The moonlight was cold, and the snow on the gravel road had been swept aside. This path leads to the ancestral hall, which Nangong Jin used to walk when he was a child.

I remember that at that time, in front of my mother and eldest brother, coquettishness could solve any problem, but my father couldn't do it here. In fact, the punishment of kneeling in the ancestral hall is not painful, but it is frightening, especially at night, facing the rows of ancestral tablets, as if you have been abandoned in this unpopular place. Whenever that time comes, it seems that there are all kinds of demons and monsters staging a big drama behind him, and time is very slow.

Nangong Jin pushed open the door of the ancestral hall, and there was an ever-bright lamp on the top, burning a small flame like a bean, making the room a little more dim. The rows of tablets have not changed, and the popularity is still the same. Nangong Jin walked to the offering table and slowly knelt down, echoing in his mind, the words when his father reprimanded him in the past, 'Let the ancestors see that the Nangong family has such an unfilial son'.

After three quarters of an hour, the gatekeeper was startled by the open door. hurriedly approached, only to see a person kneeling inside, "Yes, is it the second young master?" The gatekeeper fixed his mind and asked urgently: "Second young master, what are you doing here?" It's so late, or go back to your room to rest first. ”

"You go to sleep, I'll be gone later." Nangong Jin didn't look back.

"Second Young Master, it's cold here. At this time, I knelt down, but I couldn't stand it. The gatekeeper was overwhelmed behind him.

"It's okay, you can go back."

Seeing that he was just kneeling, the gatekeeper persuaded him again, but Nangong Jin ignored him at all, so he had to leave in a hurry.

Time here is as slow as I remember, and the sound of the lamp burning can be heard all around.

"Ah Jin." It was Nangong Pu's voice.

Nangong Jin smiled bitterly, "Is Rui'er better?" ”

Nangong Pu didn't step forward, just stood behind him, "I took some soothing medicine and fell asleep again, Xue Ying watched." ”

The two were silent for a long time, but Nangong Pu still asked, "What's the matter?" ”

"We accidentally encountered wolves on the road, and Rui'er was scared." Nangong Jin's answer was very simple.

"Really?" Nangong Pu didn't believe it, "Chengjun's injury, you said it was accidentally scratched, but this time it was accidental?" The two of them had never been away from home for so long. Ah Jin, where have you been these past few months? What are you doing? I know I shouldn't ask at this time, but ......, can you tell Big Brother? ”

"I'm sorry I didn't take care of them." Nangong Jin said softly, and there was no follow-up later.

Nangong Pu sighed softly, "Big brother wants to know what happened more than you kneeling here." After a long time, Nangong Jin didn't mean to speak.

Nangong Pu had no choice but to ask again: "You said that Fu Qingshuang saved you." You're not bad, if she really saved you, what kind of dangerous thing happened? Or did you find a random reason so that I could let her go? Or was it actually you who hurt her? I just want to know, were the children present when this happened? After a pause, he asked again: "The wound on Chengjun's arm, is it a knife wound?" The dagger in his boots, you gave it to him? He paused for a long time, and finally asked, "You—why didn't you come back when you found the children?" ”

Nangong Jin opened his mouth and couldn't say anything, only said, "I'm sorry." At that time, it had come a long way. It was snowing all the time on the grassland, and I couldn't find my way back, so I had to move forward. ”

Nangong Pu's expression was very distressed, "Senior Brother Li has come back a long time ago, he has frostbitten his foot, and he can only break one toe. And Liu Yi, their statement is a little different from yours. ”

Nangong Jin lowered his head and closed his eyes, "I'm sorry, I didn't think that he, he would ......." ”

"You lied to him, didn't you?" Nangong Pu said sadly: "He's looking for you and the children like crazy, and you tricked him into going to Baoketu?" He was pulled back halfway by the herdsmen. Senior Brother Li has never been out of the customs, icy and snowy, deserted, didn't you think that he might die on the road?! ”

"I'm sorry, I thought he wouldn't go if he couldn't find a guide." Nangong Jin said very lightly, full of guilt.

"Because he's more worried about you!" Nangong Pu took a breath, "Ah Jin, not everyone can take a caravan out of the customs like you, and not everyone knows how to survive alone on the grassland. Didn't Senior Brother Li know that there would be danger? He didn't think about himself because he was too worried about you. Yes, you could say he doesn't ...... himself. ”

"I didn't think so." Nangong Jin interrupted him, "Senior Brother Li......, he, he's at home?" ”

Nangong Pu let out a long sigh, "Ah Jin, why are you doing this?" ”

"I'm sorry."

One person stood, the other knelt, and stopped talking, until the sky was bright, Nangong Pu left, but did not ask Nangong Jin to get up.

**********

This courtyard is very remote, and it has never been named, it is the residence prepared by Nangong Dingkang for his personal disciples. However, Tang Shubin moved out of here after getting married, while Liu Yi preferred to stay in the theater. A big yard, Li Mo lives alone.

When the subordinates welcomed Nangong Jin into the main house, Li Mo was taking medicine.

"I heard you came back yesterday, so now it's okay, don't worry about it anymore." Li Mo wanted to stand up, but his feet really couldn't touch the ground, so he could only sit on the couch and said with a smile.

Nangong Jin nodded and smiled awkwardly, not knowing what to say, the scene was quiet for a while. After waiting for the next person to finish serving tea, Nangong Jin finally lowered his head and said, "I'm sorry." “

Li Mo laughed, "I thought there was something, you wouldn't make a special trip to say these three words, right?" ”

"I shouldn't mislead you into going to Bauktu. The place was just a grassland, and there was nothing, except for the occasional grazing of a few tribes. Nangong Jin didn't dare to look at him and explained carefully.

"A lot of people say that. However, I also know now that it is not easy to survive on the grassland. If you have the opportunity in the future, you must run more, otherwise it will be too ...... like this time. Li Mo shook his head as he spoke, as if he was very dissatisfied with himself.

"Senior Brother Li, there are frequent battles on this line, and the reason why many people want to run is because they have no choice. If so, if Senior Brother Li is interested in the future, I will be a guide for Senior Brother to see the desert scenery. Nangong Jin's attitude was sincere.

Li Mo laughed, "Are you afraid that I will run out again and come back like this?" ”

"I'm sorry ......"

"I don't blame you. At first, I thought you were hell-bent on getting rid of me, but now I understand that in that case, not only will I not be able to help you, but I may become a liability. ”

"I'm sorry, but I didn't think about a lot of things for you this time. I'm sorry. Nangong Jin apologized repeatedly.

"I really can't blame you all." Li Mo diverted the topic and said, "How are the children?" ”

"It's all right. In the future, I want to let them study hard. Nangong Jin replied.

Li Mo nodded and reminded: "You have to think of a way to make the relationship with your sister-in-law more harmonious." She is the mother of the child, and Chengjun worships you as a teacher, so she doesn't agree with it. Live together, don't make it too embarrassing. ”

Nangong Jin nodded.

After sitting for a few more quarters of an hour, Nangong Jin said goodbye and left.

**********

After Lu Wan's family had lunch, they were about to set off. During the banquet, Nangong Yao also saw that the atmosphere was awkward, and quietly pulled Lu Wan, thinking about leaving in a few days, but Lu Wan did not agree. After sending Lu Wan's family of five away, Nangong Dingkang called Nangong Jin to the study.

In the study sat Zhou Tang and Nangong Dingkang.

When Zhou Tang saw him come in, he smiled and didn't know anything, "Jun'er is more like the descendants of our Nangong family than before." He turned to Nangong Dingkang and said, "You're still afraid that Ah Jin won't take the child, I'm not worried." ”

Nangong Dingkang looked at Nangong Jin with a smile, "During this time, the children have pulled down a lot of schoolwork. Listen to Jun'er, you have been teaching them. However, this is still different from being in the academy. ”

Nangong Jin nodded, "Children should also go to school well, and I don't teach much." ”

"Jun'er wants to take the exam this year. Oh, although we don't care, this is Xue Ying's wish. Jun'er is also filial. Nangong Dingkang continued to say with a smile.

"I understand."

"Starting tomorrow, Jun'er will live in the school and study hard. You are Jun'er's master, why don't you let him come to you at night to do his disciple's heart? Nangong Dingkang was afraid that he would have other ideas, so he proposed.

"No, I don't. It's too the road, so let Chengjun have a good rest. After a pause, Nangong Jin couldn't help but ask, "What about Cheng Rui?" ”

Zhou Tang smiled and said, "Tomorrow Xue Ying wants to go back to her parents' house." This year, she has never returned to her parents' home. I thought I should let her see it too. Your eldest brother and Rui'er will stay together for three or five days and come back. Anyway, Rui'er is still young, so there is no need to rush to the school. ”

Nangong Jin nodded, "Okay." ”

Nangong Dingkang sighed lightly, and said with a smile: "The children are really true." When I asked them about these months, they kept silent....... Just as he was saying this, Zhou Tang patted him gently. Nangong Dingkang understood and didn't say any more.

Zhou Tang said: "Yes, that's why I said that if Ah Jin had a child of his own, he would also be a good father." Right? Ah Jin. ”

What happened last night, my father and mother will not be unaware, so talking, in addition to informing myself that I will not let the children find me again, I am afraid that I still want to ask about Tatar. Nangong Jin smiled and didn't answer.

"That's right, Ah Jin." Zhou Tang smiled and asked, "Do you know Yao Fangyu Yao girl in the South China Sea?" ”

Nangong Jin was stunned and nodded, "I knew each other before." ”

"I heard Song Ran and Hall Master Zhao of Jingzhou talk about you and her." Zhou Tang's smile was full of gossip.

Nangong Jin hurriedly shook her head, "I have nothing to do with her, I just know each other." ”

"She's not too young, so she doesn't have a family, right?" Zhou Tang continued to ask.

"I—I don't know." Nangong Jin lowered her head, not wanting to elaborate on the matter.

Zhou Tang looked at Nangong Dingkang and said: "Actually, I think Miss Yao is not bad, and those things that are not there are just rumors in the South China Sea." ”

Nangong Dingkang didn't answer, but nodded with an embarrassed expression.

Zhou Tang saw that the father and son didn't talk, so he probably lost his patience, and said with a smile: "Ah Jin, when you were away, we asked for Miss Yao's eight characters, which matched yours." ”

Nangong Jin was stunned and stared at Zhou Tang, "What?" ”

Zhou Tang explained with a smile, "The South China Sea completely agrees with your marriage...... ”

"Marriage?" Nangong Jin asked in surprise: "Me and Yao Fangyu?" ”

"Yes, the man is not married to the woman, and you all know each other, and you ...... each other." Zhou Tang continued.

"Mother, this is ......." Nangong Jin was anxious, and held back a sentence for a long time, "This, have you asked Fang Wei?" ”

Zhou Tang smiled again: "This marriage event is the order of the parents and the words of the matchmaker. Whether it's the South China Sea or the Yao family, we have sent someone to mention it, otherwise how could they give Miss Yao's eight characters? ”

"So, didn't you ask her personally?" Nangong Jin always felt that she couldn't do this, at the beginning, everyone said that it was to help, but she obviously didn't have herself in her heart, if this was the case, it wouldn't be ...... Taking advantage of others? I don't know how the family could have such a decision, and I can't find a reason to refuse.

"Ah Jin, this ......." Zhou Tang was speechless by what he said.

"No, if she doesn't agree, I don't agree either!" Nangong Jin raised her head and hurriedly refused.

"Ah Jin." Nangong Dingkang Zhengse said: "This matter has been in the stage of accepting names, and everyone has exchanged eight characters, but you have not been ......." ”

"I'll ask her." Nangong Jin said, stood up and went out.

"Ah Jin, where are you going?" Zhou Tang hurriedly chased out.

"South China Seas."