The incense is gone, the tea is gone, and only a piece of chess is left.
The black and white pieces each occupy a corner, like two armies facing each other.
Xu Ze knelt on the water-polished bricks with glittering bluestone, his waist and legs aching from old ailments.
But he was not in a hurry to get up. He still knelt respectfully and tried his best to straighten his thin back.
The footsteps outside the door faded away until they were no longer heard.
A breeze penetrated from the bottom of the curtain and blew on his crab-shell green clothes.
The skirt of his clothes rustled, as if his heartbeat was rising and falling.
After a while, Xu Zefang slowly raised his head and put his arm on the plum blossom table beside him.
After several efforts, I finally stood up.
His legs were numb and half of his body was leaning on the small table.
Bright sunlight shines through the window lattice and shines on his old and deformed hands.
The hand was mottled with scars, with bulging veins, and was hideous and ugly.
After ten years of exile, his fingernails were all frozen off, leaving only ugly and twisted scars on his fingertips.
Like the dead branches on an old tree, they are rugged and weather-beaten.
He closed his eyes slightly and took a long breath.
I can finally let out some of the turbid energy that has accumulated in my chest for so many years.
He never dared to have any extravagant hopes, thinking that this life would be like this.
did not expect……
I really didn’t expect that…
The courtyard was deserted, and Xu Ze knew that there was no one here except himself.
He eased his numb legs, beat his aching waist, and took another look at the chess game on the table to make sure that all this was not a dream, and then slowly walked out of the door.
The sun outside the house was so bright that it made it difficult to open one's eyes. But he still stubbornly raised his head and looked directly at the sun hanging in the sky.
The sun shines brightly, covering him and all things.
Xu Ze still refused to bow his head until his eyes were pricked to tears.
He hoped that Chang would be safe under the sun. During his years of exile, he did not know how many times he looked up like this.
How many times he had tears in his eyes and swallowed them down again.
Just because the sun is too far away to melt the ice outside the Great Wall.
However, today, he truly felt that Chang'an was getting closer and closer.
After a long time, he lowered his head, waiting for the illusory light and shadow in front of him to dissipate, and the scenery became clear again.
He glanced around slowly. The yard was not big, but it was compact.
The flowers, plants and trees are ancient and fresh, with a subtle sense of dignity and elegance.
Looking back on the conversation just now, he clearly remembered every word, and he would remember it until his death.
Just like what Emperor Xuanqing said to them twenty years ago when he decided to let his father Xu Youguang preside over the reform, he still cannot forget it to this day.
He knew that the road ahead was already showing the faint morning light.
But difficulties and obstacles will always follow.
But how could the Xu family be afraid of hardships?
In the face of the country and the people's livelihood, is the honor, disgrace, life and death of the Xu family worth mentioning?
There was no one in the yard anymore. Xu Ze slowly walked down the steps, crossed the path, and walked out through the back corner door.
"Sir, are you going to our house?" asked the servant leading the horse.
"Go home." Xu Ze responded and got on the horse with the help of his servant.
When I got home, Aunt Su came up to me with a smile and asked with gentle concern: "Thank you for your hard work, sir. Do you want to take a shower first?"
But then he said unexpectedly: "Where have you been, Master today? Your clothes smell so good."
Only then did Xu Ze realize the fragrance on his body and said, "Put these clothes away! If I don't tell you, don't take them out again."
"Don't you need to wash it?" Aunt Su asked.
"No need." Xu Ze said, "I put on these new clothes this morning. Besides, I'm old and I don't sweat."
Aunt Su didn't ask any questions. She went into the house and undressed the master, then put the clothes away.
Before putting it in the suitcase, she couldn't help but get closer and smell it.
The aroma was so good that she had never smelled it before, not even a similar aroma.
But she knows how to measure things, and she will never ask more questions if the master doesn't want to say anything.
Uncle Xu put on homely clothes and washed his hands and face again.
Aunt Su has already brought the food to the table.
"The master came back late today, and the rice I prepared earlier is cold. I cooked two dishes for you separately, but they were a bit bland." Aunt Su said while passing spoons and chopsticks to the eldest master.
"It's better to be lighter." Uncle Xu nodded.
Aunt Su stopped talking and stood aside.
As soon as the meal was over, Aunt Su brought some tea and asked the eldest man to rinse his mouth.
He also asked the maid to take away the dishes.
Uncle Xu just asked her: "What is Chunjun busy with these days?"
"The fifth girl is naturally preparing to get married," Aunt Su said with a smile, "Does the master have anything to do with her?"
Uncle Xu thought for a while and said, "Go back to the eldest lady. I have something to ask her."
After resting in the afternoon, Uncle Xu came to the eldest lady.
The eldest wife has just woken up and is watching her grandson Xu Bai writing.
Seeing the eldest master coming, he said, "Bai'er, go write on the table outside!"
The maid took the pen and ink and accompanied Xu Song to the outside room.
Another maid had already made tea and brought it up.
"I was thinking that Chunjun will leave the cabinet soon. What kind of dowry has our family prepared for her?"
"Why did the master think of asking this?" The eldest lady smiled, "I'll ask someone to bring the list over and show it to you."
Uncle Xu looked over the dowry list from the beginning and couldn't help but sigh: "It's too shabby."
The eldest wife was also a little sad: "Yes, the family situation is difficult now, and Chunmao Chunqiao and the third sister have been sent away one after another. There is really not much that can be done."
Uncle Xu also knew that the family was in difficulty, so he said, "Let me discuss this matter with my second, third, third, and Daoan!"
When everyone gathered together, Uncle Xu said directly: "I brought you here to discuss Chunjun's dowry."
"Brother is busy with official duties, why do you think of asking this?" Mr. Xu asked.
"If it were someone else, I wouldn't ask any more questions." Uncle Xu said, "But Chunjun is the hero of our family, and her dowry is too shabby."
Everyone knew in their hearts that without Xu Chunjun's sacrifice, not only would Xu Daoan's life or death be uncertain, but the three grandfathers would not be able to return to Beijing.
"I also felt that the dowry was a little short before. Since the eldest master feels the same way, I will add more." Xu Daoan said hurriedly.
"I don't think it's necessary," Mr. Xu San said. It seems that our family's life is not rich. Chunjun is a sensible child and won't care about this."
"It's her fault that she doesn't care," Mr. Xu also said, "How can she marry into the Zheng family without money? There's a lot of mess waiting for her to take care of, and she has to spend money on everything."
"Her third aunt will also prepare some for her when she arrives." Mr. Xu said.
"How much the third sister gives us has nothing to do with us." Uncle Xu said, "It is our Xu family who marries the daughter, not the Chen family."
"But our big family has to live with it!" Xu Sanye said, "The days to come will be long! Just help her slowly."
"Let's just settle the matter like this!" Uncle Xu said, "I'll double the original list. If I don't have money, I'll think of a way. I have to go to Chunjun to be more dignified."
