Early in the morning of the tenth day of the fourth lunar month, Leng Hui Miaohui pulled Mingcan up from the bed of the silk carved shelf, carefully washed it, and still poured on the incense powder she had prepared herself. Lin Hongjin ran over, smelled and said that the fragrance was good, and let Mingcan quietly even out some on his face.

He came to eat the longevity noodles of the Xue family brothers and sisters. This morning, the kitchen made a few bowls of bone broth, fragrant and hot noodle soup, and a few golden sun eggs lying on the white greasy and smooth noodles, so greedy that Lin Hong ate a bowl of sea.

After eating longevity noodles, Xue Mingyu still went back to the east wing to study, and Mingcan watched Leng Hui in the house dexterously make her embroidered jewel jasmine silk into sachets, Lin Hong was bored and didn't want to go back, so he sat in front of Mingcan's dressing mirror and teased her boxes of fat powder.

The white fog in the courtyard gradually dissipated, and a few rays of sunlight came in obliquely outside the window lattice, illuminating a few plum blossoms under the corridor white and tender, and the room was quiet.

"Cousin Mingcan?"

Suddenly a sweet voice came out, and several people in the room were startled, especially Lin Hongjin, who thought it was the maid sent by his mother to ask him to go back, if he saw that he was losing his mind to these girls' things again, he would definitely scold him when he went back.

The person who came was not high, wearing a white background water red bamboo leaf plum blossom pattern printed cardigan, a goose yellow skirt with a line at the bottom, elegant and quiet, and a small melon seed face overflowing with a shallow smile.

It turned out to be Lin Tangluo.

"Cousin Mingcan, happy birthday." Lin Tangluo walked in.

"Thank you." Mingcan is the only girl she wants to see in the Lin Mansion, "Miaohui, is there still longevity?" Bring a bowl to Sister Tangluo. ”

Lin Tangluo waved his hand and said no need, "I've had breakfast." I'm here to give my birthday gift. As she spoke, she opened the round food box she was carrying, and inside was a few pieces of chicken cakes on a lotus-patterned blue and white porcelain plate.

Mingcan's eyes lit up.

"Tang Luo, how do you know that I have a gluttonous chicken cake!" In fact, she is greedy for everything, especially desserts. At this time, I rubbed my hands excitedly, picked up the chopsticks and sandwiched one of the golden and shiny pieces, but I didn't expect it to be very soft and glutinous, and it almost fell apart.

When you eat it, a sweet smell creeps in from the tip of your tongue, and Mingcan feels that chicken cake is the most gentle snack.

"It's delicious, Tang Luo, is this what you made?"

Lin Tangluo pursed his lips and smiled, and said, "This is made by my aunt, my craftsmanship is not so good." ”

Lin Hongjin came up and tasted another piece, but he couldn't stop eating it, and there were only two pieces left in the blink of an eye. He reached into the food box again.

Unexpectedly, he was beaten down by Xue Mingcan, "Leave some for my brother." ”

Lin Tangluo smiled: "If it's not enough, I'll go back and get some more." ”

"No need." Myeong-chan knew her and her mother's situation. The chicken cake is delicious, it is the easiest to make, only eggs and flour are needed, but this is probably the only thing they can handle, "My brother has a bad spleen and stomach, and he can't eat too much dim sum, so he can't taste it." ”

Lin Tangluo nodded, "It was my negligence." ”

"It's okay, thank you for your kindness. I asked the maid to send it to my brother. ”

Mingcan asked again: "If you go to Zhongfu today, will you go?" ”

Lin Tangluo had also heard about the fact that the Zhong family wanted to accept her brother and sister as their righteous sons, but until she went out this morning, there was no mother-in-law and maid to inform her, so she didn't need to go.

She shook her head, Mingcan took her hand, and said, "Cousin Tangmei won't let you go, I'll ask you to go." ”

"How does this work?"

"Why not. Today is my birthday, the Zhong family set up a banquet for me and my brother, why do you want to see what Cousin Tangmei thinks? ”

"My aunt will reproach me." Lin Tangluo bit his lip and looked hesitant.

"I asked Leng Hui to tell Aunt Wei, it's okay, I'll say it's a big deal." Mingcan really likes this little cousin, who is weak and docile, and always soft-spoken and unhurried.

Lin Tangluo hesitated again and again, Lin Xian sent someone to call, saying that the sedan chair had been prepared and was ready to go, so Mingcan simply took Lin Tangluo's hand and pulled her into the incense car.

Originally, it was still a little cramped, but Xue Mingcan lifted the corner of the curtain all the way and pointed to the street scene to her, and Lin Tangluo gradually relaxed. Originally, she was also eleven or twelve years old when she loved to play and laugh, and she forgot her mother's advice for a while.

On the other side of the carriage was Xue Mingyu. Originally, the man was supposed to ride a horse, but he was reading late at night a few days ago, and he wanted to open the window to enjoy the spring moon, but he didn't expect a cool evening breeze to hit his head, and he immediately sneezed a few times, and the next morning he felt heavy and stuffy.

Lin Xian was busy with the extension of medical treatment for him, prescribed a few doses of medicine and poured it down, but today he was much better, and rushed to Zhong's house to worship his father-in-law and mother-in-law.

Lin Tangluo rarely goes out, and even when he goes out, he can't take the incense car with his two sisters, and they are all carried by a dirty and old sedan chair. So the first time I sat in the carriage, I could watch the bustle of the street again, and the little girl's nature was liberated, and in addition to joy, a smile overflowed on her little face, and gradually became rosy.

was looking at it happily, and when he turned around, he found that Xue Mingyu, who was sitting in the other corner, was looking at himself, with gentle eyebrows and elegant temperament, as warm and quiet as jade.

Mingyu's cousin and Mingcan's cousin really look alike. When she saw her cousin Mingcan for the first time, she was amazed that there was such a standard appearance in the world, but she didn't expect this appearance to be changed to a man, and it was even more indescribably soft.

Xue Mingyu was actually looking at his sister, but Lin Tangluo and his sister were very close, and Lin Tangluo turned his head and thought he was looking at himself.

The two looked at each other, he smiled first, and said, "Today's chicken cake is delicious, thank you cousin." ”

Lin Tangluo was so happy and shy by his praise that she almost forgot that she didn't make the pastry, and said "no thanks" astringently, then turned her head and continued to look out the window with Mingcan.

The incense car stopped at Zhongfu, the alley was silent, and there were only a few passers-by outside the vermilion lacquer gate, not like Zhong Fu's birthday last time, the door was like a city, and the bustling flowers were full of flowers.

Wuqing Bolin Hengfeng got out of the car first and asked the eldest son who was following him: "The two children of the Xue family, the boy brought them over and went in with me." ”

Although I don't know what the Zhong family's intentions are, the facts are clear, the Xue family brothers and sisters are the bridge he took to the Zhenguo Gong, and he has a kind of pleasure of stepping on iron shoes and finding nowhere to go, and getting it without effort.

Xue Mingyu was summoned by Lin Xian, and Lin Hengfeng took a good look at the person in front of him for the first time. Seeing that he was still wrapped in a silver fox coat at the beginning of spring, his boots were also quite heavy, his figure was thin, his writing was quiet, and his appearance was feminine.

Isn't this what it looks like to be a live play! Or a child prostitute! He began to disdain in his heart, but he didn't show much on his face, after all, he might be a useful person.

Xue Mingyu was led into the gate by Lin Hengfeng, and Zhong Cheng happened to turn from behind the shadow wall.

"Bachelor." When Wu Qingbo saw people, his expression was a little flattering, "I have admired the reputation of a scholar for a long time, and it is really a blessing in life to be able to make friends with a scholar today!" ”

Zhong Cheng is still more than ten years younger than him, but he has been immersed in officialdom for many years, and he is used to seeing this face. ”

Wu Qingbo heard that he didn't want to say anything else, so he had no choice but to let go of his temperament and follow Zhong Cheng inside.

Zhong Cheng turned his head sideways and saw the righteous son of the Xue family who was about to be adopted. The boy is also thirteen years old today, tall but too thin, surrounded in fur clothes to keep warm, Wenwen is weak, his eyebrows and eyes are straight, but he has a natural noble air.

A few people came to the upper room, drank tea and narrated, and in a moment the ladies also came in through the corner door.

It is said that Zhong Cheng accepted the righteous son, but Zhong Cheng's wife Zhen was more nervous than him. The woman's feelings for her children are more sensitive and strong, and her father-in-law suddenly told her that there were two strange children who were going to call her stepmother, Zhen was happy and worried, and she was confused, because she didn't know what the temperament of these two children was.

However, she heard from her daughter Zhong Fu that the brother and sister are all good-looking and have a likable temperament, so she was a little relieved, but she really didn't understand why her father-in-law insisted on accepting two children who had never heard of names.

She had seen Xue Mingyu first, the boy was handsome and eye-catching, and he saluted himself respectfully and meekly, but his voice was smooth but a little weak, as if he had a deficiency.

People pay attention to a relationship. As soon as she saw this child, she felt very fond of it, and said a few words, and asked him if he did have a deficiency disease, because of the miserable childhood, and her heart was even more distressed, thinking that she wanted to ask the imperial doctor invited by the house to take a closer look at him.

A moment later, the girls came. She had seen the two sisters of the Lin family, and she recognized Xue Mingcan at a glance, because she looked very similar to Xue Mingyu. But who is one more girl?

Lin Tangmei came up politely and introduced: "Auntie, this is the sister of the Xue family." ”

Zhen nodded, took Mingcan's little hand to look at her, the little girl in her cardamom years, she looked like a shallot, her eyes were bright, her eyebrows were picturesque, she didn't know what kind of good she looked like when she grew up, and she liked it even more.

"Looks seven points similar to Sister Yi." Zhen smiled.

"Do you know my mother?" Mingcan blinked.

"Well, when I married into Zhongfu, your mother was still in the boudoir, and she and Jing'er were very good back then, so we often corresponded."

"I know who Jing'er is, she is the mother of the Lingxian County Lord, the first crown princess, right?" Last time I heard Brother Xian say it in Huixian Tower.

"Don't be rude, Cancan!" Lin Xian reprimanded her, and Zhen began to protect her righteous daughter now, saying, "Don't get in the way, the child is not sensible." ”

"Auntie, don't get used to her, this girl is naughty and tight." Lin Xian said.

Mingcan saw that Zhen loved her, so he got tired of her side and stuck out his tongue at Lin Xian. Zhen was born slightly fat, and her palms were a little wet and hot, holding her hand, Mingcan felt very relieved and let her hold it.

"Here, you've all seen it, Sister Zhong Fu, and Brother Qisheng......" Zhen looked around, frowned and asked the maid beside him: "Where is the eldest young master?" ”

The maid replied: "I urged someone to invite, saying that the eldest young master had just risen." ”

"It's not a thing!" Zhen snorted, and the next moment when he saw the Xue family brothers and sisters, his expression softened again, and said, "There is another big brother, he just got up, let's see him later." ”

The two nodded, and Xue Mingcan said, "I've seen this big brother, and last time I asked him to shoot hooves with Brother Jin." ”

"Really? He just loves to shoot hooves and is very proud, but last time on your sister Zhongfu's birthday, I heard that a young lady shot the colored silk, he felt that he was compared, and his heart has not been happy these days. ”

"That's me." Mingcan smiled.

"Really? Did you shoot the little silk that was fluttering? Zhen's eyes widened, he didn't expect the righteous daughter to be so capable.

"yes."

"Cancan has this ability, go to be a female general in the future!"

Lin Xian said on the side: "Good luck, aunt don't praise her, she should be proud for a while." ”

Zhen likes the two crystalline people more and more, Zhong Cheng saw that his wife liked him very much, and saw that the two children were indeed likable, so he did not contradict his father's order.

When the auspicious time came, Zhong Cheng took the two children to the ancestral hall of the family, hung the portraits of their ancestors, led the Xue brothers and sisters to bow down on incense, and recorded the names and surnames of the two in the genealogy.

Yoshiko's relationship was formalized.

Then they went to the flower hall, Mingcan and his brother brought tea to Zhong Cheng and Zhen, knelt down, and gave the prepared shoes and hats to his father-in-law. Zhen was very happy and took out the gifts he had prepared earlier and gave them to the two children.

The noon feast was placed in the flower hall. After the meal, Zhen arranged a hall play, and the ladies all followed to listen to the play, Lin Hongzhi had no intention of coming, but had to obey his father. After a cold look at the morning, I felt very bored, and I wanted to say goodbye after lunch.

Unexpectedly, he was pulled by Zhong Qisheng, saying that he had just got a good bow and asked him to go to the room to have a look.

Lin Hongzhi couldn't shirk it, so he had to follow Zhong Qisheng, but he didn't know that this guy was in a hurry to pay tribute, so he left him in the garden and waited.

After waiting for a while and not seeing him come back, Lin Hongyu took his hands and walked along the lake, it was the twilight of spring, the willows by the lake were still around, but they were not as lush as summer, and there were many magnolia trees planted on the other side of the road, snow-white and pink-purple, as big as the mouth of the bowl, and the flowers and trees were piled with snow. He paused to take a closer look. From a distance, I saw two people making tea in the pavilion at the end of the lake, and from the green smoke, I could vaguely distinguish that one was his father Wu Qingbo, and the other was Zhong Cheng, the son of Zhenguo.

"Father, you're actually drinking tea?" Lin Hongzhi laughed inexplicably, he has always been a fly camping dog...... That's it, the father has his own choice.

Just as he was about to turn around and walk back, he didn't expect the faint sound of someone talking between the branches and leaves of magnolia, just impartially, and the words clearly entered his ears.

Zhong Qisheng didn't know what he had eaten, his stomach was in trouble, and he went out several times in a row. It took more than half an hour to get better, and he trotted back to find Lin Hongyu.

"Let's go, let's go see my good bow." He saw Lin Hongyu sitting alone on a stone under the tree, and he didn't care about talking, so he pushed it, "Isn't this stone cold to sit on?" Get up. ”

And Lin Hongzhi was sluggish, depressed, and didn't say a word.

"What's wrong with you?" Zhong Qisheng stretched out five fingers and shook vigorously in front of his eyes. But he didn't react, there was no light in his eyes, as if he had been blown away by something.

"Could it be that he has fallen into evil?" Zhong Qisheng looked around, "No, my garden is bright, what evil can there be?" ”

"Hey, Lin Hongxu, are you sick?" He shook it twice, and was about to reach out and pinch someone else, but he grabbed his wrist.

"They turned out to be his children! They! Lin Hong was stunned, and suddenly stopped when he said this, biting his lower lip tightly, as if trying to restrain himself from saying it.

"Whose children are they?" Zhong Qisheng tried to break the hand that Lin Hongyu was holding, but his strength became stronger and stronger, and Zhong Qisheng shouted in pain.

"Let go, let go!"

Lin Hongyu was still muttering to himself: "His child, his child, so ......" said as he burst into tears.