The north wind is so biting that it penetrates deep into the skin and bones.
The ivory-carved crabapple-shaped lanterns with cloud and crane patterns hanging under the eaves emitted a dim light and were scattered all over the ground in a mess.
Old Madam Song thought that Song Lingzhi had seen something unclean, and hurriedly asked someone to bring it in.
A group of servants and old women surrounded Song Lingzhi and led him into the house.
The air was filled with warm fragrance, and the sound of soft music at the banquet was endless.
Old Madam Song took Song Lingzhi's arm and sat her down. She asked someone to bring some boiling hot tea and coaxed Song Lingzhi to drink two cups.
"It's very cold outside. How can your small body stand it?"
Song Lingzhi's fingertips felt hot, both shy and embarrassed.
Old Madam Song was puzzled and thought that Song Lingzhi's health had improved and he was not as afraid of the cold as before.
She patted the back of Song Lingzhi's hand gently and comforted him in a gentle voice: "You are young now, and you were weak in the past. Don't walk around casually. Be careful not to bump into someone you shouldn't see. It's not good to bump into a guest."
Song Lingzhi responded absentmindedly, her eyes sparkling like autumn water, her long eyelashes hiding the guilty look in her eyes.
She was not afraid of seeing anything, but she was afraid of being seen.
The bitten corner of his lip still felt a little painful. The silver fire pot on the long table beside him was burning with golden charcoal, and the heat penetrated every pore.
The blush on the tips of her ears had not yet faded, and she seemed to always be able to hear the last three words that Shen Yan said to her.
Vulgar, shameless, obscene, shameless...
Song Lingzhi lowered his head, and the cup of hot tea was empty, but he did not look up.
Old Madam Song looked at her suspiciously, and was surprised: "What's wrong with you? Why are you so distracted?"
He put his arm around the beautiful Song Lingzhi's shoulders and leaned her into his arms.
Song Lingzhi was startled and almost knocked over the teacup in front of him.
Madam Song smiled widely, "What's wrong? Why are you so irritable? Did you encounter something unpleasant, or are you tired from the long journey?"
Mother Liu smiled and said from behind: "The girl just came back, I'm afraid she is tired."
Madam Song nodded and winked at Madam Liu: "Go to the front and see if the master is still with Mr. Yan."
Mother Liu took her leave and came back soon after, saying that Mr. Yan had returned to the yard to rest early, and now the master was the only one left in the front hall.
Madam Song nodded, and helped Song Lingzhi stand up, "Then let's go back too. It's getting colder as night falls."
Song Lingzhi still lived in Linyue Pavilion, which had carved beams and painted rafters, golden windows and jade doors.
On the antique shelf there was a black smoke frozen stone tripod and a red coral more than a foot tall.
Bai Zhi helped Song Lingzhi remove her makeup and clean her face, and said to her with a smile: "This red coral was sent by the Qian family. The master also has one in his study. After so many years, Master Qian still has the same preference."
The Qian family, like the Song family, is a family of businessmen. Mr. Qian loves corals as if they were his life, and has a collection of thousands of corals at home.
Song Lingzhi was curious: "I remember that his family didn't often interact with us in the past, how come they even sent us corals now?"
Bai Zhi shook her head: "I don't know about this, I think there is something bothering our master."
Song Lingzhi disagreed.
Unexpectedly, the next day during the day, the Qian family came to the door again.
The flower hall in the front yard was filled with several large boxes, all of which were imported goods that Mr. Qian had collected from all over the place, including deep-sea corals.