After hearing Shen Zangning leave, Wei Changying opened the door to the inner room and said with a mixture of laughter and laughter: "So this is what Zang Ning had in mind?"
"She was spoiled rotten by her father. She is always worried about the world being in chaos, so she likes to think about these messy things." Shen Zangfeng smiled and said, "You didn't tie your hands, right?"
Wei Changying blushed and said, "No."
Shen Zangfeng took her hand and touched it with peace of mind, then nodded and said, "Yes, no."
"..." Seeing that no servants had come in yet, Guard Chief Ying leaned down to his ear and asked, "Why don't you ask about the second sister-in-law Zang Ning?"
"I asked you to kiss my husband, but you refused to listen. I was too sad for my husband, so I forgot to ask." Shen Zangfeng grabbed her hand and kissed her lips gently, and said with a half-smile.
Wei Changying pinched him in the face and said with the same smile: "Really? Then don't forget, I can shock the world with one strike of my sword! I can forcefully kill hundreds of soldiers." You also killed the Ronglu leader. Why don’t you tell me? I’ll fight with my second sister-in-law and see how you’ll explain it to your second brother.”
Shen Zangfeng smiled and said: "Do you think this is an exaggeration? There are even more exaggerated statements in the market."
After joking, he pondered for a moment and then whispered, "You can ask Aunt Wan about this later. I don't know much about what happened in the backyard. Aunt Wan might hear something."
"Okay." Wei Changying wanted to ask something, but after looking at him, he swallowed it and said, "You don't care about raising carps and goldfish in the pond, but do you have rules for cleaning up the yard now?"
Shen Zangfeng said: "I have several teachers and friends. Some of them live in the front yard now, and some have their own property in the imperial capital. If I discuss matters with them in the future, I will definitely have to use the main hall or study room at the front. "A few of the empty rooms in front can be used as guest rooms. If it's too late and the curfew is missed, the people who don't live in the front yard can stay overnight." He added, "Also pick some people to serve." On."
Wei Changying wrote it down, thought for a while and said: "Should we use a maid or a servant? The servant can't live in the back, I'm afraid it will be inconvenient to serve. But I see that you don't have many maids here, but what's the point? reason?"
"I don't need anyone to serve me closely. I had a few maids who were pretty and were noticed by others, so I sent them away." Shen Zangfeng smiled faintly and said, "You pick a few maids who are smart and smart. The honest maid is fine. You don’t have to be too beautiful to save yourself from having to change her hair every three days.”
Wei Changying asked again: "What about the entrance where we live?"
"I have nothing to use, you just arrange it." Shen Zangfeng shook his head.
Wei Changying thought for a moment and felt that he had nothing to ask him, so he called Huang and others to wait on him.
The servants just came in, and Mrs. Wan who went to see Shen Shuyan off also came back, holding a basket: "The second young lady sent someone out to buy cherries today, and asked the maid to bring some for the young master and young madam to taste. .”
Wei Changying felt that this second sister-in-law was more and more inexplicable. If he wanted to say that she had good intentions, she had already provoked him as soon as he entered the house. If he wanted to say that she was full of malice, now she asked Wan to bring cherries back. I really don’t know what Duanmu is thinking
Seeing that Shen Zangfeng was silent and Wan was still waiting for his orders, Wei Changying calmed down and said, "Thank you second sister-in-law for that... I would also like to ask my aunt to make another trip and send me a return gift."
Wan said with a smile: "The Second Young Madam said that our yard must be busy at the moment, and a basket of cherries is nothing. Let the Young Madam not worry about it. The next time the Young Madam will send someone out to buy food, she will also give it to the second bedroom." Just bring one.”
Since Duanmu had said so, Wei Changying was too lazy to open the box and pick out the gift in return, so he asked Huang to take it out, wash the cherries, and share them with everyone.
Before the cherries were brought up, Shen Zangfeng looked at the clock and suggested: "We haven't seen all of this yard ourselves, so why not take advantage of this moment to take a look around and come back just in time for dinner."
"Okay." This suggestion was in the heart of Guard Chief Ying, so the two of them asked Mr. He to take the maids to guard the house, and asked Mr. Wan and two little maids to accompany them. They first wandered around where they lived. .
There is no need to look at the inner chamber and main hall. The small study room that Wan mentioned before is on the east side. There are bamboos planted behind the house and a corridor in front of the house. Outside the corridor, several banana plants are planted. The colors are brighter and brighter against the red lacquered railings.
Although it is said to be a small study, the space inside is not too small, but there are indeed not too many books. Wei Changying glanced at the few bookshelves. Half of them were military strategies, and the other half were collections of poems and classics. There are complete desks, tables and chairs, and all four treasures in the study. However, there are only a few pieces of jade and treasures, so the walls inevitably look a little empty. According to Mr. Wan, Shen Zangfeng had already gone south when he was decorating it, and he was not sure what decorations should be placed, so they were all empty.
Wei Changying knew well that the study was at the second entrance, and half of the poems and books were placed there. It was obviously for him or for himself and Shen Zangfeng to share, so naturally it was left for him to decorate. Let Qin Ge write it down: "Go back and ask Aunt Huang and Aunt He to pick out some things and put them on all sides."
The rest of the rooms after entering were all empty at the moment. Wei Changying couldn't think of a use for a while, so he asked people to keep them sealed.
Passing through the Moon Cave Gate in the southwest corner, and entering the first courtyard, you can see a young man in green shirt doing a set of boxing in a measured manner under the century-old sycamore tree.
I caught a glimpse of Shen Zangfeng and Wei Changying, and hurriedly put away their shelves and came to see them.
Wei Changying remembered that he was Chen Ju, the boy in charge of cleaning, and that he and Shen Die, who followed Shen Zangfeng, were both sons of the Shen family, and they seemed to be cousins.
Shen Zangfeng waved his hand to let him go down. Shen Ju followed the instructions and retreated, but he did not dare to continue practicing boxing. Instead, he stood in the distance with his hands lowered, waiting for instructions.
Wei Changying asked in a low voice: "All the servants here practice martial arts?"
"No." Shen Zangfeng shook his head and said, "Martial arts practice requires eating meat for many years and bathing with medicinal herbs to prevent the accumulation of hidden injuries. If all servants were treated like this, the loss of money would be unaffordable. Therefore, only those with talent can't afford it. Only when a family gives birth to a child will they be educated and cultivated. In our courtyard, Shen Duo will be reunited with this."
Wei Changying secretly breathed a sigh of relief: It's okay, okay. In that case, I will really do it behind closed doors in the future. I have four helpers from Qin Ge, and Shen Zangfeng only has two...
Shen Zangfeng didn't know that she had other plans, so he gave her instructions on how to enter the courtyard. Facing the martial arts field, the main hall of Jintong Courtyard was already fully decorated by the Wan family. Above is a glazed screen and an iron pear wood couch beside a surging river. The seats are separated by a double-layered crabapple-style incense table, with a Boshan stove on top and gorgeous crabapple flowers on the lower layer.
The floor is paved with azurite intertwined peonies, and the walls are newly mounted with mulberry paper—simple and tough, very in line with the Shen family's style of inheriting the family through martial arts.
The rooms near the main hall are now empty, and the two-story pavilion to the east has been used as a study. There are many more books here than in the small study room in the second courtyard. It can be said to be a dazzling array of books and full of literary style. Fortunately, although this pavilion is not very high, and the two floors are about the same height as the first floor of the main hall, it occupies a large area. After putting so many books, it also has a place inside as a meeting place and it does not look crowded.
The two wanted to go to the second floor, but Wanshi dissuaded them: "The second floor is low, and the third young master is afraid that he can touch the top by raising his hand. So I put some sundries there, fearing that they will all become dusty."
In this case, both the couple gave up the idea. After walking around for a while, forget it.
The third entrance is where the servants live and the kitchen is, but the courtyard is still full of flowers and plants. At this time, the kitchen was busy with dinner, and it seemed very busy with people coming in and out. There were only a few rooms in a row of houses for maids - it was a mess after all. The two of them looked at it casually for a while and then returned to the second entrance.
After sitting down, Wei Changying mentioned the first few rooms in the courtyard. Shen Zangfeng thought they were OK. Wei Changying asked what he wanted to send in. Shen Zangfeng said, "Just do it as usual. It’s impossible to let them stay for a long time, just for one night just in case.”
Wei Changying said politely to Mrs. Wan: "I'll arrange the arrangements later. I'd also like to ask Aunt Wan for some advice to avoid making mistakes."
Mrs. Wan hurriedly smiled and said, "Young madam, you are too polite."
After saying a few words, the servants came in and asked if they would like to have dinner, and both of them agreed.
Just as the food was served, a crackling sound was suddenly heard outside, followed by a strong gust of wind... but it was raining.
The rain came suddenly, and it suddenly became dark. Wan and Huang hurriedly asked people to light candles.
After eating in this way, Huang led the people to wait for the guard captain Ying to take a bath. Taking advantage of the sound of rain and the sound of the iron horses under the eaves, he asked in a low voice: "What did the fourth lady say to the young master just now?"
"Auntie didn't listen?"
"Wan Shi is standing with the maids. It's hard to listen to her in front of her." Huang Shi smiled and rubbed her shoulders.
Wei Changying tilted his head and whispered: "Zang Ning said that he wanted to avenge him and use the ancient books in my dowry to frame the Liu family, but he sent him back to copy the books." He added, "He didn't. It’s really strange to ask about the second wife. Auntie, what do you mean by Duanmu?”
Mrs. Huang first said to her: "We are already married, how can we give him back?" Then she continued, "So this is what the fourth lady thinks? The maid also said that she was instigated by Duanmu and came here on purpose. It’s hard for the young lady!”
The captain of the guard said angrily: "Oh, let's not talk about him... Duanmu?"
"My maid heard that the Shen family values virtuous people, and when it comes to the position of the head of the clan, it is not very obvious to the concubine." Mrs. Huang took a ladle to pour water on her shoulders and said with a chuckle, "Although now the young master I am most pleased with the future, but who can say for sure? The oldest of the young masters is now in his prime, who hasn’t thought about it? "
Chief Wei squeaked: "Surely this is the reason? Then why are you sending cherries today?"
"How much money is a basket of cherries worth?" Mrs. Huang said with a smile, "And whether the cherries were brought for Mr. Wan or not, it was in front of the young master. Mr. Duanmu instigated the discord between the fourth lady and the young lady. The young master was not here at that time!”
"The eldest young lady and the second young lady have always been very popular with my wife. Over the years that I have been in the imperial capital, I have often heard people talk about their virtue and filial piety." When Mrs. Huang said this, she smiled sarcastically and said, "In comparison, , Young Madam, you just came here, and you were slandered last year, and there was a lot of discussion. If Young Madam showed any dissatisfaction with Second Young Madam now, wouldn’t everyone else say that Young Madam was a little confused? I might also think that Madam, you are narrow-minded and deliberately trying to get in trouble with your sister-in-law!"
Wei Changying snorted and said, "So she was so obviously provocative as soon as I came in, was she afraid that I wouldn't be able to see it and wouldn't get angry with her?"
Huang said: "According to my maid, the eldest young lady has the same thoughts. Otherwise, when the second young lady was instigating yesterday, the eldest young lady would just stand by and watch without any intention of trying to persuade him!"
Wei Changying leaned on the tub, thought for a long time, and said, "Both of them expect me to make a big fuss as soon as I come in? Am I that stupid in their eyes?"
"Young Madam, please think about it. When the Fourth Miss came here today, she brought Miss Fourth Grandson with her." Huang smiled, "Miss Fourth Grandson is extremely talented in poetry and has always been very good to the Master and Madam. I like it. Young Master just sent her back. If Miss Sisun turns around and tells Madam about her unpopularity in our Jintong Courtyard, Young Master is Madam’s biological flesh and blood. Madam will definitely not blame Young Master, and she will definitely complain. Young Madam, if you don't try to smooth things over... we can't block the door and keep them from coming in, always coming here and making excuses. Young Madam is the beloved daughter of the Wei family, where does the good temper come from to tolerate her all the time? "
Wei Changying pondered for a moment and said, "What does Auntie think I should do now?" The Duanmu family has a daughter as a helper. With such a young child, no matter how messy you are, you can't be serious with her. When Zhenri comes, Wei Changying feels troubled just thinking about it.
Huang smiled and said: "It's very easy to handle, there is a ready opportunity..." (To be continued)