Vol 2 Chapter 134

The two men and women who were somewhat confrontational were shocked when they heard the words, Gu Ningxi shouldn’t be coming to Tao Mansion at this moment!

Mrs. Gu’s seventy-seven forty-nine days passed yesterday, the eagerly awaited emperor must know, at least someone will remind him to know.

Then, Gu Ningxi, as a courtier who has been favored by others, should enter the palace early today to await his summons, waiting for his well-known decree of promotion and department transfer!

At this moment, Cheng Shicheng truly admired him from the bottom of his heart. If he moved to another place, no matter what the reason was, he would not come to the woman’s mansion first. When it comes to infatuation, Gu Ningxi wins.

Tao Xinhe accurately captured the word “Maoyu” in the servant’s report, and unconsciously got up and walked a few steps. Cheng Shicheng, who was passing by in thought, didn’t stop at all. He wanted to order Gu Ningxi to come in.

Unexpectedly, she was still holding the door hinge, and when she looked up, she saw Gu Ningxi coming from the end of the intersection, passing through the rain curtain, getting closer and closer to her happily.

The servant behind him was holding an umbrella, but he couldn’t catch up with Gu Ningxi.

The scene was a bit funny, a tall slender man was striding like flying, the hem of the plain white linen robe was turned up, his hands were tightly covering the bulging part of his arms, and he didn’t know what he was hiding.

The sight was obstructed by the rain, and Tao Xinhe couldn’t tell whether the boy in black was good at reading or painting, but he saw that he was holding a bamboo bone oiled paper umbrella with one hand high and slanted, no one covered it, and covered his head with the other hand , Talking is better than nothing, it has the meaning of keeping out the rain.

The boy’s voice gradually became clear: “Master, wait a minute, you won’t look good in the rain, Madam may not like it!”

Tao Xinhe pursed her lips tightly, and unconsciously gripped the door knocker with her fingers. Watching Gu Ningxi walk quickly to the eaves, she let out a sigh of relief when she got away from the rain curtain. After standing still, she met her eyes. distance.

“He Niang!” Gu Ningxi spoke out first, hoarse and ugly, but full of determination and joy.

His gaze still couldn’t be fixed on Tao Xinhe’s facial features, he turned around and focused on a butterfly hairpin in the opponent’s bun, looked at the thin gold butterfly wings and smiled, the corners of his lips curled up, and his eyebrows stretched.

Tao Xinhe bowed her head in embarrassment, naturally she didn’t know that the butterfly wings on her temples swayed slightly, adding to her charm.

As far as her lowered eyes could see, Gu Ningxi was dripping water from her hair to her whole body, which soon soaked the space where he was standing, and Tao Xinhe could smell the rain and dew on the tip of her nose.

The servant followed, putting away his umbrella and muttering: “My lord, you are already in Tao’s mansion, why are you in such a hurry?” Turning around and seeing Tao Xinhe, he hurriedly saluted, “Ma’am… hello layman!”

Oh, it was Li Shu who was more quick-witted and frizzy. Tao Xinhe recognized it, and she nodded slightly.

Gu Ningxi spoke again, her breath not evenly distributed: “He Niang…I…brought a painting, a small portrait of your character. I painted…ahem…it came out. Several servants in the mansion have seen it. This morning, Second Aunt… I brought Niang Ning to see me, and I also commented on the painting. They… they all said… like you!”

While talking, he reached into his bosom and took out the bulge. It was the original scroll properly wrapped in linseed paper, without a drop of water, which was in stark contrast to the wetness of Gu Ningxi’s front.

Gu Ningxi was gasping for breath, probably tired from talking just now, so he wiped the water on the waist of his robe with his other hand, but it didn’t help much, after all, his whole body was soaked.

Then he held the two ends of the scroll with both hands, and handed it towards Tao Xinhe, with his arms just above the threshold.

“A Tao, let the guests come in and talk.” A mellow man’s voice came from the depths of the flower hall.

Tao Xinhe looked up in surprise, and saw that the brilliance of anticipation on Gu Ningxi’s face had disappeared, her eyes blinked several times in bewilderment, her arms were stiff in place, she leaned forward slightly, and Tao Xinhe’s body slowly straightened, almost tense. Stretched dead wood stakes.

Li Shu answered the question with a probing head: “Layman, can you let me in first, he didn’t eat for two days yesterday, that is, he ate a bowl of gruel this morning, but he was forced to drink it by the second wife. I haven’t closed my eyes all night, and I have been busy drawing.”

The more he spoke, the lower his voice became, and he shrank his neck.

When Gu’s residence was leaving, Gu Ningxi specifically told her not to say these things, for fear that Tao Xinhe would misunderstand him as a miserly person. Knowing books means that God swears that he will not speak when he sees the layman, so Gu Ningxi did not change to someone who knows paintings.

Tao Xinhe saw it just now. Gu Ningxi’s eyes were red and bloodshot. At first glance, he looked like he had stayed up all night. The thick stubble around his lips concealed the shape of his square jaw. Looking sloppy, he is not the handsome and jade-like jade that Tao Xinhe likes. .

He obviously didn’t know where Tao Xinhe’s gaze fell, but as if he had sensed it, Gu Ningxi held the scroll with one hand and drooped naturally, raised his sleeve with the other to cover the lower part of his nose, and explained in a low voice, trying to dilute the embarrassment of being ashamed to see people:

“I’m sorry, He Niang, I came here in a hurry and didn’t take care of shaving. It’s ugly, you…don’t laugh at me.”

The toes danced in the embroidered shoes again, and the force of the toes was transmitted to the fingertips. Tao Xinhe felt his limbs feel cold and sore, and he couldn’t pose dignifiedly and appropriately to welcome guests for a while.

Where is he ugly? Even though her body was dripping with water, she was so skinny and her face was so embarrassing, Tao Xinhe’s eyes were imprinted in her heart, and she was so provoked that she couldn’t speak, so she could only move her body sideways, let out the door, and motioned for Gu Ningxi to enter.

Gu Ningxi hesitantly stepped across the threshold, getting closer to Tao Xinhe, her breath could be heard, the atmosphere formed by his body enveloped her, her nose was sensitive to smell the other’s subtle fragrance, a bit like the scent of osmanthus flowers, pleasantly sweet and intoxicating.

Cheng Shicheng walked over, and the three of them formed horns at the door, or rather, Cheng Shicheng was watching the two standing side by side facing each other.

After regaining consciousness from the sweet breath around Tao Xinhe’s body, Gu Ningxi didn’t know how to deal with herself. She felt that the remaining rainwater seemed to be drilling into his heart, which was sore and painful.

After a while, he broke the silence and whispered to the butterfly hair ornament: “It turns out that He Niang is entertaining guests, so I interrupted you?”

The gate of the flower hall was still open, and the pattering rain could be heard, but it was a little quieter than before, and the rain must have stopped in a while.

Tao Xinhe withdrew her hand on the door early, curled her fingers at a loss, folded her hands behind her back, the shawl slipped down her arms, her shoulders were chilled by the drizzle outside, she even slightly arched her butterfly bones later, exposing her A little inner entanglement.

It’s just that she didn’t know it. From the perspective of others, the posture of hanging her head made her shoulders directly opposite, as if she was about to fall into Gu Ningxi’s arms in the next moment.

Hearing Gu Ningxi’s self-deprecating words, Tao Xinhe just woke up like a dream, played the role of master, and said crisply: “It’s a bit of a surprise, I didn’t expect Gu Sicheng to visit today, it’s not worth disturbing. This is Uncle Jichang, Your savior, please sit down and talk.”

She turned around first, and walked towards the innermost chief seat. Cheng Shicheng took a deep look at Gu Ningxi, shook his head brightly, and sighed: “Gu Sicheng, ah no, it will be Gu Sizheng soon, why did you make yourself so embarrassed? Please hurry up.”

He is like a half-master, stretching his arms forward, making a leading gesture.

Gu Ningxi’s Adam’s apple was rolling, her heart was full of complicated feelings, and she couldn’t express her fear of Cheng Shicheng. She didn’t know how familiar these two people are now, and she didn’t have the position to refute it. Holding back her sour imagination, she responded in a low voice: “I’ve seen it before.” Uncle, please come together.”

Two men of about the same size sat in front of Tao Xinhe’s left and right guest seats.

Cheng Shicheng leisurely picked up the snacks on the table at hand and put them into his mouth, he sighed in admiration: “The cook at Atao’s mansion is really good at cooking, it tastes the same as the one I ate the day before yesterday, it’s still so sweet and delicious. Gu Sizheng, ah …The imperial decree has not been passed on to the imperial court, so let me be presumptuous and call him Gu Sicheng, and you can try it too.”

The day before yesterday he came to Tao Mansion. It’s the Dragon Boat Festival, the day when the whole family gets together. As an outsider, what does Cheng Shicheng come to Tao Mansion for?

Gu Ningxi has doubts in her heart, she is afraid that he and He Niang have already talked about marriage, although the hunger growls in his stomach, he still loses interest in the tempting biscuits, thank you for not being sensitive.

Her temples began to throb and throb, and her neck also became sore and swollen. Tao Xinhe knew that Cheng Shicheng was suspicious, and wanted to repel Gu Ningxi with words, but what could she say?

The words of Gu Runing and Shishu just rolled in her mind, and Gu Ningxi’s gray face also showed that he hadn’t eaten for a long time, Tao Xinhe finally persuaded: “You come here in the rain, don’t eat snacks, it’s better to drink some hot tea.”

Gu Ningxi gently placed the picture scroll that she had been holding tightly on the case table, and was carefully checking whether it had any water on it. Hearing this, she turned her head, nodded in the direction of Tao Xinhe, and took a drink from the teacup.

It is fragrant and sweet, completely different from the Kudingcha he drank every day, like the flower petal honey water that He Niang has always liked. It’s about the same kind of water as the one in her hand, which is great, like going back to the sweet days of drinking a cup of tea together.

Gu Ningxi felt some warmth rising from her dantian after her stomach was soothed to some extent, she regrouped and reiterated her intention of coming: “He Niang, I really drew it, take a look, okay?”

Cheng Shicheng raised his eyebrows and interjected: “I don’t know if I have the honor to appreciate the painting together? Gu Sicheng’s painting skills are superb, but unfortunately I have never been able to see it. What is this new work?”

“My little portrait.” Tao Xinhe replied in a low voice. She had heard it at the door, but she couldn’t believe it. How could Gu Ningxi really succeed in painting?

Isn’t he face blind? How can concepts that are not in the mind be put on paper?

“Aren’t you face blind?”

Tao Xinhe almost thought that she was asking the question, but when she took a closer look, it was Cheng Shicheng who was asking the question, her surprise was beyond words.

Gu Ningxi smiled faintly, her confident appearance concealed his embarrassment on the outside at this time, making him glow with the brilliance of an unruly celebrity in the Wei and Jin Dynasties, as if his hair was soaked and flattened, and his robe was soaked and dripping with water.

“But please take a look.” He slowly wiped his hands on the cloth towel provided by the servant, and then unwrapped the many thin hemp ropes wrapped around the scroll, his fingers fluttering like butterflies.

Tao Xinhe unconsciously held his breath and waited. Of course she knew the purpose of Gu Ningxi’s desperate efforts to draw this small portrait. If it is really vivid, will she let go? Cheng Shicheng in front of outsiders? Isn’t her test of Gu Ningxi a bit simple?

Gu Ningxi got up on the spot, stretched the loose scroll with both hands, straightened her arms, raised up and down vertically and stretched forward, and the silk-edge rice paper painting, which was half an arm long and a palm wide, was quickly displayed in front of Tao Xinhe.

Cheng Shicheng tilted his head curiously, and couldn’t help but gasped when he saw the beauty in the painting.

The background is barely outlined, and the simple woman’s face and half body fill the frame.

Ginger-yellow blouse, if you look closely, there is a pattern of butterflies wearing flowers. The girl’s hair is unique, with a bright forehead, and a raised tail faintly reveals behind her head. It should be a “tailed bun” hairstyle.

The woman’s arms are half-stretched and half-gathered, and they are separated on both sides. It seems that she just wakes up from her spring sleep and stretches her waist. There is a trembling butterfly on the fingertip of one hand. It is not known whether she came here to see the beauty or stay there after smelling the fragrance.

The most vivid is still on her face. I don’t know how Gu Ningxi adjusted the color, but the skin color of her face and the color of her fingers are just like Tao Xinhe in reality, whitening and radiant, attracting people’s attention.

The long and slender black eyebrows are just like the “distant mountain eyebrows” mentioned by literati, which has the meaning of Tibetan mountains.

The most difficult part of drawing people is the eyes.

As for the painting in Gu Ningxi’s hand, the woman’s eyes are the finishing touch. Different from the big eyes of a beauty in the general sense, he has grasped the characteristics of Tao Xinhe’s narrow and long eye slits and raised eye ends, and painted the eyes with a few strokes of ink Outlined and vivid, like two dexterous and delicate fish swimming.

Seeing this, Cheng Shicheng already knew in his heart that Gu Ningxi’s painting was finished. Anyone who knows Tao Xinhe will recognize the prototype of the painting, the eyebrows and eyes have both form and spirit, which is quite essential.

Qiongbi Yingkou is also out of shape, it’s hard for him to get the cinnabar tone just right, the lip color of the person in the painting is almost the same as Tao Xinhe’s, if someone commented on it, it’s like Tao Xinhe printed a lip print on the painting.

The cute thin ears are just right, and the direction of the ear bones is well described. Gu Ningxi didn’t add extra earrings to it, completely presenting Tao Xinhe’s extremely charming appearance in the eyes of caring people.

“It’s really like it! It’s hard to be vivid. Not only is it rigidly depicting the facial features, but Atao’s intelligence can come from the painting. Gu Sicheng is hiding it. I have never heard that you have such a skill in drawing characters.” , I always thought you were good at landscapes, flowers and birds.”

Cheng Shicheng admired it from the bottom of his heart, probably because of his instinct to discover beauty, which made him temporarily let go of his guard against the beautiful woman’s ex-husband.

It can be seen with the naked eye that Gu Ningxi has relaxed a little, but she is still staring at Tao Xinhe eagerly, waiting for her to speak.

“You did it. How did you do it. Aren’t you face-blind?” Tao Xinhe’s voice was as soft as a dream.

She approves! Gu Ningxi was ecstatic. For this reason, the suffering and exhaustion are not worth mentioning, and there is no need to worry about painting until sleepless and forgetting to eat and sleep.

“My face is blind, but my heart is not blind. He Niang, you have always…always been in my heart. What I have been looking forward to in my life is to stay with you, for the rest of my life… as a couple. But I almost… broke it by myself. Now I rein in the precipice and realize my mistake I have changed, I hope…you can forgive me.”

Gu Ningxi tried her best to keep her breath steady, ignoring the interested bystanders, and told her sweetheart her heart again.

“Just want to ask for forgiveness for a painting?” Cheng Shicheng snorted.

This is another difference between him and Tao Xinhe.

Tao Xinhe was full of emotion, the corners of her lips trembled, and she almost ignored it and responded.

This is not only a painting, it is the display of Gu Ningxi’s practice in order to complete her test, to find out her own strange disease, and it is Tao Xinhe’s conviction that Gu Ningxi can recognize her, the key to letting go of her entanglement.

Cheng Shicheng spoke out, reminding the two people who had a tacit understanding.

According to what was said that day, Gu Ningxi drew a small portrait of a character, Tao Xinhe should give him a chance, allow him to pursue, and work together for the prospect of a broken mirror reunion.

Right now is not a good time for mutual complaints. Gu Ningxi has a heavy burden, the court is still waiting for him, Tao Xinhe is not 100% confident here, and Cheng Shicheng will not just sit back and watch them reconcile.

“Are you willing to accept it, He Niang?” Gu Ningxi sent the painting scroll forward, and asked in an anxious tone, as if asking Tao Xinhe if he would accept his repentance and pursuit.

The rain outside suddenly stopped again, without the cover of the sound of rain, the flower hall was extremely quiet, as if masters, servants and guests were holding their breaths waiting for Tao Xinhe’s reply.

Raising her head, she met Gu Ningxi’s gaze on the top of her hair. Tao Xinhe carefully traced his eyebrows and eyes, her heart trembled in a strange way, as if being played by the infinite emotions in Gu Ningxi’s eyes.

Can she try again? Trust him again? Bet again?

Why not?

Mo Qiqi had already left, and Gu Ningran was forced into exile, these external causes were temporarily eliminated. Gu Ningxi’s responsibility for growth is becoming increasingly apparent. Tao Xinhe has always believed in his character, but is only disappointed in his way of doing things.

She couldn’t let go of the entanglement in her heart, and her heart was full of weeds, which made Tao Xinhe and Li feel oppressed like a boulder, even affecting their eating and sleeping.

She knew that the rest of her life would be long and the changes would be frequent, and everything today didn’t really mean anything.

Then, whether to let go or not to let go of Gu Ningxi is just a choice. Judging from this reconciliation, it is a choice with little risk.

The worst result is that she will break her heart again, right? Will there be any new changes in her state of mind by then? Give up completely? And there may be a beautiful follow-up, for example, when they return to the time when their love is strong, they will fill the void in Tao Xinhe’s heart.

She turned her head and looked out of the window again, the sun showed its face from behind the clouds again, shining on every plant and tree, and the dewdrops were crystal clear and lovely.

It seemed that Tao Xinhe didn’t fully understand the feeling of “the sea and the sky, the clouds and the rain” until now, and finally she smiled brightly, lighting up her entire face.

“Your kindness, I accept it, the painting is my little portrait, it is a gift from you, so I will accept it.” Tao Xinhe spoke very slowly, every word, every word, quite meaningful.

Gu Ningxi understood, her face glowed brightly, as if she had been reborn, she nodded repeatedly, her hands and feet seemed to have no place to rest, she lost sight of the other. He wanted to give the painting to Tao Xinhe, he wanted to sit down and take a long breath, and he wanted to stand up and let out a long cry, announcing to everyone that He Niang gave him another chance, he didn’t know which one to do first it is good.

After the words came out, Tao Xinhe looked at Gu Ningxi with a smile on her lips, and the hidden old feelings overflowed from the corners of her eyebrows and eyes. She felt the excitement of Gu Ningxi, and she felt warm all over her body, as if the hunger in her belly could be ignored.

Cheng Shicheng’s intuition was wrong, he didn’t know what kind of riddles these two people were playing in front of him, so he interrupted: “I also want to ask Gu Sicheng for a painting.”

Tao Xinhe waved his hand at him, changed the subject and said, “Uncle Cai told me just now that Gu Sicheng should be on the rise.”

Then he solemnly said to Gu Ningxi: “The emperor’s kindness is mighty, I’m waiting for you to go to the court today to take orders, you have already delayed your coming to our house, don’t delay too much, go to the palace quickly.”

Gu Ningxi seemed to only nod her head, she nodded with a smile, but sat on the chair without making any further moves.

Tao Xinhe was very angry and funny, and directly ordered Shishu: “Take your master to tidy up your appearance, at least to re-comb your hair. You came in a carriage, right? Take the snacks on the table to the carriage and eat them on the way into the palace.”

The long-lost hostess ordered in a tone of voice, which made Shishu excited and answered again and again.

Somewhat ashamed, Tao Xinhe deliberately ignored Gu Ningxi, and instead asked Cheng Shicheng: “It’s time for breakfast in our house, uncle…”

“Excuse me, I’ll stay and have breakfast at your residence.” Cheng Shicheng pretended not to hear the intention of chasing away the guests, and he continued to answer the conversation even though he was full.

Gu Ningxi repeated: “I also want to have breakfast.” While talking, he pressed his stomach, he really felt empty.

“You can’t, go to the court quickly. Uncle is a leisurely and wealthy man, are you so blessed?” Tao Xinhe’s indifferent words made Gu Ningxi smile, and Cheng Shicheng was quite unhappy.

Tao Xinhe rubbed her forehead, this scene was not good enough to drive away Cheng Shicheng directly, so she politely asked him to stay with some porridge and side dishes, and asked Qiangniang to apologize to him, the man’s big matchmaker, in person.

Gu Ningxi reluctantly left her seat, murmured the words “the future will be long, not day and night”, not knowing whether to say it to herself or to Tao Xinhe, after walking out of the flower hall, she walked to the guest courtyard by familiar ways, reading books and happily following her.

Cheng Shicheng saw that Huating recovered the state of both him and Tao Xinhe, but he didn’t feel the slightest sense of victory to drive away his rival.

Although Tao Xinqiang’s twittering was not a cold spot for a breakfast meal, when Tao Xinhe sent him to the gate of the house, he said seriously: “Uncle, I was in the flower hall just now. Under your witness, I promised Gu Ningxi to come back again. Thank you, Uncle The generosity that made it possible for us, for which I cannot thank you enough.”

Cheng Shicheng’s ominous feeling came true, and he wanted to say something, but he swallowed the words again, and there was nothing suitable to say.

“As long as you don’t get married for a day, I have a chance, right A Tao?” He could only leave this sentence behind, as if saving face, and fled.

**

Although Gu Ningxi came to court that day a little late, the emperor didn’t think it was a nuisance, and officially issued the decree to seal him as a fourth-rank official as usual, relying more and more on him, Gu Ningxi quickly improved his skills, and grew into a veritable official.

His reputation went from being a “duanfang gentleman” to a low point at this time, and gradually became a “smiling fox”. Someone added, “Still a smiling fox who doesn’t know people”!

He went in and out of Tao’s mansion frequently, getting along with Tao Xinhe became more and more natural, tried to show sincerity, and his body gradually recuperated.

According to Tao Xinhe’s later addition, “After one and a half years after Mrs. Gu’s death, you will have to fulfill your filial piety as the eldest son’s grandson, and then it will not be too late to talk about marriage.”

At the beginning of September in the third year of Yongsheng, the Hong family gave birth to a daughter, and Tao Xinhe became an aunt.

After the child was born for the third time, she declined to be persuaded by her relatives to keep her, and moved to a small independent courtyard that she had bought a long time ago, many of which Gu Ningxi helped take care of.

At the end of September, Cheng Jia and Gu Runing got married. Gu Ningxi was unable to attend the ceremony because of the “one and a half years of filial piety”. Tao Xinhe was sitting in the lady’s chair, and gave two gifts, one for cousin Gu Ningxi and one for sister Tao Jushi. name.

As the foster father of the groom, Cheng Shicheng left all the guests behind and talked to Tao Xinhe for a long while, watching her profile from afar, and got himself drunk.

Not long afterward, the Chen family’s incident happened and they were imprisoned, involving a lot of things. Uncle Jichang’s mansion was full of joy. His uncle was wise and powerful, and he alienated the family from the second half of the year. This time there was no disturbance.

Someone vaguely heard that the youngest daughter of Tao Cheng’s family, a member of the Ministry of Industry, had discussed marriage with the Chen family but failed. She came to the door with a broken mouth and asked, but was ridiculed by Tao Xinhe, who went back because she looked at Gu Ningxi, who was doting on her face behind her, and dared not come out. back.

On March 18th of the fourth year of Yongsheng, Tao Xinhe accompanied Gu Ningxi to pay homage to Mrs. Gu, and silently supported and organized the anniversary memorial service for the old man.

In mid-June, the new third sister-in-law found under Gu Ningxi’s guidance married Tao Xinqiang. Tao Xinhe let go of another worry.

In August, Mo Qiqi sent a letter from Quezhou to Beijing, saying that she and Brother Zhang’s child was born, and that she was going to find her uncle and aunt for a birthday present.

Gu Ningxi tentatively asked Tao Xinhe that night, is it our turn? Suddenly, when Tao Xinhe nodded his head to marry, he was in a daze for a long time, and stayed up all night, the servants whispered, listening to the master laughing from time to time, he just laughed like this all night, it was scary.

On September 18th, Mrs. Gu’s year and a half of filial piety passed, and Gu Ningxi and Tao Xinhe got married.

The couple cherished the second fate of going around and going around. They communicated in a timely manner when they had something to say, and respected and understood each other. Zhang Yangyang has lived his life.

Naturally, Gu Ningxi never met anyone who could see clearly, no matter male or female. He has never painted a portrait again, even if it is Tao Xinhe’s, he can’t paint it. The one that coaxed Tao Xinhe to change his mind back then seemed to be blessed by God, and he could never reproduce it again.

At his second wedding, he did not swear “a couple for life”, but used his actual actions to fulfill the agreement that the couple knew each other, and stay together forever.

Gu Ningxi later became the prime minister of the peak of the people and ministers. People talked about his resemblance to his grandfather and his strength. They widely publicized his deeds of serving the people in politics and getting along with the emperor and his ministers. They also separated him and his wife Tao Shi. The lifelong legends have been compiled into storybooks and unofficial histories, and have lived for a long, long time in the population of later generations.

(End of text.)