"The people in the City of Wei are still able to receive money and know how to take care of Sangsang. I'm sure he will continue to respect you and Little Mo in the future and have a sense of belonging to the Academy."
The Headmaster turned around and looked at Ning Que who was in a coma. He smiled and said, "Of course, these are all unimportant things. But I think they might affect the child's future choices.
Eldest Brother frowned slightly when he heard Sangsang's name. But he did not comment on it. Instead, he suddenly said, "I always remember this sentence in Love Lotus, which you wrote many years ago."
The Headmaster stopped and turned around to look at his favorite Eldest Disciple. He said slowly, "That article was originally written about you."
Eldest Brother lowered his head and said, "I don't deserve it."
The Headmaster said, "There is no perfect person in the world. But in terms of morality and temperament, you are better than me, better than your Youngest Uncle, and better than anyone I've met in these years. But you did not do well in the matter a few days ago. You are not as good as Jun Mo."
Eldest Brother listened to his teacher's criticism in silence. Then he said, "I'm afraid that the people of the Buddhism Sect have seen something wrong with the big black umbrella on Youngest Brother's back. We have to be careful."
The Headmaster looked at him quietly and suddenly flicked his sleeves. The withered leaves on the street flew into the silent night sky, as if they were leaving some clues behind the stars.
"We haven't even found him in the Underworld, let alone Yama."
"We haven't even found Yama's Son."
"I feel sorry for that little girl, let alone this silly boy."
The Headmaster looked at Ning Que who was still in a coma and smiled.
Then, he calmly said, "In the past, I've said that no one has the right to make judgments on things that cannot be understood or confirmed in the world, and even more so, we cannot cut off the development of any possibility just to eliminate a certain bad possibility, because living is the collection of countless possibilities."
Eldest Brother thought of the argument with his Younger Brother at the back of the mountain of the Academy that night. He suddenly realized that he had forgotten what his teacher had taught him. Perhaps it was because he was too tired to carry Ning Que on his back, or because he was too shocked, he suddenly sweated profusely and soaked his old coat.
"Teacher, I was wrong."
The Headmaster of the Academy smiled and turned to walk forward. Eldest Brother carried Ning Que on his back and followed behind him. It was a late night at the end of winter. In an alley of Chang 'an, a teacher walked calmly with his two most beloved students. No one knew where they would end up.
…
…
Late at night in Chang 'an City, more than 9,000 lights had been put out. Other than the lights on the walls of the Imperial Palace, only the bustling gambling houses and brothels in the Western City were still lit. There were many ministers and wealthy businessmen living in the Southern City, so it was heavily guarded. It was already dark, but there was still a mansion with lights on tonight.
In the mansion of the Grand Secretary of the Imperial Library, Mrs. Zeng sat on a round stool in the study, wiping away her tears. Her well-maintained face was full of sorrow and pity.
Zeng Jing, the Grand Secretary, looked at her and sighed, saying, "Your daughter has been brought back. Why are you still so sad? She is still a little unfamiliar now, but in a few days, she will be able to call you mother. Don't be too anxious. "
Mrs. Zeng looked up at him and said sadly, "How can I not understand this? Do I have to force my daughter to do this today? I just feel that she has suffered too much over the years. As a mother, I always feel sad and guilty. I can't help but cry when I see her like this."
Zeng Jing, the Grand Secretary, asked in surprise, "How is she?"
"The little building in Jingmin Garden that she lived in originally had four big and four small maids. But when I went there earlier, I found that the eight maids had all been driven out by my daughter. When I went into the building and asked, do you know what my daughter said? She said that she was only used to serving others and not being served. "
As Mrs. Zeng spoke, her tears fell again. She looked at the Grand Secretary and said, "How do you think I, as a mother, feel when I hear this? And don't hide it from me. I know why you hesitated yesterday. You are worried that the Empress wants to win over the Academy, so you don't want your daughter to completely break off the relationship with her damned main family. "
Zeng Jing thought about the observation of the steward and had a better impression of Sangsang. Although his daughter, whom he had not seen for many years, was not very talkative and seemed a little unlikeable, she was actually calm, pleasant, and well-educated. He nodded and stroked his beard, thinking about the Empress's words. After a moment of silence, he said, "After all, she is our daughter. No matter what the Empress wants, she will not leave us. Don't worry."
At this moment, there was a sudden clatter of hooves on the street outside the Grand Secretary's Mansion. The Academy was far away from the gate, but it was a quiet night, so the clatter was so clear and even soul-stirring.
Zeng Jing frowned slightly, stood up, and looked out of the study.
With the rapid footsteps, the steward of the Grand Secretary's Mansion respectfully led a eunuch into the study.
Zeng Jing looked at the eunuch's face, and his frown deepened. He waved his hand to dismiss all the servants, poured a cup of tea, and handed it to the eunuch. He opened his mouth but did not say anything.
It was quiet in the study.
Zeng Jing thought the Empress was inquiring about his daughter's return from the Old Brush Pen Shop, so he thought of many excuses in his mind. However, before he could speak, the eunuch smiled and said, "Your Excellency Zeng, this is the Emperor's decree."
Zeng Jing was enlightened at first. No wonder it was Eunuch Lin who came. Then he was confused. In the past years of Tianqi era, the Tang Empire had been prosperous, and the people were peaceful. It was rare to see such an urgent decree in the middle of the night. Even if something happened at the border, the Emperor would not send a eunuch to summon a civil official to the palace. Moreover, the eunuch was sent by the Emperor, the head eunuch with the highest rank.
Eunuch Lin did not give Zeng Jing more time to think, and said softly, "His Majesty is very happy to know about the reunion of the Grand Secretary and his daughter. He will probably send the relevant decree tomorrow, so he came to congratulate you tonight."
There was no need to come late at night to congratulate him. Zeng Jing knew there must be more to the decree.
As expected, Eunuch Lin continued, "But Sangsang is still Ning Que's handmaiden according to the household register. To prevent people from gossiping, His Majesty asked the Grand Secretary to send her back to the Old Brush Pen Shop tonight."
Zeng Jing looked angry. He thought that His Majesty's order was completely unreasonable. There was no reason to separate his own flesh and blood. He said in a deep voice, "I want to go to the palace to see His Majesty."
Eunuch Lin seemed to have guessed that he would have such a reaction. He walked two steps forward and whispered in his ear, "This is the order of the Headmaster of the Academy."
Zeng Jing was shocked and asked in disbelief, "The Headmaster … has returned to the capital?"
Eunuch Lin sighed and said, "That's right. The Headmaster of the Academy hasn't spoken to the palace for many years. You should know the weight of his rare words. Even if he asks His Majesty to tear down the Daming Palace, I'm afraid His Majesty will really tear down the Daming Palace. His Majesty has regarded himself as a student of the Headmaster of the Academy and has never disobeyed him."
Zeng Jing hesitated.
Mrs. Zeng suddenly said in a trembling voice, "I have lost her for more than ten years. If my daughter doesn't want to leave, no one can take her away from me."
Mrs. Zeng was not from a powerful family, nor did she have any relationship with the big families in Qinghe County. Before marrying Zeng Jing as a concubine, she was just an ordinary girl. In the Tang Empire, it was these ordinary people who had the simplest and most resolute feelings and views of right and wrong.
In front of such simple and resolute feelings and views of right and wrong, power and strength often lost their original magic. Whether it was the Headmaster of the Academy or the Emperor, they might have to temporarily avoid it.
Eunuch Lin was slightly stunned. He secretly respected the Grand Secretary's wife and said softly, "Madam, you have misunderstood. Of course, we have to listen to Miss Sangsang first. His Majesty's decree is only for you not to stop her. I was wondering if you could let Miss Sangsang come out and listen to me?"
Zeng Jing and his wife looked at each other and thought that since His Majesty had said so, it was indeed not good for them to be too tough. So they sent someone to Jingmin Garden to see if Sangsang was asleep.
Sangsang naturally did not sleep well when she was not in the Old Brush Pen Shop. Last night, she kept her eyes open and looked at the complicated and beautiful patterns on the curtains. Tonight, she sat by the window in a daze.
She came to the study.
Eunuch Lin only said one sentence, "Ning Que is seriously injured."
Sangsang was silent for a moment and then turned to walk out of the study, as if she did not hear anything.
After a moment, she came back with her luggage.
She bowed to the Grand Secretary and his wife and said in a low voice, "I will go and have a look. I will be back tomorrow."
Then she thought for a moment and added, "I will be back when he is better."
…
…
The bamboo forest in the Reception Yard was blown by the night wind, like a dark blue sea, like the dense water grass in the Ink Lake in late autumn. The disciples of the Black Ink Garden did not know what Senior Brother Ning Que and the Hill Master had said during the day, nor did they know what had happened. They were all sound asleep in their own rooms.
Mo Shanshan did not sleep. She looked at the sections of calligraphy in front of her in the candlelight. They were all written by Ning Que during the day. The ink was dry but still fresh, as if they still had the smell of that day.
Zhuo Zhihua came in wearing an unlined garment. She looked at her face and said worriedly, "What on earth happened? Why did you have to leave Chang 'an in advance?"
Mo Shanshan looked at the sections of calligraphy in the candlelight and smiled. Her red lips were tightly pressed together, like the red line on the willow tree. In the Great River Kingdom, the red line on the willow tree represented marriage.
"I heard that Ning Que was injured before he came today."
Mo Shanshan frowned slightly and asked briefly, "Who?"
"Daoshi Monk from the Yuelun Kingdom. He challenged Ning Que on the street in the morning and was beheaded."
Zhuo Zhihua hesitated for a moment and said, "I heard that Daoshi Monk had been studying scriptures and worshipping Buddha in the Xuankong Temple for many years. His state is very high, so I think Ning Que must have been seriously injured."
Mo Shanshan stood up and sat down slowly after a moment of silence.
"So you were injured when you were writing. But why didn't you tell me?"
The candle wick, which had not been cut for a long time, was slightly curled. The light was dim and reflected on the girl's white dress with a pale yellow color. But when it reflected on her face, it still could not hide the slight paleness.
…
…
(Try to finish the second chapter and the third chapter before midnight.) (To be continued.) If you like this work, please come to Qidian.Com to vote for me. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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