Li Xiuyuan specially prepared a banquet to welcome Qiu Rong's father Qiu Shou.
However, at this moment, Qiu Shou seemed to be restless. He looked nervous, very reserved and uneasy. After all, he had broken the official seal of the prefect before, and even scolded him in front of him. Although his own
My daughter had an affair with the young prefect, but it was just
Just a concubine with no status.
If the prefect really wanted to take revenge, he might go to jail.
"My father-in-law, don't be cautious. There are no outsiders in this government office. On weekdays, my junior and Qiurong live here. I'm really sorry for what happened just now. I didn't recognize my father-in-law for a while, which resulted in some misunderstandings. Please ask me."
Don't be offended. The younger generation offers a drink to the father-in-law and also invites the father-in-law.
Forgive me for my junior’s recklessness.”
At the banquet, Li Xiuyuan acted like a junior, raising his glass of wine to apologize to Qiu Shou with an apologetic expression.
"Your Majesty, what you said is serious, serious." Qiu Shou was flattered and hurriedly raised his wine glass in a flattering manner.
"It was my fault before. I broke the official seal of the prefect, and even insulted the prefect. I hope the prefect will not take it seriously. It was an unintentional act by the second child."
Li Xiuyuan said: "My father-in-law is too polite. It's just an official seal. If it breaks, it's broken. It's not a big deal. My father-in-law's scolding is nothing. I don't know how many people in the capital scold me as a dog official behind my back."
, and the younger generation can understand the father-in-law’s scolding, after all.
Jing Qiurong’s matter is indeed the junior’s fault.”
"Miss Qiurong is a good woman with a kind heart. This junior has already been fond of her, so he has just recklessly made a private life-long decision with Miss Qiurong. This is not Miss Qiurong's fault. Everything is the impulse of this junior."
, although the juniors cannot give Miss Qiurong the title of wife, they can give her the title of wife.
Miss Qiurong's wife's courtesy and respect, I hope that my father-in-law will understand the righteousness and agree to join the Li family with Miss Qiurong."
After saying that, he stood up again and gave a solemn salute.
Qiurong, who was standing behind Qiu Shou, had slightly red cheeks and her heart was beating fast. Her beautiful eyes looked at her husband from time to time, and looked at her father with some expectation and nervousness, hoping that his father would agree.
Li Lang's proposal.
At this moment, Qiu Shou saw the young magistrate saluting him so respectfully. While he was flattered, he couldn't help but feel complacent.
The Qiu family is a landowner and merchant family. Although they have a small fortune, they have no reputation.
Originally, he had befriended several young children in the neighborhood with his own daughter, but compared to the children, or even the scholars, a dignified prefect of the capital obviously had more weight.
Even though she is a concubine, it is not unacceptable.
"Master Li really loves my daughter? Rather than coveting my daughter's beauty?" Qiu Shou thought for a while and then spoke cautiously, with a hint of questioning in his tone.
He is a serious businessman and has a deep respect for the officials of the imperial court.
"My father-in-law is joking. There is an ancient saying: Those who serve others with their beauty will lose their beauty and become more affectionate. Miss Qiurong impressed me with her simplicity and kindness. How can I, the younger generation, only covet Miss Qiurong's beauty?" Li Xiuyuan replied.
road.
"I heard that the dignitaries in the capital have a habit of exchanging concubines as gifts. I wonder if Mr. Li has this habit?" Qiu Shou asked again.
Li Xiuyuan said sternly: "If this junior does such a heartless thing, he will be punished by heaven and earth."
Qiu Shou nodded and said with emotion: "With Master Li's words, the doubts in my heart are gone. My little girl escaped and survived thanks to Master Li's rescue and care. This kind of life-saving grace is repayment with one's own body."
As it should be, Mr. Li spoke sincerely and respectfully today. To be honest, I
This old country man is really flattered."
"I just have one last request, and I hope Mr. Li can agree to it."
Li Xiuyuan said: "My father-in-law, please speak frankly. I will try my best to do so."
"The etiquette of taking a concubine is indispensable. Although the betrothal gift is not important, it is still necessary to set up the wine and pick up the sedan chair. Even if it is a little simpler, it doesn't matter." Qiu Shou said.
"There will be no shortage of formal etiquette, please don't worry, father-in-law." Li Xiuyuan said.
Although the etiquette of taking a concubine is simple, it is also a etiquette. Only with this etiquette can it be regarded as a formal concubine. If not, it can only be regarded as a private concubine without status.
"Master Li has said so, so if I still don't agree, wouldn't it be too ruthless and unreasonable for me to do so?" Qiu Shou waved his hand, motioning for Qiurong to come over, and then took her hand and walked over.
Put it in Li Xiuyuan's hand.
"I will leave my little girl to Master Li."
Li Xiuyuan felt the sweat and tension on Qiu Rong's thin hands, and couldn't help but hold her hand and said, "Thank you, father-in-law, for your understanding. I will never let down Miss Qiu Rong's heart."
Qiurong's pretty face was red at this moment, her head was lowered with shame, but her heart was extremely happy.
If my father agrees to this matter, then I can feel at ease from now on. I don't have to worry about it all day long. Even if I stay with Li Lang, I won't be afraid of other people's judgment.
Because from today on, she is a member of the Li family.
After this matter was settled, several people felt relieved.
Li Xiuyuan was also relieved, and a stone fell. He knew that it was almost impossible for a serious family to agree to their daughter being a concubine for others. There may be many reasons why Qiu Shou agreed. After all, his attitude was very firm before.
.
"Although my daughter became a concubine for Mr. Li, she is a magistrate after all and holds a high position, but it is not an insult." Qiu Shou thought to himself.
When I thought about my Qiu family meeting and getting married to the prefect, I couldn't help but feel pleasantly surprised.
Even though she was just a concubine, once the betrothal gift was given and the banquet was served, the county master would still be respectful when he saw her in the future. When he thought about his family's future glory and reputation in the county, he couldn't help but feel a little happy.
Looking at the attitude of the prefect, it's as if he regards himself as his son-in-law. Don't mention how good his attitude is.
"Come, I'll give you a toast to Mr. Li, and ask Mr. Li to take care of you in the future." Qiu Shou said.
"We are all a family from now on. If my father-in-law is in trouble, how dare I not help the younger generation." Li Xiuyuan responded with a hurried toast.
Although he didn't want Qiu Rong's affairs to involve too much fame and fortune, Qiu Shou agreed because he was interested in his status and identity. If it were a poor scholar, he would definitely object.
Qiu Rong felt extremely happy when she saw her father and husband enjoying themselves so happily. She hurriedly served them tea and wine, taking care of them carefully.
But soon, Qiu Shou became drunk from too much alcohol, and Li Xiuyuan had no choice but to send him to the bedroom to let him rest.
When I came back, I saw Qiurong clearing the wine table.
Li Xiuyuan walked over with a smile and said: "Rong'er, don't clean it up. Your hands are for correcting and writing documents for me, not for cleaning up the dishes. Besides, I am a servant of the Li family."
Qiurong responded carefully and said with a blush, then stopped: "Husband, father, is he okay?"
"What can happen to my father-in-law? It's just that he is drunk." Li Xiuyuan said with a smile: "He can agree with you and I have indeed solved a heartache, but there is one thing I want to tell you, Rong'er.
explain."
"What do you want to tell me, husband?" Qiurong turned around and blinked.
Li Xiuyuan put his arms around her slender waist, hugged her into his arms, and then whispered: "In recent days, I have felt uneasy in my heart. The situation in the capital has changed suddenly. There are some things that even I have no time to deal with.
I hope that in a few days, Rong'er, you will return to your hometown with your father-in-law. I will send someone to protect you all the way.
Send it off, I will pick you up personally after the matter in the capital is over."
"Husband, my father has just agreed to the matter between us. I don't want to leave my husband." Qiurong raised her head and was very attached and reluctant to leave.
Li Xiuyuan smiled and said, "If a woman to be married can't see her husband for a while, is it difficult for Rong'er to have such patience? If you feel uneasy, Rong'er, you can go to my hometown and wait for me.
Go back, I am from Guobeicheng, the Li family in Guobei County is my hometown, Rong Er
If you go there, you can prove your identity with this silver lock, and no one will dare to drive you away."
"When will the husband come back?" Qiurong asked.
Li Xiuyuan said: "One month at the latest, it won't be too long."
"Well, then I will listen to my husband." Qiurong said, "By the way, I have something else to talk to my husband about."
"What's up?"
"It's about Miss Xie in the backyard of the escort agency," Qiurong said: "Miss Xie has been crying all day long after knowing what happened to us. My husband should go and comfort Miss Xie. Her admiration for her husband is no less than that of the slave family, and she also hopes that
Don't let your husband let down Miss Xie's thoughts. If your husband
If you don't mind, please help Miss Xie. She was already very pitiful during her lifetime, and I don't want her to be like this after her death."
"Xiao Xie?" Li Xiuyuan said; "She is a female ghost. I cannot touch her, otherwise she will be in danger of dissipating. It is for this reason that I have always avoided Miss Xie."
"Then husband, can you think of a way?" Qiurong begged.
Li Xiuyuan said: "Little Miss Xie actually has only two options. Either go to live in the underworld, wait for the end of your life span, and be reincarnated, or borrow a corpse to resurrect your soul and live another life. She does not agree with the former, and the latter requires the body of a woman.
As her new body, the latter is equivalent to inflicting evil harm
Man, I haven’t learned this kind of magic, and I don’t want to do such evil things, so I can only avoid Miss Xie’s thoughts.”
After saying that, he also sighed.
He has experienced things like humans and ghosts taking different paths, and it was the same with Qingmei at the beginning.
Qiurong said: "Actually, if my husband agrees, I can lend my body to Miss Xiao Xie, and the slave family and Xiao Xie will share the same body."
Li Xiuyuan smiled and said: "I know in my heart your pity and guilt for Xiao Xie, but this is not an advisable method. Can Xiao Xie still get close to you now? You are stained with my aura, and you have a name with me.
Ghosts and gods will avoid you when they see you, let alone a female ghost with shallow morals like Xiao Xie.
And this method is not advisable, even if you lend her body temporarily, the possession of this female ghost will consume the yang energy of the living person and the yin energy of the female ghost."
"Yin and Yang blend together, and both of us will be hurt. However, Xiao Xie is sad because of me. I really should comfort her tomorrow. Well, it's getting late now. I think we should go back to the room to rest."
After saying that, he took her hand and walked towards the bedroom.
Qiurong lowered her head, her face flushed with embarrassment, but she didn't resist at all, and obediently followed her husband into the bedroom.
But the next day, Li Xiuyuan got up very early.
He left the yamen affairs to Qiurong to handle on his behalf, and then he left the yamen and went somewhere in the capital with Wu Xiang, Sha Jin and several other close associates.
This is the palace of Wang Taichang, the Minister of Rites.
In the backyard of the palace, the sounds of men and women playing could be heard.
A silly young master was playing Cuju with a few maids at the moment, chasing a cloth ball, running around, tired and sweating profusely, and beside him was a young and beautiful man wearing a green skirt.
The woman was sitting on the swing watching them chasing and playing with a smile.
This foolish young master's name is Wang Yuanfeng, and he is the son of Wang Taichang, the Minister of Rites.
Many people in the capital know that Wang Yuanfeng was born stupid and could not even tell the difference between men and women. Now, at the age of sixteen or seventeen, he is still playing around the yard like a child.
"Xiao Cui, Xiao Cui, please help me quickly. I kicked the cloth ball and it flew to the tree. Can you help me get it down?" After a while, Wang Yuanfeng ran over and pulled this beautiful girl.
His hands became coquettish.
But it was because the cloth ball was kicked to the top of a tree while playing.
Xiaocui smiled and said, "You push the swing for me, and I will get the ball off."
"Okay, okay." Wang Yuanfeng clapped his hands and immediately pushed the swing for Xiaocui hard.
"A little higher, a little higher." Xiaocui said with a smile while standing on the swing.
Wang Yuanfeng pushed the swing harder and harder: 'Xiaocui, you fly so high, I want to play too.'
Xiaocui smiled but didn't reply. When the swing reached its highest point, she suddenly opened her mouth and exhaled.
Immediately, a strange wind blew up, blowing the treetops on the side, making a rustling sound, and then the cloth ball suddenly fell from the top.
"Yuanfeng, you see your cloth ball fell down, why don't you go play with it?"
"It's fallen, it's fallen, I'm going to play with the cloth ball." When Wang Yuanfeng saw the cloth ball rolling down, he immediately ran over and danced, and continued chasing the cloth ball with the maid.
Xiaocui smiled and watched the two of them playing. No one was pushing the swing, but it was swinging higher than before.
But, suddenly.
Xiao Cui's face suddenly changed, as if she noticed something, and she looked towards the direction of the palace gate with some horror.
This breath is that of the saint in the capital.
Li Xiuyuan came to the gate of the palace at this moment and knocked on the door.
"Li Xiuyuan, the governor of Yangzhou, is here today to pay a visit to Mr. Wang, the Minister of Rites." He expressed his intention to his subordinates.
"Please wait a moment, Mr. Li. I will inform the master now." Seeing this, the servant did not dare to be careless and hurried back to report.
Li Xiuyuan squinted his eyes and looked at the sky above the Wang Mansion. Why was there a demonic aura entrenched in the Wang family?