Chapter 15: Exploring the Secret He almost panicked and slipped down...
After Jiang Tong and her daughter left and closed the door, Jiang Huaishan spoke:
"Back then, the Zhengtong Emperor went on a northern expedition and nearly destroyed the Ming Dynasty. After returning, he murdered his brother and seized the throne. To cover up his mistake, he slaughtered countless loyal ministers and generals in the court. Your father... but your father was a man who would rather perish than betray his family, which led to the Su family suffering such a disaster. It's a pity for a good child like you, alas..."
Su Guanqing's eyes were filled with sorrow, but his voice was clear, "Father once taught me that a subject should be loyal to his country even to the death, even if it means being torn to pieces. Father has no regrets, and neither do I."
"Okay! Okay!" Jiang Huaishan's eyes were red, and his voice was a little higher. "Brother Su is a model for the world, and he is worthy of being a role model for our generation!"
He paused at this point, his momentum weakening. "I can't match your father and son's loyalty and courage. When the Zhengtong Emperor was restored to the throne, anyone who dared not pledge allegiance was beheaded and their property confiscated. If it weren't for the mourning period, I probably wouldn't have dared to resign and offend His Majesty, and would have been forced to become the Zhengtong Emperor's lackey."
Outside the study window, mother and daughter huddled together, looking inside through the crack in the window.
Jiang Tong was a little surprised. She never knew that Jiang Huaishan had such resentment towards the new emperor.
She looked at Jiang Huaishan's profile and saw that his expression was extremely complicated and intense. He felt disgusted with his own cowardice, guilty towards the late emperor and old friend, despair about the future, and a little fear that he could not hide towards the king who killed people like crazy when he eliminated dissidents.
Zhong Wanci might not understand why, but Jiang Tong already understood his father's thoughts. As long as the legitimate emperor remained firmly in power, Su Guanqing would always be the descendant of a criminal, and he, Jiang Huaishan, would never intend to return to officialdom.
Su Guanqing consoled him, "The Zhengtong Emperor holds the military power, and no one can challenge him. Even if he lies dormant for a while, it is understandable."
"He's lying dormant for the time being... This is probably what the Zhengtong Emperor is worried about," Jiang Huaishan said, lowering his voice slightly. "Did your father leave any words for you before he died?"
Su Guanqing shook his head: "The incident happened suddenly that day, and father didn't have time to say anything to my nephew."
Jiang Huaishan's expression was solemn: "During this period of time, has anyone been trying to get information from you?"
"What news do you want to find out?" Su Guanqing was at a loss.
Jiang Huaishan lowered his voice to a level only the two of them could hear, but he continued to press: "I heard that there was a fire at the dock some time ago. Hundreds of people were burned to death."
"It is true."
"Do you know the reason?" Jiang Huaishan stared at Su Guanqing's expression intently.
Su Guanqing looked bewildered: "My nephew doesn't know."
"It seems that Brother Su has never told you anything. Well, well." Jiang Huaishan said, with a deep sadness in his eyes and his eyes were a little moist. He covered his face with his hands and did not let go for a long time.
Outside the window, Jiang Tong and Zhong Wanci looked at each other, both confused.
Inside the room, Jiang Huaishan rubbed his face several times. When he put his hands down, he had sorted out his emotions. He did not continue the previous inexplicable topic, but suddenly sighed:
"If this hadn't happened, you and Tongtong would have been married by now."
Zhong Wanci didn't understand why her husband brought up this matter for no reason. She was just afraid that Jiang Huaishan would still insist on the engagement they had made that year. Her red eyes moved back and forth between Jiang Huaishan and Su Guanqing in confusion.
Jiang Tong, however, was experienced and knew what Jiang Huaishan meant as soon as he heard his words. He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, and when he turned his gaze to Su Guanqing, there was a hint of reluctance in his eyes.
Su Guanqing tilted his head towards the door and forced an unpleasant smile: "Tongtong has never been happy about this marriage. If it weren't for this, we might not have been able to get married."
Jiang Tong was touched by the sadness that could not be hidden in his smile, and subconsciously started to read.
"This girl is just used to being willful." Jiang Huaishan couldn't help but shake his head when he recalled the past incident when his daughter caused chaos between the two families in order to break off the engagement, which almost made him lose face.
"Tongtong is a good girl," Su Guanqing instinctively defended Jiang Tong, "it turns out I'm not worthy of her."
He lowered his head slightly and pinched his wrist as he spoke, "Guan Qing, I just hope that Tongtong can find her ideal husband in the future."
Jiang Huaishan wanted Su Guanqing's statement. He nodded with satisfaction and tried to stand up, but he was a little unsteady. He put his hand on Su Guanqing's shoulder and said slowly:
"Guan Qing, even though your marriage didn't work out, in my heart, I still treat you as my son. From now on, you can rest assured to stay in my house. If I have a bite to eat, I will definitely have a bite to eat too."
Su Guanqing felt the weight on his shoulders. He endured the pain, supported Jiang Huaishan, and whispered "yes" with tears in his eyes.
…
The next morning, when Su Guanqing woke up vaguely, he felt as if something was wrong.
There was no sound of the willows warming up their morning voices, and the blankets beneath him seemed softer than his usual hard bed. He instinctively reached out to touch the blankets and pillows. No, not the ones he slept on at the music club.
Su Guanqing suddenly opened his eyes, and it was still dark in front of him. He couldn't figure out where he was for a moment. He was a little panicked, but he was calm and reserved, so he didn't shout or scream. He just hurriedly touched his bamboo stick, but found nothing again.
This fright woke him up completely and he remembered where he was.
Su Guanqing let out a sigh and just sat on the edge of the bed.
I am now at Tongtong's home.
Tongtong, is she next door?
Will I be able to hear her voice every day from now on?
I no longer have to endure the pain of missing you, being afraid that you will come, and afraid that you will not come.
The corners of Su Guanqing's mouth gradually curved up.
"Awake?" Jiang Tong's voice suddenly came to my ears.
Su Guanqing's smile froze and his whole body froze.
"Tong, Tongtong? Why are you here?" He pulled the quilt that had slipped down to his chest in almost panic.
"Oh, all my restoration tools are in the study. If you want to repair a painting, you can only do it here." Jiang Tong was so focused on the work that he didn't notice Su Guanqing's embarrassment.
Su Guanqing didn't know what to say, so he just acted like a thief and pulled the clothes he was going to wear into the quilt.
"By the way, Aqiao brought back some bamboo sticks from the bamboo forest outside the city and placed them on the corner of your bed." Jiang Tong didn't even raise his head.
Su Guanqing reached out to feel as he was told, and sure enough, he found a few bamboo sticks.
He turned his head to face Jiang Tong and asked, "Who is A Qiao?"
"It's the girl you carried back from the river last time." Jiang Tong still didn't look up.
"She is a girl?!" Su Guanqing was shocked.
"Yeah. Otherwise why would I let her stay in my room."
Su Guanqing was embarrassed and happy at the same time.
What was embarrassing was the difference between men and women, and he didn't know if he had offended the other person unintentionally that day. What made him happy was that the thing that had been weighing on his mind for so long, but he didn't dare to ask, actually had such a bright future.
He lay in bed for a while to digest the thought before he remembered to fumble and put on his clothes.
This study originally only had a desk, which was more than enough for Jiang Tong to tinker with calligraphy and painting here. But now with the addition of a small bed and another person, it has become a bit crowded and there is no room for another chair.
Su Guanqing didn't dare get out of bed and walk around. He sat on the small bed made of door panels and asked Jiang Tong, "Tongtong, what are you doing?"
"Make the paste and prepare to frame the painting."
Jiang Tong squatted on the ground and put a large bowl of steaming, almost solidified paste into a bucket of cold water to soak, and then used a basin of water next to it to wash his hands carefully.
It is also very important to keep your hands clean and dry when doing this job.
Otherwise, after repairing the calligraphy and painting, you will find a black mark on it, and it will be too late to cry.
However, with water in the east and water in the west, it was extremely difficult for Su Guanqing, who could not see, to take a single step.
Su Guanqing heard the sound of water and the sound of her unrolling the scroll. Somehow, his heart began to beat wildly. He couldn't control himself and wanted to talk to her: "What's in that painting by Ni Zan?"
Jiang Tong was actually not used to people asking her questions at this time. Even when she was teaching apprentices, she only allowed them to watch quietly first and ask questions later if they had any.
At this moment, she subconsciously frowned and wanted to ask them to be quiet, but when she turned her head, she saw Su Guanqing holding the bamboo stick, looking cautious and waiting for the emperor's order, and the words on her lips could not be said.
She couldn't understand why Su Guanqing was so devoted to her?
He was willing to give me everything he had, and always did what I wanted. In the end, he even lost his life in my hands.
But from the beginning to the end, I never even gave him a smile, and even knowing that it would implicate him, I harmed him again and again.
Could it be that he really couldn't see through her selfishness and her exploitation, and didn't care at all?
Or does it mean that no matter how she treats him, he is content with it and has no resentment?
Guan Qing, Guan Qing, why are you so stupid?
When Jiang Tong thought of this, her heart softened again and again, but she couldn't bear it anymore. She spread out the unframed painting on the table and said:
"This is a small, flat landscape. The vegetation, mountains, and water are all very interesting. The ink is very light..." She suddenly smiled. "You should like it."
"Oh?" Su Guanqing was surprised and astonished to see Jiang Tong actually discussing this with him, sounding quite knowledgeable. "Why do you think so?"
"The writing is concise but the meaning is profound, which is exactly what Ni Yunlin usually does." Jiang Tong said calmly.
Su Guanqing stood up, deeply regretting that he could not see the painting. "Yes, Ni Yunlin's style is indeed unique. I wonder how many painters he has influenced over the past hundred years."
"That's true," Jiang Tong began to talk. "For example, Wang Fu of our own dynasty also studied under Ni Zan in his early years. Even his ink usage is similar to Ni Zan's."
"Tongtong, you know him too?" Su Guanqing became happier and happier as he listened, and couldn't help but grope his way to the table with great interest.
——This is considered an intrusion into the painter Jiang Yiguan’s work territory.
Jiang Taidou, who was in the middle of chatting, suddenly turned pale.
The next moment, Su Guanqing was "asked" to leave the study.
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