Under this surging undercurrent, New Year's Eve finally arrived.
Replace old peach charms with new ones, sweeping away the bad luck of the past. This year has come in the most difficult years, and everyone has many hopes in their hearts.
Early in the morning, the sound of carriages rolling over the bluestones turned all the way from the long street of the city gate into the square. Finally, the dusty carriage stopped in front of Wangxuewu Gate.
A young and elegant woman stepped out of the carriage, holding a teenage boy in her right hand and holding a sleeping girl in her arms.
The boy guarding the door was sleepy. When he saw the person coming, he rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
At the same time, Nan Yi, who was lying on the desk, suddenly woke up. There was a long Buddhist scripture spread out on the table.
She didn't have time to dress up, so she rushed out of the room in a hurry - she stayed up all night, checking every word, and she found the traitor!
As soon as she left the yard and wanted to find Xie Sui'an, she noticed that the whole house was unusually commotion, and she didn't know what had happened.
Xie Sui'an also ran towards the door in a hurry, and the two happened to bump into each other in the corridor.
In fact, the two of them hadn't seen each other for several days. When they met, they both burst into laughter. The slightly awkward relationship was restored to its original state in this smile.
In the end, she is a kind-hearted girl, and after a while, it all disappeared.
Nan Yi rolled up Xie Sui'an's sleeve and was confused: "What happened?"
Xie Sui'an's face was filled with great joy: "My second sister is back!"
At this time, Nan Yi heard the sounds of surprise and joy coming from the front yard one after another.
"Mrs. Gantang is back!"
Xie Tang'an is the daughter of the Xie family, and she married into the Dingyuan Marquis Mansion early. Her husband was the younger brother of the late Queen, so she naturally had a close relationship with the late Queen. When she was granted the title of Madam Gaoming, the Queen specially gave her the word "Gantang" as a mark of honor.
Nan Yi swallowed back what he was about to say. At this time, it seemed that it was not the right time to chat with Xie Sui'an, so the matter was not that urgent.
*
Mrs. Gantang came back to attend the funeral after receiving the news of Xie Heng's death. However, there was a lot of fighting on the road, which delayed her for a lot of time. She finally arrived home in time for New Year's Eve.
Her biological mother, Xie's aunt, has passed away, and her wet nurse, Hu, is still in the house. Mrs. Hu usually stayed by the Dowager's side to take care of her and lived in seclusion. At this time, she held her hand and burst into tears.
The reunion of relatives in troubled times is even more precious. Even the wife on the hospital bed was in high spirits, holding her two great-grandsons and smiling from ear to ear.
The entire Xie Mansion was immersed in an atmosphere of reunion.
Nan Yi had nowhere to put her place, and just when she was about to huddle in a corner in dejection, she heard Mrs. Gan Tang's refreshing voice: "Is this the widow in the eldest brother's room?"
The crowd's eyes fell on Nan Yi.
Nan Yi grinned a dry smile, walked out and saluted Mrs. Gantang.
Mrs. Gantang looked at her with pity: "You look like you are still a child, but you are left a widow for the Xie family. You have suffered a lot."
Everyone in the Xie family looked down upon her, thinking that she deserved all the hardships she suffered. No one had ever said such pity to Nan Yi, and Nan Yi suddenly felt good about her.
"I heard that you are in charge of the backyard now?"
Nan Yi thought about what she meant. He probably wanted to give her this empty position, so he took the initiative and said: "Yes, but I have always been vulgar and cannot take on such a big responsibility. Please ask Mrs. Gantang to find someone else who is qualified." .”
"It doesn't matter, you can afford it. There are a lot of trivial matters during and outside the year, so I'll help you take care of them, so you can get started quickly."
She speaks neither hastily nor slowly, does not talk in circles, and is not domineering. She is steady and decisive, which makes people extremely comfortable.
But Nan Yi is still a little confused - it's not like there's no one in the Xie family, why do we have to ask her to do such troublesome things!
Only Xie Sui'an was happy: "Okay, second sister, with you here, my sister-in-law will be able to keep the backyard in good order!"
Suddenly, the noise in the hall became weaker.
It's Xie Queshan who's back.
He stood outside the hall, watching from a distance, knowing that he had nothing to do with this family reunion. It would be inappropriate to come in, but it would also be rude not to come in.
Everyone looked at Xie Queshan and then at Mrs. Gantang. Everyone will experience a moment of embarrassment when they meet Xie Queshan again.
Although they are blood relatives, their positions are completely different. There was once a bit of family affection, but now they should hate each other more than love.
Mrs. Gantang's expression was still as usual. She had already heard about Xie Queshan's return on the way here.
"Xie San, come here."
Nan Yi's eyes widened - she had never seen anyone dare to use Xie Queshan so casually!
However, Xie Queshan didn't show any displeasure. He walked over meekly and said, "Second sister."
"Now that you're back, let's live a good life."
The hall was silent, no one dared to answer.
"Okay, second sister." Xie Queshan replied.
"I see that the guards at home have all been replaced by Qi people." Mrs. Gantang said with a smile.
When she came in just now, Qi Ren didn't know who she was and had no sense to stop her. He almost had a conflict with the servants at home.
Everyone held their breath, and there was always a smell of gunpowder.
Mrs. Gantang looked calm and called to the door: "Tang Rong."
After a while, Mrs. Gantang's bodyguard Tang Rong came in from outside, holding a heavy wooden box in his hand.
Tang Rong placed the wooden box on the table and opened it. Inside was neatly stacked silver.
Mrs. Gantang pushed the wooden box to Xie Queshan: "This is some food and drink money. Xie San, you take it and distribute it to your Qi brothers, so that they can have a good New Year."
The implication is that this year, let those Qi soldiers get out of Wangxuewu.
Xie Queshan paused.
This wooden box is engraved with the signboard of Lidu Mansion Bank, and it was clearly picked up by Mrs. Gantang just before returning to her home. It is difficult to divide banknotes, but money is real property. If someone is soft-spoken and short-handed, Qi people have to withdraw after they take the money. It seemed that she had already thought about what to do first when she came back.
Before she came, no one in the Xie family dared to do this, or in other words, there was no such a shameless woman who could stand her ground. Lu Jinxiu's knees were too weak and he acted according to the wind, Xie Sui'an was too fiery and unwilling to give in; the rest were old and young, and as for Nan Yi, he was not a talker at all.
"Is there any question?" Seeing that Xie Queshan didn't answer, Mrs. Gantang raised her eyes. There was still a smile on his face, but his tone was a bit serious.
Everyone did not dare to express their anger, and waited with trepidation for Xie Queshan's reaction.
"Second sister, this is not easy to handle." Xie Queshan was very respectful.
"That's why I asked you to make arrangements." The voice was very firm.
"...Okay, second sister."
Nan Yi was so shocked that her jaw dropped! Is this still Xie Queshan? He even dared to disobey his own father and grandmother, but he was respectful to his sister.
Is this bloodline suppression?
——Yes, Xie Queshan has been afraid of his second sister since he was a child.
Xie Queshan was also naughty when he was young. Xie Jun had no interest in his mother and naturally did not pay much attention to this son. Occasionally, he would think of it and would educate him vigorously and resolutely in order to show his authority. However, this was not the case for Xie Jun. It had little effect on Shan, a rebellious person.
Only in front of his second sister, who is six years older than him, he dare not make a mistake. The second sister never makes mistakes, knows the general principles, and understands the rules, but she is not as pedantic and timid as ordinary women from aristocratic families, and she does things very grandly. The rewards and punishments she gave to her younger siblings were fair and just and convincing. With just a single glance from her, her naughty younger siblings would immediately know what to do.
This respect is engraved in my bones.
Even today, Xie Queshan dare not disobey his second sister.
Everyone in the Xie family was secretly happy. Finally, someone could control the devil Xie Queshan.
However, Nan Yi vaguely felt that Mrs. Gantang's sudden return home was not that simple, and perhaps there was a deeper meaning behind it.
……
On this New Year's Eve, everyone had dinner together and gathered lively for a while before dispersing.
Xie Queshan took a few mouthfuls and left early. Without him, everyone can relax.
Nan Yi also said goodbye during the dinner and went back to her room. This Xie family reunion had nothing to do with her, so she could only sit there bored.
Back in the room, Nan Yi saw a tray on the table.
There was a new set of clothes in the tray. When I shook it open, I saw that the inner part was a goose yellow short coat, made of extremely thick material, with a hundred chrysanthemum pattern embroidered on the placket. The bottom was a gold-printed hundred-flower skirt embroidered with dots of white plums. , and also wears a long white jacket with fur on the collar and sleeves. The whole body is made of silk and satin.
Nan Yi jumped for joy. The clothes she usually wore were randomly picked out by Lu Jinxiu from the Xie family's warehouse and brought to her. Although they were warm enough, they were somewhat shabby, but this set of clothes was made with a lot of thought. It was also her. of stature.
She expected that this kind of thing from her daughter's house was a gift from Xie Sui'an, but when she looked at the tray, she saw a stack of rice paper copybooks underneath.
The copybook began with his powerful font that penetrated the back of the paper. Nan Yi could only understand the last three words: Nian, Kuai, and Le.
You can only guess the first word, it is the word "new".
Nan Yi was shocked. Besides Xie Queshan, who else could be there?
He actually remembered that she was reluctant to throw away a piece of blood-stained clothes and gave her a new set of clothes on New Year's Eve.
"Happy New Year."
He said to her through the paper.
Nan Yi held the clothes, put her head in and took a deep breath.
It smells like new clothes, scented with fine sandalwood. She smelled carefully again, trying to detect a hint of the smell that had passed through his hands.
She always felt that there was.
Nan Yi was very happy. On this night of bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new, she actually had the illusion of being settled.
But when her eyes accidentally glanced at the Buddhist scriptures spread out on the table, a trace of heaviness emerged again.
She carefully compared all the handwriting last night and confirmed that the handwriting in the snow dock was Qiao Yinzhi. She didn't have time to tell Xie Sui'an today, so she could only discuss countermeasures with her tomorrow.
Before that, she observed the people in Wangxuewu. She had suspected them of being sneaky and suspicious, but she never thought it could be this person.
She watched her longing and sadness for Xie Heng's passing. Everyone was busy with their new lives, but she was the only one who couldn't get out and stayed in Huaixu Courtyard. She was just a concubine, and no one cared how she lived.
Everyone believed that she loved Xie Hengzai, and Nan Yi also believed it.
If Qiao Yinzhi didn't love Xie Hengzai, how could he be so hostile to Nan Yi? This hostility comes from the heart to protect the husband, and is by no means an act on occasion.
But it just so happens that underneath this mask of deep love is a ruthless spy. It was she who betrayed Xie Hengzai's most important plan.
Nan Yi even dared to say that Xie Hengzai's death had something to do with her.
Everyone has a skin on their face, hiding greed, anger, stupidity and resentment. What she can see is only one ten millionth of what is seen on the surface of the water.
Thinking of this, Nan Yi's heart that had just warmed up calmed down.
For a hard-hearted person like Xie Queshan, even if he occasionally gave her some kindness and mercy, it would probably be just a form of bribery, and it couldn't be true.
