Mrs. Han was very happy to go to Cui Mansion to attend the birthday banquet. She preferred this kind of public appearance, especially when her husband had a clear promise to be the governor of Jianzhou. She was the governor's wife and could appear in any occasion with dignity. She did not
I didn't know that Cui Ning had a bad reputation for having affairs with his subordinates' wives and daughters. In fact, it wouldn't mean much if she knew about it. Cui Ning wouldn't like her anyway.
She was happily trying on clothes in the room, and kept nagging, "Master, what are you asking Mr. Guo to do? He is not our son-in-law yet! If he goes, we will be laughed at?"
"Just stop saying a few words! What do you, a woman, know?" Xue Xun sat aside and said angrily.
Xue Xun didn't have a study room here, so he could only sit in the bedroom and read, while enduring his wife's nagging. But when his wife talked about Guo Song, he couldn't bear it anymore, "The birthday gifts are all paid for by others, otherwise you can go
Get a decent birthday gift and I won’t let him go.”
Knowing his wife Mo Ruofu, Xue Xun's words struck a chord in Han's life. How could she be willing to shell out hundreds of taels of silver as a birthday gift? Han immediately fell silent.
In fact, Xue Xun had a deeper idea. He neither wanted to give his daughter to Cui Ning to waste, nor did he want to offend Cui Ning. The best way was to reveal Guo Song's identity and let Cui Ning retreat.
After all, Cui Ning is the governor of Jiannan. Although he has a bad reputation, he is not as disgusting and despicable as Zhang Qiong, the governor of Jianzhou. He should know how to measure and he will not hate himself for it in the future. After thinking about it, Xue Xun thought about it.
is the best solution.
In the afternoon of the next day, Xue Xun and his family went out in a carriage. Xue Tao, accompanied by Xiaoyu Niang as a maid, and Guo Song rode with two attendants.
Not long after, the carriage arrived at Cui Mansion. Cui Mansion is located directly opposite Jiannan Jiedu Mansion and covers an area of nearly a hundred acres. It is actually composed of two mansions, one is Cui Ning's mansion and the other is his brother Cui Kuan's.
The mansions are connected by a walled alley, which looks a bit like Ningguo Mansion and Rongguo Mansion.
At this time, there were already many carriages parked in front of the Cui Mansion. Cui Ning's purpose of celebrating his mother's birthday today was not to find a woman, but to attract money. He sent out invitations to officials and county magistrates of various states in central Sichuan, as well as wealthy families, including people.
Even if he can't come, the congratulatory gifts must come.
Even the wealthy businessmen in Chengdu received the invitations. Nearly 700 invitations were sent out in Chengdu alone. Of course, the guests came to the house and the money came in. In order to stop the carriage, Cui Ning specially blocked the street.
Jofu-mae Street has become a parking lot.
When Xue Xun saw the momentum of parking the car, he realized that he was overthinking it. There were at least several thousand guests today, and Cui Ning would not be able to see his daughter at all.
Today, Mrs. Han dressed up like a noble lady, with combed hair, gold and green hair, six gold-lined dresses, her face painted white, and her eyebrows painted like long fishing rods. She got up at dawn
It only took an hour to comb and dress up her hair. She also had to put on makeup and try on clothes, and it didn't end until noon. In the words of her husband, Xue Xun, she had never dressed up like this when she got married.
Her daughter Xue Tao is just the opposite. She has no makeup on her face, her eyebrows are lightly swept, her hair is in a fairy bun, and there is no comb. This is a very common hairstyle that can be worn by girls and women.
Wearing a thick blue and white undershirt, a lambskin fur, and a silver fox fur that Guo Song gave her around her neck, she was very simple and warm, unlike her mother who had a large piece of white flesh exposed on her chest.
I was shivering.
Xue Tao couldn't bear it, so he gave the silver fox skin to his mother. This silver fox skin could better show the temperament of a lady. Han was not polite and wrapped it directly around his neck, barely covering the white flesh on his chest, allowing Xue Xun to relax a little.
Breathe a sigh of relief.
Xue Tao took a piece of red cloth and put it on, which added a bit of beauty.
Xue Xun felt a little uneasy. His daughter was of celestial beauty. Even without makeup, she was extremely beautiful and dignified, with outstanding temperament. He hoped that Cui Ning would not see her and cause trouble.
A long row of tables was set up in front of the Cui Mansion, and more than a dozen Cui Mansion officials were registering the names of guests and accepting gift lists.
The front door of the mansion was crowded with guests, all of whom were dressed in the same way. The men all wore gauze hats and robes, and leather belts around their waists, while the women wore white hair and wide-sleeved skirts. But it was obvious that these were wealthy businessmen from Chengdu.
There is an air of copper money that cannot be concealed.
"Hey! Mr. Xue is here, welcome! Welcome!" The person in charge of receiving the guests is Cui Ning's younger brother Cui Ping. He is a lively person and knows many people.
Xue Xun clasped his fists and said with a smile: "I just got the news yesterday. I didn't prepare enough gifts. It's just a little thought."
He handed the gift list to Cui Ping. Cui Ping glanced at it quickly and smiled quickly, "Xue Jishi is too polite. Are these your family members?"
"Exactly, my wife, daughter and me..."
Before Xue Xun finished what he said, Han rushed to say: "With our son."
Xue Xun glared at his wife, and he had no choice but to acquiesce. Cui Ping smiled, nodded, and shouted loudly: "Xue Xun, the governor of Jianzhou, came with his wife and children to celebrate his birthday——"
"Guys, please come in and rest!"
Cui Ping invited them into the house and walked through the door. Xue Xun complained to his wife: "Why are you talking nonsense?"
Mrs. Han muttered: "A son-in-law is half a son! What's wrong with calling him a son? Look at how my daughter dresses after getting married."
Cui Xun wanted to say a few more words about his wife, but Guo Song tried to smooth things over with a smile: "We are just here to get in. The speaker has no intention and the listener has no intention. You can say whatever you want."
Xue Xun had no choice but to nod, "Okay! I'll go sit in the main hall and you can walk around as you please."
At this time, a disciple of the Cui family came forward and said: "The female guests are going to the West Mansion to rest, the male guests are in the East Mansion, and the banquet is all in the East Mansion. You can find your own seat first."
"How to arrange the seats?" Guo Songxiao asked.
"Officials of seventh rank or above sit in the lobby, their families sit in the east shed, and businessmen and their families sit in the west shed. The seats are not fixed and you can sit wherever you like."
Han thought for a while and said: "Mr. Guo, I will take Tao'er to sit in the west courtyard for a while. Please go and check the seats first."
"Mom, Guo Lang and I are together." Xue Tao stood next to Guo Song and said.
"Tao'er, why are you..." Mrs. Han was really annoyed. She had forgotten about her mother before she got married.
Guo Song said with a smile: "Tao'er, you go with your mother! I'll take a walk and maybe I can meet some acquaintances."
Xue Tao was still a little hesitant, but Guo Song whispered again: "Go! Don't make it difficult for me."
Xue Tao nodded obediently and followed her mother towards Xifu. She looked back at Guo Song and squeezed her fist gently.
Guo Song understood. This was her reminder to herself to pay attention to safety.
At this time, a slender figure flashed out from a cluster of bamboo trees. It was Xiaoyu Niang. No one knew how she came in. She walked a few steps quickly, followed Xue Tao, and gently held her arm.
, just like a little sister holding her elder sister’s hand.
With Xiao Yu Niang following closely, Xue Tao felt relieved and turned around to wave to Ai Lang. Guo Song nodded, turned around and walked towards the east greenhouse.
At this time, the entire Cui Mansion was full of people, mostly wealthy businessmen from Chengdu. They were noisy and extremely noisy. There was still more than an hour before the banquet. The female relatives had all gone to the West Mansion, and people in the East Mansion were gathered in twos and threes.
Chat together.
Guo Song knew almost no one, which was really boring.
"Brother Song!"
Someone suddenly shouted from behind, but Guo Song didn't react. He shouted twice in succession, and Guo Song turned around subconsciously.
I saw a man catching up quickly, he looked a bit familiar.
"Brother Song, have you forgotten me?"
The man smiled and said, "I even bought you a piece of jade."
Guo Song suddenly realized, "You are Judge Wei!"
The man was none other than Wei Gao, the judge of Jiannan Jiedu Prefecture. It was he who received Guo Song's letter and promptly informed Wei Kuan who was staying in Jiannan, and transferred Jiannan's army back to Chengdu overnight, thus saving the city of Chengdu.
Wei Gao clasped his fists and said, "Thank you so much, brother Song, for sending someone to deliver the letter in time. We are all very grateful. Deputy Ambassador Wei has repeatedly said that he wants to see you. How about you come with me to see Deputy Ambassador Wei now?"
"Now?"
Guo Song couldn't find a reason to refuse for a while, so he could only nodded, "Okay then!"
Wei Gao was overjoyed and said, "Brother, please come with me!"
Guo Song followed him to the living room, and Wei Gaoxiao asked, "Why did Brother Xian receive Shuai Cui's invitation?"
"I am the junior of Xue Changshi of Jianzhou, and I came with him."
"By the way! You sent the news from Jianzhou. This time, Xue Changshi was so powerful that he ran hundreds of miles to Luzhou and captured Yang Zilin alive. He calmed down the war before the Jiannan Army sent troops. It is certain that he will be promoted to the governor.
.”
Wei Gao suddenly asked: "Brother Xian must have made great achievements, right?"
"I just did a little bit, and I can't say I have any merit."
"I think my dear brother is too humble."
The two came to a side hall and saw more than twenty people sitting in the hall, chatting about something, and several family members sitting next to them.
The man in the middle is about fifty years old, has a square face, big ears, and a dignified appearance. He is Shi Cuikuan, the governor of Jiannan Festival. He also serves as the deputy envoy of Jiannan Festival.