Tan Ting stayed in the study room of the outer courtyard that night, closed his eyes, and Xiang Yu's words appeared on his eyes -

the younger brother just wants to come early in August and pass the exam in one fell swoop, so that the eldest sister will no longer have to worry about the younger brother's studies, and he can start from there The Tan family left.

Naturally, Xiang Yi in the inner courtyard didn't know when the Tan family uncle went to bed.

After the Tan family uncle mentioned the words of the Taoist around the prince, there was nothing more to say.

However, Xiang Yi was cautious and had no plans to go out for the moment.

She received a letter from her younger brother and sister from Qingzhou.

Before, she had not mentioned to her siblings that her adopted brother was seriously injured and came here, so naturally she would not mention it in this letter from her siblings.

Xiang Yi didn't think much about it, and took time out in the evening to slowly reply to them in front of the desk.

...

The next day, Xiang Yi went to Huating Director early.

Next to the small pond outside the flower hall, a cluster of white plum blossoms bloomed, reflecting the pure beauty of the water.

When Tan Ting passed by, he stopped behind the white plum blossoms.

In the flower hall outside Meiying, he saw her sitting peacefully at the top as usual. People came in from below and asked questions one by one. She asked questions one by one in a leisurely manner, and distributed pairs of cards one by one.

Today she wore the apricot-colored long coat and honey-colored armor from before. There was not much embellishment in her hair, and she wore an ordinary silver hairpin.

She is as beautiful as this white plum.

But she didn't wear any of the things Tan Ting bought today.

Tan Ting pressed the corners of his lips and looked at her in front of the plum tree for a few seconds before returning to the study.

Xiao Guan has placed the letter on his desk.

Tan Ting looked at the letter in silence for a long time before opening it.

She now replied to Xiang Ning in her letter, also mentioned a few daily matters, asked about Xiang Ning's recent physical condition, and told her not to go to a place with few people if Xiang Yu was not at home. It is very cold this year, and she doesn't know what the world will do. No matter what happens, it is always right to be more careful. Then he talked about changing the dressing in spring.

After giving instructions to her sister, she returned the page from Xiang Yu.

Regarding the matter of her father Xiang Zhiyuan and the prefect Liao Qiu, she did not say much in the letter. She only reminded Xiang Yu that the uneasy situation of Weiping Mansion could be reported to heaven through the academy teacher.

Although Qingzhou Academy has not been established for a long time, because it is a place for students from poor families to study, it has the support of officials from poor families in the court, and has good relations with these officials from common people.

Tan Ting looked at her proposal in the letter -

although she did not discuss these matters in detail, she clearly pointed out the important relationships among them.

Liao Qiu, the prefect of Weiping, was a scholar from a commoner family, but he became famous because he took refuge in a noble family. How could ordinary people let him govern a family that behaved mischievously? Officials can.

Tan Ting couldn't help but think of the number records sent by Xiang Yu when the Chaoyun River embankment was being repaired.

Was that what Xiang Yu thought of, or... what about Xiang Yi?

The image of his wife in Tan Ting's mind changed slightly for a while.

He continued to look down.

She continued to respond to Xiang Yu's question about studying. This time she only gave him four words, "Beware of arrogance and impetuosity."

The imperial examination is not a day's work. She is soberer and more understanding than Xiang Yu.

Just after saying this, the letter has bottomed out.

Tan Ting's eyes slowly moved over and fell on her last words.

The pads of his fingers pressed against the letter paper covered with her handwriting, and he pressed it tightly in silence.

The room became quiet and he saw her reply to Xiang Yu's proposal.

"As for leaving the Tan family, it's too early to say anything at this time. You can study in peace and discuss the matter later."

She did not elaborate, but it seemed that she made it clear.

The sporadic birdsong in the courtyard went away, and soon disappeared together with the sound of the wind.

She will leave, leave the Tan family and leave him, but now is not the time.

Tan Ting closed his eyes. In the dark sight, many emotions surged out like a dam, flooding his heart, and finally condensed into a huge and heavy black stone, pressing on his heart.

Her handwriting is not as sharp as Xiang Yu's, but each stroke seems to be engraved in people's hearts.

Tan Ting subconsciously wanted to read each word clearly like he did when reading Xiang Yu's letter, but he couldn't read any more words.

He asked Xiao Guan to come in to receive the letter and walked out.

There were layers of dark clouds in the sky, as if it was going to snow, and the wind was swirling in place, without any relief from the condensing and dull atmosphere.

He wanted to find a place where the wind could blow away the dullness, so he left the study room in the outer courtyard, but for some reason, he returned to the white plum tree where he came from.

Looking from the shadow of the white plum tree to the flower hall not far away, you can see the person at the head of the flower hall at a glance.

The servants below had all dispersed. She gently tapped the remaining pairs of cards, asked Qiao Yuan to carefully pack them in the box, and stood up.

It's going to snow. This winter, the coldness seems to be endless, coming like waves.

She stood in front of the flower hall and looked up at the gray sky.

The old clothes that I stubbornly wore on my body started to look thinner and thinner.

Tan Ting couldn't help but think about it. The wardrobe was full of clothes, but when she didn't have to go out to do things for the Tan family, or when she didn't have to go to the clan to take care of them, she would mostly still wear her old clothes.

The same goes for jewelry.

Unlike his sister Tan Rong, who took the hair and face he brought back from Beijing into various styles and wore them in different hair accessories every day.

But she only wears a few seriously in certain crowded or important situations.

She used to wear a set of pearl earrings in her head. It seemed that since Yang Zhen bought a set of pearl earrings and gave her two pairs, she would not wear the set of earrings in her head that he gave her. Not moved.

The wind made people feel colder and colder.

With messy thoughts rising and falling in his mind, Tan Ting didn't know why he followed her footsteps to the main courtyard and stood in front of the main corridor door.

He didn't open the curtain and went in, but he heard her voice ordering Qiao Yun inside.

Her voice was always calm and emotionless.

"I was a little busier before and after New Year's and I only made an ordinary small seal. You told Shopkeeper Jiang that when spring comes, you will make more that can sell for a higher price."

Qiao Yun agreed, but couldn't help but persuade. She said, "Madam, you have been working too hard these days. You don't even have time to read. The second madam asked you to play leaf cards, but you refused. You should take a break."

It was cold, and Yang Zhen was relaxing at home. Bored and flustered, he was either practicing swordplay or playing cards.

But she smiled and replied to Qiao Yun, "I'm not a person who can take time off. Ning Ning's condition seems to be relapsing. She didn't mention it in the letter, but her handwriting was vague. I want to wait for the weather to get warmer and give her a new one. I need better medicine, and Ayu also needs money to rush for the exam..."

Tan Ting closed his eyes at these words.

Whether it's a younger brother rushing to take the imperial examination, or a younger sister's recurring illness that requires a change of medicine, money is needed.

But no matter before or now, she only relied on herself to make money one by one.

She never asked him for money, not even borrowed it.

Her last response to Xiang Yu in the letter seemed to come from her mouth at the moment, and that indifferent voice rang in his ears over and over again.

Tan Ting couldn't help but think of the audits caused by various incidents when he first returned home.

Before checking the accounts, she had never thought about getting anything from him, and after checking the accounts, she had nothing left.

Tan Ting lowered his eyes, did not disturb her again, and avoided the door before it opened.

...

Even the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the year has become desolate due to the harsh winter this year.

Yang Zhen left in good spirits, but almost came back disappointed.

However, she was a philanthropic person. Seeing that there was really nothing interesting to do in the county market, she had someone set up a stall to trap passers-by.

She made the hoop so huge that almost everyone could get something in it and take it back.

This made the trap vendor on the other side of the road very anxious. On such a cold day, the vendor was so anxious that he was sweating all over.

Yang Zhen laughed loudly when she saw it, and asked someone to grab a handful of broken silver for him, and directly moved his stall to her side.

When the hawker saw it, he smiled and thanked her repeatedly, and even helped Yang Zhen with his work.

Tan Jian couldn't sit still at home. He finished writing the article assigned by his elder brother at three to five times the usual speed. He couldn't care less about how he would be scolded by his elder brother for writing like this, so he hurriedly went to the market to find his wife.

The desolate market was choked with water when it came to Yang Zhen. Tan Jian was so surprised when he saw the bulging money bag she brought with her when she went out, which was completely deflated.

She looked at the passers-by with a smile, their hands full, and it became lively again while walking, and sighed leisurely.

"It's so lively."

The night wind blew the bright lanterns all over the street swaying. Tan Jian took a big red cloak and wrapped her up. Looking at her little face, which was bright red, he stretched out his hand. .

Tan Jian was surprised and amused, "It's not enough to empty your own pocket, but you still want to spend my money to continue to be a money-splitting boy? Madam, please spare me!"

Yang Zhen snorted at him, "Who wants to spend your money to make money? I told my sister-in-law that I wanted to buy her a lamp, but someone seemed to have tricked her into it. I had to buy a good one for my sister-in-law."

When Tan Jian heard that this was the reason, he took out his money bag . .

"Buy whatever you want, madam, and buy one for yourself!"

"Tsk, tsk, a poor guy only has enough money to buy a

lamp!" Yang Zhen stuck out her tongue at him, took his money bag, and went to buy a lamp for her sister-in-law.

Xiang Yi was not idle at home. Because every year during the Lantern Festival, something would happen. She ordered her back and forth several times, be sure to pay attention to the lights and keep water everywhere. Don't let it freeze into ice, just in case you get caught. The fire was put out in time.

After she finished giving instructions, she returned to the room and saw a glass lamp quietly placed on the coffee table.

When Xiang Yi saw the glazed lamp, he smiled and asked the people below, "The second lady is back so soon?"

The people below were not sure, so they asked Xia Yingxuan.

Xiang Yi let them go and asked Yang Zhen how they were doing.

She stepped forward and took a quick look at the lamp. It was in the shape of plum blossoms, exquisitely made and bright.

She rarely had the interest to pick out the plum-like glass lamp and took a few steps in the yard.

The lamp was crystal clear, and a candle was lit in the middle, which made the clothes of those who carried the lamp shine even more brilliantly.

Spring bamboo shoots and Qiao Yun came over and formed a beautiful circle around the lamp.

Xiang Yi also nodded, bent his eyes and smiled.

"Brothers and sisters can always find something to like."

She held the lantern and took a few steps under the small pond next to the yard with rare elegance.

The water in the pool has long been frozen, but the light of the glass lamp reflected on the clear ice creates a different kind of scenery.

Xiang Yi picked up the lamp for half a quarter of an hour before returning to his room and placing the plum-shaped glazed lamp on the desk where he printed the book.

After a while, the maid who went to Xia Yingxuan came back.

But when the maid came back, she also held another glass lamp in her hand.

The maid said, "Go back to Madam, the Second Madam and the Second Master have just come back. This is the glazed lamp that the Second Madam specially gave to Madam."

Xiang Yi was sitting at the table drawing patterns. Hearing this, he looked over in surprise.

The glazed lamp in the maid's hand was given to her by Yang Zhen, so whose plum blossom glazed lamp is in front of her?

Xiang Yi shook it for a moment before asking the maid to put down the lamp and go to Xia Yingxuan to express her gratitude.

She looked at the glazed lamp in front of her that she had been carrying for a long time. She was silent for a moment and blew out the light.

The plum blossom glazed lamp suddenly dimmed, and its radiance disappeared. Xiang Yi carefully lifted it up and put it back to its original place.

...

Today is the fifteenth day, or the fifteenth day of the first month.

Tan Ting did not stay in the outer courtyard anymore. When the lights in Gu'anfang gradually went out, he returned to the main courtyard.

Xiang Yi saw him when he was secretly wondering whether he would come back today.

It was getting late, and as soon as he came back, the servants brought up boiled water for the two of them to wash up.

Tan Ting glanced at his wife, then turned his head and saw the plum-like glass lamp on the coffee table.

His eyes fell on the lamp, and the man's eyes dimmed.

The lamp was left where it was, neither lit nor mentioned, and perhaps not even looked at.

Tan Ting lowered the corners of his lips in a muffled voice, unable to say a word.

What she wrote in the letter came to mind again.

Neither of them said much. The night was like a night when Tan Ting just came home, so quiet that the air made you want to escape.

After washing, the candles were extinguished, and the curtain squeezed the two of them into a small space.

They all knew what they were going to do today, but no one moved for a while.

Tan Ting glanced at his wife on the pillow gently from the corner of his eye. She was in the same mood as before, as if if he wanted it, she would give it to him.

But today, can he still be the same as before?

Tan Ting suddenly wanted to leave this bed, but he couldn't leave on a day like this.

The bed seemed to be covered with ice, making it impossible to lie down peacefully. This was the first time Tan Ting felt like this, and he couldn't help but move.

As soon as he moved, his arm touched the arm of the person next to him.

Her arms were as cold as ever.

Tan Ting couldn't help but look at her.

But at this moment, Xiang Yi realized something, lowered his head, and untied the belt around his waist.

But in the next breath, Tan Ting suddenly made a sound.

"No need..."

Xiang Yi looked up.

The night in the main room was unusually quiet.

In her confused look, Tan Ting couldn't help but feel a surge in her heart.

She has no intention of staying and will leave sooner or later, but if he wants it, can she give it to him?

He misunderstood her, but she didn't care; he checked her accounts, but she didn't care; he felt guilty and wanted to make amends, but she didn't care either.

Except for facing Xiang Ning and Xiang Yu, she rarely had any emotions in the Tan family.

She never thought about getting anything from the Tan family, nor did she think about getting anything that a husband and wife should have from his husband.

Therefore, she just wanted to take advantage of the Tan family's power. For this reason, she "defended" herself to the Tan family...

As soon as this thought came to her mind, Tan Ting saw her quiet wife next to her again. , my heart seemed to be twisted.

He could not tell the cause of such cramping.

Was it because he finally knew what kind of relationship their couple had in her eyes? Or was it because he couldn't imagine how she could be willing to treat herself like this...

He just couldn't help but want to ask her, but When the words reached his lips, he swallowed them back.

This was her last reservation in the Tan family. How could he break her last reservation so easily?

He has done many wrong things...

The darkness and silence in the curtains tear at people's emotions.

Tan Ting withdrew his gaze, took a deep breath, stood up as if unintentionally, and whispered something in a low voice.

"I have something to do, you should go to bed first."

Xiang Yi looked at his back for a few breaths.

And when he was in her sight, he actually walked to the other side, so she fell asleep without asking any more questions.

The next day, Yang Zhen came over and asked Xiang Yi if he liked the lanterns. Xiang Yi naturally said he liked it. He also heard that she was a charity boy on the street.

"My younger siblings are going to be famous."

Yang Zhen giggled, "The main reason is that Qingkan County is too small and not too lively. Have you ever seen the lantern festival in the capital? It is as big as ten or eight of the lantern festivals here!"

Xiang Yi should have seen it, but when she was in Beijing with her father, the lantern festival was canceled before it even started. Seeing that the omen was so bad, the palace canceled the lantern festival temporarily, so Xiang Yi didn't read it.

She shook her head, and Yang Zhen said it was a pity, "When my sister-in-law comes to Beijing with her elder brother, she must watch the lantern festival in the capital!"

Xiang Yi smiled and did not respond to this.

When Tan Ting goes to Beijing, he probably won't take her with him.

As for his heir, although it is important, Tan Ting is not that old. When he seriously wants to have an heir in a few years, he will naturally have one.

But at that time, the Tan family clan had a different situation...

Xiang Yi invited Yang Zhen to have some snacks in the main courtyard, but Yang Zhendao made an appointment with Tan Jian to practice swordsmanship together, and then left in a hurry.

Xiang Yi took advantage of the afternoon when nothing happened and went out to the courtyard where Gu Yansheng lived temporarily.

As soon as she left, Xiao Guan came to report to Tan Ting.

...

There is still a bit of liveliness on the street with the lantern festival continuing.

Xiang Yi was very cautious, changed into inconspicuous clothes and blended in with the crowd, arriving at a remote courtyard from time to time.

Tan Ting came from the other side, and the guards led him to a tree very close to the courtyard, where he could just hear some of the words in the courtyard.

First there was the sound of greetings, and when Tan Ting heard that the etiquette was complete, he felt relieved again.

Then, I heard Xiang Yi ask.

"Brother, are you feeling better these days?"

Tan Ting was slightly startled when he called him.

Big brother?

He thought to himself for a while and heard that the young man was much better. Then the young man went to the door to announce that the door would open from time to time and someone would come out.

This person didn't know why, but his footsteps stopped after taking only a few steps.

There was an unusual silence inside and outside the courtyard.

Tan Ting frowned and his eyelids twitched quickly.

In the courtyard, Xiang Yi didn't notice anything. She glanced at her elder brother who had just walked out of the room. She was about to ask him about his injury when she suddenly saw him laughing.

He looked outside the courtyard and said loudly.

"Since your Excellency has chased me here, why don't you show up?"

After saying that, he gave Qiu Ying a glance.

"Open the door and invite the guests in for a cup of tea."

The situation suddenly changed. Xiang Yi saw Qiu Ying walking towards the door quickly. She opened her eyes wide and couldn't help but look towards the door.

Outside the hospital.

When Tan Ting heard that sound, he knew that the people in this courtyard were really not ordinary people.

Originally, today, he wanted to wait for Xiang Yi to leave here and show up again to tell her clearly.

However, since the man was so alert, there was no need for him to hide anymore.

He turned around and walked out and walked into the yard.

He walked over and saw her expression of astonishment.

Tan Ting pursed her lips, and just when she was about to say, "Don't be afraid, I don't mean to blame you," she heard the man in the corridor speak warmly before him and call her.

The man seemed to have called her by her given name.

"Yizhen, don't be afraid, come to me."