On the morning of the fifth day of the ninth lunar month, it was stormy and rainy.

Ruan Qingzhi, who had only tossed out two paintings for two days in Xifang Garden, and had to write a few more words to make up for it, put on a jacket and wrapped it tightly and went out to board the car.

Banyue put away the umbrella and sat down next to her, pouting and complaining: "How did you catch up with such a day!" It's no wonder that the old lady is willing to go out! ”

Ruan Qingzhi wiped the corners of her wet skirt with a handkerchief, and didn't care: "It's okay if you don't come, just treat it as if we were going to send calligraphy and paintings." ”

After being favored for so many years, it is impossible to lower your posture too much. Ruan Qingzhi was in this position, so he was ready to run for nothing.

Unexpectedly, the other party not only did not miss the appointment, but also had been waiting for her for a long time.

Ruan Qingzhi was suddenly a little panicked, and turned around and asked urgently: "Banyue, did we see the wrong time?" ”

Shopkeeper Song smiled and said, "Of course the eldest lady didn't misread the time, but the old lady came too early." Older people feel less, and rainy weather gets up earlier. ”

Such comfort did not dispel Ruan Qingzhi's fear. She hurriedly instructed Banyue to hand the calligraphy and painting to the man, grabbed the soaked skirt corner and twisted it, raised her foot and walked inside: "Please lead the way." ”

Shopkeeper Song really ran in front tremblingly, smiling: "Old lady! Old lady, Miss Ruan is here! ”

All the way into the backyard, a door opened with a bang, and the well-dressed old woman rushed out.

Ruan Qingzhi immediately bowed his head and knelt down to salute: "I have been taking care of the old lady for many years......"

"Get up, get up!" The old wrinkled hand held her, and the cry in her ear trembled like a cry.

Ruan Qingzhi looked up in amazement: "Luan...... Grandmother?! ”

That old woman was the old lady Luan she had just met not long ago. It's just that at this moment, unlike the noble and graceful face at the banquet that day, he looked a little anxious, his eyes were full of red silk, and the hand holding Ruan Qingzhi trembled and couldn't straighten his waist.

Ruan Qingzhi hurriedly got up and helped her to stand firmly, and her heart became more and more confused: "How could my grandmother ......?"

She suddenly remembered that when she was about to say goodbye after the banquet that day, Mrs. Luan took her hand and said a lot of useless nonsense, sending things and money, and procrastinating just refused to let her go.

At that time, Ruan Qingzhi felt as if something was wrong, and it was even more wrong to think about it at this moment.

I didn't know how to ask about this matter for a while, Ruan Qingzhi had to suppress her doubts, and smiled and laughed: "On such a cold day, my grandmother won't allow me to come into the house to talk?" ”

Mrs. Luan woke up like a dream, and hurriedly dragged her into the door, grinning in distress when she looked at the wet corners of her skirt, and told the girl to get dry clothes to change for her.

Ruan Qingzhi did not shirk, obediently followed the girl into the back room to change her skirt and shoes and socks, and hurriedly walked out, smiling and sitting on the soft couch and squeezing beside Mrs. Luan.

Old Madam Luan was not angry but happy, holding her face with both hands, she couldn't help but look at it, and her eyes were shining with tears.

Ruan Qingzhi was a little nervous, and hurriedly raised her hand to cover her face, half complaining and half coquettish: "Grandmother is ashamed!" ”

Old Madam Luan retracted her hand and wiped the corners of her eyes, and asked in a low voice, "I heard that the Queen Mother sent someone to beat you?" Is it your sister's eye medicine again? ”

Ruan Qingzhi waved his hand disappreciatively: "Your old man is worried, this is all a trivial matter!" ”

"How can this be a trifle!" Old Madam Luan's eyes were even redder, "Silly girl, you don't know what it means to be hated by the Queen Mother!" ...... your life"

"Grandmother!" Ruan Qingzhi leaned on the table and grinned: "The Queen Mother is not stupid, how can she be deceived for a lifetime?" You see, now that Aunt Lian has already seen the doorway! If it weren't for her mercy, how could I have been slapped so much for three days! ”

Mrs. Luan raised her hand and pinched her face, and she was a little relieved, but then she burst into tears: "It's good, but it really hurts when you fight!" ”

Ruan Qingzhi's eyes were sour when she said this. The moon next to him has cried.

That's not true.

Ruan Qingzhi wiped the corners of his eyes and smiled again, looked at Mrs. Luan and said, "I have never been pampered, and I can still stand this pain." It's just that I really didn't expect it...... For so many years, my grandmother has been taking care of me in secret, but I always thought that I could eat on my own. ”

Mrs. Luan was sad and angry by her: "What do you mean, I helped you wrong?" ”

"Of course it helped!" Ruan Qingzhi said with a straight face, "I'm spoiled by you!" ”

It's coquettish. But Old Madam Luan didn't laugh, but became more and more worried: "Ju Mo Zhai just keeps you from starving to death, is this spoiled?" ”

"Spoiled!" Ruan Qingzhi nodded solemnly.

After a pause, he asked, "Why?" ”

I came here today just to ask this sentence.

Why help a child who is rejected by his own parents' family? It's weird for strangers to do this, and it's just as strange for the Luan family to do it.

Luan Yuniang married Ruan Wenzhong less than two years ago and drove west, but the two governments did not break off contact because of this. Over the years, Luan Mansion has always treated the children of the Ruan family as their own grandsons, and even she, the "mourning star", often receives rewards from Luan Mansion.

Doing so is already benevolent and righteous, why go to great lengths to secretly help? Is there something else going on?

Old Madam Luan looked at Ruan Qingzhi's shining eyes and sighed: "Why do you need to ask one more 'why'?" Can't it just because you can't bear it? ”

"'Unbearable' is very strange in itself," Ruan Qingzhi calmly analyzed, "The Prime Minister will not make a noise about his mistreatment of his daughter. Outsiders only know that Miss Ruan is frail and sickly and dull, so she is not a common person, how can my grandmother know that I am not well fed and clothed in the house? ”

Old Madam Luan didn't answer, her face was gloomy and not very good-looking.

This can be understood as being angry. After all, aggressive children are not likeable, and it is not pleasant for an elder to do good deeds only to be questioned in person.

But Nguyen Thanh Chi was not panicking. She looked at the old woman in front of her calmly, and said word by word: "None of my relatives have ever been 'unbearable' to me." ”

"That's his wolf's heart and dog's lungs, and he is a father in vain!" Old Madam Luan suddenly sat up straight and shouted.

Ruan Qingzhi trembled in fright.

Old Madam Luan hurriedly stretched out her hand to hold her, was silent for a long time, and finally let out a long sigh.

Ruan Qingzhi lowered his head and thought for a while, then smiled again: "Since the Luan family knows that my father is not good, why has it not turned against each other for so many years?" Is it because there is no evidence of what happened back then, or is there any fear? ”

Old Madam Luan was stunned.

Ruan Qingzhi slid down from the soft couch, found a small stool to sit down again, and sighed: "I originally came to thank my benefactor today, but I didn't expect that the benefactor was my grandmother...... That's not right. ”

When your relatives meet, you shouldn't be so secretive. Either the cousin of the "young owner" came forward to recognize her three days ago, or he should tell the truth and summon her to come over to talk, where is the need for an old man to come out to meet so far in the wind and rain!

Unless, there is something unsavvy to say.

Ruan Qingzhi blinked, her eyes shining: "Grandmother, in fact, the Luan family has a grudge against the Ruan family, do you want to use me to bring down my father?" So what do I do now? Collect evidence that my father bought and sold official examinations, cheated and brutalized the people, and communicated with foreign countries? ”

Old Madam Luan lowered her head and looked at her, looking a little stunned.

Ruan Qingzhi leaned forward and leaned down on her lap, coquettish: "It's all here, grandmother will tell me!" No matter what you say, I will definitely agree! ”

Mrs. Luan pressed her shoulders with both hands, and tears fell from her eyes: "When your mother was a child, she also liked to lie in my arms and be coquettish......"

Ruan Qingzhi's smile froze.

Old Madam Luan's hands clenched and trembled: "...... You're a lot like her. Eyes, nose, jaw......"

Older people just like to touch the scenery and miss the past, which is a common problem.

Ruan Qingzhi squinted her eyes and let her hold it in a well-behaved manner, and after a while, she was suddenly startled and sat up: "I'm like my mother?" Which mother am I? ”

She was very sure that her face did not bear much resemblance to the Jin family, and the Jin family was even more unlikely to be coquettish in the arms of Old Lady Luan.

So......

Ruan Qingzhi's back straightened, his mouth opened wide, and his eyes widened.

Old Madam Luan looked at her, and two lines of tears fell from her face: "Yu Niang was only nineteen that year...... I was still like a child, holding my stomach and happily telling me that she was going to be a mother...... On the night of the middle of July, the Ruan family came to call the door, and I complained in my heart that Yu Niang was not angry, and a good child was born on such a day...... Who knew that the people of the Ruan family said that the child is gone, my jade lady is gone, and the big and small ones have not been saved......"

Speaking of which, Ruan Qingzhi understood.

She and Ruan Biyun's birthday is July 16.

Hell on July 16th! Hell twin sister flowers!

If there is no mystery in this matter, why should the prime minister be secretive about the cause of Luan Yuniang's death, and why no one has ever mentioned that Luan Yuniang's death is July 15th!

"Grandmother," Ruan Qingzhi gritted her teeth, "so you suspect me ......"

Old Madam Luan coughed twice on the small table, wiped her tears and said: "The Ruan family said that it was a difficult birth, and when a boy was born, he didn't breathe as soon as he landed, and Yu Niang was bleeding heavily...... I had seen Yu Niang and the child, and I believed them. But within a few days, I heard the news that Ruan Wenzhong's concubine gave birth to a pair of daughters and helped them into the main room...... When Yu Niang was alive, there were no concubines in the house! That's clearly the wild woman he raised outside! My jade lady died so suddenly, I don't know if I was killed by them! ”

There is no basis for such a statement. Ruan Qingzhi did not comment and listened quietly.

Old Madam Luan sighed, pulled Ruan Qingzhi back to sit on the soft couch, and grabbed her hand: "Ruan Wenzhong has a sweet mouth and knows how to do things, but when I met the Luan family later, they were still affectionate, and we couldn't find a reason to turn our faces with him, so we could only treat him as a relative." In this way, seven or eight years passed, until the Xiangfu caught fire and burned several minions, and your grandfather sent someone to find out that the eldest lady of the Xiangfu was not even as good as a girl, and then we felt that something was wrong. ”

Ruan Qingzhi thought about it carefully, and had some impressions in a trance, sure enough, it was after the fire in Xifangyuan that he saw the Luan family for the first time, and after more than a year, he had a chance to meet the Song shopkeeper of Jumo Zhai.

So, the Luan family determined that she was actually Luan Yuniang's daughter at that time?

Old Madam Luan shook her head and sighed: "At that time, it was actually just a suspicion, and it was not certain. The Ruan family has always been strict against us from seeing you, and you don't like to go out, and you just missed it when you came to Jumo Zhai a few times, until the last time you ......"

Last time, it was the time for the full moon banquet of the young master of the Luan family. No wonder Mrs. Luan cried like that that day, and pulled her up and down to look like a treasure.

It turned out that the "grandmother" she casually called for the sake of being close was really her grandmother who was close to her in this life.

Ruan Qingzhi couldn't help but sigh.

Although this was technically someone else's business, she couldn't help but redden.

Old Madam Luan held her hand tightly, and cried again: "It's all my fault that I'm confused, and I haven't thought about it deeply." Yu Niang only left such a daughter, I never knew, I never knew, I never knew......"

"Grandmother," Ruan Qingzhi cautiously probed, "this matter is not something that can be determined by mere guesswork. ”

Old Madam Luan raised her hand to wipe her tears: "It's not a guess." Your grandmother was willing to take you to Luan's house, and deliberately told me that you were like a jade lady, which is to tell me clearly. - Where do I use her to tell! As long as she's willing to let me see you soon...... The child left by Yu Niang, how can I not recognize it! ”

Ruan Qingzhi saw that she was crying so much, so she had to ask Banyue for a handkerchief and raise her hand to help her wipe her tears.

Old Madam Luan grabbed her hand again and clenched it tightly: "Girl, don't blame your grandfather's family for not taking care of you often, Ruan Wenzhong is unpredictable...... Your grandfather means that we won't recognize each other for the time being, so as not to make your life in the Prime Minister's Mansion even more difficult. ”

It's easy to understand. Ruan Qingzhi nodded: "Grandmother has taken care of me a lot." If it weren't for the Ink Gathering in the past few years, I would have starved to death. ”

Old Madam Luan wiped her tears when she heard this, and Ruan Qingzhi had to play tricks on her, and finally felt a little relieved.

After that, he said something like "How was your mother back then", and Mrs. Luan suddenly asked: "Has no one ever mentioned the cause of your mother's death in the Prime Minister's Mansion?" ”

Ruan Qingzhi shook his head: "I always thought it was sick and died, but I didn't know it was on that day." ”

Banyue couldn't help but interject: "If Miss had known that the death date of the first lady was July 15, she would not have been deceived until now!" That Kim didn't have the slightest kindness to our young lady, and the young lady suspected that it was not her own child! ”

Old Madam Luan was amused by the little girl's indignant appearance, and asked Ruan Qingzhi again, "Did you really not think of this before?" That jade plaque ......"

Ruan Qingzhi shook his head and sighed: "I really didn't think about it in this direction. That jade plate has been in my hand since I was a child, and I can only vaguely remember that the nurse said that it was the Luan family's thing, and I really can't remember anything next to it. Last time, about the young master of the Yu family, I thought that regardless of whether my grandfather was willing to see him or not, I would borrow his hand to return the things to the Luan family. ”

Old Madam Luan gritted her teeth and said, "Your nurse must have been the last to see your mother, but it's a pity...... Too late. ”

Ruan Qingzhi was a little puzzled.

Old Madam Luan looked at her ignorant expression, and sighed again: "That jade plate is a piece that everyone in the Luan family has, and it is not something that can be rewarded to others casually." Now that the jade plate is in your hand, this will not be a coincidence, it may only be that your mother specially entrusted someone to give it to you. It's a pity ......"

It's a pity that the nurse left suddenly, she was young, and the Luan family didn't know, so what Luan Yuniang said before she died, I'm afraid no one will ever know.

Ruan Qingzhi leaned into Mrs. Luan's arms again, and the latter immediately hugged her tightly and cried while calling Luan Yuniang's name.

Banyue and the girl from the Luan family knelt on the ground and couldn't help crying, only standing in the corner of the wall like a cold wood in the night, as if completely unmoved.

A room full of people cried for a long time, and the sound of the rain outside gradually became quieter.

Old Madam Luan finally let go of Ruan Qingzhi, wiped her tears, and suddenly smiled again: "The last time your grandfather saw the jade plate, he was so anxious that he wanted to see you, but he was dragged by your two uncles; I saw you two days ago, and I was sure that you were Yu Niang's child, and he was so angry that he almost wanted to fight with me, saying that I deliberately didn't tell him because of my conscience; Today, I secretly came to see you while he went to the morning court, and I don't know what to do when I go back! ”

Ruan Qingzhi smiled and said, "Then don't tell him!" ”

"Yes!" Old Madam Luan smiled even deeper, "Don't tell him!" Who let him not find my granddaughter for so many years! It's embarrassing for him to be the middle of the imperial history! An old piece of trash! ”

Ruan Qingzhi laughed amusedly.

Old Madam Luan smiled and wiped her tears again: "My jade lady, ......"

The girl next to her hurriedly came over to persuade her, but she couldn't persuade for a while, so she was so anxious that she looked at Ruan Qingzhi.

Seeing this, Banyue hurriedly stood up and said to Ruan Qingzhi, "Miss, we'd better rush back before noon." Don't forget that you're still grounded, and if you are seized by the people in the house, you don't know what will happen again! ”

Old Madam Luan was busy crying when she heard this, and pulled Ruan Qingzhi and asked, "Are you leaving?" ”

Ruan Qingzhi nodded: "After all, it was the Queen Mother who wanted me to be grounded, so I still have to be careful on my face." ”

"Then go back!" Old Madam Luan immediately said, "Don't think much about other things, you just need to remember not to be afraid of those wolf-hearted things, no matter when, your grandfather's family is on your side!" ”

Ruan Qingzhi responded with a smile, thought for a while and said, "I don't know much about the laws of Southern Qi. Grandmother, if something is found out in the Prime Minister's Mansion in the future, will anyone still take care of the case from more than ten years ago?"

"You want to find out what happened back then?" Old Madam Luan was surprised.

Ruan Qingzhi pursed his lips and smiled: "Since we think something is wrong, why not check it out?" ”

Old Madam Luan thought for a while and gritted her teeth fiercely: "Then check!" Your grandfather is also saying that Ruan Wenzhong's behavior in the past few years is a little wrong, if you can find out something, you can vent your anger on my daughter who died in vain! You can rest assured, no matter whether the yamen is in charge or not, Yushitai has never been afraid of things. What is he a little prime minister, your grandfather even seized the palace back then! ”

Ruan Qingzhi was relieved when he heard this: "In this case, I will go back and inquire slowly." Please also ask my grandfather to check what he should check, and don't tell the Ruan family anything. ”

Old Madam Luan agreed casually, and looked at Ruan Qingzhi thoughtfully.

At this time, Banyue was in a hurry to open the door, and said happily: "Miss, the rain has stopped!" ”

Old Madam Luan took Ruan Qingzhi's hand and walked out of the door, and sure enough, the rain outside had stopped, but the wind was still cold and heavy, and the ground was covered with dead branches and leaves.

"When your mother got married, it was also like this...... "Mrs. Luan said all the way through, only to feel that she couldn't finish saying a lot of words.

Everyone flocked to return to Jumo Zhai, and when Mrs. Luan saw that there were already a few customers in the store, she swallowed her words and let go of Ruan Qingzhi's hand, and took the lead in going out and boarding the car.

Ruan Qingzhi was also about to go out immediately, but Shopkeeper Song and a few guys in the store hula suddenly surrounded him.

Ban Yue hurriedly stood in front of Ruan Qingzhi and scolded: "What are you doing?!" ”

Shopkeeper Song has always been very good at words, but today his tongue was somehow a little knotted, and Zhiwu couldn't say anything for a long time, so he simply grabbed Ruan Qingzhi's wrist and dragged her to the counter amid the screams of the moon, pointing to a few calligraphy and paintings spread out and stammering: "This, these, are all your ......"

Banyue was so angry that she rushed over to hit someone, Ruan Qingzhi stretched out her hand to grab it, and smiled calmly: "It's my new work." ”

Shopkeeper Song exhaled a long breath, and his voice became tighter: "How could it be...... What a change! ”

Ruan Qingzhi blinked and said mischievously: "You said three years ago that I am a genius, what's so strange about making faster progress?" Don't be surprised to be like this, in two days I'll be able to draw even better! ”

Shopkeeper Song looked at her smile in a daze, and after a while, he lowered his head to look at the calligraphy and paintings on the counter, and his bright forehead frowned with difficulty.

He could indeed see similarities between the calligraphy and paintings and Ruan Qingzhi's previous works, but the similarities did not allow him to ignore the huge differences between the two.

If the previous ones seemed to be the study of a certain school, then these paintings brought over today can almost be said to be the presence of the grandmaster of that school in person.

The master in charge of the appraisal price of the store also said that looking at the brushwork and spirit of this painting, I am afraid that decades of hard work are in this ink.

Shopkeeper Song originally wanted to ask Ruan Qingzhi if he could invite "that gentleman" out, but he didn't expect her to casually say that she did it, which made him so troubled that he didn't know what to say for a while.

She? How can it be!

Shopkeeper Song froze and became serious: "Miss Ruan, you know that the calligraphy and painting industry hates deception and stealing fame the most, this is not a joke!" ”

"What's the joke about that?" Ruan Qingzhi pursed his lips, "What 'fame' can these two broken paintings earn?" I can't do this? ”

Shopkeeper Song was stunned again.

Seeing that he didn't believe it, Ruan Qingzhi casually snatched a pen from the bookkeeper's hand, added an inscription to one of the paintings, threw the pen and clapped his hands and asked, "Is this okay?" ”

At this time, it was not only the shopkeeper Song who was stunned, but also the guys and a few customers who came here to hang out.

There was a young scholar who squeezed in the back and couldn't see clearly, so anxious that he couldn't help but shout: "Write too fast, can you slow down......

Ruan Qingzhi just lowered his head and wiped the ink off his hands little by little, ignoring others.

The taster was stunned, seeing that the ink was drying up little by little, and finally raised his head to look at Ruan Qingzhi: "Miss Ruan, you...... How many years have you been learning to draw? ”

"It must be tens of thousands of years old." Ruan Qingzhi said in his heart.

But he said shamelessly: "I've been fiddling with this since I was a child, and if it's not ten years, it's eight years, right?" ”

"Ten years, eight years...... Are you kidding me? "The taster was almost crying.

If a little girl can have such pen power in ten or eight years, wouldn't those old men who are known as masters of calligraphy and painting die of shame!