Ruyi only felt wary, and she couldn't help but retreat.

The woman was pale and puffy—not extraordinarily fat, but bloated and loose. He doesn't seem to be very old, but his hair is already a little gray. Those eyes were particularly terrifying, the right eye was blue and white, and there was a white puff on it, which made people dare not look at each other. The expression is like crying and laughing, and it looks very abnormal.

Ruyi also vaguely heard that places such as Yongxiang and Yeting were not clean, and there were often people who were crazy or suffering from hysteria, and they couldn't help but feel a little shocked in their hearts. I can't help but be vigilant.

But the woman could recognize her as a person from the Ciqiu Palace, and Ruyi felt that what she said might be the truth, and at the moment she was troubled and had nowhere to go, so she was not in a hurry to escape.

He watched in silence what the woman was going to do.

Zhuang Qiniang said for a long time before realizing that Ruyi didn't reply a word. She only cherished it in her heart, and her eyes were not good, so she didn't feel the ruyi defense. It's just that he suddenly remembered something, and he went to shake Ruyi's hand, and felt that her hand was cold, and the words immediately stopped in his mouth, and then he took out a pair of cotton sleeves from his arms to put on her.

"Put it on, look at your hands are cold." ”

I felt the cold air drilling up from the center of my feet, and I stomped my feet unconsciously, muttering to myself, "My feet are numb and frozen, right?" Oops, such a cold day. Come and sit down—"

She was going to drag Ruyi into the house, but the water vapor in the weaving room was strong, and when no one burned charcoal, it became more and more cold like an ice cellar, and the smell was also great. As soon as she looked in, she realized that something was wrong, and she smoked two futons. There is a push Ruyi out, and the futon is spread next to the corner of the wall where it can be sunburned. After finishing the paving, she realized that it was simple, she knew that she had been wronged, and her eyes couldn't help but carry some guilt and pleading, and said, "Let's just sit down-"

She moved her hands and feet, and Ruyi was very uncomfortable to be fiddled with and offended by her nondescript closeness and care.

Her hands were extremely rough, straight like a file, and they were strong. was grabbed by her for a while, Ruyi only felt that her hands were full of pain, but the cotton sleeve she stuffed over was extremely gentle, Ruyi had never seen this kind of thing, Zhuang Qiniang taught her to wear it again, and explained in a chattering manner, "I heard that you went out of the palace to study, and I made it for you - I'm afraid there is no charcoal stove outside the palace, how cold does it have to be when writing?" The very fine and soft cotton I used in this set looks thin, but it is warm. You can write with you, just turn your finger cover over and voila, your fingers will be exposed, right? It's not in the way at all—"

After finishing speaking, he looked at Ruyi with some invitational and expectant eyes.

Ruyi felt that her gaze was terrifying, so she didn't look at her. But I did notice the carefulness of this crazy, gibberish woman. didn't explain that there was naturally a charcoal stove outside the palace, and the place where she studied was not cold at all, so she didn't need this kind of thing. He just nodded indiscriminately.

And when she saw that she had stacked two futons on top of each other, she realized that they were both for her, but she had forgotten her own.

Ruyi was absent-minded this day, and realized after a while, maybe she didn't forget - there were many rules in the palace, and the palace ladies who were waiting in front of her did not have their own seats.

In this world, not everyone loves her from the bottom of their hearts.

But only one person's love is never fake. That person is naturally her aunt.

She once wanted to go out of the palace in the future, so she took her aunt out to live. Never make her angry, sad, disappointed, make her happy every day, and always be with her.

Since he knew that he was going to leave the palace, this wish has not changed from beginning to end.

Ruyi's tears were about to come up again, thinking of his sad and distressed eyes when he asked a few times today, he was so remorseful and uncomfortable that he was almost breathless.

But when she thought of the word "wild seed" again, she didn't know what to do - she thought, can't she be with A-Niang in the future? Then he was helpless and began to weep bitterly.

When Zhuang Qiniang saw Ruyi, she suddenly cried bitterly at the futon, and she panicked.

She didn't know how to comfort her, so she could only ask randomly, "Who bullied the girl?" Why are you crying? Have you been wronged in any way? She was anxious, but finally realized what was wrong, "How did you get here?" ”

At this moment, she finally vaguely saw the bruise on the corner of Ruyi's mouth.

As if she had been beaten, the memory in Zhuang Qiniang's mind woke up instantly. She was stunned for a long time before she finally realized that she had escaped, and her drunkard husband was indeed incapable of breaking into the palace to beat her, and she no longer had to worry about it. Only then did I barely wake up from my involuntary shrinking and feel safe.

Because of this memory, she finally woke up from the ecstasy and confusion of seeing Ruyi at first glance. Realize how dangerous what you're doing this day.

Ruyi cried for a while, but finally got tired of crying, and gradually calmed down with sobs.

Zhuang Qiniang saw that the corners of her lips were bruised, and she heard her crying, and she also had some conjectures in her heart-Could it be that she was disobedient and was beaten by Xu Si?

She couldn't help but feel a little sad. However, when you think about it, it's not much of a fight. Maybe it's just a little rubbing when I'm annoyed, after all, it's just a little bruise. Besides, how can a child not be beaten? But it is very dangerous to run away in a rage - if you provoke the adult, you will be beaten even more.

She was busy stammering Ruyi on the side, "Niangniang loves you, even if it's temporary...... I won't be ruthless. You go back and make amends to your mother, and let your mother put out the fire, otherwise you ......" But halfway through speaking, I thought that Ruyi's temperament was so strong, I didn't know how much I would compromise, and I didn't know how much suffering I would suffer in the future, so I couldn't help but shed tears bitterly, and said, "If you feel uncomfortable, come to me and talk to me...... But don't make the mother angry again. ”

Ruyi was confused, but she didn't listen to what Zhuang Qiniang said.

She was just thinking about Xu Si in her head, even if she didn't know how to face it, she just wanted to go back to her aunt.

Zhuang Qiniang saw that she was sad and lost, and only thought that she was because she was beaten.

She finally remembered how to make Ruyi happy, and said in surprise, "That's right—I also sewed a cloth tiger for you!" Wait a minute, I'll go get it. ”

She went into a room, and for a moment remembered that she hadn't put it here—it had to be farther away, and then she turned back and said earnestly, "You have to wait for me, and I'll turn around and come back—"

When Ruyi woke up, Zhuang Qiniang was gone.

As the sun finally broke through the winter fog and became bright and warm.

She thought she had been out for too long—and she had come out in that situation, and wondered if her aunt was worried.

She put the cotton gloves in her arms back on the futon, took a pair of gold and silver bills from her purse and put them down, and turned away.

Zhuang Qiniang panted and came out of the corner with the cloth tiger in her arms, and was about to take a breath when she saw that the person in the corner was no longer there.

She was stunned for a while, then stepped forward stiffly, and when she saw a pair of gold and silver bills resting beside her gloves, tears rolled down in a daze—because the New Year had come, and many gold and silver bills had been beaten in each palace to reward people. Because she saved Ruyi when she was young, and her rewards were particularly generous every year, why did she lack such a pair of gold and silver bills.

Over the years, she has made things for Ruyi, and if Ruyi likes it, she will be rewarded with silver. Every time she received a reward in the past, she felt joy and relief in her heart—because she liked it. But this time she only felt completely sad, so she squatted down against the corner of the wall, hugged the cloth tiger, and cried whining.

Xu Si covered his forehead and leaned tiredly on a few cases. The long eyelashes drooped down, hiding the sparkle in his eyes.

The Ciqiu Palace has been rummaged, and even the residences of the palace maids who Ruyi has never been to have been carefully searched, but still no shadow of Ruyi has been found.

Xu Sixin knew that Ruyi had been sensitive and naughty since she was a child, and she had practiced martial arts for many years, and she loved to climb over the wall and trees - when she wanted to hide, she was afraid that the forbidden army would be transferred in, but she was afraid that she would not be found for a while. However, thinking that this time it was herself who she was avoiding, and she still couldn't restrain her sadness.

If she couldn't find Ruyi, she couldn't eat at all, and Aunt Zhai persuaded her many times, but she just shook her head.

Aunt Zhai couldn't help but secretly sigh "the evil obstacle of the previous life" - she had listened to Xu Yi's invitation and relayed Liuli's scolding words to Xu Si, of course she knew how difficult Xu Si's mood was at the moment. But she couldn't tell the truth, but thinking of the many twists and turns and inside information, she became more and more aware of the tragedy of fate behind Xu Si's favor, and even she, a lonely widow who was close to her sixtieth birthday, couldn't bear it.

The Son of Heaven sent Vimo, and he couldn't get rid of it when he went around in Taicheng, and finally came to the Ciqiu Palace.

Seeing Xu Si's sorrow, it also touched his heart. I don't know what the chaos up and down the temple is for. He has always treated Xu Si with great care, but he can put down his body and bow down to her. And the guilt of this day was full of knots, and he was more and more willing to compensate, so he squeezed and sat beside her, took her hand and stroked it, and asked with a smile, "Who bothered you to turn on your back?" ”

Xu Si felt that her blood was surging, even though she couldn't blame this person for all the twists and turns in her life, but if it was said that the root cause of her misery now was all in this person, it was always not bad...... She closed her eyes and calmed down for a few moments before she was able to calm herself down.

She knows the temperament of the Son of Heaven very well, if she sues the Son of Heaven, the Son of Heaven will definitely protect Liuli and not say anything, but I am afraid that I will be disgusted with Ruyi in my heart. Sooner or later, Ruyi will be suppressed on other matters.

didn't even mention it, but said, "I'm thinking, through this year, Ruyi will be twelve years old." It's almost time to discuss the age of the family, isn't it time to set it for her? ”

The Son of Heaven smiled, "Everyone else is willing to keep their children for a few more years, why are you in a hurry to let her get married?" ”

-- In his speech, he always regarded Ruyi as his own.

Xu Si didn't feel tired, and said, "Early also has the benefit of being early." And it doesn't mean that she will be married off immediately, she will be married first, and then she can marry after she is married. ”

The Son of Heaven said, "Yes." It's just that it's orderly, and it's not beautiful to go over the glass to give her a designation first. It's better to wait for Liuli to be chosen, and then give their sisters a marriage together. ”

He knew that Liuli liked Xu Yi, although he immediately stopped drinking, forcing Liuli to cut off his thoughts, but his parents always wanted to make their children happy. When it comes time to break their minds, they will inevitably hesitate. Of course, in the end, he will definitely give his wishes to Xu Yi as agreed. But I still vaguely hope that before this, I can help Liuli find a more satisfactory Lang Jun, and wait for her to lose her heart for Xu Yi.

It's just that Xu Yi is also a unique figure among his peers, and the Son of Heaven really can't think of anyone to choose at the moment. So I subconsciously delayed.

Xu Si also has a temper.

Originally, her many subserviences to the Son of Heaven were just for Ruyi - if it wasn't for the Ruyi back then, she would have cut her ambition when she was confiscated into the palace. Later, if it weren't for the fact that the Son of Heaven allowed her to have a good child, she wouldn't want to live under his obscenity at all. She hated this mean and unkind man very much, after all, it was this man who had sworn an alliance with her to force her to marry Li Hu, causing her to taste humiliation and torture and fall into the abyss from which she could never recover.

But what is she forgiving for?

Is Ling Ruyi a loyal dog for Erlang? Or let her be trampled on by Liuli without dignity? Or is it as convenient as she was back then?

Xu Si was upset, guilty, and annoyed, but he felt that it was difficult to maintain his sanity. After all, she also has her own emotions, even if it is for the sake of her children, she can't suppress it forever.

She finally couldn't restrain herself from sarcastically, "They are not sisters in the first place, why do they need to put together to discuss the order of generations?" ”

The Son of Heaven heard the resentment in her words, and knew that it must be for the sake of wishfulness, so he felt a little dull in his heart. But he still smiled, "How can you talk with a gun and a stick?" Could it be that I have wronged the four girls? ”

At this point, there is no need to continue to hide it. Xu Si finally said, "...... The third princess scolded her for being a wild seed and beat her. ”

When the Son of Heaven heard that she was actually suing Liuli, his eyes deepened, and he retorted, "The noisy and fighting of the children's family is also worth your fanfare?" What's more, Liuli can't beat and scold her? How noble she really is! He was already very unhappy today, and he felt guilty about Xu Si, so he didn't feel annoyed when he said it, and justified himself, "When I was worried about Erlang's future, you didn't know about such a trivial matter!" Ruyi is your child, and Liuli is not my flesh and blood? With such a heart, if I really entrust my body to you, how can my flesh and blood still have a good life! ”

He said indignantly, and without waiting for Xu Si to reply, he slammed the door angrily and walked away.

The Son of Heaven walked out of the courtyard gate, and was flashed by the bright sun, and he unconsciously stopped and closed his eyes and sighed.

The attendants beside him were all nervous, and they didn't dare to make a single voice, even if they dared to come to persuade him.

The Son of Heaven knew that what he said was serious—why didn't he understand Xu Si's temperament? He clearly wanted to add sin. It's just that in today's situation, there is no turning back for him.

His heart was so heavy that he could barely take a step. But this step is probably going to go out sooner or later.

Once Vimo is ordained, for the sake of his posthumous affairs and for the sake of stabilizing the situation, he is bound to suppress and alienate Xu Si and promote Vimo's biological mother.

Now it's just a step ahead.

He stood still for a long time, and finally raised his footsteps. After that step, he seemed to be dying of old age in a matter of moments. The soft feelings in the eyes have withered away, and only a cold and spicy old man remains.

He suddenly remembered that he was studying back then, and when he read about Jin Xian's scheming suppression of Shen Sheng, he thought to himself what a beautiful young son he was, and it was worth him to kill the eldest son and chase all the sons to fulfill it. Now I understand. As Shen Sheng said, just because there is no such person, he will not be able to live comfortably and cannot eat enough - the heart is weak, and it is easy to covet gentleness and wealth, not to mention that he is already old after all. If you can really live only for selfish desires like Jin Xiangong, it will not be a blessing. Unfortunately, it can't.

He finally left the Ciqiu Hall without looking back.

The Son of Heaven went away in anger, which was unprecedented in the Ciqiu Palace. The people in the palace were terrified, not knowing what had angered Tianyan and whether a catastrophe was coming.

The palace is about to come with a storm.

Xu Si only closed his eyes and recuperated.

Aunt Zhai was waiting outside, and she listened to the words of the Son of Heaven, and she only felt thrilled. Standing beside Xu Si at this moment, he couldn't help but ask, "Lady, your majesty ...... him?"

Xu Sifang came back to his senses and said tiredly, "It's inevitable sooner or later, mom doesn't have to be afraid." ”

Aunt Zhai heard that there was still a secret in her words, so she asked, "...... Why did the lady say that? ”

Xu Si naturally understood that with the temper and scheming of the Son of Heaven, he must have had an idea a long time ago, and he just made it through such a hair-based speculation based on his words, it seems that he has finally made up his mind to canonize Vimo. Xu Si knew from the beginning that she didn't have much chance of winning, and she also vaguely expected today's situation, so she didn't feel afraid.

On the contrary, it was faintly relieved.

Just thinking that the Son of Heaven is cut in from wishful thinking, I can't help but feel a little bored and slack with his unchanging temperament for 20 years.

Xu Si had no intention of answering. Aunt Zhai couldn't continue to ask, so she persuaded again, "Since the lady knows that His Majesty doesn't like the four girls, why do she have to say it to provoke Her Majesty." What's more, who is not wronged by the children's families, even if they leave it alone, they will be fine after a while. ”

Xu Sidao, "How can it be okay?" It's just like a poisonous snake sinking from the surface of the water to the bottom of the water, intimidating you from time to time in the dark, and at some moment it will come out coldly and bite you......" Xu Si seemed to be talking to himself, "Mom, do you remember Princess Jingyi?" ”

Aunt Zhai was dazed for a while, and then finally remembered that it was precisely because Xu Si met this princess when she was a girl that she was targeted by the mad emperor of the previous dynasty.

Xu Sidao, "'This banshee will be a curse...... With such a sentence, some people blamed me for the defeat of the previous dynasty. People of insight know that it is nonsense, but my mother thinks that people or I really don't say this. She paused for a moment, then added, "And how old was I when I was forced into the palace?" But to this day, what I saw and heard back then is still vivid. ”

"There are some things in this world that will be forgotten after a while. But there are other things that will haunt people for a lifetime. ”

At this moment, Erlang's matter has finally come to an end for the time being. Presumably, the Son of Heaven will not come to the Ciqiu Hall often in the future, and she can finally ease her nerves, and follow her original intention with peace of mind to do something that should have been done a long time ago.

Xu Si asked, "Hasn't Ruyi come back yet?" ”

Aunt Zhai said, "Not yet." However, there are no more people in the palace than outside, and the princess will definitely not have an accident. If the mother is still not at ease, she will send some more men—"

Xu Si got up and said, "I'd better go find it myself...... If this child wants to be stubborn, she is afraid that the more people there are, the more she will refuse to come out. ”

She said she was going, got up and left.

Aunt Zhai hurriedly called the Venerable Master, and hurriedly took the cloak and Zhaojun hat and followed her and put them on for her.

However, when the group left the temple gate, they saw Ruyi standing in front of the courtyard gate. Obviously planning to come back, Xu Si's tears welled up first, and he complained in a low voice, "I finally know how ......to come back."

After being so far away, Ruyi naturally couldn't hear it—but she also saw her aunt's dress, and she was clearly going to come out to find her. When she came back, she didn't care about it, but when she suddenly saw Xu Si at this moment, she felt cowardly in her hometown, but subconsciously turned around and wanted to run away.

Xu Si naturally saw her movements immediately, and knew that she wanted to escape again, and couldn't help but think, how could such a big child still look like a cat. She stepped forward and stretched out her hand to call, "Ruyi, I see you." ”

Ruyi's footsteps stopped and slowly turned around.

Xu Si beckoned, "Come here." ”

Ruyi hung his head and refused to make a sound.

Xu Si said slowly, "If you don't come, A-Niang will go over to look for you." Luckily? ”

Ruyi hesitated for a moment, and finally hesitantly stepped in. In a short period of time, she stopped a few times, but in the end she still came to Xu Si. Xu Si kept stretching out his hand to wait for her, but Ruyi hesitated to answer first. However, in the end, he couldn't resist Xu Si, raised his hand and held it-when he felt that Xu Si's fingertips were cold, he immediately forgot about the awkwardness and reserve of those children, and hurriedly raised it to his lips and rubbed his hands to help her warm up.

Xu Si rubbed his eyes, leaned over and touched her forehead, squatted down again, and said, "Come in...... Haven't you eaten yet, are you hungry? ”

The mother and daughter ate with their own concerns, and Xu Si kept helping Ruyi add vegetables. But in the end, I still can't eat much.

After drinking the hot soup, Xu Si sent her to take a bath again.

After bathing, Ruyi changed her clothes and wrapped them in the quilt, sat on the bed in a daze, and let the maids help her wipe her wet hair. I don't know when Xu Si entered the house and retreated from everyone, Ruyi wanted to get up and salute, Xu Si only pressed her back and took a wool handkerchief to help her wipe it.

Her hands are light, and she is obviously not very good at serving people, and from time to time she will get wet hair on Ruyi's face, making her sticky and itchy. The wool cloth always accidentally covers Ruyi's eyes.

But knowing that she was behind her, Ruyi only felt warm and very peaceful.

The room was silent, as dark as dusk because the doors and windows were closed.

Somehow, tears fell from Ruyi's eyes.

Xu Si heard her slight sobbing, lowered his head to check, and Ruyi hurriedly pressed the hairkerchief on his head, just letting the hairkerchief and wet hair cover his eyes.

Xu Si wiped her hair and whispered to her over and over again. Her voice was slow, calm. When she didn't answer, she thought about where to go, intermittently, as if talking to herself.

"You and your third sister quarreled, A-Niang has also heard about it."

"If your third sister scolds you, A-Niang also knows."

"Do you care?"

Ruyi restrained her choking and nodded silently.

"Yes...... Who wouldn't care. ”

"Ruyi, A-Niang once heard a saying. It is said that women are like a piece of land, and the farmer who grows in the field naturally belongs to the sowing man. If something grows that was not sown by that person, it is naturally a wild seed. Do you feel the same way in your heart? ”

Ruyi held his breath unconsciously. She didn't seem to understand Xu Si's words—after all, she wasn't old enough to really understand these things, but with such a metaphor, she wouldn't fail to understand what Xu Si was talking about.

Based on her experience, it is impossible to tell the truth of this matter. But this did not prevent her from hearing the inappropriateness, so she shook her head, and retorted in a voice that was almost inaudible, "I'm not the ground, and neither is A-Niang...... Why use land to compare people? ”

"yes, why do you want to use land to compare people?" Xu Sidao, "Could it be that people can also be wantonly trampled on, resold, and poisoned, and they don't know the coldness, joy, anger, and pain, so they only silently sow, cultivate, produce, and desolate?" But if you meet a man who compares you to the land, he will not treat you as a living man. Even if he praises you for relying on you, it will only be because he has received some support from you, and he has no regrets or remorse, and it is definitely not because he really loves you. ”

She couldn't help but get a little excited, but she didn't want to instill these feelings and resentments into Ruyi, and in the end she calmed down again.

only said slowly, "So, Ruyi, why should you be angry when you hear people say that you are a wild seed?" ”

She said, "Which child in the world is not his mother's biological flesh and blood." Which one is not conceived by blood and bones, and flesh and blood are connected? Where are the wild seeds? Each one of them is a good child with his own relatives. If you are angry because of gossip and because of the contempt of others, because you are angry that you are called a wild seed, you will despise yourself...... Doesn't he compare A-Niang to fleshless land and compare himself to ruthless grass and trees? ”

The tears in Ruyi's eyes finally couldn't be held back anymore.

Xu Sidao, "How much did A-Niang suffer when she gave birth to you, and how much effort has she spent for you over the years?" But in your heart, do you still care more about your father? Even if A-Niang is just a piece of land, A-Niang conceived and cared for you to grow up, but it is still not as good as the man who sowed you casually, just wanted to use you to make a box for a stone of grain in the future, and never looked at you seriously for more than ten years? ”

Ruyi turned around and hugged her, crying.

Tears continued to flow in Xu Si's eyes. She only rubbed Ruyi into her arms and hugged her tightly, saying, "Don't listen to these nonsense again...... A-Niang will also be hurt by you, and she will be sad. ”

She had actually told her that she was not born to the Son of Heaven.

But this qiē is actually not important in Ruyi's heart.