Chapter 130 Chapter 130 He was proud and showing off.

In the first year of Fengchu, on the twenty-eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, the sky over Chang'an was still snowing heavily.

The carriage was about to stop in front of the Mingde Marquis's mansion, and a maid was already waiting in the snow, stretching her neck out.

"The lady has returned home."

After shouting towards the mansion, Sheng Puzhu finally stepped out of the carriage, holding Xie Zhiyan's hand. Before she could even stand, Sheng Puyao hugged her tightly, "Sister, I missed you so much."

"Big sister."

"Hello, brother-in-law."

Sheng Mingshu and Sheng Mingya were a little older, so they were a little more polite and would perform the formalities before happily holding Sheng Puzhu's hand with their eyes blinking. In fact, they were not much better than Sheng Puyao.

Along the way, Sheng Puyao chirped like a magpie that couldn't stop.

Xie Zhiyan lagged behind a few steps, watching his wife walking in surrounded by several sisters. They were wearing bright red cloaks and snow was falling all over the sky. The atmosphere of the New Year was very strong in the Marquis Mingde Mansion, and the scene was bustling everywhere.

Sheng Puzhu went to Shouchunju to talk with the elders. After Xie Zhiyan paid his respects, Sheng Linyuan invited him to the old marquis' study.

The old lady had been looking forward to her eldest granddaughter's return home since early morning. When she saw her approaching, she didn't even have time to say a word. She just smiled and pulled her into her arms, patted her lovingly, and kept calling her her darling.

Mrs. Sheng, Shen Yu, sat aside with a gentle smile. After Sheng Puzhu had spoken to the old lady for a few words, she took her hand and looked it up and down.

She doesn't look thin, with rosy cheeks and lips, a pair of sparkling almond eyes, and she looks even more delicate when she smiles. It can be seen that Xie Zhiyan dotes on her.

"How does the prince treat you?" Although she knew it in her heart, Madam Sheng couldn't help but ask one more question as a mother.

Sheng Puju thought that Xie Zhiyan had become more and more attached to her recently. Things that he was reluctant to say before, once he opened his mouth, he would pour them out without hesitation. Moreover, he was thick-skinned and acted like a gentleman. Sometimes she could not resist him at all.

With a red face, Sheng Puzhu nodded gently: "Sanlang treats me very well."

Shen Yu nodded and said with relief: "As long as you treat you well, I will feel at ease."

…

It’s New Year’s Eve in a blink of an eye.

The banquet was held in the flower hall. There were not many people in the Marquis Mingde's mansion, so only two tables were set up.

Because they were all family members, although men and women sat at separate tables, the small screen with flowers and birds separating them was just a decoration.

There was tea in Sheng Puzhu's cup. She was quite restrained and didn't dare to drink. Surprisingly, her sisters who loved the hustle and bustle the most didn't try to persuade her. Every time she looked at the wine pot on the table, they would move away from her tacitly.

"I only drink half a glass of fruit wine, half a glass is not enough to make me drunk."

Sheng Mingya refused forcefully: "No, it's not fruit wine, it's Tusu. With your alcohol tolerance, the smell would probably make you pass out."

A low chuckle came from the other table. Sheng Puzhu recognized it as his second brother Sheng Linqing, who had been detained in the mansion to study and whom he had not seen for a long time.

Sheng Puzhu was immediately annoyed and complained through the screen: "My dear, my second brother is laughing at me."

"good."

"Don't be upset, ma'am. I'll get him drunk for you." Xie Zhiyan said in a low voice, as if coaxing a child.

The old lady glanced at Sheng Puzhu with a smile and said, "My dear husband, your thoughtfulness is better than anything else."

"Compared to you, your second brother's alcohol tolerance is actually just as good as yours." At this point, the old lady shook her head and said jokingly, "Sanlang, please be merciful. On the third day of the first lunar month in Linqing, you still have to bring a matchmaker to the Fuguogong Mansion to propose marriage."

Sheng Mingshu suddenly smiled, secretly tugged at Sheng Puzhu's sleeve, and whispered, "Second brother has been thinking about the young lady from the Fuguo Mansion for several years. Before, he was not good at studying and was embarrassed to propose marriage. This year, he finally won the second place in the imperial examination."

"He was afraid that his grandfather would not agree, so he knelt in the study for an hour and refused to answer questions. Later, when his knees were so painful that he could no longer bear it, he said that he had set his eyes on Song Zhuyi, the young lady from the Fuguo Mansion, and wanted to propose marriage."

Sheng Puzhu felt that her second brother was sometimes a bit off-key: "And then?"

Sheng Puyao took over the conversation and spread her hands in silence: "Grandfather was so angry that he punished my second brother to kneel for two hours."

"Because Grandfather said that my second brother was a piece of shit. He didn't tell me he liked her earlier, which made everyone in the mansion live in fear for years, thinking he didn't like girls."

Sheng Puzhu laughed out loud: "Second brother isn't afraid that Song Zhuyi will get engaged too early."

The old lady also glared at Sheng Linqing through the screen, saying, "Why isn't he afraid? He's almost scared to death."

"In the past few years, whenever there was any disturbance in the Prince of Fuguo's Mansion, he would secretly beat up anyone who wanted to propose marriage."

Sheng Mingya nodded and said, "Yes, I don't know who reported this matter later, but my second brother was punished to kneel for a whole day."

Sheng Puzhu felt that his second brother might not be a stone, but a donkey's head, and the most stubborn person in Chang'an City.

Although Sheng Linqing was thick-skinned, all eyes at the table were now on him. The usually free and unrestrained Second Young Master of the Marquisate of Mingde couldn't help but blush from his ears to his neck.

He quickly raised his cup, trying to cover it up, but unexpectedly, the old marquis Sheng Baiya blew his beard and glared at him: "On the third day of the New Year, if you mess up the marriage proposal, you will continue to kneel in the ancestral hall."

"Yes, Grandfather."

"Grandson has made note of it."

"What a promising future." Although Sheng Baiya seemed to be scolding Sheng Linqing, the smile in his eyes never stopped.

The Sheng family of Marquis Mingde has three branches. The eldest son died early, the second son stayed in Chang'an to serve as an official, and the third son and his family served as officials far away in Youzhou. All the descendants in the family were well-educated. They were not outstanding, but they were filial and harmonious, and there was nothing wrong with them.

The banquet was halfway through and naturally became very lively.

Sheng Puzhu didn't drink a drop of alcohol, but still felt a little dizzy.

The young man's table was still drinking, and the old lady suggested playing mahjong. She then asked someone to clean up the side hall and prepare fruits, tea, snacks, and the golden melon seeds that had been prepared early.

As soon as the card table opened, Sheng Puzhu was lucky enough to win two rounds in a row.

Sheng Puyao was holding a book and carefully keeping accounts, and the box of golden melon seeds in her arms was shaking, making it jingle.

At this time, Nanny Gui came forward in a hurry. She should have kept her voice down, but the card table was too noisy and the old lady was old and her hearing was not very good.

"You what...what, who?"

Aunt Gui said it twice.

"Huh? Speak louder, I can't hear you clearly."

"Madam, the Fu family's eldest son is here. He said that the Duke of Anguo's mansion had retired early and he couldn't get in, so he came to pay his respects and ask for something to eat."

Nanny Gui's shout was quite loud, not only the old lady heard it, but everyone in the side hall heard it.

Sheng Mingya's hand trembled when she heard this, and she threw the wrong card directly. The old lady was quick to grab the first card, and then she curled her lips calmly: "Since you are here, please come into the mansion."

"Grandma." Sheng Mingya suddenly became anxious.

The old lady seemed confused and ordered in a gentle voice, "Have the kitchen prepare a few more dishes, and then clean up the guest room."

Aunt Gui smiled and nodded: "Yes, I will give the order right away."

Fu Yunzheng arrived quickly. Before their round was over, Fu Yunzheng strode into the flower hall.

I don't know what he said outside, but I could hear the sound of him kneeling and kowtowing.

Then the old marquis Sheng Baiya asked, "Fu family boy, why are you here?"

Fu Yunzheng lied without blushing or beating his heart: "It's too late. The elders at home go to bed early. I can't go back."

Look, it sounds so pitiful. After traveling thousands of miles from Yumen Pass, I can’t even have a hot meal in Dalian on New Year’s Eve.

"He is a big liar." Sheng Mingya gritted her teeth.

Sheng Puzhu looked at her sister, then glanced outside secretly. A maid brought in a new meal. Fu Yunzheng was not shy and ate a bowl of hot mutton soup first.

After he was half full, he stood up tactfully and said he wanted to kowtow to the old lady and wish her a happy new year.

Sheng Mingya was so anxious that she almost dropped the cards in her hand. She looked at Sheng Puju pitifully and almost cried for help.

"Grandma Sheng, I kowtow to you."

Fu Yunzheng knocked his head loudly, and when he raised his eyes, they looked at Sheng Mingya with a bold gaze before looking away.

The old lady did not expose her mistake, but instead asked with a smile, "Aren't you afraid that when you return home tomorrow, your ancestors will make you kneel in the ancestral hall?"

Fu Yunzheng also knew that he was fooling around. In a house like the Duke of Anguo's Mansion, there would always be servants guarding it. How could he not be able to go back? He chuckled and was not afraid: "It doesn't matter. I kneel in the ancestral hall every time I come back, and this time is no different."

The old lady nodded, then pinched her brows deliberately: "I'm a little weak, you can take over this card for me."

Fu Yunzheng was more than happy to do so. He took the cards and raised his eyebrows. Every card he played seemed to be against Sheng Mingya.

Sheng Mingya was furious, but the elders in her family turned a blind eye. Plus, Fu Yunzheng was a man who would climb to the top if given a chance. If she showed him a good face today, he would come to her house and propose marriage in a big way tomorrow.

It’s not that I hate her, Sheng Mingya is just stubborn.

Sheng Mingshu thought the relationship between her sister and Fu Yunzheng was really interesting, and was watching the fun with great interest.

Unexpectedly, Nanny Gui came again. This time, she had learned her lesson and raised her voice to the old lady, "Lu Siqing is here and is waiting outside the mansion gate. He must have been waiting for a long time."

This time even the old lady was stunned: "What is he doing here?"

After a slight hesitation, Nanny Gui gritted her teeth and said, "Lu Siqing said that it's cold in winter and it's lonely without anyone at home. I heard that the eldest son of the Fu family is spending New Year's Eve at our house. He wondered if it would be convenient for him to add another pair of chopsticks."

Old lady: “…”

Sheng Puzhu: "..." When did Lu Siqing become so shameless.

The old lady felt soft-hearted, thinking that there was indeed no one in Wuzhang Marquis' Mansion. Lu Siqing's biological aunt, Princess An, had already shaved her head and become a nun, and it was indeed cold and lonely.

If Fu Yunzheng had not been taken in, he would probably have refused. At the moment, it was just a matter of having an extra pair of chopsticks.

"Please come in." The old lady sighed and couldn't help but look at her granddaughter Sheng Mingshu.

Sheng Mingshu's little face was pale at first, and then turned red with anger.

She had taken good care of her body in the past two years, and with Shen Ce coming to the mansion to pay his respects several times, he took her pulse and prescribed new medicines every time. Now she was no longer weak.

"Grandma, my head hurts a bit and I want to go downstairs and rest."

The old lady saw her rosy cheeks and said, "Since he is here, Mingshu should meet him."

Lu Siqing arrived quickly, holding a gift in his hand, but he was wearing little and snow had fallen on his body. He lowered his head and coughed lightly from time to time.

Fu Yunzheng held the leaf cards in his hand, looked outside, then looked at Sheng Mingshu's angry expression, and simply sat still.

"Grandma Sheng, I'm toasting you." Lu Zhoudu respectfully toasted the old marquis and saw Xie Zhiyan looking at him coldly.

Unfortunately, the once-proud Sanlang Xie didn't seem to want to be friends with these two uninvited guests today, and simply pretended not to know them.

After the toast, they played another round of mahjong in the side hall. Sheng Mingshu was absent-minded and made several mistakes, while Sheng Puzhu was quick-witted and won a huge prize.

Lu Zhoudu saluted the old lady and couldn't help coughing.

The old lady asked with concern: "Lu Siqing, what happened?"

Lu Zhoudu looked weak and said, "I was injured a few days ago, but it's nothing serious."

Sheng Mingshu's eyes suddenly became less annoyed. Maybe it was because of her illness, but she was always less wary of her weak husband.

"Grandma, I..." Sheng Mingshu still wanted to avoid it.

Unfortunately, before he could finish the word "headache", Lu Zhoudu coughed again.

"Madam Gui, add a seat for Lu Siqing." The old lady ordered.

Nanny Gui was very observant and directly moved a crescent stool and placed it next to Sheng Mingshu.

Lu Zhoudu took a long stride and sat down very smoothly, just facing Fu Yunzheng.

Fu Yunzheng raised his eyebrows and mouthed, "Student shrewdness."

Sheng Mingya: “…”

Sheng Mingshu: “…”

Sheng Puzhu looked up at the sky in silence. They were both the same, so why were they still comparing themselves to others? The banquet outside had ended at some point. Xie Zhiyan stood behind Sheng Puzhu and pointed at the cards in her hand. "I'll take your place, Madam?"

They were too close, and the action was very intimate. Sheng Puzhu suddenly raised her eyes, and in the bright firelight, she saw the smug look in the man's eyes.

Oh, Sheng Puzhu almost forgot that compared to Lu Siqing and Fu Yunzheng, Xie Zhiyan is the real son-in-law of the Sheng family.

No wonder he was in such a good mood that he could hardly hide it. His sharp eyebrows were tinged with a faint smile, and he even had the leisure to play mahjong.

Sheng Puzhu handed the card forward, but Xie Zhiyan deliberately refused to take it, letting her hold it with both hands, while he stood behind her with a nonchalant look.

Fu Yunzheng wanted to say something, but Xie Zhiyan smiled faintly at him. He turned around and asked Sheng Puzhu affectionately, "Madam, is this one okay?"

After he finished speaking, he even picked up the tea on the table and took a sip of it with a very quiet and reserved attitude.

Fu Yunzheng almost crushed the leaf cards in his hand, and Lu Zhoudu coughed continuously.

Xie Zhiyan chuckled softly, he was feeling proud and showing off.

He can only be the best son-in-law of the Sheng family.