Chapter 12: Gifts

Four or two said: "My family originally lived in Xinglong Town, near Chang'an City, and the villain remembered that there was a war that year, and the imperial court forced the common people to pay military taxes, which were required several times a year. The common people could not afford to pay, and they fled a lot. Because there are too many people walking, the land is barren. The imperial court ordered that if anyone fled with his family again, he would be killed and his relatives would be punished. The villain's family was originally quite wealthy, but in the end, they were overtaxed and ruined. He left his hometown only after the imperial court forbade him to flee. Because he was afraid of affecting his relatives, when he fled the Central Plains, my father had to change his name and surname. After passing through the border of the Tang Kingdom, the Tang Kingdom was at war with the Central Plains Imperial Court, saying that there were spies among the refugees, and those who saw the appearance of refugees would be arrested. My father had no choice but to use the only silver taels left on his body to bribe, and got a fake identity and fake name from the Tang people, and then came to Wu Yue Kingdom. After arriving in Wu Yueguo, our family lived by begging, and my father said that this was an insult to the ancestors, so he didn't use his real name again. It's just that when he sold me to Fangli Villa and signed the death deed, my father used his real name - Xie Chang'an. Even if my father and mother found relatives in Taizhou, I think they are penniless, sending people under the fence, and begging to live, there should be little difference, and my father may not use his real name again. ”

Qian Hongzuo said: "So, your surname is Xie, do you remember your real name?" ”

Four or two said: "I remember, because I was young, my parents had not officially named me, only small characters, called Xiangcun." ”

Qian Hongzuo repeated: "Xie Xiangcun." Praise: "A nice name, does it have any meaning?" ”

Xie Xiangcun said shyly: "It's the flowers, but the fragrance is still there." ”

Qian Hongzuo thought to himself: Although this name is beautiful, it makes people feel desolate.

When Qian Hongzuo was still appreciating the name in his heart, Xie Xiangcun said: "Although the clues are vague, the appearance of my parents is unforgettable. As long as I go to Taizhou, if God has mercy on me and let me meet my father and brother there, I will be able to recognize them at a glance. The villain hates not being able to find them immediately, and I am afraid that if I am a little late, they will not be able to wait for my help, and if that happens, I will regret it for the rest of my life. ”

Qian Hongzuo's heart of dissuasion was finally loosened, but he still reluctantly said: "If you find your father and mother in Taizhou, will you never go back to Hangzhou and reunite with your parents from now on?" ”

Siliang said: "No, the villain is just worried about the lack of food and clothing for his parents and younger brother, and wants to settle their lives." My master was kind to me, settled my parents, and the villain returned to Hangzhou to continue to serve my master and learn art from him. ”

Empress Dowager Xu and Qian Hongzuo were taken aback, and Qian Hongzuo was surprised: "You have been pardoned as a slave, why do you still want to learn art?" ”

Four or two said: "My master has cultivated me carefully for many years. He was a talented musician who could play the piano and compose music, as well as write poems and sing lyrics. It's a pity that due to his leg disease, he can't perform, so many beautiful lyrics and songs are buried and can't be sung. The villain has always looked forward to becoming an apprentice as soon as possible, performing on stage, becoming a celebrity, carrying forward the master's artistic skills, and continuing to pass them on. Although the villain was freed by the grace of the Queen Mother and the Holy Spirit, I am willing to stay in Fangli Villa and continue to be with my master. ”

Empress Dowager Xu couldn't help but smile dumbly, and said: "Today, your ambition is still to be a servant, haven't you thought about making a more decent living?" ”

Siliang said firmly: "If the villain lets the master's cultivation of me go to waste, then I am really sorry for him." And I've always dreamed of performing on stage, and I've never thought of anything else. ”

Empress Dowager Xu said: "You are really filial to Master. Then he said, "I listen to you as if you have read a book." ”

Four or two said: "I don't read much, but I can recognize words, my master taught me, he said that if you want to sing a good song, you must understand the artistic conception of poetry." If you want to understand the artistic conception, you have to be literate and read. ”

Empress Dowager Xu asked, "So, which poem do you like the most?" ”

Siliang replied: "It's Du Shaofu's 'Moonlit Night Remembering Brother '."

Empress Dowager Xu said: "Sing and listen." ”

Four taels chanted: "The drum breaks the pedestrian line, and the autumn goose sounds." The dew is white from tonight, and the moon is the hometown of Ming. There are brothers who are scattered, and there is no home to ask about life and death. The length of the letter is not reached, and the army has not ceased to be suspended. The singing voice is clear and beautiful, and the singing is full of emotion, which goes straight to the hearts of the people, and expresses the sadness in the song vividly.

Qian Hongzuo praised from the bottom of his heart: "Sing so well! ”

Xie Xiang Cunqian said: "The saint has won the prize. ”

Empress Dowager Xu also likes poetry, she doesn't think this poem is the best, but she understands that Xie Xiangcun may be her own life experience, and she feels the best if she resonates with this poem. With him, a disciple of the pear garden, he should have loved the poetry of Fengyue flowers and plants more. I didn't expect it to be so glamorous and vulgar, worthy of being an apprentice taught by Qu Liuzhen.

Empress Dowager Xu asked the poem just foreshadowing, and asked in depth: "The mourning family heard that you have also practiced martial arts, but I don't know who you studied with?" ”

Xie Xiangcun said: "The villain is in the imitation of Pear Villa, first he was assigned to the martial arts class, and later although he was under the name of my master, the kung fu of the martial arts class was also learned. ”

Empress Dowager Xu asked again inducingly: "There is no one else who will guide you to practice martial arts?" ”

Xie Xiangcun said, "Ma Datong, Ma Da and the two seniors also often teach me. ”

Empress Dowager Xu asked, "The two of them are also your masters?" ”

Xie Xiangcun said: "That's not it, there are rules in the pear orchard, you can only worship one master, and you are most taboo to bully the master and destroy the ancestors." Once you have a Master, you can't jump out of the door and worship again. Then he explained: "These two seniors came to make friends with my master, and secondly, they knew Buddhist martial arts. The owner of the imitation pear villa was skeptical of their words, and let them use me to practice, I felt that they taught them well, and I was more willing to learn from them. ”

Qian Hongzuo knew that Empress Dowager Xu asked the Ma brothers, the relationship between the two minions of the first king and Xie Xiangcun, and had another deep meaning, afraid that Xie Xiangcun would get into trouble and wanted to divert the topic, but before he could speak, Empress Dowager Xu had already asked again: "These two seniors have the grace of teaching you arts, how do you want to repay them?" ”

Qian Hongzuo saw that Xie Xiangcun was unaware of the crisis in the Q&A with Empress Dowager Xu, and couldn't help but be secretly anxious. Ignoring the etiquette, he interjected and hinted: "Do you want to buy them something delicious?" ”

Xie Xiangcun smiled and said: "The biggest reward is that the villain can learn to become an apprentice, then these two seniors may change from a miscellaneous servant in the villa to a gentleman who teaches skills, and the treatment in the villa will be much better." Then he bowed his head and added shyly: "These two seniors love to drink, but they are sinners and are not allowed to take half a step out of the villa. In the past, he could only satisfy his hunger during the New Year, but now the villain is already free. Two days ago, I made a promise to them that I would buy them alcohol often in the future. ”

Qian Hongzuo smiled comfortably when he heard this.

Empress Dowager Xu asked, "Do you know what crime they have committed?" ”

Qian Hongzuo's heart was lifted again, but he heard Xie Xiangcun say: "They have never mentioned crimes to me, and the villains listened to my master because they lost the battle, lost their official positions and became sinners." ”

Qian Hongzuo Waner. The less Xie Xiangcun knew, the better it would be for him.

Xie Xiangcun looked at Qian Hongzuo, not knowing why he was smiling. After a pause, Xie Xiangcun took out a small purse from his arms and said to Qian Hongzuo: "Holy Lord, I saw your assassination with my own eyes that day, it was really thrilling. The villain originally thought that this palace was the safest place, but he didn't expect that danger would also occur. In this sachet is the amulet that my mother asked me for in the temple when I was a child, which is carved from copper sheets, although it is not valuable, but it is very effective. I fled here with my parents all the way from the Central Plains, and I don't know how many life and death situations I have experienced; The brothers and sisters who practiced with me in the martial arts class were often injured and sick, but I was the only one who had been turning evil into good fortune, and the villain was convinced that it was this talisman that was protecting me. Today, the villain wants to give it to the saint, and he hopes that the saint will not dislike it and can accept it. You were generous and benevolent, not only saved me, but also told me personally that you want to protect the peace of Wu Yue and let the people live and work in peace and contentment. I can see that you are the well-being and dependence of the people. The villain is humble, after this visit, I am afraid that I will never have the opportunity to see you again, but I really hope that you can be safe and sound, and you will never encounter danger again, and the Bodhisattva will bless you. With that, he knelt on his knees and respectfully held his purse above his head.

Qian Hongzuo's eyes were hot, he held back his tears, got up and came to Xie Xiangcun, solemnly took the purse, and said, "Xiao Xie, your gift, King Gu accepted it." There is one thing that thou shalt obey me. You are weak and should not travel far, but you are in suspense with your family and impatient, and I can't force you to stop you, but I will send two guards of the Forbidden Army to accompany you. You go back to Fangli Villa first, and be sure to wait for them to meet you before you set off. so that you may not go on your way alone, and no one will take care of you; Second, they have the dragon card of the forbidden army, and when they arrive in Taizhou, if they need help from the government, as long as they show the dragon card, the government will provide convenience. You cherish all the way, and the lonely king hopes that you will go early and return early. ”

Four taels kowtowed again and said, "Thank you." ”

Qian Hongzuo hugged Xie Xiangcun and helped him up, and for a while, the two looked at each other, both saw each other's tears, and the hands they held for a long time did not let go.

Empress Dowager Xu looked at Xie Xiangcun quietly, as if she had seen his future.