Sunset.

Li Qingzhao strolled through the streets.

Her brows furrowed slightly, with a hint of sorrow in her eyes, and with that graceful temperament, she was out of step with the pedestrians around her.

Follow the streets of the outer city all the way to the inner city.

Li Qingzhao came to the door of a mansion with a familiar car.

The housekeeper of the concierge recognized her at a glance and said with a smile: "Mrs. Li, but you are looking for my young lady?" ”

"Hmm."

Li Qingzhao nodded, squeezing out a smile: "I'm tired of reporting it." ”

"Mrs. Li will wait a minute, and the old man will go."

After greeting him, the butler walked towards the courtyard.

After a while, he turned back again: "Mrs. Li, the young lady and the little lady are in the kitchen of the small courtyard." ”

"I'm tired."

Li Qingzhao smiled slightly, walked through the weeping flower gate, and walked straight towards the backyard.

Lin Wanqing is one of her few friends in Qingzhou, and the two have known each other for ten years and often correspond, so she is extremely familiar with the Ma family.

Along the gravel path and through the rockery pavilions, Li Qingzhao came to the courtyard of the back house.

Before she could enter, she heard a frolicking sound coming from the small courtyard.

"Wow! Auntie, what did you put in, it's so bitter! ”

"It's strange, I didn't let it go...... Okay, dare to cheat as a mother! ”

"Hee-hee!"

Listening to the frolicking sound of Lin Wanqing's mother and daughter, Li Qingzhao's eyes shook with a touch of melancholy and envy.

She married Zhao Mingcheng when she was nineteen years old, but for so many years, she never gave birth to an heir.

Zhao Mingcheng also accepted a few concubines, but none of them gave birth to a son and a half daughter for him.

As they grew older, Zhao Mingcheng and Li Qingzhao gradually gave up this thought.

Now, her husband is an official outside the home and has been separated from her for five years.

In the past five years, she has lived alone in Qingzhou, and the pain of loneliness is impossible for outsiders to understand.

In contrast, although his close friend is also miserable, and her husband died early, she has always been accompanied by an innocent daughter, who is countless times better than herself.

Hiding his thoughts, Li Qingzhao walked into the small courtyard.

Even though she has been here many times, she can't help but be amazed every time she comes.

The whole courtyard is located in the southeast corner of the back house, in a secluded location, and in the courtyard stands an exquisite attic and a locust tree as lush as a canopy.

On the thick branches, two swings hang down, gently swaying in the wind.

There are no rockery pavilions in the courtyard, but there are large flower beds, for a woman, this small courtyard is like a beautiful dresser, which makes people love it.

As soon as I entered the small courtyard, I saw Ma Shuyao holding a clay pot and walking out of the kitchen.

Seeing Li Qingzhao, the little girl's eyes lit up, and she said happily: "Aunt Li, come and try the honey smoothie I made." ”

Looking at Ma Shuyao's bright eyes and innocent little face, Li Qingzhao only felt that the depression in his heart had dissipated a lot.

"Sister is here!"

Lin Wanqing also walked out of the kitchen.

The three of them talked and laughed, and came to the stone table under the locust tree and sat down.

Ma Shuyao picked up the wooden spoon, filled a bowl of honey smoothie and handed it to Li Qingzhao, and then filled a bowl for Lin Wanqing.

Then, the little girl put her hands on her cheeks, and her big eyes were full of expectation: "Auntie, Aunt Li, how does it taste." ”

Food and snacks were abundant in the Song Dynasty, and cold drinks were widely used during this period.

Honey smoothies are a type of cold drink, which is made by grinding ice cubes into a smoothie, pouring in milk, adding fresh seasonal fruits, and finally drizzling a few spoonfuls of sugar and honey.

Yang Wanli loves honey smoothie very much, and once wrote a poem: It seems to be greasy and cool, and it is condensed and floating. The jade comes to the bottom of the plate and is broken, and the snow is sold to the mouth.

Li Qingzhao picked up the spoon, scooped a spoonful and put it in his mouth.

Feeling the sweet frost in her mouth, she couldn't help but smile and said, "It's very delicious." ”

"Really?"

After receiving Li Qingzhao's praise, a smile suddenly appeared on Ma Shuyao's delicate little face.

Li Qingzhao said in an envious tone: "My sister is really blessed, having such a well-behaved, intelligent, and filial daughter as Youyou." ”

Hearing this, Lin Wanqing couldn't help but shake her head and laugh: "Filial piety? My sister didn't know that this bowl of honey smoothie was still stained with her husband's light. This Nizi made it specifically for his husband.,The reason why I'm so attentive is that I expect the two of us to help me try the taste.。 ”

"Huh?"

Li Qingzhao's hand holding the spoon froze, and his face was surprised: "Youyou, Xu people?" ”

Lin Wanqing nodded and said, "Well, Xu gave it to Han Zhen." ”

"Han Zhen?"

Li Qingzhao's face was puzzled, and he tried to search in his mind.

But after thinking about it for a while, I don't remember any scholarly family surnamed Han in the city.

Seeing this, Lin Wanqing reminded: "It is the current county magistrate of Yidu County, Weng Weng's board." ”

The two have been friends for more than ten years, and she also knows Li Qingzhao's temperament, so she won't talk nonsense, so she didn't hide it.

Li Qingzhao was suddenly stunned.

Ma Yanmin made this decision because of his own considerations, and she, an outsider, didn't have much to say.

For a moment, the atmosphere was a little silent.

Lin Wanqing took the initiative to break the silence and asked, "Sister is here now, but what's the matter?" ”

Li Qingzhao hesitated: "There is something, I want to trouble my sister to help." ”

Lin Wanqing said softly: "Sister, why do you need to be like this, you and I have been sisters for so many years, if you have something to say, you can just say it." ”

"Today, I went to the post station to send a letter, but I was told to show my household registration. After learning my identity, the post station official withheld the letter, saying that it was sent by the official's relatives and needed to be ordered by the county magistrate. Sister, you know, my husband and I have been separated for several years, and we can only rely on letters to relieve the pain of lovesickness, and we agreed to send a letter every ten days to report safety. ”

Li Qingzhao paused slightly, and continued: "I heard that my sister's family has some friendship with the county magistrate, so I want to ask my sister for a favor, and ask the county magistrate to be accommodating." ”

"This ...... Sister, if it's a matter of the side, my sister should go down without saying a word. What is the identity of Yoyo's husband, you also know it......" Lin Wanqing looked embarrassed.

What is Han Zhen's identity, the people in the county town know it.

In order to prevent the leakage of news, Han Zhen strictly controlled the post station and the caravan as soon as possible.

Letters sent by scholars, officials, and relatives must be examined by the government and sent only after receiving the edict.

"Sister don't worry, it's just an ordinary letter, and it will never reveal the news in the city. If my sister doesn't believe it, you can take it and check it. ”

Li Qingzhao said, taking out a letter from his arms.

"My sister and Zhao Xianggong's private message, how can I read it."

Lin Wanqing couldn't help but laugh and excuse herself.

Ma Shuyao on the side was eager to try, and the private messages between the talented woman and her husband were too tempting.

Glaring at her daughter, Lin Wanqing muttered: "It's better like this, Youyou will go to send her husband a honey smoothie later, and let her ask by the way." ”

Li Qingzhao said gratefully: "Whether it succeeds or not, thank you to my sister and Youyou." ”

"Aunt Li doesn't have to be polite."

Ma Shuyao waved his hand, and then said, "A-Niang, I'm going." If it takes a long time, the smoothie will not taste good when it melts. ”

"Go ahead."

Lin Wanqing waved her hand.

Hearing this, Ma Shuyao put the clay pot in the food box, and then hurried out of the small courtyard with the little maid.

Looking at her departing back, Li Qingzhao said softly: "It seems that Yoyo is very fond of this family business. ”

Lin Wanqing chuckled: "This is the best." ”

For women in ancient times, it was a kind of luck to be able to promise a man to their favor.

……

……

By the end of the day, it was getting late outside the lobby.

Han Zhen stood up and stretched.

After a few words, he rode back to the mansion on his horse.

Han Zhen turned over and dismounted, threw the reins of the horse to the servants, and the butler immediately stepped forward.

"Ah Lang, Madame is here."

Madam?

Han Zhen was stunned for a moment, and then immediately reacted.

With a soft hum, he stepped through the door.

Through the hanging flower door, I saw Ma Shuyao sitting in the hall, leisurely sipping tea.

Seeing Han Zhen coming back, the little girl immediately stood up and called softly: "Husband." ”

Han Zhen smiled and asked, "Why did you come here?" ”

"The slave made some honey smoothies and gave them to her husband to taste to relieve her fatigue."

Ma Shuyao said, opened the food box on the table, and took out the clay pot.

took out a wooden spoon and a small bowl, and intimately helped Han Zhen fill a bowl.

At this time, the smoothie had begun to melt, and Ma Shuyao advised: "Husband, eat it quickly, when the smoothie is finished, the taste will not be good." ”

"Good!"

Han Zhen smiled and nodded, and after sitting down, he picked up the spoon and began to taste.

The aftermath of the autumn tiger is still there, and at this time, a bowl of cold and sweet smoothie is coming, not to mention how refreshing it is.

The taste is not much different from later generations, the only difference is that there are too few types of fruits.

After a bowl of smoothies, Han Zhen let out a sigh of relief and asked, "You made it?" ”

Ma Shuyao said softly: "I don't know if it's to my husband's taste." ”

"It tastes good."

Han Zhen praised.

Hearing this, Ma Shuyao's smart eyes immediately burst into a smile.

This is the first smoothie that Han Zhen ate when he came to the Great Song Dynasty.

For a while, I was aroused by the gluttony, scooped another bowl, and tasted it slowly.

At this time, Ma Shuyao spoke: "Husband, Aunt Li came to the door just now and said that there is something I want the slave family to help. ”

As soon as these words came out, Han Zhen immediately understood that there was something to ask for on his head.

In a humane society, this kind of thing cannot be avoided.

Since he took the 30 million dowry of the Ma family, plus a pink concubine, he must have to bear some responsibilities.

Thinking of this, Han Zhen asked, "Which Aunt Li?" ”

Ma Shuyao introduced: "Aunt Li's name is Qingzhao, and her husband is now in Dengzhou. ”

Li Qingzhao?

Han Zhen was a little surprised, and said curiously: "Is Li Qingzhao on a good relationship with your Ma family?" ”

Seeing that his expression was as usual, Ma Shuyao explained: "Aunt Li is a good friend of my mother's boudoir, and I have been friends for more than ten years. ”

Unexpectedly, his mother-in-law was still Li Qingzhao's friend.

In his previous life, when he was in school, he also memorized Li Qingzhao's words.

Han Zhen said in a casual tone: "What's the matter with her?" ”

"Aunt Li and Zhao Xianggong have been separated for many years, and the two have agreed to send letters to each other every ten days, which is not only to report safety, but also to relieve the pain of lovesickness. When I went to send the letter this day, I was rejected by the post station, so I asked the slave to ask if he could be accommodating. ”

Ma Shuyao briefly recounted, and then said: "The husband should focus on big things, if it is inconvenient, refuse directly." Aunt Li is not a person who does not know how to clean up, and she will not harm the slave and her mother because of this matter. ”

This intimate appearance made Han Zhen's heart move slightly.

Not to mention, the little girl is small, but she is very likable.

"This matter is not difficult to do, let her send the letter to the government office, and someone will review it, and if the review is correct, it can be sent normally."

Some things are accommodating, some are not.

Li Qingzhao's husband Zhao Mingcheng is the governor of Laizhou, who knows if she will talk about herself in the letter.

Once the secret is leaked, his plan to surprise attack the Western Army may be in vain.

Naturally, he couldn't take this risk.

Ma Shuyao responded obediently: "The slave family will inform Aunt Li when they go back." ”

Seeing that the sky was getting dark, Han Zhen asked, "Have you eaten yet?" ”

"Not yet."

Ma Shuyao shook his head.

Han Zhen instructed: "Let's go back after dinner." ”

"Hmm."

Ma Shu fell down generously.

In fact, she also wanted to stay with Han Zhen for a while.

She is very curious about her husband.

After a while, the maids brought the dishes to the table, and then lit the candles in the hall.

There are three dishes in total, and the meat dish consists of only one stir-fried beef with green onions, plus two plates of stir-fried vegetables.

Han Zhen said: "I dine alone on weekdays, so there are not many dishes, and I don't know if you are coming today, it is a little shabby." ”

Ma Shuyao said empathetically: "The slave usually eats lightly, and the three dishes are just right." ”

"Let's eat."

Han Zhen smiled slightly and greeted.

In the end, she is a concubine cultivated by a wealthy family, and the etiquette and actions of the meal are impeccable, and even have a hint of beauty.

Seeing that she only ate seasonal vegetables, Han Zhen picked up a piece of beef and put it in her bowl, and advised: "Eat more meat and chicken on weekdays, don't only eat vegetables." ”

Well, eat more meat and fatten up before you start.

"Slave listens to the husband."

Ma Shuyao said softly.

(End of chapter)