The front hall of the Shen Mansion.

Full of guests.

The ceremonial music stopped, the banquet began, and an ink-colored figure stepped through the door, the pace was fast and steady.

The porter was about to ask him for an invitation, and after seeing his face clearly, he hurriedly bowed and saluted: "I've seen the eldest son!" ”

Shen Tingxun's expression was cold, and he walked straight inside, without looking at him.

The little guy looked at his tall and majestic figure timidly, and secretly wiped a cold sweat.

I haven't seen it for a few months, and the coercion on the eldest prince's body seems to be more powerful......

Shen Tingxun walked all the way, his ink-colored clothes flying, revealing the white-bottomed beast-patterned official boots under his feet.

The boots were stained with mottled mud and a little bit of blood on closer inspection.

When the guests saw him, almost half of them stood up to salute him.

The man didn't squint, he didn't stop until he walked to the main seat, knelt on one knee, and said in a low and dignified voice: "Grandmother's birthday is coming, grandchildren congratulate grandmother on the same life of rivers and mountains, and the pines and cypresses are evergreen!" ”

Old Mrs. Jiang was wearing a dark red and gold-embroidered crane flying satin jacket, her eyebrows were full of joy, and before she could speak, Shen Yi, the old man in the second room who was sitting at the bottom of the house, frowned and said, "You rebel, you still know to come back!" Do you dare to be late for this kind of occasion, and you don't even know how to change a festive outfit?! ”

Shen Tingxun's back straightened, and he said neither humbly nor arrogantly: "Father misunderstood, it was the Metropolitan Procuratorate that had an urgent case, which delayed the hour." ”

Shen Yi got angry when he saw this son, and scolded: "Shut up! But after a few years as an envoy, do you still have my father in your eyes? But there is still the Shen family?! ”

The lively atmosphere gradually condensed, and the guests held their breath, but no one dared to make a sound.

What is the identity of the eldest son of the Shen family? At a young age, he served as the procurator of Lin'an City, and he was resolute and selfless, and even the Lord Zhizhou had to give three points of courtesy when he saw it!

After a good birthday banquet, seeing that something was getting more and more wrong, Mrs. Jiang's face changed.

The Shen family has such an outstanding grandson, she has always been proud, who knew that she hadn't spoken to her grandson yet, and the second son who had nothing to do all day long was so speechless!

It's really annoying!

Compared with the reckless Shen Yi, Shen Teng can be said to be very good at observing words and feelings, and immediately opened his mouth to play a round: "Ting Xun, what are you still doing on your knees?" Sit down next to your grandmother and talk to her. ”

"Yes, uncle."

Shen Tingxun sat down as he said, leaving only half of Leng Yi's side face to Shen Yi.

The women's table is located in the flower hall, which communicates with the front hall and is separated by a nine-foot-wide cedar koi glass screen.

Although Mrs. Guo was grounded, as the head of the Shen Mansion, she still had to attend and preside over such an important day.

Today, she deliberately dressed up, with high temples and dazzling hairpins, and she was rich and magnificent.

Chen Yuwei sat under her, with low eyebrows, slender and elegant, with the gentle beauty of a Jiangnan woman.

This daughter-in-law has been married into the Shen family for more than three years, and after giving birth to a daughter, her stomach has not moved.

Mrs. Guo has always been mindful of this matter, and has repeatedly hinted that she has taken a concubine for Shen Tingyan, and she has done a good job in other aspects, but in this matter, she has always pretended to be deaf and dumb.

She glanced at Chen Yuwei lightly, and looked at a young girl in the banquet with a smile, "This is the daughter of the Zhang family, right?" I haven't seen it for a few years, but it's become more and more beautiful. ”

The girl was a little flattered, and said abruptly: "The little girl Zhang Yanran, I don't dare to get the praise of the eldest lady......"

"You kid, what are you being polite to me? I'm just glad at you and want to get close. ”

Mrs. Guo smiled kindly and kindly, and almost went up to take her hand.

Chen Yuwei's face was slightly stiff, her eyelashes were lowered, and her eyes were indifferent.

Ling Heng Courtyard, small library.

The young man in Tsing Yi sat crookedly in front of the bookcase, with a little girl in his arms.

"It's not right, it's too rigid, and here, why is it a chrysanthemum? Is there any misunderstanding about chrysanthemums? ”

Shen Changfeng held his cheeks, and his slender fingers dotted randomly on the rice paper.

Xie Jinci's face was full of helplessness, "Little brother, I only drew three strokes!" ”

"When I teach you how to draw, I'm naturally in charge."

The young man held her little hand and drew with her, "See?" If you paint like me, you won't look like a chrysanthemum. ”

Xie Jinci was still looking forward to it, but looking at the crooked lines that appeared on the rice paper one after another, she frowned, broke free of the young man's hand, and said angrily: "Little brother, you did it on purpose!" ”

Shen Changfeng sighed lightly, "I taught with good intentions, but my sister still doesn't appreciate it, tsk, it's really sad." ”

Xie Jinci didn't believe his nonsense!

It's not like she hasn't seen her little brother's paintings, just now he was clearly painting blindly!

The little girl puffed out her cheeks, "Although my first drawing was only sold for three dollars, but the little brother doesn't have to tease me like this, if you don't want to teach, I can practice by myself, even if I don't have talent, but I believe that diligence can make up for it!" ”

"It's a good diligence to make up for it, and I was almost moved to say it."

Shen Changfeng's peach blossom eyes curled, and he nodded his finger casually, "It's almost time." ”

"What?" Xie Jin was puzzled.

The young man poked her bud, snatched the pen from her hand, and led her downstairs, Qingyue's voice was a little happy, inexplicably moving:

"I don't eat and drink because I don't want to participate in that kind of smoky occasion. The banquet can be missed, but the good show cannot be missed, and my sister has always wanted to know, what did I do? Don't worry, I'll show you ......."

……

Vestibule.

Towards the end of the birthday banquet, Mrs. Jiang and the ladies had a very happy conversation.

I don't know who started it, the topic shifted to the birthday ceremony, everyone you say a word, quite a bit of comparison.

Shen Lingxi, who was sitting at the old lady's knee, gently tugged at her sleeve and said thoughtfully: "Grandmother is tired?" Do you want to accompany you back to the hospital to rest? ”

A girl in the prime of her life, she looks upright and delicate, and her demeanor reveals a good upbringing.

She had been with her grandmother since she was a child, and she knew that she didn't like to hear people talk about such worldly things.

Old Lady Jiang held the girl's hand, shook her head with a warm smile, "It's been a long time since it's been so lively, and it's okay to listen to something new once in a while." ”

Suddenly, a female voice overpowered everyone's voices: "We have said so much, but we don't know what gift Mrs. Guo has given!" ”

"Mrs. Guo is talented, and the congratulatory gifts she wants to give are unique!"

"Yes, Mrs. Guo, don't sell it! Hurry up and say it to open your eyes! ”

Mrs. Guo covered her lips and smiled, "You guys are used to tormenting me!" Mother's 60th birthday, I attach great importance to it, I can't think of a good idea next to it, pondering that I still have two brushes in painting, I simply painted a picture of the birthday of the pine crane by hand, but I am not afraid of your jokes! ”

As soon as the words fell, someone immediately sought after him: "Ah, in the early years, I was fortunate enough to see my wife's paintings, I wonder if I can see the style again today?" ”

Mrs. Guo raised her lips slightly, and her eyebrows were full of confidence.

She glanced at Old Lady Jiang, who nodded at her slightly, and then she turned to Chen Yuwei again, "Then trouble the eldest daughter-in-law, go to the ceremonial room for me." ”

Chen Yuwei responded softly, got up and bypassed the glass screen, and went to the ceremonial room.

A slender and elegant young figure passed through the hall and fell into a pair of fiery eyes, stirring up a monstrous wave.

"Brother? What do you see? ”

The red-clothed young man gnawed on the chicken leg without any image, and asked inarticulate questions.

A fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy, his color is like a flower of spring dawn, his eyebrows are like splashing ink, and his phoenix eyes are narrow and long, who is it if he is not Lu Jinghuai?

And the elegant man sitting beside him, dressed in a royal blue brocade robe, was staring in the direction of the hall door at this time, his face was tense, as if he was trying his best to hide something.

Lu Jinghuai followed his gaze and looked curiously, and saw several maidservants walking in with wine jugs.

He had an epiphany, "Brother, do you want to drink?" I'm going to get you a pot? ”

Lu Jingcong smiled astringently and said softly, "Okay." ”

"Sister! Here's a jug of wine! ”

Lu Jinghuai beckoned to the maidservant, and soon got the silver wine jug full of fine wine.

He poured a glass for Lu Jingcong, and unceremoniously poured himself full, "Every time I want to drink with you, you don't want to, and you don't like to drink, and only drink some when you are socializing...... Eh, brother, don't drink it yet, we haven't clinked glasses yet! ”

The two brothers of the Lu family drank one cup after another, and after a while, the aroma of wine lingered on their lips and teeth, and they were a little drunk.

Lu Jinghuai raised his head and drank another glass of wine, and caught a glimpse of a slender figure in his spare eyes, holding a scroll and winding into the flower hall.

He rubbed his eyes to make sure that he was not mistaken, and immediately put down the wine cup and looked at his brother, "Brother, I seem to see ......."

The unfinished words came to an abrupt end when he saw the man's red eyes.

He tugged at Lu Jingcong's sleeve worriedly, "Brother, don't look at it, she's already in." ”

Lu Jing never said a word, and drank the wine in his cup in silence.

Lu Jinghuai's eyebrows were furrowed, as if he understood why his brother was drinking unusually.

The second young lady of the Shen family, before she got married, was his brother's lover!

At that time, the two had reached the point of talking about marriage, and later I didn't know what was going on, his prospective sister-in-law suddenly changed her mind, and soon hurriedly married Shen Tingyan, the second son of Shen.

And his brother also collapsed because of this, and it took a long time before he gradually recovered.

But now it seems that he has not stepped out of that shadow, nor has he forgotten the woman who lost him.

The young man who was like a spring dawn was very anxious, but he didn't know how to comfort him, so he had to stumble and say, "Brother, that, you, you still can't let go of Sister Yuwei?" ”

Lu Jingcong was still silent.

"No wonder every time my father introduces you to a girl, you refuse to ......"

Lu Jinghuai muttered quietly, feeling very worthless for his brother.

He had a straightforward temperament, couldn't hold back his words, and said indignantly: "Brother, it's obviously Chen Yuwei who is sorry for you!" Why do you bother? There are more girls better than her, our family is so rich, you can find a better one! ”

Lu Jingcong shook his head lightly, "Jinghuai, you don't understand. Money is actually the most useless thing in this world. ”

Lu Jinghuai was puzzled, "How could it be?" As long as you have money, what is unfair? ”

The handsome and elegant man smiled helplessly and did not explain.

There was a great affection in his eyes, mixed with pain and regret, and he swallowed it with the wine, turning into silent bitterness.

After a long time, he whispered: "Jinghuai, you must study hard, you must take the test to gain fame, you must ...... You want to marry the woman you love. ”

"Brother, you always say that I should be famous, but I can't even read books, and I don't like the messy officialdom."

Lu Jinghuai waved his hand, and a cute and cute face suddenly appeared in front of him.

He touched the tip of his nose, and his narrow phoenix eyes burst out with bright firmness.

"But...... The beloved girl must be married! ”