All kinds of flowers are planted on three sides of the Baihua Cottage. Flowers bloom one after another throughout the year. In the winter weather, wintersweet, camellia, cold orchid, ink orchid, and the early-blooming yellow cicada orchid all bloom, with swaying flower branches and cold fragrance.
The wind drifted away, Chen Caozhi sniffed the cold fragrance of flowers, and his originally impetuous mood miraculously calmed down. He followed the maid from the Lu Mansion up the steps, took off his linen shoes, and entered the small hall of the thatched cottage with white socks on -
The small hall is spacious, with several elegant and simple mats. The thatched-roof house is warm in winter and cool in summer. There is a small copper stove with tall legs in the southwest corner, blowing out thin and heavy incense sticks. Lu Weirui, who was sitting on the mat, stood up and came to greet her.
He called out: "Chen Langjun——" His watery eyes turned inquiringly on Chen Caozhi's face, and then he lowered his fine eyelashes.
Chen Caozhi responded and saluted Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan. She knelt down and the maid served fragrant tea, a black pottery teapot, a Yue porcelain green cup, and two boiling water to brew Ge Xian tea. Mrs. Lu had been with Chen Cao since last year.
After colleagues went to Beijing and tasted the novel and simple tea art, the Lu family completely copied Chen Caozhi's tea drinking method——
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan looked at Chen Caozhi and asked, "Cao Zhi came early today, is there anything wrong?"
Chen Caozhi glanced at Lu Weirui, who looked at him calmly with clear eyes. Chen Caozhi said: "Aunt Zhang, Wei Rui, I have something important to say. Please listen to me, Aunt Zhang, Wei Rui -
"
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan noticed something was wrong in the atmosphere and couldn't help but straighten her waist and said, "Well, please tell me."
Chen Caozhi hesitated to speak and said in confusion: "Aunt Zhang, would you like me to have a chat with He Weirui first?"
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan knew that what Chen Caozhi was about to say was definitely not a trivial matter and must be related to the Xie family. Wei Rui was not familiar with the world and was too soft-hearted. She wanted to make the decision for Wei Rui and could not let Wei Rui suffer. She immediately said: "
Wei Rui, you go for a walk in the garden first, I have something to tell Mr. Chen beforehand."
Lu Weirui looked at Chen Caozhi, then at her stepmother Zhang Wenwan, Yingying stood up and walked out of the small hall——
Mrs. Lu and Chen Caozhi looked at Lu Weirui's back together. The back was slim and beautiful, and there was an indescribable rhythm to it as she walked, as if the flowing calligraphy was paused, and she quickly turned around and disappeared after a row of holly trees -
—
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan withdrew her gaze, looked at Chen Caozhi, frowned, and said, "Caozhi, what do you want to say when you come here today?"
Chen Caozhi then told Mrs. Lu everything about yesterday's conversation with Xie An at Xie's Mansion in Wuyi Lane. There was no pretense or falsehood, just the truth.
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan was speechless for a long time. She was already a little worried about Xie Daoyun's matter. She was worried that the Xie family in Chen County would use power to pressure Chen Caozhi to marry Xie Daoyun. The Lu family in Wu County suffered a setback in reputation after the Lu Song case, although her husband Lu Na was promoted to an official.
However, compared with Xie An, who had mastered the army, he was slightly less powerful. Moreover, Chen Caozhi had a very close relationship with the Xie family of Chen County. This was due to the fact that Chen Caozhi and Xie An's son Xie Yan served as governors of the State Council and Sima respectively.
It can be seen that although Mrs. Lu did not believe that Chen Caozhi would abandon Weirui and marry Xie Daoyun, she was still a little worried. Now she heard from Chen Caozhi that Xie An wanted to ask the emperor for a marriage, and let Lu Weirui and Xie Daoyun marry him in the name of his wife.
After marrying Chen Caozhi together, Mrs. Lu calmed down. She did not have much objection to the double marriage. After all, it was the most common thing for men from aristocratic families to keep concubines at that time. Her husband Lu Na had three concubines.
Concubine, it’s just that her husband dotes on her. When she is in the capital, he rarely sleeps with his concubine. But Xie Daoyun is not a concubine for Chen Caozhi. Xie Daoyun wants to marry Chen Caozhi against Wei Rui. This is unprecedented.
——
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan asked: "Has Cao Zhi ever told Wei Rui's father about this?"
Chen Cao said: "Before I can tell you, An Shigong went to Taicheng today to discuss the matter with Lu Envoy."
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan said displeasedly: "Fuck it, you have discussed it with the Xie family first, and then come and report to me, the Lu family!"
Chen Cao said anxiously: "Aunt Zhang, I definitely don't mean this. Yesterday Mr. An Shi also suddenly mentioned this matter."
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan asked: "So the Xie family forced you to do so?"
Chen Cao was very embarrassed. He had never been forced to be speechless before. The blessing of Qi Ren was not that easy to use.
Seeing the slight trace of sweat on Chen Caozhi's forehead, Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan smiled secretly in her heart and asked Wenyan: "Caozhi, what do you think about the double marriage?"
Chen Caozhi said cautiously: "Cao is so stupid and despicable that Meng Weirui favors her. It is an unexpected joy. I really can't even think about a double marriage——"
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan smiled and said: "You don't dare to think about it, but the Xie family has arranged everything for you. You are really lucky."
Seeing that Chen Caozhi was silent and did not dare to answer, Mrs. Lu felt a little happier and said: "Then Madam Xie is infatuated with you. She disguises herself as a man and becomes an official for you, and becomes lovesick for you. And you can cure her illness. This is
It's fate, that's all. This is the end of the matter. As long as Wei Rui's father agrees and the emperor is willing to grant her a marriage, I won't embarrass you. But you have to explain this matter to Wei Rui properly. Wei Rui has been waiting for you for five years. You
Don’t you think she would be aggrieved by this?”
Chen Caozhi only said yes.
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan said: "Wei Rui is in the back garden. Go and tell her not to make her cry."
Chen Caozhi exited the Baihua Cottage, feeling that his vest was wet with sweat. This was more troublesome than convincing Murong Ke in Yecheng that day, and all his wits and tact were useless, because this was not the time to use tactics or show off his words.
Chen Caozhi was led by a little maid to go to the back garden to find Lu Weirui. Lu Weirui was talking with a short hoe and a hairpin flower. When he saw Chen Cao coming, Lu Weirui sent the maid away and stood under the flower tree.
Just her and Chen Caozhi.
The winter sun was warm and the flowers in the back garden were lightly scented. The two stood in silence holding hands for a long time. Lu Weirui raised her eyes and looked at Chen Caozhi and asked: "Mr. Chen, are you thinking of how to word this?"
Chen Cao said: "Yes, I feel sorry for Wei Rui. I shouldn't be in love with Wei Rui and still have feelings for Miss Xie."
When Lu Weirui heard what Chen Caozhi said, she lowered her head, her long eyelashes covering her eyes, she had been thinking about this for many days. Ever since she visited Xie Daoyun that day, she had often thought about it. After a moment of silence, she raised her head and asked
Said: "Mr. Chen, can you marry me or not?"
Chen Caozhi responded: "Yes."
Lu Weirui asked again: "If you go out, will you miss me as often as you did when you were sent to Chang'an?"
Chen Caozhi replied: "I think."
A sweet smile appeared on Lu Weirui's face, spreading out like ripples. She moved lightly and got closer to Chen Caozhi. She first gently blew off a piece of broken leaf floating on Chen Caozhi's shoulder, then put her chin against Chen Caozhi's.
He raised his face and said softly: "Mr. Chen, don't bother to explain to me. I won't argue with others. I only care about how Mr. Chen treats me. I only want Mr. Chen to think about me, and I will too."
With Chen Lang, I want to marry Chen Lang as his wife. I can get all these, what more can I ask for."
Chen Caozhi's eyes were dim with tears. He looked up and saw the sky was falling, the clouds were light and the wind was gentle. He looked down and saw a beautiful woman hugging her. The fragrance was delicate. Such happiness is something that can only be encountered but cannot be sought. Women like Lu Weirui and Xie Daoyun should have it.
There is a devoted man who will protect them for the rest of his life, and now, these two beautiful angels have folded their snow-white wings and are resting on his shoulders. He must bravely shoulder the heavy burden and love them well. Well, that's it.
…
It was already noon when Lu Na returned to the house, and his wife Zhang Wenwan came to greet him. Both the couple saw something different in each other's expressions. Mrs. Lu first said, "Cao Zhi is still walking and talking with Wei Rui in the back garden."
Lu Na asked: "Did Cao Zhi tell you?"
Mrs. Lu nodded and said, "Yes."
Lu Na smiled and said, "Come with me to the back garden to see." He stepped forward.
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan hurriedly followed and asked: "Lang Lu, has the emperor granted you permission to marry?"
Lu Na said: "Yes, the emperor was afraid that Chen Caozhi would become a good son-in-law of the Long Kanghuan family, so he was anxious for Chen Caozhi to marry me, the Lu family, er, and the Xie family. Xie Anshi and I asked for a marriage. The chapter has been submitted, and Empress Dowager Chongde is expected to summon Wei Rui and the Xie girl tomorrow. Haha, this Chen Caozhi is really blessed by God."
Mrs. Lu Zhang Wenwan saw that her husband was not hesitant, so she relaxed and said with a smile: "I would like to teach you, husband, I just scolded Chen Caozhi so much that Cao Zhi sweated."
Lu Nasi said: "Now that the matter has come to this, if you blame him for what he did, it would be a good compromise for you and your wife to do it."
Lu Na and Zhang Wenwan came to the back garden and saw Chen Caozhi and Wei Rui walking hand in hand under the flowers and trees from a distance, looking at each other and smiling from time to time, looking like they were in love with each other.
Zhang Wenwan shook his head and chuckled: "Wei Rui is so kind. Even if Chen Caozhi coaxes her with a few words, she doesn't have any temper at all. I'm worried that Wei Rui will be taken advantage of by that lady from the Xie family in the future."
Lu Na was very pleased to see Chen Caozhi and Wei Rui traveling hand in hand. The big stone that had been weighing on his heart for the past few years could finally be lifted, and he said: "I don't know, Wei Rui has her own cleverness, a bit Therefore, if you don’t fight, it means that no one in the world can fight with you.”
…
After lunch at the Lu Mansion, Chen Caozhi returned to the east garden of Chen's residence by the Qinhuai River. He saw Xie Daoyun's personal maid waiting in the small chan room due to the wind. Seeing Chen Caozhi return, he quickly stepped forward to salute and said: "Chen Langjun , my wife A Yuan sent her maid to ask if she can visit Miss Lu tomorrow?"
Xie Daoyun dressed as a man to study and become an official. He should be very courageous, but he seemed very timid in some things. She sent Yinfeng to ask if Chen Caozhi went to Lu Mansion to talk with Lu Weirui smoothly. Xie Daoyun was too proud. Xie Daoyun wanted to save face and was worried that he would be ignored when he went to the Lu Mansion tomorrow. Under such circumstances, Xie Daoyun went to the Lu Mansion to visit Lu Weirui, which was a bit resigned. If he didn't love Chen Caozhi very much, and if he didn't feel ashamed of Lu Weirui, how could Xie Daoyun be willing to do this!
Chen Caozhi said to Yinfeng: "You should go back to see Mrs. Daoyun immediately. If it is convenient, go to Hengtang to visit her immediately, because Empress Dowager Chongde will be summoned tomorrow."
