Throughout Wei's house, the servants, wives and servants were all kneeling in the courtyard with fear. There were wine and food on the table in the bright hall. Mrs. Li and her servants had prepared incense, candles and cauldrons for the sacrifice, and they sat quietly aside. Wei An sat at the top with a gloomy expression, behind him was a tall lacquered wood folding screen. On both sides of the screen stood two 24-branch lamps. The wax oil resembled blood and tears, hanging down the bronze lamp frame.
"It's just getting more and more presumptuous!" Wei An frowned and said in a cold voice: "When are you still not coming back? The person I sent to call has not even called back! Do you still need me to go and call in person? Can’t do it?”
At this time, he seemed to have forgotten that he had just been invited out of the Qingyin Pavilion in Firework Alley by the Youzhou Army in black armor.
Qingyin Hall is a three-story building located on Fireworks Lane. It is no more eye-catching than Cuihua House. Only the raised eaves can be seen through the courtyard door. It is quiet inside, with sparse flowers and trees. Occasionally there are A few sounds of silk and bamboo orchestral music could be heard. There were only a few beauties with exquisite beauty and art in such a house with hooks and tiles. They were different from the gaudy and vulgar girls. Their every glance and smile looked like the ladies of the world. They spend a lot of money just to sit and have fun with them.
The Qingguang gauze that was newly combed yesterday has just come into bloom today. Not only does it look good, but the clothes he wears are all dressed up according to his preferences by the mother of Qingyin Hall. He has tried it on for the first time today. The taste, unexpectedly, was alarmed by something without eyes.
If everyone didn't know him, he wouldn't be disappointed and return home.
"As far as my lord is concerned, the eldest and second young masters are on their way back." The boy replied, kneeling in the corridor.
"Second Young Master, what did you do at night?" Wei An was eager to accuse him and was a little impatient.
"I don't know."
"Husband, please calm down." Mrs. Li felt happy and sad in her heart. Today was New Year's Eve. Originally, the mansion was going to have a New Year's dinner and then offer sacrifices. Unexpectedly, Wei Cheng and Wei Zheng didn't come, and the people they sent were either still on the way or couldn't be invited. , there is a rift between father and son, and she is most happy to see its consequences, "Maybe something important has been delayed."
He sneered and threw the cup in his hand on the table. The golden cup rolled on the lacquered wood table and fell to the ground with a clanking sound.
As soon as the cup landed, someone came running quickly to spread the word.
The eldest young master and the second young master are back.
Wei An sat coldly and watched the two people come in one after another. Li stood up eagerly and asked: "Erlang and Dalang are starving, I will let them heat up the food. You sit down and rest, and I will pour it for you." liquor."
Wei An's two concubines, Wei Xian and Wei Ming, also stood up and saluted them.
Wei Zheng returned the favor with a smile. He also asked his two cousins a few words about their homework, and then smiled and said: "Axian and Amin have grown a lot taller. I heard from Mr. Xian that Axian is very good at reading. Auntie Thanks for your hard work."
Mrs. Li was a little flattered and said modestly: "Wherever I work hard, the children work hard on their own. They say they need to study hard so that they can help their father and brothers in the future."
Wei An's expression softened slightly, and he rarely showed some kindness. He looked at his two youngest sons and said, "You have worked hard this year. Daddy has prepared a lot of money for you. I will go and get it later."
"Sit down." Wei An looked at the two people standing and said calmly.
The New Year's Eve dinner was a mediocre one. Wei Cheng had just finished it. He had no appetite at this time and was just drinking glass after glass of wine. Li's gentle voice came to his ears: "Master, try this fish dish." Well, I watched the kitchen cook it today."
"Um."
"Axian, Amin, come and toast your father. Didn't you write something a few days ago that you want to give to your father? Take it out and take a look."
Soon a servant brought up a piece of silk several feet long, with immature but neat handwriting.
"The glorious wind comes from the south and blows the thorny heart.
The heart of the thorn is young, and the mother's family is tired.
The glorious wind comes from the south and blows the thorny firewood.
My mother is holy and kind, and I have no one to ask for.
There is a cold spring under the dredging.
He has seven children, and his mother works hard.
The yellow bird carries its sound.
If you have seven children, don’t comfort your mother’s heart. "
Li's eyes turned red and she wiped away tears silently. Wei An read it carefully and pointed out the shortcomings of the calligraphy. His eyes were very pleased.
"It has a bit of the spirit of a famous man, but if you look at the strokes of the word 'thorn', it looks a bit clumsy, a little less powerful, erratic and frivolous."
"My father's words have been remembered by me." Wei Xian's face turned red and he bowed respectfully again.
As he got older, his heart became softer. Seeing his two youngest sons being so well-behaved and sensible, Wei An's unhappiness disappeared for the most part. He said "hmm" and ordered someone to take the things to his study and frame them.
Wei Cheng leaned crookedly on the table and glanced sideways over there.
The father is kind and the son is filial, the wife is kind and the family is harmonious.
He sneered and drank the remaining wine in the glass.
After the New Year's dinner and the sacrifice, Wei Zheng invited Wei Cheng to the back garden to admire the moon. Neither of them ate much at the table. They wanted to have some snacks now, so they drank the thick and fragrant tea. gossip.
The moonlight was bright and white, and the shadows of the two people were spread on the stone table by the lake.
The two chatted about their childhood quarrels and laughed. Then they talked about Wei Cheng's mother and Wei Zheng's mother, but both remained silent.
Wei An had already had enough wine and food, and was going back to the house. He saw a couple of people having sex by the lake with a lamp lit in the distance. Perhaps it was the rare calmness in the family atmosphere today. After thinking about it, he decided to go to the place where the lamp was lit. Walked over.
When Wei Zheng saw him coming, he stood up and bowed: "Uncle."
Wei Cheng lazily stood up and called his father.
Seeing his nonchalant look, Wei An snorted and raised his hand: "Everyone, sit down."
"You two haven't come back just now. Where have you been?"
Wei Zheng held the pot, and Wei Cheng chose a clean white porcelain cup and handed him the gold-painted red plum porcelain cup filled with tea: "Today, Chang'an sent an edict, appointing me as General Wei to conquer Liu Min and recover Jizhou. Go to Chang'an to take up a post."
Wei An already knew about this. He said "Huh" and took the tea. He was still a little proud of his son in his heart, but it didn't show on his face: "I'm going to Jizhou now. Bring more personal guards."
"yes."
Wei Zheng stood up and left, walking to the terrace to look at the hanging bait. The float was faintly trembling on the surface of the lake, and the undercurrent was surging under the water.
Wei An sighed: "I also know about the Wang family."
He frowned: "You really shouldn't be like this. After all, you are your elder. Looking at the poems written by your two brothers today, I can't help but think of your mother..."
"It's been a long time since I went to pay homage to your mother. Remember to go and have a look before you go on the expedition." He smacked his lips, "I won't go."
Wei Cheng nodded nonchalantly, held the porcelain cup, slowly turned to applaud, and suddenly smiled: "Dad, do you still remember my mother's appearance?"
Wei An didn't answer.
"I do remember it, but I only remember how she looked when she was very sick and about to die." He smiled, showing his white teeth. "Her face was sallow and sallow. At that time, my mother still wanted to see my father, but she was afraid that she would look haggard and ugly. Jun, you must get up, dress up, and apply powder on your eyebrows."
He squinted his eyes and recalled: "At that time, I was about the same age as Ah Xian now. I went to the private yard in Fireworks Lane to find my father. Unfortunately, I still couldn't catch up with him for the last time."
"I don't remember. Maybe I'm old and have a bad memory, but I always think of the past, Dalang's father, my brother, and your mother. Hey, I won't mention it anymore." Wei An said from his sleeves He took out two red envelopes, a square baggage embroidered with red silk. It was heavy inside, and there was a slight sound when it shook. It contained eight copper coins.
"One is yours and the other is Dalang's."
Wei Cheng picked up a bag, opened it, and said with some disgust: "It's only eight cents, what can you buy?"
"What do you know? It's just for good luck. Are you still short of money?" Wei An leaned back and stroked his beard. He wanted to say something else. He opened his mouth, but did not say it.
His face suddenly turned from pale to red.
In fact, it wasn't just a momentary thing. Just now, he felt some numbness in his hands and feet. He thought it was caused by fatigue recently, but suddenly his heart beat much faster. His whole body seemed to be tightly bound by something, and breathing became difficult.
He hunched over and stood up holding on to the stone table. His eyes widened as he watched his son stand up with a smile. The red envelope in his hand fell to the ground, and eight copper coins rolled out, glowing with a solemn light.
On the terrace behind him, his nephew Wei Zheng fiddled with his fishing rod and looked over.
He wanted to speak, but his throat seemed to be strangled, and his chest seemed to have turned into a broken bellows, making a hoarse sound of "Uh-huh."
Warm blood emerged from the nose, like a river of blood, sliding over the lips drop by drop, soaking into the beard, dyeing large areas of skin and clothes red, dripping into the chest, dripping on the ground, and submerging into the withered yellow grass.
"poisonous......"
"You... you..." His outstretched hand trembled so much that he could no longer hold himself up with one hand, and fell to the ground, staring at his son who was smiling gently in front of him. , and the nephew with a calm face.
"Why...why..." Wei An stared at Wei Cheng fiercely with eyes wide open, the whites of his eyes bloodshot and bloodshot.
He didn't bother to explain.
"A few drops of the concentrated juice of Naihe grass were added to the tea." Wei Cheng poured the remaining half cup of fermented tea casually and stepped on the spilled copper coins. He didn't care and kicked the copper coins aside, faintly He said: "This is a good thing, but my eldest brother gave it to me. If my father wants to kill me, remember to take care of my eldest brother."
Wei Zheng, who was not far away, frowned when he heard this.
Wei An spat out a mouthful of blood and twitched uncontrollably.
The shadow of the crane crosses the cold pond, and the lonely soul is buried in the cold moon.
The people on the ground were no longer breathing, their eyes were wide open, staring at the bright moon in the sky.
