Sujiawu, the top of the mountain.
Tomb courtyard.
The two old men were sitting in the flower garden outside the yard, watching the skylight flow outside through the line of mountains.
The old woman slowly embroidered flowers on a piece of rhopa and said softly, "I still think your decision is too hasty."
The words seemed a bit careless, but for the old couple who spent a lot of time in the courtyard of the tomb, this speaking speed was the state they were most accustomed to now.
Mr. Su, who was half lying on the recliner, was not in a hurry to answer. He gently picked up the kettle on the small clay stove next to him and slowly poured it into the teapot.
The moisture filled his old face, making the future a little blurry.
"Why do you say that?"
The old woman lowered her head and watched the stitches fly, "He is still too young after all. And since you have been away from the court for many years, you know less about Concubine De's character and strength. This woman still wants to marry Yan Yan, That is to tie the Su family completely to the carriage, shouldn't we be more cautious?"
Old Xianggong Su silently looked at the teapot, where silver needles were flying up and down in the tea cup like gold and jade, and said slowly: "If you have anything to say, just say it."
The two have been married for decades, and of course he knows that these words are just a pretext.
He has used his official career of ups and downs for decades to finally reach the top to prove his outstanding political wisdom and vision. His wife will never simply question the abilities of Xia Jingyun and the De Fei faction.
The old woman sighed, "Husband."
Mr. Su's heart trembled secretly.
Just like being called by your parents' names often means that things are a bit serious, at an age when they have been together for decades and even kissing each other would make you sick for half a night, when he was called such a disgusting name, he knew that his wife was about to get down to business. .
"Do you still remember your ambition when you first became an official?"
With just one sentence, Mr. Su was silenced.
When this person gets older, he is afraid of recalling things, but he also often likes to recall things.
I often sit at the entrance of the village or in the courtyard for half a day, slowly and carefully reading through the past of my life.
Life-long legends such as Mr. Su were no exception. When he was told this, his eyes became blurred.
The mist of tea rises, as if a young man with a spirit as rich as jade has transformed into a young man. He climbs high and looks far away, his spirit is flying, and he speaks high-spirited words about the saintly virtues of the emperor, the management of the world and the people, and the creation of a peaceful and prosperous age.
Time flies, and before you know it, decades have passed, and that young man has turned white, and is old.
After a while, the old woman slowly said: "In these years, although you have always cared about your family, you have occasionally had helpless things, but for the country and the people, you deserve the favor of the king and the support of all officials. What you have done in your life, I’m not ashamed of your original intention. But what if others don’t think so?”
Mr. Su understood what his wife meant from the very beginning, and after hearing her explanation, he did not speak.
How could a talented young man have no ambition? But it depends on where this ambition is used.
Nowadays, the situation in the world is in turmoil, just like a palace on fire. As a man of great talent, he does not want to be a paper framer, but simply adds fire to the palace, burns it down, and starts a new one.
As long as he wins in the end, from a utilitarian point of view, the Su family does not lose.
But for Mr. Su, who worked diligently for the people all his life and worked hard to rejuvenate the Xia Dynasty, it was a matter of personal regret for him.
I'm sorry for worrying so much for most of my life, for worrying about the country and the people for most of my life, and even more sorry for walking on thin ice for most of my life.
Madam's worry is not about the safety of the Su family.
Her heart is always tied to the young man in her memory who was filled with joy and sorrow over the rise and fall of the country, and it is also always the old man in front of her who has never changed his ambition throughout his life.
The Su family is not that important to her.
Mr. Su felt the love and warmth, drank tea in silence, and thought about his answer.
In silence, the black cat, which had gone somewhere, jumped up to him and rubbed his head against Mr. Su's calf.
Mr. Su lowered his head, reached out and took off a small black sachet from its back.
Folded in the sachet is an envelope sealed with wax.
Mr. Su checked the lacquer seal, opened it, and took out the letter paper inside.
The first thing that caught my eye was a line of small characters: Xia Jingyun said goodbye today and presented it to Miss Wen in Changting. The record is as follows.
Mr. Su was half lying down, looking down.
There is no indication of the background of the first paragraph.
After reading the second paragraph, he smiled slightly and said, "This Xia Jingyun's talent is indeed quite impressive, and he has some of the demeanor of my old man."
Although the old woman didn't know what was written on the letter, she silently pursed her lips and did not reveal it.
But then, the expression on Old Xianggong Su's face slowly solidified. Looking at the people who climbed up the tower, they were nostalgic for their country, worried, slandered, and afraid of ridicule. Their eyes were full of desolation, which made them feel extremely sad. 】A paragraph, stunned and lost in thought.
He recalled the caution and worry about gains and losses on his way up the official ladder, and the pain and confusion he felt when he was briefly frustrated.
I feel nostalgic for my country, worried about slander and fear of ridicule.
Only those who have experienced ups and downs can truly understand the feeling of desolation and sadness.
"The emotion blends into the scenery, touching people's hearts!"
The next period of spring was bright and joyful, which reminded him of those proud spring years, but as he gets older, he is no longer so excited about those happy things.
"Sigh! I have tried to seek the benevolent people of ancient times, but I may have behaved differently from the two. Why? Don't be happy with things, and don't be sad with yourself. If you live high in a temple, you will worry about the people; if you live far away from the rivers and lakes, you will worry about the king. As you advance, you are also worried, and as you retreat, you are also worried. But when will you be happy? It must be said: "Be worried about the worries of the world first, and be happy after the happiness of the world." Hey! Weisi people, who am I to return to?"
Old Xianggong Su stared blankly at these lines of ink words, especially the two sentences, as if he had been struck by lightning.
[Be worried when the world is worried first, and be happy when the world is happy later]
His hands were trembling slightly. They were just a few pages, but they seemed to be of great weight!
It's obviously one sentence, fourteen words, but it seems to have written all his life's energy and ambitions!
Because that is the cry and original intention of countless people who are loyal to the emperor, patriotic, and have the world in mind!
"Be anxious when the world is worried first, then be happy when the world is happy."
He murmured, and then laughed, "Weisi people, who am I to return to!"
——
Sujiawu, Su Yuanshang's house.
An old man came out of the backyard.
Two women hurriedly gathered around him, one was older and the other was no more than middle-aged, but both looked concerned.
"Old man/father, how are you?"
The old man who had just visited his son shook his head, "This kid, ugh!"
A complicated sigh, a long silence.
It’s as if he is regretting the years when Su Yuanshang studied hard in a poor family;
As if he was lamenting all his hard work and hard work in the past;
It also seems to be summarizing the hard work and persuasion that have been put in these days.
They actually understood Su Yuanshang in their hearts. It would be even more difficult for them to accept how they would spend their long life if their great future was ruined in their prime years.
But at the same time, they still have a glimmer of hope.
Life is still long, why can't we cheer up?
The official path is cut off. Is there no other way out if I don’t become an official?
At the end of the day, if you work hard at home and study, your husband and wife are harmonious, and you are raising children, and you will have a family full of children and grandchildren in the future, this life will not be in vain!
But now, this glimmer of hope is so slim that it is nothing more than a dream.
A burst of hurried footsteps woke up the three people standing in the room silently.
The steward of the mansion came in a hurry, "Old man, old lady, madam, the eldest lady is here."
These titles together, coupled with the steward's behavior, seem a bit strange.
But in Sujiawu these years, it will not cause any misunderstanding.
Because without adding all the additional titles, the eldest lady just refers to that person accurately, and the eldest ladies of other families should already be called eldest sister.
Mrs. Su's face turned pale, "You're not here to ask us to move, are you?"
This was her biggest worry these days besides worrying about her husband. She didn't think about the unreasonableness of it at all and went out fearfully.
Su Yanyan nodded slightly in greeting to the three of them, and then said, "I want to see Uncle Yuan Shang."
Mrs. Su said bravely: "I want the eldest lady to know that my husband has been quite depressed these days. He drinks all day long and may have offended the eldest lady."
Su Yuanshang's mother also echoed: "The eldest lady has a body of thousands of dollars, so I condescend to come here. I'm afraid Yuanshang can't afford it!"
Su Yanyan said calmly: "It doesn't matter."
Having said this, everyone had no choice but to lead Su Yanyan over fearfully.
He not only prayed that Su Yuanshang would not offend the confirmed next head of the family too much, but also imagined a miracle if Su Yanyan could cheer up Su Yuanshang.
Following everyone towards the backyard, Su Yanyan's personal maid looked at her young lady's back, feeling quite helpless.
I heard that this man rescued him from the clan. He did not want to serve the clan, but indulged in drinking all day long. Mr. Xia had tried to persuade him several times before, but to no avail. Why did the young lady have to ask for trouble from herself?
This shouldn’t be something that the eldest lady has to worry about!
Regardless of everyone's complicated thoughts, Su Yanyan, accompanied by his guards and Su Yuanshang's family, went to the backyard and smelled the smell of alcohol.
As he got closer, the smell of alcohol became stronger.
When he came to a house and opened the door, the smell of alcohol hit his nostrils along with the warmth from the earth dragon in the house.
"Husband, the eldest lady is here!"
Mrs. Su quickly stepped forward and reminded anxiously.
Su Yuanshang was leaning on the couch and looking at Su Yanyan, he just cupped his hands in a symbolic gesture and didn't even sit up straight.
"Miss, you are busy with your affairs. If you ask me to move, just send a steward to inform you. We will not be able to resist."
"If you come to persuade me for something else, the eldest lady can save some energy and please go back."
When everyone heard this, their faces turned pale with fright.
Unexpectedly, Su Yanyan was not angry, "I just came to read an article to you."
(End of chapter)
