The return of Wei Chenglin bathed the British government in bursts of laughter. Especially the eldest princess, the whole person looked radiant, and the smile on her face never stopped.
Half a day later, Yun Fu and Wei Yingzhi, who got the news, also brought their eldest son, An Geer, over.
When brothers and sisters meet each other, it is naturally quite lively.
After the crowd dispersed, Wei Chenglin stayed in the eldest princess' room, and patiently told the eldest princess and Shen Xinyan about his days in northern Xinjiang in the past few years. Of course, he said nothing about the dangers he experienced.
Shen Xinyan naturally knew it too, but she didn't ask in detail. After all, it's good for people to come back safely, and let everything else pass once it's over!
"...When the blind man fell, we were so tired that we were about to lose our strength. Fortunately, Changfeng brought the soldiers to find him, so he brought the blind man back." Wei Chenglin naturally didn't want to say anything. He also chose some surprising and interesting things to say slowly about ordinary things, which only made the eldest princess exclaimed again and again.
Changfeng? For some reason, Shen Xinyan caught a somewhat familiar name in his words, and after thinking about it carefully for a while, she finally remembered that this Chang Feng was Ping Yan's youngest brother, who had followed his deceased brother in place of him about three years ago. Beside the eldest son.
She looked thoughtfully at Wei Chenglin, who was smiling with eyebrows and doing all he could to amuse the eldest princess, for a moment, she let out a low sigh.
So, that's okay...
In the first month after Wei Chenglin returned to Beijing, he spent almost all of it in getting together with relatives and friends, but he didn't pay much attention to other things, as if he wanted to make up for the debt he owed his relatives in the past few years.
Shen Xinyan also followed him, just at this time there was good news from the Chen family that the third wife, Shen Huiran, was pregnant again.
Since the crown princess finally gave birth to the eldest son of the crown prince a few years ago, the crown prince's family finally breathed a sigh of relief, and the Chen family, who is a relative of the crown princess's natal family, immediately spread the news that the third young lady was happy. The eldest son of the third son also came to the world.
As for Shen Huiran, she has officially established her foothold in the Chen residence. Now that she is happy again, no matter whether she gives birth to a boy or a girl, it will not affect her status in the Chen residence.
"I never thought that in the blink of an eye, Cousin Hui will soon be the mother of two children." Wei Chenglin, who was flipping through Brother Xiang's copybook, couldn't hide his surprise when he heard the news.
"I don't even know how many years you have been away from the capital? Not only your cousin Hui, but also your cousin Feng's third child is coming soon." Shen Xinyan shook her head.
Wei Chenglin put down the copybook in his hand, and replied seriously: "It's the child's fault that my mother has been worried all these years."
"There's no need to say these things between mother and child. But, have you met any nice girls in northern Xinjiang these years?" Thinking of the girl in General Huang's house, she asked tentatively.
General Huang's father and daughter only returned to Beijing last year, and they spent two years with their eldest son in northern Xinjiang. I don't know if the eldest son has any impression of the Huang family girl.
Unexpectedly, the mother turned the topic on herself, and Wei Chenglin laughed: "As a man, my son is busy with business all day long, so why don't I have time to notice how good other girls are?"
"But why did I hear Chang Feng say that there is a girl from the prefect of Mo who seems to have some thoughts about you?" Shen Xinyan asked early in the morning, how could he be confused.
"Miss Mo?" Wei Chenglin shook his head, "Mother, don't listen to Changfeng's nonsense, Miss Mo is just a child with a temperament, competitive, and there is no love between a man and a woman."
A fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl who grew up lovingly and lovingly, has never encountered any setbacks. Rather than saying that she likes herself, it is better to say that she is not reconciled to being "ignored" by her.
Shen Xinyan stared at him closely, not missing every expression on his face. Seeing that his expression was calm and did not seem to be fake, she believed that he had no intentions for that Miss Mo, and couldn't tell whether it was disappointment or something else. what a feeling.
She thought for a while, and then asked: "Then what about the big girl in General Huang's house? Do you recognize her?"
Miss Huang? Wei Chenglin was startled, and a stubborn face appeared in his mind involuntarily.
"When my son first arrived in Northern Xinjiang, General Huang was seriously injured. Naturally, he had to go to his house for business transfers. Miss Huang... is in charge of the general's family affairs. Naturally, my son recognizes her."
Huh? How can you explain so much? Shen Xinyan was surprised by his words and narrowed her eyes slightly.
Wei Chenglin felt a little uncomfortable being stared at by her, coughed, then quickly lowered his head, pretending to read a book seriously.
Seeing him like this, Shen Xinyan's heart immediately settled.
It seems that there is hope for a daughter-in-law here.
On this day, Shen Xinyan had an appointment with Xu Sumin, Wei Chenglin volunteered to escort her there personally.
Naturally, Shen Xinyan would not refuse her son's filial piety, and readily agreed.
Because Xu Sumin asked someone to import a batch of special goods from the West some time ago, Shen Xinyan went to have a look at her invitation. The carriage soon stopped at the Baizhen Pavilion in the city, and Wei Chenglin sat with them for a while. A little surprised by Xu Sumin's sophistication in business, she couldn't help nodding secretly.
No wonder His Majesty asked Mrs. Xu to take care of his private property. With her means and ability, I am afraid that His Majesty's private property has doubled over the years.
He didn't even think that his mother was also involved in it.
When he noticed that Xu Sumin's words were gradually mentioning business secrets, he found a reason to leave and left the space for the two people in the room.
"I haven't seen you for many years, but your son is getting more and more caring." Xu Sumin joked.
Shen Xinyan glared at her angrily: "Don't worry, your Dundun will definitely be more considerate in the future."
Xu Sumin smiled helplessly: "That child has been completely spoiled by his father who has no shape. He is a little cunning, and he is really talking about people and talking nonsense."
"How can you talk about your son like that!" Shen Xinyan was amused by her.
However, Shen Xinyan couldn't help but want to laugh when she thought of Dundun's ability to talk nonsense when he saw people talking.
If someone asks his name, he will first judge whether the other person is close to his mother or his father. If he can't tell, he simply answers that his name is 'Dundun'.
If the other party was on Xu Sumin's side, he would tell the other party loudly, 'My name is Xu Qiao'. If the other party belonged to the Qiao family of Duke Li's Mansion, his answer would be 'My name is Qiao Xu'.
It's really like a fish in water, but it's dumbfounding!
"What about the matter between you and Sixth Master Qiao? You really don't intend to ask for a title?" Shen Xinyan asked again.
"Let's do it like this! Fame is just a thing that sounds nice, but it's actually self-knowledgeable. It's pretty good now, Lushui couple, they miss each other in their hearts, but they don't interfere with each other. It's great!" Xu Sumin disagreed.
Shen Xinyan was not surprised by her answer at all, so she didn't say any more.
But Wei Chenglin on the other side went downstairs alone, and suddenly saw a somewhat familiar figure enter the jewelry shop opposite. Taking a closer look, he recognized that it was the big girl in General Huang's mansion, and he followed her step by step.
"Shopkeeper, this hairpin is pretty good, with the oriental beads inlaid on it, it looks very elegant..."
He watched the yellow girl pick up a jade hairpin inlaid with oriental pearls, and looked as if she wanted to buy it. Just as he was feeling strange, he suddenly saw a very delicately dressed woman in a pink dress walking over there. Beside Miss Huang, she said arrogantly to the shopkeeper, "I want this hairpin."
"This girl has already taken a fancy to this hairpin, why don't you choose another..." The shopkeeper was a little embarrassed.
"When you open the door to do business, you have to have some insight. At least you have to distinguish who can afford it and who can't." The girl in pink sneered.
"I don't like this hairpin very much. Miss Hu will give it to you if you want it." Huang Qingshu put the hairpin back with a slight smile.
That Miss Hu sneered again: "It's so nice to say, obviously I can't afford it."
Then, Wei Chenglin watched Huang Qingshu take a fancy to a set of pearl and emerald haircuts, a pair of pink jade bracelets, and a golden phoenix walker, but without exception, they were all cut off by that girl Hu in the end.
In the end, Wei Chenglin watched her leave with empty hands and a face full of disappointment. For some reason, he was filled with anger and cast a sharp glance at the complacent Miss Hu.
Miss Hu suddenly felt a chill down her spine and shivered, but she didn't pay much attention to it, and ordered her servants to put away all the jewelry she bought, and then she got in the carriage and left.
Wei Chenglin took a deep breath, but his heart was filled with mixed feelings.
General Huang is upright by nature, he is not a well-rounded person, and he does not have a deep background, and he has achieved his current status only by relying on his own body, but he was born in a poor family and his family background is limited. Compared with officials, even compared with officials who are inferior to him, they are far inferior.
Wei Chenglin had lived with him in northern Xinjiang for two years at least, and knew the situation in their house, but he never thought that as the daughter of the general's mansion, she couldn't even afford a decent piece of jewelry, so that she was treated like this everywhere. For underestimation.
He felt a little uncomfortable, not only for the soldier who was devoted to the country but lived in poverty, but also for the proud girl Huang who bowed her waist for five buckets of rice.
"Shopkeeper, did you make a lot of money today?" Just as he was feeling uncomfortable, he suddenly saw Huang Qingshu go back and forth, walking up to the shopkeeper who was excitedly counting the bank notes with a smile.
The shopkeeper smiled and said: "No more, no less, thanks to the girl. According to the agreement, girl, this is 10% of the silver taels for you."
After speaking, he took out a bank note and handed it to the other party.
Huang Qingshu took it with a smile, glanced at the numbers on it, and was immediately elated.
Yay, there are expenses in the monthly mansion this month!
"Happy cooperation, come again when I have a chance!" After taking the bank note and keeping it, he bid farewell to the shopkeeper and left happily.
Wei Chenglin was dumbfounded, and couldn't believe what he saw.
So, this is... making money wisely
He couldn't help but followed, and stopped Huang Qingshu when she turned into the teahouse next door: "Miss Huang."
Huang Qingshu turned her head in response, with a somewhat surprised expression: "General Wei?"
Wei Chenglin stopped her on the spur of the moment, but when he met the other person's face, he realized that he was abrupt, and regretted it for a while, so he cleared his throat and asked, "I haven't seen you for a year, I wonder if your father's old wounds are better? "
"General Lao remembers that my father's health is safe." Huang Qingshu suddenly realized that she was worried about her father's health.
Unexpectedly, this cold-faced general is still warm-hearted!
The two were speechless for a while, and Huang Qingshu naturally wouldn't stay for long, so she got into the sedan chair and left after a few polite words.
Wei Chenglin frowned heavily, and for a moment, he rubbed his forehead with a slight headache, puzzled by his actions just now.
"Did you, son of a gourd, have a crush on her girl?" Xu Sumin, who had seen the scene clearly, pushed Shen Xinyan's arm and asked with a smile.
Shen Xinyan had a happy smile on her face: "It would be really great if this is the case!"
"What? You fell in love with that girl early in the morning?" Xu Sumin guessed what she was thinking when she heard it.
"I'm not the only one who fell in love with her, but also my mother-in-law!" Shen Xinyan naturally wouldn't hide it from her.
"It seems that this girl must have something extraordinary to be able to attract the favor of the Eldest Princess."
While the two were chatting and laughing, Wei Chenglin walked in. As soon as he entered the door, he saw two faces with the same meaningful smiles, feeling a little uncertain for a moment.
Xu Sumin was about to make some jokes, but Shen Xinyan quickly pushed her away, signaling her not to speak, Xu Sumin understood what she meant, and refilled her tea with a smile.
"Are you back? Let's go back!" Shen Xinyan stood up as if nothing had happened.
Although Wei Chenglin felt that their laughter was weird, he didn't think deeply, and responded with a 'yes'.
The mother and son bid farewell to Xu Sumin and set off for home.
A few days later, the marriage of Wei Chenglin, the eldest son of the British government, was officially put on the agenda, and the family who had been eyeing the marriage for a long time expressed their intentions to Shen Xinyan explicitly or secretly. Among them was the old lady of the Mo family who wanted to The marriage between his granddaughter and Wei Chenglin, who is about to return to Beijing from northern Xinjiang, and the original wife of the new Minister of the Ministry of Officials intends to betroth his talented daughter to Wei Chenglin.
In front of the Eldest Princess, Shen Xinyan specifically mentioned these two people, because one knew Wei Chenglin, and the other was the best-qualified girl in every prefecture in the capital.
The beauty of this girl Duan is not inferior to that of Zhou Guanning back then. That's why she was a little hesitant.
After all, she is the wife who will be with her eldest son for the rest of her life. She thinks it is better for him to choose the one he likes no matter what.
This girl from the Duan Mansion is outstanding in appearance and full of talent. She was carefully raised and brought up by the elders. Shen Xinyan had met her once before, her manners were also graceful, and she seemed like a good candidate.
The Eldest Princess frowned: "According to your intention, do you want Brother Lin to choose one of Huang's Mansion, Mo's Mansion and Duan Mansion?"
"Daughter-in-law sees that these three girls are all very good, but after all, this is Brother Lin's lifelong event, and it is more suitable for him to choose by himself." Shen Xinyan said slowly.
"What if he doesn't like the three of them?" The Eldest Princess asked again.
"Then let him find someone he likes. My daughter-in-law believes that after experiencing so much, he is no longer the desperate young man he was back then." Shen Xinyan replied indifferently.
The eldest princess looked at her deeply for a long time, then smiled slightly: "If that's the case, then I will do as you say!"
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law reached a consensus, and quickly told Wei Chenglin about it.
Wei Chenglin was surprised.
Miss Huang? Grandmother and mother intend to marry Miss Huang as his wife
He couldn't believe it for a moment.
Shen Xinyan and the Eldest Princess looked at each other, both of them could not understand his intentions. After thinking for a while, Shen Xinyan said: "Of course, if you don't have any intention of the three girls, girls from other houses are also fine."
Wei Chenglin didn't seem to hear her words, he just stared blankly at the three portraits in front of his eyes, his gaze fell on the one on the far left.
Shen Xinyan followed his gaze and recognized that the woman above was Huang Qingshu, the eldest daughter of General Huang.
The eldest princess also found out, and the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law looked at each other and smiled.
"Grandmother thinks this girl from the Duan Mansion is pretty good, with both talents and good conduct." The eldest princess said suddenly.
Shen Xinyan was stunned for a moment before she understood her intentions, and said with a smile: "My daughter-in-law thinks that the girl from the Mo family is better. Understand, we will get better in the future."
The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law talked to each other, but quietly observed Wei Chenglin's expression. Seeing that the hesitation on his face was getting stronger, he looked quite struggling.
Grandmother likes Miss Duanfu, mother obviously likes Miss Mo more, but...
"Brother Lin, grandma has lived most of her life, so she can see people right. This girl is really a rare woman. If you don't believe me, grandma and Mrs. Duan will arrange for you to meet."
"My mother still insists that Ms. Mo is more suitable. She is a girl, and she lives a comfortable life in Beijing, but she would rather follow her parents to go to northern Xinjiang. This kind of filial piety is moving. Besides, she is a spoiled girl. If you don't despise that barren land, you can see that you can endure hardships, and you will be able to follow your husband and wife in the future." Shen Xinyan has her own opinion.
"But, but Miss Huang is not bad..." Wei Chenglin finally couldn't help it.
"Miss Huang is indeed not bad. If she is bad, would grandma choose her as a candidate? It's just that Miss Duan and Miss Mo are better than others." The Eldest Princess didn't change her face.
"Your grandmother's meaning is also mother's meaning." Shen Xinyan agreed.
Wei Chenglin's expression became even more hesitant.
He has already disappointed his grandmother and mother once, this time, is he still going to disappoint them
His eyes once again fell on the three portraits lined up side by side, and then looked at the eldest princess and Shen Xinyan one by one, looking at the anticipation on their faces.
After a long time, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath, lifted the corner of his robe and knelt on the ground: "Grandmother, mother, I have let you down, I, I want to choose Miss Huang!"
As if he was afraid that they would disagree, he hurriedly said: "Although Miss Huang's family background is not as good as the two girls above Duan Mo, she is filial and benevolent. The responsibility of the mistress of a house."
"But her appearance..." The eldest princess said deliberately with a smile hidden in her eyes.
"In the eyes of my grandson, Ms. Huang's appearance is not inferior to the two girls Duan Mo. Besides, her lack in the eyes of the world just proves her character." Wei Chenglin said frankly.
A girl who does housework day and night is naturally not as well-bred as the pampered daughter.
The eldest princess finally breathed a sigh of relief, looked at Shen Xinyan, and saw that she also had a happy smile on her face.
Shen Xinyan helped him up herself, and said with a smile: "In this case, mother will make the decision for you. I hope you can take on the responsibility of being a husband in the future."
Wei Chenglin was overjoyed, and subconsciously looked at the eldest princess, seeing that she also had a smile on her face, he was overjoyed: "Thank you mother, thank you grandma!"
The news that Wei Chenglin, the eldest son of the British prince, and Huang Qingshu, the eldest daughter of the general's mansion, had arranged a marriage quickly spread throughout the capital, causing an uproar in the capital.
It's not that the girl from the General's Mansion is not good, but because with Wei Shizi's conditions, he can choose a girl with better conditions, such as the talented and beautiful girl from Duan Shangshu's Mansion. A good story.
But no matter what other people think, the time for the big wedding is still here.
Shen Xin and Yang Gao sat at the head, watching the happy son lead his wife into the door. Amidst a burst of singing, he paid homage to heaven and earth, and to his parents. Finally, after the couple bowed, they were sent to the bridal chamber.
Gradually, a watery light appeared in her eyes.
"It's really a long time coming. The second sister-in-law finally got something on her mind this time." Yang said with a smile on the side.
"Yeah, good things take time, but fortunately they all end well." Shen Xinyan sighed, her eyes unknowingly looked for someone in the crowd, that person seemed to sense her sight, looked back, and the husband and wife looked at each other and smiled .
Fortunately, I have him to accompany me to grow old in this life!