[Rebirth] Talking Fox

Returning to Jiangnan after an absence of 17 years, and living in the refurbished former residence of the Xue family, Xue Chang lost his aggressive aura, the corners of his lips curled up slightly, and the smile between his brows and eyes was quiet and gentle.

He raised his hand and patted on the pillar, looked at the winding corridor in front of him and sighed softly: "Finally back..."

Yun Qi raised his eyes and stared blankly at his side face. In his memory, he hadn't seen such a relaxed smile for a long time. He couldn't help but feel happy in his heart, and he lowered his eyes and responded, "Yes."

Xue Chang heard the rare emotion in his voice, turned to look at him and smiled: "It's a coincidence that we came back just in time for the New Year. What do you want to eat?"

Yun Qi was stunned for a moment, and said, "Your subordinates are free to eat, what do you want to eat? I'll go down and tell people to prepare it."

Xue Chang raised his eyebrows slightly and looked at him quietly. Seeing him embarrassed again under his gaze, he couldn't help but smile deeper: "Yun Qi, I'm just a commoner now, do you still want to call me Sir?"

Yun Qi pursed his lips and quickly changed his words: "Master."

"Hey... I am the only one left in the Xue family now, what kind of young master am I? If I get older in the future, will you still call me young master?"

Yun Qi was stunned again, with a troubled expression on his face, obviously stumped.

Xue Chang stared at him without blinking. Seeing his head drooping lower and lower, he couldn't help holding his face up with his hands, and said with a smile, "Am I that scary?"

Yun Qi's face burned instantly, and he didn't know where to put his eyes. He said in a panic, "What do you want for dinner, young master? I'll go and prepare it for you right away." As he spoke, he broke free from his hand, turned and left in a hurry.

Xue Chang paused with his hands in the air, and couldn't help laughing: "I haven't said what I want to eat yet, but you run fast."

It was the New Year's Eve when they came back, so they have not been idle for two days. The business of the cloth village has been taken care of by the steward. Now that the shopkeeper is back, he must go and have a look in person to sort out the accounts. Xue Chang came from a merchant. People, these naturally can't trouble him.

In addition, there are long-term and short-term workers in the shop. The accounts that should be settled at the end of the year have to be settled, and they have to bring some New Year gifts to visit them.The Xue family is a well-known Confucian businessman in the local area. This is a tradition passed down by the Xue family for several generations, so it is natural to inherit it.

However, after all, Xue Chang has been in the officialdom for more than ten years. Compared with his ancestors in terms of tact and sophistication, he is definitely better than his ancestors. Lost.

The magistrate has long since changed, and it is said that he is still clean and honest.But Xue Chang is the former prime minister who voluntarily resigned from office, Yu Wei is still there, coupled with his means and ruthlessness to overthrow a huge force by himself, it is difficult for the magistrate to despise him, knowing that he is coming, he can't wait to greet him, and drink down a drink , the host and guest enjoyed themselves.

When the sky was getting dark, there was a little snow outside, which immediately brought out the atmosphere of the New Year.Xue Changchang saw that the snow wasn't falling heavily, so he waved to the coachman in the mansion to drive the carriage back, while Yun Qi and himself held umbrellas and walked slowly back along the narrow streets.

Yun Qi glanced at the bony hand on the handle of the umbrella, and said, "My lord, let me hold the umbrella."

Xue Chang avoided his outstretched hand and squinted at him: "What did you call me?"

"...Young Master." Yun Qi bit the bullet, always felt that this title was a bit blunt, and said angrily, "This subordinate is used to it, and I can't change it for a while."

"Subordinate?"

"... Yunqi."

Xue Chang smiled helplessly: "Let me hold the umbrella."

"Yes."

At the end of the year, there were very few people walking outside, and the surroundings were very quiet. The two of them walked through the streets and alleys for a while, and the snow fell harder and harder, and there was a "rustle" sound when it hit the umbrella, and it didn't take long for the draft to blow up , the wind was getting stronger, and almost lifted the oil-paper umbrella in his hand.

"Hey, it's still light snow, it's falling more and more urgently." Xue Chang said while pulling Yun Qi to the wall on the side slightly leeward, pushing him in, seeing that he was anxiously wanting to go outside , pushed him back again, and whispered, "You are holding an umbrella."

Yun Qi always obeyed his orders without asking why, so he obediently walked inside, took the umbrella over as promised, and leaned towards him.

Xue Chang untied the silk ribbon around his neckline, took off his heavy cloak and put it on him, and pulled him in front of him to tie up the ribbon.

Yun Qi stopped in his tracks, a little dazed by his movements, and woke up suddenly when he pulled up the ribbon with his fingers, and hurriedly stopped his movements: "My martial arts practitioners, my body can bear it, my lord, hurry up and wear it yourself." !"

Xue Chang pushed his hand away, and said helplessly: "A martial arts practitioner is also a human being. If you are told to wear it, you can wear it. It's not like you haven't been sick before."

Ever since Yun Qi followed him, his body has been getting better and better, and he has suffered from that illness so far. When he heard him mention it suddenly, he suddenly felt guilty, and asked him to tie it when he was distracted. He opened his mouth and didn't know what to say. What, if you want to take it off, you are afraid that he will get angry, if you don't, you are afraid that he will freeze yourself.

Xue often had a hesitant look on his face and smiled: "I'm fine, I'll be home soon."

"I... I'm fine." Yun Qi wanted to say that he was fine and didn't need to wear it, but when he said it, he seemed a little clumsy.

The smile in Xue Chang's eyes deepened, and he took the umbrella in his hand again, hugged his shoulders and got closer to him, braving the wind and snow to continue walking.

Yun Qi awkwardly let him walk for a while, and when he reached the intersection where the Shanshan Hall was set up back then, he couldn't help but look sideways at him. Seeing that his expression was normal, he was slightly relieved, and lowered his gaze again.

"Yunqi..." Xue Chang's deep voice sounded in the wind and snow.

Yun Qi raised his head in doubt.

"Did you wander in these alleys when you were homeless?"

Yun Qi didn't expect him to say this suddenly, and the scene of him handing the buns to him appeared in front of his eyes, the light and shadow in his eyes floated, and he nodded in response: "Yes."

"Now I'm homeless, just like you."

"How could it be the same?" Yun Qi opened his mouth anxiously and took a breath of cold air, then said after a pause, "Young master has such a big family business, it's not considered homeless."

"Alone, no matter how big the family business is, it's just a family business, not a family."

Yunqi was at a loss for words and didn't know how to refute.

Xue Chang turned his head and smiled at him: "Besides, these family properties are all under your name now."

"It was originally bought by the young master. After the new year, Yun Qi will be transferred back to the young master's name."

"No, that's not what I want to say." Xue Chang raised his hand on his shoulder and flicked it on his elm head. Seeing his bewildered face, he couldn't help lowering his voice, "Do you really think I will Are you considered a servant?"

Yun Qi said seriously: "Yun Qi was originally a servant."

Xue Chang stopped suddenly.

Yun Qi froze, looked up at him, saw him looking straight at him, panicked, and lowered his head again.

Xue Chang looked at him for a while, then sighed softly: "There is no need for distinction between you and me. I followed you in the capital, but now I am just an ordinary businessman when I come back here. What's more, I have never I asked you to sign the deed of sale, you are no different from me, do you understand what I mean?"

Yun Qi pursed his lips, did not speak, and nodded slowly after a while.

The corner of Xue Chang's lips raised a smile: "Do you still remember how my parents called me back then?"

Yun Qi nodded, "Zhao Yan."

Xue Chang smiled even stronger: "The wind is too strong, what did you say?"

"Zhao Yan." Yun Qi raised his voice a little.

"Huh? What?"

"Zhao..." Yun Qi was dumbfounded suddenly, stared at him blankly, and held back for a long time before choking out the next word, "Yan."

"Well, not bad." Xue Chang turned around with a smile, no matter how stiff his body was, he hugged him and continued walking.

This year was the happiest year that Xue Chang had lived in the past 17 years. Although he and Yun Qi were the only ones besides the servants, it was the same as when he was in the capital, but his state of mind was different and his emotions were also different.

After the New Year's Eve dinner, it was still snowing outside, so they didn't need an umbrella to walk in the promenade.All the lanterns under the eaves of the corridor have already been lit, and the bright or dark light illuminates the slanted down snow into a red halo, adding a layer of warmth to the cold winter night.

Seeing that he was very interested, Yun Qi was also happy, but he didn't show it on his face.

Xue Chang looked outside for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "Yun Qi, let's go build a snowman." Then he pulled him out.

Yun Qi's hands trembled, and he quickly suppressed the strange feeling in his heart. When both of them were standing in the snow, he came back to his senses, and said quickly, "Let's go back, be careful not to catch a cold."

"It's okay, I'm not that delicate." Xue Chang said with a smile, then let go of his hand, and grabbed his sleeves from left to right.

"The snow is still falling, and it will be buried after it is piled up."

Xue Chang didn't seem to hear what he said, he waved to him, squatted down and hurried away on his own.

Yun Qi couldn't help it, knowing that he would not change his mind no matter what he said, so he had to resign himself to his fate and squat down to build a snowman with him.

Xue Chang kept busy with his hands, and his voice was brisk: "When I was young, I just studied hard in the cold window. How could I have time to play these things? Now it's all right. I don't have an official and I have someone to help take care of those businesses. I just need to Regular inspections are enough, and the days to come will finally be leisurely."

Seeing that he was so happy, Yun Qi quickly lowered his head to hide the joy in his eyes, and nodded: "Yeah."

Yun Qi was not good at words, Xue Chang was the only one talking, and as they talked, two small snowmen were piled up in their hands, but it was the first time in their lives, and they looked a little ugly.

Chang Xue broke off the branches on the side, poked the short ones in for the eyes of the snowmen, and made the long ones into the noses. He shook the holly on the side, picked two leaves from the snow, and made mouths for the two snowmen. Clap your hands and stand up to take a look, quite satisfied.

Yun Qi glanced at him: "Young master is in a good mood today."

Xue Chang looked sideways, with an unhappy expression on his face.

Yun Qi felt uncomfortable immediately, lowered his head and changed his words: "Zhaoyan."

Before the words fell, there was an unspeakable feeling in my heart. The word "Zhaoyan" is his baby name, only those closest to him would call him that, but now he actually shouted it out of his own mouth, I don't know what he meant, is he forcing himself to be called his brother?

Xue Chang smiled in satisfaction. When he turned around, he saw that his head and body were covered with snow. He hurriedly dragged him back to the corridor, raised his hand to brush off the snow from his sideburns and high bun, and looked down at the lantern. In the hazy light, looking at his eyelashes stained with snowdrops, he was dazed.

Yun Qi made him at a loss for a series of intimate actions, his expression was a little embarrassed, he was greedy and wanted to escape, and he was more confused.

Xue Chang held his slightly hot face, wiped off the snowdrops on his eyelashes with his thumbs, and said in a low voice: "Don't worry about why now, wait until you can look at me frankly someday."

Yun Qi pursed his lips, his heart beating a little uncontrollably, he suddenly woke up after being stunned for a long time, and quickly raised his face to brush the snow off his shoulders.

Xue Chang Ren brushed against him, and turned to look outside at the snowman whose heels were buried in the snow, with a smile in his eyes that was so warm that it was not commensurate with the cold winter: "After this year, everything in the past is like these two snowmen, who were submerged in heavy snow until they disappeared. There is no trace. Whether it is pain or honor, it is all passing. From now on, we will live a good life."

Yun Xi paused, his expression moved, and after a long pause, he nodded silently.

Years later, Xue Chang's life is really as he said, very leisurely and comfortable, without the erosion of pain, and without the defense and sharpness of the court, it can be said that he can see the future through the dark clouds.Looking at his bright smile, Yun Qi saw the gentle smiling young man in high spirits flashing in front of his eyes, and the corners of his lips were unconsciously stained with a slightly unclear smile.

After Xue Chang came back, most of the neighbors in the neighborhood still knew him. At first, they were a little unfamiliar with him because he had been a prime minister.

Xue Chang received their favors, and he repaid them one by one after he came back, and took care of him more in life, and in just half a year he has won the hearts of the people.

Some neighbors would ask him about his marriage in a circumstantial manner. Those who have daughters in their boudoirs naturally hope to marry him. Those who have no daughters in their families also have good-hearted people who want to talk about marriage for him.

At this time, Xue Chang would glance at Yun Qi who was standing aside, and seeing the unconcealable sadness in his expression, he felt a little pain in his heart, and smiled lightly at the visitor: "I already have someone I like, thank you for your concern." .”

Yun Qi's eyes darkened when he heard this, and then he returned to normal.

In summer, the weather became hotter, Xue Chang was too lazy to go out and walk around, so he stayed in the mansion all day, with a pot of tea, a book of scriptures, alone, and accompanied him quietly on a small boat in the middle of the lake.

The boat is docked by the lake, with luxuriant tree shade above the head, green leaves on the water surface, and the fragrance of lotus flowers blown by the summer breeze, which is quite like a paradise on earth.

Now that Yun Qi has returned to the south of the Yangtze River, he no longer dresses up as a bodyguard. He is wearing a brocade gown that is not much different from Xue Chang's. scholar.I was a little uncomfortable at first, but now I have gradually adapted, just like reading a storybook, and the bluntness of the original is no longer there.

Xue Chang squinted his eyes and listened to his clear voice, only to feel that the gurgling stream was cool and comfortable. He opened his eyes and looked at the people sitting beside him, and saw that he was reading seriously with lowered eyebrows, and his expression was more vivid than before. Quite a few, she couldn't help but smile at the corners of her lips, raised her hand to pinch his chin and turned his face around.

Yun Qi looked at him suspiciously, got used to his small movements, and no longer panicked like before. Although his heart beat a little faster and his face was a little hot, his eyes didn't dodge much.

Xue Chang looked at him without blinking and smiled: "Going back to Jiangnan is really the right answer. When I was in the capital, I wished I could sleep at night and stay alert, but it made your pearls and jade dusty. After all, the water in Jiangnan is good. The beads have been washed to shine."

Yun Qi was confused when he heard it, and he felt that he was praising himself. His ears were red, he opened his mouth, and after a long time, he choked out a sentence: "The water in the south of the Yangtze River has also restored Zhaoyan to his previous state of mind."

Xue Chang's smile was even stronger: "It's finally easy to call."

Yun Qi was a little embarrassed, and stammered: "I will continue to read..."

"Don't read it anymore." Xue Chang took the scripture in his hand and threw it on the table, his voice suddenly became a little higher, revealing a lot of interest, "I'll go find two fish."

Yun Qi stood up quickly: "I'll go."

"No, I'll go to the shore and give orders."

When the two were alone, Xue Chang didn't like having servants to serve him personally, so the closest servants on standby should be in the house on the shore, and they had to go ashore to order them.After he finished speaking, he stood up and stepped on the stone steps. He heard a voice beside his ear, and turned his head to see that Yun Qi had followed.

"I'll go together." Yun Qi lowered his eyes.

Xue Chang laughed: "Okay."