"This is my home-brewed wine. It is light and delicious, and is most suitable for my daughter's family to drink." Mrs. Qin smiled and said to Cheng Jiaoniang beside her, "Try it."
Before Cheng Jiaoniang could speak, Qin Shisanlang opposite her spoke first.
"Mother, Mrs. Cheng doesn't like drinking, and she doesn't like tea, so don't persuade her," he said.
Mrs. Qin gave him a sidelong glance.
The maid here has already brought white water to Cheng Jiaoniang according to Qin Shisanlang's instructions.
The tinkling pipa sound in the field stopped.
Madam Zhu, who was sitting upright, stood up and saluted.
There were sounds of admiration from all around, interrupting the conversation here.
"I wonder if madam you want to listen to singing or watch dancing?"
Madam Zhu saluted and asked.
"Ms. Zhu dances very well," Mrs. Qin said.
Madam Zhu gave her a gift and smiled brightly.
"Nuxin has choreographed a dance to entertain you all," she said.
Mrs. Qin was noncommittal and ignored her. Instead, she turned to look at Cheng Jiaoniang and spoke again.
Madam Zhu took a few steps back and nodded to the violinist. The violinist tuned the strings, and a light and gentle sound suddenly began to play.
"The mountain temple is waiting for the plum blossoms to bloom..."
A melodious song rose.
Qin Shisanlang, who had just taken a sip of tea, spit out the tea with a puff.
His movement attracted everyone to look over, and Madam Zhu in the room also stopped moving.
"It's okay, it's okay, Madam Zhu's song..." Qin Shisanlang said with a smile, taking the handkerchief handed over by the maid and covering his mouth.
Miss Zhu pursed her lips and smiled softly, her eyes sparkling under the bright night light, and the young people in the field couldn't help but stare at her.
"Going back to Sir, I once went to the Qie'an Temple to see the nameless five characters. I was very fond of them. After observing them carefully for a day, I was inspired to create a dance, so I started with these five characters." She knelt down and saluted, and said in a gentle voice.
, "Mr. Lang, do you feel something is wrong?"
When she said this, others also remembered it and laughed.
"Thirteenth Lang, it's not like you've never seen that word before, why are you so surprised?" someone joked.
Qin Shisanlang smiled and extended his hand to apologize.
"No, no." He said, "Miss Zhu, please do as you like."
Madam Zhu smiled and saluted, and the piano player over there played again, singing and dancing.
Chun Ling, who was hiding behind the shadow of the pillar, stared intently at the young gentleman. When she saw him looking attentively at the swaying Lady Zhu in the field, her eyes couldn't help but shine.
Which man in this world can turn a blind eye to Miss Zhu...
"Qin Langjun is so interesting..."
I heard the whispers from the people next to me.
"...Qin Langjun talked to Miss Zhu on purpose..."
Chun Ling turned around.
"Who is Mr. Qin?" she asked with a surprised expression.
Two young boys squatted next to them, and they pointed out after hearing this.
"Mr. Qin is Mr. Qin. Your Majesty, the thirteenth son of the Qin family. You come to this house and you don't even know the master." The boys laughed softly.
Chun Ling turned her head in shock.
The Thirteenth Young Master of Qin!
That little cripple from the Qin family who has been disabled since childhood and is talented and knowledgeable!
He is the Thirteenth Young Master of Qin!
She couldn't help but take a few steps forward and looked at the young man sitting on the main seat in front of the hall. The young man had looked away and was smiling in one direction. He moved his mouth and said something silently.
What, there is friendship between the eyebrows and the eyes….
Chun Ling followed his gaze and saw that the woman sitting upright in plain clothes was also smiling slightly.
"Look, look." Mrs. Qin smiled and bumped Mrs. Chen beside her with her elbow, "I don't know what secrets are conveyed between the eyes."
Mrs. Chen ate her wine.
"The rumor is that the man is in love and the concubine is unintentional." She laughed softly.
Mrs. Qin stared at her.
"You are jealous." She snorted, "See how close my Thirteen is to Madam Cheng."
"No matter how affectionate you are, it's useless." Mrs. Chen laughed and patted her with her fan.
"I don't believe it. Human kindness in this world can't beat a dead rule." Mrs. Qin said, paused, and looked at the young lady who had stopped smiling and was watching the song and dance seriously.
At this time, there were beautiful songs and dances in the venue, there was laughter and chatter all around, servants and women were crowded around, and the night lights were bright. It was really lively and prosperous, but looking at the young lady sitting upright, Chen Shiba Niang and Chen Danniang were sitting beside her.
They were talking and laughing in a low voice, but they still instantly separated themselves from the bustle and bustle, and the desolate atmosphere of living in isolation hit their faces.
This little man…..
"I don't believe it. I really can't make her laugh." Mrs. Qin said to herself.
………………………
As the morning light lit up little by little, the tall three-story city gate tower became clearer and clearer in front of us.
"Master, Master, don't sleep."
The old servant opened the curtain and said.
In the car, Wang Qishilang had already turned his head and closed his eyes.
"Sir, there may be someone outside the city gate to see you off..." the old servant said in a low voice.
Wang Qishilang closed his eyes and waved his hands impatiently.
"I'm so sleepy when I get up so early to go on the road. If everyone in the Zhou family isn't following me, who else will be there to help me?" he said.
That's right. The old servant nodded, but he didn't know why he felt that there should be many people coming to send him off...
Are you overthinking it?
He hesitated and lowered the curtain, sat in the car and looked forward. There were more than a dozen people in front of the Zhou family's guards riding tall horses, followed by the Cheng family's wife's carriage, then their carriage, and then
Next are two accompanying carriages, each used to carry sundries.
The old servant looked at the advancing carriage and felt that something was unexpected.
Originally, they were responsible for leaving Beijing and returning home, but after the lady spoke, everything was taken care of by the Zhou family...
Uh, why did he say that after the lady spoke?
In a daze, the driver reined in his horse.
The old servant came back to his senses and frowned.
It was still early at this time, but there were many people traveling in and out of the city, so it was easy to get crowded at the city gate.
But there was no congestion wherever I could see it. Pedestrians, cars and horses were all dispersed, as if a path was specially opened for them to travel.
Create a way specifically for them to travel….
Is he thinking too much?
"Master Gu, there are people seeing him off in front. People from the Zhou family have passed by." A follower came over and said.
Is there really someone to see you off?
"Who is it?" he couldn't help but ask.
"Daquan said it was Mrs. Zhou's family," the attendant said.
Mrs. Zhou? When Mr. Zhou came to see them off in the morning, didn't he say that Mrs. Zhou was still ill and would not be able to come?
Is it possible that the love between aunt and niece is so deep? Are they still struggling to see each other off?
Since it was the Zhou family who came, Wang Qishilang had no choice but to step forward.
"Master, Master, get up quickly, Mrs. Zhou is here to see you off," he said.
"It's not like you gave it to me." Wang Shiqilang muttered.
The old servant would not allow him to do this, so he pulled him up and walked quickly over. Sure enough, he saw a woman standing in front of a carriage, surrounded by servants. She was gorgeously dressed and had a beautiful face. She didn't know what she was saying at this time, and she was laughing.
Cover with sleeves.
There is no sign of illness!
"Hey? Where is Mrs. Zhou?" Wang Shiqilang said, looking around.
The old servant was slightly startled and turned back to look at his young master.
"That..." he pointed with his hand and said.
Wang Qishilang frowned and looked over.
"Where is it?" he asked.
"That!" the old servant pointed again and said, looking at an entourage passing by with a smile, "Well, Daquan has gone to the ceremony."
"Why are you here so late?" Mrs. Qin said with a smile, looking at Cheng Jiaoniang who got off the carriage.
"Madam, you are sick and yet you came all the way..." the Wang family's entourage nodded and bowed.
Last time he had a bad attitude and was beaten, so this time...
Seeing a servant woman raising her hand, the attendant turned her head and heard a crisp slap.
The old servant subconsciously closed his eyes and turned his head.
Why was he beaten again….
"You kid, why are you talking to our wife?"
The servant girl over there wasn't done yet, she raised her eyebrows and yelled, pointing at the person and beating him away.
The old servant didn't dare to be lazy and hurried over.
"Good curse disease, which family's rules do you follow?" the servant girl shouted, still raising her eyebrows.
Curse disease?
The old servant hurriedly bowed and apologized, scolding his own people and pulling his followers away.
Mrs. Qin over there would not be angry with these servants in person. She had already walked up to Cheng Jiaoniang to talk. She didn't know what she said, and the servants and girls around her started laughing.
Only Cheng Jiaoniang looked fine.
"Oh, it's still not funny. I came here specially to see you off, so just smile." Mrs. Qin said, reaching out and stroking Cheng Jiaoniang's shoulders and smiling.
Cheng Jiaoniang looked at her.
"Liu Lingheng indulged in drunkenness, or took off his clothes naked in the house, and people laughed at him. Ling said, I use the heaven and the earth as a building, and the rooms as trousers, why do you get into my trousers?" She suddenly said.
【Note 1】
Everyone present was stunned for a moment. Mrs. Qin was the first to come to her senses and immediately laughed. Only then did the others also react. After thinking about it carefully, they also laughed.
"You kid, you kid!" Mrs. Qin laughed so hard that she couldn't stand up straight, her face turned red, she stretched out her hand to cover her stomach and supported the servant woman and kept saying.
Cheng Jiaoniang smiled slightly and curtsied to her.
The old servant here took the attendant and asked in a low voice.
"...I really didn't say anything, I just wanted to say hello to Mrs. Zhou..." the attendant said, covering his face.
To be honest, the beating didn't hurt this time, but tears almost fell from the attendant's eyes.
A man doesn't shed tears lightly, but he hasn't reached the point where he is sad.
Why is he beaten whenever he opens his mouth? What an injustice!
"You recognized the wrong person, no wonder they beat you." Wang Shiqilang said with a yawn. Since he was not Mrs. Zhou, he didn't bother to go over and say hello, "This is not Mrs. Zhou."
Really not?
Then who is she? Judging from her demeanor and the way she travels, she is not an ordinary person.
The old servant hurriedly asked the Zhou family's entourage.
"You don't even recognize this lady?" The attendant raised his chin and pointed his two dark nostrils at the Wang family. Although there was something unsaid, everyone in the Wang family seemed to have heard it.
No knowledge at all!
"We have only been in the capital for a short time, please give me some advice." The old servant said with a smile.
"Look at the carriage." The boy from the Zhou family raised his nose and said.
Everyone in the Wang family looked at the carriage. It was a good carriage...
"That lotus pendant is the emblem of the Qin family in the princess's mansion!" The young man from the Zhou family couldn't stand these country people, so he simply said, "This is Mrs. Qin."
Princess Mansion, Qin Family!
Although they didn't recognize the person, they had heard of this name, and everyone in the Wang family suddenly looked shocked.
No matter how powerful the Zhou family is, there is no need for the Qin family to please them, right?
Could it be….
"This, Mrs. Qin, is here to... see off... Miss Cheng?" the old servant said with a stutter.
The followers of the Zhou family sneered and looked at the old servant.
"Is it possible that I'm here to see you off?" he asked with a smile.
As Mrs. Qin watched, the people and horses on the road gradually turned into black spots.
"Madam, although we don't have to see you off ten miles away, it's enough." The servant girl said with a smile.
Mrs. Qin nodded.
"Such a weird little lady, it's really interesting when you think about it." She smiled, turned around and looked up at the city gate in the distance, "No wonder this silly boy is so reluctant to leave."
The servants followed her gaze and saw a figure standing faintly at the highest point of the city gate tower.
How could you leave so easily?
How could you not feel any reluctance at all?
After all, we have been together for so long...
From ignoring the same cup, to facing the ridicule, to overt and covert cooperation...
In her eyes, isn't there a little bit different?
Qin Shisanlang looked at the endless horizon and let out a gentle breath.
Family background, character, there is no difference, they are all the same.
Why isn't it different?
How can people be the same?
People and people…
people…
Qin Shisanlang suddenly took a step forward and reached out to grab the wall. Could it be that this person was not referring to someone else, but to her?
How do people view her, how do they treat her...
"If you knew my rules, would you still let me treat your legs?"
The little lady's face appeared in front of my eyes.
Qin Shisanlang shook his head and smiled again, so what's the difference? He is the same as others!
This Lady Cheng...
In fact, it is not that you are cruel to others, but that you are cruel to yourself.
Qin Shisanlang wanted to turn around and go downstairs, but in the end he did not move and looked up at the boundless sky.
Several crows flew over the eaves with strange cries.
"Go, go."
A child's voice came from behind.
The prince of Jin'an County turned around and watched the second prince step up, being carefully supported by several chamberlains.
The palace here is rarely visited and abandoned, and the gatehouse is overgrown with weeds.
"Oh, my Highness, how can you sit there? Come down quickly, otherwise you will fall!" The chamberlains saw King Jin'an clearly and shouted immediately.
Prince Jin'an smiled slightly and swung his legs on the railing of the hall, without saying anything or sitting back.
"Brother, why are you here?" the second prince asked, getting rid of the pull of the servant and running over happily holding his robe.
Prince Jin'an stretched out his hand to pull him over, hugged him and sat beside him amidst the exclamations of the chamberlain.
"Wow, you can see very far here." The second prince didn't show any fear, but shouted excitedly waving his hands.
"Yes." Prince Jin'an looked into the distance, "This is the farthest place you can see in the palace. I often wanted to come here when I was a child, but no one came with me, and no one dared to let me come. Now that I am older
Now, I can come by myself."
"Brother, what are you here to see?" the second prince asked.
"Me." Prince Jin'an looked into the distance and smiled slightly, "Send me a friend."
Send a friend?
In this desolate and remote place, there are no other living creatures except crows, right?
The chamberlains couldn't help but shudder, feeling the coldness in broad daylight.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, come down quickly." They no longer hesitated and took the person away no matter what.
Before they could step forward, the prince of Jin'an County had already lifted up the second prince.
The servants covered their faces and screamed...
Amidst the screams, King Jin'an turned around and jumped down from the railing, placing the second prince firmly on the ground.
"Brother, brother, do it again!"
The second prince shouted excitedly.
"Fly again!"
The servants rushed over, hugged the second prince away, and glared at Prince Jin'an angrily.
Prince Jin'an didn't pay attention to their disrespect, he laughed and stepped forward.
"Gone, gone," he said.
"Really gone?"
In the Chen family, Chen Shao, dressed in a home gown, was sitting cross-legged casually, listening to the boy talk.
"How about we leave on the spur of the moment?" Old Mrs. Chen glared at him, "I'm afraid this lady doesn't even know what it means to welcome someone but not to reject her. She will do whatever she says."
Chen Shao smiled and answered yes.
"It was around this time when I invited Mrs. Cheng to come," he said with a smile, "I didn't expect it would be a year so soon."
After saying this, he just realized that Mrs. Cheng has only been in the capital for a year.
Why does it feel like a long time has passed?
Thinking about it now, since Mrs. Cheng came here, she has hardly stopped in the past year, and she has surprised him so many times that he can't even remember.
He couldn't help but turn his head to look at the screen behind his father. The shallow marks on it seemed very conspicuous at this time.
human life..
Those are the lives lost in the hands of that little lady...
This little lady only got haircut this year.
With such an evil spirit, Chen Shao admitted in his heart that the little cripple from the Qin family was right, and he did have some concerns.
He felt relieved when he heard that this little lady was really gone.
Go back to the woman's home, go back to marry with peace of mind, support your husband and raise children, this is the life a woman should have...
The thought flashed across his mind, and Chen Shao smiled bitterly and shook his head.
I am so scrupulous about a little girl. Should I say that I am cautious or timid?
*******************************
Note 1: Excerpted from "Laughter in Ancient and Modern Times" by Feng Menglong, Ming Dynasty.
Now that we have left the capital, the pace of life cannot be stopped and cannot be predicted. We can only continue to move forward and welcome the unknown. (To be continued)
