He had already explained that someone was responsible for safety, and when he entered the door, he paid attention to it inside and out, and he was not heavily guarded, and everything was in order.

Ma Xingjian said: "The young grandmother specially instructed to replace the bright post with a dark post. It's all ordinary children, don't have fun yet, be scared first. ”

Tao Xiang snorted.

It's really like what she said and what she did.

"Lu Qi is here?" He asked, as he walked away.

Ma Xingjian said: "No. ”

Tao Xiang glanced at him.

"I'll rush right away." Ma Xingjian saw that he was displeased, and hurriedly said.

"No need. I'll wait for him. Tao Xiao said, go back to the room to change clothes first.

Ma Xingjian followed in and collected his things for him.

Today was the hottest day since the beginning of summer, and he had been at the headquarters all day, and his uniform was still soaking wet.

There were two sets of prepared clothes in the room, and he looked at them, one was a formal dress and the other was a military uniform, and on the table next to it, there were white silk gloves and a mask.

The mask is exquisitely made. Black velveteen cloth with peacock feathers sewn on top. It's butterflies, and it's very soft. He picked it up and looked at it, then put it back on the table.

"Young Master Lu is a little anxious. I feel that you are soft-handed and unwilling to do anything, I am afraid that you do not have the heart to avenge Chief of Staff Lu. Ma Xingjian saw Tao Xiang's brows frowning and whispered.

Tao Xiang washed his hands slowly.

Ma Xingjian continued: "There was a gathering in Pu Lao's house in Donglin Lane the night before. Lu Shao went and met a lot of people. Some are for him, others are not...... Still disapprove of much. Pu Lao didn't say anything. But today there is news that Nanjing intends to make him the chairman of this province. Pu Lao immediately refused. ”

Tao Xiang wiped the water droplets on his hands and asked, "Reason?" ”

"Old." Ma Xingjian replied.

Tao Xiang folded the towels neatly in one place, threw them casually, and hung them on the towel rack accurately. He turned around and sat on the chair next to him and said, "Pass my word and prepare what Lu Shao likes to eat...... The two bottles of wine are ready. ”

"That night......" Ma Xingjian wanted to remind Tao Xiang that there was a dance party tonight.

Tao Xiang shook his neck, glanced at the evening dress that was placed aside, and said, "You go." I didn't know Lu Shao the first day, so I don't need you to be there. ”

He looked at Ma Xingjian. This meticulous subordinate, compared to Attu, came to him late, but he was smart and calm, and he was more and more effective.

"Gao Ying, have they all passed?" Tao Xiang picked up the tea bowl and wanted to take a sip of hot tea. It's hot, and the tea is still a little hot. He scraped it lightly twice.

"Yes. It's all gone. Ma Xingjian said.

"You go too." Tao Xiang took a sip of tea. frowned, "What's the matter with this tea?" ”

Ma Xingjian shook his head. The servant who brought the tea had already withdrawn, and he asked, "Is it not good?" ”

Tao Xiang frowned and said, "Okay." ”

Good is good, but it's not something he often drinks.

He looked at the tea bowl again, he was only thirsty just now, and he didn't pay attention to it, and it was really not the white maple dew that he often drank...... He pondered for a moment and raised his eyes to look at Ma Xingjian.

Ma Xingjian said: "Atul, they are not here, Qishao, you still have to leave someone by your side." ”

Tao Xiang looked at him again and asked, "I can't be mistaken, among these people, you are the oldest." Usually follow me, but I don't have a chance to meet the right person. Miss Eight's classmates are all good. ”

"I'm not going, Qishao. You see, I'm a lot older than them. Ma Xingjian actually smiled.

Tao Xiang looked at him, nodded, and said, "But you can't wait blindly like this, maybe you will miss it." ”

Ma Xingjian shook his head.

As a boss and subordinate, this is the first time they have said such a homely thing, Ma Xingjian felt uncomfortable at first, Tao Xiang has never been a person who can notice these little things. But Tao Xiang said it unmistakably, which sounded a little strange to him.

"Qishao, I'll go out first." Ma Xingjian said.

Tao Xiang understood that he wanted to slip away, and he didn't force him anymore.

Ma Xingjian hadn't gone out yet, and Steward Cong came in. It turned out that Mrs. Tao and Mrs. Tao had arrived. Tao Xiang said that he knew, and asked him to go back first, and said that he had something to do, and he would not go over until later.

"Yes, young master." Cong Dongsheng said with a huff.

"In addition, bring a message to the young grandmother, just say what I said, let her bother and take care of the old ladies." Tao Xiang added.

"Yes." As soon as Steward Cong turned around, he said to Ma Xingjian: "Adjutant Ma, Seventh Young Grandma has a special explanation, saying that she didn't see Adjutant Ma over, let me see you and ask when you will arrive." The young grandmother said that since she is counted as Adjutant Ma, Adjutant Ma is not there, but someone has to sit on the cold bench. ”

Steward Cong smiled as he spoke, and Ma Xingjian's face was a little embarrassed. He looked at Tao Xiang.

Tao Xiang was still sitting and drinking tea, and said, "I just said that he didn't go." I don't know what is awkward? I used to be out with me, and I never saw any scenes? All coped well. ”

"Adjutant Ma, don't blame Lao Cong for talking too much--you see that you're a man of thirty. Presumably you think Miss Eight's classmates are young and inappropriate. But at the same age as you, there are five or six babies in the family, right? Steward Cong tied his hands and said with a straight face.

Ma Xingjian was not a person who twisted, but he was a little hesitant. was repeatedly said by Tao Xiang and Steward Cong, but they couldn't bear it, so they had to say: "I'll go to ...... later"

"Go now. I don't need you to serve me. Some are people. Tao Xiang gave the order.

Ma Xingjian had no choice but to leave.

Cong Dongsheng was not in a hurry to leave, and calmly talked to Tao Xiang about some things in the past two days. Tao Xiang just listened, and most of them didn't reply. Cong Dongsheng knows his temper, which is what he means by being quite satisfied with what he does.

"Young master, the eldest young master and the eldest young grandmother are also here." Cong Dongsheng replied.

Tao Xiang nodded. I didn't expect Tao Jun and his wife to come.

Cong Dongsheng saw Tao Xiang staring at the tea bowl in his hand, suddenly remembered, and said: "I forgot to reply to the young master, this tea was brought by the young grandmother yesterday and asked the young master to change it, saying that although the white maple dew is good, don't make white maple dew for the young master for a while." The young master has been working hard for a while, and Bai Fenglu is too cold, so it is better to change to ordinary tea. This tea young grandmother said that she brought it back from Nanjing. ”

"Hmm." Tao Xiang nodded.

"What the young grandmother specially advised, that is, it is not in line with the young master's taste, you should also taste it a few more times, so as not to wipe the face of the young grandmother." Cong Dongsheng said respectfully.

Tao Xiang glanced at him.

It was difficult for Steward Cong to say a few words. At the beginning, he chose people to serve here, and he didn't say much. I saw that Steward Cong replied to his words at this time, and his attitude was not only respectful, but also a little more and more respectful...... Tao Xiang's eyebrows moved.

"It's good to leave two people here. You can go too. Lu Shao and I eat, we don't need too many people here, and don't let people disturb us. Tao Xiang confessed.

Cong Dongsheng was ordered to go out, leaving Tao Xiang to stay in the room by himself.

The sky has gradually darkened, and this bowl of unknown tea still has residual warmth.

This place was far away from the back garden, and he didn't know if the dance party hadn't started, or if the music couldn't be heard at all, except for the chirping of summer insects......

In the water pavilion in the back garden, Mrs. Tao stroked the sleeve monkey on her lap, held a small binocular, and looked at the fragrant sideburns in the flower hall in the distance - they were all girls of the right age, all of them were about the same age as her granddaughter Er Yi, although they were not all flowers, but they were all well-behaved, and they had the unique lively appearance of girls of that age...... Mrs. Tao said with a smile: "It's really like a specially chosen, why are they all so good-looking?" ”

"Isn't that just the one that was specially chosen? I heard that Jingyi had been considering the list for a long time before deciding on the roster. That's the elite of the elite around Brother Xiang. The girl grabbed one with her eyes closed, and it was all good. Tao Inze smoked a cigarette and squinted his eyes.

Tao Yinze didn't beat around the bush when he spoke, and Jin Xuan, who listened, pursed his lips and smiled.

"Oh?" Old Madam Tao asked with a smile.

"In my opinion, tonight, those who come with their fiancés may not be hooked away." Tao Inze said and laughed. It's a bit of a naughty prank. She saw Mrs. Tao sitting silently, so she said, "Look at Brother Xiang's daughter-in-law, is it okay?" ”

"Jingyi has always been meticulous." Mrs. Tao accompanied the old ladies to enjoy the cool and watch the excitement, and seeing that the old ladies were very satisfied, she smiled and said. "I just don't know, what are the children doing? Wouldn't it be better not to wear that black mask? ”

Tao Inze smiled: "Without that mask, can the third and fourth sisters pretend to be female students to dance?" I think the two of them want to cover all their faces, but half of them is not enough. ”

Old Madam Tao also smiled: "Let them go too...... Er Yi said that someone had been arranged to dance with the two of them tonight. But in my opinion, they are afraid that they will come back tired after a while. What about the seventh? Jingyi hasn't dragged the seventh child here yet? ”

Mrs. Tao looked outside and saw Cong Dongsheng coming, so she called him over and asked, "Hasn't the Seventh Young Master come back yet?" Is it going to be too late? ”

"I haven't said anything yet, so you're afraid that I'll blame you, so I'll do it for him first?" Old Madam Tao heard the meaning of Hu's words and said bluntly.

"You, a mother, cherish Brother Xiang, it's all here." Tao Inze said with a slight smile.

Mrs. Tao hurriedly said: "I seem to have heard the master say that Lao Qi has something important to deal with today." ”

Old Madam Tao smiled and motioned to Cong Dongsheng.

Cong Dongsheng hurriedly said: "The Seventh Young Master has already returned, but there is something else important. Let me talk back, he'll have to come later. ”

Mrs. Tao didn't say anything, waved her hand to let Cong Dong go down, stroked the sleeve monkey, and said, "Old Seven, it's the same as his father...... What about Jingyi? I haven't seen her for a long time? ”

"What are you looking for her to do? Tonight she is always in tune, there is no shortage of her, let's enjoy ours - where is this Western music good? I just listened like a tug-of-war. It's not as good as the huqin! Tao Inze frowned, and also picked up the binoculars to take a look. The girls and teenagers who danced to the music made her even more unaccustomed to it, "Tsk, just hug it in one place...... Not! Unorthodox! We'll have to go over and watch them ......."

Her tone was exaggerated, and she was about to stand up as she spoke.

Old Madam Tao smiled angrily, pressed her shoulder, and said, "It's strange that today's young people are not happy to sit with us old antiques." Do you still think that when Jun'er came back from Europe that year, the first time he held a ball at home, you didn't approve of it? ”

"It me off at that time! Who knew that when he went out to study, he learned this goblin fight-like thing before anyone else could see it? Tao Inze frowned, "Sister-in-law, I'm not wrong." From ancient times to the present, this dance and music have always been playthings that are demoralized...... Brother Jun, Ah Si, and Lao Qi, they were all very fascinated by dancing at that time. What happened? But what did I say? ”

"Later......" Old Madam Tao took the binoculars and looked into the distance from the lens - Jingyi came out of the flower hall in a hurry, just like a general patrolling the territory, inspecting the territory under her jurisdiction. Jingyi wore a white Western evening dress tonight, and the plain color made her more beautiful and light, and she was more conspicuous among a group of colorful female students. It's just that she deliberately dressed up simply tonight and didn't steal the limelight from these female students...... Mrs. Tao smiled and said, "Auntie, you and I have always agreed on major matters in the past few decades. ”

Tao Inze pursed his lips, snorted and inhaled the hookah, and said, "Brother Jun and his daughter-in-law are also here, which is rare." ”

The telescope in Mrs. Tao's hand slowly shifted its direction with the movement of Jingyi's figure in the distance, and said, "You should also come out and walk around, otherwise they won't be suffocated, and the unicorn should be suffocated......"

Tao Yinze snorted out of his nose, and the smoke was spewing far away.

Old Madam Tao whispered, "Hey, that offspring is...... Want to invite Jingyi to dance? ”

Listening to her, everyone in the Water Pavilion, no matter what they were doing, turned their heads to look at the pair of men and women standing by the lotus pond on the other bank - the woman was none other than Cheng Jingyi, the seventh young grandmother, although the man's figure was not very tall, but the exquisite tuxedo and his outstanding temperament made it difficult for him not to be noticed - even if he stood next to Cheng Jingyi, who was extremely good, he did not mean to be suppressed......

Jingyi originally wanted to come out and be alone and quiet.

The prom went off without a hitch, and so far, everything has been perfect...... For the time being, she could take her eyes off the flower-like schoolgirls in the flower hall and look at the real flowers in the lotus pond. She took a glass of orange water, and as soon as she took a sip, someone asked her, "Mrs. Tao, can you please do a dance?" ”