When Zhao Qingyue woke up, Ji Huai was reading by the window. He was sitting upright and his eyes fell on a book in his hand. The afterglow of the setting sun outside the window shone on him, looking gentle and like a layer of light.
The storybook said that scholars are all talented, gentle and elegant. Thinking of this, the corners of Zhao Qingyue's mouth couldn't help but curl up, and a smile appeared on her eyebrows.
Ji Huai put down the volume in his hand, picked up another volume slowly, and studied it carefully. At the same time, he spoke slowly: "The yam cake brought from the kitchen is almost cold, and you are still lying on the bed."
She turned sideways and put her hands under her head to look at him: "I thought Mr. Hou had gone to the study. I didn't expect to see Mr. Hou when I woke up. I was very happy."
Does this mean that he is reluctant to leave? Stay here with her.
"I'm going to have dinner with my grandmother in a while. I'll go with you." This was his explanation.
Zhao Qingyue was not disappointed, and continued to look at him, her pink lips slightly parted, and her soft voice sounded like she wanted to share: "When I woke up and saw the Marquis, I thought I was dreaming. I just had a dream."
Ji Huai continued to read, looking elegant and focused, but in fact he was gradually distracted.
"Master Hou looks like a scholar who is full of knowledge and elegant..."
"Get up quickly, don't go late, it will leave a bad impression on grandma." He interrupted, moved the book in his hand, and continued to stare.
Zhao Qingyue couldn't stop laughing, thinking he was very interesting.
sunset.
Qiulan followed the two of them towards the old lady's house.
The Marquis and his young lady were walking side by side. The young lady's eyebrows were crooked, but it was the Marquis who looked expressionless, but could feel that he was a little twisted and his eyes were unnatural.
Along the way, Zhao Qingyue was also talking to Ji Huai. He was always evasive and his attitude was lukewarm.
Qiulan couldn't figure out his mood, so when she got the chance, she asked Zhao Qingyue: "Miss, what happened to you and Mr. Hou?"
"It's nothing." The corner of Zhao Qingyue's mouth raised again, "What's wrong?"
"Master Hou, why is Master Hou acting so weird?" She frowned and couldn't figure it out for a moment, "It doesn't look like he's angry or unhappy. He has an indescribable feeling."
"Yes?" Zhao Qingyue smiled again, "No, you saw it wrong."
Shy and coy, right? She couldn't let anyone know about it.
When the two arrived, Du Xiang was already accompanying the old lady. When she saw the two of them, she called out gently: "Cousin, cousin."
Ji Huai nodded slightly as a greeting, while Zhao Qingyue stepped forward and said with a smile: "Grandma looks much better today, so be careful not to catch cold at night."
The old lady was supported by Du Xiang and walked out. She said, "I am old and my body is like this. It's just that Xiang girl is more attentive. She stayed with me last night and waited until I fell asleep before leaving."
Zhao Qingyue had nowhere to go, and there were no other concubines in the courtyard. She had to make arrangements for her granddaughter's fate as long as she lived. If she had given birth to an eldest son earlier, some of the property in her name would also have a place to go.
Song Yi likes Zhao Qingyue as her daughter-in-law, but she is destined to dislike her as her grandson-in-law.
"My cousin is interested." Zhao Qingyue still smiled slightly and told Du Xiang again, "You must also pay attention to your health. If you are not cured yet, remember to take the supplements I have sent you and take good care of yourself. "
Du Xiang looked at her gentle and kind expression, and could not fault her at all. He could only nod: "Thank you, cousin."
"What supplements were given?" Ji Huai sat down at the table and asked casually.
"The last time I entered the palace, my concubine gave me some medicinal materials as tribute. I thought that my cousin needed to be replenished, so I asked someone to take it from the storehouse and deliver it to her." Zhao Qingyue said.
Although she has a wild temper in private, she is not a fool. When they, the daughters of noble families, reach the appropriate age, they are also trained by their mothers who specialize in teaching rules.
If she had to maintain the scene, she wouldn't be able to marry into the prince's mansion.
"Your concubine gave it to you, you can keep it." The old lady said this, her eyebrows relaxed, and she was quite satisfied with her behavior.
"My cousin needs to recuperate, so it's right to give her some recuperation first, and then let the doctor come and take a look at it. We can't be careless about her health." Zhao Qingyue insisted, and then added, "If my cousin's health is not good, grandma We are also worried, Mr. Marquis and I are always worried and cannot be careless at all."
Ji Huai picked up the tea and took a sip, with an imperceptible smile in his eyes.
"You're still thoughtful." The old lady rarely praised her, and looked at her dignified and majestic appearance. She was a little satisfied and said again, "Last time you and Xiang girl had a dispute, I thought it was difficult. Now you I’m very happy to think so.”
As the head mother of the house, what's the point of fussing over everything? Naturally, she has to take charge of the affairs of the house, take care of her husband, and even help her husband flourish and manage the concubines.
"I apologized to my cousin for that matter. It was all my fault." Zhao Qingyue looked guilty and looked at Ji Huai again, "It was all because of the dispute between me and the Marquis. I was acting out of emotion, and I don't know what was going on in my mind at that time. I didn’t dare to come and disturb my grandmother, so I did such stupid things.”
"Master Hou has taught me a lesson. All the mistakes he made are all my fault."
Ji Huai apologized sincerely and felt a little regretful, but Ji Huai choked on his tea, clenched his hand into a fist, put it against his mouth and coughed several times.
"Master Hou." Zhao Qingyue looked worried and kept looking at him with cool eyes.
"It's nothing." Ji Huai raised his hand and said in a deep voice without looking her in the eye, "What happened is in the past. Just pay more attention in the future. No need to say more."
"As a family, we need to get along well, and the past is past." The old lady was not suspicious, she just assumed that Zhao Qingyue was so restrained because she was scolded by Ji Huai, and she figured it out.
Ji Huai then looked at Zhao Qingyue: "From now on, these can all be transferred to the public account. You can keep your own things by yourself. If you have time in the future, you can just take them from the Hou Mansion's warehouse."
Zhao Qingyue also nodded. She sat next to Ji Huai, occasionally picking up food for him, doing her job as a wife, not talking much, looking dignified and well-behaved.
Ji Huai felt uncomfortable seeing this, but because of the presence of others, he could only endure it.
After the meal, the old lady casually mentioned: "The Lantern Festival is coming soon, and the Lantern Festival in the capital is the most lively. Since Xiang girl entered the house, she has not gone out to take a good look around the city. If the Marquis is free, he will take her with him Go and see more and experience something.”
When Zhao Qingyue heard this, she immediately felt that the old lady would do anything to bring the two of them together. How could she rush to make her granddaughter a concubine
But if you think about it carefully, the old lady was just a concubine of the British prince. The prince originally had a wife, but her life was not good. After giving birth to a daughter, she gave birth to another child, which resulted in a difficult delivery, one corpse and two lives. The old prince also It would be difficult to move forward in the court if someone took part in it several times. Otherwise, he would not marry an unpopular concubine as his stepmother.
When Du Xiang heard this, he looked at Ji Huai.
I only heard him say: "In the past two years, things in the house have happened one after another. I promised Qingyue to take her to the lantern festival, but I haven't fulfilled it yet. I heard that this time the lantern festival is more lively than before. If my cousin wants to have a look, , I can also arrange for my entourage to follow you."
When Zhao Qingyue heard what he said, a ripple appeared in her lowered eyes.
When she was a girl, she always liked to play outside the mansion with her brother and cousin. She often met him at that time. After marrying into the prince's mansion, becoming a wife and daughter-in-law, there were so many things she couldn't help but do.
In the two years since she got married, the house was not at peace, and she had told him several times that she wanted to take a look. He was busy with official duties, so she thought he had forgotten it long ago, but she didn't expect that he would still remember it.
She hadn’t been to the lantern festival in two years. She heard it was getting more and more lively every year, so she really wanted to have a go.
"Since you are going too, it won't be a problem to take her with you. It may not be safe for a little girl to follow you." The old lady said again.
If you really just want to go and have a look, it would naturally be more free to follow a follower than to follow. What's the point of following someone else's couple? And there are definitely a lot of inconveniences.
When Du Xiang heard what the old lady said, he remained silent the whole time. Apparently, he acquiesced.
Zhao Qingyue knew what she meant as soon as he saw it, and said softly: "Grandma said yes, I thought Mr. Hou was not free this year. If he is free, we will take my cousin to visit together. I may not be free for a long time." There are no lanterns anymore, it’s lively and lively with so many people.”
Ji Huai looked at her, frowned, then let go, saying nothing.
The old lady felt that she knew her, so she looked at Ji Huai and said, "Xiang girl is not familiar with the place where she lives, and she doesn't know much about the capital. When the time comes, you should watch her more, and remember all the delicious and fun things she has to offer." Click her. She came to the capital alone and doesn’t know many things. Don’t make fun of her."
Ji Huai nodded lightly.
Only then did Du Xiang speak: "Du Xiang is going to cause trouble to my cousin again. Then my cousin and sister-in-law don't have to pay much attention to me, and I won't cause trouble to my cousin and sister-in-law."
"Is there any trouble? Just go out and your cousin will protect you." The old lady had already taken the lead and put her hat on.
…
When she came out of the old lady's yard, Qiulan's face didn't look good, and she murmured to Zhao Qingyue: "If Miss Du really just wants to visit or doesn't want to trouble the young lady and the Marquis, then go with the entourage, or not go, Why bother pretending to be in trouble? You clearly want to pester the Marquis, but you are just pretending."
"I see, she thinks the young lady is getting in the way."
Zhao Qingyue raised her hand and tapped her forehead: "Okay, be careful to let others listen."
"It's just a fact. The Marquis has said for two years that he would take the young lady to see the lantern festival. For her to get involved like this is just to serve her. She is ignorant." Qiulan was indignant.
The young lady in her family has been studying for two years, and the Marquis is finally free.
Zhao Qingyue smiled and said nothing.
That is not understanding the interests, but being too aware of the interests. Du Xiang is a shrewd person, a bit petty and calculating, but not smart. Just like the old lady, she is shrewd but not very wise, so she is not respected in the Ji family. Song Yi had a disagreement with her during her lifetime. She respected her, and Aunt Ji Er had little contact with her.
Ji Huai didn't express his opinion on this matter. He never paid attention to such things. Zhao Qingyue didn't take it seriously and didn't mention it again.
She has given Du Xiang another way, and has made it clear that if the other party still insists on coming forward, there is nothing she can do, and it depends on whether she has the ability.
In a blink of an eye, it’s the Lantern Festival.
Du Xiang had also dressed up carefully since the afternoon, and even put on the clothes that the old lady had recently given her as a reward. Her whole body was carefully dressed up.
She waited at the gate for a long time before Ji Huai and Zhao Qingyue came over. At first glance, her eyes were locked on Ji Huai and it was difficult to look away.
He was wearing a moon-white brocade robe, and he had a graceful demeanor, with a restrained and noble aura. His handsome face made people fascinated, and his cheeks couldn't help but blush.
"Master Marquis, madam."
Xiaoxiang saluted and brought back Du Xiang's thoughts. She discovered that Zhao Qingyue was also wearing a cloud skirt that was close to the moonlight. Compared with the past, her dress today was simple and low-key. She put a little makeup on her face and looked at it. Not as luxurious as a marquis's wife, her face is more fair and delicate.
On the contrary, she wore many hairpins and looked ostentatious.
Du Xiang's face was hot, and he was a little at a loss for a moment.
"We were delayed a bit and kept my cousin waiting." Zhao Qingyue took the initiative and said this with a smile.
"No, I just arrived." Du Xiang denied.
"Let's go." Ji Huai had already walked out first and turned to the two of them.
Zhao Qingyue also smiled at Du Xiang. She thought he would go over to hold her hand and show intimacy in front of her cousin. Unexpectedly, he didn't and just smiled and waved to her.
The lantern festival was not far away. Ji Huai was riding a horse in front, and Zhao Qingyue and Du Xiang were sitting in the carriage behind. They had already arrived at the lantern market before walking far.
The annual lantern market is extremely lively. From a distance, you can already see that the streets are full of people, with various lanterns hung on both sides and bustling with people.
The carriage couldn't get in, so you had to walk a long way away.
The maid opened the curtain, and Du Xiang saw Ji Huai walking towards her. She deliberately moved slowly, and saw him walking to the side of the carriage, reaching out to Zhao Qingyue, and saying: "Slow down."
Zhao Qingyue chuckled, took his hand, and said, "I know." When she got off the carriage, she said to him, "Thank you, sir."
It is inconvenient to call him Marquis when he is outside, but he is already married, so there is nothing wrong in calling him Mr.
The way she was dressed today, with her cute and pretty expression, if she was a newlywed, no one would be suspicious.
Ji Huai tightened his hold on her hand slightly and did not refute her, just acquiescing to it.
When Du Xiang came down, he had already turned around and led Zhao Qingyue aside. The maid Xiaoxiang led her out of the car.
The street was lively, and there were shouts and shouts everywhere, not only those selling lanterns, but also various folk artists, and those selling snacks.
Ji Huai didn't have much interest in these, but Zhao Qingyue was like a bird out of its cage, looking here and there.
She fell in love with the candy man again, looked around, and turned to Du Xiang and said, "What does my cousin like? Let him draw a picture for you."
Du Xiang shook his head: "Cousin, don't pay attention to me, I don't understand this."
Didn't the old lady ask her cousin to tell her? She is a guest, and her cousin won't leave her alone, right
Unexpectedly, Ji Huai did not answer the call, but stood beside Zhao Qingyue and watched with her.
"Tiger, monkey, rabbit, you can also write names. I wonder what Madam wants? You can choose any of them, or you can write them first." The old man who sold the candy said to Zhao Qingyue.
Zhao Qingyue thought for a while and said, "I want you to draw a fox. Can you draw it?"
The old man was stunned for a moment, and Ji Huai looked helpless and whispered, "Don't make trouble."
Zhao Qingyue said with a smile: "These animals are common. It's not like I haven't eaten them or seen them before. It's just that the fox is difficult to draw. If you can draw it, you have superb craftsmanship."
"Qingyue." Ji Huai had the scene at noon a few days ago in his mind and stopped him.
"What's wrong? But it's too difficult for him?" Zhao Qingyue turned her head to look at him, her clear eyes were as clear as water, and she looked at him with an innocent face.
"What's so difficult about this? It's just that few people make such a request. Since Madam has proposed it, let's draw a fox for Madam." The old man didn't feel embarrassed. He heated the stove and began to draw.
Ji Huai remained silent, his eyes falling on her face.
Du Xiang knew that he was kind and gentle, so he thought he was a little unhappy because Zhao Qingyue had put people in trouble, so he just waited to see.
The old man was drawing, and not long after, a lifelike little fox appeared on the paper. Zhao Qingyue looked at it, then looked at Ji Huai, and asked deliberately: "Does it look good?"
He chuckled softly, stretched out his hand towards the boy, who presented him with some silver, and he handed a broken piece of silver to Zhao Qingyue.
Zhao Qingyue took the little fox candy man handed over by the old man, then turned to Qiulan and the others behind her and said, "Young master is treating me to a treat. Come and choose what you like."
After she finished speaking, she gave the broken silver to the old man. The old man thanked him profusely, gave them candy figures to choose from, and even gave a few more as gifts.
In addition to choosing the bunch of little foxes, Zhao Qingyue also picked up a rabbit. Seeing that Du Xiang didn't move, she also got a bunch for her, and two more for Xiaoxiang, and said, "Just take it."
"Thank you, madam." Xiaoxiang was also very happy.
There were many people on the street. Ji Huai pulled Zhao Qingyue forward. Du Xiang looked behind him and saw that the two of them were close to each other and seemed to be communicating.
Could it be that her cousin was training her
In fact, Ji Huai was really "training" him. His thin lips parted slightly and he said, "You've been acting a lot lately. You need to restrain yourself."
"Why am I messing around?" She pretended not to know.
He turned his head and his dark eyes met her eyebrows. His aura was still a bit scary, lest he did something wrong.
Zhao Qingyue couldn't figure him out, so she could only call out in a low voice: "Mr.
Ji Huai took a deep breath, looked away, led her forward, and said after a while: "Don't make trouble."
Come on.
She suddenly put her mind down and raised the candy man in her hand with a smile on her face: "Look at this fox, he's so cute, isn't he?"
Ji Huai changed the subject: "There is a stall selling chestnuts in front of you. Do you want to eat some?"
"If my husband buys it for me, I will definitely be happy." She lowered her eyes and looked at the candy man in her hand and said again.
The person next to him was silent and did not answer immediately.
Zhao Qingyue was led by him and walked forward for several steps. She faintly heard his chuckle, and her eyes suddenly filled with smiles. She held his hand tighter, and then intertwined their fingers.