After the tribute banquet, the Ding capital was still lively. In order to welcome the nobles from Great Liang and Qin, the streets seemed much busier than before. No matter when, the royal family of Ming Qi hopes to be able to look like a prosperous and prosperous world in front of other countries.
In the Shen residence, the servants of Qiushuiyuan were talking about new words.
"What is the origin of the new girl in the house, and deserves such kind treatment from the third lady?"
"The tea that was newly delivered this year was brewed for that girl first. Could it be a noble person in the manor?"
A woman in a blue cloth jacket whispered, "I heard that this girl's father used to be very good with the old general. He even blocked a knife for the old general at the beginning, and he almost died..."
A young maid hurriedly covered her mouth and said in surprise, "No wonder, if you are kind to the old general, you are kind to the Shen family. No wonder you treat her as a guest of honor."
"It was said that she came to flee, probably because something happened at home. Looking at the appearance of the third lady, she wanted to take good care of this girl."
"What do you mean by taking care of yourself? Now my people in the house are struggling to live, and I have to come to a freelancer, so I should leave as soon as possible."
As soon as these words came out, the surroundings were silent. Today, the Shen residence looks pretty good on the surface, but the people inside are well aware that since Shen Xin's branch went out, the money has been tight, and even the people's moon silver has shrunk a lot. In this way, it is a noble person of heaven, and when he comes to eat free food, the servants are not happy.
"I don't know how the Third Madam treats us so harshly on weekdays, but how can she be so generous to that girl this time." Someone wondered.
In the autumn water garden, Ren Wanyun was sitting in the house at the moment, pushing the tea cup in front of her to the woman opposite, and said with a smile, "The new tea leaves, Cui'erjian, young lady Qing have a taste."
The woman sitting across from her was wearing an emerald green elastic dress. There is no good embroidery on the long skirt. This kind of clothes is very simple and the color is very attractive. If you don't wear it properly, you will look like a country girl, but when the woman in front of you is wearing it, it is very comfortable and pleasing to the eye. eye-catching.
This woman looks in her early twenties. Her clothes and hair accessories are also very simple. She was born very graceful and gentle. Most importantly, she has a strong bookish smell. At first glance, she looks like a girl raised by a scholarly family. Excellent education.
Chen Rouqiu had always disdained martial husbands who liked things that were made of text, and people were the same. The woman in front of her felt a little bit of sympathy, but she was a little more polite.
Seeing Chen Rouqiu's enthusiasm, this woman did not delay. She took a sip from the tea cup and said with a smile, "The tea is very light but fragrant, and the leaves are loose and strong. Madam is also very good at making tea."
"Miss Zaiqing also understands the tea ceremony." Chen Rouqiu smiled deeper: "The tea ceremony is the best, but nowadays young girls like you, very few know the tea ceremony."
"The wind is blowing from my armpits, and I want to go to Penglai." The woman smiled: "Madam is right, the tea ceremony is the best. But don't make fun of me, Madam. I'm twenty-six now, how can I be considered a young girl?"
"Six in twenty?" Chen Rouqiu exclaimed, "Looking at the appearance of Miss Zaiqing, I thought she was in her early eighteen or nineteen years. But that's okay, although she looks like eighteen or nineteen, she is in her twenties. It's rare to see such a magnanimous and calm demeanor."
The woman in Cuiyi in front of him is the one who came to "fight the autumn wind" yesterday. She is called Chang Zaiqing. Her father, Chang Hu, used to be a subordinate of General Shen. The body is fundamental, and it will never be able to go to the battlefield from now on. Chang Hu's family was all supported by Chang Hu alone, and General Shen felt ashamed, so he kept taking money in private for relief. At that time, Chang Zai Qing was still young, but Shen Xin was about to get married. Old General Shen even joked that he wanted Chang Zai Qing to be his daughter-in-law. It's just that before seeing Shen Xin get married, the old general Shen died. Because General Shen was secretly helping the Chang Hu family, no one knew that, after that, the Chang family and the Shen family no longer had contact.
I never thought about it, but at this time, the Chang family came to the door.
A look of worry flashed in Chang Zaiqing's eyes: "This time, I suddenly take the liberty to interrupt, and I feel very sorry for causing such trouble to the Shen family..." She looked at Chen Rouqiu, "Zaiqing knows that the request is abrupt, if Madam finds it inconvenient, then Qing will leave now. I will never cause trouble to the Shen family." Even so, the moment he lowered his eyes, he couldn't help biting his lips.
Chen Rouqiu kindly took her hand: "What are you talking about, Miss Qing, since your father saved my father-in-law's life, your Chang family is the benefactor of our Shen family, besides, the old general's friendship with the Chang family back then, They are also brothers who died. We are all a family. Since we are all in the same family, we can’t stand by and watch when you are in trouble.” She patted Chang Zaiqing’s hand: “Girl Zaiqing just lives in our Shen family. Next, I'll take you to see the old lady tomorrow, but the old lady came in feeling unwell, and her temper is not very good, I'm afraid you will have to bear more."
Chang Zaiqing even said that he did not dare. Her attitude is natural and polite, she is not squeamish, but she is not familiar with her, and it is easy to make people feel good. Even a cautious and vigilant person like Chen Rouqiu would smile at Chang Zaiqing.
Chang Zaiqing's family lives in Liuzhou. The reason why he suddenly came to the Shen residence was indeed because of a trouble. Chang Hu passed away a few years ago. There are only Chang Zaiqing and his mother in the Chang family. Mrs. Chang has been lingering on the bed for many years, and she finally died of a serious illness a few days ago. After Mrs. Chang was buried, some Liuzhou officials wanted to. After robbing Chang Zaiqing to be a concubine in his residence, Chang Zaiqing was forced into a corner and almost committed suicide by hanging on a white silk beam, but was rescued by his own nurse. The nurse told Chang Zaiqing that perhaps Chang Hu's old friend, General Shen, could save her once.
Chang Zaiqing had met Old General Shen when he was a child. He vaguely remembered that he was a very forthright and generous soldier, but he really couldn't think of any other way out, so he collected money for the carriage and came to Dingjing. When he first came to the Shen residence, he happened to meet Chen Rouqiu. After Chen Rouqiu inquired about the cause and effect, he settled Chen Rouqiu.
Chen Rouqiu smiled and looked at Chang Zaiqing: "Miss Zaiqing is in a water town like Liuzhou, the Ding capital is not as good as Liuzhou, and you don't know if the food suits your taste. What's the habit of living in the western courtyard?"
"You're welcome, Madam." Chang Zaiqing replied with a smile, "Madam takes good care of you. The place where the West Court lives is also very considerate. But..." She was a little puzzled: "A yard as big as the West Court is actually empty on weekdays? ?" After speaking, he felt a little abrupt, and smiled: "It's a bit rude to ask this, please don't blame my wife."
"I take you as one of my own, there is nothing to blame." Chen Rouqiu laughed, "I will not hide it from you, you know that there are actually three people in our mansion. You have heard that the mighty general wants to come here. , is the big house of our Shen family. It was just two years ago that there were some misunderstandings in the house, and the big house moved out. My master and I wanted to explain, but the eldest brother and sister-in-law went to Xiaochun City and just came back not long ago. I want to explain, but this misunderstanding is really too deep." Chen Rouqiu said with a helpless look on her face, she shook her head and said, "I don't know what to do."
Chang Zaiqing was stunned for a moment: "If Madam Yi said so, then the West Courtyard..."
"Then the western courtyard was originally where the eldest brother's family lived." Chen Rouqiu said.
Chang Zaiqing suddenly realized that, seeing Chen Rouqiu's sad expression, he persuaded: "Madam, don't be too concerned, blood is thicker than water in the world, since it is a misunderstanding, it will always be resolved, not to mention a family. Time is long. , even if the lady doesn't say it herself, if you want to come to General Shen, you will feel that these things are not enough to care about."
Chen Rouqiu smiled and said, "I know all these principles, but hearing Miss Qing say this, my heart is relieved a lot." She looked at Chang Zaiqing, "If everyone in the Shen residence is as transparent as you are. It’s just fine. You know everything like this. If there’s nothing wrong in the future, you can still ask Yue’er to teach him. This child is usually held in our hands, I’m afraid it’s spoiled, and it’s better to have a smart person like you to teach it. All right."
"Madam's words are serious," Chang Zaiqing followed with a smile: "Yue'er is knowledgeable and intelligent, Bingxue is smart, I have never seen such a smart girl in Liuzhou. I think she is one of the best in Ding capital. Women should be like this. , learned and multi-talented, but can have a different look."
This nonchalant compliment made Chen Rou Qiu feel extremely sympathetic. What Tong Chang Zaiqing said became hotter and hotter, and he did not let Chang Zaiqing go back until it was almost noon.
After Chang Zaiqing left, Shi Qing cautiously asked while wiping the table, "Does Madam really want to keep that young girl?" She hesitated before reminding: "Now that the government's expenses are getting bigger and bigger, I'm afraid the old man The wife will be unhappy when she finds out."
The old lady Shen is now more and more stingy. If she really knew that Chang Zaiqing had come to the Shen residence, and that the Shen residence would spend money to support an idler, she would naturally be dissatisfied. That's why Chen Rouqiu told Chang Zaiqing that old lady Shen had a bad temper recently and hoped she would be more tolerant.
"What does that old woman with shallow eyelids know," Chen Rouqiu said with disdain on her face, "If success is not enough, failure is more than failure, how can you see what will happen in the future?"
"Could it be that Madam thinks that this young girl is of no use?" Hua Yi was thoughtful, and knew his wife's temperament well. If Chen Rouqiu was willing to pretend to be a benevolent fairy for two years in the morning to gain a good reputation, but now that she has no money, she can't take care of herself, and it seems a bit strange to go to help others.
"Speaking and demeanor is quite sloppy, not like ordinary women with shallow eyelids, good looks and gentle face, rare temperament but also gentle, so smart, even in the house, it is one of the best characters. If you don't have ambition, that's all. With ambition, within five years, this woman will definitely make a difference." Chen Rou Qiu smiled. The place where she was born is full of calculations among women every day. Chen Rouqiu's mother is the most powerful, and Chen Rouqiu saw the shadow of her mother in Chang Zaiqing. Even Chang Zaiqing is still so young, I'm afraid Future achievements will be even better.
"But what can such a powerful person do?" The painting was puzzled: "Could it be that Madam wants to form a good relationship? When the young lady will rise to the top and climb a high branch one day, will she return to Madam?"
Chen Rou Qiu laughed when she heard the words: "Such a smart person with a lively mind, I watch his words, he is gentle on the surface, but he is arrogant and arrogant, how can he be willing to submit to others? If he really climbs a high branch, then don't do it. Expecting something in return, she doesn't look down on others."
"The lady..."
"I can't bear to give such an outstanding person to others." Chen Rouqiu looked out the window: "Fat water does not flow to outsiders, and a good knife is used on the blade. But... such a powerful woman, even I feel that I can't fight, I don't know. How many times can that one last?"
On the other hand, Chang Zaiqing returned to the West Courtyard. The West Courtyard where Shen Xin's family once lived is now quite empty. Originally, there were many servants in the West Courtyard. Because Shen Xin called his personal guards over to facilitate military training, it was always lively. Later, after the Shen Xin family moved out, the servants in the west courtyard were successively resigned by Chen Rouqiu to cut expenses. Without the daily martial arts practice of the soldiers, the already huge West Court became more and more empty and deserted.
Chang Zaiqing's nanny, Zhao Mammy, saw Chang Zaiqing's return, and hurriedly came up to replace Chang Zaiqing with a cape, and said worriedly, "Miss, how did you talk to Mrs. Shen San today?"
It was Mama Zhao's idea to let Chang Zaiqing go to Beijing to find help from the Shen family, because if he didn't think about it again, Chang Zaiqing would really have no other way to go. However, the Shen family and the Chang family have not dealt with each other for so many years, and people's hearts are changeable. The former General Shen is willing to take care of the Chang family. If General Shen is not there, who knows how the Shen family will treat Chang Zaiqing
Chang Zaiqing rubbed his forehead, sat down on the soft couch in the room, and said, "Mrs. Shen is very enthusiastic and agrees with us to stay for a while, those people have come to Dingjing, and even if they come, they don't dare to provoke them. Shen family."
Mammy Zhao then patted her chest and breathed a sigh of relief, saying, "Amitabha, Master said that all the Shen family members are bodhisattvas, and I was worried about the young lady, but I was afraid that the Shen family would not help, what should I do now? Come on, you can relax."
"Mommy is too much." Chang Zaiqing sneered, with a look of disdain on his face: "How could there ever be a free lunch in the world? It was Old General Shen who took care of Chang's house, and it was also because his father blocked a knife for him back then. There is no such thing in the world. There will be people who are nice to people for no reason, and the enthusiasm of Mrs. Shen is just looking at me to the point of taking advantage of it."
Zhao Mama was startled and looked at Chang Zaiqing: "What the girl means is, isn't the third Mrs. Shen a good person? What can I do about this?"
"Mom, don't worry." Chang Zaiqing comforted her, but her eyes were cold: "Mrs. Shen has something to ask of me, but I don't need her. Although I don't know what she's thinking, but … will always find a way.”
"But..." Mama Zhao was still a little uneasy.
"Don't worry, mammy," Chang Zaiqing said with a smile: "We've come here no matter how difficult things are. Now that we have a way to go, what should I be afraid of. Since the Shen family is a springboard, naturally Make good use of it. Mrs. Shen wants to use me, but I am also using hers."
Mammy Zhao looked at Chang Zaiqing, and finally nodded, saying, "This old slave only thinks about the goodness of the young lady, and what the young lady says is what she says."
…
The Ding capital was the capital of the Ming Qi, and the land under its feet was naturally worth every inch of land, and the most precious place in the Ding capital, apart from the palace, was Yanqing Lane. Yanqing Lane is located in the south of the city, not far from the most prosperous restaurants and shops, facing the river, and the scenery is unique. The reason why the land in Yanqing Lane is expensive is not only the residence of nobles in the previous dynasties, but also because there were very famous immortals and Taoists who looked at Feng Shui here. If people can suppress the dragon energy here, only the Venerable Under Heaven can live in it.
Ming Qi's royal family was not located in the south of the city, so they couldn't build a new palace. If the people complained, the treasury wouldn't be able to get so much money. But who dares to live in a place with dragon energy? Will I be disrespected by the emperor if I live here? Even if there are those who are daring and can't come up with such a lot of money, Yanqing Lane has been empty and become a decoration for many years.
But right now, someone in Yanqing Lane finally lived in, it was none other than the guests from Qin and Great Liang. The prince from Qin and the prince from Great Liang were all nobles and nobles of Tianhuang. Silver is not a problem. Speaking of which, there is no more suitable place for them to live than Yanqing Lane. You can't live in the palace. In that case, I'm afraid that Emperor Wen Hui will not be able to sleep well day and night. People from other countries live in his palace. It's always not pleasant to sleep on the side couch.
At this moment, in the innermost mansion of Yanqing Lane, soldiers are holding hands. Although it is a mansion, it is like a smaller palace, with gorgeous and luxurious decorations and a huge area.
This mansion is where Prince Rui lives. There are several mansions in Yanqing Lane. The Prince of Qin chose the mansion closest to the outside, but the innermost one was chosen by Prince Rui. Qin State deliberately kept a distance. In any case, this mansion is the most expensive one in Yanqing Lane, twice as expensive as that of the Prince of Qin, but Prince Rui did not blink his eyelids, which made people have to think of the rumors. It's not a lie that Liang's treasury is full of gold.
Prince Rui of Great Liang was also very arrogant. On the first day he lived here, someone took off the plaque at the door and replaced it with a golden plaque that wrote: Prince Rui's Mansion. It makes people angry and funny. Prince Rui of the Great Liang went to Ming Qi to buy the mansion and put such a plaque. Could it be that he really wants to live here
At this moment, in a courtyard in Prince Rui's mansion, a snow-white thing was thumping on the ground.
"This thing is light and light, but it's too fierce. It's so fierce when it's so big. How could the master think of keeping it?" When I got closer, I saw that the thing was furry like a puppet. Looking closely, its eyes were clear and twirling, and it looked quite clever. At this moment, he was scratching the hand of the woman in front of him with his claws, and even changed his teeth to bite. This thing is nothing else, it is a cub. It was born soon, very immature, the fur on its body is a rare light color, and the patterns are not very clear. From a distance, it looks like a snow-white white tiger. Truly endearing.
The woman was teasing, and suddenly made a "his" sound and gasped for air. She threw off the wooden stick in her hand, and said angrily: "This guy looks so docile, but he is still a master of bites. I really hurt if he wants it. , see if I won't tear you apart!"
"Forget it." Another female voice sounded, but it was a slightly charming woman in a pale red dress. She looked at the mass on the ground and said, "This is the one that the master brought back and raised by himself, Nightingale, I'm afraid you Before it was touched, it was torn apart by the master."
The woman named Nightingale stood up, and the white tiger cub stepped forward happily and grabbed the corner of her skirt, turned around and called to take a bite, dragged it back, and was kicked away by Nightingale. She walked over to the woman in red: "Huo Long, is the master crazy? What kind of tiger is he raising? This tiger looks cute and cute, but he has a ferocious temperament. What if he hurts people in the future?"
Huo Long shrugged: "It's probably because of a sudden temper. This white tiger has been eating, sleeping, sleeping, and eating since he was brought back. It took only a few days for him to open his eyes and know that he was biting."
"In the future, if the master leads the big tiger back, His Majesty will probably have another headache." Nightingale grimaced.
"What are you two doing here!" The man shouted sharply, and the two women looked back, but a middle-aged man strode forward. He walked to the cage and took a look at the bowl on top of the cage. He was also quite displeased when he saw Yeying and Huo Long: "If you let you feed, you will be lazy!"
"Tie Yi!" Nightingale angrily said, "We came out of the tower and thought we had a good job with the master. Who knew we were here to feed the tigers. We are from the Mo Yu Army and we are not the nurses who are breastfeeding. People know how to tease tigers if they don't do anything all day long."
"Just do the things that the master explained, and ask what to do." Tie Yi squatted down and took the bowl to feed the white tiger on the ground. The cooked meat was cut into mince and mixed with some eggs. The white tiger stepped forward and sniffed, eating happily, Tie Yi touched the head of the white tiger, one person and one tiger seemed to be happy.
He is such a big and three thick man, sitting next to a petite and exquisite tiger, it is a bit strange to see such a warm scene.
Tiger refused to eat after eating half the bowl, Tie Yi put away the bowl, but turned around to see Huo Long and Yeying saluting behind him, "Master."
Xie Jing Xing waved his hand and walked out of the room. The two people behind him were Ji Yushu and Gao Yang.
When Ji Yushu saw the white tiger, his eyes widened: "What is this? Dog?"
Tie Yi's body trembled, Gao Yang said, "Are you stupid, you are clearly a spore."
Spores… .
Tie Yi said, "Master Ji, Young Master Gao, it's... a white tiger." His tone was also indignant for the white tiger. It's a pity that the tiger cub doesn't know people's language, so after it's full, it chases its tail in the sun and plays like a cat.
"Tiger?" Ji Yushu looked at Xie Jing Xing, "Third brother, are you alright, why do you even have tigers now?"
Nightingale said crisply: "Master Ji, this is what my master saw before on the way to Dingjing City. A hunter wanted to sell this cub's skin for a lot of money, and our master saved it."
Gao Yang squinted at Xie Jing Xing, "When did you become so kind? It doesn't look like you did this kind of thing."
Xie Jing Xing ignored the two of them, he was wearing a dark purple robe with narrow sleeves inlaid with gold flowers and rattan patterns, still incomparably gorgeous. However, no amount of gorgeous clothes could compare to his appearance. He walked slowly to the side of the white cub. The white cub saw that a person suddenly appeared before the meeting, and without saying a word, he swung forward with his claws and opened it to bite!
However, someone pinched the fur on the back of his neck and lifted it up.
Xie Jing Xing lifted the white tiger cub in midair, the cub seemed to be very uncomfortable in such a position, thumping his legs, Xie Jing Xing turned a blind eye and looked at it thoughtfully.
"Could it be that we are going to kill this tiger..." Nightingale gave Huo Long a beheading gesture. Huo Long fought a cold war and shook his head.
As a result, Xie Jing Xing looked at it for a while, then pushed aside the legs of the white tiger cub, glanced at it and smiled, "It's a female tiger."
Everyone: "… "
What about a tigress? Could it be that Xie Jing Xing also planned to bring it back to Great Liang to be Princess Rui
The cub made an "Ow" sound, but his voice was soft because he was too young. Xie Jing Xing put it on his chest and put his hands in his arms. The white tiger cub lay on his chest, raised his head and kept yelling at him, "Ouch, ooh, ooh", but it seemed like he was acting like a spoiled child, and he was so pitiful and cute.
Xie Jing Xing stretched out his fingers and tugged on the white tiger’s beard to tease her. Nightingale was startled and shouted, “Master! That white tiger hates being touched by others, it will bite people!”
Before he finished speaking, the white tiger bit Xie Jing Xing's finger in one bite. Huo Long and Tie Yi were also taken aback, Ji Yushu covered his mouth with his hands, looking exaggeratedly frightened, but Gao Yang was quite gloating.
Xie Jing Xing looked at the white tiger calmly, the white tiger looked at it for a while, suddenly seemed a little guilty, let out his mouth and turned his head to look elsewhere. On Xie Jing Xing's finger there was a light tooth mark which was quite obvious.
“The eyes are similar, so is the temper. Even the habit of biting people is the same.” Xie Jing Xing looked down at the white tiger in his arms, but he was not angry, instead he reached out and touched the head of the white tiger.
Bai Hu seemed to be a little sleepy, yawned and stretched, but he didn't struggle, he let Xie Jing Xing ravage his head and did nothing to rest on Xie Jing Xing's chest.
The sun shone lazily with golden rays of light. The man in purple was gorgeous and handsome. He looked down at the white tiger in his arms. His long eyelashes were slightly curled, but he couldn't hide his tender and doting gaze. The white tiger's fur is extremely beautiful, and it lies in his arms obediently. One tiger and one tiger are as beautiful as a picture, and they are completely different from the strange feeling of feeding the white tiger by Tie Cai.
Xie Jing Xing raised his eyebrows, looked at the tiger cub who was squinting and was about to fall asleep, and said, "I still lack a name, if it looks like this, I will call you Jiaojiao in the future."
Ji Yushu slapped his hands: "What the hell is this name? Third brother, you want to give this tigress such a delicate name? It's too strange!" He protested: "Change the name to Huba, Iron Hammer, Biao Brothers are fine!"
Gao Yang looked unbearable and covered his eyes with a fan.
Xie Jing Xing glanced at Ji Yushu, and continued to tickle the cub's chin unhurriedly, "Shut up, this is my 'Jiaojiao'."