Hello Chang’an

 “Didn’t Dalang come back?”

A tribesman of the same generation as Cui Wei frowned and asked.

An old man with white hair and beard beside him sneered: "Da Lang is busy with the official affairs of Xuance Mansion. He has rarely been seen back in the house since he returned to the capital. Today is just a small birthday party, so it is normal for him not to take care of it."

Cui Lang felt his scalp numb when he heard this.

When it comes to yin and yang, there are always talented people in his Cui clan.

Cui Ai, who was sitting under his father Cui Ju, heard these words and his expression became even more ugly. Not only could he not be able to restrain his eldest son, he even had to lose face at his birthday banquet because of this rebellious son!

Thinking of this, Cui Ai frowned and looked at his second son.

In the direction of the ladies' table, Mrs. Lu also glared at her son.

Cui Lang complained endlessly in his heart - he was not that concerned about whether his eldest brother would come back, but his mother had asked him to go check on his eldest brother, and his eldest brother clearly promised to come back today in Dayun Temple.

So he asked his mother and father to take credit... no, it was to convey it!

But after all his words were released, the eldest brother was still nowhere to be seen. If the eldest brother had not appeared today, you would know with your toes that he would be the first to suffer!

I'm afraid I'll be pushed on a bench and spanked with a stick!

Thinking of this, Cui Lang felt a dull pain in his buttocks.

The head of the family, Cui Ju, had a stern look on his face, and he never looked strange. He only glanced at the hour and said calmly: "Let's all take a seat."

His voice silenced everyone. Everyone bowed and said "yes" and took their seats.

At this time, a servant entered the hall and saluted: "Master, the great man is back."

Cui Ju nodded: "Let people come in."

Cui Lang's eyes lit up and he quickly turned around to greet him: "Eldest brother is back!"

Great, his **** is saved!

All the people on both sides of the hall looked at the figure who walked in.

The young man wore a blue robe, a jade crown, and no armor or sword. Under such circumstances, he seemed to have deliberately concealed the extremely cold evil aura, and because he was born with an extremely good appearance, it appeared at this time. A bit like the demeanor of a nobleman.

The more this happens, the more the clan members feel dissatisfied.

Who would have thought that underneath this seemingly good skin, there is actually a lot of deviance?

Dalang has been extraordinary since he was a child, and his talent was revealed early. He was the focus of everyone's attention, but he suddenly acted rebelliously like a demon, and refused to listen to dissuasion. He persisted in going his own way and still refuses to look back.

Who in the clan secretly said that if Dalang is willing to follow the clan's arrangement and become an official through literature, his talent will not be inferior to that of Wei Shilang who won three consecutive awards. In terms of family background and with the support of the Cui family, in time, there will be no second in the court. people!

Can be partial, can be partial...

Everyone sighed in their hearts.

If you don't use this talent, can you give it to other children in need?

Every time the clan members see Cui Jing, they are so angry that they don't need to eat or drink. They are so angry that they are full of anger.

Cui Lang looked at the long brocade box held in Yuan Xiang's hand and asked curiously: "This should be the birthday gift prepared by the eldest brother for his father, right?"

Cui Jing had already bowed and nodded: "Exactly."

"Give it to me quickly!" Perhaps because he escaped with his butt, Cui Lang was very attentive at this time. He took the brocade box from Yuan Xiang's hand and said expectantly: "Let me see what gift my brother has prepared for my father -"

With that said, he opened the brocade box with the help of his servants and took out the contents.

The scroll was tied with a ribbon. Cui Lang untied it and unfolded it. He saw a landscape painting. His eyes were full of green. Cui Lang took a closer look and his eyes lit up: "It's actually a painting by Zhan Ziqian!"

"Zhan Ziqian's paintings are hard to find. He is my father's favorite. No wonder my eldest brother has prepared for his father's birthday early. He has put so much thought into it!" Cui Lang sighed: "It seems that A Tang and I have prepared this. The birthday gift is too perfunctory to handle, Ah Tang, don’t you think so?”

Cui Tang: “…”

He couldn't bring himself to show it, so he was perfunctory after all, but why did he suddenly drag her into the water?

But the atmosphere dictated it, so she nodded.

There was a faint smile on Cui Ju's face, and he nodded approvingly: "Ling'an is indeed interested."

Cui Wei's expression gradually softened a lot.

Cui Lang had already come to him with the painting: "Father, take a look!"

Cui Ai glanced disapprovingly at his second son who acted too out of the blue, but still took the painting with both hands honestly.

At first glance, there is a hint of joy in fashion—

"This is the rumored picture of Zhan Zi's spring outing..." Cui Lang admired: "Sure enough, it lives up to its reputation as the first to create splendid landscapes."

On the scroll, there are green mountains, rippling lakes, and scholars riding horses on the winding mountain paths. In the middle of the painting, there is a scene of ladies taking a spring outing on a boat -

Cui Er's eyes were fixed on the lady swimming in the lake.

He tightened his fingers on the edge of the scroll.

After a moment, he raised his eyes and looked steadily at Cui Jing standing in the hall, and said word by word: "This painting was not easy to find. It shows that you have really put a lot of thought into it."

Cui Lang felt a little confused - why did he feel that his father's words were not good words?

It must be that my father is used to being weird and angry, so he didn't stop it for a while, right?

After all, he really couldn't think of anything worthy of criticism about his eldest brother's precious and thoughtful birthday gift.

Cui Judao: "Please take a seat."

"Yes." Cui Jing stepped forward and took a seat in the empty seat.

Soon, maids filed in holding red lacquer trays and served delicacies and wine.

The sound of elegant music started and everyone raised their lamps.

After three rounds of drinking, or because Cui Jing's painting rarely conveyed a sense of filial piety, which made people feel a little happy, someone from the tribe started talking about Cui Jing during the dinner -

"Now is a troubled time, and people need to take care of everything in the clan... It's time for Da Lang to return to the clan and learn how to be a director."

"That's exactly what it means."

"Besides, Dalang's marriage must not be delayed any longer—"

Listening to these words, Cui Jing was noncommittal.

He didn't respond or refute. Today was his father's birthday party. Even though he had edges and corners, he didn't have to show them all the time - that was what he did when he was young.

Now, when he couldn't avoid it, he would just listen quietly.

But no one can change his persistence.

Seeing that his silent eldest grandson was becoming like a silent mountain, and the still water ran deep, his composure and stubbornness had grown up together over the years, Cui Zhi had a sigh in his eyes.

After the birthday banquet was over, Cui Ju called Cui Jing to the study alone.

Cui Ju ordered the chessboard to be placed, and the grandfather and grandson played chess quietly without saying a word.

At the end of the game, Cui Jing said: "My grandson lost."

"It seems I'm getting old." Cui Ju looked at the trend on the chessboard and said with a smile: "You, a junior, have to deliberately give in to make me, an old man, happy."

Cui Jing: "My grandson still can't hide it from my grandfather, which shows that my grandfather is not old yet."

Cui Ju shook his head and said in a helpless tone: "If you could behave like this chess game and know how to give in and compromise..." He did not say any more.

Cui Jing lowered his eyes: "It was my grandson who disappointed my grandfather."

Cui Ju shook his head again.

The old man looked at the outstanding young man under the lamp and said slowly: "There is blame, and you will inevitably have knots in your heart if you don't get what you expected. But even so, my grandfather has never been disappointed in you."

Cui Jing was slightly startled for a moment.

Cui Ju added: "Since you have your own thoughts on returning military power, my grandfather will no longer force you."

"Grandfather—" Cui Jing was a little surprised, but had a premonition: "Grandpa has different plans now?"

"The situation has been decided, why should we talk about it being different?" Cui Ju looked at the bright moon outside the window, and his tone was as calm as a big tree that has not moved during the hurricane: "The disaster of the Pei family is that they don't know how to adapt, and they don't know what else to do." Making plans? The so-called tree has deep roots. Even though it seems to be strong, there are also inevitable situations that are difficult to change. The battle between nobles and saints is inevitable. One will lose, one will win, and one will survive. "

He said: "The Cui family has gone through hundreds of years of ups and downs, and has seen many emperors and power changes... In these hundreds of years, the Cui family has stood firm from generation to generation and has never lost."

He has the arrogance of a noble family leader, but his old eyes are always sober: "Because I have never lost and are used to winning, many people inevitably feel that there is no possibility of losing - your father is one of them. "

"But for hundreds of years, it seems to be standing tall for a long time, but if you look at tens of millions of years, it is just a drop in the ocean, a speck of dust..."

Cui Ju finally said: "Everything in the world has its times of prosperity and decline."

His tone was clear and steady, he didn't sigh, but he sighed every word.

Cui Jing, who had been listening quietly, said at this time: "Although prosperity and decline have their own destiny, even if wildfires pass through and are burned down, if the roots can be preserved, there will be a chance to come back in the next spring."

Cui Ju looked at his grandson and nodded slowly.

"Then let's play the game again, and let Grandpa see if you are improving now..."

The lamps and candles are flickering, and the light and shadow in the room are flickering. Grandfather and grandson are sitting opposite each other, and the chessboard between them is scattered in black and white.

…

After Cui Jing came out of Cui Ju's study, he had just walked a few steps when a steward came up to him and said, "Master Lang, please step aside and say something."

…

At the same moment, several female members of the clan who came over to talk after the banquet were also sitting in Lu's room.

What several people were talking about was Cui Jing's marriage.

"My mother's niece is of marriageable age, and my eldest sister-in-law has also seen her..."

Seeing Mrs. Lu covering her mouth and yawning very nonchalantly, one of the women said: "Dalang has just returned to Beijing after two years. It doesn't sound right to me. If there is another war, I don't know how to leave." How long have we been together? This marriage really can’t be delayed any longer. It’s time for my eldest sister-in-law to pay more attention to it. "

"The third brother and sister said this as if I don't want to care for the elder man?"

Mrs. Lu, who was yawning just now, suddenly turned red in her eyes, and smiled bitterly to herself: "Sure enough, being a stepmother is not an easy thing, and my mother will not deceive me... But who told me that my life would be miserable? At that time, the sisters in the clan were not married. I am the only one. Although I think I am not as good as my brothers and sisters in managing the affairs of the clan, I have tried my best over the years. How come I still end up with a reputation that I am not worthy of? "

As he spoke, tears fell.

She is Cui He's wife. Although she is the second wife, she is also a serious clan wife. Seeing her like this, the wife of Cui's third wife became a little panicked: "It's all my fault that I was so concerned that I talked nonsense for a while, and my eldest sister-in-law misunderstood!"

"Yes, my eldest sister-in-law has worked hard for the clan these years, and we all see it..."

Cui Tang, who was sitting in the inner room with his chin propped up, heard the comforting sounds coming from outside and couldn't help but sigh - now no one can care about his eldest brother's marriage?

Seeing that Ms. Lu finally stopped crying, two women who were so thirsty persuaded her to leave.

Now only the wife of Cui's second wife was left.

Her approach is different from the previous two: "...the elder has always disobeyed advice and interfered too much. Instead, he has become a villain. The eldest sister-in-law just lets him torment her."

Although she calls Mrs. Lu "eldest sister-in-law", she entered the family a few years earlier than Mr. Lu and is also older than Mr. Lu.

At this time, he suggested with hints: "The elder man is not sensible, and he is not loved by the eldest son... But the head of the family is old. In the past two years, he has been willing to let the eldest son inherit the position of head of the family. At that time, a new eldest son will be selected. If you don't live up to your expectations, elder sister-in-law, you should make other plans for the sake of the clan."

Lu was stunned: "But... if the position of eldest son is not passed to Dalang, who else can it be given to?"

Hearing what she said as if she had no choice, the second lady was also stunned, and almost blurted out "Don't you have a son?"

She could only put it more plainly: "According to the system of the clan, if the eldest son fails, it will naturally be the second son's turn..."

Lu was surprised: "How can this be so? Dalang is just a little stubborn, and his talents are still recognized by the tribe..."

The second lady lowered her voice: "But the eldest son doesn't like the older man... Just one act of unfilial piety is enough to kill someone."

Mrs. Lu covered her mouth: "Do you want me to provoke the relationship between father and son?"

The second lady's expression trembled: "...This is absolutely not the intention!"

Lu didn't know what she thought of, but her eyes suddenly widened again, and she murmured in horror: "Crushing people to death...dead people...can't your siblings be hinting at me to attack Dalang?"

The second lady couldn't sit still anymore and stood up suddenly: "What are the words of the eldest sister-in-law? If this spreads out, how can I survive?"

It’s better to just think about it yourself, why don’t you say it all!

God, how could the Lu family raise such a fool who doesn't follow the ordinary path!

Realizing that this road was not only unfeasible but also thorny, the second lady couldn't stay any longer, so she hurriedly made excuses and left in fear.

Only then did Cui Tang come out of the inner room.

"Is mother going to send them all away now?"

Mrs. Lu drank half a cup of tea to soothe her throat, then beckoned her daughter to massage her shoulders.

"Your second aunt wants to use me as a swordsman... If our eldest brother loses your eldest brother, and only your second brother is left, a once-in-a-century waste, wouldn't all the benefits go to their second eldest brother? She wants to reap the benefits, and she has a calculated plan. It’s quite loud.”

Cui Tang's lips twitched when he heard this. He was glad that his second brother was not here, otherwise he would have had to sit on the ground and cry.

"Although your eldest brother seems to be unkind, he is not a bad person at heart. No matter how your father makes troubles, as long as we three children are peaceful and orderly, no matter what happens in the future, your eldest brother will protect you. Ours." At the mention of this, Mrs. Lu was very happy and sighed: "To be able to give birth to a son like your eldest brother, your father's life has not been in vain."

She had thought over the years that most of her husband's usefulness was exhausted when she gave birth to her eldest son.

The corner of Cui Tang's mouth twitched again. Fortunately, his father was not here, otherwise he would have to sit on the ground and cry.

…

At this time, Cui He was looking at his eldest son who came in and saluted.

There was no third person in the study, and his face no longer had the calmness at the birthday banquet, only coldness remained at this moment.

When Cui Jing lowered his eyes and saluted, he saw the scroll thrown on the ground - none other than the picture of spring outing that he had given as a birthday gift during this trip.

Cui Jing looked at it quietly for a moment and did not ask why.

He was used to silence in front of his father, or could only remain silent.

Seeing that he was silent, Cui Tao sneered and said in a deep voice: "It seems that you knew it well... you did it deliberately!"

Cui Tao raised his finger and pointed at the painting that was thrown on the ground, and said where his anger lay -

[When I saw the chapter name, Brother Lang sat on the ground and burst into tears]

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Good night(3[▓▓]