CHAPTER XXVI

Although Yuan Changqing's maternal ancestor Zhongsu Bo Fang Zhi was a member of the military, he was known for his old scheming and deep calculation. Zhongsu Bo has three sons and one daughter, among all the children and grandchildren, only the only grandson, Yuan Changqing, is as cautious as him at a young age.

At this time, the cautious Yuan Changqing was behind the bookcase, carefully looking at the huge pedigree chart in front of him.

The old shopkeeper of the carpentry shop peeked at him for a long time, but he couldn't hold back, and stepped forward and asked: "I don't know what the uncle wants to do with this Hou clan genealogy, but what is there to report to the old uncle?" ”

Yuan Changqing waved his hand and said concisely: "No." ”

Although his grandfather, who is in charge of a side of the army, has the ability to shelter him, but the current situation in the court is complicated, and the person sitting above is not a virtuous monarch, not to mention that because of his fourth uncle's attack on the lord before, the grandfather and the one in the palace have already had a quarrel, and now they are quite suspicious, but it is not good to ask the grandfather's family to confront those people at such a sensitive moment for these trivial things.

Moreover, he has always been reluctant to let people see his shortcomings, even if they are close ones. Even if he encounters a problem, he would rather find a solution by himself.

He looked down at the pedigree chart, but he didn't know that the old shopkeeper was peeking at him.

The young man in front of him was tall and thin, with cold eyebrows. The fair complexion made a pair of dark eyes even deeper, and the old shopkeeper couldn't help but think of this master's name in the capital: the flower of Kaolin.

It is on the top of a high mountain, and you can only see it from afar, but you can't get close......

"Huh?"

Suddenly, the "Kaolin Flower" raised its head, and its black and straight eyebrows suddenly rose.

The old shopkeeper was startled, and then realized that he had been staring at this young master for too long. He hurriedly coughed lightly in disguise, stepped forward, pointed to the family chart on the table, and explained the situation of the Hou family one by one:

"This Hou family can be regarded as prosperous, the last generation of the old Hou has seven or eight sons, and the only son-in-law has only one grandson - that is, the current Hou Old Lady. Old lady Hou marries his wife, Yuan Yang Meng's ......"

He paused and quietly looked at Yuan Changqing. Yuan Changqing's step-grandmother, who always likes to pretend to be kind, was also born in the Yuanyang Meng family.

His pause made Yuan Changqing raise his eyebrows again.

So the old shopkeeper hurriedly lowered his head, and then said: "The old lady has seven sons and eight daughters under his knees, among which only the eldest master and the fifth master are born to Mrs. Meng, and the others are all concubines......

Yuan Changqing listened intently to the old shopkeeper's story, and at the same time, he seemed to inadvertently ask some details that the old shopkeeper felt strange from time to time. And if the old shopkeeper had the ability to see the subtleties like Uncle Zhongsu, I am afraid that he would have noticed that the focus of his young master's attention was not the masters of the Hou family, but the girls who were to be married.

As for Yuan Changqing, although he could also inquire directly from the old shopkeeper about the news of the Hou family's girls, he didn't want people to see through his thoughts, let alone let people know that his marriage was in jeopardy.

After the old shopkeeper left, Yuan Changqing stared at the family tree for a long time, while silently digesting the information in his heart.

The Hou family really has a large population, and among the daughters in the boudoir, there are as many as a dozen who have not yet come out of five suits.

Among these many unmarried girls, in order of age, the eldest is the second daughter of the eldest daughter, the seventh girl in the clan.

This seventh girl is sixteen this year, and according to rumors, it seems that she is discussing a kiss with the second assistant's family...... Of course, as long as you don't make up your mind for a day, everything is possible.

Under the seven girls, she is the daughter of the third room, the eleventh girl

The eleventh girl is now fifteen, with a dignified character and a gentle personality, and she is a light person who refuses to speak.

Further down, there is the thirteen mothers on the mansion of the fifth master.

This thirteen niang is fourteen this year, and she has always been famous, and it is said that she is the pearl of the old lady in the house, and she is very favored......

Suddenly, a light purple figure flashed in front of Yuan Changqing's eyes, and the corners of his lips that seemed to be smiling.

At this time, if there was a mirror on the bookcase, Yuan Changqing would be surprised to find that the corners of his lips were curling a similar arc with the curved arc in his memory.

Realizing that he had lost his mind, Yuan Changqing shook his head and refocused his attention on the genealogy.

Hou Thirteen down, it is the fourteenth girl under the knee of the second master.

This fourteen-year-old girl was the same age as thirteen, only a month younger than the one, and she was a lively and cheerful woman, and it is said that she was also quite favored by the old lady.

The others, either of their age, or the girls of the side lineage, would not be considered by the two Meng clans.

Behind the bookcase, Yuan Changqing's fingers behind his back twisted slightly, and his straight eyebrows frowned. After thinking for a while, he stretched out his fingers, and his fingertips gently wiped the name of Hou Feng, the old man of the fifth room.

The old shopkeeper once joked before: "These five masters are the most unique one in the Hou family, they are not good at business, nor do they like to socialize, and they are only addicted to pen and ink all day long." People say that if it weren't for the old lady who privately subsidized it, maybe the fifth room would have been defeated by the fifth master. ”

Among the many girls in the Hou family, although the most noble status is the seventh girl from the concubine, but the old lady and his fourth uncle in the family are afraid that he is "not worthy" of that one. Therefore, in his opinion, it is the fifth master of the idle clouds and wild cranes, as well as the thirteen girls in his family, who are more likely to fall into their eyes.

However, it is a little regrettable that this Hou Thirteen is a concubine, and his face-loving step-grandmother is happy in her heart, and I am afraid that she will hesitate because she is afraid of attracting criticism.

As for the eleventh girl, she is a concubine, but her father is a concubine, so I am afraid that the old lady Meng of the Hou Mansion will not be happy.

Yuan Changqing silently weighed it in his heart for a long time, and felt that after all, it was still possible that the fifth old man's mansion would be selected.

Thinking of the fifth master, the corners of his lips with a smile suddenly jumped out in front of his eyes.

That Hou Thirteen, who is obviously so soft and glutinous and petite, is so perverse in his biased manners, he opens his mouth to say one thing, and his subordinates do another......

What a different person!

And obviously gave this Hou Thirteen a very bad definition, but Yuan Changqing found that he couldn't feel bad for her......

…… In fact, if he was willing, as long as he hinted at it, his fourth uncle and the old lady would also be happy to push the boat along the river - he could even imagine how his "grandmother" would spoil and helplessly tell Meng Guifei in the palace how her eldest grandson only loved Hou Thirteen, and asked her to be an elder who would have nothing to do with him, but as long as the child liked it, the other party's identity was a little worse...... And so on and so forth.

Fingers swiped the name of the fifth master again, and the corners of Yuan Changqing's lips were slightly raised, but he didn't realize that he had once again learned someone's signature expression.

At this moment, the little guy Jufeng said outside the door: "Second Master Lin is here." ”

Yuan Changqing came back to his senses from his contemplation, and while rolling up the genealogy chart on the bookcase, he said "please".

When Lin Ruting came in, he saw him standing behind the bookcase, and said with a smile: "I didn't bother you, did you?" ”

"Where." Yuan Changqing said, went over and led Lin Ruting to the side of the table to sit down, and asked again, "Why is Senior Brother here?" Isn't this time supposed to be in school? ”

Lin Ruting smiled: "It's not for you. Yesterday, when my grandfather was taking the homework, you compared me with Ruxuan, and my grandfather had a heart of love for talent, and asked me to ask you, would you like to come to Meishan Academy to study? ”

This Lin Ruting is Lin Zhonghai's eldest son and Lin Ruzhi's own brother. Although his father worked in Xinglin Academy in Beijing, he was left to study in Meishan Academy since he was a child, and by the way, he also helped his elder brother and uncle and grandfather with some daily affairs of the academy.

Another little guy served tea. Yuan Changqing paused, and then said with some affirmation: "I'm afraid this is what the teacher meant." ”

Lin Ruting raised his eyebrows from the teacup and looked at Yuan Changqing, put down the teacup and sighed: "That's what my father meant." Grandfather also thinks that it is better for you to avoid the capital in the past few years. At least at Meishan Academy, you can study with peace of mind. ”

After the two exchanged glances, they couldn't help but be silent for a while. Nineteen-year-old Lin Ruting has always had a career in his career, not to mention the farce in the court at the beginning of the year.

Let's say that Meng Guifei in the harem has been favored for many years, and the four princes who are growing up have different thoughts, coupled with the partiality of the one above, so that the East Palace is in a difficult situation, and it is easy to blame. At the beginning of the year, because of the fact that the fifth prince Zhou Chong was studying at the Royal Xinglin Academy, some people insisted on participating in a book, saying that the five princes were recruiting troops for the prince and establishing the so-called "Taizi Party". Anyone with a discerning eye knows that the fifth prince is only fourteen or fifteen years old, and the people he interacts with are all children who are only in their teens. So there was another scuffle above the court. Although in the end the cabinet rejected the reluctant, but only at the person above did not reprimand or belittle, you can know that the person is afraid that his heart is shaken.

Yuan Changqing sighed and said to Lin Ruting: "I'm afraid that senior brother will not be suitable for teachers in the past few years." ”

"yes." Lin Ruting sighed, reached over and patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Fortunately, we are all still young, and we have a long way to come, and we can endure it for a while, and we will eventually be able to keep the clouds open one day." After a pause, he added, "That's what he meant." ”

Although Lin Ruting's words were unknown, Yuan Changqing knew that the "one" he was referring to was His Royal Highness the Crown Prince who had to keep his door behind closed doors now.

And indeed, the future is not in a hurry, he is only sixteen now, and there will always be a day when the clouds will be opened. It's just that this matter of marrying a wife, I'm afraid that he can't make his own decisions...... Fortunately, just marry a woman, as long as you are careful, pick a sensible person, and marry it, just find a housekeeper for the inner house......

Accompanying Lin Ruting to drink tea, Yuan Changqing was silent for a while.

At this moment, there was a sudden commotion from afar, and when I listened carefully, it was the voices of Zhou Chong and Lin Ruzhi.

"Why?!" Zhou Chong shouted loudly as he walked.

"It's up to you to lose your manners one by one!" Lin Ruzhi also shouted unrelentingly.

With the sound of the dispute, without waiting for the little guy to communicate, the door that was originally half-hidden was vigorously pushed open. Walking in the forefront were Zhou Chong and Lin Ruzhi, who were staring at each other. Lin Ruxuan followed behind them helplessly.

"What's wrong?" Lin Ruting asked before Yuan Changqing.

Lin Ruzhi only hurriedly saluted her brother, then went over and grabbed Yuan Changqing's sleeve, pulled him to the side of the bookcase, and took out a blank prayer post from the side of the worship box and slapped it on the bookcase, while pushing Yuan Changqing and said, "Senior brother also writes!" ”

"Write what?"

"Apology post!" Lin Ruzhi glared at her apricot eyes, "We were all too rude yesterday, and we have to apologize to the thirteenth sister anyway." Quick, write! ”

The little girl unceremoniously stuffed a brush into Yuan Changqing's hand.

Yuan Changqing raised his eyebrows and looked at Zhou Chong and Lin Ruxuan in confusion.

Lin Ruxuan stepped forward and said with a smile: "Let's just write, what is the reason why you ask Yuan Boss to write?" He didn't show up. ”

That Yuan Changqing is actually one year younger than Lin Ruxuan, but because he is a deep and thoughtful person, even Lin Ruxuan, who is older than him, can't help but willingly follow Zhou Chong and call him "boss".

Zhou Chong was unconvinced: "What a big deal! also wrote a post to apologize. What's more, she didn't suffer any losses yesterday! ”

"I don't care," Lin Ruzhi stomped her feet and said, "She is the friend I want to make, but I was offended by you, unless you apologize to me seriously one by one, otherwise I don't have the face to be friends with her!" He urged Yuan Changqing again: "Write!" ”

Yuan Changqing looked down at the post on the bookcase, raised his head and said, "But as your third brother said, I didn't show up, if the thirteenth girl knew that I was watching in the dark...... Maybe I'll be even angrier. ”

"That's ......" Lin Ruzhi hesitated for a while.

Yuan Changqing said again: "However, what happened in my store, I will write an apology post in the name of the shopkeeper." He sat down and wrote the post, and asked Lin Ruzhi, "Are you going to come to the door?" ”

"Yes," Lin Ruzhi said, "If you don't write, I don't have the face to go." As he spoke, he took out another blank post from the post box and gave it to Zhou Chong, "Look, Senior Brother Yuan has written it, what reason do you have not to write?!" ”

Yuan Changqing finished writing the post, put down his pen, looked at Zhou Chong and smiled: "Didn't you want to ask about the origin of the embroidery?" I think you'd better write it obediently. In short, you were reckless yesterday. ”

"Manly man, apologize to a woman......" Zhou Chong pouted, very unhappy in his heart. But since Boss Yuan spoke, and he also thought about the embroidery that looked like "jade embroidery", he sat down behind the bookcase to apologize.

On the side, Lin Ruting listened with a smile all the time, and only then did he ask, "Can any of you tell me what happened?" ”

So Lin Ruzhi told him about yesterday's incident. She deliberately wanted to cover up for Shanniang, so she didn't mention the things in the alley, but that paragraph was Zhou Chong's favorite, so she hurriedly wrote the post randomly, came over to continue the conversation, and made up the "Thirteen Girls' Transformation Story" that Lin Ruzhi refused to say.

Lin Ruting was surprised for a while, "What did you say...... Is it really Hou Sanniang?! ”

Unlike Lin Ruxuan, who had just come back, Lin Ruting had been studying in Meishan Academy, so he was more familiar with Hou Shanniang than everyone here, but he felt that the Thirteen Niang they described was like two people in his memory.

Yuan Changqing's eyes flashed slightly, but he didn't ask questions himself, only looked at Lin Ruzhi.

So Lin Ruzhi really did as he wished, and Baba asked, "Second brother, tell me, what is the thirteenth sister you know?" ”

So, Lin Ruting described to everyone a thirteen girl who knew how to advance and retreat, knew how to look, and was extremely polite before and after, "I can't imagine that a person like her would do anything that is not in line with etiquette." He shook his head and smiled.

Yuan Changqing listened, and the fingertips behind his back unconsciously twisted again.

If he really couldn't escape the calculations of his family, these thirteen girls should have been the most suitable person - a person who knows how to advance and retreat, and who is polite and polite, should also be a person who knows the balance in each other's hearts, and will not ask him to waste his energy where he should not spend his energy. It's a pity that these thirteen girls still have another face hidden behind them......

Although he doesn't seem to hate it very much, Yuan Changqing doesn't like accidents, and he doesn't like uncontrollable accidents, so he thinks that maybe the cautious and silent Eleven Niang is more suitable.

*・*・*

So, near noon on this day, Shanniang, who had planned to take care of her family affairs, suddenly received a stack of apology posts. In addition, there is also a letter from Lin Ruzhi Lin who is about to come to visit her in the afternoon.