The candlelight was shrouded in red gauze lanterns, so the room seemed to be filled with an intoxicating and hazy red color.
A pair of slender hands pressed on Li Jinglong's forehead and rubbed it gently. Li Jinglong, who was bathing in the wooden basin, closed his eyes and snored happily.
The owner of the jade hand was young, and she was sitting next to the bathtub. Her round and full nails looked particularly shiny under the light. But she didn't dare to raise her head, because she could see the bathtub when she raised her head...
"Come here, lay your hands on me, Master!" Li Jinglong said with a smile.
The blush on the maid's face spread to her ears for a moment, then she moved the stool and sat next to Li Jinglong, took his hand and kneaded it gently.
"Rub your arms!" Li Jinglong opened his eyes, smiled, and put his hands down naturally.
Then, he closed his eyes again and hummed softly, "My pretty enemy, you want to kill me. I'm here today. Seeing that your smiles and sorrows are gone, I can't sleep in the same bed. It doesn't matter if you stand in front of me..."
....”
Seeing that he was happy, the maid boldly asked, "Why is the master so happy today?"
"Hey! You don't understand even after I told you!" Li Jinglong felt happy in his heart. Just when he was holding the lamp, He Guangyi came to his house to deliver the imperial edict, but the Japanese envoy, the Minister of the Lifanyuan, received him and had a few words.
Accept the gift as it is due!
I can't help but feel happy when I think that the empty warehouses in my home can be filled up properly.
But the next second, he suddenly stopped laughing.
"It's even harder to get the money that the higher-ups know! Maybe one day I'll have to pay tribute to you, and maybe I'll pay more tribute than I received." Li Jinglong thought to himself, "It's obvious that the God of Wealth is passing by and the boy is giving away money!"
When he thought about this, his mood immediately became depressed again, and he no longer had the slightest intention to sing a tune.
"Master!" Suddenly, someone called softly outside the house.
"What's wrong?" Li Jinglong recognized the voice of the second housekeeper and asked displeasedly, "Don't you see how busy I am?"
"Master, Duke Wei is here and waiting to see you in the front yard. Look, I'm afraid there's something urgent!"
"He?" Li Jinglong was stunned for a moment and thought to himself, "The sun is coming out in the west today?"
Then he stood up amidst the sound of rushing water...
~
Xu Huizu was dressed in casual clothes, with a somewhat troubled and embarrassed look on his face.
Although they were both from the top noble and wealthy families in the Ming Dynasty, he didn't come to Li Jinglong's house often, let alone late at night.
"Hey, who can really not ask for help in life?" Xu Huizu sighed in his heart.
At this moment, footsteps came from outside, and Li Jinglong laughed heartily, "The Duke of Wei is here, you are such a rare visitor!"
Xu Huizu stood up quickly, clasped his fists and saluted, "I've taken the liberty of coming to bother you!"
"Hey, what are you talking about? I can't even invite you here on weekdays!" Li Jinglong said with a smile, "Please, let's talk to the waiter later!"
Then turn slightly sideways and get out of the way.
Then the two walked side by side, with the servant holding a lantern in front of them, and their elongated figures on the ground.
"This Xu Huizu has not been with me for eight hundred years, so he must have something difficult when he suddenly comes today!" Li Jinglong had a gentle smile on his face, but he thought to himself, "Is it possible that I gave him a little stumbling block a few days ago?
Just come to ask for favors? No, that’s not possible. If that were the case, Xu Huizu would no longer be Xu Huizu!”
The two of them entered the tea room one after another. There was already a maid nearby making tea.
What is being boiled is not ordinary tea, but an exquisite clay pot, sitting on a small clay stove. Red dates, dried longan, wolfberry and rock sugar are added to the boiling water. There are also two plates of exquisite snacks on the table next to it. .
"I couldn't sleep after drinking tea at night, so I had people prepare these cans of northwest tea!" Li Jinglong said with a smile, "This is the way my father brought it back when he conquered the northwest. He always said when he was alive, When the army went to war, drinking a pot of tea and eating two mouthfuls of dry steamed buns was just one meal!"
Xu Huizu smiled awkwardly and followed his words, "It's not easy to live an old life!" As he said, he sighed, "Without them, we wouldn't have the good life we have today!"
"What you said has touched my heart!" Li Jinglong said with a smile, "Those of us are actually resting on the merits of the older generation!" He said with a bit of sadness, "Plus Long Live It’s because of my love that I have the honor I have now!”
When the tea was ready, the maid divided it into two small cups, brought them to them one after another, then bowed and left.
Seeing that Xu Huizu was a little distracted, Li Jinglong stopped beating around the bush and asked, "It's so late. Are you here?"
"To be honest, I have something to ask Mr. Cao Guo for help!" Xu Huizu thought for a moment and had no intention of drinking tea, so he spoke with difficulty.
"Is there anything we can do to help you and me? Although our two families didn't have much contact in the past, Huaixi has been honored by both honors and honors. We also grew up together!" Li Jinglong said with a smile, "We are both former wives. The Master is now Long Live His Majesty’s old minister in the Eastern Palace!” He said with a half-smile but not a smile, “Brother Xu, let me tell you something from the bottom of my heart, which one of us will follow the other one?”
Xu Huizu suddenly felt a little bitter in his heart, so he could only pick up the cup and take a silent sip.
"If you have any questions, just speak up!" Li Jinglong continued, "I am also very generous and will take care of everything. As long as I can help, I will shoulder the responsibility!"
"It's our second son's business!" Xu Huizu said.
Li Jinglong was stunned for a moment, then understood immediately.
The second son Xu Huizu refers to is Xu Maoxian, the second eldest son of the third generation of the Xu family. Xu Maoxian's father is Xu Da's second son, Xu Tianfu, who has died of illness.
"It turns out it's my nephew's business!" Li Jinglong laughed, "But what kind of errands do you have to make up for...?"
As he said this, he couldn't go on. Xu Huizu's nephew had to make up for his job, so would it be Li Jinglong's turn to worry about it? Besides, as long as a male member of the Xu family landed, he would carry a hereditary title with him, so he wouldn't have to worry about it. Official!
"That child has a peaceful temperament and has no responsibilities. He just wants to be a wealthy and idle man!" Xu Huizu sighed and looked at Li Jinglong, "It's his marriage to Princess Lanyang of the Zhou Wang family!"
In an instant, Li Jinglong understood.
The Xu family and the royal family have been in-laws for generations. Not only did their sons marry the daughters of the Xu family, but they also gave their granddaughters to the grandsons of the Xu family.
The second daughter of King Zhou Zhu Ji was married to Xu Maoxian. But now King Zhou is still in Fengyang, so the marriage of these two young people has been delayed again and again.
Moreover, the third girl of the Xu family is about to marry Prince An and become his royal concubine. This matter cannot be delayed any longer.
"He really has no place to ask for this matter, because it is inappropriate for anyone to tell the emperor about this matter!" Li Jinglong thought to himself, "The king of Zhou is in bad luck. The prince will definitely not be able to fall behind in the future. Will the daughter of the king of Zhou still have to get married? Xu family, no one can guess what the emperor is thinking!"
"I really have no choice!" Xu Huizu continued, "My mistress has an engagement with the princess, so I have to ask clearly about everything, otherwise I won't feel at ease. When it comes to matters that will affect my child's life, I have no choice but to be shameless.
Please!"
"He is really an upright and upright person!" Li Jinglong thought in his heart, "If it were me, I would wish that the emperor just dragged King Zhou's daughter into the house without mentioning it. Aren't you afraid of affecting your future?"
"You know I'm a stupid person, and... the emperor ordered you to handle the wedding of Prince An in the future!" Xu Huizu looked at Li Jinglong's face and felt very embarrassed, "That's why I came uninvited!"
"Why don't you invite your nephew?" Li Jinglong said nothing, but his heart was not idle.
"Actually, what I originally wanted to do was find His Highness the Crown Prince of Yan!" Xu Huizu added, "But he and King Zhou are uncles and nephews, and I was afraid of affecting my nephew..."
"Aren't you afraid of affecting me? Isn't it inappropriate for me to talk too much about this matter?" Li Jinglong held his cheek, complaining in his heart.
Seeing his uncertain expression, Xu Huizu could no longer sit still and stood up awkwardly, "I was rude and presumptuous, just pretend I didn't say anything!" He said, cupping his hands and saying, "Goodbye!"
"Don't!" Li Jinglong pulled the other party to sit down again and said with a smile, "Brother Xu, you are scolding me. Your nephew is my nephew. It is our own business. Seeing that the eldest nephew is getting older
Now, if the marriage is not settled, it might happen again. You are anxious, I understand!"
As he spoke, he gritted his molars and meditated silently.
This matter must not be mentioned to the emperor in a big way...
Well, wouldn't it be enough to do it quietly?
Li Jinglong had some concerns in his mind and said with a smile, "I heard that there is a good nursery in my house, and now is the time for it to bloom!"
Xu Huizu couldn't keep up with his train of thought, "That's just average. I don't like those either!"
"Brother Xu, actually you don't have to ask me for this!" Li Jinglong said with a smile, "Tomorrow, you will go to the emperor and ask him to treat you with a favor like flowers in your house, and then quietly mention this matter?"
Suddenly, Xu Huizu understood.
Although he is a good man, he is not stupid, but he just doesn't have so many tricks. Now that Li Jinglong made such a point, he suddenly understood.
If you mention it in private, it will be easier to talk about it.
"Thank you!" Xu Huizu cupped his hands and smiled.
"Not worth mentioning!" Li Jinglong waved his hand and said, "Hey, by the way, I heard that the fourth lady in the house hasn't been engaged yet?"
"Four girls!" Xu Huizu smiled bitterly and shook his head, "Our girls are all waiting for the Emperor's grace! I, the elder brother, can't make the decision!"
