The journey of the only child of a peasant family to take the imperial examination

"Okay, let's get off the boat quickly!" Xiao Yuer took his father's hand and walked towards the shore.

I have to say that the scenery in Zhoushan is quite good.

The sea and the sky are one color, and the wind blows towards us, carrying the salty smell of the sea water.

Backed by mountains and facing the sea, it is an ideal place for recuperation.

The Qian family’s hot spring villa is right on the hillside, within easy reach.

"Does my mother live in the house halfway up the mountain? It's not far away. Why didn't she go back to see me before? Or I could come to see her," Xiao Yuer muttered while jumping.

"Walk slowly," Zhang Pingan reminded.

Then he ordered to eat his fill: "You go and deliver the post first, I will take the child and walk up slowly."

"Okay!" Chi Bao nodded and took one person up the mountain first.

Zhang Ping'an walked slowly behind with Xiao Yu'er and a few servants.

"Dad, hurry up," Xiao Yuer would stop and urge Zhang Pingan every time he ran a distance.

Zhang Ping'an waved his hand.

The sea breeze blew up the robes of the two men.

A quarter of an hour later, he finished his meal and ran down, wiping his sweat. He reported, "Master, the housekeeper asked you to come up. He said he has been waiting for you for many days."

Zhang Pingan's throat felt sore the moment he heard this. He blinked and said, "I understand!"

After more than a quarter of an hour, they finally reached the halfway point of the mountain.

Xiao Yuer was so tired that he told the housekeeper, "I want some water. I'm so thirsty and hot. Please get someone to fan me."

The order was given with confidence.

Although he didn't know the housekeeper, he knew that these were servants who ran errands and did errands.

Zhang Ping'an didn't have the energy to care about him now. He just stared at the housekeeper's eyes and asked, "Where is the madam?"

"Master, please follow me," the butler bowed and led the way.

Zhang Pingan followed him in.

Seeing this, Xiao Yuer jumped off his chair and tried to follow, but Zhang Pingan stopped him, saying, "Just sit still and don't move."

After eating, I felt something was wrong and hurried to comfort the child.

Fortunately, the child was easy to coax and didn't cry.

After coaxing the child, he also looked inside. He had never seen Zhang Ping'an with such an expression.

It seems very fragile, as if it will break at the slightest touch, and has a kind of avoidant weakness.

He didn't know what was going on, he just hoped everything would be peaceful.

On Zhang Ping'an's side, the further he followed the butler inside, the colder it felt.

It seemed to be going downwards, and small drops of condensed water gradually appeared on the wall.

He had already vaguely guessed something.

This is also the thing he is most reluctant to face in the past two years.

But it finally happened.

The butler's footsteps finally stopped at the door of the underground ice cellar.

After taking out the key from his bosom and opening the door, the housekeeper sighed and said, "The lady is in there. Please go in and see her. She has been staying alone in the cold underground ice cellar for the past few years. How pitiful!"

"Everyone has been hiding it from me, but the truth will be known one day, and the pain will not be relieved," Zhang Pingan said painfully with tears in his eyes.

The housekeeper was also a little hurt by Zhang Ping'an's tears.

This is the first time I see my brother-in-law like this.

But the facts are the facts and they can no longer be concealed.

I could only continue, "The Qian family's intention is to find an auspicious date for the burial as soon as possible. Of course, this was also what the lady wanted before she left. She said it was a white lie. In addition, she left a letter for you in her dressing box. I will get it for you later."

At this time, Zhang Pingan could no longer hear anything else and just walked slowly into the cellar step by step.

On the platform in the center of the ice cellar stood a coffin made of golden nanmu wood, from which emanated a strong aroma of spices.

The closer you get, the colder it gets.

Even if you walk slowly, there will be a moment when you get close.

Zhang Ping'an pushed open the coffin lid and saw that the woman who had accompanied him through those happy days had really passed away.

Perhaps in order to keep the body from decaying, a lot of ice, spices, and even lime and mercury were placed in the interlayer of the coffin. The body was wrapped in multiple layers of silk, and a gold and jade suit was put on the outside.

Therefore, her hair and nails remained the same as before, but her face was covered with a layer of white frost.

"It's so cold. You're just too stubborn to stay here!" Zhang Ping'an murmured as he touched Qian Youyi's face.