Wei Shuyi had secretly gone to Hezhou in accordance with a secret order. He was on official business. When he left, apart from the guards, he had only Changji as his personal entourage.
The Wei family had many properties and had a separate courtyard in Hezhou, which was managed by four or five servants.
The servant girl who followed him back to Beijing was from Hezhou Villa.
As soon as Duan saw him, he felt something was wrong - although that brat was picky, he also knew the importance of public and private matters. On the way back from doing business, he wouldn't have to go all the way to take care of his daily life with a servant girl, right?
Who usually needs the care of a servant?
Duan didn't have the patience to guess, so she went directly to the servant girl to interrogate her personally.
The servant woman hesitated and hesitated, feeling very embarrassed: "...It is true that there is a lady accompanying me, but the master has repeatedly told me not to reveal the identity of the lady. It is related to the reputation of my daughter's family, and I cannot break my promise..."
With that said, he knelt down and asked his wife to punish him.
Duan's heart was filled with excitement!
She did not embarrass anyone, but instead praised the servant woman for her loyalty and promise, and was rewarded generously.
The servant girl couldn't refuse, so she could only thank her again and again.
And when she was leaving Duan's courtyard with a box of rewards in her hands, she met Changji walking towards her.
When Changji saw the reward she was holding, his face suddenly darkened - he had betrayed his husband in exchange for it?!
The servant girl was speechless and gave him a stern look.
Unfortunately, Changji is notorious for not being able to read looks.
He suppressed his doubts and went to see Mr. Duan: "I wonder why Madam called me here?"
Duan glanced at the direction where the servant girl had left with a tacit expression, and said with a smile: "Everyone from Hezhou has made it clear to me."
Changji's heart was pounding, and he forced himself to shut up and wait for what would happen - keep calm!
"Traveling thousands of miles, such kindness..." Mrs. Duan smiled from ear to ear: "In the past few days, I have been planning to find a matchmaker to come to propose marriage and finalize the marriage as soon as possible. You have been serving Zigu for many years, and many things have changed.
It’s up to you to make some preparations, so don’t miss the opportunity.”
Changji's eyes widened in shock - why are we proposing marriage!
He said hurriedly: "Madam, please don't believe the words of the servant woman. The husband and the Chang family's wife are innocent. This time the husband is just being entrusted by others to help out, not..."
"Madam of the Chang family?" Mrs. Duan stood up and stared at Changji with intense eyes: "Which Chang family? The one from Xingningfang?"
Nagayoshi: "...?!"
Some people are alive but seem dead.
Changji, died.
…
After asking about it for several days, Mr. Duan became more and more itchy.
The invitation sent to General Chang's Mansion was specially requested by her, but because she heard that girls from the Chang family had never come in previous years, she didn't give much hope.
I just wonder if I can find an opportunity to meet him someday.
At this time, as the hostess, she was chatting and laughing with a group of ladies, walking slowly towards the garden.
Until a maid came quickly and whispered something in her ear——
Mrs. Duan's eyes immediately brightened a little, and she smiled and urged the ladies around her: "...We have to get there quickly, and don't make the children wait in a hurry."
The women responded with smiles.
Hearing that Mrs. Zheng Guogong had arrived, all the juniors in the garden came forward to salute her.
Chang Sui Ning mingled in the crowd and stood at the end.
She felt that maybe this was another kind of timidity about being close to home...
She lowered her head and followed everyone around, trying to reduce her sense of presence.
Unknown to her, Mrs. Duan saw her at a glance.
"... Just like in previous years, don't be formal, just treat yourself as you are at home!" Mrs. Duan looked at a group of young and bright girls with a smile, but her eyes always seemed to fall on one of them inadvertently.
After everyone saluted and thanked them, they dispersed in groups of twos and threes, talking and laughing.
Some people only love to enjoy flowers, and some people walk together to the bridge. Across the winding water, they can see the young men in brocade clothes on the opposite side.
There are also girls sitting in the pavilion playing the piano and performing performances to add to the entertainment.
For a moment, the girls' laughter and the sound of the piano and harp merged together in a harmonious way.
"Why don't you see the eldest husband of the Wei family..." Several little girls gathered around and whispered, biting their ears.
"Shilang Wei is an official of the imperial court, so he can't just stay in the mansion all day long..."
"That's such a pity. I thought I could see Minister Wei today."
"I can't see Minister Wei, and it's the same with Mrs. Zheng Guogong... Isn't your mother-in-law here too, and she happens to be able to come forward and talk to her? What if she falls in the eyes of Mrs. Zheng Guogong?"
"Yao Er, what are you talking nonsense about...be careful and I'll beat you!"
The girl blushed with embarrassment and raised her hand to hit her friend. As the two chased each other, they almost bumped into Chang Sui Ning.
Chang Suining avoided it first, but the two girls still apologized embarrassedly.
Chang Sui Ning smiled: "It doesn't matter."
Young girls are simple-minded. When they see good-looking people, they are not just jealous, but more admiring and yearning. With this conversation started, the two started chatting enthusiastically with Chang Suining.
"I've never met Mrs. Chang before."
"What does Mrs. Chang like to do on weekdays?"
The girl named Yao Er took the opportunity to get closer to Chang Suining, and asked with a sweet smile: "What kind of fragrance does Sister Chang smell on her body? It smells really good."
The girl behind her almost couldn't help but roll her eyes - Yao Er is really a pervert! If he were born as a man, he would be dragged to the Yamen three times a day for a few words! It's obvious that he is a good candidate for jail!
Just now they saw that Yao Er clearly wanted to bump into the Chang family's wife. Fortunately, the Chang family's wife could avoid it in time, otherwise she would not be embraced by Yao Er?
Facing those sweet crescent eyes, Chang Sui Ning casually took off the purse from his waist: "It's just some ordinary spices that refresh the mind and refresh the mind. If my sister really likes it, just take it."
Yao Er was overjoyed and flattered: "I like it, thank you sister Chang!"
Chang Sui Ning was a little amused by her. She curled up her lips and asked, "I don't go out very often. I just heard that my sister's surname is Yao. I wonder if she belongs to Yao Tingwei's house?"
"That's my eldest uncle." Yao Er's smile became sweeter: "Look at how confused I am. I only know Sister Chang, but Sister Chang doesn't know who I am! After talking for a long time, I forgot to sign up for my last name.
Sister Chang, my name is Yao Xia!"
Chang Suining nodded understandingly.
She was originally the niece of Dali Temple Qing Yao Tingwei Yao Yi——
Yao Yi, who married Pei Min's eldest daughter, was undoubtedly someone worthy of her attention.
It was precisely because she heard that the little girl's surname was Yao that she stayed here and said these words.
"...Sister Chang, I'm on my second visit at home. The person above me is my uncle's cousin." Yao Er got the sachet and became more enthusiastic. As he spoke, his eyes suddenly lit up: "Sister Chang, look, that's my cousin."
Got it!"
The hand holding the sachet waved: "Cousin, I'm here!"
Chang Suining followed her gaze and saw a girl in green clothes who was similar to her age walking over.
This must be Yao Yi's only daughter——
Yao Yi married Pei Min's eldest daughter as his wife. They had only one daughter for many years, and they still have no children, not even concubine children.
The girl in green came over. She was not as lively and lively as Yao Xia, and her demeanor was relatively calm. Only her eyebrows seemed to have a slightly tired look that could not be concealed by light makeup.
"Cousin, I haven't seen you for several days. What have you been busy with recently?" Yao Xia turned around Yao Ran and asked affectionately.
"It's nothing. Recently...my grandmother has been unwell, so I was copying some Buddhist scriptures in the room." Yao Ran's eyes were a little distracted as he answered.
This subtlety is not eye-catching, but in the eyes of those who are interested, it is particularly noteworthy.