Chapter 30: The Fragrance Dew with the Secret Ingredients
The fifth year of Qiande, the twenty-third day of May.
Su Mansion has been busy every day in the past half a month, and it can be regarded as arranging all the furnishings and utensils before Lord Sima's inspection, and waiting for the car of Lord Sima, the Shaofu Supervisor.
To the morning of the twenty-fourth day, the Su family house tent dancing dragon, curtain flying embroidered phoenix, gold and silver glow, Ding burning the fragrance of Jialan, bottle inserted Changchun stamen, quietly no one coughed, Su Lao Su Rong led a family of about 100 people and servants gathered outside the main gate of the Su family, the streets and alleys, all splashed with clean water, cleaned neatly.
When it was close to noon, everyone was waiting impatiently, and suddenly saw a scout coming on horseback, Su Rong stepped forward and continued, and the man said: "Master Su has been waiting for a long time, Master Sima is here." ”
Su Rong listened, politely took the scout down, and then redressed his clothes and led the people of the He clan to wait outside the door.
After a while, I suddenly saw two teams of honor guards coming first, and the sound of gongs and opening the way could be faintly heard. A pair of signs with silence and avoidance written on them were held high, with a black fan in front and a yellow umbrella in the back, and in the middle was slowly following a four-person tin top green tweed official sedan chair.
The Su family hurriedly knelt down, and at this time, an attendant came over, helped Master Su and others, and carried the official sedan chair into front of the gate, and some attendants knelt down to ask the adults to get off the sedan chair. The sedan curtain opened lightly, and I saw a plump and oily adult walking out.
"Brother Su, it's been a long time." Master Sima arched his hand towards Gu Qi, but the smile on his face did not reach the bottom of his eyes.
"Lord Sima is polite, my lord can come to the Su family to inspect in his busy schedule, which is already a flourishing for my Su family." Master Su also smiled in return, and the two of them were both kind and calm.
The two exchanged a few words at the door, and Rong Su welcomed Master Sima into the door, and the men of the Su family followed. I saw the smoke in the courtyard garden, the flowers and shadows were colorful, the small bridge was flowing water, and it was very exquisite, showing the hospitality and respect of the Su family.
Su Rong introduced Master Sima into the main hall, and as soon as he sat down, there was a fair maid offering soup and tea. Master Sima cleaned his hands and drank the fragrant Yunding Mist Tea, and his complexion softened a little.
"Brother Su, you have a good life this little time, carving beams and paintings, soft words and warm fragrance are really envious of me."
Hearing this, Su Rong's eyebrows moved, put down the tea bowl that had not yet been eaten, and replied cautiously: "My lord has a good reputation, and I am waiting for the Shangjia family to entrust your Hongfu to your lord, so that this family can have something to eat." ”
"Merchants have their own benefits. Everyone in the world says that the farmers and the businessmen are the last, but in any era, there are rich and rival countries, unlike us whose words and deeds are bound by the law, and they are not as free as Brother Su. On the surface, Lord Sima's words seem to be quite envious of the Shangjia family, but there are also some shocking elements in these words.
Since ancient times, Yungong has been a high master, sometimes too rich will also attract the envy of others, the Su family has been handling salt transportation for generations, although it is not said that the rich can rival the country, but after so many generations of accumulation, there is a wealth that others cannot envy.
But today, Lord Sima's words seem to have some meaning.
Su Rong didn't dare to be ambiguous, and he knew that this was Lord Sima's words, so he just laughed beside him, and talked about him left and right.
After saying these words in such a frightened state for half an hour, Su Rong was already a little sweaty, and Su Baiyan, the son of the Su family who was guarding the side, also noticed it, so he leaned forward and saluted Lord Sima and his father, and said:
"My lord, father, the meals are all prepared in Wangchun Pavilion, do you want to move there?"
Master Sima raised his eyes and glanced at the well-behaved and dignified young man in front of him, and asked with some surprise: "Brother Su, is this the eldest prince of your mansion?" ”
"Exactly, the dog is not talented, I am fortunate to see the noble face of the adult today, and I am not happy to meet the adult." Master Su's face was stern, but there was a rare pride in his tone.
Su Baiyan stepped forward to formally salute again, and Lord Sima looked at him carefully, only to see that the eldest son of the Su family was wearing a jade crown with bundled hair, wearing a royal blue dark purple cloud pattern brocade robe, surrounded by a pearl and jade belt, he was really a good man who was as warm as jade and had a gorgeous temperament.
Master Sima said with a smile: "The name is well deserved, it is really like the cypress of the hanging rock, proudly independent, but I don't know if the eldest son of Su can have a marriage match?" ”
Su Baiyan didn't wait for his father to reply, so he interjected: "The kid is not talented, he has a pair of skins, but his mind is dull, he doesn't dare to focus on the book of sages, and he can't serve His Majesty in person, he has never contributed to the country and the family, so how can he think about the marriage." ”
"So the son hasn't been married yet?"
"It's not that there is nothing, it's really a boy Pi Lai, why bother delaying other people's girls."
Under Lord Sima's scorching gaze, Su Baiyan didn't know the meaning behind that gaze, if he nodded and agreed at this time, I am afraid that he would soon have an extra room of unsmiling official ladies.
If this was in the past, maybe he would have agreed to it if he was hot-headed, but since he got married to those people in Liuxiangju, he would have a refreshing figure in his mind from time to time.
As soon as Master Sima mentioned it, he repeatedly emphasized his stupidity and ignorance, just to dispel the terrible thoughts.
Seeing that Su Baiyan insisted on this, Master Sima had no choice but to stop speaking, got up and walked with Su Rong to Wangchun Pavilion.
It's just that before leaving, Master Su passed by Su Baiyan and glared at him meaningfully.
……
On the side of Wangchun Pavilion, Gu Qi led the people in the Su Mansion, and they were already ready to stop, just waiting for them to come over.
At that time, the little maid who heard the news from the Su Mansion came up and said that Master Su and Master Sima would arrive soon, and Gu Qi also shouted at a group of people in the kitchen to start preparing cloth dishes.
"Lord Sima, please take a seat."
Master Su led the adult to the upper position, and he and Su Baiyan sat on the left and right, and the accompanying personal attendants also sat down at the end of the seat.
After you have arranged, Su Baiyan said: "Everyone, this time Su Fu invited the head chef of Liuxiangju in this town to add dishes for everyone, this Liuxiangju has always been famous for private banquets, the dishes they make are novel and unique, the taste is excellent, you can taste it for a while." ”
"Private feast? I have never heard of this, the old man has not had a good appetite recently, this time he has been stained with the light of an old friend, and he can try it, I hope that Brother Su will not let him down. With that, the corners of Lord Sima's mouth slightly hooked up and looked at the position of Su Rong in his right hand.
"Yes, I will live up to my lordship." Old Man Su forcibly endured the unclear gaze cast from above, and turned his hand and instructed the next person: "Come on, set the meal." ”
The servant of the messenger hurriedly went down, and after a while, Gu Qi, who was dressed in a green dress and a white flowing veil around her waist, delicately like a plate of shallots mixed with tofu, walked up, and she was also holding a red carved lacquer plate with several small bowls on it.
"Ladies and gentlemen, Master Su and Master Su are good." Gu Qi saluted everyone in turn, and presented the small bowl in front of Lord Sima and everyone.
"Adults, before eating, please taste the gel of the little girl's character."
Master Sima frowned and glanced at the two of the Su family, and seeing that they didn't have any superfluous expressions, he drank them spoonfuls after being tested by his personal attendant Silver Needle.
But after only a few sips, Master Sima put down the bowl and looked at the woman in the audience with an expressionless face, and several people next to him also put their bowls and spoons aside, holding their breath nervously:
"The official asked you, what did you put in this girl, and answered truthfully!"
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