Li Qing went to the street to buy incense candles, paper money... and went to Qixia Mountain.
Many years later, the three small tombs were covered with flowers and plants, and even the tombstones were covered up. Li Qing felt ashamed...
But, in the end, he didn't remove the flowers and plants, because...it looked very nice, and the three girls would definitely like it.
Li Qing lit the incense candle, burned the paper money, and started talking softly...
After so many years, Li Qing was no longer as sad as he was at first. He just felt empty, and he couldn't explain what it felt like.
The autumn wind rustled, Li Qing talked about the past, and finally drifted to nowhere...
Time never takes pity on the poor. After decades, the three small graves are full of vicissitudes of life. One day, I am afraid that these small graves will disappear.
Fortunately... that would take too long, too long, or perhaps, time will take pity on them and will not take away all their traces in Li Qing's lifetime.
…
Li Qing hasn't been here for a long time, and every time he comes he has to stay for a few days or even longer; this time is no exception. He spends the Mid-Autumn Festival with them, which is wonderful.
Before the girls left, they all told Li Qing to forget about them. Li Qing also tried, but... he couldn't do it.
There are always some things that cannot be corroded by time. Instead of disappearing with the passage of time, the lost beauty becomes more mellow like fine wine.
Precious……
Of course, Li Sin was not immersed in sentimentality.
I've said it, I've laughed, I've cried... and that's it.
~
Yongqinghou Mansion.
Late autumn is fading away, and early winter is coming one after another. The little girl who hates getting married is panicking.
She is already a big girl, she is eighteen years old in real life, nineteen in false years, twenty-one years old, twenty-one years old, and her eldest brother has not come back to marry her yet.
She can't sleep well now and stares in a daze all day long. She feels that she has not been young for a few years and is almost old.
Zhu Wanqing is no longer shy. If her eldest brother doesn't come back, she will bother Uncle Li all day long:
"Uncle Li, uncle Li, write a letter to your elder brother and ask him what he wants?"
At this point, she was ready to go all out, completely losing the restraint of her daughter's family.
Zhu Qizhen was still fanning the flames: "Girl, dad has long said that that bastard is not a good thing. Do you believe it now?"
The little girl was so angry that she cried.
Qian, who has always been gentle and virtuous, blushed with her husband for the first time and said angrily: "With a father like you, how can you be so happy that your daughter can't get married?"
"Can you blame me? It's all..."
"You still say?"
"Okay, why don't I stop talking?" Zhu Qizhen shut up in anger.
Mrs. Qian felt sorry for her daughter and asked, "Sir, why don't you write a letter to Mr. Li? Even if you are really busy with military affairs and can't take any time off, you should still explain it. This... is really not good."
Li Qing stood up and said, "Okay, I'll write him a letter and see what's going on."
~
Unexpectedly, just after the letter was written and before anyone was found who was willing to deliver it, Li Hong came back.
It's just that... people come into the Hou Mansion upright, but leave sideways. Don't ask, it's Zhu Qizhen venting his anger on his daughter.
Zhu Wanqing was so distressed that she cried and wanted to move to the Li family across the street to take care of her, but was forcefully stopped by Qian.
Zhu Qizhen became even more angry, and his old father's heart was broken into pieces.
When Li's father came to propose marriage, Zhu Qizhen, who became more and more angry as he thought about it, got angry and threw the entire betrothal gift across the courtyard wall, smashing it to pieces...
Father Li was furious: You are a foreigner, what can you do?
Zhu Qizhen was even more angry: Is this your Li family’s attitude towards marrying a daughter-in-law?
The two middle-aged men almost came to blows.
Finally, Li Qing, who had seen enough excitement and had enough to eat, intervened, and the two conspicuous men stopped.
However, after their trouble, they had to recalculate the auspicious days, which was delayed.
…
Another courtyard.
Li Qing held the Yongle Grand Ceremony in his hand, brewed a pot of good tea on the table, and leaned on the recliner leisurely.
'thump! Li Hong jumped over the courtyard wall and said with a smile: "Godfather."
Li Qing glanced at him and returned his gaze to the ceremony, "Aren't you complaining that your leg is broken? It's only been a few days and you've been fine?"
"Oh, that's just a trick on my part." Li Hong said with a smile, "If I didn't do that, I'm afraid my old Taishan would still be reluctant to let you go."
"You kid..." Li Qing laughed, "How long will it take to come back this time?"
Li Hongdao: "Last year during the battle in Liaodong, the tribes were horrified, and they probably won't dare to make any mistakes in a short time. Well... the emperor has summoned the child."
"Did you tell him about marrying Zhu Wanqing?"
"Uh... godfather is wise." Li Hong smiled and nodded: "Actually, the emperor also guessed it. Children can't deceive the emperor, right?"
Li Qing thought for a moment and said, "It's not a big deal after all. On the contrary, we can use this relationship to make your career smoother."
After a pause, "The emperor has promoted you to an official position, right?"
"I can't hide anything from my godfather. The emperor has promoted me to a guerrilla general." Li Hongqian said with a smile and explained, "But godfather, I didn't rely on nepotism. I really made a contribution..."
"Okay, there's nothing to explain. It doesn't matter if you have a relationship or not," Li Qing waved his hand, "It's mainly about ability, as long as the ability can keep up with the official position."
Li Hongshen thought so: "What my godfather said is that after last year's battle, I have the ability to manage a thousand households. Well... in recent years, even if the emperor promotes me to an official position again, I will decline;
In the words of my godfather, if you don’t have diamonds, you won’t do porcelain work. "
Li Qing nodded with satisfaction, reached out to pick up the teacup on the table, and took a sip, "I haven't answered the question I asked you for a while."
"Half a year." Li Hong said: "The emperor means... after we get married, let me first practice in the Beijing camp for two years, and then go to the Hetao for two years to develop."
Li Qing nodded slowly and said with a smile: "You are not unlucky. My father-in-law is a bastard, but my uncle is quite good."
Li Hong's expression was stern: "Godfather, if you say so, the child is still eating soft food."
"Huh? You can't say that," Li Qing said sternly, "Don't avoid enmity when doing external affairs, and don't avoid relatives when doing internal affairs. In the past, your ancestor, Duke Cao, was very famous, but no one said that he relied on Taizu's nephew. This identity;
Now that I'm in your lineage, even though I've passed five servers, I can't stop telling good stories! "
Li Hong nodded lightly: "What my godfather said is that I will not embarrass you, nor will I embarrass my ancestors."
"Yes, you have ambition." Li Qing smiled and took a sip of tea, "But ambition alone is not enough, you have to take practical actions."
"That must be necessary!" Li Hong chuckled, and then his smile turned bitter, "Godfather, after we get married, I want to take sister Wanqing to the capital. Can you help me persuade...father-in-law?"
"No need to persuade," Li Qing said, "That is his daughter. He is more precious than you. As long as that little girl is willing to follow you, he will not stop her." ωＷω.ＧoＮЬ.οrＧ
Li Hong sighed: "Actually, sometimes I quite understand Uncle Zhu. He only has a daughter, the capital...and he can't go back. If I were...he and I would really be the only ones left."
"Well, pity the parents in the world. Although he is a bastard in public, privately, he is not bad." Li Qing said, "A son-in-law is half a son. From now on, treat him better."
"Hey, I understand, kid." Li Hong nodded.
After a pause, he said, "Godfather, the Emperor has told me about your affairs during the New Year. Are you really planning not to ask about political affairs?"
"This emperor is the British master, and he has now established a firm foothold. With or without me, the difference is not big." Li Qing smiled, "Besides, I am not the royal nanny of the Ming Emperor. "
"..." Li Hong's face was full of black lines, but he was used to it. His godfather had always spoken so unscrupulously.
After all...he is someone who even dares to beat the Emperor.
Li Hong said: "My father asked people to calculate the date. The sixth day of the lunar month is an auspicious day. Godfather, please help me reconcile. The two of them... Well, I can't say Uncle Zhu's identity. My father only thinks of him as a softie." He's a foodie, and he talks very aggressively."
"Okay, let me take care of it." Li Qing's eyes were filled with joy, and he ordered: "Now that we are married, you are now an adult. In the future, if your godfather is not here, you have to be good, ah~"
Li Hong smiled and said: "When I have time in the future, my child will come back to see you often."
Li Qing shook his head slightly: "You are married, and I have fulfilled my responsibilities as a father. In the future... you should not be able to find me."
"Ah?" Li Hong was stunned for a moment, then said in a voiceless voice: "Godfather, you want to leave?"
"Um."
"where to?"
"I don't know," Li Qing looked up at the sky, "The Ming Dynasty is so big, there are so many places to go."
Li Hong was in a low mood, "Godfather... won't you leave?"
Li Qing said quietly: "You know? My godfather is a Taoist priest. If it hadn't been for an accident, he might still be a Taoist priest now.
Sigh... After so many years, I have almost forgotten my identity as a Taoist priest. "
"Godfather..." Li Hong smiled bitterly: "You are already so old. If something happens to you, how will you let your child deal with it?"
"My godfather is very determined, nothing will happen to him." Li Qing said with a smile, and pondered for a moment, "Don't worry, you are still so young, we, father and son, will always meet again."
However, you may not recognize your godfather by then... Li Qing added in his mind.
…
The sixth day of winter.
On this day, Li Hong was dressed in the No. 1 Scholar robe and looked as rich as jade.
On this day, Zhu Wanqing was crowned with a phoenix and a rosy robe, and her country was captivated.
On this day, the two little babies grew up and got married.
Li Qing drank the tea served by the young couple, listened to them call him father, and wrapped a huge red envelope.
He lamented the charm of time, which not only plunders, but also gives...
No outsiders were invited to the dinner.
Except for the two families, only Cao Guogong was invited.
During the banquet, Zhu Qizhen and Li's father were drinking together, and Li Qing was teasing them to drink, making the two of them vomit...
This night, the fireworks were set off for half the night.
That night, Yongqinghou Mansion was ablaze.
This night, Li Qing seemed to be drunk too...
After this night, Li Qing disappeared.
No one knew where he went. They only knew that when they woke up the next day, everything was there except him.
They searched and waited for a long time, but never saw him again...
…
~
Small Taoist temple.
In front of the tombstone.
Li Qing wiped the tombstone with his sleeve and said softly: "Master, the disciple is back."
