Mrs. Zhuang's birthday is coming in a blink of an eye.
On this day, the entire Zou Mansion was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the masters and servants were all dressed up.
Even Xi Fuwei, who had no intention of decorating, carefully dressed up under the repeated requests of Fu Chuoxian and Yao Zhuosu.
It's just that when she did this, although Fu Chuoxian's wish was fulfilled, Fu Chuoxian's face was not happy: "I heard that two unexpected guests will be coming today."
Xi Fuwei said nothing, but Yao Zhuosu asked curiously: "Who?"
"She is the young lady from Duke Dingguo's mansion, and the apple of the eye of the Minister of Industry." Fu Chuoxian's face was full of bad luck, "I just happened to be passing by and heard that there was a banquet in the mansion. I got interested and wanted to come over and ask for a drink. eat."
"Why are these two nobles here?" Mrs. Yao next to her was helping to pack the opened makeup box. Hearing this, she asked casually, "Shouldn't a lady like this be in the backyard of Yingtian Mansion?"
Fu Chuoxian said: "Who knows? But they all said so on their own initiative. How could the Zou Mansion refuse? Not only can't they refuse, the old lady and the madam have to confess their sins to others. Today, they have to concentrate on greeting each other. If you leave these two, you will have to neglect the guests next to you."
She pursed her lips and finally couldn't help but say, "It's really strange! How could a noble lady of such status miss the opportunity to be seen in person? Especially now that her father and brother were not accompanying her, she came to Zou Mansion as a guest for no reason. … No matter how you think about it, it feels weird.”
"You can just say this in front of us." Yao had always been taciturn, but at this moment he glanced at her and warned her gently, "Don't say it in front of other people, otherwise the two noble ladies will find out. There may be a storm."
"Of course." Fu Chuoxian tried hard to hide the disappointment in his heart and said with a forced smile, "I just find it strange, there is no other meaning."
Xi Fuwei remained silent until she heard this. She smiled but didn't smile. She thought to herself that it would be strange if you didn't mean anything else. Not to mention the talents and looks of Miss Xu and Miss Song, based on their identities alone, they appeared in the house of Shou in Zou Mansion. At the banquet, how could everyone not surround them, from the host to the other guests
So, how many people are still interested in paying attention to Fu Chuoxian!
The two days of carefully dressing up and relying on the piano skills to get the limelight almost all plans were aborted!
Just think about it and you will know how upset Fu Chuoxian is right now!
"It's almost time, you guys go over." These Yaos also knew it, but naturally they wouldn't say it at the moment. They just nodded, looked at the makeup in front of them, and said, "A widow like me won't go, so as not to It brings bad luck to the birthday banquet."
Although Fu Chuoxian and Yao Zhuosu were a little nervous, they both stood up calmly.
Only Xi Fuwei took a deep breath, tried to calm down, and then stood up: "Aunt Yao said, let's go to Madam's place! If it's later, Madam will go to the old Madam's place."
They were all recruited after Mrs. Shang's personal assessment. On such an occasion, they should naturally follow Mrs. Shang.
"Today is not only your grandmother's birthday, but also a distinguished person from Yingtian Mansion is here to visit." When the three girls went to the back hall together, Mrs. Shang was telling Zou Yiang, "You can just pay back your naughty behavior today. On such an occasion, if something bad happens, it’s not a question of whether Mom can beat you, but a question of whether the Zou family can protect you or not!”
Zou Yiang suddenly flashed his long eyelashes and nodded obediently: "Mom, don't worry! Is your child the kind of person who doesn't know what's important? I will definitely perform well today and earn enough face for you, my father, and my grandmother!"
Mrs. Shang had no hope that her son would earn any face for her, and said with a cold face: "We will be thankful if you don't embarrass us!"
Just as he was talking, he saw Xi Fuwei and three others coming in. He softened his expression and stretched out his hand to support her, "Don't look out, sit down and talk!"
They didn't sit down for long, but after a brief exchange of greetings, Mrs. Shang said it was time to go greet the old lady.
So Mrs. Shang, mother and son gathered together and arrived at Fengci Hall where the old lady lived. Zou Qiongruo and several other girls were already here and were chattering around the old lady.
Seeing Mrs. Shang and others coming, they hurriedly dispersed to greet them.
After reciting the ceremony, the old lady asked everyone to sit down, asked Mrs. Shang a few questions about the preparations for the birthday banquet, and kindly exchanged a few words with Xi Fuwei and the others, and then watched the grandchildren having fun.
Xi Fuwei noticed that Mrs. Zhuang didn't seem to be very interested.
The same goes for Mrs. Shang. Neither her mother-in-law nor her daughter-in-law are in any festive mood, and there is even a hint of worry between their brows.
But this is not surprising. The Zou family has no friendship with Duke Dingguo and the Minister of Industry. Now, on Mrs. Zhuang's birthday, the ladies from these two families are actually coming to visit. How can we not make people think too much
"Sister Shen, sister Yao." This atmosphere did not last long. As the guests arrived, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law quickly changed into warm greetings.
Xi Fuwei and the other three were gradually pushed to the back. Seeing this, Fu Chuoxian's eyes flashed and he suggested, "There are many people here, and most of us don't know each other. Why don't we go for a walk and get some fresh air?"
Yao Zhuosu's previous family background was probably not as good as that of the Fu family and the Xi family. Seeing this battle for the first time, he was a little frightened. He followed Fu Chuoxian and Xi Fuwei almost step by step, watching them pick up the tea bowls. Seeing them putting it down and putting it down, struggling to imitate, they nodded eagerly after hearing the words: "Okay!"
Xi Fuwei knew that Fu Chuoxian said this just because most of the guests who came now were talking to Mrs. Zhuang and Mrs. Shang. The younger ones would rather have fun with Zou Qiongruo and the others, knowing that the three of them were just girls. Sir, at most he just said hello lightly, with no intention of talking at all. There is no use in staying here, so it is better to go out and try your luck.
After all, according to the rules of the Zou Mansion, the front yard and the back yard are usually separated and no passage is allowed at all.
But today, for the sake of fun, men in the front yard were still not allowed to come to the back yard casually, but the garden could be entered by both the front yard and the back yard.
"That's fine." Although she saw Fu Chuoxian's plan, Xi Fuwei also followed suit: The two nobles haven't arrived yet, but they are probably almost there. Although Shen Diaolan hinted that she was not allowed to avoid it, she didn't say anything. You have to wait here all the time!
As long as she has met these two people, it doesn't count as disobeying her orders... Regardless of whether Shen Diaolan thinks so, this is how Xi Fuwei sees it anyway.
So the three of them walked out together. Sure enough, after going out, Fu Chuoxian suggested going to the garden: "Now the guests are coming to the old lady. Let's not bump into the distinguished guests. Why not go to a quiet corner in the garden?" Let’s sit down and talk?”
Neither Yao Zhuosu nor Xi Fuwei objected, so it was decided.
However, after arriving in the garden, Fu Chuoxian felt a little embarrassed, because the garden was very depressed during this season, and although charcoal basins were placed at intervals in the garden for heating, the north wind was howling, and it was not as warm as indoors.
So looking around now, except for the servants serving the charcoal fire, there was no trace of anyone else.
Not to mention Fu Chuoxian's ideal husband.
"It's very cold outside, let's find a place to hide from the wind?" Yao Zhuosu suggested upon seeing this, "Otherwise, walking around here would be silly."
Fu Chuoxian's face turned slightly red and he said, "Okay."
Although the three of them had been in Zou Mansion for a while, they had not visited the garden yet. After walking around for a short while and asking the servants who were waiting, they found a small pavilion built on a rockery.
Maybe it's because of the birthday party today. This small pavilion doesn't look like it's usually visited by people, but at this moment it's been cleaned, a charcoal pot has been lit, and there's an incense burner, spices, and a fruit plate with candied fruits on the small table. .
When Fu Chuoxian saw this, he lit the incense burner and distributed the candied fruits to Yao Zhuosu and Xi Fuwei, also called Hongzhi Lusha and Huangsu.
Huang Su is the maid assigned to Yao Zhuosu by the Zou family.
After passing the time like this for a while, I heard voices coming from outside.
Fu Chuoxian's eyes lit up and he said: "But there are distinguished guests coming? Then let's not occupy the place and leave the distinguished guests with nowhere to stay."
He walked to the door, opened the ajar door and took a look.
As a result, his expression suddenly changed at this sight, and he closed the door without saying a word!
Seeing this, Xi Fuwei and Yao Zhuosu both asked: "Sister Fu, what's wrong? Who is outside?"
Fu Chuoxian smiled reluctantly and said, "Well, it's Mr. Zou!"
When Xi Fuwei heard this, she thought that no wonder Fu Chuoxian seemed to have seen a ghost. Fu Chuoxian had high hopes for this banquet today. If Zou Yiang attacked her again in public and made her lose face, this kind of Yanzhou The occasion where celebrities from all over the world gathered, and gentlemen from other places came to congratulate her, might have put an end to her thoughts of marrying into a wealthy family in the future.
"What are you doing here?" Fu Chuoxian just wanted to avoid Zou Yiang, but Zou Yiang came to him.
He took a few steps up the rockery, opened the door, and looked at the people inside with a smile, "Was that Mr. Fu just now? I saw you opened the door beamingly, and I thought you wanted to invite me to come over and warm up. ! Who knew you would close the door immediately! I don’t know where I offended you to make you dislike me like this?"
Fu Chuoxian looked very unhappy and said, "Mr. Zou, I misunderstood. I just thought that we are all girls, and men and women are not close to each other, so I didn't dare to call you."
"Oh, do you want me to avoid you now?" Zou Yiang stared at her with a playful look, "You still think I'm an eyesore and don't want to see me, eh?"
Fu Chuoxian pursed his lips and tried his best to force out a smile: "Young master, you think too much. How is this possible?"
"I also think that I am so lovable, how can I be annoying?" Zou Yiang said with a smile, his eyes turned on Xi Fuwei and Yao Zhuosu again, and he waved casually, "Forget it, no Interrupting the party at your girls' house... I'm going fishing nearby."
Fu Chuoxian didn't get what he wanted, so he immediately said: "Young master, go slowly!"
When Yao Zhuosu heard this, he wanted to speak but stopped.
Xi Fuwei was not afraid of him, so she said: "It's cold today and there are few people in the garden. If you want to go to the lake, you'd better be careful."
And strangely, "Today is the old lady's birthday, doesn't the young master need to wait on the old lady?"
"Then those ladies and old ladies used different methods to recommend their girls?" Zou Yiang rolled his eyes, "You managed to escape... When you go back later, don't say you saw me here! Do you hear me?"
"Don't worry, young master, we will never say anything!" Fu Chuoxian thought to himself that this troublemaker is willing to hide here and not hang out at the banquet. It is a good thing. Otherwise, she would be really afraid that she would be in a hot conversation with a certain wishful husband. When she was on the phone, Zou Yiang came out to cause trouble, making her feel ashamed.
Zou Yiang said "hmm", turned around and went down.
Seeing this, Fu Chuoxian breathed a sigh of relief, and felt that it was very embarrassing to show up in front of Xi Fuwei and Yao Zhuosu. He pursed his lips and said, "Master Zou is already this old. He also said just now that he is My future wife avoided him because I couldn't bear to be looked at by others. I'm really afraid that if he stays, even though he doesn't have any ideas, if word gets out, it will become our fault."
Xi Fuwei and Yao Zhuosu echoed a few words, and the topic was shifting to the guests who came to Mrs. Hezhuang today, when they suddenly heard a sharp voice not far away, "It's not good! The young master has fallen into the water! Someone, come quickly!" !!”
Everyone in Xuanzhong was shocked!