Spring turns to summer, and the sun changes the taste of the air. Gaofuli is different from the busyness of the past.

Changfang's eldest daughter-in-law, Tong, is about to give birth; In April, Gao Hui accepted a concubine and called her Jiang, and now she is also pregnant; The high glass of the second room is also going out of the cabinet. Gao Li and Gao Ling still often come to Xunhe to speak.

On this day, Gao Ling went to the backyard again, and saw He sitting alone in front of the window, so he tiptoed close to He, jerked away the score on Heqin's case, and read it aloud: "The morning breeze of the duck, the north forest of the Yubi." I didn't see a gentleman, and I was worried about Qinqin. How to be, selfless..."

He got up and grabbed it, Gao Ling dodged left and right, and said with a smile: "Sister-in-law, you use "Qin Feng" and qin music, don't you miss my second brother?" ”

Seeing that He bowed his head and was silent, Gao Ling thought that she had guessed Zhonghe's thoughts, and suddenly became proud, and said, "Sister-in-law, you move back to the South Courtyard, don't be cheaper than the Jiang family." ”

He didn't answer her, slowly walked to the window, looked out the window, and said no more.

Gao Ling knew that she had lost her words, so she quickly changed the topic and said, "I heard from my father that the imperial court has set an auspicious day to march south, and the holy car will sit in Luoyang City. My father and eldest brother have been busy preparing for the car recently, and I have not even had time to take care of my sister's marriage, and I haven't seen my father for several days. ”

"Southern Expedition?" He turned around and asked curiously.

"Yes, a few days ago, my father personally said to my mother that the accompanying army could reach as many as one million." Gao Ling replied.

He shook his head and said: "Since today's Shengshang Juntian system, the people live and work in peace and contentment, the first Empress Dowager to the Buddha, how can the imperial court kill for no reason?" As far as I can see, isn't it that the Holy One wants to use this to move the capital to our Luoyang City. ”

Gao Ling said with a smile: "There are so many princes and nobles in Pingcheng, how can they easily move the capital." ”

He and Gao Ling glanced at each other and said with a smile: "Are these military affairs something we should think about?" Come, take a look at the mandarin duck scarf I embroidered for your sister. With that, he pulled Gao Ling into the inner room.

As soon as the two of them sat down, Jixiang hurriedly ran in and said, "The eldest lady is about to give birth, it seems that it is difficult to give birth, and the hostesses of each room have gone to the south courtyard." Little lady, do you want to go over and take a look? ”

When He heard this, he hesitated: "Madame doesn't want me to go to the front yard, is it appropriate to go over at this time?" ”

Wang Shi also entered the house at this time, and said: "Second lady, now that the eldest lady is about to give birth, it is reasonable for you to go." ”

He nodded, got up and said to Gao Ling: "Sister Ling, you are the daughter of the house who has not left the pavilion, you don't need to go with me, go back to your room first and wait for the letter." ”

Gao Ling nodded in agreement, and went out of the backyard with He, and the two left separately under the corridor of the south courtyard.

In the entrance hall of the Tong family in the south courtyard, the Lu family and the Liu family were already seated, and although Mrs. Gao did not come in person, she chanted scriptures and prayed in the Buddhist hall of the north courtyard.

He entered the hall door, saluted Lu Liu's two clans one by one, and then sat down beside Liu's family.

From time to time, there was the screaming of the Tong family in the back room, and the servants carried water and burned the fire, going in and out, and everyone bowed their heads and was silent, for fear of alarming the Tong family's production.

Gao Yi went to the government office early in the morning, received the news, and rushed back in a hurry at this moment.

Tong's screams became more and more intense, and Yuan'er, who was waiting under the porch with Gao Yi, cried out in fright.

He hurriedly got up and went to the bottom of the corridor, squatted down and said softly to Yuan'er: "Yuan'er, don't cry, this is your brother and sister are about to be born, and your mother is calling him." ”

Yuan'er sobbed and said, "Then why is my mother howling like this, it sounds like she is in pain." ”

He touched Yuan'er's head and said with a slight smile: "Because Brother and Sister are in your mother's belly, your mother is afraid that he won't hear it." He wiped away Yuan'er's tears with Jinpa, and then said: "When my aunt came just now, I saw a bird's nest under the eaves of the verandah in the garden. ”

Yuan'er was a child after all, and when she heard that there was a bird, she burst into tears and laughed, and followed Cuiyun to the garden. Gao Yi nodded gratefully to He, and He smiled back and went back to the house.

After noon, with the loud cry of a baby, Tong gave birth to a baby girl. The nurse called loudly: "Go and report the good news to your wife, she is a noble daughter." ”

Mrs. Gao got the news and rushed to the south courtyard in a moment.

Gao Yi hurriedly stepped forward to support his mother, and Mrs. Gao said to Gao Yi: "Go to the tent room and tell Deacon Wang that each person who serves in your room today will be rewarded with a penny and three buckets of rice." ”

Gao Yi thanked his mother and went to the tent.

A woman who looked like a young woman helped Mrs. Gao into the hall door, He hurriedly got up and saluted with Lu Liu's second family, Mrs. nodded and said to the woman who supported her: "You are pregnant, don't stay up here." I'll go back to your house first, and I'll come back tomorrow to see your sister-in-law." ”

Only then did He notice the woman who had just helped Mrs. Gao in. She is beautiful and charming, and she is a woman who exudes charm from the bottom of her bones. He knew in his heart that this should be the Jiang family.

Jiang responded to the salute to Mrs. Gao and Lu Liuer, but only looked He up and down without saluting. He smiled faintly, but there was no displeasure in his heart.

When Mrs. Gao walked to the door of the inner room, she turned her head and said, "You all go back." He, you are not in good health, you don't need to come to your sister-in-law's room in the future. ”

With that, he went straight into the inner room. He smiled sadly, then got up to say goodbye to Lu Liu's second clan, and turned his head to leave.

The road to the backyard seemed so long at the moment. In the past six months, although He has seen all the warmth and cold, he still regards Gaofu as his home, and regards the people in the house as family. I never thought that I was already like an abandoned child in the eyes of my wife, and I was regarded as an ominous person.

He Qiang held back his tears, and as soon as he entered the backyard, Jixiang greeted him. Seeing that He's expression was different, his eyes were slightly red, Jixiang didn't dare to speak, and helped He into the house.

He didn't say a word to the window. It so happened that a lark flew by the window and came to rest on a branch, and in a moment another flew and landed beside it, pecking at each other, and one burying its head under the wings of the other. Seeing this scene, He could no longer restrain himself, and tears poured down like a spring.

Auspicious somehow, so anxious that he was at a loss. Suddenly, Jixiang came back to his senses and hurriedly ran out of the house to call Wang.

Good things don't go out, but such gossip has reached Wang's ears.

Wang sighed, lowered his voice and said to Ji Xiang: "Just let the second lady be alone and cry happily." ”

Ji Xiang didn't know what it meant, and asked why. Wang knew that he had an auspicious temperament, and if he hid it from her, it would definitely make her anxious, so he told what he had heard.

Ji Xiang's face turned red after hearing this, and said, "Obviously, someone took advantage of the Chinese New Year's Eve to push down the little lady, causing the little lady to slip the tire." They don't look for the evildoers, but they resent the little lady for being ominous. How can this make sense? ”

Wang Shi said helplessly: "The old lady believes in Buddhism and believes that everything has cause and effect. In the spring, I heard the third aunt mention it, saying that the lady consulted the Xiangshi, and the Xiangshi said that the slippery fetus on the first day of the new year was a bad omen, all because the second lady's debts in the previous life were not paid, and such a person was destined to have thin heirs. ”

Jixiang said indignantly: "When I was willing to marry a little lady, I said that she was good when I entered the door, but now I wronged her with a bad omen." Relying on his high position and power, he insulted her like this! ”

Wang Shi hurriedly stretched out his hand to cover Jixiang's mouth, and said hurriedly: "Don't shout, beware of the second lady being sad when she hears it." ”

auspiciously shed tears, but did not dare to speak again. Wang shook his head helplessly and went into the kitchen.

He stood in front of the window until the crescent moon climbed up the treetops.

Wang Shi came in with a bowl of crucian carp soup and said to He lovingly: "Second lady, you have been standing for two hours, sit down and eat a bowl of fish soup." ”

He barely squeezed out a smile and said to Wang: "Sister-in-law Wang, burn the incense." ”

Wang knew that it would be useless to persuade him at this time, so he burned incense in response. Wang is familiar with everything about He, she knows that He burns incense to touch the qin, as long as He is willing to touch the qin, she can forget all the earthly things.

"Ge Sheng Mengchu, vines in the wild. Yu Mei died here, who was alone with him. Ge Sheng Mengchu, vines in the domain. Yu Mei dies here, who lives alone. The corner pillow is sloppy, and the brocade is rotten. Yu Mei died here, who is in Dudan. "Singing while caressing, the sound of the piano is melodious, and the song is desolate.

Wang Shi silently wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve.

On the day of Gao Yi's daughter's full moon, He's parents also came to congratulate her.

He's mother, Che, looked around at the wedding banquet and tried to find her daughter, but only a slender and glamorous woman appeared next to Gao Hui. Che was apprehensive in his heart, and he didn't know why.

The Liu family sat with them during the banquet, and when they saw Che's expression, they thought that she must be looking for her daughter, and she only felt pity in her heart. So he took advantage of the unpreparedness of others, quietly walked to Che's side, pulled her sleeve, and gave her another look. Che understood, so he excused himself to go to the toilet and followed Liu out of the table.

After leaving the north courtyard, the Che family saw that there was no one around, so he quickly caught up with the Liu family, and asked timidly: "Third aunt, where is this going?" ”

Liu didn't look back, but slowed down his pace, and said as he walked: "Mrs. In-law, I'll take you to see He." ”

Che Shi urgently asked, "Third aunt, where is she?" Today, but she is not present at such a scene, is she sick, or, or is the lady explained the things next to her? ”

Liu replied, "You just come with me." Although Che was full of doubts, he didn't dare to ask any more questions, and only followed closely behind Liu.

The way to the backyard is to bypass the south courtyard, but fortunately, today the guests gathered in the north courtyard, and all the male servants and maids in the south courtyard went to the north courtyard with the Tong family and the Jiang family to serve, and the south courtyard was quietly empty at the moment.

Cross the south courtyard and enter the garden along the promenade, walk along the garden stone road to the end, push open the moon cave door, and enter the backyard.

He didn't know that his mother had arrived, and he was playing the piano in the room at the moment. Che was already teary-eyed when she heard the sound of He's piano, she was familiar with He's piano, and knew that He's piano sound was also like her heart's voice. At this moment, the sound of the piano is lingering and sad, like a graceful sigh of He.

When he arrived at the door, Che stopped, took out the cloth in his sleeve, wiped away his tears, and gently brushed his temples, and then lifted the curtain and entered.

Jixiang was wiping the smoker in the house, and when he looked up and saw that it was Che, he was surprised and delighted, and shouted: "Master mother, master mother, you are here." Little lady, the housewife is here! ”

He Ben stroked the piano in the window, heard the auspicious shout, turned around and saw that it was his mother, only stunned for a flick of his fingers, and then ran forward and threw himself into Che's arms.

Che's originally strong tears could no longer be suppressed, He fell on his mother's shoulder, and both mother and daughter wept like rain.

Seeing this, Liu hurriedly stepped forward and persuaded: "Mrs. in-laws, it is rare for your mother and daughter to see each other, how can you be sad." After that, he shook his head meaningfully.

He Huiyi, knowing that his mother did not know the details, glanced at Liu with gratitude. Wang brought tea, waited for Che to sit down, and then withdrew from the door with Liu and Jixiang.

Che caressed He's hand lovingly, and said, "I haven't seen you for more than half a year, why are you so thin?" ”

Seeing that He was silent, he continued: "I thought that you and your uncle would go home together in the next year, and I looked forward to it, but I only looked forward to the letter sent by the Gaofu that you were sick." I wanted to come and see, but your father said that you should not visit during the New Year's Festival. I have to pray to the Bodhisattva at home, chanting sutras and reciting the Buddha every day to protect your health. ”

He Qiang squeezed out a smile and said to Che: "I hurt the wind in the new year, and Lang Zhong said that it was not appropriate to go out, so I missed the day to go home to visit my parents." ”

Although He said it plainly, but the mother and daughter were connected, how could the Che family not see the clue, and sighed: "Today's Gaofu banquet, your father didn't want me to come with me, but I begged him to bring me, I just want to see you." ”

He tried his best to think about how to reassure his mother, so he picked up the teacup and sipped his tea gently, trying to hide his sad heart.

The mother and daughter sat opposite each other, speechless for a moment.

Che's heart was faintly ominous, and he was about to ask He, but he only heard He: "Mother, go back to the banquet, I'm afraid my father will worry after a long time." Today, I felt the wind and cold again, so I asked my wife to show me and go to the backyard to recuperate for a few days. ”

Che knew in her heart that this must be her daughter's relief, but it was inconvenient to find fault, she sighed lightly: "Mother is weak and incompetent in this life, misleading others and herself. I married you to Gaofu, firstly, because I did not dare to disobey your father's order, and secondly, because the white snake appeared when you were born, I thought it was a sign of your wealth in your life. Now, I'd rather you marry an ordinary family, just ask you to be in harmony with your husband and wife. ”

At this point, Che was choked up with tears. He took out a brocade handkerchief and handed it to his mother to wipe away her tears.

Che took the Jinpa, blew away the tears, and continued: "Mother is incompetent and powerless to do anything for you, I only hope that you will not be as stupid as me and suffer yourself." In this life, I can neither be pitied by my in-laws nor loved by my husband. Before you got married, I made a wish to the Bodhisattva, and I replaced all the sufferings you would suffer in this life, and I only asked you to be accompanied by a lover, and the white head would not be separated. ”

He looked at her mother with tears in her eyes, and her mother also looked at her sadly. The first time He saw her mother's solemn gaze, her heart was like a knife. Che Shi said to He in a trembling voice: "You have to love yourself, you have to think about yourself, don't follow in my footsteps." ”

After that, Che got up and left, walked to the door, and turned to look at He with almost pleading eyes, only this glance, He never forgot in his life.