Jinling, the old residence of Rongfu.

Jia Qiong took Shen Zizheng to get off the carriage and looked at this high-gate compound, which was slightly smaller than the Divine Jingrong Mansion. However, the area is also quite a lot.

The stone lions on both sides stand tall and proud, the red paint of the red door shines on the wealth, and the sorghum green tiles show glory.

At the corner gate, the Rongfu Menzi saw that Jia Qiong and Shen Zizheng were dressed extraordinarily and looked dignified, which rich and noble family should have come to visit the eldest prince.

At the age of last year, the eldest prince of Zhu came to Jinling, visited the Xue family, and then visited several old relatives, and lived in Jinling for the examination.

Since then, there have been sons of various families who come to visit every other day.

In the past, I used to watch people cook, but then I made a mistake, and Uncle Zhu said a few words casually, and everyone was much more cautious.

Although Uncle Zhu has never been weird, the Jin Cai housekeeper doesn't care, and he will train everyone when he catches him.

Thinking of this, he stepped forward and asked, "May I ask which son it is, and what are you doing in my Rongguo Mansion?" ”

Jia Qiong looked at the door in front of the door, and wondered in her heart, I heard that Jinling's family is the kind that is not afraid of heaven and earth.

Menzi is also above the top, why is he so polite. Some people don't understand, but since they don't understand the right and don't think about it first.

A few steps forward, Jia Qiong arched his hand and said: "I am Jia Qiong from the second branch of the fifth room of Shenjing, I came to Jinling to wait for the exam, and Brother Zhu can be at home." ”

When Menzi heard this, his face was shocked, and then he said with a smile on his face:

"It turned out that the third master came to Jinling, and Uncle Zhu had already explained, if the third master arrived, he would report to him earlier.

And I heard that the uncle specially left a yard for you next to his study, and you go to the house first. ”

looked at the two carriages behind Jia Qiong, and was about to stretch out his hand to show Jia Qiong the way: "I'll arrange these carriages for you." ”

Jia Qiong listened to Menzi's words, smiled and said:

"That's not necessary, these carriages are all hired at the docks, and I have just paid for the carriages, so I don't need to make any further arrangements.

Help me get one or two servants and fetch some things from us, all of them are light.

You will report to Brother Zhu again, and I will go with Senior Brother Zizheng to change our clothes first and then go to see him. ”

After Jia Qiong finished speaking, she looked back at the carriage where Shen Yixiu was, and was about to call Shen Yixiu to enter the mansion with the two of them.

I saw that the curtain of the carriage was lifted in a corner, and Shen Yixiu was wearing a veil and scarf, and was peering out through the curtain.

Seeing Jia Qiong's gaze, his face suddenly turned red, and he hurriedly lowered the curtains. Jia Qiong also smiled wordlessly.

At this time, Menzi had already summoned two servants, as well as Jin Wenxiang, the eldest son of Jin Cai, the great housekeeper of Jinling.

Under the guidance of Jin Wenxiang, Jia Qiong and Shen Zizheng marched in front, and Shen Yixiu and his maid took two steps behind and headed towards the inner courtyard.

Two servants followed closely behind with a salute, taking a few steps.

"This Third Master Qiong doesn't look very old, but he never thought that he was a romantic person. When I came to Jinling to take the exam, I actually brought my family with me. ”

Shen Yixiu, who was cautiously following the team in front, heard this. His face was instantly red and cloudy, and he was unstoppable with shame, and it was difficult to explain to Menzi.

However, there was also a feeling of worry in his heart, this time his father asked his sister and brother to go south with Jia Qiong, is it a little inappropriate.

The younger brother is naturally fine, but is it a little inappropriate for a girl who has not been out of the cabinet.

With such worries, everyone came to the small courtyard prepared by Jia Zhu for Jia Qiong.

The location is close to the front yard, so Jin Wenxiang and the servant woman and others can also come here.

The small courtyard sits north and faces south, and the door opens to the east. The west side door is temporarily closed.

There is a laneway on the east side, and on the other side is Jia Zhu's current study.

A few people made a brief observation and considered how to place it.

At this moment, Jia Zhu came to the small courtyard from the study. Motioned to Jin Wenxiang and the others to go down first.

Then he said to Jia Qiong and the others: "Why did you and Brother Qiong come so late, I have been thinking about it for a long time. ”

As soon as he finished speaking, he said to Shen Yixiu who was standing on the side:

"The sister of the Shen family is also here, and it is my fault that the arrangement is not very proper, how about I arrange another small courtyard for the sister of the Shen family in the backyard."

Shen Yixiu listened to what Jia Zhu said, and then thought of what those disciples said, and his heart was also entangled.

It was a mistake to come to Jinling with his younger brother this time, and it was better to go back to Shenjing and be accompanied by the sister of the Zhang family.

This sister of the Zhang family may be her brother and sister in the future, and she usually likes to chat with her brother so much.

Now that he has just entered this Rong Mansion, he is thought to be the inner family of this Jia Qiong's younger brother.

If it is according to what the elder brother of the Jia family said, what is it said to live in the inner courtyard?

This rich and noble family is really terrifying.

looked at Shen Zizheng in front of him, and then looked at Jia Qiong. After thinking about it, he said to Jia Zhu:

"Brother Jia is polite, I will live in this small courtyard with my brother and Brother Jia Qiong temporarily. It's a nuisance now, and any more annoyance is not good after all. ”

Seeing this, Jia Zhu didn't say much, and nodded with a smile.

Seeing that several people were tired, knowing that the three of them were tired of traveling, they must still need to rest for two days before they can recover.

For example, the last time I came, I was also tired, and then I continued to participate in the white affairs of my uncle's house.

I worked hard for many days, but then I was sick for ten days, and I slowly got better after a period of recuperation.

Thinking of this, Jia Zhu said again:

"Since the younger sister of the Shen family and the two junior brothers live in this courtyard, then I will arrange for a few servants to come later, and then arrange a maid for each of you to do some chores with you, as well as serve tea and water."

Hearing this, Shen Yixiu hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Brother Jia, there is no need to make arrangements, my brother and I are also used to being poor, and I also brought a light breeze." There is no need to arrange staffing anymore. ”

Jia Qiong listened to Shen Yixiu's words, and also stepped forward and said:

"Brother Zhu, it's true. There is no need to arrange people to come to serve, not to mention the Shen family's sister and second senior brother.

You also know the situation since I was a child, so there is no need for this.

If you make it a habit, I'm afraid you will be lazy in the future. ”

After saying that, he laughed at himself again.

When Jia Zhu heard that the three of them were not accepted, he smiled and persuaded a few more words, but after being rejected again, he didn't say much.

said goodbye to the three of them, and said that he would go back to the study first, and after they had rested, he would come back tomorrow to visit.

The layout of the small courtyard is similar to that of Shenjing Mengpozhai, but there is no independent study inside.

There are still a few clumps of green bamboos against the wall in the courtyard, looking at the lush branches and leaves, I think it has been some years. Look at a few peach and plum next to it, surrounded by a stone platform.

At this time, it is March, it is the blooming season, the trees are full of flowers, and all kinds of flowers and plants are placed under the trees, as if entering a sea of flowers.

After the three of them had eaten the day, they saw several servants and two maids coming in the courtyard.

I saw a leader and said: "The third master, and this young lady, Uncle Zhu ordered earlier to prepare a maid for the two sons."

The young lady did not arrange one earlier, and the other brought it to make it more convenient, and the uncle also said that there was no need to prepare it again.

He pointed to a few servant women next to him and said, These three people wash some clothes for you every day, and clean the courtyard inside and outside. ”

He pointed to the two little maids beside him and said, "This is the little girl Golden Mandarin Duck, who is eight years old this year, and this is Brother Parrot who is seven years old this year."

I was going to send it to Shenjing to serve the old lady in two years, but later the uncle instructed that the little girl should follow the third master first, and she could also help the third master serve tea and water, make the bed and fold the quilt, etc.

This parrot brother couldn't survive anymore and was sold into the house. Uncle Zhu asked him to follow this Shen Gongzi first.

The uncle said that the third master and this son are talented, and they will definitely be able to show off their talents next year, and they can't let the two of you be busy with trivial things after studying. So.... ”

Jia Qiong couldn't help but look at it twice when she heard this, this is the golden mandarin duck in the future, the highest existence of the maid in the house, and this leader should be his mother according to what Fang Cai said.

And this parrot brother should be Lin Daiyu's purple cuckoo in the future.

Looking at the two of them, I couldn't help but sigh, in this red mansion, people are really more dead than people, a young master or young lady is served, and the work is indeed a little girl of the same age or two or three years older.

Without waiting for the woman to finish speaking, Shen Zizheng refused: "I have already told my senior brother that I don't need to be served by others. ”

As he spoke, he glanced at Jia Qiong again, and saw that Jia Qiong was looking at the two girls blankly, and couldn't help but be stunned, so he said again:

"I don't need others to serve me, just go to my junior brother."

Hearing this, Jia Qiong couldn't help but be stunned, and then smiled bitterly:

"What is Senior Brother talking about, I am also a hard-working person, how do I need others to serve me. It's not a matter of doing that along the way. ”

After speaking, he also said to the leading woman:

"This ... Mother Mandarin Duck, I don't need others to serve me, you can take them down. ”

Seeing that both of them said no, the mandarin duck's mother was also a little anxious.

looked at a few people in the field, then turned his head to give a color to the few people he brought, and then turned back to Jia Qiong and the three of them and said:

"That's not as good as this, Third Master, as well as this son and young lady.

Let a few of them be here first, they are all holding the bedding, and it is not convenient to go back and forth, so I will go and ask Uncle Zhu first. ”

The three of them nodded when they heard this, and when the woman saw this, she immediately left and went to the study where Jia Zhu was.