spring cloud warm

Chapter 191 Xi Wei
The incense is sold out and the tea is exhausted, leaving only a game of chess.

Black and white pieces each occupy a corner, such as two armies facing each other.

Xu Ze knelt on the terracotta tiles that shone with gold and bluestone, his waist and legs were sore from the old disease.

But he didn't get up in a hurry, still kneeling respectfully, and tried his best to straighten his thin back.

The footsteps outside the door faded away until they disappeared.

A breeze penetrated from the bottom of the curtain and blew on his crab-shell-green skirt.

The skirt of the clothes rustled, as if the heart was beating up and down.

After a while, Xu Zefang slowly raised his head and put his arms on the plum blossom table beside him.

After a few times of exertion, I just stood up.

His legs were numb, and half of his body was leaning against the small table.

The bright sunlight shone through the window lattice and shone on his old and deformed hands.

The hand was mottled with bruises, bruised and veined, ugly and terrifying.

After ten years of exile, his fingernails were frozen off, leaving only ugly and twisted scars on his fingertips.

Like a dead branch on an old tree, it is rugged and twisted, and has suffered from hardships and hardships.

He closed his eyes slightly and let out a long breath.

The stale air that had been accumulated in his chest for so many years was finally able to spit out some.

He never dared to have any extravagant hopes, thinking that this would be the end of his life.

did not expect……

I really didn't expect...

The courtyard was empty, and Xu Ze knew that there was no one else here except himself.

He eased his numb legs, thumped his sore waist, and took another look at the chess game on the table. After making sure that it was not a dream, he slowly walked out the door.

The sun was shining brightly outside, making it hard to keep your eyes open.But he still stubbornly raised his head and looked directly at the sun hanging in the mid-heaven.

The sun was so bright that it enveloped him and everything.

Xu Ze still refused to bow his head until his eyes were stabbed to the point of tears.

Looking forward to Chang'an's peace under the sun, during the years of exile, he did not know how many times he looked up like this.

How many times he had tears in his eyes and swallowed those tears again.

It's just because the sun is too far away to melt the solid ice beyond the Great Wall.

However, today, he truly realized that Chang'an is getting closer.

After a long time, he lowered his head, waiting for the illusory light and shadow in front of him to dissipate, and the scene became clear again.

He scanned around slowly, the yard is not big, but Zhou Zheng is compact.

The flowers, plants and trees are old-fashioned and fresh, revealing a faint luxury.

Looking back on the conversation just now, he could remember every word clearly, even to the end of his life.

Just like what Emperor Xuanqing said to them when he decided to let his father Xu Youguang preside over the reform 20 years ago, he still can't forget it.

He knew that the road ahead had already revealed a slight morning light.

But difficulties and obstacles will always follow.

However, how could the Xu family be afraid of danger?
In the face of the society and the people's livelihood, is the Xu family's honor, disgrace, life and death worth mentioning?
There was no one in the yard, Xu Ze walked down the steps slowly, crossed the path, and walked out the back corner door from where he came from.

"Sir, shall we go home?" asked the servant leading the horse.

"Go home." Xu Ze responded, and got on the horse with the help of his servant.

Back home, Aunt Su greeted her with a smile, and asked gently and concernedly: "Master, you have worked hard, do you want to take a bath first?"

But then he said quite unexpectedly: "Where did the master go today? The clothes smell so good."

Only then did Xu Ze realize the fragrance on his body, and said, "Put this clothes away! If I don't tell you, don't take them out again."

"Don't you need to wash?" Aunt Su asked.

"No need." Xu Ze said, "The clothes were newly put on this morning, not to mention that I am old and don't sweat."

Aunt Su didn't ask much, she went into the house to undress the master, and put the clothes away.

Before putting it into the suitcase, she still couldn't help sniffing it.

This fragrance is so good, she has never smelled it before, not even a similar fragrance.

But she knows how to measure, if the master doesn't want to say, she will never ask more.

Uncle Xu changed into homely clothes and washed his hands and face.

Aunt Su has already brought people to put the food on the table.

"The master came back late today, and the rice prepared earlier was cold. I cooked two dishes for you separately, but they were a bit bland." Aunt Su said while passing the spoon and chopsticks to the elder.

"It's better to be lighter." Uncle Xu nodded.

Aunt Su stopped talking and stood aside.

When the meal was over, Aunt Su made some tea for the Elder Master to rinse his mouth.

He also asked the maid to remove the dishes.

Uncle Xu asked her just now: "What is Mr. Chun busy these days?"

"The fifth girl is naturally going to get married," Aunt Su said with a smile, "Is the master looking for something with her?"

Uncle Xu thought for a while and said, "Go back to the eldest lady, I have something to ask her."

After resting in the afternoon, Uncle Xu came to the eldest wife.

The eldest wife just woke up and was watching her grandson Xu Bai write.

Seeing the old man coming, he said: "Bai'er, go write on the table outside!"

The maid took the pen and ink, and accompanied Xu Bai to the outside room.

Another servant girl made tea early.

"I was thinking that Mr. Chun will leave the cabinet soon, what kind of dowry has our family prepared for her?"

"Why did the master think of asking this?" The eldest lady smiled, "I'll ask someone to bring you the list."

Uncle Xu read the dowry list from the beginning and couldn't help sighing: "It's too shabby."

The eldest wife was also a little sad: "Yeah, the family is in a difficult situation now, and Chunmao Chunqiao and the third younger sister have been dismissed one after another. There are really not many who can get it."

Uncle Xu also knew that the family was struggling, so he said, "Let me discuss this matter with the second, third, and Dao'an!"

When everyone gathered, Uncle Xu said directly: "I brought you here to discuss the dowry of Mr. Chun."

"Brother is busy with work, why did you think of asking about this?" Third Master Xu asked.

"If it's someone else, I won't ask any more questions." Uncle Xu said, "But Mr. Chun is a hero of our family, her dowry is not good, it's too shabby."

Everyone knew in their hearts that without Xu Chunjun's sacrifice, not only would Xu Daoan's life or death be uncertain, but the three grandfathers would not be allowed to return to Beijing.

"I also thought that the dowry was a little less, since the Elder Master also felt the same way, I will add more." Xu Daoan said hastily.

"As far as I'm concerned, it's not necessary," Xu Sanye said, seeing that our family's life is not rich.Chun Jun is a sensible child, he won't care about this. "

"It's her business that she doesn't care about it," Second Master Xu also said. "She married into Zheng's family. How can she do it without money? That pile of mess is waiting for her to take care of, and it costs money everywhere."

"Her third aunt will prepare some for her when the time comes." Third Master Xu said.

"How much the third sister gave has nothing to do with us." Uncle Xu said, "Our Xu family married their daughter, not the Chen family."

"But we as a big family will have to live!" Xu Sanye said, "The days to come will be long! Just help her slowly."

"Let's settle this matter like this!" Uncle Xu said, "Double the original list. If you don't have money, you can find a way. At least Chun Jun will be more respectable."

(End of this chapter)