Chapter 42

Chapter 42

But the son-in-law opposite said, "I am not greedy for food. The Wen family is also in trouble now. Mr. Wen should take it back to the old lady."

When Master Wen heard this, he looked up to him even more. Whether a man is responsible or not can be seen when he is in trouble. This is not a prodigal son at all, it is clear that his daughter has found a treasure.

The elders of both families were away before, and now that he was back, he had to act like an elder and make sure the two children got along well in the future. He first asked humbly, "Did Gaoxian do anything unruly while in the mansion?"

"Very good." Xie Shao replied: "My father-in-law taught me well, and my wife is virtuous and filial."

How can she be virtuous when her family has been ruined? It's rare that he still gives me this respect and doesn't expose the culprit. But it's hard for others to say it, and I have to know it in my heart.

It was lunchtime, most people went to pubs or restaurants, and the roadside teahouses were empty. Second Master Wen spoke to his son-in-law from the bottom of his heart: "Mother Gaoxian passed away early, and only his brother and I are left at home. I have not been with her for many years, so she has to make decisions on her own. As time goes by, she is bound to have her own opinions. When she was in the Wen family, her grandmother still weighed the pros and cons for her. Now that she is in your house, there is no restraint. Whatever she wants to come up with, you, your son-in-law, have to consider it more."

Xie Shao probably guessed what he wanted to say, so he didn't let him beat around the bush and said in a gentle voice, "Last time, Shuse asked me about my wishes before donating the grain. I didn't expect that Luoan would go to Fengcheng to ask for grain during the war. The young lady is kind-hearted and cares about her country. She did nothing wrong. Afterwards, she was able to bring honor and three official positions to the Wen and Xie families. It's not a loss if you think about it carefully. Money has a price, and there is a bright future. There's no need for your father-in-law to be too sad."

This in turn persuaded myself.

However, when he heard that he had asked for his consent, Master Wen felt a lot more relieved.

Where can I find such a virtuous son-in-law? There must be no mistakes. Thinking of the chaotic marriage between the two, she couldn't help but smooth things over: "As the saying goes, people who are destined to meet will meet each other even if they are thousands of miles apart. When fate comes, no matter what form it takes, two people will always be together. Before, I was always thinking about which son of the future son-in-law would be, but I didn't expect it to be the third son." She was not stingy with her joy and praised: "It is the good fortune of that girl Shuse to find a virtuous son-in-law like the third son-in-law."

Previously, the young lady was still planning to find someone she liked, but now, judging from the tone of her father, he has decided on her.

Suddenly I felt some sympathy for the young lady. I really didn't know how this scene would end for her.

Sympathy is sympathy, but it does not stop him from continuing to trip him up. Hearing Mr. Wen calling him the Third Young Master, Xie Shao humbly said, "Father-in-law, just call me Xianwei."

He even told him his nickname, which showed that he really treated him as his own family. Second Master Wen was very satisfied. He immediately picked up the wine pot and clinked glasses with him: "Xianwei is a good name. Come, let's have a drink together."

After a few drinks, the relationship between the father-in-law and the son-in-law took a big step forward. There was no more politeness in their conversations, and they became much closer. Second Master Wen sighed and said, "Xianwei, to be honest, I spoiled Gaoxian. She has a stubborn temper. I was irritated by her when I was at home. But she is good at not holding grudges and forgets unpleasant things quickly. Although sometimes I can't even remember what I said, if you think about it in another way, isn't it easy to satisfy such a person? Another thing is that she is energetic and cheerful all day long. When I see her face, I can't help but feel energetic. With such a person in the family, how can the future not be prosperous?"

Xie Shao understood that she wanted him to see more of the young lady's good points.

Master Wen was not exaggerating on this point. The young lady was indeed as energetic as he said. When he returned home after work that day, he saw her hurriedly walking out holding a lotus lantern that was taller than her.

Xie Shao had just walked down the corridor when he was almost poked by the lantern in her arms. He reached out and pushed aside a lotus leaf and asked, "Where are you going, my lady?"

The young lady immediately stuck her head out from behind the lantern, her eyes shining like stars: "My dear, you are back. I will go to the Ming family to deliver the lantern and come back later."

Xie Shao raised his head and took a look at the fiery clouds in the sky. It was later, how later could it be?

I can't help but think of her, "Young lady, have you forgotten that you are married? You keep running out without saying hello. Have you ever considered the feelings of your husband's family?"

Wen Shuse was stunned. Hasn't it always been like this after marriage?

Although they had agreed to have nothing to do with each other, she still had to consider his face and asked politely, "I'll report to you, my dear, and go out to give a lantern to the lady of the Ming family. I'll be back soon."

Unexpectedly, the man opposite would not give up: "Since you want to report to me, you should act like a report, instead of just going through the motions like you do. I see that you don't care whether I agree or not at all. It's obvious that you want to act first and report later. What would you do if I didn't get back in time?" I'm afraid he would have run away long ago.

Not understanding why he was acting so abnormal today, Wen Shu took a deep breath and asked him patiently, "Do you agree, my dear?"

The man opposite turned his head and looked up at the sky, looking like he deserved a beating: "It's too late, it's not safe outside, my lady, you should ask the people below to send it over."

How can this be possible?

She made the lotus lantern by herself and gave it to A Yuan as a wedding gift, so she had to deliver it in person. Seeing that he insisted on stopping her, she cried out in dissatisfaction: "My husband never cared about me before."

"You have to take care of it from now on. If you don't, it will be disgraceful." Ignoring the young lady's astonished look, he turned around and called Min Zhang over: "Go run a trip for Third Madam."

Min Zhang went over to take it, but Wen Shuse realized what was happening, turned around and dodged, gritting his teeth and saying, "No need, I'll take it tomorrow."

"I'm afraid it won't be possible tomorrow. My lady, you should just stay at home from now on." After saying that, he walked past her.

After everyone left the hall, Wen Shuse finally reacted, handed the lantern in his hand to Xiangyun, and chased after him: "My dear, what do you mean? Are you going to confine me?"

"Not really." The young man walked forward with his hands behind his back, not even turning his head. "But there are many men outside the Ming family, and it's not convenient for you to go alone. I'm afraid that gossipers will spread rumors, which will be bad for your reputation."

Wen Shuse said with a "tsk tsk". "It's obvious that my husband is stingy, and he puts it in such a high-sounding way." She was going to Ming Wanrou's courtyard, and she was led by a maid all the way. Who would spread the news?

She said this, and the man in front of her didn't refute her, but just refused to give in.

When he arrived at the west wing, he saw a pile of bamboo gauze under the pear tree. He turned around and looked at the young lady whose chest was heaving with anger, and asked her, "Did you do this?"

Wen Shuse was unhappy: "What else?"

In order to give Ayuan a surprise, she spent most of the day making it, and finally finished it before dusk. She couldn't wait to give it to her, but she didn't expect that she couldn't leave the house.

The man looked at her inquiringly, and was quite surprised: "I didn't realize you were so skillful."

I didn't want to pay attention to him, but seeing that he looked down on me, I was unhappy if I didn't respond: "How difficult is this? Don't you know how to do it, my dear?"

"No." He turned his head and looked at the lanterns hanging in the yard. "The Dragon Boat Festival is coming soon, and the lanterns in the yard should be replaced. I am worried that the expenses of the family are tight and I don't have money to buy new ones. Since you can make lanterns and you are idle at home, it's a good opportunity to save some money." He raised his head and smiled at the young lady: "Thank you, madam."

Wen Shuse stared at him with wide eyes, not daring to believe what he said. He asked her to make lanterns. How many lanterns would she need for such a big yard?

It was too bullying, so she had to tear her face off: "Xie San, don't be too..."

"Today I met your father in Le City, and he asked me how my young lady was doing in my humble abode. I told him that everything was fine. Although my young lady had squandered all my fortune, she now knew how to run a household frugally."

Wen Shuse:......

This one sentence was like pinching her vital point. The flames that had just risen up were poured with a bucket of cold water, and the fire was extinguished instantly.

Did he meet his father?

What did he say?

Without looking at the young lady's stunned gaze, Xie Shao turned and walked up the stairs, pushed open the door of the west wing, and calmly closed the door in front of the young lady.

It took Wen Shuse a long while to come back to his senses. With nowhere to vent his anger, he could only turn around and say to Xiangyun, "See, he is so irritating. A few days ago, I thought I got along well with him, but it turns out I was wrong. His attitude clearly shows that he doesn't intend to live a good life with me."

Xiangyun quickly comforted him: "Madam, calm down first. Something must be wrong when things are out of the ordinary. Let's go back to the house and think about countermeasures..."

It was finally quiet outside, and Min Zhang turned his head.

He saw his master standing behind the door, his ears tilted to one side, almost standing up, and he was touching his clothes for a long time but couldn't unbutton a single button.

Min Zhang thought that it was better to resolve a grudge than to create one. After spending these days together, he felt that this Third Madam was not so easy to mess with. He reminded her, "The gauze lanterns in the yard were changed before the master got married..."

But she didn't appreciate his kindness: "Why do you care about what I do?"

He took off his round shirt and hung it on the screen. He was now calm and asked Min Zhang to prepare water for him to take a bath and change his clothes.

He had dinner at the palace today and informed Nanny Fang that there was no need to bring him food. After taking a bath, he sat on the futon and took out a stack of predictions about the palace's future given to him by the palace's aides that Madam Zhou had given him today.

There was a lot of talk on paper, nothing interesting to read. I had read most of it and was about to turn off the lights to take a rest when there was a knock on the door. "My dear..."

Xie Shao: ...

Shouldn't she be angry?

Min Zhang was also a little confused. The Third Mistress was very angry just now, but she calmed down now? He was afraid that there was something fishy going on. He looked at his master, not knowing whether he should open the door.

The young lady's voice came in again from outside the door: "Is the young master asleep?"

Xie Shao stood up and went to open the door himself.

As the door opened, I first saw a round gauze lantern. A white rabbit on it was illuminated by the light, its red eyes were shiny and lifelike. I was startled, and then the young lady's face appeared from beside the gauze lantern again. There was a flattering smile between her eyebrows, which was more beautiful than the bright moon in the sky. She asked, "Do you like it, my dear?"

Everyone likes a pretty young lady. He paused for a moment, came back to his senses, and turned away quickly, "The young lady's hands are really skillful. She made a lantern so quickly. I'm sure she can replace all the lanterns in the yard soon."

Wen Shuse almost couldn't hold back the smile on her face, but fortunately she had prepared herself mentally, "Let's talk about the other things later, I just want to make one for my husband first, and he can use it when he comes back tomorrow."

Hearing her say that, he glanced sideways and looked at the rabbit gauze lantern in her hand again. The sudden show of goodwill inevitably made him feel a little proud.

It looks good, but why is it a rabbit?

The young lady saw his confusion and explained, "My zodiac sign is rabbit, so I drew it on you. From now on, you will hold the lantern, and I will be by your side to light the way for you." Then she handed the lantern to him, "Would you like to take a look?"

Compared to the way she glared at him just now, her attitude now was much more pleasing.

Seeing his expression change, the young lady uncovered the lampshade, blew out the candle inside for him, handed the lantern to him with both hands, and boasted: "When I was a child, I learned to make lanterns from my mother. I think the talent can be inherited. My grandmother said that the lanterns I made are more beautiful than those sold in the flower market..."

Is it that good?

He reached out to take it, but before he could take a closer look, his finger was suddenly stabbed by something, and the pain was so severe that his fingers were connected to his heart. He gritted his teeth in pain, but did not throw it to the ground. He had to doubt her purpose with stars in his eyes, "Wen Er, are you deliberately seeking revenge? Are you going to murder your husband?"

Wen Shuse was stunned and didn't react at all, but when he saw the man opposite him showing a look of pain, the lantern in his hand was like a hot life-saving medicine, it was not right to throw it away, and it was not right to keep it.

When I looked closely, I was shocked to see that my finger was bleeding.

It was really unfair. She just listened to Xiangyun's advice. When you are under someone's roof, you have to bow your head. She thought that everything would be fine if she coaxed him.

Seeing blood oozing out of her finger, almost staining the rabbit red, she was immediately frightened and quickly took the lantern, put it aside, and apologized repeatedly, "My lord, I'm sorry, maybe I didn't clean the bamboo thorns well, I didn't mean to prick you, I'm not such a petty person."

He didn't care whether she did it on purpose or not, and decided to take care of the wound first.

Min Zhang was also frightened and quickly got the medicine box.

Perhaps confused by the pain, Xie Shao grabbed the gauze and was about to wrap it around, but the young lady beside him stopped him in time, "Don't wrap it around, there might be thorns inside. Clean it first, and I'll help you pick out the thorns."

Afraid that her husband would move again, she held his hands tightly with both hands and turned to tell Min Zhang to prepare salt water.

Min Zhang moved quickly and prepared the salt water. The young lady grabbed her husband's hand and cleaned it herself. "I will try to be gentle. Please bear with it. I have been pricked before and I know it hurts, but it will be fine once the thorn is taken out."

It was so late, and with such a minor injury, he definitely couldn't go to the palace to see a doctor. His hand was held in the young lady's hand, so he naturally leaned closer, their shoulders touching. He lowered his head and saw her long black hair. He didn't know what she usually used to wash it, but the smell was very much like the white magnolia in the yard. He moved closer unconsciously, and his fingertips were suddenly soaked in salt water. The injured area throbbed with pain, and he gave up all thoughts. He closed his eyes and clenched his teeth.

After washing away the blood, I saw that there was indeed a half-broken bamboo thorn stuck in the fingertip, quite deep.

It really looked painful, Wen Shuse felt guilty, "My dear, hold on for a while, I will help you find the thorns."

Then she asked Min Zhang to take out the silver needle, burn it on the fire, pinched his finger, and suddenly found that she was too far away from the lamp to see clearly, so she simply stood up and knelt beside him. Their arms were twisted again, and they moved back and forth. When she adjusted it, she was already lying on his legs.

The man's body had already become stiff.

It was late at night and everyone was asleep. The posture looked so ambiguous. Since they got married, they had never had such close contact or even held hands.

Now not only did the young lady hold his hand, but she also threw herself into his arms and lay on his lap.

He was not a eunuch, and he could not remain calm. His thoughts drifted further and further away. The silver needle pierced his finger, and he suddenly felt a sharp pain. He was completely unprepared and made a hissing sound. Before he could retract his hand, the young lady held it and pulled it forward, quite annoyed, "My dear, don't move."

Being pulled by this, the tip of his nose was completely buried in her black hair. His head was dizzy and he really didn't move.

The silver needle dug into his flesh, but he didn't make another sound. This made Wen Shuse feel a lot more relieved. He pinched his finger and carefully picked out the bamboo thorn.

The bamboo thorn is not very thick, just a thin and long one. When it pierces the flesh, it can cause terribly pain.

After checking it carefully and confirming that there was nothing inside, she breathed a sigh of relief, let go of his hand, and turned back to look at her lover with a red forehead behind her, "My lover, pinch it and see if it still hurts inside."

The moment she turned around, he straightened up and gently scratched the wound with his fingers, "It doesn't hurt anymore, but how long are you going to lie on me, young lady?"

Only then did she realize that her posture was extremely inappropriate, but the more panicked she was, the calmer she became. She climbed up from his knees calmly and acted righteously: "My dear, please don't let your imagination run wild. The injured are the most important, regardless of gender. If it were someone else today, I would do the same."

This was very unpleasant to hear. He straightened his shirt and robe that had been messed up by her and asked, "Really? Who else has that young lady treated for injuries?"

Who had it been before? Wen Shuse thought about it.

Before she could think of a solution, the gentleman in front of her had already helped her think of one, "The second son of the Ming family?"

So he remembered the second son of the Ming family, but to be honest: "No, you are the first person whose hand was pierced by my lantern."

The implication is that he is unlucky.

In this way, he also admitted that he had indeed given lanterns to the second son of the Ming family.

Others didn't get pricked, but he got pricked, so he didn't doubt that she did it on purpose. If it wasn't intentional, what did it mean? It meant that she didn't take care when making the lantern for him, and didn't even scrape off the thorns. It was obvious that she was just perfunctory.

She was probably here to ask for a favor tonight, but he was obviously in no mood and cut off her thoughts. "I appreciate your kindness, but you saw that I was stabbed by your lantern. Not only did I not get any benefit, but I also saw blood. I am really in no good mood and cannot agree to your next request. Please go back, next time you make a lantern, remember to be careful and attentive. It's okay for others, but don't hurt yourself."

This petty person is really unforgiving.

What could she do? She had done something wrong, causing a hole in the man's finger, making him look shorter when he stood up. She could only apologize and make amends: "My dear, I was wrong. To make it up to you, I will cook for you myself tomorrow when you get back from work."

This surprised Xie Shao.

On the one hand, he admired her for being willing to risk everything to go to the Ming family, but on the other hand, he was curious about what kind of food she could cook, so he said vaguely, "Let's wait and see."

The wound healed quickly, and by the next morning, it was almost scabbed over. Xie Shao took off the gauze to avoid attracting attention when he went to work.

Who would have thought that he would meet the second son of the Ming family at the palace that day.

Last time, the second son of the Ming family delivered a letter to Concubine Yang in the palace on behalf of Madam Zhou. Today, Madam Zhou invited people to a banquet at her house to express her gratitude.

During the lunch, Xie Shao and several staff members were also called over.

Xie Shao had dealt with the second son of the Ming family before, but they were not familiar with each other. After exchanging a few pleasantries, they sat down in their seats, but they couldn't help but pay attention to each other.

He is well-spoken, neither impatient nor irritable, and deserves the title of gentle and elegant.

Just as he was praising the young lady for her good taste, he wondered if she could wait for him. Suddenly, Madam Zhou started to act as a matchmaker, "Look at my memory. Which girl is the second young master betrothed to?"

The second son of the Ming family looked slightly embarrassed and politely replied, "Madam, I have not yet promised to marry."

Madam Zhou was stunned. "Such a talented young man has not yet been engaged. I don't know where the eyes of the girls in Fengcheng are looking." When the lady of the Ming family marries into the palace, they will also be a family. She smiled and said, "If the second young master doesn't mind, can I help you keep an eye on him in the future?"

Xie Shao glanced at the second son of the Ming family calmly, and saw his ears slowly turning red. After hesitating for a moment, he turned his head to Madam Zhou and said, "Thank you, Madam Zhou."

It's over.

He withdrew his gaze and felt sorry for the young lady. His husband, who had been on a hunger strike for a whole day for her, might not be able to wait for her.

I felt an inexplicable sense of joy in my heart, and I wanted to go back immediately to share it with the young lady, as if I could already see her lost expression after the blow, so sad and pitiful.

He did not delay when he got off duty and went straight back to Xie's house. His steps were much lighter when he entered the house. Before he even reached the garden, he saw the young lady actually coming out to greet him. When she saw him at the other end of the corridor, she called out from afar: "My dear, my dear..."

She was so happy that people couldn't bear to disappoint her.

When the people came up to him, before he could speak, the young lady grabbed his arm and pulled him closer, then stood on tiptoe, put a palm next to his ear, and whispered, "My dear, Fengcheng just received a transfer order. The eldest son is going to Dongdu to take up a post."

My dears, have a happy Dragon Boat Festival! (One hundred red envelopes~)