Chapter 098 – Lantern
In the darkness of the night, the two carriages drove into an inconspicuous alley, the carriage was luxurious and wide, which made the alley more cramped and narrow. Xiangfan City as the lair of the Green Party, the word rich and powerful are clearly distinguishable, the rich subdivided subdivided king and marquis such as Wang Linquan’s stream, due to the lack of family history and reputation, even if there is a mansion in the city, but also do not often live, and noble such as one of the mainstay of the family pillar of the Lu family, along with the rest of the family together with the big hidden in the city in the alleyway on both sides of the mansion, their mansion, almost with the imperial clan residence specifications, and the Wang Linquan in the basilica hill. The main door, no matter how grand, but also only the mansion door of the rich people, can not be called the door of the House. And this in the people of Qingzhou known as the sheep house sandwiched between the road of the hutong, power and wealth, in addition to the flourishing Lu family, the court of six ministers in the oldest minister of the Ministry of Wen Taiyi, and the hand of a state of the military power of the Qingzhou General Hong Lingshu are also adjacent to each other, it is the three great Qingzhou magnate, holding together to support the temple can be the same with the Zhang Gu two parties in the Qing dynasty, but unfortunately, also the three surnames, also the three surnames of the defeat, with the three old ministers of the Lu Wen Hong centrifugal separation, and the three old ministers, the three old ministers, the three old ministers, the three old ministers, the three old ministers, the three old ministers. With the centrifugal separation of the three old worshipers surfacing, the Green Party ceased to exist, the birds and beasts scattered into the rest of the forces. The rest of the high school here, is also a tree toppling monkeys scattering, have to choose another branch to attach, the hearts and minds of the people and then difficult to gather.
If someone can be close to look closely, will find that the threshold with the rank of the owner of the mansion status in line, compared to the ordinary family to be much higher, the rules here can not be exceeded, the world’s so-called door to door and carp jump Dragon Gate, from this, and the sheep house sandwich on the door of the Lu family’s house is the most well-traveled, when the building of the House, the two gates, is a direct carving of the tree, and then made into the door of the house to carry and then loaded, such a huge tree, destined to be less than two people hugged, and then loaded, such a huge tree, destined to be less than two people hugged, so the door of the house to carry the house. Giant tree, destined to two people less than a hug, the threshold of the Lu family is said to be so high that many children have to climb over. The common people can only go around the goat house lane, completely unable to get close to this lane, and even less able to go to the door of the Lu family to find out what is going on.
House door steps stood a pair of eyebrows white kindly old man, carried a bamboo lantern, candlelight slightly shaking, reflecting the old man’s kind face glittering, flower age has been counted as a long life, the old man is actually eighty years old. Around the first eldest grandson is also almost to the age of confusion, the man looks elegant, still wearing the gorgeous four Wenjiao brocade uniforms, he is a member of the reputation of the good officials, but near the end of the year, a lot of things, these days in addition to ascending the Hall to sit in the Yamen, but also to visit the superiors of the officials, socialize with colleagues in the county, and even more under the rule of the young scholars to ask for advice, are trivial but not negligible headache, originally to pick a lamp tonight! Tonight, he was supposed to stay up all night to deal with a large number of books and documents, but when the servant in his residence temporarily informed his ancestor that he had to rush back home, Lu Dongjiang, the county magistrate of Taixi County, had to rush back without having time to change out of his official uniform. The future head of the Lu family looked toward the end of the alley, turned his head and whispered to ask his grandfather whether he would carry the lantern, the old man of the former backbone of the Green Party shook his head, the old man did not say to the eldest grandson of the first who want to visit late at night, since childhood, the fear of this grandfather Lu Dongjiang did not dare to talk too much, this kind of reverence, has stretched to have Lu Breaking the arena of the name of the land of the East Frontier and the years until the two years went to Taixi County when the County Parents, barely considered out of office, only slightly better, not to the old man every time he asked in person straight shivering, afraid that the old man belittled himself. No wonder the Qingzhou famous scholar Lu Dongjiang so unmanly, it is his grandfather is too successful and famous, only with today’s first minister of the master in the former dynasty together with the cabinet of this pile of things, has been enough to let a person worship God.
Lu family has six generations of the same family, but all without exception are living in the old man’s shade shelter, I’m afraid that Lu Dongjiang’s daughter, on the old ancestor can smile and laugh freely, other people do not have the courage. After the old man also topped the title of the countryside on the column of the old man glanced at the mansion across the alley, it is Wen Taiyi that old man’s mansion, counting, now a person in the dynasty a person in the field, almost have to be four or five years have not met face to face, do not meet good ah, always can maintain the face of the peace, unlike with the Hong Lingshu that guy low no see and see, but more and more far away, and even tired of the original relationship between the two families of the two children and grandchildren are two disgusted with each other! Up, not long ago also fought once, so that the young king side, the young man will also do people, and even go out of their way to the identity of the king to pose a bramble to ask for forgiveness of the situation, you a watch the fire from the other side of the Lord of the Qingzhou, do not each hit fifty planks on it, what is the crime of it? The old age can still stay in the capital, often day and night for the king to seek peace, do not feel tired, this moment the old man is really feel some fatigue. Turned his head to look at the door ring on the door of the ceremony, Lu Fei Edward self-deprecating smile, a lifetime of conscientiousness, so many times fearful of trade-offs, only in exchange for such a green oil animal face tin ring that is not inferior to a public official.
Lu Dongjiang saw his grandfather some rare intention of the apprehensive, it is more and more apprehensive. I asked the past few years in charge of Taixi County, do not dare to slacken off, the human contact is no error flaws. Now the court is bold and bold, the great popularity of the imperial examinations, within the jurisdiction of a number of students and his teacher-student relationship with the scholar are all graduated, in the Lu Dongjiang asked himself, the old man suddenly lifted the lantern in his hand, said softly: “This thing has a saying, the more work, the more vulgar, is to say that once the work is too complicated, lose the original flavor, it is too much. Do people is also a reason, who are not disgusted with a figure of eight sides, but who are not good will sincerely become a confidant with this kind of people, and even more will not be in trouble, want to get along with people, always need to know that person’s one or two embarrassing one or two handles in order to be comfortable, in order to rest assured. You in Taixi County, not did not do well, is to do too well, already wood show in the forest. Our Lu family’s eldest grandson’s daughter-in-law is not bad, although it is a small family origin, after arriving here but can hold the family way, she does not like you to get into the womanizer, it is common sense, you are willing to respect her as a guest, it is a good thing to put off those occasions of the occasion of the entertainment, and the entire officialdom is out of place, do you really think that that bit of reputation on the surface, leaving the office of the umbrella of a couple of ten thousand people, you can step on the other people to rise to the top of the line? You must know that now our Lu family in Qingzhou can no longer say nine, and in the future will only deteriorate, with Grandpa alive for a day, everything is okay, and when I close my eyes one day, you are like the world is drunk and you wake up alone attitude is like making enemies on all sides, you may think that you are a good official and a good person, and you have no shame to look up and down, but your father went away early, and a few uncles do not strive for success, and Grandpa has been supporting them for most of their lives and failed to help them up, not to mention contributing to the work, it is not easy to not drag the foot. Not to mention contributing, can not drag the hind legs is not easy, in the future, since you are in charge, it is inevitable that you have to be like that shadow wall behind the door of the ceremonial door, to stand alone, for the family to block all the dirt, you can no longer be like today, take it for granted.”
The old man who seldom spoke at length to his children and grandchildren took a break, looking sullen. Lu Dongjiang’s face was pale, sweating in the middle of winter, the back of his official uniform was drenched in sweat.
Before seeing the carriage, first heard the hooves.
Lu Fei Edward softly lamented: “Officials protect each other, these four words are not good to hear, but out of the true meaning of the official, now the Green Party, the three surnames of the same fire and water, each running for the future not to mention, but also the official officials light, how can we go the long run. Qingzhou chess, grandfather has been unable to return to the sky, the benefits of getting their hands on the hand, it is difficult to grab what from the pocket of Wen Taiyi Hong Lingshu, grandpa can not do, the tiger’s mouth to seize things, you can not. But grandpa can still do one thing before he dies, that is to bring you to sit outside the other chessboard, where there are not many pieces, there is a lot of room for manoeuvre. Unlike the old chessboard where the dogs and teeth are intertwined and every cent counts, even though the Lu family’s chi is not good, yet the Lu family’s children and grandchildren will not starve to death as a result.”
Lu Dongjiang once in the spring god lake with the old man with the northern Liang Chu Lushan secret meeting, although not involved in the conversation, but with his wisdom in the world, or enough to catch the signs end, not to mention the Lu Chengyan secretly returned a trip to the northern Liang, just Lu Dongjiang do not want to think about it, the northern Liang cold and bitter not to mention, the key is the situation is like a tired egg, Lu Dongjiang born in the peace and quiet, accustomed to the drought and floods in the peaceful days, even if his daughter may become a vassal king side consort, is not feel any honor. Is not feel any honor, a moment of pleasure in exchange for a full house, Lu Dongjiang several times are scared to wake up in the middle of the night, but did not dare to question the grandfather’s claim.
With the hoofbeats getting clearer, Lu Dongjiang drummed up enough courage, said through clenched teeth: “Grandpa, in the old chessboard, the Lu family even if the river is declining, at least you can still hope that later appeared in a national player to retake the lost ground, can be replaced with that may be one day will be tipped over the chessboard, regardless of the Lu family chess player is a grandson or who is, only the full plate of the end of all the losses, really want to change? ”
Lu Fei Edward narrowed his eyes, Lu Dongjiang sweating profusely, wipe all dare not wipe, a drum to say the words of the heart after a sudden great reduction in momentum, bowed his head and said: “is the grandson wrong.”
Unexpectedly to this first eldest grandson of the old man who is not meticulous smile unprecedentedly open smile, patted Lu Dongjiang’s shoulders, “Dongjiang, grandpa waited for this day waited for many years.”
Lu Dongjiang looked up sharply with a look of disbelief. Lu Fei Edward looked towards the end of the dimly lit goat house, comfortingly said, “It is not good to revere the past, poetry and human beings are all the same. If you don’t even have the guts to say a word of no to grandpa in this life, grandpa will be very disappointed when he closes his eyes. The reason why grandpa has a soft spot for Yan’er is that she is smarter and more sensible than all of you, and knows when to nod her head and when to shake it. Grandpa’s life in the capital moved through the three departments, by so many people kneeled, many of them are now the six departments of the Secretary, you say that the words of the slipper, how much Grandpa heard? If you go to the capital, it is Bieye will also be treated with courtesy. How can Wen Taiyi and Hong Lingshu compare to your grandfather? Not to mention the fact that one of them had to beg for mercy from Zhang Julu. A person who has eaten too much bird’s nest and shark’s fin, and accidentally eat a small home-cooked food, will only especially for the appetite. But then again, grandpa to this age, inevitably old eyesight, you have to say fifty paces away standing who, grandpa certainly can not answer. However, looking at the current situation, should be farther than you some. Besides, I Lu Fei Edward’s gambling skills gambling luck, has always been not bad, the last bet, God will certainly give some face.”
Lu Dongjiang heart and chest for many years of pent-up frustration swept away, radiant.
The old man laughed: “A good bird chooses a tree, for fear that the tree is not firm, change the family, for fear that the building will fall. But the weather in Northern Liang, where does it look like it’s going to decay, it’s clearly a situation where more and more families are prospering. In the past is a strong branch weak trunk, really should not be attached, but now the trunk gradually grow, when the grandfather in the old age on the way back to his hometown, with a person surnamed Huang talk about the world situation, he said that as long as the father and son to last through two consecutive trips to the capital, that it is worthwhile for outsiders to bet all the family, grandpa thought so, which led to tonight’s meeting, as well as the next Lu family’s back to their hometowns. Lu’s children are good and bad, the future will certainly be some people in the rush to the north after the roots, because of the identity of Yan’er to bullying, you as the head of the family, do not have to be too much constraints, pick a few unbearable Lu family, as a discard, take the initiative to help the new king of the Liang to make an example of, the north of the country in all likelihood will be remembered for this old love. Garden bonsai, want to look good, ultimately is to cut cut cut cut, not give and take can not, under the sky there is no light to get not give a good thing.”
Lu Dongjiang was both creeped out and suddenly said, “The grandson will definitely keep this in mind.”
The old man who always carries a lantern squinted his eyes and tried his best to look at the approaching carriage, his original words were gentle, but invariably they were also a few minutes more urgent, “Grandpa hopes that in the future, when the next imperial government is in turmoil, the Lu family can have an old man like grandpa to teach his children and grandchildren the right advice to clear away the fog, and this is grandpa’s greatest wish.”
Lu Dongjiang’s face suddenly changed drastically, and he said ruefully, “Grandpa, you’re not coming with us to Northern Liang?”
The old man sighed, finally handing the lantern in his hand slowly to this first eldest grandson, smiled and said, “The Lu family has changed to a new proprietor, but someone has to give an explanation to the old proprietor, there is a beginning, there is an end, and this is a kind of give and take. Besides, it’s uncharacteristic to have an empty grave at the time of Qingming.”
Lu Dongjiang took the lantern that was actually light in weight, but it was as heavy as ten thousand pounds.
After the old man handed out the lantern, he seemed to be lost and relieved. Do not turn your head, only reached out and pointed behind the eaves of the mansion, said in a deep voice: “Remember one thing, people under the eaves, give people to do things is low, but don’t forget to raise your head to do, because this is we hit the mother’s womb from the ground can not be lost this.”
The old man quietly straightened his back and looked towards the King of Northern Liang who walked down from that carriage.
Back then, that young general in the play all the money after the dead refused to admit defeat, in order to rise again, with a group of high-powered cabinet ministers begging for alms troops and horses, one stop in the pouring rain, from the early morning stand to dusk.
And he Lu Fei Edward is one of the cabinet ministers of the year.
Hand no longer have a lantern of the aged old man, the corner of the mouth with a smile, slowly closed his eyes.
Lu Dongjiang was shocked, rushed forward to help the old ancestor of the Lu family who fell backwards, suddenly sobbing uncontrollably.
The lantern in his hand fell heavily to the ground.
The person died and the lantern went out.