If it is said that Chu Ci in the post house just now brought everyone a winter day when even the sunlight became cold and the rain was more biting, then when Chu Ci stepped out of the door of the post house, Chu Ci brought everyone a smile that was warmer than the spring breeze and warmer than the warm sun.

He stood at the door with a smile, letting the slanting wind and drizzle lap on his face, and stared at Xie Ruqing who was walking down the carriage with a pair of eyes, and then, the smile became brighter and brighter.

Behind him, a servant girl rushed out and held up an umbrella for Chu Ci, but Chu Ci didn't care, and said directly to Xie Ruqing: "Senior brother, it's a good time to take a break, and the spring rain is long, why don't you accompany your sister-in-law at home, but you are looking for me, although you and my senior brother haven't seen each other for many years, but you don't have to be so anxious." ”

Xie Ruqing didn't pay attention to Chu Ci's words, but walked up to him and said: "I haven't seen you for many years, but you are becoming more and more oily, and this time I am looking for you for official business." ”

When Chu Ci heard the word "official business", he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, and then made a gesture of invitation, and promised: "Since it is for official business, senior brother, please come in, and I will let the deputy envoys listen to the house together." ”

"That's not necessary, the affairs of the Nanban Mission, I think you can do it alone, just you and me."

"Senior brother's words really hurt me, how can I be such a domineering person, everything is negotiable, but senior brother, you said so, then you and I will exchange opinions separately." Chu Ci listened to Xie Ruqing's words, but was not annoyed, but continued to laugh and say.

"If you were willing to let them call the shots, your mission wouldn't be there, and now there are only so many people who have managed to reach Kyoto." Xie Ruqing said meaningfully.

After speaking, Xie Ruqing walked towards the post house, and Chu Ci, who was behind Xie Ruqing, stayed where he was for a long time, and then said loudly behind him:

"Naturally, I can't compare to Senior Brother, Senior Brother, you have a gentle temper, and you are a world-famous gentleman, come to think of it, even if my sister-in-law climbed over the wall and left the house overnight last night, I will soon be coaxed home by you, Senior Brother."

When Xie Ruqing heard this, he immediately stopped where he was, glanced back at Chu Ci, who was smiling uninhibitedly, then turned around again and continued to walk towards the post house.

………… (I'm the dividing line)

"Your tea here is very good." Xie Ruqing picked up the tea leaves in the tea box, tasted them carefully, and said.

Chu Ci took Xie Ruqing to find a corridor covered by a bamboo curtain on both sides, and the two sat under the corridor, listening carefully to the sound of the slanting wind and drizzle outside the bamboo curtain, the rustling sound of spring silkworms eating mulberry leaves, and the sound of water gurgling and boiling on the small table in front of them.

When Chu Ci heard Xie Ruqing's praise for his tea, he inevitably raised his head proudly and said: "This is nature, although the Nanban is in the midst of all countries, the environment is harsh, but it is extremely suitable for the growth of Junshan silver needles.

This is the first wave of Junshan silver needles this year, I brought the best in this wave, a hundred catties of selected treasures out of the small ten catties, knowing that to come to Dayong that day, I put it in my bag. ”

"Senior brother, do you know why?" Chu Cixiao looked at Xie Ruqing, and then picked up the boiling water and prepared to make tea.

"On that day, will the mung bean cake prepared in the inn satisfy your appetite?" Xie Ruqing avoided talking about Chu Ci's question, and just asked another question superficially.

"Naturally to my liking, for so many years, although I am also rich in food and clothing in Nanban, my favorite food is still the mung bean cake of Dayong Hutchison, which has been reproduced many times by the chefs in my house, but it is still not the same."

"Well, a country's terroir and a country, the same dish, can be made by different people, it is a different recipe and taste, common sense."

"That's right, my brother's words, but it reminds me of what Master once said.

When Master said this, I didn't fully understand the deep meaning at that time, but now, I understand it. ”

"Although you and I are from the same family, but now each is its own master, what to decide, naturally also have their own considerations, you know, I understand." Xie Ruqing held down Chu Ci's hand to brew tea, took the hot water from Chu Ci's hand, got up straight, and poured it under the nearby flowers and leaves.

"I forgot, senior brother, it's true that you love Junshan Silver Needle the most, but you love to boil the water of Junshan Silver Needle as rootless water, it's really my sin." Chu Ci watched Xie Ruqing standing under the eaves with utensils and rain, and then got up and walked to Xie Ruqing's side to apologize.

Xie Ruqing didn't care, but said lightly: "What kind of tea to eat and what kind of water to boil, in the end it is just some trivial things, which can be done, but I really don't like it, someone has installed someone in my house." ”

"It's not a place to place, where can I place someone so close to you in your house.

But like you, senior brother, it's just an exchange of interests, and money can make ghosts grind, and I'm just like you, senior brother, with a heart-warming condition. Chu Ci said indifferently.

"That person, you should have dealt with it."

"Naturally, although this person just sold some news and went out, it is not treason, but I can't rub sand in my eyes."

"So do I." Xie Ruqing didn't ask what the man's final fate was, but just turned the topic back to himself and expressed his attitude.

Chu Ci took the water that had been filled in Xie Ruqing's hand, put it on the charcoal fire and boiled it slowly, and then said: "This fire is small, it cooks slowly, senior brother, if you don't mind, why don't you play a game of chess with me, I will let people put up a game of chess." ”

"No need, let's talk about official affairs, we will agree on official affairs earlier, and you and I can explain to our respective monarchs and people." Xie Ruqing sat opposite Chu Ci and bluntly refused.

"Haha, it turns out that senior brother, you really want to talk to me about business, I thought it was just a rhetoric to those outsiders, I thought that this kind of thing, senior brother, you might find a more suitable time to come, at least, you won't just swagger to talk to me in detail alone.

Although there are few people I have brought with me, there is a benefit, which can prove the innocence of you and me, and the innocence of not treason. Chu Ci smiled and picked up a piece of white jade cake and said.

"If I look for you in private, I'm afraid the gossip will intensify.

You and I are brothers, there is nothing to blame, those people want to say that you and I are fake public and private, so they say, it is enough that you and my monarch have never doubted, life in the world, if you have always cared about the opinions of others, wouldn't you and I not want to live. Xie Ruqing was particularly free and easy when he said this, as if he couldn't see the heavy shackles that had been placed on him.

"Senior brother said well, then let's talk about business.

None of the conditions we have put forward can be changed. Chu Ci smiled and agreed with Xie Ruqing's words, and in the next second, he restrained his smile at a speed visible to the naked eye, and straightened his expression.

"We can't agree to any of your conditions." Xie Ruqing said unhurriedly.

"Oh?" Chu Ci was not in a hurry at all, but just lightly sent a tone word to inquire.

"You Nanban's minions should also bury a lot of people in our Dayong, and you should also be able to know the current situation of our Dayong.

I don't think you expected us to agree to this kind of request, but you just put a high price on it and wanted us to pay attention to it. Xie Ruqing also picked up a piece of pastry and said.

Chu Ci lightly tapped the table with his fingers, propped his chin and said, "Then what do you want." ”

Chu Ci's words did not deny what Xie Ruqing said, in Xie Ruqing's eyes, this was the meaning of acquiescence.

So, Xie Ruqing immediately said again: "The grain is halved, the silver money is also halved, the subsidy period is halved, the craftsmen do not lend it, only the craftsmen design the straw paper and send it to you, and you also give us enough to equip the latest artillery of the three armies." ”

"That's impossible, I give too little, I ask for too much, even if I am asked to pretend to be public and private, I can't agree."

"That's what the Ministry of Rites meant." Xie Ruqing didn't wait for Chu Ci's words to fall, and then said again.

Chu Ci reacted immediately, and said with disdain: "Hey, after so many years, your Dayong's Ministry of Rites still likes to be whimsical so much, and I really think that we Nanban can only borrow food from your Dayong, and the lion opened his mouth." ”

"What do you mean, senior brother, I have a heavy responsibility, senior brother, don't let me down like this Ministry of Rites."

"What the Ministry of Rites says has their own considerations, and what I say has my own considerations." Xie Ruqing did not rush to say his opinion, but instead played Tai Chi with Chu Ci, and touched the hairpin on his head and said.

A glimmer of light flashed in Chu Ci's eyes, and he said: "Senior brother is smart, and I will consider it for me as a junior brother, senior brother, please speak." ”

"Money and food may be negotiated, but it is only a matter of quantity, and for the time being it is permissible to count a quantity to the satisfaction of both parties, according to the statute, but the craftsmen shall not lend it, unless you also send artillery divisions in exchange."

"That's not possible, before the envoy of our country, I already said that I can make the decision on anything, except for this matter, the country does not dare to shake at all, and it is difficult to obey my fate." Chu Ci shook his head and refused.

"The foundation of the country should be for the people, the people have, the country has a foundation, although artillery is the heavy weapon of the Southern Barbarians, but the people and artillery, which is more important, I think, junior brother, you should be clear."

"The people are the palms of the hands, the artillery is the back of the hands, and the palms of the hands are all meat......

Senior brother, you are better than your Ministry of Rites, and you will give me problems. Chu Ci said, he sat on the ground regardless of his image, took out the jade pendant on his waist, shook it, and said with a bit of complaint and trickery.

"Since it's a problem, you have to think about it slowly, but all the gains must be paid, so it's better for the junior brother to think about it carefully."

"This tea, come to think of it, I can't drink it, I have to coax your sister-in-law, you can use it yourself, wait for the future...... After you think clearly, bring the tea leaves to my house. After speaking, Xie Ruqing was about to get up and leave.

"The senior brother was quite anxious, but after talking to me for a while, he was in a hurry to find his sister-in-law......

Why, the senior brother is afraid that his sister-in-law will run away with others? Chu Ci joked with a smile.

Xie Ruqing didn't say anything to refute, just stood up and was about to walk out of the house, Chu Ci smiled more and more brightly, and continued later:

"Senior brother, I didn't expect that after more than ten years, you really fell into the gentle township, rest assured, be careful that one day will not be recovered~"

Xie Ruqing ignored Chu Ci's ridicule and continued to walk outside, but when he was about to turn the corner at the end of the corridor, he turned around, looked at Chu Ci and said:

"It's not just the gentle township that can't be recovered, sometimes, the brotherhood you have always thought, even the family affection, may not be reliable, often, many things, the more you rest assured, the more unsafe ......"

Xie Ruqing said that as for this, whether the rest can be understood or not is naturally up to Chu Ci personally, sometimes, even if you have three mouths, it is impossible to wake up a person who is pretending to be asleep......

After hearing Xie Ruqing's kind admonition, Chu Ci's face immediately changed, he stood up with a complicated face, walked to Xie Ruqing's side in small steps, patted Xie Ruqing's shoulder and said:

"Thank you for your concern, everything I do, I am measured......"

"However, senior brother, there is a sentence, junior brother, I still have to remind you that there is no impermeable wall in the world, even if the wall of your Xie family can't be mixed in from the outside, but it can be seen through inside." At the end, Chu Ci's voice became deeper and lower, but his tone became more and more serious, patting Xie Ruqing's hand on the shoulder, and he used more and more strength.

Chu Ci's words were definitely not vacant, Xie Ruqing darkened his eyes, and met Chu Ci's smiling eyes.

Thousands of words flowed in the eyes of the two, but they did not declare them.

In the end, Chu Ci smiled and said: "Senior brother, take care of your life, Master said, you and I are not only brothers, but also enemies of life and death, in your life, if you want to die, you can only die in my hands......"

Xie Ruqing looked at the junior brother in front of him, who was no longer young and simple, and felt that he had changed, but he didn't seem to have changed......

Xie Ruqing, like many years ago, grabbed Chu Ci's hand on his shoulder and said:

"There are too many things I have to protect in this life, I am reluctant to die, and you should be the same, live well, no one is more worthy of love than yourself......"

Chu Ci looked at Xie Ruqing's expression, as if he had returned to that summer day many years ago, and for a moment there was a trace of "innocence" in his eyes that had only been seen many years ago......

Chu Ci also learned from what he looked like back then, and said very badly:

"Don't worry, I will live well, I will live, let everyone know that Master's most outstanding disciple is me! Nanban Chu Ci! ”

The figures of the two brothers disappeared together at the end of the corridor, and the slanting wind and drizzle outside seemed to slowly turn into the torrential rain that the brothers had together in the summer many years ago...... It has wet the whole of Kyoto, washing away countless dust and fallen leaves...... blurred the two figures of purple and red......