March 3rd, Shangsi Festival, early in the morning, Lu Weirui took a bath in Xiuge Pavilion. The maid Hairan Hua and two other maids picked orchids and peony petals from the back garden and sprinkled them in the bathtub. Bathing with orchids and peony flowers was the best way to bathe.
The custom of the Shangsi Festival in Sanwu is said to be able to eliminate filth and evil spirits. For unmarried women, bathing with peony flowers during the Shangsi Festival can also lead to happy love. "The Book of Songs. Zheng Feng. Qin Wei Pian" says: "Qin and Wei
, Fang Huanhuanxi. The scholar and his daughter met Fang Bingxi. The woman said: "Guanhu?" The scholar said: "That's it." Go and watch, outside, Xunxiu and happy." The Weishi and his daughter, Yiqi
"We joked with each other and gave him peony as a gift." This is a poem describing the love story between young men and women by the river on the last Si Festival and giving peony as a gift when they parted. At this time, the short hoe was singing "Qin Wei" softly while standing in the bath.
Lu Weirui's hair was combed by the bucket with an exquisite bamboo grate. Her long, wet hair was dark and lush. When the grate combed its roots and ends, her long hair looked like shiny black satin, while the snow-white skin on her shoulders looked like a lotus leaf cover.
The water drops do not stick to it, but the lotus leaves are green, and Lu Weirui's skin is white and flawless, even mutton-fat white jade cannot compare.
The index finger of the short hoe's left hand gently touched the skin of Lu Weirui's back, and said: "My little lady is so tender, white and delicate, and it is smooth on the hands."
The hairpin girl on the side chuckled and said, "I just can't put it down."
The short hoe smiled and said: "If it's Chen." Feeling inappropriate, he stuck out his tongue at the hairpin flower and just laughed without saying anything.
At this time, a little maid outside the curtain said: "Sister Short Hoe, your sister Huang Ying'er wants to see you for something."
Short hoe heard that it was her sister Huang Ying who came to look for her. He shook his head and said with a smile: "This Huang Ying'er came here to play early in the morning, and she is not afraid of being punished by those in charge." He raised his voice and said: "Let her wait for a while.
Yes, I am waiting for the young lady to take a bath."
Lu Weirui said: "You go and do it, short hoe, or if there is anything else, don't let Huang Ying'er wait."
Short hoe said: "What else can she do here except play? The little lady has a good temper, let her play, and she likes to come here." He was Lu Weirui's hair.
After a while, the maid came again to report that Huang Ying'er had something important to say to Miss Wei Rui.
The short hoe said angrily: "This girl is really brave, let me pull her ears."
Lu Weirui said: "Let her come in and talk by the curtain."
Huang Ying'er came to the outside of the bathroom and stood outside the embroidered curtain. Fragrant water vapor came out, and a delicate and gentle voice asked: "Huang Ying'er, what's the matter?"
Huang Ying'er looked at the maids and servants around her and muttered: "Miss Wei Rui, Huang Ying'er has something, something important, this and that."
He cut through the mess with a short hoe and a sharp knife and said, "If you have something to say, tell me quickly. What are you talking about? What are you hesitating about?"
Huang Ying'er became panicked and whispered that the head of the family would be severely punished and would be sold. Huang Ying'er didn't dare to say anything anymore and hesitated: "I, I'm fine, little lady Wei Rui, sister short hoe,
I'm going back first." He bowed to the curtain and left.
Lu Weirui frowned slightly, feeling secretly surprised in her heart. She signaled Short Hoe to call Huang Ying'er in. Short Hoe then lifted the curtain and went out, holding Huang Ying'er's hand. Lu Weirui was in the gold-painted bathtub, with her head and neck exposed, speaking softly.
Xiuyu asked: "Huang Ying'er, what's the problem? It's okay, just say it."
Huang Ying'er looked at Miss Wei Rui's extraordinarily beautiful face due to the hot water, and felt a little calmer, and said: "Little Miss, Huang Ying'er heard something last night, which was related to the little lady, and she wanted to talk to her alone.
The lady said." She looked at Short Hoe and added, "Sister Short Hoe can also listen."
Lu Weirui said "Oh" and ordered Hairan Hua and another maid to temporarily withdraw from the curtain. Hairan Hua was quite dissatisfied, rolled her eyes at Huang Ying'er, and went out.
Huang Ying'er approached the bathtub and whispered what she heard last night between the head of the family, Lu Shi, and Liulang Jun Lu Qin. Short hoe was stunned, looked at Lu Weirui, and said anxiously: "Little lady, what should I do? Let me
Brother, please hurry up and report the news to Chen Langjun?"
Lu Weirui sat in the bathtub, frowning and motionless, but the water surface with floating peony petals and orchid grass rippled. It was obvious that Lu Weirui's chest was rising and falling, and her mood was agitated.
Huang Ying'er looked at Lu Weirui's beautiful and sad eyes, and said softly: "Miss Weirui, I'm going back, little lady, you have to be careful."
Lu Weirui suppressed her boiling mood and forced a smile: "Huang Ying'er, thank you."
After Huang Ying'er left, the two maids Hairpin Hua came in again. Seeing that the young lady and the short hoe looked different, Hairpin Hua asked cautiously: "Little lady, what happened?"
Lu Weirui hesitated for a moment and said, "My uncle wants to force me to get married again. Don't talk about this to others, or you will implicate Huang Ying'er."
These maids were all Lu Weirui's confidants and they really liked the little lady Weirui. They all looked worried when they heard this and agreed repeatedly.
When the short hoe was serving Lu Weirui to dress, he asked in his ear: "Do you want my brother to go find Chen Langjun?"
Lu Weirui shook her head and thought to herself: "Chen Langjun will be on a mission to Di Qin in the near future. Now that he knows such a thing, he must be very anxious. How can he go on a mission with peace of mind? Wouldn't it be a delay in Chen Langjun's future?"
?Furthermore, my uncle and my brother have criticized Chen Langjun many times. I already feel very guilty. If Chen Langjun is allowed to confront the emperor, wouldn’t Chen Langjun’s efforts for his family in recent years be in vain?
Convicted."
Short hoe saw the young lady shaking her head, thinking about it, the emperor wanted to marry the young lady, so what could he do if he told Chen Langjun? He asked again: "Then tell the lady first?"
Lu Weirui said: "My mother has just given birth and is very weak. How can I tell her this? Don't tell anyone. Queen Yu died less than a month ago, so it's still too early to accept a concubine. Don't worry, I can find a way."
Hearing what Lu Weirui said, the short hoe felt relieved. The young lady looks weak and uncontested, but she has a strong idea in her heart and will never waver in what she believes in. If the young lady says there is a way, then there really is a way.
It was already late at night when Chen Caozhi returned to Gu Mansion from Xi Chao. Banli was still waiting in the concierge and said, "Chen Langjun, my little lady wants to see you tomorrow."
Chen Cao said: "Okay, Huan Da Sima's memorial has been handed in. I will leave Jiankang in the next two days, and I will go to bid farewell to Lu Shijun tomorrow."
The next day, in the west hall of the Taiji Hall in Taicheng, there were Sima Yu, king of Langya, Wang Shu, the minister's order, Wang Biaozhi, the minister's servant, Wang Tanzhi, the chief historian of the West Prefecture, Xi Chao, the minister of Zhongshu, Zhang Ping, Gao Song, and Sanqi Chang.
Attendants Xie Wan, Sun Chuo, Yushi Zhongcheng Xie An, Gu Minzhi, Wubingshangshu Lu Shi, Huan Mi, and Jiang Sixuan all gathered together to discuss Chen Caozhi's mission to Qin. Lu Shi opposed Chen Caozhi's promotion.
Washing horses for the seventh-rank prince, they thought that Chen Caozhi was not qualified in terms of family status and qualifications. However, Langya King Sima Yu and Xi Chao both believed that Chen Caozhi represented the Jin Dynasty as an envoy to other countries.
In terms of dignity, Chen Cao originally joined the army at the eighth level, so it is not an exaggeration to be promoted to the first level. Xie An, Jiang Sixuan and others also agreed.
The servant Gao Song was upright and unsociable. He was always outspoken and merciless. He only praised Chen Caozhi. At this time, he said coldly: "If the mission to Di Qin is a good one, I'm afraid it won't be Chen Caozhi's turn." , If Lu Shangshu has a son who is willing to go as an envoy, there is nothing wrong with promoting him to a higher level."
Lu Shi glared at Gao Song, but Gao Song ignored him. Gao Song dared to mock even Huan Wen and Xie An, let alone others. Moreover, Gao Song was right. Who among the sons of aristocratic families would be willing to send Lu Qin as an envoy to Di in the face of danger? Qin was afraid that he would be so frightened that he would be unable to recover from his illness.
Lu Shi was speechless, and the discussion was settled. Langya King Sima Yu went to report to Emperor Sima Yi, and summoned Chen Caozhi to Taicheng to meet the emperor. Emperor Sima Yi had never had a good impression of Chen Cao, one of Huan Wen's confidants, but he was happy for Chen Cao. When Chen Cao sent an envoy to Di Qin, the Di people were brutal, and Chen Cao's envoy was more unlucky than bad. It was immediately decided that on the sixth day of the third month, the emperor would personally give Chen Cao the imperial edict, and he would send an envoy to Di Qin that day.
On the evening of the fourth day of March, Chen Caozhi went to visit Lu Na, gave the young man of the Lu family a generous gift, and said goodbye. Due to etiquette, Mrs. Lu could not see outsiders within one month after giving birth, so Chen Caozhi only stayed away from her. After greeting Mrs. Lu, she heard Lu Xiaolangjun crying in the inner room. The baby boy had a loud voice and was very healthy.
Mrs. Lu called her husband Lu into the room and said, "Wei Rui wants to go on a tour of the Qinhuai River with Chen Langjun tomorrow. Please forgive me for your kindness."
Lu Na glanced at Lu Weirui, who was standing aside with his head bowed, frowned and said: "There is no need to travel to Qinhuai. It is indecent to be bumped into. Let Cao Zhi come to the mansion tomorrow."
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan now had a son, and she was very confident. She said with a smile: "My husband is hiding his ears and stealing the bell. Who in Jiankang City doesn't know about Cao Zhi and Wei Rui! A few days ago, Cao Zhi was painting in the house, and it was known to everyone. Who knows? Dare to make fun of her even a little bit, but most of them feel pity for Cao Zhi. My husband also thinks that Cao Zhi will have to travel thousands of miles north in the next day and have a hard time, so let them have a pleasant trip. In fact, my husband also regards Cao Zhi as his son-in-law. What! The second uncle was too worried. The incident between Cao Zhi and Wei Rui spread throughout Jiangzuo, which did not necessarily damage the reputation of our Lu family. People in the north value family status, and Jiangzuo values people. People like Cao Zhi in Jiangsu How many people are there on the left?"
Lu Na smiled and said, "I didn't know Wen Wan was so eloquent!" Looking at Lu Weirui, he said, "Well, be careful and don't show your face."
Lu Weirui quickly knelt down and thanked her father.
Lu Na stayed with Chen Caozhi for dinner and asked, "Has the construction of Cao's giant boat begun?"
This is what Chen Caozhi promised Lu Na last year. If he could not persuade Lu Shi to marry Lu Weirui within three years, he would build a huge boat and float Weirui on the sea, following the example of Fan Li and Xi Shi.
Chen Caozhi bowed and said: "Before building a giant boat, Caozhi still wants to work hard for a while. Marrying Wei Rui with three matchmakers and six rites is what I look forward to most."
Lu Na nodded and said, "When Cao Zhi is sent as an envoy to Di Qin, I have something to give you." Hand in hand with Chen Cao Zhi, they came to the side courtyard and saw a servant leading a tall horse. The horse was more than seven feet tall. , long legs and thin neck, pointed ears, whole body black, not a single stray hair.
Lu Na said: "This is the Hu horse that Zhang Xuanliang, the shepherd of Liangzhou, sent to meet the emperor the year before last. A group of Liangzhou merchants who came to Beijing with him brought him horses. They should be from the Western Regions and are quite powerful horses. They were used as envoys to Di Qin, which was exactly what they needed." It’s a good horse, please accept it without saying thank you.”
