If Chu Ci had just brought to everyone in the post house a winter that made even the sun colder and the rain even more biting, then when Chu Ci stepped out of the door of the post house, Chu Ci brought everyone a What people bring is a smile that is more gentle than the spring breeze and warmer than the warm sun.
He stood at the door with a smile, letting the slanting wind and drizzle hit his face. His eyes stared directly at Xie Ruqing who was getting out of the carriage, and then his smile became brighter.
Behind him, a maid rushed out and held up an umbrella for Chu Ci, but Chu Ci didn't care and said directly to Xie Ruqing: "Senior brother, it's a good time to take a break and the spring rain is lingering. Why don't you stay at home and spend time with your sister-in-law?" , but you came to look for me. Although you and I have not seen each other for many years, there is no need to be so anxious."
Xie Ruqing did not respond to Chu Ci's words. She just walked up to him and said, "I haven't seen you for many years, but you have become more and more glib. I am looking for you this time for official business."
When Chu Ci heard the word "official business", he couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, and then made an invitation gesture and agreed: "Since it is for official business, senior brother, please come in. I will let the deputy envoys come in together." Come inside and listen."
"That's not necessary. I think you alone can take charge of the Nanman mission. It's just you and me."
"Senior brother, what you said really upset me. How could I be such a domineering person? Everything is negotiable. But you have said so, senior brother. Then you and I, senior brothers, are alone. Let's exchange opinions." Chu Ci was not angry after hearing Xie Ruqing's words, but continued to say with a smile.
"If you were willing to let them make the decision, your mission would not be in trouble. Now, there are only a few people who have successfully reached Kyoto." Xie Ruqing said pointedly.
After saying that, Xie Ruqing walked into the post house, while Chu Ci, who was behind Xie Ruqing, stayed there for a long time, and then said loudly behind him:
"Of course, I can't compare to senior brother. Senior brother, you have a gentle temper and are a well-known gentleman in the world. Come to think of it, even if my sister-in-law climbed over the wall and left the house last night, she would be coaxed back home by you soon."
When Xie Ruqing heard this, he immediately stopped where he was, looked back at Chu Ci who was smiling wildly, then turned back again and continued walking into the post house.
…………(I am the dividing line)
"The tea you have here is quite good." Xie Ruqing picked up the tea in the tea box, tasted it carefully, and said.
Chu Ci and Xie Ruqing found a quiet corridor covered by bamboo curtains on both sides. The two sat under the corridor, listening carefully to the sound of the slanting wind and drizzle outside the bamboo curtain. The rustling sound of spring silkworms eating mulberry leaves, and the sound of clear water boiling on the small table in front of you.
When Chu Ci heard Xie Ruqing's praise for his tea, he couldn't help but raise his head proudly and said: "This is natural. Although the Southern Barbarians have a harsh environment among other countries, they are extremely suitable for the growth of Junshan Silver Needle.
This is the first wave of Junshan Silver Needles this year. What I brought is the best in this wave. Only a small ten catty of treasures can be selected from hundreds of catties. When I know that I will come to Dayong, I will take it. Put it in my luggage. "
"Brother, do you know why this is?" Chu Ci looked at Xie Ruqing with a smile, then picked up the boiling water and prepared to make tea.
"That day, is the mung bean cake prepared in the posthouse to your liking?" Xie Ruqing avoided talking about Chu Ci's question and just asked another question briefly.
"Of course it suits my taste. Even though I have been well-fed in Nanman for so many years, my favorite food is still Dayongheji's mung bean cake. I have made the cooks in my house reproduce it many times, but it still doesn't look good."
"Well, a country has its own customs and conditions. The same dish can be cooked by different people with different recipes and tastes. It's just common sense."
"That's true. Senior brother's words remind me of something my master once said.
If an orange grows in Huainan, it becomes orange; if it grows in northern Huaibei, it becomes orange. When Master said this, I was not able to fully understand its meaning, but now, I understand it. "
"Although you and I are from the same sect, we are each our own masters now. Naturally, we have our own considerations when making decisions. You understand, and I understand too." Xie Ruqing held Chu Ci's hand making tea and poured the boiling water Taking it from Chu Ci's hand, he stood up and fell under the nearby flowers and leaves.
"I forgot, senior brother, it is true that you love Junshan Silver Needle the most, but you love boiling Junshan Silver Needle's water even more into rootless water. It's really my fault." Chu Ci looked at Xie Ruqing standing under the eaves holding a vessel to catch the rainwater, Then he stood up and walked to Xie Ruqing's side to apologize.
Xie Ruqing didn't pay attention and just said calmly: "What tea to eat and what water to boil are just trivial matters that can be dealt with. However, I really don't like it when someone puts people in my home."
"It's not an arrangement. How could I place such a close person in your house.
But just like you, senior brother, it's just an exchange of interests. Money can make all the difference. I'm just like you, senior brother, and I just made an attractive condition. "Chu Ci said nonchalantly.
"You should have already dealt with that person."
"Of course, although this person is just selling some information, it is not considered treason, but I can't help but feel guilty."
"Me too." Xie Ruqing did not ask what the person's final fate was, but just turned the topic back to herself and expressed her attitude.
Chu Ci took the water in Xie Ruqing's hand, put it on the charcoal fire and boiled it slowly, and then said: "This fire is small and it will cook slowly. Senior brother, if you don't mind, why don't you cook with me?" After one game of chess is done, I will ask someone to set up another chess game."
"No need, let's talk about official matters. If we agree on official matters earlier, you and I can explain to our respective monarchs and the people." Xie Ruqing sat opposite Chu Ci and refused bluntly.
"Haha, it turns out that senior brother, you really want to discuss official matters with me. I thought it was just a way of saying something to those outside. I thought that for this kind of thing, senior brother, you might find a more suitable time to come. At least, you won't be so arrogant that you want to have a detailed discussion with me alone.
Although not many of the people I brought are useful, they all have the advantage of proving our innocence and our innocence of not treason. Chu Ci said with a smile while twisting a piece of white jade cake.
“If I come to you in private, I’m afraid the rumors will get worse.
You and I are brothers, and there is nothing wrong with that. If those people want to say that you and I are acting for public benefit, let them say that it is enough that you and my monarch have no doubts. If we always care about other people's opinions in life, wouldn't you and I not want to live? . "Xie Ruqing was particularly free and easy when he said this, as if he couldn't see the heavy shackles that had been placed on him at all.
"Senior brother said well, let's talk about business.
None of the conditions we proposed can be changed. " Chu Ci smiled and agreed with Xie Ruqing's words. The next second, he stopped smiling and straightened his expression at a speed visible to the naked eye.
"We can't agree to any of the conditions you proposed." Xie Ruqing said calmly.
"Oh?" Chu Ci was not anxious at all, and just made a soft modal word to express his inquiry.
"Your Southern Barbarian minions should have buried many people in our Dayong, and you should also be able to know the current situation in our Dayong.
I think you didn't expect us to agree when you made this request. You just put a high price in the hope that we would pay attention to it. "Xie Ruqing also picked up a piece of pastry and said.
Chu Ci tapped the table lightly with his fingers, propped up his chin and said, "Then what do you want?"
Chu Ci's words did not deny what Xie Ruqing said. In Xie Ruqing's eyes, this was acquiescence.
So, Xie Ruqing immediately spoke again: "The food is halved, the money is also halved, the funding period is halved, the craftsmen are not loaned out, only the craftsmen design the papyrus and give it to you, you also need to give us enough latest artillery to equip the three armies. ."
"That's impossible. What you give is too little, and what you ask for is too much. Even if you ask me to do it for personal gain, I can't agree."
"This is what the Ministry of Rites means." Xie Ruqing said again before Chu Ci could finish his words.
Chu Ci immediately reacted and said with disdain: "Hey, after all these years, your Dayong's Ministry of Rites is still so fond of whimsical ideas, and they really think that our southern barbarians can only borrow food from your Dayong. The lion's mouth is open. "
"What do you mean, Senior Brother? I have a heavy responsibility. Senior Brother, please don't let me down like this Ministry of Etiquette."
"What the Ministry of Rites said had their own considerations, and what I said also had my own considerations." Xie Ruqing was not in a hurry to express her opinion. Instead, she played Tai Chi with Chu Ci and touched her head. Said the hairpin on it.
A glimmer of light flashed in Chu Ci's eyes, and he said: "Senior brother is smart, and I think he will also consider me as a junior brother. Please tell me, senior brother."
"Both money and food can be negotiated, but it's just a matter of quantity. For the time being, we can calculate an amount that satisfies both parties according to the regulations, but the craftsmen will not be loaned out unless you also send the artillery division in exchange."
"That can't be done. The leader of our country has already said before he went on an envoy that I can make the decision on anything. Except for this matter, the country does not dare to waver at all, and it is difficult to obey orders." Chu Ci shook his head and refused.
"The foundation of a country should be its people. Only with the people can a country have its foundation. Although artillery is the most important weapon of the Southern Barbarian country, I think you should be clear about the importance of people and artillery."
“The people are the palm of the hand, the artillery is the back of the hand, the palm and the back of the hand are all flesh…
Senior brother, you are better than your etiquette department, and you still give me difficult questions. " As Chu Ci said this, he slumped down on the ground regardless of his appearance, took out the jade pendant on his waist, and swung it around, speaking with a hint of complaining and cheating.
"Since it's a difficult problem, you should think about it slowly. However, everything you gain must come with a sacrifice. Junior brother, you'd better think it over carefully."
"I think I can't drink this tea anymore. I have to go and coax your sister-in-law. You can enjoy it by yourself. Wait until the next day... You should think it through and bring the tea to my house." After that, Xie Ruqing was about to get up and leave.
"Senior brother was quite impatient, but after talking to me for a while, he hurriedly went to find his sister-in-law. Instead of talking about official matters, it was actually time to catch up on old times...
Why, senior brother is afraid that his sister-in-law will run away with someone else? Chu Ci joked with a smile.
Xie Ruqing did not refute, but stood up and was about to walk out of the house. Chu Ci smiled brighter and continued:
"Senior brother, I didn't expect that after more than ten years of not seeing you, you would actually fall into a trap in the gentle countryside. Don't worry, be careful that one day you will be doomed~"
Xie Ruqing ignored Chu Ci's teasing and continued to walk out. However, when he was about to turn the corner at the end of the corridor, he turned back, looked at Chu Ci and said:
"It's not just Wenyouxiang that will be saved forever. Sometimes, the brotherhood, or even family ties, that you always thought of may not be solid. Often, the more secure you are about many things, the less safe they are..."
As for what Xie Ruqing said, whether you can understand the rest depends on Chu Ci. Sometimes, even if you have three mouths, it is impossible to wake up a person who is pretending to sleep...
After Chu Ci heard Xie Ruqing's kind warning, his expression immediately changed. He stood up with a complex expression, walked to Xie Ruqing's side in small steps, patted Xie Ruqing's shoulder and said:
"Thank you for your concern, senior brother. I always do things in a measured way..."
"However, senior brother, I have something to say. Junior brother, I have to remind you that there is no airtight wall in the world. Even if your Xie family's wall cannot get in from the outside, it can leak out from the inside." Chu Ci said to the end. , the voice became deeper and deeper, but the tone became more serious, and the hand patting Xie Ruqing's shoulder became harder and harder.
Chu Ci's words were definitely not unfounded. Xie Ruqing darkened her eyes and met Chu Ci's smiling eyes.
Thousands of words passed through the eyes of the two of them, but they did not say them out loud.
Finally, Chu Ci smiled and said: "Brother, cherish your life. Master said that you and I are brothers and enemies of life and death. If you want to die in this life, you can only die in my hands..."
Xie Ruqing looked at the junior brother in front of him who was no longer young and innocent, and felt that he had changed, but it seemed that he had not changed...
Xie Ruqing grabbed Chu Ci's hand on his shoulder and said, just like he did many years ago:
"I have too many things to protect in this life, and I am reluctant to die. You should do the same, live well, no one is more worthy of love than yourself..."
Chu Ci looked at Xie Ruqing with an expression that seemed to have returned to that summer many years ago. For a moment, there was a hint of "innocence" in his eyes that he only had many years ago...
Chu Ci also followed the same behavior as before and said in a very unsatisfied tone:
"Don't worry, I will live well. I want to live and let everyone know that Master's most outstanding disciple is me! Nanman Chuci!"
The figures of the two junior brothers disappeared together at the end of the corridor, and the slanting drizzle outside seemed to slowly turn into the heavy rain that the two junior brothers had experienced together in the summer many years ago... and the whole thing was wet. Countless dust and fallen leaves washed away in Kyoto... blurring the two figures, one purple and one red...
