The return of the son-in-law

Liu Pianpian posted posts to more than a dozen households in Beijing with unmarried daughters. On the appointed day, thirty or forty sedan chairs entered the Guo Mansion one after another. The elegant yard.

"It can be considered that you are here." Liu Pianpian dressed very richly this day, but she was not as aggressive as usual. A set of pearl tiaras and a pair of emerald bracelets on the wrists.

The first few families also greeted them with smiles on their faces. First, they led their daughters to meet Liu Pianpian, and then exchanged a few words of courtesy before taking their seats.

Liu Pianpian ordered someone to serve tea, and said with a smile: "I heard that the plum blossoms are in full bloom this morning. It must be that these plum blossoms are rushing to bloom when they know that there are distinguished guests coming."

During the banquet, everyone laughed lightly. Liu Pianpian smiled and glanced at the crowd, and saw the last girl, like everyone else, smiling with her mouth covered with a handkerchief, but her eyes looked very much like Guo Zhanan for a moment. .

Is this making fun of her?

Liu Pianpian was displeased, she turned towards that side seemingly unintentionally and said, "Mrs. Shen, this is Ling Qianjin, right?"

The woman next to the girl said: "Exactly, Hua'er, greet Mrs. Guo quickly."

Shen Hua stood up, walked gracefully to the middle, and said: "My daughter, Shen Hua, has met Mrs. Guo."

"Excuse me," Liu Pianpian stretched out her hand, "What is Miss Shen Hua laughing at?"

Shen Hua replied with a smile: "Naturally, like everyone else, I think Mrs. Guo's words are funny, and people can't help but feel close."

Shen Hua's answer made Liu Pianpian unable to catch the wrong thing, she saw Shen Hua's respectful face, she thought it was her eyes that were dazzled, and said kindly: "Look at this mouth, it's really sweet."

The others also laughed and praised Shen Hua a few more words.On the other hand, Shen Hua was neither arrogant nor impetuous, his expression didn't change after hearing so many compliments, and when Liu Pianpian spoke, he sat back on his chair again.

In fact, none of the wives here did not understand Liu Pianpian's thoughts. After they accepted the post, they knew that Liu Pianpian intended to marry the young master of the Guo family.Think about the two sons of the Guo family, the youngest is only 13 years old, and their daughters are around [-] or [-] years old, so naturally they will not be betrothed to the second son.

As for the eldest son of the Guo family, although he lost his official position half a year ago, no one knows that this is the prince's companion since he was a child. It is not an exaggeration to say that the prince is a confidant!What's more, the reason why Guo Zhan'an lost his official position was to raise food, grass and supplies for the Northwest Army camp in private. Although he crossed the border, in the end, he was also for the people in the Northwest, and even the peace of the entire Chu Dynasty. Everyone knows this well .So even though Guo Zhanan has been at home for the past six months, his old friends still often invite him to drink tea and enjoy paintings, and even other people who do not usually have contact with Guo Zhanan post posts to invite Guo Zhanan to share.

Isn't such a young, promising and promising Tanhualang the perfect candidate for a son-in-law!

In this way, the invited ladies are busy dressing up their daughters, which should not be overwhelming, but also refreshing.Although their family is only a small official of the seventh or eighth rank, the so-called parents' order and the matchmaker's words have made Mrs. Guo fancy, and the road ahead will be much easier.

When it was almost time for people to come, Liu Pianpian said: "The plum blossom feast has been prepared, everyone, why not walk with me. Let's take a look while walking. Although this mansion is not big, every plant and every tree is owned by the master." I picked them myself, especially those flowers in the yard, and I will invite you to come when spring blooms."

How could the crowd not be willing, and the guests followed Liu Pianpian to the pavilion where the Plum Blossom Banquet was located.

Shen Hua walked at the back, just looked down at the ground, and didn't talk to other people around him.

Mrs. Shen couldn't stand it anymore, so she simply slowed down and let others go first, and she and her daughter walked last.

When there were only two maids from the Guo family around five steps away, Mrs. Shen gave Shen Hua a hand and asked in a low voice: "What's wrong with you, didn't you tell you to be obedient, with such a mournful look?" Who is it for?"

Shen Hua chuckled lightly and said, "Mother, haven't you seen it yet?"

Mrs. Shen was at a loss: "What do you see?"

Shen Hua sighed softly, and said again: "Mother, you see that the people invited this time are all from small families like us, does Mrs. Guo really want to see the eldest son of the Guo family?"

"This male is married and the female is married. Her eldest son is almost 20 years old, and there are many fathers of her peers. Of course she is anxious."

Shen Hua saw that his mother still didn't see it, so he could only continue to say: "Mother, the eldest son of the Guo family is Tanhualang, and he is also the companion of His Highness the Crown Prince. How can someone like us be able to climb up? What happened abnormally?" There must be a demon, this Mrs. Guo is not the mother of the eldest son of the Guo family, right?"

Mrs. Shen shook her hands, and quickly glanced at the maids on the left and right out of the corner of her eyes. Seeing that they didn't respond, she breathed a sigh of relief, and whispered: "No matter what, please make me happy. If you don't want to, I will I won't force you, it's just that if such a good son-in-law misses, there may be another one, so you should think about it."

Shen Hua nodded and said: "Mother, don't worry, I will definitely not embarrass you."

At the banquet afterward, Shen Hua changed his previous silence, chatting and laughing happily with the girls of the same age around him, and not long after, he had a few more good partners.

But it wasn't her who stood out the most, but the other three girls.Looking at Liu Pianpian's expression and attitude, the one who is most satisfied should be Xia Keqing, the daughter of Xia Zhiyuan, the eight-pin pen post style of the Ministry of household affairs.

Perhaps it was because this Miss Xia Keqing was too ostentatious, which aroused the jealousy of some people at the banquet, and I don't know who made a mistake, and poured a good glass of wine on Miss Xia Keqing's clothes.

Liu Pianpian frowned, first comforted Xia Keqing, and then assigned Qiu Ju to take several other maids to accompany Xia Keqing to her yard to pick out a piece of clothes she wore when she was young, and put them on for her first.

Xia Keqing changed into a new set of clothes in Liu Pianpian's yard, and Qiu Ju ordered someone to bring hot towels to ask Xia Keqing to wash her face, and said with a smile: "I disturbed Miss Xia during the banquet, it would be bad if I didn't wipe off my sweat." Yes. Miss Xia, please wipe your face first, and if you think highly of your servant, let your servant touch up Miss Xia's makeup."

Xia Keqing clings to the Guo family wholeheartedly, and she treats Liu Pianpian's confidant maid naturally in a good-humoured manner, nodding with a smile: "Then there will be Miss Lao Qiuju."

According to Liu Pianpian's instructions, Qiu Ju not only touched up Xia Keqing's makeup, but also re-combed a cloud-like bun for her. She chose a butterfly walker from a jewelry box that Liu Pianpian didn't use very much, and gave it to Xia Keqing. plug in.

Xia Keqing waved her hands repeatedly and said, "Is this possible? This is my aunt's property. How can I use it at will?"

Qiu Ju said with a smile: "My wife told me that I would give it to Miss Xia long ago. The servants are just following orders. Besides, Miss Xia's beauty is so beautiful that she is worthy of this step." "

Whether Xia Keqing was young or not, after hearing Qiu Ju's flattery, she felt very happy, so she sat upright again and said, "Miss Qiu Ju, thank you."

Qiuju found a suitable place to insert the butterfly walker, and said, "Miss Xia, this servant has made a mistake, but there is something that this servant has to say. You must pay attention to your address in this mansion." If the master knows that Miss Xia is the wife's distant relative, the master may not agree to this marriage."

"Why is that?" Xia Keqing was anxious, "Even if you don't tell me now, you will find out sooner or later in the future?"

"I don't want to say more, but this is the Guo family, not the Liu family. Both my aunt and nephew are married in. To put it bluntly, it's a kiss, but to put it bluntly, I can't say anything more. Ms. Xia, pay more attention to it." Bar."

After scaring her, Qiu Ju paused, and continued: "But Miss Xia, don't worry, the master is the most reasonable, and when he knows Miss Xia's character, how could he reject this well-matched marriage because of such a trivial matter?" What about it? Ma'am, it's mainly because I'm afraid that the young master won't like it."

Xia Keqing bit her lower lip, and asked uneasily after a while, "Young master, don't you like me?"

"Miss Xia's color, which boy doesn't like it?" Qiu Ju comforted with a smile, "Miss Xia doesn't need to worry too much, but the young master is not the wife's own after all, and the wife's good intentions are put on the young master. , but in the end he was treated by the young master as a wolf. In the future, when Miss Xia marries in, you should persuade the young master well. It would be best if you listen to him more and let him get closer to my wife."

Xia Keqing's cheeks were flushed by Qiu Ju's words, and she said bitterly: "You have a really unforgiving mouth!"

Qiu Ju accepted it as soon as she saw it, and quickly begged for mercy with a smile: "Okay, Miss Xia, you don't remember the fault of a villain, so please forgive me this time."

Xia Keqing is a guest after all, that's all, and Qiu Ju will lead her to return to the plum banquet again.

Looking at the surrounding scenery, Xia Keqing asked, "Qiu Ju, isn't this the way to the pavilion?"

Qiu Ju stopped, approached Xia Keqing, and said in a low voice: "The madam told me just now that I don't have to take Miss Xia back to the banquet so early. This road leads to the courtyard of the young master. The madam said that although deaf people are married these days Dumb marriage, but how can we really not see each other? This is not the case, the opportunity has come. The wife has sent someone to inquire before, and the young master has not left the house today. Let's walk over quietly and take a sneak peek. So that Ms. Xia knows that my wife is not just giving the Xia family an ugly monster as a son-in-law!"

"You, why are you so, so over the top!" Xia Keqing's ears were red now, she stood there and stomped her feet, "I, I don't care!"

Seeing Xia Keqing like this, Qiu Ju felt contemptuous in her heart, and continued to smile and said, "Then Miss Xia, shall we go back or keep going?"

Xia Keqing looked down at the ground, and after a long time said softly: "Mrs. Guo is an elder, so I naturally listened to Mrs. Guo's wishes."

Qiu Ju said "Hey": "Miss Xia, this way please."

When it was almost at Guo Zhan'an's yard, Qiu Ju asked the others to stand there and wait, and took Xia Keqing to continue forward.

Seeing Qiu Ju coming, the two servants guarding the courtyard cried out.One of them went up to greet her and asked, "Miss Qiuju, please stay."

Qiu Ju stopped and said: "You guys came just in time. This young lady is not feeling well and is about to faint. Please ask someone to clean up a room and let the young lady rest."

The boy shook his head and said: "This is not allowed, the young master has an order, without his approval, no one can go in."

"Damn!" Qiu Ju scolded, "What are you guys! This young lady is a distinguished guest in the mansion, if anything goes wrong, neither of your lives will be enough to pay for it!"

The young man glanced at each other, but still shook his head: "How about this, Miss Qiu Ju, I'll ask someone to prepare a sedan chair and carry this lady to another courtyard to rest, okay?"

"By the time you bring the sedan chair over, this young lady has already fainted!" Qiu Ju insisted on taking Xia Keqing into the courtyard today. Seeing how stubborn these two boys were, she decided to push them away. "Get out of the way!"

Xia Keqing heard clearly from the side, she is a young daughter after all, seeing Qiu Ju making such a fuss and not caring about her reputation at all, how could she bear such humiliation?It's just that since she has decided to cling to the Guo family and Liu Pianpian, she has to act according to Liu Pianpian's arrangement.

She gritted her teeth, let out a soft cry, and then fell down.

Qiu Ju was overjoyed in her heart, but her face was filled with anxiety: "What are you still doing in a daze? Hurry up and get some nuns to come over and carry Miss Xia in!"

The boys didn't dare to provoke such disputes, one of them rushed into the yard to call for someone, while the other stood anxiously aside, asking persistently, "Is this lady all right?"

When the boy came back, he was followed by several strong nuns and three maids aged twelve or thirteen.

Seeing her, one of the nuns pushed Qiu Ju away, squatted down, and said, "Old sister, help me, this young lady fainted so suddenly, she has to be strangled."

Qiu Ju heard this, and hurriedly shouted: "You can't pinch, you can't pinch! What are your identities, Miss Xia's golden body, how can you touch it!"

The nanny turned her head, looked at Qiu Ju, and said with a smile: "So it's Miss Qiu Ju, forgive me for my stupidity. Don't worry, Miss Qiu Ju, I'm the steward of the young master's yard. I'm afraid I'm worse than Miss Qiu Ju. It should be taller. Miss Qiu Ju can serve a young lady, so I can naturally. Old sisters, come and help me grab this young lady’s arm. I'm dead!"

Xia Keqing, who was pretending to be dizzy, was so frightened that she almost flew out of her wits, but she has already reached this point, and this scene must continue.

Seeing Xia Keqing's throat moving unceasingly, Mammy sneered, without showing mercy, she directly pinched Xia Keqing's people!

Xia Keqing couldn't help crying out in pain.

Nanny let go of Xia Keqing and said happily, "It's time to wake up now."

Xia Keqing had no choice but to open her eyes, looking at her eyes with powerlessness and fear: "What's wrong with me?"

Mammy stood up, patted her knee, and said, "Don't worry, Miss, you probably fainted because your body was too weak to bear the coldness of the melting snow. You guys, hurry up and put this Help the young lady up. Here, the sedan chair is beside me, take the young lady back."

The three young maids nodded in agreement, two supported Xia Keqing, and the other lifted up the heavy curtain of the sedan chair——Xia Keqing was reluctantly helped into the sedan chair by the maids.

All this happened so fast, let alone Xia Keqing, even Qiu Ju was stunned.After Mammy yelled "get up the sedan chair", Qiu Ju realized it and stepped forward to stop her: "What are you doing? Where are you sending Miss Xia?"

The mother said: "Miss Qiuju, although this young lady is awake, I think she is unconscious. Why don't you send her to another courtyard to rest. You are a good lady, so where do you meet casual men? The young master is not yet married. Hehe, it’s not just something that smells good and smells good enough to break into the yard.”

"You!" Qiu Ju was furious, but the other party was Jia Yi's mother-in-law. She couldn't afford to offend her so easily, so she could only withdraw her hand bitterly, and cursed at the four servants carrying the sedan chair, "Why are you still standing there! Send the lady back to the wife's yard!"

When the sedan chair was completely gone, Grandma Jia clapped her hands and said, "Damn! What the hell, you still want to climb higher branches? Don't let it fall into my hands, or you will suffer!"

The other nuns smiled and said, "I don't know if it was the old sister who made the move. Did you see it just now? You pretended to be dizzy! With such an attitude, you also want to enter the young master's yard?"

Nanny Jia sneered and said, "Let's all pay attention. After all, she fainted at the gate of the young master's yard. Others don't know that she was faking it. You two, keep guarding the gate carefully, and don't let anyone take advantage of you."

The two guards of the yard nodded hurriedly and said, "Yes!"

Nanny Jia and the others entered the yard, and she asked the others to rest first, while she went to Guo Zhanan's study and asked the servant to report.

"Master, everything is done." After entering the study, Nanny Jia told the story.

Guo Zhan'an finished listening with a smile, and said: "Thank you for your hard work. It's freezing cold today and the ground is slippery. When the four sedan chairmen come back, give them a bowl of ginger soup each, and give them more rewards."

Grandma Jia agreed, and said, "Young Master is generous. But that young lady, I think, is a vain person. You should be more careful, Young Master. That person was brought by Qiu Ju, maybe it was the wife of the family who liked it." of."

Guo Zhan'an nodded and said: "Mammy is bothering you, I have made arrangements for this matter, and I will need you to help Mammy. But right now there is a more important matter to trouble Mammy, you go down and let them keep their mouths tight , don’t let Yu’er know about this. The imperial examination is just around the corner, whoever disturbs Yu’er at this moment, don’t blame me for not reading master and servant for many years.”

Nanny Jia hurriedly said, "Young Master, don't worry, I will definitely not let the people in the courtyard disturb Young Master Huo Yu."

Guo Zhanan nodded: "Go down."

After Grandma Jia left, Guo Zhan'an recruited another servant and said, "Go and find out how the plum feast is going, and come back and report back immediately after it's over."

"Yes!"