Prince Makoto's Mansion.

Qiao Shi leaned on the jasper mat, and the two maids behind him meticulously shook their fans to send the cool breeze over.

The room was quiet, and no one dared to make a loud noise, arguing for Qiao's lunch break.

Suddenly, a hysterical chirping of cicadas sounded outside the window.

The mother who was guarding the house immediately walked out of the door and shouted in a low voice, "Let you stick to the cicadas, that's how you do this?" Wake up the princess, watch your skin! ”

Qiao Shi in the house slowly opened his eyes: "That's it, this hot day, I think they have tried their best, don't be too harsh." ”

Liang's mother hurriedly turned around, "I still woke you up." ”

Another voice commanded: "Quickly bring in the melons and fruits that are pouring into the well, and also send one of the ice bowls that were prepared before." ”

The maid in the room moved in an orderly manner.

"Where's the girl? Can you take a nap? Qiao Shi sat up with Liang's mother's hand, let her arrange the corners of her clothes and skirts, and asked casually.

Liang's mother hesitated.

Qiao's gaze immediately looked over.

Liang's mother didn't dare to hesitate anymore, "After lunch, the girl ordered someone to set up a car and went out, but she hasn't come back yet." ”

Qiao's expression changed suddenly, and his eyes sharpened: "She went to Xu's Mansion again?" ”

Mother Liang knelt down at her feet, "The girl heard that the old lady of the Xu Mansion is not in good spirits, and she just happened to have a good prescription for recuperating her spirits." You also know that the girl is the most pity for the poor and respect the elderly, Xu Mansion has had unfortunate things one after another, Mrs. Xu has been deeply hit and sick these days have not been good, she likes our girl, the girl in pity, this is to visit Xufu. ”

"I really didn't know it, so you made up these words to coax me?" Qiao Shi was angry and snorted coldly: "Xu Liu has only been dead for a long time, and she can't sit still." What girl is as unreserved as she is? Spread out, do you want her reputation anymore? You are also hateful, hiding from me and helping her mess around! ”

Liang's mother hurriedly knocked her head down: "The slave doesn't dare!" It's just a girl...... She grew up watching the slave maid, how could the slave and maid bear to see her so depressed? Princess, why don't you let go and fulfill the girl. ”

Qiao smashed the teacup in his hand angrily: "What are you talking about!" If Xu Fu is really interested, even if he is afraid that Xu Liu's family has just passed away, it is not good to invite someone to make peace, he should reveal a little meaning. Xu Fu was silent, but she rushed over, without the dignity and wealth of the emperor's relatives, is this going to anger me? ”

Qiao's heart is also optimistic about Xu Shen, although Song Huanting married to fill the house, but Xu Shen is not very old but is already in a high position, and he is deeply respected by Emperor Jing, Song Huanting really became a relative to Xu Shen, can Xu Shen still mention the reason that her mother's brother is true?

Second, Xu Shen is another talent, even if he has become a family once, he is definitely not worthy of Song Huanting's statement - you must know that since the death of Xu Liu, there are countless people who have sent posts to Xu Mansion to visit Mrs. Xu under the pretext of visiting Mrs. Xu, and they are all thinking of forming this relationship with Xu Mansion.

But no matter how satisfied Qiao Shi was with this family affair, he refused to let his daughter rush to curry favor with the people of the Xu Mansion, so his heart was on fire.

At this moment, Song Nianbei stepped in, saw the solemn atmosphere in the room, waved his hand to order the maid kneeling by the door to go out, and then said with a smile: "Mother, what's wrong?" ”

Qiao Shi glared at Liang's mother and said with a calm face: "You ask her." ”

Liang's mother hurriedly raised her head and said silently to Song Nianbei: "Girl." ”

Song Nianbei's eyes flashed, and he said with a smile: "Mom will go down first, and I will talk to my mother." ”

Seeing that Qiao's mother didn't object, Liang's mother retreated to the door on her knees, got up and retreated.

There were only two mothers and sons in the house, so Song Nianbei walked behind Qiao and pinched her shoulders for her, "Why is my mother so angry?" I asked my sister, it was Xu Shen who provoked her sister first. ”

Qiao Shi sighed: "What is her daughter's family, how can there be any family that runs to someone's mansion three times a day like this?" There are two masters in the house, Mrs. Xu and Mrs. Xu Shen, who said that they would visit Mrs. Xu, and they were as stupid as pigs when they looked at others, and they couldn't see her thoughts? ”

"Isn't that right? In this way, those people's minds can't be retracted? Do they dare to rob people from our Prince Cheng's Mansion? Song Nianbei said with a smile: "The Xu family can also be regarded as a century-old clan, Xu Shen holds great power again, and it is not humiliating to match his sister." Mother also knows that in the eyes of His Majesty, the combined weight of our mother and son is not as good as that of Song Nanzhou. ”

In the past, when Song Nanzhou was in the mansion, he didn't dare to reveal his thoughts at will, and now he has a lot less worries, "Allowing him to enter the palace at any time also gave him the opportunity to train, and as soon as he made a move, he was the commander of the Wuxiang battalion." As for me, I haven't seen His Majesty a few times throughout the year, but I did, and His Majesty didn't have a son at all in his eyes. is a few princes, and their sons bother to make friends, but they can't get a good face. If my sister can marry Xufu, this situation will definitely be improved! ”

"You, you count on others all day long." Qiao Shi looked at him dissatisfied.

"I don't want to count on anyone else." Song Nianbei whispered: "But who can my son count on?" The father doesn't care about anything, and he never asks about his son's future - I can see it, the most fierce thing he scolds in his mouth is Song Nanzhou, but the most important thing is Song Nanzhou, no matter how ugly the rumors outside, he doesn't care. ”

Speaking of this, Song Nianbei couldn't help but bring out his resentment.

He and his mother thought that his father didn't like Song Nanzhou, so he would look at him unpleasantly, but for so many years, his father beat and scolded him, and seemed to be very displeased, but for the succession of the title of Prince Cheng's mansion, he still never thought of changing someone to inherit - no matter how well-behaved, obedient and filial he was.

"And Uncle Huang, I don't know why, I only value him!" Song Nianbei said angrily: "My son can't be relied on anywhere, otherwise, he can hit Xu Shen's side?" ”

Qiao Shi heard it, and Song Nianbei complained about her, "You are still young, what are you anxious about?" How many times have I taught you to calm down, this man, it's easiest to get in a hurry. ”

"The mother's teachings are remembered by the son." Song Nianbei was still in awe of Qiao's family, and hurriedly lowered his head and said respectfully, "It's just that my son sees that Song Nanzhou is getting more and more promising, and now he is rectifying Wu Xiang's camp in a decent manner, and even the emperor's uncle has issued an order to praise him." Seeing that all over Kyoto praised him, he forgot about his past bastards. You see, the official matchmaker who came to the mansion two days ago actually mentioned the seven girls of Jian'anhou's Mansion - who has never heard of the name of the seven girls in Kyoto, and how many people want to ask for marriage, but Jian'anhou refuses to agree. Now he has fallen in love with Song Nanzhou, and he still asks people to come to the door......"

Song Nianbei mentioned this stubble, and he was really jealous.

Thinking of that Qin Qi girl, she has both talent and appearance, after he inadvertently saw it once, he never forgot it. In fact, with his background, how can he not be worthy of Miss Qin Qi? He Yang Qiao's family went to Jian'anhou Mansion to explore the situation, but Jian'anhou Mansion politely refused. never thought that they didn't fall in love with him, but they fell in love with Song Nanzhou, which was no less than a shame for him!

That's why he's in a hurry.

Qiao Shi laughed: "What do you know. That Jian'an Hou Mansion can't even look down on you, how can you really look down on him? It's just because the Dongjun Mansion sent someone to the door to ask for relatives a few days ago, and the Jian'an Hou Mansion can't afford to provoke it, so the idea is hit on your brother - don't understand? ”

Song Nianbei nodded, and Qiao's eyes unconsciously brought out continued disappointment.

Song Nianbei's white face turned red in an instant, and he gritted his teeth and lowered his head.

Qiao Shi paused, and then continued: "Dongjun Wangfu that Lin San is also well-known for being a gentleman, and he has not been released from the Wuxiang camp for many years, this Lin San has done the thing of robbing the women of a good family back then, Jian'an Hou saw that his daughter was targeted by him, can he not be afraid?" This princess of Dongjun has made up her mind to marry Qin Qiyu, so the matter of the marriage between the Dongjun Mansion and the Jian'an Hou Mansion can be spread so quickly. Otherwise, how can this undecided family affair be known to everyone? ”

Song Nianbei finally reacted this time, "The Dongjun Mansion is so pressing, and the Jian'an Hou Mansion refuses to obey, so I think of Song Nanzhou?" ”

"Short and tall, Jian'an Houfu can't afford to offend Dongjun Wangfu, and there are few people in Kyoto who can afford to offend Dongjun Wangfu, but your brother can." Qiao Shi smiled faintly and said: "There is no other way to build the Hou Mansion of Jian'an, so I will count on your brother." After all, he has been favored, and now he has an official and a half-position, and there will be this Prince Cheng's Mansion to inherit in the future, coupled with his unsparing temperament, he is the least afraid of facing the Upper East County Palace. This is why the Jian'an Hou Mansion sent a matchmaker to the door. ”

Song Nianbei balanced a little in his heart, "The Jian'an Hou Mansion also has no way out, so I thought of him." So, what should you do? ”

"Your brother's family, where is my turn to be in charge." Qiao sighed lightly: "Your father's place, of course, is very willing, no, he entered the palace early in the morning to face the saint." I don't know what His Majesty's holy will is. ”

The smile on Song Nianbei's face couldn't hold back again: "According to the emperor's uncle's favor for him, how can he oppose such a good thing?" ”

The resentment in his eyes flashed, "Because of this, my son also wants to promote the family affair between Xu Shen and his sister." Otherwise, wouldn't his son have been crushed by him for the rest of his life and couldn't turn over? With Xu Shen's help, this Prince Cheng's Mansion can be replaced by me to inherit it! Mother, I am your son, and I am ...... She herself is willing to marry to the Xu Mansion, so you might as well fulfill us. ”

Qiao Shi looked at him fixedly, and finally sighed: "Okay, the palms and backs of my hands are full of meat, I am a mother, and you will not be happy if you stop anyone." However, Xu Shen is not the person you and Ping Ting can influence, this family business may not be as you wish. ”

The corners of Song Nianbei's lips hooked slightly, "Mother doesn't have to worry about this, she is extremely beautiful, which man won't be moved when he sees it?" We won't be disappointed. ”

The mother and son said a few more words on the topic of Song Huanting, and Qiao Shi looked at Song Nianbei twice: "Do you still have something to tell me?" ”

Song Nianbei helped Qiao's to get up, took two steps in the house, and then smiled: "Sure enough, I can't hide anything from my mother." The son inquired that Song Nanzhou suddenly had a small guy next to him, and he was a male and female who was very outstanding, and he was inseparable, and he was all together for food and accommodation - the son heard the news and immediately rushed back! ”

"Is that true?" Qiao Shi was stunned, but she was a little skeptical about the authenticity of this matter, after all, she had let people spread similar rumors before, so she listened to it for a while, and she was not in a hurry to take it seriously.

"My son has carefully visited, and it couldn't be more real." Song Nianbei laughed, "If he has always liked men and likes them until he can't keep an heir, it will save us too much trouble." But in this way, wouldn't the beauty you prepared for him before be useless? It is better to reward them to his son, and it would be good for him to give them away. ”

Qiao Shi didn't respond, she had her own considerations: "Let's take a look first, those people spent a lot of effort to buy them, you are not allowed to use your brains - before the bride enters the door, I don't care about how you secretly do it, but on the surface, you need to give people a good impression of being clean and self-conscious!" ”

She warned in an accentuated tone, and when Song Nianbei saw this, he could only dispel the thoughts in his heart.

……

Song Huanting was talking in front of Mrs. Xu at this time, she personally took the chilled bayberry soup sent by the maid, and waited in the jasper bowl.

"The imperial doctor said that your spleen and stomach are weak, and this bayberry soup must not be too cold."

Mrs. Xu leaned on the head of the bed, with a treasure-patterned eyebrow on her forehead, pale and haggard, with a look of relief on her face at this time, "Good boy, on this hot day, it's hard for you to think of me and come to see me." ”

Song Huanting pursed her lips and smiled, "It's okay for me to stay in the house, and I don't need to come over against the sun, it's not hard." You've been sick for so long, but you'll need to get better soon. ”

Since the death of Xu Liu, she came to mourn and found an opportunity to get close to Mrs. Xu, these days she often comes to Xu's mansion to walk around, saying that she came to see Mrs. Xu, but Mrs. Xu herself also knows that this drunkard of the palace does not mean to drink.

Speaking of which, her background is enough to be worthy of her own son, but her own son knows that every time Song Huanting comes, Xu Shen will avoid her and not meet her, it is not difficult to see that he has no intention of this princess.

Since Liu's death, her son's temperament seems to have changed a lot, and she, a mother, sometimes feels very oozing when she sees his black eyes. also asked him what he thought of Song Huanting, he only looked at her coldly, and she didn't dare to make up her own mind to do anything to Song Huanting.

Therefore, for Song Huanting's frequent visits, Mrs. Xu was also under a lot of pressure, and she couldn't say bluntly that the Xu Mansion did not welcome her arrival, so she could only remind her euphemistically.

I don't know if it's too tactful, Song Huanting can't understand it, anyway, she still comes like this day after day.

"Madam, I got a good recipe for recuperating my mind last time, and I brought it with me today, why don't you let someone try it according to the recipe?" Song Huanting smiled gently.

"It's too much trouble......"

As soon as Old Lady Xu spoke, Song Huanting shook her head with a smile and said, "It's not troublesome." I had the materials brought with me, just have someone lead me to the kitchen. ”

Old Madam Xu was slightly stunned, and hurriedly stopped, "How can this be done?" You're a guest, how can you come to the house to do this......"

"I just went over and told the people below, this heat is particularly important, and I am also very particular about what materials are put first and what materials are put later. I'm afraid that if they get confused, they will lose their effect. She stood up and smiled, "Madame, wait, I'll be back with you soon." ”

She had come to this point, and Mrs. Xu couldn't stop her anymore, so she sent the maid next to her to lead Song Huanting to the kitchen.

As soon as Song Huanting left the main courtyard, she couldn't wait to ask the maid who had been out for a while just now, "But I have heard, where is Lord Xu?" ”

The maid hurriedly replied, "I have inquired clearly, Lord Xu went to Jingyi Courtyard." ”

Song Huanting's face immediately became ugly: "He went to Jingyi Courtyard to see that cheap girl again?" ”

"Yes." The maid said: "Girl, Lord Xu is too good to that cheap girl, should it, Lord Xu wants to promote her as an aunt, right?" After all, that cheap girl sacrificed her life to save Lord Xu......"

Song Huanting pulled the veil hatefully, and when she saw someone from Xu's mansion looking over, she hurriedly eased the look on her face, "She desperately saved Lord Xu's life, if Lord Xu really has the heart to lift her, what can others do?" ”

When he said this, his face brought a look of sorrow.

"Girl, you have to cheer up, when you become the hostess of this Xu Mansion in the future, no matter who she is, she will also make a living in your hands. Don't pay attention to these insignificant people at the moment, the most important thing is Lord Xu's side. The maid helped her and whispered in her ear.

Song Huanting pinched her fingers, and her expression, which was still a little struggling, became firm: "What my brother prepared, can I bring it?" ”

"Don't worry, girl, the slave will take it." When the maid saw her like this, she immediately replied with joy.

……

After Xu Shen saw the apricot blossoms, he left Jingyi Courtyard and went straight to the study in the front yard.

Emperor Jing granted him a vacation and asked him to deal with family affairs first, but in fact, he still had a lot of official business to be dealt with.

When I was busy, there was a knock on the study door.

"Come in." Xu Shen didn't raise his head, and gave a faint order.

The door was pushed open, and a light and pleasant lotus fragrance wafted into the tip of Xu Shen's nose.

This seemingly familiar fragrance made him frown slightly, raised his eyes, and saw Song Huanting walking in with a red lacquered wooden tray with her own hands. On the tray was a small bowl with blue and white flowers, and I don't know what was in the bowl, and it was steaming with light smoke.

"Brother Xu, I didn't bother you." She smiled shyly, glanced at Xu Shen quickly, and saw that although he was haggard, he was still plump and handsome, and her heart was pounding like a little rabbit.

Xu Shen put down his pen and asked in a deep voice, "Miss Song, why did you come here?" Is there something going on? ”

Without waiting for Song Huanting to answer, she frowned and said to the door, "How are you waiting outside, the guests are here, why is no one passing on the word?" There is no etiquette in this way, but the guests have seen the joke, and those who are serving outside today will be ten rods, and there will be a next time, and they will not be spared! ”

Outside, there was a cry of pleading for mercy.

Song Huanting's face turned red in an instant, and Xu Shen's beating was not so much a beating of the minion, but in fact, it was an allusion that she was not polite.

But if she didn't want to come here, she would never give up halfway, so she just didn't understand what Xu Shen said.

"Brother Xu, just spare them, I didn't let it be passed on, and I was afraid of disturbing your work." She begged for mercy for the minions who had been punished, "If it weren't for me, they wouldn't have made a mistake......

"Miss Song doesn't have to blame herself, it's they who are wrong about the rules of the house." Xu Shen said lightly, "I still have a lot of things to deal with here, if Miss Song has nothing else to do......

"I came to visit my wife, and when I saw that she was always delirious these days, I specially asked the imperial doctor to find a way to nourish my spirit." Song Huanting plucked up the courage to walk over, ignoring the beating heart, and said softly: "I boiled this nourishing soup with my own hands, and I have already sent it to my wife, and I heard my wife mention that Brother Xu has not been in good spirits recently, so I volunteered to send you a bowl too." Brother Xu drink it while it's hot. ”

As he spoke, he put the bowl in front of Xu Shen, looking at him expectantly and apprehensively, as if he was afraid that he would refuse, and his fingers tightly twisted a handkerchief.

Xu Shen's gaze swept over the bowl of things that exuded a faint medicinal fragrance, and his brows furrowed rapidly, "Miss Song has a heart, but I have always disliked the smell of medicine......"

Song Huanting bit her lip slightly: "Brother Xu has indeed lost a lot of weight, you are like this, I ...... Madame was worried. This nourishing soup was also sent by my wife at my behest of the moment. If you don't drink it, how can I deal with it, madame? ”

Xu Shen really couldn't bear to see her in front of him, but he refused to leave without drinking her, and he looked like he was crying, which really gave him a headache.

He weighed it, and instead of letting her stay here and cause unnecessary trouble, it was better to wronged himself. So he picked up the bowl of soup that he didn't know what to boil and drank it in one go.

"This soup is a little bitter, Brother Xu, you can take a candied fruit to taste it." Seeing Xu Shen drink the soup, Song Huanting was overjoyed, and hurriedly took out a candied fruit from the purse she was carrying, "This candied fruit tastes excellent, you can taste it." ”

After that, he handed the candied fruit directly to Xu Shen's lips, as if he wanted to feed him.

Xu Shen withdrew his head back, with a coldness on his face.

He looked at Song Huanting, pursed his lips slightly and didn't speak.

Song Huanting was stared at by his cold gaze, and withdrew her hand with a red face: "Does Brother Xu think I'm ...... I'm frivolous? Actually, I also know that a good girl shouldn't be like this, but, but I can't help it. I know you've been avoiding me, I know it in my heart, but Brother Xu, I can't help it, I just want to see you, I want to see you every day! You must think that I am shameless like this, you must hate me in your heart, but I don't care! Rather than being able to stay by your side and see you all the time, what if I don't want to show my face? Brother Xu, look at me, I don't look bad, right? ”

When she said these words, Xu Shen had already sensed that something was wrong, and the heat gushing out of his body made him almost unable to see the person in front of him, and he knew that he was on the way!

He gritted his teeth, very angry, she dared to calculate him in her own mansion!