Imperial capital.
The soft and infinite willow branches of the spring trees are blowing on the pool, and the murmuring of warblers and swallows makes the courtyard charming.
Duanmu Xinmiao wore a narrow-sleeved jacket with a light purple background embroidered with mandala flowers, a water-colored skirt, and a colorful ribbon around her waist. She was leaning on the soft couch, holding a letter, and sneered while reading: "Thousands of miles away." The matter can actually be related to me?"
"It's really not you?" Duanmu Weimiao, who was wearing dark crimson clothes and sitting on his knees not far away, carefully making tea, raised his head in surprise and asked.
"Sister, what you said, would I do such an unwise thing? When my grandfather was here earlier, I would act more recklessly. For the sake of the Duanmu family's face, my grandfather would not let outsiders do anything to me. But now our family is in such a state of decline. , but also to kill the Shen family, isn't this a recipe for self-destruction?" Duanmu Xinmiao put down the letter, sat up and said angrily.
Even though she is fooling around, she is not looking for death!
Duanmu Weimiao was already a little old at this time. Because she lost her husband early in life, she was sad and had long hair on her temples. But as a person who was cultivated by the Duanmu family to be the future queen, she still has a very graceful and noble demeanor, and she does not look depressed at all due to the unfavorable circumstances.
She fiddled with the tea set with light gestures and said with a smile: "I mentioned Yan'er several times before, and I thought you did it secretly."
"With Chief Wei here, you don't have to worry about cousin Yan Yu's daughter at all! She is not someone who will mistreat her children because of her parents. Besides, she is happy to do something like this that can increase her virtuous reputation. She can get it with just a few instructions to the servants. " Wei Changying guessed that Duanmu Xinmiao didn't care about Duanmu Yanyu in the past, and even if he was interested in Shen Shuyan, he must have thought of it after the family was small in the past two years, but he didn't know that Duanmu Xinmiao actually didn't care about Shen Shu now. Yan.
The person who really cares about Shen Shuyan's half of the Duanmu family is Duanmu Weimiao - although Duanmu Xinmiao respects this sister, he is not willing to obey everything, and the two sisters occasionally have small disputes.
For example, now Duanmu Weimiao sighed: "That Mrs. Wei has two sons, and she also has to take care of Mingpeitang. Now that Shen Zangfeng is not in Xiliang, Mrs. Wei has to help her brother-in-law look after the clan members! Again! How much thought can you put on Yan'er? "
"Even if it is Wei Changying's biological child, it is impossible for her to look after her in person every day. After all, she is always accompanied by the wet nurse and the servants." Duanmu Xinmiao said disapprovingly, "Besides, even if she is left out, won't she grow up? Isn’t it? I didn’t come here like this, and I don’t think I’m any worse than others now.”
She didn't mention that she was okay back then. When she mentioned it, Duanmu Weimiao felt sad again: "At that time, I was a useless sister. I couldn't protect you and made you suffer so much without even realizing it!"
Duanmu Xinmiao sighed in her heart - so many years have passed, and she just said that, and she didn't care anymore. But Duanmu Weimiao just couldn't forget it. Duanmu Xinmiao, who regretted that she was too talkative, could only force herself to calm down and said: "Sister, I didn't mean that... Sigh... The Shen family really suspected that I was plotting to murder Shen Lianshi? Because of that Mother Li? All the medicines found in grandma’s room were prepared by me? What’s going on?”
Sure enough, Duanmu Weimiao couldn't help but feel sad when she heard this, and asked hurriedly: "How could this happen?! Who is so vicious and wants to slander you like this?!"
"I have made quite a few of the two medicines mentioned here in my early years. I think some of them were deliberately left behind and used to slander me now." Duanmu Xinmiao saw that her sister's attention had been diverted, so she didn't bother to say more. He stood up and said, "It's just that this medicine has been confirmed to be prepared by me. I have to think about how to explain it to the Shen family."
"Shall I accompany you to the study?" Duanmu Weimiao asked, leaving the copper stove that had begun to roll.
"No need, eldest sister, it's rare for you to be in the mood today. This water is the plum blossom snow water that was collected with great difficulty last year. Don't waste it." Duanmu Xinmiao said casually.
Leaving Duanmu Weimiao behind, Duanmu Xinmiao returned to the study, but he no longer idled in front of his sister. Instead, he frowned tightly and said to himself: "I was dragged into the water for no reason! If it weren't for Wei Changying's treatment of me I still have some understanding, but it’s hard to explain the long distance! Alas, it’s my fault that I was so ungrateful in order to save money to exchange for jadeite! , which I made the most and sold best in private in the early years. And because the people who bought these medicines didn’t want to be known, in order to make money, I would make appointments in dark places and often go to the cashier. The money man can’t even tell whether the other person is a boy or a girl... How can we check now?”
She thought for a while and then felt that she was really confused by her sister, "Finding the real murderer is the Shen family's business. Why should I care so much? As long as it can be proved that I was not the one who did it? Since Wei Changying wrote If you ask in a letter, it means that she still believes that I am innocent. Otherwise, why would she be so verbose with me after such a long journey? Isn’t it an understatement for the Shen family to want our sisters to die? "
Duanmu Xinmiao thought about what she wanted to say, polished the ink, and was about to pick up the pen when there was a knock on the study door.
She frowned and asked, "What's the matter?"
"Master Deng and his sister came here to seek medical treatment." The servant announced outside the door, "The Queen Mother has invited them to serve tea in the front hall. Mrs. Deng's condition is not very good. The Queen Mother said that if the young lady is not in a hurry, she can still Please come and have a look as soon as possible!”
Duanmu Xinmiao muttered to herself: "Isn't Benwan seeking medical attention too many times? Does she really fall down every three days?"
However, she didn't want to meddle in the Deng family's business. She stood up and straightened her clothes. Seeing that the clothes she wore today were brand new and could be worn to meet guests, she went out directly.
When they arrived at the main hall, Duanmu Weimiao was talking with Deng Zongqi and Deng Wanwan.
Seeing her coming, the Deng family brothers and sisters stood up to greet her.
Deng Zongqi said respectfully: "Thank you, Miss Eight!"
"Why are you so polite?" Duanmu Xinmiao waved his hand nonchalantly and asked them to sit down. He looked at Deng Wanwan and frowned slightly.
It was already mid-spring in the imperial capital, and most people were wearing single clothes. But Deng Wanwan was still wearing tight clothes. Her face was very pale and she coughed softly from time to time.
"Weren't you fine the past two days? How come you've turned into such a weakling like Liu Fufeng in just a few days?" Duanmu Xinmiao had a fight with Deng Wanwan before, but there was a reason for that. In the past two years, Because the number of noble ladies in the imperial capital of their generation has dropped sharply, and they no longer hold grudges when they have more contacts. The reason for speaking so frankly at this moment is because the two parties are familiar with each other.
Deng Wanwan was not angry when he heard this, and said with a wry smile: "It's just a little cold. I said just sleep at home for two days and drink some of the prescriptions you prescribed before. But my brother knew that and insisted on me coming to you. "
"There's nothing wrong with coming to me. Our sisters are lonely right now. If you don't worry, after you take the medicine, stay and let's talk." Duanmu Xinmiao could see that although she was smiling, she was not in high spirits or irritated. He walked over to her, sat down next to her, and took her pulse.
Deng Wanwan stretched out her hand and chuckled: "I'm afraid I don't have enough time, there are still some things at home!"
"I know you have no conscience, and you won't want me when you're done with it." Duanmu Xinmiao said angrily.
"How dare you? No, I'm still begging you now?"
The relaxed banter between the two of them failed to impress Deng Zongqi. Deng Zongqi frowned and stared at Duanmu Xinmiao's face almost unblinkingly, as if he was worried.
Duanmu Xinmiao felt for his pulse, and a look of surprise suddenly appeared in his eyes. He was about to say something, but he realized that his foot was stepped on by Deng Wanwan. She pondered for a moment, then finally stopped and said lightly: "Oh, it's just the cold. I just need to change the flavor of the recipe I drank last time."
Deng Zongqi asked suspiciously: "Is it just the wind and cold? Then why do the people in front of my sister-in-law say that my sister-in-law has been dizzy for the past two days? She has even become bedridden?"
"Is there such a thing?" Duanmu Xinmiao looked at Deng Wanwan in surprise and said, "The bones in your body...are too weak? You need to mend them!"
Deng Wanwan gave his brother a grateful look and said softly: "I just can't eat very well."
"That's why I need to take supplements." Duanmu Xinmiao asked someone to bring the Four Treasures of the Study and wrote the prescription. "If you have a big appetite, you won't need to take medicine. The medicine is poisonous, so you'd better give yourself a good appetite." A little bit good.”
"How can I have a good appetite if I can't eat?" Deng Wanwan chuckled, "Let's cure the cold first. I think you have to take your time when it comes to recuperating your body."
Duanmu Weimiao said disapprovingly: "You can't say that... There are no outsiders here now. Let me tell the truth: Mrs. Deng, you have been empty at your knees for several years since you got married. I'm afraid it's because your body is too weak. You are still young. "It's better to relax your mind and take good care of your body and have a son and a half. Otherwise, it will be even more difficult to have a biological child as you get older."
These words made Deng Wanwan frown, and then he chuckled and said: "I understand the Queen Mother's kindness. It is true that my energy was damaged when I left the imperial capital in the early years... But I think with Xinmiao's skill, it can be cured."
Duanmu Weimiao heard that these words were obviously perfunctory, and felt a little strange... Looking at her sister, she saw that Duanmu Xinmiao did not look at her, but smiled and said: "Okay, the prescription is ready... You really don't want to stay? I I'll ask someone to get some medicine for you right now. Why don't you drink the medicine and have a quick meal before leaving?"
"There are still things at home that I have to deal with." Deng Wanwan apologized, "It's really not possible... Can I come back to apologize next time?"
When Duanmu Xinmiao saw this, he stopped insisting. He pursed his lips and asked someone to pack up the four treasures of the study. He then went down to greet the Deng brothers and sisters. After the servants grabbed the medicine and brought it up, Deng Zongqi paid the medical fee, and the two brothers and sisters also So I took my leave.
"I'll continue writing the letter." Duanmu Xinmiao watched them go out and said to Duanmu Weimiao.
Duanmu Weimiao originally wanted to talk to her about Deng Wanwan, but when she saw this, she changed her mind: "Go ahead!"
Duanmu Xinmiao returned to the study - in her early years, because she did not have a trustworthy confidant, she even did not use maids for several years. After developing a habit, the people who served in the study were waiting outside for orders and did not enter.
So as soon as Duanmu Xinmiao entered the door, he turned around the screen and saw the man sitting in front of his desk, and almost screamed! (To be continued)