Chapter 137: luckily
The Shangqing Temple is a Taoist temple, and the Taoist scriptures are naturally hidden in the Taoist temple.
Daozanglou was originally used for collecting books.
It's just that it has been abandoned for a long time and has been occupied by the Tianjiao for a long time. No one went to see the dilapidated Taoist scriptures. Most of them were snatched away and burned in the stove. Now it just happened to be set up for Jiang Xuening to hold a big banquet.
A small building with two floors.
The top is even a little dilapidated.
The mats are placed downstairs.
A fire had already been lit in the room, and a pot of flower carvings was simmering, and a round table in the center had already placed a table of good hot dishes. Now that Xiao Dingfei was added to disrupt the situation, this meal became a real New Year's Eve dinner, Jiang Xuening simply told Xiaobao not to leave, and stayed to eat together.
Xiao Bao gave her a surprised look, but he didn't refuse after thinking about it.
Xiao Dingfei met Xiaobao in Tianjiao, and now he snorted and muttered a few words to himself.
Jiang Xuening didn't hear clearly: "What did you say?"
She was taking off the crane cloak she was wearing outside and putting it on a chair beside her, while Zhang Zhe was putting away the umbrella outside.
Xiao Dingfei leaned towards her, his voice was as thin as a gnat: "You have to thank me."
Jiang Xuening raised her eyebrows and looked at him.
As long as Xiao Dingfei looked at Zhang Zhe, who was about to turn around and walk in, with a smile or not, the meaning could not be more clear.
Subconsciously, Jiang Xuening also looked at Zhang Zhe.
Just now on the road, Xiao Dingfei, who didn't fight back at her originally, got up in front of Zhang Zhe's door uncharacteristically and threw Xue to her. She couldn't see it, but Zhang Zhe could.
With a twinkle in her eyes, she understood.
What Xiao Dingfei meant was: He did it on purpose just now.
Xiao Dingfei had realized that this girl would be more intelligent than Bingxue, so he raised his eyebrows and smiled triumphantly: "How is it?"
Jiang Xuening changed her mind and said with a smile: "I will cover you when you arrive in the capital."
This is what Xiao Dingfei wanted, and he immediately smiled and said nothing. When Zhang Zhe entered the door, he backed away, stretched his waist firmly, and slumped on the chair beside the round table as if he had no bones in his body. , I picked up the chopsticks and started eating: "In order to eat this meal, I deliberately didn't eat at noon to empty my stomach. Let me first have a taste of how the cook is doing!"
At first glance, this posture is not well-bred, and he is used to being arrogant outside, without any rules or taboos.
Xiaobao suddenly showed an indescribable expression.
Seeing him like this, Jiang Xuening thought it was true. In her last life, nothing she liked more than sitting with Xiao Dingfei and eating happily. Anything without eating or sleeping without talking is bullshit.
Unexpectedly, in this life, we can still meet each other.
She didn't have much resentment, she just said: "Let's be more casual."
Originally, I was in Tongzhou, and a few people with deep or shallow acquaintances and very different identities sat together for a New Year's Eve dinner. It was not the aristocratic families in the capital, let alone the strict rules of the imperial palace, so there was really no need to be particular about it.
Jiang Xuening was sitting next to Zhang Zhe.
The pot of flower carvings had been simmering for a long time, Xiao Bao picked it up, she took it, filled the pots for the four of them first, raised their glasses and said: "Everyone can be regarded as in trouble in Tongzhou, besieged by wind and snow, and meet by chance One match can be considered destined, and maybe we will become confidants in the future. The auspicious snow will usher in a prosperous year, let me offer a toast first!"
Xiao Dingfei was especially supportive: "Well said!"
Xiao Bao silently rolled his eyes at him.
Zhang Zhe raised his eyes, met Jiang Xuening's shining eyes under the dim light, picked up the small glass of wine in front of him, and finally touched her lightly, and then saw a smile on her face Come, let's have a toast with everyone.
Hua Diao was drinking hot, the wine smelled strong, like a mellow warm current melted in the throat, moistening the lungs, making people feel that the whole body is slowly warming up, but it reduces the few sticking points just now. It's cold.
Zhang Zhe was used to being reticent, so he didn't speak much.
Xiao Dingfei is an acquaintance, because he knows that he will go to the capital soon, and if there are no accidents, he will become the heir of Duke Ding, so his attitude towards everyone is unprecedentedly good, and he must be careful about what he says. Ask about the structure of those aristocratic families in the capital, it seems that they are already preparing for entering the capital.
Jiang Xuening knew that such a bad embryo must be the nemesis of the Xiao family, and wished that this person could get along in Beijing like a fish in water. He wanted to see how Xiao's gang would look after seeing Xiao Dingfei. Of course, they knew everything and said everything. Xiao Dingfei has found out all the seniors of the aristocratic families in the capital.
Who told her to be a queen in her previous life?
Sitting in a high position, you can see a lot of things. Although you don't need it right now, you can take it out for others to use.
Xiao Dingfei nodded repeatedly, as if he already regarded Jiang Xuening as a brother.
With him around, the meal was neither cold nor awkward.
Even Xiaobao sometimes couldn't help but interrupt and stab him after hearing too much of his flattery.
Xiao Dingfei didn't mind either.
Who told him that Xiaobao is Xie Wei's person? What's more, when the others stabbed him, there was a lot of meat, and it was right to be the wind in the ear, and it passed by.
Zhang Zhe doesn't drink well, and he doesn't drink much on weekdays.
When the Tianjiao was encircled and suppressed that day, due to the situation, he drank three big bowls and became dizzy, but no one noticed it. Later, he was stabbed on the shoulder with a knife, and it hurt, and he woke up no matter how drunk he was.
Now, he drank several cups with him.
He's easy on his face when he drinks.
On that cold and indifferent face, there is a slight blush, but it is rare to lose some of the usual rigidity, the alcohol smells the coldness, under the light of the lamp, the facial features are correct, and the face is like a crown jade.
Jiang Xuening accidentally glanced at it while she was picking up vegetables, and felt startled, but she didn't dare to look any further, and even forgot what she was going to talk to him.
She stood up with a glass of wine and said, "I want to respect Mr. Zhang for this glass of wine."
There was a sudden silence on the table.
Zhang Zhe is completely different from Xiao Dingfei, he is a self-restraining and polite person, he also grabbed the wine cup and stood up.
In this small room, the two stood opposite each other.
Xiao Dingfei had a weird smile on his face.
Jiang Xuening didn't look at other people, but only looked at Zhang Zhe, and said very seriously: "This time I went through dangers and came to Tongzhou, and I worked hard to keep everything safe with the help of adults along the way. Today, there is only one glass of boji in the seat, which can be expressed as a thank you. I hope adults will not dislike it."
Zhang Zhe said: "It's also Zhang's duty to thank the second girl."
Although he was protecting Jiang Xuening in the front, but in the chaos of swords and swords behind him, if Jiang Xuening hadn't brought the soldiers from the government office, he might have been buried by the sword.
It's just that it can't be said clearly.
After all, that young master Xie who doesn't know whether it's unintentional or intentional is also involved.
Jiang Xuening brought someone to rescue him that day, but he asked him sharply why he came back, and he couldn't help feeling a little bit wronged in his heart. Right now, he never thought that Zhang Zhe would say such a sentence to her.
He knows, he remembers.
She didn't know whether it was because the few cups of flower carvings she drank just now were hot, or the slightly moist eye sockets were hotter at the moment, she raised her head and drank all the wine in the cups as if to cover up.
Zhang Zhe looked at her silently, and also raised a cup to drink.
Xiao Dingfei teased at the side: "Oh, I see that the two of you are so kind and sincere. If you know it, you are having a New Year's Eve dinner. If you don't know, you may think that the two of you are paying homage!"
This man has nothing to stop him from speaking.
Jiang Xuening frowned and said, "No one will treat you as dumb if you don't speak."
Xiao Dingfei said: "Haha, sit down quickly! Come on, come on, I'll pour wine for you, it's boring to just eat and drink like this, how about a drink order?"
Speaking of which, he really poured wine for everyone.
After Zhang Zhe sat down, he was in a daze.
In the quiet night, the sound of setting off firecrackers can be heard far away.
He looked out the window.
Daozang Building is built in the mountains, with mud paths and shadows outside, ancient pines piled up with snow, fluttering snow falling from the heights, and there is a special kind of profound silence like talking at night by the stove in the snow.
only…
No matter how good the snow is, it will eventually melt.
Xiao Dingfei had already issued the drinking order regardless of Xiaobao's objection. After turning around, it was Zhang Zhe's turn, but when he didn't want to look at Zhang Zhe, he saw this Mr. Zhang sitting quietly by the table, looking out the window silently.
He shouted, and Zhang Zhe turned his gaze.
Xiao Dingfei is also very good at observing words and expressions, and said with a smile: "It's a rare time for a good day, but Mr. Zhang is in a trance, seems to have something on his mind?"
Jiang Xuening also looked at Zhang Zhe.
Zhang Zhe lowered his eyes, and said slowly: "It's snowy and cold at night, so Beijing should be normal. My mother lives alone in the old courtyard, but Zhang is now trapped in Tongzhou, unable to return home to serve. I feel ashamed and worried. .”
Xiao Dingfei let out an "ah" suddenly, a little unexpected.
Zhang Zhe's mother...
Under the dim light, in the cup held by Jiang Xuening's hands, the liquor suddenly swayed, shattering a light and shadow, her complexion seemed to be a little paler, and a little less bloody.
The house suddenly became very quiet.
Later, Xiao Dingfei laughed again to break the dull atmosphere, said a few auspicious words to Zhang Zhe, and raised his glass to wish Zhang's mother in the capital healthy and everything goes well.
Jiang Xuening became absent-minded.
I even forgot what was said later, what drinking order was done, and what came to my mind was the scenes of the past life.
In the court at night, she pulled Zhang Zhe's sleeve and begged him to help her; Bad news to come...
Jiang Xuening had never seen that old woman.
It can be expected that with a humble body and a difficult situation, the son he brought up is so upright. He should be a loving mother, but also a strict mother, and a respectable and good person.
She thought, when Zhang Zhe heard the bad news in prison in the last life, would she hate her when she recalled the reasons for all that?
She spent those days in the torment of fear and guilt.
Finally, death is a relief.
Now when he suddenly heard Zhang Zhe mentioning his mother again, Jiang Xuening's regrets from her previous life almost immediately flowed out as if they had been punctured, making her feel how despicable she was.
luckily.
Everything can be restarted.
She couldn't help feeling grateful for God's gift, but no matter how hard she tried to force a smile, the drink and the meal were a little tasteless after all.
After the banquet was over, and when he was about to go out, Xiao Dingfei didn't know if he had noticed something, looked at her for a moment, and said in a low voice: "Why is the second girl in a trance?"
Jiang Xuening did not answer.
Xiao Dingfei felt that he was a little pretentious because he knew people old and new, old and new, and snorted softly: "You don't bother to say that I am too lazy to listen! I just want to tell you that there are people setting off fireworks at the Tongzhou Ferry in the middle of the night, and the city is full of people. Everyone go out and see."
After speaking, he smiled, turned around and walked outside.
Everyone came together, and naturally returned together.
On the way back, he passed by Xie Wei's small courtyard, Jian Shu's figure was gone, and the house was still pitch-black.
Xiao Dingfei pulled Xiaobao and said that he had something to ask him, so he walked away from the fork in the road.
Jiang Xuening knew that this person was creating an opportunity for herself again, hinting that she invited Zhang Zhe to watch the fireworks at the ferry. It's just that she was burdened with something in her heart, and at this juncture, she was full of hesitation and timidity.
It was as if all the galloping courage had been extinguished.
Until I said goodbye to Zhang Zhe, I couldn't say what I had planned.
She walked back to her house alone.
There was already a thick layer of snow on the steps.
Jiang Xuening walked up and raised her hand to push the door.
It's just that the door frame had already been frozen cold, and when she touched it, it was shockingly cold, which made her originally chaotic head wake up all of a sudden—
what is she doing
What is there to hesitate about?
Isn't reviving the first life just to make up for the unfinished regrets of the previous life and avoid those mistakes?
Since you want it, then go after it, then go for it, it's not her style to be coy!
The lucky bag purse that was prepared but not sent out was originally hidden in her sleeve, and inside it were some gold and silver zippers in the shape of good-hearted sweet potatoes. Jiang Xuening took it out and could clearly feel the inside Packed with a thin sheet of paper.
I intend to turn my heart to the bright moon.
Her chest was burning hot immediately, she made up her mind at this moment, she didn't even push the door, and went straight back along the long road, stepping on the track that had not been covered by snow on the corridor, and headed for Zhang Zhe's residence .
The cold wind hurts the face.
She felt nothing.
It's just that when we got to the front of Zhang Zhe's house, it was pitch black inside, there was no light on, and there was no sound.
Jiang Xuening couldn't help being startled.
It didn't take long to go back and forth, did Zhang Zhe fall asleep?
She hesitated for a moment, then reached out and knocked lightly on the door: "Has Mr. Zhang fallen asleep?"
There was no sound inside.
All that responded to her was the dark window lattice, and the wind blowing through the cedars in the courtyard.
After a while, Jiang Xuening knocked lightly on the door again: "Is Master Zhang there?"
There was still silence inside the door.
She thought, Zhang Zhe was injured, and he can't drink well, maybe he fell asleep? Or maybe he was not in the house, and someone dragged him to reward the sergeant with everyone.
It's just that my heart suddenly feels empty.
Eyebrows lowered, she looked at the brocade bag clutched in her palm, she only said that she was cowardly and hesitant before, so that now she didn't even have the chance to express her feelings in person.
But the decision has been made, and I don't regret it.
Jiang Xuening thought for a while, and only gently tied the brocade bag embroidered with the word "Fu" on the small copper knocker on the left, hoping that he would see it tomorrow morning, then smiled and pressed down Filled with apprehension, he looked outside the door for a while, then turned and went back.
Three rows of footprints stretched out from the snow in the courtyard.
The snow had accumulated thickly on the branches, and it fell down on the branches.
Suddenly there was a scream in the dark blue night sky.
In the direction of the ferry on the other side of the city, bright and beautiful fireworks rose into the sky, and exploded with a bang, bursting into bright and shining brilliance.
Zhang Zhe leaned against the door leaf, sat with his legs bent on the cold ground, and heard the footsteps outside the door far away and disappeared. Outside the half-open window, the light from the fireworks came in, spread on his cold face, and fell into his dark eyes, only reflecting a piece of ashes left after the burning.