The inside of the banquet hall is connected to the outside world. Under the sunlight, you can see the needles on the ancient pine trees, still showing a bit of green.
Many people present had not seen Mrs. Ning with so many smiles on her face for a long time.
Mrs. Ning sat at the top, and beside her sat Lu Qiong and Ning Qiang.
At the table a little away from her, Lu Chongshan and Madam Zhu sat at the same table. Madam Zhu's eyes were still full of tears and she looked at Lu Chongshan frequently.
In addition to Lu Feng and Lu Jiang, there were many young masters and ladies from the second house below. They looked at Lu Chongshan with a lot of embarrassment and curiosity.
Lu Chongshan has devoted himself to practicing Buddhism for ten years. The last time he returned to Lu Mansion from Jokhang Temple was six years ago.
In the past six years, many people present had never seen Lu Chongshan, although they were his close relatives.
It was precisely because of this that Mrs. Ning was so happy when Lu Chongshan returned to his home.
The banquet begins.
All kinds of luxurious delicacies were brought up one by one by the accompanying maids.
Each small jade plate contained ingredients that Lu Jing had never seen before. The aroma was fragrant and the dishes were as beautiful as exquisite handicrafts.
Qingyue opened her eyes wide, she had never seen such beautiful food.
Unexpectedly, her expression was noticed by many maids, who hid their faces and snickered.
Lu Jingze's expression remained unchanged and he whispered to Qing Yue: "When the banquet is over, we will take these food back, otherwise it will be a waste."
Qingyue nodded slightly. Many owners of the Lu family were here. She was a maid who couldn't speak, but she also agreed with Lu Jing's decision.
"Food cannot be wasted."
Lu Jing whispered softly in his heart, but he tasted it slowly and leisurely.
The old lady in front of the jade eucalyptus on the high platform always had a smile on her face.
Lu Qiong looked very good and smiled toothily in front of the old lady, making the old lady even happier.
The old lady would touch Ning Qiang's long hair from time to time and look at Lu Chongshan not far away, her eyes filled with happiness.
This host meeting lasted for a full hour.
At this time, a gust of autumn wind blew into the banquet hall. There were yellow leaves falling on many spring trees outside the garden, which probably brought Mrs. Ning's sorrowful thoughts.
The smile on her face suddenly disappeared and she sighed: "During the Mid-Autumn Festival, we should reunite and enjoy the moon tonight, but Shenyuan is still on the way to Taixuanjing.
And my poor girl..."
Mrs. Ning couldn't help but burst into tears when she said this.
Ning Qiang beside her not only covered her face and cried, but the poor girl Mrs. Ning mentioned was Ning Qiang's biological mother who died from the great demon!
Ning Qiang's eyes were filled with tears, and Lin Rendong patted her back gently.
Ning Qiang cried for a while, then remembered the poem Lu Jing wrote to her that day, and couldn't help but look at Lu Jing.
At this time, Lu Jing was sitting at the end of many tables, his demeanor was as usual, and he even did not forget to smile lightly at Qing Yue.
"Cousin Lu Jing has also suffered a lot. His mother has left him long ago. The head of the family regards him as nothing, and his aunt also hates him. He is even ranked last in the family, and other cousins laugh at him, but he
But still calm and composed..."
"Those who abandon me will not be able to keep yesterday's day; those who mess up my heart will have many worries today..."
Ning Qiang thought of Lu Jing and the poem that Lu Jing copied for her, and for some reason, she felt much calmer in her heart.
At this moment.
At such a banquet, Mrs. Zhong, who had never said a word, suddenly rolled up her long sleeves and said to Mrs. Ning, "Old Mrs., it is rare for many people to gather together today. It is a good time to behave in the house."
The old lady felt depressed. When she heard Mrs. Zhong's words, she waved her hands slightly and said, "The rules at home are naturally important and cannot be neglected. You are also responsible for taking care of matters in the house on weekdays, so you can ask them."
Mrs. Zhong has a graceful demeanor, wearing a blue and blue Guiyue robe, wearing a long hairpin with fragrant beads on her head, and a little rouge, making her look luxurious and solemn.
After hearing what the old lady said, her eyes wandered around and fell on many young masters and ladies.
All the masters and ladies lowered their heads, with fear in their eyes, lest Mrs. Zhong's eyes fall on them.
The next moment, Mrs. Zhong said: "Lu Jiang, Lu Jing!"
Ning Qiang and Lin Rendong looked aside, Lu Feng and many other young masters and ladies raised their heads and looked at Lu Jing and Lu Jiang.
Lu Zhongshan, who was on the high platform, still lowered his head, as if he had never heard the name of his concubine.
Lu Jiang stood up, glanced sideways at Lu Jing, and moved forward with his head held high.
Lu Jing calmly drank the wine in his hand, turned around and gave Qing Yue a look to reassure him, and then slowly stood up.
The eyes of many young masters, ladies, maids, etc. were focused on Lu Jing... Because Lu Jing's status in the Lu family has always been humble, many young nobles did not even have much respect for Lu Jing except for his status as "son-in-law".
impression.
But today, Mrs. Zhong spoke in a serious tone, and said she wanted to behave in the palace, and suddenly named Lu Jing, which made them quite curious.
"Lu Jiang, you invited people into the house without notification, or at least showed off, do you know you were wrong?"
Mrs. Zhong's voice was cold, her eyes focused on Lu Jiang.
Her voice was not very harsh, but Lu Jiang knelt down without hesitation, lowered his head and admitted his mistake: "Aunt, Lu Jiang knows that he is presumptuous, please punish him!"
Lu Jiang just finished speaking.
Another woman hurriedly came up from the hall. The woman was also wearing gold, silver, and precious robes. She also came to the hall and knelt down and said: "Mrs. Zhong, it is my fault that I am not strict with my children. Please give me some advice."
Madam, she punished me as well, to enforce the rules of the house."
This woman is Lu Jiang’s biological mother, Mrs. Zhou, and she is Lu Chongshan’s concubine!
There was silence in the hall, but no one felt that Lu Jiang and Madam Zhou had done too much, because...in the Lu Mansion, Madam Zhong had a profound power, and no one dared to challenge her power!
Even Madam Zhu, the mistress of the second palace, stood up at this moment, saluted Madam Zhong, and said, "It's my lax management of the family that makes my sister worry."
A smile appeared on Mrs. Zhong's calm face. She first smiled at Mrs. Zhong and said, "My sister is in my eyes, so why should we be polite to each other? Lu Jiang is the young master of the second house. He is still young and has made mistakes.
It's okay to just give a little punishment. The important thing is that the second house should be more alert on weekdays. Now that the head of the family is about to return, there are countless people inside and outside Changning Street staring at the Lu House. Don't let people think that my Lu House's family rules don't exist. Young man
It’s just being undisciplined.”
Mrs. Zhu glanced at Lu Zhongsheng lightly and found that Lu Zhongshan did not raise his head from beginning to end, as if he was not paying attention to the matters in the house.
So she saluted Mrs. Zhong again: "What my sister has taught me is that I can save it."
Mrs. Zhong then looked at Lu Jiang and said: "Lu Jiang, you are the young master of the second mansion. The master and wife of the second mansion naturally have dignity. I cannot punish you too harshly.
But you must not be too casual in the mansion. Since the thing you committed is not serious and you know that you have made a mistake, you will go to Houshan Huangyuan to think about it for a month. In the next year, the monthly routine will be reduced by half."
Mrs. Zhong whispered softly, but there was still silence in the hall.
Lu Jiang kowtowed and said in a deep voice, "Thank you, aunt, for the gift. Lu Jiang understands."
Mrs. Zhong's eyes fell on Lu Jing beside her again. Her eyes changed instantly and became much colder.
"Lu Jing, do you know you are wrong?" Mrs. Zhong asked again.
Her voice was very soft, but her tone was very stern. The young master and young lady who were looking at the center of the banquet room suddenly lowered their heads when they heard Mrs. Zhong's inquiry and did not dare to look at them again.
Ning Qiang and Lin Rendong looked at each other, Ning Qiang's eyes were very worried, and even the little girl Lu Yi wrinkled her nose, thinking: "Lu Jing... is going to suffer this time, admit your mistake quickly, and the punishment will be light."
Some."
Everyone thought Lu Jing would also admit his mistake.
But the next moment...
"Mother, Lu Jing... I don't know what mistake I made."
Lu Jing saluted Mrs. Zhong, but he said something shocking, which made everyone present suddenly freeze in their eyes!
Ning Qiang said anxiously: "Why did my cousin answer like this? The mistress asked, no matter whether she made a mistake or not, she must admit her mistake. Only in this way can she not refute the mistress's face. After all, in this hall, the people from all over the house are gathered.
My surname, in front of so many people, I have lost the face of my legitimate mother, what should I do?"
Lin Rendong was also a little surprised. Her impression of Lu Jing was indeed not so unwise!
Some people are worried, and naturally some people are happy.
Although Lu Jiang, who had returned to his original position, did not understand Lu Jing's answer, there was a flash of joy in his eyes!
Mrs. Zhong never expected that Lu Jing would answer like this.
But her face was still calm, so she stood up and walked down the platform step by step.
"The rules of the mansion are that you are not allowed to practice martial arts outside the mansion without the consent of your elders!"
"My Lu family is from a martial arts family, and the rules of martial arts are very strict. If you know the rules and violate them, your guilt will be even heavier!"
Mrs. Zhong’s words became more serious and her tone became more severe!
"Lu Jing, you are the young master of my mansion. Your mother died young, so you should be disciplined by me. How have I ever taught you to violate the rules of the mansion?"
"Lu Jing, you know you are wrong, but your aunt asked you, but you asked me instead... Do you think that when you leave the house, I, the mistress of the Lu family... will not be able to punish you?"
Mrs. Zhong seemed to be questioning Lu Jing word by word.
But many ladies in the second house have changed their minds.
Because they know that many of Mrs. Zhong's words seem to be reprimanding Lu Jing, but in fact they are using Lu Jing to establish his authority and speak to Mr. Chongshan who has just returned from the second house. Madams, listen!
The implication is...even if Master Chongshan returns to the mansion and Marquis Shenxiao is not around, then Mrs. Zhong is already the mistress of the Lu mansion!
Lu Jing and Lu Jiang are just Mrs. Zhong’s pawns today.
In the case of Lu Jiang, he was held accountable and given a lighter punishment to show his forgiveness!
As for Lu Jing, it was used to establish his authority!
Seeing this scene, Qing Yue had tears in her eyes and was at a loss.
Ning Qiang's heart felt sour for no reason, and she thought of herself again.
"My cousin is in the same situation as me. Lu Jiang made a mistake. His biological mother interceded for mercy, and his biological mother shared the responsibility."
"But my cousin made a mistake, but no one spoke up for him. If I make a mistake in the future, who will intercede for me?"
Ning Qiang took a deep breath and was about to beg Mrs. Ning beside her.
But she heard Lu Jing say softly: "Mother, there are such rules in the clan, but why did I make a mistake?"
He looked calm, without any fear on his face, and said: "I once saw an old man in black fishing by the Xi Pond in the West Courtyard. He said that he was a martial arts instructor of the Lu family. Seeing that I had extraordinary abilities, he wanted to
Teach me martial arts."
"The elder asked, but Lu Jing did not dare to refuse, so he agreed. This is why my martial arts came from this. Could it be that... I was deceived by the old man, that he is not from the Lu family?"
When Lu Jing said this, he paused slightly and said, "The elder said that his name is... Wu Beishi."
Mrs. Zhong frowned suddenly.
Even Mrs. Ning, who was lying on the lady's chair with her hands on her hands and seemed to be ignoring the world, suddenly opened her eyes!