Chapter 98 Finding the mother and daughter, only to hear the daughter call someone else "Dad"?
Shuang'er paced anxiously back and forth in the room.
She was afraid that going out would cause trouble for Wei Xun, and she was also afraid that the other side had a large number of people and that Wei Xun would be injured alone.
Just as she was lost in thought, the wooden door creaked open.
Shuang'er turned around and saw a bloody gash on his face.
You're injured!
Wei Xun raised his hand and wiped the bloodstains off his face instantly.
"It's the blood of a thief."
Shuang'er breathed a sigh of relief, "It's good that you're alright."
She turned around and rummaged through her large bundle to find the couplets that Lord Jiang had helped write. "Ah Xun, make some paste and stick this up. I'll go cook rice. Two roasted sweet potatoes can't be eaten as a meal."
This small house used to be a granary, and it is fully equipped with everything you need.
She took out a large, tightly wrapped object from another large bundle.
"This is smoked meat that Lord Jiang gave me. It makes stews so fragrant and delicious!"
Her voice was full of joyful laughter, "I've already stewed it twice, and it received unanimous praise from Lord Jiang and my sister! I'll stew it for you later!"
"I also learned a dish from Yuzhou, which symbolizes reunion and happiness. It's sweet and sticky, and it's really delicious!"
"I'll make it for you on New Year's Eve in two days."
Turning her head, she saw Wei Xun still holding the couplet she had given him, staring blankly at her.
Her ears turned red, and she picked up the small pot from the ground and shoved it into his hands. "Why are you looking at me like that? Hurry up and make some paste."
Wei Xun looked at the small pot in his hand and then responded softly, "Mm."
He opened the rice jar only to realize that it was empty.
"We're out of rice."
"With such a large granary, how could we possibly go hungry?"
Shuang'er glanced back at him, then picked up the rice container on the table to fill it with rice.
Wei Xun stopped her, "It's already dark, I'll go."
He stepped out of the hut, and the cold wind lashed his face, clearing his eyes somewhat.
The thin calluses that have recently appeared on my hands are from working over the past few months.
Yao Niangzi is Jiang Niangzi, and Shuang'er is Shuangjiang.
They actually arrived in Yuzhou.
Furthermore, Lady Jiang actually gave birth to a child...
She really doesn't leave herself any way out.
Even if the child is born outside the palace and belongs to the heir, she will never be able to return.
Steam rose from the chimney on the roof of the small house.
Wei Xun lowered his gaze slightly and turned to enter the house.
While instructing him to cook the paste and steam the rice, Shuang'er washed and chopped the ingredients she had brought.
He also carried a pig's trotter the size of a child, and asked him to singe off the pig hair over a fire, then take it out to wash and chop it into small pieces.
Wei Xun had never experienced such a life before.
His time in Yuzhou felt like a stolen opportunity.
He was just a simple Ah Xun.
She was in love with a girl named "Shuang'er," but dared not say anything.
All he could do was clumsily guard the flutter in his heart.
The next day.
He went out before dawn.
He removed a copper seal from his neck and stamped it on sealing wax.
The post station had a dedicated communication channel; as soon as this wax seal was seen, the post station would send a message as quickly as possible.
His dream ended.
He is Wei Xun.
He took out a wooden hairpin from his pocket, which was the one that "A-Xun" was most satisfied with after carving many.
It's much prettier than the wooden comb he gave away.
She had just polished the hairpin to a smooth finish. He gently stroked it with his fingertips, then placed the wooden hairpin on the windowsill.
He took one last deep look at the cabin, then headed in the opposite direction toward Longchang Town in Yuzhou.
Shuang'er was awakened by the sound of firecrackers.
The fire in the hearth was still warm; someone had added firewood in the morning.
Wei Xun's room was filled with neatly folded blankets, as if no one had ever lived there.
No one was found in front of or behind the house.
Finally, I saw a wooden hairpin carved with a peony on the windowsill.
A strange feeling flashed through Shuang'er's mind.
She shook her head in disbelief.
She waited for five whole days, and the granary manager and farmhands all came, but Ah Xun still didn't return.
He appeared as suddenly as he suddenly disappeared.
The capital city, a thousand miles away.
Zhou Congxian stood atop the city wall, watching the fireworks light up the entire city and hearing the cheers and laughter.
It is indeed a wonderful day for family reunion.
Many officials who had been sent to other posts have also returned.
All for the most important day of the year.
Most officials in the court were given a day off, except for those of the third rank and above, who were allowed to return home after the first day of the lunar month.
His expression was slightly cold; whether he went back to that home or not made no difference to him.
"My lord." A soldier stepped onto the city gate.
"Someone from the Duke's mansion said that you should go back to the mansion later for a hot meal."
Zhou Congxian didn't move, and a thick layer of snowflakes had already fallen on his shoulders.
"Tell him to go back."
"Yes." Just as the soldier was about to leave, he called him back.
Zhou Congxian turned around, snowflakes falling from his shoulders. He pulled a pouch from his waist and tossed it to him.
"Go to Dexinglou and buy some good meat. I'll spend the New Year with you."
Even though it's Chinese New Year, the thieves have gone home.
The brothers returned from patrol looking relaxed.
Right now, the busiest people are probably the brothers in the Firefighting Team.
Zhou Congxian sat on the top of the city gate, holding a jar.
Ji Xiaoman rushed up carrying a plate of braised beef. "My lord, this was sent by Lord Qin. He said you should try it."
Last time I went to Yuzhou with you, sir, you insisted on bringing Lord Qin back to the capital.
Now that the court has been purged, Lord Qin and Lord Sheng are one civil official and one military officer, one old and one young.
It has a distinct flavor of friendship between people of different ages.
He simply picked up a piece of beef and threw it into his mouth.
He mumbled incoherently, "Sir, aren't you going back?"
Zhou Congxian reached out and patted the snowflakes off his head. "You can go home early today. Your younger brother is waiting for you at home."
His gaze fell on the plate of braised beef, then he raised the wine jar in his hand and said, "I have enough wine. Take this meat back and add it to your dishes."
Ji Xiaoman beamed with joy, "Thank you, sir!"
His joyful figure receded into the distance, growing smaller and smaller, like that of a child.
In that instant, he seemed to see Fu'er, who was as happy as if she had received the sugar figurine.
"Woof woof!—"
His trouser leg was brushed.
The little bones have all grown up, shedding their childhood appearance as a chubby little yellow ball.
Now it's a majestic big dog.
When he gets fierce, even some of the best fighters in the camp are somewhat intimidated.
Oh, right.
The camp has now changed its extravagant ways and is no longer plagued by those good-for-nothing young masters.
The Yanwei Battalion is now also a well-trained and highly effective team.
besides……
He still had a lot to say.
But the person he wanted to confide in was no longer there.
Everyone says she's dead.
Is she really dead?
He seemed to be in a daze, as if everything was just his imagination.
"Sir, please don't sleep here."
"Wake up, sir!"
"Carry him down first, be gentle."
"The master drank quite a bit of wine again today."
"He's just missing Lady Jiang again. I never thought our lord was such a sentimental man."
Zhou Congxian had a very long dream.
When he got home, the courtyard was lit up.
The sound of Little Bone and Fu'er playing could be heard in the yard.
Shuangjiang and Mother He decorated the courtyard anew, and even replaced the lanterns in front of the door with new ones.
The person he was longing for was facing away from him, holding a "福" (good fortune) character in his hand and gesturing with it.
The red-gold hairpin he won back at Zilin Garden adorned her hair, and the most fashionable red-gold bracelet he had Yu Baolou send over her wrist was on her wrist.
Shi Yao.
He cried out.
She slowly turned around, a faint smile on her face, her hands resting on her high, protruding belly.
Your Highness, the child kicked the concubine again today.
A look of joy flashed in his eyes, and he was just about to take a step forward.
Suddenly, a fire dragon shot out from the roof.
They effectively kept him outside.
Father, save me.
The prince rescued his concubine.
The courtyard was instantly engulfed in flames.
Shi Yao! Fu'er!
He tried to rush in, but countless hands reached out from behind him and pulled him back, making it impossible for him to break free.
Zhao, my son, what will I do if you die!
Lord Duke, she was just a concubine. Now that she's dead, so be it. The Li family girl is virtuous and well-mannered; it would be perfect to marry her as your principal wife.
Grandma Zhou, Xian'er, Jiyun is your cousin, you can't just ignore her!
Your Majesty, Minister Zhou, the world is not yet at peace.
These people eventually turned into ropes and bound him tightly!
In the end, they pulled him further and further away.
He could only watch helplessly as the small courtyard burned fiercely, screaming in agony!
No!
"The master is still inside!"
"My lord! My lord, come out quickly! There's a fire! Come out quickly!"
Zhou Congxian opened his eyes in a daze, only to be met with scorching firelight.
"Shi Yao!" he called out instinctively.
"grown ups!"
A figure burst in, carrying a blanket over their head.
The moment Ji Xiaoman saw the adults, tears welled up in her eyes.
"Sir, you're still alive! That's wonderful! Someone set off fireworks, and they've lit them!"
This is a small hut on the top of the city wall, and the main beam at the entrance has collapsed, blocking the way completely.
The back window overlooks a city wall that is over ten meters high!
Zhou Congxian kicked open the window, grabbed Ji Xiaoman's arm, and jumped down.
With no foothold in the middle, they fell straight down, and the two of them were smashed into pieces.
He could only grit his teeth and push off the city wall behind him, plunging directly into Jinming Lake outside the city.
"grown ups!"
When he and Ji Xiaoman were pulled out of the water, Ji Xiaoman was trembling all over. "I...I thought I was going to die..."
Zhou Congxian stared at the firelight on the city wall, his lips pressed tightly together.
Just then, a fast horse galloped in from outside the city, and a small flag with the character "驿" (post station) could be seen on the back of the person in the distance.
"Urgent report from Ding County, Yuzhou!"
Zhou Congxian received the urgent report.
His pupils contracted when he saw the words on the cover.
It's Wei Xun's calligraphy!
His writing was very brief: there were traces of the Black Tiger Army in Yuzhou, and King Cheng took the opportunity to stockpile a large amount of grain!
The very last sentence.
Jiang Shiyao was not dead. At that time, she was Yao Shisan, the wife of the Yao family merchant in Yuzhou.
Yao Shisan...
That veil covering her face, that fox mask.
His fingertips turned white, and the water from his hair dripped down his cheeks onto the letter, soaking the character "Yao".
A lone rider sped away from the capital.
Zhou Congxian didn't know what he was thinking; he changed horses at each post station.
The post station official couldn't help but say, "Sir, riding like that, not only will the horse suffer, but you will too..."
But he seemed not to hear anything.
Change horses and leave.
They have been traveling for days.
He was filled with resentment, which struggled to keep him going until he reached Yuzhou.
When he arrived, it was still three days until the Lantern Festival.
It was also a day for family reunion.
The long street was lined with festive lanterns.
It's not even the Lantern Festival yet, but the streets are already starting to get lively.
He, weathered by loneliness and hardship, abruptly burst into this bustling scene.
"Mommy, I want a little rabbit lantern!"
The little girl pointed at the stall, jumping and skipping, wanting a small lantern.
"No, you already bought it yesterday."
The figure he longed for and dreamed of looked tenderly at his daughter before him.
"Shi Yao..."
Zhou Congxian's voice was so hoarse that it was almost silent.
He cautiously took two steps forward, still clutching the burnt gold bracelet tightly in his hand.
Fu'er pouted and then snuggled up to the person behind her.
"Daddy, buy me a little rabbit lantern."
"Okay, buy it." Xiao Shu's eyes were full of smiles, his tall figure seemingly enveloping the mother and daughter.
That beautiful picture pierced his eyes.
Fu'er, what should you call him...?
Zhou Congxian's mind suddenly exploded with a "boom".
It seemed as if there had been no sound in the world.
The last breath that held him in his chest finally gave way.
It gushed out of his mouth.
Red plum blossoms dotted the sky.
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