Ruixiang Prince's Mansion. Shu Ji Piggyback

This is Duanmu Hao's study, much more spacious than the study of ordinary people, there is a low couch in it, the innermost side is the furnishings of the study, the wide Nanmu bookshelf, the desk made of gold-winged wood, all kinds of ornaments are readily available, many but not chaotic, placed in an orderly manner, the incense burner on the desk is placed in the incense piece of the southern tribute, the taste is fresh and pleasant.

This room can be used as a study, but also can be used to receive more familiar friends, and the friends who can enter here must be the most trusted friends of the owner.

Zhuang Meiyan sat on a low couch, sitting cross-legged, sitting opposite the desk of the low couch was Duanmu Hao, the prince of Ruixiang, and the man in cloth with clear eyebrows sitting sideways in front of her was Qiu Yutang, Qiu Yutang stretched out three fingers to probe Zhuang Meiyan's wrist, his brows were slightly wrinkled, his veins were broken slightly, Duanmu Hao's body leaned slightly, and his expression was concerned.

After a short time, Qiu Yutang's eyebrows stretched, and he turned his face to Duanmu Hao and said, "Lord Wang, the third girl is fine. ”

Duanmu Hao was slightly relieved, and then remembered something again, and said, "There was no root cause of that illness last time, right?"

Qiu Yutang smiled and said, "The medicine of the prince is good, and the third girl is naturally cured by the medicine." ”

Speaking of Yaoyin, Zhuang Meiyan's face turned red, and his expression was quite uncomfortable, but Duanmu Hao smiled knowingly, and Qiu Yutang arched his hand again and left.

After Qiu Yutang left, Zhuang Meiyan sat for a while, and then bowed and said, "Son, Meiyan has caused you trouble again." ”

"The charm is separated from me. The voice is gentle, and the smile is like the wind.

Zhuang Meiyan didn't dare to look at those eyes for some reason, quietly lowered his head, and said, "Meiyan and the princess--"

"That's your business, strictly speaking, Qing'er's girl is really lawless, relying on the favor of the royal brother and sister-in-law, some things have gone too far. This time, fortunately, Concubine Fu's mother and son are safe, otherwise that girl almost ruined the life of a prince of my Great Xia Dynasty, and the crime is great!" Duanmu Hao said.

The royal brother was very annoyed by this matter, he had already crowned the concubine as a concubine, promoted two levels in a row, and promised to add the title of prince when the little prince became an adult. The queen also rewarded Concubine Fu and the little prince with a lot of things, and visited them several times in person. ”

"Also, the emperor and queen remembered that you had twice rescued and meritorious service, and specially issued a decree to allow you to enter and leave the palace at will from now on to visit Concubine Fu. ”

Duanmu Hao said tactfully, Zhuang Meiyan could hear it, although the emperor and queen were very "annoyed" by the little princess's mistakes, but they only rewarded Jiang Fubai with items, named her a concubine, and promised her future glory and wealth, and did not mention a word about the punishment of the little princess Duanmuqing, obviously deliberately covering up.

Zhuang Meiyan was noncommittal, lowered her head and smiled, and suddenly said: "Childe, what if Sister Jiang's child can't be saved because of this accident? Or if Sister Jiang is hurt, will the initiator be punished accordingly?"

Duanmu Hao had long expected her to ask this question, he knew that this woman was only weak on the surface, and her heart was extremely tenacious, even stubborn, and if she didn't give her an explanation at this time, she would not be able to end up in the end.

"The emperor has punished Princess Qing for being grounded in the harem for a month, and she has thought about it behind closed doors. ”

Grounded, for a month, such a punishment is already light, and Zhuang Meiyan still smiled silently.

"Meiyan, yesterday's incident, that girl has been scared enough, I have never seen that girl scared, I think she will restrain herself in the future. ”

Duanmu Hao said so tactfully, Zhuang Mei was sure that he must have asked for something, sure enough, Duanmu Hao glanced at her, and continued: "That girl asked me to intercede with you, saying that she already knew that she was wrong, but the matter of Chenglou admitting her mistake should be avoided, it is a matter of royal dignity, but it is not her honor and disgrace alone." ”

Zhuang Meiyan knew that Duanmu Hao suddenly invited her into the mansion, and she should have come for the day before yesterday. Seeing that Zhuang Meiyan was silent in thought, Duanmu Hao smiled and said: "Meiyan doesn't have to be embarrassed, if you want me to say it, you should frustrate the majesty of that girl." It's just that this matter has been happy for a while, but I want to offend the queen and even the emperor, which is more important, and I will never say anything. ”

Laughing like a spring breeze, Duanmu Hao looked at her with a smile like no one, and Zhuang Meiyan was a little moved in her heart. All along, every step of her growth is actually inseparable from his help. In fact, the comprador made a special trip to buy her wine under his suggestion, so that she earned the first large amount of silver taels, and later the trading ground and dock where the two countries exchanged trade, were also inseparable from his support.

Thinking of this, Zhuang Meiyan bowed slightly and said: "What the son said is very true, the things of the day before yesterday were also reckless, and now my sister is fine, and the mother and son are safe, so everyone is happy." ”

Duanmu Hao knew that she had always been jealous and hateful, and he was originally worried that she would not agree, and he was afraid that she would be wronged in this temperament, so he weighed it again and again before saying it, but now he saw her full of promises, and his heart was happy.

"I'm relieved that you can think like this, when you enter the palace in the future, you will often enter the palace to deal with the concubines in the palace, there are many rules in the palace, this is not that you are talking about business in the trade field, you have to learn slowly in the future." ”

"Yes!"

Zhuang Meiyan's voice was low, Duanmu Hao's gaze became more and more gentle, and he looked at her quietly. The woman in front of him was personally selected by him, at first, the purpose of his visit to Qiyang Mountain was not because of this, in the late autumn of that year, he heard a song, a very familiar singing.

Ge Sheng Mengchu, vines in the wild. Yu Mei died here, who was alone.

At that time, he didn't know that he had met a woman who could affect the fate of his life. The first time they met, her girlish shyness did not attract his attention, and when they met again in the snow, her free-spirited and unrestrained personality made him excited, and he was also impressed by the humility and arrogance between the answers, the persistence of winemaking made him admired, and the development of the trading ground and the wharf surprised him even more with this woman's boldness.

If she were a man, I was afraid that he wouldn't dare to use her!

Fortunately, she is just a woman!

"I heard that the day before yesterday, there was a mysterious wealthy businessman in the capital, known as the 'three girls', who made a generous move, scattered money and prayed for blessings on Antianmen Street, making thousands of people empty, and even the most lively Xuanwu Street was deserted. Duanmu Hao smiled lightly.

Zhuang Meiyan said proudly: "Son, don't make fun of Meiyan anymore, it's all said that Meiyan is doing things abruptly." ”

Listening to her soft words, Duanmu Hao's smile became even stronger.

Zhuang Meiyan is low-key and never quiet, and even her family doesn't know that her current identity is the famous "Three Girls" in Qiyang Town, and she holds the economic lifeline of the north in her hands. Her income brings in a third of the tax revenue of the Musou Country, and to put it bluntly, with her current power, she is definitely a figure who can cause national turmoil with a stomp.

And she sat there, smiling with her head down, exactly the same as when she first saw him, gentle and shy. She hasn't changed at all, has she?

There was a sudden sound on the screen in front of the door, Zhuang Meiyan raised his head suddenly, Duanmu Hao also frowned slightly, and asked unhappily, "Who is there?"

"Lord Wang, it's a concubine. A pretty figure flashed behind the screen, with her sleeves raised lightly and a clever smile, "The concubine recently learned a fresh dish, and she just made it, so she wanted to send it to the prince to try it." ”

The person who came turned out to be Duanmu Hao's side princess Zuo Siru, who was holding a carved tray with a steaming dish on it.

In fact, when she didn't come in, Zhuang Meiyan had already smelled a strong fragrance, and now Zuo Siru personally carried the small yellow jar into the house, and the taste was even stronger and mouth-watering.

Zuo Siru put the jar on the table, and gently opened the lid of the altar with her bare hands, the fragrance was overflowing, and the various materials in it were dazzling.

"It turned out to be a 'Buddha jumping over the wall' in the south. Zhuang Meiyan glanced at it, her face was as usual, and she didn't show any surprise.

Duanmu Hao nodded and said: "Such a good taste, sure enough, the Buddha can't help but jump over the wall to taste it when he smells it, Ru'er has a heart." This dish is so complicated just by looking at the appearance, it must be very difficult to make. ”

Duanmu Hao said that he liked it, but in fact, he just picked up the spoon and scooped a sip of soup to drink, and did not continue to taste it, but said to Zhuang Meiyan beside him: "You can also taste Meiyan, but it is good." ”

This comment was not what Zuo Siru wanted, or it was far from what she imagined, and this scene was far from what she expected. She put a lot of thought into making this dish, whether it was the selection of materials, or the heat, she did it many times, and this time it was finally successful, and even the people who taught her to make this dish were full of praise, but the prince just said "good", and when he said this, his eyes were still looking at another woman and said.

This dish is a famous dish in the south, and no one in the capital has ever tasted it, and it took a lot of effort for her to invite a southerner who can make this dish. In Zuo Siru's imagination, Duanmu Hao would definitely show a look of surprise, and then he served him food while decrypting it, how pleasant the process was!

But the atmosphere was ruined by the ugly girl at the beginning, she opened her mouth to reveal the origin of the name of the dish, which made the prince lose all interest, and her own plan was also ruined by her.

Zuo Siru secretly held a grudge in her heart, her face was still full of spring breeze, and she said with a smile: "My sister is really well-informed. Ru'er had long heard from the prince that her sister was smart, and she really lived up to her reputation. By the way, last time the prince ate a dish at his sister's place, what is it called bitter vegetable tofu, and the prince came back and praised it. Ru'er has also done it a few times, but she has used many methods and has never been able to get rid of the bitter taste of Cai, so she wants to ask her sister for advice. ”

The authentic "Buddha jumping over the wall" is not strong in fragrance before the lid is uncovered, but very light, so Zuo Siru's technology is not at home, no wonder Duanmu Hao avoids talking about it, and Zhuang Meiyan is even more unlikely to be judged, and now I hear her say that she wants to remove the bitter taste of bitter herbs, and she can't help but smile.

This smile looked absolutely ironic to Zuo Siru, she frowned slightly, and then smiled: "It turns out that my sister is reluctant to teach this secret recipe, so she keeps it for herself to eat, so it is Ru'er's hairpin." ”

Zuo Siru pursed her lips with a blank expression. Duanmu Hao took her hand and sat down on the couch, and said with a smile: "You don't have to ask her about this secret recipe, just ask this king, and this king can tell you." ”

Zuo Siru asked curiously, "What?"

"Silly girl, bitter herbs, bitter herbs, not bitter herbs, what bitter herbs are called! Duanmu Hao smiled happily, shook his head and said: "In fact, the best taste in the world is the original taste, without carving, Ru'er can remember?"

"Ru'er remembers, thank you for the teachings!" Zuo Siru smiled skillfully, snuggling Duanmu Hao's body intentionally or unintentionally, and at the same time glanced at Zhuang Meiyan slightly smugly, with a somewhat conceited expression.

Seeing this, Zhuang Meiyan knew that it was not suitable for him to continue to stay at this time, so he quickly got up and said goodbye.

Zuo Siru hurriedly called out to her, got up very enthusiastically and took her hand and said: "Sister, I am about to visit the lady of the Marquis of Changxin's mansion, why don't we go together, we can still say some considerate words along the way, do you think so?"

Zuo Siru was very considerate to ask Duanmu Hao's opinion, and Duanmu Hao naturally nodded in agreement.

Zhuang Meiyan thought, she hadn't visited Mrs. Tai for a long time, if Zuo Siru went and said that she walked with her and couldn't enter the door, the old man would probably be sad. Therefore, Zhuang Meiyan said: "It just so happens that Meiyan also wants to visit Mrs. Tai, but she just disturbs my sister." ”

The two of them took the carriage of the palace to the mansion of the Marquis of Changxin, and there was nothing to say all the way, Zhuang Meiyan just saw a piece of peiyu tied around Zuo Siru's waist, the shape was somewhat familiar, and it seemed that he had seen it somewhere. Later, when I thought about it, I suddenly remembered that it was the first time Zuo Siru saw herself in the Zhuangjia Courtyard, when she was looking for a piece of peiyu, and she looked flustered.

Zuo Siru noticed that Zhuang Meiyan was looking at her peiyu, pursed her lips and smiled: "This piece of jade was given to me by the prince, and I almost lost it five years ago, but my sister helped me find it!"

Zhuang Meiyan recalled the slightly shy look on Zuo Siru's face at that time, and her heart suddenly understood.

Today's Changxin Marquis's mansion is much more deserted than the birthday banquet of Mrs. Tai that day, and the courtyard is full of birds.

Changxin Marquis has handed over the military power in his hands to his grandson Chu Yifan, he asked the emperor several times to resign and return to his hometown, but the emperor is very fond of his old minister, and he said that he did not answer anything, and the old marquis has since said that he is ill. The people in the court have always been very sensitive to this kind of thing, and they sniffed out the abnormalities in it, so the number of visitors gradually decreased.

Zhuang Meiyan and Zuo Siru went straight to Mrs. Tai's house in the backyard, and Mrs. Tai was very happy when she saw Zhuang Meiyan, and hugged her into her arms and asked long questions. Zuo Siru accompanied Mrs. Tai to say a few words of homely things, and took the opportunity to ask about the situation of the sisters in the garden.

Mrs. Tai smiled and said: "Now that the weather is getting hotter, they all go to the lake in the garden to enjoy the cool and play, I know that you young people like to gather together, Ah Xiu, take them over quickly!"

Zuo Siru also smiled: "I haven't come to the house for a long time, and the prince has instructed Ru'er to accompany Mrs. Tai specially." ”

Mrs. Tai shook her head and said: "It's a shame that the prince still remembers me as an old woman, and I'm tired at this time, and I want to be crooked for a while." Ru Yatou has already been the side princess, and it is difficult to come out of it, so let's get together with the sisters. Yan Yatou stayed, I have a few words to tell you. ”

Zuo Siru said goodbye with a smile and left.

Zhuang Meiyan still stayed in the room, and Mrs. Tai beckoned to her, motioning for her to sit beside her, and Zhuang Meiyan followed suit. Mrs. Tai took her hand, patted it gently, and asked with a kind face: "Yan'er, first I heard that everyone outside said that you are about to be happy, my wife only asks you a word, are you willing to do this side princess?"

Zhuang Mei didn't expect the old man to ask this sentence so bluntly, and slowly lowered his head.

In the back garden of the Marquis of Changxin's mansion, by the inner lake, the sound of women playing can be heard from afar. There is a row of weeping willows planted by the lake, and the trees are shady, plus the water's edge is guarded, which is particularly cool. Summer in Feng'an came early, although it was only early summer, and the weather was already so hot that people felt a little breathless.

There are many children and grandchildren in the Changxin Marquis's mansion, and Mrs. Tai is old and likes to be lively, so the grandchildren who have never been married in the back garden live in the back garden, and the children and grandchildren are around the knees, coaxing the old people to be happy. There are girls of the same age gathered in the pavilion by the lake, or to enjoy the cool, or to do some embroidery, and there are also conceited talents, and the brothers are against the poems, just because the garden is mostly flesh and blood sisters and brothers, and there are not too many scruples, and they are happy.

In the early years, when Zuo Siru and Zhuang Meiyu were not married, they often went to play in the Changxin Marquis Garden.

When Zhuang Meiyan came to the lake, they had already begun to guess and eat wine, and their laughter could be heard from afar.

"Sister Yu, why don't you come over with the painting boat, let's go to the lake to play. At this time, the water chestnut can be picked about a lot, and the palace remembers that I picked a lot of it in this lake last year, and brought it back to the queen mother to eat. ”

This voice sounds quite familiar, from the palace and the palace, Zhuang Meiyan glanced at it through the gap between the wickers, and there was a circle of girls sitting in the pavilion, and the first person sitting in the middle was not the naughty little princess.

Zhuang Meiyi, who was sitting at the bottom of her, held the wine glass and said with a smile: "Princess, please spare us." Last year, you drank too much wine in the painting boat, and you had to catch fish and pick lotus flowers, and you almost fell into the river. If you have a little mistake this year, how can we afford it!"

Zhuang Meiyan frowned slightly, didn't Duanmu Hao say that Duanmu Qing had been grounded for a month and was not allowed to leave the palace? Why did he go to the Changxin Marquis Mansion to drink and have fun today?

I heard the princess lower her voice and said: "Don't be so loud, okay?" Bengong secretly ran out to see you, and I was almost suffocated to death all day yesterday, and Bengong really would rather be punished than grounded. ”

Zhuang Meiyu personally filled the wine glass for the little princess, and said with a smile: "The princess relaxes, it is absolutely safe here, no one will say it." However, it is better for you to go back early, in case the emperor finds out, it will not be good. ”

Duanmuqing was originally in high spirits, but when she was hit by her, she was even more depressed, not to mention the garden, and even the drinking seemed to be out of mind.

Zhuang Meiyan was a little hesitant, if she passed, the little princess would be embarrassed, and everyone would not look good at that time. So she turned around and tried to go back the way she came.

After hesitating, someone in the pavilion had already seen her figure, and shouted, "Which room is the girl there?"

Zhuang Meiyan knew that she couldn't hide anymore, so she had to go around from behind the willow tree. Someone behind him smiled and said, "Miss Zhuang doesn't sit at the banquet, doesn't she think our family's wine is not good enough?"

As soon as Zhuang Meiyan turned around, he saw Chu Yifan leisurely with his arms folded, and Xiao Xuanchen walking with him, seeing the familiar face wearing a butterfly mask, Zhuang Meiyan's heart trembled inexplicably, and he didn't pay attention to Chu Yifan's ridicule.

Chu Yifan laughed, hung the two of them in place, and let them look at each other. He strode to the pavilion, looked around, and several sisters and brothers here sat together, except for the princess who was the chief, the others were intimate and intimate in no particular order, and there were no rules. This was exactly what he wanted, he came from the army, and he didn't like rules the most, so he smiled and picked up a place to sit down at random, and when he looked up, he happened to be sitting opposite the princess.

The little princess Duanmuqing had no momentum, and quietly fell to the ground, hanging her head and pretending to be drunk.

Chu Yifan also guessed the reason, secretly laughed, and said: "Brother Xiao, Miss Zhuang, if you don't come again, this banquet will be dispersed." ”

Zhuang Meiyan and Xiao Xuanchen woke up like a dream, and the two also sat down.

The joyful atmosphere in the banquet was obviously much less, Chu Yifan slapped the table, which startled Duanmu Qing, and she was about to be angry, but when she saw that the initiator was Chu Yifan, who was sitting opposite, she blushed and bit her lower lip.

Zhuang Meiyu, as the host and the oldest woman at the banquet, was busy playing a round and said: "Prince Xiao and Brother Chu can come over, it's the best, my sister hasn't come to play for a long time, today is the most crowded, and those who come late will be punished with three glasses of wine." ”

Zhuang Meiyan didn't like this kind of banquet, she drank very shallowly, but at this time, when she smelled the wine poured by the maid for her, it was the fruit wine she brewed, "private fragrance", also known as "monkey drunk", the greatest stamina, she was shocked in her heart. Zhuang Meiyu should know that her alcohol consumption is not good, but she persuaded her to drink like this, obviously intentionally to see her make a fool of herself, Zhuang Meiyan frowned slightly, and secretly glanced at her sister Zhuang Meiyu, Zhuang Meiyi's two sisters, and Zuo Siru, several of them looked at each other, and they were clearly colluding.

Zhuang Meiyan's brows furrowed even tighter, and the afterglow swept over Xiao Xuanchen on the side, who was indifferent, not even looking at herself, and suddenly there was an inexplicable anger in her heart.

Chu Yifan and Xiao Xuanchen were as relaxed as drinking water, three glasses of wine were no problem, and they happily received three glasses of fine wine. Zhuang Meiyu saw that Zhuang Meiyan was still hesitating, so she smiled and said: "My sister can't come to get together first, and she refuses to drink this time, isn't she angry with anyone?"

This sentence provoked really much, and there was no trace, outsiders heard it just a joke between sisters, but those who were interested could understand it, Duanmuqing's face sank. She picked up her wine glass and stood up, and said loudly to Zhuang Meiyan: "I, Duanmuqing, am by no means a person who does not speak of credibility, I lost that day......! I'm ......sorry!

She has the strongest nature, and it is not easy to say the words "sorry" in public, and the latter sentence can't be said anyway, she took the wine glass in a fit of anger, drank it all, and drank three glasses in a row.

Zhuang Meiyan's impression of this little princess has greatly improved, this person dares to act, although her temper is not good, compared to the person who hides a knife in her smile, she also has her cuteness.

Chu Yifan clapped his hands and said, "The princess is so courageous!"

The princess's face was impressive, and she didn't know whether she was drunk, or she was ashamed, her cheeks were as bright as red glow, red clouds, and she was extremely shy, and she was extremely beautiful. Chu Yifan held the wine glass, looked at her frequently, and smiled.

The crowd also applauded. Zhuang Meiyu took the wine glass and said with a smile: "The princess dares to act boldly, she is really a model for my generation." Shouldn't we all have a glass of wine for the sake of this pride?"

Everyone raised their glasses, and Zhuang Meiyu said to Zhuang Meiyan again: "Sister, the princess has said this, killing people is not enough, my sister is still reconciled with the princess, we are all good sisters." ”

The big gas sticker who said these words is really like a good big sister. Zhuang Meiyan knew that she would have something to do, so she smiled silently. I only heard Zhuang Meiyu continue: "Since the princess has already drunk three glasses of wine, my sister should also drink three more glasses to be considered a peace of wine!"

It seems that Zhuang Meiyu is doing everything possible to let herself drink. And in today's situation, if you don't drink these three glasses of wine, you will inevitably seem too stingy.

Zhuang Meiyan thought for a while, took the wine glass, and said: "What my sister said is that the princess is serious, and I acted abruptly yesterday, so the princess should not be blamed." ”

After saying this, Duanmu Qing's color was slightly darker, and Zhuang Meiyan also raised her glass and drank three glasses, and the atmosphere in the banquet became active again. The crowd either made a drinking order, or wrote poems and lyrics, which was lively and interesting.

Zhuang Meiyan drank three glasses of wine, her face suddenly turned red, her eyes were blurred, and her body was crooked, obviously drunk. Zhuang Meiyu and Zuo Siru quickly exchanged glances, and then looked away. Zhuang Meiyu whispered to the maid to help the drunk Zhuang Meiyan get off the table, and she waited for a while before she said that she was pregnant and couldn't sit for a long time, so she also withdrew.

Everyone was having a good time, and everyone didn't care that there were a few people missing.

After most of the hour, they suddenly heard a commotion in the garden, and there was a faint sound of a woman crying, and everyone couldn't help but wonder what had happened to Hao Duan.