Mrs. Li, the Duke of Dingguo, laughed and said, "This girl doesn't understand the rules. How can we meet at this time? Aren't we asking for gossip?"
Zhang Mao stroked his beard and said with a smile: "What's the point? The two of them are already an unmarried couple from now on. What's wrong with meeting each other? The princess wants to meet his future husband-in-law. This is a matter of course. I don't think it's okay. Let's meet him now.
Let’s meet and chat and learn more about it.”
Xu Guangzuo nodded and said: "It's nothing, it's just... Yanling, my daughter has been spoiled since she was a child. If she says something inappropriate later, don't take it to heart. Be more generous and go see her.
That’s it.”
Zhang Yanling bowed and said: "My son-in-law understands."
Xu Guangzuo ordered the maid: "Shiqing, please take Mr. Hou to see the young lady. Tell the young lady that my uncle will come to the banquet later. Just say a few words. Don't delay entertaining the old man and Hou Ning Hou. You can't be rude."
The maid bowed and stepped back. Zhang Yanling followed her out of the hall. After walking a few steps, Xu Yande also came out and quickly caught up.
"Brother Yanling, let me tell you a few words." Xu Yande said.
Zhang Yanling said: "Brother, please speak."
Xu Yande hesitated for a moment and finally said: "Go see my sister. If she says anything unpleasant, don't mind."
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Why do you and your father-in-law say that? Does the princess have a bad temper?"
Xu Yande waved his hand and said: "That's not true. I'm not boasting. You have seen my sister. She is unparalleled in appearance, character, talent and learning. I'm just worried that she will say some unpleasant things to you. Some things...
It’s not convenient for me to say.”
Zhang Yanling thought for a while, nodded and said: "I understand."
Xu Yande said: "What do you understand?"
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Anyway, I understand. Don't worry, I won't care. I will listen to what the princess wants to say and I will never be angry or have any arguments."
Xu Yande chuckled and said: "That's good, that's good. We will be a family from now on, and you will naturally have to take care of her more. My sister will marry you... I didn't expect it. However, you just need to treat her well."
"
Zhang Yanling cupped her hands and said, "Don't worry, brother, I will do it."
Xu Yande nodded, patted Zhang Yanling on the shoulder, and turned back to the hall. Zhang Yanling followed the maid Shiqing through the cloister and went straight to the back house. Soon after, they arrived at the small house next to the plum grove in the west courtyard where they had been drinking that day.
building.
By this time, Zhang Yanling was completely convinced that that day was a set-up. When he was drinking and competing with the three young princes, the princess must have been watching. And everything that happened that day was an arranged test.
.Just imagine, that day I was so bold that I got into an act with those two women in the small building. It must have been an extremely embarrassing scene.
"Master Marquis, please wait a moment, my maid will report to the princess." Standing at the door of the small building, the maid said with a poetic salute.
Zhang Yanling nodded and stood on the front steps with his hands behind his hands, looking at the plum forest not far away. The heavy snow had passed for more than ten days and had all melted. The plum blossom forest in front of him had criss-crossed branches, thin and vigorous, and every plum blossom was like a plum blossom.
It is like an ink painting. Once it blooms, the garden will be filled with fragrance. No wonder many literati come here to appreciate the plum blossoms.
Looking to the side, a clump of lush green bamboo is growing on the east side of the small building. There are bamboo chairs and small tables on the side of the bamboo. It seems that people often sit next to the bamboo clump and enjoy it. Between the two big trees next to it,
There is also a swing hanging in the middle. There is also a colorful Cuju rolling on the ground on the grass next to the swing frame. Presumably, that should be the place where the little princess of the Duke's Mansion usually relaxes.
The life of this princess is quite relaxed and comfortable. She just plays Cuju on weekdays, plays on the swing, and sits by the bamboo forest drinking tea and looking at the scenery. It is leisurely and comfortable, it is really the life of an upper-class lady. Think about Axiu again.
I used to work in the fields under the scorching sun every day, and when I had some free time, I would follow the old blacksmith from village to village to blacksmith. The same age, the same woman, the difference in life is huge.
While I was thinking wildly, someone in the door behind me whispered: "Master Zhang, the lady invites you."
Zhang Yanling stepped into the lobby of the small building. The building was still the same building and the hall was still the same, but the decoration inside was completely different from before. That day, the small building was filled with sweet fragrance, the lights were ambiguous, the walls were hung with curtains, and the floor was covered with felt.
But the decoration in the hall that I saw in front of me was very simple and elegant. There were calligraphy and paintings on the walls, and the carpet on the floor was gone, revealing smooth waxed wooden strips and a few palace lanterns hanging, making it look solemn and deserted.
A little bit of the atmosphere of the day. It can be seen that the day was specially arranged to create an atmosphere that would make you feel comfortable.
Several maids stood everywhere in the hall, but their eyes were fixed on Zhang Yanling who walked in, with curiosity. These were the maids around Xu Wanyi. They were obviously curious about what kind of husband the princess was looking for.
After all, the princess has a very high vision, so the husband she is looking for must be a great one among men.
However, when they saw Zhang Yanling, everyone was a little disappointed. Although Zhang Yanling has a pretty good appearance and figure, he is definitely not the kind that makes people's hearts flutter at a glance. Women basically look at men in the same way.
The kind of man who makes their eyes light up is nothing more than a man with handsome features, a well-fitted figure, bright eyes, a charming smile, and a sunny face. But this man is obviously not that kind of man. At this moment, he frowned,
There seems to be a hint of gloom between his eyebrows, and his facial features and figure can only be said to be barely adequate.
"Is he the princess's husband? That's all."
"I thought she looked like Pan An and Song Yu."
The expressions in the exchanges between the maids conveyed this message. Generally speaking, it was just two words: That's it?
Pick and choose, choose with a blink of an eye!
Go up the stairs to the second floor and enter a spacious room. There are several large bookshelves in the room, full of books. There is a pot of orchids on the flower stand in the corner. There is a small table under the window.
A Yao Qin, a square yellow pear wood desk, a huge pen holder placed on it, with dozens of brushes of different sizes hanging upside down. Inkstones, paper, graphite boxes and other items were neatly placed on it.
, everything is exquisite and elegant. The whole house is filled with the aroma of books, which shows that the owner of this house has good taste. If you didn't know in advance that this was the residence of a woman, you would think that this was the study room of a man who read poetry and books.
When Zhang Yanling was looking around, a cold voice came from the side of his head.
"Master Zhang, please sit down and talk!"
Zhang Yanling was startled and looked around after the sound, only to see a blurry figure looking at him from within the pearl curtain leading to the inner room. Although separated by the pearl curtain, he could still tell that it was a woman. She was wearing clothes
Wearing a white brocade robe, he sat upright on a chair behind the curtain. But his appearance could not be clearly seen.
"Are you... the princess?" Zhang Yanling asked.
"It's me, Xu Wanyi, it's me you want to marry." The woman said coldly.