White Hedge Dream

Chapter 37 Family Matters

The steam from the bathtub made the interior of the simple inn even more humid and stuffy.

Zhou Jingyun, who was sitting in the bathtub with his bare shoulders, held up the newspaper, read it by the light next to him, and breathed a sigh of relief.

"It turns out it's an interesting story about the general's family." He said softly, handed the newspaper out, and motioned to the servant on the side, "Give it back to Zhang Zhongcheng."

The servant took it and walked away quickly, but came back soon.

"Your Majesty, Zhang Zhongcheng is gone."

Gone?

Zhou Jingyun sat up straight, turned his head and asked in a low voice: "Where to go? Back to Beijing or..."

The servant whispered: "I didn't dare to follow and check."

Zhang Ze has many guards and is extremely vigilant, so he cannot spy.

Zhou Jingyun was silent for a moment, thinking about the documents piled up on Zhang Zhe's desk just now, and asked, "Is everything okay at home?"

As he was about to arrive in the capital, the prince asked more and more about his family, probably because he was concerned about the little wife he sent home first.

The servant responded and said specifically: "My wife is taking the young lady to visit my aunt."

The madam may be dissatisfied with the new young lady. After all, it is not what the parents say, and no mother-in-law will be happy. However, given the condition of the prince, the madam will not kick the young madam out for the sake of face.

Zhou Jingyun remained silent, looking at the newspaper still held by the servant.

Because Zhang Ze left, Yi Cheng refused and did not dare to take it, so he could only take it back.

The servant noticed Zhou Jingyun's gaze and asked hurriedly: "Your Majesty, are you worried about General Li and those people?" He then said with a smile, "Our family never interacts with these people. No matter how big the turmoil is, it has nothing to do with the Hou Mansion."

The adult sons of the family stayed away from the capital, while the unmarried sons were strictly controlled, refrained from drinking, gambling, and stayed away from dandyism and right and wrong.

Zhou Jingyun hummed, but the next moment, he stood up suddenly and stepped out of the tub with water all over him.

"Let's go back to Beijing."

The servant was surprised, go? Isn’t this bath a waste of time?

…

…

When the sky was bright, Xueliu came to the courtyard of Madam Dongyanghou with her head lowered. Madam Dongyanghou was not there, not even Mama Xu, Mama Huang, Hongxing, and many of the maids seemed to be missing.

"Today is the queen's birthday. Madam went to congratulate her before dawn." Maid Cherry said with a smile.

Xue Liu said with a bit of annoyance: "I actually forgot and didn't come to serve Madam earlier."

Cherry smiled and said, "We can't eat for free if we work for you." She pushed the snow willow and said, "Girl, go and have a rest. The banquet in the palace is over and it's already afternoon. Come back then."

Xue Liu hesitated for a moment and asked, "Did you take the young lady with you?"

Cherry shook her head: "How can I take her with me? She hasn't been given a grade yet."

After Zhou Jingyun came back and met the emperor and empress, he would give his wife a royal title.

Furthermore, given the young lady's background, Madam Hou would never take her to such an occasion.

Xue Liusong was about to say something when someone called Yingtao, and Yingtao said, "I'm going to do some work first." and walked away.

Xue Liu could only stand by herself for a moment. She wanted to leave, but she didn't want to leave. She didn't know what to do if she didn't leave. She watched the two little girls mopping the floor and gave some instructions before walking out. There was a faint voice behind her.

"...Xue Liu stayed with us?"

"Then there's an extra maid, who should I replace?"

"Why are you so anxious? It's not like you are really going to stay here and wait for the prince to come back... I have a good place to go."

"...I don't think so, the new young lady can't tolerate her..."

"Okay, stop talking nonsense."

Hearing these words, Xue Liu's face turned red. She felt aggrieved, resentful, annoyed, and a little panicked. When she walked out of Mrs. Hou's yard, she saw several little girls running around.

"….The young lady is playing in the garden."

"...There are a lot of fruits prepared in the kitchen over there."

"...Xing'er and the others said that the young lady likes loose fruits very much, so we will go and wait."

Xue Liu was angry and sneered, "Okay, she always looks like she doesn't leave the house. My wife went out to play as soon as she went out. She also ate and drank. There are no tigers or monkeys in the mountains who are kings."

She clenched her hands bitterly and went to the garden. …

…

"Young lady, you should go out more often."

Chunyue said with a smile and spread the brocade mat on the pavilion.

Zhuang Li sat down and leaned on the railing to look at the lake. Dongyang Hou Mansion occupies a large area and the lake is vast.

"That's the lotus pond over there." Chunhong pointed it to Zhuang Li and asked, "The lotus buds are gone and the lotus flowers are withered, but there is still a lotus leaf pole. Do you want it, young lady?"

Now even Chunhong dared to joke with the young lady, while Chunyue pursed her lips and smiled.

"Forget about the pole." Zhuang Li said with a smile, "Have someone dig up a piece of lotus root for me."

Chunhong asked curiously: "Can lotus roots also be used as ornaments?"

Zhuang Li nodded: "Okay."

Sure enough, Chunhong went to call the maids in the garden to dig lotus roots, and another maid came over with a smile, carrying a basket of flowers: "You have just picked one, young lady, pick one to wear."

Zhuang Li twisted one flower, but instead of wearing it on his head, he tore off the petals and threw them into the lake.

"It's better to throw it on my head than to throw it into the water," she said, looking at the petals floating in the lake.

The young lady even liked the branches and flowers. She thought she was a person who loved elegance, but she didn't expect that she would destroy the flowers with her own hands. The servants were a little surprised and said hurriedly: "Madam, tear it apart and play with it, and we will pick it again."

"No need." Zhuang Li said, and motioned to Chun Yue, "Bring the tea to the mothers, and they can also enjoy the garden that they have worked hard to take care of every day."

The maids were pleasantly surprised. Although the young lady seemed difficult to get along with, she was very generous and thanked her repeatedly. Chunyue called the little girls to bring snacks and drinks, and a group of people went to eat and drink in a lively manner.

Zhuang Li leaned on the railing and threw the flowers into the lake one by one. Chunyue watched the colorful petals scattered in the lake. I don’t know whether it was because of looking at them for a long time or because the wind rippled the lake surface, but it felt like countless flowers blooming. , more brilliant than the one just picked.

So beautiful.

"Actually, it's good to be a daughter-in-law. Look, if I do this, no one dares to say a word." Zhuang Li's voice came, "When I was a daughter, I did this, and my sister chased me with a broom and beat me... "

elder sister? Chunyue looked at the swaying petals of flowers in the lake and asked blankly: "Where is your mother? Is she protecting you?"

Zhuang Li's voice seemed to come from the lake.

"My mother died to give birth to me."

Chunyue sighed in her heart, that's right. The young lady said she was an orphan whose parents died early. It turned out that her mother died due to dystocia?

Immediately, he was stunned again, no, how could an orphan have a sister?

She raised her head dizzily and saw that Zhuang Li had walked out of the pavilion at some point. He stopped and looked back, as if he was surprised why she hadn't followed him yet.

Was it her imagination before? The young lady is no longer in the pavilion long ago? Who is she talking to?

"Go back." Zhuang Li waved to her and said, "It's time to make incense today."

Chunyue hurriedly responded and followed up: "What spices Madam needs, I'll get them."

Zhuang Li nodded and said hello.

Chunyue followed her slowly, feeling that there was something she wanted to ask, but she couldn't remember. Chunhong ran over there holding a piece of lotus root. She quickly threw away her thoughts and took it, "Wash it and bring it carefully." The muddy water got on the young lady’s body.”

The group of them left, and the pavilion returned to silence. Xueliu walked over from behind the rockery, saw the empty basket on the ground, and then looked at the petals scattered in the lake. They were red, bloody, and disgusting.

She couldn't help but press her heart to suppress retching, and said bitterly: "What a vicious woman, so cruel."

She wanted to look away, but suddenly she saw something floating among the petals. Different from the scattered petals, it was a whole flower, rising and falling in the lake.

This is not a real flower, it is a silk flower.

Did the young lady drop the silk flower?

Xue Liu wanted to spit, but then she grabbed the railing and almost fell in. She stared at the silk flower with wide eyes.

This, this is the palace flower given by the Queen given by Mrs. Xue!

She registered in person at that time, so she remembered it deeply.

This flower actually dropped!

It’s on the shelves today. After writing for a month, everyone can have a basic taste judgment. After writing for so long, there is actually nothing new, so I want to write something weird this time. Haha, everyone will try the taste. If you like it Just follow along and watch the fun. If you don’t like it, let’s meet again next time.

There is no manuscript for this book.

Because I have canceled all the saved manuscripts, I write now every day, hehe, it is a bit exciting.

(End of chapter)