In fact, Mrs. Shang didn't quite understand why her husband wanted to congratulate Mrs. Zhuang on her birthday at this time: "Didn't you just say it before, and you haven't made up your mind which side to choose, so you want to slow down?" Why is it going to be a big fanfare for my mother's birthday now? If someone is having trouble at a birthday party...... What should I do in public? Our Zou family is just a businessman in the end, and we can't disobey those nobles! ”

"It's not an option to drag it all the time." Zou Zhihan's eyes flickered, and he said, "It's good to take this opportunity to test all parties." ”

Mrs. Shang frowned: "What if you can't get off the stage when you make a fuss?" ”

"Your Majesty is still in the north now, and I am afraid that the order to dredge the canal at this time is not only for the sake of the transportation of Shuntianfu in the future, but also for the burden of using troops in the north in the future." Zou Zhihan said, "Since this is the case, then this matter obviously cannot be delayed." In this way, as long as we don't go too far, the nobles will not be too messy in order to explain to Your Majesty. Those small families or the disaster of annihilation, we are the Jining clan, deep-rooted, unless absolutely necessary, they will not spend effort, the most important thing is to spend effort to cultivate a new family. ”

Mrs. Shang was not very satisfied with such an answer, because she pinned her hopes entirely on others.

Zou Mansion is strong in Jining, and it can be regarded as a head and face in the entire Yanzhou Mansion.

However, if you get it above the temple, it is nothing.

rashly testing the bottom line of those parties, in Mrs. Shang's opinion, it is too risky.

What's more, according to her understanding of her husband, Zou Zhihanyuan is not such a naïve person.

Mrs. Shang had doubts in her heart, but she tried it a few times, but she didn't catch any substantive flaws, so she could only press it down, follow Zou Zhihan's intentions, and start preparing for the birthday banquet.

These conversations between the couple were unknown to even Mrs. Zhuang, let alone other people in the Zou Mansion.

For Fen Zhilou, the most intuitive impact of this birthday banquet is that Mrs. Shang is going to take leave for her daughters again.

Because Zou Mansion has been based in Jining for many years, it can be said that it has a wide network of people in Yanzhou Mansion, and when I learned that I wanted to congratulate Mrs. Zhuang on her birthday, distant relatives and neighbors rushed to the door to congratulate her.

Some people also brought their own young children, and the boys were also okay, and if the girls were girls, Mrs. Shang and Mrs. Zhuang always had to ask their girls to go out to say hello to show friendship, and it was also for Zou Qiongruo to sharpen their human feelings.

Naturally, you can't take a class in this way.

Fen Zhilou was very idle for a while, so Yao's mother and daughter moved two rose chairs to the yard to bask in the sun, and did some needlework by the way.

Fu Qiuxian and Xi Fuwei had nothing to do, so they also took some work to join in the fun.

"Aunt Yao's craftsmanship is really good!" The two of them were held in the palm of their hands, piano, chess, calligraphy and painting are at their fingertips, this female celebrity really hasn't thought about it seriously, it can't help but be clumsy to do it at this time, and often pierce herself, although Yao doesn't talk much, he can't stand it anymore, and he has pointed out a few times.

This move made Fu Suixian and Xi Fuwei, who were originally thinking about small talk, notice the embroidery in her hand, which was a picture of a pine and white deer, embroidered vividly, into the wood, especially the white deer's eyes, looking forward to the gods, lifelike, as if they would walk down from the silk cloth at any time.

The two couldn't help but admire, "We have never seen such exquisite embroidery skills...... Is this for the old lady? ”

Yao smiled a little shyly, but Yao Zhuosu, probably because of his age, after this period of getting along, he felt that Fu Suixian and Xi Fuwei were not the kind of domineering people, and they were much bolder, so they pursed their lips when they heard the words: "Yes, our mother and daughter have come all the way and have nothing to do, so we can only ask for a trick like this to show our gratitude to the old lady!" ”

"That's what I'm saying, the four of us, no matter what happened before, who can be unlucky at the birthday ceremony at this time?" Fu Suixian said with a smile, "Sister Yao, your embroidery looks exactly the same as Aunt Yao, I think Aunt Yao taught it by hand?" ”

Yao Zhuosu shook the embroidery in his hand in the wind, and said with a smile: "I'm stupid, my mother doesn't dare to ask me to embroider large pieces at this time, but I just practice with some leftovers." ”

Xi Fuwei said: "When you say that, I think it's a waste of things if I take a needle again." ”

"Sister Shen, don't say that!" Yao Zhuosu hurriedly said, "Actually, our mother and daughter were not very popular earlier, or after my father went, the clansmen drove our mother and daughter out because I was just a girl, and in order to make a living, I could only make some embroidery to sell." It's just that in this world, who doesn't know how many hands of embroidery? If you don't put in a little effort, you won't be able to sell it at all. So I pondered day and night...... My mother's eyes are still a little bad at this time, but they were tired at the beginning. ”

So the topic naturally turned to a shush and a warm greeting to Yao's.

In the next two days, Xi Fuwei still went down every day to bask in the sun with Yao's mother and daughter to do some needlework, but Fu Suixian didn't show up, and Hongzhi, who was waiting for her, said: "Mr. Fu took leave and went back to Fu's house." ”

Xi Fuwei asked with concern: "Sister Fu took advantage of the suspension of the girls' school in the past two days to go back to see the family, or is there something going on at home?" ”

Hongzhi shook her head and said, "The slave doesn't know, Mr. Fu didn't tell the slave when he left." ”

But after thinking about it, he said, "I didn't hear from Menzi that the Fu family sent any news to Mr. Fu, so I think I should go back to visit relatives, right?" ”

This reminded Xi Fuwei that she also claimed to have relatives in Jining, that is, the clan brother played by Shen Thief Lan. Yao's mother and daughter came from afar, and there are no relatives in the local area except for Mrs. Zhuang, and the girls' school has stopped classes, so they just stay in Fenzhi Building, and now Fu Suixian has gone back to visit his family, if he is still indifferent, wouldn't it arouse suspicion?

So he also went out of Zou Mansion the next day and went to the depths of the alley to find Shen Steallan.

This time, Shen Steallan saw her in the main hall, and after taking a look, Xi Fuwei looked at him a few times in disbelief, and then stepped forward to salute, realizing that his momentum was a little stronger.

It's not the kind of majesty after being promoted, but having killed people, and it's not the evil spirit that comes naturally after killing one or two people.

She definitely couldn't tell the difference between Xi Fuguang and Xi Zongwang when this kind of change was still there, but on the way from Dongchang Mansion to Yanzhou Mansion, Xi Fuwei didn't see blood in her hands, but she recognized it at a glance.

"It seems that Shandong has not been calm recently." Xi Fuwei thought in her heart and explained to Shen Weilan, "Zou Mansion is going to hold a birthday banquet, and the ladies have to greet the guests who come to the door in advance, so they all take leave." That Mr. Fu has already gone back to visit his family, and I think that if I don't come for a trip, I'm afraid that people will be suspicious. ”

Shen Weilan asked noncommittally: "How are you doing?" ”

Xi Fuwei would never interpret this as a concern, and automatically listened to it as "has there been any progress in the recent mission", pursed her lips, and said, "Then Fu Qiuxian should have entered the Zou Mansion by mistake at this time." ”

She whispered her speculation, and saw that Shen Weilan was just listening quietly, with no expression on her face, and she couldn't see her joy or anger, so a sense of powerlessness surged up in her heart, and she asked Xi Jiao, "How is my nephew lately?" ”

Shen Weilan said indifferently: "I haven't asked recently, it shouldn't be a big deal, otherwise the people below will tell me." ”

Xi Fuwei suddenly felt that her breath was blocked in her heart: "Didn't you swear that you would protect my nephew well and let me just do things at ease in Zou Mansion?" Why don't you ask now?! ”

"You've been in Zou Mansion for so long, and the results are only so much." Shen Weilan sneered when she heard this, and said, "I almost forgot about how many things I have in my hands, do I still have to focus on your nephew?" ”

Xi Fuwei was speechless for a while before she said, "My subordinates know their mistakes." However, the subordinates are an outsider who has just entered the Zou Mansion and an important matter related to the future of the Zou Mansion family, how can they let their subordinates know in such a short time? ”

Shen Weilan said indifferently: "This is your business." ”

And he said, "If all the people under this official are as stupid as you, this official should not be confused." ”

Xi Fuwei lowered her head and let him reprimand, thinking in her heart, that is, if there is any opportunity to make some merits recently, not to mention letting Shen Weilan know that it is still very useful, at least to ensure Xi Jiao's treatment.

Suddenly, I heard Shen Weilan say: "Zou Mansion Birthday Banquet, there is something to be handed over to you." ”

She suddenly came to her senses: "My lord, please speak!" ”

"Miss Xu, the sister of Dingguo Gong, is likely to go, and there is Miss Song, the beloved daughter of the Ministry of Works." Shen Weilan's expression didn't move when she said this, but a touch of boredom flashed in her eyes, "If these two come to the birthday banquet, you should take care of them more." ”

After a pause, he said, "Especially Miss Song, this young lady is said to be relatively innocent and doesn't know the priority of things. When there is any turmoil or something like that, you can watch and deal with it, in short, don't let their reputation be damaged. ”

Xi Fuwei was taken aback when she heard this, and said, "Miss of Dingguo Mansion!" And the lady of the Ministry of Works? What kind of identity do these two have, how could they come to Jining and go together to congratulate the old lady of Zou Mansion? ! ”

Shen Weilan said expressionlessly: "You just have to do things." ”

Don't ask about the rest!

Xi Fuwei heard the meaning of the words, although she still had doubts in her heart, she didn't ask any more, and bowed her head and said, "My subordinates know." ”

After asking Shen Weilan if he had any other instructions, he also retired.

She was about to leave after going out, but saw a young man in Tsing Yi standing at the turn of the cloister waving to her.

"But what are the commands?" Xi Fuwei walked over suspiciously, followed him to a secluded corner at the back of the house, asked cautiously, and found again, "It seems that the honorable driver is not the one who served the adults before?" ”

In fact, she hadn't paid much attention to Shen Weilan's close attendants before, but she had met once or twice, and she was still a little impressed.

"That person has already returned to Yingtianfu because of some things." The little maid grinned at her and said, "The little one was originally a substitute in the guard, but thanks to the attention of the Lord of the Hundred Households, he now runs errands with the adults." ”

Xi Fuwei vaguely guessed that the little guy might have done something wrong before, but she didn't know what she did wrong, and she didn't want to know, at this moment Wen Yan just smiled, and didn't say much: "You want me to come here, I don't know if it?" ”

"There are some things that Miss Xi may not know, so I'll tell you about them." The little girl also smiled and said in a low voice, "Do you know that the young lady of the Dingguo Mansion and Miss Song went to the Zou Mansion for a banquet?" ”

Seeing Xi Fuwei shaking his head, the smile on the corner of his mouth became more and more intense, "Speaking of which, in fact, you can't do anything with Miss Xi!" ”

"Me?" Xi Fuwei was taken aback, "What you said is strange, I have never known such a noble young lady!" ”

"However, these two young ladies have been friends with Miss Xi for a long time." The little guy didn't go around in circles, and said bluntly that the Song family and the Shen family were interested in marrying, and Song Jianiang herself was also very interesting to Shen Zhaolan, but she was suspicious because she bumped into Xi Fuwei when the old servant sent something over, "Originally, Song Shangshu understood the righteousness and always persuaded Miss Song not to be jealous, but after persuasion, Miss Song also felt that she should not suspect Miss Xi indiscriminately!" But after Miss Xu arrived, she couldn't help but think that Miss Xi must be uneasy and kind, and she was going to take a hundred households! No, it is said that he is going to Zou Mansion for a banquet, and he is the birthday of Mrs. He, but in fact, it is for you! ”

Xi Fuwei: "......................................................!!! ”

She calmed down for a long time before asking, "Then Lord Shen just asked me to take care of these two young ladies?" ”

Shouldn't it be for her to let her get angry?!