"Sister Ning, I remember the last time I came here, the bamboos in your yard were not so tall. How come they are growing so fast in just one summer?"

"There are things in this world that you don't understand? Don't talk about them anymore."

In Qingfeng Garden, two girls were sitting side by side on the corridor chatting. Under them sat a nanmu chair with curly grass pattern inlaid with jade. In the middle was an ebony half-moon table inlaid with mother-of-pearl. On the table were various snacks and high-quality tea. Although the maid We put a lot of effort into setting up these tables and chairs, but to be honest, they are a bit ridiculous and not suitable for hospitality.

Because Shen Danmo has a special status and has known Pei Ning since childhood and has a very close relationship, everyone in the family treats her differently and never treats her as an outsider. Among the younger generations of the Pei family, Pei Cheng is a little stranger to her. Pei Yun was very familiar with Silent Cloud because of his teachings, but he felt a little jealous of this sister with a different surname.

In the summer afternoon, the sun is dazzling, but fortunately the large green bamboos in the atrium block the heat.

Shen Danmo took a sip of tea, blinked and said slyly: "Who doesn't know that Sister Ning is the most talented girl in Kyoto, she knows all kinds of music, chess, calligraphy and painting, and she is as beautiful as a fairy. Naturally, my little sister can't compare with her. How can she be better? Dare you speak up? It’s just that my sister is so good, I don’t know which bastard will take advantage of me in the future.”

Pei Ning looked at her with a smile and gritted his teeth and said: "You are becoming more and more out of tune now. Even I am making fun of you. You have no sense of propriety in a daughter's family."

Shen Danmo curled her lips and said: "Sister, those rules were originally designed by men to restrain women. Don't be fooled and help others complain after being betrayed."

Pei Ning put her hand on her forehead and said sadly: "The more you talk, the less likely it is. Should you really let the people outside listen to your words, to see if they will still praise you in the future?"

Shen Danmo looked disdainful, shook his head and said, "Who cares about the compliments of those people? Sister, don't worry, I'm not crazy. I'm just too lazy to think about it here. I just say whatever I have in my heart."

Peining smiled and said: "That's all, you can say whatever you want, I won't tell Uncle Shen. It's just that the guests will come later. You can't be so upright anymore, lest you scare others."

Shen Dan Mo Qi said: "What kind of guest? Even if there is a guest, I don't need to greet him. Could it be that my sister got drunk and started talking nonsense, and actually regarded me as a good word?"

Liangyan, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but laugh twice.

Pei Ning glared at her and said angrily: "Don't talk nonsense. It's Miss Gu from the Guangping Marquis Mansion. She posted a message yesterday, saying that she would come with Mrs. Gu to visit our ancestors today, and then she wanted to see me. That's it. It just so happened that your posts arrived at almost the same time, so I thought you had made an appointment to come together."

Shen Danmo suppressed a smile and said lightly: "Gu Zhen? Are you familiar with her, sister?"

Peining shook his head and said, "I'm not very familiar with him. I've only met him a few times, so I'm a little curious."

Shen Danmo remembered the news he had read a few days ago, suddenly understood, and said with a half-smile: "Maybe it's a good thing."

Pei Ning looked at her suspiciously, but Shen Danmo stopped talking, obviously unwilling to elaborate. The two had known each other since childhood and already knew each other very well, so Pei Ning did not pursue the question and just smiled: "I guess she It's almost here, do you want to come with me to meet me?"

Shen Danmo's lips curved up and he nodded: "Of course I want to meet the apple of Marquis Guangping's eye."

The two of them came to Ding'an Hall surrounded by a group of maids. They first bowed to Pei Taijun and Gu Liang's wife Zhao, and then went up to meet Gu Zhen. The three girls were about the same age and similar in stature, and they all had outstanding looks. She comes from a wealthy family, so her clothes and accessories are all of the highest quality, and the colors in the house are much brighter.

However, upon closer inspection, the three people still have different looks and temperaments.

Pei Ning is the oldest, mature and mature, and has a timeless temperament immersed in poetry and books. She is like a traditional lady walking out of a painting. She makes people feel close to her when looking at her, and she does not dare to blaspheme her in the slightest.

Gu Zhen is soft, kind and delicate, just like an elegant lotus grown in a water town. It is hard for outsiders to imagine that such a rough and bold tiger general like Gu Liang could raise such a gentle daughter.

The light ink and no makeup are applied, and the beauty is natural. When the eyes are flying, there is a bit of air and calmness that is rarely seen in the daughter's family.

Pei Taijun, who was sitting on the high platform, looked at the three girls who were all outstanding with their own characteristics with a smile, and said with a smile: "You can go and play by yourself, I will talk to my wife."

Mrs. Zhao also smiled, but in the end she still looked at Shen Danmo a few more times.

The three of them bowed obediently, and then went to the warm pavilion next to them. The maids quickly served them tea and snacks.

When Pei Ning saw that Gu Zhen was a little embarrassed, he knew that this girl was a little thin-skinned. Perhaps Shen Danmo's sudden appearance made her a little overwhelmed, so she smiled and said: "Sister Zhen'er, the last time we met was at my ancestor's birthday party. Months have passed in a flash."

Gu Zhen responded: "Last time, I was grateful to Sister Pei for taking care of me. So this time I came with my mother to visit the Madam. I wanted to see Sister Pei again and say thank you in person."

Pei Ning said quickly: "This is an exaggeration. You and I are family friends. We should move around frequently. It's my fault that I should have invited sister Zhen'er to sit here earlier."

Shen Danmo watched the two people chatting calmly and politely, feeling a little funny in his heart, and said calmly: "Sister Zhen'er, actually I envy you very much."

Gu Zhen was slightly startled and asked in confusion: "Sister Shen, where did you start talking about this?"

Shen Danmo sighed softly: "After my brother passed away, I was the only one in the family. Although the brothers and sisters from my uncle's family are also close, they are separated by a layer after all. I don't have a brother who loves you very much and is willing to accompany you like sister Zhen'er." It’s really enviable to go outside the city and enjoy the scenery.”

When she heard the first half of the sentence, Gu Zhen's eyes showed sympathy, but then her cheeks turned red and she lowered her head slightly.

Pei Ning didn't know why at first, but then she saw Shen Danmo silently mouthing her words. She gave Shen Danmo a helpless look, and then said to Gu Zhen: "Sister Zhen'er, I remember that your brothers are not the same." Not in the capital, Mo'er likes to joke, so don't take her seriously."

Although Gu Zhen was a little shy, she still said frankly: "Sister Pei, she is right. My fourth brother is in the capital now, and it was he who took me to relax outside the city."

Peining smiled and said: "That's good. Being bored in the house all day is not necessarily a good thing."

Gu Zhen responded, then looked at Shen Danmo, blinked and said: "Sister Shen family even knows such trivial things. No wonder outsiders say you are the most talented woman in Kyoto, you can know the world's affairs without leaving home. , I think the wise people in ancient times are nothing more than this. If others had such a reputation, I would probably not believe it, but since it is the sister of the Shen family, I have no doubts at all."

Her tone was gentle and her smile was calm, but her tone was slightly accentuated when she mentioned the words "Shen Family".

Shen Danmo smiled faintly, as if he didn't hear the underlying meaning of her words, and said calmly: "It's just some mediocre people's arrangement, sister Zhen'er, please don't take it seriously. The heat is unbearable at this time, and it's even worse in the capital. I also want to go I’m looking for a quiet place outside the city to escape the heat. I wonder if sister Zhen’er can recommend some places for me?”

Gu Zhen stared and smiled and said: "Little sister, I heard that there is the Hengduan Mountains in the southwest of Kyoto, which stretches for thousands of miles. The mountains are cool and cool. Sister Shen family, Mo Ruo, should you go there and try it?"

…

Two girls of 14 or 15 years old exchanged words with each other. Although there was no discord in their emotions, Pei Ning could certainly hear the conflict hidden in the conversation.

She knew Shen Danmo's temper very well. Although she didn't know why she wanted to tease Gu Zhen, there was always a reason. What surprised her was that Gu Zhen looked soft and weak, as if a gust of wind could blow her down, but her words were also very sharp. , it seems that he is not inferior to Shen Danmo.

Surprised, she was the master after all, so she opened her mouth to smooth things over, and then stopped the two of them from talking.

Although it was just a simple verbal test and not a tit-for-tat confrontation, Gu Zhen still took the initiative to express her apology to Shen Danmo.

Shen Danmo also smiled and apologized.

After a while, the conversation between the three girls became normal. They chatted about interesting things in the city and about their daughter's family. They actually had a lot of fun with each other.

After Gu Zhen left, Pei Ning and Shen Danmo returned to Qingfeng Garden, and she couldn't help but ask: "Mo'er, when did Gu Zhen offend you?"

Shen Danmo rubbed his brows, shook his head and said, "Where did my sister go? It was just a joke, not to mention offending."

Pei Ning had something on her mind, so she didn't ask further questions. After sending the maids away, she asked seriously: "Mo'er, I heard someone said that my cousin from the Li family has been to Green Willow Manor?"

Shen Danmo hesitated for a moment, but when he saw Peining's worried eyes, he finally couldn't bear to hide it, so he nodded and said, "That happened more than a month ago."

Pei Ning asked: "Is there anything wrong with the third brother? Although I have received a letter from his trustee, I have never heard him mention this matter at all."

Shen Danmo said comfortingly: "Sister, don't worry, your third brother is active and active all day long and is in good health."

Pei Ning naturally didn't believe it, frowned slightly and said, "Don't lie to me."

Shen Danmo said seriously: "I can't lie to anyone, sister. The lady in the house hired an expert to sit in the Green Willow Manor. How good is your cousin? He doesn't think so." Bullying your third brother? Don't worry, nothing will happen."

Pei Ning sighed softly and said with great difficulty: "That's it, it's not easy for the third brother. Since there is an expert in charge, I think he will be fine. I'm just worried that if the expert is not here, he will encounter What should I do if it’s dangerous?”

After hearing this, Shen Danmo's heart moved, and then he looked at Pei Ning's expression. After looking for a long time, he couldn't see anything unusual. Pei Ning seemed to be just sighing casually without any deep meaning.

But Shen Danmo could read a hint of pain in her complicated eyes.
Chapter completed!