During the Dragon Boat Festival, adults don’t have to work and children don’t have to study.
After breakfast, when the head of the family, Chen Tingjian, left, Sanlang ran to Chen Jingzong and looked at him with his big, bright eyes: "Uncle, I want to go to the creek in the north to dig loaches."
Sanlang was four years old, a mischievous age. Last year, his parents were at home in mourning, and he was a bit more obedient. This year, his parents went out to work. When his grandfather was not teaching, he liked to stay in the study, so Sanlang often slipped out. He found that the children in the town liked to go to the creek in the north to play, or fish or dig loaches, and some even caught small river crabs. Sanlang was particularly envious.
Chen Jingzong looked at Chen Xiaozong and asked, "If you want to dig loaches, why don't you go find your father?"
Sanlang said without hesitation: "Daddy said Fourth Uncle is the best!"
The child's trust and admiration are real, and Chen Xiaozong's cunning is also true.
Huayang was sitting next to Chen Jingzong, his eyes glancing at the hem of Chen Xiaozong's clothes. He knew very well that Chen Xiaozong either didn't want to accompany the child to play for the sake of his dignity, or he was worried about being scolded by his father-in-law if he found out. But he was a father who loved his child and couldn't bear to disappoint his child, so he simply pushed his son to Chen Jingzong. Anyway, Chen Jingzong didn't pay much attention to etiquette, and was not afraid of being scolded by his father-in-law.
The elegant and graceful Tanhua Lang seems to be a gentleman, but gentlemen also have some harmless little calculations.
Including last year when Chen Xiaozong wanted to take game from Chen Jingzong for free...
Huayang still admired Chen Xiaozong's handsomeness and elegance, but she would never again regard the top scholar and the second place scholar as beautiful jades and Chen Jingzong as a lump of mud next to the two jades as she did in her previous life.
At this moment, Chen Jingzong suddenly looked at her.
Huayang didn't understand what he meant. Sanlang blinked, moved in front of Huayang, and said flatteringly: "Aunt Si, can you promise to let Uncle Si take me to catch loaches?"
Huayang then realized that Chen Jingzong was actually afraid that she would be unhappy.
But he knew his brother's little plan and did not directly reject his nephew, which shows that he was willing and was a good fourth uncle.
Huayang smiled at Sanlang and said, "Go ahead."
She nodded, and Wanyi, Dalang and Erlang, who were secretly observing the progress not far away, all lit up their eyes!
Erlang came over first, and Wanyi also ran over. Only Dalang looked uneasily at his biological father, Chen Bozong, whose majesty was second only to his grandfather.
When Chen Bochong was young, he didn't like to go to the river to fish and catch shrimps. When he grew up, he naturally hoped that his children would learn from him to be polite in everything.
However, the princess had agreed, and if he objected at this time, it might damage the princess's reputation.
“Don’t linger too long.”
Dalang was very happy.
Chen Jingzong set off with his four children.
Yu Xiu was a little worried: "I'll go over and watch."
Huayang also wanted to go to the stream to get some fresh air. She had lived in the Chen family's main house for two lifetimes, but she had never carefully appreciated the surrounding scenery. The only time she stayed outside for a long time was when there was a flood to avoid disaster. In that situation, how could she be in the mood to appreciate the scenery
Chaoyun went back to Siyi Hall to get her veil and a green silk umbrella.
Luo Yuyan also wanted to go, and also asked the maid to prepare things.
Yu Xiu came from a poor family and was not used to such formalities. She acted quite natural and did not force herself to behave like her junior classmates, nor did she seem to be afraid that they would look down on her.
Of course, Huayang had a great contribution to this. When she was in Lingzhou City, she often invited Yu Xiu to visit Ning Garden. As time went by, Yu Xiu became more and more open in front of Huayang. She could even get along with the princess more comfortably, so naturally she would no longer regard Luo Yuyan as an unattainable lady from a marquis's mansion.
"Sister-in-law, come with me."
Huayang gestured to Chaoyun to stay in the ancestral home, and said to Yu Xiu while holding an umbrella.
Of course Yu Xiu was willing. She walked under Huayang's umbrella and took the umbrella handle naturally. Huayang also gently held her arm.
In the blink of an eye, Luo Yuyan became the one left alone.
It took the three sisters-in-law a while to get ready, and they walked slowly, so when they finally stepped out of the gate of the Chen family's ancestral home, they were almost fifteen minutes later than Chen Jingzong's five uncles and nephews.
Go around the Chen family’s courtyard wall and turn north, you can see the stream half a mile away, and the five uncles and nephews standing by the stream.
However, there was a woman in a pink dress and a white cloth skirt standing next to the uncle and nephew. She was talking to Chen Jingzong with a smile on her face. Suddenly, she noticed Huayang and the other two. Her expression changed visibly and she hurriedly walked downstream along the stream. She stopped after walking a distance, picked up the wooden basin and clothes on the river bank, and hurried away with her head down.
This kind of behavior is clearly an attempt to cover up one's own guilt.
Yu Xiu looked at Huayang worriedly, and Luo Yuyan was also inexplicably nervous.
Huayang was still as excited as before, walking forward with Yu Xiu's arm in arm.
I have to say, Shiqiao Town is surrounded by mountains and rivers, no wonder it can produce a talented person like my father-in-law.
Huayang looked at the blue sky, then at the distant green mountains, and unknowingly walked to the river.
Chen Jingzong was squatting on the shore, helping the children roll up their trouser legs one by one, until they were above their knees.
He just glanced at his three sisters-in-law and continued to take care of his nephews, as if playing with them was the most important thing today.
Wanyi had already rolled up her trouser legs. Seeing her mother's strange expression, Wanyi rolled her eyes and came close to Huayang, complaining, "Aunt Si, that girl just now is also from the town. It seems that Uncle Si helped her once a few years ago, so she came over to ask Uncle Si if he still remembered her."
Huayang raised her eyebrows slightly. Having read so many storybooks, she had already thought of a beautiful small town girl who got into trouble and was fortunately rescued by the fourth young master of the cabinet who was very skilled.
Yu Xiu secretly winked at her daughter. This child is usually very sensible, why does she have to bring up this now
Wanyi just looked at Fourth Aunt and asked curiously, "Aren't you curious about how Fourth Uncle answered?"
Hua Yang smiled and said, "How did he answer?"
Sanlang, whose trouser legs were being rolled up by his uncle, answered, "My uncle said he doesn't remember!"
Erlang: "I can testify that Fourth Uncle didn't even look at her, and she blushed!"
Dalang nodded.
The four children talked one after another and quickly helped their fourth uncle clarify the scene which was very easy to be misunderstood.
Chen Jingzong just tapped the top of their heads one by one, and then he went into the water with his shoes on and without rolling up his trouser legs.
San Lang screamed, "Why doesn't Fourth Uncle roll up his trouser legs?"
Yu Xiu and Luo Yuyan both saw it clearly, and because they were there, it would be disrespectful for Chen Jingzong to expose his calves.
So this uncle who looks rough and unruly is actually very polite sometimes.
There were some stones by the stream. Yu Xiu picked up three, wiped them clean with a handkerchief, and then invited her two younger brothers and sisters to sit down.
Luo Yuyan lowered her voice and took the initiative to say to Huayang: "Fourth brother has a chivalrous heart. He may have just helped her out when he encountered injustice. The girl should be grateful, but she should have been married long ago, and she knew that fourth brother was married, but now she is rushing to get close to fourth brother. I don't know what she is thinking. Princess, you have to be careful. Of course, a mere common girl has no chance to get close to fourth brother. I am afraid that the officials in Lingzhou are crazy and want to curry favor with fourth brother in this way. They say that our third master is only a seventh-rank official now, and someone in the county has these crooked ideas."
Just talking about the above, she might have meant to make sarcastic remarks on purpose, but when she used Chen Xiaozong as an example, it proved that she was really just reminding Huayang as a person who had experienced it to be careful about her husband being obsessed with or seduced by women outside.
Yu Xiu was surprised and asked, "Did someone in the county send a woman to the Third Master?"
Luo Yuyan wanted to fit into their small circle. Although she looked down on Yu Xiu in her heart, she still answered at this moment, gritting her teeth and said, "Yes, fortunately, the Third Master remembered my father's teachings and was not led astray by others. He took the initiative to tell me after returning home and told me to be careful not to fall into other people's traps."
Yu Xiu breathed a sigh of relief.
Luo Yuyan glanced at her and said with a smile, "Don't worry, sister-in-law. My brother is the most serious man and the last man to fall for this."
Huayang glanced at her indifferently.
Luo Yuyan suddenly realized her mistake and quickly made up for it, "Look at what I said. The prince consort is a man of great courage and will certainly not be seduced by beauty. After all, it is our Third Master who is the most worrying. He smiles like spring breeze with everyone and is born with a peach blossom appearance."
Huayang smiled and said, "Are you trying to praise the Third Master for being as handsome as Pan An and the most romantic and suave?"
Luo Yuyan: …
She really didn't mean that, but now that she was thinking about it, why was what she said becoming more and more wrong
Huayang could see that Luo Yuyan was just trying to find a way to bring up the topic, but the daughter of the Marquis's family was a little clumsy with her words.
"Look, I caught a fish!"
Wanyi's excited cry was heard, and the three sisters-in-law turned around and saw the little girl holding her hands, with Dalang, Erlang and Sanlang all surrounding her.
Chen Jingzong had walked quite far away, and only after he got into the water did he roll up his trouser legs. His long and strong calves were obscured by the current and could not be seen clearly.
It was still somewhat embarrassing, so Luo Yuyan found an excuse to leave.
Seeing that the water here was shallow, Yu Xiu thought the children would not be in danger. Then she thought that her uncle might want to personally clarify what had just happened with the princess, so she left with Luo Yuyan.
Soon, Huayang was the only one left by the stream. She was wearing a lotus green jacket and a snow-white skirt embroidered with light pink lotus flowers.
Huayang was still in mourning for his father-in-law and mother-in-law, so every time he returned to the ancestral home, he would deliberately dress simply to show respect.
She held an umbrella, looking at the fish and shrimps brought by the children, and then picked up two small stones and threw them into the stream. The gurgling sound was quite pleasant.
There was a clear sound of water breaking.
Huayang tilted her head and saw Chen Jingzong walking towards her. When the water reached shallower parts, his slender calves covered with water droplets were exposed.
Huayang withdrew his gaze and continued throwing stones.
Chen Jingzong went ashore, sat on the rock next to her, and took off his wet shoes first.
Huayang tilted his head, not wanting to look at his big feet.
Chen Jingzong raised her umbrella, stared at her fair and clean face, and asked, "Are you angry?"
Huayang: "Are you talking about that woman? Why should I be angry?"
Chen Jingzong: "I also think you shouldn't bother about this. It's just a trivial matter. What's more, I just helped her beat a gangster back then. I didn't even say a word to her."
Hua Yang was surprised and asked, "Since you remember her, why do you say you don't remember her?"
Chen Jingzong: "It's not common for people in town to bully men and women openly. Besides, I'm only in my early twenties, not old enough to forget things. Of course I remember this happening, but I really don't remember her or the face of that little hooligans. She came over to chat with me rashly, and her eyes were not polite. How could I reminisce with her in front of the children?"
Huayang smiled: "Now that the children are not here, are you willing to reminisce with her?"
Chen Jingzong also laughed: "She only tried to get close to me when the children were not around. I had already crossed the river and entered the mountains, so she couldn't catch up with me even if she wanted to."
Hua Yang: "You think highly of yourself. Maybe she just wants to thank you, not to hook up with you."
In the water, Sanlang caught a small river crab and wanted to show it to his uncle and aunt. Wanyi glanced at his uncle and aunt who were almost sitting under an umbrella, stopped Sanlang, and told him to put the crab in the bucket first and not to disturb them.
Here, Huayang threw another small stone and said lightly: "Of course you speak better than you sing in front of me, but who knows if you will do something when no one is around in private."
Chen Jingzong: "If I really did it, you would divorce me?"
Huayang nodded.
Chen Jingzong: "Then you can rest assured. Even if all the beauties in the world are placed in front of me, I will only want you. I am not a fool. I will not cherish the most beautiful one and eat some ugly ones instead."
Huayang said with disdain: "Who do you think you are? Why should you be able to choose any beauty in the world at will?"
Chen Jingzong suddenly grabbed her ankles and took off her shoes while saying, "I don't care about being picky."
Huayang no longer cared about what he was saying and hurried to cover his feet.
Chen Jingzong: "We are all playing in the water. What's the point of just watching? Don't worry, the water is warm and it won't cool you down."
Huayang: "I'm not a child!"
Chen Jingzong: "Even a child wouldn't say one thing and mean another like you."
As he spoke, he had already picked up Huayang and carried her upright to the middle of the stream. He held up her skirt with one hand and dipped her feet into the water.
The stream water was indeed warm, washing over her feet continuously.
Huayang couldn't deny that she was a little envious of Wanyi and the others, and really wanted to wade in this clear stream.
"Where are the trouser legs?"
Huayang reminded quietly, supporting his chest with both hands.
Chen Jingzong then bent his left leg, held her with one hand and let her sit on his lap. He then bent over and rolled up her trouser legs front and back, revealing her calves that were as white as jade and had no flaws.
It was so beautiful that Chen Jingzong couldn't help but touch it.
Huayang reached out and twisted it.
Chen Jingzong then put her into the water, rolled up her skirt, and asked, "Do you want me to carry it for you, or do you want to carry it yourself?"
"I'll do it myself while you keep an eye on the kids."
Chen Jingzong saw that she was like a child who went into the river for the first time. She secretly concealed her excitement, but walked around in the water happily. Occasionally, she bent down close to the water surface, as if she had discovered fish or shrimp, and then secretly tried the slightly deeper water.
Wanyi soon accompanied Huayang.
Chen Jingzong also accompanied his nephews and glanced around from time to time.
Maybe this section of the stream is too close to the Chen family's ancestral home, so the common people spontaneously did not come to wash clothes and disturb them. In addition, Chen Jingzong and his wife brought their children out to play today, so the women who were washing clothes consciously stayed far away.
Huayang played in the water for about quarter of an hour and had a great time.
When Chen Jingzong saw her walking towards the shore, he immediately came over, picked her up and placed her on the rock where she had just sat.
Both of her calves were wet and her feet were still dripping. If she put them directly on the ground, they would get dirty with dirt.
Chen Jingzong sat on the ground, hugged her calves, took out the handkerchief from his chest and wiped her.
Huayang had already held up the umbrella, just enough to block her legs and Chen Jingzong's movements.
The handkerchief in Chen Jingzong's hand was the one she had given him before. Except for the one embroidered with peonies and mountains, which he kept as a treasure, Chen Jingzong always used the other two in turn.
At this moment, he lowered his head with a focused look, as if he was not wiping the princess's legs, but a rare treasure.
Hua Yang suddenly became curious: "If the emperor had not arranged a marriage for you and me, what kind of woman would you marry?"
Chen Jingzong glanced at her and said, "I never thought about it. My old man and mother will definitely arrange it for me. As long as she is not too ugly and her family is of good character, I will marry her."
Most of the couples in this world are formed in this way.
Huayang didn't believe it: "You should have a preference, such as lively or gentle, or someone with bigger eyes."
Chen Jingzong listened, lowered his head to wipe her other leg, raised the corner of his lips, lowered his eyes and said: "I really haven't thought about it, but the day I saw you, I suddenly knew what I wanted."
Huayang: …
Regardless of whether it’s beautiful or not, he likes white!
She pinched him again.
Chen Jingzong said helplessly: "I didn't say anything, why are you pinching me?"
Huayang glared: "You can't even think about it!"
Chen Jingzong smiled.
After her legs and feet were wiped, while helping her put on her socks, Chen Jingzong asked, "What about you? What kind of prince consort did you want to marry in the past?"
Huayang snorted, "Anyway, it's definitely not like you."
Chen Jingzong held her little feet and stuffed them into his shoes: "It's a pity that you can only marry someone like me."
.
Guanhe Hall.
Yu Xiu quietly mentioned to Chen Bochong that a woman had taken the initiative to chat with her uncle. Although the matter had been explained very clearly, she was still worried that the princess and her uncle would argue about this.
Chen Bozong: "Not really, my fourth brother is not that foolish, and the princess will not be jealous over an ordinary woman."
In other words, right now, Fourth Brother probably doesn't have the ability to make the princess feel jealous of him.
Yu Xiu sighed, "The princess treats me kindly, but I really can't tell what she's thinking. When I think she should be angry, she smiles like a fairy. When I don't hear anything, the princess seems to be angry. It's not just me. When the princess entertained Xiang Wangfei and Lingyuan Madam, they also carefully guessed the princess's mood and kept their smiles tense."
Chen Bozong: "Most people in high positions are like this, but the princess treats you as her sister-in-law, so you don't have to be as cautious as outsiders."
Yu Xiu thought for a moment and said with a smile, "I admire my fourth brother more and more. You see, even my father respects the princess. My fourth brother treats the princess just like an ordinary husband treats his wife. Sometimes he even dares to get angry with the princess. He is really brave."
Chen Bozong looked at her and then looked out the window.
From this respect, my fourth brother is probably the first and the last. Back then, when my father revealed that the queen wanted to marry the princess to my fourth brother, the whole family found it incredible and terrified. Only my fourth brother actually complained about how troublesome and uncomfortable it was to marry a princess!
After Yu Xiu left, Chen Bochong called his long-time attendant and asked him to investigate the identity of the woman who was suspected of wanting to seduce his fourth brother.
Shiqiao Town was not big. Before noon, Chen Bozong had received the news that the woman was 19 years old, quite pretty, and had been married before. However, her husband died and she had no children, so she returned to her parents' home. According to the neighbors, this woman was indeed ambitious. She often inquired about her family's affairs during normal conversations, and was particularly concerned about the relationship between the fourth brother and the princess.
I'm not afraid of thieves stealing, I'm afraid of thieves thinking about it.
Thinking that the family would have to live in Lingzhou for about a year, after the family dinner at noon, Chen Bochong called his fourth brother to his study.
It was quite hot, and Chen Jingzong just wanted to get back to Siyi Hall as soon as possible. He would be much cooler in just his undershirt, so he asked impatiently as soon as he entered the house, "What's the matter?"
Chen Bozong: "Do you still remember Wang Cuiniang?"
Chen Jingzong: "Wang Cui Niang, or Wang Cui's mother?"
Chen Bozong said sternly, "That's the one who approached you by the stream this morning."
Chen Jingzong's face darkened: "Why, do you suspect that I have an affair with her?"
Chen Bozong: "I don't doubt you, but I asked someone to find out. She is a widow now and often asks about you. You'd better be careful to avoid any trouble."
Chen Jingzong: "I see. It's getting hot. The princess and I won't be back until autumn."
Chen Bozong: "Okay, Princess, explain it clearly."
Chen Jingzong sneered: "What's the use of explaining? Only you take Wang seriously. He doesn't take it seriously at all."
Chen Bozong: “I guessed it.”
Chen Jingzong: …
In Siyi Hall, Huayang was lying on the couch in the second room. It was next to the window and the occasional breeze made it cooler. It was not convenient to transport ice here in a big way in the countryside.
"What does Big Brother want from you?"
Seeing Chen Jingzong walk in, she asked casually.
Chen Jingzong did not hide it from her, and explained while taking off his outer robe: "Look, my family members are more afraid than I am that one day I will offend you and then be divorced by you."
Huayang was pleased by Chen Bochong's move.
Not all princesses had a happy life after marriage. Some princes-in-law cheated on their wives, and their families went to great lengths to help cover it up.
The Chen family was very good. From her father-in-law to her two brothers-in-law, they all respected her very much, not only in terms of courtesy, but also in their secret protection.
At this time, Chen Jingzong also took off his inner garment, revealing his strong and muscular chest and lean waist and abdomen.
Huayang paused in fanning himself, then turned over.
Chen Jingzong approached her from behind and whispered in her ear: "Don't worry, no one can touch my skin except you."
Huayang pouted at him: "Who cares!"
Chen Bozong thought about it and decided to tell his father about this hidden danger.
Chen Tingjian said nothing, but before long, more and more matchmakers went to the Wang family to help Wang Cuiniang find a husband. After the summer, when Huayang and Chen Jingzong returned to the ancestral home to visit her parents-in-law again, they happened to catch Wang Cuiniang getting married. The big red sedan swayed past their carriage and went to the groom's home dozens of miles away.
Many people were watching the fun, and their discussions drifted into the car.
Huayang was stunned when he learned the identity of the bride, and went to look at Chen Jingzong, who also had a complicated expression.
Is it because the old man is too worried about him, or does he not want the princess and her daughter-in-law to get angry at all
(End of this chapter)