Chapter 1 Chapter 1 She bumped into him.

After the autumn came and it was windy, Pang Shi always had a headache. Now she was dozing off after the doctor had given her acupuncture.

There was a charcoal basin burning nearby. The maid sent the doctor away and came in to add more charcoal. When she used the tongs to stir the charcoal fire, it was inevitable that there would be splashes of sound and sparks.

During this interval, Pang Shi would occasionally raise her eyelids to look at the person who was massaging her legs with his head down at the end.

She was wearing a sky-blue cloud dress, which was very simple and elegant. She used only three or four hairpins to tie her hair up, and the style was also simple. She wore a water bracelet on her hand, which swayed from time to time with her movements. The water bracelet was translucent, but the wrist of the bracelet's owner was more delicate and white.

She half-knelt in front of the couch, her waist was slender, and her elegant dress could not hide her graceful figure, her profile was soft and peaceful...

Pang's gaze was too obvious. The woman who was massaging her legs raised her eyes and asked softly, "Did my daughter-in-law massage too hard?"

Considering Pang Shi's sleep, she always controlled her strength and became more and more gentle.

In the past, Pang Shi fell asleep completely and Zhu Yinluan would stop. But today, half an hour had passed and Pang Shi still hadn't fallen asleep, and even opened her eyes. Naturally, she didn't understand why.

Seeing the confusion and fear in the eyes of the person in front of her, Pang Shi retracted her legs. Zhu Yinluan could only retract her wrist that was sore from waking up early, "..."

The old woman next to her came forward and covered Pang's legs and feet with a soft quilt.

Zhu Yinluan stood up and stood aside. She couldn't leave until her mother-in-law gave the order, even if she hadn't had lunch yet.

After being married into the Wei family for several years, she had a better understanding of Pang Shi's personality. She was no longer confused and made mistakes and got scolded as she did at the beginning.

After half a cup of tea, Pang Shi, who had been so arrogant, finally spoke, but her eyes were still closed, and her tone was slow and gentle, "Have you finished the secondment work for Zhuo Ge'er?"

Speaking of this matter, Zhu Yinluan was also silent.

When she first got married, the Wei family was in decline, and Wei Ruzhuo was implicated because of her father's affairs. Later, with the help of Yin Luan's family influence, she was able to squeeze into the officialdom and become an unknown historian.

Speaking of this marriage, it was originally an arrangement made for my sister by my family. However, the head of the Wei family was punished and demoted to another place because he did not handle the case smoothly and offended his superior. He could hardly come back for one or two years. The children of the Wei family were also implicated and could not take the imperial examination for the time being.

The family's doting elder sister was worried that she would suffer here, so she pushed the unpopular Yin Luan out to marry in her place.

Because of their in-law relationship, the Zhu and Wei families have always had contacts, but Zhu Yinluan is quiet and taciturn. Although she has met Wei Ruzhuo, she has never said a word to him.

When they first got married, they were awkward facing each other and were reserved, but out of affection for each other, he would occasionally say a few words to her.

In the second half year of their marriage, the two gradually became familiar with each other. Wei Ruzhuo would tell her all matters, big or small, and Zhu Yinluan would gradually give him some suggestions, which he would adopt as appropriate.

But in the second year, he had gained a firm foothold in officialdom and got a chance to be promoted from Dianshi to Hanlin Academy. Now he was thriving, and somehow the two of them started talking less and less.

Sometimes, even if we live under the same roof, even if we meet, we may not say more than a few words to each other for ten days or half a month.

Especially in the past year, Wei Ruzhuo seldom mentioned official business to her. If she asked too much, he would frown and look angry, looking down at her. Zhu Yinluan choked, but after she understood, she never crossed the line again, and the two of them gradually drifted apart.

Some time ago, the Ministry of Revenue needed to reorganize household registration and compile a population roster. Due to lack of manpower, Wei Ruzhuo, who was originally an editor in the Hanlin Academy, was also seconded there.

She didn't know about this at first. She couldn't wait for him to come back for dinner, and she saw him leaving early and coming back late. Then she learned from people around him that he was seconded to the Ministry of Revenue to help.

Hearing Pang Shi's bad tone, Yin Luan pursed her lips slightly, shook her head and said she didn't know.

Madam Pang was indeed angry. She was dissatisfied, "I don't know what you do all day! My husband is so busy, but I don't even know his news. You are really idle and just eat for free!"

In between lectures, Hu glanced at her from head to toe with a slightly contemptuous look, especially at her belly.

The mother-in-law deliberately made things difficult for Zhu Yinluan, so she did not respond, "......"

Seeing that she couldn't make a sound for a long time, Pang Shi sighed heavily, and the maid next to her hurried forward to comfort her, "The doctor just told you to take care of your body, don't get angry. If you have a headache, I'm afraid acupuncture will be useless."

After being comforted by the old woman, Pang Shi finally felt better. In the end, she said nothing and waved her hand in disdain, asking her to leave.

After leaving the Tingyu Pavilion, the maidservant who was accompanying Pang Ma, Mama Yun, said softly, "Madam has not been feeling well these days, so please don't take what she said to heart."

Zhu Yinluan used to be kind to her servants. Those who knew how to look after things also respected her, helped her outwardly and also comforted her with a few words behind her back.

She smiled and said, "I'll trouble you to take care of my mother-in-law's health."

"What are you talking about, Madam? This is our job."

After chatting for a while, Mother Yun returned, and Zhu Yinluan went back to the courtyard for lunch. The food had been prepared long ago, but she was called away by Madam Pang before she could even start eating. Now she was waiting for the maid to heat it up and serve it. Before she had taken two bites, she heard a noise outside.

She turned her head through the open window and saw the hurried maid who was the one her mother had married off to her sister.

The old woman relied on Zhu Yinluan's good temper and the status of the Zhu family. She didn't wait for anyone to pass the message and rushed in directly. Without any greetings, she said directly, "Miss San, something happened to the eldest lady, and I want you to go over!"

Mingya, the little maid who had followed Zhu Yinluan closely since childhood, wanted to defend her, saying that she had not yet had her meal.

But Zhu Yinluan had already raised her hand to stop her action, and signaled her with her eyes not to speak.

The old woman saw the action between the master and servant, but pretended not to see it, and kept urging, "You should go quickly. If you don't go, the young lady will be wronged!"

She could only nod and say yes.

On the way there, Zhu Yinluan roughly knew what happened. It was just the same thing. Her brother-in-law Luo Xuan had been drinking outside and flirted with Hua Niang. Her sister was unhappy and started to make a fuss and cry.

In fact, what could she say when she arrived at Luo’s house?

Luo Xuan was the official in charge of the Ministry of Works and Tuntian, and his position was higher than Wei Ruzhuo's. Even if she supported him, it would not be of much use, right? But her elder sister liked to call her more and more often this year. They were not so close in the past.

If she didn't go, and the maid who came with her sister's dowry informed her mother, she would be scolded again, saying that she didn't care for her sister and didn't take care of her own sisters.

But thinking back to the past, when her sister married into the wealthy Luo family, she arranged a marriage for her sister with the Wei family. Now the Wei family was in poverty, while her sister lived a life of luxury, so how could they have ever helped her at all?

"Miss, please have some cakes to fill your stomach. I'm afraid it will take a while for you to recover from the trip. You haven't eaten for days and you've lost weight." Mingya took out some cakes.

"We were in a hurry when we came out, but Jiaohui prepared this in advance. She is really thoughtful."

Jiaohui had a miserable life. She was not originally a maid of the Wei family. She was a maid bought by Zhu Yinluan in the capital. At the age of eleven or twelve, she sold herself to bury her father. She had a birthmark on her face and others thought it was unlucky and didn't want her.

Zhu Yinluan felt sorry for her and paid for her father's burial. She also gave her some silver so that she could settle down. She secretly followed Zhu Yinluan, but when she was discovered by Zhu Yinluan, she knelt on the ground and kowtowed to her, saying that she would serve her. She refused to leave and stayed for several years.

The money used to buy Jiaohui was from Zhu Yinluan's private money. When she brought her back, her mother-in-law Pang scolded her for spending money without thinking carefully and that there were not enough people in the family for her to order around.

Thinking back on these things, I feel quite tired.

When she unfolded it, she saw that it was longan cake. Zhu Yinluan didn't eat much. The doctor had told her when he took her pulse that if she wanted to have a child, she should pay attention to her diet and not eat too many sweet and greasy cakes.

"You eat it." She pushed it to Mingya.

The master looked unhappy. Mingya was worried and lost her appetite, so she put the food away.

The sharp-eyed maid saw through the gap in the carriage curtain and couldn't help saying, "The eldest lady was crying so hard that she couldn't breathe and couldn't eat. The third lady had an appetite and didn't forget to taste the cakes in the carriage."

Mingya became angry after hearing this and wanted to plead for Zhu Yinluan, but was stopped by her and the old woman sneered.

“…This was originally brought from home. I wonder if mom has used it. If you don’t mind, you can try it.” Yin Luan lifted the car curtain and let Ming Ya hand it out.

The old woman looked disdainful, but she took it very quickly.

Mingya was angry and wanted to stand up for Yinluan, but she also understood her temper and concerns, so she didn't say anything. She just thought in her heart that she had been fed to the dogs.

The Luo family occupies a good location in the capital, which is quite far from the Wei family. It is just after noon, when the capital is bustling, and the carriage has been going for a long time but has not arrived yet.

Zhu Yinluan felt a little uncomfortable. Just as she was about to ask Mingya for a handkerchief, the carriage suddenly shook and she almost fell.

Mingya lifted the curtain and looked out. Before she could ask what happened, she heard the driver say, "We hit you."

Noble person?

The capital city was full of nobles, and when Zhu Yinluan heard this, she was not too panicked at first.

But Mingya reminded in a low and panicked voice, "Miss, this is the Shen family's carriage from Zhaoping Marquis's Mansion!"

The Shen family?!

He is truly one of the most powerful people in the capital, and we cannot afford to offend him. But I don’t know who from the Shen family is sitting here?

After frowning and calming himself down, Zhu Yinluan was about to get off the carriage to apologize and make way.

But just as the door was opened, a man dressed as an attendant appeared on the other side of the carriage, holding an exquisite huanghuali lacquer food box inlaid with animals.

"Your Highness was in a hurry to go out today, and accidentally bumped into my lady. The broken axle is being repaired, and it may take some time. These meals and cakes from the palace are his apology. My lady, please accept them and don't be offended."

Prince?

The person sitting in the Shen family's carriage was actually the most talked-about and watched Marquis' son, Shen Jingzhan? !

"Miss..." Mingya, who was standing next to her, saw Zhu Yinluan frowning and looking at the person in front of her, and she urged in a low voice.

It was also quite tricky. Who would dare to offend the Shen family? She could only let Mingya accept it as a courtesy.

"It doesn't matter. Your Excellency is really... too polite." Yin Luan glanced at the luxurious carriage opposite.

After seeing him off, the attendant bowed and turned back.

Zhu Yinluan took another look at the crowded people and carriages, and saw that the people in front were indeed repairing, and the carriage of the Shen family of the Marquis' Mansion was motionless, so she lowered the curtain.

"Miss! These palace meals and pastries are so exquisite!"

Mingya was amazed after opening it. She was delighted and said, "It must taste good. Besides, it's a good opportunity. You can eat it while the carriage is being repaired across the street."

Zhu Yinluan had not yet fully recovered from her shock when silver chopsticks were stuffed into her hand.

Why is it such a coincidence?