Chu Jihan sat aside for a long time holding a handkerchief. Lian Sheng did not dare to disturb him rashly, so he could only let him think about something motionless.
Lian Sheng has been with Chu Jihan for so many years, and he can still guess a thing or two about the things he is struggling with now. However, he must think clearly and make his own decisions about this kind of matter. Even if Lian Sheng has some ideas, it is impossible for him to offer opinions.
I don't know how much time passed, but there was a loud noise outside the courtyard. Lian Sheng hurriedly walked out. He saw that it was Chu Jihan's dandy friends. They went to the Hou Mansion to mourn and came back to find Chu Jihan. Lian Sheng was just about to step forward. Advising them to keep their voices down so as not to disturb Chu Jihan, Chu Jihan's voice came from behind them,
"Didn't you go to the Marquis' Mansion? Why did you come back so soon?"
A young man in red clothes among those people said, "We just went to burn incense sticks. Everyone's faces were expressionless and they didn't say much. It was very boring. We went for a formality and then came back."
Chu Jihan raised his head and looked at the sky, "It's already this hour, and there's probably no one at the market. Where are you going?"
At this time, several people across from each other looked at each other. They didn't discuss where they were going. In the past, this time would have been just right to go to the brothel and listen to some music. But if Chu Jihan was here, he would definitely get his head blown off immediately if he dared to go out to the brothel.
Chu Jihan shook his head helplessly, "Forget it, let's have a drink at my house. I happen to have the new pear blossom white bought from the winery."
The seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boys immediately cheered and complained that the family's control was too tight and they didn't have enough money to drink and the money they gave them wasn't enough to buy good wine.
Chu Jihan asked Lian Sheng to set up the table in Nuan Pavilion and drank with them. Compared with usual, Chu Jihan seemed much quieter today.
After a few glasses of wine, the youngest son of the Minister of Industry's family became more talkative, "Who do you think the Su family will get married to?"
The person next to him joked, "Who knows, there must be several girls he wants to marry. There are only those men of the right age in the capital. Maybe you can be the son-in-law of the Marquis."
The youngest son of the Minister of Industry's family waved his hand, "It's definitely not me. I've been engaged since I was a child. It's a family from Longxi, but I've never seen him before."
Someone immediately laughed at him and said, "You are not afraid of marrying an ugly wife."
Chu Jihan listened to them talking and laughing quietly, and waited until they stopped before asking, "What are you talking about about marriage?"
At the same time, the third young master of the British government put down his wine glass and explained to Chu Jihan, "Do you have a saying in Daming Mansion that filial piety leads to happiness? After the death of an elder, descendants must observe filial piety for three years, but if a marriage leave is taken within a hundred days of filial piety, it is not considered disrespectful. Instead, it’s filial piety.”
Chu Jihan nodded, "Daming Mansion also has this custom."
Seeing that Chu Jihan knew it, the third young master continued to explain, "A legitimate daughter of the Su family was selected to enter the palace, and a concubine was engaged to the Duke of Zhenguo. It is impossible for the royal family to allow the legitimate daughter to enter the palace three years later because of her filial piety. The concubine of the Zhenguo Duke's Mansion is already twenty this year and cannot wait another three years, so these two girls have to get married in Rexiao."
The third young master picked up the wine glass and took a sip, smacked his lips and thought about it before continuing, "As for the other girls in the Hou family, there are two girls who have already grown hair, and there are several thirteen or fourteen-year-olds. It is impossible to delay them from observing their filial piety." The marriage is about to happen, so the Hou Mansion will definitely pick someone to betroth them immediately and marry them within a hundred days."
Listening to the third young master's words, Chu Jihan's hand holding the cup slowly rubbed the wall of the cup. His expression remained calm on the surface, but in fact he was in a state of turmoil inside.
Suppressing his inner thoughts, Chu Jihan asked in a casual tone, "The Hou family is also a respectable family. It is not good to marry a daughter hastily. What if the daughter of the Su family is allowed to be on the throne for a few years?"
The youngest son of the minister of the Ministry of Industry just drank a little too much, and interjected with a naive smile, "Young Master Han just doesn't know what's going on. There is an old lady in the Marquis's residence who is over sixty years old. I don't know how many more years she can survive. In case of filial piety." The old lady passed away before the period was over, and there was another three years of filial piety. What girl can wait? After the filial piety period, I am afraid that she will have to be remarried. "
"That's it." Chu Jihan said meaningfully.
The banquet broke up at midnight. Most of the young men who attended the banquet were sent home by the servants. Some of the really drunk ones stayed in the empty courtyard of the Prince's Mansion. Anyway, Chu Jihan was the only one in the Prince's Mansion now. Living, there are many empty yards.
In the study, Chu Jihan was not drunk at all. He was sitting behind the desk and looking at the two handkerchiefs on the table quietly. At this time, Chu Jihan was trying to convince himself in his heart.
Miss Su must be engaged and married. Instead of letting her marry a dandy from the capital who doesn't know his character, she might as well marry herself. Even for Brother Shen Qing, I will definitely treat her well.
Moreover, Miss Su has also saved her life. She is not an ungrateful person. When she marries the prince's palace, he will definitely protect her and prevent her from being wronged.
Chu Jihan thought a lot, and finally had to admit that he simply wanted to marry Su Ningxin. He didn't know whether this feeling was love for him. He only knew that the thought of Su Ningxin marrying someone else made him irritable. Want to smash everything.
"Ah Jiu." After making up his mind, Chu Jihan shouted. As soon as he finished speaking, Ah Jiu knelt on one knee in front of Chu Jihan.
"Ajiu, go back to Daming Mansion and bring your father and mother over."
"Yes." Ah Jiu responded.
Before Ah Jiu disappeared, Chu Jihan added, "Hurry up and hurry up."
On the other side of the Xuanning Hou Mansion, Su Ningxin knelt in front of her ancestor's coffin for a day and a night, resting for only two hours. After all the visitors had left, she finally returned to her yard, where she soaked in the hot soup and felt comfortable. She wanted to sigh, but she didn't know that someone was thinking about her.
Asking Shuangbai to add some hot water to the bathtub, Su Ningxin asked, "How are the brothers and sisters who fainted?"
As the eldest daughter of the Hou family, Su Ningxin must serve in front of the soul, but she is definitely not the only one who has to serve. Almost all the grandchildren and granddaughters of the Hou family have to kneel for the whole day, even those four or five years old. It would be crazy to not drop it, so it’s not surprising that a few people fainted.
Shuangbai added water to Su Ningxin and said, "It seems that he has woken up, but he needs to be taken care of carefully, otherwise the root cause of the disease will definitely fall."
"Why do you think this is necessary? It's okay just to faint. If a few people die of illness, is this filial piety or is it because the ancestors showed up to take them away?" Su Ningxin couldn't help complaining.
Shuangbai also felt the same, "Not to mention the younger ones, even the older masters can't bear it. Today, none of the doctors in the mansion are free. They are all treating the master in various courtyards. Those who are not favored , I can’t even ask the government doctor for some medicine to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis.”
(End of chapter)