After more than half an hour, the carriage stopped on a mountain road, and the bamboo forests on both sides were almost impermeable.

"Follow me. Qin Ji admonished.

"Good. Yu Mingzhi nodded, curiously watching Qin Ji walk towards the bamboo forest, could it be that this person can also penetrate the wall?

Qin Ji turned around and smiled at her, a soft light flashing in his inky black eyes.

"What's wrong?" Yu Mingzhi felt inexplicable.

"See if you keep up. ”

“…… I haven't entered the bamboo forest yet. ”

"It's not going to go in. Qin Ji said, taking a step forward.

Yu Mingzhi didn't want to talk to him too much, so he followed behind and found that there was a narrow path hidden in the bamboo forest for one person to pass. It seems that the bamboo forest was carefully designed and planted to protect the secrets inside from outsiders.

It is said that bamboo has a high character and a bright festival, but in the end, there is also the desolation of "no one appreciates the high festival, and he holds his own chastity in vain". is like a father, who worked for the country and the people for most of his life, and finally ended up in disrepute.

She looked up, and the bamboo leaves were layered on top of each other, almost obscuring the sky, and occasionally a point of light through the gap fell on her face. Then take a deep breath, and the tip of your nose is filled with the fresh aroma of green leaves, dispelling the gloom in your heart.

Qin Ji didn't ask, but he was always paying attention to Yu Mingzhi's every move, and when he saw her standing in place, he also stopped and waited.

Yu Mingzhi lowered his head, just in time to meet Qin Ji's deep gaze.

"Keep walking. She said.

"Good. Qin Ji led the way, swept away the slender bamboo branches that were easy to scratch people, and carefully guarded the paper money folded by the incense candles and Yu Mingzhi.

Yu Mingzhi looked at him who was considerate and thoughtful, and he couldn't help but sigh for a while: "I feel more and more that you are more careful than ordinary people." ”

Qin Ji said: "When I was poor, I had to come by myself, so I naturally knew how to think more than others. ”

Yu Mingzhi was surprised, he had heard that Qin Ji was a big celebrity in front of the emperor, he had heard that he was ruthless, and he had heard that there were groups of concubines in his family, but he had never heard rumors about his origin.

Qin Ji glanced at her expression and said to himself: "In the eighth year of Kangqing, the flood swept my hometown, thousands of hectares of fertile land were submerged in muddy muddy water, the crops were gone, the livestock were drowned, and the ensuing plague took the lives of my father, brother and sister. I had to leave my hometown with my fellow villagers and go to other counties, and all the way was full of dead people, who had nothing to eat or drink at that time, and who had eaten tree bark, insects, and snakes. ”

Yu Mingzhi listened quietly, stepping on the footprints left by Qin Ji after he walked forward.

Seeing that she didn't object, Qin Ji continued: "After walking for half a year, I can't even remember how I survived. After coming to the Gyeonggi border, I mixed into a school to do odd jobs, and I knew that I would never get ahead in my life as a handyman, so I secretly listened and read books. The emperor lived up to his wishes, and finally won the title of the gold list in the twenty-third year of Kangqing, which was reused by the emperor and accompanied by the prince. Since then, his career has been smooth, and he has sat in the position of today's middle school scholar. ”

His tone was too calm, it was the indifference to everything after the terrible and painful catastrophe, which was even more terrifying.

Except for this family change, she has lived a rich life since she was a child, has the favor of her father, and has not lived a hard life. In Qin Ji's bland description, it can be imagined that the people were struggling to survive under the disaster, and countless lives died in the disaster, including his close relatives, leaving him alone and helpless.

"You...... Not easy. She spoke with difficulty, and her heart felt as uncomfortable as if she was blocking something.

She remembered Ji Qin, who had talked and laughed with her, but Ruyu's son had such an unbearable and difficult growth path behind him.

Qin Ji stopped, his eyes were bright, and he said with a smile: "If you suffer hardship, you will become a master." And now, there is another branch at my side, and I am satisfied. He was a little closer to Yu Mingzhi, close enough to smell the incense on each other's clothes.

Yu Mingzhi panicked, could it be that after the "true confession", he thought that she was moved, and the distance between them was even further? That would be a big mistake, Qin Ji's experience was indeed pitiful, but it was not enough to offset the disdain for what he had done.

"So today you have become twisted and treacherous. She hurriedly spoke.

Qin Ji was not shocked, and the corners of his mouth still maintained a smile, "The world is sinister, and many things have to be done." In order to survive, people can not only eat tree bark and snakes and insects, but even if they want to drink human blood, they can also drink it all without changing their complexion. ”

“…… You're right. Yu Mingzhi lowered her eyes, how much cleaner is what she will do and what she wants to do than Qin Ji?

Qin Ji took a step back and continued to lead the way, "Zhizhi be careful of your step. ”

Yu Mingzhi breathed a sigh of relief and raised his foot to step over a bamboo lying horizontally on the ground.

After a while, the view suddenly became clear, and there was an open area in the bamboo sea, and there was a new tomb in the middle. When he saw the words on the tombstone, Yu Mingzhi's eyes moistened.

"Dad, Mingzhi has come to see you. She walked up slowly and knelt down before the grave.

Qin Ji didn't say a word, sorted out the tribute and paper money, lit three sticks of incense and sent them to Yu Mingzhi.

Yu Mingzhi kowtowed, and the thoughts and grievances of the past few months poured out, and when he said that, he couldn't help himself, covering his face and crying. In order not to worry her mother, in order not to show her feet in front of the Guo family, she has been suppressed for too long.

Even if I cry until my chest hurts faintly, I can't stop crying.

She thought cowardly, so she cried once, even if she wanted to do all the bad things like Qin Ji when she went back, she would drag those corrupt officials to eighteen layers of hell.

Suddenly, a solid embrace and arms wrapped around her, as if she was in the ice and snow, and someone gave her the most bone-deep warmth.

For the first time, Yu Mingzhi didn't want to push Qin Ji away.

She smiled helplessly, this traitor is the most careful and knows how to buy people's hearts.

Above his head, he thought of Qin Ji's clear voice, "My father-in-law is above, and my son-in-law will definitely take care of Zhizhi wholeheartedly, ensure that she has no worries in her life, and avenge your grievances together." And the mother-in-law, sister-in-law, and son-in-law also properly arranged their accommodation to ensure that they have no worries about food and clothing, please rest assured. ”

What simple and plain words, Yu Mingzhi's heart moved.

"If my eyes are swollen from crying, my mother-in-law will blame me. Qin Ji persuaded softly.

Yu Mingzhi writhed a few times, but quickly put away his tears, burned the paper money, and removed the weeds by the grave, seeing that it was not early, they should go back.

"Thank you for coming with me today. ”

Qin Ji said: "As long as it is your wish, I will fulfill it one by one." ”

Yu Mingzhi lowered his head, "You are so good to me, what if you don't receive an equal return?"

"It's like a feast. Qin Ji replied very quickly.

Yu Mingzhi glanced at him and didn't speak again.

Returning the same way, the coachman stepped forward and said, "Son, there is news from the Guo family, Mrs. Guo returned home ahead of schedule, and she was very angry when she heard that Miss Yu and her son were going out. ”