"Since my husband left, the small building where he originally lived has remained. No one has lived in it, and the things inside should have been left intact."
"oh?"
“If it’s not Chen’s fault, sir, please don’t ask Chen.” General Chen said with a smile, “If you have to ask who was responsible for the greeting, I’m afraid only the official in charge of the West Wing Store’s housekeeping can say it accurately.
"
"I see……"
Song You understood immediately.
"If you, sir, still want to go back to your old place, you can go back, but I'm afraid you have to clean up a lot. If you, sir, want to move to another place to live, the house that your majesty originally gave to Chen is still available."
"Thank you for your kindness, General. It's just that Sanhua Empress and I are used to living there, especially Sanhua Empress. She still said she liked that house on the way."
General Chen just smiled when he heard this and then raised his glass:
"Send sir back after the banquet."
"good."
The two of them continued to eat and chat.
After the dinner, there were a lot of dishes left. The Taoist felt it was a pity, so he asked the restaurant waiter to pack two things that Sanhua Empress liked to eat, and asked the chef for some shredded pork before leaving the restaurant.
As soon as I reached the door, I couldn't help but stop for a while.
This is the bustling place of Changjing.
It has already darkened, but people are still coming and going on the street, and there is an endless stream of tea merchants and drinkers. Opposite are the shops in the building, with various lanterns and light boxes lighting up the night. There is a dazzling array of goods downstairs, and the women upstairs are waving their red sleeves.
There were children laughing and running wildly, ordinary people greeting their familiar neighbors, children from wealthy families hanging out with a bunch of attendants, and prominent dignitaries in the city traveling.
Before he arrived, the attendants cleared the crowd for him. The street was filled with various sounds, and it was a prosperous scene.
The Taoist has not seen such a lively night for a long time.
Looking at it now, I feel more emotion in my heart.
Compared with the north, especially compared with Yuezhou, which is almost uninhabited, Changjing and them seem to be in two countries and two worlds.
The cat couldn't help but open its eyes wide and stare at the lights outside, feeling strange yet familiar.
"Isn't it unfair?" General Chen stood next to them, looking at this scene calmly, as well as the dignitaries walking on the street, and then turned to look at the Taoist, "I'm afraid the people in the north can't even imagine it in their dreams.
to such a scene.”
"It's not just the north."
"Too……"
General Chen withdrew his gaze.
It was clear in his mind.
The bricks and tiles that make up the prosperity of Changjing all come from the people. Not to mention the north that has just endured the war and the ravages of demons. Even if you point in any direction, there are tons of villages dozens of miles outside Changjing.
The people living here are like living in two different worlds. They can't imagine how prosperous this imperial city that everyone yearns for is.
"Sir, do you have a solution?"
General Chen turned to look at the Taoist again, his eyes still calm.
However, the Taoist shook his head and did not answer, walked down the steps, and only said to him: "General, you should worry about your own affairs first."
Upon seeing this, the cat immediately jumped down the steps and followed closely.
General Chen followed him calmly.
The personal guards in red robes were all tall and strong, with sharp eyes and extraordinary manners. The servants who were clearing the way for their masters were startled when they saw these military attachés and attendants with long swords on their waists. They saw them coming behind them again.
When meeting General Chen, even if he was not frightened and stepped aside, he would still be scolded by his master to get out of the way. When the children of the powerful families saw him, they immediately restrained their impudent attitude and became well-behaved.
At this time, the only person in Dayan who was more powerful and powerful than General Chen was probably the old emperor.
"General, just send it here. There is no need to send it far."
"Okay, then I'll say goodbye to you, sir."
"Thank you, General, for the banquet." The Taoist smiled sincerely, "I haven't had such a luxurious meal for a long time."
"The same is true for Chen."
"General, please come back."
"According to Mr. Chen's temperament, when he arrives in Changjing, he will definitely rest for a few days and ignore things outside the window. In a few days, Chen will come to visit Mr. Chen again, bringing good wine and tea, and have a long talk with him."
"I don't have as many delicacies as Yun Chun Lou, but I still have a table of food waiting for you, General."
"..."
They bowed to each other and said goodbye.
The Taoist continued to walk to the west city, while the general stood there and watched him. After a long time, he turned back and walked towards the prince's mansion newly given by the emperor.
This street is tens of feet wide. It is the bustling and great face of Changjing and the junction between the East City and the West City. During the day, cars and horses are flowing like dragons. At night, there are almost no cars and horses. It has become a gathering place for people to gather for leisure and leisure.
Where stalls are set up, both dignitaries and peddlers can be seen on this street at the same time.
Walking through this street is Dongcheng.
The prosperity and lights ahead are much dimmed, and the houses and shops on the roadside are also a little less exquisite. However, the people live more densely. The poor people also have leisure needs, so they gather in piles, chatting and laughing loudly.
, children all over the place were playing the game of hide and seek and catching cats. It was indeed a lot less sophisticated and prosperous than Dongcheng, but it had a lot more human fireworks.
Thinking back to the spring of the fourth year of Mingde, the curfew in Changjing when I first arrived here seemed as distant and illusory as a dream.
The memory of the city is still clear.
Song You quickly arrived at Willow Street and walked slowly along the street. There were two-story shops on both sides, with the same style, and the shops downstairs were almost unchanged.
Teahouse, butcher shop, soup cake shop.
The small building that used to be my home is getting closer and closer.
Naturally, the neighbor's small building is also close.
The sound of the horse's hooves stepping on the bluestone was heard, and the bell on the horse's neck swung occasionally. There were neighbors on both sides who had not returned to their houses or even closed the house. They all looked at the Taoist, but it was difficult to see clearly in the darkness.
Who was approaching? It seemed that he didn't dare to recognize him, and no one had spoken to him yet.
Both the Taoist priest and the horse slowed down.
First we arrived at Wu Nuxia’s house.
The Taoist stopped and the calico cat and bay horse also stopped and looked up.
The wooden door is tightly closed and locked.
There was no light and no movement inside.
"There's no one inside." The calico cat turned around and said to him in a low voice, "But there are mice."
"..."
The Taoist was silent for a moment, then turned his gaze to the next door.
The same wooden door, the same door is closed and locked, the lock is still the same as before, and even the lock has a lot of dust on it.
"It's locked..."
Mao'er turned to the Taoist again and said.
"Um."
The Taoist walked over with a cane, raised the cane, and tapped lightly on the copper lock.
"clatter……"
The copper lock opened immediately.
"!"
The calico cat turned to look at the Taoist, its eyes seemed to glow in the dark night, and then ran over to the door, almost leaning against the door with its head raised, waiting for the Taoist to open the door.
"Squeak..."
As soon as the door opened, she immediately got in.
Then there was the sound of the cabinet door opening.
When the Taoist and the bay-red horse also crossed the threshold and entered, the light was already on inside the house - a little girl dressed in three-color clothes was holding an oil lamp.
Being blind, she held the oil lamp with a serious look on her face to illuminate the scene in the room for the Taoist.
There were not many furnishings in the house, and everything was covered with dust.
It's almost exactly the same as when I left three years ago.
When I went upstairs, I saw that it was not much different from three years ago, except that the bed was empty and the couch and rocking chair in front of the window were missing.
Still covered in dust.
Not a single footprint can be seen in the dust.
"call……"
The Taoist blew a breath, and suddenly a gust of wind came up, which circled around the room, blowing away all the floating dust on the floor and furniture. However, the light in the little girl's hand only shook a few times and did not go out.
Then he unloaded the luggage from the horse's back, thanked it for its hard work, and started cleaning the room with Empress Sanhua.
Swallows flew from the window, and when they saw this, they turned into human forms and began to work without saying a word.
Soon the upstairs and downstairs were clean again.
After all the things I carried were taken out of the quilt bag and put in their proper places, and the bed was made, it was completely difficult to find the difference from three years ago.
I saw the light of the oil lamp filling the room.
The Taoist put the shredded meat packed from the restaurant into a small bowl and placed it on the window sill, letting the swallows lower their heads to peck at it. Empress Sanhua turned into a cat again, took out the cotton ball, and looked after herself just like she did three years ago.
He seemed to have no worries when playing on the wooden floor.
"There are bird's nests here."
The Taoist's voice sounded in the room.
Both the calico cat and the swallow stopped their movements and turned to look at the Taoist. However, after realizing that they were not talking about themselves, the calico cat quickly looked away and continued to play with his love ball.
Yanzi turned to the Taoist and said:
"Sir, there is no need to worry. We swallows rarely rest in nests, and usually rest in trees. Although our habit of nesting swallows is very close to that of mortals, I still like to live in trees, or in open spaces similar to treetops.
Place, I like to fall asleep with the wind blowing, and like the feeling of seeing the open world when I wake up. I just need to sleep on the roof, sir, just call me if you need it."
"very good."
The Taoist said to him.
The good thing is not that he doesn't have to worry about it, but that he can naturally express what he wants and why when he has different ideas.
This is not an easy task for him.
What's even more difficult is that the whole process of his change was gentle and natural, and he was not forced to change by anyone or the world.
At this time, the cat flicked the cloth ball with her right paw and flew out, but she did not rush to chase it. Instead, she turned to look at the swallow and said worriedly: "What if it rains or snows heavily?"
"
"Then I will come to the eaves or inside the house."
"Then you will be cold? Sanhua Empress can catch a big mouse, skin it and make it a bed for you. You are also small, so it will definitely suit you!"
"...Thank you for not being cold."
"Forget it."
The cat then continued to run forward and pounced on his ball.
The swallows also continued to eat shredded meat.
The Taoist sat on the bed, leaning against the head of the bed. He raised his eyes slightly and naturally looked towards the next door.