Cui Wei looked at Shuzi who suddenly appeared, frowned and asked, "Why are you coming back now?"
Cui Lang could only smile obediently: "My son heard the letter from my elder brother..."
Cui Wei glanced at his wife, Lu, and said with a sneer: "You are always thinking about that treacherous son."
As he spoke, his expression became darker: "But he is safe and sound, yet he has just received a letter today, allowing everyone in the family to worry about his safety. This move has never put this family in their eyes at all."
After saying this, he stood up and walked away with a cold face and a roll of his sleeves.
"Father..." Cui Lang hurriedly followed him a few steps away, pretending to persuade him to stay.
Cui Wei waved his sleeves to stop him and strode away.
Cui Lang repeatedly called "Father" several times until Cui Ai's back was completely gone, then turned around and returned to the hall, sighing helplessly: "Why is Father so crazy?"
After finally waiting for the news that my eldest brother was safe and sound, before it was too late to be happy, my father blamed his eldest brother for not sending the letter in time. This kind of criticism is really strange.
Cui Lang couldn't help but complain on behalf of his eldest brother: "The eldest brother acted under a secret order and was hunted down by assassins. It is said that it is not appropriate to expose his whereabouts at will, and the eldest brother must have his own plans and arrangements... He is marching on the road. , you are not running errands for your father, so why do you have to convey your whereabouts to your father all the time?"
"What do you know?" Mrs. Lu sighed: "Every mistake is Dalang's fault. Even if he just climbed out of the ice lake, he should not think about escaping or treating his injuries. He should overcome all difficulties. , write a letter to your father first... No letter paper at hand? Is this an excuse? Just tore off the inner clothes. Still lack pen and ink? This is not difficult. If he is really 'meaningful', cut his fingers to bleed, Is it difficult to work hard to write a letter in blood to inform your father at home that he is safe?"
Cui Lang sighed: "...You really understand my father best."
In short, no matter what the eldest brother does or doesn't do, his father will not be satisfied.
Lu concluded: "In the final analysis, your father's biggest disadvantage is that he has not yet learned to accept that Dalang is not his and Cui's puppet, but an independent person."
In his eyes, Dalang's existence is a symbol of betraying his father's authority and challenging the clan rules. With this premise, everything he does is naturally wrong.
Including Dalang's biological mother Zheng... the reason why he still regards her as a thorn in his heart is similar. In his eyes, Zheng's temperament is too stubborn and sharp, she doesn't know how to adapt, and she is not submissive enough in front of him. , and dared to do something like throwing himself into a lake, which caused him, the husband, to lose face - his wife, without his permission, dared to die on her own initiative, what about the woman who had promised to regard her husband as her heaven?
In his opinion, Zheng's death was a slap in the face because of anger, and it was a life-saving act to refute and deny his husband's extremely evil behavior.
Over the years, when the husband looked at Dalang, didn't he transfer his dissatisfaction with his deceased wife to Dalang?
However, Dalang was so outstanding that even though his actions were contrary to the clan, he still gained the attention of the family head and clan members.
As a father, he cannot compare to his son, so he can only use his status as "father" to show off his power.
All in all, her husband is really unlucky to have a father like this.
Thinking of this, Lu felt even more pity for Dalang, who was far away in Bianzhou.
Putting aside her desire to enjoy the shade under Dalang's big tree, if Dalang was really willing to give her a chance, she would sincerely want to try her best to make up for her husband's debts and debts to Dalang, even the harm done in the name of his father.
Cui Lang put his hands on his hips and sighed, feeling very worried: "When will father grow up?"
"He just thinks too much of himself." Mrs. Lu didn't bother to mention her husband anymore, and raised her hand to click on the letter paper on the coffee table.
Cui Lang stepped forward to pick up the letter and read it.
This makes me realize that my father is being unreasonable - the eldest brother clearly explained the reason for the late letter in the letter!
Cui Lang read the letter and asked casually: "Grandpa, have you finished reading the letter?"
During these days, he could see that his grandfather was very concerned about his elder brother.
"Of course I have read it. This letter was sent from your grandfather."
The Cui family was well-informed. In fact, a few days before Dalang's letter was sent to the capital, the head of the family had heard the news about Dalang's appearance near Bianzhou from various places. However, the situation in Bianzhou was turbulent due to the initial decision of the war.
It's too complicated and difficult to determine whether it's true or false.
It wasn't until Dalang's handwritten letter came back today that people finally felt at ease.
"...The eldest brother said in the letter that he is now near Bianzhou. Doesn't that mean that the eldest brother is with my master?" Cui Lang's eyes suddenly lit up.
After he reminded her like this, Lu's eyes brightened slightly: "That should be it."
The mother and son whispered about the matter for a while, and then decided to write a letter to Bianzhou and inquire about it with the help of a reply.
"But...who is the person who assassinated my eldest brother?" Cui Lang changed his face when he mentioned this: "The imperial court must also know about this matter. What is the attitude of the saint?"
"How do I know this? If you are interested, go back to your grandfather and learn more about it."
Lu's eyes also had some indescribable worries. It was rare for her to speak to her son in such a tone: "The situation today is different from before... It's not easy for your eldest brother to be outside, and things are not calm in the Cui clan. Lang'er, you can't do it anymore either."
I’m just pretending to have fun.”
Cui Lang was silent for a moment, nodded and said "yes", silently clenching his fingers.
Then I heard my mother say in a teaching tone: "Although mother never expected you to become a great person, even if we can't be the pillar, we still have to be a fire stick... No matter what, we can't become a hindrance that everyone hates."
Isn’t he a shit stirrer?”
Faced with this simple expectation, Cui Lang's eyes twitched slightly and he said numbly: "...You really know your son."
Hey, then he should try to make a fire stick. The fire stick can also shine.
It was getting dark, and the first thing to shine was the lights that were lit one after another in various places in the huge Cui residence.
In the darkness, Cui He stood on the corridor of the outer study room, his shadow stretched behind him.
He has been standing here for a long time.
The lanterns hanging on the corridor were swaying gently in the wind, and the lights were swaying. Accompanied by the clear moonlight, they cast a silvery white in the courtyard. In a trance, Cui Hao seemed to see a boy with half-tied hair through the silvery white.
Kneeling in the snow.
Pictures from the past emerged in his mind, and Cui Hao's palms behind his back slowly tightened.
After a while, an attendant came over and saluted him, saying that his father was looking for him to discuss matters.
Cui Er came to his senses and quickly went to his father's meeting hall.
Cui Ju sat at the top, and those sitting on the left and right were senior and prestigious members of the Cui clan.
After Cui Ai saluted, he also sat down.
Cui Juxian told everyone: "Da Lang is fine."
Most of the tribesmen breathed a sigh of relief.
"Bianzhou and Luoyang are also safe and sound." Cui Ju's voice, increasingly hoarse due to his old age, reached their ears: "So, something will happen to those people in Luoyang soon."
The tribesmen could tell that the people he was referring to were the Luoyang nobles who colluded with Xu Zhengye.
"But it must be more than just people from Luoyang..." Cui Ju looked at the bronze bird candlestick in the hall and said, "I have a hunch that I will not miss this opportunity tomorrow."
Cui Wei's face condensed: "Father is saying...she is going to attack the four of us? In such a situation, her own throne is not stable, how can she dare to attack the four families again? Is it possible that she will kill the fish and break the net?
?”
In the past, he did not believe that Minghou would dare to attack the nobles, but first it was the Pei family, and then the Changsun family...
The demon queen was so strong and ruthless that she didn't care how much she would suffer in order to hurt the enemy.
Precisely because she wanted to eradicate dissidents from the noble clans regardless of her, what a mess everything is now!
"It's because her throne is unstable." An old Cui clan member frowned and said, "The more critical this situation is, the less likely she is to let down her guard."
A younger tribesman said with sharp eyes: "This is her opportunity, but it is also the opportunity I have been waiting for."
They have never stopped playing games with Ming Hou, but it is all a secret and bloodless confrontation.
Next, it is finally the critical moment that truly determines life and death.
The young tribesman stood up and bowed his hands deeply to Cui Ju: "The head of the family made plans early in the morning!"
They don't want to retreat, and they can't retreat.
The remaining tribesmen, including Cui Wei, also looked at Cui Ju.
Cui Ju looked at these people who represented the entire Qinghe Cui clan.
In the eyes of these tribesmen, there is a determination not to give in or compromise, and there is also a sense of arrogance and ambition that has not faded even a little bit over the centuries.
They each expressed their opinions.
They also quickly mentioned Cui Jing, the man who was not recognized by them in the past.
"...Although Da Lang is rebellious, if the head of the family comes forward to persuade him and explain the key interests to him, he may not be able to wake up."
"Da Lang has been willful and reckless for many years. At this critical moment, it's time to make some plans for the clan!"
"The head of the family..."
Cui Ju raised his hand and interrupted them. There was no emotion on his face: "I have my own plan for this matter."
As the head of the family, he should make plans in advance, and he has been preparing for this day.
Furthermore, he not only had to prepare for Cui's success, he also had to prepare for Cui's failure.
Dalang is in Bianzhou at this time, so he is also in the middle of the situation. Every step must not be taken carelessly.
After a moment, Cui Ju spoke and took over the words of the young clansman just now: "The prince is incompetent and cannot support his great responsibility... The Cui family cannot make the same mistake as the Changsun family."
After finishing speaking, he took out a secret letter from his sleeve and placed it on the sandalwood coffee table beside him. His old and wrinkled fingers slowly pushed the letter to the edge of the coffee table.
"A few days ago, I received this secret message. Please take a look at it first."
The young tribesman said "yes" seriously and respectfully stepped forward to take the letter.
On the candlestick, the candle flame flickered.
In the Manna Hall, behind the screen with hundreds of birds facing the phoenix, the Holy Emperor was leaning on the couch with his eyes closed, and he did not know when he fell into a dream.
The dream was damp and dim, with a pungent smell. It was the smell coming from the Elephant Garden. It was like an invisible net, trapping the three of them, mother and son, in those difficult and cold years.
When Axiao's hands were covered with frostbite and she had a high fever and couldn't find an imperial doctor, she also tried to beg everyone she could. When she couldn't see the emperor, she went to beg a higher-ranking concubine, but she was extremely dissatisfied.
Desserts that are easy to make will only be knocked over with contempt by the concubines in front of them.
Those arrogant palace concubines would cover their noses with veils and ridicule her for smelling like an elephant or a bad luck star.
A noble concubine who liked to wear purple was wronged by the queen, so she turned to vent her anger on her. She made up a name for her fault at will, made her kneel down to apologize, but it was not enough, and ordered the palace maid to slap her mouth.
Even in her dream, the helpless feeling of humiliation still enveloped her once again.
The corners of her mouth were bloodshot, but she didn't want to beg for mercy anymore.
The more this happened, the more displeased the imperial concubine became.
Just when the other party came up, pulled out the silver hairpin from her hair with her fingers coated with khaodan, and made interesting gestures on her face, asking her if she was afraid of ruining her face, a small figure rushed towards her and pulled out the hairpin.
The other party was knocked to the ground and bit hard on the arm of the palace lady who was restraining her.
The little girl's palms were all sweaty, and she was about to run away as soon as she was pulled up.
But how could he run away?
Someone from the palace stopped them.
Fortunately, the commotion was too loud and attracted other concubines, so the concubine gave up for the time being.
But it's only temporary.
Late at night, the little girl was kneeling on the porch, and she asked - Do you know that you are wrong?
The little girl knelt straight, as if she was a little aggrieved, and actually answered her - Ah Shang doesn't know.
She then asked the little girl to stretch out her hand and asked her nanny to hit it with a ruler before asking again.
The little girl shook in pain, but still answered - A Shang still doesn't know.
She asked her grandma to hit her again.
She didn't want to "beat him until he knew it", she just needed Ashang to remember the pain at this time and build a long memory.
Finally, she told Ah Shang - your mistake is that you have no power to deal with the aftermath, but you still have to stand out. It seems that you are helping your mother and concubine, but you are actually harming others and yourself.
But she couldn't remember Ah Shang's reaction at that time.
She couldn't remember many things clearly. It was already very difficult to survive during those days, and she didn't have much thought to pay attention to the healthy child.
But there was one scene that she remembered very clearly and would always appear in her dreams.
In the dim corridor, a thin little boy secretly gave a broken lychee to the little girl, while she watched from a distance.
At that time, she was thinking that she must leave here, and then she did.
After that, she thought that if she wanted to stand higher, she finally got her wish.
She became a queen, and her child became a prince. It seemed that this was the only high place that the world could think of. For a time, she began to feel satisfied, and even felt guilty and uneasy, thinking about whether to confess everything.
But she accidentally learned that everything was not as simple as it seemed. The seemingly just and majestic emperor was actually just using her and her children.
He knows everything, he controls everything, and he doesn't need her "confession" at all.
She felt angry and scared, but more importantly, she felt ironic and sad.
So, all this will disappear.
But she can't let it go away.
Not only that, she will never allow others to control her destiny, even the so-called emperor.
So she began to win over the ministers secretly, and she began to plan everything by any means. She even did something so bold that it could annihilate the nine tribes...
But she has no regrets.
Every move she made was on the right path. She felt guilty, but she never regretted it.
Yes, she feels guilty...especially as a mother.
The Holy Emperor slowly opened his eyes, feeling lost for a moment.
"This time, I blamed you wrongly...you didn't mean to go against me."
She whispered to herself in a very low voice, sighing vaguely.
"But why, you just refuse to acknowledge me and sit down and talk to me."
She had to have a long conversation so that she could know what her Ah Shang was thinking now, so that she would not be forced to doubt her only blood relative.
"Your Majesty, you are awake..."
The palace maid who was guarding the screen heard the sound and stepped forward to serve her. A handsome man with half-haired hair also quickly took the bright yellow robe and stepped forward to put it on the empress.
