In the evening.
In front of Chengguo Mansion, there were lights and decorations, and cars flowed like water and horses like dragons.
There was a constant stream of guests.
All the nobles and big families in the entire Mo City were invited or came here on their own initiative tonight to congratulate the eldest lady of Chengguo Mansion.
Of course, there are also some people who come for the eldest princess and the imperial envoy.
The holy envoy sent by the court this time, in addition to inspecting the border cities, also had to investigate the Song family's conspiracy to treason. The rest was just a matter of delivering the sealed documents to Chengguo Mansion on the way.
The Holy Envoy had already entered the city of Mo in the morning.
Then he entered the City Lord's Mansion, and it was not until the evening that he came to Chengguo Mansion with the eldest princess.
At this time people were surprised to find that the holy envoy sent by the court this time was actually a prince.
When it's getting dark.
The talents of Qin Mansion began to move.
Qin Wen Zheng persuaded Song Ruyue for a long time before she put on new clothes, dressed up beautifully, and prepared to go out with a gloomy face.
At this time, Zhu'er hurried over to tell them that the second young lady was also going and asked them to wait.
"What is she going to do?"
Song Ruyue was already full of anger, thinking that going tonight would be embarrassing and humiliating. When she heard that her daughter was going too, she immediately said anxiously, "It's too windy outside, don't let her go!"
She was afraid that her daughter would see her embarrassing situation.
Zhu'er lowered her head and said timidly, "Madam, uncle... uncle is going too."
Song Ruyue became even more anxious when she heard this, and immediately said angrily: "Why is he going to join in the fun when he can't stay at home and study hard? Tonight is the time when people are having a great time. Has his brain been damaged by studying too much? He even went over there to ask for trouble and be ridiculed and humiliated by others?"
Qin Wenzheng also frowned and said, "Qingzhou really shouldn't go tonight."
Song Ruyue twisted her slender waist, picked up her skirt and said angrily: "I'll go ask Wei Mo!"
After saying this, she left angrily with her maids and nanny.
Qin Wenzheng frowned, and after she walked away, he said to Zhou Tongdao who was standing beside him: "Is everything ready at the mansion? When we go out this time, those people should seize this opportunity."
Butler Zhou came closer and whispered, "Master, everything is ready. But..."
"But what?"
Qin Wen Zheng looked at him dignifiedly.
Steward Zhou bowed his head and said, "The Second Young Master took Zhou Xing and the others away. I don't know where they went, and I didn't dare to ask."
Qin Wenzheng's face darkened when he heard this, and he was furious: "At this time, that kid still dared to take people out? Doesn't he take the lives of other people in our Qin Mansion seriously? Did his brain get caught in the door when he was practicing martial arts? You bastard! And you, you knew that the mansion was dangerous tonight, why didn't you stop him? Is your brain..."
"Master, it should be the Second Miss who asked him to leave."
Butler Zhou hurriedly reported: "In the afternoon, the second young lady went to the second young master's place, and then..."
"Oh? Wei Mo asked him to leave?"
Qin Wenzheng was stunned when he heard this, and the anger on his face disappeared immediately: "Then it's okay. Since Weimo asked him to leave, there must be other important things. Don't worry about him."
Then he suddenly asked, "Where is Xia Chan?"
Butler Zhou whispered, "It seems he is not at home. He should have gone out."
Qin Wenzhen's eyes sparkled.
Butler Zhou whispered: "Master, tonight..."
"Follow the plan. Don't worry about anything else. Just guard the mansion. If there is any movement, I will come back immediately."
"yes."
The sun is setting in the sky.
Night falls.
The maids and servants in the mansion hung up lanterns.
When Song Ruyue came to Meixiang Garden angrily, Miss Qin was wearing a snow-white fox fur and standing under a peach tree. She was looking up at the petals blooming on the branches with her slightly pale face, in a daze, as if she was thinking about something.
Seeing this scene, Song Ruyue unconsciously slowed down her pace and the anger in her heart was quickly suppressed.
"lady!"
When Zhu'er and Qiu'er saw her coming, they hurriedly bowed.
Qin Weimo came back to his senses and looked at her. Without waiting for her to speak, he smiled and said softly, "Mother, don't be anxious. Wait a moment."
Song Ruyue had a lot of complaints and grievances in her heart, but after seeing her weak appearance and hearing her gentle words, she suddenly stopped and was unable to say a word.
After a pause, she could only say softly: "Wei Mo, you don't have to go tonight. That lady will definitely embarrass us. Especially Qing Zhou, mother doesn't want to..."
"Mom, it's okay."
Qin Weimo still had a gentle smile on his face: "Weimo is here. Weimo will never let anyone bully my brother-in-law. Don't worry, mother."
Song Ruyue looked at the look in her eyes and fell silent.
The mother and daughter stood under the peach tree, neither of them speaking.
A crescent moon rose above the branches, casting a white moonlight, like frost in autumn, or like a piece of gauze spread on the ground.
Song Ruyue was silent for a while, then she said softly, "Have you decided?"
The girl under the tree paused and nodded slightly: "It's decided."
Song Ruyue didn't say anything else.
After a while, Qin Wen Zheng sent someone to urge him.
Qin Weimo said softly: "Mother, you go first, I will go with my brother-in-law later."
Song Ruyue hesitated to speak, looked at Zhu'er and Qiu'er beside her, and said, "Take good care of the young lady."
After saying this, she turned around and hurried away, surrounded by maids and nannies.
The couple met at the door, walked down the steps with their maids and servants, and got into the carriage parked below.
After entering the carriage, Qin Wenzheng asked in confusion: "Where are Weimo and Qingzhou? Didn't they say they were going together?"
Song Ruyue looked dazed and ignored him.
Qin Wen Zheng looked at her for a while and said nothing more.
The couple each had their own thoughts and remained silent.
Soon, there was a burst of lively talking outside.
The carriage stopped.
The driver's voice came from outside: "Master, Madam, we're here."
Song Ruyue came back to her senses, her face darkened, and she clenched her fists in her sleeves, but soon she forced a smile on her face, bit her lip, and said in a crying voice: "Master, we can't let others laugh at us, I have to control myself, I... I don't care about the title of Consort at all..."
Qin Wenzheng showed a bitter look on his face. He reached out and held her hand, sighed, and comforted her: "Ruyue, I can't count on you anymore. You can only rely on Lang'er and Chuan'er in the future. If they are successful, maybe they can also earn you a royal consort like the eldest son of Chengguo Mansion..."
Song Ruyue sniffed and said, "Master, why do I feel that those two brats can't be relied on?"
Qin Wenzheng paused and said, "Then we can only count on Qingzhou. Although you are only his mother-in-law, as long as he has the ability, he should be able to call you mother. Qingzhou is very talented and resourceful. If he passes the imperial examination and becomes an official, he should have a bright future. What do you think?"
Song Ruyue took a handkerchief and wiped the corners of her eyes, which were tearless. She rolled her eyes when she heard the words, got up and got off the carriage, sneering and muttering, "If that boy doesn't sell me out secretly, I'll be lucky. How dare I ask him to help me get a royal wife? He's not a son-in-law, he's a master! I can't afford to offend him!"
Qin Wenzheng got off the carriage and said with a smile, "You think too much. Although Qingzhou is a quiet kid, he is very honest and kind. He knows how to repay kindness and is devoted to our Qin family. You are his mother-in-law, so he naturally knows how to respect you. Every time he sees you, he is always respectful."
Song Ruyue sneered and rolled her eyes, "Every time you see Luo Yannian, you always smile, but in the end, are you cursing his ancestors in your heart?"
Qin Wenzheng immediately asked seriously: "Am I that kind of person?"
"Brother Wen Zheng! Welcome, welcome!"
Luo Yannian, who was standing at the door welcoming guests, immediately came over enthusiastically.
Qin Wenzheng glanced at him, and seeing that the other guests were also looking over, he immediately went up to him with a big smile on his face, and said with a cupped hand, "Brother Yannian, congratulations."
At the same time, he couldn't help cursing in his heart: "Congratulations, you've become an immortal! I'll dig up the dog graves of your eighteen generations of ancestors! You're a dog's pet. I curse your wife to have an affair and put a lot of big hats on you! I curse your son to have no children - bah bah bah! I curse your legitimate son to have no children and no grandchildren, and he won't be able to get hard!"
"Brother Wen Zheng, the Princess and the Prince of the Southern Kingdom are already here, please go in quickly."
Luo Yannian said enthusiastically.
Qin Wenzheng was stunned when he heard this: "Prince of the Southern Kingdom?"
Luo Yannian smiled and said, "Brother Wen Zheng, don't you know yet? The Holy Envoy sent by the Emperor this time is none other than the Prince of the Southern Kingdom."
Then his eyes flashed, he glanced at Song Ruyue beside him, and said with a smile: "By the way, I remember that the Princess of the Southern Kingdom seems to be your lady's distant sister, right?"
Qin Wen Zheng smiled and said nothing.
Song Ruyue said coldly, "We are not related at all. We are cousins who are so distant that we have lost contact for a long time."
She actually told the truth.
In fact, there is no relative relationship between the two families. They are not even cousins. It was just that her father of the previous generation shamelessly forced the relationship into a relationship.
As for the young lady who lived in their house, she came to Mo City by chance and had nowhere to go.
Thinking of that young lady, Song Ruyue's heart suddenly moved.
A letter came from Kyoto saying that someone will come to pick up the young lady in the next two days. Could it be the Prince of the Southern Kingdom
The other party came here, probably on orders, right
Or maybe, it was because of his daughter that he took the initiative to ask the emperor for this task
Song Ruyue really wanted to hold on to this thigh.
But she also knew the situation of the Southern Prince's family, and knew that it was not easy to curry favor with such a royal relative who was in the midst of a storm.
If things go wrong, it will harm the Qin family.
Therefore, she always treated the young lady politely and did not take the initiative to flatter her or anything.
But her father is coming today, why didn’t she send anyone to the Qin Mansion to inform him
She should have known this a few days ago, right
Why don't you come along tonight
Or is it because of running away from marriage
Song Ruyue was thinking in her heart as she followed her master up the stairs.
After entering the gate and walking in the spotless courtyard covered with red carpet, she immediately saw the lady in the hall who was dressed in red and green and looked elegant and luxurious.
Looking at the deliberately pretended indifference and humility on the other's face, and then looking at the smugness in the other's eyes, Song Ruyue suddenly felt a blockage in her heart, and a feeling of suffocation and discomfort.
"Ugly! Old woman! Sagging breasts and flat butt! Wow!"
She cursed in her heart.
at the same time.
In the dark alley behind the Qin Mansion.
Two figures walked in, then stopped at the back door and began to take off their clothes.
"Chanchan, do you want to take a bath together later?"
"No."
"I won't peek at you, let's stand further away."
"don't want… "
"Ah... You still don't trust me. I'm so sad."
"snort."
"Chanchan, your uncle is not an outsider. Maybe in the future... maybe you will become his concubine. I'll tell you secretly, Bailing has already agreed to it. You... ah!"
The two entered the mansion.
They separated at the gate of Lingchan Moon Palace.
Bai Ling, who had been waiting at the door, looked at the two of them meaningfully, and suddenly asked in surprise: "Son-in-law, what happened to your eyes? Were you beaten?"
Luo Qingzhou ignored her and left quickly.
Return to the courtyard.
Xiaodie was surprised and asked, "Sir, what happened to your eyes? Were you beaten again?"
Luo Qingzhou asked: "Will you help me get revenge?"
The little girl was about to nod, but immediately asked cautiously, "Is it Sister Xia Chan again?"
Luo Qingzhou said nothing more.
Xiaodie didn't dare to say anything else and turned around to go about her own business.
Luo Qingzhou went to the lake in Yueye Tingyu Garden, took a good bath, changed into a clean Confucian robe, returned to the house, put away the Sun and Moon Mirror, and then went out.
Waited for a while at the gate of Lingchan Moon Palace.
After taking a bath, Xia Chan changed into another light green long dress and walked out of the yard.
Her hair was still a little wet, and her body exuded a faint girlish fragrance. After bathing, her skin was white, tender, and smooth like jade.
Bai Ling stood at the door and said quietly, "Sir, I want to go too."
Luo Qingzhou said: "Then let's go together."
Bai Ling glanced at the girl behind him, two shallow dimples appeared on her face, and said, "Forget it, I'd better stay at home with the young lady. Chanchan will accompany the uncle."
Seeing that it was getting late, Luo Qingzhou said nothing more and waved goodbye.
Bai Ling watched the two figures, one big and one small, gradually walk away and disappear into the night in the distance. She was stunned for a while and murmured, "Son-in-law, having Chanchan is enough... You must treat her well."