That year, he and Murong Chuyi were still very young. It could even be said that they were immature and inexperienced.
He didn't know that the boy in front of him, who looked younger than him, was actually his uncle in terms of seniority. He thought that this was a young master brought by a guest and secretly went to the courtyard to admire the flowers.
Murong Chuyi didn't seem to be in a good mood. He was so focused on looking at the plum blossoms that he didn't notice that someone had come behind him.
It wasn't until the green oil-paper umbrella with the image of a crane in the sky on one corner stretched out from the top of his head, blocking his snow and his flowers that he was startled and abruptly turned his head around.
Jiang Yexue smiled at him with the attitude of an elder brother. "Whose child are you? Why don't you use an umbrella in such a heavy snowstorm? "
Murong Chuyi's eyes widened. He first took a step back, then two steps back. The expression on his face gradually changed from surprise to indifference. He didn't answer Jiang Yexue's question. Instead, he directly said,
"… Who are you? What are you doing here? "
This question was simple, rude, and impolite. It seemed that the other party didn't want to talk nonsense with him.
However, Jiang Yexue had a good temper. He was like a gentleman who was carved and polished. Although he was young, he often tolerated and took care of others. So he smiled and said, "My surname is Yue. My name is Yue Yexue. As for why I'm here … It's because this is my home. The plum blossoms you're looking at are also my favorite. "
Hearing this, the other party narrowed his eyes for some reason. "Oh? You're Yue Yexue, Xie Yilan's child? "
Jiang Yexue suddenly heard such a young child call his mother's name directly, and even called her wrongly. No matter how well-mannered he was, he couldn't help but feel a little amused and annoyed.
However, he didn't lose his temper. He just reached out and pulled the boy to his side. He pulled him under his large oil-paper umbrella and gently lectured him. "Listen carefully. My mother's name is Xie Lanyi, not Xie Yilan. Also, the snow is very heavy. You'll catch a cold if you stand there like an idiot. Let's go. I'll take you to the Flower Hall to see your elders. "
The other party unceremoniously slapped his hand away. "You have no manners. Do you know who you're talking to? "
Jiang Yexue couldn't help but laugh. He smiled and said, "You …"
"Child?" Murong Chuyi took off the hood of his cloak and smoothed out his messy hair. He looked at Yue Yexue seriously and said, "Yue Yexue, I'm your uncle."
Jiang Yexue's eyes widened. "…"
After a while, she burst out laughing and reached out to touch the boy's forehead.
While probing, he laughed, "Oh, you. Did you catch a cold and burn your head? "
Jiang Yexue couldn't remember how the farce ended. He only remembered that in the end, Murong Chuyi left unhappily. After the wedding banquet, he followed his mother to pay a visit to Eldest Madam and when he was serving tea to Eldest Madam, he discovered that the young man under the plum blossom tree was actually standing beside Murong Huang, looking at him indifferently.
It was only then that he realized that the boy in white, who was about the same age as him, was actually his uncle.
His name was Murong Chuyi.
Although Murong Chuyi lived in the same residence as him, he didn't like to interact with others. It was very rare for him to show up three out of ten days. At first, Jiang Yexue wanted to talk to him, but he was rebuffed so many times that he gave up.
Teacher Song had taught him that the friendship between gentlemen was as light as water. He had always wanted to be self-disciplined. Murong Chuyi didn't want to interact with him too much, so he didn't force him.
However, not everyone in the world was as gentle and kind as Teacher Song. After Murong Huang and the Yue Juntian got married, he could keenly feel the changes in people's attitudes, whether it was at home or outside. Those who used to flatter and fawn on him were the first to disappear. After that, some elders no longer smiled at him as warmly as before.
He was just a kind person, but he wasn't stupid. He saw all these things and knew the reason why. However, he was gentle and didn't care about favor or humiliation, so he didn't care.
Only Lady Xie's resentment grew stronger and stronger, which made him feel worried and distressed. She always told him what kind of jewelry the Yue Juntian gave Murong Huang today, how much the jewelry cost, and how precious it was. Or perhaps she should tell him what kind of outfit Murong Huang had bought today, or what kind of clothes she had bought …..
As time passed, her words became more and more unpleasant to the ears. Sometimes, her words were so unpleasant to the ears that Jiang Yexue frowned slightly. However, because she was his mother, she could only sigh in her heart. It wasn't that he didn't comfort her, but as long as he said something to enlighten her, she would glare at him and scold him, saying that he didn't want to improve himself and didn't know pain and suffering.
Over time, Jiang Yexue had no choice but to keep quiet.
Later, Lady Xie's jealousy towards Murong Huang became more and more serious. When Murong Huang became pregnant, her hatred made her face become distorted.
Murong Huang was a member of the royal family and was also the legal wife. Everyone coaxed her as if they were plucking stars or plucking the moon. The preferential treatment that Lady Xie received was something that she had never experienced before, even when she was pregnant with Jiang Yexue.
The servants took advantage of the situation and the difference in their attitudes towards the two mistresses became more and more obvious. Even some of the manservants who had received a lot of care from Jiang Yexue in the past began to act strangely. Lady Xie hated it so much that she said to Jiang Yexue, "Look, you said that you would win people over with virtue and that you would adapt to circumstances. Who did you submit to? How did you live your life peacefully? "
Although Jiang Yexue didn't feel good, he still insisted that his way of dealing with people wasn't wrong. It was easy to seek riches and honor, but difficult to have a clear conscience.
Gradually, even his father distanced himself from him in order to take care of Murong Huang's feelings. In the entire residence, other than Teacher Song, no one was willing to approach him.
His heart was more or less uncomfortable.
It was also in the late spring of that year that Teacher Song fell ill and couldn't get out of bed. He couldn't teach him the art of refining for the time being. Jiang Yexue thought about it and made some craftsmen himself. However, he had always respected and cared about his teacher and couldn't bear to disturb him when he was ill. So, he took these craftsmen and went to find other craftsmen in the residence.
However, all he got were evasions and pretended to be helpless and refused.
"I'm sorry, Childe Yexue. I still have a lot of work to do today."
"I'm really sorry, Childe Yexue. I'm not feeling well. I'll practice with you when I'm better. What do you think?"
"I'm not skilled enough. I'm afraid I can't give you any advice."
He asked everyone in the residence, but no one was willing.
Jiang Yexue held the wooden mecha he made and walked in the empty corridor with his head lowered. Just as he was at a loss, he suddenly heard someone call him from behind.
"Yue Yexue."
He turned around with disappointment and sadness on his face. However, he saw Murong Chuyi's face.
His uncle frowned. "What's with your expression?" Then, he walked over from behind the arched door and looked down at the mecha in his arms.
"You made this?"
"Yes."
Murong Chuyi picked up one of the small hourglasses and looked at it carefully. "Eastern Pearl Blood Crystal as the sand and sandalwood as the body … Did you come up with this idea yourself?"
Jiang Yexue also knew about his reputation as a craftsman. He said awkwardly, "Yes."
Murong Chuyi didn't laugh at him. He put down the small hourglass and said, "… Come to my craftsmen's room. I'll teach you."
Jiang Yexue didn't expect that Murong Chuyi would take the initiative to teach him. He couldn't help but open his eyes wide and stand there in a daze.
Murong Chuyi walked forward after saying this. After walking for a while, he saw that Jiang Yexue didn't move. He turned around indifferently and said, "Why aren't you following?"
"… Oh, okay. Okay …"
The days that followed, until Yue Chenqing was born, could be considered the most fulfilling and happiest days of Jiang Yexue's life.
Although Murong Chuyi wasn't much older than him, he was very accomplished in the art of craftsmen. He taught him many refining methods and secret techniques that he had never thought of before.
Between the two of them, Murong Chuyi always did things his own way. He didn't care what other people thought of him. He also didn't care whether Jiang Yexue was popular or what status he had in the family. And Jiang Yexue was even more comforted by Murong Chuyi's rare soulmate. No matter what his mother said, he went to Murong Chuyi's craftsmen's room every day to look for him.
Because of this, Lady Xie's words became more and more unpleasant to hear. Her disappointment in him also deepened day by day. She said that he was "unfilial" and "favoring an outsider". She even thought that Murong Chuyi was sent by Murong Huang to drive a wedge between mother and son. She called him a "little slut".
And once, when she insulted Murong Chuyi and was stopped by Jiang Yexue, she flew into a rage at him. From then on, she didn't want to talk to him anymore. She refused to listen to any of his explanations. She also didn't want to let him go back to live in her other courtyard.
Jiang Yexue didn't want to quarrel with his mother. He also didn't want to make a big fuss and make people laugh at his mother. Therefore, he had no choice but to ask Murong Chuyi if he could live in his courtyard for the time being.
Murong Chuyi glanced at the furnishings in the courtyard.
On the craftsmen's table, there was Jiang Yexue's set of knives and rulers. There was also a stool that Jiang Yexue often sat on. There were even some small things that Murong Chuyi didn't like and that Jiang Yexue often used on the table.
Murong Chuyi coldly replied, "Do you think it makes a difference whether you ask me or not?"
Jiang Yexue was speechless.
The two teenagers also had times when they were particularly idle. Murong Chuyi wasn't as uninterested as the outside world thought. He would buy palm-sized bamboo warriors that the children on the roadside liked. Then, he would lazily lie on the bamboo couch and ask Jiang Yexue to come and fight with him. As he fought, he thought of some new magic tools. Therefore, he would spend the whole night drawing. Often, he would lie on the ground and fall asleep while holding the rules. When he woke up, he would continue drawing.
Almost every time Murong Chuyi fell asleep, Jiang Yexue couldn't help but take a few more glances at him.
How could this person be his uncle?
He was obviously so young and inexperienced. When he lay on the ground and held the brush to sleep, he would often accidentally stain his face with the ink on the brush tip.
He was so silly.
Once, Murong Chuyi was half asleep. He probably dreamed of something, so he woke up in a daze. In his half-awake state, he noticed that Jiang Yexue was looking at him. He asked impatiently, "Why are you looking at me?"
Jiang Yexue's voice was so gentle that it surprised even himself.
He smiled and said to him in a low voice, "I feel that my uncle is very dignified."
Murong Chuyi probably didn't understand his joke, or maybe he didn't even hear what he was saying. He only snorted softly. His long eyelashes fluttered, and he fell asleep again.
Jiang Yexue remembered that it was at that time when she looked at him that she felt an obscure and terrifying impulse. That impulse made her shudder and even made her want to run away.
At that time, he didn't dare to think too deeply. If he did, he would probably wonder how he could have committed such a heinous crime. Even if they weren't related by blood, even if Murong Chuyi was just an abandoned child picked up by Murong Huang, his status was still there. If he had such thoughts about Murong Chuyi, how much of a gentleman would he be?
Just like that, several months passed in a daze and trembling with fear. Finally, Murong Huang gave birth.
Following the baby's loud and clear cry, two people from this illustrious family fell into hell from then on.
One was his mother, Lady Xie. Because the Yue family welcomed its true legitimate son, a baby boy born of the first wife, Yue Juntian named him Chenqing.
Chenqing, Chenqing … Murong Huang's son was bright. It meant that the sky was clear and the sun was rising from the east. But what was her child? A long night of snow. Even if it was once a thousand miles of mountains and rivers, once the sun came out, it would all melt. Nothing would be left.
How could she not be bitterly disappointed? How could she not be resentful?
The other person who fell into hell was Murong Chuyi.
Because Murong Huang died in childbirth, he was caught off guard and lost the "sister" and "mother" who had adopted him and given him a second life.
He had no benefactors left.
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