The next day came Liu's birthday. Because this year is not a full life, the Jingyang Marquis Mansion has not done a big job, but just took advantage of the leisure time to follow the wishes of the old man to come to Fuwei Temple to chant and worship the Buddha.

Before the day of the recess in the court, Uncle Hou was on official business and could not be there in person, and as for Xie Ning's second uncle, he never appeared. Xie Ning deliberately got up early and went to the East Chamber to say goodbye, but when he entered Liu's room, he couldn't help but feel a little lonely.

After all, she had also participated in the birthday banquet of Mrs. Gu of the Prime Minister's Mansion before, and compared with the two, it was inevitable that there were some differences, but her grandmother had always been quiet, and this matter must have been arranged by her.

Xie Ning didn't think much about it, and saw that there was no one else next to Liu except Aunt Liang, so he glanced at Gu Sui and Mingshuang who were standing at the door, and motioned for the two to step forward.

Seeing this, Liu couldn't help but look at them twice, but he could only see that the two of them were holding an object in their hands, and they were waiting to be discerned, when Xie Ning's voice came from his ears - "Today is my grandmother's birthday, and Ning'er wishes you all the best and a long life." ”

Liu guessed her intentions, and there was not much surprise in his eyes, but he still said with a smile: "Okay, you girl, if you close the door in the future, you don't want to see your grandmother like this again." ”

When Xie Ning saw her laughing, he also smiled in agreement, and caught a glimpse of the two figures that had already walked to her side. She turned around and took the scripture in Gu Sui's hand first, and presented it to Liu in person, "This is a congratulatory gift prepared by Ning'er for her grandmother." ”

Liu took it, patted the back of Xie Ning's outstretched hand with satisfaction, and said with emotion: "Time flies, in a blink of an eye." Even you're that big. When she grows up, she will be a big girl, and she knows everything and etiquette, but it's a pity that in a few years, she will go to someone else's house......"

Xie Ning heard that she was making fun of the marriage between herself and Wei Qingyang, and she couldn't help but blush, and it was rare to show some of her daughter's coquettishness.

To say that Xie Ning was a straightforward person, and her cheeks were also very thick-skinned, she would not have been distracted by Liu's words, but she was just about to present the birthday gift that Wei Qingyang entrusted her to hand, for a while. I'm a little embarrassed. In order to avoid suspicion, he had to temporarily dismiss this idea and did not speak.

Seeing this, the smile on Liu's face became real. After exchanging a tacit look with Aunt Liang who was standing behind her. pointed at Mingshuang and said, "Ning'er." What is this maid holding in her hand? ”

Although Xie Ning couldn't guess whether Liu knew about this birthday gift for a while, she asked each other, but Xie Ning did not hide it. adjusted his expression slightly, and said as usual: "This is the birthday gift entrusted to you by the prince of the Wei family." ”

"Oh?" Although Liu didn't say much about Xie Ning's face, he glanced at Aunt Liang with interest, and the latter immediately understood, and even stepped forward to take the box that Mingshuang held in his arms and put it on a few cases next to Liu's hand.

"Wei Gongzi is really a knowledgeable person," Liu nodded slightly, and his eyes moved from the box to Xie Ning, and he praised without hesitation: "I set this family business for you at the beginning, and it was finally the right one." ”

Rao is Shaining is thick-skinned, and she can't stand Liu's jokes again and again, just as she was about to say goodbye, there was a sudden knock on the door - "dong dong dong", so that she had to swallow the words for the time being.

"Old lady, lady has come to greet you."

The little maid's voice came immediately, and knowing that it was Xiang's arrival, Xie Ning frowned without a trace, but he was secretly awake in his heart.

Judging from the sporadic conversations Jingyuan heard a few days ago, although Xiang Shi is now disdainful of her and doesn't care at all, in fact, he is still hostile to her, secretly insulting her, and even planning to frame her today. What Shainin saw and heard yesterday also confirmed this.

I had already been prepared to be cautious, so when Xie Ning saw Xiang, his face did not show any unnecessary emotions, but he just bowed his head politely and detachedly: "Uncle." ”

Usually in front of people, especially in front of Xie Ning's grandmother Liu and Hou's uncle Gao Daonian, the Xiang family has to do a little bit of it. Therefore, Rao is she had already regarded Xie Ning as a thorn in her eye at this time, but she still said quietly on her face: "Well, you came early today." ”

Although Xiang concealed it well, Xie Ning still recognized a little surprise from the flashing emotion in her eyes, and her heart moved at the moment, not only did she immediately dispel the idea of leaving, but she made up her mind that she must rely on Liu's side today.

Although she knew that the Xiang family had a plan, Xie Ning did not know what the other party wanted, in addition to trying her best to contradict Xiang's intentions, she also had to avoid being alone or staying in the same place with Xiang. And staying with his grandmother Liu is obviously Xie Ning's best choice at this time.

First, the Liu family has always been concerned about her, knowing that she doesn't like to contact Gu Qingyun now, and is willing to help her avoid the other party. Second, today is Liu's birthday, and she is by the other party's side, which can not only liven up the atmosphere, but also not make people suspicious. If the Xiang family really has any plans, seeing that she and the Liu family are inseparable from each other, I am afraid there is nothing to be done.

Xie Ning thought about this, his mind became more and more stable, and his eyes turned, and then he had the heart to look at Xiang's outfit today.

Perhaps to celebrate Liu's birthday, she used a lot of thought in her dress today, although she was in a Buddhist temple, without gold ornaments and red hairpins, but it looked more pleasing to the eye than before, calm and festive.

Shi Qing carved silk floor-length skirt, covered with dark red auspicious cloud pattern gown, behind only a little girl with a raw face, and in her hand, she was also holding a thing.

Liu didn't say anything, so Xiang stepped forward, nodded his head, and said very respectfully: "Mother, today is your birthday." Now that we are in the temple, we can't scribble, we should always make a look. I have sent someone to inform the master in the temple, and at noon I will ask them to clean up a vegetarian meal, and then we will have a lively time together behind the Qinglian Palace, what do you think? ”

"It's up to you." Liu Shi glanced at her, but his tone was only light, quite a bit of a taste of interest.

When people are older, they naturally don't want to have any birthdays. Xiang was not discouraged by this, glanced at Xie Ning without a trace, and continued to say to Liu: "Although Master Hou can't come in person. Yesterday, I also ordered someone to bring a letter, instructing me to take care of this matter, and also took Ji Yang and Ji Song over. The fourth lady of the Liu family, the fifth son, and Xiang Ming will also come over. ”

"Yang'er and Song'er are coming over too?" When Liu heard this, he couldn't help but be overjoyed.

Gao Jiyang is also the sister-in-law of Hou's uncle, but he is younger than Gao Jibai, and the two brothers are studying in the academy, Xie Ning has come to the Hou Mansion since he has not seen each other. For this cousin, who is a few years younger than Gao Yiyan, it can be said that he only heard his name and did not see him.

As for Gao Jisong. is the concubine of the second room. He was not yet six years old, and Shainin had only seen him from afar a few times on certain occasions.

These two people can barely be regarded as Xie Ning's match, but as for the fourth young lady, fifth prince and others mentioned by the Xiang family, she doesn't know at all.

But just listen to the last name. These three people seem to be the descendants of her maternal grandmothers, Liu and Xiang. Liu's birthday. There was no intention of doing a big job. Presumably, if you can come to congratulate you in person, it should also be a good thing for the whole family.

Xie Ning knew this, so he didn't say anything to ask. Instead, he stood quietly in Liu's room.

"You two sit down too." Liu smiled slightly, and said to himself, but his eyes looked at Xiang who had no intention of leaving.

This gaze is very sharp, and Xiang has a ghost in his heart, so he will inevitably be a little uncomfortable. On the other hand, on Xie Ning's face, he was full of light, avoiding it with his hands and standing behind Xiang.

The two sat down one after another, but there was silence in the room, Xiang couldn't help but glance at Xie Ning, and said in a slightly stiff tone: "I have something to say to your grandmother." There is no need to preach today, Ning'er, you might as well go outside and find your cousins. ”

Xie Ning sneered in his heart, but he said with a normal look on his face: "What my aunt said is true." Having said that, she did not rush to leave her seat, but looked at Liu with inquiring eyes.

Liu Shi smiled on his face, nodded at her almost invisibly, and then turned to Xiang Shi and said, "Ning'er is also a big girl." There are some things, if they are harmless, there is no need to hide them from her. ”

Xiang's brows furrowed, but he hesitated: "My daughter-in-law wants to talk to you about the birthday ceremony." After all, Yao'er and Yan'er grew up watching you grow up, so you have been prepared for a long time. As for Ning'er, she's just a junior, and she doesn't have a lot of money......"

At this point, she suddenly covered it up, quite a bit of a desire to cover it up. But the spearhead in the words was directed at Shainin.

Xie Ning didn't expect her to mention this, and when she looked at Xiang's eyes, she couldn't help but have a touch of meaning. In fact, she can guess the intention of the other party's words, but she just thinks that she doesn't have a birthday gift that she can give away.

I don't know that she has already passed the anger with Aunt Liang, and she doesn't know how much silver the Buddhist scriptures written by Master Jingshan can be worth, but just by virtue of her grandmother's love for Buddhism, Xie Ning's birthday gift can be regarded as a favorite.

Xie Ning curled the corners of his mouth proudly, and did not hide his pleasure at this time. Seeing that she had no intention of embarrassment, Xiang's eyes became even more contemptuous, and after looking in the room, he landed on the lacquer box on several cases, his eyes flashed, and he changed to another look, and said to Xie Ning with a pleasant face: "Ning'er got up so early today, could it be that she came to give a congratulatory gift to the old lady?" ”

She clearly asked knowingly, although Xie Ning had seen through it, she did not pierce it, but followed the other party's words and said, "Yes." ”

Xiang smiled slightly, nodded naturally, and then casually fell his gaze on the lacquer box, as if he had seen this thing for the first time, and raised his hand in surprise and said, "Could this be it?" I don't know what Ning'er sent, can you make my aunt take a look? ”

Xie Ning subconsciously glanced at Liu, and seeing that she didn't make a sound, he bowed his head slightly and watched the other party get up and step forward.

"What Ning'er sent, my mother can see?" Xiang still thought that Xie Ning was not ugly enough, and before he opened the lacquer box, he looked at Liu first.

Liu's eyes flashed, but there was a smile in his eyes, obviously happy to see Xiang's begging for hardship, so he nodded and said: "It's not true, you open it, it just so happens that I want to see it too." ”

Xiang didn't want her to respond like this, as if he sensed something wrong, his expression was stunned for a while, and his outstretched hand was also hanging in the air, a little funny.

Where could Xie Ning tell her to end so easily, as soon as his eyes turned, he pretended to urge seriously: "Didn't my aunt say that she wanted to see it?" How did it stop? ”

Xiang's face froze, and he turned his head, but when he saw Xie Ning's face with a smile on his face, he became more and more suspicious. But for a while, she couldn't tell whether she was colluding with the Liu family, so she was suspicious, or if she was really something, and wanted to see her make a fool of herself.

Xiang secretly hesitated, and his eyes subconsciously cast his eyes on Xie Ning, but seeing that she was only wearing a half-worn light blue skirt today, except for a plain silver plum hairpin on her head, there was no embellishment at all, and her heart became more and more contemptuous, and the corners of her mouth hooked: "Since Ning'er has this intention, then my aunt is disrespectful." ”

As soon as the words fell, she turned around and opened the lacquer box neatly. When the blood-red coral treasure tree jumped into view, the bright smile that originally hung on her face disappeared in an instant.

Liu glanced at her lightly, and said with a smile: "This birthday gift is a good choice, and it takes a lot of thought to see it." ”

"Heh......", Xiang's expression froze, and it took a while before he came back to his senses, turned his head to look at Xie Ning, and asked out in disbelief: "This thing is extraordinary, how did you get it?" ”

Hearing the spying meaning in her voice, Xie Ning couldn't help but raise his eyebrows, and the corners of his mouth curled slightly: "Uncle misunderstood, this thing was not given to my grandmother." ”

"What do I say......" Xiang muttered almost inaudibly, and finally breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, and then looked at Liu, and said with doubts in his eyes: "Mother, I don't know who wrote such a valuable thing?" ”

The smile on Liu's face did not decrease, but his gaze crossed her and fell on Xie Ning. Xiang's heart jumped, and he heard the other party say slowly: "This is a birthday gift sent by the prince of the Wei family on behalf of the Duke of Wei. ”

Wei Qingyang......

Xiang's mood became complicated in an instant. After all, in her eyes, the other party should be the future husband of her eldest daughter, and it has nothing to do with Shaining, a wild girl.

"It turned out to be a gift from Gongzi Wei," the cold color in Xiang's eyes only flashed, but when he saw her looking at Xie Ning, he complained in a complaining tone: "You kid, you can't speak clearly." I thought you bought it yourself and gave it to your grandmother. But I didn't want to be so intentional as Wei Gongzi, so I almost misunderstood. ”

Shainin smiled silently.

Seeing this, Xiang's eyes flashed, and then he said again: "But it's not my aunt's fault. After all, you just admitted the birthday gift in person, and I mistook the thing that Wei Gongzi gave you for yours. I just don't know, where is the birthday gift you prepared for the old lady? Could it be that the birthday gift prepared by Wei Gongzi was too good to take it out, right? (To be continued.) )

PS: Slap in the face ~ hum