Chapter 172 If the Fate Lasts Long (8)

"No, Sister Lin said she's very good at painting and wants to draw a small portrait of me. When she's done, I'll bring it back and show it to you."

"OK."

"Dad, is my swing ready?"

Shi Jianan shook his head, "Slow work makes fine work. It will be finished tomorrow. It's only half done."

"Well, I thought I could sit on it today."

"Even if it's finished today, you can't sit down because the paint isn't dry yet." Shi Jiannan fanned her with a fan. "Is there anything else you want to fix in your yard? We've hired the carpenters, so let's fix it all at once."

"It's just been renovated, so there's nothing that needs repairing." Shi Jianli thought for a moment, "Please build me a few more flower stands so I can plant more flowers near the wall."

"OK."

Shi Jianli drank the tea and went straight to Qiao Ruowei, rubbing her cheek against her shoulder, and said in a weak tone: "Mom, I'm so hungry, I don't have the energy to sit."

"Go to the kitchen and bring dinner." Qiao Ruowei instructed Hua Yan and patted her on the back. "You didn't even come back for lunch. You've been playing all day. Aren't you hungry?"

"It was almost noon when I left. I didn't want to go back to the city and delay my fun." Shi Jianli grabbed the forbidden jade at her waist and twisted the tassel chain around her finger. "The peach forest in the eastern suburbs is indeed beautiful. Next time Dad takes a day off, let's go to Tongguang Temple in the western suburbs. I heard from my sister Lin that the vegetarian food there is delicious."

"good."

The next morning, Shi Jianli drew a pair of clothing sketches in the study in her yard. She then sorted out the previous drawings and had someone send them to Changchun Courtyard to Qiao Ruowei. Then she dressed up and went to the Anguo Mansion.

After entering the Duke of Anguo's Mansion, she first went to the West Mansion to pay a visit to Qiao Ruoying and gave her the things she brought.

Qiao Ruoying tapped her between the eyebrows and said, "You always bring something when you come back. You don't have to be so polite."

"I'm not being polite. I'm showing my filial piety to my aunt. Doesn't my aunt want my filial piety? In the past, my aunt always sent me gifts when she went to Duzhou." Shi Jianli smiled with her eyes curved. "What are you doing, cousin?"

"Of course I do. How could I refuse Li'er's filial piety? Your cousin is probably discussing with Zhou Qing and the others where to go for fun. He has to go to the military camp tomorrow. If you want to see him again, you have to wait until the next day off." Qiao Ruoying shook her head and smiled. "Li'er, will you stay at your aunt's place for dinner before going back?"

"Okay, then I'll come over to eat with Auntie when it's time. I also have an appointment with Sister Lin, and I don't want her to wait too long." Shi Jianli said, pointing to the relatively flat wooden boxes, "Auntie, these are the clothes my mother made especially for you."

"Go ahead, I'll take a look later."

After she left, Qiao Ruoying opened the box and saw the two sets of clothes in it. The smile on her lips lasted for a long time.

It’s great that at this age, she can still wear the clothes made by her sister.

After coming out of Qionghuayuan, Shi Jianli went to visit Yuan Yuhe again.

Hearing that she was coming, Yuan Yuhe was a little surprised.

"Madam, I'm visiting you today and have brought you some gifts. I hope you don't mind being a bother." Shi Jianli smiled and bowed to her. "This is also to make up for the fact that I didn't formally greet you when I returned home."

"You, child, you came to play and brought gifts. You're so polite. I have to thank you for coming to play with Lin'er." Seeing her charming face, Yuan Yuhe unconsciously smiled a little more and gave her a light hand. "Li'er, call me aunt. Don't be so polite."

"Okay." Shi Jianli pointed at the boxes and said, "Here are two bottles of fruit wine produced in Duzhou, suitable for women to drink. I hope my aunt doesn't mind."

"There are a few bottles left for my uncle and my eldest and second cousins. They are stronger."

"I've always known that Duzhou's wine is the finest. Li'er, you've put in so much effort. Don't accompany me anymore. Go play with Lin'er. I'll have someone go to the kitchen and make some of your favorite dishes and send them over."

"Okay, thank you, auntie."

Shi Jianli was taken to Mingyuelin's Xianyunxuan by the maid from Minghuayuan. As soon as she entered the yard, she saw Mingyuelin about to go out.

"Sister Li, I was just about to go to the gate to greet you." Ming Yuelin took her hand. "The peach blossom pastry is in the kitchen. It will be ready soon."

"I'm early. I went to visit your aunt and your mother first." Shi Jianli pointed at Lanxing who was holding the box, "Here, the gift I promised to bring you yesterday."

"Thank you, Sister Li~" Ming Yuelin shook her arm. "My eldest brother is teaching the other brothers martial arts at the martial arts arena today. Third brother is also here. Sister Li, do you want to go over and take a look? We'll paint the portrait again this afternoon."

"OK."

"Then let's go." Mingyuelin excitedly pulled her towards the martial arts field after hearing that.

At that time, Ming Zhao was seen sitting on a tall horse with snow-white hair, holding a spear in one hand and mercilessly knocking Ming Zhouqing and others off the horse one by one.

When Tokimiri stood still, the last one who persisted, Azuchi Kazuya, was picked down.

After rolling off their horses, Mingzhu and Lisuo got up, brushed off the dust on their clothes and rubbed their shoulders that were hurt by the spear.

Big brother really shows no mercy at all.

Seeing it was over so soon, Ming Yuelin felt a little sorry. "Big Brother, second brother, can you guys get on the horses and practice again? I brought Sister Li here specially to watch it, but it ended before I could see it."

Ming Zhouqing pounded his waist with his hand, glanced at her, and said, "Forget it in front of you, but can you please let me save some face in front of my cousin Shi? My dear sister."

Mingzhao, who was still sitting on his horse, glanced at the weapon rack, weighed the spear in his hand, raised his hand and threw the wooden spear into the wooden hole where the spears were placed.

There was a "clang" sound, and Shi Jianli looked towards the weapon rack and raised his eyebrows slightly.

That's pretty good accuracy.

Looking at the man in riding clothes on the horse, he didn't look as gentle as he had seen in the past. Instead, he had a bit more sharpness and coldness that belonged to a military commander.

Except for Tokimitsu, everyone present had seen Mingzhao's technique of returning weapons to their places with just a casual throw, so they were no longer surprised and just glanced at him before turning back.

Mingzhao dismounted and walked towards the people at the edge of the martial arts field. When he met Shi Jianli's gaze, he smiled and nodded, diluting some of the coldness.

"Cousin." Shi Jianli blinked and called him before looking at Ming Zhouhe who was standing beside her. "Cousin, I heard from my aunt that you will be going to the military camp tomorrow."

"Well, there's nothing to do. Go to the military camp and train for two years." Ming Zhouhe nodded and pointed at Ming Yuelin. "Second sister likes to play. When I'm not around, you can ask her to take you out. Ask her where to go fun and where to eat. She'll always answer your questions."

"Yes, yes, Sister Li, you haven't finished touring the capital yet, right? I'll take you there." Mingyuelin said enthusiastically.

"Okay." Shi Jianli pulled her sleeve as a friendly response.

"Since you guys aren't going to compete anymore, Sister Li and I will be leaving. I'll have someone deliver the peach blossom pastries later..."

Mingzhao also interjected, "Send them to my place. They will come to my place later."

"OK."

After seeing the two of them leave, Mingzhao raised his chin slightly towards his brothers and said, "You should go to Langgan Courtyard first. When I came here, my mother sent someone to ask me to go see her when I have time."

"good."

He Mingzhou separated from them and went to Minghuayuan.

When he went in and saw Yuan Yuhe strolling in the yard, he approached her and asked with a smile, "What did you call me for, mother?"

"I'm here to discuss your lifelong affairs with you." Yuan Yuhe looked him over. "You're twenty-one now. Isn't it time to consider marriage?"

"I wrote to you some time ago to discuss a marriage for you, and you replied that we would discuss it after you returned from the border. Now that you're back, can we discuss a marriage? Give me your nod, and I'll arrange it for you."

"Don't worry, my son already has someone he likes." Mingzhao's smile deepened.

He didn't want to discuss marriage before because he felt that he should wait for someone to appear. Now, he has waited.