The baggage is full of jewelry made of pure gold, a pair of gold hairpins, a pair of gold earrings, a pair of gold bracelets, and a pair of gold rings. The mother and daughter looked at the jewelry, exchanged glances with each other, and both felt that this birthday gift was unusual and should have another meaning. It's just that Sun Jiji and Sun Jihuan brothers don't say it, and it's inconvenient for the mother and daughter to ask. Xiao Yiran casually wrapped up the burden and asked Wang Ma to put it on the table.

"Second sister, Ran'er, we originally planned to arrive early and late yesterday, so as not to delay Ran'er's birthday. I didn't want to stay for a day on the road because Wang Ma was not feeling well, so I didn't arrive until now. ”

After Sun Jihuan finished speaking, he looked at Wang Ma. Wang Ma stood up and explained to Sun and Xiao Yiran:

"Second Miss, Little Miss, what the Third Young Master said is good, but it's all bad for the maid. I don't know what bad things I ate on the road, I had a stomach trouble the day before yesterday, and the two sons had to stop in order to take care of their servants, and asked Lang Zhong for a prescription, took medicine, and delayed a day if they didn't want to. If you want to blame, blame me. ”

"Mother Wang is old, and it is not easy to walk a long way. Where to blame Wang Ma? ”

After Sun finished speaking, he said to Xiao Yiran:

"Ran'er take Wang Ma to the backyard to rest, my mother has already asked Xiu Niang to prepare dinner, and when the meal is ready, I will come with Wang Ma to accompany my uncle to eat."

Xiao Yiran couldn't wait to leave quickly, although he wanted to talk to his second cousin, but because the two uncles were there, and the second cousin had not taken the initiative to speak, he didn't get the opportunity. Hearing what his mother said, Xiao Yiran stood up, said a polite word to the two uncles and second cousin, and led Wang Ma to the room in the backyard. As for the burden of gifts on the table, Xiao Yiran didn't even look at it.

Xiao Yiran didn't believe the words of the third uncle and Wang Ma, and from Wang Ma's face, he couldn't see the sickness of having a stomach trouble at all. So when he came to the backyard, Xiao Yiran asked Wang's mother:

"Did Wang Ma really have a stomach trouble on the road?"

"I knew I couldn't hide it from Miss Xiao. Let's be honest, originally this time it was just that Mr. Xun was going to visit the second lady, his uncle, and the little miss. It's just that when she went to Sun's Mansion to say goodbye to the old lady, the old lady suddenly sent the two young masters to come with her, because it was a temporary idea, so she had to let Sun Gongzi leave later. After the gifts were placed, it couldn't help but be late, and I hurried along the way, but I still didn't catch up. That's why the two young masters asked me to cooperate with them and tell lies. ”

"I don't know why my grandmother sent my two uncles here, and the jewelry in the baggage, it doesn't look like a birthday gift."

"It's not a birthday present."

"What's that?"

Actually, Xiao Yiran had already guessed it in his heart.

"It's a dowry for the little lady."

"Hmph."

Xiao Yiran snorted angrily and stopped talking. At this time, Musk Yue and Qingwen brought tea, and after Wang Ma drank two sips, Xiao Yiran said to Qingwen Xiaoxing:

"Take Wang Ma to the guest room to rest, and when you wait for dinner, invite Wang Ma to the front yard living room."

After Xiao Xing led Wang Ma to the guest room, Xiao Yiran sat in the room angrily, not knowing what the grandmother in Jiangning thought. Obviously, my father and mother have already made it clear last time, why don't you still give up?

After a while, the mother Sun came to Xiao Yiran's room, saw her daughter with an angry look on her face, and guessed that she should have heard something from Wang's mother.

"Ran'er, what did Mama Wang say?"

"Wang's mother said that the burden is a dowry. Moreover, there was no stomach trouble on the way here. ”

Immediately, Xiao Yiran learned Wang's mother's words to her mother.

"Then why should you be angry, no matter what your grandmother thinks, your mother and father will not agree."

After a pause, Xiao Yiran asked:

"Second cousin's intention, do you know?"

"As I said just now, my second cousin has already won Xiucai, and I want to come to the capital to find a school, work hard for two years, and strive to be able to go to high school in the next township exam."

"Mother didn't tell my second cousin, may we move to Yanshan Mansion?"

"I only said that your father has been transferred to the prefect of Yanshan Mansion, and I didn't say anything else. In fact, even if we move to Yanshan, we can let your second cousin stay in the capital. This house is empty and empty, so let your second cousin live here. ”

"Yes. How are the eldest uncle and the eldest aunt? ”

"It's all good, and your eldest cousin's Sun Tong, who already has a son and a daughter."

After dinner, Wang's mother came to Sun's room and told Sun about the old lady's letting her come to propose. Wang Ma is a person who understands, and she knows that the old lady and the second young master are pure wishful thinking, but since the master has commanded, she still has to make her words clear.

"Mother Wang, you also know that last time I and Ran'er's father had already made it very clear, I don't know why my mother has to bring up the old things again. I know that I don't blame Mama Wang for this, we will never accept the gift, and we will have to trouble Mama Wang to bring it back when the time comes. ”

"Second Miss, to be honest, I don't know what the old lady thinks, and the second young master. knows that the second miss, as well as the aunt, and the little miss are all understandable people. It's just that I didn't keep any of the gifts, which doesn't seem like much, right? ”

"If it's a birthday present, no matter how valuable, we'll consider keeping some. Since it's a dowry, you really can't keep any of it. ”

Listening to Sun's tone was very resolute, Wang Ma was not easy to persuade again.

"Okay, since the second lady has decided, I'll take it back. The old lady also asked the second young master's family Yilin Gongzi to bring it together, but fortunately, Yilin Gongzi was a little indebted, and the second young grandmother did not agree. ”

Xu learned from Wang's mother that the second sister had refused the family affair again, and Sun Jiji and Sun Jihuan only stayed for two days before they resigned and returned to Jiangning Mansion. The burden was returned to the princess intact and let the princess take it away. Only Sun Xun stayed. Because he is a cousin, Xiao Yiran has no scruples, and often chats with his second cousin.

"What book is my second cousin most familiar with?"

"I can't say how familiar I am, but the I Ching is the most raw."

"Hehe, the second cousin has to hurry up, although he doesn't want to learn the Four Books and Five Classics to be proficient, if you want to lift people, you still have to be able to do everything."

"Alas, now I regret that I chose the imperial examination in the first place. Wouldn't it be easier to learn business from your father like your eldest brother? ”

"Actually, each has its own difficulties. The second cousin is not in business, maybe he is really in business, and he will envy the scholar again. ”

"If I had the talent of my younger sister, I wouldn't have to worry."

"I don't have any talent to learn, second cousin, don't listen to people outside. If I were to write a strategy, I would definitely ask the examiner to throw it out. ”

Xiao Yiran took the time to write a letter to his father Xiao Guoliang, and the letter did not mention that his grandmother sent Wang Ma to propose marriage again, for fear that his father would be angry, but he just said that his second cousin came to Beijing to study, and asked his father to help him find a home school, or Mr.

The last time I asked about the letter of moving to Yanshan, Xiao Yiran had not received a reply from his father Xiao Guoliang. In terms of time, it should be almost there.

Xiao Guoliang's letter was received on May 13. It turned out that when I received Xiao Yiran's second letter, I replied together. In the letter, he first explained the study of his second cousin Sun Xun, and then talked about moving to Yanshan.

"Good wife, Ran'er, it is not suitable to move here for the time being, although the housing here is ready-made. Because the Liao State has gathered a large number of soldiers and horses on the border, the intensity of harassment has also increased, and the border has been very restless recently. In addition, the saint will be on a personal expedition soon, and things in the house are very busy. After the Holy Lord's conquest, it is advisable to decide whether to move in or not depending on the situation. ”

After reading Xiao Guoliang's letter, Xiao Yiran and Sun first asked the housekeeper Cai Xu to lead Sun Xun and settle down the study according to Xiao Guoliang's letter. After that, I could only wait in the mansion, and wait for the emperor to drive in person, and then plan to move.

Since receiving Xiao Guoliang's letter, in the past ten days, in late May, there has been news that the emperor wants to drive the imperial expedition in person. Because Xiao Guoliang was the prefect of Yanshan Mansion, Sun and Xiao Yiran were naturally very concerned about this matter. From time to time, the housekeeper Cai Xu paid attention to the movements outside, and by the third day of the sixth month, the housekeeper Cai Xu reported to the Sun family:

"Madam, the emperor has already set out on the expedition."

"When, early this morning."

In this era, it is a great thing for the emperor to drive the expedition in person. The streets and alleys are all talking about this matter, Xiao Yiran and his mother Sun pray at home every day to pray to the gods to bless Xiao Guoliang and safety. The days passed in the panic of the mother and daughter.

Xiao Guoliang, who was in Yanshan Mansion, was in the same heavy mood. Every day and the Datong Army Festival envoy Yang Ye discussed the matter of taking over, and at the same time made various preparations for the emperor's safety. The emperor's royal drive was set off from the capital city of Bianliang on the second day of the first month of June, with a history of 22 days, and it was not until June 25 that he entered the boundary of Yanshan Mansion. did not stop at Yanshan Mansion, and the frame went straight to Wutai Mountain in Xinzhou. Xiao Guoliang, who was the prefect of Yanshan Fu Road, and Yang Ye, who was the envoy of the Datong Army, accompanied the holy car and also came to Wutai Mountain.

Wutai Mountain has always been a holy place for Buddhism, and although there have been frequent wars over the years, the incense in the temple is still thriving. Whether it is seeking officials, seeking wealth, or praying for a bumper harvest, or even praying for the title of the gold list, all come to incense and make wishes. It's just that after the emperor arrived, Wutai Mountain was surrounded by the Praetorian Guards and was temporarily divided into a forbidden place. Yang Ye's Datong Army arranged a multi-layer defense line in addition to the Praetorian Guard.

Accompanying the emperor on the expedition, there were not only Cai Shangshu of the Ministry of War, but also Pan Mei, a general who fought hard with Zhao Kuangyin, Taizu of the Song Dynasty. In the Great Song Dynasty, Pan Mei's name was almost unknown to everyone, and even her reputation was above Yang Ye. Pan Mei, born in the army, participated in the Chenqiao Mutiny, and supported Song Taizu Zhao Kuangyin as emperor. In the unification of various forces in the south, he has repeatedly made military exploits. first led his troops to defeat the Southern Han regime, and then marched eastward, cooperating with the general Cao Bin to eliminate the Southern Tang Dynasty.

After the holy driver was stationed in Wutai Mountain, he only rested for one night, and the next day he summoned Yang Ye, Xiao Guoliang and other local civil and military officials to understand the enemy's situation. He also discussed with Pan Mei, Yang Ye and others on matters related to sending troops to the Liao State.