After dinner, there was a happy ending. A total of more than 20 people in the house, from the housekeeper to the gardener, almost ate a whole deer in one meal. The housekeeper was left to keep an eye on the garden and clean it up. The family of three went back to the inner hall to rest. Mrs. Qian was relieved to see that her son had not been beaten. She scolded and warned her son in his room for a long time and then returned to her bedroom after watching her son fall asleep.
There were things she wanted to ask her husband.
It turned out that Qian Qianli told some of the stewards in the mansion at dinner that he would take his wife and son back to the capital in the next few days. The round trip would take nearly three months. During this time, they would take care of all matters in the mansion and nothing would go wrong. , several stewards said yes.
What Mrs. Qian doesn't understand is how to go back to Wangjing properly. Her husband never told her at all before. It was already agreed. She has physical inconvenience and the journey is bumpy. This year's New Year's Eve will be here. After that, why are you still in such a hurry to go back? Could it be that something happened in Beijing?
After taking the tea tray brought by the maid, she sent away all the servants in the room and placed a cup of hot tea on the table in front of her husband who was reading. When Mrs. Qian sat on the chair next to her and wanted to speak, Qian Qianli said to her: "I know what you want to ask. Here it is. This is a letter from father. I just received it today."
Mrs. Qian took out the letter, unfolded it, and read it under the gauze lantern on the table. She looked at her husband with some confusion, then looked down at the content of the letter. The more she read, the more ridiculous she felt. She snapped the letter. He slapped the table on the table and asked angrily: "This is too ridiculous. You are a scholar. Do you believe in these strange things?"
Qian Qianli chuckled lightly and did not directly answer his wife's question. Instead, he leaned comfortably on the back of the armchair and said with his fingers: "Since the founding of our country, the ancestors of my Qian family have been famous for their merits in following the dragon." He was in the position of prime minister, the prime minister who founded the country. Nearly five hundred years have passed since my father's generation. During this period, we have experienced rebellions by vassals, rebellions by princes, seizures by princes, and countless civil strife in the palace. A lot of people died because of the lack of blood. No matter whether they succeeded or not, no matter who sat on that throne, you see, the position of prime minister has always been in the hands of my Qian family, do you know why?"
"This" Mrs. Qian was at a loss for words. She was well-read in poetry and books, so she naturally knew about the affairs of the country. Indeed, for nearly five hundred years since the founding of the country, the Qian family has always firmly grasped the power of the prime minister. As a result, it became a famous family, the largest family in the country. Before talking about this, I only thought it was the heirloom of the Qian family's poems and books, with a profound heritage. But seeing her husband asking herself about this matter now, I'm afraid it's not just as simple as having a deep foundation.
"Is it possible?" she shook the letter in her hand and asked, "because of this?"
Qian Qianli knew that his wife still didn't believe it, but he still did not answer her directly, but continued calmly: "Madam, I didn't believe many things at first. Oh, I didn't know it at the beginning, and I didn't believe it even after I found out about it. At least I’m half-convinced, but they all say that a gentleman’s fortune will last three generations. Think about it, the Qian family is not just three generations, but five hundred years of power and wealth for more than ten generations!”
Mrs. Qian ignored her husband's rhetorical question. She seized on the doubts in her husband's question and said, "Then you believe it now?"
Qian Qianli nodded, took a sip of tea and said, "Do you remember the year before last when I went back to Beijing to report on my work? In fact, it was a cover, arranged by my father. You know, I am a concubine, so I know about some things in the family late. Some of it is normal. My father told me about it as early as when Chao'er was born. I didn't believe it at the time. When I returned to Beijing the year before last, I met a man at my house. He was an elder of the Qian family. In terms of seniority, my father wanted to have it. People who are called great-great-grandfather can only call them ancestors randomly when they come to me, but you must not expect that my ancestor is more than 130 years old, and he looks like he is more than ten years older than me."
"You can't be a liar, right? Charlatans have a lot of tricks to deceive people." Mrs. Qian interrupted her husband suspiciously, but when she saw him looking at her with a smile, she knew she was wrong. The Qian family was also five hundred In the Prime Minister's Mansion in 1999, and his father-in-law was a very evil man, if he could admit the wrong person when it came to his own clan, his position would have been taken away by others, so he said angrily, "You continue to talk. Go down."
"That time, we visited the ancestor together with several cousins who had children in other houses. At first we also doubted the identity of this ancestor. Later, my father asked for the family tree, and the ancestor also brought out the family tree. We got the family token, which dispelled our doubts. This is actually not important. What is important is that my ancestor demonstrated some magical skills in front of us. It was really... it was really unheard of and unseen." said After finishing, Qian Qianli sighed softly, his face full of yearning.
"Then, have the children from your eldest uncle to your fourteenth uncle's family, including your brothers, those of your generation been selected?" Mrs. Qian glanced at the letter and still asked suspiciously.
"This kind of thing only happens once in sixty years. It is also called the first-class election. Naturally, I couldn't catch up with the last first-class election, and my father didn't catch up. Only my uncle and second uncle caught up. Unfortunately, in that first-class election, the Qian family No one was selected, that ancestor was selected and taken away last time."
"That's right, but I heard in the drama that those who become immortals have to find a paradise to practice in peace. Why did your ancestor come home? Is this first-class selection so important?" Mrs. Qian Still confused.
"That's not entirely true," Qian Qianli said, "I heard from my father that this ancestor was injured when he was fighting monsters. It is said that it even hurt his roots. It was difficult for him to make any progress in his cultivation, so he was discouraged. I returned to the Qian family with a cold heart. Firstly, I want to choose qualified people among the descendants of the Qian family to go to the fairy mountain to practice, and secondly, I want to protect the Qian family for the rest of my life."
"The rest of your life? Do immortals also die?"
"This...probably, I'm not an immortal, how do I know?"
"Then what's the difference between this immortal and a mortal? He can't live forever and live as long as heaven and earth, and he has to be burdened by the worldly things. It really doesn't matter whether I want to be this immortal or not."
After hearing this, Qian Qianli smiled slightly and did not answer.
"I used to think that your Qian family's high position was due to the heirloom of poems and books and a profound heritage. Now it seems that you are just protected by immortals." After saying this, Mrs. Qian suddenly sighed again, "It's a pity that you didn't catch up with me last time. Look, you are probably the only one in your Qian family who is qualified to be a god. Although you have a peaceful temperament, you are the toughest at heart. Unlike your other brothers, who are either submissive or arrogant. If you can be selected, I think you will come. You can also become an immortal."
"Nonsense!" Qian Qianli said angrily, holding his wife's hand and saying, "If I am really chosen, whether I become an immortal or not is secondary. In that case, there would be no fate for us as husband and wife." He himself had nothing to do with Qian. The lady's delicate face was already flushed with embarrassment.
"It only happens once in sixty years." Mrs. Qian murmured, "Since the Qian family has immortals who have maintained their five-hundred-year status, then...that" she did not say.
"Yes." Qian Qianli answered his wife. He knew what she wanted to ask. It was of course the royal family, but she didn't say it out loud.
"How to choose this choice?" Mrs. Qian asked.
"I don't know this, but it is said that on that day, an immortal will come and he will choose all the children of the Qian family." After saying this, Qian Qianli's heart moved. There is another thing about his son that makes him happy. He was worried. Thinking of this, he continued, "If Chao'er is not selected, he will naturally stay in my Qian family. If he is selected, he will go with the immortal."
Qian Qianli just said that Qian Chao would still stay with the Qian family if he could not be selected, but he did not say that Qian Chao would still stay with them if he was not selected. This was a foreshadowing of what he was going to say. However, Mrs. Qian was thinking a lot at this time. , not aware of it.
"Do you know where the immortal will take him?" Mrs. Qian asked again.
Qian Qianli shook his head. Of course he didn't know this. The world is so big, who knows where the fairy mountain is?
"You left home when you were a teenager and didn't return home until you were more than 130 years old. Not to mention being filial, your ancestor probably didn't even see his parents for the last time, and his heart was very hard." Mrs. Qian said, Seeing that her husband was silent, she whispered in a low voice, "Chao'er is so smart, how could he not choose?"
At this moment, a chill suddenly hit her whole body, as if Chao'er was about to say goodbye to her on the day of the first election, which made her heart twist.
She raised her head and looked at her husband angrily and said, "Why should your Qian family's glory and wealth be exchanged for my son? Why? I only gave birth to him in ten months of pregnancy, and I raised him from such a young baby to Now running around everywhere, although I have never endured hardships following you, I have put in the same effort as all mothers in the world over the years. I originally thought that when he grew up, I would find a wife for him and then wait for my children and grandchildren to sit in the house. Enjoy the happiness of family, but who knew that he would be taken away from me at such a young age! Why? "
After listening to his wife's words, Qian Qianli remained silent. He had a peaceful temperament and the couple had a deep relationship, so he didn't feel inappropriate about his wife's anger.
"Don't you want to go? Think of a way to say that Chao'er is sick and can't travel far?" Mrs. Qian looked at her husband with a pleading look on her face again, "I really can't bear to leave Chao'er."
After saying that, he stroked his bulging belly with his hand and said, "I can't even bear to leave."
Although his heart was full of pity, Qian Qianli still said: "Chao'er may not be chosen."
Seeing the anger in his wife's eyes, Qian Qianli hurriedly stopped Mrs. Qian who was about to have an attack with his hands.
"There is one more thing I want to tell you." Qian Qianli said solemnly.
"you say."
"My mother, oh, my mother, she has three sons in total. Did you know?" Qian Qianli's father had a wife and concubines. Qian Qianli was not a direct descendant. His mother's identity was concubine. He usually called her after returning to Beijing. My father's wife is mother, and he calls his biological mother mother. In fact, Qian Qianli thinks that the title mother is only suitable for his own mother, so he made a mistake at the moment.
"I know this. My mother-in-law also told me that the two brothers in front of you were unlucky and died young." As soon as the word "die young" came out of her mouth, Mrs. Qian's heart became inexplicably tight. Suddenly, she became alert, looked at her husband sharply, and asked doubtfully, "What does this have to do with Chao'er?"
Qian Qianli sighed secretly in his heart and continued without answering: "You only know one, but not the other. My two brothers who died young both died at the age of ten. According to my mother and my father, then Both brothers were child prodigies. They stopped wetting the bed in two months, could speak when they were half a year old, could read at the age of three, and could write at the age of four. Later they entered school, and the children at the age of five or six had a photographic memory, no matter the poem. Both the literature and the classics can amaze those well-educated Confucian scholars. They are favored by everyone. They tell everyone they meet that the Qian family has a son. Unfortunately, they both died of illness when they were ten years old. My mother was heartbroken and I was the only one. , born dull, only then can he grow up to this point."
After saying that, Qian Qianli looked up at his wife who was already full of fear, and continued, "My ancestor also sighed after hearing about it. He even said that he was born early and he didn't make it in time."
After stopping his wife who was about to ask questions, Qian Qianli continued: "I miss our Chao'er..."
"No!" Mrs. Qian finally couldn't bear it anymore and stood up in shock.
"Our Chao'er," Qian Qianli comforted his wife and sat down, and continued, "He is even better than his two biological uncles. You are his biological mother, so you naturally understand Chao'er. As a little child, I If I pick out any book in the study and ask him to recite a sentence, he can memorize the entire article for me. If I ask him a question, he will not only be able to draw inferences from the scriptures, but most of the time he will also make me speechless. Then that boy Just hiding aside and feeling complacent, do you think I don’t want to teach my children to read? I’m afraid!”
At this point, Qian Qianli became excited.
"I won't teach, so this kid will learn on his own. If you don't believe it, you can take a test on him yourself. I don't know anything about medicine, divination, astrology, astronomy and geography, mountains and rivers, agriculture, mulberry, fishery and hunting. He will definitely be able to explain it to you clearly and logically. Obviously. As long as he returns to Beijing, have you ever seen him suffer from the children of his uncle's family, no matter they are older or younger than him? I have seen it secretly, and he can make those children run around with just a few words, even if they are After being sold by Chao'er, he still had to cry and shout to help Chao'er sell it at a high price. I dare not say that this guy has insight into people's hearts, at least he has achieved some success in the practice of human relations. "Also"
As he spoke, Qian Qianli trembled a little and unfolded the design of the Crouching Cow Crossbow drawn by Qian Chao himself from his sleeve, placed it on the table, and tapped the table with his fingers.
"The Crouching Ox Crossbow is the most important weapon of the country and the sharpest weapon of the country. Whether it is defending a city or attacking a city, it makes people frightened. For many years, the master craftsmen and officials in the weapons prison have all wanted to make further improvements, but unfortunately they have not made any progress, but look at it. , that kid just went to the Ordnance Supervision a few times, drew a picture and made improvements, and also made a small-sized Crouching Ox Crossbow for me to see. I dare say these can make those master craftsmen with gray hair. Shame on you, madam. If nothing else, I am not ashamed to sign my name on this picture and hand it in as a husband. This will be a great service to the court. At least I can be sent to the Ministry of Industry. At least one of the ministers is No problem, ma’am, I’m really scared if the Qian family has a son!”
After saying that, seeing the fear in Mrs. Qian's eyes, he held her hand.
"Chao'er is like this, and I have been feeling uneasy for a long time, for fear that he will follow in the footsteps of my two brothers. Chao'er told his father about this when he was four years old, and his father prepared a big gift to celebrate Chao'er's birthday. Bazi went to Si Tianjian in the palace and asked the prisoner there to give Chaoer a numerology review, but the result..."
"What's the result?" Mrs. Qian asked eagerly.
"The supervisor of the Sitian Prison fearfully returned the gift his father gave him overnight, leaving behind the words "I will die at the age of ten". He apologized and left in a hurry!"
Wiping the tears on his wife's cheeks with his hand, Qian Qianli continued: "You always complain that I am only busy with official duties and don't pay attention to my child. I can't bear it! Even if I raise him like a pig, this The child can be seen and touched around us. No matter how naughty or mischievous he is, even if he is taught a lesson, it is still a family joy, but...but..." After these two words, Qian Qianli said no more. He was speechless and looked at his wife with tears in his eyes.
In the new year, Qian Chao will be ten years old.
"Is there really no way?" Mrs. Qian looked at her husband with tearful eyes. Her hands were a little painful from his pinching, but she didn't care. When her husband didn't speak, she saw the letter on the table. Then he asked eagerly, "Is it possible to avoid this disaster only by letting Chao'er go there?"
"Then you can only go if Chao'er can be selected."
"What if...what if I can't choose?"
"Don't worry, madam, if I really can't be chosen, I will beat my head to death and beg the ancestor to take care of Chao'er. After all, we are blood relatives. But, madam, look, if Chao'er can't be chosen, , if you escape this disaster again, Chao'er can do whatever he wants in the future, but don't be an official anymore, unless you are willing to adopt Chao'er to my third brother, are you willing to do so?"
The third brother Qian Qianli mentioned was his father's direct descendant. Heirs had always been difficult to produce. The Qian family's clan rules stipulated that only direct descendants could not become prime minister. According to Qian Qianli's knowledge of his son, if his monster-like son became an official, But he can't be the prime minister. Then the Qian family still doesn't know what he will do to him. If he wants to be the prime minister, he might as well adopt his third brother who has a good relationship with him as early as possible. Pave the way.
"Let's pass this test first. Based on Chao'er's temper, I think he may not be willing to be an official." After saying this, Mrs. Qian carefully wiped her tears with a handkerchief, then stood up and walked towards the door absentmindedly. "I'm going to tuck Chao'er into bed. This kid is not a good sleeper and likes to kick the quilt."
After hearing this, Qian Chao, who had been hiding outside the room and eavesdropping, immediately scurried back to his room like a little civet cat. After covering himself with the quilt, he cooperated and exposed one of his calves. It turned out that Qian Chao was also surprised by the fact that his family went to Wangjing. His mother should not have been traveling like this when she was pregnant, so he secretly hid outside his parents' door and eavesdropped, but he didn't want to hear such secrets about the Qian family.
"Gods? Are there really gods?" While his mother was tucking him in and covering his legs, Qian Chao kept squinting and falling asleep, thinking about what he had just heard from his parents.
"Selection A, how to choose?" When Qian Chao was thinking about this, he felt his mother's hand caressing his forehead, muttered something, then walked out and closed the door.
"Am I really going to die when I'm ten?" His mind was very confused, and he fell into a deep sleep after a while.
