Chapter 72 Will You Take a Concubine in the Future?

Shi Jianli looked for a while, asked Lanxing and Xianyue to comb her hair, and then she went out after she was dressed neatly.

As soon as he went out, he ran into Ming Zhouhe. He turned around and walked in front of her. He put his hands on his waist, leaned over and stared at her, as if thinking about something.

Shi Jianli tilted her head, confused, "What's wrong?"

"Are you hiding something from me?"

She blinked and thought for a moment, "No."

Seeing her puzzled expression, Ming Zhouhe reminded her: "You and Big Brother."

Shi Jianli's heart skipped a beat, but she asked without changing her expression, "What happened between me and my cousin?"

"I think there's something weird going on between you two." Ming Zhouhe crossed his arms and looked at her with a smile, looking calm and composed.

He had noticed something: a subtle intimacy between his cousin and his elder brother. Was it because of the intersection caused by the Xie family's affairs that made his cousin rely on his elder brother?

Later, the eldest brother said that the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice would handle the affairs of the Xie family, and all the Xie family members would be on the road without exception. Only then did Ming Zhouhe feel at ease to follow him to Shouzhou to suppress the bandits.

"What's so strange about that?" Shi Jianli looked at his expression, wondering how much he had seen through.

Ming Zhouhe laughed: "Everything is strange. Tell me the truth and I will know everything."

Shi Jianli looked at him, and when she saw that there was no one around, she took two steps towards him and whispered as if she was telling a secret, "You're trying to trick me again."

After she finished speaking, she turned and left, her back showing a hint of joy.

Ming Zhouhe: “…”

He thought she was going to confess by looking like her secret had been exposed, but he didn't expect that she was just teasing him.

Learned it well.

Shi Jianli walked up the stairs and met Ming Zhaohuan who was coming down. She tilted her head towards him with a smile still in her eyes.

"I thought you weren't awake yet." Mingzhao, who had been planning to go downstairs, changed direction and went upstairs with her. "Why are you so happy?"

She raised her chin slightly, "I won't tell you."

"Okay." Mingzhao nodded.

Shi Jianli glanced at him and continued walking up.

He answered yes to whatever she said.

Yu Guangzhong and Ming Zhouhe also went upstairs. Ming Zhao stopped and stood there waiting for him.

Shi Jianli didn't see him catching up, so she looked back and saw Ming Zhouhe coming up. She didn't wait for him anymore and went up to enjoy the scenery.

Ming Zhou and Huan Huan walked forward, their gaze withdrawing from the hem of the skirt that disappeared around the corner, and asked with a smile: "Brother, why do you feel that you and my cousin are very familiar with each other?"

When the eldest brother first came back, he still called her "Shi Girl", so much so that my cousin didn't want to call him big cousin. When did he change his way of addressing her? Ming Zhouhe couldn't quite remember.

Mingzhao glanced at him and said, "You asked me to help investigate the Xie family, so I have to pass on information to her. How can I not be familiar with her?"

If she doesn't agree to him, then they will have no relationship at all, and Mingzhao can only follow her wishes and keep it a secret.

"That's right." Ming Zhouhe nodded, but he had some doubts in his heart.

After enjoying the scenery for a while and playing two rounds of backgammon with Mingyuelin and the others, they had dinner on the pleasure boat. Then the two groups from the Anguogong Mansion and the Fuguogong Mansion were about to go back separately.

Su Xingyu held Shi Jianli's hand with one hand and Ming Yuelin's hand with the other, blinking reluctantly, "Aunts, do you want to come to my house and play with Uncle Ming and the others?"

Ming Yuelin pinched his chubby face and asked with a smile: "Come to my house to play, and ask your mother to bring you here."

"That's fine, I'll ask my mother to take me to your house next time!"

Shi Jianli also touched his head and said goodbye to him.

Back at the mansion, everyone returned to their own courtyard.

Ming Yuelin followed Ming Zhaohuan like a follower, glancing at him from time to time.

"Do you have anything to say next?" Mingzhao tilted his head to look at her.

"Let's talk about it when we get to your yard." Ming Yuelin said with his hands behind his back.

He nodded, "Yeah."

After entering Langgan Courtyard, Tianfeng and Tianyu spontaneously went to prepare tea.

"Go ahead." Mingzhao sat down and pointed to the chair opposite.

Ming Yuelin pulled a chair and sat next to him, "Brother, will you take a concubine in the future?"

Although it was not nice for a younger sister to ask about her brother's backyard affairs, she had to ask. As a woman herself, she knew what Sister Li was worried about and concerned about.

Although her father and second uncle only had two or three concubines in their courtyard, which was considered very clean among the powerful people in Manjing, Mingyuelin had seen her mother's sadness because her father took concubines, and she didn't like sharing her husband with others.

"Why are you suddenly asking this?" Mingzhao was still stunned.

"I asked Ji Gudong the same question back then." Ming Yuelin raised his chin and urged, "Answer me."

When her grandmother asked her if she was willing to fulfill the marriage agreement between the Ming and Ji families, she said that she would think about it for a few days. Then the next day she went to ask Ji Rangzhou, and only agreed to fulfill the marriage agreement after she got the answer that he would not have concubines or maids.

Mingzhao also affirmed: "No. Even if I don't marry cousin Li, I won't take a concubine."

If I marry her, that will definitely not happen.

Cousin Li was very clear-headed and wouldn't be wronged. When she misunderstood him, she pulled away faster than anyone else, looking at him with a cold and distant gaze. Without a word, she turned away, determined not to have anything to do with him and to have no further contact.

In the past, he thought that it didn't matter who he married, as long as his mother and family were satisfied, he would also respect his future wife and treat her with respect.

Some people are born with responsibilities. Marrying a wife, bearing children, nurturing an heir, and continuing the glory of their ancestors—this is his responsibility as the eldest son, the heir of the Duke of Anguo's mansion.

Later, when he met Jianli, he was happy to see her, and felt anxious when she ignored him. Sometimes he would secretly feel jealous of her, and he began to feel that life was not the same with everyone, and he did not want to treat her with respect.

He and Sister Ji had been childhood sweethearts, and even though they had been engaged for so many years, he had never felt so uncertain. He felt a responsibility to treat her well, so he treated her the way he would treat a sister. Later, when Sister Ji said she wanted to break off the engagement, he agreed without hesitation.

But cousin Li is different. He can't let go, and he won't let go.

Mingyuelin was satisfied.

Seeing her stand up to leave, Mingzhao asked, "Did Cousin Li ask you to ask?"

"Sister Li doesn't ask, it's me who wants to know." Ming Yuelin supported her chin with a fan and looked at him.

"That's exactly what I asked Ji Gudong back then. He said I would only agree to the marriage if he didn't want a concubine, so I'm asking for Sister Li as well. How about you bribe me and I'll tell Sister Li about this? Sister Li has a lot of concerns about you, and she doesn't really want to marry you."

"I won't bribe you." Mingzhao still shook his head. "Also, how do you give Ji Youqian a nickname?"

Whenever she wanted to ask, he would tell her in person. If she didn't ask, it would let her feel how much he cherished her.

"He has no objection, so why do you have an objection on his behalf?" After hearing that he would not bribe her, Ming Yuelin snorted and turned away.

Mingzhao was still helpless.

…

The days grew longer and the dawns came earlier. When Shi Jianli got up, it was already bright outside. After washing, dressing, and having breakfast, she went to the private school.

When she walked to a familiar place and met familiar people, Shi Jianli was surprised.

Mingzhao, still wearing his yellow-leafed, cross-collared uniform, stood by the window of the garden wall. He smiled as he watched her approach. "Are you surprised?"

"Aren't you taking a break today?"

They had just returned from Hunting Prefecture, and the Emperor gave them two days to rest. If it was a holiday, it would be five days. Ming Zhou and they also rested during these two days.