Chapter 25 Chapter 25 Brother's Letter
A letter sent from the capital at full speed, traveling day and night, was slowly spread out.
Dear parents:
"I was overjoyed to hear that my younger sister had returned home. However, there is one thing that has been worrying me for days, and I've been tossing and turning day and night. After much thought, I've decided that I should tell my parents. My roommates at the academy all wear fine clothes and have families by their side. The former is no problem for me, but the latter is something I envy. I've been writing alone since I came to the capital, feeling lonely and desolate. This unbearable emptiness makes it difficult for me to concentrate on my studies. I'm afraid I won't be able to pass the imperial examination this spring. Please be aware of this. Wen Jian respectfully submits."
Lu Suizhu had just finished reading the letter and had not yet caught her breath when she heard a loud "bang".
He calmly slammed the table and stood up, not caring about the tea spilling and scalding the back of his hand. His voice was as deep and powerful as a bell and as loud as a drum: "This rascal has forgotten his own name after going out for a while. I paid for his education and taught him how to behave, but he's trying to compare himself to others. He's really getting more and more outrageous as he gets older."
The angry voice startled Aunt Li, who was watering the peach tree. She dropped the kettle and hit the roots of the tree. She wiped her wet hands on her clothes, hurried into the study, and made amends for Shen Wenjian.
"Master, calm down. In my opinion, the young master is not trying to make things difficult for me. It must be that the pressure of studying is too great."
When the temper comes, no matter what anyone says, it is of little use. The calm has already walked away.
As a county magistrate, he was in charge of the tax collection, judicial trials, household registration and public security of the entire Fanxi... Naturally, he could not leave his official duties to go to Beijing to accompany his children to study. Lin Yan was well aware of this and looked embarrassed.
"Why don't you go and accompany brother to study? You don't have to worry about the house. Aunt Li and I will take care of the chores."
Lin Yan stroked Lu Suizhu's hand with relief, then took two steps forward, with a hint of sadness in her eyes.
"You must have noticed your father's character these past few days. He's too upright and old-fashioned, and doesn't know how to adapt. There's nothing wrong with human nature being diverse, but as the saying goes, things get broken easily. Mother really doesn't feel comfortable leaving him here alone."
"A while ago, there was a small-scale flood in the neighboring county of Yunshui. The county magistrate, Pei Wuji, and his subordinate, Pei Wuyou, were imprisoned for embezzling disaster relief funds and are temporarily detained in the Fanxi jail. The evidence is irrefutable, but your father resolutely refuses to admit their guilt, saying that the matter is full of doubts. He is still fighting against a group of officials.
"It's because I stop him every day that your father doesn't act rashly and foolishly, offending the governor and bringing disaster upon himself. If I leave, who will be able to stop him?"
"Pei Wuji, Pei Wuyou..."
Hearing these two names, Lu Suizhu muttered softly, feeling somewhat familiar. Then she heard Lin Yan add, "It is said that these two Pei masters are branches of the Pei family in Shangjing."
First, Xiao Mao opened a private mine, and then the Pei family was imprisoned for embezzling stolen money. What secrets does this small Fanxi hold that makes so many people flock to it?
"What's wrong, Wenjia?"
"Nothing…nothing."
Seeing the situation at a stalemate, and the study filled with gloom, Aunt Li tentatively offered a suggestion: "Madam, the young master always knows when to act and when to retreat. He would never make such an unreasonable request. I've just thought about it carefully. The young master must be thinking about the young lady, but is too embarrassed to say it directly. In my opinion, it is better to let the young lady go to the capital..."
"no--"
Aunt Li had just uttered the words "going to Beijing" when Lu Suizhu stopped her.
Before she could think of a response, Lin Yan, Aunt Li and Uncle Zhang, who had been watching the fun outside the door, all looked at her, as if many ants were penetrating her hair and biting her scalp. Lu Suizhu faced everyone's gaze, licked her lips and spoke slowly, her words a little intermittently.
"I just came home, of course... Yes, I just want to spend more time with my parents."
"My dear Miss, you are truly filial. The Master and his wife are truly blessed to have such a caring daughter.
"Aunt Li smiled, her double chin faintly visible. She stepped forward, held Lu Suizhu's hand and gave her another warning.
"It's less than two months away from the Spring Imperial Examination. When the young master passes the exam, it will be a real honor to return home with him. Think about it, young lady, isn't that the right thing to do?"
Aunt Li's eyebrows were beaming, and her whole face looked optimistic.
When her brother passed the imperial examination and won the top prize, he was indeed the most famous person with flowers in his hair... But there were Xiao Mao and Pei Zhiji in the capital. She had escaped with great difficulty. If she went back, wouldn't she be walking into the tiger's mouth?
"Miss, don't you think so?"
"yes."
Without thinking, just go with the flow.
Fang Dian gently touched Lu Suizhu's lower back from behind. Looking at Aunt Li's smile and Lin Yan's relaxed expression, she realized what she had said and felt annoyed. This Aunt Li was really good at talking and had actually tricked her into it.
Lin Yan asked Aunt Li and Uncle Zhang to go with Lu Suizhu, but she declined because the journey to Beijing was long and tiring, and the two elders were old.
Returning to her own boudoir, Fang Dian casually picked up a few frequently used items and put them into her bag. She couldn't help but ask, "Miss, are you really going to take that jackal, wolf, and tiger back?"
"Why would I refuse? I can't tell my parents that I was Pei Huaishen's woman without any status, and later I took the blame for Pei Zhiji and had to escape from the mansion."
Lu Suizhu had figured out a lot during the journey. She took a deep breath, her steps light and silent, looking out the window at the deepening spring scenery and the peach blossoms decorating the deep purple tree trunks.
"Since my brother has passed the imperial examination, he will probably pass the imperial examination in the spring. If he stays in Beijing to serve as an official, my parents and I will have to go there sooner or later. We can't hide away forever, and I can't stay here forever. Some things will have to be faced sooner or later."
Although she knew that these words were powerless, at this point, she could only comfort herself in this way.
The next morning, Lu Suizhu was going to travel by boat.
The dock connects to the ship's hull with a small suspension bridge made of horizontal wooden planks. After years of wind and rain erosion, it is now rusty. There are thick rope nets on both sides. The water level has risen significantly compared to the early years. The suspension bridge will sway and fall when there is wind.
Chen Zhuo, Lin Yan, and Wu Lianjin all stood on the small suspension bridge to see him off, and gave him many instructions in their implicit words: "Be careful on your journey, and remember to write to your parents to let them know you're safe when you get there."
The wind on the river is light but it carries a cold current. From a distance, the sky appears to be connected, and when you look closer, you see that there are geese flying in a line.
Lin Yan put another piece of clothing on Lu Suizhu and stuffed some silver and money into her.
"Haven't we given it to you before?" Lu Suizhu tried to refuse.
"Your father and I have remembered what you said before the mourning hall. Shangjing is not like Fanxi. Prices are high and expenses are naturally high. Take the money and make yourself some fashionable clothes. Wear them beautifully. Don't be reluctant to spend money."
The wind made her eyes sore. Lu Suizhu muttered softly, "That was just to scare Second Uncle. I didn't mean to tell you guys anything."
Looking at the calm figure standing there like a pine tree, his temples were a little gray, and a few strands of white hair trembled in the wind.
"Dad, do you have anything else for me to tell my brother?"
"No."
Knowing his calm temperament, everyone was helpless. When Fan Xi was bidding farewell to him at the river head, no one paid any attention to try to persuade him.
"Cousin, these are the four treasures of the study I prepared for Wen Jian. I won't be able to enter the officialdom in this lifetime, but I hope he can have a smooth career and everything goes well." After saying these words of blessing, Wu Lianjin added, "I will go to the capital to purchase some goods in a while and come to see you."
The crew began to invite people to board. Fang Dian took the things handed to her by Wu Lianjin, waved goodbye, and Lu Suizhu lifted her skirt to board the boat.
The scenery on the river was almost the same as when we came, except that there were more people on the shore who were reluctant to say goodbye and see us off.
The journey was filled with colorful flowers and willows. After about three or four days, the ship arrived safely in Shangjing.
Following the direction of the residence left by Shen Wenjian, Lu Suizhu and Fang Dian asked around and finally found a dilapidated house.
The door was deserted and unguarded, and the weeds were growing thickly and baring their fangs. Only when I walked deeper did I see a man dressed as a page boy sitting on a chair pounding garlic.
The smell is pungent and the sound when knocked is extremely loud.
"Excuse me, is Shen Wenjian here?"
The servant boy neither stood up nor called out, nor did he respond. Lu Suizhu pointed at him, but he did not react at all. His arrogance was so infuriating.
Hearing the noise, a man quickly walked out from the inner room.
Her hair was stood up high, and a delicate and oily black jade was embedded in the crown of her hair. She had soft eyebrows and eyes, red lips and white teeth, and the same slender and close-fitting figure as Lu Suizhu.
"Girl, it seems that they do look alike."
Fangdian couldn't help but sigh. Although Uncle Zhang and Aunt Li often exaggerated, they didn't lie about this matter.
He rolled up his sleeves and walked slowly down the stairs, looking at the woman who suddenly appeared in the courtyard. She moved as fast as a star running over a river, and in just two or three steps she stepped down the narrow, moss-covered stairs.
At this moment, Lu Suizhu's ears were filled with not only the wind but also Shen Wenjian's tight embrace.
Her hands froze in mid-air as she hesitated before speaking, "Brother, how did you know it was me?"
From the casual glance he took when he came out just now, Shen Wenjian was sure that the person who came was his sister. After the hug, he was still overwhelmed with joy and didn't know where to start.
He simply pulled Lu Suizhu to sit down.
"Of course I know my sister." He hurriedly wiped the dusty tables and chairs without forgetting to answer.
Hearing this, Lu Suizhu laughed out loud: "Mom said the same thing. Brother's personality is indeed more like Mom's."
Looking around, it is extremely desolate. The house is bare, and the tables, chairs, and benches are all broken. The dead branches and leaves in the corners can be built into a high wall.
"Brother, is your life so difficult?"
"Hey, Shangjing is not like Fanxi. Everything is very expensive here. All my money is spent on myself. But don't worry, I will go out to buy some food later. I will make sure you live comfortably here."
After saying this, there was a moment of silence. Shen Wenjian looked at Lu Suizhu's face, curled his fingers together, clenched the corner of his hakama, and then loosened them, back and forth. He almost opened his mouth but retracted it. His lips went from being initially rosy to chapped, but he still couldn't utter a word.
Seeing that he seemed to be hesitant to speak, Lu Suizhu calmly drank a cup of tea and spoke leisurely.
"You didn't do it on purpose, and I don't blame you."
Shen Wenjian suddenly turned his back, took a deep breath, and his throat felt sore and painful. He waited until his tears were suppressed before turning back. His voice was trembling with a suppressed tone.
"...I'm not afraid of you laughing at me. When I received the letter from my parents saying you'd returned home, I burst into tears at the academy. My classmates all thought I was grieving over my grandmother's passing... If it weren't for the academy's strict rules, I would have gone back to see you right away."
"It's not that I need company, but I really want to write to you, but I'm afraid you'll resent me, and I'm afraid my sister will resent me."
The last time he spoke, his voice was very soft, his nasal tone gradually becoming heavier, and he was about to cry. Shen Wenjian took another breath and continued, "So I can only write to my parents in a roundabout way, praying for this little opportunity."
"You are willing to come to the capital to see me, which means you forgive my brother, right?"
He had been holding these words in his heart for a long, long time. He had practiced them countless times in secret, but no amount of words could make up for the regret in his heart. Every word was filled with pleading. He carefully held Lu Suizhu's hand and said, "I will protect you well from now on. I will definitely protect you well."
There is no greater love than that of family. Lu Suizhu smiled through her tears and said, "I forgive you. I forgave you a long time ago."
The warmth from his hands melted her, and she felt extremely fortunate to have found her home, where she had her parents and brother.
Seeing such a touching scene, Fang Dian couldn't help shedding tears, but the servant boy had an indifferent expression. He threw the pounded garlic heavily in front of the two of them, and then went to clean the courtyard with a big broom.
The tender and affectionate moment was interrupted by a bowl of flying garlic. Shen Wenjian sighed, wiped his tears with his sleeves, and moved the bowl of spicy garlic away from his sister. Facing Lu Suizhu's questioning eyes, he looked a little embarrassed.
"Uh, don't pay attention to him. He is a mute, so he is cheaper. I always have to go out and make friends when I live here. I have a servant... just to keep up appearances." Shen Wenjian smiled stiffly. It was really embarrassing to talk about this.
"Brother, take Fangdian and me with you when you go out. We'll support you together."
Shen Wenjian was moved again not to think that his sister was so considerate. He no longer felt ashamed and nodded in agreement.
There was an open-air kitchen in the courtyard, and looking up one could see the clear blue sky. After putting Lu Suizhu's luggage away, he lived in the room next to him, and Shen Wenjian went out to buy some vegetables and meat.
When the two of them were picking vegetables together in the evening, Lu Suizhu spoke unintentionally.
"Brother, have you ever met Minister Pei from the Ministry of Rites after being in the capital for so long?"
After a moment's thought, Shen Wenjian remembered, "You mean Master Pei? He used to come to the academy for exams quite often, but I haven't seen him for a while. I heard that he seems to be seriously ill."
While picking celery leaves in his hands, Shen Wenjian was also busy chattering to her about some interesting stories from the capital.
But Lu Suizhu was a little absent-minded and didn't hear a word he said. When he spoke excitedly, she just nodded randomly.
Is he sick again?
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