnology. After a year, if the children are doing well in school, you have to ask the teacher of ethnology.The three fathers and sons will never forget to bring the three brothers Xie Zhi with them when they are doing things like human relations, communication, and clan affairs.Children's vision has to be cultivated from an early age, even if they are still ignorant now, after a lot of experience, they will understand as they grow older.

This year, there are more gifts from Princess Yi'an's mansion to leave.

Ever since Princess Wenkang swept the face of Duke Cheng'en's mansion, Xie Bo said to Princess Yi'an when Princess Yi'an mentioned it to him, "Princess Princess is a model for all princesses. reason."

The warm fragrance in the white jade incense burner was faint, and Princess Yi'an leaned against the beauty, and said, "It's really just what the empress dowager said casually. I was serving the sick in the Palace of Mercy at the time. Seeing it with my own eyes, the empress dowager probably didn't think much about it, so she said that her leg was hurt. Let Mrs. Shou'an preside over the wedding ceremony of Yongfu Changtai on her behalf. Mrs. Shou'an also went to the palace to resign as the princess and the guest of honor of the ceremony. Alas, who would have thought that Sister Wenkang would suddenly turn against her?"

Xie Bo peeled an orange, handed Princess Yi'an a petal, and said, "Then Your Highness said, why did the eldest princess turn her face?"

Princess Yi'an accepted it with a smile, and sighed, "I grew up with the Queen Mother, and Aunt Ningrong has always cared for us, even for Sister Wenkang, she is very kind. I know that Aunt Ningrong is not a bloodline of the ancestors after all, so I don't have enough confidence. But I always feel that Aunt Ningrong is an elder, and Sister Wenkang should give Aunt Ningrong some face."

Xie Bai smiled and said, "We are close couples, if we have something to say, I'll say it straight."

"Just say it straight, if you and I can't speak it straight, who in this world can speak it straight." Princess Yi'an enjoyed the intimacy between husband and wife, Xie Bowen said, "Whether you want to save face or not, this is a small matter. Your Highness , why is the princess so upset? You really don't understand?"

Princess Yi'an was a little embarrassed. Of course she knew that Princess Wenkang was the head of all the princesses in the royal family. If Mrs. Shou'an really presided over the wedding ceremony of Princess Yongfu and Princess Changtai this time, let's not talk about Princess Yongfu and Princess Changtai. Whether the face and etiquette are appropriate, if Mrs. Shou'an is the guest of honor, the status of Princess Wenkang will be doubted.Princess Wenkang was annoyed by this.

Princess Yi'an is like a bright mirror in her heart, but she has always been close to Duke Cheng'en's mansion, so she can't help but speak for Princess Ningrong and the family of Duke Cheng'en's mansion.Xie Bo persuaded her, "If the eldest princess is unreasonable, I will not persuade you. This time the eldest princess turned her face, but it was justified. You just said that the eldest princess Ning Rong lacked confidence, why did she Lack of confidence, because she is not of the blood of the ancestors, Taizu established the country, she was named the eldest princess because the mother of the Taizu, the Empress Dowager Cheng, had high merits in the country. Therefore, Ning Rong Jingjiang was granted the title. Now that she has ascended the throne, the Empress Dowager Cheng has become the queen mother. Empress Dowager, that's why Ning Rong was named the eldest princess. Your Highness, when the news came out in the palace that I was appointed as the lord, I knew it was Your Highness, and I was very happy. Your Highness and His Majesty have the same roots, and your Highness has nothing to do with the princes. How nice it is to live in peace.”

Xie Bo almost said clearly, stay away from Cheng'en Gong's mansion.Princess Yi'an felt a little uncomfortable, and said, "My parents died early, so it's nothing. But logically, the third prince is the son-in-law's nephew."

Hearing this, Xie Bo knew that Princess Yi'an was not happy, so he couldn't help laughing, "The third prince's surname is Mu, and a noble concubine is a member of the royal family when she enters the palace. How about the noble concubine and the prince, since they have their husbands and their fathers to arrange them, why bother the Xie family? No matter how close the family is, can they be as close as the husband and wife? His Highness, let’s go to the end." In fact, the husband's family has little influence.However, the identity of the princess is too prominent, Xie Bai had to remind the princess's wife, and fearing that she would be displeased, Xie Bai took Princess Yi'an's hand and said, "In life, our parents will go first before us. Even if there are groups of children, when they grow up, they will have their own small family and their own children, in this world, only couples can expect to grow old."

Princess Yi'an was deeply touched, she held Xie Bai's hand back, nodded, "I know what the son-in-law wants." She held her son's hand and grew old together.

Even when talking about Concubine Xie Guifei and the third prince, it was "No matter how close the family is, can they still be as close as husband and wife and father and son?" It seems that the Xie family has absolutely no intention of betting on any prince in the near future.Since she is married to the Xie family, she also has to worry about the position of the Xie family.

After the two talked for a while, Princess Yi'an discussed with Xie Bai about the New Year banquet.It was the first year she opened the mansion, not only to have annual gifts for the queen dowager in the palace, but also to walk around with the eldest princess mansion, Ningrong eldest princess mansion, Cheng Engong mansion, and Xie mansion. Although there are female officials to assist the directors, Princess Yi'an had to know herself, and Xie Bai had to know, after all, apart from female relatives, there were also contacts between men.

Xie's family is also a family of officials and officials. During the New Year, there are always banquets and exchanges of favors. Xie Bai is familiar with it. He discussed with Princess Yi'an and rested at the Princess' mansion that night.

Xie Bo took a break from his busy schedule, asked Xie Moru to go out, and specially told Xie Moru to change into a boy's attire.Xie Moru said, "Where do I have boys' clothes?"

Xie Bai had no choice but to send his servant Mo Zhu to a tailor shop to buy a ready-made set for Xie Moru, and said with a smile, "Mo Zhu will deliver it later, and change it tomorrow. I'll take you to a good place."

"Where do you have to dress up?"

"You'll know when you go."

Seeing that the second uncle was still playing tricks, Xie Moru had always been calm, so he stopped asking.

After Mrs. Xie knew about it, she didn't say that she would not let Xie Moru go. Now she doesn't take Xie Moru's face lightly, but said to her second son, "I can't leave here. You just snatched people away and even dressed up strangely. Where are you going?" ?” You have to say it.

Xie Moyou also said, "Yeah, what is so mysterious, and you only take Big Sister and not me?"

Xie Bai laughed, "Foreign library. Are you going?"

Xie Moyou still doesn't know where the foreign library is, but Mrs. Xie said, "Go early and return early, there are many things in the end of the year, don't hang around outside."

Xie Bai, Xie Moru, and nephew both agreed, and left Mrs. Xie to go out.Xie Moyou asked this side, "Grandma, where is the foreign library?"

Mrs. Xie said, "The library of the Imperial Academy."

Xie Moyou immediately lost interest, and said, "Big sister only likes to go to places like this that old masters like."

Mrs. Xie smiled and asked her, "Didn't talented Su write a Newshua book?"

Xie Moyou sighed, feeling very regretful, "I won't write, Su Caizi said that he wants to seal the pen."

Mrs. Xie laughed.

Xie Moru had heard the name of the Outer Library early on. He heard that after Taizu established the country, he first built the Inner Library and the Outer Library. The Inner Library is where the royal library collects books, and the Outer Library is where the imperial court collects books. The Inner Library is set up in the palace for the exclusive use of the royal family. The foreign library is located in Hanlin, and those who can borrow books from the foreign library on weekdays must have official status.Although she had heard the name of the foreign library, she had never mentioned it to her second uncle. Why did the second uncle suddenly take her to the foreign library?

Ah yes.The first time I went out with my second uncle, my second uncle once asked her what she likes, and she said that she likes books, and said that it is so lonely in this world without books.It seems that the second uncle has taken it to heart.

No, or the second uncle remembered.

It turns out that this is the feeling of being valued.Someone will figure out your preferences, care about your emotions, surprise you and make you happy.

What a strange feeling.

Joyful and sour, unwilling and angry.Even Xie Moru himself felt strange, it was a happy event, how could it feel bitter?Am I too tired?No, those trivial things in the house are just tedious, and I can see the thoughts of those servants at a glance, and I have made the best use of the situation to gain status.What I said was taken seriously. The foreign library I never thought I would go to had already been arranged by my second uncle. I got more and faster than I expected.This shows that I am on the right path, of course I should be happy, but if you win, you will be happy, it can only mean that you do not understand the taste of victory.

When getting off the car, Xie Moru had returned to his usual indifference.

There is nothing to be bitter about, some things, some people are born with, and I can get them by scheming.

The Imperial Academy is a formal government office of the imperial court. Of course not everyone can enter, but for Xie Bai, the Imperial Academy is a familiar place.He went straight to Hanlin as an official after being selected as Tanhuaer, and later transferred to Honglu Temple. Compared with Hanlin Academy, the yamen of Honglu Temple is a bit cold, but Xie Bai's status is not cold. He just became the master this year, and he is a serious son-in-law.The guards guarding the gate of the Imperial Academy still remembered him, and when they saw him coming, they quickly saluted. Xie Moru followed Xie Bai, and the guards just asked, "Master Xie, who is this?"

"My nephew, I just wanted to come to the foreign library to find some books to read, so I brought him along."

Although the guards were puzzled why Mr. Xie's ears were piercing, they didn't ask any more questions and let him go quickly.

Xie Bai is quite sociable, and he was an official in the Imperial Academy. He was delayed by a few colleagues before he took Xie Moru to the foreign library.Xie Bo introduced to her, "Classics and history collections are placed in a different room. You go, I also have some books to look for, let's meet here later."

Xie Moru smiled, "Okay." Lifting his feet, he went to the room where Zishu was kept, and Xie Bo also went there, and couldn't help smiling, "Same way, same way."

Xie Bai's frequent visitors to foreign libraries had already thought about what books to look for, so they acted quickly.But Xie Moru, Xie Bo thought that Xie Moru was a book lover, and it was his first time here, so he might be delayed for a long time, but Xie Moru quickly picked out three books, Xie Bo smiled, "Have you chosen?"

"All right."

Xie Bo recorded several books together with the clerk in charge of the foreign library, Xie Bo signed his name on the borrower's place, and took Xie Moru out, Xie Moru said, "I heard that every time the foreign library People are only allowed to borrow four books at a time." She picked three books, and the second uncle picked two books.

Xie Bai smiled, "It's okay, besides me, there are also your father's and your grandfather's places." Asked Xie Moru, "Do you regret borrowing less?"

"There's nothing to regret about it. It's useless to take too much. You have to see it to be useful." Besides, since Second Uncle brought her here, he wouldn't just bring her here once.She also exchanged with her second uncle to see what books they borrowed from each other. Xie Bai picked out two books introducing Ximan. "

Xie Bai saw that Xie Moru had two travel notes and one health science. Travel notes are not uncommon. Xie Moru has always loved to read these books, but the book on health preservation was beyond Xie Bai’s expectations. "

Xie Moru said, "Yes, you treat others well, but others may not treat you well. Only yourself, cherish your body, treat your body well, and you will be rewarded."

"Anyone who works for the country and the people should not spare himself too much."

Uncle and nephew of the Xie family were talking, when suddenly someone interrupted, the two uncles and nephews hurriedly turned around, and saw two senior officials, one of them was dressed in purple, with handsome eyebrows and a leisurely demeanor, looking around forty, looking at the uncle and nephew of the Xie family with a smile .The other person is a red robe. He looks older in age. He looks like he is five or sixty years old. Although he looks old, he does not look old. He is elegant and dignified, with sharp eyes. When he saw Xie Moru, he felt a little bit wrong, and said with a smile, "I thought the son-in-law brought Azhi over." It was a strange face.

Xie Bai cupped his hands in salute, and smiled, "My lord, Ning lord."

The two returned the salute, and the head of the courtyard smiled, "Ning Jijiu and I just came back from the imperial court. He said he wanted to find books, so we came here together. I just heard that the son-in-law brought his nephew." As he spoke, he looked at Xie Moru, Minister He has seen all three young masters of the mansion, but this one is quite handsome, and this son has long eyebrows and phoenix eyes, a high nose and thin lips, his appearance is not like Xie Bai, so he thought it was a member of the Xie clan.

Xie Bo didn't want to tell the two adults that he was a nephew at home, so he said vaguely, "This is nothing."

Xie Moru's eyes flicked across the faces of the two, and Master Ning's face flashed a touch of clarity and complexity. Mo Ru is young, it is the age of male and female indisputable; second, it is not uncommon for boys to have their ears pierced, and the most famous one is that Su Buyu, the third son of Su Xiang's family, also had his ears pierced when he was young to make a living.Because of Su Buyu's beauty, she was mistaken for a woman disguised as a man when she entered the Imperial College, which caused a lot of jokes.Now that Su Buyu is quite famous, he actually reproduced the flirtatious side hat, many teenagers imitated him and pierced their ears.Of course, the main reason is that Xie Moru's eyes are calm, calm and calm, without the slightest timidity of female family members, everyone's grandeur is clearly in front of him.

The master in charge couldn't help but think, this son has an extraordinary bearing, he must be an outstanding son of the Xie family, otherwise why would Xie Bo personally lead him to the foreign library.

Xie Moru bowed in salute.

Seeing that Xie Moru was still young, the headmaster laughed, "Young Master Xie, you don't need to be too polite. You are only a few years old, and you have started to take care of yourself." Obviously, they have a good relationship with Xie Bai and are very familiar with each other.

Xie Moru smiled, "It is right to say that keeping in good health is to cherish the body, but it is narrow-minded to say that cherishing the body is to keep in good health. People think that taking good care of themselves from head to toe, and longevity is to cherish the body. This is a small way. Let me say , so that you can understand the truth, be not ashamed inside, live up to the vulgar outside, and look in the mirror every day without feeling disgusting. This is to cherish your body and treat your body well. The so-called "cherishing your body is the way."

The headmaster also became interested, pointed to the health-preserving book in her hand, and asked with a smile, "Since there is a great way, why does the young master hold a small way?"

Xie Moru said, "I heard that when Jiang Shang met King Wen at eighty, if Jiang Shang had a short lifespan and died at sixty, how could there be any meeting between the monarch and his ministers later. Therefore, there is the small road first, and then the great road."

The headmaster laughed loudly, "You are quite eloquent at such a young age."

After a few words, Xie Bo took Xie Moru to leave.

The head of the courtyard and Mr. Ning said humanely, "This young master Xie is not bad."

Lord Ning laughed, "Brother Xu is said to be good at looking at his face. I think he has smashed his signboard today."

Master Xu was not in a hurry, and smiled leisurely, "What do you mean by that?"

Master Ning lowered his voice, so he had to remind Zhang Yuan, "My brother Xu, you didn't realize that it was a girl just now."

Master Xu made a mistake, Master Ning laughed, "Miss Xie, you haven't heard of it?" Xie Moru is a celebrity in the imperial capital, and the reason why he recognized Xie Moru was because of Xie Moru's name.Ning Xie's family is very good, he knows that Xie Moru's name is taboo.

Master Xu couldn't help laughing after hearing Lord Ning's words, and whispered to Lord Ning, "It's no wonder, it's because of such eloquence that they dare not talk about Wang Mang in Cheng'en Gong's mansion!"

Master Ning shook his head and laughed: Without such eloquence, my wife and daughter could not be wiped out!

When they got home, Xie Bai and Xie Moru said, "See?"

Xie Moru nodded, it turned out that Master Ning described his demeanor in such a way, and it can be regarded as living up to the reputation of Tanhua back then.It seems that several years of exile have refined Lord Ning, but it is a pity for Mrs. Ning.

When this person was young, he had the ruthlessness to burn the boat, put it to death, and then reborn. Now that he is back in court, after seeing him for the first time, if he is just a pawn who used bitter tricks in the past, it would be her short-sightedness.

With this person, she finally understood why the Xie family praised Aunt Ning so much.

(End of this chapter)