Chapter 73 Grapes
Ming Huachang's heart was in turmoil. It turned out that he was talking about this matter. She was scared to death. She thought Ming Huazhang had found out.
After calming down, Ming Huachang was speechless. It was such a small matter, she just said it casually at the time and didn't take it seriously, but Ming Huazhang still remembered it now.
But Ming Huashang had been playing it safe for so many years, how could he not know what to say in front of Ming Huazhang? Ming Huashang immediately started to talk nonstop: "Second brother, I don't doubt at all that you will get the top prize, but in front of Brother Xie, I can't say it too bluntly, otherwise he will be embarrassed."
Ming Huazhang knew that she said different things to different people, but the inexplicable anger in his heart dissipated unconsciously. Ming Huashang took a new piece of paper to write, and Ming Huazhang sat under the lamp, quietly looking at her direction. Suddenly, Ming Huazhang asked: "Shangshang, do you think it is important to be the top scholar?"
Ming Huashang's heart was beating fast. Ming Huazhang was always firm and decisive. This was the first time he spoke to her in a confused tone. Ming Huashang carefully considered and pretended to be relaxed: "The top scholar is just a good luck. There are so many scholars in the world, but there can only be one top scholar. Just because others didn't win the top scholar, do you say they have no talent or don't work hard? As long as you have a clear conscience and don't let yourself down, that's enough."
Ming Huazhang was silent for a while, then stood up and walked to her side, saying slowly: "You are right."
Ming Huashang thought Ming Huazhang was here to supervise her writing, but he didn't look at her, but stopped in front of the candlestick. The flame flickered, and the shadow of the pen on the paper also jumped. Ming Huashang glanced at him in surprise between dipping the ink and asked, "Second brother, what are you doing?"
Ming Huazhang watched the note turn into ashes in the flames and said calmly, "It's nothing. Just throwing away some useless rotten dust."
The flames flickered rapidly, making his pupils appear bright and dark. Yes, it was such a simple truth, but he actually needed Ming Huashang to remind him.
He admitted that Han Jie was right. The most important thing in officialdom is to be balanced and smooth, and to understand the intentions of superiors. If you want to get things done, you must succumb to the ways of the world.
But he didn't want it. If the top scholar needed someone to give him the title, he would rather not have it.
Ming Huashang thought Ming Huazhang's behavior was very strange. He suddenly came to her room in the middle of the night and said nothing except burning a note. He saw her finish writing the memorial and then left. After Ming Huashang locked the doors and windows as required, she was completely confused.
What on earth was he doing here tonight? Was he really just checking her homework?
...There's no need for his brother to be so detailed.
·
The relocation team was getting closer and closer. According to the scouts, at the current speed, the Queen's carriage would arrive in Chang'an tomorrow afternoon. Chang'an had been so busy these days that even the ancient and independent Zhongnan Mountain was not spared. The mountain was obviously restless.
Today's final assessment was over, and people received their scores one after another, and then quietly went down the mountain. In the blink of an eye, the base seemed to be empty.
Ming Huachang was the last one to get her results. At 12:00 p.m., she followed Ming Huazhang to see Han Jie, but when she pushed the door open, she found it was already full of people.
It was not surprising that Xie Jichuan, Jiang Ling, and Ren Yao were there, but Ming Huashang did not expect that Su Xingzhi and Su Yuji were also there.
Ming Huashang was a little confused, but Ming Huazhang seemed very calm. He walked towards Han Jie calmly, and everyone spontaneously made way for him: "General Han."
Ming Huashang followed behind Ming Huazhang silently and stood in the second row. Ming Huazhang had broad shoulders and long legs. He stood in front and easily covered Ming Huashang. Ming Huashang took the opportunity to ask Jiang Ling beside him: "What's going on?"
Jiang Ling shook his head, squeezed his eyes in the direction of Su Xingzhi and Su Yuji, and then spread his hands.
It was a very distorted expression, but Ming Huashang somehow understood it. At this time, Han Jie and Ming Huazhang finished their greetings and said, "Okay, now that everyone is here, I will talk about it together. First of all, congratulations to you. You have performed well in the past four months. Xuanxiaowei has decided to let you go to Chang'an to perform the mission. Here are your scores, take them."
No wonder Su Yuji and Su Xingzhi were also here; it turned out they wanted to stay in Chang'an.
Ming Huashang couldn't help but raise her eyes quietly and look at Su Yuji.
Su Yuji's appearance is actually very elegant and graceful, but she has a cold and arrogant temperament, and her thin back is straight, instantly dispelling the sense of weakness, just like a chrysanthemum under the autumn frost, weak and slender, but still stubborn. In terms of temperament alone, she is somewhat similar to Ming Huazhang.
With this feeling, Ming Huashang looked at Su Xingzhi again. The more he looked, the more he felt that they looked alike.
According to the predictive dream, next year Su Yuji will go to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion and reveal that she is the daughter of the Ming family. Ming Huashang, who has usurped the Ming family's nest, will die silently in the fragrance of osmanthus.
Thinking of this, Ming Huashang suddenly discovered something strange. In her dream, she died in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion in Luoyang, but now the capital has been moved, and the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion has moved to Chang'an. If she doesn't go back to Luoyang next year, will she not die?
Ming Huashang thought about it for a long time and felt that this idea was a bit unrealistic. If she didn't find the person who wanted to kill her, what difference would it make whether she was in Chang'an or Luoyang? Su Xingzhi seemed to be a good person. If she took advantage of this year to build a good relationship with Su Xingzhi, move out of the Zhenguo Mansion, and take care of Su Xingzhi, would it be too late?
Ming Huashang was thinking about the future and stared at Su Xingzhi in a daze without realizing it. It was not until someone bumped into her that she came back to her senses.
Ming Huashang looked up blankly and found Jiang Ling staring at her with wide eyes in surprise. Ming Huazhang was standing in front of her with her test paper, and he didn't know how long he had been waiting for her.
Jiang Ling asked curiously, "What are you thinking about?"
Ming Huashang quickly scanned the surroundings. Her gaze just now was so obvious that not only the Su brothers and sisters, but even Han Jie above noticed it. She was extremely embarrassed, and she took the file with a forced expression, saying, "Nothing, I just felt reluctant to leave."
Jiang Ling hesitated to speak, looking confused. She complained about this remote place and the bad food every day, but didn't she feel reluctant to leave? Besides, even if she really didn't want to leave, why was she staring at the man from the outside group?
After Ming Huashang finished speaking, she realized that she had found a very bad excuse. Seeing that everyone's eyes were on her, she was so embarrassed that she wanted to crawl into the cracks of the ground. Ming Huashang hurriedly changed the subject: "General Han actually finished reading everyone's test papers so quickly. It must be hard work. Hey, I am A?"
She sang the last few words in high notes. Ming Huashang was instantly overjoyed and no longer cared about the embarrassment she had just experienced. She asked Jiang Ling happily, "How are you?"
Jiang Ling was originally very proud, but when he heard her words, his brows furrowed: "You are also A?"
Ming Huachang's smile gradually froze: "Also?"
Ming Huashang and Jiang Ling looked at each other and fell silent in strange silence.
They both look down on each other because they are not good at it. They both think at almost the same time: she (he) has Grade A, is Grade A really so worthless?
But the two of them were still smiling on the surface, congratulating each other and flattering each other hypocritically. These words fell into Ming Huazhang's ears, like a knife, piercing his ears and hurting him.
After she came in, she stood in the back row on purpose, just to secretly watch Su Xingzhi's back. She and Jiang Ling played around lively and casually, far from the restraint she had when facing him.
She has reached the age of a young girl, and she is so cute, coquettish and considerate, it is hard for anyone not to like her. Will he soon hear the news that she wants to get married?
Ming Huazhang interrupted Ming Huachang and Jiang Ling calmly: "Be quiet, General Han has something else to say."
Ming Huashang heaved a sigh of relief, quickly shut up, and stood still. Han Jie hummed, not knowing if he had anything else to say.
He thought hard and said, "There's nothing to say. You've worked hard during this period. Go back and pack your bags and prepare to go down the mountain. It will be difficult to travel any later at night. When His Majesty comes to Chang'an tomorrow, your relatives will also be back. Make up an excuse tonight so that no one will find out what's wrong."
Han Jie said it very politely, but if translated, it roughly means: Go away and don't cause him any trouble.
The seven of them were silent, and then they said goodbye without saying anything. Ming Huazhang walked last, still with a cold expression. Ming Huashang walked up to him and asked, "Second brother, I didn't see you just now, you won't be angry, right?"
Ming Huazhang said calmly, "No. Why should I be angry with you?"
This seemed strange. If it was Jiang Ling who said this, Ming Huashang would definitely think he was being treacherous. But since this came from Ming Huazhang, Ming Huashang felt that she was judging others by her own standards. She secretly blamed herself for being suspicious, and then happily said to Ming Huazhang, "That's good. Second brother, can I not go back to live in the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion?"
Ming Huazhang's pupils shrank and he suddenly turned around to look at her. Su Xingzhi, who was walking diagonally in front of him, also shuddered and obviously stopped.
Su Yuji was surprised and turned to look at Su Xingzhi inexplicably: "Brother?"
Ming Huashang was startled by the coldness in Ming Huazhang's eyes, and did not notice the abnormality of Su Xingzhi in front of him. Ming Huashang blinked, thinking that Ming Huazhang had misunderstood, and quickly explained: "Second brother, I don't have any objections to your arrangement. You took the trouble to help me find Deye Temple, and I am very grateful to you. But in April, I vowed to go to the Taoist temple for meditation, and it has only been four months and I moved back to the mansion. Isn't it more suspicious to go back on my words? Why don't I rent a house outside and live alone, so that it will be convenient to carry out my mission in the future."
Everyone present knew everything. The only ones who didn't know their true identities were the Su brothers and sisters, who would stay in Chang'an for a long time and would even take the imperial examination with Ming Huazhang next month. By then, Su Xingzhi would be able to easily find out Ming Huazhang's background. Ming Huashang had no need to hide it, so she told him directly.
After all, the person who wanted to kill her in the Duke's Mansion has not been found yet, so it is better to move out and turn the passive position into the active one.
Ming Huashang looked at Ming Huazhang expectantly, but her second brother, who was always considerate, did not go along with her this time. His eyes were like cold stars, his gaze was aggressive, but his voice was as calm as a lake: "Why do you want to move out?"
“呃……”明華裳卡了下，絞盡腦汁說，“搬出來行動自由，想見誰就見誰，想買什麽就買什麽，出入不需要經過別人同意，而且方便圓謊……”
“好。”明華章淡淡點頭，說，“我幫你解決這些問題，你跟我回家。”
明華裳臉上的表情僵住，不明白明華章在做什麽。明華章擡眸望了眼，圈住明華裳的手，大步越過蘇行止，朝外走去。
明華裳被抓得踉跄了兩步，經過蘇行止、蘇雨霁兄妹時，她還友好地對他們笑了笑。
然後就覺得手腕上的力氣更重了。
明華章和明華裳走出許久，蘇行止依然定定望着他們的方向，目光讓蘇雨霁覺得很奇怪。蘇雨霁順着前方看了看，疑惑問：“阿兄，你在看什麽？”
蘇行止回神，看到蘇雨霁圓圓的杏眼，抿了抿唇，終究是什麽都沒說。
他低頭，遮住眼中的神色：“沒什麽。”
蘇行止看到地縫上爬過一只螞蟻，他心中不無嘲弄地想，原來，他們就是鎮國公府，他們就是祖母侍奉過的明家人。
原來那個漂亮貴氣卻又從無敗績的清傲少年，就是明家世子，蘇雨霁的親兄長。
·
一回生二回熟，明華裳這次下山從容很多，才戌時便抵達城門。和上次走馬觀花不同，這次明華章帶明華裳進城後，直奔長興坊。
明華章一路都沒怎麽說話，明華裳不知道兄長為什麽生氣了，安安靜靜跟着，不敢觸黴頭。直到停到一座府邸前，明華裳擡頭看到上面的字，才意識到這是哪裏：“鎮國公府？這就是我們家？”
明華章聽到她自然而然說“我們家”，心裏的火稍微平息了些，淡淡應聲：“是。”
明華裳眼睛瞪得更大了，明華章下馬，不疾不徐扣響府門。過了好一會，大門才支開一條縫，有些耳背的老仆聽到是二郎君和二娘子，老淚縱橫，忙請明華章和明華裳進來。
府中沒多少人，清寂的都能聞到樹木根莖的味道。明華章沒用老仆領路，自己帶着明華裳去尋住處。
古木遮天蔽日，明華裳跟在明華章身後，穿過一重又一重回廊，整座宅子仿佛只有他們兩人。明華裳路上左顧右盼，這座府邸和洛陽的鎮國公府不同，灰牆青瓦，樹木葳蕤，雖然占地面積不及洛陽的宅子大，但自有一股古樸的歲月氣息。
可惜，她對這裏完全沒有印象了。明華裳想到這裏竟是自己幼年居住的地方，心裏感慨萬千：“原來這就是明家祖宅。沒想到竟然保護的這麽好，一點都看不出十多年沒住人。”
明華章淡淡說：“是我派人修繕過。”
“……”明華裳不可思議，“你這段時間不是在終南山嗎？”
“是啊，但又不影響修繕宅子。祖母和父親闊別多年，終于重回故地，我們做小輩的，怎麽能讓他們住得不舒服？”
明華裳聽後沉默了，果然她是個不孝女，尤其和明華章對比，養她還不如養條狗。
明華裳如實說道：“二兄，你思慮周全，膽大心細，阿父有你真是福氣。”
明華章輕輕笑了聲，放慢腳步，和她并肩而行：“不，這是我應該做的。你才是父親的福氣。”
這話明華裳自己都不好意思應，她笑着挽住明華章的手，說：“我們兄妹就不要推來推去争這個了，我們一起孝順阿父。”
明華裳嬉皮笑臉地靠上來，明華章也不好再冷着臉，先前的不愉快就算翻篇了。
雖然明華裳到現在也不知道哪裏惹他不愉快了。
明華章帶明華裳穿過竹林，走入東北角的跨院裏。這裏位置偏僻，外面環繞着竹林，霎間就安靜下來。院裏草木扶疏，大氣雅致，關上門是獨立的院落，打開門可以直通府外，不遠處就是坊牆和夏門街，可謂鬧中取靜，十分精巧。
當然，最合明華裳心意的還是房檐下的葡萄架。明華裳沒有那些文藝情懷，她就喜歡種能吃的、實用的東西，比如這架子葡萄。
明華裳腦子裏已經浮現出葡萄的十種吃法，院裏的花圃也不錯，可惜中看不中用，不如來年犁掉，換上能吃的花，還有外面的竹林，都可以利用。
明華裳屋裏屋外繞了一圈，簡直喜出望外：“二兄，這是給我準備的？”
“是啊。”明華章負手，慢慢說，“和你出去住比，如何？”
明華裳實在沒想到在這裏等着她呢，他一路不說話，就是因為這件事？
明華裳也說不清自己的心情，她站在葡萄架下看着明華章，忽然覺得陌生又遙遠。
時光像一陣風，從她身體內呼嘯而過，等她再次擡頭，就發現一切都不一樣了。
兒時他們兩個襁褓并排放在一起，抱走了哪一個另一個就哭；父親說明華裳從小就本事小脾氣大，明華章學會了爬，她還不會，她就用力扯明華章的臉，不讓他走；再後來他們都能在地上平穩地走路了，明華章被父親抱到外院，而明華裳在內院堅持吃喝玩樂，不思進取。
他們兄妹漸行漸遠，可是每年守歲時，明華章總會給她帶一塊膠牙饧。
膠牙饧，是一種很粘牙的糖，如果吃了之後牙齒沒有掉下來，則長命百歲，延年益壽。小時候明華裳每次吃膠牙饧都心驚膽戰，生怕自己的牙掉下來。
興許是明華章帶來的膠牙饧有用，十六年來明華裳能吃能喝，身體比小時候健壯很多，再也沒有生病過。
可是他們也長大了。記憶中總是板着臉給她帶糖的小兄長，一眨眼長成了颀長英俊的少年郎。
明華裳看着面前的明華章都覺得恍惚，原來，他已經比她高這麽多，就算她想扯他的臉也做不到了。
她也不能再做這樣的動作，因為她已經是個可以成婚的女子，他過兩年也會有新的妹妹甚至妻子，那塊膠牙饧不再屬于她了。
明華裳笑了笑，說：“二兄，我并不是那個意思。我也知道父母在不分家，我只是不想因為我的原因，給你添麻煩。”
頭頂的葡萄葉簌簌翻湧，仿佛銀河下的私語聲。明華章同樣認真盯着她，反問：“麻煩？我是你的兄長，我為你置辦住所，護你周全，在你看來，竟然是麻煩？”
明華裳哽住，心中湧上股難言的酸楚。
如果他真的是她的兄長，她肯定恬不知恥地賴着他，讓他幫自己做這個做那個。可是，他不是。
他是個細心負責的好兄長，但這份好，本來不屬于她。
明華裳垂下眼睛，低不可聞說：“可是，我和你不同，我遲早都要離開明家……”
她嘆息的聲音很低，奈何這句話實在長在了明華章逆鱗上，他一下子就辨認出來了。
明華章只覺得火一點點從他身體深處竄起，很多他以為他已經忘了的、不介懷的事情死灰複燃，頃刻間連成山呼海嘯之勢。他手指是冷的，但裏面的血卻滾燙。
明華章忍着氣，冷冷問：“離開明家？怎麽離開？”
明華裳低頭不語，她心裏想着她是假的，自然要連着這十六年的錦繡雲片燒成一抔浮灰，而落在明華章眼裏，就是另一個意味。
明華章的心一點點冷下去，所以她果然喜歡上什麽人了是嗎，迫不及待想搬到府外，好方便和那個人私會？
她不回答，明華章就替她說：“通過嫁人？你明明才說過，不願意成婚。”
這話說出來，明華章自己怔了下。他近乎驚撼地叩問自己，他魔怔了嗎？他為什麽會問出這種話？
明華裳同樣在問這個問題，這和她嫁人有什麽關系呢？明華裳摸不着頭腦，半開玩笑說：“嫁人的事我還沒有想過。畢竟，我見過阿父這樣耐心寬厚的好父親，還有二兄這樣頂天立地的好郎君，怎麽還能看上別人？”
她的話像混沌中的一點螢光，霎間風止浪息，火燒連營。明華章意識到他較勁這麽久，無非是為了聽這一句話。
這個認知，比他看到明華裳盯着蘇行止發呆，還要令他心驚膽戰。
巴掌大的葡萄葉簌簌作響，明華章不期然想到他修繕老宅時，正值七夕。那時候他聽人說，七夕那天站在葡萄樹下，就可以聽到牛郎織女相會時的私語。
當然，種葡萄不是為了大老遠聽牆角，而是因為這一日站在葡萄樹下的情人，可以得到牛郎織女的祝福，永結同心，恩愛一生。
這種傳說聽個熱鬧就行了，不可能是真的，但明華章鬼使神差買了一樹葡萄，移植到這個院子內。
堂堂國公府，不會有人有閑情雅致在院裏種葡萄的。就算有，一別十餘年，沒人打理也該枯死了。這藤葡萄，院子裏的花圃，還有屋裏的擺設，都是他親手安排的，只因覺得她會喜歡。
He had chosen this place when he first came to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion to get acquainted with the road. This small courtyard was clean and convenient, and it was just right for her. The courtyard next door was close to this place, and they wouldn't disturb each other if they closed the door, but when leaving the mansion from here, he had to pass by the next door, which happened to be where he lived.
Ming Huazhang was very satisfied when he first saw her, and he renovated the courtyard very carefully, even almost completely re-peeling the soil, intending to let her "practice Taoism" at home in the future.
He made up a pretext for her to go to Deye Temple, but he couldn't really let her go to the Taoist temple. Duke Zhenguo only had this one daughter, and it was unreasonable to let her leave home. It was fine to have him watching over her in Zhongnan Mountain, but when she returned to Chang'an, he would definitely let her live the most comfortable and smooth life.
If she doesn't want to get married, then she doesn't have to. There are many nobles in Chang'an who practice Taoism and worship Buddha at home. He has wronged her, so he should protect her all her life.
He spent as much time and effort on this small yard as rebuilding a house, and far more than caring for his family. What is he doing? Why is he doing this?
Ming Huazhang had been keeping this question in his heart and refused to think about it. Now, he knew that he could no longer avoid it.