In the courtyard.
Qiu'er was wearing a light yellow dress. She was looking up with her slender white wrists exposed, hanging freshly washed clothes on the line.
Xiaodie was heating up food in the kitchen.
Luo Qingzhou walked into the courtyard, looked around, and asked, "Qiu'er, has anyone been here just now?"
Qiu Er turned her head and looked at him, stunned for a moment, and said, "No."
Xiaodie heard the sound and came out of the kitchen and asked, "Sir, what's wrong?"
Luo Qingzhou showed a trace of doubt on his face, and said: "When I came back just now, I saw someone sneaking around the door. After seeing me, he immediately ran away. It looks a bit like..."
Xiaodie asked, "Who does he look like?"
Qiu'er also looked at him puzzledly.
Luo Qingzhou said: "Like Zhu'er."
When these words were spoken, the two girls were stunned for a moment, and then they burst out laughing.
Xiaodie said, "Sir, how could it be Sister Zhu'er? Sister Zhu'er is accompanying the Second Miss in Kyoto now. How could she appear here? You must have seen it wrong."
Qiu'er also smiled and said, "Uncle, are you missing Zhu'er?"
Luo Qingzhou frowned and thought for a while. Just as he was about to speak, a voice suddenly came from the door: "Son-in-law, the lady asked you to go over."
Luo Qingzhou turned his head and looked.
She was wearing a floral dress and had her hair in a maid's bun. She had a decent figure, but her nose was covered with freckles. She was Mei'er, the mother-in-law's personal maid.
Luo Qingzhou was stunned for a moment.
This girl seemed to be wearing the same clothes as the figure she just met.
I was thinking about something just now and didn't look carefully. When I looked carefully, the other party had already run away.
"Mei'er, have you been here just now?"
he asked suddenly.
Mei'er stood at the door and said, "I have been here. I just walked to the door and found that something had fallen, so I went back to look for it, and then came here. Master, please go quickly, the Madam is still waiting for you."
Hearing this, Luo Qingzhou did not delay any further and walked to the door and said, "Do you know what Madam wants to see me about?"
Mei'er shook her head and said, "You'll know when you go there."
The two of them left quickly.
Soon, they arrived at the courtyard at the back.
Mei'er hurriedly led him in and said respectfully, "Madam, the son-in-law is here."
Song Ruyue was wearing a moon-white floral dress and was sitting in the living room drinking tea. Hearing this, she said calmly, "Let him in."
Luo Qingzhou entered the hall, bowed and said, "Mother-in-law."
Song Ruyue looked at him for a few times, frowned slightly, and said solemnly: "Qingzhou, today is August 11th. In a few days, you will take the exam. How are you doing in your studies? Are you confident?"
"Just... Fortunately, Qingzhou thinks it should be fine."
Luo Qingzhou bowed his head and said respectfully, secretly sweating in his heart, and almost said out loud his mother-in-law's catchphrase.
Hearing this, Song Ruyue nodded and said, "That's fine."
As he said that, he stood up and said to the maid standing at the door, "Serve the food."
"Yes, ma'am!"
The maid hurried away.
Song Ruyue walked towards the dining hall next to her and said in a gentle voice, "Qingzhou, you haven't eaten yet, eat here before leaving."
Luo Qingzhou hurriedly said: "Mother-in-law, Qingzhou has already eaten."
As soon as the words fell, Mei'er immediately said at the door: "Madam, the son-in-law lied. When I went there just now, Xiaodie was heating up the dishes in the kitchen."
Luo Qingzhou: “…”
The hall fell into silence.
Song Ruyue's face turned cold, and she said in a deep voice: "Why, now that you have the princess's sword and are about to become a scholar, you don't even care about me inviting you to dinner, right?"
Luo Qingzhou was immediately embarrassed, and quickly lowered his head and said, "Mother-in-law, you misunderstood. Qingzhou ate a few pieces of beef in the afternoon, so he is not too hungry now."
Song Ruyue glanced at him and said, "I just want to ask you if you want to eat it?"
Luo Qingzhou dared not to eat, and immediately said: "Eat. It is Qingzhou's honor to have dinner with my mother-in-law."
"snort!"
Song Ruyue rolled her eyes and went into the side hall.
At this time, the meals that had been prepared long ago were served one by one.
Luo Qingzhou hurriedly followed.
"Sit down."
Song Ruyue sat down and said something indifferently.
Luo Qingzhou had no choice but to sit down opposite him.
The maids brought plates of exquisite dishes and placed them on the table. They were all delicious dishes with good looks, aroma and flavor.
When Luo Qingzhou smelled the tempting aroma, his stomach suddenly growled.
This is even more embarrassing.
Song Ruyue glanced at him and said to the door: "Chuan'er hasn't come yet?"
As soon as the words fell, Qin Chuan's voice suddenly rang out in the yard: "Mother, I'm coming."
Just as he finished speaking, the man hurried in, sweating profusely, and said, "I was still practicing just now, so I came a little late."
Then he came over and patted Luo Qingzhou on the shoulder and said with a smile: "Qingzhou, long time no see. I'm here to have a few drinks with my second brother today."
Luo Qingzhou didn't expect him to come, so he quickly stood up and saluted: "Second brother."
Qin Chuan laughed, pulled him to sit down, and said, "We are brothers, why are you being polite? Come on, sit down."
Mei'er quickly brought in a basin of clean water and helped him wash his face and hands.
Qin Chuan wiped the sweat from his face and neck with a towel, and rubbed it vigorously a few times. The basin of clear water suddenly changed color.
Song Ruyue said quickly: "Go and get another basin."
Then he scolded her with disgust on his face: "I asked you to come to eat, but I didn't tell you to wash up first. The food on the table has all been stained by you."
Qin Chuan opened his mouth, showing his big white teeth, and laughed, "Mother, we are family, and there are no outsiders here, so why should we be so particular?"
Then he looked at Luo Qingzhou beside him and said, "Is that right, Qingzhou?"
Luo Qingzhou was about to nod, but then he looked at his mother-in-law again and said nothing.
Mei'er went and brought in a basin of clean water.
After washing, Qin Chuanfang picked up the quick-drinking spoon and said, "Eat, eat, eat. I have to go back to practice later."
Luo Qingzhou picked up the wine jug and poured him a glass of wine.
Qin Chuan laughed, without being polite, he picked up the wine glass, drank it all, and said: "Qingzhou, pour yourself a glass too. Scholars, how can they not drink? I heard that the more wine you scholars drink, the more inspiration you will get, right?"
Song Ruyue rolled her eyes and said, "Nonsense again."
Luo Qingzhou stood up and poured her a glass.
The wine has a fruity aroma that smells very tempting, but it is different from the previous fruity aroma, so it should be fine.
So he poured himself a glass, too.
Qin Chuan picked up the wine glass and said, "Come on, Qingzhou, I wish you a successful start and you will definitely pass the exam!"
Luo Qingzhou picked up the wine glass, clinked it with him, and drank it all in one gulp.
At this time, Mei'er came over, picked up the wine jug and helped them pour wine.
Seeing him eat a few bites of food, Song Ruyue also raised her wine glass and said, "Qingzhou, I'll toast to you as well. I hope you can pass the exam. When the time comes, my Qin family and my daughter will also benefit from your success."
Luo Qingzhou raised his glass with both hands and said, "Thank you, mother-in-law."
The three of them drank and ate.
Qin Chuan was probably hungry, so he didn't care about his image and kept eating voraciously.
Song Ruyue just took a few bites.
Luo Qingzhou lowered his head and ate, secretly guessing the purpose of his mother-in-law calling him to dinner tonight.
"Qingzhou, no one has bothered you recently, right?"
Song Ruyue suddenly asked.
Luo Qingzhou raised his head and replied, "No."
Song Ruyue asked: "What about Bailing and Xiachan, didn't they go there?"
Luo Qingzhou said: "No."
Song Ruyue asked again: "Have you visited Jianjia recently?"
Luo Qingzhou was silent for a moment, then said, "No."
Qin Chuan looked up at him and said while chewing a chicken leg, "Qingzhou, although studying is important, Jianjia is your wife after all. You should go see her and talk to her from time to time."
Then, he sighed again and said, "That girl is actually quite pitiful. It's our fault that we didn't protect her well and caused her to get lost. That's why she has this kind of personality after she came back. It's not easy for us to talk to her. You are her husband, you should go and accompany her more often."
“Shut up!”
Song Ruyue suddenly glared at him and said, "Eat your chicken leg. You said these words, what should I say?"
Qin Chuan: “…”
Song Ruyue said coldly, "Also, I've told you so many times, don't mention Jianjia's kidnapping again!"
Qin Chuan said "Oh" weakly, and continued to chew the chicken leg. He didn't dare to say anything else. He raised his glass and said, "Qingzhou, drink."
Luo Qingzhou picked up the wine glass, clinked it with his, and drank it all in one gulp.
A delicate hand reached out from the side and quickly filled the two people's wine glasses.
Song Ruyue stroked the wine glass on the table, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Qingzhou, last time your father-in-law and I asked you about your relationship with Jianjia, you should still remember, right? Now I ask you again, do you like Jianjia?"
Qin Chuan pricked up his ears.
Luo Qingzhou paused, raised his head and looked at her.
Song Ruyue looked him in the eye and said, "Then let me change the question. Do you like Jianjia or Weimo?"
Qin Chuan raised his head and looked at the two of them.
Luo Qingzhou was silent for a moment, and said, "Mother-in-law, can we talk about this matter after I finish the exam?"
Song Ruyue sneered and said, "You dare not say who you like? Are you afraid that I will scold you, or that your second brother will beat you? Luo Qingzhou, as a man, you like whoever you like? What is there to hesitate about? Or do you not even know it yourself? Or..."
At this point, she narrowed her eyes, a cold light flashed in her eyes: "You like both of them?"
The corner of Qin Chuan's mouth twitched, and after trying to hold it back, he still couldn't help but said, "Qingzhou, just say it, Second Brother won't hit you."
“Shut up!”
Song Ruyue glared at him again.
Qin Chuan had no choice but to shut up, picked up the wine glass, drank it, and continued to eat.
A slender hand reached out from the side, holding a wine jug, and poured him more wine.
Qin Chuan sniffed, was startled for a moment, then turned his head suspiciously and looked behind him.
"Luo Qingzhou, answer!"
Song Ruyue said sternly.
Luo Qingzhou paused, and just as he was about to speak, Qin Chuan, who was standing next to him, suddenly kicked him secretly under the table and whispered, "Qingzhou, think carefully before you answer."
After saying that, he continued to chew the ribs with his head down.
Luo Qingzhou said: "Mother-in-law, it's not that I don't want to answer, but my current status is awkward, so I can't answer this question right now. Because one side is my wife, and the other side is my wife's sister. I can't directly say who I like or who I don't like in front of you."
After a pause, he continued, "Mother-in-law, please give me some more time. We will handle this matter ourselves. I hope you can understand."
After hearing this, Song Ruyue fell silent.
After a while, she said coldly: "You have already answered. Wei Mo should be happy to hear it, but as their mother, I can't be happy."
She looked behind him.