The steward said: "Some small things are not counted, and I ask the lord to discuss the judgment carefully with our lady." Your Majesty's decree, after all, is not trivial. ”

Since she said so, Xue Yuxiao didn't shirk and followed her inside.

After walking through the cobblestone road covered with light snow, about half an hour, the vision suddenly opens up. Xue Yuxiao didn't expect that the garden where the Wang family managed the farm actually cultivated such a large cedar, and the pine needles were floating with snowflakes, forming a unique silver-gray hue.

Under the cedars, a man stood under a tree and waited for a long time. This person was dressed very thickly, wearing only a plain hairpin, refreshing and simple, facing a frozen pool of water, standing silently and silently.

Xue Yuxiao walked over: "This lady is the one who is ordered to manage—"

Before the words fell, the people under the trees looked back. The tulle that covered his face was slowly blown, and a pair of warm and emotional eyes looked over.

Xue Yuxiao stopped talking, looked at this familiar face, first smiled, and then sighed: "Ice and snow, what are you doing here?" Can the body of the Jade Lady withstand such a chill? ”

Wang Heng turned around, raised his hand and saluted her between women, his eyebrows were handsome, with a hint of bookishness: "Although it is icy and snowy, this power to judge deliberations came from my bitter plea to my mother." How could Xue Hou not ask about the matter of the prosecution and greet first...... What about my body. ”

"The land can't run away on its own legs, and the household registration will not evaporate out of thin air, but if you are frozen, I am afraid that all the famous doctors in the country will lose their eyebrows."

Wang Heng walked into the room side by side with her. In fact, he also knew that he couldn't wait outside, but the unbearable boiling bitterness in his heart would only get worse by the fire.

The two walked side by side, Wang Heng felt the incense mixed with cold air on her body, and her mood gradually became very calm. He personally poured Xue Yuxiao a cup of hot tea, sat beside her with his sleeves folded, and said, "I think you know what your mother meant, she has no intention of hindering you." It's just that the imperial court, how can you not be a little embarrassed to prove your hard work? I will ask you three questions on behalf of my mother, if Sister Yuxiao's talent is enough to answer, all things that are broken will not be followed. ”

Xue Yuxiao said helplessly: "It seems that this level must be passed." You and I are soulmates, so there are no shortcuts? ”

"Yes." Wang Heng actually nodded, he looked at Xue Yuxiao and said, "If we don't withdraw from the marriage, you will become the daughter-in-law of the Wang family today, and I will be the son-in-law of the Xue family, then the fields and manors outside the deer park and the tenant shops will naturally be at your disposal." ”

Xue Yuxiao thought he was joking, and casually answered: "If I am attached to marry for the Wang family's industry, then my Xue Yuxiao's worth is too low." ”

Wang Heng turned his head to look straight ahead, his hand was close to the stove, and knocked on the golden cover on it again and again: "Is it possible...... With the wealth of Langya County, you are willing to submit? ”

Xue Yuxiao was slightly stunned, she didn't feel like a joke when she heard it, so she said cautiously: "The two families can't marry, the momentum is too big, it's too much, please think twice." ”

Wang Heng's fingers in his sleeves tightened slightly, pinching the outside of his thighs, his expression was very decent, but he thought in his heart, "Sister Yuxiao, what do you mean?" Can't you see that this is not what my mother meant, but rather my temptation? ”

He turned his head to speak, met her honest and serious eyes, choked on his words, and said, "...... Xue Hou is invited to answer. ”

The word "Xue Hou" bit a little harder, as if he wanted to secretly convey a kind of coquettish dissatisfaction to Xue Yuxiao through the change of title.

Where could Xue Yuxiao understand such a subtle change, this was really beyond the norm for her, and she immediately replied solemnly: "Yuxing Lady is the question." ”

Wang Heng recalled the exam questions instructed by his mother, and said: "In the matter of the examination of the nationality of today, because the Cui and Li families took the lead in complying, the attitude of all ethnic groups in Beijing was mild. However, when you go to the neighboring Yongzhou, Yuzhou and other places, the situation will be different immediately, if they refuse to cooperate, how will Xue Hou respond? ”

Xue Yuxiao had thought about this question many times, and she replied smoothly: "If you don't follow it for the first time, you can persuade it with good words." If they still do not cooperate, they will be coerced and enticed, and if they do not obey again, they will take the lead in resisting the decree and deceiving those who are sent by Qin, and they will be beheaded. ”

This answer is only a few words different from the answer that Wang Xiu told in advance, and it is exactly the same.

Wang Heng asked again: "If there are rebels who do not obey the clan?" ”

Xue Yuxiao smiled and said, "Such a traitor, the clan can be destroyed." ”

"Local forces are intertwined and there are many crises, and you are not afraid to make enemies?"

"Don't be afraid to be the enemy of the world."

Wang Heng's heart was galloping, and he remembered that when the two first met, he also used sharp state affairs to communicate with Xue Yuxiao. Her solitary courage has not changed at all, and she has practiced it step by step...... Presumably, the words of "appointing talents and using energy, abolishing the nine-product Zhongzheng system" said that day will also be fulfilled one by one.

Words must be practiced, only then can you be a celebrity. Wang Heng raised his hand to cover his throbbing chest in his cloak.

After the two questions were over, Xue Yuxiao waited intently for him to continue speaking. The two looked at each other, Wang Heng let out a breath, and suddenly said, "...... Sima Xiangru played the piano to beg Zhuo Ji and led Zhuo Ji to elope with him, in your eyes, but he was undisciplined, incorruptible and shameful? ”

Xue Yuxiao was stunned, and said in his heart that the span of your question is too big, Prime Minister Wang asked me why I eloped?

…… The prime minister is nearly half a hundred years old, is the old tree blooming?

Brewing Branches, Rain and Snow (1)

Chapter 57

This question was beyond her expectations, Xue Yuxiao thought about it cautiously, and said slowly: "Presumably Zhuo Ji also felt that Sima Xiangru treated her with sincerity and sex, so he gave up his family business and eloped with her. This is not in line with the world's eyes...... But what really made me unhappy was not that he took the initiative to seduce Zhuo Ji, but that he later changed his mind and left, and he couldn't be dedicated and let down his affectionate people. ”

Wang Heng stared at her face, his gaze like a gurgling stream. He said: "Love can't be specialized, live up to deep affection." These words came out of the mouth of a girl, which was really surprising and emotional......"

Xue Yuxiao said: "You don't seem to agree with it...... Is this an overrun of the question? ”

Wang Heng shook his head and said: "I actually approve of it." It's just that the home of the hairpin eunuch must be thoughtful, as the young master of the Xue family, and you have been made a marquis, for you, it will give Lord Sikong a headache. ”

The two were alone, Xue Yuxiao was in front of him, but he couldn't tell his heart. He promised his mother that he would take care of his face and be decent, and since he agreed, he couldn't do shameless and indecent things because he couldn't help it.

After the three questions were completed, Wang Heng took out the land deed, household registration register, and dozens of messy account books of the Wang manor. He has been cultivated as a righteous monarch since he was a child, and he understands the affairs of these land and population quite well, his ears and eyes are clear, and his arithmetic is quite good, but in front of Xue Yuxiao, he does not open his mouth to give instructions, but just rolls up his sleeves and sharpens his ink.

Wang Heng's hands were also very pale, revealing a cold color that was not very healthy, and the blood vessels on the back of his hands were shallow in the flesh and blood, and the traces were almost invisible. This makes the hands look like jade carved snow bricks, without any different colors. Mingmo has a deep color that contrasts sharply with his hands.

Occasionally, if there was something unclear in the account book, Xue Yuxiao would ask softly, and he leaned over slightly, and the hairpin collided with the golden hairpin on her sideburns, and then explained to her. Wang Heng has always been frail, and recently he has added lovesickness, but his spirit has completely improved at this moment, and he has been with him for several hours, still thinking clearly and not feeling tired.

Xue Yuxiao was worried about his sentimental and sick body, and stopped writing: "I really don't need you to accompany me personally, the steward of the village must also have a clear understanding of these things, wouldn't it be convenient to let them talk to me?" I'm afraid I'll tire you. ”

Wang Heng paused his hand and said, "I'm not tired...... But since you advise me, I will listen. It's just, can my sister send me back? ”

Xue Yuxiao had no reason to refuse, so he happily got up, watched him tidy up his clothes and cloak, and walked out with Wang Heng: "It's still far from the deer park here, do you want to take my carriage?" ”

Wang Heng didn't answer immediately, his earlobes under his veil were slightly red, and he said, "...... Good. ”

The snow on the gate road has been swept away, and although the soft snow on the top has been cleared, a thin layer of ice has not been shoveled underneath. Last night there was a light snowfall, and then it became heavier, and the light snow melted as it fell, and the road was covered with a layer of ice that was not noticeable to the naked eye.

Wang Heng came down from the stone steps, looked sideways at her cheeks, and had a lot of thoughts in his mind, and accidentally stepped on the unmelted ice below the stairs, and suddenly lost his balance.

Xue Yuxiao noticed from the side and reached out to help him, but his fingers missed each other with Wang Heng's arm, and he was thrown into his arms by a body covered in a heavy wool cloak. Xue Yuxiao took a few steps back and stood firm, his back hit the huge cedar in the courtyard, and the thin snow of pine needles flew down and fell onto his sideburns and shoulders.

Wang Heng slowly raised his head from her arms.

In fact, it wasn't much warm, she was neatly dressed, her clothes were slightly cold, and the two of them were separated by heavy clothes, and they didn't even touch each other's skin. But he felt that all the thoughts in his mind were broken, and he couldn't breathe for a while...... He lingered for a long time, and the snow on the pine needles melted away from his body.

Xue Yuxiao swept away the snowflakes that fell on the back of his neck, shook off the falling snow on his cloak, stood with Wang Heng's arm, and said, "This is what you said 'not tired'?" If you pass out in front of me, how will I explain to the Prime Minister? ”

Wang Heng's cheeks under the veil were hot, and he immediately kept a normal distance from Xue Yuxiao, looking down at the ground: "Thank you." ”

Xue Yuxiao said: "No need to thank you, just a gesture." ”

She escorted Wang Heng into the carriage.

Most of the furnishings and incense in the car were set up by Pei Yuxue, and when the curtain was lifted, you could smell a hidden and far-reaching faint plum fragrance, Wang Heng's movements in the car were slightly sluggish, and then he sat down calmly and orderly, maintaining a relatively normal social distance from Xue Yuxiao.

The two talked at close range at the autumn harvest banquet, just as Pei Yingxue knew that the fragrance of precious sandalwood was Wang Lang's visit, Wang Heng was also deeply impressed by the cold and unearthly plum blossom gas on his body.

He lowered his eyes, stared at the small stove emitting thin smoke, his Adam's apple moved slightly, and suddenly said, "Is that what my sister thinks about Pei Langjun?" Would you like to ...... Dedicated to ......"

Xue Yuxiao was stunned for a moment, and smiled helplessly: "This is also what the prime minister asked?" ”

Wang Heng looked out of the car window, his fingers clenched out a little cold sweat, he rubbed the hem of his sleeves all over the folds, and his heart was full of knots: "...... Naturally, it is. Otherwise, could I still ask? ”

Xue Yuxiao felt that this was what he was consulting about his views on free love, so he saw through it and said: "Pei Lang treats me with deep affection, I will not let him down, and I will be very good to him." As for the words of affection...... This is not a boast of talking about it, the road is far away, and I will see it, and as the days go by, the world will naturally know my true heart. ”

Wang Heng said: "I don't know if Pei Langjun was virtuous in his previous life, so he would get your favor." ”

This sentence has a slight meaning of envy. But soon, he got rid of this emotion and discussed with Xue Yuxiao: "According to your progress, you will go to Yuzhou in about a short time." On the day of departure, I will see you off. ”

Xue Yuxiao said: "It's cold, it's really hurtful. You have sent you repeatedly, I understand this concern, but I don't want to damage your reputation outside because of me...... Last time Hongye Mountain Temple said goodbye, there have been rumors in Beijing, many people have misunderstood you, thinking that you are interested in me, and if this continues, I have no face to see the prime minister. ”

This "misunderstanding" is extremely harsh. Even before returning to the gate of the deer park, Wang Heng did not say a word.

The atmosphere froze, and Xue Yuxiao realized that he had said the wrong thing, but he didn't know what was wrong...... Who can find out Xiao Langjun's thoughts? When the carriage stopped, Xue Yuxiao lifted the curtain of the carriage with his own hands, helped him get out of the car, and watched the attendant who put the deer park step forward to welcome back the little boy.

Wang Heng walked a few steps, heard the sound of the carriage turning, and finally couldn't help but turn back. He didn't know whether he was angry with Xue Yuxiao or angry with himself, his eyes were slightly red, he looked at her for a long time, and only said one sentence: "...... Be careful on the road. ”

As soon as the words fell, he turned away, as if he was slow for a moment, afraid that he would confide too many words and feelings that should not be talked about.

……

Xue Yuxiao's rapid progress and remarkable results made Xie Fu appreciate her even more, and he couldn't wait to give Xue Yuxiao something to eat every day, for fear that he would treat this virtuous minister slowly.

However, although the dishes made in the palace dining room are exquisite, they taste very ordinary, which is neither as good as Cui Qilang's craftsmanship, nor as good as Pei Yuxue's newly learned soup and dim sum. Although Xue Yuxiao tasted a few bites every time to give the emperor face, it was only a few bites at most, and he seemed to be lacking in interest.

She was tired day after day, and her appetite was not good, Pei Yuxue looked very worried - his worry was really not unreasonable, after the snow cooled down for a few days, Xue Yuxiao blew the wind outside for a long time, and when he came home, he got a wind chill, his forehead was slightly hot, and he circled himself on the bed with a loss of appetite.

When Shichiro heard the news, he specially rushed to diagnose her pulse and prescribe medicine, and boiled medicine for her to drink with his own hands, which is really the benevolence of a doctor. He even blew the dark medicinal juice on the spoon and fed it to Xue Yuxiao's mouth, she only saw the porcelain spoon, opened her mouth to drink it, and muttered: "...... Spoon feeding medicine is really enmity with me...... I drank it in a bowl to dry. ”

When Cui Jinzhang heard this, he immediately reacted, put down the medicine bowl quite embarrassedly, and said to himself in his heart, it's really useless, what are you panicking about? I have been practicing medicine for many years, but this is just a disease of wind and cold.

He was thinking about it, and when he turned his head, he saw Pei Yuxue, who was memorizing the prescription, put down the paper and stood by the screen looking at himself. His vision was faint, and he couldn't see any emotions in it, but Cui Jinzhang felt a sudden void in his heart, and felt that he was inexplicably a little sorry for Brother Pei, so he immediately got up in a hurry to pack up the medicine box, and said without looking back: "I'll leave the third sister first...... Xue Duwei! I'm leaving! ”

When he shouted "Xue Duwei", his voice couldn't help but be raised, which was similar to the meaning of courage.

Without waiting for Xue Yuxiao to say the word "thank you", Cui Qi fled with the medicine box on his back, and when he passed by Pei Yuxue by the screen, he didn't dare to greet him properly, but just said nonsense: "You take care of her, I still have something, I still have something." ”

Before she finished speaking, Pei Yuxue suddenly said, "Wait." ”

Cui Jinzhang's back stiffened, closed his eyes, pursed his lips, and whispered pitifully: "Brother......"

Pei Yuxue said: "Put down the spoon." ”

As soon as Cui Jinzhang lowered his head and saw that he was still holding the porcelain spoon he had just fed the medicine, he turned back in a gloomy manner, put it back in place, and said, "I was negligent for a while...... Don't get me wrong, it's definitely not meant to be taken away as a souvenir. ”

Pei Yingxue's eyebrows frowned slightly, and she glanced at him: "I didn't say that you want to leave a memorial." ”

Cui Qi's face was red, and he said, "Oh......" said and got out of the room, leaving Pei Yuxue's side like running for his life.

Pei Yuxue sent a few servants to see him off. He approached the bedside, blew on the medicine bowl, watched Xue Yuxiao drink it obediently, and said, "You have worked too hard all day. The so-called illness is like a mountain, and the illness is like a thread, the matter of the inspection of the Beijing Central Committee has been carried out smoothly, and most of the difficult bones have been compromised and made way, and the other second-class scholars only need to send other Wen Peng's subordinates to go...... The body has not healed, so you can't do it yourself for the time being. ”

Xue Yuxiao held the empty bowl, and his fair skin was slightly hot because of the slight heat. She muttered, "...... I'm going to Yuzhou. ”

Pei Yuxue saw that she was in poor spirits and answered, and she was already distressed. It's just that the big and small things in the family still need to be judged, and he can't show a flustered and cowardly state, so he endured it again and again, forced his composure and calmness, reached over and hugged her through the quilt, and whispered: "Don't worry about it." It's okay to go back in the next year. ”

Xue Yuxiao said: "One blow, then decline, three and exhaustion." I'm so resolute now, I can't deal with it below, and there are many compromisers, and once I stop halfway, I don't know how many tricky and weird ways some people will come up with to deceive me. It will be too late to go again after the year. ”

Pei Yuxue pressed against her forehead and said lightly: "Then what about your body?" ”

Xue Yuxiao sighed at first, and then said firmly: "The heavens will descend on the Si people, and they must first suffer their minds......

Pei Yuxue listened to it funny, and cherished her weak appearance of forcibly motivating herself, and couldn't help but stick closer. The cool air conditioning on his body was very comfortable, Xue Yuxiao was tempted for a moment, pushed the quilt away from a corner, reached over to touch his hand, and his fingertips reached in along the wide sleeve hem, taking his slightly cool little arm into his arms and hugging him.

"Good Pei Lang." Xue Yuxiao said, "You took off your clothes and gave me a hug, I'm a little hot." ”

Pei Yuxue's calm state was instantly broken, he was at a loss, he wanted to withdraw his hand and stopped, his lips pursed slightly, and it took a long time before he said, "...... Blue sky, blue sky and white day......"

His eyes looked out of the courtyard through the window screen, and saw a group of people rushing over and hurriedly walking into the Ruyi Garden. Pei Yuxue was speechless, and the little attendant outside the door ran over to report: "Lord Sikong has come to visit the young master." ”

Pei Yuxue heard the hair on his back, and instantly withdrew his hand, he got up in a panic and sorted out his clothes, and put his clothes neatly and neatly, not even a single belt was messy. The arm that had just been touched by Xue Yuxiao made the clothes block tightly, for fear that Xue Sikong would see a little trace of "seducing in the illness of his wife, it is really a disaster".

After he finished tidying up, he sat on the edge of the bed and copied the prescription in an orderly manner, looking dignified and virtuous.

Xue Yuxiao was stunned for a moment and stared at him for a moment. Pei Lang still floated over and asked her not to show her stuffing. Xue Yuxiao silently fell back on the bed, pretending that he had never said anything like "You took off your clothes and hugged me".

After a while, the sound of slave servants kneeling and saluting came from outside the door. Xue Sikong didn't care, strode into the inner room, went straight to the head of the bed with an anxious face, and said, "My Xiao'er-" hugged the ball on the bed as he spoke.