Li Congzhou stared at the sweet-scented osmanthus cake quietly. After a while, he suddenly tightened his fingers. The water vapor squeezed out of the cake wet the oil paper, making his fingerprints look like five holes.
He thought of the northwest again, and of the Xirong people attacking the camp in the cold moon and cold wind.
The nobles of Xirong especially love to torture prisoners of war, and they like to cut people's hearts alive. They like to watch the flesh and blood struggle and beat in the palm of their hands, and finally turn into a puddle of crushed flesh.
In the wilderness, with other carrion corpses: bitten by dogs, trampled by horses, eaten by vultures.
The captives who were lucky enough to survive would not be slaves, but the slaves of Xirong were worse than livestock:
The Rong people would put collars on them and even cut off their forearms and legs, forcing the slaves to lie on the ground like dogs and lick the filth they spit on the ground.
Li Congzhou took a deep breath and felt that his nose was filled with blood that would not go away.
What's the meaning?
Give him leftovers?
His face was frosty and he almost crushed the piece of cake.
Boom, boom, boom——
The meal bell of Baoguo Temple rang, and the simple bell brought back some sense to Li Congzhou. He looked at the crumpled piece of oil paper, finally sneered, twisted the opposite corner with two fingers, and prepared to throw it into the swill not far away. inside the barrel.
Before he could let go as he walked over, a monk in Haiqing appeared on the mountain path. He was about twenty years old. As soon as he saw Li Congzhou, he rushed over and hugged him:
"Junior brother! Smell quickly, does senior brother still smell?"
What hits your face is the smell of mutton, mixed with the aroma of wine.
Li Congzhou frowned and couldn't help but cover his mouth and nose and retreat.
This was his senior brother Mingyi, who was born in a wealthy family in Jianghuai but was born weak and sickly. By chance, Master Yuankong encouraged him to learn Buddhism, and his health improved accordingly.
From then on, he simply became a monk and became the disciple of Master Yuankong.
Mingyi is proficient in scriptures and extremely talented in swordsmanship, but he is born to be a romantic and addicted to alcohol. He always likes to talk about the saying of the senior monk Li Xiuyuan, "wine and meat pass through the intestines, but remain in the heart of the Buddha." If you keep it, you won't keep it.
Seeing his junior brother's face full of disgust, Mingyi also knew that he smelled heavy, so he clicked his tongue twice and glanced at the oil paper bag in Li Congzhou's hand——
"Eh? Isn't this Tao Ji's sweet-scented osmanthus cake?" The oil paper was snatched away.
"Brother, this..."
"I know, I know," Mingyi opened his mouth and bit, "It must be Princess Ning who rewarded you. No one in our temple can afford such expensive food."
As he said that, Mingyi stuffed the cake into his mouth in a few mouthfuls, clasped his hands together and bowed to Li Congzhou, "Come on, little junior brother, my clothes still smell like this. This sweet-scented osmanthus cake of yours will be my dinner. I'll take care of it later in the dining hall." If anyone asks, just say that I am still copying scriptures in the Sutra Pavilion."
Seeing his senior brother disappear into the distant forest, Li Congzhou shook his head and glanced at the oil paper that fell on the ground:
Mrs. Bai, the Marquis of Xiangping, was cautious, and no one she sent could gain her trust. And Wuying, the secret guard in his previous life, is still trapped somewhere.
He really didn't have much time, and he didn't have time to deal with this little playboy's pranks.
…
Accompanied by the sound of the temple bell, Gu Yunqiu also ran back to the courtyard.
He ran with his head down, not looking at the road at all. Until a large almond yellow skirt appeared in front of him, he could no longer stop his momentum. The eight-year-old child's sense of balance was insufficient, and with a thud, his head crashed into the apricot color.
"Little naughty boy, where have you gone?" The princess said in a gentle voice. She knelt down and took out a silk handkerchief and gently wiped away the sweat from his forehead.
After smelling the familiar fragrance of plum blossoms, Gu Yunqiu's heart calmed down a little.
He quietly breathed a sigh of relief, relaxed and threw himself into the princess's arms, "No, I didn't go anywhere."
Princess Ning looked at him and turned her questioning eyes to the boys behind him.
Brother Shun, the leader, scratched his head and really didn't know where to start.
——The matter of bullying the young monk is a certainty. Judging from Gu Yunqiu's expression just now, it seems that he is really angry. He must explain it to the princess and punish them.
He didn't speak, and the other boys only followed his lead. They didn't dare to speak. They all lowered their heads to avoid the princess's sight.
The princess felt strange and was about to ask more questions when Gu Yunqiu in her arms spoke first:
"Auntie, I have a few words to say to you."
The princess had just returned from reciting sutras in the main hall. Dinner was still being prepared in the small kitchen in the courtyard. She rubbed Gu Yunqiu's head and then led him to the main hall.
The furnishings of the main room are no different from those of the east wing. Except that the room is larger, the furnishings are even a bit crude. A statue of Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva is enshrined in the middle. An earthen kang is placed under the south window, and there is also a bookcase.
It's just that the princess is a woman, so there are a few more suitcases, wooden bronze mirrors and dowry boxes in the house.
The princess led him to the table, and first asked the nanny beside her to make a bowl of cherry mash. It was sweet, and the cherries were in season. It was mixed with iced milk and honey, and all the children loved it.
Gu Yunqiu didn't show much joy after hearing this, and just hurriedly asked the people around the princess to get out.
"What's the matter?" Although the princess was surprised, she still backed away as she was told, "What does Qiuqiu want to say, so mysterious?"
Gu Yunqiu pursed his lips and recounted everything Brother Shun had done in the past two days. At the end, he concluded his speech in a low voice:
"Aniang, I don't want him around anymore."
The reason why he whispered was because the personal servant that the prince and princess chose for him was not Brother Shun.
What they were interested in was a book boy from Qingyang Academy, who was eleven years old. He was good-looking and talented. He spoke and acted steadily and appropriately, but he had an old-fashioned character and accepted death.
You must do what your master has told you. Even if Gu Yunqiu uses his status as master to pressure him, he will say in a straight and clear manner - it is his incompetence that he cannot persuade his master to study diligently.
Now Gu Yunqiu knew what was good and knew that although the little book boy was strict, he treated him sincerely.
But in his previous life, he didn't want to find someone to take care of him at all, so he made trouble every day, and finally got his wish, causing the prince and princess to resign him and replace him with Brother Shun.
He felt embarrassed when he thought about it, but the princess didn't care and just asked: "Does Qiuqiu have a replacement?"
Gu Yunqiu shook his head.
He wanted the handyman from his previous life, but unfortunately he didn't know his name.
"In this way," the princess muttered for a moment and took Gu Yunqiu's hand, "I know what Qiuqiu said, but now we are in Baoguo Temple, and many things are not as convenient as in the house. Do you understand? ?”
Gu Yunqiu said nothing.
"No matter how bad Brother Shun is, he is still your personal servant. In other words, he is the person you are used to. Now that you have no replacement, Aniang feels that it is better to give him a small punishment but a big warning and keep him for the time being."
Gu Yunqiu frowned slightly.
The princess patted the back of his hand and said comfortingly: "My mother-in-law didn't say she wouldn't let you change. It's just that the other boys you brought out from Ning Xintang are not smart enough. They are not as good as Brother Shun."
"I bought it from outside, and I don't know the origin of it. I don't want to worry about handing you over to someone else."
"Anyway, I promise you, I'll change it when I find the right person, okay?"
Gu Yunqiu listened, and rationally felt that the princess was right, but emotionally he couldn't stand it. He kicked the stone bricks at his feet, "Then... what should we do with Brother Shun?"
"The servant of the palace bullied others and flogged him for sixty years, but - why don't you still keep him in your service? I think he will be beaten ten times in the courtyard and then fined for one year. How about that?"
Also... okay.
Gu Yunqiu pursed his lips: This matter really cannot be rushed.
At this time, Grandma's cherry mash was finally ready: a small celadon bowl in the middle of the tray was filled with beautiful cherries as beautiful as red agate. The fruits were soaked in milk, like white silk wrapped in gems.
"Qiuqiu eats first."
The princess left her nanny waiting in the house, and walked outside the door to confront the group of unruly slaves——
Brother Shun was very good at observing words and expressions. Before the princess could say anything, he had already kneeled down in the courtyard with all the servants. As soon as the princess came out, he kowtowed twice and said several words: "The villain knows his mistakes."
Normally, the princess would have praised him for being a good boy.
But at this moment, thinking about what Gu Yunqiu had just said, the princess felt that Brother Shun was too evil-minded, and if he stayed with Gu Yunqiu for a long time, he might be in trouble with the master.
She frowned and explained the punishment she had just discussed with Gu Yunqiu.
After Brother Shun heard this, a trace of dissatisfaction flashed in his eyes.
Although he hid it well, he was still caught by the princess. The princess narrowed her eyes, and she didn't like this servant even more.
She didn't have a seizure, so she pressed down for the time being, and only asked another nanny to supervise, and asked all the servants in the courtyard to watch carefully.
"The palace does not raise unscrupulous slaves who deceive and betray their master, nor do they want evil servants who bully others by taking advantage of their power," the nanny said sternly, "If he does it again, he will be dealt with according to the family law! Beheading, exile, reporting to the official and selling, all are at your own discretion!"
The boys in the courtyard all said yes one after another like quails.
The princess looked around and ordered the guards to punish him.
The guards were ordered to find a stool and tie Brother Shun to it. They also took a three-inch wide board and slapped the middle part of it on Brother Shun's waist and hips.
Brother Shun could grit his teeth and hold on for the first two strokes, but after three strokes, he couldn't help but moan. By the last two strokes, before he even landed, he was already crying and wailing.
Several of his usual followers turned pale, closed their eyes and turned away.
By the time the last two boards fell, Brother Shun had already lost half his life: his shirt was soaked with sweat, and his pants were stained with blood.
"You are all watching," the princess said in a calm voice, "You must be careful about how you act in the future, and you must keep in mind the family rules."
Everyone said yes, and after the princess waved her hand to let them go, a few servants dared to step forward to help Brother Shun, who had fallen into a coma.
These are all half-sized little carrot heads, but some raised their arms and some hugged their legs, and trained Brother Shun back to the straight room at the door, and then gathered around diligently to boil water, change clothes, and apply medicine.
In that formation, it was as if Brother Shun was their master.
The princess frowned and called the guards, "Go and deliver a message to the second steward."
The guard bowed and listened.
"I only have such a son," the princess said in a cold voice, "Don't let him make the wrong idea."
After the guards took the order, Mammy also advised, "Madam, don't get so angry. The prince is young. These people in the mansion are just trying to find a way out. Brother Shun has evil intentions, but he doesn't dare to harm others."
The princess shook her head: The art of controlling people is to select talents and use their abilities. Which high-ranking family has no scandal?
She hoped that Brother Shun would only seek profit, but she was afraid that his ambition would go beyond that.
Now he has Ning Xintang's servants surrounding him. In the future, when she and King Ning and Gu Yunqiu inherit the palace a hundred years later, Brother Shun will have his father's background as a steward——
The palace is still unsure who has the final say.
The princess looked at the sunset: It is indeed time to find someone for Gu Yunqiu again.
…
Brother Shun was sullen over there, while Gu Yunqiu was holding a small bowl and eating enthusiastically.
When the princess came in and saw how good he was, she couldn't help but go over and flick his forehead, pretending to be dissatisfied and said:
"Ah, Qiuqiu eats alone?"
Gu Yunqiu immediately pushed the small bowl over, and there were two cherries soaked in the shallow milk:
"...then grandma will eat it."
The princess wanted to tease him. She looked at the small bowl and frowned, "Qiuqiu gives Auntie the leftovers?"
Gu Yunqiu was stunned for a moment. He looked up and saw the princess with a smile in her eyes, and then realized that she was looking for his happiness.
why is it like this!
Gu Yunqiu was annoyed, stretched out his hand to pull back the small bowl, and ate it all angrily.
"Pfft--" The princess laughed out loud, but she also deliberately looked at the nanny beside her and said in a long voice: "The Book of Rites says: 'The leftovers will not be sacrificed', and it also says: 'Jueming, women wash their hands. "My uncle and aunt have gone to eat, and my wife has leftover food. Why, Qiuqiu wants to discuss this with my mother-in-law?"
"..."
Gu Yunqiu really couldn't accept these words.
In his opinion, the rules in the Book of Rites are old-fashioned and unreasonable:
Why can’t the bride who cooks even serve the food on the table, and has to wait hungry for others to finish eating before she can eat other people’s leftovers...
Wait, Gu Yunqiu suddenly became excited.
He subconsciously dug into his pocket, his face turning red and white:
Help, help!
He, he, he...he just gave Li Congzhou his leftover osmanthus cake!
Gu Yunqiu blinked quickly.
After a while, he banged his head on the table:
It's over. Li Congzhou shouldn't think he is a pervert...
at the same time.
Separated by a wall, outside the monk's house——
The young novice monk in gray robes was holding his nose and passing paper to the senior brother in the hut.
Mingyi's face turned sallow, his buttocks trembled, and he cursed in his mind the owner who sold barbecue for his eighteenth generation ancestors:
He said the meat didn't taste right, but the boss said he was a monk who didn't know the meat. He also boasted that it was camel meat from the Western Regions, and it was normal to have a bit of sourness.
Pooh! Normal ghost! It's obviously just ordinary mutton that's gone rancid!
Listening to the sound of water dripping in the pit, Li Congzhou covered his mouth and nose and took two steps back. Thinking of the packet of osmanthus cake that Gu Yunqiu stuffed over him, his eyes became colder:
The young man was uneasy and kind-hearted, and there was indeed something wrong with the sweet-scented osmanthus cake he stuffed his way into.
