Xie Ruzhuo gently opened the carriage curtain and looked outside. On the main entrance of the Duke's Mansion were written the words "Edict to Build Jiang Guo Mansion". The calligraphy was bright and the font seemed to be written in the wind, and the words were written with great vigor and style. There were several stone lions squatting on both sides, staring at the visitor with their eyes, as if they were planning to pounce on them at the next moment.
Xie Ruzhuo was so busy that he lowered the curtain and hid himself behind the carriage. Sure enough, she still couldn't face those past. In her past life, she acted as a villain, resulting in a tragic ending for her relatives. Even if she is starting over in this life, it does not mean that these pains do not exist. Others do not know, how can she, Xie Ruzhuo, hide it from her own heart!
Xie Ruyue didn't know what she was thinking. She thought it was because she hadn't come to the door for a long time, so she was a little nervous. He immediately took her hand and said with a smile, "Don't be afraid Zhuo'er. Although you don't come to the door very often, you are my grandfather after all. No. Will give birth to something”
As soon as she finished speaking, someone verified it.
I heard a woman's clear laughter coming from outside, "No wonder the old lady said that there were magpies chirping early in the morning. It turned out that three young cousins came to the door. They were all stunned. What are you doing? Hurry up and put the cousins down." Come down." It was Liuying, the eldest maid beside Grandmother Cao.
The curtain of the carriage was immediately raised, and several maids helped Sister Xie Ruzhuo out. Seeing Liuying, Xie Ruyue immediately smiled and said, "It's been a long time, sister Liuying, how are you doing?"
Liu Ying supported her and said, "Thanks to the two ladies, I'm okay. It's freezing cold. Please come in quickly. The old lady is waiting impatiently." But she couldn't help but look at her. After taking a look at Xie Ruzhuo, she saw that Miss Xie, the Fourth Miss, was usually very reluctant to come to the house, and would make some unpleasant noises every time she came. Coming here today really made her feel a little nervous.
When Xie Ruzhuo got out of the car, she saw Liu Ying's appraising eyes. She nodded slightly to the latter and then walked in.
There are several plum trees planted in the yard. It is the mid-winter season and the plum blossoms are in full bloom. The pink plum blossoms are as beautiful as clouds, adding a bit of vitality to this somber winter day.
A maid had already opened the curtain and said with a smile, "It's finally here. The old lady has said it several times, please come in quickly."
Xie Huainan walked in first, followed by sister Xie Ruzhuo. As soon as you enter the door, you feel the warmth in the house. Xie Ruzhuo handed the cloak to the maid and saw an old lady with silver hair sitting in the middle.
This old woman seemed to be in her sixties, and her face was full of kindness, but the wise light in her eyes showed that she was not ordinary.
Seeing the three sisters, the old lady immediately smiled and said, "You three little monkeys, have you finally remembered me as an old woman?"
Xie Huainan and the others bowed first and said, "Greetings to grandma."
Xie Ruyue saluted, then stepped forward, leaned towards Mr. Cao, and said with a smile, "Grandma, what I said makes me sad. I think about you every day."
Xie Ruzhuo, on the other hand, stood there awkwardly. She rarely met Mr. Cao in her previous life. Although she wanted to please her now, she could act calmly towards her enemies. The closer she was to her relatives, the more at a loss she felt.
Ms. Cao tapped Xie Ruyue's nose, then stood up and walked to Xie Ruzhuo. As soon as she touched her hand, she frowned and said, "Why are your hands so cold? Liuying, please bring me Tang Po Zi quickly."
After saying that, Mrs. Cao took her to sit on the kang again and said with a smile, "Has Zhuo'er had breakfast?"
Xie Ruzhuo replied, "Eat."
Ms. Cao asked a few more questions, and Xie Ruzhuo answered them all, then sat next to Ms. Cao with a respectful look on her face, but her heart felt warm. She cherishes this feeling of being with her relatives very much. Even if she doesn't speak, she still feels very warm.
Xie Ruyue couldn't help but snicker when she saw that she was out of character, but she said, "Grandma, you are so partial and don't even ask if my hands are cold. I'm going to be jealous."
Hearing this, Mrs. Cao couldn't help but smile and said angrily, "You act like a monkey and sat around the small stove as soon as you came in. Do you think I don't know what this means? Besides, it's embarrassing to be jealous of your sister. Aren’t you ashamed too?”
"Grandma—" Xie Ruyue deliberately lengthened her voice, pouted and called out coquettishly, and said mysteriously, "I'll tell you a secret. Zhuo'er is here today, but I have a gift for you."
Her little sister was uncharacteristically shy, but Xie Ruyue actually understood. Zhuoer's temperament has become much calmer since the hunting ground. He thought that he came here today because he wanted to make up for the relationship between his relatives. But having an idea is one thing, but actually doing it is another thing. Seeing that she didn't say anything for half a day, Xie Ruyue simply spoke up for her.
Hearing this, Mrs. Cao was suddenly surprised. Her granddaughter had not been close to her in recent years, which made her feel very uncomfortable. Especially after my daughter died, I felt even more distressed when I looked at these children. However, Xie Ruzhuo was unwilling to accept her kindness in previous years, but today he actually wants to give her a gift
Xie Ruzhuo was indeed a little embarrassed, but he had to shoot the arrow, "Grandma, I heard that you have not been feeling well recently. It happened that my family bought a cook who was proficient in medicinal diet, so I thought of sending it to you. This is actually not a big deal. The gift is just a sign of filial piety from my grandson, and I hope my grandma won’t dislike it.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Mrs. Cao's eyes became wet. She hugged Xie Ruzhuo and said with a smile, "Good boy, it's too late for grandma to like her. How can she dislike her?"
"Grandma, you don't know. This cook's cooking is delicious, and it doesn't smell of medicine at all. Xie Ruzhuo couldn't help but eat one meal, so he thought about sending it to you. He really thinks of you when he has good things. ." Xie Ruyue was happy to see the easing of the relationship between the two, and added to the anger.
After hearing this, Mrs. Cao became even more happy. In the past, her little grandson, who didn't like her, was now so thoughtful. She sighed in her heart, stroked Xie Ruzhuo's hair, and said, "Don't you think you are thoughtful?"
Xie Ruzhuo was greedy for her grandmother's embrace and said with a smile, "As long as grandma likes it, that's fine." After saying that, she looked at Xie Ruyue with a smile and said, "Xie Ruyue, you know so much about the cook's cooking, I'm afraid you have no shortage of it these days. Ask her to cook some delicious food, why don’t you hire her from real people?"
"I learned it, why don't I cook it for you?" Xie Ruyue snorted unconvinced, complaining on her lips, but her eyes were full of smiles.
Xie Huainan kept a smile on his face when he saw the two of them like this. He had business in mind, so he said, "Grandma, I have something to do with cousin Chengye. I will come over to accompany you later."
Mrs. Cao waved her hand and said, "Go ahead. Your cousin should be in the study at the moment. Just go and find him."
Xie Huainan responded and went out without saying much. However, Mrs. Cao asked with some confusion, "I think your brother seems to be hiding something in his heart. What happened?"
She has not been involved in court affairs for many years, but she has still heard some rumors about the Xie family.
"The emperor issued an imperial edict this morning, saying that he would ask my brother to escort grain and grass south for disaster relief. I guess it is the New Year, but my brother has to leave home, and he must be a little reluctant to leave." Xie Ruzhuo explained the matter simply, But he neglected to propose the participation of the Duke's government. Grandma never allowed women to get involved in court affairs, so it was better to let her brother come forward in this matter.
Hearing this, Mrs. Cao also sighed a little, "This child in Huainan is indeed going to suffer." After saying that, she ordered Liu Ying, "Find the mink fur coat later, and let him take it with him when Master Biao arrives. superior."
"Grandma, I can't use it." Xie Ruyue immediately waved her hand and said, "This is too valuable, you should keep it." The mink fur coat was a gift from the late emperor, and now that it was given to Xie Huainan, there is no guarantee that others will be jealous.
Ms. Cao said, "There's nothing you can do about it. It's freezing cold. Although these clothes look ordinary, the rare thing is that they keep you warm. Not many people know this clothes, so let your brother wear it."
While the two were talking, they heard the maid outside announcing that Mr. Ye was here.
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw a woman walking in from the door. She was wearing a light blue dress, her eyebrows were delicate, and her expression showed the ability of a person in charge. She was Jiang Guogong's current head. Mistress, Xie Ruzhuo's aunt Ye.
Speaking of which, Ye’s background should not be underestimated. She was originally the daughter of Prince Dingbei, the sister of the late Queen, and the sister of Concubine Ye. The three of them are siblings from the same mother, and their relationship is very good.
Along with Mr. Ye, there was a young man about sixteen or seventeen years old. It's just that this young man is not tall and is a bit fat. His face has not yet grown, with a round face and big eyes, as round and round as a lucky doll.
When the young man smiled, his dimples were revealed. He was very handsome, but his fatness somewhat buried his good looks. This person is Ye's youngest son, Jiang Chengjun.
Sister Xie Ruzhuo was the first to say hello. Mrs. Ye held up one of them with one hand. She first cared about Xie Ruyue, then looked at Xie Ruzhuo and said, "Last time at the Qianjin Banquet, I didn't have time to ask you. Are you feeling better about the arrow wound you suffered?" ?" That time she was at the entrance of the villa and accidentally saw Xie Ruzhuo's pale face. However, she was surrounded by several ladies at that time and was a little unable to get away. After all, she was a little worried.
Xie Ruzhuo felt warm in his heart and replied with a smile, "Thank you for your concern, my aunt is worried about me. I am no longer in serious trouble. I also want to thank my aunt. I really liked the clothes you gave me that day, but unfortunately I couldn't wear them. I feel very regretful." .”
"It's just a piece of clothing, so what's there to thank you for? If you like it, I'll ask the embroiderer to make it for you later." Ye didn't have any daughters, and her family was all men. At this time, she saw Xie Ruzhuo He is very sensible and I like him very much.
Several women were sitting together chatting, but the little fat man Jiang Chengjun was bored. He twisted his butt on the stool several times, but finally couldn't sit still anymore. He walked up to Xie Ruzhuo and Xie Ruyue and said, "Didn't you see my existence?"
Xie Ruzhuo had noticed his little movements a long time ago. Seeing the awkward look on his face, he immediately suppressed a smile and said, "Greetings to my second cousin."
Xie Ruyue was still sitting on the stool, but she first protected the plate of snacks in her hand, snorted and said, "Don't try to steal my snacks, these hibiscus cakes are all mine today. "She has always loved sweets, and it happens that she likes similar things to Jiang Chengjun. Every time he came to the Duke's Mansion, Jiang Chengjun would grab all the snacks until Xie Ruyue jumped.