Chapter 385: Yearning

Zhu Hongxiu was surprised and looked at the portrait in her hand again: "Did Big Brother draw this himself?"

Mrs. Zhu nodded, her eyes full of worry.

"The Tang family's status is a bit low. If she is Lord Tang's biological sister, it would be acceptable. After all, when the master came back, he mentioned Lord Tang many times, saying that he is highly valued by His Majesty and has a promising future. However, she is only a stepsister."

Zhu Hongxiu understood what Madam Zhu said and asked tentatively, "Mother, do you mean that my eldest brother is in love with her?"

"If that's not the case, why didn't you paint someone else but her? Don't you know your brother's personality? When did your brother meet her? What did that woman do to your brother?"

Zhu Hongxiu thought carefully, "She happened to come to this auction, and she didn't book a room in advance, so I invited her to come. I also invited her to the poetry gathering I held before."

Madam Zhu asked, "Did she come to the bamboo house that day?"

"That day was special, and she couldn't stay in the garden, so she suggested taking her sister for a walk. I sent a servant to take her there. It seems that she went into the bamboo building. As for whether she met my brother, I don't know. But as long as you ask my brother's entourage, you will know whether my brother saw her that day."

"Your eldest brother has never liked us to meddle in his affairs. If you ask his followers, he will dismiss them tomorrow, and it will be even more difficult to arrange someone to be with him in the future. What's there to ask? Regardless of whether he has seen her before, he has seen her at the auction. This woman is very beautiful, and her appearance is rare even in the capital. Your eldest brother usually doesn't see anyone else. Suddenly seeing a fairy-like beauty, how can he not be moved? Well, I owe this eldest grandson. If he really likes her, then find an official matchmaker to go to the Tang family to test the waters."

"Mother, why don't we send someone to find out first!" Madam Zhu said, "That family is the stepmother. What is the relationship between the stepmother and Lord Tang, and what is the relationship between Lord Tang and this stepsister? We have to find out."

The Zhu family is also a big family. Although their generation cannot catch up with their ancestors, at least her husband is the Minister of Personnel. Even if her Xuan'er is not worthy of a princess, she can be a daughter of a second- or third-rank official. The Tang family is a rising star. No matter how capable Tang Yichen is, their family background is poor. Marrying such a daughter-in-law will make other families laugh. She is the eldest son's daughter-in-law, not a concubine's daughter-in-law.

"Lord Tang's younger sister was also present that day. I saw that they had a pretty good relationship. Miss Tang was gentle in nature and always obeyed Miss Second." Zhu Hongxiu said.

"Since the stepmother is the head of the household, the stepdaughter will naturally be inferior to her in everything. You just said that the second young lady is very good at business. How can a woman who is good at monopolizing a business be easy to deal with?" said Mrs. Zhu.

Zhu Hongxiu: “…”

She had nothing to say.

What her mother said makes sense.

However, they did not consider whether the Tang family would be willing to marry such a beautiful girl to a man like her elder brother who had a ruined appearance and no achievements.

Xia Ruwan tossed and turned, unable to sleep. The singing and dancing next door continued until midnight, making her feel annoyed.

She got up, opened the window, and called Shuhui: "Shuhui, let's find a house tomorrow and change places. It's so noisy!"

Shu Hui hurried over and saw Xia Ruwan was grumbling. She said, "Miss, do you want to go to the Tang family across the street and ask Miss Qin to stay overnight? She's far away, so it shouldn't be so noisy."

"It's so late, don't disturb Yinyin." Xia Ruwan was unhappy, "Get me some wine, I want to drink."

"good."

Not long after Shuhui left, a figure jumped down from the wall.

"I have some good wine here, would you like some?" Li Congxiao, dressed in red, looked at her with a smile.

Xia Ruwan snorted coldly and closed the window.

Li Congxiao walked to the door and knocked gently a few times: "I'll wait for you outside."

Xia Ruwan didn't want to pay attention to him at first, but she thought that she still had something to talk to him about. Since he was here and she was not sleepy, she would take this opportunity to talk to him clearly.

She put on her coat and went out.

Shuhui just came over with a wine jug and saw Li Congxiao sitting in front of the stone table. Xia Ruwan came to see him with her hair loose and her hand covering her mouth.

"Shuhui, go and have a rest!"

"yes."

Li Congxiao's followers also climbed over the wall, holding a basket in their hands. When they opened the basket, they saw several side dishes and wine placed on the stone table.

"Go over there and keep an eye on them." Li Congxiao said to his followers, "If Prince Ning is still not satisfied, find him a few more. If he asks about me, just say I'm drunk and can't get up."

"I understand."

"Send someone to keep an eye on Li Jingyan."

"yes."

After the entourage left, Xia Ruwan's face looked better.

"That Prince Ning wanted to drink, so he didn't go back to his own house, but came here to make a noise. Is he sick?"

Li Congxiao poured her a glass of wine: "You are sick. Miss Xia, don't be angry."

"Why should I be angry?" Xia Ruwan said, "You guys are too noisy. I couldn't sleep, so I got annoyed. By the way, we met the daughter of the Zhu family today. She knows that you bought the herbs. Judging from her appearance, she might ask you about the herbs again. I have asked Xiao Ge'er to make ointment with the herbs. Why don't you just give the ointment directly to the Zhu family? You can even do them a favor."

"Why should I do the Zhu family a favor? If they know, they will know. If they ask, I will say that I have eaten. I am weak and need to replenish my body. How can their face be more important than my life?"

Xia Ruwan's cheeks flushed: "You really are not afraid that the Zhu family will hate you."

"I am now the brother-in-law of Prince Ning. The Zhu family will have to think twice before they can cause trouble for me!" said Li Congxiao.

"Are you really letting Li Jingyan ride on your head? Li Jingyan is just a concubine. Prince Ning has a wife and concubines. She is a concubine and not a legitimate mistress. You, the eldest brother-in-law, are not a legitimate brother-in-law either."

"Li Jingyan wants to use Prince Ning to seize the power of the Li family and make the Li family the Prince Ning's money bag. But she didn't think about it. If Prince Ning is allowed to choose, will he choose a short-sighted woman as a partner or choose me who already controls the Li family as this partner? Prince Ning wants a money bag, so I will be his money bag. However, Li Jingyan can only be a concubine in the harem."

Xia Ruwan looked at the aggressive man in front of her with a complicated expression.

He was really not a mediocre person, using the opponent's force to counter the opponent's force and turning passivity into initiative. She was worried that he would be made difficult by Prince Ning before, but now it seems that Li Jingyan can't beat him at all.

"Are you stunned?" Li Congxiao waved his hand in front of her. "Am I still very charming?"

"Shameless!" Xia Ruwan picked up the wine glass, hiding the discomfort in her eyes.