Tanhualang

Since the King of Han raised his troops, the situation suddenly became tense.Zhao Heng was based in Nanjing, and at the same time commanded the deployment of Henan and Jiangsu. For a while, the military affairs of Henan and Shandong were in flux, and the Weaving Bureau seemed to be the second military department, even busier than the military department.

On the second day of Qixi Festival, Shen Jing also followed Zhao Heng busy for a whole day.At dusk, just finished processing the Japanese military newspaper, just breathed a sigh of relief, the boy knocked on the door and entered the study room, first saluted Zhao Heng who was behind the book case, then turned his head and whispered to Shen Jing: "Mr. Said I made an appointment with you."

"Master Xu? Where is Mr. Xu?" Shen Jing was taken aback for a moment before suddenly realizing, "... Ah, I almost forgot."

Yesterday, the word rushed to invite Xu Wei to dinner, unexpectedly Xu Wei agreed very readily, and even said that he would drive to pick him up to the theater.Shen Jing regretted it in her heart at the time; she thought about ordering someone to tell Xu Wei to make an appointment at another day early this morning, and forget it.

At this moment, all the people from Xu Wei came to pick him up at the door, Shen Jing couldn't get off the tiger, so he had to turn around and ask Zhao Heng for leave: "Your Highness, I have an appointment with a friend today—"

Shen Jing was already busy with the things at hand, and thought that Zhao Heng would readily agree, but Zhao Heng just heard Xiao Tong's words and asked, "Mr. Xu? When did you have an extra friend named Xu?"

"It's... the son of Xu Shangshu from the Ministry of Rites."

As soon as Zhao Heng heard it, he immediately remembered who it was, raised his eyebrows, and his expression became a bit downcast: "So it's him? You actually have contacts with this person?"

"Er—" Shen Jing also felt a little embarrassed for a while, and after a pause, he said something nice for Xu Wei, "I met a few times later for some reason, Mr. Xu is not a frivolous person, he is quite sincere and open... what happened that day , I must have lost my temper after drinking. Mr. Xu is currently working in the Ministry of Households, in charge of salt affairs, and he is very proficient in Yanyin. Because I have many things I don’t understand, Mr. Ding specially recommended Mr. Xu for me, thanks to him It was only after explaining and helping that the report was completed. Therefore, I specially invited him to dinner today to express my gratitude."

Zhao Heng's expression softened a little after hearing this, and he nodded reluctantly and said, "Pay attention to yourself."

Only then did Shen Jing salute and leave.

Shen Jing left, Zhao Heng thought for a while, and then called Xiao You: "Why is Shen Jing still in touch with Xu Peng's son?"

"Xu Peng's son?" Xiao You was stunned before he remembered, "The one kicked by His Highness?"

"it's him."

Xiao You thought for a while and said, "It should be recommended by Grandpa Ding. According to Wei Zheng, he was also the one who sent Shen Jing back from Grandpa Ding's town guard yesterday. It seems that Mr. Xu works in the household department and is very proficient in salt affairs , Grandpa Ding specially invited him to help Shen Jing. Why does His Highness ask this? Do you think this matter is inappropriate and afraid that Shen Jing will suffer? Otherwise, I will ask Wei Zheng to send someone to follow Mr. Shen?"

Zhao Heng sneered: "I've learned a lesson once, give him ten guts, dare to touch Shen Jing again?"

"That's true. Then His Highness doesn't have to worry." Xiao You said with a smile, "But, there is something I just want to mention to His Highness. Regarding Mr. Shen, I need to trouble His Highness to worry about him."

"what?"

"Speaking of which, Mr. Shen is one year older than His Royal Highness. He is already in his twenties this year, but he has never married a wife." Xiao You smiled, "As the saying goes, a man should marry a college student, and a female college student should marry. A quiet person Needless to say, his talent and appearance are excellent. In the past, he was alone and wandering outside, and he might not have cared about starting a family. Now that he is working for His Highness in our manor, His Highness thinks highly of him. I dare Pray for him, if there is a suitable partner, Your Highness might as well help him to make a connection, it would be a good thing."

After hearing this, Zhao Heng looked up at Xiao You, and asked for a long time: "Did Shen Jing ask you to come and ask?"

"No no. Mr. Shen didn't mention it. I just like to worry about it myself." Xiao You hurriedly smiled, "I was thinking that it would be a pity to delay the appearance of a person like Mr. Shen. At your birthday banquet the day before yesterday, Some people asked me if he would marry a wife, presumably because he is highly valued by His Highness and has a bright future. I thought, Mr. Shen's marriage must be easy, so why give this favor to outsiders? Why don't you come down and be such a good person. If Shen Jing becomes a family by then, you will definitely appreciate His Highness's support, wouldn't it be the best of both worlds?"

Zhao Heng looked down at the document, and said, "It seems that you are getting along well. You are very considerate of him in everything."

"Where. Isn't it just borrowing your highness?" Xiaoyou finished speaking, just waiting for Zhao Heng to reply, but Zhao Heng looked absent-minded, still looking at the document in his hand, and waited for a long time before finally He replied lightly: "Okay. Gu knows."

He didn't say yes or no to these words, Xiao You was a little uncertain about what he meant for a while, but he couldn't ask any more, thanked him and then retreated from the study.

When Shen Jing came out with Xu Wei, the atmosphere was also confusing and awkward.

Strange to say.

Xu Wei has a lively personality, is very talkative, and has a wide range of knowledge. He can talk about any topic from all over the world; he also has a very rich expression, and he can say anything vividly.Shen Jing herself is not a talkative character, logically, if she goes out with someone as talkative as Xu Wei, there is absolutely no possibility of being left alone.

But that's not the case.

After getting into the carriage, Xu Wei asked Shen Jing what he wanted to eat, and Shen Jing asked back, "I'm the host today, what would Mr. Xu want to eat?"

Xu Wei said bluntly: "It stands to reason that it is most convenient to eat at Xixin Pavilion nearby. Their sauced duck is a must in Nanjing."

"Then eat the duck in sauce."

Xu Wei thought for a while and then said: "But I heard that the Huaiyang restaurant next door to his house is also delicious. Some of my friends have eaten there, and they all said that the squirrel mandarin fish is very delicious!"

Shen Jing smiled and said, "Alright."

"Brother Shen, don't just listen to me, don't you have anything you like to eat?" Although Xu Wei was a little blunt, he still understood the politeness of the official's children, and asked Shen Jing with a smile, "Just tell me what you want to eat. Don't be polite with me, no matter what delicious food, there are some in Nanjing City, I guarantee Brother Shen can eat it."

Shen Jing: "I'm not picky, I can do anything. See if Mr. Xu likes it. Then should I eat squirrel mandarin fish or sauced duck?"

"I haven't eaten squirrel mandarin fish... I haven't eaten duck in sauce for a long time. Brother Shen is from Suzhou, so he must love seafood... Hey, I have an idea!" Xu Wei closed his fan and clapped it on his palm, happily saying, "How about this, Brother Shen! Let's book a table in Xixin Pavilion, order a few signs, and then order the signboards from the restaurant next door to deliver them one by one. For example, the Huaiyang restaurant only serves a squirrel mandarin fish. Order a fresh river fish and three delicacies! In this way, wouldn't it be more perfect!"

"..." Shen Jing smiled, "Good idea."

Xu Wei solved this problem, and happily introduced to Shen Jing the opera troupe that will be singing in Guanyue Tower tonight: "It is said that there is a female singer who sings very well, even better than the local ones in Nanjing!..."

Shen Jing was distracted while listening.He was silently thinking about a question: This young master Xu, obviously looks good, even a handsome young man; his personality is also good, although he is a little domineering, but his general manners are good; One, know a little bit about everything.

As for being molested by him after drinking, it has been so long, and I really don't mind.

...But why do I always feel inexplicably awkward when I get along with him?

Facing such a lively and cheerful young master who seems to have been enlightened, it is reasonable to say that he should be very relaxed and at ease, but Shen Jing somehow feels tired, very tired, and even feels more tired than when he first entered the palace, facing Prince Zhao Heng. Zhang Wannian's unchanging iceberg face was a hundred times more tiring.

The new play in Guanyue Tower was not bad, but after watching the show, Xu Wei sent him back to the Weaving Bureau, it was getting late.Shen Jing was exhausted, and reluctantly said goodbye to Xu Wei with a smile: "Thank you tonight. I agreed to be the host, but it made Mr. Xu spend money instead."

"Where." Xu Wei smiled, his eyes curved into crescent moons, "This is the first time I invite Brother Shen to dinner today, so I should show my kindness as a landlord. If Brother Chen wants to treat you, please do it next time."

The smile at the corner of Shen Jing's mouth froze.

He has never liked to owe favors, but this time he was still careful not to say any more treats, for fear of digging a hole by himself again: "It's...it's getting late, thank you for sending me off, Mr. Xu, go slowly."

After seeing off Xu Wei, he walked back to his residence quietly and heavily.

But seeing Xiaoyou was also in the yard, and seeing him come back, he said, "Tsk tsk, what a coincidence. Your Highness just left."

Shen Jing walked into the room and asked, "Your Highness has been here?"

"Come to play chess with you. After setting up the chessboard, I waited for a while and found no one, so I just left." Xiao You followed Shen Jing and entered the room together, "Why did you delay so late?"

Shen Jing took off her coat, put on a toga, sat at the table, poured a cup of cold tea and drank it, and breathed a sigh of relief: "...Tired."

Xiao You took the tea bowl and poured himself a cup, and said with a smirk: "What are you doing so tired, that kid surnamed Xu looks very good at playing. He won't take you to the Qinhuai River to visit the Goulan Courtyard, right? Didn't you do something shameful?"

Shen Jing let out a long sigh: "It's more tiring than going around Goulan."

When Xiao Yi heard it, she was both surprised and delighted: "Yo? You really visited Goulan? Can't tell, Shen Jing—"

"Steward Qian, don't bother me, I have a headache. This young master Xu has too many tricks." Shen Jing put down the tea bowl, and then told Xiao You about tonight's experience, "Tonight He went to a restaurant on the Qinhuai River called 'Xishin Pavilion'. He thought about the deliciousness of this one, and then that deliciousness. In the end, the two of them ate a meal. Among the six dishes, three or four were from other restaurants. I asked someone to prepare the signature dish and sent it specially. Sitting under the stage and watching a play was not enough, but I insisted on inviting other people's corners to come in the box, ordered three plays alone, and listened to it again."

Xiaoyou couldn't help laughing out: "It's like something a young master would do—no wonder you're so tired, this kid really has a lot of tricks."

"It's not over, there's more exciting things to come." Shen Jing shook her head, and continued: "It's so easy to finish eating and watching the show, it's getting late, he said he's going to take a boat, so of course I'm grateful. Unfortunately, I ran into a thief who robbed me of money and snatched away my purse. I saw that thief was running fast, so I told Mr. Xu that there was not much money in it, so I just took it away. He But he refused, and chased after him as fast as he could, and insisted on chasing him back! I was too embarrassed to stand still, so I had to chase after him——Qian Xiaoyou, butler Qian! Have you laughed enough? "

"Pfft——haha! Hahahaha! Wonderful! Wonderful!" Xiaoyou spit tea all over the floor, leaned forward and back together with a smile, and patted her thigh, "Your trip tonight was really wonderful! It's another gourmet diary! It's a play again Remember! It’s the story of catching a thief again!——was the thief finally caught?”

"...No, let him escape. Mr. Xu tore off a sleeve from him, and said he was going to report to the police." Shen Jing sighed again, and lifted the clothes that had been replaced on the back of the chair: "I was sweating profusely after running, and my clothes were soaked."

Xiao You laughed again and again for a long time before he stopped, and then said: "This kid is interesting. Next time he invites you, you must call me to come with you. Haha, hahaha!"

"No. You are going, let him invite you alone." Shen Jing followed with a smile, "I am an old bone, but I can't move anymore."

"How old is Young Master Xu? Why are you so cute?"

Shen Jing stood up with her dirty clothes, and said with emotion: "I'm not too young, I'm 21 this year. It's nothing more than a collection of love from the elders in the family, which makes me develop such a character that doesn't take anything seriously. Don't say anything, I'm going to take a shower. I just hope that in the future, I will never encounter such an indiscriminate disaster like today again."

Xiao You got up with him, and walked to the open shower room in the south: "But, I still have something to do. I'll feel bad if I don't tell you."

"please say."

Xiaoyou scratched his head: "I didn't finish something today, and I can't help you."

Shen Jing didn't care, and said while walking, "What's the matter? You're still so polite to me."

"In front of the lord tonight, the conversation started, so I mentioned it to His Highness, and asked him to find a marriage for you—oh! Why did you suddenly stop?"

Turning back quietly: "You—"

Xiao You rubbed his nose, and looked close to his eyes: "It's all right. No bleeding."

Shen Jing stared at him, and threw the clothes into the tub: "Why are you telling His Highness this?"

Xiao You sat down on the small wooden bench next to him: "I can't help it, I'm just a person who loves to worry. Seeing that you are not too young, now you have established a career by following His Highness, and your salary is enough to support your family, yes It's time to make a marriage. Your Highness is a prince, and his words carry weight. If he can bother to make arrangements for you, the matchmaker must also consider it. The other party's family must be a good person, and will not insult your character, talent and appearance. .”

Shen Jing lowered her head and poured water on the clothes in the basin: "Your Highness—what did you say?"

"Your Highness didn't say yes, and he didn't say no. I can't ask any more." Xiao You sighed, "So I feel sorry for you. If you said that His Highness agreed, that's fine; if you say no, Then I'll find someone else to worry about it for you, and it may not be a bad thing. But he is noncommittal, and I can't make peace with others. If he forgets, won't it delay you? "

"You don't have to worry. If your Highness mentions it in the future, you can just return it for me." Shen Jing washed her clothes, looked up at Xiaoyou, smiled, and lowered her head again, "Thank you for thinking about it, this kindness I took it. But right now... I have no plans to start a family."

Xiao You looked at him silently, and for a long time, tentatively asked: "Shen Jing, you can't be—— someone already has someone in your heart?"