Chapter 27: A bit of calculation

"Auntie! Be careful with your words!" Ming Zhoushi's expression changed, and his voice rose a little, stopping Aunt Shi from continuing. "Be careful, there are ears on the other side of the wall. If what you say gets to mother's ears, how will she feel about us?"

Aunt Shi was startled by his suddenly raised voice and looked at him resentfully.

Seeing his biological mother looking at him with grievance, Ming Zhoushi had no choice but to soften his tone and explain word by word: "Mother and Third Brother both love Cousin Li very much. This is obvious to all."

"If you're talking about promoting and supporting someone, then it must be my father who can support me. I'm the only one in my family who pursues a career in literature. If not me, who else can my father support? He's a second-rank official, and all his connections in the government are reserved for me."

"Also, although we are the second branch, the direct line of the Duke's Mansion is inseparable. I also rely on the protection of the Duke's Mansion and my uncle."

"Even though I'm a concubine's son, everyone respects me when I go out. Our family is the most prestigious in the capital, and support from my in-laws is a plus, but without it, it doesn't hurt either."

"Third brother's abilities are obvious. He is the eldest son of our second wife and also the most outstanding child. He has a good relationship with the eldest and second brothers. He will definitely achieve extraordinary things in the future."

"Auntie, how much brotherly love do you think Third Brother has for us? Cousin Li is much more important to Third Brother than us brothers and sisters."

"If I marry Cousin Li, Third Brother will truly treat me as one of his own."

Seeing that Aunt Shi had listened, Ming Zhoushi continued, "Mother loves Cousin Li. If Cousin Li can be married close to the mansion, she can take care of her nearby."

He raised his eyelids. "Father and Mother are deeply in love, and they also take extra care of Cousin Li. Mother values ​​me, so Father will naturally value me even more."

People are biased. The son that the father values ​​most is the third brother, and he will care more about the one he loves.

"Besides, my eldest brother will also look at me more because of my third brother."

"What I want most is the help from your family. If I marry someone else's daughter, there are so many girls from other families, and they won't be able to give me the greatest help."

He did have some calculations in his heart, but it cannot be said that he did not like her at all. He liked his cousin Li because she was excellent in everything and had a good appearance.

Cousin Li would be a good wife, and his brothers might have the same plan as him.

After hearing this, Aunt Shi thought about it again and again, and replied: "You are right. In this case, it is not impossible for you to marry the girl at that time."

"My wife just told me this. I've just agreed, so it wouldn't be nice to turn around and refuse. How about we talk to her again in a couple of days?"

Ming Zhouzhi breathed a sigh of relief. "Okay, thank you for your hard work, mother. I have a lot of homework to do. I will go study first and come to thank you in two days."

If he was not mistaken, the second son of the Yuan family also had some vague feelings for Cousin Li, so he had to seize the opportunity.

Mother wanted to marry Cousin Li off to a lower status because women didn't understand the pros and cons, and outsiders didn't know the specific circumstances of the mansion. But if the second son of the Yuan family could persuade Madam Yuan, Mother would naturally agree to the marriage with the Yuan family.

After all, marrying down is not as good as marrying up.

"Go, but don't work too hard. Take care of yourself and don't get exhausted." Aunt Shi looked at her only son with satisfaction and heartache.

"Um."

Ming Zhou recognized Aunt Shi's courtyard and was in a good mood. When he walked around the garden to the front yard, he saw Shi Jianli coming out with her maid.

"Cousin Li." He walked forward and called out with a smile.

Shi Jianli looked at him and nodded lightly, "Fourth cousin."

"Where are we going?"

"Sister Lin and cousin Yuan invited me to the pavilion for tea."

"Then don't keep them waiting for too long." Ming Zhoushi moved aside to make way for her and watched her back disappear around the corner.

Shi Jianli frowned slightly, her shoulders slumped slightly, and then she straightened her back again.

"Miss, what's wrong?" Xianyue asked when he saw her like this.

"It's okay." She shook her head.

After walking through the garden and entering the pavilion in the lake, Mingyuelin, Yuan Wan and Mingyuesi were already sitting in the pavilion.

"Sister Li, come quickly!" Mingyue saw her and pointed at the seat next to her with curved eyes.

"What's the feast for today?" Shi Jianli sat down, took the food box brought by Xianyue, opened it, and took out a plate of cakes, "This is the Poria cocos cake made by Xianyue."

"What's the feast? If I have to say what it is, then it's a feast for spring. Summer is almost here." Ming Yuelin smiled and pinched a piece of cake. "Xianyue's cooking skills are always good. I'm in for a treat."

"Cousin, you can try some too. The skilled hands at Sister Li's side make it, and it tastes much better than the one made by the kitchen lady."

"Fourth sister, I won't greet you."

Yuan Wan laughed and said, "You're really good at stealing the show. It's clearly your sister Li who brought the pastries, but you're the one who's entertaining us."

"Hey cousin, Sister Li doesn't mind, right?" Mingyue saw Li blinking when she came to court.

"Yeah." Shi Jianli nodded.

Xianyue smiled and lowered her body, "Thank you for the compliment, Second Miss."

Mingyuelin brought a plate of lotus cakes from the table and handed it to her. "Don't stand here. Go play with Qiyan and the others over there. I'll call you if there's anything."

"yes."

They chatted and laughed for a while, and soon Yuan Wan sighed, "I will return to Runan in two days."

"Ah? Cousin, can you play for a while longer?"

Yuan Wan smiled and whispered, "My father might be promoted to be stationed in Beijing next year. I'll come visit you then."

Her grandfather used to be the Grand Tutor. After resigning from office, he returned to Runan, and the younger generations also followed him back. Her father was the prefect in the local area, and her mother also came with them from the provincial capital this time.

"That's great." Mingyuelin held her hand.

"Don't tell anyone about this."

"I definitely won't tell you. I know the seriousness of the matter."

Shi Jianli took a quick look at Yuan Wan's expression, but couldn't see anything.

Ming Yuelin poked Yuan Wan's hand and said, "Cousin, tomorrow is the first day of the big bath. My fourth sister, Sister Li and I are going out to accompany the princess to visit Hua Si Meng. The princess specifically asked us to accompany her, so you can only play at home alone."

"I'm going to talk to my aunt. At worst I can just wander around the garden. It won't be boring after all."

"That puts my mind at ease." Mingyuelin looked at Shijianli and Mingyuesi again, "Princess Kangning sent a letter this morning, telling us to arrive at Hua Simeng at the hour of Si."

"Okay." Shi Jianli and Mingyuesi both nodded.

When they returned at sunset, they saw Shi Li and Ming Yue Si walking together.

Mingyue Si looked at the pear and seemed to want to say something but stopped herself.

"What do you want to say?"

Mingyue Si said, "Sister Li, Mother came to me a few days ago and asked me to choose a husband for her. I didn't like any of them, so I rejected the candidates Mother suggested. Will Mother be angry?"

"Marriage is a lifelong commitment. If you don't like someone, then refuse them. I'm also being picky. My aunt is really annoyed with me. She won't be angry. She would be angry if you agreed to whatever she said."

"Thank you, Sister Li, for your comfort."

Shi Jianli nodded, parted ways with her and returned to Tangliyuan.

At noon the next day, the three of them took a carriage out of the mansion and waited in Hua Simeng's lobby. They waited until Qi Yu told them that Princess Kangning had arrived, and then they went out to greet her.

Princess Kangning came out with four guards from the palace and her two maids. Seeing them about to salute, she quickly held Ming Yuelin's hand and said, "No, I'm not riding in a royal carriage today. I just want to go out and have fun."

Ming Yuelin blinked, "I understand."

Princess Kangning glanced at Shi Jianli and Mingyuesi and said, "Come on, let's go in."

Shi Jianli followed them and listened to the maid in the building introduce clothes to them.

Hua Simeng is very big. Princess Kangning feels new about everything outside the palace. She takes Ming Yuelin for a stroll and tells him how satisfied she is with the portrait Ming Yuelin drew for her last time.

After turning a corner, Shi Jianli saw a familiar face again.