Cheng Ruoxuan wore a filial piety robe and knelt in front of the spirit of her grandfather Pei Yizhi.

The empty mourning hall was dark, the brazier was dazzling, and there was always something about to move in the haze. She took a silent breath and collected her flying thoughts. The flickering light of the fire made her eyes red. It's all bloodshot.

I don't know which window I forgot to close, and the wind in the middle of the night blew through the white curtain on the beams. Her legs were numb for a long time, and she didn't bother to care, so she only added some paper money to the brazier.

With a sound of "bang", the spark burst out, and the girl who was dozing on the side suddenly woke up, hurriedly kowtowed to the ground, and said in a stacked voice: "The slave should die." ”

Cheng Ruoxuan shook his head, "If you're tired, squint for a while." When people come, I call you. "Her throat was hoarse and her voice was low.

"How can that be......" the girl snorted, and then added paper to the brazier, and looked at her face again, "Miss has cried again?" ”

She was just silent.

"The death of the old lady is sad...... But miss, don't hurt yourself by crying. The girl cautiously persuaded her, "I have to stay up for a few days." ”

Suddenly, there was a sound of footsteps at the door. The girl was startled, hurriedly straightened her posture, and went to help Cheng Ruoxuan again. She signaled that she didn't have to, turned around and called in a low voice, "Second brother." ”

It was Pei Xingyi who came.

They are not siblings. Cheng Ruoxuan's father was promoted to the history of thorns in his early years, and he was in charge of a state in the southwest of Jiaozhi, but he suffered a miasma on the way to his post, and he disappeared before he reached the local area. When the bad news came back to Mingzhou, Mrs. Cheng was depressed and couldn't afford to get sick, so she soon followed.

Cheng Ruoxuan was less than four years old at the time, and he suddenly suffered misfortune at a young age, and anyone who saw it would have to be pitied, and his grandfather Pei Yizhi was especially concerned. Pei Yizhi was first in charge of Caoyun, and then as an auxiliary minister of the cabinet, and after the only son entered the office, he invited himself to be the governor of Liangjiang, in charge of the government affairs of Mingjiang and Xijiang provinces. is so busy with business, he still doesn't forget to take Cheng Ruoxuan with him to take care of it personally. The two boys of the Pei family's grandchildren, Xinghuai and Xingyi, are not as favored as her in front of Pei Yizhi.

More than ten years have passed, and the two cousins who grew up together have married wives, become officials, and become adults, but when they talk to her, they still unconsciously slow down, just as if she was a child.

"I'm tired of the past two days, go back and get some sleep." Pei Xingyi smoothed out the crumpled sleeve robe, knelt down beside her, and said gently, "I'll talk to grandpa and take care of you for a while." ”

Cheng Ruoxuan didn't move, lowered his head and said, "Is there an accident at home?" ”

Pei Xingyi shook his head, "Grandpa died of illness suddenly, everyone was caught off guard, and it was inevitable that it would be a little chaotic." Don't be cranky. ”

Cheng Ruoxuan added a handful of paper money to the brazier, "Among the officials in Mingjiang, there are many who haven't come, right?"

Pei Xingyi's eyelids moved, and he said, "You have to look like a lady." When guests come during the day, don't come out and run around. ”

"This is my grandfather's funeral, so naturally I won't run around." Cheng Ruoxuan was still kneeling, and no one could find fault with his posture, "But second brother, you don't have to hide it from me." I have collected the remaining paper ashes from the past few days. Seeing less. ”

Pei Xingyi didn't know how to answer for a while, Cheng Ruoxuan continued, "There was a minister named Fan Cun in the previous dynasty. At that time, the first father died, and Fan Cun did not attend the funeral, so he was impeached, and finally even lost his official position. If the official position of the grandfather before his death, if the power of the family is still there, which of the officials of the two provinces will dare not come to pay tribute? ”

Pei Xingyi looked at her childish face, and said after a while, "Where did you see this story?" ”

"Nanshan Zang." Cheng Ruoxuan's voice was a little weak.

As soon as Pei Xingyi heard this name, his eyebrows furrowed, "Grandpa allowed you to study, but he didn't let you go to see the history of barnyard officials." ”

Cheng Ruoxuan just hung his head.

Pei Xingyi immediately felt that his words were serious. He glanced at the coffin, sighed silently, and said soothingly, "Is it to find out which star is missing?" ”

Cheng Ruoxuan pinched the corners of his sleeves, but did not answer.

The women of Liang State do not read history, and pay attention to guarding and separating. Even though Cheng Ruoxuan was fortunate to follow his brothers to read and write, he still obeyed the harem training in major matters. The boudoir is actually very boring, but fortunately, there is a starry sky above her head that fascinates her. At first, it was just a little girl's mind, wondering what the little things in the sky that could blink their eyes were named; Unexpectedly, after flipping through a few more books, it was out of control, the direction of the star track, and the changes in the four seasons all became the objects of her study. She has good talents, and she is very quick and rough in mathematics; Helplessly, there are few classics in the Cheng family library that can tell the time of observation thoroughly, and she wants to check the astrological records, so she has to go through the history books that are not usual.

In the years when Tong Yan was unscrupulous, Cheng Ruoxuan also complained a few words to people close to her - Xingyi has always taken her affairs to heart, and secretly rummaged through the classics for her - and later watched more official and wild history, and she realized that this is the so-called "way of heaven", which has a lot to do with the fortunes of the country, and ordinary people naturally rarely have the opportunity to snoop on one or two. In the previous dynasty, there was even a strict ban, saying that those who studied the calendar were sent to war, and those who made the calendar were killed. When the dynasty was founded, the law was loosened, and most of the information found by the people was handed down at that time. Clinker went through a lot of twists and turns when he ascended the throne today, and finally relied on the support of the astronomical doctor to inherit the throne. Since then, Qin Tianjian's status has soared, and his power has surpassed all the institutions of the imperial court, and he has been instructed by the Son of Heaven to completely monopolize the study of astrology.

Everyone may have been curious about the starry sky overhead, but under the restrictions, all kinds of doubts about the starry sky can only be forgotten.

Cheng Ruoxuan was able to retain this hobby because he was fortunate to have the support of many books in the library building, and his family allowed to connive. Even so, when his grandfather was alive, he once joked that since the Son of Heaven issued a ban, the Book of Xingwei did not dare to hide it privately, and if he had to go deep into this way, he would probably have to go to the imperial capital Qin Tianjian with his head to steal a few official books. She had heard her grandfather's words, and she would never mention her interest again.

She knew what it was to be charged with rebellion.

Those childish and grandiose thoughts seem ridiculous now. My grandfather was cautious all his life, but he was easily knocked down by a sudden illness. The Pei family lost its shade, and there was not much time left for her to play.

How did Pei Xingyi know that there were so many thoughts in her head, just that she was a sentimental little doll. "All day long the cat is in the stack of books, and people are going to be bored. When this is over, you will occasionally go for a walk in the yard. He persuaded him in a kind voice, "Don't worry about the funeral." Grandpa died of illness, and my father wanted to resign from the official system, and there were inevitably some changes in the court. But there is also the eldest brother and me. ”

Cheng Ruoxuan stopped arguing. Xingyi clearly hoped that she would be an obedient child, even if she herself couldn't feel at ease, she didn't want to trouble him anymore.

"You're just at home, you don't have to worry about anything." Pei Xingyi raised his head, "Grandpa is watching us from the sky." ”

With his comfort, Cheng Ruoxuan couldn't sleep for two hours. She was so tired that she woke up at dawn.

She's not the only one in the family who can't sleep. The girl came in with a basin of water for grooming, and waited for her to have breakfast, and finally reported that her aunt, Mrs. Pei, invited her to meet her for dinner.

Cheng Ruoxuan hurried over and entered the door, but Mrs. Pei pointed to her hair first.

She quickly reached for her tiara. She wore filial piety, and her sideburns were all pulled up by two plain hairpins, and her steps were crooked.

"It's been hard for you to stay up for a few nights in a row." Mrs. Pei was holding a cup of tea. She was obviously very tired, her face was pale, but she still held the solemnity and peace of a housewife. She treats Cheng Ruoxuan very well, but her every move is like annotating "The Female Commandment", and she is a little alienated from everyone.

"This is how it should be to be a descendant." Cheng Ruoxuan felt that something was wrong as soon as he spoke, and hurriedly made up for it: "Uncle and brothers are so tired, I can't help much." ”

"Your mind has always been delicate. Xinghuai always thinks that they are an ignorant little girl, which is to look down on you. Mrs. Pei said, "When I was your age, I was already engaged to the Pei family and was preparing for marriage." ”

Cheng Ruoxuan's heart was alarmed, and he hurriedly said, "Grandpa's funeral period has not yet passed, and I dare not consider family affairs." ”

"You're a well-behaved kid, but it's not the same time it used to be." Mrs. Pei picked up the teacup and said, "Your grandfather was in a high position before, and the political enemies he provoked during his lifetime, and the tigers and wolves around him, I don't know how many. When his old man was alive, naturally no one dared to touch the Pei family. But now that your grandfather has died of illness, your uncle has been worried for three years, and there are only two of your brothers left in the court. They are not a few years older than you, and none of them are standing on their heels. Even if the Pei family has the merits that have been saved for generations, it is difficult to say how long it can be relied on. The decline of a family is often just a matter of day. When the time comes, if you want to make a good family, it will be difficult; It's a blessing to be able to find the shade now, the Pei family is up and down, so I can save you a ......"

Only the last sentence, Cheng Ruoxuan didn't pay attention. At this moment, she was thinking about Xingyi's pretended relaxed face. Mrs. Pei is so worried, it seems that the current situation of the Pei family is far more difficult than she thought. Even women know things, how can Xingyi, who has already entered the court and become an official, be so optimistic?

Mrs. Pei has gotten to the point, "Zhizhou Lu Fu's son, you should know, right?" ”

Cheng Ruoxuan hurriedly shook his head, "I don't like to go out." ”

The Pei family and the Lu family are not compatible, but she knows it. Lu Fu's official position is not as straight as Pei Yi, but Mingzhou, where Pei's family is located, is under Lu Fu's control. One mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, and in the past, the Pei family had Pei Yizhi in charge, and they forcibly suppressed the Lu family; Now that the Pei family is losing power, can the show of favor play a little role?

"Knowing that you have always been polite and polite, I have paid attention to it for you." Mrs. Pei said, "Mr. Lu didn't know who had mentioned you, and he bluntly said that he was interested in you not long ago. It's just that your grandfather said that you are still young...... He loves you the most. Mrs. Pei turned her head as she spoke, covering her cheeks with a handkerchief.

Cheng Ruoxuan also felt a pain in his heart. Her grandfather's funeral lasted so many days, and she thought she had exhausted all her strength in grief; But when Mrs. Pei mentioned this, her eyes would still be red.

"You also know that the old man loves her."

The voice of the visitor was not heavy, but the bead curtain suddenly flicked him, and it was as harsh as if it was broken. Cheng Ruoxuan hurriedly turned around and saluted. It was her uncle Pei Xiaocheng.

"Let me ask Ruoxuan what he means, why are you angry." Mrs. Pei spoke softly, and there was no grievance in her tone.

"My aunt is thinking about me." Cheng Ruoxuan himself has no time to think more about himself. She knew that the matter of marriage was related to her daughter's family for life, and she had no way to judge whether Lu Gongzi was a good match; But these concerns were overly calculated, and in just a few words, she had ended her hesitation - now the Pei family needs to marry, and she has to go.

The affection of blood relatives and the grace of nurturing are worth everything for her.

Mrs. Pei's gaze swept over her face and fell on Pei Xiaocheng: "This child is precocious and understands everything. Do you think she's like two silly boys in the family? ”

Pei Xiaocheng sighed, "Your woman's 'understanding' is only in the boudoir after all. Marriage is of no avail, so why make your children suffer. ”

Mrs. Pei said: "Don't misunderstand me like this, let Ruoxuan settle the family affairs, the first is to protect her; Besides, how can marriage be useless? For example, our Pei family and the Xuan family have been good for decades......"

Cheng Ruoxuan nodded. The Xuan family is her sister-in-law's maiden family. The two families have a lot of contacts, and in Cheng Ruoxuan's generation, her eldest brother Xinghuai and sister-in-law Xuan's family are also a husband and wife, and they are quite famous.

Pei Xiaocheng sneered: "Xuanjia? If you want to show favor to the Lu family through marriage, it is better to come up to the Xuan family in the court blatantly. News has just come from the capital, the suppression of bandits, Xuan Jaw played in support of Lu Fu. At present, Lu Fu is in a hurry to send troops, in order to record a political achievement as soon as possible, so as to pocket the position of governor of Liangjiang. Xuanjaw Minghuo insisted on paving the way for him, and this is not going to advance and retreat with us anymore. ”

When Cheng Ruoxuan heard this, his brows furrowed. She is a woman and does not study political affairs, but she often hears a little bit about her grandfather Pei Yi's straight knees. The north of the Ming River is mountainous, and it is a place where bandits occur frequently in all dynasties. Pei Yizhi carefully studied it when he took office, believing that the terrain dictated that it was easy to suppress the bandits for a day or two, but it was difficult to maintain long-term results. In addition, he paid attention to leniency and benevolence as an official, so he focused on developing people's livelihood, and guided the people to return to the right path with education, and easily refused to use force. Lu Fu is anxious for quick success and quick profit, and always wants to fight violence with violence. Now that Pei Yizhi died suddenly, there is no constraint, and Lu Fu intends to take advantage of this to take the position, which is also a matter of course.

It's just that Pei Yizhi's coffin has not yet been funeral, and the old allies have defected to political opponents, which is really chilling.

Mrs. Pei is usually a person who does not show joy and sorrow, and at this time she also showed a little worry, "The eldest daughter-in-law just said that she would go back to Wanling's mother's house to ask for help for us, and I still think she is a loyal and brave daughter-in-law - do you think she knows about this?" Is it possible that it is just for self-preservation? ”

Pei Xiaocheng didn't answer, but said: "Now that Qin Tianjian is involved in this matter, it's a mess. Xuanjaw is an official in Beijing, and in recent years, he has become more and more independent, and this time he defected, whether it was forced by the situation, or the instructions of the Wanling Xuan family, it was difficult to determine for a while. Ruoxuan. ”

Cheng Ruoxuan hurriedly responded.

"The children of my Pei family are all equally valuable." Pei Xiaocheng's sentence was categorical, "Whether you marry or not depends on your own decision, and you don't have to treat it as a marriage." ”

Cheng Ruoxuan said that the topic turned back to herself, and said urgently, "I want to share my family's worries." The only thing she can do for the Pei family now is the assistant funeral, but no one is willing to appreciate the Pei family's face.

Pei Xiaocheng said: "I was about to say something that only you can do." There are too many eyes staring at my Pei family, your two elder brothers follow the etiquette and law to keep the funeral, and it is not appropriate to walk around; You're a girl, so it's so much more convenient right now. Would you like to go to Wanling with your sister-in-law? ”