In the center of the Ye Mansion stands a tall building, with a dark roof without a roof, but planted with a two hundred year old "heavy building tree", which is a precious spiritual tree and also the symbol of this building.
The entire high-rise building is atmospheric and thick, and the pinnacle of wooden architecture is the outer tower, also known as the Fallen Leaf Tower - named after the beautiful scenery when it was built in autumn, with heavy wooden leaves falling and red leaves falling in the wind.
In the dim hallway of the building, candlelight illuminated two figures walking.
Xiao He, how is Father feeling today
Second Master, Old Master is in a good mood
That's good
Under the guidance of a maid in green, Ye Zifan passed by the guard post, climbed to the rooftop, and saw an old man with white hair under an ancient tree. He immediately bowed respectfully and said, "Father
The old man, dressed in a white linen robe, sat quietly under the fiery red tree, pouring boiling water into the tea and leisurely saying, "Oh, here you go, sit
Ye Zifan glanced at the old man's expression, confirmed it, and then stepped forward to sit down.
This is his father, Ye Mengqiu.
He was once a Supervisor of the County and traveled all over the country. He has extraordinary experience and has held the power of the clan for decades. He has accumulated great prestige. Although he is now white haired and half buried, many people in the clan dare not be less different!
Father, I'll do it! "Ye Zifan knelt down and took two steps, saying.
Using a jade cup to pour water again, I watched the tea leaves stretch out in silence. I saw the amber color of the tea, filled with the fragrance of tea, like orchids in an empty valley, respectfully presented.
Drinking tea, the old man smiled and said, "This tea is good. When it's half warm, it's even more refreshing and refreshing. It can be said to have a hidden fragrance
My father is famous throughout the county and has retired from his residence. He truly lives up to his name and complements the fragrance of this hermit
Upon hearing this, Ye Mengqiu furrowed her brows slightly and said, "Our family can only be considered a red mansion, not a green mansion. We must not speak rashly to outsiders
Yes, yes! "Ye Zifan responded repeatedly.
The old man didn't take it seriously and casually talked to him about some ethnic studies, mostly about the situation of his children and grandchildren. They had gone through ups and downs throughout their lives. At the age of the old man, the call of death was not far away, and the most concerned thing was only the continuation of their descendants.
After finishing a cup of tea and saying a few words, the old man felt a bit tired. Seeing this, the maid quickly stepped forward to help him.
Father, take care of your health! "Ye Zifan quickly came over to help and helped Ye Mengqiu sit on a chair higher under the tree. He stepped aside and continued," Father, the number of spots for the children's exam in our tribe is limited now. Today, I went to Ye Qing's place to share my thoughts. I thought this son was still young and inexperienced, and I wanted him to pass this year before taking the exam again. I wanted to give this spot to the children of our tribe. But I don't want this son to have many uncertainties
These are all the truth, but some important details have been cleverly omitted.
Ye Zifan spoke and looked at Ye Mengqiu. When they met, it was as calm as water, without showing any anger or anger. He couldn't help but feel a tightness in his heart, knowing that his actions were not favored by the old man either.
But as soon as the words were spoken, there was no way out. Ye Qing was originally a descendant of a branch, and our main branch has repeatedly taken care of him. I don't want him to be so ignorant to this day
Speaking of which, he took over a ledger, which was densely packed with expenditures from disciples of his clan: "Many disciples of my clan have their expenditures in silver here. Although Ye Qing is a branch, he is also a disciple of my clan, and his expenditures in silver have never been short of half a cent
Ye Mengqiu nodded slightly, and the maid took the account book over, flipping it page by page in front of the old man with her bare hands to help him browse.
Ye Zifan waited respectfully, not daring to make any unnecessary expressions.
Ye Qing's parents passed away at a young age, and she was indeed able to make a living by relying on family support. Due to the cost of education, she spent no less than a hundred taels of silver on her own, which was not small or insignificant.
Every major clan that has been passed down for hundreds of years has its own rules and regulations. The Ye family has a great business and can afford to raise a few idle people. However, if they do not respect the rules and regulations, they will violate the fundamental principles.
Of course, the 100 acres of land under Ye Qing's name are not reflected in this ledger.
Ye Mengqiu simply flipped through the account book, unable to tell whether he was happy or angry, but knowing that his father was nothing like his son, Ye Zifan's heart was already filled with joy.
This situation indicates an attitude. The clan leader will not be angry about these trivial matters, but as long as the clan leader removes a bit of nostalgia in his heart, Ye Qing's qualification for the child test will be in jeopardy.
Ye Mengqiu remained silent for a long time and said, "This matter is related to the qualification of the child test, and it is normal for there to be some disputes among the houses. You are the head of the clan, and everything must be handled impartially. I will handle this matter myself, so please step down
Ye Zifan was overjoyed upon hearing this, but suppressed his joy and dared not show it. He knew that this was leaving room for Ye Qing's child, but in reality, it had already made his father unhappy and cut ties. He then said, "Yes, father, I'm leaving now
Speaking, he put away his account book and slowly retreated.
As the maid closed the wooden door on the top floor, Ye Zifan looked up and saw the figure of the old man, under the fiery red tree, exuding a sense of loneliness!
Is it an illusion? "Ye Zifan took a deep breath and slowly exhaled as he walked through the garden corridor outside the building, realizing that sweat had already seeped out.
This matter went smoother than expected, partly due to differences in intimacy and partly because he managed to conceal the fact that Ye Qing was very talented.
Of course, this kind of talent cannot be suppressed for long. Once discovered by Ye Mengqiu, with his tough and stern style, he detests such concealment the most, and the punishment will shift to him.
But at that time, the child test had already passed, and the wooden boat was already done. He would never deprive his grandson of his birth. Compared to the fate that would affect him for a lifetime, what was the point of some punishment for me? "Ye Zifan whispered, thinking of his youngest son in the family. He had this mentality, and his father Ye Mengqiu was the same. What was the true punishment?
Ye Zifan has three sons. The eldest son has become a child, but the second and third sons need to be recommended by the clan. These two sons are almost over the age limit, and the competition for quotas in the clan is fierce this time. We can only squeeze out Ye Qing's quota to support his youngest son.
By comparison, even if they have a bad relationship with this nephew, what can the other party do?
Anyway, I am the main support of the family, he is a collateral support, and next time I won't give him a chance, just give him back support
As long as it is wise, we still have to swallow this breath.
Once the matter is settled, let's settle down.
I don't know how many courtyards I have turned around, but when I hear a few bird songs, a white egret flaps its wings and flies, leading its young little egret quietly across the sky.
Ye Zifan stopped in his tracks and was stunned for a moment.
I don't know why, but I remembered the answer sheet I wrote this morning. No matter what, my youngest son couldn't achieve such a level of excellence. I don't know if he can win by trying to produce a few more talents like this
Father, grandpa... what should he say? "An urgent voice could be heard from afar. Following the sound, one could see that their own yard was already within sight.
At the entrance of the garden, surrounded by servants and maidservants, a tall and long young man approached, who was somewhat similar to Ye Zifan's description. It was none other than his youngest son Ye Sheng.
Ye Zifan glanced at him and noticed the black circle on his face. His expression darkened as he said, "What did you do last night
The maid in green, upon hearing this, lowered her head in fear, but Ye Sheng awkwardly said, "We have a friend to invite, a poetry gathering, a gathering
Poetry gathering, hmm, this time for the children's test, the opportunity is yours, but also for me to calm down! "Ye Zifan didn't reveal his words and walked into the yard, only to see his nephew's calm face in front of him. The paper talent was completely different from people of the same age.
Never mind, what's the use of thinking so much? The imperial examination system in Taoism not only emphasizes literary talent, but also emphasizes luck. As a descendant of a branch, one must ultimately rely on the support of their main family. Even if they are old and successful, what can they do
Ye Zifan shook his head and looked back at his youngest son who was touching his chin. He sighed inwardly, "Son, I have put in a lot of effort for my father and even despised the talents within the clan. I can only do this for you
In front of the door, under the gentle reminder of the maid in green, Ye Sheng finally understood his father's meaning and was immediately delighted.
Ye Sheng turned around and said to a male servant, "Go ahead, give me some good news for my virtuous brother... You stay there and watch, occasionally giving back. Don't let him play anything these days
The man bowed and crossed his hands, responding solemnly, "Yes, Young Master Sheng
Immediately bowing and retreating, the maid in green covered her mouth and smiled, "Hehe, young master, how harsh he is
Ye Sheng snorted and looked up at the three words "Tiger Roaring Garden" on the door, with a slightly smug expression: "You're not sure about that. Anyone can play the abacus, and strategies are always available. But no matter how you calculate, how can you withstand the trend
Among this Ye tribe, my branch is the dominant force
The maid in green's eyes lit up when she heard this. She was genuinely surprised and thought to herself that this young master was not just an embroidered pillow!
As Ye Sheng spoke, he glanced at the maid who was listening attentively with bright eyes and white teeth. Thinking of last night's soul stirring experience, he felt an itch in his heart again and said, "Ahem, dare you turn your arm outward and mock me? I won't punish you severely tonight
Don't, the master even asked you to review your homework
What are you reviewing for? It's not a talent exam, it's just a children's exam. Once you get a spot in the clan, it's just a formality. Be good, give me a kiss first
Ah... "The maid in green pushed back and forth, her beautiful eyes darkening. She looked at the young master who was laughing and couldn't help but be slightly stunned, thinking of the young master she had seen yesterday.
In terms of talent and determination, there is a big difference between the two at first glance, but in this world, it is not enough to be talented.
The sound of light footsteps woke Ye Qing up from her contemplation, and when she looked up, she saw a figure in front of the door.
With a creaking sound, the door was pushed open, and the deep autumn sunshine shone in, making him feel a slight warmth. Along with it, there was a cold wind rushing in from outside.
Qianqian Qingli's face was cold as she turned around and closed the door, staring at Ye Qing: "Young master, the master of the clan is making things difficult for you. What should we do now
With a hint of crying as she spoke, it was the expectation of the young master's parents, as well as her heart, to become a young boy and a scholar all the way.
Don't be afraid, this matter won't stump me! "Ye Qing saw her almost crying and quickly got up to comfort her.
This body reads the classics and historical books, and both parents go. It is often bullied by its brothers in the clan. The maid who follows him desperately protects him, and he sees it in her eyes.