the enlightener says

"Yinxue is back?" Gongshuren was lying on the bed, and Zhao's face was already covered with tears, sobbing unceasingly. Gongshu Yinxue comforted her a few times, sat down on the bed, and softly replied: "Uncle ,it's me."

"Okay, just come back." Gongshu Ren looked at Gongshu Yinxue's face, narrowed his eyes, but found that his eyes were blurred, he was a little discouraged for a while, and let out a long sigh.

He thought that he still had a few months, but the hell king who urged him to die was so unreasonable. After spitting out that mouthful of blood, he felt that the last breath of energy accumulated in his body had been vented, and his whole body was paralyzed all of a sudden. Weak, the mind is also momentarily clear, momentarily confused.

"Come here." He seemed to exhaust his strength every time he said a word: "I have something... to tell you."

Gongshu Yinxue approached slowly, and held Gongshuren's hand that was helplessly swaying in the air, her heart trembled slightly, and bitterness welled up from her heart inexplicably.

After Gongshuren fell ill, he almost never summoned her, and even rejected her request to visit her sick again and again. After several months, the uncle in Gongshu Yinxue's eyes was so old and weak that he could hardly recognize him. .

His temples were already gray, but now there are some ominous wrinkles and dark spots on his face, which seems to indicate that the vitality in his battered body has been exhausted, and his breathing has become heavy , harsh, very disturbing to listen to.

Gongshu Yinxue had heard from the genius doctor Lu from Jicheng mention many times that if Gongshuren could let go of complicated family affairs, worry less, and meditate more, he would be able to support him for a few years and still be able to last for another three to five years. Unfortunately, she The stubborn uncle never listened.

He carefully manages this huge public loser, just so that it can prosper for a long time like a long-burning lamp in troubled times, and he himself is both the oil and the wick, keeping the fire warm and bright...

Now, his oil is exhausted, and his life is gradually dissipating in the thin smoke when the candle is extinguished, turning into a broken phantom, which is getting fainter and weaker.

"When I was in the ancestral hall...I told you, right?" Gong Shuren's eyes didn't know where to focus, "My deadline...is approaching."

"Uncle, don't let your imagination run wild. The prescriptions of Dr. Lu are all there. I... I have already sent someone out of the city to chase after you. You just need to take the medicine and rest well..."

Gongshuren coughed lightly, with a smile on his mouth, but soon he began to cough violently until his pale face turned red, and Mrs. Zhao hurriedly handed over the spittoon, Gongshu Yinxue supported him, and watched him spit out A mouthful of thick, almost black bloody phlegm.

After vomiting, Gong Shuren lay down again, his dull eyes were covered with a layer of white mist, he calmed down, his throat was hoarse, and said: "You are a good boy, but you don't have to Comfort me, Lao Lu went back to Jicheng and said that he would find a way to continue my life no matter what, but he... everything is written on his face, so why don't I know that I am hopeless and I am dying After so many years, I am tired and tired..."

His hand flicked across Gongshu Yinxue's palm, his eyes seemed to have found a sense of direction, he frowned and looked at Gongshu Yinxue, and asked, "Do you still remember the question I asked you in the ancestral hall?"

Gongshu Yinxue was slightly taken aback: "Uncle, what are you talking about... about the housekeeper?"

Gong Shuren nodded slightly, and said with a smile: "You said something very well that day. I planned to reward you with something, but after thinking about it, it's not the right time... But, I have to give it out today..."

"Reward?" Gongshu Yinxue lowered his eyebrows, shook his head and said, "Yinxue doesn't want a reward, it's just answering a question, I don't want to ask for credit..."

Gong Shuren's breathing was short and difficult, but he still tried his best to show a smile: "What if I said, I have to hand this thing to you?"

Gongshu Yinxue looked at Gongshuren, a little confused, what was so important that Gongshuren had to hand over his wrecked body to her when he was dying.

"There is a hidden compartment under my bed." Gong Shuren took out a delicate golden key from under his pillow, and handed it tremblingly, "There is a box in there, you can see for yourself."

Gongshu Yinxue held the key made of pure gold, and her eyelashes trembled slightly. She bent down, reached out and groped under the bed board a few times, and soon found the secret compartment that Gongshuren said.

With a sound of "click", as the golden key opened the mechanism in the lock, the lock fell under the bed, and the dark compartment opened in response, and an ordinary wooden box was quietly placed inside, within reach. and.

Gongshu Yinxue picked up the box, which was only half a foot in size, and felt an indescribable weight.

Gongshu Ren's originally dull eyes were stained with anticipation, Gongshu Yinxue gritted his teeth, and slowly opened the wooden box under his cloudy eyes.

There is a black seal in the wooden box. The material looks round and round like jade, but the heavy black is like a deep well, deep and dark.The ink-colored bottom was uneven, and when Gongshu Yinxue's fingertips touched it lightly, the word "Gongshu" carved by a skillful craftsman seemed to be engraved in her heart in an instant. On the front was a male lion with a ferocious expression, looking up and roaring, The appearance is lifelike.

Gongshu Yinxue's hands couldn't stop shaking. Of course she knew what it was. This kind of jade is only produced in the Netherland. It's called ghost jade. It's almost as rare as the eternal ice in the extreme north. Mineral, since it was carved into a seal, has been passed down by the Gongshu family for hundreds of years.

Compared with the preciousness of this jade, behind this jade seal, it represents the entire Gongshu family. In the Gongshu family, only the head of the family can use it.

Gongshu Yinxue was at a loss for a while, "This is the seal of the head of the family...Uncle, this is..."

Gong Shuren lay on the pillow, his eyes slowly shifted to the top of the bed, he sighed a long time, as if he let out a sigh of relief that had been suppressed in his chest for many years, he nodded and said: "Yes, it is indeed the seal of the Patriarch, I know... you've always wanted it, right? All these years, you never gave up."

Gongshu Yinxue was shaken all over, and could hardly hold the wooden box in her hand. Gongshuren revealed the biggest secret in her heart, like a sharp knife, pierced into the depths of her heart.

"I……"

She wanted to justify a few words, wanted to say that she didn't, but finally closed her lips tightly and fell silent, because she knew that since Gong Shuren said that, he must have seen through her mind a long time ago, so no matter how much she concealed it , explanation, are meaningless.

Gong Shuren's smile is like the warm sunshine in spring: "You don't need to be nervous, and you don't need to worry. I don't mean to blame you. People always have pursuits. Besides, you are not for yourself, but for Yinyu."

Gongshu Yinyu's innocence appeared in his mind, and he shook his head, "Maybe he is a talented person, but no one can fully grasp the changes in this world. I am about to die, so I can only see the things in front of me." In this little place, this seal is handed over to you, and it is also the last thing I will do for the public loser."

"When I was in the ancestral hall, I didn't take it out because the time hadn't come yet. Now..." Gong Shuren sighed, "Actually, I'm still a little anxious, but unfortunately, I don't have time. The rest is up to you do it."

"What's the matter?" Gongshu Yinxue held the seal, and listening to Gongshuren's words, she was almost certain that Gongshuren really planned to pass on the position of Patriarch to herself, but because it was so sudden, she didn't even know that she should be ecstatic at this time , still should feel sad for so many years of bearing the burden of humiliation.

"You must be very strange now, why I chose you." Gong Shuren didn't answer directly, but said to himself: "Actually... I have always excluded you from the selection of the master, do you know why? ?”

Gongshu Yinxue pondered for a moment, then said: "Because I am too young, compared with my third and fourth uncles, I am only a junior."

"You're half right. Young age is indeed a problem, but you are the most sensible and able to do things among the juniors. You have done everything that I have entrusted to you these years. Appropriate... But just being able to do things is obviously not qualified to sit in the seat of this Patriarch."

"My father's loser has been passed down for hundreds of years, from his ancestors to the present day. Although he dare not say that he is a marquis and a prime minister, he has also stood upright on the court hall of Jicheng and felt the glory of the peak. Naturally , people in our public loser family are born with a sense of arrogance, and everyone feels inferior to themselves. The elders of the clan are even more unwilling to lower their heads that think they are noble. You are a junior, if you let you be the housekeeper, the first You have to make them bow to you sincerely, but this matter... is easier said than done?"

"Then uncle... why did he change his mind now?"

"Because, it's up to you." Gong Shuren replied with a solemn voice, with an unquestionable tone: "I and the fourth child are biological brothers. We grew up together. Do you think I don't know his bad temper? If he is right Whoever can't get through, he will personally hold a knife and fight all the way to him... buy murder? Hmph, this kind of thing... only the third child can do it."

"Even though the old man took himself out of the incident of assassinating you in the street without any trace, I still found out the key point... He is planning to use this incident to get rid of you and put the blame on the old man." Four, in this way, he can eradicate two enemies at once, so my position can only be passed to him..." Gong Shuren sneered, and said: "He is a shrewd person. He is really the best candidate to provoke the public loser. Over the years... I have beaten him more than once, but he always disappoints me. His eyes are always focused on the small profit in front of him. He even dared to attack his own family for this little benefit, if he was really allowed to sit on the position of Patriarch, the public loser would probably have to go to the end..."

"Since the third uncle can't do it, what about the fourth uncle? Uncle, you know that the fourth uncle has been wronged, why don't you help him redress his wrongdoing?"

"Don't you understand?" Gong Shuren's voice suddenly turned cold, "It's not about the fourth child, even if you hold the position of Patriarch, I'll help you push down the third child...but you... can hold this seat firmly Is it?"

Chapter 423 Sunset and Western Mountains, People Go Back

Gongshu Yinxue was shocked suddenly, and many questions that had been lingering in his heart for a long time suddenly had a way, and a dazzling light flashed in front of his eyes.

"The third one is reserved for you to stand up. When you take this position, you should open up this matter, explain the role he played in this matter, and knock him out of the dust. At the same time, You can welcome back the fourth child justifiably. If you reverse the case for the fourth child, he will accept your love, and with his temperament, how can he go against you?" Every sentence of Gong Shuren was like a needle, ruthlessly It stuck in Gongshu Yinxue's heart, "At that time, when you have established your prestige, and the fourth brother will be your assistant, who else in this family would dare to say 'no' to you?"

Gongshu Yinxue was speechless.

She never expected that Gong Shuren's thoughts were so far-reaching. Not only did she consider letting her take over the position of Patriarch, but he had already thought about how to secure her position as Patriarch.

What's more, the object of this prestige is actually his own brother who has always been doted on.

"Are you surprised?" Gongshuren asked.

"I... feel a little bit..." Gongshu Yinxue said with difficulty, "Uncle, you always care about the harmony between brothers and the peace of your home, but this time you don't have any affection for third uncle, which is really not in line with your usual style. "

"Brothers are in harmony, and the house is peaceful." Gong Shuren murmured, "but that only requires them to be willing to do it. This time, the third brother completely shattered my little expectations of him. In this position, if I don’t hesitate to sacrifice my brother and my niece, then I can only beat him down in order to truly exchange for a peaceful home.”

"Public losers cannot be chaotic." Gong Shuren said meaningfully, "Especially in wartime, public losers must work together. Do you understand?"

"Yes..." Gongshu Yinxue swallowed, and replied softly.

"The fourth child is not a housekeeper. He has a strong temper and can't rub the sand in his eyes. Although he is good at leading soldiers and fighting, he can't cultivate himself, let alone govern the country and the world. But you are different. Over the years, I have seen every bit of you. You can endure and take care of the overall situation. Maybe you are still a little young, and some things are not thoughtful enough, but you will become a big weapon in the future. I think over and over again, and finally Decided to put you in my place. The only thing I ask of you now is just one thing."

Gongshu Yinxue nodded: "Uncle, tell me."

"The position of the Patriarch can only be taken by you, not by Yin Yu." Gong Shuren said.

Gongshu Yinxue looked at Gongshuren in a daze. She originally thought that she was the housekeeper for the time being. When Gongshu Yinyu became an adult in the future, she was handing over this power to him, but Gongshuren didn't seem to want her to do this: " Me? But I'm a daughter's family, how can I be a housekeeper all the time?"

"What's wrong with your daughter's family?" Gong Shuren said, "I couldn't get a female patriarch back then? What's more, you have already blocked your own escape path. From now on, you will be a public loser for the rest of your life. Is it possible that you still want to marry outside?"

"No..." Gongshu Yinxue quickly denied, "Yinxue has no such idea."

Gong Shuren laughed and said, "Then Qin Ke, it's your cover, right?"

Gongshu Yinxue only felt that she had been frightened too much today, and her heart was almost unable to bear it.

"It doesn't matter." Gong Shuren said, "I look pretty good. If you can subdue him and keep him in Gongshu's house, he will be your big help in the future. Besides, I can see that you don't treat him well. Not emotionless."

"But I..." Gongshu Yinxue thought of Qin Ke's smiling face, and thought of him sleeping beside her, with his well-proportioned breathing, and his firm chest, the warmth spread all over her body, as if she was no longer afraid when the sky fell. .

"I'm afraid I won't be able to subdue him." Gongshu Yinxue lowered his head in disbelief.

Gong Shuren shook his head: "It's up to the person to plan. This matter depends on how you do it. Since you have put your whole life on him, why don't you be more thorough? Just cook the raw rice, Qin Ke He is just a young man with a fresh blood, so using some small tricks to tie him by his side may not be a difficult task."

Gongshu Yinxue blushed when she heard that, she never thought that such words would come from the mouth of her respected uncle.

Gongshu Ren chuckled. He has been refined and humble all his life. Probably only before he died, he could let go of etiquette, righteousness and shame, and be an old and disrespectful elder for once: "Of course, this is just my casual saying. Whether you do it or not is up to you." Choose yourself. I only know that if Qin Ke leaves, you will regret it in the future."

A cloud of mist rose in Gongshu Yinxue's eyes. I have to say that what Gongshuren said was absolutely true. From the very beginning, Qin Ke just came to Gongshujia to get the Five Elements Sinan. This was his mission. When he got The complete Five Elements Sinan, he will definitely leave Jinzhou without hesitation. In the future, I am afraid that the two will never have a chance to see each other again.

But what if I really... do that?Will he stay for himself?

She wasn't sure.

"Think about it yourself. I won't see these things anyway." Gong Shuren said with a smile, "If you can do it, you can bring your child to my grave and pour me a glass of water and wine. It is also a gratifying thing to be able to see it from below.”

Although Gong Shuren was smiling, she could hear the sadness in the words.

Gongshu Yinxue's eyes were inexplicably red. Thinking of Gongshuren's care for him all these years and his deeds like thunder for him this time, maybe Gongshuren can't satisfy him sometimes, but at least in his position, he has already Do the best you can.

Gongshu Yinxue choked up and said, "Uncle, don't say that."

Gong Shuren's eyes were gentle, and he said: "In a blink of an eye, you will be grown up. It's not time to be a little girl when you were young. In the future, uncle will not be able to protect you. In the future, you will have to take care of this public loser. On the contrary. There is one thing, but Uncle has to beg you."

Gongshu Yinxue looked at Gongshuren: "Uncle, tell me."

"The third child...Although he has mixed up a bit, he is still your uncle after all. If you can, let him live and keep him rich and honored for the rest of his life."

When Gongshu Yinxue thought of the second grandfather who died under the iron heel of Tang Jun, she hesitated for a while. If she followed her thoughts, she would not let Gongshu go. After all, the second grandfather was equivalent to dying at his hands. don't hate?

But seeing that Gongshujiu was exhausted now, and thinking of everything he had done for himself, he finally nodded.

"Okay." Gong Shuren said with satisfaction, "As for the evidence, I have arranged someone for you, and it should have been sent to your yard by now. As long as you have this, the third child will not be able to deny it. I can only do it Here it is, the next thing, you can arrange it yourself."

He showed a bit of tiredness, and after explaining everything, his spirit became sluggish again: "Go, I want to sleep for a while, for so many years...I always want to have a good sleep..."

As he spoke, he slowly closed his eyes.

Gongshuren was indeed tired. At the age of 30, he took over this heavy burden. He has been in the highest position of Gongshu for so many years. But also to protect those family members who have different thoughts at home.

In retrospect, he seems to have lived for public losers all his life, and after he fell ill, he still insisted on being a director. Until now, he has died for public losers.

Many scenes flashed before his eyes, from the innocence when he was a child, to the flamboyance when he was a teenager, the joy on his wedding day, the prudence in managing the house when he was a man, and finally to the helplessness of his illness...

Darkness ensued.

Gongshu Yinxue looked at Gongshuren, felt a little uncomfortable, stretched out her hand to touch Gongshuren's frowning brow, and stretched it out little by little, and then a black shadow enveloped her behind her.

"Let me do it." Under the dim candlelight, Gongshu Yinxue couldn't see the joy and anger on Zhao's face clearly, the previous sobs and tears had disappeared, leaving only a sense of calm.

Gongshu Yinxue nodded, held the box, stood up, looked at Zhao's gentle eyes and the hand caressing Gongshuren's cheek, this couple obeyed their parents' orders and the matchmaker's words, but They are far more affectionate than anyone imagined, and even for decades, there has never been a single quarrel.

It's just that even the lovebirds in the sky have moments of solo flight, not to mention people who gather less and leave more from birth to death.

Gongshu Yinxue's heart moved slightly, and for some reason, she remembered Qin Ke who should be practicing sword in the yard at the moment. Should she use the "trick" that Gongshuren told her at the end?

But after that?Will Qin Ke really stay in Jinzhou because of... her?

"Your uncle always said that he wanted to go back to Jicheng to have a look." Mrs. Zhao spoke suddenly, in a calm voice, "So I also talked to me about his funeral before. He said that the coffin is unnecessary, it is big and heavy It’s heavy, it’s dark and damp after entering the soil, and it will be eaten by insects. It’s better to burn it clean and put it in an ashes jar, which is also light, so I can take it back to Jicheng to have a look.”

Gongshu Yinxue lowered his head. According to the funeral practice of Gongshu, there was never a time of cremation. After all, although Gongshu didn’t know which faction he stood in, he was deeply influenced by the Confucian faction. It must not be easily damaged." After three days of placing it at home, people will carry the coffin out of the city and bury it in the ancestral tomb of the public loser to meet all the ancestors.

But since this is Gongshu Ren's own opinion, Gongshu Yinxue is not willing to let him be unsatisfied after death: "I understand, aunt, uncle, all funeral affairs are up to you, and I listen to you. But now outside It's not very peaceful, the war is still going on, and there are many bandits rampant, if you want to go to Jicheng, it's better to wait until the limelight has passed."

Mrs. Zhao shook her head and said: "Your uncle has gone, leaving me alone in this house. I will have nightmares at night, so I'd better go later. Besides, he only has such a wish, and I don't want to delay it. I don’t know how long this military rebellion will last. If it drags on for a few years, I’m afraid I’ll be tired and lazy, and I don’t want to leave. Don’t worry, I won’t take much with my family’s offerings. Man, there will be no trouble."

Gongshu Yinxue had no choice but to nod, and said: "Alright then. If Auntie arrives in Jicheng, she will tell the family that she is safe. If she doesn't want to stay in Jicheng any longer, Yinxue will personally bring someone to pick you up."

"Then there's no need." Zhao's eyes showed a bit of tenderness, "You have to take care of such a big family in the future, how can you have so much time to go to Jicheng for an old woman like me. I've made up my mind. In Jicheng, the public losers still have some property, so they don’t have to worry about food and clothing. I went to Jicheng, and I won’t come back. Your uncle likes quiet, and it’s just right to be away from Jinzhou, so you don’t have to listen to this family down here. noisily."

She waved her hand gently, and said, "Go, I'll talk to your uncle again, that is, now, he doesn't have to worry about those troublesome things anymore, and he can listen to me carefully."

Gongshu Yinxue hesitated for a moment, then gave a slight salute, and said, "Well, if Auntie has anything to do, just let someone call me."

After finishing speaking, she turned her head and walked slowly towards the door. Just before opening the door, she subconsciously turned her head and glanced at Mrs. Zhao. She was pressing her cheek against Gong Shuren's, as if she wanted to use her own The temperature made Gong Shuren warmer.

Gongshu Yinxue couldn't hear clearly what Zhao was whispering in Gongshuren's ear, but she looked like a child with a flowery smile, which made her heart tremble.

Maybe a good relationship for a hundred years is just like uncle and aunt.

Gongshu Yinxue's fingers holding the door turned slightly white from exertion, then she took a deep breath, opened the door, and walked outside.

At this time, there was a commotion outside the yard, and the anxious Gongshu finally rushed back to Gongshu's home. Before he reached the door, his loud and loud shout echoed in the whole yard: "Big Brother! Big Brother! Third Brother!" I'm back!"

But when he walked into the yard and looked at Gongshu Yinxue who was walking down the steps of Gongshu Rennuan Pavilion holding a wooden box, he was stunned.

Chapter 424 Evidence

Unlike Gongshu Yinxue, that box is no stranger to Gongshu.When he was a child, he secretly played with it when his father was not paying attention, but after that day, he was severely punished by the family law, and couldn't get out of bed for three days.

From that day on, he knew that what was contained in that box was the seal of the owner of the public loser.

"Third Uncle." Gongshu Yinxue stopped, and stood on the steps. She was not considered short, but she happened to be slightly taller than Gongshujiu. She looked at Gongshujiu as if condescending, and said calmly: " Uncle, he has already gone."

Gongshu Jiu looked at Gongshu Yinxue stupidly, almost in disbelief: "Go...go? Why did you just go, okay, why did you just go like this? I'll go in and have a look..." He said, He raised his legs and was about to walk towards the door.

But Gongshu Yinxue stood in front of him, sighed, and said: "Third Uncle, don't go in and disturb me, Auntie is still inside, give her some time."

Gongshuren took a deep look at the closed door. At this moment, he finally believed the news of Gongshuren's death, and burst into tears, but Gongshu Yinxue couldn't see a drop on his lowered cheek. Tears, he just seemed to be yelling in extreme pain, shouting: "Brother! Why did you just go like this! You just went like this, how can I live with my third brother!"

Gongshu Yinxue lowered his head, brushed past Gongshu Jiu, and walked slowly out of the courtyard.