I am aging gracefully in the world of famous books

Fragment [-] About the wedding night

"Lucy, what are you looking at?"

After taking a shower, Fitzwilliam Darcy pushed open the bedroom door, and saw his bride sitting in front of the dressing table, reading something with her head down.

She was so focused that she didn't even notice that her pajamas had slipped off to reveal her white shoulders.

After hearing Darcy's voice, Pei Xiang paused indiscernibly when turning the pages of the book.She quickly closed the reading in her hand, stuffed the thin book into the drawer, and then looked up at her newlywed husband as if nothing had happened.

"It's a lady's book recommended to me by Mrs. Ingram. I just got bored of waiting. I happened to see it in front of the dressing table, so I flipped through it."

Darcy raised his eyebrows slightly, and approached Pei Xiang calmly. He felt that it was better not to expose this "clumsy" lie. After all, tonight was the wedding night, and he wanted to give his little wife some face.

——This is a newly furnished bedroom, and no one has used it before. If Lucy hadn't brought the book in specially, the so-called ladies' books would never have appeared in front of the dressing table.

——But I can't expose this fact, because it's me who will suffer in the end if I annoy my wife.

——And, there are more important things now...

On the first night of their wedding, Mr. Darcy, who automatically mastered the "rarely confused skills of a happy marriage", looked at the charmingly smiling Mrs. Darcy, his eyes gradually darkened.

He quickly put aside the little doubts he had just had, and only focused on admiring the blooming flowers and beautiful scenery in front of him.

"Lucy, did I tell you today that you are the most beautiful bride in England?"

"No, Mr. Darcy." Pei Xiang rolled his eyes, looking at his tall husband lovingly: "But your eyes are full of admiration, I feel your fascination and admiration for me, Mr. Darcy, I am already The happiest bride in all England."

Having received the affirmation and approval of his lover, Mr. Darcy chuckled. He knelt down, put his hand on Pei Xiang's knee, and held her slender fingers.

"Then I'll tell you right now, Lucy, not only are you the most beautiful and happiest bride in England, but I'm also the happiest groom.

It is the honor of Fitzwilliam Darcy to marry you, and I look forward every moment to my future married life. "

Pei Xiang was fascinated by this soft-spoken and sweet-talking Mr. Darcy.She leaned over and kissed his forehead and bridge of nose lightly, and then, her light breath stopped at the corner of Darcy's lips, and fell like a dragonfly on the water, making the man in front of her very "dissatisfied".

He tilted his head, and accurately printed on Pei Xiang's lips, and then he deepened the kiss...

In the early morning, Pei Xiang fell asleep leaning on the man's firm and powerful arms.

She seemed half awake, turned around in a daze, and immediately, was covered by a warm embrace, her legs and waist were tightly wrapped, which made her frown impatiently.

There seemed to be a deep laughter coming from her ears, her cheeks were a little itchy, she turned her head and rubbed her head, and the laughter in her ears became more frequent.

After a while, her nose was pinched a little, and her earlobe was bitten lightly again. These small noises and disturbances finally made Pei Xiang, who was about to wake up, completely lose sleepiness.

She snorted dissatisfied.

Although she knew that the man lying next to her was her male god, Yan Zheng had a good figure, and his physical strength was quite good last night, and he was able to comprehend certain skills very quickly.However, the male god who disturbs people's dreams is no longer worthy of standing on the altar, he has become a naive and annoying big boy!

--stop!shut up!

By the time the two finished tossing again and got up from the bed, it was already noon.

Pei Xiang sat lazily by the head of the bed, and directed Darcy to look for hair bands and clips in front of the dressing table. She wanted to tie up her waist-length blond hair, and then had a refreshing bedroom brunch.

Wrapped in a black velvet nightgown, Darcy walked to the dressing table, rummaged through a pile of Bulling Bulling jewelry, large and small boxes and jars, and searched awkwardly but seriously for the hair tie Pei Xiang wanted Hairpin, he casually opened the drawer in the middle of the dressing table, his eyes suddenly paused.

—This is... the book that Lucy hid last night? !

Darcy raised his eyebrows. He took out the book and held it in his hand, then continued to search. Finally, he found the hair tie and hairpin that Pei Xiang wanted from the small grid next to the mirror, and then turned and returned to the bed.

Pei Xiang was listless from hunger. She yawned a little, took what Darcy handed her with half-closed eyes, and then focused on arranging her overly long hair. Therefore, she missed Darcy's hand. The book in Xi's hand.

The servant brought the breakfast, and Pei Xiang stared at the delicious food after a simple wash, while the newlywed husband beside her calmed down and focused on reading "lady's books".

After a while, Darcy and his wife were left in the bedroom again. Pei Xiang happily gnawed on a piece of soft bread, and after she was half full, she gradually felt something was wrong—is the person beside her too sweet? Too quiet?

"Fitzwilliam?" Pei Xiang turned to look at the person beside him, and found that he was flipping through a book full of pictures and texts, and the expression on his face... looked a little unfathomable.

——Which book?

Seeing that the familiar book appeared in Mr. Darcy's hands, Pei Xiang was stunned for a moment, and then immediately drank a big mouthful of milk to suppress his shock.

Darcy glanced at Pei Xiang indifferently, and found that his newlywed wife was finally willing to look away from the food, so he picked up the napkin and wiped the milk traces on the corners of her mouth for her, and then pointed to the open pages and asked slowly road:

"Honey, lady's book?"

Pei Xiang glanced at the unusually evocative pictures and explicit descriptions on the page, and suddenly felt a toothache.

She rolled her eyes under Darcy's gaze, and explained half-truthfully:

"Honey, this book was secretly slipped to me by some ladies who can talk to me, they love to worry, uh, you know, I don't have any female elders here.

Last night, well, I just took a few curious glances, and then you figured it out.

Oh, I'm sorry, so when you asked me, I became shy, so I lied to you that it was a lady's book.

Haha, I didn't expect you to discover my secret. "

"Then are you still curious?"

There was a smile on the corner of Darcy's mouth, and his upright face had softened long ago. It was rare for him to see Pei Xiang's embarrassment and shyness, and he found it very cute, so he could no longer pretend to be serious.

Pei Xiang leaned close to his ear and whispered something in his ear, which made the man laugh out loud.There was a bit of doting and complacency on his brows. Obviously, his wife's whispers made him very useful, and the man felt that he had received affirmation and compliments.

After Pei Xiang comforted her Mr. Darcy with sweet words, she turned her head and continued eating.She ate seriously and sweetly, and she looked very cute and innocent, but in fact, she was already secretly rejoicing in her heart.

——It’s careless, I should read it again in a few days when no one is around, it’s all my curiosity and competitive spirit.

——When Mrs. Ingram and the others handed this to me, they boasted vigorously that this is the best-selling "guidance book" at present, and I shouldn't be unconvinced.

——Woo, I shouldn’t take it for granted that my previous anonymous works are better, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Before the wedding, several wives who had a particularly good relationship with Pei Xiang secretly stuffed the picture album to the bride-to-be, and told her half-heartedly that the content in this book was very practical and conducive to a harmonious relationship between husband and wife.

Pei Xiang understood it at the time, but she still had to be more reserved, so she didn't look it up right away.

Later, when she was preoccupied with all kinds of trivial matters before the wedding, she forgot about this "reference book".

She finally had some free time last night, so she couldn't hold back her curiosity. She wanted to see how good the works of this era were, and she actually compared her anonymous works?

——The best seller?Ah!

Pei Xiang originally planned to only glance at it, but she casually opened the brochure of this era with a disdainful attitude that the masters of later generations hide their achievements and fame, and then... she is really fragrant!

Indulging in the plot for a while, I forgot the time, place and the newlywed husband who was about to enter the door.

Don’t ask her why the plot of Xiangyan Xiaohuang Wen is so fascinating, it’s really delicious anyway, she wants to read the next paragraph after reading a paragraph, and can’t bear to miss the next page after turning a page, until Mr. Darcy walked into the bedroom after washing. interrupted her reading.

——Fortunately, I was fooled.

——Fitzwilliam Darcy is such a gentleman, he...surely believes my explanation?

Fragment [-] About Children

After the defeat of France, travel in continental Europe became more and more popular. Rich and leisure people on the British island planned to go out for a walk, and Darcy and Pei Xiang also made travel plans.

However, a sudden arrival of a little life interrupted the couple's play schedule.

Mrs. Darcy is pregnant!

As soon as the good news broke out, even Mrs. De Boer, who had always disliked the current Mrs. Darcy, changed her usual indifferent attitude and rushed to Pemberley from Rosings Manor.

She earnestly told the young couple how to keep the baby safe, and not to do anything that might harm the fetus. This lady had good intentions, but she liked to make long speeches when she spoke, and her attitude was not amiable.

Pei Xiang was lethargic during this period, and after listening to it for a while, she began to feel drowsy, so she handed Mrs. de Boer to Darcy for reception, and she went back to the bedroom and tucked into the bed, and soon fell into a dark sleep. .

When it was almost dusk, Pei Xiang woke up leisurely and found Darcy sitting on a chair by the window reading a book. Hearing her turning over, he quickly looked at her.

"Where's Aunt Catherine? Why aren't you with her?"

"I've asked her to keep Georgiana company, and the two of them should be working out a recipe for dinner for a pregnant woman by now."

"how about you?"

"I'm responsible for accompanying you."

Pei Xiang smiled: "Aunt Catherine must have complained again."

Darcy walked to Pei Xiang's side, helped her arrange the pillows, made her sit up halfway, and poured another glass of warm water for her.

"Her old man has been complaining all her life, especially my nephew who is not worried, so it doesn't matter if there is more or less."

The husband and wife were talking softly, and they went downstairs to have dinner together after Pei Xiang finished drinking a glass of warm water.

Pregnant in October and giving birth once.

The heir of the Darcy family came to the world at dawn. The little guy cried full of vigor, and his little feet and hands were very strong. He was a very healthy baby.

Mrs. de Boer looked at the newborn with a smile on her face, and declared in a tone of affirmation:

"He will grow up to be, like his father and grandfather, an outstanding and reliable gentleman, tall and handsome, rigorous and learned, and courteous."

Among the people present, no one doubted Mrs. de Boer's judgment, because the men of the Darcy family had always been strict and calm, and their style was very uniform.

But as little Mr. Darcy grows up, friends and relatives discover some interesting surprises.

From the time he learned to speak, everyone was surprised to find that this generation of Darcy family heirs showed completely different temperaments and personalities.

He is still smart and beautiful, still healthy and sensible, but he especially likes to laugh, most of the time his brows and eyes are crooked, and his smile makes others feel soft.

He loves to be coquettish, he likes to be clingy, he likes all shiny and gorgeous things, and he also fakes crying and pretends to be wronged.

He likes to observe quietly, and then suddenly strikes out to 'revenge' himself, but the person he secretly schemes against always looks ignorant.

Due to his young age, some of Mr. Darcy's tricks can be easily seen by adults, but among his peers, he can almost be regarded as the best.

"It's just a copy of you."

In private, Mr. Darcy, who had a headache about educating his son, complained to Pei Xiang:

"However, the children of the Charles family are indeed a little stupid. Although they are one and a half years older, they are always directed around."

Pei Xiang suddenly showed an innocent smile, and the arc of that smile was exactly the same as that of her own son.

A few years later, Pei Xiang and Darcy's second child was born. This time, it was a beautiful little lady.

Miss Margaret Darcy is a very proud little girl. She inherited her father's temper. Without the special guidance of adults, she has developed a strict, self-restraining, calm and sensitive character.

She often has a stern pink bun face, observing the people and things around her with suspicious eyes.

She has a clear distinction between likes and dislikes, she refuses if she doesn't like it, and tolerates it if she likes it. Sometimes she does her own way than her brother who hides his knife in a smile, and looks a bit willful and arrogant.

But people close to them know that among the little Darcy brothers and sisters, Miss Margaret is the one who is really easy to get along with. Her openness and sincerity are all hidden under the appearance of pride and indifference.

As for Mr. Darcy, he is a smiling big devil!

When Margaret Darcy's natural temperament was first revealed, Pei Xiang was very worried.

She rested her chin and looked at the baby girl who was carefully observing the little bugs on the grass, and couldn't help asking Darcy in a low voice:

"You said, she is so proud that she is exactly like you, what should she do in the future?

If she was a boy, such a character would be very suitable for this era and the Darcy family, but she is a little lady.

Could it be that when she grows up, is she going to compromise with this world that restrains and devalues ​​women? "

Darcy was silent, he understood his wife's concern, which was also his concern.

"Margaret won't be in a hurry to get married, even... she will be dazzled by love in the future, I will take care of her property before and after marriage.

She is a proud and calm child. Once she finds that her marriage is not going well, she will definitely protect herself. With the family as the backing, no one can let her be wronged. "

Speaking of this, Darcy sneered: "It's a big deal, I won't get married in the future, it will be more free. With money, and his brother, my daughter will live a happy life, and of course, she won't be really lonely. "

Pei Xiang smiled and glanced at Darcy, thinking that this man really entered the mentality of an old father marrying his daughter in advance.

The child is only four or five years old, and he is already thinking about how to deal with his future son-in-law.Moreover, from the tone of these words, it seems that she supports Margaret in raising a lover, yo, do you feel that you have regrets in your life?

Darcy didn't know that his brief speech was "revenge" by his wife.

He is seriously thinking about the education of his son and daughter.Parents are always full of various worries. They are afraid that their children will bear too much wind and rain, and they are afraid that they will not have the ability to resist wind and rain.

Pei Xiang counted the time with his fingers, and found that in the next few years, the status of women will not only not be improved, but will be more and more restricted.

—I must do something, I must show my Marguerite that she can always hold her head proud.

—not to be proud of being a noble lady, not of being so courteously admired by gentlemen, but as an independent man, as a free man, born proud.

——She can choose to accept the values ​​of this era, but this choice must be Margaret's initiative and willingness to accept, rather than being ignorant, confused, or forced to be helpless like a trapped animal.

"Darcy, I want to do some charity and help some women and children."

Darcy looked at Pei Xiang with understanding and encouragement in his eyes:

"Do whatever you want, as long as you feel good, I will support you."

"I want to fund or open some girls' schools to provide some girls with the skills to earn a living and broaden their horizons. Darcy, I want to quietly sow some different seeds."

Darcy thought about it for a moment: "It's best to be subtle, don't touch the political field, it's too sensitive."

Pei Xiang nodded, she knew Darcy had understood her intention:

"I will pay attention, step by step. In fact, it is too far away. The first step is to tell some women how to survive independently.

Only when we have a full stomach can we have more time and energy to think about other issues, such as respect and equality. "

"It's hard, and be careful. Lucy, Margaret will have her own life. Don't overburden yourself."

"I know, but I have to take a step forward. Don't worry, I won't rush for success. Because I know that this is not a career that I can accomplish alone, and I can't change the world."

"Don't underestimate yourself, Lucy, you are the core of this family. Besides, I will help you."

"Of course you must help me, Mr Darcy, Margaret is not my only daughter.

Moreover, we will have granddaughters and granddaughters in the future. In addition to family wealth, we have to leave something more precious to them. "

Fragment [-] About oil painting

One month after their wedding, Pei Xiang and Darcy left Pemberley Manor and returned to London. In Darcy's permanent residence, they remembered the oil paintings that Pei Xiang had left before.

"You said at that time that Bernard's place was inconvenient to store, and you hoped that I would save it for you temporarily, and take the two paintings away when you return to the United States. So now, can you hang these two paintings gone?"

Pei Xiang shook his head: "You can't just hang them up like this."

Darcy looked at his new wife suspiciously.

Pei Xiang sighed inwardly.

——I have to confess something again.

Thus, Darcy finally knew that these two ordinary oil paintings were actually just a cover, and there were two famous masterpieces with high value hidden in the interlayer of the frames.

They were once collected in the court of France, and they were exiled to the people during the Great Revolution.Later, after changing hands several times, it became the personal collection of Louis Bernard, and then was given to Pei Xiang as a gift in return for saving his life.

"You want to leave me the painting as a gift for helping Doris Gray get her name back?"

"Yes, I lied to you when I said I would take the paintings away when I left America. I was going to, um, send you a letter after I left England telling you the secrets in the two paintings. clear.

As for what you want to do with them, that is your freedom.No matter whether it is offered to the royal family in exchange for benefits, or kept, or given away at will, I will not worry about it anymore. It was originally prepared as a thank you gift for you. "

Darcy was not particularly happy about receiving this expensive gift, because he had already noticed some facts that she had lightly ignored from what Pei Xiang just said.

"Is your resistance to helping Bernard cover up, from the beginning to your active participation later, related to this gift?"

Pei Xiang avoids Darcy's sharp eyes, complaining in his heart.

She knew that after explaining one thing, she had to explain another thing, and then it was endless.In the end, Darcy will definitely know that she plunged headlong into danger because of her eagerness to repay her kindness.

Although she doesn't regret her original choice now, she still doesn't want to face Mr. Darcy's dark face.

"This gift is just my reward for changing my mindset, not my original intention to make the change.

Moreover, I didn't know what good things Bernard had in his hands at the time. I just wanted to get rich and safe.

Darcy, the fact that you went about rectifying my name really shocked me and made me understand something.However, it is definitely not your actions that indirectly cause me to be willing to approach danger, but my nature.

I am not willing to be trapped by others forever, not willing to have no strength to resist, not willing to muddle along in an environment without security.That's why I changed my mentality so quickly, chose to deepen my cooperation with Bernard, and use his strength to strengthen myself. "

Darcy knew that Pei Xiang was telling the truth, and at the same time, he also knew that she had played tricks in language, and had been avoiding important things.

For example, his influence on her, for example, what she did silently for him, but how could he blame her, and why should he blame her?

Fitzwilliam Darcy took Pei Xiang's hand and kissed it on his lips.

"Lucy, I understand, don't be nervous.

I don't feel burdened by those past events, and I don't think your efforts are too risky to be worth it, and I don't blame you for taking the initiative to approach risks.

I knew from the beginning what kind of personality you were.

To be honest, I am very happy, you are willing to spend your heart and soul for me, you are willing to plan for me, I am the person you have been silently caring about.

Really, I feel very happy, no matter what kind of feelings you have for me at that time, but in your life, when you make important decisions, the person who can influence you will always be me. "

Pei Xiang was stunned, and immediately showed a sincere smile:

"Yes, always you, and how lucky you are to have my favor, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy."

"I think so."

Later, Darcy unwrapped the frames of the two paintings and took out his gift.

"It won't be dedicated or given away, Lucy.

They will hang in the private collection at Pemberley Manor, a collection that is not open to guests, only the family can see, it is a gift that belongs to me alone. "

"Okay, your gift is up to you to decide."

On the anniversary of the third year of marriage, Pei Xiang received a gift.It is about Doris Gray's royal amnesty, because she did not forget her country in exile and made outstanding contributions to England's victory in the Anglo-French war.

"What did I do? The compliments on it make me think I captured Napoleon alive."

"Not you, my dear, but your 'relative' Miss Doris Gray.

She provided a large amount of relief medical supplies to the Army, and she is a patriotic woman.

She is a good girl who never forgets to care for her compatriots even though she is exiled to another country. She does what she can to help the wounded recover and return home. "

Pei Xiang understood that Darcy must have been using the relationship between Lucy Wilkes and the Gray sisters to clear the relationship for Doris Gray. Now, he exchanged the contacts and money of the Darcy family for This amnesty.

"Thank you, Fitzwilliam."

"Lucy, I know you don't need this now, and you may never need this, but I don't trust Bernard, so I have to eliminate all hidden dangers.

With this amnesty, one day in the future, even if your true identity is discovered, you will not be punished in any way. I always hope that you can be happy and worry-free. "

"Of course I'll be happy. I've never been so sure."

Pei Xiang carefully collected the precious gift from her husband, walked slowly to the opposite side of him, and wrapped his arms around him.

"Mr. Darcy will never put Mrs. Darcy in danger. This is a fact I have always believed in."

Darcy stroked Pei Xiang's hair, with tenderness in his eyes.

——May my country accept your wanderings and give you a clean reputation and a bright future.

—May my Lord forgive you for your unyielding, and give you the glory of a magnanimous soul and freedom.

——May my home shelter your wandering, and give you tender warmth and wanton favor.

my love.

The Second World: "Liao Zhai + Dream of Red Mansions"