Bend Over [ 折腰 ] - Chapter 42

[Chapter 42]

Zhongshan is about four or five days away from Yuyang.

Early the next morning, Xiao Qiao went out with Mrs. Xu.

Wei Yu was already waiting at the door. Behind him were two columns of guards of about a hundred men.

Wei Yu was entrusted with the task of staying in Youzhou and did not accompany him. Escorted along the way by these guards. These guards were all from the Wei family’s Tiger Ben soldiers, and Wei Yu had selected them, not only trusting, but also good at fighting.

Seeing Lady Xu and Xiao Qiao coming out from inside, Wei Yu immediately greeted her and grabbed Lady Xu in front of her.

Four double carriages were already parked outside the gate. The first one, with brass decoration roof, white jade inlaid transverse, outer green oil, inner brocade, four windows on both sides, two are air windows, two are lookout windows, the four corners are embellished with beads, extreme luxury.

Wei Yu picked Lady Xu down the steps and walked toward the carriage. Madame Xu looked up and couldn’t help but shake her head: “Tell you to prepare a car, how did you get such a car?” It’s too extravagant.

Wei Yu said, “My grandmother’s precious body, why is it too luxurious?” Compared with the riding of the nobles of Luoyang, this is not much. Besides, it takes a few days on the road, my grandmother is very old, I am afraid that my grandmother will be tired in the car, so I have a slightly more passable one.
Madame
Xu smiled and said, “As far as you can say.” The car is ready, don’t I still sit? It just so happens that your brother and sister are walking with me. I don’t have any old bones, she is delicate, and it is better to loosen up on the road. You are also thoughtful.

Wei Yu smiled, helped Madame Xu to board the carriage, and then took two steps back, giving way to Xiao Qiao, smiling: “The younger sister can get on the carriage.” The

servant woman next to Little Joe handed over the handle slightly, and she lifted the skirt slightly with her other hand and stepped on the pier. When he didn’t want to step on the carriage panel, the soles of his feet slipped slightly, he didn’t stand still, his body shook down, Wei Yu’s eyes were fast a few steps away, an arrow stepped up, Xiao Qiao had not yet reacted, he had already reached out to support her side of the back waist, and whispered in his mouth: “Brother and sister be careful.” Then he let go of his hand.

This was a little shaken, in fact, Xiao Qiao himself could stabilize, but he didn’t react as fast as Wei Yu.

Her initial impression of this person was extremely bad, and later she learned his identity, and these days, she had not met him much, even if she met him in the Wei Mansion, she saw that he was also polite, very personable, and acted in a style, and there was no longer a slight loss of decorum, and at the beginning, the disgust that he had generated because he was too rude to himself when he first met him slowly faded a little.

At this moment, Leng Buding was helped by him like this, although he felt a little awkward in his heart, he still turned back, smiled at him lightly, thanked him, bowed his head and bent down to get into the carriage and sat down next to Madam Xu.

The accompanying Zhong Mi, ChunNiang, and others and Yi Ying were all on the first few carriages in the back, ready, riding the sword in front of the road, riding on both sides of the guard, people and horses crossed the street out of the city, Wei Yu still sent each other, has been sent out dozens of miles away, Lady Xu repeatedly told him to go back, Wei Yu only stopped.

He stopped where he was, watching the train horse in front of him slowly disappear into sight along the track, and couldn’t help but shake the palm of the hand that had just touched her waist.

As soon as her waist was clenched, his single palm could almost cover it, although it was only a brief touch, through the layer of fabric, the lightness and softness that touched the bottom of the heart, and at this moment, it seemed to remain on the skin of the palm of his hand, and did not retreat.

……

After getting on the road, Xiao Qiao knew the reason why Lady Xu had to go to Zhongshan Country herself at this age.

Now Liu Duan’s mother concubine Yuan shi of the Zhongshan King, is a handkerchief in Lady Xu’s boudoir, and she is in love with a sister. Although in recent years, because of his old age and the long distance of the road, there have been fewer contacts, but the old love and righteousness are still there.

Yuan’s illness last year was serious, and now the illness is getting more and more entangled, yesterday Mrs. Xu received the news of ZhongshanGuo, learned that Yuanshi may be about to survive, thinking about the old people, last night a sleepless night, this morning decided to go to see her for the last time.

“If the clothes are new, the people are not old.”

Madame Xu looked at the endless wilderness outside the carriage window, was distracted for a long time, and finally sighed.

……

A few days later, Lady Xu arrived in Lunu with Xiao Qiao.

The State of Zhongshan was founded in the year of Jianwu, the first generation of monarchs was originally a son of the Emperor of Jianwu at that time, initially enfeoffed the Duke of Qinghe, and later became a king, changed the fiefdom to Dingzhou, the capital of the country, Lunu, to the current King of Zhongshan, Liu Duan, has been passed down for more than ten generations, more than two hundred years.

Just like the State of Langya and the State of Jiyin, these sub-feudal states that once represented the supreme imperial power are now in the land of Yi, and although the title is not cut, the status has long since plummeted. The Zhongshan Kingdom was still good, and Dingzhou was now actually under Wei Shao, and the royal family was still able to maintain its original food and treatment. Unlike some of the other fiefdoms, the land has been squeezed by local predators who have real power, or even completely seized.

But even so, when the carriage drove into Lunu City, Xiao Qiao looked out through the lookout window and saw that the streets were still full of gray and dilapidated scenes, like a former rich and noble door, and now the Zhumen had faded away, leaving only a little remnant of mottled marks, which could also make people reminisce about the past glory in time.

Liu Duan, the king of Zhongshan, learned yesterday that Lady Xu was coming, and today he personally went out of the city to greet her and welcomed Lady Xu and Xiao Qiao into the palace.

Liu Duan’s generation is lower than Lady Xu, not to mention that now he relies on Wei Shao’s sniffles to survive, and he is respectful to Lady Xu and Little Qiao Bi, entering the palace with some red tape, meticulous hospitality, Lady Xu asks everything to be simple, but after a little rest and clean clothes, she immediately takes Xiao Qiao to visit the bedridden Yuan.

Yuan Shi and Lady Xu were similar in age, but now they were already in the western mountains, lying on a sickbed, and their spirits were extremely poor. When Madame Xu held her hand and called her maiden name, Yuan Shi could no longer recognize her, and her sluggish gaze spread out from her puffy eyes, looking at Madam Xu fixedly, motionless.

Liu Duan said that her mother began like this last year, originally recognized herself, and now even if she calls her, she has no response. Although it has been treated by many parties, it is also powerless to return to heaven. Thinking of her mother’s old friendship with Madame Xu, lest she blame herself for not telling herself, she went to the letter.

Lady Xu left only Xiao Qiao, and then sat on the edge of the bed holding Yuan’s hand for a long time, talking to herself and saying a lot of things to her. Little Qiao listened carefully to Madame Xu’s words, mostly recalling the boudoir when he was young.

Mrs. Xu’s tone is calm, the tone is soft, and there is no half-color, remembering that when she was young, she sneaked out to watch the lanterns with her family at the Lantern Festival and the Yuan family, but when she occasionally met a Qingjun teenager who made both of them feel excited, her tone even carried a little bit of joy. But I don’t know why, after Little Joe heard it, his heart slowly became sad, as if he was blocked by something.

Lady Xu accompanied the unresponsive Yuan Shi for a long time, until the sun was about to come out with Xiao Qiao.

When she came out, her eyes were slightly red.

Liu Duan led the people of the royal family to stand outside. Seeing Madame Xu come out, she hurried forward and respectfully invited Madame Xu to the banquet. Madame Xu did not refuse and took Xiao Qiao to the banquet. During the banquet, starting from Liu Duan, the guests of the royal family sat with them, flattered and catered to Lady Xu, and complimented Xiao Qiao repeatedly, and Lady Xu smiled and smiled, and there was no discoloration. After the banquet came out, he sighed at Xiao Qiao: “Liu Room has been in the past four hundred years, and now it has declined to this point, heavenly luck!” Back at the place where she stayed

, Madame Xu seemed to be still immersed in the emotions of meeting the Yuan clan before her death during the day, and had been sitting in front of the lamp, her figure motionless. Little Joe silently accompanied him for a long time.

Zhong Mi entered and asked Lady Xu to change clothes and rest, but Lady Xu did not move.

Xiao Qiao thought that she had worked the road a few days ago, and today she was socializing during the day, and she was about to open her mouth to persuade her, when she suddenly saw Madam Xu looking at herself and said, “During the day, I am talking to Yuan Shi, I am afraid that you will have to see and laugh.” Now that I am older, I love to reminisce about what I did when I was a teenager. A flash of gray hair, such as dreams. ”

Xiao Qiao said, “How dare you laugh?” Just the grandmother, although the mirror of Zhu Yan is consumed, the years are not left, but there are also nests into chicks to grow up, accompanied by the saying of the years. The grandmother was just nostalgic for the past, which was just a feeling.
Madame
Xu repeated “Nest into chicks growing up”, smiled, raised her hand and gently patted the back of Xiao Qiao’s hand, turned her head to Zhong Mi and said: “The words spoken by this child can always enter my heart.” Zhong Mi

smiled: “The lady is afraid that the old lady is too sad to spare her body, so she coaxed the old lady to say two sentences, and the old lady is so happy.”
Lady
Xu said, “Well, I’m tired today, so let’s go and rest early.”

Zhong Mi responded. Together with Xiao Qiao, he lifted up Lady Xu.

There was no word that night.

The next day, Lady Xu asked the tai doctor and learned that yuan’s time was short, so she decided to stay for a few more days. On that day, many of Lady Xu’s clans came to visit, and between the words, there was much flattery. Turning to Little Joe, I saw that she looked like a heavenly person and behaved solemnly, and she was all overwhelmed.

The Wei family is now soaring, although she is young, she is the future master mother of the Wei family, it seems that she is quite pleasing to Lady Xu, and she must be brought around when she goes in and out, and she can’t help but look up to her even more, hiding that Lady Xu is behind her back to show her countless gifts. Xiao Qiao naturally did not accept it, all the way back, and did not meet with people privately at the request of others. After three or two days of this, on this evening, Xiao Qiao returned with Mrs. Xu to visit yuanshi.

Yuan Shi’s breathing today has been difficult, and it means to see the doctor, that is, this is a day or two.

When Madame Xu returned, her mood was inevitably low. Xiao Qiao accompanied him to explain, when suddenly there was a servant woman knocking on the door outside: “Old lady, Mrs. Zuo Fengyi, the daughter of Su’s parents, knows that the old lady has arrived in Zhongshan and has come to meet her.”

Little Joe’s eyes moved slightly, but he quickly covered up.

She knew that in the trajectory of Big Joe’s life in the past life, there had always been such a person.

It’s just that it has been preserved in his memory before, and it is a vague, lifeless name. Now suddenly alive, it is just about to appear in front of you.

Madame Xu said to herself, as if she were a little embarrassed, “She was widowed last year, wasn’t she still in Luoyang?” How did you get here? After a deep groan, he called in.

Xiao Qiao hurriedly got up and retreated, and Lady Xu said, “You stay, it doesn’t matter.” In terms of generations, I am her mother’s aunt, and she also calls me a grandmother, which is considered to be a relative.

Xiao Qiao lowered his eyes, answered yes, and sat back down at Madame Xu’s hand like Fang Cai.

A moment later, she heard a ring of rings outside the door from far and near, at first slight, gradually clear, like the rhythmic beauty of music, you can imagine, walking woman’s posture, should be how weak willow wind, swaying posture.

A young woman dressed in vegetarian clothes appeared at the door.

Little Joe looked.

This young woman, who looked older than Wei Shao, was twenty-four or five years old, and her green silk was combed into the state of a fallen horse, and her appearance was very beautiful, especially her eyes were outstanding, and she regarded people as if she were lustful. The figure is excellent, and a plain dress can’t hide the ripeness that is about to come out, and it adds a little different flavor to her.

Before the young woman reached the threshold, she slightly lifted the skirt, and walked down to Lady Xu under the guidance of the servant woman, and respectfully bowed down. After performing the ceremony, he said, “My niece and granddaughter, Emperor E, I heard two days ago that my maternal aunt and grandmother had arrived, and I hadn’t seen her for many years, and I was very happy.” I wanted to come early. It was only the thought that my maternal aunt and grandmother must be busy, and Emperor E was afraid of disturbing my maternal aunt’s business, so I put up with it. Today, I was really eager to come, despite the fact that it was already twilight, and rushed to come, but I did not disturb the quiet of my grandmother. Say goodbye

and kowtow again.

As soon as she opened her mouth, Little Joe was a little surprised. His voice was slightly hoarse, as if he had suffered some damage.

However, her words are full of rhythm, so it sounds, instead of being harsh, compared with the average woman’s voice, it has a different charm.

Madame Xu also seemed a little surprised, and looked at her with one eye: “I haven’t seen her for many years.” I remember that you used to sound quite good, how did you become like this?
Emperor
Su’e looked down and looked slightly affectionate: “Back to my grandmother, I was born with an illness in the past, and people are well, but the sound is destroyed.”
Madame
Xu nodded, “It’s a pity.” He added, “Zuo Feng Yigong unfortunately passed away last year, and I have heard about it.” Be gracious, and don’t be so sad that you hurt your body.
Emperor
Su’e bowed deeply to her: “Emperor E thanked her grandmother for her love. Be sure to remember the words of your elders. Emperor E originally settled in Luoyang with his former husband, but after his husband went, he was afraid of seeing things and thinking of people, and returned to Zhongshan At the beginning of the year, he could not live in the deep. Some time ago, my grandmother’s birthday was big, and Emperor E was not out of filial piety, so I was afraid of colliding, so I could only pay homage to my grandmother Shou ji. Thinking of Emperor E’s hours, my maternal aunt’s care for Emperor E is still difficult to forget. I hope that I will have the opportunity to be filial to my grandmother’s knees again, so that I can repay my kindness.
Madame
Xu revealed a faint smile: “Your filial piety, your grandmother’s heart.” Nowadays, my grandmother has a granddaughter-in-law to serve, which is very thoughtful, and you don’t have to worry.
Emperor
Su’e finally looked at Xiao Qiao, who was sitting in a position later in Madam Xu’s hand, and his eyes fixed on her face, and then he showed a kind smile: “She must be the newlywed wife of Zhonglin’s brother?” I heard two days ago that everyone in the city was spreading that Lady Yunyanhou had the appearance of Yu Rihua. At first sight, I was really impressed. Fang Only cared about talking with my grandmother, but I was not. Sister Ah paid tribute to her sister. After saying that, he performed the etiquette of meeting the woman for the first time with Little Joe.

Little Joe slightly bowed down and returned the gift.

It is reasonable to say that at this time, Lady Xu should introduce her granddaughter and niece to Xiao Qiao, but Lady Xu did not say anything. With only a faint smile on his face, he watched Emperor Su’e and Xiao Qiao greet each other.

Emperor Su’e said, “I am very relieved to have the privilege of meeting my immortal-like sister today.” In the future, if I have the opportunity, I hope to have more contact with my sister, so that I can live up to one of my feelings.
Since Madame
Xu did not introduce her to herself, Xiao Qiao did not call her “Sister A” according to her own tone just now, but only smiled: “Madame false praise.” I am in the same heart. The

smile on Emperor Su’e’s face was not less than half a point, and his gaze last glanced at Xiao Qiao’s face, and he said to Lady Xu: “Finally I have to see the face of my relatives, Emperor E is satisfied, my maternal aunt and grandmother must be tired today, Emperor E does not dare to bother anymore, retreat first, and choose a day to serve again.”
Lady
Xu said, “You have a heart.” “Say goodbye to Zhong Mi and let her send it out.”

Emperor Su’e finally prostrated to Lady Xu and got up to leave.

The sound of ringing gradually disappeared. Madame Xu was distracted for a moment and smiled at Xiao Qiao: “You are also tired today, go to rest early.” ”

……

Little Joe returned to his place of accommodation. Sit in a tub and bathe.

ChunNiang was behind her, helping her gently rub her long hair, slowly making a delicate white foam. When you rinse it with water, the foam floats on the surface of the water, like a white lotus flower that is slowly shrinking.

Xiao Qiao was a little distracted, suddenly turned around, two lotus arms lying on the edge of the bath tub, chin propped on the back of the hand, looked at ChunNiang and asked: “Chunniang, we have been here for some time, have you heard of the name Emperor Su’e?” ”

[End of This Chapter]