"Where are you going, Third Miss?"

As soon as Xia Xue'er turned around, she met Bai Yining, who was walking brightly, and said with a light smile: "I haven't seen you for a long time, it seems that my aunt is in a good mood today!" ”

Bai Yining approached her with a light smile, and the maid who followed behind her bowed to Xia Xue'er and hurried away. Xia Xue'er noticed that the maid was carrying a cloth bag, bulging, and she didn't know what was in it.

"By the way, I haven't congratulated Miss Three yet!"

After the two looked at each other for a few seconds, Bai Yining suddenly said such a sentence without a beginning or an end, Xia Xue'er was a little confused for a while, but a sense of uneasiness gradually appeared in her heart, I don't know what Bai Yining is planning?

After being silent for a few seconds, Xia Xue'er replied with a light smile: "Auntie said that she laughed, how can I be happy?" ”

"Since ancient times, men should get married, and women should get married, and congratulations at this time, it is naturally the joy of marriage!"

"Marriage?" Xia Xue'er chuckled, and then said: "Auntie, I'm afraid that my life is confused, this time no one has come to the door to propose marriage, and secondly, I have never been married to my belly, I don't know where my joy of marriage comes from?" ”

Bai Yining didn't answer Xia Xue'er's question directly, but asked meaningfully: "I wonder what kind of character this General Xia's son-in-law will be?" Is the third lady still satisfied? ”

"Haha~ Auntie's question is really strange, I don't know if I have too many secrets in my heart and am a little delirious!"

"Is it strange?" Bai Yining approached Xia Xue'er, looked at her eyes pretending to be puzzled, and then smiled lightly and said, "And you won't feel strange in a few days." It's all a matter of time, isn't it? ”

After Bai Yining finished saying this, she turned around and walked away, Xia Xue'er stared at her back for a few seconds and then said loudly: "I think I like to open the skylight and say bright words, you might as well pick out what you mean by this!" ”

Bai Yining stood up after hearing this, turned his head, but did not speak, only; left a pretended mysterious smile, and then strode away, looking very good!

Dongmei scratched her head and muttered: "Today's Aunt Bai seems to be a different person!" On weekdays, she looks at her coldly, never wants to look at people more, and doesn't want to say more than half a sentence to others, how can she take the initiative to talk to the young lady and smile like a flower? ”

Cuizhu answered, "Are you sure her smile is as beautiful as a flower?" ”

Dongmei pursed her lips and replied, "Okay, it's indeed a little panicked." ”

Xia Xue'er's already frowning brows deepened a little after hearing this, and even Dongmei, who has always been nervous, could see that there must be something strange in this!

So he asked, "Cuizhu, what do you think about this matter?" ”

"Aunt Bai's congratulations are a little early, if it weren't for the unpredictable prophet, it must have something to say."

Looking at her last smile, I am afraid that it is not an unknown prophet, but something that has already been known, or ...... I already knew something! ”

"Miss, do you mean ......?"

Cuizhu wanted to speak and stopped, and set her surprised gaze on Xia Xue'er, and Xia Xue'er met Cuizhu's gaze and nodded affirmatively, what Cuizhu was thinking at this moment was exactly what she thought.

Dongmei stood aside and looked at the two of them, her eyes and expressions were very solemn, and she couldn't help muttering in her heart: What day is today, not only Aunt Bai behaves strangely, but Miss and Cuizhu are also very abnormal.

As soon as the group entered the Yuxuan with their front feet, Shuang'er followed with their hind feet.

Xia Xue'er saw that she was holding seven or eight painting scrolls in her hand, and suddenly became interested, her eyes lit up, and she said excitedly: "Where did you get the name of the good painting from in your arms?" Show me! ”

Shuang'er smiled and replied, "The third lady is used to making fun of slaves!" The slave maid serves by the old lady's side every day, how can she have the spare time to collect so many calligraphy and paintings? Besides, that thing is the preference of you elegant people, and the slave is a rough person, where do you know how to appreciate antique calligraphy and painting? ”

Xia Xue'er asked curiously, "Since you are not holding calligraphy and painting, what is it?" ”

Shuang'er put all the scrolls she was holding on the table, and said, "These are all portraits of the unmarried sons in the city who have good family backgrounds, morals, and good looks, and the old lady asked the slave maid to pick one for the third lady!" ”

After that, he also called Cuizhu and Dongmei to help, opened them one by one, and introduced them one by one.

"Haven't you seen it all at the previous birthday banquets? Why did you send a portrait, it looks like an emperor's draft! ”

"Huh! This is not the same as the young masters at the birthday banquet", Shuang'er stopped the introduction and explained to Xia Xue'er: "If any of the people in this painting can come to congratulate the third lady on your birthday, it must be the blessing of the three lives and the third generation!" ”

"Huh?" Xia Xue'er asked suspiciously, "Who are they?" ”

"Third Miss, you don't show any admiration for the many wealthy sons who came before the birthday banquet, the old lady thinks that you may not like the sons of prominent families, so this is the first time to find so many doors, but the portraits of sons with excellent character are to pick one for Miss!"

"Wait", Xia Xue'er hurriedly stretched out her hand and pressed the picture scroll opened by several people, looked at Shuang'er suspiciously, and asked: "Didn't grandma already agree to my marriage before, and I would make my own decisions, wouldn't they interfere and force it?" What do you mean by these portraits now? ”

Shuang'er smiled a little apologetically, and replied, "The old lady said, it was before, and now I can't help you, Miss!" ”

"Why?"

"The man should get married and the woman should get married, the third lady has passed the age of twenty-seven, time flies like a white horse, it is gone in the blink of an eye, and the marriage is better to plan early!"

Xia Xue'er suddenly remembered the conversation with Bai Yining earlier, and it seemed that she was already confident about this matter, otherwise she would not have made up her mind! Therefore, he ignored Frost's bunch of beautiful words, and asked bluntly, "Is that really the case?" ”

Shuang'er met Xia Xue'er's eyes, and knew in her heart that she was as smart as how she could easily believe her own set of statements, and this matter had already been spread, there were many things for the three of them to become tigers, and it was like ascending to the sky if they wanted to hide it!

She thought about it for a moment, then decided to tell the truth.

"Forgive the slave and the maid for talking too much, since that kind of thing has happened, the old lady can't be blamed for doing this. Besides, although the family background of these sons on the portrait is not as prominent as that of Xia Fu, they all have development prospects, as long as they have the support of the Xia family, they will be glorious in ten years, and the third lady will not feel despised by others after marrying, isn't it good? ”

"What's going on? You're going to kick me out of the house in such a hurry! ”

"Just the poisoning that night, the poison ......"

Shuang'er swallowed and spitted, meaning something, and after Xia Xue'er heard this, she completely understood Bai Yining's words, and also knew what the old lady meant.

Isn't it just to keep the good reputation of Xia Mansion for several lifetimes, and try every means to marry off her granddaughter, who has been inferior to poison? Thanks to her old man's thoughtfulness, she will not only not be gossiped about, but will make her in-laws have a grateful heart! Words of praise are everywhere.

It is said to help others shine on the lintel, but in fact, it is the icing on the cake for yourself!

Seeing that Xia Xue'er was silent, Shuang'er stepped forward, took Xia Xue'er's hands, and kindly persuaded her: "A woman doesn't have much to care about in her life, but this innocent reputation is the most important!" According to the old lady's arrangement, it can not only keep the chastity and temperance, but also make people grateful. Isn't it the right family or a wealthy family to marry, aren't they all the same husbands and children? Don't be stubborn, after something like this, can you still expect the old lady to let you choose your own husband? What else can you count on......"

"Say no more!"

Xia Xue'er interrupted Shuang'er's persuasive words.

In addition to the chill, it aroused the fighting spirit in her heart!

Xia Xue'er rolled up her sleeves three or two times, picked up the portraits that had been opened or still rolled on the table, turned around and walked to the brazier, and as soon as her hand was loosened, the portraits were instantly bitten through black holes by flames, and the tongue of fire suddenly rushed up, choking on black smoke.

Everyone in the room was deeply shocked by her fierce rebellion and resolute character, this portrait was not sent by ordinary people, it was a dignified old lady!

Xia Xue'er turned to look at Shuang'er, who was also in shock, and said: "Please go back and tell Old Madam Sù, although I was plotted against half a month ago, I didn't do anything with anyone, so my innocence is beyond doubt!" Besides, my Xia Xue'er's marriage can only be based on love, and I can't tolerate others' criticism, so I am destined to live up to her old man's kindness! ”

Shuang'er was a little overwhelmed when she heard this.

Although she knew that Xia Xue'er was already resentful as a victim of the poisoning incident, and she should be comforted at this time, instead of being indifferent and forced to marry, she had been with the old lady for many years and understood the old lady's temperament. Among the Xia Mansion, if you say that the most indifferent and ruthless person is this old lady who has been living for a long time!

Before coming to listen to Yuxuan, she had thought that Xia Xue'er would not marry an ordinary family willingly, but she never thought that she, a weak woman, would have the courage to resist the old lady and not show any fear!

As Xia Xue'er has always been a close friend, she can't watch her go to extinction!

"Third Miss, you are thinking about it, the slave knows your ......"

Xia Xue'er waved her hand to interrupt Shuang'er's words and said, "I have made up my mind, don't persuade me anymore!" ”

"This ......"

Shuang'er was very embarrassed, if she really told the old lady these words, Xia Xue'er would have to suffer a lot to give up, and the final result was still a hasty marriage, and the conditions were even worse than the current one!

Xia Xue'er seemed to see Shuang'er's embarrassment, gently touched her arm, and comforted: "Don't worry, I can take care of myself!" Just do it. ”

Shuang'er was a little worried in her heart, if she wanted to say who was not angry about this, but she Xia Xue'er was very calm, as if this thing didn't happen to her! I don't know if she didn't find the powerful relationship in it, or did she have the calmness of Tarzan who collapsed in front of her and didn't change her face?

Seeing Shuang'er walking out of Tingyuxuan with heavy steps, Xia Xue'er sneered in her heart. She can see clearly, in the huge Xia Mansion, what Aunt Bai and Xia Qiaoyun are all as good as an old lady.

Wealthy families, the world inside the deep-walled compound is a potential power chase.

The family has raised you, given you fine clothes and food, fame and respect, and you have to live for the family all your life, and the interests of the family are the main thing in current affairs, you are born for the family and die for the family.

In the eyes of the old lady, nothing is more important than the reputation and honor of the Xia Mansion, and for the honor of the family, she can sacrifice one and the most sacrificial people.

She can marry her own granddaughter who has always been in the palm of her hand to a stranger she doesn't know, and she can use her beloved granddaughter as a bargaining chip for a transaction, regardless of the affection of the past.

Just like the kings of history, in order to firmly hold the supreme imperial power in their own hands, they can kill their fathers, they can kill their brothers, and they can do all the dark and shameless things! There is no usurper who seeks power without a little smell of blood on his hands, in the face of power and **, the true feelings of father and son, and the true intentions of brothers, all of which are fleeting.

Strangeness after deep friendship, pain after seriousness, use after trust, indifference after gentleness.

Xia Xue'er came back to her senses, the smoke in the room was really smoking, she glanced at the burning portrait residues in the brazier, and ordered: "Dongmei, Qiuju, carry the brazier out, be sure to burn these portraits clean!" ”

Shuang'er also retired, and Cuizhu opened the window to smoke and asked in a solemn tone, "Miss, what should we do next?" ”

Xia Xue'er slid her fingers along the mouth of the cup, and said seemingly relaxedly: "We should eat, sleep, and the first task is to find the real murderer!" ”

"But today's matter, how can Miss pretend that nothing is wrong?"

Cuizhu's heart was full of doubts, what a powerful character the old lady was, but the young lady looked like she didn't care about herself.

Xia Xue'er was originally very apprehensive, but after Shuang'er left, her heart was surprisingly calm, as if she knew that this matter was like an arrow from the string, and there was no way out.

But she still couldn't help but sigh and replied, "You don't know how ruthless our old lady is!" Think about Xia Qiaoyun, since she entered the family temple, the old lady has not asked for half a sentence, life and death are fate. Anyway, that's her own granddaughter! ”

Cuizhu didn't take Xia Xue'er's words. She has been serving in Xia Mansion for more than a day or two, how could she not know who the old lady is? What's more, this matter has long been strange, looking at it, it is not only the old lady of Xia Mansion who is so ear-eared, but also almost all the prestige people of wealthy families.

Cold-blooded? To put it bluntly, it is just a means to protect the interests of the family. Benevolence, weakness, want to keep the family for a hundred years of glory and wealth and lead the family to prosperity, how is it possible?

Sighing helplessly, she said persuasively: "With the old lady's temperament, she will not give up!" Since you have openly disobeyed the old lady's order, Miss today, it is better for you to plan early! ”

Xia Xue'er gritted her teeth, "My arms can't twist my thighs, even so, I'm going to give it a try!" ”