A dream of deep spring

After returning home, Duan Tingzhen met Duan Zhirou in the garden, and happened to see her fiddling with an invitation card, which she handed over with a handkerchief.

Hearing that Duan Tingzhen asked about the invitation, she froze for a moment, unable to speak.

Duan Tingzhen guessed that apart from being afraid of being taboo, she also didn't like to listen to gossip.After all, Duan Zhirou was also an outstanding figure in the ladies' circle back then, but now she is not as good as her old friend, and her husband died, so she doesn't want to see pity or ridicule in people's eyes.

Duan Tingzhen's character is actually quite selfish. Hearing what his sister said, he persuaded her: "Why do you care about what other people say, you have father and brother to rely on, so you are not even the slightest bit worse than others."

Duan Zhirou stared at the tea on the table, and said lightly: "When I first moved out of Feng's house, people who said I was heartless were more people than laughed at my situation. I was used to hearing it in my hometown, but now I am afraid of it." Others talk? In fact, they are just too lazy to move."

So Duan Tingzhen didn't persuade her any more.

She had dinner with Duan Tingzhen, and before she left, she seemed to suddenly think of something, and said: "The car broke down when I was walking on the road today, and a young master helped to repair it when passing by. The younger sister prepared a small gift, please brother Get someone to help deliver it."

Duan Tingzhen naturally agreed, and after she left, he asked Uncle Zhong to come over and ask, "Rourou said that the car broke down when she came back today, did someone help her?"

"Yes, there is such a thing." Uncle Zhong thought for a while and replied, "It's the eldest son of Jing'an Houfu."

Hearing that it was this person, Duan Tingzhen couldn't help asking: "Is it him?"

"This son is a prodigal son." Uncle Zhong sighed: "When his aunt passed away two years ago, this burden went to nowhere, and Master Xu was very troubled. At that time, you were busy I probably didn’t pay attention. Later I found out that I went to join the army under King Jin’s command in the frontier, and I heard that I got some credit for coming back this time.”

But Duan Tingzhen didn't change his opinion, he just said: "Be more polite when sending things."

"Hey." Uncle Zhong replied.

After seeing her for more than half a month, her sister's mood gradually improved, and Duan Tingzhen gradually felt relieved.On the day before the little emperor's birthday, he set aside half a day to be with the child.

On the second day, there was a palace banquet for the little emperor's birthday, so the company Meng Chi talked about naturally wouldn't be accompanying him at the palace banquet, so it was a day earlier.

Duan Tingzhen finished his official duties early in the morning, thinking that the little emperor should still be in class, so he went to look for him.On the road, I accidentally saw a half-acquainted acquaintance, it was Xu Zhaoqi, the eldest son of the Marquis of Jing'an, who had just given a gift a few days ago.

"Duan Xiang." Xu Zhaoqi cupped his fists to salute him.

Duan Tingzhen returned a salute, he had finished greeting and was about to leave, but he heard the man say, "A few days ago, I ran into Miss Duan by chance, and seeing her not looking very well, I was worried about her. I don't know how these days have passed, but she is getting better?"

"Sister She is fine, but her husband is newly bereaved, and her heart is depressed. This kind of heart-piercing pain cannot be relieved by outsiders, and she can only wait for her to think about it." Duan Tingzhen said.

Xu Zhaoqi clearly heard Duan Tingzhen's implication, and couldn't help but secretly scolded himself for being stupid.Duan Tingzhen didn't bother to be polite to him, and left after a little nod to salute, but he said in his heart that his sister's eyesight has never been better, and she always attracts someone.

This mood did not improve when he saw Meng Chifeng and the little emperor.

The little emperor was asking Meng Chifeng to take the archery with him.

He is a small person, and he has not been practicing martial arts for a long time, so his accuracy is naturally insufficient.Meng Chifeng wasn't impatient at all, and taught him slowly, his earnestness was particularly eye-catching.

Duan Tingzhen stood not far away and watched for a while, and the two people found out, the little emperor didn't bother to practice any more, threw the little bow and arrow into his uncle's arms, ran over with a few steps, threw himself into Duan Tingzhen's arms, and let him I hugged it.

"After tomorrow, I will be a six-year-old boy, and still be hugged? I am ashamed." Meng Chifeng threw the bow and arrow to the eunuch who was accompanying him, walked over slowly, tapped the child's nose, and then Smiling to Duan Tingzhen: "I agreed to spend a day with him, why did you come at this hour?"

"The state affairs are busy, so there is no way." Since the reconciliation, the two of them have spoken a lot more casually, not mentioning Meng Chifeng's thoughts, and they really feel like they are friends on the surface.Speaking of this, Duan Tingzhen remembered something, and said to the little emperor in his arms: "Did you read it in the booklet I told you to read? Master will check it later."

"Oh, I saw it, if I didn't see you hitting me." The little emperor said with a smile, "Master is really nagging more and more." Then he was knocked on the head by Meng Chifeng.

"This kid is Shen, put him down." Meng Chifeng said.

Hearing what his uncle said, the little emperor hugged Duan Tingzhen's neck vigilantly, unable to survive, making him dumbfounded, Meng Chifeng had no choice but to say: "I'll hug you, let me hug you, don't tire your master. "

After speaking, he opened his hands, the little emperor rolled his eyes, and continued to playfully say, "No."

"Okay." Seeing the two uncles and nephews arguing for a while, Duan Tingzhen said, "He's so heavy that I can't hold him."

The little emperor made a face at Meng Chifeng, and Meng Chifeng made a gesture to beat him up, so the little emperor quickly retreated into Duan Tingzhen's arms, and the three of them turned around to enter. The child reluctantly came out of Duan Tingzhen's arms, followed his uncle to change clothes, Before leaving, I heard him haggling with Meng Chifeng, saying that he wanted to eat more pastries. Today is his birthday, so don't restrict him.

Duan Tingzhen coughed feignedly, and the child ran away immediately.He secretly shook his head behind his back, suddenly feeling an inexplicable melancholy in his heart.

When he saw Meng Jiaxun for the first time, the child was not yet full moon, he was a small ball, and he didn't cry much. Now that he has been raised until he is six years old, he has gradually acquired the demeanor of his father.Although he would act coquettishly and obediently when facing him and Meng Chifeng, he didn't look like a child who didn't know everything.

The child came over after changing clothes, grabbed him and asked him with round eyes, "Master, what are you thinking about?"

Duan Tingzhen stroked his hair, and replied: "Thinking that you have grown up so soon, you will no longer be in front of the master, you will have to carry it on your back, and you will learn to be an emperor in the future."

"Xun'er is the master's apprentice!" The little emperor looked at him with tears in his eyes.

"Okay, such a big child, why are you being coquettish?" Meng Chifeng slowed down the little emperor and came over. Seeing that the child celebrated his birthday as if he was parting from life and death, he couldn't help laughing and said: "It's not that you grow up and I will be with your master." I won't hurt you anymore."

The child was a little shy, he buried his head in Duan Tingzhen's arms, unable to come out alive.

This warm scene made both of them laugh. Hearing the elder laughing at him, the little emperor refused to come out even more.Meng Chifeng took him out of Duan Tingzhen's arms and put him on the ground, telling him to stand up straight, then he squatted down, took out a finger wrench from his sleeve, and handed it to him.

"You got a new bow and arrow today, and uncle gave you this. I hope you will grow up healthy and healthy. Uncle does not expect you to become a wise king. As long as your life is safe and sound, you will live up to the expectations of me and your master. "

The little emperor took the wrench, put it on his thumb twice, took it off again, and played with it in his hand.Taking advantage of the situation, Duan Tingzhen also took out his gift, which was an extremely precious rare copy of the previous dynasty, and handed it to the little emperor, saying at the same time: "Don't forget the original heart, Duan will always be there."

Meng Chifeng only came back twice in six or seven years, this was the third time, and only this time it happened to be the little emperor's birthday, and the child was immediately moved by what he said.

In fact, this child is much more sensitive than ordinary children. The people he has the most contact with are the palace people, but the attitude of the palace people towards him is definitely more awe than closeness. Even if there is a little love for his own child, it is limited. very.

He had a delicate and clear heart, who knew exactly who was good to him and who was not, so he was not close to his mother and concubine's family, but cherished the love of Meng Chifeng and Duan Tingzhen for him.So he hesitated for a long time, instead of saying some words of thanks as usual, he turned away the palace people, and after all the palace people had retreated, he leaned next to Duan Tingzhen and whispered, "Father."

Duan Tingzhen was so surprised that he hugged him and asked, "Whose Pope is this?"

"No one taught me." The little emperor bit his lip and summoned up his courage and said, "It's just that Xun'er also wants to have a father. The master treats Xun'er as his own, so Xun'er naturally understands that today is Xun'er's birthday. For sake, you should only do it once, okay?"

Duan Tingzhen glanced at Meng Chifeng, feeling a bit in a dilemma.

Meng Chifeng said to the little emperor, "Do you know what will happen to your master if this word gets out?"

The little emperor bit his lip, but said nothing.

Meng Chifeng said again: "Then next time, remember to think twice before acting, okay?"

He nodded.

So Meng Chifeng said, "Call it."

Duan Tingzhen never expected Meng Chifeng to have such an attitude, and was immediately surprised, but seeing the pitiful look of the little emperor, he couldn't help but soften his heart, and sighed hard: "You."

The little emperor wanted to call it that for more than a day or two. Once his long-cherished wish came true, the joy in his heart could hardly be described in words.He lay in Duan Tingzhen's arms for a while, remembering that doing so seemed to be unfair to his uncle, who was very good to him, so he quietly approached and said to Meng Chifeng: "In Xun'er's eyes, uncle is also a father."

Meng Chifeng was half moved and half bitter, and stayed for a while and said, "You're not done yet."

Xu was moved by him. At this moment, Meng Chifeng looked at Duan Tingzhen and suddenly wanted to say something.When his fingertips touched a cold jade pendant in his sleeve, he quickly moved it away.