The light of the celadon oil lamp was dim, and the room was hazy. Only the inkstone on the small case, the scroll, the hand holding the pen, and the tall and beautiful face were clear and clear under the light——
Xiao Chan stood by the small door, quietly watching Xiao Langjun concentrate on writing and writing non-stop. His handsome thick eyebrows occasionally raised, presumably because he had reached a proud point in his writing, and his lips pursed. This concentrated expression
It's so touching.
Chen Caozhi finished copying an article, put down his pen, looked up and saw Xiaochan standing there holding the door frame, and said in surprise: "Sister Xiaochan hasn't had a rest yet, isn't it almost three o'clock?"
Xiao Chan came to her senses with an "ah" sound and said, "Oh, go to sleep now - is there anything else you want to tell me?" When he said this, his voice trembled slightly, and his heart was about to jump out of his mind.
chest.
Chen Cao said: "Nothing's wrong. I'm going to go to bed after cleaning my hands. Good night, Sister Xiaochan."
Xiaochan also followed Chen Caozhi's instructions and said good night, returned to the small couch outside, undressed and lay down, a little disappointed, but also feeling ashamed, thinking: "Little husband Cao Zhi has treated me as his sister since he was a child."
Well, now I'm only as tall as his shoulders, why don't you call me Sister Xiaochan!" Youyou sighed and thought to herself: "That's all, it's nice to be able to follow Xiao Langjun, see him all the time, and do something for him.
I'm happy, I'm just a maidservant, taking refuge in a kind and generous master like the Chen family in the West Tower. The old mistress, the current wife Youwei, and the young man Cao have never said a harsh word to me.
, what else can I ask for! Just serve the young man well. If the young man wants me, I will give it to him and serve him all my life. If the young man doesn’t want me, I will serve him all his life.
, Anyway, old mistress, Madam Youwei has something to say first, the young man cannot drive me away——"
Thinking of this, Xiaochan was both happy and sad. Thinking that she was already twenty-four years old, she couldn't help but squeeze her legs tightly and toss and turn.
…
From Qiantang, go around the south bank of Taihu Lake and pass through Huzhou, the Liyang road is the closest to Jiankang. However, because Chen Shang went to Jiankang several times before, he went to Wujun first and then to Jiankang, and the Wujun road is relatively safe. I have not heard of any
The robbery by the refugees happened, so Chen Caozhi still went to Wu County first this time, and also detoured to Huating——
At noon on the 23rd day of the first lunar month, Chen Caozhi, Chen Shang and his party crossed the Songjiang River. Chen Caozhi stood on the head of the boat and looked at Meiling not far away. The green, deep and beautiful mountains were showing colorful colors in the sun. It should be
It must be reflected by the gorgeous colors of green plums, white plums, red plums and clover plums blooming on Meiling. On the morning of the end of April in the third year of Shengping, he took Lai De and Ran Sheng to leave Huating Lu's Manor, where Lu Weirui came to visit.
Shangmeiling saw him off, and the white figure was like a white orchid that never fades. Three years later, thousands of miles away, the fragrance is still in my nose——
It was still the old man with a hunchback. Chen Caozhi greeted him politely when he got on the boat. The old man also remembered Chen Caozhi and asked with a frown on his face: "Chen Langjun from Qiantang?"
Chen Caozhi nodded and said, "Yes."
The hunchbacked old man laughed so hard that his face wrinkled even more, and he lowered his voice and said, "I wish Chen Langjun and Miss Lu a happy couple soon!"
Chen Caozhi's heart widened, he made a Buddhist salute, and said with a smile: "Thank you, elder, for your blessing."
Chen Shang heard this on the side and smiled slightly, thinking: "The matter between Sixteenth Brother and Miss Lu has been spread for a long time. Even the boatman knows about it and he also wishes Sixteenth Brother. It's really interesting. Sixteenth Brother is doing this."
Going to Jiankang and passing the Eighteen Provinces Grand Zhongzheng examination should be a piece of cake. There is also the matter of Miss Lu. If the head of the Lu family can be persuaded to marry Miss Lu, the sixteenth brother will certainly be happy.
The reputation of the Chen family in Tang Dynasty will also soar, and the largest family in Qian Tang is none other than the Chen family."
——There are three criteria for judging the status of a noble family: clan status, clan status and marriage. clan clan is the county magistrate, clan clan is the official position of the grandfather, and marriage is based on the status of the in-laws of the family to judge the family.
status, so the high-ranking families intermarry with each other, and the lower-class noble families intermarry with each other. There are clear distinctions between the lower-class noble families and rarely cross them. Occasionally, there will be marriages between the first-class noble families and the second-class noble families. However, top families like the Lu family of Wu County
It is unheard of to marry into a lower-class noble family, and now, Chen Caozhi is doing such an unprecedented thing——
Chen Shang thought: "But if the sixteenth brother fails to marry the Lu girl in the end, it will be a heavy blow to the sixteenth brother. The reputation of the sixteenth brother and the reputation of my Qiantang Chen family will be affected. How many people are waiting to see
It’s my sixteenth brother’s joke, so it’s not an exaggeration to say that this trip to Jiankang is full of thorns every step of the way.”
The hunchbacked boatman knew a lot about things in the Lu family's manor. He said that Miss Lu had only come back once since she went to Jiankang in September the year before last. It was Lu Changsheng's memorial day on August 17, and she still went to Jiankang in early October.
Mrs. Lu Zhang still stayed in the manor due to poor health. The hunchbacked old boatman learned that Chen Caozhi was going to Jiankang this time, and babbled a lot of blessings until Chen Cao landed.
That’s all.
Passing by Huating and not entering Lu's villa, it was both rude and cowardly, so Chen Caozhi and his third brother Chen Shang went to Lu's villa to assassinate him and ask for an audience. The manor manager recognized Chen Caozhi and was dumbfounded, unable to speak, and hurriedly reported
went.
Mrs. Lu, Zhang Wenwan, accompanied Lu Weirui to Jiankang in the winter of last year. She had been in poor health. She couldn't eat well and couldn't sleep well. She consulted famous doctors in Beijing and China and took countless medicines, but they didn't work. When she returned to Huating in August last year, her health gradually improved.
But she knew that she was not accustomed to the climate, so she stayed in Huating. Yesterday, her brother Zhang Mo and Zhang Andao came from Shanyang County to visit her. At this time, they were talking in Xiaoxiyuan. When they heard that Chen Cao wanted to see her, they were also extremely shocked -
—
Zhang Andao said with a smile: "Sister Wan, this Chen Caozhi is here to propose to Wei Rui."
Zhang Wenwan frowned and said: "Fifth brother, don't make fun of me, help me make an idea. Is this Chen Cao's meeting or not?"
Zhang Andao has not seen Chen Caozhi since the flower and bird painting gathering in Wu County in the winter of the second year of Shengping, but he often hears rumors about Chen Caozhi. After the private engagement between Lu Weirui and Chen Caozhi came out, people began to pay attention to him.
Chen Caozhi's comments are often heard, with mixed reviews, but Chen Caozhi's talent and filial piety are recognized. Zhang Andao also wanted to see Chen Caozhi again, so he said: "It doesn't hurt to meet him.
Could it be that you asked someone to beat him up with a stick?"
Zhang Wenwan laughed and said, "Fifth brother is right. Am I still afraid of not meeting Chen Caozhi?" He ordered the steward to invite Chen Caozhi's brother to meet him at the Xiaoxiyuan Garden Hall, and report back after they arrived.
A quarter of an hour later, the steward came to report that the Chen brothers had arrived, so Zhang Wenwan and Zhang Andao got up and went to the flower hall.
Chen Caozhi stood under the long window of the flower hall, looking at the flowers and trees in the garden, plum blossoms, daffodils, and pansies. They were all blooming brightly in the spring, with colorful purples and reds. The spring scenery was very beautiful, but it was a pity that the luxuriant flowers were not here——
Hearing the footsteps at the side door, Chen Caozhi turned around and saw a bearded man in his forties coming side by side with a beautiful woman. At first, he thought it was Lu Shijun and his wife Zhang Wenwan, and then he recognized that they were Lu Shijun and his wife Zhang Wenwan.
Zhang Mo, Mr. Zhang Andao, hurriedly took a few steps and bowed to the ground: "Chen Caozhi pays homage to Mrs. Lu and pays homage to Mr. Andao."
Zhang Andao smiled slightly, looked Chen Caozhi up and down, and thought to himself: "This boy is even more handsome than he was three years ago. His body is as tall and straight as a jade tree in the wind, his eyes are calm, and his elegance is inherent. Jiangzuo Weijie's reputation is well-deserved."
"He returned the courtesy and said: "Mr. Chen, after leaving Wu County, for several years, Mr. Chen's reputation has been heard all the time."
Chen Cao's way: "I received Mr. Andao's guidance in Wu County and I have benefited from it to this day."
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan was also sizing up Chen Caozhi. The handsome young man from three years ago has grown into a handsome man with a dignified appearance. He behaves calmly and moves in a measured manner. In terms of demeanor and character, he is really a good match.
pity--
Zhang Wenwan said calmly: "Two Mr. Chen, please take a seat - serve tea."
Chen Caozhi sat under his third brother Chen Shang and said, "Mrs. Lu, Mr. An Dao, Cao's road passed Huating, so he came to say hello to Mrs. Lu and will be on his way again soon."
Zhang Wenwan knew that Chen Caozhi was going to Jiankang. He frowned and felt very uneasy. He said to Zhang Mo: "Fifth brother, I want to talk to Chen Langjun alone."
Zhang Mo stood up with a smile, but asked Chen Caozhi: "If Cao Zhi has any recent paintings and calligraphy, I would like to take a look."
Chen Cao said: "I only brought two paintings, one is "Eight Dragon Portraits" and the other is "Mountain Dwelling in Four Seasons"——" He said to Chen Shang: "Third brother, please lead Mr. An Dao to my car."
Take the scroll and look at it, Xiaochan knows where to put it."
Mrs. Lu, Zhang Wenwan, waited for Zhang Mo and Chen Shang to leave. All the maidservants were waiting on the porch. She and Chen Caozhi were the only two people in the huge flower hall. The slightly slanting sunlight in the afternoon shone quietly——
"Chen Langjun, why did you tell Wei Rui that you wanted her to wait for you? How could you marry her?" Zhang Wenwan didn't waste any words and got straight to the point.
Chen Caozhi sat upright and said: "Mrs. Lu, since Wei Rui has said this to you, you should also understand Wei Rui's affection for me, and the same is true for me. What I said to Wei Rui three years ago
The words may be a little rash, and I don't know how difficult the world is, but I have never forgotten what I said to Wei Rui in the past three years, I want to be with Wei Rui, and I have been working hard."
Zhang Wenwan looked at Chen Caozhi's firm and sincere eyes, and listened to his generous and affectionate words. It was really touching, just like how she was moved by Wei Rui's infatuated words that day by the Pinghu Lake. Zhang Wenwan was really very moved at this time.
He was willing to let this pair of lovers get married and said: "But how can you marry Wei Rui? How can you convince the Lu clan!"
Chen Caozhi frowned slightly and said: "This junior really has no clue. Who is the most important thing to convince?"
Zhang Wenwan replied casually: "Of course it's Wei Rui's second uncle." As soon as he said it, he felt it was inappropriate. He said it as if everyone except Lu Shi agreed to the marriage, and added: "Everyone in the Lu clan is against it.
It’s just that some are strong and some are mild.”
Chen Cao said: "Thank you, Mrs. Lu, for reminding me. Cao Zhi knows what to do."
Zhang Wenwan's face turned red and he said, "I'm not reminding you, I'm trying to make you retreat when you're in trouble."
Chen Cao said: "Madam, if I retreat despite the difficulties, wouldn't I be betraying my deep affection?"
