On the opposite floor.
A pretty young woman stood in front of the window, pushed the window open with her slender hands, revealing half of her charming face. Her eyes were like a clear spring and like blooming poppies. They moved around Zhu Ping'an's face, and her cherry lips curled up.
When she saw Zhu Ping'an looking up, the young woman stretched out a pink and white finger, hooked it, and then closed the window.
The enchanting red lips, charming eyes, and a natural charm, every frown, smile, and gesture are full of sultry breath... ...
"Sorry, old man, I'll buy it next time."
Zhu Pingan retracted his gaze, put the watermelon in his hand back into the car, bowed to the old man selling watermelons apologetically, and then signaled the servant to take him upstairs. It was not because the young woman was so charming, but because of her identity.
Zhu Ping'an had met the young lady on the second floor once before. It was when he was taking a ship home from Tianjin Port last time. She was standing next to Miss Yan Er and was choked by Li Shu for a long time. She was Yan Shifan's favorite concubine, Li Niang.
In ancient times, which was different from modern times, most girls stayed at home. Now Li Niang was upstairs, and Yan Shifan should be upstairs as well, so she had to go up to the second floor by herself.
Red bricks and green tiles, steep eaves, and several pavilions and terraces connected in a row form the "Baoxiangzhai" restaurant in the style of a palace. There are two vermilion columns and black lacquered forks at the door of the restaurant. The interior decoration of the restaurant is even more elegant and luxurious, and guests gather here, and servants and maids come and go enthusiastically.
Zhu Ping'an followed the servant up to the second floor. The servant opened the door of the private room and invited Zhu Ping'an in. After Zhu Ping'an entered, he closed the door and waited outside.
After Zhu Ping'an entered the private room, he was stunned when he saw that there was only a charming young woman in the huge room.
Well
Why is Li Niang the only one in the private room? There's not even a maid, which is obviously abnormal.
The ancients were very careful when walking in melon fields and plum trees. A man and a woman alone in a room, if Yan Shifan misunderstood, it would be difficult for me to explain...
It is not suitable to stay here for long. Zhu Pingan came to a conclusion in his heart. He bowed and asked calmly, "Pingan greets Madam. I wonder what Madam wants you to do?"
"Oh, the number one scholar has a good memory. He still remembers me, unlike some heartless people..." Li Niang held the embroidered handkerchief in her slender jade hands, covered her little mouth with her hands, and smiled, her whole body exuding elegance.
"Madam, you are joking. I wonder what you want me to do for you?" Zhu Ping'an stood straight and asked again with a bow.
"Why are you in such a hurry, Mr. No. 1 Scholar? Are you afraid that I will eat you? I heard that you are an expert in appreciating gourmet food. What a coincidence! I just hired a chef from the north today. I specially asked the chef to prepare a table of wine and food. Mr. No. 1 Scholar, please sit down and taste it. Help me see if this chef is a capable one." Li Niang blinked her watery eyes, pointed to a table full of delicacies from land and sea, and slightly pouted her rosy lips.
The ancients said: If someone shows you kindness without any reason, he is either a traitor or a thief.
"Ping'an grew up eating grains and cereals, so how could he know anything about appreciating food? I'm afraid I'll disappoint Madam." Zhu Ping'an shook his head slightly and declined politely while standing in place.
"Hehe... After eating too many whole grains, doesn't the champion want to switch to some delicacies from land and sea?" Li Niang smiled lightly and said with a double meaning.
It seems like there is something else behind this statement
Zhu Pingan was slightly startled after hearing this, then he curled the corners of his lips slightly and replied seriously, "Pingan has been used to eating whole grains since he was a child, and he would be uncomfortable if he didn't eat them for a day."
From the moment he entered the door, Zhu Ping'an behaved politely, respectfully but with a distance. His formulaic answers were dull and scholarly, as if he had no understanding of romance at all.
How boring! If I spend my whole life with this kind of person, I don't know how bored I will be. I don't know why Lanlan likes this boy. Li Niang glanced at Zhu Ping'an with her watery eyes, then stroked the hair on her cheeks, raised her jade-like chin a little, opened her red lips and asked another question, "I heard that you are married in your hometown."
"Madam is well-informed. Ping'an is just about to send the wedding invitation to Lord Yan." Zhu Ping'an replied with a bow as he did before.
While Zhu Ping'an was talking to Yan Shifan's favorite concubine Li Niang in the private room upstairs, the old man selling watermelons downstairs was still shouting hard. Several groups of people came over to ask about the price of the watermelons with interest, but after learning the price, they all shook their heads and left in disappointment. It's too expensive, not worth it. If there are guests at home, you can buy one, but who would spend several times more money to eat this normally? It's better to wait a few days until the watermelons are on the market before buying.
In the private room upstairs, no matter how Li Niang hinted at him or used double entendres, Zhu Ping'an always responded to all changes with the same attitude.
"Okay, I won't beat around the bush. People go up high, and water flows down low. The champion must understand this principle better than a woman like me. My relative has a girl, the legitimate daughter of the family. She is more beautiful than the fairies in the paintings. She is not only gentle and considerate, but also well-educated. She just got married this year and has not yet married. I think only a talented man like the champion can be worthy of my relative's Jiaojiao."
The real purpose is revealed.
After Zhu Ping'an easily defused Li Niang's several indirect hints, she changed her approach and stated her intention directly.
After saying this, Li Niang's eyes were as bright as waves, staring straight at Zhu Ping'an.
Well
She was actually matchmaking for her relatives?! This surprised Zhu Pingan. He knew that he was already married, but he was still matchmaking for him! Was he really that much like Chen Shimei?!
"Thank you for your kindness, madam. But Ping'an already has a virtuous wife at home. Besides, Ping'an is the son of a poor farming family and is not a good match for you. I dare not let you down." Zhu Ping'an bowed and declined politely with an apologetic look.
You refused without even thinking about it?!
Li Niang glanced at Zhu Ping'an with her watery eyes, raised her eyebrows slightly, and still had a smile on her lips, "There is a saying that goes, it is easy to be an official if you have someone in the court. The top scholar has been worried about the memorials recently. My relative has been an official in the court for a long time and has some face in the Ministry of Justice. If the top scholar and my relative become in-laws, we only need to pass a word to the Ministry of Justice, and the top scholar will no longer have to worry about the memorials. With the top scholar's qualifications, if he has someone in the court to support him, I believe it will not be difficult for him to rise to prominence."
Coercion and inducement...
"Thank you for your concern, Madam. Ping'an just got married and doesn't want to take a concubine yet." Zhu Ping'an curled his lips and bowed again. As for that, it takes such a big deal to be a matchmaker! I'm already married, and I'm not handsome, and I don't have any connections. There are many people who are better than me, so why waste time on me
"Take a concubine?! ... ... Hehe..." Li Niang covered her mouth and giggled, and glanced at Zhu Ping'an sarcastically, "We don't have a concubine yet..." (To be continued)