In the summer of the twenty-second year of Chenghua, the capital was exceptionally cool, although it was past noon, the sun emitted a warm light, and it was very comfortable to hit the pedestrians.

In front of an inconspicuous house in Chang'an Hutong in the north of the city, an old man in blue coarse cloth clothes is cleaning in front of the house. A young girl led an eight or nine-year-old boy from the street, this girl was wearing an apricot yellow narrow-sleeved skirt, her face was pretty, her figure was slender, and her demeanor was full of agility, the young man was slender and straight, and a pair of big eyes looked at the girl holding his hand from time to time.

When the man who was sweeping saw the two of them coming back, he stopped the movement of his hands, bowed his head and waist, and said,

"The eldest lady and the little young master are back."

"Uncle Zhou, you forgot again, I told you, if your father and mother are not there, you can just call me Xiaoyue and call him Trillium." The girl said gently.

"Hehe, the eldest lady is generous, and the villain doesn't dare to make a mistake." The man named Uncle Zhou smiled innocently.

The girl shook her head helplessly and led the boy into the house. This girl is Zhang Yue, and the boy next to her is her little brother Zhang Yanling, and this Uncle Zhou is the newly hired subordinate of the Zhang family after moving into the capital.

After Zhang Yue returned home, Jin spared no money to make several clothes of high-quality materials for Zhang Yue, and today Zhang Yue went to the tailor shop to pick up the finished clothes according to his mother's instructions. The younger brother Trillium clamored to follow, so he took him to the street with him, and only then did he come back.

Zhang Yue took his younger brother into the main hall, his father Zhang Luan and mother Jin were dressed neatly, drinking tea and chatting in the hall, and the second brother Heling was accompanied by him, also wearing a brand-new silk gown.

After Zhang Yue handed over the purchased things to Xiaotong who came out, he greeted his parents.

Zhang Luan had an old-fashioned temperament, did not smile, and nodded at his daughter. Kim said with a smile,

"Yue'er, just wait for you and Yan'er to come back, your eldest uncle just sent someone to deliver a letter, and he wants to invite our whole family to a banquet tonight. Didn't you shout to see your uncle? Hurry up and change into colorful clothes, groom well, and don't lose etiquette. Yan'er also went to change her clothes. ”

After Zhang Yue and Yanling agreed, they returned to their rooms one after another. After Zhang Yue returned to the room, she changed into a light pink dress and put on elegant plain makeup. hurried to the front hall to meet his parents, and everyone got into a carriage and ran to his uncle Zhang Qi's mansion.

After a short drive, the carriage arrived at Zhang Qi's mansion. After the concierge was informed, the whole family was introduced into the house, and over the years, Zhang Qi's official career has been quite smooth, and his official position has been achieved in the right and imperial history of the fourth grade. The mansion is quite generously repaired, and the subordinates in the family are all low-eyed and deferential.

Zhang Yue followed his parents to the main hall, only to see that several gorgeously dressed people had already come out of the main hall, and Zhang Yue recognized his uncle Zhang Qi who was walking in the front at a glance. After being separated from his uncle for several years, Zhang Qi has aged a lot, his temples are gray, and wrinkles are crawling all over his face. Zhang Qi said loudly,

"Brother Luan, brother and sister, you are here!"

Zhang Luan and Jin hurriedly stepped forward to salute, and Zhang Luan called out in his mouth,

Zhang Luan took the whole family to visit his cousin and sister-in-law, "Zhang Yue, Heling, and Yanling also saluted with their parents.

Zhang Qi hurriedly helped Zhang Luan up, beckoned to Zhang Yue and them, "My own relatives, how can there be so many false courtesies, hurry up!" ”

Zhang Yue waited for him to get up, looked at Zhang Qi, his eyes were slightly red, and he shouted crisply, "Uncle! ”

Zhang Qi fixed his eyes on the handsome girl in front of him, and asked tentatively, "Is it Yue'er?" ”

"Well, it's Yue'er, uncle, Yue'er has remembered you very much over the years!"

Zhang Qi loves this niece the most in the clan, and he hasn't seen him for many years, so he is quite emotional at this time, "Yue'er is so big, good!" ”

The middle-aged woman behind Zhang Qi was her wife, Wang, who also stepped forward to hold Zhang Yue's hand at this time and said,

"It's really Yue'er, I haven't seen you for so many years, your eldest uncle is most concerned about you, and he always talks about you!"

A delicate girl in a pink dress next to Wang also stepped forward and hugged Zhang Yue,

"Sister Yue'er, I'm your sister Zhen." Zhang Yue saw that it was his cousin, Zhang Qi's second daughter Zhang Zhen, Zhang Zhen was only half a year older than herself, she went to Zhang Qi's house to play when she was a child, and the two often played together, which was very good.

Zhang Yue held Mrs. Wang and Zhang Zhen's hands with her backhand, "Auntie, Sister Zhen." "The mood is excited.

Zhang Luan hurriedly stepped forward to comfort and persuade him. Zhang Qi let Zhang Luan and the others into the living room. After the guests and hosts sat down, everyone was moved again.

Zhang Yue and Zhang Zhen sat together, the sisters hadn't seen each other for many years, and they looked very affectionate on the side. Zhang Qi looked at it and was relieved in his heart, and said, "Since my eldest son Fei'er was admitted to the Jinshi and went to serve as an official in other places, there is only one child left in the family, and now Yue'er is here, and Zhen'er also has a companion in the boudoir." In the future, Yue'er will often come to her uncle's house. ”

Zhang Luan next to him also echoed, "Yue'er, this girl has been growing up in the countryside and has never seen much of the world, but Zhen'er is different, she reads a lot and has a wide range of knowledge, let Yue'er learn more from Zhen'er, I can't ask for it!" ”

Mrs. Wang next to her smiled, "Hehe, I'm afraid there aren't many intimate moments between these two sisters!" ”

The Kim family next to him reacted suddenly, and asked with a smile on his face, "Oh! Could it be that she-"

Mrs. Wang nodded knowingly, "Yes, as my brother and sister guessed, Zhen'er is already engaged and will be married at the end of the year!" ”

When Zhang Zhen heard this, her face was full of shyness, and her cheeks were pink. Zhang Yue was taken aback, but she didn't expect that Cousin Zhen was already married. Kim asked, "I don't know which of Zhen'er Xu's wishful husbands?" ”

Mrs. Wang said quite proudly, "It is Guo Hexian, the third son of Guo Songguo, the third son of the Guozi Priest Guo Song, who just won the second class jinshi last year, and now works as a member of the seventh grade in the household department. ”

Jin hurriedly congratulated, "What a young talent!" With the appearance of our Zhen'er, it is another good story! ”

Mrs. Wang was even more proud, "Hehe, Zhen'er's marriage, the master and I are very satisfied, and Master Guo's family has been a scholarly family for generations." Lord Guo himself is the steward of the Guozijian, and he also has a very high status in the court. By the way, the uncle's errand in Guozijian this time was also recommended by the master to Master Guo. ”

Zhang Luan and the Jin family hurriedly thanked Zhang Qi and Mrs. Wang again, Zhang Qi waved his hand and said, "The imperial court attaches great importance to talents, and the Guozijian is still good, in the future, we will be in-laws with Lord Guo, and we are all our own family, if you have any difficulties in the Guozijian, it is better to help." Zhang Luan said yes again and again.

Everyone chatted for a while, Zhang Qi looked at the rather well-behaved Zhang Yue, and smiled, "Yue'er was very smart when she was young, I still remember that she was very talented in calligraphy, and later after I entered Beijing as an official, your father wrote to say that I fostered you in your uncle's house, Yue'er, have you insisted on studying calligraphy at your uncle's house all these years?" Write a pair one day for your uncle to see! ”

Zhang Yue thought to himself, it seems that the matter of calligraphy has to be hidden from his uncle, and his face is quite apologetic, "Uncle, Yue'er is stupid, she has been practicing unfamiliar over the years, and her handwriting is also so-so, so I don't dare to let my uncle see it." ”

Zhang Qi's face showed a little disappointment, "Oh, that's it, it's a pity for Yue'er's talent!" ”

Zhang Luan said next to him, "There's no pity, women, it's enough to know a few words, learn more about women's virtues, women's commandments and other big truths, and it will be useful for husbands and children in the future." Kim echoed the notable yes.