"When the old lady left, she didn't even have the money to send! Who took care of our siblings at that time? Relying on Mr. Xu to bury the old lady and receive some broken silver, it was easy to go to Qinghe County, and he couldn't go home, thanks to Lord Wu's kind ......"

Thinking of that unbearable past, the corners of Guixiang's eyes couldn't help but get a little wet.

When the porter heard the word "Xu" in Guixiang's words, he suddenly remembered that his surname was Xu, and a cold sweat suddenly broke out.

"Master, one of the two who came here really claimed to be surnamed Xu ......," the porter said carefully.

"Surname Xu? What do you think these two people are like? Guixiang didn't notice the strangeness of the porter, but asked casually.

"One old and one young, the old one is about seventy years old, he claims to be surnamed Xu, the younger one is about twenty years old, he looks like a scholar, he doesn't say his name......"

Listening to the porter's answer, Guixiang's body shook suddenly.

"What does that old man look like? What kind of dress? ”

"The old man is tall and thin, with a square face, a high nose bridge, and a goatee, and looks like the dress of a master of Shaoxing......" The porter thought for a moment and replied cautiously.

Guixiang's face changed, and his hands trembled.

"Is it really Mr. Xu? ......" Guixiang's voice was a little excited, and when he saw Guixiang's appearance, the porter secretly complained in his heart.

Guixiang easily calmed himself down, cleared his throat, and said, "Hurry up, please." ”

The porter answered, and was about to turn around and leave, when Guixiang stopped him again: "Slow! I went to meet him personally. Then he turned around and shouted, "Someone! Change! Fast! ”

Zhu Xueyan and Xu Rui were chatting in the foyer, when suddenly there was a sound of footsteps. Guixiang walked out briskly, surrounded by a group of servants.

Xu Rui saw that all the servants in the mansion lined up to greet him. couldn't help but smile at Zhu Xueyan.

"Yan'er lost." Zhu Xueyan smiled and whispered.

Xu Rui saw Guixiang greet him in person. He got up with a smile on his face, but still stood firmly in place, not stepping forward.

"Grandpa, this is Mr. Xu." The porter said with a huff.

Guixiang looked at Xu Rui carefully, and he could vaguely feel that the plainly dressed old man in front of him was carrying a package in his hand, and there was an aura that he was very familiar with when he was a child.

But after all, nearly 30 years later, Guixiang was still a child who was only four years old at that time, and his childhood memories were already blurred. There were only fragments left, which made him unable to recall what Xu Rui looked like when he was young.

"After so many years, my grandfather may not remember the appearance of old age." Seeing the hesitant look on Guixiang's face, Xu Rui smiled, opened the burden on the table, and took out one of the robes inside.

"The old man has been wandering outside for many years, and his appearance is no longer the same as before, and it is common for my grandfather not to know it. This robe, grandpa must still remember it, right? Xu Rui's voice became a little choked.

Guixiang's gaze fell on the old cloth robe, which was shabby but cleanly washed. When he saw the torn cuffs, his face changed suddenly.

In a trance. Guixiang felt like he was back in his childhood.

“…… Mr. Xu! Don't go! Don't go! ”

The sisters and brothers cried around Xu Rui, Xu Rui looked at the children reluctantly, and finally turned his head, the young Guixiang grabbed Xu Rui's sleeve, Xu Ruifu turned around, and the cuff was ripped off by Guixiang.

Due to excessive force, Guixiang fell to the ground, wow wow burst into tears, still holding the torn cloth in his hand, Xu Rui looked back, burst into tears for a while, he didn't dare to look at the sisters and brothers again, covered his face and turned around and walked away quickly.

The cloth robe that was torn by himself back then is now displayed in front of him!

Guixiang slowly stretched out his hand back, and a servant holding the brocade box stepped forward quickly and handed the brocade box into Guixiang's hand.

Guixiang opened the brocade box, and when Zhu Xueyan saw a piece of cloth inside, her heart was already bright.

Isn't this piece of cloth on the sleeve of the robe?

Guixiang used a trembling hand to match the cloth with the sleeve of the cloth robe, and tears welled up in his eyes.

"Mr. Xu! It's really your old man......" Guixiang stepped forward quickly, pounced in front of Xu Rui, grabbed Xu Rui's arm, and as soon as his knees weakened, he was about to kneel.

Xu Rui hurriedly stretched out his hands to support him, "Grandpa!" ……”

Mr. Xu...... It's really Mr. Xu......" Guixiang looked at Xu Rui and exchanged tears for a while, "Sir, do you know that over the years, students have been in their dreams several times, and what they dreamed of was when they reunited with Mr...... The student kept this cloth so that he could see him again one day......"

"The old man kept this clothes, but also to have a thought......" Xu Rui saw that Guixiang had changed from a naughty teenager to a middle-aged man in his thirties, thinking of the past, he couldn't help but cry, "How many years have passed in this flash, and the old man has to see his grandfather today, and he has no regrets in this life......

"Sir, the student is ashamed, for so many years, I have never been able to find out the news of your old age, but now I want you to come all the way to see the student, the student is sorry for you! ......" Guixiang cried.

"Grandpa, don't say that, kill the old man......" Xu Rui wiped his tears with his sleeve and said, "After the old man learned where the grandfather was, he should have come early, but he couldn't pay for the door bag, and he was afraid that he would lose his grandfather's face if it was passed out, so he made up enough thirty taels of silver to come over......"

Hearing Xu Rui say this, Guixiang's face changed greatly, he turned around suddenly, rushed to the concierge who was cowering there, rounded his arms, and squeezed his mouth fiercely.

"Smack!" Only a crisp sound was heard, and five clear fingerprints appeared on the porter's face. The porter screamed "ouch" and covered his face and stepped aside.

"Bastard thing! Blind your dog's eyes! Mr. Xu, do you dare to accept the door bag? Why don't you return the money yet! ”

"The little ones have eyes but no beads! I hope that Grandpa Xu doesn't remember villains, don't be like villains! The porter hurriedly stepped forward and knelt down, knocked his head a few times like garlic, and presented the silver ticket of thirty taels to Xu Rui with both hands. Xu Rui didn't look at him, and Zhu Xueyan stepped forward when he saw this. Took the silver ticket.

"Someone! Drag this short-eyed minion down! Heavy hit twenty! Give him a long memory! Guixiang roared. Several servants answered. stepped forward and dragged down the porter who was crying and crying for mercy.

"Grandpa! Grandpa spared the little one this time! - The little ones don't dare anymore! ——”

The wailing of the porter faded away. Only then did Guixiang invite Xu Rui and Zhu Xueyan into the inner hall. In a short time, he sent someone to report the good news to the palace.

West Garden, Jing Qing Zhai.

The Empress Dowager Renxi was talking to Princess Rongchang, Li Jintai came in at a trot, and the Empress Dowager Renxi saw that Li Jintai was in a hurry, and her eyes flashed with surprise.

Because at this time, unless there is something urgent, Li Jintai will not disturb her when she is resting.

"Is there anything important to report to the Queen Mother? Either the concubine will retire first. Seeing this, Princess Rongchang got up and said.

Princess Rongchang is the eldest daughter of Prince Jing, three years older than Emperor Tongzhi, the favorite niece of Emperor Xianfeng when he was alive, and the granddaughter of Emperor Shaoguang. Empress Dowager Renxi likes her very much. first named her Princess Gulun, which is the highest rank among the princesses of the Great Qian Dynasty. Later, in order to show her humility, she asked herself to be demoted to Princess Rongchang. Empress Dowager Renxi pointed out Princess Rongchang to Jingshou's son for marriage. It's a pity that the good times didn't last long, Jingshou's son died of illness shortly after marriage, and Princess Rongchang was young and widowed. has no children and no daughters, and the Empress Dowager Renxi can't bear it. Because she grew up in the palace, she often came to the palace and the garden, not only to avoid her personal loneliness, but also to pass her leisure time.

"What can it be? You sit down, it's okay. Empress Dowager Renxi waved her hand, signaling that it didn't matter, and asked her to sit down, and Princess Rongchang sat down again.

"What's the matter? In such a hurry? Empress Dowager Renxi looked at Li Jintai, picked up the tea bowl, took a sip, and asked.

"Back to the Empress Dowager, someone came to the Cheng'en Mansion, saying that Mr. Xu had found it, and asked the slave to report it to the Empress Dowager as soon as possible...... Li Jintai said.

Empress Dowager Renxi listened to Li Jintai's answer, her body trembled, the tea bowl in her hand fell on the carpet, her eyes widened, her breathing stopped, and the spilled tea splashed her skirt, she didn't even realize it.

"The Queen Mother......" Princess Rongchang and Li Jintai were shocked when they saw this, and shouted in unison.

Empress Dowager Renxi waved her hand gently, as if she wanted to say something, but after a while, she didn't say a word. She took a deep breath and slowly got up to a beautiful rosewood cabinet. He gently opened a drawer on the cabinet for small things and took out a small carved gold box from inside.

Li Jintai knew that what was in this small gold box must be an item of great significance to the Empress Dowager Renxi, so he couldn't help but hold his breath.

Empress Dowager Renxi silently stared at the small gold box for a while, gently opened the small gold box, and took out the contents inside.

It was a small paperweight carved out of off-white agate in the shape of a beast.

Seeing the Onyx Rui Beast paperweight in the hands of the Empress Dowager Renxi, Li Jintai's eyes couldn't help but widen.

This kind of small town paper used by literati is mostly for desk play, and there are some in the palace, and one is taken out at random, whether it is material or carving, it is much better than the one in the hands of the Empress Dowager Renxi. He didn't understand why Empress Dowager Renxi cherished this thing so much.

The moment the paperweight was taken out, Li Jintai glanced at an old piece of paper in the small gold box, and immediately understood.

He knew that the piece of paper was actually the name of Wu Tang, the great benefactor of the Empress Dowager Renxi.

So this agate paperweight ......

A trace of tears flashed in the corners of Empress Dowager Renxi's eyes, she took a deep breath, slowed down her tone, and asked, "Li Jintai, the person from the Chengen Mansion, did you really say that?" ”

"Ouch, Lafayette, the slave has ten heads, and he doesn't dare to deceive you!" Li Jintai was so frightened that he hurriedly knelt down, "The person from the Chengen Mansion really said that, saying that 'Mr. Xu found it', which is absolutely true." ”

"Get up." Empress Dowager Renxi nodded, carefully put the agate paperweight in the small gold box and put it away, and said, "You go to the messenger here, I have something to ask him." ”

"Huh-" Li Jintai hurriedly got up and retreated.

Princess Rongchang looked at this scene and couldn't help but be full of curiosity about this "Mr. Xu", but she was familiar with Renxi's temper, so she didn't ask.

After a while, Li Jintai returned with the messenger from the Cheng'en Mansion. Empress Dowager Renxi recognized him as Ma Deshun, the personal follower of his younger brother Guixiang, so she asked, "Deshun." You talk about it. This Mr. Xu. What is the last name? How old is it? What is life like? ”

"Back to the Queen Mother, this Mr. Xu, surnamed Xu Mingrui, has a long appearance." Ma Deshun knelt on the ground and replied, "He is about seventy years old, with gray hair, a tall body, and a thin face. It's the appearance of a well-educated Confucian. ”

Hearing Ma Deshun's answer, Empress Dowager Renxi's body trembled slightly.

"That's it......" Empress Dowager Renxi's voice trembled a little unconsciously, "How did Cheng Engong find Mr. Xu?" ”

"Back to the Empress Dowager, the person was sent by the first-class Guiyi Baron Lin Yiqing Lin, Cheng Engong saw Mr. Xu, at first he couldn't believe it, Mr. Xu brought a robe, and a piece of the sleeve was missing, and the piece of cloth that Cheng Engong received, only then did it confirm that it was Mr. Xu." Ma Deshun said: "Mr. Xu has always been a master. I have been there for a while, and now I am old because of my old age. Already resigned. ”

"How did Baron Lin find Mr. Xu?" Hearing Lin Yiqing's name, Empress Dowager Renxi couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

"I heard that Mr. Xu in pursuit of the missing granddaughter, wandered around, to Fuzhou was robbed by gangsters, fortunately was rescued by Baron Lin's brother Lin Wenxianggong, since then he has been a master at Lin Wenxianggong, after the death of Lin Wenxianggong, Mr. Xu has been staying in the shipyard, and to Master Ding as a master, before and after almost 16 years." Ma Deshun replied, "After Baron Lin returned to Fuzhou, he heard about Mr. Xu from his brother and sister-in-law, so he helped Mr. Xu trace the past and asked about Mr. Xu's life experience. ”

Hearing this, Empress Dowager Renxi's emotions became excited again, she tried her best to hold back her tears, and said in a slightly hoarse voice: "You go and repay Cheng Engong and let him take Mr. Xu into the palace." Xiao Lizi, you immediately send someone to the Seventh Master's Mansion to report the news. ”

"Huh-"

Forbidden City, Fuchen Palace.

Fuchen Hall is the side hall of Jianfu Palace, three rooms are wide, the top of the mountain is covered by the shed, the blue glazed tile top is cut with green glazed tiles, the front and rear corridors are belted, the back corridor is connected with the Jianfu Palace, and the verandah is connected with the Jianfu Palace, constituting a closed courtyard. Behind the Fuchen Palace is the Jianfu Palace, which is connected by a wide road. The back eaves corridor of Fuchen Hall and the front porch of Jianfu Palace are connected to 9 corner verandahs in the east and west, enclosing the corridor courtyard.

The Empress Dowager Renxi was sitting in the hall, anxiously looking at the Moon Gate not far away.

The moon gate leads directly to the courtyard of Fuchen Palace. Because the Fuchen Hall is relatively quiet and not easy to be disturbed by idle people, it is the Empress Dowager Renxi who chose to meet Xu Rui here.

"It's been almost thirty years since my father died that year...... "Jehanaran?" Wanzhen, that is, the sister of the Empress Dowager Renxi, the Fujin of Prince Yixuan of Chun, stared at the Moon Gate wistfully like the Empress Dowager Renxi, and said to herself, "Can Mr. Xu still recognize us?" ……”

Listening to her sister's words, the Empress Dowager Renxi was silent, she turned her head and silently looked at the small agate beast paperweight held in her palm.

This paperweight is the utensils on Xu Rui's desk back then, the treasure of Xu Rui's family, and Xu Rui's beloved thing. That year, after Xu Rui helped collect his father Hui Zheng, in order to help the troubled Renxi sisters and brothers, he had to pawn it to the pawnshop, until Renxi entered the palace and received the title of Lan noble, and was redeemed by Renxi with the monthly silver, and since then he has been staying by Renxi's side.

"It's still my sister's heart, the little agate beast that Mr. Xu used was redeemed, otherwise, after so many years, I didn't even have a thought......" Wanzhen saw the agate paperweight in her sister's hand, remembered her childhood, wiped her eyes, and said with a smile, "I remember when Mr. Xu taught us to read, whoever reads well will draw a small bookmark for whom, I remember the one I drew for me, it was a bunch of grapes...... It's a pity, it's a pity that I was in a hurry at that time, many books were sold, and the bookmarks in them were not taken out...... Do you remember what your sister drew for you? ”

"It's a pomegranate, and a gourd." Empress Dowager Renxi's eyes turned red again, but the corners of her mouth showed a happy smile, "I remember that the paintings for Zhaoxiang and Guixiang were peonies and orchids, both of which were painted in the garden, but they looked good...... Mr. Xu also taught me how to draw......"

Renxi said, and the past of his youth slowly resurfaced in front of him.

For her, who has experienced the bloody storms of "Gengshen West Hunting" and "Xinyou Coup", only the time of her childhood is a truly happy day.

It's a pity that good days are always so short.

Empress Dowager Renxi's father was named Hui Zheng, who was Ningchi Guangtai Dao at the time. In December of the second year of Xianfeng, the Shengping army conquered the three towns of Wuhan and went down the river, and Jiujiang and Anhui were in an emergency. Lu Jianying, the governor of Liangjiang, supervised the troops to strengthen the defense of Jiangxi and Anhui, and was defeated by the Shengping army at the Mouse Gorge in Wuxue, Hubei, and fled to Nanjing in embarrassment. When passing through Wuhu, he summoned Chen Shengyuan, the chief soldier of Fushan Town, to discuss with Hui Zheng, and decided to let Hui Zheng go to Liangshan to handle the grain platform. Hui Zheng knew that the situation was critical, and hurriedly sent people to send his dependents to Jing County in Ningguo Mansion for resettlement, and he brought the seal letter and the silver with him, and transferred to Dongliang Mountain with Chen Shengyuan. On the 17th day of the first month of the third year of Xianfeng, the Shengping army conquered Anqing, the governor of Anhui Jiang Wenqing was killed, the rest of the civil and military ministers were killed and wounded, a chaos, the Shengping army robbed the treasury of 300,000 taels of silver and more than 40 million stones of rice to continue to march eastward, defeated the cadres in Wuhu again, besieged the east and west Liangshan, Hui Zheng saw that the situation was not good, and fled to Nanjing with 10,000 taels of silver in the name of escorting the silver, but the city gate was not opened, so he went to Zhenjiang. After the fall of Nanjing, Hui Zheng was impeached and dismissed from his post without permission, and died of illness in Zhenjiang soon after. (To be continued......)

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