Chapter 172

After entering the wax moon, time flies like a fly. Busy preparing New Year's goods, sprinkling and dusting, before you know it, the winter solstice is just around the corner.

It is said that the winter solstice is as big as the year, and worshipping ancestors on this day is a rule handed down by the ancestors. is to move out of the old house, as the eldest grandson of the long house, Yuan Changqing also needs to pay tribute to his ancestors. What's more, now he is proud of the spring breeze - at the beginning of the year, he was promoted to the attendant of the Hanlin Academy, and at the end of the year, he actually took the post of washing horses in the Zhan Mansion. Everyone knows that the people of the Zhan Mansion can be said to be the backbone of the auxiliary prince. From this appointment alone, a discerning person can see that it is obvious that the crown prince is cultivating Yuan Changqing as a future important minister. Therefore, the attitude of the Yuan family towards Yuan Changqing immediately changed from ignoring it at the beginning to deliberately currying favor now.

On the eve of the winter solstice, many people in the clan politely said to Shanniang when they came to visit: "This year, the snow is heavy and the weather is cold, and the wind is blowing everywhere in the ancestral hall. "Even when Aunt Jiu came to visit the door, she didn't forget to tell Shanniang to say this, but Master Yuan Si didn't mention it anymore.

Yuan Changqing also considered that the weather was cold, so he discussed with Shanniang and asked her to stay at home with Yuan Yi. Shanniang thought that the fourth master had mentioned this sentence before, but now she was silent, she was afraid that she would be picked on by the old lady and the fourth lady if she was wrong, so she shook her head and said, "It's not good." The house said that before, but now it is silent again, and it is obvious that they are digging a pit waiting for us. If I really don't go, they may have to show people that I am disrespectful. I'm not going to be fooled by this! ”

Yuan Changqing looked at her and opened her mouth, as if she was about to say something, but after thinking about it, she swallowed back the words that came to her mouth. Shanniang thought that he wanted to continue to persuade her, but she didn't care. Looking back, Yuan Changqing quietly instructed Sanhe and a few, telling them to follow Shanniang on the day of the winter solstice, and they were not allowed to leave her for a single step.

It was still snowing on the day of the winter solstice.

Shanniang herself had to go, but she didn't want her son to suffer, so she left Yuan Yi at home, and listened to Yuan Changqing's advice, and arranged for the careful Mother Li to stay and take care of him, and she took Mother Hua, Sanhe, Wufu Liu'an, and Hulala's seven or eight daughters-in-law and son-in-law out of the door.

When sitting in the carriage, Shanniang looked back at the big carriage that followed behind, and smiled at Yuan Changqing: "Is it necessary to put up this battle?" It makes people think I'm frivolous. ”

Yuan Changqing said calmly: "It's not a big deal to be careful." ”

Shan Niang blinked, turned her head to look at Yuan Changqing, and stopped squeaking. The couple has been married for a long time, and no matter how Yuan Changqing has an iron face that can't see the clues, she can also easily detect his thoughts - obviously Yuan Changqing felt something, but she was not sure, this was for fear of making her worry in vain, so she made these arrangements.

At first, Shanniang really didn't think that anything might happen today, and the whole ancestor worship process was very smooth, until according to the custom, when all the clansmen gathered together for a reunion dinner, she felt that something was not right.

In previous years, the New Year's banquet was held in the Yuan Mansion, and the men were in the front hall and the women were in the flower hall, and they all gathered around a large table to eat. This year, the fourth lady played "amorous". The men feasted in the small plum blossom grove behind the old lady's Xuanyi Hall, while the women were all taken to the warm pavilion in the back garden. And it's not that everyone eats around a table, but learns the ancient style, one person gives an independent small table, and everyone's meal is also divided into small portions and sent separately.

The fourth lady also smiled at Shanniang: "I heard that this is a trend that arose from your father's wonderful garden, and now even the palace has learned such a way." ”

The old lady also smiled: "It's okay like this, it's the same every year, and it's not bad to look at the novelty now." So saying, he took up his glass and greeted the people with great hospitality.

Shanniang smiled and picked up the wine glass, but she didn't let the wine glass touch her lips - if there was no Yuan Changqing's vigilance before; If she didn't know that Yuan Yongmei eloped with someone, instead of "sending her to the countryside to recuperate" as the old lady sighed with others; If she hadn't been sure, if Yuan Yongmei hadn't been found, the fourth lady would no longer have the heart to come up with these tricks, and she might not really be suspicious. But once she became suspicious, she would never touch any wine or food on this small table again.

She pretended to eat and drink, but quietly threw all the food and drink into the bowl beside her. After finding a vacancy, she turned around and instructed Sanhe: "You go to the master's place to have a look and tell him to be careful." ”

Because the place in the garden warm pavilion is not large, so only one or two people can be left around to wait, so Shanniang only brought three and five blessings into the warm pavilion, and Lu'an and Mother Hua were left outside the warm pavilion.

Sanhe said: "The master said, so that none of us can leave the lady." ”

Shanniang knew that Yuan Changqing should also be on guard. It's just that although she knows Yuan Changqing's ability, she is still not at ease after all, and said: "You go out and ask Lu'an to go, I don't worry." Now that I think about it, even arranging their female dependents in this cramped warm pavilion and not allowing more people to be around should be part of the calculation.

I don't know if the target of the Yuan family's calculations today is her or Yuan Changqing, but now in addition to being vigilant, Shanniang has no better idea for a while.

Sanhe nodded silently, then turned around and went out.

As soon as she went out, Shanniang saw that the eyes of the old lady and the fourth lady were almost glued to Sanhe's back. Suddenly, she was even more convinced that something must be going on today. After a while, Sanhe came in again and nodded at Shanniang. Shanniang breathed a sigh of relief.

The old lady looked at Sanhe, then at Shanniang, and suddenly pointed to the little few in front of Shanniang and smiled: "Why didn't I see you move chopsticks?" But not to your taste? Your fourth aunt also specially invited a cook who can cook Jiangnan cuisine, it seems that the craftsmanship is still not authentic. ”

Shanniang hurriedly smiled: "Not really. I don't know what's wrong with it in the last few days, and I don't have a good appetite. ”

The fourth lady covered her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled: "Don't what's the situation again, right?" ”

The old lady also said with a concerned face: "Yes, Ah Hao is also two years old, you can also prepare for another one, so that he will be lonely and lonely." He added, "It's snowing so hard today, I said I would send a letter to you, don't come over, your mother and son, because you're fast, and my people haven't gone out yet, but you've all arrived." It's a shame that you guys are still clever and didn't bring Ah Hao here. ”

The women echoed the pretense of affection, and toasted each other from afar—of course, the drink was still in the bowl—and the unwitting came over to flatter the old lady and Shanniang, saying that they had never seen such a harmonious family again. When Shanniang heard this, she suddenly sneered in her heart.

Shanniang was always on guard here, but to her surprise, she had never encountered anything unusual until the end of the banquet. Except that when she got up to change her clothes, the fourth lady smiled and said that she was going too, and followed her step by step, as if she was afraid that she would run away halfway. On the way back, she wanted to ask Mother Hua and Lu'an about Yuan Changqing's situation, but she was tightly pampered by the fourth lady, telling her that she couldn't get that opportunity.

When it was time to end the feast, the old lady kept some elders, saying that she had something new to show to everyone, and then said to Shanniang with a kind face: "It's cold outside, don't go to the front and bump into it, go to me first." I'll send someone to call Da Lang to pick you up. As he spoke, he pulled up Shanniang without saying anything, and invited everyone to go to the Xuanyi Hall together.

Suddenly, Shanniang only felt the cold hairs on the back of her neck stand on end - you know, the male guests are all in the small plum forest behind Xuanyitang!

She immediately understood that this conspiracy was obviously aimed at Yuan Changqing!

She glanced at Sanhe. Sanhe nodded slightly, and when everyone came out, he quietly went to the crowd to find Mother Hua and Lu'an. To her surprise, she didn't find either of them.

When a maid saw her looking around, she smiled and said, "But looking for Mother Hua and Sister Lu'an?" He said, "The uncle was drunk, and someone called Mother Hua and Lu'an away." ”

Sanhe was startled and hurriedly caught up with Shanniang. At this time, the old lady was holding Shanniang's hand, and she couldn't report the news to her for a while, so she had to be secretly anxious.

She was in a hurry, and Shanniang, who was always paying attention to her movements, saw that she hadn't found Mother Hua, and she was also anxious. And the old lady who was holding Shanniang seemed to be in a hurry, and walked a little faster than usual on the path where the snow had just stopped. So, before she could go far, the old lady didn't pay attention and almost slipped. Thanks to her, she pulled Shanniang, and Shanniang subconsciously helped her, so she didn't make her fall.

The old lady's slip surprised Shanniang, but she calmed down suddenly, and then helped the old lady and said deliberately: "Although the snow has stopped, the snow on this road has not had time to clear, and it is too dangerous to walk over like this." We are young, and it is nothing to fall, the old lady and several old ancestors are old, but we can't stand a fall. Why don't we go back first, and wait for someone to carry the warm sedan car before we go over. ”

The old lady said, "It's okay, everyone walks slowly, and you can enjoy the snow by the way." Saying that, he didn't dare to support Shanniang, who looked quite thin, but found a strong woman to support her.

Shan Niang, who was freed, immediately quietly stepped back. Wait for Sanhe to catch up. Three and three came over in two steps, whispered the situation to Shanniang, and said: "Don't worry, madam, the master has already been on guard, and it shouldn't be possible to suffer." ”

Shanniang nodded, she didn't squeak, but her heart was heavy - if there was nothing wrong with Yuan Changqing, how could Mother Hua and Lu'an disappear? So, something must have happened!