Mu Wanyao brought Yan Shang to pay respects to her uncle.
After not seeing each other for many years, they only communicated through letters. When seeing each other now, Mu Wanyao felt that his uncle was still as clear-headed and elegant as before. If it weren't for the serious illness of my grandfather, my uncle would never have come back to Nanjing.
Li Gong put on his robe and sat on the couch, and smiled at Li Zhi inquiringly: "Why, do you know the prince consort Yaoyao?"
Li Zhi did not answer, but said gently: "A few years ago, when I was in Chang'an, I asked the princess to ask the prince to take care of my family because of the threat from the Wuman. Since then, I have admired the prince's demeanor."
Li Zhi just smiled and said nothing. He stared at the young man who spoke in a gentle and unhurried manner, and saw that he was neither humble nor arrogant, and faced them without any restraint from a small family, so he let Yan Shang go.
Li Zhi explained to his father: "Yan Erlang is still modest. The reason why he asked me for help in Chang'an that day was because earlier, Yaoyao was threatened by the Wuman King. Yan Erlang was in the countryside of Lingnan. When he was free, he gave advice to Yaoyao and me and plotted against the Wuman."
Li Gong was interested: "Offering advice? You two have dealt with each other so long ago?"
Li Zhi looked at Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao standing side by side, and saw Mu Wanyao standing a little forward, clearly protecting the young man. Li Zhi said calmly: "Back then, Yan Erlang had not yet entered the officialdom. He was still young, and the strategies he offered were crude and shallow. Now that Yaoyao thinks about it, do you think you were too naive at that time?"
Mu Wan shook her eyes in displeasure, but smiled: "Yes. At that time, I didn't know anything about government affairs, and I relied on my uncle's guidance and help."
Li Zhi sighed, "You don't have to say that. I agreed to Yan Erlang's crude suggestion that day, but it wasn't entirely for you. In fact, I saw someone who had the courage to offer advice to a princess when he was young, and I found it interesting. Although the strategy is a bit simple, if I can use it in the future, I may be able to train him.
"I presented the plan directly to the border, and I didn't think it would really work. I was demoted to the South China Sea, and there was no way I could leave the South China Sea. I wanted to use Yan Erlang for my own benefit, so I had to let Yan Erlang come to the South China Sea to see me. At that time, I thought that the plan would fail, angering Wuman, and Wuman would send troops to Wei, so someone needed to be held responsible for this.
"I will push Yan Erlang out, and at the same time, I will take responsibility for him as the lord. This will make Yan Erlang convinced and grateful for my kindness in re-creating him. It is a way out for Yan Erlang to be conquered by me and follow me in the South China Sea.
"Unfortunately the barbarians are more stupid than I thought."
The room was quiet for a moment, and Mu Wan shook his eyes and widened slightly.
When she first entered politics, she was still young and had never thought much about it. She never expected that her uncle's casual "yes" would contain so many evil intentions.
Admittedly, it now seems that Yan Erlang’s suggestion at that time was indeed too simple, but Yan Shang was only seventeen years old at the time... Li Zhi was really bullying.
Yan Shang smiled and cupped his hands for a while: "I am ashamed. Thank you for your guidance, Lord."
Lord Li watched them go back and forth, stroked his beard and smiled, pointed at his son Li Zhi and sighed for a long time, and finally said, "Why don't you come and toast the two juniors with a glass of wine." Everyone in the room laughed, and the embarrassment caused by Mu Wanyao's sudden change of the prince consort was selectively forgotten by everyone at this time.
Yan Shang sighed in his heart that he had so much to learn. His uncle could have not told them the whole story, but Li Zhi still chose to do so. As Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao matured, this incident would definitely become a thorn in their side. Li Zhi might as well poke the thorn himself and eliminate the rift and suspicion between the two sides.
He is worthy of being Li Zhi, the former prominent figure in Chang'an.
When he thought about this, he felt Mu Wanyao gently squeeze his hand through her sleeve. She knew he couldn't see, so she comforted him in this way. Yan Shang felt warm in his heart, and gently squeezed Mu Wanyao back, telling her that he didn't care. He was so young back then, and Li Zhi was calculating them like calculating children...
But today, Li Zhi is open and honest with them. Doesn't this mean that he no longer dares to look down on them?
Yan Shang couldn't see Li Zhi's face, and only guessed from his voice that he was a cold person. When he thought so, he drank the wine Li Zhi offered him. However, Li Zhi seemed to be staring at him today. After Yan Shang drank, Li Zhi asked again: "You are the son-in-law of Yaoyao, so you have to help Yaoyao and lead the poor family in the future."
Yan Shang was wondering what the prince consort was, Mu Wanyao had never discussed it with him.
He just bowed and smiled, neither saying yes nor no.
Li Zhi stared at him, "Yan Suchen, a famous minister in the country, you have such a name, which shows that you have had a hard time along the way, and I respect you a little. Although Yaoyao is a princess, she is also my niece. You should know that I have been worrying about Yaoyao's marriage for many years. Unfortunately, Yaoyao is willful and doesn't like the one I chose for her. She also forced the person out of Wei, making it impossible for us to do anything about it. I think Yaoyao chose you, so you must have your outstanding qualities, and I won't ask too much. However, as far as I know, you were promoted to be the county magistrate in Nanyang because you forced the left assistant minister of the Ministry of Revenue to death.
"We all know the last words of the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue before his death. You made such a big mistake to Yaoyao back then. I am really curious, do you still have the nerve to ask to marry her now?"
Yan Shang’s face turned slightly pale.
Mu Wan stood up and said, "Uncle! I don't blame him!"
Li Zhi glanced at her calmly and said, "You don't have to blame me. But as your uncle, I have to ask him one more question for you."
After a long pause, he replied in a hoarse voice: "What happened back then was because I was young and had not considered it thoroughly. If it happens again, I will not let Your Highness fall into that state. I will discuss it with Your Highness..."
Li Zhi interrupted: "The two sides have different positions, what is there to discuss?"
Yan Shang was silent for a moment.
After a long pause, he said with difficulty, "Not necessarily completely different. Yaoyao and I are the same deep down, but there are too many trivial matters for her to take care of. I just need to sweep away the dust for her, and we actually share the same stance."
Mu Wanyao immediately said, "Yes! I told Grand Duke that day that I also want to be a hero. I didn't just say it casually. Grand Duke, don't you remember?"
She asked Li Gong for help, not wanting her uncle to question Yan Shang again. Yan Shang was in agony, he already regretted it to death, because of that incident, he felt that he was not worthy of loving anyone, he finally mustered up the courage to convince himself to go to her... Why did her uncle force him back?
The room was quiet. The maid held her breath and entered the room, handing the medicine cup to Lord Li. Lord Li stared at them while drinking the medicine.
Seeing that Mu Wanyao had asked her father for help, Li Zhi smiled and stopped asking about the matter.
He asked Yan Shang again: "Yan Erlang, don't worry. Now that you are married to Yaoyao, with your fame, Yaoyao's power, and my Jinling Li family, this means that my Jinling Li family is marrying into a poor family and supporting the poor family. I asked a few more questions just to get to know you."
Yan Shang said softly: "It's okay. I should be honest with you all."
Li Zhi: "Then let me ask Yan Erlang, in your heart, who is more important, the emperor or the people?"
Yan Shang: "The people. The people have their voices above; the emperor has his voice below. This is to ask the emperor to listen more to the people's demands. As ministers, we should convey the people's voices to the emperor. I serve the people for the people, and I will never change my mind."
Li Gong raised his eyebrows slightly and couldn't help looking at Mu Wanyao's extremely thin fiancé. He hadn't seen such a pure person in many years, and he felt both funny and emotional.
Li Zhi: "Can you keep your original intention?"
Yan Shang: "At least it hasn't changed so far."
Li Zhi: "If Yao Yao becomes an enemy of your people's livelihood one day, whose side will you stand on?"
Yan Shangjing paused for a moment, then said, "The world is turbid, and the political situation is volatile. In fact, there is no such thing as black and white. One's stance can be changed at any time, and turning the tide is all a means. Yaoyao and I will not go that far. She... is not that kind of person."
Li Zhi did not let her go: "What if she is that kind of person? What if she wants to bury millions of people for her own selfish desires? Will you kill her?"
Yan Shang’s face turned even paler.
Mu Wan looked at him and felt that he was full of sadness. She held Yan Shang's hand and felt the coldness of his palm. She felt sorry for him and wondered why her uncle had to force her like this.
When Mu Wanyao was about to answer for Yan Shang, Yan Shang whispered, "I will kill her."
Mu Wan trembled, and she wanted to let go of his hand. But Yan Shang held her hand back and looked at her. His eyes were covered with a veil, so no one could see his expression, but they could still feel the loneliness and sadness around him. He whispered to Mu Wan, "If it really comes to that, I will give you my life as compensation."
Mu Wanyao was silent for a moment, a smile appeared on the corner of her lips. She gently held his hand, signaling him not to worry, they would not go that far.
She didn't want his life as compensation. It was good enough for her and Yan Shang to live well.
Li Zhi asked calmly, "Oh, that's fine. It's just that as a subject, you should be loyal to your emperor. I still have a question. If the emperor you are loyal to is against your will, and he oppresses you all the time, so that you can't display your talents and are trapped by him, what would you do?"
His questions were full of malice.
However, this question is much easier than asking Yan Shang to choose between the people's livelihood and the evening. Yan Shang thought for a while and gave the answer: "The ancients said, if the country has a good way, then you should serve, if the country has no good way, then you can roll up and keep it. If the emperor is not reliable, then naturally you should roll up and run away."
He said that if you have the same ideas, you can be an official; if you have different ideas, you can not be an official. It is that simple.
Li Zhi nodded. He wanted to ask more questions, but Mu Wanyao interrupted him impatiently: "How many more questions do you want to ask, uncle? We are new here and haven't even spoken a few words to Grandpa, but you keep asking us questions. Even though you are the elder, you are bullying us."
Li Zhi smiled, cupped his hands, and said he was being rude, obviously not going to ask any more questions.
Mu Wan heaved a sigh of relief, but this time, Li Zhi let them go, but Yan Shang pressed on: "Uncle is cautious about the marriage between the two families, and it is reasonable for uncle to ask me so many questions. But I also have some questions that I would like to ask uncle, I wonder if uncle can answer them?"
Li Zhi raised his eyebrows and looked at the young man who was neither humble nor arrogant and bowed to him. He thought to himself that it seemed that Yan Suchen was not someone who would just be bullied.
Li Zhi didn't care and laughed: "You can ask as much as you want."
Yan Shang said word by word: "Back then, because of the dispute between the Li family and the emperor, the princess was forced to marry a foreign prince, and the people suffered for many years. Your disputes in the court are of no benefit to the people, nor to the princess. But at that time, because of your disputes for power, the border troops had no generals to use, and the Wei Dynasty suffered a series of defeats. The princess was forced to marry a foreign prince to eliminate the disaster between the two countries.
"You dragged the people of the world into the fight between you two sides, and made your relatives suffer for your misfortune... I wonder if my uncle has ever regretted it?"
In an instant, the hall was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Not to mention that Li Zhi was stunned and speechless, even Li Gong, who was lying on the sickbed, suddenly opened his eyes wide and glared at this madman who was so audacious as to dare to question them.
Mu Wanyao gently pulled Yan Shang's sleeve and said, "Stop talking."
Yan Shang turned around and spoke softly to her, "Your Highness has been wronged for many years, and has never received a word of apology from you. You took advantage of her marriage and her value. She was tossed between Your Highness the Crown Prince and the Jinling Li family. During those years, how did she, a teenage girl, survive? Have you ever thought about it?
"You asked me this for her today, so I will ask you one question for her - do you regret it?"
He took a step forward, his long sleeves fluttering, facing the whole hall full of Li's children and the terminally ill Mr. Li.
Yan Shang was as tall as jade, his tone was slightly tense, his voice, which was usually not loud, could not help but rise and tremble at this moment: "Do you owe her an apology?!
"Since you asked me about her today, why don't you give her an apology?!"
No one in the hall spoke. Li Gong stared at Yan Shang with a sharp gaze at first, then a complicated one. He sighed softly. Li Zhi looked at Yan Shang without saying a word, and under Li Zhi, the other descendants of the Li family stared at Yan Erlang angrily, wanting to kill him.
Everyone also had a toothache of regret - he was indeed a "famous minister" who made the Chang'an officialdom change color. With such a great reputation, they actually provoked him. How could they not think that a poor boy with such a reputation must have extraordinary words and would not bow to power?
As for Mu Wanyao, she no longer looked at those people from the Li family. Without Li Gong's signal, none of them dared to speak. Even her uncle was hesitant to speak, and finally looked at Yan Shang with complicated eyes. Mu Wanyao didn't care about those things. She hadn't cared about them for a long time.
She stood behind Yan Shang, looking at his back tenderly and fondly. Her eyes were full of tears, and she stared at Yan Shang intently, as he was the only one left in her heart.
He was the only one who spoke for her.
He was the only one who pitied her.
Even if everyone in the room didn't care about her, as long as Yan Shang was the only one who cared about her, why would Mu Wanyao care about them?
-----
During the confrontation in the hall that day, Mu Wanyao did not receive an apology, but it did not matter, because from that day on, they lived in the Li family, and when the Li family members saw Yan Shang, they could not help but avoid him.
Obviously, they were all afraid of Yan Erlang and no longer dared to look down on Yan Shang as they did at the beginning. They felt that Yan Shang was a child from a poor family and was not worthy of being in the Li family.
As for Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang, regardless of their personal relationship, when they arrived at the Li family's territory, they couldn't help but talk about some important things in private. For example -
Yan Shang was sitting on the couch while the old imperial physician was examining his eyes and applying medicine to him.
After the old imperial physician applied the medicine, Yan Shang closed his eyes and heard Mu Wanyao talking to the imperial physician outside. Then Mu Wanyao came in and said calmly, "I asked the imperial physician to see my great grandfather. My great grandfather refused at first, but after I insisted, he could no longer refuse and had to see the doctor. The imperial physician just told me that my great grandfather's illness is urgent, but in fact, as long as he takes good care of himself for two or three years, he may live to be a hundred years old."
Yan Shang turned his head and looked at her, saying softly, "But your grandfather said that he was terminally ill, and he used this excuse to ask you to come to Jinling to see him for the last time. If the imperial physician is right, then... it is your grandfather who doesn't want to live anymore?"
Mu Wanyao fell into deep thought.
Yan Shang whispered: "Your uncle was banished to Nanhai and was not allowed to return to Jinling. However, your uncle is an outstanding figure in the Li family, and your grandfather needs your uncle to come back and preside over the Li family. The Li family was demoted, and only when your grandfather passed away could your grandfather have the audacity to write a letter to His Majesty and ask His Majesty to let your uncle return to Jinling to observe mourning.
"It doesn't matter to your uncle that he will be in mourning for three years, even if he is no longer an official. But what will happen after three years? Everyone knows that your father is in poor health... Your grandfather is betting that your father will not live for more than three years. After three years, your uncle can still stay in Jinling and support the Li family's comeback.
"Besides, you have been gaining momentum in Chang'an over the years. Now you are trying to persuade the Li family to marry into a poor family, which means that the Li family is supporting the poor family. But the Li family has a criminal record after all, and His Majesty will not be at ease with the rise of the Li family. Then, your grandfather can only let himself die and let your uncle take the throne... The old and the new will be replaced. This way, it tells His Majesty that the head of the Li family has changed, and a new person has taken the throne. The new head can implement new policies. If the Li family supports the poor family, His Majesty will not turn around and suppress the Li family again."
Mu Wan shook her head and nodded slowly.
She thought and said, "The Li family and I are now dependent on each other. I came to Nanjing because my father asked me to let the troops go from the Li family's private troops to Chang'an. Because the Li family is respected in the south, under the protection of these noble families, if the border troops are not used, Chang'an will not know. Since my father has a request for the Li family, the Li family will naturally also seek the throne.
"My uncle recommended two young men from the Li family. They will go back to Chang'an with us. He asked me to arrange official positions for them. My relationship with the Li family is at its most harmonious, so I certainly won't refuse such a thing."
Mu Wanyao walked towards Yan Shang who was sitting on the couch and put her hand on his shoulder.
I could feel the wind blowing from the window on my cheeks and hear the faint voices outside the corridor. Yan Shang quietly moved aside, looking nonchalant: "So what do you think? Do you want the imperial physician to treat your grandfather?"
Mu Wanyao hesitated for a moment and said softly, "He doesn't want to live anymore, why should I force him to live? He won't thank me. Since he doesn't want to live, I will just pretend I know nothing."
Yan Shang lowered his head and said nothing.
Mu Wan looked down at him and leaned close to his face. He felt her breath and leaned back unexpectedly: "What are you doing?"
Mu Wan shook: "Why are you blushing?"
Yan Shang: “…”
He tensed up a little: "The window is open, there are people coming and going outside, and this is your grandfather's house! Why do you think I am blushing?"
Mu Wan was surprised. She rubbed his hot cheek with her fingertips and looked down at him with a smile: "What are you afraid of? Didn't you admit that you are my consort in front of my grandfather and uncle that day? You have already admitted it, so why are you afraid of people seeing us being intimate?"
Yan Shang: "Who was intimate with you? It's just because your grandfather is seriously ill, I don't want to refute it. Who is your son-in-law? Where is the official document, where is it clear? Who discussed it with me, who asked for my opinion? You acted on your own and didn't ask me at all. What a fool to be your son-in-law."
Mu Wan smiled and said, "It will take a while for the news of the prince consort to arrive. Maybe the will in Chang'an has changed. What if I don't discuss it with you? At this point today, are you going to refuse?"
Yan Shang asked back: "Why wouldn't I refuse?"
Mu Wanyao's face suddenly darkened.
She gritted her teeth: "Just be tough."
She pushed him, and Yan Shang was pushed aside by her, thinking that she wanted to sit, so he had to move to give her a seat. But as soon as he moved, the fragrant breeze entered his arms, and Mu Wanyao sat on his thighs and hugged his neck. Yan Shang's face, which was already a little red, immediately became even redder.
Under his black hair, his ears were as red as red beans, very cute. Mu Wan couldn't help shaking her head in love, and heard him whisper: "What are you doing again?"
Mu Wan lowered her head and gently pressed her lips against his, smiling: "Second Brother Yan, do you feel hot?"
Yan Shang uncomfortably pulled his sleeves together, which were wrapped tightly even in the hot summer. He felt cool and refreshed, and was not sweating. However, Mu Wanyao was sitting on his lap and teasing him, so he did feel a little hot. He hesitated for a long time, and suddenly realized, "...You didn't drug me again, did you?"
Mu Wanyao laughed twice proudly.
Yan Shang's face immediately turned red: "This is too much! How could you, how could you... This is a study! A study!"
Mu Wanyao smiled and licked him like a kitten stealing fish. He hated her and liked her at the same time, pushing her and hugging her at the same time. He was like a contradiction, hating this troublesome kitten to death, but when she threw herself into his arms, he couldn't bear to throw her away.
When he hugged her tightly as if cherishing her, he had to endure being pressed down and kissed by her.
Yan Shang pushed and shoved her, and struggled with her, but was forced by Mu Wanyao to the round stand where the vase was originally placed. She pushed the vase to the ground with a casual push, and the crisp sound made Yan Shang nervous and stiff. But she embraced him passionately, and gently rubbed his waist with her bare feet, and Yan Shang could only fall step by step.
He even raised his head and panted as he discussed with her: "...Can't we go back to the room?"
Mu Wan shook her head coquettishly and deliberately: "No! I have wanted to play this with you in the study for a long time... um..."
Her husky moan made his blood rush and he couldn't control himself.
When she was half intoxicated, Mu Wan hugged him, her chin resting on Yan Shang's shoulder. She turned her face and gently rubbed his slightly sweaty cheek. With blurred vision and a burst of pleasure, Mu Wan shook her finger to hook Yan Shang's shoulder, and suddenly bit his ear: "I have a secret to tell you."
Yan Shang was lost in thought when she bit his ear, which was both piercing and comfortable. He couldn't help but hold her tightly, and after a while he said helplessly, "What's wrong with you?"
Mu Wan whispered, "I didn't give you any drugs."
Yan Shang: "...Mu Wan Yao!"
She laughed out loud, leaned on his shoulder and patted his shoulder, and was amused by his reaction. Yan Shang nervously pulled her into his arms, and he reached out to cover her mouth, telling her to stop laughing - she was laughing so nonchalantly!
It’s as if they are afraid that others don’t know what they are doing!
-----
A few days later, Lord Li held a banquet on the Qinhuai River and invited Yan Shang and Mu Wanyao to the banquet. When the two arrived, they saw that all the children of the Li family were there. Lord Li got off the couch for a rare time, put on his ordinary clothes, and smiled at them kindly. The two juniors naturally greeted each other. Li Zhi sat next to his father and gave up his seat to let Mu Wanyao and Yan Shang sit next to Lord Li.
Mr. Li first had someone pour wine for the two of them. "Yan Erlang's question from the other day really enlightened me. Yaoyao, this cup is from all of us. We owe you an apology. Today, as the head of the Li family, I apologize to you. I hope you can forgive us."
Mu Wan accepted his drink and smiled: "I don't mind."
It has been too many years since she married into the royal family. She had endured all the hardships by herself. She did not want or care about the belated apology. Now, drinking this wine from Lord Li was just to put aside the past grudges on the surface, so that both sides could continue to cooperate with good intentions and without grudges.
Mr. Li respectfully said to Yan Shang: "Thank you, Yan Erlang, for your words. They have awakened an old man like me."
Yan Shang said he dared not, but drank the wine respectfully.
Mr. Li sighed.
Seeing the two of them calm, Mr. Li felt more and more that young people had unlimited potential, while he himself was getting old. However, even though he was getting old, he still had to pave the way for the descendants of the Li family.
Li Gong smiled and asked everyone to eat. The atmosphere at the table was very good. While chatting and laughing, they would unconsciously talk about some old things in the past. Li Gong said in an old voice: "I know that you have always blamed us in your heart, but I also want to defend myself - I am deeply trapped in this situation and have to think about the family.
"We are all pushed around. If there is any other way, who wouldn't want to be a good person? Who would be willing to sit in the mud and charcoal instead of being free and easy in the ice pot and autumn moon?"
Mu Wan smiled and said softly: "I've already said that I don't care."
Mr. Li said, "I know you are a good and sensible child. You look exactly like your mother back then... When your mother was sixteen or seventeen years old, she was just like you. I was in a trance and kept thinking about those days. When I see you, I think of your mother."
Mu Wanyao looked towards Mr. Li and said slowly, "My mother passed away. Grandpa must be very sad, right?"
Mr. Li's face darkened.
He was really a little sad. He turned his head to look at the gray sky outside the cabin and murmured, "I have five children, and your mother is my only daughter. I am middle-aged, and I am sending someone young to their death. How can I not be sad? Ask your uncles. Among all the children, your mother is the one I love the most."
Mu Wan shook her head and looked towards Li Zhi.
Li Zhisi also fell into reminiscence and said, "Third sister...was indeed very much loved by our father back then."
Lord Li choked up and said, "The glory of the Li family depends on her alone. How could I bear it? I have a daughter like this, and I hold her in my hands every day. Now I regret it. When she was a teenager, I shouldn't have let her do whatever she wanted. If she hadn't met your father...hadn't met Your Majesty! Everything would be completely different!"
Mu Wan shook her head for a while and said, "I thought my mother and father were married because of the alliance between the noble family and the royal family."
Li Gongdao: "No. When she was fifteen, she disguised herself as a man and traveled around Jinling."
He had a trance smile on his lips: "At that time, everyone knew the third son of the Li family, but who knew the third daughter of the Li family? Maybe it was because she was playing all day that she met your father who was visiting the people privately. Your father and her became brothers, and later we found out that they were brother and sister. Your father was overjoyed and asked me to marry your mother overnight. I refused at that time, thinking that your father was a wild boy. Our Li family has been dormant in Jinling for a hundred years, how can we marry our daughter to a poor family in the countryside?
"That day, your mother went out to watch a play... When she came back, she told me that she wanted to marry your father. She went on a hunger strike with me and fought against me. Your father came to the door again and knelt for a long time, and then your father's identity as a prince was exposed.
"They truly loved each other, they truly rebelled against me, and they truly wanted to be married. Your mother had great ambitions, saying that your father was the hero in her heart, and that she and your father shared the same ideals and wanted to do great things together for the people of the world.
"They only care about the people! I laughed at them and thought they were ridiculous, but they just refused to accept it. I was moved by them... But Yaoyao, look at what the outcome is now? You really shouldn't have entered the door of your royal family. My good Ah Nuan was ruined by your father. And does your father love the people? How ridiculous, he loves the Great Wei, and the people are just a part of it.
"Yaoyao, Yan Suchen, the love for the people that Yan Suchen talked about in the hall that day reminded me of Yaoyao's parents back then... One reincarnation after another, thirty years have passed in the vicissitudes of life. Who can turn back? Who can bear to look back?"
The atmosphere at the table became depressing.
Li Gong trembled, and someone supported him as he walked to the cabin window. He sat under the window, and all the young people looked at him. But he did not look back, but looked at the gurgling water outside the cabin, as if he was watching the long river of time passing by.
Everyone heard him humming a little tune, the voice was very soft, probably a Jinling folk song, the Li children were all sad, some of them couldn't help crying. Yan Shang could hear the intermittent sobbing at the table, but he couldn't understand the Jinling tune.
Mu Wanyao whispered to him: "He sang like this -
"The young man is chivalrous, making friends with the heroes of the five cities. He is open-minded. His hair stands on end. They are talking to each other. They are willing to die together. A promise is worth a thousand gold. He is brave and unrestrained. He is lightly covered. He rides a flying saddle together. He fights in the east of the city. He drinks wine at the wine shop, and the spring scenery floats in the cold jar. He sucks the sea and hangs the rainbow. He calls the hawk and the dog at leisure, and picks the carved bow with white feathers. The cunning is empty. The joy is fleeting."
Yan Shang whispered: "It's singing about your parents, and also about the departure and aging of that generation."
Mu Wanyao felt uncomfortable and said "hmm" softly.
The old man's music gradually faded until it could no longer be heard. The whole table was silent. Li Zhi pushed the table aside and walked to the window. Li Zhi put his hand under the old man's nose and whispered, "Father is gone."
He turned around, looked at his wife, and smiled faintly at her: "From now on, I don't have a father anymore."
His wife clutched her handkerchief the whole time, worried that the princess would have a fit during the banquet tonight. But she never expected that the banquet tonight would end like this. Tears immediately rolled down her eyes, and she walked towards her husband with tears in her eyes.
All the descendants of the Li family left their seats and threw themselves towards Mr. Li in grief.
The full moon was in the sky, and the boat was floating on the Qinhuai River. The river water was shining with golden light, and the joyful singing and laughter from afar drifted in. But nearby, there was crying in a room, and the whole house was filled with sadness.
Yan Shang held Mu Wan in his arms and whispered, "Even if you hate him, he is still your family. People say that life and death are common, but when it comes to this, who can be so ruthless and see through it?"
Mu Wanyao buried her face in his arms, closed her eyes and shed a tear.
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