Yuanqing seventeen years, May 30.
The wind chimes under the eaves swayed gently under the breeze, making a fine sound. As the sun sets in the west, thick clouds are pouring in, covering the quiet Shen house.
The sparse raindrops fell on the ground, making a rustling sound, and it was pouring rain in a short while.
Suddenly hearing a knock on the door, Qingxi put down the bamboo broom in his hand, frowned, and said to himself, "This prince just sent two maids over this morning, who is he now..."
After a while, Qingxi walked into the Chunjin Hall, opened the curtain and said, "Girl, someone has come to look for him."
"Who is it?" Shen Zhen was bending over to feed her white dove.
"It's the Miss Sun family and the Miss Wang family." Qingxi continued, "The people from the East Palace only came in the morning, and they came in the afternoon. All of them are really clairvoyant and good ears."
Shen Zhen smiled, knowing in her heart that they were so diligent, but they just wanted to see what her life was like.
Or to see if there is a man in her house.
Shen Zhen reached out and patted the pigeon's head and sighed, "Let them in."
As soon as Sun Mi and Wang Rui entered the house, their eyes kept looking around.
Wang Rui said: "Third sister, you have returned to Chang'an, why didn't you tell us anything."
"I just returned to Beijing yesterday, and I met you before I had time to say it." After that, Shen Zhen raised her hand to pour tea for the two, "Two sisters, let's drink tea."
Wang Rui smiled awkwardly, and then said, "Yesterday was also a coincidence. Qingqing said that Zhuyue Pavilion has some new hairpins, and asked us to take a look. I didn't expect to meet you."
"It's a coincidence indeed."
Wang Rui said again: "Hey, when something happened to your family last year, I happened to have a cold, and my mother didn't allow me to go out. The third sister won't blame me."
"Of course not." Shen Zhen looked into her eyes and said.
Wang Rui picked up the tea cup in front of him, took a sip, and said nonchalantly: "Oh, by the way, I don't know who paid the third sister back for the eight thousand sticks?"
Shen Zhen pressed her fingertips secretly and said lightly, "It's Aye's former student."
"Really?" Wang Rui smiled and took her hand, "In those days, the third sister has suffered a lot."
"It's okay to be taken care of."
At this moment, Sun Mi took the lead in handing over a post, "Shen Zhen, Xu Siniang will hold a flower viewing banquet in Qujiang next month. Since you are back, let's come together."
"I won't go." Shen Zhen pushed back: "I'm different from your sisters. I have to take care of the shop every day. This kindness can only be accepted."
Sun Mi couldn't hold back her anger, and immediately said: "Qingqing, thinking of her past relationship, begged her fourth sister to invite you to travel with you, but you refused to even look at it?"
Wang Rui pushed her elbow down and said, "The third sister doesn't know anything. Qingqing did this for you."
"The third sister must have heard the words that came out of the capital recently. Our women's reputation is so great, why don't the third sister take this opportunity to clarify? It's just to avoid misunderstandings."
After saying that, Wang Rui gave Sun Mi another look, and Sun Mi frowned and said, "Shen Zhen, if you need money, just tell me. If it's a big deal, I'll go home and get some for you."
"The clean is clear, the dirty is dirty. I have nothing to explain. Thank you sisters for your kindness." Shen Zhen pushed the invitation back.
Sun Mi was in a hurry and said again: "Shen Zhen! You really don't know what to do!"
Shen Zhen didn't answer.
Wang Rui saw Shen Zhen's stubborn posture, and knew that it would be useless to persuade him to continue, so he said: "Third sister, we will put this post here, don't be too busy to refuse, and then think about it carefully, after all, this rumor Gossip doesn't do you any good."
Wang Rui pulled Sun Mi out of the Shen residence.
Sun Mi flicked the palm fan in her hand, "She Shen Zhen has nothing to show us, and she doesn't care about her reputation outside, we sent her a post in person, which already gave her enough face, and it was someone else. , who would want to be with her?"
Since the news of Shen Zhen's return to Beijing came out, the rumors in the capital were like a fire dipped in oil, and the fire spread so fast that it couldn't be extinguished at all.
Some people say that Shen Zhen was used as a concubine, some people say that she went to Yangzhou to be a thin horse, and some people say that she was used as a concubine.
I was able to return to Beijing today because I was rescued by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.
Wang Rui lowered his voice; "Is there any fake news from outside?"
"Hey." Sun Mi said, "Why are you still speaking for her like Qingqing? I heard from A-Niang that when the Marquis of Yunyang's house was raided, the Shen family's subordinates wanted to avoid suspicion, but they paid no money. Didn't take it! Shen Zhen's relatives and uncles were unwilling to help, how could there be a great benevolent person who is willing to give her 8,000 knives regardless of the return! In my opinion, she is 80% used as an outsider for others. "
"Don't forget, her face has caused trouble before."
"It makes some sense," Wang Rui said in a low voice, "but she is also lucky, and can be looked after by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Sun Mi smiled, "It's just to take care of me."
The voices outside the wall drifted away, Qingxi stared at the post on the table, and slowly said, "Girl, are you going?"
"No." Shen Zhen shook her head, "Although I can't guess which song they sang, but there is one thing, the Xu family girl definitely doesn't have the kindness to help me rectify my reputation."
Although Xu Yiqing has always been self-sacrificing and dignified, in fact, she always uses others to do things.
Just like yesterday, as soon as she entered Beijing, she met them by chance.
Coincidence? She doesn't think so.
Among these famous ladies in the capital, Wang Rui is the one with the biggest mouth, and the one who has the deepest grudge against her is Sun Mi... How could she be so unlucky, she just ran into her when she went out
She's just afraid that the news isn't spreading fast enough...
Shen Zhen knew that her scheming was not as deep as Xu Qiniang's, so she thought: If you can't fight, it's better to stay away, and it's better to cause less trouble for yourself.
As for fame, the man's face flashed in front of her eyes, and she couldn't help clenching her palms... She really did make an outer room for others.
After dinner, the rain stopped suddenly, and the door of Shen's house was knocked on again. Shen Zhen frowned and said, "Who is this!"
"The slaves go out and have a look. If it is still those few people, the slaves will say that the girl has rested."
Shen Zhen nodded.
After a long while, Qingxi returned, and before the words were finished, Shen Zhen put down the embroidered handkerchief in her hand and walked out quickly.
Not far from the hanging flower gate, there was also someone striding towards her.
The man's temples were cut like a knife, his eyes were like ice, and a softness suddenly appeared in the corners of his fierce eyes, and he opened his mouth to call her.
"Third sister." Su Heng paused, "I am late."
Shen Zhen was stunned.
The wind in the evening was a bit cold, and the air entered the throat with a bit of bitter taste, "Prince?"
Su Heng smiled, "In all Chang'an, you are the only one who still calls me the prince."
Only then did Shen Zhen realize that she called it wrong, and immediately changed her mouth to say, "Master Hou."
"Whatever you call it."
The two sat down in the pavilion, and Shen Zhen turned to look at him.
When he was young, Su Heng was tall and thin. The zhilan and jade trees were now like pines and cypresses among the cliffs, standing upright and lonely.
After being apart for nearly three years, Shen Zhen felt both unfamiliar and familiar with him. After being silent for each other, the two spoke at the same time.
Su Heng said, "Have you been wronged during this time?"
Shen Zhen said: "I heard about the matter of the protector of the country, and the Marquis condolences."
Qingxi brought tea, put it on the table, and then slowly retreated.
The sky above the dark blue, dyed by the red glow, was getting darker and darker. Su Heng looked at the bright star-like eyes in front of him, unable to catch his breath for a long time.
In a flash, she was so big.
Su Heng's eyes dimmed slightly, and she talked about Mo Bei with a smile. Speaking of how cold the snow and wind in Mobei is, the scorching sun and sunshine in Mobei, and the cat that Shen Zhen gave him, they have already given birth to the fifth generation of descendants.
Shen Zhen had two cats when she was a child, but because she was allergic to hair, Mrs. Yunyang forced her to send the cats away. The little girl cried so much that Su Heng had to think of a way for her.
He came to take care of her.
Shen Zhen's eyes lit up, "Master Hou brought them back too?"
"I thought I'd come back to see you, so I brought it all back." Su Heng nodded, "Now those kittens are occupying one of my yard."
After all, the two were childhood sweethearts. When they mentioned the past, their relationship immediately became much closer. Su Heng habitually poured tea for her, lifted the teapot, and tilted it slowly.
Even if he tried his best to control it, he couldn't hide the trembling of his entire arm.
"Your hand... what's wrong?" Shen Zhen looked at him and said.
Su Heng glanced at him and said casually, "It hurts."
"how did you make it?"
"The tendons were broken by someone."
Shen Zhen covered her mouth and whispered, "Then you can still..." Can you pick up the sword
What does the arm of the general mean, who would not know
"Isn't there a left hand?" Su Heng laughed.
The sky was getting darker and darker, and a faint shadow was reflected on him. The time was reversed, and Shen Zhen couldn't help but suddenly remembered many years ago... Unable to hold back, the tip of his nose became sour and wept.
Su Heng looked into her eyes and whispered, "Why, do you despise me?"
Shen Zhen quickly shook his head.
Su Heng took out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes, "Why are you crying, I can play polo with my left hand."
"Really?" Shen Zhen took the veil and wiped it herself.
Su Heng's hand was empty, and then he said, "Of course it's true, if you don't believe me, go ask me?"
Shen Zhen knew that he was comforting himself.
After a long silence, Su Heng looked at her with a serious face, "In the future, the Marquis of Changping will be your backing, remember?"
Those grievances you have suffered, I will never let you suffer again.
…
—
Jingzhao House.
Master Lu had a busy day. In the morning, he went to the Tai Hospital to call up the records of the plague since the founding of the Jin Dynasty. For the whole afternoon, he did not read the file in front of him.
The index finger touched the balance and rubbed for a while.
Sun Xu was puzzled by the side. He had worked with Master Lu for many years, and he had not seen him take the initiative to investigate the case, so he asked, "Why does Master Lu want to read the records of this plague?"
Lu Yan said casually, "Just take a look."
Sun Xu nodded thoughtfully, looked at the weather outside, and said, "After a while, Master Lu, would you like to go to the restaurant for a drink? Both Lu Canjun and Master Zheng will go."
Lu Yan raised his eyes and said, "Go ahead, I still have a file that I haven't read yet, so I won't accompany you."
Sun Xu gave him a gesture of admiration and said with a smile, "Master Lu is indeed the parental official of Chang'an City."
In the evening, the people in the yamen were almost gone. When Lu Yan wrote, he suddenly felt a pain in his heart. This kind of pain method is really familiar.
In less than a moment, he couldn't sit still. Looking at the dark sky outside, he couldn't help but sneer, it really didn't make people worry.
After getting on the carriage, Lu Yan whispered: "Today, from Baoningfang, go around and go back to the house."
"My subordinates understand." Yang Zong said.
The carriage turned, all the way to the south, slowly driving into Baoning Square, but the moment it stopped in front of Shen's house, even Yang Zong didn't dare to speak.
In front of the gate of the Shen residence, there was another carriage across...
"what happened?"
Lu Yan lifted the curtain of the carriage, looked up, his eyes sank, and his heartbeat seemed to stop for a moment.
The anger in my heart instantly overshadowed the pain.
This is the carriage of the Marquis of Changping.
After a moment of silence, Lu Yan suddenly raised the corner of his mouth, with a penetrating smile in his eyes, and turned the wrench on his hand.
Shen Zhen, that's ok, just a few days apart, I knew I was crying for others.
Yang Zong swallowed his saliva and said in a low voice, "Master, we..."
"Go home."
Lu Yan lowered the curtain.