Linque

In fact, Chu Heng arrived last night, and he also knew about Chu Yan's return, but he returned to the Hou's Mansion after having dinner in Luyuan. It was almost Haishi, and he brought Mu Xiyun's annual gift to meet Zhong Pinghou and Ye Shi. In the end, it was too late, thinking of Chu Yan's hard work all the way, he simply didn't bother him anymore, and waited to see you again today.

The two brothers had nothing to say, talking and laughing all the way to the ancestral hall, just in front of the gate they ran into Zhong Pinghou and his eldest son Chu Chen.

After seeing the family ceremony, Chu Chen also nodded and called out "Second Brother".

Zhong Pinghou didn't say a word, his eyes flicked past Chu Yan, and he glanced at Chu Heng, his expression was a bit complicated, but he didn't say anything, he just said calmly: "Let's all go in."

Only then did the tension in Chu Yan's heart relax, and he pulled Chu Heng's sleeve and followed Zhong Pinghou into the ancestral hall.

Compared to Chu Yan's worries, Chu Heng was not surprised. When he went to the main courtyard to meet Zhong Pinghou last night, he realized that his and Ye's emotions were not right. thing.But Zhong Pinghou never asked, and Chu Heng didn't intend to take the initiative to ask.

Most of the children of the Chu clan had already arrived, and when they saw Chu Heng coming in after Zhong Pinghou calmly, their expressions suddenly changed.

Later, Mrs. Ye led the girls from the mansion to come over, looked at Chu Heng expressionlessly, and did not speak.The ancestor worship in the ancestral hall was so peaceful that it was almost depressing. Until the end, the questioning scenes that everyone imagined did not happen.

But no one will simply think that this is over.

The three brothers and sisters went to the side temple to pay homage to their birth mother, and they pretended not to hear the whispers behind them. It was not until after breakfast that they went to Chu Yan's residence together that Chu Xin showed a worried expression.

Chu Heng didn't take it too seriously, he knew Ye Shi would feel uncomfortable in his heart, and he didn't even think about wanting her well. Anyway, Zhong Pinghou would not fail to weigh the pros and cons. If he didn't express his position, Ye Shi felt unwilling Nothing happened.

Chu Heng didn't intend to stay in the Hou's mansion for ten days and half a month to obstruct the eyes of others. Now that Chu Yan is back, Chu Heng just wants to spend a good year with him and Chu Xin, and finish the New Year together.There are not many peaceful days that need to be given by Zhong Pinghou and Mrs. Ye, just the New Year's Eve. He will return to the Mingcheng Palace after entering the palace to congratulate him on the first day of tomorrow.

Chu Heng comforted Chu Xin a few words, reached out to take Chu Yan's fan, and saw him take out a delicate jade belt hook from his pouch, and pushed it to him together—the gift that he really wanted to bring had to be hidden in advance When he woke up, Chu Heng couldn't help but feel a little distressed.

The main courtyard was busy on New Year's Eve, according to the practice of the Hou Mansion, the sons and daughters did not gather in the main courtyard for lunch, and had a rare meal with their biological mothers.

This also happened to be what the three brothers and sisters wanted, and they cooked a pot of beef in a lively manner.

After the meal, Chu Heng was roasting chestnuts with Chu Yan on the ready-made stove, when a boy from the yard knocked on the door and came in, with a pot of soup on the tray in his hand.

Chu Yan nodded, waved him away, peeled the chestnuts in his hand and handed them to Chu Xin, got up and picked up the medicinal soup, but only drank half a bowl, and poured the rest into the Evergreen bonsai by the door.

Chu Xin was not surprised, but Chu Heng frowned.

Chu Yan's health was not good, and after he made his mark in the Chu Clan School, Zhong Pinghou became more and more concerned about this matter, and made a special trip to give him many prescriptions for recuperation.When Chu Heng returned to his residence last night, Leqing, the boy next to him, mentioned this matter when he was talking about Chu Yan's recent situation.

Chu Heng put down the tongs, stood up and said, "Ah Yan, come here."

"Huh?" Hearing this, Chu Yan put down the teacup she was gargling, and walked over, "What's wrong, brother?"

Chu Heng didn't speak, Shen Yan looked at his face, held his wrist and probed, frowned after a while and said: "Ah Yan... did you do it on purpose?"

Chu Xin, who was listening to the words, lowered her eyes.

Chu Yan opened his mouth, his eyes dodged a little, and he subconsciously avoided Chu Heng's gaze, then turned around after a while, and said with a smile: "Brother, I know it in my heart, now it won't get worse, and it won't be too big. Get better soon, that's all."

Both Zhong Pinghou and Ye Shi can maintain a good balance.

A son is to his father, and a concubine is to his aunt.

When the two sides are at peace, life will be easier, and the Hou Mansion will have a family and everything will be prosperous.

Chu Heng understood Chu Yan's meaning in an instant, his eyes darkened, and he didn't say anything more.

Twenty years ago, when the eldest son of the Ye family died, and Zhong Pinghou had only one son, Chu Heng, this balance was briefly broken once, and the result was that the bastard left home—the father rejected the dull and ominous son, The aunt is no longer bothered by the concubine who occupies the title of "eldest brother".

Twenty years later, Chu Heng returned to the Hou Mansion from Lishan Mountain, and the balance that satisfied all parties was once again facing turmoil.

In the evening, at Xu time, the New Year's Eve firecrackers crackled, and a large family gathered in the main hall of Zhongpinghou's mansion.

The New Year's Eve dinner in the Hou's Mansion was eaten late, and the long table for the New Year's Eve dinner began to be set up in the main hall of the Hou's Mansion when the magnificent Ji Zhongqing drums sounded for the third time in the imperial city.

Before the reunion and hilarity came to the table, it was time for Zhong Pinghou Chuhong to give lectures.New Year's Eve is the last day of the year. It is time to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new. The old things that should be settled cannot be put on the new year.

At this time in previous years, Zhong Pinghou would tell his sons, daughters and nephews one by one about the gains and losses of the year, hoping to improve the new year.In a large audience, Zhong Pinghou doesn't speak harsh words, and the juniors don't feel embarrassed, everyone listens to others together, and if there is something, it will be corrected if there is no one.

If the variable Chu Heng did not appear in the ancestor worship ceremony of the Taimiao Temple, the lectures on New Year's Eve this year would probably still be just laughing and laughing.

Since Zhong Pinghou returned home after the palace banquet yesterday, until now, he has always had that gloominess in his heart. As long as he closes his eyes, he will involuntarily think of the mocking eyes of others.

He knew in his heart that others could not do anything other than gossiping behind his back and stabbing himself in a neutral manner.After all, Chu Heng was his son, and to be able to enter the hall of worship, he had a more or less glorious lintel.

So last night, when his wife Ye Shi told him about the slap in the face, Zhong Pinghou didn't respond immediately.

Until the early morning of this day, the whole family opened the ancestral hall to worship their ancestors. Facing the tablets of the ancestors of the Chu family from generation to generation, Zhong Pinghou's nephews and nephews bowed three times and kowtowed nine times. , suddenly thought, when did they need Lishan Ye's help to increase the glory of their Zhongli Chu family?

Li Shan's promotion of Chu Heng was to add some glory to the Hou's mansion by the way, but it also slapped himself in the face.For an insignificant son, it's not worth letting other aristocratic families gossip about the Zhongli Chu family.

Zhong Pinghou thought for a long time today, but still felt that something was wrong.The emperor and Ji Wuyue didn't know what kind of deal they had reached yet. If the Lishan Ye family really planned to shake their position and even enter the court, then they would praise Chu Heng, to put it harshly, and put a piece of mud on the wall, right? Are you declaring your strength to the major families in disguise?I'm afraid this is not stepping on the Chu family's face!

The more Zhong Pinghou thought about it, the hotter his face became.

In the evening, the whole family gathers together, chatting with each other in several rooms, and the nephews are also chatting and laughing below.Zhong Pinghou unconsciously glanced at Chu Heng a few times, and saw that this son, who was not at home all the year round, was close to Chu Xin and Chu Yan, and he was able to get along with his eldest son Chu Chen and other cousins, and his behavior was quite calm. , so that Zhong Pinghou felt that Chu Heng did not need to be taught.

So when it was time to speak, Zhong Pinghou looked at Chu Heng below, showed some patience that he usually used to teach other children, and said calmly: "You have always been polite, but there is only one thing. I told you before that you are Zhongli. The people sent by the Chu family to the Hall of Martial Heroes represent the face of the Chu family outside. Think about this before you act in the future, don't lose the overall situation of the whole family for a little personal gain, and stick to your duty is the only way to be serious."

Chu Heng was slightly taken aback, Zhong Pinghou had indeed said this to him, after he married Xu Shao, Zhong Pinghou thought he was causing trouble, so he said this.

But now... Chu Heng felt that he might have made a mistake, and asked respectfully, "I'm a little unclear about what father said about 'duty'."

Sitting next to Zhong Pinghou, Mrs. Ye knew that Chu Hong had listened to what she said last night as soon as her husband said it.She looked at Chu Heng with a smile on her face, and her voice was quite earnest: "Heng'er, it's not your mother who said you. Since you have left the teacher and returned home, you should clearly distinguish between the far and the near in the future, and you can't always do it. Some things that are far away and close, so as not to make people laugh."

Chu Heng ignored her, and looked up at Zhong Pinghou. The latter didn't speak, and turned his head to pour a cup of tea, which was regarded as acquiescing.

Now there's something Chu Heng doesn't understand, coauthoring Lishan can't treat him too well, and he shouldn't get close to the teacher who raised him for 16 years.

Chu Heng smiled instead of anger, and asked Ye Shi straightforwardly: "Please forgive me for being stupid, did I lose face at home yesterday?"

As soon as the words fell, the kind smile on Ye's face froze immediately.

Everyone in the main hall breathed a sigh of relief, and the uncles sitting in the upper seat looked at each other. Even the eldest son Chu Chen felt that something was wrong. He didn't understand how his father would make such a talk.

Chu Heng didn't wait for Mrs. Ye's response, and continued to ask: "Do you think I shouldn't accompany you to visit the temple?"

The candidate to serve as the crown prince is appointed by His Majesty Jinkou Yuyan, and no courtier thinks it should be done or not.

Ye Shi choked, and unconsciously clenched his cuffs with his fingers.

Zhong Pinghou slammed the table, stood up and stopped: "Presumptuous! What are you talking about!"

The main hall was suddenly so quiet that a needle could be heard.

"Then let me put it in a more understandable way." Chu Heng was unmoved, glanced at Mrs. Ye, looked at Zhong Pinghou, and said in a low voice: "Do you think that someone like me who has been abandoned by the family , should be rotten in the mud forever, and live in obscurity and obscurity, this is called abiding by one's duty, otherwise it is wrong?"

Some things don’t realize how excessive and unsightly they are until they are brought to the fore. Chu Heng directly pierced his thoughts, and Zhong Pinghou couldn’t hold back any longer. The veins on his forehead twitched: “You…”

Chu Heng took a deep breath, nodded, pulled the corner of his lower lip, and said lightly: "If this is my fault, then please forgive my father, there may be more such mistakes in the future."

Chu Heng didn't wait for Zhong Pinghou's reaction, turned around and walked outside.

His figure melted into the night in an instant, Chu Yan clenched her fists tightly, her nails hurting her palms, trying her best to restrain her urge to catch up, and also firmly grabbed Chu Xin who was beside her.

……

When Chu Heng walked out of the side gate of Zhongpinghou's Mansion, it was the busiest time of New Year's Eve in the inner city, and the sound of firecrackers was ringing in his ears, and a long street was full of auspicious and festive red lanterns.

On the night of New Year's Eve, everyone's family is reunited. As lively as Zhu Yu Biwa, the long street outside is so deserted.Chu Heng walked aimlessly on the crumbs of firecrackers, no matter how good the day was, it was still winter, and the night wind on New Year's Eve was also cold, blowing his face like a knife cut.

It has been 16 years, and it is the first time for Chu Heng to celebrate the New Year at home.When I came here yesterday, there was still a faint expectation in my heart, whether it was for Chu Xin Chuyan who was about to be reunited, or for this "family" itself.However, I never thought about it, and in the end I couldn't even eat a bowl of hot dumplings.

Earlier, my wife said that if things went wrong and he was wronged, he didn't think it would be - even if Zhong Pinghou didn't like him very much, he still had the name of father and son, how could it be?

Yes, how could it be?

A basin of cold water was poured over his head, Chu Heng really wanted to ask Zhong Pinghou——isn’t my surname Chu?

Will my success really embarrass the Zhongli Chu family so much?

There was the sound of Ji Zhongqing's drum again, and Chu Heng raised his head, only to realize that the noisy firecrackers had gone away from him, and across a celestial street, he had unknowingly walked in front of Jiuzhong Que.

It may be that the gods and Buddhas don't want to see him, so it's so difficult at this age.

There is no need for him to enter the door of the house, and he can't see the person he wants to see through the locked towering palace door.