Chang Lian lifted the carriage curtain and saw two carriages in front of him. They looked like merchants traveling to the border. "Go ahead."
Soon, the carriage in front came out, and someone came to thank him. Chang Lian did not get off the carriage, but just opened the curtain and said, "Everyone has difficulties sometimes. It's only natural to help each other. Don't mind it."
The man standing outside the carriage had a very long beard that covered half of his face. Rong Chuan glanced at him and then lowered his head to continue reading. He didn't need to worry about his third brother because he was with him.
The man outside the carriage was very tall and had a strong physique. "Since you say so, sir, I thank you and we'll see each other again in the future."
Chang Lian didn't want to meet him again. His grandfather's family practiced martial arts, and his own family had many servants who practiced martial arts. He had also been taught by his father for many years and had observed very little. He knew that the man in front of him must not be a businessman, so Chang Lian smiled.
After hearing this, Rongchuan raised his head and took a look. The man outside the carriage wanted to take another look, but unfortunately the curtain had been lowered. The man did not stop, and he could not cause any trouble. He quickly got on the carriage and left. He just glanced and pressed his brows, feeling too tired after traveling for many days.
Rongchuan saw that his third brother was frowning, "But there is a problem with your identity?"
Chang Lian played with the jade pendant on his waist and said, "It's more than a problem. It's a big problem. The identities of this group of people are not simple."
Shen Xing was just outside the car. After the convoy in front of him sped away, Shen Xing said, "There are quite a few experts in this team."
Chang Lian understood that Shen Xing had already seen through it, but he had to help, "Be more careful along the way."
Shen Xing responded and stayed close to the carriage.
Rong Chuan stopped reading. "In the past two years, our dynasty won a great victory over the foreign tribes. The foreign tribes on the northeastern border have become more obedient. In the past two years, they have become restless again."
Chang Lian: "Yes, there will be a battle sooner or later."
Rong Chuan leaned against the car and said, "We have finally been peaceful for a few years, but now the war is about to start again. I wonder how many men will lose their lives again."
Chang Lian was silent. War is cruel and his cousin was gone just like that.
In Jinzhou, as soon as Zhulan showed up with her two granddaughters, the officials' wives who arrived first all looked at the two girls. Zhulan did not block their gazes and watched the two granddaughters out of the corner of her eye.
Yu Shuang's face froze for a moment, but fortunately she quickly calmed down, though her movements were a little unnatural. After all, this girl is young, most eyes were on her, and she has been sensitive to gazes since she was young, so she has performed well.
Although Yu Lu is small, she is the calmest one. Her expression never changes and she always has a faint smile on her lips. She is very steady.
The wife of Prince Shen, Zhu, smiled and said, "Mrs. Yang is so lucky to have two beautiful granddaughters. No wonder she hides them. If it were me, I would hide them too."
Zhu Lan smiled faintly, "They were too young before and didn't learn the rules well. I wanted to use my birthday this year to introduce two girls, but an illness messed up my plan. It's not too late now."
The meaning of her words was clear: she just wanted to formally introduce her two granddaughters.
Zhu smiled, "It's not too late now."
Su Xuan, who was pregnant, spoke a few words to Zhu and then sat down.
Zhulan and Suxuan each have someone with them. Zhulan is with Yulu. Relatively speaking, it is best for Yushuang to be with Suxuan, because Suxuan's status can stop many officials' wives.
Tao reached out and took Yu Lu's hand, "Oh, this girl looks blessed."
Qi also came over and liked the little girl, "She is indeed blessed."
Zhulan knew in her heart that Yu Lu would be more popular, not only because the eldest wife had many sons, but also the eldest grandson of the Zhou family, Mingyun, and also because Yu Lu had a blessed face, which the ancients believed in most when choosing a daughter-in-law.
There were very few official wives around Yu Shuang. It was useless for her to be good-looking. In fact, when choosing a daughter-in-law, officials rarely chose beauties for their sons and grandsons. After being curious about Yu Shuang, they no longer paid much attention to her.
Su Xuan looked at Yu Shuang while drinking tea. The little girl was young after all, her mentality was not well-trained, and her beauty meant she was destined to face more rumors. Looking at Yu Shuang's clothes and makeup, if they were not in the main courtyard, she and her mother-in-law would have changed Yu Shuang's headgear. After today, it would not be good for Yu Shuang's reputation!
Nowadays, young people don’t need to dress up formally. It is not only a matter of status, but also one needs to be low-key. The lower the profile, the better reputation one can accumulate. If one is too high-profile, there will be more rumors, and false rumors will become true.
Su Xuan still likes Yu Lu. Looking at the little girl talking to the official's wife in a tactful manner, she curled the corners of her mouth. This girl is so similar to Ming Yun!
On the way back home, the two granddaughters took a carriage. Zhu Lan saw Su Xuan's expression and said, "You have worked hard today."
Su Xuan suppressed a yawn and said, "Mom, I'll just go back and rest for a while."
Zhulan was worried about Yushuang. "I don't know if Yushuang can handle the different treatment that the Shangguan family members gave to Yushuang and Yulu at the banquet today."
The beautiful appearance brought Yu Shuang a lot of confidence. As the eldest granddaughter of the Zhou family, Yu Shuang was still a little arrogant in her bones. Today, she suddenly realized that her appearance could not bring her a good reputation, but instead brought jealousy and rumors. Yu Shuang was greatly stimulated.
Su Xuan looked at her mother-in-law. This was just because the Zhou family didn't want to use Yu Shuang to climb up the social ladder. In order for Yu Shuang to bear it, her mother-in-law taught her a lot at home. "Mother, Yu Shuang is lucky to be born in the Zhou family. And you have to believe in Yu Shuang. She is the child you taught."
Zhulan smiled, "Yeah."
Su Xuan turned her eyes away. She was telling the truth. If Yu Shuang was reborn into another family, she would just be a tool to be used and not necessarily the legal wife. That was the real tragedy.
When they arrived at the house, Zhulan and Suxuan were both tired, so they went back to the yard to rest.
In the first room, Li saw her daughter coming back and asked hurriedly, "Did you get bullied?"
Yu Lu bent her eyes and said, "Mom, how could I be bullied when I am with grandma? Don't worry, look, I am fine."
Li checked it carefully and said, "It's good that you haven't been bullied."
Then he asked, "How was the banquet today? Tell me about it quickly."
In the second house, Zhao had been feeling anxious since she received the headgear from the main courtyard in the morning. When she saw her daughter finally come back, but there was no smile on her face, she asked carefully, "What happened?"
Yu Shuang looked at her mother, feeling exhausted. She went to the banquet confidently, but came back with a blow. "It's okay, mother. I'm tired. I'll go back and rest first."
Zhao swallowed the words in her mouth and said, "Ah, okay."
Zhulan took a rest for a while, and when she woke up, she received the invitation. She flipped through it and said to Mrs. Song, "This is for Shuren."
Tomorrow is Zhou Shuren's day off.
Mrs. Song said, "The master of the family wouldn't want to see him."
Zhulan held the invitation and said, "Now your status is different. You have passed the imperial examination, so you are here alone. Shuren can't refuse everyone. You still have to see him. Let the housekeeper go and reply!"
Mrs. Song said, "Yes."