As soon as Mao Xiang stepped into the mansion, a little servant appeared out of nowhere and came to him silently.

"Is it an impostor?"

Mao Xiang was secretly amazed by the hospitality of the big family, and replied with a little jerky "yes", nodding implicitly.

The little guy bowed his waist with low eyebrows, and pointed his arm to the corridor to the east: "Lord Chu is already waiting for you, please go this way." ”

Mao Xiang quickly nodded again and followed closely.

The place where Chu Shimao feasted on Mao Xiang was in the middle of a lake, in a small pavilion built on stone.

As long as a corridor on the lake can be passed, the little maid stopped at the beginning of the corridor: "Young man, our adults have instructed you to go directly." ”

Mao Xiang looked at it, the length of the corridor was not short, and this distance, I was afraid that if I was talking in the pavilion, outsiders would not be able to hear it.

It's really a good place for secret conversations.

Mao Xiang lowered his head and stepped onto the corridor on the lake.

The cloister is cast of transparent and bright white stone, and the story of the twenty-four filial pieties is carved on both sides.

The handrails of the cloister are carved into small pixius, and the hair all over the body is flaring, and all of them are vigorous.

Chu Shimao didn't sit and wait for him to come, he threw something into the lake in his hand, and one by one the golden or fiery carp jumped out of the water, making a noise, competing for fish food around the small piece of lake under Chu Shimao.

On the shore of the lake, there are large and turquoise lotus leaves standing high on the surface of the lake, and a pair of mandarin ducks are playing in the water and pecking each other, full of vitality.

It's really a good spring day.

Chu Shimao smiled kindly, and when he was halfway through Mao Xiang, he stretched out his hand to greet him.

"Here, Bijiang, come and sit here." Bijiang is the word for Mao Xiang, Chu Shimao and Mao Xiang are literati for each other in the final analysis, and the honorific name of each other is respect.

But Chu Shimao was Mao Xiang's nominal teacher, so Mao Xiang still bowed politely, and simply shouted: "Teacher." ”

Chu Shimao replied, "Hmm." He was instructed to sit down quickly.

In the center of the pavilion there is only a round table of flaming red lacquered wood and two low stools. They are made of the finest wood, lacquered and polished, simple and shiny, and very elegant. In the middle of the round table is a large piece of jade, on which the text of the entire table is carved with miniature carvings.

Mao Xiang lifted the hem of his clothes and sat down with his head bowed slightly stiffly.

Chu Shimao lifted the wine jug and was about to pour him wine, but Mao Xiang hurriedly grabbed it: "Master, I'll come." ”

Chu Shimao smiled kindly: "Okay, then you can come." He quickly let go.

Mao Xiang poured the small cups of the two of them with white wine, the aroma of the wine was refreshing, and the fragrance of cereals and grains was full of it.

Chu Shimao said: "Don't dislike coming to your master to drink any good wine, I brew it myself, which is good for my health." Although he said humble words, he had a smug look on his face, as if he was faintly showing off how great the wine he had brewed.

Mao Xiang said: "Master, where are you, master bother." I was flattered to give me such a precious wine to drink, and I didn't have any disgust. ”

"Hahaha, it's right to give it to you, you're my closed disciple, I should spoil you." Chu Shimao stroked his beard happily as he spoke.

Mao Xiang lowered his eyebrows and agreed: "Thank you for taking care of the master." ”

While talking, the maid brought the dishes.

The dishes are very simple, most of them are fresh vegetables, and they are simply cooked, but they look very elegant.

Four dishes and two bowls of soup and two bowls of rice, without the slightest extravagance.

The two of them were served by the maid who came, and their hands and faces were cleaned.

Chu Shimao laughed again and said, "Don't dislike it, I'm old, and I can only eat these green things for my health, but it will cause you to eat with me." ”

Mao Xiang also replied with a smile: "It is best to eat some seasonal fresh vegetables this season." ”

Chu Shimao took a sip of wine and asked, "Are you okay in Hanlin Academy?" ”

"Fortunately, repairing the Liang Law is a matter of great merit, and I am honored to be a part of it."

"There are few children of your age who are as calm as you."

"The master praised it falsely."

Chu Shimao picked up the wine glass and stopped in mid-air, Mao Xiang hurriedly raised the wine glass, touched the glass with Chu Shimao, and the two drank a sip of wine together and ate some dishes.

Mao Xiang thought that Chu Shimao asked him to come to the house for dinner because there was something important that he needed to do, and he was faintly worried in his heart. But when he was full of wine and food, a whole pot of wine was in his stomach, and Chu Shimao only chatted with him about family life and gossip.

There is really a feeling of being a mentor and a friend like a spring breeze, and Mao Xiang's body and mind are also a lot more relaxed, no longer sitting straight, as if he is being lectured, his body is stiff.

Chu Shimao drank a lot of wine, his face was a little red, and he pretended to inadvertently turn his head and ask Mao Xiang: "Bijiang, is your relationship with your father okay?" ”

Mao Xiang replied: "The relationship with my father is quite harmonious. Because my father has also been working as a county magistrate, when I went to Nanjing to take up my post before, my father also gave me a lot of advice. ”

"Yes....... Chu Shimao looked lonely after hearing this.

Mao Xiang quietly savored this wordlessness, and finally understood Chu Shimao's mood.

It turned out that Chu Shimao was thinking about his son. And it just so happens that he is as old as Chu Shancheng, I am afraid that this old father wants to feel a little warmth from his son through himself.

Mao Xiang took the initiative to take his hand on the table and covered it with Chu Shimao's hand that was randomly placed on the table.

"Master, I was rude before, and I will come to see you more in the future."

Chu Shimao looked at Mao Xiang's young talent, and smiled: "You are willing to accompany me, an old man, of course I am willing, very welcome!" ”

Chu Shimao pressed his hand on his forehead, drank too much wine, his head was a little dizzy, and his eyes were red.

Chu Shimao pressed his temples and quipped: "Otherwise, let's drink here today, and we have to come often in the future, don't forget me, an old man!" ”

Mao Xiang replied sincerely: "Naturally, the master is resting, so I will leave the table first." He got up slowly, saluted Chu Shimao, and turned to leave.

When Mao Xiang looked back at Chu Shimao on the corridor, he was drinking alone in front of the moonlight, one cup after another, looking very lonely.

Mao Xiang couldn't help but look at it a few more times, paused for a moment, and finally turned around and strode away.

Unexpectedly, Chu Shimao achieved such a position as a supreme minister, and he still had to be accompanied by loneliness. It's a pity that his own existence can't eliminate his loneliness, only his family can do it.

And Chu Shimao has already separated from his wife, and this loneliness is caused by himself, so he can only taste it himself.